If someone had told me Albany, NY was beautiful I wouldn’t have believed them. I might say I’d only heard ‘bad’ things about it but that’s not quite true. Mostly it's just that no one has ever spoken highly of it. Well I had the opportunity to spend a weekend (that turned into a 12 days) in Albany and I loved it. Of course the company helped, but the landscapes, the people, the nightlife -- everything was very fun.
I guess I should start by saying that I was visiting a guy (DJ) who I met at Carnival in Provincetown. We joked we were each others ‘Carnival Prize.’ I guess God has decided it’s time for me to get back in the dating game, so to speak, so off I went to visit him in the Capital City.
It was a perfect time to be in Albany, with the fall colors changing and all. First off, he showed me around town. Their ‘Central Park’ is beautiful and reminds me of Boston’s Public Garden. In fact, Washington Park as it’s called, was designed by the famous 19th century landscape architect Olmsted (who indeed designed both New York and Boston’s parks, in addition to our 20+ miles of green space called the “emerald necklace” culminating with the Arnold Arboretum, but I digress). Nightlife was fun as well beginning with a packed-to-the-gills book reading by David Sedaris at the Palace Theater (much like Boston’s Wang Theater). Albany’s own First Friday open studios event. Leather night at the Phoenix. Dinner with friends, and I got a chance to check out the “Capital District Gay Community Center”. They have one up on us there, as Boston doesn't have an official gay community center (and should in my opinion!).
Since I began my time in Albany Columbus Day weekend, I wanted to check out the local AA. Columbus Day is a very special weekend for me –- it’s when I got sober, and this year I celebrated 18 years. While at a meeting in the Capital City, I ran into an old/new friend Todd who is living in Albany now by way of NYC. We knew eachother in the early 90’s in Boston and have all the old gang in common. Since DJ was working all but Columbus Day itself of last week, Todd showed me more of the town and we covered a lot of ground. Speaking of grounds, we hit most of the coffee shops with; yes indeed hotspots (of the wireless kind so I could get some Client work done). I’m really excited to have reconnected with Todd. We seem to be kindred spirits (both Sagittarian) and I believe we’ll become good friends.
DJ also showed me all over Albany and the surrounding areas. We went 1/2-hour south to the Helderberg Escarpment (mountain cliffs, Thacher Park, with a waterfall like I haven’t seen since Hawaii!); apple picking at the Indian Ladder Farm; and one of the most amazing days we had was just spending time at Empire State Plaza. Governor Nelson Rockefeller oversaw the plaza design; it has at one end the State Museum and Archives and the other the historic New York State Capitol building. It includes many outdoor sculptures, and a water element that rivals that of Boston’s Reflecting Pond, and ample community space and gardens. It was spectacular to see it in the Fall's bright clear sunlight (and to see it first with DJ). It was a fun afternoon indeed.
One of the most amazing aspects of the plaza was “The Egg.” When built they envisioned a modern theater / community space. It’s quite a sight. They say there isn’t a 90-degree angle in the place. We had a chance to walk thru it (and the underground city connecting the capital buildings) but didn’t see the theater space itself. I guess that’s next time. And yes, in fact, there will be a next time. I’m going to visit DJ again, and conveniently it’s during their Bear Weekend in November! Woof!
