Caffe Vero.

Upon recommendation from a friend, we visited Caffe Vero with sufficient fatigue for an effective coffeehouse experience. Caffe Vero is a breath of fresh air in a land of mass-produced coffee joints. Caffe Vero baristas undergo a training period during which they learn espresso art along with how to pull perfectly timed shots.


I had a cappuccino and a rosemary bagel with vegetable cream cheese. I only have one thing to say: Mmmmm!
The rosemary bagel was seasoned so deliciously and really had a unique taste. The espresso had me being productive within fifteen minutes of its intake.


The atmosphere in Caffe Vero is calm and artsy, without being pretentious. I am a huge proponent of any busing which offers local artists a venue to showcase their work. And here, local photographers' images spatter the wall.

Sam's Albany Coffee Shop / Sam's Home Cooking.

Today, I will delve into the glory of a hidden gem located on Lark Street. After hours of apartment hunting, my mother, step-father, and I popped into Sam's for a bite to eat. I must admit that my expectations were very high after hearing a long account of the delicious history of the joint. Apparently, my step-father used to frequent the place "back in the day," meaning back when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Apparently, Sam was still cookin', even back then.


Let's just say that when one enters Sam's, he or she is likely to be underwhelmed by the decor. However, the restaurant's ambiance lends to sense of ease. Don't let appearances fool you; Sam's will solve all tummy grumbles.


We were warmly welcomed (alliteration) by Sam himself. Let me tell you: Sam's the man! He's so nice and sweet. And he is an amazing cook. At least while we were there, he was manning the entire shop by himself and showed no ounce of stress whatsoever. His expertise resulted in the most delicious omelet I have ever eaten in my entire life (for roughly a mere 4 dollars). Did I mention this comes with toast and home fries, too? Let's just say I need to steer clear of this place if I don't want to make a mockery of my Gold's Gym membership.

Welcome!

Welcome to Albany Shmalbany! As I am unemployed at the moment, I have decided that I will make a habit of digging up all the golden nuggets our treasured capitol region has to offer.

Throughout my youth, I remember having a secret vendetta against Albany, knowing one day I would leave the place for good. A fun night in our suburb consisted of going to CVS, stuffing our pockets full of candy and snacks, and watching a movie at the now decrepit Latham Circle Mall (although I suppose it has its own unique... charm). One of our favorite pastimes was bowling.

Once I got my driver's license, I drove my 1989 Honda Accord all around Albany with my friends, discovering diamond upon diamond amid the rough and trying not to get strangled by the automatic seat-belt. Further fun was unearthed after returning home from college in Montreal with over 21 years of age.

The truth is, I've grown quite an affinity for Albany and I'd like to share the things that I find special with you.