Fun in Saratoga

CDTA Saratoga Trolley to start up this Sunday

The Saratoga Trolley, run seasonally by CDTA as Route #875, will start the 2014 season this Sunday May 25th and continue through Labor Day.  Two trolleys go in opposite directions from the Hall of Springs and make stops on Broadway, Lake Ave,  Circular Street, Union Avenue,  Nelson Avenue (with a stop at Wright Street near the Clubhouse entrance to the track) and the harness track and Casino.  Click here for CDTA's flyer showing times and the trolley route. 

Are Saratoga Race Course Admission Prices Going Up?

Well, that's a tough question, and conflicting reports from various newspapers don't help that inquiry. The end of this March 5th article in the New York Daily News, which focused on the deplorable conditions at Aqueduct, reports "NYRA officials did say Wednesday that there will be no admission price increase at Belmont and Saratoga this year....".  A Times Union article from the same day, however, reports that "Kay also confirmed that entrance and seating prices are planned to rise. Admission prices at Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course will be formally announced soon, based on a report supporting such increases from a consulting firm’s market research."

My guess is that reserved seating prices in Saratoga Race Course's grandstand and clubhouse will rise, but general admission prices for most days will stay the same.  If I am correct, I see a rise in seating prices as short-sighted because NYRA can't sell the seats it currently has.  Other than Travers Day and perhaps one or two other days featuring major stakes races, I often see hundreds of empty seats.  During the weekday it seems as if 90% of the grandstand and more than half of the clubhouse seats are empty.  

Perhaps general admission prices for the Travers will rise; NYRA could double the admission price for the Travers and I think it would be justified.  Of course I've been to the Kentucky Derby twice now and I spent a fortune for a crappy seat last year, so I am viewing Travers prices from that perspective. 

In any event I am assuming NYRA will announce seating prices very soon - they are missing out on a lot of money coming in.  In previous years you had to get your reserved seating requests in by December.  Now it appears you will have until April to get them in.  Keep an eye on the NYRA site's Saratoga ticket/seating page for updates.

 

Field Horne's 2014 Saratoga guide available

Field Horne initially wrote a Saratoga guidebook I believe in 2005, and he has updated a few times since, including his current 2014 edition.  Informative and enjoyable, it packs a lot of information in a compact book that is easily carried on the go.  It has everything from Saratoga history to a complete (and up-to-date) listing of the Spa City's attractions, hotels, restaurants, and other points of interest.  I got my book from PJ's/BarBQSA, so I am assuming it is available at various places in town.  You can also order it online.  Not a bad purchase for 9 bucks, which is actually $3 less than his 2009 edition was.

Funsaratoga.com blog update

I've had some loyal readers for several years now so I hate dropping off the planet like this.  Work, married life, and fatherhood are all going great - just exhausting.  Our daughter Antonella is growing by leaps and bounds and she wakes up smiling every day :) 

 

As my regular readers know, I haven't been blogging much lately.  I will see if I get the energy and time in the coming weeks; perhaps the end of winter will fire up my creative spirits and I'll have something I just have to write.  Family life of course comes first so for now I am taking a bit of a break from blogging. Take care everybody!

 

 

New York Times editorial asserts "Saratoga Doesn't Need a Casino"

Well I guess that heading says it all.  I don't know if I agree with that; I believe the question and answers are much more complicated than that.  Mostly, I don't know if a New York City newspaper, even one as respected as the New York Times, should have much sway on this question.  My position on this issue is about 60/40 in favor of a casino, and I agree there should be limitations on convention/exhibition space etc.  I generally avoid political issues on here, but now that I've said this muchI guess I'll have to expand more on my position.  It just won't be tonight - I'm just linking the New York Times editorial FYI. 

New York Times article on opposition to gambling in Saratoga

This article was in Monday's edition and can be linked here.

The article has an interesting map of Saratoga Springs highlighting all the key landmarks that have relevance in the gambling debate. 

And I learned a new word in the article:  busker - a person who entertains people for money in public places (as by singing or dancing), usually while asking for money.

Under the radar development on Washington Street

I was driving down Washington Street last week near Pope's Pizza and I saw this new office/residential development at the corner of Central Avenue.  A quick online search and I saw that it will be called Washington Commons and is being developed by Steve Ethier.  According to this Saratogian article, the photo below shows the first of what will be two mixed-use buildings hosting medical and other offices on the first floor, and residential units on the second floor.

You can also view this webcast of the Saratoga Springs Planning Board meeting from 2011 where the plan was discussed by the developers.  The relevant portion starts at 7:48 into the video.  Gotta love the internet.  OK, take care folks.

 

Ups and downs on South Broadway

I noticed that Papa Johns and The Ice Cream Man have new signs on and out in front of the building.  I reported just over a month ago that The Ice Cream Man may open in May, but I get the feeling that will come sooner. 

Staying on South Broadway, a bit further towards downtown, it appears that the Carriage House Inn is closed. The sign is down and it is all of the windows are shaded.  I don't know if this is just a seasonal thing (although its web site shows rates for the winter), but you may recall that I reported back in September that it was for sale.  Well it's a beautiful property so let's hope it's just a seasonal thing and it opens back up this spring. 

OK that's it for now.  Blogging becomes harder and harder these days - but fatherhood is going great and Margarita and I are blessed with our beautiful daughter!  Hope everyone had a great Christmas and New Year, and that you're staying safe and warm in this blustery weather. 

 

Northshire Bookstore December Newsletter

Some of this did not format correctly when I copied it on here, so to read a properly formatted page - click here.

Do you want to receive weekly event reminders for our new Saratoga Springs store; including author events, children's events, and store promos? Sign up here. Small Business Saturday  Saturday, November 30th Please join us this year for Small Business Saturday. The day we all think small! #SmallBizSat   In celebration of Small Business Saturday we'll be joining with Indie Bookstores across the country to celebrate Sherman Alexie's initiative, "Indies First". (read his letter here).  And in that spirit, one of our favorite local authors, Megan Mayhew Bergman, will be at our Manchester store as a bookseller! Megan will be walking around our store to meet, greet and personally help you pick out great books for you and your loved ones this holiday season!     For all your support we'd like to add, "Thanks for Shopping Indie!": Our booksellers have selected some of their favorite titles and if you purchase one you'll receive a $5.00 Northshire Gift Card. Look for the books with the Thanks for Shopping Indie bookmark. Every month the Northshire Bookstore puts a Spotlight on a local non-profit in various ways. Please join us as we honor the charitable, compassionate, and educational work of our neighbors throughout the region.     Give the Gift of Reading to Hundreds of Area Children. Please donate to our Book Angel Program! Help us to ensure that children who would benefit from the gift of new books receive them this Christmas! We will donate 1 book for every 5 our generous customers give, wrap and deliver them all just in time for Christmas. Look for the canisters at registers or for the tree on the Children's floor! Manchester Reading Groups this month at the Northshire, click here to see what we're reading, then join us! Northshire Classic Mystery Northshire Mystery and Thriller Northshire Women Read Northshire Cookbook Reading Group The Dark Side Reading Group Northshire Fountain of Youth Northshire Poetry Reading   Our Saratoga Reading Groups will launch early in 2014. Email us at [email protected] if you're interested in any of the following groups:    Northshire Cookbook Reading Group Truth and Tales Reading Group Northshire Poetry Reading Group The Armchair Explorer's Reading Group The End of the World Reading Group 'WeAreNotTooOldForThis' Reading Group Knit Wits Reading Group Reading Salinger Reading Group STAFF PICKS What we're reading and can't wait for you to read!  - Early word on Alice Hoffman's new novel (hint: pre-order now!) - Looking for a fun movie? - Holidays with (and for) the kids We have hundreds of great books in stock in our Manchester store and not enough room to display them all. Please ask a book seller if there is one you are looking for or browse the section for one you did not know you wanted!      For more information on any of the used and rare books in our store, send an email to [email protected] or search here. We have partnered with Kobo to offer the best in digital reading! The Kobo is a great gift to give to the digital reader, while supporting your local indie bookstore. We're honored to be the winner of the BPRNE's 2013 Independent Spirit Award .   The 2012 Vermont Governor's Awards for Environmental Excellence   Awarded to the Northshire Bookstore in partnership with Alan Benoit.  Click here to find out why we were awarded Winner of Best of New England Travel 2011 Best Bookstore Manchester, VT   Saratoga Springs, NY  Gift Giving Made Easy Consider purchasing a Northshire Bookstore Gift Card, and take the guess work out of shopping! Thank you for Supporting Independent Bookselling! VT Store Hours: Open Daily at 10 am  Sunday - Wednesday till 7 pm  Thursday - Saturday till 9 pm 4869 Main Street  Junction of Routes 7A & 11/30  Manchester Center, VT 05255 VT 800-437-3700  VT 802-362-2200 NY Store Hours: Open Daily at 10 am  Sunday - Monday till 9 pm  Tuesday - Saturday 10 pm 424 Broadway   Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 NY 855-339-5990  NY 518-682-4200 www.northshire.com Greetings, All of us here at the Northshire Bookstores wish you a very happy holiday season.   We have much to be grateful for this year with the birth of our Saratoga Springs store and the continued success of our Manchester store. We are looking forward to welcoming many friends on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and throughout the holiday season.  Please remember that how you spend your money has a big impact on the vitality of your community.  Keeping your shopping local and independent is the best way to reinvest in your community as your dollar will circulate many times and have lasting impact. This is an important time of year for us and most small businesses - we thank you for your support.   Please consider joining us in making sure area children receive at least one book as a gift.  Our Book Angel program identifies children who would not otherwise receive a book (with the help of local schools) and makes it easy for customers to buy books or donate money for us to choose books for these youngsters. We give out well over 500 titles in the Manchester area each year and are looking forward to expanding the program to Saratoga.  Even if you can't make it into the store, you can donate on-line.  Thank you for supporting this wonderful program.   Our event with Doris Kearns Goodwin on December 6 is sold out, but there are still some tickets available to see Ann Patchett on December 11th. Both events are being held in Saratoga. Don't miss this special opportunity to see and hear this world class author.  Northshire Bookstore has the best in books, as well as a huge array of unique gifts, AND in each of our stores an entire floor devoted to kids. We are truly a one-stop shopping destination. Happy Holidays to all! Chris Morrow and the entire Northshire Staff. Featured December Events  Saturday, December 7, 5 pm. Bless the Dogs: The Monks of New Skete . Join Brother Christopher and a canine companion  to discuss and demonstrate training techniques. A delightful celebration in words and pictures of the special relationship we have with our dogs.    This event is scheduled in Manchester. It is free and open to the public.  Wednesday, December 11, 7 pm, Ann Patchett presenting This is the Story of a Happy Marriage. An irresistible blend of literature and memoir, This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage is a unique examination of the heart, mind, and soul of one of our most revered and gifted writers.    This event is scheduled in Saratoga. Tickets on sale HERE.    Friday,December 20, 7 pm:  Esteemed art critic and biographer Deborah Solomon presents her her spirited and authoritative biography, American Mirror: The Life and Art of Norman Rockwell. Many of our friends and neighbors recall Mr. Rockwell vividly and, in some instances, even posed for him; don't miss this very special final event of 2013! This event is scheduled in Manchester. It is free and open to the public. New Books for Decmmber    A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Making of a Tradition, by Lee Mendelson, Hardcover, $19.99 No holiday season would be complete without watching Charlie Brown, Linus, Lucy, Snoopy, and the rest of the Peanuts gang give a forgotten tree a little love, recite the Christmas story, and sing "Silent Night." A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Making of a Tradition is a delightful and fitting salute to the holiday special that never fails to deepen your love of Christmas, touch your heart, and give you hope. Read more...   Big New Yorker Book of Cats, by Anthony Lane, Hardcover, $40.00  Look what The New Yorker dragged in! It's the purr-fect gathering of talent celebrating our feline companions. This bountiful collection, beautifully illustrated in full color, features articles, fiction, humor, poems, cartoons, cover art, drafts, and drawings from the magazine's archives. Read more...       Puddin', by Clio Goodman, Hardcover, $25.00 The classic American treat finally gets its due: foolproof pudding recipes, from irresistible standards to inventive modern twists, by the chef and owner of New York City's popular pudding destination. Read more...       Jeeves and the Wedding Bells,by Sebastian Faulks, Hardcover, $25.99 This clever tribute to brings a smile to those of us who have read and re-read the many Wodehouse novels and have always wished there were more. The voice and the tone are just right and at times the reader forgets it is not the original. If anything, Faulks humanizes Bertie Wooster and smartens him up while propelling this character to a final act of closure. Delightful! ~ Reviewed by Karen Frank Read more...       Through the Evil Days, by Julia Spencer-Fleming, Hardcover, $25.99 As the days and hours tick by, Russ and Clare fight personal and professional battles they've never encountered.  In the course of this one tumultuous week the lives of the Millers-Kill residents readers have come to love and cherish change forever.  Readers have waited years for Through The Evil Days and Julia Spencer-Fleming delivers with the exquisite skill and craftsmanship that have made her such a success. Read more...       The Smithsonian's History of American in 101 Objects, by Richard Kurin, Hardcover, $50.00 The Smithsonian Institution is America's largest, most important, and most beloved repository for the objects that define our common heritage. Now Under Secretary for Art, History, and Culture Richard Kurin, aided by a team of top Smithsonian curators and scholars, has assembled a literary exhibition of 101 objects from across the Smithsonian's museums that together offer a marvelous new perspective on the history of the United States. Read more...     Children's Books The Snow Queen: A Pop-up Adaptation of a Classic Fairytale, by Yevgeniya Yeretskaya,  Hardcover, $24.95 This new holiday book features amazing paper engineering and pop-ups from the same paper engineer that developed the best-selling Snowflakes title. This unique pop-up interpretation of a beloved Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale is destined to be another classic to be enjoyed for years by the entire family.  Read more...     Cinder: A Chicken Cinderella, by Jan Brett, Hardcover, $17.99 Jan Brett sets her Cinderella story in a snowy Russian winter where one magical night, Cinders, the most picked upon hen in the flock, becomes the most loved by Prince Cockerel when she arrives at his ball looking so beautiful that even her bossy sisters don't recognize her.  Readers will find these dressed up chickens comical as they pour over the extravagant setting, including a "WOW"-inducing double gatefold of chicken couples whirling around the ballroom. A feast for the eyes sure to become a perennial favorite. Read more...   The Kingdom of Little Wounds by Susann Cokel, Hardcover, $22.99  A young seamstress and a royal nursemaid find themselves at the center of an epic power struggle in this stunning young-adult debut. On the eve of Princess Sophia's wedding, the Scandinavian city of Skyggehavn prepares to fete the occasion with a sumptuous display of riches: brocade and satin and jewels, feasts of sugar fruit and sweet spiced wine. Yet beneath the veneer of celebration, a shiver of darkness creeps through the palace halls. Read more...  Independently Published at Northshire   Hot off the Presses! This book has just been published by ShiresPress. Come into the store or  click here for a list of our recently published books.   A Shepard's Story by David Hall Paperback, $12.95 The verses of this book were written in 1982 and first read at a Christmas Eve service at the church David was then pastoring in upstate New York.   This book is dedicated to the memory of his mother, Helen Hall, who first read to him the Biblical account of Christ's birth. Many thanks to David's four beautiful nieces, Josie, Debora, Emma, and Amy Hall for their illustrations. David Hall lives in upstate New York and is now in his tenth year teaching the Bible at Grace Christian School in Bennington, Vermont. Read more...   Interested in publishing with us? Visit our   Publishing page for more information.

Saratoga Snippets

These "snippets" posts are hard for me to write b/c they often take 2+ hours to create and edit.  With a three-month old at home I'm lucky I have time to shower.  Well I'll try writing this over a few days and see if I can fit it in here and there.

• Margarita and I were out Greenwich way a while back and we stopped in to the Ice Cream Man for a sandwich.  The staff there tells me to look for the new Saratoga South Broadway location to open in May or June of next year. 

 

• While heading out Rt 29, we noticed that the former Mango 29 Deli, near Schuylerville, is now "Joe's Deli".
• CORRECTED:  I haven't had a chance to go into the new TC Paris Sweet Mimi's Bakery in the former Beverly's location.  That place sat empty for almost two years, so it's good to see it filled.  TC Paris is on Henry Street where Inferno Pizza used to be - I would like to check that out to.  Thank you Alexandra for alerting me to my error.
• Speaking of closed Saratoga eateries, I miss the Saratoga Diner and Restaurant.  All those empty restaurants on South Broadway and nobody wants to open a good diner.
• Purdy's has been the big dog of Saratoga liquor stores, but now that they expanded into the neighboring former Hallmark store, it's even a bigger dog.  Look out little dogs.
• Friday, November 29th is the last day to receive your early registrant discount and save $5 for this year's First Night Saratoga 5k Run. So don't wait another day - register today at www.saratoga-arts.org/firstnight/5krun to be a part of a great Saratoga tradition!
• If you thought this year's July 19th track opening was early, you were right.  But if they open on their usual opening Friday, the 2014 opening date will be an even earlier July 18th.  Let's hope NYRA has since squashed any dumb ideas to open earlier. 
• I sure miss Andrew McGuire, the former Saratogian Sports reporter.  Our hometown daily's thoroughbred horse racing coverage has plummeted since he left.  AP Wire stories just don't do it for me.
• Continuing on that subject, I wrote a long posting about how the Saratogian's Breeder's Cup coverage showed how some of their weekend sports deadlines were around 7pm.  Trouble is, I was never able to finish it and it quickly became old news.  Nonetheless I put a lot of work into it and again it pinpointed just how early the Saratogian's weekend publishing deadlines are, so I'll link it on a back page here if you care to read it in it's incomplete form.
• Hate to pile on our hometown daily, but they got scooped on their own story about paywalls going up on their web site.  Both Saratoga Wire and All Over Albany were days ahead of the Saratogian's announcement of it.  There never seems to be a sense of pride, ownership, or timeliness of news items at the Saratogian - items they should own and/or be the best at. You'd think they'd at least want to be first to report important news items about their own publication.
• I see Gaffney's new addition came out looking nice.  I don't get downtown as often as I used to - and I get to downtown bars even less these days - so some of these snippets are reporting months' old news.  Gaffneys will be holding a South American wine pairing on December 7th.  Click here for more info.

• Not too far away from Gaffneys, I see there is a new cigar shop on Putnam Street on the other side of Izumi Restaurant.  Check out Adirondack cigar shoppe's web site for info.
• Sometime when I wasn't looking, 13 Caroline became the Caroline Street Pub.  Heck for all I know that's been the case for years.
• Also when I wasn't looking, the Crown Grill became "The Crown Grill at the Circus Cafe".  Back in April, when the Crown Grill first opened, owner Colin McLean told the Saratogian "The Crown Grill will be upscale-casual and will offer guests a separate and distinct dining experience from Circus Café,".  I guess that "separate and distinct" part is out the window.
• Also when I wasn't looking, someone plowed down the old house and motel cottages on Ballston Ave near those white condos abutting the Saratoga Spa Park.  I wonder what the plans for that now open lot are.

• What's going on with that building immediately adjacent to the Best Western on South Broadway?  It's seems like it's been half built - or half rehabbed - for 3 years now.  It looks terrible.  Did somebody run out of money?

• I don't want to put this last because I'd hate to end on a sad note.  I just wanted to say I knew Kyle York a little and I thought he was a very interesting, nice, and intelligent guy. I was very sad to hear about his untimely death. RIP Kyle. 
• Finally, did you catch this opinion piece in the Times Union this past weekend about Las Vegas style casino gambling in Saratoga Springs?  Interesting.  I have mixed feelings on the issue, but I think it's important to point out that someone voting "NO" for a constitutional amendment for Vegas-style casinos in the state, might not necessarily vote "NO" to Vegas-style casinos in their municipality once the electorate of the state has already approved the amendment.  In other words, some could have been against the amendment, but after it passed they might think that since it's going somewhere, it should go to Saratoga.   Just a thought.

Hey everybody have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!  I am a blessed person so I have a lot to be thankful for.