Coming back to RPI from my home, I realized that downtown Troy can get boring. I decided to explore and found a great little city not too far north. Glens Falls, N.Y. is nestled in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains and yet only a short 45-minute drive from RPI. The city offers many different entertaining opportunities and is a definite stop during your four short years at RPI.
Glens Falls has been labeled “Hometown, USA” and consistently wins the title of “one of the best places to live in America.” The nightlife in Glens Falls is robust. There are many sports bars and clubs and the downtown area is a definite blast on a boring Friday night.
Dave LaPointe, a former Yankee’s pitcher, has opened up one of the finest sports bars in the Adirondacks on South Street in downtown Glens Falls. This bar features pool tables, many drink specials, and different kinds of finger foods. Even players from the local professional hockey team, the Adirondack Icehawks, visit this local watering hole after the games.
Just around the corner is Davidson Brothers’ Brewery and Restaurant. In this pub, they make their own beer in the front windows as well as offer a tremendous dinner selection and finger foods. On the second floor are pool tables and dartboards, as well as a variety of activities. This place is a must see.
Down the street from Davidson Brothers’ is a cigar store and “café.” Cigars from around the world are sold there and there are many places you can sit and enjoy the latest hand-rolled smoke. Also on this street are a variety of dance clubs and other bars of different types for any taste.
If winter sports are your hobby, Glens Falls features West Mountain Ski Area and Snow Tube Park. The mountain offers eight trails and six lifts as well as a full line of snow tube trails equipped with their own lift. Night skiing is available every night with a very good snowmaking capacity. Prices tend to be low but vary with night and time. It is easily accessible off exit 18 of Interstate 87 north.
The Adirondack Icehawks is also a great treat on a cold weekend night. With student tickets only costing $8, as well as inexpensive food and drink inside, it makes for a great Friday night out. This year the team is in first place and is one of the best in the United Hockey League. The Glens Falls Civic Center does not have a bad seat in the entire building; it is a must for any hockey fan.
No night could be complete without a visit to the local hotspot, New Way Lunch. This ’60s hotdog and hamburger joint features 75-cent hotdogs with their special sauce. Coke is still served in the old style glass coke bottles and it is like taking a step back in time. Their many pies are a great topper to any meal.
No matter the taste, Glens Falls serves up a great meal of nightlife and entertainment. With the drive being so short you cannot go wrong. To get there, go north on I-87 and take exit 18, get off the exit ramp and take a right. Drive about two miles and you will be downtown. There are plenty of signs for parking; let the exploration begin. For more information, you can log onto http://www.glensfalls.com, http://www.adirondackicehawks.com, or http://www.westmountain.com.