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

Rumor Mill: A movie theater will be built on the old Railroad Ave Price Chopper location

If you want a blog spreading rumors with at least an 80% record of that rumor actually being a fact, then check out the You Idiot blog.  So with that being said, this blogger heard on the street that there will be a movie theater, possibly an IMAX, built at the location of the old Price Chopper on Railroad Avenue next to the new Market Center Building.  I don't have the impressive rumor-to-fact ratio as the You Idiot blog, who incidentally is reporting a rumor of a new cajun restaurant coming to town possibly at the aforementioned Price Chopper site, but my source has his ear to the ground here in the Spa City.  So it's only a rumor, but one that I would think most of us would like to see come true. 

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 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)

 

 

 

Canadian artist Drake to appear at SPAC on June 14th

The singer announced Spring Tour with J. Cole, Waka Flocka Flame, & 2 Chainz and will appear at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center on June 14th. You can find out more on the official Drake web site here.

Let's Do the Twist at Vapor - rock pioneer Chubby Checker is coming to Saratoga!

It would be unfair to call Chubby Checker a one-hit wonder, but let's face it - the song we all associate with him was his #1 hit from 50+ years ago - and that song was noneother than "Stairway to Heaven".  Ok, of course it was "The Twist".  His follow up song, "Let's Twist Again" was also a top 10 hit, and I would guess he had some other songs, but to be honest, I have no idea what they are. 

But just to see him perform his signature song, which created a dance craze and had several other artists performing twist-themed songs, is enough to get me to scrape up $30 and go to Vapor Nightclub on April 12.  In 1989 I had a chance to go see Jerry Lee Lewis, and I passed.  I hate myself for missing that because even though Lewis is still alive, he's not in the greatest of health and I don't think he performs at all anymore.  My advice: Go see these original rock and roll artists - because the few that are still living are in their 70s and 80s, and they won't be around forever.  I hope to go see Chubby Checker - it sounds like a fun time. I can't twist to save my life, but with a few beers I try anyway - and hell I got the chubby part down pat.  See you there.

Saratoga Thoughts February 25, 2012

Well it's not my intention to make this the "Saratoga Thoughts" blog, but lately my schedule has limited my efforts, at least somewhat, to these types of postings.  OK, with that half apology out of the way, here we go:

• Well I went to the Beer Week events, sort of. I stopped out for some food and beer with the Funsaratoga field agent and an out-of-town guest.  I'm glad to have any event that brings visitors (and their wallets) to Saratoga Springs in late winter, but as someone who was in several of the venues, it didn't seem so well organized.  Perhaps if I actually bought tickets and went as an attendee, it would have been better, but as an accidental attendee, I was underwhelmed
• I saw the Maestro's porch was getting some use in Thursday's and Friday's nice weather.  Who ever thought that porch would get nearly year-round use in 2011-2012? 

File Photo

• Well it sure seems like there are several Saratoga restaurants that are hiring.  A perusal of Craig's list shows that Ravenous, Forno Bistro, Jacob & Anthony's, Sabina's, The Parting Glass, and Angelo Mazzone's several restaurants and catering establishments are looking for employees.  That doesn't count the several unnamed Saratoga restaurants that were advertising jobs as well, including one "new restaurant opening in late March" that I assume is Russo's, which is opening in the former Brindisi's location. 
• Speaking of  Craig's list, you'll never know what you'll find on there - here's an ad from someone looking to have a partner in opening a bar in downtown Saratoga.  Yea, bars and business partnerships always work out well - especially when they start out from Craig's list.
• Continuing with the Saratoga bar/restaurant scene, I reported way back when that Mine would have a full menu and I noticed them promoting it along the sidewalk on Broadway this past Friday night, as evidenced by the picture below. 

            I give Mine credit for trying, and their menu looks like it has reasonable prices, but I'm not sure if I can take a dining establishment seriously that is offering a full dinner menu, and also a "Pisces night" (it was last night - "Pisces get in free all night"), a teen night (tonight - for all of you under-21 kids that fanatically read this blog), and has a web site that is not working (at least when I checked).  My casual walk by and internet look gives me the feeling they are all over the board.  Just my thoughts.

• When I was a kid, there was just one free newspaper, and that was of course the Pennysaver.  Saratoga Springs has Saratoga Today, The Spotlight, and the Spa City Moneysaver - and there seem to be many other free specialty publications as well.  It's almost overwhelming - and all this in the internet era. Go figure.
• With Saratoga diners dropping left and right (namely Beverly's, Friendly's, and the Saratoga Family Restaurant), I thought it would be a good time to check out Shirley's, on West Avenue.  You may recall it was purchased last year by someone who was going to add some Montreal, Quebec cuisine to the menu.  Well the chowder was excellent but the grilled haddock I ordered came out cold - I think it was prebaked and never heated for me.  Oh well, if I ever get my fat blogging butt to the YMCA anytime soon perhaps I'll get rid of enough guilt to try Shirley's rather fattening sounding Poutine -  which is a French-Canadian specialty consisting of french fries, gravy and cheese curds.  I'm half intrigued and half disgusted, but my gluttonous curiosity will get the better of me eventually and I'll report on here how it was - and what my cholesterol was before and after.
• Speaking of eating things I shouldn't - the wings at the Stadium pass my four-part test - and I'm from Buffalo, which makes me an expert. The four part test is as follows: (1) Wings should be big with plenty of meat - not those wimpy tiny ones you get in some restaurants. (2) The sauce should have the right balanced flavor and have enough substance to cling to the wings. (3) They should never be undercooked, and in fact should be cooked extra crispy, and (4) the blue cheese should be of high quality.  The Stadium passes all four of those tests, with an extra star for their chunky blue cheese. 
• From Buffalo errr...fine dining to Buffalo fine arts - I see the Buffalo Philharmonic will be playing at SPAC this summer - on July 25th.  I'll be there....in a Bills jersey with my face painted.  It's a Buffalo thing. 
• And finally, Saratogian editor Barbara Lombardo had a great idea when she proposed that the Skidmore bookstore move into the empty former Borders location.  She asked "I can dream, can't I?"  Yes you can, and I like your thinking Barbara.

Have a great weekend everybody. 

Saratoga thoughts February 20, 2012

Here we go....

• I see the third annual Saratoga County Restaurant Week goes this year from March 16-25. For $20.12 you will get a three-course dinner at more than 40 participating Saratoga County restaurants, many right here in the Spa City. When this first started in 2010, there were very few Saratoga Springs restaurants that participated, but that changed starting last year.
• I pointed out last week that Mayor Scott Johnson made the right call on the South Side Rec center, and I was happy to see the Mayor mention South Broadway's problems in his recent state-of-the-city address.  The only problem is that I was pointing out these same problems over a year ago.  The city Democratic Committee recently wrote an opinion piece in The Saratogian accusing His Honor of having no vision, being slow to react, and certainly not being proactive.  With the aforementioned Rec Center being the lone exception, I couldn't agree more. 
• Speaking of failing to be proactive and lacking foresight, I haven't heard much lately about the dangerous traffic situation on South Broadway.  Did NY State DOT go back to sleep?  I certainly hope I'm wrong, but I just have a feeling there is another awful accident pending on that deadly stretch of highway. 
• I don't know if I'm a subscriber, member, customer or what of Groupon, but I've recently signed on and have noticed there are not too many offerings for places here in the Spa City.  Most offerings seem to be centered around Albany. 
• There seems to be quite a buzz about the Brad Pitt movie about Solomon Northrup.  That's great that this historical figure, who certainly had an amazing life, will be getting his due on the big screen.  I just am not expecting a shot in the arm for the local economy from it - there are no indications that any of the filming will be done here.  In fact, why would they film here?  It would be very costly and there isn't a whole lot left, as far as buildings and such, from Northrup's time in this region.  I'm not saying this won't have some positive effects for our region; I'm just not expecting those effects to be significant. 
• Well, Van-Halen is coming to the north, south, east, and west of Saratoga on this spring's tour - namely Montreal, NYC, Boston, and Buffalo - but no SPAC.  Well a SPAC show could have been a mess, with all sorts of crazies, but I would still like to see it.

 

• I'm hearing word that the Oklahoma Track may open early this year.  Well that would be a good thing - and would be something that could give the local economy a shot with horse owners and trainers moving here that much earlier.  If this is true I'm assuming it means 2 or 3 weeks early, meaning a very late March/early April opening.  The buildings there aren't winterized, so I couldn't imagine how they could open up any earlier. 
• Click here for the latest newsletter from Saratoga Bridges
• How sad that Saratoga's own Tuskegee Airman Clarence Dart died a few days ago.  At least he was able to see the movie Red Tails, and he even received a standing ovation when introduced at the Wilton Cinemas' debut of the movie last month.  His death is sad, but I'm very happy that he at least lived long enough to receive honors from the President, Congress, and Hollywood, and knew before he died that neither he nor his fellow Tuskegee Airmen would ever be forgotten. 
• February is almost done and Saratoga Springs organizations are talking summer.  SPAC recently announced the lineup for the 35th annual Freihofer's Jazz Fesival on June 30 & July 1.  The Oklahoma Track is opening soon and we're talking about summer concerts.  Life is looking good in Saratoga Springs! 

• I'll end with this link of a reporter writing about a chance meeting with Whitney Houston here in Saratoga Springs in the late 1980s.  Perhaps it was the same time she was performing at SPAC in 1987 that this Youtube video below shows. The late singer sure gave an energetic performance of "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" that night, and the crowd was jumping and the place was rocking.  They sure got their money's worth from Ms. Houston that night. 

 

That's it for now folks.  Have a great week!

Saratoga thoughts February 12, 2012

Had I won Powerball, I wouldn't be blogging today but....

• I've said it before and I'll say it again, the South Side Rec Center is a great asset to our city and I will give Mayor Scott Johnson two thumbs up for his decisiveness and leadership on getting that place built on an underused park site.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan of The Mayor, but he made the right call on the rec center.
• The You Idiot blog has become a great source for rumors, many of which turn out to be accurate.  The latest rumors he is reporting on, and again these are just rumors and not confirmed, is that Virgil's House and Pizza Works, both on Henry Street, may be closing.  He also is reporting an unnamed popular NYC eatery may be opening in the Bonacio Price Chopper building. He also showed a picture of a sign announcing the new beer garden on Broadway - which is news I believe he originally broke as well. 
• I was out with a few friends last night at Cantina and the Franklin Micare duo was rocking the house. They had the place jumping and it was really an enjoyable show. It's good to be in a bar and not feel like you have to be 22 years old, and it's also good to see Franklin Micare still in town on Saturday nights now that the Grey Gelding is long gone.

 

Yours truly (in my scruffy phase) with my wife Margarita and Franklin Micare in 2009

• Bed and Breakfast update:  The Batchellor Mansion Inn price has been lowered again, to $2.9 million, and the Westchester Inn is not only for sale, but also for rent at $3,500 a month.  Hmmmmm.
• Congress Plaza could use a dollar store.  It just seems right.  Besides, what else is going to move in there anytime soon?
• In a post last month I noted The Saratogian had well-written editorials, but that there were too few of them. I encouraged our hometown daily to write more of these opinion pieces, suggesting a goal of two per week.  The Saratogian acknowledged that post of mine in a tweet of their own, and since then there have been editorials written consistently every Sunday.  Although short of my suggested two a week, these Sunday editorials have been comprehensive, well-written, and well researched on topics of high importance to Saratoga Springs.  Today's editorial, about the numerous empty buildings on South Broadway, also had numerous pictures of the several vacated premises along one of the key our gateways to the city.  The editorial was laudatory of the city's efforts in some respects, but encouraged the city officials to cooperate and communicate more - it noted there were two different plans that were seemingly created without inclusion of all officials.  It's good to see The Saratogian as an advocate for a reasoned and apolitical approach in fixing some of the city's problems, and I look forward to a continued effort in that role. 
• Although I somewhat agreed with the Saratogian's point (above) regarding the need for cooperation and communication, I nonetheless applaud Supervisor Matt Veitch and City Council Member John Franck for trying to take some action on South Broadway. I appreciate their initiative and effort; let's hope they can make some headway on this.
• And I'll finish up with a roundup of links with updates on various Saratoga businesses and organizations:  Universal Preservation Hall,   Saratoga Olive Oil,  Longfellows and Olde Bryan Inn, Saratoga Arts, Maestros,   Sloppy kisses, DZ Restaurants, and Saratoga P.L.A.N.  Ok folks that's it for now.  Have a great week.

Go for some "Luck" on HBO this weekend

There are so many reasons that I love Saratoga Springs, but the number one reason is Saratoga Race Course.  That's why I am eagerly anticipating the official HBO series premier of "Luck" Sunday night at 9pm.  I say "official" premier because HBO did a low-profile showing back in December, but unfortunately I missed it.  If anyone caught that, please give your thoughts on here. 

 

Season 1 Trailer 

I've never seen an HBO series that I didn't appreciate for being extremely so well done, even if it wasn't for me.  I was a diehard fan of Entourage, and had an appreciation for Deadwood and The Sopranos.  HBO's Inside The NFL was the best sports program I ever saw, and I used to enjoy watching that, at least a few decades ago when the Bills were relevant.

Anyway, I digress.  Luck is an intense series about Horse Racing which vividly focuses on, to steal an old line from ABC's Wide World of Sports, the thrill of victory and (especially) the agony of defeat.  It has an all-star cast (Dustin Hoffman, Dennis Farina, Nick Nolte), especially for a TV series, and it just looks really, really good. I hope I'm not disappointed.  An HBO series about horse racing and all sorts of related drama thrown in - what's not to love?  Especially with no new Entourage episodes available.  My only complaint so far is that it wasn't set in Saratoga.  You can read a review about Luck here.  Don't call me Sunday night, I'll be busy.