Nicole Russo presents Daily Racing Form‘s Breeding Report, which focuses on Kentucky Oaks contender Chasing Yesterday, a half-sister of Triple Crown-winner American Pharoah who became a Grade 1 winner at Los Alamitos Saturday.
The ‘saratoga living’ Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide: 7 Deadly Sins
Still need to do your Christmas shopping? Looking to really go all out on gifts this year? This ultimate holiday gift guide is your one-stop-shop for all things fantastic, over-the-top and downright desirable. From gifts you can get right here on Broadway in Downtown Saratoga Springs, to experiences that are truly out of this world (vacationing in space), you’re sure to find something that very special someone on your list will love.
1. Lust (Romance)
Amazing Prime At Saratoga National Experience
Experience all Prime at Saratoga National has to offer with your significant other. Begin your day with 18 holes of Championship Golf at Saratoga National, and top it with a private dinner for two at Prime. Seated next to the infinity pool illuminated by floating candles, you’ll enjoy delicious Prime favorites, as well as wine and after-dinner cocktails and a violin/harp duo performing nearby. Finish the night off with an exclusive fireworks display overlooking the 18th hole and owl pond. $8000 (not valid during Saratoga racing season) golfsaratoga.com
Private Dinner For Two Aboard The Lac Du Saint Sacrement
Get picked up from Lake George Village by horse and carriage and brought to The Lac du Saint Sacrement, the largest boat on inland waters in New York State. Enjoy a four-course meal with bottles of Dom Perignon and Bourbon Barrel aged Cabernet with a duet playing on the lower deck. After dinner, watch a private fireworks display from the third deck and dance under the stars until the boat docks. $14,995 (available off-season only) lakegeorgesteamboat.com
Romantic Skywriting
Tell her you love her or ask her to marry you in a way the whole city will see. Take her on a picnic on a sunny day and point up…there she’ll see your message written in clouds by an airplane. $7500-$19,500 flysigns.com
Saratoga Luxury Vow Renewal
What better place to renew your vows than Saratoga Springs? Use Dempsey & Carroll New York for your save-the-dates and invitations, and then host the event in the ballroom of the Canfield Casino. The globally legendary Colin Cowie team will make sure the ceremony showcases the journey you’ve taken as a couple, and that it’s nothing short of exquisite. Instead of rings, opt this time for diamond earrings from deJonghe Original Jewelry for her and a Thoroughbred racehorse for him. Finally, after the ceremony, hop in a helicopter which will bring you to JFK for a luxurious five-night trip to the Hôtel de Crillon in Paris, the City of Love. Approximately $50,000 colincowie.com
Ultimate Romantic NYC Weekend
Your 48-hour getaway in Gotham by Les Clefs d’ Or Concierge Clancy O’Connor of Four Seasons Hotel New York will include a stay at the Four Seasons; couples massages at the hotel’s L. RAPHAEL Beauty Spa; a flight of the exclusive 55-year whiskey, Balvenie DCS Compendium Chapter, at Ty Bar; a carriage ride through Central Park with a bottle of Dom Perignon; dinner at 3-Michelin-star restaurant, Per Se; a show at Jazz at Lincoln Center; breakfast in bed by chef John Johnson; a drive in the Four Seasons’ Rolls Royce Ghost house car to shopping at Tiffany’s VIP salon; a stroll through Rockefeller Center to Bar Sixty Five, located on the 65th floor of Rockefeller plaza, for drinks; ice skating at Bryant Park; dinner at Gabriel Kreuther; and finally Sunday brunch at Jojo, by Jean-Georges. $10,215 fourseasons.com/newyork
Rent Out A Bowtie Cinema Theater For Two
Watch the latest rom-com on the big screen with all the privacy of your own home. $720 and up bowtiecinemas.com
Couples Spa Day At Classical Concepts
Elemental Nature massage and facial, manicure and pedicure and relaxing shampoo and condition with styling, for two. $755 classicalconceptssalon.com
Chic Underneath Flora Nikrooz Lingerie
The matching Gabby Charmeuse Chemise with Lace and Wrap with Lace. $166 chicunderneathboutique.com
2. Gluttony (Eat + Drink)
Fleur Burger 5000
If fast food burgers aren’t quite your style, take a special someone on a trip to Fleur By Hubert Keller in Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. There you’ll find the Fleur Burger 5000, the true king of burgers, comprised of wagyu beef, foie gras and truffle, served with a bottle of 1995 Chateau Pétrus 5000. $5000 mandalaybay.com
Tetsuya’s Restaurant
Tetsuya’s, located in the outskirts of Sydney, is one of the world’s most exclusive restaurants—for good reason. The degustation menu is based on the Japanese philosophy of using natural seasonal flavors, and is constantly evolving. Add in one of Australia’s most comprehensive wine lists, with sommeliers to match dishes with wines by the glass, and a dinner at Tetsuya’s is one you won’t soon forget—if you can get a reservation, that is. $230 per person tetsuyas.com
Wine Around The World
Putnam Market Wine Room Sommelier William Roach presents an afternoon tasting of eight wines from around the world for eight people in your own home. The wines hail from France to Napa Valley, Australia to Chile, and all are completely true to the place they were grown and the style of the house in which they were made. It’s truly a wine and travel enthusiasts’ dream. $2441.44 putnammarket.com/wine
Private Dinner For Eight By Chef David Burke
Enjoy a private four-course dinner for eight by David Burke in the comfort of your home. A sample menu includes seared scallop truffle with risotto butter, braised leeks and nasturtium greens; crispy pork belly with cornmeal puree, wild red huckleberry and mustard greens; bone marrow-crusted, 45-day DB salt dry-aged strip steak with foie gras marsala and carmelized onions; and hazelnut financier chocolate mousse with smoked pecans and candied winter squash. $13,740 plus alcohol and tax/gratuity theadelphihotel.com
Personal Reserve Of Upstate Distilling’s Un-Aged Bourbon
Upstate Distilling is offering 50 bottles of un-aged bourbon, or white whiskey, along with a 10-gallon barrel that you can fill yourself to have your own personal reserve of whiskey. Sample the whiskey throughout its journey of aging with an included sampling device. $1000 upstatedistilling.com
One Year Of Saratoga Tea & Honey
Four premier Saratoga Tea & Honey gift baskets—one for every season—delivered quarterly. $503 saratogateaandhoney.com
Kilwins Gourmet Ice Cream Cake
Mint and cappuccino ice cream, a delicious chocolate cake, butter cream frosting and Oreo crumbles make for an unbelievable holiday dessert. $59.99 kilwins.com
Mrs. London’s One Of Each Box
One almond croissant, one cinnamon meltaway, one cranberry pecan scone and one of every other available baked good. Approximately $100 mrslondonsbakery.com
3. Greed (Possessions)
Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
The latest update to Lamborghini’s flagship Aventador, the SVJ has a 770 horsepower, naturally aspirated V12 engine—the most powerful production V12 in company history. It goes 0-62 in just 2.8 seconds and its top speed exceeds 217 mph. Released this August, the SVJ is a thrill-seeker’s dream car. $517,770 lamborghini.com
RM 27-03 Rafael Nadal Watch
It’s one thing to win the French Open a record 11 times(!) and counting. It’s another to do it with a three-quarters-of-a-million-dollar watch on your wrist. That’s exactly what tennis superstar Rafael Nadal did earlier this year, sporting Richard Mille’s Spanish flag-inspired RM 27-03, created in collaboration with the legend himself. The watch can withstand shocks of up to 10,000 G’s while weighing in at a mere 34 grams. $747,000 richardmille.com
Pink Star Diamond Ring
Get her one of the world’s great natural treasures: the 59.60-carat oval mixed-cut pink diamond known as “The Pink Star.” Don’t worry about the fact that renowned jeweler Chow Tai Fook bought the diamond at Sotheby’s in 2017 for $71.2 million, setting a world auction record for any diamond or jewel—make Chow Tai Fook Chairman Dr. Henry Cheng Kar-Shun an offer he can’t refuse. Upwards of $71.2 million sothebys.com
Custom Hat By Milliner Nancy Matt
Le Beau Chapeau Owner and Designer Nancy Matt has created custom millinery designs seen in the Winner’s Circle at the Kentucky Derby, Travers Stakes, Preakness and Belmont, as well as on notable women from New York, to London, to Dubai. She provides private consultations and designs hats made with materials gathered while traveling, often to Europe. $200-$2500 [email protected]
Hermès Birkin Bag 30cm Vert D’eau Matte Alligator Gold Hardware
Everyone who loves luxury surely knows that Hermès’ Birkin Bag is the gold standard in exquisite handbags, and the 30cm Birkin Bag in the rare and breathtaking Vert D’eau Matte Alligator is one of the brand’s most jaw-dropping items. It comes with a lock and keys in the clochette, sleepers and a signature Hermes box. $118,650 worldsbest.com
DeJonghe Original Jewelry Women’s Horseshoe Bracelet
A 14k gold diamond horseshoe bracelet on neoprene with a 14k gold clasp. $1750 djoriginals.com
Silhouette Titan Minimal Art Icon Sunglasses
Silhouette’s TMA Icon is a hybrid between a rimless and full-rim style that comes in an appealing array of accent colors. $375 silhouette.com
Saratoga Thoroughbreds By Frankie Flores
A 82″w x 74″h acrylic on canvas of five thundering horses and their jockeys by Saratoga Springs-based artist Frankie Flores. $28,000 floresart7.com
4. Envy (Covet)
Vacation In Space Aboard Aurora Station
Orion Span has set its sights on creating the world’s first luxury space hotel orbiting 200 miles above Earth’s surface. Aurora Station will orbit our planet every 90 minutes, meaning guests will experience night and day from their private suites every hour-and-a-half over the course of their 12-day stay. Orion Span plans to launch the Aurora Station in 2021. $9.5 million orionspan.com
Pumpkin Key Island
Pumpkin Key is a 26-acre private island located in Card Sound Bay in the Florida Keys. The island is a ten-minute helicopter ride to Miami’s South Beach and a ten-minute boat ride to Ocean Reef, a private club in Key Largo. It features one main home, two caretaker’s cottages, a dock master’s apartment, tennis courts and a marina able to accommodate a mega-yacht. $95 million privateislandsonline.com
Helicopter Skiing In Alaska
Every skier’s dream is to go heli-skiing in Alaska, so go all out with a seven-day, eight-night stay at Tordrillo Mountain Lodge. First fly 40 minutes from Anchorage to Judd Lake on a ski plane, where you’ll be staying in a 12-person private luxury lodge complete with copper hot tubs, a wine cellar, gourmet meals and an experienced wait staff. Then do what you flew all the way to Alaska to do: hit the 1.2 million acres of powdery heli-ski terrain waiting outside your door. $168,000 tordrillomountainlodge.com
The Adelphi Hotel’s Owner’s Box Suite For Entire Saratoga Race Course Meet
Attention all serious horseracing lovers! Live in the lap of luxury—The Adelphi Hotel’s Owner’s Box Suite—for the entire six weeks of Saratoga Race Course’s meet. The Owner’s Box Suite features two master bedrooms, two living rooms, a 400-square foot library and a private 500-foot terrace overlooking Broadway. This also includes your own exclusive luxury box every day at the race course. $139,773.09 theadelphihotel.com
Live Aboard ‘The World’
Home to 165 residences, The World is the world’s largest private residential ship, and each year travels the globe on a journey determined by the residents and the captain. Live just as you would on land in a luxury studio, one-, two- or three-bedroom residence, waking up to a new view from your private veranda each morning, participating in on-board recreational and fitness activities, dining at six unique restaurants and, oh yeah, going on expeditions in each port you visit. Residences $2-20 million aboardtheworld.com
1863 Club at Saratoga Racecourse
Rent one of the remaining private ultra-luxury suites in the brand-new, climate-controlled 1863 Club at the rail at Saratoga Race Course for the entirety of the meet. $125,000-$140,000 nyrainc.com
Tour Of Trainer H. James Bond’s Private Barn
An hour-and-a-half tour of Bond’s barn with a discussion about what it’s like to be a Whitney- and Travers-winning trainer and why Bond made Saratoga Springs his home base. $300 [email protected]
2019 Saratoga Performing Arts Center Patron Membership
SPAC’s 2019 premier membership opportunity featuring full-access to exclusive Patron’s Club Dining, entrance to Patron’s Terrace and preferred patron parking. $2000 spac.org
5. Pride (The Look)
POLY Go
POLY Go, the portable, handheld companion to POLY (polychromatic light therapy system), is the newest innovation in LED light therapy. Rather than paying each time you get LED treatment at a spa, purchase POLY Go once and treat your problem areas yourself. Options include POLY Go Clear for acne, POLY Go Regen for pain and POLY Go Rejuv for beauty. $295.99-$349.99 mypolyled.com/go
New Wardrobe From Lucia Boutique
Treat your lady to five head-to-toe outfits for work, a holiday party, a cozy night in, date night and a casual day of shopping. $1100 luciaboutique.com
The Retrouvé Collection Limited-Edition Gift Set
Retrouvé’s four-piece gift set, which includes a nutrient face serum, dynamic nourishing face cream, intensive replenishing facial moisturizer and revitalizing eye concentrate skin hydrator, is designed to be a wardrobe for the skin, and can be used in multiple combinations to provide anti-aging benefits and replenish moisture for men and women. Retrouvé’s products have quickly become a favorite for men because of their high potency and simplicity. $1500 retrouve.com
Tom Ford Tuxedo
Dress your man in some of the best evening wear on the market: a classic Black Twill Windsor Tuxedo by luxury fashion designer Tom Ford. Featuring generous peak lapels with contrasting satin and full-cut trousers with satin taping, this tux was made for that holiday Saratoga gala. $5620 tomford.com
Dior Prestige La Cure, 0.51 oz.
Dior’s Prestige La Cure was born when Dior researchers discovered a wild rose capable of withstanding the harsh seaside climate of the cliffs of Granville near Normandy. The secret to the plant’s life force? A unique combination of eight molecules. Now, this life force is available in a miraculous skincare product called Prestige La Cure, which in just three weeks reactivates key mechanisms in skin reconstruction for even the most fragile skin. $1550 neimanmarcus.com
Make Me Fabulous’ ‘The Golden Globe’s’ Package
A one-hour facial, signature blowdry and makeup application to make her fabulous. $185 makemefabulous.com
Personal Training With Tyler Hammett At Metabolic Meltdown
Personal training sessions three times a week for 12 weeks with Saratoga Springs-based trainer Tyler Hammett of Metabolic Meltdown. $1920 metabolicmeltdown.com
Gentlemen’s Night In By Vinny’s Barbershop Of Saratoga
A party for 12 gentlemen including a haircut, hot towel shave or trim, facial mask peel and scalp and neck massage, as well as a shoe shine and top-shelf bourbon, scotch and rye. $3950 vinnysbarbershopny.com
6. Wrath (Adrenaline)
Airplane Wing Walking
Yes, it’s as terrifying as it sounds. Located on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State, Mason Wing Walking Academy provides one- and two-day wing walking courses that teach thrill-seekers how to maneuver around the outside of a Stearman biplane, while in flight. Don’t worry—the academy’s website states, “We have never had anyone fall.” $650-$1800 masonwingwalking.com
200 MPH Club Experience
Give the gift of speed to the car racing lover in your life. Indy Racing Experience is offering a one-day-only opportunity to experience a high-speed, 200 mph IndyCar Ride and meet racing legend Mario Andretti at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 27—the day after the Indy 500. The day is complete with a Q&A and autograph session with Andretti, a 200 mph club ring and crew shirt, a video and photo package commemorating your 200 mph ride, lunch, a cocktail reception and a private tour of the Dallara IndyCar Factory with Andretti. $3299 indyracingexperience.com
Shoot A Television Pilot Episode
Always dreamed of producing a TV show? Shoot the pilot episode with a full cast
and crew, then have it edited and pitched to major television networks. $700,000 freestyle-la.com
Be An Extra On A TV Show
Act as an extra on one of the hit TV shows of our time: This Is Us (NBC). $50,000 nbc.com/this-is-us
Shark Dive & Safari Game Drive
Make your very own Shark Week! Get up close and personal with the South African beasts of the sea and land on this two-day adventure. Dive with great whites in “Shark Alley” off the coast of Gansbaai on the first day, and hit the Aquila Private Game Reserve for a drive the second. $230 sharkcagediving.co.za
Saratoga Ninja Lab Membership
A year-long Saratoga Ninja Lab membership including unlimited open gym and two team practices a week. $1800 saratoganinjalab.com
Lake Placid Bobsled And Skeleton Experience
Give the sports a try at the home of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics. $136 whiteface.com
Horseback Riding Lessons At Quiet Run Limited
Five half-hour private lessons and five 45-minute advanced private lessons. $425 quietrunlimited.com
7. Sloth (Leisure)
Vividus By Hästens
Proclaimed “The world’s most luxurious bed” by Hästens, the Vividus is a showcase of the finest natural materials, including slow-growing northern Swedish pine, layers of flax, horsetail hair, wool batting and cotton, handmade by a team of four experienced craftsmen who specialize in one single task over 320 hours. You can learn more about personalization options at one of Hästens exclusive locations (there are four in Manhattan, one in Boston and one in Greenwich, CT) during a private VIP experience. $189,000 hastens.com
The Citizenry Nublado Throw
Knitted exclusively in a fair trade environment entirely by hand by a master weaver in Peru, each extra chunky Nublado Throw is made of luxe, unspun wool left in its purest state, and takes one full day to knit. Its compact, easy-to-style size makes it the perfect cozy accent piece for any living room. $395 the-citizenry.com
Pieced Fox Hooded Full-Length Faux Fur Coat
This 48-inch faux fur coat, accented by a face-framing hood, velvet pockets and a satin-faced hem, comes in pieced fox (a blend of black bands of color and shades of grey and taupe), red fox and arctic fox. It incorporates all the details you’d expect from a $30,000 animal fur coat, and is one of the most beautiful and authentic furs in all of Donna Salyer’s Fabulous Furs collection. $599 fabulousfurs.com
Charlotte Simone’s Luxe Helmet Head Hat
Never want to get out of bed? Bring the bed to your head with Charlotte Simone’s Helmet Head Hat, the softest and fluffiest looking faux fur hat ever. It’s sure to keep you warm through the impending Saratoga winter. $113 charlottesimone.com
Panasonic Ku Robotic Refrigerator
According to a 2017 Reuters video, Panasonic has its sights set on releasing “Ku,” a robotic fridge that comes to you, within the next five years (this kind of laziness is worth the wait). All you have to do is say, “Ku, come to the living room,” and the fridge will navigate itself from its spot in the kitchen to bring you a beer—without interrupting
the big game you’re watching. TBA panasonic.com
Yogibo Double Bean Bag Chair for 2
A giant lightweight bean bag that conforms to your body and separates into two individual chairs. $419 yogibo.com
Halo Massage At Adirondack Salt Cave Halotherapy And Wellness Center
A one-hour therapeutic massage in a relaxing Himalayan salt environment. $120 adirondacksaltcave.com
Car And Driver For One Year
Have a car and driver at your beck and call 12 hours a day for one year. $240,900 namascarservices.com
Special Promotional Section: New Cars Of 2019
If you’re looking to drive into the new year in style, check out these brand-new cars and trucks from local dealers. From DePaula Auto Group’s Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio and Maserati Levante, to Lia INFINITI’s QX50 AWD, to Mangino Buick GMC’s GMC Sierra Denali, these rides are absolute stunners.
2019 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio
DePaula Auto Group in Albany carries an impressive inventory of quality new and used vehicles, including the 2019 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio. Inspired by Formula 1 racing, this new Alfa Romeo luxury sports SUV was designed for the highest level of performance driving and practical utility. The racecar-inspired engineering of the Stelvio Quadrifoglio includes 505 horsepower, a top speed of 176mph and 0-60 acceleration in just 3.6 seconds. The Q4 All-Wheel Drive system allows drivers to tackle every road condition
with confidence and control.
It’s also built with top-of-the-line innovative technologies to insure both the safest and smoothest driving experience possible. That includes a 14-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system, an all-aluminum twin-turbocharged V6 engine for extra pick and go and advanced integrated braking system with carbon ceramic Brembo brakes for incredible stopping power, too. Whether it’s for sporty Alfa Romeo or Maserati or for Mazda, Chevy and Ford, DePaula Auto Group has what you’re looking for.
Alfa Romeo of Albany | 1101 Central Ave | Albany, NY 12205 | (518) 205-8783
2019 Maserati Levante
The 2019 Maserati Levante is now available at DePaula Auto Group in Albany. This sleek new Maserati performance SUV boasts power with V6 and V8 engines crafted exclusively at the Ferrari factory in Maranello, Italy, plus luxury with leather or class-exclusive Ermenegildo Zegna silk upholstery. Q4 intelligent All-Wheel Drive keeps the Levante a composed riding experience over all terrain, too, and 5-way active air suspension means maximum off-roading capability. This top-of-the line luxury SUV allows drivers to rough it in style and with maximum safety because every Levante is designed to provide world-class levels of automotive security and safety features. And with two series of Levante, drivers can have their pick between GranLusso, designed for elegance, or GranSport, designed for a more sporty and engaging driving experience. The 2019 Maserati Levante is now part of DePaula Auto Group’s incredible array of new and used vehicles including Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Chevrolet, Mazda and Ford.
Maserati of Albany | 1101 Central Ave | Albany, NY 12205 | 518-407-0777
2019 INFINITI QX50 AWD
Experience the all-new 2019 INFINITI QX50 AWD, now available at Lia INFINITI on New Loudon Road in Cohoes. INFINITI’s QX50 is one of the top luxury crossover SUVs on the market, and the 2019 model has been designed to put the driver at the center of the INFINITI experience, balancing brand name elegance with driver comfort and safety. The QX50 contains the world’s first production-ready Variable Compression Turbo engine, which combines sports car performance with eco-friendly efficiency. The QX50 also keeps drivers safe via a number of INFINITI’s ProPILOT Assist technologies, such as hands-on Steering Assist; Advanced Intelligent Cruise Control, which adjusts itself across a range of speeds; and Distance Control Assist, which helps a driver maintain distances between cars in traffic. With an impressive 65.1 cubic feet of cargo space and seating for five, the 2019 QX50 is the ideal car for weekend getaways or family vacations. Test drive one of the six models at Lia INFINITI today.
Lia Infiniti of Latham | 965 New Loudon Rd | Latham, NY | 12110 | 518-738-0800
2019 GMC Sierra Denali
Mangino Buick GMC in Ballston Spa is now offering the brand-new 2019 GMC Sierra Denali. This sleek, full-size pickup has been totally redesigned and includes an industry-first GMC Multi-Pro Tailgate with six functions and positions for enhanced loading, perfect for adapting to all your tailgating and camping needs. Other new tech includes a digital head-up display (HUD) for driver safety; a ProGrade Trailering System, which makes hitching a trailer that much easier; and built-in 4G WiFi, with a 50-foot range. Compared to previous models, the 2019 Denali is bigger, wider and more powerful, with the ability to pull up to 9400 pounds, and more fuel efficient, too, with its V-8 engine that includes stop/start technology, which briefly cuts out the engine while stopped in traffic. Family owned and operated, Mangino Buick GMC is the Capital Region’s top dealership for finding the best deals on the 2019 Denali and other new and used Buick and GMC vehicles.
Mangino Buick GMC | 1484 Saratoga Rd | Ballston Spa, NY 12020 | (518) 885-5301
Special Promotional Section: The ‘saratoga living’ Food + Drink Guide
If you have family or friends visiting you in Saratoga Springs this holiday season, chances are, you’re not going to want to cook every night. Luckily, this city has so many amazing bars and restaurants to choose from that you don’t have to! Below, find nine of the area’s top eateries that are sure to fill your belly this winter.
Osteria Danny
Run by Executive Chef Danny Petrosino and his wife, Patti, Osteria Danny specializes in Italian-American cuisine with an emphasis on simplicity and creative development. As such, the menu is updated frequently to encompass new culinary concepts and locally sourced ingredients when they’re available. Although the menu is continuously evolving with the creative will of Chef Danny, original recipes remain a pivotal influence in the dishes that Osteria Danny produces. For example, there’s a simple dish called “Shrimp the way my father liked it” on the menu, which is accompanied by lemon risotto, butter garlic and “a bunch of other stuff,” and all pastas and desserts (mmm…pistachio cheesecake) are made by Danny himself.
26 Henry Street, Saratoga Springs 518.423.7022
Dunning Street Station
Located about ten minutes from Downtown Saratoga Springs on Rt. 9 in Malta, Dunning Street Station, with its various soups, entrées, desserts and drinks (including 16 beers on tap), is a prime location for a hearty meal (Sunday brunch, anyone?), slightly outside the bustle of the SPa City’s nexus. Bob McKenna and Chef Scott Ringwood purchased the restaurant in 2015, and take pride in maintaining high-quality dining and customer service standards, having won multiple awards for the restaurant, including Best Newcomer at the 2017 Saratoga Chowderfest. Can’t-miss dishes include the lobster mac, salmon (served with jasmine rice), a prime rib special on Sundays and a generous variety of steaks, burgers and wings.
2853 State Rt 9, Malta 518.587.2000
Max London’s
In its cozy yet sophisticated nook on Broadway, Max London’s sits beside its sister shop, Mrs. London’s Bakery, a local favorite known for its delicious pastries and baked goods. Max London’s uses locally sourced ingredients, including fresh-squeezed fruit juices in its cocktails and house-made mozzarella cheese, making it an appealing choice for those looking to support local farmers. The menu contains many enticing culinary offerings, such as the “Devils on Horseback” appetizer (medjool dates stuffed with blue cheese and marcona almonds, accompanied by applewood smoked bacon and smoky maple syrup), and there’s a separate (equally delicious) menu for weekend brunch.
466 Broadway, Saratoga Springs 518.587.0505
Mama Mia’s Pizza & Cafe
Just outside Downtown Saratoga, Mama Mia’s Pizza & Cafe, a family-run Italian restaurant, is situated in the Ballston Avenue Price Chopper Plaza. Mama Mia’s takes pride in the diverse range of Italian comfort foods that it serves, such as calzones, Italian meatballs, hero sandwiches, pasta dishes and hand-tossed wood-fired pizzas, as well as vegetarian and gluten-free entrée options. While Mama Mia’s has a relaxed, cozy vibe for dining in, it also provides full-service catering—from food and tent set-up to large trays of delicious food—for any event or holiday. Take-out is also a popular option for many of the restaurant’s loyal customers, and for every $100 in gift cards you buy, you’ll receive a $20 bonus card.
185 Ballston Avenue, Saratoga Springs 518.583.7783
The Inn At Erlowest
The Inn At Erlowest, a Queen Anne-style stone castle on the western shore of southern Lake George, isn’t just a private residence turned award-winning ten-suite luxury hotel—it’s also a fine dining, farm-to-table restaurant destination for guests and the public alike. The inn serves an à la carte dinner menu—with dishes including Berkshire pork ribeye, red wine braised beef short-rib and Hudson Valley duck breast—in its dining room (and seasonal outdoor dining area, complete with a fire pit and gorgeous view of the lake), as well as a lighter fare menu of cocktails and appetizers, such as coconut shrimp and charred tomato risotto, at the Library Bar. Weekly specials made with seasonal foods ensure that each visit is a unique dining experience. Guests at the inn are also treated to a farm-fresh breakfast in the dining room the morning after their stay. Be sure to check theinnaterlowest.com for seasonal dining hours and more.
3178 Lake Shore Drive, Lake George 518.668.5928
Saratoga Stadium
From its Broadway locale, Saratoga Stadium is arguably the city’s finest sports bar, providing televised coverage of a range of top sporting events. Saratoga Stadium offers patrons a casual atmosphere, with a menu full of all the traditional favorites—burgers, nachos and pizza—as well as 25-cent wings from 6pm to close on Wednesdays. Saratoga Stadium also offers a diverse range of seasonal drinks (including a Kentucky Mule), wines by the glass and by the bottle and house-made sangria. To finish things off, the dessert menu displays some tempting treats, such as fried dough and the “Junior’s Giant Cheesecake for 2.”
389 Broadway, Saratoga Springs 518.226.4437
Gaffney’s
A longtime Saratoga Springs staple, Gaffney’s is a local favorite for casual American dining and bar fare. Its Caroline Street location in the heart of Downtown Saratoga solidifies its status as a go-to spot for late-night dining, drinking and dancing. Patrons can enjoy regular DJs and live music performances there, as well as half-priced beers on Tuesdays beginning at 4pm. In addition to the burgers, wings, nachos and specials available on its dinner and late-night menus, Gaffney’s offers Sunday brunch from 10am-3pm, featuring breakfast staples, sandwiches and more.
16 Caroline Street, Saratoga Springs 518.587.7359
Lake Ridge Restaurant
Conveniently located about 15 minutes south of Downtown Saratoga in Round Lake, Bob McKenna and Chef Scott Ringwood’s Lake Ridge Restaurant has been a local favorite for casual fine dining for 17 years of greatness. Lake Ridge specializes in award-winning New American cuisine, which it shows off on upscale lunch and dinner menus, highlighted by Herb Crusted Swordfish, Duck Breast, Filet Mignon and Pecan Pork Chop. McKenna says Lake Ridge Restaurant, which operates under the slogan “simply the best and voted the best,” is proud of its “consistent greatness,” as it has been winning awards for more than a decade, including Best Chef in the Saratoga Today Best of 2018 awards.
35 Burlington Avenue, Round Lake 518.899.6000
The Local Pub And Teahouse
The Local is a neighborhood restaurant and bar that serves traditional English and Irish specialties, such as fish ‘n’ chips and bangers & mash, with a unique selection of both craft beers and organic teas from around the world. In addition to its daily lunch and dinner menus, The Local is open for its award-winning brunch on weekends from 9:30am-3pm and for breakfast sandwiches, pastries and an espresso bar serving Kru Coffee products seven days a week at 7am. Other special menus include a late-night menu with traditional pub fare including wings and nachos, and a $5 lunch menu, available Monday-Thursday.
142 Grand Avenue, Saratoga Springs 518.587.7256
Special Promotional Section: The ‘saratoga living’ Holiday Shopping Guide
Headed out to do some last-minute holiday shopping in Saratoga Springs? Our vibrant downtown business district is filled to the brim with wonderful shops and stores that sell a panoply of amazing holiday gifts for friends and family, including jewelry, skiwear and fashion-forward styles. Here are five can’t-miss holiday shopping destinations in the Spa City and beyond.
deJonghe Original Jewelry
Dennis deJonghe opened his custom jewelry store with his wife Peggy on Caroline St. in Saratoga Springs in 1982. Dennis saw the local support for his craft and quickly outgrew his small shop on Caroline Street, moving to the company’s current space on Broadway in 1988. Dennis and Peggy’s son, Evan, joined the business in 2013 and brought with him business acumen and a knowledge of gemology and jewelry creation using new-world techniques. deJonghe’s original designs have garnered worldwide recognition for their beauty, quality and elegant lines, and serve as the perfect one-of-a-kind gift for that special, one-of-a-kind person.
470 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, 518.587.6422
Alpine Sport Shop
Alpine Sport Shop is essential for holiday shopping, especially for the winter enthusiast in your family. Inside the classic ski chalet-style building on Clinton Street in Saratoga, you’ll find Kühl soft flannel shirts, Newland sweaters, Marmot jackets, Astis mittens, Pistil and Chaos hats and scarves as well as skiwear from Obermeyer, Sunice and Picture Organic, not to mention Alpine Sport Shop’s wide selection of skis, snowboards, snowshoes and gear from K2, Salomon, Blizzard, Volkl, Rossignol, Armada and many more.
399 Clinton Street, Saratoga Springs 518.584.6290
Caroline & Main
Caroline & Main, located, fittingly, on the corner of Caroline Street and Broadway, directly across from its sister store, Lifestyles Of Saratoga, is known for its elevated and inspired style that borders on the nautical. Customers love Caroline & Main for its wide assortment of apparel for the fun but sophisticated woman, including clothing, shoes and accessories. Owner Heidi West, a Fashion Institute of Technology graduate, opened the boutique in 2016 after having much success at Lifestyles, which she took over in 2013.
438 Broadway, Saratoga Springs 518.450.7350
Violet’s Of Saratoga
Violet’s Of Saratoga, located in the heart of Downtown Saratoga Springs, is a women’s lifestyle boutique that carries casual wear, denim, workwear, cocktail dresses, handbags, shoes, jewelry and gifts, all made by contemporary designers. With such a wide variety of affordable, ready-to-wear clothing from brands including Free People and The Frye Company, the Violet’s team is always ready to assist women who are looking to reinvent their wardrobe, searching for the perfect piece for a special event or in the midst of a fashion emergency.
494 Broadway, Saratoga Springs 518.584.4838
MinkyMink
MinkyMink is a fashion sanctuary located in Downtown Glens Falls that offers curated clothing and accessories at affordable prices. The boutique is known for its modern and comfortably chic wardrobe essentials and statement pieces, from a variety of brands including 7 For All Mankind, Alternative Apparel, Clara Sunwoo, Hunter Boots, Knot Sisters and Scotch & Soda, as well as jewelry from Buffalo Bannon Designs, a local company run by MinkyMink Owner Maura Forcier’s sister.
203 Glen Street, Glens Falls 518.926.7227
Saratoga Spa City Ballet Staging Its 25th Anniversary Performance Of ‘The Nutcracker’ At The Egg
In 1892, a fairytale ballet adapted from an E.T.A. Hoffmann story and set to composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s music came to life on a Moscow theater’s stage. Forty-eight years later, The Nutcracker would make its way to western audiences, proving to be a holiday staple for decades to come. Now, Saratoga City Ballet (SCB) hopes to bring new life—and audiences, of course—to the classic two-act ballet with its 25th anniversary production.
On December 21 and 22, SCB will be staging its classic version of The Nutcracker at Albany’s The Egg, led by Artistic Director Beth Fecteau and featuring professional dancers from the Nacre Dance Company, alongside SCB dancers. Fecteau has a special history with the ballet, first premiering her own choreography for the production in 1996 at the historic Cohoes Music Hall. After a successful debut, Fecteau’s production was performed for ten years at famed The Egg, where the 25th-anniversary production will take place.
“From the costumes to the sleigh and the actual nutcracker used for the show, each piece of scenery, each costume, has a story,” says Traci Jersen, President Of The Board at SCB. “Any dancer will tell you that Nutcracker season is the best of all. Altogether, the Nutcracker magic permeates every corner of our [Route 50] studio.” And while the ballet is staying true to form in some ways, it’s thinking outside the box in others. The production will feature digitized backdrops of original artwork by local artists.
SCB’s production takes place at 7:30pm on the 21st (buy tickets here) and 2:00pm (here) and 7:30pm (here) on the 22nd, at The Egg’s Hart Theater. Tickets cost $28 for adults, $20 for students and senior citizens, and children under the age of five get in for free.
Alpine Ski Paradise: When The Italian Alps Come Calling
The Alpine Sport Shop, which sits at 399 Clinton Street just past the western entrance of Skidmore College, is nothing short of a local icon. First opened in 1941, the family-owned business is now one of the oldest ski shops operating in New York State, and Owners Cathy and Jack Hay have welcomed generations of local skiers through the shop’s massive blue wooden doors.
Nearly a quarter-century ago, piggybacking on the success of their business, the Hays first organized and hosted a weeklong ski trip to Innsbruck, Austria, and their devoted customers followed. Every year since, they’ve offered one or two destination ski trips per season—some domestic, others international—to legendary winter sports hubs, such as the Rocky Mountains in Colorado; Sun Valley Resort in Idaho; Chamonix-Mont-Blanc in France; and the remote Portillo, a resort located in Chile’s Andes mountains. (If you’re wondering, trip number 41 kicks off on March 2, 2019, in Taos, New Mexico.)
But the shop’s ski trip closest to my heart took place in Cortina d’Ampezzo (Cortina, for short), a resort town in the Northern Italian Alps, in 1995. After closing my own local business, I officially joined the Alpine Sport Shop team, linking up with the Hays on their second ski extravaganza. Since then, I’ve been reminded, daily, of the trip by the handmade wooden sign on my kitchen wall that points southeasterly and reads, “Cortina 3831 Miles.” It was a treasured gift from the Hays. Under the sign is my clock in the shape of a squirrel, the mascot of Cortina, with its paws indicating whether I need to speed up my day—or have the luxury to daydream about the Italian Alps.
I remember that first journey to Cortina like it was yesterday. (As part of Team Alpine, I’ve been back five times, leading and hosting a number of Saratoga Springs-based skiers on the trip of a lifetime.) We first flew into Venice, then wound two-and-a-half hours north into the Italian Alps, where the world-renowned ski resort revealed itself as an unending winter landscape of snowy peaks and breathtaking natural beauty, thus earning the name Queen of the Dolomites. Arriving at dusk, I witnessed the breathtaking enrosadira, or “alpenglow,” when the setting sun paints the mountains surrounding the village pink.
Cortina’s blend of authentic Alpine culture and vibrant, upscale ski scene makes it a winter destination like no other. The skiing is world class, but it’s not a prerequisite to having an unforgettable après-ski experience. As it were, the European jet set put Cortina on the map following the 1956 Winter Olympics, which it hosted—and it has since become an international icon of its own. Classic Hollywood movies including The Pink Panther (1963), James Bond thriller For Your Eyes Only (1981) and Sylvester Stallone vehicle Cliffhanger (1993) were filmed there. The latter was shot on Monte Cristallo, part of the surrounding Dolomiti super-ski area, a 1000-year-old hotspot, which is inexplicably modern yet frozen in time. (It’s the real deal…Che bellissima!)
Of course, when you’re in Cortina, you’re on Italian time: The rhythm of every day is a dance, and the pace is as free and pure as each cleansing breath of mountain air you breathe in. Want to enjoy a two-hour lunch on Tofana di Mezzo, Cortina’s highest peak, after hitting the slopes at 10am? No problem. There, you can get my favorite regional delicacy, casunziei, beet ravioli with poppy-seed brown butter—with a glass or two of prosecco to wash it down.
There’s truly no place in the world like Cortina—and, as luck would have it, the Alpine Sport Shop plans to host another ski vacation there in 2020. I’ll see you there. Andiamo tutti!
The Holidays, Saratoga Style
What I love most about the holiday season in Saratoga Springs is the unexpected spirit of giving, cheer and decoration. It was in the winter of 2006—my family’s first holiday season in Saratoga—that this became evident. As I walked toward Broadway from our small downtown apartment one evening in December, my little boys in tow, their matching red winter hats, navy coats, mittens and boots keeping their small bodies warm, the sweet hum of caroling filled the otherwise quiet night. As if walking into what seemed to be a Norman Rockwell painting, we joined a crowd gathered in front of City Hall, singing and drinking hot cocoa offered from a large pot, its steam drifting into the night.
A Salvation Army volunteer stood on the corner ringing her bell, and I watched as each passerby tossed money into the kettle. Across the street, the grand, iconic wreath hung on the Adirondack Trust Company’s façade, lit by strings of twinkling white Christmas lights. Each storefront window told its own holiday story with decorated trees, gingerbread houses, coveted toys and glistening ornaments. A soft white snow began to fall as we walked past front porches aglow with lights, fresh wreaths hanging on their doors, as if to say, “Come in friends, celebrate with us.”
Although the crowds and revelry of the summer months die down considerably in the winter, there is a different sort of bustle around the holidays—one marked by joy and merriment, giving an even more special feeling to the city. From the Victorian StreetWalk and the arrival of Santa Claus and his reindeer to his house (which magically returns every winter to Broadway) to the charitable Festival Of Trees, tree-lighting ceremony, and, of course, the epic First Night celebration, the wonderment of Saratoga at holiday time is just as magical to my family now, more than a dozen years later, as it was that very first season.
Saratoga’s winter season is marked by fancy charity galas and sparkling lights everywhere you look—and even on the coldest, snowiest nights, you’ll be sure to find a mug of hot cocoa, families taking in Broadway’s magic and a community that decorates and celebrates together.
Holiday magic is alive and well in Saratoga—aren’t we the lucky ones?
DeCrescente Distributing: It’s All In The Family
It wasn’t until I met C.J. DeCrescente that I began to notice all the DeCrescente Distributing trucks around Saratoga Springs. Sure, I noticed the delivery trucks that always seem to be lining Caroline Street but I never realized just how many of them are from DeCrescente. Dude, they’re everywhere.
DeCrescente is a Mechanicville-based beverage distribution company that’s celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2018. Angelo DeCrescente founded the business in 1948 with one truck, and since then, the fleet has expanded to 55, which annually delivers ten million cases of beer and other beverages to clients in 11 counties in Upstate New York. That’s up to 800 cases per day during the height of the summer season. More importantly, since the beginning, the company has stayed family owned: Angelo’s son Carmine I took over in ’73 and his son C.J., who’s the current President, assumed the leadership role in ’97. Now C.J.’s sons, Matthew and Carmine III, both work at the company.
I first met C.J. at the home of Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz, of all places. For being the wildly successful force behind DeCrescente Distributing’s growth over the past two decades, C.J. was surprisingly easy to talk to, and seemed just as captivated by Ortiz’s decked-out Red Sox memorabilia-filled man cave as I was. (DeCrescente distributes Ortiz’s Arias Wine.)
A few months later, C.J. and I reconnected to discuss DeCrescente Distributing’s past, present and future. I first asked him about his company’s secret sauce: How have the DeCrescentes kept their business afloat and in the family for 70 years? “I’m not trying to be cliché, but I think if you can create an environment and a culture where your people can feel good about where they work and that they have a voice and can come forward and bring their ideas or issues to you, that creates the right culture and a family-type atmosphere,” he says. In other words, run the business as if it were a family. For example, DeCrescente hosts various family-friendly activities throughout the year for its employees, including a breakfast with Santa Claus during the holiday season and a night at the Great Escape in Queensbury. As for DeCrescente himself, running the family business wasn’t always in the cards. C.J. actually wanted to be a physical education teacher, and only after driving his first sales route did he find his place in the business. “I liked the competitiveness of it and I’ve always liked dealing with people, so that made me go in the beer direction,” he says.
Turns out that “the beer direction” isn’t all business, all the time; it’s allowed C.J. to have a positive impact on his community, too. For one, he serves on the boards of the Northeastern New York Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, Saratoga Performing Arts Center, CAPTAIN Community Human Services and the David Ortiz Children’s Fund. He’s also the Chairman of the New York State Police Signal 30 Benefit Fund, which helps support officers injured or killed in the line of duty and their families. All that, and DeCrescente Distributing partners with dozens of other nonprofit organizations throughout the year for benefits in the Capital Region. “The business that we do in the area has just enabled us to participate in various philanthropic activities that we like doing and that are just good for the community,” C.J. says.
C.J. remains quite bullish about the next 70 years of DeCrescente Distributing. “I want the company to be better than it was, and by the time it gets to my son, I want him to be able to make it better than when I had it,” he says. “If he can do better than me, then I’ve done my job. My goal is to put my two boys in the best position to succeed in the future. That’s really my job now—to get them ready.”
And that, my friends, is the key to a family business that just plain works. Happy birthday, DeCrescente Distributing. I look forward to seeing many more of your trucks roll by.
2019 New Year’s Resolutions From The Saratoga Springs Community
Ah, the proverbial clean slate! Although sometimes hard to come by in the mire that life can become, perhaps that’s what makes a clean slate every bit more refreshing when one is found. I think we can all agree that while life may offer up a varying degree of challenges, it’s not impossible to hit that reset button. And, well, each of us gets a chance every year, whether we like it or not. In short, we get the new year.
As we usher out the old year and welcome in the new one, we’re all gifted with the chance to reboot our lives. No matter where we are in the world, we all wake up on January 1 with newly affirmed vows to better ourselves. Whether the changes we promise ourselves to make are big, small, simple or complicated, the beautiful thing is that all are acknowledged as justified by the ringing in of the new year.
In the past, making my yearly resolutions was fairly easy for me to do. Essentially, I just looked at the level of professional baseball I was playing the year before and aimed for the next rung up. As it turns out, though, a lot can happen in a year, as I left the comfort of the town I grew up in (Williamstown, MA) and the only profession I ever knew (Major League Baseball) to sell real estate here in Saratoga Springs, all within a 12-month span. All of a sudden, my statistical success-markers appeared foreign: “strikeouts” were replaced by “listings sold” and “earned-run averages” by “average days on market.” At first attempt, it was a major challenge to assess my past year. Life, it seemed, had gotten a little more complicated…or had it? The more I pondered, the more I realized that, at the end of the day, the fundamental objective remained the same: to be better than I was the year before. Period.
All of this talk of new years and self-transformation makes me think of a quote attributed to Ernest Hemingway: “There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.” Of course, open to interpretations as varied as the eyes that read it. Yet as I share with you some New Year’s resolutions from fellow Saratogians, a true constant resides in everyone’s responses: We all have room for improvement. So cheers to that clean slate! May we all use ours to its fullest potential.
Michele Desrosiers
Chief Marketing Officer, Saratoga Performing Arts Center
My New Year’s resolution is to become more intentional in my consumption of social media—in a couple of ways. First, I’d like to replace some of the time I spend keeping up with social media with more reading for work or pleasure. Then, I’d like to exercise more on my recumbent bike and use that time to catch up on social media.
Tina Nigro
Licensed Real Estate Salesperson, Residential and Commercial, Julie & Co. Realty
1. Increase my emotional intelligence: Instead of being frazzled in stressful situations, I’m going to work on being more poised.
2. Bring more peace into my life and others’: By passing it forward. I feel many of us would have more peace in our daily lives if we thought about others before ourselves.
3. Travel more: I hope to go to Italy in September 2019 with my mom.
4. Learn something new every day: Be open-minded to listening and learning from others on a daily basis.
5. Get back in the saddle: Get back to the barn at Skidmore College’s Equestrian Stables! Horses are the best therapy.
Adam Gray
President/CEO, SheetLabels.com
1. Never stop learning: Find something new to learn about—for me, it would probably be related to a venture I’m involved in.
2. Don’t let obstacles get in my way: Make sure any challenges I’m faced with are treated as a learning opportunity.
3. Have more fun: Make more of an effort to have more fun with my family and friends.
4. Stay focused on the win: Keep my head down, listen to my advisors and scale my efforts as far ahead as possible.
5. Reduce stress: Make it a point to schedule some regular alone time at the spa
and the gym, and to meditate.
Alyssa Vilsaint
Barista, Uncommon Grounds
Some of my resolutions include being more responsible, actually saving some of my money and traveling more. Also to convince my boyfriend that we need another dog!
Kristen Zorda
Owner, Yoga Mandali
My New Year’s resolution is to help more people experience yoga in a way that’s accessible to them. Yoga can serve people in a lot of ways, and there are many styles to choose from.
Darryl Leggieri
President, Discover Saratoga (Saratoga Convention & Tourism Bureau)
• Have more fun with my family: As our three kids get older, it’s still important to create special family memories for everyone to cherish.
• My personal touch: I plan to write more handwritten notes for meaningful connections.
• My creative side: Start taking an oil painting class again (I haven’t taken one since college).
• Visit my parents: Spend more quality time with them, and help them when they need it.
• Man up: Spend more quality time with my wife.
• Contribute to a cause: It’s the least I can do to make my community a better place to live in.
Molly McCormack
Kindergarten Teacher, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Central School District
When saratoga living first called me about a New Year’s resolution, I thought to myself: I can’t remember the last time I made a New Year’s resolution. After thinking about it for a while and putting it off, I realized that deciding on a resolution is another way I can keep my dad’s memory alive. He passed away in June 2017, and he was and will always be my favorite person. He was the happiest, most hard-working man I’ve ever known, and I will always strive to be more like him. So, long story short, my New Year’s resolution is to be more positive, work harder and have more fun, just like my dad.
Deborah DePasquale
CEO/Founder, TOGA HERITAGE
I’m not really one for making New Year’s resolutions…not anymore, anyway. I learned a long time ago that it’s a sure way to set myself up for failure. So, in short, I’m choosing joy for 2019…and the rest will follow!
Danny Petrosino
Owner/Head Chef, Osteria Danny
I take New Year’s resolutions very seriously. Extensive thought was put into this year’s: I plan to quit smoking, lose weight, exercise more, never raise my voice in the kitchen and drastically lower my menu prices.
Sandra Fox
Founder/President, Sensory Six
“Zen” is my word for 2019, with the intention being to live my life with more peace, joy and balance. I plan to be more mindful, giving my full presence to the people around me and the moment I’m in. Making a habit of spending more time in nature will certainly be a goal. Maintaining a strong, healthy body and mind will continue to be a priority, fueled by sleep, exercise and healthy food. I will also actively seek personal growth with continuous learning through new experiences and travel to new places. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, I will surround myself with my tribe and make time to be with those people.