Saratoga Living's 2025 Summer Issue

THE BELMONT RETURNS!

JAYSON WERTH

TERESA GENARO

McBride Bucciferro

The leading luxury real estate brand is in downtown Saratoga

SATURDAY, JUNE 28

SUNDAY, JUNE 29

SARATOGA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER | SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY �UY TICKETS NOW SPAC.ORG

KICK OFF SUMMER WITH 2 DAYS, 2 STAGES AND 22 ELECTRIFYING ARTISTS FROM JAZZ TO ROOTS, FUNK, BLUES, ROCK, INDIE AND BEYOND! ENJOY LOCAL FOOD TRUCKS, CRAFT BEER, A FINE ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR, AND FAMILY FUN — ALL IN A SPECTACULAR PARK SETTING.

Trombone Shorty

Cory Wong

Gregory Porter

Cassandra Wilson

Lettuce

Gary Clark Jr

Chloe's Way is expanding with the release of 10 additional lots! Choose from a variety of thoughtfully designed floor plans with charming architectural details. Nestled in a prime location just minutes from the vibrant shopping, dining, and entertainment of downtown Saratoga Springs, Chloe’s Way offers the perfect blend of comfort and convenience.

Enjoy direct access to the natural beauty and recreation of Saratoga Spa State Park, including its walking trails and natural springs. Plus, the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, the Children’s Museum, the Spa Golf Course, and more are all right in your backyard.

Opportunities like this don’t come along often - secure your spot today

• Close to shopping, dining and the Northway

• Minutes from downtown Saratoga Springs

• Variety of floor plans including ranch and primary down options

• Backs up to Saratoga State Park and all of its amenities

• Saratoga Springs City School District

• Pricing from the mid-$700s

For more info, contact Spencer Lewis 518-512-9646 spencer@belmontebuilders.com

starting gate

contents | SUMMER 2025 40

Jayson Werth is Back

Sixteen years after winning the World Series with the Philadelphia Phillies, the retired MLB player reached the top of another sport when his horse Dornoch won the 2024 Belmont Stakes. Now, with a couple of promising young colts and a soft spot for Saratoga, he wants to share the thrill of the Sport of Kings with the world.

BY TERESA GENARO

colt call “Dornoch was the first colt I ever bought, and he won the Belmont in the first year it was run at Saratoga,” Jayson Werth says. “As far I’m concerned, the Belmont’s run at Saratoga.”

Week

Saratoga is gearing up to make Belmont Week about more than just racing. BY

NATALIE MOORE

Saratoga Still Swings

Nearly a century after Duke Ellington wrote “Saratoga Swing,” big-name artists are still passing down the jazz tradition in the Spa City. BY

MARIA McBRIDE BUCCIFERRO

54

Weekender Warrior

After the unthinkable happened, Keir Weimer battled back to build Weekender, a boutique hospitality brand that’s transforming neglected properties all across the Northeast. His next frontier? Saratoga Springs. BY LEIGH

HORNBECK

58 Can You Keep a Secret?

Ted and Susan Collins’ garden is a perennial favorite in the Saratoga Soroptimists’ Secret Gardens Tour. This year—the annual event’s 30th anniversary— marks your last chance to see it. BY

CIERRA ORLYK

Create Where You Belong

starting gate

20 From the Editor

22 Saratoga Living After Hours

FIRST TURN

31 CHIC PEEK: The Riley’s Bar

32 TRACK FACT: Going the Distance

32 PITCH IN: Saratoga Sponsor-A-Scholar

32 OVERHEARD: Around Town

33 NEW BIZ: Glisten

33 LIMITED EDITION: The Bel-Mint Stakes

33 ON AIR: Race for the Crown

35 LIVING THE LIFESTYLE: What to Wear to Belmont

36 SL JR: Roman Ferrone

39 12 UNDER 12: Lena Stein

OFF TRACK

64 saratoga living’s Overdress to Impress

66 Saratoga Goes to Boca Raton

66 Saratoga Senior Center’s 70th anniversary

HOME STRETCH

71 FASHION & STYLE: The Eddies Hall of Fame

74 HOUSE & HOME: Palazzo Riggi, Again 76 FOOD & DRINK

caffeine rush SIDECAP

THE FINISH LINE

88 SARATOGIAN OF THE MONTH: Leigh Rathner

550 WATERFRONT SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY

PRIVATE RESIDENCE SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY

385 BROADWAY

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY

COAT ROOM

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY

ON THE COVER Jayson Werth hoisting the August Belmont Trophy in the Saratoga Race Course winner’s circle with (left) fellow Dornoch owners Larry Connolly and Randy Hill and (right) his wife, Julia. Photography by Walter Wlodarczyk/NYRA.

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saratoga living

8 Butler Place Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 518.294.4390

Volume 27, No. 3

Summer 2025

Copyright © 2025 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.

saratoga living assumes no responsibility for unsolicited submissions.

Natalie Moore EDITOR

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kathleen Gates

DESIGNER Linda Gates

SENIOR WRITER Cierra Orlyk

SPORTS EDITOR Brien Bouyea

EDITOR AT LARGE Susan Gates

EDITORIAL INTERN Morgan Maschewski

WRITERS

Vanessa Geneva Ahern, Natalli Amato, Lisa Arcella

Maria McBride Bucciferro, Chris Carola, Sarah Carpenter, Jeff Dingler

Sara Foss, Teresa Genaro, Leigh Hornbeck, Tiina Loite

Simon Murray, Tom Pedulla, Nicole Russo, Kathleen Willcox

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Francesco D’Amico, Samantha Decker, Dori Fitzpatrick

Elizabeth Haynes, G. Sonny Hughes, Hannah Kuznia, Shawn LaChapelle

Rachel Lanzi, Jess McNavich, Megan Mumford, Konrad Odhiambo

Fiona Stevens, Ethan Thompson, Alex Zhang

Annette Quarrier

DIRECTOR OF SALES

CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER Tina Galante

PUBLISHER, CAPITAL REGION LIVING Teresa Frazer

SALES MANAGER, CAPITAL REGION LIVING Tara Buffa

SALES ASSISTANT Tracy Momrow

SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER Rachael Rieck

Anthony R. Ianniello, Esq. CHAIRMAN

Tina Galante

CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER

IN THE LAKE GEORGE AREA

Tucked away in the Southern Adirondacks, the Lake George Area offers a naturally romantic setting with mountain views, clear waters, and a variety of unique and historic venues. It’s an ideal place to celebrate love and create unforgettable memories. Contact the Lake George Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau for complimentary venue ideas, service referrals, guest activities, and more!

Location: The Promise Gardens

Photographer: Nicole Bonanno

from the editor

On The Map

Heading into summer 2025, I can’t help but feel that Saratoga is snowballing. Not necessarily in terms of population— though we do live in one of the fastest growing counties in New York—but in terms of importance.

Don’t get me wrong: Saratoga has always been important. It was important to the Mohawk tribe, whose members believed the region’s mineral waters were a gift from the gods. It was important to all those who traveled here for health-related reasons or to gamble away their fortunes at the city’s notorious Lake Houses. And it’s important to horse racing fans who make the pilgrimage to Saratoga Race Course every year.

But now it feels like we’re on the precipice of something even bigger. World domination, perhaps?

Everywhere I look, Saratoga seems to be leveling up. In the arts world, SPAC is bringing in global superstars including Laufey and Cynthia Erivo, both of whom will perform with the Philadelphia Orchestra later this summer. That’s not to mention this summer’s elite lineup of Live Nation shows, nor the jazz revival going on all over the city (p. 48). In the food and beverage realm, Phila Street is popping off, with a new restaurant announced seemingly every other day, and Saratoga Spring Water, arguably the Spa City’s most notable export, was recently the focus of a social media storm that attracted billions of eyeballs (p. 22).

And then there’s Belmont.

Last year’s Belatoga brought new people with new ideas to Saratoga—in many cases, for the first time ever. Take our cover subject, Jayson Werth (p. 40). The retired MLB player struck gold when, on a whim, he invested in a colt named Dornoch. That purchase brought him to Saratoga, where he promptly fell in love with both the town and horse racing. Now, Werth has his own racing partnership as well as a podcast that aims to demystify horse racing and bring new fans (and owners) into the sport. He’s also featured on Race for the Crown, a new Netflix miniseries that follows racing’s biggest personalities and was filmed partially in Saratoga last summer (p. 33).

An MLB superstar in our corner, a Netflix docuseries filmed in our backyard, a celebrity-soaked summer on the horizon… What’s next for the Spa City? A Triple Crown victory on our home court? Now that would put Saratoga on the map.

NATALIE MOORE EDITOR @natalie_rae_moore / editorial@saratogaliving.com

golden girl Natalie Moore with (from top) the saratoga living/CAPITAL REGION LIVING team at Overdress to Impress; Design Issue cover subject Darien Rozell at the launch party of the Pantry Hill tea blend at Saratoga Tea & Honey; the saratoga living Insiders Club on a tour of the Innovation Center at Saratoga.

Want to keep the conversation going? Our Substack newsletter, SARATOGA LIVING AFTER HOURS, keeps you in the know on all things Saratoga all year long. Sign up for free or as a paying subscriber for just $5 a month to access all past and future SLAH stories.

Saratoga’s (Bizarre) Moment in the Meme Spotlight, Explained

WHAT DO BANANAS AND SARATOGA WATER HAVE IN COMMON? LOOK TO INFLUENCER ASHTON HALL’S VIRAL GET-READY-WITH-ME VIDEOS TO FIND OUT.

don’t worry—we’re as confused as you are.

If you don’t know what we’re talking about from the photo above, let us fill you in on the viral video sensation that may just end up becoming Saratoga’s biggest (unofficial) marketing campaign ever.

Back in January, Florida-based fitness influencer Ashton Hall began posting videos of his morning routine—a simple yet extravagant ritual involving getting dressed, eating breakfast, sprinting, rubbing banana peels on his face, swimming, and, most notably, submerging his face in bowls of iced Saratoga Spring Water.

slam dunk In addition to regularly dunking his face in an ice bath of Saratoga Spring Water, Ashton Hall is also seen sipping the beverage in his GRWM videos.

Yes, he dumps entire glass bottles of Saratoga’s most iconic product into a bowl— sometimes adding a squeeze of fresh lemon juice—just so he can put his face in it. Scan the code for the rest of the story.

Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation

The THOROUGHBRED RETIREMENT

FOUNDATION (TRF) is the only national aftercare organization dedicated to providing dignified lifetime care for retired Thoroughbreds. On average, horses remain with the TRF for 15 to 20 years, offering hope and purpose to the individuals they touch.

For more than 40 years, the TRF has provided lifetime sanctuary to a herd whose average age is 21. Spread across 13 locations nationwide, nearly 400 horses enjoy safe pastures, medical care, and the dignity of peaceful retirement.

Through the TRF’s Second Chances Program, retired racehorses are paired with incarcerated individuals in a transformative exchange of healing, hope, and purpose on both sides of the fence.

As you enjoy the excitement of summer in Saratoga, the TRF invites you to imagine what’s next for these Thoroughbreds—and to be a part of it.

112 SPRING STREET, SARATOGA SPRINGS 518.226.0028 ● trfinc.org

Gloww by Jill

GLOWW BY JILL is a personalized tanning experience designed to enhance your natural beauty and give you that perfect, sun-kissed glow. Whether you’re prepping for a special event or simply want to feel amazing every day, owner Jill’s expertise ensures you’ll leave with a flawless, natural finish that’s uniquely you. Make the short drive to Gloww by Jill’s Glens Falls location, or book the mobile spraytanning service, available for parties of five or more. Let’s light up Belmont with that irresistible glow!

147 RIDGE STREET, GLENS FALLS

518.361.6330 glowwbyjill.com

Impressions of Saratoga & The Dark Horse Mercantile

IMPRESSIONS OF SARATOGA is known as the “Everything Saratoga Store”—and for good reason. Carrying everything from Saratoga souvenirs and equestrian gifts to locally made goods and garments for the whole family (furry friends included!). Since 1978 Impressions has been growing with Saratoga Springs and launched its own brand, THE DARK HORSE, which can be found at its sister store, The Dark Horse Mercantile, just up the street. This season, head to Impressions to get limited-edition Belmont at Saratoga merchandise and follow both stores on social media for updates on special events going on all summer long.

368 & 445 BROADWAY, SARATOGA SPRINGS

518.587.0666 ● 518.587.0689 impressionssaratoga.com ● darkhorsesaratoga.com

Crown Salon

At CROWN SALON, you don’t have to let your schedule interfere with looking your best. Opened in 2019, Crown is the only salon in Saratoga that specializes in luxury express maintenance—in other words, the experienced team offers professional salon and skincare services that exceed expectations but still get you back to your regularly scheduled life in a jiffy! Stop by Crown’s locations on Ballston Ave and inside the Queensbury Hotel!

15 BALLSTON AVENUE, SARATOGA SPRINGS 518.886.8445 ● mycrownsalon.com

Bobbles & Lace

Looking for a one-stop shop to build your Saratoga summer wardrobe? A woman-owned small business, BOBBLES & LACE offers high-fashion clothing and accessories at affordable prices—and gets new arrivals in weekly. Pop in for a comfortable, fun shopping experience where personal stylists are ready to help you feel empowered to take on the summer season in style. From fun track outfits and statement pieces to jeans, shoes, jewelry, and other everyday basics, Bobbles & Lace has you covered.

322 BROADWAY, SARATOGA SPRINGS 518.932.1287 ● bobblesandlace.com

You know PaperDolls of Saratoga for its custom printing services and stationery offerings…But did you know the store, located in the Saratoga Marketplace, also has a robust selection of retail offerings? Stop by Saratoga’s exclusive retailer of Rebecca Ray Designs to shop bench-made accessories crafted with equestrian-grade leather, as well as home décor, hostess gifts, and entertaining necessities from fine purveyors including the Enchanted Home. Complimentary year-round gift wrapping and gift concierge services are also available!

454 BROADWAY, #4, SARATOGA SPRINGS ● 518.583.4084 ● paperdollsofsaratoga.com

PaperDolls of Saratoga

Celtic Treasures

Irish clothing, gifts, food, and knickknacks aren’t the only goodies you’ll find at CELTIC TREASURES. This season, head to the beloved Broadway store to shop limited-edition Belmont on Broadway double old fashioned glasses, matching leatherette coasters, and classy, black leatherette koozies. All locally sourced, these collector’s items make a great gift or keepsake for racing fans who got to witness the magic of the Triple Crown coming to Saratoga. Stop by Celtic Treasures when you’re downtown for Belmont on Broadway on June 4! 456 Broadway, Saratoga Springs 518.583.9452 ● celtictreasures.com

PLNJ’N

Looking for a way to feel better, move better, and stress less? Head straight to PLNJ’N, a neighborhood wellness space built for real recovery and good vibes. Tucked in the heart of Saratoga Springs, PLNJ’N offers a first-of-its-kind space where cold plunge, infrared sauna, and compression therapy come together to help you hit reset physically and mentally. Whether you’re a dedicated athlete or just trying to shake off the stress of a long workweek, it’s easy to work PLNJ’N into your schedule.

40 Plaza Road, Suite 105, Saratoga Springs 518.527.9176 ● i nquiries@plnjn.com ● @plnjntoga

Spoken Boutique

In style but out of the ordinary—that’s the best way to describe the inventory at SPOKEN, a women’s clothing store located just steps from Broadway in downtown Saratoga. Known for its timeless, functional, and unique styles, Spoken is committed to creating a comfortable, fun environment for anyone who stops by the shop. Over the years, the Spoken team has gotten to know the Saratoga community, and makes selections based on customers’ requests, comments, lifestyles, and needs.

27 Church Street, Saratoga Springs 518.587.2772 ● spokensaratoga.com

Curtain & Carpet Concepts

Looking to level up your home’s décor and develop a style that’s uniquely you? CURTAIN & CARPET CONCEPTS can help. Stop by the Saratoga showroom to browse a wide selection of curtains, draperies, blinds, window shades, carpets, wall paper, wall coverings and area rugs. Have a vision you’d like to bring to fruition? Ask about custom bedding and upholstery for head boards, chairs, and chaise lounges. Go online today to schedule a free consultation with Curtain & Carpet Concepts’ team of design experts.

46 MARION AVENUE, SUITE 7, SARATOGA SPRINGS 518.886.1389 ● curtaintocarpet.com

Helping Turn Dreams Into Reality

GNH Lumber & Home has been trusted to supply generations of homeowners and home builders with the materials and knowledge needed to create homes where memories are made. We’re your local home improvement and design experts, providing a wide selection of high-quality building materials, expert advice, and friendly service. Whether you’re a seasoned contractor or a first-time DIYer, we’re here to help you make your next project your best project.

Visit one of our locations today and experience the GNH difference.

Greenville | Windham | Latham

Blue skies are here again. Summer is coming and The Gideon Putnam Resort & Spa is now open. Enjoy a timeless Saratoga Spa State Park hotel, right next door to the acclaimed Roosevelt Baths & Spa. From Saratoga Performing Arts Center to Saratoga Race Course, The Gideon Putnam is close to everything and close to perfect.

Blue skies are here again. Summer is coming and The Gideon Putnam Resort & Spa is now open. Enjoy a timeless Saratoga Spa State Park hotel, right next door to the acclaimed Roosevelt Baths & Spa. From Saratoga Performing Arts Center to Saratoga Race Course, The Gideon Putnam is close to everything and close to perfect.

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love’s story The bar at the soon-to-be-opened Love’s Club in Bushwick; (below) the same bar used to be in Riley’s Lake House in Saratoga.

Bar Hopping

HOW THE BAR FROM A BYGONE SARATOGA GAMBLING HOUSE MADE ITS WAY INTO BROOKLYN’S NEXT HOTTEST NIGHTCLUB. n BY NATALIE

MOORE

relic from the heyday of Saratoga’s notorious lake houses is about to receive a new lease on life as the centerpiece of a 5,000-square-foot club in Brooklyn.

Built in 1886, Riley’s Lake House on Lake Lonely was a pillar of Saratoga nightlife through the turn of the 20th century and the Prohibition Era, when high rollers came to town with hopes of winning big at one of the town’s illicit casinos. Riley’s was one such gambling house that operated under the noses of local politicians and law enforcement until it was shut down in the mid 1900s. It sat vacant until 1996, when it was demolished. But not so fast. Before one of Saratoga’s last remaining Lake Houses was completely lost to history, local furniture store owner Michael Zappone stepped in to purchase its gigantic, curved bar.

“I figured I’d turn it around and make a profit on it,” Zappone says. “Time went by, and I kind of forgot about it.” That is, until Zappone sold the building he was storing it in and needed to get it out.

Through a connection in New York City, Zappone found Jane Love, a wardrobe stylist-turned-entrepreneur with big plans to open a big nightclub in a former motorcycle garage in Bushwick. The one thing her bar was missing? The actual bar itself.

“I saw a photo and decided in my heart the minute I saw it,” Love says of the Riley’s bar. “But I think I pulled the plug the next day. I had wanted a round bar from the beginning.”

So, the next time you’re in the city in search of a drink, check out Love’s Club (yes, that’s what it’s called). You won’t be the first Saratogian to belly up to that big ol’ bar, and you probably won’t be the last.

CHIC PEEK

ITRACK FACT

Going the Distance

n Thoroughbred racing, distance is measured in furlongs, with one furlong being an eighth of a mile. Tracks will schedule races at various distances, as some horses prefer sprints and some thrive at longer distances. The common racing distances in North America run from 41/2 furlongs—for horses just beginning their careers—to races that are considered marathon distances, such as Saratoga Race Course’s Birdstone Stakes, which is 13/4 miles or 14 furlongs long. Most dirt racetracks in America, including Saratoga’s, are a mile—or eight furlongs—around. One of the exceptions is Belmont Park, which is 11/2 miles around. The Belmont Stakes is, traditionally, one lap around the track. However, to run a race at 11/2 miles at Saratoga would require an awkward placement of the starting gate, with the race essentially starting at the far turn, and perhaps placing some horses at a disadvantage. That’s why, for its time at Saratoga, the Belmont has been shortened to 11/4 miles, the same distance as the Kentucky Derby and Travers Stakes.

—NICOLE RUSSO

“My yoga pants have never been to yoga.”

—PUTNAM MARKET

perfect

pair Saratoga Sponsor-A-Scholar mentor

Keelin Hollowood and scholar Noel Slye.

PITCH IN

Guiding Stars

When Michele Funicello signed on to be a Saratoga Sponsor-A-Scholar (SSAS) mentor, she did so to help a young person in her community realize their full potential. What she didn’t foresee was how much she herself would gain from the experience.

“In giving, you receive,” she says. “I have received so much from my relationship with my mentee. This strong, vibrant young woman will be a part of my life forever.”

Every year, SSAS selects 10 Saratoga Springs High School sophomores who exhibit academic motivation but lack the financial resources often required to pursue higher education. In addition to financial assistance and academic support, “scholars” are partnered up with mentors—non-parent, non-teacher adults who meet up with their mentee about once a month and serve as a bridge between the student and SSAS for the four years they’re in the program. SSAS is currently looking for enthusiastic community members to join its fleet of mentors. Visit saratogasponsorascholar.org for more information and to apply.

overheard around town

“When you know that much about physics and philosophy, you don’t have time for male hygiene.”

—ADIRONDACK PARK

“I don’t know what a Kevin Costner is.”

—ORTHONY

“Why don’t we make Good Friday a great Friday and start drinking at noon?”

—WHITMAN BREWING

heart of a campion

Glisten owner Meghan Campion in her new studio on Maple Ave.

IGlisten Up

n Meghan Campion’s opinion, working out should be a celebration. This is the ideology behind Glisten, a new dance-inspired fitness studio located at 610 Maple Ave. Glisten’s Saratoga studio opened in April, but the brand has been around since the COVID-19 pandemic, when Campion began offering virtual

workouts on Instagram and eventually through an app with paid subscriptions (which are still available, along with in-app workouts).

“I named it Glisten,” she says, “because that’s the feeling I want to create: a confidence, a vibe, that radiates from the inside out.”

Inspired by Campion’s background in professional dancing and personal

Netflix & Thrill

racing for home

Saratoga is featured prominently in the new Netflix miniseries Race for the Crown.

training, Glisten (the studio) offers beat-based, lowimpact workouts in three formats: sculpt, full body, and dance cardio. All are designed to get you moving your body while boosting your mood and building confidence, and all levels and backgrounds are welcome.

“I know what it’s like to feel like the only person in the room who doesn’t know what they’re doing,” Campion says, reflecting on her time in the NYC audition scene. “I never want anyone to feel like that. I try to make everyone feel welcome; I learn their names, I see if they have injuries...I want to know what their life is like.”

Visit theglistenapp.com to learn more, and stay tuned for additional offerings like a walking club, mom and baby classes (Campion’s expecting!), and more.

—CIERRA ORLYK

Fresh off a “champion-chip” victory in Two Buttons Deep’s Pint Madness (a play on March Madness that pits Stewart’s ice cream flavors against one another in a bracket-style competition), Mint Cookie Crumble has a new name. Now through June 8, the fanfavorite flavor will be called “The Bel-Mint Stakes,” in honor of the 157th running of the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga. Get it on its own or as part of a three-scoop ice cream flight, another new offering Stewart’s announced this spring.

It’s hard to say which part of Race for the Crown, the new Netflix show about the Triple Crown, is more exhilarating— rewatching the 2024 Derby, Preakness, and Belmont in highdefinition, or seeing Saratoga Springs show up on screen again and again. The first five episodes of the miniseries are well worth the watch, and feature many of the big names that call Saratoga home during the summer season, but the final episode is the real mother lode of Spa City content, with scenes shot at jockey Katie Davis’ family home, downtown at Belmont on Broadway, and, of course, at the track in the electrifying final seconds of the 2024 Belmont Stakes.

NEW BIZ

LIVING THE LIFESTYLE

What to Wear: Belmont Edition

WE LOOK TO SARATOGA’S UNOFFICIAL FASHION CZAR FOR ADVICE ON DRESSING UP

FOR THIS YEAR’S TEST OF THE CHAMPION. | BY NATALIE MOORE

We can see it now—group chats across the Spa City blowing up the first week of June with in-depth discussions of one very important question: What are we wearing to the Belmont?

“Last year, people really went all out with the fashion,” says Heidi Owen West, owner of Broadway boutiques Lifestyles of Saratoga, Caroline + Main, and Union Hall Supply Co. “It was so much fun to see. NYRA had a fashion contest, so people really brought their best track attire.”

Indeed, last year’s Belmont Stakes Day attendees leveled up their outfits from a typical day at the track. The men traded Old Smoke Clothing Co. polos for sports jackets, and for the ladies, a simple sundress simply wouldn’t do. Bold colors seemed to be in, and no look was complete without a matching hat or fascinator.

That was last year. What about this year?

“For summer 2025, the romantic trend is very popular,” Owen West says. “Think soft, ethereal silhouettes, pastel colors, and delicate details like lace, ruffles, and florals with a focus on flowing fabrics and feminine charm. Corset-top dresses are flattering and popular this year. Sheer layers and the bubble skirt are also very hot at the moment.”

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

dressed to impress Looks from last year’s Belmont, including Gloria and Louis Ethier, Brittany Drahos, and the winner of NYRA’s fashion contest with Heidi Owen West, as well as a very-Saratoga bag from Lifestyles.

You know what’s also very hot? The Saratoga summer sun. Keep in mind that most areas of the track aren’t air conditioned (save for the 1863 Club), so stay away from long sleeves, thick fabrics, and colors that may show sweat. Of course, this is upstate New York, though, so depending on the forecast, you may want to have a wrap tucked into your purse, just in case. Another piece of practical advice: Wear wedges or flats. “Remember that you’re outside on all types of uneven terrain,” Owen West says. “I can’t tell you how many women buy flip-flops at our pop-up because of a shoe blowout or sheer discomfort. You have to do a lot of walking.”

Above all, wear what makes you feel comfortable. And if you need a last-minute accessory or change of shoes, Lifestyles’ trackside pop-up shop has you covered.

first turn

Remember When...

THIS WINTER, saratoga living PARTNERED WITH LETTERLY, A LOCALLY BASED, AI-POWERED PROGRAM THAT TEACHES KIDS HOW TO WRITE, TO HOST A WRITING CONTEST FOR KIDS UNDER THE AGE OF 18. THIS IS THE WINNING SUBMISSION.

My grandparents are really awesome and interesting people. Most people call them John and Cathy Lanci, but I call them Nino and Gigi. They ran Lanci’s Ristorante in downtown Saratoga Springs for six years, inspired by the classic Italian cuisine of our lineage, which descends from Le Marche, Italy. Nino and Gigi have lived in Saratoga for a really long time, and I was curious about what changes they’ve witnessed over the years. So, I asked them a few questions…

POWERED BY

How long have you lived in Saratoga and why did you move here?

GIGI: We’ve lived here for 52 years. Nino and I moved here in 1973 when we got married.

NINO: I was raised in Albany, a bigger city, and Gigi grew up in Mechanicville, a smaller town. Saratoga was just the right size. It also had great restaurants.

What’s one thing that is different from when you moved to Saratoga?

NINO: Well, there’s a lot of development here. We were very lucky to have found our home on the Loughberry reservoir.

GIGI: As a whole, the changes that have been made have been very positive, and that’s in part due to the historical preservation society. They work to keep a certain flavor in the city, supporting new growth while keeping the charm and character of the Saratoga we always knew.

When we have “Gigi & Nino days,” I ask if we can “do the usual.” That means we go to Soave Faire and Compton’s. Have those businesses always been there?

NINO: Before Compton’s, it was called Lou’s Diner.

GIGI: It still looked the same and the menu was the same, just a different owner.

NINO: It was one of the few places you could get fresh orange juice.

How did you like running a restaurant in Saratoga? Any famous people come there, like Michael Jordan?

GIGI: [Laughs] Michael Jordan never came there. You know, Roman, “famous” means something a little different for us. We had many members of the New York City Ballet come. They’d perform on stage at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) and then get hungry. At that time, we were able to arrange the restaurant to be very romantic and cozy for them. And, Grandpa stayed open late at night as the place filled up with ballerinas. It was glorious.

lanci that Cathy and John Lanci, aka Gigi and Nino, who owned Lanci’s Ristorante on Putnam Street in the early 2000s; (below) Roman Ferrone.

12 UNDER 12

BANKING ON THE FUTURE presented by

first turn

the amazing race Inspired by her own love of skiing, 11-year-old Lena Stein is planning a kids’ ski race to raise money for Double H Ranch’s Adaptive Winter Sports Program.

Kids with chronic and serious illnesses deal with enough on a daily basis—why shouldn’t they be able to participate in winter sports like everyone else? This is the line of thinking that encouraged Lena Stein, an 11-year-old 5th grader at Dorothy Nolan Elementary School, to raise money for Double H Ranch’s Adaptive Winter Sports Program, which allows children facing health issues to ski in a safe yet fun environment.

As an avid skier herself, Lena is putting the “fun” into fundraising by hosting a kids’ “fun run” ski race (with costumes encouraged, of course).

LENA STEIN

AGE: 11 HOMETOWN: SARATOGA SPRINGS

SCHOOL: DOROTHY NOLAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: DOUBLE H RANCH

This feature is part of a series in which we feature 12 young people from Saratoga Springs and the Capital Region who are making their communities a better place. Know a kid who fits the bill? Send their story to editorial@saratogaliving.com for a chance to be featured in a future issue!

“I want to host a ski race for Double H Ranch because I love skiing, and I want to share that feeling with kids who face extra challenges,” says Lena. “Everyone deserves the chance to have fun in the snow, and this is my way of helping make that happen.”

The elementary schooler is already coordinating with local mountains about hosting the event next winter, and she’s also in pursuit of sponsors, with two secured already. Kids ages 7 and up are invited to participate—and, who knows? Maybe they’ll leave inspired to make a difference in their own way.

JAYSON WERTH IS BACK

SIXTEEN YEARS AFTER WINNING THE WORLD SERIES WITH THE PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES, THE RETIRED MLB PLAYER REACHED THE TOP OF ANOTHER SPORT WHEN HIS HORSE DORNOCH WON THE 2024 BELMONT STAKES. NOW, WITH A COUPLE OF PROMISING YOUNG COLTS AND A SOFT SPOT FOR SARATOGA, HE WANTS TO SHARE THE THRILL OF THE SPORT OF KINGS WITH THE WORLD.

BY TERESA GENARO

werth the wait After a disappointing Kentucky Derby finish, Dornoch won the 2024 Belmont Stakes at Saratoga at 17-1 odds; (opposite) Werth is the owner of Two Eight Racing as well as Icon Racing, an ownership partnership he hopes will make racehorse ownership more accessible.

When the New York Racing Association announced that the 2024 Belmont Stakes would be held at Saratoga Race Course because of the redevelopment of Belmont Park, some racing enthusiasts scoffed, suggesting that the shortened distance and different venue meant that the race wouldn’t be a “real” Belmont Stakes.

Jayson Werth, one of the people who raised the August Belmont Trophy in the Saratoga winner’s circle last June 8, had no such concerns.

“What did I know?” says Werth, founder of Two Eight Racing and one of the owners of Dornoch, last year’s Belmont winner. “Dornoch was the first colt I ever bought, and he won the Belmont in the first year it was run at Saratoga. As far I’m concerned, the Belmont’s run at Saratoga.”

Werth will be back at Saratoga this summer, not necessarily as an owner of a Belmont runner, but as an ambassador for the sport—one armed with money to buy at the Fasig-Tipton sales, a new partnership in Icon Racing, a new racing podcast, and enough enthusiasm to power all of Saratoga County.

WERTH HAS TOLD HIS RACING ORIGIN STORY

Once they got to the track, I started pulling at my collar. I hadn’t felt that nervous since I’d played ball. I felt like I was back on the field again.”

Watching his horse come down the stretch, he started screaming. “I was losing my mind,” he says. “And I realized that that part of my life—that excitement—had been missing. I had the same feelings that I had every day for 20 years as a ballplayer. Even though I knew nothing about the sport, I knew it was amazing.”

Following that experience, Werth decided to swing for the fences and go big in horse racing. Enter trainer Danny Gargan.

many times over the last year: After retiring from Major League Baseball seven years ago, he, his family, and his World Series ring from the Philadelphia Phillies’ 2008 championship win moved to Florida. While golfing, he met Thoroughbred owner Richard Averill, and was “instantly intrigued” by the sport of horseracing. He partnered with Averill on some fillies and went to his first race as a part-owner at Tampa Bay Downs.

“I owned maybe a leg of the horse,” he says. He doesn’t remember the exact date, or even the name of the horse, but he does remember clearly what he felt that day.

Werth had met Gargan through Averill, and he ran into him at the 2022 Keeneland September yearling sale.

“I was like, ‘What’s going on, Danny?’ and he said, ‘We just bought this beautiful colt, and we’re going to take a shot at the Derby,’” Werth recalls. “I was super-green and had fallen in love with the sport. Who doesn’t buy into a colt that you think is going to win the Derby?”

Looking back, Werth admits that he might have been an easy mark, but what could have ended up a cautionary tale of a racing newbie falling for the “Derby dream” pitch instead turned into a high-profile tale of racing success that the sport’s marketers could only dream of.

“I went into the paddock, and I was listening to the trainer talk to the jockey,” he says. “I didn’t even realize that they made a plan before the race—that was all new to me.

WERTH’S TWO EIGHT RACING—HE WORE #28

as a baseball player—bought into that “beautiful colt” named Dornoch before the horse had ever run a race. Dornoch made his racing debut at Saratoga in July 2023, running second to the horse that would go on to win the next year’s Preakness Stakes, Seize the Grey. Four months later, Dornoch won his first stakes race, the Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, and, in addition to the winner’s share of the $250,000 purse, earned 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points. The road to Louisville had begun. Dornoch earned 50 more points when he won the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park in March, keeping the dream alive and ensuring his entry into the Run for the Roses.

But that dream died on the first Saturday in May last year. Dornoch and jockey Louis Saez drew the far inside post #1, a significant drawback in a 20-horse field, particularly for a horse that likes to run near the lead. Dornoch ended up finishing 10th.

nationals treasure Before getting into horse racing, Werth played 15 years in the MLB, including four years for the Philadelphia Phillies and seven years for the Washington Nationals; (opposite) Werth at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

“The Derby was a big letdown,” Werth admits. “Everything was coming together, and we thought he could win, but then he drew post 1 and we were like, ‘All right. We’re not winning the Derby.’”

Dornoch skipped the Preakness two weeks later, and Werth and Dornoch’s other owners—Larry Connolly of West Paces Racing, Randy Hill of R. A. Hill Stable, Vito Cucci of Belmar Racing and Breeding, and Mark Pine of Pine Racing Stables— regrouped. Werth headed to Saratoga a week before the Belmont and immersed himself in the sport, spending time at the barn with Dornoch and getting acquainted with the city.

“It was the first time I’d been to Saratoga,” he says. “We had the greatest time of our lives.”

Certainly, the pleasures of Saratoga Springs factored into that estimation, but winning the Belmont Stakes burnished those memories like pretty much nothing else could.

Sent off at odds of nearly 18-1, the third highest in the race, Dornoch ran within a half-length of pacesetting Seize the Grey, the horse he’d lost to at Saratoga the summer before. But this time it was Dornoch that hit the wire first, drawing off to win by a half-length and holding off a late-charging Mindframe in a thrilling finish.

“It was a life-changing moment,” says Werth. “I thought, ‘My God, this sport is incredible.’ We dreamed this incredible dream, and there we were, living it.”

Werth returned to Saratoga later in the summer, making appearances both on and off the track, including as a celebrity judge for the Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund’s annual Jockey Karaoke fundraiser. (At the event, he was the winning bidder on a restored Belmont Park bench.) While in town, he began developing a plan for introducing the sport and its thrills to a wider audience, and Icon Racing was born.

ICON RACING IS AN OWNERSHIP PARTNERSHIP THAT WERTH ENVISIONS as “the cheapest, most transparent” in Thoroughbred racing. Its partners include Shawn Kelley, a Major League pitcher who retired in 2021, and Jeff Berry, a former sports agent who now serves as senior advisor to the president of baseball operations for the San Francisco Giants.

Kelley also partners with Werth on the Off the Rail podcast, which launched in March and which bills itself as “No fluff. No red tape. Just real talk, real ownership, and the ride of your life.”

“We’re trying to create something a little bit different,” Werth explains. “I think that the way to grow the sport is through ownership, and I want Icon to give partners an experience

unlike anywhere else. This is a tough sport to learn as a new owner; when I got started, half the time I had no idea what people were talking about, and now I can’t get enough of it.”

Werth envisions an app through which partners can stay up to date on their horses’ training and racing schedules; he’d even like to put cameras in the partnership’s horses’ stalls so that owners can check on them whenever they want.

Shares in Icon horses start at $100,000, and Werth promises that partners won’t have any management fees.

AFTER THE SARATOGA MEET ENDED LAST YEAR, WERTH AND ICON

headed to one of the country’s premier Thoroughbred auctions, the Keeneland September Yearling Sale in Lexington, KY, and spent more than $1 million on young horses. Those horses won’t make it to the races for at least another year, but Werth’s Two Eight Racing has high hopes for two horses he purchased before Icon was created: Flying Mohawk and Outfielder.

At press time, Flying Mohawk, now 3 years old and with two wins and two second-place finishes under his belt, is gearing up to take Werth back to the Kentucky Derby. He’s a long shot to win, but, hey, so was Dornoch in last year’s Belmont. Two Eight Racing owns the colt in partnership with Berry Family Racing and Kaleta Racing.

At last summer’s Fasig-Tipton yearling sale in Saratoga, trainer Wesley Ward purchased a yearling colt for Werth. Now named Outfielder and at press time still unraced, the colt cost $850,000. Werth hopes that both Flying Mohawk and Outfielder will run at Saratoga this summer.

“It’s going to be tough to top my first trip to Saratoga,” says Werth. “We won the Belmont, we ran fourth in the Travers. We had an awesome time with great people in a great city. It’s really quite the place.”

Werth continues: “You never know where you’re going to be in life, but I know that I’m going to be spending a lot of summers in Saratoga Springs.”

family business Werth with his wife, Julia; and son, Jackson; (right) Werth’s horse, 3-year-old Flying Mohawk.

Uniquely Rockefeller

Opportunities Await

YOUR GUIDE TO BELMONT WEEK

BY NATALIE MOORE

Last year, Saratogians didn’t know what to expect when Belmont came to town. Now, we’re old pros, and the city is gearing up for a week of festivities in honor of the occasion. At press time, the New York Racing Association hadn’t yet released its schedule of Belmont week highlights (last year’s festival featured beverage sampling, a fashion contest, and a performance by Idina Menzel at the track itself), but elsewhere around the city, the social calendar for the first week of June is filling up fast.

June

TUESDAY » 3

EMBRACE

THE BELMONT II

UNIVERSAL

feeling blues The

PRESERVATION HALL

Back by popular demand, Embrace the Belmont will bring the community together to learn the basics of handicapping from a panel of experts ahead of the 2025 Belmont. (Racing begins on Wednesday.) Emceed by former jockey and current horse racing reporter Donna Brothers, the event, going on from 5:30–7:30pm at Universal Preservation Hall, will raise money for Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga. thsaratoga.org

WEDNESDAY » 4

BELMONT ON BROADWAY

BROADWAY

Another fan-favorite event is back for Belatoga’s second year. On Wednesday evening, head downtown for Belmont on

Broadway, a free concert that this year will be headlined by ’90s rockers the Gin Blossoms. Saratoga’s main drag will be shut down from City Hall to Van Dam Street, and the show begins at 7pm with opener Uprooted, featuring Michael Glabicki, formerly of Rusted Root. discoversaratoga.org

THURSDAY » 5

THE BELMONT GALA

CANFIELD CASINO

It wouldn’t be a momentous Saratoga occasion without a gala to go along with it! The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame will host an evening of fine dining and live music in honor of the Belmont’s return and the museum’s 75th anniversary. The party, a fundraiser for the museum, will recognize the connections of 2024 Belmont Stakes winner Dornoch, including trainer Danny Gargan and jockey Luis Saez. racingmuseum.org

FRIDAY » 6

BELMONT BITES AND BREWS

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF RACING

New this year is Belmont Bites and Brews, a free food and drink festival held in the parking lot of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Local breweries, food trucks, and family-friendly events will be in high supply. racingmuseum.org

crowd at last year’s Belmont on Broadway concert, headlined by Blues Traveler.

SATURDAY » 7

THE BELMONT STAKES

SARATOGA RACE COURSE

New York racing’s marquis event returns to Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, but it’s not just the Belmont that’ll be bringing the heat and high stakes. Saturday’s racing card features eight stakes races, including the Grade 1 Woody Stephens, Metropolitan Handicap, Resorts World Casino Manhattan, and Jaipur. Can’t make it to the track? FOX will present live broadcast coverage on the day of the big race. nyra.com

SUNDAY » 8

BELMONT FAMILY

FUN FESTIVAL

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF RACING

The fun doesn’t end after the August Belmont trophy is hoisted. On Sunday from 10am–2pm, the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame will once again open its doors to the public, this time for a carnival-style festival complete with bounce houses, games, a rock wall, a petting zoo, face painting, and plenty of fair food. racingmuseum.org

BYE-BYE, BELMONT BREEZE

HAMLET & GHOST PUTS A SARATOGA TWIST ON THE OFFICIAL DRINK OF THE BELMONT STAKES.

BY KATHLEEN WILLCOX

In 1997, Dale DeGroff, a mixologist who’s been called “the King of Cocktails,” debuted the Belmont Breeze, which has become the widely accepted official drink of the Belmont Stakes… at least when the race was run at Belmont Park. Now that the Belmont will be held at Saratoga Race Course for the second year in a row (due to renovations at the downstate Belmont Park), Hamlet & Ghost bartender Sonia Castellani decided it was time for an upgrade to DeGroff’s fruity whiskey/sherry concoction.

“Like so many iconic sporting event cocktails, from the Pimms Cup and Mint Julep to the Belmont Breeze, our Saratoga Spritz highlights the flavors of the spirit rather than hiding them,” Castellani says. The spirits in question? The herbaceous DeGroff Bitter Aperitivo and comparatively delicate Beefeater Gin, which are combined with sous vide cinnamon syrup and bright citrus to create a layered but light sipper that you can drink all Belmont Stakes Day long. Will the Saratoga Spritz become as iconic as its inspiration? Find out for yourself at Hamlet & Ghost and sister restaurant Familiar Creature, which will be serving it all summer long. And if you want to smuggle a few homemade cocktails into this year’s Belmont, we won’t tell.

SARATOGA SPRITZ

INGREDIENTS

75 oz DeGroff Bitter Aperitivo

75 oz Beefeater Gin

.25 oz Aperol

1 oz fresh pineapple juice

.25 oz cinnamon syrup

.25 fresh lemon juice

Splash of grapefruit juice

INSTRUCTIONS

• Shake with ice, strain over ice into wine glass, and top with sparkling water.

• Garnish with an express lemon twist and a mint bundle.

saratoga still

n an unseasonably cold evening this past April, Caffé Lena was vibrant and warm, with every table filled, as trumpeter Wallace Roney, Jr. and the Chuck Lamb Trio kept the audience enthralled. Lamb, at the piano, acted as emcee, bantering with his special guest and charming the crowd. Lamb is often on the road with the Brubeck Brothers Quartet, but on the second Tuesday of every month, for the past eight years, his JAZZ at Caffé Lena show, which he founded with music producer and Caffé Lena TV techie Joel Moss, is his heart and home. (JAZZ at Caffé Lena is funded in part by a contribution made by saratoga living chairman Anthony Ianniello.)

making headlines Duke Ellington’s bus parked in front of The Adelphi Hotel in Saratoga Springs in 1959; (opposite) four-time Grammy winner Gary Clark, Jr., who’s known for his unique blend of blues, rock, soul, and hip-hop, will make his SPAC debut when he headlines the Saratoga Jazz Festival on Saturday, June 28.

Six years earlier, in April 2019, Roney’s father, fellow trumpeter Wallace Roney, Sr., also took the stage at Caffé Lena. A graduate of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, Roney Sr. was the Grammy-winning protégé of Miles Davis. Roney played at Saratoga Jazz Fest four times, including with Davis in 1985 and Patti LaBelle in 2009.

saratoga swings

NEARLY A CENTURY AFTER DUKE ELLINGTON WROTE “SARATOGA SWING,” BIG-NAME ARTISTS ARE STILL PASSING DOWN THE JAZZ TRADITION IN THE SPA CITY.

BY MARIA McBRIDE BUCCIFERRO

Roney Sr., who passed away in 2020, was a guest artist with the Skidmore Jazz Institute, created by then-Skidmore Dean of Special Programs Don McCormack, who just so happened to be sitting with his family in the front row at Caffé Lena on that April night, watching Roney Jr. wow the crowd.

In Saratoga Springs, the past is always present. Saratoga is fertile ground for the arts, for history, and for education. We’re always looking backward to see where we came from, and forward to lead those who’ll come after us.

Founded by McCormack in 1988, the Skidmore Jazz Institute is a two-week summer program that welcomes some 65 aspiring young musicians to learn from top jazz artists in Saratoga Springs.

“Attending the Skidmore Jazz Institute truly impacted my life,” says seven-time Grammy-winning musician Jon Batiste. “I had such a special time of discovery and growth there.” Batiste’s wife, best-selling author and Emmy-winning journalist Suleika Jaouad, whom Batiste originally met as a teenager at band camp, also has Skidmore ties. “Jon was enrolled in our Institute in 2004,” says McCormack. “Hédi Jaouad, Suleika’s father— Jon’s father-in-law—taught French at Skidmore.”

Last year, SPAC’s new jazz series, which aims to introduce new and younger audiences to jazz, was named in McCormack’s honor. Eight-time Grammy winner Christian McBride and Ursa Major kicked off the inaugural season of the Don McCormack Jazz Series on October 24, and Veronica Swift closed it out on May 1.

“Jazz has enriched my life and nourished my soul,” says McCormack, SPAC’s longest serving board member. “From the time I started listening to Bird and Diz in grammar school to the many, many years at SPAC’s summer jazz festival, I’ve been hooked. Knowing that this uniquely American art form will now be here year-round in the Spa Little Theater—one of my favorite Saratoga venues—is so exciting.”

Veronica Swift, the daughter of jazz artists, will return to the Saratoga Spa State Park on June 28 for the first day of the Saratoga Jazz Festival, with her “transgenre” music that explores opera, classical, blues, funk, and vaudeville. Also coming to Jazz Fest this year, on June 29: Trombone Shorty, another Skidmore Jazz Institute grad who won a Grammy for work on fellow New Orleans native Batiste’s album We Are Founded by Newport Jazz Festival creator George Wein and originally called the Newport Jazz Festival at Saratoga, Saratoga’s jazz fest has been a mainstay of the city’s summer calendar since 1978. Since then, jazz has permeated the entire city: You can catch jazz performances not only at SPAC, the Spa Little Theater, and Caffé Lena

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

GET READY, SARATOGA: JAZZ IS COMING TO TOWN.

MAY 27

Peak Jazz Series: The Levin Brothers

Caffé Lena

Brothers Tony and Pete Levin and their quartet perform cool jazz, soulful originals, and reimagined covers in Caffé Lena’s other monthly jazz series.

JUNE 8

(which, in addition to JAZZ at Caffé Lena, hosts the monthly Peak Jazz Series), but also at Universal Preservation Hall, which recently launched a jazz series of its own; Skidmore’s Arthur Zankel Music Center, where several Jazz Institute–related performances will be held this July; 9 Maple, a 40-seat downtown jazz club that hosts live jazz every Friday and Saturday; and several restaurants around town.

But even back in 1978, jazz in the Spa City was nothing new. To fully understand Saratoga’s jazzy roots, we have to go back—way back—to the earliest days of the genre.

It’s fitting that GE Vernova, a spin-off company of General Electric, is the new sponsor of the Saratoga Jazz Festival after Freihofer’s 26-year reign, given GE founder Thomas Edison’s connections to Saratoga—and jazz music.

In 1879, Edison wowed the crowd in the courtyard of Saratoga’s Grand Union Hotel, the largest hotel in the world, when he demonstrated his incandescent light bulb for the second time ever. The inventor, who was financially backed by Saratoga philanthropist Spencer Trask, would go on to

Belle-Skinner and the Easy-Speaks

Universal Preservation Hall

Part of the Sunday Jazz at UPH series, singersongwriter Belle-Skinner will take the stage with pianist/trombonist Tyler Giroux and bassist/ composer Jason Emmond.

JUNE 28 & 29

Saratoga Jazz Festival

SPAC

This annual two-day, two-stage jazz bonanza will feature 22 artists including Gary Clark, Jr., Veronica Swift, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Cory Wong, and Artemis.

JULY 1

Artemis

Arthur Zankel Music Center

Skidmore Jazz Institute guest ensemble Artemis, an all-women quintet founded by pianist and composer Renee Rosnes, will perform a free concert.

having a ball Skidmore Jazz Institute grad and seven-time Grammy winner Jon Batiste performed at Saratoga Jazz Fest in 2013; (opposite) patrons of the Black Elks Ball, which was traditionally held on the night after the Whitney Ball, posing at the Canfield Casino in 1950. “A lot of the decorations and things from the Whitney Ball would still be there,” says Saratogian Anita Turner, who remembers attending the 1950 Ball as a 13-year-old. “There’d still be Champagne from the night before.”

hold 1,093 patents, including one for the phonograph, which in the early 1900s helped popularize a particular nascent music genre. In fact, according to jazz historian Lewis Porter, on December 1, 1916, “That Funny Jas Band from Dixieland,” the first record to use an early form of the word “jazz” in its title and lyrics, was recorded for Edison’s company.

In the early 1920s, GE engineers went on to pioneer one of the earliest radio stations in the country: WGY. As radio grew in popularity, broadcasts direct from the Cotton Club in Harlem helped jazz musicians including Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, and Louis Armstrong reach audiences across the country. But if you were lucky enough to live in Saratoga, you could catch some of jazz’s founding fathers live.

Bing Crosby, band leaders Paul Whiteman and Xavier Cugat, Desi Arnaz, and Al Jolson (star of the 1927 film The Jazz Singer, the first talkie), all performed at the Arrowhead Inn, a lake house that operated on Saratoga Lake from 1899 until the late 1940s. Other lake houses drew top-notch performers as well. (When New York City’s Cotton Club closed for the summer, some musicians would come up to perform in Saratoga.) Crosby and his contemporaries often ended up at clubs on Congress Street, such as Jack’s Harlem Club, to unwind, grab a bite, and catch the jazz and cabaret shows.

You could also see Duke Ellington’s Orchestra perform “Take the A Train,” “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,” and other hits—and watch Cab Calloway, the first Black performer to sell a million copies of a 78 record, sing “Minnie the Moocher”—at the Black Elks Ball at the Canfield Casino, an annual event memorialized in a 1999 interview with Saratogian Anita Turner as part of Saratoga’s volunteer-led West Side Oral Narrative Project.

JULY 8

Ben Wendell Group

Arthur Zankel

Music Center

Grammy-nominated saxophonist/composer Ben Wendell leads a quartet at this free Skidmore Jazz Institute concert.

JULY 15

Chuck Lamb With Special Guest Randy Brecker

Caffé Lena Trumpet player Randy Brecker, who was part of Blood, Sweat and Tears’ horn section, will join Lamb in Caffé Lena’s monthly series.

“Every August, that’s what everybody would look forward to—that dance,” Turner, who was 13 when she saw Duke Ellington’s Orchestra perform at the Ball in 1950, tells interviewer Courtney Reid. “People would come from everywhere—they’d have the Grand Elks March, and they’d have Elks from all over the world dressed in their finery. That place would be packed.”

Guests would dance the Charleston and Lindy Hop until the wee hours of the morning and then head to Hattie’s for breakfast. “That was a ritual for sure,” Turner says. “Good ole Miss Hattie’s Chicken Shack on Federal Street.”

AUGUST 9

Laufey SPAC

Social media superstar and LA-based IcelandicChinese artist Laufey will bring her blend of jazz and traditional pop to the SPAC stage with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

AUGUST 12

Ria Curley Band; Chuck Lamb and Jorge Gomez

Putnam Place

Curley’s band will sing originals from her new EP; Lamb and Gomez’s Cuban fusion jazz collab will follow.

TBA

Chuck Lamb and Jorge Gomez

Putnam Place

The second of two JAZZ at Caffé Lena concerts at Putnam Place will be announced in the fall.

all that jazz (from top) Wallace Roney, Jr. performing with Chuck Lamb at this April’s JAZZ at Caffé Lena show; Trombone Shorty, aka Troy Andrews, who was shorter than his trombone when he took the stage with Bo Didley at the New Orleans Jazz Festival in 1990, will headline Saratoga Jazz Fest's Sunday lineup; on August 9, international superstar Laufey, who has been described as Gen Z’s “it girl,” will bring her blend of jazz and pop to the SPAC stage with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Turner, though still a teenager at the time, was no stranger to late nights in Saratoga. Her grandmother ran a boarding house on Congress Street, across from the old Grand Union Hotel and between two nightlife hotspots: Jimmy’s Bar and Grill and The Blind Pig. Right up the street was Jack’s Harlem Club, which hosted dancer “Peg Leg Bates,” female impersonator Phil Black, and other entertainers. The Tally-Ho down the street also had live entertainment.

“In the summertime, everything was just 24-hour nonstop,” Turner remembers. “You wondered, ‘When do these people go to bed? Or did they ever go to bed?’ It was actually like a little Harlem. There was just so much going on.”

While the Elks Ball is gone, the Elks are not; Frederick Allen Lodge #609, which was founded in 1925 at a time when Blacks were not allowed to join most white fraternal organizations, is still in operation and hosts regular community events on Beekman Street, including a recent Cocktails & Jazz fundraiser. And while Duke Ellington is also gone, his influence lives on in music venues across Saratoga and the world.

Ihad never heard of “Saratoga Swing,” Ellington’s lively 1929 jazz composition, until I went into a vintage record store with my grandson, who now collects albums instead of video games. There, we found Duke Ellington at the Cotton Club featuring “Saratoga Swing” as well as Dave Brubeck’s Greatest Hits, featuring “Take Five,” his signature composition, and “The Duke,” a tribute to Ellington, whom he idolized in college.

Like Ellington, Brubeck has serious ties to the Spa City. Born in California in 1920, the jazz pianist toured with the Wolf Pack

Band, the first racially integrated band in a segregated military, in World War II. Brubeck formed trios and quartets with musicians of all colors and creeds, and he refused to perform in segregated venues in the South and South Africa.

In 1959, The Dave Brubeck Quartet released Time Out, the album on which “Take Five” is featured and the first jazz album to sell more than a million copies. In 2009, in honor of the Time Out’s 50th anniversary, Brubeck returned to the Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival for the 13th time. (His record number of Jazz Fest appearances still stands today.) Except for a surprise visit to perform with his son Chris’ band, Triple Play, in 2011, that was Brubeck’s final SPAC show. He passed away on December 5, 2012—a day before his 92nd birthday.

Today, Brubeck’s sons Dan and Chris regularly perform with Chuck Lamb and guitarist Mike DeMicco as part of the Brubeck Brothers Quartet. Becoming good friends with his bandmates’ legendary father, Lamb says, “was a true joy in my life. His creativity still inspires me to this day. It is an honor to keep Dave’s music thriving all over the world.”

Six months after Brubeck’s death, he was honored with a star on the Walk of Honor at SPAC, joining his friend and Saratoga Jazz Fest founder George Wein, who was enshrined on the Walk in 2011. As family and fans gathered for the dedication, SPAC’s then-President, Marcia White, read a quote by Brubeck on why he believed in jazz: “The oneness of man can come through the rhythm of your heart. It’s the same any place in the world, that heartbeat. It’s the first thing you hear when you’re born—or before you’re born—and it’s the last thing you hear as you leave this world.”

That evening, Tony Bennett—who had performed with Brubeck in Washington, DC in 1962 and three years later with Duke Ellington in a duet that was broadcast on The Ed Sullivan Show—took the SPAC stage with blues great Buddy Guy.

Not long after his last performance with Lady Gaga at Madison Square Garden, Bennett too passed away, just shy of 97. Buddy Guy, still going strong at 88, has extended his farewell tour, and is playing some dates with the Tedeschi Trucks Band, which returns to Saratoga this September 5.

From Ellington to Gaga and beyond, good music never dies. In Saratoga, the show must go on.

ON JAZZ

THE BIGGEST NAMES IN SARATOGA’S MUSIC SCENE HAVE MUCH TO SAY ABOUT JAZZ IN THE SPA CITY.

“This is a big moment for jazz. It’s growing among young audiences in New York City, and it’s growing here in Saratoga. There are lots of exciting young bands coming up, looking for new audiences and great clubs to play in. Together, we can make Saratoga a must-play city for exciting jazz artists.”

SARAH

DIRECTOR, CAFFÉ LENA

CRAIG, EXECUTIVE

“Now in our eighth year, it feels like we have built a loyal community of jazz and music lovers who look forward to gathering each month and seeing both the concert and each other. And, we are always happy to see new faces in the crowd.”

CHUCK LAMB, COFOUNDER AND HEADLINER, JAZZ AT CAFFÉ LENA

“Saratoga has long been a hub for world-class music, and today’s jazz scene is no exception. With an incredible mix of local talent and internationally renowned artists gracing our stages, there’s never been a more exciting time for jazz lovers in the region.”

TEDDY FOSTER, DIRECTOR,

UNIVERSAL PRESERVATION HALL

“We are so lucky to live in a town where we have such a range of live music. You can think of jazz and folk as music that comes from the roots of a place. It’s great to have all kinds of creative music.”

—JEFF OLSON, SARATOGA JAZZ FESTIVAL FAN

“We were regulars at Birdland and Dizzy’s. Leaving those clubs behind was one of the things that made us sad to leave the city. But the jazz scene in Saratoga hasn’t disappointed... One night soon after we moved up here from the city, we walked into Hamlet & Ghost for dinner and Jonathan Greene and the Saratoga Hot Club were playing in the bar. Between the food and the music, we felt like we’d hit the jackpot.”

—PAM

ABRAMS

CULINARY PROGRAMMING CONSULTANT

“Saratoga has a rich history of presenting jazz, from incubating raw talent through the Skidmore Jazz Institute, to the incredible live music scene downtown, to our prestigious Saratoga Jazz Festival, which brings the best jazz musicians in the world to our city. Artists like Jon Batiste and Trombone Shorty both got their start at Skidmore Jazz Institute and now headline our festival as international superstars.

—ELIZABETH SOBOL PRESIDENT AND CEO, SPAC

REDEMPTION

WEEKENDER WARRIOR

AFTER THE UNTHINKABLE HAPPENED, KEIR WEIMER BATTLED BACK TO BUILD WEEKENDER, A BOUTIQUE HOSPITALITY BRAND THAT’S TRANSFORMING NEGLECTED PROPERTIES ALL ACROSS THE NORTHEAST. HIS NEXT FRONTIER? SARATOGA SPRINGS.

BY LEIGH HORNBECK

a place beyond the pines

Keir Weimer has built his brand based on his own love for the great outdoors; (at right) before founding Weekender, Weimer’s first big real estate purchase was Great Pines in Old Forge.

I FIRST TOOK NOTICE OF KEIR WEIMER

when his hospitality brand, Weekender, bought Shaheen’s Adirondack Inn in Tupper Lake in 2022. Then I saw that Weekender was also buying the hotel formerly known as the Copperfield Inn on Main Street in North Creek— the hotel where I worked my first job (and where my friends and I may or may not have taken an unauthorized, nighttime skinny dip when we were in high school). The hotel has been largely moribund for years.

And then, Weimer went and scooped up the St. Charles Motel, the humble two-story building at the corner of South Broadway and Lincoln Avenue right here in Saratoga Springs, where Weekender is headquartered. Unlike most renovations in this ever-evolving city, where a building permit usually portends a Hulk-like transformation, Weimer is leaving the dimensions and unassuming design of the hotel alone.

Intriguing, I thought. Who is this guy?

A native of the Syracuse area who grew up summering at his family’s camp in Old Forge, Weimer’s rise to the top of the boutique hotel game began when he hit rock bottom. In 2006, when he was 23, Keir was drunk at the helm of a motorboat on Fourth Lake after leaving a bar with friends. That night in July proved fatal. He crashed the boat into an island, and one of his passengers, Tiffany Heitcamp, was thrown from the boat and died.

Weimer pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter and served three and a half years in prison. When he was released, he committed to sobriety and began rebuilding his life. He finished college, but, unable to find work on a traditional path because of his record, he became an entrepreneur. He started several businesses, mostly focused on real estate sales and investment. He became a life coach, and to this day promotes a “live free lifestyle” program designed to help people shed bad habits and live with intention and purpose. He tries every day to live up to the promise he made to Heitcamp’s parents on the day of his sentencing to “lead a more purposeful and productive life and contribute positively to society.”

Weimer’s first big real estate purchase, before he founded Weekender, was Great Pines, a venerable camp in Old Forge. He remodeled the rooms and shook the dust off the marketing, leaning into a strategy that aimed to attract customers in search of adventure. Locals might have called it slick, but Weimer put heads in beds.

Then came the pandemic, and the exodus from the cities. Weimer was on the cusp of buying the Alpine Lodge, his first property in North Creek, when COVID-19 closed in. Friends and colleagues tried to stop him from making the purchase.

“People thought I was crazy, but I saw what had happened in Old Forge,” he says.

He knew people craved simple comforts and quiet joys—as long as there was WiFi. (Weimer often starts Weekender’s ownership of a new property by upgrading the technology on site.)

“WE’VE STRIVED TO CREATE THESE SETTINGS AND EXPERIENCES ANCHORED IN WORLD-CLASS, ICONIC DESTINATIONS THAT RESONATE WITH TRAVELERS SEEKING ADVENTURE.”

After buying the Alpine Lodge in 2020, Weimer founded Weekender in March 2021 and bought up more properties in quick succession: Lake Placid’s Placid Bay Hotel in 2021; Peterborough, NH’s River House (formerly the Jack Daniels Inn) and Manchester, VT’s Aspen in 2022; and Lake Placid’s Town House Lodge and Tupper Lake’s Trailhead (formerly Shaheen’s) in 2023. Weimer’s MO? Locate two-anda-half or three-season markets that are less than a three-hour drive from a large population center and close to outdoor activities such as skiing, snowmobiling, boating, and hiking. When he finds a market that meets his criteria, he looks for owners who may be open to entertaining offers.

“We’ve strived to create these settings and experiences anchored in world-class, iconic destinations that resonate with travelers seeking adventure, the great outdoors, and a novel approach to independent hospitality,” says Weimer, an avid traveler and outdoorsman himself. (Though I’d hoped to meet up with Weimer in person, he was traveling, exploring options for his first hospitality purchase in the western US.)

By the end of 2025, Weimer expects to have 12 hotels in Weekender’s portfolio, and 15-17 by the end of 2026.

But back to the St. Charles. The longstanding Saratoga motel will be renamed The Ambler and have an atmosphere Weimer describes as “Palm Springs meets urban New York.” The exterior brick will be painted white and there will be a rooftop lounge. But, just like the other Weekender hotels, Weimer is not rehabbing the property as a destination in itself. Instead, he expects guests to drop their bags and explore all Saratoga has to offer. He plans to be open for guests in July. Room rates will be in the $200 range, depending on the season.

Darryl Leggieri, president of Discover Saratoga, the city’s tourism bureau, is pleased to see a motel getting a makeover. “It enriches our already diverse selection,” he says. “It’s a perfect location for guests to experience everything we have to offer.”

While Saratoga Springs is an established tourist destination, North Creek struggles to draw visitors, even during ski season. Skiers and riders flock to Gore but often return home without going into the little village just down the hill from the ski area. A few things underway may change that: The town is investing in a municipal sewer system, crucial for developers eyeing property that hugs the Hudson River; and the Olympic Regional Development Authority, the state agency that owns Gore, is building a new lodge and recreation center at the Ski Bowl, next to Gore’s main base area and near downtown.

Weekender’s investment in the Copperfield fits perfectly, says Chuck Barton, CEO of the Warren-Washington Industrial Development Authority. The IDA granted Weekender an investment incentive package, which included a 10-year payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement. Barton says he’s enthusiastic about the company’s ownership because of its record of success. The shuttered hotel is a blight on North Creek’s small downtown, and Barton is optimistic not only for the future of the Copperfield, but for what it might spark in the community.

The news of the Copperfield purchase—at 30 rooms and 32,000 square feet with two restaurants, the hotel is Weekender’s largest property by square footage yet—was also met with enthusiasm online in community Facebook groups. Weimer says the question he gets asked most often is, “Are you going to reopen the pool to people from town?”

While Weimer’s not ready to reveal that hotel’s new name just yet—it won’t be the Copperfield or the Phoenix, the name given to the property by a previous owner—he is planning to upgrade the entire pool and gym area and, yes, make it available to the community. Swimsuits required.

mountain g.o.a.t. (from top) Weimer at Snowbasin Resort after completing a 29029 Everesting event, an endurance hike that challenges athletes to climb the height of Mount Everest—29,029 feet—in 36 hours by hiking up, taking a gondola down, and hiking back up repeatedly; a rendering of The Ambler, which will open in Saratoga this summer; (opposite, from top) Trailhead Lodge, formerly known as Shaheen's Adirondack Inn in Tupper Lake; the North Creek hotel formerly known as the Copperfield; Town House Lodge in Lake Placid; Placid Bay Hotel also in Lake Placid.

CAN YOU KEEP A SECRET?

TED AND SUSAN COLLINS’ GARDEN IS A PERENNIAL FAVORITE IN THE SARATOGA SOROPTIMISTS’ SECRET GARDENS TOUR. THIS YEAR—THE ANNUAL EVENT’S 30TH ANNIVERSARY—MARKS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO SEE IT.

BY CIERRA ORLYK

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRIAN HOFFMAN

dirty thirty “I don’t hold anything against people who utilize landscape companies, because they do great work,” says Ted Collins, whose garden, featured on the opposite page, will be a part of the 30th anniversary Secret Gardens Tour. “But there’s just something about getting your hands dirty; using your own elbow grease.”

As a founding member of the Saratoga Soroptimists’ Secret Gardens Tour Committee, Mary Caroline Powers has been in a lot of gardens. When she first laid eyes on Ted and Susan Collins’ garden, though, she was struck. “It was different from any other garden I had seen,” she says.

That was back in the 1990s, and since then, the details of what first grabbed her attention about the private garden have become fuzzy—probably because it’s changed every year since. “Many gardens, while retaining their beauty, remain static in design,” Powers says. “Not so with the Collins’ garden. Each time I visit their garden, it feels like a brand-new experience.”

hidden gems The Secret Gardens Tour is aptly named. “A lot of them you can’t see from the street,” says Soroptimist Barbara Lombardo. “You’d have no idea that they’re there.”

Indeed, in the last 25 years, the Collinses have quadrupled the size of their lawn and garden, using the additional space to plant new cultivars and install new architectural features. It’s the ever-changing nature of the space that has landed the Collins’ garden on the Saratoga Soroptimists’ annual Secret Gardens Tour again and again; this year’s tour marks the Saratoga community’s fifth and final chance to see it.

Founded in 1979, Soroptimist International of Saratoga County is the local chapter of a larger nonprofit organization that consists of 80,000 members across 120 countries and territories. In the words of founding and still-active Saratoga member Barbara Lombardo, Soroptimists around the world are “dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls—and having fun while doing it.”

In Saratoga, the Soroptimists partner with local nonprofit Wellspring on an eight-week program that helps women achieve financial and legal independence; put on a confidencebuilding and career-planning seminar for high school girls facing obstacles to success; award grants to female heads-of-household who are pursuing vocational or higher education to achieve financial stability; and provide financial support to service-minded high school girls and the nonprofit organizations they volunteer for. These initiatives require a lot of hard work (i.e. womanpower) and—let’s face it—money.

That’s where the Secret Gardens Tour comes in. Now in its 30th year, the one-day event has become the Saratoga Soroptimists’ signature (and only) annual fundraiser. Returning to the Spa City on June 29th, the self-guided tour will give attendees the opportunity to explore (and glean landscaping

inspiration from) ten gardens—nine private and one public—ranging from sprawling suburban landscapes to tiny, creative city oases. Tickets can be purchased in person at all Adirondack Trust and Cudney’s Cleaners locations, Northshire Bookstore in Saratoga, and Faddegon’s Nursery in Latham, or at soroptimistsaratoga.org

On the day of the event, tickets will only be sold online and outside of the Saratoga Springs Visitor Center from 9:30am–noon.

But back to the Collinses. The couple didn’t set out to be gardeners. First, they were homebuyers, purchasing their Saratoga home in 1993. There were a few plants around the house, and they decided to build upon them. “Then,” Ted says, “the whole thing just evolved project by project.”

Susan—who Ted proclaims is the “real gardener” (he’s “just the support staff”)— continued to add more plants and flowers, always prioritizing integration with existing wildlife and refraining from using chemicals or fertilizers. “Every week, I find something new that Susan’s done,” Ted says. Sometimes, plants will even appear that neither of them had anything to do with. (Ted’s best guess? Birds.)

Over the years, the duo has expanded their infrastructure to include a gazebo, a greenhouse, and a she-shed. Sometime between the 10th and 20th anniversary garden tours (the Collins’ garden was featured in both), Ted developed a love for rock work; since then, he’s built a stone fireplace, a rock waterfall, and a rock rendition of the constellation Orion.

“On the days we were putting rocks around, I’d work 12 hours straight,” he says. “And at the end of the day, I’d feel like I played all day—not worked. What a joy it is to have something like that.”

While the Collinses will be retiring their backyard from the Secret Gardens Tour after this year, their participation over the last three decades has been nothing short of meaningful for the couple.

“It’s been a real honor,” says Ted. “There’s a lot of joy for us in creating and viewing the garden, but there’s also joy in watching others enjoy it. I hope it inspires people and gives them ideas on what they, themselves, can do.”

Summer Golf Guide

BROOKHAVEN GOLF COURSE 333 ALPINE MEADOWS ROAD, PORTER CORNERS

Located in the beautiful foothills of the Adirondacks, Brookhaven Golf Course is “not your ordinary walk in the woods.” The course itself has its own distinct personality and challenges, making it fun for golfers of all abilities, and the onsite restaurant, The View at Brookhaven, serves up affordable favorites such as chicken parmesan and shepherd’s pie with—you guessed it—a view.

518.893.7458 | brookhavengolfcourse.com

COPAKE COUNTRY CLUB 44 GOLF COURSE ROAD, CRARYVILLE

“Public Golf, Private Quality” is the motto of Copake Country Club, a 160-acre, 18-hole golf course nestled in the foothills of the Berkshire and Catskill mountains. Having recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, Copake features pure greens and meticulously maintained terrain, more than 15 different membership rates, weekday specials for local service workers, discounted twilight packages, and a rustic-chic restaurant overlooking the fairways.

518.325.0019 | copakecountryclub.com

SARANAC INN GOLF CLUB 125 COUNTY ROUTE 46, SARANAC LAKE

The Saranac Inn Golf Club is one of the Adirondacks’ most stunning courses, and has been challenging golfers since 1901. Legendary course architect Seymour Dunn called it his masterpiece! Noted for its lightning-fast and true greens, the classic Scottish design has a great mix of long, medium, and short par threes, fours, and fives, and is fun for golfers with a range of skill levels.

518.891.1402 | saranacinn.com

SARATOGA LAKE GOLF CLUB 35 GRACE MOORE ROAD, SARATOGA SPRINGS

Saratoga Lake Golf Club is a par 72 public golf course located in the heart of a lush forest just outside of downtown Saratoga Springs. It’s one of the most relaxing courses in upstate New York; every round takes players past sparkling ponds, beautiful wetlands, and views of Saratoga Lake. Post-round, golfers can enjoy drinks, snacks, or dinner on the spacious deck of The Hideaway, the club’s onsite restaurant.

518.581.6616 | saratogalakegolf.com

TICONDEROGA GOLF COURSE 609 STATE ROUTE 9N, TICONDEROGA

Friend to beginners and seasoned golfers alike, Ticonderoga Golf Course is built into the Historic Adirondack Lord Howe Valley. Scenic panoramic views, babbling brooks, and treelined fairways make for a truly memorable round. A par 71 with 18 holes, the course is ideal for those looking to fine-tune their game in a historic, legendary town. Exceptional dining at Seymour’s Restaurant caps off an ideal day.

518.585.2801 | ticonderogagolfcourse.com

off track

SARATOGA’S HOTTEST TICKETS

saratoga living’s

Overdress to

Impress

APRIL 8 • PANZA’S photography by SHAWN L a CHAPELLE

This spring, saratoga living officially brought glam back—for a cause. Presented by Afterglow Sunless Tans, Overdress to Impress: Glam Revival Edition lured more than 100 local fashionistas out of their sweatpants and into their Tuesday’s best for an evening of bubbly from Bocage Champagne Bar, cocktails by Curamia Tequila, food by Panza’s, live music by DJ PR3Z, red carpet interviews, and the fourth annual event’s signature catwalk, complete with prizes for the winners of four different categories. In the end, the evening raised a total of $10,000 for Wellspring, the domestic violence and sexual assault services resource for Saratoga County.

Amanda Classen

Madison Reuter and Zac Denham

Gail Coons

Gloria Ethier, Cassy Dean, Lauren Ruane, Becca Iacovetti, Ellen Scharf, Carina Rodriguez

Overdress winners Kate VanHerp, Coco Trotter, Aaron Madej, Mell T. Meus, and Mo Rabiu

Sue Lepkowski

Jessie Brooks

Danielle DeSantis

Mell T. Meus, Mo Rabiu, Coco Trotter, and Tommie Burch

Andrea Zappone and Zac Denham, post-wardrobe change

Wellspring CEO Maggie Fronk and saratoga living Chairman Anthony Ianniello

Bocage provided the bubbly Carina Rodriguez

Maddy Halverson and Natalie Moore

Two Buttons Deep’s Taylor Rao, Aaron Madej, and Jack Carpenter

off track

SARATOGA’S HOTTEST TICKETS

Saratoga Day

MARCH 13 • BOCA RATON, FL

Yes, Boca Raton. This past March, Panza’s co-owner Michael Panza revived an annual wintertime tradition that invites Saratoga snowbirds wintering in Florida to a celebration of the 518 some 1,400 miles from home. At this year’s event, more than 200 guests dined, drank, and danced to Sinatra classics and pop from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s performed by Panza and Florida-based pianist/singer Giovanni Fazio.

Saratoga Senior Center’s 70th Anniversary

MARCH 28 • SARATOGA SENIOR CENTER

The Saratoga Senior Center turns 70 in 2025, and to kick off a year’s worth of festivities, the organization hosted a birthday bash complete with drinks by Little Lucy’s Mobile Bar, food by Refresh Kitchen, live music by Skidmore duo Question of the Century, and, for some attendees, ping pong.

Sheryl Camardo and Joe Verillo

Roosevelt Baker, Michael Panza, and Jeff Brown

Neal Kramer, Bob McKenna, Nadine Kramer, Michael Panza, and Cathy McKenna

Linda Casse and Brenda Lee

Dan and Mary Beth Cimino

Andy Brindisi and Michael Panza

Michael and Carol Zappone and Stan and Linda Wilock

Lois Celeste, Matthew Esler, Amanda Bailly, Dora Lee Stanley, Kristen Esler, and Alex Esler

Kevin St. Onge and Kelly Fergusen

Joe Hermann, Donna Hermann, and Mary Lentini

Larry Pohl, Eileen Nash, Lawrence Barisic, and Kally Strauss

Audrey Choiniere, Lucia Falciano, and Hailey Brooks Candy Flynn and Fred Docous

Bret Celeste, Ercan Kilic, and James Kanzler

Jill Johnson VanKuren and Kelly Armer

Kate Engert and Ryan Sheridan

Greg and Suzanne Grande

parking at Arthur Zankel Music Center

Hudson Headwaters Welcomes Patients and Community Members to New Moreau Pharmacy

The Hudson Headwaters Pharmacy at Moreau is open to everyone. In this interview, Pharmacy Manager Sara Vogel, PharmD/RPh (above), explains its unique benefits for patients and community members.

Why did Hudson Headwaters open a pharmacy?

As a nonprofit primary care provider, we understand that convenience and access are key. Hudson Headwaters opened a pharmacy to expand access to prescriptions and vital pharmacy services. The pharmacy serves everyone, whether you are an existing patient or not. The Hudson Headwaters Pharmacy at Moreau is located right off Exit 17 of I-87 (the Northway), adjacent to Moreau Family Health and offers a drive-thru window. For those outside of the Moreau area, we offer free delivery.

What are the benefits of using Hudson Headwaters’ Pharmacy at Moreau?

The pharmacy at Moreau makes it easy to fill and refill your prescriptions. Our pharmacists provide personalized service and quality care. We will help you navigate potential barriers to care, such as prior authorizations and insurance coverage. We also offer programs to help patients save on prescriptions. Upon request, we can fill your prescriptions in unit-dosing packaging. Additionally, we stock a selection of over-the-counter treatments for cough and cold, first aid, vitamins, digestive aids, and more.

What insurance plans do you take?

Like any other community pharmacy, we accept most commercial insurance as well as Medicaid and Medicare plans.

How do I switch pharmacies?

Switching is easy! Simply contact your health care provider or the pharmacy to transfer your prescriptions.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

We are a community-focused pharmacy. By filling your prescriptions with us, you support Hudson Headwaters’ mission to provide access to high-quality health care for all. ■ For more information, visit HHHN.org or call 518.203.3547.

home stretch

fashion & style :: HOUSE & HOME :: FOOD & DRINK

John & Caitlyn Saris

GUITARIST & DOG GROOMER

I’m getting the sense that you are paying homage to a superstar with your look.

john: “Hopefully Hank Soto from The Stony Creek Band, who are being inducted.”

Anyone else...?

john: “Well, Elvis. I’ve always secretly thought I looked a little bit like him.”

Cue the Lights

every year, the Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Awards (The Eddies) not only shine a spotlight on the current hottest names in the music world, but also honor the greats—those individuals who've helped shape the local music scene that exists today—by inducting them into the Eddies Hall of Fame. At this past March’s induction ceremony, saratoga living was on the scene in search of the best of outfits in a sea of the region’s best musicians.

BY TIINA LOITE photography by SHAWN

L a CHAPELLE

EVENT: THE EDDIES HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY

PLACE: UNIVERSAL PRESERVATION HALL

DATE: MARCH 24

Dylan Perrillo

BASSIST

Is that what your bass normally wears?

“It’s an unusually sized bass. I had this custom-made, and I liked the color.”

Is there a music icon you’re channeling with that outfit?

“If you channel Jimi, you’ll always have confidence walking into a room.”

Lori Friday PAST INDUCTEE

home stretch

fashion & style :: HOUSE & HOME :: FOOD & DRINK

Ed Conway

PHOTOGRAPHER

“I wore the jacket because it went with the boots.”

Erin Harkes

MUSICIAN/ COMEDIAN/ PUBLISHER

“I’ve had this dress for a year and I’ve been waiting for the perfect place to wear it.”

Lisa McLane

SENIOR CARE ADVISOR

“I rock my own style. It’s a little punk, it’s a little ska. I’m 56. It’s taken me a while.”

Sirsy, aka Melanie Krahmer & Rich Libutti

2025 INDUCTEES melanie: “The only other time I wore these heels was my wedding.”

Sten Isachsen

MUSICIAN

“When I’m not on stage, I just wear black shirts.”

Karen Munze

RETIRED

ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYST

“It’s the Eddies! That’s why I chose guitar pick earrings.”

SUMMER FESTIVAL FESTIVAL

home stretch

FASHION & STYLE :: house & home :: FOOD & DRINK

Palazzo Riggi, Again

NORTH BROADWAY’S ICONIC MANSION IS BACK ON THE MARKET FOR $24.9 MILLION.

BY LISA ARCELLA PHOTOGRAPHY BY IN-HOUSE.MEDIA

in the market for a mansion? For just under $25 million, the property known as Palazzo Riggi at 637 North Broadway in Saratoga Springs could be yours. But wait, didn’t that house just sell for something like $7 million?

Yes—in 2023, Gross Electric owner Joe Gross purchased the home for $7.1 million. (It had originally been listed for $17.9 million, but after not selling for a year, went to auction.) Apparently, Gross wasn’t looking for a summer home for himself, because in the last two years, he’s invested another $7 million into the property,

completely renovating the electrical, heating, plumbing, lighting, home control, sound, and security systems; updating the back patio with blue stone terraces; repainting interiors; and replacing carpeting in the home’s sunny Saratoga and Bali rooms. Now, Palazzo Riggi (or should we say Palazzo Gross?) is back on the market.

Built in 2003, the property originally belonged to Ronald and Michelle Riggi, Saratoga socialites who came into money when Ron and his brother founded Turbine Services LTD in 1972. Ron, an avid sailor, pilot, and traveler,

was known for the many collections he gathered during his worldwide travels and brought back to the Capital Region with him. The home was his crowning glory. When he passed away at the age of 80 in 2022, Michelle listed the property for sale.

In case you missed the listing the first time around, here’s a quick recap of what some lucky buyer will get when they pull the trigger on the “Jewel of Saratoga.”

Clocking in at more than 19,000 square feet, the estate has six bedrooms, 13 bathrooms, five garage

spaces, a finished basement, in-ground pool, home theater, fitness room, koi pond, security guard house, and carriage house suite. There are painted murals, Schonbek chandeliers, two custom kitchens, an award-winning double staircase designed by Herndon & Merry, and a game room featuring a bowling alley, pool table, and pub bar from England. Like any home of its caliber, the finishes are top tier, from the marble fireplaces and custom railings to the massive walk-in closets.

The outdoor space is equally stunning, featuring manicured gardens,

a swimming pool with a spa, waterfalls, and a pool house. And not to worry if there’s a snowstorm in town—the heated walkways and driveways mean the future owner will never have to pick up a shovel or fire up a snowblower.

Julie & Company broker/owner Julie Bonacio is representing the property herself. “It really is a once-in-a-lifetime place,” she says. “The workmanship and details could not be replicated today at this price. It really feels like you’re at an estate in Europe.”

Palazzo [fill in your last name]...It has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?

broadway hit (clockwise, from left) 637 North Broadway from above; the mansion’s lower level features gaming tables, a custom pub, a bowling alley, and more; the custom-built pool with a spa and waterfall was made with marble imported from Italy; a Clive Christian custom study with coffered ceilings and a built-in cocktail area; the primary suite bathroom has a Roman-style tub, a crystal chandelier, and his & her water closets; the primary suite, with its gold-gilded Clive Christian super king bed, fireplace, and terrace; a state-ofthe-art home gym; the movie theater boasts a candy stand and popcorn machine.

home stretch

FASHION & STYLE :: HOUSE & HOME :: food & drink

Dinner Is (Still) Served

AFTER 20 YEARS IN BUSINESS, SARATOGA RESTAURANT

MOUZON HOUSE IS SWITCHING UP ITS MO. n BY KATHLEEN WILLCOX

for the last few years, The Mouzon House has been hosting special reservation-only, five-course Supper Club dinners on select Friday and Saturday nights. The draw: You can only get that specific menu on that specific weekend. Want one of the dishes the following weekend? You’re probably out of luck.

While the beloved farmto-table restaurant was still offering regular restaurant service through the end of 2024, the Pedinotti family,

who opened Mouzon House in 2005, decided to go all in on their Supper Clubs and private events this year. That means that while the restaurant is no longer open for regular dinner service, fans of its eclectic, elegant, downhome dishes—think fried chicken and crawfish beignets—can still get their fix if they plan ahead.

The decision, as you can imagine, was not taken lightly.

“My sister and I have young families, and we felt

home sweet home

“We are so lucky to have a historic home,” Rebecca Pedinotti (seen here with her mom, Dianne) says of the Victorian-era structure that’s home to Mouzon House. “We want to allow our guests to come in, relax, slow down, and enjoy their moments together.”

like we were missing out on precious time with our kids,” says Rebecca Pedinotti, who handles all the ingredient sourcing and cooking with her sister, Kaitlyn, and father, David. (Rebecca and Kaitlyn’s mother, Dianne, handles the front of house.) “Because we source sustainably grown ingredients from farmers nearby, the cost of food is really high. Plus, the reality of restaurant life, especially

in Saratoga in the summer, means that sometimes we wouldn’t feel great at the end of a night. There are only so many people you can feed in one space and still make it special.”

The Pedinottis also found themselves keeping the restaurant lights on—and the bartender, dishwasher, and wait staff on hand—for just a few couples lingering at the bar over drinks and an appetizer.

“That kind of model no longer felt sustainable to us,” Rebecca says. “Not for the lives we wanted, or from an economic perspective.”

Now, Mouzon House only opens on select Fridays and Saturdays for Supper Club, as well as for private events, including weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and showers.

So far, the change has allowed the Pedinottis to get more creative and craft unique menus inspired by locally grown, seasonal ingredients, with themes that will transport diners to different places, like the Mediterranean or New Orleans. On June 7 and 8, the Belmont Supper Club will feature an island-themed menu that can be curated to meet dietary needs and allergies. A full drinks menu and special wine pairings will also be available.

“This was such a personal decision,” Rebecca says. “It doesn’t feel good to run on empty. We want to create special moments that we can be proud of.”

Photos by Meri Light Photography

home stretch

FASHION & STYLE :: HOUSE & HOME :: food & drink

1. WHITMAN BREWING: RANGE SESSION

Beer and golf go together like peanut butter and jelly, so it adds up that Whitman Brewing would be partnering with PGA of Northeastern New York on Range Session, a new IPA available at the downtown brewery and select local golf courses and restaurants. But there’s more to this story than drinking brews on the links. Sales of Range Session will support the mission of PGA REACH, an organization that, among other initiatives, offers six-week complementary golf instruction and access to veterans and active military members in an effort to enhance mental, physical, and social wellbeing. “At Whitman, we believe in the power of community and the connections that great beer—and great golf— can create,” says Sam VanDenmark, Whitman Brewing’s director of sales. “Partnering with PGA REACH on Range Session is an incredible opportunity to combine our passion for craft beer with a mission that truly makes a difference.”

FOR A CAUSE

2. FIRST FILL SPIRITS: DORNOCH KENTUCKY BOURBON

Looking for something a little bit stronger? To celebrate Dornoch’s 2024 Belmont Stakes victory, Vito Cucci of Belmar Racing, one of Dornoch’s owners, connected with the only whiskey-specific shop in Saratoga to create a limited-edition bourbon. Distilled and aged in Bardstown, KY, Dornoch Kentucky Bourbon embodies the grit and grace of the Belmont winner, featuring notes of ripe green apples, white peppercorns, and

Drink Up

BEER, WHISKEY, OR TEA? RAISE YOUR GLASS TO THREE NEW BREWS THAT ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

BY MORGAN MASCHEWSKI

caramel. “For each bottle of Dornoch Bourbon, $50 will be donated to a charity that supports the Backstretch workers in our horse racing community,” says Dan Graham, CEO of SM2 Dev, a marketing agency that helped First Fill bring the new product to fruition. “First Fill Spirits is continuing to partner with businesses, whiskey clubs, and enthusiasts on privately branded releases just like this one.” Example: LEO, a brand of single-barrel bourbon named for First Fill co-owner Holly Seidewand’s dog that raises money for regional animal shelters.

3. THE WHISTLING KETTLE: PAWSITIVI-TEA

Speaking of animal shelters, local tea shop Whistling Kettle is teaming up with the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society to create an herbal blend for a cause. A portion of proceeds of Pawsitivitea—a unique blend of rosemary, Yerba Mate, and citrus—will help provide care for animals in need. “We’re very excited about our Communitea series,” Whistling Kettle co-owner Meahgan Borowsky says. “Each quarter, we’ll be partnering and raising funds for various causes that matter to us.” Next up? The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

YOU DON’T NEED TO BE UP ON YOUR GEN Z SLANG TO UNDERSTAND THAT SIDECAP, SARATOGA’S NEWEST BOOZY COFFEE BEVERAGE, IS THE REAL DEAL.

many of us took up new hobbies during the pandemic. But only a select few, like Adam Feldman, Dave Dolinsky, and Case Fell, were able to conceive, launch, and maintain a successful business. In 2022, the three friends started Sidecap, a hard, canned cold brew beverage produced right here in the 518. The brand had its official launch this year.

Formulated with custom small-batched, half-caf cold brew from Kru and spiked with “just enough ultra-smooth vodka to keep things interesting,” Sidecap, Feldman says, is different from other hard caffeinated drinks on the market: “Sidecap is committed to being a coffee drink. Most of our competitors are either sugar drinks with coffee or martini-style drinks. We kept it simple: coffee and vodka. There are no weird additives, either—just a touch of sugar and vanilla.”

The product is canned at Saratoga’s Ninth Planet Beverage Solutions on Geyser Road, and at press time was sold exclusively at Purdy’s Discount Wine & Liquor. Feldman hopes to onboard as many local retailers as possible in the coming months. “We want everyone in Saratoga drinking Sidcecap this summer,” he says. The ultimate goal? For the drink to make its way into every waiter’s brunch script: “Would you like a Bloody Mary, mimosa, or Sidecap?”

—CIERRA ORLYK

Elsasser’s Beim 111

111 MAIN STREET, GREENWICH elsassers111.com • 518.531.4777

This summer, Elsasser’s Beim 111 isn’t the only place you’ll be able to get Chris Bischoff’s authentic Alsatian food. The beloved Greenwich restaurant will be serving its dishes every Saturday from noon-6pm at South Dominion Vineyard, 190 Brownell Road, Cambridge, NY. Tour the vineyards, taste the wines (which are carefully curated onsite), and let Elsasser’s pair them with gluten-free spätzle topped with delicacies like short ribs and roast pork. See website for hours.

Dunning Street Station

2853 STATE ROUTE 9, MALTA dunningstreetstation.com • 518.587.2000

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, and the bar staff is ready to serve you a bright, spring cocktail. Dunning Street also hosts private events and offers gift certificates for all your gifting needs. Open Tuesday-Saturday 3-9pm.

Kindred

84 HENRY STREET, SARATOGA SPRINGS kindredsaratoga.com • 518.886.1198

From the creators of Henry Street Taproom, Kindred is a wine bar that focuses not only on good wine, but specialty cocktails, craft beer, and top-notch food, too. The menu focuses on small plates cooked in wood-fired ovens, as well as select entrées including pan-roasted cod and NY prime strip steak. Comfortable and chic, Kindred is the perfect place to make memories with friends and family this summer. Open Tuesday-Saturday 4pm-midnight.

Panza’s

Restaurant

129 SOUTH BROADWAY, SARATOGA SPRINGS panzasrestaurant.com • 518.584.6882

Treasured family recipes have kept

Panza’s a Saratoga staple since 1938.

Expect authentic Italian food that meets modern American fare in a classic setting, an ever-evolving menu that keeps regulars coming back for new takes on their favorite dishes, and weekly live music at the intimate piano bar and Starlight Lounge stage. The Panza’s team would like to thank all who helped vote the restaurant Best Saratoga County Restaurant in this year’s CAPITAL REGION LIVING Bestie Awards. Open at 5pm Wednesday–Sunday.

Prime Restaurant

458 UNION AVENUE, SARATOGA SPRINGS primeatsaratoganational.com • 518.583.4653

Last summer, Prime Restaurant honed its culinary skills and reopened as a contemporary American restaurant. What’s on the menu? To start, duck dumplings, land and sea rolls, and compressed watermelon salad, followed by house-made pasta, veal chop, steaks, and more. Prime’s upscale vibe meets affordability, and with casual, sleek, and fine-dining spaces, the restaurant truly has something for everyone—inside and out. Enjoy lunch overlooking the 18th hole at Saratoga National Golf Club or an intimate dinner in the main dining room. Reserve a table now on resy.com. See website for seasonal hours.

Franklin Square Market

55 RAILROAD PLACE, SARATOGA SPRINGS franklinsqmarket.com • 518.430.2049

Sure, you can pick up groceries (including more than four dozen local products) at Franklin Square Market, but did you know that downtown Saratoga’s favorite grocery store has a full-service onsite bar and restaurant with allnew summer food and drink menus, too? Stop by for $6 happy hour Tuesday–Saturday, and browse the store while you sip (yes, you can shop with a drink in your hand!), or make full use of the warm weather—outdoor seating is available! See website for hours.

The Brook Tavern

139 UNION AVENUE, SARATOGA SPRINGS

thebrooktavern.com • 518.871.1473

It doesn’t get much more convenient—or delicious!—than dining at The Brook Tavern after a day at the races. Located just steps from historic Saratoga Race Course on Union Ave, The Brook Tavern boasts an elevated casual atmosphere and a menu with something for everyone. Stop in for a glass of wine and some small plates (sesame-encrusted ahi tuna, anyone?), grab a burger and fries, or go all in on a round of cocktails and a 22 oz. Cowboy Steak. Vegetarian and gluten-free options available! Open Tuesday–Sunday 4-9pm.

Cantina

408 BROADWAY, SARATOGA SP R INGS cantinasaratoga.com • 518.587.5577

Broadway 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 and delicious fare, and craft cocktails—happy hour, anyone?! Grab a seat on the patio or in the stylishly airy interior to enjoy warm-weather favorites including salads, seafood, tacos, and fajitas, or head up to the Cantina Rooftop, which has a summertime vibe you simply have to experience for yourself. See website for seasonal hours and social media for Rooftop hours.

Inn at Erlowest

3178 LAKE SHORE DRIVE, LAKE GEORGE innaterlowest.com • 518.668.5928

The Inn at Erlowest isn’t just a gorgeous Queen Anne–style hotel…It’s also home to a finedining restaurant that has entertained everyone from George Foster Peabody and Spencer and Katrina Trask to

Charles “Charlie” Wood throughout its long history. Today, the Inn offers patrons inspired cuisine in its intimate dining rooms and outside on the Fireplace Patio and Courtyard Terrace, as well as at the charming Library Bar; each dining option features locally sourced ingredients and unparalleled views of Lake George. Open 5-8:30pm Thursday–Monday.

Putnam’s Restaurant

24 GIDEON PUTNAM ROAD, SARATOGA SPRINGS gideonputnam.com • 866.890.1171

The Gideon Putnam’s signature dining experience, Putnam’s Restaurant, offers historic charm, first-class service and seasonally changing menus. But the restaurant isn’t just open to guests of the historic hotel, which this year is celebrating its 90th (!) anniversary—the public is welcome to stop by for breakfast and dinner as well. Executive Chef Mark Graham uses locally sourced and seasonal ingredients whenever possible in dishes such as his signature Saratoga turkey club, lobster pilaf, and grilled Delmonico steak, all of which are served by highly trained staff who provide personalized service to each and every customer. During the summer months, stop by the Gideon to enjoy a cocktail or meal on the Putnam’s patio. See website for hours.

Lake Ridge

35 BURLINGTON AVENUE, ROUND LAKE lake-ridge.com • 518.899.6000

Tucked away in the Village of Round Lake, just off exit 11 of the Northway, Lake Ridge is only 10 minutes from Saratoga Springs and 15 minutes from Albany. The romantic establishment—which boasts seafood, steak, pasta, small plates, and more—is a great, laid-back alternative to dining in busy Saratoga. Whether you’re sitting down for a three-course meal or grabbing a drink at the mahogany bar, you’ll always have a great time at Lake Ridge, which this year is celebrating 24 years in business. Open 4-8:45pm Tuesday-Saturday.

Henry Street Taproom

86 HENRY STREET, SARATOGA SPRINGS henrystreettaproom.com • 518.886.8938

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, inventive cocktails, and locally sourced, made-from-scratch food since 2012. More than 12 years later, 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 warm weather rolls around. Open Tuesday-Friday 4-10pm; Saturday 2-10pm; Sunday 2-9pm.

Coat Room

385 BROADWAY, SARATOGA SPRINGS the C oatroom.com • 518.306.4155

Coat Room’s location on the first floor of 385 Broadway is hopping year-round, but come summertime, the party moves to the rooftop. Open every Thursday–Sunday through the summer season, the rooftop will feature its own kitchen menu of chef-inspired summer bites and as well as a drink menu that maintains the high-level cocktail experience locals have come to expect from the Coat Room’s bar team. Whether you’re bellying up to the chic downstairs bar or enjoying dinner and a drink al fresco, you can’t go wrong at Coat Room this season. See website for hours.

Coat Room

thecoatroom.com

 518.306.4155

385 Broadway, Saratoga Springs

Dunning Street Station

dunningstreetstation.com

 518.587.2000

2853 State Route 9, Malta

Franklin Square Market

franklinsqmarket.com

 518.430.2049

55 Railroad Place, Saratoga Springs

Elsasser's Biem 111

elsassers111.com

 518.531.4777

111 Main Street, Greenwich

Henry Street Taproom

henrystreettaproom.com

 518.886.8938

86 Henry Street, Saratoga Springs

Inn at Erlowest

innaterlowest.com

 518.668.592

3178 Lake Shore Drive, Lake George

Kindred

kindredsaratoga.com

 518.886.1198

84 Henry Street, Saratoga Springs

Lake Ridge Restaurant

lake-ridge.com

 518.899.6000

35 Burlington Avenue, Round Lake

ITALIAN

Panza’s Restaurant

panzasrestaurant.com

 518.584.6882

129 South Broadway, Saratoga Springs

Prime Restaurant

primeatsaratoganational.com

 518.583.4653

458 Union Avenue, Saratoga Springs

Putnam’s Restaurant

gideonputnam.com

 866.890.1171

24 Gideon Putnam Road, Saratoga Springs

The Wishing Well

wishingwellrestaurant.com

 518.584.7640

745 Saratoga Road, Gansevoort

Cantina

cantinasaratoga.com

 518.587.5577

408 Broadway, Saratoga Springs

WALBANY ACADEMY: The Capital Region’s Preparatory School

Want to prepare your kids for their best and brightest future? Albany Academy is a convenient bus ride away.

hen your child is headed to a school with a 55-acre collegelike campus, rigorous learning programs, and robust academic and social support systems, the 40-mile commute doesn’t feel so far. This has been Saratoga resident Cara Milde’s experience with sending her children to Albany Academy. While many Saratogians hear “Albany” and immediately dismiss the school as too far, Milde says they should think again, as the Academy offers safe and reliable bus transportation to and from school.

“The bus the kids ride to the Academy is great,” she says. “We’ve had the same bus drivers since we started, and they know our kids and look out for them. There are no stops along the way, and my kids arrive with time to pull themselves together and get to their morning obligations on time.”

Of course, there are other perks to an Albany Academy education, too, including a college counseling program valued at $12,000, and classes that not only challenge students academically but also cultivate life skills. “The curriculum is rigorous,” Milde says, “but the class sizes are small and teachers can give so much attention to the students with a true focus on mastering the content.” For Milde, at least, Albany Academy is a no-brainer. ■ To learn more visit albanyacademy.org.

Celebrating Our Nurses

Saratoga Hospital recognizes the 1000+ nursing heroes who make the difference to the Saratoga community. Please join us in thanking them for their dedication, expertise, and compassion.

SARATOGIAN OF THE MONTH

Behind the Scenes with Leigh Rathner

THE ONLY THING BETTER THAN NIGHT WORK’S BREAD IS CHATTING WITH THE HOLLYWOOD CAMERAMAN-TURNED-BAKER WHO MADE IT.

BY NATALIE MOORE n PHOTOGRAPHY BY MEGAN MUMFORD

Ialways say that one of my favorite parts of my job is going out into the Capital Region and mingling with the townspeople. My favorite place to mingle? Night Work Bread. My favorite townsperson with whom I mingle? Leigh Rathner.

On most mornings, I can find Leigh posted up on his laptop at the corner table of the Ballston Spa bakery he owns with his wife, Cindy Rosenberg, sipping Knockabout Coffee out of his “It Can Wait” sloth mug. The mornings he’s not in his usual spot, he’s likely elbow-deep in flour arguing with his sourdough starter, or fixing his sink, or fixing his oven. But Leigh’s talents don’t stop there. Before moving across the country to bake some of the best bread Saratoga County has ever seen, he worked as a cameraman in Hollywood,

shooting for projects including Argo, 13 Reasons Why, and Runaway Bride

When I pulled up a chair to Leigh’s regular table this past spring, he was fresh off a trip to Portugal to visit the cannery that supplies Night Work’s curated selection of tinned fish, gearing up for farmers’ market season.

This summer, stop by the Spa City Farmers’ Market to check out Night Work’s new bagel bar, or the bakery’s Science Street location to meet the man who makes it all happen.

In what ways are working on a movie set and in a bakery similar?

Getting up early and working 12, 14, 16 hours a day.

Do you eat bread for every meal?

I try not to, but I’ll eat a whole meal and then I’ll walk by the breadboard in our

head Leigh Rathner, a Long

his children in

before moving to Hollywood to work as a cameraman. It was in LA that he met his wife, Cindy, an acupuncturist. The couple moved to Wilton in 2021 and launched Night Work Bread shortly after.

house and take a slice and slap some butter on it like it’s dessert.

What’s one thing you didn’t expect when you opened the bakery?

To have people coming in here thanking me for being in business and telling me that I can never go out of business because they can’t live without my bread.

Do you have any advice for amateur sourdough bakers?

Keep going. It’s the kind of thing where you have to develop a feel for it, and the only way to do that is to have a lot of failure. So just try and try again.

bread

Island native, raised

Saratoga

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ON THE TOWN

OPERA SARATOGA ’S 2025 SUMMER FESTIVAL IS A FIRST-CLASS TICKET

BY CIERRA ORLYK

|

TO A WORLDLY NIGHT OUT IN DOWNTOWN SARATOGA.

SUMMER FESTIVAL CALENDAR

May 28 & 29

IN A GROVE

Ferndell Pavillion at Saratoga Spa State Park

ith shows ranging from rom-com and risqué to Saratoga’s only summer musical and a classical opera in French, Opera Saratoga’s 2025 Summer Festival has something for everyone. General and Artistic Director Mary Birnbaum’s ultimate goal? To bring the performing arts to anyone who wants a night out in downtown Saratoga, by way of the glam of Paris, the exotic mystique of Budapest, and the wit of Ireland.

WJune 1

GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK CONCERT

“I designed a season that not only captures the lightness of summer, but also provides joy and inspiration,” says Birnbaum. “Escape with us via the magic of live theater—we have planned quite a European adventure!” The diverse offering of shows—most of which take place at Universal Preservation Hall—will be performed by both prominent and up-and-coming artists, thanks to Opera Saratoga’s Festival Artists program. The program selects a small number of America’s most prestigious emerging artists each year to participate (this year, of the 900 applicants, only 16 were selected).

Mansion of Saratoga

Jarrett Porter, She Loves Me

FESTIVAL ARTIST SPOTLIGHT CONCERTS

Universal Preservation Hall June 21 & 24

Universal Preservation Hall June 22 & 27

Preservation Hall

The opera’s year-round programs include a life-changing live music initiative for patients with Alzheimer’s or dementia and an educational tour for children. Next summer, for Opera Saratoga’s 65th anniversary, Birnbaum will welcome Alyssa Weinberg of the Composer’s Institute at the Lake George Music Festival for the company’s first main stage commission of a female composer. And if you’ve never been to an opera before? “This,” Birnbaum says, “is the summer to try.”

Ready to grab your ticket to a whirlwind tour through Europe’s most iconic backdrops? Meet Opera Saratoga’s core summer shows (see the calendar to the right for additional one-off concerts):

LA VIE PARISIENNE

Set in Champagne-fueled Paris in the 1860s, La Vie parisienne is a French comic operetta composed by Jacques Offenbach. The buddy comedy follows two bachelors who disguise themselves as tour guides for a Swedish Baron and Baroness, trying to woo the Baroness through a series of fictitious set-ups.

“Offenbach’s piece promises Saratoga audiences tunes that will stick with them, such as dance songs, drinking songs, and patter songs,” says Birnbaum. The show is sung in French with modern new English dialogue by Birnbaum’s longtime colleague, Tim Drucker, who called the operetta “so funny, and very Parisian—I just love it.”

SHE LOVES

ME takes place in Budapest in the 1960s, where two sworn enemies work alongside each other at a parfumerie (think: Sephora). Each has been writing love letters to an anonymous pen pal; little do they know, they’re writing to each other.

Recent Festival Artist Jarrett Porter now performs operas across Europe but will return to Saratoga this summer as the musical’s romantic hero, Georg. He describes the lonely heart characters as “unsentimental,” yet calls the show “a jewel box of a romance story.”

The musical by Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick, and Joe Masteroff is known for its tunes such as “She Loves Me,” “It’s Been Grand Knowing You,” and “Vanilla Ice Cream.” (Yes, Stewart’s Shops will be serving ice cream at intermission.)

MASS FOR WOMEN

A

IN BATHROOMS is a work-in-progress performance from award-winning Irish composer Emma O’Halloran and librettist Naomi Louisa O’Connell. Centered around three sisters and their mother, it tells an intimate family story through the lens of Catholic Mass, examining themes of infertility, reproductive rights, and bodily autonomy.