Troy just isn’t all that popular with RPI students, and quite frankly, it’s not too hard to see why. Regarding dining, entertainment, and cultural venues, it simply doesn’t compare to major metropolitan areas like Boston or New York City. On the other hand, it doesn’t have much of that small town atmosphere that some people look for, and while there’s plenty of farmland nearby, RPI certainly doesn’t boast much fresh country air. Unfortunately for many, Albany just doesn’t seem much better.
In spite of all that, Troy and the greater Capital Region really aren’t all that bad. There is actually plenty to do, if you only know where to look. That is exactly what Chris Garretson-Persans (wife of the associate chair of RPI’s physics department, Peter Persans) has been trying to address by writing The City Dweller’s Smalbanac, a self-styled “opinionated guide to things in and around the Capital District.” The small, gray paperback handbook presents its readers with a plethora of eateries, storefronts, activities, and other ways to keep busy.
I was given a copy of the winter edition of The Smalbanac to review. While the weather outside now is anything but wintry, the guide remains surprisingly current. The advice it provides is applicable to all seasons, and although it provides dates for certain specific events, most of the content is in the form of shop listings and other well-recognized landmarks of the area.
The winter edition is particularly relevant to RPI, as the first part of it focuses primarily on Troy and the east side of the Hudson River. It begins with a tongue-in-cheek history of the region, rapidly transitioning to a small but thorough list of historic places, restaurants, and shops around the city, including the local public library, our favorite coffee shops and pizza parlors, and yes, dear old RPI.
The remainder of the pamphlet catalogs the many venues in the greater Albany region in very much the same format. It covers the mansions, the museums, and the other architectural marvels and mishaps that mark the legacy of New York’s state capital. It also gives a nod to the many of the best places to buy food and trinkets, and to generally entertain a bored local citizen.
Perhaps most striking about The Smalbanac is its matter-of-fact, simple, and readable format. Garretson-Persans does not hesitate to speak her mind in any of the entries, although her commentary is mostly positive—after all, she wouldn’t have included the entries if she didn’t like them. She draws on an extensive knowledge of the area’s background to provide a humorous but complete overview of a region that Rensselaer students typically categorize as “boring.” Her simple but comical illustrations of dogs, beavers, and Henry Hudson (who looks remarkably like William Shakespeare) keep the pages very much alive.
Whether catering to bored residents or bewildered visitors, the Albany area is certainly able to entertain. People simply need to be a little adventurous and willing to try new things. For those courageous souls out there, however, The Smalbanac provides an incredible wealth of valuable information that is sure to both educate and entertain.
The Smalbanac is available at several local booksellers throughout Troy and Albany, and a new edition should be available next month. It is definitely recommended reading for every RPI student.
