It’s easy to fill your weekends with fun plans over the summer – everyone is willing to get outside and meet up. But as the first chill of fall slowly creeps in, we know how hard it can be to get your friends OUT! No one wants to spend time getting out of their warm beds just to lug around a puffy coat in order to sit at a bar you’ve been to a dozen too many times while you try to ward off the cool breeze. That’s why The Yard is THE place to be in Downtown Albany. So what makes The Yard such a special place to visit, you ask? Don’t worry, we’ve got all the deets down below.
A Warm Space To Spice Up Your Night
With a modern indoor-outdoor design, The Yard is the perfect seasonal transition spot.
Like we said, it can be hard to get your friends to leave the comfort of their homes once the temperature drops, but what if they didn’t need to sacrifice comfort? The patio at The Yard boasts comfy couches, cozy blankets, and sleek fire pits. And the colder it gets, the more opportunities for a good time The Yard provides. Just wait until winter when you can rent out a heated greenhouse with all of your friends. Each greenhouse has a fun theme, and although they haven’t been publicly released, we did get the inside scoop (Boozy Moo! Apple Jacked Donut of course!) and let’s just say it’s going to be a mojo dojo dream.
Boozy Ice Cream and More
The Yard definitely has something your apartment doesn’t have – but you’ll wish that it did: Boozy Moo!, an original alcohol infused ice cream brand. With over forty flavors, there is no shortage of booze or ice cream up in this joint! We recommend getting a scoop (or twelve) of one of their seasonal sorbets like the I Double Pear You. If you happen to be under 21, don’t worry, there are a few non-alcoholic options for you to choose from as well. If you need something a little more substantial to help those drinks settle nicely, there’s a fun snack menu that covers everyone’s dietary needs and is perfect for solo eaters (if you come alone, you probs won’t end up spending much time alone), or sharing with large groups!
Games Galore
And we haven’t even gotten to the best part: they don’t just have Flip Cup Fridays and lawn games like cornhole, twister, giant jenga, darts, and many more that you can even reserve online ahead of time… the Yard is also known for Axe Throwing. Yeah, you read that right. This female owned business that serves beers on draft and the best craft cocktails in town (seriously you need to try the Berry The Hatchet: a spooky twist on a strawberry marg served with a berry infused smoke bubble on top that you and your friends will fight over popping!) also doubles as a hatchet throwing arena. The highly trained coaches ensure that everyone is safe, so all you have to worry about is how to impress your date with your axe throwing skills…and how sore your arms will be in the morning; it’s a serious surprise workout! If throwing axes around strangers isn’t really your thing, you can also rent out The Yard for a wholesome teen party, or a Boozy Moo! filled corporate event. The Yard is Albany’s perfect solution to your weekly Thursday night “what r we gonna do this weekend???” group chat text.
Whether you’re an Albany local on a first date with a cocktail connoisseur, or visiting the capital region with some college buddies who miss the days of lawn games, there is something for everyone. And we mean everyone, because The Yard can now accommodate families and teens! But don’t worry, if you’re looking for some adult time away from the kids, they have plenty of 21+ hours as well. What more could you ask for?!
Written by Teddi Shaffer
