Fun in Saratoga

Saratoga Springs - balloons, pizza, coffee, and more

More thoughts and follow-up from the past several days:

• I went to the Adirondack Balloon Festival up near Glens Falls on Saturday.  I had never went before and was really excited to go, but unfortunately the winds and then rain caused the cancellation of the Saturday evening and Sunday events.  The most I got to see was a few balloons that were stood up and filled with air - and even that was difficult for the few crews that tried it.  I sure wish I would have seen all 90 go up as scheduled but Mother Nature had different ideas.  The Glens Falls Post Star has the story and a great picture here plus I added a few pictures below from the time I was there.

• I once commented on here how the pizza slices at Inferno Pizza seemed dried out when I went there.  I am happy to report that I had a very good pizza from there Saturday night - I guess there's a big difference when you order a whole pie and it's fresh, as opposed to slices which could have been cooked hours ago.  I still think Marino's is the best in the Spa City but they inexplicably close at 9PM on Saturdays, so I went with Inferno which turned out to be pretty damn good.
• I was on Broadway a while back and I found out that the Ever After store at 372 Broadway was closing.   The boutique offered clothing, shoes, accessories, jewelry, hand bags, plus gift ware. I guess seeing some of our downtown stores close is not unexpected - but you hate to see it anyway.  No word on whether any new business will go in that space right away.

• It seems like Uncommon Grounds is the place to be for coffee, light food, and free wi-fi.  Occasionally I like to experience a change of pace and go to Saratoga Coffee Traders across and down the street near Bruegger's Bagels.  

Saratoga Coffee Traders is not as spacious as Uncommon Grounds, but their coffee is good and they offer some nice options including wraps and salads.

• Remember the Epiphany Theater?  It was a Theater Company based, at least for a time, on a big old building on Regent Street between Union Avenue and Spring Street.  I was going past the building the other day and I noticed it was for rent.  Then, on the subject of unique and old buildings for rent, I noticed a church annex building on Washington Street near Universal Preservation Hall that was also available. Interesting if nothing else.

 

• Speaking of Universal Preservation Hall, the organization refurbishing that beautiful building on Washington Street is holding a unique fundraiser this coming weekend when they will host the Phinney Design Group Tour of Homes. From the UPH web site: "The tour will feature five beautiful homes in the Saratoga area, all designed by PDG. This event will take place on Saturday October 3rd and Sunday October 4th from noon - 5pm.  On Sunday, there will be a reception at UPH from 5:30 to 8pm."  Tickets are just $35.00 - which is very inexpensive considering the usual price of Saratoga Springs fundraisers - and the tour sounds great and Universal Preservation Hall is of course a great cause.  I unfortunately will likely be out of town.  To find out more, click here. 
• Credit below goes to the Putnam Wine Shop on Broadway for some clever marketing, as evidenced below.

• The YMCA of Saratoga is adding some much needed parking to the Saratoga Springs (West Avenue) branch.  This is a good move, because there have been times when I've gone there at maybe 5 or 6pm and there was virtually no available parking.  By my very rough estimate it appears that there may be about 60 new spaces available when the construction is completed.  I love the Saratoga Y!

 

• Sushi Thai Garden is so consistently good.  My girlfriend and I ate there Friday night and we really enjoyed our meals - they always deliver great food and great service.
• I see 38 High Rock Condos has a sales office at 425 Broadway.  I'd hate to see any empty places on Broadway so it's good to see them filling a location, although I noticed the upper floors of that old building sure look like they've been empty for a long time. 

• I went to the Saratoga Farmers Market on Saturday.  It seems like my weekends are missing something if I don't get to the market - it's such an upbeat experience.  Apples, apple cider, pumpkins, and many other autumn treats were in abundance.  I mentioned to one of the workers how extra lively it was there on Saturday and she pointed to the band and said "they're very good and they just lift the whole place up".  I never thought to get the band's name, but they were playing a Johnny Cash song at the time so they instantly got a thumbs up from me. 
• It's always good to see building owners taking care of the beautiful old buildings in Saratoga.  I took this picture of a worker repairing the exterior of Saratoga Arms Hotel on Broadway. 

• I'll end this by telling you to go to the Bread Basket Bakery on Spring Street and get one of their shortbread cookies.  They sucked me in with a free sample and I had to buy one for myself then bought another one for my girlfriend.  So good!  Maybe that great taste is from what seems like the entire stick of butter in each cookie - and I of course say that with admiration.  Have a great week.

Bongs, bowls, busted bars, burgers, and buns (hot dog) on Caroline Street

I couldn't find a 'B' word for hot dog - bratwurst was the closest I could come.  Anywho, I went to Hot Dog Charlie's  yesterday to follow up on my previous entry mentioning that it was open.  I guess I wanted to try the place to satisfy my blogging and buds (taste buds that is).  Ok enough with the 'B' words.

But (sorry) first, on my way to HDCs, I found a brand new business on Caroline Street  at the location of the former Manifest Station.  Theresa (she asked me not to post her last name) has opened Smoke & Fire at 42 Caroline Street and the place has been open just a short time.  (Disclaimer added 9/3/09 - Theresa contacted me and indicated that her store is a tobacco store and all of the products are offered for tobacco use only.  The marijuana references, including the words "bong" and "bowl" in the title, are my words based on my impressions, and not based on anything she said or implied)

It amazes me the amount of businesses that have closed just before track season, and either opened or expanded at or near the end of track season.  You'd think both categories of business would try to take advantage of, oh I don't know, thousands of new customers.  But I digress.

Smoke & Fire caters to, well, honestly, the marijuana crowd as best as I can tell.  Yes they have some other earthy items in there such as incense and so forth but most of the stuff is for the potheads.  I am not passing judgement - there are  a lot worse things that people can do than smoke a little pot and I appreciate Theresa cooperating when I appeared out of nowhere with a camera announcing "Hi I'm Blogman - can I take some photos?" I'm just trying to give you an idea of what's in there. So stop by on your way to your next Phish concert and stock on up.  They started with a soft opening and will work on a grand opening hopefully later this month.  Good luck Theresa!

 

 

 

 

I previously reported that "The Backstretch" appeared closed and that still seemed to be the case as I walked by.  Someone standing out front stated that it lost its liquor license, but I haven't confirmed that.  Either way it's dead for now.  What a shame - it's a great location that has been not utilized properly (or at all) in the past few years. 

So I finally made it over to Hot Dog Charlies (Hey I had the munchies after coming so close to pot) and had one of their mini dogs (clerk: "it has a snap to it") and one of their burgers, which was recommended by another local blogger (in his usual robust and in-your-face style).  Both  were great, and the burger was fresh pressed and came with sauteed onions - what more can you ask for?  Well you can ask to make it a "Charlie Burger" and put some of HTCs hot dog sauce on it, which is exactly what I did.  It was greasy, sloppy, unhealthy, and fantastic.  Yum!  Open til 3am on weekdays and 5am(!) on weekends - I hope they succeed there especially because a while back a fire severely damaged their Troy location. 

So I wasn't done on Caroline Street.  I stopped in to City Tavern to see just what it was that they were serving for dinner. It may be dinner for some college kids, but most of us would think of it more as bar food. Oh well glad to see they are serving something and that the roof is open.

I stopped over to Esperanto to snap some shots of their newly expanded place.  They had some customers in there so I couldn't get the best shots but I did the best I could. 

 

 

I then took some time to really marvel at some of the architecture on Caroline Street - notably the Tin & Lint (where of course musician Don McLean reportedly wrote a certain song) and the building housing The Bullpen Tavern.  The Bullpen building had the late afternoon sun shining on the top 2/3 of it and the paint and masterful brickwork really popped out.  I am usually on Caroline Street later in the evening (like everybody else) so it was nice to have the sunlight and time to enjoy the sights, as posted below. 

 

 

I was ready to go home but  while I was so close I thought I'd stop over at the newly opened Boca Viva Cafe in the old Subway location at 458 Broadway.  They've got subs, salads, wraps, pastries and more so if you're there or in Lake George (42 Amherst Street) check them out. 

I saw a guy named Andre Ernst doing a great job playing the guitar in front of Celtic Treasures.  I like how the street musicians add to the character of this great city.

So there I was just steps from Mrs. London's and there was no way I was going to have the willpower to stay away, so I stopped in for a cookie (remember, I had the munchies still!).  It was a healthy cookie - "The Treehugger" I believe - with oats, raisins, flaxseeds and more granola type stuff.  Very good but next time I'll really indulge and go for a chocolate one. 

 I walked back to my car and on the way stopped in our wonderful  library to get some books on CD and then home I went.  It was a great little trip that put me in a fantastic mood and once again made me love life  here in Saratoga Springs. 

Engagement Shoot in Congress Park

The internet has made some private moments well....not so private anymore.  Well if they're posting then I'm linking. 

Here is an engagement shoot in Congress Park  from Luke Walker Photography.

Here are some wedding shots from a Wedding at Saratoga National Golf Club from Alisha Clark Photography.

These are both great and unique Saratoga locations and the pictures are so well done so it only made sense to post them. 

 

Did you miss the Derby?

Even if you didn't miss the Kentucky Derby, these videos are worth seeing again.  The aerial footage of Calvin Borel's masterful ride along the rail, including his slip through a seemingly too small opening, is mesmerizing.  I was talking about the race to a friend and I commented that MineThat Bird seemed as if he had an ACME Rocket, as in something Wile E. Coyote would have worn, attached to his back.  Also on this video loop (keep watching, it will continue to more commercials then more videos) is a great interview with the so likable and very excited jockey Calvin Borel, and another interview with the apparently less excited and arguably less likable trainer Bennie Wooley Jr.

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Jockeys: The TV show

DVR ALERT:  If you like horse racing, you're going to love the new TV show "Jockeys", which appears on the Animal Planet Channel on Friday nights at 9PM.  I have seen the first two episodes and I'm hooked. 

I guess I would be a fan of any show that centered around thoroughbred horse racing, but this show gets credit for doing a great job showcasing the drama, suspense, excitement, and, to steal a line from ABC sports, the agony of defeat involved with one of the most exciting sports out there.  The emotional aspect gets considerable treatment in this show, and the family scenes are touching and the interviews with the jockeys about money worries are something that everybody, sports figures or not, can relate to.  The close ups over the disappointment, and sometimes anger, over losing sometimes appear contrived, but often feel quite real and compelling. The show gets points for revealing that some jockeys are stressed out over keeping their weight down and resort to the very unhealthy practice of "flipping" (throwing up) in order to maintain their ridiculously low weight.  Oh yea, the folks at Animal Planet knew enough to add some sex appeal and romance in there with some scenes of real life jockey couple Mike Smith and Chantal Sutherland, and it's hard not to notice that Australian jockey Kayla Stra very cute. 

It's very entertaining, but not without flaws.  I think they shortchange the Latin American influence in horse racing.  The show has a Japanese jockey, an Australian jockey, and several white jockeys, but there aren't too many Latin jockeys.  Native Panamian Alex Solis is the only Latin Jockey that I know of on the show, although Mike Smith may have Latin heritage despite his not so Latin sounding name.  Also, the "real" dialogue seems a bit strained at times, with jockeys and other participants sometimes painfully aware that they are on camera. Also, it seems like the camera work isn't in depth enough, especially during the racing.  It seems that most of the racing shots are from far away, much the same as perhaps the simulcast audience is getting, although they do a good job of identifying the positions of the featured jockeys.  You get the feeling the production crew is more than happy to include the inevitable footage of horses and jockeys falling the way they focus on the spills, and they are sure to remind us during the opening footage that "two jockeys die in North America each year."  I have to admit I am wide eyed and at full attention of the TV screen during those dangerous accidents, and I'm holding my breath for the horse and jockey, so the producers know what sells.

Flaws or not, it's still a great show and must see TV for the serious or even the casual horse racing fan.  In fact, perhaps this show can have even a small positive effect in reversing the declining popularity of this really great sport that doesn't get the attention it deserves.  Let's hope.  You can watch the entire first episode on your computer by clicking here, and don't forget to tape or watch the third episode on Friday night. 

Hound Dog

OK, this is neither here nor there as far as Saratoga goes, but you may know I am a big fan of rockabilly music.  I was saddened recently to hear of the passing of Freddie Bell at the age of 76.  Who is Freddie Bell?  He was an inspiration to The King himself, Elvis Presley.  Bell was performing on the Vegas strip in the mid-50s, and Elvis was also performing there in what was apparently a poorly received series of concerts.  The King certainly didn't make it a wasted trip, however, and he saw Freddie Bell and the Bellboys performing their version of Big Mama Thornton's "Hound Dog".  Elvis saw the Bell and the Bellboys perform this song and the rest, as they say, is history. 

If you need about 8 minutes of fun diversion today, check out these two Youtube links I posted below.  The first is Big Mama Thornton's Hound Dog in it's original version - and I believe that is Buddy Guy on the guitar.  What an incredibly soulful performance of a song that most of us thought was done well by one artist.  I love Big Mama's  version even better than Elvis'.  Enjoy. 

Below is a Youtube link of Freddie Bell and the Bellboys performing in the 1956 movie "Rock Around the Clock".  I couldn't find their version of "Hound Dog", but this song "Giddy Up A Ding Dong" is also a lot of fun and a reminder of a simpler and more easygoing time long lost to history.

 

Saratoga here and there

Just a couple of quick random thoughts on a Sunday. 

I was recently down in Florida and I had the chance to drive through the Saratoga Springs resort at Walt Disney World.  It was kind of fun to see familiar names (ie. Union Ave, Broadway, Congress Park etc.) and perhaps the hint of some familiar architecture that we are familiar with in the real Saratoga Springs.  Sure, in reality it was just a modern (read: lacking character) bunch of buildings holding timeshare condos and other venues for Disney to suck up yet more of people's money, but it was nice to know I live in a place that Disney thought was worth copying to some small degree.

Shifting gears, I am often searching the net for Saratoga snippets, and I tripped across this real estate listing off some web site.  I can almost picture where this house is - Phila Street perhaps?  Anyway the pictures are great so check it out.

Damn it!  I keep wanting to get over to the Saratoga Comedy Club - all of an 8 minute walk from my house, but, well, life keeps getting in the way.  I'll keep saying this til track season comes and then of course it will be too late.  Anyway they are bringing lots of comedians in every weekend - with some special things going on Valentines Day weekend so check them out.

 

Enjoy the holiday if you have it off of work.  And if you don't have it off of work, well, enjoy it anyway.

Great Fun is a total ripoff

Hey folks check out your credit card bills closely - I just found a charge from "Great Fun" out of Connecticut.  I didn't remember such a charge so when I called the 800 number listed - surprise - I got at first a endless loop of recordings and when I called back I got an error message.   

I called my credit card company to dispute the bill and they told me they remove a lot of bills from this company.  They had me for four months of bills at $12.99 a month.  I need to pay better attention to my bills! 

I Googled their name along with "Hartford, CT" and I got this helpful info off the "Rip Off Report" web site.  I will be forwarding this information to the Attorney General's office on Monday.  Well it looks like I will get my money back and a valuable lesson as well.   

Ike Turner

Well, this has nothing to do with Saratoga, but I was saddened to see Ike Turner pass away recently.  I can't necessarily say I was a big Ike Turner fan, and I know all about his problems and issues.  Nonetheless, I am a big rockabilly fan, and Ike Turner and his Kings of Rythym recorded "Rocket 88", which is widely credited as the first rock and roll song.  What a great song, and I embedded a Youtube link of it below.  Again, nothing to do with Saratoga, but damn it it's my blog and so what if I slip a little entertainment and music history in here now and again. I hope you enjoy it.

My nieces are crazy....

...and so is my girlfriend.  My niece Jamie just sent me this picture of her (Middle), her sister Michelle (left), and my girlfriend Margarita (right) when we went to Buffalo to visit my family over Thanksgiving.

Let's just say the drinks were flowing, it was fun, and, well, I can't keep up with them like I used to.  Speaking of fun, and kind of seguing from my post yesterday about the Saratoga Comedy Club, another thing that makes Saratoga great is the live music available year round.  Margarita and I went with a couple of friends to Bailey's Cafe last night and caught an acoustic version of Mark Emanation and Folding Sky.  I've seen him a few times now, and if you like a blues rock sound, then this group is for you.  Great voice, and great guitar work, so I'll try to alert you next time he is coming to a bar near you.

Finally, we started the day off with a rude awakening - a 5K run in Queensbury!  It was Margarita's first one - and I beat her!! OK, by a half a second, but I still beat her.  I better look out next time, she's mad.  It was the Reindeer Run put on by Adirondack Runners - a running group in the Glens Falls area.