Each year, new students wonder "...now that I'm in Albany, what's there to do..."
To their surprise, there is LOT to do ... unfortunately for some, much of it requires a car !!!
The following is a list of things I have recommended to students over the years
of teaching at the U@Albany School of Public Health.

Disclaimer ... there is no attempt at "objectivity" on this web site.

• MUSEUMS ...
  
  MASS MoCA
  Modern art museum located in the former Sprague Electric Company factory in North Adams, MA
  (makes a good "combined visit" with The Clark, only about 2 miles apart)
  One thing NOT to miss is the Sol Lewitt exhibit (don't worry, it's on until 2033).
  MAP
  
  The Clark
  Museum located in Williamstown, MA (makes a good "combined visit" with MASS MOCA, only about 2 miles apart)
  Students are always amazed when they go the Clark since they do not expect to see Renoir, Monet, Degas, Rembrandt,
  etc. in a little town in the northeast corner of Massachusetts.
  My favorites are: John Singer Sargent; Lawrence Alma-Tadema; William Bouguereau.
  Going to the Clark is a bit like going to a "mini-Metropolitan" (as in the Met in New York City).
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  DIA Beacon
  Modern art museum located in the former Nabisco (National Biscuit Company) box printing facility in Beacon, NY
  Some of my favorites in the permanent collection are by Richard Serra and Andy Warhol
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  Hessel Museum of Art
  Modern art museum located at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY
  It is part of Bard's Center for Curatorial Studies
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  The Tang
  Modern art museum located at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY
  The full name is The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery
  One neat feature of the Tang is a series of rooftop music concerts held each summer
  MAP
  
  

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• ART OUTDOORS ...
  
  OPUS 40
  Amazing piece of sculpture created by Harvey Fite (no description can do it justice, you have to see it)
  It is a "poor man's Machu Pichu" if you cannot make it to Peru
  MAP
  
  Omi International Arts Center (aka ART Omi)
  Over 100 acres of land with modern sculpture placed all over the Fields Sculpture Park
  It's FREE and only about 40 minutes from Albany.
  MAP
  
  Storm King Arts Center
  Over 500 acres of land with modern sculpture (one of the world's best)
  MAP
  
  Chesterwood
  Home of Daniel Chester French (DCF), sculptor responsible for the Lincoln Memorial
  In addition to the permamnent exhibit about DCF, there's an annual-outdoor-contemporay sculpture show
  that is a real contrast to the permanent exhibit.
  MAP
  
  Salem Art Works
  A nonprofit art center and sculpture park located in rural Upstate New York dedicated to supporting both emerging and established artists in the creation of new and progressive work, as well as promoting the understanding and appreciation of contemporary art within the region.
  MAP
  
  

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• FOOD AND DRINK ...
  
  Troy Farmers' Market
  Great year-round farmers' market (no other farmers' market in the area comes close).
  It's outdoors from April through October, indoors from Novemer through March.
  Lots of food to buy and take home, but also lots of prepared food to eat right there.
  MAP
  
  The Fountain
  This is my favorite pizza in Albany. It was where I took studenst once-a-semester for free pizza and beer.
  This is a neighborhood bar where there's agood mix of regulars plus med school and law students form just down New Scotland Ave.
  The pizza is great as is the neighborhood atmosphere.
  MAP
  
  Brewery Ommegang
  Brewery making Belgian beer in Cooperstown, NY
  You can do a tour of the brewery and then enjoy a beer tasting (and maybe buy some beer).
  Oomegang beers are available retail in Albany and in a number of bars.
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  Chatham Brewery
  Beer making in Chatham, NY and it's closer than Cooperstown.
  In addition to the beer, you can buy bourbon barrel aged maple syrup. Some of the beers are available in cans to take home, but
  anything on draft can be taken home in a growler. They also serve food on some nights provided by a food truck from a good
  diner/restaurant in Hudson, Grazin'.
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  S&S Brewery
  Beer making in Nassau, NY and it's closer than Cooperstown.
  This place has a larger gathering room than the Chatham Brewery but it's a little harder to reach.
  Be prepared to driv e on dirt roads for a while, but it is worth the effort. Everything is on draft
  and growlers are available for take home. There's usually no food available (unless you count bar pretzels)
  but there are often "events" on Fridayt evening with music, good food, and free admission.
  MAP
  
  Mezze
  A place to eat after (or before) a trip to either Williamstown (Clark Museum, '62 Center) or North Adams (MASS MoCA).
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  Swoon
  Well worth the trip to Hudson (about 45 minutes)
  Go down on a Saturday, check out all the antiques and galleries on Warren Street, then have dinner at Swoon.
  You might even make a "celebrity sighting" ... lots of NYC folk are in Hudson on weekends.
  Maybe you can have dinner then go to Club Helsinki or the Walking the Dog Theatre ... see Music and More (Places).
  If you do not have a reservation, you can sit at the bar or at one of the four tables in the front of the restaurant.
  MAP
  
  Local 111
  Great use of local food in small, 39 seat restaurant located in a coverted service station.
  Located in Philmont, NY so it's not "local" if you are in Albany. But, it's well worth the 50 minute ride.
  The ride is really pretty once you get on the Taconic State Parkway (especially in the fall).
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  Santa Fe
  A Mexican restaurant just up the road from Bard College
  A place to eat after (or before) a trip to the Hessel Museum or a peformance at the Fisher Center (both at Bard).
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  Mercato
  A GREAT Italian-oriented restaurant in Red Hook (northen Dutchess County).
  A place to eat after (or before) a trip to the Hessel Museum or a peformance at the Fisher Center (both at Bard).
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  The Ice Cream Man
  It is a long drive just for ice cream, but the one reason to go here (duh) is to BUY THE ICE CREAM.
  In warm weather, be prepared to stand in line (this place was featured on the Food Channel.)
  Combine this trip with a visit to the Nuns of New Skete (below) and buy cheesecake.
  MAP
  
  Nuns of New Skete Cheesecake
  Yes, this is place to buy cheesecake made and sold by a community of nuns.
  When you get to the web site, just look on the left and click on cheesecake (this place was featured on the Food Channel.)
  Combine this trip with a visit to the Ice Cream Man (above).
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  The Bartlett House
  This is about 40 minutes from Albany and a good place to visit before/after a stop at ART Omi.
  They have a great breakfast and lunch (plus dinner on Friday through Sunday). If you do not want a meal, it's still well
  worth a visit for croissants, baguettes, bread, basic carbo-loading. Like Gaskins, the Bartlett House was the subject of a New York Times article
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  Gaskins
  This is about 50 minutes from Albany and a good place to visit before/after a stop at Bard for a performance or the Hessel Museum.
  Gaskins is only open for dinner and they don't take reservations for parties of less than seven (that's right, 7).
  Get there early when they just open and you have a graet chance of getting a table (and there are also bar seats).
  Like the Bartlett House, Gaskins was the subject of a New York Times article (why it's good to get there early).
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  New World Bistro Bar
  This place is right in Albany (near the Spectrum 8 movie theater).
  It's a good place to stop before or after a movie (or at any time for that matter).
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  Cardona's Market
  This place is right in Albany (near the Spectrum 8 movie theater).
  There is a LOT of great prepared food here. On Monday, go buy a container of six meatballs and sauce.
  That will feed you for a number of days when combined with some good pasta and/or bread ... you can also buy great bread,
  rolls, and pasta here plus dessert (please "take the cannoli") ... one stop shopping.
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  There are a number of new bar/restaurant/(sometimes) brewery combos have opened in Albany in the last few years
  in addition to some mor established places. Here's a sample (a list that gets edited pretty regularly).
  
  
  Druther's ..... MAP
  
  Wolff's Biergarten ..... MAP
  (great place if you are a soccer fan, there are branches in both Troy and Schenectady)
  
  The Merry Monk ..... MAP
  
  Albany Ale and Oyster House (aka Beer Belly) ..... MAP
  
  

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• MUSIC, MOVIES, THEATER, ETC ...
  
  Helsinki Hudson
  Great place to hear music with a real creative booking policy
  Moved to Hudson from Great Barrington, MA and reloacted in a converted warehouse.
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  Spectrum 8 Movie Theater
  Both independent and popular movies are shown here (lots of movies that do not make it to "arena sized" theaters in shopping malls).
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  Time & Space Limited
  Community arts organization in Hudson
  Features independent movies, the Metropolitan Opera (in HI-DEF), National Theatre of London (in HI-DEF).
  Small venue so there are no bad seats. Combine with a visit with dinner at Swoon (see FOOD AND DRINK).
  MAP
  
  Caffe Lena
  Mostly folk music, but a bit of history ... oldest coffee house in the US
  Bob Dylan played here when he was just starting out (1960s).
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  The EGG
  As you passed through Albany, you MUST have noticed that odd (egg) shaped building at Empire State Plaza
  The EGG presents a lot of acts other than music (e.g. dance, theatre).
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  Troy Music Hall
  Acoustically perfect music venue, built in the late 1800s (and not much has been changed since then)
  This hall is above a bank and has a 1st and 2nd balcony in addition to the orchestra box seats.
  If you do not care about being up close, get a "cheap seat" in the 2nd balcony (referred to as the "gallery").
  The sound is great in the gallery, especially if you are seeing the Albany Symphony (or any classical music).
  My preference, sit in the last row of the gallery (there are bars that mar the site line if you sit in the closer rows).
  MAP
  
  EMPAC (at RPI)
  Officially the Curtis R. Priem Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center, worth the trip just to experience the building
  Probably the most adventurous booking in the area (at student prices !!!).
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  Fisher Center (at Bard)
  Officially the The Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, it is located in a building designed by Frank Gehry
  The Fisher Center presents a really diverse collection of concerts, dance, etc.
  If you do not care about being up close, get a "cheap seat" in the 2nd balcony ($20 for most events).
  You can eat dinner in Tivoli (on the way and about 5 miles from the hall), good Mexican food at Sante Fe.
  MAP
  
  '62 Center (at Williams College)
  Officially the '62 Center for Theatre and Dance.
  This is a great place for theatre, dance, music, lectures etc. that are VERY inexpensive (and sometimes FREE) plus located in a beautful venue.
  You can eat dinner at Mezze (on Route 7 on the way into Williamstown, about 2 miles from the Center).
  Combine a performance with an afternoon visit to the Clark Museum and an early dinner at Mezze.
  MAP