barre.me, photos by Sébastien Barré

12 Hours in Columbia County

Sebastien — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:37:09 +0000

Like many in the Capital District, I often rely on the good folks at All Over Albany to keep myself busy during the weekend. They uncover places that can be enjoyed in small, one hour bite-size diversions but also feature more involving road trips to the farthest reaches of the 518. Looking for some fresh [...]

Grafton Lakes Winterfest 2012

Sebastien — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:14:48 +0000

It has been a strange, snowless winter so far in the Capital District but this didn’t stop the Grafton Lakes State Park and the Friends of Grafton from organizing their 27th annual Winter Festival last Saturday. A merciful deity delivered a few inches of snow that very morning but the bitter cold and unknown road [...]

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra at the Times Union Center

Sebastien — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 05:18:08 +0000

‘Tis the Night after Christmas, hair flying, flames erupting, power-chords screaming, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra must be back in town. I’m not a progressive-rock fan but I’m a sucker for a good light show. When my friend R. mentioned she had two seats in a suite at the TU Center, I seized the opportunity to witness [...]

Vintage Postcards: Part 1 – Happy New Year

Sebastien — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 06:13:19 +0000

Joyeux Noël et Bonne année! I enjoyed my trip to France last winter but I’m staying in the U.S. of A for the holidays this year, comforted by a sizable amount of imports from French Feast. When I visited my mother last December, she showed me a large collection of French vintage postcards she had [...]

Troy Victorian Stroll 2011

Sebastien — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 02:25:56 +0000

Today marked the 29th annual Troy Victorian Stroll downtown Troy, NY. Since I took photographs of the Saratoga Victorian Streetwalk in 2010 and I had not been to the Victorian Stroll since 2006, it seemed only fair I give a little love to the Collar City on this beautiful day. The historic streets of Troy [...]

Requiescat in Pace

Sebastien — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 02:43:15 +0000

I’m not a religious person but I wouldn’t mind ending my days in a grave. Granted, I do hope to live forever once robot bodies are made affordable by 2027, but should I suffer a more tragic fate a modest, permanent home underground would do fine. Friends or family would appreciate a little nonsectarian walk, [...]

Snapshots of Fall

Sebastien — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 04:41:21 +0000

My first souvenir of an Indian summer dates back to the fall of 2001, when I moved to the United States. The phenomenon, made popular in my country by American singer and hair model Joe Dassin in the 70′s, sounded quite different from the dreary debacle gracing France in late October. Joe and his tight [...]

Five Rivers

Sebastien — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 05:00:17 +0000

The Capital District is full of small hidden gems and one of them, Five Rivers, is shining bright during the autumn season. A few minutes west of Albany, DEC’s Environmental Education Center is a living museum comprising over 450 acres of broad fields, towering forests, and tranquil wetlands. With over 10 miles of trails for [...]

Albany Zombie Walk 2011

Sebastien — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 05:04:19 +0000

Another Halloween, another Zombie Walk. A very well-behaved horde walked down Central Av. from The Linda to the corner of Robin St. to get the Zombie Film Feast 4 going. Also on the agenda this year, the Brain Eating contest, the Zombie carnival, the Senior Prom, and the Capitol Pride Singers proudly presenting a selection [...]

The 1am Fog in Washington Park

Sebastien — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 03:57:11 +0000

Two years ago I witnessed a beautiful phenomenon in Washington Park. It was around 11pm when I came back home from a quick walk in my neighborhood. The weather was clear and humid that night. Two hours later I left the house to grab a last minute item at the bodega on the corner of [...]