In defense of Albany A & E

For the past couple of months I've been hearing many soon-to-be graduates getting excited about their imminent return to the greener cultural pastures of their hometowns. I'm also graduating, but Albany has me for two more years of graduate school. And believe it or not I'm pretty glad that I am not going anywhere.

When I started at the University at Albany I also thought that Albany was a cultural wasteland. I came from the suburbs of Syracuse, and while it's not the most cultured place, it does have an awesome arts community, an established music scene and a major university that hosts some amazing concerts and speakers. Albany definitely felt like "Smallbany" to me.

Over the two years I have spent as Arts and Entertainment Editor, I have been forced to look for entertainment-related things that are worthy of being written about. What I have found is that there is a lot to be written about - probably more than any one person could hope to cover in a lifetime.

One of the best things about the arts in Albany is that everything is so inexpensive. There is a lot to do in the city that will cost you less than the price of admission to a mind-numbing movie at Crossgates. Tulip Fest has just passed (this year it was May 8-10), and it was absolutely free, not counting all of the food that you are bound to eat and the alcoholic beverages you're going to consume. For the past couple of years the headlining bands have tended to be 90's throwbacks, but it is the kind of event that is greater than the sum of its parts. Lark Fest, held in the late summer on Lark Street, might be better in some ways. It's dirtier and louder, and there are fewer children.

Albany also has some pretty cool art. One time I was walking around underneath Empire State Plaza and realized that the art down there is pretty great. There is a Rothko painting and a lot of work from established modern artists. First Fridays, where restaurants, bars and clubs in downtown Albany transform themselves into gallery spaces has helped me to see that Albany actually has an established arts scene. Shows like these showcase some truly talented artists, and the fact that no one goes around screaming about them makes it no less worthwhile.

Finally, Albany is a great place for concerts. There are big, obvious ones like shows at Saratoga Performing Arts Center and the Times Union Center, but you can see those anywhere. Over the past few years there have been some special shows at some intimate venues. Valentines is consistently hosts a variety of shows. I saw Jonathan Richman there a few months ago and it was nothing short of astonishing. The cool, skuzzy atmosphere is a welcome change from Albany's predictable student bars.

There are also venues outside of Albany such as Northern Lights in Clifton Park and Revolution Hall in Troy that always have something to offer. Even after four years I haven't been able to see all of the local bands and venues that I have wanted to. Let's just hope they stick around for a few more years.

So as some the people I've gotten to know over my time at UAlbany head off for lives somewhere else, I am happy to stay here. Albany's growing arts and entertainment scene has a lot to offer and I'm excited to explore it more - even when it's not my job anymore.