Tag Archives: Troy

We’re Back!

Posted on by
Week of Sat. Jan 10 to Sun. Jan. 11

We’re all spruced up and ready for the New Year!

January Hours: Just open Weekends till we catch our breath: Saturday & Sunday 9-4

Of course, we’ll still do a party if you call ahead!

Regular Hours Starting on February 1st:

Thursday 11-6
Friday 11-10
Saturday & Sunday 9-4
Free local delivery for orders over $15 on weekdays

New Artist!

Does the name Susan B. Anthony ring a bell?  And she came by it honestly!

Susan is from Brooklyn, and just loves Troy.  So much that she’s writing a book about us — if by writing you mean taking pictures of everyday Trojans. And we’ve got a preview hanging on our walls. This is her photograph of our hero Abby Lublin, urban grower extraordinaire. Abby Lublin by SusanBAnthony

Meet her Saturday Feb. 21, from 5-8, when we throw our usual Grand Artist’s Reception. Dinner will be available, plus complimentary Cuban hors d’oeuvres.

The Nellies at Carmen’s Cafe – Troy Victorian Stroll

Posted on by

The NelliesThe Nellies at Carmen’s Cafe – Troy Victorian Stroll:
When: Sun, Dec 7, 2014 | 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Where: Carmen’s Cafe, Troy, NY
Cost: FREE ADMISSION

The Nellies will be playing as part of Troy’s fabulous Victorian Stroll at Carmens Cafe in Troy, NY. The Nellies will feature Karen Ann on guitar, Peggy Lecuyer on mandolin, Kevin Maul on dobro and the amazing Gene Lemme on the bass.

Carmen’s Cafe serves wine, beer and delicious eclectic small plates and is located at 198 First Street, Troy, NY 12180 – phone – (518) 326-2064. Note that First Street runs one-way heading south.

For More Information Call: (518) 326-2064

Kasius & Heard bring World Beat Jazz to Carmen’s

Posted on by

herdElizabeth Woodbury Kasius and Heard will play Carmen’s, Friday night, Nov. 21 at 6 & 8 moving us with their wonderful music. Two sets, reservations suggested. $5 cover.

198 1st Street Troy, NY 12180
1-518-326-2064

Check out their website to get a listen.  Every time they visit, they make amazing tunes.

Elizabeth Woodbury Kasius – composer-pianist

HEARD New World Jazz The original repertoire of HEARD is the work of composer-arranger-pianist ELIZABETH WOODBURY KASIUS who brings a wide array of styles –jazz, classical and world music– into her captivating soundscape.

Jonathan Greene – woodwinds. Woodwinds player Jonathan is an active freelance musician in the New York Capital Region’s jazz, world and classical scenes.

Bobby Kendall – Bass. Bobby Kendall, bass, brings his great experience as a jazz, rock, and post-rock stand-up and electric bass player to HEARD.

Brian Melick – drums/percussion. Brian Melick is a percussive treasure who is known for his unique “hybrid” sound, built from his incredible collection of world music instruments.

Zorkie Nelson – drums/percussion/vocal. West African drummer Zorkie Nelson comes from a long line of Ghanaian master drummers and brings an exciting and deep richness to the music of Heard.

Empty Bowls Benefit for the Homeless Oct 5th 2014 ~ 12-3pm Italian Community Center Troy NY 12180

Posted on by

Featuring many Troy restaurants, including your favorite, Carmen’s

What wonderful blend of savory and spicy will we bring this year? You’ll have to come and see! It’s all good, all for the homeless, AND you walk home with a handmade bowl, courtesy of area potters and volunteers.

A unique event to support the growing fight against the issue of hunger.

OCTOBER 5, 2014 ~ 12-3pm~ Italian Community Center ~1450 5th Avenue, Troy NY 12180
Description: The Empty Bowls Program is a wonderful grassroots movement that have brought artists, chefs, and communities together to help raise money for local food programs. Started nearly 20 years ago, it spread throughout the country to raise money and awareness about hunger.For the past seven years, the Collar City Clay Guild, in partnership with the Troy Architectural Project, Inc., has been fortunate to organize the Empty Bowls Project in Troy, NY. The Empty Bowls Program has become a community event in the city that draws hundreds and maybe even over a thousand people each year to help raise money for food programs.Every year, the Troy community flocks to the Italian Community Center with the great expectation of warm soup, fresh bread, beautiful handmade bowls, and the wonderful company of friends. By selling bowls, we have been able to raise almost $100,000 for the food programs in Troy.Since the beginning of the Empty Bowls Project in Troy our impact has been great, in 2009 we supported 17 food programs in Troy to help put food on their shelves and deliver food to those in need. Empty Bowls

Bringing you Specials and Events from Carmen’s Cafe, a Cuban-American Bistro in the Heart of South Troy

Posted on by

SensemayaSensemaya Trio Plays Carmen’s

This Friday, September 26 — Shows @ 6 & 8, $5 cover each

One of the greatest Latin bands around, and they are coming to Carmen’s Friday!

Interesting—  Sensemaya and Mundo Nuevo share Walter Ramos (second from left)

Wanna dance? Great music. Wanna listen? ditto.

Gambas al Ajillo Grilled Jumbo Shrimp in a garlic and wine sauce over cous cous

Gambas al Ajillo
Grilled Jumbo Shrimp in a garlic and wine sauce over cous cous

—Tapas Specials for Friday 9/26 Troy Night Out

Pan Seared Tilapia w/ Garlic-Wine-Cilantro Sauce over Saffron Rice

Gambas al Ajillo Grilled Jumbo Shrimp in a garlic and wine sauce over cous cous

Braised Beef Short Ribs over mashed potatoes

Pernil Pulled Pork over saffron rice w/chimichurri sauce

Desserts: expanded offerings:

Flan

Apple Bread Pudding

Key Lime Pie

Rawspberry Chocolate Cake

Full Tapas Menu Here

Full Upcoming Events Calendar Here

Love Live Music? Mark your Calendar Now:

Mundo Nuevo – 10/24
Elizabeth Kasius & Heard– 11/21
The Nellies – Victorian Stroll
Mundo Nuevo – 12/19

Tapas¡Lunch! We make it great, fresh cooked and tasty!

Cubano Sandwich: by popular demand— pork, ham & swiss w/ mustard & pickle on Cuban bread

Picadillo

Check out our full menu!

Though for a real treat, come in and see what’s on our Specials Board

Ride Bikes with the Mayor / Freedom Square Free concert / Mouth-Watering Specials

Posted on by

Squash-Rules

Thurs. Sept. 18 to Sun. Sept. 21 Take the challenge!

Anonymous Donor Puts Up Long Green for Bike Racks
Ride with the Mayor: noon Thurs. 10/2 from Monument Square
A heartfelt donor came back from health problems by riding a bike, and wanted to give something back at the same time as he showed others a key to health— exercise.

Our anonymous donor put up $1000 for bike racks for Troy. “Troy has none!” he moaned. “Get some already! You want people should just flop their bikes on the sidewalk? What is this, third grade!???!?”

The details were quickly dumped on Andrea Davis, who doesn’t have enough to do already. She is hunting down matching funds so we have more reach with this generosity, plus figuring out who and how and all the other questions.

Here’s the skinny— We need 50 people to ride their bike to work or school for a week, starting with the PreRamble Festival on September 27. Email Andrea at diyRestoreit@gmail.com to register, or stop by the Transport Troy table at the Farmer’s Market. You’ll get a chance for a free kayak paddle at the PreRamble when you sign up. Plus a 45 minute ride with Mayor Lou Rosamilia on 10/2!

~

PreRamble 2  Sept. 27

  • Free Helmets for Kids
  • Bike Safety Course
  • Free Bike Tuneups
  • Walking and Biking Tours of Washington Park, the Burden Iron Works Museum and the New Riverfront Trail

Upstate Kayak Rentals will bring their boats to the Troy Boat Launch at Ingalls Ave for the PreRamble 2.  Rent a boat for $10 an hourStoryHarvest:  Finishing up with Free Concerts at Freedom Square

~

StoryHarvest 3:30-6 September 27 at Freedom Square

Free concert featuring Nation Beat plus Alex Torres and his Latin Orchestra
Chef’s Consortium prepares healthy food for a free community meal

How many different ways can you say free in one story? But it’s all wonderful and all free!

Help out w/ food donations: have extra fruit or veggies from your garden? Bring them to the Sanctuary for Independent Media, 3361 6th Ave N. Troy, Fri., 9/26 noon-4 or Sat. 9/27 from 8am-noon.

~

New Breakfast Special: Desayuno de Reyes

And this Desayuno (breakfast) is sure fit for a Rey (that’s king!
Two Eggs Over, topped with Pico (diced pickled peppers, but that’s another story for bedtime) on Veggie Hash, with sides of Croquettas and Fried Green Tomatoes.

Then jazz it up with a Cuban Coffee— a Cortado!

~

¡Lunch! We make it great, fresh cooked and tasty!

Cubano Sandwich by popular demand— pork, ham & swiss w/ mustard & pickle on Cuban bread

Picadillo

Check out our full menu!

Though for a real treat, come in and see what’s on our Specials Board

~

—Tapas Friday

Gambas al Ajillo Grilled Jumbo Shrimp in a garlic and wine sauce over cous cous

Braised Beef Short Ribs over mashed potatoes

Pernil Pulled Pork over saffron rice w/chimichurri sauce

Mejillones en Salsa Verde Mussels sauteed in a garlic-parsley green sauce

Tapas Specials / Expanded Dessert Offerings / Fall Music / Chardapalooza

Posted on by

TapasFriday Tapas
 Specials

Pan Seared Halibut w/ Chopped Chard-Tomato Ragu & pineapple cilantro slaw

Roasted Vegetarian Napoleon w/ Roasted Red Pepper Coulis & Sautéed Swiss Chard

Costillitas de Cerdo— Cuban Spare Ribs w/ pineapple guava glaze

Pan Seared Beef Tournados w/ apple brandy cream sauce.  Tomato Jam w/ potato hash & sautéed chard

Cubano Sandwich by popular demand—  pork, ham & swiss w/ mustard & pickle on Cuban bread

Picadillo

~ Full Tapas Menu ~

DessertsExpanded Dessert Offerings:

Flan

Key Lime Pie

Chocolate Raspberry Cake

Carrot Cake

ChardChardapalooza!

Rainbow, Dinosaur, and Swiss Chard, Fresh Grown & Organic! What’s to become of it?

 A great veggie special, that’s what! Come in Friday for 
Roasted Vegetarian Napoleon.

also on the menu:

Cuban Sliders topped w/ caramelized onions & avocado

Picadillo

Music This Fall

Sensemaya – 9/19
Mundo Nuevo – 10/24
Elizabeth Kasius & Heard – 11/21
The Nellies – Victorian Stroll, 12/7
Mundo Nuevo – 12/19

~ Bookmark the Upcoming Events Calendar ~

Friday Night: Mundo Nuevo—Tapas Specials—Fall Music Calendar

Posted on by

Mundo Nuevo Returns to Carmen’s Friday August 22nd

The best in Latin music, plus the best in Cuban food!
What a wonderful world! Mundo Nuevo returns to Carmen’s for an evening of music, dance and celebration. How good does it get?

About the only way you hear these guys is to hire them for your party (hey, we don’t mind!) or come to Carmen’s when they play. Shows @ 6 & 8, $5 cover each

now for tonight’s news from the happeningest bistro on First and Adams:

Tapas Friday night, and maybe over the weekend too

Tilapia over saffron rice w/ garlic-wine sauce

Cubano Sandwich by popular demand— pork, ham & swiss w/ mustard & pickle on Cuban bread

Picadillo

Pernil Pork, slow roasted for 14 hours…served with arroz con gandules…that’s herbed rice with pigeon peas

Desserts tasty & traditional

Flan

Key Lime Pie

Triple Chocolate Cake

Full Tapas Menu (click here)

Music This Fall: Who Plays When

Sensemaya– 9/19
Mundo Nuevo– 10/24
Elizabeth Kasius & Heard– November TBD
The Nellies– Victorian Stroll
Mundo Nuevo– 12/19

Metroland Best of Food & Drink 2014: Best Cuban: Carmen’s Cafe

Posted on by

Metorland Best of Food & Drink 2014: Best Cuban: Carmen’s Cafe

by Metroland Staff on July 24, 2014 ·

But you already knew we made the best Cuban food!
In addition to the six— yes, count ’em, six— 2014 Metroland Reader’s Poll wins, Carmen just snatched the prize for Best Cuban.

We know there was never a Best Cuban before but they created the category just for us. We’ll call that a win!

And that was before we had all these garden fresh tomatoes on hand–Imagine what we’ll be doing with them all week!

Patrons gathering at bistro tables outside Carmen's Cafe at 198 1st Street Troy, NY 12180

Best Cuban: Carmen’s Cafe

Troy Library: Shorts Out Loud

Posted on by

Jim-LewisJuly and August is Reading Month at the Troy Library. Jim Lewis is one of many readers, but he’ll be the only one on Thursday, August 14th at 6:30.

He will, however, be accompanied by Ray Andrews on Baroque Guitar.

Not that we are biased, but both are worth a good listen.