Like this little tomato valiantly forging its way in a long-past Boston summer, this little tree has taken hold in the impossible-small crack of earth somewhere between this old building and the sidewalk in downtown Albany. On a lunch-time walk up to church recently, I found this spot of green where nothing else dared to be growing. As they say in ‘Jurassic Park‘, life will find a way.
My heart is always moved when I find something like this happening, and then I wonder if anyone else has noticed the noble effort at life and survival going on along a non-descript sidewalk. I also wonder at how many more simply rushed by, or absentmindedly ignored it. The power of a little tree to illuminate how much people might care is equal only to its ability to reveal how little they might care.
Appearing almost magically across the street from downtown Albany’s oldest store, Wizard Burger has been around for a couple of years, but I never took the opportunity to try it out until last week – and it was a happy and fortuitous revelation, as the pickings for lunch during the week in downtown are scant to say the least. Part of my reluctance is that I’m generally a meat-loving guy, so if I’m going to have a burger, I always thought I wanted it to be a meat burger. I was wrong. All of the selections at Wizard burger are vegan, but unless someone told you that you might not necessarily notice or believe it. The flavors and combos are that surprisingly satisfying .
Asking which burger on the menu was a good beginner’s choice, I took the advice of the person behind the counter and ordered their Big Kahuna (which seemed like a bold suggestion, given the pineapple and pickled jalapeño combo), as well as an order of their Buffalo-style fries (also vegan, despite their spicy taste and breaded-chicken-like appearance). Both were insanely good – the burger also had a soy glaze and some house mayo, all of which made for a sweet and savory and spicy combination that packed more flavor and punch than any burger I’ve had in the past year. The fries were no joke either, and while the creamy sauce accompanying them bore no similarity to the potent blue cheese that one may be accustomed to, it was no less delicious for the difference. All in all, it was a crazy satisfying meal, and I’ll be back again to fall under a different spell (the Wiz Mac sounds like a magnificently magical variation on the Big Mac, while the Magicano is their jackfruit-based take on pulled pork). And I haven’t even gotten started on the other fries and burritos…
No matter what size city you may find yourself in, I always advise looking up when you are first finding your way, because much is missed is you keep your gaze solely at eye level. I must have ignored my own advice for the past few decades, as I never really noticed the beauty atop the Peter D. Kiernan Plaza, which sits right across the street from my office building. Previously operating as Union Station, the building was once where trains arrived and departed from unit the late 1960’s, when it was bought by New York State. Renovated and preserved in the late 1980’s, it was named the Peter D. Kiernan Plaza for the head of Norstar Bancorp (which is still listed on the front of the building).
Sadly, that’s all the historical and architectural Albany info I bothered to investigate. One day maybe I’ll do a deeper dive into what the sculptural elements mean, such as the lion-fronted globes on each corner of the building. I do love a lion sculpture. It’s also a good reminder to myself to look up and see what other treasures are dangling right above us every day. Now that I’m walking more in the milder weather, the world is rising before me. Remember: look up!
Last year’s production of ‘End of the Rainbow’ as staged by Curtain Call Theatre and directed by Phil Rice found local leading luminary Jeannine M. Trimboli giving one of her trademark electrifying performances, in this case as Judy Garland. It was a role which pushed her to new heights, both in her acting prowess, and her own personal resonance to the woman she was portraying. A recent comic turn in ‘Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding’ proves her versatility, more than ample reason to highlight her as this Dazzler of the Day. She’s reached a point of wisdom and reflection in her life, as evidenced by this social media post she wrote, which speaks volumes more than any accolade I could conjure:
Never would have thought I could have left performing for a lifetime plus and returned better than when I left. Yet it’s the lifetimes in me that’s given me my spark back.
Having lost so much keeps me humble and joyous for every moment I get to do this, wherever that is.
It’s important to love the work because it never ends. The preparation for a moment that might never come.
And that’s okay. Because there’s also the pure ecstasy of being a part of something. A show, a class, an audition. None of it is wasted time. None of it. ~ Jeannine M. Trimboli
It had been a couple of months since I last stopped in at St. Mary’s in downtown Albany, so the other day at lunch I buttoned up my coat, slung a scarf around my neck, and walked up the hill in the direction of the church. I used to go there in the summer before and after Dad died. It was a small moment of comfort in days of sorrow.
On this January afternoon, the sky was blue and the sun was shining, but there wasn’t much warmth in the air. At least there wasn’t much wind either. I hadn’t been moving a lot in my post-holiday slump, and my calves burned as I neared the top of the hill. This was where I served jury duty in that awful murder case. Walking past the courthouse no longer left me with a haunted feeling, it was just another marker of a memory, another piece of the past living only in my head, like summer in the middle of winter.
My contemplative mood melted into relief that I’d arrived at the church. I reached for the heavy door, but it was locked. On this day, not even God would let me in. I paused there in the shadow of the doorway, then headed back down the hill.
This post was originally entitled ‘Albany’s Nipper Pukes A Rainbow‘ but then I remembered it’s almost fucking Christmas so I wanted to show a little respect. Just a little bit. (Just a little bit.)
Rainbows in December – for all the charm and wonder and beauty of them, something disturbing and foreboding lingers in the queasy light and rain. On a recent afternoon, following a day of drizzle and gray clouds, the sun peeked out, and a multitude of rainbows filled the December sky. One landed right outside my office window, another seemed to emanate from the mouth of Nipper. (Strangely enough, not the dog’s first nip at a rainbow.) Andy sent me photos from his doctor’s appointment, where a full rainbow arched over the entire sky. Social media lit up with all of them – a world of rainbows on a December afternoon – signifiers of peace or something much more sinister, like climate change, and none of us caring to be any wiser.
So we put our pictures up and write our blog posts and go on our merry ways, thinking how wonderful and enchanting it is to have rainbows at this late stage of the calendar year. Would Noah have gone through all that trouble if he knew how little humanity would care for any of his creatures gone extinct? The planet in peril perhaps… the rainbows a plea…
And somewhere over the rainbow a heaven that may or may not exist, along with whatever might become of our souls. When you’ve seen the dust we all become, you understand what little substance makes up a rainbow, along with how pure it must be. Maybe the rainbows are angels, messengers of God, telling us when we’re getting it right, and, probably more often, when we’re getting it wrong.
Driving home through the rainbows, I do my best to live in some sort of grace, so as not to ruffle the universe’s feathers too much. Invoking the wrath of any entity, human or otherwise, is rarely a wise motion. Silent reverence, then, in honor of all that we do not know, and a little respect. Just a little bit…
All this time I’ve been trying to find a parking space in downtown Albany I could have just sidled onto the sidewalk with my Mini-Cooper and solved the whole issue. Good to know!
Capital Region culinary legend Yono Purnomo has been feeding this lucky section of New York State with delicious panache since the 1980’s, and while things have changed remarkably in the ensuing years, it’s clear that Yono still knows how to shine, hence this Dazzler of the Day honor. He and his restaurants have earned countless awards and accolades over the years, and throughout all that time he and his wife Donna have remained grounded, generous, and kind members of the community. Even beyond retirement, they could be seen helping out, because helping wasn’t something they did for money or praise – helping was in their nature. Now that Yono is in end-stage renal failure, a kidney transplant is the best option for keeping him going, so check out their FaceBook page to help spread the word on seeking a live donor.
A Capital Region treasure, who has made dining in the area a pleasure for decades, has come to a point where he needs our help, and if anyone is reading this who might be in a position to give something valuable back, please take the time to visit this post.
Chef Yono Purnomo, famed proprietor of Yono’s, has end-stage renal failure and is in need of a kidney transplant. For someone who has always given back so much to his community, it is likely a strange and new sensation to be the one in need. For the rest of us who have benefited from his hospitality and warmth and welcoming disposition, this is an opportunity to reward that service, while saving a life and helping a family keep their beloved father, husband, and grandfather.
“My father always told me it doesn’t matter who you love or where you live, you must always believe in yourself. Follow your heart and be patient. Adapt yourself to your new surroundings. Be humble, kind and determined.” ~ Yono Purnomo
This announcement of an upcoming Drag Story Hour/Cabaret for Kids at the New York State Museum in Albany, NY is probably the best thing about this year’s Pride Month, and it’s being helmed by two of my favorite performers – Frieda Munchon and Carmie Hope. While the Republican Party is currently doing its best to alienate itself from the most basic tenets of human decency, it has turned its wayward focus to attacking drag performers. The last hundred reports of adults sexually abusing children I’ve heard about were perpetrated by straight white men. Not one of those was a drag queen. But the GOP is going off the deep end and most sane people are beginning to see that, so to be attacked and vilified by them is now a mark of honor and, dare I say, respectability.
As for a drag queen story hour for kids, I only wish someone had taken me to something like this when I was a kid. Children can usually detect authenticity, and they often respond with unspoken respect and adoration to those who are most themselves, even and especially when what they’re doing makes them different from other people. To be a drag queen takes the courage and determination to be what you absolutely have to be no matter how much shit you will inevitably get from certain hateful sectors of the world. To be a drag queen takes the bravery and nobility to stay true to yourself in the face of others who may never understand or accept or simply leave you alone. To be a drag queen is to embrace a spirit of fun and beauty and open-heartedness that makes this world a better place.
I can’t think of a better role model for a child to have.
{The Drag Story Hour/Cabaret for Families and Kids will take place on June 24, 2023 at the Huxley Theater at the New York State Museum, 260 Madison Avenue, Albany, NY. The event is free and runs from 1 to 4 PM.}
Quiet Fridays in downtown Albany are a secret, almost-enjoyable, aspect of summer that I’m hoping to keep mostly to myself, so don’t tell anyone what I’m about to tell you. My preferred method of working at the office involves as few people as possible, as quiet and peaceful an atmosphere as possible, and the least bit of trouble and interaction as possible. It makes sense then that one of my favorite days to work is the day after Thanksgiving, when almost no one else is at the office, and I can catch up on things that have evaded me for the previous eleven months.
On a smaller scale, Fridays in summer afford the same absence of people and activity in downtown Albany, and we had a peek of that yesterday, when a delightfully sunny and perfectly 71-degree day afforded me an opportunity to walk up the hill (State Street) and try out the Albany War Room Tavern for the first time. Renowned Executive Chef Yasuo Saso makes a welcome return to the Albany restaurant scene, and was the main draw for my lunch-time journey.
From their social media pages alone, my mouth has been watering whenever I happen upon a post featuring some gorgeous sushi or steak creation, and after hoofing it up State Street I was hungry and ready. “Peace, Love & Sushi” glowed in neon writing above the sushi station, while Chef Saso could be heard methodically chopping up all the delicious goodness that was in my immediate future. The sound had a calming effect – something soothing and consistent in the midst of what can often be a hot and harried downtown Albany scene.
Framed memorabilia of political and historical figures reminded of all that has gone down in this 1890’s brownstone building, but, warring political factions aside, the lunchtime vibe was calm and cool, and the two rolls I ordered – an Authentic Spicy Crab roll and a Spicy Devil roll of tuna and caviar – made for a light yet filling lunch. I would have gone for a third, but I’d have had to roll down the hill to get back to work. Two were just enough for lunch; we’ll be back for a full dinner soon to try out more indulgences. For now, this was the perfect entry into what may become a Friday afternoon summer tradition.
1: the quality or state of being assiduous : DILIGENCE
2: persistent personal attention
This little park in Albany is right across the street from my office building, and it’s a charming place three seasons out of the year. (Technically it’s closed from November to March.) Right now it’s filled with tulips and flowering trees, the way much of Albany is, and makes for a happy pause in the downtown work day.
First of all, anyone who rocks a ladybug purse is a dazzler in my book. Second, when you add a lifelong career in helping others and giving back to your local community, you more than earn the title of Dazzler of the Day. Daquetta Jones has been doing both, and doing them fabulously, for more years than seems possible. When the stunning style and colorful sophistication of one’s fashion sense is matched by a career of service (Jones has been the Executive director at YWCA of the Greater Capital Region and the Deputy Commissioner for Administration at New York State Department of Civil Service) the result is a dynamic inspiration for all of us looking to dazzle in our own way.
The Lark Street Renaissance continues as John Robert Bowers is crowned Dazzler of the Day, joining the vaunted ranks of Albany denizens such as Lynn Beaumont, Kevin Bruce, Tess Collins, and Elissa Halloran. Founder and lead therapist at Spa Halcyon, Bowers has been creating an oasis of wellness in the midst of Lark Street, providing spa and beauty treatments in an inviting environment. With his welcoming energy and expert techniques, he knows precisely how to help his clients achieve their desired level of relaxation and stress-release, while aiding in a holistic approach to self-care and health. Too many of us forget that self-care is absolutely vital to taking care of others, and in a world that feels increasingly fractured and disparate, Bowers is a friendly reminder that we need to take of ourselves and each other. {Check out Spa Halcyon’s FaceBook page here.}
