Fun in Saratoga

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. 

 

 

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)

 

 

 

ESPN blog: NYRA is necessary

I read an interesting ESPN blog post yesterday, convincingly stating that NYRA is necessary for the good of horse racing and that a governmental takeover would be a bad thing.  You can read that here.

Register now for the 2012 Silks and Satins 5K

It may still be April but some days last week felt more like July - so start thinking about summer and track season and register for the Silks and Satins 5K race to be held on July 21, 2012 on the East Side of Saratoga Springs.  It's a great race and goes through some historic neighborhoods, including past the track.  See you there!

Saratoga Thoughts April 15, 2012

Saratoga Thoughts - weekend edition:

• Margarita and I ran the Peppertree Rescue 5K yesterday at the Saratoga Spa State Park.  Great cause, great weather, and a great run (OK, a slow, great run).  I probably spent $80 on our race registrations and other items and raffles, but all for a good cause.  It was an unusual 5K b/c probably about half the runners ran with their dogs.  If you are thinking of getting a dog, I would suggest looking at Peppertree because they seem like a well-run organization that really cares about matching the right dog with the right person/family.  Click here for Peppertree's Facebook page and you can like them. 

• It looks like Elizabeth's Table may open this Tuesday.  I am glad it's that close - Mike and Liz Phillips worked their butts off to get the place ready and if their food is half as good as it was at the Cupcake Lab, the place will be a hit.  Give them some support and check it out later this week. 

• I've written on here more than once that I felt (now former) Saratogian sports editor Nicole Russo was an extremely talented writer, and it looks like the Thoroughbred Times has agreed with me because she was hired by the Lexington, Kentucky based company as their internet editor.  Congratulations Nicole!  Her recent departure as sports editor and subsequent replacement by Matthew Donato means the Saratogian has had five different sports editors in just over two years.  
• I wrote a post last week about Siro's either not completing its web sites or letting the URL's expire for its main restaurant on Lincoln as well as Siro's Trattoria web site, the latter of which incidentally closed quietly for the season.  Then I mentioned how I thought the New York City location apparently wasn't opening.  Steve Barnes of the T-U's Table Hopping Blog linked my entry, and then a Siro's manager quickly replied on Table Hopping. I was apparently wrong about the NYC location, which apparently is opening within a month, but the other facts were hard to argue with. Siro's PR people (probably an outside PR firm) contacted the Business Review to do some damage control, and this article was printed Friday.  Well I'm glad The Trattoria at the Lodge is opening back up soon, and I'm really glad the NYC location is opening as well.  Siro's has to pay some more attention to the details, namely completing their web sites and not letting the URL's expire, but I'm glad they're otherwise on track. 
• It says here that Stewart's Crumbs Along the Mohawk Ice Cream is fantastic.
• Below is a picture of a race horse I used to own, now a guide pony, Minister's Appeal, working with his rider at the Oklahoma Track.  I was thrilled when the training track opened last week, but when is the Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Business Association, or Convention and Tourism Bureau, or better yet all three, going to encourage NYRA to open it to the public, at least on the weekends?  With mimimal effort, you could limit public access to an area near the timer's shed and attract numerous people up here on the weekends from April to November.  That's numerous people, and families, who will eat in our restaurants, shop in our stores, and, by the way, get all that much more excited to attend the track in the summer which can only help attendance. Seems like a no-brainer to me.

• Who is Amy Sutton, and why does she have so many prominent listings at Roohan Realty?  I seem to see her names on signs everywhere.
• Finally, Margarita and I met some friends last night at Lake Ridge Restaurant in Round Lake (exit 11).  I was never there before but had the feeling for some reason it was a rustic, basic place, but it was very nice inside and had great food and service.  If you're ever looking for a restaurant down that way I do recommend it.

OK folks that's it for now.  It will be nice today (Sunday) and up to 80 tomorrow on Monday. Have a great week!

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!

Check out the Florida Derby on NBC Sports Network at 5pm

March has been a damn good month weather-wise, but today's been pretty cold and dreary.  Pick up your spirits and check out the Florida Derby telecast starting at 5pm on the NBC Sports Network - it will be a good preview of the Kentucky Derby with Union Rags, already the favorite on the first Saturday in May, set as today's 6-5 favorite.  The Gulfstream Oaks will go off at 5:03pm and the Florida Derby goes off at 5:40.  The NBC Sports Network is on Capital Region Time Warner Cable at channels 44 or 1873.  NBC does a great job on their horse racing productions, and watching this race on TV today will get me all fired up for the Saratoga meet just over three and a half months away.  You didn't win Mega-Millions, but perhaps you can win a few bucks on the Florida Derby.  Have a great weekend.

HBO's Luck cancelled

You likely heard by now that HBO's new series, Luck, has been canceled reportedly due to another horse being euthanized from an accident during filming.  There are plenty of writers that seem to think the horse deaths were simply the stated reason for the cancellation - they felt the show was going to be cancelled no matter what.  I really liked the show, but perhaps foreshadowed the cancellation when I wrote back in February:

I felt it was very, very good, and I will keep watching.  I'm just not sure if it can capture enough of an audience to make it past the first season.  HBO audiences can generally handle intelligent and complicated plots and stories, but this show has separate stories that so far barely overlap.  Think the movie Pulp Fiction.  I hope it lasts, because I do like it.  I just hope it's not another "The Comeback". 

Well, it wasn't another Comeback, because that show at least made it through its entire first season.  It's a shame, because it was an excellent show - perhaps it was just a bit too real.  Oh well, there's always Seinfeld reruns to watch.  Thanks to Rob, Michael T, and Guy for giving me the heads up on this.