Simply Saratoga Home & Garden 2022 by Saratoga TODAY

Simply...

SARATOGA ™

THE PEOPLE • THE PLACES • THE LIFESTYLE 2022

Complimentary

Home Garden &

Brought to you by

™

2 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 3

4 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 5

6 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 7

8 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 9

Looking Back: 30 Years of Interior Design

When Saratoga Signature Interiors opened their doors on Broadway in 1992, Nancy Smith had one goal in mind: providing Saratoga Springs with a place to find quality home furnishings and interior design services.

n honor of their 30th anniversary, they are rewinding the clock to take a look at their journey in interior design over the last 30 years.

THE 90s

As the 90s took off, so did Saratoga Signature Interiors. They were busy during that decade working on design projects like The Gideon Putnam Hotel, The Batcheller Mansion Inn, and Amtrack to name a few.

THE EARLY 2000s

The early 2000s were a very exciting time period for Saratoga Signature Interiors. Nancy was named as the exclusive designer for the 38 High Rock Hotel and Condo project completed in Saratoga in 2009.

TODAY

Production times are taking as much as 10x longer than what they used to be pre-COVID. It’s no wonder why Saratoga Signature Interiors’ customers have shifted to purchasing more in-stock items, leaving custom orders for another time. Looking to the future, there is no telling what interior design trends might pop up next, but one thing is for sure: Saratoga Signature Interiors will be ready to provide their customers with everything they need to make their house a home. They would like to extend a thanks to the community for allowing them to serve as Saratoga’s leading interior design and furniture showroom for the past 30 years.

30% OFF ACCESSORIES, PICTURES, MIRRORS, LAMPS AND UP TO 50% OFF (OR MORE) OF SELECT ITEMS! FREE DELIVERY WITHIN 50 MILES • FREE IN-HOME DESIGN CONSULTATIONS SPECIAL IN-STORE FINANCING AVAILABLE THROUGH SYNCHRONY BANK

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO!

82 Church St., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 • 518.581.0023 • SaratogaSignature.com 10 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 11

D I G I TA L

S I M P LY S A R AT O G A . C O M The Magazines are Just the Beginning! kt

re .

st Re

a u ra

nt Feature

Re c

c Co s.

A rc h i t e c t u ail s .

Search by TITLE

Search by TOPIC

Simply ...

SARATOGA

™

THE PEOPLE • THE PLACES • THE LIFESTYLE

OWNER/PUBLISHER Chad Beatty

CREATIVE DIRECTOR/ MANAGING EDITOR Chris Vallone Bushee

MAGAZINE DESIGNER Kacie Cotter-Sacala

ADVERTISING DESIGNER Kelsey Sherman

ADVERTISING Jim Daley Cindy Durfey

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Samantha Bosshart Peter Bowden Colleen Coleman Rebecca Devaney Brionna Doughty John R. Greenwood Carol Godette Wendy Hobday Haugh Charlie Kuenzel Sara Kelly Barbara Lombardo Bill Orzell Colleen Pausley Megin Potter John Reardon Theresa St. John Jordana Turcotte Ralph Vincent

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Susan Blackburn Photography The George S. Bolster Collection Peter Bowden Leslie Brennan Johanna Garrison Carol Godette Wendy Hobday Haugh Randall Perry Photography Super Source Media TOV Furniture Mark Wood Raisa Zwart Photography

PUBLISHED BY

Search by AUTHOR

SARATOGA TODAY 2254 Route 50 South Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 518-581-2480 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com SimplySaratoga.com Simply Saratoga is brought to you by Saratoga TODAY, 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 © 2022. Saratoga TODAY Newspaper.

12 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 13

from the editor Chris Vallone Bushee, Creative Director/ Managing Editor cBushee@SaratogaPublishing.com • 518-581-2480 ext. 201 SimplySaratoga.com • saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com Chris Vallone Bushee, Creative Director/ Managing Editor cBushee@SaratogaPublishing.com 518-581-2480 ext. 201 SimplySaratoga.com saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Happy Anniversary to the Magazine Division at Saratoga TODAY! As much as I love every themed edition of Simply Saratoga, the Home and Garden issue has always held a special spot in my heart, (and not just for the beautiful dwellings, great recipes, and interesting people!) but THIS was my inaugural issue ten years ago when I first stepped (slid!!) into this position, at Chad and Robin’s request.

I can’t believe how far we've come! I feel like Simply Saratoga has become the archivist of Saratoga’s stories. Our history is all right here, on the pages of each beautifully informative issue. I’m told repeatedly how people can’t believe this substantial magazine – with quality articles – is free to the reader. That of course is because of our supportive advertisers, who see the benefit of being part of a good quality (local!) read! That brings me to my contributors, writers, and photographers – and of course my magazine designer, (and ad & web designer, social person, proof reader, delivery people!) THANK YOU EVERYBODY! In the beginning, we had seasonal magazines with a different title for each… Snowshoes, Autumn Lane, Experience Saratoga! etc. We only did one issue of the bridal magazine – called Enchanted Wedding (but a great expo!) and various parenting magazines over the years. We are now… Simply Saratoga. We re-named our wedding magazine to Saratoga Bride (much more on brand than Enchanted Wedding, and out twice yearly!) and as our kids have grown up, so has our parenting magazines, as we’re now Saratoga Family with stories for the kids, the parents, the pets …and even yourself : ) Of course, we also put out Welcome Home, Equicurean, Saratoga Home & Lifestyle and Saratoga Christmas, but you knew that already, right?! And… we’re online (that took me years to talk Chad into!) but now he loves it and has branched out with not only SaratogaBride.com and SimplySaratoga.com (in addition to SaratogaTODAYnewspaper.com) but he has partnered with Spa City Digital and they bring you the SaratogaBusinessReport.com – like I said…. Growing by leaps and bounds!

Here’s to our next ten years!

• Chris 14 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 15

contributors SAMANTHA BOSSHART Samantha Bosshart joined the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation in 2008. As Executive Director, she advocates for the preservation of the unique architecture and rich heritage of Saratoga Springs. Samantha previously worked at Historic Albany Foundation and Galveston Historical Foundation. Samantha completed her coursework for a Master of Arts in Historic Preservation Planning from Cornell University and received a Bachelor of Arts in History from Indiana University. 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. COLLEEN COLEMAN Colleen Coleman is the owner of CMC Design Studio LLC and is well noted by her clients for bringing high energy, attention to detail, organization and more to each project. Her collaborative efforts with clients, as well as others in the industry, translates to a comprehensive design to completion for her clients. Her unique approach to defining each space matured into what she has coined as “Creating Environments for Life” - reach her at colleen@cmcdesignstudio.net. REBECCA DEVANEY Rebecca Devaney is the new Community Horticulture Coordinator for Cornell Cooperative Extension Warren and Saratoga County. Rebecca oversees Warren County's Master Gardener Volunteer Program and assists with related educational programs for Saratoga County. She received her bachelor's degree in environmental science from Siena College and is now completing her master's degree in agriculture and plant health management from Washington State University. Rebecca is originally from Long Island and previously spent four years studying horticulture as an educator at the Queens and Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. BRIONNA DOUGHTY Brionna Doughty is an interior and spatial design student at Russell Sage College (2022), currently interning at CMC Design Studio LLC. She grew up in the Saratoga area and developed a passion for architecture and interior design in high school. Her skills in 3D modeling offer a new and exciting way to visualize designs (some of her work can be seen in the Saratoga Home & Lifestyle Magazine). JOHN GREENWOOD John Greenwood is a leftover Saratoga Springs milkman who loves capturing stories about the people and places that surround him. John and his wife Patricia have been holding hands since high school. The couple recently retired and are looking forward to having more time to enjoy the nooks and crannies of the surrounding area. You can explore more of John’s writing at rainingiguanas.com, where you will find the glass half full and the weather mostly sunny. 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 | HOME & GARDEN 2022

WENDY HOBDAY HAUGH Northville freelancer Wendy Hobday Haugh’s short stories, articles, and poetry have appeared in dozens of national and regional publications, including Woman’s World Weekly, Highlights for Children, and WritersWeekly.com. Her stories have appeared in 15 different Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies. To learn more, visit wendyhobdayhaugh.com. 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. SARA KELLY Sara Kelly is CEO-MOM of her home in Wilton and runs Your Aligned Home, a home management consulting business. Her passion for home management, reducing stress, and most of all, helping others, is what led her to this work. Find out all the ways she can help you at YourAlignedHome.com. Submit your home management questions for the next article under the ‘Contact Me’ link on Sara's website. COLLEEN PAUSLEY Colleen Pausley is the writer behind the blog; Life on Kaydeross Creek where she shares unique ideas to decorate your home on a budget, D.I.Y projects, furniture makeovers and thrift store up-cycles. She and her husband have been do-it-yourselfers for 25 years and she believes that creating a warm, inviting home that you LOVE and that reflects who you are can be done on any budget. 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. JOHN REARDON John Reardon purchased Compliments to the Chef in July of 2004 and has enjoyed selling over 6,000 high quality cookware and cutlery items to his Foodie Friends ever since. His wife Paula - as well as being a college professor - helps out along with their son John and daughter Aubrey … and they fit right in to his Foodie Team! If you ask John or Aubrey to cook up a special dish, you’ll see a gleam in their eyes! John reminds us... “Life Happens in the Kitchen” and yes… “Anyone can cook!” THERESA ST. JOHN Theresa is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in Saratoga Springs. Even though history was not on her radar while in high school, she has a deep interest in all things historical now. She has been on assignment for several magazines and is published in both print and online venues. She is the proud mom to two young men and Nonnie to six rescued dogs, two chinchillas, and a bird. Life is good, she says. JORDANA TURCOTTE Jordana Turcotte is a lifelong New Yorker and a Saratoga County resident since graduating from RPI. After staying at home for a bit with her children, she decided on the “rest of her life job” as Professional Organizer. Starting Simply You in 2008 fulfills a passion for organizing. When she isn’t organizing, you’ll find her volunteering at her kids’ school, being Mommy chauffeur or hanging out with her two rescue dogs. RALPH VINCENT Ralph Vincent is a lifestyle writer enamored with the Spa City. As an enthusiastic contributor to Simply Saratoga Magazine, he enjoys writing about a variety of topics including home entertaining, cooking, and cocktail crafting. His body of work also includes articles on subjects of special significance to him such as his experiences as a pet parent, gardening, and Yaddo. He resides locally with his partner Steven and their adorable Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 17

contents Simply... Simply ...

Photo by Leslie Brennan. See the Story on page 92.

SARATOGA Home & Garden 2022

NEWSWORTHY 20

Save the Date

Congratulations Granite & Marble Works on starting your 20th year!

That Powder Room!

A GOOD READ 26

Restaurant Feature: Circa 21 at McGregor Links Country Club

Preserving Saratoga

Old Tavern Farm’s Agricultural Village

John Greenwood

Meet… Woodworker Bill Coffey

Meet… Stained Glass Artist Carolyn Wilcox

Meet… Influencer Bethany Bowyer Khan of Arcadian Revival

H&G

FASHION Lifestyles, Pink Paddock, Saratoga Trunk, Spoken Boutique, and Violet’s Saratoga Springs

Architecturally Speaking

OUT + ABOUT

Colleen’s Picks

108

The (TINY!) Kitchen Redo

The LED Lighting Primer

The Gen Z Home Buyer

Life on Kaydeross Creek

Jordana Turcotte + Simply You

Understanding Home Management

In the Kitchen with John Reardon

Entertaining with Ralph Vincent

The Soroptimists’ Secret Garden Tour

Meet the Beekeepers!

100

Peter Bowden

18 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

Jazz Fest

SUMMER CAMPS 110

Summer Camps

HISTORY 119

Charlie Kuenzel

124

Carol Godette

128

Bill Orzell

THE LAST PAGE 130

Houseplants…

we all need them

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 19

Save the Date! Heritage Garden Club of Saratoga Springs Herb, Perennial Plant & Garden Decor Sale Saturday, June 11 9 a.m. to sold-out Italian American Center 247 Grand Ave, Saratoga Springs An assorted selection of perennial plants and a variety of herbs will be sold. And… Garden Accent items available to enhance the beauty of your garden! New members are always welcome. Please feel free to contact us at heritage40@gmail.com.

Starting May 30th… TrailBlaze NY celebrates the completion of New York’s Empire State Trail— 750 miles of cycling, walking, and hiking trails alongside the state’s most significant waterways. Over five weekends and across nine counties, the Albany Symphony will present free new music concerts, multimedia art, interactive family fun, and recreation events to thousands of people along New York’s scenic trails and rivers. An intensive Troy kick-off week of wall-to-wall new music is followed by free outdoor concerts and on-trail activities in Kingston, Hudson, Albany, Schenectady, Amsterdam, and Schuylerville to a total prospective audience of over 23,000 people of all ages. To learn more about TrailBlaze and the Albany Symphony contact Robert Pape, Director of Development and Marketing, at 518-694-3300 x144 or robertp@albanysymphony.com

20 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

Now through July 10th… OPERA SARATOGA Guest Performers Include Internationally Acclaimed Artists Carolee Carmello, Craig Colclough, Siphokazi Molteno, Daniel Mobbs, Phyllis Pancella, Sidney Outlaw, and Marietta Simpson. At the heart of the 2022 Summer Festival will be performances of Rossini’s bel canto comedy The Barber of Seville on Proctor’s Main Stage, as well as his exquisite Petite Messe Solennelle at The Round Lake Auditorium; the deeply moving Sky on Swings by Lembit Beecher and Hannah Moscovitch at The Egg, which explores the journey of two women living with Alzheimer’s disease; and Stephen Sondheim’s Broadway masterpiece, Sweeney Todd, on the Amphitheater Stage of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Additional events will include Stars of Tomorrow at The Charles R. Wood Theater in Glens Falls; A Broadway Cabaret at The Mansion of Saratoga in Rock City Falls; and A Juneteenth Celebration at Proctors’ GE Theater in Schenectady. In addition, the 2022 Opera Gala – Opera Under the Stars will take place on Sunday, June 5th at The Barn at French Mountain in Lake George Village. Tickets for Summer Festival performances are currently available through Festival Passes (previously called Subscriptions); or tickets can be purchased to individual performances. This season, Opera Saratoga is offering two Festival Passes, which provide significant savings, priority ticket access, and the greatest degree of flexibility. For complete details on Festival Passes and Single Tickets, visit operasaratoga.org

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

“Art with Heart & Hope” Show Provides a Voice and Venue for Those Using Art to Cope with Medical Challenges If you are an artist living with or caring for someone living with a rare disease, illness, or disability, this is a great opportunity to share your art. Saratoga-based nonprofit, Beyond My Battle, is holding its fourth annual “Art with Heart & Hope” showcasing the ways art can help manage the many stressors of living as a patient or caregiver. The deadline to submit artwork is July 1, 2022. All art must be able to be displayed on a wall or easel. Artists must have lived with, or cared for someone living with, a physical illness, disease, or disability; be at least 18 years old; and live in the Capital Region. Artists should submit their information and work at beyondmybattle.org/artshow-2022 by July 1st. Artists have the option to price their artwork and donate a portion of the sale to Beyond My Battle or not price their artwork at all.

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

We’re back! Yaddo is delighted to announce the reopening of our Gardens to the public after more than a year of pandemic-related closure. Our garden volunteers will return over the next weeks to join Yaddo’s Facilities team in preparing the Gardens for visitors. The official reopening date is Monday, June 6, 2022. The excitement of Yaddo’s Return will continue June 23rd when the Annual Summer Benefit will be held in the Mansion and on the Great Lawn. We look forward to welcoming everyone to our sanctuary during public hours and for the benefit. We hope you’ll join us in celebrating Yaddo’s Return!

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 21

Stone that Shapes

History

Granite & Marble Works Celebrates their 20th Year WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER | PHOTO BY SUPERSOURCEMEDIA.COM

THE THRILL OF THE HUNT Natural stone has shaped architectural history, and harvesting it is one of civilization’s oldest occupations. In the last two decades, the job of scouting stone for their showroom has taken the Roohans around the world. Today, Granite and Marble Works is Upstate New York’s largest stone gallery, with more than 2,000 slabs of granite, marble, quartz, quartzite, and soapstone in their 45,000 sq. ft. building. Some of the most coveted stone in their massive collection however, comes from nearby Danby, VT. The underground marble quarry here is the largest in the world. Its 600-million-year-old white marble has been used as the building blocks for great monuments and structures including the New York Public Library. BUILDING CONNECTION It’s clear to see that stone is an abundantly beautiful substance but after working with it for so long, Margaret has learned that stone also has the spectacular ability to (almost magically) choose its owner.

“When certain stones have meaning to you, it’s almost like the stone picks you, instead of it being the other way around,” said Margaret. N 2003, WHEN MIKE AND MARGARET ROOHAN OPENED GRANITE AND MARBLE WORKS, it was because they wanted to give people the opportunity to see a great selection of full-size stones. “The most amazing thing about natural stone is that it’s so varied and unique. It’s that perfect ending (like a piece of art is in a home, or like a piece of jewelry is to an outfit). It completes the look,” said Margaret.

22 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

For instance, VOLGA Blue Granite, which comes from the Ukraine, is especially meaningful for those who have a connection to that location or to the current events taking place there. See what stone speaks to you, and discover a variety of special 20th Anniversary events coming this summer and fall, by visiting Granite and Marble Works, 8 Commerce Park Drive, Wilton, or online at www.graniteandmarbleworks.com SS saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 23

What everybody is STILL talking about…

Natural

Drama WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER PHOTO BY RANDALL PERRY PHOTOGRAPHY

The powder room inside this “Euro-Fresh” net-zero carriage house raised eyebrows during the 2021 Showcase of Homes. Greeting visitors within the 5’ x 6’ room (just off the first-floor foyer) is a dramatic dome ceiling, silver walls, and a deeply-set window. OLD-WORLD EUROPEAN CHARM All of the walls and ceilings inside this 3,662 sq. ft., 3-bedroom, 3.5-bath home are coated with plaster, a natural product that has been used for, and lasts, thousands of years. An old-world finish that is harvested from river beds and used widely throughout Europe, plaster adds dimension and soft texture to a wall while still letting it breathe. Add to this its easy tint-ability, and you can see why it’s becoming much more popular across the pond, as well. “Silver has been very popular and gold is making a huge comeback” said Donna Mock, a decorative painter and the owner of Classic Wall Finishes. “Here, the style is trending more toward a cleaner, softer look that’s not as ornate.” Almost half of her residential clients ask for plaster, said Mock. In addition to residential homes, she has done plaster restoration work for luxurious public spaces including the Adelphi Hotel and the Hotel Saranac. NATURAL MODERN Pairing a lightly textured marmarino lime plaster tinted with subtle color throughout the rest of the house, in the powder room she used a dark paint finish on the first layer and then the applied silver leaf finish to create a modern glow. 24 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

The hundreds of 4” silver leaf squares were applied by hand then glazed to create visual interest and to protect the surface. “It’s not something you’d want to do all over the house but is something you do as a different and fun accent,” said Mock, “it’s a real labor of love.” For more information on all of her hand-crafted finishing techniques, follow Donna Mock on Facebook, visit www.classic-wall-finishes.com, or call 518-944-0331. SS saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 25

Celebrating a Storied Past ,

Circa 21

Does McGregor Links Proud WRITTEN BY THERESA ST. JOHN PHOTOS BY SUSAN BLACKBURN PHOTOGRAPHY

26 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

I've always felt something special about walking into a restaurant whose windows allow a stellar view – no matter where one is seated. And when those windows look out over McGregor Links Country Club, one of the Capital Region's premier golf clubs, well, it's a bonus. McGregor Links celebrated their 100th anniversary last July. Senator Edgar T. Brackett, a founder of the Adirondack Trust Company, built the golf course in 1921, attracting the growing number of tourists traveling to Saratoga Springs from the city. The bar is long, inviting, and filling up fast, with golfers finishing up on the green. It's our first time here, so one of the husband-and-wife team owners, Wendy Lawrence, encourages us to walk around before leading us to our corner table. I recognize many familiar faces and stop to say hello before moving on. I can tell from the smiles that it's been a good day. Around a corner, another enormous room looks down over the well-kept golf course and a patio with tables for outdoor dining, although no one will be out there tonight as it's begun to sprinkle. I bet it's beautiful on a sunny afternoon or warm, star-lit night. We comment on the tasteful decorations, wall hangings, the restaurant's wide-open spaces, and the plush carpet beneath our feet as we make our way back to the main dining area. It truly is a beautiful space. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

At the end of the bar, we see a receipt of sorts in a glass frame. It looks interesting. "What's that?" my friend asks. "A bar tab?" "Shortly after Chip and I opened the restaurant in 2021, Scott and Giovanna Peterson shared this gem. They'd found it in the walls while renovating their place on Lake Avenue." Wendy holds the frame, then passes it around so we can get a closer look while she finishes her story. "It was the checkbook ledger for membership to McGregor from 1921 – for $55.00!" Talk about a fantastic find! It sounds like naming the restaurant proved to be a fun exercise. Wendy explains the process: "We were all spit balling, as is the case when developing concepts." We nod in agreement – it makes perfect sense, and we love the name. "Although, Chef gets full credit for the chosen name," she says, grinning. "Being that we joined McGregor on their centennial year, established in 1921, we reestablished Circa (20)21." We ask about what made the couple decide to settle in and set down roots at McGregor. Wendy doesn't even need to think about her answer. "McGregor Links was a special place back when we were kids. Chip's stepdad Bill Moll was a fixture here, being great friends with former owner Mike Dennis and pro Dave Lewis. And, unlike a stand-alone restaurant, we genuinely enjoy the members and the neighbors, who feel like family to us."

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 27

We've decided to split several items on the menu to try as many as possible this go-round. We laugh and say we'll need to come back a few more times – the offerings are that extensive. The Sand Wedge salad is an excellent starter. The freshest iceberg lettuce is covered with plump cherry tomatoes, bacon, smashed-up croutons, and creamy gorgonzola dressing finished with a balsamic glaze. There's more than enough for the three of us. Chef Brian comes out during our meal to ask how everything is. "What are these little red things?" I ask, pointing to the mini chicken and avocado tacos. He explains that they are Peruvian peppers. "They're not hot but add a lot of zest and color to the dish." It pops and fills my mouth with a sweet burst of flavor when I try one. We learn that another name for them is 'sweety drops.'

28 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

Chef Brian tells us we can find them in neighborhood shops if we want to buy and use them in our favorite recipes at home. "Have you always been in the restaurant business?" we ask him. His grin says everything. "For as long as I can remember. I've loved my journey as a chef, and I can't picture doing anything else in life." His words are refreshing – so many people are unhappy in their jobs. We can tell this is more of a calling for him. Wendy laughs. "Between Chip, Chef Brian, and I, we have about 100 years of experience in the industry. We complement each other well with the various aspects of the business." She explains how Chef Brian is a master in the kitchen. "He has a keen sense of what works, what people want at certain times of the year. Chip and I chime in now and again, but ultimately the menu is his baby." We nod in agreement; he sure does a great job.

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Wendy apologizes for Chip's absence. He was planning on meeting us but must still be out playing. Ahhh, a man and his love of golf. She shares that this has not been the couple's first attempt at the restaurant business. "My great aunt on my dad's side operated The Cloverleaf Tavern in Mechanicville back in the 60s & 70s. We bought the building from the city in 2003 after a fire condemned it, renovating the apartments and restaurant. Chip and I operated it for a few years before selling, as we were starting to plan a family. In 2018, when we moved down to the Schuyler Yacht Basin in Schuylerville, we bought an interest in Clark's Steakhouse. During COVID, we became the managing partners and changed the name to The Basin Grill." (By the way… Totally worth the drive to Schuylerville!) Wendy moves on to talk with other people enjoying dinner, and we turn our attention back to the food. Next, we split the steak salad, and it has to be the best I've ever tasted. Chef Brian made a bed of baby greens, topped with caramelized onions, pickled onions, a creamy onion cheddar cheese, roasted red peppers, and thinly sliced NY strip steak cooked to perfection. He's finished it with a balsamic glaze, pine nuts – which give the salad an earthy note, and a house dressing to die for. My taste buds don't know what to concentrate on as another forkful of flavor makes its way to my mouth. The Bourbon Chicken sandwich is new on the menu, and we can tell it's bound to be a hit with customers. The chicken breast is tender and juicy. It's drenched in a savory bourbon glaze, with pickles, Applewood smoked bacon, American cheese, and crispy onion straws on a toasted brioche bun. The Murphy is mile-high, thinly sliced pastrami with caramelized onions, Swiss cheese, and a stoneground mustard mayo served on toasted marble rye bread. I've always loved this sandwich, but Chris shares that she'd only just tried it a year ago with her mom. "I didn't know what I was missing!" she states after her first bite. The atmosphere at Circa 21 is homey and inviting. Everyone seems comfortable here, and it sure seems like a place you might walk into as a stranger but walk out of as a friend. That's how the three of us feel. We sit together for a few hours, catching up on life and taking our time over dinner and drinks, never rushed along by the waitstaff. Wendy visits our table one more time, explaining that the menu is mostly pub fare. Susan laughs. "Pub fare? I beg to differ." Wendy chimes in, "Gastropub fare, then." "Elevated Gastropub fare. We can settle on that." Susan adds, making us all chuckle. Great news for everyone! As the golf season gears up, the restaurant is open Thursday-Sunday, 4 p.m. - close. By May 1st, Circa 21 will be adding hours, including Tuesday-Saturday, Noon-9 p.m. They're also planning to host weekly Sunday brunches. SS

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 29

The Spirit of Congress Park: Spencer Trask

Memorial

preserving

SARATOGA

WRITTEN BY SAMANTHA BOSSHART, SARATOGA SPRINGS PRESERVATION FOUNDATION

or more than a century, countless residents and visitors have enjoyed the Spirit of Life & Spencer Trask Memorial in Congress Park. It is where you see ducks take a swim in the reflecting pool, kids play, friends meet for lunch, happy couples take engagement photos, visitors admire the golden bronze sculpture, beaming brides and grooms pose for wedding photos, recent graduates celebrate achievements, families take photos to memorialize their visit, dogs pose for a photo for their owners, community groups gather together to rally for a cause, and individuals sit peacefully reading a book, drinking a coffee, or reflect on their day.

30 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

While many over the years have gathered at the Spirit of Life & Spencer Trask Memorial many may not know its history or significance. Spencer Trask was a wealthy financier, philanthropist, and venture capitalist. He supported the unknown, struggling inventor Thomas Edison, providing financing for his world-changing invention of the light bulb. Spencer also was one of the financiers who rescued the New York Times from bankruptcy, serving as president from 1897 to 1900. He and his wife Katrina, a writer, acquired a country estate in Saratoga Springs in 1881. Following the death of their four children, they bequeathed their fortune and the estate that they had named Yaddo to establish a retreat for artists. Yaddo, a National Historic Landmark, continues to host upcoming and award-winning artists. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

1914, Architectural surround prior to the Spirit of Life sculpture being installed. Courtesy of the George S. Bolster Collection, Saratoga Springs History Museum

Volunteers participating in 518 Day with the United Way of the Greater Capital Region.

While the Trasks are most well-known for Yaddo, few in Saratoga Springs may know the critical role that Spencer Trask played in preserving our city’s natural spring waters. Prior to the turn of the 20th century, the springs were being depleted at a frightening rate by gas companies who erected large unsightly extraction plants to pump hundreds of thousands of gallons of spring water daily to extract carbonic gas for use in carbonated drinks. With no regulation to deter overuse of the springs, Saratoga Springs was not only going to lose the park-like setting of the springs, but the natural springs that made our city famous. As the springs started to be compromised and run dry, Trask formed a committee of local citizens to “protect and preserve the mineral springs of Saratoga for prosperity.” In 1908, the Anti-Pumping Act, introduced by Senator Edgar Brackett and Assemblyman George Whitney, was passed to prevent the pumping of the water and extraction of gas from the springs. However, the gas companies challenged the Act and continued pumping. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Volunteer Ron Thompson weeding.

Trask again led the effort by the Committee of Concerned Citizens to ask the Legislature to bring all of the springs under the State control to ensure their protection. Their efforts were successful. In 1909, legislation was passed to create the State Reservation at Saratoga Springs (today the Saratoga Spa State Park), ultimately resulting in the springs being saved from exploitation. The governor of New York appointed a three-member commission, including Trask, to select and locate the lands for the reservation. Trask was traveling to New York City on Commission business when he died in a tragic train accident on New Year’s Eve 1909. In 1913, Katrina along with George Foster Peabody, close friend, and business associate of Spencer, commissioned a memorial to honor her late husband’s efforts to preserve the springs. The Spencer Trask Memorial is the product of the artistic collaboration of noted American sculptor Daniel Chester French, architect Henry Bacon, and landscape architect Charles Leavitt, Jr. French and Bacon are most well-known for their collaboration at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., which began in 1914. HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 31

Henry Bacon’s rendering for the architectural surround of the Spirit of Life & Spencer Trask Memorial

In the summer of 1913, French and Bacon visited the site for the memorial in Congress Park, where the Congress Hotel had recently been demolished. Upon visiting the site, French and Bacon immediately began to develop designs for the sculpture and architectural setting. In November, French shared his first sketch, The Spirit of the Waters. It was quickly dismissed because it was too solemn and did not reflect the large, vigorous, buoyant personality of Trask. In a letter to Katrina from French, dated January 24, 1914, he explained his new sketch. “I had in mind the spirit of buoyancy and life … and I have tried to suggest the return of the waters to Saratoga. The figure holds aloft in her left hand a basin from which water will flow; in the other hand I have suggested a branch of pine, which you told me was Mr. Trask’s symbol.” It was in this same letter that French explained that this figure could not be made of marble as she had hoped but must be made in bronze. While Katrina was pleased with the design, French responded to her disappointment that the figure must be cast in bronze in a letter dated January 29, 1914, “you will be interested to hear that I have been experimenting with one of the bronze foundries with a view to finding an alloy that would not turn black and we think we have one that will hold a beautiful gold bronze color.” It was Charles Leavitt, Jr., a self-described “landscape engineer” who was responsible for the landscape setting for the memorial, which encompassed the entire northwest quadrant of the park. Leavitt was nationally known for his designs of school campuses, cemeteries, and parks. He also designed private estates, including the Long Island estate of William C. Whitney, and race courses, including Belmont Park, and the significant changes at the Saratoga Race Course at the turn of the century. The details of Leavitt’s plan provided open views of the sculpture, curving pathways, a rambling stream leading to a lagoon, lighting, and plantings with a variety of texture, color, and size.

Historic postcard of the Spirit of Life & Spencer Trask Memorial

1914, View of the Spirit of Life & Spencer Trask Memorial from the roof of the Grand Union Hotel. Courtesy of the George S. Bolster Collection, Saratoga Springs History Museum

Aerial view after the pine trees were removed in 2014, showing the eroded footpaths. 32 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

The architectural surround designed by Bacon and the landscaping was completed in 1914 and the Spirit of Life sculpture was placed in 1915. The Spirit of Life & Spencer Trask Memorial was unveiled and gifted to the city on June 26, 1915. It was the first public appearance made by the first mayor, William P. Butler, following Saratoga Springs being incorporated into a city. Over time the Memorial deteriorated – the sculpture’s protective coating began to fail, insensitive repairs were made to the architectural surround, and landscape features were lost. In 2010, citizens raised concerns about the poor condition of the large white pines that served as the backdrop of the Memorial, fearful that they would fall and damage the priceless Spirit of Life sculpture. In 2011, the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation took initial steps to restore it. The following year an official partnership with the City of Saratoga Springs was formed, each providing funding and resources towards the project. The $750,000 project included restoring the sculpture to its original intended golden color, repairing the architectural surround, and restoring the landscape features - the wide curving pathways, the rambling stream, lighting, benches, and plantings. The completion of the restoration project was celebrated on the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the Memorial, June 26, 2015, with over 500 people attending and spontaneously singing “Happy Birthday.”

The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation is fortunate to have dedicated volunteers, but it is always looking for more to help. To learn more about volunteering at the Memorial or other opportunities, please visit saratogapreservation.org or call 518-587-5030. TO THE MEMORY OF SPENCER TRASK MDCCCXLIV MCMIX His one object in life was to do right and to serve his fellow men He gave himself abundantly to hasten the coming of a new and better day which with prophetic vision he foretold for Saratoga Springs - The inscription of the Spirit of Life & Spencer Trask Memorial

The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation has remained committed to preserving the Spirit of Life & Spencer Trask Memorial. Since 2015, the Foundation has organized volunteers to assist the City of Saratoga Springs to help plant the 700 tulip bulbs, deadhead the geraniums, and weed the surrounding landscaping. “It is an honor and privilege to do anything to help preserve the beauty and history of Saratoga Springs. Since gardening is a passion of mine, my work at Congress Park is a perfect fit,” said dedicated volunteer Ron Thompson. Kristi Krulcik, who volunteered for 518 Day last year, said “After I learned about the rich history and meaning of the Spirit of Life & Spencer Trask Memorial, it felt like a unique opportunity to help maintain the surrounding landscape. I really enjoyed meeting others who were also passionate about preserving Saratoga’s history.” saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 33

preserving an Agricultural Community

A barn restoration takes on mythical proportions with the discovery of 150-year-old artifacts. WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER | PHOTOS PROVIDED

Building on its past, the Old Tavern Farm is growing into a Village.

“It’s about preserving an agricultural community. It tells the story of the people of the past and the importance of buying local, then keeps expanding from there,” said Walt Borisenok.

Since 2016, the 143 acres of Old Tavern Farm have been home to a variety of agricultural pursuits; there are stables and pastures for the raising of Thoroughbred horses; a vineyard supplying the Old Tavern Winery; and fields of Old Tavern Farm Flowers (which are sold at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market and Spa City Farmer’s Market).

The renovation process has been filmed with a time lapse camera and documented online.

It’s what’s happening just down the road however, that’s currently caught the attention of many – Old Tavern Farm Agricultural Village is taking shape. “My grand plan is to run several successful agricultural businesses on-site and grow the Old Tavern name into a lifestyle brand,” said owner Walt Borisenok. PRESERVATION IN PROGRESS The Old Tavern brand is named for the pub that previously existed on this beautiful property overlooking Saratoga Lake. Old Tavern is also a story of environmental preservation and what it means to be a steward of this land and its history. The latest chapter - the restoration of a barn within the Old Tavern Agricultural Village. 34 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

“It’s been exciting to follow. It’s cool so many people are intrigued by this, appreciate what we’re doing, and see value in it,” said Walt’s daughter, Nicole Borisenok. ELEVATING HISTORY TO NEW HEIGHTS Last fall, the renovation of the 3,400 sq. ft. barn on Cedar Bluff Road uncovered new details of what life was like in this area during the late 1800s. Although mostly well-preserved, the side wall of the barn was terribly tilted. Temporary steel beams and a hydraulic lift were used to raise the entire structure a foot off of its foundation and onto cribs while decayed materials were replaced. The project, which also included removing and strategically organizing the floorboards, was coordinated by Bill Moreau of the Moreau Associates construction company, and builder Jim Sweet. The previously-leaning wall was pulled in before the structured was then lowered and secured. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

UNCOVERING EVIDENCE In order for the construction work to occur, the barn needed to be cleared out first. By doing so, the story of the building’s previous owners began to emerge. It was discovered that the barn was most likely built by the Caldwell family sometime during the 1800s (members of which rest in their family graveyard across the street). There are floorboards marked 1868 but the timber beams forming its frame are much older (perhaps from the 1700s). They’ve been reshaped and refitted by hand for this structure. One board they found served as a record of sale for one “Thomas Pendergest” who “Purchased 20 Bushels of Rye for 7 cents a bushel.” It was dated, “July 20th 1863” and was inscribed with the words, “Due Now.” SAVING FOR THE FUTURE Finding documentation like this gives us a better picture of what life was like. “It just opens up this whole story of what went on here,” said Borisenok. During the renovation, much has also been discovered about the Ensley family, who acquired the property in the 1920s. “They threw nothing out and together, it tells an unbelievable story of how life was and how it transformed over a period of years,” he said. THE DOWNFALL OF A RAILROAD TYCOON Industrialist Enoch Ensley was the founder of Ensley Works, the largest producer of steel ingots and rail in the Southern United States for much of the 1800s. Personal letters document the journey of this respected businessman and his family; wife Laura, who died in 1887, and his second wife, May, as well as the Ensley’s four children.

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

They recount the details of finding a job, the advent of electricity, and the food available at the time. They also reveal that before his death, Ensley endured great financial hardship and the remains of his fortune, it was discovered, were much contested. “There is all this court documentation of the proceedings after his death. It was a 50-year running gun battle over the will,” said Borisenok. ONE GOOD TURN LEADS TO ANOTHER Although entirely unplanned, in March, Borisenok purchased another barn, built in Halfmoon by the Baker family in 1868 and owned by Samuel Mott, founder of the Mott’s brand (best known for its apple juice and applesauce). “It makes zero financial sense but it is a piece of Saratoga County history that was in great shape, and I just hate seeing when things like that disappear,” he said. The immaculate structure was dissembled piece-bypiece, from the slate roof down to the floor beams, and is currently being stored. Follow the growth of Old Tavern Agricultural Village on Instagram or by visiting oldtavernfarms.com/pages/agricultural-village SS HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 35

One afternoon WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOHN R. GREENWOOD

While putting tools back in my shed, three forty-year-old artifacts nestled on a dusty shelf caught my attention. There, parked neatly in a row, were three 1980 reminders of dirty-faced boys with untied sneakers and grubby knees, polite little boys in their Dukes of Hazard t-shirts. Suddenly I could hear them charging in the back door, the screen slamming like a gunshot. Two giggling brothers, PB&J hungry and chocolate milk thirsty. Those two action-packed boys enriched their parents' lives and carried on the family name for another round. Where have the last forty years gone? Somehow, they vanished into thin air. Along with them went two little boys. The boys who battered my garage doors with hockey pucks and stray basketball shots, active boys who left me with dented aluminum siding and fond memories. Corners of my attic remained filled with boxes of Dr. Seuss and Star Wars leftovers. It's a constant reminder that they're now grown men with five sons of their own. The time-lapse stops me in my tracks. I long for the days when they would push me to the brink. I would growl and threaten their precious little lives. Now, I miss the mischievous adventures and misadventures. The memory of the relentless backseat arm-poking and antagonizing, keeps that period of my life vivid and dear. Fidgety boys with endless energy and no regard for a parent's mental well-being. Yes, my heart aches for it. They were a joy and a journey. I would repeat it first thing in the morning if given a magic lamp. Forty years of photographs passed before my eyes. Pictures of babies on picnic tables in state parks and blanket-wrapped toddlers sound asleep in Montgomery Ward strollers. Photos from Storytown, ballgames, and nursery school graduations. There were visions of boys on red bikes, green plastic tractors, and my old white milk truck parked in the shade. I am swarmed by the priceless recollections of two warmhearted boys. If I had one last wish, I would take them back to the county fair and walk them down the midway for one more round of circling helicopters and bell-ringing boats. I'm not sad; I'm blessed. I am grateful for the privilege of children and the joy of fatherhood. I'm confident that my two sons/ fathers will soon be looking into the rearview with the same rose-colored glasses. SS

36 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

SONS By Dad

who knew the joy my heart, young son, you'd bring with glimmering eye and tiny pulse my own heart sang with pride the secret to happiness swaddled and sweet-smelling cooing in loving reciprocation changed my vision of happiness turning it inward to my own blood as it flowed through me to them

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 37

Art is alive & well

“At The Intersection Of Rustic & Contemporary” WRITTEN BY WENDY HOBDAY HAUGH PHOTOS BY WENDY HOBDAY HAUGH AND MARK WOOD

If you’ve never visited The William Coffey Studio & Gallery in Northville, you’re missing out on a chance to see the very best of north country talent, ranging from Coffey’s own contemporary rustic furniture and gallery director Mark Wood’s unique chandeliers and stained glass lamps to sculpture, paintings, basketry, photography, and more, all created by local artists. Bill Coffey with one of his metal sculptures.

Having a gallery of this caliber in a small Adirondack town speaks to owner Bill Coffey’s commitment to the arts and to his fellow artists. In addition to providing an elegant exhibition space, the gallery sometimes serves as a gathering place for community events such as musical programs and author talks. Originally from Queens, NY, Bill Coffey began working at age eleven as “a floorsweeping apprentice” in a Great Neck, Long Island woodworking shop. From the start, Coffey’s interest in woodworking ran deep. He was always watching master cabinetmaker Larry Netti intently, studying how he did things and taking it all in. By his late teens, however—despite his natural interest, aptitude, and ability—Coffey had come to view woodworking “as work, as just a job,” and didn’t want to do it anymore. He attended college, earned a photography degree, and held a variety of positions, including videotape librarian for HBO. “But I always found myself being drawn back to woodworking and furniture making,” Coffey muses. “What I didn’t realize then was that it was a passion, something inside me that would keep calling out to me, something I’d find myself returning to again and again.”

Mark Wood, Gallery Director.

Over time, Coffey worked at several Brooklyn woodworking shops and even owned his own shop in the Brooklyn Naval Yard. He picked up additional skills working with steel and welding

38 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

A Bill Coffey table and Mark Wood sculpture.

and frequently worked as a construction foreman. Then, in the fall of 1999, he headed to Northville for a weekend. “I came up to visit friends,” Coffey explains, “and I wound up buying an abandoned restaurant, the former Tree Restaurant on Route 30.” A year later, an old glove factory in Northville came up for sale. Seeing its potential as a combination workshop/ gallery, Coffey purchased the building in 2000... and the rest, as they say, is history. Today, The William Coffey Studio & Gallery, located at 322 N. Third Street, proudly exhibits Coffey’s own work as well as that of gallery director Mark Wood and another six to eight artists. The venue’s rustic elegance reflects its owner’s lifelong interest in fusing regional Adirondack materials (such as local lumber, root balls, tree burls, twigs, birch bark, repurposed barn wood, rocks, antlers, and vintage hardware and machinery) with contemporary designs. Two large workshops house an impressive array of hand tools, machines, artifacts, and supplies as well as Coffey’s and Wood’s current works-in-progress. Every corner, nook, and cranny holds something eye-catching, arranged in a form perhaps best described as ‘organized chaos.’ Hearing that description, Coffey beams approvingly. “I’m a collector of everything!” he laughs. “Everything has potential.” saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

In his residential and commercial work, Coffey welcomes a good challenge. For the Lakeside Tavern in Gloversville, he designed and built a 62-foot mahogany and birdseye maple interior bar. Utilizing his lifelong affinity for mechanical creations, he also built an outdoor channel bar with a hoist that raises two cash registers and 100+ bottles of liquor, safely storing and locking them away at day’s end. Coffey’s residential work includes kitchen islands, vanities, mirrors, beds, cocktail tables, and dining tables. A recent commission for a client in Washington State involved building a butternut and walnut double-vanity with matching mirrors and a linen closet. For the past year, Mark Wood of Johnstown has been managing Coffey’s Gallery and creating his own pieces on-site as the Artist-in-Residence. With an Associate Degree in Fine Arts from Fulton-Montgomery Community College, Wood has found his woodworking niche creating stunning stained glass lamps, chandeliers, and driftwood-infused sculptures. “When I started out,” Wood explains, “I knew I wanted to create unique regional pieces rather than the more traditional Adirondack furniture. I also knew I did not want to compete with other local woodworkers and furniture makers.” As gallery director, Wood enjoys having the space to work on his own unique pieces while arranging stunning exhibits spotlighting the talent of other regional artists. His presence also allows Bill Coffey more time to work on commissions and pursue some of his own quirkier pet projects. A few months back, for example, after seeing a social media post showing an abandoned VW bus parked nose-to-tree in the woods, Coffey contacted the owner to see if he could take the beat-up vehicle off his hands. Coffey’s vision? To cut it in half and do something with its iconic front, perhaps making it the centerpiece for a new garden on his home property. Watch the dramatic ‘cut’ on Coffey’s Facebook page, along with a nice clip of the front-half rolling down the highway again. This spring, Coffey will return to the site to haul away and dispose of the remainder of the bus. Visitors are warmly welcomed at The William Coffey Studio & Gallery. Coffey and Wood are friendly, knowledgeable, fun hosts who enjoy getting to know their guests, showing them around the gallery and workshops, and sharing a bit of backstory on individual artists and their work. “The gallery is distinctive in that it’s attached to a shop that does custom work,” Coffey reflects, “and every artist exhibiting here does custom work. We welcome the chance to work with clients, whether they have their own designs already in mind or need a little help figuring things out or want us to design and create something exclusively for them. We’re here to help, and we always enjoy a good challenge.” So, the next time you’re in Northville, be sure to stop in at 322 N. Third Street and meet Bill Coffey and Mark Wood. Enjoy some hometown hospitality—and a gallery full of great art! See William Coffey’s work at facebook.com/people/WilliamCoffey-Studio/100049784843235/ Phone: 518-774-0531. See Mark Wood’s work at www.MarkWoodArts.com Email: markwoodarts@gmail.com, Phone: 518-332-4986. Gallery hours: Thursday-Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Monday - Wednesday, by chance or appointment.

…More Photos on SimplySaratoga.com!

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 39

Stained Glass Artist Spotlights

the Wonders of WRITTEN BY WENDY HOBDAY HAUGH | PHOTOS PROVIDED Carolyn Wilcox’s “Funky Trees.”

"Luna" Stained glass artist Carolyn Wilcox at work in her home studio.

"Access," a springtime landscape.

Nature

Carolyn Wilcox, artist and owner of Silver Maple Stained Glass in Hope, is passionate about infusing the wonders of the natural world into her original stained glass designs. After retiring from a 21-year technical career in the Air Force in 2006, Wilcox knew she wanted to find another government job. But in the meantime, she began dabbling in various craft forms. Having done a lot of watercolors in her early twenties, Wilcox was eager to find a challenging new medium to rekindle her artistic side. While living near Hanscom Air Force Base in Massachusetts, she engaged in a series of lessons in stained glass making. “Immediately, I became hooked on the art form,” she recalls. “Eventually, I quit my job to pursue stained glass making full-time.” In creating her artwork, Wilcox uses the copper foil, or Tiffany, method. First, the edges of each piece of glass are wrapped in a thin copper foil. Then, the entire lengths of joints where pieces of glass meet are soldered together. Unlike the traditional lead came technique commonly seen in flat stained glass church windows, the copper foil method enables artisans to work with much smaller pieces of glass, create the stunning curves of Tiffany’s renowned Art Nouveau shades, and attain a sturdier, more flexible unit. When Carolyn Wilcox first began working with stained glass, she used patterns created by other designers. But all that changed when she returned to her hometown in 2014. “Moving back to Hope really seemed to bring out my artistic side. Inspired by the wildlife and woodland flowers and plants surrounding my home, I began drawing my own designs. I have found my niche,” she muses. “I make what I like—and am happily surprised that others seem to appreciate my originality. The artist enjoys working with glass of varying shapes, sizes, colors, and thicknesses. “Glass with mottled thickness and density is trickier to cut,” she points out. “But the ‘snap’ of a piece of glass cut cleanly is the best sound in the world. Learning to make new, more intricate designs takes time and patience as well as courage and the willingness to fail as you perfect each new technique.”

40 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Wilcox enjoys incorporating unexpected materials into her pieces. “I started adding wire and other embellishments a few years ago and now add them to as many pieces as I can. It adds a bit of whimsy and magic to my work. Over the years, I’ve made dozens of wire trees which I call, as a group, my ‘Funky Trees.’ In Luna, one of my favorite pieces from last year, I made a 3D antenna for the moth out of copper sheeting. I’ve also created several owls using vintage silverware. I call them my ‘Serving Owls.’ On one, I used a serving spoon for the wing and the spoon’s handle for the branch at the bottom. On another, I used the serving part of a utensil for the body and a butter knife for the branch.” One of Wilcox’s larger pieces—a tribute to nature titled Access—has roughly 400 pieces. Begun in the spring of 2021, it took the artist several months to complete. “I strayed from my original design quite a bit as I went along, which I hardly ever do. Originally, I wanted this to be sort of a gateway to nature, with layers going back into the forest, ending with the mountains in the distance. If you look closely, you’ll see that there’s a doorknob, a keyhole, and a key. In this piece, I incorporated some of my favorite spring things: mushrooms, lady slippers, fiddleheads, apple blossoms. I tried to stay relatively true to the spring season with my colors also.” Silver Maple Stained Glass is a homebased, grassroots business. “I actually grew up in this very house,” Wilcox says proudly. “My family has lived here since 1972, and my mother now lives just down the road. This was always ‘home’ for my three wonderful kids. Having always spent holidays and vacations in this house in Hope growing up, they consider it home and love coming back to visit.” In addition to running her thriving studio, Carolyn Wilcox helps to coordinate the annual SVAN (Sacandaga Valley Arts Network) Art Trails, a self-guided weekend tour of numerous artists’ studios that takes place every August. “The trail includes artists in Saratoga, Fulton, and Hamilton counties, the majority of whom work from their home studios with no regular business hours,” Wilcox explains. “Art Trails encourages artists to interact directly with the community, affording people the opportunity to learn how these artists create their works.” Wilcox enjoys opening her home gallery and interacting with the public during this two-day event. “I love talking to people about how I create my art, from concept to process. Most of the people who take the art trail are there to learn something new, not necessarily to buy something. People can select whatever locations interest them most and set their own itineraries. We have sculptors, painters, weavers, wood-turners, multi-media, photographers, and more.” Carolyn Wilcox is committed to promoting the work of local artists working in diverse media. “Arts education is a big part of the Sacandaga Valley Arts Network mission, so the annual Art Trails is good for our community as a whole because it highlights the many wonderful and varied artists we have in our area.” To contact Carolyn Wilcox or see more of her work, call (518) 863-2256 or visit facebook.com/silvermaplestainedglass Learn more about the Sacandaga Valley Arts Network at www.svanarts.org SS …More Photos on SimplySaratoga.com!

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 41

Photo by Susan Blackburn Photography

42 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Meet the Influencer:

Bethany Bowyer Khan

A city gal returning to her rural roots and living sustainably in the country. WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER | PHOTOS PROVIDED UNLESS NOTED

ethany Bowyer Khan spent a decade making New York City into a greener place. Today, her idyllic rural lifestyle is inspiring her followers to cultivate a cultural shift.

As a project manager at RXR , one of the largest commercial real-estate firms in NYC, Bethany’s typical day was crazy busy.

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Even while pregnant, she was in the office early to run meetings before heading to Brooklyn or midtown for a site visit. Donning a hard-hat, she’d jump into the construction hoist to ride 647 feet up to the top of the landmarked 500 Madison, where she oversaw sustainability initiatives as part of the building’s recent repositioning. Then COVID hit and she decided to make a change.

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 43

GOODBYE PRESSURE. HELLO PRESENCE. By December 2020, Bethany decided to make it a priority to appreciate where she is, what she is doing, and who she is with - in a fully-conscious way. She began by changing her surroundings. The serene landscapes depicted in the pastoral paintings of the Hudson River School artists are particularly inspiring for her.

Natalie (left) and Christopher (right) Photos by Susan Blackburn Photography

“Thomas Cole’s The Course of Empire Series resonates with me as an environmentalist,” she said. “While Cole cautioned against the changing landscape of industrialization, today we face the implications of climate change and creating a more harmonious balance with nature is still relevant.” EMBRACING THE SPIRIT OF THE GREAT MASTERS In 2021, the Khans embarked on their new journey. After a brief stay in Ohio, Bethany and her husband of five years, Jamil Khan; daughter, Natalie (two); and dog, Hudson (six), moved into a Greek Revival in the Saratoga area. Their son Christopher was born in January.

44 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

JOINING THE COMMUNITY Life in the country is something that the Khans are taking to well. Bethany designed and oversaw the renovation of their kitchen as her first project. She began documenting their choices on Instagram @BethanyBowyerKhan and launched @ArcadianRevival while she was seven months pregnant. The pictures of her timeless design style and her honest narratives quickly earned her site its first 1,000 followers.

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 45

46 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

“The feedback I’ve received shows I’ve tapped into something people are interested in,” said Bethany. “There's an opportunity to focus on making the world better. Wherever Arcadian Revival takes me, focusing the narrative and conversation around the environment and community will remain at the core.” Because they don’t have family nearby, the platform also helped her connect to the Saratoga community in a way she couldn’t have otherwise. PICTURE PLEASANT The term “Arcadian” in Arcadian Revival reflects the desire to find a balance between humanity and the natural world.

MORE MINDFUL BUT STILL SUPER BUSY Now Bethany’s typical day starts over breakfast with her family and out in the gardens for a bit (during summer), before heading out to run errands, and then heading home to tackle whatever is on the agenda for the day. “Creativity begets creativity, and that notion continues to snowball for me, While my focus is on our kids, I have big visions for where this may lead and the impact that I might be able to make.” SS …More Photos on SimplySaratoga.com!

This tranquil contentment can be found in her design choices including; soothing color palettes, botanical specimens, natural materials, and the artwork featured in her home. Her parents, Bethany said, have been her biggest inspiration. Growing up in Ohio, her mother, Dee Bowyer, instilled a love of gardening and renovation. “She’s the real leader in sustainability because she uses her creative talents to make something beautiful with what she has. She was sustainable before it was cool. She taught me how to repurpose furniture, fabrics, and antiques,” said Bethany. BEING THE CHANGE Since being Upstate, Bethany’s life has changed but it hasn’t slowed down. The lower level of their home still has a few moving boxes, and with multiple projects happening simultaneously, Bethany is often renovating a room during her kids’ naptime. Bethany is also a Visiting Faculty at her alma mater, Miami University, where she teaches a course in real estate development with a focus on leadership and sustainability during the evening. “Shepherding change starts with our values and responsibility in raising the next generation.”

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 47

48 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

H&G Randall Perry Photography

Let Us Show You Around...

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 49

Archite 50 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

cturally SPEAKING Follow us as we explore some of the area's unique spaces... Randall Perry Photography

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 51

It’s All About This remarkable lakefront home is the sunny setting for family gatherings and

summer celebrations

52 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

the View WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER | PHOTOS BY RANDALL PERRY PHOTOGRAPHY

exceptional At this

5-bedroom, 4.5-bath lake house, it’s all about the view. To take in the spectacular scenery of Saratoga Lake, this waterfront home has windows galore. The owners (who had previously lived across the street) wanted to take full advantage of their lakeside locale. Designed by architect Bob Flansburg from Dreamscapes Unlimited, the renovations, which included adding a beautiful main bedroom suite with a balcony, were completed by Matt Parenteau Builders. Also on the team creating this pleasant paradise for a family of four, was Erika Gallagher, the co-owner of Plum and Crimson Fine Interior Design. “It’s so beautiful here, it almost feels like you don’t have any neighbors, and it becomes all about the water,” she said. Gallagher’s trademark style is to present classic elements in a refreshing way. “It has an updated, clean look rooted in solid design principles.”

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 53

Randall Perry Photography

54 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Functional & Fabulous! An ultimate outdoor room trifecta, the expansive covered porch has three distinct entertaining areas and provides a straight path out to the water. The fully stocked built-in outdoor kitchen features plenty of counter space, a custom-fitted sink, undercounter refrigerator, a gas grill, and island seating. Woven outdoor rugs cozy up the dining area, which seats eight, as well as the comfortable lounging area where the sophisticated, neutral fabrics create a calming space centered around two circular concrete tables. The dark wood planking on the floors and ceiling, and the three black, six-blade fans above, give guests a cool respite on warm summer nights.

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 55

Randall Perry Photography

56 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

A kitchen that moves you Once you walk inside, you can see how the chevron pattern on the outdoor rugs is continued indoors. The element of water flows through this kitchen, revealing itself in the wave-like chevron pattern of the lightly colored marble tile backsplash and the rippling design of the blue window treatments. Even the sink is oriented to look out onto the lake from a backdrop of white countertops and cabinetry, designed by Dawn Zarrillo and custom built by Zarrillo’s Custom Design Kitchens, giving the space an open, airy feel. The natural element of wood is brought in with a thick, butcher block island top and wooden dining table. Mimicking the chevron’s sharp points is an angular light fixture reminiscent of a geode’s effortless natural glamor.

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 57

Randall Perry Photography

Chevron Shines When the chevron’s seamless zig-zag pattern is used for the butler’s pantry backsplash, it shows how a familiar pattern can be utilized in a totally different, yet cohesive way. The statement-making contrast of the elegant, yet bold, black, white, and gold color scheme demonstrates how to make brave choices even in small spaces. “Because these chevron designs are close in scale; one bold and graphic; and the other more subtle, they married well together,” said Gallagher.

58 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 59

Randall Perry Photography

Kick up the Color This multi-functional room immediately commands attention. By coordinating with a seamstress, Gallagher is bringing back the traditional technique of matching patterned wall paper with coordinated fabric blinds. The voluminous stylized leaf design attracts the eye vertically, making the space appear larger. These bright blue cabinets also hide a secret – a murphy bed is conveniently stashed away behind their doors.

60 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 61

Randall Perry Photography

Toy Story This fun kids’ bedroom delivers an injection of color that is welcoming, not overwhelming. A set of three forest green bunk beds provide plenty of space for friends. “It’s a color found in nature, so what could be better to call on in a lake house?” said Gallagher. “Using color really is so impactful. It creates a mood and makes a big difference to how a room feels.” See forest green used again on the sofa in the adjoining playroom. Paired with an ultra-bright woven orange chair, funky, blocky wood tables, and a herringbone rug, this space has a vintage cool vibe. An entire wall of storage shelves and color-coordinated bins also ensures that at the end of the day, all the toys have an out of the way place to stay.

Randall Perry Photography

62 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 63

Randall Perry Photography

64 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Get away from it all From the balcony’s sliding glass doors, sunlight pours into the peaceful main suite on the second floor. By varying texture, Gallagher adds interest to the monochromatic color palette while keeping things calm under the 9-foot-tall tray ceilings.

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 65

Randall Perry Photography

Here, the

storybook

arched glass French doors open to the spa-like main bath.

66 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 67

Randall Perry Photography

A painted porcelain tub, bronze fixtures (including a large waterfall showerhead in the glass shower), and stunning circular mirror make this a great place to get away from it all without sacrificing a moment

of that wonderful view. 68 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 69

Susan Blackburn Photography

Colleen's Picks

A Carefully Curated Selection of HOME DÉCOR ITEMS WRITTEN BY COLLEEN COLEMAN OF CMC DESIGN STUDIO LLC

Colleen Coleman is the Principal of CMC Design Studio LLC located in Saratoga Springs. With certifications in Kitchen & Bath Design, Aging in Place and True Color Expert, her curated design extends into all areas of her field including new construction, historical and major renovations. Her passion is in designing & customizing hand-crafted cabinets for all areas of the residential market.

Oh, the glorious sunshine!!

Can you hear the joy in my voice as it shoots from my fingertips as I type? I just spent the weekend doing yard-work and now it’s time to get the patio ready for Spring! Don’t hesitate, NOW is the moment to update, or up-the-ante, with a few amazing finds. Come with me as I peruse the shops and showroom floors to introduce you to some gotta-haves that will make your Spring sizzle!

THE FURNITURE HOUSE To start, where would you be without a great outdoor chair…or set of chairs!? At THE FURNITURE HOUSE, there is plenty to choose from, especially the LuxCraft Adirondack Balcony Chair. If you haven’t sat in one of these, stop in to take a spin. The taller seat offers a clear view across lawns, over decking rails, and endless panoramas to take in all the fun. With little maintenance required, these durable pieces enlist UV stabilized color that will not deteriorate, even in prolonged hours in the sun! They’re even environmentally friendly… made in America of recycled plastic derived from post-consumer waste like milk and detergent bottles. And have you seen the colors?! So many combinations to choose from to brighten up your patio or deck. And don’t forget to order your Cup Holder that fits onto any of the LuxCraft gliders, benches, and deck chairs …with a 3.25” opening diameter, most any cup or glass will safely fit and keep your beverage at the ready…even when you drift off for a little snooze! Don’t wait, patio furniture goes fast this time of year, so head over to The Furniture House now for the best selection!

70 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

1254 NY-9P, Saratoga Springs TheFurnitureHouseNY.com | 518-587-9865

LuxCraft Adirondack Balcony Chair available in:

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

EARL B. FEIDEN APPLIANCE 1771 U.S. 9, Clifton Park | 518-383-2215 785 U.S. 9, Latham | 518-785-8555 EarlBFeiden.com

Perlick 15” Signature Series Wine Reserve

Perlick 24” Signature Series Beverage Dispenser

MARCELLA'S APPLIANCE 15 Park Avenue, Clifton Park MarcellasAppliance.com | 518-952-7700

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

And where would we all be without some good outdoor appliances to keep our summer entertaining hopping! At EARL B. FEIDEN’S APPLIANCES, check out the Perlick 15” Signature Series Wine Reserve…of course wine is on my mind!! Available in stainless steel or panel ready, the interior shelves extend fully on vibration dampening glides, minimizing wine disturbance. A very important feature as movement can disturb sediment in the bottle, causing complex chemical reactions which could lead to a dull flavor – and no one wants that! The 20-bottle capacity will chill your favorite wine up to 70% faster than leading competitors. An optional factory installed lock also makes it a great overall must-have no matter the age of household members. So, maybe you’re more of a beer connoisseur: let me introduce you to the Perlick 24” Signature Series Beverage Dispenser. With the same efficient cooling speed, this dispenser can accommodate two 1/6 barrels or one 1/4 slim or standard barrel. Get ready to pour your favorite craft beer! Similarly, there are two options for the faucet, single or double handles, to best coordinate with your beer selection(s). And not to worry about condensation when cooling on hot summer days, both these units have a specialized Perlick Anti-Condensation System™ with commercial stainless steel inside and out. Beautiful and efficient! Get ready to bring on the guests, your personal outdoor bar has arrived! How about wood fired pizza …OUTSIDE! MARCELLA’S APPLIANCES is now featuring the XO 40" Wood Fired Pizza Oven + Cart. Look at this distinctive, Italian culinary il apparecchio which heats to the perfect baking temperature in just 20 minutes. The XO’s patented Air Plus Technology perfects your pizza by utilizing “combustion air from the bottom of the oven to keep the embers alive and redistribute the flame along the roof of the cooking chamber.” The floor of the oven is crafted with interchangeable firebricks that retain heat and create the crust of your dreams. The stainless-steel interior dome continues to circulate the heat, roasting your toppings to a mouthwatering perfection! Oh, I can taste the delectable pizza with sizzling meats and veggies…can’t you?! Don’t limit yourself, try cooking other delicacies like seafood, smokey casseroles or even moist cakes and desserts! Don’t forget the cart…It comes with a handy slide out shelf, tool set bracket and storage area for your selection of hardwoods at the ready. Not to mention it makes your oven the perfect height for baking all these scrumptious delicacies! Go ahead, order your red, black or yellow XO Wood Fired Pizza Oven + Cart today!!

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 71

Colleen's Picks JACOBSEN’S RUGS Let’s chat about the interiors…what is spring without jazzing up the inside. Afterall, we all know we spend just a little time inside too! Many times, one of our forgotten surfaces is the floor. Because we are pretty tough under foot, it’s sometimes deemed that a good wool rug isn’t worth the investment…well, I’m here to tell you it is! Stop in at JACOBSEN’S RUGS on Broadway to chat with their sales team about the broad selection of area rugs sourced from five different countries around the world! Think of buying a rug like any other investment in your home. The better it's crafted, the longer it will last. Wool rugs in particular are well wearing and have the history to prove their value. Not all rugs are crafted equally. For instance, take the time to turn over a corner and note if the rug is knotted. A well-made rug will have a higher count of knots per square inch, such as this Pakistani Hand-Woven Wool Rug with 280 knots/sq inch. The background, shimmering like rippling water, is full of summer reflection with an overall trellis design and simple tuliplike florals abounding delicately above in blues and soft creams. The simple fringe on each end testifies to its authenticity. Currently, Jacobsen’s has this offering in a 9'01" x 11'11" rug but other sizes can be ordered upon request. Now, when you visit their shop, be sure to look at the rugs horizontally or if mounted on a wall, pick up an edge and see how the colors change. Try it on this alternative rug selection which is a bit more Contemporary in style yet still Hand Knotted from India. Also crafted of wool and silk, it’s palette ranges from camel to soft off whites and creams with blue grays throughout. This modern context is much like a piece of artwork beneath your feet at 9’0” x 12’2”. As Teresa Barnett of Jacobsen’s testifies to her clients, “Each rug is its own masterpiece, a treasure for generations.” This particular rug has a luxurious marble texture with a soft movement about it. Perfect for any interior and available in alternate colorways and sizes. And don’t forget a good pad to protect the wear and value of your hand-crafted purchase. Go ahead, stop into Jacobsen’s Rugs on Broadway in the Old Firehouse to view their vast collection of beautifully hand knotted rugs for yourself. You’ll never regret investing in a well-made piece of your own history in the making!

543 Broadway, Saratoga Springs JacobsenRugs.com | 518-583-2044

Pakistani Hand-Woven Wool Rug

Hand Knotted from India

72 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

SILVERWOOD HOME & GALLERY 398 Broadway, Saratoga Springs SilverwoodGalleries.com | 518-583-3600

And let’s not forget, while strolling down Broadway, pop into SILVERWOOD HOME AND GALLERY to see their new “Art in Bloom” Show featuring artwork by local artists inspired by Spring. One of the featured pieces is a Contemporary Multi-Media Landscape by Keirsten Poultney. Her artwork is highly influenced by her career as a fashion designer, juxtaposing remnant textile fibers and brush strokes on canvas. Her palette of color exudes Spring and beckons you to appreciate the boundaries between mediums. And where would we be without a little nod to Track Season 2022! These Vintage-style “And they're off” Backlit Signs won’t last long as track enthusiasts prepare their homes for another glorious summer to come! You can also find other options with words like “Saratoga” and “Upstate” to add a soft light to a rear patio or covered porch! Either way, it’s time to announce that Spring is here! I’m ready for Spring, are you? My windows and pool are open early so I will follow suit in preparing my home for taking in all that our Saratoga seasons have to offer. Remember, shop local and shop often. Put that phone away and engage. I want to see your smiles and hear your laughter…There’s nothing better than spreading joy, peace, and happiness Until next time my friends, Colleen Coleman of CMC Design Studio LLC AKBD, CAPS & True Color Expert colleen@cmcdesignstudio.net #cmcdesignstudiollc “Creating Environments for Life” TM SS

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 73

74 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Counter depth fridge

designing

A KITCHEN... While Maximizing the Space You Have! WRITTEN BY COLLEEN COLEMAN OF CMC DESIGN STUDIO LLC | PHOTOS BY RANDALL PERRY PHOTOGRAPHY

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 75

Randall Perry Photography

Range hood retracts when not in use!

As fridge extends into room, these cabinets step back.

What would you say if I told you no kitchen is small? You would say, “Come on over, Colleen, and I’ll show you my kitchen!” Believe me, I worked in some tight spaces. The secret… Efficiency and high functionality. That’s what is required to turn any small room into a large feeling space. Understanding how you function in your home and laying out your storage to maximize your efficiency is key. I recently completed a kitchen that began at 114 sq ft; very long and very narrow. The bonus was the high ceiling, but the original kitchen only incorporated the typical 36” high wall cabinets, not maximizing the storage capability of the room. To boot, this condo was set up with a dining area in the kitchen as well as in the great room, doubling the dining experience but crippling the kitchen’s ability to hold the essentials needed to perform simple culinary tasks, especially with two cooks! Let me walk you through how this three-drawer kitchen was converted into a space now housing 28 drawers, multiple pullout storage cabinets and more! Take note as well, large kitchens often function small as well. These tips are for all homeowners who want to make the most of any space. My first task is to always have a conversation with my clients. I find it is the most important part of the journey. I ask questions about how they prepare food, how many chefs are in the kitchen at once, how they entertain and more. My next step is to look into every cabinet and drawer.

76 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

You wouldn’t believe it, but a review of the kitchen sometimes tells me more than the clients do! Once I have all my measurements and the client’s information collected, I am off to the drawing board. It’s a labor of love, and boy do I love finding hidden space! I’m a miser when it comes to wasting this precious commodity. Now don’t get me wrong, open space is active space too. Depending on where it is placed, it is actually more important than using another cabinet! In this particular kitchen, the biggest hurdle I had to overcome was the width of the room. The current kitchen only had 39” of space between each countertop. You might think adding an inch or two is insignificant, but in a kitchen, it’s another lane on the highway! The overall plan was to “go up” to maximize storage and somehow “go out” without taking down a wall. The up was easy. The out was accomplished by closing off the rear entrance to the kitchen and moving it to the other side of the room. But wait, you say, that didn’t add to the width of the room? But in an essence, it did. You see, now that we're entering the kitchen from the open area of the great room, it visually expanded the space without the added cost of tearing down the wall I needed for cabinetry. And… in utilizing my custom handcabinets, I also designed 23” deep base cabinets along this wall to offer more space for mobility without compromising on the drawer depth and storage capabilities.

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Randall Perry Photography

Now you will note, I did take down the wall between the dining room and kitchen. By bringing a peninsula into the dining space, it offers an area for casual dining or hanging with friends while cooking. By keeping all the dining space in one area, I was also able to increase the efficiency of the kitchen for cooking.

HVAC chase is inside.

One of my big sayings for base cabinets is “Drawers over Doors.” Yes, they cost a bit more but the amount of storage gained is equivalent to doubling your kitchen. Think about it, you open a base cabinet door and you have a big empty cavern with a small 12” deep shelf that you can’t even see unless you bend way down to find what has been lost for months. Drawers, on the other hand, pull all your contents out to you. Full extension glides assure you of full access to all things within, while guaranteeing full use of the ENTIRE cabinet! Another essential is to choreograph the movement of each cabinet to maximize the mobility from one countertop to another. Right from the entry, the kitchen feels expansive. Part of that is because of the open space, which I talked about earlier. To the right of the entry, I purposely pushed the wall cabinet down 12” to retain the site line into the back of the kitchen, contributing to a sense of spaciousness. As you move into the kitchen where the built-in refrigerator is a bit deeper than the countertop, the opposing side of the room steps back, maintaining an equal distance for movement throughout.

Randall Perry Photography

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Your choice of appliances is one not to be taken lightly. They’re all expensive, some more than others, but each has its own contribution to make to your kitchen beyond just its essential task. For instance, the refrigerator is one appliance which comes in many depths. If you have a narrow kitchen, seriously considering a true counter depth option (Max 26” deep including doors) could salvage as much as 10” of floor space! And, I know we all would love a 36” wide range but do you really need it? This kitchen performs like a professional kitchen with its new 30” convection oven suited with a full gas range atop. It even came with a griddle for frying hamburgers inside on rainy days or pancakes when the house is full of breakfast guests. And no, the cost didn’t break the bank! And don’t worry, the powerful 600 CFM rangehood is ready to use with one slight tug of the overhead drawer. Its compact design maintains that open space while its curved, handcrafted wooden front, mimics the range and cabinet pulls, unifying the entire kitchen visually. The compact drawer microwave keeps the countertops and space above the range free while extending a full gamut of cooking options at the wave of a hand. Be careful, however, always ensure that all your appliances are free to open fully without encumbering one another. HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 77

Can you believe this was the BEFORE?!

Now, notice the natural wood elements in this kitchen; open shelving, range hood, butcher block, bench seat and open wine storage. They flow throughout the space and move your eye from one area to another, expanding the room subliminally. The open shelves were a product of the client over-stuffing her countertops with easy to reach items. I simply put more counterspace within reach above. The range hood carries the eye to the butcher block, creating a natural chopping space while the bench draws you in and around to the wine cabinet neatly tucked into the corner. Among all that is going on below, the new wall cabinets have taken on a significant amount of storage to say the least. Knowing how my clients cooked directed my attention to how I should plan to store their items for highest efficiency. Even their bar was incorporated into the kitchen next to the wine. When guests arrive, a quick pull of the cabinet opens to their vast selection of spirits with an available pull-out shelf below for making even the sharpest mixologists jealous of the smartly used space. A mix of pull-up cabinet doors ensures wide access to cooking supplies and dishes while maintaining an airy feel about the room.

78 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

And let’s not forget all those large countertop appliances that are great to have but not used on a regular basis. When I first reviewed this project, the homeowners had much of their kitchen scattered throughout the house. Now, the large pullout cabinets above the refrigerator allow for the majority of these small appliances to be ready as needed. You see, a small kitchen CAN function large and a large kitchen can always be more efficient and functional. It’s all in the proper use of space and a matter of understanding how the users employ their skills and techniques in preparing food. When planning your next kitchen renovation, try interviewing yourself first and be honest about what is truly important to you. If you get stuck…give me a call! Until next time my friends,

Colleen Coleman of CMC Design Studio LLC AKBD, CAPS & True Color Expert colleen@cmcdesignstudio.net #cmcdesignstudiollc “Creating Environments for Life” TM SS

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 79

illuminated WRITTEN BY COLLEEN COLEMAN OF CMC DESIGN STUDIO LLC

Since the beginning of 2012, the light bulb has never been the same. With the phase out of 100-watt incandescent bulbs followed by the 75, 60 and 40 watts up to 2013, homeowners have been trying to figure out how to manage a new way of illuminating their homes. Well, let’s stop head scratching and start learning a little more about what brightens our world and how best to choose the right bulb for your home. To start, let’s clarify that the days of quickly grabbing a 60-watt bulb and checking out are gone. LEDs are a bit more complex with several elements to consider…Let me explain…When LEDs were being phased into our everyday living, we began to see “lumens” as the indication of which bulb to choose. However, it isn’t all that simple. Since 2011, the Federal Trade Commission announced new labels on packaging with “Lighting Facts,” usually found on the back of the box just like “Nutritional Facts” for food packaging. Go ahead, grab your bulb package, I’ll wait… Just in case you were a good recycler and already put that box out…I’ll share mine! Now let’s work our way down that label together!

LED Conversion Chart Incandescent Watts

Lumens LED

Watts

100 W 1600 14 -18.5 W 75 W 1100 10-15 W 60 W 800 6.5-11 W 40 W 450 Up to 9 W

Brightness, noted in lumens, is simply just that, how bright the light emitted from the light source will be. It is not the same as watts. Don’t worry, you’re not alone in that. Think of it this way, lumens are the same measure of brightness for LEDs and incandescent bulbs alike. Watts, which I will discuss shortly, is a measure of energy. If you know the brightness, or lumens, of the incandescent bulb you used to have, find the same measure in a new LED option. To help you with this mental mind twister, try using this simple conversion chart. One caveat, these measurements are based on average bulbs available on the market today. Actual light output may vary by product. The next line is Estimated Yearly Energy Cost. I think this one is pretty self-explanatory. It’s a good unit of measure when comparing like bulbs for how far your dollar will go. Depending on your energy supplier, this estimated cost may vary. A measure of life follows and specifies the longevity of the bulb you are sourcing. Both of these are based on a use of 3 hours per day. Again, this is a great resource for comparing cost and value when sourcing LED bulbs for purchase. Light Appearance is a big factor and needs to be considered as strongly as lumens. Measured in kelvin (K), this number reflects the color of the light ranging from warm to cool.

Image Source: www.energystar.gov

80 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

Typically, we are most used to 2700K from an incandescent bulb. It has always had a warm glow and made our home feel cozy. I remember when the LEDs were first introduced for everyday use, many of my clients complained that they disliked them. They said that everything in their house looked cold. I would explain that they probably purchased a 5000K bulb, with a high lumens rating on the box, to get that same brightness they were used to. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

However, they purchased such a cool bulb, it changed the overall appearance of their interiors. This is the same misunderstanding many homeowners still have. I know what you're thinking, daylight is “blue?” Yes, without getting technical, think of the blue sky rather than the yellow of the sun. There are lots of different uses for each color but it is very important to remember to maintain a singular kelvin for areas that are open to each other. One example would be a great room. All the light bulbs from the kitchen undercabinet lighting, dining table pendant all the way to the cans over the sitting room should be of equal Kelvin. If not, you’ll see the color difference when the lights are on, ranging from a yellow to blue. The one exception is in a closed off space such as a bathroom or basement area. I purposely changed the light color in a windowless half bath project to 5000K to bring out the purple tones of a vanity stone as the warmer light saturated the color and made it look dull. Even in grocery and jewelry stores, they tend to use bluer lights to enhance the color of their goods, making them look more fresh or full of sparkle…Now you know their secret! Lastly, Energy Used will measure the number of watts required to turn your light bulb on, as mentioned earlier. This little number, along with the elimination of millions of metric tons of carbon emissions, is the reason why the Department of Energy embarked on changing our light bulbs from incandescent to LEDs. You see, with LEDs, we can capture the same amount of light while using significantly less energy as shown in the LED Conversion Table. For instance, a 100W incandescent bulb, with an output of 1600 lumens, will now only consume 18.5 watts of energy to produce the same number of lumens or brightness. Think of it this way, have you ever flown over a large city and marveled at all the lights below? With LEDs, those beautifully twinkling bulbs save millions of dollars for consumers each year. Quite a bright idea! LEDs now come in all sorts of bases as well, allowing our homes to be fully converted to lower watt bulbs throughout, resulting in energy savings. You can even secure frosted LEDs if you prefer not to see the interior of the bulb. There are so many options to choose from, even LED tape, with its tiny diodes, allows us to illuminate smaller spaces once thought impossible. I could easily write another article on types of bulbs, it’s a wonderland of illumination… full of fun shapes and sizes! One note of caution, however, if you have dimmers in your home, be sure you purchase LED bulbs that are noted as dimmable. If there is no indication on the box, it is best to presume they are not dimmable. Look for these references on your box front. Now that you know how to read your light bulb box, be sure to take the time to look over the details. Also invest a little time to discover which color light you prefer most in your home. I tend to have a few different kelvin bulbs on hand to experiment with color. Get illuminated Saratoga, and see your home in a new light! Until next time my friends, Colleen Coleman of CMC Design Studio LLC AKBD, CAPS & True Color Expert colleen@cmcdesignstudio.net #cmcdesignstudiollc “Creating Environments for Life” TM SS saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 81

Gen Z & Design WRITTEN BY BRIONNA DOUGHTY

PHOTO PROVIDED BY TOV FURNITURE

See page 16 for my bio!

his is an exciting opportunity to share my generation’s perspective on living, shopping, and their future. As a May 2022 Interior and Spatial Design graduate, I would also like to offer a few bits of advice on how my generation can make the best of every purchase! Most of the individuals in this generation (1825 years old) are studying at universities and/or joining the workforce presently. I have found that Gen Z’ers are becoming more money conscious

82 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

and are building up savings to invest in homes earlier than prior generations. With home mortgages at their current rate, we are able to buy a starter home with a smaller down payment. Yes, we still incur a private mortgage insurance fee, but this is better than paying rent with no return on our investment! Most of these homes are pre-owned and somewhat updated, however, we are NOT afraid to put in a little elbow grease and renovate ourselves. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Social life is important to us at this age and given the past few years, Gen Z’ers feel less restricted on where we can live, and we are ready to move into urban areas where others are choosing to leave. These urban settings offer more venues to gather with friends as well as greater job opportunities. As digital natives (those who grew up with technology in the cradle), we look to the internet for almost everything including home design. The internet provides us with resources to help others, find inspiration, get suggestions, and purchase products. TikTok, YouTube, and other social media platforms are filled with D.I.Y. tips and tricks to upgrade our spaces. Technology has an influence on what Gen Z’ers are buying as well. Once we see an item that we like online, it’s click and ship, making the process fast and easy. However, let me offer some design advice to make those purchases a better investment of your hard-earned money! Before hitting that Amazon “Buy Now” button, slow down for a minute and pay close attention to dimensions, material durability, stability of construction and reviews. Considering my generation is becoming more conscious of sustainability, it’s crucial to research material sources, packaging, and shipping distances from manufacturer to your doorstep as well. This information can be found usually within the company website, on the company’s social media pages, or you could contact a representative. There are certifications you can look for and online databases for searching sustainable brands near you, such as the Sustainable Furniture Council. Even though saving money is crucial, cheaper is not always better. These factors will help you compare manufacturers, products, and evaluate if the item is worth the price you are paying.

Gen Z’ers are not afraid to be different and we are expressing our individuality through our home interiors. We are choosing colorful palettes, curved furniture, and D.I.Y. wall art. We are adding bold patterns and soft textures. Repurposing used furniture is also a popular way to save money and add a unique feel to each space. I am excited to begin my career in interior design. After 4 years of study, I look forward to guiding my clients in finding their personal style while providing solutions to spatial needs. I value unique spaces and I love to see my generation articulating themselves with individuality and fearless selfexpression. I cannot wait to see what the future of interior design will be and how my generation will impact the outcome! Watch out design world, Gen Z is coming through!

…More Photos on SimplySaratoga.com!

Let’s chat style! Gen Z is all about eclecticism and maximalism. There is a blending of multiple concepts and forms to create a unique and complex style. We are breaking traditional rules of design by prioritizing comfort over formal decor. After staying indoors over the last few years, it made us realize that our homes will be the hub for all activities including working remotely. We are focusing more on how each space functions as well as how different spaces can affect our mind and body. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 83

10 WRITTEN BY COLLEEN PAUSLEY OF LIFE ON KAYDEROSS CREEK

D.I.Y. Kitchen Remodel Tips to Save You Time and Money

FIND YOUR INSPIRATION Take your time with this and don’t rush. Search Pinterest, Instagram, Google, magazines or wherever you get inspiration. Save pictures of everything you like and make a list of your must have items or features. For example, our stove was functional, but we wanted a larger stove to be able to host large family gatherings. While browsing online, we fell in love with a 48” stove by Ilve. We started with that and literally planned everything around it.

DO YOUR RESEARCH If you are getting new appliances, a new sink or faucet, lighting, really anything, read as many reviews as you can, watch YouTube videos etc. We did not know it when we ordered the stove, but because we were getting a larger one, we also had to have a larger propane line. Had we known, we could have saved time and money planning for it.

3 4

SET YOUR BUDGET! (SPLURGE & SAVE) Focus on one statement piece and then look for ways to save on everything else but don’t sacrifice function. Shop around!

DON’T TAKE ON MORE THAN YOU CAN CHEW Know when to hire a professional. Let’s face it, you can pretty much find a tutorial on anything on YouTube but don’t do more than your skills can handle. It will cost you money in the long run because you may end up having to have a professional fix it which can cost more money and time.

84 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

MEASURE TWICE (OR 5 TIMES!) AND CUT ONCE Measure a bunch of times to make sure you are accurate – double, even triple check. We thought we had measured correctly and then once we had pulled the lower cabinets out, we realized the filler strips on the edges would have to be bigger than we originally thought. It was fine in the long run but required more planning and some adjustments.

STAY ON TOP OF IT! Keep in constant contact with your cabinet, countertop, or any company you’re working with. I hadn’t heard from the Ilve distributor in several weeks, so I decided to call. I was told the stove wasn’t coming in for another month. Wait, what??? No one told us. This, of course, was going to back everything else up. I should have known something was wrong when I got an email two days later telling me it was scheduled to be delivered that Friday. We didn’t even have the cabinets moved yet!

EXPECT DELAYS, ESPECIALLY NOW. Delays happen. Many businesses are experiencing delays in shipments for products and parts and other delays can happen as well. The company we purchased the countertops from had an issue with their cutting machine -twice- which resulted in us having to push back a total of four weeks!!

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED. Know things will not always go as planned. (See #6 & #2) We must have looked at 100 slabs of granite. We took a chunk home that was 6”x6”, looked at it in every light, with

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

every angle of the cabinets. It’s very hard to tell what the full piece will look like with something that small and when it was installed, it was way lighter than we thought. That meant that the cabinets were now too yellow and that they were going to have to be painted. That’s a whole new project and more money we didn’t plan on spending as well as time we didn’t plan on. Another example is when the company came to install the stove, they broke the legs off when they were trying to place it. Another week for the new legs to arrive which gave us time to get the propane line upgraded but still. We ended up installing it ourselves.

9 10

ADD MORE LIGHTING. If you're ripping things apart, take the opportunity to add lighting. You will never regret more lighting. UNDERSTAND THINGS WILL GET MESSY. Our project took a total of 10 months. At times, we were without stable countertops, our dishes and utensils were in drawers on the dining room floor, and we were without a stove for a while. Know it may be uncomfortable and that you will be out of your routine for a time. Schedule changes, late shipments or even changes in your plan because you change your mind; things will come up. Plan as much as possible, be prepared to be flexible and know things will take time but it will be worth it in the end!

For more details on this kitchen makeover, other D.I.Y. projects and decorating ideas, visit the blog at www.mylifeonkayderosscreek.com. SS HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 85

WRITTEN BY JORDANA TURCOTTE OF SIMPLY YOU

Sizing Up Storage Needs IF YOU DRIVE AROUND THE CAPITAL REGION (or anywhere!) you will find storage facilities popping up ALL over. I often wonder how do they fill them all? Is there really a need for all those units? Well, I guess so! Recently listening to a podcast by The Minimalists they had some current interesting facts about these units. For one, it is a very profitable industry! The storage facility industry was valued at $48 billion globally in 2020 with a profit margin of 41%. And the US has 90% of them! That translates to 52,000 businesses and growing – which is 6x the number of Starbucks in the US. Now that is a lot of space! Storage facilities most definitely have their benefits. I am a big fan of them when used to solve short term problems. These short term reasons may be… you are moving and going in to temporary housing, you are renovating a space in your home and need to move out some of your items while doing this, there is a death in the family and everyone can’t take what they want for some time, but the house has to be sold, or lastly, you are selling and less IS more to properly stage your home. Having staged many homes, depersonalizing and decluttering are key to selling fast. Another great use is starting a business and not having a space yet, but you have inventory or need a space to put together product. A rental cost for a unit is usually much less than a retail or warehouse rental fee. If moving, also consider “mobile storage units” like Pods. They serve the same purpose as temporary storage, but since they are delivered to your new home - then shortly thereafter picked up - it forces you to unload it. 86 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

A major negative is getting one and not planning on an end date. Or having any plan at all for what will go into it. Storing stuff when it is stuff that should just be let go of, is a costly mistake. Moving unwanted items out of your space doesn’t solve the problem that you are holding onto unwanted items. You have pushed the problem to an unseen location that is now costing you money. Most times, after 3-6 months, the value of the items in the unit is less than what you have paid in fees. Do not place the “just in case” items in there. Do not place actual trash or broken items you will never fix. Do not box up papers that should just go to the shredder. Do not put anything in there that you do not want but feel guilty letting go of. Also, be careful to choose the right unit for the type of stuff you will be putting in them. If your items can’t be subjected to extreme heat or cold, you will need a climate-controlled unit. Do some research based on what you are choosing to place inside. Lastly, don’t forget the organization of the space as well – make a list of what you have in there. Consider investing in some shelving to organize what is in there especially if it is inventory for a business. Items you won’t need access to at all during storage should be at the back and items you may need to grab towards the front. Storage units can be and are, a strategic solution for a specific need. Without a plan, it is an oversized junk drawer with a bill attached to it. Choose and plan wisely. SS

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Home Management Manage ment what is it?

WRITTEN BY SARA KELLY

our home is an organization. And a home can be a single-family house, an apartment, condo, or caravan. Anyplace where you return to on a regular basis and pay some form of taxes and utilities. People and animals coming in, dwelling, leaving, and repeating. With that, there is food coming in, being prepared, cleaned up and repeated. There are multiple departments within the home, and they depend on one another: people, food, organizing, cleaning, paper, scheduling. It is all in constant motion and in constant need of attention. Home management streamlines what needs to be done and, best of all, minimizes your mental exhaustion! Home management that is going smoothly is not noticed. When home management is nonexistent, or is not working well, that is when it stands out with either piles or missing items. Piles of laundry, dishes, paper, recyclables, random assorted who-even-knows-what-is-in-there unnamable piles. And the missing items- where is the bill that is overdue?! The book that I need to return? That birthday card? Any clean socks?! Didn’t we have a turtle at one point? Think back to the generations that came before us and the structures that were in place to keep a home operating smoothly. Now think about our lives today, and how

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

different our time and resources are. Home management, for the most part, is no longer a designated duty to one member of the house, but it is still a needed service to ensure smooth home operations. In an ideal world, home management would be learned and implemented as a household is being set up. But this is real life and now you are seeing all the piles as you are reading this and remembering you can’t find the left soccer cleat that your kid needs like yesterday- what now?! First, appreciate that your home is an organization that needs systems; shift your mindset. Second, see what is working well in your home. If you have a well-oiled machine in terms of always getting the trash barrels out on trash day, celebrate that! Building off wins, no matter how small, is what gets you to the next win. Lastly, start making note of what areas could use some help. Not in a catastrophe sense of ‘Aghh, there are always dirty dishes in the sink!!’ But in a ‘the dish system could use a different approach, I’ll make note of that.’ Now, stay tuned for the next article on home management. Or write to me with your own home management challenge. There are always solutions. See page 16 for my bio!

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 87

In the Kitchen WITH

JOHN REARDON

Hello my Foodie Friends! Many of us have a love of gardening. What greater pleasure is there than to have your garden be presented at your table for others to enjoy with foods such as fresh herbs, tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, strawberries, cucumbers and more. Gardening can be a family activity, and a way to have fun and build family bonding. Whether you garden on your land or through pots on a patio, gardening can result in a harvest of fresh vegetables and herbs. I recall my mother’s garden. It was filled with my favorites such as carrots, string beans, potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, and many herbs. Much of my childhood was surrounded by helping to weed, plant flowers, harvest vegetables, or mowing the lawn. My brothers, sisters, and I spent a lot of time outdoors. My memories include dirty hands from weeding, picking bugs off the plants (which was my favorite part), and getting to taste the harvest results. I remember the colors, smells, and tastes of the fresh vegetables that came from her garden. Often, the vegetables were “tasted” as I pulled them from the ground. I recall digging and digging in the garden. Back then, we believed that if we kept digging, we could “dig to China!” Part of creating meals from the garden, includes having the best tools to prepare it. You can infuse wonderful flavor into your dishes with the use of zest from citrus, hard cheeses, or even adding nutmeg to your dish. Microplane zesters, graters, herb mills, spiralizers, and more are among the many tools we carry at Compliments to the Chef that can be used to help prep your garden treasures. What makes Microplane the best? Globally recognized, Microplane is the original manufacturer to apply photo-etching technology to graters, an innovative process specifically designed to create ultra-sharp cutting edges. Microplane products are made in the USA. The graters are made with tiny teeth that behave like extremely sharp knives to cut ingredients with precision rather than tearing or shredding like most stamped graters. The blade ensures that food does not stick or block, but instead gently slides along the cutting surface to produce perfect results every time (microplane.com). A Microplane or zester is the best tool for making quick and easy work of orange, lemon, lime, and grapefruit rinds. A Microplane is perfect for finely shredding hard cheeses like Parmesan, Asiago and Romano to top vegetables and your favorite Italian dishes. Find a variety of graters for any ingredient, such as nuts, spices, vegetables, ginger, hard and soft cheeses. Turn your favorite veggies into vegetable noodles with the spiral cutter from Microplane. The spiral cutter will turn your vegetables into spiralized veggie noodles in no time. Going low carb? Looking to create the perfect paleo or keto friendly “pasta” for a recipe? A Microplane spiralizer is going to be your new best friend. Recreate your favorite pasta dish with veggie noodles for a fresh take on dinner. 88 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Creamy Spinach Sweet Potato Noodles with Cashew Sauce INGREDIENTS • 1 cup cashews • 3/4 cup water (more for soaking) • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 1 clove garlic • 1 tablespoon oil • 4 large sweet potatoes, spiralized • 2 cups baby spinach • A handful of fresh basil leaves, chives, or other herbs • Salt and pepper to taste • Olive oil for drizzling

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Cover the cashews with water in a bowl and soak for 2 hours or so. 2. Drain and rinse thoroughly. Place in a food processor or blender (I got better texture with the blender) and add the 3/4 cup water, salt, and garlic. Puree until very smooth. 3. Heat the oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the sweet potatoes; toss in the pan for 6-7 minutes with tongs until tender-crisp. Remove from heat and toss in the spinach – it should wilt pretty quickly. 4. Add half of the herbs and half of the sauce to the pan and toss to combine. Add water if the mixture is too sticky. Season generously with salt and pepper, drizzle with olive oil, and top with the remaining fresh herbs.

Recipe courtesy of: PinchofYum.com

Microplane also carries products to help with your herbs. The SwiftStrip is the answer to all your leafy green food prep problems. You'll be able to strip the leaves off herbs, kale and all of your favorite leafy greens with ease. Or try the herb mill. Just place your parsley, cilantro, dill, sage, basil, sprig of thyme and mint in this easy-to-handle herb mill and twist away for perfectly minced and chopped herbs. Another important tool to have in your kitchen to help while you use a grater is the cutresistant glove by Microplane. Fingers and knuckles can end up in the way. Be safe and 'glove up.’ We carry them in both adult and children’s sizes. Enjoy growing and creating your garden-to-plate culinary creations. Stop by Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store located at 33 Railroad Place, for the accoutrements you need to zest up your meals. Enjoy the sunshine and time with family and friends. Dance in the garden “like no one is watching.” Remember my Foodie Friends; “Life Happens in the Kitchen.”

Take Care, John & Paula saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 89

Entertaining WITH

RALPH VINCENT

Ideas for relaxed entertaining your guests will love …and you will too!

Let’s Have Some Fun In The Sun! Campari Peach Cobbler Cocktail

THIS IS MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR because there are so many fun outdoor activities to enjoy, especially when it comes to casual entertaining. Relaxing under a sunny sky with friends, drinks, and delectable nibbles is a delightful way to spend an afternoon.

• 1 & 1/2 ounces of Campari • A pinch of cinnamon or more to taste • Sparkling peach moscato, I like Villa Jolanda Moscato and Peach

So why not plan your own outdoor get-together? Hosting a laid back gathering al fresco can be stress-free and fun. With that in mind, I have put together a menu of easy to prepare party foods and a new seasonal cocktail too.

DIRECTIONS: Pour Campari into an ice filled shaker and add the cinnamon, secure the lid and shake for about 30 seconds. Strain into an ice filled white wine glass and top off with the peach moscato. Cheers!

Let’s start with my latest libation creation, the Campari Peach Cobbler Cocktail. Campari is an Italian liqueur with a distinctive flavor that combines deliciously with sparkling peach moscato. A whisper of cinnamon gives the drink a flavor reminiscent of a classic baked peach cobbler. Next are my Cucumber Canapes with Herbed Cream Cheese and Smoke Salmon… delish and so easy to put together. Cantaloupe Citrus Soup is cool, refreshing and fun too served up in “shooter” glasses. My Savory Garbanzo Cocktail Sandwiches are a satisfying plant based nosh, with a flavorful chickpea salad served between slices of flaky puff pastry. Finally Strawberry Vanilla Shortbread Cookies add a sweet touch to the festivities.

Cucumber “Canapes” with Herbed Cream Cheese & Smoked Salmon • 1 large fresh cucumber washed and dried • One 15.5 ounce tub of cream cheese spread softened • 1 tablespoon of minced fresh dill • 1 tablespoon of minced flat leaf parsley

If you would like to round out your menu a bit more, go downtown to The Savory Pantry for gourmet style dips and other delicious cocktail nibbles. And while you’re in town don’t forget the wine…head over to Purdy’s Discount Wine and Liquor for an impressive selection and expert advice. As always I hope you enjoy these recipes. Until next time, have fun in your kitchen, enjoy cooking (and making cocktails!) for the people you love, and remember…

it doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to taste good! 90 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

• A 4 ounce package of smoked salmon, cut into squares about ½ inch in size • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste DIRECTIONS: Peel the cucumber and cut it into ¼ thick slices and allow to drain by placing in a single layer on a paper towel lined baking sheet, cover with another layer of paper towels and set aside to drain for about 20 minutes. Meanwhile in a medium bowl combine the cream cheese spread, minced herbs and salt and pepper. Place a tablespoon sized dollop of the cream cheese on each cucumber slice, top with smoked salmon and arrange on a serving platter. Sprinkle with additional fresh dill if desired, Refrigerate until time to serve. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Savory Garbanzo Cocktail Sandwiches

Strawberry Vanilla Shortbread Cookies • 1 cup of salted butter softened

• ¼ cup of strawberry jam

• One 17.3 ounce package of Pepperidge Farm frozen puff pastry • One 16 oz can of chickpeas drained • ¼ cup of white wine vinegar • 2 tablespoons of minced red onion • 2 tablespoons of mayonnaise or more to taste • 2 teaspoons of Dijon mustard • 1 tablespoon of capers • ½ teaspoon of garlic powder • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste DIRECTIONS: Thaw puff pastry per package directions. When thawed place each sheet of a flat surface. Cut each sheet in to 12 squares and place on parchment paper lined baking sheets. Bake at 400˚F for 15 minutes or until puffed and edges are golden. When done place the baking sheets on a wire rack and allow to cool. Place the chickpeas in a large bowl and mash with a fork to a coarse consistency. Add the next 8 ingredients and stir to combine. Refrigerate until ready to use. When ready to use divide the chickpea salad over 12 puff pastry squares and top each with another pastry square.

• ½ cup of white sugar

• 2 ½ cups of all-purpose flour

• 1½ teaspoons of vanilla extract

• Pink decorating sugar if desired

DIRECTIONS: In a mixer bowl cream the butter, jam and white sugar together then mix in the vanilla. Add the flour in small amounts and mix until it forms into dough consistency. Remove the cookie dough and place on a sheet of plastic wrap on a flat surface. Gently roll the cookie dough into a log about 2 inches wide. Wrap in the plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour. When ready to bake preheat your oven to 325˚F. Cut the cookie dough into ¼ inch thick rounds and place on parchment lined baking sheets. Sprinkle with the decorating sugar if desired. Bake 12 to 16 minutes or until the edges are a light golden color. Remove from the oven and place the baking sheets on wire racks to cool.

Chilled Cantaloupe Soup “Shooters” • 1 large ripe cantaloupe • 2/3 cup of orange juice • Juice and zest of ½ of a lemon. May substitute the same amount of lime juice and zest if desired. • 1 tablespoon of agave nectar or more to taste • A pinch of salt DIRECTIONS: Wash and dry the cantaloupe, slice in half and scoop out the seeds. Scoop the flesh out and place into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Add the other ingredients and process into a smooth puree. Pour into a large pitcher and adjust the flavor with a little more agave nectar if desired. Chill until serving time. To serve, pour into chilled “shooter” glasses. Makes about 16 to 20 two ounce shooters. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 91

“A great garden experience offers more than a collection of manicured flowers, shrubs and trees. Responding to a unique sense of place, a garden connects to its surroundings, responding to the variability of light, space, color and texture. It draws you in, offering a feeling of discovery and with features that catch your attention, quiet places to relax, and paths that hint at yet another destination to explore.

A great garden invites you to slow your pace and pause to let the garden speak to you with its colors, fragrances and sounds.”

92 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Secret Gardens TOU R 27th Annual Soroptimist

WRITTEN BY BARBARA LOMBARDO PHOTOS PROVIDED BY LESLIE BRENNAN, JOHANNA GARRISON AND CAROL GODETTE

Those are the lovely words of Leslie Brennan, and they perfectly describe what she calls her “Jardin de Cadeaux” – the Garden of Gifts – near Lake Lonely. Brennan is among a dozen Saratoga Springs homeowners who are generously inviting visitors to experience their gardens on the 27th annual Secret Gardens Tour slated for Sunday, July 10. This year’s tour features terraced beds, ponds, woodsy paths, splashes of color, jam-packed

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

havens for pollinators, and a unique row of tiny townhouse gardens tucked into a steep, hidden hillside. The Secret Gardens Tour is presented by Soroptimist International of Saratoga County, the local branch of an international nonprofit service organization committed to empowering and improving the lives of women, girls, and their communities. This fundraiser benefits programs and people, in keeping with the Soroptimist mission.

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 93

Leslie Brennan’s garden is so stunning that you wouldn’t guess she’s only been working at it for about five years. Encouragement came from her good friend Susan Knapp, whose in-city oasis was on the tour a few years ago. “Susan told me ‘You have to be patient,’ which is a big challenge for me,” Brennan said. Yet she dove in, reading, talking to people, staring into the yard, and experimenting. She learns more each year about light and how colors transition, visualizing what blooms where and when, and considering the terrain of her property. An engineer who initially strove for symmetry, Brennan began to think more broadly about proportion, weight and flow to create a sense of space. In the process, gardening has become a truly creative outlet. One of the things Brennan loves about gardening is its strong sense of community. “People freely give their time, their advice, and offer different views to help you solve a problem,” she said. Friends share plants, ideas, inspiration, and she can name the person behind each gift. “When I look at the garden, I see all the people who helped to create it.”

94 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

That feeling of community is familiar to many gardeners on the tour, including Johanna Garrison. Seeds, plants and vegetables are regularly shared among residents in her city neighborhood, which is not far from downtown Saratoga Springs. Garrison’s primary focus is on pollinators and the specialized relationship they have to native plants. For her, global reports of the collapsing insect population were a rallying cry. “I used to garden for myself; if it was pretty, I bought it. I never gave a second thought to the insects that co-evolved with these plants and the intricate food webs they help sustain,” Garrison said. Now, function and purpose have taken center stage. Garrison's garden is roughly 95 percent native, and each year she squeezes in a few more with the hope of attracting and propagating new species of invertebrates.

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

She has made peace with virtually any creature that loves her garden as much as she does, including insects, cottontails, voles and moles. Moles, she learned, consume invasive earthworms and Japanese beetle larvae, they aerate the soil, and “with their wee pushed-up pitcher’s mounds they fertilize homes for plants, which in turn provide habitat for butterfly larvae and other valuable insects.” Garrison helped form the Sustainable Saratoga Pollinator Committee, which on June 5 is holding its first Pollinator Palooza, featuring educational material about pollinators and native plant sales. Visit their website for details. “I love knowing I am helping to create a biodiverse habitat. Plant it and they will come,” Garrison said. In another downtown neighborhood barely a mile away, expansive garden beds and extensive outdoor living space await visitors in the backyard of Dave and Carol Godette.

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 95

The Godettes made significant changes to the yard surrounding the house where Carol grew up. “The most important thing was I wanted a vegetable garden,” said Dave, who began gardening as a little boy alongside his grandfather. “Very soon after we moved in, we put in a pool, put flowers around the pool and one thing led to another.”

at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 9. Register for the free event on the library’s events page at www.sspl.org.

Big splashes of colorful New Guinea impatiens, begonias and wave petunias intersperse with daylilies and more than two dozen varieties of hostas around the Godettes’ in-ground pool. Behind this area, raised wooden beds and cold frames built by Dave provide a long growing season for dozens of vegetable plants.

Visitors on this stop of the tour will enter the flat, paved alley on foot from Nelson Avenue and walk two-tenths of a mile to its end, observing along the way little hideaways built into a steep hillside. At the last townhouse, visitors will turn around and head back to Nelson Avenue, peeking into the petite patios as they proceed along the alleyway. Seven of the gardens on the alley are featured in the Secret Gardens Tour descriptions.

Along a side yard is a mostly shaded memorial garden filled with ferns, pachysandra and forget-me-nots, created in 2001 for the cremation ashes of the Godettes’ golden retrievers. “It has expanded to include the ashes of a family member of the property’s first owner, Elizabeth Sexton Weiss,” shared Carol in a description she wrote of their garden. “Granite benches and a fountain were added to make it the perfect setting for quiet contemplation.” A month before the Secret Gardens Tour, Carol Godette, Johanna Garrison and Leslie Brennan will spend an hour sharing photos, talking about their gardens, and fielding questions in a live “Secret Gardens Revealed” Zoom program hosted by the Saratoga Springs Public Library 96 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

A stone’s throw from the Godettes’ garden is an extraordinary row of townhomes whose close-knit residents have created charming individual gardens in the challenging terrain at the rear of their property.

Sherry and Scott Mittleman were the first to turn their stretch of hillside into a patio garden. Soon after moving into the then-new construction around 2005, they realized that they missed having an outdoor space to enjoy. So, they conferred with landscapers, commissioned a contractor, and, Sherry explained, carefully excavated the hillside, “preserving as many trees as possible, and designing and engineering a safe, sturdy, and secure wall. In truth, landscaping the patio was secondary to making sure it was safe, with adequate room for a couple of chaise lounges and a table for dining alfresco.” saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

The Mittlemans defined the deck area with lowmaintenance shrubbery and added a wrought iron trellislike arch that they found on their travels. Vines grow down the back wall, Sherry said, “giving it a kind of English garden look.” Adding bits of whimsy are a mountain goat named Yael, a blackbird wind vane, a pink flamingo, and an alligator guard. About midway along the short alley is what Michele Mehler and Terry Julius proudly call their “hidden grotto,” with a pergola framing a patio and fireplace, along with an assortment of perennials, climbing vines and ornamental grasses. Other features visitors will find in the various gardens as they walk along the alley include bird houses, wind chimes, sculptures tucked here and there, and an herb barrel that, at least once, served as a nursery for five baby rabbits. One of the residents is longtime Thoroughbred race caller Tom Durkin. You might see him using his binoculars to enjoy the activity around his backyard birdhouse. Three other gardens – one near downtown and two on the northern end of Saratoga Lake – round out the Secret Gardens Tour. Pat and Craig Stickney’s landscaping near the lake has evolved over 25 years into what they describe as “primarily a shady respite with a series of vignette-type gardens, from a Tuscan-style stone patio with thick moss and a pond inset, to a simple stone bench tucked into a grove of trees.” The Stickneys’ stately gardens encompass stonework, fountains, birdbaths, benches, arbors, garden sculptures and garden lighting. A particular favorite when in full bloom is the yellow magnolia moved from their home state of Maine, as well as a large red chestnut tree planted in saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

memory of a loved one. Their never-ending goal is to have blooms and color throughout the season. Right down the street, Sue and Allan Littell harvest luxurious lavender for moth-deterring sachets to protect their winter woolens. Noteworthy is their Inaba Shidara variety of Japanese maple with its fine feathery foliage. A border built by Allan from stones found on the property adds visual interest. He likes to dig holes and she likes to direct, so their landscaping is continually changing. Similarly, Richard and Susan Cooley describe their uniquely shaped property, hidden at the end of a quiet city street, as a work in progress. When they designed and built their home several years ago, they preserved the mature trees to maintain a wooded landscape. Color, shape, variegation and texture are important considerations as Susan tries out different plantings. She likens gardening “to an artist’s canvas – ever-changing and a process.” The never-ending trial and error, experimenting to discover what you like and what works, are all part of the joy of gardening, whether your canvas is a postage-stamp patio, a sprawling suburban yard or something in between. The main thing about gardening, as Johanna Garrison assures us, is “Anybody can do it. There’s no such thing as a brown thumb.” Tickets for the July 10 Secret Gardens Tour are $25 in advance and $30 on the tour day. Descriptions of all the gardens and suggested driving directions are provided. The gardens will be open to visitors from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine. The tour is self-guided and you go at your own pace. The tour is geared for adults, but there is no charge for children 12 and younger; pets are not permitted. Visit soroptimistsaratoga.org for information about purchasing tickets and to learn more about Soroptimists. SS …More Photos on SimplySaratoga.com!

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 97

What's the

BUZZ?! T

he honey bee is an amazing animal that hundreds in the region are cultivating by the thousands.

The experience of (magically) not getting stung while standing among 30,000 bees humming all around you, is extraordinary. As invincible as these insects can make you feel at that moment, these swarms reveal little of how fragile a bee’s life can be. THE PLIGHT OF BEES In 2006, beekeepers in a quarter of the world reported that their honey bees were dying at unprecedented rates. This bee-pocolypse was due to diseases from pesticide exposure, parasites, and fungal pathogens (caused by overcrowding and homogenous diets). Compacting the problem, the colony collapses of the domesticated honey bees also negatively affect native wild bee populations.

98 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

The local bee community is buzzing. WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER | PHOTOS PROVIDED

ENCOURAGING ECOLOGICAL WELLNESS For forty years, the Southern Adirondack Beekeepers Association (SABA) has been a valuable resource for the local beekeeping community. It’s 400 members, who are spread between nine counties, keep bees for a variety of reasons. Fariel English took up the hobby in 2008. “With what was going on in the world, I thought, ‘How could we help in some way?’” she said. NATURE DETECTIVES The large-scale industrialized agricultural machine treats this tiny animal as a commodity. Thousands of hives are stacked in 18-wheelers and moved from one monoculture environment to another to pollinate crops, English continued. It creates a very stressed bee that is not as healthy. In contrast, hobby beekeepers like herself, use fewer medications, pesticides, and herbicides within their populations. Instead, they maintain health with engaged problem-solving. “There’s always a mystery to solve. Just when you think you know what’s going on, they throw you for a loop,” said English. “I love the unpredictability. It never gets boring.” saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

URBAN EDUCATORS Observing bees has many lessons to teach about the inner-workings of nature. “Oh, my goodness, don’t get me started!” said Cindy Elsenbeck joyfully. In addition to tending to the handful of hives she started four years ago, her newest passion is teaching children about the amazing honey bee. She has been teaching 2nd and 3rd graders at Gloversville Elementary School, and elsewhere. In December, Elsenbeck won a grant from The Bee Cause Project to put in an enclosed observation hive at the school. She uses the hive to encourage her junior bee-keepers to conduct scientific investigations into the life cycle, bee biology, and social behavior. “Plus, they make honey, so kids can experience the sweet reward of caring for honeybees,” she said. INSPIRING CHANGE THROUGH COMMUNICATION Rick Cobello, the President of SABA, has been a beekeeper for more than 15 years. On their 36 acres in the southern Adirondacks, Cobello and Cathy McCabe, his wife and business partner, produce two types of honey. The wild flowers, lavender, black locust, and basswood that bees forage from in this area give his Hive to Home Honey its unique hyper-local taste. Cobello, the founder of Global Cybersecurity Solutions, believes the bees’ extraordinary communication skills can teach us how to improve technology. “The bee dances when it senses danger and is able to communicate that to the hive in nanoseconds. If we could sense danger in a computer network and shut it down that fast, we’d have fewer problems with hacking, malware, and everything else we deal with in modern life.” A GREAT ESCAPE One of SABA’s younger members, Mia Detor, began keeping bees when she was 35 years old. She likes that these animals take less work to care for than a dog and offer a mediative escape from her day. “When I’m in the hives, all I’m thinking about is the bees. I’m completely focused on the task at hand,” she said. New apiarists can begin keeping bees with an initial investment of just $300-$500 (the cost to set-up two hives) and need only commit less than two hours every two weeks to the hobby. In addition to monthly meetings with an “Ask the Beekeeper” component, SABA hosts classes, honeytasting events, bee-yard visits, a mentorship program, and has a lending library with equipment available to borrow. To join SABA or answer any questions, visit sababees.org

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 99

Itoh peony

Gardening WITH

Ito h

PETER BOWDEN

pe on y

Bo wl

hen we think of plants with long life spans, it is usually trees like oaks and redwoods that spring to mind. We don’t generally consider perennials. While many perennials can live long, the most renowned is the peony.

Given a good location, a peony can live for at least 100 years or longer. Every spring someone will come to the garden center wanting advice on how to move a peony that belonged to their mother or great grandmother. They are plants that they grew up admiring and have become an heirloom. Not only do individual peonies live long, but they have also been grown by humans for their beauty for at least 4,000 years starting in China and Greece. of B

ea ut y

pe on y

As a herbaceous perennial, peonies die to the ground over winter and shoot up into shrub-sized plants in spring. In late spring the large, luxurious blooms appear. The blooms last about a month and are such wonderful flowers for cutting that they are often used in wedding arrangements. When you decide to plant a peony, choose the location carefully since it will be a permanent resident in the garden. For peak performance, peonies need full sun which means 8 hours or more per day during the growing season. As with roses, this is not negotiable. If you have a shady yard, it is best to pass on peonies.

Old fashioned peony

Older peony varieties featured large-petaled single flowers. Over time, peony breeders developed varieties with more compound flowers to the point that they resemble giant carnations. While these flowers are quite showy and look great in flower arrangements, they are heavy, and the plants will usually need support in the form of metal “peony rings” in the garden. In the last several years, Itoh peonies have become available. Itoh peonies are a cross between herbaceous peonies and sturdier-stemmed tree peonies. Itoh peony flowers are even larger than herbaceous peonies but grow on very sturdy stems up to 4’ tall. Itoh peonies are winter hardy to USDA zone 4 so they are perfect for our northern gardens. If you are one of those folks who want to rescue great-grandmother’s peony, be aware that they don’t take well to getting dug up and moved. To minimize transplant shock, try to move the peony when it is dormant. Early spring as soon as the ground thaws or late in the fall is best. Take as large of a root ball as possible and get it into its new hole immediately. Keep it well-watered and expect it to take at least a couple of years to get reestablished. Once it does, you can expect it to share its beauty for generations to come. THANKS FOR THE READ!

100 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

SPRING/SUMMER 2022

FASHION

PGS. 102-106

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 101

MØN RENN Magnolia Midi Dress $199

494 Broadway, Saratoga Springs 518.584.4838 VioletsofSaratoga.com

102 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Joseph Ribkoff ®

27 Church Street, Saratoga Springs 518.587.2772 SpokenSaratoga.com

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 103

Photo by Raisa Zwart Photography

lifestyles {clothing.accessories.shoes}

lifestylesofsaratoga.com

Every day is a vacation with the Tulum Dress. Whether you are, in fact, on holiday or simply meeting family and friends for a casual dinner, our Tulum Dress offers generous comfort with a swishy, silky material. Worn with the detachable belt, on or off the shoulder, you’ll love its versatility for warmweather evenings.

436 Broadway, Saratoga Springs 518.584.4665 LifestylesOfSaratoga.com

104 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

358 Broadway, Saratoga Springs 518.587.4344 PinkPaddock.com

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 105

Breathless

493 Broadway, Saratoga Springs 518.584.3543 SaratogaTrunk.com

106 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 107

FREIHOFER’S

Saratoga Jazz Festival

Returns in Full Force This June ‘One of North America’s Greatest Jazz Festivals, One of the Most Fun Weekends of the Year’ PHOTOS BY ERICA MILLER

The Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival, known across the country for its inclusive, joyous atmosphere and genre-busting lineup, is back this year in full-force on June 25 and June 26 at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Celebrating its 45th year, the Jazz Festival features so many different styles and artists that everyone will find something to love, whether you’re a selfproclaimed jazz aficionado or someone who craves having a great time at a world-class venue.

108 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

It’s a unique opportunity to see 24 artists performing jazz, blues, soul, Latin, bhangra, New Orleans funk and more across two stages – the Charles R. Wood Jazz Discovery Stage and the SPAC Amphitheater Stage. “The Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival proudly remains one of the greatest, most prestigious jazz festivals in North America — but if you live in the Capital Region, you might know it better as one of the most fun weekends of the year,” said Danny Melnick, the jazz festival’s longtime producer. Cultivating a true festival environment, organizers allow ticketholders to bring food and drinks in coolers, as well as blankets, beach chairs and tents to spend the day on SPAC’s lawn. Beyond the musical performances, the Jazz Festival boasts a fine arts and crafts fair, artist meet-andgreets, southern-style barbecue and other food vendors at SPAC’s newly renovated concession area. “The laidback vibe of a block party collides with some of the planet’s top musical talent,” Melnick said. “It’s an experience where you’ll feel both comfortably ‘at home’ and also exhilarated by the artists you’re discovering for the first time or hearing live again.” An impressive 15 artists will be making their festival debuts, including Booker T. Jones, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer who led Booker T. & the M.G.s and was a producer at the famed, Memphis-based Stax Records. He’ll lead a 10-piece band performing classic Stax songs. Grammy Award winning vocalist Ledisi will make her festival debut as will Con Tumbao, the all-star Latin Jazz band featuring Issac Delgado and Pedrito Martinez, along with New Orleans funk masters Galactic featuring Anjelika Jelly Joseph and emerging stars, the pianist Connie Han and vocalist Emmaline. Returning to Jazz Fest for the first time since 1998 is festival headliner, Wynton Marsalis performing with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Jazz/Hip Hop pianist Robert Glasper returns as will Brazilian pianist and vocalist Eliane Elias, who recently won a Grammy for “Best Latin Jazz Album.” 2021 debutantes and local favorites, Hot Club of Saratoga and Garland Nelson, will open the SPAC Amphitheater each day, respectively. “The fun, diverse lineup of award-winning musical legends, unique all-star collaborations, cutting-edge bands and popular rising stars speaks to the approach and mentality of the festival’s founder and my mentor George Wein, who focused on producing events for everyone,” Melnick said. A towering figure in the jazz world and the broader music industry, George Wein passed away in 2021. He lives on through his enduring impact on jazz and the Saratoga community. His legacy and love for giving people a worldclass festival will be memorialized by the Skidmore Jazz Institute Faculty All-Stars, who will play a tribute to Wein on Sunday, June 26. Tickets are available online at spac.org, where you can also view the full lineup. Lawn seating is free for children ages 12 and under. Performances begin each day on the Charles R. Wood Jazz Discovery Stage at 11 a.m. and the Amphitheater Stage at Noon. SS saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 109

r e m SuCm AMPS 2022

Summer is Coming ... It’s time to start thinking about summer camps! Check out the eight area camps highlighted here (with your kids or grandkids!) to see how they want to spend their summer !

110 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

CAMP LITTLE NOTCH

AN AMERICAN CAMP ASSOCIATION ACCREDITED CAMP

AN AUTHENTIC WILDERNESS SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCE FOR GIRLS, SHAPED BY FUN AND FRIENDSHIP. Camp Little Notch (CLN), is a non-profit summer camp for girls, located just 17 miles from Lake George village and 70 miles from Albany. Our beautiful property is situated on 443 acres of pristine Adirondack wilderness that includes a breathtaking 80-acre private lake. From 1939 to 2008, Camp Little Notch was a Girl Scout camp, a beloved place to the countless girls and young women who experienced it. In 2009, when the camp was closed by the Girl Scouts, the Friends of Camp Little Notch organization was formed by an energetic group of former campers and staff who worked tirelessly to acquire Camp Little Notch and reopen it. Now, thanks to their efforts, CLN continues to be a place for girls to grow, make friends and have adventures. What makes Camp Little Notch special? • Experience Harmony with Nature. We create a camping experience that is rustic and unplugged. We believe camp is a place for girls to be screen free and make genuine, face-to-face connections, all while developing an appreciation for the natural world. • Since our inception, Camp Little Notch has been a place for girls. We develop an intentional community where girls feel safe and supported - a space where they can try new things, be their authentic selves, and make memories that will last a lifetime. We put a special focus on developing camper’s autonomy by having them play an active part in deciding what experiences they have at camp. Our small group sizes allow this to become a reality.

• At CLN, campers participate in a variety of activities like swimming, canoeing, arts and crafts, kayaking, creekwalking, nature study, stand up paddleboarding, outdoor survival skills, and more! A huge part of the CLN mission is to provide wilderness experiences to our campers, because of this, all campers participate in a weekly overnight somewhere on the property where they practice primitive camping and cook their meals together over a campfire. • Inclusion is embedded into who we are - one of our three key values is Harmony with Each Other. Our program is open to all girls, regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ability, or religious beliefs. Camp Little Notch offers traditional camp sessions from July 3-August 5, along with trips and a Counselor-in-Training program. Our off-camp trips include exciting adventures like backpacking, whitewater rafting, and conquering mountains! The Counselor-in-Training program is a leadership development program for girls ages 15-17 to learn about themselves and strengthen skills such as decision making, public speaking, and conflict resolution. This program is camp-focused but is perfect for ANY teen who aspires to be a future leader! Financial aid is available for those who might need partial or full fee assistance, and it’s simple to apply within the camp registration found on our website. Learn more about CLN, the different sessions, and register today at camplittlenotch.org/summercamp!

CAMP LITTLE NOTC H Camp Address: 744 Sly Pond Road, Fort Ann, NY 12827 518-793-9700 | Mandi.Miller@FriendsofCLN.org

camplittlenotch.org saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 111

City of Saratoga Presents...

The City of Saratoga Springs is proud to present Camp Saradac, a NYSDOH licensed full day summer camp for children ages 5-12. For over 75 years, Camp Saradac has offered campers creative recreational & educational programs, intriguing arts & crafts, and memories that last a lifetime. For the 2022 summer season, Camp Saradac will be offering two locations: Saratoga Springs Recreation Center on Vanderbilt Ave. and East Side Rec Park on Lake Ave. Families may choose the most convenient location for them. Each site offers indoor and outdoor spaces, an interactive splash pad, and play-grounds.

Celebrating Over 75 Years...

Camp runs weekly Monday through Friday starting June 27 and ending August 19. The before and after care program will ONLY be available at the Recreation Center location. Campers registered for before care may be dropped off at 7:30 a.m. and campers registered for after care may be picked up as late as 6 p.m. Register online at www.SaratogaRec.com. Registration is on a first come, first serve basis. Limited scholarships are available. The scholarship applications are available at the Recreation Center or on our website.

JUNE 27 - AUGUST 19

Monday-Friday *no July 4th Two Locations!

• Recreation Center – Vanderbilt Ave 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Ages 5-12 *before and after care available • East Side Recreation Park – Lake Ave 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. | Ages 5-12 *NO before and after care

REGISTRATION City Residents: February 28 - May 9 Non-City Residents: March 21 - May 9

*All field trips will be determined at a later date.

SARATOGA SPRINGS RECREATION DEPARTMENT | SARATOGAREC.COM 15 Vanderbilt Ave. Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 | 518-587-3550, ext. 2300 | RecReservations@saratoga-springs.org @TogaRecreation

Saratoga Springs Recreation Department

112 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

SaratogaRecreation saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

UNPLUG & GET DIRTY!

Kids&Clay Summer Fun

SCHOOL’S OUT, SUMMER’S HERE, IT’S TIME TO RAMP UP THE FUN AT SARATOGA CLAY ARTS CENTER! Summer 2022 brings an exciting series of clay programs for ages 6-16, taught by professional local artists/teachers and ranging in themes and techniques. Camps are open to all skill levels, beginning and up. Pinch pots, slab projects, wheel throwing, glazing, and firing techniques come together to provide each student with exciting new experiences, new skills and their clay creations to take home to use and share with friends and family. What could be better than playing with clay all summer?! Come unplug, make art, and make friends. Choose from several themed half-day weeklong summer camps, with the option to put morning and afternoon camps together for a full day experience! Classes run July 11 – August 26. Come for one week or all seven. Visit Saratoga Clay Arts Center’s website at www.saratogaclayarts.org for more details on programs, registration dates, fee details, and while you are there, take some time to check out the rest of their site to see all that is happening at the center.

Registration Begins February 15! Get Ready for Some Messy, Exhilarating, Creative Fun This Summer!

SARATOGA CLAY ARTS CENTER 167 Hayes Road, Schuylerville, NY 12871 518-581-CLAY (2529) • info@saratogaclayarts.org

www.saratogaclayarts.org saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 113

114 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

TRAIN LIKE A NINJA!

WHERE FITNESS IS ALWAY FUN!

S W I N G , CLIMB, C L I M B , LEAP L E A P &&SSOAR OAR SWING, your way into summer while building self-confidence and learning skills that will last a lifetime. As one of our Ninjas, your child can expect our skilled coaches to guide them through increasingly challenging obstacles, resulting in increased strength and stamina. Ninja Lab Summer Camps run Monday through Friday in one-week, half day or full day sessions. Ninja Campers can choose between the morning session: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. or afternoon session: 1- 4 p.m., or full day session: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Campers will be put into groups of similar ability. Age-appropriate drills will always be used, with a heightened emphasis on skill and long-term athlete development. Every child will be engaged and having fun, while building strength and self-confidence and finding their inner-ninja! Class ratio is 8-1 (8 campers to 1 coach), and all our coaches at The Ninja Lab are CPR certified and background screened. Make sure your ninja gets a good night’s sleep, because every child will be engaged, moving, smiling and coming home tired!

Sample Camp Day Schedule: 8:45-9 a.m. • Arrival and Registration 9-9:10 a.m. • Welcome and Warm-up 9:10-10:20 a.m. • Station-based Ninja Training 10:20-10:40 a.m. • Break 10:40-12 p.m. • Course Runs and Challenges 12 p.m. • Pick up

Summer Camp Pricing $50 for single half day and $220 for half day full week $80 for single full day and $340 for full day full week

9 Stonebreak Road, Malta • 518-289-5942

SARATOGANINJALAB.COM saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 115

116 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

GREENFIELD

Summer Camp

Greenfield Summer Day Camp Simply Focuses on Kids Just Being Kids in the Great Outdoors In today’s over-structured world where kids spend a big part of their days looking at electronics, the one thing most grade school parents agree on is when school is out, they want their kids out… in the great outdoors. When summer comes, the pressure is on for parents to adequately entertain them without over-scheduling or breaking the bank. The Town of Greenfield’s summer day camp is a perfect solution, with its morning-only format and a full array of traditional activities that promise to leave children exhausted and happy. Campers spend 8:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. at the charming Greenfield Elementary School, at 3180 Route 9N, that sits in a rural setting just a few miles from Saratoga Springs in the foothills of the Adirondacks. Activities include rotating stations of fun, featuring such things as obstacle courses, hiking, Taekwondo, arts and crafts, as well as many organized games and sports like soccer, flag football, kickball and more. Campers participate in themed days like “Super Hero” and “Hat” Day and painting, tiedying and rock climbing. They receive weekly visits from Uncharted Wild LLC to encounter live wild animals, regularly scheduled “Water Days” for splashing around and even the chance to pal around with some local llamas. Rainy day activities bring the children inside to

the school’s gymnasium and cafeteria. Fridays end each week on a sweet note with treats from ice cream trucks and Stewart’s Shops. “Our ever-changing schedule will send kids home exhausted and dirty from an actionpacked morning at camp with friends,” said Town of Greenfield Recreation Director Rebecca Sewell. Students ages 5 to 14 are welcome and will be supervised with a 2:10 counselor/camper ratio. The camp features 25 trained camp counselors, most of whom once attended this camp themselves. Parents can choose early drop off for an additional cost and all students are eligible for the town’s Free Lunch Program, daily on-site and during camp. Signups open in March to Town of Greenfield residents, and in April open to the public. More information can be found by calling Rebecca Sewell at 518-428-2267 or visiting greenfieldny.org. Scholarships are available.

JUNE 27-JULY 29 Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (early drop off available) LOCATION: Greenfield Elementary School 3180 Route 9N Greenfield Center, NY Contactless drop-off and pick-up.

The Town of Greenfield is home to 8,200 residents in Greenfield, Porter Corners and Middle Grove. It spans more than 41,000 acres of land bordering the Adirondacks. Other summer activities sponsored by the Town of Greenfield include golf and tennis camps and a PGA Junior golf league at the town’s Brookhaven Park and Golf Course in Porter Corners.

www.greenfieldny.org saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 117

Saratoga’s Award-Winning Magazines Reaching the upscale, thriving, communities of Saratoga County... and the tourists! We distribute in Saratoga TODAY newspaper plus to the region’s hot spots including both visitor centers, area hotels, restaurants, boutiques, the library, local YMCAs, Price Chopper & Hannaford Supermarkets as well as the Saratoga Farmers' Market, Healthy Living and Four Seasons Natural Foods, specific targeted locations including The Reading Room and Fasig-Tipton.

Put your message in the hands of the people who have the buying power you seek! SARATOGA TODAY offers the highest magazine distribution in the county, with a regular, consistant readership exceeding 40,000 per edition! Simply ...

SARATOGA

EQUICUREAN

Ad Deadline: May 27

Ad Deadline: June 10

Publication Date: June 24

Publication Date: July 8

Call TODAY to Reserve Your Ad Space: 518-581-2480 2254 Route 50 South, Saratoga Springs NY 12866 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com 118 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HISTORY WRITTEN BY CHARLIE KUENZEL | PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE GEORGE S. BOLSTER COLLECTION

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 119

TEN PEOPLE WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE in Saratoga Springs' History WRITTEN BY CHARLIE KUENZEL

PART 2 OF A 2 PART SERIES his is the second part of a two-part series that is an attempt to identify important people in the history of Saratoga Springs. As I stated in the first part, this started as a purely academic discussion between myself and my business partner Dave Patterson. The ground rules were simple, anyone added to the list must have passed away and had offered leadership during his or her life, to make Saratoga Springs a better city. There are truly many living Saratogians that are making huge contributions to the city today but were not considered because of our guidelines. The part one identified the first five members, who were Doanda and Gideon Putnam, John Clarke, John Morrissey and Eliza Jumel. The following identifies numbers 6-10 on the list of people important to the development of our great city. I hope you enjoy it and maybe you will develop your own list.

RICHARD CANFIELD Richard Canfield was born in 1855 in New Bedford Massachusetts. He made his name as a gambler and was referred to as “The Prince of Gamblers.” Canfield had gambling interests in Manhattan and could see that Saratoga Springs, being the summer destination of the rich and famous was a perfect location. John Morrissey had already tested the gambling waters in Saratoga and knew that was it was an activity that was demanded by the wealthy for summer entertainment. After Morrissey died on May 1, 1878, his two lesser partners Spencer and Reed took over the operation that was called the Saratoga Clubhouse.

Spencer and Reed were not as dynamic hosts as was Morrissey and operations dipped because of that change in leadership. Spencer and Reed were happy to eventually sell the business to Canfield and exit the gambling business. Richard Canfield was a very smart businessman who was always striving to make his establishment the best in the world. He ran honest games and paid winners on the spot from his safe that held $1 million dollars daily. Patrons never felt cheated during a night of gambling at the Casino, and business flourished. In an attempt to make the building more elegant he added the dining room in 1904, that today serves as the ballroom in the Canfield Casino.

120 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

Women and children were never allowed in the gaming rooms, they were only allowed in the dining room. Serving some of the best food in the country, prepared by one of the top chefs made this room an instant success. Family members could feast on wonderful food while Dad was losing the family fortune in the gaming parlor or the High Stakes Room on the second floor. After consultations with the President of Harvard College, Canfield added the Italian Gardens in the rear of the property. The Harvard President had expressed the idea that offering a garden to allow people to stroll and contemplate while at the Casino would be a magnet for educated individuals to visit and maybe gamble.

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

The total cost to add the dining room and Italian Gardens was about $1 million dollars. The conversion to cost of today is about 15 to 20 times that figure. The Canfield Casino was permanently closed to gaming in 1911 and was purchased along with half of the present-day Congress Park by the City of Saratoga for a mere $150,000. Canfield’s vision and investment in the building live on today with one of the finest buildings in the city.

W.C. WHITNEY William C. Whitney helped to save the Saratoga Race Course. Thoroughbred racing has had a real impact on our great city since 1863 when the first few races were run. Like all operations, there are changes and an evolution to produce the product seen today. In the later part of the 1800s, ownership of the track shifted to Gottfried Waldbaum. Waldbaum proved to be a less than perfect owner for the racing venue. He changed the times of racing and reduced purse money. He began to fix races and generally allowed a lot of dishonest practices on the track. Race fans and owners began to see these changes and the number of people attending the races dropped dramatically. In 1899 as the track’s operation teetered on shutting down, W.C. Whitney led a movement to save the track. He bought the track, raised purses, added stakes races, had honest races, and changed the start time for the convenience of patrons. Whitney brought respectability to the track, and it flourished. In 1901-02 he re-configured the track and enlarged the grandstand with the guidance of NYC architect Charles Leavitt. Whitney added more property and built the Oklahoma training track. He raised the Saratoga Race Course to a solid level that would ensure its existence into the future. W.C. Whitney truly was a person who made a huge difference in Saratoga history.

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

EDGAR TRUMAN BRACKETT Edgar Truman Brackett was born in Saratoga in 1853. After his years of education, he returned to the city in 1872 and began to have an impact on the city. He was instrumental in establishing the Adirondack Trust Bank and the construction and operation of McGregor Golf Links in 1921. As a lawyer and longtime State Senator he was helpful in many ways to guide Saratoga as it developed. In my estimation Brackett was most important to the city as he led the efforts to limit the use and abuse of the mineral springs. In the early days mineral springs in the city were privately owned. In the latter half of the 1800s and into the 1900s, soda fountains became very popular in the country. Carbonated drinks were so popular that carbonic companies realized that any source of carbon dioxide gas was important and could produce huge profits. Since our mineral springs have natural carbonation, they were the target for overdevelopment. In 1904 the city had 203 mineral springs taking millions of gallons of water from the ground daily, separating the gas and dumping the water. These activities began to cause many of the long-time springs to stop flowing. It was through the efforts of Brackett, Spencer Trask and then Governor Charles Evan Hughes that legislation was passed to protect the springs. The Anti-Pumping Act was monumental for the protection of one of our most fundamental assets, mineral springs. The number of springs was reduced to 17 from 203 and ownership was transferred to State control. The regulation of the springs provided protection to ensure they would continue way into the future.

9 & 10

SPENCER AND KATRINA TRASK Most Saratogians know the Trask name as it is associated with the artist retreat called Yaddo. Both Katrina and Spencer impacted many things in Saratoga with Yaddo being just one of item.

In 1881 Katrina and Spencer moved to a summer house on the property of what today is known as Yaddo. They loved the property and enjoyed their time away from NYC. When the house burned in the winter of 1891 they were dedicated to re-building on the site. The current mansion that sits on the property today was completed in 1893. Spencer was a financier, and owner of many companies including the New York Times for a while. Spencer led crusades in the city to stop gambling and also the preservation of the mineral springs. After helping to ensure the passage of the Anti-Pumping Act to protect the mineral springs, Spencer was working to organize the Saratoga State Reservation (State Park). Unfortunately, as he was traveling by train to NYC on New Year’s Eve 1909, a train accident resulted in his death. In honor of his life and service to the city, Katrina hired famed sculpturer Daniel Chester French to produce the iconic Spirit of Life statue in Congress Park. The years after Spencer’s death were hard on Katrina with a lack of cash flow. She and Spencer had discussed the desire to change the Yaddo property into an artist retreat in the future. On February 6, 1921, Katrina married long-time family friend George Foster Peabody. Peabody’s wealth ensured that the plan to convert the property into an artist retreat would be completed. Katrina died less than a year after her marriage to Peabody. Since 1926 almost 6,000 artists have visited Yaddo. More than a hundred years later, Yaddo is a true asset to the city. Those people complete the list of our top ten people that impacted the great city of Saratoga Springs. The truth is that future endeavors to write a list will include many people living today. Our city is famous and successful because of the spirit of the community, and the list of people that are working hard to ensure that continues, is long in length. A city is really it’s people, and Saratoga Springs has so many great people, both today and in the past. SS

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 121

Rarely Seen Photos of

OLD SARATOGA Springs WRITTEN BY CHARLIE KUENZEL | PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE GEORGE S. BOLSTER COLLECTION

HIGH ROCK SPRING This is an image of the famed High Rock Spring after renovations to the site produced the famed “Eagle Cover” in 1876. All the mineral springs at this time were privately owned and those owners worked hard to make their spring covers be the best in the village.

122 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

GRANDSTAND C. 1865 The first year of operation for the Saratoga Race Course was 1863. In 1864 the track was moved to its present location and improvements were made in seating, viewing and track conditions. This was the first grandstand on the site.

AFTERNOON TEA AT THE GRAND UNION The grand hotels of old Saratoga always competed to provide their guests with the best in food, music and entertainment. This image is from 1905 showing the famed conductor, Victor Herbert and his orchestra providing music for afternoon tea at the Grand Union Hotel where he served as music director.

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 123

On SPOT. . This

465 BROADWAY

William J. Burke first opened his own undertaking and embalming business at 457 Broadway in 1893. The storefront, adequate for an undertaker of the day as most people were waked at home, is decorated for Christmas. Burke is seated. Employee Ray Dennin is to the left and John Haberline to the right. Photo courtesy of Mark Phillips, Wm. J Burke and Sons records.

WRITTEN BY CAROL GODETTE | PHOTOS COURTESY OF WM. J BURKE AND SONS RECORDS (UNLESS NOTED)

he three-story brick brownstone at 465 Broadway is straight out of a movie set depicting a Brooklyn exterior or a fancy residence on the Upper Eastside of NYC. The pointed arches over the tall windows and the ornate carved wooden double doors evoke a sense of elegance, warmth, and beauty. However, newer residents of Saratoga may not realize that it was the William J. Burke and Sons Funeral Home office for half of its 150-year-old existence. For forty of those years, it served as the funeral home itself.

124 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

The ornate doors of 465 Broadway are one of the buildings most eye catching features. Photo courtesy of the Saratoga Preservation Foundation

Photo courtesy of the Saratoga Preservation Foundation

Despite now being owned by the Adirondack Trust Company and used for their Mortgage Department, the bank still refers to 465 as the "Burke Building." This spot will always live in my mind as the funeral home's "behind the scenes" headquartersthe place my father, Richard Stone, a licensed funeral director at Burke and Sons, had his office, embalming room, and garage that housed the hearse. But what were the beginnings of THIS SPOT? According to Saratoga researcher Joan Walter, author of "The Land Men," three original "landmen" were granted rights to land in Saratoga in the Partition of 1772; Henry Walton owned the land on Broadway from Division Street to Rock Street, including the property 465 Broadway now stands on. The land changed saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

hands several times from 1820 before being purchased by Dr. Samuel Pearsall in 1871. In 1872 Pearsall built the current structure at 465 Broadway — a three-story Venetian Gothic-style brick building — he used it as a home and office. In his downstairs office, he practiced his specialty-homeopathic medicine. His patients included wellknown Judge Henry Hilton, owner of the 1000-acre Woodlawn estate off North Broadway. Pearsall also rented office space to Dr. Richard McCarty, founder of McCarty's Hospital, located in what is now Anne's Washington Inn. I believe Pearsall set the stage for a tradition of "caring" that was the foundation of what was to follow on this spot.

After Pearsall's sudden death in 1900, his family failed to make the mortgage payments. Maria Blackmer, the wife of printer George Blackmer, purchased the building in a public auction in 1905. She owned the property a few months before selling 465 to William J. Burke Sr. in February 1906, who turned this spot into a funeral home. Burke's career path as an "undertaker" reflected how the industry evolved. Like most undertakers, Burke began his career in 1877 as a woodworker. In the late 1800s, most people died at home and had their services in their homes. The undertaker's job was to craft a wooden casket. Burke developed his carpentry skills with a coffin manufacturer in NYC. Then, he returned to Saratoga and began an apprenticeship with local undertaker Ebenezer Holmes.

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 125

Several recent magazine articles state that President Ulysses S. Grant was prepared for burial at Burke’s. Although Mr. Burke witnessed the event, Grant was embalmed at the Mount McGregor home he died at. Ebenezer Holmes, owner of E. Holmes & Co. at 12 Church Street, was summoned by Grant's doctor to embalm Grant. However, Grant's family decided to hire well-known NYC embalmer Stephen Merritt, who arrived after Holmes had completed four hours of work on General Grant's body. July 23, 1885, was a warm, humid day, and Holmes brought his patented "casket cooler" to keep Grant's body from quickly decomposing before his embalming was completed. Burke had finished his internship with Holmes and ironically was employed as the house carpenter at Mount McGregor. Since Burke was still interested in the funeral industry, he assisted Mr. Holmes in preparing Grant's body for burial. Shortly after, Burke returned to the funeral business in partnership with Ebenezer Holmes’ son, Howard, under the name "Holmes & Burke." After a few years, Burke decided to open his own firm, William J. Burke, Undertaker and Embalmer, at 457 Broadway. The small storefront space was adequate since most people were embalmed and waked in their own homes. In addition, Burke was well-liked and very involved in twenty

different community organizations. These core civic values have been maintained by every subsequent employee of his namesake firm. Looking for a larger space in 1906, Burke purchased the handsome brownstone at 465 Broadway and relocated his business to the basement and part of the first floor. The Burke family lived on the second and third floors. After Burke Sr.'s death in 1930, his sons, William J. Burke Jr. and James M. Burke, carried on the family business of comforting families during their grief. It was also where William Jr. and his wife Theresa Burke lived. As a child, I spent a great deal of time there. "Tee" watched me in her quarters upstairs if I was sick and my mother was working and unable to take care of me. As a college student, I covered the downstairs office when the staff was at a funeral. Growing up, my friends' reactions to my father's profession ranged from looks of horror to expressions of intrigue. My father was drawn to the profession because he wanted to be a doctor but couldn't afford medical school. An 1885 newspaper describing the new U.S. custom of embalming the dead says, "An embalmer's profession is a good deal like a doctor's; he has got to understand his patient." My siblings and I always went to our dad with any pains or ailments. Thanks to his deep understanding of anatomy, he knew to bandage us up, diagnose us, or send us to a doctor.

126 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

1983 newspaper clipping

William J. Burke Jr. and local embalmer Lyman Smith in front of Burke’s office in 1967.

Rather than be embarrassed by my dad's line of work, I slowly developed pride for his often-misunderstood occupation. I silently witnessed the care, compassion, respect, and dignity my father and the entire staff at Burkes provided when people were vulnerable and broken after losing a loved one. There were two times my father struggled to keep his composure. Both involved deaths of young adults he had led in his Bethesda Episcopal Church Youth Group. Nineteen-yearold Denton "Mogie" Crocker, a soldier in the U.S. Army, died in Vietnam in June 1966. Ken Burns interviewed his mother, Jean Marie, for his 10part PBS documentary series, "The Vietnam War." In episode 4, Jean Marie Crocker describes "an Army captain escorting Mogie's body to Dick Stone's funeral home." The family priest had suggested that Mogie be buried in Saratoga Springs. Instead, the Crockers chose Arlington National Cemetery. "A corner of my heart knew," his mother remembered, "that if he were buried near us, I would want to claw the ground to retrieve the warmth of him." The trip to Arlington Cemetery was moving and profound for my father. My father also struggled to make sense of the Christmas Eve 1964 death of 22-year-old Penny Burnett Sullivan. She was killed from injuries in a car crash on her way to celebrate Christmas with her family in Saratoga.

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Hollywood visited the embalming room at 465. In 1980 Universal Studios shot a scene for the movie Ghost Story in the embalming room at 465 Broadway. The film starred Fred Astaire, Melvin Douglas, John Houseman and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and was filmed in various locations around Saratoga Springs. Unfortunately, this scene ended upon the cutting room floor.

Penny died, but her one-year-old son and husband survived. Tears streamed down my father's face as he escorted her casket down the aisle of Bethesda Episcopal Church. Neither William nor James had children to follow in their footsteps. Most funeral directors grow up in the family business. In 1947, my father joined the firm as an apprentice. Although my father was their employee for 23 years, he was treated as "the son they never had." After William Burke's 1972 death, James invited my father to become a full partner in the firm. My father didn't have any sons but met Mark Phillips, a fourth-generation Saratogian when Mark was a teenager cutting grass at St. Peter's Cemetery. My dad was impressed with 15-year-old Mark and invited him to start shadowing him in his free time at the funeral home. Mark began learning the trade at 465 before receiving a degree in Mortuary Sciences at Hudson Valley Community College and becoming a valued employee. It is the only full-time job Mark has ever held, even now, fiftythree years later. One challenge in pre-cell phone and pager days was having someone answer the office phone 24 hours a day. No one wants to lose their child or parent in the night and get a busy signal or no answer when you call for help. Thus Burke's "584-5373" office saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

line at 465 Broadway had an extension installed in our home. It was akin to the Soviet "red phone" - always manned and treated with the utmost care. When my father was at a funeral, my college job was to phone-sit in 465's basement office, originally used as a reception room in the rare instances the deceased was not viewed at his home. I sat at the antique roll-top desk, prepared to receive sad news upon every telephone ring. To break the monotony, I'd stroll out to the receiving room lined with wooden bookshelves filled with yellow spined National Geographics and "trade magazines," giving the room a library-like appearance. I'd browse the casket showroom, surveying the origins of "undertaking" business in the displays of wooden cherry, oak, and mahogany caskets. I hoped the casket companies wouldn't phone with a delivery. That meant cutting through the embalming room to open the garage on Long Alley. I tried to avoid the antiseptic embalming room. But not everyone felt the same. Universal Studios rented 465's embalming room to film a death scene in the 1980 filming of the movie "Ghost Story." Melvyn Douglas was laid out on the embalming table as a character playing a sheriff looked on. My father was disappointed to have the scene land on the cutting room floor.

This embalming room no longer exists. In June 1983, the funeral home consolidated its operations to a single location at 628 North Broadway. The Adirondack Trust, who then owned the property, tore down the garage and embalming room. The area is now a parking lot and back entrance to the Mortgage Department. For a few years, the space on the first floor of 465 was rented out as an art gallery and as offices for lawyer Sam Aldrich. The ATC then took over the space to house their Trust Department. Today this spot continues to be a place of caring in a different sense. The Adirondack Trust cares for the interest of several home and business owners with much-needed mortgages from this spot. Burke's legacy lived on at the funeral home's 628 North Broadway location under Mark Phillips and Thomas Armer's ownership. Last month longtime local and trusted professional Burke associates Daniel DeCelle and his son Nick DeCelle took over ownership of the 628 property. Their story will be detailed in a future "On This Spot," documenting the rich history of this 1887 Queen Anne Victorian. AUTHOR'S NOTE: Many thanks to Mark Phillips for his extensive historical records, Mitch Cohen for research aid, and Saratoga Preservation Foundation for their files. SS

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 127

Summer 1888. The facade of the building at 398 Broadway reads: "D.G. Yuengling, Jr. Champagne Ale, Porter, Lager Beer." Photo courtesy of the George S. Bolster Collection

The Summer Garden

aratoga Springs, with its unique location, flowing waters, and the summer horse racing spectacle, attracted many who created homes and gardens to be admired. One unique public house offered a beer garden, on the east side of Broadway, directly opposite the intersection of Division Street. This site was also directly across the Broadway thoroughfare from the legendary United States Hotel and Worden House, and known as the Hotel Todd. This establishment would be easily spotted by those seeking the spirit of Gambrinus to slake their thirst, after arriving in the Spa City at the nearby D&H train station. The 398 Broadway location had previously been operated as the

WRITTEN BY BILL ORZELL

Hotel Voullieme until the famous brewer David G. Yuengling, Jr. gained possession. He formed a consortium in 1887 with the Honorable Hiram Todd, a former Saratoga Springs attorney, and his son V.L. Todd to operate a public house which included both a cigar store and a liquor outlet. The opening was announced in the Saratogian, which wrote, “V.L. Todd, the new occupant of the Yuengling building, on Broadway, will serve clam chowder at his cigar and refreshment headquarters this evening.” Many later historians conjectured this operation, as well as Caleb Mitchell’s establishment next door, also conducted back-room games of chance. Illicit, yet much sought after entertainment of the time. The main attraction at the Hotel Todd was the summer garden where noted singers provided entertainment in

128 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

the fashion of a nightclub to the dining patrons. The New York Times wrote in 1888, “the only drinking place in town with a summer garden attachment. . .the Hotel Todd is principally patronized by race-horse people, men of sporting proclivities, and politicians. They are all men of means, and it is not a place for 'cheap' people. There are 16 rooms in the hotel. The Summer Garden is very prettily arranged, having a huge fountain in its centre. The walls and ceiling are decorated in Japanese fashion. In this garden ladies and gentlemen may drink beer on draught or any of the fancy Summer drinks, and have a cold lunch at any time of the day or night. There are hundreds of places where all this may be obtained in New York, but this is the only place in Saratoga of the kind.” The garden delivered a delight for many of the senses. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Saratogian, January 19, 1888

D.G. Yuengling Jr.’s father, who spelled his name Jüngling in the old country, had numerous older siblings, necessitating relocation to strike out on his own. He brought his old world brewing skills from Germany to America in 1828 and established several breweries, the largest being in New York City, at the intersection of Amsterdam Avenue and 128th Street. This Manhattan location, very near the piers of the Hudson, or North River, brewed the lager beer, ale and porter and was supplied from an artesian well on site. Prior to electrification, Gotham received much of its ice for refrigeration from upstate lakes and ponds, shipped by canal boats. It is likely the barrels of Yuengling Beer were ‘back-hauled’ to the Schuylerville docks on the Champlain Canal, and onto Saratoga Springs for bottling and distribution. Upstate New York saw many of David G. Yuengling, Jr.’s enterprises, as he built a recreation home and development on Brant Lake in northern Warren County, was involved in horse sports, and also operated the Hotel Germania on Mitchell Ave, present day site of the parking lot for the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Those who knew Yuengling well found him good natured and humorous, fondly calling him Rex, and were his guests at lavish entertainments he staged in Saratoga, where his libations flowed liberally. His wife and daughter were frequently reported by the local daily where their fashion of dress was admired. His son Fred, however, had been more than a bit of a troublemaker on three continents, and cause for financial woes. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Saratogian, August 11, 1887

D.G. Yuengling Jr. sought financial relief from a fellow brewer, who also happened to be an uncle, John F. Betz. When Yuengling’s obligations could not be met his uncle foreclosed, and this also lead to the change in possession of his upstate properties. The beer distributor operating at the Hotel Todd switched to Beverwyck Ale brewed in Albany, and the management of the facility and the popular Summer Garden transferred to the Kirkpatrick Family. By 1900 the operation at 398 Broadway had become known as Hotel Beverwyck. Many years later, in 1957, this location was one of eight businesses destroyed by fire in Saratoga Springs early on a Sunday morning. Unfortunately, Saratoga Police officer Fred E. Pettit, who was attempting to rouse residents of the upper stories, was killed when a section of brick wall collapsed. Ruined in the fire were E.D. Starbuck, F.W. Woolworth, Saratoga Men’s Shop, Saratoga Appliance, Mac Finn Drugs, Palace Recreation, Endicott-Johnson Shoes and Liggett Drugs. Water damaged other shops and several law firms were also marred. Historic artifacts remaining from this period are presently sought after by bottle collectors. The embossed glass

identifies the Yuengling product as being bottled in Saratoga Springs, and the transparent vessel is heavy with a strong neck. The champagne ale bottles required even more strength, as the beverage was finished in the same methods as Champagne, yielding a highly carbonated brew. Interestingly, the former Yuengling brewery’s Manhattan location was closed following the Prohibition of alcohol sales by the eighteenth amendment in 1919, and its refrigeration rooms were converted into a storage house for fur coats and wraps. This structure has only recently been repurposed again, as a mixed use office and residential complex known as the Mink Building. The spirit of the unique Summer Garden at Hotel Todd lives on in so many of the present day establishments of Saratoga Springs, which perform at an excellent level of entertainment, fare and drink, many also providing accommodations of the best kind. Several of these public houses offer gardens, or adjoining outdoor patios to enhance the enjoyment of their products. It is a pleasure to find and sample these offerings of the Spa City, some of which still serve that liquid link to the past, Yuengling Beer. SS

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 129

Freshen Your Air with Indoor Plants WRITTEN BY REBECCA DEVANEY, CCE SARATOGA AND WARREN COUNTIES

Although winter is officially behind us, and we have begun waking up our gardens for spring, it does not mean the indoor growing fun must come to an end. It just means we get to enjoy both! The container growing possibilities are endless between aromatic herbs, citrus trees, vegetables, annuals, and perennials. This list will give you some ideas for indoor plants that are notoriously low-maintenance and effective for filling our homes with clean and fresh air. The five plants below have been proven to act as natural air filters by removing organic air pollutants such as benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene. Remember to always give your plants a good start by using sanitized and well-draining containers and providing sufficient sunlight and water. Happy spring growing!

1. ENGLISH IVY (Hedera helix)

2. POTHOS (Epipremnum aureum)

3. PEACE LILY (Spathiphyllum)

4. SNAKE PLANT (Sansevieria)

5. PHILODENDRON (Philodendron)

English ivy plants are known for being superb climbers, clinging to surfaces by means of small roots growing along the stems.

Pothos are known for their trailing vines with pointed, heartshaped leaves. The leaves are sometimes variegated with white, yellow, or pale green striations. Be aware this plant is toxic to pets if ingested.

Peace lilies are sometimes referred to as “closet plants”, making them an ideal choice for low-lit offices and bedrooms.

Snake plants are one of the few plants capable of converting carbon dioxide into oxygen overnight, making this resilient plant a great bedroom accent for healthy airflow.

The genus name, Philodendron, comes from the Greek words phileo meaning "to love" and dendron meaning "tree" for the affinity of the 450 different tropical species to climb trees.

Preferences: Full sun to part shade and moderate watering

Preferences: Full sun to part shade and moderate watering SS

Preferences: Part shade to full shade and moderate watering

Preferences: Full sun to part shade and moderate watering

130 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOME & GARDEN 2022

Preferences: Part shade to full shade and moderate watering

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

HOME & GARDEN 2022 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 131

Simply Saratoga Home & Garden 2022

Articles inside

Houseplants

Bill Orzell

Charlie Kuenzel

Carol Godette

Summer Camps

Jazz Fest

Understanding Home Management

Meet the Beekeepers

Life on Kaydeross Creek

Jordana Turcotte + Simply You

In the Kitchen with John Reardon

The Soroptimists’ Secret Garden Tour

The Gen Z Home Buyer

The LED Lighting Primer

Save the Date

John Greenwood

Meet… Influencer Bethany Bowyer Khan

Restaurant Feature: Circa 21 at

Old Tavern Farm’s Agricultural Village

Meet… Woodworker Bill Coffey

Meet… Stained Glass Artist Carolyn Wilcox