September Saratoga thoughts

Here we go with some more random thoughts on the Spa City and its environs:

• I thought that this was the last week for the outdoor version of the Saratoga Springs Farmers Market, but according to its web site, the summer version is through October.  Is that a change from previous years?  It seems like they went indoors to their Salvation Army location on Woodlawn Avenue (map below) in October.  Whether that is new or old, I'm glad.  We seem to still get some nice autumn weather in October and I'm usually not ready to head indoors just yet, and I bet you aren't either.  I wish the market could make gametime decisions in April as to when to go outdoors because there are inevitably some very warm April days when your just dying to get outside after a long cold winter, but the market is still indoors.  Maybe that is something they can adjust - I'd love to see it and you'll know what I mean next spring when it's sunny and 65 degrees on April 24th. 

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• I just recently made an entry on the Hungry spot Cafe next to City Hall.  I did not know until today that they had a web site.  They are actually using blog software to maintain their web site - normally I would dislike someone using blogging software for a business web site but because they are updating their specials every day their use of the free Wordpress software makes some sense and it seems to work.  Good for them. 
• I get a laugh every time I read on the All Over Albany blog a reference to I-Saratoga as "His Crankiness". Funny.
• Saratoga Springs School District property owners: Don't forget that your school taxes are due on October 5th this year to avoid late fees.  Don't blame me I'm just the messenger.
• I had a couple of unsatisfactory  experiences in the bar and courtyard area of the Adelphi Hotel this past summer.  You can't argue with the beauty and great ambience of the building and courtyard, but I had a God awful dessert there one night and on another night a friend of mine was in such a great mood for a glass of red wine and when he received it and took a sip I could tell from the look on his face something was wrong.  he said it was stale tasting - in other words the bottle was likely open for too long. I told him to exchange it but for some reason he was being stubborn and wouldn't - it was such a shame because he was talking about how much he would enjoy a glass of wine for an hour before we got there.   
• I got a couple of slices of pizza from Pizza on Broadway recently and they just weren't good - just kind of dried out and old.  They had several different styles of slices there and they all looked old.  Perhaps they should stagger the cooking times which will mean fewer pizzas to choose from but therefore quicker sales, and each pizza will be more fresh.  Next time I'll go to D'Andrea's which has pizzas which are a little too sweet but at least are fresh.
• I received quite a few spirited comments on my entry on the Times Union's web site regarding broken windows, abandoned buildings, and graffiti at various places in Saratoga Springs.  I also got a few comments on my entry on this blog regarding what I will call the somewhat abandonment of the former Skidmore College dorm Moore Hall (AKA "The Pink Palace").  If you haven't caught the entries or all the comments you may wish to do so. 
• I wrote recently that The Saratogian appears to not have written any, and I mean any, editorials in the past several weeks and perhaps months.  Maybe I missed one or two but I don't remember any Saratogian editorials since well before track season.  I read today's issue and thought they finally broke the pattern, but as I read the editorial about President Obama's visit to Troy, I noticed it mentioned Troy but lacked any reference to Saratoga Springs or Global Foundries, Inc. planned new factory to be built in nearby Malta.  Sure enough I checked and discovered that what appeared as a Saratogian editorial was just a copy of a Troy Record editorial.  I have no problem with the Saratogian supplementing editorials from sister Journal Register Company newspapers, but supplementing means the Saratogian would actually be writing a few editorials of their own and lately they just aren't writing any.  I don't think it's too much to ask for our local daily newspaper to write editorials a few times a week - or hell even just a few a month would be an improvement. 
• I just read the above bullet points and realized I'm one more Andy Rooney style complaint away from getting my own cranky label from All Over Albany.  Hey I'm just writing about my thoughts here.
• Well if the colder weather is a lemon, then enjoying the beautiful foliage in this part of the country is the lemonade we should make.  Along those lines I am hoping to go with others to take a train ride along the Upper Hudson Rail Road in the next few weeks to enjoy what promises to be great views of the autumn colors of the Southern Adirondacks.  The train leaves out of North Creek and if you want to go you probably want to make reservations via the railroad's web site or by calling 518-251-5334.

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• Well that's about it for now.  Thanks for reading!

Comments

[Mr. Sunshine]

No, Farmers Market stays out there through the end of October and has for several years. I'm a regular at Pizza on Broadway and gotta say I was surprised by your experience and comment. Give them another chance. Hungry Spot is just okay. The Saratogian is a terrible paper but I read it every day simply because I live in SS and am thrilled that such a dinky town even has a daily!

[Dan]

OK thanks for the clarifications and yes, I will check out Pizza on Broadway again. Of course any time you buy a slice it's been sitting around for at least a number of minutes unless you time it just right - so next time I'll simply order a whole pie to avoid that. I do agree on The Saratogian I just wish they'd improve. I realize some of their problems come from a lack of resources, the parent company being bankrupt, the newspaper industry in general etc. but sometimes I feel it's just simple laziness and sloppiness on their part. I feel slightly different than you on one point - I feel Saratoga Springs deserves not only its own daily but a decent one - at least by small town standards.

[Matthew]

Saratogian is now 75 cents M-F...getting harder to be loyal everyday.

[Dan]

Wow I did not know that it was going up. Hmmm makes me wonder how that will affect the bottom line in the end, and it makes me wonder whether I will continue buying it.