Planned Parenthood moves to Central

In September, Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood relocated its Lark Street offices and health center to the newer, more modern facilities at 855 Central--and staffers say they couldn't be happier. "We're thrilled to be in your district," says Blue Carreker, Vice President for Public Affairs and Marketing at Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood.

The new 18,000 square feet facility on the third floor of the 855 office building includes administrative offices, a teen center, a health center, and conference facilities, says Carreker.

"We've increased capacity by 50%," Carreker says. "That allows us to see a lot more patients." Currently, the agency sees about 8,000 patients a year, and that demand is rising, she says.

The move also allows the center to increase its education and outreach capacity. The agency's new teen center is bigger and more accessible to area high school students, and Carreker says the teens who work there are very happy with their new, roomier digs.

The move was made possible by a capital campaign that successfully raised $1.692 million, says Carreker. The agency still needs to raise about $250,000, she says.

The new Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood offices are located at 855 Central Avenue. For more information or to book an appointment, please call 434-5678 or visit the website at www.plannedparenthood.org/uhpp/

Happy Holidays at Paradiso 'On the Avenue'

All the best of the Season from Matt, Odette, and everyone at the Paradiso

Here is the Paradiso Holiday information

The Paradiso will be open 5pm to 9pm on Christmas eve and closed
Saturday and Sunday, December 25 and 26

the Paradiso will be open New Year's Eve and taking reservations
between 5 and 10 that night

the special menu includes soups, starters, and main courses

the starters are in the $7 to $10 dollar range and include Salmon and
sweet corn cakes with a Lobster Sherry Cream Sauce, Potato Gnocchi
with sweet Italian sausage and a spicy arrabiatta sauce, Colossal
Shrimp cocktail with a chipotle vodka cocktail sauce

Entrees are from $19 to $27 dollars and include Veal Osso Bucco with a
three cheese risotto, House-made wild mushroom and spinach ravioli in
a rosemary and garlic veloute, and a 20 oz Delmonico steak with twice
baked potato, grilled asparagus, and a rosemary merlot pan sauce

From our family to yours, a happy, healthy, and wondrous Christmas and New Year

Ristorante Paradiso
198 Central Avenue
Albany, New York 12206
518.462.5812

Know your Nikes: StreetGame sells shoe history

With its vintage merchandise and its knowledgeable sales associates, StreetGame is selling more than shoes; it's selling shoe history.

The Albany location is the sixth store in this upstate New York franchise. "We thought customers needed us in Albany," says Jay Choi, General Manager.

This new Albany shoe store caters to urban wear conniseurs who can tell their Nike Airs from their Air Maxes (hint: it has to do with the size of the air pocket). Opened in August, the store has already become the destination for people looking for classic Nikes. It's the only licensed Nike store in the area, making it the best source of the very latest in styles and colors. You can also find the best in Timberlands, and a great selection of T-shirts and athletic wear.

"We are the biggest Nike and Jordan authorized dealer in upstate New York," says Choi. "We are the ones who carry the most diverse and hot items." The store also offers a large selection of rare, limited edition shoes, he says.

The store is also a great place to score a good deal on shoes. On the store's Buy One Get One Free wall, you can pick any shoe, and get a second pair of equal or lesser value for free. You're liable to find anything on the wall--from high tops to kids' kicks--so check it out frequently.

Best of all, StreetGame's staff gets a kick out of shoe trivia, and they can answer almost any question you might have about Nikes. Local manager Eric Pitts is a shoe genius, and during a recent tour he provided a full history of the iconic shoe, complete with demonstrations. Pitts is an asset to the new store because he knows things about Nikes that few people know, says Choi. "I don't know, but he knows," admits Choi.

StreetGame is located at 818 Central Avenue, Albany in the plaza next to Clothes Mentor. For more information, call StreetGame at 729-5975.

Community Loan Fund upcoming programs

Attached are two flyers about programs we are sponsoring. If you have an interest we encourage you to attend. Otherwise please pass them along to someone who may be interested. Please help us get the word out. Please help locate entrepreneurs who may find this useful. We offer many supports especially for start-ups. Thanks, and we look forward to seeing you.

Sincerely,

Paul Stewart

Central Avenue is Friendly Place to Invest

A Second Serving of Pepper Jack's in Albany

Mayor Jennings will be on hand today to cut a ribbon for a new location for Pepper Jack's, a well known college student staple for burgers, is opening a new location at 192 N. Allen Street, and bringing its special mix of sandwiches and burritos to even larger crowds.

The restaurant hopes this new and larger space will allow them to accommodate even more people, says owner Philip Stein. "It's a lot larger," Stein says. "The setup is more efficient." The menu will stay largely the same as Western Avenue, although he hopes to be able to deliver more hot meals and breakfast.

Stein and his partner Christopher Soden opened the Western Avenue restaurant in 2000. The two were interested in the restaurant business. Soden was born and raised in Albany, and Stein has lived here for 20 years. Stein was a UAlbany student and said he knew first-hand that there weren't enough dining options for students. They were "saturated with pizza and Chinese," he says. "We wanted to open an eatery that's more our style," he says. Pepper Jack's, with its wide selection of burgers, sandwiches, wraps, salads, soups and appetizers, was that eatery, he says. The two started the business as primarily takeout spot on the corner of Quail and Spring, and then moved to a larger space on the corner of Quail and Western. This new building at 192 N. Allen represents yet another expansion for the duo. "We'll be able to seat 25 to start, and we're hoping to expand from there," he says.

The new building is also more centrally located and offers more parking. Pepper Jack's has been around for 10 years, we would like to be around for 30 years," says Stein.

For more information, call 426-5505 or visit their website atwww.pepperjacksalbany.com

Sports Night: Bobby T's Sports Grill

Twenty-six TVs. Hog wings. The full NFL package. The new Bobby T's is an oasis for sports fans.

Opened at the beginning of October, the grill is the culmination of Bobby Taaffe's experience. Taaffe has been an entrepreneur and restauranteur for 30 years, and has several previous successes under his belt including Paolo Lombardi's in Wynantskill and the Elbo Room in Albany. Taaffe opened the grill because he wanted his own place, somewhere he could catch the game. His own Christian Brothers' Academy jersey hangs on the wall, in between the bar's TVs and sports memorabilia.

The grill offers a pub menu, including burgers, salads, and pizza. Bobby T's is the only restaurant in the Capital Region that serves "hog wings," pork shanks with seasoning. Monday Night will be "Hog Heaven," with specials on the tasty wings and a great seat for the game.

Bobby T's Sports Grill is located at 221 N. Allen Street in Albany.

Ristorante Paradiso New Year Eve Raffle

Now thru December 19th 2010

New Year's Eve Contest
Every time you come in to dine, fill out an our email list request
with your name, email, and phone number.  We will enter you into our
fantastic New Year's Eve Drawing.  You and a friend can win dinner for
2 on New Years Eve, a bottle of house wine, and a champagne split!
Come in, have dinner, enter to win -- how wonderful is that?  One
entry per table; you may enter every day you come in for dinner.
Hosting a Holiday Gathering?  Get 2 chances!

Drawing will be conducted on December 20th, 2010.

Ristorante Paradiso
198 Central Avenue
Albany, New York 12206
518.462.5812

Great Food, A Special California Red and Live Music - This Friday!

Special California Red Wine and Live Music This Friday Night Join us for a special October Friday night at Grappa 72 - the Capital Region's Best New Restaurant!  Relaxing live music from Sonny and Perley and a special California Red - hand picked for this special evening.  Make your reservation now! Visit Facebook.com/Grappa72 and tell us how much you Like us! See the remodeled restaurant on Flickr!

Taste of home: Mexican grocery packs forgotten favorites

Emmanuel Santa Cruz opened the Mexican Market located at 656 Central Avenue, near North Allen Street, so he could get a taste of home. When he couldn't find any food from his native land, he and his wife decided to open a grocery store carrying favorites he remembers from childhood, as well as homemade burritos and tamales.

Beginning November 1, they will open a small taco shop at the back of the store, making homemade food for takeout. His wife, Placida make the burritos and tamales, and Santa Cruz makes the tacos. He will also stock cotijo cheese, chorizo, queso fresco, and beginning in November, he'll also have produce. Right now, he carries a selection of dried chile--the widest this side of the Rio Grande, including chile costano, chile morita, chile d'arbo, chile ancho.

Open for three weeks, the store is doing well, catering to a growing crowd of transplants hungry for a taste of home. He points out the cooler of soda, all in glass bottles. "Nobody can find this anywhere," he says proudly. One customer came in and said he hasn't seen the glass bottles in 40 years, he says. "In Mexico, they never change anything like this. They don't change anything. I think it's for tradition," Santa Cruz says. "Any party you go in, they have the glass bottles. Any birthday party, any occasion."

He points to the shelf of cookies, including Marias and Arcoiris, and says he remembers eating them when he was four-years old. As we talk, one customer comes in and selects a soda--all are sold in glass bottles, just like in Mexico, Santa Cruz says proudly. As he walks to the register, his eyes fall on a package of cookies. "Marias!" he exclaims, as though greeting a long-lost friend. He grabs a package and sets it on the counter with the soda.

"I just tried to open it because there's not a store like this around," Santa Cruz says. He points out that there are a number of international markets in the area, including Indian and Asian, but none from Mexico. "I just tried to bring something to everyone," he says.