Saratoga Living's 2024 Design Issue

THE CITY. THE CULTURE. THE LIFE.

TEAKWOOD BUILDERS

THE 2024 DES IGN ISSUE

OWNER JIM SASKO’S JOURNEY FROM A COHOES HARDWARE STORE TO THE NATIONAL STAGE.

By Jeff Dingler

STEVE OVITT, TRAILBLAZER

By Natalie Moore

SEW GOOD: BEEKMAN STREET’S NEWEST BOUTIQUE

By Abby Tegnelia

JEWELER DENNIS DEJONGHE DAZZLES ON BROADWAY

By Natalli D’Amato

NEW HOBBY UNLOCKED: WOODWORKING AT SARATOGA JOINERY

Photography by Francesco D’Amico

Ready to remodel? Maximize functionality and elevate the aesthetics of your space. The expert designers at GNH will bring your vision to life. Stop in or call for a free consultation.

898 Loudon Road, Latham, NY

518-313-1229

BY JEFF DINGLER

by SCOTT BERGMANN

BY ABBY TEGNELIA

by KONRAD ODHIAMBO

BY NATALIE MOORE

starting gate

54 saratoga living’ s Single in Saratoga: Speed Dating Edition plus 3 more Saratoga events

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58

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60

60

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ON THE COVER An award-winning renovation project completed by Saratoga’s Teakwood Builders and photographed by Scott Bergmann.

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8 Butler Place Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 518.294.4390

Volume 26, No. 2

Spring 2024

Copyright © 2024

Empire Media Network, Inc.

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission from Empire Media Network, Inc.

All editorial queries should be directed to editorial@saratogaliving.com; or sent to 8 Butler Place, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.

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Abby Tegnelia CEO

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kathleen Gates

DIRECTOR OF CONTENT Natalie Moore

SENIOR DESIGNER Linda Gates

SPORTS EDITOR Brien Bouyea

SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER Dori Fitzpatrick

EDITOR AT LARGE Susan Gates

WRITERS

Vanessa Geneva Ahern, Natalli Amato, Lisa Arcella

Karen Bjornland, Claire Burnett, Chris Carola, Tony Case

Dan De Federicis, Jeff Dingler, Elissa Garay

Benjamin Lerner, Daniel Nester, Tom Pedulla, Kathleen Willcox

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Morgan Campbell, Francesco D’Amico, Samantha Decker, Elizabeth Haynes

Hannah Kuznia, Shawn LaChapelle, Rachel Lanzi, Konrad Odhiambo

Alyssa Salerno, Nate Seitelman, Zach Skowronek, Alex Zhang

Annette Quarrier

DIRECTOR OF SALES

CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER Tina Galante

PUBLISHER, CAPITAL REGION LIVING Teresa Frazer

SALES DIRECTOR, CAPITAL REGION LIVING Tara Buffa

ART DIRECTOR, MARKETING Steve Teabout

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Terese Russell

SALES ASSISTANT Tracy Momrow

SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER Rachael Rieck

Anthony R. Ianniello CHAIR

Abby Tegnelia PRESIDENT/CEO

Tina Galante CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER

Shop this look and others you’ll love at

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floralshorts

438 Broadway | Saratoga Springs

FROM THE CEO

Spring Fling

How about that mild winter we just had? (Chowderfest alone broke records—56 degrees!) For most of us, this meant less time nestled in at home during inclement weather. But don’t think that that means people aren’t still pumped to leave their winter clothes behind and embrace spring— early bird tickets to our 3rd annual Overdress to Impress fashion show and party (April 10 at Panza’s) sold out in just two hours. At press time, there were still a few general admission tickets left (p. 72). Join us! It’s the perfect excuse to shed your sweatpants and get fabulously dressed up. The excitement in the air during this special “bring on spring” event is something you have to feel for yourself to believe.

Overdress to Impress started as a cover party for our spring Design issue in 2022, making it the perfect segue into the terrific issue we have for you here. On the cover: Teakwood Builders (p. 30), whose exquisite designs have recently earned them a collection of accolades. Rounding out our Design features: a preview of The Beekman Atelier, a brand-new boutique/design studio hybrid (p. 34); a look into the design of a trail system that just opened to the public in Wilton (p. 38); a portrait of a talented photographer who’s adding color to vintage Saratoga photos to show off historical city design and the fashions of its visitors (p. 42); and the nonprofit Saratoga Joinery that is freshly open on Caroline Street to make woodworking available to all (p. 46). Don’t miss the front of the magazine either—we take a Chic Peek at Golden Garden Parties (p. 17), which is opening a micro-venue to host parties with its signature luxe picnic aesthetic; and trace back the artsy and humble beginnings of Broadway’s great deJonghe Original Jewelry (p. 24).

As always, thank you for your support and for reading saratoga living

ABBY TEGNELIA CEO @abbytegnelia info@saratogaliving.com

winter warriors (clockwise, from top) saratoga living’s Abby Tegnelia and Terese Russell at Single in Saratoga: Speed Dating Edition; sl’s Natalie Moore (second from right) with friends Molly McCormack, Maddy Halverson and Erica Ziskin at Saratoga Chowderfest; 2023 Overdress to Impress attendee Jenna Hotaling stuns in a Mugler bodysuit; Tegnelia and Bocage owner Clark Gale at the Champagne bar’s Galentine’s Day brunch, held on the afternoon of Chowderfest.

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first turn

Pure Gold

BY TERESE RUSSELL

RACHEL LANZI

If a meticulously-curated tablescape is the Insta-ready vibe you’re dreaming of for your next dinner party, but you don’t have the place in which to host it—Golden Garden Parties’ new microevent space might be just

what you’re looking for. After making a name for itself around the Capital Region (last fall, the company laid out the stunning outdoor décor for the VIP tent at the Saratoga Motorcar Auction and decorated a private party with Complexions Spa

and former Real Housewife of New York Heather Thomson), Golden Garden Parties owner Laiken Herrlett decided to open a cozy, beautiful party venue in her hometown of Gloversville.

Golden Garden Parties was born in May 2021 as a way to bring a luxurious picnic aesthetic to any event, from large public affairs to private birthday parties and showers—think ornate carriages with grass walls as backdrops, floor pillows, candles and, of course, its famous garden party-chic table settings.

Over time, Herrlett noticed that some of her customers struggled to find the right venue in which to throw their dream party. She enlisted her cousin Ashlee McDonald, and together they found their Gloversville locale and worked to bring her vision to life. “We aim to create polished, beautiful memories for clients,” Herrlett says. “We’re so happy to be a part of Gloversville’s downtown revitalization, because its beautiful, historic architecture perfectly complements our style.”

The space is already booking photo shoots and event consultations, with the full roll-out planned for April. The venue accommodates private and public microevents for 30-40 guests, including small weddings— anything, Herrlet says, that deserves “nothing less than the golden standard.”

CHIC PEEK

GOLDEN GARDEN PARTIES ’ NEW MICRO-EVENT SPACE BRINGS A LUXE GARDEN PARTY VIBE TO YOUR NEXT BIRTHDAY PARTY OR SHOWER.

photography by

/ THE CONTENT AGENCY

table escape This April, Golden Garden Parties’ Laiken Herrlett will unveil a new event space for customers who want to utilize her company’s signature garden party décor and china but don’t have a space in which to do so.

When completed, Forest Grove will include a combination of over 300 single-family and twin homes, all in a beautiful wooded setting. Designed to make exploring the neighborhood easy, Forest Grove features sidewalks, street lamps,

miles of walking trails. Plus, residents will have access to a breadth of amenities.

•

IMVP Michael Gallagher Geeks Out

THE TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION DEPARTMENT CHAIR AT SARATOGA SPRINGS SCHOOLS EMPHASIZES DIVERSITY AND AN EQUAL MIX OF ENGINEERING AND TRADE SKILLS.

BY JEFF DINGLER photography by FRANCESCO D’AMICO

f you think current students at Saratoga Springs City School District are restricted to woodworking and crafts in shop class, we have the guy most qualified to tell you that elective paths (home economics? Not a thing anymore) look a lot different these days. Michael Gallagher, department chair of technology education for the district, has been teaching technology education here for 23 years. “My father was an engineer at GE and was part of some groundbreaking inventions,”

says Gallagher, who earned his master’s from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). “Stories of his work sparked my passion for technology, leading me to education as a technology teacher.”

These days, technology education is generally split into two major strains: One path is more engineeringbased (with Saratoga schools offering several classes for college credit from RIT), and the other involves hands-on trade skills such as carpentry and woodworking (what most

folks think of when they hear “shop class”). “In one classroom we have a bunch of 3D printers, a laser cutter and desktop computers,” Gallagher says. “And the other lab is all woodworking equipment, a table saw and band saw, so the kids can build wooden stuff in there.”

What makes Saratoga’s technology education stand out is that Gallagher has chosen to emphasize both paths equally. “A lot of school districts have focused on either engineering or the trade skills, and I think it’s a real injustice to cut one

to add or fund another,” he says. “We’re the only school in the area that I know of that never cut either.”

Gallagher has also made a big push for diversity and inclusion. Last year, he started a series of guest speakers who talk to students via Zoom. “Former students talk to our kids about what it’s like in the real world,” he says. “We’ve had this tech education program for so long that we try to get women and students from diverse backgrounds.” One such alum that Gallagher recently invited to talk was Tristan de Jesús, a scientist at GentiBio doing cuttingedge work in genome engineering.

Gallagher’s balanced and inclusive approach is connecting with students. He’s eager to show off YouTube videos of his former students doing amazing work, such as Ryan Watkins, a Research Engineer at NASA who’s using 3D printing for the next Mars Rover mission, and Elliott Poppel, who was a global advisor at Meta (Facebook) for five years before creating his own software startup called General Collaboration.

“I’ve had some kids that have gone on and just done crazy stuff,” Gallagher says with a proud smile. “I can’t wait to see what they’ll do next.”

father figure Michael Gallagher was inspired to teach technology by his father, who worked at GE and Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory.

THE BASECAMP FOR ALL YOUR ADVENTURES

Wine of the Times

BEFORE IT MOVED INTO ITS PROMINENT SPOT ON BROADWAY, PUTNAM MARKET’S WINE ROOM

RESIDED WITHIN A CAGE IN AN OLD BEER WAREHOUSE. n BY NATALIE MOORE

Ever wondered why Putnam Market and its adjoining wine room are located on Broadway, not Putnam Street? Longtime Saratogians know the (sort of obvious) answer: The businesses got their start on Putnam Street.

In 1995, Putnam Market—then a full-size gourmet grocery store complete with a locally grown produce section, fish counter, butcher and florist—opened in a converted warehouse at the site of what’s now all-you-can-eat sushi hotspot Wasabi. When Putnam Market’s co-owner, Cathy Hamilton, married wine expert William Roach, an Englishman she’d met at the London Business School in the 1980s, it only made sense to add in a wine room.

“We fitted the Wine Room into the warehouse’s truck loading dock, and built a cage around it to comply with regulations of the New York State Liquor Authority, which require shoppers to pass through a shared lobby between stores selling groceries and stores selling

alcohol,” says Roach of the small shop seen here in 1998. Working the shop in signature white Putnam Market T-shirts are Roach (standing) and the seated Ashley Edwards, then the executive director of the Children’s Museum at Saratoga. “Ashley was cycling past one day and decided he needed some weekend work,” Roach says. “And I needed some help.”

Shortly after the Wine Room opened, the owner of the building decided to add a floor of offices above the market. “With an unwelcome disruption and being tempted by Broadway, we moved the business to the Roohan Building,” Roach says. “The deli, Cheese Room, bakery and all the groceries made the move. The Wine Room moved, too.”

miss step “None of us can remember there being a step into the Wine Room,” says owner William Roach of the sign on the former shop’s wall. “At the same time, it’s hard to imagine that sign being there and the step not.”

And, as they say, the rest is history. I asked Roach if he remembers any noteworthy stories from the early days of the Wine Room. “This is the wine business, and frankly, it’s a wonder I remember anything,” he says. “It was, and still is, the most tremendous fun.”

first turn

Tanya Takes Her Place in History

IN THE FIRST BELMONT STAKES AT BELMONT PARK, A FILLY ACHIEVED THE RAREST OF FEATS. n

BY BRIEN BOUYEA

Before Belmont Park opened in 1905, the Belmont Stakes had already been contested 38 times at two venues and counted six Hall of Famers among its distinguished winners. Talk about a rich history.

Jerome Park, located in Westchester County, played host to the first 23 editions of the race from 1867 through 1889. The Belmont was then relocated to nearby Morris Park from 1890 through 1904. Since its opening, Belmont Park, on Long Island, has been home to the prestigious race with the only exceptions being 1963 through 1967, when it was moved to Aqueduct while Belmont was being renovated.

More than a half-century later, Belmont Park (named after August Belmont II, founder of both the Belmont Stakes and the park) is once again undergoing a significant revitalization project, necessitating the Belmont Stakes find a new home for at least 2024 and 2025.

Hello, Saratoga!

While the Spa City and the legendary Saratoga Race Course prepare to step in to add a couple of new chapters to Belmont Stakes lore, the race’s iconic history will always be defined by its downstate roots.

One of the Belmont’s most notable editions was the first one held at Belmont Park in 1905. A chestnut filly named Tanya—with famous connections and significant Saratoga achievements to her credit—stole the show. A chestnut daughter of English sire Meddler out of the Hanover mare Hardspun, Tanya was bred in New Jersey by William Collins Whitney. Before Tanya made it to the track, Whitney died in early 1904. Tanya, along with numerous other horses from the powerful Whitney stable, raced that year under a lease agreement for Herman B. Duryea. Tanya was later purchased outright for $7,000 by Whitney’s son, Harry Payne Whitney.

girl power The filly Ruthless won the first-ever running of the Belmont Stakes, and the filly Tanya, seen here, won the first edition of the race to be contested at Belmont Park. Will a filly take the crown the first time the Belmont is run at Saratoga later this year? Only time will tell.

Trained by future Hall of Famer John W. Rogers, Tanya was a precocious juvenile, winning both the Hopeful and Spinaway stakes at Saratoga in the summer of 1904. After her victory in the Hopeful, The New York Times said Tanya’s performance was “the most remarkable run by a filly in the memory of turfmen” and her reputation “ranks with the best of her age and sex that the American turf has ever produced.”

As a sophomore, Tanya had raced only once, finishing off the board, prior to being entered in the Belmont. Although some were doubting her ability to replicate her 2-year-old success, Tanya found her best form and delivered on the big stage.

Contested at 1¼ miles, the 1905 Belmont “was one worthy of the stakes,” said The New York Times “On the stretch (Eugene) Hildebrand, who rode Tanya, eased her up for a few strides, seemingly confident she had the race won, but the field … closed so fast at the end that Hildebrand was compelled to urge the filly out. Tanya, tiring at the end, lasting in the lead just long enough to win by a neck from Blandy.”

The only filly prior to Tanya to win the Belmont was Hall of Famer Ruthless in the inaugural 1867 edition. After Tanya, 102 years passed before another filly, champion Rags to Riches, achieved the rare glory of a Belmont victory.

Injuries plagued the remainder of Tanya’s career. She was retired after two starts in 1907 with a career record of 6-2-1 from 12 starts and earnings of $71,372. She is retrospectively recognized as the Co-Champion 2-YearOld Filly of 1904 and Co-Champion Filly of 1905, sharing both honors with Hall of Fame member Artful.

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POWER PLAYER

Take Me to deJonghe

FROM CRAFT FAIR BEGINNINGS TO DAZZLING BROADWAY STOREFRONT SUCCESS, JEWELER DENNIS DEJONGHE ’S RISE TO LOCAL FAME IS A GEM OF A STORY.

BY NATALLI D’AMATO

photography by

ERIC JENKS

Dennis deJonghe still remembers when he and his wife, Peggy, first came to Saratoga Springs: They were on the craft fair circuit, traveling in an old panel van to places such as Buffalo and Connecticut— anywhere that was hosting a juried show where Dennis could share his jewelry. This pursuit is what led the couple to the Washington County Fairgrounds for the Green Mountain Craft Fair. “We didn’t make any money at that show,” says deJonghe. What they did make, however, was a connection to the area that would be their home for the decades to come.

“We moved to Saratoga to look for a place for a shop,” deJonghe says. “And it was really a gut instinct. I’d like to say I did all this research.” He laughs and praises the luck of the draw—that they had been able to find an affordable place to rent on Caroline Street. It was 1982.

Flash forward 42 years, and deJonghe Original Jewelry has grown with the Saratoga community. To step into the storefront at 470 Broadway (to which deJonghe moved in 1988) is to enter a space where loyal customers come to celebrate life’s

milestones, out-of-towners experience the artistic spirit of Saratoga, and jewelry is done…differently.

“You might find a jewelry bench in a jewelry shop,” deJonghe says, “but not where they’re making everything in the store.” At deJonghe Original Jewelry, everything is made in the shop—and it’s always been that way.

deJonghe credits his unique approach with the fact that he never set out to be a jeweler: His original plan was to become an art teacher. “When I graduated, I couldn’t find a teaching job,” he says. He’d

studied jewelry-making as part of his curriculum, and at the behest of a beloved professor, started selling his work. “It was really all new to us,” he says of the jewelry industry. “I was sort of winging it.”

Having no blueprint from which to operate gave deJonghe more room for creativity. Each piece, and each day at the shop, was an experiment—one that included raising his family.

“They all grew up in the shop,” he says of his three children, Evan, Sarah and Becca. “That’s where all their diapers were changed.”

jewel pod When you're shopping at deJonghe Original Jewelry, you may hear hammering coming from the back of the store. That's the sound of the jewelry the shop carries literally being made by one of the deJonghes or the multiple craftspeople who aid in creating the shop’s original designs.

As adults, each of his children embarked on their own career paths, but one by one, they all found their way back to the shop.

“We never imagined having a family business that will continue on,” says deJonghe. “We’re very fortunate.”

Granite & Marble Works, Inc

8 Commerce Park Drive, Wilton | 518.584.2800 | graniteandmarbleworks.com

This spring, transform your kitchen or bathroom with new countertops from Granite & Marble Works. The 45,000-square-foot showroom in Wilton has the area’s largest selection of quartz and natural stone countertops, boasting more than 2,500 slabs in more than 250 colors of granite, marble, onyx, soapstone and more. Founded in 2003, Granite & Marble Works is a family-owned business that prides itself on skilled craftsmanship, first-quality materials and superior customer service. Schedule a showroom tour today to see your vision for your home come to life.

Mahoney Alarms

15 Cooper Street, Glens Falls 518.793.7788 | mahoneyalarms.com

A local leader in CCTV, security, fire, access control and environmental alarms, Glens Falls’ family-owned Mahoney Alarms is celebrating 68 years of serving upstate New York’s businesses, museums, theaters and homes. Whether you’re looking for an all-new alarm system or a takeover of an existing system, Mahoney has you covered. Mahoney monitors all of its alarm systems at its in-house central monitoring station, so your family can feel at ease, both day and night. Plus, homeowners can now operate their alarm system directly from their smartphone using the virtual keypad app. Call today for a free quote and consultation.

Balet Flowers

5041 Nelson Avenue Extension, Malta 518.584.8555 | baletflowers.com

Don’t wait around for April showers to bring May flowers! Come experience, shop and enjoy the Flower & Arts Barn at Balet Flowers, as well as their greenhouses and gardens. Located just three miles from Saratoga Race Course in Malta, Balet offers a wide range of annuals, perennials, vegetable and herb plants as well as unique products from local artisans that make great gifts. Balet’s warm and welcoming staff is ready to provide you with the best personalized service.

Introducing Saratoga Design Collective: A Coworking Space for Interior Designers

When historic Franklin Square coworking space The Worker’s Club was purchased by the owners of Interior Designs Atelier, it only made sense for them to open their resource library and make coworking spaces for other local designers.

What happens when you mix a respected interior design firm and the chicest coworking space in Saratoga? Here’s what:

Since opening three years ago, luxury Saratoga design firm Interior Designs Atelier (IDA) has been growing—so much so that earlier this year, the small-but-mighty team needed more space. After purchasing The Workers Club at 3 Franklin Square, IDA owner Linda Gerace-Skinner and her husband, Andrew Skinner, sought to expand the coworking space, and the idea to share it with the local design community came naturally.

Enter: Saratoga Design Collective, a coworking opportunity created by and for interior designers and design-related industry partners. “The Collective,” Gerace-Skinner says, “is a collaborative (not competitive) space where like-minded professionals in Saratoga and the greater Capital Region can exchange ideas and share resources.” While non-designers are the core of The Worker’s Club’s clientele, Saratoga Design Collective gives those in the design field even more than the traditional coworking perks of free wi-fi, printing services and access to conference rooms.

one of the area’s most extensive resource libraries, complete with samples of fabric, wallpaper, furniture, tile, stone, carpet, rugs and trim. Gerace-Skinner explains: “It’s for the designer who doesn’t have time to travel to New York City whenever they need access to the resources of a design center.”

Beyond the library of samples, the Saratoga Design Collective offers à la carte services including both private offices and open seating within cozy lounge areas, a full kitchen, a large conference room, and access to established trade accounts with more than 450 vendors. Basically, it’s a desk that doesn’t double as a dining room table like at home, plus everything successful “solopreneurs” or up-andcoming designers need to run their business successfully. “We’re also open to partnering with leading luxury brands to elevate the studio to become a showroom for their product lines,” says Skinner, who currently manages the space.

What types of perks, you ask? Think to-the-trade lunch-andlearns, ASID continuing education seminars, procurement and receiving services, white-glove delivery services, and access to

“We simply designed a beautiful interior design studio that inspires, motivates and encourages us as design professionals,” continues Gerace-Skinner. “Then we just added a few more desks.” ■ theworkersclub.com | saratogadesigncollective.com 518.223.9786 | @saratogadesigncollective  hello@saratogadesigncollective.com

(clockwise, from left) The opulent conference room inside the Saratoga Design collective; the coworking space is inside this historic Franklin Square building; members can also relax in the beautifully-designed common areas; (inset) owners Linda Gerace-Skinner and Andrew Skinner.

(exterior) SHANNON ROSE DESIGN

Compliments to the Chef

33 Railroad Place, Suite 104, Saratoga Springs 518.226.4477 | saratogachef.com

Whether you’re a serious chef in search of your next favorite knife or a casual cook on the hunt for a kitchen gadget that will make weeknight dinners even easier, look no further than Compliments to the Chef, a small-butmighty kitchenware store that’s been serving Saratoga Springs since 2002. Stop by the Railroad Place shop to pick up everyday culinary tools, have your knives sharpened, or browse the store’s impressive selection of cooking and baking innovations. Remember: Life happens in the kitchen.

Home Stretch Designs by Erin

518.860.6926 | homestretchdesigns.com

Do you wish your home had more character? Do you know what you don’t like, but aren’t sure what you want or how to pair items when it comes to home design? Home Stretch Designs by Erin can help. Specializing in layering modernday conveniences with a nod to vintage charm, Home Stretch Designs brings out the unique reflection of every homeowner. Owner Erin manages all phases of the design/ redesign process, from ideation, planning, sourcing materials and putting the final touches on a space. Let Home Stretch Designs transform your house into your dream home.

Southern Adirondack ReStore

1373 US Route 9, Moreau | 518.793.7484 | glensfallshabitat.org/restore

Rather than shopping at a big box store the next time you need a piece of furniture or décor for your home, make the short drive up to Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore, located off Exit 17N of the Northway. ReStore receives donations of new to slightly used sofas, cabinets, appliances and other home goods daily, resulting in a wide selection to fit every style and budget. When you shop ReStore, not only will you be getting the best price around, but you’ll also be giving back to the community, as all the shop’s proceeds go to building affordable homes in the area.

HOME IMPROVEMENT 411

Allerdice Ace Hardware and Building Supply

41 Walworth Street, Saratoga Springs allerdice.com

@allerdiceacehardware

 518.584.5533

Best Tile Saratoga

4295 Route 50, Saratoga Springs besttile.com

@besttile

 besttilesaratoga@besttile.com

 518.584.5941

California Closets

952 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham californiaclosets.com/albany

@californiaclosetsupstateny

 518.785.5723

GNH Design Showroom

898 New Loudon Road, Latham GNHshowroom.com

@GNHLumber

 info@gnhlumber.com

 518.313.1229

GARDEN

Balet Flowers & Design

5041 Nelson Avenue Extension, Malta baletflowers.com

@baletflowers

 518.584.8555

Granite & Marble Works, Inc

8 Commerce Park Drive, Wilton graniteandmarbleworks.com

 stonetops518@gmail.com

 518.584.2800

Home Stretch Designs by Erin homestretchdesigns.com

@homestretchdesignsbyerin

 erinavery@

homestretchdesigns.com

 518.860.6926

Interior Designs Atelier

3 Franklin Square, Suite 6, Saratoga Springs

interiordesignsatelier.com

@interiordesignsatelier

 518.886.1204

Mahoney Alarms

15 Cooper Street, Glens Falls mahoneyalarms.com

@mahoneyalarms

 518.793.7788

Marcella’s Appliance Center

15 Park Avenue, Shoppers World Plaza, Clifton Park

marcellasappliance.com/locations/park

 518.952.7700

Redbud Design Landscape

Architecture

1 Commerce Park Drive, Wilton redbuddevelopment.com

@redbud_development

 518.691.0428

Saratoga Kitchens & Baths

526 Maple Avenue, Suite 2, Saratoga Springs

saratogakitchensandbaths.com

@saratogakitchensandbaths

 518.587.1145

Winsupply of Saratoga Springs

5 Finley Street, Saratoga Springs

winsupplyinc.com

@saratogawinsupply

 sjwoodward@winsupplyinc.com

 518.583.2319

Pure Perfection Landscaping

1780 NY 196, Fort Edward

pureperfectionlandscaping.com

@pureperfectionlandscaping

 518.744.9560

Teakwood Builders’

Homegrown Success

AFTER WINNING FOUR BIG DESIGN AWARDS IN A YEAR, OWNER JIM SASKO LOOKS BACK AT HIS PORTFOLIO OF WORK GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO HIS HUMBLE BEGINNINGS IN COHOES.

By Jeff Dingler

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SCOTT BERGMANN

jim’s beams Teakwood owner Jim Sasko oversaw the renovation of a post-andbeam barn into a kitchen and great room in this 18th-century farmhouse transformation; (opposite) the exterior of the award-winning home.

DES IGN

urrently enjoying the aftermath of Teakwood Builders’ time in the local limelight—the construction company won four big awards last year—president and owner Jim Sasko is in his designing prime. Yet, he says he feels like he never grew up. “This work, it’s like my childhood life that I’m living,” he says about running Teakwood, located in a sleek, whitebrick building on Church Street. “I was raised by a family of self-doers. My father was a handyman who fixed and repaired everything himself.” Sasko’s dad actually owned a hardware and building supply store in Cohoes called GF Wertime Building Supply, which was where the builder-in-training worked and got his first exposure to the (literal) nuts and bolts of the building world.

The Spa City abounds with Teakwood’s stunning handiwork, from its signature historic revitalizations—check out the company’s eye-popping remodel of an 1890s Colonial Revival–style home in Saratoga’s historic district (which last year won two Capital Region Builders & Remodelers Association awards)—to total makeovers, such as its transformation of a 384-square foot basement into a luxurious, New Orleans–inspired entertainment sanctuary and speakeasy (which won two national design awards in 2023).

The secret sauce to Teakwood’s success in the competitive construction market? Sasko says it comes down to good ol’ customer service. “The projects do speak for themselves; they’re beautiful and intricate and really well designed,” he says. “But beyond that, we consider our business model more of a service, meaning we’re not just there to turn over a project, meet a schedule and focus on budgets. We also try our best to be great communicators all the way through and stay focused on what our clients want.”

The other key ingredient is Sasko’s ground-up education in the industry. From his childhood in his father’s hardware store and working as a laborer for framing crews building semi-custom homes in the late ’80s, to striking out on his own with Teakwood in 1996, Sasko has done it all. As for how he landed in Saratoga, he says he followed the work. “The ’90s and early 2000s saw that boom of people investing in historic homes in Saratoga,” he says. “There are people to whom a home is their palette, and they want to express themselves by how they live in it. I learned early on who our client was, and there’s such a stock of historic homes in Saratoga that needed extensive work. It was easy to fill my schedule.”

Sasko has always enjoyed standing on his own two feet. Shortly after finishing college for construction engineering and management, he began working for himself at just 26 years old, taking on small projects—building decks, residing homes and installing windows. That early gig would eventually grow into Teakwood, the esteemed luxury builder and remodeler it is today. “When people ask what made me start a business, I tell them I didn’t know any better; I was naïve,” says Sasko, who remains down to earth despite his success. He’s proud of his Capital Region roots, too, choosing “Teakwood” for his business (instead of his last name like most builders) after the Clifton Park street on which he grew up.

As for Dad, the man who sparked it all? “In his retirement years he used to work with us when he could, dabbling in small projects,” Sasko says of of himself and his brother, who works in the company as well. “He’s very proud of us.”

a New England shingle-style home

the Oklahoma Training Track; an 1890s Colonial Revival-style home now features a light-filled mudroom with custom desk and storage built-ins; the Colonial Revival-style home also boasts a modernized kitchen complete with a marble-topped island and furniture-styled cabinetry and millwork details that blend classic charm and modern functionality; one awardwinning basement transformation features a rustic wine and whiskey room.

house beautiful (clockwise from top left) A cozy screen room overlooking the Oklahoma Training Track; a colorful powder bath makes clever use of a repurposed vintage sink, antique-styled plumbing fixtures and custom nickel gap paneling on the walls; custom rails showcase a homeowner’s extensive guitar collection in this eclectic home office;

overlooking

Artistry in Motion

CAROLINE HALADJIAN ’S NEW HIGH-CONCEPT DESIGN STUDIO— THE BEEKMAN ATELIER —CARRIES HER OWN CLOTHING COLLECTION AND IS PART CHIC BOUTIQUE AND PART DESIGN STUDIO WHERE BESPOKE CLOTHING AWAITS.

By Abby Tegnelia

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KONRAD ODHIAMBO

aratoga has its share of fabulous boutiques, packed full of colorful ready-to-wear separates, dresses, shoes and accessories. And yet, so many women end up ordering clothes online, to ensure they don’t show up at a fancy event wearing the same frock as another guest. That’s why the new concept that fashion designer Caroline Haladjian is bringing to town is an especially welcome one: The Beekman Atelier is part high-end boutique, part designer’s studio—where dreaming up a unique fashion look can become a reality.

sew chic Owner Caroline Haladjian will debut her own collection of clothing at The Beekman Atelier when it opens March 23.

THE 2024 DES IGN ISSUE

one-of-a-kind items tailored to their style. We will also do custom orders but in a different way—for example, clients can bring in a special garment that they would like to have custom fit for them to wear. I love the idea of sustainable fashion, and wearing pieces that are sentimental to the client is a bonus. We also have vintage items to shop in the store that can then be tailored.”

Haladjian has had a long career in fashion to prepare her for this high-concept design studio. She graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design, and was a designer for major retail brands for more than 15 years in Los Angeles, Philadelphia and New York City. “I left the corporate world to focus on my health and raising my children,” she says. “Part of my journey to Saratoga Springs included a stressful, unsatisfying career in the world of corporate fashion. The empty-yet-exhausting years of working for major fashion labels made me yearn for the simpler and deeper things that drew me to fashion and clothing design to begin with— the craftsmanship, the artistry, working with one’s hands, sketching, and using fabrics to create one’s vision.”

The atelier—located, yes, on Beekman Street, near Washington Street—is an exciting European concept combining a shop full of unique finds with the energy of a design studio.

“I still remember an experience from nearly 20 years ago of walking into a little clothing store in Copenhagen and seeing not just beautiful garments but also a team of designers actively engaged in making more items,” Haladjian says. “The atmosphere of focus, beauty and harmony in that design shop struck me and has stayed with me. The feeling it gave me is what I strive to recreate in my atelier.”

In this spirit, Beekman Atelier—at press time scheduled to open March 23—will offer a curated collection of goods for sale, including vintage items, local ceramics, jewelry, accessories, stationery, artwork and provisions, plus one-ofa-kind items that Haladjian designs and makes at the atelier with her associate, Sandra Catricala, who’s known for her meticulous technical sewing. “There will also be sewing lessons, and we will have guest instructors to offer small classes for other skills like knitting, embroidery and crochet,” Haladjian says. “Down the road, we would love to offer student portfolio prep for fashion school candidates. We want to bring services to the community that are not currently offered.” The shop will have normal business hours, with sewing lessons and personal shopping arranged by appointment.

On the design side of the coin, Haladjian has been using her studio prior to opening to the public to create a full collection of her own designs that will be sold in her store. “We make clothing with classic silhouettes but from unique materials,” she says. “I cater to women who want to wear

She credits her mom, Georgette, for sparking her interest in the art of fashion. “I inherited this passion from my mom, who grew up in Syria sewing all of her own clothing along with her sisters,” Haladjian says. “Their clothing was made from Syrian fabrics and were high-quality, wearable pieces of art. This is why my label is called ‘Medyati,’ which is my mom and her sisters’ family name.”

The way Haladjian shops for the items she’ll sell in her store and the fabrics she’ll design from more than reveals the artsy ethos she inherited from her mother and aunts. “I look for items that are unique and have an artisanal craftsmanship to them,” she says. “I like to build a story, so all the items complement each other although they are created by a variety of artists from all over the region. Fashion is an amazing type of art to me, as one can wear it, feel a certain way wearing an item, and express themselves to others. Finding a special fabric to me is inspiring and essential for coming up with my next design. I recently found a Turkish fabric on an ottoman in Manchester that inspired me to make a jacket out of the same fabric. Sandra, my design associate, is almost done sewing it as we speak!”

Becoming a mother herself helped push Haladjian to want to pass along these passions to others in the form of Beekman Atelier’s classes and potential future mentorship. “The freedom to be empowered by learning to make something with your own hands is priceless,” she says. “Once you become comfortable with sewing, the possibilities are endless on what you can create. We have a returning student who’s working on a special blanket for her upcoming baby’s arrival. And my two young daughters just took a class and each made a pillow! It is important to me as a woman and a mother to show them how capable they are to achieve great things.”

euro vibes The Beekman Atelier was created in the spirit of European shops that sell ready-to-wear clothing inside a studio where new, unique items are being made.

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Breaking Trail

THANKS TO THE DESIGN WORK OF TRAIL-BUILDER STEVE OVITT , WILTON'S BRAND-NEW GRAPHITE RANGE TRAIL SYSTEM LOOKS LIKE IT’S BEEN THERE FOREVER. HOW’D HE DO IT? WITH MUCH MORE THAN A MACHETE AND SHOVEL.

By Natalie Moore

photograph by VICTORIA J. BUCKMAN

hen you walk—or run or snowshoe or mountain bike—through Saratoga County’s new Graphite Range Community Forest, it seems like the trail system has been there forever. That’s because Steve Ovitt designed it that way.

Ovitt, a retired DEC forest ranger living in Warren County, is the owner of outdoor recreation development firm Wilderness Property Management (WPM), which plans, designs and constructs trail systems all across the region. His latest project—Graphite Range—is a mixeduse network of mountain biking and hiking trails located just past Nové Italian Restaurant on Route 9 in Wilton that will eventually connect to Daniels Road State Forest. While Graphite Range opened to the public in December, you’d never know it’s brand new, given the lack of felled trees and disturbed wilderness you’d expect to see around a recently constructed trail.

“The difference between a road and a trail is that roads go through things,” says Ovitt of how his company works with the environment instead of against it. “Trails go around larger trees, they go around rocks—they roll with the microtopography. A good trail works with the land and reflects the land that it’s on. It’s not just a hole through the woods.”

Therefore, a good trail-maker does more than just cut a hole through the woods; a good trail-maker is a surveyor, topographer, cartographer, ecologist, physicist, builder and—perhaps most importantly—a designer.

WPM’s design process begins with an assessment of a property and what type of recreation the client hopes to host there. In the case of Graphite Range, Ovitt and his team worked with

Saratogian Ethan Winter, who donated the land for the 200-acre property, which previously was the site of a graphite mine and, more recently, a driving range. After the initial assessment, the pair divided the land into three areas—the mountain bike area, where the nature of the ground and environment lent itself best to singletrack trails; the more serene “wilderness” area located south of a babbling brook; and a historical area, to which users who crave a destination could hike to see the remains of the old mines.

Those three geographic distinctions informed Ovitt’s next step: designing the trails for specific types of recreation. On the south side, the meandering trail was mapped out to follow the bank of a stream for maximum immersion in nature. The mountain bike trails were created with optimum gradients and turn radiuses that make it possible to travel along them with speed. And the preexisting roadways that miners once used to transport graphite now transport sightseers to the key historical features on the property.

model magic

“The big hook, of course, is to use Graphite Range as a catalyst for trail connections and more local amenities for our community,” says Ethan Winter of the community forest pictured on the opposite page (above is a trail map). “This is a great place in and of itself, but it will continue to build interest in sustainable trails for this community. It’s exciting that this can be a model for future projects.”

DES IGN

The next step is sustainable and environmentally sound trail design— making sure there are enough drainages to direct water off trails, adding additional topsoil to account for the inevitable “cupping” of trails from compaction, and hardening areas known to possess subsurface water with rock so that they don’t turn to mud (a problem trail builders in the drier western United States rarely have to deal with). “We’ve got a hundred miles of trail out there,” Ovitt says of his company’s vast portfolio of trail networks. “And there isn’t an eroded piece of trail pretty much anywhere.”

For the fourth and final piece of the design process, Ovitt looks to a trail’s difficulty rating. Graphite Range’s mountain bike trails are labeled intermediate, making them the closest such trails to Saratoga proper, which offers only the beginner-level trails at the Spa State Park and advanced-level trails at Daniels Road State Forest. “You start off at Route 9, and there’s no doubt that you’ve got to climb that hill,” Ovitt says of the open, steep area right next to the parking lot. “We used literally every inch we could between property boundaries and limiting topographical features to create a design that allows an intermediate rider to climb that hill and descend it. We’re looking at it so specifically that we’re counting pedal strokes: How many pedals is it going to take to get over that rock?” WPM even utilizes a series of proprietary design standards, including a process that determines which rocks to take off a trail and which to leave.

Put those four elements together; bring in a mini excavator, specialized hand tools, nets, cables and other machines; and a year of planning followed by a year of construction later? Bam. You’ve got yourself a trail system. Then install fencing, signage and a parking lot; wait for Saratoga County to approve everything; and a few months later? Voila. You’ve got yourself a community forest.

home on the range Scenes from the completed Graphite Range project, including a group of Saratoga Shredders coaches after a ride and a young volunteer putting up trail signs; (opposite) the construction process, including the WPM team hard at work.

“I’m so excited because of the way that it’s bringing people in the community together to share a special place,” says Winter, who began acquiring the land for conservation purposes more than a decade ago. “It’s really exciting to see how well designed this whole property is and how people are interacting with that intentional design. People are commenting on its signage and on the trail-building being really suitable for what it’s designed for. People might want the parking lot to be bigger, but we designed it so that you wouldn’t feel overcrowded there.”

Beyond the hoopla surrounding the trail design, the opening of Graphite Range Community Forest in and of itself is monumental. “It’s the first officially recognized, US Forest Service–funded community forest in Saratoga County, and one of the first in the state,” says Rob Davies, executive director of Saratoga PLAN, which will work with a boots-on-theground volunteer advisory committee to manage the county-owned land going forward. “It’s a community forest, but it’s also a forest for the community.”

To get involved with volunteer efforts at Graphite Range Community Forest, contact Saratoga PLAN.

AT SARATOGA JOINERY , THE AREA’S FIRST-EVER COMMUNITY WOODWORKING STUDIO, BEGINNER AND ADVANCED WOODWORKERS

ALIKE HAVE ACCESS TO STATE-OF-THE-ART MACHINES, CLASSES AND A LIFELONG HOBBY THAT HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN RESERVED FOR A SMALL SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION.

Join the Club

By Natalie Moore

photography by

FRANCESCO D’AMICO

haller of fame Saratoga Joinery Executive Director Tori Colarusso and founder John Haller in front of the workshop’s wood selection.

f you’ve walked down Caroline Street in the last month or so, you may have heard a peculiar sound. No, we’re not talking about the usual din of late-night revelers clinking glasses and singing karaoke— we’re talking about the noise made by a table saw, hammer drill or belt sander emanating from the former home of the Children’s Museum at Saratoga.

The source of such a racket would have been Saratoga Joinery, a nonprofit community woodworking studio that officially opened its doors at 69 Caroline Street in February. “Woodworking has been reserved primarily for folks who can afford to have a shop in their basement or in their garage,” says Tori Colarusso, Saratoga Joinery’s executive director. “We’re hoping to bring in people that maybe otherwise wouldn’t have any touchpoints to it. We are a really inclusive space, and we want to fill this place with people who look different than the typical woodworking guild spaces—women, BIPOC, queer communities.”

Saratoga Joinery is the brainchild of software engineer and serial entrepreneur John Haller, who in 2017 purchased a historic home in the Spa City. At the time a self-proclaimed “woodwork tinkerer,” Haller was able to understand and appreciate the handiwork his renovation crew was putting into his home. So much so that it ended up inspiring him to take his own hobby to the next level.

“I’ve always had a little workshop, but I bought the cheapest tools you could buy and had very little success with them,” he says. “As a hobbyist—just doing it for fun—there’s no way you can rationalize buying nice tools. So I looked around to see if there was a workshop that I could use. And there wasn’t.”

Haller’s entrepreneurial spirit kicked in, and after researching different makerspaces in the area, he began looking for a building in Saratoga that could house a community woodworking shop—an organization that could justify buying an $8,000 jointer, because there would be hundreds of people making use of it. When he came across the real estate listing for the old Children’s Museum, he felt it was meant to be. There was only one problem.

“After we bought the building and realized that this was going to happen,” Haller says, “my wife was like, ‘You know, you don’t really know anything about woodworking.’”

But to Haller, that fact was but a small bump in the road to making his community workshop concept a reality. He serendipitously landed a coveted spot in an intensive program at Maine’s Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, moving up there for the duration of the three-month course. And while the program taught him the skills necessary to run a woodworking studio, he also learned something else.

“The neat thing about the class was the effect of people working together,” Haller says. “Everyone would get excited about each other’s work. You’re trying harder, because the guy behind you is still working on his dovetails and they’re coming out really nice, so you make yours nicer. That’s what we’re trying to do here.”

For more advanced woodworkers, Saratoga Joinery offers memberships that cost $85 a month for unlimited access to the shop’s large machine room (with the aforementioned table saw and jointer), bench room (with hand tools and finishing equipment), gathering space (with couches and coffee), and lockers (so you don’t have to lug your project home and back

breaking tradition “A lot of the very experienced woodworkers—older white guys—already have their wood shop,” says Haller. “Maybe they’ll teach classes, but the demographic of who comes here is going to be different than the traditional woodworker.”

again). There will always be two expert woodworkers on hand supervising the shop, answering questions and providing advice. Members will also have access to an annual bazaar at which they can sell their wares, as well as a summer picnic.

For everyone else, there are classes in which members and nonmembers alike can learn how to make a cutting board, carve a spoon, or fashion a pepper mill on a lathe. (More advanced classes like cabinet-making will also be offered.) “The hope is that someone will take an intro class, fall in love, and then become a member,” Colarusso says. Down the road, the Saratoga Joinery team hopes to provide

workforce development and free community programs, and has already begun soliciting service project proposals from other nonprofits that might need a woodworking project done but don’t have the resources to pay for it.

“We’re big believers in woodworking being transformational,” Colarusso says. “Just having that tactile outlet—feeling the wood, smelling the wood, being with a group of like-minded folks working on a project—can be really beneficial.”

So, the next time you’re walking down Caroline Street and hear the whir of a ban saw, poke your head into Saratoga Joinery. You may just find yourself a lifelong hobby.

History in COLOR

LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER JOHN BULMER IS BRINGING THE PAST TO LIFE, ONE VINTAGE CAPITAL REGION PHOTO AT A TIME.

By Natalie Moore

banner year (clockwise, from bottom left) Banners across Broadway announce candidates for the presidential election of 1904; Bulmer’s colorized version of the photo; a colorized photo of the gazebo in Congress Park circa 1900; (opposite, from top left) before and after versions of images depicting the United States and Worden hotels in August 1916; the Ferndell Bottling Plant in November 1918; Spit and Spat fountain after its completion in 1905; Saratoga Race Course in the early 1900s; North Broadway in 1908; and Broadway in 1904.

(banners, Spit and Spat, track, North Broadway, Broadway)

DETROIT PUBLISHING COMPANY;

(gazebo, hotels, bottling plant) NEW YORK STATE ARCHIVES

street cred A stereograph looking up Broadway from Congress Park that dates back to about 1850, making it the oldest image Bulmer has restored to date; (opposite, from top) Broadway at the United States Hotel between 1900-1915; a

If you spent any amount of time perusing the Capital Region’s small corner of Facebook this past winter, there’s a good chance you came across the work of photographer John Bulmer. But while the Mechanicville resident is certainly skilled behind a camera, it’s the work he’s done in front of a computer that’s gone local-viral.

In his free time, Bulmer has taken up the fine art of colorizing historic images from around the Capital Region (with a clear penchant for Saratoga’s bygone grand dame hotels, elegantly clad tourists and sweeping streetscapes)—not for profit, but as somewhat of a public service.

“We’re so conditioned to see things in color that when you see things in black and white, there’s kind of a disconnect,” Bulmer says. “It speaks to the past. But when I color these things and throw in some atmospheric light and some haze, people tend to connect with them in a more visceral way.” In fact, Bulmer has been contacted by people who have recognized family members in his colorized photos, including one from 1960 of then-senator John F. Kennedy speaking in Bulmer’s native Troy. Other fans of his work have sent in their own black-and-white family photos for Bulmer to restore. “When they get them back, they haven’t seen their loved one in color in forever, and it’s really moving,” he says. “It’s like, wow, I just gave this person back this memory.”

How does he do it? Despite the rise in online tools that utilize artificial intelligence to create or manipulate photos, Bulmer’s process is actually quite work-intensive. He’ll choose an image, then use Photoshop to restore some detail. From there, he moves the file into Procreate, a digital painting iPad application, to actually color the image by hand, utilizing “layers” and blending methods to make the photo look like it was taken this year. He says he’s gotten pretty good at telling what color an object in a black-andwhite photo is based on the shade of black, but there is definitely some creative license involved; for instance, exactly 50 percent gray could either mean black or red, and it’s up to Bulmer to decide which color to use.

Not only have Bulmer’s photos changed the way locals think about the past, but they’ve also changed the way Bulmer himself experiences the present. “I can’t walk down Broadway now and not imagine these gigantic wooden structures on the side of Broadway,” he says, referencing photographs he’s restored of Saratoga’s historic hotels. “It’s impossible not to do a comparison or say, ‘Oh, that’s where the United States Hotel was.’ It’s fascinating to see how it evolved from then until now.”

Find more of Bulmer’s colorization work at facebook.com/john.bulmer.

behind-the-scenes photo from the filming of 1937 romantic comedy Saratoga, during which star Jean Harlow passed away, prompting the use of body doubles to complete her scenes.

(stereograph) NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY/ ROBERT N. DENNIS COLLECTION; (filming) NEW YORK STATE ARCHIVES; (Broadway) DETROIT PUBLISHING COMPANY

BELMONT MANIA!

RUMORS, WHISPERS, FACEBOOK RANTS, PARTY-PLANNING, AIRBNB-DEEP-DIVING—IT’S BELMONT, BELMONT, BELMONT EVERYWHERE WE TURN. BUT HOW EXCITED ARE LOCALS REALLY ?

BY ABBY TEGNELIA

After months of swirling rumors— and a pretty solid confirmation from NYRA President and CEO David O’Rourke—it was officially announced with great fanfare by Gov. Kathy Hochul that the 2024 Belmont Stakes would indeed run in Saratoga Springs. And then…silence. This was last December, smack in the middle of the holiday season. NYRA wasn’t answering questions, and there was too much gift shopping still to do for anyone to worry about it. Even after New Year’s, during a mild winter that saw plenty of people out and about in town, excitement for the Belmont seemed to have flat-lined. But behind the scenes, we know now, plans were brewing.

There was, as always, scoffing as info leaked (“you can’t even bring in alcohol!”), and then as ticket prices were announced (“4-yearold kids pay $20—immoral!”), but the numbers were undeniable: General admission Belmont Stakes tickets sold out in no time flat. The fervor was at last coming to light.

We don’t know how many of those sold-out seats went to locals versus longtime Belmont spectators coming up from New York City and Long Island. What we do know is that there will be tens of thousands of people in Saratoga the week of the June 6-9 meet, whether they make it inside the race course turnstiles or not. Our town of only 28,000 people hosting a Triple Crown race in front of millions and millions of national and international TV viewers? That’s what we call thrilling.

And it’s bigger—much bigger—than just the races.

“The Belmont Stakes will generate important economic impact and drive tourism throughout the Capital Region,” says Discover Saratoga President Darryl Leggieri. “There are so many things to do and experience here, and we want to make sure we shine a light on that—a bright light. We want the people coming to town for the first time to enjoy their time with us so much that they make plans to return.” That’s right—Belmont week will be fun, a festive atmosphere all around town for both visitors and locals. Because during that “lull” of time between the announcement and on-sale tickets, business owners, event planners, nonprofits, and a Discover Saratoga/Saratoga County Chamber partnership were hard at work, together forging a plan to make the Belmont a celebratory Monday-Sunday affair for all ages. “There will be a Belmont draw event,” says Chamber President Todd Shimkus, “plus live music and fireworks like we do with New Year’s Fest and on July 4th.”

So if you’ve made plans to vacate your house and make some money on Airbnb, don’t go too far. Belmont week will bring so many of your favorite organizations together for a historic week of festivity unlike Saratoga has ever seen (Opera Saratoga performing at the track, anyone?). There will be live music, performers of all kinds, watch parties, drink specials, educational events and the fanciest galas all over town.

“Look at how quickly the tickets for the four-day festival sold out,” Leggieri says. “This is a historic first, and people really want to be a part of that.”

SUSIE RAISHER

shot of crown American Pharoah winning the Belmont Stakes—and therefore the Triple Crown—in 2015. If the same horse wins this year’s Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, Saratoga could be the site of another Triple Crown attempt, meaning even more eyes will be on the city come Belmont weekend.

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Offices in: Historic Downtown Troy and Saratoga Springs, NY Boston, MA and Jupiter, FL

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Phinney Design Group: A Full-Service Company

In the last five years, the award-winning architecture firm has expanded across the northeast and into the fields of construction management and interior design.

For more than 20 years, PHINNEY DESIGN GROUP has been Saratoga’s premier high-end architecture firm.

That much hasn’t changed, but so much more has.

These days, PDG now operates four offices—the original Saratoga office, satellite locations in Troy and Lake Placid, and a second Spa City office at 1 Franklin Square specifically used for the company’s construction management services division. It’s these expansions, all of which have taken place over the course of the last five years, that have allowed PDG to broaden its service area across the northeast, as well as to expand its offerings beyond those of a traditional architecture firm into the realms of construction management and interior design.

furniture.” Recent projects PDG saw through from beginning to end include the Coat Room in the 385 Broadway building and the renovation at 1 Franklin Square, both in Saratoga Springs.

Other notable projects recently completed around the region include Common Roots Brewery in Glens Falls, Adirondack Trust Company’s office in Lake George, and all of the renovations made to The Queensbury Hotel.

Yet throughout this period of growth, PDG hasn’t wavered on its dedication to green building and sustainable design. “Receiving five design awards in a single year (2023) is unprecedented and an exceptional honor for our project teams,” says Mike Phinney, principal architect and founder at PDG.

“We’re truly operating as a full-service firm,” says PDG Marketing Director Cira Masters, “from breaking ground to installation of

“It is extremely rewarding to see the talented group of people that make up Phinney Design Group achieve this recognition.” ■ 518.587.7120 ● phinneydesign.com

Standout Phinney Design Group projects include the mixed use building at 385 Broadway in Saratoga; (BELOW, FROM LEFT) a renovated home on Union Ave in Saratoga; a private residence in Lake George; and 550 Waterfront by Druthers on Saratoga Lake.

saratoga living ’s Single in Saratoga:

SPEED DATING EDITION

FEBRUARY 8

SARATOGA CITY TAVERN

off track

Saratoga Chowderfest

FEBRUARY 10

DOWNTOWN SARATOGA

Countdown to the Triple Crown FEBRUARY 3

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF RACING AND HALL OF FAME

SARATOGA’S HOTTEST TICKETS

home stretch

:: food & drink :: spa & beauty

Bag Swag

THIS RARE CROCODILE BIRKIN BAG FROM LOLA SARATOGA —RETAILING AT $40K—HAS ARRIVED JUST IN TIME FOR THIS SUMMER’S WELL-HEELED BELMONT CROWDS. n BY NATALIE MOORE

stepping into lola saratoga, a luxury handbag and accessories store on Broadway, you’d never know that a few short months ago the shop was the site of a smashand-grab robbery. The thieves took some $100,000 in inventory, but owner Megan Druckman and her staff were quick to bounce back from the tragedy.

croc on Crocodile Birkin Bags can cost as much as $60,000, depending on color and skin, Lola owner Megan Druckman says.

“The biggest thing we learned from the robbery is that our community is really like no other,” Druckman says. “The way the community came out for us was so moving. We wouldn’t have been able to move forward as a business or a team without feeling that support.”

These days, Druckman is in the process of rebuilding in time for the Belmont, and has new inventory—a mix of “pre-owned

luxury” and “new contemporary” pieces— coming in daily. That includes a wide selection of pre-owned vintage bags from Chanel, a brand that’s been in the news recently following 2023 price hikes for its new collection, as well as one very special bag from Hermès.

“Currently we have a very rare crocodile Birkin bag housed in an off-site location,” Druckman says. “It’s by appointment only, and it’s $39,995. To be able to own one of these bags is really remarkable because it’s not something you can just walk into the Hermès store and purchase. You need to be a longstanding client who spends annually a certain threshold at Hermès. This is a really great opportunity for a handbag collector to procure a crocodile bag for her collection.”

fashion

home stretch

fashion :: food & drink :: spa & beauty

Two for One

THIS SPRING, SARATOGA’S EAST SIDE WELCOMES MITTLER’S , A NEW BUSINESS THAT’S PART CONVENIENCE STORE, PART APPETIZER BAR.

BY NATALIE MOORE photography by DORI FITZPATRICK

if you’ve ever been in downtown Saratoga and craved a snack—not a full-on meal, but just something to tide you over—listen up. Mittler’s, a convenience store and appetizer bar owned by former banker Steve Mittler, is coming soon to the corner of Phila and Putnam streets.

“There used to be a market up on Broadway when I was in college, and

ON DECK

that went away,” says Mittler, who at press time was hoping to open his convenience store in March and the bar in April. “I’ve been spending a lot of time in that part of the city, and I’m often like, ‘God, I wish there was somewhere I could just grab something to eat.’ And then I’m like, ‘You idiot—that’s what you’re building.’”

What exactly does a convenience store/bar

hybrid look like? Mittler’s will take over the former home of Tailgate and Party, which spanned two levels separated by a few steps. The convenience store will be on the lower level looking out onto Putnam Street, and the bar will be on the upper level with an entrance on Phila Street.

In the convenience store, Mittler’s vision is to offer grab-and-go cooler items such as fruit cups, salads

family affair “I helped put together the menu because I really like to cook,” says Max Mittler, seen here in front of the convenience store’s under-construction candy wall with his father, Steve; sister, Julia; and dog, Mabel.

and yogurt parfaits, plus a small selection of grocery items such as milk, eggs and dry goods, as well as breakfast sandwiches all day (and possibly night, for the Caroline Street crowd). In the bar, which will have 15 two-top tables and 14 seats at the bar, he’ll serve appetizers such as hummus, dips, salads, soups, charcuterie, deviled eggs and sliders—small dishes to tide you over until your dinner reservation— plus specialty cocktails and mocktails at the full bar.

Even before opening, Mittler had a couple of dedicated employees working hard behind the scenes: his kids, high-schoolers Julia and Max. “Julia is leading my marketing campaign and Max is working on the culinary side,” Mittler says. “Even at their young ages, they’re the best at what they do.”

What’s it like working for one’s father on his first foray into the food service industry? “It’s good so far,” says Julia, who plans to study marketing in college next year. “It’s super convenient, and we all have similar personalities so it works well.”

FRIENDS BOOK SHOP

Our secondhand bookstore, offering items for children and adults, plays a vital role in supporting library programs.

Share the Magic of Reading

BOOK FESTIVAL OCTOBER 3-6, 2024

This annual event features panel discussions with best-selling authors on the latest in literature. saratogabookfestival.org

FRIENDS COFFEE SHOP

The coffee shop offers coffee, tea, snacks and more. All profits and tips help support the library.

The Mission of the Friends of the Saratoga Springs Public Library is to bolster the public library’s programs, personnel, and facilities. As a not-for-profit community group, we are committed to supplying financial resources and volunteer assistance that the library might not have the means to offer.

49 Henry Street, Saratoga Springs | friends.sspl.org

1950

home stretch

fashion :: food & drink :: spa & beauty

A New Beginning

AFTER STEPPING AWAY FROM PDT MARKET IN SEPTEMBER, ADAM FOTI IS EMBARKING ON A NEW ADVENTURE IN MALTA.

back in action PDT owner Adam Foti plans to bring back family meals that busy moms or dads can pick up on the way home from work, as well as boat-and-totes for easy days on the lake.

after a brief stint in downtown Saratoga, PDT Catering is on the move again. Chef/owner Adam Foti is in the process of opening a new space in the former Glory Dayz location just off Exit 13N that will house his catering company’s headquarters, a market with home goods and nonperishable food items, and a private event space that will accommodate 60 people.

While Foti’s eyeing a May opening, there are quite a few things to do before then. Step one: apply for the appropriate licenses (what’s a private party without liquor?!). Step two: update the space, which was most recently an ’80s-themed nightclub that was open for just one month in 2018. “We found an old postcard from when it was the Silver Bullet Lounge in the ’80s,” Foti says. “The postcard had the exact stuff that is in there now—the same wallpaper, the same mauve color everywhere, the same furniture, all the same linens.”

Luckily, Foti has an eye for design, as was evidenced by the gorgeous PDT Market he operated for several months in 2023. “We love creating spaces that transport our customers,” he says. “I’m very excited for our direction and location, and I can’t wait to invite everyone in.”

Rising From the Ranks

TWO FAMILIAR RESTAURANT INDUSTRY WORKERS TAKE THE REINS AT COMFORT KITCHEN.

CHANGE OF COMMAND

after bouncing around quite a bit professionally, Saratoga restaurant veterans Jake Myers and Zach Scarborough have finally found a resting place: as the new owners of Comfort Kitchen.

“My work history is a metaphorical CVS receipt of places around Saratoga and Raleigh, North Carolina,” says Myers, who you may know from behind the bars at PDT Market, The Merc or Bocage. (Scarborough counts Blue Hen and Hamlet & Ghost among gigs on his personal CVS receipt.)

“This is me settling into something that’s more comfortable and stable.”

The duo recently purchased the restaurant in the Saratoga Marketplace from founder Rory Moran, for whom Myers worked eight years ago. “I appreciate Rory as a mentor,” Myers says. “He embodied the ethos I’ve come to appreciate in cooking, such as sourcing good, local ingredients and making sure to cook seasonally.”

Speaking of good, local ingredients, Myers and Scarborough are planning to focus on burgers and sandwiches, as well as salads, small plates and macaroni and cheese. Something you won’t find on the menu this time of year? “Rory wouldn’t serve tomatoes out of season,” Myers says. “So I don’t either.”

GROOVE

home stretch

fashion :: food & drink :: spa & beauty

ONKitchen Switchin’

SEVEN MONTHS AFTER OPENING IN THE WILTON MALL, MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT SARA’S KITCHEN HAS MADE ITS WAY TO BROADWAY. n BY

NATALIE MOORE

there are passionate restaurant owners, and then there’s Sara Ali. Born to Egyptian parents and raised in Abu Dhabi, Ali got her master’s in engineering in Cairo before her then-husband got a job at GlobalFoundries. The couple moved to the Capital Region about eight years ago and worked at

their respective jobs while raising two kids. But massive change was on the horizon.

“I was known to invite strangers—people from daycare—to my home just to feed them,” Ali says. “Cooking is my passion.

It’s the way I communicate and relate to people.” After trying her food, friends encouraged Ali to open

a business, since there wasn’t any authentic Middle Eastern food available in the Saratoga area.

Ali entered the farmers’ market scene with her brand Sara’s Kitchen in 2022. Eventually, a cult following grew around her shawarma (beef, chicken or falafel), sambosak (deep-fried pastries with a savory filling), hummus (made with spices from Saratoga Spicery) and baklawa (not to be confused with Greek baklava). But between the markets, catering, her engineering job and her kids, Ali felt she was being spread too thin. “I started thinking about leaving my job, and felt it was worth a shot,” she says. “I’m trying to break free from the Middle Eastern culture where you are going to be an engineer or a doctor. I’ve always caved to my parents’ needs and wants. I’ve never made a decision in my life. I loved being an engineer, but it was not my passion.”

Ali’s marriage didn’t survive her break from tradition, and she plowed forward alone, opening a permanent Sara’s Kitchen in the Wilton Mall last August. Since then, she’s been on the fast track to Saratoga restaurant stardom.

At press time, Ali was in the process of moving Sara’s Kitchen from the mall to Broadway, where she’s taking over the space previously occupied by Whole Harvest. (Whole Harvest will serendipitously take over her spot in

the mall.) The restaurant will open with a walk-up counter like Whole Harvest had—“with cozy seating,” Ali adds—and eventually may expand to include sit-down and late-night services.

“I know 100 percent I can do it,” Ali says. “I know my parents will be proud one day. Even if they aren’t, I owe it to myself to do what I want to do in this life—finally.”

BROADWAY

sara’s toga (from top) Sara’s Kitchen’s hummus; stuffed grape leaves; and baklawa; (left) “I don't fail,” says Sara Ali, seen here. “But if I fail, I learn and do it again until I perfect it.”

home stretch

Recharge and Replenish

“You’re getting that full bioavailability of the vitamins and minerals that you’re putting in versus taking vitamins orally,” she says.

Normally, our bodies absorb vitamins and minerals pretty slowly; however, the IV injects them directly into our bloodstreams, allowing us to absorb them more quickly—and at a higher dose. Whether you’re an athlete gearing up for a big event or you’re feeling low-energy and want to prioritize your health, IV therapy can provide that much-needed boost.

“Or maybe they’ve had a long night out,” Newey adds. “Certainly, it can be helpful in those situations.”

Indeed, since IV therapy arrived on the local scene last year, it’s become a go-to hangover cure for those in the late-night crowd who don’t want to forfeit the following day to grogginess. In a season-long pop-up, RevIVa Wellness even brought IV therapy directly to the track, allowing racegoers the chance to recharge and maintain momentum.

here in the spa city, there’s no shortage of rejuvenating treatments for folks who want to look and feel their best. From chemical peels and HydraFacials to body wraps and therapeutic massages, a quick scan of your favorite local spa’s menu reveals a remedy for every need. Now, this even includes nutrition, thanks to the arrival of IV Therapy.

If the thought of an IV brings hospital visits and trips to the ER to mind, you’re not alone.

“My first exposure to IV therapy was working in the emergency setting,” says Bellatas Medical Aesthetics Founder Laura Newey, FNP-C. “We used it a lot there to rejuvenate people coming in with various [ailments]. You could see people turning around pretty quickly.”

Newey’s experiences in the ER planted a question in her mind: What could IV therapy do for clients in a general wellness setting?

“The amount of increased fluids eliminates dehydration,” explains Denise Dubois, founder of Complexions Spa for Beauty and Wellness, which also offers IV therapy at its two Capital Region locations. “It’s a main reason why guests feel so good after.”

Those who want to experience IV therapy for themselves can choose from a selection of drips that help meet different goals, including beauty, hydration, a boosted immune system, fat-burning, energy, mental clarity, sports performance and mood.

Curious about what IV therapy can do for you? Newey invites you to explore: “I really love seeing people feel better afterward.”

fashion :: food & drink :: spa & beauty

iv league Bellatas Medical Aesthetics Founder Laura Newey administers IV therapy to a patient; (INSET) one of the nutrient cocktails Bellatas uses for IV treatments.

Iron’s Edge

Ballston Spa Country Club’s golf course may not be open year round, but Iron’s Edge, its onsite restaurant, sure is! Stop by this spring for a meal in the spacious dining room overlooking the golf course or a cocktail on the porch once the weather gets warm. Need an excuse to get out of the house? Iron’s Edge has one for almost every night of the week, from $10 wing Tuesdays to trivia brunch on Sundays. Coming soon: a new clubhouse opening in May 2025—just in time for the golf course’s centennial! Open Tuesday-Thursday 3-9pm; Friday 11am-9pm; Saturday 10am-9pm; Sunday 10am-5pm; closed Monday.

Dunning Street Station

Located less than 10 minutes from downtown Saratoga Springs just off Exit 13S, Dunning Street Station is known for its laid-back environment and front-of-mind customer service. Chef Bruce Jacobsen, formerly of sister restaurant Lake Ridge, has curated an impressive menu that features many Italian-inspired classics with a twist, which are available for dine-in or takeout. Add in plenty of parking and ample space at the bar, and Dunning Street Station, which this year was voted best restaurant for family dining, is a winning option for a night out.

1366 ROUTE 67, BALLSTON SPA Ironsedgeny.com • 518.602.9995

Franklin Square Market

Franklin Square Market’s glow-up continues, having recently welcomed two familiar faces with great fanfare: Chef Mark Delos of Mazzone Hospitality and Jullie Delos of Friends Lake Inn and Fish at 30 Lake. Under their leadership, the market has expanded its grab-and-go offerings and developed the Market Bar into a full-service restaurant (weekend brunch, anyone?). Plus, fresh seafood is now delivered seven days a week, and a recipe bank has been created for guests. Open 8am-8pm daily.

55 RAILROAD PLACE, SARATOGA SPRINGS franklinsqmarket.com • 518.430.2049

Open Tuesday-Saturday 3-9pm.

2853 STATE ROUTE 9, MALTA dunningstreetstation.com 518.587.2000

Panza’s Restaurant

Treasured family recipes have kept Panza’s a Saratoga staple since 1938. Expect classic Italian food that meets modern American fare in a cozy, intimate setting— and an ever-evolving menu that keeps regulars coming back for new takes on their favorite dishes. In the mood for a show? Pull a chair up to the intimate piano bar, or come by on a Sunday, when the popular Sinatra & Friends show takes the storied Starlight Lounge stage. Open Thursday-Tuesday 5-9pm; closed Wednesday. 129 SOUTH BROADWAY, SARATOGA SPRINGS panzasrestaurant.com • 518.584.6882

Prime at Saratoga National

Whether you spent the day golfing on Saratoga National’s 18-hole championship course or have never golfed a day in your life, you can’t go wrong with a meal at Prime. Overlooking the golf course’s 18th hole, Prime is open for lunch, happy hour and dinner seven days a week in season. Cozy up to the stone fireplace, or head outside to the expansive patio when the weather gets warm. In search of a venue for your next event? Prime and Mazzone Hospitality have you covered! See website for seasonal hours.

Cantina

B458 UNION AVENUE, SARATOGA SPRINGS primeatsaratoganational.com • 518.583.4653

Kindred

From the creators of Henry Street Taproom, Kindred is a new wine bar focused on organic wine, good food and fun. The owners’ goal is a simple one: Make wine fun again. On the food side, Kindred’s menu focuses on small plates cooked in wood-fired ovens, as well as select entrées. Comfortable and chic, Kindred is the perfect place to make memories with friends and family this spring. Open Thursday-Monday 5pm-midnight.

84 HENRY STREET, SARATOGA SPRINGS kindredsaratoga.com • 518.886.1198

roadway dining hotspot Cantina has been serving up fresh Mexican dishes and signature margaritas in the heart of downtown Saratoga for the last 17 years. Guests flock to the restaurant for its festive vibe, creative fare and craft cocktails—happy hour, anyone?! The patio will open for the season in April, as will the Cantina Rooftop on select days as weather permits. Celebrate spring with warm-weather favorites including salads, seafood, tacos and fajitas, which are best enjoyed al fresco. See website for seasonal hours and social media for Rooftop hours.

408 BROADWAY, SARATOGA SPRINGS cantinasaratoga.com • 518.587.5577

Henry Street Taproom

Good food, lots of beer and an atmosphere that’s the perfect mix of relaxed, cozy and chic? That’s what you can expect at Henry Street Taproom, which has been serving local craft beers and ciders, classic cocktails and locally sourced, made-from-scratch food since 2012. Henry Street is still a go-to spot for locals who never tire of cozying up to the fire or settling in on the patio when the weather breaks. Open Tuesday-Friday 4-10pm; Saturday 2-10pm; Sunday 2-9pm; closed Monday.

86 HENRY STREET, SARATOGA SPRINGS henrystreettaproom.com • 518.886.8938

13 North

13northrestaurant.com

 518.400.1746

2955 State Route 9, Malta

The Brook Tavern

thebrooktavern.com

 518.871.1473

139 Union Avenue, Saratoga Springs

Dunning Street Station

dunningstreetstation.com

 518.587.2000

2853 State Route 9, Malta

Henry Street Taproom

henrystreettaproom.com

 518.886.8938

86 Henry Street, Saratoga Springs

Franklin Square Market

franklinsqmarket.com

 518.430.2049

55 Railroad Place, Saratoga Springs

The Hideaway

hideawaysaratoga.com

 518.306.1900

35 Grace Moore Road, Saratoga Springs

Hills & Hollows

@ McGregor Links

hillsandhollowsny.com

 518.306.5327

359 Northern Pines Road, Wilton

Iron’s Edge

ironsedgeny.com

 518.602.9995

1366 Route 67, Ballston Spa

Kindred

kindredsaratoga.com

84 Henry Street, Saratoga Springs

 518.886.1198

Lake Ridge Restaurant

lake-ridge.com

 518.899.6000

35 Burlington Avenue, Round Lake

Park & Elm parkandelm.com

 518.480.3220

19 Park Street, Glens Falls

Prime at Sartoga National

primeatsaratoganational.com

 518.583.4653

458 Union Avenue, Saratoga Springs

The Wishing Well

wishingwellrestaurant.com

 518.584.7640

745 Saratoga Road, Gansvoort

Panza’s

panzasrestaurant.com

 518.584.6882

129 South Broadway, Saratoga Springs

Cantina

cantinasaratoga.com

 518.587.5577

408 Broadway, Saratoga Springs

this winter, i began getting emails from a media company called Mountain Gazette. I’m not positive how they got my info—I probably entered some sort of online giveaway for a ski trip. Regardless, I was on their list. But unlike the hundreds of other promotional emails I get a day, the emails I got from Mountain Gazette were personal notes from Mike Rogge, the magazine’s editor. No pictures or graphics touting a massive “Galentine’s Day” sale—just words.

The notes were seemingly about whatever was on Mike’s mind. In one particularly well-written stream-of-consciousness email, Mike, who lives and skis in Lake Tahoe, mentioned “digging deep into [his] East Coast roots” to make “the best of an unremarkable season.”

Twelve seconds later, I was scrolling back as far as Mike’s LinkedIn would take me until I found that he’d had an internship at the Glens Falls Chronicle in college. Three days later, we were on the phone chatting about his favorite mountain in the east: “West Mountain, of course.”

To read my full Q&A with the Queensbury native, scan the QR code below. Here’s the gist: In 2020, Mike bought a defunct adventure magazine called Mountain Gazette in a Denver bar at 8am. Three months later, the publication was turning a profit. “We’re an anomaly in media right now,” he told me. “We’re growing a media business at a time when Chicken Little’s out there saying the sky is falling for all media companies.”

Who We Are

SARATOGA LIVING AFTER HOURS IS WRITTEN FOR LOCALS, BY LOCALS.

Mike’s not-so-secret recipe for success? Hire the best writers, photographers and artists; charge subscribers a premium price for a premium product; and tell the truth. “We made a video,” Mike said. “And, god, it sounds so revolutionary, but we were just like, let’s be honest and tell people who we are.”

I figured I’d try that out.

hi, i’m natalie moore. I’m 28 years old, I recently found my first gray hair, and though I identify as a Saratogian, I actually *sigh* live in the Town of Milton. I love recreational adult sports leagues, daydrinking, and talking to strangers, especially if I’m talking to them while playing in a recreational adult sports league and/or day-drinking. I’m a real person, as some of you know all too well. You can email me, and I’ll (probably) respond. I’ve become sort of obsessed with writing for SARATOGA LIVING AFTER HOURS, the Substack newsletter on which I published my story about Mike and Mountain Gazette SLAH isn’t a print product, and there is a free version. But if Mike can get readers to pay $80 a year for two magazine issues, I figure we can convert some of our free SLAH subscribers (and the people reading our six-times-a-year print magazine for free right now) to paying subscribers. It’s only $5 per month, and you get one extra story (that my co-publisher, Abby, or I most likely poured our heart into) about life in Saratoga per week. To borrow a phrase from Mike, “Not everyone wants to pay that much for media, and that’s OK. But the people that get it really get it. And that’s who we’re after.”

–NATALIE MOORE

The Face of SLAH editorial@saratogaliving.com

You’re invited! 3rd ANNUAL GRAND ENTRANCE EDITION

Step out of your winter loungewear and into the spotlight! Red carpet photos and arrival interviews, fashion show and the spring’s most FUN party!

APRIL 10

FOUR

WAYS TO SUPPORT

saratoga living & CAPITAL REGION LIVING

We all know that local journalism is having a tough time. But do you know what that really means for us here in Saratoga and the Capital Region? Simply, if we can’t sustain our local magazines and newspapers, it’ll be up to the media companies in the nearest big city (NYC!) to include us whenever they get around to it.

If you love our celebratory, good-news-only publications, please consider doing your small part to help us stay in business. Let’s decide as a community that for-locals, by-locals journalism matters to us!

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WORK WITH US!

We have ads of all sizes and price points—in print and online—plus event partnership opportunities and so much more.

A whopping 42% of our print readers tell us they keep their magazines for one year or longer— that’s a lot of eyeballs flipping through the magazines sitting on friends’ coffee tables. For more information, email info@saratogaliving.com

COME TO ONE OF OUR EVENTS!

Coming together as a community is at the very core of our mission. Our parties are a great time, your party pic might end up in print in this magazine, and you’ll get to really feel like part of the community when mingling with our cover stars and other great local folks you might otherwise not have met. Plus: You know the ticket price is going to a great cause. To RSVP for our next soirée, see the opposite page or scan the QR code below.

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OR Subscribe to the print magazine you’re reading right now. Have it come straight to your doorstep— no more looking around town for a copy! saratogaliving.com

Our magazine is free to you, there’s no paywall on our website, and two of our three weekly Substack articles are (yup) free…If you are able, helping local journalism stay alive is a noble thing to do. And who doesn’t feel greet while supporting Saratoga, the Capital Region, journalism and the community itself via near-daily coverage of its amazing stories? Those stories need to be shared!