saratoga living January/February 2018

REVEALED! THE KENTUCKY DERBY WINNER WILL BE...

{check out our fresh look inside}

JANUARY FEBRUARY 2018

THE CIT Y. THE C U LT U R E. TH E LIFE.

“The big day was amazing, like a dream you want to relive over and over.”

“I Do!”

7 BRIDES, 7 STORIES THE NEXT BRIDAL SUPERSTAR IS HERE GORGEOUS GOWNS FROM CARRIE BRADSHAW TO PRINCESS GRACE

THE OLYMPICS HIT HOME BY MIKE KANE MY SARATOGA, A LOVE STORY BY CORNELIA GUEST

PLUS

THE FASTEST (AND COOLEST) CAR ON THE ROAD THE DINNER RESERVATION YOU WANT AND CAN’T GET LEGENDARY PHOTOGRAPHER ANNIE LEIBOVITZ and so much more

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ENHANCE THEIR EXPERIENCE INCREASE YOUR REVENUE

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Bringing POLY into my spa has been wonderful... the results from our sessions have been excellent and so has the return on investment.

We are all very excited.

-Kate Cross Licensed Esthetician and Owner of Bloom Earthly Beauty

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“Best sports bar in Saratoga” –Saratoga Living ⁄

2 saratoga living

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018Saratoga Springs, NY ⁄389 Broadway

518-226-4437

EAT. D R INK. DANCE. REPEAT.

16 CAROLINE STREET

SARATOGA SPRINGS NY 12866

www.gaffneysrestaurant.com

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inside

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“I Do!”

30

7 Brides, 7 Stories

48

Tales of Saratoga weddings from the women who know them best.

A bride-to-be’s survival guide.

BY SOPHIA PEREZ, K AREN BJORNL AND, M O L LY C O N G D O N A N D W I L L L E V I T H

A S T O L D T O M O L LY C O N G D O N , W I L L L E V I T H A N D N ATA L I E M O O R E

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The Next Big Thing Is Cristina Ottaviano the next bridal superstar?

BY TODD KINGSTON PLUMMER

46

Stars Are NOT Like Us It’s all about the dress.

BY WILL LEVITH

And Don’t Forget...

54

Wedding Gowns To Dream About This ain’t your mother’s wedding dress.

B Y N ATA L I E M O O R E

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features

And The Winner Is...

Horse (and team) with Saratoga ties plans to shock the nation in Kentucky.

BY MIKE K ANE

64

Guest Of Honor Socialite/activist Cornelia Guest revealed.

BY R I C H A R D P É R E Z- F E R I A PHOTOGRAPH BY BRUCE WEBER

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The Way I Was Misty-watered colored memories of Saratoga.

BY CORNELIA GUEST

68

The Planet’s Most Difficult Dinner Reservation

This restaurant takes farm-to-table to the extreme.

B Y A L E X A N D R A S TA F F O R D

72

Beyond The Stars When did Annie Leibovitz become the next Warhol?

O L Y M P I C F E V E R

82

Whitehall’s Codie Bascue is ready to capture the gold.

BY BILL HENNING P H OTO G R A P H Y BY A N N I E L E I B OV I TZ

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SNOWMAGEDDON! 130 years ago, it snowed and snowed and snowed.

TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKE K ANE

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The Man Who Dressed Jackie & Grace Oleg Cassini for the win.

BY K AREN BJORNL AND

Being There Memories of Olympics past.

BY MIKE K ANE

B Y D AV E PAT T E R S O N

90

The Driver

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Saratoga’s Proud Medalist

Have you met our bronze-winning champ?

B Y N ATA L I E M O O R E

The Townsend Collection by American Standard.

A design collaboration is a very special relationship.

It’s a pleasure when our passion for quality products becomes part of the creative process. As an addition to the wide assortment of brands that homeowners have come to enjoy in our showrooms, we’ve recently curated new collections to help architects and designers distinguish their work when transforming baths and kitchens.

Product knowledge, detailed coordination and an accessible, friendly staff are added values we offer to ensure your project goes smoothly.

BALLSTON SPA 1 McCrea Hill Road ALBANY 17 Erie Boulevard For other showrooms, visit frankwebb.com

Architects & designers are encouraged to visit frankwebb.com/professionals.

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inside

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12

The Team

the back

16

From The Editor

93

After Dark

94

Robin’s Social Studies Spa

the front

19

Saratoga By The Numbers

97

19

It’s True (We Think)

102

Dressing Up

20

Say What?

104

Dressing Down

20

Asked & Answered

106

Over There

22

Mayor Meg Kelly

110

Drive

24

Telemark Skiing

114

Drink

26

Off Broadway

116

Design

28

#lovewhereyoulive

120 the

7 FOR ALL MANKIND BCBG

BELLA DAHL

ELLA MOSS

FREE PEOPLE

FRENCH CONNECTION HOBO

FRYE

HUDSON

LOUISE ET CIE PAJAR SAM EDELMAN SPLENDID VINCE CAMUTO

PAIGE

RAILS SEYCHELLES VELVET YUMI KIM

494 Broadway, Saratoga Springs 8 ⁄ saratoga living ⁄ JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018 violetsofsaratoga.com

end

Congratulations Courtney...

Forever our Bride!

VENUE WEDDING BARN AT LAKOTA’S FARM BRIDAL GOWN SOMETHING BLEU BRIDAL FLORAL RENA’S FINE FLOWERS PHOTOGRAPHER GARRENTEE PHOTOGRAPHY

S omet hi ngb le ub r i dal .co m S A R ATO GA S P R I N G S , N Y 518- 5 8 4 -0 9 6 2 saratogaliving.com L ako taswe ddi ng b ar n.com CA M B R I D G E , N Y 518- 677-3 140 ⁄9

Richard Pérez-Feria EDITOR IN CHIEF CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kathleen

Gates Will Levith MANAGING EDITOR Natalie Moore SENIOR EDITOR Anne Newgarden DESIGNER Linda Gates SOCIAL EDITOR Robin Dalton LUXURY EDITOR Marco Medrano ARTS EDITOR Bill Henning FASHION EDITOR Todd Kingston Plummer SENIOR WRITER Sophia Perez PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR Erika Phenner DIGITAL LEAD Monika LaPlante SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR Abby Tegnelia WEBSITE MANAGER Hakan Akyuz CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER Lawrence White EDITORS AT LARGE Greg Calejo, Susan Gates CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Karen Bjornland, Cornelia Guest, Rebecca Hardiman, Mike Kane, Erin Dostal Kuller, Jacqueline Kuron, Simon Murray, Kevin Sessums, Michael Slezak, George Wayne WRITERS Rosie Case, Molly Congdon, Kirsten Ferguson, Geraldine Freedman, Field Horne, Mario Quirce, Mitch Rustad, Alexandra Stafford, Joe “Woody” Wood ARTISTS / PHOTOGRAPHERS Dave Bigler, Tracey Buyce, David Cowles, Francesco D’Amico, Cathleen Duffy, Shawn LaChapelle, Robert Risko, Nikki Rossi, Myrna Suárez, Scott Teitler, Cornelia Traynor EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Becky Kendall PUBLISHER

Chelsea Moore Lianne Klopfer EVENTS DIRECTOR Lizzie Hunter OPERATIONS MANAGER Sara Francese SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER Rachael Rieck BOOKKEEPING MANAGER Dianne Winter SPECIAL PROJECTS James Long MARKETING CONSULTANTS AMPLIFY Partners, New York City ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE FINANCE DIRECTOR

Saratoga Living LLC ANTHONY IANNIELLO Chair

RICHARD PÉREZ-FERIA President / CEO

BECKY KENDALL

Executive Vice President

saratoga living is published eight times a year by Saratoga Living LLC. Subscriptions: Domestic, $19.95 per year; Canadian, $24.95 per year.

Application to mail at periodicals postage rate is pending at Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 and at additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to saratoga living 422 Broadway, Suite 203, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.

Volume 20, No.1, January/February 2018.

Copyright © 2018 Saratoga Living LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission from Saratoga Living LLC. All editorial queries should be directed to editorial@saratogaliving.com; or sent to 422 Broadway, Suite 203, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. saratoga living assumes no responsibility for unsolicited submissions. Printed in Saratoga Springs, NY, USA.

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the team

CORNELIA GUEST Cornelia Guest is a legendary socialite, animal rights activist, actress (currently starring in Twin Peaks) and fashion and accessories designer. “I’ve always loved Saratoga, and it was fun to revisit my beautiful memories,” she says.

DAVID COWLES Award-winning illustrator David Cowles, whose work has appeared in Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone and Playboy, says, “My approach to portraits is usually about the same, including Bill Parcells, no matter the client. But I do love working for regional magazines: They have their own unique flavor.”

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TODD KINGSTON PLUMMER Style and culture writer Todd Kingston Plummer’s work has appeared in Vogue, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. “I first met Cristina Ottaviano at the Whitney Art Party a couple of years ago, and she had this warm, charismatic presence and wore a dress of her own design. I instantly knew that she’d be one to watch,” he says.

Hosting Parties from Casual to Elegant

19–21 CAROLINE ST SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866 518-581-3230 Saratogacitytavern.com saratogaliving.com

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the team

MIKE KANE An award-winning turf writer and author, Mike Kane spends every summer at Saratoga Race Course.

Checking in from Gulfstream Park in Florida, he says: “Since racehorses are so fragile, owners and trainers talk about their Kentucky Derby prospects with an enthusiasm tempered by fear.”

You envision your dream...We create it!

ALEXANDRA STAFFORD Author and food blogger Alexandra Stafford learned something from Chef Damon Baehrel. “Damon kept talking about observing nature and really seeing what’s right in front of you,” she said. “It’s inspiring to think how much more I could do with my own backyard if I just observed it more.”

178 BEEKMAN ST. SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY (518) 14 584-1880 saratoga (800) living932-0933 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018

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dehnsflowers.com

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W i t h i n E v er y G r ea t W i n e . . . i s a G r ea t er S to r y .

CHRISTALAN hope. endure. embrace.

S E E T H E S T O R Y A R I A S W I N E . C O M saratogaliving.com â „ 15 Christalan Statue, Yaddo Gardens, Saratoga Springs, NY

from the editor

Stay

Richard Pérez-Feria EDITOR IN CHIEF

@RPerezFeria

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MICHAEL MURPHREE

ot long after graduating from Tulane University in New Orleans, I found myself in Saratoga Springs for the first time. I must say, it made quite an impression.

I was part of a small group of friends celebrating our newfound academic freedom before each of us headed off to different cities and different futures. The six of us knew we had to make the most of our weekend. And so we did. Back before Google or iPhone or Snapchat, Saratoga Springs seemed like a magical place, full of mystery, mischief and mirth. At a bar on Caroline Street, the locals were amazingly welcoming to us, while other Saratoga neophytes treaded a bit more carefully around us Manhattan boys making all that noise. We were hard to miss.

On that first night in Saratoga so many years ago, I remember standing alone on Broadway as I waited for my buddy to pull the car around, and thinking to my 21-year-old self, “I’m going to live here one day.” And here we are. Over the past quarter century, I’ve made dozens of trips to Saratoga and have seen the dramatic changes this special spot has experienced firsthand. But, truth be told, Saratoga Springs is still the same inviting, beautiful, social town it’s always been. Now, in 2018, it feels right, it is right, that in this, the 20th anniversary year of saratoga living, I, too, have made Saratoga my home.

I’ve been thinking a lot about that first weekend with my oh-so-young crew at the time, and where our lives have taken all of us—professional athlete; tech executive; politician; stay-at-home dad—me, as the newly minted Editor in Chief of a storied media brand responsible for reimagining what’s possible, what’s necessary, what’s next. Those are exciting questions my team and I will be answering with every subsequent (and gorgeous) new issue of saratoga living.

We strive to be your window onto the world we inhabit: the intoxicating beauty of our surroundings, the energy of our residents, the excitement that defines this city— saratoga living is the key to unlocking your all-access pass to this place we all call home.

I knew I’d be back. To stay.

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the front Saratoga By The Numbers

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The record low temperature for Saratoga Springs, reported in January 1994

3

The number of statues of US commanders on the Saratoga Monument. A fourth niche was originally meant for General Benedict Arnold who famously switched sides, thus becoming a reviled traitor

16 The average class size at Skidmore College

30 66

ROBERT JOKI COLLECTION, SARATOGA SPRINGS PUBLIC LIBRARY

The number of times Dave Matthews has performed at SPAC since 1996

The number of Pulitzer Prizes won by Yaddo artists

95

The percentage of Saratoga County residents under the age of 65 with health insurance

It’s True (We Think)

The Great Potato Chip Controversy Of 2018

H

BY N ATA L I E M O O R E

ere in Saratoga, local lore runs rampant, and centuries-old myths have become accepted as unquestioned fact. It’s something unique to our city. These are the truths that we hold to be self-evident, perhaps even against our better judgement.

Take the potato chip, for instance.

Saratoga eateries serve them, tourists love them and natives claim that the famed potato chip’s recipe was conceived right here in Saratoga. As the story goes, in 1853, George Crum, a cook at Moon’s Lake House on Saratoga Lake, received a complaint from a customer that his french fries were cut too thick. To solve the issue, Crum CHIPS AHOY! sliced the fries paper-thin, fried them to a crisp and served them Was the potato chip to the customer (who, legend has it, was none other than railroad born at Moon’s Lake magnate Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt). Vanderbilt loved House (above) on them, and so did, apparently, everyone else. Crum then opened Saratoga Lake? his own restaurant with the earnings from his “Saratoga chips.”

It’s a great story, sure, but 19th-century cookbook buffs (you know who you are) will point to The Cook’s Oracle, published in 1821, which includes a distinctive recipe for what can only be described as, yes, a potato chip. Crum, we, again, kind of hate to point out, also failed to mention his starchy invention in a self-commissioned biography— a fact any legitimate chip creator would surely be proud to promote.

So, is George Crum really the creator of the potato chip? The answer will always be “yes, we think so” for all true Saratogians.

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the front asked & answered What part of the new tax bill should every Saratoga homeowner know about?

“SALT (State and Local Tax deduction) is the $10,000 cap for New York State income taxes and New York State property and school taxes. Because Saratoga tends to be in a higher-income bracket, home values and taxes are, in turn, higher, so that puts a big cap on what people were previously getting deductions on.”

—Dave Johnson Partner/Accountant, DeChants, Fuglein & Johnson

How can you look younger in less than two minutes a day?

“If you’d like youthful renewal without the visual side effects of scrubs, redness or abrasion, then cleansing at night with a daily enzyme resurfacer works wonders.

‘Bio-active’ enzyme creams or cleansers roll dead skin off miraculously—skin that you didn’t know had already expired. My secret weapon? As a daily Botox alternative, I use a patented forehead wrinkle and frown inhibitor whose manufacturer, BioNova, licenses out their key formula of Frown Wrinkle Control to several of the most exclusive skincare companies in the world (and most expensive). It really works.

—Marco Medrano Beauty expert and saratoga living Luxury Editor

=SA

Y W H AT? =

illustration by

DAVID COWLES e x c l u s i v e ly f o r saratoga living

“The horses drove me to Saratoga, but Saratoga is my happy place. I’m always happy when I’m there.” —Bill Parcells ⁄

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Now that your New Year’s resolution has fallen by the wayside, what can you do or tell yourself to get to the gym every day?

“You have to ask yourself four primary questions: 1) Why did you start in the first place? Your why needs to be strong in order to resist temptation or doubt as soon as it creeps in. 2) Do you have a plan and a goal? Break out that calendar and make it a priority in your schedule. 3) Are you willing to put you first? When it comes to you, it’s extremely important to be selfish. 4) Am I willing to be patient? Fitness is not a flash in the pan, get-results-quick scheme. What happens if you don’t see the scale move like you thought it would? Don’t be too hard on yourself or get discouraged.”

—Travis Gil Founder and Owner of Saratoga Springs’ Fitness Artist

from the editor

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the front a pep talk from her boss, outgoing Mayor Joanne Yepsen, and discussing it with her family, Kelly changed course. “And the rest, well, is history.”

WORK ETHIC “As soon as I got the job as Deputy Mayor, I hit the ground running. I worked with everybody to make effective changes in the process. It’s very difficult for people who work in City Hall when there’s a mayoral election every two years.

They can get stalled and be forced to wait until after the election to see which way to turn. Then it takes six months to get everyone into a routine, so it can be complex and frustrating. I tried to make the process more effective for the city and the people who work in City Hall.”

SELF SERVICE “Service is the motor that drives me,” says Meg Kelly, the newly elected Mayor of Saratoga.

New Sheriff (Mayor) In Town M E E T T H E H O N O R A B L E M E G K E L LY.

I

TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY LAWRENCE WHITE love to reinvent myself and jump into new things,” says Saratoga Springs Mayor Meg Kelly of her professional trajectory. Born and raised in Saratoga, Kelly was a familiar face long before she landed on the mayoral ballot this past November.

Kelly worked for 17 years as a Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) golf instructor at the Spa State Park, served as Executive Director for Saratoga’s Children’s

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Theatre and helped launch open mic nights for children and teens around town (one artist, Sydney Worthley, recently played at this year’s First Night

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celebration and gigged with local celebrity Sawyer Fredericks).

Just like every other Saratoga native, she’s seen the city grow into the highly desirable destination it is today—but unlike the average Saratogian, she now gets to run it.

Mere months into her first term, the Democrat says that she wasn’t even thinking about running for mayor at first. “I was actually going to run for supervisor,” she says. But after getting

THE CAMPAIGN “I worked really hard to get elected in this town. Call me naïve, but I didn’t even know I was the underdog. I ran against a much-better-funded candidate who’s very well-known and respected Downtown. The difference is that I’m well-known throughout the community.

I grew up here, I have roots here, and that was the deciding factor.”

MOTIVATION “Service is the motor that drives me. I believe in giving back and working as a community.

It has never been moneydriven for me. It’s the thrill of the job, of accomplishment, of working together that has always been my motivation.”

GOAL “My ultimate job here is to find ways of getting people to work together in city government.”

Summer will be here before you know it.

L ea r n m ore a t S a ra to g aL ake L u x u r y. c o m

Gerald Magoolaghan Licensed Real Estate Salesperson m. 518.788.8220 o. 518.580.8500 gerry.magoolaghan@sothebsyrealty.com #1 REALTOR® at Select Sotheby’s International Realty Two Years In A Row Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Office Is Indepedently Owned and Operated.

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Long Live Telemark Skiing! ‘ H I P P I E S ’ K E E P U N U S U A L S P O R T I N P L A Y.

LOW RIDER Telemark skiers have their ski boots detached at the heels, allowing them to lunge down the mountain.

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n

BY N ATA L I E M O O R E

O

n a crisp, wintry morning, I find myself riding up the chairlift at Gore Mountain.

I look down at a gaggle of well-past-this-side-of-mature men wearing duct-taped snow pants and woo-hooing as they make lunging jump-turns down the rocky lift-line trail. Who are these guys? It’s my dad and his friends: the Shaun Whites of the Cocoon crowd and Gore’s resident posse of Telemark skiers.

Telemark (or “Tele”) differs from regular alpine skiing in that the skier’s heels are detached from the ski rather than locked into place. So rather than carving turns in an upright position, Tele skiers make alternating bent-knee turns down the mountain. It’s also difficult to master (trust me), which

GORE MOUNTAIN

the front

MAD RIVER GLEN

turns off most skiers.

Growing up around my dad’s friends—the “GODS,” or Gnarly Older Dudes, as a group of young mountain bikers once called them— catching the Tele bug was inevitable. Nine years ago, I freed my heels and, as the proverbial Telemark saying goes, my mind followed.

Telemark skiing is prevalent in only a handful of ski areas in the US— Gore, Plattekill in Roxbury, NY, and Mad River Glen in Vermont included—and is seen by many skiers as a dying art: The headline of a 2017 Powder magazine column trumpeted nothing less than “Telemark Skiing Is Dead.”

Or is it? At least in the Northeast, Tele is, in the words of the Bee Gees, stayin’ alive. But who, exactly, is keeping

it alive? “Hippies,” says Eric Friedman, marketing director at Mad River Glen, the Telemark mecca of the Northeast. “Tele skiers prefer more of an au naturel experience.”

Mad River is known for its limited snowmaking and

ungroomed trails, giving skiers an experience much like they would find in the backcountry.

In North Creek, the story is the same.

“Gore is loaded with great tree skiing,” Gore-based Tele skier and NYSkiBlog

Editor Harvey Road, says.

“Tele skiers seem to place a high value on natural snow, and you find it in the trees.”

Bottom line? Telemark skiing may not be everyone’s cup of cocoa, but here in the Northeast, it’s ours. Just ask my dad.

TUES, WED, FRI 11am–6pm THURS 11am–8pm SAT 10am–5pm

INFO@LILYSARATOGA.COM WWW.LILYSARATOGA.COM

6 FRANKLIN SQUARE SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866 518.587.5017 Krystal Balzer Photography Carina Scott Makeup

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the front Off Broadway

Hail, Saratoga!

REPORTED BY N ATA L I E M O O R E

PHOTOGRAPHY BY C AT H L E E N D U F F Y saratoga living literally walked “off Broadway” to ask the people who live, work and visit here a burning question about this place that we love.

“Since Lyft and Uber have been in the area six months now, what do you think has been the effect on Saratoga Springs?

ROMUALDA RAMIREZCLARK Saratoga Springs “Sometimes people need to go somewhere and don’t have a car…come on, we need it.”

KELLEY STREETER Saratoga Springs “I think it’s a godsend. Uber and Lyft bring something great to Saratoga Springs—no one has to drink and drive.”

KELVIN J. DAVIS Saratoga Springs “Definitely

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positive. I think that Uber and Lyft open up areas for people to have more income and create jobs for the community.”

TYLER BRISCOE Glens Falls “Uber and Lyft attract tourism, as well as responsible partygoers.

I think people are more responsible and have more fun.”

KIMBERLY PURDY Saratoga Springs “There’s more opportunity for transportation, especially if people have been drinking.

They’re less likely to get into their car.”

MATT LADD Saratoga Springs “Now you don’t have to worry about waiting for a cab to show up when they say they’re gonna show up.

And it’s obviously a lot safer and somewhat cheaper.”

FRANCIS BRADY Saratoga Springs “It’s certainly safer leaving the bars— there are less drunk drivers.

I find cabs, especially in this area between here and Albany, to be mostly unreliable.”

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the front #lovewhereyoulive

Who’s A Good Boy? IT’S A COLD D O G DAY AFTERNOON I N S A R ATO G A

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WE DID IT! Emily and Mike Borisenok share a moment on their wedding day at Old Tavern Farm.

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7 “I Do!”

Brides Stories Saratoga brides tell us everything about their big day.

A S T O L D T O M O L LY C O N G D O N , W I L L L E V I T H A N D N ATA L I E M O O R E

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BRIDE:

Amanda Kriss, 34

October 6, 2014 Canfield Casino CURRENT HOME: Wilton WEDDING DAY: VENUE:

I

Emily Borisenok, 27

June 24, 2017 Old Tavern Farm CURRENT HOME: Saratoga Lake WEDDING DAY: VENUE:

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was so nervous! Like, beyond. I was like, “If I’m this nervous the entire day, I’m not gonna make it.” So we started having mimosas very early to try to calm the nerves. On the 10- or 15-minute drive over to Saratoga Lake, I remember being in the car and looking at my makeup and just being like, “My makeup is too heavy, my hair is all wrong, like this is just…” I started freaking out. Then we pulled up to the farm and I could see the huge tent and everybody gathering, and I started to feel less nervous and more excited.

Right before I started to walk down the aisle—it was the weirdest feeling—you’re so excited and you’re so nervous, and it’s almost like all the feelings cancel each other out and you’re just so present in the moment. I just remember getting up there with Mike and not even thinking about anything, just being present.

During our father-daughter dance, which was the thing I was not expecting to be emotional during, because I thought it was fun—you get up, you dance—I was crying during the entire thing. My dad picked “Tupelo Honey” by Van Morrison and he was like, “Do you know why I chose that? Because you’re my angel and I love you so much.” I was like, “Oh my god, my makeup.”

Mike and his dad and some of his friends have this little band, and at one point in the night, they got up on stage and were playing a couple of songs. They were playing that song “Valerie” and they changed it to “Emily.” It was just so much fun. I remember being so happy.

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JEFFREY MOSIER (Borisenok); ROB SPRING PHOTOGRAPHY (Kriss)

BRIDE:

t was raining, of course, because that’s a wedding day for you. We stayed overnight at Longfellows and then got ready at Pin Ups Blow Bar. I remember one of the makeup artists telling me I was one of the calmest brides she’d ever seen. I was like, “What’s there to worry about?

It’s happening. Here we are.”

Were there any surprises? No, it really all just ran, and I think a lot of that was just because of the people I was working with. I produce a wedding show at Longfellows every year, and that’s how I met everybody who had anything to do with our wedding: We had Longfellows cater; Blooms was our florist and Piano Man’s DJ was our DJ. I would say from the first day I met Rob Spring, I was like, “This man will take pictures at my wedding, whenever that happens.” They all just work well together, and if anything was to come up, they kind of just took care of it themselves.

We chose the Canfield Casino because we live in Saratoga, and my husband’s family is from Florida, so we wanted to choose something that really felt like the epitome of Saratoga Springs. And it was fancy. We like to be fancy. Our theme was black and gold and cream with sparkles, and that’s what I think of when I think of Saratoga—something grand.

FOR BETTER Amanda and Brad Kriss tied the knot at the Canfield Casino; (inset) The Krisses wanted “something grand,” so they picked Saratoga.

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SEA OF STARS Shanley and Doug Henry at their reception at the Saratoga Polo Grounds.

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BRIDE:

Shanley Henry, 34

October 4, 2014 Saratoga Polo Grounds CURRENT HOME: Chicago WEDDING DAY: VENUE:

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MATT RAMOS

live in Chicago, but my family lives in Saratoga Springs and has been there for generations.

Before the wedding, we took first-look photos at my parents’ house, which is a huge barn they converted when I was three.

It was an absolutely horrible day—torrential rain from start to finish. The people at the polo field said if we were OK with having people stand, we could do the ceremony inside, in a building that’s like a house with a bar. We went that route. We had some chairs for our parents and elderly guests, but everyone else stood, which was actually kind of nice; it felt very intimate. Everyone was standing close—not too close—so everybody could hear. My husband’s best friend married us, which was really nice and special.

The ceremony went off without a hitch, and right after—it was kind of funny—everyone just turned around and the bar was right there. After the cocktail hour, everyone went into the tent outside for the reception. My brother-in-law plays for the New York Players—they were our wedding band—and he got up and performed, even though he had the night off.

At the wedding, we got up and thanked everyone for coming, and looking out into the sea of people, who took time out of their lives to be there for our marriage, was a really special moment.

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BRIDE:

Masako Yamada, 43

October 20, 2007 The Wilson Memorial Chapel at Skidmore College CURRENT HOME: Niskayuna WEDDING DAY: VENUE:

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’m originally from New Jersey, but both of my in-laws work in Saratoga, and my husband grew up there, so we wanted to have our wedding someplace where we could do the planning ourselves.

One of the things that really mattered to us was that, since I’m Japanese and Gautam’s Indian, we wanted to incorporate both of those elements throughout our wedding day, including the ceremony itself. So we had aspects of a Hindu and Japanese ceremony, along with the words of Skidmore chaplain Tom Davis.

I think my favorite part of getting married in Saratoga was that we were able to really incorporate a lot of our favorite haunts into the whole ceremony. For instance, our wedding cake was made by Mrs. London’s Bakery; the rehearsal dinner at Union Gables was catered by Karavalli; and the reception, at Saratoga Polo, was catered by sushi restaurant Mino’s.

At the time, we lived in Saratoga Springs and we were just able to add all of these aspects that were important to us in our daily lives, and it meant a lot for us to support local businesses as well.

We weren’t just out-of-towners coming in and having some wedding planner put stuff together. These were people and businesses that meant a lot to us.

BRIDE:

Tristina Torreggiani, 34

June 30, 2017 Canfield Casino CURRENT HOME: Troy WEDDING DAY:

BRONWEN GILBERT HOUCK (Yamada); ELARIO PHOTOGRAPHY (Torreggiani)

VENUE:

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grew up in Saratoga, and Ken and I met and had our first date here. So it meant so much to get married in my favorite city. We also were able to get our photos taken on Saratoga Lake and in Congress Park.

We got married at the historic Canfield Casino in the parlor, which we decorated in all-ivory drapery, flowers in high cases and gold Chiavari chairs. We wanted an elegant affair, so I chose romantic and luxe colors: blush, ivory, with some gold.

I was all about the little details to customize things, from the ceremony to our memory table (pictures of our relatives who had passed on so they were there with us); customized seating chart; and table numbers made by me, complete with childhood photos corresponding to our ages.

The big day was amazing, like a dream you want to relive over and over. We wanted a traditional ceremony, so we really put a lot of emphasis on that.

Special touches included traditional music by Spa City Duo; my friend Tracy Corry singing one of our favorite songs, “The Prayer;” special roses handed out to our moms; and our unity candle ceremony.

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BRIDE:

Donna Wilcox, 71

August 31, 1968 St. Peter’s Church CURRENT HOME: Saratoga Springs WEDDING DAY: VENUE:

Marissa Seagrave, 26

June 10, 2017 Hall of Springs CURRENT HOME: Vernon, CT WEDDING DAY: VENUE:

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he big day was a dream, with all our plans falling into place perfectly. It was a gorgeous summer day. We turned the wedding into an entire weekend, hosting a great party the night before at the Pavilion Grand Hotel.

On our wedding day, I had so much fun with my husband!

We truly enjoyed every single moment, laughing the entire day and partying all night with friends and family. Our venue was the Hall of Springs, and it was beautiful. We set up a large tent, highlighted by four tall flower displays and petals going down the aisle, outside near the reflecting pool. Our half-indoor/half-outdoor reception took place just around the corner, between the venue’s jazz bar, with outside overflow into the park.

After cocktail hour, everyone moved into the stunning hall, where tall, vibrant flower displays accompanied low-hanging chandeliers and ivory drapes. The venue (and our vendors) did a great job incorporating our theme into the expansive hall. The food and staff at the hall were incredible and a highlight of the day.

My favorite memory was being announced for the first time as husband and wife! Hearing John read his vows to me was such a humbling moment, and I was so honored to become his wife from that day forward.

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ELARIO PHOTOGRAPHY (Seagrave)

BRIDE:

Believe it or not, this year is our 50th wedding anniversary! Both Michael and I are native Saratogians, so there was no way we would’ve gotten married anywhere other than Saratoga.

We were the second ecumenical ceremony allowed in St. Peter’s. Michael is Presbyterian, and I’m Catholic, so until then, you couldn’t be married inside the church. Vatican II was just over with, so they were trying to modernize the Catholic Church. That’s when English came in instead of Latin, and parishioners started singing in church.

So all of this was brand new, and they said that you could actually get married, if you were marrying a non-Catholic, in the church, instead of in the vestibule.

Michael’s minister and my priest got together and planned our ceremony.

We couldn’t have a mass, but we wanted to have somebody from both of our religions present, and they did an absolutely beautiful job.

In 1968, Saratoga was starting to come back. I always hear these things about how you could throw a bowling ball down the street in Saratoga, and everything was boarded up, but I don’t remember that. Having been born and raised in Saratoga, both of us always remember Saratoga being this fabulous place to grow up.

FOREVER LOVE Donna and Michael Wilcox, who were married at St. Peter’s in Saratoga, are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in August.

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SEW GORGEOUS Hot fashion designer Cristina Ottaviano designed her own wedding dress.

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“I Do!”

THE NEXT

BIG HOW HOT D ESI GN E R

CRISTINA OTTAVIANO R U LES BR I DAL

BY TODD KINGSTON PLUMMER

CHRISTIAN OTH STUDIO

THING

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o tread the line between memorable, au courant fashion design and timeless elegance is a tricky thing—and it’s even rarer to find it in bridal design. Luckily for young designer Cristina Ottaviano, her collections seamlessly flow between ready-to-wear and bridal. She’s the wedding dress designer you didn’t know made wedding dresses.

Aesthetically speaking, Ottaviano, who spent her childhood summers in Lake George, follows in the same tradition as Carolina Herrera and Marchesa—while her fabrications and techniques can be quite modern, her overall sensibility is elegant and timeless. Take, for example, the asymmetrical metallic bustier and white tuxedo she designed for supermodel Bella Hadid to wear to Glamour’s Women of the Year Awards.

It was a fashion moment that was simultaneously high-octane and understated, both in step with the current mood in fashion but also classic. It’s sumptuous fashion moments like that one that have attracted not only other celebrities (including Karolína Kurková, Petra Němcová, and Emily Ratajkowski) to Ottaviano’s work, but also a healthy base of private clients across the country.

A graduate of The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, Ottaviano apprenticed at both Oscar de la Renta and Marc Jacobs, so, assuming she was paying attention, she knows a thing or two about building a business. While her current focus is maximizing loyalty with her core group of private clients, she’s also partnering with the right stockists and dressing the right celebrities to build her brand. Ottaviano is one of the 2018 nominees for Fashion Group International’s prestigious Rising Star Awards and, in addition to producing two ready-to-wear collections per year, also just launched a full-fledged custom bridal atelier in Manhattan. She’s clearly a woman to watch.

Ottaviano’s finely honed appreciation for exceptional design and superb construction are evident everywhere in her work. We sat down with the designer to try and dig a little deeper behind the stylish bustiers.

Do you spend much time in Saratoga Springs?

Yes, I do! I spent my childhood summers at our family home at The Sagamore on Lake George. I learned how to swim, waterski and fish at the lake and I loved hiking the Adirondacks. I have incredible memories of this very beautiful place and still try to get there for a long weekend whenever I can.

When did you first get into fashion design?

I came from a family of strong, fashion-forward and hardworking women. My great-grandmother taught me how to sew and crochet when I was very young. I also developed a love for embroidery and beautiful fabrics. I’ve always been an artist and began drawing, sketching and painting in preschool. I knew that I wanted to design beautiful clothing for women when in my early teens.

Who are your creative influences?

Oscar de la Renta had the biggest influence on me. When I apprenticed with him, he taught me that a creative person should be open to inspiration from anywhere, at any time. He also taught me how important it is to be involved in every step of the design process, and that proper fit and construction are at the core of every look.

Who is your “girl?”

Our girl is confident and embraces her unique beauty. She wants her design choices to tell you something about who she is.

You designed your own wedding dress. What was that like?

I wanted my wedding gown to be light, airy and easy to move in, as I was married in Palm Beach, but it also had to be romantic

CHRISTIAN OTH STUDIO

How would you describe your brand?

Our brand is timeless and elegant, with a modern flair. We like to experiment with textures, draping and color. We strive to create an exceptional design, a special piece.

“Oscar de la Renta taught me that a creative person should ⁄

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LIGHT TOUCH Because Ottaviano was married in Palm Beach, she designed herself a “light, airy and easy to move in” wedding dress; (opposite) Those lace appliqués? Hand sewn onto the entire gown and long train.

be open to inspiration from anywhere, at any time.” ⁄

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MANHATTAN MUSE Cristina Ottaviano in her Manhattan atelier

Why did you want to create your own wedding dress?

Who knows me better than me? I knew how I wanted to feel and look on that very special day, and only I could design a look that I’d be totally happy, comfortable and completely in love with.

Did you enjoy the process of creating your own wedding dress?

I was almost sad after the gown was completed… that’s how much I enjoyed the process. There was a lot of interest in the gown. Guests wanted to look closely at it and asked how long it took to create it, that sort of thing.

How is bridal different from ready-to-wear design?

My bridal designs are very much in line with my evening wear collection, a true extension and representation of my design philosophy.

Tell me about your bespoke bridal atelier.

We have dedicated team members who work exclusively with brides and bridal orders. The process is very exciting and it’s so gratifying to work with a bride and see her dream gown become a reality.

CIAO, BELLA! Ottaviano has designed dresses for models such as Emily Ratajkowski (top) and Bella Hadid (above); Gowns from the 2018 Wedding collection (left).

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What can a woman expect from a Cristina Ottaviano New York wedding gown?

A woman can expect to be incredibly happy in a Cristina Ottaviano wedding gown because our team will listen to her thoughts and feelings and collaborate with her to create an extraordinarily beautiful gown. She can expect to look and feel her very best and to wear the gown she always envisioned for her wedding day.

DARIO CALMESE (gowns); SARA DE BOER/STARTRAKSPHOTO.COM (Ratajkowski) ; JENNIFER GRAYLOCK/INSTARIMAGES.COM (Hadid)

and dramatic to complement the gorgeous venue.

I fell in love with a corded Chantilly lace, so we created lace appliqués that were hand sewn onto the entire gown and long train.

saratoga wedding venue & hotel

518-226-0064 excelsiorspringssaratoga.com weddingwire.com/excelsiorsprings â „

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“I Do!”

Stars Are NOT Like Us From Carrie Bradshaw to Bella Swan, it’s still all about the dress.

Mary Fiore

Bella Swan

(JENNIFER LOPEZ)

The Wedding Planner

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The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 1 Carrie Bradshaw (SARAH JESSICA PARKER)

Sex In The City

When Carrie almost tied the knot with Mr. Big (Chris Noth) in the 2008 film of the smash HBO series of the same name, she spared no expense, donning a Vivienne Westwood gown—which would have its own coming out party with brides-to-be for years to come. Westwood still sells a slightly altered version in her collection.

Whereas Rachel Green was wearing a stock wedding dress from the Warner Bros. costume closet in the Friends pilot, Bella Swan was decked out in Carolina Herrera at a healthy $35,000 to marry her true love, a vampire.

—WILL LEVITH

Rachel Green (JENNIFER ANISTON)

Friends

If you were channel-surfing on the night of September 22, 1994, and happened upon NBC, you would have caught the first-ever episode of the soon-to-be smash sitcom, Friends, about a sextet of quirky twentysomethings living together in New York City. In the pilot, viewers met Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston) for the first time wearing a soggy wedding dress, having just pulled a Runaway Bride on her husband-to-be. Rachel—and that hairstyle—instantly became pop cultural icons.

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ALAMY

Back when Jennifer Lopez ruled the rom-com roost, she stood in the heels of the world’s greatest fictional wedding planner—who happened upon the man of her dreams, Steve (Matthew McConaughey), only to discover that she was planning his wedding to another woman. Determined to marry to make her father happy, she turned up at the altar with a different groomto-be in an elegant, off-theshoulder affair complete with a pillbox hat. How does it end? Only Steve knows for sure.

(KRISTEN STEWART)

FEEL tr ansfor med.

Some might say it’s the ultimate day of transformation. And in the days after, you might forget your last name has changed, but one thing won’t be forgotten – what you shared and where you shared it. GIDEONPUTNAM.COM

Prime dates still available to hold your wedding in the beautiful Saratoga Spa State Park.

Call our wedding consultant today at 866.771.9376. saratogaliving.com ⁄ 47

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CapitalRegionLawyers.com

“I Do!”

And Don’t Forget...

From venue to dress to cake to wine, we have you covered on your big day.

There’s Room At The Inn

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“I’m getting calls from near and far,” says Erika Lane Crawford, the hotel’s former director of events. “We’re currently booking 2018 and 2019. We can do seated and cocktail-style receptions inside and out. There are ways to combine the areas to make their evening, their day unique.”

The hotel has 32 rooms, and for weddings, the most prized are the second-floor Travers and Whitney suites, which open onto a grand veranda that overlooks Broadway.

From appetizers to the wedding cake, all food can be crafted by the Adelphi team. “Everything we do in house. Everything is personalized,” Crawford says.

t was like we owned a mansion for a day,” says Ardith Jane Russel of her wedding at Anne’s Washington Inn in Saratoga Springs, where she and her husband, Dan, got married.

A popular local option, the inn—owned by Joe Bokan Jr., and his wife, Kathy—is a three-generation business steeped in decades of history (it first opened in 1943). It’s not hard to see why. Anne’s grassy grounds, Victorian front porch and archetypal white gazebo make for charming photo ops, plus brides looking for a more natural backdrop have the —SOPHIA PEREZ AND option of heading next door to the KAREN BJORNLAND Saratoga Spa State Park.

The inn provides guests with a bridal suite (where a bride can oversee wedding preparations through a South-facing window—but not be seen herself); an expansive, tasteful tent that accommodates some 300 guests; connections with talented local caterers; and off-street parking.

The kicker? Couples can rent out both the event space and the hotel, so f you’ve been stressing out about their friends and family can head right finding the wedding dress of your upstairs at the end of the night. dreams, fear not. You’re in expert “Not to be dramatic, but I’d say it’s hands.

“Some of the top 2018 trends THE INN CROWD A new life built on love quintessential,” says Russel of the are sleeves, off-the-shoulder necklines, commences in front of Anne’s Washington Inn. inn itself. “Because all of those things illusion and detachable trains,” says you think about when you’re an Jennette Kruszka, director of marketing event planner or bride and groom trying to plan an event— at Kleinfeld. “Simplicity is back!” If the Kleinfeld name rings a bell, there’s parking, there’s a place to stay, the rooms are that’s because the famed New York City wedding boutique is beautiful, the whole place, the setting is beautiful—it has all the one behind popular TLC reality show, Say Yes To The Dress. the elements right there.”

Kruszka also teamed up with Kleinfeld co-owner Mara Urshel to provide brides-to-be with tips on tracking down the perfect dress. Here are five sure-fire must-dos: nother top option is the Adelphi Hotel on Broadway.

The last surviving hotel of Saratoga Springs’ Golden TRUNK IT: “At a designer trunk show, you’ll shop the latest Age, the Adelphi, which dates from 1877, re-opened collection and you may have the chance to meet the designer in October 2017 after a five-year renovation project. Within and customize your dress with them.” weeks the wedding events started rolling in. The Adelphi can SIZE MATTERS: “When you’re ready to commit to a gown, accommodate from 15 to more than 200 guests, and its event don’t be surprised when the size is ordered two times bigger spaces include a ballroom that adjoins both an outdoor garden than the size you typically wear every day.” and The Blue Hen restaurant, with a soaring glass atrium.

Kleinfeld Helps You Say ‘Yasss’ To The Dress

Anne’s Washington Inn

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Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This

VISIONS IN WHITE (clockwise from top left) Four different wedding gown styles offered to brides-to-be at Kleinfeld Bridal in Manhattan; (at right) one of Jordan Cleavland’s popular Naked Cakes, topped with real herbs and flowers.

TICK-TOCK: “Designer wedding dresses are a special-order item. To ensure delivery time, you need to shop for your dress six to nine months prior to your wedding date.”

FREE YOUR MIND: “Gowns don’t always look as good on the hanger as they do on the body. Take your time and make sure you’re happy.”

GUT CHECK: “You’ll know if it’s ‘the one.’ Ask yourself: Do you have to be reassured that the gown looks great? Does the gown suit your personality? Are you comfortable enough in it to enjoy your wedding day?”

—MOLLY CONGDON

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dresses clockwise from top left: Michelle Roth Exclusively for Kleinfeld; Tony Ward Exclusively for Kleinfeld; Michelle Roth Exclusively for Kleinfeld; Tony Ward Exclusively for Kleinfeld

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aving trouble finding a local baker for your wedding cake? Try Baked by Jordan, whose delicacies come with an extra slice of goodwill. Just four months after owner/baker Jordan Cleavland opened the business in February 2015, her husband, Scott, a US Army sergeant, was deployed to the Middle East. While Scott was away, Cleavland kept herself busy in the kitchen. “The strength and determination of my husband inspired my baking,” she says.

“I baked day in and day out and brought new ideas to life, lengthening Baked by Jordan’s flavor list exponentially.”

Her signature Naked Cakes—“three layers of cake held together with buttercream, topped with fruit and the notorious chocolate drip”—feed four to six people. “With my newfound passion for gardening, I began topping my Naked Cakes with flowers. This quickly became my best-selling cake; it’s simple, but elegant and fresh,” she says. Cleavland also says she grows her own flowers and herbs for specialty flavors.

These days, she’s baking out of a commercial kitchen in Queensbury, and has partnered with local wedding venue, Hiland Park Country Club, where she and her husband got married. If your husband- or bride-to-be is a first-responder or soldier, a discount is in his or her future. “I do anything and everything to support our troops, always offering 10 percent off for all active and veteran military and law enforcement,” Cleavland says.

—MOLLY CONGDON

DELIVERING THE DIFFERENCE

VENUE L O V E AT FIRST SIGHT M A Z Z O N E H O S P I TA L I T Y. C O M / P L A C E S

THE 2018 M A Z Z O N E H O S P I TA L I T Y WEDDING EVENT S U N D AY, M A R C H 1 8 2 0 1 8 T H E A L B A N Y C A P I TA L C E N T E R 11 AM to 2 PM C E L E B R AT I N G W E D D I N G E V E N T S IN ALL FOUR SEASONS

M A Z Z O N E H O S P I T A L I T Y. C O M F O R T I C K E T S

BRUNCH C O C K TA I L PA R T Y + WEDDING SHOW

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BOARDIN’ TO THE CHAPEL Stacey and Mark Reindl, snowboarding at Killington before their nuptials.

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It’s All Downhill From Here

kiing purists may still turn their noses up at snowboarders, but it’s now been an Olympic sport for two decades. And you know you’ll be watching Shaun White as he shreds his way through the PyeongChang games this month.

Now, say, White were to want to get married—at last we heard, he was dating Sarah Barthel, lead singer of Saratoga area band, Phantogram. He might consider getting hitched doing the sport that made him famous.

Yes, there’s such a thing as a snowboarding wedding, and you can make one happen at your friendly neighborhood ski resort—like Killington in Vermont. Stacey and Mark Reindl did just that—they incorporated snowboarding into their big day, bounding down the slopes in their wedding finest.

“Right before the vows, my husband-to-be Mark and I snowboarded down Killington, and then we were married in the Grand Resort Hotel at the base,” Stacey Reindl says excitedly at the memory of her big day. “It was zero degrees when we got up, and it warmed up to a balmy five degrees. I had three wedding dresses that day, so I was actually snowboarding in my mother-in-law’s wedding dress, which was altered so it was a little shorter, so I could actually snowboard in it. And I did wear two base layers. We had a photographer and videographer shooting us the whole time, and our whole wedding party went out with us as well. So I kind of felt like a movie star.”

—WILL LEVITH

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“I Do!”

WEDDING GOWNS TO DREAM ABOUT Lacroix, Galliano and Gaultier get to the altar in couture.

GUY MARINEAU/JOHN GALLIANO/DIOR

B Y N ATA L I E M O O R E

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EASTERN STANDARD The dressmaker John Galliano, artistic director at Christian Dior from 1996 to 2011, took his inspiration from the Japanese art of origami for the impressive “Ciao-ci San” gown of embroidered ivory gazar.

Haute couture collection, spring/summer 2007.

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WHITEOUT Wearing gold-embroidered thigh boots of white denim and a short, flaring dress of ivory tweed with long sleeves, magnificently embellished with paste jewelry and long ovals of white stone, the bride trails a sheer, floorlength train. Haute couture collection, fall/winter 2006; (opposite) This spectacular outfit consists of a strapless gown in white-washed silk organza with a wide band around the shoulders and a long skirt made of large meshes of white tulle, worn with white leather stiletto pants. It is accessorized with a white Chantilly lace bonnet embroidered with camellia motifs. Haute couture collection, fall/winter 2003 GUY MARINEAU/KARL LAGERFELD/CHANEL); (opposite): KARL LAGERFELD/CHANEL

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LIKE A VIRGIN A haze of subtly transparent tulle haloes the bride’s curves in her fanshaped corset dress with its tiers of pleated ivory and bouquet of antique embroidered roses. The delicate and voluptuous headdress, as sensual as it is virginal, contributes to the effect. Haute couture collection, spring/summer 2009; (opposite) This is Christian Lacroix’s last, splendid haute couture wedding gown. Inspired by the Virgin of Macarena in Seville, the dress, enriched with gilded lace and embellished with a cross and colorful flowers, embodies the designer’s captivating and enchanting world.

Haute couture collection, fall/winter 2009.

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this page & opposite page: GUY MARINEAU/CHRISTIAN LACROIX

had a dream that I got married. To the King of Bhutan, because, I assume, he’s the fanciest person my subconscious could conjure up who isn’t too old for me. We got married on the planet Alderaan, home of Princess Leia, and my bridesmaids were angels. Woodland creatures—like the ones Snow White befriends—scattered rose petals as they led me down the aisle. I was a flawless bride: more perfect, poised and porcelain than any reflection of myself I’ve ever seen here on Earth. I was glowing. And I was wearing Christian Lacroix’s Virgin of Macarena– inspired couture wedding gown.

This is the scene that comes to mind when I flip through Marie Bariller’s Couture Wedding Gowns (Abrams): one too fantastical to be of this world. The gowns Bariller captures, by renowned designers including Alexander McQueen, John Galliano and Stéphane Rolland, are unsettlingly stunning, unfathomably grandiose and unapologetically overthe-top. But pair them with Bariller’s descriptions and in-depth analysis, and the designs somehow float back down to Earth, where us common folk can begin to digest their brilliance.

My wedding dream may not be coming true any time soon, but with Bariller’s book in hand, anything seems possible.

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BIG BET

AND THE WINNER IS... saratoga living picks the

next Kentucky Derby champ. Seriously.

ou ready?

Another Kentucky Derby is approaching, and with future wager opportunities available in February, March and April, it’s time to start getting serious about the 144th consecutive Run for the Roses.

Not to worry. I’ve got the horse right here: His name is Good Magic. Can do. Can do. I says the horse can do.

Though I don’t consider myself a savvy handicapper— fortunately, I’ve made my living writing and photographing Thoroughbreds, not betting on them—I’ve had my scores at the Kentucky Derby. My best run was four wins in five years between 1997 and 2001.

Much can happen in the weeks and months leading up to the first Saturday in May at Churchill Downs, but Good Magic is the horse. With a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, he won’t be a long shot. He might be the favorite.

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BREEDERS’ CUP

BY MIKE K ANE

JUVENILE COURT Good Magic and jockey Jose Ortiz leading the way in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

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CASTING A SPELL (from top) Good Magic and Jose Ortiz broke his maiden at the BC Juvenile last November; (from left) Delaney, Bob, Kristine and Cassidy Edwards after the BC Juvenile victory; Good Magic being led to the winner’s circle after the BC Juvenile (that’s trainer Chad Brown in the pink tie at right).

BREEDERS’ CUP

Remember, the goal is to cash tickets, not whine about a 15-1 shot who ran second. And while he has some serious local connections, this is definitely not a homer play. However, it doesn’t hurt that Saratoga native Kristine Hoenig Edwards and her family co-own the colt, and that he’s trained by Chad Brown, the two-time defending Eclipse Award–winner from Mechanicville.

Kristine and Bob Edwards of Boca Raton, FL, and their three adult children comprise e Five Racing Thoroughbreds and are newcomers to the sport; this is only their third season. Yet with Brown guiding them, they’ve already had a jaw-dropping run of success at the highest level: three-for-three at the Breeders’ Cup. One of those wins was by Good Magic in last year’s Juvenile. e Five spent $1 million for the son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin and then took in the breeder, Stonestreet Stables, as a partner. Good Magic romped in the Juvenile and paid a cool $25 for good reason: He entered the race 0-for-2, and no maiden had ever won a Breeders’ Cup race.

“We’ve always thought a lot of the horse,” Brown says. “He was developing rapidly, and even if he was still technically a maiden, we just felt that he belonged in the race. He’s a horse that improved every week. His works got stronger and sharper. We also anticipated him excelling around two turns, which he did.”

Good Magic spent this past November and December at Stonestreet Farm in Kentucky and was sent to Brown’s Florida stable to prep for the Triple Crown. Bob Edwards laughed when I asked him what it was like having a top Derby prospect: “It’s nervewracking,” he said. “It’s like juggling eggs, right? Anything can go wrong any day.”

No matter. We say Good Magic all the way.

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BE OUR GUEST Surrounded by the things she loves most— her animals and fresh produce for her vegan lifestyle—socialite, activist and actress Cornelia Guest is a force for good who has amazing childhood memories of her numerous summers in Saratoga.

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Guest Of Honor Cornelia Guest, the evolution of America’s original ‘It’ Girl

BY R I C H A R D P É R E Z- F E R I A PHOTOGRAPH BY BRUCE WEBER

n a late Tuesday afternoon more than two decades ago, in the sun-drenched, half-empty, shabby-chic lobby of the legendary Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles, I sipped on ice water as I looked forward to meeting the OG “Debutante of the Decade,” Cornelia Guest. Globally known as the chic friend of the famous and powerful (Prince Egon Von Fürstenberg, Truman Capote and Andy Warhol attended her coming out soirée), Cornelia’s parents, Winston and Lucy “C. Z.” Guest, were among the most socially powerful couples in rarefied, upper echelon Manhattan/Palm Beach/Saratoga Springs circles. I mean, Cornelia’s godparents were the former King Edward VIII, the Duke of Windsor and his wife, Wallis Simpson.

And, just like that, there she was: blonde, smiling, relaxed. Beautiful. And funny.

We’ve been good friends ever since.

The Cornelia Guest of today is a powerhouse: fierce animal rights activist and advocate, fashion and accessories designer and entrepreneur, compelling actress (who starred in the recent reboot of Twin Peaks on Showtime) and longtime lover of all things horses and Saratoga.

When I asked Cornelia to share some of her childhood memories of accompanying her parents to Saratoga Springs, she jumped at the chance to relive some of the happiest times of her life. “Oh, Richard. How I do love Saratoga.”

On that, and much more, Cornelia and I most certainly agree. You’ll find Cornelia’s Saratoga memories just one page away. Enjoy.

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The Way I Was

S

Horses, Hattie’s and Siro’s filled my perfect childhood summers in Saratoga.

BY CORNELIA GUEST

aratoga Springs holds a very simply loved to jump my pony, so special place in my heart; it anything I saw that I could jump, always has.

I would!

Growing up, August meant Those days also meant having Saratoga. My parents—Winston lunch with my father, either at and C. Z.—and I, and a few dogs home or at the track, but my and horses, would make the trip favorite place to go with him was, from our home on Long Island hands-down, Hattie’s Chicken to a house we rented for the Shack. So many people from the month of August in Saratoga. I track were there, and to hear the don’t think the drive was ever stories of the track and horses complete without a speeding was always so much fun and a ticket! We generally rented a great part of my day. house, but when I was older, I Most afternoons we’d make would sometimes stay at The our way to the Hand Melon Farm Holiday Inn, which was where—if outside of town. Hand melons you can believe it—“all the cool were my father’s absolute favorite. people were”!

He loved to pick them out and My parents had racehorses up he’d savor every bite. I’ll always there with our wonderful trainer, remember the uncomplicated D. M. “Mikey” Smithwick. Mikey delight on his face when he ate was a lovely man, full of life and fun, one of those melons. and an incredible horseman. Our My parents, as so many others racehorses were at the Saratoga also did, loved to go to Siro’s for track. My mother would bring up dinner. I remember it always being some horses and ponies for us so festive, and everyone was to ride on. They were stabled at all dressed up and looking very Mikey’s house on the backside of glamorous. It felt very Saratoga. the track. Mornings always started And I loved it. with a trip to Dunkin’ Donuts, I hadn’t been back to Saratoga and then we went straight to the Springs for a number of years SARATOGA GUEST (from top) One of Guest’s barn. My dad got me my first Jack until this past August, when I was fondest memories of Saratoga was going to Hattie’s Russell terrier in Saratoga. He was thrilled to be honored by Equine with her father; Guest’s foundation, Artemis Farm a longhaired, scruffy little man, and Advocates for my work via my Rescue, works to rehabilitate and provide sanctuary I named him Jack. Jack never left foundation, Artemis Farm Rescue, for rescued miniature horses and donkeys. my side. I also had a white pony where we rehabilitate and provide called Ivanhoe, or Ivy. a sanctuary for rescued miniature My favorite thing to do on those long, hot August days, was horses and donkeys. It was an incredible honor, and the party to follow Mikey everywhere. We’d go watch the horses work, was nothing short of magnificent. It was a joy to reconnect and I’d ride around everywhere, visit all my pals at different with so many old friends. barns and ride all over the place. One year, I got in big trouble But even writing this now makes me more determined than jumping people’s hedges. I thought hedges in stately homes ever to say, “Saratoga, I’ll be back.” How I’ve missed thee. made wonderful jumps. The Saratoga police were called, and And since I now live nearby—where I’ve based the Artemis I, of course, was in big trouble. I felt terrible and I walked Ivy to Farm Rescue—I’m excited to make Saratoga a part of my every house to apologize in person. To this day, I remember it summers once again. all so clearly. My parents, bless them, were ready to kill me. I Doesn’t everyone always come back to Saratoga?

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The Planet’s Most Difficult Dinner Reservation Just how did Chef Damon Baehrel set the culinary world ablaze?

B Y A L E X A N D R A S TA F F O R D

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LIGHTBULB PRESS

We find out.

GREENER PASTURES The entrance to restaurant Damon Baehrel, one of the most unique dining experiences in Upstate New York.

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I went to someone’s house for dinner recently.

It was quite a house.

Chef Damon Baehrel refers to early December as “the season under the leaves,” the time of year when foliage blankets his 12-acre property in Earlton, NY, insulating the ground beneath, creating a perfect environment for a whole world of growth: wild onions, mushrooms, fiddlehead ferns, sorrel. “Nature has it all figured out,” he says. “All you need to do is look.”

When Baehrel was in his early 20s, he says, he had an epiphany. “It occurred to me one day that everything I needed was right here. I could use all these components that thrive naturally.”

With nature as his muse, Baehrel set out to build an “experience like nowhere else in the world,” a restaurant with a menu created almost exclusively from the wild and native plants that flourish on his overgrown woodlot. In 1989, he opened his restaurant, Damon Baehrel, in the basement of his home. Nearly three decades later, Baehrel’s creative cuisine, which he calls Native Harvest, attracts visitors from all corners of the globe—including no small number of celebrities. But if you were thinking of booking a reservation, think again: The restaurant, which is located about an hour’s drive from Saratoga Springs, is booked solid through 2025. (Yes, you read that right.) To that end, in 2014, the eatery stopped accepting new reservations altogether.

Regarding those out-of-town patrons lucky enough to have landed a reservation at the restaurant, Baehrel tells me that they often choose to stay in the Saratoga region before their long-awaited night at his establishment.

“We’re very fortunate to have Saratoga Springs in our neck of the woods,” he says.

ONE MAN SHOW (from top) Baehrel sources the majority of his ingredients from his 12-acre property; besides being the head chef, Baehrel is also his own waiter; one of Baehrel’s inventive dishes, a sycamore sap brined salmon belly wedge atop a wild burdock root chip.

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Saratogians have also been fortunate to have Baehrel. Before getting into the restaurant business full-time, he and his wife co-owned Sagecrest Catering, which saw them cooking for events all over the Capital Region, at venues such as Canfield Casino and the National Museum of Dance.

Sagecrest had been catering locally for more than 20 years when the Baehrels decided to fold the business and went all-in on the restaurant. Smart move.

Damon Baehrel, the restaurant, with its 20-course tasting menu, is an undeniable, one-ofa-kind experience; unlike Neapolitan pizza, ramen, poke or any other de rigueur restaurant cuisine that can be found almost anywhere in the world, Native Harvest cannot. Baehrel’s plot of land with its ever-evolving plants and vegetation, cannot be copied, and moreover, Baehrel himself, a remarkable human being who proudly wears many hats, cannot be cloned.

In addition to being the restaurant’s grower, forager, miller, preserver, curer, baker, cheese-maker and creator, Baehrel is also the greeter, server and dishwasher. Without any formal culinary training, Baehrel has relied on instinct, his legendary palate and his curiosity to guide his cooking. Many of the techniques he employs he attributes to observing nature— deer eating tree bark, for instance, or pine needles acidifying soil—and years of experimentation. His curiosity is rooted in his

LIGHTBULB PRESS

Throughout the years,

childhood, which was spent outside, exploring and gathering, and then researching his findings with his mother, an avid gardener, at the local library. By the time he was a teenager, Baehrel knew how to identify wild edible plants.

Given the restaurant’s fully booked reservation calendar, I didn’t get the full Damon Baehrel experience during my visit last month, but I witnessed firsthand the chef’s warmth, hospitality and passion for his vocation. No sooner had I stepped out of my car than Baehrel appeared, welcoming me into his home/restaurant and leading me through a newly built vestibule abutting his eatery’s front door. Using stones and wood from around the property, Baehrel built the space envisioning it as a place where guests could eat surrounded by the outside elements, where they might hear the owls hooting and the frogs peeping.

from top: DAMON BAEHREL; LIGHTBULB PRESS

Inside, in a small, warm room furnished

with a handful of cedar dining tables, Baehrel offered me a drink, an ice cold glass of water flavored with a frozen ball of sap, a foundational ingredient, I’d soon learn, of Native Harvest cuisine. Baehrel collects sap from many different species of trees—maple, birch, sycamore, hickory, cherry, beech, butternut, walnut and mulberry—noting that sycamore has smoky notes while hickory is salty, and that cherry is at once salty, sweet and bitter, with some hints of lavender and marjoram. Though he says the sap, which is mostly water, is delicious straight from the tree, he typically boils it down, then uses the concentrated liquid to brine, cure, infuse, sweeten and preserve. He even uses sap to make vinegar.

Standing by a table, every inch of which was covered with ingredients—from bowls of staghorn sumac and burdock to jars of flour and natural thickening agents to bottles of sap and oil—Baehrel described how he creates the various items found in his Native Harvest pantry. “When guests come, the question isn’t ‘What do I want to prepare today?’ The meal is months, if not years, in the making,” he says. Many of the meats he serves cure for years; the cheeses age for weeks and the flour, from the gathering to the milling, can take more than a year to produce. Baehrel’s biggest challenge, he says, is creating enough flour, all of which is pulverized with a hand grinder, from various plants and nuts including cattails, acorns, hickory nuts, goldenrod, clover, dandelion, the inner bark of pine and cedar trees, and beechnuts.

Yet another challenge is creating enough oil, which he makes from grape seeds, acorns and hickory nuts, by pressing them using a shop vise.

He doesn’t use any sugar, relying instead on sap or stevia, an herb whose leaves and stems are many times sweeter than sugar. In addition to turning stevia into a powder, he steeps the leaves to make teas and syrups, which he thickens with wild violet leaves.

B UT, WAIT...

“About the only option we’ve been able to suggest for the past four years is an occasional Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. We’re not normally open those days— Thursday through Sunday are the regular days of operation—but try to add small seatings from time to time when my schedule allows to accommodate an enthusiastic waiting list (and sometimes returning guests). There’s no ‘list’ for these occasional seatings that are normally planned up to a dozen weeks in advance. I try to add a few of these seatings several times each month.”

—Chef Damon Baehrel Baehrel also refuses to use butter or cream in his cooking to prevent overwhelming his diners’ palates. “When dairy coats the palate, that’s all you taste, and it becomes much more difficult to experience the main components of a dish,” he says.

Baehrel doesn’t serve any traditional pastries, offering instead sugarless ices or slush made from native plants, berries and fruits as well as wild and cultivated roots, including wild Queen Anne’s lace root, wild elderberry, sumac and carrots.

And while most of his time is spent foraging, the chef tends to his extensive garden, growing tomatoes, squash, green beans, beets, corn, Swiss chard, peppers and peas, as well as apples, peaches and apricots, all of which he sells via an honor system at a little stand at the front of his property.

If it all sounds a bit exhausting, that’s because it is. The meticulous, singular process this chef goes through to serve each and every meal isn’t only mindblowing, it’s unprecedented. For me, the idea of having to do this on a daily basis doesn’t even compute, but it’s a mere day in the life of Damon Baehrel. How—and, more important, why does he do it? “It’s a way of life,” he says. “I spend my days exploring, discovering and creating—how am I not the luckiest person in the world?”

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THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS Annie Leibovitz has photographed more stars than the Hubble telescope.

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Beyond The Stars Superstar photographer Annie Leibovitz is the unlikely heir to Andy Warhol.

BY BILL HENNING

ask Lawrence White, saratoga living’s chief photographer, what he remembers about Annie Leibovitz from their time as schoolmates at the San Francisco Art Institute in the early 1970s. “It was clear she was born to be a photographer,” he tells me. “Creating images was an obsession with her.

When Annie was named Rolling Stone’s first chief photographer [in 1973], no one at school was surprised. Her images helped make the magazine great.”

That first gig at Rolling Stone (where White soon joined her) put Leibovitz on a certain trajectory. Since then, she’s seemingly photographed more stars than the Hubble telescope: Oscar contenders for Vanity Fair, Olympians for Vogue, moguls, presidents, artists, activists, even the Queen of England (twice!). Though their styles couldn’t be more different, Leibovitz is truly Andy Warhol’s heir; to sit for a portrait with her is to have arrived.

Annie Leibovitz: Portraits 2005–2016 (Phaidon) features plenty of the hyper-styled fantasias for which the photographer is best known—a sultry Rihanna alongside a vintage car in Havana; Neil Patrick Harris draped in pythons; Stephen Colbert outfitted as Washington crossing the Delaware—but where the book really shines is in its quieter, grittier shots.

Though she’s a maestro of studio shoots with a set and crew worthy of a feature film, Leibovitz prefers to photograph subjects in their natural habitat, where they live or, better, work. The resulting images can be as dramatic and, at times, on the nose as her studio work: Michael Bloomberg, New York City’s technocrat mayor, perches on an office chair in the center of the monitor-littered cubicle farm that is City Hall’s bullpen; surface-obsessed, boldface-name sculptor Jeff Koons works out—naked—in his studio gym. But more often Leibovitz’s in-the-life photographs convey a searing humanity: Barack Obama, his back to us, gazes out the windows of the Oval Office on his final day as president; artist Ellsworth Kelly, at 89, stares directly into the camera, an oxygen tube snaking beneath his nose.

In a world where Us Weekly’s long-running feature, “Stars—They’re Just Like Us!” provides the template for all celebrity coverage, knocking celebrities down to our level, one banal paparazzi shot after another (They pump gas! They pick up dry cleaning! They eat KFC!) I find in Leibovitz’s work a welcome counterforce. The quiet dignity and humanity of her portraits instead raises people up, reminding us: We are all made of stars.

photography by

A N N I E L E I B OV I TZ

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Rihanna Havana, Cuba 2015


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Bruce Springsteen on tour Paris, 2016

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It’s the 130th anniversary of the Great Blizzard of 1888—our worst natural disaster.

I

B Y D AV E PAT T E R S O N ’ve always loved history. I’d better— I’ve been teaching history for threeand-a-half decades at both Saratoga Springs High School and the University at Albany. In fact, a fellow teacher (Charlie Kuenzel) and I joined forces nearly 20 years ago to launch Saratoga Tours, where we’ve given everyone from members of the FBI to veterans groups, and from United Nations delegations to pop superstar Demi Lovato the inside look at Saratoga’s storied history. So, yeah, I know my Saratoga Springs history.

Back in the day, I had no idea that Broadway was originally called Broad Street, that Gideon Putnam was the first person buried in a cemetery he donated to the village or that one of his uncles was one of the founders of Marietta, OH. Every time I’ve researched a new aspect of Saratoga’s history, it has raised and answered additional questions. That’s what makes history so fascinating to me. I don’t think I’m alone in that sentiment.

Saratoga Springs has a wealth of fascinating history, including the Great Blizzard of 1888, which is celebrating its 130th anniversary this March. Whereas this winter has been the coldest in Upstate New York since 1989—and is threatening to break that record—the Blizzard of 1888 went down as the worst in the history of the Northeast, and the record remains unbroken to this day. The monster blizzard crippled everything in its path, and when it was over, left more than 400 people dead and cost the region more than $20 million in property damage (roughly $725 million today).

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SARATOGA SPRINGS HISTORY MUSEUM

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n 1888, the weather heading into the weekend of March 10 to 11 was typical for mid-March. Saturday the 10th was a mild day, with temperatures in Saratoga Springs reaching the high 30s. The following day, a rainstorm traveled up the coast from Florida, eventually merging with a small snowstorm that had originated in the Great Lakes. The snow began to fall in New

m w o n S AFTERMATH Saratoga residents cleaning up after the Blizzard of 1888, withthe Grand Union Hotel in the background.

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York City by late evening on Sunday the 11th, and by noon the on East Harrison Street in Saratoga was completely encircled following day, more than a foot of snow was already on the by snowbanks so high that it made the house invisible from ground and winds howled unabated at 40 mph. the street. Neither students nor teachers could make their Saratoga Springs and the Capital Region began to see way to schools, which were closed, and the superintendent heavy snowfall in the early hours of Monday the 12th. Within issued a declaration that, legal or not, schools would remain 24 hours, more than two feet of snow had fallen, and winds closed for the duration of the storm. ranging from 20 to 50 mph buffeted the area. By the time The most immediate issue was how to clear the streets. the storm wound down on Wednesday the 14th, Saratoga Generally, in those days, a team of horses pulled heavy Springs was buried in an astonishing wooden boards to pack down normal 58 inches of snow! levels of snowfall and make streets Two of the first casualties of the storm passable. That was attempted early down in the city were the telegraph on in Saratoga by Robert Rice, the and telephone wires that connected caretaker at Judge Henry Hilton’s it to the rest of the world. By Tuesday estate at Woodlawn Park (now the site the 13th, the only telegraphs that left of Skidmore College). He traversed or came into the city were via the the grounds and Broadway with transatlantic cables that connected it to four strong horses pulling a lumber London. With communication severely sleigh. This was only effective until compromised, people had no way the snowfall and drifts became too of knowing the extent of the storm or high for the horses to move through. what was to come. Another immediate Anyone with a shovel or any object effect of the storm was that the that could be used to move the snow elevated railway system throughout was called upon to do what they could. the city ground to a halt after numerous Many of the working-class residents accidents caused by intense winds in the area and Northeast made good and ice on the tracks. The railroads money during and after the storm ceased to operate from Pennsylvania helping to clear streets and railway northward, as their engines were no tracks. In Saratoga, tunnels were dug match for the huge snowdrifts that so that people could get from one impeded their progress. People were side of Broadway to the other. frightened and disoriented by this relentless beating by Mother Nature. he Blizzard of 1888 was In the 1880s, most people didn’t have devastating economically any adequate form of refrigeration, and and in the number of BANK SHOTS (from top) A horse-drawn depended on buying fresh food every lives lost. Some people sleigh peeks through a snowbank on day. With all businesses at a standstill, went out into the snow Broadway after the Blizzard of ’88; men and with fierce winds whipping through for supplies and succumbed to the with snow shovels, standing atop a massive the boroughs of what was then New storm.

Along the coast, more than 100 snowbank, with Town Hall in the background.

York’s most populated city, people seamen went down with ships and were trapped in place and restricted to eating what they had boats that were torn apart by the brutal winds. on hand or venturing out into the cold to find food for sale at In the wake of the storm, several changes were called for exorbitant prices. and implemented throughout the country. Telegraph and Conditions were no better in the Capital District. By the telephone lines were buried underground in all urban areas, afternoon of the 13th, the telegraph lines were all down. to keep them from being subjected to another round of Mother George B. Strong reported to The Saratogian that he made Nature’s fury. Within nine years, the city of Boston unveiled the 48 repairs to broken Western Union wires between Ballston first underground subway, an endeavor that was replicated in Spa and Mechanicville before he gave up. Snowdrifts as high New York City by 1904. Railway engineers developed new as 40 feet were reported in Albany, Troy and Saratoga. Fire attachments that improved snow removal from buried tracks. departments and police were unable to reach people who Electric cars, already on the streets of Richmond, VA, were needed their assistance. found to be much more effective in transporting people Albany was shut down as roads became impassable. The through snow. To that end, by the early 20th century, horsepaperboys employed by The Saratogian reported that they drawn carriages had become increasingly rare. were walking on the tops of fences to try and stay above The Blizzard of 1888 was a record-setter in Saratoga the fast accumulating snow. The Civil War Monument in the Springs for the amount of snow fallen in a short period of time middle of Broadway in Monument Square was a curious and the size of the snowdrifts. For years, people compared sight, as it was covered with an enormous white crown, the any sizeable snowstorm with the Blizzard of ’88. statue’s body almost completely obscured. The back piazza Time will tell if this winter’s deep freeze will be added to the of Congress Hall was buried in 12 feet of snow. A small house history books—and Saratoga lore.

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SARATOGA SPRINGS HISTORY MUSEUM

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COMMANDER CODIE Team USA’s chances for a gold medal in bobsledding have increased exponentially with the addition of Whitehall’s Codie Bascue to the squad.

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O L Y M P I C F E V E R

THE DRIVER Does CODIE BASCUE, Team USA’s bobsled phenom, have Olympic gold in his sights?

A

TEXT AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKE K ANE

s a former sports columnist and reporter at Schenectady’s The Daily Gazette for a quarter century, I covered my fair share of Olympians.

In 1984, I wrote about Niskayuna native Jeff Blatnick’s remarkable gold medal bid in wrestling—still one of the greatest and most emotional sporting moments in Upstate New York history. I’ve written more words than any other journalist in America about four-time US judo Olympian Jason Morris of Burnt Hills, who was a silver medalist at the Barcelona Summer Olympic Games in 1992. And I’ve been to the Lake Placid and Montréal Olympics as a spectator, and covered the Salt Lake City Games as a Gazette reporter in 2002.

In short, I’ve written dozens of stories about—and snapped myriad photographs of—Olympic stars-in-the-making and medalists from the Capital Region. One such athlete that I’ve had my eye on for the last few years is 23-year-old bobsled driver Codie Bascue, who’s representing the US at the PyeongChang, South Korea, Winter Olympic Games this month.

Last November, I followed Bascue to the bobsled/skeleton World Cup in Lake Placid— the site of the “Miracle on Ice”—where he showed me why he’s one of Team USA’s most promising young athletes.

Bascue, a native of Whitehall, NY, a small town near the Vermont border, isn’t only a throwback, but also a contradiction. Unbelievably so, he’s the youngest and most experienced member of Team USA’s Olympic bobsled team. In an era where nearly all of the nation’s bobsled athletes are recruited to the sport in their 20s from collegiate football and track-andfield programs across the US, Bascue is a locally grown talent, like the many Upstate New Yorkers who once dominated the American team.

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O L Y M P I C F E V E R

His career, remarkably now in its 15th season, began when he was in elementary school. That unusual early exposure came through the Whitehall Central School District’s bobsled club, which was started by his grandfather, Alan Bascue. The Whitehall students, members of the only scholastic club of its kind in the country, made the 84-mile trip to the Mount Van Hoevenberg sliding track near Lake Placid on Sundays. “I started then and fell in love with it,” Bascue says.

That same kid with potential has grown up to be an Olympian.

He’s the pilot of the USA-1 sled, replacing the legendary Steven Holcomb, the Olympic and world champion, who died unexpectedly at 37 last May. Bascue found success last year in his fourth season on the World Cup circuit, and last month, officially made the Olympic bobsled squad, heading into PyeongChang.

Well before the news broke of his making the Olympic team, near the midpoint of the sevenstop World Cup season, Bascue acknowledged to me that he was looking forward to the Winter Games. “I’m just really excited,” he said. “I don’t know what to expect. I’ve never really been to that stage. I guess I’ll find out when it gets here.”

push athlete and then a bronze medal-winning driver in 2002, told me that Bascue was having a breakthrough season at just the right time. “Certainly, I believe this year, he can vie for a medal. It’s certainly possible,” Shimer said. “He’s still a young pilot, but he has been and will be competing against other pilots who don’t have as much experience in the front seat as he has had early in his career.”

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n 1988, 32-year-old Alan Bascue followed through on his interest in bobsled racing and began what turned into four years competing in club events at Mount Van Hoevenberg. A decade later, the now-retired Whitehall School District sport and transportation supervisor decided to try to organize a bobsled club team for the district. His grandson was among the 35 to 40 students who signed up that first winter.

Alan Bascue wanted to introduce children from his town to the sport he loved and provide a feeder system for the USA Bobsled and Skeleton Federation’s junior program. “When I was sliding, I noticed how the other countries did it with their athletes,” he said.

“We had no real recruitment or training program. My thought when I did it was, you’ve got to start younger.”

Alan Bascue also hoped BRED TO SLED (from top) Of Bascue, Team USA hile Bascue’s skill as a to revive regional interest in Bobsled Head Coach Brian Shimer says he believes driver has been evident bobsledding. From the 1930s into the young star could be “USA Bobsled’s next for years, there was the 1970s, the bulk of the American franchise athlete, who we see kind of carry Team USA some question about whether he national team roster was made up into the next several Olympic Games;” Bascue and had the combination of genetics of athletes from the Adirondacks brakeman Sam McGuffie of Cypress, TX, after winning and dedication to become a and Capital Region. Since 1988, a two-man bobsled competition in November 2017. capable contributor to the critically the last Olympics for Brent important push starts. After what Rushlaw of Saranac Lake and Matt he describes as a disappointing 2016–17 season, he shed 15 Roy of Lake Placid, there have been only two drivers raised lbs and spent the summer trying to improve his speed and and trained in Upstate New York: Chuck Leonowicz of Scotia strength. The off-season work paid off for the 5’9’’, 205-lb in 1992 and John Napier of Schenectady in 2010. Napier’s driver in November when he earned gold, silver and bronze father, Bill, was a bobsledder and, like Bascue, started driving medals—the first podium finishes of his World Cup career—in in peewee events when he was in grade school. races at Lake Placid and Park City, UT. In the early days of the Whitehall program, Alan Bascue told “Over the last few years, Codie has really developed into reporters writing about the club that it might produce an Olympic that explosive athlete that we’ve been looking and hoping team member someday. Bascue had no way of knowing that for,” says Team USA Bobsled Head Coach Brian Shimer. it would be his own grandson. “I think the biggest thing is the “With his sprint times and the strength and power he has adrenaline rush I get every time I go down the track,” he says. “I developed, he’s now one of the stronger guys on the team. got the same adrenaline rush my first trip ever when I was eight Still being young, he could certainly be USA Bobsled’s next that I still get today. It hasn’t really ever seemed to fade, and I franchise athlete, who we see kind of carry Team USA into the think that’s what I love about the sport most.” next several Olympic Games.”

As for the Olympic stories I’ve covered, Codie Bascue is Shimer, a college football player from Florida who became a right up there near the top.

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O L Y M P I C F E V E R

BEING THERE Three-time Olympic speed skater Kristen Talbot Peck on what it’s like to live the dream—three times in a row.

BY MIKE K ANE THREE SPEED Schuylerville native Kristen Talbot Peck competed in three consecutive Winter Olympic Games as a long track speed skater. Although she didn’t medal, she has fond memories of her time representing Team USA.

CALGARY (1988) “For those first Olympics, you never know what to expect,” Talbot Peck says.

“Everything is brand-new to you. Because it was so close to home, you almost felt like you were in the US at those Olympics.

It was neat to get there and get all of your apparel. I think the Opening Ceremonies was the most exciting part; the show they put on and how many people were there.

When we walked into the stadium, we got a pretty loud cheer. You see people that you’ve watched on television from other sports and other countries in the dining hall or walk by them in the hallway. I was only 17, so being there at all was a big deal.

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o what’s it like to actually compete in the Olympic Games? Or three for that matter?

In 1990, I first wrote about a young speed skating star named Moira D’Andrea and, through her story, found that there was another young talent from the Saratoga Winter Club team with Olympic experience named Kristen Talbot. Over the next four years, I wrote a number of stories about the long track speed skater, who would end up making three trips to the Winter Olympics—at Calgary, Canada in 1988; Albertville, France in 1992; and Lillehammer, Norway in 1994.

A native of Schuylerville, NY, whose family home on Route 29 still has Olympic rings hung over the garage door, she made her debut as a teenager in Calgary in ’88. She was on the US team again in Albertville in ’92, where she had her best finish—17th in the 500-meter competition. Just 30 days before the ’94 Games at Lillehamme she gained national attention by donating a pint of bone marrow to her younger brother.

Talbot Peck, now 47, is a part-time physical therapist and owns, with her husband, Neil Peck, a dairy farm in Northumberland.

Three decades after her first trip to the Olympics, the threetime Olympian chuckled at the memory of her experiences.

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ALBERTVILLE (1992) “The weather didn’t cooperate really well for speed skating.

There were a couple of occasions where they had to move practices to nighttime because the ice was too soft to skate on in the daytime. It was neat to be in France, but I don’t remember interacting a whole lot with the home crowd. But it was also a good Olympics for me. I had my best finish, and I had a personal best time. It was all good.”

LILLEHAMMER (1994) “The Norwegians were happy to welcome the world to the Olympics there, and they did it right. They treated everybody well, and you felt kind of like a superstar while you were there. The stadium was really fast. It was great ice. It was an absolutely great Olympics.”

However, that time was trying for her family, Talbot Peck says.

Not only was her brother sick, but her paternal grandfather died. “There are pieces of that time period that I don’t even remember,” she said. “It was kind of a whirlwind year.”

With the perspective of time behind Talbot Peck, she’s all too aware what an awesome memory it is for anyone to have one Olympic experience, let alone three consecutive ones like she had.

THANK YOU! Capital Campaign surpasses 40% of our goal of $750,000

Rebuilding Together Saratoga County thanks the following partners for their generosity in helping us reach this milestone.

Presbyterian New England Congregational Church Michael & Linda Toohey Balzer & Tuck Architecture

The Saratoga Foundation

Tom & Kristie Roohan Michelle & Dan Larkin

Weibel Ave. Apartments, LLC

Standish, LLC

2017 Rebuilding Together Saratoga County Board of Directors Richard & Mary Ferguson

Capital Bank Division of Chemung Canal Trust Co. 132 Milton Ave., Ballston Spa, NY 12020

To support or learn more about the Capital Campaign call 518-587-3315 or email michelle@rtsaratoga.com

rtsaratoga.org

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O L Y M P I C F E V E R

SARATOGA’S PROUD MEDALIST Kathleen Kauth on her Bronze-winning turn at the 2006 Olympic Games.

B Y N ATA L I E M O O R E

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y first memory of the Olympics was watching Kerri Walsh Jennings and Misty May-Treanor absolutely dominate in women’s beach volleyball at the 2004 Athens Summer Games. Having just started playing volleyball, I couldn’t believe how two women could cover a whole court, and on sand, no less. I gave myself eight years, a slightly unrealistic goal, to get good enough to compete at the 2012 Olympics in London when I’d be 16. Saratoga native Kathleen Kauth tells a similar story about a different sport. She remembers going to see the US play Canada in the 1994 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship in Lake Placid when she was 15.

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“I thought, gosh, I didn’t even know that was possible,” Kauth said. “It immediately became something I wanted to do.” Four years later, women’s ice hockey became an Olympic sport.

It’s here that Kauth’s and my own paths diverge: While 12 years after Athens I was turning in my kneepads, 12 years after Lake Placid, Kauth was winning an Olympic bronze medal. “Losing in the semifinal game in a shoot-out to Sweden was devastating at the time, absolutely devastating,” Kauth says. “Our team listened to Céline Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” on repeat for a while there. But it’s funny now, 12 years removed, all you remember is going to the Olympics and winning a medal.”

KRISTA WINDSOR/FLICKR (Kauth)

FULL MEDAL JACKET As a forward on Team USA’s women’s hockey squad in the 2006 Olympic Games in Torino, Saratogian Kathleen Kauth won a bronze medal.

Kauth’s road to the 2006 Torino Olympics was anything but easy, though. Shortly after making the national team in 2001, her father died in the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. A few months later, Kauth was one of four players cut from the team when it was reduced from 25 to 21 players before the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. “I think my father dying, in some way, shape or form, did impact my decision to continue on and try in 2006,” Kauth said. “I think it enabled me to make the decision that the rest of life could wait—I really wanted to achieve this dream, even if the rest had to wait for another four years.”

Kauth now lives in Toronto with her partner, four-time Canadian Olympian Jayna Hefford, and their three children.

She serves on the board of the Canadian Women’s Hockey

League and works in the clean energy field. But she misses Saratoga. “I have to say, and I say this without any embellishment, Saratoga Springs is one of the most special towns I’ve ever been to, and I was lucky to grow up there,” Kauth said. “At the time, I didn’t know it was so nice: its natural beauty, history, really good food, the community spirit—all of it. I think just knowing how great a city Saratoga is and not living there now, sometimes I think, ‘Jeez, why not?’ But I live in a pretty special place too.”

Obviously, Kauth still had unforgettable memories of representing our country on the biggest athletic stage of all.

Falling short of my own childhood Olympic dreams, all I can do now is cheer for Team USA from my living room. And that is pretty darn special too.

Ladies And Gentlemen, Your Saratoga Olympians

John Ronald Farra

experience to be wearing the gear, walking with your peers, representing your country and knowing the whole world is watching.”

Moira D’Andrea

NANCIE BATTAGLIA (D’Andrea); JAMES NETZ (Farra); US SPEEDSKATING/JOHN KLEBA (Tamburrino); TOM PORTER (Bembry)

Dave Tamburrino

moved on to the Paralympics in 2011. Now we’re heading to Korea for the 2018 Paralympic Games, and I’m getting excited for what’s to come.”

Erin Bembry (née Porter) Speed Skating BORN: Saratoga Springs OLYMPICS: Nagano, Japan (1998); Salt Lake City, USA (2002) BEST FINISH: 5th place in 3,000 Meter Relay in 1998 “My most memorable experience from both Olympics has to be walking in the Opening Ceremonies.

It’s such an awesome SPORT:

Moira D’Andrea

John Ronald Farra

Speed Skating BORN: Saratoga Springs OLYMPICS: Albertville, France (1992); Nagano, Japan (1998) BEST FINISH: 9th place in Women’s 1,000 Meters in 1998 “The first time I was in the Olympic Village, I went to one of the little stores to look for some souvenirs. They wouldn’t accept the bill I had and couldn’t give me change. The cashier just looked at me and said ‘sorry.’ The person behind me said, ‘I’ll get that for her.’ I looked up to thank him, and it was Wayne Gretzky. So I said, ‘Thanks, Wayne!’”

SPORT:

SPORT:

Cross-Country Skiing Saratoga Springs OLYMPICS: Albertville, France (1992) BEST FINISH: 49th place in Men’s 10/15 Kilometers Pursuit “While I didn’t win medals or achieve all my performance goals over the years, it turns out my time in sports was for a greater purpose. My experience in and passion for Nordic sports led me to what I was meant to do: At the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, I was the Nordic Director for the Team USA Ski Team, and then I BORN:

Erin Bembry

Dave Tamburrino Speed Skating Saratoga Springs OLYMPICS: Lillehammer, Norway (1994); Nagano, Japan (1998) BEST FINISH: 16th place in both the Men’s 5,000 and 10,000 Meters in 1998 “While skating a personal best during my first Olympics at the 1994 Games in Lillehammer will always be a great memory, nothing will top marching with the rest of Team USA in the Opening Ceremonies that same year. The roar of the crowd when ‘United States of America’ was announced was truly breathtaking. I get goose bumps just thinking about it today.”

SPORT: BORN:

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The Man Who Dressed Jackie & Grace When famed fashion designer OLEG CASSINI took the world by storm.

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go crazy for pillbox hats.

Peggy Olson’s creamy white one on Mad Men gave me goose bumps. That scene in Catch Me If You Can, when those Pan Am flight attendants paraded through the Miami airport in their jaunty blue ones made me light-headed. But I really overdosed on 1960s hats with Jackie, the terrific 2016 biopic starring Natalie Portman. In one heart-stopping scene, hours after JFK was gunned down, Jackie Kennedy, crushed by shock and grief, refuses to remove her blood-spattered pink suit and matching pink pillbox.

Legendary fashion designer Oleg Cassini created hats and more than 300 outfits for America’s soft-spoken queen, and his “Jackie Look” clothing, with clean lines, timeless style and luxurious fabrics, swept the nation.

Before Jackie, there was Grace Kelly. When the actress was in her early twenties, she was engaged to Cassini. But her parents disapproved of the fashion designer, who was divorced and had a reputation as a Casanova, and they talked their daughter out of marrying him.

In 2002, a few years before he died, Cassini authored The Wedding Dress, an eye-popping pictorial of bridal gowns.

This month, a revised and updated collector’s edition will be released, with dresses by Cassini, Chanel, Dior, Armani, McQueen and other top designers in its 300-plus pages.

The Wedding Dress (Rizzoli) is a reminder of how chic Camelot really was.

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THE DRESSER (from top) Fashion designer Oleg Cassini (left) and President John F. Kennedy (right) flank Jackie Kennedy (center), who Cassini designed many iconic looks for; actress Grace Kelly (left) was briefly engaged to Cassini.

RIZZOLI NEW YORK

BY K AREN BJORNL AND

PRINCESS GRACE One of Oleg Cassini’s earliest muses was ’50s movie star Grace Kelly.

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saratoga

N’Awlins Comes To Town

after dark

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H AT T I E ’ S T H R O W S AN EPIC SOIRÉE FOR MARDI GRAS.

BY N ATA L I E M O O R E

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t’s not every day you get 1 Latin music, jambalaya and salsa dancing here in Saratoga, and on January 13, Hattie’s Mardi Gras Soirée gave us all three.

The 18th annual fundraiser raised nearly $100,000 for AIM Services, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to partnering with people of diverse abilities; and as always, showed us northerners how they party in N’awlins.

Arriving at the Canfield Casino on “Mardi Gras” night, the first thing I noticed was how loud it was; jazz music spilled over from the parlor, masked guests talked and laughed noisily and glasses clinked at the bustling bar.

The volume only went up from there as the party’s 400 revelers moved into the ballroom, where Garland Nelson and Soul Session were belting out tunes such as Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” and Luis Fonsi’s smash “Despacito.”

The crowd loved it. The scene on the dancefloor was best described by my friend, whom I texted a video of it to: “That looks like serious fun.” I couldn’t agree more.

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1. Brittney Ciuffo helping Sam Bottini with his mask; 2. Co-Chairs of the event Heather Straughter and Beth Alexander, Hattie’s owner; 3. Satish and Amy Prabhakaran and Sandile and April Mlambi; 4. Stuart Morrison and Liesl Bretsch-Morrison; 5. J.T. and Julie Cox; 6. Leigh and Kim McConchie.

Tuscan Dinner Time Again

Without all of its dedicated volunteers, the Double H Ranch wouldn’t be what it is today. So last month all the individuals and businesses that made the ranch’s Adaptive Winter Sports Program possible got their big “thank you” at the 18th annual Tuscan Dinner at the Glen Sanders Mansion in Scotia. The evening featured wine tastings by Adirondack Wine Merchants, delicious Italian food prepared by the Mansion staff and desserts

by Bella Napoli and the Mansion’s talented bakers.

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1. Double H Director and CEO Max Yurenda and his wife, Marie; 2. (Clockwise from top left) Renee Irvin, Sandy Sherman and Crystal Bergmann.

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ESCAPE!

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I sit down to write this with an excitement I can rarely conjure up in the dead of winter. But a brand-new column in this sparkling glossy— don’t you love the re-imagined saratoga living?—is almost enough to take the chill out of the air. I’m truly delighted to be the magazine’s new Social Editor and to officially write my inaugural “Robin’s Social Studies” column here.

H

ello, Saratoga. I’ve been covering the Saratoga social scene for six years—and you probably recognize my byline from some of those other publications in town. But at my new home, I’ll be bringing you unfettered—VIP, shall we say—access to Saratoga’s nonstop nightlife, glamorous galas and sizzling summer season soirées. In these pages and online at saratogaliving.com, you’ll find all of the must-see photographs and coverage of the Saratoga glitterati.

That’s what my life in Saratoga is all about: experiencing our city and the people, parties and players, and talking them up anywhere and everywhere.

On my calendar this winter is, of course, the SPAC Junior Ball on March 3; it’s always timed perfectly to save me, just as cabin fever is starting to set in. The committee members make it a hit year in and year out, with their enthusiasm,

Which Board Would You Prefer? Because Life is Too Short to Iron! passion and dedication to providing an unforgettable theme (this year’s is “Journey Under the Sea”). I was disappointed to see that the Bartender’s Ball would not be back this year, and to hear Beth Alexander announce that 2019 would be the final Hattie’s Mardi Gras party. Both will be sorely missed on the annual social calendar, and although nothing will replace these two iconic Saratoga parties, I’ve got my fingers crossed that something new will be in the works soon to fill the void.

I’m also up to my elbows planning some fantastic spring events of my own, including my “everything old is new again” bonanza, and fussing over everything from invitations to décor. Speaking of handmade invites, I think we can all agree that calligraphy is having a major moment, and to that end, Ink Revival, which deals in just that, along with design and printing services, is a welcome addition to downtown Saratoga (they have me swooning over their place cards and other precious paper products). Each piece at Ink Revival is handmade by owner Sara McCarthy, and you can check out her handiwork on Instagram at @InkRevival.

Of course, invitations are only half the battle. The classic cocktails at Morrissey’s at the Adelphi have me testing (and tasting!) the next greatest party tipple, and the rebirth of Dodie Thayer’s classic cabbage plates has me trying out new place settings—and rummaging around thrift stores from Ballston Spa to Schuylerville. I need to round out my own collection to create the perfect springtime ladies’ luncheon setting (if I don’t get it quite right, expect a knock on your door, Mara King!)

In the meantime, what to do to ride out the rest of the winter season?

Throw on your Canada Goose jacket and take that cocktail outside, naturally. From Chowderfest earlier this month to the ice bars at Saratoga National, the Adelphi and the Sagamore, don’t let the cold keep you inside too long.

See you around town, Saratoga.

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saratoga

after dark ‘Purple’ Rains Down On Saratoga

Last month, organizers bathed the National Museum of Dance in lavender-hued light for the fifth annual Purple Tie Affair to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Nick’s Fight to be Healed Foundation for pediatric cancer. Some 300 guests clad in purple took to the dance floor for this year’s mid-winter “Celebration of Life.” This year’s special honorees were six-year-old Isabella Caruso and seven-year-old Evan Fronk, who both recently finished treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

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(left to right) 1. Beth Crane, Maureen Meyo, Lorin Willard; 2. Teresa and Eliza DiRado, Meredith Charleson and Nate Beath; 3. Nick’s Flight to be Healed founders Lucas and Janine Cammarata; 4. Christopher Ermides, Meaghan Golden; 5. The Accents Band; 6. Museum of Dance Director Laura DiRado and Jo Ambrosia; 7. Kate Barnhart, Maureen O’Brien, Laura Petrovick, Laura DiRado, Bob Bellizzi, Heather Ford, Courtney Remington and Kathy Pfeiffer.

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the back

I, SPA

I T ’ S S PA D A Y I N S A R A T O G A , P E O P L E !

E

ver since the Native Americans who once populated Saratoga’s magical landscape referred to the region’s spiritually filled mineral waters as a gift shaken down from their god, Manitou, the Capital Region’s natural elements have never stopped erupting or healing those

n

BY MARCO MEDRANO

SAY AWE The fact that Saratogians have both fought to preserve their regional organic cures and allowed the injection of modernity into their spa services is inspiring.

in need. But I didn’t have to tell you that, did I? As a youngster who owned his first jar of Lancôme anti-aging cream at 13 and grew up on the ocean 20 minutes from Napa and St. Helena, CA, I completely identify with all things pro-wellness and anti-aging. Throw in a decade of shiny

Beverly Hills spa treatment immersion and travels with royalty, and an armload of garnet-colored passports— Montepulciano, Ischia, Capri, Baden-Baden—and I’m now happy to say that after all those global miles, Saratoga Springs is my latest long-term, dial-myage-back haunt. And it makes perfect sense.

What I love about our location is the overabundance of energy-filled wellness that surrounds us, as well as the immense power our healing Earth and its potently charged water tables just beneath it possess—to help make us feel buoyant. The fact that Saratogians have both fought to preserve

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Set sail with Shoreline Cruises for an unforgettable event, accommodating parties up to 400 guests!

Book now for 2018 & 2019! Contact our event planner today!

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their regional organic cures and allowed the injection of modernity into their spa services is inspiring.

Now, even in Saratoga, the term “spa” includes old, new and scientifically proven remedies.

Many of us spa aficionados are well aware that The Roosevelt Baths and Spa checks all of these boxes. But when was the last time we really perused their impressive service menu? I love that they haven’t rested on their laurels, while respectfully maintaining harmony and balance with the traditional healing properties of the water cures. Whether your skin is aging faster than you’d prefer or your bones feel achier than they should, each category on the menu has something for you.

Perhaps on this visit shuck the traditional massage (I prefer deep tissue) for something different and truly transformational: How about

We Found Our Forever Home at The Grand Pavilion Hotel Icon Alayne Curtiss is “Hair” to Stay at Our Newly Minted Flagship Location MAKE ME FABULOUS offers a true day spa experience with custom built treatment rooms, massage, and a full-range of aesthetic services.

Our cooperative relationship with The Grand Pavilion allows us to provide complimentary Valet parking and open access to Pavilion Square.

Alayne and her team members invite you to stop by and check out their affordable luxury salon and day spa facility anytime.

Call 518-583-2626 to book an appointment.

Walk-ins are also welcome.

AT PAVILION GRAND HOTEL 30 LAKE AVE SARATOGA SPRINGS (518) 583-2626

makemefab.com GOLD STANDARD (above) Complexions Spa for Beauty and Wellness is a premier Gold LEED Certified Spa; (opposite, from top) The Roosevelt Baths and Spa checks all the necessary boxes.

craniosacral therapy, reiki (loved it!) or, if you insist on a massage, the classic shiatsu. Their Ayurvedic wellness regimen and acupuncture are also emphasized here—and can be a longevity game-changer, if you follow through with a series as a long-term course of treatment. And OK, men, no smirking: Try a Bach Flower Essence Consultation. The all-natural Bach flower remedies, developed in the 1930s by a British physician and homeopath, restore emotional health and centeredness and help you chart your own unique path to personal authenticity. This takes real strength, dude! Then, book the Back Facial—if not for yourself, then for whomever it is that has your back.

The Roosevelt Spa’s long list of body treatments and facials are categorized as “clinical,” because they’re results-oriented and range from the gentle, rejuvenating Collagen Facial to the more assertive Wrinkle Eraser or the Renewal Clinical Peel deep exfoliating treatment. I, myself, would splurge on the Roosevelt Signature Body Regeneration, an Ayurvedic-inspired balancing treatment designed to drain lymph

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Saratoga Springs’ premiere (and only) Spinning® studio offering a welcoming environment, motivating music, and inspirational instructors.

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LOW IMPACT, HIGH CALORIE BURN, TONS OF FUN. Try our unique classes including Spinning + Yoga, Spin Circuits, and Happy Hour Spinning.

422 BROADWAY SUITE 3, SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866 saratogacyclingstudio.com

(518) 812-1616

info@saratogacyclingstudio.com THE DOCTOR IS IN The biggest name in Saratoga medspa treatment is Dr. Jeffrey Ridha. He’s credited with taking a great former sanctuary and improving on it with clinical technicians and targeted massage therapy offerings.

nodes, exfoliate and stimulate cell regeneration from head to toe.

Wraps, meditation and scent also help the feeling of orchestrated well-being. With a full-blown hair salon and heightened mani/pedi options, you can top off your spa day by making beauty the icing on the cake, or save it for another legendary spa day.

On Broadway, Complexions Spa for Beauty and Wellness, a premier Gold LEED Certified Spa is a must. According to their site, “mineral water from a natural spring underneath the spa is pumped directly into our hydrotherapy tubs and is used for therapeutic soaks, mineral-rich mud wraps and more.”

How Saratoga is that?

It’s impressive to see some 6,500 square feet of state-of-the-art spa

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nirvana so far north of Manhattan, and I love that Complexions appeals to everyone—no one is an afterthought here: man or woman, teenager or golden girl and gladiator or grandpa. The service menus are in-depth, well appointed and results driven. I mean, how many beauty clinics can offer an extensive array of head-to-toe services under each category of “salon,” “spa” and “med spa,” and do them all really well?

At Complexions, traditional wellness and beauty is an absolute standard too. But so are advanced anti-aging aesthetics, meaning microdermabrasion, peels, I2PL treatments, LED light therapy, custom facial rejuvenation programs, and on and on. Providing more than just a classic haircut and blowout, the salon is a haven for renewal and transformation as well. And the male venue, the Barber Spa, is a separate destination experience, offering advanced barbering skin care, hair coloring and foot skin renewal.

I’m obsessed! Complexions’ rare quality of care boldly shows you that they want to keep you a happy camper forever.

Scaled down but equally amazing, Ridha Plastic Surgery & Medspa provides a laser-focused medical approach to boutique-chic beauty. If you want to combine plastic surgery with a noninvasive new you, then your ramped-up cosmetic regimen could be a more heightened, expedited experience here. Dr. Jeffrey Ridha is credited with taking a great former sanctuary and improving on it with clinical technicians and super targeted massage therapy offerings. Whether it’s waxing, facials, med spa treatments, chemical peels or a separate day of awesome massage and injectables or fillers, this re-imagined sanctuary of Dr. Ridha’s delivers.

I’m so happy to be a part of Saratoga’s newfound confidence in its beautification and wellness journey.

Let’s get our spa days in now so we’ll see each other looking rested and rejuvenated—and fabulous!— this summer at the races.

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show/tell dressing up

Music For Lovers

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BY GERALDINE FREEDMAN he Grammy Award-winning Albany Symphony Orchestra will be performing their Valentine’s weekend lineup—Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo and Juliet”—for all of you star-crossed

(classical music) lovers out there at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall February 10-11.

The program also includes Prokofiev’s “Symphony No. 7” and Grammy winner Christopher Rouse’s cello concerto. The orchestra then heads to the Palace

ratoga Living_Woodlawn_Winter_2018_Layout 1 1/24/2018 11:35 AM Page 1

A perfect blend of independence and support In the Enriched Living program at Woodlawn Commons your loved-one will enjoy the privacy and comfort of apartment living, and you’ll appreciate the support and security that gives you peace of mind.

Theatre in Albany on March 10 to play the program it will perform at the Kennedy Center; they are one of four orchestras that were chosen to play the SHIFT Festival in April.

The program includes a quartet of contemporary

American works, including Joan Tower’s “Still/ Rapids” and Michael Torke’s “Three Manhattan Bridges,” performed by dazzling pianist Joyce Yang; Tuba virtuoso Benjamin Pierce, making his Albany Symphony debut in Michael Daugherty’s “Reflections;” and a Capital Region youth choir of 150 strong performing Dorothy Chang’s “The Mighty Erie Canal.” For tickets, go to albanysymphony.com.

Broadway stalwart Les Misérables travels CLASSICAL GAS (left) Troy Chromatic Concerts will feature the Staatskapelle Weimar orchestra on February 28; and French pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard will perform at Union College on March 4.

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The Wesley Community is a not-for-profit organization.

to Proctors Theatre for a six-day run, February 20-25, bringing the Victor Hugo classic to life. Just like Seinfeld’s George Costanza, you’ll soon have “Master of the House” stuck in your head. For tickets, go to proctors.org.

Troy Chromatic Concerts at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall spotlights two unmissable orchestras: Staatskapelle Weimar, performing on February 28 under conductor Kirill Karabits, in a program of Richard Strauss and Beethoven, with piano soloist Sunwook Kim; and the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba, conducted by Enrique Pérez Mesa, featuring clarinetist Antonio Dorta and violinist Ariel Sarduy on March 19. For tickets, go to troymusichall.org.

SIO MAN

N OF

At Union College on February 10, British tenor Ian Bostridge performs with pianist Julius Drake (read an exclusive interview with Bostridge on saratogaliving. com). On February 25, the college also features longtime colleagues violinist Soovin Kim, Emerson Quartet cellist Paul Watkins and pianist

TO G SARA

Gloria Chien performing music by Beethoven, Brahms and Pierre Jalbert.

Additionally at Union on March 4, French pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard makes his anticipated debut, performing Beethoven, Liszt and Scriabin. For tickets, visit unioncollegeconcerts.org.

Skidmore College’s Zankel Music Center will

feature an eclectic lineup, including the award-winning Dover String Quartet on February 24, performing music by Haydn, Bartok and Mendelssohn; and on March 1, the Beijing Guitar Duo, whose debut album, Maracaipe, was nominated for a Latin Grammy. For tickets, go to skidmore.edu/zankel.

Albany’s The Egg welcomes three dance companies in early 2018: The innovative Bridgman/ Packer Dance integrates video technology and dance on February 16; the Irish Dance Company’s world champion step dancers and its Celtic band fuse ancient melodies with African rhythms on March 6; and the dancer-illusionists of Momix perform “Opus Cactus” on March 16. For tickets, go to theegg.org.

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Contact Lori to start planning the celebration of your dreams  518.885.1607  TheMansionSaratoga.com  Lori@TheMansionSaratoga.com

show/tell dressing down

King David (Bowie)

BY KIRSTEN FERGUSON AND WILL LEVITH

T

hree years after his death, the music world is still mourning the loss of icon David Bowie. Although the genre- and genderbending artist isn’t around in body and soul, his spirit lives on in song—Bowie released 25 studio albums and a plethora of other recordings— and the many tributes and covers by his contemporaries. Enter “The Celebrating David Bowie Tour,” which visits The Egg in Albany on February 13.

The most significant Bowie tribute concert to date, the

tour features friends and bandmates of the artist— including musicians who worked on his landmark albums or were part of his touring bands—will join

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forces for a careerspanning concert of his greatest songs.

Players include Bowie bassist Carmine Rojas, who played on Bowie hits such as “Let’s Dance” and “China Girl;” guitarist Earl Slick, who’s featured on classic albums Diamond Dogs and Young Americans; and keyboardist Mike Garson, who collaborated with Bowie for longer than any other musician in the show (he debuted on 1973’s Aladdin Sane). For more, go to theegg.org.

The Hollywood Special Effects Show is exactly what

it sounds like: An evening featuring pros that work on blockbuster movies such as The Dark Knight Rises and Guardians Of The Galaxy, and HBO megahit Game Of Thrones. Strap yourself in on February 9 at Proctors Theatre. For more, go to proctors.org.

Be a cut above at cutting a rug. Learn how to swing, contra, English country and square dance—and myriad other styles—in open sessions and workshops at “The Flurry: Festival of Dance and Music,” taking place at the Saratoga Springs City Center on February 17.

Attendees will also be able to learn how to sign and perform international music via spirited jam sessions.

For more, go to tourism. saratoga.org.

The Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at

Skidmore College presents “Rose Ocean: Living with Duchamp,” which celebrates the legacy of French-American Dadaist Marcel Duchamp (1887– 1968). The exhibit runs from February 17 to May 20, and features conceptual works by more than 30 contemporary artists, including Matthew Barney, Richard Pettibone, Man Ray, Andy Warhol and Naomi Savage. For more, go to

tang.skidmore.edu.

The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall plays host to classically trained, multigenre string trio Time for Three, who has been known to mash up Guns N’ Roses and Mahler and dust off some Katy Perry “classics.”

They’ll be performing on February 15. For more, go to troymusichall.org.

Catch famed British comedian Eddie Izzard—a self-proclaimed “action transvestite”—on his “Believe Me Tour,” which charts his course from busker to blockbuster, on February 17 at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall. For more, go to troymusichall.org.

POP ROCKS (opposite) Bowie at The Egg; (left) Time for Three in Troy; “Rose Ocean: Living with Duchamp” at The Tang.

the

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Over There TROY

The Best (And Busiest) Coach In All The Land COACH BOBBY BURNS KEEPS ON WINNING A N D W I N N I N G I N T R O Y.

BY WILL LEVITH

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he Troy High School football team is the historic 1972 Miami Dolphins of Upstate New York—twice over.

For the last two seasons, the Flying Horses have gone an astounding 26-0 and won a pair of state championships—the high school equivalent to the Super Bowl. This has all been accomplished under the tutelage of their PERFECT, AGAIN (opposite) Troy High’s Head Coach Bobby Burns is 26-0 over the last two seasons, and has won a pair of state championships; the 2017 championship football team, celebrating their big victory at the state championship.

version of the Dolphins’ legendary Don Shula, Head Coach Bobby Burns, who’s entering his fourth year at the position and has an unbelievable record of 35-1.

Sure, the team has had its fair share of standout players throughout the

years, but with the high turnover rate of varsity student-athletes, the true key to Troy’s winning ways is Burns and his six assistant coaches. “I’d argue that I have the best coaching staff in the State of New York,” Burns says. Three of them

split their salaries just to be a part of the program.

What makes Burns’ feat all the more incredible is that his head coaching gig isn’t even his full-time job.

The 44-year-old father of four has been teaching for two decades at the

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the back local parochial school, is the assistant indoor and head outdoor track coach at Troy High and last fall was elected to the city legislature(!). Overachiever doesn’t begin to cover it.

Does Burns think the team can three-peat? “I’d like to think that we’re going to do everything we can to try to win the state championship again,” he says. In case you’re wondering, that’s “coach” speak for “Hell, yes!”

⁄ SCHENECTADY WooHoo! It’s Restaurant Week, Folks!

runs through March 4. Dine on three-course meals for $25 at Aperitivo Bistro and dozens of other local restaurants looking to feed you their best for less.

Come hungry.

⁄ ALBANY Casablanca Has A Birthday If you haven’t had time in the last 75 years to see Casablanca—or you’re jonesing to see it just one more time—your chance is now. The Humphrey

Seven days. Three courses.

One eagerly anticipated Schenectady Restaurant Week. The mad dash to the city’s best eateries begins February 26 and

THE HUNGER (above) Aperitivo Bistro is one of many eateries taking part in Schenectady Restaurant Week; catch Casablanca in all its glory at the Palace in Albany.

any location one excellent caterer Images by Keith Hitlin Photography

personal custom professional catering

business | weddings | social

Image by Elario Photography

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o l d d a l e y. c o m

or

Yo u r L o c a t i o n 518.235.2656

LOVE ME, LOVE ME The Sagamore is offering up special deals for lovers this Valentine’s Day. Bogart classic is coming to the Palace Theatre in Albany on February 26, so that viewers can celebrate the Oscarwinning film’s anniversary in all its original glory.

Alas, we’ll always have Albany (sorry, had to do it).

⁄ LAKE GEORGE Calling All Lovers Hit hard by Cupid’s arrow?

Lake George resorts are here for you and that special someone. The Sagamore is offering a “Suite Heart Deal” this Valentine’s Day, with accommodations for one

or two nights; champagne and strawberries upon arrival; and dinner for two at La Bella Vita restaurant. At the Country Inn & Suites in Queensbury, couples can book a Romance Package that comes with a wine

basket and two tickets for a wine tasting session at Adirondack Winery. And in Warrensburg, Alynn’s Butterfly Inn is offering a Romance Weekend Package that includes a bouquet of flowers; an

assortment of chocolates and a chilled bottle of champagne upon arrival; a gourmet breakfast each morning; and a $50 gift certificate to dining at select local restaurants.

—Natalie Moore

The INN at ERLOWEST

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Wanna Go Fast?

HENNESSEY PERFORMANCE’S VENOM F5 IS B E YO N D B E YO N D. B U C K L E U P.

I

f you reside long enough in New Jersey, two things will happen: You’ll eventually drive like a maniac and, invariably, you’ll live the lyrics of a Bruce Springsteen song.

When I “borrowed” my father’s Audi A6 Allroad 2.7T Quattro Wagon to take it “down the Shore” for the first time, in high school, I was too young to know either of those things. I just knew I felt invincible.

Plus, I wanted to look like a badass and go fast. Really, really fast.

Too bad I chose what amounted to a luxury station wagon for dropping the kids off at school or going grocery shopping

n

BY S I M O N M U R R AY

in style. But I knew this innocuous-looking sedan harbored a dangerous secret: that if you applied a leaden foot to the gas, its 250-horsepower, twin-turbo

John Hennessey has potentially caught lightning in a bottle with his Venom F5, an all-new hypercar designed from the ground up, with only one goal in mind: to be the absolute fastest production vehicle on Earth.

FAST CAR No street legal car has broken the 300-mph barrier, which is exactly what automaker John Hennessey has his sights set on with this hypercar.

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drive 2.7L V6 engine could make this chimera breathe fire—and burn rubber just like a sports car. I hit 120 mph going down the Garden State Parkway without getting thrown in jail (that would happen later).

But it was already too late. I was addicted to going fast.

Speeding in a car— like coffee, sex and the unmentionables we crave so much online—is a drug.

While the others generally make us feel good because of a secretion of dopamine, speeding is all adrenaline. When we speed, even in a station wagon, our brain signals to our adrenal glands to start secreting adrenaline, which increases our heartbeat, blood glucose and muscle strength to get our bodies ready for a “fight or flight” response.

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S TA Y O U R T R living A N S F O RJANUARY-FEBRUARY M AT I O N T O D AY 2018 112R Tsaratoga

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But, alas, we’re adults now. We’re mindful of the speed limit and “stay in our lane,” as the high-schoolers of today say. Every now and again, though, I’ll catch my foot getting heavier on the gas pedal and feel that old-time thrill come upon me again. I call it “the itch.”

And I’ve been getting it a lot recently, particularly reading about this brand new, allAmerican sports car.

Hennessey Performance has seemingly been founded on that very same itch; the need to break the rules and go fast that all of us adrenaline junkies know all too well. John Hennessey of Hennessey Performance has potentially caught lightning in a bottle with his Venom F5, an all-new hypercar designed from the ground up, with only one goal in mind: to be the

The F5 is said to be able to reach 186 mph in less than 10 seconds. Its top speed is expected to go beyond 300 mph (!), which would be a first for a production vehicle. Ever. absolute fastest production vehicle on Earth.

And, yes, he has his fair share of skeptics. For one, no street legal car has broken the 300-mph barrier, which is exactly what Hennessey has his sights set on with this hypercar. (I can tell you, I’ve felt speeds of more than 150 mph at the Monticello Motor Club in a Lotus 2-Eleven. That felt fast. This would leave it in the dust.) The F5— named after the strongest tornado winds on the Fujita Scale; fairly appropriate I’d say—is poised to succeed Hennessey’s Venom GT, a Lotus Elise-based

to reach 186 mph in less than 10 seconds, which is faster than a modern-day Formula 1 car. Its top speed is expected to go beyond 300 mph (!), which would be a first for a production vehicle. Ever.

True, unadulterated, adrenaline-inducing, heart-in-your-stomach speed is hard to come by these days, even for an automotive journalist. But every time I look at this hypercar, my heart flutters, my palms get a little sweaty and I start thinking about every speed limit I’ve ever broken. What my younger self wouldn’t give to take this puppy for a spin down the Jersey Shore or up the Northway to Lake Placid—riding through mansions of glory in a stunning, intoxicating suicide machine.

predecessor, which holds an unofficial speed record of 270 mph.

But in this rarefied field, gaining additional mph isn’t easy. That’s why it’ll need all the help it can get from a twin-turbo V8 engine that has been said to put out more than 1,600 bhp through a 7-speed paddle shift transmission, with a drag coefficient listed as 0.33, a significant departure from the Venom GT’s 0.44.

And, lest I forget: a newly designed chassis and carbon fiber body give it a curb weight of 2,950 lbs.

Which is all to say this: The F5 is said to be able

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the back Drink

Twist On A Classic HAMLET & GHOST IS FIRST UP AS

saratoga living ENDEAVORS TO CROWN THE L E G I T I M AT E H E I R TO T H E N E X T G R E AT S A R ATO G A C O C K TA I L .

PHOTOGRAPHY BY D O R I F I T Z PA T R I C K MIXOLOGIST:

Brendan Dillon BAR:

Hamlet & Ghost COCKTAIL:

Saratoga Sunset We wanted to play on the idea of what a Saratoga Sunrise 2.0 might be.

This recipe sticks to what makes the sunset classic, refreshing, easy to drink and fruit forward, while keeping the classic layered look. We exchanged vodka for a citrusy, approachable gin, and the flavors of orange and cranberry for the more tropical and fun passion fruit. Maraschino gives the drink depth and balance, while mint and crushed ice make for a refreshing drink that can be served all day. Peychaud’s bitters are a classic New Orleans cocktail ingredient, and if any town can match the raucous high energy of a summer in Saratoga, it would be the Big Easy.

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Saratoga Sunset INGREDIENTS:

1.5

0.75 0.5 0.25 0.25

oz Black Button Citrus Gin (or another floral/citrus gin) oz fresh lemon oz passion fruit liqueur oz simple syrup oz Maraschino liqueur Fresh mint

INSTRUCTIONS:

In a shaker tin, lightly muddle six mint leaves.

Add gin, lemon, Maraschino, passion fruit liqueur, simple syrup. Add ice, shake. Strain into a tall glass filled with crushed ice. Add six or seven dashes of Peychaud’s bitters. Garnish with fresh mint.

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We accommodate your every need from wedding receptions, room reservations, menu planning and decor, to create your unforgettable day.

Ask us about our complimentary Costa Rica honeymoon package at our sister property!

Start planning your dream wedding now.

Call 518 693 1004 or visit saratogahilton.com

534 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, New York 12866

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Modern Art

I N T E R I O R D E S I G N E R L E A H M A R G O L I S I S S H A K I N G T H I N G S U P I N S A R ATO G A .

BY SOPHIA PEREZ

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LEAH MARGOLIS

Design

T

he decor that I’m willing to pay for is limited to what I accidentally knock over and break (and even then, I might not replace it). But my grandmother, a much more graceful woman than I, kept a stunning home: lively, bright colors and bold prints in her custard-yellow kitchen; light blues and silver bowls in the dining room to accent the palette of a tenfoot-long Japanese tapestry hanging behind her mahogany dinner table; a centuries-old mandolin, violin and viola, passed down from generation to generation, mounted together over her baby grand in the living room. Her house was fantastic, and arranged in such a way that there was a sense of welcome and rightful place for any guest who came through her deep green double doors. And she was always entertaining.

But my grandmother lived in a suburb of San Francisco; unlike residents of Saratoga Springs,

“I like boldness, I love color, I like a clean, contemporary style. We all need to have a little fun in our lives, you know?”

DOUBLE VISION Symmetry and clean lines permeate Margolis’ aesthetic.

SaRatoga’S c C Next great Neighborhood Excelsior Park offers luxury living just minutes from downtown Saratoga and the famous Saratoga Race Course.

With countless restaurants, activities and outdoor space, there is no better place to call home.

563 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 518-587-4113 wittconstruction.com

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The Next

THE DESIGN ISSUE Reserve your ad space by March 5 Call Becky Kendall at 518.584.7500 or becky@saratogaliving.com 118 ⁄ saratoga living ⁄ JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018

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homeowners in the East Bay aren’t necessarily faced with the task of balancing their personal decor with architecture that dates back to the Victorian Age. Luckily for Saratogians, that’s where Leah Margolis comes in.

Margolis is a Skidmore-educated interior designer with more than a decade of experience in the field. Her specialty? Designing contemporary interiors to complement Saratoga’s timeless exteriors. “I like boldness, I love color, I like a clean, contemporary style,” Margolis says, excitedly. “We all need to have a little fun in our lives, you know?”

Margolis’ light but distinct aesthetic touch and her unmistakable sense of youthful, sophisticated glamour has caught the eye of major “shelter” magazines—House Beautiful, O At Home, House & Garden—and her work, locally, has earned her The Saratogian’s “Readers’ Choice Award for Best Décor” honor four years in a row.

“I like being able to introduce new styles to the area,” she says. “I like to push limits and boundaries; to add a little piece of whimsy to a room, a little unexpected element such as a bold print or an interesting piece of furniture that you wouldn’t think would be there.”

For all her personal style points, Margolis is ultimately dedicated to bringing her clients’ own design

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THE CAPITAL REGION’S PREMIER PAVING COMPANY

VROOM ROOM “I like to push limits and boundaries; to add a little piece of whimsy to a room,” Saratoga-based interior designer Leah Margolis says. aesthetic to life. “Honestly, I think it would be quite boring for me if everyone just gravitated towards what I like to do. I like to be the one that shows people what’s available, and then they can decide if they want to use it. They have to love it because it’s their home.”

Originally, I assumed that the majority of Margolis’ clients— particularly the longtime Saratoga residents—used her services to preserve the classic feel of their homes’ interiors. But it turns out that her more distinguished clients tend to be her most adventurous: “As they get older, people want to get rid of their old stuff and start fresh.

They appreciate more contemporary, clean lines, fun bold prints; and they’re not as scared of taking risks.”

That said, Margolis believes Saratoga Springs will always have that certain Norman Rockwell charm. “I don’t think classic will ever totally be out, especially when it comes to traditional homes and everything traditionally Saratoga.

But I do think that there are a lot of people moving up here from metropolitan areas, and with that comes what’s on trend.”

I think my grandmother would have liked Leah Margolis. I really do.

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Street Talk

BY N ATA L I E M O O R E

Across: 1. A physician, to friends 4. Well-off 8. Marge’s son 12. Topper for –cycle or –form 13. Prefix meaning all 14. One claiming she’s seen a unicorn 15. ’13 Academy Award–winning film 16. A sharp pain 17. Try to convince 18. Snack mix 20. American Pharoah and Bullseye 22. Applied Elmer’s 24. Common crustacean 25. Reign 26. Ink stain 27. Coke bottle topper 30. A Halloween baby’s birthstone 31. Suggestion, for short 32. Quality possessed by celebs 33. ____ Horse 34. Nerd 35. Measurement with units squared 36. Toucan feature 37. Nala and Scar 38. Rely on 41. Put on the market 42. Racetrack shape 43. ____ Flocka 45. Measures of intelligence 48. El _____ 49. Like a desert 50. Convent resident 51. 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle ____

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52. Affirmative responses, casually 53. Shrieking Princess Bride animal Down: 1. Obviously, informally 2. Sine of 90 degrees 3. Batcheller Mansion Inn street 4. Lassoed 5. Hi-res film format 6. 1st channel to offer 24-hr news coverage 7. Jacob and Anthony’s avenue

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8. Short write-up 9. Popular Nike shoes 10. Uncontrollable anger 11. The magic number, in Madrid 19. Command to Fido 21. Quaker ____ Bran 22. Something all living things do 23. Latin for “she-wolf” 24. Office’s recordkeeper 26. G. Willikers locale 27. Esperanto street 28. Prayer ending 29. Spherical veggies

32. Earn a bad mark 34. Home to 37 across 36. Underneath 37. Paddock ropes 38. The Prez and The Godfather 39. Rotten to the core 40. Section of window 41. Leave out 44. “____ we there yet?”

46. Spaniard’s “Can you repeat that?”

47. NBC show currently in its 43rd season ANSWERS ON saratogaliving.com

saratogaliving.com EXCLUSIVE STORIES:

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Ani DiFranco, Don McLean and Emmylou Harris all rocked at Caffè Lena back in the day

Lake George and its crazy car racing on ice

Meet Saratoga’s only female executive chef

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