🍾 Our favorite stories of 2025

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Hey Capital Region, we’re in that weird week between Christmas and New Year’s when folks are working, but not working. Hence this special Wednesday edition of the newsletter. Since there’s not a whole lot happening this week besides NYE parties tonight, this will be our last newsletter of 2025. We’re back to our regular Tuesday-Thursday schedule next week.

Meanwhile, enjoy our look back at the year that was. Happy New Year from all of us at The 518! 🍾 🥳 

—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan

🙏 THANK YOU to everyone who’s pledged to the Americana/ble Pop-up Art Salon on our Kickstarter. You are true patrons of independent art & media in Albany!

⭐️ We’re thrilled to share the news: Thanks to an especially generous $400 pledge from Sarah in Troy (a longtime 518 subscriber), we officially reached our funding goal of $2000 on Christmas Eve. What a gift! We’re so grateful to Sarah, and to everyone who pledged to make this event possible in the coming spring.

🦑 That said, we’re asking one more time for your support. A small portion of the pledges, about $200, came from accounts that raised red flags for fraud, and we’re in the process of confirming them. Please consider pledging to give us a bit of wiggle room.

🖼️ Pledge $35 and get a signed 8×10” print from the show.

✨ Pledge $50 and join Sam on our Contributor Wall on the big night.

🍜 Pledge $100+ and join us for a special Patrons Dinner featuring Phat’s famous Vietnamese cooking—yum!

🍾 A few of our favorite stories this year

The year that was gave us plenty to talk about. As 2025 comes to a close, we’re raising a glass to some of our favorite stories. Here's what stood out:

Starting off strong back in February, we were the first to tell you about Kate Butchart and her dream to build Kos—New York State’s first Norwegian-style floating sauna in Saratoga. Last month, we hosted our first-ever meetup at Kos with a dozen subscribers. It was such a cool experience!

This year, we kicked off a regular reader survey to dig up the best hidden gems in the Capital Region. And, wow, did you deliver. We rounded up your top-notch picks here and here. Honestly, the best tips always come straight from The 518 crew. Keep ‘em coming!

In 2025, we told you where to find amazing sourdough bread, the cult pizza hardly anyone can get, and why the Troy Listening Room might be the best music experience in the Capital Region. We also gave you the tip on the resurgence of the Warehouse District and Phila Street in ‘Toga.

In July, we sadly bid farewell to Dan’s Place II, the best diner in the Capital Region. Based on your responses, many of you were equally devastated by its closing. Truthfully, we haven’t found anything close to replacing Dan’s Place, but we’re open to suggestions!

We also said goodbye to the Larkin Hi-Fi, and chatted with co-owner Nick Warchol to get the lowdown on why he decided to stop fighting the powers that be and shut down the Lark Street lounge. The convo around this one got downright heated. Btw, it seems like the Larkin isn’t quite dead yet—they’re hosting a New Year’s Eve party this week.

We loved the story on Caitlin Waggoner, an Albany-based fantasy novelist who decided enough was enough—she was gonna pay people to pick up litter on Lark Street. This one hit home because we’re equally obsessed with litter. 

We gave you the one library hack you need to know to get free admission everywhere. TLDR: Don’t sleep on the museum passes at your public library. There’s a lot more than museums!

We covered some serious news, too. In the aftermath of the tragic Fourth of July shootings at the Empire State Plaza, we shared some fine bourbon with New Scotland Spirits’ Jesse Sommer and talked about what’s really ailing Albany.

Finally, we launched our first event series called Curious Table, and sold out our inaugural dinner with astronomer Mindy Townsend at Hilltown Commons.

Phew, that’s a lot of stories! Here’s looking ahead to 2026: more gems, more surprises, and more reasons to love this not-so-quiet corner of upstate New York. Buckle up, 518.

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🥐 Bear’s Cup Bakehouse has been all over our socials. Our friends at Saratoga Living paid a visit to the viral sensation, and also dropped into the new Spa City tasting room for Keuka Spring Vineyards. [Saratoga Living After Hours]

🌸 From the team behind City Line Bar & Grill, Bloom Boutique Bar & Eatery is opening on Jan. 13 at 563 New Scotland Avenue in Albany. Two years in the making, the restaurant leans into the flower power theme designed to attract baby and bridal showers. On the menu: shareable dishes like loaded potato funnel cake, Philly steak meatballs, popcorn chicken, plus burgers & sandwiches. [Times Union]

🚧 File this under: Shocker! Albany County Executive Dan McCoy says the Central Warehouse now won’t come down until 2027. [WAMC]

This Dutch Colonial sits prettily on a tree-lined boulevard in Schenectady’s General Electric Realty Plot. From the crown molding to the original hardwood floors, this home is full of genuine warmth. The easy flow through the kitchen, dining room, back deck, and cheerful three-season room makes it a natural spot for chillin’ with friends and family. A flexible bonus room off the living room can be whatever you need it to be, and the partially finished third-floor attic is ready for a studio, home office, or cozy guest space. Outside you can relax in the level backyard, enjoy the deck, and make use of the detached two-car garage.

The deets: 3 bd, 2 ba, 1922sf. Asking: $318,000. Days on market: 2. See the full listing here.

WEDNESDAY

🍾 Take a look at our roundup of the best NYE parties around the Capital Region!

🖼️ This is your last chance to see For Liberation and For Life featuring 50 years of Albany’s own Black Dimensions in Art, showcasing 90+ artists and 100+ works that will blow your mind at the Albany Institute of History & Art.

🍸️ The beloved Larkin HiFi comes back from the dead (at least for a night) to usher in 2026 at the NYE party w/ Groop Lab. Not to be missed.

🎸Over in Troy, you can rock into the New Year with The Brule County Bad Boys and The Men Who Loved Music at No Fun. Champagne toast at midnight.

🐺 Or ring in the new year with our friends at Wolf Hollow 🪩 or check out our round up of the best NYE parties around the Capital Region.

🎉 The Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce invites you to its free First Night celebration featuring a plethora of family-friendly activities.

THURSDAY

😴 There’s a whole lotta nappin’ going on!

FRIDAY

🪡 Sliding scale acupuncture at The Center for Independent Media. Reservations available on Fridays throughout the month of January.

SATURDAY

💃🏻 Swirl into the new year with Old Songs Community Winter Dance in the Old Songs building in Voorheesville. Enjoy fun, simple dances from the U.S. and around the world!

🕯️Schuyler Mansion and Crailo State Historic Site host their annual Twelfth Night celebrations, highlighting their roles in American Revolution history.

SUNDAY

👯 Get your multilingual music fix with Deb Cavanaugh at MoJo’s Cafe & Gallery.

👰 Getting hitched soon? Get to the free Wedding Expo at the Albany Marriott Hotel.

ART ON VIEW

• Don’t miss the delightful Nina Katchadourian: Fake Plants and Other Curiosities at the Hyde Museum. Closed New Year’s Day.

• Family Forms at the Tang Teaching Museum presents art and archival photographs from the Tang collection that highlight themes of kinship and care and offer an expansive vision of family. Closed Dec 30—Jan 1.

GET TIX

🥚 The Egg, Albany’s beloved Brutalist performing arts center, is hatching from its historic $19.5 million makeover and celebrating with a free evening show and tours on Thursday, Jan. 8. RSVP now.

Our music listings are now published separately on The 518 website. Click here.

GET YOUR EVENT ON THE LIST 🎸

Our rolling deadline is the Saturday before your event!

 💌 GET IN TOUCH!

Got an awesome business, event or personality we should feature? Let us know! Contact: [email protected]