Here’s the scenario. Someone’s coming to visit you from out of town. They’re not from Albany, they’ve never been to the Capital District, they are visiting you and it’s the first time you’ve seen them in ages. After the celebratory hugging at Albany International Airport, your guest says to you…
“I’m glad to see you. Show me around this city of yours – as much as I want to spend time with you, I want to see one icon of this area, eat at one distinctive Capital District restaurant, and party at one distinctive local night spot. Then tomorrow morning, I have to catch the first flight back home.”
Interesting situation. You want to show your friend around the Capital District, but you only have one day to do this. With that in mind, you’re more than willing to set up a visit at some location – the New York State Museum, or the Corning Preserve, or maybe a tour of Cherry Hill or the Ten Broeck Mansion or the Capitol.
It’s evening and you want to make sure your friend is finely fed. Where do you go if you have only one choice? A fancy restaurant like Jack’s Oyster House, or maybe Jumpin’ Jack’s Drive-In in Schenectady? Maybe a brew pub like Brown’s in Troy, or one of the Bombers eateries?
And now it’s late at night and you two want to party. Where do you go – a nightclub or nightspot, some place to drink and dance, maybe sing karaoke or throw darts or just reminisce about all the time you both lost when you were apart?
I tested this question on reddit.com yesterday, and it got some great responses. One person suggested taking their friend to the Altamont Orchard, while another said that he entertained two of his friends from downstate to a night at Wolff’s Biergarten. Another person said he would take his friend to Washington Park first, and then to Bombers.
The challenge is now upon you. Your friend is on the plane to Albany and it’s about to touch down. You can show your friend one Capital District tourist attraction, you can eat at one restaurant, and you can party at one nightspot. What are your three selections, and why did you choose them?
Chuck The Writer 
Empire State Plaza..ppl find the Egg odd and amazing
Justin’s for dinner
If there’s a band we just stay there for the night spot.
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Downtown, for its great architecture, including the homes in Center Square/Hudson Park, then to Jack’s for dinner, followed by Crisan bakery on Lark for dessert.
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30+ years ago I would have said Daisy Baker’s in Troy for dinner…
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Chuck, this blog subject looks alot like something Amanda Talar would write, except you get 3 comments and she would get 100.
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Jim – And your point is?
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First, to the former Street Academy building…for dinner, either the fondue place or former Old Chicago, site of Chuck’s greatest accomplishments, then it’s on to Chuck’s house to hear all the records he wants to be buried with.
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Yes, you MUST have a point…this isn’t Twitter.
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Well, I am personally glad to see Quintessence opened back up. I love their Chicken Terique and spinache linguinni. My father used to take me there as a kid. They used to have a 2 person brownie sundai that we used to share. I wish they would bring it back.I saw a few comments above Justins (another great place to go) Chuck Altamont Orchids is a Mediocer place as far as food goes. The estblishment it self is nice.
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