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Monday, September 25, 2017

Visiting Ghostly Haunts in Albany, New York

Looking for ghosts and their ghostly haunts?  Join the Ghosts of Albany Walking Tour for an hour and a half of supernatural stories in historic downtown Albany.





Our guide, Colin, takes our
tour group back in time as
we visit Albany's oldest
neighborhood.

Ghost Factoid: Ghosts move
at the speed of thought....







The Albany area was inhabited by the Mohegan Tribe when Henry Hudson and his crew ofaboard the Half Moon sailed up the river that would be named for him in 1609.  Dutch farmers settled near the Hudson River and maintained friendly relationships with natives.  In 1664 control of this Dutch Colony was transferred to the British.





We stand in front of St. Peter's
 Episcopal Church, the site of
 Howe's haunting.
A member of the British Army during the French and Indian War, General Howe was killed during a skirmish near French held Ticonderoga on July 6, 1758.   His body was transported to Albany and interred in the crypt of the original St. Peter's Church, on current day State Street.

General Howe's remains were disinterred from the original St. Peters and brought to its permanent burial site at the current St. Peter's church, several hundred feet further up State Street, in 1802.  The General's head was not with his remains.  He has been seen, over the past 215 years, walking back and forth between the old church and his current "home," looking for his missing head.

Ghost Factoid: Ghosts that are looking for something are called missionary ghosts.

Ghost Factoid: Ghosts that experienced trauma at the time of death are called wandering ghosts.





At the foot of State Street hill is
the SUNY System Administration
Building, known to locals as the
D & H Building.










This uniquely styled building was inspired by the Cloth Hall in Ypres, Belgium.  Begun in 1912 and finished in 1918, the Delaware and Hudson Railroad Headquarters Building's tower would be used as a model to rebuild the bombed out Cloth Building, the site of three World War I battles and the final resting place of thousands of Belgian and German soldiers.

World War I ended and plans for rebuilding began.  The Cloth Building, with its long, storied history would be rebuilt in every detail.  After going over every inch of the badly bombed out building and taking measurements, architects sailed to Albany, with the ghosts of World War I soldiers traveling alongside them.  (Ghosts travel at the speed of thought.)  While the architects surveyed the D and H Building, ghosts who traveled to Albany found their eternal home.  Unattended doors open and close....  I don't know if the ghosts are looking for something or are wandering.

What about the Woman in the White Gown?  Take the tour and find out about the young female ghost in a long white gown.





Colin, in front of Albany's

We are very close to several
haunted sites.



Dutch soldiers and Mohegans
massed here in 1626 before
heading south to attack
the Mohawks.

They were ambushed by the
Mohawks near what is now
Lincoln Park.



It it is said that the ghosts of fallen soldiers and Mohegans watch over the illuminated Gold Star Families Monument located at the center of the park.






Ask about hauntings at the





Public Hangings occurred near
the Robert Abrams Building
for Law & Justice.






The last public hanging occurred there on August 24, 1827.  Visit Cherry Hill Mansion to find out about John Whipple's murder and Jesse Strang's hanging..




During the fall State Capitol
Tours include a talk about
the building's ghosts.

I recommend you take a









has a very angry ghost...



A building on this site was moved across State Street and it's believed that its ghost didn't relocate with it. The ghost wanders the right side of the building, where his home once was, angrily slamming cabinets and doors, looking, in vain for familiar surroundings.






Building is haunted.







The construction worker fell into concrete while it was being poured for the massive foundation that supports this building and was killed.  Employees at the Education Department describe "Jason the Mason" as a helpful apparition.





Albany's Masonic Hall
has a ghost cat.












The cat seems to think that she owns the place and has startled people while they are working.

Albany is an old city and there are lots of ghosts about.  I recommend going on the Ghosts of Albany Walking Tour and finding out about their life stories, their deaths and their afterlife encounters with the living.

Saturday, September 23, 2017

Zombies Return to Life... in Rotterdam, New York

My mother-in-law, Jerry, lives in an older neighborhood in Rotterdam.  In 2014 I started taking walks around the area during my visits and I found Zombies....  Homes that have been unoccupied for years.
Three years later I am seeing signs of rebirth.  Some of these houses are being rehabbed. Some are now for sale.... And some now have new families.





I've been watching this
home deteriorate since
2014.










In April, I noticed
new plywood
covering doors
& windows.






I was sad to see the house was becoming more decrepit and wondered if it would be torn down.  My assumptions were wrong.  





The front porch was
opened up.





New windows have
been installed.




Tri-County Tile
& Flooring is
doing interior
work.









The back of the house
is getting a new
porch & sliding
glass door.






The new roof looks great!





I thought this house was
being lived in....

There's a chair on the
front porch & the lawns
are well kept.





A window in the rear of the house has been covered with plywood.  I must investigate...






There's a notice on the door
 stating that the house is
 Unsafe For Human Occupancy.




Three months later,
a dumpster, full of
debris, is waiting
to be removed.






Another abandoned, deteriorated home is on its way back from the dead.





I've walked past
this empty house
for three years.







Someone has been mowing the lawns while a newspaper moldered on the front porch.





There's a sign on
the lawn & a
dumpster in the
driveway.










Buyers is working
on this house.

A worker told me
that the interior is
in good shape.




The frosted, louvered windows on the side porch have been removed.   I don't know if the ceiling fan is new.





Signature Home
Buyers put the house
on the market....









I see lawn furniture
& patio furniture...

This house has a
new family.

I checked Zillow.com
This house sold for
$185,000.000



It's good to see empty houses being reclaimed and becoming homes for new owners.

Saturday, September 16, 2017

Lunch at La Mexicana Restaurant & Grocery in Schenectady, New York

Yes...  Our lives revolve around food.  And, it's Mexican Independence Day, the perfect reason to eat Mexican.





 on State Street looks like a
 good choice.







Eric and I checked their menu and it looks good, plus we can bring Hispanic foods home to prepare meals later.






Eric & I take a table away
from the busy lunch
crowd.






The bar is busy too. 






Coronas & shots of El Jimador 
Tequilla go well with Tortilla
Chips & Salsa.






Feliz Dia De La Indepencia!





Eric ordered Chicken Tacos
& he will share the Chicken
Tamales, served with Lettuce
& Sour Cream with me.

I ordered Steak Tacos.

We were surprised, and delighted to see that the Tacos were made with generous amounts of Cilantro. Its citrus flavor is an unexpected treat.  The Tamales have very generous portions of chicken. Delicioso!





I explore the grocery store,
decorated with Pinatas for
children's parties.





There are many Hispanic
foods to choose from.












Customers buy dried
Chili Peppers, in bulk.












The Wall of Herbs
& Spices







Achiote En Grano (Annatto), Anis Mexicano (Anise) and  Linaza (Flax Seed)  are just a few of the herbs and spices carried here.






America, is a good 
source of protein.









Pacaya is the flower of 
the Date Palm.

Tamara sells preserved
Pejaybe, known as
Peach Palm Fruit.








A Minnie Mouse Pinata
hangs near the
snack food aisle.










Rosquetes Corn Cookies













People who eat a Gluten Free Diet may want to come here and browse the aisles.









Lollipops.



Eric bought a dozen Chicken Tamales to take home and freeze.  We agree that Tamale Thursdays will be very delicious.

Friday, September 15, 2017

Celebrating Eric's 60th Birthday in Style... at Yono's Restaurant in Albany, New York

I wanted to do something very special for Eric to celebrate his 60th birthday, so I made reservations at Yono's Restaurant in Albany.  Known for fine dining and its extensive selection of wines, Yono's is the perfect place to celebrate Eric's milestone birthday.





Eric looks very handsome.





Eric took this selfie in
front of Yono's.

















Our table is at the far
end of this dining room,
to the right of the 
fireplace.








Eric patiently waits for me
to take this picture before
we clink Champagne
glasses.




Eric and I love Asian Cuisine.  Our five course Traditional Indonesian Rijsttafel meal with wine pairings starts with...




Chicken Sate drizzled with
Seeds with Lumpia &
Pickled Carrots & 







We are presented with Lobster
Mousseline, sitting all alone in a
 bowl Tamarind Lobster Curry
 Soup was poured into the bowl.











"Gado Gado" is a mix of
Hard Boiled Egg, Tomato,
Shrimp Crisp & Peanut
Dressing.





Paired with Gruner Veltliner Birgit Eichinger; Red Hasel, Kamptal 2016.




Our Main Course, starting at 12:00:
Babi Kecap, (Pork Tenderloin)
 Acar (Pickled Vegetables), Daging 
Rendang (Braised Short Ribs),
Bakmi Goreng (Stir Fry Noodles),
 Krupuk (Shrimp Chips), with Nasi
(Rice), in the middle.




Paired with Chateau de Saint Cosme Cotes-du-Rhone 2015.





Eric's Bananas Foster include
Birthday Wishes, with 
a candle.












Eric and I savor the wines and discuss how the compliment each course.  We thank our servers for a beautifully presented meal and...





... are presented with
Candied Pistachios.






Eric and I leave Yono's, holding hands, and savoring the memories we made here.