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Your favorite hidden gems in the Capital Region (Vol. 3)

February 10, 2026

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Happy Tuesday eve, folks! We know you love our Hidden Gem series, so today we’ve got even more magical spots nominated by you, our subscribers, via our reader survey. Speaking of gems, this week’s Home of the Week is a historic diamond in the rough right in downtown Albany.

Still figuring out Valentine’s Day? We’ve rounded up unusual ways to celebrate February 14 in the 518—no overpriced dinner required (fair warning: a few may already be sold out). Happy V-Day, all you love birds.

—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan

The Dix Bridge formally joins Saratoga and Washington counties at Hudson Crossing Park 📷️ Courtesy of Hudson Crossing Park

The best hidden gems in the Capital Region (Vol. 3)

We’re back with one of our hidden gems roundups. This is the third installment in the series. You can find the previous ones here and here.

Hudson Crossing Park 🛶 🥾 

Centered on Champlain Canal Lock 5 Island just north of Schuylerville, NY, Hudson Crossing Park is an awesome park with terrific views of the Dix Bridge and Hudson River. You can explore miles of scenic trails, picnic by the river, watch boats pass through the historic canal lock, or let kids roam the one-of-a-kind Play Garden built from recycled materials. Be sure to check out their events. On Feb. 16, bring the kids for Tracks & Treats (featuring sugar on snow!), or join a Fire & Ice Hike on Feb. 21. 

We haven’t tried this place, but the TU’s Steve Barnes recently raved about the xiao long bao (soup dumplings) here ($10 for 6). Other diners mentioned the elegant ambiance, affordable lunch specials ($10-14), and authentic flavors. One Yelper said, “We just moved here from China so we're always looking out for legit Chinese food, and this is legit Chinese food... We've only found a few good places in the area so far, so this is a welcome new addition." That’s good enough for us!

Don’t be fooled by this adorably appointed cafe attached to the Sand Lake Merchant store in Averill Park. They take their coffee seriously here, starting with roasting their own sustainably sourced, single origin beans. Customers rave about their strawberry matcha, savory croissants, and unique breakfast bagel sammies.

Gipfel Coffee was inspired by the West Coast coffee culture that founder Christine Burdick encountered while living in Oakland, Calif. (She must have tried Peet’s Coffee—so good!)

Drop in for the dark and cozy ambiance, and stay for the superb craft cocktails. As one reviewer put it, “this is an actual cocktail bar” not one of those beer joints that also serves cocktails (although they do have Fiddlehead IPA on tap, one of our favorites). Don’t sleep on the food either. This would be a great date night spot, before or after a show.

Albany Art Room 🎨🫖 

We’ve always wanted to try our hand at ceramics. The Albany Art Room is a wonderful place to learn how to spin up some clay. This art studio is geared for adults at all levels (18+ only please). A 6-week “Beginning Wheel” class will run you $290—and they sell out! They also have a beautiful retail shop where you can buy ceramics made by local artisans.

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🇾🇪 The TU takes a look at the Yemeni coffee boom, with no fewer than three cafes opening up in Latham alone. Why Latham, you ask? Because the Muslim community is strong there, especially around the Al-Hidaya Center. [Times Union]

🛒 What does it say about the Capital Region that we have three Trader Joe’s locations, outpacing bigger cities like Columbus and, on a per million population basis, Chicago and Denver? The Albany Business Review has the answer.

🥚 Kudos to The Egg for their excellent programming coming out of their historic renovation. The iconic venue just added a late show for comedian Tig Notaro (the first show is nearly sold out). They also added a second night for the live screening of “The Labyrinth: In Concert” (the first night is SOLD OUT). Watch the full movie accompanied by a live band!

This stately brick multi-unit residence is on one of our favorite blocks of downtown Albany, just one block from the Governor's Mansion. Each of the three units features extraordinary architectural details, including cathedral ceilings, original hardwood wide-plank floors, exposed brick, curving staircases and crown molding. The three (!) kitchens are thoughtfully laid out, and the bathrooms appear updated, if not tidy in the photos. A leafy park backing up to the house expands the view and natural feel significantly. Honestly, this has always been one of the most picturesque streets in Albany. Sure, the floors could use refinishing and the millennial gray paint isn’t doing it any favors—but at $75 per square foot, the potential here is, frankly, irresistible.

The deets: 5 bd, 3 ba, 4368 sf. Asking: $329,000. Days on market: 1. See the full listing here.

Note: Our Top 5 Weekend roundup publishes on Thursdays. Watch your inboxes!

THURSDAY

🍷 Paint a ceramic charcuterie board, enjoy wine, NA drinks, and light snacks at Context Collective’s Galentine’s Paint & Sip.

💐 This weekend, get to Canopy in Saratoga for their seasonal bouquet bar, sip sparkling wine and nibble on chocolate. Opening night party 4-8p on Thursday.

FRIDAY

💃 Dance, sing, or jam your winter blues away at the 38th Annual Flurry Festival this President’s Day weekend.

🦉 Night at the Discovery Center is your chance to experience the Albany Pine Bush Preserve in the evening with live animal interactions, historical re-enactors, games, storytelling and more!

💘 Femininomenon at Lost & Found presents a special Galentine’s Day sing-along, featuring your favorite emo hits.

🫶 The Galentine’s Celebration at the New York State Museum features mocktails, crafts, and an afterhours viewing of the exhibits, including Barbie: A Cultural Icon.

SATURDAY

🍫 🍷 Bring your darling out to indulge in the best sips and sweets at the 2026 Albany Wine & Chocolate Festival.

🏃‍♂️ Couples that run together, stay together. Join Cap City Runners in front of Alias Coffee in Albany at 7:45 for a Valentine’s Day jog.

🐕️ Fur Baby Love Fest brings together cider, adorable pet photos, and giving back, at Nine Pin.

🎭️ Presented by Creative Action Unlimited, “Taking a Stand” is a staged reading of an original play that explores anti-racism activism, performed at the Arts Center of the Capital Region.

❤️‍🔥 Bad Heart Burlesque and No Fun presents a “Troy is for Lovers,” an anti-Valentine’s Day dance party—because love is fake, eyeliner is real, and Troy belongs to the emotionally unstable 🖤

🎷 Get to Lark Street Tavern for live jazz, cocktails & something sweet 🍰 You can’t go wrong with that combo!

SUNDAY

💘 Join hostess Typhoid Mary at Bard & Baker’s Heartbreak Hangover for a sassy brunch that will soothe your achy breaky heart post-V Day.

MONDAY

🎬️ The Kuumba Black Art and Film Festival at Proctors showcases short films from independent filmmakers throughout the African diaspora.

ART ON VIEW

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

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