#upstatelife — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #upstatelife, aggregated by home.social.
-
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
We had our first really autumnal day here in upstate New York. It's been around 50 and rainy all day, and the leaves are starting to come down. Since it's also Indigenous Peoples Day, the kids are off school, and I'm off work. It was the perfect day to make some mulled cider. 2 quarts fresh apple cider 1 orange, sliced 3 cinnamon sticks 4 whole allspice 6 whole cloves 1 star anise pod Put the cider, orange slices, and cinnamon sticks in a slow cooker on high. The remaining spices […] -
Leases and Independent Businesses
The Albany Business Review reported yesterday that Rare Form Brewing in downtown Troy will be closing temporarily while they find and move to a new location. Apparently, lease negotiations didn’t work out. The article didn’t go into more detail about why lease negotiations didn’t work out, but this is just the more recent in what feels like an increasing trend of established independent businesses being forced out by their landlords because of issues with re-negotiating a lease. A […]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/