August 2011 Archives

Many of our own neighbors in New York are suffering from the effects of Irene. In some areas it's just a little water damage or the power's gone, and in others it's flooding and sudden food shortage.

The Belleayre Music Festival is turning its final show of the season, the talented Bela Fleck, into a benefit to aid relief from Sunday's record-breaking flood in the Catskills.

The owner and founder of Angelo's 677 Prime and Prime at Saratoga National, top steakhouses in the Capital Region, has announced a new member of the 'Prime' family in Clifton Park.

Nothing beats baseball in the summer heat and this summer the Tri-City ValleyCats have proven that to be true. For the 8th season in a row the team has drawn a record breaking crowd.

Note to ticket holders: the American Idol Concert has been RESCHEDULED thanks to Irene!

Due to the threat of hurricane strength winds this weekend from Hurricane Irene, the Times Union Center has made the call to reschedule Sunday's concert to the following week.

The American Idol Concert will now be held on Sunday, September 4.

Wondering how this will affect your tickets? If you have purchased tickets for the American Idol Concert already, they will be honored at the concert next Sunday.

And what if you can't make the concert on its new date? Well, that's what a lot of people were wondering, and here's how the TU has responded...

This year a new event fires up a little friendly competition in the Capital Region. The first ever, Downtown Albany Jazz Fest Competition pits top jazz artist from across the region against each other for a chance to perform as the opening act at the Riverfront Annual Jazz Fest.

Who's headlining the news with their orchestral accolades in Albany? It isn't some visiting group - it's our very own Albany Symphony Orchestra.

Since the founding of the U.S., millions of Irish citizens emigrated to America and stayed to raise families who became generations. Heck, almost everybody has a little Irish in them somewhere these days. Just look at the popularity of the annual Irish 2000 Music & Arts Fest every year.

But I digress, what I really meant to tell you about was this:

Yesterday at noon, Albany unveiled the city's first public access electric car charging station. The new charge center has two levels, can accommodate multiple vehicles, and means a giant step towards sustainability by the Capital City.

J.B. Shuck, who played for the Tri-City ValleyCats in 2008 was called up to the Houston Astros from AAA Oklahoma City earlier this month. Shuck became the 24th former ValleyCat to reach the big show. He joins 2009 ValleyCats Jose Altuve and J.D. Martinez, who were both called up earlier this summer.

WhoSay, QED National, and Microsoft are all expanding their enterprises into the Capital City.

If the thought of meat hanging from the ceiling, with a man wielding a large knife and a bloody apron kind of creeps you out, then you'll find The Meat House is much better than you imagine. 

I got a tip from a friend to look into the mysterious "Stargate Mall", set to open on August 20th. What is it, exactly? Therein lies the mystery...

Love your friends, but have completely different tastes when it's time to go out? No more need to compromise with the newly-opened Kokopellis in Troy - this 3-story nightclub has a different atmosphere on each floor to make everyone happy.

When I think of Howe Caverns, I think of descending deep into the earth. Getting off that elevator 160 feet below the earth's surface and stepping out into the dark, damp cave.

But this year's new attraction, the Howe High Adventure, totally changes all that with an exhilarating adventure above the ground... and I mean, way above the ground...

Latham NY bids farewell to yet another restaurant this summer: Filet 7 West. This upscale steakhouse neighbored Ruby Tuesday and Carraba's. Filet 7 West closed Tuesday evening after dinner service.

Sound familiar? This comes just a week after the Dakota Steakhouse closed in Latham last Monday. Apparently Latham just isn't that into steak. Or maybe it was the economy. Or the exit 6 construction?

Luckily, there is a silver lining...

The last time I dined at Dakota Steakhouse in Latham, NY was years ago. I was a teenager, and I can barely recall the meal I ate: steak and mashed potatoes. More memorable, however, was the card they mailed me on my birthday as a member of their birthday club. It was addressed to: Dorothy Coil. (note: my maiden name was Destiny Cail)

Well, aside from getting my name completely wrong, they weren't that far off with the meal. I'm not a huge steak lover, but it wasn't bad, and the other members of my dining party seemed satisfied with their meals, though no one was raving about the dishes either.

The confections seen on The Food Network's Cupcake Wars are incredible.  Every set of cupcakes is a piece of sugary perfection; it seems impossible that anything like that could be made anywhere aside from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. Of course that's not true, as one local sweet shop proves with its upcoming appearance on Cupcake Wars.

Head to Cold Stone Creamery in Stuyvesant Plaza in Guilderland for free ice cream today!  It's the perfect way to cool off on an August day! Plus it's free and delicious! But hurry, the offer only lasts for 92 minutes...

It seems an oxymoron to be "newly historical", but that's close to what happened to Washington Park in Troy, NY, at a special unveiling last Wednesday.

The Tri-City ValleyCats have really been packing the fans into Joe Bruno Stadium this season. For the first time since the 2002 season, the 'Cats have reached the 100,000 attendance mark before the month of August.