Fun in Saratoga

63 Spring Street taking shape

Not a whole lotta bloggin' going on this week - busy, busy, busy (If Elvis was still alive, I would pitch that to him for a song).  But I was walking up Spring Street tonight and saw that 63 Spring Street, the new building going up next to the Bread Basket, is taking shape.  According to this article in the Saratogian, it will be a mixed-use building and the owners, Anthony and Gloria Swiatek, will be living upstairs.  Anthony Swiatek is a "Professional Numismatist", which according to Wikipedia  is someone who studies and collects currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, and related objects.  No word yet on whether Mr. Swiatek will open a numismatics center coin collectors shop downstairs, but stay tuned. I used the ol' cellphone to give you a snapshot of the progress (Oooh another Elvis song!!!).

 

The Trackside Grill is open!

I'll let the pictures tell most of the story.  The Trackside Bar and Grill is located uhhhh.... trackside, outside the flat track Clubhouse Entrance on Wright Street.  Check out the Facebook page here.

Chef shuffle: Mark Graham to Max London’s

Chef shuffle: Mark Graham to Max London’s.

Circus Café donating to charity, offering giveaways

Circus Café donating to charity, offering giveaways.

Check out the Carriage House Inn

What's the best value in Saratoga Springs hotels, at least outside of track season?  In my book it's the Carriage House Inn.  Margarita and I were looking for a hotel near our house because we have a number of relatives we need to house in the near future.  Of the better Saratoga hotels, the Carriage House Inn was by far the least expensive, and it gets stellar reviews from Tripadvisor.com.  The Holiday Inn and Hilton each wanted $199 for the night, and other city hotels were even higher, but we got a nice room at the Carriage House Inn for just $139.  Check out this well-done Youtube video below:

 

Another good lodging value in Saratoga Springs is the Adirondack Inn, over on West Avenue.  Although not exactly walking distance to downtown or the track, the rooms there are nice at a great price, and they include breakfast, at least during track season. 

Former Big Apple Restaurant does not sell at auction

The Business Review has the story here

Times Union Article on NYRA

Saratoga Thoughts June 13, 2012

Here's what's in one Saratogian's mind as he wonders how summer snuck up on him yet again.

• Geez what a shame I'll Have Another didn't run in the Belmont. On the positive side, at least the injury was something that's manageable and wasn't a tragedy.   I'll Have Another's running would have been great for NYRA too, although I guess they had a strong crowd and tremendous betting nonetheless.  Well congratulations to Union Rags and his Team.  Let's hope we see him at the Travers. 

• I wonder what the sales figures are at the new Price Chopper, and if it will spur similar Golub family ventures in other urban areas.  Hello Golubs, are you reading this?  Downtown Albany, near my office please.

• The Chestnut Tree Inn is back on the Market - this time for $649,000.  It has been on and off the market since 2009, when it was originally listed for $725,000.

• Meanwhile, the Batcheller Mansion price has been lowered yet again to $2.7 million, less than half its original $5.5 million asking price.  At some point, and I am afraid that will be this summer, it will be priced to sell.  Margarita and I really love that place and we're sad to see it for sale.
• Not far away from those two B&Bs, the Westchester House B&B, over at Five Points, is still for sale for $799,000.
• And still not far away from those three places, over on South Broadway, the Pizza House/Alexandra's Ice Cream was sold to Adirondack Trust for $410,000.  I assume that is a foreclosure or another less aggressive bank takeover of a mortgaged property.  The Fun Saratoga field agent, who has apparently been on strike because this is the first good tip he's given me since winter, alerted me to that one in the Saratogian.
• Boy that old Beverly's location sure looks...empty.
• Is that patio in the back of the West Side Stadium new?
• I sure wish the Wednesday Farmer's Market would go from 4-7pm, instead of 3-6.  Those of us coming from Albany have a tough time making it there by 6. 
• Man, Saratoga Mama sure exposed Ellsworth Commons for being a flop so far, especially on the commercial side of things.  The Saratogian credited her via Twitter with that post and did a story of their own on the slow going there.
• I had a nice pizza dinner with some friends out at Harvest and Hearth on Fish Creek two weeks ago.  The place was doing pretty good business on a Wednesday night.
• I'm looking forward to trying the newest Zechini Restaurant, Boca Bistro, but I'll give them a few weeks to work the kinks out. 

Around and About:

• Click here to learn about Longfellow's Summer Wine Dinner.
• And here to read Saratoga Coffee Trader's summer newsletter, which has some coupons.
• And to work off some of those calories from Longfellow's Summer Wine Dinner and the goodies from the other places, click here to learn about the Saratoga Regional YMCA's Summer Tennis programs.
• SPAC is pushing gift certificates for Father's Day.  I love SPAC, but not sure if I'm feelin' that one.
• If Dad's not into SPAC, maybe he'll be into Saratoga Olive Oil's Fathers Day specials.
• After Dad gets excited about the Phish show and the basil olive oil, maybe he'll want to go to Duo for their sushi class or Father's Day blunch. Orrrrrr not.  Don't blame the messenger.
• The Saratoga Springs Food Tour seems like a fun thing to do.  It is on Saturdays at 12:30 starting at the Farmers Market.  I am hoping to check it out one of these Saturdays.
• I've never been to The Wishing Well, but I've heard good things about it.  They have a number of specials for Father's Day and beyond.

OK that's it for now folks.  I've been enjoying reading Saratoga Mama and the You Idiot Blog, so keep an eye of them for breaking news and opinion. 

Father's Day at Maestro's

353 Broadway - Saratoga Springs, New York 12866 518.580.0312 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              518.580.0312      end_of_the_skype_highlighting Sunday June 17th  11:30am until 10pm It's always been Dad's job to BBQ so we are going  to give him the day off! In addition to our entire lunch and dinner menu, you can also choose our family-style Father's Day BBQ!  You get all this! Great Greens  Roasted corn off the cob  Five Bean Salad  Summer Potato Roasted Corn Salad  Heirloom tomatoes with fresh mozzarella  (all grilled over hard wood charcoal)  Kobe beef hog dogs  Fixins on the side  Onions, relish, mustard, meat sauce  Angus All American Sliders  Lettuce, onion, tomato, aged cheddar  BBQ Chicken with corn bread  Carolina style glazed boneless thighs & bone-in breasts BBQ Beef Short Rib  Espresso BBQ glazed 72 hour sous vide Angus beef short rib  Ripe Cool Watermelon  Fresh Cherry Cobbler  Minimum of 4 guests required to enjoy the menu  Adults $27  Children 12 & under $13    Make your reservations now!   Sincerely, John LaPosta  Maestro's "A Fine American Bistro" 518.580.0312 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              518.580.0312      end_of_the_skype_highlighting   Prix Fixe Specials! Yes, even on Fathers Day! Choose one item from each course off our main menu for just $30! Make your reservations now!

Siro's music calendar is out

Siro's web site is still mostly about NYC, but at least they posted the Saratoga location's music schedule for track season.  When the new ownership group took over in 2010, I wrote how Siro's was bringing in some has beens to play - but they were big names in pop music a few decades ago.  Artists like Franki Valli, Lisa Lisa, Gary U.S. Bonds, and Naked Eyes were at the Lincoln Avenue landmark in 2010, but this year it will be mostly local cover bands like the Refridgerators and Funk Evolution.  Quality musicians, no doubt, but a shift from their original gameplan from 2010.