Page 170 – Saratoga Living

Saratoga Race Course 2019: Another Side Of Saratoga Racetrack

July 18, 2019

Although we’re just a few months into the Saratoga summer and a few short weeks into the Saratoga Race Course season, saratoga living‘s staff of web photographers has already been incredibly busy. You’ve been catching up on all the top stakes races (and everything horse racing-related), courtesy of Billy Francis LeRoux. You’ve been drooling over the access Francesco D’Amico has had to all the best bands at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, such as Phish and the Dave Matthews Band. (He’s even rocking the New York City Ballet.)

And let me tell you, you’re in for a new treat. Photographer Katie Dobies, who you know from her work on Saratogian Of The Month (and other great features in the print edition), just sent us some fabulous shots from Saratoga Race Course. But they’re not the usual racetrack gallery—you know, horse, horse, horse, jockey, horse, horse, horse. Would you be surprised if I said there were a few puppies involved? Click on the gallery above to flip through Katie’s latest.

Ballsfest Brings Its Annual DMB Tailgate Back To The Spa Park

Kelsey Fredricks

July 18, 2019

Ballsfest Brings Its Annual DMB Tailgate Back To The Spa Park

Five months after its inaugural Late Night Pajama Party at The Adelphi Hotel, Ballsfest has bounced right back into town with another standout event. On Saturday, July 13, “Ballers”—local children and young adults who have been affected by cancer—and supporters alike gathered at the birthplace of the nonprofit to further raise cancer awareness and lift the spirits of those affected by the disease.

Some 600 people attended this year’s Ballsfest, which was held at Saratoga Spa State Park before the second night of performances by Dave Matthews Band at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), and featured live music, a buffet and lawn games aplenty. The first Ballsfest was actually a DMB tailgate in 2007, and the event has grown exponentially in the decade-plus since then into a national organization whose mission it is to support individuals and families in the fight against cancer.

Ballsfest founder Frank DeBlasi created the organization after his own battle with testicular cancer, which provided the inspiration for its attention-grabbing name. The goal of Ballsfest events is to provide a space for Ballers to shine, and this one even featured a bedazzled Baller throne for the honorees to sit on. This year, honorees received gifts including tickets to a Kansas City Chiefs game, a vacation to the Outer Banks and a Lego and Apple products package.

“What’s really neat to see is that all these kids have this special, common bond because of their diagnosis, says Angie Silipigno, executive director of Ballsfest. “There’s an instant, forever friendship that’s created through this treatment process. Our hope really is that we’re creating this tremendous sense of community and that when attendees come, they just see and feel the love and care that fills the air there.”

Ballsfest will be holding more events in Las Vegas, New Jersey and Alabama this fall. For more information and to purchase tickets to these events, click here.

New York City Ballet 2019: Scenes From Nights 1 And 2

CULTURE / ARTS

Hannah Sacks

July 18, 2019

New York City Ballet 2019: Scenes From Nights 1 And 2

This past Tuesday kicked off the New York City Ballet’s (NYCB’s) 2019 summer residency at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC). In the season opener, Tchaikovsky and Balanchine, the NYCB danced George Balanchine’s “Serenade” and “Mozartiana,” as well as Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No.2.

On Wednesday, the second of the NYCB’s five-day residency, the theme was 21st Century Choreographers, and included the dances “Varied Trio (in four),” “Principia” and “The Runaway.”

saratoga living Staff Photographer Francesco D’Amico was in the audience on both nights of performances, and snagged these stunning images in the gallery above. Be sure to click through to relive the night. And don’t worry: There’s still time to make it to a sure-to-be legendary performance by the NYCB at SPAC.

“The Races!”: Crossword Puzzle Answer Key

EXCLUSIVES / FEATURES

Staff Report

July 18, 2019

“The Races!”: Crossword Puzzle Answer Key

On page 159 of saratoga living‘s new “The Races!” issue, there’s a crossword puzzle, entitled “Crowning Achievement.” Below is the answer key—or for some of you, the world’s greatest cheat sheet.

ACROSS

1. CRIB

5. STAG

9. SETS

13. DADA

14. HOLE

15. EVIL

16. CROWNJEWEL

19. PEDI

20. ELLIE

21. STREP

22. SEEM

24. III

26. ADS

29. CROWNPRINCE

35. LOOSE

37. NICO

38. MOON

39. INCH

40. ADID

41. PAST

42. SOHO

43. ORES

44. USHER

45. TRIPLECROWN

48. STY

49. ASH

50. RODE

52. DERBY

56. REVEL

59. ALOE

60. CROWNROYAL

65. COLE

66. RIPE

67. KEKE

68. ANON

69. OBIT

70. EDEN

DOWN

1. CDC

2. RARE

3. IDOL

4. BAWLS

5. SHE

6. TOW

7. ALE

8. GEL

9. SEPT

10. EVER

11. TIDE

12. SLIP

17. NIECE

18. JEER

21. SIR

23. MONARCH

24. INCISOR

25. IPOD

26. ALIST

27. DONOR

28. SOCHI

30. WIDER

31. IMPS

32. NOAHS

33. COSET

34. ENTRY

36. SHOP

40. HOES

414. UNDER

46. LAY

47. WORN

51. EVOKE

52. DERBY

53. ELON

54. ROLO

55. BEEN

57. EYED

58. LAKE

60. CRO

61. RIB

62. OPI

63. WET

64. LEN

Union Hall, A New Menswear Store—With A Beer-Tasting Room—Coming To Downtown Saratoga (Exclusive)

Jeff Dingler

July 17, 2019

Union Hall, A New Menswear Store—With A Beer-Tasting Room—Coming To Downtown Saratoga (Exclusive)

It’s no secret that Downtown Saratoga and Saratoga Race Course are centers of summer fashion—in most cases by and for women. But not to fret, Saratoga gentlemen; you’re about to get your own go-to place. On Friday, July 19, Union Hall Supply Co. will open its doors at 437 Broadway to offer a unique retail experience for men in the market for quality and high-end, modern menswear, saratoga living has learned. In addition to an expansive clothing selection, this new, locally owned store will also boast plenty of lounging and relaxation space—and even a craft beer tasting room in the back.

Given its target audience, it might surprise you who is bringing Union Hall to market. “I come into contact, daily, with men in my other two stores,” says Heidi West, owner of Lifestyles and Caroline & Main, two women’s clothing stores in Saratoga, and now Union Hall. “I really just listened to what they wanted, and men want their own space where they can feel comfortable and look their best.” This informed West’s thinking about how to redesign and renovate the space, which since 2013 had been occupied by Alexis Aida Boutique. “I didn’t want to fill it with all shiny, retail fixtures that you can buy online,” says West. “I wanted to create interesting pieces of history with our design choices, and it just feels more authentic that way, because these are items and furnishings that have lived a life of their own.”

The soon-to-be-opened menswear store is named after Saratoga’s historic Grand Union Hotel, which for years was known for its elite and elegant events (until it was demolished in 1953). Like its namesake, Union Hall will lean heavily on its experiential offerings. The store will invite guests to come in and relax on one of its many large leather chairs; or explore its built-in bookcases (made of vintage crates) with plenty of books and other fun accessories available for use. Perhaps coolest of all, however, is the cooper-wrapped bar (you can’t miss it under the neon sign) where West says patrons will be able to taste-test a select sampling of local craft beers. “My thought process is that it’s about the experience,” says West. “Men buy certain things for that same experience that women shop around for.” Speaking of which, let’s not forget the apparel. Similar to West’s other stores, Union Hall will offer brands that emphasize charity and sustainable practices. Some of those featured brands will include Duke Cannon, Brass & Unity, 34Heritage Denim, Rails and Jack Black.

Born and raised in Saratoga, West has more than three decades of experience in fashion retail. A graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City (and of SUNY Albany), West launched her first successful boutique, Lifestyles, in 1992 followed by Caroline & Main in 2016, both of which offer women’s apparel. About the switch to men’s fashion after so long, West seems totally unfazed. “When Lifestyles first opened, it actually sold men, women and children’s clothing,” she says. “So I’ve been doing this for a long time.”

Though Union Hall is opening for business tomorrow, it won’t have its official grand opening until early August. For that event, West is planning on creating a lounge space on Broadway right in front of the store with big leather chairs and marquee lights. Expect lots of great giveaways, including what West calls the store’s “six-pack” giveaway (with purchase): an assortment of six different items that typify the theme of the store, including a cap and branded t-shirt. Also look forward to free samples from the store’s tasting bar in addition to, of course, an official ribbon-cutting ceremony. “We’re always trying to create a neat experience,” says West about the upcoming grand opening. “I just want to make a space here that sparks interest and enjoyment.”

The Adelphi Rocks UPH On Opening Day

Hannah Sacks

July 16, 2019

On Thursday, July 11, otherwise known as Opening Day of Saratoga Race Course, Universal Preservation Hall (UPH) partnered with The Adelphi Hotel for The Adelphi Rocks UPH Party at the Adelphi Hotel. Guests ate, drank and danced the night away, all while raising money for UPH, a year-round performing arts and community center coming to Saratoga Springs in 2020. The evening’s entertainment included performances by The New York Players, Sparkles the Tall Juggler, caricaturist Phil Singer and magician Alan Edstrom.

REVEAL International Contemporary Art Fair Returns To Saratoga

CULTURE / ARTS

Olivia Mendlinger

July 16, 2019

REVEAL International Contemporary Art Fair Returns To Saratoga

Mark your calendar for this coming weekend: The best the international art world—and select local galleries—have to offer will be on display at the Saratoga City Center. From July 18-21 and for the second year in a row, the venue will be hosting the REVEAL International Contemporary Art Fair. “We’re excited to report that our exhibitor’s mix this summer will include approximately 20 percent returning galleries, with the balance being new to the REVEAL,” says Susan Murphy, REVEAL’s marketing and creative strategist. “Fairgoers will find something new and exciting each time they attend. We continue to have an international presence with galleries from Toronto, Paris and Tel Aviv, to name a few.”

Last year, REVEAL made quite a splash, as the first-ever contemporary art fair of its kind to come to the Spa City. This year, REVEAL is upping the ante, with the introduction of a number of new events. Opening the weekend will be a Platinum VIP & Press Preview on Thursday, July 18 from 5-10pm, which will offer a private first look (and first opportunity to buy pieces of art) to fair sponsors, partners, city officials and media members. It will also include a champagne reception.

On Friday, from 9-11am, The Tang Teaching Museum at Skidmore College will host an exclusive first look for REVEAL VIP ticket-holders of its new exhibition, Beauty and Bite, before it opens to the public, as well as a private tour of the museum and collections, led by Ian Berry, Dayton director of the Tang, and Rebecca McNamara, the Tang’s Mellon Collections curator. Later that day, from 2:30-3:30pm, Kelly Kocinski Trager, arts attorney, professor and owner of Trager Contemporary, will present Understanding Expression, a talk discussing the interpretation of contemporary art through an individual lens. Also on Friday, from 2-5pm, REVEAL is offering free admission to art consultants, interior designers, realtors, architects and anyone acquiring art for a home or office; and from 5-8pm, the same for young professionals, ages 21-40, looking to further their understanding of contemporary art and culture.

On Saturday from 1-4pm, REVEAL will present Art Unites, bringing together members and staff of museums, galleries, arts organizations and cultural institutions to celebrate the extraordinary artwork of more than 150 international artists, complete with live music by musicians from The Albany Symphony. During that time, the Tang’s Berry, along with Elaina Richardson, president of Yaddo, will speak about their institutions and how they support artists all over the world in a talk, entitled Making a Place for Art, from 1:30-2:30pm.

Lastly, on Sunday, a closing celebration from 4-6pm will celebrate the fair’s exhibitors, artists, sponsors, partners and collectors. Regular fair hours are 11am-8pm on Friday and Saturday and 11am-6pm on Sunday. For more information and to purchase VIP tickets, which cost $50 apiece, click here.

Saratoga’s Eden Compton Gallery Celebrating The Intersection Of Ballet And Art With Its ‘Dance Into Summer’ Exhibit

CULTURE / ARTS

Olivia Mendlinger

July 16, 2019

Saratoga’s Eden Compton Gallery Celebrating The Intersection Of Ballet And Art With Its ‘Dance Into Summer’ Exhibit

It couldn’t have been choreographed any better. With the New York City Ballet’s (NYCB’s) annual summer residency kicking off at the Saratoga Springs Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, July 16, just across town, ballet-lovers will be able to enjoy an exhibit featuring an array of dance-themed art.

On Friday, July 19, Eden Compton Studio & Gallery will be officially unveiling its specially curated Dance Into Summer exhibit, which features the pastel and oil works of nationally and locally recognized artists Corey Pitkin, Rita DiCaprio and Saratoga Dance owner Leslie Roy-Heck. The exhibit also features works by internationally renowned artist Helen Frank, whose paintings can be found at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and MoMA in New York City. The exhibit, which runs through August 6, will focus on the intersection of Saratoga’s vibrant arts scene and reverence for ballet.

Eden Compton, the gallery’s curator, says the idea for the exhibit sprang from her involvement in painting sets for the Saratoga City Ballet‘s recent performance of The Nutcracker. “In terms of performance art and visual art, ballet is kind of the ultimate art form,” Compton says. “It’s inspired by music; it’s so beautiful to see the visual expression that goes along with the music, and for an artist to see those kinds of lines and color…they all support one another. There’s a long tradition of having visual arts in ballet.” Compton will exhibit sketches and paintings inspired by the students of Saratoga City Ballet and the school at The National Museum of Dance at the show.

A representative work by artist Corey Pitkin.

While works by Frank will be the major draw, Compton will also be displaying works by local artists such as Leslie Roy-Heck, who began her career as a dancer with the NYCB and later moved to Saratoga. Roy-Heck retired from her career as a soloist, after having trained under George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins, and performed in more than 80 ballets for the company. After settling in Saratoga, Roy-Heck opened Saratoga Dance, a store for all things ballet and dance. In working with renowned dance-wear company Capezio and with the NYCB during its summer residencies in Saratoga, Roy-Heck discovered a love of textiles, brought to life in her encaustic paintings, a type using hot wax, which is the artist’s preferred medium. Many of her pieces are inspired by costumes designed by Barbara Karinska, which Roy-Heck performed in during her tenure with the NYCB. Some of Roy-Heck’s encaustic paintings, including those inspired by costumes for Balanchine’s ballet, Jewels, will be displayed in the exhibit.

Back on July 13, Eden Compton hosted a preview party for Dance Into Summer, and the 19th’s official opening and public reception will take place from 5:30-8:30pm. The event will include live music and dance performances by local modern dancer Mahogany and recent Skidmore grad Hannah Haines.

‘Women In Racing’ Exhibit Set To Open At The National Museum Of Racing On July 20

Jeff Dingler

July 16, 2019

‘Women In Racing’ Exhibit Set To Open At The National Museum Of Racing On July 20

Historically, the trainers, owners and jockeys that have gotten the most ink—and to that end, been the centerpiece of the majority of museum exhibits on horse racing—have been men. But this summer, Saratoga Springs’ National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame is looking to change that. The museum will be unveiling a new, multimedia exhibition, highlighting the careers of the top women in racing, entitled Women in Racing, which opens in the museum’s McBean Gallery this Saturday, July 20.

“The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame is honored to shine a spotlight on some of the incredible stories of the women involved in Thoroughbred racing,” says Victoria Reisman, the museum’s curator. The Women in Racing exhibition will feature artwork, artifacts, photographs and multimedia pieces—both on loan and from the museum’s own collection—that highlight female jockeys, horse owners, breeders, trainers and executives, among others. Reisman says that the exhibit is designed to honor the role that women have played in the sport for more than a century, including historic trailblazers and contemporary innovators—as well as the six women inducted into the Hall of Fame. “This exhibition helps our museum fulfill its mission of preserving the history of Thoroughbred racing by giving a voice to more of the diverse and fascinating individuals in our sport,” says Reisman.

Exhibition highlights include a timeline of firsts for women in racing; an interactive, exploratory display, featuring short films and horse racing footage; the inaugural Diana Handicap trophy won by Mary Hirsch, the first-ever licensed female trainer; and artifacts, portraits and other items relating to trailblazing women in racing such as jockeys Wantha Davis and Julie Krone, owner Frances Genter (who owned Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled) and 2019 Hall of Fame Pillars of the Turf inductees Gladys Mills Phipps, Helen Hay Whitney and Marylou Whitney.

Museum-goers will also be able to share their own racing stories in a special interactive section of the exhibit which features a public message board and fun photo opportunities. “We realize that it’s impossible to share the story of every pioneer and trailblazer of the sport, so we encourage our visitors to share their own stories,” says Reisman.

Last summer, the museum presented a special Women in Racing symposium, which featured a panel discussion comprising seven big-name female athletes and professionals involved in various aspects of the sport. That event ultimately led the museum to launch this upcoming exhibit. An invitation-only opening reception and preview for the Women in Racing exhibit will be held on Friday, July 19 at 6pm. For more information, visit racingmuseum.org.

Saratoga Children’s Museum Is Rolling Out A ‘Monster’ Collection Of Big Trucks For Its Annual Fundraiser

Hannah Sacks

July 16, 2019

Saratoga Children’s Museum Is Rolling Out A ‘Monster’ Collection Of Big Trucks For Its Annual Fundraiser

Remember when you were four years old and wanted to be a firefighter? There was something about that big red truck with the big black tires and piercing siren that just called to you. Or maybe you wanted to be a garbage truck driver, and experience the rush of hanging onto the outside of a moving vehicle. At some point, you probably grew out of that phase—we can’t all be truck drivers or firefighters. But what if, for one day, you could relive that childhood dream?

It turns out, you can, at The Children’s Museum at Saratoga‘s Big Truck Day on August 3. The museum’s annual summer fundraiser will bring more than 30 trucks to the Maple Avenue Middle School parking lot from 9am-1pm for guests of all ages (though the event’s really catered to children ages 0-10). Attendees can roam around the parking lot and check out big rigs and chat with their drivers, and if they’re lucky, may even get to honk a horn or two.

The Children’s Museum is always looking for ways to update and improve its annual event, so this year, in addition to the typical garbage, fire and delivery trucks you’d expect to see at Big Truck Day, monster trucks will also be added to the lineup. The Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) always brings a bus to the event, too. “A lot of kids have never been on a city bus before, so this is an opportunity for them to get on and sit on there like they’re a passenger,” says Sarah Syden, executive director of The Children’s Museum at Saratoga. “It starts a conversation with their parent or caregiver about what you would do, where you would go, what is this for?”

While the children’s museum’s main focus is on early childhood development, it prides itself on being an open community for children and caregivers to interact inter-generationally. The museum strives to help children develop a variety of skills, ranging from interacting socially and picking up on social cues to sharing and taking turns. “We’re intentionally screen-free in the museum and for events like Big Truck Day, so that there is interaction, whether it’s inter-generational or peer-to-peer,” Syden says. “Kids have an opportunity to interact and explore the world around them together.”

Whereas kids are used to hearing “no” from adults—as in, no touching, no playing, no sticking your finger up your nose—at Big Truck Day, the only thing they’ll hear is “yes:” yes, you can honk the horn; yes, you can touch the inside of the truck; and yes, you can scream and shout. (Sticking their finger up their nose is probably still a no, though.) “We’re letting kids lead the way,” Syden says of the event.

Big Truck Day is the museum’s largest child-focused fundraiser of the year. All proceeds from the event go directly to the museum, and the money raised will help fund exhibits and events, the museum’s GivePlay program, which helps reduce the financial and economic barriers that prevent some children and families from utilizing the museum; and the Museums for All program, which allows families with benefit cards to enter the museum for $1 as opposed to the normal $8 entrance fee. Big Truck Day tickets are $5 for children and $2 for adults (who are channeling their inner child) and can be purchased here.