Enjoying Troy 518 Life

The August 2016 edition of 518Life Magazine (published by The Albany Times Union) includes a wonderful essay about civic pride in Troy by Albany writer Akum Norder with a photo of our classic “enjoy troy.” oval stickers.

“Downtown Troy’s revitalization is fueled by a sense of ownership, and, yes, civic pride. The fact that people love Troy is a big part of what makes Troy so lovable. Buzz works. So go on, Trojans. Wear your shirts. They look good on you,” she writes.

The 518Life Magazine is distributed free around the Capital Region in cafes, pubs, grocery stores, etc. Or you can access it digitally with a TU Plus subscription.

To find out the locations where you can pick up a copy, visit:
http://www.timesunion.com/518life

And here is the full article online:
http://www.timesunion.com/518life/article/Enjoying-Troy-8378681.php

Enjoyski Troyski on Dyngus Day

In March 2016, The Enjoy Troy Co. teamed up with The Hill at Muza, a new Polish beer garden in Troy’s Mt. Ida neighborhood, to create a new expanded line variation of the classic “enjoy troy.” products for Dyngus Day… yes, you read that right. Dyngus Day is an annual all-day-long Polish-American holiday all day long with live Polish music, unlimited kielbasa and good beer.

“Dyngus Day is sort of a Polish version of Saint Patrick’s Day,” said Adam Siemiginowski of The Hill at Muza. “It’s a big party with friends and family the Monday after Easter, when Lent is finally over and you can just let loose. Especially if you gave something up!”

A first generation Polish-American, Siemiginowski opened The Hill at Muza beer garden, adjacent to its partner restaurant Muza, with business partner Timothy Tyrrell in Spring 2015 . Siemiginowski’s parents Jan and Alicja Siemiginowski immigrated together from their native Poland to the United States nearly 40 years ago. For the past 9 years, the husband and wife team have owned and operated Muza, a Polish restaurant, with their daughter Agata.

In addition to food, music, polka dancing and drink, Dyngus Day festivities include a few quirky romantic traditions, such as sprinkling water on a love interest or lightly tapping your crush with a pussy willow branch.

(Note: This combination of funny sounding words and customs infamously sent media personality Anderson Cooper into an uncontrollable giggle fit on live television in 2012.)

TROY TAKES ON BUFFALO DYNGUS

In Poland and the Ukraine, the holiday is known as Śmigus-Dyngus. Elsewhere, the name is Dyngus Day.

Though Buffalo, N.Y. is widely recognized as hosting the largest Dyngus Day celebration, Siemiginowski thinks the small city of Troy, N.Y. has enough spirit to hold its own in pound-for-pound partying.

“Buffalo might be the Dyngus Day Capital of the Word, but I have two words to say to that: ‘Enjoyski Troyski,'” Siemiginowski said. (“Enjoy Troy” is a popular expression of civic pride in Troy, N.Y.)

“ENJOYSKI TROYSKI.” (RESPONSIBLY)

To commemorate Dyngus Day 2016, The Hill at Muza partnered with The Enjoy Troy Co. to create special branded Dyngus Day 2016 T-shirts featuring a customized “enjoyski troyski.” logo based on that company’s famous proprietary “enjoy troy.” oval symbol. The Enjoy Troy Co. also offers a non-branded infilled variation of the “enjoyski troyski” shirts at Artcentric.

“There is a saying that ‘Everyone is Polish on Dyngus Day,'” Siemiginowski said.

Note: The Hill at Muza encourages its patrons to enjoy Dyngus Day responsibly. The restaurant is working with several area taxi companies to offer reliable transportation home to any reveler in need of a safe, sober ride home.

Be sure to check out Dyngus Day each year at The Hill at Muza.

ABOUT THE HILL AT MUZA

The Hill at Muza is a modern European bar, beer garden and event venue nestled behind its popular parent restaurant, Muza, in Troy’s Mount Ida neighborhood, just up “The Hill” from downtown.

Patrons enter The Hill at Muza through a pair of black gates located at 379 Congress St.  A narrow walkway between two buildings leads to a surprisingly charming open-air beer garden with intimate nooks of stonework and woodwork, as well as fanciful lighting by Troy-based Lightexture. The outdoor portion is heated by a roaring wood burning fire pit and a collection of commercial grade flame-torch patio heaters, creating a wonderful glow. Parking is available all along Congress Street, on both sides.

The beer list features brews from Central and Eastern Europe. The house draft is Zywiec, a pale lager that comes in full or half liter pours.

Street parking is available on both Congress and 15th Streets. There is also a bike rack on the 15th Street side.

**** PRONUNCIATION KEY ****

The following are pronunciation tips for the words and names in this post.

Muza = moo-zuh
Dyngus = ding-gus
Żywiec = ziv-yets
Siemiginowski = shim-ig-in-ow-ski

Enjoy Troy Business Route

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Click image to enlarge

On Jan. 6, 2015 Duncan Crary, writer-in-residence of The Enjoy Troy Co., presented a Citizen’s Proposal for an Enjoy Troy Business Route during an Enjoy Troy Day ceremony in Peck’s Arcade at 217 Broadway, in downtown Troy.

Definition: A business route is a short special route connected to a parent numbered highway at its beginning, then routed through the central business district of a nearby city or town, and finally reconnecting with the same parent numbered highway again at its end.

Duncan Crary points to a map of the proposed “Enjoy Troy Business Route” at Peck’s Arcade on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015 in Troy, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

The goal of the proposed Enjoy Troy Business Route is to offer an alternative for those traveling to Vermont and New England. The tentative route would take travelers from I-787 across the Green Island Bridge into downtown and then east on Route 2 through Brunswick to Route 278 to reconnect with Route 7.

While most Business Routes simply display the letter “B” on the route shield, The Enjoy Troy Co. has granted permission to use its proprietary symbol on any signs marking the route.

“‘enjoy troy.’ is the perfect message for a sign,” Crary said. “You can’t argue with it. ‘enjoy troy.’ Well, all right.”

BENEFITS TRAVELERS AND TROY, ALIKE

While the proposed Business Route is longer in distance, the travel time can often be quicker depending on traffic conditions on the Hoosick Street section of Rt. 7, Crary noted. It also features a more abrupt transition from urban to rural for those who are eager to hit the scenic countryside immediately outside Troy. But it also affords travelers a charming and safe small city environment to take a rest stop, stretch their legs, and have lunch at one of many popular restaurants — or pick up a last minute gift en route at one of many boutiques, galleries and shops.

Downtown Troy, south of Rt. 7, where Business Route begins. (Photo: First Columbia)

“Loads of people travel through Troy on their way to Vermont and The Berkshires and only ever see Hoosick Street,” Crary said. “What they see there is no different than what you see on the outskirts of most cities. If we invite them to pass through our beautiful downtown, instead, I know they would feel more positively about our community. They would enjoy it.”

Patrick & Denise McAvey

PROOF OF CONCEPT
As “proof of concept” Crary cites Patrick and Denise McAvey, a New Jersey couple who purchased a house in Troy after taking an unplanned detour off of Hoosick Street and falling love with the place.

The following was written Patrick McAvey for The Enjoy Troy Co.:

McAvey’s Story

“One early Saturday morning about 10 years ago, Denise and I headed out on a trip from New Jersey to Vermont. It was a familiar ride that we had been taking for years. From 87 North and 787 we would take exit 9 E across the bridge to 7 E and then creep along Hoosick Street until the green country opened up again.

“However, this morning was different. When we crossed onto 7 E, cars were backed up by a traffic incident, and so we decided to exit onto 6th Avenue in Troy and perhaps find a way back going east. After all the years driving by it, we would finally see what the city was about.

“We pulled into the parking lot of The Rensselaer Hotel on 6th Avenue (now a refurbished living space for RPI students) and walked up Broadway to Third Street where we turned right and then left on River Street. What struck us then was the fact that we were not just looking at isolated and individual historic houses, but rows and rows of them — streets full of them. And now River Street opened into the City’s Square — a grand room whose walls were lovely examples of 19th Century architecture. In the center stood a tall, elegant monument dedicated to the sacrifices made in history by local soldiers. In one corner, a white, angular, modern structure of crumbling concrete was, because of its setting, an iconic example of poor planning and bad taste.

The McAveys’ house in Troy

“But there was so much to be awed by as we continued down River Street past the Rice Building into ‘the antique section’ with its strong and stately buildings forming a curve protecting the neighborhood from the winds off the Hudson. Then it was back to Monument Square where Devane Realty in the Cannon building had posted a list of jewels for sale.

“Sitting on a bench in Monument Square, Denise and I questioned why we had not gotten off the regular path to visit earlier. The answer we think lies with us and the City of Troy. While we were always focused on reaching our destination, the City never extended an invitation to travelers passing through. Had we ever seen a sign of one, we would have gladly accepted and gone to enjoy those hidden parts.”

LET’S DO THIS!

The Enjoy Troy Business Route was presented to the community as a citizen’s proposal. If it is to become a reality, it must have the backing of public officials, business owners and residents.

To discuss this proposal and ways you can help, contact Duncan Crary at 518-274-2723 or DCC@DuncanCrary.com

Enjoy Troy Small Business Saturday

Enjoy Troy tote bags for Small Business Saturday. Photos by Jesse Gardner.

Nestled in between “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday” is “Small Business Saturday,” a day set aside to support your local merchants. For the second year in a row, The Enjoy Troy Co. has partnered with the Downtown Troy Business Improvement District (BID) to screen print hundreds of re-usable “enjoy troy.” shopping totes for Small Business Saturday. This year’s community screen printing event took place in the new home of the Tech Valley Center of Gravity. About 300 “enjoy troy.” totes are available for free today at independent shops throughout downtown Troy. Each “enjoy troy.” shopping bag comes with a list of all sorts of discounts you can find at participating downtown stores. Drop by and shop local! But first, check out these amazing photos by Jesse Gardner of The Thoughtful Gardner, a family-run cottage industry. As you can see, everyone enjoyed themselves at the screen printing party.

Ahoy Troy

Summertime is the season when our riverfront comes alive in Troy, through our weekly Rockin’ on the River concert series, through special events like River Fest and the Troy Pig Out. But most importantly, it’s when the summer mariners arrive by waterway.

Big cruise ships, million dollar yachts, the Vermont Sail Freight barge, Solar Sal, historic replicas and pleasure craft of all sizes ply these seas. Sailors from near and afar come to enjoy Troy by way of our Marine Main Street: the Hudson River. Which is why The Enjoy Troy Co. is helping the Troy Downtown Marina roll out the welcome mat for passing travelers with a new “ahoy troy.” campaign.

We have donated two large “ahoy troy. / enjoy troy.” vinyl banners that promote the Troy Downtown Marina, The Downtown Troy Business Improvement District and The Enjoy Troy Co. to passing mariners on the water, and to landlubbers on our shores.

We have also launched a special custom line of “ahoy troy.” Shop the T-shirt and stickers below!

Ahoy Troy T-Shirt

$15.00

sold out

Ahoy Troy Oval Sticker (Size Small—5 pack)

$5.00

Enjoy Troy Day Articles

Linda & Tom Present a Special “enjoy troy.” symbol (Photo by Mike Brown).

On Jan. 6, 2015 Troy Mayor Lou Rosamilia proclaimed that date shall henceforth be known as Enjoy Troy Day during a ceremony hosted by The Enjoy Troy Co. At the event, “enjoy troy.” creator Linda Passaretti and her mirth-making business partner Tom Reynolds unveiled a special “enjoy troy. 1816 – 2016” symbol to commemorate the upcoming 200th anniversary of the city’s formation. Duncan Crary, the official writer-in-residence at The Enjoy Troy Co., also proposed an “Enjoy Troy Business Route” to feature special “enjoy troy.” signs.

The event was well attended by community members and was reported on by The Times Union, Troy Record and WGY 810 FM Radio. Below are two of those articles as they appeared in print the following day. (Click on the images of the print version to read the articles as they appeared online).

Enjoy Troy Bicentennial

On “Enjoy Troy Day” Jan. 6, 2015 Linda Pasarretti and Tom Reynolds unveiled a special “enjoy troy. 1816 – 2016” symbol to commemorate the approaching 200th anniversary of the establishment of the City of Troy, New York.

The symbol, which features the official city seal inside a special “enjoy troy.” symbol, is available for those organizing cultural and historical events in the year leading up to and following this important date. The aim of this gift to the people of Troy is to provide a unifying banner under which bicentennial events can be branded.

Enjoy Troy Day

On the evening of Jan. 5, 1789, a group of “Freeholders” on the eastern banks of the Hudson River met in a tavern to officially rename the place “TROY.” The next day they advertised their decision in the Lansingburgh and Albany newspapers.

The original proclamation reads:

To the Public,

THIS evening the Freeholders of the place lately known by Vander Heyden’s or Ashely’s-Ferry, situate on the east bank of Hudson’s river, about seven miles above Albany, met for the purpose of establishing a name for the said place; when, by a majority of voices, IT WAS CONFIRMED, that in future, it should be called and known by the name of TROY.

Two hundred and twenty-six years later, Troy Mayor Lou Rosamilia proclaimed Jan. 6 to be henceforth known as “Enjoy Troy Day” in recognition of all who keep up the beauty, and warmth and conviviality in the place.

CITY OF TROY, NEW YORK

PROCLAMATION

BY THE MAYOR

WHEREAS, the name Troy, New York was officially adopted by a group of citizens who met at a tavern, near the northeast corner of River and Ferry streets, on the evening of January 5th, 1789; and

WHEREAS, those citizens advertised their collective decision, which was printed in the Lansingburgh and Albany papers, and read as follows: “To the Public. This evening the Freeholders of the place lately known by Vander Heyden's or Ashley's-Ferry, situate on the east bank of Hudson's river, about seven miles above Albany, met for the purpose of establishing a name for the said place; when, by a majority of voices, it was confirmed, that in future, it should be called and known by the name of TROY;” and

WHEREAS, Troy, New York became a village in 1796 and incorporated as a city in 1816; and

WHEREAS, the name “Troy,” borrowed from the famed city of ancient Greek chronicles, was an expression of optimism for what the community would become; and

WHEREAS, the people of Troy today have reinvigorated a similar optimism for our city’s destiny; and

WHEREAS, the Enjoy Troy Co., through its beloved oval “enjoy troy.” symbol, works tirelessly to spread a simple mandate for civic pride that all can embrace in their own unique way; and

WHEREAS, since 2015, The Enjoy Troy Co. has promoted the celebration of January 6th as the first full day that Troy, NY existed; and

WHEREAS, this Sunday January 6th, a gathering of Trojans will mark the occasion at McAddy's Pub, one of this city’s most storied tavern rooms;

THEREFORE, I, Patrick Madden, Mayor of the City of Troy, do hereby proclaim January 6th, 2019 as ENJOY TROY DAY in the City of Troy, New York, in recognition of all who keep up the beauty, and warmth and conviviality in our community.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the City of Troy, New York to be affixed this 3rd day of January 2019.

Enjoy Troy, Santa’s Birthplace

Santa Claus, Sinterklaas & Uncle Sam exchange “enjoy troy.” gifts on Dec. 19, 2015. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He is real because he exists in our hearts and minds.

A bronze plaque on the Troy Sentinel building credits Clement Clark Moore as the author of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.

But did you know, Santa was born in Troy, New York? It’s true. While most people these days are born in a hospital delivery room, Santa Claus entered the world through the pages of the Troy Sentinel on Dec. 23, 1823. That is the date the beloved poem “An Account of a Visit From St. Nicholas” — better known as “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” — was published for the first time ever by the Troy newspaper.

Those magic verses were the first to describe a “jolly old elf” with a belly that “shook when he laugh’d like a bowl full of jelly” entering homes “Down the chimney” to deliver gifts to children, and flying through the night in a “miniature sleigh,” pulled by “eight tiny reindeer” each given names. We later called this distinctly American figure “Santa Claus,” as he was quite different than his predecessor, a 4th-century Christian saint and Greek Bishop from what is today Turkey.

Duncan Crary, writer in residence of The Enjoy Troy Co., interviews Sinterklaas. (Photo by Mike Brown)

Celebrating St. Nicholas Day on Dec. 6 continues to be popular in The Netherlands. The Dutch call St. Nicholas “Sinterklaas,” and they brought the tradition with them when they settled the Hudson Valley, where Troy, NY is located. The poem “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” was influenced by uniquely Hudson Valley Dutch traditions, so it’s no surprise that the Jolly Old Elf first appeared here.

One question still remains, though. Who really wrote that beloved poem that made Santa real? When it was first published by the Sentinel, no author was credited. It wasn’t until many years later that a wealthy biblical scholar from Manhattan, Clement Clark Moore, claimed authorship. But for nearly as long, the Dutch descendants of Maj. Henry Livingston, a gentleman farmer from Poughkeepsie, have claimed their ancestor is the true poet. And their argument is compelling enough that scholars still debate the issue.

THE TRIAL BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Since the academics haven’t been able to settle the issue on their own, The Enjoy Troy Co.’s writer in residence Duncan Crary decided it was time to put the case on trial. In 2013, Crary organized the first Trial Before Christmas of Livingston v. Moore in the Rensselaer County Courthouse in downtown Troy. The full-blown mock trial featured real attorneys, a retired NYS supreme court justice, real court officials and a jury (“enjoy troy.” creator Linda Passaretti sat in the jury box as an alternate). Troy attorney E. Stewart Jones Jr. represented the Moore claim, while Troy novelist and attorney Jack Casey argued for Livingston with his daughter Molly Casey, also an attorney. The trial made national headlines and caught the world’s attention. But, alas, the jury came back without a verdict.

Jack Casey, left, Mayor Lou Rosamilia and Duncan Crary put on enjoy Troy Santa hats as “Henry Livingston Jr. Day” is proclaimed to be Dec. 23, 2014 in Troy, in honor of the surprise jury verdict after the Dec. 7 “Trial Before Christmas,” held in the Rensselaer County Courthouse in front of Some Girls Boutique on Friday Dec. 19, 2014 in Troy ,N.Y. (Michael P. Farrell/Times Union)

So the case was retried on Dec. 7, 2015 with each legal team reprising their roles. And this time around, the jurors of Troy came back with an unanimous verdict: Livingston, the upstate underdog, wrote it. During a Dec. 19, 2014 ceremony in front of the Sentinel building, Troy Mayor Lou Rosamilia proclaimed that Dec. 23, 2014 would be “Henry Livingston Jr. Day” in the City of Troy. Our mayor was joined by Sinterklaas and Santa Claus. Also arriving on the scene was Uncle Sam, because Troy, NY is also the hometown of Samuel Wilson, a 19th century meat packer who later became the personification of the United States. Santa, Sinterklaas and Uncle Sam each exchanged their own traditional gifts. Of course Uncle Sam gave Sinterklaas and Santa each an “enjoy troy.” magnet to put on the bumpers of their wagon and sleigh.

You can learn more about The Trial Before Christmas and watch an HD video of the 2014 retrial at http://ChristmasTrial.com.

P.S. Isn’t it pretty cool that St. Nicholas was from the region where ancient Troy was located and that his successor, Santa Claus, first appeared in Troy, NY via the Dutch!

Hand-illustrated art by Ben Karis-Nix.

Enjoy Troy Small Business

The Enjoy Troy Co. is a small business committed to supporting other small businesses. In November 2014, The Enjoy Troy Co. worked with The Downtown Troy Business Improvement District to enlist community volunteers to screen print 200 reusable “enjoy troy.” shopping totes for Small Business Saturday in Downtown Troy, New York.

Both the screen printing event and Small Business Saturday were huge successes, with at least one store — our friends at Artcentric Gallery, 266 River Street — reporting the second best business day of the year.

From WNYT News Ch. 13:

“Today is almost as good as our Victorian Stroll, which is our biggest day of the year,” says Lockrow.

Her store was filled with customers looking for that one of a kind gift like Jean Gunther who says her daughter lives in the Bronx, but she’s very proud of her Trojan roots.

“So I’m buying her Enjoy Troy items,” says Gunther. “Our family takes a Christmas picture every year that we use for the following Christmas and I’m doing enjoy troy t-shirts for us.”

Pihlaha says Artcentric is a great example of the small businesses in Troy highlighting what makes them different. She says it’s about a person who could be a friend or a neighbor offering you more than just a place to shop.

“Not only that, you’re giving back to your community,” says Pihlaha. “The dollars that you spend in a locally owned business, stay in your community. It isn’t always about money. Sometimes it’s just about community and that’s important.”

Enjoy Troy Totes

The Enjoy Troy Co. hosted a community screen-printing event on Monday, Nov. 24, 2014. Downtown Troy business owners, neighbors and friends met at the Lucas Confectionery wine bar to print 200 re-usable shopping totes with the “enjoy troy.” symbol. The bags will be available around downtown during “Small Business Saturday,” Nov. 29. and will include a list of shopping “incentives” offered by shops and restaurants.

Watch this adorable video from the event, created by Rhe Potenza, owner of Truly Rhe, a women’s boutique located at One Broadway in downtown Troy.

You can find these totes and a wide array of “enjoy troy.” stocking stuffers and gifts in our online store, at Artcentric Gallery and other downtown Troy retail locations.

This event was part of Troy’s “Mall-ternative” campaign, created by the Downtown Troy Business Improvement District to promote our city as a holiday shopping alternative to the suburban malls.

Troy’s Mall-ternative experience includes extended business hours, festive events like the Troy Turkey Troy and the Victorian Stroll, and a world-class urban fabric to explore.

But it’s the people and the sociable community that really can’t be beat! Troy is Open for Business.

Enjoy Helen of Troy New York

Troy author, historian and “Bon vivant” Don Rittner will be directing a local theatrical production of “Helen of Troy New York,” a 1923 Broadway musical comedy satirizing the Arrow Shirt Company of Troy, N.Y. Joining him will be European director Just More (Justyna Kostek).

Our friend, present-day Helen of Troy, New York.

The show ran for one year and 191 performances in Manhattan with its “book” written by George S. Kaufman & Marc Connelly, lyrics and music by Bert Kalmar & Harry Ruby, and staged by Bertram Harrison and Bert French. “Helen” was Kaufman’s second play. He went on to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1932 and 1937, as well as Tony Award Best Director in 1951.

Stay tuned for more details on this production!

Back in 2012, The Enjoy Troy Co. made a special, one-of-a-kind “Helen of Troy New York/Enjoy Troy” clock for our friend Helen, who lives in Troy, NY!

Enjoy Troy “Mall-ternative”

Troy’s daily newspaper, The Record, features an enjoy troy. t-shirt and plaque on the front page. To see how it appeared in print, look below. To read the article online as text, click here: “Downtown Troy stores extend hours to accommodate holiday shoppers,” Nov. 14, 2014.

The article, by Molly Eadie, is about a month-long initiative to encourage people to shop in Downtown Troy during the holidays. Don’t forget you can purchase all kinds of “enjoy troy.” merch for stocking stuffers or more substantial gifts at Artcentric Gallery at 266 River St. and other retail locations.

Enjoy the Troylet?!

Troylet Sign on bathroom door, shared by Lucas Confectionery & Wine Bar (12 Second St. Troy, NY) and The Grocery (211 Broadway, Troy, NY).

One of the top selling products of The Enjoy Troy Co. has an ironic twist: handmade wooden “Troylet” bathroom plaques.

Starting in the 1960s, the expression “Troylet” (a combination of the words “Troy” and “toilet”) was a common put down for the city and people who lived there.

But during the past two decades, as the downtown Troy resurgence is becoming a role model for urban revitalization, many residents repeat the pejorative today with tongue in cheek, and chuckle at those who didn’t see the charm that was there all along.

Yankee Doodle Troylet?

Did you know… Rensselaer County (where Troy is located) has a history of well-timed, tongue-in-cheek retorts to those who put the place and its people down. The song “Yankee Doodle” is said to have been written by a British surgeon at Fort Crailo in the City of Rensselaer — it was meant to mock the so-called rag tag local militia stationed there during the Colonial times.

A few years later, the Americans defeated the British forces at The Battle of Saratoga (“the turning point of the Revolutionary War”), and as they marched those unhappy “Redcoats” off the battlefield they played a special tune: Yankee Doodle.

That’s pretty much what’s happening when folks display the Troylet signs these days in Troy.

Around Town

Have you seen any “Troylet” signs around town? They’re hanging on the bathroom doors at Lucas Confectionery Wine Bar & The Grocery, as well as at Bootlegger’s on Broadway.

Where to Buy

"Troylet" Bathroom Sign

$30.00

"Troylet" Bathroom Sign — Men

$30.00

"Troylet" Bathroom Sign — Women

$30.00

"Troylet" Bathroom Sign — Unisex

$30.00

You can order a “Troylet” sign online at the Enjoy Troy Co. website, or you can pick one up at Artcentric, 266 River St. in downtown Troy, N.Y. The crafts department of The Enjoy Troy Co. is always busy at work making more!

Troylet signs on display at Artcentric, 266 River St., Troy

Enjoy Sage College Troy

The Enjoy Troy Co. made the Fall 2014 cover story in Connections, the magazine of Sage College. The article, featuring Linda Passaretti and Tom Reynolds, was written by Enjoy Troy Co. writer in residence Duncan Crary.

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You can read the article below.

Spend time in Troy and you’ll start to spot it everywhere. A cheerful oval, with a simple statement in happy lowercase letters: enjoy troy.

“Somebody once told me he felt there should be an ellipses at the end, and I said ‘Absolutely not,’” says creator Linda Passaretti, with a mock sternness. “It is a mandate. It’s an order: Enjoy Troy, period.”

Today, the ubiquitous Trojan slogan is sported on T-shirts, emblazoned on windows, and flies high on large vinyl banners. But in spite of its prevalence in Troy, the symbol is not the product of a large PR firm enlisted by city government or chamber of commerce to “brand” the place. It does not owe its popularity to professional marketing. It is, instead, a project that’s about as grassroots as you can get. Even now, in spite of its popularity, few people know where the “enjoy troy.” symbol comes from or who makes the items it appears on.

The result, Passaretti notes, is something that feels authentic and that belongs to the people. “Enjoy Troy is sort of a counter culture response to branding,” she says. “It resonates.”

She calls it a “meme,” which is a term coined by evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins to describe “an idea, behavior, or style that spreads from person to person within a culture.” And like most memes, this one took off by surprise.

In 2003, Passaretti wanted to host a theme party for her friends in Troy’s Washington Park neighborhood but she had no money for decorations. So she printed sheets of “enjoy troy.” address labels and stuck them on plastic cups and other items around her house. It was a hit.

“People took sheets of these labels and stuck them all over my house. So ‘enjoy troy.’ was all over my house, literally and figuratively,” she says. “Then the idea grew from there.”

After that, she designed a more professional-looking oval decal, which she passed out around town to friends and business owners — some of those can still be found stuck on the draft beer towers at bars, or on utility poles around town. Next, she had shirts and hats made when people started asking for them.

Then something strange started happening. Wooden oval plaques, customized with the “enjoy troy.” symbol and local business logos started to crop up at bars, shops and offices around the city. But Passaretti didn’t know who was making them. Even the people who had them didn’t know where they came from because they arrived mysteriously, either by mail or hand-delivered by a small girl who quickly retreated. The only message accompanying the gift was “Compliments of Poppi Bidodio,” a name no local had ever heard.

“Who is this mysterious elf making ‘enjoy troy.’ plaques?” Passaretti wondered along with others.

As it turns out, the secret mirth maker was a commercial lending officer named Tom Reynolds. Originally from Utica, Reynolds had lived in Troy from 1994 to 1998 then returned for good in 2003 because he “enjoyed the place so much.” He didn’t know Linda when he first spotted the stickers, but he decided he wanted to help spread the meme by making and gifting the plaques.

Finally he met Linda to fess up. “I hope you don’t mind what I’ve been up to,” he told her. She didn’t. But there was still one matter to clear up: who was Poppi Bidodio? That, Reynolds explained, was the name of the imaginary friend of his daughter, the delivery girl.

From then on, Reynolds and Passaretti teamed up as “The Enjoy Troy Company.” But, while the design is officially trademarked and the company’s array of merchandise is available at Artcentric Gallery at 266 River St. and online at enjoytroy.us, the partnership isn’t motivated by money.

“This has always been about making something to bind and build the community,” Passaretti says. “When all these people start to see this community as worthy, that is my payment.”

It’s impossible to know what effect “enjoy troy.” has had on Troy’s rebirth, but perceptions of the city have certainly changed since Passaretti first arrived in 1980 as a freshman at Emma Willard School.

“People were down on Troy when I was a kid,” she said. “Everybody at school would say Troy was the armpit of the world.”

Now the city’s renaissance-in-progress is the talk of the region and was even reported by the New York Daily News in 2013. Young professionals are moving to Troy, attracted to its walkablility, affordability and historic architecture. RPI and Sage students are staying — and alumni are returning — after graduation to join the workforce or establish their own businesses: Jessica Garrity SGS ’09, who earned her master’s degree in School Counseling at the Esteves School of Education opened Collar City Hard Pressed juice and smoothie stand on Broadway in August; MaryJane Hopeck SGS ’91, who earned her master’s degree in Reading, opened MarEle Boutique on River Street in June; and when Greane Tree Technology “graduated” from Russell Sage’s INVEST incubator, founder Annmarie Lanesey was committed to continuing to build her business, now located on Broadway, in downtown Troy.

According to City Economic Development Coordinator Monica Kurzejeski, 35 new businesses opened in Troy in 2013 with similar numbers shaping up for 2014. During the past two years, almost $100 million has been invested in construction within the city borders, from a diverse number of developers. But Passaretti, who works in development and who returned to Troy to purchase a home near Sage in 2000, said the momentum didn’t happen overnight.

“Ten years ago, Troy didn’t have the same offerings if you were really trying to attract someone with bars and boutiques and farmers markets,” she said. “But in terms of the quality of the people who are trying to make the city go, it’s been there all along. Folks like Lynn Kopka [’74], these are people who’ve committed their lives to making the city work in a positive way.”

Duncan Crary is the host of “A Small American City,” a podcast featuring the characters who enliven the city of Troy. Listen at: ASmallAmericanCity.com

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Enjoy Troy Record

The Record, Troy’s daily newspaper, ran a full-page article about The Enjoy Troy Co. To see how it appeared in print, look below. To read the article online as text, click here: “‘enjoy troy.’ a simple mandate for city residents, visitors,” Nov. 4, 2014.

Enjoy Troy Streets

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Transport Troy is a collective of bicycle enthusiasts who advocate for “complete streets” and human-powered transportation opportunities in Troy, New York.

Each year they host a “Pre-Ramble” event centered on enjoying Troy on bicycle, wheelchair, foot, kayak and other means of getting around without a car. As part of this year’s Sept. 26 activities, Transport Troy commissioned a series of temporary street intersection art featuring the “enjoy troy.” symbol.

Temporary intersection art to raise awareness for bicycle crossing, by Transport Troy, Sept. 26.

The murals, a series of ovals inspired by the original “enjoy troy.” symbol, were created with temporary street paint. Some of the ovals had only the word “enjoy” in them so that people could write in whatever they would like more folks to enjoy.

“These chalk murals show how it is possible to mark where a bike path crosses a street,” said organizer Jim Lewis. “Putting a trail through the alley is one good way to keep bicycles away from traffic. Placing artwork on the street where the alley crosses the street, is one way to alert motorists to the crossing. It’s important to remember: the lanes are pretty safe, but accidents happen where you cross traffic.”

The Saturday-long awareness campaign and event also featured museum tours, walking tours of historic sites and parks, a storytelling festival, concert, community meal and kayak rentals at the Ingalls Ave. boat launch provided by Upstate Kayak Rentals.

An anonymous donor promised $1,000 to pay for bike racks in Troy if 50 people pledged bike to work during the week of Sept. 29 to Oct. 3. The pledge level was reached and those bike racks are coming soon.

For more information about Transport Troy and their efforts to create a “Collar City Ramble” trail for hiking, biking and other uses, visit: http://collarcityramble.com

Enjoy Troy Critters

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This little critter climbed out of his little tube to enjoy troy. Photo by Duncan Crary.

All the creatures of Troy, big and small, are artists at heart. In July 2014, the Enjoy Troy Company writer-in-residence Duncan Crary captured this scene just after it transpired under the Green Island Bridge.

This little mouse (OK, he’s a river rat) crawled out of his tiny tube, with paint brush and can, to spread his cheery message to passersby. The work is signed “ZERO,” so we can only assume that’s this little guy’s name. (Instagram | Facebook)

Note: The Enjoy Troy Co. does not endorse “street art” on public or private property without permission of the owner. But you gotta admit, this is pretty cute!

Shortly after this scene transpired, the soup can with red paint disappeared (it was glued to the bricks in front of this diminutive painter). But later in the summer, a team of volunteers painted an entire “Troybot” mural just beside him. And they even painted a new paint can besides this creative critter. Check it out, just under the Green Island Bridge between Ryan’s Wake Public House and the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que.

[Update: Oct. 17, 2014: The rat and painted paint can are still there, but the spray-painted “enjoy troy.” has been covered over.]

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And here’s Uncle Sam getting into the action, too, at the site of Troy’s former “brutalist” City Hall building.

Enjoy Troy Buildings

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Back in 2007, Linda Passaretti and friends were preparing for the annual Flag Day Parade in Troy, NY – the largest Flag Day parade in the nation.

The Brown Bag is located in The Enjoy Troy Building at 156 Fourth Street.

So they painted Linda’s now famous “enjoy troy.” symbol on a bed sheet and hung it from the windows of a house along the route. It was just a cheerful, simple banner for the festivities. But after the parade, one of Linda’s friends decided to give the colorful sign an extended life. She hung it in the storefront window of her building on the corner of Ferry and Fourth streets.

For years, as people entering Troy drove over the Congress Street Bridge and then under the Ferry Street Tunnel, the first thing that greeted them was that brightly painted sign delivering its happy mandate to “enjoy troy.”

In 2011, Terry Matthews opened an instantly popular late-night burger parlor in the storefront and called it The Brown Bag. The bed sheet sign had been removed, but everyone kept calling the address — 156 Fourth Street — “The Enjoy Troy” building.

Naturally, The Enjoy Troy Company decided to make that designation official by enlisting the help of Troy’s No Name Sign Co. company. Together they created special “enjoy troy.” transom windows with the same gold lettering to match The Brown Bag’s signage.

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Now the only thing missing is an official Enjoy Troy burger on the menu!

If you would like to order custom window treatments or other customized items featuring the enjoy troy. symbol, visit our custom products page and then contact us with your request.

Enjoy Troy Podcasts

Linda Passaretti and Tom Reynolds of the Enjoy Troy Company tell their story on episode #03 of A Small American City, a podcast by Troy author Duncan Crary.

“It is a mandate. It’s an order. Enjoy Troy. Period.”
— Linda Passaretti

TROY, N.Y. — When you first arrive in Troy, you can’t avoid seeing it. A playful sticker placed here and there. A black and white oval, with happy little lowercase lettering that says “enjoy troy.” This “meme” has spread all over town. But for a long time few people knew where the cheery mandate originated.

When it started appearing on clocks and signs at local businesses, even the original creator of the slogan didn’t know who was spreading those joyful gifts. In this episode, A Small American City speaks with Linda Passaretti and Tom Reynolds, the duo behind The Enjoy Troy Co. Today, there are dozens of variations on the original icon, which appear on shirts, hats, coffee tables, etc. that can be purchased locally at the art galleries and stores downtown. And the small entrepreneurs have plans to sell their wares nationally to other cities and people named Troy.

But this effort has never been about making money for Tom and Linda. It’s about spreading a philosophy – to enjoy the small city they love.

This episode begins with a conversation with Jennifer Tedesco.

Play/Download:
SAC03.mp3
(35 MB | 44:56)

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MUSIC IN THIS EPISODE

“Come to Life” by Ben Karis-Nix (feat. Sea of Trees), (released Jan 17, 2013. Swordpaw)

“Trojans” by Atlas Genius, (released 2012, Warner Bros. Records). Used by permission of +1

“Joy All The Time” by Ben Karis-Nix, (released June 24, 2008, Collar City Records).