New York Army National Guard soldier Scott Leslie places a worn flag into his pack after placing a new flag at the grave of a veteran at Eagle Hill Cemetery on Monday, May 23, 2022, in Albany, N.Y. A group of volunteers gathered at the cemetery to replace worn flags with new flags at the graves of veterans in advance of Memorial Day. The event was organized by Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy and the Albany County Veterans Service Bureau. The old flags that were collected will be retired in accordance with regulation on a future date.
Memorial Day — Monday, May 30, this year — honors those who have died serving in the U.S. military. Many mark the day by visiting cemeteries or memorials. Several parades and ceremonies are planned to mark the holiday.
Memorial Day also marks the unofficial start of summer. Friends and families often gather not only for parades but for picnics and outdoor adventures. We’ve rounded up the top Best of the Capital Region 2022 winners in relevant categories to help you plan your Memorial Day weekend.
More: Memorial Day parades, ceremonies and special events | Memorial Day weekend sales | Colonie opens town pool early | See all of the 2022 Best of the Capital Region winners | Sign up for the Best of the Capital Region newsletter
Fancy a picnic? Here’s everything you need for a great one, including the region’s best food and location options.
With temperatures in the 70s and 80s, there are other summer dining options.
Winner: Jumpin’ Jacks, 5 Schonowee Ave., Scotia
Second place: Jack’s Drive In, 24 Main Ave., Wynantskill
Third place: Man of Kent, 4452 Route 7, Hoosick Falls
Runner-up: Crave, 217 Western Ave., Albany
The Waters Edge Lighthouse in Glenville
Winner: The Water’s Edge Lighthouse, 2 Freemans Bridge Road, Glenville
Second place: Brown’s Brewing Co. Taproom & Brewery, 417 River St., Troy, and 50 Factory Hill Road, North Hoosick
Third place: The Shaker & Vine, 221 Harborside Drive, Schenectady
Runner-up: 550 Waterfront, 550 Union Ave., Saratoga Springs
Runner-up: Lanie’s Cafe, 471 Albany Shaker Road, Loudonville
A customer grabs their ice cream cone at the Stewart's Shops in Fort Johnson, N.Y.
Winner: Stewart’s Shops, multiple locations
Second place: The Snowman, 531 Fifth Ave., Troy
Third place: Guptill’s Ice Cream, 1085 Loudon Road, Cohoes
Runner-up: Emack & Bolio’s, 366 Delaware Ave., Albany
Runner-up: Kurver Kreme, 1349 Central Ave., Albany
Ready to get out of the house? Head to a local park. Or want a little adventure? Plan a hike or head to a local beach or river.
From left, sisters Cassy and Ally Ryan of Rotterdam enjoy a picnic with sisters Maria and Anna Dobkowski of Guilderland while others take in the view from the Helderberg Escarpment at John Boyd Thacher State Park on Monday, May 25, 2020.
Winner: Thacher State Park, 830 Thacher Park Road, Voorheesville
Second place: The Crossings of Colonie, 580 Albany Shaker Road, Loudonville
Third place: Saratoga Spa State Park, 19 Roosevelt Drive, Saratoga Springs
Runner-up: Grafton Lakes State Park, 254 Grafton Lake State Park Way, Grafton
Runner-up: Washington Park, State and Willet streets, Albany
The waterfalls bowl at Plotter Kill Preserve in Rotterdam.
Winner: Thacher State Park, 830 Thacher Park Road, Voorheesville
Second place: Peebles Island State Park, 1 Delaware Ave. N., Cohoes
Third place: Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, 56 Game Farm Road, Delmar
Runner-up: Vroman’s Nose Hiking Trail, 264 Mill Valley Road, Middleburgh
Runner-up: Plotter Kill Preserve, Mariaville Road, Rotterdam
A view of Lake George from the south end of the lake on April 27, 2022.
Second place: Thacher State Park, 830 Thacher Park Road, Voorheesville
Third place: The Crossings of Colonie, 580 Albany Shaker Road, Loudonville
Runner-up: Five Rivers Environmental Education Center, 56 Game Farm Road, Delmar
Runner-up: Saratoga Spa State Park, 19 Roosevelt Drive, Saratoga Springs
Those older than 21 may choose to enjoy a drink (responsibly, of course). A nice evening around a firepit, perhaps? Don’t forget the s’mores.
Beer cooler at Oliver's Beverage Center in Albany.
Winner: Oliver’s Beverage Center, 99 Colvin Ave., Albany
Second place: Westmere Beverage, 1756 Western Ave., Albany
Third place: Delmar Beverage Center, 242 Delaware Ave., Delmar
Runner-up: Glenville Beverage, 96 Freeman’s Bridge Road, Scotia
Runner-up: Minogue’s Beverage Center, multiple locations
Winner: Empire Wine & Liquor, 1440 Central Ave., Albany
Second place: All Star Wine & Spirits, 579 Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham
Third place: Exit 9 Wine & Liquor Warehouse, 9 Halfmoon Crossing, Clifton Park
Runner-up: Carman Wine & Liquor Inc., 3643 Carman Road, Schenectady
Runner-up: Purdy’s Discount Wine & Liquor, 70-72 Congress St., Saratoga Springs
Best of the Capital Region 2022
Winners: See who won in each category of the Best of the Capital Region 2002 contest. Prefer something for your coffee table or to stash in your car for quick reference? Order our 68-page magazine, and we’ll ship it to you free.
100 categories: These are the 14 new categories in 2022.
See how far Best of the Capital Region has come in 25 years: These are the first winners from 1997.
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Erica Smith is the managing editor for digital at the Times Union. She has worked in local news media for more than 20 years, and joined the Times Union in March 2020 (just as COVID-19 shutdowns began) after working in print and digital media in Virginia, Missouri, Indiana and Washington. Erica's also vice chair of the Local Media Foundation and collects typewriters.