Albany offers good eats and games
Zoe Deno
Staff Writer
Just ten minutes away from the school, Albany’s reputation for being boring keeps many students from exploring it for themselves. But if you are just looking to kill some time, or you actually want a new find, here are a couple of Albany’s highlights you might be missing.
The Hollow Bar + Kitchen
Established just a few years ago in 2013, The Hollow Bar + Kitchen provides an enjoyable dining experience on a budget. All of the dishes offered are under $30 and a lot of them are under $20.
They serve standard restaurant fare like burgers and fries. They also offer a variety of more adventurous options like the “Ahi Tuna” or the “Hummus Board.”
The Hollow also boasts a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Exposed brick walls compliment the dark wood of the tables and a variety of lighted glass jars hang from the ceiling and give the room a cozy feeling.
The stage in the front of the room adds to the already pleasant environment and live music plays on Fridays and Saturdays for anyone to enjoy courtesy of the restaurant.
There’s also a bar in the back for customers 21 and up.
The Hollow is located at 79 N Pearl St.
Zero Gravity Laser Tag
On the outskirts of Albany, there is a little building in a small plaza that is easy to miss. While the outside of the building may seem unassuming, the inside of the building is anything but. The bright lights of an arcade greet you as soon as you walk into Zero Gravity.
Beyond the arcade is a hall that will lead you to the separate laser tag arena. Players are separated into different eams and are let into dark blacklight room full of ramps and places to duck behind.
Your score is displayed on the laser gun you are given when you enter the arena. If you forget to check your score during the heat of the game, a final ranking along with winning team is displayed on a screen in the arcade.
It is not uncommon for people to expect laser tag to be more expensive than it is at Zero Gravity. The regular pricing for 15 minute games are $10. If you have a student or military ID you can play for just $5.
The Iron Gate
Along the tightly packed businesses that line Washington Avenue, a large iron gate stretches across an break in the buildings and a restaurant named after them.
The Iron Gate serves a variety of homemade soups, salads, wraps and sandwiches prepared for people looking to buy breakfast or lunch. The establishment makes a point of offering a variety of options for people with dietary restrictions.
The Iron Gate was set up in what used to James Holroyd Mansion on 182 Washington Ave. Two of the dining rooms have the same 19th Century design as when the mansion was built was constructed in the 1890’s.
Customers can choose to dine on the patio garden in front of the restaurant or they can pick one of the unique dining rooms inside the building for a rare dining experience.
Silver Fox Salvage
Out of all of the places on the list, Silver Fox Salvage is perhaps the most strange.
Located on 20 Learned St., this Albany based business sells architectural salvage, lighting, antiques and custom-designed furniture crafted from reclaimed materials.
Approaching the fenced enclosure is like approaching something out of a book. Statues, pieces of buildings, a gargoyle and other odds and ends surround the small the building.
If you go inside, you will find hundreds of chandeliers dangling from the ceiling. The walls are crammed with an assortment of antiques and furniture. Despite the initial impression of chaos, everything is sorted meticulously. There are sections for everything sold, from paintings to antiques.
In the back of the building there is a workshop where customers can request custom furniture to be made to be made out of salvaged materials.
Even if you do not plan on buying anything, Silver Fox Salvage is a place that is definitely worth exploring.