Kevin Marshall's America
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There was quite a bit of broo-ha-ha over the Tulip Fest announcements yesterday, none of which was due to headliner the Cold War Kids. Rather, it’s the announcement that open container laws will be enforced during the Festival and that drinking will be restricted to a tent near the main stage.
In previous years, attendees were allowed to bring coolers and walk the streets with open containers of alcohol. While coolers will still be allowed, they’ll be subject to search.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the reaction I’ve seen online has ranged from terse to angry. Some are upset and disappointed, while others have vowed to never again set foot in Albany during the festival. Many more decried the move as punishing everyone for the actions of a few, even going so far as to blame the new policy on last month’s Kegs and Eggs riots in the Pine Hills neighborhood. An article by Jordan Carleo-Evangelist of the Times Union even cites the proximity of the two, though it then quotes Jennings as saying the city had been looking at making the move towards enforcement and restriction for the last couple years.
It’s not just idle talk. I heard rumblings about the restrictions coming down ever since similar rules were instituted for the free “Alive at 5″ summer concert series. If the Kegs and Eggs Riots did anything at all, it was only to confirm to Albany officials that what had been previously discussed as a strong possibility was now a no-brainer. It’s only natural when a festival gets large enough – particularly one that’s free and open to the public – for these sort of restrictions to be implemented. Attendance and rowdiness has exploded in the last five to ten years, creating concern for the surrounding neighborhoods left with the mess and victimized by some of the more violent and disruptive behavior exhibited at the Festival, not allof which is reported. For every Albany cop hit by a beer bottle, there are many more that barring injury simply rush to get away from the scene.
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I met a female friend of mine one year near Lark Street. When she approached me, she was visibly shaken and relayed a story of having been cornered by a group of inebriated men who refused to allow her to pass. After they insisted on trying to talk to and touch her, she had to physically shove one of them in order to get away. Physically, she was unharmed; emotionally, the scars were visible. She’d been traumatized by the incident, which hadn’t happened in previous years, and spoke then and well after of how it had broken the level of trust she had in the city, particularly during events such as the Tulip Festival.
Was her experience an anomaly? Perhaps, given those specific circumstances. However, it’s fairly representative of an overall shift in tone over the last decade from a family friendly festival to a rowdy adult party. This is due in part to the emphasis put on the free concert portion of the event and a growing population at area Festivals of twenty-somethings with little to do and even less responsibilities.
There are two truths that need to be acknowledged if we’re going to discuss this like adults: this festival always and will continue to strive to be a family-friendly event, and this isn’t a big issue for you unless you had planned on being disruptively drunk during the proceedings. Inconveniences may be encountered if you want to drink, since tents tend to be crowded, hot, and uncomfortable, particularly with impatient drunks herded in like so much cattle. There are simple solutions, though: go to a bar (it’s right on Lark Street after all), or pre-game at a nearby apartment or your own home. It is unfortunate that restrictions are needed to protect the many responsible citizens from a few reckless ne’er do wells. However, if it allows people to enjoy the event with their children and ensure their safety without having to avoid a large portion of the city, then I’m all for it. Some have been able to do so in recent years, but for every family that has there are many more that have avoided the festival entirely because of the general atmosphere and reputation it had garnered. Despite what some have tried to turn Tulip Fest into, that’s not its stated aim and objective.
There are so many opportunities in this area for people to drink in excess (Troy in particular needs another bar like it needs a bullet in the head) that I think we, as adults, can stand having to curb our drinking for one weekend in May…on Mother’s Day no less. It’s not all that out of the ordinary that changes occur when a festival gets too big for its own good and especially for the city’s resources, and it’s not unreasonable for the city to enforce pre-existing laws.
Reaction to the decision may say more about not only the climate of the region after last month’s situation in the Pine Hills neighborhood, but also those who are reacting so loudly and negatively to something that is, in the context of the Festival and its stated aims and objectives, a no-brainer.
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28 Responses to 2011 Tulip Fest booze restrictions draw ire of some, but is it justified?
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I think it’s great. I never understood why it was an open container event. It’s a family event, people come from all over the world (Really!) to look at our tulips and we should lead with our best foot forward. The trouble with the drinking never was apparent in the festival itself, but in the surrounding neighborhoods. The Center Square residents deserve not to have their stoops used as a bathroom. I think this is a smart move on the part of the city.
I can see both sides. On one hand, if there’s an open contanier law, enforce it. If you don’t like it, stay home. On the other hand, “it’s always been like this” and many people can go to an event like this and NOT be a drunken a-hole. But like most things in life, it only takes few mrons to ruin it for everyone. Me? I go for the sausage and pepper sandwiches..if they out law them, I have an issue.
Tony - What’s interesting is that people say “it’s always been like this.” Maybe it’s just that I noticed it more in my adult years, but isn’t the atmosphere of revelry a relatively recent phenomena? I seem to remember growing up that it was more of just a Festival about…well, Tulips and family stuff. Not a big Spring concert jam, urrbuddy on the street gettin’ tipsy sort of thing.
I don’t typically participate in these type of gatherings, but I might go to this just for the possibility of seeing Schewe chain himself to a tulip in protest.
Kevin, may I suggest that if you have a free weekend next month you go check out the Lilac Fest in Rochester? First of all, lilacs are cooler than tulips. Secondly, they have live performances in addition to a large open area where drinking is allowed, including in front of the stage. I would like to think that the organizers of the Tulip Fest could do something similar here.
I agree with everything here, Kevin, wholeheartedly. In past years, I’ve used these city-sanctioned drunkfests as an opportunity to get the hell out of dodge. A million rowdy suburbanites coming to litter the neighborhood with trash and bodily fluids? Thanks, I’ll pass. But I’m actually kind of looking forward to the festivities this year!
I truly think that responsible people will not be affected by these restrictions. If you wish to carry in some sort of alcohol, do it discreetly, behave yourself, and don’t give the police any reason to mess with you. They won’t.
Leigh - I’m always careful not to suggest people do like you said, only because then if they do get randomly cited they cry foul. But I agree with that sentiment.
First of all, you’re simply not seeing this for what it really is: Another way for Albany to make money; a blatant cash grab.
Jennings is absolutely right when he says ‘this has nothing to do with kegs and eggs.’ It doesn’t. It also has nothing to do with making this a more ‘family-oriented’ event. The fact that these two theories are the most prevalent ones I’m reading this morning makes me wonder what’s in the water around Albany. If their were an ounce of truth to either of these thoughts, there would be no beer tent! There’s be no beer at all.
The bottom line is, Albany will make lots and lots of money from beer concessions and writing open-container tickets. Just watch. Yet, there will be the same number of overly drunk people as always. Maybe even more, because people will be ‘pre-gaming,’ which is a term I always love. For the uninitiated, so-called pre-gaming is where one hammers back as many beers, shots, drinks et cetera before stumbliing through the crowd. Another term for this: Front-loading. Get as drunk as possible, because you’re not going to want to stay crammed in the beer garden paying for overpriced swill.
Then there’s the other way drunks will do it, which is drink as many beers as possible in the beer garden, then wander out into the crowd. This was a common occurrence at SPAC for several years, seeing people purchase and consume as many beers as they could jammed in a dangerously crowded beer garden during set breaks. That was until smarter minds prevailed.
Just watch. Nothing will change. Female friends will still get cornered by drunk rowdies. Fights will still break out. Neighbors will still be ticked. Only the city will have a little extra cash to show for it. TulipFest, Albany’s latest cash cow. And yet another reason for me to never spend a dime in that fetid hell-hole.
Yeah, I mean, there’s obviously a risk when you break the rules. If you waltz in with 30 ‘Stones and plop down under a tree, even if you’re keeping to yourself, you might get approached by police. The reality is that there are a finite number of officials and they can’t be everywhere at once. They’re going to be focused on the people causing trouble, for the most part.
I just think most of the talk about restrictions is their attempt at a preemptive strike. “We warned you!” Yes, you did.
Kevin you really don’t see this as nothing more then another cash grab by the Tan Man? Charge the vendor a mint and have the coppers write lots of tickets = $$$$$$$……”Mo Money Mo Money Mo Money”
Additionally change the music on the main stage to something more adult like and the drunk kids will stay away for the weekend problem solved without padding the Tan Mans pockets.
OMG I bust out laughing @ derryx” “I don’t typically participate in these type of gatherings, but I might go to this just for the possibility of seeing Schewe chain himself to a tulip in protest.”
Thanks for a great laugh!!
In all honest and with no sarcasm whatsoever…without a high level of alcohol consumption, I see no redeeming value in Tulip fest.
Why can’t anyone just follow the rules? If they say no open containers, then either hang out in the beer garden or don’t go. If you can’t avoid drinking during tulip fest you probably have a problem with alcohol. Not every event needs copious amount of beer to be enjoyable. And for those of us who like to enjoy events without rowdy and drunken fools, it’s great. Not everything is about money folks. Think what you like.
Clearly the entire city of Albany has an alcohol problem. By that I mean, even those of us who don’t drink or who drink in moderation still have to deal with stumbling, falling-down drunks who honestly believe they are not the problem.
If Tulip Fest is just an excuse to sit in the sun and start drinking at noon, there is a serious problem. Also, when adults start screaming about how it’s “not fair” and that the City of Albany is being punished for Keg n’ Eggs, when this has been a problem for years, I can’t help but see it as petty, childish whining.
The entire Capital District was punished by the national news attention the Kegs n’ Eggs riots received. The last thing we need at this point is for something to happen at what is, arguably, the most family-friendly event in Albany.
No one is saying you can’t drink, but after years of people having problems and families avoiding the event, something had to be done. I don’t see a single person proposing an alternative that would lessen the obnoxiously drunken behavior. No, it’s all just adults bitching about how they’re being punished for the actions of college students.
Grow up.
Perhaps NY should strengthen their current public intoxication laws; of which there are none for alcohol (other substances, yes). However, it is illegal to have an open container of alcohol on a public sidewalk, road or park. Basically they are just enforcing existing laws previously “overlooked”.
susan - Interesting point. You’re right in that New York doesn’t have public intoxication laws, which a lot of people don’t know. In fairness, though, the main reason people aren’t aware of it is that for practical purposes, public intoxication laws are interchangeable with charges of disturbing the peace and/or disorderly conduct. Really, public intoxication is a supplemental charge that is used to tack on additional penalties/fines. It’s not really necessary in New York State since they’re already fairly steep in comparison to other states (especially when it comes to stuff like drunk driving).
I support the change wholeheartedly. I loved TulipFest as a kid. Now as an adult there’s not a chance in hell I’d bring my own kids. Too many drunken jerks and I don’t think your friends experience was a singular one. I had a very similar experience myself about 6 years ago. The only difference was that I was actually holding my one year old son in my arms when I was accosted by a large group of very obviously drunk men. I was extremely loud and shoved my way through them. I’ve always wondered what the outcome would have been if I had been a more passive person, or too scared to be aggressive because I had my small child with me.
Are they also going to close down the dozen bars that surround the park? How about checking people who stand juuuuuuust outside the park border? This is an ill-conceived measure and I’m guessing that cops will give up trying to check everything after an hour. It will probably wind up being an excuse to ticket troublemakers, but anyone with alcohol who doesn’t act like a total gimp will be fine.
They had to do the same thing in Troy for Uncle Sam Day… limit booze to one area. It’s gotten to the point wher eif you don’t, it’s an excuse for the drunks to ruin the day for just about everyone else.
I think that’s the hook for some of these events, public intoxication is allowed for the day. I remember one of the first Tulip Fests I took my kids to years ago… parts of it were very nice and parts were pretty nasty/scarry. Pit bulls with their gang member looking owners and drunks out numbered the regular people in some areas.
Haven’t been back since…
I don’t see any problem with drinking in a restricted area. People have to do that when they go to bars. It sounds like a happy medium.
I live in Center Square so for me, my wife and friends this isn’t such a big deal because we can just drink at home. I’m not going to boycott Tulip Fest but I’ll definitely spend less time (and less money on food, crafts, etc.) there. The concerts are just more enjoyable with a beer in hand. And the beer tent isn’t for me – I like to drink good, micro brews, not the crap beer they’ll be serving. $6 for a Coors Light? I’ll pass.
I’ve lived in Albany for a few years now and it always seems like it’s the underage kids throwing up, passing out and getting into fights. I know Tulip Fest is a huge event and it’s probably a logistical nightmare (not to mention the man power issues), but isn’t there some way to restrict the alcohol intake of the younger kids and leave the rest of us alone? Couldn’t they just set up “alcohol” check points at a few entrances to the park? If you to bring in beer, you’re ID’d and given a wrist band. Anyone caught drinking without the band gets a ticket. Seems simple enough but maybe I’m wrong.
Drunks in Albany. Just like William Kennedy’s Depression Era novels.
There’s nothing even remotely cool or romantic about it. It’s pathetic.
If Jennings had half a brain, he’d blanket the area with police pinching every single underage drinker and rowdy perp of disorderly conduct. I can think of about 100 better things to do on a weekend in May than hang with a crowd of derelicts passing tables with overpriced schlock for sale and gorging myself on wildly overpriced fast food carbo bombs and rotgut bathtub swill, but hey, perhaps I’m just an elitist. Civilize yourselves, Albany or the dollars will flee your sad little City faster than you can say “corruption”.
After reading this post and some of the comments, I wouldn’t go near Tulip Fest without either a major weapon or a couple of big men. I’ve gone to metal shows alone and had no trouble at all, too.
Alcohol. It brings out the a-hole in everyone. I completely concur with comment #14. Albany is an Alcoholic City.
I think there will be more fights this year. As said earlier people with “pre-game” which is consuming large amounts of alcohol in short amount of time. Just as many people are going to go but won’t be relaxed and watching the band with a beer in hand. It’s a lot easier to throw a punch when you don’t have anything in your hand.
As President of the Washington Square Neighborhood Association in Albany, I speak for many who dread the big Washington Park events that result in damaged trees, piles of garbage, people relieving themselves in our alleys and flowerpots and various other drunken behavior. It’s like clockwork here…Tulipfest and Lark Festival…times to stay home and guard the house. Cleanup takes days and is not provided by the City. We support any limitations on alcohol use in public, open containers, out-of-control behavior by patrons leaving bars, etc. It is a challenge to make Albany an attractive enough place for people to want to stay in or move to.
I don’t drink. I don’t have a problem with people who do. I do have a problem with people who feel the need to get wasted whenever they go out.
TulipFest is supposed to be a celebration of Spring, not a frat party. Going to TulipFest to get drunk is idiotic. Those who do it are a disgrace to their family, town, state and country.
In regards to those who live around the park, I sympathize but it’s a double edged sword. Yes – you should be able to live there without the neighborhood getting trashed. People should be civilized enough to put trash in its place and not destroy the area.
On the other hand – you chose to live there. Bitching about it is silly. You’re a stone’s throw from one of the worst areas in Albany to boot.
Bob, well said, exactly. Some of the crap goes wit hliving in a city, especially in that area of this city… doen’t mean any of the conduct is right.
Maybe it’s my advanced age, but Tulip Fest was around a lot longer than the excess consumption of beer/booze that has happened in the last few decades. The 70’s were known for excess everything, but the Tulip Fest, and the Kinderkermis (sp?),just for the kiddies, made it much more family friendly than it has been, recently. This festival has been around for a long time. Before Center Square rose up and became a great address. Way back, everything along Lark St was a poverty address. The bars were dives (except for the Lark Tavern). I’m glad they’re reigning it in. Hey, I did my share of partying in the 70’s, but Tulip Fest was always for families. I was sad to have seen it change to a drunken bash, like most festivals, now, in the city. I was at the first several Lark Fests, too, and realized it had changed when a drunk person threw another drunk person through a plate glass window around 7 years after the first one. We’ve got to get a handle on Lark Fest, now, if only for our city’s reputation.
Ok, I know I sound old, but old brings wisdom, sometimes! Tulip Fest needs to be taken back by people who don’t look forward to getting as polluted as one can get in the shortest amount of time. Let’s get the kids back, bring back the Kinderkermis and let’s have a great time.