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Rise and shine, Albany! In today’s planning-your-week edition: Chip equipment arrival, adoptable kitten bingo, and sunset live music cruise + all our favorite events happening over the next seven days.
Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC bill: If your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
01 — Worth knowing In the newsThree local stories this week, plus a few worth your money.
Fiscal watchdog findings: Albany’s chief city auditor uncovered $2.48 million in savings after reviewing over 7,000 invoices, including $2.257 million from a health insurance invoice, as Albany faces a possible $20 million deficit -- review the audit findings.
Morrone assembles new squad: UAlbany Great Danes women’s basketball finalized its 2026-27 roster, Kelly Morrone’s first, with two returners plus six international and eight domestic additions, including six transfers and six freshmen -- read the full roster update.
Semiconductor milestone in Albany: Albany NanoTech received ASML High NA EUV components, launching a $1 billion effort for North America’s first accessible High NA center, with jobs ahead as installation continues through summer -- see the chip equipment arrival.
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.*
Watch your credit card balance drop. Here's a rare one: this card lets you skip interest charges until nearly 2028, and you won't pay a cent in annual fees to do it. On top of that, every purchase earns at least 1.5% cash back, with some categories as high as 5%. Spend a little early on and there's up to a $200 bonus waiting too -- take a look.*
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*. Highlights this week: |
02 — From our sponsor Your insurance won't cover a $12,000 HVAC billIf your furnace quits before it warms up, your homeowners insurance will tell you it's a "maintenance issue" and wish you luck. Insurance covers sudden disasters. It doesn't cover the systems that wear out over time, and those are the expensive ones. A home warranty is built for exactly this. HVAC, water heater, appliances, plumbing, electrical... all covered for less than $1/day with no age restrictions on what's covered. You call, they send a tech, you pay a service fee. They handle the rest. This one's 50% off right now.* |
03 — On our radar
Local business spotlightNearby spots we'd actually send a friend to.
Small-batch Albany sips: Perfect World Brewing is a family-owned, 7bbl spot brewing classic-and-quirky beers right here in Albany. Grab a Proper Lager, lean into the Too Much Coffee Porter, maybe chat with the brewer while you snack on pretzels or nuts... an easy midweek upgrade without leaving the neighborhood.
Fresh-face energy, unlocked: This week, give Vigour Aesthetics & Wellness a whirl for customized facials, honest injectables guidance, and smart wellness add-ons like IV infusions and weight support. They take a whole-you approach, so you walk out refreshed, not overdone, and a little smug about your self-care game.
Time for a home refresh: Whether you're upgrading a couch or hunting the right dining table, Mooradians Furniture offers a relaxed showroom with in-stock gems and made-to-order pieces, plus design help if you want it. You might actually love sitting on your sofa again.
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04 — Our recommendations
We got your backA handful of products and services we think are worth a look.
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How much bacteria and microplastics come from your cutting board? More than you'd ever want to know. A single cut on a plastic board can shed up to 300 microplastic particles straight into your food, and a wood board absorbs raw meat juice so deep into the grain that scrubbing never gets it out. Thankfully, there's a cleaner solution entering more and more kitchens. *Check it out →
You've said you'd learn another language. This is the year you do: Maybe it's the relatives you can only half talk to, the trip you keep planning, or a goal that's followed you for a decade. Babbel is built to get you there for real, most people are holding actual conversations within three weeks. Every lesson is designed by over 200 language experts to get you speaking early. 92% of users improved their proficiency in two months. One subscription unlocks multiple languages. This is the year it finally happens. *Get Babbel for 55% off →
Burglars do their homework: They watch the street, learn the patterns, and — per that same survey of 422 convicted burglars — 83% check whether a house has an alarm before touching it. The point of a security system isn't winning a confrontation; it's failing their homework check so there never is one. ADT has been the answer they least want to find, voted America's most trusted home security provider. *Get crossed off the list →
Is your home still in your name? You can check for free: It sounds strange, but title fraud happens when someone files forged paperwork to transfer your home or borrow against its equity, and the FBI logged over 9,000 real estate fraud complaints last year, with homeowners 60 and older losing half of all money stolen. Most owners don't find out until a bill or foreclosure notice arrives, because homeowners insurance doesn't watch for this. This service monitors your title 24/7 and helps restore your ownership if fraud occurs. Start with a free title report and a free trial, backed by a 30-day satisfaction guarantee. *Make sure your title's secure → |
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 Our favorite events this weekAll the best things to do this week. Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Always check official event pages before heading out.
🐜 Honey, I Shrunk The Kids @ Palace Theatre | Wednesday (7/29) at 1:00 PM – Honey, I Shrunk the Kids is back on the big screen for free, with pre-movie activities, 1989 nostalgia, and backyard peril bigger than your weekend to-do list. Bring the brood, score free popcorn for kids 12 and under, and relive the great lawnmower chase.
🧵 Ny Craftventure @ Likeable Popups | Thursday (7/30) at 9:00 AM – Albany’s getting a craft adventure with coffee, hands-on projects, lunch, laughs, photo ops, and prizes, plus a VIP park picnic and thrift crawl. Basically grown-up summer camp, with a hotter glue gun, stronger coffee, and outfits cheaper than parking.
🎉 Electric City SummerFest @ North Broadway (Schenectady) | Thursday (7/30) at 5:00 PM – Thursday nights on North Broadway turn into a hometown block party of live music, food, drinks, vendors, and local charities, right in the heart of the Electric City. Expect tributes to the Dead, Fleetwood Mac, Prince x Bowie, DMB, plus reggae and KISS, all free, all ages, half the town.
🍕 Mystic Pizza @ Capital Repertory Theatre | Thursday (7/30) at 7:30 PM – Kick off Thirsty Thursday with local cider, beer, or wine tastings, then catch Mystic Pizza, the musical love letter to 1988 you secretly wanted. Expect big hair energy, pop hits like Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, and shameless singalongs.
🍷 Wine and Walk: Saving the Stockade @ Schenectady County Historical Society Museum & Library | Friday (7/31) at 5:30 PM – Strolling the Stockade, this tour is unpacking how neighbors dodged the wrecking ball and made New York’s first historic district stick. Expect local lore, dry humor, preservation pride, and a complimentary glass of wine at the SCHS Museum, because history pairs nicely with cabernet.
🎭 Black Arts & Cultural Festival Concert Finale @ Empire State Plaza | Saturday (8/1) at 12:00 PM – Nothing beats a free concert at Empire State Plaza where Lloyd does the serenading, and you pretend you still know all the words. Expect a DJ battle champ, powerhouse funk band, soca dance demos, Kids Zone, and a Best Bite showdown, plus an arts showcase.
🎶 Sunset Live Music Hudson River Cruise @ Dutch Apple Cruises | Saturday (8/1) at 6:30 PM – Trade your porch view for the Hudson, and let a live acoustic set handle the small talk while the sun does its thing. Dutch Apple glides toward Castleton with a full bar, food, indoor and outdoor seating, rain or shine. The boat is punctual. Live music & entertainment:
Want more? Browse our full events calendar | Submit an event |
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07 — Albany report Weather forecastToday — High: 87°F — Low: 64°F — Precip: 30%
Scattered showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. South wind 0 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Scattered showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tomorrow — High: 79°F — Low: 62°F — Precip: 82%
A chance of rain showers between 7am and 11am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11am and 2pm, then showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. South wind 5 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Later: Showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Southeast wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible. This house is wildThis reimagined historic carriage house in Center Square spans a rare double lot and pairs old-world character with polished modern design. Inside are 3 bedrooms, including 2 en-suites, 3.5 baths, a flexible den, and a chef’s kitchen with an oversized island. Outside, a gated paver drive, EV charger, hot tub, cedar shed, and patio complete the package.
Take a peek inside → |
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