The good, the bad and the bartenders — a weekend in Albany
As a stranger to Albany, after the madness of an extended weekend of NCAA basketball, I offer some observations about the town from a fresh-eyed outsider:
1) Empire State Plaza is a complete mystery.
We found the architecture stunning, but there was a bizarre desolation about the place, with scarcely a human to be found. (This on Thursday and Friday.) It doesn’t seem integrated into its surroundings, more like a spaceship hangared in the middle of town. And yes, the word “Kremlin” was uttered in our quiet saunter across the lonely plain. As for the “Concourse,” a cannon could be harmlessly fired down there. What were they thinking?
2) The good stuff was closed.
It was disappointing to discover, on a weekend with thousands of visitors wandering about — especially on Saturday (no games) — both the state Capitol and the Corning Tower observation deck were sealed tight. No tours for you. “No Love New
York” this day.
3) MVP Arena’s design flaw.
It seems an otherwise great venue, but what’s with the lack of washrooms on the 200 level? Selling keglike cans of beer, with barely any bathrooms, did create a perfect storm around the porcelain, especially with four games in one day, attended by throngs of middle-aged men.
4) Albany has wonderful bartenders.
Awesome Frank, as he is known in our legend, was a perfect pal and tour guide at the War Room. Even the kooky karaoke, horrible but in that fun way, could not spoil the spirit of the late night. At the Lark Tavern, meanwhile, Smiling Sam was a complete delight. (“Heh, Canada came back!”)
5) The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
is a wonderfully sacred space. It did not pass notice that Sunday’s gospel was the story of Jesus making a blind man see, while the sermon had a reference to the impending bankruptcy of the diocese. Connect the dots as you will; the lawyers sure have.
6) Pedestrian/sidewalk peril.
What’s with “walk” signals at downtown intersections? They either a) don’t exist or b) are always on the orange-handed “stop” mode. How we dodged and sprinted, heads on a swivel. The sidewalks on Jay Street, meanwhile, were warring tectonic plates.
7) The Times Union.
What a lively daily! The NCAA coverage was wonderful and it was weirdly comforting to see news of broken water mains and the removal of a historic statue, spiced up with a celebrity sighting (Bill Murray). As we say in the trade, they cover the town like dew.
Albany struck us as a place saddled with a grand, but perhaps failed, ambition, a friendly, battered town more than a bustling city, with a broken church and, like so many places, a crew of bartenders who should be in charge of everything.
All said, we had a great time. It hardly matters our pool brackets were left in ruin.