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| Midtown Mojo: John Mancini, Graeme McKenna, and Howard Glassman |
One part of town has it all! The Midtown Grid.
Once this stretch of Central Avenue was known as "Albany's Main Street." The neighborhood was home to the city's auto dealerships in the golden age of the automobile, and each day, gleaming new cars rolled off lots for the first time.
Today, this section of Central Avenue -- three blocks extending from Robin Street to Ontario Street -- has become a destination for canny, one-of-a-kind entertainment options. The moves in this area have prompted the CBID and local stakeholders to launch a rebranding effort, creating new materials, banners, and a website that celebrate this area for the arts and entertainment district that it's become.
The street offers great live music performances in intimate settings and outstanding international cuisine. The district is also home to a diverse international community, who are responsible for bringing nine international restaurants and four ethnic markets to the district. These businesses give transplants a taste of home, and new initiates, a delicious glimpse into another culture.
Much of the headway that's been made in this district can be ascribed to the curatorial talents of Howard Glassman, Graeme McKenna, and John Mancini, proprietors of The Low Beat, The Linda, and Pauly's Hotel, respectively. This trio has worked tirelessly to seek out and promote local talent.
"We're always trying to be that community for artists," says McKenna, who is the general manager of The Linda, WAMC's Performing Arts Studio. "It's a reflection of the station's goals. Our interest is to reach out to local groups seeking greater exposure, seeking an audience for something they want to say."
"We strongly believe in the local Capital District music scene, so much that the area bands get first dibs here," says Glassman, owner of The Low Beat. During his time at the helm of The Low Beat, and before that, Valentine's, Glassman is credited with giving many bands their start. When he moved to Central Avenue in 2014, he was excited to have Pauly's next door and The Linda right next to it, because it makes the corner a destination for music. In fact, in the spirit of collaboration, the three institutions often waive cover charges for one another's patrons.
"When Howard moved in, I gave him a present. I had two stamps made up, one for his place, and one for mine, so customers could go back and forth between our places," explained Mancini.
The three impresarios also hope that their patrons take advantage of other local businesses, including a wide array of international restaurants. "People can come for a show, and they can grab a bite at The Low Beat, or Salsa Latina, or Van's Vietnamese, Afghan Kabab, Casa Dominicana, Northeast Dumplings, or Ichiban." says Glassman.
The three venues also open their doors to a wide array of active local artists, who produce a refreshing line-up of engaging entertainment every night of the week. By supporting groups like Capital Cinema Cultural Exchange, Urban Guerilla Theatre, Albany Poets, and The Pine Hills Review, and providing them with support they might not otherwise get, The Linda, Pauly's and The Low Beat are nurturing talent that could pay big dividends for the surrounding community, where customer crossover is not only hoped for, it's expected. They are also laying the economy for a thriving creative economy, right here on our little strip.
