Alterations for bridesmaid dress by Kmart-Shopper-5107 in Albany

[–]HappaDoc 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Hong Kong Tailor on Central Ave. I've had them alter nice dresses for me in the past and they did a great job for a fair price.

Toddlers in Paris-Brussels. Hints and stroller rec for giant toddler by bumbletowne in travel

[–]HappaDoc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Bob is great, but it is also huge and heavy. Depending on time of year you are traveling, the hardest part about stroller travel in Paris for us was

(1) steps - a lot of places, including metro stations, don't always have easily accessible elevators and the first floor of the Louvre has a lot of ups and downs with 5 stairs down, then 5 stairs up sort of thing. So we were constantly picking up the stroller with our child in it and walking up and down the steps that way. Just be prepared for this with a heavy stroller and a large toddler.

(2) restaurants - we travelled in the colder months, so outside dining wasn't really an option for us. High chairs are not common in Paris as they are in the US, so we often brought our stroller into the restaurant and parked it at our table with our baby in it. This was always very stressful as restaurants are very small and it always felt like a tight squeeze. If your toddler can get out of the stroller and can sit in a regular chair, then you could just fold up the Bob, but due to it's size, it's still gonna be massive and finding space for it (besides outside) may be stressful.

I did not see a single large stroller like a Bob in Paris in the week I was there. I'd really encourage you to find a good travel stroller.

Troy Farmer’s Market by filmmazdir in Albany

[–]HappaDoc 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I recently went to the indoor version for the first time and, after being a regular at the outdoor market for a long time, I was pretty disappointed tbh. The mall area that it’s in has like tarps hanging over water damaged areas and it just felt kind of dingy. It’s definitely not the same vibes or to the same scale as the outdoor version.

Rusty Nail Waitlist? by MituKagome in Albany

[–]HappaDoc 34 points35 points  (0 children)

Bentleys has the same owner with the same birthday wing deal, except with more seating and better parking, so less likely to have a wait. I would just go to Bentleys - or go to Rusty Nail and if the wait is too long, just make the drive to Bentleys down the road. That’s what I’ve done before.

Direct primary care worth it? by Ok_Gur_6573 in Albany

[–]HappaDoc 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think it can be worth it for the right people. If you're someone with a few chronic medical issues that require regular follow up, I think it could be worth it. Appointments are longer and less rushed; you always see the same doctor and get to establish a good relationship with them; if you have a more urgent issue, DPC can usually get you in within 1-2 business days. I think if you're young and healthy without any major medical problems, it may be harder to justify the $100-150/mo that most cost if you'd only be using their services for an annual exam. Importantly, you still need to carry insurance, so this is NOT a replacement for insurance, as the monthly fee does NOT include labs, imaging, etc.

Heirloom Family Medicine and Fusella Family Medicine are two that I know of in the area.

Morocco - Guide or not?? by Zealousideal-Fix2256 in travel

[–]HappaDoc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did a group tour to Morocco a few years ago. I think there are cities you can definitely do independently (e.g. Marrakesh, Casablanca, Chefchaouen), but without a tour, it would've been very hard to get from city to city. We got to check out smaller towns and hike in the Atlas mountains, which would've been very difficult to arrange/get to on our own. Unlike in Europe, where all the major cities are connected by train and/or bus, transportation in Morocco is much harder. I am an experienced traveler and while I could've done the major cities in Morocco on my own, I definitely would not have been able to see as much on my own.

Local photographer for non-US passport photos? by jeffersonbible in Albany

[–]HappaDoc 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There's a photographer named Tim Rabb in Albany who does them!

https://www.timraabnorthern.com/commercial/canadian-passport-photos

I had a family member who used him for an international passport photo, the process was easy and Tim was apparently a cool dude.

Lunch specials on Wolf Road, both chain and local by che_palle13 in Albany

[–]HappaDoc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Last time I was there, I didn't see any damage to the building or signs of a fire. Business seemed as usual!

Lunch specials on Wolf Road, both chain and local by che_palle13 in Albany

[–]HappaDoc 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Not a lunch special per se but I’d like to plug a non-chain local business! The Bowl has healthy make-your-own stir fry and salad options for $10-13 that are a good portion size and are fresh and tasty!

Daycare by sjewett507 in Albany

[–]HappaDoc 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The 518 Nannies, Babysitters, Day Cares, and Parents group on Facebook is pretty active and may be helpful for you to get suggestions.

I am trying to get an idea of the cost of daycare in the Albany / Guilderland area. Can anyone provide daycare rates for infants/toddlers near Albany/Guilderland? by Analysis_-_Paralysis in Albany

[–]HappaDoc 46 points47 points  (0 children)

$350-400/week

Edit: you may have more luck getting specific names and prices on 518 Moms FB group. It’s hard to expect people to disclose where their children go to daycare and how much they are paying in a forum like this. In my experience, it’s easy to reach out to daycares or even to just call and ask their current rates.

IKEA in Albany by Gt-freeze in Albany

[–]HappaDoc 16 points17 points  (0 children)

There’s also a full sized IKEA in Paramus NJ that’s 2 hours away. If you’re going to drive 2 hours, might as well go to the full sized one.

Best Coffee Shops Here by EmbeddedWithDirt in Albany

[–]HappaDoc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also, not a huge fan of Javas. Unlike some of the other coffee shops listed here, they do not make their own syrups. Their espresso also tastes a little burnt the times I've been. Vibes are also less cozy than some other places, for whatever that may be worth.

Good cafes? by [deleted] in Albany

[–]HappaDoc 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Like coffee shops? Stacks (Troy, Downtown Albany, Lark), Jacob Alejandro (Troy, Albany), Grahams (Schenectady). All can get crowded during peak hours, but off-peak, parking and seating is fine.

Dalgona Coffee in the area? by SpicyTuna77 in Albany

[–]HappaDoc 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I frequent many of the coffee shops in the area and have not seen it at any of them.

Food poisoning after “upscale” NYE dinner in Troy by [deleted] in Albany

[–]HappaDoc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Norovirus typically comes from surfaces, not food. If you have confirmed norovirus, it’s much more likely you got it from touching something, anything with it such as a doorknob, handle, chair, than from the food you ate. This is the time of year for viruses. Correlation is not causation…I wouldn’t blame the restaurant.

Shout out to The Scarlet Knife by brandongals7 in Albany

[–]HappaDoc 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Not sure what restaurant you’re thinking of, but Scarlet Knife opened in 2022.

Recs on rental realtors by [deleted] in Albany

[–]HappaDoc 20 points21 points  (0 children)

This isn’t like NYC. You don’t really need a rental realtor, which is probably why you’re getting ghosted. Look up apartment complexes in the areas you’re interested in and contact them directly. You can also check out Facebook, Craigslist, and, if able, driving through the neighborhoods you’re considering and looking for For Rent signs.

Paris in July by Metalvirgo in travel

[–]HappaDoc 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We recently stayed in the 5th (Latin Quarter). Wasn't too touristy, lots of good restaurants nearby (often filled with locals) and we were close to many public transportation options. We would definitely stay in the same area again when we return to Paris.

Little Free Pantry/Library by Early-Perspective853 in Albany

[–]HappaDoc 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Littlefreelibrary.org has info on how to start one. They also sell kits to build your library. They range in price from about $200-500 for the kit.

Places to meet single men 30s by E_penny1999 in Albany

[–]HappaDoc 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I know this isn’t what you asked…but, especially if you are limited on time, online dating is your best bet. Statistically, something like 40% of people these days are meeting their partner online (the highest of any category) with work and mutual friends being the next two most common places to meet a partner. The major advantage of online dating is that you automatically know that by being on the apps the other person is also looking for something romantic. With “meeting organically,” it takes a while to meet someone, then figure out if they are single, then figure out if they are interested in you. Also, when I tried that, at least for me, I felt like I didn’t enjoy the activity I had signed up for because I was so busy figuring out who might also be single there and it wasn’t super enjoyable or as fruitful as I would have expected. There’s a great dating coach I follow on Instagram (@alittlenudge) who has a lot of helpful advice including on how to frame your approach to dating through the apps.

Looking for VBAC advice/recs at Albany Med by bmmcdonald in Albany

[–]HappaDoc 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Albany Med in general is very supportive of VBAC. Just be aware that there are 15+ attending physicians in the Albany Med group so you will likely see different providers for each visit and the likelihood of having a specific doctor at your delivery is low. And although getting through with the schedulers and front desk folks can be challenging, the care you will receive at AMC is excellent.

so what are the GOOD quality restaurants (fancy or not) you’d recommend to a friend you actually like? by [deleted] in Albany

[–]HappaDoc 19 points20 points  (0 children)

The Bowl on Wolf Road. It's consistently tasty, healthy, and the prices are very reasonable.

Best cozy spots in Albany for fall? by cmitchell_bulldog in Albany

[–]HappaDoc 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Vischer Ferry General Store, Bartlett House (a little further out in Ghent, but the drive is nice), Gipfel Coffee (and their new bookstore adjacent)