"The Empire State"

Welcome to New York

New York/Massachusetts border on I-90
August 8, 2009

Believe it or not, there are other parts of New York that don't include New York City. This is similar to the relationship of Chicago and the state of Illinois: the latter is overshadowed by the former. Worse, when you utter the words "New York," people will probably assume you are referring to the city and not the state. But the state of New York deserves its day in the sun, as it offers a diverse collection of cities and landscapes. Most notably, Niagara Falls a must-see when visiting New York (although the best view is from the Canadian side). The Adirondacks provide some nice views as well on the opposite side of the state. And yes, New York City should be experienced at least once in your lifetime.

Maybe the reason New York state is the afterthought in casual conversation is what you see in the picture above. It doesn't make any attempt to stand out from the crowd. This is yet another entry in the "standard green" welcome sign that is almost undistinguishable from your average interstate sign. Yes, it is enormous, but that doesn't make up for the fact that it is lacking any graphics or symbols that represent the Empire State. How hard would it be to add a Statue of Liberty up there? That would be a major improvement over the lame "I ♥ NY" bumper sticker phrase that seems like an afterthought. What makes this even more disappointing is it located along the New York State Thruway, where one would expect a major upgrade over a minor border crossing elsewhere.

Welcome to Albany

August 8, 2009

Albany always seemed like an odd choice for the capital of New York. It isn't the state's most populated city, as that title belongs to New York City. It isn't located in the center of the state either, as Syracuse or Utica would be a better choice. But it continues to be an important port along the Hudson River, and has a blue collar feel to it to this day. The downtown area wasn't anything special, but I heard that closing time for bars is 4:00 AM, which suggest a pretty active nightlife. The skyline is dominated by Corning Tower, which is at the opposite end of the capitol plaza. It seems out of place for a city of less than 100,000 people, but I guess New York needed a place to keep all of its bureaucrats.

Now this is a structure worthy of a place nicknamed "The Empire State." The New York capitol is an imposing structure at the end of Empire State Plaza, which is a striking location in its own right. It bears no resemblance to the U.S. Capitol, but models itself after Paris' city hall. The exterior detail is stunning, as it uses both marble and granite which combines for a European castle appearance. The number of windows is also pretty amazing, although it does seem like a bit much at times. I should point out that this picture is taken from the side, as the view from the front was obstructed somewhat by trees. While I prefer shooting the buildings from the front and it still looks great from the front, I felt the side view gave a better view of the detail that makes it so amazing.

Miscellaneous New York Symbols

State Route Sign

License Plate

Seal

Quarter