Best Women’s Clothing
Circles
Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany
High-end fashion lovers frustrated with the Capital Region’s sparse offerings will find relief at Circles. The shop features hard-to-find items from top designers like Elizabeth & James, Nanette Lepore, and Diane Von Furstenberg. They’ve got a to-die-for denim selection, a killer cosmetics department, and their welcoming staff is the icing on the cake.
Circles. Photo by Julia Zave.
Best Women’s Clothing (Diverse)
Truly Rhe
1 Broadway, Troy
This store is literally filled with merchandise, but not in a cluttered, hoarding type of way. Everywhere you turn, there’s just more great stuff to look at. It’s nearly impossible to not find something that you like because owner, Rhe Potenza tirelessly scours the country for items that you won’t see anywhere else in the Capital Region.
Best Men’s Clothing Store
Mark Thomas Men’s Apparel
5 Metro Park Road, Colonie
There is a reason every time you go into Mark Thomas Men’s Apparel, there is a prominent local figure buying cloths. Whether it be a local judge, senator or college basketball coach, the heavy hitters in Capitaland know where to shop. It’s a business model that everyone should practice. Carry the best high-quality lines (Pal Zileri, Cornneliani, Sanyo, Jack Victor), treat the customers like they’re gold and offer amazing service and tailoring.
Best Downtown Shopping
Saratoga Springs
Before there were shopping malls, there were downtown areas like Saratoga Springs where you could pop your head in boutiques that specialized in everything from toys to hats to yarn, then have your pick from an array of fine dining and snack options. Maybe take a spin on the carousel. That kind of place still exists in Saratoga.
Best Outlets
Manchester, Vermont
Lacking in the this-is-kind-of-a-mall vibe that plagues almost every other outlet on the planet, Manchester has a small town feel that is a welcome treat. The layout is spread out across several intersections, so prepare for a bit of walking. Enjoy killer outlets and killer deals at stores like J.Crew, Coach, and Brooks Brothers, and certainly don’t forget to stop at the holy grail of all things suited—Theory.
Best Jewelry
Elissa Halloran Designs
229 Lark St., Albany
If you’re looking for a unique piece of handcrafted art that is (lo and behold!) also wearable, you’ve got to get to Elissa Halloran’s shop. It’s sparkly. And addictive. Beware.
Best Consignment Shop
The Closet Shop
337 Delaware Ave., Delmar
A jam-packed boutique of resale brand-name goods, this small store holds clothing in every style, and you won’t have to paw through mounds of shabbily used items to score a sizzling cocktail dress, the perfect picnic capris, or to-die-for sandals. And ladies, do know that this Closet is handbag heaven, featuring luxurious bags at far less than department store prices. Even if your taste runs to Chanel, you can shop without the sticker shock.
Best Vintage Shopping
Hudson
Whether you’re looking for a hip pair of jeans, an entirely too-expensive velvet cape (what?), or just, well, looking—Hudson is a great place to scour for days on end for vintage finds with any price tag. Don’t confine your search only to Warren Street—although there is plenty there. Delve a bit deeper and you’ll find some other hidden gems around town, most notably Five & Diamond Vintage on Columbia Street.
Best Antiques
Ballston Spa
A quaint area nestled between Schenectady and Saratoga on Route 50, it’s easy to stop in Ballston spa for a sunny Saturday romp of affordable antiquing. With a handful of shops like the Ballston Spa Antique Center, Broadway Antiques, Dean’s Antiques, the Stone Soup Antique Emporium and countless others you’ll definitely find that special something you’re looking for. And don’t forget to check out the National Bottle Museum.
Best Book Store
The Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza
Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany
They’ve outlasted the dead and dying major chain stores with a great selection and a smart, friendly staff. They probably have something to please you but will of course special order, too.
Best Used Bookstore
The Book Barn
200 Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham
Sure, we’ve placed a box of books in front of owner Daniel Driggs and watched the pain cross his face as told us they had too little resale value to interest him. On the other hand, he knows his stock and has saved our ass by plucking a book from the shelf and saving it for us. The place is large and well-tended and quickly becoming a much-needed anachronism in the internet era.
Best Children’s bookstore
The Little Book House
Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany
The perfect book store for a literary fanatic in training. Huge selection, new and classic selections, an indoor playhouse; fans of this independent establishment have come back year after year. Some return with children of their own.
Best Used Textbooks
Mary Jane Books
Quail Street and Western Avenue, Albany
They know the textbook business better than some of the college bookstores do, which is why, for price, selection and service, Mary Jane Books remain a student’s best friend.
Best Antiquarian Books
Lyrical Ballad
Saratoga Springs
Wander into the labyrinthine rooms that make up Saratoga’s Lyrical Ballad, and be transported into a pre-Internet (hell, pre-telephone) world of books. You’ll find things you didn’t know you were looking for.
Best Stylist (Hair)
Robert Thomsen (Shapes and Colours)
65 Wolf Road, Albany
Thomsen’s work is meticulous, garnering him such a positive reputation in the area that getting an appointment with him means that you must have amazing hair karma—it could take weeks. He’s the stylist that other professionals go to for perfectly coifed tresses, which means simply that he’s got the touch.
Best Stylist (Make Up)
Kyle Garcia (Make Me Fabulous)
32 Front St., Ballston Spa
Weddings, television commercials, or fetish balls—whatever the occasion, Garcia’s hands have transformative powers. After years with MAC Cosmetics, Garcia became a fully licensed stylist dedicated to unlocking the mysteries of liquid liner and fake eyelashes for the rest of us regular folks.
Best Barbershop
Duke’s Barber Shop
807 Madison Ave., Albany
Forget all the hype about metrosexuals; real men go to barbershops, not salons. Duke’s on Madison is one of several new barbershops that seem to have cropped up in downtown Albany of late, but don’t be confused into thinking it’s just another place to get a crew. Inside, Duke’s is clean and comfortable, in the kind of cushy-leather seating and hot-rod-and-bodybuilding-mags way that your father (or grandfather) would have recognized and appreciated. The barbers are low-key and confident in their ability to handle a straight razor or clippers, and the prices are a friendly reminder, especially in these uncertain times, that quality cuts don’t have to break the bank—or involve perfume or pedicures.
Best Optician
Buenau’s Opticians
228 Delaware Ave., Delmar
For the comprehensive in-office eye exams, specialty services for hard-to-fit patients, an outstanding selection of stylish frames, and the friendly and knowledgeable staff, a well-deserved repeat win.
Best Optical (Selection)
Hughes Opticians
411 Kenwood Ave., Delmar
A locally-owned store that features Tom Ford, Oliver Peoples, Dior, Marc Jacobs, Paul Smith, and what . . . Chanel?! Is this a joke? No, this is Hughes Opticians. A world of high fashion right in our backyard (Delmar).
Best Toy Store
The Parent Teacher Store
515 Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham
The Parent Teacher Store is one of those vanishing toy stores where it’s OK for your child to roam freely. While half of the space houses classroom tools, the other half is dedicated to high-quality toys and games. You’re unlikely to find Barbie and Ken, but there are rows and rows of toys geared towards creative play. They also have a frequent buyer reward card and will gift wrap your purchase for free.
Best Bike Shop
Downtube Bicycle Works
466 Madison Ave., Albany
Whether you’re looking for a bike or you broke the one you already own, Downtube is where it’s at. There are a lot of other shops popping up in the area, but this Albany institution rolls over the competition.
Best Kitchen Supply
Different Drummer’s Kitchen Co.
Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany
Stocked with functional and beautifully designed kitchen tools that you didn’t even know you needed, you might just up your culinary skill set after a trip here. If you need more than just equipment to get on Top Chef , these guys offer cooking classes as well.
Best Farmers Market
Troy Farmers Market
Troy
There are so many farmers markets in the Capital Region to choose from, but the Troy Farmers Market still seems to have an edge. Whether it’s at the Troy Atrium, the streets of downtown Troy, or next to the Hudson River—it’s always well organized and extremely walkable. It’s hard to leave empty-handed because there are so many top-notch vendors offering produce, fish, meat, cheese, soaps, sweets, and ready-to-eat options.
Best Food Co-op
Honest Weight Food Co-op
484 Central Ave., Albany
There is so much to say about Honest Weight because it simply is amazing. The bulk goods, the cheese selection, and the prepared foods; it’s making our mouths water just thinking about it. But in a really healthy way. You know, that healthy type of drool.
Best Food Market
Guido’s Fresh Marketplace
1020 South St., Pittsfield, Mass.; 760 S. Main St., Great Barrington, Mass.
Never mind those national chains with market-tested words like “Fresh” and “Whole” in their names—Guido’s is the real deal, with the best, freshest produce you’ll find anywhere, as well as outstanding meat and seafood sections, bakeries, delis, and bulk and packaged foods, and wine. And a strong commitment to the Berkshires’ local-food-and-farm community.
Best Neighborhood Market
Cardona’s Market
340 Delaware Ave., Albany
Since 1945, the Cardona family has been serving the Delaware Avenue neighborhood with the finest Italian ingredients and prepared foods. From Boar’s Head meats to imported olives and cheese, Cardona’s is one big Italian feast. Don’t skip on the homemade cannolis.
Best Artisanal Bakery
Our Daily Bread
54 Main St. and 33 Hudson Ave., Chatham
Our Daily Bread has long been the source of the best bread around. Not limp, tasteless supermarket abominations, and not inedible “peasant” doorstops, but crusty, sophisticated artisanal breads in a dizzying variety of styles, using traditional methods and natural ingredients (locally grown where possible). As Columbia County residents and farmers market customers from Schenectady to Manhattan can testify, ODB make a mighty fine loaf. And all you celiacs out there, don’t despair, you too can share in the bounty. Their coffee, and breakfast and lunch offerings are mighty fine too.
Best Beer Selection
Oliver’s Beverage
105 Colvin Ave., Albany
Undisputed champions in the heavyweight division for beer selection and expertise, Oliver’s Brew Crew will almost certainly have that obscure label your craving and a bunch more you’ve never heard of and ought to try.
Best Wine Store (Mall Country)
Empire Wine
Northway Shopping Center, Colonie
A repeat winner for an amazing selection and equally amazing prices.
Best Wine Store (Neighborhood)
Capital Wine
Lark and State streets, Albany
Like we said last year, this is an adorable space, owned and operated by neighborhood folk, and staffed by neighborhood folk. Nice selection for the limited square footage, and if you can’t find something you’re looking for, they’ll try to find it for you. Knowledgeable, friendly staff. A valuable Center Square resource.
Best World War
The Great Supermarket Smackdown
Shop Rite! Trader Joe’s! Whole Foods! Rumors of Wegman’s! With all the new entrants into this highly competitive field, is it any wonder that Price Chopper and Hannaford are quaking in their boots—and giving some of their stores fresh facelifts and brand-new services? Who knows, maybe Grand Union will rise from the dead and rejoin the fray . . .
Best Asian Supermarket
Asian Supermarket
1245 Central Ave., Albany
There’s nothing like this place. You think you’ve seen everything, and here’s a pharmacy section. It’s become the secret shopping stop for many area chefs, who know they can get fresher and more unusual items here than at any other local store. Need some kaffir lime leaves for a Thai dish? They’re here. Lemongrass for your Vietnamese cookery? Check. A takeout meal? More sauces and condiments than you ever thought existed? Stop by. Prepare to spend some time and money.
Best Artisan Cheese
Washington County Diary Farms
Delaware Avenue Farmers Market
Represented by the Cheese Traveler (Eric Paul), these delectable farm-to-table cheeses from a collective of farms up north offer everything you could want in handcrafted cheese, from fresh mozzarella to goat, sheep, and raw cow’s milk cheese, ripened as Camembert, brie, chevre, feta, even Welsh-style Caerphilly, along with herb spreads and organic yogurts. Cheese Traveler also offers customized cheese plates and tastings.
Best Youth Center
Railroad Street Youth Project
60 Bridge St., Great Barrington, Mass.
Created more than a decade ago after a series of tragedies, RSYP was designed to support and empower local youth, in large part, by helping them integrate into the community—with amazing success stories.
Best Community Center
Sidney Albert Albany Jewish Community Center
340 Whitehall Road, Albany
A repeat winner for its cultural programming, community classes, summer camps, senior programs, state-of-the art fitness center, three pools (indoor and out), sports leagues, farmers market and the area’s largest child-care center.
Best Home Theater
Hippo’s Home Entertainment Center
Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany
When you’re ready to get serious about your home entertainment environment, the knowledgeable and skilled folks at Hippo’s are ready to bring the movie theater experience into your living room. They’re the best.
Best Video Game Store
Pastime Legends
292 Lark St., Albany; 37 Mohawk Ave, Scotia; 73 4th St., Troy
They’ve only been around for a few years, but Pastime Legends already seems like a Lark Street institution. They’re well-stocked with a wide variety of video games, and the prices are good. Buy, sell or trade—and they have a solid Blu-ray/DVD selection, too
Best Record Store
Last Vestige Music Shop
173 Quail St., Albany
Still glorious. An amazing collection of used vinyl, plus some old-fangled record machines to try your purchase out on. Strong local music section, too. Also CDs, DVDs and Blu-rays.
Best Comic Book Store
Aquilonia
412 Fulton St., Troy
Perennial winners Aquilonia remain the best. The staff is courteous and knowledgable, and they have everything for the fanboy (and gal) on the go.
Best Art Supply
Arlene’s Artist Materials
A57 Fuller Road, Albany
Art students and art lovers all know that the Capital Region would be a dismal place without Arlene’s. This independently owned store has been around since before most of its current clients were born because they do what they do so well.
Best General Gift Store
American Pie
41 Main St., Chatham
American Pie not only calls itself “a general store,” but appears to take the appellation seriously. They have the usual array of quality gift store standbys of course; soaps and glassware, cards and scarves, etc. But how about a pair of reading glasses, a sauté pan, a toy for Junior, a chocolate bar or a potato peeler? If you need it, they probably have it. Many small towns have seen their Main Streets either wither and die or become expensive tourist traps; American Pie continues keeping it real in Chatham.
Best Gym
Best Fitness
911 Central Ave., Albany; 2330 Watt St., Schenectady
Most people pick a gym out of convenience or cost. Best Fitness fits into both of those criterias as they have two beautiful, large and affordable facilities in Albany and Schenectady. Weather you’re a hardcore bodybuilder, a triathalete or a senior citizen who is trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle, Best Fitness is the fitness center for you. Great trainers, accommodating staff, and an immaculate facility.
Best Combo Business
Coccadotts Cake Shop/Dotts Garage
1177-1179 Central Ave., Albany
Who wouldn’t want a cupcake while they wait to get their oil changed?
Best Bike Transport
CDTA buses
Most CDTA routes
If you’ve never racked your bike on the bus, it’s much easier than it looks. Why risk heat exhaustion when you can hoist your two-wheeler onto the pullout bike holder at the front of most CDTA buses? It’ll get where you’re going—minus the long, and sometimes dangerous, stretches between cities, or, if you’re so inclined, just help you to avoid killer hills. At no extra charge, the only problem is that on busy routes, sometimes two racks per bus aren’t enough, but CDTA is in the processing of installing more.
Best Yoga Studio
Heartspace Yoga and Healing Arts
747 Madison Ave., Albany
Yoga studios are springing up like beautiful—and mighty flexible—weeds these days but Albany mainstay Heartspace still keeps one of the busiest and most diverse class offerings, not to mention a range of other healing arts including massage and reiki.
Heartspace Yoga and Healing Arts. Photo by Julia Zave.
Best Skate Shop
Seasons Skate Shop
211 Lark St., Albany
Seasons has serious swag—and you can too if you rep their gear. In addition to all the big brands in boards, wheels and decks, their line of shoes, hats and T-shirts is unrivaled. Check out their seasonal lines of T-shirt designs for some of the coolest local branding around.
Seasons Skate Shop. Photo by Julia Zave.
Best Tattoo Parlor
Lark Tattoo
278 Lark St., Albany
Anyone who’s had ink done is going to be partial to the artist they trust but if you’re shopping around for the first time look no further than Lark Tattoo. The service is top-notch and the quality is something you won’t be regretting 20 years down the road.
Best Musical Instruments
Parkway Music
1777 Route 9, Clifton Park
Simply put, Parkway is unrivaled when it comes to selection and service. That’s why they take home this honor pretty much every year.
Best New Vinyl
Fuzz Records
209 Lark St., Albany
Fuzz Records might be the best news local audiophiles have heard in a long time. Dealing exclusively in new vinyl, Fuzz has all the new releases (local and national) on the best format ever.
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