From 5–9 pm on the last Friday night of every month, RPI students and our neighbors in Troy have the chance to experience the best of Troy. Last Friday night was one such “Troy Night Out.” The event itself showcases various galleries, musical venues, boutiques, and restaurants all hosted by locals. The location of the event is incredibly convenient for RPI students, almost on our doorstep. I gathered up a group of friends and we made the trip down the Approach to explore the gathering, which was advertised as having art galleries, music, and food.
When we arrived early, it was not very crowded, but the crowd grew later. Students wearing RPI shirts mingled with residents of Troy, both young and old. The live music heard outside—performed by various local artists—was not exactly what we expected, though I was impressed by the accordion player. At times it seemed like our choices of activity were limited by being under 21, and Krysten Anderson ’12 said that she would have had more fun if she knew more about art.
When we asked what we should see before we headed back to campus, Jeffrey Teixeira ’09 responded that he liked coming downtown “to have dinner and coffee with a group of friends,” and recommended a few places.
What impressed me the most about the event was how unique the galleries and shops are. Boutiques and cafes have personality and charm. Chris Krajewsky ’12 also enjoyed it, but he did not think he would go back next month.
