In my current hometown, there is beauty to be found if one knows where to look, and if one looks hard enough. It’s not always apparent or obvious, which makes it mean a little more. Privately, and perhaps publicly, I’m prone to dismiss this area when it comes to culture and artistic options and simple architectural glamour. And until those harsh 1970’™s lines of the Plaza come into miraculous vogue, I may have truth on my side. However, there are winks and nods to whimsy and beauty here, if only in the egg that watches over this bit of street art.
Our stalwart Jack’s Oyster House has a section of State Street named for it, and it is an institution unto itself. Dinners have been hit-or-miss there for a few years, but when they’re on they’re unbeatable. On the bottom corner of State is this dome-shaped beauty, proof that there are gorgeous buildings here, even if they’re not overly plentiful.
A little further up the street is Wellington’s, which I’ve tried for likely the last time. Their portions are simply too small for a $12 martini such as the one pictured. Perspective clue: those aren’t even queen olives taking up all that space, and the pour is meager at best. They saw me tweet as much, and came right over to me at the bar, but when I explained that the size was dismal compared to just about every other place in downtown Albany, the woman didn’t bother challenging it. What’s to challenge when there’s a photo like that?
So yes, Albany has its drawbacks and limitations, along with its naysayers and critics (guilty and guilty), but it has beauty and charm and champions as well. More than that, it’s become home – and I always take pride in my home. The skies here want to be blue and the sun wants to shine. We just have to help make it happen whenever we can.
