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- 📣 Albany needs a new city flag and you can help!
📣 Albany needs a new city flag and you can help!
Plus, Top 5 Weekend Picks + music listings all week
Phat Chiem
July 10, 2024
Happy Wednesday, Capital District! Today we’re taking a look at the effort to replace Albany’s century-old city flag. Plus, check out our Top 5 Weekend Picks and Weird News Wednesday!
Before we dive in, we want to give a big shoutout to Jacob Martin for helping us grow The 518. Jacob is a transplant from Washington, D.C. who’s relocating here at the end of the month. Welcome to Albany, Jacob!
Be like Jacob and bring in more subscribers with your personal link found at the end of this newsletter! 👇️
—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan
In partnership with
Today in The 518
Albany needs a new flag; Troy PD faces a pileup of bad news
Chevy Chase to host ‘Christmas Vacation’ anniversary screening
It’s bird poop, it’s a Pokemon! Nope, it’s Weird News Wednesday!
Plus, your Top 5 Weekend Picks, and music listings all week
📣 TALK OF THE TOWN
Bet you don’t know what ‘assiduity’ on the Albany city flag means. It means to pay close attention to what you’re doing. But what is it doing on our flag??
Albany really needs a new city flag and you 🫵 can help
Most U.S. city flags are kinda ugly. You can count Albany’s among them.
According to vexillologists (people who study flags), there are five golden rules for good flag design: It should be simple, use no more than three colors, include no lettering or seals, have meaningful symbols and be distinctive from other flags.
Albany’s flag fails on 4 of 5 counts, according to people who have been lobbying for years to get the city to redesign its banner. Chief among them is 10th ward Common Councilor Owusu Anane, who successfully pushed legislation this year to form a task force to oversee a contest for choosing a new design.
Anane’s objections go beyond bad design. He notes that the flag is based on the Prince’s Flag of the Netherlands, which was flown by the slave-trading Dutch East India Company and later co-opted by the Dutch Nazi Party.
“Many residents have noted the inherent hypocrisy of a city that talks about equity and diversity and promoting our diversity when our flag resembles white supremacy,” Anane told the Common Council.
Albany’s flag has stayed the same for more than a century. But you rarely see it flying anywhere except on city buildings. By contrast, Chicago’s iconic flag can be seen on many homes there.
The North American Vexillological Association (bet they have fun cocktail parties) has ranked America’s best and worst city flags. The average grade given was D+ 🤦♂️ You can see their picks here.
The city of Albany is currently seeking applicants to serve on the municipal flag task force. You must be an Albany resident and, ideally, have a background in graphic design, history or related field that would qualify you as a good judge for the civic contest. Apply here to help all Albanians fly our flag with pride.
Should the city of Albany replace its flag? |
😎 WEATHER WATCH
“Barbecue may not be the road to world peace, but it’s a start.” — Anthony Bourdain
We’re cooking 🥵 in more ways than one this week. If you don’t have AC or wanna save on your electric bill, here are some great tips for staying cool AND frugal.
🌩️ Wednesday 91°/75° 💧 55% ⛈️ Thursday 89°/67° 💧 55% 🌥️ Friday 86°/67° 💧 25% | 🌤️ Saturday 92°/66° 💧 20% 🌤️ Sunday 91°/68° 💧 25% |
Storytelling is the new marketing. In a world bombarded with advertising, stories connect on a much deeper level. Find out how StoryCraft taps into the power of storytelling with engaging content to help nonprofits and brands better reach their ideal audience. Learn more and get in touch today!
🗞️ CAPITAL DISTRICT DIGEST
Pileup of bad news for Troy PD
The city of Troy is paying $5.77 million to the widow of Sabeeh Alalkawi, a 30-year-old pizza delivery driver who was killed when his car was struck by a police SUV. Officer Justin Byrnes sped through a red light at nearly 90 mph in a 30 mph zone without his siren activated. Byrnes has been terminated. Meanwhile, the department is reviewing an officer’s use of force after responding to a street fight early Friday morning. And a man drowned in the Hudson after being pursued by Troy police on Monday. The police chief and mayor are being supportive of officers in their response.
Chevy Chase to host 35th anniversary screening of ‘Christmas Vacation’
“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” is an annual holiday tradition in our household—and in millions of others too. Now you can get a rare behind-the-scenes look at the making of the movie when Chevy Chase comes to town on Dec. 27 for a special screening and Q&A at Albany’s Palace Theatre. Tickets, including limited VIP options, go on sale this Friday at 10 am sharp. They will likely sell out!
Tour de Ted’s is sizzling
Folks are coming from all over the Capital District for 75-cent fish fry in honor of Ted’s Fish Fry’s 75th anniversary celebration, which started on Monday. Check here to see where to grab this promotion for the rest of the week—and expect long lines!
🎟️ TOP FIVE WEEKEND PICKS
⭐️ Arrested Development at Schenectady SummerNight
This Friday’s Schenectady County SummerNight may be the biggest block party in the Capital District all year. Two-time GRAMMY Award-winning hip hop group Arrested Development headlines the main stage on State Street. Expect tons of great food, music and people watching, plus a fireworks show! 5-10p, Friday, free. Details here.
⭐️ MVP Kids Day featuring My Little Pony
Did you know that Albany has an incredible downtown for kids? The Empire Plaza (and free NYS Museum across the way) is perfect for family strolls. This weekend, it’ll be jam-packed with kids’ activities including balloon animals, glitter tattoos, face painting, bounce houses and ponies for hire. All free! Wear out the little ones this Saturday, 11a- 4p, in West Capitol Park. Details here.
⭐️ Troy Pride Festival
Troy Pride in Riverfront Park is a family-friendly fest with live music and a crafts tent with balloon animals, face painting and more. Don’t miss the free yoga from 4-5 pm, and savor good eats from Aki Food, Cafe Euphoria, and Munchville. This is a sober event with non-alcoholic beverages provided by Nine Pin. Sunday, noon-5p, free. Details here.
⭐️ New York City Ballet at SPAC
Celebrating its 75th year, the New York City Ballet is taking over the stage at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center this week. The famed ballet company is bringing more than 90 dancers from its roster. Included in the program are some of George Balanchine’s most beloved works: the classic story ballet Swan Lake; the exuberantly patriotic Stars and Stripes; the SPAC-commissioned work The Steadfast Tin Soldier. Details here.
⭐️ Opening Weekend at Saratoga Race Course
Following its successful first-ever run of the Belmont Stakes, Saratoga Race Course opens for its regular 40-day summer meet on Thursday. There are new food and beverage options this year, found at the reimagined horseshoe-shaped Jim Dandy Bar and the new Clubhouse Grill. Btw, check out the Times Union’s guide to surviving on $20 at the racetrack. Thurs-Sun, various ticket prices. Details here.
🧚🏻♀️ MORE SUMMER FUN
KRS-One at Albany’s Alive at Five
With Arrested Development in Schenectady and KRS-One at Alive at Five, it’s a packed weekend for lovers of old-school hip-hop. KRS-One is a legendary figure who helped to establish hip-hop as a musical and cultural juggernaut with a philosophy that matters. 7:30p, Thurs, free. Jennings Landing. Details here.
Alex Torres & His Latin Orchestra at Freedom Park
Formed in the early 80s in Amsterdam, Alex Torres and His Latin Orchestra performs an original blend of Afro-Caribbean rhythms, including salsa, merengue, cha-cha, bomba, plena, and Latin jazz. The group headlines Scotia’s Freedom Park Summer Concert Series. 7p, Sat, free. Details here.
Historic Cherry Hill Going Dutch! Passport
Explore 4 centuries of Capital District history as Historic Cherry Hill partners with 7 local heritage organizations and businesses to celebrate our city’s Dutch roots. Pick up your Going Dutch! passport at any participating site. Get your passport stamped at each experience and redeem your stamps for prizes, like a buy-one-get-one flight at Fort Orange Brewing and more.
Participating sites include: ‘Dutchness on Display’ Tours of Cherry Hill, Find the Giant ‘Klomp’!, Crailo State Historic Site, Albany Institute of History & Art, Tour of Quackenbush Square. Times and ticket prices vary. Available through Aug. 2. More details here.
💩🦋 WEIRD NEWS WEDNESDAY
Is there such a thing as beautiful bird poop? This fella will bloom into a gorgeous butterfly!
Don’t touch that bird poop in your garden!
One of New York State's most fascinating insects, the Spicebush Swallowtail, hides out in plain sight. This insect begins as a caterpillar and transforms into a stunning butterfly through a lengthy metamorphosis. In its final phase, the caterpillars resemble the Pokémon character Caterpie. They use a neat “leaf taco” technique to protect against predators. But in its earliest phase, the Swallowtail employs an even more ingenious evolutionary trick—it actually looks like bird poop!
Next time you want to spray off a gross pile of bird poo on your plants, take a closer look. You may be in for a sweet surprise from one of New York's most innovative critters. More at WRRV.
🎸 LIVE MUSIC ROUNDUP
Wednesday 7/10 | Capital Concert Series: Maxi Priest | Empire State Plaza Malta Summer Concert Series: Sirsy | Malta Community Center Sean Trischka | Cock ‘n Bull Jewels: New York City Ballet | SPAC |
Thursday 7/11 | Hip-Hop Night: KRS-One w/DJ Show, Ohzhe | Albany Alive at Five Guilderland Town Band | Guilderland Performing Arts Center Concerts at the Crossing: Bad Penny Band | The Crossings, Loudonville Jeff Arcuri | The Egg Lucia & Levi | East Greenbush Community Library Brucker, Weisse, Canterbury Jazz Orchestra | The Linda Jewels: New York City Ballet | SPAC |
Friday 7/12 | Joe Stump | Empire Live Halo Bite | Hangar on the Hudson Erin Harkes with Sofia Corts | Caffe Lena |
Saturday 7/13 | Marcus King | Palace Theatre JJ Savage | Empire Underground Stick to Your Guns | Asylum Albany Marty Wendell 60th Anniversary Show | Caffe Lena Jeff Kennedy: Grow Up | The Egg Acoustic Evening: Angelina Valente, Girl Love & Ian Galipeau | MoJo’s Cafe & Gallery |
Sunday 7/14 | Music Haven Concert Series: Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. | Central Park, Schenectady Jon Pousette-Dart | Caffe Lena Mozart, Mendelssohn, and Brahms | Little Spa |
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