the next question: what to do in Albany?

[DeltaOne81]

So now that we've done the hotels, tickets, bars, and roll call... can anyone familar with the area recommend some pre-hockey worthy tourist attractions, places to go, and places to eat? I have Thursday evenings, Friday morning/early afternoon and Saturday early afternoon to kill.

I've been to Albany twice, but never really ventured anywhere other than for food or hockey. Typical bashing of Albany aside, can anyone recommend things that are worth doing while there?

And while I do want to hear about restaurant recommendations, its usually not too too hard to find a good restaurant, but finding a unique and interesting tourist attraction can be more challenging and more rewarding.

Thanks!

[Jordan 04]

Well, a quick 2 hours and change south on 87 is a decent tourist attraction...

As for Albany proper, I have no idea.  Crossgates count?

[mjh89]

Crossgates Mall is pretty sweet...

Look here:
http://www.albany.org/

[atb9]

[Q]Jordan 04 Wrote:

 Well, a quick 2 hours and change south on 87 is a decent tourist attraction...

As for Albany proper, I have no idea.  Crossgates count?[/q]

In terms of trips, I would also offer the 45 minute drive north to Saratoga.  It's a real famous, old-school, horse racing town that has a great night life.  There are some nice cafes and coffee shops on Broadway Street.

If you're a history buff, the Canal System in Albany is pretty impressive.  Albany also has some great architecture.  The Empire State Plaza (including the Egg) and the Capitol are fun places to hang out.  St. Peter's and City Hall are old buildings from the mid to late 1800's.  There are some museums near the Empire State Plaza but I haven't been to them in over a decade.

Otherwise, might I suggest snowmobiling with a hockey stick in one hand and a beer in the other?  :-P

[DisplacedCornellian]

[Q]atb9 Wrote:

Otherwise, might I suggest snowmobiling with a hockey stick in one hand and a beer in the other?[/q]

It's catching on!  Excellent.

[TimV]

Theater:  Capitol Rep (near Jillian's)::snore::
Clubs: Jillian's (downtown)::laugh::
Strip Clubs:  DiCarlo's (Central Avenue about 3 miles west of downtown);-)  

[Scersk '97]

 [Q]Jordan 04 Wrote:
Albany also has some great architecture.  The Empire State Plaza (including the Egg)...[/q]

If you like Bob Moses-inspired, highway-swallowin', gargantuan-alien-welcomin', airplane-landin' tarmac.  Your other suggestions are great.  The Delaware & Hudson building is magnificent.

I'd also suggest contemplating what a nice railroad station used to be smack-dab downtown before they kicked out the tracks and turned it into a bank.  

Oh, and, at night?  There seem to be plenty of places in Albany to imbibe.  In 2003, party central seemed to be [G,J]illian's.

[TimV]

Very good independent movie theater - The Spectrum - on delaware Ave.  Some first run , some excellent non-commercial non mainstream or foreign films.  Right next to a great Vietnamese restaurant - My Linh.

[KeithK]

My best Capitol District Saturday entertainment was to drive to Cooperstown.  But that's much harder to pull off with a 5pm consy start as opposed to a 7pm game at Achilles.

On the other end of the spectrum was sitting on the stage at the RPI Field House playing hearts while watching a kids hockey game.  A three game series in Troy (1998 quarters) is really asking a lot.

[Drew042]

I will put a plug in for a couple places:
-For those with kids, the New York State Museum, though severely underfunded (thank you Georgie...) is a very pleasant musuem and they usually have a few good special exhibits and a lot of things for kids.  
-If you decide to head east to my hometown Troy I would recommend The Plum Blossom on Rte. 7.  The Chinese food there is among some of the best that you can find.   Other that that I would not recommend ever going to Troy...unless guys under 21 want to visit Emma Willard:-)

[Micaela]

If you only have a couple hours to kill and don't want to wander far from Pepsi Arena, I would recommend checking out the State Capitol Building.  The architecture is very impressive (esp. ceiling in the library) and the Million Dollar Staircase visually impressive and historically fun.

http://www.ogs.state.ny.us/curatorial/capitol/default.asp

[marty]

For art there is the Clark Museum in Williamstown Mass (and also the Williams College art gallery or museum or whatever).  The Clark was started by some fairly eccentric people who after seeing art treasures ruined in the wars in Europe decided that the middle of nowhere beat the hell out of a location in New York or Boston.  They own an amazing amount of art and so no two trips are ever quite the same.  (An expansion is planned which will more than double the current size of the place.)

http://www.clarkart.edu/

Speaking of art, if you’re into art deco you could checkout the Proctor's Theater in Schenectady or the newly renovated Palace in Albany.  Both are 1920- 1930 style vaudeville theaters and have been nicely restored.

Proctor's has an oldies show on Friday night that may be more interesting than Sucks vs Colgate but I somehow doubt it - unless you're really into the Turtles.

A long walk from the Pepsi will bring you to Saso's Japanese Noodle House.  The food, including sushi, is great but the seating limited, so call ahead.

http://www.sasos.com/

The New York State Capitol building is a trip in itself (a closer walk than Saso's).  This was built over many years with many architects and the overall effect is about the same as the teamwork at RPI.  It's too bad that it wasn't all designed by one person….  Maybe Fridgen can get a job there renovating the place.  With all the terror fears I don't imagine interior tours are too likely.

http://assembly.state.ny.us/Tour/

For those looking for a job with qualifications beyond a hockey rink consider this:

http://www.rpi.edu/research/biotech/index.html

The newest and likely largest building on the campus of RIP is a site to behold.  One of my friends is a prof emeritus at the Tute.  He remarked on how large the building is.   It is big!  And of course they have to fill it with professors and such so get your resume ready.

And finally I second the idea of checking out downtown Saratoga, if you’ve never seen it.  It is a very nice place to shop and stroll.  The only negative is that the chain stores are creeping into town.

[Al DeFlorio]

[Q]atb9 Wrote:
In terms of trips, I would also offer the 45 minute drive north to Saratoga.  It's a real famous, old-school, horse racing town that has a great night life.  There are some nice cafes and coffee shops on Broadway Street.
[/q]
Saratoga offers both the National Museum of Racing (horse, that is; a truly first-class museum) and the National Museum of Dance (for those who admire a different kind of leg).

The former is open every day, but the latter only on Saturday and Sunday this time of year.

[atb9]

[Q]marty Wrote:

The newest and likely largest building on the campus of RIP is a site to behold.  One of my friends is a prof emeritus at the Tute.  He remarked on how large the building is.   It is big!  And of course they have to fill it with professors and such so get your resume ready.

[/q]

With all due respect, Biotech's clean room is ghetto compared to Duffield's.  B-]

[jy3]

some things to do not mentioned:

1. also in saratoga is the gaming and raceway - http://www.saratogaraceway.com/
fun for gambling, nonsmoking of course...mostly slots - it is at the harness track

2. crossgates as mentioned

3. there is usually the outdoor show the same days as the tourney at the egg - http://www.pressrepublican.com/outdoors/lib/2005/03132005out3.htm

4. wolf road has a bunch of places to eat. a good place to eat in schenectady is pinhead susan's, if u are near schenectady for hotel or what not. but as my wife just said, there are more places in albany

5. jillians is down the street from arena (part of dave and busters)

6. if you would like some hot lead, go to troy

7. there is always playing golf with onion and rip players

8. a short drive to a few ski areas is possible - http://www.onthesnow.com/NY/?src=overture?XE_MKT=google_ads&XE_KWD=ny+ski+areas+albany&XE_LND=http://www.onthesnow.com/NY/?src=overture
and
http://www.timesunion.com/sports/ski/

9. quick google search yielded these sources:
http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=65

10. placid, like cooperstown, and NYC, is a bit far

11. last but not least, my wife said if we were able to go she would be at her parents playing with their dogs

that may or may not have all helped. there is plenty to do in the area. hope u all have fun!