Fun in Saratoga

Nasty spill at Buffalo Raceway

I have seen a number of bad thoroughbred racing spills over the years, but fortunately never saw one at a harness track, although I heard they do happen.  Check out this scary looking accident at Buffalo Raceway this past Friday night.  Two drivers were sent to the hospital, one with a broken vertebrae and pelvis, but he won't require surgery and he is expected back in 5 weeks.  The Buffalo Raceway web site posted information on the accident, but only told how the drivers were doing and there was no information about the horses involved, which is a bit disturbing. 

 

Two new restaurants opening up in Saratoga Springs on Friday

Just in time for track season, two new Spa City eateries will open up this Friday, July 12, 2013.  This comes on the heels of Jack Dillon's opening up on Wednesday on South Broadway.

Greenhouse Chopped Salad Co, a made-to-order casual salad restaurant located at 33 Railroad Avenue next to Price Chopper, will have a ribbon cutting Friday at 11:30am.  I have been a frequent customer of Greenhouse's original location in downtown Albany, and if you are looking at a nutritious and filling salad quickly made at a reasonable price, the Greenhouse is for you.  It has a lot of creative salads on the menu, or you can mix and match your choice of greens with a few additions from a list of dozens of other ingredients ranging from vegetables and fruits to several kinds of meats.  It's kind of a fun place to eat healthy, and it should be a nice addition to the Railroad Avenue neighborhood just before the new movie theaters arrive.

 

At almost the exact same time (noon), not too far away over in Congress Plaza, Istanblue Meditteranean Cuisine will open up in the former Friendly's location.  I inquired there recently about a few things, including whether they had a web site, and was disappointed when they told me they didn't have one.  When I inquired about a Facebook page, the person I was talking to shook his head and said the same thing. 

I am eager to try the Turkish and other Mediterranean food at Istanblue, but I have misgivings when a restaurant that has been in the works since at least April doesn't have at least a Facebook page.  It makes me wonder whether they have their act together.  But with track season a week away I guess they'll have a trial by fire and we'll know soon enough.  I should acknowledge I am happy to see the Friendly's location filled and I do hope this new place, which will offer cuisine generally not available in the Spa City, does well.  

 

Times Union reporting the Chocolate Mill's Saratoga location is closed

The Times Union's Table Hopping blog is reporting that the Chocolate Mill on Broadway is closed and the status of the Glens Falls location is uncertain.  Read the blog post here.

Wild Birds Unlimited having their 10th anniversary sale

Congratulations to the folks over at Wild Birds Unlimited for their 10th anniversary this August.  Click here to find out about baby birds and their 10th anniversary sale.

$15 off at DZ Restaurants Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays through July 16

DZ Restaurants, which owns Chianti, Forno Bistro, and Boca Bistro here in the Spa City, and Pasta Pane down in Clifton Park, has a $15 off special for any of their restaurants on a Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday now through July 16th (read: now through track season).  See you there!

Times Union gives Javier's a stellar review

My wife and I have dined at Javier's Nuevo Latino Cuisine twice now since it opened, and we were amazed with both the exceptional and professional service as well as the unique but not-off-the-wall food.  Cheryl Clark of the Times Union reviewed the NYC-inspired restaurant located at the former 28 Tables/Metro location on Maple Avenue in today's edition.   Suffice to say, Clark was absolutely thrilled with just about everything at Javier's and her review is best described as one long gush.  You can read the review here, and read the accompanying Table Hopping post (which has comments) here.

One of the best things about the new Javier's is that the outdoor bar portion of that location, which used to house Metro, will no longer be party central with a large crowd.   I wrote about that inconsistency between fine dining and party atmosphere in a post last August where I noted "....being attached to the bar Metro kind of takes away a bit - at least later in the night. 
I can deal with the loud music and the edgy crowd, but I was there on a Friday
night with friends and the toilets were closed due to overflowing.  Again the
food is good - as well as the "handcrafted cocktails" they seem to take great
pride in making -  and the kitchen is open til midnight - so I'd give it a
qualified recommendation if you are there early enough or perhaps after track
season.

 So it was good to see a new restaurant getting such a positive review in the Capital Region's largest daily.  I hope to get back there soon, and perhaps I'll write on here about my experience. 

NBC and the NBC Sports Network to show seven days of racing at Saratoga Race Course this summer

You may have already heard that NBC and the NBC Sports Network will broadcast seven days of racing at Saratoga Race Course for the 2013 meet.  This is just great news because NBC does a terrific job of showcasing horse racing, Saratoga Race Course, and Saratoga Springs.  Their broadcasts are polished and exciting, and show what a wonderful sport thoroughbred horse racing is.  You can read more about this on the NYRA site, and the NBC broadcast schedule for the Saratoga Race meet are listed below.

• July 27:  Grade 1, $600,000 Diana and Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy (5-6pm on NBC Sports Network - Channels 44 or 1873 on Capital Region Time Warner Cable)
• August 3: Grade 1, $750,000 Whitney Invitational Handicap (5-6pm on NBC Channels 13 or 1873 on Capital Region Time-Warner Cable)
• August 10: Grade 2, $500,000 Fourstardave Handicap (5-6pm on NBC Channels 13 or 1873 on Capital Region Time-Warner Cable)
• August 11: Grade 2, $200,000 Adirondack and Grade 2, $200,000 Saratoga Special (5-6pm on NBC Sports Network Channels 44 or 1873 on Capital Region Time Warner Cable)
• August 17: Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama and Grade 1, $600,000 Sword Dancer Invitational (5-6pm on NBC Sports Network - Channels 44 or 1873 on Capital Region Time Warner Cable)
• August 24: Grade 1, $500,000 Foxwoods King’s Bishop and Grade 1, $1 million Travers (5-6pm on NBC - Channels 13 or 1873 on Capital Region Time-Warner Cable)
• August 31:  Grade 2, $250,000 Bernard Baruch Handicap, G1 $500,000 Forego and Grade 1, $750,000 Woodward (4-6pm on NBC Sports Network Channels 44 or 1873 on Capital Region Time Warner Cable)

 

Silks and Satins 5K will be held on July 20th, 2013

The Silks & Satins 5K is one of the nicest runs in a city that has a lot of nice runs, and it will be held on Saturday July 20, 2013. 

It starts and ends at the Fasig-Tipton Center on East Avenue and goes through Union Avenue, Circular, Caroline Street etc.  It's a pleasant route with tree-lined streets and nice residents who will cheer you on and even offer up a sprinkler or two.  Click here for more information.

Hello again!

Hello folks.  I've taken a break from blogging and writing for the past two months.  As my regular readers know, since late summer 2012 I shifted my writing over to Saratoga Wire as a volunteer weekly columnist. I enjoyed that experience, and have respect for Jonathan Greene and Dale Willman and what they are trying to do with that online newspaper.   The problem was that I have a full-time job that involves travel and long hours and even at just once-a-week, I struggled to keep up.  I'm just not able to write on a deadline.

And that's what makes blogging so perfect for me.  I write what I want, when I want.   10 times a week, or once every two weeks.  I have always strived for some level of consistency on here, and for the most part have done a decent job not letting this blog go stale.  But it's nice to be the boss and be able to take 8 days off if need be. 

So I am hoping to write a little here and there, and continue sharing my thoughts as I have since 2006.  Thanks for reading.  Have a great Fourth of July.