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Bringing It Home – The Saint Rose Blog

Free, and Nearly Free, Things to Do Around Albany this Winter

 

When the weather turns cold, staying close to hearth and dorm room feels cozy. But winter should also be celebrated beyond campus borders. Fortunately, there are a lot of ways to do so without spending a lot of money. (And remember, Saint Rose students and employees ride CDTA buses for free.)

A few ways to beat back the winter blues:

$5 movies (and more): students are entitled to one ticket a week through the Student Events Board. Also: big discounts on Broadway touring productions at Proctor’s Theater and day trips ranging from New York’s Museum of Modern Art to Cooperstown’s Baseball Hall of Fame. For details, visit the SEB Facebook page or drop by the Events Board office in the Events And Athletics Center.

Skate: Free at the open-air Empire Skate Plaza; $4 rentals, free on Saturdays; or the weather-protected Swinburne Skating Rink, 810 Clinton Ave.; adults $1; under 18, 50 cents.

Ski: This doesn’t exactly follow the “nearly-free” theme. But Albany is an hour or so from premiere skiing in the Adirondacks, Catskills, Berkshires and Green Mountains and student discounts and other specials are plentiful. Surf the resort websites for deals. Some examples: Belleayre Mountain (Catskills,) Mount Snow (Green Mountains,) Ski Butternut (Berkshires) or West Mountain (Adirondacks.)

Walk/snow shoe or cross country ski : Explore the unique eco-system of the Albany Pine Bush; historic Peebles Island State Park, the scenic Albany Golf Course.

Sample the urban scene: Once a month shops, galleries and restaurants stay open late, often with live music. Take part in Albany’s First Friday; or Troy Night Out.  The Troy Farmer’s Market, and Empire State Plaza Farmer’s Market also move indoors in the winter.

Take in some culture: The Albany Institute of History & Art, 125 Washington Ave., free admission Thursday nights and select days.  The New York State Museum; Empire State Plaza, is always free.The state Capitol offers free guided and self-guided tours.

Get a library card: the Pine Hills branch of the Albany Public Library is just two blocks away and offers movies, museum passes, exercise, art classes and a lot more.

What do you think?

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