A Small-bany Hiatus

Adoring Readers.... just a little notice that I will be taking a little break from posting for about a month or so, but hope to back in full swing sooner rather than later.

In the meantime, have a great holiday season, new year, and enjoy the cold.

Three ways to freeze you patootie off

Tis the season to pretend that you like the cold.

Saratoga Springs Victorian Street Walk. On Thursday, December 3rd from 6-10pm, Broadway in Saratoga will be closed off to traffic so that you can revel in some good olde fashioned Victorian holiday cheer. Street perfomers, treats, and of course, that old dude in red.

The Hudson Winter Walk. Held on the 1st Saturday of December for the last 12 years, this event has become our family tradition. There is something really nice about sipping hot chocolate under the twinkling lights of downtown Hudson...listening to street performers, catching a glimpse of Saxaphone-Santa, real reindeer, and the live mannequins in shop windows. 5:00-8:00pm.

The Troy Victorian Stroll. If you didn't get enough of it in Hudson or Saratoga, head to Troy on Sunday for the 27th Annual Victorian Stroll from 11 - 5pm. (If you are feeling really festive you can do this and then still be in Albany in time for the tree lighting on the plaza, then you will have done all you need to do to be considered 'full of holiday cheer') Here you can see over 100 free attractions including the region's top performers, ­ musicians, dancers, magicians, and storytellers. And it looks like Saxophone-Santa comes here too! You can also pick up some cool wooden Victorian toys (yo-yo's and tops) at the Chamber Office at 225 River Street.

Sippy Cups, Chocolate, Trees, and Fireworks

If you have been outside today... and I wouldn't blame you if haven't (it's fuh-ree-zing), you would have seen your breath and some flurries and felt that winter has finally arrived. To get in the winter mood you should head on down to Empire State Plaza this Sunday night for the Holiday Tree Lighting and Fireworks Festival. The fun begins on the plaza at 1pm. Here's a sampling of what you can experience.

-The Sippy Cups with a free concert performance at The Egg at 3 p.m. as part of the Family Wonders series at The Empire State Plaza. Admission to the concert is free of charge, however tickets are necessary and will be available beginning at 2 p.m. at The Egg box office in the Empire State Plaza.

-The Chocolate Expo and Holiday Gift Market in the New York State Museum. The Expo runs from 11 a.m. 4:30 p.m. and features some of the finest chocolates, desserts and specialty foods the region has to offer.

-The Great Train Extravaganza in the Empire State Plaza's Convention Center from 10 a.m. 4 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, children under 12 are free. This unique event, hosted by the Upstate Train Associates, features actual operating model O and HO gauge trains, and layouts and displays with more than 300 tables of model trains, train parts, books and related merchandise for sale.

Thanks, Joyce!