Troy Night Out
Last month my sweet husband and I attended Troy Night Out, a regular event held in the downtown area of Troy (NY), the last Friday of every month. I have to confess, I’ve never taken part in one of these, or any of the similar events held in other Capital District cities, although I’ve always wanted to.
Shops and galleries stay open late, restaurants offer discounts, street musicians play, and there’s a great vibe as you walk around downtown.
We started the night at the Rensselaer County Historical Society (building on right; building on left is the Hart-Cluett House), where they had an art exhibit focusing on local sites within the county. (57 2nd St.)
Including this piece by William Hart, a Hudson River School painter: Sunset Landscape, Troy (1869).
This piece, View of Glass Lake (1865), by local, naive artist, Joseph Hidley.
And this piece, Looking for the Red Ear (1968), by Forrest K. Moses, son of Grandma Moses. Read more about her in these posts: Grandma Moses Country and The Bennington Museum.
Just down the street from the Historical Society, you’ll find the Troy Music Hall with this pretty amazing mural on the side of the building.
And this Norman Rockwell-esque mural on the side of a nearby hardware store–love it!
The city of Troy gave birth to the Uncle Sam character, so he tends to show up there frequently, Troy Night Out being no exception. The music contributed to the festive atmosphere.
I had read that St. Paul’s Episcopal Church had a beautiful Tiffany-designed interior, so we stopped into see. (58 3rd St.)
Tiffany & Co. renovated the interior of the 1826 building in the 1890s, and it is stunning. Just look at this altar wall with its stained glass masterpiece. Simply breathtaking.
A closer look at the Gothic style altar and the mosaic work beneath the Gothic arches.
An Arts & Crafts style detail of a decorative tile.
After leaving St. Paul’s, we began a leisurely stroll down the block, stopping at shop windows, reading menus, and people watching. One shop that really caught my attention, Blue Bird, had several pieces of terrific art work for sale, like this one, painted by the owner’s mother, Shelly Broughton. (11 3rd St.)
This one as well.
And this attractive bird perched on a flowery branch.
After walking about for an hour or so, we decided to stop into Lucas Confectionary for a beverage and small snack. I enjoyed a flight of three dry red wines, and we shared small plates of hummus and tapenade–yum. The rustic/industrial interior welcomed us, the waitstaff wowed us, and the food pleased us. We highly recommend it. (12 2nd St.) Check out this great article in the New York Daily News about Troy’s urban renewal. Lucas Confectionery is highlighted.
Our next stop brought us back to the Rensselaer Historical Society to enjoy hearing our old friend, Vernon Benjamin, share some insights and anecdotes from his book, The History of the Hudson River Valley: Wilderness to the Civil War. You can find his book in all good bookstores, including the Book House in Albany. (Vern shown at Market Block Books, 290 Market St.) We love you Vern!
The three of us then strolled through town together, popping in here and there. We spent quite a while at The Arts Center of the Capital Region, which was holding its annual “Fences” exhibit of member works. This colorful sea turtle is a stunning quilt. (265 River St.) (Note: I love my smart readers who can tell a fish from a sea turtle 🙂 Thanks Fonda for the identification.)
Also on exhibit, this photo of Nipper, the RCA dog, an iconic downtown Albany landmark, captured with a wonderfully moody sky in the background.
Our final stop: Illium Bistro Cafe, where the three of us enjoyed absolutely delicious salads at remarkably low prices (not shown, pictured: a plated dinner entree on display). Read a review here: Schenectady Gazette review. Sitting outside, under the moonlight, we enjoyed each other’s company, sipped wine, and watched other Troy Night Out participants wander by. It was the perfect ending to a wonderful night out.
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We used to go to “First Friday” when we lived in Columbus, Ohio. The Short North had many shops and art galleries. Their “signature” building, a community theater, had a side-ways painting of Mona Lisa. Greenville, NC also had something similar. Many shops had snacks, and companies would be downtown to share tastes of their wares.
{The quilt is a picture of a sea turtle. See the large flipper on the left coming from the turtle’s body. Also, the shell is a typical pattern.}
There is a town in Oregon called Silverton and they have about 30 murals, all so cool! I love that quilt. The town looks like a fun place to visit!
It sounds like you both had a peaceful evening.
My goodness! What a fun way to spend an evening. That salmon dish looks mighty tasty. Salmon is one of my favorite fishes.
It was so much fun, Kim! I love salmon too–
It looks like you had a lovely time. I love days like this when you discover new things about your town.
It was such a beautiful night and so many wonderful things to see and do 🙂
thanks for the look-see of your area of the country. I grew up on the west coast, so seeing the other side of the country is always a thrill.
So glad you enjoyed the post 🙂
Hi Diana, I have heard of events like this, but never attended one. It looks like you had a wonderful evening! The art is gorgeous and I love the Norman Rockwell mural. And the food, wow! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann