I’ve mentioned several times in the past here at Albany.com why my wife and I decided to move to the Capital Region. In our humble opinions, our reasons were fortified with unassailable logic. Our reasons included, but were not limited to… Our need to compromise our Long Island vs. Western, New York differences The...
Reunion Time at SUNY Oswego
“Don’t look back, something might be gaining on you.” These were the immortal words of Satchel Paige, and if you don’t know who he was, then you’d have to “look back” into history, which means you’d be ignoring old Satch’s advice, so you’re better off not finding out who he was which means he...
Upstate New York has been “Honored” by The Simpsons
A few weeks ago the venerable animated series, The Simpsons, (A program that I believe when it is all said and done may outlast “60 Minutes,” “Meet the Press,” and “Face the Nation,” which definitely says something about our viewing habits as a nation.) aired an episode entitled, “D’oh Canada.” In the episode, the...
Dewey’s Thruway a.k.a. “Oy 87”
There's only one way to travel in New York State...for better or worse.
As a native Long Islander, I always despised the traffic that seemingly enveloped every road that criss-crosses the “Island.” My one saving grace however, was that at least the exits weren’t very far apart. Therefore if we were ensnarled in a traffic jam on the Southern State Parkway, or the Cross-Island Parkway, but I...
Albany INTERNATIONAL Airport
How do you know when the community you live in has officially “arrived?” I suppose for openers, a cellular tower would be a nice start. How about a post office, you have to have one of those, correct? For example, here in Clifton Park, we have so many post offices, we even have one...
Hosting Guests in the Capital Region
Entertaining is an art onto itself. In other words, some people excel at it, while others really struggle. In fact, my wife and I have found that some people make excellent hosts, while others make excellent guests. Few other than my wife and I of course, excel at both.* * I know you may...
In Albany, We Can Only Wish for the Knish

As the debate in this nation over immigration drags on, just as it has for over 200 years, it is incredible to me how quick we are to forget that “American culture” doesn’t even exist without the contributions of immigrants to our beloved country. Consider all of the things that we think of as...
Working the holidays on Christmas in the Capital Region

When I was a teenager growing up on Long Island, I worked at an old-fashioned drug store called Arlo Pharmacy in Massapequa Park. While I would hesitate in describing it as famous, it was prominently featured in the movie Young Adult with Charlize Theron and Patton Oswalt. Prominently might be a bit of a stretch as well in...
Vermont was Made for Columbus Day

Most vacation spots consist of a specific destination. Typically, when we tell people that we are going away, it means we are going to some place like Myrtle Beach, or the Grand Canyon, or Disney World. However, could a state be in and of itself a destination? Well, it would have to be a...
The Capital Region and its Mythical Beasts.

In the good old days before the internet, if you wanted sensationalized, unsubstantiated facts, and absurd story-lines, one had to peruse the check-out lines at your local supermarket, for it was there where you would find the “rags,” a.k.a., the tabloids. These “news” magazines were sordid sheets that filled the public with salacious gossip,...