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

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.

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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.

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

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

Costco Opening Day Is Almost Here in Guilderland

The wait is nearly over for Capital Region shoppers. Costco has announced that its first location in the Albany area will officially open on Thursday, August 6, near Crossgates in Guilderland.

The new warehouse club on Western Avenue spans 163,000 square feet and features 18 gas pumps, 770 parking spaces, and a wide selection of groceries, household essentials, electronics, pharmacy services, and more. The store is expected to employ about 200 people, with hiring still underway for dozens of positions.

Shoppers can sign up for memberships before opening day at Costco’s temporary Recruitment & Membership storefront on the upper level of Crossgates near Macy’s. The storefront is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The upcoming opening marks a major retail addition for the Capital Region and gives local residents their first Costco without traveling to neighboring markets. With opening day just weeks away, excitement is continuing to build for one of the area's most anticipated new stores.

Source: Albany Business Review

Glens Falls Lands on a List of Favorite Adirondack Towns for 2026

Glens Falls is getting some national attention! WorldAtlas recently included the city among 12 Adirondack Mountain towns ranked as favorite U.S. destinations in 2026.

While Glens Falls sits just outside the official Adirondack Park boundary, its longtime reputation as the “Gateway to the Adirondacks” makes it a natural starting point for exploring the region. WorldAtlas highlighted the city’s location along the Hudson River, affordability, and easy access to Lake George, ski resorts, and other Adirondack destinations.

The article also gave a nod to several places and experiences that make Glens Falls worth exploring on its own. The Hyde Collection, Cooper’s Cave, the Three Squares Historic District, and annual events such as the Adirondack Balloon Festival were among the local highlights mentioned.

Glens Falls joined well-known Adirondack communities including Lake George, Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Tupper Lake, Ticonderoga, and Wilmington on the 2026 list. For locals, the recognition is another reminder that you don’t have to travel far to find a destination that stands out.

Source: WorldAtlas