On the Road: Albany
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We know there are a million travel guidebooks out there, but we’ve created a handful of destination miniguides designed specifically for working girls on the go. So whether it’s a quick stopover for a meeting or a weeklong conference, here’s everything you need to know about…
ALBANY
Where to Stay
Expense Account: 74 State. Managed by the Clarion hotel chain, this nine-story boutique property gets rave reviews from picky business travelers for its leather chairs, flat-screen TVs, high-speed Internet, choice of pillows, and a location two blocks from the capital. Note, however, that room sizes vary and the smallest rooms are very small, but are priced accordingly. Rooms from $205 per night. 74 State Street; 518.434.7410; www.74state.com
Romantic Weekend: Morgan State House. The four individually designed rooms in this restored 19th-century mansion come with feather beds, terry robes, and down comforters, plus wireless Internet throughout the property. Enjoys views of Washington Park and walk to Lark Street restaurants. Rooms from $135 per night. 393 State Street; 888.427.6063; www.statehouse.com
On the Cheap: Hampton Inn & Suites. Among Albany’s many reasonably priced chain hotels, the brand-new Hampton Inn & Suites earns top marks for its good eats—Yono’s (Indonesian/Continental) and An American Brasserie (small plates)—and a location that’s in walking distance to downtown nightlife. Free high-speed Internet is another plus. Rooms from $180. 25 Chapel Street; 518.432.7000; www.hamptonsuitesalbany.com
Where to Eat
Business Dinner: Jack’s Oyster House. Formal yet not stuffy, this family-run tavern has been an Albany mainstay since 1913. Politicians pack the house during lunch hour. Order the namesake fresh oysters from the raw bar or a juicy steak grilled to order. 42 State Street; 518.465.8854; www.jacksoysterhouse.com
Hot Spot: Envy Lounge. Restaurant by day, club by night, Envy Lounge opened on Pearl Street a year ago and has drawn crowds ever since. The food outdoes the music, however. Don’t miss their “new school macaroni and cheese,” made with butter-poached lobster and manchego and mascarpone cheese. Yum! 99 Pine Street; 518.694.3689; www.envyalbany.com
Eating Alone: Angelo’s 677 Prime. This upscale steakhouse located in the theater district also offers a wine bar with live music Wednesday through Saturday. Order your salad chopped or wedged, then dive into the raw bar or a hearty steak au poivre. 677 Broadway at Clinton Avenue; 518.427.7463; www.677prime.com
Coffee and Internet: The Daily Grind. Away from the bustle of the state government and in the heart of trendy Lark Street, this European-style coffee bar and café roasts its own beans on-site. 204 Lark Street; 888.876.3222; www.dailygrind.com
Where to Shop
Business Critical: Crossgates Mall
Choose from Macy’s, Lord & Taylor, Filene’s, and JC Penney at New York’s largest shopping mall. It’s worth the 15-minute drive from downtown. 1 Crossgates Mall Road, Guilderland; 518.869.9565; www.shopcrossgates.com
Date Night: Lark Street Boutiques. Funky boutique shops alternate with popular eateries along the length of Lark Street downtown. Be sure to stop into Elissa Halloran Designs, which carries women’s apparel and handmade jewelry crafted from semiprecious stones. 229 Lark Street; 518.432.7090; www.ehdesigns.com
Techie: Choose between the Apple Store (518.869.3192) or Best Buy (518.452.6881), both at the Crossgates Mall.
Where to Play and Primp
Modern Art: Browse one of the largest collections of modern art in the country at the Empire State Plaza downtown. Former governor Nelson Rockefeller, whose mother founded the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, wanted to incorporate art into public spaces and acquired pieces from New York State artists such as Alexander Calder and Mark Rothko of the 1960s and 1970s.
Best Place for a Stroll: Washington Park
This 90-acre green space in the city center has been public property since the 17th century. Jogging trails circle a small lake and a handful of statues and monuments across the park.
Scenic Drive: Catch fall foliage in full swing on a one-hour excursion north to Saratoga Springs, where wellness spas and fine dining await. Or head west to John Boyd Thacher State Park to view the Helderberg Escarpment, a six-mile-long limestone cliff that contains billion-year-old fossils and rock formations. 1 Hailes Cave Road, Voorheesville; 518.872.1237
How to Get Around
Preferred Airport: Albany International (ALB). 737 Albany Shaker Road, Exit 13N on I-87; 518.242.2200; www.albanyairport.com
Public Transportation: Dozens of local bus lines serve the Albany metro area. Check the Capital District Transportation Authority website (www.cdta.org) for current routes and schedules. Many hotels also offer their own shuttle service.
Taxi or Car Service Numbers: Taxis are available from the airport. Premiere Transportation Group offers cab and limousine services. 456 Pearl Street; 518.459.6123; www.premierelimo.com
Weather and Wardrobe: Temperatures change with the seasons, from hot and humid in summer to crisp and cool in fall and dipping below freezing in winter. Business-casual attire will do for most occasions.
Where to Do Business
Host a Meeting: The Desmond Hotel and Conference Center
Conveniently located near the airport, the Desmond hosts meetings of all sizes in its main amphitheater, smaller Town Hall room, and individual conference rooms arranged around an atrium in a complex of colonial brick buildings. Its business-center staff handles printing, copies, and other preparations. When the day’s meetings are over, attendees can stay on-site and relax in two indoor pools or take free transportation downtown. Also, two restaurants on-site serve hearty fare. 660 Albany Shaker Road; 518.869.8100; www.desmondhotelsalbany.com
Best Place for Printing and Copies: PBR Graphics. 20 Railroad Avenue; 518.458.2909; www.pbrgraphics.com