Public Art Outdoors in Winter: Art in CapNY

Want some ways to enjoy art, stellar local food AND the great outdoors? Lucky for us, CapNY is filled with amazing public art! From historic architecture and neighborhoods to public art “galleries” in urban alleyways, CapNY writer Jessica Kelly found six great sites that we can enjoy all winter.

The first location is the Reflection Pool at Empire State Plaza. The pool is lined with 16 monumental mid-century sculptures by world-renowned artists such as Claes Oldenberg, Alexander Calder, Ellsworth Kelly, and more. On a gloomy winter day, these pops of movement and color can bring some happiness and perspective. Next, head into the Empire State Concourse to warm up from the frigid temperatures. There, you’ll find dozens of large-scale (and some absolutely huge) paintings, and more amazing sculptures. Check out this video preview of the indoor and outdoor collections!

Did you know that Saratoga’s High Rock Park is home to a memorial made of steel from the Twin Towers? The sculpture, titled “Tempered By Memory,” was created by John Van Alstine and Noah Savett in 2012. The artists use the recovered materials to thoughtfully memorialize those lost in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.  

After a reflective walk through High Rock Park, I highly recommend brunch at Hattie’s, served on Saturdays and Sundays. They have tasty Bloody Marys, warm biscuits with honey butter, and the best cheesy grits. 

Love contemporary art ? Head to Art Omi! This 120-acre sculpture and architecture park is a quarantine-friendly, no-cost way to take in art and fresh air. You’ll see amazing sculptures (look for the Olaf Breuning work, “Clouds,” towering over 30 feet) and stunning architectural work (don’t miss “Magnetic Z,” by Cameron Wu). Check out this printable map to see all that Art Omi has to offer. Best of all, you can snowshoe or ski through the site! Hungry? Great! Drive 10 minutes to Saisonnier for an artisanal sandwich or cheese board. Try one or two of their craft beers. Did we mention that they have 125 craft beers available for in-house or take-out?

The amazing and powerful murals during the Black Lives Matter protests introduced me to Troy’s art scene. More recently I discovered the artwork in Franklin Street Alley. Artist Joe Lurato and other local creatives developed this interactive installation. The installation is filled with painted murals and built structures. These ingeniously incorporate the existing pipes, ladders, and lights.

If you’re trying to find its exact location, put the address of Dutch Utter Ice Cream Shop in your GPS, 282 River St Troy. It’s the alley right next to it! After exploring, walk over to grab an order of some of the best crispy wings CapNY has to offer at The Ruck.

The Capital Walls project is an endeavor of Albany Center Gallery, Albany Barn, and Albany Parking Authority. Capital Walls has sponsored 14 colorful murals (and counting!), by local artists across downtown Albany. Grab this handy tour map before you head out. After snapping some IG photos in front of the murals, stop by Druthers Brewing Company (1053 Broadway, Albany, NY 12204) for delicious mac & cheese like their Memphis BBQ Mac with smokey, tender pulled pork, spicy jalapeño ranch coleslaw, and sweet BBQ sauce.

Outside of Druther’s, be sure to take a peek at Nipper. This Albany icon is a four-ton, 28-foot tall steel and fiberglass painted dog atop an old concrete warehouse. It’s one of the most IG worthy spots in the downtown area!

The murals are scattered, but a good place to start is at Albany Center Gallery: 488 Broadway #107, Albany, NY 12207.

  • Stockade Historic District

The Stockade Historic District is in the northwest corner of Schenectady, on the banks of the Mohawk River. It is the oldest neighborhood in the city, and has been continuously inhabited for over 300 years. You’ll see 50 pre-Revolutionary houses in various styles that include Dutch Colonial, Georgian, Federal and Victorian along your walk. A good starting point to explore the neighborhood is 100 North Ferry St. This will bring you to the heart of the Stockade, right in front of the statue of “Lawrence the Indian.”

You don’t have to be a history lover to appreciate the gorgeous, unique artistic features of each of the homes. Come winter, there’s and especially majestic feeling as the homes are decorated with holiday lights and pines. You can even download a self-guided tour of the neighborhood!

jess kelly
  • Written by: Jessica Kelly

Jess is a journalist and photographer with a focus on food, travel, and entertainment. She’s written for over 10 different local publications in New York State, in addition to the Huffington Post, Cosmopolitan, AAA Northeast, Eater, Dame Traveler, Food52, Insider, Wine Enthusiast, Kitchn, AAA World Magazine, Thrillist, and more. Follow her adventures on Instagram @Adventures.Are.Waiting.

A Thrilling Family Day at Windham Mountain Adventure Park

Looking for some fun outdoor winter activities for kids in the Catskills?

Located in the quaint town of Windham, just a quarter-mile down the road from the ski mountain, Windham Mountain Adventure Park is the ideal destination for ski bum families looking for a new snowy-day activity. It makes a great day-trip destination for non-skiers, too.

Snow-tubing and little Arctic Cat snowmobiles are exhilarating activities awaiting you at Windham. Read on!

  • Snow-Tubing

Your family day at Windham Mountain Adventure Park could start with tubing. The 650-foot snow-covered tubing hill welcomes all visitors without height or age limits. Riders just have to be tall enough to sit up in a tube by themselves. It’s important to note that only one rider per tube is allowed. You can’t put a small child on your lap, but you can link tubes together by holding onto the strings attached to your partner’s tube.

When we visited, there were definitely some scrappy little toddlers enjoying the ride. But I don’t think our indoorsy, risk-adverse city kids would’ve sat in tube by themselves before the age of 5. It’s also worth mentioning that some of the little ones were wearing ski helmets, which seemed like a smart idea. After the park’s friendly employees see you safely in your tube they ask if you’d like to spin or go straight down, before hurling you down the mountain. It doesn’t look terribly steep, but it feels like a long, fast, and wild ride. 

For parents, the best part of this hill might be the conveyor lift that gently carries you back up for another round. At ages 5 and 8, my children had no trouble standing on it. My husband and I could fully enjoy barreling down the mountain without the worry that we’d had to trudge back up, carrying our lazy children in their slippery snowsuits, with giant canvas tubs trailing behind us. In truth, the conveyor lift brought me just as much joy as the tubing ride itself!

  • Zoom Around on Kid-Sized Snowmobiles

Mini-snowmobiles are also available for kids aged 6 and up, who weigh less than 120 pounds. There’s a short, circular course, and the snowmobiles don’t race too fast, so you can watch your kids as they safely loop around and around. A parent or guardian needs to sign a waiver before the ride (which did worry me a little bit!) but I’d say it’s totally appropriate for kids as young as 6 years old. It’s an easy-peazy ride for any kid who is already comfortable on a two-wheeler.

I was a little nervous about our 8-year-old city kid who doesn’t have much experience riding a bike, but he loved it!

  • Planning Ahead

Advanced reservations are strongly recommended as session capacity will be limited, and ticket availability cannot be guaranteed. Guests may arrive early to purchase tickets for a later session and return at their designated time. There is no pro-rating for tubing tickets if you miss any of your time.

The park is generally open on Fridays from 5pm to 8pm, on Saturdays from 11am to 8pm, and on Sundays from 11am to 4pm. They offer extended hours for holidays and school vacations.

Snowmaking equipment keeps the hill set with the best conditions possible. Still, both the snow-tubing and snowmobile activities are dependent on the temperature, wind, and precipitation. You can check the weather at the Mountain Report which is updated twice daily. Or call 518-734-4300 and select Option #3.

  • Where to Eat Nearby

If you’re looking to make it a day trip, start your family day at Windham Mountain Adventure Park at Windham Local, a nearby café. They offer up excellent coffee, breakfast sandwiches, steak burritos, and basics like bagels and muffins for the little ones. During ski season, they’re open 6 days per week (closed Tuesdays) from 8am to 2pm. Call ahead for take-out (518-750-8300), so you can get to snow tubes ASAP.

And after a few hours of snow-tubing and snowmobile rides, you may be looking for a heartier meal than the snacks offered at the lodge. When you have a big appetite and kids in tow, it’s good to know about the Chicken Run. This family restaurant and steak house is located just a mile from the Adventure Park.  Their portions are huge, they serve milkshakes, and their kids’ menu includes all the favorites—chicken tenders, hot dogs, pasta with butter or tomato sauce, grilled, cheese, mac and cheese, and even an 8-ounce steak or BBQ ribs for hungry little carnivores. Somehow, though, you’ll want to save room for their daily desserts. Even if you’re eating in your car, you’ll want to run back in after dinner to grab a brownie sundae, a warm chocolate chip lava cookie with vanilla ice cream, or a slice of their delicious home-style pie.

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  • Written by: By Kara Zuaro

Exploring the less traveled (and less expensive!) Catskills, in and around Greene County. Farms, drive-in movies, kids, food, beer, shopping, home design, and real estate. Brooklyn DoubleWide