Capital Region Welcome Center

06/20/2024

Sunshine state of mind? More like cheese state of mind! ☀️
The summer solstice is here, bringing long, glorious days perfect for indulging in some epicurean delights. Skip the crowded restaurants and create your own brie-lliant summer solstice feast at home. Four Fat Fowl's St. Stephen cheese is the star of the show - its smooth, luxurious texture and rich flavor will have your taste buds singing. Pair it with seasonal fruits, crusty bread, and a glass of wine for a celebration that's gouda be legendary!

pen_spark

06/14/2024

The Capital Region Welcome Center is proud to support New York's amazing dairy farms, and today we're shining a spotlight on King Brothers Dairy! Headquartered right here in the Capital Region, Kings Dairy offers delicious whole and chocolate milk available to-go at our Welcome Center. Coffee connoisseurs, get ready to elevate your morning brew with their fantastic selection of dairy products.

Stop by and taste the difference New York dairy makes!

06/13/2024

Happy (Early) Father's Day to All Dads! ‍‍

This Father's Day weekend, we're raising a cup (of coffee!) to all the amazing dads visiting the Capital Region Welcome Center!

Friday, June 14th - Sunday, June 16th, stop by the Welcome Center and ALL Dads will enjoy a FREE coffee on us!

It's our way of saying thanks for all you do. From the first diaper change to the endless games of catch, you're a foundational part of the family!

Fuel up with a delicious coffee and explore the bounty of New York-made products at the Taste NY Market.

06/02/2024

The Capital Region Welcome Center is udderly excited for National Dairy Month!

Throughout June, stop by for:

🐮 Samplings of your favorite dairy products! From creamy yogurts to sharp cheeses, we'll have something for every taste bud.
🥛 Fun facts about dairy! Learn about the nutritional benefits of dairy, the dairy farming process, and the history of dairy in New York.
🧀 Special sales on all your dairy favorites! Stock up on fresh milk, cheese, yogurt, and more at amazing prices.

05/24/2024

Who's ready for another warm holiday weekend? Here are some great local events to fill your weekend.

Mountain Top BioBlitz Celebration at the Mountain Top Arboretum
Saturday, May 25th, 8 AM- 4PM, Tannersville, Greene County
Celebrate the culmination of the Schoharie Watershed Month bioblitz with a celebration at the Mountain Top Arboretum in Tannersville, NY.

Saratoga Springs Food Tours
Saturday, May 25th, 12 PM, Saratoga, Saratoga County
Discover the tastes of Saratoga. Available every Saturday!

Biodynamic Centennial Celebration Fair
Saturday, May 25, 10AM - 11PM Hillsdale, Columbia County
Join the .farm for a festival celebrating 100 years of biodynamic agriculture!

05/22/2024

Thanks for stopping by the welcome center! We hope you had a great trip. For a delicious local chocolate fix, try Fruition Chocolate!

05/17/2024

Sunny skies and awesome events? It's the perfect Capital Region weekend! ☀️ Here's your 3-day plan:

🇬🇷 Friday-Sunday: Immerse yourself in Greek culture at the 52nd St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church Greek Festival!
🐐 Saturday: Unwind with some laughs and adorable goats at Goat Yoga with Into The Woods Farm !
🎼 Sunday: Celebrate 64 years of Caffe Lena with live music at the Sing in the Streets Music Festival!

05/12/2024

We hope everyone is having a spectacular Mother's Day! Our Taste NY Market will be closing early at 5:00 PM. We'll be back to our normal hours tomorrow!

05/10/2024

It's Friday, everyone! It's a little cloudy at the Capital Region Welcome Center today but don't let that get in the way of some fun Mother's Day events!

Here are three events we think everyone would enjoy.

🌷 2024 Tulip Festival, Albany
Starting March 11th Washington Park 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Free and open to the public
Submerge yourself in a sea of more than 100,000 tulips at Albany's historic Washington Park this Mother's Day weekend for Albany's Annual Tulip Festival

🥧 Second Annual Mother's Day Bake-Off at Indian Ladder Farms, Altamont
Sun, May 12, 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Winners of each category will be awarded prizes! The Grand Winner will receive tickets to this year's NY CAPITAL DISTRICT RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL.
Find more details at https://www.shopindianladderfarms.com/product/mother-s-day-bake-off-may-12-/2283?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=false&category_id=18

🌸Blossom Experience at Bowman Orchards, Rexford
Sat, May 11, 2024 10am-4pm
Treat mom to a tour of the Bowman Orchards in full bloom!
For tickets and more details go to https://www.bowmanorchards.com/event/blossom-experience/

05/04/2024

Kombucha lovers meet your next obsession!

Yesfolk Tonics brews their Balsamo kombucha with Cempasúchil, White Pine, and Lemon Balm from Soul Fire Farm to create a delightful and refreshing melody of a flavor that we think tastes like sunshine!

Find the Balsamo and Yesfolk's other flavors at the Capital Region Welcome Center.

05/02/2024

Treat Mom to a spa day at home! 💆‍♀️ These pampering gifts are the perfect way to show you care.

Honey Oatmeal Soap from Hudson Naturals , SallyeAnder No-Bite-Me Bug Repellent and After-Bite Cream, and the Brightside Lemon & Eucalyptus Candle from Tess & James are all mom-approved gifts she'll love.

Find them all at the Capital Region Welcome Center!

03/29/2024

It’s time for another Area Code Day! Today we’re celebrating 329 and 845. We’re giving a shout out to our vendors PKBrown Woodworking, Bella's Home-Baked Goods, Lunagrown, and the Phoenicia Diner!

Let us know if you enjoyed any of these products or if you have a favorite item from the Hudson Valley and southeastern New York that you want us to know about.

03/20/2024

The Total Solar Eclipse glasses are available at the Capital Region Welcome Center! If you’re heading northbound on I-87 stop by and grab a pair while supplies last!

03/18/2024

Feeling the Monday blues? ☕️ We've got the cure! Swing by the Capital Region Welcome Center for a maplelicious pick-me-up: our signature Maple Latte!

Made with locally roasted beans from Capital City Coffee Roasters, fresh milk from King Brothers Dairy, and a splash of Maple Leaf Sugaring maple syrup!

03/17/2024

Happy St. Patricks Day from everyone at the Capital Region Welcome Center!

03/16/2024

Level up your meals this Women's History Month with Fat Crow Gourmet!

This amazing woman-owned business creates small-batch, flavor-packed sauces, mustards, jams, and more! From BBQ rubs to scone mixes, they've got everything to elevate your meals.

Support local & savor the deliciousness! Order on their website, visit their Troy store, or find them at Shop Taste NY.

03/15/2024

The Capital Region Welcome Center is shining a light on delicious New York producers by area code! Today, we are celebrating area codes 315 and 680 with Cheeky Monkey Foods and Syracuse Salt Company! ️

These local gems are flavor powerhouses that can elevate any dish. Head over to their websites to find out where to buy their products and snag some drool-worthy recipes!

03/03/2024

The Capital Region Welcome Center is at the Maple Fest today hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia and Greene Counties. Come sample delicious syrups from Finding Home Farms, grab some yummy Taste NY treats, and learn all about maple sugaring!

03/03/2024

We're excited to also celebrate Maple Month! Visit us at the Capital Region Welcome Center to find maple syrup from amazing producers like jourdinsmaplesyrup, Finding Home Farms, and Maple Leaf Sugaring.

03/02/2024

Looking to support small women-owned businesses at Taste NY? Look for our women-owned sticker when you visit the Capital Region Welcome Center!

03/01/2024

Did you know March is Womens History Month? Join us in celebrating the women shaping our communities! We proudly support women-owned businesses like Sattva Vida , Fat Crow Gourmet , Dutch Desserts - Exquisite Tarts , Tess & James, and more at the Capital Region Welcome Center. Come discover unique, women-made products all month long!

Have any women-owned businesses you want to see highlighted? Let us know below!

02/19/2024

To celebrate Black History Month, we're shining a spotlight on incredible Black-owned businesses featured at the Capital Region Welcome Center, kicking off with See and Be!

Founded in 2018, See and Be baked goods have been a staple at our Taste NY Market since we opened.

It's been rewarding seeing them grow from a mostly wholesale business to having a storefront that you can visit on Main St. in Cairo, NY!

Stop by the Capital Region Welcome Center for a fresh croissant or visit them in Cairo for an exceptional sandwich and bread selection!

02/06/2024

Show your love this Valentine's Day by supporting small businesses! Enjoy 10% off any purchase featuring an item from Vasilow's Confectionery, Inc. Let's spread the love together. 💕

01/22/2024

Photographers pick up your cameras! The NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets has created a new monthly photo competition. The January prompt is Sunrises and Sunsets on the Farm. See details in the post below how to enter and remember to submit by February 7th.

Calling all photographers!!! We’re so excited to invite you to participate in our brand-new contest: the 2024 Agricultural Photo Contest! 📸

To highlight the best of NYS's agricultural community, commodities, and livestock, we’re going to pick a different topic each month and invite you to submit photos that fit that category. Photos will be voted on, and the first-place winners each month will have their photo posted here and included in a 2025 calendar spotlighting the best of New York ag. In addition to bragging rights, winners will also receive a copy of the calendar as thanks for their participation!

To kick off January, we want to see your pictures of the quiet, cold months before the planting season begins. With the winter solstice behind us, we watch winter light settle over cold ground as the days slowly grow a little longer, which is why the first category of our photo contest is Sunrises and Sunsets on the Farm. 🌞

To submit a photo for consideration, email it with a brief description of the photo to [email protected] with the subject line: “AGM Photo Contest_January_Your Name”. Submissions for this month will be accepted through Wednesday, February 7. Visit https://agriculture.ny.gov/2024-agricultural-photo-contest to see the full contest details.

Ready… set… go!!! 📸

01/22/2024

We’re happy to represent Taste NY in Albany for the legislative visits. We know our state representatives will love snacking on Issa's Pita Chips, Beth's Farm Kitchen hot pepper jelly, and Nettle Meadow & The Kemp Sanctuary goat cheese!

01/12/2024

Get ready to savor the flavor! On January 27th join the Downtown Schenectady Improvement Corporation for the 8th Annual Downtown Schenectady Soup Stroll.

Soup Stroll is only a few weeks away and we're here to answer a few of your most pressing questions regarding the event!

🍲 Where is the event taking place? At each participating restaurant! Soup Stroll will once again feature more than 20 downtown restaurants and you'll have to visit each participating location to sample their soup.
🍲 How can I pay for my samples? At only $1 a sample, we highly encourage you to carry cash to make it easier on the restaurants.
🍲 When can I find out who is participating? A full list of participating restaurants and their flavors will be posted on our page and at downtownschenectady.org on Tuesday, January 16.
🍲 Do I need to purchase a ticket? No! Unlike Wing Walk, Soup Stroll is a pay as you go event. All you'll need to do is stroll around to the different restaurants and pay for however many samples you would like.
🍲 How can I find a map of the locations? A map will be online at downtownschenectady.org and at each participating restaurants the week of January 22!
🍲 How do I vote? Vote for your SOUPerstar Restaurant by having each restaurant check off their name on your map when you purchase your sample and then place your ballot in one of the five ballot boxes around downtown. You must visit 10 places for your vote to count.

🍲 Why should I come to the 8th Annual Schenectady Soup Stroll? Because you support our locally owned restaurants while sampling delicious soup flavors!

01/11/2024

Thinking of visiting the Capital Region Welcome Center this weekend or just heading northbound on I-87? This Saturday, January 13 at 8 p.m., the northbound lanes of the Thruway (I-87) from exit 17 (Newburgh) to exit 18 (New Paltz) will fully shut down to all traffic for at least 12 hours. Use the NYS Thruway Authority post below to help find a detour and to keep your trip as short as possible.

*** RESCHEDULED *** TRAVEL ALERT: This Saturday, January 13 at 8 p.m., the northbound lanes of the Thruway (I-87) from exit 17 (Newburgh) to exit 18 (New Paltz) will fully shut down to all traffic for at least 12 hours so a portion of the damaged Brookside Road overpass in New Paltz can be safely removed over the northbound lanes, weather permitting. The Plattekill Service Area will be closed during this operation. Motorists should seek alternate routes while this work takes place or avoid travel in the area during these times, if possible.

A detour will be in place beginning January 13 at 8 p.m. (see map). Motorists can read more about the operation here: https://bit.ly/3RQNT8A.

01/11/2024

Happy National Milk Day! 🐄 Did you know that New York State is a dairy powerhouse? Home to over 3,500 dairy farms, it ranks 5th in the nation for milk production. A huge shoutout to our hardworking dairy farmers for keeping our glasses full and our mornings moo-velous!

01/09/2024

Congratulations to the winner of the Taste NY Selfie Contest, Joseph F. of the NYC area. Thank you for visiting us at the Capital Region Welcome Center in December!

12/22/2023

Thank you for all your votes this year!

The winners of the 2023 NYS Grown & Certified Tree Topper Competition are:

🐝Honey (and overall winner!) – Long Island Welcome Center
🍎Apples – Finger Lakes Welcome Center
🍁Maple – Western NY Welcome Center
🐄Dairy – Taste NY at the NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center

Adirondacks Welcome Center, Central NY Welcome Center, Hudson Valley Catskills Welcome Center, Southern Tier Welcome Center, Mohawk Valley Welcome Center, North Country Welcome Center, Taste NY - Broome County , and Taste NY at Todd Hill l