Polar Bear (Jan 18-20, 2013)





2013 is upon us and we're once again getting together to celebrate the end of the holiday season with our Polar Bear weekend. What better way to say goodbye to holiday music, tinsel garland, and family obligations, then to snuggle up with a bunch of hunky guys acting like big warm polar bears. The theme for this event is light and relaxed, so wear something that's a nice cool winter white or light icy blue colors to show everyone that you're calm, cool, and ready for our furry season of giving.

Hotel Information


We're back at the Marriott Townplace Suites and as always, be sure to ask for the Bear Albany DISCOUNT when calling to get our special rates (518-860-1500). As always, there's no event registration fees and the hotel has a FREE SHUTTLE so you don't have to drive to the bars!

Friday Evening


POLAR BEAR weekend kicks off on Friday Jan 18th @ WaterWorks Pub for our traditional BEARAOKE MEAT & GREET (76 Central Ave). It's a great time to "meat" new friends and "greet" buddies that you haven't seen in a while. WaterWorks Pub always has a great atmosphere, awesome drink specials, free pizza & wings, and NO COVER for all of our BEAR ALBANY buds. See who's going...

Saturday Afternoon


Don't forget to pack your bathing suit so you can head down to the hotel's indoor pool for a warm and wet afternoon of lazy polar bears and beefy boys having fun. It's a great time to make new friends while getting in some R&R after the long holidays with family.

Saturday Evening


At 9pm, come out to ROCKS Bar for the POLAR BEAR main event (77 Central Ave). Be sure to wear something with cool winter white or light icy blue colors and maybe you'll land yourself your very own abominable snowman to keep you warm. As always, we'll have great drink specials, FREE PIZZA around midnight, and plenty of cute guys to befriend all night long. And while you're exploring every DARK CORNER of the bar, remember that what happens in Albany, stays in Albany. See who's going...

Sunday Brunch


We're back at ROCKS for an ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT brunch on Sunday of Polar Bear weekend from 11AM - 1PM. You'll find all your favorite delicious breakfast items from prior years at a very reasonable price. And if you're sticking around town for the long holiday weekend, you can enjoy the ROCKS HOLIDAY PARTY later that day between 4 - 6PM! It's going to be a super fun time. See who's going...

Big Country (Nov 16-18, 2012)


With Hurricane Sandy finally behind us, it's definitely time to break out your shit-kickers, squeeze into a really TIGHT pair of jeans, and come celebrate with Bear Albany's BIG COUNTRY weekend! We're roping in some really fun stuff for our last big party of the year and hope you'll join in the festivities. We've got a live country music band performing late Friday night, a shop local Bear Fair & free lunch buffet on Saturday afternoon so you can get a head start on your holiday shopping, and anyone sticking around Sunday will enjoy a free dinner of roast pork, stuffing, mac & cheese, and other delicious treats provided by Two Bears Provisions. And don't forget to check out our Future Events page to see our 2013 schedule.

Hotel Information


We're back at the Marriott Townplace Suites and as always, be sure to ask for the Bear Albany DISCOUNT when calling to get our special rates (518-860-1500). As always, there's no event registration fees and the hotel has a FREE SHUTTLE so you don't have to drive to the bars!

Friday Evening


BIG COUNTRY kicks off on Friday Nov 16th @ WaterWorks Pub for our traditional BEARAOKE MEAT & GREET (76 Central Ave). It's a great time to "meat" new friends and "greet" buddies that you haven't seen in a while. WaterWorks Pub always has a great atmosphere, awesome drink specials, free pizza & wings, and NO COVER for all of our BEAR ALBANY buds. See who's going...

Afterward head across the street to ROCKS before Midnight to see the Dirty Bolans do a country music performance. And be sure to check out the delicious drink specials at ROCKS all weekend long, Blue-A-Cowboy, Cowboy Cocksucker, Cowboy Killer, and Cowboy Roy. It's a great way to kick off the weekend filled with Cowboys and Country Music! See who's going...

Saturday Afternoon


Come join BEAR ALBANY at ROCKS on Saturday, November 17th, 2012 from 11am to 2pm, for our BEAR FAIR of Crafts, Food, and Fun. Get a jump on your holiday shopping with a number of bear-related and bear-friendly businesses at ROCKS. There will be a Two Bear Provisions FREE lunch buffet, drink specials, music, give-a-ways, and good times. If you have a bear or gay-related business and would you like to be part of the Bear Fair on November 17, please email twobearsprovisions@gmail.com for details. Vendor set-up will be at 10am, $10 a table to benefit the ROCKS Holiday Charity. A limited number of tables will be available, and chairs are provided. See who's going...


Participating businesses will include:
  • Two Bears Provisions - The best and most delicious items sourced locally in Upstate New York
  • The Spiceman - His amazing spices will knock your socks off
  • John McEnerney Massage - Don't go home without a backrub from the best hands in town
  • Chained by Chuck - Image is everything, especially in the dark!
  • Maille Dezyns - Fine Handcrafted Chainmaille Jewelry
  • Patsy's Executive Cutter - A full service male salon with a modern twist
  • Garden of Earthly Delights - You'll love their natural jams
  • Justin's Bear Crafts - For all your bear holigay needs
  • And more...

Saturday Evening


At 9pm, come out to ROCKS Bar for the BIG COUNTRY main event and be sure to wear your favorite Cowboy and country inspired gear (77 Central Ave). We'll be playing some modern and classic country hits mixed in with dance music and hope to have a few surprises through the evening (beside finding yourself tied up on someone's hotel bedroom floor). And be sure to get your friends to wear something fun because you'll have a few photo ops with one of our local artists, Newbold Bohemia.

So dig up your old cowboy hat, put on a nice pair of boots, don't forget the rope! As always, we'll have great drink specials, FREE PIZZA around midnight, and plenty of cute guys to befriend all night long. And while you're exploring every DARK CORNER of the bar, remember that what happens in Albany, stays in Albany. See who's going...

Sunday Brunch


We're doing Brunch at our favorite spot Cafe 217. Swing by anytime between 9am and 1pm (menu here). The food is great and all of you will get a 20% discount just by telling the waitress you're with Bear Albany group! If you are with a private group of friends larger than 6 and would like to be seated next to each other, please let the restaurant know the number and what time you plan to arrive so that Cafe 217 can make proper arrangements (518-462-0050). Also, if they are very busy they cannot seat you until the whole party is present. So you might want to come together or wait outside until your friends arrive. See who's going...

Sunday Afternoon


To help end your weekend on the right note and send you off into the holigays, head over to ROCKS one last time for a FREE dinner buffet provided by Two Bears Provisions at 6pm. They'll be service juicy roast pork, amazing stuffing, mac & cheese, and other delicious treats. See who's going...

JOCK 2 (Sept 14-16, 2012)



We hope you like balls, because we're calling all rough and tough men for a weekend of sports uniforms, knee pads, and all the balls you can handle. That's right, this one is for all you SPORTS FANS and admirers of SPORT UNIFORMS. So dig up your old football gear, break out your favorite baseball hat, and show off that tight little singlet you've been hiding in the back of your draw. We want you to show us what team you play for and while you're at it, show us what your favorite position is.

HOTEL INFO: Be sure to book your room soon because LarkFEST, Upstate NY's largest one day music festival, will also be going on that weekend and it's just right down the block from the Marriott Townplace Suites! Ask for the Bear Albany DISCOUNT when calling to get our special rates (518-860-1500) and remember, there's no registration fees and the hotel has a FREE SHUTTLE so you don't have to drive to the bars! For more detailed information on JOCK, be sure to visit our homepage at www.BearAlbany.com.

Friday Evening

JOCK weekend kicks off on Friday Sept 14th @ WaterWorks Pub for our BEARAOKE MEAT & GREET (76 Central Ave). It's a great time to "meat" new friends and "greet" buddies that you haven't seen in a while. WaterWorks Pub always has a great atmosphere, awesome drink specials, free pizza & wings, and NO COVER for all of our BEAR ALBANY buds. See who's going...

Saturday Afternoon

Head down to the hotel pool on Saturday around noon and enjoy some time making new friends in the hot tub with your fellow bears. Make sure you introduce yourself and don't forget to smile so we all remember your handsome mug. Or if you're looking to get some fresh air, check out the Beekman Boys, 2012 Sharon Springs NY Harvest Festival (pictures from last year's festival can be found here). The main festival runs from 9am-5pm on Saturday and it's not that far of a drive from Albany.

Or you can take a small walk down the block to LarkFEST, Upstate New York's largest one-day street festival celebrating the Heart of Albany. The event hosts hundreds of vendors, 2 stages of music with both local and national headlining music acts. With an estimated 80,000 people descending upon Lark Street, this is the event to not miss! LarkFEST was voted in the top 3 "Best Arts Event" in both 2009 and 2010. There will be fantastic music, over a hundred unique vendors, great food, and more! See who's going...

Saturday Evening

At 9pm, come out to ROCKS Bar for JOCK and be sure to wear your favorite SPORTS GEAR (77 Central Ave). Dig up your old football gear, break out your favorite baseball hat, and show off that tight little singlet you've been hiding in the back of your draw. As always, we'll have great drink specials, FREE PIZZA around midnight, and the dance club will be PUMPING with musical PLEASURE all night long! And while you're exploring every DARK CORNER of the bar, remember that what happens in Albany, stays in Albany. See who's going...

Sunday Brunch

We're doing Brunch at our favorite spot Cafe 217. Swing by anytime between 9am and 1pm (menu here). The food is great and all of you will get a 20% discount just by telling the waitress you're with Bear Albany group! If you are with a private group of friends larger than 6 and would like to be seated next to each other, please let the restaurant know the number and what time you plan to arrive so that Cafe 217 can make proper arrangements (518-462-0050). See who's going...

Prom Night (May 25-28, 2012)

Well gang it's 2012 and quite a few things have changed. Gay Marriage has been legalized in New York State, Drag Queens have their own TV show, teens in Hudson, NY voted two guys to reign over their prom, and now Bear Albany is taking it to the next level with our very own PROM NIGHT this Memorial Day Weekend! That's right, it's time to get dressed up, call up your friends, and dance with someone you're actually attracted to. But don't worry if you don't have a tuxedo or a date, because this is going to be YOUR PROM the way YOU WANT IT and there'll be plenty of hotties to dance with. Come wearing a tux, come wearing a T-shirt, or come shirtless with a bow tie, because how you look is entirely up to you. Best of all, we're all adults now so we can have a few drinks, kiss whomever we want, and don't have to be home by midnight. As always, Bear Albany events have no registration fees, and the hotel has a FREE SHUTTLE, so you don't have to drive to the bars!

HOTEL INFORMATION: Although the Host Hotel has officially sold out for this weekend, the Mariott Townplace Suites said you should try to book; if nothing's available to ask that your name be put on a waiting list if rooms become available; and they will call you back when cancellations come in. Don't forget to ask for the BEAR ALBANY DISCOUNT when calling (518-860-1500).

-- FRIDAY: Bear Albany Meet & Greet (9pm - 3am)

Your weekend party starts Friday May 25, 9pm at WaterWorks Pub (76 Central Ave) for our traditional Meat & Greet after everyone gets into town. The pub always has awesome drink specials, a great atmosphere, FREE pizza, & wings, and NO COVER for all of our BEAR ALBANY buds. We're also doing Love Song Bearaoke for those of you who want to catch a few bears with your vocal honey, or simply serenade that special someone. See who's going...

-- FRIDAY: Kendall Live (12am - 3am)

After the Friday night Meat & Greet, head across the street to ROCKS to see the infamous Kendall perform live! Kendall Kelly is a singer/songwriter/artist from Buffalo NY who is well known for his music videos like the award winning Hip Hop Dykes (best short at the Rochester Gay and Lesbian Film Festival) and Bears which was shown by MTV Neworks gay television station LOGO and on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. He has appeared in many international magazines including Bear, 100% Beef, Out, and Unzipped as well as scoring a number one single (The Booty Song) on Sirius Satellite Radio. See who's going...

-- SATURDAY: Relax at the Pool (after lunch)

Saturday May 26 after lunch, head downstairs to the heated pool and relax for a few hours with your new Bear Albany friends. Let the stress of the week melt away in the hot tub with your fellow furry friends and don't forget to smile so we all remember your handsome mug. Or for those of you who are looking to get some fresh air, check out http://metroland.net and http://www.albany.com for Memorial Weekend schedules. See who's going...

-- Two Bears Provisions @ Sharon Springs Garden Party

If you're in the mood for a little adventure, go visit Two Bears Provisions at the Sharon Springs Garden Party May 26-27, 2012, in the village of Sharon Springs, NY. Two Bears Provisions will have all your favorite spices, salad dressings, BBQ sauces, and granola, as well as a pulled pork lunch, fried chicken lunch, a chickpea polenta with garlic and roast red pepper aioli on a fresh bakery roll, local egg and leek tart, rhubarb crumble, and homemade lemonade for sale! Lots of vendors, lots of American Hotel, and lots of fun. You can visit Saturday or Sunday, or both!

-- Grab a bite to eat @ McGeary's Pub

If you're looking for a great place to eat after a relaxing day of enjoying the local sites? Head over to McGeary's Pub and get 20% off your meals all weekend long. Just ask the waitress for the "Bear Albany discount" and enjoy a great meal from their deliciously diverse menu. They also have a great Happy Hour from 3pm to 7:30pm, where you'll get $2 and $3 Drafts and $3 Single Liquor well drinks. It's the perfect place to bring your buddies for dinner and drinks before heading out for the night.

-- SATURDAY: PROM NIGHT (9pm onward)

Saturday evening from 9:00pm onward, join the gang at ROCKS Bar (77 Central Ave) for PROM NIGHT and dance the night away with your friends and hopefully with someone special. Come wearing a tux, come wearing a T-shirt, or come shirtless with a bow tie, because how you look is entirely up to you. There'll be fantastic fast and slow dance songs all night long, great drink specials, and pizza around midnight. Entry is a $5 donation before 10pm, $7 afterward with proceeds benefiting the C4 AIDS Ward in Albany Medial Center. Late in the evening we'll be crowning the first Bear Albany Prom Kings (or Queens) who'll win prizes along with the prestige of being our first Bear Prom royalty. It's going to be a fantastic evening, so make sure you don't miss it. See who's going...

Decadent Duck Events, Official Bear Albany Sponsor, will again be giving away a FREE night hotel room at the Omni Royal Orleans hotel for Southern Decadence 2012. Decadent Ducks has many hotels to choose from for Southern Decaence, starting at $143 per night. Check out their hotel selection at http://www.decadentducks-neworleans.com

-- SUNDAY: Brunch with the Boys (11am - 1pm)

It's official, we're doing Brunch at Cafe 217 once again! But this instead of doing the buffet, we'll get to order off their delicious Main Menu. PLUS all of you will get a 20% discount just by telling the waitress you're with Bear Albany group! To accommodate everyone's busy schedules, Brunch will be anytime between 9am and 1pm. So if you have plans or are in a rush to eat, be sure to get there as early as possible so they can accommodate you. The restaurant will close at 2pm due to the holiday weekend. Because it's Memorial Day weekend, be sure to tell them that you're part of Bear Albany when you arrive so that they can put you in the private room. Or if you prefer you can ask to sit in the main dining area if the private room is full. See who's going...

-- SUNDAY: Bear Albany: Men In Black 3 in 3D (1:50pm showing)

After brunch, head over to Colonie Center and join the JerrBear's gang for a Sunday afternoon movie showing of Men In Black 3. The showing time will be at 1:50pm, get to the theater a little after 1, pick up tickets and get seated. If you have Fandango you can purchase your tickets early. Then afterward swing by ROCKS for drinks and their free BBQ.

-- SUNDAY: Tea Dance & BBQ (3pm - midnight)

Next let's take over the jukebox at ROCKS (77 Central Ave) for their Tea Dance BBQ. After we get a few drinks in us, we can head over to the dance floor for a few twirls before chowing down on some delicious and FREE summer BBQ food. As always, there will be great drink specials, lots of laughs, and fun performances after sunset. See who's going...

FUR RISING (March 10, 2012)

Hibernation is officially over, so if you're looking for something fun to do next weekend, come check out FUR RISING with DJ JONNY MACK at ROCKS Bar on Saturday night (77 Central Avenue, Albany).

The party starts on Saturday March 10, at 10pm and goes on until the wee hours of the evening. In addition to the very sexy Johnny Mac, FUR RISING is featuring New York City's Hottest Go-Go MEN including the BEAR Icons & Go-Go Gods TOREZ + RAMON + LOUIS + BENN! Plus you'll get to enjoy the adorable antics of the one and only BEARDONNA. It's gonna be a fantastic evening filled with flesh, fur, and fantasy! See who's going...

And if you're coming in from out of town, be sure to book your room at the Marriott Townplace Suites and ask for the Bear Albany DISCOUNT when calling (518-860-1500). Hope to see you guys there!