The 518
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Think your National Grid bill is high now?

Think your National Grid bill is high now?

Plus, our weekend events roundup & District Deep Thoughts

Phat Chiem
May 31, 2024

Happy Friday, Capital District! Today, we’re feeling some sticker shock ⚡ thanks to a proposed rate hike from National Grid. Plus, check out our weekend events roundup and the new District Deep Thoughts.

Let’s 🛞 with it!

—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan

In Partnership With

Today in The 518

National Grid wants to hike your utility bill by 17% 😤
Troy’s CVS is closing; Albany eyesore gone by 2025?
Pride Month is here! Plus, your best bets this weekend

📣 TALK OF THE TOWN

National Grid crew hard at work (raising your bill)

National Grid wants to raise your bill by 17% 😱

37 bucks every month.

That’s how much more the average household in the Capital District would pay if National Grid had its way. That’s a 17% increase on a monthly electric and gas bill of $216. It could be higher—much higher—depending your energy use.

What’s more, everyone’s favorite utility company 🙄 wants to drop this rate change on us in a single year, instead of spread out over several years.

We’re already paying some of the highest electricity rates in the country—about 27% more than the national average.

National Grid is blaming inflation, the Ukraine war, aging infrastructure and climate change for the rate hike. It’s up to the Public Service Commission to make the final call, which could take a year to decide. Just don’t expect your bill to go DOWN anytime soon.

Is your utility bill too damn high? Here are 13 ways to cut your energy costs. Our top tip: Always use the cold wash for your laundry—yep, it’s true.

Eight local day care centers facing sanctions

Did you know that 120 day care centers around the state are in danger of losing their license—and eight of those are in the Capital Region?

Check out this Times Union story pronto if you’ve got kiddies in day care. Violations involve corporal punishment, isolating children, not letting them outdoors, serious injury, and losing a child 😬

🌞 WEATHER WATCH

“Green was the silence, wet was the light, the month of June trembled like a butterfly.”—Pablo Neruda

It’s gonna be warm and mostly sunny this weekend, so don’t forget your shades 😎

🌤️ Friday 76°/52° 💧 0%

🌤️ Saturday 85°/54° 💧 0%

🌤️ Sunday 82°/58° 💧 25%

A message from our partner

Local businesses need marketing like a garden needs bees—without it, there’s no buzz and no growth. Just planting your business in the community soil isn't enough. You’ve got to attract customers, and that's where local marketing comes in.

Don’t know where to start? For a limited time, we are offering free 30-min coaching calls for small & medium businesses in the Capital District. Chat with us about optimizing your website, reviews, Google listings, social media, Shopify stores, and more! Sign up here (limited availability).

🗞️ CAPITAL DISTRICT DIGEST

CVS closing downtown Troy location

The CVS Pharmacy in Troy’s Frear Building on 4th Street is closing for good on June 26. All prescriptions will be transferred to the CVS at 461 2nd Avenue. We’ve gone to this CVS numerous times. It was always a sad affair with disorganized, half-empty shelves. What gives?

Free summer concerts, plus Pride Week events

If it’s June, it means the free summer concert season is underway. Check out this roundup to see who will be playing at your favorite fest, including Albany’s Alive at Five, Troy’s Power Park, Schenectady's Harbor Jam, and Scotia’s Freedom Park.

The Capital District is ready to flaunt its colors for Pride Month 🏳️‍🌈 Here’s where to celebrate, plus a Pride 101 guide—just in case you’re a Pride virgin 🤭 Btw, the Capital PRIDE Parade and Festival is Sunday, June 9, this year.

Albany’s Central Warehouse could be gone by 2025

Is it finally gonna happen? Albany’s white elephant Central Warehouse could be demolished by this time next year. And the cost could be as high as $13 million.

In other Capital construction news, a London-based developer wants to turn the former Kenwood Convent property into a $250 million technology campus with 1,000 new residential units. The historic site suffered a massive fire last year and has sat vacant since 2009. C’mon mate, let’s make Albany into Silicon Capital 🚀

🎟️ WEEKEND EVENT PICKS

Nine Pin is hosting a 21+ adult night at Huck Finn’s Playland!

⭐ = The 518 picks

Pride Kick-off Block Party & BBQ | 5-9p, Fri, free. Waterworks Pub, 76 Central Ave, Albany. The Pride Center of the Capital Region, In Our Own Voices and the City of Albany invite you to kick off PRIDE week right.

⭐ Troy Night Out | 5-9p, Fri, free. Downtown Troy. Stroll around for an extended evening under the stars with popup shops, music and art.

Movies Under the Stars! Wonka | 7:30p, Fri, free. Ridgefield Park, 316 Partridge St, Albany. Movie begins at 8:30p. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs and get there early to get a great spot!

⭐ Nine Pin at Huck Finn’s Playland | 7-11p, Fri, $33.85. A 21+ night of rides, music, cider, and food! Huck Finn's will have all 7 adult rides running all night, plus a DJ on the 1s & 2s.

WWE Smackdown | 6:15p, Fri. $30-$150. MVP Arena. WWE Friday Night SmackDown returns to Albany with undisputed WWE champion, ‘The American Nightmare’ Cody Rhodes.

⭐ TroyAsia Night Market | 2-6p, free. William Street Alley, 95-97 Ferry St., Troy. Stringed lights, paper lanterns, K-pop vibes and Asian street food from local vendors.

Armenian Festival | Fri-Sun, free. St. Peter Armenian Church, 100 Troy Schenectady Rd, Watervliet. Check times and details here

Greek Festival | Fri-Sun, free. St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church, 909 River St, Troy. Times and details here

⭐ Capital Region Parade of Homes | 11a-5p, Sat & Sun, $20. Step inside some stunning homes and see the latest design trends.

Run for Women | 9a-12p, Sat. $30 and up. Washington Ave and Eagle St, Albany. If you’re not taking part in this annual race for the ladies, beware of street closures around downtown.

⭐ Bowie Bash | 8p, Sat. Tickets from $11.54. The Linda WAMC’s Performing Arts Studio. Robert Burke Warren brings back his much-beloved Bowie Bash, featuring a five-piece band and special surprise guests.

⭐ Schenectady Kids Arts Festival | Noon-4p, Sat, free. Schenectady City Hall. The family-friendly fest features 50 hands-on art activities.

National Trail Day Volunteer Event & Cookout | 10a-12p, Sat, free. Huyck Preserve, Eldridge Research Center, 284 Pond Hill, Rensselaerville. Help with light clean-up work and repair some boardwalks. Tools provided. Ends with cookout at Lincoln Pond!

Pride Drag Show w/ Typhoid Mary | 6-9p, Sat, free. Nine Pin Ciderworks, 929 Broadway, Albany. Celebrate Pride with a free drag show hosted by Typhoid Mary. Doors open 6:00p. First come, first serve for seating.

PrideFest 2024 | 1-5p, Sat, $33.85 (discounts for designated drivers). Whitman Brewing Company, 20 Lake Ave, Saratoga Springs. Beer from over 20 local breweries, plus live music from Yort and The North & South Dakota's. Proceeds go to Saratoga Pride.

⭐ VEG OUT 2024 | 11a-4p, Sun, free. Monument Square, 265 River St, Troy. This is the Capital Region's first and only all-vegan food festival!

Festival of Young Artists at SPAC | 2p, Sun, free. Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Featuring performances by Empire State Youth Orchestra, Northeast Ballet Company, Capital District Youth Chorale and the SPAC School of the Arts.

Opera Saratoga Summer Festival | Starts Sunday and goes through July 7. The Great Hall at Universal Preservation Hall, Saratoga Springs. Highlights will include Guys and Dolls, and Così Fan Tutte, a world-premiere opera by award-winning composer-in-residence Inti Figgis-Vizueta

⭐ Albany Symphony Shrimp Boil | 1-4p, Sun, $80. Dig into a delicious shrimp boil while listening to sweet jazz at June Farms. Proceeds benefit the Albany Symphony.

Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park Wildlife Festival | 11a-3p, Sun, free. 80 Scout Rd, Wilton. Expect to see all kinds of animals, including rescue bunnies, reptiles, birds and butterflies.

🧠 DISTRICT DEEP THOUGHTS

The Clam?

Today, we’re debuting a new regular feature called District Deep Thoughts. Sorta like shower thoughts, only with a local flavor! Let’s dive in…

🤔 The Egg looks more like a clam. But calling it The Clam just seems… wrong.

🤔 If the people of Albany are called Albanians, what do we call the people of Albania?

🤔 Why are there only carts and never small baskets at the Price Chopper / Market32? What we think: It’s a trick to get us to buy more. On that note, would it kill them to have handles on their paper bags?!