There's even savings with parking garages on Cyber Monday....

From a press release today:

The Albany Parking Authority announces a special “Seasonal Savings” rate for its three downtown parking garages, from December 2012 through March 2013. Drivers can park in the Riverfront, Green-Hudson and Quackenbush garages for a flat rate of $100/month, for up to 4 months.

“The wide availability of parking downtown is more convenient than ever during the snowy winter months,” said Michael Klein, Executive Director of the Albany Parking Authority. “No matter what the weather is like outside, our three downtown garages are open and easily accessible between 6 a.m. and midnight, and our Riverfront Garage is open 24 hours a day.”

The Albany Parking Authority is continuing to provide more options for drivers in downtown Albany by offering this Seasonal Savings initiative to make parking more convenient and affordable. Drivers that take advantage of this program can see savings up to $160 by taking advantage of the $100/month rate for four months. Monthly parking rates in downtown garages normally cost $140/month.

Capital Region residents are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity and save money on monthly parking during the holiday season. Beginning the week of November 26^th, customers can contact the Albany Parking Authority, visit: http://www.parkalbany.com or email SeasonalSavings@parkalbany.com for more information on how to apply for Seasonal Savings.

The APA’s three downtown garages are convenient and well lit. The 850-space Riverfront Garage is open to the public 24 hours a day seven days a week all year including the winter months with few exceptions, (it closes for six major holidays). The Green-Hudson and Quackenbush Garages are both open 6 a.m. to midnight.

It's 7/7/07 all over again....kinda. Only instead of the influx of people getting married (wondering how many are still married), there is a man that is running seven marathons on seven continents in seven days.

He will be going to Antarctica, Patagonia, Atlanta, London, Egypt, Dubai and Australia.

The BBC reported on it this week.

Man, I really wish he did that on 7/7/07. That would have been Craaaaaaazy! (notice the 7 "a"s). And they should get 007 to join in too. For shits n' giggles.

I love Impressionism.

In fact, I can probably not impress on you enough how much I love Impressionism.

But, I did not know it was Monet's birthday today (Nov. 14) until I saw an Art Institute of Chicago post on Google+ (which, by the way, is actually a really good social media source of news now).

I also did not know his full name was Oscar-Claude!

It's hard to say what the first Impressionism painting I ever saw was, since they're in mainstream news stories, movies,etc. But I think the first Ipainter who left an impression with me was Auguste Renoir. There's just something about his porcelain doll-faced figures and style that makes me want to stare at one of his works for hours - or at least a NY minute.

Monet, I think, really popularized the movement with his water lilies, and for that I am very grateful. There are 88 works by him alone at Paris' Musee D'orsay.

Locally, less than an hour from Troy in Massachusetts at the Clark Institute, there are multiple works by Renoir, Monet, Degas, Gauguin, Manet and many others.

So, happy birthday to the founder of Impressionism!

 
Need another day spa option? You got it....

Jean Paul Salons & Spa celebrated their 40^th anniversary by openingtheir third boutique salon and spa in the Capital Region. Known for their Stuyvesant Plaza location, Jean Paul chose another upscale locale, Newton Plaza in Latham.

The new location means attracting new clientele, the creation of over 30 new jobs in the Capital Region and a new, full-service salon with a private men’s styling area, spa and exclusive retail store. Kerastase, Shu Uemura and Kiehl’s products are all exclusively offered in all three of Jean Paul’s locations.

“We are extremely excited to announce the opening of our newest and third location in Latham,” said Jean Claude Simille, owner of Jean Paul Salons & Spas. With the addition of new stylists and technicians, the entire staff of Jean Paul has been energized. We look forward to being a part of the Latham area in the same way that we have been a part of the Albany area for the past 40 years.”

The Latham location will be open Monday – Friday from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm and Saturdays from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. The location is currently closed on Sundays with plans to open seven days a week.

Venice is known for its flooding. But this is ridicules.

With the Albany, NY area hitting a nearly record high today (at 67-degrees, just missing the 68-degree record), then across the Atlantic and over the Mediterranean, near the Adriatic, there's major flooding in Venice.

The San Marco piazza is partially underwater, as are other parts of the canal-filled city.

The cause of the overflow was two storm systems that raised the tide more than four feet above usual, according to this Washington Post article.

(Luigi Costantini - AP)



Flooding is common this time of year and Sunday’s level that reached a peak of 58.66 inches (149 centimeters) was below the 63 inches (160 centimeters) recorded four years ago in the worst flooding in decades, according to the AP.

This looks really fun....

Murder Mystery Dinner Theater at

Brookview Station Winery

at Goold Orchards     

 

 

 

 

Tuesday -- November 13, 2012

Wine & Cheese at 6 pm

Dinner  at 6:30 pm

Show at 7:30pm

Brookview Station Winery  and

The Mystery Dinner Theater Players

  Proudly Presents

An original script by Kathy O'Neil

"The Kit Kat Club"

The murder occurs at  NYC night club

circa the roaring '20's and a mystery surrounding bootlegging of that era. 

There will be a prize for the best-dressed guest in the style of the 20's.

Dinner & Show $40.00
Reservations / Information 518-732-7317

You may purchase tickets online at the link below.

 www.brookviewstationwinery.com

Brookview Station Winery at Goold Orchards

1297 Brookview Station Road
Castleton-on-Hudson, New York 12033

518-732-7317

Buses Welcome~ Handicap Accessible

Open Seven Days a week

9 -5pm 

Brookview Station Winery at Goold Orchards

1297 Brookview Station Road, Castleton-on-Hudson, NY 12033

518-732-7495 Toll Free 1-88-TO-UNCORK

From a recent email:

OpenSkies, the transatlantic subsidiary of British Airways, has announced a new daily
route, between New York JFK and Paris Orly beginning March 31, 2013.
This new service brings OpenSkies to three daily services between New
York and Paris.

The new flight departs New York JFK at 9:00pm and arrives at Paris Orly
at 10:35am local time. Customers have a choice of three cabins,
recently introduced in celebration of OpenSkies' fourth anniversary:


  --  Biz Bed, with a completely flat bed offering the best night's sleep
  --  Prem Plus, a unique class, offering leather seats in a 2 x 2
      configuration
  --  Eco, an economy cabin offering comfort and personalized service




All customers are offered a personal iPad loaded with more than 70
hours of entertainment, including movies, TV shows and games.

Customers can book their travel online now at flyopenskies.com or
ba.com, or via a local travel agent. By booking online, OpenSkies
customers can benefit from new functionality such as "Manage My
Booking," designed to make the process quick and easy. Customers can
also manage their trip through a mobile app; available for iPhone,
BlackBerry and Android smartphone users. Thanks to dynamic packaging
available on flyopenskies.com and ba.com, customers also benefit from a
wider choice of hotels, car rental and sightseeing experiences that
were handpicked by British Airways, offering increased choice of
product, guaranteed price savings and greater flexibility in holiday
planning.

At JFK's Terminal 7, customers traveling in Biz Bed cabin and Executive
Club Gold and Silver card members will have access to the British
Airways Galleries lounge. This lounge offers a luxurious, private space
where passengers can relax in the Elemis(R) spa with complimentary
treatments and showers and enjoy snacks and beverages or work before
their flight. In addition, Biz Bed passengers can take advantage of
pre-flight dining, allowing them to maximize their sleep on board.