Albany Proper

02/08/2022

Workers at the ALB1 Amazon Fulfillment Center in Schodack could make history as the second facility to unionize. Learn about the people at ALB 1 Amazon Schodack NY Voices United working to make that happen and what the world's largest retailer is doing to try to stop it.

Standing outside the ALB1 Amazon Fulfillment Center in Schodack, NY, surrounded by supporters holding signs reading “Union Strong!” and “Protect All Workers,” Heather Goodall—president of the nascent ALB1 unionization effort—spoke out against violence inside Amazon

01/08/2022

The Ukrainian folk band dakhabrakha will have a free performance at Schenectady's Music Haven Concert Series on Thursday. Learn more about the unique and compelling group: https://www.albanyproper.com/dakhabrakha-concert-in-schenectady-a-must-see-event/

The Ukrainian folk band DakhaBrakha defies easy categorization - yes, it’s folk music but with elements of punk, jazz, drone and dance that shifts quickly and suddenly from fist-pumping, high-energy harmonies to slow, mournful ballads. 

28/06/2022

The long, strange and often maddening saga of Yassin Aref and Mohammed Hossain, Albany Muslims apprehended in an FBI sting operation in 2004, is now the subject of a compelling documentary, titled “Witness.”

Nearly two decades have passed since Yassin Aref and Mohammed Hossain were arrested.  They’re older, wiser, sadder.  Years behind bars robbed them of the opportunity to see their children grow up. Now free, they have

26/06/2022

After Albany police officers aggressively shut down an annual Juneteenth celebration on Central Avenue last weekend, the family members of a 12-year-old boy who was thrown to the ground are calling on action from City Hall.

Activists rallied outside of Albany City Hall on Thursday to call for justice after Albany Police officers allegedly assaulted a child during a Juneteenth celebration on Sunday. According to the Times Union, police arrived to

05/06/2022

Check out photos from A Place To Bury Strangers wild show last night at No Fun https://www.albanyproper.com/no-fun-grand-opening-was-loud/

Last week, A Place to Bury Strangers' front-man Oliver Ackermann told Albany Proper “we’re going to try to make the craziest show that anyone’s ever seen in Troy.” Last night, they did not disappoint. The

02/06/2022

“We’re going to try to make the craziest show that anyone’s ever seen in Troy,” A Place To Bury Strangers’ front-man Oliver Ackermann told Albany Proper. They play No Fun on Saturday.

Chances are if you’ve recently walked down River Street in Troy you’ve heard the screeching guitars and effect pedals emanating from the doors of No Fun. This weekend’s "grand opening" show with A Place to

18/05/2022

A new art gallery quietly opened its doors last month in Albany’s South End neighborhood, but word spread quickly after their inaugural show featured some of the top NYC-based abstract painters around right now.

There's no need to travel to a chic Chelsea gallery to see the work of Richard Tinkler, who the art critic Jerry Saltz recently called “one of the best painters out there right now.” Instead,

12/04/2022

WCDB celebrated their 44th anniversary with a music festival and awards ceremony. Check out the list of winners and photos from the evening. https://www.albanyproper.com/wcdb-celebrates-local-music-at-anniversary-fest/

WCDB, the student-run FM radio station broadcasting from the University at Albany campus, celebrated their 44th anniversary by hosting a music festival and awards ceremony at Albany Barn on Saturday. In addition to the awards,

01/04/2022

Check out some local musicians that you can support on Bandcamp Friday today -- and see perform this month.

It's that time again. Every first Friday of the month, music streaming site Bandcamp waives service fees on digital payments — meaning artists will get the most out of your support. Below we’ve compiled a

30/03/2022

The Schenectady Board of Education is expected to vote tonight on a controversial proposal to expand the number of police officers in district schools. It will cost $300,000 in its first year, and increase by 2% annually in subsequent years. https://www.albanyproper.com/schenectady-school-board-to-vote-on-cops-in-schools-proposal/

The Schenectady Board of Education is expected to vote Wednesday on a controversial proposal to expand the number of police officers in district schools. Last year the district launched a pilot program that placed two

24/03/2022

A new coalition of community leaders, planners, residents and other stakeholders have a grand vision to reconnect Albany with its waterfront. A first in a series of "community conversations" is being held tonight at 20 South Ferry Street.

The watercolors offer a compelling glimpse of an attractive alternative present.  In these pictures, the monstrous elevated highway that dominates the Albany skyline, cutting the city off from its waterfront, is no more.  Instead, it’s

16/03/2022

Is it time to give Albany’s old Union Station back to the people? https://www.albanyproper.com/is-it-time-to-give-albanys-old-union-station-back-to-the-people/

Albany’s old Union Station — the grand old train hall on Broadway that now goes by the name “Kiernan Plaza” — is for sale. As these things go, the change in ownership could very well

08/03/2022

For those who live in the city, the unpleasant reality is that Albany’s network of sidewalks can’t be fully relied upon in cold weather, with the disabled, children, seniors and poor struggling the most. https://www.albanyproper.com/safe-sidewalks-make-for-a-better-albany/

Read through the city of Albany’s bicycle and pedestrian master plan, and you’ll see a lot of references to equity, sustainable transportation and community.  Quality sidewalks, the plan notes, are key to building a walkable,

04/03/2022

On the first Friday of every month, music streaming site Bandcamp waives their fees. That means you can make the most out of your support for local musicians. We've compiled a list of five artists to check out this month. https://www.albanyproper.com/local-musicians-to-support-on-bandcamp-friday/

Every first Friday of the month, music streaming site Bandcamp waives service fees on digital payments -- meaning artists will get the most out of your support. Below we've compiled a list of local musicians

27/02/2022

"I know Ukraine is an extremely strong country both in power and in spirit and I know that they will win.”

When West Allen approached the microphone at a rally in Albany on Sunday, he took his hat off and paused. “I’m a proud Ukrainian-American,” the 17-year-old from Bethlehem told the crowd.  He spoke about how

26/02/2022

A demonstration in support of Ukraine is being held in Albany tomorrow by St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church

25/02/2022

10 months after officers with duct tape concealing their badge numbers forcibly dismantled a Black Lives Matter protest encampment, a promised investigation into the matter has finally been made public. The report found two violations of departmental policy but only recommended additional training for one. It fully supported the officer's use of force during the incident. Link in bio to read the full report.

When Albany police officers stormed an encampment of Black Lives Matter activists outside South Station last year, multiple officers were seen with duct tape covering their badge numbers. It was a clear violation of the

25/02/2022

A resolution passed by the Common Council calls upon the Albany Police Department’s traffic safety division to adopt a policy ensuring that pedestrian signals are automatically included whenever traffic signals are changed, upgraded or installed. Advocates had previously launched a campaign to rework 'beg buttons' that they say prioritize cars over pedestrians. https://www.albanyproper.com/resolution-targeting-beg-buttons-passes-common-council/

Not too long ago, the beg button at the intersection of Lark Street and Washington Avenue broke down.  “There were several days when you couldn’t get a walk signal,” Andrew Neidhardt, founder of the advocacy

23/02/2022

To listen to Connor Armbruster’s new album "Masses" is to be transported to another time and place. That may have something to do with where it was recorded -- inside a shuttered Catholic church in Troy. You can see him perform Thursday night as part of Super Dark Thursdays at No Fun in Troy. https://www.albanyproper.com/troy-musician-records-new-album-in-vacant-church/

To listen to Connor Armbruster’s new album is to be transported to another time and place. The music is simple yet grand, accessible yet mysterious.  It evokes a distant, fading past, but is very much

22/02/2022

Figuring out how to keep sidewalks clear of winter snow helps everyone: Pedestrians who rely on these routes, businesses who want to keep customers coming in, and even drivers who don’t want to be dodging pedestrians in the street. So why has Albany struggled following snowstorms, and how have other cities worked towards a solution?

When the weather is mild, Jean Joyce likes to get outside and enjoy the fresh air. But as someone with a disability who needs a walker to get around, traversing the sidewalk means paying close

17/02/2022

The space has all the feelings of DIY music clubs of pre-COVID days. Black and white tiled floor leads to a wooden stage in the corner. Show flyers and writing line the bathrooms. Stringed holiday lights. Beer smell. Step inside No Fun, a new venue in Troy that has landed on the map after a sold out Pinegrove show this week.

If you were one minute late to purchase tickets for the first major show at No Fun, you would end up relating to the new Troy venue’s name. That’s because tickets to see Pinegrove, the