Fun in Saratoga

Listen to 91.1 WSPN Skidmore radio Saturdays from 8-9am to listen to Talk Saratoga

Listen to my friend Rick Thompson on Talk Saratoga WSPN 91.1 FM Skidmore Radio Saturday mornings from 8-9am.  The guest this Saturday (May 26th) will be Pat Kane, Co-Founder of Saratoga Citizen.  Phone in your questions for Pat at 580-5783 or email to saratogabroadcasting@gmail.com

CDTA Saratoga Trolley to start Sunday May 27th

The Saratoga Trolley, run seasonally by CDTA as Route #875, will start the 2012 season this Sunday May 27th.  The trolley goes from the Hall of Springs, up Broadway, east on Lake, south on Circular, east on Union Avenue, south on Nelson (with a stop at Wright Street near the Clubhouse entrance to the track) and on to the Casino.  Click here for map, schedule and other information. 

 

 

C'mon Fatso just bust a move

Young MC may be a one-hit wonder, but damn "Bust a Move" was a fun song.  I just noticed that he is playing at Vapor Nightclub on June 9th.  Tone-Loc coming anytime soon?

 

 

Saratoga thoughts May 21, 2012

OK I've been a bit remiss in keeping these up.  Here we go.

• Geez that was an exciting Preakness.  What makes it even better is that there's a horse eligible to win this year's Triple Crown.   If NYRA needed something from the Doctor right about now, I'll Have Another going for a Triple Crown is it.  
• I've come to respect Barbara Lombardo and the Saratogian's staff over the past few years, so I say this as a supporter:  I felt a bit disappointed reading AP articles in the Saratogian about the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness.  I wanted to read the local angle, like Tim Wilkin did over at the Times Union. On the plus side, The Pink Sheet was a treat and I really enjoyed reading that Saturday morning.
• If you haven't been to Elizabeth's Table yet, you should go.  It's really filling an unmet niche here - a downtown quick and casual restaurant with high quality meals, baked goods, desserts and coffee.  I have become friends with the owners, so I guess I'm biased, but I am a fan.
• Another new restaurant owner that I am friendly with is my fellow Buffalonian PJ Davis owner of the newly remodeled PJ's BAR-B-QSA formerly known of course as PJ's Barbecue.  Margarita and I went there Saturday night and we got there after 8pm, which in past years would have been a dead time, but the line was still out the door (!).  The cashier told us they were straight out since 11:30am.  The inside is totally different, but the outside is unchanged, and "PJ the DJ" is still spinning 50's tunes - thank God!  That would have been so disappointing to me had they changed that.  Yes I will miss the Fats Domino and Little Richard Windows, and a few other things, but PJ and Carolyn Davis kept much of what made it special and added some new touches. The menu had some changes but most of the old favorites are there (except they no longer serve wings) so check it out if you haven't been yet.
• Speaking of South Broadway Restaurants, I do miss the Diner, as well as Alexandra's Ice Cream.  Sometimes the Diner just filled the bill perfectly.

 

• Any word on the Grey Gelding being filled?
• Ditto Borders.  I've been hearing rumors but nothing definite.
• Back to Ice Cream, the East Side could use a neighborhood ice cream stand.  I don't think Spring Street Deli or 5 Points sells it for on site consumption - in other words ice cream cones. 
• Speaking of East Side delis, I stopped into the somewhat new East Side Deli and Pizzeria  (formerly Giancones) on Lake Avenue and although the pizza slices for sale looked dryer than bricks, it seemed like they are trying to fill a niche as a local neighborhood store.  They seemed friendly and their menu has dinner choices all under $12, with at least one under $9.  They had a few grocery items in addition to the pizza and other menu items.  Kudos to them for having a good web site.
• I'm happy to see the 57 Chevy is back out front of Union Gables B & B.  Yet another sign of summer.

• The Bon Ton Fish Market out at the Wilton Plaza (where 5 Guys and Chipotle is) was originally scheduled to open in May, but won't open until June.  I saw plenty of construction ongoing there, and the sign is already up, so it is moving along.  I previously wrote how I wish to keep most of my money at Price Chopper - but that doesn't mean I won't check out Bon Ton now and again.  The Boca Vida Fish Market at the Saratoga Farmers Market also seems to have quality fish that is very fresh.

OK folks, that's about it for now.  Take care.

Saratoga Thoughts May 14, 2012

 I don't have a lot of thoughts this week, but I do have a few links to share:

• Want 20% off your order at Saratoga Coffee Traders?  Click here

20% OFF your entire order. This coupon may not be used with any other coupons or promotions. Print out and present to cashier or show on your smartphone. Feel free to share this coupon with friends and family Exspires: June 15th 2012

 

• Check out Savoring Saratoga's blog post about the Saratoga Food Tours.
• Saratoga Arts has announced their 2012 workshop series.  They are all free and open to the public, and include topics like making slide presentations, copywrite and intellectual property, grantwriting workshop, and gallery submission process.  Click here to learn more.
• The Saratoga Farmers Market has a new Saturday vendor - Slyboro Cider House.  This isn't Hannaford mass produced cider, these people take it to a new old level:  Still ciders, sparkling ciders, ice ciders...Slyboro Cider House reintroduces the lost craft of American Ciders."  Cool!  I hope they have samples - I would like to try the ice ciders.  They sound sweet.

 

• Click here for the May newsletter for Longfellow's and the Olde Bryan Inn.
• Maestro's is celebrating a year at the new place.  Check out their party on Monday May 21.
• Here's the latest news from Saratoga Arts Fest
• I'm a little late, but check out local blogger Tom Noonan's comments on the Kentucky Derby, and be sure to look for his analysis on the site before the Preakness.
• It would appear that Chianti is going after the Vegetarian/Vegan dollar - at least on Tuesdays:

 

• Chianti's sister restaurant, Forno Bistro, is continuing it's Tuesday night takeout special:

Every Tuesday get two wood-fired pizzas or stuffed focaccie breads to-go for just $12. Add a 1/2 Tray of Forno’s Classic Mista Insalata for just $6 more. Join our email list or Facebook page to find out the featured pizza or focaccie ahead of time.

• Sticking with DZ Restaurants, if you like on Facebook their newest and yet-to-be-opened Restaurant, Boca Bistro, you can win a $500 gift certificate.

Not to show favortism to just one ethnic restaurant group, so Capriccio Saratoga has Skip Parsons performing every Thursday in May and is offering any pizza on the menu for $13.

 

 

• Don't forget The Wine Bar has some nice Monday night specials.
• Well that's it for now. Have a great week. Don't forget PJ's Bar-B-QSA is opening tomorrow (Tuesday)

 

 

 

Turf Club grand reopening this Sunday April 29th

 

$20 off at Chianti this Tuesday and Wednesday

Saratoga Thoughts April 7, 2012

OK I haven't done one of these in a couple of weeks so here we go:

• I see the Harness track will open back up on April 11th.  That is doubly good news - the fact that the equine disease strangles is apparently contained means the Oklahoma Track can open on time the weekend of April 14-15. 
• Hey the Megabus is here!  Great prices, useless schedule.  It leaves Saratoga at 7pm and arrives in NYC at 10:30, and leaves NYC at 8:30am and arrives in the Spa City at noon.  Huh?  The Saratogian has an article here.
• It looks like the prep work is beginning (in other words an ugly fence has gone up) on the building that is going up next to the Bread Basket on Spring Street. 

• Speaking of The Bread Basket, I am trying to eat healthy but yesterday I had a bear claw from there.  Geez that was freakin' delicious.  Gigantic too. I guess that's why they call them "bear" claws and not....squirrel paws.
• Restaurant updates:  PJ Davis advises me he is hoping to open the new PJ's Barbecue (new name:  "PJ's Bar-B-QSA") in early May.  Elizabeth's Table should be opening up soon.  I assume Russo's is getting close as well.  We're at least a month out from David Zecchini's new Broadway Spanish tapas restaurant Boca Bistro.  The new Arby's that is going into the old Grey Gelding location should be finished by late June.
• I love our library but I hate hate hate the new tables on the second floor.  The old ones were roomy, sturdy, and comfortable, but these little replacements look like they are for third graders.
• I was kidding above on the Arby's in the Grey Gelding.
• I saw on Tom Dimopoulos' Facebook page that his position was eliminated from the Post-Star.  In other words he was let go.  That sucks - first of all because he is a great reporter and a class act, and second of all does that mean the Post Star is giving up on Saratoga news?  Perhaps - the Saratoga Snippets blog hasn't been updated in a month - and that was an entry by Dimopoulos.
• Click here to find out about the Nacre Spring dance performance at Universal Preservation Hall
• Man that addition on the Wilton YMCA is huge - it appears to be about the size of the original building.
• I had a note to write something about SPAC, but I don't remember what it was.  If anyone has any SPAC news or thoughts, feel free to comment and help a blogger out.
• If you need to make last minute Easter plans - Maestro's, The Wishing Well, and Capriccio Saratoga are a few of the restaurants that will be open - but there are several others as well.

OK that's about it folks.  Have a great Easter!

Hurry and sign up for Saratoga Olive Oil's Food Demo on March 30th.

You can find the details for Saratoga Olive Oil's March 30 Food Demo here.  Spaces fill up fast so if you wish to attend you should register immediately. To see video from Saratoga Olive Oil's inaugural food demo, click below.

Why is gas in Glens Falls that much cheaper?

I was in Glens Falls yesterday and was sort of shocked to see that the gas prices were from 6-12 cents lower per gallon than Saratoga Springs.  The gas off Glens Falls exit 18 was $3.91 a gallon (cash or credit).

The gas down here off exit 15 was $3.97 a gallon.   And inside the city limits on South Broadway, the gas was 12 cents a gallon more than Glens Falls at $4.03 a gallon.  Geez!  Any thoughts?