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SCHENECTADY
Strolling events could attract Friday visitors
BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter

For those who want a less artsy reason to come downtown, there’s now passeggiata. On the third Friday of every month, the Schenectady County Visitors Agency will host a strollabout, where visitors are encouraged through walking events to stroll downtown. Passeggiata is an Italian word referring to the tradition of going for an after-dinner stroll. The event will kick off from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday with a “welcome students” theme. Strollers can buy $5 tickets to the Wing Walk, which gets them a free wing from many restaurants downtown. Even the Indian Taj Mahal Restaurant is getting in on the act, with a tandoori-style wing.
    After visiting at least six restaurants, strollers can vote on their favorite wing.
    DJs will run a two-hour student dance party on Jay Street with electronic dance music. The party begins at 7 p.m.
    Proctors will also show “The Big Lebowski” in the GE Theater at 7 p.m., with discounts and free popcorn for students.
    Many of the downtown stores and restaurants will also offer discounts for students.
    Visitors Agency spokeswoman Leesa Perazzo said she hopes they will offer their own events to dovetail with each theme, just as they participate in Art Night each month.
    “Art Night is certainly alive and well, but we wanted something not so pinpointed, that merchants could get involved in easier,” she said. “It was hard for people to only focus on art.”
    So far, merchants are leaning toward art anyway.
    Orenda Yoga & Healing Arts, at 609 Union St., will showcase art from local college students. Every month, the art will change to match the theme for that passeggiata.
    At Zaria & Bella’s, 158 Jay St., artist Jonathan Hammer will create a painting throughout the evening while strollers watch.
    The new Schenectady County Community College dorm, at 117 Washington Ave., will hold an open house with music provided by SCCC music students.
    The most ambitious offering may be at the Moon & River Cafe, 118 S. Ferry St., where an entire musical will be performed in the small venue.
    The show, “Trane Trax,” will highlight the life of jazz legend John Coltrane. It’s running Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. and is free, but donations are requested.
    Cafe owner Richard Genest is hoping passeggiata brings new people downtown.
    “I like the poetry of it,” he said. “Just the very idea of people out strolling as a part of their life. Getting out of their cars and meeting people face to face. I think it’s a good name and a good concept.” .........................>>>>...........................>>>>..........................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r00904&AppName=1

Crap I thought it was going to be a stroll through Hamilton Hill for prospective home buyers. Was going to run out and put a for sale sign up.  

Id like a stroll through the city financials or the metroplex deal paperwork.  

"Visitor Agency Spokesman " City Councilwoman Leesa Perrazo! The same idiot that voted to rape the City
taxpayers by flat lining sales tax revenue while the County receipts are up 3X. She should organize a tour of the
assessor office and 700 home foreclosed by DEM morons. Good luck with your Mayor race next time! ROTFLMAO!

Having read the article this morning I will share my thoughts.

I think that the idea in theory is a good one. However, that being said, it is once again a bit of "lipstick on a pig." If we are to lure people downtown, then there must be a reason to come. Many years ago downtown had such an event. It occurred weekly. On Thursday evenings, and it was successful. It brought together residents in a vibrant setting where they could stroll, meet and chat with their neighbors, perhaps take in a movie or grab a bite to eat. But the real draw of the Thursday evening strolls in Downtown, were the many retail outlets. That my friends is what is needed today. Retail, retail, retail. Not a phony attempt to create a buzz. Why in the name of God is it necessary to charge $5 to have the privilege of sampling wings? Absurd!

What ever happened to the day in the park -forget, was it wednesday or thursday - where people were actually "proud" of the crown jewel?

Didn't they already have this?  It USED to be art night...what happened to that?

Proctors will sell the 'wings' tickets eh? Tax exempt right?

Trying to get the students downtown?

Maybe the City should consider the safety of the students as the young SCCC girl was killed last year on Erie.

How many police are going to be on patrol? Sounds like Proctors will be needing additional services these evenings...all on the taxpayers dime.  

Quoted from rachel72

Didn't they already have this?  It USED to be art night...what happened to that?

Proctors will sell the 'wings' tickets eh? Tax exempt right?

Trying to get the students downtown?

Maybe the City should consider the safety of the students as the young SCCC girl was killed last year on Erie.

How many police are going to be on patrol? Sounds like Proctors will be needing additional services these evenings...all on the taxpayers dime.  

Rachel72, Art night was mentioned in the article. It is still ongoing.

Did you read the entire article?

Quoted from 3303

Rachel72, Art night was mentioned in the article. It is still ongoing.

Did you read the entire article?

Wow Loki, surprised you didn't ask if I was an art historian or community planner this time.

This art night was supposed to be a HUGE deal in the City. Proctors was going to create the arts district....but apparently it failed because now plan be is to have a stroller-thon. What ever happened to proctors bringing art here....maybe the gold ceiling blind sighted them.

The arts night is a flop and the $30 million dollar grant to Proctors has done NOTHING to create such a district.  

Fat Morris had another party for himself this past Saturday. Ten years of DEM implosion! All of the DEM machine was there. While they party on 700 homeowners will be thrown into the street because of his failure to repay ANYTHING. The stroll about is lipstick on a broke pig. Like everything the DEMS/Metrograft/Fat Morris propose. More nothing
from the machine. What happened to Landry? Put more signs in front of abandoned homes.

Quoted from rachel72

Wow Loki, surprised you didn't ask if I was an art historian or community planner this time.

This art night was supposed to be a HUGE deal in the City. Proctors was going to create the arts district....but apparently it failed because now plan be is to have a stroller-thon. What ever happened to proctors bringing art here....maybe the gold ceiling blind sighted them.

The arts night is a flop and the $30 million dollar grant to Proctors has done NOTHING to create such a district.  

Rachel72, why must you always be so confrontational? I merely pointed out that if you had read the entire article that your question re: Art Night was answered there. You seem quick to jump to conclusions without any analysis. You unequivocally state that Arts Night is a flop, yet have seen spreadsheets or an economic study that would point to that conclusion. I have not, nor do I know of their existence. Nothing, not Arts Night nor strolls will revive Downtown without an influx of retail to add to the draw. They are all part of the puzzle. One cannot work without the other pieces.

I fear you have fallen into the trap of many disgruntled taxpayers, that any attempts to improve our city doomed to failure, and thus are open to constant criticism. If you have read, and I am beginning to think you engage in selective reading, any of my responses you would see that in principle we are in agreement on many things. You it would appear, would prefer to wallow in your misery, where I at least try to take a more reasonable approach.

Quoted from 1975

What ever happened to the day in the park -forget, was it wednesday or thursday - where people were actually "proud" of the crown jewel?

Tuesday in the park I believe Rusty. Mike Iaccubucci (sp.) was the driving force behind that I think. I'm not quite sure of the reason it was discontinued though.

Quoted from 3303

Tuesday in the park I believe Rusty. Mike Iaccubucci (sp.) was the driving force behind that I think. I'm not quite sure of the reason it was discontinued though.

That's it.  I remember the vendors, entertainment and good music - but I couldn't remember the day of the week.  Every day is a new reminder that I'm getting too old.  It's a shame however that this isn't happening anymore. It seemed like a great way to bring family and friends together, enjoy some time outside (instead of in front of the damn internets and facebooker) - and people were (or seemed to be) actually making $ on the concessions.

Oh well, time moves forward I guess.  Improvement - not so much sometimes.

democraps knew the repubs started it so they decided to can it or people might remember a positive repub initiative and they couldnt have that

Quoted from 3303

I fear you have fallen into the trap of many disgruntled taxpayers, that any attempts to improve our city doomed to failure, and thus are open to constant criticism.

You it would appear, would prefer to wallow in your misery, where I at least try to take a more reasonable approach.

Really, a "Wings Night" with free popcorn for students is a win for the taxpayers? An art night where no one knows the dates for, is helping downtown?

The only way Downtown will ever be beneficial for the triple-taxed property owners like myself is if businesses like Bombers, Villia Italia, Paul Mitchell, Aperitivo, Clinton Ditch and the many others who have received millions in tax-exemptions and no-interest Metroplex loans get back on the tax rolls.

There are millions of dollars in lost property and school tax money in Downtown. Metroplex has devaluated all this property by tax exemptions which leave a gaping hole in the tax base.  

Let's stop lying to ourselves that Downtown is helping the City, because in reality is is sucking the taxpayers dry and forcing hundreds in this City into foreclosure.