Albany NY News Roundup: What's Happening in the Area

Celebrate the Season at The Balloonary's Festive Pop-Up Shop

balloon animal napkins and other party supplies like cups and plates

Get ready for the holidays in the Capital Region as The Balloonary opens its new pop-up shop at Stuyvesant Plaza on October 28!

The Balloonary is a local women-owned business in Albany founded by Nina Young and Stephanie Turcotte. Known for their creative balloon designs, the store will be offering a fun selection of hosting gifts, party supplies, balloon décor, holiday gear, pantry items, unique glassware, and more.

After making your holiday purchases, be sure to stop by the gift-wrapping area for that final touch!

The shop, located between Lola Saratoga and Warby Parker, is sure to become a must-visit spot for holiday shoppers at the Plaza. It will be open through December 31, 2024.

New Hyatt House Hotel Set to Join Mohawk Harbor’s Growing Lineup

Schenectady’s Mohawk Harbor is continuing its expansion with a new addition: the Hyatt House Hotel! Construction is already underway for this five-story, 75,000-square-foot hotel, set to open in fall 2025.

Positioned on the north side of the Harbor, the hotel will be next to the Mohawk Harbor Events Center, which is also in progress.

The Hyatt House will feature 100 rooms, an indoor pool, an expanded fitness center, a bar with an outdoor patio overlooking the waterfront, and a 50-person meeting room. This new hotel will join the Courtyard by Marriott and the Landing Hotel at Rivers Casino and Resort, further establishing Mohawk Harbor as a destination for both visitors and residents.

In a press release, David Buicko, CEO of the Galesi Group, noted, “We are pleased to be working with Community Bank to add this latest attraction to our successful waterfront development in Schenectady.”

Continued Growth for Mohawk Harbor

This Hyatt House project is part of the ongoing efforts to enhance Schenectady’s waterfront.

The adjacent Mohawk Harbor Events Center, a $50 million multi-purpose venue, broke ground in May 2024 and will include a 2,200-seat ice hockey rink that can expand to hold 3,600 attendees for trade shows, conventions, and other events. It's expected to be ready in time for Union College to play their home games in 2025-2026.

Readers can look forward to seeing how these developments shape Mohawk Harbor as construction progresses over the next year.

Anthropologie Set to Bring Its Signature Style to Stuyvesant Plaza in 2025

Big news for style lovers in the Capital Region—Anthropologie is coming to Stuyvesant Plaza in Albany, NY! Known for its eclectic mix of fashion, home décor, and lifestyle goodies, this iconic brand is set to open its first local store in 2025.

Anthropologie, which opened its first store in 1992 in Wayne, Pennsylvania, has grown into a globally recognized lifestyle brand with over 200 locations. Its offerings range from exclusive clothing and accessories to thoughtfully curated home décor and furniture.

With a focus on creativity and individuality, the brand has built a loyal customer base of individuals who embrace personal style and seek inspiration for their wardrobes and homes.

In addition to welcoming Anthropologie, Stuyvesant Plaza has recently expanded its offerings with five locally-owned businesses: 5th Corner Goods & Gifts, Apple Barrel Home + Pantré, Union Hall Supply Co., The Balloonary, and Simone’s Kitchen. With over 60 shops and restaurants, the Plaza continues to serve as a vibrant community destination for shopping, dining, and entertainment.

Get ready to shop ‘til you drop and add a creative touch to your wardrobe and home with Anthropologie’s one-of-a-kind finds. The store will be located on the Plaza’s north side between Peaches Café and Talbots. Be sure to follow Stuyvesant Plaza's Facebook page for news about the grand opening!

Ophelia's on Broadway Celebrates Grand Opening

Ophelia's on Broadway has taken over the space once occupied by Red Square and the Parish Public House in downtown Albany. This new dynamic live music and event venue/restaurant celebrated their grand opening on October 10.

They're able to host live music events in a nearly 250-person capacity stage area, as their predecessors did. Ophelia's is however planning to be more family-friendly than the businesses that occupied the space previously, with a children's menu and some kid-centric events.

Ophelia's almost wasn't named as such - the original plan was for the business to be called Nanola South, serving as a second location of Nanola in Malta. Now, it's named for the Lumineers song.

Follow them on Facebook to learn about new shows coming up!

Sources:

DowntownAlbany.org: Capital Region restaurateur celebrates grand opening of live music and event space in Downtown
News 10 ABC: Upcoming Albany eatery/music venue changes name, menu

What's Happening at The Crossings?

The Times Union has reported twice on The Crossings in recent weeks, once to pass on that the Town of Colonie is discouraging Pokemon Go players from using the park to "catch them all," and the other to announce the dismantlement of the popular children's maze.

Pokemon Go is a mobile game that allows players to "catch" pokemon out in the real world. It was built by Niantic, a company that spun off of Google. One of the key players behind the creation of Google Maps, John Hanke, created Pokemon Go as a way to get kids to get back outdoors, while still enjoying video games.

Colonie Parks Coordinator Tom Breslin has reportedly stated that the Crossings is a "passive park."

Passive parks are public parks that do not condone organized or competitive events, even though the Crossings has hosted a number of 5K challenges in the past, such as the Crossings 5K Challenge that takes place in late September.

There is a Change.org petition to cease efforts to remove Pokemon Go players from the park.

Now, the Hoffman Family Maze, perfect for kids with medium-sized shrubbery, has been removed. There are talks of replacing the attraction with something else for summer 2025.