PRIDELY - Upstate New York 2023

Home Improvement

Good Eats

Event Calendar

Luxury Cruise Lines

Budgeting 101

Renovations

to increase home value

Personalization: We all want to make our home unique to our own character. However, when it comes time to sell, buyers want to envision themselves in the home, which can be difficult if the entire home is personalized to you. Avoid any personalization that is difficult to undo and stick to a nice universal outlook that speaks to everyone.

Landscaping: Just like with personalizing, it’s best to keep it simple. Some home buyers may love how elaborate your landscaping may look, but most of the time they’re considering the cost of upkeep or the difficulty of maintaining that look. A clean lawn with curb appeal is the best first impression to give to potential buyers.

Closet Space: Some of us are minimalist and can do with a larger room by sacrificing closet space, but most potential buyers value the importance of storage. Remember, buyers want to see themselves living in the home, and a lack of closet space might send them looking elsewhere.

Bold Paint: Freshly painted rooms are a great way to brighten up your home. There’s nothing wrong with bringing a little color into your home but keep in mind that buyers may not favor the same colors you do. Stick to keeping the colors subtle with small accents and focus more on neutral tones to appeal to potential buyers.

Trendy Designs: Barn doors and patterned tiles may look great to some buyers, but avoid trendy designs that might be outdated when you decide to sell. No matter how tempting the latest home design trend may be, the classic look is always the safest bet.

DIY Projects: Projects that you build yourself are great, but only when they’re done professionally. This is important to potential buyers so make sure if you’re going to do your own home project, that you do it exceptionally well. This also applies to repairs, quick cover ups will only get you so far. These sort of projects can either increase or decrease the value of your home so make sure you know what you’re doing before proceeding.

Long-Term Necessities: When it comes to renovations, keep in mind that not every buyer needs a built in office desk, or a workshop, or anything that may seem like a great idea to you. Tread carefully when adding permanent fixtures, not all buyers have the same vision as you when it comes to changes made. Make sure your room structures allow the flexibility for potential buyers to make their own changes.

Restaurants

Villa di Como Ristorante

Imported ingredients directly from Italy and authentic Italian food and gourmet pizzas and Limoncello

286 Lark St, Albany, NY 12210

Web: www.villadicomo.com | Phone: (518) 475-7777

Grappa ‘72

Elegant eatery, tucked away in a strip mall, featuring classic Italian fare, music & grappa.

818 Central Ave, Albany, NY 12206

Web: grappa72.com | Phone: (518) 482-7200

Athos Restaurant

Authentic Greek fare in an upscale setting with a lively bar, fixed-price specials & Friday music.

1814 Western Ave, Albany, NY 12203

Web: www.athosrestaurant.com | Phone: (518) 608-6400

Have a restaurant you’d like us to feature?

Send in a recommendation for your favorite restaurant to be added to our list. Be sure to mention why you think they are worthy of being featured and include a link to their website.

Cafe Calabria II

Family-run bistro serving Southern Italian dishes such as veal marsala & pasta in a warm setting.

1736 Western Ave, Albany, NY

Dove + Deer

Great cocktails and a happy hour, with vegetarian dishes available.

32 Dove St, Albany, NY

Hill Street Cafe

Old-timey, wood-paneled hangout offering pub grub & craft draft beer, along with growlers to go.

180 Madison Ave, Albany, NY

Phoebe’s Restaurant

Long-running skylight-topped American bistro serving a seasonal menu, with an attached coffee bar.

900 E Genesee St, Syracuse, NY

Isaan Thai Star

Authentic North Eastern Thai Cuisine prepared by Chefs from the Isaan region of Thailand.

41 N 7th St, Hudson, NY

The Cascades

Long-running deli, espresso bar & cafe serving breakfast & sandwiches in a casual, old-school space.

407 Warren St, Hudson, NY

Otro Cinco

Spanish & Mexican plates, craft beers & boutique wines in a buzzy space with old-world atmosphere.

206 S Warren St, Syracuse, NY

The Cuckoo’s Nest

Homey Southern fare with cocktails, presented in an eclectic setting with full bar & happy hour.

234 Western Ave, Albany, NY

Pastabilities

Contemporary eatery serves homemade pasta dishes & Italian-American fare.

311 S Franklin St, Syracuse, NY

The Hollow Bar

American eats, rotating craft beers & live music.

79 N Pearl St, Albany, NY

EVENTS

Apr 8

Syracuse Wine Festival

Empire State Wine Events brings back the Syracuse Wine Festival at the CNY Regional Market. Sample wine, spirits, and food from 40+ vendors. Wine, spirits, food, music, and fun in SHED F at the CNY Regional Market in Syracuse. Enjoy unlimited samples of wines, spirits, and specialty foods from across New York state’s fantastic wine regions. Purchase your favorite bottles for take-home and we will store them in the holding area until you are ready to leave. Did you say FOOD TRUCKS! We will have three of the most popular food trucks in the area standing by so you can purchase a meal. Learn more at eventbrite.com.

May 13-14

Albany Tulip Festival

Historic events celebrating Albany’s rich, Dutch heritage combined with multiple stages of acclaimed live music, craft vendors, a fine arts show, children’s activities, and great food to make Tulip Festival a free, one-of-akind event for the whole family. Visit www.albanyevents.org

Jun 2-4

Fairport Canal Days

One of the most popular arts festivals in New York State, Fairport Canal Days sets sail with an opening chicken BBQ and concert on Friday evening. Join us and enjoy over 200 artisans, many fine food vendors, great live music and a Kids Zone of fun! It’s family friendly, fantastic fun in Fairport. Learn more at www.fairportcanaldays.com.

Jul 22-25

Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Weekend

Be there as National Baseball Hall of Fame members make the annual trip to Cooperstown, NY for the Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Weekend. Just a short drive from Albany, Cooperstown will be buzzing with Baseball greats and fans alike looking to take part in the weekends special events including the coveted Induction Ceremony. More at baseballhall.org.

EVENTS

Aug 7-28

Bands on Bricks

One of Rochester’s most popular FREE concert series, Bands on the Bricks brings the Rochester Public Market to the evening set with national-act and local live music on Fridays in July and August. Enjoy local food and beverage vendors at the market as well, to complete your night! Learn more at eventbrite.com.

Sep 21-24

50th Annual Adirondack Balloon Festival 2023

A major highlight of the Lake George/Glens Falls region each fall - don’t miss the Adirondack Balloon Festival, celebrating it’s 50th anniversary in 2023! Watch the sky fill with color at this beautiful event for all. Learn more at www.lakegeorge.com.

Oct 21

Swain Beer Festival

Beer Fest is back at Swain Resort! With over 30 breweries, vendors, live music, food trucks and more, this year will be one of the best yet. Get your Early Bird tickets now and save big! Details at swain.com.

Jan 26-28

Albany Chefs’ Food & Wine Festival

The highly anticipated Albany Chefs’ Food & Wine Festival is a three-day festival that markets Albany’s restaurants, chefs, and their innovative cuisine; educates consumers on healthy, sustainable agriculture; and provides sustainable funding for the support and preservation of the notfor-profit arts community in Albany, NY. Visit albanywinefest.com.

Feb 2

Saranac Lake Winter Carnival 2024

The Carnival includes diverse activities such as: Ice palace built of ice “mined” in Pontiac Bay, various sporting events, festive parade, children parade, fireworks show, and so much more. Visit carnifest.com.

With lodging, food and entertainment all included in one price, choosing to do a vacation on a cruise gives great value. Traveling on the sea can be extremely fun, but it is important to choose the correct cruise line. If you’re going to spend a lot of your vacation time on a cruise ship, it may as well be one of luxury. Thankfully, there’s many luxury cruise lines ready to cater to your every

whim while ferrying you to and from some of the world’s most mesmerizing destinations in plush comfort. Some offer exotic voyages to faraway destinations, while others attract travelers with comfortable cabins and stimulating enrichment programs. Use this guide as a starting point to find out which luxury cruise fits best for your next vacation.

We made a list that factors in itinerary affordability, health ratings, and reputation among experts and travelers.

EATING THE PSYCHOLOGY

Control weight gain and compulsive eating behaviors by making better choices about the food that you eat.

Control weight gain and compulsive eating behaviors by making better choices about the food that you eat.

ConsumptionSome of us more than others realize that what we eat can effect how we feel such as eating too little or too much. We should be able to enjoy what we eat but also feel better when we do.

Eating healthy is a challenging task that many of us

strive to achieve but often fall short.

InfluencesCultural, social, family, and economical factors may be a direct influence linked to our food and eating behaviors. However, a more serious influence such as stress, boredom and anxiety can play a larger role as many of us eat as a coping mechanism.

Although it can

sometimes help bring relief and ease feelings, it often leads to regret and build more negativity. Avoiding the problem with food will often create another problem with self-image when suffering from weight gain or other negative affects caused by unhealthy eating.

Weight Management -

Here are tips to help you manage your weight.

For starters, never skip a meal. By skipping a meal, you’re allowing yourself to become

hungry later which can result in reckless binge eating. Be sure to plan your meals ahead of time and limit night time snacking. This will allow you to always be one step ahead

of your weight by creating a routine. If you’re getting a craving between meals, try to exercise or find another way to distract yourself from food. continued on page 16

Eating Diary - This is a great tool to keep track of your eating habits.

Record what food you eat and when you eat it. Also take note of how you feel after eating and if you were doing anything while eating such as using your phone or watching TV.

By recording your habits, you will be able to pinpoint which foods and activities to avoid. The diary can also assist you when you’re working with a dietitian to help you make the best decisions.

PRIDE CENTER OF THE CAPITAL REGION

The mission of the Pride Center of the Capital Region is to promote the well-being of all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer-identified people and those affected by discrimination based on gender identity and expression.

Web: capitalpridecenter.org

SAGE UPSTATE INC

SAGE Upstate promotes the well-being of older gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in CNY through health programs, socials, support groups, & education. Web: www.sageupstate.org | Phone: (315) 478-1923

HUDSON PRIDE FOUNDATION

Hudson Pride Center is a home and voice for the diverse LGBTQ community and our allies that advocates for our physical, mental, social and political well-being. We create safe and vibrant spaces to gather and celebrate our lives. Web: hudsonpride.org

SYRACUSE GAY & LESBIAN CHORUS

The Syracuse Gay and Lesbian Chorus is a community choral ensemble of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people and their allies, dedicated to providing and performing an eclectic and entertaining offering of quality choral music which reflects the diverse nature of our community and serves to unite us with the wider community around us. Web: www.syrglc.org | Phone: (315) 476-4329

IMAGEOUT

ImageOut presents LGBT arts and cultural experiences showcasing films, other creative works and artists to promote awareness, foster dialogue and build community. Web: www.imageout.org | Phone: (585) 271-2640

HUDSON VALLEY LGBTQ COMMUNITY CENTER

Our mission is to support the LGBTQ+ community by promoting well-being, advocating for equity and opportunity, and celebrating our diverse experiences. Web: lgbtqcenter.org