Great new Saratoga Springs book for sale

From the "How did I miss this" files, there is a terrific new Saratoga Springs picture book for sale that Dan DelGaudio from the Batcheller Mansion showed me this past weekend.  It is simply called "Saratoga - Health, History, Horses, Hi-Tech".  It was produced by Peter and Marjorie Olsen, and distributed by North Country Press. I absolutely love it!

There are two reasons that I love this book, which you can read more about on the Saratoga Economic Development Corporation web site here. The first reason is that the photographs are so vivid and exciting, and the second reason I love this book so much is that it captures the true Saratoga Springs I know and love.   The vision of this book apparently was to capture not just what physically is in Saratoga Springs, but to show the whole region as it affects Saratoga Springs.  So not only are there pictures of Saratoga favorites such as the Race Course, Saratoga Spa State Park, Yaddo, Victorian mansions (including of course the aforementioned Batcheller Mansion), and historic downtown buildings, but the book also covers Saratoga area assets like Lake George (including The Sagamore Resort), The Adirondack Mountains, The Hudson River, Saratoga Battlefield, Luther Forest, as well as Global Foundries and Albany's College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, The Saratogian, Espey Manufacturing, several local restaurants from PJ's Barbecue to Longfellows, and dozens of other entities that haven't been included in other "traditional" Saratoga Springs books and promotional pieces but nonetheless are part of making Saratoga Springs what it is and, perhaps most importantly, what it will become. 

There is a lot about this book that I am not giving justice to, so you'll have to go out and buy one or at least see if the Saratoga Springs Public Library has a copy. I also liked the lighthearted approach taken by Peter Olsen, who took the pictures and wrote the text accompanying them.  On the page entitled "Modern Architecture with Victorian DNA" Olsen wrote the following accompanying the picture of the new Broadway McDonalds:

"The world's only Victorian McDonald's! Some may say that a Queene Anne Style McDonald's pushes the Victorian theme too far, but it is good fun."

The Chamber of Commerce and the Convention and Tourism Bureau need to order about 1,000 of these each to give out, and I'm very serious when I say that. The pictures are so great and the categorical selection so effectively represents our region that I think it could be a great Economic Development tool for years to come.   Good for you Peter Olsen - you had a brilliant idea and created an awe-inspiring book! 

Comments

[SaraT]

Thanks! This sounds good! But do you know where it is available for purchase within the city?

[Rob]

Dan - Is there a picture of the library in the book? Nothing remarkable architecturally, but still a great and inviting space in the center of town. Wish I had known about this book, would have made a great Xmas gift.

[Dan]

Rob:
I'm 95% sure there is a picture of the library in there - I don't have my copy with me right now. It really is a comprehensive representation of Saratoga Springs - He had a page called "Anchors of the Community" with pics of the YMCA, the High School, and I think the Library was in that one. Yes you're right it would have made a great Christmas gift. Sara I'm assuming Lyrical Ballad has some, and the Batcheller Mansion had some for sale (time your visit on a weekend afternoon and they may be making fresh baked cookies for the guests and throw one in as a bonus :) ) If those avenues don't work, perhaps you can order one from North Country Press. Thanks for commenting both of you!

[SaraT]

I just saw that the book is available at Adirondack Trust!