Find Out What's Happening Locally In Our Albany NY News Roundup

Shake Shack Opens at Stuyvesant Plaza on August 6

Shake Shack is bringing its first year-round Capital Region location to Stuyvesant Plaza in Guilderland. The grand opening is set for Thursday, August 6, with a ribbon cutting at 9:30 a.m. and doors opening at 10 a.m.

The new restaurant sits in the plaza's corner building near the Western Avenue entrance. Shake Shack is known for its 100% Angus beef burgers, crispy chicken, Crinkle Cut fries and hand-spun milkshakes, and the Capital Region has been asking for a full-scale location for years.

The first guests in line on opening day will receive Shake Shack tote bags while supplies last. Shake Shack will also donate $1 from every sandwich sold that day to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, a Latham-based organization that supplies food to nearly 1,000 charitable agencies across 23 counties.

Shake Shack got its start as a hot dog cart in New York City's Madison Square Park more than two decades ago, created to help fund a public art project. It has since grown into a nationally recognized brand known for community partnerships and local sourcing.

The addition rounds out an already busy dining lineup at Stuyvesant Plaza. Shoppers can also visit Simone's Kitchen, Josie's Table, Jacob & Anthony's Italian and the newly renovated Peaches Café, with Bar Calvin from Ziemann Hospitality Group slated to open in 2027.

Take Aim at Albany County’s New Public Archery Range

Archers have a new place to practice in the Capital Region. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation recently opened a free public archery range at Black Creek Marsh Wildlife Management Area in Voorheesville.

Designed with accessibility in mind, the new range offers separate shooting areas with targets from 5 to 20 yards and 20 to 50 yards. All shooting lanes are wheelchair accessible, and targets accommodate traditional bows, compound bows, and crossbows.

Bowhunters can also practice from two elevated shooting platforms that simulate hunting conditions. One of the platforms includes an area designed for wheelchair users, adding another accessible option for honing archery skills.

The Albany County facility is the first of up to 13 new archery ranges DEC plans to construct across New York with funding from a five-year, $3.1 million federal grant. The project follows the opening of DEC’s first public archery range at Saratoga Sand Plains Wildlife Management Area in Wilton in 2020.

Beyond the range, Black Creek Marsh encompasses about 450 acres of wetland and upland habitat, with parking areas and a maintained trail network for visitors. The new addition gives Capital Region residents another way to get outside and enjoy this public recreation area.

Source: NY DEC

Downtown Schenectady Launches Downtown Dollars Digital Gift Card

The Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation announced Downtown Dollars on August 4, a new digital gift card program for the downtown business district. The card works through tap-to-pay technology and stays stored directly in a phone wallet.

Downtown Dollars gives shoppers one digital card to spend at nearly 50 businesses across Downtown Schenectady, including restaurants, bars, boutiques, and salons. Recipients no longer need separate gift cards for each favorite stop.

Participating merchants include Proctors, Frog Alley Brewing, Vice and Virtue Restaurant and Cocktail Bar, and Open Door Bookstore, along with dozens of other local shops and eateries. The full directory is available on the DSIC website, with new merchants added regularly.

The program gives residents and visitors an easy way to support small businesses while exploring the downtown district. It also works well as a flexible gift for anyone looking to introduce someone to the area's dining, shopping, and entertainment scene.

Downtown Dollars gift cards can be purchased and sent directly through schenectady.yiftee.com. Anyone interested in browsing participating merchants or checking current offers can find the full list on the same site.

Learn more >>

7 Brew Drive-Thru Coffee Opens at Crossgates Commons This Fall

A new 7 Brew drive-thru coffee stand is coming to Crossgates Commons in Guilderland later this fall. Local franchisee Brew Team NY is bringing the fast-growing chain to the shopping center as part of its continued push into the Capital Region.

7 Brew is known for its double-lane drive-thru and handcrafted, customizable drinks served by staff called Brewistas. The menu extends well beyond coffee, including:

• Energy drinks
• Fizz sodas
• Lemonades
• Shakes and smoothies

7 Brew was founded in 2017 in Northwest Arkansas and had grown to seven locations by 2020, when Brew Culture LLC purchased the brand. Under that ownership, the company modernized its menu and drive-thru operations, and it now operates more than 700 stands nationwide.

The Crossgates Commons stand adds to a growing list of 7 Brew locations already serving the Capital Region, including North Greenbush and Queensbury, with another location planned for Clifton Park. Leslie Mugrace, Marketing Director for Crossgates and Crossgates Commons, said the center is thrilled to bring 7 Brew's energetic drive-thru coffee experience to guests.

For Guilderland residents and Crossgates Commons shoppers, the opening means another quick, customizable coffee option close to home. Keep an eye on Crossgates Commons announcements this fall for an exact opening date.

Cool Off at Troy's New Knickerbacker Aquatic Center

The Knickerbacker Aquatic Center at Knickerbacker Park has been open for about a month now, giving Troy families a new place to cool off this summer. The facility held its grand opening in early July, replacing the original Knickerbacker Pool, which had sat closed since 2016.

The new complex features an eight-lane Olympic-size pool, three splash pads, a zero-depth entry for accessibility, and a pool house with locker rooms, showers, and restrooms. City officials marked the opening with a ribbon cutting and community celebration nearly a decade after the previous pool closed.

Admission is free for Troy residents, and the facility is open to Troy residents only, with registration required for entry. The Knickerbacker Aquatic Center is open daily from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. and is staffed by lifeguards from the Boys & Girls Club of the Capital Area in partnership with the City of Troy.

With a capacity of 460 people, the pool offers plenty of room for laps, splash time, or relaxing on the deck. Now that it's settled into its first full month of operation, it's become a steady summer destination for Troy residents looking to beat the heat.

Sources: News10, Troyny.gov