If sipping on a stiff drink is your preferred way to keep warm in the winter, head straight to Lucy’s Bar, a creative new craft cocktail joint on Caroline Street. In addition to being popular with the later-night weekenders, the tiny watering hole’s delicious concoctions have quickly made it the hot new spot for the pre- and post-dinner set. “We’re open 5pm to close seven days a week, and the beauty of that is that a mix of people are able to come in and enjoy it,” says owner Lucy Rivas, who opened the bar with co-owners Zach VanEarden, her fiancé, and long-time friend and Whole Harvest owner Kelsey Whalen. The imaginative cocktail menu, which now includes such belly warmers as Express Yourself (the bar has a loose Madonna theme thanks to the bathroom’s Material Girl mural), a sinful espresso martini with a heady hint of chai tea, and the Lucky Lucy, which Rivas admits is one of her favorites. (It’s a gin cocktail made with goodies such as lavender mist.) The entire staff worked together to create the yummy winter cocktail menu. “We had a little get-together, where everyone brought two cocktails and we had a fun contest,” Rivas says. With work assignments like that, no wonder she calls opening the bar “a dream come true.”
Lucy’s Bar Brings Specialty Cocktails to Caroline Street
Chic Bridal Shower Finds From Miss Scarlett Boutique
When your best girlfriend says, “Yes!” it means that you, girlfriend, have a bridal shower to plan. Luckily, there are so many chic gift ideas right here in Saratoga that you can easily check one errand off the list. Downtown’s Miss Scarlett is packed with accessories that will make the bride feel extra-special on her big day…and every day leading up to it. “Slippers are a must for pre-ceremony photos and getting ready,” says owner Jennifer Marcellus of her boutique’s white, faux fur slippers with gold embroidery ($32). She’s also hot on “bride” clutches as a fashionable way for fiancées to publicize their impending nuptials; options include a resin clutch ($92), ivory minaudiere ($62) and beaded mini clutch ($58). “She’ll feel super-trendy with any of the bridal clutches; not to mention that each is a perfect memento,” Marcellus says. “She could even use the resin clutch as a jewelry box after the wedding as a reminder of her best day ever.” Don’t want to leave out the groom? Grab a “Perfect Pair” gift set, which comes with a decanter and two wine glasses ($78). The soon-to-be Mr. and Mrs. will love enjoying some special vino in their keepsake glasses as they bask in the aftermath of their wedding festivities.
Jenny C Design Creates Custom Maps for Any Wedding
Save-the-dates, invitations, a painstakingly planned seating chart, perfect place settings and…wedding maps? Yep, while traditional road maps have been all but obsolete for the last decade or so, the quaint paper products are making a comeback with young brides- and grooms-to-be who have never actually had to use a map. “Couples who want maps typically have a lot of out-of-town guests, have a ‘wedding weekend’ planned, or are having more of a destination wedding,” says Jenny Dempsey, who owns Clifton Park–based custom stationery company Jenny C Design. “The map really helps your guests become more familiar with the area, where they need to be for the wedding, and can let them know what your favorite local spots are for the best coffee, beer, pizza or brunch.” And as all 20-somethings know, brunch—even on a whirlwind wedding weekend—is always a good idea.
William Adamczak Captures the Beauty of the Snow-Drenched Adirondacks
If it seems like William Adamczak is always in the right place at the right time, that’s because he makes sure that he is. The nature photographer, who splits his time between Milton and Bolton, says that the key to his stunning Adirondack landscapes and up-close-and-personal wildlife shots is, basically, that he’s outside a lot. That, and he’s not afraid to brave the elements, which can sometimes get unruly up here.
“My big things are shooting the night sky—so the Milky Way—a lot, but also bad weather,” says Adamczak, who moonlights (daylights?) as a professor of business analytics and actuarial science at Siena College. “I like to get out and catch those lightning strikes or the foggy mornings, cloud inversions…things that aren’t your everyday shot. As far as wildlife goes, I get out early and often with the camera always nearby. Opportunities sprout up when you’re not even really looking for them.”
A Scotia native, Adamczak became interested in the outdoors as a teenager while he was on a two-week backpacking, caving, canoeing and rock climbing trip. Shortly after, he became an Adirondack 46er (someone who has hiked all 46 of the park’s 4,000-foot mountains). “At that time, I had this mentality that if people want to see these views and this beauty, they need to come out here for themselves,” he says. “Slowly, over time, I came full circle on that. Some people can’t get to see this.” Hence Adamczak picking up nature photography.
If you’re physically unable to catch a sunrise from atop a 4,000-foot peak, seeing Adamczak’s images of it are the next best thing. He’s been carrying a camera with him on his excursions for only the past three or four years, but has mastered the art of capturing unique moments. His winter shots are especially difficult to nab, but especially worth it. “It can be rough, because I’m the one breaking trail after two feet of snow,” he says. “I’m that guy that likes to be up there early, so chances are, there’s not someone in front of me. “But you get a different look to the world in winter—even though it’s more monochrome, there’s just a different beauty to it.” And thanks to Adamczak’s photography, it’s available for all to witness.
Power Couple: JP and Kris Ann Elario
People always assume that Kris Ann Elario, owner of Fleurtacious Designs in Latham, and photographer JP Elario of Elario Photography Inc. developed a passion for all things weddings after they met and fell in love. The two “I do” powerhouses, however, were already well established in their own careers when fate brought them together at a New Year’s Eve (yup) wedding ceremony.
“We knew of each other, but we really met at a New Year’s wedding that we were both working in 2005 going into 2006,” JP says. “We were excited about working together and exchanged phone numbers. The rest is history.” Adds Kris Ann, laughing: “He said he would call me to go out later that night, but I was so tired I just went home and went to bed.”
Nevertheless, the connection was made and nearly 12 years of marriage later, the two share a 6-year-old daughter and separate businesses that have thrived despite the pandemic. In fact, JP and Kris say that today they are busier than ever.
“It actually made it crazier for this year and next year because there are only so many Saturdays and Sundays to fit everybody into,” Kris Ann says. “We probably worked harder this season than we ever have. But [the shutdown] also gave us a taste of what it’s like to not work every weekend and spend more time with family, too.”
“We have to schedule weekends with each other because it can be insane,” JP says. “I slow down after a time, but she never does because hers is a year-round business.”
While JP’s peak wedding months are June, September and October, Kris Ann’s floral business covers all holidays and life milestones, so tends to keep her busy all year. And even when they work the same events, the two will catch but a fleeting glance of the other once the nuptials start because she is finishing the set-up as he is walking in with the bridal couple. For the bride and groom, however, there are advantages to having the Elarios work the wedding together. For one, “you are certainly going to have some beautiful pictures of your flowers,” says JP of his love of showing off his wife’s work.
Even though the couple have worked on hundreds of weddings, they never lose their enthusiasm for the job. “The energy is always exciting and fun,” Kris Ann says. “It’s addicting.”
So what makes the Elarios the ultimate complements to each other at work? Says Kris Ann: “What we do is very different from each other, but we both just love making people happy.” And when working with a couple on their special day, there’s nothing more important than that.
Why You Need a Bundt Wedding Cake
Want a wedding cake no one will expect, but (or should we say Bundt?) everyone will love? Look no further than Nothing Bundt Cakes, a national franchise with locally owned locations in Albany and Clifton Park, which serves up exactly what its name suggests. But these doughnut-shaped delicacies aren’t your grandmother’s Bundt cakes: They come in 10 flavors (including carrot, red velvet, pecan praline and a rotating seasonal flavor), and in four sizes (bite-sized Bundtinis, miniature Bundtlets, and eight- and 10-inch Bundt cakes).
“Our cakes are very popular for weddings,” says Melissa Gleason, who opened the Albany and Clifton Park Nothing Bundt Cakes bakeries with her husband in 2017 and 2021, respectively. “We can tier our eight-inch cake over our 10-inch cake to serve 26 people, and the cakes can be in any of our flavors. Many couples choose to do the larger cakes in addition to the Bundtinis, which can be ordered by the dozen in any combination of flavors. In addition, our individual bundlets can be wrapped up as favors.” The metaphorical icing on top? In this case, it’s the literal cream cheese icing liberally drizzled on top of every Bundt that Nothing Bundt Cakes bakes. Take that, traditional wedding cakes.
The Adelphi’s Women’s Wine Club Returns
The Adelphi’s Women’s Wine Club has come roaring back with a vino-soaked vengeance after taking an extended break due to COVID. Originally conjured up as a semi-serious, private tasting society, the group has morphed into a sophisticated (and open-to-the-public) social club. The new format is loose: a welcome bubbly such as The Adelphi’s own champagne, a heaping spread of food for grazing, loads of bottles of wine to choose from, and a 15-minute educational piece with a local spirits expert—when that works out. “It’s slightly different each time,” says the hotel’s general manager, Helen Watson, who founded the club. “And the new format allows us to partner with great local women.” The club welcomed Lisa Elovich, the beloved owner of One With Life Organic Tequila, in the fall, and whiskey guru Holly Seidewand, co-owner of the new downtown shop First Fill Spirits, on January 19. The group meets one Wednesday a month (check theadelphihotel.com for details), and solo sippers are welcome. “I’m there to facilitate introductions,” Watson says. “Before COVID, many club members met a lot of friends there. Some are new to town, a lot own their own businesses We’re getting back to that.”
Book Nook: Four Hot Reads for Cold Winter Nights
Strange Appetites
By Lâle Davidson
Saratogian Lâle Davidson’s Strange Appetites is a surreal and magical collection of stories. Davidson, an accomplished professor who has taught writing and public speaking at SUNY Adirondack for nearly 30 years, lets her mastery of language shine through in beautiful ways throughout her series of evocative allegorical tales, embodying familiar themes of loneliness, envy and romantic insecurity and creating an atmosphere of ethereal mystique. The poignant metaphors that underlie Davidson’s stories serve as powerful catalysts for personal growth and reflection, prompting her readers to dive inward as they ponder the true meaning of intimacy and transcendence.
Back Dirt: A Murder on Skis Mystery
By Phil Bayly
With the winter season in full swing, it’s the perfect time to plunge headfirst into a riveting cold case mystery novel. The latest entry in beloved Saratoga County–based author and longtime NewsChannel 13 anchor Phil Bayly’s Murder on Skis Mystery series, Back Dirt finds the series’ protagonist, JC Snow, embarking on another enthralling adventure. As Snow traces the trail of a murdered archaeologist, he heads into the heart of Adirondack ski country near Lake Placid to pursue a promising lead. Chock full of exhilarating twists and turns, Bayly’s latest novel is every bit as exciting and fulfilling as a spirited day on the Adirondack slopes.
I Know This Looks Bad
I Know This Looks Bad By John Oliver
(JPV Oliver, Gent)
For a humorous and reflective autobiographical romp, look no further than Saratoga Springs resident John Oliver’s debut book, I Know This Looks Bad: Errors and Graces in a Louche Life. Through a series of witty vignettes, the self-aware Oliver takes his readers along for an enjoyable ride as he recounts his triumphs and misadventures in the worlds of academia and corporate business. Though I Know This Looks Bad is replete with sardonically irreverent commentary, several touching tributes to people who positively impacted his life’s trajectory add emotional depth to his entertaining memoir.
The Necklace
By Matt Witten
Wintertime ennui got you down? Pick up a copy of The Necklace by former Saratoga resident Matt Witten—and say goodbye to your cabin fever. Set in Lake Luzerne, this fast-paced thriller tells the story of a small-town waitress who is fighting to prove the innocence of the man accused of killing her daughter. In addition to several other compelling mystery novels set in Saratoga Springs, Witten has also written for powerhouse TV shows such as Law & Order, House and Pretty Little Liars. For The Necklace, he again draws on his personal experiences in the greater Saratoga region to craft a captivating page-turner.
Saratoga Wedding Florist Samantha Nass Goes Retail
After helping couples design the details of their big day in Saratoga and beyond since 2014, Samantha Nass Floral & Event Design has expanded its European-inspired offerings to include retail. “We decided to switch gears a little bit, partly because of the pandemic and partly because we were ready to change our business model,” says Nass. “We’re going to continue the wedding business, because that’s really our passion—getting to know our clients, working on their special and happy event—but also offer retail based on our style.” Those retail offerings, which are now being sold at a storefront located at 61 Lawrence Street, as well as online at snfloraldesign.com, include candles, tableware, gift boxes, planters, succulents and more—essentially a curated collection of everything you need for the ultimate Saratoga dinner party, and then some.
While Nass is thrilled about all the new products, which include gourmet Sugarfina candies and LAFCO New York candles, both of which aren’t sold anywhere else in Saratoga, it’s the face-to-face connection with customers that excites her the most. “We’ve been by appointment only for the last seven years,” she says. “I’m really looking forward to having more of a dialogue with our client base and also the general public
of Saratoga.”
The new shop officially opened its doors to retail customers on January 24. As for the company’s wedding clients? They’ll still be able to meet with Nass for consultations, right in the Lawrence Street location—and maybe pick up a whimsical grey cat candle,
while they’re at it.
The Lake House on Canandaigua: Your Next Winter Weekend Getaway
What if we told you you could get a Scandanivian spa treatment, a French-inspired dining experience and a Colorado-caliber ski vacation, all smack dab in the middle of New York’s wine country? Oh yeah, and on the shores of a gorgeous fresh water lake, no less? That’s exactly what The Lake House on Canandaigua, a new resort on the north shore of the fourth largest Finger Lake, has to offer.
While the Lake House on Canandaigua officially opened for business nearly two years ago, it wasn’t until this time last year that all 124 guests rooms and suites became available. And it wasn’t until June 2021 that the onsite Willowbrook Spa welcomed its first guests. That makes this the very first winter visitors can get the full Lake House experience. And trust me—if you’re making the three-and-a-half hour trek from Saratoga Springs to Canandaigua, you’re going to want to go all in for the full experience.
Upon arrival you’ll be greeted with a warm welcome and a glass of champagne. “We treat you genuinely like you’re a guest in our lake house as opposed to a customer who bought a room in our hotel,” says GM Chris Pulito. “It’s a small nuance, but it really describes the level of service we provide.” After checking out your room or suite (you’ll have to fight the urge to cozy up and stay in all weekend), head to the hotel’s renowned Rose Tavern, one of three onsite restaurants open through the winter. A true open-kitchen-concept restaurant, the Rose Tavern features new American cuisine with a farm-to-table twist; partner farms from which the tavern sources ingredients like dairy, protein and produce are proudly listed on a chalkboard for all to see. Afterwards, grab a nightcap at the cozy Library Bar; head out for a moonlit ice skate at the Rink at the Lake; or take a late-night dip in the heated, lakeside pool.
Day two starts early—pack up the car and head for nearby Bristol Mountain, the largest ski resort between the Adirondack and Rocky mountains. With two high-speed quads and 1,200 feet of vertical, you’ll feel like you’re in the Green Mountains of Vermont—not the wine country of Western New York. After a morning on the slopes, you’re going to want to warm those cold bones…and what better way to do just that than with a trip to a barrel sauna, one of Spa Willowbrook’s main attractions. Inspired by the traditions of indigenous Northern Europeans, the barrel saunas feature an hour-long treatment regiment that includes flavored waters, scrubs and tinctures. Afterwards, when you emerge, you’re encouraged to rub snow on your body to close up your pores. Follow up that experience with a massage at the spa, and feel all your ski-day aches melt away.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a proper Finger Lakes getaway without wine. Canandaigua is home to the country’s first craft beverage trail, which features some 30 wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries all located around the lake and in the hills that surround it. You’ll also have to check out the downtown business district, which is within walking distance of the Lake House. “There are 52 businesses within about a five-block area, including courtyards for outdoor dining both in the winter and the summer,” Pulito says. “You’re walking along what would be a normal main street and all of a sudden there are flowers and banners in the summertime, or wreaths and light-wrapped telephone poles in the winter. It’s almost like being in a vibrant promenade in a major city right in the town of Canandaigua.”
Before you know it, your winter weekend getaway will be coming to a close. The good news? You can do it all again next winter.