Tonight, August 1st is National Night Out (NNO). There are all sorts of cool things going on around our pretty little city and I hope that you’ll get to enjoy some of the planned events. I scored a ticket yesterday for tonight’s Alabama Shakes show at the Palace, so I’ll be missing the celebration. Or, really, trading one fun event for another. Remember back when we Albany residents didn’t have the entertainment options that we now have? These days, there are choices!
I did my own NNO last night and couldn’t have been more pleased with my evening. Following an afternoon spent paddle boarding up in Saratoga, I popped open a bottle of Alsatian white and took a quick shower before getting on my bike and heading to Tricentennial Park for Bites, Camera, Action, a food truck and film event organized and sponsored by the Downtown BID. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was hungry and curious, so off I went.
The ride down was great. I mean, it’s basically all downhill. Aside from the ease of the ride, it was interesting with an event held in the park at the intersection of Delaware and Madison and a few of the new bike share stations along my route. It seems like those bikes are getting some use with one station completely empty and a couple of actual riders observed. Cool beans.
Speaking of bikes, Tricentennial Park needs a bike rack! I ended up locking up to a metal sign, but it wasn’t ideal. That is my only criticism of what downtown has going on – it was a really fun, relaxed event and I was very happy with my meal and my good fortune to run into a number of former students. I had a hankering for a burger and the super friendly folks at Burger 21 did me right with a delicious burger with bacon, cheddar, lettuce and tomato and a side of the best sweet potato fries I’ve ever had. It was everything I hoped for – and only $13.
The ride home, once I made it up to Eagle Street, was great. The half moon hanging in the sky shed light on City Hall and the Capitol and Albany looked absolutely beautiful. It might not be perfect, but it’s getting better all the time.
DelSo 
You have me confused Silvia – Delaware and Madison Ave? Tricentennial Park is on Broadway isn’t it? Off of Pearl St.? I know there is a tiny park across from the Mobil station on Delaware and Madison, but no space for food trucks or movies – right?
Two different parks, one I drove past and the other was where the movie night was held.
There is at least one bike rack on the Columbia side of the park in front of the old gallery building.
Good to know. Thanks!