Checking out the nightlife in Albany

12:00AM / Thursday, July 11, 2002Print Story | Email Story

Liz, my girlfriend of nearly four years, and I left Pittsfield around 7:30 p.m. or so. Our destination: Albany, N.Y., a city I recently heard described by a friend as "Smalbany." We have never been to Albany and don't know much about it, except that its the capital of New York. Well, in actuality, I have been there but I've never checked it out. We've been wanting to explore Albany since we moved to Berkshire County three months ago. On Route 90, the New York Thruway, we can see Albany's skyline in the distance. We're almost there! A club called Valentine's is our first destination. A web site I had checked out said it is a great place and has a good reputation. We exit the highway and begin perusing city streets neither of us had ever seen. Armed with our directions, we travel down some streets and around beautiful Washington Park, wondering if we're going the right way. Relieved, we find the place we're looking for. Valentine's has a youthful, somewhat rebellious vibe. Liz and I sit at the bar for a drink and to ask some locals about the nightlife scene. I speak with Devon Murray, who is originally from Buffalo and now lives in Albany, and Joe Wood, who is also from Albany. They tell me about Valentine's and the local scene. Local bands play there on the club/bar's two stages; there's a small one downstairs, on which bands play every Tuesday night, and the larger main one is upstairs. Valentine's decor is very similar to other rock clubs I've been to, just a lot of different things on the walls â€“ beer signs, stickers, etc. They have a pool table, dart board and a hockey game for entertainment. There is live music every night at Valentine's, which also boasts a plethora of microbrews. Tonight Pretty Boy Floyd, a "hair-metal" band popular in the 1980s that resurrected itself in the late 1990s, is headlining the main stage and is joined by three other bands. On the smaller stage a "hippie, jam" band with a Grateful Dead / Phish kind of sound was in the process of setting up their equipment, Wood said. A few days ago Valentine's hosted its annual Hawaiian Rawkfest, a 2-day event which featured more than half a dozen area bands as well as prizes, free food and fruity drinks, Wood said. Some remnants of the shindig remained: paper parrots and hula girls, fish netting with paper fish, and a papier-mache volcano. I ask Murray and Wood what do they think of the Albany nightlife scene? They tell me that the scene's good at times, so-so other times, and better on weekends. It sounds to me like the same situation as most other small cities. They also tell me that Albany is quite the college town with the "main" schools in the area â€“ the State University of New York at Albany, Siena College, College of St. Rose, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Union College and Russell Sage College. The city's hoppin' every night of the week when school's in and kinda dead when everyone goes home for the summer. Murray, who graduated from SUNY-Albany, also tells us about a number of clubs/bars she's been to and ones she knows about and what each is like. She tells us about one called Savannah's, which she describes as a jazz club that does good business and has a big, open-mic night on Tuesdays. And it happens to be Tuesday night, so Liz and I decide to go check it out. As we travel through downtown Albany, Iâ€™m impressed by how well-lit it is. There are a lot of people out tonight, which could be because it is such a hot night. I get the impression that Albany is a walker-friendly town. Savannah's Restaurant and Nightclub on South Pearl Street is a very inviting, comfortable place. It has a long bar with a lot of people sitting at it. It also has quite a few armchairs and couches and a lot of tables where you can sit with your friends. In front of the stage is an area where people can dance. The walls are decorated with cool paintings of instruments and such. I spoke with Dave Flood, who works the door there a few nights a week and also manages Larry Lewis and Solid Smoke, a popular, local rhythm and blues band. Because of his role with the band, he says he has been everywhere and knows everyplace in the area. "Savannah's is one of the nicest clubs in the Capital Region," he said. Obviously he is probably a little biased being that he works there, but I think I would be hard-pressed to find a place as nice as that or with as cool a vibe. Flood describes Savannah's as a "musicians' club:" the owners are musicians and musicians hang out there. There is live music there every night of the week. Rhythm and blues is mostly played there, Flood said. The club usually has rock 'n' roll on the weekends and some jazz during the week. Jam bands often play there on Thursdays. Tonight, like every Tuesday night, is open jam night at Savannah's. A house band starts the night off, and then musicians in the audience can join in if they want. The band is really good. They start off mellow and soulful and then jump into a song that is upbeat, loud and spirited. The crowd tonight is somewhat diverse, but it is mostly a younger crowd tonight. The clientele at Savannah's is usually professionals and music fans, both young and old, Flood said. Flood tells me the club, which has been open for four and a half years, usually sees 100 to 150 people on Tuesday nights and that it is the most happening place in Albany that night. They don't have that many yet, but he tells me they'll be here soon. The music has only been going for about 20 minutes. The downtown scene in Albany hasn't always been this good, Flood tells me. The downtown was dead at night five years ago, and then places like Big House, McGeary's and Savannah's started to change things. Those three places are the ones that set off a resurgence of downtown nightlife that now also includes Jillian's, the Bayou Cafe and the Victory Cafe. The Pepsi Arena, which has big, national acts, is also downtown. More small clubs are opening up in the area, Flood said. "The downtown is rockin' these days . . . Albany's starting to give Saratoga a run for its money, which was unheard of five years ago," Flood said. Liz and I decided we would try to find Jillian's and see what else we could find downtown. Jillian's, on North Pearl Street, is a 32,000 square foot, 3-story playground for adults. The lower level has a cafe and video games. The second floor has a 40-foot bar and cocktail area and a cafe, altogether equipped with over 24 60-inch televisions for watching media or sporting events. That floor also has eight pool tables and darts. The third floor has a private party room and the Groove Shack, a large dance area that features music from the 1970s, 80s, 90s and today. Although there were hardly any people there that night, Jillian's seems like quite the place. It's really clean and modern. Liz and I know we'd have a great time if we went back. Murray, at Valentine's, said that Big House is similar to Jillian's. Down the street from Jillian's is the Bayou Cafe. Liz and I went in their briefly to check it out. It seemed like your typical sports bar, but it was nice. Flood, over at Savannah's, said that they're opening a music showroom soon. All in all Liz and I had a great time in Albany and we're anxious to go back and do some more exploring.

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Friday Front Porch Feature: A Charming House Like New

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:57PM / Friday, December 19, 2025

The home prior to renovations.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Are you looking for a newly renovated home with great space? Then this might be the perfect fit for you!

Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week, we are showcasing 100 Autumn Drive.

This three-bedroom, two-bathroom split level was built in 1965 and is 1,396 square feet on 0.32 acres.

The house was completely renovated recently. It includes a one-car garage, and comes with appliances including a dishwasher and stove/oven, and other major appliances.

The house is listed for $359,500.

We spoke with owners Michael Zeppieri and Chris Andrews, who did the renovations. Zeppieri is an agent with Alton and Westall Real Estate Agency.

What was your first impression when you walked into the home?

Zeppieri: I purchased this home to do a full renovation flip and saw tremendous potential in this mid-century split level home that had not been updated since it was built in the 1960s, in a great North Adams neighborhood.

Andrews: The house was a much different house when we first purchased it in 2022 (photo attached is from about 2010.) The interior was painted all in dark colors and we brightened it up with neutral colors. The transformation makes you feel like you are in a totally different house.

What were the recent renovations, any standout design features?

Zeppieri: The house has had a complete reconfiguration including new kitchen with high-end appliances, ceramic tiled baths, hardwood floors, new windows and roof ... just to name a few. All a buyer has to do is move in and enjoy.

Andrews: Yes, we renovated the entire house. New windows, new roof, all new custom black gutter system, new blacktop driveway, hardwood floors were installed through out the house. New kitchen and bathrooms as well as painting the exterior and interior of the house. New paver patio in the back yard.

What kind of buyer would this home be ideal for?

Zeppieri: The buyer for this home could be a first-time homebuyer or a retiree ... the location is close to attractions in North Adams ... and the property is located in Autumn Heights, which is a very small residential development with several long-term owners.

Andrews: This home is truly ideal for a variety of buyers. Whether a first-time homebuyer, a small family or even someone looking to downsize from a larger home.

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market?

Zeppieri: The location, price and move-in condition of this home make it a true market leader in the North Adams Market.

Andrews: This house is completely renovated and in a desirable location of North Adams. The natural light in the home really makes the interior pop. And with all the upgrades the home stays quite cool in the summer months.

Do you know any unique stories about the home or its history?

Zeppieri: This home was built for the Gould family in 1969 and they lived there till 2010. It was always a family home during that time in which the Goulds had two children ... and Virgina Gould managed Mohawk Forest Apartments and was a very active resident of North Adams.

Andrews: Built in about 1965.

What do the current owners love about this home?

Zeppieri: As the current owner it was a fun project to transform this home and get it ready for its next adventure with a new family to enjoy for many years.

Andrews: No one has lived in the house since we purchased the home. The new owners would be the first to live in the house since the renovations have been completed.

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space?

Andrews: I would suggest seeing the house either on a sunny day or at twilight to really get a vision of how special the home feels.

You can find out more about this house on its listing here.

*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.

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