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Explore Albany on a self-guided walking tour! Stroll through downtown Albany to see the sights and sounds of New York's Capital City. Begin your tour at the Discover Albany Visitors Center and receive helpful advice from knowledgeable staff. 

Walking Tours & Scavenger Hunts

Albany: a walking tour.

Download our self-guided walking tour brochure of downtown Albany. More 

Self-Guided Hamilton in Albany Tour

Embark on a self-guided tour of Hamilton in Albany More 

Albany I Spy Scavenger Hunt

Go on Albany I Spy architectural scavenger hunt with these 12 clues More 

Artful Albany Podcast

Artful Albany is a guided walking tour podcast designed to celebrate the art, history, and culture unique to New York's Capital... More 

Discover Eliza's Albany Scavenger Hunt

Discover Eliza Schuyler Hamilton's Albany on a Scavenger Hunt More 

Audio Tour of Albany

Follow in the footsteps of a 400 year-old city with this audio tour of Albany! The audio tour starts at the Discover Albany Visitors Center and will lead you through downtown Albany stopping at important landmarks and fascinating destinations! 

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Explore Albany's unique and historical attractions.

Attractions

THE BEST Albany Walking Tours

Walking tours in albany.

• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Sightseeing Tours
• Ghost & Vampire Tours
• Walking Tours
• Self-Guided Tours & Rentals
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Ghosts of Albany Haunted Walking Tour

Keep the fun going with other experiences in the area.

Meet Our Rescue Animals: Private Tour of A Family-Run Farm

2-Hour Guided Private Forest Bathing Experience Lenox

Woodstock NY Rock and Roll Tour

Hilarous Hobart Scavenger Hunt

Farm Tour at Clover Brooke Llama/Alpaca/Goat Farm

• Let's Roam Albany
• www.Opatrip.com Albany
• 3Quest Challenge of Albany
• Zombie Scavengers of Albany
• Operation City Quest Scavenger Hunt of Albany

Intersection of Broadway & Quay St ALBANY, New York 12202

141 Broadway, Albany, NY 12202

Downtown Albany - Next to USS Slater

Free Parking For Passengers

Tour Planning & Tour Guide Services in Albany, NY

Did you know that Dutch Apple is now a full-service tour company? Let us plan your next trip to Albany!

NOW OFFERING PRIVATE YEAR ROUND WALKING TOURS OF DOWNTOWN ALBANY!

Allow our expert guides to take you on a personalized walking tour of New York's Capitol. Rates start at $100 per hour, for up to 10 people.

NYS Capitol

Empire State Plaza

Albany Institute of History & Art

Governor's Mansion

Albany City Hall

Have a LARGE GROUP or BUS GROUP ? Let Dutch Apple Cruises plan your day trip to Albany! We are a full-service tour operator, offering expert tour guides and itineraries. Contact us now [email protected]

Get in touch with Dutch Apple Cruises in Albany, NY now by calling us at 518-463-0220 !

PHONE: 518-463-0220

EMAIL: [email protected]

Physical Address

141 BROADWAY, ALBANY, NY 12202

Mailing Address

PO BOX 395, ALBANY, NY 12201

Free Parking Lot On Site

Next to USS Slater

We Accept: Cash & Credit Cards

RANKED #1 TOUR IN ALBANY ON TRIPADVISOR FOR THE PAST 13 YEARS VOTED #1 OUTDOOR ATTRACTION FOR 2020 & 2021 ON ALBANY.COM 2019 ALBANY HOSPITALITY EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNER

THE BEST Albany Walking Tours

Walking tours in albany.

• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Sightseeing Tours
• Ghost & Vampire Tours
• Walking Tours
• Self-Guided Tours & Rentals
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Ghosts of Albany Haunted Walking Tour

Keep the fun going with other experiences in the area.

Meet Our Rescue Animals: Private Tour of A Family-Run Farm

2-Hour Guided Private Forest Bathing Experience Lenox

Woodstock NY Rock and Roll Tour

Hilarous Hobart Scavenger Hunt

Farm Tour at Clover Brooke Llama/Alpaca/Goat Farm

• Let's Roam Albany
• www.Opatrip.com Albany
• 3Quest Challenge of Albany
• Zombie Scavengers of Albany
• Operation City Quest Scavenger Hunt of Albany

All Over Albany

Walking in hamilton's footsteps.

Hamilton... so much... Eliza... tickets impossible... Miranda... (Don't worry, it's only the fever talking.)

Walking tour blurbage from the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center:

ALEXANDER HAMILTON (1757-1804), one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, spent much of his time right here in Albany, New York. Now, visitors can walk in Hamilton's footsteps, and become intimately familiar with the society and issues that informed his most important decisions. This walking tour will highlight what Hamilton did when he spent time here, as well as some of the matters he grappled with. Though modern sensibilities tend to sympathize with Hamilton, and his writings in The Federalist Papers helped usher in our present form of government, we must understand that during his lifetime, Hamilton's ideas were considered controversial. During Hamilton's lifetime, the city was beset by boisterous public debate on a number of issues, and it was this debate that ultimately led to Hamilton's death.

That tour link above is to a downloadable brochure for the walking tour.

The tours at the Schuyler Mansion will be offered through October. And the Albany Institute exhibit runs through December.

Earlier on AOA: "You maintain your empire in spite of all my efforts..."

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All Over Albany is for interested and interesting people in New York's Capital Region. In other words, it's for you. It's kind of like having a smart, savvy friend who can help you find out what's up. Oh, and our friends call us AOA.

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Discover Upstate NY With These Fantastic Tours In Albany

There may not be a better way to discover the history of a city or town than through historical tours. With knowledgeable staff members escorting guests to notable landmarks and scenic areas, a scenic tour can provide plenty of information and insight. And there’s no better way of discovering Albany, NY than with a tour. Including walking, boat, and train tours, Albany features many wonderful opportunities to explore New York’s capital city during your Upstate New York getaway .

Discover Albany with these top sightseeing tour options below.

Albany Walking Tours

Ghosts of albany:.

Throughout the month of October, you can take a glimpse of Albany and its rich history through the lore of ghosts that haunt the city. Throughout this guided walking tour, your host illustrates the supernatural mysteries of past politicians and notable characters that continue to spend their time amongst the living. Each tour is one-and-a-half hours long and walking distance is under a mile, so you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the tour while taking a leisurely stroll. For more details, call (518) 417-2279.

Albany: A Walking Tour:

This self-guided walking tour takes you on a historic journey throughout Albany, making stops at historic landmarks, centuries-old churches, the state capitol, city hall, famous homes and much more! The tour starts and ends at the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center, just minutes from the Morgan State House. Guided tours are also available between April and October for $3 per person. Call (518) 434-1217 for more information.

Albany Boat Tours

Dutch apple cruises:.

Throughout the month of October, you can take a beautiful sightseeing tour down the Hudson River aboard the Dutch Apple II. These scenic trips include insightful narration on the history of Albany and the Hudson River, with beautifully unobstructed, open-air views. The vessel also includes fully enclosed decks with A/C and comfortable seating. Tickets for adults are $19.95, seniors are $18.95, children ages 3 to 10 are $12, and children ages 2 and under are free. Contact (518) 463-0220 for details on the tour schedule and more. Dutch Apple Cruises also offers land tours with private charters for large and small groups.

Hudson River Cruises:

Enjoy gorgeous views of stunning scenery, historic lighthouses, waterfront mansions, and other significant locations as you climb aboard the Rip Van Winkle cruise boat with Hudson River Cruises. This two-hour journey is accompanied by knowledgeable crew members who offer insight into the historic landmarks dotted across the Hudson River. Savor the views from the shaded deck, or head to the top deck for open-air vistas. Tickets are $26 for adults, $18 for children, and $23 for seniors and military. For more information on scheduled tour dates and times, call (845) 340-4700.

Albany Train Tours

Catskill mountain railroad:.

Just a short drive south of Albany is the Catskill Mountain Railroad in Kingston, New York where you can take a wonderful round-trip tour of the Catskill Mountains to Hurley Mountain. Special foliage and holiday trips are available during the fall and winter months, including Fall Foliage , Pumpkin Patch, and Polar Express excursions. For more details on ticket prices and scheduled departure dates, you can contact (845) 688-7400.

Adirondack Scenic Railroad:

Offering multiple expeditions to the north and west of Albany is the Adirondack Scenic Railroad. Guests are given the opportunity to discover the Adirondack Mountains at a more leisurely pace, providing stunning views from Utica all the way up to Lake Placid. The scenic trips offer foliage trains, day trips, and holiday trips, among others. Call (800) 819-2291 for more details on departure dates and ticket pricing.

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• Around Albany
• Uncategorized

26 Best & Fun Things To Do In Albany (New York)

By: Author Jerric Chong

Posted on Published: December 13, 2022  - Last updated: October 16, 2023

A few hours north of NYC , Albany is something of a hidden gem in New York.

Despite being the capital of the entire state, it doesn’t receive as many visitors as other cities, and its attractions are lesser known.

Once you discover it, however, you’ll never want to leave!

For starters, Albany has many notable attractions that date back centuries.

These include warships, governor’s mansions, historic homesteads, and Underground Railroad stations.

Alexander Hamilton’s wife grew up here.

The State Capitol is here.

Other attractions in Albany range from underground caves to high-flying ziplines.

You can watch a ballet, take a ghost tour, go for a cruise, and much, much more.

It’s the kind of destination that can suit a wide range of travel experiences, so whether you’re interested in a romantic honeymoon or a corporate retreat for your business, you can make it work in Albany.

Are you ready to experience all of the fun things to do in Albany, New York?

Let’s talk about some of the best attractions in the area!

Table of Contents

1. Washington Park

Sandra Foyt / Shutterstock

Designed by the same landscape architect as New York City ‘s Central Park, Washington Park is located in the heart of Albany, and it often serves as the city’s heart as well.

People come from all over to enjoy its many different features, events, and activities.

Springtime brings the annual Tulip Festival.

Summer ushers in farmer’s markets and outdoor theater productions.

Fall is the time for the annual Lantern Parade, and winter transforms the landscape into a wonderland of holiday lights, ice skating, and Santa shops.

Year-round attractions at the park include a lake, a playground, and a number of nature trails.

Special events can range from New Year’s Eve masquerade balls to Fourth of July fireworks shows.

Long story short, Washington Park is one of the top things to do in Albany.

No matter when you’re visiting, it’ll be hopping with some kind of fun!

Address: Madison Ave and Willet St, Albany, NY 12210, United States

2. New York State Capitol

Sean Pavone / Shutterstock

The New York State Capitol is one of the biggest points of interest in Albany, and it’s also a rare find in terms of architecture.

You’re probably used to seeing domed buildings as state capitols, but this one looks more like a storybook castle from a distant land.

The three-acre, five-story building is dominated by arches, chambers, corridors, staircases, skylights, fireplaces, murals, and other touches of opulence.

If its design seems a little haphazard, that’s probably because it took several decades and a half-dozen architects to complete.

The end result is a blend of multiple architectural styles that range from Romanesque Revival to Neo-Renaissance.

At the time of the capitol’s construction, the press sneeringly called it “The White Elephant.”

Today, however, its grand and multifaceted style is part of its legacy, especially since it’s still active as a site for government work.

When it comes to famous Albany attractions, it doesn’t get any better than the New York State Capitol.

It’s been mystifying visitors since 1867.

Address: State St. and, Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12224, United States

3. Thacher State Park

Wirestock Creators / Shutterstock

Covering more than 2,000 acres, Thacher State Park is full of fun stuff to do for outdoor enthusiasts.

You can go biking, boating, hunting, golfing, and more!

The natural scenery of the park is stunning.

You won’t even believe that you’re near the city when you’re surrounded by sky-high pine trees and the calls of hawks and warblers.

Its beauty evolves from season to season, so you’ll be hiking fields of wildflowers in the summer and snapping ice crystals off the trees in the winter.

In terms of activities, the sky is the limit.

In addition to the usual types of fun outlined above, there are also unique places like the WildPlay Elements Park, an adventure destination outfitted with ziplines, rope bridges, log ladders, and obstacle courses in the treetops.

If you’re wondering where to go with kids and adults who love being outside, try Thacher State Park.

It’s a gorgeous destination with a lot to offer thrill seekers of all ages.

Address: 830 Thacher Pk Rd, Voorheesville, NY 12186, United States

4. Albany Institute of History and Art

Albany Institute of History and Art

The Albany Institute of History and Art is one of the top places to go for art lovers in the city.

Not only is it home to more than 20,000 objects, but it’s also the result of several cultural institutions merging together over time, giving it a diverse collection that represents not just Albany but the entire Upper Hudson Valley region.

Exhibitions range from “The Mystery of the Albany Mummies” to “Fashionable Frocks of the 1920s.”

Objects include paintings, sculptures, ceramics, furniture, fabrics, and more.

It also boasts a library with literally hundreds of thousands of texts and photographs!

During your visit to the museum, you can browse its many exhibits, enjoy a bite to eat at its cafe, and partake in special events such as classes and workshops.

If you time your trip just right, you might even be able to attend a gala.

The Albany Institute of History and Art can be quite the high-class establishment for appreciators of art, culture, and New York’s legacy!

Address: 125 Washington Ave, Albany, NY 12210, United States

Big Joe / Shutterstock

With its distinctive oblong shape, The Egg is one of the most unique tourist attractions in Albany.

Opinions are divided over whether it’s a brilliant example of postmodern architecture or just a really bizarre building.

No matter what you believe, however, The Egg is a great place for date night.

Formally known as the Center for the Performing Arts, it’s home to multiple theaters that put on plays, concerts, dance performances, and other works of art and education.

You can watch a musical; you can attend a lecture.

You can even take yoga classes in the mornings!

Another great thing about The Egg is that it’s located within the Capital Complex of downtown Albany.

This is an area known for its entertainment venues, so even if you can’t find something on The Egg’s schedule to interest you, you can probably strike gold nearby.

The Egg is one of the most idiosyncratic things to see in Albany, but its building is only half of it.

The next time that you feel like wining and dining someone special, take them to see a ballet at The Egg.

Address: Agency Building 1, S Mall Arterial, Albany, NY 12203, United States

Visiting other parts of New York? Why not check out some of the things to do in Buffalo, NY & some of the things to do in Brooklyn ?

6. Gus’s Hot Dogs

Gus’s Hot Dogs

You can’t visit New York without trying a New York hot dog.

It would be a culinary crime.

When you’re done with the traditional dog, however, you should also check out Albany’s unique version of it: the mini dog.

The mini dog is exactly what it sounds like, and it’s ubiquitous around Albany.

Gus’s Hot Dogs is far from the only establishment to sell them; it’s just one of the best.

At Gus’s, you can enjoy a frank smothered in onions, yellow mustard, and chili sauce, all of it fitted to a four-inch bun.

The price is just $1, something that hasn’t changed in the decades since the first Gus.

Another thing that hasn’t changed is the casual, hole-in-the-wall atmosphere of its painted red shack with its wooden picnic tables out front.

Gus’s Hot Dogs has been a staple of the neighborhood for years, and it’s also one of the most fun places to visit for an authentic, Albany-style mini dog.

Swing by for lunch one day, and you’ll see for yourself why it’s so beloved by the locals.

Address: 212 25th St, Watervliet, NY 12189, United States

7. USS Slater

RozenskiP / Shutterstock

You might recognize the USS Slater from wartime films like Last Operations Under the Orion.

Once upon a time, it was a destroyer escort used in World War II, and it’s among only a dozen surviving ships of its kind.

Today, the USS Slater has been converted into a floating museum, making it a rare treat for fans of maritime history or weaponry.

You won’t find any other Albany attractions like it.

It’s already a one-of-a-kind experience to tour a destroyer escort, but doing it on the water is even more amazing!

To visit the USS Slater, just show up and buy a ticket.

No reservations are required.

You’ll be treated to a guided tour of the entire ship, and you’ll have the opportunity to lay in the bunks, aim the cannon guns, and otherwise bring the past to life through interactive immersion.

A trip to the USS Slater can be one of the most fun things to do in Albany.

After all, how many times in your life do you have the chance to explore rare and near-obsolete warships?

Address: 141 Broadway, Albany, NY 12202, United States

8. Huck Finn’s Playland

If you’re traveling with kids, you’re probably wondering what to do that can burn off some energy.

The answer is Huck Finn’s Playland .

Open only in the warmer months, Huck Finn’s Playland is like a summer vacation for kids and adults like.

It’s a place where you can shed your responsibilities and unleash your inner five-year-old through rides, games, snacks, and other hallmarks of youthful fun.

Many of the attractions are vintage, including an old-fashioned carousel and a number of teacups and tilt-a-whirls.

There’s also a newer, sleeker Ferris wheel that’ll make you dizzy just to look at it!

Huck Finn knew what childhood was supposed to look like, and so does his playland.

Come here and buy an armful of tickets to experience one of the best things to do in Albany.

Address: 25 Erie Blvd, Albany, NY 12204, United States

9. Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site

Adam Jones / flickr

If you’ve ever seen the hit Broadway musical Hamilton, you’re familiar with the Schuyler sisters, one of whom married Alexander Hamilton.

The Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site is their childhood home.

Covering 80 acres, the mansion was originally a site of grandeur, including gardens, orchards, and courtyards.

While these features have been lost to time, the building remains, and it’s been converted to a museum where you can see how the upper echelon of society lived in the 1800s.

You can also learn more about the early American Revolutionary period in general.

Rooms are decorated with real objects, artifacts, and antiques, and tour guides are available to really bring their history to life.

You don’t have to be a fan of Hamilton to enjoy the Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site, but if you are, it’ll definitely be one of the best places to visit in Albany.

Belt out your favorite number on the ride there!

Address: 32 Catherine St, Albany, NY 12202, United States

10. Lark Street

UpstateNYer , CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Lark Street is a busy destination located just a few minutes from Washington Park.

Framed by charmingly historic townhomes, it’s also dotted with shops, restaurants, coffeehouses, art galleries, antique sellers, and more.

The charm of Lark Street dates back to the ’70s when it was known as a hub for new wave punk and alternative music.

It still carries that feeling of funk and soul today; it’s just been channeled into offbeat businesses, many of which are mom-and-pop shops that you won’t find anywhere else outside of Albany.

Go shopping for rare books and handcrafted jewelry.

Grab a bite to eat at one of the authentically ethnic cafes.

Stick around in the summertime and experience Art on Lark, an annual arts festival that draws thousands.

Lark Street is definitely among the top 10 of Albany’s attractions, so you won’t want to miss it!

Address: Albany, NY 12210, United States

Exploring other areas of New York? Why not check out some of the things to do in Rochester, NY & some of the things to do in Lake George ?

11. Fuze Box

Pixel / flickr

Albany has a small but vibrant nightlife scene that includes strong ties to the LGBT community.

You can attend drag shows just as easily as ballet and opera performances!

If you’re more into the traditional nightclub experience, however, you want Fuze Box .

Fuze Box is a neon-soaked affair from the moment that you walk through the door.

The lights are strobe; the dance floor is a black-and-white checkerboard.

The bar is stocked with all of the classics ranging from light cocktails to “knock you on your butt” liquor.

Events at the club include an ’80s night once per month as well as live music on the weekends.

DJs rotate in and out to keep the scene alive.

If you’re looking for things to do in Albany this weekend, you won’t want to miss Fuze Box.

It’s the perfect slice of nightlife for visitors who want to have fun in the city after the sun goes down.

Address: 12 Central Ave, Albany, NY 12210, United States

12. New York State Museum

debra millet / Shutterstock

Located on the other side of the State Capitol, the New York State Museum is an equally impressive building, and its historical significance makes it even more of a standout.

It’s the single oldest museum in the state!

Its collections are amazing, too.

Life-sized dinosaur skeletons share space with firetrucks and Native American longhouses.

There are galleries of flowers, fossils, minerals, and gemstones.

An old-fashioned carousel offers rides throughout the day.

A replica of New York City includes the front stoop of Sesame Street.

Another fantastic feature of the New York State Museum is that it doesn’t charge admission.

A gift shop is available if you’d like some souvenirs to take home, and a cafe with an outdoor terrace can feed you, but you don’t have to spend any money during your visit.

If you’re looking for free things to do this weekend in Albany, consider the New York State Museum.

It can be an educational experience for people from all walks of life, and the experience doesn’t have to cost you a dime.

Address: 222 Madison Ave, Albany, NY 12230, United States

13. Ghosts of Albany Haunted Walking Tour

Ghosts of Albany Haunted Walking Tour

Did you know that Albany has a surplus of spirits?

While there aren’t a lot of traditionally haunted houses, there are a number of urban legends connected to local landmarks, making Albany a great destination for ghost tours.

One of the most well-known is the Ghosts of Albany Haunted Walking Tour .

Exactly what it sounds like, this walking tour will take you by foot to some of Albany’s most supernatural sanctums.

The State Capitol, for instance, experienced all kinds of mysterious phenomena in its three decades of construction.

Washington Park used to house a graveyard before it housed a playground.

Another fun aspect of the tour will be your fully costumed actor who’ll guide you through Albany with style!

A ghost tour can be one of the coolest and most unique things to do in Albany.

If you aren’t afraid to say “boo,” call the Ghosts of Albany Haunted Walking Tour and find out where they’re heading out next.

Address: Albany, NY, United States

14. Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail

Roadskater , CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Stretching for almost 100 miles, the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail connects many points of interest in the Upper Hudson Valley region.

It’s also interwoven with several other, longer trails, including the Empire State Trail and the New York State Canalway Trail.

The pathway starts along the Hudson River and continues through everything from shaded parks to bustling city blocks.

It’s all paved, so you can walk, run, skate, bike, or push a stroller as you please.

If you veer off onto the Canalway Trail, you can even find trails meant for snowmobiling and horseback riding!

Go sightseeing in a brand new way with the Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail.

You can take your time, explore landmarks and attractions at your leisure, and get in a little cardio to help you digest all of those New York hot dogs.

It’s a win-win-win!

15. Mt. Greylock Campsite Park

Mt. Greylock Campsite Park

The northeast coast is one of the most beautiful places to visit in the US .

Aside from a few places like Thacher State Park, however, Albany isn’t close to the lush forests and waterfalls that make up New York’s wilder edges.

You’ll need to travel a bit if you’re interested in a true mountaineering experience.

Enter Mt. Greylock Campsite Park .

Located about 50 minutes from Albany, Mt. Greylock Campsite Park rests in the foothills of Mount Greylock, a rugged summit that’s primed for all kinds of outdoor activities.

You can go camping, climbing, hiking, skiing, and sledding, and that’s just the beginning.

The campsite offers basic amenities as well as designated areas for both tent and RV camping, so it doesn’t matter if you’re roughing it or “glamping” it up.

You can find a spot for you and your family.

Albany isn’t considered one of the top vacation spots for nature lovers, but if you’re willing to go outside of the city limits, you’ll find that the natural world isn’t far off at all.

Just point your compass in the direction of Mt. Greylock Campsite Park!

Address: 15 Scott Rd, Lanesborough, MA 01237, United States

Looking for more thrills around New York? Why not check out some of the best things to do on Long Island & some of the best things to do in Manhattan ?

16. PearlPalooza

Dcaprood / flickr

Modeled after the famous music festival Lallapalooza, PearlPalooza is held on Albany’s Pearl Street every September.

It’s a single-day, all-day event, and it’s welcoming of all ages, making it one of the best places to visit for the family who loves listening to music together.

Both local and international musicians participate, so you’ll enjoy a wide range of talent as you wander from stage to stage.

Some people put on fully planned concerts while others just have jam sessions with their instruments.

As you explore, you can snack or sip on beer and other beverages from the vendors lining the street.

Admission is free, but the refreshments will cost you.

All in all, PearlPalooza is one of the most fun places to go for music lovers in Albany.

Just remember that it only lasts for a day, so make sure to time your vacation correctly if you want to catch it!

Address: 79-39 N Pearl St, Albany, NY 12207, United States

17. Underground Railroad Education Center

Underground Railroad Education Center

Albany was a little-known stop along the Underground Railroad, but that’s exactly what made it so efficient.

For years, African-American residents Stephen and Harriet Myers were able to help slaves reach freedom by sheltering them at their home, and no one knew about it.

Today, the Myers are heroes, and their home has been converted into a museum about the Underground Railroad and the legacy of the abolition movement.

It’s one of the top places to visit if you’re interested in how anti-slavery efforts unfolded in the northeast during the 1800s and 1900s.

Collections include texts, photos, artifacts, and other important objects.

You can also call the education center and arrange for guided walking tours around Albany to see other sites of interest related to the Underground Railroad.

It’s a grim history at times, but it’s an important one to remember.

Visit the Underground Railroad Education Center to learn more about the costs and quests of freedom for slaves in America.

Address: 194 Livingston Ave, Albany, NY 12210, United States

18. Dutch Apple Cruises

Dutch Apple Cruises

Dutch Apple Cruises is a top-rated tour company based along the Hudson River.

If you’re wondering what to do in Albany that’s a bit different than the norm, you might like this kind of new and novel experience on the water.

Your vessel will be an old-fashioned riverboat inspired by the ones used by sailors in 19th century New York.

You’ll cruise down the Hudson, enjoying a full food and drink menu while taking in fun historical facts shared by your tour guide.

If you’re coming to Albany with a group, you can also arrange private cruises for weddings, birthdays, corporate events, and other special occasions.

Pop a bottle of bubbly and marvel at the waves with a buzz!

There are many spectacular things to see in Albany, and a cruise can be a fun and unique way to experience them.

Get in touch with Dutch Apple Cruises to schedule your own excursion today.

19. Cohoes Falls

James Nesterwitz / Shutterstock

Who needs Niagara Falls when Cohoes Falls are so much closer?

Stunningly powerful, Cohoes Falls stretch more than a thousand feet across before thundering into the rocks below.

They’re accessible through several parks, but if you’re coming from Albany, you’ll probably want Falls View Park.

It offers vantage points with wide, panoramic views of the entire waterfall.

Other attractions in the area include an operational hydropower plant and a few defunct mills and buildings.

Some are available for touring and sightseeing while others are not.

Cohoes Falls are definitely a must-see destination when you’re in Albany.

While technically located about 20 minutes outside of the city in Cohoes, New York, it’s a short drive for a big payoff.

Address: 231-341 N Mohawk St, Cohoes, NY 12047, United States

20. Complexions Day Spa

Complexions Day Spa

With locations in both Albany and Sarasota Springs, the Complexions Day Spa is conveniently located for weary travelers all across New York.

You can come here for pampering of all kinds.

Treat yourself to a massage or manicure if you want the luxury spa experience.

Get a facial, skin treatment, or body wrap if you’re looking to improve your appearance.

Book a hair and makeup experience for a special event.

Sign up for med spa services like microdermabrasion or laser hair removal if you’re ready to leave Albany completely transformed from how you entered it.

A good spa day can leave you feeling like a brand-new person, and that’s exactly the kind of experience that you can enjoy at the Complexions Day Spa.

It’s especially true if you’re feeling worn down by all of your travels.

Brush off the dust, submit yourself to a hydrating face mask, and feel your best again!

Address: 221 Wolf Rd, Albany, NY 12205, United States

Have more time? Why not check out some of the fun things to do in Syracuse, NY ?

21. C.H. Evans Brewing Company

C.H. Evans Brewing Company

The C.H. Evans Brewing Company has been in business since 1786, so they know a thing or two about beer.

The good news is that they aren’t stingy with their expertise.

When you visit their brewery, you can enjoy tours, tastings, and many other experiences that’ll give you a deeper appreciation of what’s in your glass.

To start off, you’ll want to tour their headquarters.

It’s based out of the historic Albany Pump Station and is just as grandly industrial as it sounds, especially from the inside.

Once you’ve gained a little insight into the brewing process, it’s time to put your newfound knowledge to the test.

You can achieve this with both tasting tours and regular meals at the on-site restaurant, which serves everything from pub classics like beer batter onion rings to exotic specialties like pastrami kimchi reubens.

The C.H. Evans Brewing Company is a must-see for drinkers in the Albany area.

Not only is the location immensely impressive, but the taps are tasty and ever-flowing.

Address: 19 Quackenbush Square, Albany, NY 12207, United States

22. Cycle the Erie Canal Bike Tour

Are you struggling to fit everything into your itinerary?

Are there just too many Albany attractions that look interesting?

You might be interested in the Cycle the Erie Canal Bike Tour .

An epic adventure, this tour lasts eight days and will take you from Buffalo to Albany entirely by bike.

Accommodations are included, and so are trips to parks, museums, monuments, and other areas of interest around New York.

You’ll get to explore a wide variety of attractions in and outside of the city, and you’ll do it in a fun, unique way that’ll make for a great story when you get home.

You’ll need to prepare for something like this, of course, which means getting in shape and registering your place in the tour several months in advance.

But the effort is worth it.

There are many amazing places to see to Albany, and with the help of the Cycle the Erie Canal Bike Tour, you won’t have to pick and choose among them!

Address: 33 Elk St, Albany, NY 12207, United States

23. Albany Pine Bush

Alan B. Schroeder / Shutterstock

The Albany Pine Bush was once a wild and desolate landscape covering more than 40 miles.

Travelers would cross it at their own peril.

Today, the natural landscape of the bush has shrunk considerably, but it’s still one of the largest of its kind in the US.

It’s also gained prominence as a thriving pine barrens ecosystem that plays host to several endangered species, including the rare Karner blue butterfly.

Visitors are allowed in the pines as long as they follow the well-marked trails and don’t disturb the local flora and fauna.

You can choose from several paths that range in difficulty and take you for different distances.

If you’re traveling to Albany and wondering what to do that’s off the beaten path, consider a path that stymied travelers for centuries!

Go exploring in the Albany Pine Bush and see what you make of these once-wild landscapes.

Address: 195 New Karner Rd #1, Albany, NY 12205, United States

24. Crossgates Mall

Crossgates Mall

Shopaholics, you might need a moment to brace yourself before you enter the Crossgates Mall .

It’s an absolutely gigantic retail space that covers more than 1.7 million square feet.

You could literally get lost among its hundreds and hundreds of stores.

Retailers include both big-name brands and small, eclectic shops owned by New York-based businesses.

You can find everything from luxury goods to cheap tinker toys at this particular mall.

If you’re wondering what to see beyond the commerce, consider stopping by the IMAX theater, the international food court, or the two hotels conveniently located nearby.

You can even purchase a “Stay and Save” pass for discounts on things like spa services!

The Crossgates Mall is among the elite things to do in Albany.

Whether you’re looking for full-fledged retail therapy or just a souvenir or two to take home, experience some New York glamor at a New York mall.

Address: 1 Crossgates Mall Rd, Albany, NY 12203, United States

25. Howe Caverns

James Casil / Shutterstock

Howe Caverns is another attraction that’s located outside of Albany, but it’s such an iconic destination that it’s often recommended as a day trip for visitors in and near the city.

It’s an underground cave system!

How cool is that?

Located more than 150 feet below the surface, Howe Caverns is a series of prehistoric caves made from limestone and brimming with gems, stalagmites, and other wonders.

They stretch for miles, and some old tunnels haven’t been open to the public since the old mining days.

An underground lake rests at their center.

As a visitor, you can take tours that range from “languid field trip” to “spelunking adventure with a helmet and a hand-carried lantern.”

You can also continue the fun above ground at an adventure park filled with ziplines, rock walls, and rope courses.

If you’re wondering what to do while traveling in Albany, how about traveling beneath it?

Check out the Howe Caverns for a fun, unforgettable experience underneath the earth.

Address: 255 Discovery Dr, Howes Cave, NY 12092, United States

26. Empire State Plaza

Richard Cavalleri / Shutterstock

Home to several notable tourist attractions, including the State Capitol, the Empire State Plaza was designed to dazzle.

It was dreamed into being by then-governor Nelson Rockefeller after he took the Princess of the Netherlands on a tour of Albany but was embarrassed by its lack of splendor.

Several decades later, the Empire State Plaza is a gleaming metro.

Its architecture draws inspiration everywhere from Brasilia to the Palace of Versailles.

Its infrastructure includes everything from finance buildings to trendy boutiques and coffee shops.

Just walking around the plaza is a sightseeing experience, but if you’d like to dine, shop, or tour, that’s easily arranged as well.

There’s no cost for wandering, so it can be counted among Albany’s free things to do, or you can open your wallet and start buying tickets for various experiences.

A particularly popular one is the Corning Tower Observation Deck, which sits at the top of the 42-story Corning Tower with floor-to-ceiling windows.

Make time for the Empire State Plaza during your trip to Albany.

You’ll probably wind up there anyway if you’re interested in any of the city’s big landmarks, but it’s worth a visit on its own, too.

Address: 100 S Mall Arterial, Albany, NY 12242, United States

Start Planning Your Trip To Albany

These are just a few of the most exciting things to see and do in Albany, New York.

Whether you’re into caving, shopping, fine dining, or exploring Hamilton’s old haunts, this is a city that you can use to cross activities off your bucket list!

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We Invite You to Visit

An outstanding artifact of the Anti-slavery and Underground Railroad period, The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence , located at 194 Livingston Avenue in Albany, New York reflects Underground Railroad history from the perspective of Stephen Myers as a man enslaved in NYS and from the perspective of Black abolitionists. Stephen and Harriet Myers, who lived in this building in the mid-1850’s, were the central Underground Railroad activists in the Capital Region.

TOUR DATES and HOURS (Must Call Ahead to Schedule with Tour Guide!) Please call (518) 621-7793 before visiting for confirmation of tour date and time 

Tour experiences last approximately 90 minutes

Masks are at the discretion of each visitor. Masks are available at The Myers Residence. Hand sanitizer is available throughout The Residence.

A lift is available for those needing assistance to access The Residence. Please let us know if you would like to use the lift.

Tour Hours: Monday through Friday: 5pm-8pm                                                                       Saturday: 12pm-4pm                                                                                                   Sunday: CLOSED

Group tours – see information below

Myers Mercantile Gift Shop is open during public business hours.

Adults: $10 Seniors: $8 Children 5-12 years: $5 Under 5 years: FREE

Buy Tickets

Youth Group Tours: We offer a 90 minute guided experience for students. $5 per student with one free adult for every 10 students. Please contact us to make arrangements.

Adult Group Tours: please contact us to make arrangements.

Downtown Albany Guided Walking Tours

Guided walking tours of Underground Railroad sites of interest in Downtown Albany can be arranged for groups of 10 or more. Contact us to make arrangements.

Purchase Tickets

NOTE: You must call (518) 432-4432 to arrange a tour time before purchasing tickets.

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194 Livingston Avenue Albany, NY 12210

(518) 621-7793

Ghosts of Albany

Haunted ghost tours in albany, ny.

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School Groups

Team building.

I thought it was excellent. I've resided in the capital region all of my life and this tour was rich in local history and lore. The guide was very knowledgeable and well versed in the stories. He spoke extremely well and was engaging. I would definitely recommend doing it, especially if you like history.

Our guide, Enrique, was well versed in the history and really played out all the stories so well! The jokes were fun too. The tour is an easy walking tour and stops at many of the gorgeous buildings in the town center. This is a fun way to learn a good amount of American history.

through that tour. Albany is a very nice city with remarquable architecture and a lot of history. Our guide , monsier collin, knows his ghost stories and city legends and his very generous in his story telling. We loved it!!

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Rock icon speaks out after being heckled, walking off stage

• Updated: Apr. 12, 2024, 7:23 a.m. |
• Published: Apr. 12, 2024, 6:57 a.m.

John Mellencamp performs at the Landmark Theatre in Syracuse, N.Y., June 14, 2023. Photo by Warren Linhart Warren Linhart - Contributing Ph

• Geoff Herbert | [email protected]

Rock icon John Mellencamp expects his crowds to show respect when he’s on stage.

The “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.” singer has earned a reputation in recent years for being grouchy or worse. Last month, video went viral when he was telling a story about his grandmother at a concert in Toledo, Ohio, and someone yelled at him to “play some music.”

“What do you think I’ve been doing you (expletive),” Mellencamp responded before flipping off the heckler. “Here’s the thing man, you don’t know me... You don’t (expletive) know me.”

The 72-year-old musician also appeared to threaten to fight the fan, telling his people to “find this guy and let me see him after the show.” Then he told the crowd he was going to cut 10 songs from his performance, started playing “Jack and Diane,” and then abruptly stopped after just a few seconds.

“You know what? Show’s over,” Mellencamp said, then walked off stage.

The Toledo Blade reports Mellencamp did return about five minutes later to play a few more songs, but it certainly left a sour taste with some fans.

He spoke out about his growing frustration with modern concert etiquette in a new interview with The Washington Post .

“I do expect etiquette inside of the theater, the same way you would at a Broadway show,” he told the publication. “My shows are not really concerts anymore. They’re performances, and there’s a difference between a performance and a concert. Look, I’m not for everyone anymore. I’m just not. And if you want to come and scream and yell and get drunk, don’t come to my show.”

Mellencamp, previously known as Johnny Cougar and John Cougar Mellencamp, is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The Grammy-winning singer-songwriter’s hits include “Hurts So Good,” “Jack & Diane,” “Pink Houses,” “Small Town,” “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.” and “Cherry Bomb.”

On his most recent album, 2023′s “Orpheus Descending,” Mellencamp said he was diving into more “social and political commentary and moments of evident heartache.” Hence the storytelling aspect to his shows; Mellencamp similarly told a story about his grandmother during a Syracuse concert last year , mixing social critiques and videos with music.

Mellencamp’s upcoming tour dates include one Upstate New York concert on Sept. 17 as part of the Outlaw Music Festival at the Darien Lake Amphitheater near Buffalo. Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan are also scheduled to perform. He has not rescheduled a sold-out Albany concert that he canceled without explanation last year.

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The Battle Over Zaza Waza: A Lifelong Liberal Joins New York’s Weed War

When an illegal smoke shop opened across the street, Gale Brewer, a local councilwoman, vowed to close it. What happened next was “like a Fellini movie.”

Gale Brewer said she had never seen “anything so intractable” as the explosion of illegal cannabis shops in her district on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Credit... Amir Hamja/The New York Times

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By Nicholas Fandos

• April 12, 2024

The informal walking tour came to a pause on Amsterdam Avenue, outside a brick building where a beloved Upper West Side pizzeria had recently been replaced by yet another rogue weed shop.

The store was called Holiday Candy Convenience. But to the local councilwoman, Gale Brewer, it was simply No. 23 — an entry on an oversize spreadsheet tracking the explosion of unlicensed cannabis stores in her district since New York legalized the drug in 2021.

An aide, Sam Goldsmith, inspected the shelves, stocked with flavored vapes and edibles. “These guys are currently out of compliance with absolutely everything,” he muttered before moving on to the next shop.

At last count, there were 56 within about 200 square blocks , twice as many as a year ago. But to understand how Ms. Brewer, a 72-year-old former Manhattan borough president, came to be a leading combatant in New York’s madcap battle against illegal weed, you need to know about just one: Zaza Waza.

It started almost by accident. The city and state were failing to stop blatant disregard for the law. Ms. Brewer, a tireless tinkerer, believed she could help find a better way. And Zaza Waza, just across Columbus Avenue from her district office, presented the perfect test case.

But the harder she pulled, the more entrenched the problem appeared. The little shop with the neon lights in the window became Ms. Brewer’s bête noire. Her obsession pitted her against a mysterious operator with a shockingly cavalier approach to rules and eventually involved an indifferent Police Department, nearly a dozen other government agencies, trash bags filled with confiscated edibles, a couple of padlocks and what must have been a pretty good saw.

By the end, it was not clear if Ms. Brewer had prevailed, but she had begun to doubt what winning even meant. She had set out to prove how the power of government could solve one of the city’s fastest-growing problems. Now she feared she had just more vividly demonstrated its failure instead.

“It’s like the Wild West,” she said on the walking tour. “I’ve never seen anything so intractable. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.”

An Unlikely Adversary in Pearls

It is important at this point to clarify that Ms. Brewer has never really been opposed to cannabis. She does not use the stuff herself. “I don’t like vegetables,” she explained.

As a child of the 1960s, she came of age politically protesting the war in Vietnam. And since getting her first government job in Mayor John Lindsay’s parks department at age 20, she has proudly identified as an unapologetic big-city Democrat.

Ms. Brewer grew up on Massachusetts’s North Shore, the pearl-wearing daughter of moneyed Boston Brahmin stock . But in adulthood she has come to so perfectly represent the Upper West Side’s particular brand of New Yorker — exceedingly liberal, notoriously opinionated — that constituents often affectionately misidentify her as a Jewish native of the city. Her predecessor once called her a “walking information kiosk,” and indeed, few city officials know the obscure levers of power better.

“She is sort of like politics on speed,” said Ruth W. Messinger, who hired Ms. Brewer in the 1970s as an aide in the City Council office Ms. Brewer now occupies. “She has a particular feel for the people who are the most screwed.”

When New York became the 15th state to legalize cannabis, Ms. Brewer enthusiastically supported the law. She was serving as borough president at the time, something like the mayor for Manhattan, and shared the goal of bringing the drug trade out of the shadows.

Legalization accomplished that, but not in the way ruling Democrats had promised. As state officials in Albany made painfully slow progress toward standing up a full legal market, they created a vacuum for rogue shops like Zaza Waza, which the law had not foreseen.

To customers eager for a legal high, stores like Zaza Waza — slang for top-shelf weed — looked every bit the real deal. It did business out in the open, had velvet rope lines and hundreds of products, from edibles claiming 250 milligrams of THC to pre-rolled joints.

But without state licenses, the shops were playing by their own set of rules — no testing, slapdash labeling, no taxes — which even the staunchest legalization advocates feared could choke out the nascent legal industry. When the authorities failed to close the first ones, the model exploded, on a scale no other state has seen.

By some counts, there are now as many as 2,000 bodegas, delis and smoke shops illegally selling cannabis products from the north Bronx to the outskirts of Queens — roughly 50 for every licensed seller. Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, has called the rollout a “disaster.”

Ms. Brewer began hearing first from parents and principals who said the shops were selling to their underage children , opening their doors before the first school bells and often using cartoons to market the product. But soon entrepreneurs trying to win legal licenses were sounding alarms, too; even Ms. Brewer’s own cousin, who had signed up to be a licensed grower upstate, gave her an earful.

“For me, I needed to respond to the parents, and I began to see this is much bigger than what we thought,” she said.

Besides, Ms. Brewer is not the kind of person who can leave a pressing problem to someone else. During the crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s and ’90s, she and her husband fostered close to 30 children.

Like other Democrats, she was determined not to encourage a full-scale backlash on looser marijuana laws. She simply wanted to close the shops so a healthy, regulated industry could grow up in its place.

She had taken on mayors and pushed noisy bars into line. How hard could it be?

“Maybe I sound like a prude,” she said. “But you’re not supposed to sell illegal stuff!”

‘This Insane Game of Whac-a-Mole’

In Zaza Waza, she was up against an formidable adversary. Mr. Goldsmith, a bespectacled former tabloid journalist who serves as Ms. Brewer’s communication director and de facto cannabis czar, had dug up court records suggesting the shop was more than your neighborhood mom-and-pop.

Ms. Brewer walked in the day it opened in summer 2022. She remembered greeting a “nice young man behind the counter,” and telling him, “Be sure you’re legal.”

There was little chance of that. The man who signed the store’s lease, Abrahim Kassim, appears to be the same one who pleaded guilty in 2016 to conspiring to smuggle cigarettes over state lines. Last fall, not long after Mr. Kassim purchased a $2 million Long Island mansion, the federal government indicted someone with the same name on charges of running a food stamp fraud ring at a deli in the Bronx. He pleaded not guilty.

Court records show that no fewer than eight landlords have gone to court against businesses that are connected to Mr. Kassim — some after receiving notice that they were illegally selling tobacco and cannabis products.

But when it came to closing them, Mr. Goldsmith and Ms. Brewer found their own partners in government acting unusually fecklessly. Everyone agreed the ad hoc dispensaries were openly breaking the law, but one by one, agencies looked at the crimes and either shrugged off responsibility or conceded they were simply not equipped to help.

“I wouldn’t have believed it if I wasn’t living it,” Mr. Goldsmith, 40, said.

The state’s recently created Office of Cannabis Management gained explicit jurisdiction over the unlicensed sellers in 2023 and wanted them snuffed out. But it was so overworked and understaffed that of the millions of dollars in fines it had issued, the agency had collected only about $22,500 . As of April, its 16 statewide inspectors had padlocked only one unlicensed store in New York City, according to a spokeswoman.

The Police Department, which has 36,000 officers dedicated to enforcing the law, was even less help. After decades of aggressive tactics related to marijuana, the state had taken a new approach to cannabis that was explicitly designed to decriminalize recreational use and move enforcement away from the police.

Mayor Eric Adams has argued that has left the department without the authority it needs to police the shops, and some Democrats wary of reviving those rough bygone days are insistent on keeping it that way.

But Ms. Brewer was a member of another bloc that believed City Hall could be pushing more aggressively. It remains a crime to possess marijuana with the intention to sell without a license. The police seem content to let business go on uninterrupted.

On a recent afternoon, two officers standing outside Bing Bong, another unlicensed shop in Midtown Manhattan tied to Mr. Kassim, said confidently that the business was legally selling cannabis.

“Yeah, 90 percent of the storefronts you see are legal,” one said incorrectly, comparing them with liquor stores.

In January 2023, it looked like there might be a breakthrough when the Office of Cannabis Management and the New York City sheriff, Anthony Miranda, raided Zaza Waza. They brought TV news cameras along , and Ms. Brewer helped haul out 17 trash bags filled with some tobacco and a stoner’s dream stash.

But Zaza Waza simply restocked, and the sheriff’s office, strapped for employees, moved on to other neighborhoods.

“It’s just this insane game of Whac-a-Mole,” said State Senator Liz Krueger, a friend of Ms. Brewer’s and the coauthor of the state legalization bill, who has pushed for more aggressive enforcement.

Months dragged on. Ms. Brewer and Mr. Goldsmith scoured for creative workarounds. They asked the city health department to enforce food safety rules at stores that sell edible cannabis products. The answer was no. They tried working with the Manhattan district attorney’s office to pressure landlords to evict scofflaw tenants, but many of the owners simply ignored them; others got tied up in court.

Then Mr. Goldsmith tried one last idea, one that would cinematically escalate the fight.

Finally, a Victory?

In the bureaucratic labyrinth of New York City, the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection is little more than a blip. It has only a couple hundred employees working in licensing and enforcement to “protect and enhance the daily economic lives of New Yorkers.”

On paper, the agency has nothing to do with cannabis. But it can regulate tobacco. And since Zaza Waza and most of its competitors sold both products without a license, Mr. Goldsmith realized the little-known agency could shut down the place if no one else would.

In mid-March, 14 months after the sheriff’s raid, its agents placed padlocks on Zaza Waza for the first time — not because of the pot, but because of cigarettes.

Ms. Brewer was elated. By then, “UPPER WEED SIDE: Gale Brewer vs. Zaza Waza” was getting the tabloid treatment , and the mayor had dubbed her “smoke shop lady.” She called a news conference for the next morning.

But by the time she and Mr. Goldsmith showed up to take their victory lap, Zaza Waza had sawed the fastenings clear off.

“I didn’t know whether to be embarrassed or angry,” Ms. Brewer recalled. She said what came next was “like a Fellini movie.”

City agents returned with bigger locks. Zaza Waza paid $108,000 in fines, and Consumer and Worker Protection agents had no choice under current law but to remove the locks. Two days later, inspectors returned to find more unlicensed tobacco products and padlocked again.

Lawyers representing Mr. Kassim in several cases declined to comment. A man who identified himself as the owner of Zaza Waza refused to answer questions when reached by telephone.

“Don’t waste your time,” he said. “Bye.”

Ms. Brewer was initially doubtful the closure would last. But when she returned to Zaza Waza a few weeks later in April, it was still dark.

“Still closed! Still closed,” Ms. Brewer cheered as she approached. “Yay, Sam! Yay, Sam!”

Back in her office across the street, Ms. Brewer and Mr. Goldsmith debated the lessons of Zaza Waza over coffee.

Political forces seemed to be galvanizing: Ms. Hochul was pushing for changes to state law designed to make shutting the shops easier, and giving local lawmakers like Ms. Brewer greater power to legislate solutions. Mr. Adams promised ( not for the first time ) to crack down.

“It’s going to take a ton of work, a ton of coordinated persistent work by multiple entities, including the D.A.s,” Mr. Goldsmith said. “But I think we’ve shown it’s not impossible.”

Ms. Brewer was more pessimistic, though. It felt like the shops themselves were still one step ahead, and even if officials found a formula to close them, she wondered who would actually have the wherewithal to shutter a couple thousand.

“I don’t quite see the light at the end of the tunnel,” she said.

She was also thinking of one last twist in the case of Zaza Waza. The day after the dispensary was padlocked for the last time, Ms. Brewer’s office received a cold call from a landlord in her district.

The woman explained that she had recently rented out a storefront she owned on Ninth Avenue for use as a deli. But her tenant had gone rogue, converting the space into an unlicensed weed shop instead, and then locked her out of her own building.

It felt like déjà vu. An intern for Ms. Brewer asked the woman for the tenant’s name.

She said it was Abrahim Kassim.

Jack Begg contributed research.

Nicholas Fandos is a Times reporter covering New York politics and government. More about Nicholas Fandos

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