Simply Saratoga Holiday 2018

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SARATOGA

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THE PEOPLE • THE PLACES • THE LIFESTYLE

Holiday 2018 Complimentary

Happy Holidays from our family to yours!

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Simply...

SARATOGA

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THE PEOPLE • THE PLACES • THE LIFESTYLE

Owner/Publisher Chad Beatty General Manager Robin Mitchell Creative Director/ Managing Editor Chris Vallone Bushee Magazine Designer Marisa Scirocco Advertising Designer Morgan Rook Advertising Sales Jim Daley Cindy Durfey Contributing Writers

Susan Blackburn Samantha Bosshart Peter Bowden Colleen Coleman Geraldine Freedman Jodi Fitz Peter J. Gailor Carol Godette Anne Gordon John R. Greenwood Karen Krasny Charlie Kuenzel Meghan Lemery Fritz Megin Potter John Reardon Robert J. Sofarelli Jordana Turcotte Maureen Werther

Interns

Lindsey Fish Lauren Closson

Photographers

Susan Blackburn Colleen Coleman Meredith Coons Cathleen V. Duffy Chelsea Mazur Studio di Luce SuperSourceMedia.com Talisman

Published by

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

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Simply Saratoga is brought to you by Saratoga TODAY Newspaper, Saratoga Publishing, LLC. Saratoga Publishing shall make every effort to avoid errors and omissions but disclaims any responsibility should they occur. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written consent of the publisher. Copyright © 2018, Saratoga TODAY Newspaper

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From The Editor I say this every year, but I love the Holidays… Thanksgiving, Christmas, ushering in the New Year – truly a wonderful time!

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I can’t tell you how much Jordana Turcotte has helped me this past year. We started simplifying my house (life!) a while back and I swear every word she says is gold. One of my favorites: “Everything in your house should have purpose or meaning.” (But I’ll never part with my hundreds of Christmas decorations!) She continues to offer great advice for the holiday season, when it’s so easy to get consumed with a never-ending To-Do List. So, follow her advice on page 122 and streamline your holidays. From there turn to our Save the Date section on page 52 and add in all those fun things you want to do: Plan your shopping trips (this whole magazine is filled with gift giving ideas!); Choose the organizations you want to donate your time and money to (page 16); And nail that holiday photo (page 40).

A calm, relaxed Holiday Season for you to enjoy and not stress over …my gift to you!

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Oh, before I forget…

Read about my potluck group on page 96.

They've appeared in many issues over the years, (remember this photo, that was us!) but I’ve always wanted to do a story on them and what better time than the Holidays!

If you’ve been part of a similar group - I’d love to hear from you! I’m betting I’m not the only one that does this and loves it!!

I always have the hardest time picking “just a few” people to spotlight for the yearly “Buy Local” section in this issue - I mean, basically - most of the businesses in this area are small, locally owned shops (How lucky are we?!) So, I tried to concentrate on crafting for this issue, (again still very hard to narrow down to just a few) but I hope you like the ones we’re bringing you.

When I got the invite to review the new GMC Sierra Denali Truck at the Saratoga Polo Grounds, I knew I was NOT the one for the job, I mean I LOVE trucks as much as the next girl and I’ve got a 1949 Chevy Pickup on my Bucket List (and MANY hanging on my Christmas Tree!) but no… this job was meant for my guest Automotive Writer, Peter Gailor. See what he has to say about it on page 90.

Bucket List item #18

I must close with a big Thank You to all our advertisers, without them, Saratoga TODAY couldn’t continue to offer these beautiful publications free of charge to the thousands that read them each issue.

Please mention us by name when visiting these businesses… Simply Saratoga, the Saratoga TODAY magazine!

I wish you all a Happy Holiday and a Blessed New Year!

In Print & Online.

Sign up TODAY for FREE email delivery of our publications! saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Love, Chris

Cover Photo

by Susan Blackburn Photography See the feature on page 108.

Chris Vallone Bushee Creative Director/ Managing Editor cBushee@SaratogaPublishing.com (518) 581-2480 ext.201 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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SAMANTHA BOSSHART

CONTRIBUTORS

Samantha Bosshart joined the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation in 2008. As Executive Director, she advocates for the preservation of the unique architecture and rich heritage of Saratoga Springs. Samantha previously worked at Historic Albany Foundation and Galveston Historical Foundation.

Samantha completed her coursework for a Master of Arts in Historic Preservation Planning from Cornell University and received a Bachelor of Arts in History from Indiana University.

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

COLLEEN COLEMAN

Colleen Coleman is the owner of CMC Design Studio LLC and is well noted by her clients for bringing high energy, attention to detail, organization and more to each project.

Her collaborative efforts with clients, as well as others in the industry, translates to a comprehensive design to completion for her clients. Her unique approach to defining each space matured into what she has coined as “Creating Environments for Life” - reach her at colleen@cmcdesignstudio.net.

GERALDINE FREEDMAN Geraldine Freedman is a freelance writer and a former freelance flutist, who worked for several years in New York City. She's been in the area for almost twenty years first moving to Saratoga Springs, which reminded her of NYC's West Village. These days she lives in Ballston Spa with her two cats.

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

CAROL GODETTE

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

ANN GORDON

Anne Gordon is a Leisure Travel Planner with Live Life Travel who specializes in Honeymoons, Destination Weddings and Family Travel. She is a devout travel enthusiast with a genuine passion for helping and encouraging others. Her advice to start living your best life? Start thinking about your next vacation today by visiting her online: livelifetravel. world, facebook.com/livelifetravelnow, pinterest.com/ livelifetravel1. Email: aGordon@worldviewtravel.com

JOHN GREENWOOD

John Greenwood is a leftover Saratoga milkman who loves to write, laugh and share stories. John and his wife Patricia have been holding hands since high school. By day he’s a Transportation Manager for Stewart’s Shops. On his off hours he’s an observer/writer/blogger who is quite content taking a walk or painting the side of his garage.

Learn more at rainingiguanas.com

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KAREN KRASNY I am a mother, a grandmother, a widow, a photographer, a writer, a cancer survivor and the most organized person you will ever meet. I have been an office manager, an editor, and an executive assistant. Born in Canada, I lived in Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto, New York City, Sanibel, Morristown, Rupert, and now Saratoga Springs.

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

MEGHAN LEMERY FRITZ

Meghan is a native of the Glens Falls Saratoga region.

Her passion is to provide her clients and readers with the tools necessary to live a life grounded in peace and emotional well-being. She is an author and writer for various publications in Upstate NY and State College, PA. She is also the co-host for a monthly radio segment focused on how to improve relationships.She currently resides in State College, PA where she enjoys spending time with her husband and son.

MEGIN POTTER Megin is an expressive writer and artist with work published in books, newspapers, corporate communications and online.

A resident of the region for over 20 years, she continues to discover anew the interesting people, places and products it has to offer. As a mother to her active young son, she is inspired to explore even more.

JOHN REARDON

John Reardon purchased Compliments to the Chef in July of 2004 and has enjoyed selling over 6,000 high quality cookware and cutlery items to his Foodie Friends ever since. His wife Paula - as well as being a college professor - helps out along with their son John and daughter Aubrey …and they fit right in to his Foodie Team! If you ask John or Aubrey to cook up a special dish, you’ll see a gleam in their eyes! John reminds us... “Life Happens in the Kitchen” and yes… “Anyone can cook!”

DR. ROBERET SOFARELLI Dr. Sofarelli is past president of the Capital District Veterinary Medical Society and served on the executive board of the NYS Veterinary Medical Society for 12 years. In 1999 he was elected president of the State Veterinary Society. Devoting many hours to civic involvement, he says that he is one of the lucky ones, as he knew from the age of 9 that he wanted to be a Veterinarian. To this day, though semi-retired, he still enjoys practicing..

JORDANA TURCOTTE Jordana Turcotte is a lifelong New Yorker and a Saratoga County resident since graduating from RPI. After staying at home for a bit with her children (now 10 and 8), she decided on the “rest of her life job” as Professional Organizer. Starting Simply You in 2008 fulfills a passion for organizing. When she isn’t organizing, you’ll find her volunteering at her kids’ school, being Mommy chauffeur or hanging out with her two rescue dogs.

MAUREEN WERTHER

Maureen Werther is the owner of WriteForYou, a professional freelance writing service specializing in business writing, web and blog content, and creative non-fiction. Her articles, essays and white papers appear on the pages of businesses on the web and around the globe. She is also a regular contributor to numerous newspapers, magazines and journals throughout the Capital Region. She is the author of a soon to be published book, “Them That Has, Gets,” the story of historical 1790’s estate in Schroon Lake and the colorful history of its owners. Currently, she is working on a memoir detailing her roller-coaster adventures as owner of Pie ala Moe, a gourmet pie and tart company she started in 2008, in the midst of the recession.

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. .T is the Most Wonderful T ime of the Year!

16 The Season for Giving Back is upon us … and we have suggestions!

19 Holiday Gift Guide from our Advertisers 23 Colleen’s Picks for your Holiday Decorating 31 Saratoga Buys Local 39 Baby’s First Christmas!

40 Tips for taking Great Holiday Photos.

42 Shop Beekman Street 43 Holiday Gifts for the Traveler 45 Shop Ballston Spa 48 Gift ideas for your Kids and Teens!

50 For the love of pets!

52 Save the Date!

FASHION 61 Fashionable Gift Giving for the whole family starts here!

A GOOD READ 72 Meghan Lemery gives good advice!

75 Kitchen at Dove Gate Inn… Simply Perfect!

80 Preserving Saratoga 86 Artist Spotlight: Eddie Lehman 90 Come along for a Test Drive in the 2019 GMC Sierra Denali Pickup 92 Dick Rowland’s parents know the answer…

94 Foal Patrol 96 Long live potlucks!

98 Local Marian Author Eva Marie Loucks 146 Karen Krasny’s First Christmas in Saratoga HOME & GARDEN 101 Architecturally Speaking 108 A Country Christmas 113 Setting the Stage for Holiday Decorating 116 Entertaining with Jodi Fitz 118 In the Kitchen… with John Reardon 120 Buckles, Bettys and Pies… OH MY! 122 Jordana Turcotte shows us how to streamline the holiday bustle!

124 Augie’s Recipe for a Winning Kitchen 128 Peter Bowden explains… the Evergreen Tree 130 TOGA HERITAGE HISTORY 135 Gone, but not forgotten …We love our history!

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SARATOGA THE PEOPLE • THE PLACES • THE LIFESTYLE

CONTENTS

H O L I D AY 2 0 1 8

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IT FEELS GOOD Toys For Toga

Kicks Off Annual Toy Drive in Saratoga County

With the holiday season right around the corner, we are gearing up for the fifth annual Toys For Toga campaign to help provide local children with toys for the holidays.

This year we will kick off the program Monday, November 5th, at 5pm. at Druthers Brewing Company.

We will have toy bins distributed throughout the community and local bars, restaurants, stores and businesses will collect toys and money through collection boxes and coaster and pin up sales. 100% of all money and toys stay local and are distributed among 3 local agencies, Franklin Community Center, Captain Community Human Services and the Mechanicville area community center.

Chamber Angels

The Chamber Angels has partnered with local agencies including the Southern Saratoga YMCA, Franklin Community Center, Mechanicville Community Center and Captain Community Human Services to provide holiday assistance to approximately 2,000 local children each year whose families are enduring financial hardships. They provide clothing, toys, toiletries and daily necessities to these families. For more information on adopting a child call 518-371-7748, email info@chamberangels.com, visit our website www. southernsaratoga.org, or stop by our location at 58 Clifton Country Road, Clifton Park.

The Mitten Tree

The Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center is sponsoring its annual “Happy Hands Mitten Tree” program through December 31. Donations can be placed on the Mitten Tree in the Visitor Center, 297 Broadway, Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Scarves, gloves, hats and muffs are all needed. Those in need of warm gear are invited to come into the Visitor Center during the holiday season. The center is collecting toys for the “Toys for Toga” program as well. Our tree goes up November 24th and comes down on January 2nd! For more information call 518-587-3241.

Holiday Assistance at The Franklin Community Center

The Franklin Community Center provides holiday gifts to children ages 2 to 14 years old. Gift requests are taken and are then matched up with generous donors from the area. General gift donations of toys and personal care items for the 16 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOLIDAY 2018

to Give COMPLIED BY LAUREN CLOSSEN

Holiday Store are appreciated anytime. For more information, visit the Franklin Community Center for an application or please call 518-587-9826, email Lindsey@franklincommunitycenter.org, or visit franklincommunitycenter.org/programs-services/ holiday-assistance

The Open Door Mission

The Open Door is a Christian ministry dedicated to reaching out and serving the needs of the poor and homeless in the community. This is accomplished through the daily provision of hot, nutritious meals served in a friendly, welcoming environment and by providing shelter during the coldest nights of the year.

We have a new building too, Code Blue, at 226 Warren Street, Glens Falls that will be open by November 1st.

For more information, call 518-792-5900, email admin@opendoor-ny.org or visit opendoor-ny. org

Operation Adopt A Soldier

This organization collects supplies and gifts for packages that are then sent out to thousands of men and women serving overseas. Families of soldiers are also served with the help of the local community. For more information or to get involved email wiseeagle1@ yahoo.com or operationadoptasoldierinc@gmail.com, visit operationadoptasoldier.org, or call Cliff at (518)260-9922.

The Empty S tocking Project

Saratoga Children’s Committee’s largest project provides holiday gifts and necessities to approximately 1,000 children in Saratoga County each year. At the heart of the project are the “friends” who generously sponsor a child, fulfilling their holiday wishes. Gifts are collected, checked, and any last minute shopping is done before they are given to the referring agency.

Please contact the Committee if you are interested in sponsoring a child or contributing to this endeavor.

For more information call 518-484-1236 or visit saratogachildrenscommittee.org where you can fill out a contact form.

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GIVING

ON THE STREETS OF SARATOGA WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY MEGIN POTTER

A long row of tables are pushed together in the Salvation Army parking lot on Woodlawn Avenue.

They are covered with bins of home-cooked food, toiletries, clothing and more. Lined up in front of them, more than 40 people are asked, “What would you like?”

“I’m hungry,” is one man’s response.

“Well, here you go; hot chicken dinner with roasted potatoes and veggies. What else can I get you?” says the volunteer on the other said of the table ABSOLUTE UNDERSTANDING

There’s a big pot of chicken noodle soup, but it runs out quickly. There’s hot coffee but no sugar to mix it with. Everyone takes it in stride. They are polite and grateful for everything they are given.

“God bless you,” is heard over and over again.

This has become the regular scene here every Saturday night since May 2018 when Diane Duhame and her grassroots volunteer group, Street Soldiers II Saratoga, was granted permission to give out a varying assortment of free food and essential items to anyone who may need them.

“The majority of people who are here are great. It’s a good social time. We could all be in this situation. It just takes one thing and we could all fall through the cracks,” said volunteer Cathy Grasso Hoff.

Volunteers Michael and Elizabeth MimsRanger did fall on hard times and spent three seasons living in a tent.

“If this had been here then, this is where we would’ve gone,” said Elizabeth.

Now they come to give to others.

“Michael is so good at reassuring people and talking to them. It gives them hope,” she said. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

PADDLING IN THE SAME DIRECTION

Street Soldiers II Saratoga is an offshoot of the Albany-based Street Soldiers, started in 2015 by Mike and Renee Fahey.

What makes Street Soldiers different than other charitable organizations is that there is no paperwork, no regulations and no treasury. It’s just giving.

“These people are here so we help them. That’s it. There, but for the grace of God, go I. When He puts His hand in something, it just works. We haven’t had a bad night,” said Duhame.

When she started out, she didn’t know what to expect. Duhame said she’s learned how strong her compassion is, how committed the volunteers are, and has improved her organizational skills to keep track of all the logistics involved.

“I’m surprised there are so many volunteers and that they are so good hearted. Just today, someone gave me 96 pairs of socks. Then there’s the woman who donated 300 tote bags. It’s so amazing that so many have responded, I can’t keep up with them, which is a good thing I guess,” she laughs.

Knowing many people won’t come out to the weekly event, she and others hand-deliver items to those who need them, as well.

NOTE: This group has now changed their name to Saratoga Stronger and is no longer affiliated with Street Soldiers in Albany.

Hoping to hand out filled backpacks for the holidays, they have published the link to an Amazon Wish List on their Facebook page @SaratogaStronger.

Volunteers are invited to come to 27 Woodlawn Ave. on Saturdays at 7 p.m. with whatever they’ve brought (which is sometimes arranged beforehand on Facebook but doesn’t have to be), hand out items and are done within an hour.

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HolidayGIFT GUIDE

Your

great suggestions from some of our advertisers

Classic 14k white gold pearl earrings, starting at $295 Custom made in our Saratoga Springs studio. 3 sizes available.

DEJONGHE ORIGINAL JEWELRY 470 Broadway, Saratoga Springs 518.587.6422 djOriginals.com

Azure 24 inch Beverage Center - $899 Azure (by Coyote) presents this compact refrigerator that can be freestanding or built in. It can fit up to 80 12-oz beverage cans and 10 wine, so you can be well stocked and prepared to entertain. It uses blue LED lighting to illuminate the interior, adding to the ambiance. The door is field reversible to accommodate left-handed users. Digital display controls are easy to read and use to set the temperature. This unit is A.D.A. Compliant.

MARCELLA’S APPLIANCE CENTER 15 Park Ave., Clifton Park, 518.952..7700 560 Broadway, Schenectady, 518.381.1957 MarcellaAappliance.com

Alps & Meters Vest Constructed with high quality craftsmanship and a tailored combination of natural fabrics, protective full grain leathers, and contemporary technologies, the Alpine Vest offers warmth and protection to alpine sport enthusiasts on and off the mountain."

SARATOGA SADDLERY 506 Broadway Saratoga Springs 518.580.4522 SaratogaSaddlery.com

Marble Initial Coaster Sets For a gift that’s personal and practical, Silverwood’s marble initial coaster sets are the perfect gift for friends, family, co-workers… you name it!

SILVERWOOD GALLERIES 398 Broadway, Saratoga Springs 518.583.3600 SilverwoodGalleries.com saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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HolidayGIFT GUIDE

Your

great suggestions from some of our advertisers The Los Gatos Jacket - $129

A cozy, deep-pile double faced fleece jacket with a tall collar, handwarmer pockets and contoured seams in the back for a refined fit. This long, lean jacket silhouette with tonal polyester trim at the front zip and pockets is sure to be a seasonal favorite. The Los Gatos jacket features a durable water repellent finish and body fabric that is bluedesign approved.

MOUNTAINMAN OUTDOOR SUPPLY COMPANY Saratoga Springs Clothing and Footwear 490 Broadway, Saratoga Springs 518.584.3500 MountainManOutdoors.com

Stirrup Ice Tub Our Stirrup Ice Tub makes a great gift for any equestrian enthusiast in your life. Saratoga Saddlery is your one stop shop for specialty home goods for everyone on your list. Visit our website or our downtown location for new arrivals.

SARATOGA SADDLERY 506 Broadway Saratoga Springs 518.580.4522 SaratogaSaddlery.com

TOGA HERITAGE Signature Candles HOME and FIRESIDE

TOGA HERITAGE 398 Broadway, Saratoga Springs 518.944.8951 TogaHeritage.com

Holiday Pajamas from Kickee Pants

LEX & CLEO The Saratoga Marketplace 454 Broadway, S​ uite 2, Saratoga Springs 518.587.0809 LexAndCleo.com

Soup’s On! Serve up comfort with our Hearty Soups & More Gift Box, filled with an abundant assortment of non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free soups with gorgeous layers of color. Accompany with Saratoga Crackers, oyster crackers, or cheddar straws for crunch and you’ve got a gift to warm everyone on your list.

SAVORY PANTRY 486 Broadway, Saratoga Springs 518.450.1130 SavoryPantry.com 20 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOLIDAY 2018

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Cashmere Shawl Cashmere got a little more luxe for 2018!

Fur accents, pearls, reversible styles… check out Silverwood’s cashmere corner this season!

SILVERWOOD GALLERIES 398 Broadway, Saratoga Springs 518.583.3600 SilverwoodGalleries.com

Rustic Bakery Holiday Treats Festive giving is simply delicious with holiday gifts from The Savory Pantry. Choose from flavorful artisan Fruit & Nut or Citrus & Almond fruitcakes or hand-rolled and trimmed clove and cinnamon Spiced Gingerbread Tiles—all make thoughtful hostess gifts and pairperfectly with tea, coffee, or hot cider.

SAVORY PANTRY 486 Broadway, Saratoga Springs 518.450.1130 SavoryPantry.com

Sharp Superheated Steam Countertop Oven - $349 Cooks with Super-heated steam. Instant On. No Preheating.

No Defrosting. Five Versatile Cooking Modes. Personal, powerful pizzeria-style oven. Up to 60 minutes of steam cooking. Easy to clean, inside and out. Broiling pan and crisper tray included.

MARCELLA’S APPLIANCE CENTER 15 Park Ave., Clifton Park, 518.952..7700 560 Broadway, Schenectady, 518.381.1957 MarcellaAappliance.com

Custom Saratoga Stoneware Ornaments $14.95 These ornaments capture the essence of Saratoga.

Available in 5 designs: Jockey Silks, Starting Gate, Harness Track, Polo, and Broadway. Same designs also available as coasters, magnets, and magnetic bottle openers.

CRAFTERS GALLERY 427 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 518.583.2435 CraftersGallerySaratoga.com

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Susan Blackburn Photography

Colleens’Picks

A carefully curated selection of HOME DÉCOR ITEMS

Colleen Coleman is the Principal of CMC Design Studio LLC located at 6 Franklin Square in Saratoga Springs.

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

T’was the month before the Holidays, and all through the house; not a spare bed for resting, not even a couch. So off did I fly, with a list in my hand; to shop for décor and gift giving in plan.

T'was the month before the Holidays...

WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY COLLEEN COLEMAN OF CMC DESIGN STUDIO LLC

PATTERSONVILLE FURNITURE 1664 Main Street / Rt. 5S Pattersonville, NY 12137 pattersonvillefurniture.net 518.887.2741

Pattersonville Furniture, was my first

trip of the season; for a new Amish bed, the Mapleton Collection was a pleasin’! It was finished in Cast Ash, Sunbrella fabric, oh my; with driftwood stained maple, that put a tear in my eye! It came in multiple wood and fabrics to choose from; I knew I found a treasure, that guests would approve of.

But what of my living room, so full of despair…It needed a boost, for my upcoming affair. To what did my wondering eyes did I see?; but a Hallagan Brighton sofa, ready to please. With custom foot choices, fabrics and arms; multiple sizes made it a charm.

Off to Curtain & Carpet Exchange, to secure a rug by Karrastan; great for stair runners, wall-to-wall and custom band. “Natural fibers I know, are the easiest to clean; so away with the stress of Holiday spills!” I glean.

The windows are bare and need insulation; Hunter Douglas to the rescue, with Honey Comb shades and automation! A textural wool area rug, finishes the room; subtle for most spaces, nubby and groomed! saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

CURTAIN & CARPET CONCEPTS 146 Marion Avenue, Suite 7 Saratoga Springs CurtainToCarpet.com 518.886.1389

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Colleens ’ Picks

Away from town I drove my sleek sleigh; to a hand-crafted shop, which took my breath away.

Stitches & Time had a flare for the distressed…wood that is… stained and painted, and definitely at its best! An antiqued, multi-colored farm table, rough cut would be charming; paired with painted chairs or a bench, how darling.

I’m told that its steady, you could dance on your plate; but don’t tell Aunt Betty…she’ll start prancing by 8! My holiday dishes, need displayin’ you know; so Denise made this fabulous step-back red cabinet, glass fronted with storage below!

STITCHES & TIME

FINISHING TOUCHES HOME DECOR INC 217 Ballard Rd, Wilton FinishingTouchesHD.com 518.584.1490

945 Route 29E/Lake Avenue Saratoga Springs StitchesAndTime.com 518.695.5643

My house is feeling cozy, I’m loving the scene; now to add some accents, Finishing Touches…exit 16!

I fall in love with a cream, herringbone tufted chair; detailed with brass nail heads, weathered legs and room to spare! But what of a side table, not the usual I need… I spy one in the corner, a welded piece I perceive! “A 3D Pentagonal side, in weathered brass!” I delight; now for some goblets, I spy in my sight. 12K white leaf, mixed with 23K gold; fused in glass bubbles, a pleasure to hold.

Onto something rustic, a piece from the past; I fall in love with this trunk, “Olive green canvas with leather, at last!” My mom has been pining, for just such a find; the storage and tray, are exactly her kind!

THE WOOD CARTE 1063 State Route 9 Queensbury, NY 12804 WoodCarte.com 518.793.7655

Further north I did head, with my grandpa’s camp also in mind; in need of some Adirondack pieces, for visitors to recline.

The Wood Carte had the selection, I knew would be vast; full of hickory chests, Amish crafted, with integrity from the past. The well-crafted bed, all nestled with Adirondack décor; was perfect for the camp, in all its splendor for sure. And who could resist, a swivel rocker bedside; for getting the grandkids settled, before Santa arrives. Now with kids tucked away, down the stairs we can creep; to the authentic whiskey barrel bar, for a cold winter’s treat!

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With gift giving thoughts, I hurry back to downtown, for Saratoga Signature had plenty abound. Who would have thought, I could find such great riches; “Mini Jockeys and Cast Horses as gifts,”I’m in stitches!

SARATOGA SIGNATURE INTERIORS 182 Church Street Saratoga Springs SaratogaSignature.com 518.581.0023

As I glance through the shop, I see more darling amenities; spying canvas art of animals, dressed as celebrities. What a great gift to give, for my daughter and son; a game to play when unwrapping, "Who’d you get and which one?"

I couldn’t resist, the glass printed animals too; full of luxury and splendor, a definite gift for Aunt Sue. Now dare I forget, my hubby on this day; his love of a Harley, he surely conveys. A collage of wine labels, ads and travel posters; a definite purchase, much better than coasters. With greens being in season, I couldn’t despair; the most beautiful vases, frames and seating without compare. The sofa was contemporary, full of greens, yellow and blues; available in multiple sizes, endless fabrics, Yoohoo! One last item to go, for my sweet uncle Chase; he’d really love this boat-shaped table, in reclaimed wood and metal base. The woven backed chairs, with grey leather plush seats; just magnify its splendor, I’ll be his favorite niece!

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HOLIDAY 2018 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 25

Colleens ’ Picks I can’t forget Dad, he’s too important to miss; so off to 23rd andFourth, to ensure gift-giving bliss. An Eastwood Chair, with mid-century lines, oh my... He’ll be like a kid, when Santa arrives!

The Sunbrella fabric, guarantees the grandkids won’t make; a mess of his throne, not even with fruitcake! Lighting is so important, I can’t miss a beat, I love these black and brass fixtures, a quick install and complete! With the holidays aglow, I can’t help but mill; over these splendid Graphite Objects, of horses, antlers and quill. A great stocking stuffer, for the artist in your crew; pen a note to Santa, he may leave you a few! My neighbor loves to entertain, I know just what to do; I’ll grab one of these hand-carved cutting boards, in fact maybe two! Made of reclaimed woods, they are sure to please; individually unique for Gorgonzola, Aged Cheddar and Gouda cheese!

A ride to the lake, was a must for my spouse; to find a true Ekornes Stressless Chair, where else but TheFurniture House! It came in 3 sizes, a large would do fine; metal and wood bases, the foot stool was mine.

Ergonomically serene, I know it will meet his desire; maybe I’ll get two, so I won’t have to umpire!

23RD AND FOURTH 130 Excelsior Ave Saratoga Springs 23rdAndFourth.com 518.584.3700

THE FURNITURE HOUSE 1254 Route 9P Saratoga Springs TheFurnitureHouseNY.com 518.587.9865

One last look at the live edge, tables below; they now have glass inserts, I did not know! The walnut finish, in contemporary grace; could include a steady metal, or natural trunk base.

A variety of stains, and designs are available; I must get one now, before I am unable.

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TIMES SQUARE CLOCK SHOP

A trip to Clifton Park, to visit Time Square; for a clock or a watch, the largest selection anywhere! A true Howard Miller, Grandfather Clock on the floor; an heirloom for sure, my parents adore!

22 Clifton Country Road Clifton Park TimeSquareClockShop.com 518.371.1300

My sister loves cats, so I’m drawn to this display; “Kit-Cat Klocks”, were a joy to millions, from past year days. A source of inspiration in the 1930’s, a prize; what joy it will bring now, with its wagging tail and rolling eyes!

One last trip downtown, I must rush with great care; for an oil painting from Silverwood Gallery, above my new chair!

A collection of pieces, from the regions most talented artists; a treasure to behold, that will not tarnish.

With most of my shopping, quite under my belt; I’m overlooking something… it’s the music I felt.

Tangora Technologies to the rescue as usual; "Oh what would I do?"…I think be delusional! Smart homes are a must, “Turn on my party lights!” I declare; with technology from Leviton, I truly have no cares! But what of my gathering, "A storm!," I cry; no worries at my house, with a Briggs & Stratton generator, nearby. The lights may go out, Alexa temporarily hushed; but within seconds we will celebrate, my party won't be crushed!

All my travels are done, my house is a hopping; I love all the stores, and the Saratoga shopping! As the holidays draw near, don’t forget to buy local; for our small business' love you... I know, they are vocal. So, grace your family members, and co-workers too; with holiday joy, a special gift, something new.

I wish you all, a Merry Christmas indeed; enjoy the simple moments, laughter and company! As we look to the future, so full of wonder and cheer; I thank you my friends...see you all next year!

SILVERWOOD

398 Broadway Saratoga Springs SilverwoodGalleries.com 518.583.3600

TANGORA TECHNOLOGIES 503 Orchard Street Delmar, NY TangoraTechnologies.com 518.478.9513

Colleen Colman of CMC Design Studio LLC AKBD, CAPS & True Color Expert

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HOLIDAY 2018 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 27

Sponsored Content

PMI INTERNATIONAL STONE IMPORTERS

ROCKING T H E C A P I TA L R E G I O N

International Stone International Stone Importers Importers

I

Yes - This is a countertop!

n Albany, there is an up and coming stone supplier whose wholesale approach is rocking the Northeast. Traditionally a selling platform for the West Coast and southern states, PMI has introduced the surrounding areas to the idea of purchasing stone at cost, then selecting an independent fabricator to complete a project. I had the opportunity to sit with the manager of PMI, Gavin Semon, to discuss their process of working through a project with their customers.

Gavin and his highly trained staff invite homeowner walkins, appointments and professionals from the trade. “Upon check-in, we discuss our customer’s needs and give them a personal tour of our selections!” states Semon. (Fresh baked chocolate chip cookies and refreshments too! Insert emogi with tongue out for “Yummy”) To prepare for your visit, Gavin recommends that you bring any layouts and cabinetry samples to best coordinate your selections.

PMI hopes that newcomers will enjoy the vast array of options they have to offer and take the time to preview the resources before making a final decision. After initial selections are made, PMI staff will create a take-away sheet listing the various selections of choice. The client will then receive an email with photos of each of the stones in a full-slab format. If a floorplan is available, they will assist in edge selection and corner details, calculate the estimated cost of the project and secure competitive pricing for fabrication. Any questions pertaining to the performance of the selected stone can be addressed as well. Gavin’s advice to the homeowner: “Step away from the idea of trend and follow your passion and heart … unless your

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selling your home within 2 years, you should be doing something that is personal, something that is a part of yourself.”

I couldn’t agree more!!

Each hand-picked stone is secured from providences all over the world; India, Australia Western Africa, Madagascar and of course the USA to only name a few!

With over 200 natural stones and a variety of quartz options all shown in full slab averaging 120 x 70, there is surely a gem that speaks to each unique project!

So how is this approach different?

PMI is a wholesaler that supplies the stone separate from the cost of labor. The templating and fabrication occur elsewhere. Gavin states “that it is beneficial to the client because you can select your specific slab, and then we can acquire competitive quotes for the fabrication to come up with the best cost for our clients. It allows for transparency, the true cost and value of the job.”

In Gavin’s experience over the years, he knows “that a client has more choices on how to maximize the best pieces of their stone rather than worrying about how the remnants will be sold to the next client. And by removing the typical mark-up on the stone, customers are able to save on overall project costs!”

However, PMI is willing to work with the homeowner in the way that best suits their needs for the project. Whether selecting a stone then finding a fabricator or vice versa.

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Now that we know the process, let’s take a look at some of the beautiful stones I found on the showroom floor…

Calcutta Black is an Italian Marble with an abrash base color that runs from light grays to deep charcoal and is accented with phenomenal veining!

Calcutta Borghini, white Italian Marble What can I say…

Its translucent whites and the layering of veining is spectacular!

Imperial Danby is a domestic white marble quarried in Vermont. Lovely and local!!...Beautifully rich, warm whites, so gorgeous in a honed finish that you’ll just want to run your hand over it while cooking!

Pacific Soapstone is a Brazilian black beauty with celadon green veining….

Dramatic for a soapstone! Waxing or oiling brings out all the jewel tones!!

Sodalite, a magnificent Brazilian stone…Anything naturally that blue is exceptional… appropriate for kings! Are you royalty?

With PMI pushing the industry to have more national standards throughout the stone industry, it’s worth the trip to consider this alternate approach to purchasing stone. Who knows, you may find a Portuguese polished gem that’s perfect for your palace!!

Happy stone shopping my friends!!

Opened Mon- Sat 8am – 5pm 2 commerce Ave, Albany NY Contact Gavin at: Gavin@pmirock.com; PmiRock.com 518-435-9000 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Saratoga

BUYS LOCAL

GIBSON & DEHN WRITTEN BY GERALDINE FREEDMAN

W

hat better way to welcome the change in seasons than from local fragrance producer Gibson & Dehn? Available at Dehn’s Flowers and Gifts downtown, the brand has a variety of autumn and holiday scents including Pumpkin Brûlée & Norway Spruce. Now in it’s fifth generation of botanical development, CEO Michael Dehn Breault has taken the helm of the label and pays homage to his great, great grandparent’s Saratoga origins with other scents such as ‘Promenade’, ‘Beekman Street’ and ‘Regatta’.

Michael recalls late Augusts and early Septembers spent at the race track with his family and notes that many of the fragrances he created for the Gibson & Dehn line stem from those crisp days outside.

“We wanted to bring together all of the wonderful aspects of this special place, especially the things I remember most from spending time here as a kid: clarity, warmth, comfort, excitement and especially aromatics. It’s been such a unique opportunity and pleasure to grow this brand to reflect the imprint Saratoga has had on my life, and now with the holidays just around the corner I hope you can also enjoy the homier scents that we’ve developed!

Also, don’t forget to keep your vessel once you’re done burning the candle — they can be used as cocktail tumblers!”

With a price point of $37.99, the candles make a wonderful hostess or holiday gift, and easily blend into and compliment any environment.

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DARN GOOD YARN

Saratoga

BUYS LOCAL

WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER

Threads of connection create a stronger world.

N

icole Snow was doing good long before anyone was watching. Now she has one of the fastest growing companies in the country and is doing more good for more people than she ever imagined.

“Technology helps us grow leaps and bounds but there’s something to grasping onto what makes us human everyday…

Working with manmade materials all day separates us intuitively from who we are,” said Snow.

“I want to run my business in a way that would make my mom proud,” she said.

The vibrant colors and rough edges of their sari ribbon yarns create an inherently interesting, multi-dimensional finished product.

When Darn Good Yarn began a decade ago selling original recycled yarns, it was to help empower the women in Nepal and India who were making them.

“It’s showing you the rawness of where it’s coming from,” she said.

Love is Good

“It wasn’t about profit, it was about creating sustainable jobs,” said Snow.

The company, now based in Clifton Park, has created more than 600 jobs, including some closer to home, by working with the Schenectady ARC to fulfill their average of 250,000 orders per year.

“Women and men spend their money very differently… When you empower a woman in the U.S. or another country, that money goes to the family and then goes into the community it allows the whole community to be pulled out of poverty in a structurally-sound way,” said Snow.

Thoughtful sourcing and a humanity-first approach has garnered the retailer and wholesaler of yarns, craft supplies, clothing and home goods a recorded $5.4 million in sales and puts positive intentions at the forefront as a viable business model.

“When you work from love and good intentions, things come out so much better,” said Snow.

A Show of Hands

Darn Good Yarns isn’t just selling your run-of-the-mill yarns.

Many of their products are made by hand from clean, unused remnants of silk saris, banana fibers dyed with rose petals and other recycled and natural materials.

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The patterns created with these fibers are bold, vivacious and anything but generic.

“It’s scrappy and there’s still beauty in imperfection - even in this world of Photoshop,” said Snow.

Common Threads

As a crafter herself, Snow understands the reasons why people still do it as a stress-reliever in a busy world where we seem to already have too much to do.

“Crafting is a very unique experience. It’s tapping back into the generations before you. As a grounding human experience – it’s unmatched.”

Darn Good Yarn has numerous ways for everyone to get in on the action.

Buying and point clubs, subscription programs, patterns and kits can be delivered right to your doorstep. Finished bowls, purses, skirts and more let you support the cause.

Facebook Fridays live sell & chats give you a place to go for a robust lunchtime conversation with Snow and others. Watch Wind-Down Wednesdays for interviews with designers and crafters, from cottage-industry moms to multimillion-dollar entrepreneurial women, to hear how they manage the day-today of all they do.

Visit them online at DarnGoodYarn.com or on Facebook @DGYarn

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PETAL + HIVE

Saratoga

BUYS LOCAL

WRITTEN BY GERALDINE FREEDMAN

W

hat can be better than to use Nature’s bounty to help or heal? That’s what Jillian Ehrenberg thought when one of her children developed food allergies.

“It opened me up to the whole natural world,” she said.

About three years ago, Ehrenberg took some classes in herbal remedies and decided to try her hand at making skin care products.

“At first I was doing lip balm and skin lotion – the things anyone can do. I experimented on family and friends as guinea pigs,” she said laughing.

The concoctions were successful. That’s when her husband Jeff, a former employee in Clinique’s labs, suggested they make something “more sophisticated.” The results: a hand lotion, facial toner and moisturizer, deodorant, cuticle cream, foot rub and scrub, and body scrub.

leaf, arnica (aches and itchy skin), and maple leaf (anti wrinkles). Oils are usually from coconut or olive and any fragrance is natural like vanilla or lavender.

Some of her newest offerings are an eye cream that’s good for wrinkles and puffiness, a bug spray for mosquitos and flies, and they are in the process of developing some soaps.

When winter comes, Ehrenberg said she’ll be busy formulating new products – her favorite thing.

Petal + Hive is sold at Common Thread (Saratoga Springs), A Bead Just So (Ballston Spa), Revibe (Schuylerville).

PetalAndHive.com phone 518-460-1456.

“Jeff does all the development and test runs,” Ehrenberg said. “While most people use a base, we use all raw ingredients with our own formulas. It takes a year to develop a hand lotion to make sure it has the right feel and it’s stable. It’s quite a science.”

Among the flowers and herbs from her organic garden that are used are calendula (for skin softening), rosemary, rose petals, yarrow, plantain (“nature’s vacuum cleaner”), blackberry

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OLD SARATOGA MERCANTILE

Saratoga

BUYS LOCAL

WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER

T

he only bad thing about buying local… is that you have to go to so many different places to do it! Having a shopping adventure is great, except when you’re planning to have guests over during an already too-busy holiday. Then it just becomes a hassle.

Luckily, Old Saratoga Mercantile is a one-stop shop that stocks products from more than 100 local vendors to provide you everything you need to get your home and table ready this season.

Owner Christina Myers carefully hand-picks everything that is within this year-round marketplace, ensuring your purchase has a purpose: to support your own community in an ethical, eco-conscious and sustainable way.

Menu? Planned.

“We have some really unique items to show off on your table,” said Myers.

Wow them with delectable meats by special ordering local pheasant, quail, rabbit, prime rib, roasts, and hams.

Impress your family and friends with the always fresh greens from the new Old Saratoga Mercantile greenhouse. The crispy lettuces, spicy arugula, richly colored kale and bok choy are packed with flavor.

Top it off with limited release and small batch selections of local beer, cider and wine products to leave them talking long after the meal.

Home? Ready.

A clean plate feels best in a clean home. Old Saratoga Mercantile makes their own spray cleaners, essential oils and laundry soaps so you can be sure they are free from any unknown additives.

Show your guests how special they are with the awesome comfort of added luxury items from Grillo Essentials, including lavender eye pillows, balsam sachets and misting sprays.

“We’re upping the guest game,” said Myers.

Fun? Done.

Specializing in putting together custom local sampler gift baskets for the hottest hostesses …and kids and adults love the addition of timeless toys!

“It’s as if you’re wandering into an old mercantile from a hundred years ago,” said Myers. Introduce a new generation to the joys of kazoos, handmade wooden trains complete with cargo, and tractors towing a wagon filled with animals.

From stocking stuffers, to pottery and wooden pieces, there are a lot of fun items for people of all ages.

Give the gift of a neat new experience with Old Saratoga Mercantile classes. This season they are introducing a new Herbal Tincture Class and continuing their popular Soap Making Classes.

“It is so much fun!” she said.

For details, find them on Facebook @OldSaratogaMercantile or stop in. Old Saratoga Mercantile, 1120 Route 29, Schuylerville is open Monday – Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday & Sunday 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

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UPSTATE DISTILLING

WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER

Saratoga

BUYS LOCAL

In Good Spirits

T

he spirit of innovation has a distinct flavor. With a nod to tradition and a modern appreciation of the handcrafted, Upstate Distilling is looking forward to a promising new harvest.

Sweet Trade As consumer tastes are changing, so is Upstate Distilling. Exiting their experimental phase, they are now concentrating on two products; Saratoga Springs Bourbon Whiskey and Saratoga in the Rye Whiskey.

“Bourbon is our most popular, but Rye is on the rise,” said Upstate Distilling owner Ryen VanHall, VanHall, graduated from Saratoga Springs High School in 2005 and moved around for a bit but always considered this his home, he said. He went to school with Richard Sicari and together they watched the craft brewing and distilling market grow in the region.

Sicari became a co-owner of The Albany Distilling Company and VanHall found a great location in Saratoga to open Upstate Distilling to the public in 2016.

“Saratoga was the obvious choice for me. I jumped on an opportunity when I saw it and that was it. We started filling barrels, he said.

On Labor Day he closed his Geyser Road tasting room and is spending the winter serving off-premises. Upstate Distilling will reopen next year in a new location within walking distance from Broadway. Until then, more than 50 liquor stores in the area carry Upstate Distilling products.

Zippity-Do-Da Focusing just on their whiskeys allows Upstate Distilling to offer a more refined product.

Their old-fashioned labels, printed by Macaran Printed Products in Cohoes, cylindrical flare-top bottles and large cork stoppers showcase these products as something truly unique on retail store shelves.

Upstate Distilling’s intentional choices on the outside of the bottle reflect what is inside.

“We are working with small farmers who are paying a lot more attention to their grain. I buy it by-the-pound from people who are using really good sustainable practices to get grain with more flavor and translates to more taste per bottle,” said VanHall.

The growing appeal of the zippy, spicy, peppery rich taste of Saratoga in the Rye is creating more of a demand for a grain that was once just used as a cover crop.

“It was plowed in the ground to maintain the soil but now farmers harvest the grain and get something for it,” said VanHall.

Furthering this effort to extend diversity for farmers and consumers, in 2017, a group of New York distillers announced the creation of a new style of whiskey: Empire rye. Made in New York and aged for at least two years, this bold and ambitious new designation will signify original, richer, more complex products.

“We’ll be drinking that this time next year,” said VanHall. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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SARATOGA BOTANICALS

Saratoga

BUYS LOCAL

Sense-sational Saratoga WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER

W

ellness works two ways: from the inside out and from the outside in.

Saratoga Botanicals uses organic, mindfully-made products to activate our senses of smell and touch in a refreshing new way.

“We offer clean and organic products and services that people can trust,” said owner Franesa Pyle.

The Saratoga Botanicals line of aromatherapy bath and body products and their Spa City Organics line of cosmetic and skin care solutions use natural ingredients to achieve your desired results.

Their menu of spa services and massage therapies includes, among others, the rare pleasures of couples massage and Ashiatsu massage (a deep tissue back massage in which the therapist utilizes their feet and body weight).

“We ask them their goal for the session or treatment and what they want to achieve for their skin and make recommendations for folks,” said Pyle.

Seasonal Scents With more than 200 products already being sold in the shop and online through Etsy and Ebay, they are adding even more this fall.

Made in-house in small batches, the rich benefits of pumpkin are utilized in the nourishing and exfoliating Pumpkin Papaya Botanical Mud Mask, the Pumpkin Papaya Botanical Bath Soak, Pumpkin Cedarwood Body Wash, and Pumpkin Prickly Pear Botanical Facial Oil. Also look for a line of new balsam and eucalyptus infused items to join a variety of skin-care products in their sweet and uplifting signature scents.

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Made-To-Order To customize the creation process further than ever before, Saratoga Botanicals is marking their 5th Anniversary as a successful spa by introducing the Spa City made-toorder bath and beauty products.

“We wanted to make and have control over these products and now we’re shifting to making that a more interactive process,” said Pyle.

Their November launch will welcome customers with a spread of mix-andmatch herbal ingredients to meet their individual skin-care needs.

Sourcing plant products locally when possible, including lavender from the nearby Lavenlair Farm, they contain no pesticides and are all-organic.

Selling a menu of raw ingredients by-the-ounce and by-the-pound, you can take the secrets of the spa home with you for a truly do-ityourself experience. Blending and aromatherapy classes will be offered at the shop, as well.

Presents with Presence For Saratoga Botanicals, revolutionizing the business means tapping into ancient knowledge.

Giving the gift of this energy is easy with their charged boutique items.

As a certified Reiki practitioner, Pyle infuses the spiritually-guided life source energy of Reiki into the hand-made jewelry she sells in the shop. The earrings, bracelets and necklaces are made with intention to enhance the already-present properties of the stones.

“I put in maximum effort for you to look your best and feel your best when you’re wearing it,” said Pyle.

Gift cards are also available in any amount for items or spa services and a shuttle runs weekly to transport clients within a 2-mile radius. For more information go to SaratogaBotanicals.com

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HOLIDAY 2018 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 37

SAT NAM BABE

Saratoga WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER

BUYS LOCAL

Care Wear

K

ids know when they feel good. Kids don’t know about fashion, conscious decision-making or a consumer’s buying power. They know comfort.

“Parents say how much they love the harem pants for babies. They love them because they are so forgiving. With diapers on underneath, there is still so much movability as they are starting to crawl and walk. There’re no constrictions,” said Jennifer Coulombe, founder of Sat Nam babe.

Sat Nam babe is a brand making super-soft, comfy clothing for babies and young children, where good feels are founded in caring ideals.

Dangers of Fast Fashion Coulombe was always interested in fashion. Then she learned the truth behind the glamour.

“The fashion industry is so corrupt,” she said.

She was studying business when, in 2013, the eight-story Rana Plaza Garment Factory collapsed in Bangladesh, killing more than 1,000 people and injuring 2,500, more than half of which were women.

“The timing was just so ironic. It spearheaded our discussions and created a yearning in real-time to consider how the world is being affected by the fashion industry,” said Coulombe.

Coulombe grew up in Clifton Park, graduated from Shenendehowa High School in 1999, went to Syracuse University and then headed to New York City. In 2017, with 70 percent of the costs paid for through her crowd-funding campaign, she launched Sat Nam babe clothing as a sustainable clothing alternative.

Photo by Chelsea Mazur Photography 38 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOLIDAY 2018

Inherited Value “Sat Nam” means “truth in my identity” and Coulombe is ensuring that every piece of Sat Nam babe clothing is something that she can be proud of.

Using only organic cotton and recycled materials, she consciously chooses which vendors and products to support.

“The fabric that I’ve chosen has a human rights piece but it is also luxurious. Because it is made out of plastic bottles it is insanely sustainable,” she said.

Made by a company called REPREVE in North Carolina, plastic bottles are recycled into fibers to create fabrics that are also used by larger brands including Patagonia, Lane Bryant and Ford Motor Company.

“People see the specialness of these items and pass these clothes down. I don’t want these clothes to end up in a landfill. They have second-hand value,” she said.

Maximizing Minimalism This summer, Coulombe could be seen around town hosting several pop-up shops; appearing at the Hot Yoga Spot, Complexions Spa and Irene Leigh, in the Broadway Marketplace.

Sat Nam babe is releasing a second line of clothing this fall. A self-proclaimed minimalist, Coulombe’s clothing is focused on a handful of quality designs.

She plans to bring back the popular “Love, Light & Peace” design in new colors while adding unique prints including ones featuring a cat and dog, the moon and stars, and a camping motif.

For more information and to pre-sale the new collection starting on Thanksgiving, visit SatNambabe.com

Photo by Charity Grace LeBlanc

Photo by Becca Barnard saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Baby's First C h r i s t m as Baby Ashelyn Lucille Antkowiak

Baby Hudson Older

Parents: Brent and Mallory (Ashe) Antkowiak

Parents: Erin Macek-Older and Scott Older

Baby Clementine Malek

Parents: Jessica Fernández and Christopher Malek

Baby brody roberts

Parents: Dani and Brent Roberts

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HOLIDAY 2018 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 39

Great Holiday Photos

… easier than you think!

WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY SUSAN BLACKBURN

As a professional photographer, I have certainly done my share of holiday images for my clients. But one of the hardest/most stressful shoots every year was always the holiday photo for the annual Christmas Card with my kids. They were generally resistant to the idea of even doing a Christmas Card photo and were very creative in expressing their displeasure. So, I kind of figured if it was that hard for me to get a decent image of my kids, it must be even harder for non-professionals… so here’s some help

1.

Start with an idea of what you want the final image to look like My first photography mentor, Monte Zucker, used to always say that you need to know what you want the photo to look like before you click the shutter button.

This is true for amateurs as well as professionals. It saves you time and aggravation. Once you nail the image, you can experiment with other ideas.

2.

Gather all your props before you start the shoot

4.

And while you’re at it, make sure your memory card has enough space available. Nothing is worse than trying to capture THE picture and the camera is saying "Card Full." You will thank me for this.

--especially if kids or pets are involved. They do not have the attention span to be patient while you hunt around for the vital item that will make the photo perfect. If you have forgotten something, just let it go.

of props--sometimes 3. Speaking simple really is best.

Too many props will distract from the subject of the photo--your beautiful kids and pets!

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Make sure your batteries are fully charged before you begin.

5.

Tired, hungry and sick kids do not cooperate and take awful pictures.

Make sure the kidlets are rested and have eaten in the not too distant past. Have a non-messy snack on hand just in case. And if your kid is sick, postpone the photos. Runny noses, rashes, etc. look terrible and sick kids are just plain whiny. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

6.

Have another adult around to help wrangle kids and pets... especially if there are more than two. Another set of eyes will catch any blinks, weird expressions, devil horns, etc. allowing you to focus (pun intended) on exposure and composition.

7.

Speaking of composition--don't get seduced by some fabulous location.

The subject for great holiday photos is--the kids.

Not the Trevi Fountain. We get that you had a great time on vacation in Rome, but people want to see your kids’ faces, not a far-away picture of your kids surrounded by a bunch of random tourists.

Most of my favorite pictures people have sent me are close ups of their kids’ faces.

8.

Try not to have a grown-up temper tantrum if things go bad It will not help and often makes it worse (I know this from personal experience!!). Just have a large cocktail later.

annual extended family portrait at 9. The the holiday party— that is a whole other level of stress! First tip, just say no. If you cannot bypass this, make sure you do it BEFORE the kids have had drinks or food and BEFORE they get too involved playing with cousins and friends.

Ready, set, GO! I want to see some great holiday photos in all your cards!

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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SHOP BEEKMAN STREET

42 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOLIDAY 2018

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HOLIDAY 2018 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 43

5

TOP

HOLIDAY GIFT GIVING IDEAS

for the travelers inyour life

WRITTEN BY ANNE GORDON, OWNER LIVE LIFE TRAVEL PHOTOS PROVIDED

AFTER TRAVELING THE WORLD twice over the past two years as well as packing for a 42 night/3 country trip across Asia with my then 10-year old son, I feel confident that I can provide a “somewhat decent” (OK, “totally awesome”) list of your “must have” items for traveling.

Here are my top 5 items that we couldn’t live without while traveling the world and they would make awesome gifts for the travelers in your life.

1. PASSPORT WALLET AND TRAVEL DOCUMENT ORGANIZER – The most important thing that you travel with is your passport, so it makes sense that you should keep it safe, along with keeping your important travel documents organized.

Recommendation: Zero Grid comes with a lifetime guarantee; $24.99 But… if you want to get fancy… Megan Markle’s travel organizer is the Stow Leather Zipper ‘First Class’ Tech Case, which we are obsessed with right now; $530

2. PACKING CUBES – I am the first to admit that I was a skeptic of these so called ‘cubes,’ however I can’t travel anywhere without them now. Total game changer as they make it easier for the kids to pack well as allowing everyone to stay organized while traveling.

Recommendation: Shacke Pak – 4 Set Packing Cubes (best part – it comes with a laundry bag!) – buy different colors for each traveler; $24.31

3. SUN PROTECTION – We don’t go anywhere without it and not only have we found an option that we love, it comes in the perfect size for travel and it is not filled with those horrible toxins either.

This is one of our favorite recommendations on our list and you can buy it directly from a local distributor!

Recommendation: Beautycounter’s Countersun mineral sunscreen stick or mist; $20; Beautycounter.com/SaraJohnsen

4.

NOISE CANCELLING HEADPHONES – This should not come as any surprise and if your favorite traveler does not own a pair of these yet, they need them right away. Another game changer on every flight you will ever take again.

Recommendation: Bose QuietComfort 35 (Series II) Wireless Headphones, Noise Cancelling; $349

Register to win our

GIRLS GETAWAY GIVEAWAY

at LiveLifeTravel.world for the opportunity to win a trip to one of two luxury Virtuoso properties:

EAU PALM BEACH RESORT AND SPA or

THE LODGE AT WOODLOCH

Note: There are older models that you can purchase that will work just as well for travel, but this one has Alexa voice control, and it’s wireless pretty cool !

5.

POWER BANK CHARGER – Not only is this little gadget essential for travel, it has become a necessity in our everyday lives. No more worrying about the iPad or iPhone running out of power.

Recommendation: Anker PowerCore 10000; $31.99 To make your holiday shopping even easier, all the above items can be found (with links) on our website - LifeLifeTravel.world.

44 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOLIDAY 2018

*All costs are estimated

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SHOP BALLSTON SPA

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HOLIDAY 2018 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 45

CORINA CONTEMPORARY JEWELRY

B

her store or doing custom work sometimes of up to three projects a day. What’s different, however, is where she’s getting her stones. Up to about a decade ago, stones were carefully calibrated and looked all the same. Not now.

“I’ve always loved stones, silver and semiprecious,” Oberai said. “Every stone has its own energy and feel. And people are attracted to different stones especially to their birth stones.”

“African mines are being opened with the rough stones sent to Jaipur, India to be cut and polished - I work with 100 different Indian cutters,” Oberai said. “Now I’m getting freeform shapes in funky colors and in funky cuts. They’re all one-of-a-kind and I’m loving it.”

“I’ve always wanted to sell my stuff,” she said. “By 18, I had five wholesale accounts and by 21 I was selling in 100 stores across the country, including Macy’s and Lord & Taylor in New York City.”

These days, she’s either creating items for

Her store is also a showcase for thirty other craftspeople. Classes are only on demand.

She does some repair work. Oberai offers monthly sales of twenty percent off on the first and middle Fridays and some Saturdays.

Corina Contemporary Jewelry 89 Milton Avenue, Ballston Spa, 518-885-0930 www.CorinaContemporaryJewelry.com and on Facebook.

ERIC SEPLOWITZ PHOTOGRAPHER

E

BUYS LOCAL

WRITTEN BY GERALDINE FREEDMAN

eautiful silver rings inset with sapphires or amethysts, silver drop earrings in interesting whirls, a necklace with a carnelian pendant. These are a fraction of what Corina Oberai designs and makes for her store.

Her store is celebrating its twelfth year, but Oberai has been making jewelry for sale since she was in her early teens. She started in Vermont at the age of 14 taking an eight-week class and soon realized it was something she could do professionally.

Saratoga

Saratoga

BUYS LOCAL

WRITTEN BY GERALDINE FREEDMAN

ric Seplowitz is a man with a camera.

“I grew up with photography,” Seplowitz said. “My mom was an art history teacher and had a dark room and taught me the basics. I went to Union College as a geology major, but I always had a camera. I’m very visual and the camera allows me to tell stories.”

For years he focused on nature and produced wonderful prints and note cards. But when he had children he discovered that how they learned even the alphabet, could be presented more creatively.

“I wanted things that would be interesting for the age group, so I worked with local teachers even down to the upper- and lower-case fonts that they were using to learn to write,” Seplowitz said.

He took photos of relevant objects, such as A for apple, B for butterfly, and C for cat, and put 46 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOLIDAY 2018

them on 8” x 10” sturdy cards. Everything was printed locally and put into a colorful shipping box he designed. That was two years ago and the set now sells in forty states including being used in several local elementary schools.

Recently, Seplowitz returned to nature for inspiration but this time microscopically. With special camera lenses, he snaps a bit of a geode or cut stone and blows the pictures up to reveal a hidden world of hills and valleys, streams and lakes that the minerals made.

“I love them. It creates something I’ve never seen. . . so mystical and so often overlooked,” he said.

Seplowitz also produces “décor for kids” in prints with personalized log trucks or trains that even adults have bought as nostalgia art.

CLP Design Studio, 27 Kent St., Suite 12, Ballston Spa, 518-885-1358, EricSeplowitz.com

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Saratoga

A BEAD JUST SO

BUYS LOCAL

WRITTEN BY GERALDINE FREEDMAN

K

ate Fryer owns her own bead store… A Bead Just So, but what gets her inspirational juices flowing, is creating wonderful pieces from her vast stock.

“I like things that look complicated but are very do-able,” she said. “And my customers want simple, easy projects that they can finish in an evening.”

They’ve come to the right place.

Fryer’s store, one of the few if only bead store in Saratoga County, has thousands of beads to choose from: Japanese seed beads, Czech glass beads, “a ton” of semi-precious stones, fresh-water pearls, even beads from Africa. Yet with all these choices, Fryer was not always sold on making jewelry.

“I’ve been beading since I was12-years old, but I fell in love with beading only when I worked at Saratoga Beads (since closed),” she said. “It was my first job at 18 and I was there for eight years.”

During that time, she saw mostly women coming in to make necklaces or bracelets, which kind of amazed her since she didn’t think making jewelry was such a big deal.

“I didn’t think people needed it but then I changed my mind. Every woman wants jewelry,” Fryer said. “I decided I wanted to be an artist but not a fine artist and to be able to wear my stuff and show the world.”

She opened her own store five years ago and steadily attracts customers who relish her designs, some of which are strung on wire and others that are woven with a needle and thread. Besides classes and repair work, Fryer also offers the always fun “Ladies Night Out” and birthday parties for all ages!

A Bead Just So is at 114 Milton Avenue, Ballston Spa, 518-309-4070; AbeadJustSo.com.

She’s also on Facebook and Instagram.

AMY THOMAS, QUILTER

Saratoga

BUYS LOCAL

WRITTEN BY GERALDINE FREEDMAN

V

isit Amy Thomas’ house and you immediately know what her passion is: quilting. It’s hung on walls, draped over chairs, material samples are strewn across the dining room table and the trusty sewing machine and ironing board are close at hand. There’s even a little bowl with tiny quilted hearts all edged and finished off with great skill.

“Quilting is a kind of meditation for me,” Thomas said. “That’s why I call my business Mindful Stitches.”

She hasn’t always been a quilter. A special education teacher in the Schenectady school system until recently when she retired, she’d decided ten years ago to try something new and took a quilting class.

“At first I did the traditional patterns but I loved playing with fabric and color,” Thomas said. “I also found that I liked finishing things, especially little things.”

When she discovered batik, an especially saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

colorful cloth with intricate patterns, she knew she’d found the material she wanted to work with.

That was about five years ago. She made table runners or largish rectangles of undulating color layers that could be hung on the wall. And with a friend who made paper, she made little rectangles that had inspirational words sewn on them that could be put into a pocket attached to the paper formed into note cards.

Everything changed, however, when Thomas taught herself free-form quilting. On a ten inch by ten inch block of material, she places cut out abstract shapes and then connects it all by guiding her machine’s needle through whirls, hills and valleys and intricate sewn lines.

“It’s so much fun,” Thomas said.

Besides custom work, Thomas’ quilted squares and hangings can be seen at Corina Contemporary Jewelry in Ballston Spa. Reach her at 518-526-8121; mindfulstitches@gmail.com.

HOLIDAY 2018 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 47

Holiday YOUR

Gift Guide BOARD GAMES (prices vary)

KIDS FOR

COMPILED BY LINDSEY FISH

Games such as Pie Face Showdown and Googly Eyes spark children's imagination, along with bringing the whole family together. The test-your-luck game of Pie Face turned into a showdown between family and friends, let the quickest player win! With Googly Eyes vision altering goggles, everyone in the family has a blast trying to guess what their team attempted to draw.

CRAYOLA COLOR CHEMISTRY SET

$24.99 Education in the form of a toy. With 50 experiments, and easy to follow instructions, kids will transform into scientists this holiday season.

FINGERLINGS INTERACTIVE ANIMALS

NERF-N-STRIKE ELITE TERRASCOUT $224.99 This battery operated, dart blasting drone, is for all terrain. The adjustable blaster brings the most fun into battle along with the live video feed. This allows kids to view out of sight targets, and replay battles, while also exploring outside!

$13.99 A friend at your fingertips. These interactive animals are available in different colors, and makes/models.

Each fingerlings has its own personality and can learn how to speak with you, along with other fingerlings.

NIKELODEON SUPER SLIME STUDIO $17.32 Homemade slime without the mess.

Simply add ingredients to slime maker and turn the handle, no more sticky messes to pick up. This kit includes everything needed to make the perfect slime.

LOL SURPRISE HOUSE $189.00 A giant home for your LOL surprises! A 3 foot by 3 foot doll house provides hours of fun and children can unbox 85 surprises. Some special features are the moving elevator, day/night changing patio, real pool and sandbox. This house provides hours of fun!

48 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOLIDAY 2018

HATCHIMALS

(prices vary) A furry, interactive creature that kids hatch and raise.

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Holiday TEENS YOUR

FOR

Gift Guide

COMPILED BY LINDSEY FISH

BEATS X

$149.95 Apple and Beats work together in creating Beats X, a bluetooth earbud with quick fuel technology and a form flex cable. The 5 minute charging time provides 2 hours of listening pleasure, while the form flex cable provides tangle free listening while on the go.

TILE SPORT

$24.99 Is your teen always losing their phone and keys? The tile sport is a bluetooth tracker to help eliminate this problem. Simply press the Tile twice to make your phone ring (even if its on silent), or go to the Tile app and see your phone's last known location. The tile itself is small in size (keychain size) and lasts about a year without any keep-up. No need to charge or replace batteries and it notifies you when it needs to be replaced.

VANS

$59.99 Help your teen stand out this year with a pair of vans. This skate shoe is made for girls and boys, and comes in various colors and designs.

FUJIFILM INSTAX MINI 9 INSTANT CAMERA

$56.00 This camera instantly takes pictures and prints them for you, just like a polaroid camera!

GAS MONEY CARD Give your teen something they actually need, money for gas.

VERA BRADLEY ZIPPER ID CASE WITH LANYARD

$28.99 A colorful, trendy way to keep your ID and keys together for travel!

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ACESORI POWERPACK BATTERY CHARGER

$29.99 Whether it be for a phone or ipad, give the gift of power.

HOLIDAY 2018 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 49

Holiday YOUR

Gift Guide CHUCKIT BALL

$13.84 This interactive dog toy is fun for both pets and parents. The foam and rubber material makes the Chuckit float on water while also providing durability for land and easy grip access.

PETS FOR

COMPILED BY LINDSEY FISH

LOBEVE DOG TOYS GIFT SET

$26.99 For dogs who love to play! This package is filled with assorted toys for your dogs, contains squeaky, rope, and plush toys, with a ring.

JUMBL DELUXE LARGE BAMBOO CAT/DOG HAMMOCK $49.99 Holding up to 33 pounds, the Jumbl Deluxe Hammock provides pets with lounging and sleeping comfort.

DOG BOWL WATER BOTTLE

RZA LARGE PET BLANKET

$9.97 With this blanket being 60x40 inches, it fits most sized animals. Covered in paw prints, it can be left out all year round.

$15.00 For dogs on the go, this water bottle transforms into a water dish for your pet.

SPEEDY CAT TREE KITTEN TOWER

$39.99 Sick of your cat scratching your furniture? Get them the Speedy Cat Tree Kitten Tower. With rope covered posts and 4 levels of fun, your cats will be too occupied to destroy your furniture.

HARTZ KITTEN FRENZY CAT TOY

$3.99 Lightweight and neon colors, what could go wrong?

This 12 pack of catnip filled mice is the perfect toy for the cat who likes to stalk prey.

50 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOLIDAY 2018

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Merry Christmas from

SuperSourceMedia.com

Thank you Saratoga Dog Walker - Saratoga loves your photos!

FOR THE LOVE OF PETS WRITTEN BY ROBERT J. SOFARELLI

I

have been asked by Chris Vallone Bushee (Managing Editor) of Simply Saratoga to write about some of the interesting cases I have dealt with over the past 48 years at my Veterinary practice. My name is Robert Sofarelli and I graduated from Cornell's School of Veterinary Medicine in 1971. From there my wife, Holly and I moved to Glens Falls where I started working as an associate Veterinarian at the Glens Falls Animal Hospital. While living in Glens Falls, our daughter Jillian was born. In 1973 I decided to venture out on my own and moved to Saratoga Springs where I built and opened the Saratoga Veterinary Hospital.

While living in Glens Falls we became friends with a couple (Bonnie and Steve) who owned a Russian Wolfhound named Steppenwolf. We had an Irish Wolfhound at the time and Holly became great friends with them - while members of the Glens Falls Kennel Club, participating in obedience training.

Steppenwolf had been having some lameness issues for some time. I convinced her that we should do some diagnostics on him, thus they became clients.

We pinned his lameness to a shoulder joint issue and

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suggested radiographs. The X-rays showed a bone chip within the joint, a condition known as Osteochondritis dissecans. The only solution for this condition is surgery, which was successfully done.

Why am I telling you this story?

While it’s true animals can't speak, they do however sometimes have a way of communicating their "feelings".

One evening a few weeks after the surgery, Bonnie and Steve invited us to dinner at their home. I had known Steppenwolf for a while and would see him outside the clinic on numerous occasions. He was always friendly with a wagging tail and perhaps come over for a little head scratch.

However, on this particular evening as I walked through the front door Steppenwolf ran straight to me, jumped up on his hind legs, put his front paws on my shoulders and began licking my face.

Think what you may, but I'm convinced this was his way of saying… " Thanks Doc, my shoulder feels great!”

HOLIDAY 2018 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 51

THE NUTCRACKER O

ne of the most anticipated events of the holiday season, the Lewis A. Swyer School of the Arts at the National Museum of Dance will present its fifth annual production of The Nutcracker, Act II, Kingdom of the Sweets on Saturday, December 8.

Let the holiday magic begin as you join Clara and the Nutcracker Prince on their journey to a delightful winter wonderland!

Seventy students age six to eighteen from the School of the Arts - this year celebrating its tenth anniversary - will dance favorite Nutcracker roles such as Snow, Flowers, Angels, Spanish, Russian, Arabian, Chinese, and Marzipan. Other highlights of this enchanting production include the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier, charming Polichinelles, and Mother Ginger, performed once again by School of the Arts instructor William Otto. A former New York City Ballet dancer, Otto starred as Mother Ginger in the 1993 film version of this beloved holiday classic.

The Nutcracker, Act II, Kingdom of the Sweets is directed by School of the Arts co-directors Joan K. Anderson and Cristiane Santos with original choreography by Anderson and Santos and instructors Christie Handley and William Otto. Performances are at 1:00 pm and 7:00 pm in the Trombley Auditorium at Maple Avenue Middle School in Saratoga Springs.

Tickets are $17 each online at www.dancemuseum.org and $20 each at the door. All ticket proceeds directly support the Lewis A. Swyer School of the Arts, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization.

To kick off this festive season the National Museum of Dance will host Nutcracker’s Kingdom of the Sweets Family Fun Night on Thursday, November 29 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. In conjunction with the annual Victorian Streetwalk in Saratoga Springs, stop by the Museum before heading downtown to enjoy Nutcracker excerpt performances by School of the Arts dancers, Nutcracker-themed movement and craft activities, a candy bar, and more. The cost is $5.00 per child.

The Museum is one of several free parking locations throughout the city that evening. Leave your car at the Museum and take the free CDTA shuttle bus downtown to the Victorian Streetwalk after Nutcracker’s Kingdom of the Sweets Family Fun Night. The shuttle bus leaves every twenty-five minutes from 4:30 to 10:30 pm. For more information please visit the Museum website.

52 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOLIDAY 2018

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November - December SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10

NOT TOO FAR FROM HOME COMEDY TOUR Holiday Inn, 232 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 5:30 – 10:30 p.m.

Come join us for dinner, followed by an evening of laughs, while supporting a good cause. This fundraiser benefits After the Fire, a non-profit organization that supports Saratoga County. Cost is $54 for the dinner and show, $20 Show Only, $25 show only at the door. Dinner is at 6 p.m. The show starts at 8 p.m. For tickets contact Maureen Smith at 518-581-1823, nyafterthefire@yahoo.com or AftertheFire.org.

Northeast! A holiday delight for every child, and the child in everyone! The theme for this year is "Golden Anniversary 1968 - 2018." Shine, sparkle, and light the way into the Holiday Season with this parade. It's a great time for you and your family. Come celebrate with us!

6TH ANNUAL HOLIDAY LIGHTED TRACTOR PARADE Greenwich Junior-Senior High School, 10 Gray Ave., Greenwich, 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10 – SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11

These tractors are sure to catch your eye as each one must have a minimum of 1,000 lights! In addition, each tractor with a float/trailer must have a minimum of 2,000 lights. They will truly be a sight to see!

4TH ANNUAL SARATOGA HOLIDAY ART FAIR

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18

National Dance Museum, 99 S. Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

There will be a selection of juried artists exhibiting handmade and very Gift-able Works of Art. The exhibitors presented are some of New England's top artists and craftspeople working in a variety of media.

Handmade jewelry, fine weaving and wearables, hand blown glass, wood vessels and utensils, sculpture, functional stoneware and raku pottery, handmade quilts, mixed media, photography, paintings and much more.

The focus is on quality works of art in every price level for collectors and museum patrons. The Art Fair has a cafe and live performances and children’s art activities. Visit GordonFineArts.org for more information.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17

12TH ANNUAL LAKE GEORGE POLAR PLUNGE FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS Shepard Park, 271 Canada Street, Lake George, 9:30 a.m. – Noon Last year nearly 600 participants braved the icy waters while hundreds of spectators looked on with excitement.

These daring participants show their support for the Special Olympics and raise money for the organization. Many form teams and have fun with it. The goal is to get friends, family, colleagues and other donors to sponsor your plunge, ultimately raising thousands of dollars to help the Special Olympics reach their fundraising goal. For more information, check out the Lake George Polar Plunge Facebook page or call 518-388-0790 x8128.

ANNUAL DAILY GAZETTE HOLIDAY PARADE Schenectady County Community College, 78 Washington St., Schenectady, 5 p.m.

Come and enjoy the largest evening parade in the

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THE NUTCRACKER TEA Hall of Springs, 108 Avenue of the Pines, Saratoga Springs, 11 a.m., 3 p.m.

One of the premier holiday events in the Capital Region, this event features excerpts of The Nutcracker performed

by Northeast Ballet Company. Ballet excerpts will be performed, and guests will also enjoy a delicious tea service, to include savory and sweet treats, shop from exciting vendors for holiday gifts, and purchase raffle tickets for fun prizes, to include gift baskets and stuffed animals. Each child will receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win a very special gift, an American Girl doll. There will be one doll given away at each tea. Take pictures with costumed dancers mingling with the children, and every child attending will receive a special gift when leaving the tea. Enjoy a special time with family and friends.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 22

ANNUAL CHRISTOPHER DAILEY TURKEY TROT Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 8:30 a.m.

Each year, on Thanksgiving morning, thousands of runners (and walkers) congregate in Saratoga Springs to race in the annual 5K Turkey Trot race, which benefits the Christopher Dailey Foundation. You must register in advance. Cost is $25 on or before November 11 and $27 from November 12 – 21.

Entry fees are non-refundable. Register online at ZippyReg.com. Online registration closes at 12pm (noon) on Tuesday, November 20. Register by mail by filling out the entry form, ChristopherDaileyFoundation.com and mailing it with a $25.00 check per runner to: Christopher Dailey Foundation, c/o AREEP, PO Box 38195, Albany, NY 12203-8195. Do not mail after November 15. Register in person 4 - 8 p.m. on Wednesday, November 21 at the Saratoga Hilton Hotel.

HOLIDAY 2018 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 53

November - December 25TH ANNUAL BALLSTON SPA COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING DAY DINNER Union Fire House, 319 Milton Ave., Ballston Spa, Noon – 3 p.m.

Come join your community, family and friends at the 24th annual Community Thanksgiving Day Dinner at Union Fire Company, 319 Milton Avenue in Ballston Spa. Dinner is served from 12 - 3 pm.

Take home meals are available; deliveries also available by contacting (518) 885-8429 or the day of at (518) 885-7121. Sponsored by the community, for the community. There is no cost, and all are welcome!

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24

THE 43RD SARATOGA HOLIDAY CRAFT MARKETPLACE Saratoga Spring City Center, 522 Broadway, Saratoga Springs Kick off your holiday shopping season while enjoying unique handmade crafts from over 145 artisans.

All proceeds benefit the Saratoga Center for the Family.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28 – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2

SARATOGA FESTIVAL OF TREES PREVIEW RECEPTION Saratoga Springs City Center, 522 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 6 – 8 p.m.

Be the first to walk amid hundreds of beautifully twinkling trees, wreaths, centerpieces and other holiday items available for viewing and sale.

Appetizers and wine provided by Longfellows and Olde Bryan Inn. Cost is $75; $60 for guests under 35. Reservations required by calling 518-587-5000. For general festival hours visit SaratogaFestivalOfTrees.com for the 2018 schedule or find it on Facebook. Cost is $8 for adults; $5 for Seniors; $3 for children over 10; and free for children under 10.

54 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOLIDAY 2018

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29

32ND ANNUAL VICTORIAN STREETWALK AND TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 6 p.m.

Christmas Carols beginning at 5:45 pm as the children wait for Santa and Mrs. Claus who will arrive on horse and carriage escorted by a CBA Marching Band, and Santa’s elves.

The Honorable Mayor Kelly will light the tree at 6 p.m. Santa, Clara, elves and Rumple Dumple will visit with children throughout the evening in the beautiful Santa Cottage.

Enjoy over 40 sites with free entertainment, including the Flying Fingers Fiddlers, Spa City Duo, Shenendehowa MS Select Choir, Pokingbrook Morris Dancers, a cappella and brass groups from Skidmore College, Saratoga Soundtrack Chorus, Sax-O-Claus, The National Museum of Dance School of the Arts ballet dancers and Mother Ginger, the Saratoga County 4-H clubs gingerbread house display at various locations, The Ice Man, Santa and Mrs. Claus, Festival of Trees at the City Center, special DBA local Coupon Books, face painting, Newfoundland Dog Club.

The Saratoga City Ballet will perform at the Saratoga Arts Center and Octavo Singers will delight audiences of all ages as they sing in the lobby of the newly renovated Adelphi Hotel.

Phila Street businesses will host musicians, magicians, and offer specialty drinks and food specials. The list goes on and on. Stop by the Post Office with your stamped Christmas card envelopes, get them canceled with the specially designed 31st Victorian Streetwalk cancellation (free) and you have a month to mail them.

Look for...

Saratoga Christmas Magazine due out Novemeber 21st.

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THE PEOPLE • THE PLACES • THE LIFESTYLE

FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE, SEE PAGES 1-76

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November - December FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30 – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2

28TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS IN THE COUNTRY Various Locations, Washington County, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Artists and their wares are all on display in the rural countryside village of Fort Ann. Fifteen local artists invite you to the 22nd annual “Christmas in the Country” open artist’s studio tour. A get-away for a very special weekend in the country. Follow the Christmas tree signs to find handcrafted specialties at local countryside artists' studios. Refreshments, fun and music at each location.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7

A CHRISTMAS STORY Home Made Theater at The Spa Little Theater, 19 Roosevelt Dr., Saratoga Springs 1 – 2:30 p.m.

It’s almost Christmas and more than anything in the world Ralphie wants a Red Ryder 200-Shot Carbine Action Range Model Air Rifle, but his parents don’t seem to think it’s a good idea. His mother warns, “You’ll shoot your eye out,” and his father is too busy tinkering with the family’s furnace and evading the dogs from next door to pay much attention. Weekends December 7 – 16.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $12 for children 12 and under.

BALLSTON SPA HOLIDAY PARADE AND TREE LIGHTING Milton Avenue to Wiswall Park, Ballston Spa, 6:30 – 9 p.m.

The parade has become a hometown-style holiday tradition, with fire trucks, floats, animals, kids and Santa parading down the main street of the village. The parade headlines a holiday-themed “First Friday." Ballston Spa’s unique shops, museums, and popular restaurants will be open from 6 - 9 pm, filling the village with a merry atmosphere. Ballston Spa High School singers and musicians and Union Fire Company band members perform carols on the street corners. After lighting the tree, Santa Claus heads to Ballston Spa National Bank where he visits with kids of all ages.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16

A SARATOGA CHRISTMAS WITH THE MCKRELLS Home Made Theater at The Spa Little Theater, 19 Roosevelt Dr., Saratoga Springs, 7 – 8:30 p.m.

Home Made Theater continues their tradition of hosting Christmas shows with Kevin McKrell and his merry musicians. Join HMT for an evening of Christmas favorites, Kevin’s trademark sound, and their popular rendition of A Visit from St. Nick (‘Twas the Night Before Christmas). Tickets are $18 for adults and $12 for children 12 and under.

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29

WILTON BICENTENNIAL HOLIDAY DINNER Saratoga Wilton Elks Lodge #161, 1 Elks Lane, Saratoga Springs, 6 – 9 p.m.

The community is invited to gather at the Wilton Elks club to enjoy dinner, dancing, entertainment, and a cash bar for $20.18. Entertainment will be provided by Richie Phillips and food by Waterford Banquets. Come and enjoy an evening of fun with friends and neighbors as we celebrate the beginning of 2019 together and the close of a historic and memorable Bicentennial year.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 31

FIRST NIGHT SARATOGA 2019 Downtown Saratoga Springs, 6 p.m. – 12 a.m.

First Night is a New Year’s celebration of the arts and community. Saratoga First Night is the largest New Year’s Eve event outside of New York City. Each year, thousands of revelers come to Saratoga Springs to experience a wide-ranging variety of arts and music. It is a true showcase of the diverse and immense talent in the Capital-Saratoga region. For more information visit Saratoga-arts.org/FirstNight.

21ST ANNUAL FIRST NIGHT SARATOGA 5K RUN Skidmore College Athletic Complex, Perimeter Rd., Saratoga Springs, 5:30 p.m.

Begin the First Night celebration right by joining the run before the huge New Year's event! Start and finish on the beautiful Skidmore campus. The first 3/4 mile is a gradual uphill on the perimeter road. The course exits the campus at Clinton Avenue and continues to Greenfield Avenue, continuing up North Broadway and back to campus.

This is a moderately challenging course, including both hills and downgrades. Limited to 1,500 Runners: Due to the overwhelming success of this run, and having to close-out registration several years in a row, there will be no day of race registration. Awards: To the top three overall male and female finishers, and top three male and female finishers in each 5-year age division. No duplicate awards. All registered runners will receive a limited edition First Night Saratoga commemorative shirt.

Register Early! Registration is $25 through October 31, $30 through December 23, and $35 through December 30. Entry fees are nonrefundable and non-transferable. To register, visit RunSignUp.com/Race/NY/SaratogaSprings/ SaratogaArtsFirstNight5k

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IT'S TIME TO SHOP...

Boiled Wool Hat Shirheen, $30.00

John Michael Richardson Earring, $43.00 Look by M cozy scarf, $29.00

Eileen Fisher Merino Wool Kimono, $398.00 Eileen Fisher Viscose Jersey Turtleneck Tunic, $138.00 Eileen Fisher Slim Viscose Ponte Pant, $208.00

Sofft Coleta Boot, $130.00 photo by SuperSourceMedia.com Hair and Makeup by Diane Palma saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

COME ALONG WITH US AS WE VISIT SOME OF THE BEST BOUTIQUES AND OUTFITTERS OUR REGION HAS TO OFFER! HOLIDAY 2018 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 61

HEADING OUT FOR A DAY ON THE TOWN OR A HOLIDAY PARTY? STOP BY LUCIA BOUTIQUE FIRST!

Velvet Floral Kimono

by Wild Honey, $70

Black Satin Cami with Lace Edging by Project Social T, $40

High Waisted Black Denim Jeans by Blank NYC, $88

Metallic Ankle Boots by Band of Gypsies, $109

LUCIA

454 BROADWAY, SARATOGA SPRINGS, 518.587.7890 LUCIABOUTIQUE.COM

Black Cross-Body Bag with Fringe Tassel by Moda Luxe, $68 photo

by SuperSourceMedia.com SuperSourceMedia.com 62 | photo SIMPLYbySARATOGA | HOLIDAY 2018

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Shane Tranka: Obermeyer Charger Jacket, $429.00, Obermeyer Force Suspender Pant, $249.00, Dale of Norway Lillehammer Hat, $59.95

SPORTS PAG E 138 QUAKER ROAD, QUEENSBURY, 518.792.1304 SPORTSPAGESKI.COM

Beth Mitchell: Descente Layla Jacket with Fur, $750.00, Descente Selene Pant, $295.00

Ava Higley: Obermeyer Cakewalk Jacket, $119.50, Obermeyer Snoverall Jacket, $99.50, Starling Star Pom Hat, $50.00

Daisy Higley: Obermeyer Bunnyhop Jacket, $139.50, Mitchies Cloudy Hat, $59.00

Noah Higley: Obermeyer Kestral Jacket $159.50, Obermeryer Volt Pant $99.50, Giro Launch Plus Helmet, $70.00 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Jaiden Higley: Helly Hansen Olympia Jacket, $200.00, Kamik Harper Pant, $75.00, Smith Zoom Jr Helmet, $60.00, Smith Showcase Goggle, $120.00

Ryan Higley: Descente Maddox Jacket $175.00, Helly Hansen Snowfall Pant $90.00, Smith Zoom Jr. Helmet $60.00, Smith Vice Goggle, $140.00 photo 2018

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MOUNTAINMAN OUTDOOR SUPPLY COMPANY 490 BROADWAY, SARATOGA SPRINGS, 518.584.3500 MOUNTIANMANOUTDOORS.COM

Patagonia-Nano Puff Vest, $149

Royal Robbin All Season Merino Turtle Neck, $89

Patagonia-Radalie Jacket, $159

Prana-Kara Skirt, $69 FjallravenFjallglim Shirt, $110

Chaco-Cataluna Tall, $240

PatagoniaPerformance Straight Fit Jeans, $119

Blundstone-500 Boot, $185 photo by SuperSourceMedia.com 64 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | HOLIDAY 2018

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CAROLINE AND MAIN 438 BROADWAY, SARATOGA SPRINGS, 518.450.7350 CAROLINEANDMAIN.COM

Sundry Star Hoodie, $152.00

Baby It’s Cold Outside Gift Set -Shiraleah, $56.00 (hat, scarf and mittens)

Sugar Mug Sir+Madam, $20.00 Retro Pink Pin Set Violet & Brooks, $42.00 (by her knee)

Wooden Hearts Sugarboo, $2.00

Just Black Step Hem Mom Jean, $78.00

NY State Home Bracelets T. Jazelle, $47.00

Papaya Art Mini notepads, $3.50

Paisley Velvet Pouch & Metallic CC holder 2 Chic, $21.00

Woodenships Starry Night Scarf, $64.00

Cozy Pom Slippers Look by M, $24.00

Tocca Travel Fragrance Spray & Perfume, $48-$74.00 Papaya Art Holiday Card, $4.00

Paddywax Tobacco + Patchouli Soy Candles, $18-$26.00 photo by SuperSourceMedia.com saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Temporary Tattoo's Inked by Dani, $11.00 (by slipper)

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SPOKEN

27 CHURCH STREET, SARATOGA SPRINGS, 518.587.2772 SPOKENSARATOGA.COM

Poncho, $148 Embroidered sweater

by Aratta, $86.00

Sweater, $78

Denim, $118.00

Glazed denim

by Principle, $139.00

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ALPINE SPORT SHOP

Kuhl Outlander Hat $28.95

399 CLINTON STREET, SARATOGA SPRINGS, 518.584.6290 ALPINESPORTSHOP.COM SARATOGA'S SKI SHOP HAS GREAT GIFTS FOR HIM!

Marmot Enfield Flannel Shirt, $74.95 North Face reversible Fort Point Insulated Flannel Shirt, $119.95

Ski The East T-shirt, $27.95

Pistil Ridge Gloves, $49.95 Camper Mug, $12.95

Kuhl Ryder Jeans, $88.95

Gift for ???

photo by SuperSourceMedia.com saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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VIOLET'S

Echo New York Racoon Fur Pom Hat in Ivory, $99.00

494 BROADWAY, SARATOGA SPRINGS, 518.584.4838 VIOLETSOFSARATOGA.COM WHETHER SHOPPING DOWNTOWN, OR SHOPPING FOR A CHRISTMAS TREE, STAY WARM AND COZY WITH THE PERFECT OUTFIT FROM VIOLET’S OF SARATOGA SPRINGS.

BCBG Max Azria Intarsia Pullover Mockneck sweater in Heather Grey, $248.00

French Connection Slinky Jersey Mockneck in Black, $78.00

Soia & Kyo Charlena Slim Fit Wool Coat with Fox Fur in Ash, $685.00

FRAAS scarf in Ivory, $38.00

Free People Star Embellished Tank in Blush, $68.00

Hudson Nico Ankle Skinny Jeans in Black, $185.00

French Connection Bell Sleeve Coat in Teagown, $348.00

Frye Demi Mini Satchel in Silver, $298.00 Paige Hoxton Ankle Jeans in Kayson Distressed, $229.00

Charles David Puzzle in Silver, $129.00 SuperSourceMedia.com 68 photo | SIMPLYbySARATOGA | HOLIDAY 2018

Sam Edelman Hilty 2 ankle boot in Bright White, $180.00 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

ALPINE SPORT SHOP

Smith Skyline Goggles B4BC, $169.95

399 CLINTON STREET, SARATOGA SPRINGS, 518.584.6290 ALPINESPORTSHOP.COM YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A SKIER TO WEAR THIS GREAT WINTER CLOTHING! Armada ARV 96 Skis w/ Marker Griffon Sole ID13 Bindings (mount included), $725.

Crystal Snowflake Earrings, $24.95

Sunice Eva 3/4 Coat w/ Fox Trim, $598.95 Sunice Ski Lodge Pullover ll, $88.95

Astis Selous Mittens, $194.95

Alpine Camper Mug, $12.95

Sunice Piccolo Pant, $348.95 Regina Anna Fur Boots (not shown), $379.95 photo by SuperSourceMedia.com saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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LIFESTYLES 436 BROADWAY, SARATOGA SPRINGS, 518.584.4665 LIFESTYLESOFSARATOGA.COM

Boiled wool slouchy hat Shirheen, $30.00

Faux Fur Pom glove Shirheen, $25.00 Patrizia Lucca Plaid Swing Coat, $107.00

Michael Stars Ponte Legging, $98.00

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HEALTHY AND HAPPY

HOLIDAYS MEGHAN LEMERY FRITZ LCSW-R Meghan Fritz is a psychotherapist practicing in State College, PA. For more information email meghanlfritz@gmail.com

T

he holiday season is officially upon us and for many this means time spent with loved ones and cozy chats by the fire with hot chocolate. This also marks the time of year we see individuals suffer from bouts of depression and anxiety brought on by the stress of spending time with toxic family members or spending the holidays alone.

Don’t wait for the holiday blues to steal your peace and joy, arm yourself with a strategy of self-care this holiday season so you can avoid the emotional hangover you may experience at the end of the year.

Just Say No!

It’s so easy to fall into the trap of putting pressure on ourselves to see family over the holidays. If you have a difficult, stressful relationship with your parents or siblings, take a break from the dysfunction and do what you want!

I can’t tell you how often I hear people say, “I’m dreading this holiday season because I have to go see my toxic relatives.” The wonderful thing about

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being a grown up is you get to do what you want! Do not feel obligated to spend time with people who rob you of peace and joy, give yourself the gift of honoring your peace of mind over any obligation you may feel to spend time with toxic family members.

Have a Strategy

If you do decide to go visit a relative and the relationship is a difficult one, have a plan in place of how you will navigate the visit. For example, if you are going to see your in-laws and they discipline your children in a way that you don’t approve of, plan out with your partner ahead of time exactly how you will handle the situation.

Role-play how you will address the issue and practice coming up with different scenarios that could lead to an awkward situation. Discuss how you can support one another in specific ways that will help keep you calm and centered.

Do not set yourself up for failure by winging it and hoping things will go well. Review past experiences and learn from them. Discuss an exit plan strategy to implement if things become emotionally unsafe and pick a safe word that if someone in the family says - you know that it’s time to exit the situation.

Get Help Unfortunately the holidays can bring up feelings of loss and grief. We are born into this world wanting to please our parents and receive their unconditional love. When this is not possible due to toxic parents or other close family members, the holidays can be a paralyzing time of grief.

The worst thing you can do is force yourself to accept a situation that you have not allowed yourself to grieve.

It’s okay to dislike your relatives and its okay to be angry and sad. Give yourself the gift of compassion and understanding and this will help you get on the path to healing and recovery.

Talk it out with people you trust and love and if you feel stuck find a counselor that can help you along the path to healing.

The holidays don’t have to be a dreaded time of year, honor your peace of mind above obligation and re-claim your joy this season!

You are worth it!

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KITCHEN AT

DOVE GATE INN

Blending Charm & Culinary Skill

in a Revolutionary Home WRITTEN BY MAUREEN WERTHER PHOTOS BY SUSAN BLACKBURN PHOTOGRAPHY

“It’s like being in a Hallmark movie!” exclaimed our fearless leader and intrepid managing editor of Simply Saratoga, Chris Vallone Bushee, as we gazed at the simple charm of Kitchen at the Dovegate Inn at 184 Broad Street, in the midst of historic Schuylerville.

I

f you’re a fan of the romantic, family-oriented TV channel, you’ll know exactly what Chris meant. If you’ve never seen a Hallmark movie, rest assured, you’ll be charmed by all Kitchen at the Dovegate Inn has to offer… from the cozy, rural chic furnishings and décor, to the amazing food prepared in the country kitchen of the sprawling 1850’s colonial home turned Inn and Restaurant, just a short 15-minute jaunt from downtown Saratoga.

The stately old white colonial has impossibly tall windows and a rambling porch that traces the shape of the house and offers an inviting perch to watch the world go by in the sometimes under-appreciated and under-stated little village.

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While the home served as an Inn for many years, it wasn’t until the last twenty years that it morphed into a restaurant.

It’s current owners, Cara Fredricks and Stephen Clark, began leasing the restaurant space in 2009. The restaurant itself encompasses two large high-ceiling-ed rooms with inviting fireplaces, revolutionary blue walls enhanced by crown molding, and a cozy front parlor that serves double duty as both a waiting area for loyal diners and a cozy nook where guests of both the restaurant and the Inn can gather to socialize over a glass of wine or beer.

The couple each have impressive backgrounds and credentials in the culinary and hospitality industries. Cara and Stephen both worked at Springwater Inn. In fact, the pair first met there, and the rest – as they say – is history. Stephen also refined his culinary skills at Sperry’s on Caroline Street from 2001-2009. Self-taught, Stephen credits his obvious culinary acumen to a lot of reading, research, trial and error, and working with many talented chefs over the years.

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The couple also have a lively and lovely seven-year old daughter, Bellamy, whose influence on the restaurant is evident in the artfully placed seasonal decorations sprinkled throughout the dining areas. As a family-owned business, Cara and Stephen have made the dining space into a place that is at once rustically sophisticated and family-friendly. The tables are impeccably set with thick white plates and crisp napkins resting atop sheets of craft paper where children can crayon, and spills are a non-issue.

palates. “I never knew I’d love grits!” says Chris, as we eagerly dive into the dish. The shrimp are done just right, and the grits have a buttery and lightly salted savoriness, with the right amount of “grittiness” that balances their creamy consistency.

After we have toured the restaurant and the quaintly authentic guest rooms on the second floor, we prepare for the hard part of our jobs – sampling the fare. As we sip on red and white sangrias, chardonnays and pinot grigio’s, Cara brings appetizers: butternut squash bisque and shrimp and grits.

The bisque is presented in a charming pristine white ramekin, topped with toasted pine nuts and garnished with a sage leaf that looks too perfect to be real.

As we pause to enjoy the ambience and reflect on the amazing first and second courses, we are drawn to the cool, relaxing background music. Cara and Steve are fans of Willie Nelson, James Taylor and Paul Simon, and the twangy melodies add a perfect juxtaposition of revolutionary charm and laidback rock.

But, forget about the leaf! The bisque is perfectly creamy and smooth, with a rich thickness and flavor that pays homage to the fall harvest. The toasted pine nuts add the perfect touch of toasted nutty perfection. Needless to say, we order more bisque to go (Yes, Kitchen at the Dovegate does “takeout!’).

The shrimp and grits are the next to fall prey to our hungry

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The salad comes next. Fresh greens are adorned with firm ripe pears, crumbled blue cheese toasted almond, with an excellent homemade balsamic vinaigrette. Excellent, fresh and crisp.

Cara brings out the evening’s entrees. While some of the dishes are mainstays on the menu, others are seasonal and include an incredible pork Osso Bucco, a braised shank surrounded by onions, apples and Brussel sprouts. The sauce, which is a combination of pork juices and tangy cider, is perfectly balanced with a sweet yet acidic tanginess that compliments the succulent pork.

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The pasta entrée is a five-cheese ravioli and eggplant. The raviolis are made in house with roasted garlic infused into the dough, which is then brushed with a basil-infused olive oil. The dish is served in a divine plum tomato sauce.

“Steve is very good with sauces,” says Cara. Clearly, an understatement.

The fish course is an Asian marinated grilled salmon with snow pea salad. The salmon is pink, tender and perfectly cooked. Not too rare and not over-cooked.

The seasoning is mild and doesn’t overtake the naturally fresh flavors of the salmon or the snow peas.

As our entrees – or, what is left of them – are cleared from the table, our brilliant photographer Susan Blackburn is busily snapping photos of our desserts while she still has time. And who can blame her haste! The triple chocolate ganache and the autumnal pumpkin bruleé are brought out, and of course, we add those to our “to go” order. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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As is our trio’s tradition, we huddle to determine which dish will be named “Simply the Best.” This is a hard call and we cannot decide. Instead, we opt for an overall “Simply the Best” rating for the entire evening.

The Kitchen at Dovegate also offers delicious “comfort food” menu items throughout the year and particularly during the holidays. Their Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, Thanksgiving and Mother’s Day dinners have become a tradition for many local patrons.

“Eating here at the holidays is so great,” says one of the waitresses, who is also a retired teacher and long-time resident of Schuylerville. This is one of the wonderful things about coming to the Kitchen at the Dovegate. It is obvious that the people who work here love it – and the people who dine here come away with a memorable culinary experience in a perhaps unexpected place.

In other words, Kitchen at the Dovegate Inn is worth the short ride from Saratoga.

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preserving

SARATOGA

The house as it looked in 2014 before the Montanos purchased it.

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740 NORTH BROADWAY

A Holiday Palette George S. Bolster Collection, Saratoga Springs History Museum.

WRITTEN BY SAMANTHA BOSSHART PHOTOS PROVIDED

”

I’m just one of those people

who loves to decorate for the holidays! And this house certainly gives me a huge palette to do so!” happily explained Marie Montano when asked what she loves about the holidays. Upon seeing the interior of her house everyone would agree that she most certainly does have a wonderful palette.

Marie and her husband, Charlie Montano, purchased 740 North Broadway in December of 2014. I will never forget when Charlie called the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation to share that he was the new owner and to ask if there was any information about the history of the house.

Since moving to Saratoga Springs in 2006, I had long admired this home. However, I had growing concerns because the previous owner, Noel Haskell, had passed away and its future was uncertain.

The moment Charlie extended an invitation to tour the house, I immediately responded, “I can be there in 10 minutes!” He told me I would have to wait at least until he and Marie had time to pick up a coffee to help keep them warm since the house was not heated. That bitter cold saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

morning did not stop me from wanting to see every inch of that house – from attic to basement. It did not disappoint it was remarkably untouched!

The house retained its beautiful woodwork, stunning fireplaces, historic windows with interior shutters, coalburning stove, and bathroom fixtures - not just the decoratively painted porcelain sinks, but an original bidet and toilet with the water tank above the ceiling! As we walked through the house, I wondered what would these new owners do – would they keep many of these original features or would they remove them in favor of modernizing? Upon learning that Charlie enjoys restoring historic Mopar cars, I had hope that much would remain. Thankfully, it all did – including the original bidet and toilet, which not many would have kept!

The magnificent Queen Anne was built in 1886 by Frank and Kate Hathorn. You may recognize the name Hathorn from the Hathorn Spring located downtown. Frank was the son of U.S. Congressman Henry Hathorn, who discovered the spring at the corner of Putnam Street and Spring Street in 1868 while excavating for the ballroom addition to the Congress Hotel that he owned. Following his father’s death in 1887, Frank became the proprietor of the Hathorn Spring.

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Frank was the first to fight to preserve the spring waters of Saratoga. In 1907, he was the plaintiff in a case against Dr. Strong’s Sanatorium. Dr. Strong drilled a well six inches in diameter and about 400 feet deep, at which depth Saratoga mineral water was discovered, approximately 1,200 feet in distance from the Hathorn Spring. The water did not come to the surface, but stood about 30 feet below so Dr. Strong installed a steam rotary pump to obtain the water. This negatively impacted the natural flow of the Hathorn Spring.

The court ruled that one property owner may not unreasonably injure or interfere with the flow of another person’s waters. This case served as the basis for the legislation that Senator Edgar T. Brackett wrote to preserve the spring waters of Saratoga from depletion through the pumping of the carbonic gas. In 1909, New York State passed legislation that protected all of the springs in the city and created Saratoga State Reservation, known today as Saratoga Spa State Park.

Frank and his daughter Florence continued to reside in the house following the passing of his wife Kate in 1910.

In 1912, Frank purchased the Grand Union Hotel to save it from demolition by the Stewart family who claimed they saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

were burdened by the cost of upkeep and threatened to sell the beautiful furnishings and equipment at auction. A year later, Frank passed away.

Following her father’s death, Florence ran the Grand Union Hotel. During her ownership, she made many improvements and focused on bringing numerous conventions to the hotel. Florence was an ambulance driver in France during World War I, one of few women to serve. In 1919, she married her first husband and returned to Saratoga Springs to reside at 740 North Broadway.

In 1926 Florence divorced and remarried.

The Depression and World War II took a heavy toll on the vacation industry in Saratoga Springs. Florence struggled to maintain the enormous Grand Union Hotel and pay the taxes. In 1943, after 30 years of ownership, Florence sold the hotel and all of its furnishings to a New York syndicate, Tikvah Associates, Inc. Florence continued to reside and summer at 740 North Broadway until her passing in 1971.

The property was conveyed to Holly Klopstock on June 26, 1972. That same day she conveyed it to her brother Noel Haskell, who resided in Nyack.

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The fireplace that was reconstructed from the pieces found in the attic.

Many of the unique decorative features of the house remained, except for one of thirteen fireplaces and the ornate porch. The Montanos spared no expense in restoring both. Charlie discovered pieces of a fireplace that had once been in the parlor in the attic. While it was similar to the fireplace in the opposite room, it was not an exact match. Unfortunately, no historic photos existed to help reconstruct it. “It was a puzzle to be solved,” Charlie said. David Cook of Modern Millwork reproduced the missing pieces and Gregory Stoddard, a local craftsman, stained the new pieces so that they seamlessly blended with the old, allowing the fireplace to be replicated.

While restoring the fireplace is impressive, the restoration of the magnificent porch based on historic architectural drawings and photos is much more so because of the intricate detail and scale of the project. When asked why they undertook the project, Marie responded “We just had to! There was no choice – it was what was there originally.” The porch is now one of Marie’s favorite places to spend time.

The Montanos appreciate the hard work of all of those who were involved with returning this stately home to its original grandeur – David Cook, Charlie Robbins, Gregory Stoddard, Dave Stewart, Wayne Stutzman, and Teakwood Builders.

Marie and Charlie, on the behalf of the Foundation and the community, I thank you for your investment and stewardship of 740 North Broadway!

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EDDIE LEHMAN

The Kind Cameraman WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER PHOTOS BY EDDIE LEHMAN

"Respect for the animals and their environment always comes first, keeping in mind that I am an uninvited visitor in their neighborhood. The last thing I want to do is cause them any stress."

- Eddie Lehman

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H

e is compelled to capture and share the beauty of the natural world around us.

Hiking and camping are two of Eddie Lehman’s favorite outdoor activities.

“I’m an off-the-trails type of guy. I have a passion for wild animals and just think the variety of wildlife we have here in Saratoga County is amazing,” he said.

Alone out in nature, he started to take pictures of the wildlife he encountered. His images convey a sense of wonder, a recognizable kindness and a glimpse at grace.

With Knowledge Comes Wisdom An understanding of animal behavior lets Lehman get the shots that others cannot.

“Number one; know your subject. Study and read up on them and learn how to approach animals,” he advises.

Find out when each animal is naturally most active and then proceed with a gentle approach.

“Walk the way Indians used to walk,” said Lehman.

He moves slowly, walking with intention. Placing his heels down lightly and holding up his bodyweight on the sides of his feet.

During the late spring, his tracking skills led him to a fox den with a new litter of pups inside.

Establishing Trust Lehman was curious to see what the family of foxes he’d found were up to. He watched them for quite a while as they played; wrestling and growling jovially with one another.

There were two adult foxes and up to five pups in the den, but Lehman was not at all apprehensive that they

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would catch sight of him and become defensive. He does not feel the need to stay hidden. The animals accept his presence and allow it.

It is Lehman’s knowledge that brings him to this point, then it is his intuition that he relies on.

“I run into what I run into. I know intuitively how to behave around these animals so they trust me,” he said.

Let His Light In Compassion shines through Lehman’s lens, illuminating the glorious with a lightness that shines.

doing this. The other springs forth from a place of spirituality and faith.

“God meets me halfway. It’s amazing what He puts in front of me,” said Lehman.

With just a good quality camera and without the need to change lenses, his photographs tell this story, as well.

They have been used by Saratoga PLAN, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and displayed in Saratoga Hospital.

“The word ‘photo’ means light, so the lighting is everything when you’re taking a photograph,” said Lehman.

“The main point is; it’s not about me but about God allowing me to capture His creation in this corner of the world and to share it. He is the artist,” said Lehman.

Physically positioning himself with the light behind him is just one way of

To contact Eddie Lehman Photography, email SaratogaWildLifeGuy@gmail.com.

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wrap it up,

I'll take it!

WRITTEN BY PETER J. GAILOR PHOTOS BY TALISMAN PHOTO FOR GMC

When Chris called me to review the new half ton 2019 GMC Sierra Denali Pickup truck, I wasn’t sure what to expect… I mean it’s much smaller than what I drive every day - being in the landscaping business - but the car guy in me couldn’t wait to check it out.

I arrived at the Saratoga Polo Grounds and witnessed the beauty of the 2019 GMC Sierra Denali - the beautiful black stallion awaiting my review. I first looked at the Denali and new design, flawless lines and the general character of the truck... blew me away.

GMC certainly put a lot of thought into this new product.

SO, LET'S BEGIN…

MOVING ON TO THE INTERIOR OF THE TRUCK.

• The new grill was massive yet fit well with the stature of the truck.

•

At first, when you get in the driver seat the new design is beautiful and flawless, everything seems to flow.

But, when you hit the start button the dash lights up and the heads-up display comes on and the navigational system displays your vehicle location… 360 degrees all around you!

•

• The tailgate is the Swiss Army Knife of pick up tailgates - absolutely amazing! Let's start with the ease of

accessibility. As you can see in the pictures, it drops down like a step - with a grab handle. Additionally, it works as a bed extension. But, by far the coolest addition is the Kicker Sound system located in the center of the gate. Let's not forget the 12 volt or 120AC outlets in the rear as well – sweet!

The cab is loaded with multiple convenient compartments for storage. That alone tells you that GMC is listening to their customers. The extra space GMC has worked into the cab of their trucks was very comfortable. I believe they have gained 2 inches in width and 3 inches in length to the inside of the cab, and the bed is a little longer. Which, in my opinion, being a larger guy, is absolutely incredible and very comfortable! Yet, I personally think women are going to love this truck as well.

• While looking at the rest of the truck, I noticed the lines of all the badging, headlights, mirrors, etc… all had a beautiful beveled edge I have never seen before.

•

The newly designed running boards worked flawlessly and with the new design came the ability to have an assist-step to get into the forward area of the bed, all electronically controlled.

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LET'S TALK PERFORMANCE… Oh, I always love this part.

•

Push the start button and hang on. The 6.2 version I drove had incredible power.

Acceleration, ride and handling was bar none, the best in a pickup truck in the half ton category that I have ever driven.

•

Also… what's really nice about the new 2019 GMC Sierra Denali is the fact that they post the trailer towing ability on the door jamb of the truck. Each truck is set up differently, depending on what you’re looking to tow. The truck can be config ured very quickly by just looking at the badge on the door jamb and finding out how much of a trailer load you need to haul, which makes this new Denali absolutely amazing for towing, in the half ton vehicle range.

ARE YOU ASKING… “IS THIS REALLY A PICKUP TRUCK?” WHEN GMC SAYS PROFESSIONAL GRADE, THEY'RE NOT KIDDING. MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT… THIS IS ONE. BEAUTIFUL. TRUCK.

PETER GAILOR Off The Wall Customs Designer/Builder

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5 Secrets

FOR A LONG MARRIAGE WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER PHOTOS PROVIDED

D

orothy and Henry Rowland were both surprised during the celebration of their platinum anniversary in August, but for different reasons.

Dorothy was surprised to see the 70 attendees, some of who had travelled long distances, gather at Brookhaven Golf Course near the Rowland’s Greenfield home.

Henry was surprised when he looked down at his wife’s hand during their recommitment ceremony. After 70 years, Dorothy’s gold wedding ring had been worn into a thin strand.

He was overcome with emotion. It was clear just how long this lovely lady had chosen to wear his ring.

“That broke me up – but I finally got through it,” said Henry.

How the Rowland’s made it to this impressive milestone holds secrets that we can all use to nurture the creation of healthy relationships.

Dorothy and Henry Rowland at their 70th Anniversary Celebration surrounded by their family… including their three children and their families (meaning lots of grandchildren and great grandchildren!!) and Dorothy’s younger sister.

1 Mutual Respect

2 Compromise

Dorothy (Potter) and Henry Rowland grew up together in Greenfield Center. Dorothy went to Daketown school in Greenfield and Henry to the Porters Corner school before they both attended Saratoga High School. Dorothy was the oldest of her seven siblings and Henry the youngest of seven. When they were both 18-years-old, their parents were chatting together about Henry preparing to leave for service in World War II and suggested the two write to one another while he was away.

Dorothy doesn’t dance but Henry really enjoys it.

“I’m not writing to him! If he wants to, he can write to me,” declared Dorothy.

“Marriage is not something that should be gotten into without knowing each other and knowing their likes and dislikes,” said Henry.

During his two years as a 4th Infantry Division Corporal, Henry did write to his spunky former classmate but the romance between them didn’t blossom until after he returned home.

“Our first date was a dance – a square dance. I thought, Oh, no! I have two left feet. But we survived it,” remembers Dorothy.

The couple continued to date for two years before they were married. It was time they credit to facilitating their later success.

Their first apartment was just three rooms in Franklin Square and compromise was essential to making it work.

“We knew each other since we were kids and we respected each other. There was a love there and there is a love yet,” said Henry.

“We compromised and we didn’t scrap too much,” said Dorothy.

“We were comfortable together and we worked,” said Dorothy.

Sharing the workload also helps things to run smoothly.

“There was a give and take – marriage is not one way,” continued Henry.

“We both did everything. He did the cooking because I used to get home from work late and he’s still cooking,” said Dorothy.

“There are two sides,” added Dorothy.

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50th Anniversary

60th Anniversary

3 Sound Money Management Henry worked the bulk of his life as a bookkeeper and is a strict manager of the household’s finances. His $25/week paycheck back then paid for food and rent, while Dorothy’s were deposited.

“I never saw my paychecks, they went straight into the bank. Now we own our house and don’t owe anyone anything,” she said.

Bit by bit, the couple saved enough to build a house.

Family members contributed materials and much of the work they’ve done themselves.

“We didn’t go in over our heads,” said Dorothy.

Through the years, appliances would need to be replaced and improvements made but they were determined through it all.

“We just kept going,” she said.

4 Strong Social Life

August 29th, 1948 at Middle Grove Methodist Church.

5 Positive Attitude Knitting is a hobby Henry picked up to help with the stiffness he experienced in his hands after undergoing three hand surgeries. He also has a pacemaker and suffered from a stroke in 2007.

Dorothy’s health problems have included a long struggle with cancer.

“I just kept figuring I’m going to get better. I’m going to get over this and get better,” she said.

Family commitments, church and gatherings at the Grange Hall were central to creating and sustaining the Rowland’s active social life. Their circle of family and friends consists of many people who have lived into their 90’s and who have enjoyed long marriages.

Dorothy did get better. She retired, after 23 years, from her position as the Saratoga Springs School Food Service Manager, at age 62.

For many years, they spent vacations with their children; Richard, Lynn and Stephan throwing hay at their uncle’s farm.

This couple’s real secret is their ability to grasp onto the appreciation of a most precious truth – life is fleeting.

Today, the Rowland family still gets together for weekly dinners. The holidays bring them all together, as well.

They enjoy seeing their five grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren and hung 18 of Henry’s hand-knit stockings at Christmas last year.

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“I started goofing off then and haven’t stopped since,” she said with a smile.

“My friend is a funeral director and said, ‘Always be grateful you’re looking at the green grass and not at the roots’,” said Henry.

“Every morning we wake up and we’re grateful – there’s no use moaning and groaning. We have a cup of coffee and then we worry about the day,” said Dorothy.

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Witness a Miracle WITH THE

FOAL PATROL WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER PHOTOS BY CATHLEEN V. DUFFY

Each moment of giving birth brings another incredible new miracle.

A

s the mare’s body heaves, excitement and anticipation grow. Tension builds. With the cycle of rest, we watch with bated breath. One minute seems to last much longer.

Suddenly, there is a twitch of the foal’s hoof or a shiver of the head and you know the baby is showing signs of life.

The exhausted mare lets out a whinny. It is a declaration of the joy we all share.

a live real-time stream lets you watch the miracle of birth moment-to-moment.

“This project has been a lot of fun for us. We didn’t know what to expect with it but it allows us to show a new aspect to the sport that people haven’t gotten to see,” said Brien Bouyea, Communication Director for the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.

This is a glimpse into an intimate side of horse racing that we rarely get to see.

The site counted 1.6 million unique visitors spending an average of 30 minutes viewing content between December 2017 and September 2018.

Getting in on the Action

Champions in the Making

Foal Patrol, a website launched by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame last year, features videos of wellknown thoroughbred mares during pregnancy, and at the foaling, then follows them as they mature during the year.

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The first season of Foal Patrol tracked eight mares and their foals, born between January and May, at well-respected farms in New York, Florida and Kentucky.

Featuring profiles, photos and schedules of their diets and daily routines, viewers follow specific horses and farms.

“It brings us closer to the sport we all love. It’s transforming saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

the experience and allowing us to get closer to the horses.

It’s so amazing to see,” said Bouyea.

Viewers remember winning money on a fabulous racehorse like Stopchargingmaria and enjoy watching her in the fields of Three Chimneys Farm. They like to cheer on the rags-to-riches story of New York-bred La Verdad, the horse that overcame the odds. Admiring local icon Marylou Whitney, they are interested to see her horse Bird Town, who ran the fastest Kentucky Oaks in history.

as education, so it’s important we show sometimes, that’s part of it. Mares can be overdue, they can deliver early. It’s the unexpected nature of pregnancy and what you’re going to get,” said Bouyea.

Via Veneto’s foal was named Bodensee and paired with nurse mare, Rosey. They spent the summer enjoying the Florida sun.

Second Chance

The second season of Foal Patrol will bring back another eight chances to see the farms and their mares with an exciting new addition. From one of the biggest names in the sport,

The beautiful Saratoga Springs Old Tavern Farm, owned

by Walt and Michelle Borisenok, featured Momento d’Oro and her beautiful young filly, who has a distinctive white seahorse-shaped patch on her forehead.

Godophin Thoroughbred breeding stallion Frosted will be featured, as well.

Extraordinary Education

Adding the male aspect to the site, Foal Patrol hopes to give viewers a more well-rounded perspective of the breeding side of racing.

Watching the mares as they lick their foals clean and nurse them, then seeing them stand and run around within a few days feels like a triumph. Watching as their personalities develop, as they nudge friends in the fields, and nuzzle their caretakers as they film blog posting updates, is a delight.

There is also the harsher side of life captured here.

“The birthing is always tense and birthing with horses is a complicated thing. They always need assistance and it doesn’t always go off smoothly,” said Bouyea.

At Double Diamond Farm, mare Via Veneto died due to complications after the birth of her foal.

“It’s a sad situation but it happens and we viewed this project

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“He’s one of the most gorgeous horses you’re ever going to see. He has such a presence to him,” said Bouyea.

“You can watch, follow along and get involved in it. You can watch the foals as they grow up and hopefully one day run at Saratoga or win the Kentucky Derby,” he said.

Before You Scroll to the Foal…

The 2nd Season of Foal Patrol will kick-off with a Launch Party on Friday, December 28th, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, 191 Union Ave, Saratoga Springs. There will be mares and foals on-site (weather permitting), interactives and giveaways that day including the Foal Patrol coloring book by local artist Sharon Crute. For more information go online to https://www.foalpatrol.com

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THE POWER OF the Potluck WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER PHOTOS PROVIDED

When a happenstance event is still occurring after almost 25 years, it’s more than just luck.

Jeff and Lisa Delano, Chris Bushee,Victoria and Will Corrigan, Lydia Delano, Allie Bushee and Mairead Corrigan

Circa 1999

In 1995, three young women were all working at AIM Services. Although they were in different locations, they found a connection.

When Lisa invited Chris, her friend and co-worker Victoria, and her husband Will, to a game night /dinner party, Victoria and Chris didn’t know that the other had been invited. What a small world - apparently Chris had gone to school with Victoria’s husband, Will! A bond was forming, but little did they know they’d be continuing this almost 25 years later!

Of course, Lisa’s delicious homemade lasagna may have helped form that bond!

It’s easy to say that Lisa DeLano created this family of friends, that continues today, a group so tight that as Victoria states… would do anything for one another, big or small.

“You don’t have to be related to be family,” said Mairead; Victoria and Will Corrigan’s daughter, commenting on the closeness of the group – as everyone heartily agreed!

The Food Makes it Fabulous

Circa 2003

Regular potluck get-togethers soon began taking shape, rotating between Chris and Lisa’s downtown Saratoga apartments, and the house that Victoria and Will were building. Chris and Lisa both moved to the countryside after getting married and they all became parents, but they remained close and the potlucks kept happening… now with kids in tow.

Rotating the hosting responsibilities, everyone makes a dish and in true “potluck” fashion - sometimes you wind up with duplicates - but the food is always center stage and heartily consumed. “It should feel like home – not fancy - with simple ingredients that all make us feel comfy and connected,” said Victoria, who prepares all her lovingly-presented dishes from scratch! Some of the groups’ favorites are Victoria’s vegetarian chili, corn pudding, beef stew and Jeff’s jambalaya. For dessert, Victoria’s sugar cookies, impressively-formed gingerbread men and lemon pound cake leave a lasting impression. Lisa loves to cook (and experiment!), but Victoria brings the perennial favorites and I hear Chris brings the wine!

05

a 20 Circ

hmmm... looks like somebody likes to scrapbook!

Circa 200

1

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Sharing Challenges

Even though everyone around the table has a different personality and unique opinion, getting along is possible because they respect one another and share the same core values, as well as the ability to express them with honesty and friendly candor.

The potlucks have evolved over the years with each new addition to the group.

“Our game nights morphed into playdates with the kids,” said Lisa.

Lisa and her husband, Jeff, have three children, while the Corrigans and Chris each have a daughter.

The five children are all different ages and enjoy doing different things so would likely never have met if their parents hadn’t been a part of the potluck group. Growing up together and having this as part of their history, it’s hard to think of the three teenage girls before me (the boys are grown and out of the house) ever growing apart.

With all those kids (and sports, vacations, activities!) the scheduling is the biggest challenge.

“We all have busy lives, so we have to make time for this, but luckily it’s a priority for each of us.” said Chris.

Breaking Bread

Whether it’s held once a month or simply seasonally, the potlucks are a coalition of the willing, where unstructured, informal conversations create an incubator for ideas and bonding.

Sometimes held in conjunction with activities like a murder mystery party, or a concert or Shakespeare in Congress Park, the face-to-face conversations are sure to be very different than what they could experience online or over-thephone.

Chris succinctly wraps it up…

“It’s awesome and I would recommend this to anyone. We’re all sitting around the table - adults and kids - talking about everything from school to politics – and it hits you. It’s moments like this when we you realize how important these potlucks have been to us.” saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Pea ce

SPIRIT OF

WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER PHOTOS PROVIDED

When taking the biggest leaps in life, there is peace in the tiniest of whispers.

E

va Marie Loucks loves to travel.

Over the years, she’s left the region on vacations to destinations across the country and in Europe.

“I like to see the broader world as well as the beauty all around us,” said Loucks.

As an artist, she finds divine inspiration even in a delicate flower growing between the crevices of a rock.

“I see so many different things and say, ‘Wow! This is beautiful – I want to paint it’,” she said.

In 2005, Loucks took a trip that would change her life forever.

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The Big Step

Silk-screening, and more specifically, the process of creating serigraph prints, is something that Loucks discovered a love for early on.

“It just fit me perfectly. I just loved it,” she said. Blocking out the images, layering the color and creating small batches of fine art prints was a time-consuming process that she often put aside when the responsibilities of being the mother of four took precedent.

Instead, she switched to working with the less timeconsuming, less toxic and more portable mediums of

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photography, watercolor and acrylic painting while also home-schooling her children. Teachings on messages from Mary, the mother of Jesus, really made an impression on her during this time, as well.

“My faith has been very influential to me and to my children,” said Loucks.

When her youngest son was just fiveyears-old, Loucks felt an undeniable urge to travel to the site of numerous Marian apparitions, a place called Medjuorje in Bosnia – Herzegovina.

“I thought, ‘I don’t even know where it is, but I have to go.’”

From the Chaos, Peace

This trip pulled Loucks, stretching her beyond her expectations.

She missed her children, her luggage got lost, and there was a relentless pouring rain every day.

“Each step of the way was to step out in faith,” said Loucks.

Reaching the rocky hills of Medjuorje, she was still asking herself the same question that had been plaguing her since her journey began, ‘Why am I here’?

It was then that she said she heard Jesus speak to her. He told her simply, “I died for you” and suddenly she felt a deep gratitude and newfound sense of purpose.

“For me, it was life-changing”, she said of the experience.

Since then, she’s been back to Medjuorje three more times and felt that same serenity found then. She becomes more connected to her faith and a kinship with the thousands of believers who pilgrimage there annually.

“I spend hours sketching and really absorbing the environment. It’s an atmosphere of peacefulness and tranquility,” she said.

Mapping out a decade of her experiences, through messages and images, she invites others to enjoy feelings of peace, joy and wonder in her 2015 book, “Medjuorje, A Personal Journey in Photography & Illustration”, she exhibits artwork locally and is available to host free presentations to groups. For more information, visit EvaMarieLoucks.com.

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H&G Randall Perry Photography

Flip the page for the rest of the house!

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Randall Perry Photography

Archite

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cturally SPEAKING FOLLOW US AS WE EXPLORE SOME OF THE AREA'S UNIQUE SPACES...

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Randall Perry Photography

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WRITTEN BY MAUREEN WERTHER PHOTOS BY RANDALL PERRY PHOTOGRAPHY

AN 1880’S HOLIDAY HOME GETS DECKED OUT IN INDUSTRIAL CHIC

O

n the surface, the gracious three-story home located at 188 Washington Street near the historic Beekman Street Arts District, is one of many examples of 19th century architecture to be found in the city of Saratoga Springs. But the pale sage exterior and front and side porches emblematic of city residences belies its chic, updated interior.

Michelle Merola and her husband, Shawn Sinel, purchased the 2,000 square-foot home in 2015, after deciding to relocate into the city from nearby Stillwater, on Saratoga Lake. They were fortunate that the old home had already been lovingly renovated and updated by its previous owner, a well-

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known interior designer from the Hamptons. All it required was a home makeover that would reflect tastes of its newest owners.

With the help of local designer, Leah Margolis, the couple transformed 188 Washington from traditional to contemporary urban chic, imbuing it with an eclectic combination of old woods, natural fibers and wrought iron, and the addition of bold colors, shapes and patterns.

The modern influence is apparent the moment you enter into the front foyer. The original oak floors are highly polished and adorned with a contemporary geometric patterned area rug. The curved railing that travels to the upper floors is also

original to the home and is made to stand out by the addition of the bamboo Schumacher wallpaper in an arresting shade of marine blue.

The original iron grates in the floor add to the juxtaposition of modern and Victorian and are found throughout the house.

A quick peak up the stairs reveals the risers painted in bold stripes of taupe, cream and black, and a sturdy industrial iron pipe that serves as the railing to the upper floors.

The second floor is home to the three bedrooms, with a completely finished third floor that has cathedral ceilings and serves as a playroom for the couple’s young daughter.

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Randall PerryPerry Photography Randall Photography

Randall Perry Photography

The six-paneled oak closet door in the front foyer is stained in a dark, industrial patina and the original brass doorknob, both of which make the S-shaped evergreen with red trim pop. Adding to the festive holiday vibrancy are the vivid hues of contemporary art on the walls and coordinating cushions and fabrics on the furnishings.

The adjacent living area is most decidedly not your grandma’s front parlor. With Margolis’ help, the couple has transformed the formerly staid and mundane space into a visual feast, made even more interesting with the inclusion of whimsical Christmas stockings that hang from the wood and iron fireplace.

The focal point of the room is, of course, the Flores painting, flanked on either side by a stunning oak bookcase, with crisscrossing shelves made by Victor Sosnowski of Spartan Woodworking. The back of the shelving is covered in a neutral grass cloth, which cleverly offsets the three-dimensional quality of the piece.

The free-form oak sofa table with contemporary iron legs serves as a sharp, yet very work-able contrast to the demure Victorian settee that occupies the nook beneath the stairs in the nearby foyer.

Throughout the house, the juxtaposition of neutral shades with burnt orange and yellow accents creates the feeling of warmth combined with understated urban sophistication.

The dining room continues the theme of blending traditional with modern, with a walnut and iron dining table flanked on all sides by chairs covered in a rich burnt orange.

In stark contrast to the adjacent walls in nearby rooms, the dining room walls are painted a deep “grizzly” gray, offset by the large windows with stained glass inserts made by Yvonne M. Stoklosa, an artist from East Aurora, NY where, according to Michelle, “there is much reverence to Frank Lloyd Wright.” She worked with the artist to create the design of the inserts with Wright’s simple geometric style in mind.

The light fixture suspended above the dining room table is from Curry and Co. and Michelle says it was one of the first additions they installed in the house. Along the side wall is a modern sideboard from Etsy, which echoes the industrial/rustic theme of the home.

Hanging above the sideboard is another striking piece of art. Michelle explains that she found the artist, Nicole Hoefft, through Saatchi Art. The piece is aptly named, “Perfect the Storm.”

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Randall Perry Photography

Each room contains a new and unusual treat for the eye. And the family room is no different. The handmade wallpaper from Nepal comes from Maya Romanoff.

Made of lokta paper, with flecks of mica throughout, it is called “Meditations Ohm” for good reason. Michelle explains that the paper is made by monks who, every time they complete one of the honeycomb patterns, say a meditative prayer, or “ohm.” The bright blue contemporary sofa adds the vibrant splash of color – along with comfort – that is present throughout.

Randall Perry Photography

One of the major changes that Merrola and Sinel made to the home was the removal of the wall that separated the dining room from the kitchen. The result is an open, expansive space that flows from room to room, while also transforming the previously cramped workspace. The granite butcher block and the cerulean herringbone glass backsplash create a nice contrast of colors and patterns. The nearby pantry is another change the couple made to the house to create a more efficient space that also adds to the visual appeal.

“We borrowed space from a deep closet in the adjacent bathroom, which was originally intended to house the washer and dryer,” says Michelle. The frosted doors are the perfect touch, adding to the overall size of the kitchen.

Randall Perry Photography

Directly behind the kitchen and leading out to the private back yard is the “canine cozy” dog retreat and what Michelle refers to as the “back room.” Lined in a crisp white wood paneling, the couple added closets and a long narrow bench with a coastal blue and white cushion located directly below the expanse of windows.

The result is a combination of utility and easy comfort. Holiday greeting cards from family and friends are hung with clothespins framing the windows from overhead, adding to the coziness of the space.

The overall effect of the house is one of relaxation and an underlying sophistication. The blending of utility and comfort is pulled off nearly effortlessly

by Leah Margolis and her clients, with a result that is both eye-catching and able to withstand the test of time.

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The Christmas that Love Built WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER PHOTOS BY SUSAN BLACKBURN PHOTOGRAPHY

W hen love is in your heart, it’s only natural that it creates a beautiful home to reside in.

“Shhhh! Nobody look,” the Corrigan family giggles mischievously as they sneak off into their separate hiding places to stuff stockings for one another during the hushed quiet of Christmas Eve.

“That moment, sitting down to fill stockings, there’s something kind of magical,” said Victoria Corrigan.

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Big Love

Christmas is a special time in the Corrigan household. They start thinking about it with the first gust of brisk air in October and begin decorating the day after Thanksgiving.

“We feel like it’s that moment in time when you pull yourself out of yourself and say, ‘What can I do for someone else?’” said Corrigan.

These acts of giving start at home and small gifts share love and kindness in a big way. They include writing cards to the elderly in nursing homes, baking for neighbors and volunteering at the Franklin Community Center.

A decorative sign, made to look like an eye chart, hangs in their home year-round spelling out this family’s philosophy: “Simple is Beautiful”.

“Simple is beautiful and our home - is us being together,” said Corrigan.

The Corrigan’s household is made up of Victoria, her husband, Will (the couple just celebrated their 28th wedding anniversary) and their daughter, Mairead, who is now 20-years-old.

A Collection is Born When Mairead was born, it amplified their appreciation for the holidays.

“We want that festive welcoming family feel and it just kept growing and growing,” said Corrigan about their large eclectic collection of whimsical and traditional, new and antique Christmas ornaments and decorative items.

For every purchase, there is a simple purpose.

“When I see something, I say, ‘This is the perfect little item.’ I know where it’s going to go and why,” said Corrigan.

Then they buy two. One will be displayed in the family home and one is for their daughter’s collection. But it’s Mairead's “loveys”, the ornaments she made over the years, that mean in the most to the family.

“It’s that flood of “Oh, my gosh! I remember this,” said Corrigan.

The Corrigans built their colonial home themselves into the warm and welcoming place it is today.

“If we could build this, with a lot of blood, sweat and tears, and a lot of laughter - you can’t get through anything without laughter – we can get through anything,” said Corrigan.

Her decorating style has also been made from scratch. They put up their tree and go from there.

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Victoria's Christmas Decorating Tips

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Ask yourself, “What would make me feel that warmth?” Search your own soul for what makes you feel that sense of peace. “It’s that moment of introspection when you ask, ‘In this moment, what do I need?’”

*

Bring the outdoors in. Tuck sprigs of boxwood or cedar into everyday items or fill a glass jar with cranberries and a candle for that “little bit of reflection”.

*

Keep it Simple. “If you’re going to decorate, it should be a joy – not a chore.” It’s as simple as changing the throw pillows, adding a warm blanket or a festive hand towel.

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W

hile photographing a local Interior designer’s home last year…. I noticed a vast collection of beautiful miss-matched glass balls. Some vintage, some from other countries, some newer mercury glass; but all added light, reflection, and interesting detail into the simplest holiday display.

This designer had great holiday decorating ideas and luckily… she shared them with me, so I can share them with you!

FAMILY FRIENDLY: Julie may be known for her glamourous designs, but at home - it’s all about the kids - and this tree is just for them!

Julie and her children have a tradition every year to make at least one new ornament for the kids’ tree.

From dried out pinecone ornaments that they find together, to cinnamon stick reindeer, there is a new ornament marking every year. These are simple, kid friendly items, but some of Julie’s most valued ornaments! She finds her ideas on Pinterest and on nature walks with the kids. Allowing them to take a bucket with them, collecting various “treasures” and then they come home and get to work – great idea!

SETTING THE STAGE

FOR THE HOLIDAYS

WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY SUSAN BLACKBURN PHOTOGRAPHY

The family spends time on Cape Cod every year and they always look for items to bring back. In front of the Angel on a side cabinet is a piece of driftwood found on vacation, as well as ocean tumbled granite (look at how big those rocks are!), and an Abalone shell. Julie’s father had given her this Angel tree-topper made of Capiz shells, because he knows how much she loves the ocean …and Christmas! She uses it atop of the “travel” themed tree in their front formal room.

The train set has a special connection to her husband’s family, because of her father-in-law’s love of trains.

This is placed under the kids’ tree, because that is the “family” themed tree. There is something to represent every family member …and to keep distant family in mind throughout the season.

Oh… and her mother-in-law made the tree skirt (under the train) telling the story of Christmas through pictures with custom embroidery – how cool!

DIY: I love these simple rustic touches, and they look so easy to make! The hurricane lanterns stay up year-round, this was Julie’s way of balancing her style with her husband’s love of the outdoors. These are original Dietz Hurricane lanterns!

The tealight candle holder on the center of the table was made by Julie’s husband Tom - part of a fallen tree branch on their property! Their home is filled with natural décor that they make themselves every year.

The Rustic Tree is also from smaller branches that Tom finds. Julie will send him, and the kids, foraging on their property to collect various items and then use those items for swags, wreaths, and various holiday décor.

She says it makes her feel good that these items didn’t come from a store, and she is able to compost the material after the holidays. For example, bittersweet

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and holly branches, white pine boughs, and ribbon remnants are used for bows and ties backs. One of her trees is from a fallen silver birch - they use the top half, year after year as a minimalistic tree in the dining room!

They have a fun rule for their holiday decor… they are not allowed to purchase any items - all décor must be found or made of recycled material.

SETTING THE TABLE: Julie loves a good sale and these items were a steal! Adding the gold chargers and leaving the bare wood showing gives her the “glam” look she’s known for!

The flatware is hand-carved brass from Thailand! The handles are carved into the shape of bamboo, the felt lined box it came in is solid Mahogany, and it’s a service for 12 - which she found on clearance at a local consignment shop for only $62!

Collections

The china also has a special story. She purchased the entire set - including serving bowls and platters - for $30! She bought them from an elderly woman having a yard sale. This set belonged to the woman’s mother who had passed.

The woman wanted it to go to a family who would love and appreciate it. Julie and her family use it at every holiday meal and cherish the back story to how it came to be their set.

I think these are ideas we can all use… so Happy Holidays and start decorating!

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Setting the Holiday Table...

DIY

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ENTERTAINING HI! I'M JODIE FITZ

Made Easy!

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

SNOWED-CAPPED MARTINIS 1 cup ice 1 cup low-fat milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 tablespoon Confectioner’s Sugar 2 oz. marshmallow flavored Vodka 3 oz. White Chocolate Godiva Liqueur Add all the ingredients into a drink shaker & shake.

If you don’t have a drink mixer, simply use the blender for a little icy fun.

Note: Add a little snow to the rim by dipping the rim of the glass into water & then into granulated sugar before filling the glass with the Snow-Capped Martini.

MERINGUE SHELL 1 cup light brown sugar 3 egg whites

1 teaspoon distilled malt vinegar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

STEP 1: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

STEP 5: Spoon the meringue around the circle, keeping the center hollow.

Bake for 45 minutes and then turn off the oven & open the door slightly to let the meringue cool.

STEP 2: Draw a 12-inch circle on a sheet of parchment baking paper with a permanent marker on one side and then flip it over so that you can see the line, but use the clean side.

STEP 3: Spread the brown sugar on to a non-stick baking sheet and dry in the oven for 8 – 10 minutes. Run the sugar through a mini chopper or food processor to break it apart and granulate it, removing the lumps.

STEP 4: With an electric mixer, whip the egg whites until they are stiff. Add half of the brown sugar one tablespoon at a time continuing to mix after each addition. Add in the vinegar, vanilla extract and fold in the remaining sugar.

Note: We did this step the evening before and let the meringue cool overnight.

The next day you will need the following for a Filling: 12 oz. frozen berries thawed & whipped cream.

Note: I use the berry medley or black berries spooned on top of whipped cream.

When I’m serving this dish, I like to use the heavy cream whipped with 1/2 cup of confectioner’s sugar. Add the whipped cream & berries just before serving.

You can always catch what’s going on in our lives at JodieFitz.com and Facebook.com/jodiefitzcooks, or check out my new cook books - available on my website!

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The Christmas Eve

Feast

WITH

JOHN REARDON

HELLO MY FOODIE FRIENDS! The holiday season is right around the corner. Every family has their own special holiday and Thanksgiving traditions. Cultures all over the world celebrate holiday seasons. Making traditional dishes for your holiday meals may include foods from your culture or food you ate growing up. It is the stories and traditions of our ancestors that turn our hearts to them and help us feel we are part of something greater than our individual selves. For many families the most enduring traditions have been made and kept around the holiday season— especially Christmas.

Our most relished Christmas treasures come with the decorations, the scents of pine, the sounds of music and jingles, and for many… what happens in the kitchen! As I reflect on the Christmas traditions of mine and Paula’s Italian families, the Christmas Eve Feast cannot be overlooked. Coming together to celebrate the holidays becomes a time of giving. It is a time to be with your family and show your gratitude and appreciation of what you have. In meeting my wife over several decades ago, our first Christmas Eve together was spent at her parents’ home celebrating the Feast of Seven Fishes with all the fish dishes presented that evening. Paula’s family was more traditional than mine, probably because my Dad was Irish so we had a little of each. I watched with a calm expression as my wife ate and relished the marinated fresh anchovies as part of the antipasto. Jumbo shrimp, baked clams, and fried calamari were also part of the first course, which, I ate too much of. Next an array of dishes began to come out of the kitchen. These included: the seafood salad, which is a combination of crab, shrimp, calamari, and lobster with celery, olive, and parsley in citronette, the Baccala salad with salted cod tossed with sweet cherry peppers, capers, and olives in a lemon dressing, and then the octopus salad, also known as Inslata di Polipi.

This is where I stopped and stared at the cut up octopus tentacles sitting in front of me and I loudly proclaimed that, well, “I love Fried Baccala” and politely said I must have some.

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Fried Baccala: SERVES: 6-8

INGREDIENTS: 1 (1/4-ounce) packet dry active yeast

2 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup warm water

1 3/4 pounds prepared baccalà

4 jumbo eggs

Pure Olive Oil, for frying

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DIRECTIONS:

PREPARE AND SOAK YOUR BACCALÀ AT LEAST 3 DAYS PRIOR. In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs together with yeast and water. Add the flour and mix the batter with a fork by hand until it looks like the consistency of a thick pancake batter. If needed, add a couple more tablespoons of flour, one at a time. The batter should be thick enough to coat the fish.

Cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap and leave to rise in a warm place for about 1 to 2 hours, or until small air bubbles form on the top of the batter. This batter takes longer to rise than most recipes that use dry active yeast because of the addition of the eggs, which weighs the batter down.

Rinse the cod for a last time; dry it well and cut into small pieces. The batter will expand and puff up when fried, so keep the baccalà pieces small, about 3/4-inch.

In a deep-frying pan filled with Pure Olive Oil, heat oil to 375˚F. Drop a handful at a time of baccalà pieces into the batter, allowing the excess to drip off just slightly, remove them from the batter and gently drop the pieces in the oil and cook until golden brown and crisp, about 5 minutes.

Remove the fish from the oil; briefly drain on a plate lined with paper towels. Serve with warmed marinara sauce, lemon wedges, or cocktail sauce.

Meanwhile back at my house my Mom was cooking an Irish feast for my Dad of roast turkey and stuffing, clovestudded baked ham, crispy goose fat potatoes, steamed Brussels sprouts, buttery sweet carrots, crispy parsnips, cranberry sauce, bread sauce and gravy.

Carrying on family traditions and passing them on to our children is part of our legacy and is a way of celebrating the traditions of our ancestors. No matter how much you already know about your heritage, there is always more you can learn. It is about enjoying yourself and the people you are with. Cooking for the people you love is a gift in itself. Take some time this holiday season to make some discoveries about your ancestors and perhaps create some new family traditions that reflect your collective past.

As you are trying to decide what to get your “foodie” for the holidays; stop by Compliments to the Chef located at 33 Railroad Place and let us assist you with finding that cool tool for that special someone. We hope that 2019 brings many blessings, laughter, health, and happiness to you and your families. Remember my Foodie Friends; “Life Happens in the Kitchen” Take care and Happy Holidays,

John and Paula Reardon saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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BUCKLES, BETTYS AND PIES – WRITTEN BY MAUREEN WERTHER

W

ith the holiday baking season upon us, many of us are busy preparing the menus for our late Fall and early Winter feasts. Of course, holiday dinners wouldn’t be the same without the ubiquitous fruit pies and desserts filling the house with delectable aromas and adorning our holiday tables.

While most of us know what it takes to make a respectable pie – yummy fruits in season, delicate flaky crusts, with your pies crusts either “latticed” or lidded” and always served warm with a generous scoop of vanilla cream or a dollop of freshly whipped cream on top – they can take a long time to prepare, especially if you make your own crust.

If you’re one of those people who find themselves pressed for time – or, if you want to try something different that will be just as amazing as Grandma’s pie recipe and takes about half the time, there are options.

I’m talking about crumbles, cobblers and crisps. Or maybe a buckle or a betty!

Confused? Join the club. The truth is, there are lot of similarities – and some overlap – between these four amazing desserts. What they share in common is, of course, fruit. While many people associate each dessert with a particular fruit, I am here to tell you that any fruit you would use for pie will work perfectly with each of these dessert variations.

Now that we have identified fruit as the common denominator, here’s a quick breakdown of the differences of each one.

Crisps

This simple – and simply delicious dessert – uses fruit like apples, peaches or mangoes, strawberries and rhubarb diced into ¼ to ½ inch pieces and topped with a “streusel” mixture of flour, butter, cinnamon, brown sugar and rolled oats. The topping is made in a similar fashion to pie crust, making sure to use chilled butter and blending the mixture together, either with a pastry cutter or your own fingers. The result is a clumpy delicious topping. All you do is add your fruit in a 2-quart baking dish and sprinkle on the topping.

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Oh My!

Crumbles

This one is really simple. Same exact ingredients as a crisp, but without the rolled oats. By the way, I’m a huge fan of throwing caution to the wind and adding raisins, chopped nuts, dried cranberries or anything else my baking heart desires to either of these recipes. Just go for it - what have you got to lose!

Cobblers

Again, the only real differences between crumbles, crisps and cobblers are the toppings. Traditionally, cobblers are finished off with delightful dollops of biscuit batter on top.

The name comes from the dish’s resemblance to bumpy cobblestone streets. But, don’t worry, there is nothing hard or unyielding in this yellow brick road of a dessert!

While some people prefer to use cookie dough in place of biscuit batter, I think it takes away from the natural sweetness of whatever fruit you’ve chosen. Most people use apple or peaches. But again, there are no rules here!

Buckles

The only way a buckle is involved in this dessert is that you may have to loosen yours after feasting on this beautiful little piece of heaven! Seriously, the dessert gets its name from the appearance of the dish after it has been baked.

Made by blending cake batter with fruit, it is topped with the same streusel deliciousness as a crisp or a crumble.

After it is baked, the cake looks as if it has “buckled” down under the weight of the fruit.

Bettys

Again, this dessert is almost identical to the Buckle, but you use less cake batter and more crumbly topping.

So, this holiday season, if you want to stray the from seasonal pie, try one of these favorite alternatives. But, don’t forget – these recipes are great throughout the year. Whether it’s strawberry rhubarb season, blackberry, raspberry or blueberry time of year, or those sweet end of season peaches, go crazy with your buckles, Bettys and pies – Oh My!! saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Streamline the Holiday Season!

T

It is party time!

WRITTEN BY JORDANA TURCOTTE

he Holidays; yes the entire months of November and December seem to now be an “event.” Or should I say marathon! Even for those that LOVE and LIVE FOR them as well as those that are extremely organized (like me); the thought of shopping for all those gifts, decorating, entertaining, and more has their head spinning.

Add this to the now constant state of busyness and you have a recipe for major stress.

This should be fun, so reminder that. Decide what you can really do this year with what is already on the calendar. Dinner? Multiple Dinners? Holiday Party?

Cocktail Party? Open House?

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Being organized and planning it ALL out can keep things straight and ensure all gets done. I find party planning and gift buying to be the areas of most stress.

My first recommendation is to have two key tools; the first is either a small thin portable notebook to keep track of it all or create several notes on your phone by what you are tracking. I have seen Holiday Planners on the market and that may appeal to you if the sheets and section work for you. Secondly, a printed calendar of the months November and December to become your snapshot of all holiday events and to-do’s. You can find them on the internet or in Word to print out. Visually posting them and adding each event that comes up keeps you organized but also gets you excited for all you have planned!

Take the notebook and make some sections (I used small tabs but you can just use post-it’s sticking out). Make sections for gifts, parties, to-do’s at a minimum (or these notes on your phone.) You may want more as you go, based on what you have going on. Next, the calendar; fill in all you know so far such as travel, parties you are going to, church services, school events, work parties, theatre events, when you will have houseguests and such. Doing this shows you visually your commitments so you can then plan out when you will do all of your own things. Use pencil so if something changes you can adjust immediately. I am always surprised how little time is left!

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6.

7.

PICK WHAT PARTIES you want to host and the type.

SELECT DATES/ TIMES for all and put on your calendar.

HAVE A PAGE FOR EACH IN YOUR NOTEBOOK; write out all the specifics such as menu and guest list.

DRAFT YOUR GUEST LISTS for each.

DO INVITATIONS for each, (e)mailing out at least 2-3 weeks prior (put this on your calendar). A save the date email or call may be in order if you are planning late and want to ensure all know.

PLAN THE MENU, adding paper product supplies with it and drinks and start buying each week; checking off as you go so just consumables and fresh items are the last-minute purchases.

ENJOY! Really…enjoy the party. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Other holiday related calendar items to mark are the due date for making or filling out your family holiday cards, date to mail cards, book travel, date to get tree, blocked time to decorate indoors and outdoors, shopping time(s), time for wrapping, due dates for gift shipping, dates you need to bake for, and major cleaning times just before parties or hosting guests. An ongoing holiday to-do list may have these calendar items as well as to prep for company, getting items dry cleaned, and so on. It is all in the details and remembering them. This this list should help you get started.

And now for those gifts.

Gift buying should be fun but it is a daunting task; who to buy for, what to buy and how to afford it all. I read a stat in Real Simple that you should spend no more than 1.5% of your pretax annual income on gifts; that means on $65K, you wouldn’t spend more than about $1,000. You should budget for wrapping supplies, stamps and shipping too.

Streamlining the gift buying will be the biggest de-stresser of all.

In your notebook, make a comprehensive list of each person you need to buy for (maybe separate pages for each grouping); family, friends, colleagues, service providers, teachers, babysitters, neighbors. I would give those that you will buy a lot for several lines in between the next so you have space to document things. At a minimum, fill in the name and budget for each. If you have ideas for them, jot them down. Setting this up in the beginning gives you a true picture of what you need to get. Once you buy something, document item and price. Also, grab an envelope to stash in the back of the notebook for all receipts in – put the person’s name by the item.

Consider the same gift within a group if possible; like all teachers get movie tix attached to a $1 store candy. It helps with cost and streamlining the shopping trips. My personal favorite gifts with the most meaning (and are clutter-free!) is to give an experience such as taking that person out to eat or to an event. The memories will last longer than any item. You can get creative and make up a small coupon to enclose in the card.

Lastly, don’t forget the miscellaneous purchases; create a general holiday shopping list with wrapping paper, tape, bows, ribbon, tissue paper, bags, cards, stamps, shipping boxes and more (don’t forget wine!) Check your stock on all of these items as soon as possible and add specific quantities to the items so you don’t overbuy.

But the real last point is to try to savor the holidays, really concentrate on what they mean to you and how you want to enjoy them. Doing this will bring clarity and focus while you get things done.

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Augie’sRecipe for a

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Winning W Kitchen

WRITTEN BY MAUREEN WERTHER PHOTOS BY MEREDITH COONS MERILIGHTPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

hat do you get when you take one interior designer who has been plying her craft for 20 years, and you add one highly popular chef and restaurant owner who has been working in kitchens since age 15? The answer is: one gorgeously re-designed custom kitchen that is a feast for the eye and any chef’s dream.

Augie Vitiello, owner of Augie’s Family Style Italian Restaurant in Ballston Spa and Augie’s To Go in Saratoga Springs, says that, when he first purchased his home in Meadowbrook Estates five and a half years ago, he was already planning in his mind the changes he wanted to make to the kitchen.

Once his vision was firmly mapped out, he connected with Emily Baker along with Christina Feldman and the KBC Design Studio. Emily has designed interior spaces in the Syracuse to Skaneateles region, moving to the Capital Region over ten years ago. She specializes in designing kitchens and baths; her clients include restaurants, private homes & commercial spaces, as she works with builders and contractors acting as a project manager. Having such a broad range of experience with both commercial and residential kitchen and interior design made Emily the perfect choice to help Augie realize his vision for his home kitchen and entertaining space.

The challenges of the project included updating the original 1990’s French Provincial style kitchen area and transforming it into a kitchen that would make any Tuscan chef proud, combining form and function with beauty and a contemporary new aesthetic.

One of the first things they did was remove some walls to open up the space. This allowed a free flow from the kitchen into the bar and living area and transformed it into an ideal space for family gatherings and entertaining friends, something Augie loves to do.

They worked with contractor Dave Peters and his team on all the physical renovations to the home. Dave was an incredible asset to this project with his professional & creative spin on this beautifully renovated space.

“Now, it’s one large, comfortable gathering space, with a large-screen TV over the refinished real wood - burning fireplace, which is finished in a real Italian plaster with a stucco finish that matches the custom pizza oven and hood over the oven range,” says Emily.

The stucco work was done by Donna Mock, of Classic Wall Finishes (classic-wall-finishes.com).

Emily, who worked through KBC Design Studio, kbcDesignStudio.com on the project, worked from floor to ceiling, leaving no detail to chance. The old laminated flooring was replaced with original original hardwood to match the surrounding existing floors then they chose a “tuxedo-style” theme designed by Emily & KBC with the island made of an antiqued/burnished dark walnut finish and the custom-cabinetry a glazed creamy ivory with decorative moldings.

The counter tops are Cambria, from Busch Products in Albany, the faucets are all oil-rubbed bronze, and the stunning custom-made hammered copper sinks in both the island bar sink -and echoed in the living room bar area- add to the Tuscan mood and style.

Other amenities include a full “head-to-toe” wine cooler, a niche made specifically as a home to Augie’s espresso machine, a pantry you could live in and a large refrigerator built to resemble an armoire. The nearby bath has also been completely redone in keeping with the Tuscan theme. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Emily Baker of Eye on Décor eyeondecor@gmail.com

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Emily says that the “jewelry” of the kitchen is the stunning chandelier suspended over the sink in front of a picture window. And, of course, there is the indigenous hand painted tile rooster that is a “must have” in every Italian kitchen.

Christmas Day, Augie embraces his Italian heritage with courses that include fish, lobster tails, pasta, prime rib and desserts.

“Christmas Day is always a huge day around here” he says.

With the newly designed space, Augie can move effortlessly from task to task. “That’s With a 13-foot island, an imported my favorite feature – the fact that it’s a fully Italian brick wood-burning pizza functional kitchen. It’s not just beautiful. It oven, a 10-burner Bluestar range flows, and it works. And, now that I’m in with two ovens, plus an additional here using it, I love it. It’s very roomy and electric wall oven, sourced through you’re not bumping into each other. All of Adirondack Appliance, Augie’s these impeccable details mean nothing if vision and Emily’s design result in an the kitchen doesn’t function.” industrial-style commercial kitchen in a private home.

Augie says the difference between his old kitchen and the newly remodeled one makes preparing food for large groups a pleasure. “It’s like night and day,” he adds, referring to the older, cramped space with limited appliances.

While Augie says his favorite feature is the functionality, he is thrilled with all the wonderful details that Emily put into making the kitchen the showpiece that it is. She is quick to point out, however, that Augie gets the credit for the design. “It was all his vision,” says Emily. Augie also give credit where it is due. “Emily pulled all the ingredients together to make it work.”

Augie says that getting the pizza oven into the house was no easy feat. “We had to figure out how to fit it through the door and vent it through the chimney. It was a lot of trial and error and its always more difficult to do when you’re working around an existing home.”

He had bought an oven several years earlier through a company out in California, and he returned to them when it came time to purchase this one. It arrived pre-cast and assembled, with a delivery weight of nearly 2,000 pounds. “We had to get a huge forklift extension through the front door, using a heavy-duty pallet jack,” says Augie.

Luckily, the front entrance has double doors.

With four children between the ages of 10 and 18 years, suffice it to say that Augie does the lion’s share of the cooking when his kids are with him. His 16-year old son is a chip off the old block and loves being in the kitchen at Augie’s in Ballston Spa, dicing and chopping with the other kitchen guys, says Augie. His daughter works at the Saratoga location and enjoys using their new kitchen to whip up sweet treats.

Augie’s home is typically open to family and friends around the holidays and at special gatherings, and it’s not unusual for him to be preparing meals for 20 or more guests. The neutral tones of the living space are punctuated with custom-made cushions from Victoria’s Corner in Ballston Spa. For Thanksgiving, Augie likes to keep it traditional, with several turkeys and all the trimmings. On saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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EvergreenTrees WITH

PETER BOWDEN

f you step back and try to be objective, the practice of installing a tree inside our home at this time of year seems a bit bizarre.

How did all this get started...and when?

fresh fir when it's brought inside. The trick is to keep the tree hydrated so the needles stay on and the tree remains fresh and fragrant.

Romans and Celts decorated oak trees during the solstice.

The first step is to get a fresh tree. When you’re out in the tree lot picking out your tree, bend the little branch tips to make sure they are supple, not brittle. Beware of spruce trees which are notorious for falling apart quickly once they’re cut and brought inside.

The symbolism and use of trees as decorations at this time of year are far older than many of us suspect. It is known, for instance, that pre-Christian Romans displayed decorated evergreens (oak trees which are evergreen in that part of the world) during their solstice celebration, Saturnalia. They lit the tree with candles and often topped the tree with a sun symbol. The ancient Celts of the British Isles also ornamented oak trees with apples and candles to offer thanks to the sun during the solstice period.

Many of us can still remember when the Christmas tree wasn't put up until Christmas Eve. This tradition likely had its roots (no pun intended; well...maybe) in the English tradition of bringing home the Yule log on Christmas Eve. The Yule log was generally a large stump, often including the roots, decorated with mistletoe, holly and other greenery. The log was lighted with a bit of the previous year's log (thus protecting the house from fire for the upcoming year) and needed to be kept burning for at least twelve hours to insure continued good fortune. With the advent of central heating, the appeal of the Yule log has been all but forgotten.

The evergreen tree as the tree of choice for solstice celebrating appears to have its origins in the Christianizing of the Germanic tribes of Eastern Europe. Some of the earliest accounts tell of St. Boniface dedicating the fir tree to the Christ child with the oath, "You are the light of the world, a tree ever green" to counter the sacred oak of Odin in the eighth century. Other accounts credit Martin Luther as the first to bring home a cut evergreen tree and decorate it with candles that symbolize the stars in the sky over Bethlehem the night Christ was born.

Next, be sure to make a fresh cut on the base of the tree right before you bring it inside. This is so important because the tree has sucked air into the bottom-most cells of the trunk. Even if the tree is placed in water, it can’t absorb it because the first cells at the base are clogged with air. A fresh cut exposes fresh cells that can absorb water and send it along to the cells above and right out to the branches and needles.

Make sure that your tree stand is clean before you put your tree into it. If your tree stand is like mine, it spends most of its time in the shed gathering dust. When you place the tree into the stand, fill the stand with very hot water. Hot water is absorbed more quickly than cold water so the tree will rehydrate as quickly as possible. You don’t need to use hot water every time you add water; just the first time. Make sure that the tree stand always has water in it. If you let it run dry, the tree will suck air into the bottom cells again and it won’t be able to absorb water unless another fresh cut is made. And that isn’t likely to happen once the tree is decorated. Remember: Fresh Tree, Fresh Cut and Fresh Hot Water. Thanks for the read.

Hundreds of years passed until the tradition of decorating evergreen trees at Christmas became common. It wasn't until 1841 when King Albert displayed a decorated evergreen tree in his palace that the tradition took hold in English speaking countries.

Like the American people, American holiday celebrations have become a melting pot of customs and traditions brought to our shores from the older cultures of our forefathers. The evergreen, ancient symbol of life ever lasting is still included as the bright focal point of a celebration of rebirth, light and life.

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A fresh cut allows the tree to draw up water.

Checking for freshness.

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TO GA HERITAGE

OFFERS CURATED DESIGNS FOR THE

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WRITTEN BY MAUREEN WERTHER PHOTOS BY SUSAN BLACKBURN PHOTOGRAPHY

I

t was a busy Saturday afternoon in downtown Saratoga Springs as I entered the beautiful Silverwood boutique in its newest location at 398 Broadway. Making my way past shoppers and browsers, I headed to the shop’s lower level, on a quest to visit the new home of TOGA HERITAGE, a charming boutique all its own, tucked into a cozy corner of the building.

As I entered TOGA HERITAGE, the tall blonde woman behind the counter was happily chatting with several young women who were choosing scented candles and selecting signature caps from a nearby display. Settling myself into a cozy club chair, I surveyed the lovely room as I listened to the woman’s interaction with her customers.

“Our mother loves your hats,” said one of the girls, as she picked up a crisp red cap with the TOGA logo embroidered on the front. “Oh, and she really loves these scented candles,” said another girl.

“Now I’m putting it all together!” exclaimed the woman.

As the girl listed more items her mom has bought from TOGA HERITAGE, the woman asked, “Is your mother named Kate?” “Yes!” the girl said, surprised and delighted that the woman instantly remembered her mother.

That level of customer service is only one of several hallmarks that differentiate owner and founder of TOGA HERITAGE, Deborah DePasquale, and set her apart from other retailers. Her carefully designed and crafted merchandise is the other.

Deborah says she knows the story behind the customers who frequent her shop- a talent that she says is in her genes.

“I come from a long line of customer service-driven family. I grew up around that, and for me it’s innate.

My interactions with my customers mean everything to me, and there is not one person who walks through my door whom I don’t greet and wish well when they leave,” Deborah tells me.

And it’s true, as I observe her with her customers from my cozy perch.

As its name implies, TOGA HERITAGE speaks to the place and the lifestyle that is Saratoga. Deborah’s simple yet effective tagline, “Love Where You Live,” speaks directly to the way she has so beautifully tied in her vision of Saratoga style with the products she has designed, created and curated for her blossoming company.

Deborah says that her idea for TOGA HERITAGE has been in the works and “on paper” for several years, as she worked to develop her vision. In 2016, she was offered the opportunity to do a soft launch of her products in PaperDolls of Saratoga. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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She chose 20 products that revolved around entertaining in Saratoga – items such as her high quality, beautifully-designed and crafted cups, plates, and hats that people could use at the track or at SPAC. “I would sit there and listen to the customers’ feedback, both male and female,” says Deborah, adding that her brand is very unisex.

After hearing a lot of positive responses to her products, Deborah took a “deeper dive” and launched her brand and first pop-up store that summer 0f 2017 in PaperDolls.

From there, she moved to her current address at 398 Broadway in the lower level of Silverwood. And, this past year, she renovated and re-designed her first brick and mortar location in the rear of the building.

She now has more than 165 products, with many more in development . “This is a carefully thought out business model with measured growth. I bring in new products as they make sense,” says Deborah, her pragmatic Scottish business side showing through.

For Deborah, TOGA HERITAGE is much more than a business, however. It is her passion.

“I’m here to help folks curate pieces for their homes,” she says, which include all the stunning items in her shop; but, also a number of different, custom-designed creations that she will work on with customers to help them create the look they want to achieve for their homes, for entertaining, and for gifting.

On the door sign announcing to customers that they have just stepped inside TOGA HERITAGE are three simple words: Décor.

Entertain. Fashion. Deborah says those three words are incorporated in all of the products she designs and curates.

“And, if we don’t have an item a customer is looking for, we will source it. The same goes for events. If folks want to do something special, I’ve got so many vendors and manufacturers at my disposable whose brand guidelines and workmanship fall in line with the TOGA standard of quality.”

Taking a tour around the space, my eyes rest upon beautifully folded woolen and cashmere blankets imported from Scotland. On another display is a collection of crisp white dinner plates, with the signature TOGA HERITAGE logo and matching cloth napkins. Picnic baskets with stemware, flatware and everything else that make a perfect picnic in Congress Park or SPAC rest on another shelf.

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and made of natural fiber wicks and essential oils. The packaging alone is a treat for the eye, with boxes in soft whites and bold blacks and contrasting gold foil.

And the plaids – no, scratch that. They are tartans. Did you know that all tartans are plaids, but not all plaids are tartans? Well, you do now!

“This tartan was designed and developed by me,” says Deborah, pointing to the beautifully patterned black, red and gold plaid lampshade cover on a nearby standing lamp. I quickly learn that designing a bona fide tartan is no small feat. To accomplish her task, Deborah hired a consultant in Scotland, who worked with her to make sure the “warp” and “weft” requirements were met and the measurements between threads were exact. Once the design was established, it was submitted for registration as a corporate tartan.

“I had to prove my sole ownership under the business name of TOGA HERITAGE. No one else can use our weave or our fabric.” Deborah’s design now puts her in the same rarified air with the likes of Burberry and Brooks Brothers.

After her design was officially registered and patented in Scotland, the medium-weight poly-viscose fabric was woven in an historic Edinburgh mill and then launched on April 6, 2018, which is National Tartan Day. “It’s an official thing – National Tartan Day – with galas and parades in NYC,” explains Deborah, adding, “I would love to work with the city of Saratoga and dedicate a day here as our own ‘National Tartan Day’ for TOGA HERITAGE.” Deborah says she chose the colors because they are reminiscent of the Saratoga image and style and follow the TOGA HERITAGE Brand Guideline.

She is also developing a full collection of tartan that will compliment all three of her product categories – décor, entertain, and fashion.

Deborah has high hopes for TOGA HERITAGE and she is very encouraged by how the community has embraced her new store. But, in the end, it always goes back to her customers.

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Congress Spring Interior 1880 This image shows the interior of the renovated Congress Spring Pavilion that was re-built in 1876. The Congress Spring was the most popular “morning spring” in the city in the 1800s.

Thousands of summer visitors came to this spring to drink one or two glasses of water each morning.

HISTORY

Our

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SARATOGA'S FIRST CHURCH WRITTEN BY CHARLIE KUENZEL PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE GEORGE BOLSTER COLLECTION

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he First Baptist Church at 45 Washington Street in Saratoga Springs is not only one - of the oldest buildings in the city, but also represents the first religious group to build a church here - the year was 1822. That original structure was replaced in 1855 with the Greek Revival church there today. The land that is the location of this church was the generous donation of Saratoga Springs’ first family, Gideon and Doanda Putnam. Today this beautiful and historic church needs financial help to save a series of wonderful stained-glass windows that were put in the church in 1906.

I was made aware of this project by the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation and later in this article I will describe the restoration project and how you can be part of it.

First let’s talk about the church’s history. It’s amazing how often we look at the history of Saratoga Springs and find that Doanda and Gideon Putnam were very instrumental in the development of early Saratoga Springs. When the Putnams came to Saratoga Springs in 1789 they were the first to see the importance of our mineral springs and then built the first hotel to accommodate the many visitors coming for those famous mineral waters. Their vision made and defined the city for many years. Not everyone knows that the Putnam family also helped to establish the first cemetery by donating land for that purpose, as well as the land on which the first church would be built. The Putnam family arrived in Saratoga Springs after a few failed attempts at business ventures in different locations. Just prior to their relocation to the westside of our city in 1789 they had settled at Bemis Flats in the Saratoga Lake area. In the early spring of 1789 the rains were heavy, and the snow melt was rapid. These fast-rising waters in the Bemis Flats area almost claimed the lives of the young Putnam family. A neighbor, Zophar Scidmore, rescued them with a sailboat before the rising waters claimed the lives of the young family. Gideon was so moved by the rescue that that he always praised God for the rescue - as well as - the guidance that sent him to

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settle in Saratoga Springs. Because of these experiences, Gideon placed in his estate the offer to donate land for a church to the first religious congregation to organize in the village. The passage in the will of Gideon read “Land will be given to the first religious body which shall cause to be erected to the worship of God, a house not less than 50 feet in length and 38 feet in breath”. The will further prevents this land from being used for anything in the future, other than a church, or the property would revert to the ownership of the Putnam family.

Gideon Putnam died on December 1, 1812 from complications from a fall while building the Congress Hall Hotel. Because of Gideon’s early death it was his son Rockwell and wife Doanda who made the transfer of the land for the construction of the first church in 1821 and construction was completed in 1822. That first structure was constructed at a cost of $2,500. The original church was used for many years with remodeling and repair done in 1846. As the population of the First Baptist congregation continued to grow, the need to replace the original church with a larger structure became evident.

Plans were made to build a structure that would be “large in size” capable of seating 1,000 people with 20 pews on the ground floor. In 1855 they tore down the original church built in 1822 and laid the cornerstone for the present church, on August 15, 1855. Construction of the Greek Revival style structure continued at a cost of $18,600 and was completed in 1856 with the dedication of the present church occurring on August 10 of that year.

When the First Baptist Church opened its doors, it was the largest gathering space in the village at the time, with

only the American Hotel close in size. The structure had a clock/bell tower that was the tallest point in the village.

The clock had a mechanism installed that would ring the bell every hour, a welcome addition to the village, as it soon became the official time piece of Saratoga Springs.

In September of 1855 the congregation called upon Reverend Luther Beecher to come to the new church to take over the religious duties for the First Baptist Church in Saratoga Springs. Reverend Beecher was cousin to clergyman Henry Ward Beecher and famous abolitionist and author Harriet Beecher Stowe. Stowe authored the very famous anti-slavery book “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” in 1852. The family connection helps to explain why the play “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” was performed during the summer of 1856 in Saratoga Springs. Reverend Beecher stayed with the church in Saratoga Springs until 1861.

As with any building, as the years passed the need for repair and adjustment in design were needed. In 1868 the congregation enlarged the orchestra area and added another row of pews. A bell, struck in Troy, was added to the bell tower in 1894. In 1927 the clock was removed from the tower. In 1933 the clock tower was removed after it was deemed unsafe because a woman was struck by a board falling from the upper part of the tower. These changes really modified the overall profile of the church and explain why pictures of today are different from the original images taken in the mid-1800s. Many people probably remember in 1982 the congregation made additional repairs to the bell tower and installed a new roof.

Our church needs your help...

In 2018 the next needed repair to the First Baptist Church must be the restoration of the beautiful stainedglass windows that were added in 1906. This project has the strong support of the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation and letters requesting donations for the project have been sent to members of the Preservation Foundation, but the project needs the help of more members of the community. This restoration project is so important… to help preserve the church, as well as support the history of our great city. The repairs will include removal, re-leading and then re-installation of the stained-glass windows which is a costly process. Some larger windows may cost $25,000 apiece. The current goal is to raise $50,000 to repair the most severely deteriorated windows first.

If you want to support this great restoration project you can make donations through the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation by mail, (SSPF, 112 Spring St. #203, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866) phone (518) 587-5030, or online at www.saratogapreservation.org with notation for the donation to be directed to the “FBC Stained Glass Windows Fund”. Any gift over $500 will receive special permanent acknowledgement. For more information about the restoration or to schedule a tour of the Sanctuary with its beautiful windows, please contact the First Baptist Church office at (518) 584-6301.

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Rarely Seen Photos of OLD SARATOGA Springs WRITTEN BY CHARLIE KUENZEL PHOTOS FROM THE GEORGE S. BOLSTER COLLECTION

Saratoga Race Track 1935 This is an interesting view of the Saratoga Race Track before the grandstand was extended in the 1960s.

The structure to the far right was the “betting shed”. This structure provided a spot for many bookies to set up shop each day before pari-mutual wagering was in existence. Track goers would search for a bookie with favorable odds and bet with them before a race.

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Saratoga Race Track Paddock 1916 This is the old Saratoga Paddock. The building in the background was the original paddock/saddling area.

Later it was converted to betting windows that are used today located near the present paddock.

When that was done, a new paddock was built to the left of this image that is used today.

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Broadway and Caroline Street 1938 A simple view looking north on the eastside of Broadway at the corner of Caroline Street in 1938.

Notice the vibrant activity and number of stores.

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The Last Sweater T

WRITTEN BY JOHN R. GREENWOOD PHOTOS PROVIDED

he holidays always rekindle the memory of my mother sitting in her green tweed rocker… knitting. She loved to knit.

Anyone who knew my mother knew of her skills with a pair of #2 needles. Her sweaters were works of art. Her blankets and men’s multicolored wool socks made from skeins of leftover yarn were prized acquisitions of family and friends.

One winter morning a few years after her passing I pulled out an old trunk of family memorabilia tucked away in the cellar. I was drawn to it by an unexplainable force. As I opened it, I noticed a clear plastic bag folded neatly near the bottom. In the bag was a tiny pink sweater. It was a baby sweater that my mother was never able to finish. It was the last thing she was working on when she got sick. They were the last stitches she ever made. It was the last sweater.

What affected me most about my discovery caught me off guard. I was overcome by the thought of all the things my mother had done, and I had taken for granted. In her last years I did my best to thank her and assure her I knew the quiet things she’d done for me; those 1970’s Saturday nights as a teenager, when she would slip a five dollar bill in my hand on my way out the door. If dad was in one of his, “I’m-alwaysright-moods,” she would simply give me that look of silent confirmation that it was okay and send me out the door. When it came to watching my back she provided better protection than Tony Soprano.

The love and detail in that sweater, so pink, so delicate brought all the things mom did for me back saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

in an album of nostalgic reminders. I still have a collection of her vintage knitting books tucked away.

Seeing them brings back the memory of a ritual my parents would go through every Friday night back in the 1960s. There was a small knitting shop that Dad would take mom to. My memory places it on, or near York Ave. We would park on the street out front and wait for my mother to run in for a few skeins of yarn. I remember how upset my mother was when the little yarn shop closed. Sadly, the world of knitting was shrinking.

I smile when I picture mom nestled in her chair in one of her appliqued sweatshirts. She would have those #2 needles flailing like Edward Scissorhands and at the same time her eyes would be glued to the Bruins/ Devil's game, weighing in her definitive opinion with each missed shot or scored goal.

Mom, thanks for the warmth of your wool socks, the beauty of those exquisitely crafted baby sweaters, and your unwavering love. As I folded the unfinished treasure and gently placed it back into the memory vault I got a slight twinge. I realized the sweater mom had been knitting was for the great-granddaughter she had been waiting so patiently for. My sister’s granddaughter was never able to feel the physical warmth of that sweater, but the comfort of her grandmother’s love will forever drape her from above.

Happy Holidays

Knit some memories…

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Pennell ’s Restaurant 284 Jefferson Street, Saratoga Springs

Pennell’s Restaurant, the longest operating restaurant in Saratoga Springs, as it was in June 1945.

The 1946 kitchen staff included owner Mami Pennell, far right.

Joe and Betty Cerone, quintessential mom and pop owner/ operators, purchased the restaurant from Tony Pennell in 1975.

Joe, generous to a fault, used to say “You never saw a U-Haul behind a hearse.” At times the family relied on Betty’s waitress tips to make ends meet.

Joe passed away in 1988. Betty continued to waitress until close to her death in 2008.

Paul Pennell, far right, dines at his establishment in this 1946 photo.

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WRITTEN BY CAROL GODETTE B & W PHOTOS FROM THE GEORGE S. BOLSTER COLLECTION COLOR PHOTOS PROVIDED BY BRUCE CERONE

PENNELL’S RESTAURANT set my family’s standard

for lasagna and chicken parm.

Whenever any of us described an Italian dinner enjoyed in a distant city my sister Janet would challenge, “But was the lasagna Pennell’s good?”

Pennell’s marked every milestone of my family’s life growing up in Saratoga Springs… countless birthdays, rehearsal dinners and most regular Saturday evenings were celebrated in our unofficial second family dining room at 284 Jefferson Street.

Pennell’s, about to turn 100, is the oldest continuing restaurant to operate in Saratoga Springs.

So how has Pennell’s thrived in an off the beaten path location? Perhaps one key is consistency. Only two families have ever owned and operated the restaurant.

Both families maintained a tradition of delicious, affordable food in an inviting atmosphere while personally connecting with their local clientele.

The founders, Mami and Paul Pennell, opened during prohibition in 1922 , handing it over to their son Tony in the 1960s. Tony employed Joe Cerone as a bartender and in 1975 sold the operation to Joe and his wife Betty. Like most mom and pop operators, Joe worked 15-hour days. Along with raising four sons, during the day Betty baked the desserts that were served, and in the evenings waitressed. Often her tips helped get the family thru lean times. In 1987 Cerone sons Paul and Bruce approached their parents about buying the family business. Initially Joe and Betty said, ”Absolutely not- we will help you open a restaurant on Broadway.” Joe and Betty felt the location was a deterrent to the brothers’ success but eventually Bruce and Paul’s desire to maintain the Jefferson Street location prevailed.

When my bother – in - law Tom, wordsmith and only true Italian in our family, first dined at Pennell’s he was reticent. How could a place with an English surname serve authentic Italian food, he thought? Why aren’t my new in - laws bringing me to a place with a name like “Mama Leone’s” for Italian cuisine? (In fact, Joe Cerone considered changing Pennell’s name to “Mama Columbo” in honor of his Italian mother who

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taught him how to make sauce like that found in Naples.)

Tom soon discovered the allure. The waitress’s friendly banter, the homey atmosphere, warm bread with garlic butter and the authentic red sauce made him feel like he was at a big Italian family dinner table. Perhaps this is the secret to Pennell’s popularity.

Current owner Bruce Cerone credits Pennell’s longevity to his willingness to change, but not too much. One immediate 1987 menu modification Bruce instituted was eliminating the “celery and olives on ice” appetizer in an effort to modernize the menu. Bruce and his brother Paul experimented with creative marketing ploys to make their remote location known. In the pre GPS era Bruce jokes, "You almost had to be lost to find us.” A 1991 backpacking trip thru Asia introduced Bruce and Paul to Karaoke.

Shortly after their return they featured the new craze of karaoke in the restaurant on Saturday nights. It quickly caught on, drawing over 300 people an evening to the dining area. Paul brought Sumo wrestling to the dining room, featuring patrons facing off in an inflatable suit, trying to knock each other down. Bruce created a “Pay the Time You Go” gimmick to draw an earlier crowd into the restaurant on Saturday nights. My mother and her friend Stella Boyce were fond of this 4:30- 6:30 pm promotion, fretting over arriving at the 4:30 pm opening time rather than at 4:40pm so they could eat their favorite Clams Pisscillipo for a mere $4.30.

Despite these creative efforts at change, Bruce was never willing to lessen the quality of the food served. “People move to Saratoga for a quality of life. They also expect

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quality food.” Many locals claim Pennell’s serves the best steak in town. Bruce’s menu only features one steak“Coach Waldron’s steak”, a prime beef cut with his own Montreal seasoning, in honor of well-known sports coach Ray Waldron. Many of the nightly 400 covers during Racing season include orders for the 16-ounce juicy steak.

Employee turnover is common in the restaurant business.

That has not been the case at Pennell’s. Cerone’s loyalty and generosity to his staff is reciprocated. The restaurant has had the same kitchen staff for 12 years and basically the same part-time wait staff for the past 8 or more years. No wonder the establishment continues to thrive.

As Pennell’s prepares to celebrate their 100th birthday, Bruce realizes he has found his niche. Few old school Italian restaurants remain in Saratoga and mainstays like chicken and veal parm and classic lasagna work. No one agrees with that more than my family!

The back left hand corner of the restaurant shows “Betty’s station,” the four tables that Betty oversaw when she waitressed. Her infectious smile, sense of humor and just the right amount of sass made this a favorite spot for locals to sit. Even today long standing customers reserve a weekly table in this section.

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And This Is Christmas

Cousins Emmett (4) and Jonah (3) after exchanging gifts WRITTEN BY KAREN KRASNY PHOTOS FROM ONE OF THE KRASNY KREW

Y

es, we wear matching pajamas, and have done so since 1993 - long before it was easy to find all the different sizes and long before internet shopping. Some years, I had to cut down adult pajamas and sew outfits for the little ones.

And yes, that is a fire on the TV – it lasts hours and crackles – if someone could just figure out how to make it smell like burning wood . . .

Jack lit fires in our huge wood-burning fireplaces in the Vermont house for his grandkids. One of Emmett’s first words while tugging on Grampa’s hand was Pire.

This was our first Christmas without Grampa.

Emmett liked that he could start the fire on his own with the remote control, but it didn’t satisfy the need for the smell of burning wood - or Grampa.

I hadn’t thought about safety for the little kids when I chose the environmentally friendly, modern, cool and sleek ethanol fireplace - with an open flame. In order to fit the tree in the small living room, we moved the couch in front of it, solving two problems with one couch.

As the tree had to be small, it held only a few of our vast 30-year collection of decorations. Over the years, picking the tree had somehow become Jack’s job and this was the first year we didn’t have him to tease. There was always something wrong with it… sometimes it looked like it had come from a Charlie Brown cartoon. Sometimes it was so lopsided it had to be tied to the wall and sometimes it would be too tall, and Jack would cut off the top instead of the bottom.

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He was Jewish and didn’t have Christmas until me, so he didn’t know. He good naturedly went every year to pick out a Christmas tree - and then quietly let his children and his wife relentlessly tease him about it.

A great new distracting adventure for the little ones was Alexa – Amazon’s answer for people like me. All I had to do was ask for Leonard Cohen, or the music from Crazy Heart. I didn’t have to remember the names of the songs or the artist. It was great fun for the kids who yelled at it constantly. Noisy though, and we never got to hear a whole song - not that I really wanted to hear the Elmo song - for the 456th time. Afterward, my son tweeted Watching four kids under 7 all shouting at an Amazon echo is all the proof I need we’re living in a dystopian future.

For us, Christmas is a spectacular celebration of family in late December. Sometimes, if Christmas and Hanukkah coincided, we would light the Menorah next to the tree.

I had to listen to some opinions from the kids on my new home – like that there had to be glasses near the ice dispenser in the fridge. And how far away the plates were from the stovetop. Both fixed now.

Even the ones who can’t speak yet have weighed in on the new place. When Elliott, my nine-month old newest grandchild arrived, the first thing he did was scoot over and pick the register grate right up out of the floor.

That’s been fixed now too.

That’s what happens when you raise your children to have opinions and to say what they think – they do.

And sometimes you must listen.

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