Fun in Saratoga

YMCA members get 25% off at Forno Bistro!

Just when we were using our YMCA membership to work off those Thanksgiving calories, DZ Restaurants is making it that much harder.  Saratoga Regional YMCA members can use their key cards to get 25% off their bill at Forno Bistro during the month of December, and 10% off at Chianti and Pasta Pane as well.  The details are below:

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS SPECIAL OFFER! Members just need to bring their Saratoga Regional YMCA scan tag with them!

Saratoga Regional YMCA . 290 West Avenue PO Box 4610 . Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 P: 518 583 9622 . F: 518 581 7598 W: www.saratogaregionalymca.org

Circus Café joining Polar Express fun

Circus Café joining Polar Express fun.

Bah, humbug! Your city taxes are due!

Heyyyyy nothing says "Happy Holidays" like a reminder that your tax bill is due, but don't blame me - I'm just the messenger.  If you pay your Saratoga Springs city taxes in quarterly installments, don't forget to drop your fourth quarter payment off to city hall or get the envelope postmarked (not a meter mark) by December 1, 2011 to avoid late fees.  Click here  for the tax payment page on the Saratoga Springs city web site.

Tax payments may be mailed to the Commissioner of Finance, PO Box 328, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866-0328 or hand delivered to City Hall at 474 Broadway. The tax office is located on the first floor of City Hall, first door on the left when entering from Broadway. The office hours are Monday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All checks should be made payable to COMMISSIONER OF FINANCE.

Saratoga Thoughts November 28, 2011

I hope your Thanksgiving was great and you got a good start on your Christmas shopping. 

• Speaking of Christmas shopping, don't forget to do it close to home - specifically here in Saratoga Springs and preferably at locally owned businesses.  You can even save some money this Thursday when you purchase local gift cards. If you have to go to a national chain store, at least do it here in Saratoga County so the tax money and other positive effects of your purchases stay here.  Finally, if you're going to shop online, I'm going to give a plug to my friend and Saratoga Springs resident Ron Brindle, who has a link to Amazon that you can use. 
• I thought it was good news last week when I read about the expansion of the Olde Saratoga Brewery on Excelsior Avenue.  As good as that is, I don't feel the brewery is living to its potential.  Read this article about the Genesee Brewery in Rochester opening up a beer themed visitors' center/restaurant/gift shop here and you'll see what I mean.  Wouldn't that be great if Mendocino (Olde Saratoga's parent company) did the same thing here?  Few people realize that the company is owned by billionaire Vijay Mallya, so it's not like he doesn't have the cash on hand to do a project. 
• So are we going to be seeing Brad Pitt around town anytime soon?  On a related subject, for what it's worth, I saw the surviving cast members of Gilligan's Island all getting coffee at the Stewarts on Circular and South Broadway this past Saturday.  Hmmm wonder what that's all about.
• The Spring Street Deli is so close to my house, but they don't carry Pepsi products.  Bummer.
• Saratoga Olive Oil has free shipping today on Cyber Monday!  That's a great store and my wife and I bought some delicious olive oil there over the weekend.
• I thought this letter printed in the Saratogian this past weekend had a good idea to put the empty Borders building to work.
• Speaking of filling empty storefronts, I see Paper Dolls moved into the former Saratoga Guitar location at the corner of Caroline and Broadway, I guess they have been there for a little over a month now.  Sloppy Kisses will be moving down to 425 Broadway, between Crafter's Gallery and the old Grey Gelding location in a location that was once a sales office for High Rock condos. 

• Anyone been to The Turf Club yet?  That's the somewhat new restaurant located in the Springwater Inn building at Union and Nelson Avenues.  I regret to say I haven't been there yet, but heard their commercial on STAR 101.3 and it reminded me that I should stop by one of these evenings.  The commercial was promoting The Turf Club's happy hour and a few other specials, so it's apparent the restaurant is getting a bit more aggresive in its marketing. 
• Speaking of Restaurants, Maestro's at the Van Dam sure has a lot going, as evidenced by their most recent newsletter.  They will have a Christmas tree lighting on their front porch, gift card deals, and Victorian Streetwalk specials.  Maestro's has fantastic food, but their newsletter could use a bit more editing.  One part said "...Come join us to light are [sic] VERY LARGE Christmas tree on the patio."  Another part stated "Our Chef's [sic] make the most delicious hot chocolate you could ever imaging [sic]." The newsletter referred to the Victorian Streetwalk as the Victorian "Stroll", which is simply not the name of the Saratoga Springs event (the Victorian Stroll is in Troy).  Finally, the newsletter itself referred to the restaurant as "Maestros", as opposed to "Maestro's".  I assume "Maestro's" is the correct way because that is how the restaurant's web site and Facebook page refer to it.  These aren't Maestro's mistakes, and in fact I should point out that I think the food there is great.  As I understand it, they pay good money to an outside company to handle their communications.  That company, and I don't know what company it is, should improve their product because getting your client's name wrong and making those other mistakes was nothing less than sloppy and unprofessional. 
• Don't forget the Victorian Stroll  Streetwalk is this Thursday, from 6-10pm.  You can link more information here.   Have a great week!

Westchester House Bed and Breakfast featured as House of the Week in the Times Union

I have been following the ups and downs of the Saratoga Springs Beds and Breakfast inns, and I see here that the Times Union has featured the Westchester House B & B, at Five Points, as its house of the week. It's a beautiful home, built in 1885, although I'm just not sure if anyone will pay close to the $800,000 asking price. It was listed for $960,000 in 2009.  Man this is still a tough real estate market. 

Is Brad Pitt coming to Saratoga Springs???

Well, at the very least it seems that several sources indicate he will be filming his next film about a one-time Saratoga Springs resident, Solomon Northrup. Whether or not the Hollywood hearthrob ever makes it here is another story. 

Solomon Northrup was a free black man who lived in Saratoga Springs in the middle of the 19th century and was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the south.  After 12 years he escaped slavery and came back to Saratoga, and wrote a book entitled "Twelve years a slave".  It is apparently that book that is the basis for Pitt's new movie, that will reportedly finish filming in 2012. 

Tom Dimopoulos from the Post-Star has more here.

Saratoga thoughts November 22, 2011

OK here we go:

• Looking for Thanksgiving in Saratoga?  Click here to The Saratoga Life to find out what restaurants are offering Thanksgiving specials. 
• If there is a better ice cream than Stewart's Brownie Cookie Sundae ice cream, I don't know about it.
• I still don't understand why the YMCA closes the Saratoga branch at 6pm on Saturdays.  The Wilton branch is open until 9pm on Saturdays - so if it's a budgetary thing then close Wilton at 6 and keep the newer, bigger, flagship facility open until 9.  With that being said the Saratoga YMCA is nonetheless a local treasure and I see they just announced their "kickoff" fundraising event, which will occur on January 14, 2012.
• The Albany Business Review had a nice profile of restauranteur Angelo Mazzone, who runs several Capital Region restaurants and catering operations including Saratoga Prime and the Hall of Springs. 
• The Oklahoma track is closed and the harness track has just three more weeks left this year.  In other words winter is here.
• Winter isn't all bad - the local restaurants sure offer some deals.  Forno Bistro is offering a "Forno at Five" three course dinner for $16 up until 5:30pm everyday, and Chianti is having a similar offering also until 5:30pm each day, although that will set you back $19.
• I'm still wondering what's going to happen with the Borders location.
• Finally, this week is Thanksgiving week and you know what comes a week after that - The Victorian Streetwalk.  Check out the details on The Saratoga Life here.

 This may do it for the week, so have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Adelphi Hotel on the market

The Albany Business Review recently reported that the Adelphi Hotel on Broadway is for sale for $4.5 Million. That's sure a drop from the $10 million tag 5 years ago, or the $7.79 million price from three years ago. I get the feeling that the Adelphi is like several other old properties in that the owner always has been willing to look at an offer whether the place is presently listed or not. You can read the listing here.

Siro’s Trattoria adding tapas on Thursdays, football on Sundays

Siro’s Trattoria adding tapas on Thursdays, football on Sundays.

My father said "male child,you're going to make me consume alcohol if you continue operating that rather suped up luxury Ford product"

I know what you're saying.  "Huh?" 

Well, as it was more eloquently stated by a Mr. George Frayne about 40 years ago:  "My Pappy said son you're gonna drive me to drinkin' if you don't stop drivin' that Hot Rod Lincoln". 

The immortal words of George Frayne, aka "Commander Cody", in the absolutely great cover version of the 50s song "Hot Rod Lincoln" will be in rock and roll history forever, and those of you lucky enough to be at the Parting Glass this Saturday night will see The ol' Commander himself  - sans The Lost Planet Airmen, who apparently are truly lost and have been replaced by "The Commander Cody Band"  

The Commander and the blogger in 2010

So if you're not doing anything Saturday, then you should get your butt to The Parting Glass at 9pm to see what I promise will be a great show. ADVANCED,  DISCOUNT AND V.I.P. TICKETS AT ;
518.978.2823 or 860.324.4078 or millis-robbins.blogspot.com

I've seen the Commander a few times before, and he's fantastic and well worth the cover charge.  I've also seen a few of "His Lost Planet Airmen" perform as well, namely one of the world's best guitarists Bill Kirchen, as well as RPI professor John Tichy. 

The good Commander is a hometown guy, well, adopted hometown guy, and makes his home in nearby Wilton, just down the street from where the Fun Saratoga Field Agent used to live.  He's not only a musician, but also accomplished as a sculptor and painter.  Get there early to get a good seat, because I bet this show is packed.  I'll post a video below of "Hot Rod Lincoln" for your viewing pleasure.