Well, maybe a Reddit post will work…Would whoever took out the one copy of Sunburn from the Upper Hudson Library System that was due September 29th kindly return it? There are four people on the hold list. Yay! 😬

The leaves were so beautiful this week. I recommend people visit! It's a very relaxing and stunning place. The colors were unreal! I've posted a few pictures I took, would love to see others!

This made it to the front page, we all know who they are talking about. Vote Vote Vote, we can not have this kind of dummie in office.

I’ve been an area resident my whole life. My work has me all around the Capitol district almost daily. I’ve noticed A LOT more of these bugs than I ever remember before. Literally everywhere. Albany. Schenectady. East Greenbush. Is it just me never noticing them before, or are they more prevalent now?

FYI: should anyone be concerned about them, according to google…
Nuisance Status: They do not bite, sting, or damage structural wood, but they become household pests when they invade homes in large numbers in the fall to overwinter.

Just watched the Paradise Burnout show at The Egg tonight. Really fun, laughed a lot, worth every penny. Highly recommend if you just want to go see and experience something fun and different!

Before I start I wanna say that I have worked minimum wage jobs my whole life and I sympathize with workers under pressure and have never felt a need to review a place until recently.

I have been going to the spectrum theater all my life since I was born and raised around here my bus route next to my house is the 18 so its easy for me to get over there. Im a member and probably go there once a week since im a movie lover.

But I need to to get this off my chest in the past year they have been absolutely horrible. I went to see digger last night and it was the final straw for me as far as giving the buisness.

Im gonna save some of my other experiences for later but for now im going to talk about last night.

I showed up 2 mins late the movie starts at 6:40 I figured there was going to be ads so I wont miss the movie and I already had a ticket. I walk in and theres a line out the door I didnt get to the register until 7:11 and when I got into the movie it was the wrong aspect ratio. I asked for some sort of compensation but was denied.

Now I will list some other unacceptable things that have happened.

When they started doing to 10pm movies one of the first ones they did was supspira I showed up 10 mins before the movie and the doors were locked and refused to let me in I had to bang for 10 mins on the door and when I got in they said someone else claimed my ticket which further delayed me from seeing the movie and I was late again.

Several times ive gone there they dont have the files. I went to see full metal jacket for the 10pm movie and they couldn't play it cause they didnt have the file. They rescheduled it during work hours so I was unable to see it.

For the 60th aniversay of star trek I went to see wrath of khan and they were supposed to play the tie in episode. It was advertised this way at regal too. But when the movie was done there was no episode and somebody came down and told us they didn't know why it said there was an episode on the website and they didnt have it.

The website is so inconsistent I had to reschedule a date because they canceled a screening to project hail mary even tho I called several times during the week to make sure its still playing since it got taken off the website.

Also this one is very petty but I tried to get a snack at 8:30 in the middle of the movie and was refused because the concession stand was closed even though they close at 10.

Honestly they've put should a bad taste in my mouth that I had to warn people in case they were ever thinking about giving then buisness for the first time id suggest against it because every time ive gone in the past year something has been wrong.

Can someone help me understand what the rationale is behind the Howe Caverns social media account? They constantly dunk on their customers and folks that make inquiries. I truly cannot understand the business decision behind these posts. I am becoming disgusted with this organization to the point that I will never visit there again and will never suggest to anyone else to go there. Surely they have to realize that they are turning off potential customers with these posts?

Also liking one's own content is so cringe.

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/new-york-playbook-pm/2026/10/16/a-gop-assembly-hopeful-touts-his-business-record-court-records-tell-a-different-story-01123704

THORNY ROOTS: Allen Caruso, a Republican running to represent an upstate assembly district, describes himself as a “business owner who has created jobs and met payroll.”

But a turbulent history of legal troubles — including evictions, arrests, traffic violations and hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt — suggest otherwise.

Caruso and his businesses have been defendants in at least 15 lawsuits, at least eight of which resulted in still-unpaid judgments against him and his companies. He’s delinquent on at least 13 traffic tickets, tax liens, court judgments and bills totaling more than $350,000.

The GOP challenger is running in New York’s 113th assembly district, which includes parts of Saratoga, Washington and Warren counties and has been represented by incumbent Democrat Carrie Woerner since 2015. A rotating lineup of Republicans has sought to oust Woerner over the years, but she’s held onto her seat by a margin of about 10% each time.

The bedrock of Caruso’s campaign this year is that he knows what it takes to fix the problems plaguing New York’s small businesses.

Yet his latest venture — a health food restaurant that proclaims “nothing washes a blue-cheese burger down better than Berry Powerful Smoothie” — has been hit with several lawsuits and appears to owe tens of thousands of dollars, according to court records.

“As a small business owner, you have to fight for what’s right, and often that means going to court to protect your business and employees from greedy landlords and big corporations,” Caruso told Playbook. “I’m not ashamed of that.”

Caruso founded Thorn + Roots in Saratoga Springs in 2018 with his business partner Brandon Acres. In 2021, their company leased space in Ridgewood, New Jersey, with Caruso and Acres personally guaranteeing the rent payments.

Within a year, the business stopped paying rent in New Jersey, according to a Bergen County court filing. Caruso’s attorney informed the landlord that the business would be ceasing operations and vacating the premises.

By August 2023, Thorn + Roots had accrued more than $74,000 in debt due to outstanding rent payments, court records show. The parties settled the matter in February of this year, one day before the scheduled trial.

Caruso told Playbook he’s not allowed to discuss the details of the settlement but emphasized that “as a small business we weren’t going to be bullied and therefore counter sued the commercial landlord.” The landlord did not respond to requests for comment.

In 2024, the New Jersey Thorn + Roots location was hit with a nearly $15,000 tax lien that remains active.

The saga continued a year later, in July 2025, when Key Bank filed suit against the New Jersey location for defaulting on a 2022 loan.

Later that year, the court issued a judgment against Caruso, Acres and their companies totaling more than $280,000. In August of this year — well into Caruso’s Assembly campaign — he and his company were sued again by Key Bank, this time in Erie County Supreme Court, for failure to pay that judgment. Filings show Key Bank continues to allege the full judgment amount remains unpaid, while Caruso and his companies allege that they were not properly served in the New Jersey lawsuit and dispute the amount owed.

Caruso also defaulted on rent payments at the Thorn + Roots location in his home district of Saratoga Springs. In February of this year, the Saratoga Springs City Court court issued the business an eviction notice, as well a judgment for more than $26,000.

He made the payments via credit card in April, and the court declared the judgment satisfied.

But then, over the course of the next few months, Caruso contacted his credit card company and claimed the payments were fraudulent. He initiated a series of chargebacks and was refunded more than $20,000, court records show.

Saratoga Springs City Court then vacated its judgment declaring Caruso had satisfied his debt. But court records show that, as of last month, he’s still on the hook for more than $26,000.

Caruso said the Saratoga Thorn + Roots was forced to close earlier this year due to flooding but hopes to reopen before the end of the year.

His legal problems extend beyond his business practices to behind the wheel of his car.

Caruso was arrested in Saratoga in 2010 at the age of 21 for driving while intoxicated, a local news report shows. Four years later, he was arrested again, this time in Queensbury by the Warren County Sheriff’s Office for aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third degree. Notes from the arrest report show Caruso was driving in excess of 105 miles per hour with a license that had been suspended for failure to pay a separate traffic-related fine.

His personal life has also caught the eye of law enforcement. According to a 2021 New York State incident report, a man who identified himself as Caruso’s boyfriend called 911 after Caruso “wrestled him to the ground.” The boyfriend ultimately chose not to press charges against Caruso, who categorized the ordeal as “simply a misunderstanding between friends.”

Campaign finance records indicate that, to date, Caruso’s campaign has paid Acres — his business partner in the Thorn + Roots debacle and, according to a 2016 Facebook post from his mother, his one-time boyfriend — nearly $8,000 in “campaign workers’ salaries.” Caruso declined to comment on the status of his and Acres’ current romantic relationship.

The campaign also paid Anderson Strategies, an entity formed by Acres a few months ago, more than $100,000 for “professional services.”

Caruso described Acres as a “marketing consultant who is doing an amazing job helping me connect with voters and showing the difference between a career politician like Carrie Woerner, who consistently votes for illegal immigrants, communist China, big corporations, and lobbyists, and a small business owner like myself who creates local jobs, gives back to my community, and is focused on making New York more affordable for working families.” — Molly Reinmann

Hey everyone!

I've lived in Albany for five years, but there are still some local names that I struggle with.

Is it: ren•sa•leer, ren•sleer, or ren•slur (I've been told the county is pronounced differently than the town)

Is it: water•vuh•leet, water•vleet, or water•vlee•et

Is it: berk•shures, berk•sheers, or berk•shy•ers

I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting now too. Thanks in advance!

If you’re looking for something to do on a gloomy Friday night, Union Men’s hockey takes on Providence at the M&T Bank Center at Mohawk Harbor in Schenectady. Should be a great game as Union is 2-0 and Providence being nationally ranked! Not a whole lot of tickets left!

https://tickets.unionathletics.com/event/mens-ice-hockey-vs-providence-z2vchq

Told me they were unable to sell anything refrigerated or frozen. Most of the produce was under a sheet and I was told not available. Sharing the knowledge.

Come enjoy this free community event in Menands on 10/25. It’s the second year for this capital region Day of the Dead event, it is a fun family friendly day, come learn about this indigenous holiday and enjoy beautiful Mexican folk dance and music, and lots of vendors including food.

When: October 22 at 2:00 PM
Where: 35 State Street, Albany, NY

Research Assistants are asking Albany to stand with us on October 22. We're delivering our petition to demand fair compensation, and protections for international student workers.

Why does this matter to our community?

• 60% of Albany Research Assistants have reconsidered pursuing a graduate degree specifically because of financial hardship.
• 40% of Albany Research Assistants are international students who face additional vulnerability, including fears about losing their visa status. That's why community support matters.
• SUNY Research Foundation has decided that $900 every other week is enough for us to live on. We know the reality is different.
• We want SUNY Research Foundation to commit to protecting international students' information from disclosure without a signed judicial warrant. So far, they have not made that commitment.
• SUNY Research Foundation has accumulated over $1 billion in surplus funds from investing grant money earned through research activities, while the researchers doing that work struggle to make ends meet.
• SUNY Research Foundation also has the ability to negotiate indirect costs on grants, creating opportunities to help support research workers' stipends.

** It's about the future of research in Albany.**

Research Assistants contribute to scientific discovery, public health, and the work that benefits our communities. When researchers can't afford to live here, everyone loses. When researchers are paid and respected, our communities thrive.

📍 Come stand with us on October 22 at 2 PM, 35 State Street, Albany, NY!

Can't make it? You can still help:

• Share this post with your friends, coworkers, and community.
• Bring friends, family, and anyone who believes research workers deserve fair treatment.
• Help spread the word that Albany supports the people who make research possible.

Stand with us. Stand with international students. Stand with research. Tell Albany that our community supports the people who make discoveries possible!

I’ve gone to boxing at schotts boxing for a couple months. The boxing classes are great. But I want to learn how to spar with people and fight. They do offer sparring classes but you need to pay $80 a year at USA boxing or something. Just wondering if I should do that. I’m wondering if I sign up for sparring class if they would teach me what to do or just throw me into the ring.

I’m debating on trying that or just finding another gym somewhere. I really do like boxing so I would like to do that but another option is Muay Thai. I wanna learn how to strike. So any good boxing gyms or possibly Muay Thai/MMA gyms?

No connection here besides liking this spot and their brews (and visiting whenever I am back in Albany), but this sounds fun if you are inclined to dress up your doggie. Starts at 5:30 tomorrow.

• prizes for the best, funniest, and most creative costumes!   
• Doggie trick-or-treat bags  
• Prizes for costume contest winners including a brewery Gift Card
• Lots of Halloween fun and adorable pups!

This is it folks. Tomorrow Saturday October 17 is the day.
⏰Meet us at 9:45 am corner of River Streets so we are able to be in position by 10:00 am.
🚶🚶‍♀️From there we will break up into groups and walk to designated intersections.
🧥Dress for the weather! It’s going to be cool, please dress appropriately.
🪑We are going to out for a few hours, bring a chair if you think that will help.
🚽Bathrooms are available in the Arts Center of the Capital Region at Monument Square.
🪧Remember signs are to be focused on voting and early voting. “Voting is Your Voice” etc. If you are not feeling creative, check the internet.
🙏And most of all, thank you for joining us. Together we will turn out the largest early voting numbers in history. The people united are a powerful force indeed.

I have been here for a couple of weeks, and so far I enjoy the area; it appears clean and everything has looked fine. I would appreciate it if you could share any suggestions for places to visit or eat that might be better than the usual options. I am from Minnesota.

Your local animal rescue, Traveling Tails and Ragamuffin Rescue, wants your spookiest pet costume photo submissions ($3), we will share on our social media, and voting will begin 10/26

- $3 / submission (Venmo, paypal, or Zelle)

- Send your submissions to [ttrrescue@gmail.com](mailto:ttrrescue@gmail.com) by 10/26/2026

- Voting starts 10/26

- Winner announced on Halloween!!

🏆 Winner will receive a dog or cat themed Boo Basket! Show us your spooky, fun, and adorable animals in costume!

Overheard some state employees talking to state troopers at the plaza a few minutes ago. Took a look myself and saw that OGS/the state has left a BUNCH of fish to die in the pool as it’s draining. The troopers were basically like “we can’t do anything” and didn’t really seem too engaged honestly. There’s no need to let a bunch of innocent animals die due to lack of effort or lack of creativity about what can be done. Not sure how they got there, troopers said probably a bird dropped a fish and it laid eggs or someone was being cruel and put them in there. Like I said, I took a look myself and there really are a bunch of silver looking fish barely surviving in the little water that is left (think mini little pools of water spread out over the bottom of the pool). Heard them say OGS won’t let them in there to get them out right now.

Anyone have any recommendations/ideas/leads on who to call or who could handle this? Conservatories, rescues, animal control options? Really don’t want to just let them die! 🐟

Edit: there’s really no need to be weird. I’m doing this in good faith because why wouldn’t I at least try? The world doesn’t have to be so terrible all the time. If you don’t have a genuine suggestion, just ignore this!❤️

Edit #2: I’m making some calls! You can make some too if you want! Maybe if more folks call a bunch of places (NYS Troopers, DEC, Animal Control, Animal Protective services etc. etc. etc.) then someone will do something about it. Maybe not, but I hope so. I don’t expect that I myself can solve this but perhaps my efforts can solve this issue or at least help solve it. No sense in not trying to do something good when I have the time to do it. Hoping and pushing for the best possible outcome. 🐟🩵

Edit #3: Basically just waiting on a bunch of places to call me back. I’ve called (multiple times): - NYS Troopers and Albany Police (per each others suggestions - they both referred me to the other AND were happy I called jsyk.) - Animal Control - Fish and Wildlife (edit #5: they were very very kind to me but cannot do anything. They recommended DEC again so I’m trying that again even if it’s not fruitful.) - DEC - Some of the local colleges. Not sure exactly what I was looking for but figured I’d give it a shot - gonna try again tomorrow as some folks said they might know some people. 🤷‍♀️

I urge you to make some calls and emails if you have the capacity! I do think the more people who “complain” or ask for a solution or some resources just across the board, the better! Also if anybody is connected to or knows of any good conservation/ecosystem/animal rescue etc. places, I think that’s the avenue I’m going to further pursue tomorrow.

Haven’t been able to get back over there today to check but I will hopefully be able to tomorrow. (And will grab a photo if I make it over there) Hoping for the best!🩵🐟🐠

Edit #4: TYSM to the person who commented this link to a post about the same situation last year - that contains photos! Again, my goal is to get over there today at some point maybe on my break if I can and get some photos if the fish are still there but these fish look incredibly similar! https://www.reddit.com/r/Albany/comments/1omvx88/there_were_fish_living_in_the_empire_plaza_ponds/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=2&utm_term=1 (sorry this isn’t neater looking)

Also, calling OGS, DEC again and looking for some conservatories and animal rescues this morning before work. I’m hoping someone can point me in the direction of the right people to identify and rescue/safely remove these animals. Holding onto hope. They really don’t deserve to just die because of what I assume is a selfish human act, but even just in general, they don’t deserve to suffer just because. I’m going to keep trying. Hope you make some calls today too!!

Edit #6: It is likely these animals will die because they’re very likely invasive - which I always imagined they would be but I am still hoping to find someone who can clearly identify them and remove them. Even if that means simply putting them out of their misery I guess? Not my decision to make for these fish but it’s not looking great. Hoping perhaps we can find someone who rehabilitates fish, as these are likely someone’s pets or all from someone’s pet that they’ve selfishly abandoned this way.

I think personally a major take away is that I need to be more mindful of the spaces around me and being diligent in broadening the scope of things I care about day to day to include the needs and potential threats to our non human friends even more. I hadn’t even considered fish in the pools because why would I? But now I have so I plan to bring this to the local government channels and give them the chance to do something about preventing this type of harm down the road. But I also plan to alert local animal rights groups too. If you don’t like that then cope. This can change and it won’t change if no one says or does anything about it. I won’t be that person today or ever again.

Hoping for the best still, even if it’s foolish of me.🐟

EDIT #7: OKAY!!! The DEC called me back and gave me the regional fishery office! They said, very kindly, that this is our best bet most likely to at least identify and to hopefully remove with grace and care.

Number: 607-652-7366 Email: Fwfish4@dec.ny.gov

Edit #8: Alright y’all. Earlier today, someone who works with OGS messaged me on here (won’t share who they are out of respect and safety of course!) and said they got in contact with others at OGS after seeing this post. As of today, the fish have been “removed”. The person who reached out doesn’t have any information on how or where the fish have ended up. Neither do I, but I can confirm that I walked through the plaza when I got off work tonight about an hour ago and didn’t see any fish. There’s some rain water in the pools but no fish that I could see. Nothing else I can do on that front, I’m just hoping it was a peaceful transition for them all whether into the next life or hopefully to somewhere safe.🐟❤️‍🩹 I can however make it a mission to try and make sure this doesn’t keep happening every year, and if it does happen that folks keep dumping fish in there, there should be periodic checks to ensure these animals are dealt with with care and dignity (and the ducks too! Per a comment on this post). I’m going to send a few emails, make a few more calls and show up at a few town meetings. I am a firm believer that there is never “nothing” to be done, sometimes you just need to be persistent and creative/innovative.

Thanks for all the help and connections. Also hoping we all take a closer look at the beings around us and handle everyone, especially each other, especially our non human kin, with more care. Including ourselves.🩵

Got out of work around 5 today and got on I-90 East near exit 4. Traffic was backed up and as I got closer I noticed a truck had rear-ended a car in the middle lane. They were literally still stuck together.

So I slowly merged into the left lane to get around them only to see ANOTHER accident involving about 4 cars on the left side.

Had to move back into the middle lane, and not too far down there’s another 3 car accident on the right with a roadside truck there.

At this point I’m thinking what the hell is going on today lol.
Then as I’m getting closer to exit 6A I see yet ANOTHER accident involving 3 cars with State Police at the scene.

That’s 4 separate accidents between exits 4 and 6A all within a short radius and the crazy part is they all looked like rear ends.

I drive on I-90 all the time, but I’ve never seen anything like this. What are the odds of 4 separate accidents happening that close together?? It was a mess

Whats his platform again? “I will name a bench after a veteran” or something what an idiot