Testing, testing, is this thing working? Music district begins to take shape at Quail and Central

Three music venues, one exciting corner.

With the recent opening of The Low Beat, Howard Glassman's new bar on Central Avenue, the intersection of Quail and Central has become something of a destination for music lovers. Glassman's business joined Pauly's Hotel and The Linda, WAMC's Performing Arts Studio, both longtime music venues on this corner, and helped cement a new identity for this section of Central Avenue. 

The potential for synergy between these three businesses was evident even before the ribbon was cut at The Low Beat April 4, but if there were any left wondering whether three music venues could play nice and work together, that celebration would have assuaged all concerns. Glassman, John Mancini, owner of Pauly's Hotel, and Graeme McKenna, general manager for The Linda posed together for shots in front of the new bar, and talks were already under way about a multi-venue summer music event. 

That weekend Pauly's and The Low Beat co-hosted WCDB's anniversary party, with one cover for both establishments.

"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.

Now, in the latest follow-up, the two are partnering again, in conjunction with WEXT 97.7 and KeepAlbanyBoring to present "Down on the Corner."   

"We had such a blast this past weekend partnering up with our next door neighbor Pauly's Hotel to help present WCDB's 36th Anniversary party that we thought, "hey, why not try this again?" So we are," says Glassman. The music starts Saturday, April 26 at 7pm.

Here's the line-up:

Pauly's Hotel and The Low Beat in conjunction with WEXT and KeepAlbanyBoring present:

Down On The Corner #1

Saturday April 26  7pm  2 venues/7 bands/1 loooow ($7) ticket

The Lucky Jukebox Brigade        11:30  Low Beat

New Red Scare                            11:00   Pauly's  

The Schoemer Formation            10:30   Low Beat

Neighborhood of Make Believe   9:45     Pauly's

UnEvEn StEvEn                           9:00    Low Beat

MR Poulopoulos                           8:15    Pauly's 

Chloroform Party                          7:30    Low Beat

On-street parking is free after 6pm on weekdays and throughout the weekend. There is also a pay parking lot next to the Linda at 339 Central that is open to the public. Parking fees can be paid by cash or with a credit card using the easy-to-use machine at the center of the lot. 

The Low Beat is located at 335 Central Avenue.

Pauly's Hotel is located at 337 Central Avenue.

The Linda is located at 339 Central Avenue.

Patrons can grab a bite to eat at The Low Beat until 2:30pm, or at any of the other restaurants that share this same block, including Salsa Latina (315 Central), Van's Vietnamese (307 Central), Afghan Kabab Express (305 Central), Northeast Dumpling House (299 Central), Casa Dominicana (260 Central Avenue) or Ichiban Japanese Chinese Restaurant (338 Central), or at any of the other restaurants that line Central Avenue.