Simply Saratoga Summer 2019 by Saratoga TODAY

July/August 2019

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SARATOGA

™

THE PEOPLE • THE PLACES • THE LIFESTYLE

Summer

2019

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WELCOME TO SARATOGA!

CATCHING A POLO MATCH?

17 Start your visit to Saratoga Springs here… Heritage Area Visitor Center

50 The 121st season kicks off on Friday, July 5th

ARE HORSES YOUR THING? 20 The Track… it’s all right here! 32 Oklahoma Track Tours 33 New Vocations 36 ACTT Naturally 38 B.E.S.T. – Thirty Years of Providing HELP 40 Charles Scot reminisces about his CLAIMING days. 41 Horsing Around with Dr. Pray 44 Anna Hollander and Swedish Hill Farm and Spa 48 A quarter-century of The Siro’s Cup

CULTURE, MUSIC, ART… 56 New York City Ballet 58 The Philadelphia Orchestra 60 SPAC on Stage 61 Opera Saratoga 62 Chamber Music Society 63 Home Made Theater 65 Skippy…. And The Pistons, 45 years later 68 Hud Armstrong

GET OUT OF TOWN We’re called the “City in the Country” for a reason… 107 Four Lakes within Driving Distance! 110 Day Trip Waterfalls 112 Head East… to Schuylerville 114 Head South… to Ballston Spa SAVE THE DATE 116 MARK Your Calendar - There is so much to do around here! DINING GUIDE 122 Saratoga TODAY’s Dining Guide DON’T LEAVE TOWN… WITHOUT THESE! 134 From Souvenirs to Décor! HOME & GARDEN 138 Architecturally Speaking 152 Roohan Realty - 50 Years! 155 Chez Pierre – 55 Years! 159 Hattie’s – Over 80 Years! 162 Gary Zack’s New Medium 166 In the Kitchen with John Reardon 168 Time for Cocktails! 170 Homesteading 101 172 Saratoga Farmers’ Market introduces… The Otrembiak Family

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SARATOGA

TABLE OF CONTENTS JULY/AUGUST 2019

GALAS AND FASHION 71 This town knows how to give back! LIFE IN SARATOGA 90 May we suggest… 94 Have Kids? 96 Rainy Day Fun for the Whole Family 98 West Mtn’s New Aerial Adventure Park 100 Saratoga’s New (yet historical!) Mini Golf Course 102 Soft Ice Cream Guide 104 Agritourism Adventure find it at King Brother’s NEW Dairy Bar Foxy, photo by Tracey Buyce, see page 33

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HISTORY 174 Preserving Saratoga 179 Taking the Waters 182 Rarely Seen Photos 184 Kaydeross Park 188 Imagining Mount McGregor 190 The Van Raalte Mill 191 Saratoga’s Reading Room

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C O N T R I BU T O R S

SAMANTHA BOSSHART

DAN FORBUSH

GERALDINE FREEDMAN

JOHN GREENWOOD

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.

Our newest contributor-at-large, Dan Lundquist, prepared for a career in education by attending three high schools, dropping out of college, and finally getting a graduate degree from an Ivy League university. Besides passions for international travel, photography, and environmental advocacy, Dan was a college vice president for over twenty-five years, including sixteen at Union College in Schenectady. Despite, or because of, that Dan retired and has been living on an historic farm along the upper Hudson ten miles east of Saratoga Springs.

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.

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

CAROL GODETTE

HIMANEE GUPTA-CARLSON

CHARLIE KUENZEL

DAN LUNDQUIST

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

Empire State College professor Himanee Gupta-Carlson grows vegetables and raises chickens, ducks and goats with her husband Jim at Squashville Farm in Greenfield Center. She writes and edits articles on the Saratoga Farmers’ Market for Saratoga Today, and coordinates a community garden and farm-to-pantry food donation program for the Franklin Community Center. Her book Muncie, India(na), on growing up as the child of immigrant Indians will be released next year.

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 coowners 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.

LILY NEHER

BRENDAN O'MEARA

MEGIN POTTER

KRISTIN SCHULTZ

Lily Neher is a senior at Schuylerville High School. She plans to attend the University of New Hampshire to study Mass Communications and Dance. She enjoys writing, dance, and music. Lily also runs cross county, acts in school plays, and participates in the french club.

Brendan O’Meara is a freelance writer and author of Six Weeks in Saratoga: How Three-Year-Old Filly Rachel Alexandra Beat the Boys and Became Horse of the Year. You can follow him on Twitter @ BrendanOMeara or visit brendanomeara.com.

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.

Kristin Schultz has been writing about food, beverages and restaurants since 2014. She moved to the Capital Region in 2016 and enjoys scouring the area looking for delicious and interesting eats and drinks. She also loves spending time in the kitchen cooking and baking and has recently made it her mission to perfect the art of waffle making. Kristin will never turn down a glass of bourbon or a bowl of noodles. When she's not eating, Kristin likes to pile into the car with her family and explore new places.

THERESA ST. JOHN

MAUREEN WERTHER

STEWART WHITE

DIANE WHITTEN

Theresa is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in Saratoga Springs. Even though history was not on her radar while in high school, she has a deep interest in all things historical now. She has been on assignment for several magazines and is published in both print and online venues. Last year she traveled to Ireland on assignment, which, she states " was a trip of a lifetime." She is the proud mom to two young men and Nonnie to six rescued dogs, two chinchillas, and a bird. Life is good, she says.

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.

Stewart White, an avid weightlifter and a sports enthusiast is a Saratoga native and a graduate of the class of 1972. He’s worked with 13-18 year old troubled boys & girls for the last 24 years. Stewart is an all-around great guy with a knack for storytelling and he’s thrilled to have this opportunity with Simply Saratoga Magazine to tell his story and make his mom & brother smile from the heavens above.

Diane Whitten is a food and nutrition educator for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County where she’s worked for the past 17 years. Her classes focus on healthy eating and cooking, plus food preservation methods. Her nutrition radio spots can be heard on WJKE the Jockey and WABY Moon Radio. Her bi-monthly column, Know Your Farmer Know Your Food, is published in the Saratogian and Troy Record. Diane has a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University in Nutritional Sciences, and a masters’ degree in Education from the College of St. Rose.

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Welcome to

Summer in Saratoga

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

I just love that we live in an area where I can bring you horses, ballerinas and farmers – in one edition - and it all works. If you’re a tourist, I think we have the perfect guide to the area and if you are lucky enough to live here… I hope you’ll enjoy this issue just as much as I know they will! I’m always awestruck by the amount of STUFF you can do in this town and it’s no secret that I’m thinking of vacationing tourists when I put this issue together, but I’m still amazed by the variety that this area offers - SPAC, Saratoga Polo, The Track, and county fairs and beautiful lakes – wow!

Cover credit (clockwise from top left), NYRA, New York City Ballet at SPAC, Serenade at SPAC byPaul Kolnik, Polo by Tom Killup

I think the only thing we don’t offer is our own amusement park, but for anybody that remembers when we did -Kaydeross Park on Saratoga Lake - you’ll love the photos that Carol Godette shares with us starting on page 184. I know those pics brought me back to when I was a kid and my father worked at the track and they’d have their company party there …like it was yesterday! We have a very handy dining guide broken out by category, ideas for the kids – even on the rainy days! Day trips, area lakes, local favorites, places to get ice cream and play miniature golf – or watch Shakespeare in the Park – this town truly has something for everyone! Oh, I almost forgot our awesome save the date section and the Gala Guide, hmmmm… I think I know why it’s such a hot vacation destination! I must close with a Thank You to our readers …and advertisers! Without them, we wouldn’t be able to provide these beautiful publications - free of charge to our tens of thousands of readers. Please, mention us by name when visiting them… Simply Saratoga - the Saratoga TODAY magazine. And keep those comments coming - I love hearing from you - cBushee@SaratogaPublishing.com. Whether you are a regular reader or are here for the season, I hope you enjoy this issue – thank you for picking it up! This really is the ideal vacation (life!) destination - enjoy the season!

Who else remembers these?

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Love, Chris

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SARATOGA ™

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

CONTRIBUTORS

Articles Samantha Bosshart Dan Forbush Geraldine Freedman John Greenwood Carol Godette Himanee Gupta-Carlson Ann Hauprich Charlie Kuenzel Dan Lundquist Lily Neher Brendan O'Meara Megin Potter John Reardon Kristen Schultz Theresa St.John Maureen Werther Stewart White Diane Whitten Ralph Vincent

Photos Susan Blackburn Tracey Buyce Sharon Castro Explore Saratoga FDPhotography.com Image Photo and Events Lindsay Fish Pattie Garrett Tom Killup Jim McLaughlin Lily Neher Deborah Neary Cliff Oliver Randall Perry Theresa St.John SaratogaPhotographer.com SuperSourceMedia. com John Seymour Allie Skylar Photography Lawrence White The George Bolster Collection

SUMMER INTERNS Lindsay Fish Lily Neher

PUBLISHED BY

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

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com 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 © 2019, Saratoga TODAY Newspaper

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THE

GAT EWAY TO THE CITY

WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER PHOTOS PROVIDED

hen a parcel of property serves a similar purpose for 160 years (despite fires and being passed from owner to owner) it seems as if it is somehow woven into its destiny.

The Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center at 297 Broadway in Saratoga Springs has a long history of serving as visitors’ gateway to the city. GLAMOUR & TRAGEDY: THE EARLY DAYS

The mid-to-late 1800s were a grand, yet tumultuous time for the property on the corner of Broadway and Congress Streets. The Crescent Hotel was constructed there in 1858, later renamed The Hamilton before being destroyed by fire.

By 1872, The Grand Central Hotel was built. The spectacular structure could accommodate 1,000 guests but did so for only two years before being engulfed by another fire that would shake the city to its foundations. In 1880, the Favorite Spring building was erected in its place, but tragically succumbed to a fire in 1899, as well. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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UNABASHED EFFORT The beginning of the 20th century saw visitors on the move in and through Saratoga Springs.

In 1902, the Hudson Valley Trolley Company constructed a station on the site to service its lines running to Schenectady and Glens Falls. This wooden structure was torn down in 1914 and the present Beaux-Arts style stucco building was built by NYC architects Ludlow and Peabody the following year. A grand opening was held April 20th, 1916.

Considered one of the city’s most beautiful spots and a “crowing jewel in passenger depots,” its pediment doorways are framed by Doric columns and a barrel-vaulted ceiling adorned with brass chandeliers. Four bas-relief murals painted by Cyril B. Chapman of Ballston Spa grace the walls above visitors’ heads. The chestnut benches, central ticket booth and rear trolley platform still exist there today, but during the late 1920s it instead operated as the Schenectady/Saratoga railway station. At its peak, 35 daily routes transported visitors through the station, but as the highway was built and buses were put into service, the lines were gradually limited and then abandoned. 18 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2019

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A REFRESHING RUN In 1941, the depot station was renovated by the Work Project Administration into the Drink Hall. Featuring a newspaper stand and candy store, wooden ice boxes along the wall held a variety of Saratoga mineral waters for sale to the public. The “Geyser” was an alkaline water recommended to be taken with meals to relieve gastric distress and aid with digestion. “Coesa” was a salty, mildly laxative water, “Hawthorn #3” was a non-habit-forming laxative, and “Ferndell” had been awarded the State’s Seal of Approval as a plain, sweet, bubble-free water.

In July 1999, the Memorial Garden surrounding the former train platform was dedicated and is still maintained by the Heritage Garden Club.

By 2015, the building was re-designated as the Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center.

“We serve a dual role here of keeping the heritage and history of Saratoga alive,” said tourism and event director Heather McElhiney. While also celebrating the history of this building, the Tourism Bureau helps to serve 40,000 people/year as a community host participating in local events, tours, and by directing visitors to area museums and shops.

Two televisions broadcast snapshots and advertise local businesses, and an interactive computer offers up a searchable database.

Visitors walking through their doors can find reliable wi-fi service, cool air conditioning, clean restrooms and a covered picnic patio surrounded by gardens. Maps, history, free brochures of location attractions and of self-guided tours through Saratoga Springs are readily available.

Whether you’re here for an hour or have a more extended stay in mind – stop in to the Visitor’s Center – they’re destined to be able to help. SS

RE-DESIGNATED ONCE AGAIN

By 1965, the Saratoga Youth Commission was housed in the building which was designated a city landmark in 1974 and was officially placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The following years it served as the Office for Youth & Community Relations Bureau of the Saratoga Springs Police Department of Public Safety and renovations were made with Community Development Funds - but not everyone was pleased with the drop ceilings that concealed the structure’s ornate windows or the wood paneling partitions covering the original walls.

In January 1976, fire broke out yet again, and while the building was able to be saved, it did damage to the murals that left them in a darkened state that still hasn’t been fully restored today. In 1982, the space was designated as a New York State Urban Heritage Area & Visitor Center. NEW CENTURY, CONTINUED LEGACY

In the decade leading up to the 21st century, major renovations of the now infamous building began. Completed by Architecture Plus of Troy at a cost of $750,000, the plans included a 600-ft addition to accommodate restrooms. Walls and ceilings were re-plastered and painted, new electrical wiring installed and grey-speckled floor tile placed in the lobby.

As a celebration of their opening in 1992, a time capsule containing 25 items (including architectural plans, a musket ball from the Saratoga Battlefield and an Excelsior Spring water cup) were placed in a ribbon-bound, wax-sealed Saratoga mineral water case on the property. Photo by Joe Carey saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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GOING TO THE TRACK? Who are we kidding....

We know you're going to the track!

It's just

days – Thursday, July 11 through Labor Day, Monday, September 2 (Racing will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays.)

DON'T MISS A THING!

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY NYRA

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oted as one of the “Top 10 Sporting Venues In The World” by Sports Illustrated, Saratoga Race Course is one of horse racing’s most beloved tracks. With historical ambiance and modern day amenities and style, Saratoga Race Course is the place to find top Thoroughbred horse racing July through Labor Day each year. The 40-day meet draws the top horses, trainers and owners in the world to try their luck at “the Spa.” Known as the Graveyard of Champions, Saratoga Race Course has earned a reputation for being a challenging track for favorites. In fact, the dominant Man O’ War lost his only race against the aptly named Upset here at Saratoga.

ADMISSION: Single-day Grandstand admission is $7 and Clubhouse admission is $10. Single-day admission for the 150th running of the Runhappy Travers on Saturday, August 24 is $10 for Grandstand and $25 for Clubhouse. Admission may be purchased at the gates or in advance at Ticketmaster.com.

DAILY CLUBHOUSE AND GRANDSTAND RESERVED SEATS: Daily individual reserved seats in the Clubhouse and Grandstand, which include admission, may be purchased in advance online through Ticketmaster.com. A limited number of reserved seats for the current day are available for purchase beginning at 9 a.m. at the Reserved Seat Box Office, located at Gate A on Union Avenue. There is a limit of four seats per person. All tickets purchased in advance of race day include the cost of admission.

WEEKLY RESERVED SEAT PL ANS :

Weekly ticket plans, which include admission, provide a reserved seat in the Clubhouse or Grandstand for five consecutive days of the meet from Wednesday through Sunday (Thursday through Sunday for Opening Weekend; and Wednesday through Monday for Closing Week). Weekly ticket plans may be purchased online through NYRA AccountManager. Week-long reserved seat plans for the 2019 meet at Saratoga Race Course are available (based on available inventory) as follows:

• Week 1, Opening Weekend, featuring the Diana: Thurs. July 11 - Sun. July 14 • Week 2, featuring the Coaching Club American Oaks: Wed. July 17 - Sun. July 21 • Week 3, featuring the Jim Dandy: Wed. July 24 - Sun. July 28 • Week 4: featuring the Whitney and Turf Triple: Wed. July 31 - Sun. Aug. 4

FULL SEASON RESERVED SEAT PL ANS:

• Week 5, featuring the Fourstardave: Wed. Aug. 7 - Sun. Aug. 11

Full-season plans, which include admission, provide a reserved seat in the Clubhouse or Grandstand for the full 40-day season. Full season ticket plans may be purchased online through NYRA AccountManager. Based on availability.

• Week 6, featuring the Alabama: Wed. Aug. 14 - Sun. Aug. 18 • Week 7, featuring the Runhappy Travers: Wed. Aug. 21 - Sun. Aug. 25 • Week 8, featuring the Woodward: Wed. Aug. 28 - Mon. Sept. 2

SARATOGA SEASON PASSES: A season pass provides fans with admission to 40 days of world-class thoroughbred racing at Saratoga Race Course, including the 150th running of the Runhappy Travers on Saturday, August 24. The cost for a 2019 Grandstand season pass is $50. A Clubhouse season pass is $75. Season passes do not include reserved seating and are valid for one admission. Season passes may be purchased online through NYRA AccountManager or at participating Stewart’s Shops locations throughout the greater Capital Region.

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SARATOGA SEASON PERKS:

The 2019 season will feature the Saratoga Season Perks program with exclusive offers for season pass and season ticket plan holders, including:

• Guarantee of one premium Saratoga giveaway on each giveaway day (Season pass and season ticket plan holders must be present at Saratoga Race Course and redeem the giveaway by the designated time.) • 10 percent savings to numerous retail, restaurant and professional services locations in downtown Saratoga Springs, in partnership with the Saratoga Downtown Business Association (valid June 1, 2019 through March 31, 2020). • 10 percent savings on tickets to select shows during the Live Nation Summer Concert Series at Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Redeemable on lawn tickets or select Pavilion seats during Pavilion-only shows, subject to availability. The offer is available at the SPAC Box Office only (not valid for purchase day of show). • 10 percent savings on amphitheater tickets to classical events at Saratoga Performing Arts Center, including evening performances of the New York City Ballet (excluding July 20); The Philadelphia Orchestra (excluding August 3); and YAMATO: The Drummers of Japan. The offer is available at the SPAC Box Office only. • 10 percent savings on tickets to the Tri-City ValleyCats, UAlbany Athletics and Siena Basketball; and attractions such as the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame and Saratoga Springs History Museum. • 10 percent savings at most Saratoga Race Course concession stands, NYRA merchandise stores and Shake Shack on Wednesdays and Thursdays and the Artist's Village on Fridays. Discount does not apply to lottery, tobacco, alcohol, restaurant dining, group sales or Dunkin' Donuts.

Season pass and season ticket plan holders must present their season pass in order to receive the discounts. The list of incentives, deals and discounts is available at SaratogaSeasonPerks.com. A season pass must be activated in order to receive Saratoga Season Perks discounts and incentives. Season pass holders are required to provide a photo in order to activate their season pass. Activation instructions, including information on how to upload a digital photo, are available at NYRA.com/Saratoga.

1863 CLUB:

Located on the Clubhouse turn, the 1863 Club is a 36,000-square foot building featuring differentiated hospitality options and modern amenities. In addition to the three floors of usable space for guests, the building is equipped with a full-service kitchen. The 1863 Club is named in honor of the year of the first organized thoroughbred race meeting in Saratoga, which took place over the course of four days in August 1863. Reservations are available for The Rail at the 1863 Club, the first-floor banquet space which features floor-to-ceiling windows and offers table seating for up to 500 guests. Guests on the first floor have access to a private outdoor area on the apron, offering an outstanding trackside vantage point and thrilling views of thoroughbreds rounding the Clubhouse turn. Reservations are also being accepted for the second-floor event space, accommodating up to 100 guests, as well as the third-floor luxury suites, with capacities ranging from 30 to 45 guests. All reservations for the 1863 Club are processed through the NYRA Box Office by phone at (844) NYRA-TIX.

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VIEW THE 1863 CLUB FLY THROUGH * All images and video are architectural renderings and are subject to change.

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THE STRETCH: The Stretch is a private hospitality area featuring modern and upscale amenities in a casual environment with breathtaking views of thoroughbreds rounding the final turn as they enter the dramatic stretch drive. Ticket holders to The Stretch enjoy exclusive access to a full-service bar, kitchen and concessions, high-definition televisions, special events, and private restrooms. Fans also enjoy a relaxed dress code at The Stretch. Single-day tickets for premium reserved seats in The Stretch are available through Ticketmaster.com. All reserved seating purchased in advance includes admission. All tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis (according to available inventory).

FOURSTARDAVE SPORTS BAR:

Located within close proximity to the trackside apron, the Fourstardave Sports Bar includes more than 80 tables available for paid reservation and a sports bar which features an extensive craft beer selection, popular food vendors, and 60 flat-screen televisions. The hospitality space also provides protection from the elements. Configurations include options for up to six people, four people, and two-person tables. Personal coolers and outside food and beverage are not permitted in the Fourstardave Sports Bar; on-track food and beverage is allowed. Reserved seating options in the Fourstardave Sports Bar are available for paid reservation through Ticketmaster. com.

MILLER LITE PICNIC PADDOCK: The Miller Lite Picnic Paddock is the section in the backyard at Saratoga Race Course where guests may reserve picnic tables. The Miller Lite Picnic Paddock is comprised of approximately 100 picnic tables, which each seat up to six guests, located adjacent to the paddock and offering premier viewing of horses being saddled before a race. Personal coolers are allowed in the reserved picnic area; coolers may contain plastic bottles or cans and are subject to search by NYRA security. Reserved seating options in the picnic area are available for paid reservation through Ticketmaster.com. SS saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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STAKES-PACKED RUNHAPPY TRAVERS, WHITNEY DAYS HIGHLIGHT 2019 SARATOGA SUMMER MEET!

he 2019 meet at the historic Saratoga Race Course will feature 76 stakes across 40 racing days, highlighted by the 150th running of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers and the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney as the anchors of two of the biggest racing days in North America.

The summer meet, which features $20.85 million in total stakes purses, will run from Opening Day on Thursday, July 11 through Labor Day, September 2. After opening weekend, racing will be conducted five days a week, Wednesdays through Sundays. Closing week will run Wednesday, August 28 through Labor Day, Monday, September 2. On Saturday, August 3, the prestigious 1 1/8-mile Whitney, a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Classic, will pair with the Grade 1, $500,000 Longines Test for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs.

Whitney weekend kicks off with the second jewel of the Turf Tiara, featuring the inaugural $750,000 Saratoga Oaks on Friday, August 2. The first running of the $1 million Saratoga Derby, second leg of the Turf Trinity, will go on Sunday, August 4. Both races will be contested at 1 3/16-miles on the Saratoga green and will be carried live on FOX Sports, with the Oaks to air on FS2 and the Derby to be broadcast on FS1.

Whitney Day will also include the Grade 3, $200,000 Troy for 3-year-olds and up going 5 ½ furlongs on the turf, as well as a pair of $100,000 turf routes with the Fasig-Tipton Lure and FasigTipton De La Rose. The Runhappy Travers will have its 150th running on Saturday, August 24 as the centerpiece of a card featuring seven stakes, including six Grade 1s. The Mid-Summer Derby for 3-year-olds at 1 1/4 miles will come after three Breeders' Cup qualifiers, featuring the Grade 1, $850,000 Sword Dancer [Turf ], the Grade 1, $700,000 Personal Ensign [Distaff ], and the Grade 1, $500,000 Ketel One Ballerina [Filly & Mare Sprint].

Also on the docket is the Grade 1, $600,000 Forego, a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and upward and the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial presented by Runhappy for 3-year-olds going seven furlongs. Rounding out the blockbuster card is the Grade 2, $400,000 Ballston Spa for turf fillies and mares. 24 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2019

The traditional local prep for the Runhappy Travers, the Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy, will be held on Saturday, July 27, and is joined by the Grade 1, $350,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap for older sprinters, and the Grade 2, $250,000 Bowling Green at 1 3/8 miles on the turf. Closing out Jim Dandy weekend on Sunday, July 28, is the $200,000 Amsterdam, upgraded to Grade 2 status, for 3-year-olds at 6 ½ furlongs.

Opening Day, Thursday, July 11, will commence with a pair of graded stakes: the Grade 3, $150,000 Schuylerville for 2-year-old fillies and the Grade 3, $100,000 Quick Call for 3-year-olds doing 5 ½ furlongs on the grass.

Saratoga's first Grade 1 of 2019 will feature the $500,000 Diana for turf fillies and mares on Saturday, July 13. The next Saturday, July 20, will see the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks, with a purse upgraded to $500,000 from $300,000 a year ago, take center stage. Among the other 18 Grade 1 races at the Spa will be $150,000 A.P. Smithwick Memorial on July 25 and the $150,000 New York Turf Writers Cup on Thursday, August 22 for steeplechasers; the $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap, a Breeders' Cup qualifier for the Mile, on Saturday, August 10; and the $600,000 Alabama on Saturday, August 17.

The Rockville Centre, previously run at Belmont, has moved to July 17 at Saratoga and will go as the $100,000 Rick Violette, a six-furlong sprint for New York-bred juveniles, in honor of the late Richard A. Violette, Jr., the longtime NYRA horseman and former president of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association. Violette enjoyed tremendous success at the Spa including last summer when Diversify captured an emotional renewal of the

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Whitney. A lifelong supporter of all aspects of the industry, Violette, Jr. was a founding member of the Board of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance and co-created the TAKE THE LEAD Thoroughbred Retirement Program. He also co-founded TAKE2 Second Career Thoroughbred Program with a focus on providing an avenue for the retraining of retired racehorses.

The $100,000 Mahony, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for sophomores slated for August 7, is named in honor of Patrick Mahony, the longtime senior vice president of mutuels at NYRA. Mahony, who spent more than 50 years in the racing industry, retired in 2016. Also new to the Saratoga stakes schedule is the $100,000 Stillwater, previously held at Belmont as the Lynbrook, set for July 18 and the $100,000 Galway which is slated for August 11. Additional upgraded races for the Saratoga summer meet include the Grade 3, $100,000 Quick Call marked for July 11; and the Grade 3, $150,000 Forbidden Apple, set for July 12, which moves to Saratoga from Belmont.

Closing weekend of the 2019 Saratoga meet features the Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward on Saturday, August 31, headlining a day that includes the Grade 2, $250,000 Glens Falls, the Grade 2, $250,000 Prioress and the Grade 3, $200,000 Saranac. On Sunday, September 1, 2-year-old fillies will sprint seven furlongs in the Grade 1, $350,000 Spinaway. Closing Day on Monday, September 2, will feature the Grade 2, $250,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap as well as the prestigious Grade 1, $350,000 Runhappy Hopeful for 2-year-olds going seven furlongs concluding the 151st Saratoga meeting. SS

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DINING...

AT THE TRACK DINING RESERVATIONS:

BREAKFAST AT SARATOGA:

Dining reservation requests for the Turf Terrace, Club Terrace and The Porch are accepted via the digital reservation management system TOCK. Same-day dining reservations may be available in-person at Saratoga Race Course. Guests may inquire about same-day reservations at the Wait List Kiosk on the first floor of the Clubhouse near The Porch beginning at 11 a.m. each race day. All reservations are first-come, first-served and based on availability. A non-refundable table charge payment will be required at the time of the reservation. Dining reservations are non-transferable. For more information about dining at Saratoga Race Course, call (888) 516-6972, email SaratogaDining@nyrainc.com or visit NYRA.com/ Saratoga/Visit/Dining.

Fans are welcome to enjoy Breakfast at Saratoga, presented by the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA). Breakfast at Saratoga invites guests to enjoy breakfast on The Porch of the Clubhouse at Saratoga Race Course while the thoroughbreds train on the main track. Breakfast is held daily (except Travers Day, Saturday, August 24) from 7 to 9:30 a.m. and is available on a first-come, firstserved basis. Admission is free during breakfast hours. Admission must be paid to re-enter the track once gates formally open for the day. Mornings at Saratoga also welcome fans to go behind the scenes with a free, guided backstretch tram tour, courtesy of CDTA. Tram tours begin at 7:30 a.m. and depart from the Clubhouse entrance approximately every 15 minutes through 9 a.m. Tours are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are 45 minutes in length

GROUP HOSPITALIT Y: Group hospitality reservations for the 2019 season at Saratoga Race Course are on sale now for the following areas: Paddock Tent; Festival Tent; Big Red Spring Tent; Top of the Stretch; Miller Lite Party Tent; and Easy Goer. Group sales reservations will be processed through the NYRA Box Office by phone at (844) NYRA-TIX or via email at boxoffice@nyrainc.com.

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INFORMATION: For questions about reservations for the 2019 season, contact the NYRA Box Office at (844) NYRA-TIX, via email at boxoffice@nyrainc.com or online at NYRA.com/Saratoga. SS

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T H E

A L L

I M P O R T A N T

T RACK DRESS CODE

PADDOCK SADDLING AREA, WINNER’S CIRCLE & 1863 CLUB: No shorts or abbreviated wear permitted. Gentlemen–collared shirts required. Box Seat Area: No shorts or jeans permitted. Gentlemen – suits or sports jackets required.

TURF TERRACE: Neat casual attire, no jeans, shorts or abbreviated wear permitted. Gentlemen – collared shirts required (Management reserves the right to use its discretion to determine Neat Casual Attire).

AT THE RAIL PAVILION, THE PORCH, CLUB TERRACE & CAROUSEL RESTAURANT: Gentlemen – No tank tops. No short-shorts, cut-offs or abbreviated wear permitted. Proper attire at management’s discretion.

LUXURY SUITES: No abbreviated wear permitted. Gentlemen - No tank tops. Proper attire at management’s discretion.

CLUBHOUSE: No short shorts, cut-offs or abbreviated wear permitted. No tank tops. Proper attire at management’s discretion.

GRANDSTAND: Kristi Owen and Alex Cosmer at Siro's Cup, 2018, photo by SuperSourceMedia.com

photo from NYRA.com by Mrs. McDougal

28 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2019

Shirts and shoes required. People 12 years and over must abide by the dress code. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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T R AC K FAC T S

SARATOGA RACE COURSE

ATTENDANCE CAPACITY:

is a 350-acre racetrack in Saratoga Springs NY. Saratoga is the home of the 150th Running of the Travers Stakes on August 24.

50,000

TRACKSIDE DINING:

2,200

INFORMATION

TOTAL SEATING CAPACITY:

For information prior to the meet please phone (718) 641-4700 or (516) 488-6000.  For information during the 2019 Saratoga meet ( July 11 to September 2) please call (518) 584-6200.

18,000, including picnic tables and benches.

GENERAL PARKING:

Free

MAIN COURSE:

TRACKSIDE PARKING

1 1/8 Miles

$12. Gates open at 6:45a.m. (Refunds available until 10 a.m. No refunds on Travers Day Saturday, August 24)

TURF COURSE:

1 Mile

PREFERRED PARKING:

STEEPLECHASE/INNER TURF:

Preferred parking available for $7 while trackside parking is $12.

7/8 Mile

17 RESERVED DINING THE PORCH TURF TERRACE

CLUB TERRACE

Will Call

GATE D Clubhouse Access

Bar

Merchandise

Concessions

Reserved Dining

First Aid

Restrooms

Horse Sense

Security

Information

Wagering Terminal

Bets Squad

Simulcast Area

Food Trucks

Accessible

Program Stands

ATMs

GATE C

BOX SEATS

CLUBHOUSE

SID

Valet Parking

FRANK

K AC

S U L L IV

GRANDSTAND

8 PADDOCK

THE STRETCH

1 FIRST AID 1st floor behind Carousel

21 2 3 Visit the Whitney Viewing Stand located across Union Avenue at the Oklahoma Training Track

ION

FIRST AID

HOR

AT SE P

Will Call

5 GATE B

GATE A

AV E

KEY

Free Wifi is available on the NYRA-WIFI network

1 Top of the Stretch

4 The Stretch

7 Easy Goer

10 Artist Village

13 Tequila Avion Summer Stage 17 Luxury Suites

2 Coca-Cola Saratoga Pavilion

5 NYRA Box Office

8 Tom Durkin Replay Center

11 Community Outreach Booth

14 Winner’s Circle

6 Fourstardave Sports Bar

9 Walk of Fame

12 Jockey Silks Room

3 Berkshire Bank

Will Call UN

CE AN PLA

Family Zone

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18 Miller Lite Picnic Paddock

15 Paddock Tent

19 Big Red Spring Tent

16 At the Rail

20 Festival Tent

21 Miller Lite

Party Tent

22 James and Sons Tobacconists

23 Curlin Café

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Photo by Sharon Castro

WALKING TOURS OF

THE OKLAHOMA TRACK EXCLUSIVE TOURS OF THE OKLAHOMA TRAINING TRACK, PROVIDED BY THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF RACING AND HALL OF FAME.

Find out why this beautiful and historic site, located across the street from Saratoga Race Course, is a favorite base for leading trainers such as Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown. Our behind-the-scenes tours, offered in cooperation with the New York Racing Association, are available from June to October. This walking tour covers approximately one mile and lasts for one hour. Sturdy walking shoes are suggested! Oklahoma Tours are by reservation only and offered everyday Memorial Day through Labor Day. The tour begins promptly at 9 a.m. and leaves from the Museum lobby. Reservations are required at least 48 hours in advance. Space is limited. You will receive a phone confirmation of your reservation. (Make sure you leave a phone number where you can be reached from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.) If there is heavy rain, assume the tour is canceled. For questions or reservations, please call the Education Department at 518-584-0400 ext. 120, or email nmrtours@racingmuseum.net. For insurance reasons, tour participants must be at least 10 years old. (No children in backpacks or strollers, no umbrellas)

Photo by Sharon Castro 32 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2019

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NEW VOCATIONS WRITTEN BY KRISTEN SCHULTZ PHOTOS BY TRACEY BUYCE PHOTOGRAPHY

Star Hill, 2013, TB Gelding, 11 starts. Adopted in 2018, now resides in VA as a hunter/ pleasure mount. Vigneto, 2011, TB Gelding, 0 starts. Not a NV horse, owned by Leandra Cooper, resides in NY as a hunter/ jumper mount.

o one wants to think of their retirement as “being put out to pasture.” Thoroughbreds are no different. Yet after only three years of racing – or fewer if they are injured – that can be what happens to many horses.

Thoroughbreds can live up to 20 years, so what happens to racers that retire after only three? Some are euthanized while others are abandoned or shipped out of the country for slaughter. New Vocations offers a different option. Founded in 1992, New Vocations is dedicated to rehabilitating and retraining Standardbred and Thoroughbred horses so they can be adopted, and go on to new roles with new families.

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“The best part of this job is seeing the horses get adopted,” Thoroughbred Program Director Anna Ford said. “That’s our mission. From our office in Lexington, I can see horses come it and go out. It’s more exciting to see them go out because they’re getting a home and making room for another horse to come in.”

Since its founding, New Vocations has grown from a single site to eight facilities throughout Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Louisiana and New York. During its first year in operation, New Vocations took in 14 horses. Now the organization regularly has 140 racehorses in its program at any given time and sees between 360 and 390 horses adopted each year.

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Maid in the Mist, 2008, STB Mare, 42 starts. Adopted in 2019, now resides in OH as a pleasure mount.

Some of those Thoroughbreds are being cared for and adopted from Amanda Vance’s North Country Horses in Gansevoort. Vance is the facility manager and trainer for Thoroughbreds.

“Every time I adopt out a horse and hear that the horse was a perfect fit, it’s a great success,” Vance said. “It gets you excited for the next [adoption].”

But before those adoptions can take place, the horses receive any necessary treatment and retraining they need to take on their new life off the track. “People don’t realize the extent of what we do with the horses,” Ford said. “The number-one reason horses are retired is due to injury. They stay with us from a month to a year – however long they need to be with us to get the care they need.”

That care includes everything from time to heal from a minor injury to surgery to address a more serious condition. Veterinarians come into the facilities to provide any services the retired racers need. After the horses receive a clean bill of health, they may also undergo training to prepare them for their new off-track career.

“They were trained to do a job on the track,” Vance said. “It’s like changing careers; sometimes they need a little time to adjust. We use what they already know and mold them into what they’re capable of physically before we adopt them out. It’s taking what they know and redirecting.”

Vance said the horses have already been trained how to be ridden, but that training was very specific to being ridden by a jockey. Vance and her team retrain the Thoroughbreds to learn how to be ridden in a different style. “Farm life is different than track life,” Vance said. “On the farm we get to turn them out into the paddocks; they get to socialize with other horses. They get a different type of freedom.”

Vance does more than care for 10 to 12 New Vocations Horses on her farm. North Country Horses is a riding stable that offers riding lessons and training along with coaching for riding teams. “I’m lucky I have a great team,” Vance said. “We all contribute different things. There are so many players that make this work.” 34 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2019

Mr. Zenman, 2012, TB Gelding, 4 starts. Adopted in 2016, now resides in OK as a trail/ pleasure mount.

Over the winter, six horses per month were adopted from North Country Horses and Vance expects that number to rise over the summer.

The adoptive families vary. Vance said some horses go to small stables for recreational and trail riding. Others go on to have successful careers as show horses. No matter who adopts the horses, they are subject to an application process to make sure they are a suitable match and have the ability to properly care for the animal. The application requires veterinarian and person references, and the new owner must provide written updates and photographs at regular intervals during the first year the horse goes to live with them. The first 60 days the horse is with its new family is a trial period. If for any reason the horse is not a good fit, New Vocations will take it back. All the work it takes to rehabilitate and retrain the horses takes a team of people both at the organization’s headquarters and at facilities spread over five states.

“Over the years the budget has grown, and the costs have grown,” Ford said. New Vocations hosts fundraisers to pay for veterinarian care, food, training and transportation. New Vocations also relies on local organizations to help facilitate moving the horses off the track and into their program.

Helping in the adoption process in New York State is Take the Lead, a program of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association. Take the Lead connects racehorse owners who are looking to retire their thoroughbreds with suitable rehabilitation and retraining programs like New Vocations.

“Their partnership has been wonderful,” Ford said. “It has enabled us to do more in the state and provide more care.” Vance pointed out that racehorse owners want what’s best for their horses after its racing career had come to an end.

“These horses aren’t used up; they’re not abused. It’s not all bad,” Vance said. “Thoroughbreds are a very diverse breed that can wear many hats across many disciplines. This work is important to me because I enjoy seeing [the horses’] success off the track.”

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When you take your passion and help others, it’s a win-win. Photographer Tracey Buyce and TOGA HERITAGE founder and CEO Deborah DePasquale are doing just that. The two have teamed up to raise money for New Vocations, an organization that rehabilitates, retrains, and rehomes retired racehorses. For the last two and a half years, Buyce has volunteered her time and talents with New Vocations by taking pictures of the horses available for adoption. A professional photographer, Buyce’s first time photographing a New Vocations horse made a powerful impact on her.

Buyce is equally enthusiastic about sharing her work for a good cause. “If you come here and go to the track, you can pay it forward,” Buyce said. “You can buy a picture to hang in your home and support off-the-track Thoroughbreds.” What: Custom acrylic prints, available in 11”x17” and 8”x10”, Cost: $150 - $300 Where: TOGA HERITAGE 398 Broadway, Saratoga Springs TOGAHERITAGE.com Custom options available

Deborah DePasquale and Tracey Buyce at TOGA HERITAGE

“Mr. Zenman was a beautiful chestnut with a white stripe on his nose and a chestnut circle in that stripe,” Buyce said. “I was so excited to photograph him.” She also posted the photo on her Instagram page. Someone saw that post and applied to adopt him.

“I believe in paying it forward,” Buyce said. “Watching the horses progress [through the New Vocations program] and helping them get adopted is powerful and so rewarding.” For DePasquale, horses have been a part of her life since childhood. Her family would go to the track together and watch the races, and she rode as a child. Those experiences have made her an advocate for healthy racing environments on the track and healthy after-care for retired thoroughbreds. She’s quick to say that she is not antitrack. DePasquale still enjoys watching the field of racers thunder down the backstretch. Because she so appreciates what the horses bring to Saratoga, she wants so see them go on to live healthy, fulfilling lives.

“Healthy after-care is a thank you to the horses,” DePasquale said. “It’s about building the next phase of their life and it’s beautiful.”

Buyce photographed horses in the New Vocations program sporting TOGA HERITAGE gear. DePasquale will offer custom acrylic prints of the photos for sale in her shop with a portion of the proceeds going to New Vocations. “I love collaborating and supporting a mission we’re both passionate about,” DePasquale said. “When you buy a print, you are continuing to tell the horse’s story.” saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

JULY/AUGUST 2019 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 35

Who Rescued Whom?

WRITTEN BY DAN LUNDQUIST PHOTOS PROVIDED

iving in and around Saratoga Springs for almost thirty years, of course I was familiar with the Saratoga Race Course, or “the track” as we affectionately call it, and more recently, the Thoroughbred retirement community.

Unless horses are superstars, thousands of them are on a Roadto-Nowhere after they peak in their career, generally after four years or so. “Many estimate that about 100,000 such animals face, at best, an uncertain future every year.” However, there are a large number of people in the racing community who don’t view the horses simply as commodities. A number of organizations - locally and nationally - have sprung up to assist Thoroughbreds with their off-track lives after competitive racing. So, what happens to them?

How does one – horse or human – go from the competitive fast track to the compassionate slow lane? As many regular readers of this magazine may know, I live in a restored farmhouse along the Hudson River. Rural “neighborhoods” are vastly different than the way “the other 80.7%” of the population live.

Mostly it has to do with the absence of neighbors, but I live “next door” to Stonebridge Farm – a large and lavish Thoroughbred facility perhaps best-known as the property of the single largest investor in Bernard Madoff ’s fund, where the owner constructed a copy of the Saratoga Race Course here in Northumberland – and there’s a Standardbred farm on a 50 acre island right at the end of my driveway. Even though cattle far outnumber horses in this portion of Saratoga County, it sure feels like Horse Country right here. And the horse network, I’ve learned, is pretty close-knit.

In this “one degree of separation” world, a friend who knows I’m a tool looking for a project, told me about a “humanitarian horsewoman” named Valerie Buck. Through the magic of the internet I learned about Valerie and her ACTT Naturally programs (that’s “Aftercare Continued Thoroughbred Training” for we civilians). -I was impressed. 36 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2019

Having left my formal career in higher education, my passion for developing human capital has intersected with local needs so I reached out to her, expressing an interest in seeing her work in person. Valerie responded, putting my request off since it was during the track’s season, where she still works part-time when the races are on. (Her Rolodex is a “Who’s Who” of the greats and near-greats in that world). I learned that she founded ACTT Naturally in 2013, after many years of repurposing off-track Thoroughbreds.

Valerie worked 28 years in many of the top stables in Thoroughbred racing – sitting aboard some of the best horses in her generation – and she also found value in horses no longer able to compete. I learned that Valerie uses the same patient touch she had for champions to retrain forgotten horses. She’s found success locating “forever homes” and useful careers for many horses (not to mention canines: she named her Hansel-and-Gretel-like home along the Battenkill “Camp Waggin’ Tails”). -Synchronicity or what?

Here’s what Hall of Fame Thoroughbred Trainer, D. Wayne Lukas has to say about her… “Valerie Buck is an extraordinary and outstanding horsewoman. Her dedication and care to the welfare of the horses is second to none. She has a marvelous feel for what each horse needs and a work ethic to carry it out.”

Valerie reached out to me and invited me to Long Shadows Farm, in Cambridge, where her program and many of her horses are located. The 20-minute drive from my house across the river was beautiful and took me through the stunning rolling hills of Washington County. Long Shadows is located at the end of a short rustic dirt road. Passing several paddocks where retired Thoroughbreds graze next to furry ponies, it is made even more picture-perfect when the colorful “feral chickens” peacefully crisscross the turf. An imposing structure that looks like an airplane hangar is at the end of the lane, surrounded by more barns and run-in sheds. This building is the multipurpose indoor arena and “classroom” when the activity isn’t taking place on the five miles of trails groomed out of the hills around the property. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Winslow Homer’s Illustration of the Saratoga Race Course in the August, 1865 Harper’s Weekly and an early jockey

Buck (left) with trainers Todd Pletcher and D. Wayne Lukas (hard to recognize without his trademark sunglasses) when the track season ended after Labor Day. Photo by Tod Marks.

Gordon (left) and Chief arrived while I was away. I was reminded of when my used tractor was delivered four years ago… without a user’s manual.

"There's something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man." I'LL DRINK TO THAT!

ACTT Naturally has partnered with Long Shadows and they blend horse rescue with human rehabilitation using what they dub the “horse-human bond,” with a growing circle-of-care that started with female veterans and has grown to include their families and first-responders, as well as teens. -“I’ll drink to that!”

ACTT Naturally relies on sponsorship to underwrite the cost of horse care. This allows all programs to be offered at no charge to those who can benefit the most. And now, thanks to a grant from local star trainer Chad Brown, there are opportunities for students from his hometown of Mechanicville. The local YMCA is another partner for young people.

Yes, I digress. But the context and background make the story. So, take a “tool looking for a project” (moi) and merge the righteous work of ACTT Naturally and Long Shadows and you have a match! Much of ACTT Naturally’s activity moves south for the winter but some of the horses – the Old Boys in this case – don’t care for the long trailer ride. “Snowbirds” they are not. (I’m told horses prefer cold to heat anyway and, if you are like me and wonder if it is cruel to see horses without blankets in winter, dispel skepticism and trust their caregivers.) I can’t count the number of times, over the past four years I’ve lived here, that people have asked me “so what do you ‘farm’ on your farm?” And, until now, I’ve jokingly/honestly said “grass.” But given the opportunity to host Gordon and Chief for “winter break,” I knew I had the chance to be helpful and, somewhat selfishly (?), to do some good and be a sort-of real farmer. When I returned from my meeting – Valerie had texted me saying they were dropped off and that she would be back – I cannot describe the feeling I had when I pulled far enough along the driveway to see the horses grazing in the field, the place that I’d been mowing, now put to great, natural use… naturally. -I felt peace.

I thought of Winston Churchill’s quote. I was home. I was happy. Each day that goes by – we, the Old Boys and I – get to know and trust each other more and more. My dogs Sammy and Bosco included. Gordon is a bit less bossy. Chief (who had career earnings of $300,000 before a hoof problem ended his on-track career) appears to be acclimating beautifully. A horse, a horse! My kingdom for a horse!” —William Shakespeare

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Now I am not the only “retired” one at Five Porch Farm. SS

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‘B.E.S.T.’

IS YET TO COME FOR BACKSTRETCH CHARITY WRITTEN BY BRENDAN O’MEARA PHOTOS BY SUSAN BLACKBURN PHOTOGRAPHY

Backstretch Employee Service Team

, or B.E.S.T., celebrates its 30th anniversary this year as it seeks to provide superlative care and resources for the valued workers that make the horse industry tick. Paul Ruchames, a licensed clinical social worker in his ninth year as executive director of B.E.S.T., knows the value of what its services provide. He distinctly recalls one man, a hot walker, who was, by all accounts, “near death.”

“Many people overcame drug and alcohol abuse,” Ruchames said, “or are overcoming it. We had one man, in his 60s, who was discovered. He had been an alcoholic for a long time. He was laid out, unconscious. It was the middle of winter. We took him to the hospital and got him into our program.” At the time, this man had about three months to live. Help is here, la ayuda esta aqui.

38 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2019

“It was through the program,” Ruchames said, “not only the services we were able to give him, but the hope the we gave him. We cared and wouldn’t let him fall saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

through the cracks. He had no clout in the world. He’s maintained his sobriety and is doing well. His goal is to get back to Mexico where he’s from with the money he can save.”

There are countless stories of this nature. For the backstretch workers, life is isolated and often lonely. Self-medicating is often the only release and escape for many of these men and women.

“Most workers are living apart from their families and country of origin,” Ruchames said. “It’s a selfless life, working so they can send money back home. It’s lonely for a lot of people. Alcohol and drugs call out to you when you feel that way, to anesthetize feelings. [The workers] tend not to mix outside the gates of the tracks. There’s little sense of identity, sort of a like a man with no country, not a part of America, just the racetrack is their culture.”

Migdalia Torres, Medical Assistant, B. E.S. T Clinic

And it is the racetrack culture that has given its full endorsement and support for the backstretch workers. That state-wide partnership with the New York Thoroughbred Horseman’s Association and the New York Racing Association and its tracks—Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course—have allowed the program to prosper, in fact NYRA and NYTHA are B.E.S.T.’s largest donors. Much of the other money B.E.S.T. raises comes from individual donors, and one way to support B.E.S.T. is the Third Race Call at Saratoga. For a donation of $100 per person, people can join Larry Collmus, the voice of the Triple Crown and NYRA, and watch him call the third race every day of the meet (excluding opening day and Travers Day).

“I thought it was a great idea,” Collmus said. “Obviously B.E.S.T. is an organization that does wonders for people on the backstretch. [The backstretch workers] put on the show. Anything we can do to help is a great thing. I had, of course, known about this before I ever started working for NYRA. It was an obvious yes. It’s been a lot of fun. I get a chance to meet people I would not necessarily meet before. They visit me in the booth, at the same time for a fantastic cause. It’s a cool little thing that hopefully will continue to grow.”

Nancy Underwood, B.E.S.T.’s Saratoga Program Director

These days Collmus uses an iPad to scribble in the silks of the horses so he can remember who’s who out on the track. An Apple Pencil is all he needs to color code a given race. Letting people see his process illustrates the immense work that goes into preparing for a single race. “Most people want to know how I remember all the horses in the race,” Collmus said. “I show them what goes into the process and my own way of doing it. I like to show off the fact that I call a race off an iPad, draw digitally the silks of horses to get that preparation in, learn those races when they come on the track in advance. They enjoy seeing that. “As I explain to them, the remembering is one thing, the other thing is the forgetting. There are 10 races a day. You don’t want to call horses that already ran, dump that memory bank. That group is done, clean the slate.”

Thirty years is a long time, but with recently added programs such as English as a Second Language, citizenship school, and myriad other classes, B.E.S.T. promises to keep striding well into the future. “I see us getting more into prevention as well as treatment,” Ruchames said. “They’re exposed to chronic pain, those repetitive movements, day after day year after year. On the drug-and-alcoholtreatment side, there are medically assisted treatments—MATs— that help deal with craving and block the ability to get high from opiates and alcohol. They’re expensive and hard to access, but we’re working on integrating it.” To donate to B.E.S.T. visit BestBackstretch.org. SS

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CHARLES

S COT

WANTS A SEAT. WRITTEN BY BRENDAN O'MEARA

ot just any seat, a box seat for the Saratoga meet. Not every day, but not just any day either.

Scot is a retired horse trainer and owner. Odds are you haven’t heard of him. Odds are he’s forgotten about more horse races than you have seen in a lifetime. The odometer on his horse vans and trucks and cars would likely put him close to the Horsehead Nebula.

Scot, 77, is long on stories, longer on experience, speaks with a Parkinson’s-induced stammer, but pulls on the threads of a life on the backstretch. Claimers, the lifeblood of a racing card that drains the life out of horses and trainers alike was his stock and trade. It’s a gray-hair sprouting grind. He trained no world-beaters, no stakes-caliber horses or stallionmakers or Derby winners or even Derby losers. Scot made his bones, few as they were, in the claiming ranks, and his long-gone horse, Moncrief, won the final $3,500 claiming race under a mile (six furlongs, to be exact) at Saratoga 50 years ago on August 19, 1969. So, he would like a seat. Scot got his start making two dollars a day with the perk, if you can call it that, of sleeping in the barn.

“I was around Saratoga,” Scot said. “I had three dollars in my pocket. I was looking for a job immediately. The guy told me to come back 3:30. He didn’t have any help, had one man for six horses, so I came back at 3:30, started pitching in, took me to dinner, told me the layout, paid me $2 a day, and I could live in the barn.” Scot didn’t know, in his words, what end the shank attached to the horse and what end you held in your hand. He’d learn.

He recalled, “I said, ‘You gotta become something in this racing game.’ I got to set out a plan. I went to working for some of the best trainers that God ever created in the 20th century. I worked for Allen Jerkens, Eddie Leroy, and Pancho Martin. I learned how to keep a racehorse fit and sound. I learned how to keep an eye for a horse. Pancho Martin made one of the greatest claims in the history of horse racing. He stepped in and took a horse called Manassa Mauler, named after Jack Dempsey, took a shot for $12,500. Pancho reached in, put a pair of blinkers on him and won the Wood Memorial.” This was in 1959.

For Scot, the claiming game is as close to religion as it gets. It’s a game of finesse and the ultimate gamble in a gambling sport. How 40 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2019

tightly can a trainer walk that line between running a horse for the right tag and risk losing him? How can a trainer convince an owner who bought a horse for $5,000 to then run him after a few failed attempts for $3,500?

“It’s one thing to be a good racehorse trainer and another thing to be a good winning racehorse trainer,” he said. Scot says he won 16 percent of the time, 34 percent of the time when he trained and owned the horse.

So, he trained Moncrief, by all accounts a nice horse at his level. Scot angered the owner of the horse by saying he was dropping the horse down for $3,500 after having lost by a nose at $5,000. It was a gamble that paid off for Scot. Moncrief won the race and didn’t get claimed in the final claiming run for $3,500 under a mile at Saratoga in 1969. Scot ran horses all over the country. He won races in Bowie, Hagerstown, Marlboro, Liberty Bell, and Penn National. He was on the road more than he was at home, lots of “absentee fatherhood,” as he says. He’s grateful his wife let him live out his fantasy. “I slept in stalls, slept in tack rooms, slept all over the race track, horse vans,” Scot says. “I wouldn’t give up. You have to have some hope and root for the best.”

And maybe what all this suggests, amidst all the pomp and glamour that comes with Grade 1s, the Breeders’ Cup and the Triple Crown is that for small-time horse owners and even smaller-time horse trainers, that little claiming race in the middle of a random card that would otherwise mean nothing to the Mega Barns and would mean little to the average horse player, that race is the Kentucky Derby for some owners and some trainers.

Winning that race and getting a picture taken with grubby jeans, manure-caked boots, filthy hands, but a smile as wide as the Saratoga homestretch is every bit as meaningful as a blanket of roses. So, for Scot, a seat in the clubhouse to honor what was, historically speaking, a meaningless race on a forgettable day back in August of 1969, will make something once forgotten fresh and prescient, if but for one more August afternoon at the Spa. SS

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Horsing Around

SARATOGA’S “UNOFFICIAL” TRACK DENTIST THOMAS PRAY th

Young Doctor of Dental Surgery Thomas Pray never dreamed his practice would one day serve hundreds of patients linked to the Thoroughbred racing industry, including 2019 Kentucky Derby winning trainers William “Bill” Mott and Shug McGaughey. WRITTEN BY ANN HAUPRICH PHOTOS PROVIDED

entist Thomas Pray was never one to look a gift horse in the mouth. Had he done so, he might well have missed out on such golden Thoroughbred racing history moments as watching Cigar win the inaugural World Cup in Dubai. Being photographed in Winner’s Circle celebrations on both sides of the US-Canada border has also contributed to Pray’s pictureperfect smile. But you can bet such perks weren’t granted by the Tooth Fairy!

A quick drill into Pray’s past reveals the entrepreneurial ingenuity and integrity he demonstrated along the backstretch three decades ago that led his Ballston Spa practice to become a dental home turf for hundreds of patients linked to Saratoga’s Thoroughbred racing industry, including world renowned jockeys, trainers, owners and NYRA officials. Just ask National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame trainers William “Bill” Mott and Nick Zito-- who caught their first sunrise glimpses of the “Doc” delivering bales of organic hay from his old Chevy farm pick-up truck to the backstretch in the early 1990s. Both not only became regular patients of his, but also among his closest friends. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Indeed Zito considers one of the highlights of each Saratoga Racing Season to be competing in Galloping Gourmet cooking contests in Pray’s kitchen. One thing that’s not contested is that Zito’s top secret family recipe is a perennial Culinary Triple Crown winner. “The Doc likes to cook and so do I. Every year I prepare a special sauce and he tries his best to duplicate it, but he hasn’t yet been able to do so. I’m looking forward to having another cook-off with him when we reunite this summer,” says Zito.

The two-time Kentucky Derby winner guestimates (tongue-incheek, natch!) that the amount of preventative and restorative work the dentist has done on him “has probably paid for a few of the fences” on the former Charlton dairy farm where Pray and wife Rhonda reside. In addition to the “delicious corn and tomatoes” Zito has savored Chez Pray, much farm-fresh produce is given away to dental patients at harvest time. Mott, who was interviewed by Simply Saratoga shortly before his Country House won the 2019 Kentucky Derby with the thundering hoof beats of the trainer’s Tacitus crossing the Finish Line third has also enjoyed many a feast in the dentist’s home as well as feasting on memories of times shared with Pray in settings ranging from the Middle East to South America. These adventures

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Photos by Paul Konik

They don’t yet have chef caps embroidered with the words Galloping Gourmets, but the moniker is embraced by Thomas Pray, DDS, and National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito -- whose winning Thoroughbreds have included Marylou Whitney’s Birdstone. Tomatoes and other veggies grown on Pray’s farm are often used in friendly racing season cooking competitions as well as in recipes he and wife Rhonda serve to such guests as jockey Mike Smith. Freshly picked “naturally sweet treats” are also given to many following their harvest time visits to Pray’s practice. Aiding in bringing added SMILE-age to his patients are staff members Joy Soriano, Taylor Joyce, Mel Curry, Bre McCoy and Susie Joyce (shown top, center) – who couldn’t resist horsing around near the tail end of a portrait session by Donna Martin at Village Photo in Ballston Spa.

were fitted in between trips to his pal’s dental chair where Mott – not to be outdone by Zito -- insists enough work was done on his teeth “to finance some of his farm buildings.” And while Mott agrees the corn on the cob grown by their equine-loving friend is scrumptious, he can’t resist horsing around to suggest an ulterior motive might involve using the produce to test the strength of Pray’s dental work!

Fraternal kidding aside, Mott insists Pray is “a top notch dentist” whose staff members are positive reflections of the high bar their boss has set for caring professionalism. Come to think of it, Pray might want to consider renaming his practice Trifecta Dental Spa this summer. Why? In addition to Mott’s first and third honors, Shug McGaughey’s Code of Honor came in second – meaning the 2019 Kentucky Derby’s Win, Place and Show trainers are all current dental patients.

Something else that never ceases to amaze Mott -- who invited Pray to join him in an August 2010 Winner’s Circle after Mystic, under jockey Kent Desormeaux, secured the trainer his 4,000th Finish Line victory -- is Pray’s high energy level. “You wonder if the guy ever sleeps. He’s always up for an adventure, be it climbing, running . . . you name it. He’s someone you want along for the ride!” Whoa! This might be a good time to hold your horses and backtrack just a bit.

It seems that ever since settling in Saratoga County in the mid1970s, Pray (who grew up near Rochester) had been interested in horses. “Who could live here without becoming involved in some small way?” he muses. His “way” in those early days was as a betting enthusiast and horse lover.

“Since most of my time was taken up with starting my dentistry career, my family and my dairy farm, it wasn’t until the early 1990s 42 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2019

that I began to get involved as a part-owner of one Thoroughbred . . . and then another. In that way, I became acquainted with a number of trainers and jockeys.” Although he and Rhonda had sold their dairy cows in 1988, they still had 40 acres of alfalfa under cultivation -- not to mention equipment such as a cultivator, haybine, hay tetter, baler and hay wagons. And that old Chevy farm pick-up truck mentioned earlier.

“Naturally,” recalls Pray, “I had an idea how they could be put to use. I would continue to cut and bale good quality alfalfa hay and sell it to the trainers at the track. Those along the backstretch knew me as an owner and as a dentist. They were skeptical, to say the least, when I showed up at 5 a.m. transporting 50 bales of hay to sell to whomever would take it. I’d tell them: ‘Try this hay! Your horses will love it!’ To their credit, some of the trainers did try it.” Among his earliest customers were Mott, Zito, Gary Sciacca and Barclay Tagg. (The latter also has the distinction of being a former Kentucky Derby winner.) “One trainer, Joe Petrucione, watched me unload and stack hay in his barn and, after a few minutes, blurted out: ‘Who are you?’ He’d never seen anyone deliver, stack and clean up like I did. It was beyond comprehension that a local dentist would be growing, baling, driving, unloading, sweeping up and then going to the office to see patients. Bill Mott liked my hay so much he fed it to the celebrated Cigar, then the most winning Thoroughbred of all time. Nick Zito considered it very special ‘organic hay.’ So, I became somewhat of an enigma to those who tried to categorize me,” smiles Pray. As “Doc” became a familiar face both on the backstretch and in the paddock, first one jockey agent, then a trainer, then another began to show up in his office – though he felt badly about having to turn away those who called wanting him to examine their horse’s teeth. “Word spread and before long I was dedicating Tuesday office hours solely to track patients. My waiting room was (and is, still,

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Watching the Inaugural World Cup unfold beneath the stars in Dubai with Thoroughbred champion Cigar’s farrier Jim Bayes in 1996, standing in the Saratoga Race Course Winner’s Circle with Mystic and National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame trainer William “Bill” Mott after his 4,000th Finish Line victory in 2010 and celebrating an earlier Mott-trained Platinum Blonde win at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Canada are among the highlights of Thomas Pray’s life. Although pals call him Woody, the nickname has nothing to do with the northern racing destination. Rather it became his sobriquet after an adolescent Pray wowed audiences as that character in a high school musical production of Finian's Rainbow. Pray later took bows following incredible performances as a marathon runner, triathlete and national rowing champion.

during track season) filled with a companionable bunch of patients who all have something in common and feel most comfortable drinking coffee and talking shop. Tuesdays were (and remain) “dark days” at the track- the only day off for those who normally work 12 to 16 hours a day. It was often joked that the Draw of horses (when NYRA staffers draw post positions in the presence of jockey agents) should take place in my office since there were so many agents already in my waiting room. It was never unusual to have trainers or even Judge Sonny Taylor just stop in for a quick hello or cup of coffee.” To this day, other than “consultations” which can happen anywhere -- Pray’s patients continue to see him in the clubhouse, in the paddock or on NYRA grounds, all patients are treated at his practice. “Numerous times I’ve been called by track officials or trainers to report that a backstretch employee is in pain. These hard working people have a soft spot on my heart. There’s no dark day for the workers. They’re seen immediately, even on my day off. They are given top priority in my practice.”

Pray, who has spent portions of the past 15 years in Uruguay -- where he prides himself on building bridges of cultural understanding, says the most challenging part of being Saratoga’s “unofficial” track dentist is treating patients who speak no English, but luckily Pray has mastered such Spanish words as “open, close, rinse, spit and no pain.” By the 1990s, Pray was standing in Winner’s Circles (his favorite photos include him with Platinum Blonde at Woodbine in Toronto, Canada) and began setting his patient schedule so he and Rhonda could be at the track part of every day during the running of the season. He soon became accustomed to having a jockey, a trainer, or an owner, stop him as he was entering the paddock to see about getting an appointment. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

A favorite anecdote involves an August Saturday minutes before a huge stakes race when jockey Mike Luzzi shouted down from atop his mount as he was leaving the paddock. Surrounded by throngs of track fans, the jockey’s voice rang out: “Doc! I’ve got a broken tooth. I need to see you!” Pray yelled back: “Tomorrow at noon!” as Luzzi disappeared onto the track. “First time a dental appointment was made en route to the starting gate, as far as I can tell,” laughs Pray.

Then there was the time when he and Rhonda accompanied Thoroughbred champion Cigar’s trainer Bill Mott and wife Tina, jockey Jerry Bailey and wife Suzee, owners Allen and Madeline Paulson and farrier Jim Bayes to the Inaugural $4-million Dubai World Cup in the United Arab Emirates hosted by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum in 1996. “We enjoyed camel races, events staged at night under bedouin type tents with elaborately woven carpets laid on the sand, hookahs and cauldrons of aromatic rice dishes and entertainment night after night leading up to the evening of the big race … on the immense Nad Al Sheba race course. Cigar won that race and, as they say, the rest is history,” recalls Pray. While the dentist does have a deluxe “Cigar box” filled with memorabilia from that glamorous occasion, a small bag with contents best described as having a different breed of sentimental value is also dear to his racing heart. “The Saratoga Race Course Winner’s Circle is now paved with bricks to prevent owners’ footwear from getting soiled when they pose for pictures. But before the bricks were laid in the late 1990s, when that part of the track was nothing more than a chalk circle in the dirt, I scooped up a handful of it as a souvenir after Il Grappa’s win there.” And, yes, that came straight from the horse’s mouth.

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Swedish Hill Farm & Spa

WHERE EX-RACEHORSES & WEARY GUESTS CAN GRAB SOME R&R

“I always wanted to come to America, ever since I was a little girl. It is the land of opportunity. There came a time when I had to choose between America and Italy to ride professionally, it was an easy decision for me. America won – hands-down.” ~ Anna Hollander, Swedish Hill Farm and Spa

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WRITTEN BY THERESA ST. JOHN PHOTOS PROVIDED

nna Hollander grew up in Sweden surrounded by 150 acres of farmland. She had one sister and two brothers. They all helped care for the farm and animals. Her parents bred the Swedish Warmblood, dressage and jumpers originally developed at Strömsholm and Flyinge. The line descends from imported stock in the 17th century – arriving from places like Denmark, Germany, England, Hungary, France, Russia, Spain and Turkey.

Lido Palace breezing before he won the Whitney in 2001, trainer Bobby Frankel

Even though all her siblings rode horses and enjoyed the sport, it was Anna who was crazy about them. She owned a horse named ‘Sonof-a-gun’ during those years. She laughs when she tells me the pony always dumped her during competitions which taught her how to ride difficult horses. “Still, I couldn’t get enough of those animals,” she tells me. “I was obsessed with every little thing about them. Anna and Son-of-a-Gun began competing regionally in “eventing” in Nörrkoping and moved up in their classes quickly. At age 16 she attended Flyinge, where all the Swedish Warmblood stallions stand. It’s an Equestrian college, where she spent even more time riding and studying. Her goal was to become a veterinarian but kept fainting in surgery and knew she had to give that dream up. There was a Thoroughbred training center next door that seemed interesting.

Past the point Darley horse

Anna only weighed 98 pounds at the time, something that didn’t escape the notice of horse trainers. They saw how tiny but strong she was and invited her to start training with them. She moved to America, a country where anyone’s dream can come true, it was 1983. Anna spent 2-3 years at Calder Racetrack in Florida first. Then further pursued exercising and racing horses on elite tracks across the country, before settling in Manhattan where she started her family with her then husband. Anna has two sons – Sam who’s 31, and Zachary now 29. They both lovingly kid her about how much she adores horses. “Mom,” they laugh. “Are you ever going to stop horsing around?” is one of their favorite lines. In 2002, Anna was involved in a horrible accident at Belmont. Her horse took a bad step and fell to the ground with her. Anna sustained life-threatening injuries – split open from the chest down after being trampled by the horse behind her. Her surgeon Dr Yelon saved her life during a grueling surgery that took more than eight hours. Anna lost half her pancreas, her spleen, broke all her ribs and needed a blood transfusion. She was in an induced coma for a month and in the hospital for 3 months.

Breezing Zagora Breeders Cup turf winner for Chad Brown Silver Timber Breeders Cup turf sprint 2010, Chad Brown

A friend of hers, Angel Cordero, said: “I’ve never seen such a tiny body fight so hard to make it through.” Recovery was slow. Diane Nelson, another jockey and good friend, gave her a stunning grey ex racehorse in hopes she’d start riding again. Anna named the beauty Dr. Yelon, in honor of the doctor who saved her life. She trained him in eventing and dressage up to Third Level. He was a spectacular show horse who never came home without a ribbon. Dr Yelon is retired at 20 and lives at Swedish Hill Farm. He is the advocate for retraining ex racehorses Anna rescues. Thoroughbreds make wonderful show horses, they are forward, willing and brave.

Anna suffered other broken bones and serious injuries over the years, but it was three bulging discs that brought her to the surgeon’s office for a sit-down. “If you keep riding professionally your back is not going to hold up” -after back surgery It was time to retire from the racetrack. Some Hall of Fame and well-known trainers Anna worked with are names like Wayne Lucas, Bobby Frankel, Chad Brown, John Kimmel, Steve Asmussen, Shug McGaughey, Jimmy Jerkins, and the Darley operation. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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She rode numerous winning stake horses such as… Grand Slam, Lido Palace Aptitude, Empire Maker, Starine, You, Flute, Squirtel Squirt, Silver Timber, Zagora, Desert Party, Old Dodge and DodgerTown, among others. “Ask any jockey, they’ll tell you about a handful of horses near and dear to their heart. I’m a lucky girl – three of them are right here on the farm.” Throughout her years as a rider and horse lover, Anna has rescued several ex-racehorses. “They’ve had some great years on the track,” she states. “It’s time for them to learn something new.” Anna makes certain they are in good shape, retrains them, and then lets qualified people adopt them. Anna first visited Saratoga in 1990 for the summer meet. She says she fell in love with the area because it reminded her of Sweden. When Dennis Brida, another horse trainer, knew she was looking to buy a farm in 2017, he called her.

“He asked me to come for a visit. It was so peaceful walking around the property. Picture 15 acres of land and sky, no traffic, the sound of horses running around the paddock, gorgeous views, all just a few minutes from downtown Saratoga and Saratoga Lake.”

Anna with her sons, photo by Sharon Castro

Ex Racehorse Dodger Town

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Anna with her grandson Henry, photo by Sharon Castro

Brida’s wife was impressed with Anna and wanted to sell the farm to her rather than anyone else. “She’s an animal lover, number one. And she’s not going to develop the land.” “Buying Swedish Hill Farm was a huge undertaking — We have our nonprofit to save and retrain ex racehorses, the spa, the AirBnB, and hosting events at the property. It’s a very exciting time for us here at Swedish Hill."

Guests often come - for a weekend away from the rat-race - booking the guest suite at Swedish Hill Farm. It’s not your typical run-of-the-mill place to stay, either. Couples can relax with a chilled glass of wine and gaze out over the countryside, watching sunsets from the back porch. They’re more than welcome to feed and interact with rescued racehorses now living on the property. And they’re only steps away from a full-service day spa should they want to take advantage of it. And they should. Anna graduated from the Swedish Institute College of Health Sciences in NYC in 1994, with her associate degree in Massage Therapy. She’s spent the last 25 years offering a variety of spa services in several different settings – day spas, ski resorts, health clubs, and chiropractic offices. “I practiced techniques on other jockeys when I first began. At the end of a long day of riding, you’re sore. They appreciated my work.”

“I love to heal – to help both horses and people,” she says. “I want them to be pain-free from injuries and the stress of everyday life. When this opportunity came along, it just made sense to me.” Becoming a massage therapist while she was still riding was a great career choice to fall back on. “I knew I wasn’t going to be able to ride forever. Besides, I really love what I do. I know my clients and guests can sense that when they visit.” Swedish Hill Farm also leases out the venue for special events – weddings, showers, bachelorette parties, charities, and the like. You can find out more information by visiting their website: SwedishHillFarm.com SS saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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SIRO'S CUP

WRITTEN BY BRENDAN O’MEARA PHOTOS PROVIDED

magine that for the longest time, there was never a formal eve-of-Saratoga event that officially kicked off the meet.

So 26 years ago, Anne Schneider Costigan, Senior Vice President of Communications and Development for the Center for Disability Services, with a group of young community leaders and one of the owners of Siro’s Restaurant, started the annual Newton Plaza Siro’s Cup, a benefit that supports the Center. In that first Siro’s Cup a quarter-century ago, the turnout was modest, to be expected. But what became of it by sticking around and showing up year after year is nothing short of remarkable. “The first Siro’s Cup there were about 200 guests,” Costigan said. “We raised $13,000. Now the Siro’s Cup has over 1,000 guests and raises over $250,000. It’s grown in attendance, grown in funds raised to support the Center, and it’s really become a tradition as the kickoff of the meet.”

The Center is a uniquely Upstate New York nonprofit. It has 80 locations and has facilities in 15 counties from Albany all the way up into the North Country. 48 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2019

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And making this year extra special is the partnership with B.E.S.T (Backstretch Employee Service Team) by bringing awareness to the community for their efforts to improve the quality of life of the backstretch workers. That crossover between both charities and programs is essential. Jockeys arguably have the most dangerous job in all of sports and run the greatest risk of paralyzing injuries and even death. Name another gig where an ambulance trails the field just in case. It’s a big reason why Ramon Dominguez, a Hall of Fame rider and former Siro’s Cup honoree, supports what the center does, according to Costigan. The event will have the usual amenities like a large silent auction, food, drink and dancing with Funk Evolution.

“From the Center’s perspective, jockeys, trainers, and owners come to support us that evening,” Costigan said. “They come to celebrate the work of the Center, and to join us in honoring the honoree for the year. It’s really a celebration of the great work the Center is doing.” The Center serves 12,000 individuals and families in Upstate New York, so the money raised will go a long way to ensuring those people benefit from the Center year round.

“This year’s fund raising priorities: “We run a summer camp, the Clover Patch Camp in Glenville, day and overnight summer facility,” Costigan said. “It has renovation needs such as, roofs

on the bath house and three cabins, and pool surface refinishing; bedroom renovations at St. Margaret’s Center the Center’s skilled nursing facility for children and young adults; specialized medical and dental equipment to support Center Health Care; and funds to support the Center’s research arm the Life Quality Solutions Incubator.” “The Center also uses the money for communication devices, mobility equipment, children and adult arts programs, music therapy and other theater programs,” said Costigan.

The Center was founded 78 years ago in 1942, and Costigan has been with the Center for 34 years. And with many projects and programs of this nature, the mission is deeply personal. Marylou Whitney and John Hendrickson, former Siro’s Cup honorees, are big supporters of the event, by having attended nearly every year.

Past honorees of the Siro’s Cup include 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify, Angel Cordero, Tom Durkin, Kiaran McLaughlin, Javier Castellano, Rosie Napravnik and Funny Cide to name a few.

The event takes place at Siro’s Restaurant on Wednesday July 10 and goes from 6:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. The cost is $125 per person, $150 at the door. Tickets for a group of 10 people is $1100. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For further information or to make a reservation call (518) 944-2107 or visit cfdsny.org. SS

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Photo by Cliff Oliver

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C O S POL ® O AS

SARATOGA POLO ASSOCIATION P

olo may be the sport of kings, but at the scenic Whitney Field in Saratoga Springs, Saratoga Polo Association has something to offer everyone. Located at 2 Bloomfield Road in Saratoga, the 2019 polo season runs every Friday and Sunday July 5th – September 1st. The gates open at 4pm and matches begin at 5:30pm. With over 120 years of history at the local grounds, fans new and old are treated to full panoramic views of the exciting matches and fast-paced action with some of the best polo teams from all over the world. The 2019 Season has upgraded the Clubhouse experience with new table seating on the Veranda Club with full-service dining and field-side lounges. The Winners Circle Lawn Terrace and Gazebo has been re-designed with food trucks and picnic tables and trophy stage for a party celebration experience. Guests can also pack a picnic basket and enjoy the evening’s entertainment while tailgating with reserved spaces and NEW Clubhouse tailgating. This family favorite gets you close to the action in a casual setting – even the dog is welcome to attend! Clubhouse seating offers table-side dining options and new casual food truck menus while live announcers and handy guides are always available. To learn more or buy tickets, go to SaratogaPolo.com.

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518 583 4145

LEARN HOW TO PLAY POLO Take a lesson with our polo pros! Whether you know how to ride or have never ridden before, we can get you in thesaddle with one of the fastest growing sports around!

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RESERVED TAILGATING $50 CLUBHOUSE TAILGATING $60

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SARATOGA POLO ASSOCIATION WELCOMES NEW TEAM ON THE FIELD WITH RETURNING TEAM FOR THE SHOW FOR THE 121STTOURNAMENT SEASON

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C SO POL ® O AS

• Bring your dogs,on Sunday July 7th and join us for the BEST POLO POOCH CONTEST • Prizes for BEST BIG DOG, BEST LITTLE DOG, and BEST POLO POOCH • There will be two wedding themed tailgate decorating contests on August 18th and 23rd to celebrate actual weddings happening at matches on those dates! • Join the party on Whitney Cup Sunday August 4th • Try your hand at a Veuve Clicquot sabrage at every match during the season • …And of course, some of the most exciting polo anywhere! •Tickets, tables, and tailgating spaces are going quickly… buy your tickets on-line at SaratogaPolo.com/tickets to join in the fun at every match, every day, the Saratoga Polo way!

Saratoga Polo Association is adding new excitement to the already well-established team at Whitney Field to help celebrate the 121stSeason that opens July 5th. Along with Bob Bullock returning for his 32ndyear as the Voice of Saratoga Polo (among many other duties that he has spearheaded throughout the years), Alan Edstrom will also be stepping in for his 9thseason creating everything that happens outside the boards including sponsorships, events, and excitement in the stands .”It’s with this in mind”, said Jim Rossi, returning for his 15thSeason as Managing Partner,” that we are thrilled to announce a new part of the team on the field as international polo legend Pablo Dorignac, a five goal player will be bringing the best players to Whitney Field from around the corner and across the globe as the Polo Team Director, and Ed Armstrong a dynamic impresario who will be managing tournament play as the Polo Operations Manager” PABLO DORIGNAC Pablo is an Argentinian polo player who began playing professionally in 1992 at the age of 19. Coming from a famous polo family, he has traveled around the world playing in not only his home country, but also the U.S.A., Brasil, Venezuela, Ecuador, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, France, England, Malaysia, Singapore, India, China, and most recently, in Thailand. Pablo has also been on the winning side of the East Coast Open an St Valentines Cup, The Sterling Cup, Copa Reyes Carrer, Copa Provincia, The Royal Palm Polo Cup, Copa Jimaguayu, Royal Pajan Polo Club Cup in Malaysia, and dozens more cups, tournaments and accolades across the globe, including winner of the Tortugas Open 2008 (one of the polo triple crowns in Argentina)'. “It is with this in mind,” said Ed Armstrong who will be organizing tournaments, practices, and polo lessons with Pablo, that “besides the action on the field, we are looking forward to grow the sport and the club by offering Polo Lessons and introduce the next generation to Whitney Field and beyond. Having the opportunity to learn from such a renowned polo player as Pablo just couldn’t be passed up – we invite everyone to call up and sign up!” ED ARMSTRONG Our New Polo Operations Manager, Ed Armstrong wants to focus on making Saratoga a fun place to play and stay for the players that are being gathered from around the corner and across the globe by Pablo. Not only will Ed be helping with the logistics putting together the teams for the tournaments on the pitch, he has a keen sense for highlighting the sport for those who want to give this exhilarating sport a try and for those who want to improve their skills.

Saratoga Polo Association is located at 2 Bloomfield Road in Greenfield Center, NY 518 583-4145, SARATOGAPOLO.COM

To give you an idea of the depth and breadth of Ed’s polo portfolio, Ed Armstrong began playing polo in Massachusetts and Vermont in the late eighties, having started the Byfield Polo Club. He played in New England, Kentucky and Virginia for thirty years. In 2004 Ed began a 10-year stint at the United States Polo Association, first managing the Intercollegiate and Interscholastic Polo Program and working his way to Director of Tournaments and Clubs. Along the way, Ed got involved with USPA's international efforts and worked with many teams and traveled from Argentina to England, India, Chile and China. Ed currently is currently serving as Secretary-Treasurer of the American International Polo Foundation (AIPF) as well as being involved in the off season with tournaments in Manipur India, the birthplace of modern polo that feature teams from all over the world. Ed also coached and managed the Yale collegiate and scholastic teams during their 2015 move to their own facility near New Haven. The excitement of polo at Whitney Field for this season can be yours as a spectator with tailgating picnics, or full service Clubhouse seats just by clicking on SaratogaPolo.com/tickets. If you would like to play in a match by bringing teams in for tournament play, or

would like to learn the sport by signing up for lessons, call (518) 583-4145 or CLICK ON Randall Perry Photography 52 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2019

SaratogaPolo.com

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2019 July 5 July 7

SARATOGA POLO ASSOCIATION TOURNAMENT SEASON EVERY FRIDAY AND SUNDAY AT 5:30PM (GATES OPEN AT 4PM) JULY 5 - SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 Photo by Image Photo and Events

Celebrate Saratoga Tournament Celebrate Saratoga Tournament BEST POLO POOCH CONTEST!

July 12 The Polo Hall of Fame Tournament July 14 The Polo Hall of Fame Tournament July 19 Veuve Clicquot Challenge Tournament July 20 Veuve Clicquot Challenge Tournament July 26 July 28

Photo by Cliff Oliver

The Times Union presents The Mid-Summer Celebration Tournament The Times Union presents The Mid-Summer Celebration Tournament

Aug. 4 The Whitney Cup Tournament Aug. 6 The Whitney Cup Tournament (INDEPENDENT HELICOPTER DELIVERS THE TROPHY TO THE FIELD!) Aug. 9 The Barrantes Cup Tournament The OrthoNY Cup Aug. 11 The Barrantes Cup Tournament

Photo by Image Photo and Events

Aug. 16 The Ylvisaker Cup Tournament Aug. 18 The Ylvisaker Cup Tournament The Strunk/D’Amico Wedding Cup -Tailgating Decoration Contest! Aug. 23 The Saratoga Special Tournament The Heliin/Amodeo Wedding Cup Tailgating Decoration Contest! Aug. 25 The Saratoga Special Tournament Aug. 30 SPA Anniversary Tournament Sept. 1 The Polo Hall of Fame Tournament

Photo by Image Photo and Events

To Purchase Ticket, visit SaratogaPolo.com

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BLI

SHED

A SAR G

C SO POL ® O AS

TELESCOPE CASUAL AT SARATOGA POLO After celebrating its 120thAnniversary last year, the staff at Saratoga Polo realized that there were so many other Capital Region landmarks that should also be lauded that make the summer season here so unique. One of them, Granville’s own Telescope Casual Furniture has been a part of the Saratoga Polo Association season for almost 20 years. Jim Rossi, the Managing Partner at Saratoga Polo Association today announced that Telescope Casual Furniture will be a major outfitter at Whitney Field as the official outdoor furniture for the 2019, 2020, and 2021 Tournament Seasons. “We are so proud to partner with or friends at Telescope Casual not only because they are the gold standard in outdoor furniture,” said Jim Rossi, Managing Partner at Saratoga Polo Association, “their legacy reaches back to 1903, almost as far back as the Whitney Field legacy.” The partnership coincides with major seating changes at the Clubhouse with adding a new deck at the Veranda Club

54 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2019

and enhanced table service. The latest picnic dining and fire pits will be featured at the new Telescope Casual Winners Circle that combines the latest food truck picnic dining, signature cocktails and after match trophy stand parties. The Granville based company started in 1903 in New York City as The Telescope Cot Bed & Novelty Company, manufacturing cots and campstools with “telescoping” legs that gave the fledgling company its unique name. Telescope has been owned by the same family the whole time – currently 4thgeneration CEO Kathy Juckett (Vanderminden) leads the company with 5th generation continuing the legacy. So whether guests are sitting field-side at the Veranda Club table, sitting in the Premium Clubhouse chairs and lounges, or the new Telescope Casual Winners Circle dining experience, these two Capital Region legacies are coming together to welcome yet another beautiful Saratoga Summer with world-class polo on the field and fun in the stands.

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NEW YORK CITY BALLET AT SPAC

EACH JULY, NEW YORK CITY BALLET (NYCB)

brings exquisite artistry and other-worldly grace to the stage of Saratoga Performing Arts Center during its annual residency. Against the backdrop of SPAC’s idyllic woodland setting, the intertwining of dance and nature is a magical combination.

The 2019 season offers four distinct programs including the story ballet Coppélia, which was premiered at SPAC, an evening dedicated to Balanchine and Tschaikovsky, and a program showcasing three SPAC premieres by 21st century choreographers, highlighted by Kyle Abraham’s The Runaway, which fuses modern and classical technique and an eclectic soundtrack mixing composer Nico Muhly, singer James Blake, and hip-hop artists Jay-Z and Kanye West. New York City Ballet’s Saratoga residency is from July 16 – 20. Tickets start at just $33 for inside seats. Lawn seating is $29 for adults; children up to age 15 are free on the lawn. Information and tickets at SPAC.org. SS See page 74 for NYCB Galla information. 56 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2019

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CLAIRE KRETZSCHMAR

NEW YORK CITY BALLET WRITTEN BY GERALDINE FREEDMAN PHOTO PROVIDED

THE ROAD TO BALLET STARDOM, especially

at the New York City Ballet, which opens its one-week summer season July 16 at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, usually begins in childhood. “I’ve always loved moving to music,” said Claire Kretzschmar, a ballerina with NYC Ballet, who was recently promoted to soloist last October.

Born in Glendale, Arizona, she moved to North Carolina in her teens to study at the Academy of Dance Arts in Winston-Salem, NC and later at the Wake Forest Community Ballet and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. But a career in dance never really occurred to her. “People told me I was good, but I just liked it because I wanted to just get better and could do something outside of the school day,” she said. “I didn’t know I could be a professional dancer.” But during the summers from the time she was 14 to 17, Kretzschmar began studying at the School of American Ballet, which is the official school of the New York City Ballet. As she continued to improve, she began to see there might be potential to actually become a member of a dance company.

the fifth,” she said. “Justin’s choreography is very athletic. It’s not the hardest but I get very tired. Having the stamina is the challenge.” She’ll dance “Principia” on July 17, at the gala on July 20, and possibly in Balanchine’s “Serenade” on opening night July 16 and July 18. Being a member of this internationally known dance company has been gratifying, she said, because she’s part of the Balanchine legacy and vision to cultivate an American style of dance that incorporates the traditional with the contemporary. However, should she ever leave the dance world, Kretzschmar just got her bachelor’s degree in communications and media from Fordham University. “It took me eight years, longer than most, but just in case. . .it’s in my hip pocket,” she said with a laugh. IF YOU GO: New York City Ballet WHEN: July 16 - 20 at 8 p.m.; July 18, 20 at 2 p.m. WHERE: Saratoga Performing Arts Center COST: $113 - $28; lawn $34 - $18; Gala: $128 - $58; lawn $58 MORE INFO: 518 584-9330; SPAC.org SS

“I was in high school then,” Kretzschmar said. “I decided to go for it.” She enrolled full time at SAB in 2009 and the next year was made an apprentice with NYCB. In 2011 at age 19, she became a member of the corps – that group of dancers who often dance steps in unison or support the solo ballerina. If all goes well in the next few years her final promotion would be to become a principal, who is the main character or “star.” How do those promotions happen? “You do a handful of core roles and maybe some featured roles,” she said. “Ballet masters watch and if you’re seen to be doing those difficult technical and artistic parts well, then you’re more likely to be ready to move to the next level.” As a member of the corps, she danced all the traditional ballets and even performed in some of the new dances choreographed by Justin Peck, Troy Schumacher and Alexei Ratmansky. Over the years she began to get featured in small solo roles in several dances choreographed by George Balanchine (the company’s founder), Peter Martins (long-time balletmaster-in-chief), and those by Peck, Ratmansky and Schumacher. Now that she’s moved up the ladder to soloist, her roles are far more extensive and exposed. This summer, she’ll reprise her role in Peck’s new ballet, “Principia,” that premiered earlier this year. “There are ten movements and I do the first three and saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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THE SOUNDS OF SUMMER IN SARATOGA

THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA

JULY 31 – AUGUST 17 THE FABULOUS PHILADELPHIANS return this summer to Saratoga Springs with their iconic lush sound! One of the world’s greatest orchestras, The Philadelphia Orchestra will take the stage with powerfully sweeping masterpieces and fresh discoveries to capture your heart and imagination. The three-week residency will be highlighted by 19 SPAC premieres, marking a record number of pieces that have never before been performed on SPAC’s stage, ranging from Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring to Mason Bates’ Anthology of Fantastic Zoology. Back by popular demand will be SPAC’s “Cinema Series,” which will delight audiences of all ages as the Orchestra accompanies, live to picture, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets™ in Concert; Disney • Pixar’s Up in Concert and Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights in Concert. The season will, once again, showcase two weeks under the baton of Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Music Director of both The Philadelphia Orchestra and The Metropolitan Opera. Nézet-Séguin will conduct the closing night performance of Mozart’s transcendent Requiem, a choral masterpiece featuring renowned vocalists and the powerful forces of the Albany Pro Musica. HIGHLIGHTS! AUGUST 8: American Idylls. August 8 will feature three SPAC premieres: blue cathedral, an orchestral composition by the American composer Jennifer Higdon and one of the composer's most performed works; the orchestral suite from Copland’s Appalachian Spring, the Pulitzer Prize-winning depiction of the American idyll, which also popularized the Shaker folk song "Simple Gifts”; and Mason Bates’ Anthology of Fantastic Zoology, titled after mythical creatures from the book of the same name by Argentinian literary giant Jorge Luis Borges. AUGUST 15: Marsalis Swing Symphony. The Philadelphia Orchestra will be joined by Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO), comprising 15 of the finest jazz soloists

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and ensemble players today, to perform Music Director, Grammy Award-® and Pulitzer Prize-winner Wynton Marsalis’s Swing Symphony. AUGUST 17: All Mozart. A choral masterpiece featuring renowned vocalists and the powerful forces of the Albany Pro Musica, Mozart’s Requiem is considered one of the greatest expressions of faith ever cast as a work of art. Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Music Director of The Philadelphia Orchestra and the new Music Director of the Metropolitan Opera, will lead the Orchestra as the finale to the classical season on the amphitheater stage. “CINEMA SERIES @ SPAC”: AUGUST 3: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets™ in Concert. Audiences will be able to relive the magic of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets™, the second installment of the popular series, projected on the big screen while hearing The Philadelphia Orchestra performing, live to picture, John Williams’ Grammynominated score. AUGUST 10: Disney • Pixar’s Up in Concert. Making its SPAC premiere as part of the film’s 10th anniversary, Disney • Pixar’s Up in Concert will be screened alongside The Philadelphia Orchestra performing its Academy® and Grammy® Award-winning score. AUGUST 14: Chaplin City Lights. Charlie Chaplin’s immortal romantic comedy City Lights gets even brighter when The Philadelphia Orchestra performs Chaplin’s score live while the complete film — considered to be among the greatest ever made — is shown on a giant screen above the stage. SS

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DAVID KIM

PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA

WRITTEN BY GERALDINE FREEDMAN PHOTOS BY ALLIE SKYLAR PHOTOGRAPHY

DAVID KIM, the concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra, will be celebrating his 19th season when the orchestra opens its three-week stay July 31 at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. It’s not a job for every violinist no matter how sensational a player they may be because its duties often extend far beyond the concert stage. “Little did I know that the journey was about to begin when I got the job,” Kim said. He was already in his 30s, he said, and except for a year as associate concertmaster with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra where he filled in when the concertmaster was ill, he’d never really worked in orchestras before. “I was freelancing. I was trying to be the great soloist,” Kim said. But when he saw the ad that the Philadelphia was looking for a concertmaster, he decided to give it a try. Often, top tier orchestras have an idea of who they might like for such a prestigious position, which is considered the most prominent violin position in the orchestra world. But when their concertmaster, Norman Carol, retired after 30 years, the orchestra had been using interim violinists for two years. And they held open auditions. Kim had to prepare “a huge, gigantic repertoire list that included concertos, oratorios, and countless symphonies.” He made it through three rounds that were held behind a screen and then one before the music director, Wolfgang Sawallisch. The audition committee narrowed it down to Kim and another violinist with each playing two weeks of concerts, including at Carnegie Hall. Then Kim went back to Dallas.

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“I’d gotten some good reviews in the papers and had a feeling it was coming,” Kim said. “But I almost fell over when I got the call and they offered me the job.” It was a rough transition. Kim already knew that he had to be at the top of his game artistically and that he was supposed to give the rest of the first violins bowing instructions for every piece, which is why audiences always see the strings bowing in the same direction. He quickly learned to collaborate with the other principal strings (second violin, viola, cello) on this task. But the concertmaster is also the face of the orchestra. He’s the one who comes out on stage for a special bow, asks the oboist to give a tuning pitch, is the spokesperson that journalists to fans contact. “It can be overwhelming. It’s all the extras: a cup of coffee, a handshake, a champagne toast in my dressing room, a round of golf, a recommendation for a gifted student,” Kim said. “I’m still learning how to balance it all out. But I’m on the Board of Directors; I do fund-raising; I deal with the patrons. Fortunately, I’m a people person and all this fits me and does not drain.” This SPAC season, Kim will be on site for the first and third week. Audiences will get to hear him opening night in one of the most famous solo parts of all: as the voice of Sheherazade in Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Sheherazade.” Also, on the concert is Ravel’s spellbinding “La Valse” and the crowd favorite “1812 Overture” by Tchaikovsky. “It doesn’t get any better,” Kim said. IF YOU GO: Philadelphia Orchestra WHEN: July 31, Aug. 2, Aug. 7-9, Aug. 15-17 at 8pm; Aug. 1 at 2pm WHERE: Saratoga Performing Arts Center COST: $63 - $28; $18 (lawn) MORE INFO: 518 584-9330; SPAC.org SS JULY/AUGUST 2019 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 59

YA M AT O

THE DRUMMERS OF JAPAN

BRINGS ITS HEART-THUMPING AND EXPLOSIVE PROGRAM

JHONETSU

FOR ITS CAPITAL REGION DEBUT ON JULY 29TH

AN UNIMAGINABLE AMOUNT OF ENERGY. A 400 year-old instrument. Heart-thumping rhythms and explosive beats. YAMATO: The Drummers of Japan combine traditional music with style and agility, fusing Taiko drumming with spectacle and athleticism. “Following the incredible successes of performances by Trinity Irish Dance Company and the Argentinian dance company Che Malambo, this season we will feature the percussive rhythms of YAMATO to complement our global ‘SPAC on Stage’ series,” explains Elizabeth Sobol of SPAC. “The ensemble will bring their thrilling, highenergy and explosive interpretation of the centuries old Taiko tradition to Capital Region audiences to experience for the first time.” Employing pin-point precision, ferocious skill, and high-energy creativity, YAMATO: The Drummers of Japan is a modern troupe of young male and female musician-athletes that are renowned for creating an unforgettable spectacle. Performing in Saratoga on July 29 for its SPAC debut on the main stage, the group of a dozen-plus players start their performance by playing a Japanese Taiko drum weighing half a ton, made from a single piece of wood from a tree that has aged more than 400 years. They move their whole bodies to strike the drum, creating a powerful surge of energy. YAMATO’s live performances are full of intensity and exhibit great originality and innovation through this traditional Japanese musical instrument, with the belief that the drumbeat, like the heartbeat, is the very pulse 60 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2019

of life, and the epitome of the Japanese spirit. Founded in 1993 in Japan’s Nara Prefecture and presently based in Asuka Village, said to be the birthplace of Japanese culture, YAMATO travels all over the word with Japan’s traditional Taiko drums, putting its very souls into the unusual instruments, whose sound stirs the hearts of people everywhere. Jhonetsu is a new program that captures YAMATO’s virtuosity, strength, spirit and sheer endurance. Lighting the fire of the passion held within our bodies and honoring the drumbeat since, like the heartbeat, it is the very pulse of life. This past season marked Yamato’s 25th anniversary, celebrating over 3,500 performances in 54 countries. THE PERFORMANCE PROJECT: YOUTH IN MOTION, 7:00 PM Prior to YAMATO’s act, at 7:00 p.m. SPAC will present a high-energy, professionally choreographed final performance by 80 local children who have been participating in The Performance Project: Youth in Motion. Led by the award winning National Dance Institute and presented in partnership with the Capital District and Saratoga Regional YMCA’s, SPAC’s Performance Project is a two-week dance intensive designed to teach children dance skills while instilling in them a belief in their own abilities and capacity to achieve success. Tickets for the amphitheater-only performance of YAMATO: The Drummers of Japan are $30, $40 and $60. Visit SPAC.org for details. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Keely Futterer

OPERA SARATOGA WRITTEN BY GERALDINE FREEDMAN PHOTOS PROVIDED

WHEN OPERA SARATOGA OPENS ITS SUMMER SEASON FRIDAY JUNE 29, one of the most excited will be the company’s Artistic and

General Director Lawrence Edelson.

“We’ve accomplished a lot of things and met many of the goals,” he said. “I’m really pleased artistically, financially and it’s especially important the way the community and region has embraced the vision of Opera Saratoga.” This season there are three operas plus a one-night show. Friday opens with Gaetano Donizetti’s “The Daughter of the Regiment” (1839), a lighthearted lyrical romp for both the soprano (Young Artist alum Keely Futterer) and the tenor (Santiago Ballerini, from Argentina in his debut), who must sing nine high Cs in one famous aria. The opera will be sung in French with English supertitles.

Keith Phares

Ricky Ian Gordon’s “Ellen West” opens June 30, Sunday, and is based on poetry by Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Frank Bidart. A chamber opera with two main characters, it will be sung in English. Kids will love Englebert Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel” (1839) opening July 5 that features handmade shadow puppets, vintage technology of Chicago-based Manual Cinema, and the Children’s Chorus of Glens Falls Symphony. Sung in German with English subtitles.

Santiago Ballerini

“Mozart and Salieri” on July 11 will feature arias by Mozart and Antonio Salieri as well as the one-act opera (1897) by Nicholas Rimsky-Korsakov based on Alexander Pushkin’s text. Sung in Russian with English supertitles. An orchestra of up to 20 musicians will support each opera. When Edelson came five years ago after years working internationally as a dancer, singer, choreographer and director, especially in opera, he found a company that was focused more on being just a summer festival, he said. “I wanted to rethink the company. . .to have it serve the community,” he said. “So, our priorities shifted with more educational programs, free sings with our Young Artists at senior centers, museums, outdoor areas anywhere the public would intersect with opera or vocal music. We’ve expanded our civic role and become a valuable asset.”

Jennifer Zetlan

Local fans have enjoyed many of these free concerts billed as “Stars of Tomorrow” events. And Edelson is not kidding with that billing. Two of those Young Artists from past seasons recently were among the nine finalists at the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. As for education, Edelson recently took his DiscoverOpera program along with representatives from a Living Well program, into six area high schools with scenes from this season’s “Ellen West,” which deals with a woman struggling with eating disorders. With teens often dealing with this issue, Edelson said he thought it a perfect fit to show how meaningful theater can be. “It’s why we exist,” he said. “It’s a lens to show the way we look at the world.” World premieres of new opera have garnered national media coverage that have led to sold-out houses, more highly skilled singers for the Young Artists program (1,000 applied this year and only 29 were accepted), and notable directors, conductors and scenic designers. In fact, Laura Jellinek, who is designing the set for “Ellen West” was recently nominated for a Tony Award for “Oklahoma.”

Alex Soare

IF YOU GO:Opera Saratoga “Daughter of the Regiment”: June 29, July 13 at 7:30 pm; July 1, 7 at 2 pm “Ellen West”: June 30, July 6 at 2 pm; July 12 at 7:30pm “Hansel and Gretel”: July 5, 14 at 7:30pm; July 8, 10 at 2pm “Mozart and Salieri”: July 11 at 7:30pm WHERE: Spa Little Theatre COST: $95 - $50 MORE INFO: 518 584-6018; OperaSaratoga.org SS

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WU HAN + DAVID FINCKEL CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER WRITTEN BY GERALDINE FREEDMAN PHOTOS PROVIDED

CELLIST DAVID FINCKEL AND PIANIST WU HAN

should be considered classical music’s most visible power couple. Besides being the co-directors of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, they maintain a hugely demanding international schedule as performers and teachers. On Aug. 4, CMSLC opens its sixth summer season at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. “We are so privileged to deal with incredible colleagues, the most fabulous music ever written and play in fantastic venues,” Finckel said. “It feels like drinking ten cups of coffee.” Wu Han agreed. “It’s a very exciting life to be in service to this type of music,” she said. “We put a lot of heart and soul and blood into our performances. But it’s very rewarding, especially to introduce this high culture to audiences.” The couple met in 1985 when Finckel, then the cellist with the Grammy Award-winning Emerson String Quartet, was in residence at Hartt School of Music where Wu Han was a student. She won the student competition to be able to play a concert with the quartet, and they soon became a couple. Wu Han’s career as a soloist developed, but it was the Finckel/Wu Han performance duo that became a greater focus. Locals have heard them play on the Union College Concert Series at least 20 times over the years. Programming and developing audiences also became a priority. In 1999, they started ArtistLed, the first Internet-based recording company owned and operated by musicians. In 2003, they founded the Music @ Menlo series in Atherton, CA. The next year, they were tapped to lead CMSLC. Their burgeoning commitments leave them little time for a day at the beach: 52 radio shows a year; seven satellite CMSLC series across the globe; four North American 62 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2019

tours annually; 600 web streamed videos, which include concerts and lectures; numerous commissions or cocommissions to premiere; up to 80 international concerts just for the duo; eight programs that Wu Han oversees at Wolf Trap in Virginia and another this year for a series in Madison, WI; four tours with patrons to exotic locales such as Prague, St. Petersburg or the most recent to Spain; and teaching at SUNY Stony Brook and at the Juilliard School. Tack on all the research the couple does to find pieces for the up to 150 performers from 19 different countries who play on the various series, including the 26 programs at Lincoln Center each year. “All this keeps us awake at night,” Wu Han said laughing. “Our life is different from anyone else we know.” The six SPAC concerts took more effort. None of the pieces have been played on the series before. Some are even new to the performers. “We very carefully craft the season,” Wu Han said. “I always put the music and the artist together based on my knowing the player’s background or if they’d played the piece before.” This year there is a special one-hour show, “Meet the Music! Leave it to Ludwig,” at 1 p.m. Aug. 16 and 11 a.m. Aug. 17. Bruce Adolphe as Ludwig van Beethoven works with the Escher String Quartet to introduce kids to the world of classical music. Pre-performance talks for the series concerts occur 45 minutes before each concert. IF YOU GO: Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center WHERE: Spa Little Theatre WHEN: Aug. 4, 11, 18 at 3pm; Aug. 6, 13, 20 at 8pm COST: $53, $48 MORE INFO: 518 584-9330; SPAC.org SS

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STACIE BARNES OF HOME MADE THEATER

WRITTEN BY GERALDINE FREEDMAN PHOTO BY SARATOGAPHOTOGRAPHER.COM

n June 20th, a cabaret was held to raise funds for a scholarship to honor Home Made Theater’s longtime producing manager Stacie Barnes. It’s a singular expression of gratitude for a woman who helped bring HMT from a small group of theater-loving friends to one of the pre-eminent community theater companies in the state. “Stacie’s dedication and passion for the theater helped transform us,” said Kate Starczewski, HMT’s general manager and a founding member. Besides Barnes’ attention to detail, no matter how small, she embraced every member of the company from directors to stagehands, volunteers to patrons. She believed theater should be accessible to anyone, particularly children who wanted to learn the art. Because of that special commitment, this scholarship will be used to allow any child, regardless of income, to participate in any of the many classes HMT offers, or in its famed Musical Conservatory. Ninety-minute classes are held on weekends in fall and winter for five or six weeks to about twelve kids in each class in such disciplines as acting, improvisation, audition preparation or scene study. There is also a session of Shakespeare for kids between 7-18 years old and the Musical Conservatory in which teenagers audition for parts and perform a junior version of a show.

“They learn how to sing, dance and get a taste for performance,” Starczewski said. The scholarship came as a surprise to Barnes. “It’s very nice. Getting kids involved was always special,” Barnes said. “Watching their faces as they worked was magical. Things happen in rehearsals that they’ll keep as experiences for all their lives.” Barnes herself is, however, on a new journey. After almost 34 years working her way up from volunteer in 1986 to stage manager and then 10 years later to become the company’s producing manager, Barnes took a job last October at the Gideon Putnam in catering sales. “I was excited to do something different and although I love, love, love the theater and HMT will always be home, it was important to for HMT to evolve with someone else,” she said. The transition didn’t come without some questions even from the sales department at the hotel. “We thought it an interesting transition, too,” said Mark Davis, Director of Sales. “But Stacie was so…vivid. We thought she’d be good for the hotel business.” Considering that Barnes’ theater background before she became involved with HMT was one theater class in college, Barnes had no doubts that she’d be a quick learner. “I’m very organized and there are a lot of crossovers,” she said. “I know how to put on a show and a wedding is like a theater production. I get to use similar skills.” There have been a few surprises – it is after all - a whole new world, she said. “But I’m seeing more situations of us as a team working together to make things happen,” Barnes said. “I love my new job. It’s a learning curve every day.” Contact HomeMadeTheater.org for more information. SS

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The Beat Goes On… LOCAL LEGENDS SKIPPY …AND THE PISTONS

WRITTEN BY CAROL GODETTE PHOTOS BY SUSAN BLACKBURN PHOTOGRAPHY

ow in their 45th year, Skippy and the Pistons were meant to be a one-night gig. Corinne Scirocco was in charge of entertainment for a 1975 fundraiser at St. Clement’s School. She persuaded husband Skip to grab his brother Frank Scirocco and cousin Jimmy Adinolfi and friend Brad Babock to form a temporary band. All they had to do was to learn 20 rock ’n roll oldies for the evening. The four dressed in leather jackets and successfully played to a full house. Skippy and the Pistons was born! Event attendees asked if they too could book Saratoga’s version of the Fab Four for a future gig.

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Drummer Frank Scirocco and lead singer Jimmy Adinolfi recently reflected on their unexpected success at a bimonthly band rehearsal. “We lost Skippy when he became Saratoga’s City Supervisor but he still jams with us occasionally,” said Frank.

“We once counted that over the years we’ve had 76 different people in the band,” stated Jimmy. Although the group disbanded in’89 for 6 months, they came back together “for the music.” Together since birth, the cousins banter like an old married couple. “We’ve probably had 8,000 arguments over the years, but now we just say to each other, ‘What do you want me to play?” The pair’s camaraderie, dedication to perfection and most of all, their sense of humor is ever present.

Showmanship has always been center stage. “The band is like the Harlem Globetrotters,” boasts their current keyboard player. For Halloween 1976 Frank dressed as a dead professor and rose from smoke in a borrowed coffin as the band played “Monster Mash.” The crowd went wild and the tune became a band staple for the next 3 years. Today’s devoted fans are likely to be card carrying AARP members, but in the ’80s a much younger fan base bounced from Solomon Grundy’s, the Ramada, and numerous nightclubs in South Glens Falls every weekend to hear them perform. Now they limit gigs to about 12 a year.

No band survives unless each of the musicians share a mutual respect. Today’s band is composed of 7 highly accomplished artists. Guitar player Frank Pallor left a top-40 road band and 60 straight weeks of touring for a quieter life in music. He recently demoed his own CD “Nature of the Name” and has played as the band’s guitarist for years. Bass player Josh Brooks

Lead singer Jimmy Adinolfi

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Guitar player Frank Pallor

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Frank and Jimmy describe their current keyboardist Himer T. Morgan as a “walking jukebox.” As Himer entered the garage rehearsal space after his 3-hour drive from his home in Oswego, we called out a song. Before taking off his jacket, he sat at the keyboard and craftily played the challenging tune. Himer doesn’t mind the long drive, as he feels honored to be part of a “very well respected band.” Computer whiz and bass player Josh Brooks is described by Frank as one of the best bass players ever. “I only started last summer because the band was formed before I was even born,” Josh jokes.

Area music teachers John Halveron on trumpet and Amy Giametti on trombone round out the Pistons’ current sound.

Keyboardist Himer T. Morgan

Tired of playing “Sweet Caroline” and “Mustang Sally,” the band’s repertoire has evolved. They debuted their current favorite tune-Merle Haggard’s “The Bottle Let Me Down” at a recent Elk Club performance.

The rehearsal I attended opened with their first attempt of Delbert McClinton’s “Why Me?” I was impressed with the attention given to the opening key. Each musician had a suggestion- E, E flat, B flat and C. No consensus was reached. Jimmy’s comic relief, “This is how the Beatles broke up,” made us laugh. The five present members decided they needed the missing horn players present to “get it right.”

Drummer Frank Scirocco

Undoubtedly they will get it right, just as they have for the past 44 years. This summer celebrate their continued success at any (or all!) of these scheduled events …and wish them a Happy Anniversary!

• June 27th at Veteran’s Park in Granville • July 6th at Nanola’s in Malta

• July 17th at the Horseshoe Inn • July 28th in Congress Park for the free summer concert series. SS

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Post a Smile WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER PHOTOS PROVIDED

efore Saratogians had Facebook and Instagram, they had their faces made famous by artist John Hudson (Hud) Sessions Armstrong.

For fifty years, Armstrong has used his considerable talent to chronicle the city’s social history in paintings, on murals in public spaces, and on t-shirts. “They’d look and say, ‘Hey, you’ve got me in there – and also my dog!’” said Armstrong.

service, that’s exactly what I ended up doing,” said Armstrong. Working in a variety of bartending positions at Saratoga establishments over the years, including 20 years at Siro’s Restaurant & Bar, Armstrong retired in May after 11 years at 9 Maple Avenue.

ACTION-PACKED ART

SOCIAL FROM THE START

Although he attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, it was Vietnam that gave Armstrong the art education he’d use for the rest of his life.

“It was quite something to get used to the nearest boy my age being two miles away,” he recalls.

“What was amazing is it taught me how to tell a story, create composites with several drawings laid out on a page – and the knowledge that I was seriously lacking at how to draw feet.

“They were something - but I only got to see them from a distance. I wanted to do what they did and when I got out of the

In 1968, with two month’s left in his tour of duty, Armstrong completed two 4’ x 8’ nude paintings that were hung in the NCO and the Officer’s Club before the garrison was moved due to the Tet Uprising. They were sure to take Armstrong’s paintings with them.

When Armstrong’s family moved to Wilton in the 1950s, Hud’s goal quickly became finding other kids his same age to play with.

They lived on a dirt road, coming into Saratoga Springs to attend Bethesda Episcopal Church and to go shopping. As a 17-yearold, Hud got a summer job downtown as a dishwasher and room service elevator operator at the Gideon Putnam Hotel. The following year, he worked there as a kitchen prep chef but had his eye on becoming a bartender.

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While stationed there, he wrote a 200-page comic book.

There was so much I could do on a page. I could go from Rockwell’s style to any abstract artist’s and not miss a single beat, as long as it was able to communicate the story,” said Armstrong.

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PUTTING IN THE FACE TIME

Manning the local watering hole provided Armstrong with a plethora of happy hour faces to pop into murals and on t-shirts seen around town for the next few decades. In one piece of Gaffney’s Restaurant in the late 1980s, smiling patrons mingle as bubbles of overheard conversations rise above their heads toward a scene celebrating some of their annual events. Centrally positioned is a pig in a top hat (to advertise their rib nights), football and NCAA players bring attention to their sports’ pools, while an exuberant “Spring Fling” couple seated together on a chair grabs the viewer’s eye.

While working on another mural, painted above the door of The Hub Pub, Armstrong learned an important lesson.

“People kept buying me drinks and within a half-hour I found myself totally incapable of keeping my balance on a 12’ ladder while people were passing by. I had to stop and work on it in the early mornings instead.”

SPANNING CARTOONY TO CLASSICAL REALISM

What’s particularly impressive about Armstrong’s work is his talent to span traditional artist genres. “I never vary my style, what I make just depends on what the job is,” said Armstrong.

He was a regular contributor to Poor Richard’s Saratoga Journal, continues to make designs for Chowderfest, The Tin & Lint, and invitations to the Saratoga Hospital gala. Every year, he draws his own Christmas cards. Still seen in the City Center lobby is his mural of an expansive landscape featuring detailed insets to highlight various cultural aspects. His murals are up in Saratoga’s City Hall and at the Eagle Matt Lee Firehouse in Ballston Spa. A shortened view of the west side of Broadway as it appeared in 1927 from the US Hotel all the way to the post office was made by combining single shots from the Historical Society into a single piece.

His mother Doris, was active there and in the Preservation Society for many years. The piece he’s working on now is a tribute to her and other family members. His brother Don is a local musician, and his brother Stuart works at Soave Faire. “When we get together, people say we all look alike,” said Armstrong. SS saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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I T'S G A LA S E A S O N!

COMPILED BY LILY NEHER PHOTOS ON THIS PAGE BY SUPERSOURCEMEDIA.COM & FDPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

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26TH ANNUAL SIRO’S CUP

WHEN: July 10th at 6:30 PM WHERE: Siro’s Restaurant, Saratoga Springs WHY: Benefit the Center for Disability Services TICKET COST: $125 per person, $1100 for a group of ten, $150 at the door ATTIRE: Summer Semi-Formal FOR TICKETS: cfdsny.org/htmlweb/Events.html or (518)944-2125

SARATOGA BRIDGES ANNUAL GALA: THE WHITE PARTY

WHEN: July 13th at 6:00 PM

WHERE: Saratoga National Golf Club WHY: Support Saratoga Bridges, an organization that has provided the highest level of quality and professional care to people with developmental disabilities and their families for over 55 years. Enjoy a night featuring a Live Auction, delicious food from Mazzone Catering, and complimentary cocktails. Experience artwork from talented Creative Endeavors Artists, festive décor, entertainment from GRAVITY, a cigar roller from James & Sons Tobacconists, and an evening closer of fireworks. TICKET COST: $175, $125 (Under 35) – by 6/30, Price increases by $25 after 6/30 ATTIRE: Summer Semi-Formal FOR TICKETS: Visit SaratogaBridges.org/fundraising-events/ annual-gala or call Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 518-587-0723 ext. 1242

7TH ANNUAL HAY, OATS AND SPAGHETTI WHEN: July 15th at 6:00 PM

WHERE: Saratoga Automobile Museum: 110 Avenue of the Pines, Saratoga WHY: Support the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation during a casual dinner with friends to celebrate saving racehorses since 1983. TICKET COST: $100 ATTIRE: Summer Casual FOR TICKETS: Call (518)-583-7783

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Photo by SupersourceMedia.com

494 Broadway • 518.584.4838 VioletsofSaratoga.com saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

BCBGMaxAzria Fluted Bodycon Dress in Gardenia $298 Charles David Camomille Sandals in Soft Gold $198 (also in Bone) Kelly Wynne Sorry Not Sorry Satchel in Bread Wynner $315 HatAttack Gigi Big Brim Hat in Ivory/Natural $106 (also in Black/Natural) JULY/AUGUST 2019 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 73

PHOTOS ON THIS PAGE BY

LAWRENCE WHITE & EXPLORE SARATOGA

NEW YORK CITY BALLET GALA 2018

B.E.S.T. 30 YEAR CELEBRATION

WHEN: July 18th from 8:00 to10:00 AM WHERE: Saratoga Race Course

WHY: To benefit the Backstretch Employee Service Team, caring for the people who care for the horses. FOR TICKETS: Contact nancy@bestbackstretch.org

65 ROSES: THE SUMMER SOIREE WHEN: July 19th at 6:00 PM

WHERE: Saratoga National Golf Club WHY: Embrace the excitement of the Saratoga summer scene at Saratoga National Golf Club as we celebrate the progress and mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Join us for the evening in the grand ballroom and ballroom balcony with panoramic views of the golf course and Owl Pond. TICKET COST: $190 ATTIRE: Summer Semi-Formal FOR TICKETS: Visit cff.org/NortheasternNY

THE NEW YORK CITY BALLET GALA: “APOLLO & THE MUSES: A SUMMER CELEBRATION” WHEN: July 20th at 5:30 PM

WHERE: Saratoga Performing Arts Center WHY: The theme for this year’s Gala is Apollo & The Muses: A Summer Celebration, featuring George Balanchine’s Apollo, Christopher Wheeldon’s This Bitter Earth and Principia, a new work by NYCB Resident Choreographer and Soloist Justin Peck. Spearheaded by SPAC’s fundraising committee the Action Council, guests have the option of purchasing tickets to the Gala held inside the Hall of Springs, which includes gourmet food and drink, preferred amphitheater seating and post-performance dessert and cocktails in the Jazz Bar, or enjoying the festive lawn experience, hosted by SPAC’s Junior Committee. TICKET COST: $55 - $285 ATTIRE: Summer Semi-Formal FOR TICKETS: Visit spac.org/event/new-york-city-ballet

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Impressions of Saratoga

The Dark Horse Mercantile

368 Broadway • 518.587.0666 ImpressionsSaratoga.com

445 Broadway • 518.587.0689 DarkHorseSaratoga.com

The Everything Saratoga Stores Both Impressions of Saratoga and The Dark Horse Mercantile feature curated collections of wearables, souvenirs, and gifts celebrating Saratoga traditions. Impressions focuses on the Saratoga lifestyle of “Health, History, and Horses”. The Dark Horse brand pays tribute to the longshots who have overcome the odds in horse racing and in life. At Impressions there is a good chance you will meet one of the four dogs that work there and at The Dark Horse Upset, the mini horse, who loves to visit his downtown!

PHOTOS ON THIS PAGE BY SUPERSOURCEMEDIA.COM PALAMOUNTAIN BENEFIT 2017, SARATOGA HOSPITAL GALA 2018

POLO BY TWILIGHT: THE 40TH ANNUAL PALAMOUNTAIN SCHOLARSHIP BENEFIT

WHEN: July 23rd at 5:30 PM

WHERE: Saratoga Polo Association, Denton Road in Greenfield Center WHY: All proceeds from the Palamountain Scholarship Benefit. The scholarship provides support for students to attend Skidmore. TICKET COST: $150 ATTIRE: Summer Semi-Formal FOR TICKETS: Visit skidmore.edu

AN UNBRIDLED AFFAIR GALA

WHEN: July 25th from 6:00 PM to 10:30 PM WHERE: Saratoga Springs City Center

WHY: Support CAPTAIN Community Human Services, an organization that supports and empowers people of all ages to reach their goals of personal growth and self-sufficiency. The evening will be marked by elegant fare and beverages; dancing; live and silent auctions. ATTIRE: Summer Formal FOR TICKETS: Visit CaptainCares.org/news-events/ an-unbridled-affair-gala.html

SARATOGA HOSPITAL’S ANNUAL SUMMER GALA

WHEN: July 31st from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM WHERE: The Polo Meadow at Saratoga Casino Hotel WHY: The Saratoga Hospital Gala is a major source of support for the Saratoga Hospital Saratoga Community Health Center. TICKET COST: $175 per person, $125 junior attendee (21-35) ATTIRE: Summer Semi-Formal FOR TICKETS: Visit 501auctions.com/summergala

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Visit Lucia this season to complete your summer wardrobe, from head to toe! Shop our carefully curated selection of jumpsuits, cocktail dresses and sundresses, casual basics, summer accessories, jewelry and gifts.

454 Broadway #8 • 518.587.7890 LuciaBoutique.com

Emerald Green Summer in Paradise Jumpsuit by Sage the Label

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PHOTOS ON THIS PAGE BY DEBORAH NEARY FASHIONABLE FILLIES LUNCHEON 2017

10TH ANNUAL AFTER THE RACE COCKTAIL PARTY WHEN: August 4th at 6:30 PM

WHERE: Saratoga National Golf Club WHY: A celebration in honor of our retired Thoroughbreds TICKET COST: $100 ATTIRE: “Clubhouse” FOR TICKETS: Visit OldFriendsAtCabinCreek.com/ upcoming-events

FASHIONABLE FILLIES LUNCHEON

WHEN: August 5th

WHERE: Saratoga National Golf Club WHY: Benefit The Jockey Club Safety Net Foundation and Shelters of Saratoga. TICKET COST: $250 ATTIRE: Summer Semi-Formal, Hats/Fascinators recommended FOR TICKETS: Contact Shannon Kelly at skelly@jockeyclub.com

CROQUET ON THE GREEN: AMATEUR TOURNAMENT AND GOLF PARTY

WHEN: August 6th from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM

WHERE: Gavin Park, 10 Lewis Rd, Saratoga Springs WHY: Benefit AIM Services, Inc. in support of the power of potential in people of diverse abilities. The tournament consists of teams of two and is open to all ages, abilities, and skill. Enjoy on-site cigar rolling from Habana Premium Cigar Shoppe, martini and bubbly tastings from Specialty Wines & More, catering by Deliciously Different Specialty Items, music, and special raffles throughout the event. TICKET COST: $50 per person for Croquet and Garden Party, $40 per person for just Garden Party attendance ATTIRE: Summer Semi-Formal, Hats/Fascinators recommended FOR TICKETS: Visit AimServicesInc.org

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Worth Repeating

Ladies’ new and gently worn consignment clothing and fashion accessories…

Socha Plaza 123 Saratoga Road (Route 50) • Glenville (518) 384-0946 WorthRepeating123.com

Perfect outfits for the Saratoga Season (both day and evening!), including hats and fascinators. Hair and Makeup by Tori Zampella (model) of Awaken Hair Salon, Glenville

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PHOTOS ON THIS PAGE BY SUPERSOURCEMEDIA.COM HOT PINK SARATOGA HAT LUNCHEON 2018

THE SIZZLING HOT PINK SARATOGA HAT LUNCHEON

WHEN: August 8th

WHERE: Saratoga Race Course WHY: To Benefit Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Enjoy a cocktail reception, luncheon, and boutique shopping. TICKET COST: Underwriter: tables of 10 and acknowledgment - $5,000), Benefactor (includes table of 10) - $2,500, Tiara: $1000, Fascinator- $500, Beret- $300, Pink Ribbon Hat- $200 ATTIRE: Summer Semi-Formal, Hat/Fascinator recommended FOR TICKETS: Visit PlayForPink.org/events and search “Hot Pink”

43RD ANNUAL MUSEUM BALL WHEN: August 9th from 7:30 to Midnight

WHERE: The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame WHY: Enjoy cocktails and dinner benefiting the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame TICKET COST: $500 (Invitation only) ATTIRE: Black tie FOR TICKETS: Call 518-584-0400 ext. 107 or visit RacingMuseum.org

NY CHAPLAINCY BRUNCH

WHEN: August 14th

WHERE: Saratoga National Golf Course WHY: Raise funds for programs and events for all three NYRA Backstretch communities. This year honoring Debbie and Terry Finley of West Point Thoroughbreds TICKET COST: $120 ATTIRE: Summer casual FOR TICKETS: Visit rtcaNY.org

THE HEALTH, HISTORY AND HORSES CHARITY GALA

WHEN: August 15th at 6:00 PM

WHERE: Longfellows Hotel and Conference Center 500 Union Ave in Saratoga Springs WHY: Sponsored by Ladies of Charity Saratoga Vicariate. Funds raised are distributed to those in need in Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties. Featuring food, cash bar, music, silent auction, and basket raffle. TICKET COST: $75 ATTIRE: Summer festive FOR TICKETS: Visit LadiesOfCharitySaratoga.org or call Linda at 518-583-4020 or Gail at 518-587-5392 80 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2019

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Hot, sizzling Pink is the color to make every summer day bright! Joseph Ribkoff has definitely catered to the gal who wants to shine! Zip front tunic with an open sleeve, and the best length for dress trousers or your skirted leggings. Add a functional stretch trouser in black and white and you are good to walk to your favorite restaurant for a signature summer cocktail!

Spoken 27 Church Street 518.587.2772 SpokenSaratoga.com

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PHOTOS ON THIS PAGE BY SUPERSOURCEMEDIA.COM ONE FINE DAY 2018

HEALTH, HORSES & MAKING HISTORY

WHEN: August 19th at 6:00 PM

WHERE: Sportsplex in Halfmoon WHY: To benefit veterans and active military. TICKET COST: $100 at the door, $50 by August 1st ATTIRE: Summer Casual FOR TICKETS: SecondChanceSports.org or (518) 491-0556

ONE FINE DAY: SHELTERS OF SARATOGA CELEBRATION

WHEN: August 21st at 1:00 PM

WHERE: Saratoga National Golf Club WHY: Help to provide a secure future for community members in need, featuring complimentary valet parking, seasonal fare by Prime at Saratoga National, Lifestyles of Saratoga pop-up shop, entertainment and silent auction. TICKET COST: $75 ATTIRE: Summer casual FOR TICKETS: Visit SheltersofSaratoga.org

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PHOTOS ON THIS PAGE BY SUPERSOURCEMEDIA.COM TRAVERS WINE TASTING 2017

RACING FOR THE CHILDREN

WHEN: August 22nd from 6:30 to 10:30 PM WHERE: Saratoga National Golf Club

WHY: Support daycare and school programs for children whose parents work at the backstretch at Saratoga. ATTIRE: Summer Semi-formal FOR TICKETS: Visit belmontchildcare.org

20TH ANNUAL TRAVERS WINE TASTING WHEN: August 23rd from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM WHERE: The lodge at Saratoga Casino Hotel WHY: This exclusive event will kick off Saratoga MidSummer Derby weekend, as we help the Saratoga Race Course celebrate the Travers Stakes, all while capturing the excitement of the summer season. TICKET COST: $140 ATTIRE: Summer formal FOR TICKETS: Call (518) 465-3322, or email Maria Jones at mjones@seniorservicesofalbany.com

SARATOGA BRIDGES ANNUAL TRAVERS DAY AT THE RACES

WHEN: August 24th at 11:00 AM

WHERE: The Easy Goer Restaurant at the Saratoga Race Course WHY: Held on Travers Day at Saratoga Race Course, this event includes reserved seating and hospitality with a delicious buffet and beverage service at The Easy Goer Restaurant. Ticket price includes one complimentary cocktail per person, general admission to The Clubhouse and a Post Parade Program. Join us while we enjoy the thrill of the most exciting day of Saratoga’s racing season. TICKET COST: $160 ATTIRE: Track attire FOR TICKETS: Visit saratogabridges.org or call Monday-Friday from 7:30-4:00 p.m.: 518-587-0723 ext. 1242

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PHOTOS ON THIS PAGE BY SUPERSOURCEMEDIA.COM SAINT JUDE GALA 2018

RIDERS UP! KARAOKE

WHEN: July 28th from 4:30 PM to 10 PM WHERE: Vapor Nightclub WHY: Come benefit the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, which provides financial assistance to 60 former jockeys who suffer from on-track injuries. Watch you favorite jockeys compete in a karaoke contest! TICKET COST: $75 or $150 for VIP ATTIRE: Casual FOR TICKETS: Visit Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund’s facebook page

7TH ANNUAL ST. JUDE GALA WHEN: August 29th from 6 PM to 11 PM WHERE: Saratoga National Golf Club WHY: Guests will enjoy an evening of live music, delicious food and desserts and silent and live auctions, all benefiting the lifesaving mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: Finding cures. Saving children. TICKET COST: $175 ATTIRE: Semi-formal FOR TICKETS: Visit StJude.org

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Celebrate The Pursuit of Excellence.

EMBRACE THE RACE® 327 Broadway Saratoga Springs, NY embracetherace.com

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SPONSORED CONTENT

PLATO’S CLOSET CLIFTON PARK + STYLE ENCORE CLIFTON PARK

A New Way to Shop

WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER PHOTOS PROVIDED

FASHION IS FICKLE.

What’s so in today, is totally out tomorrow.

Keeping up with revolving fashion trends can be an expensive proposition, but have no fear, you can now elevate your style and alleviate the strain on your wallet the easy way – buy secondhand!

Style savvy shoppers can confidently buy secondhand with curated selections at stores like Plato’s Closet Clifton Park and Style Encore Clifton Park. An easy 25-minute drive from downtown Saratoga Springs, these two shops are owned by forward-thinking fashion-loving franchisees, Rhonda McMaster Allendorph and her daughter, Mehgan McMaster.

Rhonda, an intensive care unit nurse, mostly wore scrubs, t-shirts, and jeans – but she had two teenage girls who wanted to be seen in the newest styles. Luckily, Mehgan’s best friend worked at Plato’s Closet in Schenectady (under its previous ownership) and when she was 16 years old, she got a job there too.

“I could have whatever I wanted – cheaper – and different clothes came in every single day,” said Mehgan.

She was voted “Best Dressed” before graduating from Duanesburg Central School in 2012 and went on to get her bachelor’s degree in Business. Rhonda’s other daughter, Kelly, went on to study medicine and is now a registered nurse.

In August 2017, Rhonda and Mehgan purchased Plato’s Closet and moved it into its current Clifton Park location, rebranding it as Plato’s Closet Clifton Park.

FASHION EMERGENCY SBuying secondhand is not only financially friendly - it’s the right thing to do. We recycle other things – why not our clothing and accessories? When tinges of guilt nudge through the satisfaction of the purchase because of the environmental waste, pollution and ethical concerns associated with mass market manufacturing, you know it’s time to consider other options.

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SECONDHAND SHOPPING IS ON TREND. The total secondhand market grew to include 56 million women in 2018, up 12 million from the year before. Gen Z and Millennial shoppers have been the quickest to jump aboard the secondhand train, as Gen X and Boomers are slowly showing a shift in their shopping habits, as well. Buying clothing and shoes in person can still be appealing, however and there is no need to comb through reviews and comments - you see what’s on the shelf right in front of you, feel the fabric, and try it on for fit.

SPEAKING OF FIT… Style Encore Clifton Park offers women’s clothing in a range of sizes… 0-6x to be exact and Plato’s Closet Clifton Park may be geared towards trendy teenagers, but the same size range is available there too – 0-6x, for the gals and 28-40 for the guys. Sweet!

STYLE MAKERS & BREAKERS Plato’s Closet Clifton Park is full of on-trend teen clothing and were recently awarded for their nearly 200 percent growth in sales. Dealing exclusively in the brands that people are looking for, we can see how it’s easy to get #Obsessed while shopping at Plato’s Closet Clifton Park! Why shop the mall stores when you can “buy local” at a fraction of the cost?!

This year, Style Encore Clifton Park opened by the south entrance of the food court at the Clifton Park Center Mall in between Planet Fitness and the DMV. This boutique is set-up similarly to Plato’s Closet Clifton Park, with clean, easily seen, ultra-organized racks of higher-end adult clothing, amazing bags and drool-worthy shoes. Awesome accessories at unheard-of prices, boasting brand names including Gucci and Jimmy Choo, are glistening through a glass case. Here, you can fill your closet for less than you would pay for even one item at an outlet store.

Trained to look for designer authentication details such as stitching, hardware and accents, the McMasters’ team has acquired rare finds including certified Louis Vuitton bags. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

By photographing outfits and posting them on social media sites, people who are scrolling through Instagram can quickly snatch up these sought-after styles.

“We sell many of them the same day they come into the store,” said Mehgan.

BUYING BEAUTIFUL BRANDS ONLY When they announced the opening of Style Encore Clifton Park, the McMasters bought $65,000 worth of inventory in just two weeks from people wanting to sell what was in their closets.

“There was definitely a need for it and people were flying through the door to do so,” said Mehgan. A side-effect of clean-out sensations like Marie Kondo’s hit Netflix show and their cash-on-the-spot offers, you’re also reminded that what you’re doing is actually recycling by the revolving arrow symbol prominent in their logos and hovering above your head when you enter through the door. They are taking that one step further and will soon be “bagless” to be even greener – so don’t forget to bring your cloth tote bags when you come. Using a historical database to determine an item’s value, they sell pieces for 50 to 70 percent less than the retail price and offer you 30 to 40 percent of that total. For example, for a pair of American Eagle Jeans that sell for $16-$20 at Plato’s Closet Clifton Park, you’ll be offered $5-$8.

Unlike consignment stores where you give them your clothing and wait to see if it sells, whatever you bring in will be immediately evaluated and if they’re interested in purchasing it – they will – no waiting. “I can’t buy everything from everyone, but we’ll buy what we think we can sell,” said Rhonda. You’re not only saving money and doing the right thing as far as recycling, but they donate a portion of the proceeds from sales to charitable organizations, community fundraisers, and fundraising events. A definite win-win.

THE PERKS The March grand opening of Style Encore Clifton Park saw a long line of people waiting for hours to get in and take advantage of free giveaways including Michael Kors and Marc Jacobs bags, discount coupons, and gift cards donated by nearby stores.

Throughout the year, shoppers can enjoy a tiered loyalty program that rewards them with 1 point for every $1 they spend or sell. Their FREE Personal Shopper Service makes finding that special look faster and easier than ever. When you fill out an online form, selections in the latest styles are personally picked out for you ahead of time and waiting in the dressing room when you arrive. “When you come in, you’re treated like a queen,” said Mehgan.

Style Encore Clifton Park plays up the “social” aspect even further than just online, with special get-togethers at the store like Ladies Night Out (check them out above left – looks like fun!). Find the next one on Facebook and enjoy discounts, drinks and refreshments with your friends. You can also shop online, by hitting the “designer” tab on their Instagram account. Sounds like the future of fashion is here!

Find Us: Style Encore, Clifton Park Center Mall, 22 Clifton Country Road #78, Clifton Park, Phone: 518-630-5730, on Instagram @StyleEncore_CliftonPark, on Facebook @StyleEncoreCliftonParkNY Plato’s Closet, 400 Clifton Corporate Parkway, Clifton Park, Phone: 518-280-4807, on Facebook @PlatosClosetCliftonPark, on Instagram @PlatosCloset_CliftonPark SS saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

JULY/AUGUST 2019 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 89

Favorite Spots

FROM THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW!

(OTHER THAN THE TRACK!)

There is so much stuff out there to see and do! This list is just a teaser, but the Chamber’s website is worth spending a few minutes on - Saratoga.org.

HIKING

PROSPECT MOUNTAIN HIKING TRAIL A well-marked out-and-back trail with gorgeous views of Lake George. 518-668-5198 VAN DUSEN PRESERVE A well-marked nature preserve in Queensbury. 518-418-5263

DEAN FARM HERITAGE TRAIL Ideal for the hiker looking for an easy walk that could turn into a tougher climb! The trail system is great for families, anyone with impaired mobility, or anyone looking for an enjoyable walk in the woods. HUDSON RIVER NATURE TRAIL Easy trail along the river. Warrensburg. 518-623-1200

BERRY POND PRESERVE This 1,436 acre preserve is located in the towns of Lake George, Warrensburg and Lake Luzerne. Well-marked trails range from easy to moderately challenging, and offer views of Lake George's Narrows section and the lower Adirondack Mountains. No dogs allowed. Lake George. 518-644-9673 GREEN HILL AND CATAMOUNT MOUNTAIN HIKING TRAILS Hike in Pottersville to stunning views of the Adirondack High Peaks! Green Hill and Catamount Mountain are two hiking trails based out of Natural Stone Bridge & Caves park in Pottersville. 518-494-2283

ADIRONDACK MOUNTAIN & STREAM GUIDE SERVICE Explore the outdoors with Adirondack Mountain & Stream Guide Service! Adirondack Mountain & Stream Guide Service is a four-season, fully-licensed guide service offering hunting, fishing, canoeing, hiking, backpacking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing throughout the Adirondacks. We have been guiding folks like you through the mountains, lakes, rivers and streams for over 25 years. 518-251-3762 MUDDY BOOTS Guiding and gear rental. MuddyBootsGuide.com, (518) 368-6029

Information from VisitLakeGeorge.com/hiking

FREEBIES

SARATOGA'S ALL-AMERICAN CELEBRATION Thursday, Jul 4, 2019 Downtown Saratoga Springs

Celebrate 4th of July in downtown Saratoga Springs! Saratoga's All-American Celebration will begin with the Firecracker 4 Road Race, a four-mile road race through Saratoga.

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Festivities throughout the event will include a family photo opportunity with patriotic characters, an All American BBQ & Dessert Festival, a classic car show, and a 7:00 pm concert in the Springs Street parking lot featuring The Audiostars. Around 9:30pm, enjoy a live reading of the Declaration of Independence followed immediately by fireworks with patriotic music.

PARKFEST 2019 AT GAVIN PARK Saturday, Jul 13, 2019 Gavin Park, 10 Lewis Road Saratoga Springs

BROUGHT TO LIGHT DOCUMENTARY FILM SHOWING Saturday, Jul 20, 2019 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM Heritage Hunters of Saratoga County, 12 Spring St. Schuylerville BROUGHT TO LIGHT is a story of rediscovery, respect and change. In rural Upstate New York, the cleanup efforts by a few villagers of some stone markers in an overgrown field lead to the rediscovery of a forgotten, “slaves’ cemetery” in which hundreds of African Americans were buried during the 1800s. A portal to the past lives of Kinderhook’s lesser-known non-white population, the documentary explores Black History and the efforts of some Hudson Valley residents to restore respect to the Persons of Color Cemetery. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

BOOK STORES COMIC DEPOT 514 Broadway, Saratoga Springs (518) 581-2363 comicdepotllc.com

LYRICAL BALLAD BOOKSTORE 7 Phila St., Saratoga Springs (518) 290-8808, LyricalBalladBooks.com

NORTHSHIRE BOOKSTORE 424 Broadway, Saratoga Springs (518) 682-4200, northshire.com

SARATOGA BOOK WAREHOUSE 68 Weibel Ave, Saratoga Springs (518) 450-1122

EXCELLENT ADVENTURE 110 Milton Ave, Ballston Spa (518) 884-9498

THE VILLAGE BOOKSMITH 223 Main Street, Hudson Falls (518) 747-3261 VillageBookSmith.tumblr.com

BREAKFAST AT THE TRACK Yes, you pay to park, but if you leave by 10 a.m. you get a refund. So enjoy the buffet (or bring your own), sip your coffee in a private box, watch the horses work out and enjoy the misty morning like royalty.

FREEBIES CONT... SARATOGA SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK: KING LEAR Tuesday, Jul 23, 2019 until Saturday, Jul 27 Alfred Z. Solomon Stage, E. Congress Park, Saratoga Springs

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF RACING HALL OF FAME INDUCTION Friday, Aug 2, 2019 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM Fasig-Tipton Sales Pavilion, 415 East Avenue Saratoga Springs

FIRST FRIDAYS -BSPA July 5, 2019, August 2, 2019 Each month's First Friday features a free family Movie in the Park, TBA. Please visit Ballston.org/category/ first-fridays/ for more information.

photo by John Seymour

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Favorite Spots

FROM THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW!

DAY TRIPS HEAD NORTH: Visit Lake George, Schroon Lake, Lake Placid and the Adirondack Region, just to name a few. See page 107 for more info.

Photo by Lindsay Fish

PICK-YOUR-OWN-FRUIT

ARIEL’S FARM 194 Northern Pines Rd., Wilton (518) 584-2189

HAND MELON MARKET 533 Wilbur Ave. Greenwich (518) 692-2376

Saratoga Spa State Park $10 per vehicle to park inside the park.

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HEAD WEST: Drive to Sacandaga Lake and enjoy the lovely scenery around the lake and in the small neighboring towns. See page 108 for more info.

WALKING TOURS

WINNEY’S FARM 113 Winney Dr. Schuylerville (518) 695- 5547

VICTORIA POOL, PEERLESS POOL

Peerless Pool, photo provided by nysparks.state.ny.us

HEAD EAST: Walk Around Schuylerville ( see page 112 for more info.) or Greenwich and visit the quaint little shops and great eateries. Vermont is well worth the drive, and you’ll be there within an hour!

HEAD SOUTH: Go Antiquing in Ballston Spa! If you visit Ballston Spa on a Thursday, make sure you stay in town for one of their free concerts in Wiswall Park. ( June through August, 6-8 p.m.) See page 114 for more info.

• Victoria Pool $8 per person • Peerless Pool - Free for the 2019 season!

THE SARATOGA HERITAGE AREA VISITOR CENTER offers the “History, Legend and Lore” tour, a popular 90 minute stroll through Congress Park highlighting the history and personalities that have made Saratoga Springs the city that it is today. The tours run Monday through Saturday in July and August, and Saturdays in September and October. Tours leave from the Visitor Center, 297 Broadway at the corner of Congress Street and Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs, directly across from Congress Park. Tickets are $8.00. Children under 12 years are free. Please call (518) 587-3241.

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

2019

FASIG-TIPTON The grounds are open to the public, so grab a table in the courtyard, have a (very reasonably priced) bite at the concession stand and then walk around and pick out which horse you’ll be plunking down millions for.

TO SEE WHERE THE LOCALS GO LOOK FOR THIS DECAL

SUMMER CONCERT SERIES IN CONGRESS PARK Enjoy music in Historic Congress Park at the War Memorial, directly across from the Canfield Casino.

The rain location is the Saratoga Heritage Area Visitor Center at 297 Broadway. Concerts are held from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm during July and August.

In July, concerts are held on Sunday evenings.

CONCERT SCHEDULE: Sunday, Jul 7, 2019

Sunday, Jul 14, 2019 Sunday, Jul 21, 2019 Sunday, Jul 28, 2019

Tuesday, Aug 6, 2019

Tuesday, Aug 13, 2019 Tuesday, Aug 20, 2019 Tuesday, Aug 27, 2019

In August, concerts are held on Tuesday evenings. Grab a blanket, some snacks, and prepare for an evening of relaxing and FREE fun!

COUNTY FAIRS To really appreciate the label of “The City in the Country,” you need to wander out a little. What better way to check out the countryside than by going to any of the wonderful country fairs in the area? saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

SARATOGA COUNTY FAIR July 23 - 28 SaratogaCountyFair.org (518) 885-9701 ALTAMONT FAIR August 13 - 18 AltamontFair.com (518) 861-6671

WASHINGTON COUNTY FAIR August 19 - 25 WashingtonCountyFair.com (518) 692- 2464

SCHAGHITICOKE FAIR August 28 - September 2 SchaghticokeFair.com (518) 753-4411

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Have Kids?

PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS

THANK YOU SARATOGAMAMA.COM FOR THIS GREAT GUIDE! AT-A-GLANCE

WEST SIDE RECREATION

Stroller-friendly? Infant Swings? Bathrooms? Sprinkler Park?

AT-A-GLANCE

Stroller-friendly? Infant Swings? Bathrooms?

CORNER OF DIVISION STREET AND BEEKMAN STREET, SARATOGA SPRINGS

West Side Rec is one of our top playground picks because in addition to many shaded areas and a decent playground, this park has water! A large interactive fountain sits in the middle of the grass, a refreshing invitation for hot, sticky kids. This park is a good size, and has plenty of shaded areas, some benches and picnic tables. The playground equipment is basic and there is a good sized sand box. There are bathrooms here but they are a bit of a walk from the playground. West Side Rec is a nice spot and well worth a visit.

C O N G R E S S PA R K

DOWNTOWN SARATOGA SPRINGS

Congress Park is a gorgeous and historic park in the middle of downtown Saratoga. With duck ponds, grassy meadows, historic landmarks and a wooden carousel, Congress Park is a great meeting place, picnic spot, or people-watching destination. In July and August, Congress Park is home to live music concerts, arts and crafts festivals, and other special events. Pack a picnic blanket from home and pick up lunch at one of your favorite downtown Saratoga lunch spots. Enjoy an afternoon picnicking in the park!

AT-A-GLANCE

Stroller-friendly? Infant Swings? Bathrooms? Sprinkler Park?

EAST SIDE RECREATION CORNER OF LAKE AVE AND GRANGER AVE, SARATOGA SPRINGS

Located on the corner of Lake Ave (Route 29) and Granger Ave in Saratoga is East Side Rec. East Side Rec has a skate park, several tennis courts, baseball fields and public bathrooms. It’s a nice park for a hot summer day because it is one of four Saratoga fountain playgrounds. The fountain is nice and usually quite busy in the summertime. There is a playground at East Side Rec that was recently updated.

AT-A-GLANCE

Stroller-friendly? Infant Swings? Bathrooms? Sprinkler Park?

G AV I N P A R K

10 LEWIS ROAD, WILTON

Gavin Park is a huge complex with well-maintained fields, courts, pavilions, a gymnasium, and a nice playground featuring a brand new splash pad. There’s tons of parking, bathrooms, and the pavilion right near the playground has vending machines for soft drinks. The playground was recently updated and features a brand new adaptive playground called Kaitlin's Korner. Gavin Park offers a wide variety of sports and activities for kids throughout the year. Check out townofwilton.com/gavin-park for details on the programs offered.

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saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

SUZANNE'S PLAYGROUND

WOODTHRUSH COURT, MILTON

AT-A-GLANCE

Stroller-friendly? Infant Swings? Bathrooms?

AT-A-GLANCE Stroller-friendly? Infant Swings? Bathrooms?

KELLEY PARK/ KIDS' CREEKSIDE VILLAGE

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

This brand new all-inclusive and accessible playground is located on the western side of Burgess-Kimball Memorial Park, just off of Woodthrush Court in Milton. It's the newest playground in our area, and the kids are loving it so far! The reconstructed "all-inclusive" playground features ADA swings, sensory panels, transfer platforms for children with mobility issues, and rubber surfacing tiles for the safety of all children. There are also special ramps for wheelchairs and one swing that holds a wheelchair.

RALPH STREET, BALLSTON SPA

Kelley Park playground, called "Kids' Creekside Village" in Ballston Spa, is a mecca for the playground enthusiast. The playground has some standard features like twirling slides, swings, and climbing contraptions, but it has some very unique things too, like giant xylophones with big mallets for kids to play, a large sandbox, and a special area just for toddlers. It’s located on the Kaydeross Creek, but the actual playground is fenced in. Visibility isn’t great here, so be prepared for a highermaintenance playground experience, especially if you have little kids.

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Rainy Day Fa COMPILED BY LILY NEHER

A BEAD JUST SO

114 Milton Ave, Ballston Spa, Mon-Sat 10AM to 5PM Closed Sun, ABeadJustSo.com/home WHAT THEY OFFER:

ABEAD JUST SO

A wide selection of loose and strung craft beads, beginner jewelry making classes, and private parties. Affordable shopping and classes starting at just $40

SARATOGA PAINT AND SIP

CREATIVE SPARKS

42 Phila Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 Mon & Tues 10AM to 4PM, Wed 10AM to 6PM Thurs 10AM to 9PM, Fri & Sat 10AM to 6PM Closed Sun, CreativeSparksArt.com WHAT THEY OFFER:

Paint your own pottery, mosaic, or fused glass piece! Come visit Saratoga’s only walk in art studio! $8-$65 depending on the piece.

FUN SPOT

CREATIVE SPARKS

1035 US 9, Queensbury, Mon-Thurs 10AM to 2PM, Fri-Sat 10AM to 11PM, Check their website for specific attraction hours, TheFunSpot.net FUN SPOT

WHAT THEY OFFER:

Fun! Mini golf, roller skating, laser tag, obstacle courses, and go karts! $27.90-$39.95 for day passes

GREAT ESCAPE INDOOR WATER PARK AND LODGE

89 Six Flags Drive, Queensbury, 12PM to 6PM SixfFagsGreatEscapeLodge.com WHAT THEY OFFER:

SKY ZONE TRAMPOLINE PARK

Kids and adults at Six Flags Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Waterpark can float on inner tubes along the lazy river, enjoy the waves with some surfing, ride the tubes down tunnel slides, or explore a playground full of slides and water features. The weather inside is always 82°, so get ready to make a splash! $40 per person for the day or starting at $199 to lodge for the night

LITTLE GYM OF SARATOGA

GREAT ESCAPE INDOOR WATER PARK AND LODGE

2110 Ellsworth Blvd, Malta, 9AM to 7PM TheLittleGym.com/saratogaNY

TARK'S INDOOR GOLF

WHAT THEY OFFER:

Dance, gymnastics, and sports for grade school children. Call for drop-in availability (518) 764-7726

SARATOGA (& ALBANY) NINJA LAB

9 Stonebreak Road, Suite 3, Malta Crossgate Commons, 161 Washington Ave. Ext., Albany 4PM to 9PM weekdays, check their class schedule! SaratogaNinjaLab.com

LITTLE GYM OF SARATOGA 96 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2019

WHAT THEY OFFER: “The NBC hit television show ‘American Ninja Warrior’ was certainly the catalyst behind the Saratoga Ninja Lab! Enjoy drop-in classes or open gym. $20-$25 for a single class or open gym

SARATOGA NINJA LAB saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

mily Fun SARATOGA PAINT AND SIP

80 Henry Street, Saratoga Springs, Mon-Fri 6PM to 9PM, Sat 6PM to 10PM, Sun 1PM to 5PM PaintAndSipStudios.com

WHAT THEY OFFER: Guided painting lessons with no experience necessary! Take home a beautiful painting and enjoy tap brews and wine while creating it! $25 per class

SARATOGA SPRINGS PUBLIC LIBRARY

49 Henry Street, Saratoga, Mon - Thurs 9AM - 9PM, Fri 9AM to 6PM, Sat 9AM to 5PM, Sun 12PM to 5PM SSPL.org

WHAT THEY OFFER: Books of course, as well as study areas, reading centers, a teen social room, meeting rooms and community events, and Even 3D printing!

SARATOGA STRIKE ZONE

32 Ballston Ave, Saratoga Springs, Sun-Thurs 8AM to 12AM, Fri & Sat 8AM to 2AM SaratogaStrikeZone.com

WHAT THEY OFFER: Bowling, an arcade, bumper cars, and the Ballocity play area… plus a sports bar and restaurant! Family fun at its best! Bowling starts at $8, including shoe rental

SKY ZONE TRAMPOLINE PARK

235 Corinth Rd, Queensbury, Mon-Fri 3PM to 7PM, Sat 10AM to 9PM, Sun 11AM to 6PM SkyZone.com/Queensbury

WHAT THEY OFFER: “Let go of gravity and grab some air on our sprawling wall-to-wall trampoline courts. Challenge a friend or show off your inner acrobat.” Features a basketball court, foam gymnastic landing pits, and up the wall trampolines! Family Pack including a 2-hour pass and pizza for 4 people - $80

TRU-ESCAPE MYSTERY AND ESCAPE ROOM

Aviation Mall, 578 Aviation Rd., Queensbury, Schedule your hour (518) 621-5202, Tru-Escape.com

WHAT THEY OFFER: An adventure! Try to escape the room by solving logic puzzles on themed adventures like Murder Mystery, Secret Agent, and Fallout Shelter. $28 per person

TARK’S INDOOR GOLF

4295 Route 50 in Wilton, Wed-Fri 12 AM to 8PM, Sat 10AM to 8PM, TarksIndoorGolf.com/indoor-golf

WHAT THEY OFFER: Play virtual golf in a 3D graphic environment, with digital artistry and complex physics algorithms seamlessly blended to create an indoor golf experience that closely mirrors a round played outdoors. Prices start at $44

YMCA (WEST AVE & WILTON)

290 West Ave, Saratoga Springs, (indoor pool) 20 Old Gick Rd, Saratoga Springs, (courts) 5AM to 11PM, YMCA.net, $10 one day passes

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Flying Through the Trees

WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER PHOTOS PROVIDED

This summer, find a new way to fly at West Mountain. A flying trapeze, log wave, rolling vine, and cloud sled are just a few of the ways you can get moving through the 5-acres of treetop courses in West Mountain’s Aerial Adventure Park.

Take an over-the-top scenic chairlift ride up the mountain’s 1,400 ft. summit to explore the aerial park’s six trails- ranging in difficulty- from easy to extreme. “There are some incredible views. You look down 1,200 ft. over the Hudson River Gorge. There really is interesting terrain up there. It’s something the whole family can do,” said the park’s co-owner Spencer Montgomery. DARE TO DEFY EXPECTATIONS

What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fall?

Safely go sky high! Clip into their “smart” harnessing system, strap on your helmet, and climb through obstacles suspended 20’ to 60’ high on black locust and cedar trees.

Great for corporate team building and parties, special combined lunch and adventure packages are available. Take up a premier, deluxe or standard boxed lunch option purchased from the mountain’s restaurant to enjoy at the summit’s “Crow’s Nest Picnic Area” while taking in the views. “What a lot of people don’t realize is the top of West Mountain is a plateau,” said Montgomery.

For a romantic evening outing, Fridays and Saturdays bring a special opportunity to enjoy the sunset views from the chairlift, meander through the “Crow’s Nest Trail” at the top of the mountain, and then return to the West Mountain Lodge’s remodeled indoor/outdoor eatery for freshly prepared sandwiches, drinks at the bar, or a hearty meal straight off the grill. WEST MOUNTAIN’S AERIAL ADVENTURE PARK

59 West Mountain Road, Queensbury, NY is open 7 days/week from 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. beginning JULY 1st. AERIAL ADVENTURE PRICING

“Once you hook into the treetop system - you cannot fall – so you can take a lot more risk,” said Montgomery.

(includes chairlift ride to and from the park) $59/Adult (ages 13+) and $45/Youth (ages 7-12)

ADVENTURE AWAITS

SCENIC CHAIRLIFT RIDE TICKETS: $15/Adult (13+) $10/Youth (12 and under) For more information, go to WestMTN.net/aerial-adventures

Move at your own pace, pass the person in front of you, or repel to get down, as the park’s large staff keeps a watchful eye out to help disperse traffic and ensure your safety. Purchase a combined Extreme Adventure ticket and after a run through the trees, take a ride on any of West Mountain’s Bike Park’s 18 downhill and cross-country mountain biking trails. 98 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2019

EXTREME ADVENTURE DAY PACKAGES (includes aerial adventure and mountain biking) $75/Adult (ages 13+) $50/Youth (ages 12 and under)

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Playing a Round IN SARATOGA

WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER PHOTOS PROVIDED

“Grab a hole of Saratoga History”

Playing a game of 18 holes at the new Olde Saratoga Miniature Golf course is like taking a tour through the city.

By the time you’re done, you’ll be saying, “this is a pretty cool town”. The course features two ponds, flowing fountains, and a waterfall. Each hole highlights a local landmark, letting you learn about the Saratoga Race Course, SPAC, Historic Hotels and more by reading the 30” x 30” signs situated throughout the course. Lesser known facts about the town’s buildings and influencers were gathered together with the help of local residents including Dave Patterson, the co-owner of Saratoga Tours who taught Social Studies at Saratoga Springs High School for more than 30 years. “It’s an enjoyable thing for ages 2 to 82 to do as a family,” said owner Brian Brumley. TAP IT IN Large rocks create interesting terrain obstacles in the course, which is filled with challenges including ramps, banks and drop offs. It is also designed so a hole-in-one is possible at every turn.

“Everyone cheers when there’s a hole-in-one,” said Brumley.

Adirondack chairs in the shaded outdoor seating area give spectators a comfortable place to relax while enjoying hot dogs, pretzels, soft ice cream or other snacks from the concession stand. “It’s a great course. It’s laid out very well,” said Kristen Eglintine, 100 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2019

Brumley’s girlfriend and the inspiration for this latest project. Brumley has been co-owner of the popular Spring Street Deli and Pizzeria for 22 years.

Olde Saratoga Miniature Golf was engineered last year by Saratoga Associates and initially constructed by Arkansas builder Jeff Dillon. Con Burke of Burke Brothers Builders (BBB) took over the project in October, along with Rucinski Hall Architecture, The Lawn Guy Landscape Mgmt., LLC and K&M Home Improvements. “We can’t say enough about BBB’s work and we wouldn’t be where we are today without Con’s dedication and insight,” said Brumley. Several local businesses have sponsored holes throughout the course and as a nod to Saratoga Water’s sponsorship of Hole #15, the pumphouse has been painted that all too familiar Saratoga Water Blue LET’S PAR TEE A great new place for gatherings, corporate outings and birthday parties, Olde Saratoga Miniature Golf offers group rates and weekday specials. OLDE SARATOGA MINIATURE GOLF, 556 Maple Avenue, Saratoga Springs is located behind Saratoga Wine & Spirits and the Brooklyn Attitude Hair Salon. Olde Saratoga Miniature Golf is open 12pm until 9pm seven days a week beginning July 1st. Fall hours will be limited. There is plenty of parking, restrooms on-site and a concession stand. Holes 1-9 are handicap accessible. A round of 18 holes is $9 for adults and $7 for children. Find them on Instagram or Facebook @oldesaratogaminigolf SS saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Local Ice Cream COMPILED BY LILY NEHER PHOTOS BY SUPERSOURCEMEDIA.COM

102 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2019

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Shops FARMERS DAUGHTERS

882 NY Route 29, Saratoga Springs FarmersDaughtersDriveIn.com March to October, 9AM to 9PM PRICE RANGE: Affordable – full menu of American food and ice cream WHAT THEY’RE KNOWN FOR: Delicious ice cream that can be enjoyed overlooking the scenic rolling hills of Schuylerville WHY YOU SHOULD GO: It’s a Schuylerville community staple and it’s just across from Schuyler park!

DAIRY HAUS 476 Maple Avenue, Saratoga Springs DairyHaus.com Sun-Thurs 11AM-8PM, Fri-Sat 11AM-9PM PRICE RANGE: Affordable and large portions WHAT THEY’RE KNOWN FOR: “The best homemade hard and soft ice cream since 1985!” WHY YOU SHOULD GO: Their excellent ice cream cakes!

HUMPTY DUMPTY 70 West Ave. Saratoga Springs HumptyDumptyIceCream.weebly.com 11AM to 10PM PRICE RANGE: Affordable ice cream and subs WHAT THEY’RE KNOWN FOR: Family Owned, friendly staff and the line to be on during the summer! WHY YOU SHOULD GO: They have Dole Whip too!

saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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From Cow to Cone

WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER PHOTOS BY SUPERSOURCEMEDIA.COM

Take a pleasant drive through the country to King Brother’s Dairy for a unique agritourism adventure. THE KING’S WELCOME Located in the small rural area known as Bacon Hill, in the village of Schuylerville, just 15 minutes east of downtown Saratoga Springs, you’ll begin by parking in the large gravel U-shaped lot facing a new 3,000 sq. ft. modern barn on the King Brother’s century-old working dairy farm.

Walk past a comfortably cool light-blue wooden bench outside, go in through the large glass doors of King Brother’s Dairy Bar and you’ll be entering into a farmhouse-chic ice cream shop and local grocery store that gives you a front row seat view into today’s dairy industry. The spacious open floorplan, conceived of by Olsen Associates, is illuminated by natural light streaming in from the expansive front windows and clusters of exposed-bulb black metal fixtures hanging from 15 ft. ceilings.

crest. Here, you’ll find 34 flavors of small-batch artisan hard ice-cream, milkshakes and more, all made with the King Brother’s own super-premium quality milk.

WHERE FLAVOR IS KING

Try a “Sampler” dish; a banana boat of 4 large scoops of your choice of flavors, to take advantage of all their options.

Bright, welcoming signage, designed by John Bolster, accentuates the fact that this space is among the crowning glories of the cattle world.

Blazoned across the large white subway tile behind the ice cream counter to your right, is the King Brother’s milk bottle 104 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2019

Dotted with seasonal fresh fruit from local farms and large chunks of cookies, cake, nuts and candies, this ice cream was formulated into their unique recipes with the help of consultants from Cornell University and farms in the Midwest.

Dare to open yourself up to “Pandora’s Obsession” (a dark

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chocolate ice cream with a peanut butter swirl -named after the co-owner’s wife), explore the “JPM” (a customer-suggested “Just Plain Maple” ice cream without the walnuts), the decadent “Sure Ain’t Vanilla” (a chocolate ice cream with chocolate fudge swirl, brownies and chocolate chips), and finish it off with a fun dab of “Cookie Monster” (a blue-colored white chocolate ice cream with Oreo chunks and cookie dough).

Or perhaps you’d rather grab a scoop of “Heaven” (a white chocolate ice cream with raspberry swirl), a piece of “Cake” (made with chocolate cake chunks from the Schuylerville-based “Cake” bakery), some “Satisfaction” (chocolate ice cream filled with Snickers bars and peanut butter swirls), and have it topped off with the luxurious “Just Take My Money” (a salted caramel ice cream with caramel swirls and candied pecans). Hungry for a change? Try “The Bacon Buzz”, a maple bourbon ice cream made with candied bacon pieces, in a waffle cone or a “special” waffle cone dipped in topping sprinkles. “Our favorites are constantly changing, we go through all the flavors and try a spoonful every day,” said Rebecca King. SPORT OF KINGS Come early in the day on Mondays and Thursdays and while you’re enjoying your ice cream from any seat at their indoor dining area, you can see the milk bottling process through two large windows positioned beneath a loft of wooden sliding barn doors. Watch as between 20-to-50 bottles/minute are filled with farmfresh milk, come off the conveyor belts, and are put into crates.

“Here we do the whole thing. To have a creamery on the farm, it lets us come full circle. We have total control from one end to another. It gives you a level of connection and trust when people can come and see what we do,” said the farm’s co-owner Jan King. Peruse the farm store while the kids play deliveryman in the miniature milk truck or pretend to serve up ice cream from the magnetic play set behind the child-size ice cream stand.

Coolers along the back wall offer up King Brother’s milk in a variety of sizes (in both their signature glass and in their easy-totransport plastic bottles), their own beef, along with locally-made refrigerator staples like Pucker’s Pickles and Oscar’s Smokehouse meats.

Centrally-located coolers display sumptuous local favorites including Sammy Cohen’s take-and-bake pizzas, Smith’s Orchard pies, and New Skete Cheesecakes. Gift items such as stone dishware, farmhouse candles and squishy toy cows, give everyone the opportunity to take a piece of the country home with them. “It’s a fun atmosphere because that’s who we are as a family,” said Rebecca, as co-owner Jeff King scoops up one of the children running around. Throwing him over his shoulder, the boy’s squeals of delight are matched only by the laughter of the other youngsters excitedly running after him as he marches up to the ice cream counter.

KING BROTHER’S DAIRY BAR, 311 King Road, in Schuylerville, is open now through Labor Day, Monday through Thursday 9 am until 8 pm, Friday & Saturday 9 am until 9 pm, and Sunday 12 pm until 8 pm. Find them on Facebook @ KingBrothersDairy. SS saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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COMPOSED BY KASSIDY PANCERELLA Thank you to the Saratoga Lake Association, Kayak Shak and the Warren County Chamber for these beautiful photos!

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Yes, We Have Water! SARATOGA HAS A BEAUTIFUL LAKE - WITH THREE OTHERS CLOSE BY. Looking to charter a boat and sail around the lake like they did in the late 1800s… Looking to rent a power boat… Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn to row or how to sail… Or you just want to laze around the lake on a canoe or a kayak… Maybe you want to jazz up your workout with paddle boats, SUP Boards or SUP Yoga? …or maybe you just want to grab a drink, a bite and enjoy the beautiful sunsets. Yup, Saratoga Lake has it all.

This photo by SuperSourceMedia.com, all other photos provided.

Lake George

CRYSTAL CLEAR WATER, GREAT VIEWS ...AND SO MUCH TO DO! Lake George is the home of what they call America’s “Original Vacation”. It was over two centuries ago when travelers began to wander through the Adirondack Mountains, leading the way for today’s Adirondack escapes. Lake George has become one of the most all-encompassing vacation destinations in the northeast. There are many outdoor activities in Lake George, including hiking on well-maintained trails and swimming and sunbathing at one of the public beaches. Million Dollar Beach, Shepard Park and Usher Park all make for great family fun. The Lake George Steamboat Company has made seeing the lake accessible and exciting for 200 years! Giant ships, like the steamboat Minne Ha Ha, take cruises of varying length around the lake multiple times a day throughout the summer. Some cruises offer lunch and dinner buffets and there is a popular fireworks cruise every Thursday night, weather permitting. Other popular Lake George attractions include the Adirondack Extreme Adventure Course, the first and largest aerial treetop adventure course in the United States. There is plenty of opportunity to shop, with the saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Factory Outlets of Lake George. Both adults and kids will enjoy getting a taste of history at the Fort William Henry Museum. Lake George Village has great daytime dining and an exciting nightlife. The Boardwalk Restaurant and Marina on Lake George offers dining and light fare on a boathouse deck over the lake. Pablo’s Burrito Cantina is a one-stop shop for delicious and authentic Mexican food. Christie’s on the Lake is perfect for daytime family dining or a night out with friends. Island camping: www.VisitLakeGeorge.com/camping/ island-camping Fireworks over the lake - EVERY THURSDAY in JULY AND AUGUST and MANY other occasions and holidays. *Dates are subject to change, confirm by calling Lake George Village. Prospect Mountain hike or Memorial Highway with picnic area at the summit and panoramic views of the lake and Adirondack Mountains. Community concerts in Shepard Park in Lake George Village and Veterans Memorial Park in Bolton. Weekly in July-August. JULY/AUGUST 2019 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 107

Saratoga Lake

CHARTER BOATS

LEARN TO SAIL

Adirondack Cruise & Charter Co. allows you to cruise the lake in style, keeping the boating activities of yesterday alive in a 50-foot classic 1900’s Fantail Launch - or choose the more modern 22 foot Sweetwater Pontoon Boat – there’s something for everybody! Fully insured, NYS inspected, and piloted by licensed Captain (and company owner) Hal Raven. Conveniently located at Saratoga Lake Marina off Route 9P, just minutes from exit 14. Captain Hal offers everything from sunrise to sunset cruises… groups or private charters - the possibilities are endless!

The "Invitation-To-Sail" is designed for those new to sailing who would just like a little taste of what it is like to be out in a sailboat. This will be a one session class designed to introduce the student to sailing to decide if it is something they would like to pursue. The class is offered on a scheduled basis in a group format or it can be taken as a private lesson.

ADIRONDACK CRUISE & CHARTER CO.

Saratoga Marina, 549 Union Ave Saratoga Springs, (518) 956-2626 ADKcruise.com

POWER BOAT RENTALS

POINT BREEZE MARINA

1459 NY-9P, Saratoga Springs 9AM–6PM, (518) 587-3397 PointBreezeMarina.com SALVI AQUATIC BOAT RENTALS Lee's Trailer Park (first left after the bridge) Saratoga Springs, 8AM–6PM (866) 538-9370 ext. 702 SOUTH SHORE MARINA LLC

113 NY-9P, Malta, 8AM–8PM (518) 584-9125

LEARN TO ROW

Do you want to learn to row? Take advantage of the beautiful Saratoga outdoors, get fit, and meet other like-minded individuals. Try the Adult Learn-to-Row Class! Whether you are returning to rowing after a long hiatus, looking to cross an item off your bucket list, looking to get into shape or thinking of joining our Master's program you are sure to have a fun adventure. This class is made possible with the help of experienced Master's and Junior's from SRA. Sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 pm.

Adult "Learn-To-Sail" is designed for those new to sailing or with little experience, this class will teach basics of sailing, "cruising", boat handling, crewing, and water safety. Saratoga Sailing School – SaratogaSailingSchool.org

KAYAKING, PADDLEBOARDING, SUP BOARDING & SUP YOGA

THE KAYAK SHAK

251 Rt. 67 Saratoga Springs, KayakShak.com (518) 587–9788 550 MARINA & BOARD (SUP YOGA CLASSES)

550 Union Ave, Saratoga Springs (518) 886-1373, Matthew@lakelocal.net

NON-MOTORIZED BOAT LAUNCHES SARATOGA LAKE STATE BOAT LAUNCH

NY-9P, Saratoga Springs 6AM–7PM (518) 584-2535 KAYAK SHAK

251 Stafford Bridge Rd. Saratoga Springs NY 12866 (518) 587 – 9788 KayakShak.com. $5 per charge per boat to launch from their docks. WATERFRONT PARK AT SARATOGA LAKE

Free, open to the public, restrooms, picnicking, no swimming, plenty of parking, a wonderful passive park on Saratoga Lake. Free boat launching available.

Directions from downtown…head east on Union Ave towards the lake, make a right onto Crescent Ave. and Waterfront Park is about ½ mile down on the left.

FIREWORKS

July 3rd, at Brown's Beach, sponsored by the Village of Stillwater

SWIMMING

Brown’s Beach is a popular public swimming spot in Saratoga. There is a shallow launch area for boating, but it’s great for families, with a nice wide sandy beach. They also have picnic grounds, a volleyball court, a fantastic restaurant and even an Inn for overnight accommodations. BROWN'S BEACH RESORT

511 U.S. 9, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 (518) 306-4987 dockbrowns@brownsbeachresort.com

SARATOGA ROWING ASSOCIATION

543 Union Avenue, Saratoga Springs (518) 587-6697, SaratogaRowing.com

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Moreau Lake

Sacandaga Lake The Great Sacandaga Lake is known as the “best-kept secret of the Adirondacks.” It is one of the largest lakes in the Adirondacks, and can be found nestled in the foothills of the Adirondack Preserve. Created by the Conklingville Dam in 1930, the lake today is an undiscovered treasure for boating, watersports, fishing, and other recreational activities.

There are many family owned dining options, such as Lanzi’s on the lake. Lanzi’s is a small “chain” of restaurants owned by the Lanzi family with four open restaurants and one in progress! The Lanzi family is very “hands on” and you can always find them working elbow to elbow with their employees

-Over 4,500 acres -20+ miles of hiking trails -U.S. Grant Cottage Historic Site -148 campsites -Group Camping site -3 cottages -Pavilions for rent for parties -Nature Center and Museum -3 boat launches -A 3 section swimming beach -And a beautiful 3 room nature center

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As far as boating goes… there are many marinas, beaches and various locations for day tripping, with many launches available. There are many different islands on Sacandaga with different offerings to each. Scout Island - owned by the boy scouts - is a very rocky island and attempting to walk on it should be avoided, but there is a small cove, on one side - in the shape of a horseshoe - that is the perfect place to tuck away during a storm. You can watch it all just pass on by you. On the opposite side of the cove is an area that is home to a family of bald eagles! You can spend all day watching them take off, and hunt for food. Sand Island is another that features a more accessible beach and offers lots of space for campfires, playing with dogs and enjoying family time on your boat.

There are many different tie-ups which range from the very tip top of the lake and very far south. They often have DJs for music, and people tie their boats up to each other to hang out and enjoy the sun. Camping sites are hardly scarce to come by, as there are so many. North Hampton marina has camp sites, and docks for your boats.

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Day Trip Waterfalls WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER PHOTOS PROVIDED

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New York State is home to 3,000 waterfalls – each one offering its own unique experience. Many of these are easy to reach and open to the public to explore.

Go early in the summer and you’ll have a chance to see the powerful result of the Spring rains cutting through the land, cascading over rocks and dropping into pools. With so many waterfalls all within a day’s drive of Saratoga Springs, the question really becomes; how do you choose? PICK YOUR EXPERIENCE

Waterfalls are wonderful places to beat the heat, escape from the ordinary, practice your photography skills and more. Some can be seen from the side of the road, clustered close to one another, and within a short drive you can stop at many different spots. Others are tucked away in the solitude of the forest and require a hard day’s hike to reach.

Start your journey by visiting DigTheFalls.com. Here you’ll find a comprehensive list of NYS Waterfalls, a waterfall map, photos and descriptions, as well as guidebooks to help you along the way. There’s also information here about the Adirondack Fifty Falls Challenge. Outdoor enthusiasts John Haywood and Russell Dunn helped develop this adventure for dedicated waterfall seekers. Once a participant visits all 50 sites, they receive a numbered certificate and patch. FAMOUS AMONG THE LOCALS

Wondering where locals like to quench their thirst for waterfalls? Here are a couple of popular places:

SHELVING ROCK FALLS – Shelving Rock Road, Fort Ann (1 hour

Here are a few suggestions to get you on your way to a great day:

JOHN BOYD THACHER PARK - 1 Hailes Cave Road, Voorheesville (1 hour from Saratoga Springs) A visitor center with geological and historical exhibits, the Emma Treadwell Thacher Nature Center, a payto-play Wild Play Adventure Course, rock-climbing and disc golf are a few of experiences you can expect to add to your waterfall excursions through this park. Situated on 25 miles of trails within this park’s terrain of limestone cliffs and caves, the rain-dependent falls vary in size from 5ft to 100ft drops. Some are easier to reach, while others are more challenging. The Hop Field and Paint Mine falls are both worth a look. Park vehicle entrance fee $6. MINNEWASKA STATE PARK PRESERVE 5281 Route 44-55, Kerhonkson (2 hours from Saratoga Springs). Along the Shawangunk Mountain Ridge, on 2,300 acres, footpaths and carriage roads offer numerous opportunities for hiking and biking. Here, the Awosting Falls give you an amazing look at the Peterskill River as it plunges 65ft from the sheer cliffs into a clear pool. There is no swimming allowed at the waterfalls, but both Lake Minnewaska and Lake Awosting have designated swimming areas.

Please note: There is no food or water available on-site. The park is currently in the middle of a major capital improvement project. Visitors are strongly encouraged to arrive early as parking is very limited. Parking fee $10. A mere 30-minute drive from the Awosting Falls trailhead there is another opportunity to see an impressive waterfall. A 5-mile roundtrip hike to the Verkeerderkill Falls from the Sam’s Point Preserve parking area gives you great views of the water as it drops 180ft into the canyon. There are also ice caves to explore at Sam’s Point. Sounds like a great day trip!

from Saratoga Springs)

On the Eastern side of Lake George, a short 3.4-mile roundtrip hike – with several geocaches along the way - rewards your family with satisfying lake views, picnicking spots, 70ft cascading waterfalls and places to take a swim. For a detailed description, photos and directions go to LakeGeorge.com/business/shelving-rock-falls-11207

OK SLIP FALLS – NY 28, Indian Lake (1 hour 10 minutes from Saratoga Springs) OK Slip Falls, with its 250ft drop, is one of the tallest waterfalls in the Adirondacks. The family-friendly round-trip hike is 6.7 miles within the High Gorge Wilderness along a trail that opened to the public in 2014. Two outlooks offer terrific viewing of the falls plummeting over a bedrock ledge. For a longer trip, a connecting trail will give you a chance to see the OK Slip Brook as it descends into the Hudson River. This trail’s terrain is a bit more challenging and will add another 2 miles to your round-trip. The trail ends at the mouth of OK Slip Brook next to a beach and upstream from the OK Slip rapids. For pictures and more information go to NewYorkUpstate.com STATE PARKS: THE TOTAL PACKAGE

Numerous waterfalls are located within the many well-cared-for State Parks. In addition to groomed hiking trails to impressive waterfalls, there are an amazing array of outdoor activities to transform a day trip into your perfect total package adventure. For more information go to NYStateParks.blog/2017/06/06/ fall-in-love-with-new-york-state-parks-waterfalls.

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Waterfall at Thacher Park

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Welcome to Schuylerville WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY SARATOGA TODAY INTERN LILY NEHER

istory, high school, and horses. In short, Schuylerville for students -and residents alike- is a unique place to be. A visit to the village - just a 15-minute drive from Saratoga Springs - can entail a historical connection, great food from local restaurants, and provides the most scenic views along the drive, at the local park and along the Hudson River. As a student, the historical resources of Schuylerville are almost comparable to those of our nation’s capital. We even have matching monuments! The Saratoga Monument sits proudly on the top of Burgoyne Street’s locally famous hill, the highest in the area. The view of the village from the monument is picturesque and peering over the apple orchard you will see the same view that Revolutionaries saw over 250 years ago. Studying American History at Schuylerville High School is to simply observe our town! In one visit you can experience the walk of British troops through Schuylerville, at a time when the Revolutionary War was on the cusp of the turning point in favor of American Independence.

Continue down the hill and find Schuylerville’s latest favorite, Revolution Café. The café recently relocated to 135 Pearl Street, just across from the high school. The house- turned-restaurant is filled with local history, and the restaurant’s atmosphere is so welcoming, it’s a great way to become introduced to Schuylerville’s charm. Sit on their patio and enjoy homemade paninis, sandwiches, or burgers, all prepared with delicious local ingredients. You haven’t experienced Schuylerville until you’ve tried the rich, sweet, chocolate milk from King Brothers Dairy, and luckily you can find it at Revolution Café or straight from the farm’s store on King Road. (Read more about King’s Dairy on page 104) Want to dine on the Hudson? Try Clark’s Steakhouse or enjoy the water view from one of the village’s many nature trails. A visit to Schuylerville wouldn’t be complete without a walk on the Towpath. The best route starts at the Schuyler House, another historic monument preserving the home of General Schuyler. You can wander through history inside the museum or meander the beautiful grounds of the general’s home as you make your way over a stream, where a path lays out under streaming sunlight and a canopy of trees. About a mile-long walk along the Champlain Canal, you’ll cross the street and enter Hudson Crossing Park. The charming park features a unique educational experience through nature. Wave as boats pass through Lock 5, play in their garden playground and picnic pavilion, or you can bike across Dix Bridge. The beautiful cedar bridge over the Hudson River connects Saratoga and Washington Counties. On Broad Street in Schuylerville, you can make your way through small, independently owned shops and restaurants. Plan to stay for dinner (or a weekend!) there’s too much to see in just one visit. We recommend staying at the Dove Gate Inn. When you’re done exploring Schuylerville – head east up Snake Hill, into the neighboring town of Greenwich. There you can enjoy even more small shops and rural scenes! 112 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2019

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Ballston Spa

“A great place to visit, do business and live!”

WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY SARATOGA TODAY INTERN LILY NEHER

he charming, walkable downtown embodies the “city of friends” feel that is Ballston Spa. It truly is a close-knit community and an enjoyable area to experience, with quaint shops and cafes and restaurants for every occasion.

Enjoy the cozy surroundings of Nomad’s Coffee and Crepes, or head across the street to Iron Roost and enjoy their delicious waffles and breakfast sandwiches (totally worth the wait in line!) then meander along Front Street.

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A growing artist community is blossoming in Ballston Spa and small galleries dot the streets. If you’re looking for history… Wander through Brookside Museum in western Ballston Spa, one of the oldest buildings in town.

The National Bottle Museum features a glasswork studio, and over 2,000 historic glass work pieces from when bottles were in peak demand. Don’t forget to spend some time exploring the homey feel of Ballston Spa this summer… You won’t regret becoming one of the many beloved friends of the village! SS

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SAVE the

JUNE - S EPTEM B ER

Date

FOR NYRA, SEE PAGE 20 FOR SPAC, SEE PAGE 56 FOR GALAS, SEE PAGE 71 FOR OUR SUMMER CONCERT SERIES IN CONGRESS PARK, SEE PAGE 93 FOR A LISTING OF LOCAL FAIRS, SEE PAGE 93

SUNDAY, JUNE 30 FARM TO FOLK: CAFFE LENA MUSIC SERIES AT PITNEY MEADOWS COMMUNITY FARM Pitney Meadows Community Farm, 223 West Ave., Saratoga Springs, 3 – 4 p.m. Every Sunday through June and July enjoy a summer afternoon of songs from the roots and branches of American folk music. These free, family-friendly concerts will take place under the pergola in our beautiful Community Gardens. Our thanks to Caffe Lena for their partnership on this series! Bring a blanket or lawn chair. Lemonade and iced tea will be available for purchase. Rain or Shine! If the weather is wet we’ll move the show into the high hoop house.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3 SKIDMORE JAZZ ALL-STARS Arthur Zankel Music Center, Ladd Concert Hall, Skidmore College, 815 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs 8 – 9 p.m. $8 Adults | $5 Seniors/Skidmore Community | FREE for Students and Children

THURSDAY, JULY 4 JULY 4TH AT SARATOGA BATTLEFIELD Saratoga National Historical Park, 648 NY 32, Stillwater, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Independence Day Citizenship Ceremony at 10 a.m. Celebrate and give cheers as 20 immigrants become citizens of the USA! Enjoy patriotic music and hear the crack of musket fire. Join in 13 lemonade toasts to the “new” United States. Parking for this event is extremely limited, please carpool if possible. Reading of the Declaration of Independence at 2 p.m. Join Park Ranger Emeritus Joe Craig as he portrays a town crier declaring America’s Independence and leads a rousing 13 celebratory toasts.

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SARATOGA’S ALL-AMERICAN CELEBRATION Downtown Saratoga Springs Saratoga's All-American Celebration will begin with the Firecracker 4 Road Race at 9 a.m., a four-mile road race through Saratoga. Festivities throughout the event will include a family photo opportunity with patriotic characters, an All-American BBQ & Dessert Festival, a classic car show, and a 7 p.m. concert in the Springs Street parking lot featuring The Audiostars. Around 9:30 p.m., enjoy a live reading of the Declaration of Independence followed immediately by fireworks with patriotic music.

FRIDAY, JULY 5 OPERA SARATOGA - HANSEL & GRETEL The Spa Little Theater, 19 Roosevelt Dr., Saratoga Springs, 7:30 p.m. Opera Saratoga presents the East Coast premiere of this truly unique version of one of the most beloved operas in the repertoire, featuring members of Opera Saratoga’s internationally acclaimed Young Artist Program in the principal roles, with a guest appearance by members of the Children’s Chorus of the Glens Falls Symphony. This production is suitable for all audiences and is ideal for families! Tickets cost $95, $75.50, $50. For additional information and other productions, visit OperaSaratoga.org.

FRIDAY, JULY 5 – SUNDAY, JULY 7 CALICO DANCERS NATIVE AMERICAN FESTIVAL AND POWWOW Harry J Betar Recreational Park, 19 Jan Ave., Moreau, 4 p.m. Native American Dancing, Arts and Crafts, Food and Fun. Experience Native American Round Dancing, Gourd Dancing, and Intertribal Dancing. From Saturday to Sunday there will be beadwork demonstrations and flint napping, children activities, flute player, and story tellers. A 3-day event open to the public. Gates open 4 p.m. Friday. Grand entry 7 p.m. Friday. The event runs noon to 7 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

SUNDAY, JULY 7 25TH ANNUAL SECRET GARDENS TOUR Various location in Saratoga County, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Soroptimist Secret Gardens Tour on Sunday, July 7, with a stunning mix of some of the favorite gardens of tours past and special additions for this milestone year. The self-guided Secret Gardens tour is an all-volunteer fundraiser presented by Soroptimist International of Saratoga County. The club grants thousands of dollars a year to organizations in keeping with its mission to improve the lives of women, girls and their communities locally and globally. Tickets are $25 in advance and may be picked up on the day of the tour, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Saratoga Springs Visitor Center, 297 Broadway. Any remaining tickets will be available for $30 during those hours. UPBEAT ON THE ROOF WITH NU-NOTE Tang Teaching Museum, 815 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 7 p.m. Join us for a performance by Skidmore student band Nu-Note as they kickstart the 19th season of Upbeat on the Roof. Every Thursday, July 11 through August 22 from 7:00-8:00 pm. Performances are free and open to the public. The rooftop is accessible via the museum elevator or outdoor staircases. In the case of inclement weather, the series is held inside the museum. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

SKIDMORE JAZZ ALL-STARS Arthur Zankel Music Center, Ladd Concert Hall, Skidmore College, 815 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 8 – 9:30 p.m. Adults $8; Seniors and Skidmore Community $5; free to students and children.

FRIDAY, JULY 12 LIGHT UP THE NIGHT Saratoga National Golf Course, 458 Union Ave., Saratoga Springs, 7:30 – Noon. Proceeds from this premier Saratoga gala for Albany Med’s Emergency Department help purchase state-of-the-art equipment and support important research opportunities for the emergency physicians and staff. Cost is $300 per person for Honorary Committee, $200 per person and $175 for young professionals - 40 years of age or younger.

SATURDAY, JULY 13 PARKFEST 2019 Gavin Park, 10 Lewis Rd., Saratoga Springs. Join the Town of Wilton for their annual ParkFest celebration! Free admission. 2019 entertainment includes Dessert Highway, Funk Evolution, Mini-ark Farms Petting Zoo & Exotic Animal Display, Bryson Lang Comedy Juggling, F & F Pig Racing, George Saterial’s Magic Show, custom & classic car show, rock wall climbing, pony rides, amusement rides, craft vendors, great food and so much more. SILKS & SATINS 5K RUN Fasig Tipton, 415 East Ave., Saratoga Springs, 8 a.m. The Annual Silks & Satins 5K Run to benefit Special Olympics New York takes runners on a tour of beautiful Saratoga Springs. Register today or the day of the race to earn goodies and support a great community organization. For more information, visit SilksAndSatins5k.com.

SUNDAY, JULY 14 28TH ANNUAL HAT CONTEST AT SARATOGA RACE COURSE Hundreds of contestants will don creative and fashionable head toppers on Sunday to compete in what has become a staple of Opening Weekend at Saratoga Race Course: the 28th annual Hat Contest, presented by Moet & Chandon and Hatsationa! Categories for this year's contest will include: Kreative Kids for fans 18 and under; Fashionably Saratoga for elegant and stylish hats; and Uniquely Saratoga for unusual and original creations.

SUNDAY, JULY 21 GRANT REMEMBRANCE DAY Grant Cottage, 1000 Mt. McGregor Rd., Wilton 1 – 2 p.m. One hundred and thirty-four years ago, at the age of 63, U.S. Grant finally bowed to the enemy who could defeat him – cancer. It has become a tradition at Grant Cottage to mark this somber occasion by recreating the Grant family circle and allowing those who loved him most to speak about Grant the husband, father and grandfather. Re-enactors portraying Grant’s family and close friends will gather on the Cottage porch and bid the man they loved and respected a final, very personal farewell. The suggested donation for Grant Cottage Porch Programs is $5 per person. For more information, call 518-584-4353.

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TUESDAY, JULY 23 – SUNDAY, JULY 27 SARATOGA SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK: KING LEAR The Saratoga Shakespeare Company will present King Lear in beautiful Congress Park in downtown Saratoga Springs. As always, all performances will be in Congress Park, Saratoga Springs, on the Alfred Z. Solomon Stage, at 6PM. Admission is free of charge, and Congress Park is entirely accessible. Both young and old, as well as family groups, are strongly encouraged to attend – with or without picnics – for what has become a beloved summer tradition in Saratoga.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 2 – SUNDAY, AUGUST 4 GUARDIANS OF THE TREASURE St. Clement’s School, 231 Lake Ave., Saratoga Springs, 7:30 p.m. Get whisked away to lands ruled by Light and Dark and the shadows in between. Retracing a journey made in 2016, iTheatre will offer another chance for enchantment. In Guardians of the Treasure, two teenaged girlfriends find a mysterious book that illuminates the elements of good and evil and how one force may overcome the other when ineluctable rebellion breaks out. The girls come to a new understanding of life, love, and the infinite capacity of the human spirit on their spiritual voyage to a realm far, far away. Based on the book by Saratoga's Dr. Selma Nemer and her granddaughter Gabrielle, and adapted/directed by Mary Jane Hansen. This production will also be presented on August 3 and 4 at 2 p.m. Tickets: $20 adult / $10 child. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit itheatresaratoga.org/#/guardians/

SATURDAY, AUGUST 3 – SUNDAY, AUGUST 4 TURNING POINT PARADE & FESTIVAL Fort Hardy Park, Route 29, Schuylerville 3 – 11 p.m. Music, human foosball played by members of local fire departments including Schuyler Hose and a very popular water balloon tossing contest. There is a fantastic firework display to conclude the festival. The Turning Point Parade begins at 1 p.m. on Sunday, August 4. It is the 25th Anniversary of the parade. The parade starts on Route 29 at the entrance to Schuylerville Central Schools and marches down Broad St. to the Schuyler House. The parade goes on for an hour and 20 minutes and includes 14 musical units. Free admission.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 4 'AFTER THE RACE' 10TH ANNIVERSARY COCKTAIL PARTY OLD FRIENDS AT CABIN CREEK Saratoga National Golf Club, 458 Union Ave., Saratoga Springs, 6:30 p.m. Old Friends at Cabin Creek proudly announces its “After the Race” special 10th Anniversary Cocktail Party to benefit their retired racehorses. Tickets for the buffet dinner event are $100 in advance and $125 at the door. Many special guests will be attending. The party will memorialize legendary trainer Bobby Frankel and his dedicated contribution to aftercare for racehorses. The mission of Old Friends at Cabin Creek, located at 483 Sand Hill Rd. in Greenfield Center, NY, is to provide a dignified retirement for Thoroughbred racehorses and to raise awareness of their needs. Sixteen equine athletes currently call the farm their forever home. Old Friends at Cabin Creek holds open house hours on Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m. throughout the year, with guided tours extending to Tuesdays through Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., beginning on July 2, 2019 through Labor Day. Tickets are $100 in advance, $125 at the door. For more information, call 518-698-2377. JULY/AUGUST 2019 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 117

JUNE - S EPTEM B ER

SAVE the

Date

TUESDAY, AUGUST 6 CROQUET ON THE GREEN Gavin Park, 10 Lewis Rd., Saratoga Springs, 3 – 7 p.m. Join us for our annual croquet tournament and garden party! Croquet on the Green is an event for the entire family! The amateur tournament consists of teams of two and is open to all ages, abilities, and skill. At the Garden Party, enjoy on-site cigar rolling from Habana Premium Cigar Shoppe, martini and bubbly tastings from Specialty Wines & More, catering by Deliciously Different Specialty Items, ice cream from Ben & Jerry’s, music, a kids play area, and special raffles throughout the event. Dress to impress! We’re hosting a Best Dressed and Best Hat contest, with special prizes for the winners. Cost is $50 per person. The annual Croquet on the Green event is an official sanctioned club through the United States Croquet Association (USCA). USCA National Champion Francis J. Palasieski will once again be the tournament judge. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit AimServicesINC.org/events/croquet/ 12TH ANNUAL VISIÓN: A LOOK AT LIFE BEHIND THE SCENES Saratoga Race Course, Union Ave., Saratoga Springs, 5:30 – 8 p.m. Visión is an annual highlight of the Saratoga racing season featuring the opening reception of the new pieces in EOC’s photography project “Estamos Aqui” (We Are Here). This is a curated exhibit and ongoing project in which Latino immigrants document their everyday lives and present their own photographs to share their experiences of living and working in the Saratoga Springs area. For more information visit SaratogaEOC.org. Tickets are $35 for Junior, $60 for general admission and $75 for honorary committee. Call 518-288-3206, ext. 155, for more information about tickets and sponsorship opportunities.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 9 – SATURDAY, AUGUST 10 SARATOGA PINBALL & ARCADE SHOW Saratoga Regional YMCA, 290 West Ave., Saratoga Springs The show will feature approximately 50 pinball machines and arcade games from the past and present, all set on free play. For one admission price of $10, you are welcome to stay all day and play as much as you like for no additional cost. Many of the games available to play will also be for sale. The show takes place on Friday August 9 at 2 – 10 p.m. and Saturday August 10 at 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. The show will also feature an indoor flea market with various pinball and arcade games, spare parts, and collectibles for sale. New this year, there will be a special exhibit featuring film memorabilia on display and for sale, including several original costumes and props from various movies and TV shows. There will also be a “PinGolf” pinball tournament for all ages on Saturday. For more information, visit Pinballsaratoga.com

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 11 ANNUAL 18TH CENTURY DAY AT THE HISTORIC SCHUYLER HOUSE Schuyler House, Route 4, Schuylerville, Noon – 5 p.m. Listen to music, see puppet shows, candle dipping, rope making, beer brewing, spinning, dyeing, quilting, tin-smithing, broom making, and more. Free admission.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17 JAIL HOUSE ROCK 5K Saratoga County Historical Society at Brookside Museum, 6 Charlton St., Ballston Spa, 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. The 17th Annual Jailhouse Rock 5K will take place on Saturday August 17, 2019 in Ballston Spa, New York. The race is sponsored by the Saratoga County Historical Society at Brookside Museum. All proceeds from the race support the efforts of SCHS to keep history alive in Saratoga County through collecting, preserving and displaying our history. There will be live music and awards for top finishers and age group winners. Cost is $25-35. To register, visit BrooksideMuseum.org/ jailhouse-rock-5k-2/ 13TH ANNUAL CAR, TRUCK AND BIKE SHOW Clifton Park Elks Lodge, 695 MacElroy Rd., Ballston Spa, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. All proceeds go to support the Elks Charities such as our Veterans Programs, Persons with Disabilities and College Scholarships. This is a 1-day event with lots of fun for all. We have many Great Awards and door prizes for the participants, Great food, Music and Vendors. Contestant registration is $10, spectators are free. Our rain date is August the 18. Call Steve at 518-366-4108 or Bob at 607-770-9126 for more information.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 17 – SUNDAY, AUGUST 18 11TH ANNUAL SARATOGA ARTS CELEBRATION National Museum of Dance, 99 S. Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. The Saratoga Arts Celebration will be hosted on the great lawn of the National Museum of Dance in the Saratoga Spa State Park, during the height of the tourism season in Saratoga Springs. The location of this prestigious art event will make it impossible for anyone entering Saratoga to resist. The pristinely manicured lawn is a gorgeous backdrop for this highly acclaimed event. For more information, visit GordonFineArts.org/saratoga-arts-celebration

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3 Local Farmers' Markets SARATOGA FARMERS’ MARKET Sets up twice a week, From May to October Wednesday afternoons from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. under the pavilions in High Rock Park, High Rock Avenue on the edge of downtown Saratoga Springs just east of the City Center. SaratogaFarmersMarket.org

SPA CITY FARMERS MARKET A Year-Round Farmers' Market located in the Saratoga Spa State Park, Lincoln Baths, 65 South Broadway, Saratoga Springs, Sundays (Year Round) May - October: 10am-3pm

GREENFIELD FARMERS’ MARKET Runs every Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. in Middle Grove Park on Middle Grove Road, through the second week in September. GreenfieldHistoricalSociety.com/Farmers-Market

Photo from the Soroptimist Secret Garden Tour saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Runway to a Cure PHOTOGRAPHED BY SUSAN BLACKBURN PHOTOGRAPHY & JIM MCLAUGHLIN

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Runway to a Cure is an annual fashion show fundraiser that benefits

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) in their mission of finding cures for blood cancer and improving the quality of life for patients and their families.

Women’s attire is provided by Saratoga Elegance, while the men are outfitted by Mark Thomas Men’s Apparel and Mr. Formal Wear provided the tuxes for the youngest models! Each year Runway to a Cure supports local candidates for the 10-week LLS Man & Woman of the Year campaign. Since its inception in 2016, Runway to a Cure has raised more than $320,000 for LLS - including a record breaking $116,000 in 2019 alone! These vital funds have been applied to specific research portfolio grants in the names of six local individuals who sadly lost their battles with blood cancer. Cancer doesn’t quit, so neither can we!! SAVE THE DATE for 2020 –

Join us in May 2020 for the 5th Annual Runway to a Cure event in Saratoga Springs!

Become a fundraising model, join our planning committee, step up as a Sponsor, donate an auction item, and/or attend the event for a spectacular night of HOPE! Together, we can make our way to CURES! More info at: LLSRunwayToACure.com

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Saratoga TODAY'S

DINING GUIDE

Solevo Kitchen and Social, photo by Susan Blackburn Photography Boca Bistro Photo by SaratogaPhotographer.com

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BREAKFAST, BRUNCH & BAKERIES Farmers Hardware Photo by Susan Blackburn Photography

Beverly’s Eatery 256 Milton Avenue Ballston Spa, (518) 885-2848 The Blue Hen The Adelphi Hotel 365 Broadway, Saratoga (518) 678-6000 BlueHenRestaurant.com Bread Basket Bakery 65 Spring Street, Saratoga (518) 587-4233 SaratogaBreadBasket.com

Hattie’s Chicken Shack (Weekend Brunch) 45 Phila Street, Saratoga (518) 584-4790 HattiesRestaurant.com The Spa Café 480 Broadway, Saratoga The Iron Roost 36 Front Street, Ballston Spa (518) 309-3535 IronRoost.com

Compton’s Restaurant 457 Broadway, Saratoga (518) 584-9632

Kaffee House 120 West Avenue Saratoga, (518) 729-8480 KaffeeHouseSaratoga.com

Country Corner Café 25 Church Street, Saratoga (518) 583-7889 CountryCornerCafe.net

The Kettle 445 (Outer) Church Street Saratoga, 518) 584-9734 TheKettleRestaurant.com

Diamond Club Grill Embassy Suites by Hilton 86 Congress Street Saratoga, (518) 886-1111 DiamondClubGrill.com

Kru Coffee 46 Marion Avenue Saratoga, (518) 444-4158 KruCoffee.com

Farmers Hardware 35 Maple Avenue Saratoga, (518) 934-3444 FarmersHardwareSaratoga.com

Friendly’s 3075 Route 50, Saratoga (518) 583-1598, Friendlys.com

Lakeside Farms & Cider Mill 336 Schauber Road Ballston Lake, (518) 399-8359 LakeSideFarmsCidermill.com The Local Pub and Teahouse (7 a.m. Breakfast Sandwich and Weekend Brunch) 142 Grand Avenue Saratoga, (518) 587-7256 TheLocalPubandTeahouse.com

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Malta Diner 2476 Route 9, Malta (518) 899-5099, MaltaDiner.com Mama Mia’s Bakery and Pizza 185 Ballston Avenue Saratoga, (518) 583-7783 MamaMiasSaratoga.com Mrs. London’s Bakery 464 Broadway Saratoga, (518) 581-8100 MrsLondonsBakery.com Panera Bread 100 Saratoga Village Blvd., Malta (518) 226-0095 PRIME at Saratoga National (Sunday Brunch) 458 Union Avenue Saratoga, (518) 583-4653 PrimeatSaratogaNational.com Ravenous Café (Weekend Brunch) 21 Phila Street, Saratoga (518) 518-0560 RavenousCrepes.com Saratoga Coffee Traders 447 Broadway Saratoga, (518) 584-5600 SaratogaCoffeeTraders.com Saratoga Gluten Free Goods Bakery 176 Broad Street Schuylerville (518) 695-6565 saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

The Mercantile Kitchen & Bar 430 Broadway, Saratoga (518) 886-8479 TheMercSaratoga.com Scallion’s Restaurant (Weekend Brunch) 44 Lake Avenue, Saratoga (518) 584-0192 ScallionsRestaurant.com Scotty’s Restaurant 215 Ballard Road Gansevoort (518) 584-1444 ScottysTruckstop.com Shirley’s Restaurant 74 West Avenue Saratoga, (518) 584-4532 SPoT Coffee 55 Railroad Place Saratoga, (518) 306-5323 SPoTcoffee.com Sweet Mimi’s Café and Bakery 47 Phila Street (518) 871-1780 SweetMimisCafe.com

Triangle Diner 400 Maple Avenue Saratoga, (518) 583-6368 Russell’s Deli 303 Milton Avenue (Route 50), Ballston Spa (518) 885-DELI (3543) Fax (518) 885-1700 RussellsDeli.com Sweeney's 106 Broad Street Schuylerville (518) 695-5169 Uncommon Grounds 402 Broadway, Saratoga (518) 581-0656 UncommonGrounds.com Uptown Cafe 3 Hampstead Place Suite 104b, Saratoga (518) 450-7989 UptownCaffe.com Whistling Kettle 24 Front Street Ballston Spa (518) 884-2664 TheWhistlingKettle.com Triangle Diner, photo by SaratogaPhotographer.com

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SPECIALTY RESTAURANTS AMERICAN Bookmakers at Holiday Inn 232 Broadway Saratoga, (518) 584-4550 SaratogaHI.com Breakfast buffet during racing season Brook Tavern 139 Union Avenue Saratoga, (518) 871-1473 TheBrookTavern.com Cock ‘n’ Bull 5342 Parkis Mills Road Galway, (518) 882-6962 TheCocknBull.com Morton’s The Steakhouse 342 Jefferson Street Saratoga, (518) 682-5999 Mortons.com

ASIAN, FUSION CHINESE & JAPANESE Bua Thai Sushi 1103 Ellsworth Boulevard, Malta, (518) 788-8898 BuaThaiSushi.com/Malta Duo Modern Japanese 175 South Broadway Saratoga, (518) 580-8881 Duo-Japanese.com Great Tang's 127 Ballston Avenue Saratoga, (518) 583-6666 (518) 583-8866 GreatTangs.m988.com Kraverie 78 Beekman Street Saratoga, (518) 450-7423 KraverieSaratoga.com Lucky Peking Chinese Buffet & Take out 66 E Congress Street Saratoga, (518) 584-8371 Osaka Sushi House 3084-6 Route 50 Wilton, (518) 290-7271

Sam’s Chinese Restaurant 824 NY 50, Burnt Hills (518) 384-1997 SamsChinese.wixsite.com/ SamsChinese Sinclair Saratoga 17 Maple Avenue Saratoga, (518) 934-3535 SinclairSaratoga.com

Next Door Kitchen

Sushi Thai Garden 44-46 Phila Street Saratoga, (518) 580-0900 SushiThaiGarden.com Wasabi All You Can Eat 63 Putnam Street Saratoga, (518) 450-1092 WasabiSaratoga.com

FARM TO TABLE Mouzon House 1 York Street, Saratoga (518) 226-0014 MouzonHouse.com

Brook Tavern Sushi Thai Garden

Next Door Kitchen and Bar 51 Front Street, Ballston Spa (518) 309-3249 EatDinnerNextDoor.com Wheatfields 440 Broadway, Saratoga (518) 587-0534 54 Crossing Boulevard, Clifton Park, (518) 383-4444 Wheatfields.com

FINE DINING The Blue Hen The Adelphi Hotel 365 Broadway, Saratoga (518) 618-6000 BlueHenRestaurant.com Breakfast, Brunch, Dinner

Wheatfields

Boca Bistro (Spanish) 384 Broadway, Saratoga (518) 682-2800 BocaBistro.com Diamond Club Grill Embassy Suites by Hilton 86 Congress Street, Saratoga, (518) 886-1111

JapanseFoodSaratogaNY.com The Inn at Saratoga

Morton's, The Steakhouse

231 Broadway, Saratoga Phila Fusion (518) 583-1890 54 Phila Street, Saratoga (518) 226-0400, PhilaFusion.com TheInnAtSaratoga.com

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SPECIALTY RESTAURANTS CONT. Lake Ridge

Jacob & Anthony’s American Grill 38 High Rock, Saratoga (518) 871-1600 Marrellorc.com Lake Ridge 35 Burlington Avenue, Round Lake, (518) 889-6000 Lake-Ridge.com Longfellow’s 500 Union Avenue Saratoga, (518) 587-0108 Longfellows.com Max London’s Restaurant 466 Broadway Saratoga, (518) 587-0505 MaxLondonsResturaunt.com Olde Bryan Inn 123 Maple Avenue Saratoga, (518) 587-2990 OldeBryanInn.com Morrissey's 365 Broadway, Saratoga (518) 678-6000 Prime @ Saratoga National 458 Union Avenue Saratoga, (518) 583-4653 GolfSaratoga.com/Dining Putnam's Restaurant – Gideon Putnam Resort 24 Gideon Putnam Road Saratoga, (518) 226-4125 GideonPutnam.com

R&R Kitchen & Bar 43 Phila Street Saratoga, (518) 581-0777 43Phila.com Salt & Char 353 Broadway Saratoga, (518) 450-7500 SaltAndChar.com Siro’s (Seasonal) 168 Lincoln Avenue Saratoga, (518) 584-4030 SirosNY.co, July 20 - Sept. 5 Sperry’s 30 1/2 Caroline Street Saratoga, (518) 584-9618 SperrysRestaurant.com Thirsty Owl 184 S Broadway Saratoga, (518) 587-9694 Wine Bar 417 Broadway Saratoga, (518) 584-8777 TheWineBarOfSaratoga.com

INDIAN Karavalli Regional Cuisine of India 47 Caroline Street Saratoga, (518) 580-1144 KaravalliSaratoga.com Little India 60 Court Street Saratoga, (518) 583-4151

Chianti Il Ristorante 18 Division Street, Saratoga (518) 580-0025 ChiantiRistorante.com

Forno Tuscano Bistro 541 Broadway, Saratoga SaratogaLittleIndiaRestaurant.com (518) 581-2401 FornoBistro.com IRISH Harvey’s Irish Restaurant & Bar 14 Phila Street, Saratoga, (518) 583-0003 HarveysPub.com Parting Glass 40-42 Lake Avenue, Saratoga, (518) 583-1916 PartingGlassPub.com

ITALIAN

Augie’s Restaurant The Wishing Well 17 Low Street, Ballston Spa 745 Saratoga Road (518) 884-8600 Wilton, (518) 584-7640 AugiesRestaurant.com WishingWellRestaurant.com Augie’s Family Style FRENCH Italian To-Go 223 Lake Ave Saratoga Chez Pierre Restaurant (518) 580-8646 979 Route 9 Gansevoort, (518) 793-3350 AugiesToGo.com ChezPierreRestaurant.com

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Bellini Italian Eatery 19 Clifton Country Road (518) 348-2090 Marrellorc.com

Mama Mia’s Pizza 185 Ballston Avenue Saratoga, (518) 583-7783 MamaMiasSaratoga.com Nove 707 Route 9, Wilton (518) 583-8877 NoveSaratoga.com Osteria Danny 26 Henry Street (518) 423-7022 OsteriaDanny.com Panza’s Restaurant 129 S. Broadway, Saratoga (518) 584-6882 PanzasRestaurant.com Pennell’s Restaurant 284 Jefferson Street Saratoga, (518) 583-2423 PennellsRestaurant.com

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OBI/longfellows

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SPECIALTY RESTAURANTS CONT. Solevo Kitchen and Social 55 Phila Street Saratoga, (518) 450-7094 SolevoKitchenAndSocial.com

El Mexicano 208 South Broadway Saratoga, (518) 226-0105 ElMexicanoRestaurant.com

Fish at 30 Lake 30 Lake Avenue, Saratoga (518) 539-3474 FishAt30Lake.com

Three Vines Bistro & Bar 32A Congress Plaza Saratoga, (518) 306-5881 ThreeVinesBistro.com

Esperanto 4 Caroline Street, Saratoga, (518) 587-4236 EsperantoSaratoga.com

SPANISH

Village Pizzeria 2727 Route 29 Middle Grove (518) 882-9431 VillagePizzeria.com

Leon’s Restaurant 2100 Doubleday Avenue Ballston Spa, (518) 490-2058 LeonsMexicanRestaurant.com

Villago 175 Lake Rd, Ballston Lake (518) 280-0311 VillagoPizzeria.com

MEXICAN Amigo’s Cantina 42 Ferry St., Schuylerville (518) 695-9595 AmigosCantina.net Cantina 408 Broadway, Saratoga (518) 587-5577 CantinaSaratoga.com

Mexican Connection 41 Nelson Avenue Saratoga, (518) 584-4466 MexConx.com Sunset Café 42 Front Street, Ballston Spa (518) 885-8550 SunsetGrill42.com

SEAFOOD Eddie F's Eatery 119 Clinton Street Saratoga, (518) 450-7830

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Boca Bistro 384 Broadway, Saratoga (518) 682-2800 BocaBistro.com

PJ’s BAR-B-QSA 1 Kaydeross Avenue West Saratoga, (518) 583-2445 or (518) 583-7427 PJsBarBQsa.com

VEGETARIAN

SOUTHERN/BBQ

Core Life Eatery 11 Clifton Country Road Clifton Park, NY 12065 (518) 836-5651 CoreLifeEatery.com

Dizzy Chicken Wood Fired Rotisserie 102 Congress Street Saratoga, (518) 583-4099 DizzyChickenRotisserie.com

Four Seasons Natural Foods Cafe 33 Phila Street, Saratoga (518) 584-4670 FourSeasonsNaturalFoods.com

Hattie’s Chicken Shack 45 Phila Street, Saratoga (518) 584-4790 3057 Route 50 Wilton Plaza (518) 226-0000 HattiesRestaurant.com

Legacy Juice Works 382 Broadway, Saratoga (518) 583-1106 LegacyJuiceWorks.co

The Kettle Restaurant 445 Church Street Saratoga, (518) 584-9734 TheKettleRestaurant.com

Fish at 30 Lake, photo by Alice Corey

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DELI, PIZZA & CHINESE Village Pizzeria

DELI Ben & Bill’s New York Style Deli Price Chopper 115 Ballston Avenue (Rt. 50), Saratoga (518) 782- 0441 Healthy Living Market & Cafe 3065 Route 50 Saratoga, (518) 306-4900

HealthyLivingMarket.com/ Saratoga

Putnam Market 431 Broadway, Saratoga (518) 587-3663 PutnamMarket.com Roma Foods & Market 222 Washington Street, Saratoga, (518) 587-6004 RomaFoods.com Russell’s Deli 303 Milton Avenue (Rt. 50), Ballston Spa (518) 885-DELI (3354) RussellsDeli.com Saratoga 5 Points Market & Deli 42 Park Place, Saratoga (518) 584-1000 Saratoga5Points.com

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Spring Street Deli and Pizzeria 132 Spring Street Saratoga, (518) 584-0994 SpringStreetDeli.net Sweet Lou's 161 Broad Street Schuylerville (518) 507-6013

PIZZA 9 Miles East Farm Pizza 136 Goff Road Schuylerville (518) 514-8106 9MilesEast.com Amore Pizza 265 Main Street Corinth, (518) 654-9991 AmoreItalyPizza.com BWP 70 Weibel Avenue Saratoga 763-2975 or 763-2323 BeerWinePizza.com D’Andrea’s Pizza 33 Caroline Street Saratoga, (518) 584-3632 654 Saratoga Road Wilton, (518) 583-3781 DandreasPizza.com

Gennarro's Pizza 46 Marion Avenue, Saratoga, (518) 584-1900 GennarrosSaratoga.com

Three Vines Bistro & Bar 32A Congress Plaza Saratoga, (518) 306-5881 ThreeVinesBistro.com

Harvest & Hearth 251B County Route 67 Saratoga, (518) 587-1900 HarvestAndHearth.com

Village Pizzeria 2727 Route 29 Middle Grove, (518) 882-9431 VillagePizzeria.com

Mama Mia’s Pizza 185 Ballston Avenue Saratoga, (518) 583-7783 MamaMiasSaratoga.com

Villago 175 Lake Road Ballston Lake, (518) 280-0311 VillagoPizzeria.com/home

Marino’s Pizza 46 West Circular Street Saratoga, (518) 584-3030

West Avenue Pizza 99 West Avenue Saratoga, (518) 581-9999 WestAvePizzeria.com

Pizza 7 7 Caroline Street Saratoga (518) 580-2000 SaratogaPizza7.com Pizza Works 54 Milton Avenue Ballston Spa (518) 885-0669 722 Saratoga Road Burnt Hills, (518) 399-9494 PizzaWorks.org Pope’s Pizza 232 Washington Street Saratoga, (518) 587-1643 PopesPizza.com

CHINESE Great Tang's 127 Ballston Ave Saratoga, (518)583-8866 GreatTangs.m988.com Uncle Ming’s Chinese Kitchen 74 Henry Street Saratoga, (518) 584-5558 Sunny Wok 3084 NY-50, Saratoga (518) 583-8888 Lucky Peking Chinese Buffet & Take out 66 E Congress Street Saratoga, (518) 584-8371

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FAMILY FRIENDLY & CASUAL DINING 13 North Restaurant 2955 Route 9, Malta (518) 400-1746 13NorthRestaurant.com Andy’s Adirondack Grille 2872 US 9, Malta (518) 580-1269 AndysADKgrille.com Bailey’s Café 37 Phila Street, Saratoga (518) 583-6060 BaileysCafe.com The Brickyard Tavern 70 Milton Avenue Ballston Spa, (518) 884-2570 TheBrickyardTavern.com Caffé Lena 47 Phila Street Saratoga, (518) 583-0022 CaffeLena.com Carson’s Woodside Tavern 57 State Route 9P Malta, (518) 584-9791 CarsonsWoodside.com

Catherine’s in the Park 58 Roosevelt Drive Saratoga, (518) 583-4657 SaratogaSpaGolf.com

*Seasonal, poolside dining 11 a.m. to dusk.

Clark’s Steakhouse 120 Broad Street Schuylerville, (518) 695-2073 ClarksSteakhouse.com Dock Brown’s 511 NY-9P, Saratoga (518) 306-4897 BrownsBeachResort.com/ Dock-Browns Farmer’s Daughter 882 Route 2 Saratoga, (518) 584-8562 FarmersDaughtersDriveIn.com Four Seasons Natural Foods 33 Phila Street, Saratoga 120 Henry Street, Saratoga (518) 584-4670 FourSeasonsNaturalFoods.com

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Greenhouse Chopped Salad Co. 33 Railroad Place Saratoga, (518) 540-1036 EatGreenHouse.com Harvest & Hearth 251 B County Route 67 Saratoga, (518) 587-1900 HarvestAndHearth.com Lakeside Farms & Cider Mill 336 Schauber Road Ballston Lake, (518) 399-8359 LakesideFarmsCiderMill.com Ravenous Café (Creperie) 21 Phila Street, Saratoga (518) 518-0560 RavenousCrepes.com

The Great American Grill (inside Hilton Garden Inn) 125 South Broadway, Saratoga, (518) 587-1500 Winslow’s 801 Saratoga Road Gansevoort (518) 584-2489 WinslowsSaratoga.com The Whitehouse Restaurant 93-95 Milton Avenue Ballston Spa (518) 885-6797 WhitehouseNY.com

Ripe Tomato 2721 Route 9, Ballston Spa (518) 581-1530 RipeTomato.com Scallion’s Restaurant 44 Lake Avenue, Saratoga (518) 584-0192 ScallionsSaratoga.com

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PUBS & SPORTS BARS Racing City Brewing Co. Photo by Randall Perry

PUBS 2 West Bar and Grille 2 West Avenue Saratoga, (518) 450-7200 2WestBarAndGrille.com 9 Maple Avenue 9 Maple Avenue Saratoga, (518) 587-7759 9MapleAve.com The Barrelhouse 68 Beekman Street Saratoga, (518) 871-1502 Bentley’s Tavern 4 Hemphill Place Malta, (518) 899-4300 MyFavoriteTaverns.com

Henry’s Tavern 19 Front Street Ballston Spa (518) 309-3584 HenryIrishTavern.com Horseshoe Inn 1 Gridley Avenue Saratoga, (518) 886-8086 TheHorseshoeInn.com King’s Tavern 241 Union Avenue (518) 581-7090 Parting Glass 40-42 Lake Avenue, Saratoga, (518) 583-1916 PartingGlassPub.com

Brickyard Tavern 70 Milton Avenue, Ballston Spa, (518) 884-2570 TheBrickyardTavern.com

Pint Sized 489 Broadway Saratoga, (518) 583-7468 WeArePintSized.com

Druther’s 381 Broadway Saratoga, (518) 306-5275 DruthersBrewing.com

Publik House Pub Routes 9 & 9P Malta, (518) 587-7479 PublikHouse.net

Dunning Street Station 2853 State Route 9 Malta, (518) 587-2000 DunningStreetStation.com

Racing City Brewing Co. 250 Excelsior Avenue Saratoga, (518) 350-4515 RacingCityBrewing.com

Fortunes 25 Nelson Avenue Saratoga, (518) 581-5790 SaratogaCasino.com

Spa City Tap & Barrel 13 Caroline Street Saratoga, (518) 330-2426 SpaCityTapAndBarrel. com

Gaffney’s 16 Caroline Street Saratoga, (518) 587-7359 GaffneysRestaurant.com Hamlet & Ghost Cocktail Bar 24 Caroline Street Saratoga, (518) 450-7287 HamletAndGhost.com Harvey’s Restaurant & Bar 14 Phila Street Saratoga, (518) 583-0003 HarveysPub.com Henry Street Taproom 86 Henry Street Saratoga, (518) 886-8938 HenryStreetTaproom.com

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The Side Room Bar & Cocktail Parlor The Inn at Saratoga 231 Broadway Saratoga, (518) 583-1890 TheInnAtSaratoga.com

SPORTS BARS Dango’s Fitzgerald Irish Steak 38 Caroline Street Saratoga (518) 587-2022

Peabody’s Sports Bar & Grille 39 Phila Street Saratoga, (518) 886-8673 PeabodysToga.com Saratoga Stadium 389 Broadway Saratoga, (518) 226-4437 SaratogaStadium.com West Side Sports Bar & Grill 112 Congress Street, #201 Saratoga, (518) 691-0193 TheWestSideSportsBar.com

End Zone BUFFET 227 Park Avenue Mechanicville Garden Buffet – Saratoga (518) 664-0063 Casino Hotel TheEndZoneSportsPub.com 342 Jefferson Street Saratoga, (518) 581-5707 End Zone Sports Pub SaratogaGaming.com 32 Ballston Avenue (518) 584-6460

The Factory Eatery 20 Prospect Street Suite 111, Ballston Spa (518) 885-0500 TheFactoryEatery.com The Local Pub & Teahouse 142 Grand Avenue Saratoga, (518) 587-7256 TheLocalPubAndTeahouse. com

The Mill on Round Lake 2121 Route 9, Round Lake (518) 899-5253 MyFavoriteTaverns.com The Rusty Nail 1781 Route 9, Clifton Park (518) 371-9875 MyFavoriteTaverns.com

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Don't Leave Town without these!

deJonghe Original Jewelry

The Savory Pantry

470 Broadway, Downtown Saratoga 518.587.6422 • djOriginals.com

486 Broadway, Saratoga Springs 518.450.1130 • SavoryPantry.com

Snaffle Bit Bracelet This new addition to their Equestrian Jewelry Collection showcases a beautiful snaffle bit design as an everyday bracelet.

Understated and elegant, these rocks glasses are sure to make a statement at your next equestrian themed party. Depicting a hand-sketched snaffle bit print, the glasses are ideal for serving up classic Old Fashioneds or any other spirit on the rocks.

Impressions of Saratoga 368 Broadway, Saratoga Spring 518.587.0666 • ImpressionsSaratoga.com Limited Edition 2019 Saratoga Cloisonné Ornament This beautiful ornament is hand painted with 14K gold accents. Each year only 75 of ornaments are made with a exclusive design celebrating Saratoga Springs. 2019 features the horses of Saratoga; a mare and foal, a harness racer, a polo player, and a race horse. $49.99

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Perfect for your next outdoor gathering yet nice enough to decorate your indoor table, our reusable and eco-friendly salad bowl is made with rapidly growing renewable bamboo fiber. Durable, fun and suitable for both indoor and outdoor use, the bowls are refrigerator, freezer and dishwasher safe.

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Compliments to the Chef

Menges & Curtis

33 Railroad Place, Suite 104, Saratoga 518.226.4427 • SaratogaChef.com

472 Broadway, Saratoga Springs 518.306.5343 • MengesAndCurtis.com

Essential Accessories for the Cheese Aficionado

Gnome

Garden Party…Mixer…Cocktails?

Don't leave Saratoga without purchasing some Gnome Serum products. Full spectrum facial serums to brighten, rejuvenate and defy time. All hemp based with omega 3 and CBD to promote natural cell turnover.

Make sure you have the perfect accessories for serving the finest cheeses…

Custom Knife set

Horsehead Wooden Cutting Board

Marble Cheese Board and Slicer

Caswell-Massey Don't leave Saratoga without purchasing some Caswell-Massey products.

The Dark Horse Mercantile

The Number Six fragrance is an American original and was one of George Washington's favorites.

445 Broadway, Saratoga Springs • 518.587.0689 Facebook.com/DarkHorseSaratoga Never Underestimate Collection This new collection, which includes this mug, features Upset, Saratoga's most well known Dark Horse, after his win in 1919. Celebrating 100 years of overcoming the odds in Saratoga Springs the"Never Underestimate" Collection is a bright new design that is perfect for racing and Saratoga fans alike. Plus the mug is an inspirational way to start your day! The Smart Bet is Always the Dark Horse. $16.99

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Don't Leave Town

without these!

Silverwood

398 Broadway, Saratoga Springs 518.583.3600 • SilverwoodGalleries.com Saratoga Pillow A unique touch for any Saratoga lover’s home, this black and white hooked pillow goes with any decor and makes a perfect house warming or hostess gift.

Dehn's Flowers & Greenhouses, Inc 180 Beekman St, Saratoga Springs 518.584.1880 • 800.932.0933

Dehn's Flowers and Gifts 15 Trieble Ave., Milton •518.885.6222 DehnsFlowersAndGifts.com

Organic Cotton Onesies by Pipe and Holly. Saratoga baby on the way? Silverwood has the best locally made gift for baby boys and girls!

Made with the finest materials, the expertly blended notes reflect the brand's background in creativity and craftsmanship. We are inspired by the family provenance and botanical heritage of our founder. Prices ranging from $38.00 - $44.00. Available at both our locations and online: DehnsFlowersAndGifts.com

Saratoga Pennant Made in NY and classic, these pennants make an awesome gift or souvenir... a great way to show your Saratoga love.

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23rd and Fourth 130 Excelsior Ave., Saratoga Springs 518.584.3700 • 23rdandFourth.com

Graphite objects of Horse, antlers and quill.

TOGA HERITAGE

398 Broadway, Saratoga Springs 518.944.8951 • TOGAHERITAGE.COM

A selection of Entertaining Pieces and Gift Items reflective of the Spirit of Saratoga.

Saratoga Signature Furniture & Interiors 82 Church Street, Saratoga Springs 518-581-0023 • SaratogaSignature.com Leave Saratoga with your own horse! $185.00 hand painted in your custom colors.

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H&G Randall Perry Photography

Step Inside... saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Archite

Randall Perry Photography

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cturally SPEAKING

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RYAN BERRY,

PRINCIPAL FORM ‘VISIONARY’ CREATES HOMES AS ART

WRITTEN BY MAUREEN WERTHER PHOTOS BY RANDALL PERRY PHOTOGRAPHY

Ryan Berry, owner of The Form Collaborative, refers to himself as the “principal visionary” of his new company. Trained as a landscape architect, Berry’s business grew out of his minimalist approach to design and build, which is heavily influenced by a philosophy rooted in the concept of “land first.”

The landscape architect turned artist turned builder has more than 15 years of experience in design and construction. He sees the connection between indoor and outdoor as central to the design and construction of a home. And it shows in his work. Take No. 1, for example. That’s the name of the 2,800 square foot home he designed and built for clients in Greenfield Center, which swept all eight categories – including People’s Choice – at the 2018 Showcase of Homes. 142 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2019

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Randall Perry Photography

The home’s name – true to Berry’s minimalist ethos – represents the first of a series of homes Berry plans to build in the region and has quickly become emblematic of his focus on proportion, space, and a home’s relationship to the land it rests upon.

No. 1 sits atop a hill overlooking Saratoga and Washington counties and beyond to the green hills of Vermont. Surrounded by six acres of gently sloping land, the home is truly minimalist in all senses of the word. However, Berry explains that, while most people automatically equate minimalism with “modern,” for Berry the term encompasses a devotion to reducing materials, costs, color palettes, shapes and proportions. He calls it “going back to the basics.” Although No. 1 is anything but basic.

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Berry calls the house a modern take on a mid-century design. The clean lines and simplicity of form and space create a positive impact on the homeowners and the surrounding environment, which is in integral part of the design. The central, unifying feature of the home is its courtyard, which both joins and separates the two wings of the house and creates a true indoor/outdoor connection. Berry explains that the seamless connection between indoor and outdoor expands the size of each space and brings the color palettes of the natural world into the home.

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The construction and design materials Berry chooses as part of his designs also reflect an allegiance to simplification. He explains that minimizing the proportions, patterns and palettes translates into a cost savings for the homeowner. Perhaps more importantly, this approach has a beneficial mental impact on people living in the space.

“Visual clutter equals mental clutter,” says Berry, adding that people tend to be more creative, more productive and happier when surrounded by simplicity. 148 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2019

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Berry’s work is quickly catching on as more people see his designs. He believes that a house is designed to be “experienced,” and he describes his approach as very “hands on.”

“I work with clients to find the right piece of land, siting the building and designing the space that is best suited to their personalities.” Berry’s work is quickly gaining the attention of other builders, designers and artists in the region. After seeing No. 1 during the Showcase of Homes, local artist Gary Zack was inspired to create a new series of paintings based on Berry’s architectural and design philosophy.

More importantly, homeowners are beginning to take notice, and Berry’s work is popping up in downtown Saratoga as well as North Creek and Lake Placid. He is not interested, however, in cranking out 20 or more homes per year, preferring instead to focus on the art of the place. “By creating artful space, we are revisiting the composition of living,” says Berry. SS

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CELEBRATING 50 YEARS

ROOHAN REALTY

PROVING A COMMUNITY IS ONLY AS STRONG AS ITS PEOPLE…

WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY THERESA ST. JOHN

henever people ask us to describe the ‘feel’ of Saratoga we often use words like “family oriented, community service, tolerant, supports local, vibrant, neighborhood, dog-friendly, champions causes, comradery, and genuine.” Roohan Realty often finds its name in the mix, with good reason. Celebrating five decades in business is no easy feat, especially in the highly-competitive world of real estate. Whether you’re buying or selling a property, checking to make sure the contract is complete, accurate and that your client is satisfied, is one of the most important parts of the real estate process.

When you walk into the main office at 519 Broadway in what was once known as the Community Theater, the tone is refreshingly different. Almost immediately you’ll notice there are no cubbyhole offices, but rather a wide-open space where people can poke their heads over the desk and call out to someone else nearby, maybe even Tom, President of Roohan Realty – a company founded by his father John T Roohan in 1969 – who states there’s no question he won’t answer. He’s personable, a confident leader, and his management style is approachable, which everyone loves. Let’s see how Roohan Realty became such an integral part of our community and meet some of their long term employees… 152 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2019

Amy Sutton ~ 1984 “To be honest, I wouldn’t even consider working someplace else. It’s like family working here. How many jobs are like that? We genuinely care about each other. And we want each other to be successful without having to be competitive. It’s like we’re best friends. There’s such great camaraderie in the office and the newer agents come in with such energy and excitement – they blend into the family fibers of Roohan just fine.”

Tom Roohan has a hands-on approach and knows how important it is to be in touch with each agent and any deal they have in the works. Often, during their Tuesday morning breakfast meetings, he will offer suggestions on how they can appeal to more buyers or sellers out in the marketplace. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Mara King ~ 1984 “When I first began my career with Roohan, there were only 11 of us, including staff. I look back now and laugh at that. I checked out every Realtor in the area before accepting the position here. Roohan had the best reputation. Tom is the best leader. Those traits were important to me. It’s not all about money, either. We’re friends here at the office and have so much fun together. I’ve never thought about leaving – I am so proud to say I work here.”

Tom is all about a strong workethic, something he learned from his father. Tom was the eldest of six children, and never really thought about getting into the business himself, even though he pursued and received his Realtor’s license after college, mostly out of respect for his father.

Instead, he studied civil engineering at Norwich University and went to work in the construction field. Winter is a slow season for that line of work and Tom began planning a trip to Florida. One day shortly before he was set to head south, John asked him to come into the office. “Sometimes, it’s about timing.” Tom smiles with the memory. “I went in on a Monday and never left.” Valerie Thompson ~ 1997 “Roohan Realty has all of the tools any large company across the country has, but we are family here. We have the support of our peers. The office environment is nurturing. Tom believes in the motto ‘service above self,’ and works to promote that philosophy here in the office and out in the community. Besides that, we laugh – every single day. Who wouldn’t want to work here?” Kate Naughton ~ 1984 “I started working here under my dad’s leadership. When my brother Tom took over the business, the transition was seamless for all of us. All of the same principles applied – such as promoting positivity and teamwork, giving back to the community, supporting one another’s work and personal goals. We have Tuesday morning breakfasts in the office, with a business meeting afterward. We share ideas – our combined years of knowledge astounds people. We’re family. Simple as that. We laugh a lot. I wouldn’t work anywhere else. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Tom Roohan ~ “It’s true, most real estate agents stay with us. They’re successful here. They see the value in working at Roohan – necessary tools at their disposal, supportive staff, my open-door policy, our work ethic, and conviction to do the right thing by our clients. We employ 50 agents who are like our extended family. Look, real estate is a challenging job. You work hard, hone your skills, practice patience. Each one of the people I work with is an asset to the company.” The Company is very involved in helping out and they have become part of the fabric of the Saratoga community. It’s part of their mission statement. Giving back to organizations such as Rebuilding Together Saratoga County, Catholic Charities, Community Hospice, Sponsor-A-Scholar, YMCA, Saratoga Hospital and many more. Participating in area blood drives, Tour De Cure, Saratoga War Horse, Skidmore events as well as many other programs, is par for the course when you work at Roohan. This past January, Tom was presented with the 2019 Joseph Dalton Community Service Award at The Chamber of Commerce 101st annual dinner at the Saratoga Springs City Center. The prestigious award honors people who’ve contributed 25-plus years to the community by volunteering their time, energy, and expertise, not just their money. He was the 2nd recipient and is humble when asked about it. With such a strong leader at the helm of the business, there’s no doubt Roohan Realty will be around to celebrate many more anniversaries such as this 50th one. We wish you all the best! SS

Fun Facts at Roohan Realty

• The company designs and prints all of its signs in-house, which keeps their name in front of the public eye. • They have a drone!

• They have a full-time, In -House Marketing Group

• Roohan Realty provides packing boxes, tape, leaf bags, and a courtesy moving van that clients are welcome to use when the big day arrives. • They publish a newsletter - The Roohan Beat, filled with helpful homeowner hints, local restaurants/attractions, a community events calendar, and more.

• In local reader polls put out by The Saratogian and Saratoga Today newspapers, they’ve been voted “Best Real Estate Company” for 18 years in a row.

• Roohan Realty is green-conscious. Going green and using energy-efficient practices is important to the company. They educate staff on eco-friendly real estate principles, recycling, and reducing the amount of paper used in a business such as theirs. • They have over 7k Facebook followers, 1k Instagram followers, Over 1K Roohan Realty APP users, and their own YouTube channel. You can also connect with them on Twitter, Pinterest, and Yelp.

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Pierrette Baldwin’s Legacy CHEZ PIERRE RESTAURANT CELEBRATES 55 YEARS IN OPERATION

WRITTEN BY CAROL GODETTE PHOTOS BY SUSAN BLACKBURN PHOTOGRAPHY

Pierrette Baldwin’s life story

is what movies are made of. In fact, her filmmaker grandson, Tyler Field, recently completed a 45-minute documentary detailing her amazing story of growing up in rural war-torn France. Her father was a German war prisoner and she and her mother lived on very little. “Pierrette’s Story” will hopefully debut locally in late 2019. Undoubtedly the film will trace Pierrette’s love story with her husband Joe, a US soldier sent to help her rural region of France recover from WW ll.

The couple met in her parents’ French cafe and eventually married there in 1953. After the birth of son Pierre, they left Nancy, France for Joe’s home in Glens Falls, New York -moving in with Joe’s parents.

As one enters the restaurant, you can’t help noticing the 1964 photo of young Pierrette and her “GI Joe” husband. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Pierrette was homesick for France and all things French. Few true French restaurants existed in the area. One day, Joe came home with the news that he had found an abandoned restaurant—The Birdcage—that was for sale. With the help of Pierette’s parents, they purchased the property in 1964.

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Pierrette makes the rounds, greeting longtime customer Erin Hogan and her friends.

Several French inspired murals by local Tom Mahoney such “Pia’s fleur” decorate the dining room walls.

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Pierrette realizes that a lot of people who start businesses work hard and end up nowhere. She also admits that their Route 9 location is a bit “out of the way.” At one point she even put flyers on the windshields of cars parked at the Saratoga Race Course to attract customers. “Somebody in heaven was helping us,” she declares.

She and husband Joe clearly coined the phrase “when you are here you are family” long before Olive Garden even existed. The charming old school restaurant visually transports diners to Pierrette’s France of the 1960s with hand painted murals and a Parisian colonne in the bar area. The welcoming atmosphere makes newcomers feel right at home.

So, what does the family attribute to their continued success? CONSISTENCY…

Customers frequently say, “You’re one of the few restaurants that are consistent,” comments Pierrette. For 55 years the chef has used simple recipes with as little as 3 ingredients. Their top selling entree, Coquille St. Jacques, is prepared by chef son-inlaw Lincoln, in the same fashion as Pierrette’s now deceased husband Joe prepared it 55 years ago. Many of her longtime customers such as Mary Lou Whitney can attest to this. The melt in your mouth mousse au chocolate never disappoints. EXCELLENT SERVICE WITH A PERSONAL TOUCH...

Joe and Pierrette’s vision was to make customers feel like they had dropped by Pierrette’s grandmother’s dining room. Pierrette has worked hard to overcome the preconceived notion of a “high price, small portion” French restaurant. Innovative daughter Pia has created a nightly three-course prix fixe menu that includes dessert, for an affordable $29. Shortly after being seated, customers are served a fresh baguette and paté. WARMTH AND HONESTY…

Pierrette, initially missing her homeland, strived to create a family with the customers who visited the restaurant. As her own family grew, each of her four children and eight grandchildren have all worked in the family run operation. Their goal has always been to ensure a memorable dining experience for each patron. At 85, Pierrette still circulates the dining room cheerily greeting and chatting with customers, many of whom are faithful regulars. Daughter Pia oversees the bar and all operations “out front” while her husband Lincoln handles kitchen operations.

My visit there gave me my French fix. So forget that trip to Paris— a warm bonjour and authentic French cuisine awaits just outside of Saratoga Springs. Pierrette and Pia can’t wait to make you part of their growing family! SS

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Hattie’s Legacy CELEBRATING HATTIE’S 1938-PRESENT

WRITTEN BY CAROL GODETTE PHOTOS BY SUSAN BLACKBURN PHOTOGRAPHY

Hattie Moseley-Austin

may have sold her restaurant 26 years ago, but her legacy and spirit are alive at 45 Phila Street. Hattie and her husband Bill Austin were hard working, philanthropic people who fed the community with more than award winning fried chicken. They opened people’s hearts and fed their souls.

n ndmade sig Note the ha . ea se v n a ce h li ot or n g, “We do ave a liqu h n ti ot a n st l id il d B Hattie usband e yours.” ie and her h appy to serv behind Hatt wine but we will be h rve license to se

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Hattie would give you the shirt off her back, or for John Greenwood, a picture off her wall. John delivered milk to Hattie for many years. He remembers his sadness of her final day in 1993 as she was transferring ownership to Christel MacLean. When the Phila Street screen door creaked open to reveal her for one last time, John was greeted by Hattie and a warm embrace. He longed for a memento from Hattie’s photograph filled wall. In Hattie’s typical spirit of generosity, she said, “Take any one you like.” John chose a framed photo of Hattie and Mr. Austin that would serve as a treasured reminder of Hattie’s welcoming spirit.

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Chef Jasper Alexander prepares for a busy night.

“Every Christmas without fail, Hattie would hand me a basket of treats for my family. It would be overflowing with cookies, breads, jams and the most delicious chutney you will ever come across. I should have been bringing her a gift for her patronage. That was her way, she loved giving to others and making them feel welcome,” reflects John.

Hattie showed that same spirit of warmth and compassion to my family. My father Richard Stone owned Burke’s Funeral home. Early in her career, my father had done a favor for her when someone close to her died. Hattie never forgot that. When my father died in 1990 Hattie appeared at our funeral home two hours before the wake with a huge platter of ham. My sister Janet answered the door and Hattie asked if she could pay her respects early. (Restaurant hours didn’t permit her to attend at the designated wake hours.) Hattie sat next to my dad laid out to rest for quite some time, loudly chanting, “Lord bless Mr. Stone.” It was a powerful plea; my sister Janet will never forget. Hattie didn’t stop there- she invited our entire family for dinner to further pay her respects. This was Hattie’s way. Although current owners Beth and Jasper Alexander never personally met Hattie, they have a firm grasp of what made Hattie’s a fixture in the community. They have heard countless stories about Hattie, and they work to embody all Hattie stood for. “A place like this needs a special kind of ownership where you understand what’s happened in the past and the legacy you are a steward of,” explains Jasper. “You need a light touch to keep what’s important, but you can’t remain stagnant. There’s very little you can take off the menu without upsetting our clientele. Fifty percent of what we sell is fried chicken, day in and day out.” Thus, today’s menu of collard greens, coleslaw and mashed potatoes remains the same. In fact, the smooth buttery potatoes are still made exactly as Ernie, Hattie’s dishwasher, originally made them. Ernie remained on as Jasper and Beth’s dishwasher for the first 12 years of their ownership demonstrating his “melt in your mouth technique.” And although Jasper spent the first half of his career working in high end restaurants, he knew better than to mess with success.

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“We sell 50% fried chickenday in, day out,” states Jasper.

Hattie’s dining room decor remains basically unchanged.

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Although Jasper chefs in the kitchen, he still is out front greeting regulars as they enter at 5 pm, just as Hattie did. Beth often takes on Mr. Austin’s role of serving the front. The decor remains unchanged. A mixture of framed photos line the wall and plastic checked tablecloths cover the small tables and of course the screen door has that same creak. Hattie was known for giving to others. If there were hungry people in the alley alongside the restaurant, she would feed them. Jasper and Beth have continued that same spirit of giving in a way that makes sense today. Over the past 19 years they have raised a million dollars, hosting the sellout event; Hattie’s Mardi Gras, to benefit local charities. “We decided to have one big event to raise a substantial amount of money for charities important to the community. Each year we mixed it up between bigger and smaller groups-SPAC, Aim Services Inc., Saratoga Bridges, and Jake’s Help from Heaven are some of the groups we have helped,” states Jasper.

Jasper and Beth put in the same long hours Hattie did. Often Jasper works back to back 16 hour days, much like Miss Hattie. “Every day you have to try your best and do everything just right. Most of the time you win and sometimes you lose. Good or bad, the next day you get to start over again,” philosophizes Jasper.

Eighty plus years later, our community is fortunate to have had lots of “next days” with Hattie’s. SS saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Dear Miss Hattie We miss you so Your generous spirit Your biscuit dough I delivered fresh buttermilk Each Friday at noon You added love Then stirred with a spoon Your sweet face I see Each time I pass by I’d give anything For a last hug goodbye Memories cherished Treasures held dear The smell of that kitchen A whiff, smile and tear Bill nodding - oh, so gently As guests filtered in Screen door creaks open He quickly awakens Lady of peace and kindness You played the part You taught – the path to happiness Is paved with a giving heart Please put your hands together Cheer for better times ahead Build on stones of generosity To get our children fed Future of sharing A vow to “Give Back” That was the mission of Hattie’s Chicken Shack Your friend the milkman John R. Greenwood

Price’s Dairy (1979-1989) J.R.G.1.9.09

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The Power of The Pivot

WRITTEN BY MEGIN POTTER PHOTOS BY SUSAN BLACKBURN PHOTOGRAPHY

Our past prepares us for our future.

Gary Zack spent the first half of his life shaping molten glass.

Symmetry Gallery, the downtown showroom that he and his wife, Diane operated in Saratoga Springs for 20 years, closed in 2014 – but before it did, the public got a glimpse at just how pliable Zack had become. He was beginning to change mediums.

LIGHTING THE WAY

The complex process of creating irregular shaped bowls, vases, chandeliers and stained-glass work took years for Zack to develop. “I miss it. I love it. I dream about it. I miss that process,” he said.

A self-taught artist who developed his own way of doing things, the business of selling art had certain dictates.

“I’d make something and say, ‘Wow, I love it!’ Then, I’d have to make 100 of it,” recalls Zack.

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“I hadn’t painted in 40 years (although I had painted on stained glass). I was just experimenting and having a good time,” he said. Although his medium was changing, his purpose has always remained the same.

“It’s about texture, design and color. I just wanted to dive into color. My glass work is about the perfect blend of colors. I was just doing it my own way,” said Zack.

A LESS THAN STELLAR START Zack started painting at warp speed to create a body of work suitable for display with the other artists’ two-dimensional work available at the Symmetry gallery.

He created 30 abstract acrylic canvases in a month. The day of the show, he sold only one. Undeterred, he kept painting.

In the following four months, he sold 36 paintings.

“It just snowballed. I’m still experimenting. I feel like I’m still at the beginning stages, transferring all that know-how from my glass work into my paintings,” said Zack. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

GOING WITH THE FLOW Zack spent much of his time around fire, but he still has a deep fondness for the water. Some of his earliest paintings are an attempt to capture the feeling of mornings spent in the Caribbean. The muted soft colors of his “Ocean Series” were achieved by skimming thin pigments of color, layer after layer, onto the canvas. “I want to be spontaneous with it. I want my paintings to be free, airy and light. The hues of color are what really makes a difference in them,” said Zack.

Riding his motorcycle through the upstate New York countryside serves as inspiration for his other landscapes – which range in size, so more people can afford to take home a piece of his work. In response to a customer request, Zack then began creating a series of figurative works that feature a crisp, colorful woman within a dreamy setting.

“I like to see people look at a painting and to absorb what they get from it. The colors hit people in totally different ways,” said Zack. JULY/AUGUST 2019 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 163

MATH: ART’S HIDDEN SIDE Although it may not be immediately obvious to the viewer, what makes Zack’s paintings so compelling is the mathematics that have gone into forming the final product. How math and art coexist was something Zack came to realize through a stained-glass commissioned work based on the paintings of Piet Mondrian.

“Everything he did was mathematics – from structure to colors – and it just blew me away,” said Zack. There is a purposeful structure to the proportions of his figures and to the placement of colors on the canvas.

“Everybody likes structure but they don’t know it. The Victorians, Romans, the Pyramids; that’s all based around structure,” he said.

A BUILDING COLLECTION After visiting The FORM Collaborative’s mid-century modern No.1 home on Maddy Groves Road, designed by owner Ryan Berry, during the Saratoga Showcase of Homes last year, Zack started drawing immediately. (See the FORM home on page 139)

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“I thought, ‘What would I paint to put in that house?’ and this painting is all about those spaces,” said Zack. The painting, from his “Collection Series”, reduces clutter by instead focusing on precise placement of color from a minimal palette.

As the builder of several features in his own contemporary home, Zack has an intimate understanding of construction and incorporates this into his paintings. His “Journey Series” is based on the outlines of scaffolded buildings but address a much broader topic.

“This is like life. I’m building the layers with color and then there’s a burst of color when you’ve succeeded,” he said.

The only way to get there however, is to leave where you’ve been. “I’m not out to shock anybody. I want them to be at the party. I want them to feel good. Color is the key,” said Zack.

THE GARY ZACK STUDIO, 18 Bolster Lane, Saratoga Springs, is open by appointment only. For a list of the galleries showing his work and to find out more information go to GaryZack.com SS

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In the Kitchen WITH

JOHN REARDON

HELLO MY FOODIE FRIENDS! Saratoga Springs is alive and bustling over the summer with the energy and excitement of all the wonderful events that fill the city; from Horse Racing, the NYC Ballet, and the Philadelphia Orchestra, SPAC events and ahhh… the wonderful restaurants and unique retail stores!

Saratoga Race Course - not only attracts visitors from around the world – it has created the perfect back drop for many films. The track has provided an original beauty that no set designer could reproduce, for films such as "Sea biscuit," "Saratoga," "The Horse Whisperer," "Billy Bathgate," "Ghost Story," and "My Old Man." A scene in Ian Fleming's James Bond novel, "Diamonds are Forever" also features a scene at the Saratoga Race Course.

In 1999, Saratoga Race Course was rated by Sports Illustrated as the #10 sports venue of the 20th Century. Many people visit to not only be a part of the atmosphere of our country’s oldest track, but to admire the beauty of the racing horses. The horses are amazing to watch, they are truly spectacular animals. I always catch my breath at the majestic beauty of the Thoroughbreds that come to Saratoga Springs to race. “Health, History and Horses” is a local motto that represents Saratoga Springs. Racing and equestrian art capture the beauty of horses within our community. Among this are cutting boards from wood artist Adam Cielinski that are made right here in Saratoga Springs!

At Compliments to the Chef, we love wood cutting boards. We have a diverse assortment of food safe cutting and serving boards that are made with a Saratogian flare. Good hard woods such as oak, maple, walnut, ash, and cherry are tough cutting surfaces that have been used for centuries to cut food or butcher meat on. A good cutting board properly maintained, can last a lifetime, and they are safer than plastic which if it isn’t sanitized - or is left wet - can harbor bacteria. Some of the reasons for this are:

1. Plastic is not water-absorbent, so it stays wet longer, which means longer bacterial survival. 2. Wood is water-absorbent, so it dries faster, which means shorter bacterial survival. 3. Wood contains natural antibiotic agents that retard bacterial growth.

Adam’s boards are part of Saratoga Springs’ art history. They are each different and no two are the same. In addition to boards shaped like horse heads, we have pigs, guitars, violins, hearts, bears, fish, owls, ducks, trees, and handled serving boards. We also have larger block cutting boards and small handy sized ones made by Adam. The good news is they are reasonably priced too. Stop in and pick up a piece of Saratoga History and have something that you can hand down in your family. A little advice on their care:

1. Dry the board immediately after (hand) washing, and

2. Once a month, rub the board with oil, to keep it water-repellent and warp-free. Apply a coat of warm food-safe mineral oil, let soak in, and then wipe off the excess. Scratches can be sanded out then re-oiled.

Choosing an Adam Cielinski wood cutting board can make a great “Saratoga” gift to bring to family or friends or a piece of Saratoga for our visitors to take back home. A horse head to celebrate the racing season or for the equestrian lover or choose from one that may reflect a special love or hobby of the person you are buying for.

Adam Cielinski cutting boards are simply… beautiful and functional. Enjoy Saratoga Springs this summer and stop by Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery Store located at 33 Railroad Place in Saratoga Springs for cool tools for cooks. Remember, “Life Happens in the Kitchen”.

Have a summer filled with culinary delights and special memories. Take care, John and Paula

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POTATO SALAD WITH 7-MINUTE EGGS AND MUSTARD VINAIGRETTE Ingredients:

2½ pounds new or baby Yukon Gold potatoes, scrubbed 4 large eggs, room temperature 1 teaspoon mustard seeds 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 2 tablespoons whole grain mustard 1 teaspoon honey ⅓ cup olive oil Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 cup parsley leaves with tender stems 3 tablespoons coarsely chopped dill pickles 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives Recipe Preparation:

Steam potatoes, covered, in a metal steamer basket set in a large pot over boiling water until tender, 20–30 minutes, depending on size. Transfer to a plate and let cool.

Meanwhile, cook eggs in a large saucepan of boiling water until whites are set and yolks are still slightly soft, 7 minutes. Drain; transfer eggs to a bowl of ice water and chill until cold. Drain and peel; set eggs aside. Toast mustard seeds in a dry small skillet over medium-low heat, tossing constantly, until seeds start to pop, about 1 minute. Transfer to a small bowl (be ready with bowl; once seeds get going, it’s chaos).

Whisk vinegar, mustard, and honey in a large bowl. Whisking constantly, gradually add oil; whisk until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper. Set 3 Tbsp. vinaigrette aside for drizzling. Halve potatoes and add to bowl with vinaigrette. Add parsley and toss to coat; season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a platter. Halve reserved eggs and tuck in between potatoes. Drizzle with reserved vinaigrette. Top with pickles, chives, and toasted mustard seeds. Do Ahead: Eggs can be boiled 1 day ahead; drain, cover, and chill. Peel just before using. Vinaigrette can be made 3 days ahead; cover and chill. SS

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The Summertime WRITTEN BY RALPH VINCENT

COCKTAIL HOUR...

Start off your next dinner party with drinks and food that celebrates the season!

ummer is an ideal time for relaxed entertaining, and to me hosting a casual dinner is one of the best ways to celebrate the season. I believe the most excellent way to launch a dinner party - even the most informal - is with the timehonored cocktail hour. Serving pre-dinner drinks and nibbles remains a surefire way to create a celebratory atmosphere and help guests feel at home. Moreover, you can tailor a cocktail hour to suit every season.

A summertime cocktail hour calls for warm weather libations - chilled white wine, vodka, gin, tonic water, as well as non-alcoholic beverages. I like to make the occasion distinctive and even more enjoyable by serving a signature cocktail such as my” Summer Blonde Martini “.

Along with the drinks I serve a few finger foods reflecting the season’s bounty. Summertime produce is celebrated in two easy to prepare cocktail snacks that are perfect for warm weather gatherings. My first recipe, “Golden Tomatoes with Mozzarella, Lemon and Dill” is a nosh version of the classic Caprese salad. Cutting the tomatoes and cheese into smaller pieces and serving on French baguette slices turns this traditional summer salad into an easy to eat finger food. In my second recipe, radishes, fresh herbs and butter come together in a humble but delicious tidbit.

FRESH RADISHES WITH HERB BUTTER When spread with cool herb butter, the peppery flavor of fresh radishes becomes even more delectable.

Although chives and parsley are used in this recipe other herbs work well too. Try fresh tarragon and thyme or any other mixture you like. 2 bunches of fresh radishes cleaned and trimmed. Halve or quarter any larger radishes to make bite size pieces. ½ cup softened salted butter 1 teaspoon of minced fresh chives or more to taste 1 teaspoon of minced fresh flat parsley or more to taste 1/8 teaspoon fresh ground pepper or more to taste

THE SUMMER BLONDE MARTINI. The” Summer Blonde Martini” is a simple cocktail that features premium vodka and Lillet, a French wine based aperitif that imparts complexity and gentle sweetness. Lillet –pronounced” leelay”- is a blend of wine with liqueurs and is available in three variations, Blanc, Rose’ and Rouge. Lillet Blanc is used in this recipe. To finish, a generous peel of lemon zest cut directly over top of the poured cocktail adds character and enhances the other ingredients. The “Summer Blonde Martini” – makes 1 cocktail Two ounces premium vodka One ounce Lillet Blanc Peel of lemon zest about 1 inch long and ½ inch wide.

Combine the vodka and Lillet in an ice filled cocktail share. Shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is frosty cold. Strain the mixture into a stemmed cocktail glass or an ice filled “rocks” glass. Using a sharp vegetable peeler carefully carve a thin slice of lemon zest into the cocktail. That’s all there is to it!

Place the butter and herbs in a small bowl and stir until well combined. Transfer to a serving dish and refrigerate. About 10 minutes prior to serving remove the butter from the refrigerator and allow to soften slightly. Place the dish of butter and a small spreading knife on a serving platter, surround with the radishes and serve right away.

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GOLDEN TOMATOES WITH MOZZARELLA, LEMON AND DILL This recipe calls for golden or yellow tomatoes but will work just as well with other colors. Fresh mint can be substituted for the dill with equally delicious results. 1 pound or golden or yellow tomatoes ¾ pound fresh mozzarella cheese 2 tablespoons fresh dill ¼ cup fresh lemon juice ½ cup extra virgin olive oil ¼ teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper • Place the olive oil, lemon juice, 1 tablespoon dill, salt and pepper in a jar with a well-fitting lid. Secure the lid and shake vigorously until well blended. • Slice the tomatoes and mozzarella cheese, and cut each slice in half. Arrange the cheese slices side by side or slightly overlapped on a chilled serving platter. Top each piece of cheese with a tomato slice. Arrange any extra tomato slices around the edge of the serving platter. Drizzle the tomatoes and mozzarella cheese with the Lemon and Dill mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining tablespoon of dill, and season with additional salt and freshly ground pepper to taste. Refrigerate until time to serve. • Serve with a basket of sliced French baguette. SS

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Home Steading

101

A homesteader strives for maximum self-sufficiency in order to reduce reliance on others for the basic needs of food, shelter and energy. Homesteading skills are piquing the interest of many people who are trying to be more selfsufficient and want to be closer to the land and provide real, unadulterated food for themselves and their family. This is the beginning of a series of articles on homesteading topics by Cornell Cooperative Extension staff; Jessica Holmes, Master Gardener Educator, Ashley Keatley, Agriculture Educator and Diane Whitten, Food & Nutrition Educator.

Our articles will focus on gardening, raising chickens and other livestock, plus home food preservation, cooking from scratch, and more skills for homesteaders. Cornell Cooperative Extension offers classes, a list of upcoming events can be found at cceSaratoga.org, where you can also contact our educators. You can take homesteading to the degree you want to, by learning new skills. Some people will want to jump right in, but most people develop their skills and change their lifestyle over time. Make no mistake about it, homesteading is a lifestyle that’s work intensive, but very rewarding.

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HOME FOOD PRESERVATION WRITTEN BY DIANE WHITTEN, FOOD & NUTRITION EDUCATOR

CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SARATOGA COUNTY

here’s nothing more rewarding than producing your own food for self-sufficiency and health. A large garden can produce so much, that when the summer’s bounty is ready to be harvested, there can be more than one family can consume before it spoils. Food preservation is an essential skill that will help you enjoy your harvest throughout the year. Canning, freezing and drying are the three main methods of preserving food. There are two safe ways of canning, depending on the type of food being canned. Acidic foods, such as tomatoes and fruit, can be preserved using the boiling water or the new steam canning methods. Vegetables which have a low acid level must be preserved using the pressure canning method. Canning does take quite a bit of equipment and special jars, but once it’s done the food is shelf stable and can be stored in the pantry. If you have extra freezer space, freezing is a quick and easy way to preserve fruits and vegetables. Drying, one of the oldest forms of food preservation, is a good option for long-term storage. Fermentation, another ancient form of food preservation, can extend the shelf life of produce four to six months, long enough to get you through the long winter months. COOPERATIVE EXTENSION – BEST BET FOR HOME FOOD PRESERVATION INSTRUCTIONS

Food preservation instructions change over the years as we learn safer and more effective ways to preserve food. Food preservation instructions are researched and updated by the USDA which then passes the latest information

on to Cooperative Extension. The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension is the direct link to the USDA through its National Center for Home Food Preservation, accessible online at www.uga.edu/nchfp. There is a wealth of information at this site from basic food preservation “how to,” such as How to Use a Canner, to over 185 specific recipes that are guaranteed to be safe. Since botulism food poisoning can occur in low acid canned foods, it’s vital that you use a safe, tested recipe to keep your family safe. LOCAL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION RESOURCES

Of course, there is nothing like a hands-on demonstration class to learn home food preservation techniques and build confidence in your skills. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Albany and Saratoga Counties offer food preservation classes. Check the Events page on their web sites for upcoming classes. JUST DO IT

If you’re new to food preservation you can start with freezing, the easiest, least intimidating method. Berries can be placed on a tray in the freezer until frozen then packed in a plastic bag or container. For vegetables just blanch for the number of minutes suggested for the product you’re freezing, cool quickly in an ice bath and freeze. Don’t waste your gardening effort by discarding produce you can’t consume, just preserve it! Reference: HomeFoodPreservation.com

CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION OF SARATOGA COUNTY IS OFFERING THE FOLLOWING HANDS-ON CLASSES. $15 fee for each class. More information is on their web site. www.cceSaratoga.org. Pressure Canning Vegetables, Meats & Soups: Thursday, July 18, 5:30-8:30 Fermenting & Quick Pickling: Thursday, August 1, 5:30-8:30

Canning Salsa & Tomatoes: Wednesday, September 4, 5:30-8:30

Making Jerky & Canning Meat: Thursday, October 10, 5:30-8:30 pm

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WHEN FARMING IS NOT A LIVELIHOOD

But a Life

WRITTEN BY HIMANEE GUPTA-CARLSON PHOTOS BY PATTIE GARRETT

sign bearing the words Otrembiak Lane peeks out amid the farm fields that remain along the houses on North Milton Road. Beside it is the Otrembiak home, where brothers John and Steve have lived and farmed their entire lives.

They are among the most established vendors with the Saratoga Farmers’ Market, having joined it soon after its start-up in 1978. They are known today for their duck eggs, early spring seedlings, and wide variety of melons, vegetables, and herbs.

For them, farming was never the sole source of economic livelihood. However, it always was – and continues to be – their life.

John and Steve grew up on the farm along with their sisters Mary Beth Wing and Monica Varley. Mary Beth continues to live on the farm and Monica resides across the street. “We never went far,” says John, with a laugh.

He sat with Mary Beth and Steve at a family dining table on a rainy Sunday in May. I listened as they spoke of childhoods of early morning chores, barn cleanings on Saturdays, and caring for animals – which at varying points included chickens, ducks, cows, sheep, horses, and a mule.

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Mary Beth would be the first to rise each morning. On the table would be a list made by their father the night before of chores.

“We worked very hard,” she said, “but we made sure to play, too.” Play included swimming in the pond of their 120-acre property, riding horses on what was at one point a family ranch, sleigh riding, and sneaking into the pantry to sample the sweet butter their mother had churned.

The Otrembiak family traces its roots to Poland via Czechoslovakia, and its name to an occupation of “thrashers,” or those who separate wheat from chaff.

Their great-grandfather migrated in the late 1800s to what was then Slovakia and found work with a farmer. That individual married the farmer’s daughter, and their son emigrated to the U.S., landing in Chicago, where Anthony Otrembiak – father of Mary Beth, John, Monica, and Steve – was born in 1914. The family returned to Slovakia in 1920, where Anthony began herding animals for work.

Anthony served in the Czech-Slovak Army and returned to the U.S. in 1938, landing this time in Manhattan where he found work in a chandelier factory. He served in the U.S. Army, married, saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

and started a chandelier business called Light & Shine in Manhattan. But he yearned to return to a more rural life, a life that involved raising animals and growing one’s food.

He acquired the 120 acres that has become the Otrembiak Farm in the 1940s. “He always felt that if we could raise our own food, we would be okay, no matter what,” said Mary Beth. The farm filled many different functions over the years: a weekend resort for friends from New York City; a horseback riding enterprise; a space for raising poultry, sheep and cows. It also went through many ups and downs. Illness forced Anthony Otrembiak at one point to sell off his cows; a barn fire caused plans to start a dairy to collapse. “We had many good times,” says Steve, “but there were hard times, too.”

Anthony Otrembiak was a devout Catholic who served as a communicant at St. Clement’s and St. Joseph’s churches. He worked as a boilerman, maintenance mechanic, and audiovisual technician at Skidmore College. He never completed more than a fifth grade’s education but successfully worked to extend a faculty tuition waiver at Skidmore to all full-time members of the college staff. His daughter Monica graduated from Skidmore with a degree in nursing in 1972. For him, farming was a hard yet enjoyable enterprise that included keeping bees, being involved in 4-H, and eating good food fresh from the farm. In many ways, his children inherited his spirit.

“We always farmed for ourselves,” says Steve. “We never depended on it for our livelihood. That has given us an opportunity to experiment, to try new things, to grow what we like.”

Mary Beth married in 1985 and left the farm. She returned after their mother died to care for their father, who died in 2005. She now lives with John. John attended school at St. Clements and studied science at SUNY Plattsburgh. He joined the Peace Corps as a science and math teacher and worked briefly at National Public Radio in Washington D.C. NPR wanted to extend his internship into a job, but he turned it down. “I wanted to come home,” he said. “It was time to start planting.”

Steve went to St. Clements and Saratoga High School and earned a degree in agricultural engineering from SUNY Cobleskill. After that, in need of a job, he “took what one could get,” which led to 40 years of service at Skidmore, first in managing the college’s horse barns and later as a manager of its media services staff, where he met his wife Nancy, a secretary in the American Studies department. At the Saratoga Farmers’ Market, John and Steve move at a leisurely pace, taking time to greet their regulars, to answer planting questions, and to learn about newcomers’ interests. They donate much of their weekly harvest each week to the Franklin Community Center’s food pantry, and often are willing to share their years of farming knowledge with others.

This year, John celebrates his 70th birthday and Steve his 64th. Their ages, along with increased fatigue, are causing them to think about a new phase for the farm. Currently, they provide land to Jason Heitman, owner of Green Jeans Farm. Heitman in exchange has been helping the Otrembiaks maintain their own farm and often assists them at markets. That support is giving John and Steve opportunities to rest and to make a plan to open their farm up to a larger community.

Land on the other side of the pond they enjoyed swimming in as children is in the process of being established as a community garden. As Steve envisions it, the gardens would give people who live within a couple miles’ radius of the farm but lack space to grow food themselves an opportunity to do so.

“We hope to keep farming for as long as we’re able to do so,” says John. “And, at the same time, we want to create a way for others to enjoy this space as we have.” SS

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preserving

SARATOGA WRITTEN BY SAMANTHA BOSSHART, SARATOGA SPRINGS PRESERVATION FOUNDATION PHOTOS PROVIDED

his year visitors to the Saratoga Race Course will see a dramatic change – a major new building, the 1863 Club. This three-story building replaces the unattractive temporary tent and tractor-trailers that have been used for special events and air-conditioned corporate boxes. It will be shocking to see this change, but change has long been a part of the history of Saratoga Race Course. Saratoga’s first Thoroughbred horse race took place on August 3, 1863. However, it did not take place on the current track with its grandstand and iconic steeples, but across Union Avenue in the often overlooked “Horse Haven.”

Two local entrepreneurs, Alfonso Patten and James M. Cole, capitalized on the growing interest of harness racing and built the Saratoga Trotting Course on the north side of Union Avenue in 174 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2019

anticipation of the New York State Fair being held in Saratoga in September 1847. The first organized race to be held in Saratoga took place on August 14th before a crowd of 5,000. The Saratoga Trotting Course continued to be used for harness racing for the next 16 years.

On August 3, 1863, the first Thoroughbred meet took place, drawing 27 horses from 14 stables. The race was a huge success attracting 15,000 people. The following day, John Morrissey, the former heavy weight boxing champion and casino-owner, formed a new jockey club, the Saratoga Association. The Saratoga Association declared the trotter track - that had obscured views through the trees - too small and tight for Thoroughbreds and purchased 71 acres of land across Union Avenue to build a new track and grandstand, and an additional 23 acres to expand the original Saratoga Trotting Course, which was retained as a training ground. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

The new 1863 Club under construction with the 1928 Grandstand and extended 1892 Grandstand with the 1965 addition.

The new course, which was the first “modern sports venue” in the United States, opened for a five-day meet on August 2, 1864. People entered through a neo-classical gateway and followed a tree-lined path to a 200 foot long Carpenter Gothic grandstand with a long colonnade with reception rooms on the first floor and seating above, providing a perfect view of the entire course.

Circa 1910 photo of the 1928 Clubhouse, Grandstand, and Betting Ring following the 1902 Leavitt changes.” Photo Credit: Library of Congress

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For a period of time, horse racing continued to grow in popularity in Saratoga and across the country. The passing of Morrissey in 1878, subsequent changes in ownership, and the anti-gambling movement all took a toll on the track. In 1892, Gottfried “Dutch Fred” Walbaum, a disreputable bookmaker and former brothel owner, gained majority control of Saratoga Race Course. It was under his ownership that a JULY/AUGUST 2019 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | 175

new complex of buildings designed by architect Herbert Langford Warren, who studied under Henry Hobson Richardson and later became the dean of Harvard University School of Architecture, was constructed. The complex – clubhouse, betting ring, judges’ stand, and grandstand with its recognizable steeples – ushered in a new level of architectural sophistication to the track. The grandstand that opened on July 25, 1892 is not only the oldest Thoroughbred stand still in use in the United States, it is the oldest continuously used stand of any professional sport in the country. Despite the significant improvements to Saratoga Race Course, Walbaum’s unethical practices resulted in a decline in the popularity of racing. In 1900, William Collins Whitney, a political leader and wealthy financier, led a new collective to rescue the struggling race course. The reborn Saratoga Association immediately took action to make comprehensive improvements to the buildings, backstretch, and landscape – many of which you still see today. Wellrespected landscape engineer Charles Leavitt Jr. produced a master plan. He was responsible for rotating the existing track 25 degrees, moving it westward, and inserting a turf steeplechase course into the infield. Unbelievably, the existing grandstand was cut into three sections and also moved. Two large additions were then built in between the sections so that the stand was lengthened to a total of 750 feet, increasing the capacity by 50 percent to 6,000. While the grandstand was enlarged, the distinctive roof was left in place. A new large saddling shed with 25 stalls was constructed behind the clubhouse in the paddock, where the saddling of horses took place under the trees, providing a large open air space for saddling when it rained. Leavitt also designed formal pathways and roadways for the newly invented motor car as well. The landscape was enhanced with lawns, flowers, plantings of trees and shrubs, and a wrought-iron fence with brick piers was erected to delineate the property. At this time, the original trotting course in Horse Haven on the north side of Union Avenue was determined to be woefully inadequate for modern training. In 1902, the Saratoga Association acquired 120 acres north of Horse Haven to accommodate additional stables as well as a new practice track, which is known today as the Oklahoma Track.

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The original 1847 Saratoga Trotting Race Course in Horse Haven on the north side of Union Avenue.

The original grandstand built in 1864 on the south side of Union Avenue. Photo Credit: National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Fortunately, Whitney, who died in 1904, did not see the decline in racing that took place because of the anti-gambling regulations that were passed in 1911. For two years, no races were held in the state. However, changes in legislation were made and racing saw a renaissance after World War I. The 1902 Saddling Shed after it was enclosed with betting and offices.

1902 Saddling Shed, which has seen been enclosed with betting and offices. Photo Credit: George S. Bolster Collection, Saratoga Springs History Museum. Decorative Cast Iron

After nearly 20 years of few improvements, the Saratoga Association again made enhancements under the direction of civil engineer S. J. Mott. The biggest change - made to the Warren designed 1892 complex - was that the two-story grandstand with graceful wrap-around porches was demolished to make way for a much larger clubhouse to accommodate the demand for box seats, increasing capacity to 3,000. The steel frame, three-story building, clad with dark timber and shingles, featured an electric elevator and “Landing Stage” with Doric columns where the horses passed through the ground floor of the clubhouse onto the track.

In 1937, architect Marcus T. Reynolds was hired to develop plans to allow for more betting along the length of the backside of the grandstand with an open terrace above. He introduced the use of metal roofs with decorative scalloped edges and ornamental cast iron depicting racing scenes and horse head brackets. In 1946, Kenneth Reynolds, extended the addition that his uncle had designed along the backside of the clubhouse. In 1965, another significant change took place when the Warren designed betting ring was demolished to make way for a steel frame extension to the grandstand. Opening day on July 11 will mark the most significant investment and change to take place at Saratoga Race Course since the construction of the clubhouse in 1928. The new threestory, climate-controlled 1863 Club located at the first turn has sweeping views of the track and features a restaurant, a club for box holders, and private suites. It was designed by SOSH Architects in collaboration with local preservation consultant Matt Hurff of Frost Hurff Architects. While the new building may seem surprising today, years from now the 1863 Club will just be one of the many changes in Saratoga Race Course history. SS The Clubhouse “Landing Stage” with its two rows of Doric columns which the horses walked through en route to the track and still exist today. Photo Credit: Library of Congress

The Marcus T. Reynold’s addition with decorative cast-iron that depicts racing scenes and horse heads. Photo Credit: George S. Bolster Collection, Saratoga Springs History Museum. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Our

HISTORY WRITTEN BY CHARLIE KUENZEL PHOTOS PROVIDED BY THE GEORGE BOLSTER COLLECTION

"Taking the Waters"

The Mineral Springs of Saratoga Springs

ur name, Saratoga Springs says it all. Saratoga Springs was all about water in the early years of the 1800s. In those days a Puritanical work ethic prevented most people from discussing or even taking a vacation. The wealthy eventually could justify a trip if it was for stated health purposes and not for pure leisure which was perceived as being the trait of a less motivated person.

Right from the beginning the natural occurring mineral springs in Saratoga Springs would serve as a magnet for people to visit for their health. It is believed the first European to visit our springs was British Agent for Indian Affairs, Sir William Johnson in 1771. When Sir William came to the High Rock Spring, he was brought by the Mohawk to help an ailing friend with the healing waters. The High Rock was one of a few naturally occurring mineral springs that the Mohawk had visited for hundreds of years. The Mohawk treasured the waters so much that they had guarded the location of this powerful healing spring from European settlers to the area. As a result Saratoga Springs was founded late compared to surrounding towns. saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

After Sir William’s visit to the High Rock, he spread the word to friends about the power of the spring which began a rush of visitors to take the waters. By the 1790s people were making the difficult trip to a primitive Saratoga Springs to drink and bathe in the waters. A visionary couple named Gideon and Doanda Putnam settled in the village during the spring of 1789 and immediately saw the business possibilities available to assist people visiting to “take the waters.” The Putnams built the first hotel called Putnam’s Tavern and Boarding House. This was a huge gamble since the area was mostly undeveloped and was not yet regarded as a destination. Opening for business in 1802, Putnam’s venture proved to be a huge success and he made plans to expand the size for the following year. Gideon also made improvements to the real tourist draw, the springs. The Congress Springs was discovered in 1792 by Nicholas Gillman who had been a delegate to the First Continental Congress from the colony of New Hampshire. Gillman pushed back at the suggestion to name the new spring Gillman Spring and instead chose to honor the Continental Congress with the name Congress.

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Over the years the Congress Spring became the number one mineral spring in the village among summer visitors. The Congress was largely consumed as the morning spring, usually drinking two glasses before eating breakfast. Doctors in Saratoga and major urban areas in the country wrote prescriptions for taking the waters while in Saratoga. Many doctors would confer with patients to discover their medical problems and then would prescribe a regimen of certain springs with directions for the number of glasses of water and the time of day. Patients would follow these prescriptions while visiting the city and found that it gave them instant credibility that they were in Saratoga for their health. An actual prescription read, “Take two glasses of the Congress Spring, before breakfast, followed by a brisk walk”. We know today that the mineral content of the water usually caused the person drinking the Congress to walk briskly to the nearest bathroom. In 1811 Gideon Putnam set forth a list of “rules” for the use of all the mineral springs in the city. He made a bold statement to suggest that the mineral springs would always be free at the well site. Putnam envisioned that the water should be free since he felt the waters to be healing and did not want people to be closed out of their use based on income. He even suggested that maybe the best placement of the springs should be in the middle of the streets. Putnam felt that location would prevent abuse from private ownership of this important resource. This idea was never embraced, and the springs always remained on private property. 180 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2019

Since people did own the mineral springs “free at the spring” meant that it would be harder to pay the bills associated with ownership if you could not charge for a drink. It soon became evident that owners would need to operate bath houses and bottle the waters for shipment to markets around the globe in order to pay the bills.

This model was made famous by a successful business man named John Clarke. In 1823 Clarke moved to Saratoga Springs from New York City where he had made sizeable wealth with soda fountains. Clarke bought the Congress Spring and began to bottle the water for worldwide distribution. Clarke and business partner Lynch decided the waters would be marketed in embossed quart and pint size bottles. To control costs, they chose dark colored glass which was cheaper to produce. Green and brown glass became the standard and it was explained that the medicinal properties of the water need to be protected from degradation from sunlight by the dark colored glass. Clarke shipped mineral water to every major city in the United States as well as foreign locations as far away as China. Widespread distribution of our mineral water put the city on the map. After seeing the success of the distribution of the Congress Spring other spring owners followed suit and bottled their waters. Because each mineral spring had a different taste it became an experiment as to which water would attract the most favor of the general public and therefore be an economic success. At the same time

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bath houses also increased in number and added comfort. The early baths were cold without comfortable surroundings. Soon the bath waters were heated, and the bath houses added comforts that increased use and profits. Saratoga Springs now offered all the components of a world class health resort.

As our popularity grew as a health resort it also grew as a fashionable place to see and be seen. Many people coming to the city did not want to involve themselves all day with “healthy activity.” In 1819 the village passed special laws that allowed for the first time, legal card games in private hotel rooms as well as the establishment of billiard rooms in hotels. Special rules also allowed additional locations for sale of alcohol as well as licensing of taverns. Congress Hall lead the way with these new activities as well as providing nightly music and weekly dances and balls for those looking for more lively distractions. As we all know over time these activities increased in intensity and diversity until we had a village with world-class casino gambling and Thoroughbred horse racing.

Today we have 17 active mineral springs that flow 24 hours a day for free use of residents and visitors as Gideon intended. Our roots are with the water and that is why our slogan “Health, History and Horses” gets it right. Our city started with Health - or the mineral springs - and the rest followed to produce a dynamic city that is still a tourist destination over 200 years later. SS

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Summer visitors that want to do a “taste test” of our many waters can get a copy of a very informative pamphlet on the mineral waters at the Saratoga Springs Visitors Center at 297 Broadway in Saratoga. This pamphlet will guide visitors to each of the 17 springs as well as offer a short narrative on each mineral spring and its history.

NEW EXHIBIT ON MINERAL WATER

The Saratoga Springs History Museum (located in the Canfield Casino) has just opened a new exhibit on the history of mineral water in Saratoga Springs. An exhibit not be missed.

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SARATOGA PADDOCK A view of the old paddock at Saratoga Race Course as it looked in 1904.

Rarely Seen Photos of OLD SARATOGA Springs WRITTEN BY CHARLIE KUENZEL IMAGES FROM THE GEORGE S. BOLSTER COLLECTION

JOCKEY WEIGH-IN A great image of jockeys being weighed in at Saratoga Race Course. As race goers know, in an effort to make horse races as equal as possible the amount of weight a horse carries is monitored with a weigh-in.

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JOCKEY SIGN-IN 1919 An image of jockeys checking in before getting their mounts at Saratoga. Notice the “silks” (hats and shirts) that each jockey wears. These racing silks have different patterns and colors that are unique to each racing stable. These silks help to identify the owner of each horse in a race.

UPSET BEATS MAN O’ WAR Saratoga Race Course has the reputation of being the “Graveyard of Champions.”

This picture shows the great Man O’ War’s only defeat to the horse, Upset in the 1919 Sanford Stakes at Saratoga.

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KAYDEROSS PARK

Oh What a Ride!

WRITTEN BY CAROL GODETTE PHOTOS PROVIDED BY THE GEORGE BOLSTER COLLECTION

Long before Lena Spencer opened her legendary performance cafe, Saratoga Springs was graced with “mom and pop” residents willing to invest their time and talents into establishments to provide us with quality “after hours” entertainment. Residents newer to the area are unlikely to have a historical perspective on the now defunct Saratoga Bowl, the Rafters Bar, the Community Theater, or the changed face of the Saratoga Harness Track. Yet for nostalgic lifelong locals these establishments conjure up images of a simpler Saratoga. This series will look at the entertainment venues that once flourished and provided us with countless hours of amusement.

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hanks to local entrepreneurs Bobby D’Andrea and William and Gen Wrobel, Saratoga Springs had its own version of Coney Island on the nearby banks of Saratoga Lake. Kaydeross Park was originally opened for beach use in 1900 by the Saratoga Traction Company. It was later sold to Hudson Valley Railroad at a time when railroad companies across the US were creating amusement areas to pump up their weekend business. City dwellers would travel to the country for fresh air and fun during the summer and Saratoga Lake was a perfect destination. A trolley took would-be water lovers from our current Visitor’s Center to Kaydeross Park.

Swimming and boating were popular pastimes at Saratoga Lake in the early 1920s. This 1919 photo shows the steep wooden slide enjoyed by many until the 1950s.

Bobby D’Andrea and the Wrobels bought Kaydeross Park in 1957 from Jack and Lydia Gross, a couple from NYC, and turned it into a full-fledged amusement park. Their challenge as small business owners was to constantly innovate and improve the park- and that they did! In 1962 the owners spent $45,000 resurfacing the midway, adding rides and most importantly – regulation sized baseball fields. Nothing was forgotten in the 50-acre park, even a Ferris Wheel beaconed customers from the parking lot and the ride filled mid-way led amusement seekers to skeet ball in the penny arcade. Cotton candy, mini golf, and horseshoes were popular attractions. Water enthusiasts could choose from the Olympic sized pool, the sandy beach or the paddleboats.

“In a brilliant move by my father, we turned Kaydeross into a ‘food park’ hosting corporate picnics for up to 2,00 people. Headed by my mother, a staff of nearly 150 teenagers, and a few food veterans we delivered steak and chicken dinners with all the sides,” reflects Greg Wrobel.

Scenes from the Van Raalte Company Picnic in 1966 highlighting the park’s many attractions: saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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The 28 horses of this carousel were carved in 1910 by master craftsman Marcus Charles Illions of Coney Island. After Kaydeross Park was sold in 1987, local residents and businessmen launched a “Save the Carousel” campaign and raised $120,000 to restore and move the carousel to Congress Park. It took until 2002 to get it placed in Congress Park, yet the carousel remains historically significant. Illions was described by New York Times writer Martha Schwendener as “the Michelangelo of carousel carvers” and only 6 of his carousels are operational today.

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This spin on the Tilt-a-Whirl is a scene right out of The Sandlot.

Diving for Kennedy half dollars was a popular picnic pastime.

This spin on the Tilt-a-Whirl is a scene right out of The Sandlot.

A 1985 promotional video promoted the park as a “one day holiday.” That holiday changed when the park was sold in 1987 and turned into housing. SS saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Imagining

MOUNT MCGREGOR SECOND IN A SERIES

Mount McGregor, The Outlook House, Grant Cottage and Hotel Balmoral WRITTEN BY DAN FORBUSH, SMARTACUS CREATIVE GROUP PHOTOS PROVIDED

nce a Saratoga tourist destination on par with the Saratoga Race Course and Saratoga Lake, the summit of Mount McGregor has seen better days. But a new study produced by the Open Space Institute and Saratoga PLAN offers visions of a fabulous future for this legendary Adirondack peak.

Visitors to Saratoga Springs in the late 1800s could climb aboard a narrow-gauge train at North Broadway and enjoy a scenic 12-mile ride north to the forest-crowned summit of Mount McGregor, the highest peak in the Palmertown range of the southern Adirondacks.

Upon arriving at the summit they encountered the luxurious 100-room Hotel Balmoral and resort, financed in part by Joseph W. Drexel, who also helped finance the railroad. In building the Balmoral, the original smaller hotel built by Duncan McGregor in the mid-1870s had to be moved from the summit to a spot nearby. Drexel would later offer the use of the former hotel to General Ulysses S. Grant to complete his memoirs in during the last six weeks of his life in 1885.

On December 1, 1897, the Hotel Balmoral was reduced to ashes in a blaze of mysterious origin, as reported by The Saratogian. 188 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2019

"The entire structure was destroyed by fire early this morning and the heavens for miles around bore brilliant evidence of the fiery fate of this caravansary on the mountain top, 1200 feet higher than Saratoga."

"Of course, nothing could be done to save it, for there are no firefighting facilities on the mountain." Men had been at work on the building for several days, "painting and otherwise improving it." Lanterns had been used and a "fire had been kept to warm a portion of the lower floor."

"It is possible that spontaneous combustion was generated by some of the oily and turpentine rags used by the painters, but this theory cannot be proved and a good many people would not believe it anyhow."

After the hotel burned, the railroad up the mountain was dismantled and the city's most popular link to the Adirondacks was lost. Over the years, other uses were found for the site. While the hotel was gone, the infrastructure remained and that, with new construction, would support over the next century a tuberculosis sanatorium, a veterans’ rest home, and a residence and school for the developmentally disabled. Starting in 1976, the New York State Department of Corrections developed the complex into a minimum/medium security prison, which ultimately closed in 2014.

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In 2014, the Empire State Development Corporation started seriously looking for a developer to purchase the 325 acres that remain largely surrounded by a razor-wire-topped fence after 750 acres of forest around the prison were opened to the public as an extension of Moreau Lake State Park. ESD offered $8 million toward infrastructure improvements, but that was not enough to persuade serious developers who might be put off by the need to install a new water system and piping for natural gas, as well as the challenge of dealing with three municipalities -- Corinth, Wilton, and Moreau -- in obtaining the necessary permits. Some say there's no way McGregor will ever be redeveloped. The obstacles are too massive. But others are hopeful and determined. None more so than Melissa Trombley-Prosch, the Grant Cottage Site Historian and Friends of Grant Cottage Board Trustee who in 1985 led the fight to save the cottage when the New York Office of Parks starting taking steps to close it.

The manor that once housed the impoverished and nursing home residents is now a 100-room hotel. Surrounding it is a pitch-and-putt golf course, a fine dining restaurant, a spa, a soaking pool, a concert and event venue, a winery and vineyard, brewery, a distillery, a glass-blowing studio, a pottery studio, gardens, a pool and game hall, and a "sprawling park-like campus dotted with tiny In March of 1882, construction began on the Saratoga atmospheric pubs just waiting to be Mt. McGregor Railroad. Exactly four months later, trains were operating to the mountain top carrying passengers to Hotel Balmoral discovered," reports Spirited magazine. and the Drexel Cottage (now Grant Cottage.)

"History has taught me that anything is doable if you just have a group of like-minded people who have decided that a particular choice of action has merit and is achievable," says Trombley. "All of this is achievable, but there's been no vision." Enter the Open Space Institute and Saratoga PLAN. As part of a conservation and recreation strategy for northern Saratoga County they published last fall, these open-space non-profits are proposing two new visions for the summit that would harmonize with McGregor's history and surrounding forest, lakes, and trails. One is a museum or interpretive center that highlights the area's indigenous, cultural, and ecological history. As a model, OSI and PLAN point to the North Carolina Museum of Artin Raleigh, with its "museum park," a trail system that leads visitors through natural areas to commissioned works of art. "Designed for hiking, walking, and jogging, the unpaved natural trails allow visitors to deeply experience art and nature," the museum's site says. But an even better model for Saratoga Springs may be that provided near Portland, Oregon by craft brewers Mike and saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

Brian McMenamin, who in 1990 imagined a new future for a 74-acre parcel that for over a century had served as a poor farm, a jail, and a nursing home. Shuttered in 1982, the building, called Historic Edgefield, went into an eight-year period of decline that the McMenamin brothers ended with their determination to bring people together with "good beer, good food and good music" and create the "Disneyland for adults" that McMenamins Edgefield is today.

Would something like that be possible on Mount McGregor? Absolutely, says Jeff Olson, a local architect and planner with Alta Planning + Design who consulted with OSI and PLAN on the South Palmertown study. "We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to connect Saratoga Springs to the Adirondack Park," he says. "We can connect more than 10,000 acres into a sustainable resource for conservation, recreation and economic development." Properly executed, the redevelopment of Mount McGregor could be the main driver for the success of the conservation and recreation strategy that OSI and PLAN are proposing for northern Saratoga County, says Katie Petronis, OSI Northern Program Director.

"Imagine a space that's focused on recreation and appreciation of the region's many outdoors offerings would encourage trails development and appreciation of the fabulous Palmertown landscape, with its rivers, lakes and peaks. Imagine a network of trails that reaches all the way down to Saratoga Springs at Daniels Road State Forest, where it meets the Greenbelt. It would spawn bike shops, trailside eateries, brew pubs, and bed and breakfasts. The redevelopment of Mount McGregor is critical to this plan." SS

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VAN RAALTE

Lunch Break

WRITTEN BY JOHN GREENWOOD PHOTOS PROVIDED

For me, stories are one of life's precious joys. Mine bubble to the surface in natural, organic ways. It's always been that way. Slowly as I matured, I began to embrace, collect, and share them. I've been fortunate to spend my life in an area steeped in enough history to provide volumes of material.

When my grandfather, Elmer Greenwood retired in 1964, he was superintendent of knitting at the Saratoga Van Raalte Mill. He passed away in 1990 at the age of 91. In the years after his retirement, he assembled the Greenwood genealogy. In it, he included a historical account of his experiences in the tricot knitting industry from 1917 through 1964. He was very proud of the textile quality that came out of the Van Raalte Mill, and it was important to him that he include that as part of his legacy. One day I had some business to attend to at an office in the restored and re-invented Van Raalte Mill. Going to "The Mill," on my lunch break was more than business, in a way, it was a chance to re-visit my grandfather and part of my family history. As I approached the beautiful facade of the old mill, I was magically transported back several decades. I could hear the rhythm of the massive knitting machines as they reeled off rolls of finely woven fabric. I could smell the machine oil that soaked the wide planked floors for over a century. As I entered the front door, I expected to see my Aunt Ann sitting at her desk waiting for me. She worked in the office there for many years as did hundreds of other Saratogians during the mill's prime. Many of those dedicated and prideful Van Raalte employees remain scattered around the city. I visualized my grand-father standing there speaking to one of the machine operators about an adjustment they needed to make on one of the looms. I was in a time machine, and it was stuck in gear.

A few feet in the main door I see a framed pair of white nylon gloves. I'm instantly drawn to it. Next to it is a framed Van Raalte Co. timeline. My head begins to swivel side to side like a child in

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a toy store. The woman at the desk in the lobby seemed to sense my mood and interest as she patiently waited for me to come back to earth. Her name is Mary Ellen, and she's the building's facility manager. She directed me upstairs to the office I needed to visit. When I returned to her desk in the lobby, I asked if there were any more photographs of the original mill. It was at this point I began to divulge my attachment and interest in Van Raalte history. She explained that although she wasn't originally from Saratoga, she had acquired a keen interest in the city's history since moving there several years ago. We agreed its next to impossible to drive through the city and not be absorbed by it. I asked about the mineral spring I remembered being in-side the building. Her eyes lit up as she confirmed my memory. She went on to explain that the Empire Spring was now piped outside and still intact. She then showed me a vintage Empire Spring bottle she had acquired. Deep green, with heavily embossed lettering, it was a beauty. After sharing a few more minutes of Van Raalte history, I thanked her for her hospitality and for making my reunion/lunch break such a special event. As I left the building, I focused on the sloping remnants of the street that used to curve down alongside the front of the mill. Seeing a grass-covered Empire Hill gave me a nostalgic hug. Progress and preservation can sometimes clash. I have witnessed a city go from a deep decline to explosive growth over the last half-century. It is always heartbreaking to see old buildings come down. Preservation is expensive and many times divisive. I feel Saratoga Springs, it's businesses, and its citizens have done an impressive job compared to other cities across the state. Time waits for no one, including Saratogians. There is no perfect answer to balancing growth and preservation. You hope along the way we have recorded our history well enough that someday when my great-great-grandchildren visit High Rock Park, they can look to the east and say, "I think one of our descendants worked in that mill back in the 1900s. Let's walk over to the library's, ‘Saratoga Room’ and check it out." SS saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

SARATOGA READING ROOM Saratoga Reading Room

INTRODUCTION WRITTEN BY CAROL GODETTE

Driving by 148 Union Avenue, one hardly notices the stately 3 story white clapboard house with green trim. The building is tucked into a corner surrounded by a black iron fence and shrouded with shrubbery, marked by a small sign on the front screen-"SARATOGA READING ROOM.” Originally intended as a private social club for men only, The Reading Room was founded for Thoroughbred horse owners, trainers and breeders to read the daily racing papers before crossing the NYRA grounds for the afternoon racing. It later became an exclusive dining club serving breakfast, lunch and after-race cocktails for its members. Few local residents ever entered the building, unless they were there to work. From 1972-1989 The Reading Room’s kitchen and dining rooms were staffed by a group of young black athletes living on the westside of Broadway, which they referred to as the “Best Side” of Saratoga.

Ernest “Sonny” Gooden, a 6”2” basketball star at Saratoga High School began as a dishwasher in the Reading Room due to his father’s job at the track. As positions in the Reading Room opened up, Sonny would recommend neighborhood relatives and friends. Two dishwashing positions became available and Sonny recommended his friend Eddie Pinn and his cousin Stewart White.

“We had fun and made lots of money,” reflects Stewart. Both teenagers knew if they worked hard, they could make serious money by being promoted to waiters. Within a few years, both were wearing the coveted white jackets of a Reading Room waiter. That’s when they got to meet people that may never have otherwise crossed their paths. For both Sonny and Stewart, the job was really about the relationships they built with the regulars. “We were so comfortable around them and they were equally comfortable around us,” said Stewart.

In today’s world where stories of racism and prejudice are all too frequent, Sonny and Stewart didn’t experience any of this at the Reading Room. “Our boss wouldn’t stand for any disrespect. Once someone who came for sales week was disrespectful and the maitre d’ sent them packing. He had to apologize to us, or his membership would be revoked,” they both stated.

Pittsburgh Pirate owner John Galbreath and horse breeder Stanley Petter were just a few of the patrons who were interested in Stewart and Sonny’s personal lives. “We were all playing ball at the time, especially Sonny ‘cause he was the MAN,” jokes Stewart-referring to Sonny’s success on Saratoga High’s basketball court. (When Sonny was inducted into the Capital District Sports Hall of Fame, he was described as the best basketball player Saratoga High ever had.) “The people at the Reading Room got us ready for college. They went out and bought some of our stuff like trunks and supplies,” they fondly recall.

Stewart, Sonny and their friends worked hard and were good at what they did, always going the extra mile for their favorite patrons. Stewart describes the job as a “match made in heaven.” Eventually Stewart’s brother James was also hired. When James passed away two years ago, it inspired Stewart to document their experiences in the story “Saratoga’s Best Kept Secret.” Simply Saratoga is honored to bring you the third installment… saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

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Sports Celebrities

Angel Cordero Jr. comes back to the winner’s circle after winning the Preakness Stakes on Gate Dancer (Blood-Horse photo)

WRITTEN BY STEWART WHITE PHOTOS PROVIDED

he Reading Room was always a really nice place to work. Being a part of such a highclass establishment meant a lot to us. We were proud to say we worked there. The fact that very few people knew anything about its members or who frequented it made us feel even more a part of something big.

My relationships with the members started to become very special. There were people I really enjoyed talking to and I was feeling great about having the opportunity of mingling with such highprofile types. I was never a big horse racing guy, but I sure knew a lot about team sports. It was those members that were affiliated with team sports that really got my juices flowing while working as a server on the porch. The first person that comes to my mind is Mr. Sonny 192 | SIMPLY SARATOGA | JULY/AUGUST 2019

Werblin who once owned the NY Jets football team, also was the Chairman of Madison Square Garden and was instrumental in the building and managing of the Meadowlands Sports Complex, but was best known for giving Joe Namath, in 1965, a then record $400,000 signing bonus. He was a nice guy who didn’t mind me asking questions that pertained to the NFL, Jets, or the Knicks. I remember telling him I liked the Cowboys and him saying nice things about Tom Landry, the Cowboys’ legendary head coach. I also had another member who knew how much I loved the Cowboys introduce me to someone, as he said, “Who runs all the teams, including your precious Cowboys.” I went inside and a gentleman turns and says, “Hi Stewart, I’m Pete Rozelle.” He was the then Commissioner of the NFL. Wow!! That was pretty, cool!! Wellington Mara and his wife were another favorite of mine. Being the owner of the Giants’ football team, Mr. Mara was also

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Pete Rozelle

George Steinbrenner

Jimmy the Greek

Peter Mahovlich

Stewart as a waiter

Wellington Mara

aware of my love for the Dallas Cowboys. In the summer of 1987, he brought me something and said “Stewart, I brought something I wanted you to see”. I asked, “What you got, Mr. Mara”? I will never forget what he pulled out of his pocket. He pulled out a case and told me to open it. Inside was his 1986 Super Bowl ring. He even let me take it to the kitchen to show my friends. Although I wasn’t and still am not a Giants fan, I was most definitely a Wellington Mara Fan!! He was a great man to be around and I am glad I had the chance to get to know him.

jacket and green trousers on. I’ll never forget how colorful his outfit was.

George Steinbrenner was once a guest at one of my tables. I told him how much I loved the Yankees. He raised his World Series ring he was wearing and told me how hard his team worked to get this. There was also John Galbreath and his son Dan, owners of Major League Baseball’s Pittsburgh Pirates, they would regularly sit at my tables. They were extremely friendly, and I came very comfortable being around them. I was so at ease with them, that once, I came out to take their order, in my Cousin Sonny’s Pirates baseball cap. Boy, did they get a kick out of that. They used to talk with me about Roberto Clemente, one of the greatest Pirate players ever and a Hall of Famer, who died in a tragic plane crash in 1972. He was one of my all-time favorite baseball players.

World famous jockey Angel Cordero and his family would sit at the big round table in the center of the porch. I enjoyed taking care of him and his family. He used to flash that big smile and was always very pleasant.

Another member, whose name I can’t recall, but was a regular of mine, told me he had a guest coming and whatever I did, not to say anything about that pitch. It turned out to be former Brooklyn Dodger pitcher Ralph Branca, who in 1954 served up the home run pitch to Bobby Thompson which was later, called the “shot heard around the world,” pushing the NY Giants to the World Series.

Right there next to Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays. I also met Brent Musberger and Jack Whitaker of CBS Sports who were in Saratoga covering the Travers Stakes. Mr. Whitaker had yellow saratogaTODAYnewspaper.com

A local sport reporter in Albany by the name of Rip Rowan used to sit with a gentleman named Mr. Burke on the back lawn. Once through them, I was introduced to a huge 6’7” man who was a guest of theirs. That man turned out to be Peter Mahovlich of the Stanley Cup Champions, Montreal Canadians of the National Hockey League. Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder, who was a legendary Las Vegas odds maker, would frequent the Reading Room. He was a very entertaining person to me. He was always known to be a colorful, brash and sometimes controversial man. He didn’t disappoint during his visits. I remember how he used to complain about the size of our pancakes. He would say “these aren’t meant for a big man!” due to the thinness of them. Funny thing was, he would order them every morning he showed up.

These high-profile sports celebrities were all just a part of the experience that made my job at the Reading Room so delightful. Each day you would have the opportunity to engage, get to know and enjoy prominent people like the ones I mentioned. From one day to the next you would be amazed at who you would see right before your eyes. I loved working there. Oh yeah, I can’t forget to mention it again. The tip money continued to be awfully good! For the next installment, we'll meet "The New Breed" due out September 6. SS

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