It’s Friday, Albany! In today’s can’t-miss-weekend-plans edition: World cup watch parties, a twilight market, and a tea leaf reading workshop + a stacked lineup of events this weekend.
Your homeowners insurance has a blind spot: It covers your house if a tree falls on it. It doesn’t cover your furnace when it quits in January, your AC when it dies in July, or your water heater when it starts leaking on a Tuesday. Those are all classified as "normal wear and tear," and they're 100% on you. American Home Shield can help fill that gap for ~$1/day (even if your appliances and systems are really old) -- see what it covers.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Budget fix on the table: An Albany state senator suggested using the Harriman Campus to ease Albany’s budget strain, as the city welcomed $44.4 million and set aside $1 million for a study -- see the budget fix.
Free fan gatherings ahead: Upcoming World Cup events include Albany watch party June 13, Amsterdam viewing June 19, West Capitol Park event June 20, and Troy’s Kick It In Troy running through July 19 -- see the full event list.
Downtown office site shifts: Adirondack Capital Partners arranged the $10.1 million sale of Albany’s Omni Plaza, two interconnected office towers near Capitol Complex, and the buyer plans 120 market-rate apartments at 54 State St -- explore the tower sale.
The bill all retirees should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half — this free comparison tool makes it easy.*
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial walk-in-the-door fee to x-rays, surgery, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could save thousands on your next vet bill with Lemonade*.
The slower you walk, the more it works: Tai Chi walking is trending online. Turns out it's centuries old — slow deliberate steps, paced breath, attention on the body. Thirty minutes a day burns fat, lifts your mood, and builds balance. No gym, no treadmill, no pounding on the joints. Take the quick quiz to see if it fits, then use code BASELOCAL for a discount on the coaching plan -- see how it works.* Highlights this week: |
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03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Lettering that lands: If your storefront, office wall, or front window needs a glow-up this week, Frank Smith Signs and Art does hand-painted lettering, carved house and camp signs, and gold-leaf touches that feel old-school in the best way. He’s local, meticulous, and refreshingly low-ego, so your brand ends up looking like you meant it.
Brow game upgrade: Need a quick brow glow-up without the bathroom gymnastics? MDS Beauty nails brow lamination, tinting, and microblading, plus relaxing facials and swift waxing. Albany pro Mary Delaney-Shaw has 25+ years of experience, so you can stop obsessing over tweezers and start enjoying your face again.
Quick neighborhood reset: When the to-do list wins again, sneak over to Swinburne Park for a breather. Plenty of space for a walk, a casual catch, or just people-watching from a bench, and it's easy to pop in between errands without making it a whole production.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
What if a workout left your joints looser, not sorer? Most exercise trades a little pain now for results later, but it doesn't have to. Chair yoga keeps you seated the whole time, so your joints loosen and your strength grows without the excessive impact. A quick quiz shapes it into a personalized plan that meets your body where it is and adjusts as you loosen up. *Find your starting point →
Google your own name and you'll probably find your home address: It's sitting on a people-search site right now, next to your age, your relatives, and your phone number, free for anyone to look up. Incogni gets it taken down. It contacts 420+ data brokers on your behalf, uses privacy laws to legally demand deletion, and keeps resending requests so your information doesn't creep back online. No hours of opt-out forms, it runs quietly in the background. *Remove my data →
The card that pays you to pay down debt: Most balance-transfer cards skip the rewards. Most rewards cards skip the long 0% intro APR. This one has both — 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and qualifying balance transfers (made in the first 60 days), plus 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs and up to 6% in a category you pick. No annual fee, and there's a $200 bonus after $1,000 in spending in the first 90 days. *Worth a look →
Premiums are up roughly 46% since 2021: Home insurance has outpaced inflation for years, and renewals rarely move in your favor. Rather than take the new number on faith, FinanceBuzz lets you match your home with top-rated insurers and compare quotes side by side — free, in about two minutes. Even if you decide to stay put, you'll know you checked. *See your options →
Two sprays before bed, no more snoring? It really is that simple. No mouthpiece to wrestle with, no CPAP mask, no nose strips that peel off at 2am. This doctor-developed throat spray has been keeping sleepers quiet for 30 years, and first-time orders are 40% off right now. *See how it works → |
Have an event to share? We (and our readers) can't wait to hear about it! Submit an event → |
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05 — The event calendar Around town this weekendOur favorite events this weekend. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🥧 Spring Tarts Baking Class @ Capital Cooks | Saturday (6/13) at 11:00 AM – Think you know your way around a tart pan? Chef Julie Paul at Capital Cooks leads a hands-on lesson in from-scratch shells and bright spring fillings, the kind that make berries sing and store-bought crusts feel judged. Come for technique, leave with smugly flaky confidence.
🌞 Summer Kick-Off Brunch @ The Gateway Diner | Saturday (6/13) at 11:00 AM – Summer kickoff brunch with Rapunzel and Jasmine, where the littles get a royal meet and eat from the princess menu, with a soft drink included. Costumes are for kids, not parents, which honestly saves us all, and tickets are needed for anyone over 18 months.
🇰 2026 Taste of Korea @ Bethany Reformed Church | Saturday (6/13) at 11:00 AM – Patio weather calls for kimchi, sizzling bulgogi, and a side of drum beats. Taste of Korea returns to Albany with street eats, traditional bites, live performances, and hands-on fun, the kind of family-friendly chaos you actually want, even if K-pop confuses you.
☕ High Tea & Sweet Cakes @ New York State Museum | Saturday (6/13) at 12:30 PM – Trade brunch chatter for high tea at the State Museum, where the Rapp Road community shares the stories behind the Great Migration’s Sunday-best hats and the women who shaped Albany. Then Barbara Howard serves music, storytelling, and sweet nostalgia for a multigenerational, pass-the-recipe vibe.
🍵 Learn How to Do Tea Leaf Readings @ Whispers of an Angel (Latham) | Saturday (6/13) at 3:00 PM – Learn to read your future at the bottom of a teacup with Denise Rivera's one-day workshop, where you cover history, symbols, and layouts, then put intuition to work. Materials, snacks, and your cup are included, plus certificate, and bragging rights. Cash only, because of course.
🛍 The Twilight Market - June @ Albany Twilight Market | Saturday (6/13) at 5:00 PM – Consider this the Farmers Market’s goth cousin, Albany’s delightfully odd twilight bazaar where taxidermy mingles with macabre jewelry, curated antiques, and gothic apparel. Browse witchy apothecary finds, get your tarot read, then cap it with very good vegan bites, because balance.
🏳 Capital Pride Parade and Festival 2026 @ Albany's Washington Park | Sunday (6/14) at 11:30 AM – Whether you march or spectate, Albany’s biggest Pride takeover hits Washington Park as the parade rolls into the festival. Expect 25,000 neighbors, a family carnival zone, vendors galore, and David Archuleta, plus the satisfaction of knowing your glitter-in-your-shoes moment benefits the Pride Center. Live music & entertainment:
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
06 — Announcement Your homeowners insurance has a blind spotIt covers your house if a tree falls on it. It doesn’t cover your furnace when it quits in January, your AC when it dies in July, or your water heater when it starts leaking on a Tuesday. Those are all classified as "normal wear and tear," and they're 100% on you. American Home Shield can help fill that gap for ~$1/day (even if your appliances and systems are really old). *See what it covers → |
07 — The Albany report Weather forecastToday — High: 93°F — Low: 61°F — Precip: 65%
A chance of showers and thunderstorms between 3pm and 5pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Heat index values as high as 101. Southwest wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Later: Showers and thunderstorms before 2am. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Northwest wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tomorrow — High: 88°F — Low: 62°F — Precip: 1%
Sunny, with a high near 88. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 62. This house is wildAuction opportunity with Cape Cod charm at 16 Rapple Drive, a 1,603-square-foot home built in 1950 with 4 bedrooms and 1.5 baths. This occupied property is available for drive-by showings only, making it a prime as-is opportunity for investors, flippers, or cash buyers seeking a project with character and potential.
Take a peek inside → |
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