I spent Valentine’s Day with one of my many loves… (making) money. I worked. I ended up in Albany, NY and had a full 24 hours to catch up on some sleep & explore a little.
Before this trip, I was not aware that Albany is the Capital City of New York. So, when my hotel concierge told me that we were near the Capitol building, I knew I wanted to get out and walk around a bit, even if it was 30 degrees.
By the time I got settled in, ate & changed, I had about an hour before sunset. So, I stepped out to walked around the cute, quaint area.
I was stunned by the State’s Capitol and I spent some time seeing it from every angle. 
Near the Capitol, I noticed a unique building, which I later found out is a theatre, called The Egg.
There was a large ice skating rink near by & I could hear music playing. I imagined quite a few skaters were couples, celebrating Qupid’s day.
After a little bit of exploring, my hands were so cold that my phone wasn’t even responding to my touch. (I forgot to pack gloves). So, I decided to pop back into my hotel room to warm up. That’s when Twilight started playing on TV, and I had to decide between a single gal’s Vday with a movie & wine, or an evening meeting locals. This is usually an easy decision, but today, it took a little work…
Considering my long layover – and words my cousin, Johnny, shared with me recently – “Come on, fool. Go out. You know you never have a hard time making friends.” I went to to a local beer hall.
City Beer Hall was busy, but still had room at the bar. Perfect. I took a seat & the lovely bartender, Beth Anne, came my aide. She helped me pick a local IPA & left a food menu for me.
When my beer arrived, it came with a raffle ticket. The ticket was redeemable in the kitchen, for a personal-sized pizza. This was not a Valentine’s Day special. They do this everyday, folks!
After meeting a few locals, tossing back a few local brews, and nibbling on free pizza, I was informed by a gentleman named Steve, of a speakeasy that was located right downstairs. You have to exit the beer hall, knock on the door, and hope they let you in. We got lucky.
They had a live jazz band, dim, romantic lighting, snazzy dressers, and a busy dance floor. Steve ordered us some drinks. One was served with a single, globe-shaped ice cube & set on fire. Cheers!
There had been dance lessons earlier in the night & the instructors were still there, pulling people to the dance floor. There were guys dancing with girls, girls dancing with girls, and guys dancing with guys. I got spun around a few times, which, those who know me, know that that’s all I need.
I made friends with the bartenders & host and I promised I’d be back again. Then, I spent my morning resting in my warm, comfy bed, as I watched fresh snow fall. Albany surprised me. I really enjoyed my time there. Thank you, upstate New York.
