Need to Get OUT at night, whats up? HELP (Albany: for sale, apartments)

[marska]

Moved to Bethlehem area Feb 2008 for work. I am going NUTS. I've been here 10 months and I still have not found the nightlife! I WILL go crazy this winter with nothing to do...or just get really d**** depressed...moved here from the midwest and there was more to do there then here (well, I knew the area well and I am still struggling to find stuff in the Capitol Region). I am a 50 year old woman who used to go out and listen to music, laugh, maybe dance a bit, throw a back a beer or two, and have fun most weekend nights. I'm not talking about dating and such (tho thats good, too), I mean just finding a couple of lively yet safe and comfortable hang-outs for the winter. You know- one of those just get-out-of -the-house-and -have-a-few-laughs kind of places, for us "older folks" (gag). There MUST be more here than a shopping mall or two...and I'm going broke tripping down to NYC for fun... I know I'm missing it....can someone please help???? I appreciate any ideas!!!!

[Cami518]

U may find some enjoyment at Savannah's Jazz club in downtown albany. I found the atmosphere to be cozy, relaxing, and their are quite a few nice people in there that are regulars. I have not been there in a while, but it was a nice place when we did go out. Also, the smaller bars/clubs are lark street are very nice as well. The only thing is that the crowd is a bit eccentric but very cool and inviting if you don't mind that seen. It is much better then the teens and college kid type club life in some of the bars that Albany has to offer. I am not too sure about Delmar hang outs, but at least you are close enough to Albany to enjoy a little more excitement. Good luck, and keep us all posted on what you find to keep you from being depressed.

P.S. You can go on craigslist: albany classifieds for jobs, apartments, personals, for sale, services, community, and events and click on the EVENTS part in the Left upper corner. Sometimes there are different things posted on there that may interest you.

[Rumblebelly]

What part of the midwest did you move from? I'm from Nebraska and Colorado. One thing I noticed is that the vibrant nightlife areas are really,really scattered in the Capital area. Check out Lark Street and Pearl Street in Albany. Saratoga Springs has a good nightlife and everything is pretty centralized up there.

Pick up the Metroland entertainment rag. It's a great resource and you can find it online.

[nikki_ny]

You could always try Juniors Bar and Grill in Albany on Madison Avenue. I think all different ages go there.. I think its a decent place to go sit at the bar and have a couple beers....people are fairly sociable there. Good luck!!!

[marska]

Originally Posted by Cami518

U may find some enjoyment at Savannah's Jazz club in downtown albany. I found the atmosphere to be cozy, relaxing, and their are quite a few nice people in there that are regulars. I have not been there in a while, but it was a nice place when we did go out. Also, the smaller bars/clubs are lark street are very nice as well. The only thing is that the crowd is a bit eccentric but very cool and inviting if you don't mind that seen. It is much better then the teens and college kid type club life in some of the bars that Albany has to offer. I am not too sure about Delmar hang outs, but at least you are close enough to Albany to enjoy a little more excitement. Good luck, and keep us all posted on what you find to keep you from being depressed.

P.S. You can go on craigslist: albany classifieds for jobs, apartments, personals, for sale, services, community, and events and click on the EVENTS part in the Left upper corner. Sometimes there are different things posted on there that may interest you.

Thank you so much for the suggestions. I'll give Savannahs a go...cool and eccentric is good....

[marska]

Originally Posted by Rumblebelly

What part of the midwest did you move from? I'm from Nebraska and Colorado. One thing I noticed is that the vibrant nightlife areas are really,really scattered in the Capital area. Check out Lark Street and Pearl Street in Albany. Saratoga Springs has a good nightlife and everything is pretty centralized up there.

Pick up the Metroland entertainment rag. It's a great resource and you can find it online.

I lived in Council Bluffs and Omaha for quite awhile. And you?
I do get the feeling that things are very scattered in the area- I'm trying to figure it out. All the little "villages", very different.
Thank you for the suggestions. It's good to hear from you.

[marska]

Originally Posted by nikki_ny

You could always try Juniors Bar and Grill in Albany on Madison Avenue. I think all different ages go there.. I think its a decent place to go sit at the bar and have a couple beers....people are fairly sociable there. Good luck!!!

Thank you Nikki, I'll stop in there and check it out...

[Rumblebelly]

Originally Posted by marska

I lived in Council Bluffs and Omaha for quite awhile. And you?
I do get the feeling that things are very scattered in the area- I'm trying to figure it out. All the little "villages", very different.
Thank you for the suggestions. It's good to hear from you.

I grew up west of North Platte, went to school in Kearney, and lived in Fort Collins for a while. Most of my family lives around the Lincoln area and I try to visit once a year.

One thing about the Northeast in general is that there is a lot of things to see and do. The history, festivals, concerts in all of the different communities makes it a little overwhelming actually. Out west, you have your town and it's events. It's more isolated.

[piperspal]

Marska, admittedly there isn't much in the Delmar area for nightlife, but just like you mentioned, there are a lot of little towns & villages surrounding the tri-city area. Once you've been here a bit you'll see where traveling t/o the district is really pretty easy. A lot of people (myself included) think nothing of a 30 minute drive one way to get out & have some fun. The metroland suggestion was a good one - there is a LOT of great live music in this neck of the woods. Also the thursday edition of the times union lists the weekend's music lineup & events. Savannah's is fun, so is the Bayou (both locales) ...good music too. Alibi's on Madison doesn't have live music that I know of, but they have amazing sushi & even more amazing drinks. Sort of an up tempo crowd without the snobbery.

The Pump Station & the Lionheart are both nice hangouts - Lionheart is real neighborhood vibe & you can be one of the regulars without the slightest bit of fuss.

A really fun way to get out around here is to go out during a free fest or event & then hit a local bar after. There is usually more of a crowd then, with a good mix of ages. There is ONLY one thing I hate more than being the only 40-something in a college bar & that's being in a bar full of 40-somethings with no other age groups to represent! My favorite places are the kind that allow everyone to mingle comfortably. For that, you really have to make Saratoga one of your must-do destinations.

Troy has a decent live music scene & some cool venues, and down around Woodstock/Hurley/New Paltz, you will also have a ton of choices. So, sorry to say not too many establishments right in your neighborhood, but enough close by to make up for it.

[marska]

Wow, thanks everyone for your replies! Good to know you are out there.

I'll check out some of these places and let you know what I think-

I did go over to Revolution Hall the other night in Troy...and really enjoyed the music...good venue. Now if I can just get up the courage to start a conversation with a complete stranger....

And I agree with this..."There is ONLY one thing I hate more than being the only 40-something in a college bar & that's being in a bar full of 40-somethings with no other age groups to represent! My favorite places are the kind that allow everyone to mingle comfortably. " Well said.

For that, you really have to make Saratoga one of your must-do destinations.

OK- where in Saratoga???