If you were worried about that alleged spat between Oprah and Rachael Ray, well you can tuck in to your cheeseburger salad unburdened by fear. Her Rachaelness has told professional Oprah friend Gayle King that the rumors "broke her heart," but just aren't true -- especially after the Ray sent the Queen of All Media "snack of the day" for her majesty's birthday.
Yep. Happy birthday Oprah, here's snack of the day. Maybe there is something to the rumors.
]]>After the jump, songs that will hit the playlist for the first time this week -- including new stuff from Portishead and Rogue Wave.
]]>
For $2, there's probably something you'll like.]]>
You know that movie theater they've been building on the roof of Colonie Center for seemingly forever? Well, it's finally ready.
The official opening is this Friday, but the theater's having a sort of dress rehearsal the next few days, which means you can check it out for cheap. Really cheap. Admission is $2 to showings of not-exactly-new-anymore movies. Popcorn and drinks are also two bucks.
The preview lineup is kind of a mixed bag. For every Atonement there seems to be a 10,000 BC. But it's hard to go wrong for $2. And given that the place is brand new, your feet might not even stick to the floor.
]]>Just in case you had a burning desire (oof!) to see the thing in all its, um, glory. We've condensed the time so that the video runs a bit less than half as long as the actual display.
Earlier on AOA:
+ NighFire: before, during and after
+ Igniting Albany's floating, burning tulip
A map of crimes involving UAlbany students compiled by the TU paints a not-so-pretty picture of life off campus. [TU]
Using the obligatory "Look, I'm at a gas station because we're talking about gas prices" photo op, state assembly minority leader Jim Tedisco announced he's (or someone) collecting signatures for a petition supporting the "gas tax holiday." Sheldon Silver and David Paterson both oppose the temporary suspension of the tax. [Troy Record] [TU]
Speaking of Paterson, he gave the commencement speech for the College of Saint Rose this past weekend because "the lieutenant governor couldn't be be here." The governor also told the crowd that people pushing the gas tax holiday are following shadows instead of light. (Yep, that's a Plato reference.) [Daily Gazette]
The mysterious collapse of honey bee colonies is making things tough for apple growers around the area. It seems there were just enough bees to go around this year to pollinate the apple trees. [Daily Gazette]
Sarah Volk is the new Tulip Queen. [WNYT]
]]>
]]>
That's hot. And a little different from what we expected.]]>
Above is during. Before and after are after the jump.]]>
there's more
]]>
The rhetorical smackdown, the Rachael, the tulips, the cheesecake]]>
Here are a few highlights from the past week on AOA:
+ The Capital Region ranks 5th among New York cities for car thefts, but at least we're not Buffalo.
+ "The Rachael" made its debut. Finally, hard-working TV chefs who are always on their feet can have stylish footwear.
+ We blew out our calorie budget at Cheesecake Machismo.
+ The Ultimate Fighting Championship unleashed some killer rhetorical moves at the capitol.
+ Dr. Z gave us the scoop on how to set a giant, floating, metal tulip on fire.
+ We figured out how many times you could paper over the track at Saratoga with paper from city hall.
+ If you're neurotic, congratulations! You've found the right spot.
+ There's so much to know about tulips, including the fact that you can eat them -- which is not to say that you should.
If you'd just like the whole week unfiltered, check our listing of the last seven days of AOA.
photo of the UFC: Flickr user Lee Brimelow, used under a CC license
Ready. Set. Start your weekend. Looks like there's lots to do this weekend. And hey, the weather may not suck so much after all. Here are a few things you might want to try.
Tip-toe near the tulips
Albany's 60th Annual Tulip Festival kicks off tonight and continues through Sunday. And thanks to city gardener Judy Stacey, you'll have plenty to talk about at the event.
If you're feeling nostalgic the weekend music slate includes a show by The Spin Doctors (yes, we were surprised they're still together, too). And don't forget, tonight's your big chance to see "Night Fire", A-Town's floating, burning tulip.
Saratoga Film Forum
This week the film forum is screening "Caramel".
Billed as a smarter than the average chick flick, this film revolves around the lives of 5 Lebanese women who work in, or patronize, a Beirut beauty shop. Friday at 8pm and Sunday at 7 pm. $6
The Rev Records Following Friday Concert Series
Tonight Rev Records presents "Human Mix Tapes" at Point 5 in Albany at 7 pm. Bring a favorite song (and copies to distribute to the crowd if you can) and be prepared to share. Everybody sings tonight.
Pangea Day
On Saturday at 2 pm Proctor's Theater in Schenectady is showing Pangea Day, a live global film "event" from sites in Cairo, Kigali, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai and Rio de Janeiro. There are speakers, music and 24 short films. Sure, you can watch it on TV, online or on your mobile phone, but you can see it on the big screen at Proctors for free.
Eric Margan and The Red Lions
The Albany/NYC based group is playing downstairs at Valentine's Saturday night (8 pm). If you haven't heard them yet, you really should check them out. Ben Karis Nix and The Dig are also playing. $7
So what are you up to this weekend?
]]>
Among the topics in this most recent spin around the Capital Region's online neighborhood: weather obsession, Mother's Day near disaster, hot pants, and spanakopita...
]]>
Good eats? Maybe.]]>
When Judy Stacey, Albany's city gardener, told us that tulips were edible, we were kind of surprised. It seems you were, too. So we decided to do a little digging.
It would appear that it's most accurate to say that parts of tulips are edible. And people do eat them. There are recipes, even.
]]> there's more
If what you really want to do is direct , here's your big chance.
Inspired by the iconic campy film director Ed Wood, the folks from the Edwood Film Fest are back at work on their 11th local independent film festival. This year organizer Peter Barnett has added a new twist for wannabe filmmakers.
]]> there's moreThe New York Buzz, the World Team Tennis club that's brought stars like Serena Williams and Anna Kournikova in for matches, has broken up with Schenectady -- by letter -- after a 13 year relationship. It seems the Buzz now fancies Albany and its Washington Avenue Armory, which doesn't have weather issues. "I'm only the mayor, not God, I can't guarantee the weather," said Schenectady mayor Brian Stratton after getting dumped. [Daily Gazette]
Siena and UAlbany have renewed their agreement to play their annual basketball game for another three years. Under the new deal, UAlbany gets 500 more seats -- some of them pretty good -- at the TU Center. [TU]
Seven of the painted fiberglass horses that had been placed around Saratoga will be displayed outside New York City's Museum of Natural History this summer. [Daily Gazette]
Hillary Clinton narrowly edged Barack Obama in a local pre-school election. It seems Senator Clinton can thank a bloc of young lady voters for the win. "I wouldn't vote for the other two -- they're boys. I'm not a boy," said one three-year-old to the Troy Record. Barack Obama ran a close second on the strength of having a name that starts with "B," which polled very well with the electorate. [Troy Record]
]]>A "long picture" of some tulips in Washington Park. It's kind of like taking a 55 second vacation at your desk.
]]>