Simply Saratoga Summer 2016 by Saratoga TODAY

A Saratoga TODAY Publication Complimentary

SARATOGA

™

THE PEOPLE • THE PLACES • THE LIFESTYLE

Summer

2016

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SARATOGA

™

THE PEOPLE • THE PLACES • THE LIFESTYLE

Owner/Publisher Chad Beatty General Manager Robin Mitchell Managing Editor Chris Vallone Bushee Creative Director Alyssa Jackson Advertising Design Morgan Rook Advertising Sales Erin Boucher Jim Daley Cindy Durfey Contributing Writers Andrea Barry Tim Blodgett Peter Bowden Nancy Castillo David DeLozier Jodie Fitz Peter J. Gailor Carol Godette Megan Harrington Dennis Hogan Charlie Kuenzel Meghan Lemery Patrice Mastrianni Matt McDonald Liz Parker (summer intern!) Carrie Rowlands Johnson Theresa St. John Ralph Vincent

Photographers

MarkBolles.com SaratogaPhotographer.com Susan Blackburn Sharon Castro Alice Corey Francesco D'Amico Samantha Decker Kevin McAvey Matt McDonald Randall Perry John Seymour

Published by

Saratoga TODAY Newspaper Five Case Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 tel: (518) 581-2480 fax: (518) 581-2487

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Simply Saratoga is brought to you by Saratoga TODAY Newspaper, Saratoga Publishing, LLC. Saratoga Publishing shall make every effort to avoid errors and omissions but disclaims any responsibility should they occur. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written consent of the publisher. Copyright © 2016, Saratoga TODAY Newspaper

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From The Editor I always wait till each issue is completely built before I sit down to write my letter. I like to take a deep breath, look over all the pages and just take it all in. And all I can say is… Saratoga is quite the place! We have so much to offer the tourist visiting this area. Of course everybody knows about “the big three” The Track, Polo and SPAC, (coverage starts on page 23) but we offer so much more… Beautiful lakes within minutes (page 112), great restaurants (see our Dining Guide on page 68) bars & shops, a vibrant downtown area (beautifully portrayed by local photographer John Seymour on page 109), activities for all ages (see page 52) and we’re just a quick drive to the Adirondacks (our hiking guide starts on page 124)

This really is the ideal vacation destination! I’d like to take a minute to introduce you to some of the people you’ll meet in this issue, I mean after all… Simply Saratoga Magazine exists to cover the people, the places and the lifestyles of the area. Luckily we have Saratoga TODAY to cover the news…. I get to do the fun stuff! As anybody who lives in Saratoga knows… Minnie Bolster is practically Saratoga Royalty and it was such an honor to meet her while working on this issue (see page 152) I’ve known about Ronnie McCluskey and her very unique business for a while now, so getting to feature her on page 105 has been such a treat!

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Love hearing from you!

I met Frank Pemberton back in the fall and after just 10 minutes with him, I knew he had to be a feature story! (page 156) I met Carol Carr a few years back when we produced a commemorative publication for Hattie’s 75th Anniversary and I thought it was time for all of you to meet her too! (page 108) And… last but not least, is Peter Gailor. I’ve always loved old automobiles, (restored or not!) and have wanted to do a CAR SECTION for a while now (years maybe?) so when fellow employee Jim Daley told me about Peter’s new business… I knew the time had come! Getting to know Peter, his son Cole and seeing the passion that these two have, has been such a wonderful experience for me… I think you will enjoy it too (page 162) Whether you are a regular reader or are here for the vacation, I hope you enjoy this issue. Please mention us by name when supporting our advertisers, they are the reason you can enjoy this publication, free of charge.

Enjoy the season!

Chris

Chris Vallone Bushee Managing Editor cBushee@SaratogaPublishing.com

Simply Lovin' Simply Saratoga Magazine I am beyond impressed with the crisp look and range of topics featured in the H&G issue of Simply Saratoga Magazine! I found myself captivated by the interesting people, exquisite interior design and delicious eats described inside. Saratoga never looked, tasted or sounded so good! Patrice Mastrianni, owner Serendipity Arts Studio I just saw the online H&G issue of Simply Saratoga Magazine and the Save the Date section! I was blown away!!! It is beautiful. Thank you so much, Chris. I can’t begin to tell you how grateful we are! All the best, Joe Racing City Chorus Hello Saratoga Today Team, I just saw the May issue of Simply Saratoga Magazine and I just love the fashion spread!! You did such a great job capturing the feel of my store and my essence as well. Kudo's to you all for a fresh take on fashion in Saratoga. Refreshing!! Heidi Owen West Lifestyles

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CONTRIBUTORS TIM BLODGETT Tim Blodgett and his wife, Rose own Saratoga Tackle & Archery, he can be reached at (518) 584-3952. His store is now located on Route 29, just before Schuylerville. Visit Saratogatackle.com or find Saratoga Tackle on Facebook.

PETER BOWDEN Peter has been the region's go-to garden guy for over 35 years. His knack for practical and concise explanations has served him well during his 20-year tenure as WRGB’s garden guy. He is an artist and avid photographer whose images have appeared in textbooks, magazines and travel guides. Peter lives with his wife, Sharon and their pets in an old house in the country.

NANCY CASTILLO Nancy is a co-owner of our local Wild Birds Unlimited Nature Shop, located off Exit 15 of the Northway. She writes The Zen Birdfeeder blog and has had her writing and photography published in BirdWatcher’s Digest and Watching Backyard Birds. You can occasionally hear her answering questions about birds on the WAMC VoxPop call-in program. Nancy and her spouse enjoy watching birds at their feeders from their log home west of Saratoga.

ALICE COREY Alice is the owner of Alice Corey Photography, a professional photography business, as well as the blogging bar, which provides digital marketing for local businesses. Alice has worked as a Registered Professional Nurse in critical care and managed a sales territory in NY with Pfizer Inc. for 11 years. She resides in Ballston Spa with her husband Michael and their 2 daughters. You can find more of her work @ www.alicecoreyphotography.com

DAVE DELOZIER Dave is known as the eco-local guy around town, as he published the "eco-Local Living mag from 2008-13. Dave and his wife Brenda "walk the walk" having converted their small suburban Saratoga Springs residence into a Permaculture homestead, integrating elements such as edible landscaping, PV solar power & micro-farming. Dave is now a certified Permaculture Design Consultant and looks to help others who are seeking a more healthy, grounded and resilient lifestyle. ecolocal@gmail.com.

JODIE FITZ Jodie Fitz is a wife, working mother of three and the creator of the Price Chopper Kids Cooking Club. She released two cookbooks in 2015; The Chaotic Kitchen; a collection of recipes to help make the lives of busy families just a little bit easier when it comes to mealtime & Cooking Up Fun; designed to get kids taste testing & experimenting with foods.

CAROL GODETTE Born and raised in Saratoga Springs, Carol Godette’s fascination with neighborhood stores began at age 11 when she frequented Rowland’s. A passionate educator, Godette taught elementary school in the Saratoga School District for 31 years. Carol is a co-owner of the local Ben & Jerry’s franchise. Godette and her husband live in her childhood home where they raised their two children. She welcomes your comments and stories/photos on neighborhood stores via email: saratoganeighborhoodstores@gmail.com 16 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2016

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CONTRIBUTORS MEGAN HARRINGTON Megan is a freelance writer who has written for a variety of publications including national magazines, local newspapers, and websites. When she’s not writing, she enjoys training for marathons and coaching fellow runners. After spending the previous seven years in New York City, Megan and her husband recently relocated to the Village of Cambridge and are loving their new community at the base of the Adirondacks.

DENNIS G. HOGAN Dennis G. Hogan was born in New York City and his story is a common one: his dad took him to Saratoga Race Course as a boy and he’s returned every year since. He is a writer and photographer with an appreciation for Thoroughbreds. He has previously written for ThoroFan and is a regular contributor to Equicurean Magazine. He lives in Westchester County, NY.

CHARLIE KUENZEL Charlie Kuenzel is a native Saratogian who spent 36 years as a Science educator in the Saratoga School District before retiring 6 years ago. Charlie, along with Dave Patterson are the co-owners of Saratoga Tours LLC who for the past 16 years have educated and entertained thousands of visitors to the city with stories to tell the exciting history of our great city.

MEGHAN LEMERY FRITZ Meghan is a native of the Glens Falls/Saratoga region. Her passion is to provide her clients and readers with the tools necessary to live a life full of love, acceptance, truth, peace and balance. She is an author and writer for various publications in Upstate NY and State College, PA.She currently resides in State College, PA where she enjoys spending time with her husband and family. To contact Meghan directly email meghanlemery@yahoo.com

LIZ PARKER Elizabeth Parker is a 21 year old student at Manhattan college and Saratoga native as well as our newest intern at Simply Saratoga Magazine. At Manhattan College she studies communications and has particular interest in the field of advertising. Although she calls upstate New York home she loves venturing in NYC for coffee and, of course brunch. In her spare time she loves to be active, try new things and spend time with friends.

MEGIN POTTER Megin is an expressive writer and artist with work published in books, newspapers, corporate communications and online. A resident of the region for over 20 years, she continues to discover anew the interesting people, places and products it has to offer. As a mother to her active young son, she is inspired to explore even more.

CARRIE ROWLANDS JOHNSON With a firm belief that digital marketing is a must for small businesses, Carrie recently joined forces with photographer Alice Corey and created the blogging bar. The boutique agency provides blogging, SMM and photography services …and recently launched a brand new column in Simply Saratoga Magazine called, Simply… Saratoga Society. Carrie is also a licensed Real Estate Salesperson with Berkshire Hathaway. Read more of Carrie’s work (and a glimpse into life as a single mom of twin ten-year old boys) at CarrieRowlands.com. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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WELCOME TO SARATOGA SPRINGS! 23

Saratoga Race Course

Saratoga Polo

SPAC

Locals' Picks

Saratoga's White Dogs

Save the Date

Dining Guide

photo from NYRA.com by Adam Mooshian

SARATOGA

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THE PEOPLE • THE PLACES • THE LIFESTYLE

SUMMER 2016

FASHION & GALAS

83 - 102

A GOOD READ 105

Ronnie McClusky

108

Meet Carol Carr

109

Life in Saratoga with John Seymour

112

Just Add Water

124

Take A Walk

130

Meghan Lemery

132

Painting Blind

134

Artist Spotlight Sharon Castro

138

Saratoga Families The Pipinos

140

All Outdoors with Tim Blodgett

141

Post Time Memories with Dennis Hogan

142

Lillian Russell and Diamond Jim Brady

146

Changing Face of Saratoga's Race Course

149

The Original Mom & Pops

152

Minnie Bolster

156

Guitar Man

190 Birdwatching with Nancy Castillo

160

Car Enthusiasts Unite

192

Cocktail Party 101

162

Inside Peter & Cole Gailor's Shop

194

Summer Reading List

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blication DAY Pu tary oga TO Complimen

A Sarat

LET THE SEASON BEGIN!

A G O T A SAR ™

LE ESTY E LIF • TH ACES L P THE LE • PEOP THE

Cover ph by John S otos eymour

...see page 109 fo of his wor r more k!

Summer

2016

HOME & GARDEN 174 Architecturally Speaking 186

Entertaining Made Easy with Jodie Fitz

188

Gardening with Peter Bowden

173 CARS 160 H&G

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WELCOME TO

SARATOGA SPRINGS Welcome to the summer edition of Simply Saratoga Magazine and the City of Saratoga Springs! We are known for being the city of Health, History and Horses. Summertime in our city is one of the most exciting and energetic times to visit and live here. As Mayor, I’m proud of our city’s vibrancy, health, our amazing history and of course the famous Saratoga Race Course. No matter what your interests, you are sure to be satisfied. From our world class race course that, at least initially, brings many to our city to the exceptional accommodations, restaurants and the amazing cultural activities, all bases are covered! Just walk downtown to shop, window shop or enjoy the various entertainment and you will see that Saratoga Springs is vibrant and ready to provide you with all the excitement you may be looking for. Looking for a more relaxing experience? Our healing waters at numerous natural springs and the state park are right at your doorstep. Within the state park you will find the Peerless Pool Complex and the Victoria Pool, just right for cooling off on a hot day. Or you can take a walk through the peaceful grounds to soak in nature and admire the classical architecture and the world renowned Saratoga Performing Arts Center. You may even be able to catch a great performance by the Philadelphia Orchestra or the New York City Ballet or perhaps a rock or jazz concert if those are more your style. Interested in history? We have no shortage of museums.You can start at the History Museum in Congress Park or for our die hard racing fans there is the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. There is also the National Dance Museum or if you like cars a visit to the Saratoga Auto Museum is a must. The Tang Museum at Skidmore College offers vivid and contemporary art. Of course, we would not forget our children so be sure to take them to the Children’s Museum. In addition to all these events and activities we are fortunate to have amazing farmers’ markets where you can indulge in some local fare or you can visit one of our several wineries and breweries. And, not to be missed, is the splendid Saratoga Lake where you can eat waterside or rent a canoe, boat or paddle board. As you see you will need more than a few days to experience the plethora of amazing things Saratoga Springs has to offer. So, please come, visit, stay and perhaps even consider making Saratoga Springs your home!

PHOTO BY JOE CAREY

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Mayor Joanne Yepsen JULY/AUGUST 2016 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 21

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Information and photos provided by NYRA

And

They’re Off!

Saratoga Race Course

2016 Meet

oted as one of the “Top 10 Sporting Venues In The World”

by Sports Illustrated, Saratoga Race Course is one of horse racing’s most beloved tracks. With historical ambiance and modern day amenities and style, Saratoga Race Course is the place to find top Thoroughbred horse racing July through Labor Day each year. The 40-day meet draws the top horses, trainers and owners in the world to try their luck at “the Spa.” Known as the Graveyard of Champions, Saratoga Race Course has earned a reputation for being a challenging track for favorites. In fact, the dominant Man O’ War lost his only race against the aptly named Upset here at Saratoga.

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FYI

40 days.

Friday, July 22 - Monday, September 5. No racing on Tuesdays.

ADMISSION:

Grandstand admission is $5; Clubhouse admission is $8. Children 12 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Admission gates open at 11 a.m. on weekdays and 10:30 a.m. on weekends. On Travers Day, Saturday, August 27, gates open at 7 a.m. Travers Day admission is $10 for Grandstand; $20 for Clubhouse. Admission is included with all reserved seats purchased in advance.

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photo from NYRA.com by Azar

DAILY CLUBHOUSE AND GRANDSTAND RESERVED SEATS: Daily individual reserved seats in the

Clubhouse and Grandstand, which include admission, may be purchased in advance online through Ticketmaster.com. A limited number of reserved seats for the current day is available for purchase beginning at 9 a.m. at the Reserved Seat Box Office, located at Gate A on Union Avenue. (7 a.m. on Travers Day, Saturday, August 27). There is a limit of four seats per person. Cash, American Express, Visa, MasterCard and Discover are accepted. All tickets purchased in advance of race day include the cost of admission.

WEEKLY RESERVED SEAT PLANS: Weekly ticket plans, which include admission, provide a reserved seat in the Clubhouse or Grandstand for six consecutive days of the meet from Wednesday through Monday (Friday through Monday for Opening Weekend). Weekly ticket plans may be purchased online through NYRA AccountManager. Week-long reserved seat plans for the 2016 meet at Saratoga Race Course are available as follows: • Week 1, Opening Weekend: Fri. July 22 through Mon. July 25 • Week 2, featuring the Jim Dandy: Wed. July 27 through Mon. Aug. 1 • Week 3, featuring the Whitney: Wed. Aug. 3 through Mon. Aug. 8 • Week 4, featuring the Fourstardave: Wed. Aug. 10 through Mon. Aug. 15 • Week 5, featuring the Alabama: Wed. Aug. 17 through Mon. Aug. 22 • Week 6, featuring the Travers: Wed. Aug. 24 through Mon. Aug. 29 • Week 7, featuring the Woodward: Wed. Aug. 31 through Mon. Sept. 5

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FULL SEASON RESERVED SEAT PLANS:

Full-season plans, which include admission, provide a reserved seat in the Clubhouse or Grandstand for the full 40-day season. Full season ticket plans may be purchased online through NYRA AccountManager.

SARATOGA SEASON PASSES: A season pass provides fans with admission to 40 days of world-class thoroughbred racing at Saratoga Race Course, including the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers on Saturday, August 27 and the Grade 1, $1.25 million Whitney on Saturday, August 6. The costs for 2016 season passes are $35 for Grandstand and $55 for Clubhouse. Season passes do not include reserved seating and are valid for one admission. Season passes may be purchased online through NYRA AccountManager or at more than 200 Stewart’s Shops locations. SARATOGA SEASON PERKS: The 2016 season will feature an expanded Saratoga Season Perks program with exclusive offers for season pass and season ticket plan holders, including: • Guarantee of one premium Saratoga giveaway on each giveaway day (must be obtained by 3 p.m. in person on the day of the giveaway at Saratoga Race Course) • 10 percent savings to more than 40 retail, restaurant and professional services locations in downtown Saratoga Springs, in partnership with the Saratoga Downtown Business Association (valid June 1, 2016 through March 1, 2017) • Numerous discounts to Saratoga Race Course food, beverage and merchandise vendors • Access to a special pre-sale for daily Saratoga Race Course reserved seat tickets • 10 percent savings to additional New York Racing Association partners, including: • Select classical series performances at Saratoga Performing Arts Center, including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater engagements and full-priced amphitheater seats to evening performances of the Philadelphia Orchestra and New York City Ballet (excluding the Gala Fundraiser); • Tri-City ValleyCats home baseball games, the New York-Penn League affiliate of the Houston Astros; • Select New York mountains and ski resorts, including Belleayre, Catamount, Gore, Plattekill and Whiteface during the 2016-17 winter season; • Siena College men's and women's home basketball games during the 2016-17 season The list of incentives, deals and discounts is available at SaratogaSeasonPerks.com and will be continually updated with new participating organizations. A season pass must be activated in order to receive Saratoga Season Perks discounts and incentives. Season pass holders are required to provide a photo in order to activate their season pass. Activation instructions, including information on how to upload a digital photo, are available at SaratogaPassPhoto.com.

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FOURSTARDAVE SPORTS BAR: Located within close proximity to the trackside apron, the Fourstardave Sports Bar includes more than seven dozen tables available for paid reservation and a sports bar which features an extensive craft beer selection, popular food vendors, and 40 flat-screen televisions. The new hospitality space also provides protection from the elements. Configurations include options for up to six people, four people, and new for 2016, two-person tables. Two-person tables will be available for $20 on weekdays (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) and $30 on weekends (Saturday and Sunday). Four-person tables will be available for $35 on weekdays and $60 on weekends. Six-person tables will be available for $50 on weekdays and $90 on weekends. Table reservation fee does not include admission. Personal coolers and outside food and beverage will not be permitted in the Fourstardave Sports Bar; on-track food and beverage is allowed. The Fourstardave Sports Bar opens at 11 a.m. on weekdays and 10:30 a.m. on weekends. All ticket holders must exchange a ticket for a wristband upon entry. Reserved seating options in the Fourstardave Sports Bar are available for paid reservation through Ticketmaster.com or by calling the NYRA Box Office at 844-NYRA-TIX. RESERVED PICNIC AREA: The reserved picnic area is comprised of approximately 100 picnic tables, which each seat up to six guests, located adjacent to the paddock and offering premier viewing of horses being saddled before a race. Reserved picnic tables will be available for $30 on weekdays - a savings of $10 in comparison to 2015 pricing - and $60 on weekends. Table reservation fee does not include admission. Personal coolers are allowed in the reserved picnic area; coolers may contain plastic bottles or cans and are subject to search by NYRA security. Additional chairs, tents and umbrellas are prohibited. For a full list of prohibited items, visit NYRA.com. The reserved picnic area opens at 11 a.m. on weekdays and 10:30 a.m. on weekends. All ticket holders must exchange a ticket for a wristband upon entry. Reserved seating options in the picnic area are available for paid reservation through Ticketmaster.com or by calling the NYRA Box Office at 844-NYRA-TIX. SARATOGA VIRTUAL VENUE: Fans may take advantage of the all-new Saratoga Virtual Venue seating map to digitally preview their seat location and sightlines, as well as table locations in the Fourstardave Sports Bar and reserved picnic area, before purchasing tickets. DINING RESERVATIONS: Dining reservations at the Turf Terrace, Club Terrace and the Porch are available by phone at (888) 516-6972. Reservations are limited, based on availability, and are nontransferable. Seating charge payment is required upon reservation; seating charges are final and non-refundable. For more information on dining at Saratoga Race Course, visit www.nyra.com. GROUP HOSPITALITY: Full and partial hospitality space bookings for Saratoga Race Course are currently available for the following hospitality areas: At the Rail Pavilion; Luxury Suites (whole suite rentals only); Paddock Tent; Festival Tent; Big Red Spring Tent; Easy Goer (Upper Carousel); and Top of the Stretch. Group sales reservations may be made through the NYRA Box Office by phone at (844) NYRA-TIX. BREAKFAST AT SARATOGA: Breakfast at Saratoga is a long-standing tradition. Breakfast is served on The Porch of the Clubhouse, overlooking the morning workouts of the thoroughbreds on the main track each racing day from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Breakfast admission is free (except for Travers Day, Saturday, August 27, when a $20 Clubhouse admission fee is required). Trackside parking is refunded for those guests exiting the track by 10 a.m. The cost of the buffet breakfast is $17.95 per person. INFORMATION: For questions about reservations for the 2016 season, contact the NYRA Box Office at (844) NYRA-TIX, via email at boxoffice@nyrainc.com or online at NYRA.com/saratoga. photo from NYRA.com by Mrs. McDougal 26â&#x20AC;&#x201A; |â&#x20AC;&#x201A; SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2016

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The all important...

Track

Dress Code PADDOCK SADDLING AREA & WINNER’S CIRCLE: No shorts or abbreviated wear permitted. Gentlemen–collared shirts required. Box Seat Area: No shorts or jeans permitted. Gentlemen – suits or sports jackets required.

TURF TERRACE: Neat Casual Attire, No jeans, shorts or abbreviated wear permitted. Gentlemen – collared shirts required (Management reserves the right to use its discretion to determine Neat Casual Attire).

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AT THE RAIL PAVILION, THE PORCH, CLUB TERRACE & CAROUSEL RESTAURANT: Gentlemen – No Tank Tops No short-shorts, cut-offs or abbreviated wear permitted. Proper attire at management’s discretion.

LUXURY SUITES: No abbreviated wear permitted. Gentlemen - No tank tops Proper attire at management’s discretion.

CLUBHOUSE: No short shorts, cut-offs or abbreviated wear permitted. No tank tops. Proper attire at management’s discretion

GRANDSTAND: Shirts and shoes required. People 12 years and over must abide by the dress code.

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photos by Theresa St. John

Dining...

At the Track The Turf Terrace Dining Room is located on the third and fourth floors of the Clubhouse. The multi-level trackside dining area offers a great view of all the racing action overlooking the finish line. An a la carte menu is served in a formal open-air setting. The Club Terrace is located behind the box seat area on the second floor of the Clubhouse, overlooking the backyard & paddock. It offers a popular selection of appetizers, refreshing salads and specialty sandwiches in a casual open-air setting. Television monitors are available for viewing of the races. The Porch is located on the track level of the Clubhouse just a few feet from the outside rail. It offers an a la carte menu in a casual open-air setting. Please go to http://www.nyra.com/saratoga/ or call (518) 584-6200 x 2260 for specific guidelines regarding: Dress Code, Reservations, Seating Charges and the Cancellation Policy regarding any of the dining options mentioned above.

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Breakfast at Saratoga is a long-standing tradition. Every racing day from 7 to 9:30 a.m., breakfast is served on The Porch of the Clubhouse while the Thoroughbreds prepare for future races. Mary Ryan, a lifelong horsewoman, provides expert commentary for the workouts. Admission to breakfast is free with the exception of Travers Day when a $10 Clubhouse admission fee is required. Dress code is casual attire, trackside parking is $10, but refundable if you leave by 10 am. The Breakfast Buffet is $8 per person, weekdays and 10 per person weekends plus tax and gratuity. One of the highlights of the breakfast program is the free walking tour of our famous and historic stable area (weather permitting). The first tram that takes you to the stable area leaves the main Clubhouse entrance at 7:30 a.m. with additional trams leaving approximately every 15 minutes. The last tour departs at around 9:00 a.m. (The Tour is available every race day except Travers Day and Labor Day)

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Track Facts 40 DAYS

July 22 to September 5 Excluding Dark Tuesdays

POST TIMES: 1 P.M. DAILY

except: 11:35 a.m. on Travers Day, Saturday, August 27 12:30 p.m. on Monday, September 5 – Labor Day

INFORMATION

For information prior to the meet please phone (718) 641-4700 or (516) 488-6000. For information during the 2016 Saratoga meet (July 22 to September 5) please call (518) 584-6200.

SARATOGA RACE COURSE

Getting Around

(Aerial view from Union Avenue)

is a 350-acre racetrack in Saratoga Springs NY. The 2016 meet will be 40 days long from Friday, July 22 to Labor Day, Monday, September 5. Saratoga is the home of the 147th Running of the Travers Stakes on August 27.

MAIN COURSE:

1 1/8 Miles

TURF COURSE:

1 Mile

STEEPLECHASE/ INNER TURF: 7/8 Mile

ATTENDANCE CAPACITY:

50,000

TRACKSIDE DINING:

2,200

TOTAL SEATING CAPACITY:

18,000, including picnic tables and benches.

GENERAL PARKING:

Free

TRACKSIDE PARKING

$12. Gates open at 6:45a.m.  (Refunds available until 10 a.m. No refunds on Travers Day Saturday, August 27)

PREFERRED PARKING:

Preferred parking available for $7 while trackside parking is $12.

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OKLAHOMA TOURS Exclusive tours of the Oklahoma Training Track Find out why this beautiful and historic site, located across the street from Saratoga Race Course, is a favorite base for leading trainers such as Todd Pletcher and Nick Zito. Our behind the scenes tours, offered in cooperation with the New York Racing Association, are available from June to October.

photo by Sharon Castro

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The

Walking Tour

covers approximately 1 mile and lasts for 1.5 hours. The cost is $10 for nonmembers and $5 for members. This price includes admission to the National Museum of Racing after the tour. Sturdy walking shoes are suggested! For insurance reasons, tour participants must be at least 10 years old. (No children in backpacks or strollers.) Oklahoma Tours are scheduled for Saturdays only through October 30, 2016. During the six-week race meet, July 22 - September 5, 2016, tours are offered by reservation Monday and Wednesday-Sunday* (No tours on Friday August 12, Hall Of Fame Induction Day or Travers weekend, August 27-28). We offer one tour a day and the tour begins promptly at 8:30 a.m. and leaves from the Museum parking lot. Reservations are required. Space is limited! All reservations must be received by 4:00 p.m. the day before the tour. You will receive phone confirmation of your reservation. (Make sure you leave a phone number where you can be reached from 9am till 5pm.) For questions or reservations, please call the Education Department at 518-584-0400, extension 120, or email nmredu2@racingmuseum.net

photo by Susie Raisher

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SARATOGA POLO Association Information and photos provided

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The Tailgating crowd gets close to the action at Whitney Field

ver its 118 year history, Saratoga Polo Association has been bringing world-class polo matches to the iconic destination of Saratoga Springs. It has always been a gathering spot for the famous and infamous to see and be seen. More and more guests ranging from young families, to out-on-thetown guests, singles looking to party and play, and business people entertaining clients are enjoying the tranquil confines of Whitney Field. It’s the kind of atmosphere where everyone can spend the day or the whole summer – Saratoga Style! “In the last ten years, Saratoga Polo has continued to grow not only as one of the premier Polo Clubs in the United States, being featured in National and International ad campaigns for the US POLO ASSN apparel brand, and most recently in National Geographic Traveler Magazine” said Jim Rossi, Managing Partner at Saratoga Polo, and Lieutenant Governor for The United States Polo Association, “and the audiences at the matches have grown exponentially with offering the best way to experience polo for date nights, family reunions, and corporate celebrations.”

Some of the best female polo players make Saratoga Polo their summer home 38 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2016

There are 18 Matches and it kicks off with the Celebrate Saratoga Tournament featuring ORTHO NY presenting the Operation Walk Cup on July 8th, and The Keeler Cup presented by the MercedesBenz Center at Keeler Motor Car on July 10th.

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2016

THE 2016 SARATOGA POLO TOURNAMENT SEASON JULY 8

Celebrate Saratoga Tournament ORTHO NY presents the Operation Walk Cup

JULY 10

Celebrate Saratoga Tournament The Mercedes-Benz Center at Keeler Motor Car Company presents the Keeler Cup

AUGUST 12

The Barrantes Cup Tournament Pink Paddock Cup

AUGUST 14

The Barrantes Cup Tournament Finals

AUGUST 19

Ylvisaker Cup Tournament Semi Finals

AUGUST 21

Ylvisaker Cup Tournament Finals

AUGUST 26

JULY 15

RAM TRUCK Presents The SPA Anniversary Cup Semi Finals

JULY 17

RAM TRUCK Presents The SPA Anniversary Cup Finals

Mid Summer Celebration Tournament Semi Finals Mid Summer Celebration Tournament Finals

JULY 22

Veuve Clicquot Challenge Tournament Semi Finals featuring Saratoga Uncorked

JULY 24

Veuve Clicquot Challenge Tournament Finals

JULY 29

Times Union Cup Tournament Semi Finals

JULY 31

Times Union Cup Tournament Finals

AUGUST 5

The Whitney Cup presented by US POLO ASSN Semi Finals

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AUGUST 7

The Whitney Cup presented by US POLO ASSN Finals

AUGUST 28 SEPT 2

ZAPPONE MOTORS presents the RAM TRUCK POLO HALL OF FAME CHALLENGE CUP

SEPT 4

ZAPPONE MOTORS presents the RAM TRUCK POLO HALL OF FAME CHALLENGE CUP FINALS EVERY FRIDAY AND SUNDAY AT 5:30PM JULY 8 - SEPTEMBER 4, 2016 (GATES OPEN AT 4PM) SEASON-LONG SEAT SUBSCRIPTIONS AND MATCH TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

JULY/AUGUST 2016 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 39

The Concierge Staff at Saratoga Polo welcomes Clubhouse guests...

Saratoga TODAY Owner / Publisher, Chad Beatty joins Saratoga Polo's Managing Partner, Jim Rossi in sabring some Veuve Clicquot

Clubhouse seating and Lawn Terrace Tables come with wait staff service

Some of the other highlights for the season include: • The Pink Paddock hosting the Divot Stomp festivities at every match throughout the season with fashion and fun. • Saratoga Uncorked, An Epicurean Celebration featuring champagne and more during the July 22nd Veuve Clicquot Challenge • The Whitney Cup presented by US POLO ASSN, brings the glamour and glory of this historic tournament to the namesake field on August 5th and 7th during the height of the Saratoga Season • RAM TRUCK WEEK August 26th and 28th swings into Saratoga Polo for the SPA Anniversary Cup with some of America’s finest Ram Trucks and festivities all weekend long, and continues through Labor Day Weekend with Zappone Motors and the RAM TRUCK POLO HALL OF FAME CHALLENGE CUP

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Teams clash on the field during the Veuve Clicquot Challenge saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Fans celebrate American Pharoah's visit to Saratoga Springs during the divot stomp

A big part of celebrating the season and putting on the show are the ways that businesses partner with Saratoga Polo. Every year, friends like US POLO ASSN, The Times-Union, Veuve Clicquot and Moet Hennessy, The Mercedes-Benz Center at Keeler Motor Car, The Pink Paddock, Image Photo and Events, Exploresaratoga.com, Quill Media, Saratoga Horseworks, and Zappone Motor Car Company share their brands with over 40,000 guests. Local businesses like Lemery-Greisler, Williams Center for Plastic Surgery, Premiere Transportation, The Pavilion Grand Hotel, HerLife Magazine, and Independent Helicopter come back year after year because they not only support a local attraction like Saratoga Polo, their businesses get spotlighted effectively. New business sponsors including Ram Truck, Freedom Boat Club, Lily and David Fine Jewelers, Monika Cronin/Realty USA, On the Go Concierge, and Saratoga Uncorked are helping to grow the sport and their exposure to Saratoga Polo guests. Saratoga Polo Association has always been community oriented in showcasing local talent, and this year will be partnering with Friends of Music Saratoga to spotlight young local talent who will be performing the National Anthem at every match. For more information about how young people you may know can audition to perform, contact alan@saratogapolo.com. Gates open at 4pm and matches begin at 5:30pm every Friday and Sunday July 8th -September 4th. Go to saratogapolo.com for tickets and more details!

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A player gets ready for the Veuve Clicquot Challenge Match...

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Saratoga Polo…Not Your Average Pony Ride!

Don’t Miss the Action! CLUBhOUSE ADMISSIOn Enjoy air-conditioned comfort. Full cash bar and food available from Old Daley Catering.

$40/PREMIUM RESERvED $30/RESERvED $20/LAwn AnD BLEAChER SEATIng

gEnERAL FIELDSIDE ADMISSIOn Pull your car right up to the action and watch from your tailgate, lawn chairs or picnic blanket.

On Line: SaratogaPolo.com Phone: 518.584.8108 On-Site: Day of Match $40/PREMIUM RESERvED $30/RESERvED

BECOME A SUBSCRIBER wITh FULL SEASOn BEnEFITS

Individual, family and corporate subscriptions allow you to enjoy a host of benefits including season-long Clubhouse admission. Reserved tailgate spots and box seats are also available. For more details visit us on line or call Amy Lavin at 518.584.8108 ext. 101. S

BLI

ShED

PARTY In STYLE Imagine hosting your special event in our classic Clubhouse all year round, or in the tented luxury of the outdoors during our spectacular summer season. Delight your guests for any occasion, from personal milestones, to charity galas and holiday parties, business gatherings, and breathtaking weddings. Let our simply elegant venue combine with the extraordinary talents of Old Daley Catering, Saratoga Polo’s exclusive gourmet caterer, for memories that will last a lifetime. For more information about hospitality services call 518.584.8108.

$30/CARLOAD $50/RESERvED CARLOAD

BUY TICKETS

A SAR g

C SO POL O AS ™

Fridays and Sundays July 8 - September 4 at 5:30pm Purchase Tickets On Line at SaratogaPolo.Com or call 518.584.8108 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

JULY/AUGUST 2016 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 43

SARATOGA Performing Arts Center

ifty years ago, Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) was founded as the idyllic outdoor summer home for New York City Ballet (NYCB) and The Philadelphia Orchestra. Sterling Hyltin, Principal Dancer of NYCB, has described SPAC as: “the Madison Square Garden of the Classical Arts.” SPAC is cherished by locals and tourists alike. Audiences experience world-class artistry while enjoying the beauty of nature at our acousticallysuperior open-air amphitheater and our lush, sloping lawn. SPAC’s 5,200 capacity amphitheater was voted USA Today’s 2015 “Best Outdoor Music Venue.” Uniting SPAC’s rich past with the inspiration and promise of the future, SPAC’s milestone 2016 50th Anniversary Season is a dynamic blend of tried & true and bold & new performances that will set the stage for the next fifty years of music and dance under the stars in the Spa State Park. Marcia J. White, SPAC’s President and Executive Director, commented, “At SPAC, we pride ourselves on creating an audience experience that goes far beyond the rise and fall of the stage curtain. We call it ‘the SPAC experience’ because our venue comes to life with artistry that knows no limits—inspiring audiences and building community through a shared experience. As we celebrate SPAC’s 50th Anniversary, we celebrate the visionaries who brought SPAC to life and the community that has enhanced, enriched, and expanded SPAC for five decades.” “SPAC’s 2016 season will be a season of many ‘firsts,’” White added. “As we look to our golden anniversary, we remember that the dreams of the future are as important as the history of the past. There is no better way to celebrate SPAC’s visionary founders and unprecedented history as America’s summer home for the classical arts than to raise the curtain on our future.”

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Anniversary Community Events... The Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) will host a series of special events throughout the 2016 50th Anniversary Season in celebration of the greater Capital Region community that has supported the venue for five decades. JUNE 30 @ 8:00 PM: TWYLA THARP WORLD PREMIERE Eminent choreographer Twyla Tharp presents a world premiere performance made possible through Pathways to Dance and the support of the New York State Regional Economic Development Council. Pathways to Dance is an inaugural 10-organization, 8-county initiative dedicated to expanding dance offerings in the Capital Region. JULY 8 @ 6:00 PM: 50TH ANNIVERSARY COMMUNITY PICNIC, FEATURING NATIONAL DANCE INSTITUTE Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of SPAC’s Opening Night – July 8, 1966—with a Community Picnic on the SPAC lawn. Highlighting the picnic event will be the debut of a new SPAC education program, entitled, The Performance Project: Youth in Motion presented in collaboration with National Dance Institute (NDI). NDI, a non-profit arts education organization for underserved youth in New York City, was founded in 1976 by ballet star and former New York City Ballet principal dancer Jacques d'Amboise. SPAC and the Capital District and Saratoga Regional YMCAs have partnered to enable eighty local youth to join thirty New York City children in NDI’s exciting debut performance on the SPAC stage. The Performance Project will serve as the prelude to the evening’s much-anticipated performance by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. JULY 23 @ 5:30 PM: GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY GALA, HONORING FOUNDERS & FEATURING JUSTIN PECK WORLD PREMIERE SPAC will honor founders Marylou Whitney, the Dake Family, and the Wait Family, who will serve as Honorary Chairs of the annual New York City Ballet Gala, themed the “Golden Anniversary Gala.” The evening will feature a World Premiere ballet by New York City Ballet’s Resident Choreographer Justin Peck, made possible through the generous support of Ron & Michele Riggi and Vincent & Patty Riggi. AUGUST 4 @ 8:00 PM: “AUDIENCE CHOICE” The votes are in! After a month of online voting, SPAC audiences selected Bernstein’s Overture to Candide as the opening piece featured on The Philadelphia Orchestra’s August 4 concert, Sarah Chang Returns. Candide, first performed in 1956, is an operetta based on Voltaire’s novella of the same name. AUGUST 5 @ 6:00 PM: RED CARPET WELCOME TO MICHAEL TORKE WORLD PREMIERE FOR THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA

Photo by Paul Kolnik

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Illustrious composer Michael Torke returns to Saratoga with a world premiere for The Philadelphia Orchestra made possible through the generous support of Charles & Candace Wait and The Adirondack Trust Company. In celebration of five decades of peerless music-making at SPAC, audiences will be welcomed to the once-in-a-lifetime performance with a Red Carpet Entrance. In addition to Torke’s four-movement symphonic work, the concert will also feature guest performances by New York City Ballet dancers in excerpts from Swan Lake. JULY/AUGUST 2016 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 45

DOUG VARONE AND DANCERS: JUNE 17 As part of a historic partnership with Skidmore College, SPAC will present critically-acclaimed Doug Varone and Dancers modern dance company to kick-off the 2016 season. Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2016, the company resides at the 92nd Street Y in New York City and has performed on all of the major stages and festivals across the country, as well as in Europe, Asia, Canada, and South America. “Doug Varone and Dancers is widely celebrated for emotive and expressive performances,” White added. “The Chicago Tribune praised the company, saying, ‘Many choreographers can create interesting movement; few can make it mean so much.’”

Photo by Cliff Watts

Photo by Paula Lobo

THE 39TH ANNUAL FREIHOFER’S SARATOGA JAZZ FESTIVAL: JUNE 25-26 The fourth longest-consecutive-running jazz festival in the world, the Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival presents two days of the world’s greatest jazz musicians on two stages. The 2016 line-up includes headliners Chaka Khan, Smokey Robinson, Chick Corea Trilogy, and Joey Alexander—the Indonesian piano prodigy who will turn 13 years old at SPAC! While two days and two stages of live, world-class jazz is the centerpiece of the weekend, fans can also enjoy a host of amenities including a fine arts and crafts fair, CD signings by artists, a full-service bar in the Hall of Springs, southern style barbeque and other food vendors, all presented by Stella Artois. Guests are welcome to bring their own food and beverages, as well as blankets, tents and lawn umbrellas. Parking for the event is free.

TWYLA THARP DANCE: JUNE 30 World renowned choreographer Twyla Tharp will present highlights from her 50-year career as well as the world premiere of her newest work, Beethoven Opus 130, made possible through Pathways to Dance, an inaugural eight county initiative designed to bring dance to the Capital Region. Twyla Tharp has choreographed more than one hundred sixty works and received numerous awards including a Tony Award for Best Choreography, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography, the 2004 National Medal of the Arts, the 2008 Jerome Robbins Prize, and a 2008 Kennedy Center Honor.

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ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER: JULY 8-9 Recognized by the United States Congress as a vital American “Cultural Ambassador to the World,” Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has performed for over 23 million people in 48 states and in 71 countries on 6 continents. At SPAC, the company will perform Artistic Director Robert Battle’s Awakening, as well as founder Alvin Ailey’s iconic Revelations – the most widely seen modern dance in the world. “Known for its dancers’ remarkable power, athleticism, and precision, Alvin Ailey is truly peerless - the only dance company of its kind in the world,” said White.

THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA: AUGUST 3-20 The Philadelphia Orchestra presents an incredible season fit for a 50th Anniversary, including the world premiere of renowned composer Michael Torke’s Unconquered, a four-movement symphonic work inspired by the spirit of Saratoga during the American Revolutionary War, made possible through the support of Charles and Candace Wait and The Adirondack Trust Company. Other highlights include the New York premiere of The Firebird by Janni Young Productions, the puppeteers behind Broadway’s War Horse. Opening Night will feature a performance of composer Hannibal’s One Land, One River, One People, a “spirtorio” featuring a combined choir of singers from the Morgan State University Choir and Albany Pro Musica. Celebrated guest artists include soprano Renée Fleming in her SPAC debut, a double billing of Joshua Bell and Chris Botti, Sarah Chang, André Watts, and Ratatouille in Concert.

THE CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER: AUGUST 7-23

AUGUST 7 @ 3:00 PM: CMS DEBUTS APPALACHIAN SPRING The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center presents the SPAC Chamber Music debut of Aaron Copland’s iconic classic, Appalachian Spring Suite for Ensemble. The CMS @SPAC 2016 Season is presented in memory of SPAC founder Newman E. “Pete” Wait. AUGUST 11 @ 3:00 PM & AUGUST 12 @ 8:00 PM: PREMIERE OF THE FIREBIRD (SPECIAL THURSDAY MATINEE) SPAC presents special Thursday matinee and Friday evening performances of The Firebird, a world premiere production created by the puppeteers behind Broadway's War Horse. This spectacular production, set to Stravinsky’s famous work and performed by The Philadelphia Orchestra, is made possible by SPAC, Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, Ravinia Festival, Sun Valley Summer Symphony, and Hollywood Bowl. AUGUST 18 @ 8:00 PM: RENÉE FLEMING’S SPAC DEBUT One of the most beloved and celebrated musical ambassadors of our time, soprano Renée Fleming—“the people’s diva”—will make her SPAC debut with The Philadelphia Orchestra. Fleming captivates audiences around the world with her sumptuous voice, consummate artistry, and compelling stage presence. In 2014 she brought her voice to a vast new audience as the first classical artist to sing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl.

SPAC Walk of Fame Star Dedications: Throughout the 2016 Season, SPAC will dedicate six stars on its Walk of Fame to influential artists and community leaders who have shaped SPAC’s history: JUNE 26 @ 7:00 PM: CHICK COREA, LEGENDARY JAZZ MUSICIAN

Led by internationally renowned co-Artistic Directors David Finckel and Wu Han, The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS) returns to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center for six innovative, diverse, and unforgettable programs. At SPAC, audiences can get to know CMS’s impressive roster of virtuoso chamber musicians at preperformance Chamber Chats and post-performance Artist Meet and Greets at the Gideon Putnam Resort. Opening Night features the SPAC Chamber Music premiere of Aaron Copland’s beloved Appalachian Spring Suite for Ensemble, the piece that won him the 1945 Pulitzer Prize. The 2016 CMS@SPAC Series is presented in memory of Newman E. “Pete” Wait.

On Sunday, June 26, SPAC will present keyboard virtuoso Chick Corea with a Walk of Fame Star in honor of his contributions to jazz music and to SPAC throughout his career. Corea performed at the inaugural 1978 Saratoga Jazz Festival, founded by jazz impresario George Wein. Currently celebrating his 75th birthday year (June 12), Corea returns to SPAC for his 9th jazz festival appearance, in a trio format featuring Christian McBride on bass and Brian Blade on drums. Corea has received 22 GRAMMY® Awards, including a 2015 Award for Trilogy, and 63 GRAMMY® Award nominations— making him the 4th most nominated artist in GRAMMY® history. A DownBeat Hall of Famer and NEA Jazz Master, Chick Corea has attained living legend status after five decades of unparalleled creativity and staggering artistic output.

SARATOGA WINE AND FOOD FESTIVAL: SEPTEMBER 9-11

JULY 20 @ 7:00 PM: GEORGE BALANCHINE AND LINCOLN KIRSTEIN, FOUNDERS OF NEW YORK CITY BALLET

Nestled at the foot of the Adirondack Mountains, SPAC provides a gorgeous setting for guests to enjoy epicurean delights, spirits, international wines, and celebrity chef cooking demonstrations. Pack your weekend bag and discover one of the country’s fastest growing wine and food festivals.

SPAC will present Walk of Fame Stars to two of the most influential figures in dance in the 20th century, legendary choreographer George Balanchine and arts patron Lincoln Kirstein. Together Balanchine and Kirstein co-founded New York City Ballet in 1948, creating one of the world’s foremost ballet companies, renowned for its athletic, contemporary style with a repertory of original ballets that has

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NEW YORK CITY BALLET: JULY 20-30 New York City Ballet returns to SPAC for their 50th Anniversary Residency with a remarkable line-up of 17 ballets by 9 choreographers, including four matinee performances, and the return of George Balanchine’s beloved A Midsummer Night’s Dream, which opened SPAC in 1966. The residency will also feature 4 SPAC premieres and a world premiere ballet by Resident Choreographer Justin Peck, whom the New York Times has praised as “the most eminent choreographer of ballet in the United States.” Peck’s new ballet will be set to Stravinsky’s exciting Scherzo Fantastique and is made possible through the generous support of Ron & Michele Riggi and Vincent & Patty Riggi.

Photo by Paul Kolnik Photo by Paul Kolnik

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM: SPAC’s inaugural 1966 season will come to life once again when New York City Ballet dances Balanchine’s unforgettable masterpiece, A Midsummer Night’s Dream during the 2016 50th Anniversary summer season. The ballet was first performed at SPAC fifty years ago at the amphitheatre’s Opening Night performance on July 8, 1966. Based on Shakespeare’s beloved comedy, with a score by Felix Mendelssohn, and enchanting costumes by the famed designer Karinska, the work is one of the most beloved in New York City Ballet’s repertoire. Balanchine had been familiar with Shakespeare’s play from an early age. As a child he had appeared as an elf in a production in St. Petersburg, and he could recite portions of the play by heart in Russian. Balanchine loved Mendelssohn’s overture and incidental music for A Midsummer Night’s Dream (composed respectively in 1826 and 1843), and it is this score, Balanchine later said, that inspired his choreography. Having loved his experiences of performing onstage as a child, Balanchine felt it was important that children be given the same opportunity in his own ballets when possible. A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one such ballet that features several dozen roles for children. This summer, SPAC honors Balanchine’s legacy with casts of local dance students performing the roles of fairies, butterflies, and pages.

Photo by Paul Kolnik

48 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2016

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a SPAC tradition,” said Marcia J. White, President and Executive Director of SPAC. “This work was performed at our amphitheatre’s opening night fifty years ago. Maybe more than any other piece, A Midsummer Night’s Dream continues to capture our audiences’ hearts. From the comedy of Shakespeare’s classic story to the production’s magnificent costumes and dazzling sets, our audiences will be transfixed and transported into an enchanted forest of fairies and dreams. The beauty and magic of A Midsummer Night’s Dream perfectly reflects the natural elegance of an evening in the Spa State Park.”

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THE FIREBIRD: The puppeteers that brought the world the unforgettable Broadway Musical War Horse will once again amaze audiences as they bring to life the timeless Russian fairytale ballet The Firebird. SPAC, along with the Mann Center for the Performing Arts, Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, Ravinia Festival, Sun Valley Summer Symphony, and Hollywood Bowl, has commissioned the South Africa-based puppet company Janni Younge Productions to create a live puppet performance set to Igor Stravinsky’s 1910 masterpiece. Younge is a multiaward winning puppet creator, designer, and director, best known for productions of Broadway’s War Horse, the Royal Shakespeare Company’s The Tempest, and the Bristol Old Vic’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The Firebird was originally written as a story ballet, depicting the tale of a magical bird that saves a prince from an immortal magician and ultimately unites the prince with his true love. At SPAC, The Firebird puppet performance will feature original choreography in a contemporary African style by Jay Pather, one of South Africa’s leading contemporary choreographers. Pather’s recent work has taken him around the world to cities including Barcelona, Copenhagen, and New York. SPAC will introduce a rare matinee performance for the Thursday, August 11 presentation of The Firebird. “The Firebird will be nothing short of spectacular. We are thrilled to be a commissioner of such an exciting and innovative take on Stravinsky’s timeless score. In addition, SPAC is delighted to present a rare Thursday matinee concert with our partner, The Philadelphia Orchestra.” White added.

forever changed the face of classical dance. Both were pivotal in the establishment of SPAC as New York City Ballet’s summer home, and as such, in the establishment of the first summer home for a ballet company anywhere in the world. After the Ballet’s Opening Night in 1966, Kirstein praised the venue, saying, “I believe [SPAC] to be the greatest theater in the world for the spectacle of dancing. And it is neither flattery nor chauvinism that makes me say so. I mean it.” JULY 30 @ 7:00 PM: GOVERNOR NELSON ROCKEFELLER, GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK STATE, 1959-1973 Governor Nelson Rockefeller played a vital role in the creation of SPAC in both public and personal capacities, committing land in the Spa State Park to the creation of the amphitheater and dedicating critical financial support from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund to the project. At SPAC’s 1964 Groundbreaking, Governor Rockefeller exclaimed, “I can’t help but be impressed and feel strongly that in America, the things that are done, the things that are good, that are exciting, that are wonderful, come from the individual creativity and responsibility of free citizens. I don’t think that I have been on a platform with as many men and women who have contributed so much to the cultural, recreational and dynamic growth of America as are gathered here today.” AUGUST 6 @ 7:00 PM: MARCIA J. WHITE, PRESIDENT & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF SPAC Marcia J. White assumed the position of President and Executive Director of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in March of 2005, leading SPAC into a new era characterized by a strengthened financial picture, historic capital improvements, a robust educational focus, and artistic excellence. Upon announcing her decision to leave SPAC following the 2016 Season, Ms. White remarked, “It has been a privilege and a joy of my life to lead, serve, and work for one of the most extraordinary performing arts centers in the world. The Saratoga Performing Arts Center has enriched and enhanced the quality of life for millions of people since its founding fifty years ago.” AUGUST 10 @ 7:00 PM: ED LEWI, SPAC PUBLIC RELATIONS EXECUTIVE EXTRAORDINAIRE Visionary public relations executive Ed Lewi served SPAC for over twenty years, first as Director of Publicity and Promotion, later as Promotion Consultant, and finally, as a member and Secretary of the Board of Directors. Lewi’s creativity and foresight established some of the most memorable moments in SPAC’s history, shaping public perception of SPAC and its artistic offerings, and building new audiences. AUGUST 17 @ 7:00 PM: MAESTRO EUGENE ORMANDY, MUSIC DIRECTOR OF THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA, 1936-1980

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Conductor of The Philadelphia Orchestra for over 40 years, Eugene Ormandy is legendary for his cultivation of the distinctive “Philadelphia Sound,” a uniquely rich, resonant sound that made the Orchestra famous around the world. Ormandy served as a consultant to the design of the amphitheater, resulting in the impressive acoustics that have distinguished SPAC as one of the finest outdoor music venues in the world. At Opening Night of the Orchestra’s inaugural residency in 1966, Ormandy stated, “I believe that history was made …and I would be surprised if arts centers all over the country—indeed, all over the world—did not want to copy this incomparable amphitheatre.” SS JULY/AUGUST 2016 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 49

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LOCAL FARMERS' MARKETS Saratoga Farmers’ Market

sets up twice a week, From May to October Wednesday afternoons from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. under the pavilions in High Rock Park, on the edge of downtown Saratoga Springs just east of the City Center.

Spa City Farmers Market Spa State Park Sunday 10-3 Year round Lincoln Bath Tuesday (May-September) 3-6 National Museum of Dance www.Spacityfarmersmarket.com

Greenfield Farmers’ Market Runs every Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. in Middle Grove Park on Middle Grove Road, through the second week in September. For more information and weekly updates send a request to Ron Deutsch at mkd67@aol.com or visit greenfieldhistoricalsociety.com/farmers-market.html

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Favorite Spots

)

other than The Track!

)

FROM THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW!

FREEBIES There is so much FREE stuff out there to see and do! This list is just a teaser, but the Chamber’s website is worth spending a few minutes on to find the many freebies around town— Saratoga.org.

EVENTS All American July 4th Celebration

saratogasjuly4th.com

Hats Off Festival (7/22 & 7/23)

Travers Week Festival

PICK-YOUR-OWN-FRUIT Ariel’s Farm 194 Northern Pines Rd., Wilton (518) 584-2189 Hand Melon Market 533 Wilbur Ave. Greenwich (518) 692-2376 Winney’s Farm 113 Winney Dr. Schuylerville (518) 695- 5547

(8/21 - 8/27)

Final Stretch Festival (9/4 & 9/5)

Theater

Shakespeare in the Park, Congress Park, July 19- Aug. 7 Tues.-Sat. 6 p.m. & Sun. 3 p.m. Donations appreciated. SaratogaShakespeare.com

John Seymour

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FASIG-TIPTON The grounds are open to the public, so grab a table in the courtyard, have a (very reasonably priced) bite at the concession stand and then walk around and pick out which horse you’ll be plunking down millions for. (Auctions held Monday 8/8 and Tuesday 8/9)

SaratogaPhotographer.com

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COUNTY FAIRS

Susan Farnsworth

To really appreciate the label of “The City in the Country,” you need to wander out a little. What better way to check out the countryside than by going to any of the wonderful country fairs in the area? Saratoga's All-American Celebration July 3 & 4 Saratoga County Fair July 19-24 SaratogaCountyFair.org (518) 885-9701

Susan Farnsworth

Altamont Fair August 16-21 AltamontFair.com (518) 861-6671 Washington County Fair August 22-28 WashingtonCountyFair.com (518) 692- 2464 Schaghiticoke Fair August 31- September 5 SchaghticokeFair.com (518) 753-4411

Susan Farnsworth

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TAKE THE TRAIN... FOR FUN! Saratoga & North Creek Railway 26 Station Ln Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 www.sncrr.com (877) 726-7245 Whether you prefer a leisurely pace or crave adventure, the Saratoga & North Creek Railway can connect you to fun outdoor adventure in and around the Adirondacks. The 9 stops include North Creek, Riparius Riverside, The Glen, Glen Hudson, Thurman, Stony Creek, Hadley Luzerne, Corinth, and Saratoga Springs. Saratoga Dinner Train Departs Saratoga Springs at 6:30PM 7/28/2015- 8/25/2015 Looking for a unique and romantic dining experience on “Dark Tuesdays” this summer? Come ride the Saratoga Dinner Trains. With departures each Tuesday during track season, these trains offer gourmet dining and amazing sunset views from SNCR’s vintage dome cars. Offering full bar service and new menus each week, the Saratoga Dinner trains are the best seats in the house! Our chef can accommodate special dietary needs. Advance notice is required

BREAKFAST AT THE TRACK Come to the Saratoga Race Course for breakfast! Yes, you pay to park (between $5-$10), but if you leave by 10 a.m. you get a refund. So enjoy the buffet, sip your coffee in a private box, watch the horses work out and enjoy the misty morning like royalty.

VICTORIA POOL Travel back in time and take a more elegant dip! The Victoria Pool inside the Saratoga Spa State Park 19 Roosevelt Drive, open 10-6 daily, $8 per person

Photos from “Save the Victoria Pool Society”

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TO SEE WHERE THE LOCALS GO LOOK FOR THIS DECAL

Photo by Samantha Decker

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DAY TRIPS Head North: Visit Lake George, Schroon Lake, Lake Placid and the Adirondack Region, just to name a few. Head East: Walk Around Schuylerville or Greenwich and visit the quaint little shops and great eateries. Vermont is well worth the drive, and you’ll be there within an hour!

Head South: Go Antiquing in Ballston Spa! If you visit Ballston Spa on a Thursday, make sure you stay in town for one of their free concerts in Wiswall Park. (June through August, 6-8 p.m.) Head West: Drive to Sacandaga Lake and enjoy the lovely scenery around the lake and in the small neighboring towns

WALKING TOURS

PICNICS Saratoga County has many great locations to enjoy a packed lunch while surrounded by beautiful scenery. Visit Lock Five in Schuylerville and watch the boats, find a spot at Spa State Park, or Congress Park, or even head north to the Wilton Wildlife Preserve and Park.

An extensive and educational walking tour of the State Park mineral waters is available and may be booked by contacting the Roosevelt Bath House The Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau will offer the Heritage Area Visitor Center guided walking tours of Congress Park “History, Legend and Lore: Two Hundred Years of History in 90 Minutes” -- the popular stroll through Congress Park highlighting the history and personalities that have made Saratoga Springs the city that it is today. This year, the walking tours will be offered on Tuesday and ThursdaySaturday at 10:30 AM beginning July 7th through mid-September. Tours leave from the Visitor Center, 297 Broadway at the corner of Congress Street and Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs, directly across from Congress Park. Tickets are $5.00. Children under 12 years are free. Please call 587-3241. John Seymour

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Got Kids? PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS

SARATOGA SPA STATE PARK 19 Roosevelt Dr., Saratoga Saratoga Spa State Park is a park to enjoy during all four seasons. The State Park offers a wide variety of walking and hiking trails, streams, a geyser, picnic pavilions, two pool complexes, a golf course, biking trails, and lots more. There is an $8 vehicle fee to enter the actual park during the summer, but it’s always free to get into the entrance at the Avenue of the Pines. Trail maps are available at the Park Office. Dogs are allowed on trails on leash only.

WEST SIDE RECREATION

At-a-Gla

nce

Stroller-fr ie Infant Sw ndly? ings? Bathroo ms?

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At-a-Glance

CONGRESS PARK

ly? Stroller-friend s? Infant Swing Bathrooms?

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Downtown Saratoga Springs

Congress Park is a gorgeous and historic park in the middle of downtown Saratoga. With duck ponds, grassy meadows, historic landmarks and a wooden carousel, Congress Park is a great meeting place, picnic spot, or people-watching destination. In July and August, Congress Park is home to live music concerts, arts and crafts festivals, and other special events.

SaratogaPhotographer.com

Plan it! Pack a picnic blanket from home and pick up lunch at one of you favorite downtown Saratoga lunch spots. Enjoy an afternoon picnicking in the park!

152 Beekman Street, Saratoga Springs

West Side Rec is one of our top playground picks because in addition to many shaded areas and a decent playground, this park has water! A large interactive fountain sits in the middle of the grass, a refreshing invitation for hot, sticky kids. This park is a good size, and has plenty of shaded areas, some benches and picnic tables. The playground equipment is basic and there is a good sized sand box. There are bathrooms here but they are a bit of a walk from the playground. West Side Rec is a nice spot and well worth a visit.

At-a-Glance ly? Stroller-friend s? Infant Swing Bathrooms? Sprinkler Park?

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EAST SIDE RECREATION

Strolle r-friend ly? ☑ Infant Sw Bathro ings? ☑ oms? Sprinkl ☑ er Park ? ☑

Corner of Lake Ave and Granger Ave, Saratoga Springs

Located on the corner of Lake Ave (Route 29) and Granger Ave in Saratoga is East Side Rec. East Side Rec has a skate park, several tennis courts, baseball fields and public bathrooms. It’s a nice park for a hot summer day because it is one of four Saratoga fountain playgrounds. The fountain is nice and usually quite busy in the summertime. There is a playground at East Side Rec but it is a bit of a walk from the fountain.

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Saratoga’s

WHITE DOGS WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER, PHOTOS BY ALICE COREY

Jack Frost

P essa

G lacier

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erched atop his truck as if it were their movable mountaintop home, Jim Scerra’s dogs are a smiling example of what makes Saratoga sensational. With their thick, white, fluffy coats and uncomplicated loyalty, Scerra’s impeccably trained dogs commonly enchant the crowds of people that gather to meet, pet, and marvel at their natural wonder. “People come up to me and just will not leave. Little kids are drawn to the dogs like a magnet. I love it and the dogs enjoy it,” said Scerra of the local phenomenon that has earned the animals their widespread notoriety. Scerra has always loved animals, he said, and they have often garnered quite a bit of attention. It started in high school when he was given an unusual pet… a squirrel monkey that would sit on his shoulder while he fed it grapes. While at the University of Colorado, Scerra had his first encounter with the majestic Samoyed dog breed as one appeared to him and followed along while he bicycled through the vast wilderness. He named her “Sha-Boom” and her sweet, friendly nature earned her the distinction of becoming the house mascot. Scerra has loved the breed ever since. Their thick hair is surprisingly easy to maintain and their mellow, social nature makes them great family pets. He moved to the region in 1984, and people soon became accustomed to seeing his dogs around town. Heartbroken after the passing of one in 2007, he added a husky named “Glacier” to his pack, which also includes two sammys; “Pessa” and “Jack Frost”. “People come up to me in awe,” said Scerra. They are amazed not only at the glorious beauty of the animals but are charmed by Jack Frost, who adores nuzzling women wearing perfume, and who Scerra calls, “the womanizer”, while Glacier observantly watches from the rooftop. Because these statuesque hunters seem so genuinely at home in his truck, while he sits on a bench nearby, “How do I train them?” is the question Scerra gets asked most, he said. “They’d rather be in the back of the truck than be left home. You have to really be enlightened and know what they’re feeling and bring that into any situation,” he advises. He also makes sure they are well fed, watered, exercised and ready to relax before submerging them into the public arena. He never parks in direct sun, and recalls only once being reprimanded by a police officer for not having the dogs on a leash while they were in the truck. It resulted in a ticket that was later dismissed by the judge. Scerra’s patience, care and compassion with his dogs earned him a position as a dog control officer for the town of Wilton. As such, he works to ensure a positive pet community and promotes the opportunities for affection, appreciation, and the family atmosphere present at the Saratoga Spa State Dog Park. The Dog Park on Crescent Street is maintained and owned by NYS State and is open to the public 7 days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Stop by sometime and hopefully you too can meet Saratoga’s WHITE DOGS. SS JULY/AUGUST 2016 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 59

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2016

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COMPOSED BY LIZ PARKER, PHOTOS BY JOHN SEYMOUR

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2016

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JULY - AU GUST THURSDAY, JUNE 20TH Skidmore Jazz Institute Faculty Septet

8PM, Zankel Music Center Helen Filene Ladd Concert Hall Free for students and children

SATURDAY, JUNE 25TH Freihofer’s Jazz Festival 12:00 PM, SPAC

Featuring Chaka Khan, Steps Ahead Reunion, Pieces of a Dream, Joey Alexander Trio and more!

SATURDAY, JUNE 25TH – SUNDAY, JUNE 26TH Adirondack Food & Wine Festival Charles R Woods Festival Commons, Lake George, NY

This 2nd annual event will be even BIGGER & BETTER and you won’t want to miss it! The Festival will showcase some of the best wineries, breweries, distilleries, local artisanal food vendors, crafts and food trucks the region has to offer. For more information visit www.adirondackwineandfoodfestival.com

COMPOSED BY LIZ PARKER

FRIDAY, JULY 1ST – SUNDAY JULY 3RD Upbeat on the Roof: Olivia Quillio Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery – Skidmore College 7PM

Troy-based singer-songwriter Olivia Quillio creates songs that feel at once raw and luminous. Taking influence from folk, jazz, and soul, Quillio has been praised for her “commendable lyrical guile,” “refreshingly honest” music, and passionate live performances.

Phish SPAC 7:30 PM SUNDAY JULY 3RD – MONDAY, JULY 4TH Saratoga’s All-American Celebration Downtown Saratoga Springs

Fireworks, a parade, BBQ and Dessert Festivals, live music, a car show and more! For more information visit www.saratogajuly4th.com

MONDAY, JULY 4TH Firecracker4 Road Race

Saratoga Springs City Center, 9AM-12PM

Start the 4th with an invigorating run through the beautiful streets of Saratoga Springs. Race features live entertainment along he course, awards, prizes, refreshments, large vendor courtyard, goody bags and awesome race shirts. For more information visitfirecracker4.com/

TUESDAY, JULY 5TH Journey & The Doobie Brothers, SPAC

FRIDAY, JULY 8TH Upbeat on the Roof: Dust Bowl Faeries

Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery – Skidmore College 7PM

Dust Bowl Faeries is an ethereal electro-acoustic gothic folk ensemble led by artist and musician Ryder Cooley. Accordion, lap steel, saw, ukulele, keys, and percussion combine to create their unique, otherworldly sound. Additional faeries include Karen Cole, Jen DuBois and JoAnn Stevelos. Hazel, a taxidermy sheep, joins the Dust Bowl Fairies as spirit animal go-go dancer.

SATURDAY, JULY 9TH Wilton’s Community Day: ParkFest 2016

Gavin Park, Saratoga Springs 11AM – 9PM

Benny & the Jets, Marvel character’s Spider-man and Captain America, Sylvia Fletcher comedy ventriloquist, Bryson Lang comedy juggling, F&F pig racing, car show, rock wall climbing, pony rides, amusement rides, dog agility show, great food and more!

Art in the Park 2016

Congress Park, Saratoga Springs 10AM – 5PM

Artists will be on hand to discuss their drawing, painting, ceramics, jewelry, sculpture, photography, printmaking, and work in other media. This year's event will include prizes, local music, great food and a Kidz Art Zone! Free. For more information visit www.saratoga-arts.org

SUNDAY, JULY 10TH Steely Dan, SPAC TUESDAY, JULY 12TH Disturbed & Breaking Benjamin, SPAC

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13TH Tedeschi Trucks Band, SPAC FRIDAY, JULY 15TH Upbeat on the Roof: Decoda: Skidmore Chamber Music Institute Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery – Skidmore College 7PM

photo by John Seymour

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Decoda is a New York City-based chamber ensemble comprised of virtuoso musicians, entrepreneurs, and passionate advocates of the arts. The ensemble’s summer intensive at Skidmore College, now in its third year, offers young musicians multiple performance opportunities and occasions for meaningful community engagement.

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Dave Matthew’s Band, SPAC SATURDAY, JULY 16TH The Chip Festival

Saratoga Springs City Center 10AM -6 PM

The First Annual Chip Festival! Held in the birthplace of the potato chip: Saratoga Springs, NY! This event is hosted by The Saratoga Springs Lions Club. For more information visit www.thechipfestival.com

WEDNESDAY, JULY 20TH Opening Night: New York City Ballet – A Midsummer Night’s Dream SPAC 8PM

The New York City Ballet returns to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center July 20 – July 30. For more info visit www.spac.org

FRIDAY, JULY 22ND Saratoga Race Track Opening Day

Saratoga Race Track, Union Ave., Saratoga Springs 11AM Get Ready for another thrilling season of racing. For more information visit www. saratogaracetrack.com or www.nyra.com

Upbeat on the Roof: Terry Gordon Quintet

Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery – Skidmore College 7PM

Terry Gordon Quintet is a jazz group based in upstate New York creating adventurous original music. Formed in 1992, the group performs regularly in concert settings and jazz clubs throughout the Northeast, has been the recipient of a New York State arts grant for composition, and has released four albums.

Hats Off to Saratoga Music Festival

Downtown Saratoga Springs, 6PM – 11PM

Downtown Live Music festival featuring various outdoor music sites

MONDAY, JULY 25TH Josh Groban and Sara McLachlan, SPAC

FRIDAY, JULY 29TH Upbeat on the Roof: Swamp Baby

Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery – Skidmore College 7PM

Over the past ten years, Albany-based psychfolk band Swamp Baby has gained notice both near and far for their particular form of ethereal chamber pop. The four-piece group creates lush, layered sounds and delicately intimate songs.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3RD Opening Night, The Philadelphia Orchestra – Ode to Joy & Hannibal SPAC, 8PM The Philadelphia Orchestra

performing at SPAC from August 3rd – 20th

FRIDAY, AUGUST 5TH Ballston Spa Film Festival

Iron Spring Park, Front St. and Ballston Spa High School Auditorium, Friday and Saturday

A family friendly festival which draws film entries from around the neighborhood… and around he globe and it’s free to attend, so that families with children can have a fun night (or two!) with little expense. An outdoor, open-air festival. Bring your own chair, get comfortable and enjoy quality films from around he world. Free. For more information visit www.bspfilm.org

Upbeat on the Roof: Red Haired Strangers

Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery – Skidmore College 7PM

Founding members Ryan Dunham and John Rice have been playing music together for over twenty years, creating the Red Haired Strangers’ unique sound that pulls from country, blues, and bluegrass influences. Beginning as a guitar and harmonica duo, their sound has been enriched with the addition of new musicians on fiddle, drums, bass, dobro, and pedal steel guitar.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 6TH The Whitney

Saratoga Race Course, 267 Union Avenue, Saratoga Springs 1PM The Whitney, one of North America’s premier races for older horses on the dirt, will top the card of a blockbuster day of racing that includes five stakes. Past winners have included legendary names such as Discovery, War Admiral, and the great Kelso. $1,250,000 Purse; 1 1/8 (Dirt);3&UP; Grade I.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 12TH Upbeat on the Roof: Hot Club of Saratoga

Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery – Skidmore College 7PM

Gypsy jazz ensemble the Hot Club of Saratoga carries on the spirit and style of music created in the 1930s by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli in the Quintet of the Hot Club of France. The Hot Club of Saratoga’s full quintet features solo and rhythm guitars, string bass, violin, and clarinet/sax. Together the group explores the genre and covers a range of its sounds from sweet, soulful balladry and hard driving swing to fiery, upbeat tempos.

SUNDAY, JULY 31ST Luke Bryan, SPAC

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2016

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JULY - AU GUST SUNDAY, AUGUST 14TH Toby Keith, SPAC MONDAY, AUGUST 15TH Counting Crows and Rob Thomas, SPAC

FRIDAY, AUGUST 19TH Upbeat on the Roof: Heavenly Echoes

Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery – Skidmore College 7PM

The Heavenly Echoes are a Southern soul-style gospel group, founded more than fifty years ago by the late Deacon James Edmonds of the Sweet Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church in Albany. They perform as a nine-member group backed by guitar, bass, and drums. The Heavenly Echoes regularly bring their authentic, heartfelt style of gospel music to churches throughout the Capital Region, as well as to festivals and cultural events across the state.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26TH Upbeat on the Roof: Random 33

Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery – Skidmore College 7PM

Random 33 is a trio that began in 1998 as a small club band doing covers, instrumental, and improvised music. The group features Carl Landa on piano and synthesizer, Scott Morehouse on drums, and Sam Morrison on saxophone. Landa, a musician and composer, is the Music Director of the Dance Department. He plays piano, synthesizer, percussion, and hammered dulcimer, and has composed scores for dance, video, film, and television. Morehouse is a New York City-based drummer for session,

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COMPOSED BY LIZ PARKER

live, and dance accompanist since 1999. In 2016 he will be recording with the duo Tanky Bell and accompanying the Alvin Ailey Dance Company. Morrison is a tenor saxophonist, flutist, and composer who lived and played in New York City for years and now resides in the Catskills. He is most well known for being a member of the last Miles Davis Group, and has played with many additional bands and artists.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH – MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH Final Stretch Music Festival Weekend 7PM-11PM

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27TH The $1.25 Million Travers

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH Blink 182, SPAC

Saratoga Race Course, 2667 Union Avenue, Saratoga Springs

This is Saratoga’s biggest race – the one you don’t want to miss – the 147th running of the Travers Stakes, the “Mid-Summer Derby” for three-yearolds at a mile and a quarter. First Post-time is 11:45AM and Gates are open at 7AM $1,250,000 Purse. 1 ¼ (Dirt); 3YO; Grade: I

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28TH Florida Georgia Line, SPAC SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD Woodward Day

Saratoga Race Course, 267 Union Avenue, Saratoga Springs The historic Woodward highlights Saturday’s card. The 62nd Running of the Woodward anchors an outstanding day of racing on the final Saturday of the meet. $600,000 Purse; 1 1/8 (Dirt); 3&UP; Grade: I

Zac Brown Band, SPAC

Downtown Saratoga Springs comes alive once more on closing weekend of the Saratoga Race Course. Bands of all genres populate downtown

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH

Closing Day of Saratoga Race Course

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH Heart, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts and Cheap Trick, SPAC FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH – SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11TH Saratoga Wine and Food Festival Saratoga Performing arts Center, Saratoga Springs

The Saratoga Wine &amp; Food Festival is a three-day destination event located in worldclass Saratoga Springs, New York. Quickly becoming known as the most original and exciting Wine and Food Festival north of New York City, Saratoga Wine & Food Festival provides over 250 premiere wine and food exhibitors, invitation-only, along with one of a kind seminars. Proceeds from the Saratoga Wine and Food Festival benefit the Saratoga Performing Arts Center’s children’s education program. For more information visit www.spac. org

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11TH Bryan Adams, SPAC

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Milestone anniversaries for two Saratoga

road races!

2016

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Date

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10TH ANNIVERSARY: FIRECRACKER 4, JULY 4TH www.firecracker4.com

The July 4th Firecracker 4 Road Race is becoming a family tradition for many locals. The race had modest beginnings, with 142 finishers in 2007. Now in its 10th year, race directors Peter Goutos and Bob Vanderminden are anticipating 4,000 runners. All proceeds from the event are donated to local community organizations supporting fitness and healthy lifestyle choices. Race organizers and presenting sponsor Fleet Feet Sports offer a little something for everyone: • For the elite athlete and serious runners, the race has a prize purse of $7,000 and 5-year age brackets for award medals and prizes, including American flags and gifts from local sponsors. • For those who run at a more leisurely pace, more than 20 local bands and entertainers line the course. The support of neighbors along the route is fantastic: not only do they sponsor the musicians, but also many offer water, Popsicles or a gentle spray from their hoses on this typically warm July morning. • For runners at all levels, Fleet Fleet Sports (also celebrating 10 years in 2016) and Asics offer pre-race training sessions and a chance to win head-to-toe Asics running apparel. • For those who want to run for a cause, the race offers a “Run Your Colors” team competition. The top three teams with the most registered runners (running the race is not required) win a donation to the charity of their choice. • For those who serve our nation and community, there are award categories for active and retired military and police, fire and EMS. • For kids—new this year—the Firecracker Sparkler Kids Run will line up on the Firecracker start line and run down Broadway to finish in Congress Park. Medals and a gift will be awarded to each participant. In addition to runners, the Firecracker 4 also attracts thousands of spectators. The crowds enjoy browsing in the vendor village while listening to the music of finish-line anchor band Grit n Whiskey. Fans line Broadway to watch the swarm of runners, many in red, white and blue and even some in costume! They move to the finish area where—from the final hill near the Marriott Courtyard down to the finish arch behind the City Center—they cheer on the racers.

Come one, come all to the Firecracker 4! saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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20TH ANNIVERSARY: SILKS & SATINS, JULY 23 www.silksandsatins5k.com

The Silks & Satins 5K will mark 20 years of racing on the opening weekend of the thoroughbred racing season. Runners warming up in the early morning are treated to a spectacular view of the racehorses doing their pre-race routines on the Oklahoma Track. For most of the past two decades, this event was managed by Special Olympics New York in conjunction with Jeff Clark, a local volunteer whose passing in 2014 left a large void in the race organization. In addition to missing Clark’s leadership, the race was seeing declining attendance. Firecracker 4 race directors Bob Vanderminden and Peter Goutos, whose children ran the race many times, did not want to see the demise of this iconic event. They worked with the Special Olympics staff to get the race back “on track.” The course was modified due to traffic and safety concerns, but its legacy of being flat and fast still holds true. The new course design brought the start and finish areas much closer together. With support from Fasig-Tipton, trailers were moved and the refreshment area, awards, music and vendors completed the new design making for a more festive, tight-knit atmosphere. With experienced assistance from Vanderminden and Goutos, and continued support from the Saratoga Stryders running club, last year’s race boasted 1,028 finishers, an increase from previous years. The Special Olympics organizing team and its community race leaders are committed to making the 20th race a record-breaking event. In this Olympic year, they encourage everyone to come out and participate or spectate in support of this wonderful cause.

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S A R AT O G A T O D AY ’ S

DINING GUIDE

Catherine’s in the Park, photo by Samantha Decker 68 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2016

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Bakeries Bread Basket Bakery 65 Spring Street, Saratoga (518) 587-4233 saratogabreadbasket. com Mama Mia’s Bakery and Pizza 185 Ballston Ave Saratoga (518) 583-7783 mamamiassaratoga. com Mrs. London’s Bake Shop 464 Broadway, Saratoga (518) 581-1652 mrslondons.com

Panera Bread 3070 Route 50 Saratoga (518) 226-0095

The Iron Roost 36 Front St, Ballston Spa (518) 309-3535 IronRoost.com

Sweet Mimi’s Café and Bakery 47 Phila street (518) 871-1780 sweetmimiscafe.com

The Kettle 445 (Outer) Church St. Saratoga, (518) 584-9734 TheKettleRestaurant.com

TC Paris 30 Lake Ave. Saratoga (518) 587-0126 tcbakery.com

Lakeside Farms and Cider Mill 336 Schauber Road, Ballston Lake (518) 399-8359

Breakfast & Brunch Beekman Street Cafe 51 Ash St. Saratoga (518) 886-1606 beekmanstreetcafe.com Beverly’s Eatery 256 Milton Ave. Ballston Spa (518) 885-2848

Fifty South Restaurant 2128 Doubleday Avenue, Ballston Spa, (518) 884-2926 FiftySouth.com Fortunate Cup 120 West Ave # 302, Saratoga (518) 226-0800 FortunateCup.com

Bread Basket Bakery 65 Spring Street, Saratoga Friendly’s (518) 587-4233 SaratogaBreadBasket.com 3075 Route 50 Saratoga (518) 583-1598 Compton’s Restaurant 457 Broadway, Saratoga Golden Corral (518) 584-9632 15 Old Gick Rd. Saratoga Country Corner Café 25 Church Street, Saratoga (518) 580-0682 (518) 583-7889 Hattie’s Chicken Shack CountryCornerCafe.net (Weekend Brunch) 45 Phila Street, Saratoga Denny’s (518) 584-4790 468 Louden Rd. HattiesRestaurant.com Saratoga (518) 580-1598 Hungry Spot Café 480 Broadway, Saratoga Diamond Club Grill (518) 584-9060 Embassy Suites by Hilton HungrySpotCafe.com 86 Congress St. Saratoga Springs (518) 886-1111

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LakeSideFarmsCidermill.com

The Local Pub and Teahouse (Weekend Brunch) 142 Grand Avenue Saratoga, (518) 587-7256 TheLocalPubandTeahouse. com

Saratoga Tea & Honey Co. 348 Broadway, Saratoga (518) 871-1419 Scallion’s Restaurant (Weekend Brunch) 44 Lake Ave. Saratoga (518) 584-0192 ScallionsSaratoga.com Scotty’s Restaurant 215 Ballard Rd. Gansevoor (518) 584-1444 Shirley’s Restaurant 74 West Ave Saratoga (518) 584-4532 SPoT Coffee 55 Railroad Place Saratoga (518) 306-5323 SPoTcoffee.com

Malta Diner 2476 Route 9 Malta, NY 12020 (518) 899-5099 Mrs. London’s Bake Shop 464 Broadway, Saratoga (518) 581-1652 MrsLondons.com Panera Bread 3070 Route 50 Saratoga Springs (518) 226-0095 Park Side Eatery 42 Phila St. Saratoga (518) 907-4337 Parksideeatery.com PRIME at Saratoga National (Sunday Brunch) 458 Union Ave. Saratoga Springs (518) 583-4653 Ravenous Café 21 Phila Street, Saratoga (518) 518-0560 ravenouscrepes.com

Thirsty Owl (Sunday) 184 S Broadway Saratoga (518) 587-9694 Triangle Diner 400 Maple Ave. Saratoga (518) 583-6368 Russell’s Deli 303 Milton Ave. (Route 50), Ballston Spa (518) 885-DELI (1700) RussellsDeli.com Uncommon Grounds 402 Broadway Saratoga (518) 581-0656 uncommongrounds.com Whistling Kettle 24 Front Street, Ballston Spa (518) 884-2664 thewhistlingkettle.com

Saratoga Coffee Traders 447 Broadway, Saratoga (518) 584-5600 saratogacoffeetraders. com

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Family Friendly & Casual Dining Andy’s Adirondack Grille 2872 U.S. 9, Malta (518) 580-1269 theoriginalbentleys.com

Clark’s Steakhouse 120 Broad St. Schuylerville (518) 695-2073 clarksteakhouse.com

Bailey’s Café 37 Phila Street Saratoga, (518) 583-6060 baileyscafe.com

Nostalgia Ale House & Wine Bar 113 Route 9P, Malta (518) 479-9042 nostalgiasaratoga.com

The Brickyard Tavern 70 Milton Ave., Ballston Spa, (518) 884-2570 Thebrickyardtavern.com Carson’s Woodside Tavern 57 State Route 9P, Malta (518) 584-9791 Carsonswoodside.com Catherine’s in the Park Seasonal, poolside dining, 11 a.m. to dusk 58 Roosevelt Drive, Saratoga, (518) 583-4657 saratogaspagolf.com Circus Café Restaurant 392 Broadway Saratoga, (518) 583-1106 circuscafe.com

Dock Brown’s 511 NY-9P, Saratoga (518) 306-4897 brownsbeachresort.com/ dock-browns Farmer’s Daughter 882 Route 29, Saratoga (518)584-8562 farmersdaughterdrivein.com Fifty South Restaurant 2128 Doubleday Avenue Ballston Spa, (518) 884-2926 fiftysouth.com Four Seasons Natural Foods 33 Phila Street, Saratoga 120 Henry Street, Saratoga (518) 584-4670 fourseasonsnaturalfoods.com

Dock Brown's

Great Bay Seafood 2149 Doubleday Avenue Ballston Spa, (518) 885-0583 Greenhouse Chopped Salad Co. 33 Railroad Place, Saratoga (518) 540-1036 eatgreenhouse.com Harvest & Hearth 251 B County Rt. 67, Saratoga, (518) 587-1900 harvestandhearth.com Lake Local 550 Union Ave, Saratoga (518) 886-1373 lakelocalsaratoga.com Lakeside Farms and Cider Mill 336 Schauber Road Ballston Lake,(518) 399-8359 lakesidefarmscidermill.com Nostalgia Ale House & Wine Bar 113 Route 9P, Malta (518) 584-0227 nostalgiasaratoga.com

Park Side Eatery 40 Phila Street #1, Saratoga (the Old Palmetto Building) (518) 907-4337 parksideeatery.com Ravenous Café 21 Phila Street, Saratoga (518) 518-0560 ravenouscrepes.com Ripe Tomato 2721 Route 9, Ballston Spa (518) 581-1530 ripetomato.com Scallion’s Restaurant 44 Lake Avenue, Saratoga (518) 584-0192 scallionssaratoga.com The Great American Grill (inside Hilton Garden Inn) 125 South Broadway Saratoga, (518) 587-1500 Winslow’s 801 Saratoga Road Wilton, (518) 584-2489

Catherine’s in the Park, photo by Samantha Decker

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Specialty Restaurants AMERICAN

Izumi Asian Bistro 63 Putnam st., Saratoga (518)583-0008 izumisaratoga.com

Brook Tavern 139 Union Ave., Saratoga Lucky Peking Chinese (518) 871-1473 Buffet & Take out Thebrooktavern.com 66 Congress St. Saratoga, Morton’s The Steakhouse (518) 584-8371 342 Jefferson St, Saratoga Osaka Sushi House 3084 Route 50, Wilton Salt and Char 353 Broadway, Saratoga (518) 290-7271 japanesefoodsaratogany.com

ASIAN, FUSION & CHINESE

Bua Thai Sushi 1103 Ellsworth Blvd. Malta, (518) 788-8898 BuaThaiSushi.com/malta Duo Modern Japanese 175 South B’way Saratoga, (518) 580-8881 duomodernjapanese. com Hibachi Japanese Restaurant 3310 S Broadway, Saratoga, (518) 580-9343 hibachisaratoga.com

Phila Fusion 54 Phila St, Saratoga, (518) 226-0400 philafusion.com Sushi Thai Garden 44-46 Phila Street, SS (518) 580-0900 sushithaigarden.com Sam’s Chinese Restaurant 824 NY 50, Burnt Hills (518) 384-1997

FARM TO TABLE

Mouzon House 1 York Street, Saratoga (518) 226-0014 mouzonhouse.com Next Door Kitchen and Bar 51 Front St, Ballston Spa (518) 309-3249 eatdinnernextdoor.com

FINE DINING 15 Church Restaurant 15 Church St., Saratoga 15churchrestaurant.com (518) 587-1515 Boca Bistro 384 B’way, Saratoga (518)682-2800 bocabistro.com Cock ‘n’ Bull 5342 Parkis Mills Road Galway, (518) 882-6962 thecocknbull.com Crown Grill 390 B’way, Saratoga (518)583-1105 crowngrillsaratoga.com

Diamond Club Grill Embassy Suites by Hilton 86 Congress St. Saratoga Springs (518) 886-1111

Maestro’s Northern Pines Rd., (518) 584-1580 maestrosatmcgregor.com

The Inn at Saratoga 231 B’way, Saratoga (518) 583-1890 theinnatsaratoga.com

Max London’s Restaurant 466 B’way, Saratoga (518) 587-0505 maxlondonsresturaunt. com

Jacob & Anthony’s American Grill 38 High Rock, Saratoga (518) 871-1600 Marrellorc.com

Mio Posto 68 Putnam St, Saratoga (518) 542-7581 miopostosaratoga.com/

Lake Ridge 35 Burlington Ave. Round Lake (518) 889-6000 lake-ridge.com

Olde Bryan Inn 123 Maple Ave. Saratoga, (518) 587-2990 oldebryaninn.com

The Lodge (Seasonal) One Nelson Ave. Saratoga Longfellow’s 500 Union Avenue Saratoga, (518) 587-0108 longfellows.com

One Caroline Street Bistro 1 Caroline St, Saratoga (518) 587-2026 onecaroline.com Prime @ Saratoga National 458 Union Ave., Saratoga, (518) 583-4653 golfsaratoga.com/dining

DUO

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Mama Mia's

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Thirsty Owl

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FRENCH Putnam’s Tavern 24 Gideon Putnam Rd. Saratoga, (518) 226-4719 putnamstavern.com Siro’s (Seasonal) 168 Lincoln Avenue Saratoga, (518) 584-4030 sirosny.com Sperry’s 30 1/2 Caroline Street Saratoga, (518) 584-9618 sperrysrestaurant.com Thirsty Owl 184 S Broadway, Saratoga (518) 587-9694 Wine Bar 417 B’way, Saratoga (518) 584-8777 thewinebarofsaratoga.com The Wishing Well 745 Saratoga Road Gansevoort (518) 584-7640 wishingwellrestaurant.com

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Mouzon House 1 York Street, Saratoga (518) 226-0014 mouzonhouse.com Chez Pierre Restaurant 979 Rt, 9, Gansevoort (518) 793-3350 chezpierrerestaurant.com

INDIAN Karavalli Regional Cuisine of India 47 Caroline St., Saratoga (518) 580-1144 karavallilatham.com Little India 60 Court St., Saratoga saratogalittleindiarestaurant. com

IRISH Harvey’s Irish Restaurant & Bar 14 Phila St., Saratoga (518)583-0003 harveyspub.com Parting Glass 40-42 Lake Ave. Saratoga (518) 583-1916 partingglasspub.com

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Specialty Restaurants

ITALIAN Augie’s Restaurant 17 Low St., Ballston Spa (518) 884-8600 augiesrestaurant.com Boca Bistro 384 B’way, Saratoga (518) 682-2800 bocabistro.com Chianti Il Ristorante 18 Division St., Saratoga (518) 580-0025 chiantiristorante.com Forno Tuscano Bistro 541 B’way, Saratoga (518) 581-2401 fornobistro.com Limoncello Ristorante 1 Ballston Ave. Saratoga (518) 580-8700 limoncelloristorante.com Mama Mia’s Pizza 185 Ballston Ave Saratoga, (518) 583-7783 mamamiassaratoga.com Mangino’s 149 Route 9P, Saratoga (518) 584-5599 manginos.com

Mio Posto 68 Putnam St. Saratoga (518) 542-7581 miopostosaratoga.com Nove 707 Saratoga Road, Wilton, (518) 583-8877 novesaratoga.com Osteria Danny 26 Henry St. (518) 423-7022 osteriadanny.com Panza’s Restaurant 510 Route 9P, Saratoga (518) 584-6882 panzasrestaurant.com

Pennell’s Restaurant 284 Jefferson St. Saratoga, (518) 583-2423 pennellsrestaurant.com Village Pizzeria 2727 Route 29 Middle Grove (518) 882-9431 villagepizzeria.com

MEXICAN

SEAFOOD

Amigo’s Cantina 42 Ferry St., Schuylerville (518) 695-9595 amigoscantina.net

Fish 30 Lake Avenue, Saratoga fishat30lake.com

Blue Agave 135 Crescent St., Saratoga (518) 8869534

SMALL PLATES

Cantina 430 B’way, Saratoga (518) 587-5577 cantinasaratoga.com El Mexicano 208 South B’way, Saratoga (518) 226-0105 elmexicanorestaurant.com Esperanto 4 Caroline St., Saratoga (518) 587-4236 Esperantosaratoga.com Leon’s Restaurant 2100 Doubleday Ave. Ballston spa, (518) 490-2058 leonsmexicanrestaurant.com

Villago 175 Lake Rd, Ballston Lake (518) 280-0311 villagopizzaria.com

Mexican Connection 41 Nelson Ave. Saratoga, (518) 584-4466 mexconx.com

Wheatfields 440 B’way, Saratoga (518) 587-0534 54 Crossing Blvd.

Sunset Café 42 Front St.,Ballston Spa (518) 885-8550 sunsetcafe.org

Boca Bistro 384 B’way, Saratoga (518) 682-2800 bocabistro.com Hamlet and Ghost 24 Caroline St, Saratoga (518) 450-7287 hamletandghost.com

SOUTHERN/BBQ Hattie’s Chicken Shack 45 Phila St., Saratoga (518) 584-4790 3057 Route 50 Wilton Plaza Saratoga, (518) 226-0000 hattiesrestaurant.com The Kettle Restaurant 445 Church St, Saratoga (518) 584-9734 thekettlerestaurant.com PJ’s BAR-B-QSA 1 Kaydeross Ave. West, Saratoga, (518) 583-2445 or (518) 583-7427 pjsbarbqsa.com

Osteria Danny

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Augie's

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Deli, Pizza & Take-out DELI Ben & Bill’s Deli 115 Ballston Avenue (Rt. 50) Saratoga, (518) 782- 0441 Legends Cafe 102 Congress Street Saratoga, (518) 583-3411 legendscafesaratoga.com Park Side Eatery 40 Phila Street #1 (518)907-4337 parksideeatery.com Putnam Street Market 431 Broadway Saratoga, (518) 587-3663 putnammarket.com Roma Foods & Market 222 Washington Street Saratoga, (518) 587-6004 romafoods.com Russell’s Deli 303 Milton Ave (Route 50) Ballston Spa (518) 885-DELI (3354) russellsdeli.com Spring Street Deli and Pizzeria 132 Spring Street Saratoga, (518) 584-0994 springstreetdeli.net

PIZZA Amore Pizza 265 Main Street, Corinth (518) 654-9991 BWP 70 Weibel Ave., Saratoga 763-2975 or 763-2323 beerwinepizza.com D’Andrea’s Pizza 33 Caroline Street Saratoga (518) 584-3632 654 Saratoga Rd. Wilton, (518) 583-3781 dandreaspizza.com Harvest & Hearth 251B County Route 67 Saratoga, (518) 587-1900 harvestandhearth.com Mama Mia’s Pizza 185 Ballston Ave Saratoga, (518) 583-7783 mamamiassaratoga.com

Villago

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Marino’s Pizza 46 West Circular Street Saratoga, (518) 584-3030 Pizza 7 7 Caroline St, Saratoga (518) 580-2000 Pizza Nook 3775 Lewis Rd. Ballston Spa, (518) 885-1800 pizza-nook.com Pizza Works 88 Henry Street Saratoga, (518) 584-6650 54 Milton Ave. Ballston Spa (518) 885-0669 722 Saratoga Rd. Burnt Hills (518) 399-9494 pizzaworks.org Pope’s Pizza 232 Washington Street Saratoga, (518) 587-1643 Popespizza.com Village Pizzeria 2727 Route 29, Middle Grove (518) 882-9431 villagepizzeria.com Villago 175 Lake Rd, Ballston Lake (518) 280-0311 villagopizzaria.com West Avenue Pizza 99 West Avenue Saratoga, (518) 581-9999 westavepizzeria.com

CHINESE TAKE-OUT Char Koon 388 B’ way, Saratoga (518) 581-9000 charkoonsaratogasprings.com Uncle Ming’s Chinese Kitchen 74 Henry St., Saratoga (518) 584-5558 Sunny Wok 3084 NY-50, Saratoga (518) 583-8888 Lucky Peking Chinese Buffet & Take out 66 Congress St., Saratoga (518) 584-8371

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Pubs & Sports Bars PUBS 2 West Bar and Grille 2 West Ave., Saratoga, (518) 450-7200 2westbarandgrille.com 13 North 2955 Route 9, Malta Almost Saratoga 2839 Route 9, Ballston Spa (518) 587-0048 The Barrelhouse 68 Beekman St, Saratoga (518) 871-1502 Bentley’s Tavern 4 Hemphill Place, Malta (518) 899-4300 myfavoritetaverns.com Brickyard Tavern 72 Milton Ave., Ballston Spa (518) 884-2570 Thebrickyardtavern.com BWP 70 Weibel Ave., Saratoga (518) 763-2975 (518) 763-2323 beerwinepizza.com Dango’s 38 Caroline St., Saratoga (518) 587-2022 Druther’s 381 B’way, Saratoga (518) 306-5275 druthersbrewing.com

Fortunes 25 Nelson Ave., (518) 581-5790 saratogacasino.com Gaffney’s 16 Caroline St., Saratoga (518) 587-7359 gaffneysrestaurant.com Harvey’s Resturaunt & Bar 14 Phila St., Saratoga (518) 583-0003 harveyspub.com Henry Street Taproom 86 Henry Street, Saratoga (518)886-8938 henrystreettaproom.com Henry’s Tavern 19 Front St., Ballston (518) 309-3584 Horseshoe Inn 1 Gridley Ave., Saratoga (518) 587-4909 thehorseshoeinn.com King’s Tavern 241 Union Ave. (518) 581-7090 Merry Monk 84 Henry St., Saratoga (518) 584-6665 merrymonksaratoga.com Parting Glass 40-42 Lake Ave., Saratoga (518) 583-1916 partingglasspub.com

Publik House Pub Routes 9 & 9P, Malta (518) 587-7479 publikhouse.net Putnam Den 63-A Putnam St., Saratoga (518) 584-8066 putnamden.com Seven Horse Pub 43 Phila St., Saratoga (518) 581-0777 sevenhorsepub.com Spa City Tap & Barrel 13 Caroline St, Saratoga (518) 229-1949 spacitytapandbarrel.com The Factory Eatery 20 Prospect St. Suite 111, Ballston Spa (518) 885-0500 thefactoryeatery.com The Local Pub and Teahouse 142 Grand Ave., Saratoga (518) 587-7256 thelovalpubandteahouse .com

SPORTS BARS Bookmakers at Holiday Inn 232 B’way, Saratoga (518) 584-4550 The End Zone 32 Ballston Ave. (518) 584-6460 Peabody’s Sports Bar & Grille 39 Phila St., Saratoga (518) 886-8673 peabodystoga.com Saratoga Stadium 389 B’way, Saratoga (518) 226-4437 Starting Gate Bar & Grill 12 Ballston Ave., Saratoga (518) 584-8834 The West Side Sports Bar and Grill 112 Congress St., Saratoga (518) 691-0193 thewestsidesportsbar.com

The Mill on Round Lake 2121 Route 9, Round Lake (518) 899-5253 myfavoritetaverns.com

BWP

SaratogaPhotographer.com

2 West Bar & Grille

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What LOCALS know about

Saratoga...

Thank you to the guys at SARATOGA TOURS for your help!

Yes, Saratoga has a lake… Head East on Union Ave. (Past the track) You can’t miss it.

Route 9N heads North towards Corinth, Route 9P goes around Saratoga Lake The City of Saratoga Springs is a 28 square mile area (5th largest in NYS) and a population of 28,000. The City of Saratoga Springs is usually defined by the Broadway business district as its main draw to visitors.

IF YOU GO TO CONGRESS PARK, TO CHECK OUT THE SARATOGA SPRINGS HISTORY MUSEUM (WHICH I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!)

DON’T FEED THE DUCKS.

Yes, we have another casino in town, but when people refer to “The Casino”… they are most likely referring to the Canfield Casino in Congress Park, which hosts the most sought-after events and contains the Saratoga Springs History Museum upstairs.

THE REAL NAME OF

“THE TRACK”

IS SARATOGA RACE COURSE

Why is it called CIRCULAR Street?

Circular Street was being designed and built by John Clarke (owner Why is it called of the Congress Spring, he was responsible LAKE Avenue? for bottling the waters) at a time when Lake Avenue used all streets in the country were straight. to go to the lake He acquired land to make the part we see by angling over today from Lake to Broadway and wanted past Yaddo, but to wrap his road around the city, but as then the road was he ventured onto the West Side he found straightened and people not willing to sell land to complete Henning now diverts the “circle” shape. Therefore interesting toward the lake. name ....but less than perfect shape.

Route 29 heads EAST/ WEST and Route 9 heads NORTH SOUTH

Why is it called CHURCH Street?

Church Street used to have many churches.....most over time burned or moved. The Stewart’s Shop on Church St. is on the location of one of those churches.

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The Town of Saratoga is the area of the eastern part of Saratoga County. The major village in the Town of Saratoga is Schuylerville. The population of the Town of Saratoga is 5,600 people. The area of the Town of Saratoga has the Hudson on the east, Saratoga Springs on the west, Wilton and Northumberland on the north, and Stillwater to the south. This area is very rural with many farms. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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THE SOCIETY PAGES BROUGHT TO YOU BY CARRIE ROWLANDS JOHNSON & ALICE COREY OF the blogging bar

The Gala Section

hroughout the year, and especially during these gorgeous Saratoga summer months, you will find just about every corner of our beautiful, beloved city buzzing with galas and fundraising events.

the blogging bar’s own Carrie Rowlands Johnson and Alice Corey adore attending these spectacular galas and sharing their experience with our readers. Find their creatively told stories and fabulously captured photos on THE SOCIETY PAGES of Simply Saratoga Magazine, in Saratoga TODAY newspaper and at thebloggingbar.com. Fundraising is such an important part of Saratoga’s social scene. If your organization is organizing a gala, Carrie and Alice would love to provide free publicity by publishing coverage.

Carrie Hi, we're nd & A lic e a r o c o ve we want t ! your event

Please contact Carrie for inclusion on THE SOCIETY PAGES: carowlands@icloud.com.

We hope to see you on the dance floor!

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THE SOCIETY PAGES

BROUGHT TO YOU BY CARRIE ROWLANDS JOHNSON & ALICE COREY OF the blogging bar

American Cancer Society’s First annual Red, White and Blue Party WHEN: Friday, June 24, 2016 7-11pm WHERE: Under the tent @ Saratoga National Golf Club WHY: American Cancer Society’s first annual Red, White and Blue Party to benefit the American Cancer Society. Featuring a gourmet All-American BBQ by Mazzone catering, dancing under the stars, a have-to-have silent auction and a live band COST: Young Professionals: $100, General Ticket: $150, Honorary Committee: $250

The 2016 Double H Ranch Gala WHEN: Friday, June 24, 2016 7-11pm WHERE: Under the tent @ Saratoga National Golf Club WHY: American Cancer Society’s first annual Red, White and Blue Party to benefit the American Cancer Society. Featuring a gourmet All-American BBQ by Mazzone catering, dancing under the stars, a have-to-have silent auction and a live band COST: Young Professionals: $100, General Ticket: $150, Honorary Committee: $250

photo by John Seymour

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Alexis Aida 437 Broadway (518) 788.8545

CELEBRATE SUMMER WITH UNIQUE, CHIC, SOPHISTICATED FASHION

FROM THE RACES TO THE GALAS, LET ALEXIS AIDA BE YOUR PERSONAL STYLIST! saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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THE SOCIETY PAGES

BROUGHT TO YOU BY CARRIE ROWLANDS JOHNSON & ALICE COREY OF the blogging bar

Saratoga Bridges Annual Gala: The White Party WHEN: Saturday, July 16, 2016 6:00 pm -10:00 pm WHERE: Saratoga Polo WHY: Featuring food by Old Daley Inn Catering & Events, Cocktails, a cigar roller and bourbon lounge, Niki Rossi’s photo booth, live entertainment from GRAVITY and fireworks COST: Reservations by 7/1: $175, $125 (Under 35). Price increases by $25 after 7/1 FOR TICKETS: www.saratogabridges.org/ fundraising-events/annual-gala/ photos by MarkBolles.com

Jake’s Help From Heaven’s 5th Annual Finest Fillies (& Some Colts!) New this Year: HOSTED BY TOM DURKIN WHEN: July 20, 2016 / 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm WHERE: Vapor at Saratoga Casino WHY: An unusual night of horse racing fun with local notables competing for the finish line Enjoy friendly competition, laughter, raffle prizes, light fare and a cash bar. COST: $50/person photos by Francesco D'Amico

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Lifestyles

436 Broadway, (518) 584.4665

ELLA IS WEARING A MATCHING STRIPED JACKET, SKIRT BY FRNCH, AND A COTTON TEE BY ALTERNATIVE APPAREL. HER OUTFIT IS ACCESSORIZED WITH A PRINTED NECKERCHIEF SCARF BY ITALCA, A HANDBAG BY UN BILLION AND ADORABLE LITTLE SMITTY. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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THE SOCIETY PAGES

BROUGHT TO YOU BY CARRIE ROWLANDS JOHNSON & ALICE COREY OF the blogging bar

23rd Annual Newton Plaza/ Marini Homes Siro’s Cup to benefit The Center for Disability Services WHEN: July 21st, 2016 WHERE: Siro’s Restaurant FOR TICKETS: www.cfdsny.org photos by MarkBolles.com

SPAC’s 50th Anniversary NYC Ballet Gala WHEN: Saturday, July 23, 2016 8:00 pm -11:00 pm WHERE: SPAC WHY: In honor of their fifty year partnership, SPAC and NYCB present an unforgettable season: 16 ballets by 8 choreographers; 4 SPAC premieres; the world premiere of Scherzo by Resident Choreographer Justin Peck; and the return of George Balanchine's iconic story ballet A Midsummer Night's Dream—originally danced at SPAC's opening night performance in 1966. COST: starting at $55 FOR TICKETS: www.spac.org/ events/2016/07/23/new-york-city-ballet (c) photos Courtesy of Saratoga Performing Arts Center

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THE SOCIETY PAGES

BROUGHT TO YOU BY CARRIE ROWLANDS JOHNSON & ALICE COREY OF the blogging bar

Polo by Twilight - The 37th Annual Palamountain Scholarship Benefit WHEN: Tuesday, July 26, 2016 5:30 pm WHERE: Saratoga Polo Fields WHY: Please join us for a live polo match, cocktails, silent auction, and a gourmet dinner prepared by Skidmore Dining Services, followed by a live auction. All proceeds from the Palamountain Scholarship Benefit and Polo Match go to the Joseph C. and Anne T. Palamountain Scholarship Fund, created to honor Skidmore's late president and his wife for their 22 years of dedicated service and leadership at the College. The Palamountain Scholarship Fund has grown to more than $8 million, providing nearly 300 scholarships to academically talented students over the years. COST: General Admission is $150.00, other ticket prices vary, see official webpage for more details FOR TICKETS: http://www.skidmore.edu/ palamountainbenefit/mission.php photos by MarkBolles.com

An Unbridled Affair: 8th Annual Gala WHEN: Thursday, July 28, 2016 6:30 pm – 11:00 pm WHERE: The Holiday Inn Saratoga Springs WHY: Support the work of CAPTAIN Youth and Family Services at this acclaimed gala. COST: $125 ($100 for 30 years and younger) If purchasing tickets online, you will be contacted for your meal order. If paying by check, please include the number of meals for each selection. London Broil with Roasted Shallot au jus Baked Salmon Filet Beurre Blanc Grilled Vegetarian Napolean (also gluten-free) FOR TICKETS: CaptainCares.org. CONTACT: Wendy Page at Wendy@CaptainCares.com or call 518-371-1185 photos by Francesco D'Amico

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CELEBRATE THE PASSION IN STYLE WITH EMBRACE THE RACE®, THE APPAREL FOR THE HORSE RACING LIFESTYLE®. GREAT GIFTS COME TO LIFE FOR LADIES, MEN AND CHILDREN. AVAILABLE IN A VARIETY OF COLORS, FEATURING THEIR STYLISH AND ONE-OF-A-KIND LOGO.

embracetherace.com select Saratoga retailers

Embrace The Race®

12 Circular Street (518) 580.4500

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THE SOCIETY PAGES

BROUGHT TO YOU BY CARRIE ROWLANDS JOHNSON & ALICE COREY OF the blogging bar

Equine Advocates

is celebrating their 20th Anniversary and their 15th year of hosting their galas in Saratoga Springs! WHEN: Friday, July 29, 2016/ 6:00 pm WHERE: The Canfield Casino WHY: Honoring Hall of Fame Trainer Jonathan Sheppard and Animal Advocates Steve & Lisa Caporizzo (Steve is the Chief Meteorologist at News 10 & host of The Pet Connection) Hors d'oeuvres, Sit-down gourmet dinner by Mazzone Hospitality, Live & Silent Auctions and dancing to the music of Body & Soul with a special Tribute to Prince. Purple will be the Color as Equine Advocates celebrates its 20th birthday and 15th anniversary of its annual event in Saratoga! Yes to the 4 tickets!! COST: $250 per person for general seating; $500 for V.I.P. seating. FOR TICKETS: http://www.equineadvocates.org CONTACT: Karen Wagner Office: (518) 392-0175, Mobile: (917) 817-7666 photos by MarkBolles.com

Third Annual Croquet on the Green: Amateur Tournament and Golf Party WHEN: August 2, 2016 3:00 pm WHERE: AIM Lawn COST: $100 Croquet Team & Garden Party for Two; $40 Garden Party only photos by Francesco D'Amico

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Lucia

454 Broadway #8 (518) 587.7890

COMPLETE YOUR SARATOGA SUMMER WARDROBE AT LUCIA WITH BOHEMIAN SUNDRESSES, ECLECTIC JEWELRY AND ACCESSORIES.

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THE SOCIETY PAGES

BROUGHT TO YOU BY CARRIE ROWLANDS JOHNSON & ALICE COREY OF the blogging bar

Saratoga Hospital 34th Annual Summer Gala WHEN: Wednesday, August 3, 2016 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm WHERE: The Polo Meadow at Saratoga Casino and Raceway WHY: Enjoy open bar, special event cocktails and exquisite food stations created by Saratoga Casino and Raceway Executive Chef Shawn Nash. Live Auction 7:00 p.m. conducted by Fasig-Tipton Auctioneers; Silent Auction 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. ATTIRE: Cool, comfortable summer casual wear is encouraged. COST: $175 per person or $125 for junior attendees (21-36 years) CONTACT: Karen Wagner Office: (518) 392-0175, Mobile: (917) 817-7666 photos by Francesco D'Amico

Fashionable Fillies luncheon, benefitting the Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation WHEN: Thursday, August 4, 2016 12-3pm WHERE: Saratoga National WHY: To benefit the Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation CONTACT: Nancy Kelly nkelly@jockeyclub.com, 212-521-5305

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finds

by Isaac Rodriguez and Talyah Alpern at the Hall of Springs in Saratoga State Park saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Finds Sample Sale 454 Broadway (917) 226.9765

findssamplesale.com MEN’S AND WOMEN’S DESIGNER BRANDS FROM 50-80% OFF.

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THE SOCIETY PAGES

BROUGHT TO YOU BY CARRIE ROWLANDS JOHNSON & ALICE COREY OF the blogging bar

The National Museum of Dance 2016 Gala WHEN: Saturday, August 13, 2016 6:00 pm -10:00 pm WHERE: the National Museum of dance WHY: Save the date for the National Museum of Dance's 2016 Gala on August 13, 2016. The annual gala is the Museum's largest fundraiser and is the best gala in Saratoga during the summer season. COST: TBD, call the museum for ticket info CONTACT: 518-584-2225 photos by MarkBolles.com

The Health, History and Horses Charity GALA Presented by the Ladies of Charity, Saratoga Vicariate WHEN: Thursday, August 25, 2016 / 6:00-9:00pm WHERE: Longfellow’s Restaurant, 500 Union Ave, Saratoga Springs, NY WHY: Funds raised are distributed annually to established charities in Saratoga & Warren/ Washington Communities: Catholic Charities, food kitchens, shelters, and tuition support programs. Complimentary Beer & Wine the 1st hour / Hot & cold food stations, Cash bar, Live Music Silent Auction & 4 Seasons basket raffle COST: $65.00 per person payable to Ladies of Charity FOR TICKETS: www.ladiesofcharitysaratoga.com CONTACT: Carol 518-584-7496 Attire: Summer Festive.

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THE SOCIETY PAGES

BROUGHT TO YOU BY CARRIE ROWLANDS JOHNSON & ALICE COREY OF the blogging bar

One Fine Day – Shelters of Saratoga Summer Celebration WHEN: Tuesday, August 23, 2016 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM WHERE: The Saratoga National Golf Club WHY: Seasonal fare by Prime at Saratoga National, Live music by Mama and the Stops, Lifestyles of Saratoga Pop-up Shop, Silent Auction, Cash Bar COST: $75.00/pp FOR TICKETS: sheltersofsaratoga.org/events/one-fine-day/ photos by MarkBolles.com

The 18th Annual Saratoga Fashion Show presented by Saratoga Trunk to benefit The Ronald McDonald House WHEN: Thursday, August 25, 2016 WHERE: Saratoga Race Course’s At the Rail Pavilion WHY: Join our Honorary Chairperson Betty Taylor and 500+ guests as we celebrate “the House that Love Built.” Doors open at 11:00am and the show starts promptly at 11:30am. Natalie Sillery will once again be presenting a dazzling fashion show featuring the latest styles from Saratoga Trunk as well as many renowned New York City designers. Many special surprises await our guests this year as we raise funds and awareness for the Ronald McDonald House of Albany! FOR TICKETS: saratogafashionshow.com photos by Lisa Miller of Studio di Luce

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Pink Paddock

358 Broadway & Stuyvesant Plaza Albany (518) 438.7465

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THE SOCIETY PAGES

BROUGHT TO YOU BY CARRIE ROWLANDS JOHNSON & ALICE COREY OF the blogging bar

18th Annual Travers Wine Tasting WHEN: Friday, August 26, 2016 (Travers Eve) 6:30 pm – 10:00 pm WHERE: The Canfield Casino WHY: We hope you will join us for an evening of celebration and enjoy great wine, delicious food, and exciting live and silent auctions. Specialty beers will also be available. Proceeds benefit the programs and services of Senior Services of Albany, a non-profit organization, serving seniors in the Capital Region for over 60 years. COST: General Admission - $135/person, Honorary Committee Levels – Perrier-Jouet Reservation (includes 6 guests and limo service) $1,600, Opus One Reservation (Includes 4 guests $700, Mondavi Reservation $175.00/person, #325.00/couple FOR TICKETS: www.seniorservicesofalbany.com CONTACT: Liz Hutson ehutson@seniorservicesofalbany.com or call our Development Office at 518-465-3322 photos by Francesco D'Amico

4th Annual St. Jude Gala WHEN: Thursday, September 1, 2016 6:00 pm -11:00 pm WHERE: Hall of Springs WHY: Presented by AngioDynamics featuring live music, delicious food and deserts, and a live and silent auction COST: Individual ticket -$175, After party ticket - %75 FOR TICKETS: www.stjude.org/get-involved/find-an-event/ dinners-and-galas/st-jude-gala.html photos by MarkBolles.com

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Violet's

494 Broadway

violetsofsaratoga.com

BCBG MAX AZRIA SUMMER 2016 COLLECTION AVAILABLE AT VIOLET’S. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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THE SOCIETY PAGES

BROUGHT TO YOU BY CARRIE ROWLANDS JOHNSON & ALICE COREY OF the blogging bar

Saratoga Wine & Food Festival WHEN: September 11-13, 2016 photo by Bob Cohen

WHERE: SPAC WHY: The Saratoga Wine & Food Festival is a threeday destination event located in world-class Saratoga Springs, New York (2.5 hours north of New York City). Set in a 2,400 acre park preserve, the three-day event draws an audience of close to 6,000 from Montreal to Northern New Jersey. Quickly becoming known as the most original and exciting Wine and Food Festival north of New York City, Saratoga Wine & Food Festival provides over 250 premiere wine and food exhibitors, invitation-only, along with one-of-a kind seminars. Proceeds from the Saratoga Wine & Food Festival benefit the Saratoga Performing Arts Center's children's education program.

Stay tuned for the official 2016 Saratoga Wine and Food Festival Website. FOR TICKETS: Visit www.spac.org/saratogawine-food-festival for details on ticket packages or individual ticket sales.

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SAVE THE DATE... TO SARA

E D I R B zin

Maga

xpo

idal E e & Br

Fall

Vendors & Brides Register TODAY! SaratogaBridalExpo.com

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Have You Met

Ronnie McCluskey?

WRITTEN BY CARRIE ROWLANDS JOHNSON PHOTOS ALICE COREY PHOTOGRAPHY MODELED BY DIANA KTENAS

ramed pictures and artwork collaged on every spare inch of wall space entertain us as we walk up the stairs and into the living room, helping tell the lively story that is Ronnie McCluskey’s spirited life. Photos of family and friends who have been guests at Ronnie’s cute Saratoga apartment; a photo peering down at the Seine River; a Frankie Flores print capturing a colorful trio of race horses; a poster displaying artwork from the Running with the Bulls in Spain; the very familiar and Saratoga-popular print from Travers Day— all decorate Ronnie’s walls and keep her company while reminding her of all she’s accomplished in life and the story she’s created thus far. A career saleswoman for nearly thirty-five years, Ronnie worked her way from being the first female cigarette salesperson in New York to selling pharmaceuticals to food and vending sales, before turning her back on the corporate world and facing her ultimate dream— traveling and running her own business, RM Irish Jewels, two passions she links into one beautiful adventure.

“I’m just so lucky. How many people live their dream?”

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It was at the age of fourteen on a family trip to Ireland that Ronnie realized her wanderlust. Ever since, traveling the world has held her heart captive like almost nothing else can. “I said, if this is what the rest of the world looks like, I’m never getting married, never having kids. I want to travel and see the world.” It was also on a trip to her beloved Ireland with her mother and sisters that Ronnie first laid eyes, fingers and heart on the jewelry hand-crafted by local artisans. The stunning and unique pieces gripped Ronnie’s soul and stimulated an immediate buying frenzy, eventually inspiring her to create her own business importing these fabulous pieces. “I had always loved jewelry. I did. Then in 2001 my mom and I were in Dublin and went to a store with jewelry and we said, ‘We gotta buy that, gotta get this for so-and-so.” That night in the hotel, Ronnie and her mother carefully unpacked their finds, admiring each piece all over again. The next day, they went back for more. “Three days of this and I had to meet the owner of this store. She told us it’s all made by local artisans and said if we were interested, she would provide us with names because they don’t export to America.” Ronnie was still in corporate sales at the time, so she took the names, but didn’t pursue anything farther. Three years later, after a sister’s passing from breast cancer, she was sitting around a table at 106 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2016

girls’ night and was confronted with the question, “If you knew you couldn’t fail what would you do?” Without hesitation, Ronnie answered, “I’d import artisan jewelry from Ireland.” That’s when she started researching Irish jewelry, weeding her way through various artisans, passing on anything with a Claddagh, declining everything you’d typically find branded from Ireland and opting for the unexpected pieces that told a story. “If they said they were award winning, unique and not in America, that’s who I wanted to meet. I didn’t want what anyone else had.” Soon after, Ronnie left on a plane for another visit to Ireland, returning with precious pieces that would be the first in Ronnie’s RM Irish Jewels. “You didn’t just buy a bracelet. You bought something with meaning. You bought a story. That’s what people want— they want a story.” At that time, her jewelry money was her mad money— her travel money— fueling her trips and feeding her passion. Whenever she wanted to book a ticket, she orchestrated a trunk show. RM Irish jewels was a hit. Ronnie’s friends adored the jewelry almost as much as she did. “My customers love the fact that it’s not going to be on every woman in America. They love the fact that it’s not mass-produced. It has a story.” saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Stories so telling, wearing a piece of Ronnie’s jewelry is like opening the pages of a book— the bracelets crafted of vintage Irish coins, fine sterling necklaces and bracelets, empowering women to achieve success, jewelry emblazoned with spirals that represent the circle of life— Ronnie interviews every artisan before importing her jewels. “You don’t just buy a bracelet. You buy something with meaning. You’re buying the story. That’s what people want.”

Ronnie continued supplementing her income with jewelry parties while working full time in corporate sales. When her sales job brought her to Saratoga, she brought her jewels with her. When that job ended, Ronnie literally danced her way through her apartment, joyful that she could now market RM Irish Jewels full time. “I decided to do whatever it took- I found out about networking groups and trunk shows, I did Dogs and Divas, I started getting the word out to SPAC with the ballet, and then I started having my own events and made a website.”

You don’t just buy a bracelet. You buy something with meaning. You’re buying the story. That’s what people want.

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Today, Ronnie represents about a dozen artisans, carrying both fashion jewelry and higher end pieces, with something for everyone and price points from $20 - $300. Her higher end line, The Veronica Hayden Collection, is a new addition, named after her best friend and late mother. Ronnie even has her own club, “the shamrocks,” six hundred strong and growing and membership exclusive and available only to those who have purchased a piece from RM Irish Jewels. She is living her dream and pursuing her passion, a woman with a positive outlook and amazing energy, characteristics which are quite obvious to those who meet her. “I have tears in my eyes because I’m so happy… and I don’t cry easily!” SS

If you’d like to join the growing number of shamrocks …or just browse… you’ll find RM Irish jewels online at RMIrishjewels.com or in her pop-up shop at the Hampton Inn for the six-week track season.

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WRITTEN BY CARRIE ROWLANDS JOHNSON , PHOTO BY ALICE COREY PHOTOGRAPHY

Meet

Carol Carr

ou’re staring at the rear window of a shiny black Lexus, sandwiched between it and a white BMW. You check your rearview mirror and notice a train of color— a red Honda, a blue Audi, a white Mercedes. You turn your gaze forward once again, not-so-patiently watching and waiting as a trio of admittedly gorgeous beasts leisurely saunter across the street. You’re late for a meeting, annoyed with this added delay. Your patience dwindles, but you hold in check any outward display of the negative emotion you feel. After what feels like a day, space opens between you and the black Lexus and you let your foot off the gas, crawling forward. You slowly creep up on the tiny woman you guess could be about thirty years old holding the red sign that stopped traffic. The woman’s glossy lips form a wide smile as you pass. “Have a good day, dear.” You can’t help but mirror her friendly expression and echo her words. You see her here at Gate 16 every day, her skilled hands smoothly stopping and starting traffic, clearing a path for these precious race horses to safely cross Union Avenue. Her name is Carol Carr. It’s her fifteenth year manning gates for NYRA. Every morning at 5am, she is dressed in full uniform …and lipstick, enjoying the quiet pre-dawn hours. “Sometimes you see the fog coming in off the track. It’s beautiful. People are just waking up, getting ready to go to work.” Carol was born in Saratoga and lived here until her parents moved her to Philadelphia at ten years old. She missed the familiarity and customs of her quaint hometown. “It was a very large adjustment. The thing that really affected me, was to get around (in Philadelphia) we had to take a bus or a trolley or subway. Here, to go to (the grocery store) you just get on a bike and ride.” Most summers she’d return to her sweet Saratoga— staying with family, waiting tables at Hattie’s for spending money. “I took orders, served with a tray. I remember one time I dropped the tray.” And she remembers Hattie herself, a smile spreading across her pretty face as she describes the namesake of this beloved Saratoga landmark. “She was very quiet. She didn’t yell. She’d call me, ‘Carol Ann…’ and was very soft-spoken. She was a nice lady.”

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Carol says at the time, as a child, she didn’t realize what an integral part of Saratoga, Hattie’s was. She was never phased by the celebrities who walked through the door and sat at her tables. “I was young. You see people, you don’t know they’re famous. You just know this person came in, dressed nice and smelled good.” She does remember the vibe inside Hattie’s, considering it a lively extension of the race track. “Hattie's is part of the track. People talk about horses and the atmosphere is still there.” After she left home, Carol stayed in Philadelphia and raised her own family. Sixteen years ago, still homesick for the city of her youth, she packed her bags and searched for an apartment in Saratoga. “I got tired. The kids were grown. I was done. I came back home.” That’s when Carol saw an ad on television for a job fair and interviewed with NYRA. She’s been here every season since. “I set up cones, I wait for horses to come out, I stand in the road with a stop sign and stop traffic… People are in a hurry. They’re short on patience. They don’t want to stop, but our main priority is to cross the horses safely… You always have to be nice when you’re in the road, or someone might want to run you over!” No one’s ever actually tried to hit Carol, though she remembers the day a coworker’s arm was grazed by a car. She welcomes the start of racing season when she moves inside the track, directing foot traffic instead of cars. On her feet eight hours a day, forty hours a week, in rain, sleet, snow and sun, from April through November, she says the paycheck isn’t the only reason she returns year after year. “The people. You meet people from all walks of life, every different color. They don’t judge you. You walk up and strike a conversation. The world isn’t as bad as we think if we just take the time to say, ‘Hi, how are you today?’” Quite often, celebrities pass through Carol’s gate. Unlike when she was a young girl of eleven waiting tables at Hattie’s, she knows “who’s who” now. “I had Whoopie Goldberg come in one day and I had to escort her in… Susan Lucci would come in with Mrs. Whitney.” Carol is 67-years old now, a fact she doesn’t keep secret. Look at her and talk to her and you’d imagine a much younger age. “I die my hair. I wear short skirts. Life’s too short, have a good time.” And when Carol isn’t directing traffic for NYRA, “Free time? Don’t flip out on me. I go to my other job.” Details of which she won’t divulge, other than to say she is a subcontractor for a catheter business and that when she bought lunch for thirty of her co-workers one evening, it was, of course, from Hattie’s. “We had chicken and dumplings and cornbread and all you heard was silence. It was delicious.” Carol enjoys an occasional visit to Hattie’s as an adult now, reminiscing while viewing the pictures on the wall. “It takes me back to when I was a little kid.” When Carol isn’t on the clock at one of her two jobs, you’ll most likely find her nesting in her Saratoga apartment. “I chill out, have a glass of wine, sew, and I love to decorate.” And though she says horse racing and the horses are her favorite things about Saratoga, you won’t find her at the race track on her time off. “I work too hard for my money. Those horses are well taken care of.” Carol walks away to move cones for a pretty, petite blonde girl in a red Volkswagen bug. They chat for a few minutes, talking about their gym memberships, before the young woman takes a right onto Union Avenue. “You have a good day sweetie,” Carol calls as she pulls away. Carol seems content with where she is right now, with no plans for retirement or slowing down. “I’ll work until the good Lord says, ‘OK Carol, this is it.’ What am I gonna do? Sit home? I’m a worker.” A worker with a gentle spirit and the smile of an angel, a woman who just might live next door to you. SS saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

in Saratoga Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, Tumbler, Linkedin, Facebook, Vimeo, Skype, emails, faxes, text messages… Too often the virtual world blurs our view of the real world and we miss the everyday beauty around us. Who better to capture the simple pleasures and iconic moments in life than our local photographers. With an eye for art and their finger on the trigger, they are the pictorial biographers of life. We hope you enjoy these snapshots in time

by photographer John Seymour

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in Saratoga Photography by John Seymour

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just add

water! • Saratoga Lake • Lake George • Sacandaga Lake • Moreau Lake

PHOTO BY VISITLAKEGEORGE.COM

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Saratoga Lake

Dock Brown's Content and photos provided by the SLA, Shore Lines and individual businesses - Thank you!

f you’re someone that loves being outside, then Saratoga Lake is the place to be! From the entertainment to the food- Saratoga Lake offers nothing but the best.

New to the lake? Be sure to check out Adirondack Cruise and Charter Company. Scenic cruises are offered daily from a 22-foot pontoon boat that seats up to eight. Each cruise is fully customizable so bring your friends and family and don’t miss out. And if you don’t own a boat, that’s not a problem, either! Saratoga Boat Works offers daily rentals, as does The Lake and Local Board Shop, as well as Point Breeze Marina. Once on a boat, cruise on down to Brown’s Beach for a day of fun. One of the only public swimming spots on the lake, Brown’s Beach is all that you need to relax, kayak, canoe and swim. Full of people and full of fun, a day at Brown’s Beach will not disappoint. In July of 2015, The Waterfront Park opened on Saratoga Lake providing the perfect spot for picnics, time outside, canoeing and fun. The second tier of the park has a small

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amphitheater, which is great for community gatherings and small events. And if you still don’t know what to do, the best $35 you can spend is on a Sup Yoga class! From the super cool instructors to the classroom being the great outdoors, your time here will definitely be well spent! Part of what makes Saratoga Lake so neat is the renowned role it’s played in the rowing community. In July of 1874, Saratoga Lake hosted a race that was later reported as “the most exciting race ever witnessed.” Home to The Saratoga Rowing Association, you can almost always see the crew team rowing up and down Fish Creek. Restaurants like Dock Brown’s, Harvest & Hearth, Nostalgia Ale House & Wine Barand The Lake Local come with options for everyone. From classic comfort to pub food, there is no way better way to end a day on Saratoga Lake than with a meal on the water. Andrea Barry is a soon to be junior at the University at Buffalo and an intern for Saratoga TODAY.

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SUP Yoga at the Kayak Shack

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Boating?

Saratoga Lake

NY State Boat Launch Take Union Ave. east towards the lake, cross over the bridge, turn left into the NYSDEC parking area and boat launch. The parking fee is $8, or $65 for a seasonal NYS Parks “Empire Passport”.

Swimming?

Waterfront Park at Saratoga Lake The park allows visitors access to waterfront picnicking, non-motorized boat launch and fishing. Take Union Ave. east, turn right onto Crescent Ave. and the Waterfront Park is about 1/2 mile on the left. Parking is free.

Brown’s Beach, Stillwater

Lake Local

photo by Alice Corey Photograpy

The beach is open from 11 am to 6 pm daily and has lifeguards on duty. Adjacent to the beach, Dock Brown’s offers a variety of lunch and dinner menu items with a beautiful patio view of the lake. Above Dock Brown’s is The Nest, a seven-room inn for visitors looking to enjoy the lakeside experience. Also located at Brown’s Beach is a marina, which offers local residents slips for their motorized watercraft. Brown’s Beach also offers a large party pavilion available for picnic or party rental and a general picnic area for family fun.

Adirondack Cruise & Charter Co.

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Canoe and Kayak Safety Our local lakes are perfect for canoeing and kayaking, but it's also the peak season for recreational boating accidents, according to the United States Coast Guard. To help prevent boating mishaps, follow these safety tips.

Do the following before going out on the water: • Register your boat with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Check with your state's DNR office for registration instructions and requirements. Take a boating safety course, especially if you're a beginner. You can find canoe and kayak safety courses through the American Canoe Association (ACA). You also may want to practice swimming in case your boat capsizes. • Pack essentials, including basic first aid items, sunscreen, food and water in a waterproof bag. Bring a life jacket for each passenger, and be sure you all wear your life jackets when you're on or near the water. The United States Coast Guard found that the majority of drowning victims were not wearing life jackets. • Check the water and weather conditions, and mind any safety warnings. Rough or high water can be dangerous, even for experienced paddlers. • If you plan to go out by yourself, let someone know where you're headed. • Avoid "strainers" — such as fallen trees — that could trap you. • Share the water with other boats. Never try to "beat" a motorboat — let them pass. Wear bright clothing and use proper lighting so others can easily spot you. • Always stay with your boat, which will float even if it's full of water. • Don’t forget to bring a whistle, it’s much more effective than yelling for help (if ever needed!)

• Be Safe!!

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Saratoga Lake

Saratoga Lake Association

SUP Yoga at the Kayak Shack

More ways to enjoy the water... Saratoga Rowing Association

The Saratoga Rowing Assocation (SRA) is celebrating their 20 Year Anniversary! The SRA opened their spring regatta season in April with the Saratoga Invitation, boasting over 1,200 entries. The SRA hosts both high school and collegiate level rowing competitions and has become one of the premier regatta locations in the Northeast. The SRA also promotes rowing for adults and has programs for adult, adaptive and junior competitor rowing. For more information regarding upcoming regattas, or for those interested in joining, please contact the SRA at www.saratogarowing.com.

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Saratoga Sailing Club The Saratoga Lake Sailing Club is situated on the western shore of Saratoga Lake. This volunteer organization promotes an active racing program, as well as sailing instruction. Regular races are held from May through October, and social events are held throughout the year. The 2016 Sailing School registration is now open for junior and adult sessions. There are also free sailing options for people who are interested in trying out sailing for the first time. For more information, please contact www.sailsaratoga.org.

The Saratoga Lake Associaton (SLA) is a not-for-profit organization, the purpose of which is to promote and enhance the health, safety, sanitation, recreation and environmental quality of Saratoga Lake and its extensive watershed. Individuals and businesses that live near or enjoy the lake can become members of the SLA for $20 per year. Membership benefits include access to community service events such as roadside clean-ups; boat and paddle safety courses; informational and annual business meetings; and membership events and gatherings at local businesses like Saratoga National Golf Course, Dock Brown’s and Saratoga Race Track. Membership also includes immediate access to the award-winning publication, Shorelines, which gives members up to date information about local town and lake happenings. Please visit the SLA website at www.saratogalake.org for information about membership and upcoming events for 2016. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Fireworks

When: Sunday, July 3rd, 2016

Where: Two lake front locations Sponsored by: Saratoga Lake Protection and Improvement District (SLPID) For more information: slpid.org

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Lake George

n Adirondack Gem known for its innate beauty, is nearly 32 miles long and 200 feet in depth.

Originally nicknamed the Queen of American Lakes, Lake George Steamboat Company makes it both easy and fun to see the lake. Different length cruises are offered daily, with concerts playing in between each. The three cruise ships all come with a different history and specialty, but the Thursday night fireworks will always be a hit! Hot air balloon flights, speeding on the raceway, and rafting the rapids are just a few of the things that Lake George offers to ensure the adrenaline junky gets their fill. And for those who enjoy mountains, Lake George has hiking and zip lines, too! A night in Lake George Village means hot dogs, cotton candy, arcades and more. Kids will never want to leave and restaurants like Ali Baba Express and Porreca’s makes your time not half bad, either. Andrea Barry is a soon to be junior at the University at Buffalo and an intern for Saratoga TODAY.

Crystal clear water, great views ...and so much to do! Cruise the lake – 6 ships and many personalized

Community concerts in Shepard Park in Lake George Village and Veterans Park in Bolton Landing. Weekly in July-August

Island camping - www.visitlakegeorge.com/

Family Vacation Critic names Lake George’s Million Dollar Beach one of the Best Beaches for Families in 2016: www.visitlakegeorge.com/ blog/10-best-beaches-for-families-in-2016/

charters: http://www.visitlakegeorge.com/blog/ crusin-the-lake-whats-your-style/ camping/island-camping

Fireworks over the lake –

Lake George Village – EVERY THURSDAY in JULY AND AUGUST and MANY other occasions and holidays

Prospect Mountain hike or Memorial Highway with picnic area at the summit and panoramic views of the lake and Adirondack Mountains.

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Newsday “Weekend Getaways Every New

Yorker Should Take”: www.visitlakegeorge.com/ blog/weekend-getaways-every-new-yorker-shouldtake/

Trip Advisor “Best Places to Rent a Summer Lake House” www.visitlakegeorge.com/blog/bestplaces-to-rent-a-summer-lake-house/ saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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photo by Leslie Dixon

Sacandaga Lake

nown as “The best-kept secret of the Adirondacks,” The Great Sacandaga is one of the Adirondack’s largest lakes. Seated right on the foothills of The Adirondack Park, Lake Sacandaga is adored for its pristine nature.

The Great Sacandaga Lake comes with a unique history. Originally founded in the 1700s, it was home to the Mohawk Indians until a great flood overtook it. Since its recovery, it has evolved into a summer hot spot perfect for boating, water sports, beaches and more. Campgrounds such as Adirondack Foothills R.V Campground and Alpine Lake RV Resort are the perfect safe haven for some much needed time away. Bald and Crane Mountain are two of the many family friendly mountains that have trails that can challenge the more experienced hiker, too. Farmers’ markets, golf courses and hunting grounds are in excess at the Great Sacandaga Lake.

photo by Andrea Barry

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Andrea Barry is a soon to be junior at the University at Buffalo and an intern for Saratoga TODAY. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Moreau Lake

Family Friendly, non-motorized ...and only minutes from downtown Saratoga! Moreau Lake State Park 605 Old Saratoga Road Gansevoort NY 12831 parks.ny.gov 518-793-0551

r their le! Call fo du r sche e m m u s

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Over 5,200 acres 27+ miles of trail Grant cottage (historic site) 144 camp sites Group camping site 3 cottages

»» »» »» »» »»

9 proposed cabins Warming hut 3 boat launches A 3 section swimming beach And a beautiful 3 room nature center

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Head North & Take a Walk:

FAVORITE DAY-HIKES IN THE HIGH PEAKS

WRITTEN BY MATT MCDONALD, PHOTOS BY MATT MCDONALD AND KEVIN MCAVEY

From classic vistas and elegant waterfalls to alpine summits with panoramic views, the High Peaks region offers a rich supply of day-trip options.

CLEMENTS POND ROUND-TRIP DISTANCE: 3 miles DIFFICULTY: Easy PAYOFF: Secluded ponds PARKING: Free, Styles Brook Rd.

Easy

This mellow out-and-back hike is an unsuspecting gem. You’ll find more beaver activity than crowds. Cut in 2010, the trail climbs gradually from Styles Brook Road (off 9N between Keene and Upper Jay) through white pines and intersecting brooks to a ridge at 1,750 feet. Enjoy a water break alongside impressive cliffs before descending switchbacks through dense trees to the peaceful alcove of Clements Pond. Brave the makeshift rowboat—complete with duct-taped leaks and coffee cans for bailing—on the pond’s north end, or bask in the sun while the pup takes a dip. (Hint: Fancy yourself an angler? The 2.6-acre pond has been stocked with brook trout.) 124 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2016

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Moderate

INDIAN HEAD AND RAINBOW FALLS ROUND-TRIP DISTANCE: 11 miles DIFFICULTY: Moderate PAYOFF: Views of the Ausable Lakes and one of the ADK’s tallest waterfalls PARKING: Free, St. Huberts parking area/trailheads (Adirondack Mountain Reserve) Walk up Ausable Club Road and hang a left onto Lake Road in front of the clubhouse. From here, it’s a nip over three miles to your turnoff. If that sounds like a lot of dirt road, hang in there. You’re headed for two of the Adirondacks’ most majestic (and photogenic) features. Before you reach the boathouse, you’ll leave the road and follow a short trail to the base of Rainbow Falls, where Cascade Brook tumbles 150 feet into the gorge below. Yes, you’ll probably get misted. Next, head back to the road and climb 700 vertical feet to the Indian Head promontory. With Lower Ausable Lake far below and Upper Ausable Lake glistening in the distance, you’re allowed at least one selfie. Rather than retracing your steps, descend via the Gill Brook trail for more waterfalls. (Hint: If you can spare the time and leg power, hike 0.25 miles beyond Indian Head to Fish Hawk Cliffs, where you’ll look back at the Indian’s head.)

NOONMARK MOUNTAIN Moderate

ROUND-TRIP DISTANCE: 5.6 miles DIFFICULTY: Moderate PAYOFF: Vast, exposed summit surrounded by 46ers. PARKING: Free, St. Huberts parking area/ trailheads (Adirondack Mountain Reserve) From the trail register across from the Ausable Club fairways, follow a private driveway for 0.2 miles before bearing right onto an old forest road. Gaining 2,175 vertical feet along 2.4 miles, the trail meanders through open hardwoods before climbing into cedar corridors carpeted with lush moss. Noonmark is one of the most scenic non-46ers in the region, and you’ll earn the 360-degree views as you top a series of rock ramps in the last quarter mile. On the summit (3,556 ft.), claim your lunch rock and kick back. (Hint: Flat-topped boulders on the south end of the summit make prime yoga spots.)

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Advanced

DIX MOUNTAIN

ROUND-TRIP DISTANCE: 13.6 miles DIFFICULTY: Advanced PAYOFF: Possible views of the Great Range, Green Mountains (VT) and White Mountains (NH) PARKING: Free, Round Pond/Dix Mountain Trailhead, Rt. 73 At 4,867 feet, Dix is the sixth highest High Peak, and many 46ers consider it one of their favorite summits. The trail from Route 73 climbs around Round Pond and follows the Boquet River on rolling terrain past more ponds, open meadows and myriad tree species. At 4.2 miles, the trail steepens after the Boquet River Lean-to as it heads for the slides on Dix’s north face. The last 1,600 vertical feet are arduous, with eroded rock underfoot and exceedingly steep grades. When you reach it, the narrow summit ridge feels gloriously remote, and it’s frequented by fewer people than some others of the highest 46er summits. Bottom line: This varied hike is a must-do if you’ve got the drive—and shoes—for it. (Hint: For aspiring 46ers looking to knock off all five summits in the Dix Range, approach from the south via Elk Lake Road.)

MACINTYRE RANGE AND AVALANCHE PASS Advanced

ROUND-TRIP DISTANCE: 12.1 miles DIFFICULTY: Advanced PAYOFF: Two (or three) 46er summits and one (or two) lakes. PARKING: $10, Adirondack Loj

Follow the trail from the Adirondack Loj 3.5 miles to the 4,587-foot summit of Wright Peak. Though not a mandatory stop, Wright serves as a serene spot for a break and offers a prime portrait of the day’s high point: 5,114-foot Algonquin Peak, one of only two Adirondack mountains to eclipse 5,000 feet of elevation. Less than a mile later, when you crest the state’s second-highest summit, you’ll find a bald expanse of curved rock and endangered alpine vegetation to go with an up-close look at the scarred north face of Mount Colden. If you found crowds on the way up, you’ll lose most of them from here—the 2.1-mile descent to Lake Colden is steep and secluded. When you reach the trail junction below 3,000 feet, hang a left and navigate the craggy shoreline of the iconic Avalanche Lake. A last photoshoot at the muddy beach on the lake’s northeast side and a final climb to Avalanche Pass, and it’s all downhill to the car. (Hint: Add a summit and a lake by extending your route to Iroquois Peak and around Lake Colden.) 126 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2016

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Set Your Sights On

46!

If you’re ready to take your hiking to a new level, or want to begin your ‘Bucket List’

keep reading... A 46er is someone who has climbed the summits of the 46 peaks over 4,000 feet in elevation in the Adirondack Mountains of northern New York State. Climbing the 46 is about more than just receiving a patch for the accomplishment. It is a personal challenge that will reward you with memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. The history of the 46ers dates back to the 1920s, when only twelve of the 46 peaks had trails, and when one could spend all day hiking, and not see another person. Since then over 7,000 people have registered their climbs to become Adirondack 46ers. If you choose to take on this adventure, just remember to climb safely and respect the environment. Want to become a 46er? Go to: adk46er.org. You will be assigned a correspondent who serves as a mentor throughout your quest to become a 46er. Continued on the next page...

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If you carry it in, carry it out.

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Leave no trace.

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One of the advantages of hiking during the summer is the opportunity to munch on the wild berries that often grow in grassy areas on the side of the trails and on some of the open summits. This is especially true on the upper slopes of Blueberry Mountain in Keene Valley.

The 46 Peaks: Rank

Mountain

Elevation (ft.)

Rank

Mountain

Elevation (ft.)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Marcy Algonquin Haystack Skylight Whiteface Dix Gray Iroquois Peak Basin Gothics Colden Giant Nippletop Santanoni Redfield Wright Peak Saddleback Panther TableTop Rocky Peak Macomb Armstrong Hough

5344 5114 4960 4926 4867 4857 4840 4840 4827 4736 4714 4627 4620 4607 4606 4580 4515 4442 4427 4420 4405 4400 4400

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46

Seward Marshall Allen Big Slide Esther Upper Wolf Jaw Lower Wolf Jaw Street Phelps Donaldson Seymour Sawteeth Cascade South Dix Porter Colvin Emmons Dial Grace Peak Blake Peak Cliff Nye Couchsachraga

4361 4360 4340 4240 4240 4185 4175 4166 4161 4140 4120 4100 4098 4060 4059 4057 4040 4020 4012 3960 3960 3895 3820

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CREATING A LIFE OF EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL WELL-BEING HOW TO BE PROACTIVE ABOUT YOUR HEALTH MEGHAN LEMERY FRITZ,

LCSW-R

Meghan Fritz is a psychotherapist practicing in State College, PA. Email meghanlemery@yahoo.com

ll we have to do is turn on the news to experience an immediate sense of negativity and anxiety. What we watch on television, listen to on the radio and the company we keep has an effect on our health emotionally, physically and spiritually. Do not make the mistake of being careless about what you take into your spirit daily, raise your awareness and begin to be purposeful and proactive about who and what you choose to spend your time with and offer your energy to. This awareness will create a healthier body and mind and leave you feeling less anxious and heavy hearted in your daily life. One of my favorite ways to start the day is to go for an early morning walk. It is in the newness of the day and the quietness of the early morning that I prepare mentally and physically for the day ahead. This morning ritual allows me to start the day from a proactive place instead of reactive. I always feel more peaceful, alert and energized after my morning walk. I have learned that my morning walk is the most valuable gift I can give myself to ensure a successful day that is not full of stress and anxiety. When I skip this sacred ritual I feel irritable, exhausted, overwhelmed and stressed out. The fact is stress, negativity and anxiety is a part of daily life. There will always be that little voice within that screams the problem or point of stress to you over and over again. This voice will demand attention and do whatever it takes to get you to take the bait of stress, anxiety and negativity. The way to starve this voice from feeding us thoughts of doom and gloom is to cultivate a daily ritual of proactive wellness.

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IDENTIFY AN ANCHOR:

An anchor serves as a grounding force in our lives. If the storms of stress and anxiety are brewing before you, an anchor holds you safely in place and gives you a sense of protection and peace. People without anchors drift aimlessly through life exposing themselves to storms, damage and a life full of chaos and stress. Having a spiritual anchor is the key to living a life that is enjoyable and abundant emotionally, physically, spiritually and financially. If you take the time to observe people that are successful and generally optimistic about life you will find that they have a spiritual anchor they rely on to get them through the difficult stormy seasons of life. Your anchor could be as simple as a morning walk, quiet meditation where you allow silence to calm your mind and quiet your heart, prayer, or a hike through the forest. It doesn’t matter what your anchor is, as long as it serves as a time to refresh, replenish and rejuvenate your spirit. Identify your anchor and make it a point to honor this Zen time daily, even if it’s for five minutes. This one simple, daily ritual will give your intuition space to guide you forward to the path that is right for you.

DUMP THE TOXINS:

Have you ever been around a person who complains incessantly and is always talking about how stressed out they are? Their energy is full of anxiety and negativity and before you know it you too have been slimed by the negativity. You may have been in a great mood and now you find yourself mulling over your own problems wondering how you will ever be happy? Dump the toxicity out of your life. Misery loves company and the best way to guard your peace and improve your health is to get rid of anyone or anything that tries to steal it. Evaluate the people you spend time with and make it a point to surround yourself with family, friends and colleagues that will increase your energy level and enthusiasm. Pay attention to how you feel when you are around toxic people and make it a point to hatch an escape plan immediately.

Guarding your peace of mind is like locking your front door at night. No one can steal your peace if you have made the decision to guard it well and protect it under all costs. Leaving your spirit unlocked exposes you to the drama and negativity of the people you surround yourself with. Dump the toxicity out of your life and lock the door of your spirit. This one decision can help you feel lighter and more anchored in your daily life.

USE YOUR WORDS:

If you are feeling stressed and anxious ask yourself what you have been thinking about. Chances are you have been stuck on a problem or an area of unhappiness in your life. The quickest way to drop the negativity is to begin to speak what you want, not what you DON’T want. Speak blessings over your life, not curses. Start the day by speaking success over yourself. Declare that you are a valuable, worthy person who is full of wisdom and favor. You would never drink rat poison for fun so stop speaking poison over yourself. Learn to be your best advocate for emotional and physical wellness by speaking words of encouragement over yourself daily. Commit to treating yourself with love and kindness. You would never allow someone to bully you or the people you love in your life so stop bullying yourself! Use your words to ensure a state of peace and self worth.

HONOR YOUR RITUAL:

Once you have identified your spiritual anchor, dumped the toxins and begin to speak words of success over your life make it a point to honor this ritual. Begin each day with whatever ritual works for you. This ritual will allow you to feel more positive, energetic and proactive about the new day. Don’t wait until you are in turmoil to begin the process of feeling better emotionally and physically. Do the homework to figure out what wellness plan works for you and honor your self- care plan daily. Remember, five minutes of honoring your well-being is better than none at all!

YOU ARE WORTH IT!

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Painting Blind

STORY & PHOTOS BY PATRICE MASTRIANNI

hen the Youth Services Coordinator at the Northeastern Association of the Blind at Albany (NABA) asked if I could provide an accessible painting experience and a tangible opportunity for self-expression for fourteen children, I quickly accepted the offer. She explained that some of the students have been blind since birth, some lost their vision through illness and some had partial sight. I thought to myself, “I’ve taught children how to make art for over 35 years! How hard could it be?” I soon realized that traditional teaching methods left me in the dark. The students wouldn’t be able to paint from memory and I couldn’t demonstrate. This would be a unique painting lesson for all of us, but I was up for the challenge!

They would have to learn through their other senses such as taste, touch, hearing and smell.

NABA’s Senia Fleming, described how their youth program arranges new experiences monthly so young members can gain confidence and socialize with other visually impaired children. These adventures are provided free of charge through NABA’s

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fundraising efforts, grants, and sponsorship from the State Commission for the Blind. Together, we decided to provide a traditional landscape-painting experience with canvas, easels and acrylics. I asked if she had any other teaching tips, and she assured me, “They do everything sighted kids do. They fool around, they make jokes and they squirm in their seats. You’ll be fine. They’re just kids.”

I had to dig deep into my bucket of teaching methods to find a way to explain painting techniques to these students. They would have to learn through their other senses such as taste, touch, hearing and smell. I also had to learn how to communicate with them in a group. I couldn’t say, “Everyone look this way,” or “Let me show you how!” I wouldn’t even be able to point to a child and say, “You, on the end! Your painting looks great!”

Before the students arrived, I coated each canvas with Gesso, a thick artists’ primer, to create texture. I used a painter’s comb to give the texture direction so they could feel sky, grass and the circular sun. Blueberries and parsley were placed in the fridge and orange slices in a slightly warm oven. I set up easels, brushes and paint trays. I was giddy waiting for them to arrive.

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Upon entering Serendipity’s studio, the younger children were guided to seats around a large table, while the teens sat on bar stools at the counter. Walking canes were folded and tucked away. I introduced myself and asked if anyone knew why people make paintings? One boy answered, “Because it’s relaxing.” I knew most of them wouldn’t be able to admire their final products visually, so I said, “The reason you are doing this is to have fun. Also, you will bring your painting home and show your family. They will be amazed and really proud of you for accomplishing something unique and new.” I asked them to get acquainted with what was in front of them. I instructed them to feel the canvas and easel and to push the dry brush on the textured surface and listen. “The sky’s texture goes left to right like the wind,” I told them. “And, the grass grows out of the ground straight up towards the sun, which sits in the sky and is a round ball of fire.” I gave everyone cold blueberries and asked them to take a taste. “These berries are blue. Blue is a ‘cool’ color. It’s the color of the sky.” We passed out the blue paint and they painted the sky. Then they nibbled parsley and used green to paint the grass. It was remarkable to watch. Next, they tasted warmed orange slices. “This is what the color orange tastes like. It’s a warm color. It’s the color of the sun.” Some kids used their fingers to guide the brush along the circular ridges. Those who had partial vision explored shading. One girl thought she messed up and said, “I got orange in the sky!” But I assured her that the sun glows and its heat spreads into the sky! It looked beautiful! Throughout the entire painting adventure, I noticed that not one child said, “I’m not artistic.” No one compared their work to others. No one lacked confidence. They were creative and open to a new way of approaching the creative experience. As their teacher, I got to see painting from their perspective. This class is one that I’ll never forget and will build upon to inspire students of all abilities for many years to come. SS

To learn about the Northeastern Association of the Blind at Albany, go to naba-vision.org/. NABA’s Casino Night on October 27, 2016 at Albany Country Club will raise funds solely for NABA Youth Programs. For more information on Casino Night, please contact Michele O’Hare at NABA, 518-463-1211, ext. 241 or mohare@naba-vision.org. Patrice Mastrianni owns Serendipity Arts Studio located in Congress Plaza, just off Broadway in Saratoga Springs. The studio offers art and cooking classes for children and adults. For more information go to www.serendipityartsstudio.com.

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Artist Spotlight: Sharon Castro

WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER PHOTOS PROVIDED

It’s the strength within the silence that speaks loudest to photographer Sharon Castro. It is in nature, with animals, and most especially when she is with horses, that she is able to most clearly hear herself. “I reflect my mood one hundred percent in my pieces; it’s all about the way I feel,” she said. Her equine photography is soulfully blended with digital enhancements to capture the passion that these animals are able to evoke in so many. “Beautiful” is the single word she most frequently hears in the Saratoga Marketplace’s AMP Gallery, where her work is on display yearround. People are drawn in and beguiled by her hybrid photography techniques that leave them wondering, “Is it a photograph or a painting?”

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“I have a look that’s extremely unique, no one knows exactly what it is,” she explained. Entirely self-taught, before becoming a professional photographer, Castro worked as an exercise rider and horse trainer for 25 years. Her attraction to horses is something that began even before that, however. As a young child, she recalls her parents offering pony rides as a bribe for good behavior and as result, sitting as still as possible in church while she awaited her prize. Her years of exposure taught her how to tune into the horses supportive, honest natures, and to anticipate their movements and reactions. This silent repartee allows her to capture those fleeting moments that can speak volumes. When on a portrait shoot, Castro will find the best natural light and wait for the horse to walk into it. “I know horses, so I’m ready before it happens,” she said. She does have a special trick to intrigue the horses to perk up their ears, however. It’s an app on her phone that plays the sound of a horse whinnying, which the animals naturally respond to. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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“There’s no place I’d rather be. The smells, the environment, the people, I just have to be there; it’s where I’m in my glory, 136 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2016

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In the summer months on the racetrack, her Saratoga TODAY press pass affords her a place among the handful of other photographers capturing the horse’s thrilling speed and determination. The work and love is palpable, especially in the mornings, her favorite time of day. “There’s no place I’d rather be. The smells, the environment, the people, I just have to be there; it’s where I’m in my glory,” she said. In an hour-and-a-half photo shoot, it is common for her to take more than 200 photos, so the hardest part can be picking out which one she will then spend up to two weeks embellishing digitally. In the ever expanding photography market, Castro finds she is inspired by other artists instead of intimidated by them. Kudos came early in her career when her work placed second in a contest where she competed against 8,700 other images submitted from 47 countries around the world. It was a photograph of a horse named, Better Talk Now that let the equine photography market know Castro has a lot to say with her images. In addition to displaying her work at AMP Gallery and for their charitable events benefitting Floyd’s Warriors, the Shelters of Saratoga and Code Blue, it has been published many times, and can also be seen as far south as Alligator Art gallery in Florida, in shows at the Wilton Mall, Saratoga Closet and in the common areas and guestrooms of the harness track’s new Saratoga Casino Hotel. SS For more information you can follow her on Facebook and Twitter or go online to www.onlinepictureproof.com/ sharoncastrophotography saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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A GOOD READ

The Pipinos

F a m a g i o l t ies. a r WRITTEN BY MEGAN HARRINGTON, PHOTOS PROVIDED

A family-owned ice cream shop and frequent rock concerts are what kids’ dreams are made of, but if you’re Isabelle and Sarah Pipino, it’s just another day with dad. Patrick, his wife Rebecca, and their two daughters certainly know how to have fun, but they’re also incredibly grounded and passionate about giving back to the community. Read on to learn more about the delightful Pipino family.

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atrick Pipino grew up in the Capital District, but moved to Saratoga Springs in 1988. Once he found the Spa City, he knew he’d never leave. “When you grow up in Cohoes/Troy, Saratoga is like Shangri-La,” Patrick jokes. His wife, Rebecca, is originally from Pennsylvania, but met Patrick during a work visit to Saratoga. “We fell in love and got in engaged after just 6 months,” Patrick explains. The two married in 1997 and had what Patrick describes as “a fairytale wedding” at the Canfield Casino. A few years later, their family expanded and they’re now the proud parents of, “two beautiful, wonderful, compassionate, and butt-kicking girls.” Patrick co-owns the Ben and Jerry’s ice cream shop in downtown Saratoga, a Phila Street stand-by during the warm summer months. Patrick served as store manager while earning his MBA from SUNY Albany and when an opportunity to buy the business opened up, Patrick decided to go for it. Although he admits, “I never thought I’d be doing this. I thought I’d be working somewhere like IBM!” Fortunately, Patrick seems to have the magic touch and besides a busy storefront, the shop also operates a thriving vending and catering business. If you enjoy a cool treat at SPAC, the race track, or the well-known Bonaroo and Firefly festivals, there’s a good chance Patrick’s shop is the supplier. While work can get hectic, especially during the high season, Patrick clearly has the energy to keep up. Besides owning the store, he’s also served as a little league coach for the past 27 years and is an active and past member of many area boards and organizations. And his wife and daughters share his high energy. Rebecca earned her Masters degree from The College of St. Rose and now works as the math coach at Caroline Street Elementary School. Isabelle, age 12, and Sarah, age 8, are students in the Saratoga Springs School District and extremely active in the local community. Isabelle received her black belt when she was just 10 years old and is now testing for her 2nd degree black belt. She also volunteers every week with senior citizens at The Wesley Community. Patrick adds, “We don’t push her – she actually asked to volunteer at Wesley!” Younger sister Sarah is also very accomplished – she’s the proud recipient of a high purple belt and very artistic. “She’s just my ray of sunshine,” Patrick says. If the Pipino name sounds familiar, it might be because they recently had their five minutes of fame. After a late night out at a Bruce Springsteen concert, Patrick wrote a note to the girls’ teachers excusing them for being tardy and the note went viral. The family has a genuine love for “The Boss,” but they also really value spending time together. Patrick explains, “We don’t buy them much in terms of toys, but we love sharing experiences.” As a family, they’ve taken trips everywhere from Alaska to Dubai to Disney World and they love heading down to New York City for musicals and concerts. If their schedule keeps them closer to home, Patrick says they enjoy simple pleasures like jumping on the trampoline, swimming at nearby pools, or just hanging out in the park. They also love Saratoga’s restaurant scene and from a young age, Isabelle and Sarah have been burgeoning food connoisseurs. “As a former chef, my girls have eaten well since day one,” Patrick says. They especially love noodles – whether it’s pasta from Saratoga’s Chianti Restaurant or more exotic fare. But despite all the fun, the Pipinos also know how important it is to help those that are less fortunate. Patrick explains, “Volunteering is central to our life.” And when it comes to teaching the girls good values, the Pipinos have three simple rules. Patrick says, “We try to be kind to everyone we meet. We try to help everyone we can. And when Springsteen comes to town, we try to be there!” SS

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Taking it

Outdoors ALL OUTDOORS BY TIM BLODGETT

eople have been traveling to Saratoga Springs for summer vacations for more than 200 years.

They come for the health, history and horses that have become this city’s brand. I would argue that of those three selling points, horses quickly outpaced the other two as the main draw and continue to sustain the vitality of our “City in the Country”. Long before horse racing defined Saratoga, the indigenous inhabitants recognized the unique character of this land. Fertile soil, abundant game, streams and lakes teaming with fish were natural magnets for the native peoples. The proximity to the Hudson River, the original super highway, allowed them to travel easily to the Adirondack Mountains or the Atlantic Ocean and trade with other communities. Known as Serachtague, “Place of Swift Waters” to the Mohawk and other local Native Americans, this area was considered sacred. They believed that the naturally carbonated water bubbling from the ground had been stirred by the god Manitou and endowed by him with healing properties. The European colonists who settled in this region learned of the springs from the native people and started building the community that became Saratoga Springs. This meeting of cultures was sometimes cooperative, sometimes not and ultimately led to the displacement of many of the original inhabitants, but that’s a topic for a different discussion. In 1802, Gideon Putnam built a three story tavern as part of his vision of establishing a spa resort in the wilderness. Tourism blossomed after the advent of the railroad in 1831, making the journey to the healing waters of Saratoga Springs an annual tradition and allowing a health spa industry to grow and thrive. Later in 1863, a thoroughbred horse race established a tradition that is now Saratoga’s most famous attraction. As time passed, people moved to Saratoga Springs, bringing with them their own visions of what they wanted in the community and added the cultural attractions we now enjoy. Music and the arts are celebrated throughout the city. The intimacy of the small room at Café Lena and the amphitheater setting of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center are at the center of musical innovation and performance. Museums and historical points of interest abound

in and around the city. A vibrant downtown can provide entertainment until the wee hours of the morning, but if you’re looking for a quieter, less hectic Saratoga Experience, we are the “City in the Country” after all. I visited www. saratogaspringsvisitorcenter.com for historical information and I suggest you check it out too.

SWIFT WATERS, CALM WATERS. Water is one of the defining features of Saratoga Springs and the surrounding area. Anglers can cast for a wide variety of fish in the local lakes, rivers and streams just a few minutes out of town. Trout of the Brook, Brown and Rainbow variety thrive in the Kaydeross Creek to the west and north, the Battenkill to the east and in Geyser Brook that runs through the Spa State Park. Whether you prefer to drift worms in the current, cast spinners or artfully present flies, you can lose yourself in the moment of the strike and the exhilaration of your adversary acrobatically leaping from the water. Saratoga Lake and its smaller neighbor, Lake Lonely both offer great fishing opportunities. Shore access is limited on these lakes, but if you have a boat there are launches you can use. Fishing for the shore bound is good at the launches, especially on weekdays when there’s less traffic. Bass, Northern Pike and Panfish are always willing to take your bait and will keep you casting long after the time you should have left. I’ve gotten in trouble falling into the “one last cast” trap many times and you will too. Lake Lonely is the place to go if you want to rent a rowboat and get off shore. The lake is less than a mile long and can easily be fished in a small boat. Lake Lonely Boat Livery is located on Crescent Avenue on the outlet stream of the lake. There are boats for rent and a boat launch with plenty of parking if you bring your own. Kayakers utilize this access point as a departure/pick up point for calm water paddles down the Kaydeross Creek and to Saratoga Lake. I consider it a must visit for paddlers and fishermen who want a peaceful time on the water. The Hudson River in Schuylerville is an exceptional fishing destination where you can catch trophy bass and pike with surprising frequency. The section of the river from Fort Edward south to Troy is limited to catch and release only and is probably the most under fished, underappreciated fisheries in the state. Dredging to remove PCB contaminated sediment is finished and the fishing has rebounded nicely. Not only will you catch Bass and Pike, but you can fish for Channel Catfish that often tip the scales at 15 to 20 pounds, or fish in some of the shallower backwaters for Giant Crappie and Bluegills. Hook into a 1 pound Bluegill on an Ultralite combo and you will definitely be impressed!

FRESH AIR. I’m the throwback who still carries a “dumb” phone so I was impressed with an app my daughter has on her iPhone. It lists all the hiking, biking, boating, birding and nature trails that are in the area of wherever you may find yourself. When she declared that she wanted to go adventuring last Memorial Day, I asked her what she had in mind. “Nothing close by” she answered, “I’ll hike them myself. I want a challenge. I have an app on my iPhone we can use to find something.” The app is called AllTrails and it has a seemingly endless list to choose from. We filtered the search to trails within an hour’s drive and we still had a list a mile long. We settled on the Peaked Mountain trail that originates at Thirteenth Lake. We took Rt. 28 just past Gore Mountain in North River and parked at the trailhead. It was hot and muggy that day, but a light breeze and shady trail climbing alongside a brook made the heat bearable. We had the trail to ourselves for most of the way up until we passed hikers headed back down. About three quarters of a mile to go with the top of the mountain in sight, we started hearing thunder rumble in the near distance and chose to about-face and advance in the opposite direction. We shall return and complete the hike because the reviews say the view from the summit is worth the effort. I realize that you may not have a full day to commit to an Adirondack hike if you’re only in town for a couple of days, but there is a surprising number of trails within and just outside of the city that can provide you with a quick escape at no cost to your wallet. One of the best ways to take in the sights in and around Saratoga Springs is to hop on a bicycle and ride through the farm country that surrounds the city. Many world renowned breeders of champion Thoroughbreds own farms in the surrounding towns and you may catch a glimpse of a newly foaled, future, Triple Crown champion as you pedal by. Check in with the local bike shops when you’re making plans for your next visit and join one of the group rides they offer. You may find me riding at your side if you decide to take a two wheel tour of the area. Be sure to visit the attractions that the city is famous for, but try to spend some time enjoying the area’s natural beauty that is often overshadowed by them. There are adventures waiting for you, no matter your ability or skill level. The Saratoga Springs experience is what you make it, so try to make it one that you will remember for life. SS

photo by Matt McDonald

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Local author Brien Bouyea (photo by Sharon Castro)

Post Time Memories

with Dennis G. Hogan

“Writer’s Up!”

e’re but a calendar’s page away from the start of another season of racing at historic Saratoga Race Course. All around town lawns are being mowed, banners put in place, and on Union Avenue, freshly-blossomed Calla Lilies reach for the sky in glorious displays of brilliant color. While just across the storied boulevard, at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, preparations are underway to welcome in the ‘Class of ’16’. Induction ceremonies are scheduled for August 12, and the man in charge of it all is Clifton Park native Brien Bouyea. Brien’s tenure at the museum may be the stuff of destiny for he’s been strolling the sidewalks of Union Avenue since he was a boy. “From the time I was 11 or 12, my family and I would visit Saratoga a few times each year. I always enjoyed the horses, the races - just being around the scene was something I looked forward to. “I was a big Angel Cordero fan; him and Pat Day and Gary Stevens. It was always cool to see them and get their autographs though the highlight was the Travers. My favorite memory was seeing Holy Bull win in ’94; that really got the ‘bug’ going for me.” Brien's followed sports his entire life. He’s a die-hard Red Sox fan though his true love is

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Thoroughbred racing, and that ‘bug’ led him all the way to a career as a sportswriter. In 1999, he joined the staff of The Troy Record, and in 2006, he moved on to The Saratogian. “While working at The Saratogian, I was charged with coordinating and designing the Pink Sheet. By following racing on a daily basis, I learned a lot more about the sport and its history. And I was fortunate to have a really talented group of people to work with, including Mike Veitch, Jeff Scott and Nicole Russo. “Then in 2009, I saw an opening at the National Museum for a Communications Director. I’ve been there six years now and this summer will mark the seventh Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony I’ve directed. “My duties include anything that deals with the Hall of Fame: the coordination of the members, the voting, and of course, the induction day ceremonies. I also oversee a variety of committees, the lecture series, and a variety of publications including the website, newsletters and our annual museum guide.” Brien’s also found time to pen his first book, Bare Knuckles & Saratoga Racing: The Remarkable Life of John Morrissey. Why Morrissey? You ask. “He pretty much changed the town.” Said Brien. “Saratoga Race Course is the oldest active racecourse in the country and it’s here because of him. I got the idea when I was working in Troy, where Morrissey grew up. I did a few articles on him and discovered there

really wasn't a good biography about the man. I figured someone should write it and it might as well be me. “The book appeals to anyone who’s into horse racing or boxing - it’s also a true underdog story. John ‘Old Smoke’ Morrissey was an Irish immigrant who didn’t learn to read or write until about the age of 19, though he became a boxing champion and a millionaire, he founded a racetrack and was a member of both the New York State Senate and the United States Congress. So here’s a guy who overcame a lot in life and went on to achieve great things by whatever means he could.” And how did Morrissey come by the nickname ‘Old Smoke?’ Well, just ask Brien. He’ll be on-hand to sign copies of his new book from 9 a.m. till noon, July 30, August 13 and 20, at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame; at Saratoga’s Barnes and Noble, August 13 from 2-4 p.m., and at Northshire Bookstore, August 16 at 7 p.m. And don’t miss his lecture and Q & A session at the Saratoga Springs History Museum, August 25 at 7 p.m. Now let’s turn that calendar and welcome another great season at Saratoga! SS John Morrissey, courtesy of the Saratoga Springs History Museum

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LILLIAN RUSSELL AND DIAMOND JIM BRADY Was it a love affair or friendship?

WRITTEN BY CHARLIE KUENZEL, PHOTOS PROVIDED BY

n the later part of the 19th century no two people generated more discussion and speculation on their activities in Saratoga Springs during the summer than Diamond Jim Brady and Lillian Russell. Saratoga Springs was different than Newport and other spots for the wealthy. Saratoga Springs was always the spot where the late-Victorian morality was stretched and maybe at times was broken. One socialite was reported to have said “Liaisons are accepted in Saratoga”. That is why Lillian and Jim found accep-

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tance in Saratoga as two people unmarried spending the season together at “The Spa”. Diamond Jim Brady was a self-made business man who liked to spend his earnings in extravagant ways, especially around his great friend Lillian Russell. Lillian was a very famous stage singer and actor who regularly caused people to debate the questions: “Was she the most beautiful woman in the world? Was she Diamond Jim’s mistress”? Lillian was born Helen Louise Leonard in Clinton Iowa in 1860 and raised in Chicago. At age 18 she moved with her mother to NYC after her parents divorced. By age 19 she had changed her name to Lillian Russell and was performing in New York City as a professional singer for Tony Pastor. This began a long career in the theater for Lillian where she made not only her living but her mark on American society. In and out of love, Lillian was married four times but never to Jim Brady, and those marriages resulted in the birth of a son and a daughter. Lillian was such a star of

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the theater that in 1890 Alexander Graham Bell picked her voice to carry the first long distance phone service message between NYC, Boston and Washington D.C. Diamond Jim Brady was born in 1856 to a modest family in NY City and never married. At a young age he worked first as a bellhop and then finally doing jobs with the railroads. As a salesman for Manning, Maxwell, and Moore, a railroad supply company, he was tremendous, and in his lifetime made millions through those sales. His nick name “Diamond Jim” came from the fact that he always dressed to impress and jewelry with diamonds were a big part of that wardrobe. His jewelry collection was estimated to have 20,000 diamonds and 6,000 other precious stones. He owned 30 matched sets of jewelry, one for each day of the month. His number one diamond set contained a 25.5 carat diamond ring. Brady was quoted as saying “If you are going to make money you have to look like money”. His reputation for eating large amounts of food at one sitting was well known and people began to think his appetite was as big as his bank account. From an early age Brady loved the theater and met Lillian Russell in her early years as a stage performer. He always sent her the biggest floral arrangements on opening night and usually hid gifts of jewelry in the arrangements. Lillian loved the attention and Jim loved being in the presence of such an admired performer. They traveled to Saratoga with others and sometimes together to spend time in rented homes or the cottages of the big hotels. The cottages were in the courtyard area of the United States and Grand Union Hotels. Although the main hotel was patrolled by house detectives who followed the rules of morality of the day, the cottages served as an area where couples not necessarily married to each other could spend time together. On at least one occasion they rented the house at 23 Greenfield Avenue in Saratoga Springs for the summer instead of a cottage at a hotel. They both visited the dining room at the Canfield Casino and Lillian loved having renowned Chef Jean Columbin prepare her crepes Suzette table side. Lillian and Jim Brady loved the mutual attention and discussion that was shown them when together in Saratoga. The old time socialites just referred to her as “That woman”. I think they both fed off each other’s fame and totally enjoyed their time together. One of the many stories of Lillian and Jim’s friendship involved a bicycle. It is said that Jim gave Lillian a bicycle that was covered with diamonds. This is true, but it gets better. Lillian began to ride the new invention, the bicycle, in Central Park in NY City. She finally pressured Brady into riding and he found that he really enjoyed it. In typical Brady fashion he bought not one but 12 bicycles. He didn’t stop there. He asked Tiffany’s to gold plate the 12 bicycles. When Tiffany’s refused the job Brady took the bicycles to a shop owned by William Mock. Mock gold plated the bicycle frames and plated the spokes of the wheels in silver. In addition Lillian’s bicycle had her monogram in diamonds on the handlebars. When the tandem bicycle made its debut in NY City, Brady in typical fashion had a triple seater bicycle built and he and Lillian and Dick Barton rode in Central Park. That was the style of Jim Brady. If someone had one thing he made sure he had two, or more. Even though the people on the street wondered and gossiped about the relationship that really existed between Lillian Diamond Jim the truth is they were just great friends. Jim had fallen in love with Edna McCauley and hoped that she would someday marry him. At the same time Lillian was seeing Jesse Lewisohn and I think she hoped that they too would marry. Jesse became ill and needed to change his lifestyle with less drink, gambling and late nights. Brady offered him use of his manor in New Jersey to rest and recuperate. Edna was already at the manor and would,

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as a friend, be willing to help him during his stay. After many months of a very busy schedule, Brady went to the manor to see his friend Jesse as well as his mistress, Edna. Upon arrival he learned that Jesse and Edna had fallen in love and that they were planning to get married. Brady took the news very hard and went into a very depressed period. Lillian handled the news a little better but still spent more time with her career to get through the bad times. It was after this event that Diamond Jim made a formal proposal of marriage to Lillian. She told him that she appreciated it but that they were friends and it needed to stay that way. They continued to see each other as friends and Lillian eventually married for her fourth and last time in 1912. They remained as good friends until the end. The end would come soon enough when Brady died in 1917. A wonderful couple who loved life and especially the life and friendship that shared every summer in Saratoga Springs. SS

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RARELY SEEN PHOTOS OF OLD SARATOGA SPRINGS Images from the George S. Bolster Collection WRITTEN BY CHARLIE KUENZEL, PERMISSION FROM SARATOGA SPRINGS HISTORY MUSEUM SPECIAL THANKS TO CURATOR JOHN CONNERS

BROADWAY AND DIVISION STREET 1923 A “caution light” is featured in the view of Broadway looking north from Division Street. With only one horse-drawn carriage on the street we are reminded of the change in mode of transportation at this time in history. Off in the distance, above the treetops, is a view of the clock and bell tower that once was atop City Hall.

LAKE AVENUE LOOKING WEST 1934 This view of Lake Avenue with the hill near City Hall in the distance, reminds us of the changes in this area. The buildings on the right were torn down and are the site today of the parking lot behind the Police Department, behind City Hall. Look closely on their left and you will see the present day Saratogian building.

TROLLEY STATION 1930

DRINK HALL 1941 This photo shows the interior of the present day Visitors Center on Broadway. Originally built as a trolley station, it was converted to a “Drink Hall” in 1941 for the purpose of people taste testing different mineral waters.

The trolley station in this photo is the present day Visitors Center on the corner of Broadway and Congress Street. Built in 1915 as a trolley station, it provided transportation in the area until 1941.

HIGH ROCK DELIVERY WAGON 1875 Since mineral water was always free at the spring, owners would many times bottle and sell the waters to support their spring and related properties. This is a photo of the delivery system for High Rock Spring waters. Mineral water was sold in cases of either pints or quarts bottled in dark glass to preserve their medicinal properties from degrading in sunlight. 144 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2016

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THE CHANGING FACE OF

SARATOGA'S RACE COURSE

STORY & PHOTOS BY THERESA ST. JOHN

THE SARATOGA ROOM AT THE SARATOGA SPRINGS PUBLIC LIBRARY

HISTORICAL PHOTOS FROM

The gates will open for the racing season on July 22nd this year and the meet will conclude on September 5th, 40 days later! That's 36 more days than at it's inception, when the season's meet was a mere four days long! Today, people come from all over the world, standing in line to enter the grounds, anxious to hear that famous cry "AND THEY'RE OFFFFF!" at the Spa City's historic racetrack. It really wasn't too different in 1863, when Saratoga Springs opened what would become one of the world's most beloved sports facilities, with worldwide competitors and a vast audience.

Except... It was SO different!

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1909

1867

Back then, your ticket for the day cost 50 cents. It was $1.00 if you wanted to sit in the grandstand, or $1.00 to watch the races from your carriage. $10 bucks would get you a five-day pass into the best seats of the house.

1923

If you happened to be a woman, you'd attend the festivities, under the care of a gentleman. And the race card each day began with, get this, two races! 5,000 people attended that much anticipated opening day. It was August 3, 1863. At a buck each, it was deemed an instant hit within the racing community.

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1936

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John Morrissey, an undefeated Irish-American heavy-weight boxing champion, was the founding father of Saratoga Racetrack. He'd taught himself how to read and write, becoming the owner and operator of several gambling institutions in New York City, then Saratoga. Morrissey pushed himself even further, to become an elected official in both the United States Congress and New York State Senate. He was only 32 when his vision of thoroughbred racing began, with an enterprising four-day meet in Saratoga during the hot month of August,1863. It was an experiment of sorts. John knew that horse racing was a popular sport and was determined to see if it could become another successful endeavor for him. That day's success was huge and Saratoga fast became one of the world's most famous and beloved courses, even 153 years later.

Today, the track is a family affair. The gates open early and thousands of people stream in, with picnic baskets and coolers of drinks. Children spend hours in the wellkept playground and enjoy meeting new friends, while their parents read the racing forms and pick their bets.

Vendors are set up under big tents, selling things like fancy, embellished hats and original paintings, while the smell of food grilling permeates the air, assaulting the senses, all with live music in the background. Saratoga's race track is a book of rich history. With the Spa City voted both "Great American Place, Great American Main Street and Most Walkable City," you can be certain the dream of John Morrissey and the meet's unparalleled draw from July to September, have a great deal to do with attaining the title. SS

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The Original

"MOM & POPS" Take a tour with us through Saratoga's old neighborhood grocers, we will be featuring a different store in each issue of Simply Saratoga Magazine -

Enjoy!

WRITTEN BY CAROL GODETTE, PHOTOS PROVIDED

Ask almost anyone

who grew up in a small town and their face lights up with that ”first kiss glaze” as they recall fond remembrances of their corner store. There existed a simplicity, warmth and sense of belonging that made customers allegiant to their particular neighborhood establishment. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to return to them as they were in their heyday? Growing up as a baby boomer, I was fascinated by my neighborhood grocery store. Recently I was walking by the little used one-car garage that had housed my favorite neighborhood store. I found myself imagining the thriving neighborhood store that had once existed there and lamenting its demise. This gathering place represented a way of life in our country and in particular, Saratoga Springs in 1960. At this time, there were 33 neighborhood stores within the city limits. Many were a room in the parlor of a family home, with the family living in the back, but a few were standalone structures. Throughout the city one didn’t have to walk more than a few blocks in any direction to be able to buy bread, milk, canned goods or fortunately for mepenny candy. Broadway clearly divided the city into an east side and west side. Natives will admit that they rarely traded at stores on “the other side of town”. Some pockets of town were more concentrated with “Mom and Pop” stores than others. John Conners’ paper route on the Westside in “Dublin” stretched from 1 Oak St to West Avenue and all the streets in between. He recalls 11 neighborhood grocery stores in the “Dublin” area and reports that with the exception of two, every family lived in the back of the store. Many of these shop owners supported as many as ten children from their business. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

This map of historic west side stores, in and around Dublin, was created by Tom Denny, using information provided by the author. Names and locations of individual stores were taken largely from the annual Mannings City Directory and historic telephone directories. Based on Manning’s Saratoga Springs City Directories the number of neighborhood stores peaked in 1911 when 53 grocers dotted the city. The directory index lists another 26 stores under the category of “Markets- Meat, Fish, Poultry and Vegetables.” It is hard to establish the difference of the criteria of the listings as many of the so-called grocers also had a butcher. Nonetheless to have almost 80 small stores service a year-round population of just under 13,000 speaks volumes about our culture. Many of these stores continued on for decades, passing ownership to another family member or selling to other local entrepreneurs. By 1969 the number of these “Mom and Pop” stores within city limits still numbered 25. Saratoga Spring’s population of 17,000 supported these same establishments until 1978, when the number of neighborhood shops listed in the city directory sharply declined to a mere 13. Nationwide several things contributed to the demise of these stores- the May 1978 launch of the NYS Lotto; the widespread

improvement of credit cards and their magnetic strips in 1979; FDA labeling regulations making it hard to produce and sell your own canned goods; the increased mobility of our population; and large grocery chains increasing their hours of operation. Locally we can’t deny the success of a convenience store chain we now know as Stewart’s Shops. (Today these stores have excelled in filling the void left behind from the closing of many “Mom and Pop” stores.) And for at least a few local neighborhood stores, Nelson Rockfeller’s establishment of the OTB hurt a few of our local grocers who “ran book” on the side to keep their store afloat. What was the final nail in the coffin of many of our “Mom and Pop” stores is up for debate and speculation. Many of the stories associated with the stores reflect what was happening in our society. Overall, hard work, extended family members tirelessly working together, and the pursuit of the American Dream prevail.

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10 Warren Street in 1942. For some “Mom and Pop” grocery store owners, the impetusus to become a neighborhood store operator was more interesting than the job itself. Formally a residence and barber shop owned by Ralph Derby, Doc Anderson and his wife Anna converted this property into a grocery store.

4 in the series...

Photo from George S. Bolster Collection, Saratoga History Museum

Anderson's #

How do a gunshot victim, a trip to Mongolia and a murder trial figure into the beginnings of the grocery store on 10 Warren Street? Life was moving along, unfolding just as 35-year-old Robert Anderson dreamed. He had studied medicine at the University of Louvain in Belgium and was glad to be back home in Saratoga Springs with a two year residency at the hospital on Church Street. He was even engaged. Little did he know how a gunshot victim, a trip to Mongolia and a murder trial would change his life.

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On Wednesday December 9, 1936 Anderson was asleep in his bathrobe at the Church Street hospital when a call from the office summoned him. Had he not been the resident doctor on call that day, the rest of his life may have taken another course. To quote Anderson, “I came down to the emergency wing by a call from the hospital office… and found the man bleeding from several bullet wounds in his thorax. It was plain to see the man could not live with the wounds he had received, but his tenacity to life was remarkable. Interspersed with his intermittent mumblings was the name, ‘Sonny.’ This did not mean anything to me, but I distinctly remember his calling out that – Sonny had shot him. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

10 Warren Street today as a single family home.

Saratoga Hospital as it was when Robert Anderson was a resident.

Soon Dr. Anderson would discover that this information would make him a key material witness in an important trial. Those close to Anderson feared for his safety while awaiting trial. Dr. Anderson’s only son Bob states, “My father was advised that for the safety of himself and his family, he should leave the country. The Catholic Church helped arrange it. The Scheut Fathers from Belgium ran a mission in Mongolia, so between his Belgium University ties and his membership in St. Clement’s Church, it was quickly arranged for him to go to Mongolia as a surgeon.” The Saratogian writes that Dr. Anderson “was bonded as a material witness in February 1937, less than 16 hours before his marriage to Miss Anna Katherine Louise Fitzgerald of this city.” The couple escaped to the relative safety of Mongolia. Eventually, Anderson was forced to leave Mongolia and testify in the murder trail. He and his family returned to Saratoga, but Dr. Anderson, haunted by his experiences, chose not to return to medical practice or to Saratoga Hospital. Instead, in 1941 the couple bought a house at 10 Warren Street and “in motivation to

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make a living- put bread on the table - my parents opened a corner store,” states son Robert. As was often the case at the time, the family lived over the store. Their son’s bedroom was directly over the store with a trap door in his floor that allowed him to sneak downstairs and steal penny candy from the large glass-fronted case. “People knew and liked my parents. Our customers were from the immediate area. Nobody had a car in those days. We did a big trade in beer, bread and canned goods. Rationing was still in effect and if a customer would be short coupons and my Mom had a few, she would toss hers in.” In this pre-credit card era, most customers kept a tab and would pay it off on payday. Anna Anderson ran the store more than her husband, who was undoubtedly preoccupied with the pending murder trial. During the proceedings of December 1942, Dr. Anderson’s testimony was stricken from the record and termed “confused.”

After the trial, Dr. Anderson and his family sold the store they had operated for 2 years to the Lewis’s and moved for a short time to Providence, RI. While there, Dr. Anderson worked in a State Hospital but didn’t like it. The events he had experienced took a large toll on him and he “started drinking a lot” reports his son. Dr. Anderson and his family returned to Saratoga, but not to the grocery business. It would be curious to know if he ever visited the store he and his wife created. He passed away in August of 1948 at his home on 96 Walworth Street at the age of 47. However, the store he began - out of unusual circumstances- lived on for decades under the name of “Lewis’s store, Sam’s and Rocky & Jerry’s.” Today 10 Warren Street is a single family residence once again. SS

Rocky & Jerry’s was the last “Mom and Pop” store at this location before it was converted back to a single family house.

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Minnie Bolster

WRITTEN BY CAROL GODETTE, PHOTOS BY SUSAN BLACKBURN

Wh en you have more than 2 of something, I guess you could say you have a collection, commen ted Minnie Bolster.

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Her impressive collection of Saratoga signs reminds one of past and present local businesses. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Minnie has been a collector most of her life… maps, posters, paintings, books, prints, hotel keys, bottles and postcards to name a few. Minnie began collecting Saratoga memorabilia in 1958 with a spirit of adventure, enthusiasm and inquisitiveness. She amassed her items in a variety of ways- by joining collecting clubs, antiquing road trips from Maine to Florida, placing ads for items in newspapers, and from people just giving her items. Along the way she made many new friendships through her hobby. Although most regard her as a collector of Saratoga memorabilia, she really is a collector of people. At 95, however, her collection has been forced to change. Dick Stone, her former boss Judge Michael Sweeney, Ellen Ruhle, Amy VanWagner, Marion DelVecchio, Doris Putnam Lassel, Marie Coppernoll and of course her husband Fred - all part of the core of her collection of friends - have passed away. As with any true collector, collecting is not in the monetary worth, but in the emotional value.

As an author of 3 books, Minnie signs each one herself.

So… she has evolved with the times and has amassed a younger assemblage – the 2 Graul girls- Anne Dejnoska and Jane Valetta, Mark and Michelle Phillips, Dave Patterson, Charlie and Margaret Kuenzel, John and Joy Conners, Jamie Parillo and Valerie Collins to name a few. Her 95th birthday dinner-party held last August had 60 guests, all treasures of her current collection. “Minnie collects her friends in the same way she collects things. Everyone close to her, has a connection to Saratoga’s past,” explains Jamie Parillo, executive director of the Saratoga Springs History Museum. Referring to a monthly lunch gathering of 10 Saratogian history buffs who gather to discuss and reminisce about their beloved hometown he says, “She’s the catalyst that has brought us all together to work on our own separate projects of Saratoga. We are spokes and she is the hub that holds us together.”

Maps of the area

Charlie Kuenzel adds, “What strikes me most about Minnie is her intrinsic love of Saratoga. She will defend it like a child of her own. It’s her true love for the city that connects her with people.” Kuenzel and Patterson former Saratoga Springs City teachers and leaders of Saratoga Tours LLC dedicated their first book “A Walk Back in Time” to Minnie who was an inspiration to them. They relied on this top city historian as a resource in their research. Often thought of as “The Last Keeper of Saratoga History,” Minnie has a lot to say about her beloved Saratoga Springs. “Say what you want, but we wouldn’t be anything without The Springs. She brings a deep perspective to changes in Saratoga such as her opposition to the construction of the carousel in Congress Park. Referring to the recent

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Minnie has collected over 300 paperweights. Her favorites are by Rick Ayotte, a well-known paperweight craftsman. JULY/AUGUST 2016 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 153

building construction in town, Minnie, who was former president of the Saratoga Springs Historical Society, reminds us of some of the town’s history: “In the 1870s all of Broadway was rebuilt from one and two story buildings. When the Collamer Building and Ainsworth buildings were erected, some people at the time were upset. Now we like what’s there.”

Minnie with SS Editor Chris Vallone Bushee. Minnie is seated in the first piece of her collection of Saratoga furniture. Her uncle had acquired this chair at the Grand Union Hotel auction sale.

She does caution that “maybe we could slow it down a little.” Minnie, however, is showing no signs of slowing down. Besides her daily visits with friends and relatives, she has begun passing on some of her pieces of Saratoga history… but only to those who share the same passion for our city that she does. “For Minnie, it’s not about having a collection, it’s about passing on the stories of Saratoga to others through the objects,” states longtime friend Dave Patterson. What’s even more fascinating than her historical trove of treasures? According to Patterson, it’s her stories that bring them to life. Recently when I wanted photos of neighborhood stores she quickly referred to her organized four drawer file cabinet and pulled out a labeled folder of business photos. As she scanned her folders, she explained how she acquired some of them on her regular trips to the toss-out-photos pile at the Saratogain newspaper. “I don’t mind parting with my things as I’ve had such a good time collecting them. For anything I own I can tell you who I met, where I got it and how much I paid for it. I researched everything I bought,” reflects Minnie. Our fair city is lucky to have been graced with this one-ofa-kind collector. As Dave Patterson adeptly states,

“Minnie h erself is a Saratoga Treasure.” SS Photo display of the SSHS Class of ’38 reunions. Minnie was instrumental in organizing each of them.

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Part of Minnie’s “Peb” collection. Cartoonist Pierre Belocq is well known in the racing world as his work is featured in the Daily Racing Form.

Collection of Saratoga hotel keysHer favorite is an oddly shaped brass key from the Kensington Hotel located on the corner of Circular St. and Union Avenue. It was torn down in 1912. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Guitar M Frank Pemberton and his Les Pauls. STORY BY CARRIE ROWLANDS JOHNSON, PHOTOS BY ALICE COREY

ucked in the basement of a well-maintained Saratoga house lies a man cave that serves as an ode to music, an ode to the guitar and most importantly a shrine to guitarist Les Paul— nearly every square foot of wall, floor and table space is covered with guitars, musical memorabilia and Les Paul artifacts.

When you visit, plan on staying awhile. Owner Frank Pemberton is one feisty character with a passion for sharing stories. If you write about him, walk in with a strategy. His propensity for story telling can almost be overwhelming. Spend time with him and you’ll soon learn, even with all of his accolades and talent for hand crafting and repairing guitars, he’s a humble man, preferring to talk more about his musical idol and role model, Les Paul, than his own accomplishments.

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Pemberton’s affinity for the guitar goes back to his childhood when at the age of four his father gifted him with his very first guitar— one of many treasures you’ll find in his well-decorated basement space. “My father… he played guitar in our house every day. On the weekends he’d play. Nights after work he’d play. There was always music around the house with him playing.” Frank’s appreciation for and fanaticism of Les Paul can also be attributed to his father, who took him to see his first Les Paul concert at SPAC. Because his father was also Chief of Police in Saratoga at the time, the security guards marched them right up to the famous musician for an introduction before the show. “Out in the middle of the stage, there was a stool and Les Paul had his guitar, and was putting strings on it and the security guard said, ‘Right this way. Les Paul, I want you to meet Chief

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Man. Pete Pemberton and his son Frank,’ And it was like WHOOF!!” Frank was already a fan, fond of listening to records of Paul with his father. Today, collaged on the wall with a generous amount of other musical memorabilia hangs the framed 78 record of “How High the Moon” along with the framed sheet music. Two framed letters hang nearby— one from Frank to Les Paul and the other from Les Paul to Frank, both among Pemberton’s prized possessions, even more so since Les Paul’s death in 2009. Near a wall not far from those framed mementos leans a shiny baby blue guitar. It’s one of the first items Frank points out on a tour of his colorful space. “In 1962 I saw the Beetles on Ed Sullivan and said, ‘I gotta have one of these, so I went to the Sears and Roebuck catalog store and ironically Les Paul got his first guitar from Sears and Roebuck.” There are more than a few similarities between Frank Pemberton and his world famous idol. Twinkles fill his glasses-framed eyes as he talks about the nickname, Red, his father gave him as a young child. “They called Les Paul – Red - because his stage name was Rhubarb Red when he played guitar and harmonica at the same time. My father used to call me Red Pemberton because of my red hair.”

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Paul was a grammy-award winning guitarist, traveling from venue to venue throughout his musical career. Pemberton did his fair share of touring too, across the country and right here in Saratoga. “There were a lot of years I traveled around on the road with a show band and it was just me, a guitar, an amplifier and a suitcase. We’d go place to place. I’ve played on the East coast, the West coast, all through Europe and I entertained in officers’ clubs overseas. I played just about any place.” Not only did Paul master the art of playing guitar, he is credited with many recording innovations, pioneering the solid-body guitar, which made the sound rock and roll possible. He was also one of the first to experiment with overdubbing (also known as sound on sound.) Following in his mentor’s footsteps, Pemberton is forever tinkering with what many throw away as junk guitars, restoring them to life and giving them back their voice. “They’re all made out of spare parts. There’s not one real guitar there. I painted them… I go out and buy guitars at flea markets and garage sales.” Frank points to one guitar and explains exactly how he performed its restoration. “I masked that off, took the picture to home depot and matched the paint. I tried to make that guitar look as much like the original as I could.” He points to another still on the operating table, awaiting his skilled fingers. “I picked this up for fifty cents. I told the lady she should pay me fifty cents to take it away.” Some of the reconstructed guitars hang on the walls of Pemberton’s musically-themed man cave. He’s generously gifted many others to charities, schools and homeless shelters. “Look,” he says when asked about the donations, “after 51 years of playing and you wind

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up with something like this, you should give something back.” While many of the guitars in Pemberton’s space have been revived with his own hands, a collection of six or seven are authentic Gibson Les Pauls. The number is smaller than he’d like because of his deal with Jodi, his very patient wife. Every time he buys a guitar, she’s entitled to a blank check and a shopping trip, an agreement both seem more than content to uphold. “I met her June 25, 1977. We got married in 1978 and we just celebrated thirty-eight years. It takes one hell of a woman to put up with a musician.”

If you have a used guitar you’d like to donate to Frank, he’ll refurbish it and pass it along to a school, charity or homeless shelter. Contact him at pembertonjody@gmail.com

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Pemberton doesn’t play out any more, relieved to be off the road and finished lugging equipment from stage to stage. But when the craving strikes, he just heads down into his basement, grabs one of his Les Paul’s and turns on his sound-on-sound recording machine, where he can imagine himself strumming along with the very man who inspired his entire musical career. SS

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STORY BY ANDREA BARRY, PHOTO BY JOHN SEYMOUR

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Gailor has been passionate about cars since he was a child. He claims it is the history and “the build” that makes cars so fascinating. Today, Gailor owns a car restoration company called Off The Wall Customs that specializes in detail work, too. “I like the challenge of being creative with it, it’s like a blank canvas to me,” said Gailor. (for more of Peter & Cole Gailor’s work see pages 162-170) There was no hesitation when asked his favorite car. He said the c10. “I like the old style of the truck. It reminds me of the farm days,” beamed Gailor. Another fan of cars is high school business teacher, John Grady. In April, Grady organized a car show at Saratoga High School. Admission was free but it was ten dollars to register a car. “A lot of the money raised at car shows get donated to charity,” explained Grady. As an owner of five cars, Grady thinks a big problem that collectors face has to do with storage. “There are drivers and there are trailer queens,” said Grady. In the winter months, storage space becomes problematic. Grady hasn’t always loved cars. In fact, it wasn’t until a few years ago when Grady realized he could turn his youthful love of matchboxes into “the real thing.” Saratoga Auto Museum plays a significant role in the car community.

“A

The museum hosts multiple events a week where companies like Jaguar and BMW come out to display their cars. Every six months to a year, the car theme exhibited in the museum will change. utomobiles are one of the most important inventions of all time,” explained executive director of the Saratoga Auto Museum, Jim Letts. “Just think about how you got here… you drove.”

The hobby is increasing. The Internet, car shows, and auctions make it easy and convenient to buy and collect cars. Websites like Mecum and The Velocity Network provide the platform for buyers to be selective about the cars that they want. In addition, car shows are held across the nation. Last year, Syracuse Nationals brought in over 90,000 visitors. There were nearly 8,000 custom and antique cars that came from over 40 different states. But the local shows are fun, too. Cruise-ins are held in and around the community. They happen about once a week and provide a fun way for enthusiasts to compare cars and projects. “We like to see what everybody’s working on,” said Peter Gailor. “My son loves to go to the Capitol Region Cars and Caffeine events.”

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The next theme honors racecar driver Sam Posey, and one soon after will be named Hollywood Cars. “We’re hoping to the get the Batman car,” said Letts. “We’ve got the taxi coming from It’s A Wonderful Life.” But the museum is more than an exhibit. In 2016, a program called The Distracted Driving Program took off. The Distracted Driving Program informs students of the dangers that come with distracted driving. “It doesn’t have to be just texting, all the time you see people going down the street… eating, drinking coffee and so forth,” said Letts. “It’s a program that’s taking off by word of mouth.” It is a program that gives the museum more purpose than being just a museum. Whether you prefer classic or futuristic cars, punch buggies or a Dodge Ram 1500, there is something for everyone. Much more than just transportation- to some it is a hobby, and more than that, a way of life. Andrea Barry is a soon to be junior at the University at Buffalo and an intern for Saratoga TODAY. SS

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Where the magic happens... Inside Peter and Cole's Shop

STORY BY PETER & COLE GAILOR, PHOTOS BY SUSAN BLACKBURN

Getting the roof cut in to place on the '39 Chevy two door sedan to get the car into the final stages of sheet metal work and onto body finishing. 162 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2016

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The passion continues…

When I started Gailor Landscaping 37 years ago, I had no idea the other passions that would come of this. On any given project the attitude never changed… "We can do anything - just let me think a minute!" As the years went by and the quality and creativity of the landscapes grew, a hidden talent was found amongst the old steel of cars and trucks. It was 1991 and it started with a 1967 Chevy Impala SS convertible. Soon another Gailor came along… my son Cole. As time went on my love of the “classic automobile” grew and grew. I saw this as an opportunity to keep my son not only involved in a thriving business, but to develop a passion for a hobby in the off-season and after-hours, hence keeping him busy beyond anyone's imagination. And teaching him about life's challenges. Over the last few years, projects have continued to amaze many people. A project which you'll see glimpses of here on these pages, is some of our first motorcycle work. A 2016 Indian Scout and a 2012 Triumph classic café-style motorcycle. "It's all in the details" is fast becoming our company motto! As you’ll see with the aluminum arrow handcrafted to conceal a shift linkage… The bike deserved more - I just didn't like the look of just a rod there. The first thing I ever drove

Another one-off feature includes two feathers that resemble the tail feathers of a young eagle. Although illegal to have the real thing, I was able to create the same effect by using Turkey feathers and spray painting the tips black. After wrapping the ends with rawhide they are attached to the saddle bags of the Indian Scout. Details… that's where the magic is. I hope to continue this passionate hobby with my son to provide beautifully classic - with a modern flair - projects for other people who have the same passion.

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While looking through a junk yard one Saturday afternoon trying to come up with parts for the ‘39 build I was working on, I happened to run across a four door ‘39 that would make a fine donor car. Upon closer inspection after getting it trailered back to the shop, my friend and I begin to realize something’s odd about this new find. On the rear driver-side fender, we notice the infamous “4 holes” - a remnant of the whip antennas of yesteryears. Almost simultaneously, we both jumped to the roof and what to my wandering eyes should appear? Indeed it's the holes from the siren that once was music to my ears (being the past cop that I was) it was so cool! So… no longer is this the donor car, but the chase car for our bootlegging ‘39 two door. The plan; strip back the paint and see what badging is on it and where it came from. 164 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2016

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Electra Bicycle Company® Tiger Shark customized by the guys at Off the Wall Customs. Including ammo cans as "saddle bags". The little details are what really count here, right down to the 1st Cavalry Division pin on the seat pouch.

Trick looking taillight holder on the bicycle made from a .50 caliber round.

(From left to right)

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2014 Vespa® GTV300ie with the all important subtle touches, from the top box all the way down to the Michelin valve caps. JULY/AUGUST 2016 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 165

Welding the roof of the '39 Chevy two door sedan.

It's all in the details, right down to the reflections in this '67 Chevy Impala.

396 Chevy big block accented with period correct script valve covers. Bringing new life to an old beauty. 166 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2016

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Cole's grinding down sheet metal to get ready for some roof repair.

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Close up of the beautiful details on the Thruxton with a luscious red paint.

Indian Scout® front headlights with some "Off the Wall" flare. The center headlight brow really pulls together the driving lights, all of which are nicely lit by the modern conveniences of LEDs.

2016 Indian Scout® with a one of a kind shift linkage cover; hammered out of raw aluminum into a true piece of art. 168 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2016

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2001 Monte Carlo SS #6 of 8 built: Dale Earnhardt Inc cars.

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The Gailor boys at Off the Wall Customs cover all of the bases when it comes to anything automotive.

Cole and Peter Gailor & the company mascot, Maggie

1940 Mack model EH truck that was literally removed from an old junk yard with trees growing through it. Soon to be our featured shop truck for moving and hauling future projects to a show near you.

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H&G

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Architec Randall Perry Photography 174 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2016

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cturally SPEAKING

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WRITTEN BY DAVID DELOZIER, PHOTOS BY RANDALL PERRY PHOTOGRAPHY

Rustic Redux

An old Lake George campground is remade in the Adirondack Great Camp tradition Lake George has been the go-to summer vacation spot for legions of families for generations. The crystal clear waters ensconced by majestic mountain peaks have inspired all who have laid eyes upon her. She may have been named after a king, but she is known as the Queen of Lakes. Even Founding Father, Thomas Jefferson was smitten, noting in 1791, "Lake George is without comparison, the most beautiful water I ever saw…”

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For some, the Lake has become somewhat of an infatuation. They just can’t get enough. The newest generation of Lake George lovers wants a more upscale, full-time residence on the lake. The small camp experience that satisfied past generations is no longer in fashion. The old seasonal cabins and those from the early 20th century are being replaced with much more expansive and luxurious abodes. Anybody who has sailed aboard the Minne-Ha-Ha or Mohican has seen the large mansions and “compounds” that dot the shoreline. As the saying goes, “If you’ve got it, flaunt it.” But lately, these large manses on the lake have gotten a bad rep, as their large footprint and expansive land clearing to open up lake views has been disruptive to the water quality that Lake George is famous for. The lake, it seems, is being loved to death. Fortunately, the McMansion trend is waning, and a more cognizant, responsible development trend is emerging.

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granite and marble

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One such family saw an opportunity to embrace this new ethic when an old campground up in the Northwest Bay came up for sale. Aware of the adverse impacts created by disturbing a waterfront site, this family searched to find a pre-developed site that would support their goal of creating a gathering space for three generations of family and friends. Pam Dean of Davies & Davies Realty had the perfect place - a commercial campground that the prior owners had divided in 2 lots after closing the business. One lot had a wide beach, and the other had an existing waterfront building/dock that had been used for boat storage and rental. They purchased both lots, combined them into a single lot and began the process of envisioning a home.

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The new owners wanted to create a gathering place for friends and their large extended family, while paying homage to the Adirondack Great Camp tradition and local craftsmanship. Bill Dean, owner of Creative Construction Company was chosen, to help make their vision a reality. Dean referred the family to Michael Tuck of Balzer-Tuck Architects in Saratoga Springs for the design work. Tuck’s body of work in the area fit their goals, and his ability to “see” their vision made him the perfect choice. The family describing how they function in a home, how they entertain, the large Thanksgiving gatherings, and the importance of having space for multiple generations to enjoy. Tuck listened intently and was able to sort through all the data points of the wish list and configure a footprint and floorplan for the sloping site.

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The program of the main structure was to incorporate a flexible open living space that is both comfortable when filled with extended family and intimate when serving as a single family home. The response was to provide a linear arrangement that would allow for each space to take advantage of the views across the bay. The main level serves as the public core of the home with sleeping rooms located both above and below. All common rooms and bedrooms have a view of the lake. The three story approach is well suited to the sloping site and, when combined with the overflow space provided by the existing outbuilding, allows for a reduced overall footprint. The aesthetics in the home were derived from the language of the Great Camps with their low slung roofs, deep overhangs and exposed timbers. Legacy Timber Frames’ usage of locally sourced white pine lends an authentic Adirondack feel to the structure. Local stonemason Dil Sheji did a masterful job with locally quarried stone to create a composition that reflects the indigenous Adirondack tradition and timeless quality. The existing waterfront structure has been reconfigured, removing portions which extended beyond the high water mark, and greatly reducing the once expansive dock area. The outbuilding now serves as the recreation center for the home as well as overflow guest accommodations.

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Mechelle Roskiewicz of MJR Interiors coordinated the interior design. She understood the needs of the family and had great insight in helping to interpret a clean, simple concept that is comfortably quiet so as to enjoy the views of the lake and the mountains. Many natural elements were incorporated in the design. Mechelle designed the light fixture over the dining table which was produced by Chicken Coop Forge. Due to the downward slope, a robust engineered system was integrated into the site to mitigate rainwater runoff. Gould’s Lawn and Landscaping assisted to plan and plant native species which do not require irrigation, fertilization, or lawn maintenance. This approach, combined with other passive storm water management systems has eliminated site runoff.

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From the lake, the home fits into its scape as if it has been there from the old days. Tucked within the trees and natural flora, it speaks of a kinder, gentler approach to lakefront living. And for the residents, living on the Queen of Lakes is a daily wonder. The lake provides something new every day. Bright morning sunrises, majestic late afternoon rainbows, herons flying by or perched in a tree, early morning fishermen floating by in their boats, cloud covered mountains, the sound of loons…it is a dream come true. All the water activities, the hiking opportunities, and boating keep most people happy and occupied. For these homeowners, the greatest joy is to just sit on the beach and listen to the water. SS

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ENTERTAINING Made Easy!

HI, I’M JODIE FITZ!

I’m so excited to be sharing some of our family favorites with the readers of Simply Saratoga magazine! I have spent the last six years traveling in SIX (!) states cooking with kids and families…I can relate to the BUSY COOK : ) As my recipe collection continues to grow, I am starting to share some of the recipes that you will find at our house for meals… Enjoyed by both family… and friends! I am always experimenting and creating tasty bites, finding the simplest way to do it and love sharing great flavor and time saving finds along the way.

Whether you’re looking for a new dinner idea this summer, getting ready for a gathering in your backyard or looking for something delicious to pack trackside, we’ve got you covered with this one!

Lemonade Martini • Frozen lemonade concentrate • Raspberry Vodka • Blackberry liqueur • Ice

Tuscan Chicken Salad • Left over Tuscan Grilled Chicken

• Red leaf lettuce • Fresh Mozzarella

1. Mix the lemonade as directed on the container. 2. Mix 1 cup of lemonade, 1 cup ice, ¼ cup raspberry vodka & 1/8 cup of blackberry liqueur together in a blender and serve.

Tuscan Chicken Pasta Salad

• Roasted Red Peppers • Grilled tomatoes (See Pasta Salad)

• Balsamic Dressing

1. Chop the red leaf lettuce and place it onto a long serving platter as the base. 2. Dice the grilled chicken. Thinly slice the fresh mozzarella. Dice the roasted red peppers. 3. Esthetically layer the toppings in rows on top of the lettuce so that guests can take the pairings they would like along with the lettuce. Serve your favorite balsamic.

• Left over Tuscan Grilled Chicken • 12 oz. farfalle pasta (bow tie) • 2 – 3 ears of grilled corn • 1 pint grape tomatoes

• 1 pint golden tomatoes, small • ½ cup balsamic dressing (of your choosing)

• Olive oil

1. Cook the pasta as directed on the package & let cool. 2. Cut the tomatoes in half. Toss them in a light layer of olive oil & grill in a vegetable grill basket until tender with seared edges. 3. Dice the left-over chicken. 4. Slice the corn off of the cob. 5. Toss the chicken, pasta, grilled tomatoes & corn together with the balsamic dressing and serve. 6. This dish is delish served cold or warm.

You can always catch what’s going on in our lives at www.jodiefitz.com and www.facebook.com/jodiefitzcooks, or check out my new cook books coming soon! 186 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2016

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TIME V SA ER TniIghPts or

Save time on busy following by for entertaining above and the directions ken in the freezing the chic en let th & marinade it thaw in the marinade.

Tuscan Grilled Chicken • 2 ½ pounds of boneless, skinless chicken strips

• ½ cup Vidalia onions, finely diced

• ½ cup balsamic vinegar • ¼ cup olive oil • ¼ cup water • 3 oz. sundried tomatoes • 3 – 5 fresh basil leaves

• 1 clove garlic • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

• 1 ½ teaspoon onion powder

• 1 teaspoon sea salt • ½ teaspoon garlic powder • ¼ teaspoon white pepper

1. Mix the onions, balsamic, olive oil, water, sundried tomatoes, basil, garlic, Italian seasoning, onion powder, sea salt, garlic powder & white pepper together in a blender or food processor. 2. Place the chicken in a large Ziploc freezer bag. Add the marinade & let the chicken marinate for a minimum of 3 hours before grilling. 3. Serve this Tuscan chicken with grilled corn on the cob and your favorite side salad.

Grilled Corn on the Cob: Soak the ears of corn in water for 10 minutes before grilling. Pull the husks back and remove the silk. Close the husks back over the corn & grill. Turn them frequently for 15 – 20 minutes. Remove the husks completely & serve with your favorite condiments; salt, pepper and butter. What’s Next? Double the grilled Tuscan Chicken recipe and turn the leftovers and/or extra batch into a whole new meal.

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Gardening WITH

PETER BOWDEN

SUMMER PLANTING? YES, YOU CAN! I answer a LOT of gardening questions and it is interesting to see the questions change as the season progresses. There's one misconception that crops up every year as summer begins about the difference between "planting" and "transplanting"...and there is a HUGE difference. Here's a typical situation: A customer is looking at the selection of flowering shrubs that are on sale and seems like they want to purchase some, but then they'll say, "I should probably wait though." Then I'll ask, "Why"? Reply: "I’ve heard that you shouldn't transplant shrubs during summer."

Over the years, I've heard this many times and, quite literally speaking, the statement is true, but... there’s a major difference between "planting" and "transplanting". When you're digging up and moving an already established tree or shrub, that's called transplanting. If you attempt this during the long hot days of summer when the plant is in the full flush of growth, you run a very real risk of sending the plant into fatal shock. Transplanting is best done while the plant is dormant during late fall or very early spring as soon as the soil can be worked. When you shop in your local nursery or garden center, you are buying plants that were dug and balled or potted much earlier when the plant was still dormant. What you are doing when you bring your new shrub or perennial home is planting, not transplanting. Don't you think trees at the garden center would be happier planted in the cool, dark earth rather than sitting on the ground in their pots or balls in the heat until fall? You aren't digging up established shrubs when you're purchasing from the garden center, so you aren't disturbing the root system or shocking the plant. Indeed, they'll be grateful to you for getting them into the cool, moist earth. It is the act of digging them up and transplanting that causes severe stress. Many folks put off their planting until fall because they think that they shouldn’t do it now. If you have planting to do, do it as soon as you can. Planting in June or July is better than August; and August is better than September and so on. The longer the plant has to establish a root system before winter dormancy, the better. Think about it...if it wasn't possible to plant in summer, landscapers would be out of business. Planting in the vegetable garden also continues right on through summer Below is a list of some, but by no means all, of the vegetables that you can plant in the space left open when you harvest spring crops. There are over 100 days left to our growing season at this point. If you read the

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back of the seed pack you’ll learn how many days it takes for the seeds of different crops to mature for harvest. There are a lot of crops that can and should still be grown from seeds.

HERE’S A LIST OF JUST SOME: • BASIL - Sow seeds late June through late July. • BEANS - Sow seeds of quick varieties (generally bush types) until 3rd week of July. • BROCCOLI & BROCOLINI - Sow seeds until mid July. • BRUSSELS SPROUTS - Sow seeds until mid July. • CARROTS - Sow seeds through mid July. • DILL - Sow seeds late July to early August. • ESCAROLE, ENDIVE - Sow seeds early July through August. • KALE - Sow seeds through first week of August. • KOHLRABI - Sow seeds through first week of August. • LETTUCE - Sow in groups two weeks apart from mid July through September 1st. • MUSTARD - Sow seeds mid July to mid August. • PARSLEY - Sow seeds mid June through mid August. • PEAS - Sow seeds in early to mid July. • RADISH - Sow seeds mid July to early September at two week intervals. • SPINACH AND SWISS CHARD - Sow seeds late July to early August. • SUMMER SQUASH - Sow seeds until mid July. • TURNIPS - Sow seeds late June to early August.

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You can take advantage of the summer heat in your garden to start perennials from seed. Most perennials will be mature enough to flower during their second year. If you can find space to spare, you can sow perennial seeds now. They'll sprout and grow into a small plant during the rest of this growing season. Next spring, they will be starting their second year of growth and will be all set for their first flowering cycle. Warm soil, sunshine, and water are all you need to start your own perennials. You can sow the seeds right into your flower beds or in empty space in your vegetable garden. By the end of summer you’ll have had dozens of plants... all for the cost of a single seed...now that is a cheap perennial!! Next spring you can transplant them into your flowerbeds and share extras with friends. Perennial herbs can also be started with little effort by sowing seeds directly into the soil during July. By simply scratching seeds into the soil and keeping them moist while they germinate, you can have an abundance of sage and thyme to spice up your cooking for many years to come. There are plenty of other perennial herbs you can grow from seed. Get the most from your vegetable garden and even your flowerbeds by sowing seeds in summer. It is a lot of fun and can save you money as well.

THANKS FOR THE READ.

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Birdwatching with Nancy Castillo

Myth Busters: Summer Birdfeeding There are lots of myths about feeding the birds during the summer months. I'm going to debunk those myths and invite you to the wonderful world of Summer Birdfeeding.

Birds will become dependent Some folks believe that feeding birds and their young throughout the summer will make them dependent on the handout and that they'll never learn to forage for food on their own. The truth is that birds at any time of year get only a portion of their food from birdfeeders. While birds do take advantage of an easy source of food, they still get most of their food from the bounty that nature offers and never become dependent on the food we provide.

You can't feed suet during the summer

Suet is a high energy food that many birds like woodpeckers, nuthatches, jays and others really enjoy. Raw suet is the fat from around a cow's kidneys and it will melt and go rancid if used in the summer. So you should never use raw suet from a butcher in the summer. Suet cakes however are rendered, meaning the fat is melted down and impurities removed. This process makes it keep much better, but it can still get soft during hot weather. So as temperatures climb, switch to a "suet dough" which has a higher melting temperature. Suet doughs contain a higher percentage of ground corn and/or oats that makes them usable in temperatures up to 105 degrees.

If I start feeding the birds, I can't stop Summer is a time for us to enjoy vacations and holidays and time away from home. That means there are going to be times when our birdfeeders go empty. That's just fine! You don't have to worry about the birds going hungry. While birds are very willing to take advantage of the easy pickins' at your birdfeeders, if the feeder goes empty, the birds just move on and find food elsewhere. They'll continue foraging for natural food sources and they'll just find another birdfeeder in the vicinity for that quick treat. And the good thing? When you come back and fill your feeders again, they'll eventually find your feeders and will return to your yard. Birds don't hold grudges!

Sixty-seven Chickadees

Chickadee mom with caterpillar for nestlings

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I LOVE CHICKADEES! There, I've admitted it. But I know I'm not the only one who loves these little cherubs. What's not to love about chickadees? They're a little chubby and always cheery - they just look happy. They’re resilient, spending the long cold winter with us no matter how bad it gets. They are often the first bird to discover a new birdfeeder. If you're lucky, when you're filling your birdfeeders, they might come up to check your work. They might even eat birdfood right out saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

of your hand! And a friend of mine once said, "They like to tell us their names. It's very courteous of them, I think." I'd better have a real love of chickadees - I've hosted 67 chickadee babies over the past 6 years. That's a lot of chick-a-dee-dee-dees! It's not hard to do. To best attract birds to your property, you should have these four essential elements in your habitat: food, water, shelter, and a place to raise young. For chickadees, provide a birdfeeder with sunflower seed, shelled peanuts, and/or suet, a birdbath, and some shrubs for shelter. As far as a place to raise young, if you have large trees in your area, chickadees might excavate a hole in a rotted tree to nest in. Or you can offer nest boxes for them to use. All my chickadee families have been raised in wooden nest boxes that were placed on woodland edges. They're each on a pole with a squirrel baffle to protect the babies from unwanted critters. Don't learn the hard way like I did - put a squirrel baffle on BEFORE you lose a family. :(

About 16-19 days after hatching, the young are ready to leave the nest. If you keep track of days and are lucky, you may be able to witness a baby chickadee leave the nest. What a thrill that is! They approach the nest hole, looking out at the big world, and sometimes chicken out and turn back. But with parental coaxing, the young eventually take their first flight. All the baby chickadees leave the nest the same day and never go back in. The new fledglings are just about as big as the adults, though their wing and tail feathers might be a little shorter, their head feathers spikey, and their beak might look a bit like clown lips. Enjoy these cuties while you can, because the chickadee family unit will leave the nestbox area almost immediately. The fledglings will remain under their parents' care for a few weeks until setting out into the world on their own, in search of another flock of chickadees to join.

Being able to observe the chickadee nesting process is such a joy! You can see parents in the nest-building phase carrying moss to build the base of the nest, and you'll know they're finishing up when you see them gathering animal fibers for the nest’s soft lining. Chickadees may fool you though: they have been known to start a nest and then decide not to use it. Mom chickadee will lay an egg a day until there are 5-7 creamcolored speckled eggs in the clutch. The female will begin to sit on the eggs after the last egg is laid and incubate them for about 12 days. When they hatch, the nestlings are naked, pink, and blind and need mom to keep them warm by sitting over them, an act called brooding. During incubation and brooding, watch for dad chickadee bringing food for mom to the nest. As the nestlings start growing feathers and become able to regulate their own temperature, mom can spend time away from the nest, gathering food for the young as well as for herself. It's a lot of work for the parent chickadees. But you won't see them raiding your birdfeeders for seed to take to their nestlings. Baby chickadees are raised mostly on a diet of caterpillars - and lots of them! All day long, every 3-5 minutes from dawn to near dusk, both parents feed their nestlings caterpillars found in nearby trees, shrubs, and bushes. That means it takes 6,000-9,000 caterpillars to raise a family of chickadees! So think twice about spraying your shrubs and trees with pesticides - your chickadees and other birds are hard at work doing that work naturally!

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Cocktail Party 101... ten tips to guide the novice host! WRITTEN BY RALPH VINCENT

The cocktail party remains a popular form of entertaining and it is not hard to understand why. Something magical happens when you combine cocktails, food, and good company! No wonder these spirited - no pun intended - gatherings occur so frequently, particularly in as convivial a community as Saratoga Springs. A cocktail party also can be one of the most manageable events to host, especially for those folks with little if any experience entertaining. I believe anyone can throw a successful party of this nature and doing so does not require familiarity with any revolutionary entertaining concepts or mysteries known only to the well-informed few. As far as I am concerned, planning ahead and being practical will lead to a fun and special gathering.

Tip 1:

Give yourself enough time to get ready when choosing a date for your party.

Choosing the date might seem straightforward, but there are a few important aspects to this decision many novice hosts fail to consider. Select a date far enough ahead that will provide you with ample time to prepare. Whether you plan to have your party in two weeks or two months, the date you select should be far enough out so you can make your preparations without feeling stressed. Do not overlook other commitments on your calendar and provide enough advance notice to your guests.

Tip 2:

Establish a time frame. Limiting

the length of your party to three to four hours will give you a measure of control over how long your guests stay. It also is helpful for determining the amount of food and beverage you will need. Knowing the timeframe also helps your guests plan accordingly. Just be sure to include this information in your invitations.

Tip 3:

Be realistic when determining the size of your guest list. Do not feel

obligated to invite every friend or acquaintance you have. Keep the number of guests you invite reasonable in relation to your budget and time resources. As well, take into consideration the amount of entertaining space in your home. Avoid inviting so many guests that your space will be crowded. A small guest list is fine, especially if this is your first attempt at hosting a cocktail party. Even parties with as few as ten guests can provide a wonderful environment for people to mingle and get to know each other.

Tip 4:

Choose a method to invite your guests that works for you. Hand written invitations are fine if you have the time and wherewithal to use them. In this busy world, I believe using email is an acceptable alternative to invite guests to your home. Choose whichever method works best for you, just don’t forget the

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basics… the date and time of your party as well as your address and phone number. It may seem silly to advise you to do this, but believe it or not there have been times when some people - yours truly included - forgot to include some part of this information. You can ask your invitees to R.S.V.P. but these days many hosts are asking for a regrets-only reply. Opinions differ as to how far in advance an invitation should be issued, but for a cocktail party in your home two to four weeks’ notice is usually adequate.

Tip 5:

Be prepared but practical about the libations you will serve. You want to be

able to enjoy your party and not miss out on the fun because you are too busy mixing and serving drinks. As an alternative… a self-serve bar works well and can actually encourage your guests to mingle. Choose a place with enough space for glassware, cocktail napkins, a shaker and a bucket of ice. Add a varied but limited selection of popular spirits such as gin, vodka and whisky as well as sweet and dry vermouth. Set out bottles of club soda, seltzer, soft drinks, and cocktail trimmings such as olives, lemon and lime slices and maraschino cherries. Offer a few popular types of wine with whites chilled in a large bowl of ice and reds at room temperature. You also can limit your liquor offerings to one or two cocktails you can mix in batches before your party. Pour these into pitchers and keep them chilled in bowls of ice and let your guests help themselves. The amounts of spirits and wine you need for your party will depend on the number of guests you invite, the types of drinks you offer, and how long your party will last. We usually plan for 2 to 3 drinks per guest for a three hour party. A one liter bottle of liquor will be enough for 22 drinks with 1.5 ounces of liquor per drink. This number works for a tall mixed drink such as a Gin and Tonic or Collins, but more potent cocktails such as a classic martini will call for 2 to 3 ounces per drink. A 750 milliliter bottle of wine will yield six 3 ounce servings or less if your guests pour more generously.

Always make certain that there are designated drivers and plenty of non-alcoholic drink options. We also like to serve coffee towards the end of our get-togethers which helps in naturally winding down the party. Take stock of your stemware and cocktail glasses in advance and augment your supply if needed. It is easy to find reasonably priced glassware locally and on the internet. Do not forget to wash your party glassware if needed to remove dust.

This step can be omitted in households such as mine in which the stemware and cocktail glasses do not remain on the shelf long enough to gather dust!!

Tip 6:

Keep things manageable when it comes to the food you serve.

Cocktail party goers will be looking for something to nibble on, so plan to serve five or six different finger foods, and count on 2 to 3 pieces of each offering per guest.

When it comes to preparing food for your party avoid recipes that require a lot of time and effort. You do not want to spend all day wrapping tidbits in phyllo dough and then have to scramble to complete your party preparations at the last minute. You want your guests to have something delicious to eat, but do not drive yourself crazy providing the latest haute cuisine morsels. Many tried and true cocktail party treats are simple to prepare, and though familiar, are still enjoyed by party goers. For example, the ever present and unpretentious hot artichoke dip has been around for decades, and despite being neither new nor novel, people still enjoy it. Platters of shrimp and cocktail sauce may be common place, but are nonetheless crowd pleasers and simple to prepare. Save yourself time and work by including premade hors d’oeurves on your menu. Most supermarkets offer many premade frozen finger foods that require no more effort than heating in the oven and transferring to a serving plate. You can also take a locavore approach and purchase food for your party made right here in the “Spa City” and then prop up little tented cards promoting the local business. There are numerous shops in and around Saratoga Springs that offer delicious choices that will impress your guests – plan ahead if ordering in advance is needed. Serving your guests can be simple and fun… Set up a food table in advance with plates, forks, toothpicks and napkins. Using disposable cocktail napkins and plates will save you time cleaning up, and you can find a myriad of choices to purchase on the internet - humorous, retro, designer made. Before your guests are due to arrive, add a few items such as bowls of nuts or other little nibbles. Present your finger foods at intervals throughout the party, and when each treat is ready, pass among your guests so they can sample the latest offering - then just add the dish to your food table. It is easy to add a little spice to your party by presenting the hor d’oeurves in an appealing fashion. A small spray of flat-leafed parsley or ruffles of butter crunch lettuce are simple garnishes that will add flair to your food

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presentation. You also can add interest to your party fare by using similar or matching serving dishes, or a cadre of unique bowls and platters. Elevated cake stands and wooden cheeseboards are other great options for serving finger foods and can enhance the appearance of your food table as well. Plan in advance which serving pieces you will use. Make a list of which food will go in which dish so you can easily refer to it. Or do what I do and write the name of each food on individual post it notes and attach these to the bottom of each corresponding serving piece.

Tip 7:

Do not forget the music! The right music will set the mood and enhance the ambience of your gathering. Your choice

of music is up to you, but I find jazz is ideal for a cocktail party. I like to play a mix of vintage classic as well as more contemporary tunes. Think Dave Brubeck and Ella Fitzgerald with Diana Krall mixed in.

Tip 8:

Be proactive about potential problems. One problem hosts frequently

encounter is the tendency of guests to congregate in one space. Most of the time this space is the kitchen, which is fine if yours is large and designed for entertaining. However not every home is equipped with this luxury and many people need to make the most of other spaces in their home such as the living and dining rooms.

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Size up your home and decide what areas you will use for your party. Then to prevent people from clogging up your kitchen, try staging your bar and food table in separate areas. Set your bar up in the living room and food on your dining room table. Do what works best for you, based on the size of your home and your own preference… the idea is to spread things around to keep your guests moving. Give some thought to “party proofing” your home too. Accidents can happen and things can be damaged when you have a houseful of people. Remove any valuable or sentimental objects that may be damaged. If you have read any of my articles you know that pets usually figure into whatever I am writing. If you have pets - provide a space for them where they will be safe. If you’re thinking it would be fun to let your dog or cat join in the reverie remember not everyone feels comfortable around animals - no matter how cute and friendly they may be. A frequently opening front door can spell disaster for a pet that gets loose, as well as untold heartache for their owner. Play it safe and designate a room where your furry friends can remain for the duration of your party. You can also take this plan one step further and hire a sitter to remain with your pets during the party. We have found this to be an effective way to keep our pups safe and occupied during the festivities. We set up one of our guest rooms with toys, treats, doggie beds and the sitter. Our pooches

love having the attention of one person all to themselves and do not seem to notice when the doorbell rings. They stay safe and we are spared from hearing a cacophony of barking whenever a guest arrives.

Tip 9:

Plan what you will wear in advance. Waiting until the day of your party

to decide on your attire can cause a problem especially if you find you have nothing appropriate to wear. Determine your party garb in advance and take the time try it on as well. Don’t forget to leave yourself enough time to get dressed without feeling rushed.

Tip 10:

Relax. Take a few minutes to sip a drink, relax and get into the spirit of things before your guests arrive to insure you greet them with a genuine smile. This is a good time to remember to be gentle with yourself too …it will not be a party disaster if you run out of cheese straws or do not have someone’s favorite brand of scotch on hand.

I hope these tips will help you to host a cocktail party that you and your guests will enjoy.

Cheers!

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Summer Reading Fishing the Adirondacks

A complete Angler’s Guide to the Adirondack Park and Northern New York By Spider Rybaak FISHING THE ADIRONDACKS is a thorough, detailed where-to and howto guide to an angling paradise, covering well over 200 specific locations. Included is authoritative guidance on where to fish, what will be biting and when, and techniques and strategies to put fish on the line. Also included are the principal fishing destinations near the Park, including the Tug Hill Plateau and Thousand Islands regions. From the massive waters of Lake Champlain to tiny mountain brooks, the Adirondack Park has it all. Any angler in the region, from beginner to advanced, will need FISHING THE ADIRONDACKS. Spider Rybaak writes on angling and the outdoors for the Oswego County Tourism Bureau, lectures frequently on fishing in the area and is the author of Fishing the Great Lakes of New York and fishing Oneida Lake. He lives in Canastota, NY.

Saratoga 1858: a novel of sorts. By Hollis Palmer The book is the first fictional account of Victorian life in Saratoga Springs in 75 years! The book explores what a “season” was like at the beginning of the Victorian Era when everyone, who was anyone, flocked to Saratoga to “See and be Seen.” America’s wealthy and politically connected descended on the village. The most prominent stayed at the States Hotel. Among those who came each season were bankers, industrialists, religious leaders, politicians and social reformers. Like magnets, those of distinction attracted dowagers, conmen, gamblers, loose women and “pretenders”. The guests’ days were all about being social. They went to the springs each morning to gossip and see who else was in town; they shopped and strolled in the afternoon. It was, however, at night, when the real action took place. Hollis Palmer has written eleven other books including Saratoga: See and be Seen, which won the Ruth Emory Award for the best regional history book. He stills refers to himself proudly as a teacher and enjoys providing tours of Saratoga and occasionally some of the mansions in the city. He has already begun the next book in the series.

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