Saratoga thoughts and weekend wrap up

It's an opinionated day:

• I really enjoy the Saturday morning Farmers Market at High Rock Park.  The Wednesday evening versions of the market just aren't the same - I remember them as being much more subdued when I went last year.  I went last Wednesday to it and while it will never have that festive atmosphere as the Saturday event, it was very alive and better attended than I remember from last year.  I enjoyed going and was glad it had a certain buzz to it.
• When I was at the market Wednesday I bought a loaf of seven grain and honey bread from Effie's Baked goods which is located on the side of the shelter building to the left, closest to Lake Avenue.  I am not going to tell you it was bad, but it was dry and I couldn't taste the honey.  I guess I expect more from a $5.25 loaf of bread.  I prefer to buy bread from the Bread Basket on Spring Street and will just as soon as I get there.

• Speaking of getting value for your hard earned dollar, I often get my clothes tailored from Tony the Tailor down on Route 7 in Latham.  He's not cheap but he does good work.  I knew there was at least one tailor in town here in Saratoga Springs and read a story about him a while back, so I decided to keep my business in Saratoga.  I found Di Matteo's Custom Tailoring in the yellow pages and stopped there on Church Street last week to have some pants repaired.  What is interesting is that I just had an identical pair of pants needing the exact same repair fixed by Tony the Tailor a few weeks ago for $14.00.  Di Matteo's price for the same repair:  $25.00.  Hey I expect to pay more in Saratoga, but that's a 78% markup!  I don't want to go out of my way to steer you away from a local business, but I have no problem informing you of my experiences.  

• We stopped into The Irish Times before going to Baileys.  The eight piece band - The Gobshites - was great if not a bit loud.  That's their flag, if you will, to the right.  The place had a good crowd but it was a noticeable and I guess expected dropoff from the previous week.  I will say I stopped through on Wednesday and they had a respectable crowd then.  My friends had dinner there Saturday and they said it was good and "better than the Parting Glass."  I guess the real tests will come in January when the hotel rooms are empty and it's 3 degrees outside.  I think it's a great place and I hope they do well. 

• Speaking of The Irish Times, I saw an ad for City Tavern that said it was "Saratoga's only rooftop bar".  Their web site touts the same thing.  I guess that is still technically accurate because while the Irish Times has a nice rooftop patio for dining and drinking, there is no bar out there.  Yet. 

• I recently commented on here that I tried Sabina's Wood Fired Restaurant and the food was just OK, and that two of my friends agreed with me but another thought it had the best pizza in town.  Add two more friends who recently told me they thought it was good.  I do want the place to succeed so if I am glad there are people who feel differently than I do. 

• I don't know if The Saratogian is marginally improved or if it sucks just the same and I just have battered readers syndrome.  What I will say is that their sports department puts out a very good product and I really like their horse racing coverage, especially the commentaries of Michael Veitch and Jeff Scott. 

• I don't hate Price Chopper but I do like to spread my grocery dollar around if I can, especially to local vendors that add to Saratoga's vitality.  Many months ago I saw that Putnam Market was selling fresh fish, namely salmon.  I love salmon but it took me forever to break out of my normal shopping routine and get to Putnam Market to buy some - but they no longer sell it there.  I guess it wasn't profitable for them either because of buyers' habits or the bad economy.  I am going to make it a point to get there more often and buy some of their delicious looking food before they are forced to discontinue even more items. I suggest you do the same.  Note that they still carry smoked salmon, but apparently not fresh filets like they used to.

• Speaking of things named "Putman", The Post Star's Saratoga Snippets blog has reported about the planned soft opening this week of Putnam Den, a new mid sized music venue planned for the site of the former Back Street Billiards on Putnam Street across from the Library.  I agree with Post Star reporter Drew Kerr when he says the Spa City is sorely lacking such a venue.  If the music won't get you in the door, the Putnam Den's web site proclaims "we have 9
  BATHROOMS!! Saratoga...Your days of wasting
  away the night waiting for a bathroom are over!!"
  

  
  
  
  
  

  Well, there you go, now drink five beers and get down to Putnam Street soon.  On a related note, The Post Star had a good article last week highlighting much of the business activity in downtown Saratoga Springs.  ADDED:  The Saratogian has a story about Putnam Den in today's paper here.

• Well, I had more to write but this is long so I'll wrap up for now.  Today marks exactly one month until the opening day of track season!!!

Comments

[susan]

Dan, the good news is that you can still get great fresh fish from Putnam Market. You need to get on their email distribution list and order it that way. If they get enough orders (they usually do), they notify you via an email note and you can pick up the fresh fish Friday afternoon.

[Dan]

Hey thanks Susan I didn't know that. You know, I even asked a staff member there about the fresh fish and all that she told me was that they discontinued it in January - she never told me about the option you just mentioned. That's odd isn't it? Well thanks for that info.

[Matt]

Dan-

Try Feigenbaum's for fixing pants. The price is comparable to your guy in Latham. Feigenbaum's is a Glens Falls business, but has been in Saratoga Springs for over 20 years.

[Dan]

Thanks Matt for that info I appreciate it.