Locals and visitors take on Troy’s nightlife
By: Abigail Nawrot
Staff writer
River Street in Troy closed down for pedestrians as part of another one of its monthly Troy Night Out events on Friday, Sept. 27.
Dan Citon, a person visiting the area from Massachusetts, said he was intrigued by the event.
“I wanted to check it out, it sounded like fun.” Citon said. “It was floating around on Facebook, and I like to go to social gatherings like that.”
Citon said Troy Night Out has been a pleasantly surprising experience so far.
“There’s a very upbeat vibe, and it’s much more of a community here than any other place I’ve been,” Citon explained.
At the Clement Art Gallery, different pieces were exhibited and on sale. A variety of historical pieces were also on display.
Isaac Lester, a Marine Recruiter, enjoyed these historical pieces in particular.
“Marines have lives too,” he said. “It’s nice that Troy has opportunities like this where locals can enjoy themselves.”
According to Lester, a lot of the history behind the United States of America can be found in older cities like Troy.
“Having a chance to flip through this box filled with newspaper covers is very riveting, we get to experience this culture from the past,” Lester said.
Although there were visitors, many locals attended the monthly event. Dan and Lyn Wenlch, a couple visiting the Clement Art Gallery, have been returning to Troy Night Out periodically for the past eight years.
“We love the streetwalking,” Mr. Wenlch said. “Getting a chance to peer into shops, listen to the music and just have a good time with my wife is really nice.”
Mr. Welnch said he finds the event relaxing for both him and his wife.
“The featured artist here is a friend of Lyn’s, so we came here to support her,” Mr. Welnch explained.
Some people said they were impressed by the music. About three different live bands were performing throughout the night.
Caitlyn Barker, lead singer and guitarist of Candy Ambulance, played for a crowd that stood in front of a makeshift stage. There was a small area set aside for dancers.
“We just moved to Troy a few months ago, we tend to tour a lot, but I’ve been having a great time here so far,” Barker said.
Barker said if a person knows where to look, they can find an impressive amount of history and events within the capital region.
“We were offered this gig, but this is a great way for a band to get exposure, a decent sized crowd showed up,” she said.
Barker might be new to Troy Night Out, but for locals like Lindsay Schmeider, it’s a regular occurrence.
According to Schmeider, Troy is way different in the day. She said when Troy Night Out happens, the street comes alive with swarms of people.
Schmeider continued, “It’s great for seeing friends, you can catch up with people you haven’t seen since high school, which isn’t something you can really do without events like these.”