Bear Albany

Prom Night (May 25-28)

noreply@blogger.com (WheelerCub) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 04:37:00 +0000

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)

noreply@blogger.com (WheelerCub) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 05:36:00 +0000

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!

Get Lei'd Too (Jan 20-22)

noreply@blogger.com (Tonester) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 02:11:00 +0000

We at Bear Albany would like to welcome all our friends to a fun and fantastic 2012! Let's start it off together on the right foot, with our very hot & steamy GET LEI'D TOO party. Imagine warm summer breezes, Tiki Bars on the beach, and all those CHEST HAIRS popping out of sexy HAWAIIAN shirts. Now imagine how freaking cold it's going to be outside and the delicious display of North Eastern BEARS and CUBS grasping each other indoors for warmth.

On Saturday evening we'll be raffling off a FREE WEEKEND at the host hotel for our next event and our DECADENT DUCKS buddies will be giving away one free night at SOUTHERN DECADENCE 2012 in New Orleans!!! So be sure to book your room at the Marriott Host Hotel and ask for the Bear Albany DISCOUNT when calling (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 GET LEI'd TOO, be sure to visit our homepage at www.BearAlbany.com.

FRIDAY

GET LEI'D weekend kicks off on Friday, Jan 20 at 9pm with our Meat & Greet at the WaterWorks Pub (76 Central Ave). It's a great time to "meat" new friends and "greet" existing 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. After Midnight the gang will be heading across the street to ROCKS Bar to see Bear Central's GO GO Bears, have a few more drinks, and chill out with a slightly more intimate crowd. See who's going...

SATURDAY

Then Saturday afternoon we're bringing back "Bear Bingo & Happy Hour" from 4-7pm at Oh Bar (304 Lark St). They'll have great drink specials, lots of prizes to win, and cute boys galore. It's just a short 3 minute drive from the host hotel or you can simply take the FREE hotel shuttle there and back. It's the perfect way to get the party started after a relaxing day at the pool with your friends. See who's going...

* * *

Next join the gang, January 21th, 9:00pm at ROCKS Bar for the GET LEI'D TOO main event, where you'll be greeted by a reef of rough and rowdy SEAMEN who'll be in need of BLOWING off a little steam after spending the holidays with family and friends. Come wearing a cute HAWAIIAN shirt or any kind of ocean-themed outfit and then BELLY up to the bar with a new buddy like a couple of sexy SAILORS and exchange your holiday war stories over tropical inspired drinks. And of course we'll be raffling off the free hotel stays around midnight. It's going to be a fantastic evening, so make sure you don't miss it. See who's going...

SUNDAY

Sunday morning let's all meet up for brunch between 10am and 1pm. Based on feedback and comments, it looks like this month's winner will be the Golden Corral Buffet. It's our understanding that they only serve Breakfast until 11am, so you'll want to get there on the early side if you have a hankering for all the eggs, bacon, and sausage you can eat. See who's going...

We're really looking forward to seeing everyone dressed in their Tropical or Summer attire!

Hugs!

The Bear Albany gang
www.BearAlbany.com

Happy Holidays!

noreply@blogger.com (Tonester) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:51:00 +0000

We want to thank everyone for supporting Bear Albany and our charities this past year! Stay tuned for our 2012 event schedule coming out very soon. Also, sign up for our mailing list to get the most current updates as they occur.

Thanks again everyone and have a wonderful holiday season!

Pigs In Space (Nov 11-13)

noreply@blogger.com (Tonester) — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 01:25:00 +0000

Have you ever fantasized of being swept away by "Obi-Wan KUBnobi" whenever you eat a cinnamon bun? Maybe you'd prefer to blast Aliens with a furrier and more ripped version of Ripley? Or perhaps you've always wanted to be ASSimilated by a group of "Bearg"? Well Bear Albany has been hard at work making your nerd dreams come true with our very first Pigs In Space, SCI FI DANCE PARTY, on November 11-13, 2011. That's right, we want you to come dressed up as your favorite character from Science Fiction, Science Fantasy, or Sci Fi Horror and then show off your big overheating blasters. Be creative and have fun with it because the best Sci Fi costume wins a free weekend stay at the host hotel for any of our 2012 events.

Be sure to book your room now at the Marriott Host Hotel and ask for the Bear Albany DISCOUNT so that you can be guaranteed our special rates (518-860-1500). The rooms always sell out quickly in the last two weeks and we really hate hearing that people have to be turned away. And don't forget the hotel has a FREE SHUTTLE all weekend long that'll pick you up from the train or bus terminal, take you to the hotel, and then drop you off at the bars later on.

Friday Evening

And if you get to town early, swing by McGeary's Pub for dinner and get 20% off your check just by telling the waitress you're with the Bear Albany group. They have great food and the discount price is good all weekend long!

Then come kick off the weekend at WaterWorks Pub (76 Central Ave) with our traditional MEAT & GREET at 9PM. There'll be great drink specials, FREE Pizza & Wings, Dancing upstairs, Bearaoke downstairs, NO COVER for all of our BEAR ALBANY buds, and rumor has it that they may be doing Cupcakes & Cocktails specials. Plus it's also a great time to show off your favorite SCi Fi T-Shirts and make some new NBB's (nerd-bear-buddies). See who's going...

Saturday Afternoon

We had so much fun playing Bear Bingo in September, that we're doing it again with "Bears in Space Trivia & Happy Hour" at Oh Bar from 4-7pm. They'll have $2.50 domestics, $3 draft import, $3/$5 well drinks, $3.50/$5.50 top shelf, and the handsome and talented Mike Bear McNair will be behind the bar. Oh Bar is just a short walk from the Host Hotel or a 3 minute drive if you'd like to take the FREE hotel shuttle (http://goo.gl/nHQdg). It's the perfect compliment to a relaxing afternoon at the pool with your friends. See who's going...

Saturday Evening

At 9pm, come out to ROCKS Bar for PIGS IN SPACE and be sure to dress as your favorite Sci Fi character (77 Central Ave). Creativity and ingenuity are always king, so see what you can come up with, and maybe you'll win a free weekend stay for one of our 2012 events! As always, we'll have great drink specials, FREE PIZZA around midnight, and the dance club will be BLEEPING and BLOOPING with musical delights all night long! And while you're exploring every DARK & DIRTY corner of the universe, remember that what happens in Albany, stays in Albany. See who's going...

Sunday Brunch

We're really excited about Brunch this time around and we're heading to one of our favorite places, Cafe 217. It's right down the road from the host hotel, they have a back room that should be able to fit all of us, and they're cooking up a delicious $20 buffet - tax and tip included! They'll be serving scrambled eggs & delicious omelets (meat or veg), savory bacon & sausage, mouth watering fresh fruit, home-fries, awesome pancakes, toast, and rolls so you can make your own egg sandwiches! As always everyone meets between 11am and 1pm, so check in with your new buddies, see what works best, and then pass the word on. It'll be a great wrap up to the weekend as you chow down with your new buddies. See who's going...

-------------------

And if you're looking for a weekend souvenir, we have a couple Limited Edition Event T-Shirts to choose from. Plus if you pre-order with the Coupon code "PIGSINSPACE", Cub Couture will give you $5 off the price when checking out! Just be sure to use the "IN-STORE PICK-UP" option and they'll have it ready for you when you arrive at the party on Saturday night! Don't miss out on the fun!

Big Hugs,
The Bear Albany gang!

JOCK (Sept 23-25)

noreply@blogger.com (wheelercub) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:33:00 +0000

It goes without saying, everyone deserves a huge break away from all the recent weather craziness. And with the 2011 Baseball season ending and the Football season just getting started, Bear Albany is getting into the "swing" of things with our sports gear party, JOCK (Sept 23-25). 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. As always, there's NO REGISTRATION FEES for the weekend, just the door donation on Saturday night.

Hotel rooms for JOCK (Sept 23-25) have sold out pretty quickly. In the event weren't able to reserve in advance, try calling back on Friday to hopefully grab one of the cancellations. But in case you're worried, the Marriott Townplace has setup an overflow hotel at the Holiday Inn Express in Downtown Albany for $89/night. Just give them a call tell them you're part of the "Marriott's Bear Albany Group" and you should get their special pricing. They're located downtown at 300 Broadway, and even have their own shuttle to get you out to the Bars, the Host Hotel Pool, Bear Bingo, etc.

Marriott: 518-860-1500
Holiday Inn Express: 518-434-4111

And if you want to beat the rush, make a Marriott reservation for our next event on Nov 11-13. It's a Science Fiction costume party and we can't wait to see what ideas everyone comes up with...

Friday Evening

JOCK weekend kicks off on Friday Sept 23rd. For those of you who get into town early, Team A-Man is having a HotBoi Auction at ROCKS to benefit AIDSWalk 2011. It's FREE to get in to watch the bois and excitement, FREE to sign up to be a bidder, and everyone is welcome to sign up to be in the auction. That includes all you hot Bears & Cubs who'd like to contribute! The highest bidder will get to take out the Bear, Cub, or Boi to dinner. The Preview is from 6-7pm and the Auction will be from 7-10pm. See who's going...

With all the recent storm and flood activity, Mother Nature has proven herself to a real bitch lately. Our hearts sincerely go out to everyone who's been affected. If you'd like to help, there's going to be a Charity Comedy Show at The Egg, on Friday Sept 23rd from 8-10pm, benefiting 300 local kids who've recently lost everything. Anyone who purchases a ticket to the show will get their first drink for free at WaterWorks on Friday night (beer, wine or well). Tickets & information...

After the show, swing by WaterWorks for our BEARAOKE MEAT & GREET after 9pm (76 Central Ave). It's a great time to "meat" new friends and "greet" existing 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 before the Bingo & Happy Hour party, check out the Beekman Boys, 2011 Sharon Springs NY Harvest Festival. The main festival runs from 10am-4pm on Saturday and it's not that far of a drive from Albany.

Then afterward, take a quick trip to Oh Bar for the "Out of Bounds Bingo & Happy Hour" from 5-7pm. Bingo cards will cost $2 ea and all sales benefit Our Brothers Keepers. Plus they'll have $2.50 domestics, $3 draft & import, $4.50 wine, $3/$5 well drinks, $3.50/$5.50 top shelf, there will be $2 PomPom Punch Pints. The bar is just a short walk from the Host Hotel or a 3 minute drive if you'd like to take the FREE hotel shuttle. 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

Let's all meet for a last goodbye at the Golden Corral Buffet (1901 Central Ave, Colonie, NY 12205). Swing by between 11am and 1pm and bring your new buddies along for company. It'll be a great way to wrap up to the weekend before heading back from the weekend. See who's going...

NUTS N' BOLTS (July 29-31)

noreply@blogger.com (Tonester) — Sun, 22 May 2011 19:38:00 +0000

After a long week of partying in the sun, standing in lines, and getting elbowed by "Spice Bears", you're probably looking forward to an inexpensive weekend where you can relax and reconnect with your community. Well we at Bear Albany know exactly how you feel and have something special planned July 29-31, 2011. Join us in celebrating your masculinity with the ROUGH N' TOUGH men of the Northeast. Wear your favorite LEATHER, fatigues, UNIFORMS, chaps, BLUE COLLAR work gear, or whatever else turns you on.

And for those of you who have been more than patient, you'll finally be able to see the new Bear Albany T-Shirts made by our friends at Cub Coutour! Rooms at the host hotel are still available at the discount rate, so be sure to give them a call - Marriott Townplace Suites at 22 Holland Ave in Albany, NY (518-860-1500). And as always, there's NO REGISTRATION FEES for the weekend, just the door donation on Saturday night. It's gonna be one hell of a HOT weekend that you're not gonna want to miss.

Friday Evening

The weekend kicks off on Friday July 29th at 8pm with the CAPITAL REGION'S LAST COMIC STANDING featuring Bear Albany buddy Joe Dragon at the WaterWorks Pub (76 Central Ave). And then the Bear Albany MEAT & GREET starts immediately after the show. WaterWorks Pub has a great relaxed atmosphere on the main level, a dance floor on the upper level, and there'll be awesome drink specials, FREE pizza & wings, and NO COVER for all of our BEAR ALBANY buds. See who's going...

Saturday Afternoon
We had so much fun playing miniature golf and laser tag last year that we decided to make it the Saturday group trip again (July 30th, 2011). Oasis Fun Park is located just 15 mins away in Troy, NY. It's a scenic, multi-tiered, 18 hole MINIATURE GOLF course located on 2.5 wooded acres. They also have LASER TAG, a picnic area, ARCADE GAMES, and a club house with inside and outside seating. Prices are very reasonable and they have plenty of cheap snacks like pizza, hot dogs, ice cream and such. The plan is to meet in the Marriott parking lot at 12pm noon, come up with a car pool plan to get there and back, and then head off to the park. Once there, we'll head off to enjoy the day in the good company of new friends. The park address is 97 North Greenbush Road in Troy, NY. See who's going...

Next we're heading over to ROCKS between 5:30-8pm to enjoy a FREE ITALIAN DINNER BUFFET and to bid on select hotties at the "BEAR, CUB, & BOY AUCTION" along with a LEATHER SWAP MEET! So make sure you bring any Leather and Gear you want to unload. Winning auction bidders of one (or more) of our volunteers get a gift certificate to take that Bear, Cub, or Boy to dinner and a BAR TAB at ROCKS! Cash and Credit Cards will be accepted for winning bids and must be made at the event. Keep an eye out for a preview of the Bears, Cubs, and Boys that have generously allowed themselves to be auctioned off for charity! And if you're interested in putting yourself up for auction, shoot an email over to jalarson@gmail.com and he'll get you all setup. We're planning on an amazing time and all proceeds will benefit BEAR ALBANY's AIDS WALK fund for C-4, the HIV/AIDS ward at Albany Medical Center. Afterward, you and your friends can take the free Shuttle back to to the host hotel to get ready for the main event. See who's going...

Saturday Evening
Come dressed to make a statement of your kind of MASCULINITY on Saturday July 30th beginning at 9pm @ ROCKS Bar (77 Central Ave). Traditionally, bears are known to be friendly and cuddly. But bears are also known to be rough, tough, masculine HAIRY beasts who revel in EXPLORING the NAUGHTY & NASTIER side of life! If you’re feeling a little raw and rambunctious, or just love being in the midst of the NORTHEASTERN BEEFCAKES, then our NUTS n’ BOLTS night is the night FUR you! So come decked out in your favorite MANS-WEAR whether it be leather, metal & chains, UNIFORMS, rubber, BLUE COLLAR GEAR, kilts, denim, or just SIR-PRIZE everyone and fill in the blank. As always, we'll have great drink specials, FREE PIZZA around midnight, and the dance club will be THROBBING with DEEP 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 Morning
This time we're keeping Sunday Brunch really simple by recommending everyone grab a bite to eat at either the Gateway Diner, Cafe 217, or one of the other breakfast joints in the area. Generally everyone meets between 11am and 1pm, so check in with your new buddies, see what works best for everyone, and then pass the word on. The Gateway Diner is located at 899 Central Avenue, it's a fairly large diner, and they have a really great menu with nearly everything you could hope for on it. While Cafe 217 is right down the road from the host hotel and has a small but cute friendly atmosphere. It'll be a great wrap up to the weekend as you chow down with your new buddies. See who's going...

We really can't wait to see everyone again!

Cheers!
Wheelercub
www.BearAlbany.com

Hotel Reservations
Our host hotel is the Marriott Townplace Suites at 22 Holland Ave in Albany, NY (518-860-1500). There are only a certain number rooms blocked off at the Bear Albany discount rate and they almost always sell out. So we recommend making reservations as early as possible. Remaining rooms will be released to the general public 10-days before our event. Please also be sure to mention you're part of the “BearAlbany group” to get the following discounted rates:

$83 per night for studios
$89 per night for one-bedroom suite
$139 per night for two-bedroom suites

Taxi and Shuttle Info
We've been working closely with the host hotel to ensure that our Bear Runs remain inexpensive don't break the bank. Following with that theme, the host hotel now has it's own free shuttle service that can transport six people at a time. Just talk to the front desk to ask about it's availability (518-860-1500) and please don't forget to thank the driver with a little tip. The shuttle is not exclusive to our group, so in the event that it's unavailable or you don't want to wait, the host hotel has setup a great deal with Capitaland Taxi with fantastic rates:

$6.00 for 1 rider and $1 extra for each additional rider ($7 for 2 riders, $8 for 3 riders, etc.)
Add Capitaland Taxi to your phone @ 518-308-7727 and let them know you are utilizing the BEAR ALBANY rate.
Rates are only valid on Friday & Saturday nights of our 2011 events

ONE MILLION BEARS B.C. (May 20-22)

noreply@blogger.com (Tonester) — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 04:22:00 +0000

Have you ever had the urge to club someone over the head and drag them back to your man cave? Or maybe you've always wanted to try a "Land of the Lost" fantasy? Well you're in luck because BEAR ALBANY is putting a CAVEMAN spin on the traditional TOGA PARTY on May 21, 2011. So get yourself a few animal prints, some safety pins, and CREATE a SEXY TOGA worthy of a Fred & Barney commitment ceremony or something that would make the the First Gay Caveman proud!

Friday Evening

The weekend kicks off on Friday May 20 @ 9pm with our traditional BEARAOKE Meat & Greet at the WaterWorks Pub (76 Central Ave). It's a great time to "meat" new friends and "greet" existing buddies that you haven't seen in a while. WaterWorks Pub always has a great atmosphere, awesome drink specials, free pizza & wings, a dance floor upstairs, and NO COVER for all of our BEAR ALBANY buds. More info...

Saturday Afternoon

If you're looking for a fun and memorable adventure in Upstate NY, a bunch of the Bears & Cubs are heading to Sharon Springs for the afternoon. The plan is to do lunch at the Black Cat Cafe, visit a few shops like the Finishing Touch, visit the shop of the Fabulous Beekman Boys, and have drinks on the patio of the American Hotel to gawk at the cute bear-celebs who run the place. We will leave from the Marriott parking lot at 11am and car pool to Sharon Springs for about 45-50 minutes west of Albany. More info...

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 Evening

When we planned our pre-historic Toga Party, we had no idea that it was also the same weekend as THE RAPTURE. So instead of complaining, we're taking our lemons and make lemonaid -- or in this case, a "VELOCI-RAPTURE" party! What better way to celebrate the end of time, but with a beginning of time dance party on May 20-22?

So come impress your BEAR ALBANY buddies on Saturday May 21 @ 9pm in your CAVEMAN TOGA creation and go hunting for beefy Northeastern beefcakes at the “ONE MILLION BEARS B.C.” main event @ ROCKS Bar (77 Central Ave). As always, we'll have great drink specials, the dance club will be hopping, and keep an eye out for the midnight snacks scurrying through the brush. And for those of you who need a little inspiration, check out the video to the right. We can't wait for you to SHOW US YOUR FUR so we can show you ours. More info...

Sunday Morning
We're changing things up a bit for the Bear Albany Backroom Brunch on Sunday May 22. McGeary's Pub will be offering it's incredibly diverse menu with a number of breakfast specials specifically designed for the bears from 11am to 1pm. There you'll chow down with your new buddies on a delicious manly meal. Afterward you can join your new friends for drinks at the front bar or head over to ROCKS @ 77 Central Ave for Tea Dance with the rest of the gang. More info...

Sunday Evening

For those of you sticking around town on Sunday, infamous Stacy Layne Matthews will be visiting Albany all the way from Back Swamp, North Carolina (yes that's a real place). Stacy Layne is one of the celebrity queens that appeared on this season of RuePaul's Drag Race and is best known as the big girl with small town sweetness. More info...

Hotel Reservations

Our host hotel is the Marriott Townplace Suites at 22 Holland Ave in Albany, NY (518-860-1500). There are only a certain number rooms blocked off at the Bear Albany discount rate and they almost always sell out. So we recommend making reservations as early as possible. Remaining rooms will be released to the general public 10-days before our event. Please also be sure to mention you're part of the “BearAlbany group” to get the following discounted rates:

$83 per night for studios
$89 per night for one-bedroom suite
$139 per night for two-bedroom suites

Taxi and Shuttle Info

We've been working closely with the host hotel to ensure that our Bear Runs remain inexpensive don't break the bank. Following with that theme, the host hotel now has it's own free shuttle service that can transport six people at a time. Just talk to the front desk to ask about it's availability (518-860-1500) and please don't forget to thank the driver with a little tip. The shuttle is not exclusive to our group, so in the event that it's unavailable or you don't want to wait, the host hotel has setup a great deal with Capitaland Taxi with fantastic rates:

$6.00 for 1 rider and $1 extra for each additional rider ($7 for 2 riders, $8 for 3 riders, etc.)
Add Capitaland Taxi to your phone @ 518-308-7727 and let them know you are utilizing the BEAR ALBANY rate.
Rates are only valid on Friday & Saturday nights of our 2011 events

BEARS ROCK II (March 25-27)

noreply@blogger.com (Tonester) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 21:46:00 +0000

For those of you who've been "Livin' on a Prayer" since last year, BEAR ALBANY is once again whipping out our ROCK HARD party machine - BEARS ROCK! Last year everyone had such a great time HEAD BANGING and "Shouting At The Devil", that we're back by popular demand, March 25-27. Whether you were "Born On The Bayou", looking for a "Sugar Daddy", or trying to find your "Velvet Goldmine" for the evening, BEAR ALBANY welcomes all you "Fat Bottomed Girls" with "Open Arms". After all, we're just "Spirits In The Material World" all wanting to see the "Good Times Roll". So be sure to bring your buddies to "Rock and Roll All Nite" and tell them to wear their favorite ROCK T-SHIRT. Cuz it's going to be one hell of a BIG BEAR with BIG HAIR weekend of partying!

The weekend kicks off Friday, March 25 at 9pm with ROCK BEARAOKE Meat & Greet at the WaterWorks Pub (76 Central Ave). It's a great time to "meat" new friends and "greet" existing 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.

Saturday evening, March 26 @ 9pm, it's time to put on your favorite ROCK T-SHIRT and join your BEAR ALBANY budz for the “BEARS-ROCK II” main event! The music starts at 10pm where you’ll be ROCKIN’ OUT with hundreds of hunky, hirsute, beefcakes from all over the Northeast. We'll have great drink specials and will be playing high energy ROCK music in the dance club all night long. So wear your best bad-ass ROCK LOOK and bring the right ATTITUDE for a night of real men, ROCKIN' OUT with their %@#*$ OUT!

Sunday morning, you can satisfy that big appetite you built up after BR-II by heading over to our NEW brunch spot, McGeary's Pub for the BearAlbany Backroom Brunch from 11am to 1pm. There you'll chow down with your new buddies on a delicious manly meal for the low price of $11.95.

Be sure to book your room early at the Host Hotel as they tend to sell out pretty quickly. And if you have any ROCK MUSIC suggestions you'd like the DJ to consider, feel free to post your favorite songs here.

GET LEI'D (Jan 14-16, 2011)

noreply@blogger.com (Art Forget) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 02:07:00 +0000

We hope everyone is having a happy and enjoyable holiday season. We have a few exciting things to share so that everyone has something to look forward to in the New Year.

First, we'd like to ask our Bear Albany buddies to VOTE FOR US on The Complete Bear: Best Bear Organization. Secondly, we're celebrating the New Year with a nice and long Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend with our GET LEI'D post-holiday celebration from January 14-16, 2011. Finally, we're bringing BEARS ROCK back by popular demand this coming March 25-27, 2011.

It's time to find yourself a Hawaiian shirt because we're turning the tables on Christmas in July with our very hot & steamy GET LEI'D party in the dead of winter. Imagine warm summer breezes, Tiki Bars on the beach, and all those CHEST HAIRS popping out of sexy HAWAIIAN shirts. Now imagine how freaking cold it's going to be outside and the delicious display of North Eastern BEARS and CUBS grasping each other indoors for warmth.

GET LEI'D weekend kicks off on Friday, Jan 14 at 9pm with our BEARAOKE Meat & Greet at the WaterWorks Pub (76 Central Ave). It's a great time to "meat" new friends and "greet" existing 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.

Join the gang, January 15th, 9:00pm at ROCKS Bar for the GET LEI'D main event, where you'll be greeted by a reef of rough and rowdy SEAMEN who'll be in need of BLOWING off a little steam after spending the holidays with family and friends. Come wearing a cute HAWAIIAN shirt or any kind of ocean-themed outfit and then BELLY up to the bar with a new buddy like a couple of sexy SAILORS and exchange your holiday war stories over tropical inspired drinks.

Sunday morning you can satisfy that big appetite you built up, by heading back to ROCKS Bar for the ALL-YOU-CAN EAT BRUNCH BUFFET starting at 11am. There you'll chow down with your new buddies on a delicious manly meal for the low price of $11.95. And then the long weekend party will continue throughout the day with drink specials, dancing, and their FREE DINNER BUFFET!

It's going to be a fantastic time, so don’t be left out in the cold as the only guy to miss one of the FURRRST HOT BEAR PARTIES of the 2011 New Year!

Lights in the Park & ROCKS Holiday Party -- Friday, 12-10-2010

noreply@blogger.com (wheelercub) — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 05:21:00 +0000

It's less than two weeks away from our Holiday Lights in the Park trolley ride. Spaces are limited and must be reserved in advance to get the $15 price. You can do so by emailing BearAlbany@gmail.com directly or by purchasing them at ROCKS bar. It's a great time for the Capital District Gay Community to get together with friends and make the 2010 Holiday season VERY MARY! Errr, we mean very merry...

The party starts at 6:00pm on Friday, December 10, at ROCKS with party snacks and drinks. We'll begin trolley departures for the Capital Holiday Lights in the Park at 7:00pm. Along the way we'll visit with SANTA for photos, stop at Cheesecake Machismo (where you can purchase cheesecake and coffee, tea, or hot chocolate), and then back to the ROCKS 2010 HOLIDAY PARTY! There'll be dancing, Bearaoke, and more more Ho Ho Ho's than you can shake your candy cane at!

Throughout the evening we're also collecting donations for the C4 SNACK PACK DRIVE. For those interested in giving back this holiday season, here are some items that patients of the C4 unit routinely need.

* Foods that don't require can openers, cooking, or utensils.
* Single serving snack packs, chips, etc.
* Candy, cookies, and other treats.
* Heavy socks, slippers, or flip flops (for the shower).
* Bathrobes & pajamas (male and/or female).
* Sweatshirts, winter hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, etc.
* Crosswords, game books, & anything to pass the time.
* Personal hygiene items, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, liquid soaps, etc.

So be sure to tell your friends about Lights in the Park, ROCKS Holiday Party, and the C4 Snack Pack Drive! And don't forget to reserve your trolley tickets ahead of time, as they go up to $20 after Wednesday, December 8, 2010. For more information, please visit the Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=144950772219949
We can't wait to see everyone under the Mistletoe!

The Bear Albany Gang!

Heroes & Villains (11-06-10)

noreply@blogger.com (wheelercub) — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 00:05:00 +0000

If you enjoy sliding down poles to get into your man-cave, exposing your furry chest in a crammed phone booth, or tying up bad boys with your magic lasso, we've got the perfect weekend for you! The Bear-Signal is flashing brightly in the Albany skyline and we need your help putting a stop to all the chaos and mayhem before it happens. Or maybe your the type who prefers to instigate a little pandemonium and anarchy in the streets, turning the lives of your arch-nemesis or the Bear Community utterly upside-down. Whichever the case, it's time to break out your secret identity, dust off your mask & combat-gloves, and fly your invisible jet to Bear Albany's HEROES & VILLAINS weekend!

It all goes down Saturday November 6 at 9pm at ROCKS Bar (77 Central Ave) where hundreds of HIRSUTE HEROES and FURRY FIENDS will be watching your every move. We'll have adrenaline inducing dance music, a variety of potions and antidote specials to keep you on your feet, and snacks shortly after the stroke of midnight! But more importantly, we're having a contest for the most creative and awe-inspiring Hero or Villain costume who'll win a free hotel room stay for our next event in January! So put away your deliciously deadly deck of cards, turn on that ridiculously huge Bat Computer, and come up with a outfit that would make both Marvel and DC Comics jealous of your creativity. And if you're caught kissing your arch-nemesis in a dark corner, just remember that what happens in Albany, stays in Albany...

Friday, November 05

5:00pm - 9:00pm: The gang is heading over to see the Brotherhood of Bears - Solo Gallery Show at the Romaine Brooks Gallery in the Gay Community Center (332 Hudson Avenue, Albany, NY). This is the first solo show featuring new work from the 'Brotherhood of Bears', that has yet to be viewed by the public. More info...

7:00pm - 9:00pm: If you're looking for something fun and off the beaten path, check out to The 2010 Fall RPI Charity Drag Show Hosted by Albany's own Jeze Bel and Peggy Sparkles!!! The drag show, hosted by the Rensselaer Pride Alliance, features both student and professional performers. All proceeds go to the Damien Center, a charity that supports individuals and families affected by HIV/AIDS. This event is open to the public. More info...

9:00pm - 3:00am: We're heading over to ROCKS Bar (77 Central Ave) to celebrate the start of Bear Albany's 6th year as well as the birthday of our buddy Lance, who is one of the owners of Rocks Bar. We'll have pizza and wings, great drink specials, lots of dancing, and it looks like there will be a mixture of karaoke and videos playing in the pub area. In addition, Fly 92 will be doing their Jingle Jam, event with lots of games, and our buddy Alvin is DJing! So bring your gorgeous smiles and come share a few laughs with the gang. More info...

Saturday November 06

11am - 2pm: Join your buddies for an Unlimited Bowling Benefit at Olympic Lanes from 11am to 2pm. This event will help support the Capital Area Pride Bowlers and for only $15 you'll have unlimited access to 3 hours of bowling! There will also be a 50/50 raffle and other cool prizes to win including a video games for the PS3, XBox360, and the Wii systems. Olympic Lanes has an area where you can grab lunch, pitchers of beer, and is a quick drive from the host hotel. More info...

2:00pm - 4:00pm: For those of you who couldn't make it to the Brotherhood of Bears - Solo Gallery Show on Friday evening, the gallery will be open this afternoon for a second showing. It's at the Romaine Brooks Gallery in the Gay Community Center (332 Hudson Avenue, Albany, NY) and this is the first solo show featuring new work from the 'Brotherhood of Bears', that has yet to be viewed by the public. More info...

4:00pm - 8:00pm: Because the location of the Brotherhood of Bears Gallery Show is just off of Lark Street, you can walk right around the corner to Oh Bar and have a happy hour drink or two with Mike HugAcub and then head off to dinner at one of the many places in the area. Two of our favorites are Quintessence and McGeary's Pub. Both have great food, fantastic drink specials, but McGeary's is offering a 20% discount off our dinner checks by saying your with the Bear Albany group! More info...

9:00pm - 3:00am: The Heroes & Villains costume event at ROCKS Bar (77 Central Ave) where hundreds of HIRSUTE HEROES and FURRY FIENDS will be watching your every move. We'll celebrate with adrenaline inducing dance music, potion and antidote specials, and snacks shortly after the stroke of midnight! We're also having a contest for the most creative and awe-inspiring Hero or Villain costume who'll win a free hotel room stay for our next event in January, as well as other great prizes!!! More info...

Sunday November 07

11:am - 2:00pm: Sunday morning after HEROES & VILLAINS, you can satisfy that SUPER appetite you built up, by heading back to ROCKS Bar for the Brunch Buffet from 11am until 2pm. You can chow down with your new buddies on an ALL-YOU-CAN EAT delicious manly meal for the low price of $11.95. A perfect ending to a memorable weekend! More info...

4:00pm - 6:30pm: Let's all meet for dinner and beers at McGeary's Pub before the Kathy Griffin Show at 7pm. It's right across the street from the Palace Theater, where she is performing, so try to get there as early as possible to get a table. Oh and did we mention that Tess the manager is offering all Bear Albany guys 20% off our checks for the entire Heroes & Villains weekend? Pretty great right? More info...

7:00pm - 9:00pm: A bunch of us are heading to the Kathy Griffin show, Sunday night at 8pm at the Palace Theater in Albany, NY. It's a great way to end the Heroes & Villains weekend and it would be even better sharing it with our buddies. Better yet, the Marriott Town Suites is extending the following Bear Albany weekend rate thru Sunday night. More info...

Mirror Balls (09-18-10)

noreply@blogger.com (wheelercub) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 01:31:00 +0000

It's time to dress up, put on your poker face, and get your GaGa-on for Bear Albany's MIRROR BALLS retro dance party! Bell bottoms, weird hats, crazy wigs, and anything that shows off your chest hair 70's style, is more than welcome. Make sure you check our upcoming events calendar for a full list of activites and don't forget to update your Bear411 Profile with our event. We'll see you there!

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

The weekend kicks off on Friday Sept 17 at 9pm with our BEARAOKE meat and greet at the WaterWorks Pub (76 Central Ave). We'll have awesome drink specials, free pizza & wings, and NO COVER for all of our BEAR ALBANY buds. Make mama Donna Summer proud by grabbing the mic and singing us all to disco heaven!!! More info...

SATURDAY: We're Invading Oasis Fun Park (12pm - 4pm)

For our Mirror Balls Saturday group trip, we're going to do the Oasis Fun Park over in Troy, New York. By car, it's just under 15 mins away and it's a scenic multi-tiered 18 hole miniature golf course located on 2.5 wooded acres. They have Laser Tag, arcade games, a picnic area, and a club house with inside and outside seating. The overall prices are very reasonable and they have great discounts for groups with 20 or more people.... They also have plenty of cheap snacks like pizza, hot dogs, ice cream and the like. The top players will receive prizes that will be announced at the Saturday night Mirror Balls event. More info...

SATURDAY: MIRROR BALLS dance (9pm - 4am)

Then ditch the paparazzi and come dressed for retro success on Saturday Sept 18 at 9pm for the MIRROR BALLS main event at ROCKS Bar (77 Central Ave). Expect to see hundreds of hot hairy dancing men showing off their best moves in butterfly collars and bedazzled cowboy hats. We'll have great drink specials, amazing dance music, and of course a midnight snack so you can "Ring My Bell" all night long. Let's show them what "Beautiful, Dirty, Rich" really looks like. And remember, what happens in Albany, stays in Albany. More info...

SUNDAY Buffet: All-You-Can-Eat (11am - 2pm)

Sunday morning you can satisfy that big appetite you built up, by heading back to ROCKS Bar for the Brunch Buffet at 11am. There you'll chow down with your new buddies on an ALL-YOU-CAN EAT delicious manly meal for the low price of $11.95. A perfect ending to a memorable weekend! More info...

SUNDAY: 70's RETRO T-DANCE (3pm - 7pm)

And for those of you who don't want to the party to end, stick around after brunch because ROCKS Bar finishes off the weekend with a fantastic Tea Dance on Sunday from 3-7pm. There'll be great music, fantastic drink specials, and a FREE BUFFET. It's the perfect way to end your weekend. More info...

ADDITIONAL INFO

To get updates as they happen, join our mailing list and the Bear Albany Facebook Fan Page where you can also talk about our events and upload your favorite pics. Don't forget to add this Bear Albany event to your bear411.com profile's events so your new buddies know you're coming.

Host Hotel Info and Travel Tips

Proceeds from Bear Albany help the Albany Damien Center and C4 AIDS Treatment Center

noreply@blogger.com (wheelercub) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 01:29:00 +0000

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

ADDITIONAL INFO

Host Hotel Info and Travel Tips

Proceeds from Bear Albany help the Albany Damien Center and C4 AIDS Treatment Center

Welcome!

noreply@blogger.com (BearAlbany) — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 04:35:00 +0000

Welcome to the new Bear Albany home page. We've been hard at work trying to make this site an easier-to-use experience for all of our buddies out there. At the top of the page, you'll see several sections that will take you to the information you need quickly; including our events calendar, host hotel, travel info, and how to participate in Bear Albany events. We hope you enjoy our site and would love any feedback you'd be willing to provide.

Bear Albany Presents: MIRROR BALLS

Click here for more info!