Holiday Parade recap, Birthdays and Small Business Saturday

[00:00:00] Speaker A: Hi, I'm Stan. [00:00:02] Speaker B: And I'm Shen. [00:00:03] Speaker A: And each week, we bring you the Stan and Shen Show. And each week, we talk about fun things through our travels throughout the capital region. We touch on food, we touch on news, try to touch heavily on good news. And Shen's always available with hot takes. [00:00:20] Speaker B: Yeah. So if you could follow along and listen to us every week on DailyGazette.com or on all major streaming platforms, we'd love to have you join us. [00:00:31] Speaker A: What is today's podcast episode on? [00:00:33] Speaker B: Yeah. Is it a roundup from the parade in the talk on Small Business Saturday? [00:00:37] Speaker A: I was gonna lead with happy birthday to you. [00:00:43] Speaker B: No, it's past my birthday now, so we're done with the singing. [00:00:47] Speaker A: Well, I really want to get the podcast in. Yesterday on your birthday. [00:00:51] Speaker B: New age, same old attitude. [00:00:54] Speaker A: Happy 29th. [00:00:56] Speaker B: Thank you. Happy 32. [00:00:59] Speaker A: Yeah, we had the conversation last night at dinner, and, of course, Rita chimes in. Like, I'm like, yeah, 30 is, like. You know, 30 is a tough one, right? And then Rita's like, oh, yeah, 60 was really rough. And I'm like, oh, yeah, nothing today. I'm, like, wrecked. Because of your birthday? Because I'm like, yeah, this is, like. It's, like, hitting now. Like, how young I was at one point in time and how much I am not right now. [00:01:29] Speaker B: I always try to explain to people that there are certain ages where, like, your birthday really just hits harder, and it could be for a number of things. So, like, 25. 25 hits hard because, like, you're finally past that. Like, you kind of are. Like, that's when you start realizing you can't go out as much anymore. Like, you can't go out all night and then go to work the next morning. So slightly hungover, but survive. Like, it takes three days. Anywhere from two to three days now if you go out drinking to, like, somewhat recover now, mind you, there are a few people who can still do that. Those people are superhumans. There's something wrong with them. Most people at 25, like, it just. It really starts to hit, and you're like, I kind of lost it. Or the one that really, like, I didn't believe when people would say this to me is you'd get the, oh, you're just gonna wake up one day and something's randomly gonna hurt. You don't know why. Yeah. No, that's a true thing. That's a true thing. Woke up. I remember when I was 26, woke up one morning, my elbow just hurt. Just my elbow. As if I had like hit it at something overnight. And like there was like no wall or nothing near my bed. So I'm like just. It's like is this tennis elbow? Like I don't. Anyway, so. But yeah, I can imagine what 30 is going to be like next year. Big could either be really joyful, really depressing. [00:03:02] Speaker A: Stay tuned, Stay tuned to the Stan and Shen show. If we make it to 30. The Stan and Chen show. Always day by day. [00:03:13] Speaker B: Well, I feel like 30 is going to be depressing for the fact that I'll probably get the same old from my dad. How's life? When are you going to give me a grandchild? Are you going to get married? Yeah. Thanksgiving. Can't wait for that. Yep. [00:03:28] Speaker A: Can't wait for that conversation. [00:03:30] Speaker B: Yeah. Seeing anybody? No. Dad. So no grandchildren yet. Nope. [00:03:39] Speaker A: Dad, I'm campaigning. What can I tell you? I've got a lot of rallies going. [00:03:43] Speaker B: On, but I actually don't. Not dating at all. Dad, just. [00:03:50] Speaker A: Okay. I'm putting that married to the job. [00:03:52] Speaker B: Yep. [00:03:53] Speaker A: For now. [00:03:54] Speaker B: Yeah. I just, I know it's coming. It's gonna be probably one of the first two things that he not an I love you, not happy to see you. [00:04:03] Speaker A: I'll. [00:04:03] Speaker B: I'll get a. Are you seeing anybody? One of my having grandchildren before I even get a hug, I'll probably get it within minutes of stepping into their. Their house tomorrow night when I get home. So that's that. [00:04:17] Speaker A: You want to know my story? [00:04:19] Speaker B: Sure. [00:04:21] Speaker A: So, as you know very know very well, I'm an only child, right? [00:04:25] Speaker B: Correct. [00:04:26] Speaker A: Explains a lot. So I would drive home to Hancock, New York from, from Binghamton to see mom and dad for the holidays. And I went home one year and this is before I met Rita, so that's why I was solo. So I make it home and it's three hours because working retail and stuff got home late. So we live in a dot of a town. Don't lock the doors. I go in. [00:04:52] Speaker B: Don't lock the door. Towns are the ones that always end up with the craziest murders. [00:04:55] Speaker A: Yeah. So I walk in, turn on the kitchen light, open the fridge, and then I go to the upstairs bathroom. Okay. So it was like 11 o' clock at night. You know what happens on the bathroom door stash? Is that you? My father, like, no, the burglar came in and decided to use the restroom before he robbed you. I'm like, yeah, Pop. Okay. But anyway, so happy birthday. [00:05:29] Speaker B: Thank you. [00:05:30] Speaker A: We had a. I think we had a great birthday week because we share a birthday week. [00:05:34] Speaker B: We do. [00:05:34] Speaker A: If You've met me. [00:05:36] Speaker B: I think we had a busy birthday. [00:05:37] Speaker A: In the month of November. If you've met me anywhere around the month of November, you know that, Shannon, I shared birthday week. [00:05:43] Speaker B: We do. [00:05:44] Speaker A: And that actively get out your age and then not mine. [00:05:50] Speaker B: It's a better age to give out. [00:05:52] Speaker A: It is, it is. [00:05:53] Speaker B: I. [00:05:53] Speaker A: Because I don't get the sad face, you know, if I don't tell them my age. And so we always look forward to that. And we had holiday prep and, and you know, we're working insanely, as we always did before, and then we had the parade and the parade was pretty awesome. [00:06:13] Speaker B: Parade was really good this year. Yeah, it was super exciting. Large number of participants. Again, shout out to the Stanford Sanford. Stanford Sanford. Sanford Heights Police Fire Department. Okay. Is that what it is? Stanford. Stanford. [00:06:36] Speaker A: They're not going to type it up. Well, they know who they are. Go ahead. Continue shouting as you're typing, please. You're killing me right now. [00:06:48] Speaker B: Can you hear it? [00:06:49] Speaker A: Yeah, I can hear it. That's why I'm saying, as you try to quietly type. [00:06:53] Speaker B: Stanford Heights. [00:06:55] Speaker A: Stanford Heights. [00:06:55] Speaker B: Yeah. Shout out to that crew, one of my favorites because the dancing firemen that are just like hanging off the side. [00:07:02] Speaker A: Of the, Hanging off the side of the truck is like your go. [00:07:05] Speaker B: Yeah. I'm just like, man, not the 12. [00:07:07] Speaker A: Up on top standing on a ladder, truck jamming. [00:07:10] Speaker B: No, no, no. I appreciate all of them. [00:07:12] Speaker A: Okay. [00:07:13] Speaker B: I just literally, the guys that when they stopped right in front of us, it's like, oh, you want me to hang off on the side? And then just did it. And I was like, that's cool. Like, pretty cool. So shout out to them. Shout out to Schenectady Shares. Great float. [00:07:30] Speaker A: Great float. Great about great grand marshals. [00:07:33] Speaker B: Yes. So love that Grinch. We had the Grinch up on our stage. [00:07:37] Speaker A: Grinch on the stage. I, I, I got the Grinch. I, I got some laughs out of Grinch. [00:07:42] Speaker B: Yeah, I, I really, you know, honestly, I think it was us that helped his heart grow through sizes that day. [00:07:46] Speaker A: I, I think it was you because we know I'm just there for the humor. [00:07:51] Speaker B: Well, I think it was growing already considering that they. He's all for their sensory friendly yes. Show at Proctor's. [00:07:58] Speaker A: It's gonna be great. [00:07:59] Speaker B: So. [00:07:59] Speaker A: Yeah, you'd be great. [00:08:01] Speaker B: So, so that was fun. And, you know, we were. Our backdrop was Frog Alley and the kids were adorable and I handed them a bunch of candy canes and gave away my necklace as I do every year. That dollar store necklace never makes it Home with me. I think last year, before I even got on the stage, I handed out a scarf. But yeah, so that was fun. Just really exciting. It was nice. And the photos out of it were phenomenal. So shout out to Pete Barber at the Daily Gazette and Vincent, whose last name I don't want to butcher, who has just been posting just. Just such great photos that were taken. However, if you did notice one of us was doing all the work on the stage, according to these photos, that would be. No. Every single photo that I have seen of us from our stage is me talking into the microphone, reading things and stance, just standing there smiling. [00:09:01] Speaker A: Right. So it was the podcast, but we were live because usually we were doing all the talking and I. I'm there. [00:09:07] Speaker B: You end by talking work. [00:09:09] Speaker A: We are working. [00:09:11] Speaker B: I was doing all the work. [00:09:13] Speaker A: You were motoring through. Yeah, because it was a tight parade. It was two hours. It was tight compared to previously, which was. I think a lot of people appreciate it. I think it was awesome. And it moved along. It moved on at a faster pace than we expected. Yeah. So that was like on the fly change. So I think that's why, like, instead of going back and forth and back and forth, we kind of had the motor through and. [00:09:34] Speaker B: Yeah. Shout out to all of our guests who made it on our stage. [00:09:37] Speaker A: Some briefly, just because it was. Because the previous year we had the big gaps, so it was great to have them on. [00:09:42] Speaker B: But Share from Samoa's. You owe us pizza. You were supposed to be on our stage and bring us pizza. And I could really use that. That's just saying. Just saying. You owe us that. [00:09:51] Speaker A: You owe Shannon pizza. [00:09:52] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:09:52] Speaker A: Stan might be by if she tells me. How about Mrs. Claus? [00:09:58] Speaker B: Fantastic as always. The group. The group this year for the float is just top notch. [00:10:04] Speaker A: Yeah, Top notch. Just honestly, truthfully, Love to death. Love to death. Mrs. Claus this year, at the end of last year's parade, announced that she would be walking this year. This was not new. This was like 364 days in planning. Mrs. Claus knew she was going to be out in front of the float, shaking hands, waving, swapping back and forth, left to right with Newsy. They were a great pair to have out there. A great reputation for the paper. Santa, a great job up on top, you know, and talking to Mrs. Claus on the standard Friends podcast, heading in, harking back to her early cheerleading days. Mrs. Claus talking about, you know, football. Like, the team comes on and runs through the tape and everybody cheers. With Santa, it's just like a continuous roar. As he goes upstate street. [00:10:54] Speaker B: Yeah. Oh, I know what it's like. [00:10:57] Speaker A: You know what it's like. [00:10:58] Speaker B: I know what it's like. As someone. [00:10:59] Speaker A: You walked close. [00:10:59] Speaker B: Yes. [00:11:00] Speaker A: You've been close to the float. [00:11:01] Speaker B: As someone who's walked with the Gazette, though. You won't see me in any pictures, but you'll see me in pictures. [00:11:07] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:11:07] Speaker B: If you know, you know. It is. It is. Was one of my favorite parts. Like, I. I do love. I love being an emcee. But to be honest, I think walking in the parade is actually more fun. [00:11:23] Speaker A: I think it's. I think it's fun, especially when you're. [00:11:26] Speaker B: The Santa float because you're. [00:11:28] Speaker A: You're absorbing that. I mean, they're looking for the big guy. You're able to absorb that love. [00:11:32] Speaker B: Yeah. You get all the best, feel it. The best joy. [00:11:35] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:11:36] Speaker B: From people. [00:11:36] Speaker A: They're holding it up, they're holding it in until the big guy. [00:11:39] Speaker B: And there's not. [00:11:40] Speaker A: There's anticipation and all that. [00:11:41] Speaker B: There's not, like, walking past and just seeing tons of smiling faces and all the lights and just. Oh, also, before I forget, shout out to our team, our outside crew, for putting in the wonderful trees. Shout out to UN Lacrosse for decorating said trees with all the lights and the reefs. So think, you know, that line the street that day. So, you know, it really looked magical when he went down there, and it was just great. And I feel like it definitely has gotten bigger. It is the largest nighttime parade in the northeast. But this year, you know, they brought in many vendors, food vendors, which I think people appreciated. You know, J Street was packed. [00:12:21] Speaker A: Jam. Jam packed. [00:12:22] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:12:23] Speaker A: Talk to Heather. Heather lent briefly texting back and forth on some stuff at Bittersweet Candy, our favorite chocolatier in Schenectady, J Street area. And it said it was the of the biggest she's had before. [00:12:38] Speaker B: Yeah. And, you know, I. You know, I helped Heather prepare the day before, so some actually got wrapped. I ate one that was. It actually ate one that was a. A lemon Oreo covered in white chocolate. She might be changing me. I. I told her this. I was like, I don't even. I said, that's probably one of the best white chocolate things I've ever eaten. [00:13:02] Speaker A: White chocolate and lemon. Oh, I can see that happening. [00:13:05] Speaker B: Yeah. I was like. And I think it's because her white chocolate is, like, good white chocolate. [00:13:10] Speaker A: Very good. [00:13:10] Speaker B: It's the gritty white chocolate I don't like. [00:13:12] Speaker A: Yes. [00:13:12] Speaker B: But if you give me some good white chocolate, I'm all for it. And I Got my peppermint bark, which I did eat some of that last night for my birthday. [00:13:19] Speaker A: Along with the birthday cake at dinner. [00:13:20] Speaker B: Along with birthday cake at dinner. Two glasses of. Three glasses of wine when you have. Yeah, I didn't make it to the gym. [00:13:27] Speaker A: I knew. [00:13:29] Speaker B: He got late. [00:13:30] Speaker A: You know how Rita. Rita talks about. My wife Rita talks about. As the season gets underway, she likes to share that. Well, a. Our TV. One of our TVs on the Hallmark Channel 24. 7. [00:13:43] Speaker B: Oh, it should be. [00:13:43] Speaker A: It's for the cat, but it's on 24. 7. We have a TV. I don't think. I think we had two power outages. That's the two times it got turned off. So he just goes to the CAC Caddy's company. But it's on Hallmark Channel. And Rita loves to tell a story that as soon as the Hallmark season begins, there's actually a Hallmark bingo card you can download for product placement and things like that. Because every year there's a product placement. So this year it's Hawaiian. It's Hawaiian buns. It's Hawaiian. [00:14:08] Speaker B: I know what you're talking about. [00:14:09] Speaker A: Yeah, there's a bingo card and there's been like the Folgers can. There's the great value. There's product placement on there. So that's kind of fun for Hallmark and things like that. But yeah, you're not making the June. Like I said, should have been on the bingo card because I was like, now there's no way. There's no issue. [00:14:25] Speaker B: I'm surely screwed me up for today, though. I'm like, I don't know what I'm gonna do today at the gym. It could be a total body. And I might not be able to walk tomorrow, but. And then Thursday I gotta run. So the 5k run a 5k in the morning? [00:14:39] Speaker A: Well, no, they do it in the afternoon after everybody's eating. Yeah, no, everything's right off the rip. That way you can go and really enjoy early. [00:14:47] Speaker B: So early it's like dining. [00:14:49] Speaker A: So have a story to share that almost got spilled last night. Like somebody's Christmas gift getting spilled. Thank you, Shannon. [00:15:01] Speaker B: Sorry. You didn't tell me it was off limits. [00:15:06] Speaker A: So did you like your gift? [00:15:07] Speaker B: I did. I ran out of the house and forgot it this morning. [00:15:10] Speaker A: That's okay. It's a rotation now. [00:15:12] Speaker B: Sad face. [00:15:13] Speaker A: So are you gonna tell them or you want me to tell them your. Your. Your birthday gifts? [00:15:19] Speaker B: Oh, okay. So Stan and Rita got me a Christmas like water tumbler. Yeah. That has nutcrackers on it. Because I love nutcrackers. That's the thing a lot of people don't know about me. I don't have a ton of them in my apartment. I don't actually think I have a singular one in my apartment. That's primarily because they take up a lot of space and I have an apartment. [00:15:40] Speaker A: Especially if you get the five footer, which is. Could show up on your doorstep. Just saying. [00:15:44] Speaker B: I really want like the two gigantic ones if I ever get to the point of owning a home one day. [00:15:49] Speaker A: That's on the list. [00:15:50] Speaker B: Very, very, very small chance. The two flanking the door is happening. Yeah. And in their reds and greens and. But yeah, I love those and I love old Santos. I actually have a couple of those, but they're at my grandma's house. So. Yeah. So it's just, it's a tumbler that has a bunch of nutcrackers on it and I appreciated that. And then some like dollar medium coffees at Dunkin Coupons. [00:16:17] Speaker A: And for don't. For dollar donation, you don't need to. The kids get the coupon. So that naturally went with your gift and your theme this year. [00:16:23] Speaker B: Correct. Which was supported by a donation from you guys of over $50 towards one of the local food pantries, which is, you know, what I asked people to do this year. So shout out to you, shout out to Chad and anyone else who, who donated to local food pantries this year. I think it might be something. I keep going just, you know, every year because my birthday falls so close to Christmas already that it's like I can give up one of those days in order to make sure that other people get a little bit more joy on a, on a holiday. And it's a thing that means a lot to me as a kid who, you know, grew up, whose family was helped by food pantries, especially around the holidays. So thank you to anyone who donated. Please continue to do so. If you can even do like a little bit every month, like, I think I'm going to sign up to do like $10 a month or, or more. And also if you can volunteer. They're always looking for volunteers. It's really easy. It's, it's literally, it's not hard work whatsoever. You can have fun doing it. I was directing. [00:17:31] Speaker A: You did it. [00:17:31] Speaker B: I did. [00:17:32] Speaker A: So now you can say it's not hard work. [00:17:34] Speaker B: It's not hard work. It's fun and it's fun. I literally put on Christmas tunes and it was directing traffic, dancing, listening to Christmas tunes one morning. So. And people People enjoy that when you bring that sort of energy to something that can feel a little bit, you know, scary or like, you know, a lot of people don't want to be in that situation, and so they feel like they're judged because of it. And if you can just make it a little bit more for normal day to them and treat them like the human beings that they are, then we're much better off as a society that way. So. But yeah, thanks for that. [00:18:10] Speaker A: I'm a huge fan of the Ask this year for a donation because you are the hardest person in the entire world to shop for and gift for. I have learned. [00:18:23] Speaker B: What do you mean? [00:18:24] Speaker A: And been trained. [00:18:25] Speaker B: I'm the easiest. We have me down to a te for my stepmom. I always get snacks for the gym. Socks and a. In cash or a gift card. [00:18:33] Speaker A: Exactly. Just joyful, thoughtful gifts. [00:18:36] Speaker B: Yeah, that is thoughtful for me. [00:18:37] Speaker A: I understand that now. Now I'm like, you know what? [00:18:40] Speaker B: Like, if you were like, shannon, what kind of protein powder do you drink? I'd be like, oh, it's this. And then if you bought me protein powder, I'd be like, I don't know. Gotta spend $30 on rooting powder this month. [00:18:50] Speaker C: Hey. [00:18:53] Speaker A: So. And then last year, reading this kind of the tumblers kind of started with this year, with last year, Rita got you the candy cane tumbler for the parade. [00:19:00] Speaker B: Correct. Though this. This tradition might have to stop because where am I going to put all these? [00:19:06] Speaker A: That was the only thought I had. And this only came about because I found that for Rita. And Shannon's never said the word nutcracker in four years. And all of a sudden over the phone, it's like, oh, my God, I love nutcrackers. I'm like, are you serious? So I'm telling Chad I have to go back to find this. Find your Tumblr. I'm on. I'm on. I'm on all fours. I'm on the bottom shelf. I'm digging through. I have 12 tumblers in the aisle. Clang, clang, clanging around to. To dig all the way back. I can't believe I can't find this. I can't believe I can't find this. And sure enough, I found it for my co host and my friend. [00:19:43] Speaker B: Well, thank you. I appreciate it. [00:19:45] Speaker A: So enough of you for a moment. [00:19:50] Speaker B: You brought it up. [00:19:51] Speaker A: I know. So one story almost got shared last night, but didn't because I wanted to save it for the podcast. It's a good story. [00:20:01] Speaker B: Okay. I hope so. [00:20:02] Speaker A: It is. [00:20:02] Speaker B: Can't have any bleeps on this podcast. [00:20:04] Speaker A: It's not a bleep thing. It might be when I. When I tell you how this goes. Parade Saturday. [00:20:12] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:20:13] Speaker A: Santa's float went dark. No lights for an hour. [00:20:21] Speaker B: Oh, man. [00:20:23] Speaker A: Yeah. You want to talk about what's the one thing that can't happen for the holiday parade is Santa's float to be dark? [00:20:32] Speaker B: Well, actually, that's not true, because my story from the Marching in the parade one year was we got. [00:20:38] Speaker A: Literally, you're gonna top this. You're gonna come over the top on this. Can I finish my story? Can I finish my. [00:20:44] Speaker B: Can I just. [00:20:44] Speaker A: My story's better. [00:20:46] Speaker B: I guarantee you it's not. [00:20:48] Speaker A: It is. [00:20:49] Speaker B: I absolutely guarantee you. This one is one of those ones where you're like, oh, man, if that. If they had continued to walk, this could have been really traumatizing for the children. [00:21:01] Speaker A: Correct. So Santa's float goes dark. Can't get enough power to the lights because we upgrade some of the lights. We got new floods for Santa and the reindeer. And it was bright. [00:21:13] Speaker B: Supposed to be someone inside the house working all this. [00:21:16] Speaker A: Yeah, but they need power. Didn't have enough power. I know you're gonna say, I'll take care of this. I would have taken care of this. I would have checked this. Lights were working the whole time. Lights worked during all the promos in there. They were working down on the site. It's not like they went down there. They were on and then they went off, which is worse. Right? Nisuna Fire Department, Station two. Huge props. Whatever you want. [00:21:47] Speaker B: Oh, District two. [00:21:48] Speaker A: District two. Whatever you want, guys, just let us know. [00:21:51] Speaker B: We're. [00:21:51] Speaker A: We'll call the big guy. So lo and behold, word gets out. Word travels. Like Santa's dark. We need power. We need power. Sure enough, three or four firemen come in, walking down the parade route in the parking lot with a generator. You know, electric generator, battery pack. Boom. Threw it inside. Santa lit it up. And our publisher, John d' Agostine and family. John was there for the whole thing. He was there when it went dark, so I can't imagine what that was like. Newsy gave me the report that he was not a happy publisher. And then he, too. His heart grew three times too big when that thing lit back up from Niskuna Station 2. So I know he's taking care of them with some food and stuff for all three shifts. He got. He got his boss on it. His wife Vicky was making arrangements to take care of them. [00:22:46] Speaker B: See, yours has. Yours has a great, happy Ending. [00:22:49] Speaker A: That's why I'm here. We're not going to talk about yours. We're not trauma at the parade. [00:22:54] Speaker B: You mean when the reindeer's head came off just as we were starting to. [00:22:57] Speaker A: March, but it got put back on. [00:22:59] Speaker B: We were. We all turned around like, oh my God. [00:23:03] Speaker A: Yeah. [00:23:03] Speaker B: It wasn't matched down and he's hanging off the side. [00:23:06] Speaker A: So a little gorilla glue and climbing up there and stuff like that. So it happened. [00:23:11] Speaker B: But again, this has a much nicer, happier ending. [00:23:14] Speaker A: Yeah, that's. Yes, Grinchy. [00:23:18] Speaker B: Anyway, shout out to Niskino fire district number two. [00:23:22] Speaker A: Exactly. [00:23:23] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:23:23] Speaker A: Who to come through. [00:23:24] Speaker B: Love those guys over there. [00:23:25] Speaker A: Oh, fantastic. And thank you. [00:23:28] Speaker B: They, when I used to cover Nisquido, they were always great if we needed stories and things like that. I've been. I went out one time and I covered when they were out collecting things in the, in the community. This was like sort of just post Covid too. So it's like a weird time. But yeah. Fantastic. Our fire departments are so great around here. There's. And I. You know, one thing that kept coming across when we were reading is like just how many of them are volunteer based. So I just want to give a little shout out that like our volunteer fire departments. Absolutely. [00:24:02] Speaker A: Capital region. And I cover parades in Johnstown and Gloversville and Mayfield. [00:24:06] Speaker B: Yeah. But they really, they really need some people. So, you know, if it's something you might be interested in. [00:24:11] Speaker A: Feel the call, feel the burn. [00:24:13] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:24:14] Speaker A: Literally check them out. [00:24:15] Speaker B: As someone who's. Who in a prior job spent a day as a firefighter, it is a. It's a tall ask, but it is a worthwhile one endeavor, you know. And I. They just, they look so happy and it's such a, such a family among those, those guys and someone who got to sit in when they celebrate Christmas. It's like, it's a different kind of feeling. Different. Yeah. [00:24:41] Speaker A: Five's my new word now. I was talking about that today with rita. [00:24:43] Speaker B: Started with 6. 7. [00:24:45] Speaker A: 67 I think is good. I'm hoping 6 sevens retired for next year even I was like. But we played it up. So yes, thank you to them. And the next question I have is, so what are you going to do after your 5k other than rest? Probably rise. Rest. [00:25:03] Speaker B: One of two bottles of wine that I'm bringing home. [00:25:06] Speaker A: What are you doing Friday? Saturday. [00:25:09] Speaker B: Friday. I haven't finalized plans yet. Saturday. I haven't finalized plans yet. But I might, I might, I might be back in town. But Saturday is small business. Saturday. Yes. [00:25:26] Speaker A: I've you know what I had, I've heard, I've had this in my head for I don't know how many weeks. [00:25:34] Speaker B: It's a very important day. Should be every Saturday should be Small Business Saturday in America. [00:25:40] Speaker A: How interesting is it? And this is funny. Haha. Is your former life my current life talking about Small Business Saturday in that role and the old role and in the new role. Honestly, how much is it? [00:25:56] Speaker B: I don't think it's changed that much. It's a, it's a lot of the same stuff that I would have done at the Gazette, just done in a different platform. So like instead of writing about things, I'm more or less videoing to get it across. We're with more of a push about like make sure you come out versus like just telling people what's happening. But yeah, it's. [00:26:17] Speaker A: I don't assume you for three weeks. You did. We didn't. We don't have that time. [00:26:22] Speaker B: Well, I never made it, I never made it to that part of being the business. [00:26:27] Speaker A: Well, I'm just saying like even in Saratoga county and things like that as a reporter and things like that, you know, it's there, you want to do it, you're going to get it done. But it's not as hyper focused and tremendous job that you're doing. [00:26:39] Speaker B: Oh, thank you. Appreciate it. [00:26:41] Speaker A: And you know, I couldn't wait. You know, as soon as my phone went off and I saw that media kit come out, I was like, I had like I had to look. [00:26:47] Speaker B: Yeah, meteor kits are a thing now over here. [00:26:50] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah. [00:26:52] Speaker B: No. [00:26:53] Speaker A: How much fun has it been? Because this is what you do. [00:26:55] Speaker B: Yeah, it's been, it's been super exciting, you know, this year I really. So actually my idea for Small Business Saturday began days before I even started started the job. I, the story is I was meal prepping at home and I had raw chicken in one hand and I'm voice texting Maureen to be like I got an idea for Small Business Saturday. Like and she literally just replied back, back like all for it. I'll hear about it later. Just gave me a go ahead on it. And so this, this idea to really highlight our businesses through video in a way that really pushes, I hope pushes people to come shop local was, was like boring randomly while I was making I think something, something with chicken. [00:27:45] Speaker A: Chicken chicken rice and something. Yeah, because that's what it is. [00:27:48] Speaker B: No, it really was. [00:27:49] Speaker A: That's how well I know my cocoa, my poppy has coat probably broccoli. I was gonna, I was gonna throw in Broccoli. I'm like, I don't know. I'm solid with chicken rice. [00:27:58] Speaker B: It's usually broccoli or bell peppers, but. Yeah. So, you know, for the last, like, really month, we've. I've just zoned in on highlighting just the reasons that our small businesses and downtown Schenectady in general are. Is so special and so unique. You know, we got J Street, which is just. Is so different than a lot of. Than many other, like, cities where we kind of have like one really established retail area. But that's not to say that throughout the rest of downtown Skinny, there aren't other shops to shop at. So, you know, my goal this year was to really get out there and hear from our. Not only our officials because, like, while they're great to hear from, you know, their status quo is always going to be that you should come shop local, like, you should spend your money here, generate the sales tax revenue and let it go back into the community. But I really wanted to hear from our business owners about why it's important to them and what shopping small means to them. And I wanted to hear from some of our local shoppers and, you know, shout out to. To Frankie, who I, who I met at Mohawk Valley Art Shop when I was in there to talk to Devery, the owner there. She happened to be in that day and was all for it. And, you know, her video will be coming out, I believe, tomorrow. But it was great to hear from her about just the impact that places like Mohawk Valley Art Shop have had, you know, in her life. And then Henry Jackson, whose video got put up yesterday and is in our media kit for our folks, our friends in the media to use. But I mean, he shouted out four different places, all great locations, and, and why each one of those is. Is so, you know, endearing to him. And also shout out to his wife, whose name I do not know because I don't think he mentioned it. But thank you so much for letting us steal him for the day. And it was just really important. And I think the biggest takeaway I got from this and I heard this a lot, so it makes it in. In today's video, you're. You'll hear from Ali over at Schenectady Trading Co. Talk about it, and it was mentioned quite frequently by other people. But our business community really has a sense of camaraderie and togetherness. They are not competing against each other. They are there to help each other, to better each other. And I think because of that, that is the reason why so many of our small businesses continue to succeed is they're always trying to find ways to help each other. If a business. And I mean, you'll see this and we hear this in the background all the time when we do events is like, oh, so and so ran out of change here. So they just ran over to, you know, XYZ and they, they helped them out or, you know, like, I need volunteers for this. Can anyone help me in the evening? And people will just show up. And I think that, you know, while that might happen in many other places, I don't know if we necessarily highlight enough of that in our communities that like, yeah, everybody wants their business to succeed. Succeed. Everybody wants to make all the money and we hope that they do. But it's also about like making sure your. Your neighbors succeed because and, and you know, we've really seen this over the. The past several years in Schenectady where like, the more businesses you have, the more businesses you bring in. So it's. It's really in everyone's favor to like help each other succeed. And that's really, you know, we really got to be able to hear about that and shine a light on that in our small Business Saturday printables that we are rolling out this week. So our goal is to have. We're actually still finishing up a couple of them. We have one more that we're taping today, two we're working on, but we'll be rolling out one in the next couple hours or so. And that will be this Connecti trading company, one that also got sent to our friends in the media, which is. Was one of my. One of my favorites to work on. I just love that store has so much to offer in there. And I love a small business whose model is helping other small entrepreneurs. And so if you haven't been able to check them out, they're a great place to go. But there's so many in our community so the. [00:32:33] Speaker A: So springboarding off of that because we do share this now as a DSIC Gazette joint venture. I was up north and a couple things there will be organization is there's a Saratoga Black Friday. So there's a group of businesses in downtown. [00:32:50] Speaker B: Oh, I heard about that. Very intriguing. [00:32:53] Speaker A: That have banded together and they're doing the 6am they're they're taking on the big boxes. So when you look at a Saratoga Black Friday with stores kicking off their sales and opening at 6am and there's so many great things about that especially for you because one of the conversations was you can park so easily at 6am in Saratoga. It's got Shannon written all over. It's like the one reason to get up is like, oh, I can pull right up and get in. [00:33:19] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:33:19] Speaker A: So parking is not at a premium at 6am and they're joining in like they're doing discounted sales and percentages from 6 to 9 and 9 to 12 and, and 12 to 3. So you are rewarded by starting your day early. One of the Barbara at Saratoga Olive Oil Co. Had something really great to say is that because of the holiday, so many people are visiting in Saratoga Springs and throughout the capital region on Thursday. They're not jetting out Friday, they're shopping Friday. So part of their stay is coming to downtown Saratoga and strolling and walking and eating and shopping. Because they can, because that's what it's there for. Then we roll into small business Saturday. Congressman Paul Tonka was at Saratoga Chocolate Company Yesterday. He was there talking about tariffs and the impact. We had this conversation with our friend Heather Lent at Bittersweet Candy. [00:34:12] Speaker B: Correct. Yeah. [00:34:13] Speaker A: She said she's seen chocolate go up 60%. Her packaging has gone up 30%. [00:34:17] Speaker B: Yep. [00:34:18] Speaker A: The Canadian tariffs because of that and then 60% on chocolate. So she talked about that. And you'll be happy to know that Congressman Tonko's favorite chocolate is dark chocolate. [00:34:30] Speaker B: Oh, that's very important to know. I knew I liked him for a reason. [00:34:32] Speaker A: So it was. Yeah, he. I was like, I was like waiting for the units. I'm like, oh, boy, Congressman Paul Tonko could blow it right here with Chen. And I'm like, please do not come in with the white chocolate. But yeah, he's a huge dark chocolate fan. [00:34:45] Speaker B: Yeah. And he shared also, I do Love Saratoga Candy Co. A story I did when I was before I became business editor. But we were doing business. [00:34:55] Speaker A: So much fun. [00:34:55] Speaker B: Great videos on their wall. I'm in many businesses around here from. [00:34:59] Speaker A: My prior job and that was so that was great talking about that. And you know, small business Saturday is so big. Started in 2010. American Express rolled it out in 2010. [00:35:10] Speaker B: Correct. As you can see from the American Express swag currently laying in my office. [00:35:15] Speaker A: Correct. And throughout my previous career or joint career early on with the newspaper, being familiar with and retail and things like that. And then we had, you know, some news we had, you know, in the districts, as we say when I refer to Shannon's scope of work now in downtown Skecti Improvement Corp. I have to figure out where the district starts and ends. But our, our, our dear Friend Tommy Nietzsche taking ownership of not in our district. Van Brinken's not. It's right there. Really? You don't do van breaking. All right, I'm gonna talk about it anyhow. [00:35:52] Speaker B: Okay. [00:35:53] Speaker A: So talking to Tommy went into. [00:35:55] Speaker B: And then we appreciate Tommy. Shout out to him. [00:35:57] Speaker A: Oh yeah, absolutely. [00:35:58] Speaker B: A donation for our building. [00:35:59] Speaker A: Absolutely. The part, the parlors and you know, you gotta, we gotta get the map out. We got a train stand on the map. [00:36:05] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:36:07] Speaker A: Tommy Nietzsche. [00:36:08] Speaker B: I would love it if he started a restaurant in our district. I think it would do really well. [00:36:13] Speaker A: Brandon was there and he just, you know, his father had retired from the business. The two of them started 12 years ago and he was really at wit's end and was at the point where he was almost done. He was almost out because of. Not only is it, you know, it's smoking, it's a, it's a. It's a 12 hour process between brining and prepping and then smoking. So everything he touches, a 12 hour process. And then to then add on all the administrative, the payroll and everything like that along with the front counter. And so Tommy saw it and he's like. He was. First they were giving him sage advice of how he can shift the business to better to keep it going and keep his sanity. And then within a couple days it became. Tommy said how about this? And so Tommy needs you to come on and take an ownership and how Brandon's contracted for several years as part of the ownership package to can you just be pitmaster? And that's what he wants to do. And so that's absolutely great this time of year that a business keeps on going because of friends helping out friends. Yeah, I mean it's a business decision. But Tommy didn't have to do it. He didn't have to take money time split himself amongst another property to do that. But he saw the value and it's made an immediate impact and there been some rave reviews. So that was in the Daily Gazette and we had some great things, you know, year donation, you know, price market 32 price chopper teamed up multi year agreement, financial agreement, partnership with regional food bank. $630,000 multi year sponsorships is phenomenal and at time of need. That's great. And so we're going to get this out of the way early because we'll give you time. What do you want for Christmas? We. I got a month now to work on this. So you're just going to send me like your protein powder and I'll put a bow on it. [00:37:55] Speaker B: We'll Talk after the podcast. But, yeah, I just, you know, I'm going to bring in and wrap it up here. Oh, thank you. Put a nice little bow on this. So I think the gist of our. We'll call this our holiday episode. Here is holiday kickoff. [00:38:12] Speaker A: This is our Black Friday. [00:38:13] Speaker B: Correct is the parade was phenomenal. And following the parade, to keep that holiday spirit going, you should find time to donate your time. You know, give to a charity and remember to shop small and local and also dine local. Forget about our restaurants. Also, they have gift cards and they make great gifts, especially when Restaurant week comes up in February. Just saying, get your. Get your gift cards for your friends now. [00:38:43] Speaker A: Goes further, right? [00:38:44] Speaker B: Goes further during Restaurant Week. [00:38:46] Speaker A: Go further during restaurant week. [00:38:48] Speaker B: Yeah. So that'll be coming up. Lots of fun things in the new year. [00:38:52] Speaker A: All right. She said it. All right. I think that's it. So enjoy your Thanksgiving. Have a good race. [00:39:00] Speaker B: Thank you. I'm not trying to win this thing. I'm just trying to finish it. [00:39:05] Speaker A: So the final gift for your birthday. [00:39:09] Speaker B: Oh, God, no. [00:39:11] Speaker A: Yes. [00:39:14] Speaker B: There can be no more. [00:39:15] Speaker A: Yes, there is. [00:39:16] Speaker B: Oh, okay. [00:39:18] Speaker A: You're the only. Shannon is the only person. Like, oh, another gift. Really? [00:39:24] Speaker B: Okay. [00:39:25] Speaker A: You ready? [00:39:26] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:39:27] Speaker A: Stan and Chen show 5K. We're gonna do it. You and I are gonna run a 5k. [00:39:34] Speaker B: You're gonna run a 5k. [00:39:36] Speaker A: See, this is where. This is where you get harsh sometimes. [00:39:40] Speaker B: I'm just a little surprised. [00:39:42] Speaker A: Hold back your laughter. But I'm committed. [00:39:45] Speaker B: Okay. [00:39:46] Speaker A: To 85k. I'm not doing it Thursday. [00:39:49] Speaker B: There's a. There's a coaching app. You can. We'll get you the neck running app. I'll get you on the. Get you on a plan. [00:39:54] Speaker A: We'll get you on the. Then we'll share the plan and then be ready. [00:39:57] Speaker B: Well, you'll get on one plan, and I will be on a different plane. [00:40:01] Speaker A: Okay. Because you're on a different plane. [00:40:04] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:40:05] Speaker A: Okay. You know, all right, we may have to go down to Rivers and talk to Al and put this on the board. Who has a better time? [00:40:13] Speaker B: Well, okay, okay. [00:40:16] Speaker A: We'll see. [00:40:17] Speaker B: We'll see. [00:40:18] Speaker A: But obviously, first goal is to finish the damn thing. [00:40:20] Speaker B: Yeah, I just want to finish the one on Thursday. [00:40:22] Speaker A: Yeah. And then we'll go from there. [00:40:23] Speaker B: I just want to finish. [00:40:24] Speaker A: But that's my gift to you because I wanted to run a 5k before a big number. And the clock's ticking now I have 360 days. [00:40:34] Speaker B: Better get on it. [00:40:35] Speaker A: I better get on. I gotta start training. So. Mac, Mike, McAdam's already giving me some tips. I was. I run local yesterday, one of the Saratoga Black Friday, and we were talking of sneakers and I found out about. [00:40:44] Speaker B: Gotta go to fleet feet. Yeah. I go to flea feet because they'll measure you. They make you stand on the thing and they measure you. I got a gift card there. We can go together. I've had this gift card for like five years. [00:40:57] Speaker A: She's so easy to shop for. Well, just get the protein powder. [00:41:00] Speaker B: Ladies and gentlemen. I stopped running for like the longest time. And now that I'm somewhat back into it, it's like, you know, but they'll tell you and they'll give you shoes and then they'll tell you, like, all these shoes will last X number of miles or X number. [00:41:12] Speaker A: I think they're gonna last me a lifetime. I think my first pair of running shoes will be my last pair of running shoes. [00:41:16] Speaker B: Oh, well, they. They measure your foot for like, everything. And then you can bring them back. If you keep with it. You can bring it back and they'll look at the bottom of the soles and then. Yeah. See how they wear. And then give you even better information. So. Yeah, we'll do that. So. Yep. Anyway, happy birthday. Thanks. Happy birthday, pal. [00:41:34] Speaker A: Hey, man. Happy Thanksgiving to everybody. Have a very safe and joyous Thanksgiving. They're your relatives. You can't. You can't pick them most of the time. So just deal. [00:41:48] Speaker B: Yeah. Can we not have any murderous Thanksgivings? Thanks. [00:41:52] Speaker A: Okay. And that ray of sunshine is brought to you by. [00:41:57] Speaker B: Anyway, very happy Thanksgiving, everybody. Goodbye. [00:42:00] Speaker A: All right. For Stan and Shannon. I'm Stan. I'm Jen Sri Shen. Love your life. Love your relatives. They're the only ones you got. So Shannon is 28 and says that she wants to now identify as 30. What do you think you're 29? [00:42:16] Speaker C: Hang on to it. [00:42:18] Speaker B: Hang on to the 20s. 29. [00:42:22] Speaker C: I don't know. I think that the 30s are. [00:42:24] Speaker B: Are exciting. [00:42:24] Speaker C: So. I get where you're coming from, Shannon. I. But I do think that it's fun to be like, I'm still in my clients. But you have the wisdom, right. Of a 30 year old, I think. Yeah. No, I'm 31. And so I do have some perspective on where you are. And I do think I identify with that feeling of being 28 because it was like a weird moment. Like you're not in your mid-20s anymore. You're incredibly like in your upper 20s, and you're like, where do I fit? You know, Then you're just kind of looking forward to just being in your 30s and, you know, being there, living it. But I wouldn't rush it too much because I think 20s are a really great time to figure out who you are, what you're going to do, kind of get your. Get your fee, you know, get your footing. And so I wouldn't rush by that because I think that as much as I would like this mock, you know, society can judge you less if you're out there having a great time in your 20s. So, you know, relish in that a little bit. So get to your 30s, and your 30s will be a great time. But don't chat.