Category Archives: Albany

When the barista at Starbucks gets to the point where she says, “You’re going to shoot me,” it’s a clear indication that something has gone tragically wrong with an order. Having just expounded upon last week’s incident at the Starbucks located in the nearby Price Chopper, I decided to give them another chance a week later. I guess it was too soon.

Deciding that perhaps I had been too harsh in my hasty first-world-problems as outlined in earlier posts, I decided to give the company a more devoted try, putting another $25 on my Starbucks card just last night. I got in touch with a friend at work and asked if she wanted anything, so I went into the store and ordered her drink (an iced Venti pumpkin latte) and a decaf Salted Caramel frappuccino for myself (in the hopes that the salt and caramel had arrived).

The issue this time wasn’t the ingredients, but the decaf. Apparently Starbucks doesn’t have decaf frappuccinos. Which was strange, considering all the ones I’ve ordered in the last three years. I don’t care one way or another, I’d order a simple decaf coffee, but someone in Starbucks is wrong somewhere here, and they really need to straighten that out. I then asked for an iced decaf, which they said they couldn’t do. Exasperated, but still trying to be kind, I asked what sort of decaf drink they might be able to make. A hot decaf drip was it. So I said that would work.

As they finished making the drinks, the server recited the opening lines of this post: “You’re going to shoot me.” I had just produced my newly reloaded Starbucks card and she eyed it wearily. “The register isn’t accepting Starbucks cards.”

Of course it isn’t! Why would the registers be working when the store has been open for well over a week? That would be like having iced decaf on hand at a Starbucks! I told them I didn’t have any cash, but there’s money on the card, basically waiting for them to make some sort of offer. I told them my boss would be very upset if I didn’t bring in her drink. The manager then came over and said since they had already made them I could have them for free, provided that I agree “in good faith” to come back again. (Her words.)

“Yes. Absolutely,” I said.

(As soon as they have decaf coffee and accept Starbucks cards.)

I really want to like Starbucks. I enjoy their coffee, I respect their stance on social issues, and for the most part I appreciate the friendliness and competence of their employees. Yet certain locations in the Capital District seem hell-bent on making me hate the company. There was this incident, where I was ejected from a store because I didn’t have a Starbucks drink in hand. I forgave and forgot, but now comes another bad experience.

When I heard that a Starbucks was opening in the newly-revamped Price Chopper behind my house, I did a little happy dance. Prior to this, the closest location was on Wolf Road, and I try to avoid Wolf Road if at all possible. While the signs indicate that the new store is open and ready for business, do not be fooled. They are not ready to serve people, as evidenced when I tried to order a decaf salted caramel frappuccino. They scrambled for the “recipe” then realized they did not have the salt or the caramel for it. I asked for a decaf mocha frap at that point, which they also had to look up. I repeated that it was decaf, then averted my eyes so as to make things less uncomfortable while the drink was made, looking around at the ruckus going on in the front of the store. Loud crashes and the pounding of hammers accompanied the morning. It was not the first time I wondered at the wisdom of keeping the store open during a complete renovation.

As they brought my coffee to the register, I asked one last time if it was decaf (this sort of forgetfulness has happened in the past, and my co-workers will agree that it bodes well for no one if you get me hyped-up on caffeine) at which point the woman all but shrieked and said she’d forgotten. She handed it back to the other person to make again, and said she would ring me out while we waited. Of course, not one of the Starbucks registers was working, so we went over to the deli area to settle up.

Now, I don’t mind a snafu or two, particularly in the early-days of a just-opened store, but having had absolutely every part of this simple transaction go wrong, they clearly weren’t ready to open. I wouldn’t have bothered if I’d known what an ordeal it was going to be. And since the store renovation has been going on for over a year, a few more days to properly train employees would not have mattered. If you’re going to pretend you’re open, at least be ready for, say, a paying customer.

A friend who knows more about the company advised that I seek out free-standing stores unaffiliated or attached to other companies or locations. He may be onto something, as the incompetence I experienced at the Price Chopper-housed kiosk reeked of Price Chopper service. That particular store is notorious for dismal customer service – this is the one where the ceiling was leaking rainwater onto merchandise one night and when I told the only person I could find I was met with a shrug and indifference (and a mental note to not buy any frozen goods in that section of the store.)

I’ll try back in a couple of weeks, and keep my snarky Tweets to a minimum – Price Chopper is likely sick of reading them. In the meantime, I strongly advise that you get your Starbucks fix elsewhere.

“Because no matter where you run, you just end up running into yourself.”

The last time I was in New York, I walked by the Tiffany’s storefront, where Audrey Hepburn daintily ate her make-do breakfast, longingly gazing into the windows. It’s a poignant starting point for tomorrow’s ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s Formal Affaire,’ a formal party put on by GLSEN the night before Albany’s Gay Pride Parade and Festival. Tickets can be purchased here, and I’d recommend getting yours sooner rather than later.

As this is Albany, the formality of the event is largely loose – and since it’s part of the all-inclusive celebration of Pride, pretty much anything goes, so if you’re worried about not having a tuxedo or ball gown, don’t be. (For the record, I will NOT be in a tuxedo – I have something see in mind…)

On the other hand, there is no limit to how formal you can get if you are so fancily inclined, and it’s always nice to see how much Albany can get dolled up. There are more than a few folks who continually manage to be impressive and surprising in this city – and seeing everyone in their finest is going to be one of the best parts of this party.

The Washington Park Lake House will be the setting for this evening of enchantment, providing a bit of rustic elegance somewhere between the cramped confines of Holly Golightly’s depressingly-small apartment and the expansive cement-surrounded monolith of Tiffany’s itself. This looks to be the social event of the season, and coming on the eve of Albany Pride it seems that the stars have aligned for a night to remember.

Before and after.

Washington Park ~ Albany, NY

How could I not love an establishment whose slogan is ‘Vanity Forever’? GioExpressions is a Private Spa owned and run by Gio Falciano, offering a full line of services for both women and men. While there are a number of spas in the area that focus on the ladies, GioExpressions has found a niche among the gentlemen (while still providing a wide array of treatments for all genders). Single-handedly overseeing the operation, Mr. Falciano displays a drive and focused determination belying his young age, and the schooling and professionalism to back it up. He takes some well-earned pride in that:

“Two years ago when I was eighteen graduating high school all I really wanted to do was be a makeup artist, after being known as a makeup artist for photo shoots and branding myself in freelance modeling, I went to school to go into aesthetics and essentially was going to just be a professional makeup artist who would also practice aesthetics. But after being invited to share a building with “Jackson’s Barber Shop” based off my talents I felt I needed to open my own company. I guess the thing that I really do respect about myself is I didn’t have parents that bought my way to opening a business; I worked very hard from scratch to grow my day spa. It’s very hard for me to believe that I’m one of the youngest day spa entrepreneurs in my field of study.”

His services include facials, body scrubs, enzyme and chemical peels, microdermabrasion resurfacing, hard and soft waxing, light therapy and spray tanning. As his only staff member, Falciano can offer the personal attention and one-on-one care that make an experience tailor-made and individually-pertinent, offering an intimacy not afforded by larger cookie-cutter spas. His grass-roots endeavor is growing by word-of-mouth and social media, with glowing testimonials from satisfied clients and returning customers.

“My entire life I have always been obsessed with beauty, science, and perfection,” Falciano explains. “I feel very happy to know I can fix problems instead of masking them for both skin care and makeup. It feels good to know people have so much faith in me based off how highly I take care of myself. I guess my passion of learning to love and respect myself has helped me to project self love to people through being able to take care of yourself and feel good about your appearance, I guess that’s why “vanity forever” is a quote that is on my company logo. But also I think me being knowledgeable on a science and medical level increased my passion dramatically.”

As for his largely male clientele base, Falciano considers it part of the evolution of his business. According to him, “When I opened my spa I thought I might get a few men because my building is shared with a barber shop. But after so many men discovered me, I guess they felt comfort in my spa based off it being personal sized and having only one professional who would constantly work on them. I guess in a nutshell I feel men overall are threatened or uncomfortable when they walk in a typical day spa with tons of aestheticians, woman, products and a big atmosphere that is generally always center focused for females. Out of all my clients 90% of them are men which is not really known by any other day spa in the upstate New York area.”

If his current growing success is any indication, Falciano appears poised on the brink of meeting even greater career goals, even if he feels he’s only just begun: “Well, honestly, after just turning twenty last week, I’m not satisfied with myself at all! I tend to be very multifaceted with what I want to do that I don’t want to ever hold back on living life to the fullest.” To that end he’s working on expanding his business with a new line of shirts, a larger piece of property, and possibly a second company coming in the next year.

 GioExpressions Private Spa is located at 113 Everett Road, Albany, NY.