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Albany: NY's Capital

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Albany - The Heart of the Capital District

Whether you live in Albany, are moving here, or are just coming for a visit, you need the scoop on where to go and what to see. From finding the night life, to when the best festivals are, to what radio channel to tune in to - we've got what you need to know.

Albany has so much to offer, and being just minutes from Schenectady, Troy, Saratoga, and Cohoes makes the area truly rich in activities and opportunities.

Capital District Events

There is always something happening in the area

In Albany, and the surrounding area, there is always something happening. Fairs, festivals, concerts, sporting events, and more! These sites are some of the best spots to find out where to be.

Albany events entertainment music - timesunion.com - Albany NY: Albany Entertainment - Events, dining, music, movies, local bands, nightlife, seen, serving Albany, Saratoga, Schenectady, Troy and the New York State Capital Region
Metroland Online - The Alternative Newsweekly of New York's Capital Region: The Metroland is a popular free newspaper focusing on nightlife - concert listings, reviews, local bands, bar listings, personals, etc.
Albany Special Events: City Sponsered Events
Capital Region Living: Capital Region Events and Attractions. Profiles on local businesses. "Best Of" list.

Views of Albany

curated content from Flickr

Local News

Provided By Times Union, Albany's #1 newspaper

These are the latest happenings in the Capital Region:

Albany Tees

Local Musicians

For the best local rock, check The Burners UK or Black Cat Elliot. The Kamikaze Hearts have the alternative listeners paying attention. And, if you are in a different mood, check our the Celtic group Hair of the Dog

I recommend visiting Capital District Local Music for a list of the local musicians, their genres, bios, and websites.

Local TV Network Channels

The websites are great places for local news and happenings

WRGB - CBS (channel 6)
WTEN - ABC (channel 10)
WNYT - NBC (channel 13)
WMHT - PBS (channel 17)
WXXA - Fox (channel 23)
Capital News 9 (Time-Warner Local Cable News)

Albany (Images of America: New York)

by: Don Rittner

Amazon Price: $13.27 (as of 05/26/2012)

Surrounded by natural beauty and a rich human legacy second to none, Albany lies in the Hudson Valley about 150 miles north of New York City. First settled in 1648, the area quickly grew into one of the most important trade, transportation, and military regions in North America. Albany became the permanent state capital in 1797 and has long been a major political center, key to New York's growth and prosperity. Some of the nation's leading statesmen, scientists, and presidents have called Albany home: Martin Van Buren, Joseph Henry, Hamilton Fish, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, and Franklin Roosevelt, to name a few. Albany is a photographic essay of the city's 19th- and early-20th-century history; it focuses on the architectural treasures downtown and moves on to transportation, institutions, and disasters. Albany is also more than that: it is a field guide, challenging the reader to see the changes that have occurred over time and, at quiet hours, to hear the clamor of horse and wagon and streetcar navigating State Street and the blaring horns of steamboats plying the Hudson River.

Good Times in Albany

At it again... - Tulip Ball 2009 by m00by

Mayor and Attendees - Tulip Ball 2009 by m00by

Little Dutch Children - Tulip Ball 2009 by m00by

The Ultimate in Anti-Beachball Weaponry by DannoHung

Northeast Ice Storm . Upstate New York by Stinkie Pinkie

curated content from Flickr

Albany Area Twitterers

Looking for people in the capital district? Here's a start.

Local Sports

Albany River Rats - American Hockey League
Albany Conquest - Arena Football
Tri-City Valley Cats - Minor League Baseball
Giants NFL Training Camp @ UAlbany

Local Sports Items

Albany's Current Weather

Current weather conditions in Albany, NY (12202)

Local Pollen Reports

76°F (Feels like 75°F)

Last update: 5/23/12 6:51 PM EDT

Humidity: 54%
Visibility: 10.0 mi
Dew Point: 58°F
UV Index: 0 (Lawn and Garden Weather)
Barometer: 29.95in rising
Moon: Rush Hour Traffic
Wind: 5mph From: Airport Conditions

Tonight

Low
Low: 63°F
Sunrise: 5:25 AM
Sunset: 8:19 PM

Thursday
May 24

N/A
High: 80°F
Low: 65°F
Sunrise: 5:25 AM
Sunset: 8:20 PM

Friday
May 25

Isolated T-Storms
High: 77°F
Low: 65°F
Sunrise: 5:24 AM
Sunset: 8:21 PM

Saturday
May 26

Isolated T-Storms
High: 83°F
Low: 60°F
Sunrise: 5:23 AM
Sunset: 8:22 PM

Albany History

Local Colleges

The Capital Region is rich with college life. We have it all.

UAlbany (SUNY) - Photo is of Fountain Day
RPI (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute)
Siena
Saint Rose
Russell Sage
Union College
Skidmore
Albany Law School
Albany College of Pharmacy
HVCC (Hudson Valley Community College)
SCCC (Schenectady County Community College)

College Prowler

Inside Info on Capital Region Colleges

These books include what prospective students REALLY want to know about colleges.

Albany Tee

Help! Where Do I Go?

I Need Help!

I, like, NEED TO SHOP!!! What is THE shopping center around here?
In a word, Crossgates. This mall has it all - with not one but two Orange Julias! Orange Juliases? Orange Juliasi? What the hell is plural for Orange Julias???
But, of late, Colonie Center has become quite the place with its new remodel and the addition of LL Bean.

It's Friday Night, and I NEED TO SING! Where do I go for the best karaoke?
Hands down, you want to cross the river and head toward RPI - drive strait on by and end up in Wynantskill - hit Valenti's Pub to sing along with DJ Kenny Casanova.

Darling, where does one golf in this region?
Beats Me - I can barely even mini-golf. But our Times Union has laid out a comparison of local golf courses: Albany Golf

I have no air conditioning, and I am crazy hot. Where can I get decent ice cream?
Turn left (from wherever you are) and go nearly a mile - you should see a Stewarts Shop - stop in for a treat.

The People's Choice: A History of Albany County in Art and Architecture

by: Allison P. Bennett

Amazon Price: $23.00 (as of 05/26/2012)

Now in its fifth printing. It is a unique and thoroughly researched history of Albany County, New York, and is engagingly told through a rich seleciont of photographs of historically significant portraits, landscapes, churches, weather vanes, mills, bridges, barns, houses, monuments, maps, drawings, and silhouettes that have never been published before. It is a treasure trove of illustration and knowledge of the many aspects of Albany County life from 1630 to 1900.

Other Albany Lenses

Albany Items

Albany's Dutch History

Albany Items up for Auction

Art Prints

Albany Guestbook

Leave us a message.

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jimmyworldstar Jan 23, 2012 @ 12:10 pm | delete

Decent guide for people interested in visiting Albany. I'd put more on the nightlife or culture scene for younger people or those interested in it though.

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LoKackl Oct 8, 2009 @ 5:41 pm | delete

Thanks Kab, this will be a nice add-on to my Amherst, Mass squidzipper lens. The drive through the mountains between Albany and New York was the best part of a recent trip to Buffalo when I visited relatives. 6*/fav/featured lens.

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Amy Riddell Sep 28, 2008 @ 10:13 pm | delete

Ice Cream! Coffee House! Opened this June

Check out www.ebalbany.com!

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TopStyleTravel Jun 8, 2008 @ 6:18 pm | delete

Great informational lens. Congrats for the Top 100! So did I. I am a foodie, got any plans to write lens on great food in Albany?

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stargazer00 May 28, 2008 @ 9:33 am | delete

My 2 teens are going to be spending a day there soon. Thanks for the info on malls and such.

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May 5, 2008 @ 4:21 am | delete

Hey,
what a great lens here, Albany is one of the big city, once I have visited to Albany, it is really fantastic place. It is one of my favorite place, thanks for giving more information about Albany city.
I hope you have a chance to see my lens about bathroom remodeling

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rms Apr 13, 2008 @ 8:09 am | delete

This is awesome! I've given it a roll on my Long Island a Tribute lens.

Reply

funwithtrains Apr 12, 2008 @ 9:10 am | delete

Albany is a nice town, I've been there many times. Nice Lens! Please visit my Lionel Trains lens.

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GypsyPirate Sep 24, 2007 @ 10:59 pm | delete

Wonderful lens, you have great information in here! I'm glad you joined us in the Squidoo City Guide!