Published every other Thursday

Vol. 1, Issue 1

319 Ontario Street

Albany, NY 12208

Home is where you feel at home and are treated well. --Dalai Lama

Upcoming Events:

· Friday, Oct. 18: Open-Mic Nite (6-10pm)

· Sign-ups available, walk-ons welcome

· Sunday, Oct. 20: Afternoon Tea (1-3pm)

· Monthly tasting and sampling event

· Tuesday, Oct. 22: Hookah Tuesdays (5-9pm)

· Up to 4 people per table, come early!

· Wednesday, Oct. 23: Half-Price Hump Day

· Pumpkin Spice Latte

· Friday, Oct. 25: Open-Mic Nite (6-10pm)

· Sign-ups available, walk-ons welcome

· Monday, Oct. 28: Canvas Art with Joel Domingo (5:30-8pm)

· Paint your own canvas w/ the guidance of a professional artist; $15 fee

· Tuesday, Oct. 29: Hookah Tuesdays (5-9pm)

· Up to 4 people per table, come early!

· Wednesday: Oct. 30: Half-Price Hump Day

· Salted Caramel Macchiato

· Thursday, Oct. 31: A Coffee for A Costume

· Come visit us in costume on Halloween and get a free coffee or tea!

What is “twerking” anyways?

By Gisele Unogye, UAlbany ‘15

So we’ve all seen it, right? The chick says to her other chick friend, “Hey, watch me twerk!” Hell, there are even babies on YouTube who drop it like it’s hot. But the funniest thing is, what does the word even mean?

(Continued on p. 2)

In this issue:

· Events Calendar (p. 1)

· Guest Column

· “What is twerking, anyways?”

(p. 1-2)

· Our 319th Customer Contest winner! (p. 2)

· Owner’s Column

· “That time I went to a frat party…” (p. 3)

· Community Spotlight

· Apartment hunting in Pine Hills (p. 3)

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.

If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

--Dalai Lama

Page 2

Open-Mic Nite!

EVERY FRIDAY at R&R Café

6 – 10 pm

Welcoming all kinds of musicians! Sign up in advance to secure a time slot. But feel free to show up on Friday with your instrument and register on the spot. Let’s jam!

Want to be the next Guest Columnist? Submit an opinion piece about a current, pop culture or news trend. If your article is chosen for publication, you will receive a complimentary R&R Café to-go mug!

(Twerking continued from p.1)

Thank goodness we have Urban Dictionary to explain: “The rhythmic gyrating of the lower fleshy extremities in a lascivious manner with the intent to elicit sexual arousal or laughter in ones intended audience.”

If you asked the average teenager, they’d probably tell you, “well duh, it’s Miley’s signature move!” Well I’m here to tell you that twerking is nothing new—mainstream media’s just now catching on.

Just an FYI for you guys: I was born in Kenya and moved to the States to attend high school (and now SUNY Albany). But back to the point—the women in my church growing up have been “twerking it” as long as I can remember!

The dance move has existed in African culture forever. It’s a symbol of celebration and gratitude for our lives, our spirits and for those who guide us.

So the next time you see someone “pulling a Miley,” remember that our ancestors have been twerking since the beginning of time!

319th Customer

Contest Winner!

Allie Benson, Senior at

The College of St. Rose.

Allie is the proud winner of our 319th Customer Contest, to celebrate the opening of our café, located at 319 Ontario Street. Allie is a Psychology major, and she loves to play pick-up basketball games with her friends and shop at Sephora for the latest deals on makeup. If you see our 319th customer in the neighborhood, give her a big wave and smile!

Throughout the Pine Hills neighborhood, student streets are often referred to as “the student ghetto.” While this is certainly an official title, it somewhat describes the tightness of the community. Students are everywhere, all the time.

(Continued on p. 4)

Look at situations from all angles, and you will become more open.

--Dalai Lama

Page 3

Community Spotlight News

PINE HILLS, ALBANY, NY – If you’re graduating next year, and leaving the neighborhood, we wish the best for you! But if you’re like us—sticking around for a while—you know it’s time to start looking for next year’s housing.

According to Mark Bryer, owner of many apartment buildings in the Pine Hills neighborhood, there’s been a rise in interest to live in this area in the past year or two. “Either it’s because it’s cheaper than on-campus housing, they want to be free to party, or it’s both,” he chuckles.

Jack & Callie Bird

Owners of R&R Café

(pictured on right)

It was around this time of year…the leaves were turning colors and the days were getting cooler. I didn’t mind the change of seasons—actually I loved them because it meant school was really back in session, and people were partying every weekend. After working your ass off all week at your job and doing schoolwork, the weekend becomes the only existing savior.

While it might sound like I was a huge partier, I wasn’t as bad as some of my buddies were. Living in Pine Hills, I befriended a lot of the UAlbany kids even though I went to St. Rose. After partying on our own respective porches night after night, we finally joined forces.

So one Friday, these guys were hosting their fraternity’s mixer at their house. Even though they invited me, I wasn’t too sure that’s how I wanted to be spending my night—especially because I didn’t know a lot of the people that would be there. However, I found myself with no better plans, so I headed a few doors down and let myself into the madness.

I walked in to a madhouse of people chanting with their fists in the air, yelling “take her down, girl!” I immediately asked myself why I decided these were the best plans. My friend in the crowd spots me and takes me into sea of partiers. I finally see what all the fuss is about—in the center of the living room is a massive blowup pool, complete with hundreds of gallons of Jell-O and chicks slime-wrestling in their bathing suits. You see these things in the movies, but never in real life!

(Continued on p. 4)

“That time I went to a frat party…” by Jack Bird

100+ flavors

to choose from:

· Green

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· Herbal

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· Mate

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Hookah Tuesdays!

Come relax and refresh from 5-9pm

Every Tuesday night—up to 4 people a table.

This is the only hookah spot in the area!

Check out our one-of-a-kind loose tea wall!

With over 100 flavors to choose from, you will be delighted!

The Owner’s Column is a trip down Memory Lane for Jack and Callie Bird, owners of R&R Café. Look for their juiciest stories in every issue!

Frat party…

(continued from p. 3)

After watching the gooey craziness ensue for a bit, I sauntered over to the keg to refill my cup. As I made my way over, I spotted a girl with beautiful, dirty blonde curls and striking blue eyes. She looked at me and I couldn’t stop looking back at her. After what seemed like was forever (but was actually only 3 seconds), I was standing in front of her. She was the only girl in the place who wasn’t wearing just a bikini and Jell-O.

She stood there with a smile on her face, and asked me, “so can I fill it up for you?” I set my cup down on the keg, and put my hand out for her instead. “I’m Jack,” I said smiling. She took my hand, she shook it, and then she held it for a while and smiled back, “I’m Callie.”

Community…

(continued from p. 3)

“Rent is bound to be going up all over Pine Hills,” says Mike Palumbo, owner of a two-family house on Morris St. He says, “I’m raising rent $90/per flat in the house I own because taxes have gone up as a result of rising property values in this area.”

Palumbo and Bryer both have made significant improvements to the homes they own on Morris and Myrtle Streets. Bryer advises, “As students go apartment hunting, they should be mindful of who their landlord is, and how much they care about the place.”

In agreement, both landlords urge students to look sooner rather than later for an apartment—especially if they want to find one that’s nice, but still affordable.

Look for Palumbo and Bryer’s listings on Craigslist. They own homes on Morris and Myrtle Streets, and have several 3 and 4 bedroom units available for May 2014.

Page 4

This issue’s Rack-Your-Mind Riddle:

What begins with T, ends with T, and has T in it?

~Come in to R&R Café, tell us the correct answer, and get a FREE coffee or tea on the house!~

A title or caption about the photograph.