On page 159 of saratoga living‘s new Best Of Everything Issue, there’s a crossword puzzle, entitled “Spelling Bee.” Below is the answer key—or for some of you, the world’s greatest cheat sheet.
The first time I visited Saratoga was in 2015 when I landed a scholarship to the Summer Writers Institute at Skidmore College. The very first thing I did in town? What any respectable writer would: I visited the public gardens at Saratoga’s famed artists’ retreat, Yaddo. I’ll never forget standing next to one of the estate’s fountains, staring at the Victorian-inspired Trask Mansion and thinking: “That’s like something out of Harry Potter…or maybe even Scooby-Doo.”
The mansion, which sits at the center of Yaddo’s 400-acre wooded estate, is looking a lot different these days than when I first saw it. It’s been given a $10 million face-lift, reopening just this past June, along with some other nips and tucks to Yaddo’s grounds. For a place that’s offered residencies to authors, composers, artists and many other creatives since 1926—76 of whom have won a Pulitzer Prize; 68, a National Book Award; and 1, a Nobel Prize for Literature—the money spent was certainly worthwhile. One thing that hasn’t changed since my visit? Its president is still writer and former Elle magazine Editor in Chief Elaina Richardson, who’s been helming the colony for nearly two decades. I sat down with the charismatic Richardson to talk everything Yaddo. It was a good day.
You shocked the publishing world when you stepped down as editor in chief of Elle in 2000 to become Yaddo’s president. What was so alluring about the position?
I’d started to feel what I think many journalists feel who begin as writers— [that I was] being promoted and, in a way, succeeding in journalism, but getting farther and farther away from the things I cared about. The job at Elle was exciting and it was a certain kind of glamour, but I realized that I didn’t hands-on edit stories anymore. I didn’t assign stories; I didn’t write very much myself. One of the things that appealed to me about the Yaddo position was that I thought I’d get closer to the original moment of the work again. I’d be back with people when they’re in the idea stage, the failing stage, the I-have-no-idea-what-I’m-doing stage, which is the stage I actually like a lot. [Laughs]
Tell me some of the most memorable artists you’ve had a chance to host during your tenure at Yaddo.
Gosh, so many. We had Jayne Anne Phillips work on Lark & Termite, Jennifer Egan on Manhattan Beach and all kinds of filmmakers—everybody from Dee Rees (Mudbound) to Noah Baumbach (The Squid And The Whale). Also, big authors such as Jonathan Franzen and Jeffrey Eugenides.
Who do you think are the most important artists to have ever stayed at Yaddo?
I think it’d depend on your taste and your lens. You could probably take a million different approaches. If I were writing a book about Yaddo, I’d focus on just the summer of ’68, when there was a lot of cultural tension and chaos. You had artist Philip Guston and novelist Philip Roth in residence then, and they were working together on a project, basically cartooning the Vietnam War. It was never published, but Guston did the drawings and Roth did the text. So you could take that approach. It’s hard to imagine a more interesting conversation. I also think of Langston Hughes going into Saratoga to have a beer. I wonder what that was like, getting to sit on a barstool next to Hughes.
A group shot of residents at Yaddo: (front row, left to right): Michael Torke, Joe Caldwell, Richard Danielpour; (second row): Anthony Gatto, Ushio Torkai, Jacki Lyden, Danny Mitarontondo. Magdalena Edwards; (third row): Charlotte Hallberg, Kora Radella, Glen Holland, Julia Bland; (fourth row): Elizabeth Kelly, Salvatore Scibona, John McManus, Lizzie Stark, Andrew Gorin back row: Susan Brynteson, Michael Snediker Elaina Richardson, Andrew Ewell, Artis Henderson; (left stairs, bottom to top): Andreq Ginzel, Michelle Herman, Stephen O’Connor, Brian Rogers, Sadea Shiruzi; (right stairs, bottom to top): Stephen Burke, Camille Guthrie, Jay Shinn, Menza Qato.
Historically, Yaddo’s been a pretty mysterious place—especially to Saratogians. Has that been intentional?
It’s conscious in the sense that Yaddo and the whole idea of “retreat” led to the development of some core habits and roles. So, for example, we have quiet hours between 9am and 4pm and after 10pm, which means nobody can come visit your studio. No fellow artists will knock upon your door, and the staff won’t do anything either within quiet hours. We have to protect the idea of “retreat” and peace and quiet and uninterrupted thought time.
But over the decades, what’s also become apparent is that, of course, there’s curiosity. People want to know what happens in these buildings. So we’ve realized the obvious truth that the better a neighbor we are and the more welcoming the public areas are, the more understood “retreat” is, and that you help both by paying equal attention to them. The gardens get more than 50,000 visitors a year. That’s the next stage for this big campaign we’ve been in: to do work on the access roads, the parking area and the gardens themselves. So we’re trying to keep in balance the necessity of “retreat” and that of public access, while also demystifying, in a sense, what happens here at Yaddo.
What’s motivated that decision to start opening up Yaddo to the community more?
To have invested $10 million in the facility, it felt important to me that we were doing that not just for the 300 artists a year who are residents here, but also for the wider community as well, and especially Saratoga Springs and the Capital Region, which were very generous during the renovation campaign. We realized that because we’ve restored the mansion, we have this incredible resource where we can do more year-round events and robust programming, such as concerts in the music room or a movie night on the lawn. And when we fix the access road and public area, it opens up all of these really exciting ideas about how these public areas can be used, perhaps even for mini-festivals.
Also, when I first took the job, I remember feeling strongly that Yaddo was too well-kept a secret. It has a national reputation and a lot of status within a small world, but it really felt to me, especially as times became more charged politically and culturally, that Yaddo had to fill a bigger role in the cultural landscape. We have the history of having been around for 100 years, and we have the power of attracting the world’s greatest artists.
You’re closing in on two decades at Yaddo. Would you say that these renovations have been your biggest accomplishment so far?
Oh gosh, yes. I think, undoubtedly, this moment. We have five new live-work studios—the first new livable spaces ever built on Yaddo’s grounds—as well as a completely restored mansion. Before, the mansion was magnificent but under threat of falling into disrepair. So what makes me feel really proud is this feeling of having set Yaddo up both in terms of outreach and who comes here, as well as the stability of the infrastructure for at least the next 100 years. So we did it!
All these years after leaving Elle, did you ever get back to that original work?
I’m writing again, yes—nonfiction in my case. I went back to doing a lot of reviewing, but I’m working on a big mess of a project, which is about resilience. It’s about why we keep fighting when we’ve lost—a kind of investigation of lost causes.
And when do you think that’ll publish?
[Laughs] I can tell you it’s five years late. Does that help?
Yaddo’s All-Stars
Here are five of the biggest names to spend time at Saratoga’s famed artists’ colony.
It’s fair to say that many artists dream of being able to do a Yaddo residency. Housing everybody from Pulitzer Prize winners to Nobel laureates, Saratoga’s resident artists’ colony is one of the—if not the—most prestigious in the country. But who are the biggest of the big deals to have ever spent time there? saratoga living reveals our top five on this fascinating list.
Aaron Copland One of America’s greatest composers, Copland garnered a Pulitzer Prize in 1945 for his masterwork Appalachian Spring. Fifteen years beforehand, he was working on one of his groundbreaking early works, Piano Variations, during a residency at Yaddo. During that visit, and on a subsequent one in 1932, Copland organized Yaddo’s Festival Of Contemporary American Music, a series which ran into the 1950s, too.
Langston Hughes The quintessential poetic voice of the Jazz Age, Hughes broke down social and literary barriers with his lyrical poetry that embodied the African-American experience. During his stay at Yaddo in 1942, Hughes took part in some early civil disobedience in Saratoga, when he visited the New Worden, a popular bar and restaurant which, at the time, was still segregated.
Composer Aaron Copland visited Yaddo twice, once in 1930, the other, in 1932. (Rheba Kraft/Library of Congress)
Leonard Bernstein The first time Bernstein applied to Yaddo, he didn’t make the cut (and he even included Copland as a reference). But Bernstein got the call in 1952. While there, he worked on Trouble In Tahiti, the one-act opera that laid the groundwork for his next two much, much bigger musical scores, Candide (1956) and West Side Story (1957).
Sylvia Plath Revered as one of America’s most brilliant confessional poets and writers, Plath stayed at Yaddo with her husband, poet Ted Hughes, in 1959. On Yaddo’s grounds, the Boston-born Plath participated in an author’s reading and finished poems for The Colossus, the only collection of poetry that she ever published in her lifetime.
Saul Bellow The only Yaddo resident to have been awarded a Nobel Prize, Bellow was a regular colonist throughout the 1950s (along with his good friend, American novelist John Cheever). During a stay in 1959, Bellow worked on portions of Henderson The Rain King, one of the Canadian-American writer’s most enduring works.
I grew up going to apple orchards. It’s just what you do in the fall, right? So I was really caught off guard when, while driving from Saratoga Springs up to Burlington, VT, a co-worker, who’d recently moved to the area (and whose anonymity I will preserve), asked me if there were “a lot of apple farms up here.”
Growing up in Upstate New York, you just know that apples grow in orchards, pumpkins in patches and corn in fields. Apple farms aren’t a thing. Here, farms are all about the bigger picture: They’re where a variety of crops are grown; horses, cows and pigs are raised; and you can find an assortment of fall classics, including apples, cider, apple cider doughnuts, pumpkins and pumpkin pies—and a slew of traditional fall experiences, such as corn mazes, hayrides and petting zoos.
So button up your flannel shirts, Capital Region: We’re going to the farm.
In the back of the Saratoga Apple farm store, there’s a tasting room with six New York beers and six New York ciders on tap. (Katie Dobies)
Apples come first at Saratoga Apple, (well, second, if you’re talking about the name of the business), which is located just 20 minutes outside of Downtown Saratoga in Schuylerville. The orchard and farm stand—which have been family owned and operated for 5 generations—have nearly 30 apple varieties available for picking over the course of the fall, in addition to apple-centric baked goods (see: cider doughnuts), other fruits and vegetables, and Halloween-ready pumpkins, all available in its store. And then there’s Saratoga Apple’s cider. In the back of the farm store is a tasting room, which features 12 taps—6 New York hard ciders along with 6 New York beers. There’s indoor and outdoor seating, and you can get a flight of four beers or ciders if you can’t decide on just one. Plus, Saratoga Apple has two types of its own hard cider for sale in 750ml bottles—a slightly sparkling, semi-sweet version, and an old-school, no-added-sweetness one. Decisions, decisions…
At the ripe age (see what I did there?) of 103, Indian Ladder Farms is a picker’s paradise. With an apple orchard, market and gift shop—as well as a cidery and brewery (with great food and small plates), baby animal barn and nature trail—the Altamont farm is a great place to bring the kids, a date or just go stag.
I grew up in Charlton, so Ellms was my neighborhood family farm. What this fall staple lacks in apples, it makes up for in, well, everything else. Think pumpkins, farm animals, cider, hayrides, a killer corn maze and bushels of kids’ activities. Plus, when the temperatures fall, you can return there to grab your Christmas tree!
As with Saratoga Apple, just one look at the name of “Bowman Orchards” tells you exactly what you need to know (unless you’re my colleague): Apples are in high supply, but so are berries, pumpkins and peaches. There’s also a kids’ play area with a place to feed and pet animals on the Rexford farm.
Your Pumpkin Spice Hookup
Coffee, only better. What would fall be without a little pumpkin spice? It’d be a crime, that’s what—and thankfully, the coffee-slingers of Saratoga Springs have jumped on the pumpkin spice bandwagon. From the classic PSL (Pumpkin Spice Latte) to other gourd-geous creations, here’s where to get your pumpkin spice fix in the Spa City this autumn.
PLUS…The Adelphi Hotel has its own special Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini on its fall menu. Make your own with the recipe below.
Ingredients
2 oz. Death Wish “The Cauldron” coffee-flavored vodka
1/2 oz. St. Elizabeth Allspice Dram
1 1/2 oz. Pumpkin syrup (1 can pumpkin purée, 1 can condensed milk and 1 tbsp. pumpkin pie spice, blended with water until the mixture reaches a syrup-like consistency)
1/4 oz. Demerara Syrup
1 oz. Heavy cream
1 oz. Kru Coffee cold brew concentrate
Instructions
Combine ingredients and top with vanilla whipped cream, nutmeg, cinnamon and clove.
I’ve been obsessed with fashion shows and the industry for as long as I can remember. When I was younger, I’d walk to my local corner store and buy the latest copy of Vogue, saying it was for my mother, when in reality, it was for me—and it would become my bible for the following month. When I was eventually granted access to the Internet, I browsed hundreds of collections on designer websites, picturing myself in all the clothes I could only wish to own myself.
New York Fashion Week (NYFW) was, and still is, one of my favorite events of the year—Christmas included. While the shows of Paris, London and Milan typically consist of more traditional designs, NYFW attempts to break boundaries, experiment and, above all, make a spectacle of its fashion-forward shows. And while the garments that make their way to these exclusive runways may not be pieces we could ever see hanging in our own closets, they undoubtedly influence our personal style curation, whether or not we’d like to admit it.
So in case you missed any coverage from this year’s NYFW, which took place September 6-14, here are five takeaways from the nine days of fashion glory.
The ’70s Are Back!
Yes, you read that right. This was most clearly seen in Marc Jacobs’ show, which took place at the Park Avenue Armory. It started, unconventionally, with all of the models stepping out at once: In other words, Jacobs began the show with the finale. When scanning the floor, ’60s/’70s flower power dominated. Bootleg and flare pants covered the runway with pops of yellow and blue, as well as colorful leather Chelsea boots. What made the collection so powerful was its youthful charm. Fashion isn’t supposed to be serious, and Jacobs reminded us all of that. Mix your patterns and textures. Pair your silk pants with a T-shirt—experiment!
Jumpsuits And Blazers For The Win!
Tom Ford’s electric collection combined the past with the future, pairing flowing pants with metallic tops. Silver, blue and cream jumpsuits decorated the runway, and sleek blazers decorated the jumpsuits. The takeaway? Blazers are everything. They can be used to dress up even the most casual of outfits. Play with color, and even if you feel dressed down, you’re actually the most powerful person in the room.
Be Geometric!
Skirts or dresses that just fall can be so boring. Look around the room, and suddenly you’re a small fish in a big pond. The solution? Find skirts and dresses that keep your figure while, at the same time, play with gravity and traditionalism. (The Spring/Summer 2020 Oscar De La Renta collection displayed this, excellently.) Find ruched skirts or ones that have a bow, and look for asymmetry. This will not only accentuate your figure, but also show a flash of real personality.
Rock Those Fishnets!
While tights and fishnets can look super corny, Stine Goya’s use of them was anything but. Each pair of tights in the collection was unique, from the texture and pattern to the overall design. If your outfit’s plain, like, say, a black dress, you could spice it up with a cute pair of tights. Now, I’m not saying be loud with this: The more subtle you are in your choice, the more confident you’ll be. (Not all of us are strutting around in the Garment District.)
Stop Taking Fashion And Your Style So Seriously!
All of the collections exhibited at NYFW were playful and experimental. “Business dress” as we know it is changing with every style season, so start testing those boundaries. I mean, who even put them there in the first place?
Matcha (tea) might be having a moment, but it’s another green plant-based product that’s currently taking the health and wellness world by storm. Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of more than 100 cannabinoids present in a marijuana plant and is being used around the world to treat conditions such as pain, insomnia and anxiety. While some people may be wary of CBD products because of the substance’s association with Mary Jane, CBD actually won’t get you high. Regardless, this year, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began regulating the use of the term CBD on health products—including lattes, serums and supplements. In the face of these pesky new rules, many CBD companies have opted to use the term “hemp,” the plant from which CBD is extracted, on their CBD products.
So the CBD craze has now become the hemp craze. And given that it’s a multimillion-, and soon to be multibillion-dollar industry, it’s no surprise that our special corner of the globe has taken notice; this past summer, in the span of just two months, four CBD- (or shall we say hemp-) focused stores popped up in the Capital Region. One of the oldest companies in the area, which helped fuel our local boom, is the Johnsonville, NY-based Gnome Serum, whose products can be found in stores from Saratoga Springs to Palo Alto, CA. “We saw the craze coming, so we planned for it well in advance when we started the company two-and-a-half years ago,” says Greg Kerber, Gnome Serum’s CEO.
Kerber is no stranger to the confusion that’s come with the new FDA regulations, saying that Gnome Serum has opted for “a more informational packaging strategy this year.” As a wellness and holistic company, Gnome Serum also doesn’t mind shifting the focus away from just CBD to the hemp plant as a whole. “We see the value in all the plant has to offer and deliver that to the market,” Kerber says.
It’s next to impossible to know precisely what the FDA’s next move will be, but Kerber’s hopeful that CBD will be more than just a passing fad in New York State. “The state government has been supportive of the hemp industry, and we’re optimistic of the future hemp crops that will be available,” he says.
Here’s to the CBD/hemp industry’s demand growing higher and higher—even if its users won’t be.
September 23-October 22
You begin the autumn season attracting plenty of attention. However, you find yourself wanting quiet time to enjoy the colorful Upstate New York scenery while picking apples, drinking cider and cozying up to an evening fire. Time spent with siblings can be enjoyable, with discussions centering around family heritage. This is a ripe time to think of new ways to earn more money and increase your investments. It’s also a great time to take a course in a new subject that has piqued your interest. Guard your health as the weather turns cooler, because some hard-to-diagnose symptoms may arise. Unusual circumstances may occur with the legal system, taxes, loans, inheritances, death and rebirth. Outcomes should be good if you stay focused.
Scorpio
October 23-November 21
This is a beneficial time for you, Scorpio. Employment, income and finances are highlighted. You may receive a sudden windfall. Your love life seems a little mysterious at the moment, but that may be short-lived. Enjoy a ghost tour around town or at the historic Canfield Casino.
Sagittarius
November 22-December 21
You have the Midas touch. Your mind is expansive and can produce multimillion-dollar ideas with solid plans to back them up. Home life is a bit of a mystery; something is going on behind the scenes. Pay attention. Get out and enjoy a fun, active social life.
Capricorn
December 22-January 19
No one’s as driven as you are right now. You can outpace anyone with your stamina and determination. Allow your intellectual and creative friends to help with your goals. They will provide inspiration for your practical ideas.
Aquarius
January 20-February 18
Have you always wanted to open your own retreat or spa in the Spa City? Your friends are multiplying rapidly, and they might be able to provide opportunities to boost your career. But beware: Goblins are bringing out subconscious fears. Don’t keep sweeping them under the carpet.
Pisces
February 19-March 20
Your friends are very accomplished and powerful. Take their lead and push for that career advancement. You have luck riding on your side. You can reason and discuss issues with the best of them. Have confidence, and life will be fair in all departments.
Aries
March 21-April 19
Avoid gambling with finances or investments at this time. Keep the grind going steadily, and you’ll be rewarded. Enjoy the crisp air by getting under the covers to read a book. Spend time with your loved one. Quarrels may arise, but making up will be fun.
Taurus
April 20-May 20
For the earthy and steady bull, things have surely been a bit unusual and unsettled. Let loose. Enjoy some romance! It could surprise you and lead to something special. Invest in this intimacy…and some real estate, too, while you’re at it.
Gemini
May 21-June 20
All signs point to romance. Someone wants to bring fun and creative inspiration into your life. They say office romances aren’t a good idea, but go for it anyway. Why should you miss this opportunity to find a soulmate?
Cancer
June 21-July 22
There’ll be a little bit of upheaval at home during this period. It might be a good idea to take your mate out on the town to one of the many fun spots in Saratoga Springs. It could redirect the fire between you and put it back where it belongs.
Leo
July 23-August 22
You’ve been building your career potential for a long time now. An unusual opportunity could present itself through a possible partnership. Your creative juices are flowing, so share your ideas with a partner you can trust. Visit with your parents and siblings for grounding.
Virgo
August 23-September 22
Take care of finances and investments; this area will be active for you. It’s a good time to consider remodeling or expanding your home. You’re drawn to a partner who’s intuitive, spiritual and gifted. This complements you in many ways.
The moment Dorinda Medley and I locked eyes—as we were being introduced some seven years ago at a fancy soirée in lower Manhattan by our mutual best friend, Greg Calejo (more about him in a minute)—I felt an electric charge enter my body as I recognized a fellow mischievous, no-nonsense, straight-shooter: This gorgeous woman in front of me was my kind of people, and I wanted more.
Greg, my closest friend since I was 14, who happens to be a big mucky-muck, fancy brands publicist, BFF with countless celebrities and possessor of a BS meter almost as finely-honed as mine, was blunt: “You two—oh boy!—should definitely know each other!” Dorinda looked at me for the first time with that now familiar glint in her eye and wry smile and said, “Let’s do this, Richard!” And have we ever.
For the uninitiated, Dorinda Medley is one of the biggest stars in the fantastical galaxy known as unscripted (reality) television. She’s arguably the best-known current cast member of her massively popular show, The Real Housewives Of New York City (RHONY), on Bravo, reality TV’s Mecca. The network, home to some of the most-watched and buzzed-about reality shows in broadcasting history, including Project Runway, Queer Eye, Top Chef, Vanderpump Rules, Below Deck, Southern Charm and, of course, the defining guilty pleasure shows of our generation (alongside the Kardashians), The Real Housewives franchise. In that dysfunctional/I-can’t-take-my-eyes-off-of-it world of grown-ass women behaving, mostly, abominably, Dorinda is breathing rarefied air. She and a select handful of other ‘Housewives’—NeNe Leakes, Teresa Giudice, Lisa Vanderpump and, the Haley’s Comet known as Bethenny Frankel—have managed to separate themselves from the pack. Not only are they all undeniably alphas—flip any tables lately, Teresa?—but these women also don’t suffer fools, not for a moment. Bombastic conflict with heartfelt resolution is what I love about reality television and, as it happens, Dorinda, this funny, passionate, emotional girls’ girl, has that in spades. But who exactly is this wildly popular Bravolebrity and why, pray tell, is she gracing the cover of saratoga living? I’m so glad you asked.
“I feel like I’ve seen it all and done it all,” says Dorinda Medley. “I’ve really gotten to the point where I’m very accepting of myself.” (Dori Fitzpatrick)
Dorinda Cinkala had a self-described very happy childhood growing up in the Berkshires of her native Massachusetts. After graduating from Franklin & Marshall College, she started working for Liz Claiborne in Manhattan, following through on an early interest in fashion. While in New York City, she married a Scot, Ralph Lynch, and relocated to London where she welcomed a daughter, Hannah, and launched a successful fashion business, DCL Cashmere (said to be a favorite of Dorinda’s exercise buddy, Princess Diana). After a decade abroad and a divorce, Dorinda returned to Gotham to begin life anew as a single mother. In 2005, Dorinda’s life would once again be rocked when she married financier Dr. Richard Medley, a former Washington, DC powerbroker and speechwriter for vice-presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro. Only a few years later, in 2011, Dorinda’s soulmate passed away nearly devastating her. Eventually, she met her current love, John Mahdessian, owner of Manhattan’s fabled couture restoration operation, Madame Paulette.
Today, Dorinda splits her time between her Manhattan apartment in the sky in tony Sutton Place and her beloved “Blue Stone Manor” in Great Barrington in the Berkshires. Blue Stone Manor is so frequently mentioned and inhabited on the show, it may be the best-known manse (along with Lisa Vanderpump’s “Villa Rosa”) in the Bravo zeitgeist. To know Dorinda is to understand how generous she is, not only with her time, but also her pocketbook, as evidenced by her numerous charitable endeavors, benefitting Beauty For Freedom, Ronald McDonald House, New York Loves Kids, Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation and, now, Saratoga Performing Arts Center’s (SPAC’s) educational programming. Not surprisingly, Dorinda’s philanthropic endeavors are less well known than, say, her previous run-ins with Countess Luann.
So, yeah, Dorinda is notoriously feisty and quotable, quick to anger and just as fast to forgive and forget. Her are-you-kidding-me?, jaw-dropping moments on camera are too many to list here, but some of the best bon mots emanating from her lips include the classic “Not well, bitch!” response she gave to a snarky Candace Bushnell (author of Sex And The City) in the Hamptons, post-brunch, when Bushnell asked how Dorinda was feeling after a fight Bushnell had just witnessed with a castmate; or when Albany native Sonja Morgan kept talking over her, and Dorinda stood up at a crowded restaurant and kept loudly repeating “Clip! Clip! Clip!” as she gestured with her extended arm while opening and closing her hand in the direction of Morgan’s face; or when frustrated by all the pettiness and fighting at Blue Stone Manor, Dorinda epically exclaimed, “I made it NICE!” All of it seems equal parts genius and silly, and undeniably unforgettable. As former RHONY castmate Carole Radziwill says, “When Dorinda’s bad, she’s sooo good!”
A born entertainer, Dorinda takes great pride in being the consummate hostess, and in the numerous times I’ve been a weekend warrior as a houseguest in her stunning Berkshires home (and, yes, I’ve stayed in and loved the “fish room”), I can’t remember a single moment that the experience of being in her presence while there was anything short of joyous; in fact, we were more likely gasping for air from so much raucous laughter. Every detail in her home is perfect, not fussy. Blue Stone Manor is a genuine reflection of its proprietress: classy, beautiful, real. You never want to leave.
“I think it’s very important for women to hear me and believe me when I say, to be in your 50s and 60s is no longer a dirty little secret,” says ‘Real Housewives of New York City’ star Dorinda Medley. (Dori Fitzpatrick)
So, I was curious what Dorinda’s reaction would be when I first floated the idea of her appearing on the cover of saratoga living. “I love Saratoga!” she said. “Richard, are you kidding me? I have so, so many memories of spending endless summer days there with my parents! My grandfather loved the track and we always stopped for ice cream at Stewart’s before we’d head back home to the Berkshires.” Perfect! My clandestine (and exciting) Operation #Dorinda♥Saratoga was now in full effect. We started making calls. As you may have heard, Dorinda is the guest of honor at saratoga living’s “Best Of Saratoga” event at Prime at Saratoga National on Sunday, October 6, with a portion of the ticket sales benefitting SPAC’s educational programming.
But on a spectacular late summer day, I spent nearly 24 hours with Dorinda as the magazine pulled out all the stops in facilitating her very fun “takeover of Saratoga,” as we photographed and interviewed her all over town. Oh, look, there’s Dorinda getting gorgeous at Complexions! In Congress Park at the Carousel! Shopping on Broadway! Sipping martinis at The Adelphi! It was quite a long day (and night) for all of us, but the results speak for themselves.
And now, in her own words, let’s hear from my dear friend, this formidable woman who still gives me that look with a glint in her eye and wry smile and who makes everything and everyone in her orbit better, kinder and, yeah, nicer. Dorinda Medley may indeed love Saratoga, even more so now, but knowing the kind-hearted people who inhabit this great city I’ve come to adore, I can now report that, Saratogians love Dorinda right back. After all, who can resist a reality star who keeps it really real—for real?
Let’s jump right in? What stage of your life are you in?
I was just talking about this to someone and I was saying it’s a funny thing when you spend your whole life creating titles, especially because I consider myself an ambitious woman. I’ve tried to take on these titles—being successful, relevant, well educated, becoming a wife, becoming a mother, exploring, trying to build businesses—and at my age you look back and you’re like, “Wow, I’ve done a lot of these titles.” And when you’re Dorinda Cinkala who grew up in Massachusetts and Dorinda Lynch who lived in Hong Kong, London, Australia and who was married and had Hannah, to becoming a single mom—to Mrs. Medley as I always call it—and a widow, and then to start this Housewives gig…I realized, after Hannah finally moved out and I moved into a new apartment, that this was an exciting and new phase of my life. It’s also a scary time in my life because we’re in a different time now than when our mothers were 55. They were slowing down, waiting for what the next step would be—probably grandchildren and retirement—and that’s not how it is anymore. I feel I have another good 30 years under my belt.
‘Real Housewives of New York City’ star Dorinda Medley enjoys a laugh (and a martini!) at Morrissey’s at The Adelphi Hotel in Saratoga. (Dori Fitzpatrick)
You’re ramping up. It’s now about you—finally.
Yes! I feel it’s all about me now. It’s a funny thing: People are always asking, “Will you?” “Could you?” “Do you?” and I think for the first time in my life, I’m really letting things present themselves and do what’s right for me, as a mother, as a wife—not as a young person trying to constantly push herself into a new position. Now, at last, I’m very comfortable with the world coming to me and knowing the real me.
Your authenticity is palpable, Dorinda, and you come across so naturally. You’re just completely you.
You know, Richard, I feel like I’ve seen it all and done it all. I’ve really gotten to a point where I’m very accepting of myself, the good and the bad. I think it’s important for viewers and to people with whom I engage to know that I don’t want to present myself as perfect. I made a commitment to myself when I started the show that I wanted to come across as seamless. My goal is that when someone meets me, they think “she’s just what she’s like on TV—I can relate to her.” It’s important to always keep it real, because there are days that you feel great, and don’t mind being someone who’s nurturing, giving, entertaining, always traveling and building brands. But there are also days that aren’t so great, and I have to be OK with saying, “Wow, you know what, I’m tired today; I don’t feel like doing that. I feel a little down; I’m struggling with this; I don’t feel like putting on makeup right now.” And I think it’s so important, especially when trying to engage, that the relatability is what people expect from me.
Being on television has reinforced two big things for me: One, that the audience is very forgiving and so is the world; and two, that the audience feels they know you—that you’re a kindred spirit. One of the most powerful moments for me after the first season was when I was at a fruit stand in front of my building getting a banana, and this woman walked up to me and said, “Can I just say how powerful it is that you spoke about Richard and his passing, that you spoke about becoming a widow.” I was considered a very young widow. And one of the things I said the first season was that it’s not a label that fits. Because as a society, we’ve compartmentalized people with the title of widow as someone who’s 80 years old, who’s had a full life with his or her partner. It inspired me so much, because I realized, as a widow at a young 50, I can still be a part of life. What I thought might show weakness initially, actually came out being very powerful. Because I just said it the way I was feeling it. So, I think it’s very important for women to hear me and believe me when I say, to be in your 50s and 60s is no longer a dirty little secret. I embrace it, I’m proud of it. You mentally change, you physically change, you spiritually change. Because in a weird way, you’re in the last quarter of your life. I’m not so crazy ambitious, but yet I am ambitious. I still want to enjoy my life. I’ve given a lot, I’ve seen a lot, I’ve done a lot and I’ve become a bit selfish with my time. I think the best thing you learn in your 50s is the word “no.” With no excuses. I just say, “I can’t do that because I’m tired.” I want to take care of myself. I would rather be my best self for someone than just be present and not my whole self. That wisdom only came with age.
Let’s talk Saratoga. Tell me about your childhood memories.
Oh my god! I have so many great memories of Saratoga! Going to Saratoga was a whole vacation. Even if we were only going for a day trip, it was a vacation. We never had enough money to stay in hotels or anything, but, literally, the day would start at 5am. I remember there used to be a Howard Johnson’s on the way with a conveyer belt of food, and I was completely fascinated by it. On these day trips, I used to get so excited. I remember all kinds of great events in Saratoga. It was where all the fancy people used to live. We’d enter town and drive around and go to the rich neighborhoods and see all the big houses, stop at a museum and have lunch at some local diner. And we’d go to the Saratoga Race Course and see all the jockeys, and you felt like you were transported into a different world. I remember going to this very famous Italian place—Siro’s!—and we’d go with 25 people and on the way home we’d stop at Stewart’s for some ice cream. It was the best day, because I really was transported into a different world. And I could step out of my life for a day and be a part of it. The other thing about Saratoga I sensed and loved was that even though it was a fancy place, it appeared to have an all-inclusive attitude, and everyone was welcome. I loved it.
Do you see any similarities between Great Barrington and Saratoga Springs?
Oh, absolutely! They both have that old, traditional feel. Back then, Saratoga Springs was very connected to Great Barrington, because we had the Great Barrington Fair Grounds, and there was a lot of horse racing, and a lot of the horses that were racing in Great Barrington were also racing in Saratoga. And that mentality of getting dressed to go to the racetrack and the local places—it’s very old school. So, yeah. Similar for sure, but not exactly the same.
Tell me a little about your home, Blue Stone Manor.
So, my great-grandfather came to America from Italy as a very accomplished mason. Back then, Great Barrington was sectored and the Italian quarter was where all the masons lived. My great grandfather had his own mason business, and when physicist William Stanley [whose company was bought by GE] came up and had this beautiful home built by Stanford White, all his men did the stonework. They called it “Blue Stone Manor” because the stone was taken from the grounds. My great-grandfather worked on it, my grandfather worked on it, and they rolled part of the original house down the hill. It’s still on my property line. So, the house had a lot of history for me.
My Dad would drive us by the house, and I would say “One day, Dad, I’m going to get really rich, and I’m going to buy the house for us. I’m never going to get married, Mom and you are going to live there, and we’re never going to leave Great Barrington!” And he said, “Yes we are, princess,” and it became this fabled, “there’s your house on the hill, Dorinda.” So I told Richard this story over and over again, and it was always this house that no one wanted, because it was old. So about a month before I got married to Richard, we drove up to the Berkshires and he said, “Let’s go by that house you like.” And there was no gate there, and we were going up the driveway and I said, “We can’t go in there,” and he said, “Yes you can; this is your house now, and I want you to have something from me that’s not part of our marriage, that’s just yours.” So, a month before our wedding, Richard Medley bought me the house of my childhood dreams.
‘The Real Housewives Of New York City’ star, Dorinda Medley, lives it up in Saratoga. (Dori Fitzpatrick)
What were your impressions of The Real Housewives Of New York City before you joined the cast?
I didn’t come on the cast in a manufactured way. I had appeared in numerous cameos, since I was at all the parties anyway. I didn’t come on slowly. I vividly remember [Bravo Programming Executive] Andy Cohen saying to me, “Do you have any skeletons in your closet? Because they’re coming out. Also, this experience can either make you or break you.” I didn’t believe that; I believe a person makes or breaks you. I think a lot of these women come on and use it as a platform for narcissism and that’s not what it’s about. It can be therapeutic, though, because you can actually work things out and see things more clearly by being on this show.
My biggest reservation was Hannah. What I didn’t realize was how much of myself I’d be exposing. Hannah’s very private, but even she’s come around because she’s seen me grow so much. After Richard died, she didn’t let me go, and I didn’t let her go—it was as if time had stopped. The first season of RHONY was very hard on her—the total loss of control. Now she enjoys the process and knows how to manage it. But I’ll be honest with you: When we’re filming the show, I have that same feeling you have when you go back to college.
What was the biggest surprise after you joined the show?
How it bleeds into all parts of your life. You’re totally immersed. You have to run this job like your personal life. My goal this season is to take the high road; there’s less traffic up there.
How has Bethenny leaving the show affected you?
When I found out Bethenny was leaving, I was sad. I actually wanted to cry. There’s sort of a good old-fashioned aspect to her I love. She’s a true original ‘Housewife.’ It takes a brave and fearless person to do what we do. And the great thing about Bethenny is that off camera, she’s exactly like she is on camera. We’re very good, true friends. And we’re two alphas. The minute we realized we could run together in the pack, there was relief. She’ll always be one of the OGs.
Have your boyfriend John and daughter Hannah changed significantly since you became the darling of reality television?
I think Hannah is proud of me, happy for me. She’s sort of like the unicorn when she comes on the show. She said to me, “Can you just do me a favor and just be Mom to me?”
She’s very respectful when I’m filming. She said, “Do me a favor—don’t get tired out.” For John, the process is very different. He’s had to grow up a little bit. I think it’s really helped him to grow up and take responsibility, and that’s the side of John most people don’t see. He’s very loving and nurturing and protective of me.
What are your thoughts about being on the cover of saratoga living’s ‘Best Of Everything’ issue?
I simply cannot believe it—and I can’t believe I’m going to meet the mayor at the Best Of Everything party! Who would have thought that the little girl from Great Barrington would meet the mayor of Saratoga Springs? I think Saratoga is perfect; and I think saratoga living fits me perfectly, it represents everything I am. It’s completely my brand. I’m also excited about the event on October 6. You know who we should invite? Sonja. Because Sonja is from Albany. She spent her childhood going to Saratoga. She’s very excited, too.
Given this issue’s theme, what do you believe you’re the ‘best’ at?
Entertaining. I’m very good at it; I enjoy it. And I love creating. I love people to feel like they’re totally incorporated in the process.
What’s the biggest misconception about you, Dorinda?
I don’t allow people to know that I’m actually very vulnerable, and I hurt very easily. Usually, what I’ve done in the past is, I retreat, I blow up and then I retreat again. But I’m also very quick to forgive. My mother said to me once when I was young, “You know what, Dorinda? People are mean for two reasons and for two reasons only: either it’s because they’re very sad, or they’re very angry. It’s not about you. It’s about being sad or angry.” And every time I realize I’ve been quick to anger, I realize it’s frustration, and it comes off stunted. Anger is easy. Fear and sadness are hard.
Some parting thoughts about Saratoga Springs?
I think the biggest observation for me is that Saratoga Springs still has its great personality off-season. It’s nice to see it a little quieter, but it kind of has this really nice hustle and bustle, and it’s alive, and people are very committed and devoted to being Saratogians. So, I love the fact that it has a very strong personality and I love that about Upstate New York in general. So, yeah, I love Saratoga. How could you not?
Want to meet Dorinda in person? Come to saratoga living‘s “Best Of Everything” issue launch party and brunch at Prime at Saratoga National on October 6. To purchase VIP or General Admission tickets, click here.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Catholic Boy returned to the work tab Sunday at Belmont Park, breezing a half-mile in 47.72 seconds over the outer turf course. Trainer Jonathan Thomas said that he will most likely train Catholic Boy up to the Breeders’ Cup with the options being the Mile on turf or the Dirt Mile. Thomas said he would also keep an eye on the Classic to see how that race is shaping up.
“We’re breezing him on the turf to at least keep [the Mile] under consideration,” Thomas said. “It’s worked for us before where we kind of used the turf to get to races.”
Thomas said he would like to get three or more works in – preferably on turf – and see where Catholic Boy is at before deciding in which races to pre-enter him. Thomas was happy with Sunday’s work.
“He looked really happy, his ears were up, his body language was great, he came back really well,” Thomas said. “I’d like to put in about three or four of those in a row and hopefully it puts us into the Breeders’ Cup.”
Catholic Boy has made two starts this year. He won the Grade 2 Dixie on turf at Pimlico in May and finished second behind Preservationist in the Grade 2 Suburban on dirt in July.
There’s not an organization quite like the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region. In 1968, a local group of community-minded individuals raised $40,000 to start the Albany-based foundation with the goal of connecting people and special programs to the causes they cared about most. That same year, the Community Foundation awarded its first grants totaling $600; more than half a century later, it has awarded more than $90 million in grants and scholarships. Recently, saratoga living sat down with John Eberle, President and CEO, to discuss the impact and future of the philanthropic organization.
How broad is the foundation’s scope, and are there any organizations in Saratoga benefitting from it?
This year, the Community Foundation has awarded more than $4.8 million in grants to organizations throughout the Greater Capital Region. Some of our supporters established forever funds to support grant-making in our community. We were proud to support several Saratoga programs this year, including the Children’s Museum at Saratoga for their Making Connections program, which opens the museum once a month exclusively for children with autism and their families. And it’s free of charge! Other Saratoga beneficiaries include the Wesley Health Care Center for the purchase of their medication dispensing equipment, and AIM Services’ Enhanced Respite After School Program for children with developmental or physical disabilities. We focus on building funds for our organization that address the community’s most pressing needs, while honoring the wishes and legacies of the donors who helped create them.
What kind of scholarship opportunities does the foundation offer?
By the end of 2019, the Community Foundation will have awarded more than $583,000 to 170 students. Overall, the foundation manages more than 75 scholarship funds, which are awarded based on criteria, including community involvement, volunteer service and intended field of study. Our largest scholarship fund actually just celebrated ten years with the foundation: The Phyllis E. Dake Make Your Own Scholarship, which is available for the families of Stewart’s employees. Since 2009, the Community Foundation has helped Stewart’s distribute 1,427 scholarship awards totaling more than $3.4 million!
The Community Foundation celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. What was the response from the community?
We feel more connected to our community than ever. We continue to build a community that benefits everyone by empowering nonprofit organizations, philanthropists, business leaders and public officials. In fact, the Community Foundation is the only entity in the Capital Region focused on growing an endowment to forever fund and support our region’s nonprofits. This is why we launched our Campaign for Impact last year to capitalize on current and emerging opportunities and deploy resources to transform our community. By doing this, we will always be a responsive resource to meet the Capital Region’s ever-changing needs.
You could say that, over its 25 years in business, this Saratoga Springs store has struck a chord with customers. And now it’s time to celebrate. Saratoga Guitar & Music Center, the Spa City’s only dedicated guitar shop on Broadway, is throwing a free 25th Anniversary Party this Saturday, October 5, from 4-9pm at the Saratoga Springs City Center. The party, which will include live music, raffles and a guitar/gear sale, will come on the heels of another big musical event presented by the store, the Capital Region Guitar Show, October 4-5, also at the City Center.
“The public has been very supportive over the years,” says Matt McCabe, Owner and Founder of Saratoga Guitar, which has a location and repair shop on Weibel Avenue in addition to its main store on Broadway (on the lower level of the Collamer Building). That downtown storefront, in particular, is so overstuffed with new, used and vintage instruments that it almost looks like a mini guitar museum. “It may seem like an odd business strategy, having two stores in one city, but I didn’t want to leave downtown,” says McCabe. “So we’ve done everything we can to keep a presence here, which has been working out nicely.”
In addition to its location on Broadway, Saratoga Guitar has a store and repair shop on Weibel Avenue. (Saratoga Guitar)
Though Saratoga Guitar technically opened its doors in June 1994, McCabe decided to hold the anniversary event this month to piggyback on the Capital Region Guitar Show. Presented by Saratoga Guitar for the last 23 years, the guitar show is a buy, sell and trade event for guitarists and players looking to add some rare and/or vintage instruments to their collection. It’s actually one of the longest-running guitar shows in the country and is expecting around 30 vendors this year. “It keeps our name out there, and it’s a fun way for us to gather and hang out,” says McCabe. “It’s hard to get mad at a room full of guitars.”
Of course, Saratoga Guitar’s big anniversary event will feature lots of great music, including performances by five local groups—plus McCabe playing with local singer/guitarist Rick Bolton. (All funds raised from the event will be donated to local nonprofits.) And McCabe’s considering making the free concert a permanent fixture at the guitar show, as well as bringing back a guitar festival that Saratoga Guitar organized for several years in the early 2000s. “We had about 50 different stores hosting guitar players and performances in one day,” says McCabe of the festival, which mostly highlighted different styles of instrumental guitar music. “Anywhere you went during the guitar festival, you had people walking up and down Broadway carrying guitars.”
Though the revival of the guitar festival is still in its early stages, McCabe’s hoping to have it ready as a companion event to next year’s guitar show. Summing things up, McCabe says of his now 25-year-old business: “We’ve done what we can to keep our name out there. We’re very fortunate to be in Saratoga where there’s an active buzz going around all the time.”
Your Pumpkin Spice Hookup
