Albany is the capital of New York State and is about 140 miles north of the city. The City of Albany sits on the Hudson River and has a population of a bit fewer than 100,000 (Albany County has 300,000). There are about1.2 million people in the metro area that includes the cities of Troy, Schenectady, Rensselaer and Saratoga Springs. Albany was founded as a Dutch trading post in 1614. In 1664 the English renamed the town Albany, in honor of James II, Duke of Albany. In 1754 representatives of seven British North American colonies met in the Albany Congress. Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania presented the Albany Plan, the first formal proposal to unite the colonies. Although it was never adopted by Parliament, it was an important precursor to the United States Constitution. In 1797, the state capital of New York was moved permanently to Albany. The State Capitol building was begun in 1867 and finished in 1899 when Governor Theodore Roosevelt declared the building completed. Albany's location on the Hudson River made it a center of transportation from the outset. In 1807 Robert Fulton initiated a steamboat line from New York to Albany. On October 26, 1825 the Erie Canal was completed, forming a continuous water route from the Great Lakes to the city of New York. This allowed Albany to control the trade along the canal. Erastus Corning 2nd served as mayor of Albany from 1942 until 1983, the longest single mayoral term of any major city in the United States. What To See-New York State Capital- Built in 1899 and is 1 of 10 US capitals without a dome. In 1979 it was made a National Historic Landmark for its Romanesque and Renaissance revival style architecture. Check out the Million Dollar staircase and the 166-foot long exterior staircase (closed for security reasons). There is a subterranean retail arcade and part of Governor Rockefeller’s modern art collection. The Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza was built between 1965 and 1978 and replaced 98 acres of 19th century buildings. The Erastus Corning Tower has free admission to its 42nd floor observatory. “On a clear day one can see forever.” The performing art space “The Egg” (that is the shape) as well as legislative & state agency office buildings are part of the plaza.The New York State Museum is a research-backed institution attached to the south side of the Empire State Plaza, facing onto the plaza and towards the New York State Capitol. The museum houses art, artifacts (prehistoric and historic) that reflect New York State’s cultural, natural, and geological development. It is the nation's oldest and largest state museum. The same building also houses the New York State Archives and New York State Library.The Albany Institute of History & Art is a museum dedicated to collecting, preserving, interpreting and promoting interest in the history, art, and culture of Albany and the Upper Hudson Valley region. Founded in 1791, it is among the oldest museums in the United States. AIHA has over 20,000 objects in its permanent collections, including 1,600 paintings, 1,100 drawings, 4,000 prints, 600 sculptures, 500 pieces of furniture and 1,200 ceramic works. I got a back of the house look at their 4,000-piece clothing and accessories collections.US Albany Heritage Exhibit is located at the Albany Convention & Visitors Bureau offices. Five ships of the US Navy have carried the name Albany. The latest, built in 1990, is an attack submarine.NYS Military Museum began in 1863 and in 2001 moved to their new location in Saratoga Springs. The mission of the museum and research center is to preserve, interpret and disseminate the story, history and records of New York State’s military forces and veterans.Palace Theatre where the symphony orchestra and ballet perform.Lark Street Neighborhood filled with brownstone, boutiques, ethnic restaurants and bars. First Friday features specials at galleries, shops and restaurants.Albany City Hall is a Romanesque Revival Building next to the Empire State Plaza.The Capital Repertory Theatre show classic and new plays. They were the beneficiaries of the Albany Chef’s Food & Wine Festival (more later).St. Peter’s Episcopal Church is a National Historic Landmark and became Episcopal in 1789.Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site is a restored 18th Century Georgian style brick mansion overlooking the Hudson River. Alexander Hamilton was married here.The real reason I visited Albany was to attend the Inaugural Albany Chefs’ Food & Wine Festival. When the forecast predicted snow I decided not to drive but opted to take Amtrak. The senior rate of $72 round trip was probably what I would have paid in gas and toll and I did not have to worry about icy roads. In 2 1/2 hours I was at the Albany/Rensselaer train station, just a half mile across the Hudson River from my downtown hotel- Hampton Inn & Suites. Everything in Albany was an easy walk from my hotel, except it was up a hill to the festival headquarters, The Albany Crowne Plaza. I had a few hours to relax and use the Hampton’s Relaxation Room. One can rent the room with its sauna, steam room, massage chair & tanning bed. I skipped the tanning bed but sure felt relaxed after an hour in the room, which was located next to the fitness center. I stopped in at the Albany Wine Bar & Bistro on Lark in the heart of the booming nightlife area. Worth a visit. It was time for one of two “A Taste of Albany” food & wine tastings (the second one was the following day with different restaurants participating). I was impressed with the quality of the food offerings and the fact that most tables were manned by owner/chefs. There was plenty of room to move around and talk to the wine & food people. My only suggestion was to have another table for wine glasses & arrange to pick up the used food plates in a more orderly manner. Over 800 guests attended the two-day event, which resulted in a $37,000 donation to the Capital Repertory Theatre. At The Crowne Plaza Ballroom, all food, wine and spirits were donated. Empire Merchants North was the Festival’s wine & spirit sponsor. I was also amazed that the two tastings only cost $50, which also included seminars by Master of Wine Jennifer Simonette-Bryan of Remy USA, the Food Network’s David Britton & Chef Yono Purnomo. Yono, wife Donna & son Dominick were the main forces behind the whole weekend. I had dinner with them at their restaurant, Yono’s, located in my hotel the Hampton Inn & Suites. The weekend concluded with the Chef’s Grand Dinner & Wine Auction. 7 different chefs prepared this 7-course dinner. Might I suggest next year that they continue serving during the one hour wine auction? I left at 11PM (started at 6:30PM) & they still had two courses to serve.After breakfast on Sunday I returned by Amtrak to NYC. When someone mentions Albany to me I'll tell them there are two different Albany’s; where our dysfunctional legislatures meet and the functional city of Albany. Come visit the latter.For More Information-www.albany.orgwww.ogs.state.ny.uswww.nysm.nysed.govwww.albanyinstitute.org www.ussalbany.oeg/heritagewww.dmna.state.ny.us/historicwww.palacealbany.comwww.capitalrep.orgwww.albanywinefest.comwww.HamptonInn.Hilton.com/Albanywww.cpalbany.comwww.winebaronlark.com
