Far Shot Makes Their Mark On Late Night Entertainment
By Frankie Coon, Staff Writer, and Ian Shafir, Jr Web Editor
Regional Manager and HVCC Alumni Don Seebald shares experience & adventurous future plans with Hudsonian Staff
Even for out-on-the-town college students, overpriced dining and frat parties can become old news. Where is the interest? The intrigue? The urge to throw something full speed at a wall? If the first two don’t stick the landing, the third definitely should – that’s where Far Shot comes in. An ax throwing and archery establishment, this unique hotspot doubles as a bar and is located right in the heart of downtown Albany.
Right out of the gate, Far Shot blends hours of fun with homegrown hospitality. Friendly faces and a bright atmosphere are there to greet you, as if the same circle of friends you’d known all your life were right there waiting on the other side of the doors. Between practicing throws and aiming arrows, we sat down with Don Seebald, Regional Manager at Far Shot and HVCC alumni, to find out just what makes Far Shot Albany worth the trip.
“We don’t just take your money and leave. We give you a chance to learn the proper way,” says Seebald, “We show you how to throw the knives and shoot the bow. We teach you the form and hit your targets.”
Social games like King of the Hill, a zombie hunter game, and even tic tac toe are commonplace, but Don has something a bit more adventurous in the works for many a dungeon crawler or tavern-goer.
“We are thinking of starting a cosplay corner to see if we can have a monthly tavern night [where] everybody is encouraged to show up in costume, participate in a 3 event challenge – archery, knife throwing, and ax throwing – and keep track of the scores,” He explains, considering the opportunity to broaden the scope of their business to appeal to college students and fellow nerds alike.
After a guided tour of the Albany location, it’s clear that not only is FarShot engaging, but also incredibly welcoming of newcomers, and even encourages them to join in on League Nights every Tuesday from 7:00pm to 8:00pm.
“For those [interested], we encourage you to try out different things, buy your own ax, and jump in a different league,” Aside from participating in the World Ax Throwing League, Far Shot offers instructions on how you can hone your skills to compete in nationals.
With the recent resurgence of archery, Don seems optimistic for future attendees stating that “Archery is all about experiencing new things and learning about yourself. Many come into Far Shot after watching a season of Hawkeye or Hunger Games, but Far Shot offers them to learn archery in a safe and fun way.”
With a solid 5/5 star rating on Google, it’s no wonder everybody enjoys their visit to the range. Marie Williams, a long-time guest and HVCC student, has nothing but praise for the staff and venue.
“I don’t even think it’s possible to have a bad time at Far Shot,” She says, “I always have a blast seeing Don and the other staff, and never leave without a smile.”
When recounting her first visit to Far Shot, she distinctly remembers how great of an experience she had: “I had no idea [Far Shot] existed. I was just walking around Albany with a friend and saw it and went ‘Wow, I haven’t done something like that in ages, let’s go!’. Everyone was amazing, super friendly, and very helpful. Since then I’ve stopped in at least a dozen times, and it’s always been one of my favorite date locations.”
Overall, Far Shot is an enjoyable experience for everyone. No matter your shape, size, or stature, you can have a fantastic time. And who doesn’t love throwing sharp objects around, not to mention bat-a-rangs?
Fair Shot Albany is located at 69 N Pearl St, Albany, NY 12207. You can find other Far Shot locations in Providence RI, Worcester MA, and Syracuse NY.