So the year is almost over, and we’re reminiscing on all the good times we had in Albany in 2013. Here’s Albany.com’s roundup of the Top 5 things that happened in Albany in 2013. Check them out and add your own in the comments!
We couldn’t help ourselves…these first two are a bit more pop culture than they are hard-hitting news. You’ve been warned. If you’re not especially interested in Ryan Gosling or Boys II Men, skip to number 3 for the more serious business!
5. Star-studded Schenectady-based movie The Place Beyond The Pines opens
The Place Beyond the Pines was filmed almost exclusively in Schenectady, and every Ryan Gosling fan went out to see the film when it opened in April of 2013. Also starring Eva Mendes and Bradley Cooper, the movie told the story of a mysterious motorcycle racer who does stunts through the streets of Schenectady before turning to bank robbing. If you haven’t seen it yet, you definitely should so you can point out all the places you’ve been as they appear on screen.
4. The Package Tour came to Albany
(You will have this stuck in your head all day.)
As a part of their Package Tour, NKOTB, Boys II Men, and 98 Degrees all came to the Times Union Center in August of 2013. The show of classics and new material featured a lot of hip thrusting, choreographed moves, matching outfits, and harmonizing – and we wouldn’t want it any other way!
3. SUNY splits CSNE from the University at Albany
CC-BY-SA-3.0/Matt H. Wade at Wikipedia
Moving on to the more serious 2013 news, the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering split from the University at Albany, making it the first new SUNY campus in over 40 years. The CNSE split stemmed from a recommendation that the college could operate better as a separate institution. While many students, faculty, and staff expressed concern about the split, SUNY administrators assured that the separation will be beneficial to both schools. We will see what adjustments are made before the change takes effect for the 2014-2015 academic year.
2. Governor Cuomo approves the Albany Convention Center plan
The proposed convention center has taken almost twenty years to gain traction in legislature. While the project still remains controversial, Governor Cuomo’s administration has approved the latest plan for the 82,000 sq. foot center at Eagle and Howard streets. Though the project originated as a much larger, much more expensive structure, the pressures of the economic downturn of 2008 and taxpayer opposition led the project developers to scale back. Construction is expected to begin in the summer of 2014.
1. Mayor Gerald Jennings ends 20 year tenure; Kathy Sheehan elected
After 5 consecutive terms, Mayor Gerald Jennings announced he did not plan to run for a 6th term. In November of 2013, Albany elected its first female mayor ever – democrat Kathy Sheehan. Mayor Jennings’ legend lives on in the newly renamed Jennings Landing. We can’t wait to see what Mayor Sheehan has in the works for 2014!
Do you have some favorite 2013 Albany moments to add? Let us know what your top 5 are by commenting below!
