In conjunction with February's 1st Friday event, the Downtown Albany, New York Business Improvement District & Lark Street Business Improvement District have partnered to bring you the best in dining, shopping, and entertainment - all easily accessible by riding the FREE Capital City Trolley!
Shop special deals from 40+ participating businesses, dine local while enjoying restaurant specials, peruse artwork and exhibits in a dozen locations, choose from multiple venues to hear live music, and ride the Capital City Trolley for free as it brings you safely to all of the 1st Friday events.
All events are offered free of charge unless otherwise indicated.
Downtown events & specials include: • 48 Hudson - Van Ostrande-Radliff House | Historic Albany staff and board members will be provided guided tours of Albany oldest building and most tangible link to the City's Dutch past (5:30 - 7:00 PM) • 677 Prime | Buy one get one drinks at the bar up to $15 • Acacia's Basement | Buy one article of clothing and get a second article of equal or lesser value free (open 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM) • African American Cultural Center of the Capital Regional | Black History Month! AACCCR Members and Friends Exhibition will present unseen works from our archive and storage in creative new displays throughout the building. Artwork will be displayed on three floors including the first-floor reception area, second-floor gallery, third-floor installation hall & gallery. Wine, food, and entertainment will be provided throughout the night (6:00 - 10:00 PM) • Albany Center Gallery | "Translations" exhibit, featuring works by regional artists Beth Humphrey, Stephen Niccolls, Victoria Palermo, Stacy Petty, and Anthony Ruscitto. Artists reception 5:00 - 8:00 PM • Albany Modern Body Art | Tattoo artists showing their portfolios & original artwork • Angie’s Pineapples & Tings | All menu items just $10 (open 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM) • Broadway Plaza Liquor | Mix of wine tastings • The City Beer Hall | Drink specials for Capital City Trolley Riders; Live music with Paul Graves and Dominic Simeone from 7:00-10:00 PM; DJ Citrus Minute at 11:00 PM • dp: An American Brasserie | 15% off the total bill (may not be used in conjunction any other promotions or discounts) • The Excelsior Pub | Pinball Wizard Challenge pinball tournament; the winner receives happy hour pricing for the month (7:00 PM); Drink specials for Capital City Trolley riders and pinball players • Fort Orange General Store | 10% off any store purchase • Fresh & Fly Clothing | Mention 1st Friday for 15% off any purchase (Open until 8:00 PM) • The Hollow Bar + Kitchen | Complimentary signature cocktail, draft beer, or house wine with any entrée purchase; live music by 2020 Grammy nominee Southern Avenue at 8:00 PM (ticketed event) • Jack's Oyster House | Mention the Capital City Trolley and receive our offer of Buy One, Get One Free Glass of House Wine • LaSerre | Receive a $25 gift card valid with two or more dinner entrees (or $10 for lunch) • Liberty Tax Service | 30% off all tax returns prepared at 153 S. Pearl Street office (January 2 through April 15; also valid at 458 Delaware Avenue location) • Loch & Quay | $1 off all drafts • McGeary's Irish Pub | Mention 1st Friday for 10% off total bill • Open Gallery | A public art exhibit from the Downtown Albany BID and Albany Center Gallery reimagines doors throughout Downtown as an outdoor gallery, featuring the work of 13 local artists. Map and more information at: downtownalbany.org/opengallery • Palace Theatre | Cheap Trick performance at 8:00 PM (ticketed event) • Pearl Street Pub | Happy hour trivia with beer specials at 5:30 PM; Friday Night Dance with '90s dance music videos from Orange Door • Root3d | Class schedule: Poetry with D. Colin from 5:30 - 7:30 PM (fees apply); Family Members of Incarcerated Recovering Emotionally from 7:15 - 8:15 PM (donation-based) • Sessions Lounge at Hilton Albany | 2 for 1 appetizers for anyone who mentions 1st Friday or the Albany Trolley (must have a minimum purchase of $20 to qualify for free appetizer) • Speakeasy 518 | Live music with the George Muscatello Trio at 9:00 PM • Stacks Espresso Bar | Pop-up art exhibit featuring Rachel Baxter (open until 7:00 PM) • Times Union Center | Siena Men's Basketball vs. Fairfield at 7:00 PM (ticketed event) • Vintage Treasures by Deborah | 20% off all merchandise; exhibit featuring artist Debbie Robinson (special hours: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM)
Lark Street area events & specials include: • Alacrity Frame Workshop | "A Gemini Session": Paintings by Carleton McCarty • Albany Institute of History & Art | Free admission (5:00 - 8:00 PM) | Book Talk & Signing: "The Hudson Valley: The First 250 Million Years" with author David Levine (6:00 PM, free admission) | Exhibits include: "Recycled & Refashioned: The Art of Ruby Silvious"; "Painting the American Southwest: The Work of Otto Plaug"; "The Hudson River School: Landscape Paintings from the Albany Institute" • Bombers Burrito Bar | Drink Specials • Byron & Gill Mercantile | 10% off storewide (some exclusions apply) • Cafe Lark Pizza | $1 slice of pizza • Capital Wine & Spirits | Wine tasting; 10% off regular-priced wine with Capital City Trolley selfie • The Daily Grind | Free cup of coffee on Saturday with Capital City Trolley selfie • El Loco | Free frozen lime margarita with purchase of entree with Capital City Trolley selfie • El Mariachi Tapas | $5 margaritas, sangria and tapas • First Presbyterian Church | Open 5:30 - 8:00 PM | Art Gallery: "The Traveling Lens of Margo Singer" | Concert at 6:00 PM: Helderberg Madrigal Singers - "What's Love Got to Do With It?"; Zephyr Winds: "Music for Young and Young at Heart" • GreatFinds Thrift Boutique: A Program of Equinox, Inc. | Artful Windows: "Always & Forever", Little Black Dress and Winter sale, heartfelt refreshments (open 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM) • Lark St. Poke Bar | Free thai or matcha green tea with Capital City Trolley selfie • Lark Street Yoga | Free class for new clients | 10 class pass: $100 (In-studio or on MindBody website) • Lark Tavern | happy hour all night long, $1 off drafts, $4 well drinks • L.A.X. Restaurant & Lounge | Bachata night starting at 9:00 PM; kitchen open until 1:30 AM • Lionheart Pub | Happy drink specials until 9:00 PM; live music by Yankee Holler • NoHo & SoHo Pizza | $3 off any large pizza • Oh Bar | $3 Fireball and $3 Labatt tall boys • PizzaRoni | 10% off any dine-in or pickup order • Romeo's Gifts | 25% off storewide sale • Savoy Taproom | Music by Flying Rob & Friends; art on display by local artists; $3 off first appetizer with a Capital City Trolley selfie • Susie's Pub | Happy hour until 9:00 PM • That Store | 15% off all incense and incense accessories • Umana Restaurant Restaurant & Wine Bar | Celebrating Women of the African Diaspora with artists Sin & Spice; DJ Poetik selections • University Club of Albany | Artist in Resident Michael Donnell: A master in etching, he will be showing beautiful wildlife etchings on glass, vases, and wall art. He will be here to talk about how he fell in love with etching and where his favorite places are in the Capital District that inspire his work. Reception with light snacks and cash bar (5:30 PM) • Yamaguchie | 20% off all art and art-related items - hats, shirts, necklaces, bracelets
Midtown/Uptown area events and specials include: • Albany Elks Lodge: Albany First Friday Swing Dance with band Mark Gamsjager & The Lustre Kings | Free swing dance lesson from 7:00 - 8:00 PM, no partner needed; Dance 8:00 - 11:00 PM | Admission including lesson: $15; DFO members $12; seniors and students $10 • Art Associates Gallery Inc. | Opening reception: Black History Month with featured artists Marcus Kwame Anderson, Obaro Ene, Takysce Walter, and Kemoh Edwards. Special Guest Vince Forte, Jr., local painter and sculptor, will speak during the reception at 6:00 PM about the bronze sculptures of Sgt. Henry Johnson. | "Dino and Friends Photography Exhibit” will also continue to be on display through the month of February (5:30-10:00 PM) • Opalka Gallery | Featuring "JoAnne Carson: Rise Up & Shine!" | Exhibition tour at 5:00 PM; reception 6:00 - 8:00 PM • Susan Stuart Studio | Open Studio | Sculptures by Mary Pat Wager and Paintings by Susan Stuart (5:00 - 8:00 PM)
Download the free Cityfinder app by Transfinder to find trolley stops and real-time arrivals!
Want to park your car before you hop on the trolley? There's FREE on-street and public garage parking in Downtown after 5:00 PM on weekdays and all day on weekends & holidays! Park for free in the Riverfront or Quackenbush Garages and hop on the trolley at nearby stops for easy access to all the 1st Friday venues. Visit parkalbany.com for more information.
1st Friday and the Capital City Trolley are brought to you by Capital District Transportation Authority - CDTA), ParkAlbany, the Lark Street BID, and the Downtown Albany BID.
