Grappa '72 carries on tradition

When Carmine's Restaurant closed last summer, longtime maitre'd Armand Ymeraj was understandably disappointed. After all, he was out of a job. But Armand wasn't just upset because he lost his job after eight years. He was saddened by the loss of such a landmark establishment in this area.

Today, Armand is carrying on that tradition--right in the same spot. He opened Grappa '72 in the former Carmine's, making this restaurant a destination for fine dining. Grappa '72 features a menu that is "pure Italian," he says, and a list that's straight from the old country. In fact, Ymeraj boasts that his new restaurant has the largest Italian wine selection in upstate New York.

Opened three months ago, Grappa '72 is already successful, and that's because many of the customers are former Carmine's customers. Ymeraj says much of the clientele has been coming to the restaurant for years, and in the Italian tradition of hospitality, he welcomes them back with open arms. But the customers aren't the only familiar faces; many of the new restaurant's employees also worked at Carmine's and stayed on to work under Ymeraj's capable hands.

Ymeraj has been managing restaurants his whole life, first in Canada and then in New York. While Ymeraj has plenty of management experience, this is the first restaurant he's opened on his own. He's enjoying his new enterprise, although he does acknowledge that it's not withoutits drawbacks. "When you work for yourself, things get more complicated," he says with a laugh.

Walking into Grappa, it seems like old times. Even though it's been refurbished top to bottom, the restaurant has maintained a sense of warm elegance. Families enjoy their dinner in the dining room, while business execs take a drink at the bar. Ymeraj knows how to treat his customers, and the bar patrons enjoy some appetizers on the house while they watch the baseball game on T.V.

At the very back of the restaurant, in a quaint room with floor-to-ceiling wine racks, more patrons enjoy their dinners around a long family-style table.

Garden Grows in Beverwyck: Community Gardens opens new site on Bradford

Want to grow your own vegetables? All you need is a little plot of land, and Capital District Community Gardens can help with that. The local non-profit organization provides area residents with parcels of land to grow their own food and they have just opened a brand-new garden in Beverwyck.

Community gardens are large plots of land, divided into smaller parcels and assigned to people so they can plant gardens. Often, the gardens are given to people who live in apartments and may not have a space of their own to garden with. The community gardens are often located in vacant lots, and help to transform blighted areas into urban oasises.

Capital District Community Gardens (CDCG) has a grant to open nine more sites in the next five years, and based on the success of this latest spot in Beverwyck, they may decide to put several more in the area, says Sharon DiLorenzo, Program Manager for Capital District Community Gardens.

In fact, the spots in the new garden at 462 Bradford Street filled up so fast that the organization is actively looking for new property in the immediate vicinity, DiLorenzo says. "We could use more land in any of the Albany neighborhoods," she says. The organization currently has 47 gardens scattered across the capital district, and provides gardening space to hundreds of families and individuals.

The Beverwyck site was donated by a couple whose house burnt down. "They took what was a tragedy and turned it into such a good thing," DiLorenzo says. The site measures approximately 3,800 square feet, and will provide between 9 and 10 new plots.

CDCG began work on site improvement earlier this year. After a soil test came back negative, the organization excavated the entire area, removing 1-2 feet of soil and all the hard surfaces, including the old driveway and sidewalks. Then they brought in new soil, layering the entire area with sandy loam and organic matter.

DiLorenzo says the importance of good soil can't be understated. "It's all about the soil," she says. Especially when gardeners are growing produce organically, she says.

The organization will complete the garden by adding a toolshed, fence, and water spigot and should be finished with the new garden by mid-May--just in time for gardeners to get to work planting, she says. While this particular garden is nearly filled, sign-ups are still going on, and DiLorenzo encourages anyone who may be interested in having a plot in the new community garden to contact the organization. Even if they are not able to assign the person a plot, it will help them get an accurate measurement of the number of plots they will need, which will help with future site planning, she says.

To find out more about getting a garden plot, contact the Capital District Community Gardens at 274-8685 or email them at info@cdcg.org

To your health: Kitsu restaurant opens

Kitsu is hard to ignore. It's the new restaurant on Central Avenue with the giant setting sun in the style of the Japanese flag painted on the front.

"You definitely won't miss it," says owner James Chen with a laugh. Kitsu's door is the center of the flaming sun, and when you enter, more murals greet you. Birds and Japanese symbols decorate the walls alongside large abstract canvases. The paintings are the work of Tommy Watkins, a local artist. Kitsu owner James Chen collaborated with him on the restaurant remodel. It is the fourth restaurant the two have worked on; Chen also owns Mr. Wasabi, Shogun, and Edo.

Kitsu, which means "health," opened last month. Kitsu is the third Asian restaurant to open on this strip this year, but insted of being intimidated, Chen believes the competition will help. The area has become a destination for people looking for good international cuisine, he says. Central is a high traffic area, another advantage for this new business, he says.

Kitsu offers a full Japanese menu, but specializes in sushi with a number of custom-made rolls. The restaurant also serves a number of Hibachi entrees, including salmon, filet mignon and lobster tail. "A lot of people, they don't just want to stick with a plain California roll or tuna roll," Chen says. He maintains a white board of lunch and dinner specials at the newly remodeled sushi counter.

Located at the site of the former Saso's Noodle House, the restaurant has undergone an extensive update, including the addition of sleek modern tables and chairs and new countertops. The upscale restaurant is also in the process of obtaining their liquor license, and expects to be able to serve alcohol by the end of this month, says Chen.

A veteran restauranteur, Chen says the secret of running a successful restaurant is good food, good service and quality atmosphere. With that in mind, it looks like Kitsu is off to a healthy start.

CDTA unveils new high-tech website

CDTA has launched a new website that brings their riders up to the minute service information.

The new website combines Twitter and RSS feeds, and a new iPhone application and text messaging that promises to deliver route and schedule information directly to riders cell phones and PDA’s.

“Communicating effectively with our customers, stakeholders and potential riders is critical to providing efficient service in the way they want it and a top priority for CDTA,” said CDTA Chairman Dave Stackrow. “Integrating the latest technology tools into our new website helps us to provide the most current information on service changes and improvement plans and also encourages our customers to become engaged in transit planning decisions.”

The new website www.cdta.org, went live January 27. The website receives nearly 1.2 million hits annually.

New store offers on bargain prices on designer fashion

Clothes Mentor, a nationwide chain of resale stores, has opened a franchise in Albany, offering designer labels to locals at a fraction of what you'd pay at retail stores. The store opened February 27, and owner Kellie Robertson says it's been full of customers ever since.

"People are very excited that we're here, both to buy and to sell," Robertson says.

Robertson and her husband Neil Robertson opened the resale store after the success of their sister store, Plato's Closet, which is just next door. Plato's Closet, also a resale store, focuses on teen clothing, while Clothes Mentor focuses on clothing for adults, including 0-plus size 24, maternity wear, and accessories, she says.

The store offers cash on the spot for recent fashions in good condition, and buys all seasons--and customers reap the benefits, getting pieces for 80% less than they would spend at the mall, says Robertson. "In this economy, it's the best thing around," she says.

The store also has a wide selection of accessories, including designer purses from Coach and Dooney & Bourke. Robertson invites customers to come in and check out their selection. The clothes are organized by size and item, and displayed neatly on racks, so that you can find exactly what you're looking for, she says.

Clothes Mentor is located at 818 Central Avenue. The store hours are 10am-8pm. For more information, call the store at 689-1019.

New Dentist Office Under Construction on Colvin

What was once a wooded lot on the corner of Colvin and Lincoln is now being turned into a brand-new dentist office.

Robert Vignali, DDS will open new offices at 29 Colvin Avenue this spring. The new one story building will include a 23-space parking lot adjacent to Buell Street.

The dentist office represents the "highest and best" use for this vacant land, says Joseph Cunniff, Upper Washington Neighborhood Association President.

The parcel has been vacant for many years, and during that time, many businesses have been proposed for it, including ice cream shops, drive-thru banks and drug stores, but they were deemed not a good fit for the highly residential area, says Cunniff. However, the neighborhood association is eager to welcome this new business to the area. "Although there are those who hoped the property would remain vacant forever, we are happy to have a new neighbor who we believe will blend into the neighborhood seamlessly and will be an asset to our neighborhood and city," says Cunniff. "Indeed we are pleased that this parcel will now join the tax rolls and help contribute to our city's bottom line."

The dentist has agreed to incorporate a wooded area along one side of the parking lot, to screen it from the adjacent houses, Cunniff says.

The new offices of Dr. Robert Vignali, DDS will be located at 29 Colvin Avenue.

Albany Police are trying to determine if there is a connection with recent reports of a man impersonating a fire inspector with three additional incidents that have occurred since last July in the city.

Officers took a report yesterday at 91 Southern Boulevard from the owner
of the Food Mart. The owner said on Monday while his wife was watching
the store a man walked in and showed a badge and told her he was an
inspector from the Albany Fire Department and he was there to inspect
the fire extinguishers. He then placed a certification tag around the
extinguisher and gave the wife a receipt for $40 which she paid. The
suspect is described as a white or Hispanic male, medium height and
build

In addition there were two more incidents that occurred this afternoon.
One at 423 Madison Avenue, Emperors Palace and one at the Lark Street
Flower Shop at 262 Lark Street. The suspect was successful in getting
$40 from Emperors Palace but was unsuccessful at the flower shop. He
was described as a Hispanic male, 6’ wearing a blue puffy jacket

It also appears this individual also approached other businesses in
Guilderland, Colonie and Schenectady with the same motive.

In 2009 there were three additional reports in which a man claimed to be
an inspector for the Albany Fire Extinguisher Company and was there to
inspect their fire extinguishers. On July 17 a man walked into the
Unique Army & Navy store at 129 Central Avenue and told the clerk he
wanted $40 to check their extinguisher otherwise they would face a $500
fine from the Albany Fire Department.

On July 20 a man walked into the Subway at 324 Central Avenue and
approached the manager and told him he was there to inspect the
extinguishers and wanted $30. The manager refused to pay him and the
man left the store.

On December 22 a man walked into the EZ Care Fabric Store at 900 Central
Avenue and told the clerk he was from the Albany Fire Extinguisher
Company and wanted money to inspect the extinguisher. He was
unsuccessful in getting any money and left the store.

Mayor Jennings stated, “All of our local businesses should be on alert
to the fact that it appears we have someone impersonating an Albany Fire
Fighter or a representative from a local fire extinguisher

company and are trying to elicit payment for fake inspections. I
strongly encourage anyone who is approached in this manner and is
suspicious of the individual’s credentials, to call our police
department.”

Chief Robert Forezzi Sr. said, “All of our firefighters, as well as our
inspectors from the Division of Building & Codes, are equipped with the
proper identification that they must carry at all times when on duty.
Any fees associated with inspection services are only received at City
Hall and if anyone feels something improper has occurred they should
report it immediately to the department.”

Detective James Miller
Department Spokesperson
City of Albany Police Dept

Chinatown's grand opening: Lively celebration for promising new venture

The One of a Kind Teahouse held its grand opening December 28, and like its namesake, the celebration was unique. Complete with dancing dragons, a generous complementary lunch buffet, the mayor and other city dignitaries, and flashing paparazzi, the celebration brought together the best of old and new traditions for what promises to be an exciting new business venture on Central Avenue.

The teahouse is a "focal point" for the business, a place where everyone can gather together for food and drink in the ancient tradition, says Jenny Liu-Nhan, Chinatown's co-owner.

Started two years ago by Matthew Nhan and his wife, Jenny Liu-Nhan, the Chinatown complex is a unique retail project. When it is completed, the building will house several Asian-inspired stores, an eatery and teahouse, as well as an upscale Chinese restaurant, providing a wealth of shopping and dining experiences for Central Avenue. The project is located on the same block as several other Asian restaurants including Van's Vietnamese and CCK, making this part of Central even more of a destination for visitors.

Mayor Jerry Jennings attended the ribbon-cutting and celebration and praised the Nhans for their creative vision. "Small investments like this make a big difference," Jennings says. It's independent business owners like the Nhans who are going to turn Central Avenue around, he added.

Originally, the Nhans hoped to open the entire complex at once, but an uncooperative economy and complicated building codes changed their plans, and so they have decided to open the businesses in stages, says Jenny Liu-Nhan, Chinatown's co-owner. "The economy hasn't gone well, and that put a little damper on it, but we're back on track now," she says.

The teahouse will open January 15, followed by the stores in the spring. The restaurant is expected to open next year.

The Nhans have spent over a year remodeling the former furniture store, and the results--inside and out--are beautiful. The building is divided into several small spaces with a long hallway running down the center. The hallway is decorated with cherry paneling, and boasts a pagoda-like facade that gives you the feeling that you are walking through a Chinese marketplace, not a storefront in Albany. The rear of the building has been reserved for a large Chinese restaurant, and construction on this part is still under way.

"You create a sense of place with this type of architecture that people want to come to and hang out in," says Anthony Capece, Executive Director for the Central Business Improvement District. "This is another destination on Central Avenue."

The tea house is also beautiful. A bamboo screen divides the dining room from a small sitting area which has been decorated with ornate cherry furniture. The ancient-looking tables and chairs are all custom made, and promote a sense of timeless tradition, says Liu-Nhan.

Biggest Winners Celebrate Victories at Closing Ceremony

Maria Morales Before the Biggest Winner Program

Maria Morales After the Biggest Winner Program

Maria Morales lost 127 pounds with the help of the local Biggest Winner Program, but she's not the only person to find success. In fact, in the Biggest Winner program, everyone's a winner.

This year-long health program has helped hundreds of people drop pounds, control their diabetes, quit smoking, and lower their blood pressure, but most importantly, it has helped them take control of their health--and that makes them all winners.

Now, the local grassroots initiative is drawing to a close, and to celebrate these victories, the whole community will be invited to a closing ceremony, to be held January 28 from 4-7pm. The location has not yet been announced.

The ceremony will include singing, dancing, and some inspirational stories from Biggest Winner participants. The evening will culminate with a grand prize drawing for $5,000.

Started in April, the Biggest Winner program is a collaboration between Downtown Campus of the University at Albany's Center for Excellence in Aging program and the Healthy Hearts on the Hill program. (both programs particpate on the Central Avenue Farmers Market) The program has about 260 participants, who were recruited at block parties, health fairs, farmers' markets, and other community events across the city, says Kimberly Connell, program coordinator through the Center for Excellence in Aging. "People were very eager to be a part of it," Connell says.

These participants agree to work toward a healthier lifestyle, and they earn points for participating in healthy activities like exercising, visiting the doctor regularly, and eating healthy food, she says. These points are recorded on a scorecard, which they carry with them and then turn in at the end of the month.

The Biggest Winner is a winner because of its relatively narrow focus, Connell says. The program also works because it engaged people in their own communities, and provided help that was in line with individual goals, she says. The program also gave participants plenty of incentives to stick with their new healthier lifestyle, including monthly prize drawings for people who earned at least 30 points. At the end of the year, these individuals qualify for the grand prize drawing of $5,000.

The program focuses on taking small manageable steps, but participants report that the impact is anything but small. Ron Scott, Townsend Park Homes Tenant Association President helped bring the program to the affordable housing complex on Central Avenue. Scott is active with "Just Say Yes to Fruits and Vegetables," Healthy Hearts on the Hill, Active Choices, and serves as a task force member for the Neighborhood Health Task Force and the Center for the Elimination of Minority Health Disparities. He liked the Biggest Winner program because it "ties all these programs together," he says, and because it helps residents feel like they're in charge of their aging and health.

Since bringing the program to the complex, Scott says more residents are taking advantage of the nearby Albany YMCA. He also reports that the seniors have become more mobile, and are taking advantage of some of the activities in the area. Residents will tell him they walked to the CVS and back, the next time he sees them, they say they've gone to the park, he says. "They're more active and sometimes that means their minds are more active," he says.

One winner's story

Looking at Maria Morales, it's hard to believe that just over a year ago, she weighed 300 pounds. Today, this woman is a svelte 173 pounds, and full of life, but a year ago, she says, she spent a lot of time at home, in bed. "I would get up to go to the bathroom, or the kitchen, and then go back to bed," Morales says, sitting on the couch in her parents living room. "I didn't do anything."

Morales attributes her weight to depression; not long before the weight gain, she had broken off her marriage. She also successfully battled two bouts with Hodgkins-Lymphoma, but the cancer had left her with a rod, plate, and screws in her leg. She was taking regular medication to combat the pain, but it left her feeling slow and lethargic.

Finally, her primary care physician, Dr. Robert Paeglow, gave her a hard dose of reality. "'Maria,' he said, 'you're going to die of a heart attack if you don't lose some weight,'" she recalls. After that, she says, she made a conscious decision to start a diet and start exercising. Morales wasn't a big eater, but she liked her sweets, she says--cookies, cake, candy, ice cream--and giving them up was not easy. She also joined a gym, and began to swim regularly at her brother's pool and go on long walks. She was on a fixed income, so she needed to find affordable ways to get in shape. Initially, she was exercising 4-5 times a day, a vigorous schedule for anyone, but for someone so overweight, it was particularly challenging. Sometimes, it was hard to find the motivation, but Morales just kept telling herself she could do it and that her life was worth it. In no time at all, she had gotten down to 279 pounds, but she felt like she needed some support to keep going.

Dr. Paeglow, who was one of the co-founders of the Biggest Winner program, encouraged her to join the new initiative as a way to stay on track. Morales joined and found great support in the new program, she says. She liked it because it covered the full spectrum of health, both physical and mental. She got involved in new activities like zumba, and began attending regular meetings Overeaters' Anonymous meetings. As a result, she became more social, more self-confident, she said. "Now I feel like that Mary J. Blige song, 'You Ain't Got Nothing on Me,'" she says with a laugh.

Before the Biggest Winner program, Morales had trouble walking up a flight of stairs, today the 39-year-old woman feels like she can do anything. "That program saved my life," she says. She glows with new life, and looks forward eagerly to what awaits. Morales has a new boyfriend, and is contemplating another wedding. She is also looking forward to returning to school and finishing her clinicals so that she can become a nurse, she says. The Biggest Winner program taught her the secrets of healthy living, and she plans to continue working out and eating right: "Now I know forever how to do it," she says.

Morales is looking forward to the Closing Ceremony and her shot at the $5,000 grand prize, but, she says, she already got the best prize she could hope for: she got control of her life. "The Biggest reward for me is that I'm going to live," she said. "I'm not going to die."

NABA completes tenant parking lot

The Northeastern Association for the Blind of Albany completed their brand-new parking lot on Central Avenue. The parking lot will provide much needed spaces to the non-profit's tenants at their two adjacent properties. The lot also offers a small green space for clients' guide dogs, complete with a picnic table donated by the Girls, Inc. club of Albany.

The new lot was completed in mid-November, and is now in use. For safety and security, the parking lot is fenced with handsome brick and iron; tenants are issued a code to gain entrance. New lightpoles have been added to ensure that the parking lot is well-lit. It's been landscaped as well, to make it more pleasant.

The lot will provide 10 spaces to the University at Albany, NABA's tenants at 299 Washington Avenue, as well as additional spaces for the future tenants at 80 Central Avenue, says Christopher Burke, NABA's Executive Director.

Eighty Central is currently empty, but NABA is in talks with a potential tenant for the old building, says Burke. If terms are agreed upon and met, this tenant would take a good portion of the building's 17,000 square feet, and NABA would use the remainder to expand its children's programming and technology resources, he says. NABA is already pressed for space in its current location at 301 Central, and by collaborating with this potential tenant, they could gain as much as 5,000 additional square feet.

The new tenant will not be named until all the paperwork has been finalized. In the interim, NABA is trying to identify funding to begin to rehab the old building, starting with the historic facade. This process could begin as early as spring, Burke says.

The collaboration with this new tenant is very exciting, Burke says. Building a new parking lot, securing tenants, and restoring an adjacent building for expanded programming is part of an innovative multi-phase approach to building and developing the agency. It's ambitious, but also it's exciting, Burke says. "That will make us permanent," he says.