Here's a little listing of free wi-fi sites in the Albany NY area.  The listing is probably a bit out of date.  If anybody would like to participate in updating and managing this little site, let me know.

These are legit open and free wi-fi access points in the Capital Region of New York. Those with a [+] at the end are ones I have personally checked out.

• Apple Computer Store, Crossgates Mall
• Bentley's Burgers: Corner of South Pearl and Howard Streets, Albany
• Bethlehem Public Library: 451 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, NY, 12054; 518-439-9314
• Bombers Burrito Bar: 258 Lark St.; 518-463-9636
• Clifton Park Sunoco Station: 601 Plank Rd. (Exit 9 on I-87)
• The Daily Grind: 204 Lark St, Albany
• East Greenbush Community Library: 10 Community Way, East Greenbush, 518-477-7476 [+]
• Empire State Plaza: The main cafeteria on the concourse
• Flavor Cafe & Lounge: 228 4th St,, Troy; 518-266-9253 [+]
• Halfmoon Public Library: 47 Clifton Country Rd., Clifton Park, NY 12065; 518-371-8622
• Java Net Beanery: 43 Mall, Routes 43 and 150, West Sand Lake, 693-6882 [+]
• Latham 76 Diner: 722 New Loudon Rd. Latham, 518-785-3793
• Liberteks.com: 148 Western Ave, Albany, 518-452-0550
• The Muddy Cup: 1038 Madison Avenue (in front of the Madison Theatre)
• MochaBlend Espresso Bar & Cafe: 720 Hoosick Road, Brunswick Plaza (next to Pollocks True Value), 518-271-1089
• Nicole's Bistro: Quackenbush Square, Albany
• Nothing but Noodles: Peter Harris Plaza, Latham
• OK Office Supplies: 90 State Street, Albany
• Omni Plaza: 50 Beaver Street, Albany
• Panera Bread, several locations:
  • Crossgates Commons (Washington Ave Ext.) [+]
  • Latham Farms (601 Troy-Schenectady Road; Latham, NY 12210; 518-783-5980) [+]
  • Mohawk Commons (412 Balltown Road; Niskayuna, NY 12309; 518-377-9808) [+]
  • Wilton (3070 Route 50; Wilton, NY 12831; 518-226-0095) [?]
  • Rensselaer County Plaza (279 Troy Road (Route 4); Rensselaer, NY 12144; 518-283-2091) [+]
• Price Chopper Cafe: Westgate Plaza, 911 Central Ave, Albany
• Professor Java's Coffee Sanctuary: 217 Wolf Road, Colonie, NY. [+]
• Saratoga Public Library: 49 Henry Street; Saratoga Springs, NY 12866; 518-584-7860
• Schenectady County Public Library: 99 Clinton St., Schenectady, NY; 518-388-4500
• Slow Jed's Mudhouse: 3028 Rte 43, Averill Park
• Stagecoach Coffee: 90 State Street, Albany
• Ultraviolet Café: 290 Delaware Ave., Albany, 434-0333 (next to the Spectrum)
• Uncommon Grounds: 1235 Western Ave., Albany; and 402 Broadway, Saratoga Springs
• Waterford Public Library: 117 Third Street; Waterford, NY 12188; 518-237-0891

Other Albany-Area Wi-Fi Links

Here are a few other links to stuff relevant to Wi-Fi in the Albany area, or to Wi-Fi issues more generally.

• AlbanyWiFi.com: Forums, FAQs, maps, and Wardriving stuff for the area. Much useful stuff here; if you want more than the summary I give here, this is the place to go. Especially, check out the forum thread on Albany-Area Hotspots.
• Wi-Fi-FreeSpot Directory has a New York State page.
• USA Today & JWire have a hotspot finder.
• Stumbler dot net: Home of the NetStumbler Wi-Fi searching program, and related news and the like.
• Netstumbler Forums: Home of the forums for the NetStumber program.
• Wireless Librarian: Guide to public libraries with free Wi-Fi.

Additions and revisions?

If you have information about possible additions or revisions to this list, I'd be happy to hear; please send them along.

More, newer, and the future

I've moved this to a Google Site in anticipation of passing it along to somebody else. Maybe you? Let me know if you're interested. You can also try this link to a BlinkList listing of local free wifi: Albany-Area Free WiFi Links