Lark Street facts for kids
Lark Street is a famous street in Albany, New York. It's known for its many unique shops, cozy coffee houses, tasty restaurants, art galleries, and antique stores. It's also home to bars and tattoo shops. Lark Street is located near Washington Park, a popular spot in Albany.
In 2002-2003, the central part of Lark Street, between Madison Avenue and Washington Avenue, was updated with new roads, trees, and sidewalks. This helped make the area even nicer for the businesses there. Lark Street and Jay Street were even used as a filming location for the movie Ironweed. You can also find the Washington Avenue Armory at the corner of Lark Street and Washington Avenue.
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Exploring Lark Street
Lark Street is just a short walk from downtown Albany's main business area. It has a cool mix of shops and homes, which might remind you of some neighborhoods in Manhattan. You'll often see old brownstone buildings from the 1800s along the street. Some parts of Lark Street, especially near Jay Street, still have cobblestone intersections, which show how old the neighborhood is!
Lark Street runs through several neighborhoods in Albany, including Park South, Hudson/Park, and Center Square. It crosses important roads like Delaware Avenue, Madison Avenue, Washington Avenue, and Clinton Avenue. A section of Lark Street is also part of U.S. Route 9W.
Many city buses use Lark Street, making it easy for people to get around. Several CDTA bus routes travel along Lark Street, connecting it to other towns like Slingerlands, Delmar, and Schenectady.
Arts and Fun on Lark Street
Lark Street is a hub for art and culture. Many artists and groups have made their home here. For example, the Upstate Artists Guild (UAG) helps create more galleries and studios in Albany and Troy. Because of these efforts, many old apartment buildings on Lark Street have been turned into art galleries and artist studios.
Lark Street is also the main spot for "1st Friday" events. This is a citywide art show where galleries open their doors for special viewings.
You'll find lots of interesting places to shop on Lark Street. Many shops are hidden away in basements or on second floors, which makes them fun to discover! You can find modern art, antiques, jewelry, cool vintage clothes, flowers, books, and even wine.
When you get hungry, Lark Street has a huge variety of restaurants! You can try Tex-Mex, Greek, Thai, Indian, Hunan, Italian, and Japanese food. The first Bombers Burrito Bar, a popular spot, is located right on Lark Street. The Washington Avenue Armory, at Lark Street and Washington Avenue, also hosts sports events and rock concerts.
Lark Street was a big part of the new wave, punk, and alternative music scene from 1979 to 1984. Today, many local musicians in Albany perform regularly on Lark Street, including jazz saxophone player Brian Patneaude, Thomasina Winslow, her late father Tom Winslow, and Sirsy.
The eba Theater at 351 Hudson Avenue is the oldest theater and one of the oldest buildings on Lark Street. It was built in 1916 and became an arts organization in 1977.
Festivals and Community Events
Lark Street hosts two very popular annual street festivals: Art on Lark and LarkFEST.
Art on Lark happens every June. During this event, the street fills up with artists showing off their paintings, photographs, jewelry, sculptures, and glass art. There are also live performances and music on several stages. About 20,000 people attend Art on Lark, making it the second-largest street festival in upstate New York. It has even been voted the "Best Arts Event" in local polls!
LarkFEST is the biggest one-day street festival in New York, with about 80,000 people attending! This event features local, regional, and even national music acts. You can also find about 150 arts and crafts, retail, and food vendors. Famous artists like Moby and Matt and Kim have performed at LarkFEST in the past.
Both of these exciting events are organized by the Lark Street BID (Business Improvement District). This group works to make Lark Street a great place to live, work, and visit for everyone. They help with neighborhood safety, street cleaning, marketing the area, and putting on special events like these festivals.
Images for kids
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Lark Street near the intersection with Madison
