The Albany, New York region is rich in history, with the city’s founding stretching back to the 1600s, and over 400 years later is growing economically and culturally.
Albany is the capital of New York, so anyone moving here can expect state government to be prominently discussed in the news and on the streets, but the Albany area is much more than a government center.
Here are 20 things about Albany that someone considering a move needs to know:
1. Albany is a small city, but the surrounding area is heavily populated
When people talk about Albany, they most likely are referring to the greater Capital District, which is the term for Albany and its neighbors Troy, Schenectady, Saratoga and their suburbs. Although there are slightly less than 100,000 residents in the city, the Capital District is home to almost 1.2 million.
2. Albany’s nickname is “Smallbany”
#UpstateAmerica: @CapCityShirts designed a “Smallbany” tee pic.twitter.com/PPdGcUy1TL
— Jimmy Vielkind (@JimmyVielkind) April 11, 2018
Because it retains a small-town vibe, some people call the city “Smallbany,” but they are usually referring to how seemingly everyone knows the same people, and how you tend to run into acquaintances at popular spots.
3. State workers are kind of a big deal
Because Albany is the capital, there are an estimated 300,000 state employees. That’s a third of the population, so their jobs mean a lot to the area’s economy. State offices are not only located downtown but line commercial suburb strips like Wolf Road in Colonie.
4. Big employers include GE, tech startups and financial institutions
Besides the many state employees, the region is home to General Electric, several tech startups — the other nickname for the area is “Tech Valley” — and major banks and insurance companies.
5. The Capital District is one big college town
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— UAlbany Career (@UAlbanyCareer) August 30, 2018
Colleges and universities include UAlbany, Rensselaer, Union, Siena, College of Saint Rose, Skidmore, Russell Sage and more. Many of these schools are located on the outskirts of cities — such as UAlbany’s suburban campus between Albany and Guilderland — but there are several student neighborhoods in downtown Albany, Schenectady and Troy.
6. Troy is the “Brooklyn of Upstate”
If you are looking for a funky small town with a hipster vibe, look no further than Troy. The small city seven miles up the Hudson River from Albany is home to some of the area’s hottest dining, bars and third-wave coffee houses. Every Saturday, there is one of the best farmer’s markets around, where growers, producers, vendors and artisans set up shop in the streets of Monument Square.
7. Saratoga is the “Hamptons of Upstate,” sort of
The most expensive summer destination in upstate is just 36 miles up the Northway (the highway between Albany and Montreal). The city has hosted renowned thoroughbred horse racing each summer since 1863, and the natural spas of the area have long made the city a vacation spot for the well-to-do. Today, the city is vibrant year-round, with an exciting, walkable downtown.
8. Experience the Adirondacks in nearby Lake George
Keep going north from Saratoga, and you will arrive in Lake George, site of American Revolutionary War naval battles 260 years ago and host to reenactments today. Set in the foothills of the Adirondacks, the village of Lake George is a classic American vacation town, full of t-shirt shops, candy stores and amusements.
9. Schenectady is the place for serious Italian bread
You will soon be able to buy @Perrecas bread online: https://t.co/z4mwFvC47N pic.twitter.com/DZvBNr5sTO
— Daily Gazette (@dgazette) December 29, 2015
Italian food is popular throughout the Capital District, with each town having its favorite classic spot. Schenectady, however, features one of the country’s best Italian bakeries at Perreca’s on North Jay Street. Opened in 1914, the small shop looks like it hasn’t changed a bit in over a century. Grab a slice of tomato pie and a loaf of their famous bread for just a few bucks.
10. Music venues dot the Capital District Landscape
There are numerous theaters and music halls, including historic Troy Savings Bank Music Hall in Troy and Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs, and large venues such as the Times Union Center in Albany or nearby Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC).
11. If you crave a funkier small-town vibe, take a side trip to Hudson
An enclave of artists, antique stores, transplanted Manhattan and Brooklynites and amazing farm-to-table restaurants, Hudson is a 45-minute trip south of Albany.
12. Miss the big city? It’s not that far
If you want to dip your toes in Manhattan for the day, Amtrak will get you there in three hours. You can save a lot of cash by taking Mega Bus from the train station and get there just as quickly.
13. Sports fans tend to favor college matches
There are no major league teams in Albany, but Siena College and UAlbany have nationally-ranked basketball teams, while Rensselaer and Union are popular Division I Hockey programs.
14. The Albany area is home to some decent shopping options
Crossgates Mall and Colonie Center are both located west of Albany and feature stores such as Lord and Taylor, Macy’s, Nordstrom Rack, L.L. Bean and Whole Foods. Wolf Road is anchored by Colonie Center at one end, with Cheesecake Factory and P.F. Changs, while the rest of the street is a wide mix of offices, hotels and chain shops and eateries.
15. Outlet shopping thrives in the region, too
Fine outlet shops are located in Lake George and Lee, Massachusetts. A short trip into Vermont reveals an entire quaint New England town that has been turned into an open-air shopping mall for high-end outlets, such as Armani, Brooks Brothers, kate spade and more.
16. Back in Albany, warehouses are booming
In the north end of the city, a decade-long effort to create a thriving urban residential and entertainment district is finally gaining speed. Some of the city’s best bars and nightlife can be found here, including a cidery, distillery and two breweries.
17. Up the hill from downtown Albany sits artsy Lark Street
Dubbed long ago the “Village of Albany” in a nod to the Greenwich Village of yesteryear, Lark Street is a short walkable street dotted with cafes, bars, restaurants as well as tattoo and gift shops.
18. Washington Park sits at the center of the city
Lined with Victorian-era mansions, Albany’s Washington Park was designed by the same planner behind Manhattan’s Central Park. The park features a lake, lakehouse theatre and rambling woods and tulip gardens.
19. The region is lovely in the spring, summer and fall
Mild weather brings blooming flowers all over the Capital District, including Washington Park tulips for May’s Tulip Fest. Summer activities abound, especially in the region’s lakes and hiking trails. Autumn leaf peeping cascades the area in rich red and gold foliage.
20. Winter, however, can be a doozy throughout the Capital Region
Albany does not boast the most snowfall in New York — Syracuse and Buffalo claim that prize, but winter can be cold and brutal nonetheless. In the city, make sure you learn the parking rules as you can find your car swiftly towed away to make room for the many snowplows during storms.
