Troy Night Out continues Earth Day celebration
Sustainable ways to shop, dine and explore downtown eyed
TROY, N.Y. » The Earth Day celebration is continuing in the Collar City this Friday with a Troy Night Out focused on sustainable ways to shop, dine and explore downtown Troy.
Trojans and visitors alike are encouraged to shop, dine, explore and learn more about downtown Troy striving to create a cleaner, healthier, sustainable city and community at Troy Night Out from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, which is also Arbor Day, throughout the city’s downtown district.
Attendees can see and learn about how local small business entrepreneurs go green, and how they can as consumers too.
This month the Downtown Troy Business Improvement District is welcoming many nonprofit organizations and small businesses to Monument Square and sharing special promotions and events at businesses throughout the district.
This event is meant to be fun and educational for children and adults, with the Children’s Museum of Science & Technology, Collard City Growers, Nature Lab, FoodScraps360, Troy Zero Waste and Bash Parties offering a cardboard city for visitors to help build or decorate.
For Arbor Day, visitors can check out the newly planted trees on Fulton Street and Fourth Street, part of the Downtown Troy Business Improvement District’s Raise. Plant. Grow urban canopy campaign.
This TNO welcomes many fresh starts as well. New business ZeBra Bras will hold its grand opening party and Kathleen Fiber Arts will be open in its new location at 212 River St.
Reclaiming natural materials, reusing and reducing initiatives will be showcased with
“Less Plastic More Clay!” and a seed bomb workshop at Third Street Potters of the Broken Mold.
Troy Night Out-ers can learn how to make bags from repurposed old maps at The Wooden Shoe Trading Company
Shoppers can save 10 percent at the Counties of Ireland by bringing their reusable bag from last month’s Troy Night Out, save 20 percent on all Green merchandise at Troy Cloth and Paper, and receive 10 percent off of one piece of clothing with a purchase of Topsy Curvy Boutique’s ecofriendly reusable totes.
In the past downtown Troy was known for its antique andvintage finds, and there’s still a lot to explore today in home furnishings and goods. Artcentric Marketplace embraces repurposed furniture, offering salvage materials to their customers. Winners of HGTV’s Flea Market Flip and lovers of all things upcycled, Funcycled, is offering 10 percent off aof ny furniture and Trojan Horse Antiques invites visitors to browse their large selection of furniture, lighting, rugs, glassware, fine china, pottery, art, books and more.
What’s old is new again at Twilight Vintage Boutique, which has two floors of expertly organized clothing and accessories.
Gaming and technology can be just as classic. Pastime Legends Video Games welcomes guests to the world of Atari, Intellivision, Colecovision, Nintendo 64, Gamecube, Wii, Virtual Boy, Playstation, PS2, PS3 and PS4, with stations to play favorites during Friday’s event.
Many Downtown Troy restaurants work daily to reduce organic waste and lessen their carbon footprint. Visit Psychedelicatessen at its Compost Meet & Greet with fun games, demos and information on how the bagel shop composts all their kitchen and customer waste. Sunhee’s Farm and Kitchen promotes a more sustainable Troy, starting with its farm to its utensils. Coffee-lovers can bring a reusable 16- oz. cup and get a free coffee refill at The Daily Grind, and tea enthusiasts will receive 10 percent off all loose leaf teas when they purchase any reusable tea tumbler at The Whistling Kettle.
“Investing in the earth is also reinvesting in the liveliness and culture of our community and city,” a press release from the BID said. Many art openings are abound at The Image Gallery of Troy, The Photography Center of the Capital Region and the Rensselaer County Historical Society. Barbara Todd Studio opens its doors to show visitors the process of re-weaving, and re- embroidering the Bayeux Tapestry, created during the 10th century.
This Troy Night Out also marks the start of the Collar City Craft Festival at the Arts Center of the Capital Region, featuring area artisans.
Troy Savings Bank Music Hall will present a free performance by The Ithaca College Wind Ensemble and the Troy Public Library, partnering with the Underground Railroad History Project, will bring Americana gospel and blues to the community with The Heavenly Echoes and JV & The Cutters.
Lastly, light is something we may take for granted or maygounnoticed. Students and staff of the RPI Lighting Research Center will present a one-night only light show, “FLUXISTENTIAL,” located inside the Gurley Building.
Troy Night Out programs will be available at participating downtown businesses, the Downtown Troy BID office located at 251 River Street, or online at www.downtowntroy.org/ troy-night-out. Listings are also available via the Troy Night Out mobile phone app.