Fun in Saratoga

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.

PJ's Bar-B-QSA almost finished - possibly opening this week!

I stopped into PJ's Barbecue   PJ's Bar-B-QSA on Friday and caught up with John "PJ" Davis and got an impromptu tour of the new place, which he tells me could open as soon as this week.  The new place looks awesome and I am happy to report that much of the outside, including the covered areas with the picnic tables and the "PJ the DJ" booth, are exactly the same.   Stay tuned to find out the exact opening date, but don't be surprised if it's this weekend.

 

Siro's unveils its new (NYC centered) web site

Siro's Restaurant has unveiled a new web site, however it barely makes mention of the original Siro's Saratoga location or Siro's Trattoria at the Lodge.  Other than a passing reference in the "About" part, the web site only acknowledges the New York City site.  And in fact, the word "Location" (singular, as opposed to "Locations") and the "Contact Us" link only list the Manhattan Restaurant.  Kind of odd, don't you think?  Well maybe it's a work in progress, but it just seemed odd. 

Wall Street Journal reports on Siro's expansion in NYC; Forbes reports on party

Well it's not often that Saratoga Springs related restaurant happenings are reported on in the Wall Street Journal, but I noticed this article in the Wall Street Journal from a few days ago reporting on what we all know - namely that Siro's will be opening a location in NYC with new partner Yankees closer Mariano Rivera.   You can read the article here.  Also,  Forbes Magazine web site mentioned  about a party there with a picture from the inside of the place.  It's big and looks very New York City-like.  Go figure.

Article on Market Center at Railroad Place (AKA Bonacio Price Chopper project) article with slideshow

The Business Review has the article and slideshow here.

What's up with Siro's?

Siro's Trattoria at the Lodge seems to have closed quietly "for the season", according to the recording on their phone. This may be old news, but it's relevant because I noticed recently the Siro's Restaurant web site (the original Siro's) appears to have expired and the URL was apparently taken over by some non-restaurant web site. Siro's Trattoria at the Lodge's web site has been "coming soon" since it opened in mid 2011, but has never been completed. Additionally, the planned NYC Siro's restaurant apparently never materialized either. It would be no big surprise if the owners are losing money, but are they losing interest as well?   Is the prolonged process over muffling the sound from the live bands making them weary of dealing with their neighbors and Saratoga Springs government?  Just wondering.

 

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!

Saratoga Wine Exchange has 25% off moving sale

I am copying a post comment below from the Saratoga Wine exchange regarding their moving sale:

Well everyone we finally got out approval from the state liquor authority to move forward this week.  Our moving sale has already begun.  Online prices are already marked down, and in store we are offering a 25% discount when you buy any 12 bottles of wine. As long as they are not already on sale. We are looking to be open at the new shop around the beginning of may.  I will post our grand opening tasting schedule here. Josh

So check out the Saratoga Wine Exchange on Phila between Ben & Jerry's and Sushi Thai Garden.  You can also enter off of the Spring Street side.                           

Saratoga Thoughts March 22, 2012

And yet even more randomness about Saratoga.....

• It's March Madness at G. Willikers Toys!  Bring in this email below and get 20% off now through March 31.

March Madness Sale - 20% Off Storewide*   Now thru March 31.   Just bring in this ad to get your discount.

*Offer good thru March 31, 2012.  This offer cannot be combined with any other discounts or special programs.
Limit one coupon per customer.  It's that easy!

www.gwillikerstoys.com [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1109494181230&s=652&e=001ysbt36uEpIk3Qp9I9wKb11o9h3ZAM3270uP9KH7c477G3sViWaAs01kvb6GEfYsoyMRyq0stE_WzbHrGAS3POSZRom5H4Wog8Fkkk_LvkBMpap0yB_DYig==]

• I see Chicago and the Doobie Brothers are coming to SPAC this year on August 21.  Yawwwwwn.  Weren't they just here in 2010?
• The Saratoga Olive Oil Store is expanding to other cities!  They are opening a new store in Burlington VT.  Click here for more information.  Congratulations to them.
• Don't forget it's still Saratoga County Restaurant week through Sunday.  Great weather and restaurant deals together!  The city needs to find a way to adjust their April 1st date for restaurants opening their sidewalk cafes.  The amount of business these places must be missing this week makes the argument that they should be able to lift it when we get abnormally warm weather.
• The Brentwood Motel, on the corner of Nelson and Gridley over near The Horseshoe, is for sale. I think it's been for sale for a while.  

 

• Kitchen Dimensions is moving from its 30 Division Street location, but I'm not sure where to.  The location, which I assume is a business condo, is for sale.  1 Franklin Square, essentially across the street from there and behind the new Market Place Center, is also emtpy and for sale for $1.29 million. 
• The tailor Vincenzo Moda is moving into the old Times Union offices on Broadway.  According to the business' web site he is currently in Schenectady. 
• The winery that is going in the former Kimberly Inn building has a new basement  that was recently dug and beginnings of the foundation for the addition in the back of the building.  It's always good to report positive things on South Broadway.

 

 

• That little convenience store on Jefferson Street just south of Five Points reopened up in the past few weeks.  It's more of a tiny grocery than a grab-n-go convenience store - it appears to be catering to residents that live in the public housing a short distance away. 

 

• Click here for the Saratoga Coffee Traders newsletter.  I wonder how that place, as well as Uncommon Grounds, will do once Spot Coffee comes into the Market Center building.  Brueggers is an afterthought - I only go in there to use their SEFCU ATM.
• And finally the roundup of various newsletters from Saratoga businesses and organizations.  Click here for Universal Preservation Hall's latest newsletter.  Here for DZ Restaurants.  Here for Longfellow's latest newsletter.  And finally here for The Wishing Well.  Have a great weekend everybody.
  
  
  

Saratoga Wine Exchange apparently moving to Round Lake

Thank you to the reader that alerted me to the fact that Saratoga Wine Exchange (located on Phila Street behind Ben & Jerry's) apparently will soon be moving to Round Lake, according to this Craig's List Ad which mentions "the move will occur in the next couple of months to Round Lake (Exit 11)" and lists The Wine Exchanges' phone number. 

Wheras I am sad to see any business leave downtown, at least this is a move and not a closing.  More importantly, it seems to be driven by the concentration of liquor and wine stores here in the Spa City, rather than a lousy economy.  There are at least four stores selling wine within walking distance to Saratoga Wine Exchange (Crush & Cask, Putnam Wines, Purdy's and the Swedish Hill Winery), three more stores within a 5 minute drive, and those seven don't even include the new wine tasting room planned for the former Kimberly Inn location.  It's just too many in a small area, and presumably Round Lake would give the place some breathing room. 

Well, let's hope the move goes well and that another business moves into Saratoga Wine Exchange's location soon.