Will Fund Partners for Albany Stories Consortium Project

Albany, N.Y. - Mark Castiglione, Acting Executive Director of the Hudson River Valley Greenway and Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area is pleased to announce the City of Albany has received a $9,000 matching grant on behalf of Partners for Albany Stories for the development of a city-wide interpretive plan. The Greenway board made the award at a recent meeting.

Partners for Albany Stories (PAS) is a collaboration among historical and cultural organizations to develop a comprehensive and compelling story of Albany’s rich history that deepens the public’s understanding of the part Albany has taken and continues to take in the development of New York State and the nation. Read more »

Believe …

          …in the support of community.

          …in the abilities of children.

          …in the dedication of volunteers.

          …and, in the spirit of holiday cheer.

Albany, N.Y. - Believe in all these as the Albany Police Athletic League presents the 15th Annual Hannaford Capital Holiday Lights in Albany’s Washington Park with the 2011 theme, “Believe.”

“Most lights’ shows in the United States last about three to five years,” said PAL Executive Director and Albany Police Sgt. (Ret.) Lenny Ricchiuti. “With our being able have this 15th annual show, is a true testimony to the power of believing in good people in an outstanding community.” Read more »

 Sweet Creations Gingerbread House Display, a popular holiday tradition, to be the largest-ever with 100 confection creations

Rochester, N.Y. - George Eastman House is your home for the holidays, with the 16th annual Sweet Creations Gingerbread House Display the largest yet, with more than 100 gingerbread creations on view, plus a roster of holiday films, the historic house elaborately decorated, Breakfast with Santa, and Holiday Homecoming.

Sweet Creations: Gingerbread House Display

George Eastman Houseinvites young and old to enjoy a feast for the eyes and nose - a display of more than 100 cleverly designed and decorated gingerbread houses. The Eastman House’s annual gingerbread house exhibition, Sweet Creations, will be the largest display to date, on view Wednesday, Nov. 9 through Wednesday, Dec. 14. This exhibition has become a favorite holiday tradition for families. Read more »

 Lake George, N.Y. - Experience winter snowfall - in its countless variations - at one outstanding vacation destination - The Lake George Area in New York’s Adirondacks. Grab a lift ticket and carve some trails at three challenging downhill ski areas featuring terrain parks, glades and cruisers, steep verticals, night skiing and of course, snow tubing! Read more »

Explore the Fort’s Ghostly Past Oct. 21-22 & 28-29

Ticonderoga, N.Y. - Discover the unexplained past at Fort Ticonderoga’s Flashlight Nights, Fridays and Saturdays, October 21 and 22 and October 28 and 29 from 7 pm until 9 pm.  This family-fun fall program will uncover Fort Ticonderoga’s layers of history and haunted stories at night in the Fort, on the landscape and in the 6-acre corn maze! Hear the story of Fort Ticonderoga inside the stone walls of the fort then use your flashlight to guide your way to the Heroic Corn Maze where a multitude of twists and turns through acres of corn stalks await! Read more »

Visit to one of NYS’s Iconic Green Destinations is part of I LOVE NEW YORK’s “Green Heart NY” tourism initiative

Albany, N.Y. - Erik Baard, New York State’s 2011 “Greenest New Yorker” will be on the road again - — this time cycling across the historic Catskills region on October 21-23 to promote its amazing autumn sights and outdoor activities. 

Joined by area cyclists, Baard will travel approximately 60 miles on the Catskill Scenic Trail (http://www.catskillscenictrail.org/) between historic towns to highlight the trail’s terrific bicycling opportunities and demonstrate that the Catskills region is open for tourists and outdoor enthusiasts. His travels along the trail, including his observations of the region’s spectacular fall colors, will be documented on his blog, Diaries of the Greenest New Yorker. Read more »

Lower elevations now seeing optimal foliage conditions

This is the seventh 2011 FALL COLOR REPORT for New York State. Reports are obtained from field observers and reflect expected color conditions for the coming weekend. FALL COLOR REPORTS are issued every Wednesday afternoon.

Albany, NY - Despite rain and wind taking a toll over the past week, the progression of beautiful peak fall foliage continues across New York State, according to observers for Empire State Development’s I LOVE NEW YORK program. This weekend, look for mostly peak conditions in the Greater Niagara, Capital-Saratoga, and Hudson Valley and Finger Lakes regions.

In the Capital-Saratoga region, peak foliage is projected for Albany County. Observers in the City of Albany expect 60 percent leaf change with the predominating fall colors of orange and yellow. Elsewhere in the county, observers in the Thacher Park area of Voorheesville expect just past peak conditions with bright yellow and red leaves. Read more »