The World Beyond Union

Lark Street, Albany N.Y,

Over the past two weeks I've been spending some time off campus due to my friends coming home from college, my desire to visit my parents, and a need to take a breather from campus life. This campus is a wonderful place, but after a while you can begin to go stir crazy as it doesn't have shopping plazas, movie theaters, and other misc. places to amuse oneself. It was time for me to go out and experience the world, or in this case neighboring towns, around Union. I grew up in Albany, a twenty five minute drive from campus, so I know the surrounding area pretty well. I figured now would be a great opportunity to list a few attractions outside Union and outside Schenectady for those students or prospective students who aren't familiar with the area. I will discuss a few of my favorite locales and what merits them this title.
One place you can't really go wrong is Crossgates Mall or Colonie Center. Both malls offer a variety of stores from J. Crew, Coach, Forever 21, H & M, American Eagle, Macy's, Old Navy, and, my personal favorite, the Pet Center. These malls are stock full of endless possibilities for the college student and due to the fact that we are all (for the most part) 18 years old, we won't get kicked out by mall security after 4 pm! The Forever 21 at Crossgates is absolutely massive and it is possible to get lost in there for close to 3 hours. Beware, once you go in it is very hard to come out without spending over a 100 dollars. Both malls also have their own movie theaters playing a bunch of new releases and serving the most disgustingly delicious and chemical filled popcorn. The seats are also really comfortable, but make sure to get there early when going to see a newly released movie because it fills up very quickly with screaming teenagers. The Cheesecake Factory at Colonie is also a hot spot due to the delicious food and the bustling atmosphere. I love going there just to eat the red velvet cheesecake they serve. If that isn't enough entertainment there is always the Pet Center where you can take out puppies to play with. Every time I go to either mall I have to take out a puppy. It is so much fun to pick out one of the squirmy little guys to play with, especially when you go with a friend to share in the cuteness.
Another locale I would highly suggest is downtown Albany. I LOVE downtown Albany and all the awesome, quirky shops it has. I would have to say that my favorite street hands down is Lark Street as it has a bunch of cool little shops and restaurants like Bomber's Burrito Bar, The Daily Grind, Lark Street Flower Market, Lark Tattoo, Lark Vegas Piercing, Lil' Buddha Tea, Psychic Gallery, Seasons Skate Shop, Shining Star, Svengali Studios, etc. Each place is unique in its own way and offers a different service to all visitors. The port in Albany is also beautiful. I have spent numerous summer days down by the river walking along the foot path with family and friends. It is a great atmosphere, especially when it is nice and sunny, and many times bands come to perform there. I also love Washington Park. When I was younger I used to tan on the grass and play on the jungle gym there. Nowadays it is just nice to walk through and look at all the flowers.
For the more adventurous students I would suggest going hiking at Thacher State Park in Voorheesville. This was one of my favorite places to go as a kid in order to hike, bike, and picnic with my family. Growing up, this hasn't changed. I love to be outside whether it is to hike, swim, etc. The trails aren't too difficult to hike and the views are worth any amount of sweat or grim. It is a bit difficult to get here without a car, but if you can work out a way to get there you won't regret it.
The last place that I really like off Union's campus would be the Spectrum 8 Movie Theater in Albany. Now I am biased as I have worked there for the past 4 years, but it is by far my favorite movie theater out of the many I have been to. It is so much smaller and more comfortably intimate then going to the gigantic movie theaters at the mall. Plus it also has a small art gallery upon entering and I always thought that component of it was very cool. It is essentially an art house complete with many independent and foreign films while mixing in a few main stream every now and again. The food is also delicious as the theater serves popcorn with, get this, REAL butter and brownies, cookies, cake, and banana bread. My favorite movie time snack is a small chai tea and a slice of banana bread. You wouldn't be able to get that anywhere else.
These are just a few of the places outside Union I suggest visiting. It was nice to get away for a bit and experience the joys of the great beyond, but I also realized how much I consider this campus my home. After being gone a few days, I experienced a sort of home sickness that could only be cured by my return to campus.

Relay for Life

Last Friday April 29th was a very special evening for the majority of the campus community. From 7 pm to 2 am Relay for Life took place in the Union College Field House. I think about 450 people showed up throughout the course of the evening to take part in the relay. 51 teams signed up to walk around the track continuously from 7 to 2 am. These teams each raised money towards cancer research (it cost $10 per person when signing onto a team) and many frats and sororities took place in the event as well. Over $25,000 dollars were raised over the course of the evening, but that is not what made this event so spectacular. It was the coming together of a community to fight cancer and to listen to others speak about their battles with cancer, or the battles of their loved ones. As I looked around the crowd I noticed several people so overcome with emotion that they were in tears, hugging the person closest to them. Granted this was largely a female population, it was still very touching to see. As one speaker after the other left the stage they were met with abundant applause and a warm hug from a student waiting off to the side. The event included a Survivor's Lap where three survivors from the crowd took to the track in a symbolic show of determination and strength.
Although it was stated that you should walk around the track continuously my team, or the Gold Team, took time to enjoy the barbecue and delicious nitrogen ice cream dessert. We sat together, bonded, and munched on hot dogs, hamburgers, or, in my vegetarian case, cheese pizza. Different activity tables were also set up around the track. One of my friends decided to create a luminary bag as her close friend had passed away a year ago from cancer. She lit a candle and placed her bag on the track along with dozens of others. My friend Kelsey and I also sat down at a table to make cards for cancer patients in the hospital fighting for their survival. It was nice to imagine how that one little card might brighten a little bit of their day.
The event also featured a few acts. Union's very own Garnet Minstrel's performed to cheers from the crowd, the break dance team performed to hip hop, and their was also beautiful Indian dancing. I wasn't expecting to be treated to a show upon attending Relay for Life, but it made the time pass much more quickly and entertained everyone. Unfortunately the evening was cut short as Union rented a bouncy castle. I have always been a lover of trampolines and basically anything that allows me to bounce around like a spaz, so when given the opportunity I leap for it. Bouncing around with my friends was so much fun, but sadly one of my friends landed wrong and sprained her ankle (and if she were asked how she sprained her ankle she would deny this story whole heartedly!).Wanting to get her back to our dorm without falling and breaking herself even more, my friend group decided to call it quits for the night and went back to Davidson to watch a movie.
All in all the Relay for Life was a success. It brought the community a bit closer together, raised money for an incredible cause, and told the stories of those who once had to fight for life, thereby allowing the audience to appreciate the life they have that much more.