In conjunction with November's 1st Friday event, the Downtown Albany, New York Business Improvement District & Lark Street Business Improvement District have partnered to bring you the best in dining, shopping, and entertainment - all easily accessible by riding the FREE Capital City Trolley!

Shop special deals from 40+ participating businesses, dine local while enjoying restaurant specials, peruse artwork and exhibits in a dozen locations, choose from multiple venues to hear live music, and ride the Capital City Trolley for free as it brings you safely to all of the 1st Friday events.

All events are offered free of charge unless otherwise indicated.

Downtown events & specials include:

• 677 Prime | Buy one get one drinks at the bar up to $15
• Albany Center Gallery | "Creations: Collections & Connections" exhibit Artist Reception, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
• Albany Modern Body Art | Tattoo artists showing their portfolios & original artwork
• Broadway Plaza Liquor | Mix of wine tastings
• The City Beer Hall | Drink specials for Capital City Trolley Riders; Live music with the Insolent Willies from 7:00-10:00 PM; DJ Citrus Minute at 11:00 PM
• Downtown is Pawsome exhibit | Seek out ten new sculptures inspired by Albany icon Nipper, customized by regional artists and installed throughout Downtown. Map and more information at www.downtownalbany.org/downtownispawsome
• dp: An American Brasserie | 15% off total bill (may not be used in conjunction any other promotions or discounts)
• Excelsior Pub | Pinball tournament; winner receives happy hour pricing for the month (7:00 PM); Drink specials for Capital City Trolley riders and pinball players
• Fort Orange General Store | 10% off any store purchase
• Fresh & Fly Clothing | Mention 1st Friday for 15% off any purchase (Open until 8:00 PM)
• The Hollow Bar + Kitchen | Mention the Capital City Trolley for a complimentary signature cocktail, draft beer, or house wine with any entree purchase; live music with The Slaughterhouse Chorus, Henry’s Rifle, Charmboy & Coffin Salesman at 8:00 PM ($10 cover)
• Jack's Oyster House | Mention the Capital City Trolley for buy one, get one free glasses of wine at the bar
• LaSerre | Mention 1st Friday for complimentary glass of wine or dessert with dinner purchase
• Loch & Quay | $1 off all drafts
• McGeary's Irish Pub | Mention 1st Friday for 10% off total bill
​• Open Gallery | A new public art exhibit from the Downtown Albany BID and Albany Center Gallery reimagines doors throughout Downtown as an outdoor gallery, featuring the work of 13 local artists. Map and more information at: downtownalbany.org/opengallery
• Palace Theatre | Free concert with the US Navy Band Commodores at 8:00 PM
• Pearl Street Pub | Happy hour trivia with beer specials at 5:30 PM; Friday Night Karaoke at 9:00 PM; live music with Mihali at 9:00 PM (ticketed event)
• recto y verso EDITIONS | 41 State Street | Inaugural exhibition featuring artwork by Tom Koken | Gallery open 11 AM - 4 PM and 5 PM - 8 PM; call 518-308-9057 for access to the Gallery after 5 PM.
• Speakeasy 518 | Live music with George Muscatello Trio at 9:00 PM
• Times Union Center | Albany Auto Show, 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM ($10 ticket, kids under 12 free)

Lark Street area events & specials include:
• Alacrity Frame Workshop | An Intro-Duct-Sion to Sculptures by Dennis Gervasio
• Albany Institute of History & Art | Free admission (5:00 - 8:00 PM) | Schuyler Sister book event with L.M. Elliot, author of "Hamilton and Peggy" at 6:00 PM | Exhibitions: "The Schuyler Sisters & Their Circle" (through December 29), "Joseph Hidley: Folk Artist" (through December 1)
• Bombers Burrito Bar | Drink Specials
• Cafe Lark Pizza | $1 slice of pizza
• Capital Wine & Spirits | Wine tasting; 10% off regular priced wine with Capital City Trolley selfie
• The Daily Grind | Free cup of coffee on Saturday with Capital City Trolley selfie
• Elissa Halloran Designs | Jewelry sale: 10% off all jewelry in November
• El Loco | Free frozen lime margarita with purchase of entree with Capital City Trolley selfie (dine-in only)
• El Mariachi Tapas | $5 margaritas, sangria and tapas
• First Presbyterian Church | Art Gallery 5:30-8:00 pm: Watercolors by Kevin Kuhne | Concert at 6:00 PM: The College of Saint Rose Madrigal Ensemble and Woodwynd Womyn Trio
• GreatFinds Thrift Boutique | A Program of Equinox, Inc. | Artful Windows: "Turn, Turn, Turn", Baby It's Cold Outside Sale. Light refreshments (open 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM)
• Lark St. Poke Bar | Free thai or matcha green tea with Capital City Trolley selfie
• Lark Street Yoga | 10 class pass: $100; 6 months unlimited pass: $600 (includes 6 free class passes and workshop discounts) | Featured artist: Therese Verley Strodel
• Lark Tavern | happy hour all night long, $1 off drafts, $4 well drinks
​• L.A.X. Restaurant & Lounge | Live music at 9:00 PM
• Lionheart Pub | Happy drink specials until 9:00 PM; live music by Yankee Holler | Brewery Grand Opening at 8:00 PM
• NoHo & SoHo Pizza | $3 off any large pizza
• Oh Bar | $3 Fireball and $3 Labatt tall boys
​• PizzaRoni | 10% off any dine-in or pickup order
• Romeo's Gifts | 25% off storewide sale
• Savoy Taproom | Music by Flying Rob & Friends; $3 off first appetizer with a Capital City Trolley selfie
• Susie's Pub | Happy hour until 9:00 PM
​• That Store | 20% off all incense, incense accessories, and body oils
• Umana Restaurant & Wine Bar | Featuring the art of Obaro Ene & his students | Live Afrobeat music by Mixed Roots
​• Yamaguchie | 20% off all art and art-related items

Midtown/Uptown area events and specials include:
• Albany Elks Lodge: Albany First Friday Swing Dance with band Miss Paula & the Twangbusters | Free swing dance lesson with pro Jason Fenton from 7 - 8pm, no partner needed; Dance 8 - 11pm | Admission including lesson: $15; DFO members $12; seniors and students $10
•Art Associates Gallery Inc. | 5:30-10pm | Featuring: "Firehouse Artists, 21 Women Sharing a Vision".
• Esther Massry Gallery @ The College of Saint Rose | The Karene Faul Alumni Exhibition 2019, featuring studio art alumni Rachel Baxter ’11 and Daesha Devón Harris ’02 (though December 7)
•Opalka Gallery | Opening Reception and Tour of new exhibtion "Chew: Food as Muse" | Curators' Tour: 5:00pm, Reception: 6:00 to 8:00pm
•Susan Stuart Studio | Opening reception: Sculptures by Mary Pat Wager and Paintings by Susan Stuart, also including 3" x 3"x 3'' works by Wager, Lee and Stuart (5 - 8 PM)

Download the free Cityfinder app by Transfinder to find trolley stops and real-time arrivals!

Want to park your car before you hop on the trolley? There's FREE on-street and public garage parking in Downtown after 5:00 PM on weekdays and all day on weekends & holidays! Park for free in the Riverfront or Quackenbush Garages and hop on the trolley at nearby stops for easy access to all the 1st Friday venues. Visit parkalbany.com for more information.

1st Friday and the Capital City Trolley are brought to you by Capital District Transportation Authority - CDTA), ParkAlbany, the Lark Street BID, and the Downtown Albany BID.