A few Saratoga thoughts

It's mid February, so we're in the final stretch of winter.  At least that's what I will keep telling myself.  Here are a few thoughts along the snow-covered and rather frigid Saratoga trail:

• As far as I'm concerned, the Saratoga Springs DPW is doing a great job clearing city streets - even the narrow back alleys.  Congratulations to Skip Scirocco and his entire crew for their superb efforts.
• I checked out Dangos Irish Pub, Steakhouse, Sports Bar and Tex-Mex buffet a few times this past weekend.  OK, it's not a Tex-mex buffet, but they might as well add it, they have so many other themes covered.  In any event, it has lots of TVs (15) and attractive waitresses - yep - it's a sports bar.  It seemed like they went out of their way to make a splash with an attractive staff.  I also met owner David "Dango" Johnson, who is not an attractive waitress, but seemed like a nice enough fella.

 

• Have you checked out the City Desk blog in the Saratogian lately?  For several months now Patrick Donges has been doing what I see as kind of a local version of what the T-U's Capital Confidential blog does, which is basically aggregating all the political and other interesting local stories from The Saratogian and other media outlets, even competitors like the T-U and Post-Star.  Those specific daily posts are entitiled "Front Page", Mr. Donges is doing a good job with it and it's worth checking out. 
• Word on the street is that Bonacio will be starting on the Price Chopper project sometime this month.  I don't know if that means the store will immediately close upon commencement of work or whether work will be done on other parts of the parcel first, allowing Price Chopper to stay open.  This information is really just a rumor, but if I keep repeating it monthly it will eventually be true.  You heard it here first lol.
• Slightly more than a rumor but nonetheless still unsubstantiated: I was advised by a friend that the proprietors of Siro's Restaurant may be taking over The Lodge location on Nelson Avenue, or at least have some sort of involvement with the building. Last I knew it was operated by the Racino Casino.  I'm not the shrewdest businessman and The Lodge is a beautiful building in a nice tree-lined location, but the best restauranteur I've ever known, Angelo Mazzone, decided a few years back not to continue with the facility, so that would be enough to make me steer clear of it. 
• Continuing with Siro's, I'm also told they are developing some sort of New York City project in conjunction with the Yankees.  That seems to fit in with the owners' high profiles and their previously announced plans to expand locations.  On point, there is an article in this morning's Saratogian about Siro's attempts to alter their outdoor entertainment permit and the neighborhood opposition to it.
• Continuing on with stuff I heard, another friend told me that a bunch of Martians landed their flying saucer in Scott Johnson's backyard recently and had tea with the good Mayor.  Well that explains his goofy position on charter reform.  What the hell, I was on a roll here with rumors.  Crop Circles at Spa Park...I seen 'em with my own eyes!
• I stopped into Mine Nightclub recently with a few friends and we had a nice conversation with the owner's husband.  It's certainly a cool and unique location with a great dance floor.  I also found out that they are presently developing a menu and will be serving food in the coming months.  I was trying to form a joke here with that fact, the reopening of the Union Grille, and some sort of refernce to the Triangle Diner, but I am writing this late at night and my mind is not sharp.  Just assume it would have been funny, OK?
• I thought it was cool when Uncommon Grounds started a blog last year, but it's been dormant since summer.  I guess that qualifies it as dead.
• I'm a fan of Saratogian sports reporter Nicole Russo; I think she's a great writer and I enjoy reading her work.  In fact she was recently promoted to Sports Editor, so congratulations to her.  She had a piece in this morning's edition where she talked about how she adopted an injured/retired thoroughbred and how rewarding that has been for her.  Check it out.
• Have you watched LOOK TV yet?  Turn your volume down - holy cow is that station loud.  It has potential and I like the hyper-local approach, but the aforementioned ridiculously high volume and other aspects of it make it something less than the slickest TV operation I've seen.  Sort of a cross between a northern Canadian television station and a Saturday Night live skit.  I like it, and I hope it does well, but just be prepared for a sort of public access feel.
• My wife and I had a terrific dinner recently at Sperry's.  The service had a few misses but the food was really enjoyable.  If you go, check out the jockey and trainer characatures on the wall - they're fun.  We'll be back. 
• I've been seeing a few Railroad Avenue Condos being sold for less than $400,000.  I think that would have been unheard of a few years ago.
• If you get down Troy way check out the Dinosaur Barbecue.  People from Syracuse and Rochester, where "the Dinosaur" has had locations for years, know what a great and fun restaurant it is.  The Troy location is packed every night. You're better off getting there early or late - perhaps before 5:30 or after 7:30pm - to avoid a long wait.  They also have a location in Harlem.  Great food and atmosphere.  Speaking of barbecue, PJ's Barbecue will open in just over two months.  Yes!!
• Well I'll end this with a congratulations to all of those that took part in Chowderfest.  I'll post a picture I took of the many people walking on Caroline Street during the event. I'm not sure if the picture captures it, but that many people walking on the streets was an impressive sight.  It was a great event and one that only Saratoga Springs could pull off so successfully. 

 
 

Comments

[ljk]

According to the Post Star's Saratoga Snippets:
"Bonacio said the Price Chopper will remain open throughout the year-long construction period, but will eventually move into the new building’s first floor, along with a cleaner."

And "Bonacio said today the store would likely be closed no more than 24 hours as a result of the transition."

[Michael]

Nice update Dan, it looks like they have fenced off part of the Ghetto chopper parking lot, so I think work/inconvenience has begun.
You got me pumped with the Dangos Tex-Mex Buffet, but with all off the pictures how come none of the attractive waitresses.

[Dan]

Hey thanks both of you for the clarification/updates. Mike I'm a married man now so I better not be out taking pictures of waitresses....lol.

[Rob]

Being a native of Glens Falls, I can tell you that Dango's is a waste of time and will soon resemble the original location, which is first and foremost a Red Sox bar/hangout for serious drunks.

Also, I really disagree on the snow clearing claims. I was in town for Chowderfest and Caroline St. was about as narrow as I've ever seen it. With cars parked along the road, the two lane section above Circular was actually tighter than the one-way section heading up the hill. Made it nearly impossible to go straight at that light.

[Dan De Federicis]

Hey Rob:
Thanks for commenting. I guess I don't necessarily disagree with you, I just see things with a different perspective. Whether Dango Johnson's Glens Falls places are great or not, as a businessman he's been successful in both a volatile industry - bars and restaurants have a high failure rate - and a tough economy. Since I moved here in 2006, 38 Caroline has been the site of The Artisan, It's Confidential, and The Backstretch - all of course that went out of business. If Dango's occupies that building, creates some employment and additional livelihood along that stretch of Caroline Street, and helps out local suppliers as well as the city's tax receipts, I think that's great. It's better than a dark and empty building just sitting there.

I was on Caroline Street during Chowderfest, but not the stretch you wrote about. Don't forget this winter has been the snowiest in some time, and sometimes parked cars make it difficult for plows to get through. I have just noticed that the city workers and equipment seems to be out in force during and after storms, and the streets appear to be admirably clear of snow.

I hope you keep commenting on here, because blogs are supposed to be for enlightening communication and your perspective is appreciated. Take care.
Dan

[Rob]

Dan - I agree that having something in that space is likely better than nothing. But Dango's in GF draws a certain crowd that I don't see mixing well with the crowd from across the street (Clancy's and Trotter's). A lot of wannabe tough guys in a very small area. Trust me, you don't want Caroline St. to end up like Glens Falls' South St.

And Dango has certainly had his share of failures as I believe he's had two unsuccessful restaurant ventures in GF in the last few years.

Wish him luck, but there's a lot of competition in Saratoga and I just don't see big TVs and cheap wings as the best way to compete.

[Dan De Federicis]

Ahhh see - that's why you should keep commenting on here b/c I don't have that insight. Yea that stretch of Caroline has seen enough violence for one decade...the night I was at Dangos it seemed like mostly a Skidmore crowd - but they were well behaved and a young couple actually got up from their booth and offered it to the four of us (old geezers) who were standing. I did sort of think that the sports bar concept was well represented by the nearby Peabody's as well as The Stadium, but I still had some appreciation for Dango's past success and his current efforts in a previously empty building. Thanks again.