5 things we’re loving right now in the Capital Region 🏆️

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Happy Monday, Capital Region! Today, we’re bringing you the latest in our regular series: 5 things we’re loving right now.

In case you haven’t figured it out yet, Phat is our man about town 🎩 Read his latest dispatch this month in Capital Region Living magazine: Right at Home: 6 Residential Art Spaces in the Capital Region.

Recent sightings of Phat: At theREP for opening night of “Once.” With Karley, at the closing weekend for “a field of bloom and hum” at the Tang Teaching Museum, and The Campus in Hudson for Upstate Art Weekend.

—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan

5 things we’re loving right now in the Capital Region 🏆️ 

Fusion in Albany: When two different people stop to tell you about the same restaurant within a week, you take notice. Talk about a hidden gem. From the outside, Fusion doesn’t look like much. Inside, the restaurant is actually sort of swanky, and the food is delicious. True to its name, Fusion’s menu ranges from Chinese to Thai to Colombian and good ol’ American burgers. You wouldn’t think a restaurant with this kind of range would be great, but Fusion defies expectations.

Wayward Lane Brewing: One of the great pleasures of living in upstate NY is the abundance of excellent breweries. Wayward Lane in Schoharie doesn’t get as much attention as Fidens or Tree House Brewing. But the location is beautiful, the beers are top-notch, and there’s a dumpling truck out front that gets rave reviews. Wayward leans into lower alcohol beers and locally harvested ingredients. It won NYS Brewery of the Year in 2023 and 2025. Btw, their Run Club meets every Thursday at 6 pm (there are hills involved but runners are rewarded with a $1 discount on every beer post-run).

UnBEETable in Schenectady: A 100% vegan restaurant that’s also an arcade? Did this idea come together in a fever dream? Regardless, UnBEETable is just fun. The cocktails are excellent and the plant-based menu is stellar. The barcade has new and old-school games. Here’s one recent review: “I'm a meat lover and I was a little skeptical about their menu. But oh man, this place did not disappoint!” Note: UnBEETable is open for all ages until 8 pm, when it switches to 21 and over.

Rensselaerville: We’ve made some recent visits to Hilltown Commons and have really taken to the charming hamlet of Rensselaerville. There seems to be a higher-than-normal concentration of artists, writers and intellectuals here. Maybe it’s the famous retreat or the fabulous Huyck Preserve and Rensselaerville Falls. If you go, be sure to drop into the Kumar Family Farms Cafe & Market and check out the excellent events at the biological research center. Hilltown Commons has a fun pub scene on most Friday nights and free movie nights as well.

Albany Civic Theater: This theater in downtown Albany has been around since 1955 but it doesn’t get nearly as much fanfare as the Capital Repertory or Proctors. Too bad because you’ll find high-quality productions here—and super reasonable tickets at $15 a pop. A full season of four shows is just $54. The current show is “Between Riverside and Crazy,” Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Pulitzer-winning dark comedy. Catch it this Friday and Saturday.

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👮 We all got the Amber Alerts over the weekend. Tragically, the body of 9-year-old Melina Frattolin was discovered Sunday in a pond in Ticonderoga. Her father has been charged with murder, and police believe he concocted the story about her abduction. [Times Union]

🚨 In case you missed it, the 17-year-old who was shot in the head after the annual Fourth of July fireworks show at the Empire State Plaza has died. His name was Vance Mims III. Three suspects, including two teens, held in custody will now be charged with second-degree murder. [CBS6] 🗣️ Join our discussion of this story on our Instagram.

🚢 Did you know that you can now take a 7-night cruise on the Hudson River, traveling from New York City to Troy? American Cruise Lines is offering 10 overnight cruises this summer on the Hudson, with stops in Albany, Kingston and Sleepy Hollow. Hey, it’s not the French Riviera, but we would love to take this trip! Can someone hook us up? 🙏 [Times Union]

This sun-filled, six-bedroom Colonial high above Albany’s walkable Pine Hills neighborhood is full of charm—with room to grow. Oversized windows with geometric details, warm wood floors, and a cozy gas fireplace anchor the spacious living area, while little nooks, including a walk-up finished attic loft, hold space for hobbies, work, and quiet escapes. Spend summer mornings on the full-width front porch and unwind on the back deck in the evenings. It’s a home that easy to love, and ready to shine with a touch of fresh paint and a steady hand to enhance its sweet architectural details.

The deets: 6 bd, 2 ba, 1630 sf. Asking: $289,000. Days on market: 7. See the full listing here. 

Our full weekend roundup publishes every Thursday. Be sure to check your inboxes!

🎭️ It’s the last week to see Oklahoma! at the Washington Park Playhouse. Read our story to find out why everyone should support this show.

🎬️ Catch a free flick with your family this week: “Wild Robot” on Tuesday at the Palace Theatre; “Abominable” at Proctors on Saturday.

🎡 The Saratoga County Fair opens tomorrow!

⛴️ Also Tuesday, the Hart Cluett Museum hosts Boats, Barges, and Big Ideas in partnership with the NYS Archives. Read our story on all the ways you can celebrate the Erie Canal’s 200th anniversary.

🎸 The Capital Concert Series at the Empire State Plaza features Lit (with Plush).

🎡 On Thursday, Huck Finn’s invites you to Playland After Dark, an adults-only event with food, drink and music.

🌇 The rooftop terrace at the swanky Franklin Hotel in Troy is hosting its Rooftop Summer Series on Thursday.

🎬️ This Friday is Troy Night Out featuring an Open Screen event at Picture Lock One. Also, our very own Karley is showing her work at “Worlds Within Worlds,” a new group exhibition from artist-curator Dustin Loveland, at Context Collective.

🕰️ The Brimfield Antique Show is putting on a flea market bonanza with food trucks this weekend in North Hudson.

🎸 This Saturday is the inaugural WEXT Local 518 Fest, featuring Wild Adriatic and Sawyer Fredericks. It’s part of Schenectady’s Music Haven summer concert series. Also on the bill: Tops of Trees, Canella, and Sara Milonovich & Daisycutter.

💃 Also Saturday, Susie Dahl (@brwnpaperdolli) puts on a fabulous burlesque show at the Larkin Hi-Fi.

🧀 It’s Weirdo Night at No Fun on Saturday, featuring grilled cheese sandos, magicians & face painting, among other wacky fun activities.

🕯️ Craft & Draft, a candle-making popup, returns to Albany’s Lost and Found Bar & Kitchen, on Sunday.

🌳 Also Sunday, Heidi Woolever invites you to discover the powerful medicine trees can offer in their peak season at the NATURE Lab in North Troy.

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