SperlingViews - Albany, New_york

The shopping here is pretty decent both in Albany and the outlying suburbs. Yes, it is cheaper here than a lot of places but it is a haven for people who have to live off food stamps and unemployment and disability. The people have a very curt attitude in various parts of the capital region. They smile and say nice things or talk to you but behind their words is a **** you attitude. Too many people smoke here. It's like living in the 1970s with a really ignorant attitude. I regret moving here and we're getting out anywhere soon. [read more...]

Unless you work for the state the only job options (possibly) are retail jobs with a huge turn over.[read more...]

I am originally from Long Island but I have been living in Albany for a several years since I attended college here and the cost of living is much cheaper compared to the NYC metro area. Like every city/region, Albany has it's pros and cons. Living here for some time I can relate to some of the negatives stated in previous comments. Albany is bitter cold in the mid-winter months with having negative to teen temperatures on average many days. Albany, as well as with a lot of areas in upstate New York, is very gray and overcast, particularly during the winter. The weather can definitely make one feel gloomy and depressed and is probably the biggest con about Albany and the whole capital region. One spring comes around the weather gets much nicer with less rainy days, fall is the best season with the foliage and crisp temperatures. I agree with a previous comment that comparing Albany to bigger cities is like comparing apples to oranges. Albany is small city and it's primary purpose is home of the New York State government and some other small industries. This isn't the type of city a typical young, single person would move to for opportunity and excitement. There are many young people here but mostly because they went to college here (Albany is a big college town with some fine institutions) or they native to the area. People are generally friendly and down-to-earth. Being a low key city you don't find many "hipsters", which can be good thing. However that doesn't mean there isn't diversity and I encountered all kinds of people up here. The Albany region is great for families since there are many nice suburbs with good public schools and recreation. I personally find the suburbs of Albany and capital region nicer than some suburbs outside of bigger cities. There are some run-down areas but just as many nice areas. For a city it's size, Albany has a lot to offer for entertainment which seems to be under-appreciated by many of the people. There are many bars, clubs, restaurants, and stores that are enjoyable and nightlife in downtown areas is very good on the weekends. Other surrounding cities have a lot to offer as well: Saratoga is only about 30 minutes away with a horse-racing events in the summer and a beautiful, quaint downtown area also containing many great shops, restaurants, and bars. The city of Schenectady has been revitalized in some parts making it enjoyable as well. Another benefit about Albany is the outdoor activity. There are many great parks (Washington Park, The Crossings, Thatcher State Park) along with the Adirondacks, Catskills, and Lake George close by offering fun hiking trails and water-rafting. There are mixed feeling when it comes to employment and job opportunities in Albany. Almost everywhere in the United States is having declined job-growth because of the economic recession. Regardless, people have found good jobs in Albany. The diversity of job types seems to be more of a problem rather than the number of available employment opportunities. This is to be expected since it is small city. Albany is a pretty good place to live if you don't mind a smaller city with a laid-back lifestyle. If you don't like cold, rainy weather and would rather be in a bigger more cosmopolitan city this is not the right place for you. [read more...]

Even though a local paper states that the area "held its own," during the recession, employment opportunities are somewhat limited.[read more...]

It's cheap.[read more...]

Albany is a wonderful place to live. Especially now that the market for real estate and housing is on the up and up again. I would recommend it to live in some Albany NY apartments. www.apartmentguide.com/apartments/New-York/Albany/Loudon-Arms-Apartments/100004594/ [read more...]

Albany is dismal, cold, has terribly long harsh winters, and the population includes a lot of very crabby unhappy people. It is without question the most godawful miserable place I've ever seen. The only thing worse is the cities around it! It is part of the postindustrial apocalypse of Troy, Schenecdtady and other towns. Upstate NY was abandoned by something. The whole town in living in the distant past (the 19th and early 20th Centuries). The only nice things are the university, the low-cost (ghetto) of everything, and the architecture downtown, but it is a place in perpetual slum decline. Nothing could help it. The population has been fleeing and in the negative for years. Don't believe the optimistic reports.It's a place to go to college or visit, but definitely don't move there. The same goes for other towns like Syracuse NY. You wouldn't want to walk around at night there.[read more...]

Planning a move I on a fixed income presently and am seeking a small or medium city that isnt too horrible but cheap, as I sure you you can imagine [read more...]

Although state employees are a significant portion of the local workforce and budget cuts are looming, the job market has remained steady compared to other states. People are actually finding jobs - I've seen it happen.[read more...]

Beautiful Adirondacks!![read more...]

Another American Enlightned City To Avoid - So, where to go...?? Forget Albany, NY, unless you are uLtRa DiVeRsE and ready to turn any/all Cleaver Family people into the passive terrorist Station Chief if you're not uLtRa DiVeRsE and PeeSee -- so to be allowed, for example, to have a job. No joke. No Hyperbole. This kind of filthy devolved anti-American city_behavior is beneath shameful, disgusting and the perps should be brought up on hate crime charges. Why the comment about being single? You left us hanging there.[read more...]

Albany is a nice city in upstate NY. The change of seasons is often quite dramatic especially when changing from summer to fall. The colors are magnificent in Autumn and all you have to do is look out your window or go for a drive.[read more...]

The city of Albany old, poor and run down. The downtown is empty during the nights and weekends except for a couple of blocks where the bars are. The nightlife is populated with mostly poor and uneducated people. The college areas are run down and often referred to as the "student ghettos". Most people that work in Albany do not live in the city. Nearby suburban areas like Colonie actually have a larger population than Albany does. There is not much "city life", shopping is all in strip malls and large indoor malls. Other nearby cities like Troy and Schenectady are even more run down. The only good area near Albany is Saratoga which is about a 40 min drive north. The winters are long and tough - about 6 months out of the year you can get snowfall and we typically get about 2 or 3 large snowfalls a year (1/2-2ft of snow). It is cold and dry during the winter and summers last a blink of the eye and are typically humid. There is no where good to go during the summer, except for some hiking/biking trails and mountain climbing and a couple of lakes up north. One good thing - if you like taking weekend trips you have NYC to the south, Boston to the east, and Montreal to the north and other more nearby areas that are nice to visit.[read more...]

Albany has recently attracted several hi-tech companies in addition to the multi-billion dollar Nano-tech Center. Albany and the surrounding areas have been dubbed "Tech Valley," the Silicon Valley of the East Coast. Situated amongst five mountain ranges and very accessible to New York City, Boston, Montreal and Buffalo, New York State's Capital City is a great place to call home. The cost of living is very reasonable, the people are incredibly friendly, and several colleges and universities are found nearby. If you're looking for a great small big city that is growing every day, place value the outdoors and desire access to several major cities, Albany may be the perfect home for you.[read more...]

myy boiifrennd says iihtz great .. ii may go to a college there for journaliism .. and from the comments and movies ive read and seen new york seemz lyk a great place to live and sieze great oppurtuniitiies and really follow your BIG DREAMS .. ;) .. iid liive there any dayy !! ..mann ii should liive there lyk now ..lol[read more...]

Although it is fairly small as cities go it has a lot to offer. Albany not only has a very active array of small venues which offer live music, poetry readings and theater--it is within an easy ride to Boston and NYC. Better still, it's easy to escape to the country-- the Adirondacks and Catskill Mts are a stones throw away.[read more...]

Folks from NYC who take shots at Albany have never been there. Sure the State legislature is worthless but the people outside taht building are very nice, and yeas Ed Koch, there are some great resturants. Try Carmine's on teh western part of Central Avenue. Wolf Road in suburban Albany would give any suburban shooping district a run for its money.[read more...]

My husband and I both got our grad degrees at SUNY Albany, then left for the greener pastures of NYC. Twelve years later, we're back with our 2 year old and returning is the best decision we could have made. In NYC we could never afford to buy a single family home; here we have a gorgeous house for less than 300K. In NYC it takes 100 years to get to a good supermarket, Target or the gym if you don't live close to such amenities; here, we walk to all of life's necessities and it's a quick drive to shops further away. Nature is close by, there are tons of cultural activities in the area, people are friendly, and, if I need a fix, NYC is 3 hours away. We have met lots of transplants from downstate and we all agree - the quality of life here for families is wonderful.[read more...]

Albany is a mixed bag. While the cost of living isn't too high, the housing is very, very old and much of the city seems rundown compared to other places that I've lived. I live in a more refurbished area which is nice, but the parking is a hassle much of the time even though I ride the bus quite often. The city government is not reponsive and leaders seem to be more interested in taking care of themselves than putting the residents first. Everyone says the schools are bad, but I'm not sure if they really are, or if it's just a knee-jerk reaction--urban school system--must be bad. On the plus side, there are great restaurants, theaters, and shopping in the city and surrounding towns, the scenery is great, and it's a great location if you like going to larger cities such as Boston or New York.[read more...]

Lovely new park at The Crossings in Colonie, great family place to BBQ, super playground and fun maze.[read more...]