For saratoga living‘s “The Best Of Everything” (September/October) issue, we’re inviting you to vote in the “Saratoga’s Best” Awards. The resulting A-Z guide will cover the best food, places and things in Saratoga Springs, and we can’t do it without you! Click here to take the survey. Pick up a copy of “The Best of Everything” issue, out on September 6, to see the results!
Who needs to stand around the Paddock or rail at Saratoga Race Course to get jockey autographs, when they can do it right in Downtown Saratoga Springs? The phenom Ortiz brothers, José and Irad—who just happen to be gracing saratoga living’s latest “The Races!” issue cover—will be doing an exclusive autograph session, along with celebrated Travers Stakes poster artist Greg Montgomery, at Impressions of Saratoga‘s The Dark Horse Mercantile on Monday, July 30 from 7-8pm. The best part? SL‘s hooked up Dark Horse with 200 copies of our latest issue for fans to have signed.
Now, I’m going to assume you’ve read Teresa A. Genaro’s wonderful cover feature on the Ortizes already, but if you haven’t, here’s a quick recap: The pair, who hail from Puerto Rico, have absolutely destroyed in the jockey rankings, racking up a combined 3500 wins, 22 riding titles, 2 Belmont Stakes wins and 5 Breeders’ Cup victories—and they’re only in their 20s. They regularly compete against each other in races across the country—including right now, daily, at Saratoga Race Course. Greg Montgomery, on the other hand, has been the official poster artist for the Travers Stakes since 1986—the longest-running series by a single artist for a single event in racing history—and will also be at the event signing his posters, notecards and books.
The signing at the aforementioned Dark Horse Mercantile—Impressions of Saratoga’s new spinoff store that opened last month in Downtown Saratoga—promises to be one of the highlights of the track season, as well as a fantastic fundraising opportunity for the Race Track Chaplaincy of America – New York (RTCANY) and the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF). “We used to do jockey signings all the time years ago, and it’s been hard to set them up the past few years,” says Maddy Zanetti, Co-owner of Impressions of Saratoga and one of the organizers of the signing. “When [the charities] said the Ortiz brothers wanted to do it, we said, ‘Oh yeah, definitely, that’d be great!’ And they wanted to do it at the new store. So we were able to do it Monday night. We just started planning it yesterday.”
The RTCANY provides Saratoga Race Course’s backstretch community with recreational and social service programs, educational opportunities and some nondenominational religious services. Working at Belmont, Aqueduct and Saratoga, RTCANY serves over 3500 employees of the NY circuit. As for the PDJF, it’s an independent charitable organization that provides financial assistance to jockeys who have suffered catastrophic on-track injuries. Since 2006, the PDJF has distributed nearly $9 million in aid and currently supports some 60 former riders.
There’s a minimum $10 donation for the July 30 signing, with all proceeds split between RTCANY and PDJF. As noted above, 200 copies of saratoga living’s “The Races!” issue, which features photographer Susie Raisher’s incredible black-and-white cover portrait of the Ortiz brothers, will be available for signing, and guests are free to bring their own pictures or memorabilia to have signed—and are even encouraged to take a selfie with the brothers. You won’t want to miss out!
Talk about having the luck of the Irish. Every Saratogian who bleeds green will be glad to know that the Trinity Irish Dance Company will be making its Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) debut on Monday, July 30. With its emphasis on innovative choreography and aerial grace, Trinity offers a unique fusion of traditional Irish dance and contemporary American music, which has resulted in success and critical acclaim the world over. Trinity’s performed sold-out tours in Europe and and as far off as Asia, and made appearances at the Kennedy Center, New York’s Joyce Theater, The Tonight Show and has been featured in a number of films, including the Oscar-nominated Backdraft.
The Company’s performance on Monday is part of an effort by SPAC to bring more world music to the Spa City. “Last year we created an immersive, Argentinian festival around Che Malambo’s performance that resulted in one of the most memorable programs of the season,” says Elizabeth Sobol, President and CEO of SPAC. “Due to the overwhelming response from our audiences, we are expanding our program offerings with a continued focus on world music and dance ensembles.”
Trinity was founded in 1990 by Emmy-award winning choreographer and the Company’s current Artistic Director, Mark Howard. Howard’s own background reflects the company’s melding of two different worlds: Born in Yorkshire, England, but raised in the American Midwest, Howard began his dancing career at the age of eight at Denney’s School of Irish Dance in Chicago. In 1982, he founded the Trinity Academy of Irish Dance (now in Chicago, Milwaukee and Madison, WI), whose dancers soon began to win a record number of titles for the United States at the World Championships of Irish Dance. Howard then began experimenting with dance formats and expanding the Academy’s range and repertoire. This eventually led to the founding of the Trinity Irish Dance Company, which features traditional Irish dance set to modern music, and has been credited as the birthplace of progressive Irish dance (this, of course, led to phenomenally successful productions such as 1995’s Riverdance).
The July 30 concert will also include a pre-show performance at 7:15pm: The final show of the professionally choreographed “The Performance Project: Youth in Motion.” Headed by the National Dance Institute and presented in partnership with the Capital District and Saratoga Regional YMCAs, the program will feature the talents and dance moves of 80 local children who’ve been training in an intensive two-week dance camp at the Schenectady YMCA.
Tickets for the amphitheater-only performance range from $27 – $57. For more information visit spac.org.
Vino Rosso, Flameaway, and Tenfold were just a few of the many 3-year-olds Justify left in the dust on his way to becoming Thoroughbred racing’s 13th Triple Crown winner.
With Justify now officially retired, there are ample opportunities for that trio – and others – to win some lucrative races in the division and perhaps set themselves up for bigger and better things next year.
Vino Rosso, Flameaway, and Tenfold are three of the five runners in Saturday’s Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes, a race that leads to the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes later this summer at Saratoga.
Todd Pletcher, the trainer of Vino Rosso, has won the Jim Dandy six times starting in 2000 with two of those winners – Flower Alley and Stay Thirsty – coming back to also win the Travers, a race that will be in need of a favorite.
“The division is certainly more wide open now,” Pletcher said. “There’s a lot of attractive races left to be run. We’re hoping he can step up that next notch and, now that Justify’s out, may be the next best one.”
Vino Rosso won the Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct to earn his way into the Kentucky Derby. Vino Rosso was one of the many who didn’t care for the slop in the Derby, finishing ninth and emerging with a ton of mud in his eye.
“It literally took us a couple of days to get his eyes clean and free of all the slop,” Pletcher said.
In the Belmont Stakes, Vino Rosso made an early move at Justify down the backstretch, getting within a length of that horse with 3 1/2 furlongs to run. But Justify kept going while Vino Rosso flattened out in the lane, finishing fourth, 3 3/4 lengths back.
“I thought he ran solid,” Pletcher said. “He’s training well here. We always felt like he’s a horse that’s going to get better in the late summer and fall of the year as he gets a little older. Hopefully that proves to be the case.”
John Velazquez rides from post 5.
Despite the short field, there appears to be the likelihood of a contested pace. Flameaway, the front-running winner of the Sam F. Davis, drew the rail, prompting trainer Mark Casse to say that he will likely have him sent away from there. Sporting Chance, who won the Grade 1 Hopeful here last summer, is likely to show speed stretching out. Reride, who scratched from Friday’s Curlin Stakes, is another potential pace factor.
The Jim Dandy goes as race 10 on an 11-race card that includes the Grade 1 Alfred. G. Vanderbilt for sprinters; the Grade 2, $200,000 Amsterdam Stakes for 3-year-old sprinters; and the Grade 2, $250,000 Bowling Green Stakes for older horses on turf.
KEY CONTENDERS
Vino Rosso, by Curlin
Last 3 Beyers: 97-88-98
◗ He was beaten only two lengths for second in Belmont when his early move to go after Justify backfired.
◗ Only member of the field to have won at 1 1/8 miles.
Flameaway, by Scat Daddy
Last 3 Beyers: 86-59-93
◗ Finished ahead of Vino Rosso twice at Tampa during the winter.
◗ Casse felt he ran a short horse when he faded to sixth in the Grade 3 Ohio Derby.
“If he doesn’t run well or they beat him, then he’s just not good enough, because he’s at the top of his game,” Casse said. “Where that puts him in there, I’m not sure. His spring form was very good. If he comes with his ‘A’ game, I got to think he’s got as good a shot as anybody, and he’s training right now as good as I’ve ever seen him train.”
Tenfold, by Curlin
Last 3 Beyers: 93-95-92
◗ Did get within three-quarters of a length of Justify when third in the Preakness.
◗ Had less than a smooth trip when finishing fifth in the Belmont Stakes.
◗ Has two solid works over the Oklahoma training track.
The Curlin Stakes, running Friday, July 27 at Saratoga Race Course, is for three-year-olds who have not won a graded sweepstakes over a mile in 2018. The race is, conceivably, a prep for the Travers Stakes, says Daily Racing Form‘s Dan Illman. Hofburg, ridden by Irad Ortiz, Jr., is the horse to beat, with 1-2 odds.
I don’t know if it still is, but attending the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall in New York City as a kid used to be a rite of passage. It was also an event. Seeing the Rockettes explode onto the stage in a flurry of choreographed kicks for the very first time was enough to put Santa on notice. The exact seat number where I sat next to my family has been lost to memory, but the vantage point has been seared into my skull: front right, close enough to take in the theatrics but also the architecture. Radio City, with its gorgeous concentric golden circles, blood-red seats and walls, is like staring into the angry iris of a god. But then, that’s Art Deco for you. When you stare at Art Deco, it seems to stare back, assessing your sophistication and worth (like Saturday Night Live characters Wayne and Garth, whose answer is usually an emphatic, We’re. Not. Worthy).
It wouldn’t be until a while after my wintertime pilgrimage that I would be able to put a style to a name. Longer still, before I grasped that Art Deco—a style influenced by a hodgepodge of decorative arts united by modernity—didn’t just influence the designs of buildings, but furniture, jewelry, fashion and, yes, cars, too. Unfortunately, I was 80 years late to the party: The style effectively died with the onset of World War II. But before it dissolved, it inspired some, including Jean Bugatti, to create some of the most stunning designs, Art Deco or otherwise, in the world. That is, roadsters more artwork than automobile, highly prized today by car collectors everywhere: The Type 57 Bugatti Atlantics.
First appearing on the Bugatti Aérolithe in 1935, the design scheme called for a lightweight but flammable magnesium alloy. As such, the body panels had to be riveted externally—giving it the prominent dorsal seam that produces the complex, exquisite shape. Though the Aérolithe was never recovered—some believe it was scrapped for parts during the war effort—lucky for us, the design survives today in a few Atlantic models. These cars continue to make everything around them seem obsolete. Only a few of the originals have survived to present day, one is on display at the Mullin Automotive Museum in California. Another belongs to Ralph Lauren, who reportedly paid upwards of $40 million for it at auction. A 1937 Type 57S Atalante was found covered in dust in a garage in England. The engine hadn’t been fired up in more than 50 years, and the odometer read under 27,000 miles. These are cars in the same way that the Mona Lisa is a mere painting.
Bringing the past to life this fall is the 2018 International Bugatti Tour and Grand Prix. Hosted by the American Bugatti Club, the exclusive, weeklong rally draws Bugatti enthusiasts from around the world—this year, the tour will be visiting the US for the first time in more than a decade. While the last few Atlantics will probably not be on display, owners in vintage and modern models will nonetheless be taking a winding tour along Adirondack roadways. The rally will descend on the Lake George Club just in time to kick off the Saratoga Wine & Food Festival, a three-day epicurean showcase at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, and pop up at Saratoga Spa State Park’s reflecting pool for a “Bugatti Ballet” auto display.
What is it about the Bugatti brand that elicits such patronage? History has something to do with it, though I would be flat-out lying if I said that other Italian carmakers such as Ferrari and Lamborghini don’t have their own storied legacies. What then? Since the very beginning, when Ettore Bugatti left the German auto industry to create the brand bearing his name, the marque has been about melding high speed performance and exquisite styling into road-bound creations. Famously, Ettore was said to have told a customer complaining about the brakes in his Bugatti, “I make my cars to go, not stop!” Seldom seen in recent years, many of these cars have taken on an almost mythical status. Designed by Jean Bugatti, Ettore’s son, the Bugatti Royale Type 41 became one of the most sought-after luxury cars of all time—in its day competing with the leading Rolls Royce cars of the era. In the world of auto racing, the Bugatti Type 35 dominated the scene for years while facing tough competition from Fiat, Mercedes and Bentley. Even the modern cars are unicorns. More recently, when the Bugatti Veyron was being built, its design brief was simple: The car had to have more than 1000 horsepower; it had to be able to accelerate to 60 mph in less than three seconds; it had to have a top speed of 250 mph; and it had to be stylish enough to be a car you’d want to take to the opera. The design brief for its successor, the Chiron, was even simpler: be better than the Veyron in every way.
Today, the Chiron is the fastest, most powerful and exclusive production super sports car in Bugatti’s history. Each one is a masterpiece of art and performance: a nod to the Art Deco styling of Jean Bugatti, and the engineering of Ettore. To have so many Bugattis descend on Saratoga at once is like having your home decorated by the contents of the Louvre. It’s nothing less than a head-exploding event of fabulosity. A chance to look back at multiple design generations of the past, and look ahead at the blazing-fast future. Just don’t blink. (I still kind of miss the Rockettes, though).
This past May, two of my friends, both recently single, decided to hold their own Saratoga Springs bar crawl, because they “didn’t have time to wait around for an organized one.” Caught in the trenches of saratoga living’s 20th Anniversary issue deadline, I didn’t think I’d be able to participate. “Tell your editor he has to cover the crawl for the magazine!” one of my friends suggested (obviously joking—a three-person bar crawl isn’t exactly compelling feature material). Though SL didn’t cover the crawl—I was able to slip out of the office long enough to hit five bars—the seed was planted, or so my friends claim. A week and a half later, I was assigned a story about club-going in Saratoga: one that required me to go on, yep, a club crawl. Coincidence? Maybe. Serendipity? Probably. Pure fun? Definitely.
Saratoga’s club scene isn’t exactly as wide-ranging as that of larger cities, but we have a solid handful of bars, taverns and clubs where dancing’s permitted and encouraged. The first weekend in June, I rallied four of my friends—two of the OG crawlers and two newbies—for the second bi-weekly Saratoga crawl. What I found was an array of options for clubbing in our small city, from dark, crowded rooms to open-air dancefloors, all of which bring a unique flavor to the nightlife capital of Upstate NY: our home, Saratoga Springs.
THE NEWBERRY MUSIC HALL
Vibe: Latin-y
Specialty Drink: Five are advertised on the menu, including The Lucille Ball, a Shirley Temple for grown-ups
Best Night To Go: Friday
Music: Latin
Crowd: Couples 40+
Overheard: “Everyone generally seems to know what they’re doing out on the dancefloor.”
The Newberry used to be kind of a mystery to me. Located underground, it shares its main door on Broadway with The Comedy Works, and hosts Next Level Church on Sunday mornings. But the Newberry itself is a club, with a U-shaped bar, giant dancefloor and stage. The night of my club crawl, a comedy performance was in session, so the dance club wasn’t operating, but I was told to come back on a Friday for the weekly Latin Night. When I came back the following week, this time on a solo voyage, I found close to a dozen couples tangoing to Spanish music by DJ Frankie Ramos. (The Newberry hosts tango fusion classes at 7pm and 8pm on Fridays before open dancing at 9pm). As someone who generally tries to stay away from can’t-hardly-breathe, crowded clubs, this is definitely my kind of place—at least on Fridays.
SINCLAIR SARATOGA
Vibe: Upbeat, young
Specialty Drink: Jell-O shots
Best Night To Go: Saturday
Music: Dance mash-ups
Crowd: Ages 21-35
Overheard: “I don’t like Jell-O.”
Sinclair is one of the Spa City’s newer nighttime hotspots. Opened in 2017, the place quadruples as a bar, dance club, cornhole range (in the summer), and vintage arcade. The crowd is young, the lights are neon pink and the DJ spinning on the patio the night I was there was one of the best I’ve heard in town for dancing. The word on the street about Sinclair is either (1) “I’ve heard that place is cool!” or (2) “I love that place!” Both are true.
GAFFNEY’S
Vibe: Party time
Specialty Drink: We’ve heard the Lake George Cider Project is very popular
Best Night To Go: Saturday
Music: Variety (country, pop, ’90s); mix of live music and DJs
Crowd: Festive, ages 21-55
Overheard: “You look better with your shirt unbuttoned.”
At its enviable prime perch on the corner of Caroline and Putnam, Gaffney’s has long been a Saratoga institution. Its range of atmospheres—the crowded patio area, always bumping with live music; the darker indoor bar and dancefloor; and the quieter upper floor, where you can catch the hockey game over a bag of free popcorn—make it a bar you can spend the entire evening at. (And I would’ve, had I not had a full night of crawling ahead of me.) You’re bound to run into someone you know and be left with a permanent smile on your face. This is what Saratoga’s all about!
THE SARATOGA CITY TAVERN (4th Floor)
Vibe: Very loud and crowded
Specialty Drink: $5 Bud Light, as advertised
Best night to go: Saturday
Music: Pop/techno
Crowd: Singles
Overheard: “Get a Vodka Red Bull—you know you want it.”
Another local staple is The Saratoga City Tavern. Rising high above its neighboring bars on Caroline Street, the tavern has five floors (including a roof-deck), each with its own vibe. For clubbing, you want the fourth floor. The lights are dim (besides the colored strobes), the music is deafening and the floor is as slick with spilled drinks as you’d expect, given the number of bumping bodies in the room. The fabled fourth floor is the true club experience in Saratoga, and you don’t want to miss it.
PUTNAM PLACE
Vibe: Concert dependent
Specialty Drink: Tito’s Vodka is the most-ordered spirit
Best Night To Go: Depends on who’s performing
Music: Various (jam bands, pop DJs, jazz, open mic nights)
Crowd: Concert dependent
Overheard: “This Miller Light tastes like a caramel smoothie.”
Formerly the Putnam Den, Putnam Place has recently undergone a major, stunning facelift, introducing a brand new mirrored bar, a giant LED screen and killer patio area. The venue’s vibe changes with the performers of the night: Jam bands bring in the older hippie crowd, rap artists appeal to Skidmore College students and saratoga living’s 20th Anniversary party, with music by Cuban quartet ALTA HAVANA and DJ Trumastr, welcomed the entire city. The night of my club crawl, it was the first option, with psychedelic patterns shifting on the LED screen behind the band Dr. Jah and the Love Prophets, and people in tie-dyes head-bopping to the music.
I love going out in Saratoga Springs, because I always run into lots of friends, and before I know it, it’s a big party. There’s just so much to do here and big fun to be had. But sometimes it’s nice to go to a cozy neighborhood restaurant for a quiet meal and close conversation, and I needed a spot like that in town. That’s why I was super-excited when I was asked to come up with a design concept to transform the former Springwater Inn restaurant (it also had a few other unsuccessful incarnations) into something new. The owners, Bob and Mary Alice Lee, wanted a place that “captured the spirit of a Saratoga neighborhood, combined with the functionality of a working restaurant.” And that’s precisely what I’d done, when it opened its doors as The Brook Tavern.
We all know that the quality of the food is critical when we consider restaurants (five stars for the Brook’s skillet cookie—it’s de-lish!). But if you’ve ever sat in an uninspired space, been stuck straining to hear conversations or accosted by bright lights even while eating mouth-watering food, then you know that the decor’s pretty important too. And, having its roots as an 1800s horse-carriage factory, the space needed to be warm and cozy and happy and new, with a nod to the past and to the Saratoga Race Course, which, as it happens, is just a short walk away.
The first time I walked into the space, I looked at the knotty-pine walls, dated bathroom and dingy carpet and envisioned, instead, shiny black wainscot, wide-plank hardwood floors and modern light fixtures. If it was going to be a place Saratogians wanted to (frequently) frequent, it needed to feel reminiscent of a beautiful home, so we added cozy banquettes with Burberry-esque tan plaid upholstery, crocodile leather wall coverings, navy blue walls, tailored shades, shiny polished nickel everything, antique mirrors and beautiful, oversized horse photos. Four months later—and after countless design meetings, gallons of paint and numerous deliveries—the space was transformed into a Saratoga-worthy spot. It felt good.
I recall with great pride The Brook Tavern’s opening party. It was a beautiful day, and as I approached the restaurant, walking past flower boxes and freshly cut grass along Union Avenue, I saw that a crowd of locals was pouring out onto the porch, having filled the restaurant. It was the perfect party. The restaurant was comfy and inviting, with a cool vibe and great neighborhood feel. The owners knew the proximity to the racetrack would mean a busy July and August, challenging us to make the restaurant a year-round destination. That meant creating “a comfortable neighborhood place,” according to Bob Lee, who knew the welcoming attitude of the staff, combined with good food and an inviting interior, would make the restaurant “a fun spot after the races, and a great place to perhaps sit on the porch or find a warm seat in the winter when it’s snowing to listen to live music next to the fire.”
It was at that opening party that my son TJ, then 12, declared with certainty that when he was old enough, he’d work at The Brook Tavern. Being a determined kid who makes stuff happen, he presented them with his working papers and applied for a job when he turned 16, and was hired (yay!) and trained on the fine art of pouring water and stacking dishes (very helpful life lessons). This has made it even more fun for us to eat there, and when, a few weeks ago, my other son Josh and I were in the mood for a burger, we tucked into a cozy booth at The Brook Tavern. I love having dinner with the boys. We always set aside an hour or two and cell phones are kept in pockets. This, with the added new pleasure of teasing my adorable busboy, and the lively bar full of friends, makes it a place we always want to return to. And we do. You should go, too.
My road to baseball super-fandom was paved by an out-of-control baseball card habit and an incredibly mediocre (but shockingly satisfying) career on the Little League fields of the East Side Rec. Sometime in the early 1990s, I was finally ready for the big leagues. My dad packed my older brother and me into the family car and drove us the hour and 45 minutes from Saratoga Springs to Cooperstown, where the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is located. It was there that the second era of my baseball education began: that of sheer reverence. First opening its doors in 1939—with an inaugural class that included icons of the game such as Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner and Ty Cobb—the Hall, like the name of the town itself, has become synonymous with the best-of-the-best of baseball, and annually plays host to an induction ceremony, during which giant throngs of fans and their baseball heroes descend on the tiny Upstate New York town for a weekend of festivities, culminating in the enshrinement of the chosen few in the hallowed institution. (This includes the inductees giving a speech to their adoring fans and getting a bronze plaque, emblazoned with their likeness, mounted in a gallery within the Hall’s walls.) This year’s class is one of the most crowded to date—and offers fans from a wide swath of the country—and even Canada—the opportunity to honor some of their favorite players. This July 27-30, baseball devotees will watch as players Jack Morris, Alan Trammell, Vladimir Guerrero, Trevor Hoffman, Chipper Jones and Jim Thome punch their HOF tickets.
But if you just never got into “America’s Pastime” (it’s really OK), Cooperstown actually has a number of other, equally compelling attractions to offer summer road-trippers. For culture junkies, look no further than the Glimmerglass Festival, featuring one of New York’s premier opera companies, which kicks off on July 7 and runs through late August. This year’s lineup will feature everything from a classic Broadway show (West Side Story) and opera (The Barber Of Seville) to a one-night event starring enigmatic actor Bill Murray. Glimmerglass’ venue, the Alice Busch Opera Theater, is located right on the shores of the picturesque Otsego Lake. Make your plans now, because the festival is extremely popular, and there’s a constant sellout risk.
If you tend more toward the ripped-jeans crowd than the pleated khakis one, I’d suggest heading over to Brewery Ommegang, which not only brews its very own lineup of beers, but also has a summer concert schedule jam-packed with many of the nation’s top music acts. (It’s actually pretty late in the season, but there are still shows to catch.) The “venue” is basically a giant, open plot of farmland, so depending on the weather, it might be best to wear old shoes or hiking boots. Next month’s fare includes modern-era troubadour Ray LaMontagne (I first saw him when he was an opening act in New York City, and even back then, his smoky pipes blew me away) and critically acclaimed Americana band Old Crow Medicine Show (their version of “Wagon Wheel,” which was cowritten by Bob Dylan, got retooled by country star Darius Rucker and turned into a No.1 single). The brewery’s visitors’ center, which includes its café and store—and which books its tours and tastings—just reopened after a $2 million renovation. Upgrades include new indoor seating and a 4000-square-foot covered patio.
Given that Cooperstown gets its name from author James Fenimore Cooper, who famously penned The Last Of The Mohicans, it makes sense that there’d be at least one museum dedicated to his good name. The New York State Historical Association first began building the Fenimore Art Museum’s collection in 1899, and local aristocrat Stephen Carlton Clark—a major art collector and also the guy who founded the Baseball Hall of Fame—provided it with a home in Cooperstown (it was built on the site of Cooper’s former farmhouse). These days, the Fenimore Art Museum houses extensive collections of Native American and folk art, and American fine art and photography. It’s a must-see.
Just a three-minute car ride away from the Fenimore Art Museum is the wonderful Farmers’ Museum, built on a working farm once owned by—you guessed it—James Fenimore Cooper. It didn’t become a museum until 1944, but by that point, it had pieced together a collection of 5000 farming tools and implements, and that number has since ballooned to more than 20,000. Besides being a fascinating museum with expertly crafted exhibitions, The Farmers’ Museum also hosts seasonal events, workshops and lectures. In early July, it will host the 71st Annual Junior Livestock Show. Moo!
Since some of you may be staying in Cooperstown the entire weekend—and even tacking on a Monday for good measure—accommodations are everything. For the golfing fanatic, look no further than the award-winning Otesaga Resort Hotel, which has a top-rated course and that requisite spa for when your legs finally give out from all the museum-going (did we mention it’s located on Otsego Lake too?). The Landmark Inn, The Cooper Inn and The Inn At Cooperstown are also worthy alternatives—call them, the “inn” crowd—each with its own unique helping of small-town charm.
And while it wouldn’t be wrong to suggest a steady diet of yellow-mustarded hot dogs, peanuts and Cracker Jack while you’re in town, there are a number of dining options in Cooperstown that don’t have a baseball theme and still hit a home run. Since Otsego Lake is so darned picturesque in the summer months—and you’ll likely need a good, healthy breeze to fan away temps of 80 and 90 degrees—the Lake Front Restaurant & Bar has delicious pub fare kicked up a few notches by sensational lake views. For those looking for a little bit finer fare, try Mel’s at 22, with its array of upper-crust bistro picks (steaks, chops and the like); Alex’s Bistro, with its wide array of delicious dishes; or Bocca Osteria, known for its crispy, thin-crust pizza.
So if you find yourself with an open weekend this summer, gas up your steed or hog and jet southwest. You’ll be batting a thousand in no time. And if you happen upon a guy in a weatherworn Boston Red Sox hat, it’s entirely possible it’ll be me. Say hello.
In saratoga living‘s “Saratoga After Dark” Issue, local mainstay Harvey’s Restaurant & Bar offered up what they believe is the “Next Great Saratoga Cocktail.” Chief mixologist Matthew Brian Bagley, ahem, sprung into action to create the delicious emulsion he’s calling “The Saratoga Spring.” Learn more about it below.
Mixologist: Matthew Brian Bagley
Bar: Harvey’s Restaurant & Bar
Cocktail: The Saratoga Spring
I’ve decided to name our spirit-forward cocktail “The Saratoga Spring”—mainly because I’m terrible at naming cocktails and figured, why not just drop an “s” from our city’s name? We opted for G’Vine Gin for the subtle nuances of grape, dry Curaçao and Aperol for the contrast of bitter and sweet citrus spirits (an added bonus is the coloration), celery and grapefruit bitters to enhance the dryness of the dry Curaçao—while adding a touch of spring and summer flavors. And to top it off, a dash of green Chartreuse. Add in a splash of simple syrup and a blast of fresh lemon, and you’ve got an amalgam of flavors that screams summer. (On the tail end, you’ll be left with a dry yet sweet finish.) While labor-intensive—and definitely breaking the “rule of five”—if you love what you’re drinking, who really cares? Sláinte!
Ingredients
1.5 oz. G’Vine grape Gin
0.75oz. Aperol
0.5 oz. dry Curaçao
2 dashes of grapefruit and celery bitters
0.5 oz. fresh-squeezed lemon
Splash of simple syrup
Dash of green Chartreuse
Burnt lemon peel
Instructions
Chill a Collins glass, add all the ingredients except for the green Chartreuse as listed above and shake with a full tumbler of crushed ice (these spirits are dominant flavors; the shake is important on this one). Fill the Collins glass with two-inch king cubes, strain, top with that dash of green Chartreuse, and finish with the burnt lemon peel.
Interested in checking out the other “Next Great Saratoga Cocktail” entrants? Sip on Hamlet & Ghost’s “Saratoga Sunset,” Morrissey’s at the Adelphi Hotel’s “Saratoga Smash” and Sinclair Saratoga’s “The Metro.”
