Fun in Saratoga

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

From the staff at Fun Saratoga (staff=me) have a very merry and safe Christmas!

Saratoga Specialties Company - maker of Moon Brand Original Saratoga chips - is having a good year

You can read about Saratoga Speciaties Company's great year on their Facebook page or their web site, which is pretty upbeat and fun.  Rachel Ray is plugging them nationally, they are getting free press in many other places as well, and they have some very tasty looking new products - the latest of which include some creative chip dips.  Good for them!  I'll fill you in when the descendants of George Crum appear out of nowhere to file a lawsuit looking for royalties. 

 

"The Skeptic" is finally released to video

I wrote an entry here on the Times Union Saratoga Springs residents' blog  about the movie "The Skeptic" which was partially filmed in Saratoga Springs and involves several shots of The Batcheller Mansion. 

Wells Fargo moves into 54 Phila, Boca Viva apparently closed

Wells Fargo Financial has moved into the new condo building officially known as The Lofts at 54 Phila.  The Saratogian's In the Biz blog has more detailed information here.

 

I have mentioned before that I like this new building, located at the corner of Phila and Henry Streets, across from Beverly's.  It just looks stately and is consistent with other Saratoga buildings - the developers, builders, and designers should all be proud.  Of course the potential problem is sales, or lack thereof.  I see a condo project in Glens Falls that hasn't sold many units has shifted gears and will start out as apartments instead, and I have to wonder if the same will happen at 54 Phila or any of the other Saratoga projects in the works.  Perhaps some developers will get real creative and find some unorthodox methods to move the properties.  Click here for an additional entry I previously wrote on Saratoga Springs condos.

Going back to the In the Biz blog,  Saratogian reporter Mareesa Nicosia has been doing an admirable job recently of reporting business happenings here, and she also reported on the fact that the Boca Viva shop on Broadway has paper on its windows and is apparently closed. 

Rachel Ray plugs Saratoga Springs and Saratoga chips

I just saw this on the Table Hopping Blog:  Rachel Ray did a nice job plugging our city and the Saratoga Speciaties Company, namely their potato chips.  Never did 53 seconds of work (see video below) sell so many potato chips.  Here's the Saratoga Chips web site, which also has a participating retailers page.  Thanks Rachel!

Silks Saratoga bistro opens today at the Albany International Airport

There will be an 11am official grand opening at Silks Saratoga bistro, a racetrack themed restaurant where hungry airport travelers can sit along a simulated rail of our favorite thoroughbred track.   The restaurant is a partnership between nationwide facility vendor HMS Host and Albany's Jack's Oyster House.  Obviously we can't expect too much ambience from an airport restaurant but nonetheless it's good to know that travelers flying into the region will at least have an immediate indication of what the Saratoga region has to offer. 

Read the Times Union article here.

Citizens Transportation Committee of Saratoga County meeting Wednesday December 2

I was just asked to post the information of this upcoming meeting which I am happy to do.  You can download the actual announcment here: Download November retrospective 09

I also copied it in direct text below but it didn't exactly format right.  FYI.

Citizens Transportation Committee of Saratoga County
Mission Statement: The Citizens Transportation Committee of Saratoga County is a countywide clearinghouse and activist group created
to facilitate efficient transportation modes and infrastructure, now and in the future, by collaborating with existing agencies, informed individuals
and organizations as support resources. The Committee meets on the second and last Thursdays of each month. The 2nd Thursday meeting
is held at the Saratoga Springs Train Depot, 12 noon. On the last Thursday of the month the meeting is held in Saratoga Springs at the Library, at
7PM. All interested citizens are welcome to attend.
Mary Marsicano, Chair
9 Kirby Road, Apt 16, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
(518) 587-2684 Cell: 423-2191
chiamamary@aol .com Websi te: h t tp: / /www.get2there.com
Advisory Members
Supervisors
Joanne Yepsen
Matthew Veitch
Patricia Southworth A RETROSPECTIVE ON TRANSPORTATION!
WHERE WE WERE!
WHERE WE ARE!
WHERE WE NEED TO GO!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
7:00 P. M.
AT
The Saratoga Arts Center.
(Corner of Spring Street and Broadway)
Representatives from the Capital District
Transportation Authority (CDTA), other transportation
entities and public officials from the city, county and
federal government will be present.
All transportation subjects which will include bus,
rail, bicycles, cabs, pedestrian, and other means of
transport will be open for discussion. The public will be
encouraged to participate in a question and answer session
after the presentations are made.

South Side Recreation Center

I posted an entry to the Times Union Saratoga residents' blog that I contribute to regarding the progress of the South Side Recreation Center.  You've likely read my thoughts on this controversial project previously in this blog here and here, but if you'd like to see a recent picture I took of the noteworthy progress made on the building, then check out the last picture in my T-U entry here. 

South Side Recreation Center thoughts

I took this below photo of the partially constructed south side recreation center last week not knowing the State Supreme Court, Appelate Division, would soon be issuing a decision on the lawsuit a citizens group filed last year.

 

The long and short of the decision is that the citizens group got their asses handed to them and the court ruled in favor of the city on all arguments.  I don't have a problem with these residents fighting the city on this - the process had a certain abruptness and arrogance to it and the plaintiffs had understandable motivations.  Nonetheless, I hope these homeowners realize they're not going to get to the Court of Appeals and that this fight is over.  If the court's decision doesn't tell the citizens that it's over, then the rapidly rising steel framing shown above should. 

I had mixed feelings on this project because I hated to lose green space in the city, but I recognized that the park off Vanderbilt Avenue was underutilized and that a recreation center built in a location more convenient to the bulk of Saratoga Springs' population would be a year-round asset to city residents.  I'll give Mayor Johnson credit for making it happen and then I'll enjoy the building as much as I can.  I suggest everyone else do the same - it's going up and you're paying for it whether you use it or not. 

• Link my previous entry here 
• Saratogian article can be read here
• Times Union article is here.

Comedy Works moves to the Starting Gate Bar and Grill

I was driving past the Starting Gate Bar and Grill (12 Ballston Avenue in front of the Hi Roc/Strike Zone Bowling Alleys) two days ago and I noticed a sign for The Comedy Works out front.  I drove by too quickly to confirm whether the sign was for the Starting Gate, Hi Roc, or whatever, and and I didn't think much more about it.  I guess I should have had my blogging hat on because I just noticed this article in The Albany Business Review confirming that The Comedy Works did indeed move to the Starting Gate, formerly known as the Olde Gaslight Tavern.  My original thought after reading the article was that The Starting Gate was too small for live comedy, but then I realized that the small and crowded venues are very intimate and often even more fun for live acts, whether it is music, comedy, or something else, so I will remain open minded about that and I hope to check it out soon. 

 

I've lived in many parts of New York State and let me say we are fortunate here in Saratoga Springs to have so many options for entertainment, dining, and other enjoyable events.  I've lived in areas where there's so little going on, or what was going on was simply so unappealing that it seemed that many of the locals just sat in dreary bars and drank.  Here it's a different story.  Whether it's a sports event, great dining, something at SPAC, or a music or comedy act downtown, we have great choices year round.  We shouldn't take any of this for granted, and we should do our best to patronize these venues, both for our own enjoyment and to ensure the success of these entities so they will continue to help make Saratoga Springs such a great place to live.  If you would like more information about The Comedy Works, call (877) JOKE-TIX or go to www.thecomedyworks.com