With the warm weather finally here, it’s time to think about summer reading and time to ponder gifts for Mom, Dad, grads, and your favorite teachers.
Here are some suggestions.

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein is not a book I would have picked up without a passionate recommendation by a fellow bookseller. First off, the narrator is a dog, a technique that can go very wrong. Second, the racing in the title refers to car racing, something in which I have no interest. But the woman who recommended it said she had cried in the first three pages and was riveted until the end, so I gave it a shot and I am glad I did. It is a moving story that includes thoughtful passages on what makes a champion, both in car racing and in life. Enzo, the dog, starts the story at the end of his life. He is old, incontinent and in pain; he is ready to let go of his failing body and move on to the next stage. He is confident about what comes next because he has watched a documentary about Mongolia in which the truth was revealed: “When a dog is finished living his lifetimes as a dog, his next incarnation will be as a man.” Enzo yearns to be a man as great as his master, Denny. Not only does he want opposable thumbs and the ability to speak, he wants to be a championship race car driver like Denny. As Enzo tells the story of his life from puppyhood to old age, we see the depth of his relationship develop with Denny, then Denny’s wife and child. Through a dog’s eyes, we see his wife’s death and the ensuing custody struggle with his in-laws over little Zoe. All the while Enzo references championship race car driving techniques drivers use to conquer impossible odds. If you enjoy stories of loyalty, love and justice, this book’s for you.

Chris Bohjalian’s newest novel, Skeletons at the Feast, is a departure from his previous work. Instead of a contemporary novel set in Vermont, he’s written a historical novel set in Poland and Germany in the closing months of World War II. Inspired by the diaries of a friend’s grandmother, Bohjalian starts with her story of traveling west ahead of the Soviet army and turns it into a fictional tale of love, violence and redemption. Anna is an 18-year-old German girl raised in a privileged family, innocent of Nazi atrocities. Callum, a Scottish prisoner of war assigned to work her parents’ farm during the harvest, opens her eyes to the evil of Nazi philosophy and her heart to love. When her family must flee their farm to avoid the approaching Russian army, Callum journeys with them, both to protect the family and to be a good-will token should they encounter the British or American armies on their trek. On the way, they encounter Uri Singer, a Jew who has escaped from a cattle car transport and managed to survive for almost two years on his wits. Bohjalian deftly moves from the journey to the back stories of each character, fleshing out their histories and making their choices more poignant as their friendship and interdependence develop. Who will live and who will die? The author keeps up the suspense until the last page, with a surprise twist at the end. This would make a perfect Mother’s Day gift.

Leisureville: Adventures in America’s Retirement Utopias by Andrew D. Blechman is a fascinating look at today’s age-segregated retirement communities. He starts by visiting former neighbors from New England who moved to “The Villages” in Florida when they retired. Although his neighbors had seemed happy enough up north, he finds them more relaxed and happier than he’s ever seen them when he arrives in Florida—concerned with nothing more than their golf game. The Villages is frequently described as Disney World for adults, a vacation every day; but as Blechman discovers, this carefree existence comes at a price. Because these communities are privately owned by the developer, residents must conform to the developer’s dictates. For example, no lawn ornaments are allowed; it is a small issue that illustrates the unlimited control the developer has. Blechman also delves into the history of retirement communities, attends a developers’ conference and visits Sun City in Arizona to get an idea of how older retirement communities are faring. The author has done a thorough job of investigating the “retirement ghettos” and their implications for future communities and he raises some thought-provoking questions. Is segregation by age legal in a free society? Is it ever acceptable to sacrifice civil liberties for safety and security? A must-read for anyone who plans to retire.

Local author Joseph E. Persico has a new book out this month, Franklin and Lucy: President Roosevelt, Mrs. Rutherford, and the Other Remarkable Women in His Life. Anyone with an interest in Franklin Roosevelt will enjoy this book.

Susan Taylor has been in the book business since 1982 and currently works at the Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza. Stop by the store if you are looking for a good book—she’s read a lot more than she can talk about here!

Working for a magazine makes you partial to certain issues. The “Best of” is certainly one of ours at CRL. It’s just as exciting for us to see which businesses placed among the top three as it is for the businesses themselves. After all, like our readers, we at CRL use the “Best of” issue as a reference for what to do and where to go. Of course, it’s also fun to peruse the “smart alec” responses. For instance, one of our readers responded to the survey by acknowledging that if he or she knew the best place to meet singles, they wouldn’t be filling out our survey, while another admitted that he or she wasn’t sure where to meet singles, “but if you find out, let me know”.

Aside from the “Best of” component, this issue also features our first annual Mother’s Day makeover. The typical mom who sacrifices everything for those around her, Marianne Kulzer is a very deserving mother, but we couldn’t have recognized her without the help of Allison Meyers of Seemless Clothing Consulting, Joe Elario of Joe Elario Photography, Jean Claude Simille of Jean Paul Spa and Rick Hardy of JCPenney. Turn to page 34 to see her amazing transformation. I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to nominate their friends and loved ones. Next year, maybe it’ll be your mom!

Finally, on a sadder note, I would like to dedicate this issue to the memory of Jose "Joch" Payano Jr. of Amsterdam. Earlier this month, Jose tragically lost his life as a result of a senseless crime. He was a childhood friend of CRL Art Director Steve Teabout, who described him as a much-loved barber in the community who was unfailingly polite, kind of heart and generous to a fault. In fact, according to Steve, whether “you knew Jose one month or one year, he was always there to help you…” I didn’t know Jose personally, but from all the wonderful things I’ve heard about him over the years, I can only say that we could all use more people like Jose in our lives. Our hearts go out to his family and friends during this unfathomably difficult time.

Mary Beth Galarneau
marybeth@crlmag.com

Food and Drink

Best Appetizers
TGI Friday’s, Various Locations
With a list of appetizers that will make your mouth water, TGI Friday’s offers the best meal before your meal. The sesame Jack chicken strips are their hottest seller, but the appetizer menu also features crispy green bean fries, Zen chicken pot stickers and fried mac and cheese, all of which are reasonably priced. Mixed with a great atmosphere and delicious entrees and desserts, this restaurant helps make any day feel like Friday.
2. Applebee’s
3. The Cheesecake Factory

Best Bagels
Bruegger’s Bagels, Various Locations
A winner three years in a row, Bruegger’s Bagels first location was in Troy 25 years ago and has since expanded to approximately 269 locations all over the country. Offering kettle-boiled bagels in a number of flavors and specialty cream cheeses to go along, you’ll want to try every combination. Offering a whole menu of sandwiches as well, these bagels aren’t just for breakfast anymore.
2. Panera Bread
3. Uncommon Grounds Coffee & Bagels

Best Bakery
Bella Napoli Italian American Bakery, Latham & Troy
As the repeat winner for best bakery for the fifth year, the Mainella family keeps their display cases stocked at all times, especially of canolis, their most popular item. Also featuring Italian breads and rolls, cookies, cakes and more, it’s no wonder that Bella Napoli goes through 15,000 pounds of flour a week! Visit soon, but be sure to pace yourself with these authentic confections straight from the Old Country.
2. Zachary’s Pastry Shoppe
3. Schuyler Bakery

Best Beer Selection
Mahar’s Public Bar, Albany
If you love beers from around the world then Mahar’s is the place for you. With cask beers, locals and imports to choose from, as well as a global beer tour, this bar will turn even the most inexperienced drinker into a pro. You can drink at ease with bartenders who know their stuff and a relaxed atmosphere that’s focused purely on the beer.
2. Old Chicago
3. Albany Pump Station

Best Birthday Cakes
Hannaford Supermarkets, Various Locations
Whether you’re celebrating your 4th birthday or your 40th, you want a cake that’s both delicious and festive. Hannaford Supermarkets offer a selection of theme cakes (as well as personalization) so you get exactly what you want on your special day. Pick your colors, cake flavor and frosting and don’t forget to make a wish!
2. Price Chopper
3. Bella Napoli Italian American Bakery

Best Bistro
Nicole’s Bistro, Albany
Combining the best of French and American cuisine, Nicole’s Bistro has been satisfying customers since 1985. Located in the historic Quackenbush House, diners looking for a taste of Europe are saying “Oui, Oui!” to traditional Parisian dishes. Nicole’s also offers homemade desserts, specialty coffees and malts that will have you picturing yourself on the banks of the Seine.
2. Vin Santo Tapas & Wine Bar
3. Cella Bistro

Best Bread
Best Dining on a Budget
Best Lunch Spot
Best Sandwich
Best Soup
Panera Bread, Various Locations
With an assortment of oven-fresh artisan and specialty breads, salads, soups and desserts, it’s obvious why Panera was a multi-category winner. A carb-lover’s dream, the breads are great on their unique sandwiches, dipped in soup or perfect on their own. A hip place for locals to meet friends for a bite to eat, Panera offers something for everyone.
2. Perreca’s Bakery
3. Bountiful Bread
Dining on a Budget
2. Bombers Burrito Bar
3. McDonald’s
Lunch Spot
2. Johnny B’s Glenmont Diner
3. Mochablend Café
Sandwich
2. Subway
3. Gershon’s Deli & Caterers
Soup
2. Bountiful Bread
3. Illium Café

Best Breakfast
Best Late Night Dining
Denny’s, Various Locations
If a restaurant prides itself on serving breakfast 24-hours a day seven days a week, it better be good. Luckily for returning champ Denny’s (and for us) they have the best breakfast around. With signature slams, omelets and scrambles, you can get your early-morning favorites anytime. For night owls this is an added bonus, as Denny’s was also voted best late-night dining with a menu that features family-style entrees and kids choices.
2. IHOP
3. Alexis Diner
Late Night Dining
2. 76 Diner
3. Bob’s Diner

Best Burger
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Various Locations
If Red Robin knows one thing, it’s great burgers. From classic gourmet burgers to “knife and forkers” to adventuresome burgers, there’s a burger for everyone and each is served with bottomless steak fries. This kid (and wallet) friendly restaurant has been your favorite for four years and counting.
2. Five Guys Burgers and Fries
3. Fuddruckers

Best Chicken Wings
Wings Over Albany, Albany
With their slogan, “Home of the Wing Professionals”, this franchise aims to deliver high quality food for a fair amount of money. Claiming to serve the largest, meatiest, tastiest wings available, you seem to agree. With buffalo flavors ranging from milder sauces to those that will have you breathing fire, they also offer unique flavors like Honey Lime, Jamaican Jerk, Lemon Pepper and more. Get your napkins and your taste buds ready!
2. Scubbers Hot Wings
3. Ralph’s Tavern

Best Chili
Wendy’s, Various Locations
Looking for something low in fat and high in fiber that tastes great? No, we’re not talking about the latest diet craze; we’re talking about the chili at Wendy’s. Rich and meaty with only 220 calories and six grams of fat, you wouldn’t expect such a dish from a fast-food place. Order a small for a side dish or a large for a hearty meal.
2. Stewarts Shops
3. Chili’s Grill & Bar

Best Coffee
Dunkin Donuts, Various Locations
For those who can’t get through the day without a serious caffeine fix, this franchise is the number one spot for a hot cup of java. You can thank them for keeping you awake during your 8am meeting and for your second wind while driving the kids to practice. They treat their coffee like a fine wine, ensuring the highest of quality, all while keeping America (and the Capital Region) running.
2. Starbucks
3. Stewart’s Shops

Best Deli
Gershon’s Deli & Caterers, Schenectady
The area’s oldest kosher-style deli, Gershon’s has been serving you for decades, and is just as good as when it first opened. Offering New York style deli favorites like triple-decker sandwiches and homemade soups, as well as a complete catering menu, this place does it all. Sit inside or out and enjoy the ambience, the staff, and of course, the food.
2. Roma Food Imports
3. Maurice’s Sandwich Shop

Best Dessert
The Cheesecake Factory, Albany
What’s in a name? Everything when it comes to The Cheesecake Factory! This franchise originally started out strictly making quality cheesecakes, but has grown to include an extensive menu. With over 30 varieties to choose from, even the pickiest dessert-lovers will find their match.
2. Grandma’s Country Restaurant
3. Mrs. London’s Bakery

Best Diner
Best Early Bird Special
Alexis Diner, Troy
With over 300 menu items that feature everything from your favorite breakfast items and burgers to steak and seafood specials, Alexis Diner combines great food, friendly service and a true diner atmosphere that can’t be beat. For the early bird who can’t wait to dig in to classic American fare, this is the place for you.
2. 76 Diner
3. Topp’s Diner

Early Bird Special
2. Butcher Block Steak & Seafood
3. Lombardo’s Restaurant

Best Fine Dining
Best Steak
Angelo’s 677 Prime, Albany
Beautiful cherry cabinets, gorgeous hardwood and tile flooring, plush leather chairs and fine art exhibited on the walls—and that’s even before you taste the food! The intimate surroundings coupled with signature USDA Prime Aged steaks, seafood, decadent desserts and the finest wines make this restaurant the clear choice for fine dining at its best.
2. Tosca Grille
3. Jack’s Oyster House
Steak
2. Delmonico’s Italian Steakhouse
3. The Bears’ Steakhouse

Best Fish Fry
Ted’s Fish Fry, Various Locations
For over 50 years, Ted’s Fish Fry has been serving up the best that fried seafood has to offer and is in its third year in the number one spot. With three locations in the Capital Region, it is an inexpensive throwback to the days when waitresses would yell the orders out to the cooks. Along with their authentic fried fish platters, diners can get onion rings, clam rolls, chili dogs and more, and wash it down with an old-fashioned milk shake. Mmm…..mmm!
2. Bob and Ron’s Fish Fry
3. Harbor House

Best French Fries
Five Guys Burger and Fries,
Various Locations
Originating in Virginia and spreading to locations across the country, this chain is committed to serving only the highest quality burgers and fries. The small order of their homemade fries is the perfect side for their always fresh, never frozen ground-beef burgers, while the large portion is a meal in itself. You can get them in the traditional Five Guys style or Cajun, both sure to keep you coming back for more.
2. McDonald’s
3. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers

Best Happy Hour
JT Maxie’s Bar and Grill, Albany
Looking to kick back and have a few drinks while enjoying tavern specialties and live music? JT Maxie’s is your destination of choice for the third year in a row. With a patio for live entertainment and dining in nice weather and karaoke that attracts big crowds, you’ll never know who you’ll run into while sipping your drink specials.
2. Chili’s Bar and Grill
3. The Lionheart Pub

Best Homemade Pies
Grandma’s Country Restaurant, Albany
Nothing is ever as good as Grandma used to make, as is evident with returning champ for best pies, Grandma’s Country Restaurant. With best sellers like Swiss chocolate almond and the All-American apple, whoever said you shouldn’t have pie for dinner?
2. Lakeside Farms and Cider Mill
3. FoCastle Farm Country Store

Best Hot Dog
Hot Dog Charlie’s, Various Locations
Spanning three generations, this family-run business started in Troy in 1922. Since then, their success has continued to grow, due in part to Charlie’s Famous Chili Meat Sauce, which is a secret family recipe that has yet to be duplicated. Get a dog with all the fixings and you won’t be disappointed.
2. Gus’s Hot Dogs
3. Mike’s Famous Hot Dogs


Best Ice Cream Stand
Kurver Kreme, Albany
For many, the best part of spring is when the ice cream stands re-open for the season. Nothing beats cold soft serve sitting high atop a crunchy cone. Kurver Kreme offers flavors like coffee, strawberry cheesecake, hazelnut, blueberry and more, with sherbet and low-fat yogurt for the calorie-conscious. Wonder when they will feature your favorite flavor? The efficient staff usually knows ahead of time, so give them a call.
2. Curry Freeze
3. Lickety Split

Best Kid-Friendly Dining
Friendly’s, Various Locations
Desperate for a meal that you don’t have to cook, but need someplace that you can bring the kids without being sneered at by fellow diners? Friendly’s is the place to enjoy affordable and delicious food (and ice cream) and has consistently been named best place to take the little ones. Let your kids pick out their own meals, complete with a Happy Ending sundae that should keep them satisfied, at least until you get home.
2. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers
3. Chuck E. Cheese’s

Best Martini
Noche Lounge, Albany
Stop sitting around in your sweats wishing you were at a swanky New York City bar, sipping the latest in cocktail creations. Put on your most stylish attire and head to Noche on Broadway. With a Manhattan-like feel, this night-spot is sure to satisfy your martini needs, set in the emerging warehouse district of downtown Albany.
2. 205 at the Holiday Inn
3. Alibi’s Martini Lounge

Best New Restaurant
Aperitivo Bistro, Schenectady
Bringing Piattini, which is Italian for “small plates”, to Schenectady, Apertivo Bistro opened six months ago and features the equivalent of Tapas, smaller portions that are meant to be shared for a light supper. Moderate prices, an impressive menu and chic metropolitan décor make it the perfect spot to stop before a night of theater at Proctors.
2. P.F. Chang’s China Bistro
3. Old Chicago

Best Outdoor Dining
The Waters Edge Lighthouse, Glenville
Open since 2005, this dining destination features a beautiful outdoor patio overlooking the Mohawk River. With a light fare and a fine dining menu, sit back and enjoy the food and the view.
2. Lanie’s Café
3. Jumpin Jack’s Drive-In

Best Pizza
Paesan’s Pizza, Various Locations
Whether it’s during the game, while watching a movie, or as a late-night snack, pizza can be enjoyed any time of day or night. With numerous locations, Paesan’s serves up pies with all of your favorite toppings, not to mention specialty pizzas like chicken marsala and stuffed meat pie for when you are bored of the same old thing. With so many pizza places to choose from in the area, Paesan’s stands the clear winner among college students and adults alike.
2. I Love NY Pizza (Troy)
3. Fountain Restaurant

Best Pub
Valenti’s Pizzeria & Pub, Troy
Beff’s, Albany and Delmar (Tie)
Sometimes the most casual places are the best places. With so many great choices for pub food in the area, our readers couldn’t pick just one. Both Valenti’s Pizzeria & Pub and Beff’s offer great-tasting pub favorites that go great with a cold draft. And you can’t beat the fun comfortable atmosphere and friendly service that makes you feel like part of the family.
2. Pinhead Susan’s
3. Purple Pub

Best Ribs
Smokey Bones Barbeque and Grill, Colonie
There’s no question that Smokey Bones knows good ribs. Hungry diners can choose from Smoked St. Louis Style Ribs, Baby Back Ribs or the 50/50 Combo. They are finger-licking good right down to the bone. The real question is, will it be a half or a full rack?
2. LT’s Grill
3. PJ’s Bar-B-Q

Best Romantic Dining
Provence, Albany
Can’t charter a private jet to France to take your date out for a romantic dinner? Join the club. So, stay local and head to Provence in Stuyvesant Plaza. This intimate and charming spot mixes the best of French and Mediterranean cuisine with an award-winning wine list. The restaurant will leave you feeling amorous, and just think of the time you saved on the commute!
2. Tosca Grille
3. Café Capriccio

Best Sports Bar
The Stadium Café, Saratoga Springs
Whether you’re there to watch the big game or to spend quality time with friends, The Stadium Café offers a family atmosphere, authentic sports memorabilia and 25 plasma and high definition projection TVs. The food is great too, with meals from salads to club sandwiches to burgers, all of which are easy to eat while keeping tabs on who has the ball.
2. Legends Sports Lounge
3. Recovery Room Sports Grill

Best Sub
Subway, Various Locations
With just under 30,000 franchises in 86 countries worldwide, it’s safe to say Jared isn’t the only loyal customer of Subway. Featuring fresh favorites that are only six grams of fat or less, toasted subs, as well as choices for kids, this chain is a healthy alternative to fast food that’s fit for the whole family.
2. Pellegrino Importing Co.
3. McCarroll’s The Village Butcher

Best Sushi
Koto Japanese Steak House, Latham
Known for their authentic Japanese food ranging from raw sushi and sashimi to cooked dishes like beef teriyaki, Koto is once again winner for best sushi. Looking for an exotic and unique dining experience? You’ll love their Hibachi Grill, where chefs prepare a mouth-watering meal of fresh vegetables, choice cut meats, seafood and other delights right before your eyes.
2. Ichiban Restaurant
3. Okinawa Chinese & Japanese Cuisine

Best Takeout
Applebee’s, Various Locations
Okinawa Chinese Japanese Cuisine, Wynantskill (Tie)
Whether you’re a busy parent with no time to cook or a lazy college student who just can’t endure another night of dining hall food, sometimes ordering take-out can be a blessing. Applebee’s Carside to Go makes it easy – you don’t even have to get out of your car! Simply call in your order then pull up to the restaurant and it will be brought to you. Craving spicy tuna rolls instead of a burger? Bring home fresh sushi or other Asian-inspired dishes from Okinawa to enjoy in the comfort of your own home.
2. Paesan’s Pizza
3. Amazing Wok

Best Tapas
Vin Santo Tapas & Wine Bar, Latham
Answering the call for innovative and adventurous dining, Vin Santo’s offers up the Tapas style and an impressive menu ranging from fresh oysters and seared Ahi tuna to burger sliders and local and international cheese plates. Complemented by their eclectic wines from around the world, it’s the perfect place to go with a group of friends looking for great food and great company.
2. Midtown Tap & Tea Room
3. Cella Bistro

Best Troy Restaurant
Tosca Grille, Troy
Fine dining, accompanied by elegant ambience and an extensive wine list, Tosca Grille has become a destination spot. Beginning May 31 they will even feature a Jazz Night in their Victorian Ballroom every Thursday.
2. LoPorto’s Ristorante
3. Red Front Restaurant & Tavern

Best Wine List
The Wine Bar and Bistro, Albany
Nothing is better than the scent and taste of a perfectly-aged wine. At this hidden-away spot located on the increasingly hip Lark Street, the Wine Bar and Bistro is under new ownership and better than ever. With a large selection of reasonably priced wine that even the most novice wine lover could navigate through, you’ll be smelling, swirling and sipping your way through all they have to offer.
2. Wine Down Lounge
3. The Gingerman

Restaurant by cuisine

Best American
Casey’s Restaurant, Rensselaer
2. Jack’s Oyster House 3. McGuire’s Restaurant

Best Cajun
Bayou Café, Albany & Glenville
2. Hattie’s Restaurant 3. Carolina House

Best Caribbean
Roy’s Caribbean Restaurant & Grocery, Albany
2. Kenneth’s Taste Bud 3. Lime

Best Chinese
P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Albany
2. Plum Blossom Chinese Restaurant 3. Yip’s Chinese Restaurant

Best French
Provence, Albany
2. Nicole’s Bistro 3. Chez Sophie

Best Greek
BFS Restaurant, Albany
2. The Chariot 3. A Taste of Greece

Best Indian
Sitar Restaurant, Albany
2. Karavalli 3. New Haweli Fine Indian

Best Indonesian
Yono’s Restaurant, Albany
Best Italian
Ferrari’s Ristorante, Schenectady
2. Paolo Lombardi’s Ristorante 3. Villa Valenti

Best Japanese
Koto Japanese Steak House, Albany
2. Hiro’s Japanese Restaurant 3. Ichiban

Best Lebanese
Rita’s Lebanese Café, Albany
2. Al-Baraki 3. BFS Restaurant

Best Mediterranean
BFS Restaurant, Albany
2. Ali Baba Kabob House 3. Hidden Café

Best Mexican
El Loco Mexican Café, Albany
2. El Mariachi Mexican Restaurant 3. Panchos Mexican Restaurant

Best Seafood
Real Seafood Company, Albany
2. Red Lobster 3. Weathervane

Best Steakhouse
Angelo’s 677 Prime, Albany
2. Delmonico’s Italian Steakhouse 3. The Bears’ Steakhouse

Best Thai
Bangkok Thai Bistro, Schenectady
2. Sushi Thai Garden 3. Sukhothai

Best Vietnamese
Van’s Vietnamese Restaurant, Albany
My Linh, Albany (Tie)
2. Restaurant Saigon

Best Vegetarian
Antipasto’s Vegetarian Bistro and Wine Bar, Clifton Park
2. Four Season’s Natural Food 3. Oliver’s Naturals

Restaurant by county

Albany County
Angelo’s 677 Prime, Albany
2. Jack’s Oyster House
3. Café Capriccio

Columbia County
Carolina House, Kinderhook
2. Jackson’s Old Chatham House
3. LaPerra’s

Fulton County
White Holland House, Gloversville
2. Union Hall Inn
3. Plaza Pizza & Pasta

Greene County
Basement Bistro, Earlton
2. Pegasus Restaurant
3. Greene Mountain View Inn

Montgomery County
Raindancer Restaurant, Amsterdam
2. Crystal Bar & Restaurant

Otsego County
Otesaga Hotel, Cooperstown
2. Hoffman Lane Bistro and Alex & Ika (Tie)
3. Sabatini’s

Rensselaer County
Paolo Lombardi’s Ristorante, Wynantskill
2. Casey’s Restaurant
3. Villa Valenti

Saratoga County
Chianti Il Ristorante, Saratoga Springs
2. Olde Bryan Inn
3. Longfellows Restaurant

Schenectady County
Glen Sanders Mansion, Scotia
2. Cornell’s Restaurant
3. Canali’s Restaurant

Schoharie County
George Mann Tory Tavern, Schoharie
2. Hubies Restaurant & Pizzaria
3. Parrott House

Warren County
Log Jam, Lake George
2. Davidson Brothers
3. Friends Lake Inn

Service

Best Car Wash
Hoffman’s Car Wash, Various Locations
Did someone write “Wash Me” on the side of your car? If so, it’s time to check out one of Hoffman’s 14 car wash locations in the Capital Region; there’s one practically around every corner! With over 35 years of experience, modern equipment and a well-trained staff, you know your car will be in good hands.
2. Raindancer Car Wash
3. Colonial Car Wash

Best Caterer
Glen Sanders Mansion, Scotia
Angelo Mazzone purchased the Glen Sanders Mansion in 1988 and expanded Mansion Catering into a thriving, full-service business. Available for corporate functions and social events alike, the Mansion provides catering on site and off and nearly 85 percent of their business is weddings. “We go above and beyond what people expect when it comes to quality and service,” said Director of Marketing Cathy Gatta. “We’re event planners who are there from day one to your wedding day and will accommodate nearly any request to make your occasion special.” Gatta is proud of the recognition from their patrons.
2. Old Daley Inn Catering Co.
3. Classe Catering

Dating Service
Match.com
Dwindling fast are the dating services where you put your fate in the hands of strangers (not to mention pay a fortune). In the past few years, online dating has become increasingly popular. The best part? You get to choose who you want to date. With everyone’s busy schedules, sitting home and perusing possible matches is a lot easier (and relaxing) than having to get dressed up for a night on the town in hopes of meeting someone, which may or may not happen! Match.com, which started in 1995 and claims that more than 200,000 people find their mate every year, is your pick for best dating service. CRL staffers weren’t surprised—they have been to a few weddings made possible by this popular online dating site.
2. It’s Just Lunch
3. eHarmony

Best Day Spa
Best Manicure/Pedicure
Kimberley’s... A Day Spa, Ltd. Latham
A cosmetologist by trade, owner Kimberley Comiskey built Kimberley’s A Day Spa into a full service salon and spa with 100 employees and 20 years of service. She cites the education of her staff as the number one reason she’s successful. Before they work with a clients, the staff spend weeks and months in-house training, going above and beyond their trade-school education. “It’s great that our customers took the time to vote and thought of acknowledging us,” she said.
2. Jean Paul Spa
3. Serenity Day Spa

Day Spa
2. Jean Paul
3. Simply Irresistible Hair

Best Fitness Center
Curves, East Greenbush
Dedicated to providing affordable, one-stop exercise and nutritional information for women, Curves is the largest fitness franchise in the world. The comfortable and supportive environment is specially designed for women, many of whom are going to the gym for the first time. They pride themselves on providing a “doable” and fun fitness program, offering all the encouragement you need to be successful and healthy.
2. Planet Fitness
3. YMCA Guilderland

Best Men’s Hair Salon
Gregory’s Barbershop, Various Locations
With highly trained Master Barbers, you won’t get your average haircut at Gregory’s. Here, you are pampered with warm towels, hot-lather shaves and razor cuts. Sick of the gray and want a younger look? They also do color. Other services include facials, eyebrow waxing, highlighting and scalp massages. No one ever said women were the only ones who should enjoy some pampering.
2. Rumors IV Men
3. Simply Irresistible Hair

Best Women’s Hair Salon
Jean Paul Spa, Albany
If our Mother’s Day Makeover recipient Marianne Kulzer is any indication, it’s no wonder why Jean Paul Spa has won this category four times in a row. For over 30 years, owner Jean Claude Simille has provided world class service, offering a wide range of hair and spa treatments. Whether you want a cut and dry, color or extensions, Jean Paul Spa’s team of professionals will make you look like a star.
2. Simply Irresistible Hair
3. Rumors

Best Pilates Center
Best Yoga Center
YMCA, Guilderland
Pilates and yoga have become two of the trendiest fitness programs out there. Just because they are popular though, doesn’t mean you have to shell out a ton of money to partake. In fact, just head down to the YMCA and learn the fundamentals of both programs in a relaxed and pressure-free environment.
2. Albany Pilates Center
3. Just Pilates
Yoga Center
2. The Kula Experience
3. Washington Park Yoga

Culture

Best Children’s Museum
Children’s Museum of Science and Technology, Troy
Inspiring young minds to discover new things about science and technology, your child will never know they are learning because they will be having too much fun at this local museum. Whether they are interested in the weather, power and energy or love to look at the stars and think of far off places, imaginations will run wild and you might just learn something yourself!
2. The Children’s Museum at Saratoga
3. Schenectady Museum

Best Comedy Club
The Comedy Works, Albany
“What distinguishes us from other clubs is that we put on great shows,” said Tom Nicchi, who has owned The Comedy Works for 26 years. “Our motto is exceeding expectations. We always go for the ‘Wow!’ factor and make sure people are getting a good value for their money.” The club sits on the corner of State and Eagle Streets in downtown Albany in an exquisite, historical ballroom. Nicchi packages high quality food and talent with dinner and show packages for $49.95 featuring two national acts.
2. Proctor’s Theatre
3. Tess’ Lark Tavern

Best Concert Hall
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Troy
Giving the gift of the arts to the community since 1823, Troy Music Hall has hosted famous artists, season after season. Legendary performers like Ella Fitzgerald and Yo-Yo Ma, once-in-a-lifetime concerts, and hilarious comedy all combined in a historic building with world-renowned acoustics. So what are you waiting for? Get your tickets now!
2. The Palace Theatre and SPAC (tie)
3. Revolution Hall

Best Festival
Tulip Festival, Albany
Every Mother’s Day weekend the City of Albany comes alive with the bright colors of over 200,000 tulips. Walk around Washington Park and find your favorite varieties or enjoy watching them sprout up as you drive by one of the many planters or beds around the city. This year’s festival will include new attractions and events, like the unique art installation “Night Fire”, acoustic music and a wellness garden.
2. Lark Fest
3. Irish Festival

Best Karaoke
Valenti’s Pizzeria & Pub, Troy
Who doesn’t love getting up on stage and singing their favorite karaoke songs? Every Friday at Valenti’s is “The Karaoke Crocodile Show”, hosted by DJ Kenny Casanova. This interactive, fan-friendly show is complete with music, dancing, prize give-a-ways and more. Now the only thing left to do is pick a song.
2. JT Maxie’s Bar and Grill
3. Oh Bar

Best Live Music
Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC)
Built in 1966, SPAC is the summer home of both the New York City Ballet and Philadelphia Orchestra and hosts concerts for all audiences, in addition to festivals and local graduation ceremonies. “We have a dynamic combination of diverse, world-class programming, brilliant artistry, a lush lawn and an iconic, newly renovated amphitheatre in a beautiful state park,” said Marcia White, SPAC president and executive director. SPAC provides the ‘total experience’ whether it involves gourmet dining at the Hall of Springs or bringing a blanket and backpack and watching a performance under the stars. White invites you to “experience the magic of SPAC and join the generations of audiences who have found the love of art here.”
2. Alive at Five
3. Bayou Café

Best Local Band
Best Local Musicians
Sirsy
Sirsy duo Melanie Krahmer and Rich Libutti released their first CD in 2000 and have been playing together ever since. Lead singer Krahmer plays the drums and the flute and Libutti plays the guitar. Both performers also play bass. “We’re able to sound like a four-piece band, but we write and perform original music,” said Krahmer. Highly influenced by the Beatles, Sirsy is often compared to the White Stripes. Krahmer describes their sound as “fiery, soulful, indie-pop that rocks.” Making their living as musicians, the duo notes, “We never lose sight of how lucky we are to have our fans. We’re never too ‘cool’ for the audience and they feel they have a personal connection with us.” Unsigned, Sirsy has recorded four full-length albums and one acoustic recording—all based on donations from fans.
2. Hair of the Dog
3. Ten Year Vamp
Best Local Musicians
2. Ernie Williams
3. Erin Harkes

Best Movie Theater
Spectrum 8 Theatres, Albany
Need a chanage from huge corporate megaplexes that only show Hollywood blockbusters? This locally-owned theater opened in 1983 and offers a more intimate movie-going experience with a dash of culture thrown in. From their home-baked goods, real butter popcorn and slide shows featuring the work of local artists, the art deco atmosphere and a selection of independent films lend itself to an experience that will rival a visit to the mall.
2. Crossgates Regal Cinema
3. Bowtie Cinemas

Best Museum
New York State Museum, Albany
A can’t miss tourist spot in Albany, the New York State Museum offers art, history and culture all under one roof. With ongoing exhibits like the Adirondack Wilderness, Harlem in the 20s, and the World Trade Center: Rescue, Recovery, Response, you could spend hours exploring and learning. The museum presents approximately 12 new exhibits each year, so even locals can visit over and over and still discover something new.
2. Albany Institute of History & Art
3. MASS MoCA

Best Theatre for Plays/Musicals
Proctor’s Theatre, Schenectady
Proctor’s Theatre in Schenectady was originally built in 1926 to showcase vaudeville acts. Closed in the 70s due to financial troubles, the building was purchased from the city for $1 by local volunteers and re-opened in 1979. Today, it’s a hot spot for theatre-goers to enjoy national Broadway plays such as “Mama Mia” “Movin’ Out” and many others. Director of Marking & PR Kathy Jarvis notes the ambiance and architecture of Proctor’s Historical Building, as well as the patrons, for their success. “They tell us what they like and want to see because we’re known for bringing in national Broadway tours.”
2. Capital Repertory Theatre
3. The Palace Theatre

Best Summer Fair
Altamont Fair, Altamont
Representing Albany, Schenectady and Greene County, this annual fair features live music and entertainment, vendors, animals, arts & crafts, 4H exhibits, carnival games, rides and more. Attendance increases year after year, as it is a great place to bring the kids and enjoy a day of summer fun.
2. Schaghticoke Fair
3. Washington County Fair

Best Symphony
Albany Symphony Orchestra, Albany
A well-played live presentation of music can be a truly moving experience. The Albany Symphony Orchestra is one of the region’s oldest and most revered music and cultural organizations with a mission to bring top quality musical programming to an audience from all cultural and economic backgrounds. Let the music wash over you and open your imagination!
2. Empire State Youth Orchestra
3. Schenectady Symphony Orchestra

Shopping

Best Antiques
River Street, Troy
Instead of voting for just one antiques store in the Capital Region, you voted for a whole street! River Street in Troy is practically antique paradise, with store after store of amazing finds. Spend an afternoon going through each one and see what treasures from the past you can make new again.
2. Bournebrook Antique Center
3. Black Sheep Antique Center

Best Bargain Shopping
Marshalls, Various Locations
Trends in fashion come and go in the blink of an eye, and it’s hard to stay on top of them and stay on a budget. Marshalls makes it easy though, offering designer names at incredible values. Not only can you find a great outfit for any occasion, they also have items for the home. Now you can look and feel like a million bucks, and no one has to know how much you really spent!
2. Christmas Tree Shop
3. Target

Best Bike Shop
Downtube Cycle Works, Albany
Based in downtown Albany, Downtube Cycle Works has 36 years of strong riding behind their name. “We’re known for our personalized service and attention and high-quality repair work,” said Manager Eric Whalen. Unlike their competition, which diverges into skis and water sports, Downtube specializes in doing one thing well—dealing in bikes and related equipment. Offering service specials during the off season keeps them going through the winter, and as Whalen puts it “hopefully, we can continue servicing our customers for another 36 years.”
2. Steiner’s Sports
3. Plaine & Son

Best Bookstore
Barnes and Noble, Various Locations
Your one-stop-shop for music, movies, home office and video games, Barnes and Noble is most famous for its’ vast selection of books. Whether you want to pick up the latest best seller or need a how-to book for your next home project, you’ll find it all here. Not looking for anything in particular and just want to browse? You can easily spend hours leafing through title after title.
2. Borders
3. The Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza

Best Bridal Boutique
Annette Bridals, Inc., Albany
The perfect wedding day requires the perfect dress. Annette Bridals in Albany has 34 years of experience helping to match the bride with her perfect dress. Alterations, done in-house, are a big part of their business. Annette Bridals offers designer names including LaSposa and Maggie Sottero, but avoids dresses priced above $2,000.
2. David’s Bridal
3. Bridal Gallery by Yvonne

Best Chocolate Shop
Uncle Sam’s Candy, Schenectady
When it comes to chocolate, nothing beats Uncle Sam’s candy with a 79-year tradition of sweetening people’s lives. Owner Joe Suhrada recognized that when he purchased the shop 19 years ago. “Chocolate is recession-proof: even when times are tough, people will still purchase an inexpensive, sweet indulgence.” He credits his success to customer service, extended hours and having the best chocolates at affordable prices. “We’re flattered to be acknowledged for the second year in a row.”
2. Krause’s
3. Chocolate Gecko

Best Cigar Shop
Habana Premium Cigar Shoppe, Albany
A real tobacco store with a friendly and knowledgeable staff, Habana Premium Cigar Shoppe has everything you need, whether you are a cigar novice or enthusiast. With hundreds of premium cigars to choose from, as well as cigar cutters, humidors, cases, accessories and more, there is something for every smoker’s needs.
2. Edleez Inc. Tobacco, Pipes & Cigars and DeJa Vu(tie)

Best Clothing Boutique
Circles, Albany
Can’t get to New York City for the latest designer duds? Head to Circles, located in Stuyvesant Plaza, for a touch of Manhattan right in the Capital Region. Formalwear, sportswear, jewelry, shoes and more, Circles will have you looking your best in this season’s must-haves.
2. Truly Rhe
3. Deanna’s Country Shoppe

Best Consignment Shop
Something Olde, Something New, Slingerlands
Karen Moses and Julie Hillard truly believe that “variety is the spice of life.” Co-owners of Slingerlands-based consignment shop Something Olde, Something New, the women have been in business for 10 years. “We sell everything from furniture and clothing to linens, housewares, depression glass and some vintage antiques,” said Moses, who notes that their prices are much better than traditional antique dealers. “You can’t beat our variety. The store is organized and we have something new every day.”
2. Worth Repeating
3. Liz’s Closet

Best Farmers Market
Troy Waterfront Farmers Market, Troy
Dozens of specialty food growers, bakers, chefs and artisans come out every Saturday from summer through winter to offer the freshest and finest in Troy. From baked goods, meats and fresh produce, to flowers, household items and pottery, you’ll find the best in locally made and cultivated goods. More than just a market, this repeat winner is a gathering place for the community to hear live music, enjoy great food and contribute to the local economy.
2. Saratoga Farmers Market
3. Capital District Farmers Market, Menands

Best Florist
Frank Gallo & Son Florist, Various Locations
A family-owned business since 1930, Frank Gallo & Son Florist prides itself on the commitment to providing good quality and service at all six locations. “Quality is about having a wide variety of fresh flowers with creative, updated designs,” explained Frank Gallo, Jr. “When it comes to service, we’re responsive to the customers needs. We’ll accommodate them and make special deliveries or whatever it takes.”
2. Price Chopper Floral Department
3. Emil J. Nagengast

Best Garden Nursery
Faddegon’s Nursery Inc., Latham
Owned and operated by the Faddegon family, this nursery has been in business since 1920. They boast a 40-acre garden center and landscape facility and are the largest interior plantscape company in the region. Their plant specialists and certified nurserymen can help you find the supplies and tools you’ll need to cultivate your green thumb.
2. Hewitt’s Garden Center
3. Troy Landscaping Supply

Best Gift Shop
Krafts By Kim, Rensselaer
Need something to spruce up your living room? Or how about a wreath on your front door to welcome visitors? Look no further than Krafts by Kim. A great place to go for home and gift ideas, Kim Edberg is more than willing to help you with your decorating needs.
2. Wit’s End Giftique
3. The Country Trunk

Best Hardware Store
True Value, Various Locations
One of the world’s largest retailer-owned hardware cooperatives in the world, True Value has everything you need from power tools to plumbing to paint. Getting your garden ready for spring or finally getting around to re-doing your kitchen? Visit one of their many locations for the supplies you need and helpful experts who can point you in the right direction.
2. Lowe’s
3. The Home Depot

Best Health Food Store
Honest Weight Food Co-op, Albany
Providing the community with affordable, high quality natural foods and products, Honest Weight, our winner for the second year in a row, is on a mission to promote healthy living while respecting humanity and the earth. Aside from their natural grocery selection, the co-op provides free workshops, lectures, cooking classes and special events for members and the community.
2. Uncle Sam’s Good Natural Products
3. Four Season’s Natural Foods

Best Jeweler
Frank Adams Jewelers, Albany & Saratoga
Frank Adams Jewelers is a third-generation, family-run business with 85 years of success backing its name. Founded by Frank, the store is now run by his son David and David’s daughter Kimberly. “We offer some of the finest jewelry in the area,” said Manager Tim Ryan. “Between the quality of our merchandise and the number of years in business, we know our audience and the marketplace and what people are looking for.”
2. Northeastern Fine Jewelry
3. Mayfair Jewelers

Best Liquor Store
Exit 9 Wine & Liquor, Clifton Park
Whether you’re throwing a party or just want to kick back with a cocktail, Exit 9 will surely have what you’re looking for. One of the biggest wine and liquor stores around, they have a vast selection and very reasonable prices. Saving money on your favorite spirits? Now that’s a reason to celebrate.
2. All-Star Wine & Spirits
3. Wine–Skill Wine & Spirits

Best Menswear Shop
Spector’s, Colonie
After over 80 years in the menswear business, Spector’s is finding continued success in their new Colonie Center location. Whether you’re looking for a new suit and tie for work or a fancier look for a special event, they can help you dress the part.
2. Jos. A. Bank Clothiers
3. Men’s Wearhouse

Best Music Store
FYE, Various Locations
With initials meaning “For Your Entertainment”, this store doesn’t disappoint and has been your top pick year after year. Featuring all the latest music, movie and video game releases, the media lover in you will be like a kid in a candy store. Even those with eclectic music tastes will find their favorites. Feel free to sample the tunes before you buy at the listening stations set up around the store.
2. Best Buy
3. Last Vestige

Best Shoe Store
Saratoga Shoe Depot, Saratoga Springs & Delmar
Providing shoppers with a wide selection of today’s fashions, Saratoga Shoe Depot doesn’t just deal in shoes, but in apparel, jewelry and accessories as well. Whether you’re in need of a pair of night-on-the-town shoes or just something pretty to show off your pedicure, you’ll be met with trendy styles and cool prices at both locations.
2. DSW Shoe Warehouse
3. Delmar Bootery

Best Sporting Goods Store
Dick’s Sporting Goods, Various Locations
Whether you are into basketball and football or enjoy golf and tennis, Dick’s has all the equipment and apparel you need to look like a pro. Winter, spring, summer and fall, this sporting goods haven has everything you could ever want, all for reasonable prices. After all, their motto is, “All athletes have their season, and every season starts at Dick’s.”
2. Sports Authority
3. Olympia Sports

Best Used Bookstore
The Book Barn, Latham
There’s nothing more relaxing than curling up with a good book; it’s even better knowing you got a deal on it. Book Barn carries the best selection of used books, which means expanding your home library at a fraction of the cost of shopping at a retail giant. Peruse older novels that are now out of print, some newer titles and find a great selection of children’s titles for the little ones.
2. Good Buy Books
3. Lyrical Ballad Bookstore

Best Wine Store
All-Star Wine and Spirits, Latham
Located in the Latham Farms Shopping Center, All-Star is open seven days a week for all your adult-beverage needs. One of the biggest wine and liquor shops around, they have great deals on a wide selection of wines. You can shop by price, type and country. Now, what’ll it be – red or white?
2. Exit 9 Wine & Liquor
3. Empire Wine and Liquor

Places

Best Bed & Breakfast
The Inn at Saratoga, Saratoga
The oldest operating hotel in Saratoga, the Inn was built in 1848 to accommodate the influx of tourists looking to enjoy recreation, horse racing and the arts. Remaining largely unchanged, the Victorian-style destination is still recognized for its’ hospitality and service. An interesting fact about the Inn: 20 percent of all the energy consumed by the building is generated by wind turbines, thanks to their commitment to a cleaner world.
2. Mansion Hill Inn & Restaurant
3. Friends Lake Inn

Best Bike Trail
Mohawk-Hudson Bike/Hike Trail
As part of the state-wide Canalway Trail that follows the Erie Canal from Buffalo to Albany, the Mohawk-Hudson Bike/Hike Trail was constructed in the late 1970s and early 80s. The 60-mile long trail connects Albany and Schenectady counties and is made up of mostly asphalt. Whether you are walking, biking, rollerblading or cross-country skiing, you’ll take in beautiful views while staying healthy.
2. Corning Preserve Trail
3. Albany Pine Bush

Best Day Trip
Lake George
The kids want to go to an amusement park, Dad wants to go fishing and Mom wants to shop. It may seem impossible to do in one day, but not if you pack up the car and head to Lake George. With beautiful surroundings and something for everyone in the family, it’s the perfect place to spend the day. There is so much to do and see that you’ll be coming back again and again.
2. Manchester, VT
3. New York City

Best Public Golf Course
Town of Colonie Golf Course, Colonie
The third time is the charm for this returning winner for best golf course. The 36-hole green allows residents to enjoy their passion for the game and test their skills without having to pay an arm and a leg. Golf lessons from pros, a snack bar on the course, as well as a bar and restaurant on-site make this course a hole-in-one.
2. Saratoga National Golf Club
3. Capital Hills at Albany

Best Private Golf Course
Wolfert’s Roost Country Club, Albany
The renowned golf course at Wolfert’s Roost was built in 1915 and since then has altered and expanded to include 18 holes and one of the first automatic irrigation systems in the area. One of the finest country clubs in the northeast, they maintain a strong family focus and a unique camaraderie among their members. Boasting fine food, service and exceptional sports facilities, members here enjoy all that country club living (and golfing) has to offer.
2. The Edison Club
3. Albany Country Club

Best Hiking Trail
Best Picnic Spot
Best Place to Go For a Walk
John Boyd Thacher State Park, Voorheesville
A popular choice on our survey year after year, Thacher Park provides a spectacular panorama of the Hudson-Mohawk Valleys and the Adirondack and Green Mountains. Situated along the Helderberg Escarpment, the park has numerous picnic areas with nine shelters that can be reserved, as well as the famous Indian Ladder Trail with over 12 additional miles of trails for hiking and biking, as well as playgrounds and ball fields. This is a must-visit spot for any nature lover.
2. Plotterkill Preserve
3. Grafton Lakes State Park
Picnic Spot
2. Washington Park
3. Saratoga State Park
Place to Go For a Walk
2. The Crossings
3. Corning Preserve

Best Hotel
The Desmond, Albany
Independently owned, The Desmond is truly a one-of-a-kind lodging experience. Opened in 1974, the hotel resembles an 18th century colonial village. Built around large indoor courtyards with skylights, landscaping and indoor pools, guests will find their rooms behind quaint village storefronts and residence facades. Perfect for a special event or wedding, or simply a relaxing weekend with your significant other, you’ll be sure to have a quality experience at one of the area’s finest hotels.
2. 74 State
3. Albany Marriott

Best Place to Go Ice Skating
Empire State Plaza, Albany
An outdoor rink in the center of downtown Albany, Empire State Plaza has been voted the best place to practice your Triple Lutz or just enjoy a relaxing skate. Surrounded by government buildings and The Egg, you can’t beat the location or the price. Admission to the rink is free and coin lockers only cost a quarter (let’s face it – not much costs a quarter these days). It’s a great place to bring the kids or to go on a romantic skate with the one you love.
2. Hudson Valley Community College
3. Frear Park

Best Kid’s Camp
Camp Chingachgook, Lake George
With a spectacular location on one of the cleanest lakes in the country, a dedicated staff, and modern, yet rustic facilities, Chingachgook is the perfect place to send your kids for summer fun they won’t soon forget. They offer a wide variety of water and land-based activities, programs for teens and adults and “time to play, learn and just be.”
2. Crane Lake Camp
3. Children’s Museum of Science & Technology

Best Park
Washington Park, Albany
Home to the Annual Tulip Festival, Park Playhouse, Capital Holiday Lights and so much more, Washington Park is in the heart of Albany. The park comes alive in the warmer months when the flowers begin to bloom, couples take romantic walks and Frisbees fly overhead. It’s a great place to relax and enjoy being outdoors, and it’s close enough to feel like your own backyard without worrying about the upkeep!
2. John Boyd Thacher State Park
3. Saratoga State Park

Best Place to Spend a Rainy Day
Crossgates Mall, Albany
How about a little retail therapy to cure the rainy-day blues? Crossgates Mall was voted the best place to spend those dismal, wet days and is also the region’s premier shopping, dining and entertainment destination. With an impressive selection of retail stores, services and restaurants, your day will be brighter in no time.
2. New York State Museum
3. Starbucks

Best Place to Meet Singles
Starbucks, Various Locations
Looking for love? Tried speed dating and had no luck? Why not head to Starbucks? You might just catch the eye of someone as you sip your latte. Voted best place to meet singles in the area, this coffee chain offers a hip and laidback setting, just the locale you need to strike up a conversation and potentially find your mate.
2. Jillian’s
3. Price Chopper

Best Place for Sledding/Tubing
Frear Park, Troy
Every sledding daredevil knows the best place to enjoy fast runs and exciting jumps in the Capital Region is Frear Park in Troy, and it has been voted number one year after year. The park closes its’ golf course in the winter months and transforms into a heart-pounding, speed-chaser’s paradise. When you’re done on the make-shift slopes, head into the park’s restaurant and golfer’s bar for a cup of hot chocolate and gear up to do it all again.
2. West Mountain
3. Central Park, Schenectady

Best Reception Hall
Franklin Plaza, Troy
Built in 1923, Franklin Plaza offers a unique and charming ambience for any special occasion. They offer multiple ballroom choices, as well as elegant architecture, superb cuisine and a professional staff. Their goal is to make your special day unforgettable with flexibility, convenience and world-class accommodations.
2. Glen Sanders Mansion
3. Canfield Casino

Best Romantic Getaway
Mirror Lake Inn, Lake Placid
Readers voted The Mirror Lake Inn as best romantic getaway and we know why— reconnect with that special someone as you cozy up in front of the fireplace or in one of their whirlpools while enjoying gorgeous views of the Adirondack Mountains and Mirror Lake. Their reservationists are more than willing to help you plan your trip so you will have nothing to worry about other than what to have for dinner at their five-star restaurant, “The View”.
2. Friends Lake Inn
3. Lake Placid Lodge

Best Ski Area
Gore Mountain, North Creek
With a season that runs from mid-November to mid-April, 84 different trails and over 347 skiable acres, it’s no surprise skiers and snowboarders picked Gore as their mountain of choice. As if the terrain, lessons and programs weren’t reason enough to go, they even have an “excuse generator” on their website for when you need a quick way to get out of work and hit the slopes.
2. Jiminy Peak
3. Whiteface Mountain

Best Weekend Getaway
Lake Placid
We all need to get away for a few days now and again, and you’ve voted Lake Placid your favorite weekend destination for the fourth year in a row. Set in the beautiful Adirondacks, the natural wonders are a destination all their own. With sports, dining, shopping and more. You won’t know what to do first! Before you know it, this weekend trip will turn into an extended stay.
2. New York City
3. Lake George

Local People and Media

Anchor
Liz Bishop, CBS 6
Liz Bishop, a University at Albany graduate, has covered a wide variety of assignments over the past two decades at CBS 6, and is one of the pioneers of the all-woman newscast. She was even the first woman reporter allowed in the New York Yankees locker room in the mid-70s after the Supreme Court ruled it should be open to female journalists. Bishop has won numerous awards for her reporting, including a prestigious Edward R. Murrow award and a New York Emmy, in addition to being our winner for best anchor for the second year in a row.
2. John Gray
3. Lydia Kulbida

Best Local Artist
Joseph Parker
Joseph Parker began making art when he was just eight–years–old. Now 68, he paints, sculpts, draws and is currently focusing on metal work and illustrating a book. He studied with the Art Students League in Paris, where he met his late wife Sophie (of Chez Sophie restaurant fame in Saratoga). Aside from his gallery and workshop in Hadley, you can find his work displayed at the restaurant. What inspires him to continue creating? “Life!”
he said.
2. Frankie Flores
3. Tommy Watkins

Best Meteorologist
Steve Caporizzo, WTEN Channel 10
Channel 10 meteorologist Steve Caporizzo has been fascinated with the weather since age nine. He started broadcasting the weather in 1980 and 28-years-later, 18 with WTEN, he still questions why the weather does what it does. “It’s always a learning experience,” he said. “If I wasn’t on TV, I’d still study the weather as a hobby.” Caporizzo’s forecasts run at 5, 5:30, 6 and 11pm and he works at home from 6 to 9am providing radio forecasts for WGNA, ESPN Radio and 105.7 The Buzz. A stickler for details, he too gets frustrated when his forecasts lack accuracy. “I think people in the Northeast don’t expect 100 percent accuracy; if I lived in Arizona, it would be a different story!” The variable topography along the Mohawk River, Adirondacks and Berkshires proves challenging, but Caporizzo feels predicting the severe weather—something he says occurs about 50 days per year in this region—is of the utmost importance. “If I can save one person’s life, I’ve done my job.”
2. Bob Kovachick
3. Steve LaPointe

Best Newspaper Columnist
Fred LeBrun, Times Union
With 40 years in the newspaper business, Fred LeBrun worked his way up from a clerk to an award-winning journalist. Recently scaling back from four columns a week to two, he can be read in the metro section of the Times Union covering topics from the outdoors to special projects. His insightful and eloquent articles are a must-read.
2. John Gray
3. Paul Grondahl

Best Radio Personality
The FLY-92 Morning Rush
Since September 2006, the Fly-92 Morning Rush featuring co-hosts Brian Cody, Chrissy Cavotta and Jim Clark have been providing alternative morning radio for the Capital Region. “We cover everything from sensitive subject matter to the silly and absurd,” said Cody, who began his radio career in 1994. The show uses little scripting and cites their “realness” as what sets them apart. “We discuss a variety of subjects and we’re open and honest with the callers. We work hard and it’s our passion, but we don’t take it too seriously.” To prove his honesty, Cody confessed that he asked listeners to vote for them—but only if they liked what they heard!
2. Ric Mitchell and Laura Daniels
3. Paul Vandenberg

What woman doesn’t love a little pampering? And who deserves it more than a mother? This is our first year giving a head-to-toe makeover and Marianne Kulzer of Troy is the recipient. Her husband Mark wrote a touching letter explaining the reasons why his wife should be chosen, though he didn’t think she needed to be “made over”; just a little pampering. Read on to see what he had to say.

Dear Mary Beth,
I would like to nominate my wife Marianne for a Mother’s Day makeover. She does so much for all the people around her and I am lucky to have her in my life.
We have two beautiful daughters and Marianne dedicates her days to keeping them healthy, active and intellectually engaged. Both Amelia and Anya were preemies, born at 28 weeks and 30 weeks respectively. They weighed 2 lb. 12 oz. and 3 lb. 11 oz. Looking at them now, at the ages of 2 and 4, you would never know the obstacles they have overcome and the battles they have won.
They have emerged victorious because they have had Marianne in their corner, fighting for them every step of the way.
Time always seems to be in short supply, but Marianne still volunteers weekly at the Albany Medical Center Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to help parents who now have premature babies with uncertain futures. It is a way for her to give back to a place that has done so much for us. She does scrapbooking with the parents and shares stories of our family’s success; she comforts them and gives them hope at a time when they need it most. Sometimes this can be heart–wrenching because not all cases have happy endings—some babies do not make it. Marianne suffers and grieves along with the parents and it can take an emotional toll.
Marianne has a big heart and often puts the needs of others ahead of her own. That is why I think that my beautiful wife is deserving of a makeover.

Sincerely,
Mark A. Kulzer

PS: Perhaps “makeover” is not the correct term for what I would like for Marianne. I would certainly like her to be pampered, but I do not want to change anything about her. I love her just the way she is!

Marianne Kulzer of Troy is a busy mother and wife.

Married for seven years to Mark, this former first-grade teacher put her career on hold after having her daughters, now two and four years-old. She runs around each day shuffling them to the park, playgroups, the library, arts & crafts classes, the MOMS Club of Troy (she is due to take over as president of this chapter in July) and rarely spends any time on herself.

When she’s not with her kids, she volunteers every Monday evening at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Albany Medical Center. Working with the premature babies and their parents is something she knows all too well. Both of her daughters were preemies.

“It was a very stressful, scary and sad time,” said Kulzer, 38, who had to leave her older daughter at the hospital for seven weeks after giving birth. Not knowing much about premature babies, they weren’t sure what they would be up against.

Feeling as if she owed a huge debt to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Albany Medical Center, Kulzer jumped at the chance to volunteer at a program they started a few short months after her own experience. She began teaching scrapbooking to parents who had preemies to help them chronicle the lives of their babies.

“I really wanted to work with the parents,” she said. “You really can’t understand what someone is going through unless you’ve experienced it yourself. It’s nice for parents to talk to someone who has been through the same thing.”

Kulzer is able to lend support and share advice on how to deal with such a life-changing obstacle as having a preemie.

“You just have to take it one day at a time, sometimes even a minute at a time. As hard as it is to be patient, oftentimes that is the only thing you can do.” She also suggests having a solid support system, connecting with other preemie parents and not being afraid to ask questions.

Working with the program at NICU has allowed Kulzer to give back in a meaningful way and has also put her own situation into perspective.
“It’s nice when you can tell you are making a difference,” she said. “It makes me feel good about what I am doing and I also leave every week with such gratitude that my kids are now healthy.”

Thanks to her husband’s nomination, this Mother’s Day Kulzer will receive some much deserved pampering for all she does; not only for her own family, but for the many families she helps.

“I cried when I read his nomination letter. I was so surprised and excited,” she said. “I love Mark very much and I’m so lucky to have him. It’s so nice to know he appreciates me.”

—Ciara McCann

The Oprah effect

Living your best life with a spiritual connection

By Michelle Heffernan

It seems fitting in a “Best of” issue to write about a woman whose personal tag line is “Live your best life.” And because Oprah’s life generally ranks supreme, people listen. She makes books best sellers, people famous and personal stories of guests inspirational. Will she fuel a spiritual phenomena and a new earth too? As a modern day Midas, she just may become known for her Oprah Effect.

These days, Oprah is bounding with the desire to find those now famous “Aha Moments” through a spiritual connection with life, a deeper purpose and meaning. Just pick up the May issue of her magazine. Even the grandiose red rose pictured with her on the cover has special meaning. Oprah worked with a hybridizer to perfect a floral tribute to the 25 women she honored in 2005 as the Legends.

Now, the average person doesn’t have the opportunity to explore spirited creativity by cultivating an honorary rose or writing of spiritual self-discovery in foreign lands like Oprah show guest, Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love. But Oprah’s enthusiasm is breaking new ground with her first webcast class about Eckhart Tolle’s book, The New Earth. She has proclaimed that this web class is the most exciting thing she has ever done.

With the webinar and book, Tolle offers profound spiritual teachings that make one reconsider all of life to date. A transformation of egos around the world seems like a lofty proposition, but these thoughts have inspired a new way of reaching, teaching and connecting people of all walks of life, in countless nations, for of all things—inner peace. Enlightenment and technology have never partnered in such a way. As the saying goes, when the student is ready, the teacher appears.

Roses for the soul…
Inspired by Oprah’s new Legends roses and the spiritual energy she has tapped, the following quotes and thoughts are intended to be quick and practical spiritual resources for everyday life.

Truths and roses have thorns about them. - Henry David Thoreau
Impermanence is a fact of life. The truth is nothing in life is permanent, the good or the bad. In times of trouble, remember that this too shall pass. All roses and thorns will grow and fade.

The optimist sees the rose and not its thorns; the pessimist stares at the thorns, oblivious to the rose. - Kahlil Gibran
To focus on the thorns of life is to focus on suffering. Tolle writes of “background unhappiness,” the ego–created negativity in forms of anger, resentment, irritation and so on. To become a witness and observer to this background unhappiness, these thorns, is to begin to become aware of your ego. Become an observer by just listening to your comments and thoughts.

I’d rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck. - Emma Goldman
Tolle writes, “The ego tends to equate having with being: I have, therefore I am. And the more I have, the more I am. The ego thrives through comparison. How you are seen by others turns into how you see yourself.” Diamonds can create beautiful illusions of success.

I once had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalogue: no good in a bed, but fine up against a wall. -Eleanor Roosevelt
Take a great sense of humor as a serious asset. Make it a necessity. Laugh, laugh, laugh and learn to smile from the inside like Elizabeth Gilbert in Eat, Pray, Love.

The fragrance always remains in the hand that gives the rose. - Unknown
Deepak Chopra presents the Law of Giving in his book The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success. To withhold is to stop the flow of life, just like the flow of blood in a body. To give creates a flow outward and back to you. Give graciously.

Don’t hurry. Don’t worry. You’re only here for a short visit. So don’t forget to stop and smell the roses. - Walter Hagen
Tolle said during a webclass, “Worry is thought pretending to be important.” Try his Deep Lake Exercise. Imagine the surface of a lake filled with a worried kind of emotion. The surface can be stormy, choppy and windy. Far below, at the bottom of this deep lake is complete stillness. The bottom remains untouched and calm. Be here when worry surfaces in your mind. The chances of smelling the roses will increase.

People from a planet without flowers would think we must be mad with joy the whole time to have such things about us. - Iris Murdoch
The happiness of having quickly dissipates with the phenomena of wanting something else. We are so busy wanting, we don’t take time to enjoy the flowers or anything else we have in abundance. Tolle says “The ego wants to want more than it wants to have.” With the ego in charge, one will never be satisfied for long.

A rose is a rose is a rose. - Gertrude Stein
It is what it is. Acceptance is a vital tool for steering your destiny because what you resist persists. Try Tolle’s Transparency Exercise when presented with a person who is not so easy to accept. In the moment of resistance or rising irritation, imagine your body becomes transparent to the offender or situation. All the aggravating words or upsetting behaviors float by you, not able to penetrate that which is transparent. You are unmoved and completely unaffected emotionally so that you can remain present.

I never promised you a rose garden. – Martina McBride, singer
Fate is the hand we are dealt, which may be no rose garden, and destiny is how we play the hand. Now you can cry and carry on about broken promises and the garden you deserve or you can accept those things you cannot change and create your destiny. Make choices that move you forward and out of victim consciousness to feel free.
The well-known and most wonderful prayer for this moment is by Reinholh Niebuhr.

The Serenity Prayer
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And the wisdom to know the difference.

Michelle Heffernan holds degrees in design and Creative Arts in Therapy, is a professional member of the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association and is a Reiki II practitioner. She is a consultant for Synergy Counseling Associates in Albany and can be contacted at healingARTS@nycap.rr.com.

The accidental executive

By Mary Beth Galarneau

In 1977, Paula Stopera was a fresh-faced college student at Hudson Valley Community College, prepared to pursue a degree in education. She didn’t realize that taking a part-time job in a local bank would change her life’s course.

“You think you know what you want,” Stopera said. “I thought I wanted to go into special education.”
At the State Bank of Albany (now Bank of America), Stopera learned the basics of business. In fact, as the only commercial bank in Colonie Center, they handled the deposits for all of the stores in the mall.

“I was only there for a year, but it was a very good training point for understanding reliability, commitment and important basics for success in the future,” said Stopera.
From there, she went on to work at Pioneer Savings Bank full-time during the day while taking night classes at Russell Sage College.

“I loved what I was doing at the bank so I changed my major to business.”

In 1980, Stopera became the ninth employee hired at the Capital District Telephone Employees Credit Union in Albany, which was formed in 1953. At the time, they had $28 million in assets. Today it’s called Capital Communications Federal Credit Union (the name change was made in the late 80s) and there are 184 full-time employees and just under $700 million in assets on the credit union side and $230 million on the investment side, including financial services, retirements, mutual funds and stocks. In addition, there are nine local branches handling over 66,000 members and counting. It is the second largest credit union in the Capital Region.

For those unfamiliar with the concept of a “credit union”, think of a bank that is a member-owned cooperative. At the time, Capital Communications was formed around the NY Telephone Company and Bell companies (AT&T, Nynex, NY Telephone, Avaya). For the sake of survival, the credit union had to expand their membership as the number of employees at the phone company decreased from 21,000 to just 2,500. Today, a member is anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in the Capital Region or anyone who belongs to one of the credit union’s 500 Select Employee Groups (SEG). And, once you’re a member, you’re always a member.

Stopera says it didn’t take long for her to “fall in love with the credit union movement.”
“It really is people helping people,” she said, relaying a story of a woman who came in this past winter and said she had no heat in her house due to late payments. She was a single mother, working the midnight shift with the phone company, just trying to make ends meet.

“By the time she left, she had the money and we called the propane company for her. We help real people through real struggles.”
Through its Capital Communications Credit Union Cares Foundation, the credit union has also given back to the community, donating as much as $700,000 through work with charities such as homeless shelters and community health.

It’s these kinds of “good deeds” that make Stopera feel good about her job. She is always accessible to members and that extends right down to her employees. Whenever a new employee is hired (full or part-time), she takes him or her out to lunch to discuss the credit union’s mission and review their job responsibilities.

As a manager, it also helps that she has performed most every duty there. “I grew up here and I learned from the same positions that our staff works in today.” She also reminds them to always have a positive attitude at the work place, something she practices.

“You have choices every day – it can be a great day or a lousy day.”
It’s no wonder that the credit union has ranked as a top place to work for four years in a row, including two years rated as number one employer in the Capital Region by The Business Review.

Capital Communications has experienced tremendous growth under Stopera’s leadership, with membership increasing from 42,000 to 67,000, branch locations expanding from three to 10 and assets nearly doubling from $357 million to $670 million. And the credit union continues to grow. Just last year, Stopera led her team through a merger with Excelsior Credit Union, which, although not uncommon in today’s market, often presents opportunities for enterprising credit unions.

“As credit union managers age, more of them wind up merging with larger, stronger credit unions,” she said. “We lost 300 credit unions in New York State in the past several years as a result of mergers and retirements.”

When she’s not busy putting in between 45-50 hours a week, Stopera is a devoted wife and mother of two teenage children. A Cohoes native, she still calls the place home. “It’s such a tight-knit community,” she said. (Incidentally, Capital Communication’s ninth branch recently opened in Cohoes at the corner of 787 and Ontario Street).

For women who want to have a family as well as a successful career, it seems that Capital Communications is the ideal employer. Even before the enactment of the Family Medical Leave Act, women at the credit union were given a three-month maternity leave. Employees also have flex-time and the credit union is striving to provide options to work from home.
“We allow people to enjoy their families. You are not going to lose your job or feel threatened because you have a family.”

Stopera had to remind herself of this fact 15 years ago. At 36, she was suffering from stomach ulcers. “I was trying to be everything to everyone, but not myself.” After that experience, she learned to take time for herself. “If I don’t, I won’t be good for anybody.”

Like many working mothers, she learned that you need balance. “About ninety-nine percent of the time I didn’t miss a play, game or field trip. I didn’t jeopardize or sacrifice being a mother or friend over time. [A woman] can do both.”

Having started out in such a male-dominated business almost 30 years ago, it’s hard not to wonder if Stopera experienced any prejudice.
Aside from having to work twice as hard as her male counterparts to get noticed, she said she was fortunate enough to work with a great group of people and to be offered great opportunities.

“I was part of a young group of people that really created what the workplace would be like at the credit union.”
One man in particular, Harold Horning, manager of the credit union for 10 years, is someone who Stopera calls her mentor. “He forced me to do things outside of my comfort zone,” she said, whether or not she liked them. Like dispatching her to a public speaking workshop.

“I was 29 years old and in this program with executives – mostly men in suits. I thought I wasn’t going to make it to the end.” Turns out that this experience was a “turning point” in her career as a manager and leader. “I gained more confidence.”

Though her intended career in education took an unplanned turn in college, her latest endeavor has revived that old dream by allowing her to develop a program that educates high school students about business. Part of the inspiration for this latest venture arises out of a perplexing lack of emphasis on business courses in local high schools, to which Stopera can easily relate. “I was a victim of the same thing,” she admitted. “I didn’t take a business class until Sage.” Stopera sees the same bewildering deficiency in today’s schools. “In high school today, kids are mandated to take all kinds of course requirements to graduate. The mandate for English, social studies, science and foreign language eats up most of three years.” Unfortunately, many of these same students leave high school as financial illiterates.

To help rectify that, a representative from Capital Communications has visited several area schools to teach financial literacy. And Stopera has embraced her new role, which combines her keen business acumen with her long ago dreams of instructing the younger generation. In a way, it’s as if her two career aspirations—education and business—have converged onto a new path that’s allowed her to revisit the road not taken. In fact, she currently is on the brink of setting up a student-run credit union in some of the schools.
“I’d love the opportunity to introduce business into a high school curriculum,” she enthused. “In my next life, I’m going to try and fix that.”

But why wait until the next life? It sounds like Stopera is more than capable of squeezing that goal into this life, no matter how busy her schedule.

Is your teen ready to drive?

By Randy Cale, PH.D

Many parents get very anxious at the thought of their teenager driving, and they should be.

According to AAA, 15 to 17-year old drivers were involved in nearly a million crashes in 2006, injuring 406,427 people and killing 2,541. We know this is really the first time that our teens have the opportunity to put themselves and others at serious risk.

As parents, we need to ensure a high level of responsibility when our kids get behind the wheel of a car. So it’s up to you to decide if your teenager is ready for the road. It’s not about being old enough legally. It’s about whether your teenager develops the skills necessary to drive safely, and whether you can trust your teenager to use good judgment.

Integrity: When trying to determine whether your teenager is ready to get a driver’s license, consider whether they show integrity in their relationship with you. Do they honor their word to you? Can you be certain that they are truthful and honest or do they try to deceive you?

When they inform you of where they are going and who will be in the car, can you trust that? Do they generally use good judgment when you are not around? If so, great; if not, this is the first place to pause. Integrity is hard to teach if your teenager doesn’t have it by now.

Responsibility: How do they handle other responsibilities? Teens often want the benefits of hard work and responsibility without putting forth any of the effort. So, ask yourself these questions:
• Do they complete their homework and hand it in on time?
• Do they do their household chores without prompting?
• Do they help out when you need a hand around the house and take some independent initiative to do their work?
If so, you are likely in good shape and can feel comfortable about their time behind the wheel when you are not around.

Basic skills: If your teenager demonstrates they are responsible and trustworthy, the next step is to enroll them in a driver’s education course. If there is a cost associated with the course, make certain that your teen contributes to it. They are more inclined to take the course seriously and do well in it if they have to pay for part of it.
Let’s be clear however: This is really driving 101. It’s a very basic level of skill development and more practice is needed.

Practice makes perfect: Once your teenager has successfully completed a driver’s education course, they are ready to apply for a learner’s permit. However, they are not ready to drive independently. There are many different road conditions and other variables that can affect your teenager’s ability to drive safely and confidently. That’s why it’s important for teenagers to practice driving throughout the four seasons or for one year. Teach them how to handle snow, wet roads, and various traffic conditions, but do so in small increments. During this year, your teenager will be able to increase their driving skills, improve reflexes and become more confident behind the wheel.

Check. Check. Check. Be vigilant for skill development throughout the learner’s period. Notice how they handle various conditions and be gentle in reminding them of basic safe habits. In fact, have them pull over to deliver feedback. If they are resistant to your feedback, simply remove them from the driver’s seat. They will become more receptive with time if you use this approach.

Almost there: If you are pleased with your teenager’s driving progress over the course of a year, and they have maintained good grades, a positive attitude and continued to display good judgment, then allow your son or daughter to take the road test and get a driver’s license. However, just because your teenager has a driver’s license, does not mean they should have immediate access to the car keys at all times. And, they need to practice driving alone in the car before having friends join them. After about 20 solo drives, allow your teenager to only drive with a couple friends so they don’t get overwhelmed and distracted.

Finally, if you ever hear of moments when your teen has violated your clear conditions for safe driving, do not hesitate to remove their license for a while. Lectures will likely have little impact, whereas immediate loss of driving privileges will restore their attention to your guidelines.

Driving is a privilege, not a right, so I encourage you to make sure your teenager is ready for the responsibility before handing them the keys to the car. Most are ready for this, and some are not. If you have questions about their skill or judgment, I vote for caution as it will ultimately serve your family and mine.

Dr. Randy Cale, a Clifton Park based parenting expert, author, speaker and licensed psychologist, offers practical guidance for a host of parenting concerns. Dr. Cale’s new website, www.TerrificParenting.com offers valuable free parenting information and an e-mail newsletter.

Help your college grad get on a career path

By Dan Moran

In my practice, I mostly work with professionals seeking new jobs or those in “second career” mode. Around this time of year, I hear from parents of recent college graduates who ask for my help in guiding their son or daughter to find a job.

It is very common for a recent graduate to be confused as to their career direction, job targets and job search plan. Unfortunately, college career offices are usually not equipped to provide help other than with resume writing or interviewing skills. This leaves the graduate somewhat lost while trying to navigate this process on their own.
The good news is that recent studies show a strong market for today’s college grads in spite of the economic turndown we have been experiencing nationally. Collegegrad.com reports that hiring for recent grads is up 11.8% in 2008. And right here in the Capital Region the job market is humming along better than other markets. There should be plenty of opportunities; it just takes a plan to find and land that ideal job.

1. Understand & support – don’t critique
What is most important – as parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends or neighbors – is that we understand this is a tough and somewhat scary transition time for a college grad. All the book learning in college has not prepared them for what is about to happen next. Finding their first “real” job can be stressful, intimidating and often will shake one’s confidence. Turn this understanding into support and don’t critique. Give your graduate a bit of time to settle in and find their bearings. Don’t hand them the want-ads every morning. Rapid fire and constant critique will cause a war and disconnect for sure.

2. Provide resources
One thing is for sure – looking for a job or career today is very different than in previous years. Want-ads continue to diminish as technology reigns for job hunting. Three years ago LinkedIn wasn’t really well known, but today it’s a key job search tool. Huge job board sites like Monster, CareerBuilder and others, now face steep competition from over 40,000 job boards nationally, regionally and locally. Technology has made it much easier to look for a job than it has in the past.
Your recent graduate knows where to look using technology, but may need other resources to help them (beyond food, water, laundry and a place to sleep). If you sense that he or she is confused or needs a clearer direction of what type of job or career would be the right fit, offer ideas and perhaps a referral to a career professional or other trusted resource who can help. Encourage them to talk to people in jobs they would be interested in, this is known as informational interviewing. Maybe their resume looks like all the others in the job market—dare them to be different and try a new approach.
If it looks like they are spending a good part of their day on the computer searching, don’t critique – they are doing it right.
Above all, use the power of your personal and professional network to help. Let your contacts know your child is looking and encourage their ideas and feedback. Offer to do the same for their recent grad as well (the power of networking is to not only ask, but to give back as well).

3. Encourage planning
This is where most recent college grads go wrong (as well as seasoned career professionals) in their approach. Absent of a plan, strategy and goals, they try to do it all without focusing on job search tactics. I utilize and teach the Get Hired NOW! methodology to drive a plan, strategy and goals that are critical to landing a job. This program helps a job seeker select the approaches they will use in their search that they are comfortable doing and supports the approaches with specific and measurable goals.
Your role is to encourage your recent grad to perform their job search with a plan and strategy – one that they can measure results, which will provide direction, confidence and help remove fear.

4. Be a cheerleader
Rather than critique, be a cheerleader and celebrate the smallest of achievements or accomplishments. Celebrate an interview (even if it hasn’t led to a job), a meeting or conversation with one of your contacts or a contact they developed on their own. Cheer them on – let them know you have faith in their ability. It makes a world of difference.
They may not get it right the first time, and will probably find themselves in the wrong job, which happens (and let them know this is common early on in careers). They will eventually find their way, get it right and will soon be providing advice and guidance to other new and recent college graduates.

Dan Moran is president & founder of Next-Act, a career management & transition firm located in Colonie. He specializes in helping people make career choices and seek new jobs. He is also a Certified Facilitator for Get Hired Now! and Get Clients Now! Programs, which help those in career transition and companies get results. He mentors managers & executives as they navigate their careers and achievements. You can reach him at 641.8968 or dmoran@next-act.com or visit www.next-act.com.

How to lose those last 10 pounds!

By Judy Torel

You have been consistent in your exercise program. You love working out on a regular basis, and for the most part, you eat a healthy diet; you never eat fast food and rarely engage in snack foods and sweets. Yet, there are those last 5-10 pounds that just won’t budge, no matter what you do and it’s frustrating.

In order to drop those last 10 pounds (35,000 calories worth of stored fat) you must have a great desire to achieve your goal AND you must back it up with real and consistent behavioral changes above and beyond what you have done to date. The following are behavioral strategies to move you out of your plateau and into the body you envision.

Changes to your mind
The power of the mind to direct your behavior and to change physical reality is unfathomable. In order to change your body you have to believe that it is possible. You probably have heard that the last 10 pounds are the hardest. If you believe this, then this is what you will manifest because your mind doesn’t know the difference between “objective reality” and what you tell it. Instead, tell yourself that you expect to reach your goal. Tell yourself that you are going to pick up speed and turn your body into a turbo fat burning machine!

Research has shown that people who see the world through “rose colored glasses” are generally less depressed and less daunted by tasks than others who view life more “realistically”. So put on your rose colored glasses, set your goal and expect results!

Changes to your exercise
Many people who have lost weight have done it through burning approximately 2,500 calories each week through aerobic exercise, according to the Weight Loss Registry, an online database of people who have successfully lost and maintained their weight. But, now it is time to add in some anaerobic work, in addition to your aerobic workouts in order to boost your metabolism and rev up your fat–burning furnaces in your body, otherwise known as your mitochondria. Mitochondria are the parts of the cell where fat and sugars are transformed into energy for work and heat. This is how we burn fat at the cellular level.

If you have been jogging outside on a specific route, an anaerobic cardio workout would be this:
• Change up your route to find one with a hill.
• Do your normal jog pace until you get “in the flow” your normal intensity during each jog.
• Then get to that hill and sprint up the hill as fast as you can. You will be extremely breathless if you do this in your anaerobic level.
• Jog back down easy and repeat this 4 times.
• Finish by jogging your normal pace back home.

These types of workouts won’t be as long in duration as the others you do each week. If you normally jog four miles at aerobic pace, continue that, but do the hill intervals two other times. You will keep the total distance of the hills shorter, maybe three miles. Both longer duration workouts, and shorter more intense ones, need to be included to get at those last 10 pounds. Before, the longer workouts were all you needed.

Don’t do this type of exertion every workout, but at least twice a week for results.

Weights
In the weight room, most people looking to get rid of those last 10 pounds tend to switch around the choice of exercise, but don’t change the intensity levels. Just like with cardio, you need to mix up the intensities not the exercises themselves. If you have been using 15 pounds for bicep curls and do 3 sets of 10 reps on your normal workout, now is the time to do one workout a week where you use 20 pound dumbbells and get as many of the 10 reps as you can and then “drop set” down to the 15 pounds to finish the reps. Most people think they have to complete a full set before they jump to the next weight, but you will never get there if you don’t do drop sets.

Even if you can’t complete 10 full reps using the heavier weights, you will still be loading your body in a way that will cause it to burn more calories per workout, continue to burn a higher calorie rate directly after the workout, and increase the lean muscle weight that burns more calories than the comparable amount of fat every day.

You won’t gain weight on the scale necessarily, because while you are increasing some muscle weight (very hard to do) you are also burning more fat weight. So, while the scale will often stay the same, your body composition will dramatically and positively improve.

Another exercise tip: Split your daily workouts into two workouts, one in the morning and one at night. If you have the scheduling ability to do this (even if it’s the same amount of exercise), you will be revving your body up two times per day, and each time you do you expend a little more energy going from resting to workout energy level. This will result in a small but significant net increase in energy burn for the day. Every little bit helps to turbo burn those last 10.

Changes to your diet
If you want to lose weight then you need to know how many calories a day your body is burning in order to determine how many calories a day you need to eat to achieve this.
You may be eating only the healthiest food only on the planet, but you can be eating portions that result in weight maintenance. You can get your metabolic rate analyzed at various fitness centers or through nutritional consultants. Some personal trainers can use sophisticated equations to determine your rate. You can also go online and look up Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) calculators. However, since these are the least individually accurate, I would caution against it.

In order to lose those last 10 pounds, the number of calories you burn in a day must be about 500 calories higher than the total amount of calories you eat in a day. If you have lost significant weight, then the number of calories you burn in a day is going to be lower as you approach the last 10 pounds because you weigh less and it requires less energy to cart your body around each day. You also burn less calories from your workouts because you weigh less and it requires less energy to do 30 minutes of the same intensity cardio as it did 20 pounds ago.

Once you know your metabolic rate, you can determine the correct portions of the healthy food you are eating, making losing those last few pounds almost effortless. But, don’t assume you know which foods are lower in calories than others. For example, a Caesar salad at Chili’s restaurant is 1,100 calories and their sirloin steak is 560! If you follow your assumptions without looking up the items beforehand, you may be falling victim to higher calorie choices that appear to be healthier. This happens with homecooked foods as well. Brown rice is very healthy, but at 240 calories a cup, you would do yourself a favor to mix it, which reduces the calories to 150 calories.

Knowing your caloric intake requires some homework, so go online and look up calorie amounts of all foods and many restaurant items.

If you are drinking your calories, you are less likely to be under your daily calorie burn by 500 calories. The average coffee drink is 350 calories and they can be as high as 900.
Even if you are drinking an eight-ounce coffee with splenda and one-ounce of fat-free creamer, check that creamer’s calorie amount. You may be taking in 50-100 calories each cup without knowing because you assume the fat-free creamer means calorie free (not!).

Even vitamin waters, energy drinks and juice all have calories that many people trying to lose weight don’t factor into their daily intake. These drinks may be marketed as healthy, but even healthy drinks have calories, so be sure to look it up.

Finally, if you take the same number of calories and eat them in five meals verses three, you will burn more net calories per day. Why? Because every time you eat your body expends energy to digest your food. So, if you eat 1,600 calories a day three times a day it may cost you 160 calories to break down the food, but if you eat it in five meals it will cost you more, approximately 180-200 to break it down. The difference may not appear to be much, but when you are working on those last 10 pounds every extra calorie burned goes towards burning it off!

Judy Torel is a therapist/personal trainer with a Master’s degree in psychology. She is certified through the American College of Sports Medicine as a fitness trainer and works out of Planet Fitness and Deb's Sweat Shop Extension. She can be reached at JTOREL2263@yahoo.com. Please visit her website www.judytorel.com for more information about metabolism.

How her garden grows

By Ciara McCann

An “explosion of color” is how Albany City Gardener Judy Stacey describes the thousands of blooming tulips in Washington Park that signifies the arrival of the Tulip Festival each year in May.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the festival on Mother’s Day weekend on May 9-11. It’s exhausting work, but the spectacular outcome far outweighs the labor.
“I absolutely love my job,” she said. “I love making the city beautiful, working with my crew who are all creative and fun, and I love the response from the community.”

Meet the gardener
Stacey grew up on Long Island and came to the Capital Region to attend SUNY Albany, where she received a bachelor’s degree in European History and Drama and a Master’s in European history. Following graduation she moved to London and worked odd jobs before eventually settling in Australia for several years where she ran an antique and furniture restoration business. A historical project in California brought her back to the US in the late 70s and in 1979 she returned to Albany.

“I went to Washington Park to walk around and saw people playing music and hanging out and I said to myself, ‘I’m staying here’.” After being gone for almost 10 years, Stacey fell in love with the city all over again.

A self-taught lover of historical architecture, she found work at the City of Albany Community Development office, where she dealt with housing rehabilitation in Arbor Hill.
Stacey discovered her love for gardening as she volunteered her time planting bulbs for Tulip Fest. By 1996, with no one else at the helm, she was named the city’s full-time head gardener and left her job in the community development office. She is now in charge of all of the planting throughout the city. This includes Washington Park, Lark Street, traffic dividers, small pocket parks around the city and around the visitor’s center and city signs.

Planning & planting
With no formal training in her background, Stacey taught herself everything about the beautiful flower. She travels to Holland a number of times during their tulip season, which begins in April, and speaks with expert growers.

Her first order of business is to order the bulbs. “I already ordered in March for the 2009 festival.” She tries to get tulips in every color possible, including every shade of red and orange and in numerous variations. Incidentally, the number of tulips planted reflects the current year. This year there are 208,000 bulbs planted, next year there will be 209,000.
The shipment of bulbs arrive around October 1, and with the help of her permanent crew of five (she has three or four seasonal workers as well) the actual planting of the bulbs begins later that month and continues until mid-December. Aside from being extremely labor-intensive, the crew has to endure whatever the weather brings.

“From October to December we don’t stand upright,” Stacey said. “It’s back-breaking labor in every kind of weather. The ground froze early this year and we practically had to pickax through the soil.”
Deciding on where to plant the different bulbs is a job all in itself, but one that comes naturally to Stacey.

“I do it all in my head, I don’t write it down or have any plans drawn up,” she said. “I walk around the park by the beds and listen; they’ll tell me pretty much what they want to be.”
Members of the crew also have their own bed that they design. This allows for different color combinations, bloom heights and times, which results in greater variety.

During planning, Stacey has to decide whether a spot is what she calls a “pedestrian” or a “drive-by”. Pedestrian marks an area with a lot of foot traffic, where people can get close to the flowers and see every detail. For these beds she likes to plant more ornate tulips, like those with “fringy tops” or stripes; flowers with detail you can appreciate.

Drive-bys, however, consist of bolder colors that will catch people’s attention, such as reds and oranges. These can be found along the sides of roads, in traffic islands and surrounding city signs.
“I look for colors that are really going to draw the eye and wet the appetite that spring is coming,” she said.

The next step in the process is a waiting game. Until the end of March when the weather begins to warm up, all Stacey can really do is cross her fingers and hope the squirrels haven’t gotten to too many of the bulbs.

A bulb called Fritillaria (Crown Imperial) is used to try and ward off vermin. These bulbs have a skunk-like odor that fends off squirrels and keeps the tulip beds safe. Luckily, because of the large numbers of bulbs planted, even the squirrels can’t completely decimate them.

In April, with the festival just a little over a month away, the workers begin to clean up the garden beds of leaves and debris that have accumulated over the winter months. They label everything carefully, as it is important to know which type of tulip is where, and what family they come from. Depending on the temperatures and if they receive a good watering, the tulips usually start to bloom towards the end of April. After that, Stacey says they require little to no upkeep, “one of the wonderful things about this type of flower.”

Most tulips last around 10 to 14 days, prefer it cooler rather than hot, and most have different bloom times.

“We plant the tulips according to their bloom times with the idea in mind of having a tulip season stretching over about six weeks, not just for the festival.”

The luscious beds of flowers make for great photos; however, for some it can be quite tempting to keep their hands off.

“People of the city are so proud and watchful over the tulips that even when I’ve gone to take a flower from a bed I’ve had the police called on me!” she laughed. “The community really has a love affair with the tulips.”

As for the novice gardener who wants to begin growing tulips, Stacey offers some advice.

“If you want a spectacular showing, buy new bulbs every year.” Tulips are not guaranteed to come back the second year, and if they do they’ll be fewer and most likely smaller and shorter.

Stacey’s job as City Gardener is a never-ending one. Once Tulip Festival has come and gone, she has to dig up the tulips that have run their course and plant approximately 250,000 summer plants and hanging baskets. After that, it’s onto the fall mums and planting tulip bulbs for the following spring, and then the winter greens.

Dealing with so many different types of flowers each year, does one stand out more than the others? “Tulips are definitely my favorite. The type changes from moment to moment, but today it’s the Russian Lady.”

Garden Q&A

Q: I am interested in taking care of my lawn organically. What can I use to control weeds in my lawn using organic methods?

A: Organic lawn weed control is always a challenge for the environmentally-friendly homeowner. Now there is a new product widely available at your favorite lawn and garden center that is going to make organic lawn weed control a lot easier. Concern All Natural Weed Prevention Plus is a pre-emergent herbicide plus organic fertilizer. Sounds too good to be true doesn’t it? But this product is made from corn gluten meal, an animal feed by-product from the manufacturer of corn starch. A scientist at Iowa State University discovered that corn gluten meal spread on your lawn will prevent the growth of dandelions, crabgrass, quack grass, purslane, plantain and many other common lawn and garden weeds. I hope it works on ground ivy, aka Creeping Charlie, too. Concern corn gluten is dry, granular and very yellow. Apply corn gluten with a drop spreader at about the same time as the daffodils or crocus are in bloom in mid-spring at the rate of 15 pounds per 1,000 square feet of lawn. Apply just before a steady rain to get best results. Children and pets can play on the lawn after application, but don’t inhale the light dust of the product because of potential allergic reaction. Do not use corn gluten on a newly-seeded lawn until after the first mowing. I will keep you informed about how well it works for me. For more information about Concern Weed Prevention Plus visit www.concerngarden.com..

Q: I want to grow roses, but I have heard they are very difficult to deal with. Also, what are some good roses to grow in this region?

A: A lot of people don’t grow roses because these beautiful blooming shrubs have a well-earned reputation for being fussy. All of the criticisms are valid if you are growing the wrong type of roses. Hybrid tea roses, the ones with the beautiful fragrant flower shop blossoms and the ones with names like “Princess Diana” and “Peace” are the fussy ones that need the extra tender loving care.

But, the new trend in rose growing is to return to the more cold hardy, disease-resistant, low-maintenance roses that are even more beautiful for a couple years.
Now is the time of year when people should be ripping out their problem roses and replacing them with easy-care varieties. It is also when lawn and garden centers will have the best selections of roses and the mail–order catalogues will be fully stocked. Anyone can grow a rose bush as long as they have a somewhat protected, well-drained site that receives at least six hours of sunshine each day. Roses don’t grow well in windy and dry conditions, they don’t like soggy soil and they don’t like shade.

If you want glorious flowers for your landscape or a delicate bouquet for the table, and if you prefer to spend your time admiring your roses rather than sweating over them, I advise you to grow the newly re-discovered old-fashioned looking shrub and climbing roses that are now widely available. Rugosa roses are best known by many as the beach roses along coastal New England. They are cold hardy even in Canada; they are fragrant, bloom all summer long and produce rose hips for the birds in fall on shrubs that will grow four to five feet tall.

Some of the prettiest rugosa roses include ‘F.J. Grootendorst’, ‘Hansa’, ‘Therese Bugnet’, ‘Henry Hudson’,‘Blanc Double de Courbert’, ‘Fru Dagmar Hastrop’ and many more. Betty Prior’ is a cold-hardy floribunda rose, which mean they produce clusters of blossoms on bushy shrubs. This variety is also quite resistant to black spot and mildew. It will grow four to five feet tall and produce pink flowers all summer long. ‘Carefree Wonder’ and ‘Bonica’ are two reliable ever–blooming, disease-resistant shrub roses that will easily survive our coldest winters. They both produce medium-pink clusters of beautiful roses.

English roses are a new line of old-fashioned looking and very fragrant roses developed over the last 20 years by breeder David Austin. He has blended the voluptuous charm of old roses including damask and gallica with the vigor and repeat blooming of modern hybrids. There is no doubt they are incredibly beautiful with old-world names like ‘Cottage Rose’, Brother Cadfael’, English Elegance’, ‘Fair Bianca’ and many more.

For really small garden spaces people should think about growing ‘The Fairy’, a two-foot-tall polyantha rose bush that is covered with small, light pink flowers from June until late September.

Climbing roses can add great dimension to a small urban garden by rambling up on flower-packed canes that can reach 20 feet long. All you need is sunlight and a sturdy support like a trellis or an arbor. Two of the very best easy care climbing roses are ‘New Dawn’ and ‘Climbing Cecil Brunner.‘
All of the roses I mentioned are resistant to the two main rose diseases: black spot and powdery mildew. If you have these diseases with your existing roses, spray them with a sulfur-based fungicide or homemade solution of one tablespoon baking soda, one tablespoon ordinary liquid dish soap and one gallon of water.

Bugs are another matter. Aphids and Japanese beetles are roses’ two biggest insect enemies. Insecticidal soap and Neem, both available in garden centers and catalogues, are quite effective. Ladybugs feast on aphids and I enjoy controlling Japanese beetles by paying my kids to pick the bugs off by hand and stomping on them or dropping them into a container of soapy water.

Larry Sombke is a regular guest on WAMC and the editor/host of his blog website www.beautifuleasygardens.blogspot.com. He is a landscape consultant and the author of Beautiful Easy Flower Gardens. Send your garden questions to him at lsombke@beautifuleasygardens.com.

To build a boat

With apologies to Jack London

By Ed Lange

When you were a kid, did you ever build a boat? Odds are better than even that you did. Not necessarily a full-size boat that you could actually climb into, but dollars to doughnuts, you built a toy boat of some kind. It might have been nothing more than half a walnut shell with a twig for a mast and a maple leaf for a sail. Or you might have been more advanced and sawed a pointed bow on one end of an old pine board and then nailed smaller pieces of wood on top to build a superstructure. Or you might have gone the commercial route and built a wooden or plastic boat from a kit. Or maybe you even went for the whole hog and built a real boat with your father or a scout troop. But I’ll bet you built a boat, because we love to see things float.

Why? You don’t expect me to have an answer for that, do you? I have no idea why. We just do. Go with it. Did you ever toss a snowball into a pond? A stick into a stream? Ever watch a beach ball skitter merrily across a pool pushed by a puff of wind? If someone lets go of a helium balloon, do you watch it? Did you ever float a pie pan in dishwater? We love the water and we love to watch things float. Maybe it has something to do with a sense of freedom. Or a desire to be effortlessly buoyed, cradled and gently rocked. I think it’s in our DNA. I’ll bet even Cro-Magnon people, right after they discovered that rocks sink, tossed pieces of wood into rivers and streams to watch them float. Well, at least inquisitive little Cro-Magnon kids who weren’t out hunting wooly mammoths.

I’m with them, and probably with you. I love to watch things float on the water or in the air. As a kid, I built dozens of boats, including all the aforementioned and some others that were less successful. Such as the log raft I built in our backyard that was far too heavy to transport anywhere near any water, but that’s another embarrassing story. This story is about the non-embarrassing, successful building of a pretty doggone good rowing/sailing dinghy. You see, some of us never outgrow the desire to build boats. So, I built a boat. And completely usurped our entire garage in the process.

Out there in the intergalactic internet universe, one can find boat-building planets orbiting among millions of websites. I discovered several and landed on a benign-looking one that offered, not boat kits, but construction plans for lots of different boats that inspire imagination and initiative. Once the decision was made to actually do it, the buying began. I bought the plans for the 10-foot dinghy. I bought the mahogany plywood, the fiberglass, the epoxy resin, the wood flour, the latex gloves, the paint, the brushes and rollers, the hardware and fittings, the wood for the mast, and the sail kit.

Did I say sail “kit”? Yes. Despite my many years of sailing, I didn’t have a clue how to build a sail. Sails aren’t merely flat pieces of cloth, but are precisely designed with subtly curved shapes and fittings to suit a particular rig. Even with the sail kit custom-designed to my little boat’s specifications, I had to rely on my wife, Linda’s, sewing expertise to actually stitch the darn Dacron thing together. (I don’t have a clue how to sew, either.)

Except for the wonderfully skilled craftsmen who still build boats the traditional way: individual piece by individual piece, the method by which most home-built boats are constructed today is commonly known as “composite stitch-and-glue”. But they aren’t really stitched and they aren’t really glued. Though they are a composite of wood, fiberglass and epoxy.
The process can best be compared with the making of a moccasin, where several panels of leather are cut to shape, holes are pierced along the edges of the panels, and then the leather panels are stitched together. In building a boat, several panels of plywood are cut to shape, holes are drilled along the edges of the panels and then the panels are stitched together with plastic cable ties or wire. It is then that the “composite” part of the process comes into play. All of the seams where the panels meet are sealed, secured and made watertight with strips of fiberglass cloth and epoxy. When the fabric fiberglass and the liquid epoxy cure together, they form a very solid and strong bond. This is the essential step that creates a monocoque (single shell) structure and gives the boat its strength and durability and allows it to—hallelujah—float!

Careful details are what set apart any one thing from any similar thing—from a suit of clothes, to furniture, to a home. And so, I became finicky about the finishing touches. Although I followed the boat’s basic construction plans carefully, I chose to make some personal modifications in seating, storage and other non-critical details. The little boat is also fitted with brass and bronze hardware, a contrasting paint scheme, a hand-carved nameplate and even four hand-carved mahogany belaying pins for the sail controls.

Our little boat is named Maiden, for a number of etymological reasons, although we briefly considered Handmaiden, and Linda thought we should add our hailing port to the transom so that it would read, “Handmaiden, Delmar, NY” as a tip-of-the-hat to my late father’s love of bad puns. But after a laugh and a groan, we stuck with Maiden, period.
Out there in that boat-building universe is an array of plans for very simple little boats that can be built from one single sheet of plywood to large, complicated cruisers. Maiden happens to have a v-bottom that required compound curves and a sailing rig, but plans are available for much easier flat-bottomed boats, such as sharpies or punts and others without sailing rigs. Given the proper tools, even the Cro-Magnon man could have gone fishing in his own little boat rather than risking his life hunting those hairy betusked behemoths.

Ed Lange is the former Artistic Director for NYSTI in Troy. Three of his plays were finalists for national Audie Awards, one in which he won an award. His articles have appeared multiple times in national magazines: Sail, Soundings, American Theatre and Dramatics.

South Africa

One for the money, two for the show

By Linda McClain, CTA

Is a wildlife safari on your dream list?
Did you know that South Africa has experienced a strong increase in tourism over the past decade? With almost 1,800 miles of coastline, it is a country of breathtaking beauty and diversity. Due to a favorable exchange rate, a South African vacation can be more affordable for an American traveler than today’s average trip to Europe.

Getting there
South African Airways operates non-stop flights from JFK to Johannesburg. Hop a two-hour flight to Cape Town, a great starting point for your trip.
United Airlines and South African Air share a Star Alliance air partnership. You could earn over 17,000 round trip air mile credits, awarding you for an estimated 19 hours of air travel each way.
The South African time zone is seven hours ahead of EST.

When should you go?
South Africa is in the Southern Hemisphere. Seasons are the opposite of North America.
Winter: June-August. It is dry for most of the country, except the Western Cape, which has wet winters. Day time highs average 60F. Nights can drop into the frigid 30s. Animals are easier to spot during winter season because bush and grass are minimal.
Spring: September-November (ideal travel weather).
Summer: December-February. Temperature averages 80F in Cape Town, but can reach up to 100F in Kruger National Park. Surprisingly, landscape remains lush and green.
Population: Approximately 45 million.
Language: There are 11 official languages used in South Africa, several indigenous to the country. However, English is widely spoken.
Documentation: Valid US passport required. Two blank visa pages must be available in your passport. Visa not required unless you stay longer than 90 days. Passport expiration date must be valid beyond six months of return travel, or you may be denied entry.
Important health requirements: Consult your physician to determine necessary vaccinations and anti-malaria treatment, at least six weeks prior to your trip.

History
South Africa’s history is rich with culture. It is a blend of so many religious sectors and colors and is referred to as “The Rainbow Nation”. For the history buff, South Africa has an amazing story to tell.
The Khoi san bushmen were the first hunter-gatherers to inhabit South Africa thousands of years ago. Amazing evidence of the Koi inhabitation has been discovered in regions throughout South Africa, with more than 15,000 authentic rock art sites.
In the late 15th century, Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Gama was the first to explore South Africa. Over 300 years of Dutch and English immigration were followed by the German and French during the late 1700s and early 1800s. The Dutch colonized Cape Town as their first settlement. During the same time period the migration of the great Nguni and Sotho tribes led to a battle of domination. They both tried to take control of the land and hundreds of tribesmen were killed in the process.
There is no concise way to detail the events which led to the first and second Boer wars. Nor is there a simple way to understand the development of Apartheid, the 27 years that Nelson Mandela lived in prison for crimes he did not commit or his amazing rise to political fame.
The shift from Apartheid to a working democracy has improved their country’s future. Fortunately, struggle for power and expression of beliefs has made South Africa a stronger nation.

Province of Western Cape
Cape Town has a familiar European environment and is referred to as the “Monte Carlo” of South Africa. From Victoria and Alfred waterfront to Table Mountain as its backdrop, your first impression of South Africa will be as unforgettable as your last.

Things to do & see
• Table Mountain—Its flat top resembles a large table. When clouds roll in, they appear to cover the mountaintop like a tablecloth. Hike or take a cable car to the summit for dramatic views of the Atlantic and Indian oceans.
• Cape Point - It is home to a variety of birds, antelope and baboons.
• District Six Museum, Cape Town - A tribute to 60,000 people forced to relocate during apartheid.
• Castle of Good Hope, Cape Town - Built by the Dutch between 1666 and 1679, it is the oldest colonial building in South Africa.
• Robben Island - Boat transfer available from Cape Town waterfront. A former prison, now a World Heritage Site (Nelson Mandela was jailed here).
• Cape Peninsula - Visit Boulder Beach to see a colony of over 2,000 penguins.
• Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens - A world heritage site since 2004.
• Mossel Bay - Visit the Maritime, Shell and Cultural History Museums
• Hermanus - Whale watching hotspot (June-October). Also experience shark diving in a two-person cage.
• Enjoy Grotto Beach, over 18 miles long.
• Cape Winelands - Fine wine and culinary perfection await you in Paarl, Franschhoek and Stellenbosch Winelands.
• The Garden Route - Spans over 500 miles from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth. Travel amid spectacular mountain passes, view pristine lagoons, lakes, beaches and rivers.
• Plettenberg Bay - Reminiscent of the French Riviera.
• Oudtshoorn - The Feather Capital of the world. Take an ostrich ride!
• Cango Caves - These breathtaking limestone formations sculpted by nature are said to be over 15,000 years old.
• Knysna - Adventure seeker? Choose from scuba, quad-biking or abseiling. Nature lover? Surround yourself among pristine forests and mountains that frame the Indian Ocean.
• Seeking retail therapy? Interesting shops are tucked around every corner.
• History buff? Knysna will intrigue you with its monolithic sandstone heads that frame its own lagoon.
• The Blue Train - Take the luxury Blue Train through the heart of South Africa to your next destination. Thinking of the North Cape? The route travels through Kimberly, known for its diamond mines and related attractions.
Province of Mpumalanga
(African for Place Where The Sun Rises)
Location: Northwest region of the country
Visit Kruger National Park, which hosts over 600,000 visitors a year. It is one of the largest game parks in the world and compares in size to the countries of Wales or Israel. Recent studies have recorded over 150 types of mammals, 500 types of bird species and more than 150 kinds of plant life here. The excitement of watching herds of giraffes, tribes of monkeys and exotic wildlife in their natural environment makes Kruger National Park the perfect place for wild animal enthusiasts.
Want to spot the big five?
• Elephants (over 10,000 of them!)
• Lions
• Leopards
• Buffalo
• Rhinoceros
Heard of the little five?
• Antlion
• Leopard tortoise
• Buffalo weaver
• Elephant shrew
• Rhinoceros beetle
Additional highlights of Mpumalanga:
Blyde River Canyon - The third largest and only green canyon in the world.
• Dullstroom - A fly-fishing haven
• With over 21 national parks in South Africa, 14 have overnight accommodations. Accommodations range from minimal to marvelous. Do you prefer the adventure of a tented camp or high-end luxury lodges? Regardless, there is something for every budget and comfort level.

Interesting facts
• Survivors of the Boer War (1899-1902) included three men who would go on to change the course of history: Winston Churchill, then a British Army general; Mahatma Gandhi, who worked as a stretcher bearer; and Louis Botha, a Boer commander who became South Africa’s first prime minister.
• The only street in the world to house two Nobel Peace Prize Winners is in Soweto, where Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu both have houses on Vilakazi Street.
• The world’s largest diamond is the Cullinan, found in 1905. It weighed 3,106.75 carats, uncut.
• Four out of five of the fastest land animals live in South Africa: Wildebeest, lion and gazelle can run 80mph, while the cheetah out does them all at 100mph.
South Africa has something for everyone. Is this the year to plan your visit? l
Linda McClain, CTA, is owner of Capital Region based Linda McClain Travel Services “From The Islands To The Highlands, No Dream Is Too Far From Here!” For more information call 372.7657 or visit www.lindamcclaintravel.com.

Sun Sign Forecast

For May 2008

By Arlene DeAngelus

Best Days for May 2008: 1st, 18th, 30th and 31st.

Aries: (March 21 to April 20) Working conditions and co-workers are your focus for this month. You take a renewed interest in your work or the services that you provide for others after the 2nd. Toward mid-month, you rethink career goals, or the equivalent area, in your life. The 21st brings you unexpected help with on-going projects. Communicate clearly after the 26th when negotiating with others

Taurus: (April 21 to May 20) Loved ones and creative projects are your focus for this month. Expressing yourself becomes easier after the 2nd. Toward mid-month, you question abstract subjects such as the law, philosophy and religion. On the 21st, some new knowledge prompts you to consider a workshop. You work in an effort to help others after the 26th and don’t be discouraged if some oppose your way of thinking.

Gemini : (May 21 to June 20) Family responsibilities and domestic duties are your focus for this month. You establish a sense of personal stability after the 2nd. Toward mid-month, you find ways to gain both emotional and financial support from others. You receive career recognition on the 21st. Your interest in spiritual beliefs is stimulated after the 26th as your friends expose you to new universal concepts.

Cancer: (June 21 to July 22) Communications and learning, both formal and informal, are your focus for this month. You take a renewed interest in your everyday environment after the 2nd. Toward mid-month, you seek greater harmony in your one-to-one relationships. Use care when reading contracts and fully understand them before making decisions or signing after the 26th. Seek legal advice, if needed.

Leo: (July 23 to August 22) Financial matters and security are your focus for this month. Avoid impulsive purchases and investments. Find ways to improve your work and expand your knowledge in your field after the 2nd. Toward mid-month, there are unexpected gains from these work areas. New relationships are a source of possible misunderstandings after the 26th. Communicate clearly in these relationships.

Virgo: (August 23 to September 22) Self-expression and personal dedication are your focus for this month. This is not the time to be critical of yourself and your past deeds. You examine your love relationships after the 2nd and want to make them more fulfilling. Toward mid-month, there are enjoyable times with loved ones. Any health problems may require a second opinion after the 26th. Avoid fad diets.

Libra: (September 23 to October 22) Inner-self and spirituality are your focus for this month. Yoga and meditation will appeal to you at this time. Family relationships require your patience after the 2nd as you resolve old situations. Toward mid-month, you share love and support with these family members. You look for ways to express your creativity after the 26th. This is usually not a good period for gambling or speculation.

Scorpio: (October 23 to November 21) Friends and associates are your focus for this month. You now seek out people who share the same interests as you. Toward mid-month, you are more open-minded. You may even attend a workshop on a subject you once would have disregarded. Your domestic and personal life can become confusing after the 26th. You look for solutions on both an emotional and spiritual level.

Sagittarius: (November 22 to December 21) Responsibility and recognition in career areas, or the equivalent, are your focus for this month. You reap the rewards for any past accomplishments. Toward mid-month, you look to increase your assets or financial status. Be careful that you are not over generous or extravagant on the 21st. Communicate clearly after the 26th. Enter into all negotiations with care and proper knowledge.

Capricorn: (December 22 to January 19) Philosophy of life and spirituality are your focus for this month. You look to gain wisdom in many areas. Toward mid-month, you gain optimism and re-think new opportunities that have been presented. An unexpected meeting on the 21st proves successful. Careful money management is suggested after the 26th. Risky financial ventures and get-rich schemes prove unsuccessful.

Aquarius: (January 20 to February 18) Joint finances and shared assets are your focus for this month. Resolving issues in these matters become easier and agreements can be reached. Toward mid-month, you take time for introspection and seek rejuvenation on an inner level. You have an enlightening experience on the 21st. Self-knowledge can be difficult, but important after the 26th. See yourself and others in a true perspective.

Pisces: (February 19 to March 20) One-to-one partnerships, both business and personal, are your focus for this month. These important partnerships work better as recent stress subsides. Toward mid-month, you analyze your long-term goals and directions. Enjoy a social event on the 21st. You take time to evaluate your accomplishments after the 26th. Inner fulfillment as well as spiritual fulfillment becomes important.

Best of the Capital Region

By John Gray

By now you’ve all read about all of the Best Of winners. Thank you to everyone who voted for me as a columnist or TV guy. Even if you didn’t, I still appreciate you picking up this magazine and taking a moment to peruse the last page. Each year I try to come up with my own Best Of list that’s a little different than what you’ll find in the previous pages. Just stuff I’ve noticed growing up and living in our wonderful Capital Region. See if you can relate to any of them.

Family
Best place to kill time with a toddler when you have no money – PetSmart. They have kittens, fish, birds, spiders, lizards and people actually walk their dogs around the store.

Best place to take the whole family for old fashioned fun – Guptill’s Arena in Latham. Exercise and ice cream, what more could you ask for?

Best place to take the kids for lunch and fun – Old Chicago on Wolf Road in Colonie. Food in the front, games in the back.

Best place to go on St. Patrick’s Day – The real Chicago in Illinois. They even dye the river green.

Best place to ruin a pair of good shoes on St. Patrick’s Day – McGeary’s Pub in Albany. Trust me, half the beer in the place will accidentally be spilled on you.

Best place to see Christmas decorations in April – Four Corners, Delmar.

Best way to get sick–Send your child to daycare.

Best way to lose your mind – Trying to open the child-resistant packaging on the cold medicine while you are sick and have no patience.

Best way to learn you actually are a pretty good parent – Take your kid to the playground and watch how other people’s children behave.

Best reason to move to the Town of Colonie – The Crossings.

Best place to lose a child and find them five minutes later playing in a canoe – L.L. Bean.

Best place to go on a hot summer day when you’ve run out of ideas – Saratoga. You have the park, the carousel and Ben and Jerry’s all right next to each other.

Best place to go for a drink even if you don’t play golf – Saratoga National Golf Course. It’s breathtaking there.

Best charity you never heard of that needs your help – Shelters of Saratoga. Yes, there are homeless people in beautiful Saratoga, too.

Dating and Romance
Best pick up line for a guy – “I will never lie to you.” Um, thing is, you have to mean it though, okay?

Best pick up line for a girl – “I’m sorry I’m late, but the movie Predator came on TV and I just couldn’t turn it off.”

Best place to meet a future mate – Work.

Worst place to meet a mate if the relationship ends – Work. Now you are stuck with each other.

Best place to go for a drink if you are over 40 – J.J. Rafferty’s in Latham.

Best place to go for a drink if you are under 30 – Blue 82 in Albany

Best place to go for a drink if you are a single guy with no prospects – Graney’s Sports Bar in Albany. At least the bartenders are beautiful.

Best place to go for a drink if you are in a serious committed relationship – Your own living room. What are you doing going out?

Best place to buy clothes for your date and get a great deal – Marshalls.

Entertainment
Best band in the area you still haven’t seen – Sirsy.

Best new band with the cutest name – Who’s Your Paddy?

Best reason to see them – My brother Steve is the lead singer and he’s really good.

Best reason to spend an extra $10 a month for HBO – “John Adams”. Three more reasons: “In Treatment”, “The Sopranos” and “Entourage”.

Best reason to spend another $10 to get Showtime – “The Tudors”.

Best reason not to live during the time of Henry the VIII – If you so much as look at someone the wrong way they chop your head off.

Best radio station to play if you want to laugh in the morning – Fly 92.

Best radio station to play if you just got dumped and want to feel sorry for yourself – WGNA at night, Cryin’ Lovin’ or Leavin’ show.

Best radio show to learn something –The Fred Dicker show on Talk 1300.

Best song for your wedding – “True Companion” by Marc Cohn.

Best song for your wedding if one of you has a deceased parent and wishes they could share this special day – “I’m Already There” by Lonestar.

Best song to listen to if you don’t have a soldier in the family, but want to understand what military families are going through right now – “Letters From War” by Mark Schultz. It’s truly amazing.

Best music to play if your life is a complete mess and you are totally lost – Casting Crowns.

Best music to play when you are on your way to an important business meeting – Kanye West. It just puts you in a winning mood.

Worst movie made in the past 20 years – “Wild, Wild West” with Will Smith.

Best three movies of the past 20 years that you have probably never seen, but should–”Notting Hill”, “A Simple Plan”, “Meet Joe Black”. The first makes you smile, the second makes you nervous and the third makes you think.

Best line from a movie that still makes me laugh even though I’ve heard it 50 times – “Did you say Yoots?” from “My Cousin Vinny”.

Best line from a movie that still makes me cry – “Dad do you wanna have a catch?” Kevin Costner to his father at the end of “Field of Dreams”.

Beauty and Money
Best place to spend $25 on lip gloss – Sephora.

Best place for a hot shave – Rumors IV Men in Latham. Guys if you haven’t tried one yet, trust me it’s great.

Best place to pay someone to put their hands all over your body – Kimberley’s A Day Spa.

Best place to have people touch you when you’d rather they didn’t – The security checkpoint at the airport.

Best nail salon in the area – Domani on Union Street in Niskayuna.

Best name for a salon owner that’s not made up – Anita Hug, owner of Domani. No kidding, I need a hug. That’s her real name.

Traffic and Driving
Best place to spend $60 and get nothing for it – Any local gas station.

Best place to spend another $2 on a soda that’s worth $.50 cents – The same gas station.

Best way to insure it’s going to rain – Get your car washed for $8 dollars at the same gas station.

Best way to blow $2 and get upset – At the vacuum machine at the carwash. Out of 10 machines, you pick the one that doesn’t have any suction.

Best place to get stuck sitting at a red light – Route 7 between Latham and Schenectady. Twenty years ago there were two lights on that five-mile stretch, now there are 10 and they all seem to be stuck on red.

Best place to see a public embarrassment – Same road, where the old Sebastians strip club has sat vacant for years with hot pink paint and silhouette’s of naked girls painted on the outside. I can’t believe the Town of Colonie can’t find a way to tear it down.

Best place to get stopped by the cops for no reason late at night – Western Avenue in Guilderland. If it’s past midnight they just assume you’ve been drinking so DON’T.

Best way to throw away $3,500 – Be stupid enough to drink and drive and get caught. A lawyer friend told me that’s the minimum you’ll spend on attorney fees and we haven’t even talked about the fine and points on your license. Or, the fact you could kill someone. So don’t do it.

Food
Best hamburger on the planet – Jack’s Drive-In in Wynantskill. They call them ‘sliders’ cause they slide right down. Yum.

Best onion rings – Ted’s Fish Fry. Nothing compares.

Best Cosmopolitan – Provence in Stuyvesant Plaza. Don’t know why, but they just taste better there.

Best place to order just dessert – Carmine’s Restaurant, Albany. The selection is amazing.

Best place to sit at the bar and order appetizers – Angelo’s 677 Prime, Albany. The calamari is to die for.

Miscellaneous
Best place to blow $250 on concert tickets – SPAC this summer when The Police arrive.

Best day trip for the kids – The Bronx Zoo. The gorillas alone are worth the trip.

Best thing that everyone should see at least once that’s only three hours away – The Statue of Liberty. Trust me, in person, it’s truly moving.

Best ballpark to see before it’s gone – Yankee Stadium. I don’t care how many luxury boxes they build in the new stadium, it will never be the house that Ruth built.

Best way to spend a day without spending any money – Pack a lunch and blanket and go have a picnic at the park.

Best way to get in touch with nature – On that same picnic leave the cell phone, laptop and iPod at home.

Best reason to live in the Capital Region – The people. Lord knows it’s not the low taxes.

Best reason to stay in the Capital Region your whole life – Family and comfort. I know other places have nicer weather, but it will never be home to you. Plus, we have Vermont, the Berkshires, Montreal, Boston and the Big Apple all just a tank of gas away. Not to mention Tulip Fest, Irish Fest, apple picking, great skiing, the race track, Lake George and a million
other things that makes our home town special. That’s what I think anyway.

And on that note I bid you adieu.

John Gray is a Fox23 News anchor and contributing writer at the Troy Record. He can be reached at johngray@fox23news.com