Fun in Saratoga

The Batcheller Mansion - movies and books

There are a couple of recent blog entries from Saratoga blogs that have to do with the Batcheller Mansion Inn.  One of them refers to that beautiful house (now of course a Bed & Breakfast) in a tangential way - but that tangent was very interesting and alerted me to something I wasn't aware of. Did you know that there was a yet to be released movie filmed there in the past few years?  The Skeptic, starring Tim Daly, Tom Arnold, and Zoe Saldana, was according to I-Saratoga, filmed three years ago but has yet to be released.  I-Saratoga made an entry about who he described as the "Spa City’s very own professional con" Dave Silipigno and he mentioned how he produced a movie using outside shots of the mansion.

Horatio Alger (the pen name for the I-Saratoga blogger) and the many commenters on his blog had insightful commentaries and negative accusations about Mr. Silipigno in that entry which were quite interesting, but too serious, and quite frankly, depressing, for me to bring up on this blog.  I appreciate both I-Saratoga and the (Dis)Utopia blog's insider (and anonymous) commentaries on the local political and business scene, but I get enough seriousness at my full time job and this blog is supposed to be a fun hobby for me.  Therefore I only get serious when something pisses me off about the city that I love and call home. Therefore let me comment on the fun and tangential portion of I-Saratoga's post - namely that there was a movie filmed using outside shots (and inside?) of the Batcheller Mansion Inn.  Cool.

"The Skeptic" appears to be a run of the mill horror/thriller flick which, as evidenced in the two and a half minute trailer (linked below in the embedded Youtube link), uses shots of the Batcheller Mansion as the setting for the haunted house.  Well I love anything that makes Saratoga that much more interesting of a place to live, so this certainly counts.  Like I said the film doesn't look great (which explains its three years in limbo) but in addition to the aforementioned actors, the cast also includes the late Robert Prosky in his last film role.  He just died in December - you may remember him from his role as Sergeant Stanley Jablonski in the great TV series "Hill Street Blues". 

On a related note, about a year ago, I made an entry about the movie "A slight Case of Murder" which was set right here in Saratoga.  A commenter wrote in and included a comprehensive list of Saratoga related movies in his comment which I was happy to receive.  It's worth checking out.

Shifting gears, but staying with the Batcheller Mansion theme, The T-U's Saratoga Seen blog had a recent entry about a new book about the Batcheller Mansion Inn.  The entry gave a brief history of the Inn, discussed the book, and mentioned that the author would be participating in an official opening for the book on Febrary 8th in Crafter's Gallery.  I hope to be there. 

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PJ's barbecue doing the franchise thing

Well, sort of. 

I have become friends with PJ over the past few years and he has previously discussed with me his idea to offer franchises in a barbecue restaurant concept that isn't exactly like PJ's, but uses the same recipes and perhaps PJ's congenial approach to customer service and appreciation.  Sounds like a winning plan to me!

 

I talked to PJ on the phone the other day (he spends his winters in Florida - where in Florida?  Sarasota - not kidding) and we talked briefly about his new venture, then a few days later I got the postcard I copied and posted below.  I haven't talked to him in depth about this yet but as I have said on here before I really love PJ's Bar-B-Q and obviously the credit for that enjoyable restaurant goes to PJ, Carolyn and their kids John and Jady.

  If they are offering to expand their positive energy into franchises I think that's great and I look forward to it. 

 

Reminder and a bit of news regarding Saratoga Race Course Reserved Seating applications

A quick reminder that you must have your Saratoga Race Course reserved seating applications postmarked by this Saturday, January 31, 2009.  If you need to download a form or find out more information, click on the NYRA site here.

Here's a bummer regarding Saratoga reserved seat tickets:  A small notice in fine print on the ticket request form notified customers that effective the 2009 season, reserved seat tickets "WILL NOT" be available at the Holiday Inn.  Quite simply, that sucks, because I found that option quite helpful when I needed a larger than anticipated number of tickets on short notice.  I guess I can go to the track window at something like 7:30am that day, but when I'm leaving Gaffney's at 2am and still not ready to head home (one word: doughboys!) then it makes it a bit tough to be an early riser. 

Union Gables Bed & Breakfast offering Valentines Day Special

As I was walking down Union Avenue the other day I noticed that my neighbors over at Union Gables Bed & Breakfast are offering a Valentines Day special.  I don't know the details of it, nor do I know if other B&Bs around town are offering any similar deals, but between the web site link and the phone number on the photo of the sign below you should be just a click or phone call away from finding out more. 

 

This offer makes me wonder, is there a trade association of Saratoga area B&Bs that would encourage collaborative efforts such as a Valentines Day promotion?   Obviously there is the Chamber of Commerce, but I was wondering if there was a more focused group of those businesses such as hotels and other lodging establishments that would concentrate its efforts on promotions such as the one Union Gables is offering.  Oh well if there is not such a group perhaps there should be.  There's my thought for the day. 

Reminder on Dance Flurry

Just a quick reminder that if you want the advance discounted rate for the 22nd annual Dance Flurry you must either postmark your envelope no later than Monday January 26, 2009 or purchase on line by that date.  For my previous posting on the Dance Flurry, click here.

Saratoga Restaurant information and thoughts on the Saratoga Business Journal

The other night my girlfriend and I, along with another couple, had a great dinner at  Prime at Saratoga National.  There are some great Saratoga restaurants, but when it comes to steak nobody comes close to Prime's offerings, which are very similar to 677 Prime in Albany.  Those two restaurants, along with Apertivo Bistro and the Glen Sanders Mansion, both in Schenectady, are owned by Angelo Mazzone who I have tremendous respect and admiration for.  Mazzones's company, the Mazzone Management Group, also runs the catering at the Hall of Springs on the grounds of the Saratoga Spa State Park.  If you haven't been to Prime at Saratoga National yet, you're missing out on a classy and enjoyable experience, and a great steak.

Shifting gears, but staying in the restaurant category, I read in the January edition of the Saratoga Business Journal that the restauarant the Marrello Management Group will be opening at the 38 High Rock Condo development will not be called "Bellini's at High Rock Restaurant" as previously reported, but instead will be called "Jacob and Anthony's Classic American at High Rock".  According to both the article and the company web site, Jacob and Anthony's will also be the name of Marrello's new catering division.  I'm sort of surprised none of the other local publications have reported on this yet, at least as far as I've seen. 

The aforementioned article notwithstanding, I can't help but share some negative thoughts regarding the Saratoga Business Journal: they really need to reconsider calling themselves a newspaper.  The front page article of this month's edition had a not so fresh article about Golub Corporation's plan for the downtown Price Chopper.  This puff piece seemed like a press release from Price Chopper and would have you believe the company is the best thing to come to Saratoga since the track.  There was absolutely no balance in the article and no examination of questions such as (1) does Saratoga need yet another development like the one Bonacio plans, now or in three years, and (2) what does the loss of a full service supermarket in the city center mean to residents?  Instead we got paragraphs and paragraphs of Price Chopper's self praise and downright peachy pronouncements.  Consider the following excerpts from the article:

• The article starts off with: "A new and exciting era has begun with the transfer of the Price Chopper supermarket parcel...from Golub Properties, Inc. to Bonacio Construction.
• "...the sale of the property to Bonacio Construction will open new and innovative opportunities for the downtown area of Saratoga Springs."
• The exciting news is that Price Chopper, in partnership with Bonacio Construction, will continue to maintain their downtown presence serving the community with a new urban-concept, small format grocery store.
• The Golub Corporation as also taken into consideration the needs of the surrounding neighborhoods, making this new small-format urban grocery store affordable rather than an upscale market.

Well, I could go on and also list the several self promoting comments by Monica Golub, but you get the point.  For what it's worth, I'm mostly OK with Price Chopper's plans and I understand the logic and economics behind them.  I just expect a publication calling itself a newspaper to be a little balanced in its "reporting" and not simply an extension of a company's PR department. 

Let's go make some ravioli!!!

I just became aware of a class offered at Forno Bistro Restaurant this Saturday and Sunday:   Pasta Making Class with Mamma Theresa at Forno Bistro

Saturday, January 24 and Sunday, January 25 Classes start at 11:00am       Join us for a hands-on cooking class at Forno Bistro.  Students will learn how to make ravioli in Forno's famed open kitchen.  Last minute spots are still available, so call the restaurant to make your reservation! Forno Bistro 541 Broadway Saratoga Springs, New York 12866 518.581.2401

R.I.P. Route 471

There was a short side column article in Saturday's Saratogian announcing "service changes" for CDTA buses effective this Sunday, January 25th.   One of the changes affects the Saratoga Route 471 - Union Avenue bus.  Basically, this route will cease to exist at least until summer and, according to the CDTA web site, will become a seasonal route. 

This is no big deal to most people, because so very few people ever took this bus.  It was very rare for me to see any, and I mean any, people on this bus. I would try to take it to the YMCA when I could, and then I would run home.  It was an effective tool to ensure I would get a run in - hey there was only one way to get home after training at the Y and that was my feet.  I also once used their bike rack on the front and I enjoyed taking that ride and riding my bike home.  

The reality is, unfortunately, that so few people used this route and the last time I used the bus, maybe in early December, the bus driver told me I was the only person he ever saw at that particular bus stop.   It didn't take a genius to see the route wouldn't last.  The release also mentioned that there would also be "minor time adjustments" to the Route 473 Jefferson Avenue bus. 

Despite my understanding of the realities involved with the lack of ridership, I still have a huge problem with the decision.  Maybe this route would never work, but I feel that CDTA set it up for failure. CDTA took a transportation plan suitable for an urban area like Albany and tried shoehorning it into upscale Saratoga.  Gigantic city buses ran empty on a set schedule up and down Union Avenue over to the west side, and low and behold when it didn't work, CDTA pulled the plug.  I once told my neighbor about the bus, and he didn't even know about it.  He had cars all of his life and CDTA didn't try to encourage usage, so the bus was not even known to him. 

My point is:  What if CDTA got creative in Saratoga and tried some different things such as:

• Smaller buses with more flexible schedules and routes.
• Partnerships with downtown businesses, both horse tracks, the YMCA, the Amtrak station, the Farmers Market, downtown events such as the Victorian Stroll, and a host of others. This would be win-win for both entities. And by partnerships I mean joint promotions including discounts and other special efforts.
• Effective marketing and advertising - this means through unconventional means - not the same old same old.

Put a bus up and down Central Avenue in Albany and the masses will hop on, but that won't work in Saratoga.  I feel CDTA let us down, and it's more than just the loss of one bus route.  What this means to me is the loss of an opportunity to gain some momentum to make this community that much more pollution free, congestion free, and pedestrian friendly.  CDTA took a cookie cutter approach to bus service in Saratoga and at least one route failed miserably.  I am very disappointed and once again must say that CDTA let us down. 

Some quick links from the T-U's Table Hopping Blog

Inaugural Ball at Circus Cafe

Valentine's Week Specials at Maestro's

Regret for reservations not made

Great visit on a street with a bustling atmosphere

On Saturday I spent some time on a street in downtown Saratoga Springs visiting a few businesses and other points of interest and I really enjoyed it there.  Guess what street that was.

You might be tempted to say the obvious choices:  Broadway, Caroline, or perhaps Phila.  But of course I'm steering this entry towards revealing one of the hidden, and evolving, gems in the Spa City: Henry Street.

I did not intend to visit Henry Street - I just sort of ended up there because I needed to go to the Library.  Before I continue on about Henry Street, I want to expand on that enjoyable visit to the Library.  Unlike the sedate libraries I remember from my childhood in suburban Buffalo, the Saratoga Springs Public Library is vibrant, social and just exciting.   It is still quiet where it needs to be, but it's like the Farmer's Market in the summer:  Namely the place to be.  There were several dozen people there when I visited, so I don't think I'm alone in my appreciation.  The Library, no our library, has a wide selection of books, a roomy and comfortable atmosphere, an abundance of computers for patrons' use, and a knowledgable and helpful staff.  It was freakin' 4 degrees outside, but the Library started my day on a warm note and I left there smiling.  I give incredible credit to the city and library leaders from a few years back who had great vision and decided to build that wonderful addition to our community.  I was told by someone who has lived here for a while that many people were against the new library and wanted to keep the library in the smaller building at Spring and Broadway.  Oh thank God the smart people won that one!

I left via what I guess is the back door of the Library and found myself on Henry Street ('A' on the map below).  I decided I wanted some coffee so I walked down to Virgil's House down the street ('B' on the map - you can use your mouse to scroll on the map to find the 'B' marker). 

View Larger Map

Virgil's House is the coffee and dessert place that doesn't allow cell phones or laptops, and their refreshing approach to prohibit those modern...annoyances...and instead include more relaxing and perhaps nostalgic items such as chess and checker boards, books, art, and probably a lot more that I haven't noticed despite several visits is appreciated by me at times.  Usually when I'm in there it's real quiet with just a few customers but this was Saturday morning in Saratoga Springs so that place was jumping and I couldn't believe the amount of people in there.  Cool! 

I got my coffee, stepped out, looked over longingly at The Parting Glass (it was too early.  Damn!), realized I just had my breakfast so my initial visit to Liberty Bell Cheese Steaks would also have to wait for another day and I started walking back to my car.  Just south of Virgil's House I found myself in front of Paper Dolls of Saratoga and remembered I had read about that, for lack of a better term, stationery store in the Saratogian.  So there I was: a guy with no lager, no cheese steaks, walking into a stationery store. Hey cut me some slack it was 4 degrees outside and I needed to take frequent detours inside from the freezing cold sidewalk.  The owner was friendly and before I knew it I was asking her to help me pick out some customized stationery for my girlfriend.  They are quite efficient at customization and she told me my order would be ready the next day.  I like that place but their web site really needs some work - it's basically just a static one page site with basic information.  Hello 1996.

 

My Henry Street visit was great but it wasn't perfect. As I got to my car, I noticed the partially constructed condo development at the corner of Phila and Henry streets, known as 54 Phila.   Like many developments here, I have mixed feelings about 54 Phila.  The structure looked awfully big near the much smaller buildings, but at the same time I always realize the Amsterdams and the Cohoes' of the world would kill to have an abundance of condo and retail development happening so I know enough to see both sides of it. 

 

 

  

Well there's my long story about a short walk on Henry Street in Saratoga Springs. Oh, and btw, my girlfriend loved the stationery.