Capital Region Living Besties: People & Places 2021

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CAPITAL REGION LIVING

PEOPLE PLACES &

Our Employees Make St. Peter’s Hospital THE BEST

Thank you Capital Region Living readers for selecting us as the Best Hospital of the Capital Region.

A heart surgery program ranked among the country’s most renowned institutions. A nationally accredited bariatric program and cancer center. The region’s only Center of Excellence in minimally invasive surgery. Specialized care for women and babies. Experienced professionals working together as a team - dedicated to creating a culture of excellence.

We are truly grateful and honored by this award.

Thank you for choosing St. Peter’s Hospitalwhen you and your family need us most.

Find A Physician SPHP.COM/Find-A-Physician

Join Our Team SPHP.COM/Employment

After what has been a very long year, there is good news: Spring has NOT been cancelled!

As the sun shines and the days get longer, local farms are starting to come alive, reminding us that light always follows the darkness. Things are looking so much brighter around here.

With this rebirth, comes a renewed sense of hope.

When all is said and done, it’s all about the people in our lives. We feel so grateful to be a part of an extraordinary and extensive community of local farmers, producers, makers, doers, and givers.

We weathered the storm together — and together, we’re moving toward the sunshine.

Let’s share this hope and keep taking care of each other. Say hello to someone you see everyday on the street, visit your favorite local restaurant, buy a farm share for the upcoming season, and shop for all of the great local stuff at your favorite co-op.

Spread the love, spend local.

Chrissy Cavotta, cohosts

Risotto doesn’t have to be time-consuming and calorie-dense. Cut down on time and calories with this savory shortcut version that uses hommus to give the dish its classic creamy texture.

simply healthy

from your Hannaford Dietitians

Have questions about your health? Our team of registered dietitians offer free nutritional services online and in-store. Visit hannaford.com/dietitians to learn more.

Shortcut Mushroom Spinach Risotto

SERVES 2

Ingredients:

1 small Onion, diced

2 cloves Garlic, minced

2 Tbsp. Hannaford Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 cup Mushrooms, chopped

1/2 cup Kitchen Basics® Unsalted Vegetable Stock

1 Tbsp. Hannaford Reduced Sodium Soy Sauce

2 cups Brown rice, cooked

1/2 cup Cedar’s® Original Hommus

1 (5 oz.) Bag Fresh Express® Baby Spinach

2 Tbsp. Hannaford Chopped Walnuts

2 tsp. Fresh thyme leaves or 1/4 tsp. McCormick® Dried Thyme Leaves

Optional: Cabot® Garlic & Dill Cheddar Cheese or parmesan cheese, shredded for garnish

Directions:

1. In a large saucepan, sauté onion and garlic in olive oil over low to medium heat. When onions are translucent, add mushrooms.

2. Add vegetable broth, soy sauce and cooked rice. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes and remove from heat.

3. Stir in hommus, baby spinach, chopped walnuts and thyme. When spinach has wilted, spoon into bowls and top with shredded cheese. Enjoy.

Source: Recipe adapted from cedarsfoods.com

Nutritional Information: (optional ingredients not included)

Amount per serving: Calories 560; Total Fat 29 g; Saturated Fat 3.5 g; Cholesterol 0 mg; Sodium 580 mg; Carbohydrate 65 g; Fiber 9 g; Protein 13 g; Total Sugar 6 g

CAPITAL REGION LIVING

Abby Tegnelia CEO

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Will Levith

ART DIRECTOR Steve Teabout

MANAGING EDITOR Natalie Moore

EDITORIAL INTERN

Max Weissman

CONTRIBUTORS

April Arnold, Alexandra Baackes

Jennifer Bannigan, Rachelle Booth

Karen Bjornland, Alexx Bradley

Mallory Bulman, Diane Chappell

Francesco D’Amico, Carolyn Driscoll

Dori Fitzpatrick, Diane Foster, John Gray

Joey Greco, Kelly Heffernan

Dustin Lanterman, Sue MacDonald

Alex Marsal, Sandy Menzer

Konrad Odhiambo, Barbara Pinckney

Tara Buffa SALES MANAGER

PUBLISHER, SARATOGA LIVING Annette Quarrier

CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER Tina Galante

SALES ASSISTANT Tracy Momrow

EMPIRE MEDIA NETWORK, INC.

Anthony R. Ianniello CHAIR

Abby Tegnelia PRESIDENT/CEO Tina Galante

CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER

VOLUME 18, NO.2

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PHONE: 518.294.4390

FIND US ONLINE AT crlmag.com

Our members are THE BEST. We appreciate the recognition. Providing solutions that support your financial well-being is why we’re here.

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The Body’s Secret Weapon Stem Cell Therapy

Non-Surgical Treatments o ered:

• Exosome Therapy

• Joint Nerve Ablation

• Amniotic Protein Treatments

• Viscosupplementation (Joint Gel Lubricants)

• Platelet Rich Plasma Injections

THE BESTIES ARE BACK IN TOWN!

If this issue’s cover didn’t give it away— though we’re pretty sure it did—it’s Besties time! Welcome to the People & Places issue, the first of our two Besties issues in 2021, and the one in which we honor the Capital Region’s top shops, services, museums, media personalities and more, voted on by you Enjoy thumbing through the current crop of stellar Besties winners and runners up (keep the issue for reference!). Plus: This year, we also handpicked standouts to spotlight in greater detail. Check out our features on WGNA’s Brian & Chrissy in the Morning (p. 14), John Boyd Thacher State Park (page 28), Scotia Cinema (p. 17), post-lockdown pampering picks (p. 19) and the essential businesses that have kept the Capital Region ticking throughout the pandemic (p. 20).

Also in this issue find a jam-packed weekend itinerary for Delmar (p. 37), our travel writer’s most recent column exploring Suffolk County (p. 44), exclusive pet pics by Blue Iris Photography (p. 32) and, of course, John Gray (p. 48).

Happy reading!

(clockwise from top left) Bestie winners NEWS10 ABC’s Christina Arangio; Old Daley Custom Catering; The Animal Hospital.

NEW NOW AND

Kristen Wiig and Guy Fieri make star appearances in our latest roundup of the newest and now-est happenings in the Capital Region.

LAUGHS ON-DEMAND

Saratogian/Hollywood director Josh Greenbaum has released his first big-budget film, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, to a video-on-demand platform near you. Co-written by and starring Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumulo, who also gifted the world with the Oscar-nominated Bridesmaids, the film follows bosom buddies Barb and Star as they leave the comfort of their Midwestern homes for the first time ever. (Of course, hilarity ensues.)

BARE IF YOU DARE

Nothing says “spring” like an early morning jog—and a delicious, rejuvenating smoothie afterwards. Clifton Park residents now have a new running destination: BARE Blends, a Capital Region–born franchise that has expanded from a single location in Stuyvesant Plaza to a second in Clifton Park’s Village Plaza (Latham and Saratoga locations are also imminent). Besides smoothies, BARE offers an array of smoothie bowls, wellness shots and fresh-pressed juices. Yum!

BUILDING BLOCKS IN A BOX

COVID-safe couples retreat, anyone? Albany business partners Dr. Corey Jamison and Julie Bush have launched their well-timed DIY Marriage Retreat in a Box (diy-retreats.com), which starts at $119. What’s in each kit? Everything couples need to reaffirm their vows through exercises and conversation cards. Because even though you’ve only really spent about a year indoors with your significant other, it feels like 10,000 lifetimes.

WELCOME TO FLAVORTOWN

Say what you will about Food Network star Guy Fieri, but he’s been crushing it during COVID: The celeb chef has raised more than $20 million for out-of-work food and hospitality industry employees. And now he’s offering the Capital Region a one-way ticket to Flavortown with the opening of his delivery-only Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Kitchen, which is operating out of Buca di Beppo on Wolf Road in Colonie. Order cholesterol-filled favorites like the Bacon Mac N’ Cheese Burger and Bourbon Brown Sugar BBQ Wings.

Morning Masters

BESTIE-WINNING DUO BRIAN CODY AND CHRISSY CAVOTTA, COHOSTS OF WGNA’S BRIAN & CHRISSY IN THE MORNING , ARE JUST AS LIKABLE OFF THE AIR AS THEY ARE ON IT.

Brian Cody and Chrissy Cavotta in the WGNA recording studio; (top left) the pair with country star Kane Brown; (bottom right) Brian and Chrissy have been cohosting a morning show together for nearly 15 years.

When you listen to them on the radio, Brian Cody and Chrissy Cavotta, cohosts of WGNA’s Brian & Chrissy in the Morning, seem like people you’d like to be friends with. And when you meet them in person? Let’s just say that after less than two hours together, the three of us already had an inside joke.

Brian, who was born and raised in Albany, knew he wanted to be in radio early on and got his degree from

the Capital City’s New School Center for Media. He worked at a small radio station for a few months before being hired as a night host at pop station Fly 92.3 in 1993. The same year, Chrissy, a Mechanicville native with a teaching degree, accepted her first full-time radio job on Long Island. Over the next decade and a half, she’d work at radio stations in West Palm Beach, FL, Buffalo and Portland, ME, before returning home to the Capital Region to host Fly 92’s morning show in 2007. Brian was then moved from the station’s afternoon slot to co-anchor the newly minted Brian & Chrissy in the Morning “And the rest is history,” says Chrissy, at the exact same time Brian says, “And here we are.” (They do that—in addition to finishing each another’s sentences—a lot). After becoming Capital Region household names at Fly 92, the pair made the jump to country music station 107.7 WGNA in March 2017. But while the station they work for may have changed, their partnership has only gotten stronger. “When you grow up together—when you get older together— you go through ups and downs,” Brian says. “You start to figure out what’s really important. [We’ve become] a better team, because we don’t put as much pressure on each other. We’re just kind of like…”

“…it is what it is,” Chrissy says.

“It is what it is,” Brian echoes. “But we still come to work every day with the intention to entertain first and then inform. That has never changed.”

“A huge part of why our show works is because we are who we are on air,” Chrissy says. “We always have been. And there’s a trust there, even after switching stations.”

That trust has carried on throughout the pandemic, too. When the world was turned on its head last March, Capital Region listeners knew that every morning, day in and day out, they could tune in to 107.7 and listen to two people, whom they might’ve never met before, but could, undoubtedly, consider friends.

➺ ➺

Go to crlmag.com to read CAPITAL REGION LIVING’s full interview with Brian and Chrissy.

CAPITAL REGION LIVING

Besties

PEOPLE & PLACES

CULTURE

ART GALLERY

The Clark

225 South Street, Williamstown, MA (413) 458-2303 clarkart.edu

The Hyde Collection

161 Warren Street, Glens Falls (518) 792-1761 hydecollection.org

Art Omi

1505 County Route 22, Ghent (518) 392-4747 artomi.org

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

miSci

15 Nott Terrace Heights, Schenectady (518) 382-7890 misci.org

The Children’s Museum at Saratoga 69 Caroline Street, Saratoga Springs (518) 584-5540 cmssny.org

CMOST

250 Jordan Road, Troy (518) 235-2120 cmost.org

CONCERT HALL

SPAC

108 Avenue of the Pines, Saratoga Springs (518) 584-9330 spac.org

Troy Savings Bank Music Hall

30 Second Street, Troy (518) 273-0038 troymusichall.org

Palace Theatre

19 Clinton Avenue, Albany (518) 465-4663 palacealbany.org

MOVIE THEATER

Scotia Cinema

117 Mohawk Avenue, Scotia (518) 346-5055 scotiacinema.net

Crandell Theatre

48 Main Street, Chatham (518) 392-3331 crandelltheatre.org

The Madison Theatre

1036 Madison Avenue, Albany (518) 621-7122 themadisontheatre.com

MUSEUM

New York State Museum

222 Madison Avenue, Albany (518) 474-5877 nysm.nysed.gov

Albany Institute of History & Art

125 Washington Avenue, Albany (518) 463-4478 albanyinstitute.org

Saratoga Automobile Museum

110 Avenue of the Pines, Saratoga Springs (518) 587-1935 saratogaautomuseum.org

OUTDOOR SUMMER VENUE

SPAC

108 Avenue of the Pines, Saratoga Springs (518) 584-9330 spac.org

Park Playhouse at Washington Park

Madison Avenue & New Scotland Avenue, Albany (518) 434-0776 playhousestage.org

Saratoga Race Course

267 Union Avenue, Saratoga Springs (718) 641-4700 nyra.com

SEASONAL EVENT

Howe Caverns Haunted Cave Tour 255 Discovery Drive, Howes Cave (518) 296-8900 howecaverns.com

Saratoga Racing Season

267 Union Avenue, Saratoga Springs (718) 641-4700 nyra.com

Troy Victorian Stroll Downtown Troy (518) 274-7020 victorianstroll.com

ANIMAL HOSPITAL

The Animal Hospital

2 Rocking Horse Lane, Slingerlands (518) 456-0852 theanimalhospital.com

The Village Animal Clinic

70 School Road, Voorheesville (518) 765-0111 thevillageanimalclinic.com

Delmar Animal Hospital

910 Delaware Avenue, Delmar (518) 439-9361 delmaranimalhospital.com

Scotia Cinema: One-Screen Wonder

Apparently, size does matter. The locally owned and operated Scotia Cinema, which boasts just a single screen and movie per run, wins this year’s Bestie for top movie theater. Just what makes this Lilliputian lark such a sensation in the dark? For our Bestie voters, it’s all about the experience.

First opened in 1929 as the Ritz Theater and going through a number of iterations over the following decades, Scotia Cinema, located just west of Schenectady, eventually landed in the hands of current owner Richard Adams in 1981. Although it has since been updated with digital projection and sound, it still features an old-fashioned balcony and about 300 seats—though COVID restrictions have temporarily whittled max viewership down to 50. Because of the one-screen formula, expect to find films there for a range of audiences—you’ll have to look elsewhere for slashers and salaciousness. And you really can’t beat the prices: adults get in for just $9, while children and seniors pass the velvet rope for $6. If you’re an early bird, matinee tickets, purchased prior to 4:30pm, cost $6, while Tuesdays get the $6 treatment all day long.

Throw in the ample legroom, parking and freshly popped popcorn topped with real butter, and you have yourself a Bestie-in-class afternoon or night at the movies.

APPLIANCE STORE

Marcella’s Appliance Center 15 Park Avenue, Clifton Park (518) 952-7700 560 Broadway, Schenectady (518) 381-1957 marcellasappliance.com

Green’s 1207 Central Avenue, Albany (518) 458-7994 greenshasgonegreen.com

Cocca’s Appliances (tie) 158 Railroad Avenue, Albany (518) 453-6100 coccasappliancestv.com

Earl B. Feiden Appliance (tie) Multiple Locations earlbfeiden.com

AUTO SERVICE

S Foley Garage 5859 Depot Road, Altamont (518) 861-8321 s-foley-garage.edan.io

Bethlehem Auto Service 62 Hannay Lane, Glenmont (518) 426-8414 bethlehemautoservice.com

Precision Volvo Sale & Service 99 Cordell Road, Colonie (518) 346-5581 precisionalbany.com

BANK

Trustco Bank Multiple locations trustcobank.com

Pioneer Bank Multiple locations pioneerny.com

Bank of Greene County Multiple locations thebankofgreenecounty.com

CATERER

Old Daley Custom Catering (518) 235-2656 olddaley.com

Mazzone Hospitality 743 Pierce Road, Clifton Park (518) 690-0293 mazzonehospitality.com

Saati Deli and Catering 586 New Loudon Road, Latham (518) 783-1600 saatideliandcatering.com

CHEF

Marc Yanni

Yanni’s Too 16 Marina Drive, Coeymans (518) 756-7033 yannisrestaurants.com

Jaime Ortiz 677 Prime 677 Broadway, Albany (518) 427-7463 677prime.com TORO Cantina 111 Wolf Road, Albany (518) 949-2211 torocantina.com

Nicholas Meola

Annabel’s Pizza Company 108 State Street, Schenectady (518) 553-0400 annabelspizzaco.com

CHIROPRACTOR

Delmar Chiropractic 204 Delaware Avenue, Delmar (518) 439-7644 delmarchiropractic.com

Van Der Veer Chiropractic Care 1134 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham (518) 783-1908 albanychirocare.com

Enlighten Chiropractic 2 Tower Place, Albany (518) 313-6470 enlightenalbany.com

CREDIT UNION

SEFCU

Multiple locations (800) 727-3328 sefcu.com

CAP COM

Multiple locations (800) 634-2340 capcomfcu.org

Sunmark

Multiple locations (866) 786-6275 sunmark.org

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Worksite Benefits

3991 NY-2, Cropseyville (518) 326-3939 worksitebenefits.biz

SEFCU

Multiple locations (800) 727-3328 sefcu.com

Family Danz Heating & Cooling

404 North Pearl Street, Albany (518) 203-5035 familydanz.com

DAY SPA

Complexions Spa for Beauty and Wellness

221 Wolf Road, Albany (518) 489-5231

268 Broadway, Saratoga Springs (518) 306-5502 complexions.com

Kimberley’s A Day Spa

982 New Loudon Road, Latham (518) 785-5868 kimberleysadayspa.com

Breathe Massage Therapy

48 Hudson Avenue, Delmar (518) 621-7979 breathemassagedelmar.com

DRY CLEANERS

Stena Dry Cleaning

451 Albany Shaker Road, Albany (518) 459-5944

Best Cleaners

Multiple locations bestcleanersny.com

7 Cleaners

952 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham (518) 783-0328

FACIAL

Complexions Spa for Beauty and Wellness

221 Wolf Road, Albany (518) 489-5231

268 Broadway, Saratoga Springs (518) 306-5502 complexions.com

Breathe Massage Therapy

48 Hudson Avenue, Delmar (518) 621-7979 breathemassagedelmar.com

Kimberley’s A Day Spa

982 New Loudon Road, Latham (518) 785-5868 kimberleysadayspa.com

FITNESS CENTER

Vent Fitness

Multiple Locations ventfitness.com

YMCA

Multiple locations cdymca.org

The Hot Yoga Spot

Multiple locations (518) 944-8534 thehotyogaspot.com

FLORIST

Samantha Nass Floral & Event Design 75 Woodlawn Avenue, Saratoga Springs (518) 886-9461 snfloraldesign.com

Emil J. Nagengast Florist

169 Ontario Street, Albany Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany (518) 434-1125 nagengast.com

Flowers by Pesha

501 Broadway, Troy (518) 272-1980 flowersbypesha.net

Post-lockdown Pampering

You handed Besties to beauty meccas that helped us feel like ourselves again.

When spas were given the green light to reopen last year, the backlog of appointments and rush to grab any available time slots revealed what we already knew: There was a lot of jonesing for post-lockdown pampering. After months of clumsily doing their own nails and root touchups, TLC lovers flocked to their Capital Region favorites, starting with Complexions Spa for Beauty and Wellness, whose Albany and Saratoga locations almost swept the Services category. Tireless owner Denise Dubois and her team of outstanding beauty professionals scooped up Besties for Day Spa, Facial and Mani/Pedi, wowing voters with strict safety measures that never distracted from the calming, eco-friendly experience and luxurious treatments. And Delmar beauty businesses proved to be quite the hot spots, with Laberge Massage Therapy and nearby Choices Hair Studio winning Besties for Massage and Hair Studio, respectively).

FURNITURE STORE

Mooradian’s Furniture

800 Central Avenue, Albany (518) 489-2529

1758A Route 9 Parkwood Plaza, Clifton Park (518) 694-8452 mooradians.com

Old Brick Furniture

33-37 Warehouse Row, Albany (518) 213-2686

2910 Campbell Road, Schenectady (518) 213-3194 oldbrickfurniture.com

Taft Furniture

1960 Central Avenue, Albany (518) 456-3361 121 Ballston Avenue, Saratoga Springs (518) 886-0990 taftfurniture.com

HAIR SALON

Choices Hair Studio

180 Delaware Avenue, Delmar (518) 439-4619 choiceshairstudio.com

Complexions Spa for Beauty and Wellness

221 Wolf Road, Albany (518) 489-5231

268 Broadway, Saratoga Springs (518) 306-5502 complexions.com

Ambiance Salon

579 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham (518) 782-7560 ambiancesalon.com

HEALTH CARE/ HMO

CDPHP

500 Patroon Creek Boulevard, Albany (518) 641-3140 cdphp.com

MVP Health Care

625 State Street, Schenectady (518) 370-4793 mvphealthcare.com

The Empire Plan (877) 776-7447 empireblue.com

HEATING & COOLING

Family Danz Heating & Cooling

404 North Pearl Street, Albany (518) 203-5035 familydanz.com

Crisafulli Bros.

25 Industrial Park Road, Albany (518) 302-2947 crisbro.com

Adams Heating & Cooling Co. 2088 Curry Road, Schenectady (518) 356-4730 adamshvac.net

HOSPITAL

St. Peter’s Hospital

315 South Manning Boulevard, Albany (518) 525-1550 sphp.com

Albany Medical Center 43 New Scotland Avenue, Albany (518) 262-3125 amc.edu

Saratoga Hospital

211 Church Street, Saratoga Springs (518) 587-3222 saratogahospital.org

INSURANCE AGENCY

Worksite Benefits

3991 NY-2, Cropseyville (518) 326-3939 worksitebenefits.biz

SEFCU Insurance Agency

469 State Street, Schenectady (518) 786-9905 sefcuinsuranceagency.com

Murray Group

1807 Western Avenue, Albany (518) 456-6688 murraygrp.com

LANDSCAPER

George’s Market & Nursery

240 Wade Road Extension, Latham (518) 785-4210 georges-market.com

Traditional Landscaping & Design 16 Van Rensselaer Road, Albany (518) 860-3596 traditionallandscapingllc.com

Faddegon’s Nursery

1140 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham (518) 785-6726 faddegons.com

LAW FIRM

Girvin & Ferlazzo

20 Corporate Woods Boulevard, Albany (518) 462-0300 girvinlaw.com

Complexions Spa for Beauty and Wellness

Martin, Harding & Mazzotti

111 Washington Avenue, Albany (800) 529-1010 1800law1010.com

E. Stewart Jones, Hacker, Murphy

29 2nd Street, Troy (518) 730-7270 joneshacker.com

MANI/PEDI

Complexions Spa for Beauty and Wellness

221 Wolf Road, Albany (518) 489-5231

268 Broadway, Saratoga Springs (518) 306-5502 complexions.com

L Perfect Nail & Spa (tie)

400 Feura Bush Road, Glenmont (518) 432-4037 @Lperfectnailglenmont on Facebook

Kimberley’s A Day Spa (tie) 982 New Loudon Road, Latham (518) 785-5868 kimberleysadayspa.com

City Nail & Spa (tie)

98 Wolf Road #2, Albany (518) 435-1115 citynailandspa.com

MARINA

Coeymans Landing Marina 20 Marina Drive, Coeymans (518) 756-6111 coeymanslandingmarina.com

Chic’s Marina

4782 Lakeshore Drive, Bolton Landing (518) 644-2170 chicsmarina.com

MASSAGE

Laberge Massage Therapy

204 Delaware Avenue, Delmar (518) 577-5488 labergemassagetherapy.com

Complexions Spa for Beauty and Wellness

221 Wolf Road, Albany (518) 489-5231

268 Broadway, Saratoga Springs (518) 306-5502 complexions.com

Breathe Massage Therapy

48 Hudson Avenue, Delmar (518) 621-7979 breathemassagedelmar.com

MEDICAL ESTHETICS

Rockmore Plastic Surgery

15 Old Loudon Road, Latham (518) 328-3330 rockmoreplasticsurgery.com

Lucie Capek, MD Plastic Surgery & Medspa

713 Troy Schenectady Road # 308, Latham (518) 786-1700 capekplasticsurgery.com

The Rejuva Center at Williams 1072 Troy Schenectady Road # 102, Latham (518) 786-7004 rejuvacenters.com

PAVING/SEALCOATING

Salisbury Pro Sealers

195B Kenwood Avenue, Delmar (518) 475-9772

salisburyprosealersny.com

The Year of Essential Businesses

These businesses kept us going when we needed them the most.

TLuizzi Asphalt Services

70 Tivoli Street, Albany (518) 459-7325

luizziasphalt.com

L. Browe Asphalt Services East Greenbush (518) 479-1400 broweasphalt.com

PET SPA

Village Animal Clinic

70 School Road, Voorheesville (518) 765-0111 thevillageanimalclinic.com

Pet Styles

1886 New Scotland Road, Slingerlands (518) 439-3670 petstyles.biz

Pet Spas & Suites

1 Cerone Commercial Drive, Colonie (518) 783-5506 petspasandsuites.com

here is no getting around that this year’s Besties carried an added responsibility: that of thanking the essential businesses that were there for us during the pandemic. A special shout-out goes to CDPHP and Albany’s St. Peter’s Hospital (Bestie winners for Health Care/ HMO and Hospital, respectively) for ensuring our care during the crisis, and The Sentinel of Amsterdam (winner, Assisted Living/Nursing Home) and Niskayuna’s Glen Eddy (winner, 55+ Retirement Community) for protecting our most vulnerable loved ones.

Since making delicious home-cooked meals and obsessing over new hobbies like bread-baking helped wile away our time in quarantine, thank you to everyone who sold us the ingredients we needed at grocery stores such as Price Chopper/Market 32 (winner, Supermarket), and Honest Weight Food Co-op in Albany, a double-winner that scooped up wins for Health Food Store and CSA/ Community Co-op categories. And don’t forget Albany’s Empire Wine (winner, Liquor/Wine)–because let’s face it, vino and “quarantinis” helped keep us sane.

Animal shelters across the Capital Region enjoyed a record number of adoptions last year—who didn’t want a cute, furry quarantine companion?—and the kind people at The Animal Hospital in Slingerlands (winner, Animal Hospital) navigated safety protocols to keep everyone’s fur babies, new and old, happy and healthy. Alas, there are too many essential business winners to name them all here, but we hope you’ll read through these pages and thank them later, however you can. After all, during this generation’s toughest crisis, our public health and safety depended on them.

The Sentinel of Amsterdam
We think you’re the bestie too.

We’re truly honored that you voted Price Chopper and Market 32 the Best Supermarket in the Capital District region.

We’re even more honored to have helped you feed and care for yourselves and your families for the last 89 years. Thank you for your loyalty, especially over the last year. As a community we have all come together to make everyone’s collective safety and well-being the top priority. We have served our neighbors for generations and our commitment to continue our proud tradition of supporting the communities that we work and live in, is stronger than ever.

PHOTOGRAPHER

T.R. Laz

125 Wolf Road, Albany (518) 458-7008 trlaz.com

Hitlin Photography

48 Columbia Street, Albany (518) 336-5370 hitlinphoto.com

Elario Photography (518) 438-0989 elariophotography.com

PILATES STUDIO

Free Movement Pilates

500 Kenwood Avenue, Delmar (518) 275-2644 freemovementpilates.com

Pilates Principle

578 Loudon Road, Latham (518) 783-1678 lathampilates.com

REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL

Anthony M. Gucciardo, Gucciardo

Real Estate Group 1074 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham (518) 331-3785 anthonygucciardo.com

Christopher Marney, Julie & Co. Realty

18 Division Street #314, Saratoga Springs (518) 348-9358 juliecorealty.com

Kyle Durni, Howard Hanna (tie) 231 Delaware Avenue, Delmar (518) 439-2888 howardhanna.com

Marcia Murray, Marcia Murray & Associates Realty (tie)

63 Putnam Street #202, Saratoga Springs

24 Mallard Cove, Ballston Lake (518) 925-7115 marciamurray.com

TREE SERVICE

KT Tree Services, Inc. (518) 588-5490 kttreesinc.com

Advantage Tree Service 772 Delaware Avenue, Delmar (518) 944-5172 advantagetreeny.com

Mark’s Tree Service Albany (518) 489-1196 Voorheesville (518) 861-8566 markstrees.com

YOGA STUDIO

The Hot Yoga Spot Multiple locations thehotyogaspot.com

Good Karma Studio

12 Walker Way, Albany (518) 512-9929 thegoodkarmastudio.com

Heartspace Yoga & Healing Arts

747 Madison Avenue, Albany 10 2nd Street, Troy (518) 512-3390 heartspacealbany.com

SHOPPING

APPLE ORCHARD

Indian Ladder Farms 342 Altamont Road, Altamont (518) 765-2956 indianladderfarms.com

Golden Harvest Farms

3074 Route 9, Valatie (518) 758-7683 goldenharvestfarms.com

Samascott Orchards

5 Sunset Avenue, Kinderhook (518) 758-7224 samascott.com

BIKE SHOP

Mad Dog Bicycles

561 Delaware Avenue, Delmar (518) 439-3669 maddogbicycles.com

Steiner’s Sports Multiple locations steinersskibike.com

Downtube Bicycle Works

466 Madison Avenue, Albany (518) 434-1711 downtubebicycleworks.com

BOOKSTORE

Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza

1475 Western Avenue, Albany (518) 489-4761 bhny.com

I Love Books

380 Delaware Avenue, Delmar (518) 478-0715 ilovebooksdelmar.com

Market Block Books

290 River Street, Troy (518) 328-0045 bhny.com

BRIDAL SHOP

Angela’s Bridal

501 Broadway #107, Troy (518) 869-1848 angelasbridal.net

Azalea (tie)

3770 Carman Road # 6C, Schenectady (518) 952-6727 azaleadresses.com

Lily Saratoga (tie)

6 Franklin Square, Saratoga Springs (518) 587-5017 lilysaratoga.com

CSA/COMMUNITY CO-OP

Honest Weight

100 Watervliet Avenue, Albany (518) 482-2667 honestweight.coop

Niskayuna Co-op

2227 Nott Street, Niskayuna (518) 374-1362 niskayunaco-op.com

Roxbury Farm CSA PO Box 338, Kinderhook (518) 758-8558 roxburyfarm.com

CAR DEALER

Keeler Motor Car Company 1111 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham (888) 600-3013 keeler.com

DePaula Auto Group (tie)

785/799 Central Avenue, Albany depaulaautogroup.com

Lia Auto Group (tie)

Multiple locations (855) 212-7985 liacars.com

CLOTHING BOUTIQUE

Truly Rhe

1 Broadway, Troy (518) 273-1540 trulyrhe.com

Circle’s

Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany (518) 482-2554 circles-shop.com

Lea’s (tie)

33 Hudson Avenue, Chatham (518) 491-5353 leaschatham.com

Evoke Style (tie)

Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany (518) 512-5240 evokestyle.com

CONSIGNMENT SHOP

Something Olde, Something New

1969 New Scotland Road, Slingerlands (518) 474-0663 somethingoldenew.com

The Attic

3027 Main Street, Valatie (518) 758-1274

@TheAtticValatie on Facebook

Fifi’s Frocks & Frills

1811 Western Avenue, Albany fifisalbany.com (518) 869-1677

FARMERS’ MARKET

Troy Waterfront Farmers’ Market Monument Square, Troy (April-October) 865 2nd Avenue, Troy (November-March) (518) 708-4216 troymarket.org

Delmar Farmers’ Market

332 Kenwood Avenue, Delmar Elm Avenue Park (May-October) Bethlehem Central Middle School (November-December) delmarmarket.org

Schenectady Greenmarket

City Hall, Schenectady (May-October) Proctors, Schenectady (November-April) schenectadygreenmarket.com

GARDEN NURSERY

Faddegon’s Nursery

1140 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham (518) 785-6726 faddegons.com

Hewitt’s Garden Center Multiple locations hewitts.com

Gade Farm

2479 Western Avenue, Altamont (518) 869-8019 gadefarm.com

GIFT SHOP

Cross Eyed Owl

3143 US Highway 9 #8, Valatie (518) 758-6755 crosseyedowl.com

Pearl Grant Richmans

Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany (518) 438-8409 pearlgrant.com

Wit’s End

1762 Route 9, Clifton Park (518) 371-9273 witsendgiftique.com

HARDWARE STORE

Robinson’s Ace Hardware 1874 Western Avenue, Guilderland (518) 456-7383 1900 New Scotland Road, Slingerlands (518) 475-9483 robinsonshardware.com

Hatchet Hardware

Multiple locations hatchethardware.com

True Value Phillip’s Hardware

6495 Route 158, Altamont (518) 861-5364

235 Delaware Avenue, Delmar (518) 439-9943 shopphillips.com

HEALTH FOOD STORE

Honest Weight

100 Watervliet Avenue, Albany (518) 482-2667 honestweight.coop

Uncle Sam’s Health Foods

77 4th Street, Troy (518) 271-7299

646 New Loudon Road, Latham (518) 782-5233 unclesamshealthfood.com

Four Seasons Natural Food Store

120 Henry Street, Saratoga Springs (518) 584-4670 fourseasonsnaturalfoods.com

Now Open for our 23rd Season!

Yanni’s by Car…Yanni’s by Bike… Yannis by Boat!

Thank you for voting Chef/Owner Marc Yanni best in the Capital Region! Thank you to all of our loyal patrons and our amazing Staff as we rolled with all the punches of this past year. Things may be different but we still maintain the same food quality and customer service. Come join us in our spacious dining room and on our 2 Large outdoor patios overlooking the majestic Hudson River. Wednesday through Sunday Lunch & Dinner. Dine-in, Take out & Curbside Like us on Facebook and look for daily specials! 20 Marina

Yanni’s Too Restaurant

JEWELER

Joyelles Jewelers

318 Delaware Avenue, Delmar (518) 439-9993 joyellesjewelers.com

Hannoush Jewelers

112 Wolf Road, Albany (518) 715-8759

1750 Route 9, Clifton Park (518) 616-9806 hannoushny.com

Northeastern Fine Jewelry Multiple locations nefj.com

LIQUOR/WINE

Empire Wine 1440 Central Avenue, Albany (518) 694-8503 empirewine.com

Exit 9 Wine & Liquor Warehouse

9 Halfmoon Crossing, Clifton Park (518) 688-0153 exit9wineandliquor.com

All Star Wine & Spirits

579 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham (518) 220-9463 allstarwine.com

MENSWEAR

Mark Thomas Men’s Apparel

5 Metro Park Road, Albany (518) 438-7887 markthomasmensapparel.com

Britches of Troy

216 River Street, Troy (518) 279-2752 britchesoftroy.com

Union Hall Supply Co.

437 Broadway, Saratoga Springs (518) 450-7025 unionhallsupplyco.com

MUSIC STORE

Drome Sound Music Store (tie) 1875 State Street, Schenectady (518) 370-3701 dromesound.com

Parkway Music (tie) 1777 Route 9, Clifton Park (518) 383-0300 parkwaymusic.com

The River Street Beat Shop 197 River Street, Troy (518) 272-0433 recordstoreday.com

John Keal Music 819 Livingston Avenue, Albany (518) 482-4405 1758 Parkwood Plaza, Clifton Park (518) 371-4455 johnkealmusic.com

OPTICAL CENTER

Brass Eye Center 1783 Route 9 #106, Clifton Park 713 Troy Schenectady Road #135, Latham (518) 782-7827 brasseyecenter.com

Hughes Opticians

411 Kenwood Avenue, Delmar (518) 439-4971 hughesopticians.com

DiNapoli Opticians

Multiple locations dinapoliopt.com

SHOPPING MALL/CENTER

Colonie Center

131 Colonie Center, Albany (518) 252-0215 shopatcoloniecenter.com

Stuyvesant Plaza

1475 Western Avenue, Albany (518) 482-8986 stuyvesantplaza.com

Crossgates Mall

1 Crossgates Mall Road, Albany (518) 869-3522 shopcrossgates.com

SPORTING GOODS STORE

Steiner’s Sports Multiple locations steinersskibike.com

Play It Again Sports

952 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham (518) 785-6587 playitagainsports.com

SUPERMARKET

Price Chopper/Market 32 Multiple locations pricechopper.com

Hannaford Multiple locations hannaford.com

ShopRite Multiple locations shoprite.com

TIRE STORE

Adirondack Tire Multiple locations adirondacktire.com

Grand Premier Tires & Custom Wheels

591 Columbia Turnpike, East Greenbush (518) 477-4753

3361 South Thompson, Schenectady (518) 630-5055 grandpremiertire.com

LaBarge’s Tire & Auto Service 52 Route 9W, Glenmont (518) 436-8473 labargestireautocenter.com

TRAVEL AGENCY

AAA Travel Multiple locations hudsonvalley.aaa.com

Blue Skies Travel 2 Pittsfield Avenue, East Greenbush (518) 477-4700 blueskiestravel.com

LOCAL PEOPLE & MEDIA

AFTERNOON ANCHOR

Christina Arangio, WTEN/NEWS 10 ABC

EVENING ANCHOR

John Gray, WTEN/NEWS10 ABC

MORNING ANCHOR

Christina Arangio, WTEN/NEWS 10 ABC

MORNING TEAM

WNYT/NewsChannel 13 Team

METEOROLOGIST

Steve Caporizzo, WTEN/NEWS10 ABC

MUSIC RADIO

107.7 WGNA

NEWS RADIO

90.3 WAMC

LOCAL RADIO

PERSONALITY

Brian Cody and Chrissy Cavotta of WGNA’s Brian & Chrissy in the Morning

LOCAL PRINT JOURNALIST

John Gray

SPORTSCASTER

Rodger Wyland, WNYT/ NewsChannel 13; 104.5 The Team ESPN Radio

PLACES

ADIRONDACK INN

Mirror Lake Inn

77 Mirror Lake Drive, Lake Placid (518) 523-2544

mirrorlakeinn.com

The Sagamore Resort

110 Sagamore Road, Bolton Landing (518) 644-9400 thesagamore.com

ADK Trail Inn

11757 State Route 9N, Upper Jay (518) 527-1155 adktrailinn.com

ASSISTED LIVING/ NURSING HOME

The Sentinel of Amsterdam

10 Market Street, Amsterdam (518) 896-0010 sentinelalf.com

Eddy Village Green

421 W. Columbia Street, Cohoes (518) 237-5630 sphp.com

Pine Haven Nursing & Rehabilitation Center

201 Main Street, Philmont (518) 672-7408 pinehavencarecenter.com

B&B (within 3 hours)

Reluctant Panther

39 West Road, Manchester Village, VT (802) 362-2568

Gardner Farm Inn

59 Brunswick Road, Troy (917) 509-5110

CAMPGROUND

Alpine Lake RV Resort (tie)

78 Heath Road, Corinth (518) 654-6260 rvonthego.com

Lake George RV Park (tie)

74 State Route 149, Lake George (518) 792-3775

lakegeorgervpark.com

Blackthorne Resort (tie) 348 Sunside Road, East Durham (518) 634-2541 blackthorneresort.com

DAY TRIP (within 3 hrs)

Lake Placid

Lake George Manchester, VT

GOLF COURSE (PRIVATE)

Wolferts Roost Country Club 120 Van Rensselaer Boulevard, Albany (518) 449-3223 wolfertsroost.com

The Country Club of Troy

100 Troy Country Club Road, Troy (518) 274-1000 countrycluboftroy.com

Visit Colonie Center for an

Colonie Center also offers one-of-a-kind events for the whole family. Visit our website to plan your next shopping trip, www.shopatcoloniecenter.com.

Albany Country Club

300 Wormer Road, Voorheesville (518) 765-2851 albanycc.cc

GOLF COURSE (PUBLIC)

Town of Colonie Golf Course

418 Consaul Road, Schenectady (518) 374-4181 colonie.org

Orchard Creek Golf Club

6700 Dunnsville Road, Altamont (518) 861-5000 orchardcreek.com

Normanside Country Club

150 Salisbury Road, Delmar (518) 439-4505 normanside.com

HIKING TRAIL

John Boyd Thacher State Park 830 Thacher Park Road, Voorheesville (518) 872-1237 parks.ny.gov

Natural Beauty Awaits at John Boyd Thacher State Park

Come for the vistas, stay for the hiking and camping.

John Boyd Thacher State Park is a 2,155-acre natural wonderland located just outside of Albany, near Voorheesville, along what is known as the Helderberg Escarpment (just a big, scary word meaning “long, steep slope”). The titular Boyd, who served as a state senator and mayor of Albany twice in the late 1800s, and his wife, Emma, were eco warriors long before that was even a thing; the couple bought up untouched land in the region to save it from development.

Five years after John’s death in 1914, Emma bequeathed the state a sizable chunk of that land in his name, and, soon after, it became Thacher State Park. It was later expanded upon, and nowadays, park-goers can find countless miles of well-kept, year-round hiking trails; a multitude of verdant, picturesque picnicking and grilling spots; playgrounds, playing fields and a nature center; and postcard-worthy vistas that have helped it win three Besties this year in the Park, Hiking Trail and Picnic Spot categories.

Whether you’re enjoying a hike on the historic Indian Ladder Trail or snapping selfies at Thacher State Park’s jaw-dropping overlook, the park has a little bit of everything for everyone. Plus, if you’re the type that enjoys roughing it in the elements, the park also has a 140-site campground, opening in May, at Thompson’s Lake, which features a sun-and-fun beach, volleyball court, horseshoe pits, swing sets and nature trails, among other amenities.

MICHELLE JOHNSTON

Albany Pine Bush Preserve (tie) 195 New Karner Road, Albany (518) 456-0655 albanypinebush.org

Peebles Island State Park (tie) 1 Delaware Avenue North, Cohoes (518) 268-2188 parks.ny.gov

HOTEL

The Desmond

660 Albany Shaker Road, Albany (518) 869-8100 desmondhotelsalbany.com

The Renaissance Albany Hotel 144 State Street, Albany (518) 992-2500 marriott.com

The Adelphi Hotel

365 Broadway, Saratoga Springs (518) 678-6000 theadelphihotel.com

KIDS BIRTHDAY VENUE

Good Karma Studio

12 Walker Way 1A, Albany (518) 512-9929 thegoodkarmastudio.com

KJ’s Gymnastics

3143 Route 9, Valatie (518) 758-2554 kjsgymnasticsny.com

Indian Ladder Farms

342 Altamont Road, Altamont (518) 765-2956 indianladderfarms.com

KIDS CAMP

YMCA Adventure Camp

1 Camp Nassau Lane, Guilderland (518) 640-1988 cdymca.org

Camp Chingachgook

1872 Pilot Knob Road, Kattskill Bay (518) 656-9462 camp.cdymca.org

Camp Fowler 152 Pelcher Road, Lake Pleasant (518) 548-6524 campfowler.org

PARK

John Boyd Thacher State Park 830 Thacher Park Road, Voorheesville (518) 872-1237 parks.ny.gov

The Crossings of Colonie 580 Albany Shaker Road, Loudonville (518) 783-2760 colonie.org

Saratoga Spa State Park 19 Roosevelt Drive, Saratoga Springs (518) 584-2535 parks.ny.gov

PICNIC SPOT

John Boyd Thacher State Park 830 Thacher Park Road, Voorheesville (518) 872-1237 parks.ny.gov

Saratoga Spa State Park 19 Roosevelt Drive, Saratoga Springs (518) 584-2535 parks.ny.gov

Grafton Lakes State Park 254 Grafton Lakes State Park Way, Grafton (518) 279-1155 parks.ny.gov

55+ RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

Glen Eddy 1 Glen Eddy Drive, Niskayuna (518) 280-8385 eddyseniorliving.com

The Spinney 6 Parker Mathusa Place, Delmar (518) 689-0162

2490 Pond View, Castleton-On-Hudson (518) 479-0800 thespinneygroup.com

Shaker Pointe at Carondelet

One Bell Tower Drive, Watervliet (518) 250-4890 shakerpointe.org

ROMANTIC GETAWAY INN

Mirror Lake Inn (tie)

77 Mirror Lake Drive, Lake Placid (518) 523-2544 mirrorlakeinn.com

The Sagamore Resort (tie)

110 Sagamore Road, Bolton Landing (518) 644-9400 thesagamore.com

Belhurst Castle & Winery

4069 West Lake Road, Geneva (315) 781-0201 belhurst.com

SARATOGA INN/HOTEL

Longfellows Hotel & Restaurant

500 Union Avenue, Saratoga Springs (518) 587-0108 longfellows.com

The Adelphi Hotel 365 Broadway, Saratoga Springs (518) 678-6000 theadelphihotel.com

The Gideon Putnam 24 Gideon Putnam Road, Saratoga Springs (866) 890-1171 gideonputnam.com

SKI AREA

Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort 37 Corey Road, Hancock, MA (413) 738-5500 jiminypeak.com

Stowe Mountain Resort 5781 Mountain Road, Stowe, VT (802) 253-3000 stowe.com

Gore Mountain 793 Peaceful Valley Road, North Creek (518) 251-2411 goremountain.com

VERMONT INN

The Equinox

3567 Main Street, Manchester Village (802) 362-4700 equinoxresort.com

The Dorset Inn (tie) 8 Church Street, Dorset (802) 867-5500 dorsetinn.com

Grey Fox Inn & Resort (tie)

990 Mountain Road, Stowe (802) 253-8921 greyfoxinn.com

WEDDING VENUE

Old Daley on Crooked Lake 2339 NY-43, Averill Park (518) 674-3132 olddaley.com

The Appel Inn (tie)

590 State Route 146, Altamont (518) 861-6557 appelinn.com

Franklin Plaza (tie) 4 4th Street, Troy (518) 270-9622 franklinplaza.com

Because Your Pet Deserves It

These local businesses are always there for your furry friend.

Chow Bella

50 West Ave., Saratoga Springs

518.516.1006; chowbella.store

Does your four-legged friend need a more active social life? Sign him or her up for a membership at Chow Bella, Saratoga’s only doggy social club. The West Avenue location features an indoor dog park, “pet spa” dog-washing station and store, which carries everything from dog food and leashes to puppy parkas. There’s even a small cafe for two-legged guests!

Pet Spas & Suites

1 Cerone Commercial Dr., Albany 518.783.5506; petspasandsuites.com

Pet Spas & Suites has been proudly serving the Capital Region for 30 years. Its commitment to providing quality pet care and passion for animals drives the dedicated team to assess each pet’s needs and provide the best experience possible during his or her visit. Pet Spa & Suites sends out a special thank you to its loyal customers who

have looked to the Albany company for their pet grooming, daycare and boarding needs since 1990!

Benson’s Pet Center

Multiple locations

518.373.1007; bensonspet.com

With locations in Clifton Park, Colonie, Johnstown, Queensbury, Wilton and Pittsfield, MA (plus a fish-focused store in Ballston Spa), Benson’s Pet Center has been serving the Capital Region since 1992. The small, independent chain has always strived to be a place where petlovers can shop for their furry, feathery or scaly friends, and a place where animals and customers come first.

Lucky’s Adventures Book Series by Elizabeth Macy luckysadventures.net

The Lucky’s Adventures children’s book series all started when author Elizabeth Macy’s own dog, a Yorkie-Affenpinscher mix named Lucky Charms, got lost in

Saratoga. Macy can’t be sure what Lucky did for the four days she was missing, but her first book, Lucky’s Adventure in Saratoga, takes a stab at it. Macy has since published two more Lucky’s Adventure books, and all three are available for purchase at luckysadventures.net.

The Animal Hospital

2 Rocking Horse Ln., Slingerlands

518.456.0852; theanimalhospital.com

Staffers at The Animal Hospital have dedicated their lives to the practice and their patients. The serene veterinary office is warm and inviting for you and your companion. The team prides itself on getting to know you and your pet. Every patient benefits from the staff’s commitment to being at the forefront in veterinary medicine. The staff’s philosophy at The Animal Hospital is to treat every patient as if he or she were their own family member. Now accepting a limited number of new patients.

Georgie’s Big Break

This soon-to-be-local pup, who won a photo session with Blue Iris Photography in CAPITAL REGION LIVING’s February silent auction, was born to be in the spotlight.

About Georgie

BREED: Labrador retriever, pit bull and shar-pei mix

AGE: 2½ years old

OWNER: Patrick MacWilliams

HOMETOWN: Leeds, MA, but moving to Saratoga Springs this spring

LIKES: Meeting other people and dogs, walking around Saratoga, and hiking and swimming in Lake George (which he was named after)

DISLIKES: When Patrick works late

FAVORITE TOY: It’s not really a “toy,” it’s his life vest. When he puts it on, he knows he’s going for a swim or boat ride.

April Showers Bring...Home Improvement Projects

Spring is the time to get your home and garden looking their best. These local companies are here to help.

J. Hunziker Paving, LLC

25 Corellis Dr., Rensselaer

518.858.7917; jhunzikerpavingllc.com

When it comes to driveway paving, work only with seasoned driveway contractors who can ensure that your driveway is smooth and functional. Avoid the frustration and disappointment of dealing with unprofessional driveway paving contractors by doing business with J. Hunziker Paving, LLC, instead.

Owner Jason Hunziker has 20 years of experience serving the residential and commercial paving needs of customers throughout Troy and the surrounding areas, and he is committed to providing his customers with the best possible workmanship and service. When you need top-quality driveway paving for

your home or place of business, Jason will be there to help—turn to him for all your asphalt driveway paving needs.

Ghent Wood Products

1262 NY-66, Ghent

518.828.5684; ghentwoodproducts.com

Spring means warmth, longer days and new beginnings, and with it comes the excitement of spring projects. Ghent Wood Products is ready to help you get started on everything from preparing your garden (got mulch?) to that muchanticipated home enhancement. Many of Ghent Wood’s friends and clients have kept themselves busy during COVID with home improvement projects using its lumber and stone, including remodeling kitchens and bathrooms, putting down new hardwood flooring, and building

live-edge tables and side tables (to name just a few). Whatever your next home improvement undertaking is, turn to Ghent Wood for your wood, stone and mulch needs to make your next project oh so special! Visit online or in person today.

Luizzi Asphalt Services

70 Tivoli St., Albany 518.459.7325; luizziasphalt.com

Luizzi Asphalt Services’ mission is to be the most trusted name in quality products and dependable service for homes and businesses across the Capital Region. Luizzi is a thirdgeneration company that has provided services to thousands of satisfied customers over the years. The Luizzi name has been in the Capital Region for more than 50 years, and the family has

built a reputation it is proud of! Call Luizzi Asphalt Services for skilled solutions to all of your asphalt maintenance and repair needs.

Salisbury Pro Sealers 195 Kenwood Ave, Delmar 518.475.9772; www.salisburyprosealersny.com Perhaps your lawnmower’s engine failed? Or you’re ready to toss out a broken generator? Salisbury Pro Sealers provides all types of small engine repairs in Albany and the surrounding areas, so rely on its team of specialists to diagnose your engine’s problem and fix it fast. Save money by having a professional get it to run like new again! Salisbury also specializes in sealcoating for all sized jobs. Sealcoating is applied to asphalt to protect against quick deterioration and cracks from environmental elements such as sunlight, gasoline and moisture. Call now to book your appointment to have your driveway done before summer.

The Delmar Farmers’ Market is open Saturdays May-December; (inset, from left) one of McCarroll’s The Village Butcher and Deli’s famous breakfast sandwiches; a toy display at I Love Books.

DELMAR ONE WONDERFUL WEEKEND IN

Albany’s little sister has so much to offer.

While the COVID-19 vaccination rate may be on the up and up, at press time, the virus is still a risk. So, while some maybe starting to hop on planes, a Capital Region “staycation” let’s us all celebrate our closer-to-home hot spots. Need some Upstate New York travel inspiration? Check out our One Wonderful Weekend series, in which we highlight the best-ofthe-best food, drinks and activities in the area’s most happening small towns. Our latest stop? Delmar!

If you aren’t yet ready to start planning a cross-country trip to the sunny beaches of Del Mar, CA, set your sights on Capital Region residents can set their sights on a closer-to-home destination: Delmar, NY, the small hamlet in Bethlehem located just 15 minutes from the hustle and bustle of Downtown Albany. But don’t worry: Spring in Upstate New York may be little more than a dreary

continuation of the already-too-long winter, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t more than enough action to fill one wonderful weekend in the suburban oasis that is Delmar.

FRIDAY

Get your weekend rolling with a sushi roll from Shogun Sushi & Sake Bar (shogunofdelmar.com). The Shogun team recommends the Golden Dream Roll— made with spicy and crunchy tuna and avocado and topped with tempura shrimp and special sauces—or the Delmar Roll, featuring salmon, eel and avocado wrapped in soy paper and finished with special sauces. If raw fish isn’t your shtick, the menu also boasts plenty of other Japanese (and some Thai) classics, too, such as tempura, teriyaki and Pad Thai. Then, keep the ball rolling (sorry, we couldn’t resist!) at Del Lanes (bowldel.com), which offers cosmic bowling Friday and Saturday nights from 9pm-11pm.

Three dishes from Shogun Sushi & Sake Bar.

SATURDAY

Some Saturdays are great for sleeping in; your Saturday in Delmar shouldn’t be one of them. Rise, shine and head directly to McCarroll’s The Village Butcher and Deli in the Delmar Marketplace (delmarmarketplace.com) for one of its legendary breakfast sandwiches on a hard roll. At 10am, head across the street to I Love Books (ilovebooksdelmar.com), which not only carries hard and softcover classics, but also toys, greeting cards, jewelry and other quirky items. It has something for everyone—even people who don’t necessarily love books (which is hard for us to imagine). And if you can wait until May, make sure to spend some time perusing the Delmar Farmers’ Market (delmarmarket.org), which is open every Saturday, rain or shine, at Elm Avenue Park (May-October) and in Bethlehem Central Middle School (November-December).

It’s lunchtime, and the Jack Burger from Swifty’s Restaurant & Pub (swiftyspub.com), topped with homemade bourbon sauce, applewood smoked bacon, onion strings and sharp cheddar cheese, is just what you need to fuel the rest of your weekend. Spend your afternoon exploring some of Delmar’s nature preserves, such as the Touhey Family Preserve (mohawkhudson.org) or Five Rivers (dec.ny.gov), which offers weekly COVIDsafe environmental programming. Back in town, happy hour should be going strong at The Warbler Brewery (warblerbrewery.com), which just opened this past November. Then, keep the beer flowing at another local brewery, The Real McCoy Beer Co. (therealmccoybeerco.com). And if you’re in need of a late afternoon snack—i.e. dinner—at press time, The Real McCoy was partnering with Clifton Park–based catering company Suburban Kitchen (suburbankitchenny.com to offer up pork ramen and bao buns. Finish off your evening at the iconic Jim’s Tastee Freez (jimstasteefreez.com), which has been serving Delmar residents shakes, splits and sundaes for nearly 60 years.

The Jack Burger from Swifty’s Restaurant & Pub; (from top) The Warbler Brewery; The Real McCoy Beer Co.; Jim’s Tastee Freez.

SUNDAY

It may be your last day in Delmar, but there’s no room for the Sunday Scaries. Pick up a cup of something strong at Brewtus Roasting’s Roastery and Tasting Room (brewtusroasting.com), and then walk off all of last night’s beer and ice cream on the Helderberg–Hudson Rail Trail (albanycounty.com). The walkable suburban hike stretches nine miles from the Port of Albany to Voorheesville, and the Delmar portion goes right past Bliss (blissdelmar.com), a smoothie shop you’re going to want to swing by. A massage is most definitely in the cards for your final day of staycation, too, so head to Balance Massage & Healing Arts Studio (balancemassageandhealingartsstudio.com) for a Swedish, Deep Tissue or Hot Stone massage, before treating yourself to a second caffeine kick and pastry—it’s

Balance Massage & Healing Arts Studio; (right) Brewtus Roasting.

what’s for lunch!—at Perfect Blend Café and Bakery (perfectblendcafe.com). Then, get in some shopping next door at Merriman & Pfister Artisans’ Marketplace (merrimanpfister.com), which carries a wide variety of accessories and home décor made by local artisans.

Your time in Delmar is coming to a end, but you won’t be leaving empty handed. At the moment, Twisted Vine Wine & Tap (twistedvinedelmar.com) is open for takeout only, so grab your Sunday dinner—we’d go with the pretzel sticks with beer cheese, seared scallops and flourless chocolate cake—to go. Luckily, you won’t have a long drive home.

(clockwise from top left) Merriman & Pfister Artisans’ Marketplace; a pastry from Perfect Blend Café and Bakery; pretzel sticks with beer cheese from Twisted Vine Wine & Tap.

Your Wellbeing, Handled

These four local companies have you and your loved ones covered.

The Spinney at Van Dyke 6 Parker Mathusa Pl., Delmar 518.689.0162; thespinneyatvandyke.com

Leaving your house does not mean you have to leave your privacy behind. The Spinney at Van Dyke offers a new approach to living for the “55 and better” community, allowing residents to move away from the burdens of owning their home while allowing a sense of privacy in a community setting. Each cottage at The Spinney features private entryways, back and front porches, as well as direct access, attached garages. The Spinney lifestyle is the smoothest transition from owning a home to downsizing and renting. Schedule a visit today to see why!

The Sentinel of Amsterdam 10 Market St., Amsterdam 518.896.0010; sentinelalf.com

The Sentinel was created with a vision centered on providing individualized care in a home-like setting for seniors. Family owned and operated, The Sentinel offers decades of experience in providing quality care to its residents. The Sentinel’s philosophy focuses on taking a positive approach to senior living, and its goal is to provide seniors with an active and full life during their retirement years. The Sentinel takes great pride in its dedicated, caring and professional staff. Each staff member is carefully chosen for his or her courtesy and commitment to The Sentinel’s residents.

Fagan Associates 767 Hoosick Rd., Troy 518.279.1044; faganasset.com

As an independent financial advisor for more than 30 years, the Fagan Associates team takes personal pride in handling the individual needs of all its clients. Specializing in investments, wealth management and retirement planning, Fagan currently manages more than $500 million in assets, and all portfolios are managed separately. Fagan is a fiduciary investment advisor that is fee-based, meaning there is no conflict of interest that comes with compensation-based commissions. At Fagan Associates, it’s your money—and they know that.

Pine Haven Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center

201 Main St., Philmont 518.672.7408; pinehavencarecenter.com

“Caring for adults who need around-theclock nursing care is both rewarding and challenging. In 2020, the global pandemic made caring for our residents even more challenging. I would like to publicly thank our staff, residents, family members, partners in care and the community at large for all they have done for Pine Haven. Thank you for the cards, letters, supplies, parades, food and numerous acts of physical and emotional support you have provided. All your thoughts, prayers and deeds of selfless giving have helped our facility and its residents get through a very difficult year. We are blessed to have you in our lives. Thank you!”

Experts

An Island-Hopping Adventure…Right Here in the Empire State!

CRL travel writer Alexandra Baackes takes you on a weekend jaunt to Long Island’s Suffolk County and the North Fork wine region.

or years, I associated Long Island with a select few destinations known as playgrounds for the well-known and well-to-do: The Hamptons, Montauk, Fire Island. While I was fascinated by the idea of rubbing elbows with the rich and famous, I never did quite make the trip down south from the Capital Region.

Fthe tiny town that makes up the heart of it is lined with vintage shops, nautical fixings and tempting restaurants.

A seasonal spot, Greenport comes to life each year in the spring, gearing up for its busy and bustling summer months. Those who arrive early enough in the season not only beat the crowds, but also encounter friendlier locals who are eager to lend a helping hand with directions before being consumed by the true tourist season.

After careful consideration, I checked into The Menhaden, a modern and minimalist boutique hotel with an inviting roof deck, which was perfectly located, allowing me to ditch my car for the weekend and venture everywhere by foot.

Thankfully, it turned out that my first foray into Suffolk County—while crossing off another one of New York’s 62 counties, all of which I’ve resolved to travel to this year—was much more my (and hopefully, your!) speed. Enter: the North Fork.

Travelers driving (or Amtrak-ing it) down from Albany have several options when it comes to getting to the North Fork. It’s about 2.5 hours by car from Albany to Bridgeport or New London, CT, where you can hop on a ferry and literally sail there. Or, if you prefer to stick to land, you can simply drive through New York City, which takes about 3.5 hours and could increase from there depending on traffic.

The area is well known for its wineries, and Suffolk County, as I learned while

schedules in an attempt to plan my safe regional getaway, essentially makes up the entire eastern half of Long Island. The 30-mile peninsula runs roughly parallel to another one known, aptly, as the South Fork, where the previously mentioned Long Island hotspots are located. Clearly, I’d been looking in the wrong place the entire time.

Not that the North Fork is all that “hidden” of a gem; Greenport, its de facto headquarters, is a wildly popular tourist spot and charming base from which to explore. Loyalists call it the laid-back alternative to the flashier escapes to the south. Roads up and down the fork are dotted with farm stands and family-owned vineyards, and

Setting off on a mission to orient myself down Front Street, I quickly clocked a few of my favorite new boutiques in town for window shopping: Tea and Tchotchkes, full of modern gifts, hip T-shirts and locally crafted greeting cards; Lido, a globallyinspired, bohemian shop; and The Times Vintage, a funky place to browse for blasts from the past.

As I mentioned above, you can’t talk about the North Fork without mentioning wine—after all, it’s one of New York State’s four primary wine regions. With 40 vineyards to choose from, the options can be a bit overwhelming. But each has its own flavor. Boho-chic Croteaux Vineyards features rosés, while Sparkling Pointe serves up (you guessed it) lots of bubbles. Lenz feels bougie and upscale, while Duck Walk is unpretentious and laid back. And Jason’s Vineyard? They have alpacas. Imagine that.

The North Fork is not all about wine, though. Greenport Harbor Brewing Co. serves up artisanal brews in a renovated 1860s firehouse next to the town’s historic jail. Spirits fans will be delighted by Greenport Distilling or Matchbook Distilling Company, where you can book a $100 MYO

Samples to sip from boho-chic Croteaux Vineyards.

A retro beachy vibe reigns at Greenport’s waterfront Silver Sands Motel.

(make-your-own!) gin experience. When it’s over, you’ll walk out with your own full-size proprietary botanical blend.

And the area’s farms aren’t just growing grapes: For something different, head to Lavender by the Bay farm, known for its fields of the fragrant flower. While it officially opens for the season in the springtime, most travelers with a passion for purple tend to arrive there in the summer months to catch lavender’s peak blooming season. Shoot for June, but you might get lucky earlier—and you can always just swing by the farm to shop, regardless of how brightly hued the fields might be.

Besides wine-sipping and lavenderpeeping, Suffolk County is also a wonderful

place for enjoying the great outdoors—a travel trend from 2020 that has certainly carried over to this year. A favorite getaway-within-mygetaway was to grab one of The Menhaden’s complimentary beach cruisers and hop on the eight-minute South Ferry to Shelter Island. At $3 for a round-trip ticket, it was a great bargain and opened up a whole new world of adventures. The island, nestled between the North and South Forks, has a population of 2,500 that swells to 15,000 by summer and is known as the “UnHamptons.” I rented a bike and rode all the way to the Mashomack Preserve, passing quaint Victorian-style homes and brightly painted flower stands lined with honor jars. On arrival there, I ditched my wheels and wandered the well-marked trails of the scenic preserve.

At North Fork’s furthest point sits Orient Beach State Park, a pebbly beach that’s

home to four lighthouses and endless views of glassy Gardiner’s Bay. While the stand-up paddleboard, kayak and canoe rentals don’t open until Memorial Day and the lifeguards don’t take their posts until June, the park is open from 8am-4pm daily, even in the depths of winter, and there are plenty of beautiful walking/biking trails and scenic beach picnics to enjoy as spring comes into its own. Plus, during the offseason, you won’t have to pay the $8-$10 vehicle fee.

Like much of New York, not every business in Greenport has reopened, and that has given me a reason to return someday soon. And I will. Whenever the North Fork Yoga Shala gets back to offering sweaty classes in its converted church studio, Leaves in a Bowl Tea House once again serves up its onsite tea meditations and Greenport Village Cinema flings open its doors to theater lovers again, I plan on being there.

While COVID has kept most of us from taking part in much international travel, exploring our own backyard has been a surprisingly satisfying substitute.

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Let’s Go!

Two day-trips for local adventurers.

Howe Caverns

255 Discovery Dr., Howes Cave 518.296.8900; howecaverns.com

Howe Caverns nabbed an impressive Bestie for Seasonal Event after hosting its first ever totally immersive haunted cave tour. The experience turned its beautiful show cave into The Underworld at Howe Caverns last fall, leading up to Halloween. Only the bravest entered a world of creatures, monsters, and demons 156 feet below the Earth’s surface. The Underworld at Howe Caverns exceeded expectations in its first year, with sold out evenings and rave reviews. Now, the caverns’ award-winning creative production team is already hard at work on the 2021 Underworld, which will run weekends in the month of October. Of course, Howe Caverns offers Traditional Cave Tours all year long, along with its state-of-the-art escape room, Howe To Escape! New for 2021: an easy online ticketing system that enables guests to purchase tickets at their convenience, bypassing busy phone lines. Visit the attraction’s website for event updates and to purchase tickets.

Apple Barrel Store + Cafe

115 State Rt. 30A, Schoharie 518.295.7179; shopapplebarrel.com

Originally opened as a farm stand after the end of WWII, Apple Barrel Store + Cafe has become one of Upstate New York’s premier destinations. Today, the store and awardwinning cafe encapsulate nearly 6,000 square feet and feature the best in home décor, gifts, fashion and gourmet food products. Whether you want to shop, eat or simply spend a few hours browsing and being inspired, The Apple Barrel comes together at the intersection of rural and urban, exemplifying the upstate lifestyle and making it the perfect excursion for your next rainy day or sunny afternoon—patio will be open for spring!

Demystifying Telehealth

The world of psychotherapy has been at the forefront of the virtual revolution.

Not all byproducts of the pandemic have been bad. Case in point: the proliferation of “telehealth,” or the ability for patients to see healthcare professionals from the comfort of their own

homes via safe, secure, HIPAA-compliant systems, not unlike Zoom—or simply, via their smartphone. What used to be a long, drawn-out headache of a process for patients, which included appointment cards and waiting rooms, has quickly become the height of convenience. And April Arnold, a

licensed psychotherapist, has been enjoying it for quite awhile: It was part of her practice long before COVID hit in 2020.

Most importantly, telehealth has become the great democratizer, allowing patients to be seen at all times—sometimes within a moment’s notice. Though Arnold’s main psychotherapy practice is based in Naples, FL, she’s planning to open a practice in Saratoga Springs in the near future. We asked Arnold to key us in on the telehealth phenomenon and help us demystify it for prospective patients, who might be unfamiliar with the format.

Telehealth Is Old Hat for Therapists

I’ve been doing virtual sessions for about four or five years now. I do have an office where I was seeing clients in person, pre-COVID, but because our board actually states that patients have to be masked for in-office visits now—and not all of them want to do that—virtual offers them another option. Virtual sessions offer more confidentiality, too. And they’re a time-saver. I’ve seen people, virtually, in their garages and cars.

Therapists Can Now See Patients at the Point of Crisis

I’ve had patients pull off on the side of the road and text me, “April, I need you. Are you available?” In those emergency situations, I think it’s the best. My child clients, ages 6 and up, will text me that they’re under their bed and want to talk. And if I have a minute, I will stop what I’m doing and call. Especially when it comes to children, sometimes I feel like they just need someone. Even if it’s for 15 minutes.

What Newbies Should Know About Making Telehealth Appointments

If you’re looking to do psychotherapy for the first time via telehealth, find a therapist who is comfortable with the format, and someone, obviously, who is qualified. I do an initial free consultation. Some people feel comfortable with me and some don’t. And that’s fine. I often refer patients to another therapist if it doesn’t work out.

Why Telehealth Is Here to Stay

I think that more people are willing to get counseling now because of telehealth; that’s just my sense. It’s easier to pick up the phone.

before you go...

WILLIE & G.

ifty-something-year-old

FGiovanni heard his wife’s voice before even trying to open his eyes. They’d been closed for so long that the light from the hospital room stabbed them like a knife when he was finally able to coax them apart. After a hug from his wife and daughter and an encouraging word from the doctor, Giovanni looked around the room and asked, “Where is she?” The other people in the room looked confused, so he added, “The nurse with the green eyes— the superhero.”

Nobody had an answer for Giovanni; maybe this was the talk of a man who was still dreaming or hadn’t yet realized that his nightmare was over. His brush with death, courtesy of the COVID-19 virus, was behind him now; he was off the machines that kept him breathing. He was going to make it. Still, Giovanni insisted to all who were gathered in the room that they needed to find the nurse he saw right before the lights went out 10 days earlier.

name or teasing her about it.” Giovanni’s daughter asked, “So did you become friends?” “We did; fast friends, best friends for a few years. I called her ‘Willie,’ and she called me ‘G.’” His daughter then interrupted him. “That’s nice, Daddy, but what does that have to do with someone

term because I heard them yelling at each other: ‘HE’S CRASHING, HE’S CRASHING.’”  He met his daughter’s eyes and said, “I was so scared. Then someone touched my arm and got right down in my face and said, “Shh...I’ve got you now. It’s going to be all right.” His daughter then said, “And that’s the superhero you mentioned with the green eyes?” Giovanni smiled and said, “Yes, but I don’t think you’re understanding what I’m saying.”

The doctor urged his patient to rest and encouraged the others to let him do so. Everyone left the room then except Giovanni’s young daughter, who said, “What are you talking about, Daddy? Who is a superhero?” Giovanni patted the bed, directing her to sit, then told her the following story.

“When I was a little boy, the kids in the neighborhood made fun of my name. It was so long and sounded strange to them.” His daughter listened and nodded, as he continued. “So, I shortened it, and everybody started calling me ‘G.’” She smiled then and asked, “Like, gee, I wish I had a more boring name?” Giovanni laughed, and replied, “Exactly.”

He continued: “On the next street over, there was a girl with an odd name like mine—Wilhelmina—and she had the same problem with people mispronouncing her

He then explained to her that “Willie always wanted to grow up to be a superhero, and her favorites were the Lone Ranger and Batman. She liked them, because they wore masks, and nobody could question if a girl could be a superhero if she were behind the mask. Do you know what I mean?” His daughter smiled. “I think I do.” He continued: “Every Halloween she’d dress up like them, and she’d run around pretending to save the day.” Giovanni was smiling now at the memory and reached over to take a sip of the orange juice next to his hospital bed. He looked lost in thought, and so his daughter said, “Where are you, Daddy? You drifted off.” Giovanni replied, “I was just thinking that it’s terrible how we make these amazing friends as children and then let them slip away. I hadn’t talked to Willie or even thought about her in decades.”

Giovanni then squeezed his daughter’s hand and said, “Until I got to this hospital and I couldn’t breathe. I was crashing. I use that

Just then there was a light knock on the door of the hospital room, and a nurse in her 50s slowly approached Giovanni’s bed. He locked eyes with her and instantly began to cry. “Daddy, what’s the matter?” his daughter said. “It’s going to be okay.” She then turned to look at the nurse standing at the foot of the bed and realized behind the mask and protective plastic shield, all you could really make out were her piercing eyes. They were emerald green and danced in the light. Giovanni’s daughter saw the way this nurse was looking at her father and finally understood. She whispered to the nurse, “Are you Willie?” The nurse’s eyes filled with tears as she looked at her patient, and said, “I am. And this is G.” G. reached out to take her hand and said, “I knew it was you by your eyes. You’re a nurse?” Willie just smiled and nodded. G. wiped his tears away and added: “You got your wish, Willie. You grew up to be a superhero.” The nurse smiled under all her protective equipment and said, “And I got to wear a mask. Although this is not exactly what I had in mind.”

As the two old friends stared at each other in silence, Willie’s eyes suddenly looked sad. G. asked her, “What’s wrong?” She replied, “When we were little and played superhero, everyone got saved.” He nodded, as the ICU nurse said, “G., I couldn’t save everyone.”

The man in the hospital bed reached out to hug his daughter and said, “But you did save me. Thank you.” Willie then said, “Can I tell you a secret?” “Sure,” said G. “I don’t want to have to wear a mask anymore,” she said. G. then said, “Can I tell you a secret?” Willie nodded. “You don’t need to,” he said. “You nurses and doctors were heroes all along.”

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