#upstatelife — Public Fediverse posts

Today’s Cocktail: The Improved Whisky Cocktail

In honor of National Bourbon Day today, I thought I’d try something new: the Improved Whisky Cocktail. It’s been around since at least 1887, but it was new to me, and I think it’s excellent.

• 2 oz bourbon
• 1 bar spoon maraschino liqueur
• 1/4 oz simple syrup
• 1 dash absinthe
• 1 dash Angostura bitters
• 1 dash Peychaude’s bitters

I used the excellent local Helderberg Bourbon from New Scotland Spirits.

Cheers 🥃

Rt 2 Corridor (Congress and Ferry)

I submitted the below comment to the public comment section for the Rt. 2 Corridor project. Capital Streets has a good deal of additional information.

I write as an RPI alumnus and former resident of the City of Troy. While I now reside across the river in Colonie, I return to Troy regularly to enjoy cultural events, to shop at the farmers market, and to patronize the many fine restaurants and small businesses downtown Troy has to offer (and to attend the occasional hockey game at my alma mater). While I frequently ride my bike when I’m on my own, I more often drive, as I’m accompanied other family members. In both cases, I am very aware of the challenges that have prompted the work on the Route 2 Corridor.

I’m concerned about the City’s decision to use Alternative 1A. The size of the lanes means increased traffic speed, with commensurate increases in noise, pollution, and danger from moving vehicles. The loss of tree cover will make walking less pleasant throughout the corridor. The reduction in parking will make it more difficult to travel to Troy, even if the first two problems didn’t discourage me from coming in the first place. Even the added bike lane is largely unusable, as the lack of any barrier from the higher speed moving traffic will make it uncomfortable to use at best. And having lived for a number of years a block away from the corridor, I can’t imagine it being better for the City’s residents either.

In short, the City’s preferred choice doesn’t seem to solve any of the problems that motivated the project to begin with. There are better options available. Alternative 1B, and even Alternative 1A Modified address many of the concerns above. I urge the City to reconsider its choice.

Mulled Cider

https://sam.upstate.blog/food/2025/mulled-cider/

Leases and Independent Businesses

https://sam.upstate.blog/brief-thoughts/2025/leases-and-independent-businesses/

Cocktail: A La Louisiane

In recognition of Mardi Gras this past Tuesday, and National Absinthe Day this past Wednesday (March 5), today’s cocktail is an A La Louisiane (also sometimes called a De La Louisiane).

https://sam.upstate.blog/cocktails/2025/cocktail-a-la-louisiane/

Living in the Albany area is often an exercise in living with cognitive dissonance. Twenty-first century Albany is simultaneously a small American city, not big enough to rate any major league (or even AAA) sports franchise, or a Costco or Ikea, and the capital city of New York, the state home to the financial capital of the world and one of the most famous cities in the world.

It’s against this backdrop that I read today’s story in the Times Union about the new executive director of the Albany Institute, Albany’s art and history museum. The Albany Institute hasn’t really been on my radar, despite living within ten miles of it for the past sixteen years. Its existence hasn’t registered next to the Clarke, the Tang, the Fenimore, Mass MoCa, and Art Omi, among other regional art galleries.

That might change soon, if Kayla Carlsen, the new executive director, has anything to say about it. I was surprised to learn that less than 1% of the Institute’s collection has been on display, leaving vast amounts of art and historical artifacts hidden away. It would be great if the Albany Institute can help raise the profile of the city of Albany closer to something worthy of a major American state.

This server does not support sharing. Please visit .

A Visit to a Garden

My wife and I visited the home of a very dear friend yesterday. She has an amazing English-style garden, and I was able to take some photos as we walked around.

One of our goals for our own yard is to reduce the amount of lawn we have. Replacing much of it with gardens of this style (creating a more labyrinthine feel) is one of the things we hope to do over the next decade. Seeing and experiencing our friend's garden very much vindicated our desire. [...]

https://sam.upstate.blog/brief-thoughts/2024/a-visit-to-a-garden/

Published in the TimesUnion this week:

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/paid-parking-begins-memorial-day-saratoga-springs-19380919.php

The reactions of many of the people quoted are typical and show just how car-brained some people are. I’m particularly amused by the business owners suggesting that this will reduce business.

I […]

https://sam.upstate.blog/in-the-news/2024/on-paid-parking-in-saratoga/