Just got back from Albany
 

Took a trip out to Albany to see a good friend of mine.

My impressions:
Albany is a pretty city. Kind of slow, not frantic, so it's relaxed. I walked around the Plaza a lot, and I thought it was pretty great. I bet it's even better when everything is up and running. There's lots to see, and good food to be had. In the Plaza is a reflection pool kind of thing and several pieces of art. The 'Egg' is some kind of theatre/museum or something, I dunno it was closed. There's an underground shopping plaza kind of thing under the Plaza itself. A few blocks north of the plaza there's Dove street, which is the 'walking' street, I'm told. I wandered it for a bit, saw a lot of little mom-and-pop style stores, clothing, jewelry, etc. There's a decent pizza place, but the guy was a little rude to me. Food was good, though.

There's a decent bar called Savanah's on Pearl street, and apparently the bar called The Branch Office, near Pearl, down a side street, you can see it from Pearl, is a really friendly atmosphere. They weren't open when I was there, though. Savanah's makes good drinks, but it's geared toward middle-aged folk, so not my style.

If you do find yourself here, do me a favor and stop by the Starbucks at State and Pearl, and give them a good tip :)

I don't tip at starbucks. There. I've said it.

Starbucks? Seems a bit pricey unless you know all the varieties and love your coffee.

Even at the amazingly low price of $2.50 a cup I wouldnt tip.

You mean like " be sure to graduate high school so you don't have to work here the rest of your life?"

A young Russian couple set up a coffee shop convenient to my work ride. They screwed up the first two cups I bought from them but I tried again this morning and it was just right. If I was a wheat eater I'd be all over their baked goods as well. mmmm cheese cake.

Love Albany. Went to college there. The Danes were just in the NCAA division 1 tournament. Almost beat UConn. Almost.

I miss that town. You may be talking about "The Long Branch" which a lot of people call the Branch, though for all I know there is a "Branch Office" now too.

The egg is cool.

Damn, I gotta visit my old school this spring. I miss it!