Lark Street
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lark Street is a historic street in Albany, New York known for being the unique "Greenwich Village" of the city. Technically the westernmost border of the "Center Square" neighborhood and located one block east of Washington Park, Lark Street is home to many independently owned shops, coffee houses, restaurants, art galleries, antique shops, bars, and tattoo parlors. Although the southeasternmost strip was rebuilt in 2002-2003 to place new roadways, trees, and sidewalks in front of the new shops in the active portion of Lark Street, some local residents have protested the neglect of the northwestern side of the street (crossing west of Washington Avenue), which runs down into the less-affluent Arbor Hill neighborhood.
[edit] Location
Lark Street is located two blocks west of the Empire State Plaza and one block east of Washington Park. Just a short walk from downtown Albany's business district, Lark Street has long been a mix of commercial and residential that is reminiscent of the some neighborhoods of Manhattan. Nineteenth century brownstones are a common sight on the street. Cobblestone intersections remain from the turn-of-the century neighborhood this once was. During the day, residents and nearby workers lunch at cafes, enjoy cocktails, and shop among the eclectic selection of boutiques and stores.
[edit] Culture
A diverse range of artists and organizations have found their way to Lark Street - among them, the Upstate Artists Guild (UAG) which is working to get more galleries and studios into the downtown Albany and Troy areas. Because of this, and efforts from others, Lark Street's many historic apartment buildings have been turned into galleries and artist studios.
Shopping is available, and many storefronts are tucked into basement-level shops, further lending to their appeal. Shoppers can find contemporary art, antiques, jewelry, vintage clothing, flowers, books, and wine, as well as many bars and nightlife including Tex-Mex, Greek, Thai, Indian, Hunan, Italian and Japanese restaurants.
[edit] Lark Fest
During the annual Lark Fest, the street is transformed by artists' displays including painters, photographers, jewelers, sculptors, ceramicists, glass artists and live shows on several stages.
The event has an average attendance of 55,000 people. The highest attendance record was in 2006, with 80,000 people showing up.
