The 2012 Albany Tulip Festival Committee is now accepting applications for artist exhibits at the 64th annual festival which takes place  this year on May 12 & 13 in Washington Park.

Art submitted can fall under painting (watercolor, acrylic, pastel, oil, etc.), drawing, sculpture, prints, photography, etching, collage and mixed media. No craft, commercial or retail vendor applications will be accepted.

All exhibitors must be 18 years or older and the cost is $70 for two days  and a  $10 jury fee.

The application deadline is Monday, Feb. 13, 2012. You can request an application here.

Park Playhouse, Albany’s free theater series that takes place in Washington Park, announced Wednesday that for it’s upcoming season that “Cabaret,” not the previously advertised “Legally Blonde,” will be produced for the company’s twenty-fourth season.

“Legally Blonde is a show that Park Playhouse may do someday,” said Owen M. Smith, the producing artistic director of Park Playhouse. Smith, who has been head of the venerable summer theater program for three years, expressed confidence in the change from the movie-turned-musical “Legally Blonde” to “Cabaret.”

“Our funding structure has changed and we’ve taken a look at the new budget structure. Legally Blonde is a lesser known title and a more expensive production and this is not the first time we’ve changed shows,” said Smith.

“(Cabaret) is a better fit for our budget and people have wanted to see Cabaret for years.”

Park Playhouse, which began in 1989 as part of a municipal arts program and has evolved into its own non-profit organization, is still in a revival phase since Smith took over in 2010. Under Smith’s tenure, Park Playhouse has produced critically-acclaimed productions of “Annie Get Your Gun” and “The Producers.”

“We all felt good about the switch,” Smith continued.

‘Cabaret,’ which was written by Kander and Ebb and first performed in 1966, is set in 1931 Berlin as the Nazis are rising to power. The show focuses on nightlife at the seedy Kit Kat Klub and revolves around the 19-year-old English cabaret performer Sally Bowles and her relationship with the young American writer Cliff Bradshaw.

“I think Cabaret is a story that needs to be told and we will be doing it in a very different than what people have seen before.”

Mistakes, mistakes don’t turn the water back on.

According to a report first published by the Albany Business Review, the University at Albany is seeking new bids for contractors to rehabilitate the water tower and fountain on its uptown campus in response to a subcontractor of Latham-based Bunkoff General Contractors erred on an estimate for work of approximately $1.2 to $1.5 million.

The bid that the subcontractor was involved with kept the amount below the $15 million threshold when the subcontractor discovered the mistake.

The entire project, estimated around $15 million, is set to be complete by 2014.

The SUNY Construction Fund, who is managing the bids for the project, decided to re-open the request process in light of the mistake. The new bid is now due on February 14, with provisions to keep the project within line cost-wise and minimize distractions on the Edward Durell Stone-designed campus.

A small water fountain not located in the main area was separated out as an alternate bid, which means the university could decline to do that portion of the project depending on the cost.

Some of the criticism over the project stems from the university’s 2010 plan to cut a number of humanities programs while embarking on a robust list of construction projects that include building a new School of Business building, rehabbing dormitories, and renovating the Campus Center.

This past weekend Marian Gaborik was crowned the MVP of the All-Star game after he recorded a hat trick and an assist as he led Team Chara to the win. For an All-Star weekend that lacked the two most well known faces of hockey in Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby, there was still plenty of excitement to go around.

The all-star fantasy draft format was back by popular demand and was even more fun than last year. It was funny to see players like Gaborik get picked to play against their teammates like Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist, who was the assistant captain of Team Alfredsson. An interesting twist to the fantasy draft is that the last man picked by the team captains wins a brand new car. Getting picked last probably doesn’t seem so bad to San Jose’s Logan Couture, who decided to give the car to his brother.

The Boston Bruins’ 6-foot-9 captain, Zdeno Chara, highlighted the skills competition when he broke his own and the NHL’s previous record for hardest slap shot with a whopping 108.8mph shot. It’s his fifth consecutive win in the Hardest Shot Competition. I feel for any defenseman who puts his body on the line to block one of those slap shots. I’m sure for next year, Chara will be aiming to break the world record of 114.1mph that was set at this years KHL Skills Competition even though that record was set at a closer distance to the goal.

The NHL’s All-Star weekend is more watchable and exciting than people think. This year’s breakaway challenge reminded me more of the NBA’s iconic dunk contest than any of the years past.  Some of the highlights of the breakaway challenge were goalie Carey Price making a save facing his own net, Patrick Kane putting on the superman cape, then proceeding to smash the gag puck into about six pieces and Corey Perry pulling a mini-stick from under his jersey and scoring with it. It really is the hockey version of the dunk contest.

Now that the All-Star game is over with, it’s time to start thinking about the playoffs. With less than half the season left, the New York Rangers still sit atop of the Eastern Conference with 67 points, one point ahead of the reigning Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins. The Rangers face a tough schedule ahead, playing seven potential playoff teams during the next 10 game stretch. Coach John Tortorella is still set on giving Lundqvist multiple scheduled days off to try and keep him fresh for the playoffs, so backup goaltender Martin Biron is going to need to play well when he starts.

If captain Ryan Callahan and Marian Gaborik can keep playing at a high level, the Rangers should be able to survive this gauntlet of tough games and stay at the top of the eastern conference. The Rangers are fast, talented, young and have one of the best goalies in the NHL. There always seems to be high expectations for the New York Rangers, but this year they look like they could meet those expectations.

Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy, now a month into his first term as chief executive of the most populous county in the Capital Region, defended his choice for county attorney after a barrage of complaints from the progressive and LGBT communities.

In a statement first published by the Times Union this afternoon, McCoy said that Thomas Marcelle, a senior counsel with the Alliance Defense Fund (an organization labeled to watch for by the Southern Poverty Law Center), was “overqualified for the job of county attorney.”

Marcelle will go before a vote of the full county legislature next week. According to a number of sources, at least 16 legislators out of the 39 will oppose Marcelle’s nomination.

“I have every belief that he will follow the law. During his meeting with the County’s Personnel Committee, he unequivocally stated that he would uphold New York’s new same-sex marriage law should it come before him as a matter of county business. With his commitment to this specific law publicly stated, I don’t believe that we should have a political litmus test for county employment,” said McCoy in a statement.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Empire State Pride Agenda called Marcelle’s appointment an “insult” and would bring “grave danger” to the LGBT community.

“My own personal commitment to equal rights is well documented publicly, as evidenced by my previous support for proposed civil rights and equal protection laws, and by the statement I made last June supporting the passage of marriage equality in New York State,” McCoy continued in the statement.

Before marriage equality was passed by New York in June, County Legislator Bryan Clenahan had proposed a pro-marriage equality declaration before the county legislature – a declaration in which McCoy never signed. McCoy at the time was county legislature chair.

Clenahan, along with fellow legislator Noelle Kinsch and others, made the opinion of Marcelle known as the RFK Democratic Club meeting last week.

The fight over Marcelle’s appointment reached a boiling point earlier this month when Libby Post published stoptommarcelle.com, a web site dedicated to opposing Marcelle’s appointment as county attorney. The county attorney is responsible for legal matters within county government and should not be confused with the duties and responsibilities of the district attorney, who is the county’s chief prosecutor.

“It is unfortunate those who oppose this appointment on personal and political grounds are doing so by seeking to frustrate the equal protection rights of an individual. Albany County is committed to providing and assuring equal opportunity is extended to all persons in employment matters without regard to their race, color, religion, age, national origin, marital status, sex or disability,” McCoy concluded.

It remains seen whether McCoy will consider other potential nominees in the event that Marcelle’s vote fails.

Update (2/2/2012, 2:49 p.m.): Bill Ritchie, President of the Albany County Central Federation of Labor (AFL-CIO), representing 30,000 union members and their families in Albany County, has announced the Federation’s opposition to the proposed appointment of Thomas Marcelle to the position of Albany County Attorney and is urging Albany County legislators to reject this candidacy. This position was adopted tonight by a vote of the delegates at the Federation’s monthly meeting.

“Tom Marcelle is by no means well-qualified for the County Attorney job,” said Ritchie.

“While his competence as a lawyer is not being debated, his lack of experience in matters pertaining to labor law and practice – collective bargaining, public employee contracts, arbitration and initiatives such as project labor agreements–is glaring.”

It was a snow-on/snow-off mix on Monday morning as Albany Parking Authority workers began installing the new parking meter machines along Washington Avenue in Albany, between the New York State Capitol and the State Education building.

The machines, installed as part of a larger effort to eliminate metered parking across the City of Albany, allow for credit cards to be used as well. Criticism over the machines stem from the very thing the meters had initially disavowed, which was that downtown workers would stay in prime parking spots near government or office buildings for the entire day, not allowing for visitors to park.

Meter parking still exists along Madison Avenue in Pine Hills and in various mini-sections in Albany.

In fiery remarks at a packed backroom at McGeary’s in Downtown Albany on Monday, Albany City Treasurer Katherine M. Sheehan delivered a terse and direct response to last week’s State of the City address given by Mayor Gerald D. Jennings.

The event, billed as a forum on progressive business ownership, was organized by the Robert F. Kennedy Democratic Club (co-chaired by Maureen O’Brien and Matthew Peter). Since it’s resurrection, the club (which is soon to become a PAC according to Peter) has held forums and rallies that have included speakers such as Sen. Neil Breslin, U.S. Rep. Tonko, and others.

Sheehan, who was elected city treasurer against longtime incumbent Betty Barnette in 2009, said that the city “cannot hope to eliminate our budget deficit, revitalize our neighborhoods or reduce property taxes if we continue to engage in magical thinking that all is well in our city.”

Prior to elected office, Sheehan served as general counsel and corporate secretary for Intermagnetics General Corporation before the company was acquired by Philips Electronics. Undoubtedly tying in her previous technology sector experience, Sheehan also called for the creation of a city chief information officer to manage information technology needs in city government.

“As the heart of Tech Valley, we should be at the forefront of smart government. It is time to hire a CIO who can centralize our IT services and rapidly put us on a path to smart technology investment,” said Sheehan.

On education in response to Jennings appointing University at Albany President George M. Philip and College of St. Rose President R. Mark Sullivan to co-chair a committee to structure a new curriculum for Albany High School, Sheehan says that the curriculum design must be “headed by our independent City School District.” In attendance and adjacent to Sheehan was Daniel Egan, the president of the Albany City Schools board.

Both Philip and Sullivan have announced their retirements in the last few months, so it would be unclear whether their successors would continue to be involved.

The remarks followed speeches given by local business owners Anton Pasquill and Sarah Gordon. Pasquill, who owns the Hudson River Coffee House on Quail Street, said that the most often-asked question he gets is why he opened a business in the middle of what some call “the student-ghetto.”

“Most of the time, I give a flippant response. I cite insanity or wanting to avoid looking for a job. The truth is, like any entrepreneur, I saw opportunity,” said Pasquill.

Gordon, who’s the daughter of recently retired Albany County Legislator Alexander “Sandy” Gordon, operates the Helderberg Marketplace that prides itself on organic, farm-fresh produce items that can be delivered to area residents.

With the event’s background focused on building up neighborhoods and the Albany community through smart development, Sheehan concluded that Albany’s best days are yet to come.

“Our brightest days can be ahead of us, but only if we are willing to work together, face our challenges head on and create a City government that works for everyone.”

The act may be up for some Albany live performance venues, as the city seeks to impose a new fee for establishments that have live music on their premises.

Currently, the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) handles requests to be listed as a “nightclub” or an establishment that allows live music. Mayor Gerald D. Jennings wants this to be changed to having a system of approvals by various departmental heads and the city clerk in order for an establishment to have performances.

The proposal license fee would be from $300 to $900, depending on the size of the establishment.

Recent decisions by BZA – including the revocation of the nightclub permit for South End club Simply Fish and Jazz and the rejection of a permit by Dominick Karl on behalf of Sneaky Pete’s – have come under more scrumptious light.

The Common Council’s Planning, Economic Development, and Land Use Committee, chaired by Daniel Herring (D-13th Ward), will vote on the ordinance tonight at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall before it reaches a chamber vote this month.

Albany City Treasurer Katherine M. Sheehan will be delivering a response to last week’s State of the City address by Mayor Gerald D. Jennings at tonight’s Robert F. Kennedy Democratic Club meeting at McGeary’s in Downtown Albany.

The event begins at 7:30 p.m. and is free to members of the RFK Democratic Club and the College Democrats. Admission for the general public is $5.

Sheehan’s remarks will be “outlining a vision for Albany that builds upon responsible fiscal management for a strong future for the city,” according to the advisory sent earlier today.

The club, which bills itself as a “political club that believes in and fights for strong progressive values,” is having its monthly meeting focused on small business development. Hudson River Coffee House owner Anton Pasquill and Heldeberg Market creator Sarah Gordon will be delivering remarks ahead of Sheehan’s response.

Sheehan, who was elected as city treasurer against longtime incumbent Betty Barnette in 2009, held a fundraiser in October at The Point restaurant on Madison that fueled speculation of the 2013 elections.

The “cavalcade” (no pun intended to my other column) of themed bars opening in Albany doesn’t seem like it will be slowing down, as the Merry Monk (90 North Pearl Street, Albany) brings a decidedly Belgian flavor to the North Pearl Street scene.

The Merry Monk is located at the corner of North Pearl and Sheridan, a block that has seen its share of bar openings and closings. The Merry Monk’s exact location has been home to D’Amici’s Pizza (during the Skyline Lounge era), the Assembly, and the Corner Bar. Unlike the Assembly and Corner Bar, the Merry Monk presents a unique and welcomed difference than the rest of the North Pearl clubs and lounges.

I’ve been talking up going to the Merry Monk for the last couple of weeks and had the pleasure of having fellow columnist Sean Collins, our managing editor-in-chief Jaqi Cohen, and the Goitz Man to join me on this expedition.

Inside, the place is well-put together. The bar itself is large – with the counter’s composition a teal crystal tile encased in glass (unlike it’s next door neighbor Legends on Pearl that has the Miami-style light up counter). There is a lounge area on your left walking in, with booth seating on your right.

Not to be outdone, the draft list is impressive – why wouldn’t it be? It’s Belgian! The list includes Ommegang (Abbey, Witte, Rare Vos, and Adoration), Palm, Duvel Single, La Chouffe, Maredsons Brune, Liefmans Cuvee Brut, Lindemans Framboise, Unibrou Ephermere Cassis, Saison Dupont, Corsendonk Christmas Ale, Chimay Triple, and Monks Stout, to start.

I had the Duvel Single, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Sean and Jaqi both had the Monks Stout, which was rich in flavor. The prices aren’t bad either, considering you’re getting a quality drink.

Of course, with it being below 32 degrees, a patio experience cannot be fairly judged, but hopefully they will have a few cafe tables set up along both the front and the side of the building.

Overall, a great addition to an area that needed a bit of a variety.

The Merry Monk
Rating: Four 1/8 out of Five Pints
90 North Pearl Street, Albany
Facebook: The Merry Monk