Don’t miss our annual Songs at Sunset event!
It’s time again for our most popular and widely-attended fundraiser of the year: Songs at Sunset! For the past several years this dinner and entertainment event has not only sold out but has had a waiting list. Assure yourself good seats for this…
Raise awareness for citizen diplomacy by walking!
Having doubts that you can run an entire 5K at the Freihopher Run for Women race this year? Have no fear. We provide you with all the support you need to walk 1.8 miles and have fun doing it! Join…
Essay Contest winner puts the ATA in the spotlight
Thank you to our youngest ATA board member Isaac Smith for scoring a three-hour interview with the Southern Saratoga County newspaper CN Weekly. A large photo accompanied by a thoughtful interview were printed on the front page of yesterday’s…
The buying power of a crumbling ruble
When we visited Russia earlier this month, we didn’t think the exchange rate could get any better. It floated between 48-53 rubles to the dollar. We were able to visit museums, restaurants and theater performances in several cities, on a…
Sharing space with the Russians
A Russian face is easily misunderstood. The frozen expression, the indifferent grimace, the deadpan look: it’s easy to conclude that Russians are as frigid as the wind that blows across Siberia. But, only the stars could be further from the…
Russian rejuvenation at the banya
Long before there was a Russia, there was a steam bathing phenomenon called banya. Ancient Slavic people learned that pouring cold water over hot stones produces steam that warms and cleanses the body. Today, we know the ritual has countless…
Pacifist visits the new Tula Armament Museum
I am, undisputedly, unequivocally, unmistakably against war, however, even I can appreciate a quality weapons museum when I see one. Tula, Russia – Albany’s sister-city, has such a place and it’s called the Armament Museum. Inside the unusual-shaped building are…
No horsing around at the Hermitage
Bring your best pair of walking shoes to Russia if you plan on visiting the the State Hermitage of St. Petersburg. The complex is one of the largest and oldest museums of art and culture in the world. With over…
Blowing my fuse in St. Petersburg, Russia
Clap, clap, clap; the spontaneous cheers of dozens of homesick Russians erupted when our airplane tires hit the tarmac. “Мы дома!” or We’re home!, they shrieked. We too were happy to have landed safely in St. Petersburg, Russia after a…
Taking flight to Russia during the holidays
According to Lonely Planet, you need “a sense of humor and bucket load of patience” when visiting Russia. By the same token, both traits are equally important waiting for this stateside Nor’easter to pass. To help defuse the stress of…
Hosting Kseniya was an enlightening experience!
For the last few weeks, I’ve hosted a young, diminutive, digital media journalist from Tula, Russia by the name of Kseniya or ‘Susha’ for short. She just left on Sunday and already I miss her. Her visit was part of…
Press Release: Russian Delegates Wrap up visit to Capital Region
PRESS RELEASE: Last Saturday, Sept 6th, the Times Union ran a cover news story titled “Russians are coming, but not as many.” Indeed, 3 out of 5 Russian delegates chosen through the Open World grant program by Congress, were able…
Come to the annual “Songs at Sunset” fundraiser
The annual “Songs at Sunset,” an Albany-Tula Alliance much-talked about event of the year, is accepting donations to the event to be held on Sunday, September 7th, 2014. Unlike previous years, when the soiree was enjoyed at Charlotte Buchanan’s lovely…
Registration Extended for Essay Contest
Time is running out for Capital Region High school students to enter the 4th biennial Albany-Tula Alliance Essay Contest. The topic for this year’s essay contest includes social media and its influence on modern Russia. We are asking students to…
Picking at Memories of Tula with Rose Schneider
2012 Essay Contest winner and now, lucky for us, board member of the ATA, Rose Schneider talked about her experiences visiting Tula at the Essay Contest Launch Party last night at the Colonie Library. “Nearly 2 years later and I…
Tweet your way to Tula!
Tweet your way to Tula! Launch of the 2014 Essay Contest In the interest of cultural understanding and cooperation, every two years the ATA sponsors an essay contest for Capital Region students. Given the influence of social media sites to…
Tula Ped Celebrates 75 Years, a Summary by Jerry Shaye
Executive Director, Gerald Shaye Report on Visit to Tula and Moscow October 6 – 12, 2013 October 6 – Dinner in Moscow with a former student of hospitality management at SUNY Cobleskill and a graduate of the International Academy of…
An Evening Reception with the Moscow Ballet
The Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker is coming to Albany! In honor of this critically acclaimed show, the ATA is hosting a Grand Reception before the performance. Tickets for Thursday, December 5th at the Palace Theatre are on sale now…
Olympiad Winners Return from Tula
A few days ago, Olympiad winners Margarette Keesee and Will Heatley returned from a whirlwind trip to Tula, Russia. While they are both decompressing still and writing up their summaries of the trip, please enjoy a few photos that ATA…
Tolstoy Pedagogical University Celebrates 75 yrs
Barbara Webster, chair of the Albany-Tula Alliance’s Education and Culture Committee, and Jerry Shaye, chair of the ATA were guests of the Tolstoy Pedagogical University at the celebration of their 75th anniversary in Tula over the past three days. Highlights…