Our new look 🎩 & new partner: Henry the Tourism Gnome

Happy Thursday, Capital District! Today we roll out our new look, which is inspired by the historic roots of the Capital Region 🎩 Plus, we’re introducing a new friend and partner, Henry the Tourism Gnome!

Let’s get spiffy with it.

—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan

People & Places You Should Know: Henry the Tourism Gnome

When we first met Sam Meislin, we couldn’t help calling him Henry. It’s an easy mistake because Henry Bellagnome is what Sam calls his alter ego—a three-foot gnome of the garden variety who’s only job is to be an ambassador for the Capital District.

Henry, err, Sam travels around the region looking for new and not-so-new restaurants, shops and small businesses that deserve more attention. Recent promotions include the Skinny Pancake in Albany, Tiashoke Farm in Washington County, and the Lo Nuestro Dominican Restaurant in Albany.

Henry always appears in these twice-daily social posts, but Sam never does. He prefers to be in the background. And besides, “People interact with Henry way more than they do me. He just makes people smile and laugh,” Sam tells The 518.

How the Tourism Gnome got its start: A couple of years ago when Sam was managing hotels in Missouri, he wanted something fun and cute to promote them. He found the gnome sitting in a Walmart. Its charming smile and sunglasses sealed the deal.

When Sam moved back to Albany, where he grew up, he brought the gnome with him. Sam has now built Henry the Tourism Gnome into a bona fide marketing organization. Henry is an official Capital Region Chamber of Commerce ambassador, and a tourism mascot for the region. Henry has official relationships with business improvement districts in Downtown Albany, Downtown Gloversville, Downtown Troy and Discover Schenectady. Like The 518, Sam is an unapologetic booster for Albany and the Capital District.

“I just love Albany,” says Sam, a UAlbany grad and current Rotterdam resident. “I’ve lived in other cities with lots of museums and culture, and when I look at Albany, I think: Albany’s still better. This is always going to be my home.”

Our partnership: We’re thrilled to announce that The 518 is partnering with Sam (and Henry) to highlight local businesses we love! Starting today, we’ll be sharing their great adventures around the Capital area in search of cool places you should know. Be sure to follow Henry’s exploits on Instagram and Facebook. And check out the first small biz we’re highlighting in The 518👇️ 

7 Brew Coffee is now open on Central Avenue in Colonie. A wonderfully amazing staff will greet you with a smile and get you the most delicious coffee and iced coffee flavors around.

—Henry the Tourism Gnome

7 Brew Coffee is a drive-thru coffee shop specializing in custom-made orders of different flavors and styles, including iced coffee, as well as teas, sodas, shakes, smoothies and lemonade. This is a locally-owned franchise of a national chain, and only the second location for the greater Capital District. The deets: 7 Brew Coffee, 1893 Central Ave, Colonie. Hours: 5:30a-10p, daily. Check out the menu here.

🌞 WEATHER WATCH

A word from our sponsor

🍕Dave Portnoy’s of Barstool Sports and One Bite Pizza Reviews fame paid tribute to the late son of a pizza hobbyist in Troy. Portnoy stopped by the home of Sue Ellen and John Murphy, who has been making homemade pizzas for years. It was their son Derek’s dream to have Portnoy review his dad’s pizza. Derek died in May at age 23. You can watch Portnoy’s 17-min video here. [Times Union]

🌭 Restaurant Roundup: Guge’s Dogs in Amsterdam will close on Friday after 8 years in business [Daily Gazette]. Meanwhile, Gaskins in Germantown will close on Nov. 24 [News10]. The Times Union called Milas, the new Mediterranean-inspired restaurant in Schenectady from the owners of The Nest, “stunning to the eye and palate.” Read the full review here. Stacks, the local coffee chain, is opening its 5th location at 90 State St. in the former Stagecoach Coffee space [Albany Business Review].

🌮 Taste of Downtown Troy continues through this weekend with specials for just $20.24 at participating restaurants.

⭐️ Albany Riverfront Jazz Festival | Sat, free, Jennings Landing. The all-day free concert event begins at 12p w/ a fireworks finish at 8p. Taking the stage will be Bright Red Dog, Melanie Charles, Snacktime, Matthew Whitaker and Nate Smith. The event is part of the Fall Festival Crawl we created for y’all!

⭐️ Red, White & Brew Festival | Sat, free, MVP Arena. This inaugural block party honoring active military and veterans features live music, vendor booths, craft beers and food. Kicking off at 2 pm is local country music favorite Skeeter Creek, followed by Darryl Worley. This year's headliner is Army vet and country music star Craig Morgan.

⭐️ Helderberg Hawk Watch | Sat, 10a-3p, free. Thacher State Park is a hotspot for fall migrating turkey vultures, broadwing hawks, bald eagles and more. Join the Helderberg Escarpment Hawk Watch to count and identify the birds (and even butterflies) passing by. Binoculars, activities, face-painting and food will be available. Also, get up and personal with these magnificent creatures as Whispering Willows Wild Care introduces you to hawks and owls under their care.

⭐️ Bacon, Bourbon & Bluegrass Festival | Fri, $15-25 (21 and up), Schuyler Farms. Get down to the farm to dig into samples from The Basin Grill, Neighborhood Kitchen food truck, plus brews from local distilleries. Basic admission includes access to the corn maze, live music, and vendors—$10 more gets you tasting privileges.

⭐️ 2024 Tasting on the Hudson | Sat, 3-6p, Schuylerville. $40 gets you a glass and a taste from all the vendors while The Zucchini Brothers play their sweet tunes. Bring chairs and/or blankets, it’s gonna be a beautiful day for tasting a bounty of goodness!

🎪 MORE NOTABLE EVENTS

TODAY

🎬️ Sunset Boulevard screening | 7pm, $6-9. See Billy Wilder’s film-noir masterpiece at the historic Proctors Theatre.

🏮The Autumn Glow Festival in Rotterdam Junction takes places every Thurs-Sunday until Nov. 13. Step into a dazzling world of light with over 1000 Chinese lanterns.

FRIDAY

🍺 Opalka Gallery Popup Beer Garden Series | 6-9p, free. Last week was packed, and this iteration is sure to be just as relaxing & entertaining. Bands: Home Body and Adam Tinkle and His Long Awaited Wrinkle. Featured brews: Rare Form Brewing and Nine Pin Cidery. Food: La Capital Tacos and Mi Casa

Charmaine Lee and Conrad Tao | 7p, free-$20. Get contemporary and go deep into sound at EMPAC’s top-notch listening facilities.

SATURDAY

🇩🇪 Oktoberfest 2024 | 12-10p, $24.80. Bonus points if you show up at The Druthers Brewing Co.’s Clifton Park location wearing lederhosen.

🇺🇦 Ukrainian Festival | 12-10p, $5-15. Enjoy folk dancing, singing and, of course, tons of traditional Ukrainian food. Proceeds go toward humanitarian aid for Ukraine.

Hispanic Heritage Celebration | 5-9p, free. Empire State Plaza. Headliner Alex Bueno brings his breezy merengue and bachata music to this free fest.

☠️ Albany Twilight Market | 5-9p, free. A night market for the strange and unusual at the Washington Park Lake House.

🐖 The Clifton Park Farm Fest | Sat-Sun, free. Visit a bunch of different farms for hay rides, apple picking, animal visits and tons of farm-made foods. Sat-Sun.

🚲️ Bicycle Safety Rodeo | 10a-1p, free. Get to the North Greenbush Police HQ for safety demos, helmet inspections, an obstacle course, free food, ice cream coupons & bicycle raffles.

🪚 NWA Annual Lumber and Tool Auction | 10a-4p, free. Still working on your deck? The Northeastern Woodworking Association (NWA) holds their annual lumber and tool auction in conjunction with the The Harvest Craft Fair at the Shaker Heritage Society Barn in Colonie.

🎪 Pioneer Charitable Foundation's Grand Carnival | 11a-3p, $5. Pioneer Plaza, Albany. Carnival games, magic show and other kid-friendly activities.

Clarksville Harvest Market | 11a-5p, free. Get to the Clarksville Community Church for craft vendors, food & seasonal goodies at this inaugural event.

🎡 RPI Bicentennial Community Carnival | 11a-7p, free. RPI hosts a block party in honor of RPI alumnus George Washington Gale Ferris Jr., Class of 1881. Games, food and even a Ferris wheel!

👩‍🌾 Troy Farmer’s Market | 10a-2p, free. No wonder this Farmer’s Market is among the top five in the nation. Get thee to downtown Troy, and see for yourself.

Sunday

🥕 Carrot Festival | 10a-4:30p, free. The 42nd fall festival in Niskayuna features craft vendors, live music, and carrot cake, of course!

🏳️‍🌈 Saratoga Pride Festival | 2-5p, free. Show off your colors proudly at High Rock Park.

🍅 Guilderland Farmer’s Market | 10a-2p, free. Guilderland Public Library.

🥦 Albany County Farmers Market | 10a-2p, free. Snap recipients get 2x benefits. Shop the best in produce, flowers and more at the MVP Arena.

LIVE MUSIC ROUNDUP

🦫 WE WANT YOUR DAM FEEDBACK

So, what do y’all think of our new look? Let us know below 👇️