DelSo - the word, the blog, the map

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Normanskill Run

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If I were mayor - crosswalk etiquette

To me, living in a city means not always relying upon a car to get my errands done.  As a matter of fact, my favorite days are those when I don't have to even get in my car.   

I've noticed there are some problems when negotiating one's way around Albany on foot - namely cars and their drivers.  If I were mayor I would make it a priority to both educate the public, and enforce the existing laws regarding  pedestrians and crosswalks.  

 A couple of years ago when Delaware Avenue was improved, a number of crosswalks were included in the plan. These crosswalks are clearly marked on the pavement and are actually engineered from an alternative material from the rest of the road. some sort of faux brick outlined by white striping.

Now, you'd think that drivers would take note of this and perhaps abide by the law and allow pedestrians to cross the street safely.  Unfortunately, this is not the case and crossing Delaware Avenue continues to be a risky prospect.  I have to admit that sometimes I yell at drivers who refuse to yield to pedestrians.  Yep, that crazy woman shouting "Crosswalk!!!" and pointing at the previously described street markings was probably me. 

Is it possible that drivers are unaware of the status of the pedestrian?  Maybe the crosswalks need to be even more clearly defined?  Perhaps additional signage, or even lights, could be added to attract the attention of the drivers who do not seem to notice the crosswalks.  And, for those on foot, utilizing the crosswalks is the civilized way to get from one side of the street to the other.  Enough of this "crossing wherever I feel like it" nonsense.   

Pedestrians and cars - it's a two street.  Let's make it better for everyone, Albanians.  

Light(en) up

image: edia.treehugger.com

After a day booked so full of errands and chores that the only thing I didn't schedule was time to breath, I took a long run tonight.  There were moments when I knew I needed to take a break and walk, but I didn't.  The route I took was  a new one to me and I mentally dubbed it the "big girl route."

The run was the perfect, late spring evening run - absolutely sublime.  There were only good smells, and the moisture in the air which felt like dampness this morning, now only added to my glisten.  My mind let go and provided a good example to my muscles which released as the miles ticked off.  I began considering all the meanings of the word "light" and realized that I had been using it pretty exclusively as a measurement of illumination.  But, didn't it describe so many other actions?

I ran past gatherings of people on porches and decks and stoops.  One group of second floor porch dwellers taunted their buddy in his convertible to "Light 'em up!!" I hadn't heard that particular phrase in so long that it caused me to remember another phrase of the same era - "Light up." I smiled a bit broader. 

I approached a corner and continued straight instead of making my usual left turn.  I was unfamiliar with the traffic light I now faced - new territory, more exhilarating than scary.  I saw a beautiful grassy lawn behind a romantic brick wall and the most meticulously maintained home I had never noticed.  

I continued and thought about how important it is to lighten up sometimes.  Stop carrying that which weighs us down.  Or maybe share the burden with someone.  Consciously release to something new.  

You remember the steps - Stomp hard on the gas.   
                                          Inhale deeply.        
                                          Let go.                                                    

Pink House Pottery

NOT Janine's real house!  image: http://www.atopdoll.com

When Janine and Matt had their DelSo residence painted last year I wondered if that shade of pink was reeaally what they were going for.  Once their daughter was born, however, I understood.  Paint your house pink and you will have a girl baby - even after two boy babies!  Apparently the fact that my house was white and red, wasn't quite enough to make pink. 

Prior to the birth of their third child, Janine, a certified art teacher, taught pottery at the Albany Art Room.  The closure (and anticipated eventual re-opening) of the Art Room coincided beautifully with the arrival of some pink in the DelSo neighborhood and it seems that Janine has been enjoying her time at home planning her next artistic endeavor - Pink House Pottery.  We've already established our neighborhood as a great place to live, eat and shop.  It only seems natural to begin developing our area as a place to explore the arts.  I mean, the Spectrum is already here as well as Davey Jones Locker and my wonderfully talented artist neighbors, why not a pottery place, too?

Janine is competing to  win an All Over Albany - Sunmark Credit Union Startup grant of $1500 to turn her dream of having a basement studio for sharing her love of clay into a reality.  Voting ends Friday so get yourselves involved by clicking here and supporting Pink House Pottery!

It's All Good

I finally had a chance Saturday morning to get to All Good Bakers in their new DelSo location.  The space looks great - tidy, warm and inviting with the awesome aroma of baking bread. I poked around a little and was impressed with the variety of offerings - loaves of different shapes in varying shades of golden brown. I left with a couple of traditional white waxed bakery bags with bialys, cookies, rolls and a 2-day old loaf ($2!) of yummy bread that screamed French toast.  My overall impression was that this is staff of life bread - simple, wholesome, baked with care and quality ingredients, bread.  Not fussy or overwrought, but an essential, basic part of life.  Yeah, it's all good.

wholesome goodness

olive loaves

rolls, bialys, DelSo cookies

$2 deal of the day

French toast with All Good Bakers bread @chez Silvia

Delso cookies!

Sometimes I think I am a pretty lucky lady, other times I know I am a very lucky lady. Like Thursday evening when I got to participate in a Cookie Tasting. Yeah, I said Cookie Tasting. You may not know this, but I love cookies. If I had a choice between cookies, cake or pie, it would be cookies all the way for me, although I would eternally miss this pie.  Maybe it is their shape (I like circles) or the fact that I can eat many of them without feeling too guilty.  Or perhaps the way the pair so perfectly with a glass of cold milk.  And talk about varieties!  There are seemingly an infinite number of variations on these simple treats - and I'll try them all, holding a special place in my heart for New York City style black & whites, Linzer Tarts and good old fashioned chocolate chips.

You all know the exciting news about All Good Bakers relocating to the DelSo, yes? The owners of this terrific business already reside in the neighborhood and they, along with Linda Kindlon of Bake for You, decided that it would be appropriate to create a cookie that represented their new location - the DelSo cookie. Although I didn't officially submit a recipe, in my mind the winning cookie needed to be a combination of wholesome and indulgent, traditional yet with a surprise component, and definitely had to demonstrate an artistic flair without an iota of preciousness. That's kind of a lot to pack into 3 bites, isn't it?

The event was well organized with 6 varieties of cookies to be tasted. There were beverages, including Meadowbrook Farms milk, scorecards and plenty of cookies for those inclined to go back for seconds. Me? I was the annoying person who broke the cookies in half so as to not weigh myself down for my return run home. No worries - my hands were clean, I swear.

Of the six, I had two strong favorites but the cookie pictured was my ultimate number one - or number six since the scale was 1 to 6 with six being the best score. What set this cookie apart was the inclusion of popped corn,which added a completely unexpected airy crunch to the cookie. A close second was the Mexican chocolate cookie which had a wonderful chili pepper spice, making it very much a grown up cookie, which just might keep the children's hands out of the cookie jar.  Each of the different cookies, regardless of the ingredients (dried apples, orange zest, coconut...) was perfectly baked and there truly wasn't a bad one in the bunch.

It was a really fun way to spend an hour and I enjoyed chatting it up with the Fussy and the friendly. The winner has not yet been announced in the battle to be the DelSo cookie, but I know we, in the DelSo neighborhood, are certain that we are the ultimate winners with the upcoming arrival of All Good Bakers, complete with cookies from Bake for You,  in our little Best Up and Coming neighborhood.

DelSo Cookies!

Did you see this over on All Over Albany?  Geesh - leave town for a week and miss all kinds of exciting stuff!  You get excited about cookies, right?  There's a contest to come up with the perfect cookie to celebrate All Good Bakers' impending arrival in the DelSo.  I've been thinking about what would be the perfect representation of our neighborhood in a cookie form, and I've got some ideas...

Although the Wine n Diner didn't survive, something Mikey, the owner, said stuck with me.  I agree with his (co-opted) statement that Delaware Avenue is where Lark Street goes to grow up and believe the DelSo cookie needs to have some adult qualities...dark chocolate chunks,  Really dark chocolate with a bitter note. I'd say.  There's also the fact that Delaware Avenue was known as an Italian enclave so maybe toss in some toasted pignoli nuts to show proper respect to the family.  And then we'd need something to sweeten them up a bit - maybe some dark brown sugar?  Lastly - a little spiciness is present in our 'hood and I think a little ginger would add just the right touch.  

What do you think?  Get to Facebook and share your thoughts asap.  Contest is open until Monday only!!

Sunday Mornings in the DelSo

I've always loved Sundays - fat newspapers, leisurely breakfasts, a second cup of coffee... They're just relaxing. For the last couple of months, I've switched things up a bit, though, delaying my TU fix until a bit later in the morning to squeeze in a little yoga at the DelSo's own Yoga Loft. Although adding something to a day doesn't always equate with enhancing well being, yoga, perhaps exercise in general, scoffs at this notion. Making the time to stretch my body and calm down my brain is an addition to my schedule that starts the day off with balance and community - ommmmmmmmmmmm.

The Sunday morning Sadhana is more of a shared practice than a class designed to instruct. The mood is mellow with lots of constructive observations, countless adaptations, and a decidedly casual feel. If you're looking to be pushed, this is probably not going to be your thing. However, if you're interested in exploring and sharing your practice, as well as making a monetary donation to a local organization, you need to get yourself to 540 Delaware Avenue Sunday morning.

Here's the skinny: Sunday mornings from 9:30-11 (isn't that a nice civilized Sunday time?) the Yoga Loft offers a weekly class with a rotating schedule of teachers.  The price?  Pay what you will.  Now, don't be cheap because the money is donated, on a monthly basis, to charity.  January's recipient was the Humane Society.  See?  Feel good physically, spiritually, mentally and karmically.  And, yes, karmically is a word. It's in the free dictionary.

Sunday morning bliss is only going to get more...ah, blissful, when All Good Bakers hits the space right next door to the Yoga Loft.  Good thing I can walk there - that parking lot is going to be full!

DelSo Night

What better way to start my summer vacation than a walk down Delaware Avenue?  It was the perfect evening for a stroll (in between rain showers) and I was happy to see so many people out and about.  Don't the tables in front of Pizzalo look good?  I need to give their pizza another shot soon, but, on this particular night I had my sites set on New World Bistro...

I've been hearing good things about New World's new menu and the grilled baby octopus were absolutely calling my name.  Look at them!  I took some notes while I was eating them: "Holy smoky octopus! Delicious. Tender.  Gorgeously presented like stars on little bread ovals perfectly toasted (grilled?) to perfection.  Citrusy jam - yum."  Yep, that pretty much summed things up for me.

 

I'm kind of a fool for fried squid and these were perfect - not greasy and the ideal balance of spicy and  sweet.  Perfect snack food with a glass of wine at the bar.  Kevin recommended the Millbrook Tocai Friulano and it was a lovely match for my seafood items - good tip!   How lucky are we in the Delso to have a wonderful neighborhood joint like this? 

I hit up Emack and Bolio's on my way home and thoroughly enjoyed sitting outside with my hot fudge sundae watching my neighborhood settling into summer.  Life is good - don't forget to taste it.

Looking good, Nicole's

Have you been on Delaware Avenue recently?  After many months, the days of  avoiding the construction and related traffic back-ups are finally ending. The Delaware Avenue project is quietly coming to a close - and, boy, does it look great!  I can't decide which features I'm happiest about -  the beautiful marked crosswalks, the new lighting, the improved intersection of Delaware and Whitehall, the solar trash cans...so many improvements, both aesthetic and practical to choose from. 

It seems that the extensive road work has inspired a long term presence in the DelSo, Nicole's Restaurant,  to  make some positive changes to the exterior of 556 Delaware Avenue recently.  Although I haven't eaten at Nicole's in a while, my last dining experience there (1/09?) was positive enough for me to have sent a note to the owner about what a terrific meal my work group had at that time.  The service and food were really good and the kitchen accommodated my request for a half portion of pasta without hesitation.  Their Hazelnut Chicken is legendary and I've always enjoyed the Penne Sorgento and Eggplant Roulade.  Full menu here.  My only beef with the 3 restaurants closest to my home (Sam's Italian-American, Wine n Diner and Nicole's) is that they are all closed on Monday nights.  Come on, people, couldn't one of you  picked another day (maybe Tuesday?) to close?  As consolation, I offer the fact that I'll be at the Lark Street Bar and Bistro that night of the week, so we can see each other there.  Maybe I'll even see Carmella, Dmitri and Margaret (and you, of course) there!

Normanskill: A Photo Essay

These photos were taken a couple of weeks ago before the rains came to stay.  I don't really think that many words are necessary to convey the joys of spending a little time with my littlest boy, our dog and some water.  The Normanskill Farm area is an amazing resource right in the DelSo which somehow feels remote and wild regardless of the season.  Have you been there?  Why not?

A boy and his dog

Some water

Shirt off, boots on.

Watering the grass

Pizzalo

In honor of the official first weekend of Football Sunday, we ordered take-out from the new place in the DelSo, Pizzalo, last week.  In addition to pizza their menu features pasta, salads, subs and wings, which certainly is convenient if you're serving a crowd with divergent appetites.  We kept things simple by placing a focused order of just pizza and wings. 

Large half pepperoni pizza

Small with onions

The guys had been jonesing for a pizza/wing feast for awhile so I wasn't able to grab any photos prior to the onset of the feeding frenzy, but I think you'll get the gist of things.  We went with a large pie, half pepperoni, a small pizza with onions and 24 wings.  The large pizza was definitely better than the small - we won't bother going small again.  The crust was decent, fairly crisp and had some of those airy-dough spots that I appreciate.  One of the issues I had with the previous pizza place on this corner was a tendency for them to under-cook the pizza and leave the crust soggy - yuck.  This pizza was definitely cooked the right length of time and the boys were very pleased with the texture, sauce and cheese.  The small pizza was weird - almost as if they assembled it from a different batch of ingredients.  Instead of being crisp it was nearly crunchy and had unfortunately absorbed some flavor from the cardboard.  It just wasn't good.  The onions were a bit skimpy, especially when 

Wings

 you consider the cost of onions, and I just wasn't feeling it with this menu item.  Fortunately, the wings helped to shift the balance in our overall experience.  Our wings were medium hot and had just the right amount of spice to evoke pleasure rather than pain.  They were nice and meaty without being over-sized and I generally found them to be high quality.  The wings were served with a generous amount of commercial bleu cheese dressing and fresh, crunchy carrot sticks. Solid.

The verdict?  A good addition to the neighborhood for convenient, one-stop, take out.  The quality of the food is pretty much what we expected and the owners have really taken some time to improve the physical appeal of the space.  We'll definitely put them in the rotation.

Lou Bea's is Back!

Between a lack of decent pizza and an excess of road construction, we've suffered here in the DelSo for many long months.  I am happy to report that there is a light* at the end of the tunnel and it is getting closer.  To begin, family favorite Lou Bea's Pizzeria, has reopened almost a year after a serious fire.   The interior has been reconfigured and there are some nice high-top tables if you're looking to have your meal to stay rather than to go. The boys and I hit it up the other night, for take-out, and are happy to report that the pizza tastes exactly the same! Crisp crust, appropriate amount of cheese, nicely seasoned tomato sauce ...same as  it ever was.  When I arrived to pick up our order, I was a little perturbed to discover they were offering a special which would have easily fit into our dinner plans - 18 wings, large cheese, 2 liter bottle of soda all for $18.50.  Note to self: when ordering, inquire if they are offering a daily special.  No biggie - the boys devoured the pizza and the dozen wings we ordered (at a couple more $$ than the special) and Lou Bea's has regained its spot at the top of their list for pizza takeout.  Just in time for football season!  The wings were okay for me, but I really can't judge a place on mild wings and that is how the boys take them.  I did like the dryness of the wings - I don't like an overly sloppy wing and these definitely were not too messy. 

I personally still prefer Pasquale's for pizza, but, since it is a bit pricey, I'm happy to once again have a wonderful neighborhood option.  We're also looking forward to giving the new kid in town, Pizzalo (the former location of Papa Gallo's and most recently Vinnie's, aka the worst pizza I've ever had) a shot.  Their sign still says "coming soon," but walking by, it looks ready to go.  The dining options in the DelSo continue to expand, and, since we've got such a marvelously walkable neighborhood, there's no reason for our waistlines to expand.  Way to go, DelSo!

*Speaking of light(s) - have you seen the beautiful new lampposts being installed along Delaware Avenue?  Gorgeous!

A to Z in the Delso, Part IV

Finally - a conclusion to the alphabet.  You knew it was coming and where it was going to end, so, without further ado, I bring you R-Z.

In the DelSo we Recycle.  It makes it really weird when we visit places that don't recycle.  Really weird.

I can't say I've gotten any Shoes here.  Yet. 

Although I'm past that "going out and drinking too much and then eating whatever crap is available" stage of life, I'm sure some DelSo-ites take advantage of the Taco Bell option.

The hours are a little odd, but we've still got a U.S. Post Office.

Terrific Vietnamese food and have you tried their amazing coffee??

Turducken sandwich?  Fried chicken and waffles?  Yes, please, Wine n Diner!

X
I've got nothing...other than taxi service and Stanwix Street.  X-cuse me.

Yoga - check out the Sunday Sadhana, 9:30 - 11, rotating teachers,
class fees donated to various charities.  Feel good all over!

Zinnias!!  They seem to be the flower of choice this year and look at these beauties.

A to Z in the DelSo, Part III

Believe me, I am not trying to milk this A to Z thing, I was just buying myself some time to figure out what to do about some of those challenging letters, like O and K and X.  No worries - I've got it all worked out and will speed things up a bit.  It's not like I'm overly interested in the alphabet, despite what you might expect from a librarian, and I should be to Z in no time.  And Z was really easy, for the record.

Sam's Italian American Restaurant - You know I like this place and there's a reason they've been doing their thing for more than 40 years.  Have you tried that weeknight special yet?

There seem to be lots of supporters of Judge Heath-Roland.  I'm no expert, but I have met her and she seems lovely.  Good luck in the September primary, Judge!

Norman's Kill - where dogs swim and gardens grow.  Need more info?  Check here.

Fortunately, my Laundromat days are over, but proximity to one certainly was a consideration for many years.  Imagine if they gussied this one up a bit?

Totally cool Movies like these at the Spectrum. 'Nuff said, but we can talk snack bar if you'd like.

I know everyone is all about the food, but how about the wonderful bartending skills of Nick and Kevin?  That's what keeps us hitting up this place on our way home. New World, thank you for coming to our neighborhood.

Oh, no!  Guess what is missing from the Delso?  Trashcans.  Maybe we can pair them with those awesome new crosswalks?

Another new spot coming to the DelSo in the old Vinnie's Pizza location.  The space is looking good and I'm looking forward to trying Pizzalo when they're open for biz.

Quinn - every neighborhood should have one, but stop at one.  Trust me.

A to Z in the DelSo, Part II

Welcome back to my serialization (is this really a word?  I thought I made it up!) of the DelSo Alphabet.  Have you started looking around your neighborhood differently?

Emack & Bolio's - the place to go for ice cream and open mike.

Tuesday night Farmer's Market  - until 7pm!

     Have you seen Cassidy, the Lilly dog,  lately?  She really needs a visit to Greg's after a summer of swimming in the Normanskill.

Hook & Ladder #4 required two photos since my trusty project assistant, Quinn, insisted upon taking the photo of the ladder truck.  This is the most beautiful firehouse in the city.

A to Z in the DelSo, Part I

Walking through the DelSo today, I was inspired to attempt an A to Z tour of my neighborhood.  I had some conflicts - sometimes there were hard choices in what to feature, usually with letters I wouldn't have anticipated struggling with like "U" and "V, " but, I selected my favorites or those I wanted to highlight as being part of a hip up-and-coming neighborhood.  This was a really fun project, particularly with a 5 y/o whose name thankfully starts with "Q", and I encourage you to give it a try in your neighborhood.  Feel free to share your personal favorites.

The awesome Delaware Avenue branch of the Albany Public Library

Botanica Ada's - I've never actually been inside this intriguing shop, but I'm getting there - soon.

Cardona's - my source for delicious Italian gourmet items.

Davey Jones - a place for beautiful fish and art