Sergey Kadinsky

Albany Photography

Swan Street Building, part of the Empire State Plaza. Looks like someone took a bite out of the building. A feminist restroom sign? Only in Albany.

Art nouveau door on State and Lark Streets

The Egg is the theater overlooking the Hudson valley. Below it is the Empire State Plaza.

The Temple

The Temple on Swan Street is a church, but if you look closely at the roof, you will notice an upside-down triangle- one-half of a Star of David. Prior to 1957, this was a Reformist shul, but as the Jews migrated to the suburbs, the building was sold to a church, and the star became a triangle over the years.

A closer look at the cornerstone reveals its Hebrew date. Symbolically the light shines on its Christian date, reflecting the building's new owners.

A House of Prayer for all People. This is a term taken from the Torah. Same architecture style as the Capitol building.

Downtown State Street

Looking down State Street towards SUNY Plaza. On the right, the abandoned Wellington Hotel, next door to the old Elks Club. Today, the Crowne Plaza across the street handles most of Albany's visitors.

Above: Some of the fancy architecture on State Street facing Washington Park. Some of these buildings belong to political groups such as the Rockefeller Institute.

Lark Street is an important shopping strip in the Center Square neighborhood. Sandwiched between Washington Park and the Empire State Plaza, it reminds me of old Brooklyn, only cheaper and less crowded. Also, there is not one supermarket on Lark Street or anywhere in the inner-city part of Albany.

The Western Segment of State Street

After pausing for two blocks, State Street gains a second life west of Cortlandt Street, continuing through the run-down Pine Hill neighborhood, aka "Student Ghetto." Looking east, State Street disappears into a driveway. On the right, the old Albany High School in the background separates the two segments of State Street.

Ewww, an abandoned building. If I were mayor, I'd demolish every abandoned building. Better to have empty space than ugly space. One building to the left is a ubiquitous FOR RENT sign. Real estate is sooo cheap in Albany, get it while it's "hot."

State Street's western terminus is at St. Mary's Park, where it intersects Partridge Street. Nearby is the College of St. Rose. Looking east ,theo ld Albany High School appears on the horizon.

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