Your best hidden gems in the Capital Region 🏆️

Happy Thursday, Capital Region! Today, we’re highlighting some of the best hidden gems that y’all offered up in our new Reader Survey. There are so many awesome suggestions, we’re gonna need to do this more than once!

Thanks to the nearly 200 subscribers who have filled out our survey so far 🙏 Here’s what we’ve learned about you:

• 💰️ You’re rich! Well, maybe not Jeff Bezos rich, but fully half of our subscribers earn a household income of six figures or more—30% of you make over $150K. Who wants to advertise to our audience? 😉 

• 🏠️ The majority of you are women (66%), own your home (67%), and don’t have children in the house (84%). About half of our subscribers are age 55+ while about a third are between 25 and 44. Maybe we need more events for the 55+ crowd?

• 💼 Many of you work in education (16%), government (14%), healthcare (10%) or in the media/creative fields (10%).

• 📍 You live in Albany (30%), Troy (10%), Schenectady (10%), Colonie (5%) or other parts of the Capital Region and beyond. Surprisingly, only 5% of you live in Saratoga County. Does Saratoga even consider itself part of the Capital Region??

Whatever you earn or do for a living, we appreciate each and every one of you 🙌 

Btw, we’ll announce the winner of our Tacos Diablo giveaway next week!

—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan

Your best hidden gems in the Capital Region (Vol. 1)

Our unofficial motto for this newsletter is: If you think Albany is boring, you’re not paying attention. This applies to the entire Capital Region, too.

Our Reader Survey proves the point. Y’all had so many fantastic suggestions for hidden gems that we can’t possibly fit them all into one issue. So we’re going to make this a regular series, starting with Volume 1.

Here are some of our faves from your recommendations:

Dan’s Place Two: A couple of subscribers called out what we think is the best diner in Albany and maybe the entire Capital Region. Somehow, it still flies under the radar. We actually selected it as one of the 5 things we’re loving right now, back in March.

Grafton Peace Pagoda: Completed in 1993 by the Japanese Nipponzan Myohoji order, this serene pagoda in Petersburgh, NY, is minutes from Grafton Lakes State Park. The annual Flower Festival on Saturday is the perfect opportunity to check out this monument of peace.

The modern art collection at the Empire State Plaza: Our subscriber said this “doesn't really count as hidden, but few people seem to know about it.” Actually few people realize the caliber of this collection hidden in plain sight. There’s an actual Rothko hidden somewhere down in the Concourse! Go on a guided tour for the best experience.

The Cock ‘N Bull in Galway, NY: Our subscriber said: “This restaurant doesn’t get enough attention for their farm-to-table food and their music scene. Live bands from all over the USA 4-5 nights a week.”

Cohoes Falls: Despite being the second largest waterfall in NYS, this spectacular natural wonder does seem to be something of a hidden gem. If you go, be sure to visit Cohoes Falls View Park, which features a 192-foot pedestrian bridge spanning into the heart of the park.

Vischer Ferry General Store: This adorable country store is located in Rexford, NY, halfway between Albany and Saratoga. Not only does it have a well-curated selection of locally crafted gifts, delicious foods and an inviting outdoor area, the store also puts on cool events like this recent senior social mixer and Memorial Day celebration with a live bluegrass band.

Confetti Stage: Bill Kellert at Nippertown says “Confetti Stage is one of the Capital Region’s best-kept theatrical secrets.” We admit, we have yet to see a show here, so this seems like something we should do pronto! Their 2025-26 season kicks off with “William Shakespeare’s Long Lost First Play Abridged,” playing at Shaker Heritage Society on Aug. 1-3 and 7-10.

That’s all for now. Take our Reader Survey to let us know about your favorite hidden gem, if you haven’t already!

👮‍♀️ We’re heading in the right direction, folks. Shootings are down 50% in Albany compared to the same time last year, according to data from the NYS Division of Criminal Justice. But shootings in Troy and Schenectady are on the rise. These stats follow a record-low number of shootings in Albany in 2024 👏 [News10]

🏍️ If you see a lot of hogs this week in Lake George, don’t be alarmed—it’s just the Americade, which is bringing some 60,000 easy riders to the area this week. The event is a bright spot for local businesses that depend on tourism, but many are still worried about the ongoing effect of Trump’s tariffs and anti-Canada rhetoric. [WAMC]

🍝 The beloved Osteria Danny in Saratoga has been sold to one of its former servers, who has promised to leave things alone. Founder Danny Petrosinio will stay in the kitchen through the summer to see the transition through. [Times Union]

⭐️ TroyAsia Night Market on Friday closes out AAPI Heritage Month with local eats, performances and karaoke! Make it a fun evening of strolling around as Troy Night Out is also this Friday. Be sure to stop by and say hi to Sunhee’s Kitchen—which is, chopsticks down, Karley’s fave Korean spot in the Capital Region. Fri, 5–9p, free.

⭐️ Caffè Lena continues to spread its folksy goodness around Saratoga. The Beekman Street Art Fair on Sunday features a juried fine art and craft show with 60+ artists, a live music tent & food trucks. Sun, 10a–5p, free.

⭐️ Calling all foodies! All weekend, the Armenian Festival is serving up delicious Armenian delights along with dancing and music. Meanwhile, find the real deal at the St. Basil Troy Greek Festival. And VegOut, the Capital Region’s only all-vegan street festival, takes over downtown Troy on Sunday. Times vary (check the links), all free.

⭐️ Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play at Union College’s Yulman Theater sounds absolutely fascinating. “In the not-so-distant future, a group of strangers gathers around a fire. Under the stars they begin to recount moments from a television episode of The Simpsons—one that they mostly remember. Part comedy and part social-commentary, this play with music shows how the pop culture of one era might evolve into the mythology of another.” Thurs–Sun, 7:30p (1p matinee Sun), 5–$15.

⭐️ The Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park's Annual Wildlife Festival celebrates the blooming wild blue lupines and the emergence of the endangered Karner blue butterfly. This annual nature fest features live reptiles and amphibians, rescue dogs, food vendors and crafts. Sun, 11a–3p, free.

🎟️ MORE NOTABLE EVENTS

TODAY

🎬️ This evening at 7p, Picture Lock One screens Rock Bottom Riser (2021, Fern Silva) in the basement bank vault at Troy’s Collar Works (yes, a real bank vault). The event includes a surprise 16mm short, a Q&A with the filmmaker, and a post-screening discussion. (Read Monday’s story on PL1.)

FRIDAY

🏳️‍🌈 Get to Waterworks Pub for the 2025 Pride Kick-Off BBQ & Lot Party. Meanwhile, the Pride XXXtravaganza Benefit Show is in Troy. And don’t forget, the Schenectady Pride Festival is this Sunday!

🌱 The Radix Ecological Sustainability Center continues planting seedlings with your help! From 9a–1p, volunteer to put down some roots.

🍸️ The Albany Institute of History & Art is partnering with the Albany Black Chamber of Commerce for a Last Friday Networking Mixer. Get out and rub elbows with the good folks at these side-by-side institutions.

SATURDAY

👕 The Openbaar Market returns to Albany with loads of local artists, makers and crafters. Also Saturday, check out the Sidewalk Sale at Jay Street Marketplace in Schenectady.

🏃‍♀️The 47th annual Delightful Run for Women kicks off at 9 am in front of the State Capitol.

🏎️ The Saratoga Automobile Museum's rain-delayed Spring Auto Show will be happening this Saturday.

🎙️ The Chappell Roan-themed party Pink Social Club is at the Charles R. Wood Theater in Glens Falls.

🎸 10,000 Maniacs is 40 years old?! Calling all Gen Xers to The Egg to hear these still-great alt rockers. Get tix here.

🖼️ Let’s hope the weather holds up for Saratoga’s annual Art in the Park.

🕊️ Celebrate the birth of Buddha and offer prayers for world peace at the Grafton Peace Pagoda Flower Festival.

SUNDAY

📚️ 🍺 Wolf Hollow Brewing Company and The Book Hive are teaming up for Book Fest. Meet local authors, shop all things bookish, enjoy some craft beers and swap books!

🐕️ Scotia is hosting Woofstock, featuring a 5K run/walk and a pup-friendly festival.

🎙️ Darling, grab your opera glasses for Opera Saratoga’s audience favorite, the Great American Songbook Concert. Hear the beguiling voices of 18 talented young singers performing arias and songs from around the world, and dig into a chef-prepared meal served on the lush grounds of the Mansion of Saratoga.

GET YOUR EVENT ON THE LIST 🎸

Weekly deadline: Sundays at 2pm

🦫 GET IN TOUCH!

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