Taking my guests for a ride – cab service in Albany

Tuesday night we had a number of diners who were decompressing after Day 1 of the NYS Bar exam. It's always interesting to meet and talk with young attorneys from literally around the world who are seeking credentials to practice in my home state. A table of six the other night really stood out in … Continue reading Taking my guests for a ride – cab service in Albany

Where the streets have no names, I mean, rules

“Cycling has encountered more enemies than any other form of exercise.”        19th-century author Louis Baudry de Sagnier Now that summer has arrived, I've been riding my bicycle to the restaurant a couple of nights a week. I love so much about my less-than-two-mile commute - the fresh air, the exercise, the view, … Continue reading Where the streets have no names, I mean, rules

Hatred & Heroes

Monday night I attended a vigil at the NYS Capitol sponsored by the Capital Pride Center. The event, to honor the victims of Saturday night’s massacre in Orlando (not to be confused with previous massacres we’ve witnessed) was organized in the afterglow of Albany’s Pride celebration. How’s that for tragic  irony, people? I gathered with a … Continue reading Hatred & Heroes

Politics and punishment – Hillary Clinton and Brock Turner

It’s been a pretty sobering week for me – and I own a wine bar. Watching Hillary Clinton march forward to claim the Democratic nomination has been difficult. Sorry, but I don’t like the idea of her being president. I don’t doubt her intelligence or experience, but her priorities will never be mine and I … Continue reading Politics and punishment – Hillary Clinton and Brock Turner

Sunday papers

An article in the Sunday TU caught my eye.  It's about speculators folks collecting art and storing it in shipping containers in Geneva, motivated by a wish to inflate the value, rather than to display and enjoy. That's seriously fucked up. How beautiful is something that is hidden expressly to manipulate its worth? Maybe I'm naive, … Continue reading Sunday papers

The turtle that is Terrapin, Rhinebeck

Terrapin restaurant in Rhinebeck has been around for a long time, maybe 15 years at their current location inside a beautiful old church right on Route 9. Many years ago, I had dinner there with three other people and was completely put off by the service. I don't remember anything about the food because the … Continue reading The turtle that is Terrapin, Rhinebeck