Happy Birthday AOA

So you know how the TED Radio Hour has the tagline "ideas work spreading?"

I think AOA's is somewhere along the lines of "news worth knowing."

Whether it be about breaking down the areas road diets, or election breakdown, or who makes the best pizza in the area (I know my judges invite was lost in the mail...I forgive you).

When someone new moves to the area, the first thing I do is tell them about AOA. 

Here's to another year. Looking forward to the next one.

AOA 5.0

All Over Albany had their birthday bash last Thursday over at City Beer Hall, and I was lucky enough to score a ticket!

The good thing about these parties is that you get to meet people that write for AOA, are featured on there, or regularly comment on the site. There were definitely people I recognized – Duncan Crary for example – who I’d like to apologize to for my babbling of my frustrations with Troy. I blame the Captain Lawrence for acting as a truth serum of sorts. And I probably did the same to AOA Greg and Jon in Albany. My bad guys.

The ever present cupcakes. I practiced plenty of restraint and only had one. And to my knowledge, there was no cupcake thefts.

Okay, well maybe one…

On my way out I did grab the last cupcake on the tray nearest to me. And it just happened to have the 5 on it. But it was for a good cause, I swear! M never gets to participate in these events, so a little treat for him. We lit it and everything… and then a house centipede crawled over it and M killed it with some junk mail right on the candle, and then threw it out. Who wants a candle with bug guts? Not me.

Anyways, happy birthday AOA!

AOA 3.0/ Van’s (Albany, NY)

Yeah, the party was weeks ago… but I figured I’d mention that I was there. For a quick second. I don’t do well being in a room of strangers, and I wasn’t in the mood to go up to random people and strike up conversation.

Besides, I really wanted some pho.

I know. I left a party with some tasty bites (and cupcakes!) to get more food.

What can I say… I’m an eater.

AOA2 Birthday Party & Recovery Room (Troy, NY)

Happy belated birthday All Over Albany!

On Thursday, AOA threw a party to celebrate the big OH TWO. And I was there! Really! Unfortunately, M and I arrived pretty late. Okay, okay... really late. The weather downstate sucked and the drive was not the best. But I made it in one piece!

I have no pictures, but I did try the much talked about cupcakes- and I have nothing but praise for the bakers. They were good and helped melt away what was left of my winter driving stress. Our late arrival cut into the people talking, but I did get to meet Kevin Marshall and the Profussor. Albany Jane spotted us out by the bar, and it was good to see a familiar face. I'm sure I could have made my way through the rest of the crowd, but I am way too shy to go up to people and start talking.

After the party we made plans with one of M's friends to meet up at the Recovery Room for a quick bite. And as usual with M's friends, he bailed last minute. Not really in the mood to go anywhere else, we decided to stick with the RR.

From the outside, it looks like the restaurant doesn't take up that much space in the hotel. But the whole "looks can be deceiving" saying... so true. It's a large space, which unfortunately is pretty cluttered with seating. In the back of the restaurant the seating is more reasonably spaced and the walls are adorned with televisions and the usual shtick.

Honestly, there wasn't much on their menu that appealed to me. So I played it safe and did the girl order- Caesar salad and their soup of the day, Tomato Bisque. The salad was edible, but barely. The dressing clearly tasted like mayo and it looked like something you'd expect from a bag. The Tomato bisque was good, and surprisingly had chunks of tomato. I was thinking about throwing my croutons into the soup, but it was coated in that mayo disaster. M ordered a vegetable pizza, which was pretty good. It was topped with portabella mushrooms, artichokes, red onions, and spinach. I should have dropped the girlish act and ordered a pizza as well.

If we do come back to the Recovery Room, it will probably be pizza and wings. Apparently the RR serves some of the best wings in the area. And their beer specials don't sound too bad, either.