This year, we've brought back the Times Union's Summer Smackdown, a flip-flop decorating contest that used to be an annual tradition. And boy, did some of you smack down. Advertisement Article ...

1. It’s a slice of spring break in Midtown. With a nine-flavor daiquiri bar, live music downstairs, a DJ upstairs, a sprawling patio with real palm trees, and deliberately tacky decor, it couldn’t be ...