For one glorious spring weekend, Saratoga cooperated and saved the rain for mid-week.

Yesterday’s Sing in the Streets was so reenergizing, wasn’t it?

— Abby

Good vibes all the time!

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Alaturco sets us straight

My go-to lazy day delivery spot is Ballston Spa’s Alaturco, so I was thrilled to hear that they were doing so well they were about to expand into Schenectady.

Apparently, the good news also ignited the rumor mill.

“Okay… We Need To Clear This Up,” the restaurant posted to Facebook this morning, the dramatic Title Case catching my attention. “We’ve been getting SO many messages, calls, and questions lately asking if we’re closing our Ballston Spa location or leaving the farmers markets.”

I’m happy to report that the Mediterranean hotspot is remaining firmly in both Ballston Spa and at the farmers’ markets.

Mercifully, I’m one frequent diner who received both the panic and the all-clear in the same Facebook post. So I wanted to make sure no one else on our side of the Capital Region thought we were losing this special family restaurant.

Opera Saratoga sells out on tour

Opera Saratoga (OS) has joined forces with the esteemed Glimmerglass Festival for a touring production of Kurt Weill’s provocative musical comedy Happy End. And I just got the good news that ahead of its Saratoga stop (May 28 and 30), it’s already sold out two performances: the May 9 show at the Clark Art Institute, and one of the Glimmerglass July dates.

“I was totally surprised by just how funny it is,” says Saratoga’s Steve Rosenblum, who made his way to the Clark to catch the tour’s first sold-out performance — and immediately pointed out any bias he might have as OS’s President of the Board. “At times, I found myself laughing out loud — perhaps to the dismay of those around me!”

Bias or not, Rosenblum knows his opera, so who better to give the Dispatch a little review?

“The amazing Ana Karneža combines her sultry, silky voice with a sharp wit, and as the star-crossed lovers, Christine Taylor Price and Gregory Feldmann strike just the right balance of angst without ever becoming sappy,” he says. “I was not sure how the staging would work, given that the production will be performed in seven or eight different venues, but the set is terrific and cleverly designed to look permanent while still being easily transportable (well, with a fair amount of labor, I hear).

“I found myself completely transported and smiling throughout the entire show.”

The 75-minute Happy End will be at UPH May 28 and 30. To grab your ticket before Saratoga’s dates sell out, visit atuph.org.

Saratoga shows up to sing in the street

By Kathleen Willcox

It felt like the kickoff to the summer season.

Twenty-three performers, 10 stages, one day of festive fun in Saratoga Springs. On Sunday, hordes of people danced, walked, sang, sashayed, ate and drank on the streets for Caffè Lena’s annual free community event, Sing in the Streets.

The show(s) went on at stages across Phila, Broadway, Putnam and Lake Avenue, with attendees soaking up the good vibes and music — but also clearly flexing their outside-in-the-sun socializing muscles after a long winter, chilly spring, and eagerly anticipated bout of rain-free weekend time!

The day was magical, the vibe was great. But after sampling songs from every stage, I had to wedge myself in a chair under a high-rise table at Putnam Place to avoid the over-eager ministrations of the sun. With a range of $6 cans on ice, and other patches of shade, I had plenty of company.

Is it too early in the season to start complaining about the heat?

How to see SPAC’s new art exhibit

There’s a certain magic to live anything — symphony, opera, ballet, theater, bands, bigger concerts. And that special something was captured beautifully in the photographs now on display as part of SPAC’s touching new art exhibit, This Place Loves You Back.

Many of the archival photos — to celebrate SPAC’s 60th anniversary — were taken by local photogs whose names you’ll recognize. Then the dreamy images were given the Whitney Browne treatment to make one cohesive show.

Anyone with fond memories of taking in live shows there (that’s all of us, right?) will really enjoy it — I gave myself a tour last week when I stopped by the Pines to check in on Live Nation. And you can, too! All ticket-holders during the classical season can stop in.

For more detail — including more from Whitney Browne, visit spac.org.

Local winery founder named top in state

Sasha Pardy, co-owner and president of Adirondack Winery and Extreme Heights Cidery and owner of Adirondack Festivals, has been named one of the New York State Restaurant Association’s “10 Women to Watch” in Hospitality for 2026, the hotspot announced today.

Pardy will be recognized during the 2026 Women in Hospitality Conference, presented in partnership with Google, June 2 in New York City.

📰 IN BRIEF

Walt Whitman, the writer

Over the weekend, Kathleen brought you the inside scoop about the lovely person, Katie Crager, behind Whitman Brewing’s Wellness Series (think early-morning meditation, for starters) — including a May 20 panel on mental health. Crager also wrote something about it that I wanted to share, because she dove deep into Walt Whitman, the writer.

In the piece, she’s chosen seven of Whitman’s most famous quotes, and writes how they affect us today.

For more on Wednesday’s panel and to read ‘I contain multitudes,’ visit Crager’s Substack.

Saratoga Joinery among local hotspots named by Philly ‘Inquirer’

Saratoga Joinery, the Bluebird Spa City Motor Lodge and Familiar Creature were some of the local hotspots recommended by the Philadelphia Inquirer in a recent “Field Trip” travel piece.

Read the article for free at msn.com.

📌 ICYMI…

Once-in-a-lifetime tour. Mental health at the brewery.

Heads up: A dose of magic June 4 — plus the May 14-20 Events Calendar

Victory, at last! A 2-year treasure hunt

Short-term rental 411. ✌️ 2 new local TV shows.

🍷 Uncork a taste of Napa Wine Country without boarding a plane

🙌 Support the Dispatch

The Dispatch is FREE to read — and only possible because of our paid subscribers. Support the cause if you can.

Local and real, and never corporate.

— Abby

Support the Dispatch!

The best of California wine country awaits … in nearby Pennsylvania.

If a full week in West Coast wine country isn’t on the table this year, but you’re craving an authentic taste of the Golden State, Turks Head Wines offers just that — wrapped up in a cozy, close-to-home package. Founder/President Allison Owen created her next-level wine experience with the goal of bringing elevated Northern California wine culture — and wine! — to the Northeast.

And the exquisite tasting room experience — just outside of Philadelphia, our nation’s birthplace — is celebrating our nation’s 250th with a unique new commemoration. (For more info, read on!)

Visit Turks Head

Bringing the best grapes and wine culture inspo from CA to PA

The team at the winery meticulously sources the best grapes from a carefully curated collection of vineyards in Northern California, then crafts and produces the wines in the heart of Napa.

Turks Head Wines itself is located in the historic, charming town of West Chester. Owen has created a classic California Wine Country experience there, with a vast wine lounge, tasting space and farm-to-table restaurant — its seasonal menu has become a draw for the entire region.

Serious winemaking chops

The winery is celebrating several recent coups, including an incredible roster of wins at its first showing in the 2026 San Francisco Wine Competition — think multiple Double Gold, Gold, Silver and Bronze medals across their portfolio.

There was also a recent changing of the winemaking guards afoot at Turks Head. Blair Guthrie, the talented international vintner, took over the winemaking reins from head winemaker and longtime friend and collaborator, Kieran Robinson — who is headed to France.

Ship to New York

Can’t-miss, award-winning sips

Sample a few of the recent Double Golds and Golds that Turks Head earned this year at the prestigious San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition in its new Award-Winning Gold Flight.

The $50 tasting includes:

• 2022 Turks Head Cabernet Sauvignon, Extended Altitude, Fountaingrove District: A deeply focused expression of mountain fruit, with notes of raspberries, mocha, leather, violets.

• 2022 Turks Head Cabernet Sauvignon, Hine Ranch, Napa Valley: This leads with red fruit, blackberries, undertones of cranberries and lavender.

• 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, Bidwell Creek Vineyard, Knights Valley: A legendary site dedicated to ultra-premium Cabs, this dark black fruit, chocolate, savory spice, richness but incredible structure for ageability.

• 2022 Turks Head Cabernet Sauvignon, Montecillo Vineyard, Moon Mountain District: Full-bodied, with dark black fruit notes, cassis, California garrigue, velvety richness.

• 2023 Turks Head Merlot, Olson Vineyard, Sonoma Mountain: Blackberry compote takes the lead here, with a savory earthiness and bright acidity that keeps you coming back for more.

  ---

  Book a Private Tasting

Score a deal

Turks Head Wines loves a sippable steal as much as the rest of us:

• Sunday Funday: 4-7 p.m. 50% off glasses of any open bottles

• Thirsty Thursday: 4-9 p.m. 1/2 price featured bottle of the week

• TGI Fridays: 4-6 p.m. select wines 9 oz pour for the price of a 5oz

  ---

Reserve a Turks Head Experience

Uncork a taste of West Chester’s historic-shopping-chic charms

Make the most of a getaway in the Brandywine Valley. West Chester is walkable, but compelling, with plenty to do: 83 shops, 59 restaurants, live music, cultural events, farmers markets and more.

Plus, it’s a history buff’s paradise: check out the place where Abraham Lincoln began his epic run for the presidency; tour the spots that inspired the incredible African-American folk artist Horace Pippin; and see where composer Samuel Barber was brought up.

Where to stay: The Hotel Indigo is a six-floor boutique home away from home, with everything you need, from comfortable linens, to an in-house restaurant, to a fitness center.

Why book now: And lest we forget it’s America’s 250th B-day, there is a slate of events in and around West Chester planned all summer long. (Keep reading for more!)

Explore PA for the 250th!

Turks Head just released two very-limited exclusive wines crafted from grapes sourced from Sonoma County and created in commemoration of the country’s 250th Anniversary.

The Semi Q Red Blend and the Semi Q White Blend will be available at the Turks Head Bottle Shoppe — and online

“This country was shaped not only by ideas, but around tables - in conversation, in community, and over wine,” Owen says. “The Founding Fathers gathered in taverns, raising glasses of Madeira and Claret as they debated the future of our nation. With our Tasting Room located just outside Philadelphia, the birthplace of America, it felt only fitting to celebrate this historic milestone in a meaningful way.”

Plan Your Visit in Honor of Our 250th!

Together with…

Northern California wines in West Chester!

TVs are being moved outside for the Preakness all over town. Hallelujah.

But first … has anyone else noticed the unique programming at my office-away-from home, Walt Cafe/Whitman Brewing Company? A little guided meditation here, a feel-good eco-warrior meet-up there … I asked Kathleen to investigate, and she met the person behind it all.

Happy Saturday.

— Abby

Good vibes all the time!

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Connect and heal — at the brewery

By Kathleen Willcox

Everyone knows we’ve landed in an era of disconnection, when it’s possible to work, shop, visit the doctor and hold meetings with friends and colleagues from the comforts of home, alone.

Thank goodness for people like Katie Crager, a Reiki practitioner, LMSW, at Performance Sanctuary, who is doing what she can to bring members of the community back together again.

In honor of Mental Health Month, Crager, whose family owns Whitman Brewing Company, will moderate a panel of other experts and healers from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on May 20 at Whitman Brewing Company.

She realizes that a brewery may not be the first place that springs to mind when it comes to “an open, supportive conversation about mental health, guided by themes of self-compassion, nature, and humanity,” but Crager believes it’s actually ideal.

“I try to infuse some of my healing work into community spaces to make it accessible,” Crager says. Plus, she adds, the event is inspired by Walt Whitman himself.

The panel brings together a diverse group of local wellness practitioners and mental health professionals who will share insights, experiences and tools for healing and resilience.

“We aim to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and foster a deeper understanding of mental health,” Crager says, “while drawing inspiration from Whitman’s enduring message of compassion and shared human experience.”

Come, connect, listen. IRL. There’s nothing like it.

The best part is, you can extend the healing and conversation after with Whitman’s stellar beer and pizza.

You love Kathleen

After a stranger saw the success of the Dispatch and started a @saratogadispatch Instagram account in January without my knowledge or consent, I at last launched one (give us a follow at @Saratogadispatch518) — even though my focus will always be delivering the news straight to your email.

My posting has gotten off to a slow start, but I did manage to throw up a lovely Mother’s Day post to Kathleen, who does so much for the Dispatch and me (including writing the above story).

And no less than 80 of her fans shared it.

Not left a comment or thumbed a quick like — shared it to their own followers.

Before I moved to Saratoga, I spent a few years writing almost exclusively about travel and wine, which is how Kathleen and I met. I can assure you from first-hand experience that she is revered in the wine world. In the past few weeks alone, she’s been to Champagne and Peru — all while filing stories to outlets such as the Dispatch.

Check out her wine Substack, Good + Tasty!

Not sure what to do with all of this sunshine? We have some ideas!

Weekend Events Calendar!

Thank you for your service

Starting today, Armed Forces Day, the Tang Museum at Skidmore College will provide free admission to active-duty U.S. military personnel. The 2026 program, which ends on Labor Day, is part of the Blue Star Museums program.

To learn more and find a full list of participating museums, visit arts.gov/BlueStarMuseums.

The heart behind the walk

Earlier this week I received an email from a grieving widow wanting me to spread awareness ahead of tomorrow’s Capital Region’s Brain Tumor Walk for a Cure, which starts at 9 a.m. in Saratoga State Park.

Adding it to yesterday’s Events Calendar just wasn’t enough to convey what these walks mean to people with first-hand experiences.

Here’s Julie Rappleyea Audia in her own words:

“My husband, Peter, was diagnosed with a Glioblastoma in August, 2024. He had his craniotomy at Albany Med on August 26, 2024 and died from the GBM beast on March 26, 2026, exactly 19 months later. Peter also had Crohn’s disease, a complication that added to his suffering.

He outlived the median survival rate of 12-18 months.

My family and I started Team Audia to fundraise in honor of Peter last May. This year, we walk in his memory. So far, we are again the leading fundraisers.”

Cheer on Team Audia or join in the walk at Brain Tumor Walk for a Cure.

📸 IN PICTURES

Ballston Spa National Bank celebrates the reopening of its original home office (87 Front St., Ballston Spa) following a historic renovation.

After a razzle-dazzle soft opening around the holidays, Canopy Saratoga (697 Saratoga Rd., Wilton) celebrates its official grand opening — including a newly built facility with a garden center, café and home goods shop under one roof.

More info, visit canopysaratoga.com.

Song Hill Thoroughbreds opens farm gates for public walking tour experience

By Lauren Behan

STILLWATER — It’s the day of the Preakness! Which means the final jewel, our last Belatoga, is right around the corner. And Song Hill Thoroughbreds LLC has a once-in-a-lifetime, behind-the-scenes tour planned for the historic weekend.

The 90-minute tour is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday, June 5 at the farm’s Saratoga County location (290 County Road 75, Stillwater). Doors open at 9:45 a.m., and free parking will be available onsite.

Guests will tour the farm grounds (comfy footwear highly recommended!), visit barns, and meet broodmares and foals while learning about the daily operations of a professional Thoroughbred breeding and racing facility. The event is designed for both longtime racing enthusiasts and newcomers interested in learning more about the sport and the care involved in raising elite equine athletes.

“This tour gives people a chance to experience the heart of Thoroughbred racing up close,” says Grace Bond of H. James Bond Racing Stables. “We’re excited to share the work, dedication and passion that go into developing racehorses from the very beginning.”

For tickets and additional information, visit Eventbrite.

This story was brought to you by…

📌 ICYMI…

Heads up: A dose of magic June 4 — plus the May 14-20 Events Calendar

Victory, at last! A 2-year treasure hunt

Short-term rental 411. ✌️ 2 new local TV shows.

Were you seen by Seen in Saratoga Weds night?

A French rosé with 400 years of history.

---

🙌 Support the Dispatch

The Dispatch is FREE to read — and only possible because of our paid subscribers. Tip if you can!

Always local, never corporate.

— Abby

Support the Dispatch!

Allison Bradley, Four Seasons by Sotheby’s.

Beyond Saratoga County: For a listing of events across the greater Capital Region, visit our friends at ishbulletin.com.

HEADS UP

🥂 Opera Gala: Celebrating 65 Years!

No official Featured Event this week, so while I have you …

I’m co-chairing the 65th Anniversary Opera Gala with Clark Gale this year and — if I say so myself — it’s going to be magical.

Yes, just a hint of magic in honor of this season’s whimsical Elixir of Love, where shady potions and romcom-worthy mix-ups rule the stage.

The singers are so good they’ve been selling out tour stops (more on that tomorrow) across the region.

And on June 4 you can hear them sing in a party setting at the company’s gala at Saratoga National. Think: Covent Garden come alive (My Fair Lady begins June 20), with little surprises around every corner that I can attest to myself. Plus wine, flowers, dinner and dancing.

First Timer tickets are available until tomorrow only. All money raised supports the Capital Region’s only professional opera company, Opera Saratoga. Join us!

A dose of magic? I'm in!

🎟️ REMINDER

👩‍🔬 Only a few spots left for Petal + Hive’s May 17 (Sunday) Blend, Sip & Glow event, where you’ll get to use professional cosmetic chemistry equipment and walk out with a full-size, ready-to-use face serum.

Mad scientist vibes? Yes!

🗓️ Saratoga Springs Events Calendar, May 14 - May 20

Tonight, May 14

Community Night — Saratoga Outdoors | 5-8 p.m.

Stop by Saratoga Outdoors to celebrate Saratoga Trails Alliance. The non-profit will be on-site, and 30% of all sales goes directly to them. Plus, there will be a raffle for a $100 Saratoga Outdoors gift card.

Shaken & Stirred — Saratoga National Golf Club | 5:30 p.m.

Major party pitting some of the city’s biggest names against each other via zany party challenges — all in the name of raising money for the beloved UPH.

Flow on the Farm Yoga — Pitney Meadows Community Farm | 6 p.m. (recurring)

A new weekly outdoor yoga practice — tonight is the launch! — for connecting with nature. All levels welcome.

Garland Nelson Live! — Diamond Point at Embassy Suites | 6:30 p.m.

Garland! Arrive early to get a seat — and enjoy $7.50 Deep Eddy Martinis and half-priced apps all night long.

Abigail Lapell— Caffè Lena | 7 p.m.

Award-winning Toronto songwriter and multi-instrumentalist brings her spellbinding new music to Caffè Lena.

Saratoga Film Forum Weekly Screening — Dee Sarno Theater at Saratoga Arts | 7 p.m.

Triumphant comeback of a beloved film forum, with a focus on independent and curated film to reinforce the region’s appetite for alternative cinema outside commercial theaters. Tonight’s movie: On Becoming a Guinea Fowl.

Friday, May 15

Town of Greenwich Garage Sale Weekend — Town of Greenwich | 8 a.m.

A town-wide garage sale weekend in Washington County.

Live Music: Jeff Brisbin — Henry’s Irish Tavern | 5 p.m.

A local legend at a Saratoga institution.

Friday Night Art Market on Beekman — Beekman Street Arts District | 5 p.m.

Opening weekend for the season!

Yoga Massage Fusion: Restorative Yoga and Massage — Petal + Hive | 6 p.m.

Enjoy 90 minutes of relaxation and renewal for the mind and body.

Weird Phishes & Strange Machines — Putnam Place | 7 p.m.

Exactly what it sounds like — Radiohead “completely reborn as danceable, crunchy jams.”

Raise a Glass to Comedy at The Parting Glass with headliner Jay Rivituso — The Parting Glass | 7:30 p.m.

In their words: No fluff—just a solid lineup of funny people in Saratoga’s favorite Irish pub.

Saturday, May 16

Town of Greenwich Garage Sale Weekend — Town of Greenwich | 8 a.m.

A town-wide garage sale weekend in Washington County.

Art in the Park — Congress Park | 10 a.m.

An outdoor art market in one of the city’s best public spaces.

Flow on the Farm Yoga — Pitney Meadows Community Farm | 10:30 a.m., Recurring

The Saturday edition of the farm yoga series. An unhurried way to start a weekend.

Preakness Watch Party — National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame | 5 p.m.

The second leg of the Triple Crown, watched from inside the Hall of Fame.

Sunday, May 17

Town of Greenwich Garage Sale Weekend — Town of Greenwich | 8 a.m.

A town-wide garage sale weekend in Washington County.

2026 Capital Region Brain Tumor Walk for a Cure — Saratoga Springs State Park | 9 a.m.

The 2026 Capital Region Brain Tumor Walk for a Cure will come together will raise awareness and funds to support the needs of patients with brain tumors and their families.

Sing in the Streets — Caffè Lena | 12 p.m.

Caffè Lena’s annual outdoor sing, which turns Phila Street into a mainstage.

👩‍🔬 Cosmetic Chemistry Blend & Sip: Serum Bar — Petal + Hive | 1 p.m.

Use professional cosmetic chemistry equipment and walk out with a full-size, ready-to-use face serum.

🧸 Virtues & Music — Saratoga Springs Recreational Center | 1 p.m.

Interactive class for kids ages 8 - 11 plus music instruction in a ukelele band!

Live Music: Triple Trouble & Special Guests — Artisanal Brew Works | 4 p.m.

A recurring Sunday booking. April 19 features Triple Trouble Jam.

Self-Care Series — The Performance Sanctuary | 4:15 and 5:30

Rest, reset and recharge: Reiki at 4:15 and Sound at 5:30

Monday, May 18

Escape Room: Downtime for adults — Saratoga Springs Public Library | 9:30 a.m.

No minors allowed for two whole hours! Adults of all abilities take over the Teen Room for crafts, board games and socializing with other adults.

Spirit of Life Landscape Cleanup — Congress Park | 3 p.m.

The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation organizes volunteers to maintain the landscape of the Spirit of Life and Spencer Trask Memorial

Pizza & Pints — Morrissey’s Lounge & Bistro | (Recurring)

Every Monday, enjoy your choice of pizza and a draft beer for just $25 per person.

Martini Mondays — Chianti Il Ristorante | (Recurring)

Kick off your week with Martini Mondays! Enjoy classic & creative martinis for just $10.

Live Music: Jeff Brisbin — The Hideaway at Saratoga Lake Golf Club | 5:30 p.m., Recurring

Monday evening residency!

Tuesday, May 19

Inclusive Paddling on the Canal — Hudson Crossing Park | 10 a.m.

An adaptive paddling program on the Champlain Canal.

$1 Oyster Night — Henry Street Taproom | (Recurring)

Just what it sounds like — slurp $1 oysters all day.

Rich Ortiz — The Hideaway at Saratoga Lake Golf Club | 5:30 p.m., recurring

Two residencies in the same night? This is your man. Catch him at The Hideaway if happy hour time is your jam.

Live Music: Tim Wechgelaer — Morrissey’s Lounge & Bistro | 6 p.m., recurring

Tuesday night residency.

The Garcia Project — Putnam Place | 7 p.m.

A Grateful Dead tribute band whose journey began right here in Saratoga Springs.

Rich Ortiz — Caroline Street Pub | 10 p.m., recurring

And for his late-night fans, Ortiz takes the stage for his second recurring show of the night.

Wednesday, May 20

Ladies Night — Standard Fare | Recurring

“Girl Dinner” special: Crunchy Caesar salad, truffle fries, and a Tiny ‘Tini for $30 bucks.

Opera Saratoga Presents: Festival Artist Portrait Concert — Saratoga Arts | 7 p.m.

A showcase for Opera Saratoga’s festival artists ahead of the summer season.

ThoroughbreDZ: First Pour on the Patio — Forno Bistro | 4 p.m.

The return of Saratoga racing season also means the return of a fan favorite at Forno Bistro — this year, the party is a collab with Wolf Hollow Brewing.

FREE Mental Health Panel Inspired by Walt Whitman — Whitman Brewing | 5:30 p.m.

A public mental health panel at a brewery that has committed to being more than a place to drink.

Submit your event!

With a glorious weekend of sun in the forecast?

Break out your summer wardrobe — looks like Mother Nature has been reading our group chats.

— Abby

Finders keepers

Nothing was going to stop Ashley Salvadore from finding a Saratoga Hidden Horseshoe.

When Saratoga Hidden Horseshoes launched in 2023, it immediately sparked a legion of bounty hunters eager to find one of the 300 (per year) treasures. But Ashley Salvadore? She was blissfully unaware until the next year — and then became addicted. “It’s a needle in a haystack!” she says. “If you think about how big Congress Park is, to find a horseshoe…”

And that’s the idea. The nonprofit hides “authentic racehorse shoes collected from the Backstretch of Saratoga Racecourse each season; 30 of which are decorated by local artists,” says founder Jenn Claeson. Even though each is numbered and has a QR code for registering — and she says most people do register theirs as soon as they find one — she remained coy about how many are still out there.

But she did say that — spoiler alert — Salvadore’s find was more than a year old, which backs up their claim that “there are always shoes out at all five locations!”

For those five locations and for info about the 2026 hunt, visit SaratogaHiddenHorseshoes.com.

Q: Two years … you’ve really been searching for one of Saratoga’s Hidden Horseshoes for two years?

Two summers, feverishly. I’ve gotten on my hands and knees in the mud. I’ve sprinted at trash. I’ve dragged my mini Aussie, Grace, through thorn bushes chasing a glint of silver that turned out to be a Stewart’s cup. Meanwhile an 8-year-old wanders into Congress Park and finds one in 30 seconds.

Q: How did this even start?

At the Logan Strong Gala, two years ago. I sat next to an older gentleman — Sigi— who casually said, “Ever heard of the Saratoga Hidden Horseshoes? It’s basically a year-long Easter egg hunt.” I was in. Plot twist: I ran into Sigi again on opening day this year at Spring Run Trail. We hugged.

Q: Worst park to search?

Bog Meadow. I have been to the Amazon, and I saw more snakes at Bog Meadow. I don’t think they’re on the list anymore.

Q: How dramatic was your actual find (congrats!) this month?

First bush at Waterfront Park, five seconds out of the car — half-buried in mud. An older horseshoe, no less. And on Kentucky Derby day, the day the first female trainer ever won. It felt cosmic. I’m getting it framed.

Live Nation debuts new food and — gasp! — digital VIP tickets

Semi-organized tickets in stacks of folders (don’t even think of knocking them off the counter) are a rite of passage for box-holders at the track and SPAC. But as of yesterday, Live Nation is done.

Stepping into the future, of course, doesn’t come without some trepidation, but last night’s private reception at The Pines seemed to quell everyone’s fears over an all-digital ticketing universe. (Yes you can transfer tickets, yes the electronic tickets come with a parking pass.)

Also on the table: the VIP club’s new food options. Think cucumber salad, Churrasco beef sliders, bone-in wings — Kim McConchie gave them a thumb’s up — and an updated dip platter.

Oh, and chicken empanadas. Because Live Nation remains very on trend.

Speaking of empanadas

I can’t let that pass by. Saratoga has at last discovered the empanada, one of my favorite tasty (and convenient, easy-to-eat-in-public) treats. The Nuchas truck at the track helped for awhile, and Boca Bistro and Cantina have lovely options. But then Seneca added a mouthwatering pepperoni and braised leeks variety, and Viva Empanada (hooray!) is coming soon to the CVS shopping center.

And now Live Nation is serving them in VIP all summer long.

Foodies, we have made it.

Vitamin D for a cause

Monday’s weather is supposed to be gorgeous — perfect day for getting your hands dirty in Congress Park.

Join the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation for its Landscape Cleanup Day at the Spirit of Life from 3 to 6 p.m. (Think weeding and spreading mulch.)

Some gloves and tools will be on hand, but you are encouraged to bring your own.

To sign up, visit the Preservation Foundation.

Good vibes all the time!

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Partner with us!

Expansion time

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the protection of 79 acres to expand Saratoga Spa State Park. The acquisition by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) will preserve wetlands, forest and open space.

“New York State is focused on conserving open space and providing first-class recreational opportunities,” she said as part of her announcement.

Face for TV

Capital Region Lifestyle is already expanding — and it doesn’t even launch until June 1. Jené Sena is coming onboard to “produce content that resonates with local women and moms,” NewsChannel 13 announced.

At NEWS10 ABC, Upstate Living’s Billy Floyd is getting a partner-in-crime. The mystery (female) cohost will be announced tomorrow.

Amtrak

Improvements to Amtrak’s modest Saratoga Springs stop are moving right along — and are scheduled to debut on time (next summer, in 2027).

On the list, announced Amtrak: a new boarding platform featuring an integrated snow melt system and accessible paths; LED light fixtures that provide full coverage lighting at the platform; new signage; and a new speaker system for the ticket counter.

📰 IN BRIEF

TU edition

The threat of a backstretch work stoppage looms over this historic third and last Belatoga, and the Times Union has all the details.

The TU also caught up with Albany-raised Jason R. Moore, who stars in The Punisher: One Last Kill, which was released yesterday on Disney+.

And finally, since I will never look at Chick-fil-A the same after its dominance over What’s Going on Saratoga during Covid (IYKYK) … the Latham outpost opens tomorrow, and there’s going to be free food — if you embrace the theme. Cheers to TU journo Shannon Fromma who got to start a news story with “Cow print is about to pay off.”

📌 ICYMI…

Short-term rental 411. ✌️ 2 new local TV shows.

Were you seen by Seen in Saratoga Weds night?

A French rosé with 400 years of history.

There’s no denying it now — Saratoga summer is almost here.

Rest up, Dispatchers: Life is about to get a little messy.

In the best way.

— Abby

Good vibes all the time!

Want to reach 5300+ local subscribers in an authentic, creative way?

Partner with us!

What do I really need to know about short-term rentals right now?

Together with:

Last Friday morning, a business meeting I was at wrapped up the moment a stunning real estate agent floated in and was greeted like a visiting dignitary.

And that’s when I clocked that this already-wild racing season is also our first since the new Local Law No. 5 — the one that dominated the news last year — took effect.

Like those eager homeowners looking to rent, I needed some info. Fast.

I called my go-to, Allison Bradley of Four Seasons by Sotheby’s, to fill me in on the new law — and everything else happening with short-term rentals in Saratoga.

The 150-Day Hard Cap: No property can be rented for more than 150 days per year. If you self-manage and — oops — “waste” 20 of those days on low-value mid-week bookings in May, Bradley says, “you’ve permanently lost the ability to sell those nights during the peak track season or October wedding surge.”

ADR Insight: A professional manager uses dynamic pricing to ensure the 150-day window is filled only with the highest-possible ADR (Average Daily Rate) guests.

The Compliance Wall: In 2026, the city registry portal allows only owners to apply for the initial $750 non-primary license. “An agent’s value is taking over the second step,” says Bradley: coordinating the mandatory Saratoga Springs Fire Dept (SSFD) inspection and serving as the “Local Contact” who must respond to the 24/7 city noise hotline within 50 miles.

Mid-Term Rentals: In Saratoga, stays over 30 days are exempt from the 150-day cap and the $750 STR license fee. “A professional agent can find a single, high-profile racing family for 31-plus days,” says Bradley, for more profit and less regulatory headache than going for the weekend warrior party crowd.

For more info, contact Allison Bradley, Four Seasons by Sotheby’s.

House an artist. Be part of the magic.

Opera Saratoga needs three more housing hosts — and this is your chance to be on the inside.

“It’s a unique experience, as behind-the-scenes as you can get,” says the company’s executive director, Amanda Robie. “Plus, you have the opportunity to get to know one of the very talented artists who will take the stage all season at UPH.”

Dates: Monday, May 18 to Monday, June 29, 2026

Requirements: Private bedroom, kitchen privileges, access to laundry facilities, if they are available, WiFi access, no more than 30 minutes from downtown Saratoga Springs, non-smoking household.

Note: Hosts are NOT expected to provide food or transportation to their guests.

If you’ve been waiting for an excuse to step up from being a spectator (it’s the Saratoga way) — this is it.

For more info: info@operasaratoga.org 518-584-6018

📺 ON THE SMALL SCREEN

Friendly competition?

It’s official: Two new local “positive vibes” (maybe the Dispatch is onto something!) TV shows are debuting the first week of June.

NEWS10 ABC’s Upstate Living (10 a.m.) will be hosted by none other than Billy Floyd, who told me he’s so “pumped” and “very ready to dive right in.” Expect high energy, exclusive interviews and super-fun lifestyle content.

Then flip the channel — at 11 a.m., NewsChannel 13 wades in with CRL. Co-hosted by Chris Onorato and Caitlin Irla, Capital Region Lifestyle promises to highlight “local people, local businesses, the things that make the Capital Region so great.”

📸 IN PICTURES

Earn those points

The beautiful Hotel Brookmere (500 Union Ave.) just celebrated its transition into a Marriott Hotels property during a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. Hopefully, this doesn’t affect that bread basket (IYKYK) at the Regent. Meet you there for happy hour to find out?

For more info, visit hotelbrookmere.com.

📰 IN BRIEF

For more info…

After last week’s “highly contentious” City Council debate regarding the mayor’s proposed changes to Saratoga’s infamous preservation rules, a public information meeting about it all has been confirmed for this evening (double-check that I’m reading this right; it’s been a long day). According to the Times Union, it will take place at 6:30 at Spring Street Gallery. For more on what went down May 5 at the meeting, visit Saratoga Civic Pulse.

Preakness draw

Just 18 minutes ago, the Preakness field became official. Here’s what you need to know about the draw, from Yahoo! Sports.

📌 ICYMI…

Were you seen by Seen in Saratoga Weds night?

Derby 🏇🌹DeVaux: local tears, reactions

What’s the best wine to give Mom this Mother’s Day? If she’s the kind of woman who appreciates heritage, polish and a little savoir faire, the answer is Ô de Rosé from Maison Lorgeril — a stunning French rosé from one of Languedoc’s oldest family estates.

Order online or run to Empire Wine … then let her decide whether to share. (She doesn’t have to: Mother’s Day is the one day every year where she’s allowed to be perfectly selfish.)

Shop at Empire Wine!

Why Ô de Rosé?

Maison Lorgeril has been crafting wine at Château de Pennautier near Carcassonne since 1620 — now in its 12th generation, its six estates and unwavering commitment to organic farming are proof that great wine and great stewardship go hand in hand.

Mom will also love the exquisite, ballet-slipper pink color from one of France’s most celebrated estates, a quintessential Spring wine that’s perfect for toasting, celebrating and pairing with fresh foods. Crafted from Grenache, Syrah and Cinsault vines in the sunny hills of the Languedoc, Ô de Rosé is beautiful inside and out.

Inspiration for a celebration

In France, a glass of rosé is par for the course during spring brunch, especially when paired with light and bright, farm-fresh dishes that reflect the flavors in the glass, and the spirit of sunshine and celebration that accompanies Mother’s Day

A simple no-fuss pairing using Saratoga treats: Go out and get the best fresh goat cheese, Brie de Nangis, a smattering of charcuterie like prosciutto and salami, a handful of olives, a few of her favorite pickled and fresh vegetables, dried and fresh fruit, a toasted baguette. (Save the real effort for the presentation!) Head to Mrs. London’s Bakery for great baguettes, then cross the street and grab all of the charcuterie and French cheese and other accoutrements you need at Putnam market. If you’re preparing a serious culinary feast, grab your supplies at Healthy Living Market.

Or, just chill the bottle, pop the cork, pour a glass for the beautiful mothers in your life, and say “thank you.” A glass of great wine and heartfelt gratitude from you are always a welcome gift.

Finish my Mother's Day shopping!

This week was a doozy!

Thanks for being along for the (really fun, jet-lagged-for-me) ride.

TGIF, everybody.

— Abby

Wednesday night report: Were you seen by Seen in Saratoga?

Photos by Seen in Saratoga

Huge thanks to the more than 50 fun, local A-listers who came out Wednesday night for the second Dispatch Dinner Club! And oh, boy, things got a little spicy…

Since the event series’ launch, there have been multiple table reunions, a poetry reading, boozy friend dates, a love match, and so much more … And about Wednesday night? Reading the post-event reviews (my lips are sealed) required 🍿.

And while all of these fun connections were being made, we filled tables at Familiar Creature, Omakase, Chianti, Seneca, Brasserie Benelux and The Market.

Special thanks to The Misfit, which threw us a KILLER after-party!

All photos by Seen in Saratoga

On June 17, we’ll do it all again — with new people, some new restaurants, new people at your table for returning diners, post-dinner reunions, and more … Join us!

I want a seat at a table!

Saratogian returns to the big leagues

Pitcher Jack Anderson, who I’ve been told summers in Saratoga, is back in the Red Sox bullpen tonight. Fingers crossed they put him in! For more on the sportsball of it all, you’ll have to check out an outlet such as CBS Sports or Mass Live.

Wild Horse re-opens its doors

I popped into Wild Horse, my neighbor down Caroline Street that just reopened after closing for the winter for renovations, to have a peek around. Soon, the stunning back room is going to open as the Kashmir Lounge, a Wednesday night piano bar and weekend live music venue. Until then, stop in for a casual drink at the friendly front bar (hi, Grace!), a customized cheese plate, or a delicious sit-down dinner of small plates such as Nashville Hot Bao Buns or Spanish traditions such as patatas bravas or lamb meatballs with pistachio and mint.

Potions and lotions at Petal + Hive

You’re invited to Petal + Hive (510 Broadway) on May 17, to embrace your mad scientist energy and create two custom small-batch serums using professional cosmetic chemistry equipment — including overhead mixers and a homogenizer.

Join cosmetic chemist (and the store’s amazing owner) Jillian Ehrenberg at the lab bench to see what it’s actually like to formulate skincare from scratch. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll watch the formulas come together in real time while learning why certain ingredients are chosen, how textures and skin feel are adjusted, and what separates a thoughtfully formulated product from a generic one.

At the end of the workshop, bottle up your work — you’ll take home full-size, ready-to-use skincare products.

To grab your seat, visit petalandhive.com.

Sign up today for Sunday’s Kelly’s Angels Mother-Lovin’ 5k Walk-Run

The 14th annual event serves as the main annual fundraiser for Kelly’s Angels’ mission to help families who have lost loved ones to cancer or other illness or are battling life-threatening conditions. The activities step off at 8:45 a.m. with a free Kids’ Fun Run in which children ages 9 and under race toward the finish line with moms and dads rooting them on or running alongside.

The Mother-Lovin’ 5K begins Mother’s Day morning at Spa State Park at 9:15 a.m. Register now!

Local Derby winner will skip the Preakness

Remember Wednesday when I wrote that my gut was telling me it’d be great if I could hold off writing about Kentucky Derby winner Cherie DeVaux and the Preakness? Alas, the history-making trainer from Saratoga announced that she was skipping the race not 20 minutes later.

But the Dispatch Dinner Club waits for no one!

Rest up, Golden Tempo — I hope to see you in Saratoga at the Belmont.

📌 ICYMI…

Mad scientist 👩‍🔬 energy. Mother-Lovin’ 5k

Will 🏇 Golden Tempo run?

Derby 🏇🌹DeVaux: local tears, reactions

A weekend off for 🙋‍♀️ Mom — or 🙋‍♂️ Dad

Allison Bradley, Four Seasons by Sotheby’s.

Beyond Saratoga County: For a listing of events across the greater Capital Region, visit our friends at ishbulletin.com.

[Do you have an event to share? Last week’s Featured Event SOLD OUT.]

Partner with us!

HEADS UP

👩‍🔬 Featured Event: Register now for May 17’s Blend, Glow & Sip.

Space is limited!

Join cosmetic chemist and Petal + Hive (510 Broadway) owner Jillian Ehrenberg at the lab bench to see what it’s actually like to formulate skincare from scratch. May 17’s Blend, Sip & Glow features two custom small-batch serums.

In this hands-on workshop, you’ll watch the formulas come together in real time while learning why certain ingredients are chosen, how textures and skin feel are adjusted, and what separates a thoughtfully formulated product from a generic one.

As you work through the process, Ehrenberg will talk about ingredients, formulation decisions, and what to look for when evaluating skincare products for yourself. This is not a DIY craft class — it’s a real look inside the formulation process in a setting that’s approachable, social and fun.

At the end of the workshop, bottle up your work — you’ll take home full-size, ready-to-use skincare products.

To grab your seat, visit petalandhive.com.

🗓️ Saratoga Springs Events Calendar, May 7 - May 14

Tonight, May 7

Community Night — Saratoga Outdoors | 5-8 p.m.

Stop by Saratoga Outdoors to celebrate Saratoga PLAN. The non-profit will be on-site, and 30% of all sales goes directly to them. Plus, there will be a raffle for a $100 Saratoga Outdoors gift card.

👩‍🔬 Cosmetic Chemistry Blend & Sip: Neck and Décolleté Cream — Petal + Hive | 6 p.m.

Step into the role of cosmetic chemist and experience how professional skincare is formulated in a fun, hands-on setting. Leave with a full-sized product.

Exhibition Program Community Collage Night — Saratoga Arts | 6 p.m.

A hands-on evening tied to the current exhibition. Free and open to the public.

Flow on the Farm Yoga — Pitney Meadows Community Farm | 6 p.m. (recurring)

A new weekly outdoor yoga practice — tonight is the launch! — for connecting with nature. All levels welcome.

Frank Murray Live! — Diamond Point at Embassy Suites | 6:30 p.m.

Live music, drinks and eats — this locals night has become a hot ticket!

Peak Jazz Series: Christina Vane— Caffè Lena | 7 p.m.

Musical storyteller whose third studio album, Hear My Call, “represents the powerful convergence of experience, identity, and a growing catalog of songs that demand to be heard.”

Saratoga Film Forum Weekly Screening — Dee Sarno Theater at Saratoga Arts | 7 p.m.

Triumphant comeback of a beloved film forum, with a focus on independent and curated film to reinforce the region’s appetite for alternative cinema outside commercial theaters. Tonight’s movie: East of Wall.

Friday, May 8

Mornings for Mental Health — Whitman Brewing | 7:30 a.m.

A free, guided meditation to lead you into the weekend. TGIF.

Live Music: Jeff Brisbin — Henry’s Irish Tavern | 5 p.m.
A local legend at a Saratoga institution.

Nelly DeVuyst Skincare Open House — Spa Cascada | 5 p.m.

Elevated skincare experience featuring renowned cosmetic scientist, Cinthia Audet. Enjoy expert insight, personalized consultations, and exclusive offerings.

⚾️🏇 Cherie DeVaux and José Ortiz: Ceremonial First Pitch — Yankee Stadium | 7:30 p.m.

From the racetrack to the Bronx: Cherie DeVaux and José Ortiz will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at Yankee Stadium representing the Horse Whisperer Network.

Folk Heritage Series: Eric Andersen Acoustic Duo with Steve Addabbo — Caffè Lena | 8 p.m.

Eric Andersen — “a towering figure in the world of folk music” — is joined by “musical polymath” Steve Addabbo.

Rainbow Full of Sound & Dead-Zep — Putnam Place | 8 p.m.

A double tribute bill covering Led Zeppelin and the Grateful Dead.

Saturday, May 9

2026 Historic Homes Tour — East Side of Saratoga Springs | 10 a.m.

An annual walking tour of the city’s architectural heritage on the east side. One of the better ways to understand what Saratoga actually is beneath the surface.

Flow on the Farm Yoga — Pitney Meadows Community Farm | 10:30 a.m., Recurring

The Saturday edition of the farm yoga series. An unhurried way to start a weekend.

🧸 Flower Garden: Presented by WMHT & PBS Kids — Saratoga Springs Public Library | 10:30 a.m.

Kids ages 3 up to grade 2, join us to watch Eve Bunting’s Flower Garden on screen and plant flowers to take home for their home garden. Each participant receives the book to take home. This program is limited to 25 participants.

John Brown’s Birthday Poetry Reading, with Andy Fogle and Friends — Saratoga Springs Public Library | 10:30 a.m.

Celebrate the birthday of famed abolitionist John Brown by attending this poetry reading in his honor. Poet, editor and local high school teacher Andy Fogle will read from his latest work: The Cutting Light, inspired by Brown’s activity in our region.

Discover Duncan: Nurturing Love — NACRE Dance Group | 11:30 a.m.

NACRE’s program devoted to Isadora Duncan’s influence on American modern dance continues.

Eastbound Jesus Album Release Party with Forest Station — Putnam Place | 8 p.m.

Upstate’s own Eastbound Jesus returns to Putnam Place to celebrate their new full-length album, Hard To Get To Heaven, recorded in the band’s Washington County barn practice space last winter.

We Brew the Funny Series — Artisanal Brew Works | 8 p.m.

Welcome back to a special night of laughs! Headliner Mike Speirs, featuring Monty Mason — and a mystery host.

Joe Jencks with opener Artur Wachala — Caffè Lena | 8 p.m.

A 25-year veteran of the international folk circuit, Joe Jencks is an award-winning songwriter, celebrated vocalist, and master storyteller whose performances “blend musical beauty, social consciousness, and spiritual depth.”

Sunday, May 10

🧸 Kelly’s Angels Mother-Lovin’ 5K — Spa State Park | 8:45 a.m. and 9:15 a.m.

*Register by Saturday!
The 14th annual event serves as the main annual fundraiser for Kelly’s Angels’ mission to help families who have lost loved ones to cancer or other illness or are battling life-threatening conditions. The activities step off at 8:45 a.m. with a free Kids’ Fun Run in which children ages 9 and under race toward the finish line with moms and dads rooting them on or running alongside.

The Mother-Lovin’ 5K begins at 9:15 a.m.

🧸 Virtues & Music — Saratoga Springs Recreational Center | 1 p.m.

Interactive class for kids ages 8 - 11 plus music instruction in a ukelele band!

Goat Yoga — Into The Woods Farm | 5 p.m.

Yoga with goats, which has proven to be a surprisingly durable wellness format. The goats are not incidental.

History That Doesn’t Suck with Professor Greg Jackson — Universal Preservation Hall | 7:30 p.m.

Popular podcast-turned-stageshow, he brings violinists to back him up. “It’s going to be fabulous,” says UPH super-director Teddy Foster. “It takes you on our journey from the American Revolution, through the Civil War. Really timely with the 250th American Revolution anniversary coming up next year.”

Mother’s Day Brunch — Multiple Venues | Reserve ahead!!

Some ideas: Fairways of Halfmoon, Excelsior Springs Event Center (seatings at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.), Thirsty Owl Saratoga, Diamond Club Restaurant, and Nature’s Edge Bistro at Artisanal Brew Works.

🧸 Llamas in the Library — Saratoga Springs Public Library | 2 p.m.

Families are invited to get up close and personal with some llamas from Dakota Ridge Farm Farm and learn some llama facts. Read Is Your Mama a Llama, color a llama picture, and make a llama craft. A limited number of families will be admitted in 15 minute time slots.

Register online, in the Children’s Room, or by calling 518-584-7860, ext. 305.

Live Music: Triple Trouble & Special Guests — Artisanal Brew Works | 4 p.m.
A recurring Sunday booking. April 19 features Triple Trouble wsg Scott Stoddart Fultz.

Monday, May 11

Escape Room: Downtime for adults — Saratoga Springs Public Library | 9:30 a.m.

No minors allowed for two whole hours! Adults of all abilities take over the Teen Room for crafts, board games and socializing with other adults.

Pizza & Pints — Morrissey’s Lounge & Bistro | (Recurring)

Every Monday, enjoy your choice of pizza and a draft beer for just $25 per person.

Martini Mondays — Chianti Il Ristorante | (Recurring)

Kick off your week with Martini Mondays! Enjoy classic & creative martinis for just $10.

Live Music: Jeff Brisbin — The Hideaway at Saratoga Lake Golf Club | 5:30 p.m., recurring

Monday evening residency!

Tuesday, May 12

$1 Oyster Night — Henry Street Taproom | (Recurring)

Just what it sounds like — slurp $1 oysters all day.

Rich Ortiz — The Hideaway at Saratoga Lake Golf Club | 5:30 p.m., recurring

Two residencies in the same night? This is your man. Catch him at The Hideaway if happy hour time is your jam.

Live Music: Tim Wechgelaer — Morrissey’s Lounge & Bistro | 6 p.m., recurring

Tuesday night residency.

Rich Ortiz — Caroline Street Pub | 10 p.m., recurring

And for his late-night fans, Ortiz takes the stage for his second recurring show of the night.

Pint ‘N Print: Tetra Pak Intaglio — Saratoga Arts | 6 p.m.

A printmaking session using Tetra Pak cartons as intaglio plates — a resourceful technique that produces results worth keeping.

JAZZ at Caffe Lena : The Chuck Lamb Trio with Special Guest Rob Paparozzi | 7 p.m.

Chuck Lamb and jazz/blues Harmonica player Rob Paparozzi.

Wednesday, May 13

Ladies Night — Standard Fare | Recurring

“Girl Dinner” special: Crunchy Caesar salad, truffle fries, and a Tiny ‘Tini for $30 bucks.

Submit your event!

Summer hasn’t even started yet, and I already need a nap.

And if the worlds align, a bigger hat for June 6.

— Abby

What I missed

I scoured the internet Monday looking for that perfect A-list reaction to Saratoga’s Cherie DeVaux’s historic Kentucky Derby win. Somehow, Mike Repole’s heartfelt personal video (despite his Renegade coming in second to Golden Tempo) didn’t punch its way through my algorithm until this morning.

“Being the first woman trainer to win the Kentucky Derby is amazing,” he says during the five-minute tribute to DeVaux and team. “Everyone knows I have a 10-year-old daughter, Gioia. I always tell Gioia, ‘Think big, dream bigger.’ Cherie, you exemplify that.”

Sob.

Click on the embed to watch the vid in its entirety. 👇

Since we’re getting emotional…

After I sent out Monday’s Dispatch, José Ortiz shared this video of Golden Tempo’s groom, José Hernandez, after their big win.

Who run the world

If Golden Tempo wins the Preakness and is up for a Triple Crown (the first ever for a female trainer) on June 6, The Spa’s final Belmont would be insane. As Repole said above, let’s dream big.

What we’re waiting on

DeVaux has said in multiple interviews that she’ll most likely announce her Golden Tempo/Preakness decision tomorrow.

What’s she doing today?

After making the media rounds on virtually no sleep, DeVaux told Pat McAfee that today was the big Decision Day, when the entire team would have “an informed conversation with everyone’s input.”

The rockstar trainer was clear about the most important thing: All eyes will be on Golden Tempo.

“Golden Tempo,” she said, “will dictate the decision.”

What we’re up against:

Golden Tempo came in from dead last place to win the Derby by a nose; the Preakness is a shorter race.

Our guy had six weeks of rest before winning the Derby. But there are only 14 days between it and the Preakness.

“Golden Tempo has never won a race with fewer than four weeks of rest,” confirms CBS Sports. “Most of the rest of the field skipped The Run for the Roses and will have much more rest time.”

DeVaux told Pat McAfee, “We’re gonna talk about whether we think a cut back in distance off two weeks’ rest is really what’s best for him,” adding, “He just might need a little bit more time to get back into feeling himself.”

In pictures

Watching a race in the Hall of Fame is an electrifying experience — and the crowd that assembled last Saturday to watch a Saratoga native become the first female to win the Kentucky Derby basically caught lightning in a bottle.

And today the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame announced it will host a free Preakness Watch Party from 5 to 7 p.m. A food truck from Ted’s Fish Fry will be on hand for the purchase of snacks, and there will be a cash bar.

Walk-ins welcome for the May 16 party, but it’s always helpful to register ahead of time. To do so, visit Preakness Watch Party.

In memory

Tom and Mary Barker — who spent their last five summers in Saratoga — are one of those couples whose kindness you feel the moment you meet them. Tom passed away April 19, and Mary is celebrating his life near their home in Texas next Thursday.

And their love for Saratoga shines through, as Mary is inviting everyone to wear racetrack-inspired attire.

“Tom loved horse racing and everything that came with it,” she says. So in lieu of flowers, the family would be grateful for memorial donations to the New York Racetrack Chaplaincy.

N.Y Racetrack Chaplaincy, PO Box 37191, Elmont, New York, 11003. nyrtca.org.

Local ties: Cherie talks a bit about hot walking in Saratoga

📌 ICYMI…

Derby 🏇🌹DeVaux: local tears, reactions

A weekend off for 🙋‍♀️ Mom — or 🙋‍♂️ Dad

Hello, neighbor. Party pics.

Human connection in an AI world

So where were we all on Saturday evening while one of our own was making history in front of 25 million viewers?

The build-up, the reactions, the chills, the tears…

Cherie DeVaux, the Saratoga native with the bear hugs, who so lovingly nursed Lady Eli back to health … we knew you when.

— Abby

🚨 Cut-off for Wednesday’s Dinner Club is 6:30 p.m. TODAY. 🚨

I hope to meet you there! I’ll be waiting at The Misfit after dinner to hear alllll the gossip. And Seen in Saratoga will be with me, snapping happy pictures.

last 5 hours to join the fun!

Saratoga pride

The electric build-up, the pro athlete who cried, and all the local reactions as Cherie DeVaux becomes the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby.

The buildup

NBC’s Donna Brothers — legendary jockey and half-time Saratoga resident — does her very last Kentucky Derby walkover (after previously announcing her retirement) with trainer Cherie DeVaux, whose horse Golden Tempo enters the race with 23-1 odds and José Ortiz aboard. “I’m hoping you become the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby,” Brothers tells Saratoga native DeVaux.

In place for the big race, DeVaux gives her surrounding friends and family a huge hug as she settles down to watch the 152nd Run for the Roses, sporting a confident red jacket and custom Golden Tempo sneakers. “I might pee my pants,” she tells America’s Best Racing, which has her mic’d up for the race.

Just three days after being called up to MLB, new Yankees pitcher Elmer Rodriguez tunes in to the Kentucky Derby to root for his cousins, who are none other than star jockeys José Ortiz and Irad Ortiz Jr (José was piloting for DeVaux; Irad was aboard the favorite, Renegade). Watching alone, Rodriguez was “more nervous” than during his own debut with the Yankees, he would tell the New York Post. “I don’t know why. I started crying.”

Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga’s Kimberly Weir — on a flight from Phoenix to San Diego — struggles with the plane’s Wi-Fi, but the delay caused by Great White’s scratch kept her from missing the most exciting two minutes in sports. “Moments after we landed, I was cheering with my random seatmate,” she says. “I turned up the volume and played it for the whole plane to hear!”

“Electric energy,” Emily Mopsik calls the mood at the Sponsor-a-Scholar Derby Party at The Lodge.

The history-making race

Golden Tempo is so far in last place for the first part of the Derby that he isn’t even on the tracking screen — leaving DeVaux struggling to keep her eye on him. “They have little chiclets [with the horses’] numbers,” DeVaux says on the Today show this morning. “And he wasn’t even on that screen, which is pretty hard to do.”

Irad, aboard Renegade, “[feels] like a winner…for a second” after following Tyler Gaffalione around the final turn and taking the lead.

As José passes his big brother on the right, Irad — he tells Maggie Wolfendale the next day — calls out his brother’s name.

As DeVaux sees Golden Tempo making his run for it at the top of the stretch, she starts pounding the wooden barrier between her and the track. “Come on, José!” is all she gets out — screaming her battle cry exactly 10 consecutive times.

As José crosses the finish line for his first Kentucky Derby win, he and Irad — who finish 1-2 — briefly grasp wrists in a beautiful show of brotherhood that sweeps the internet.

DeVaux’s now-famous bear hugs cause her mic to go in and out. “Oh my god” can still be heard a whopping 17 times until, at last, out of breath, the first-ever female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby heads to the Winner’s Circle.

Reactions

“When she won?” says Saratogian Becca Beers, who watched with other locals on the Hall of Fame’s oversized screens. “All women felt the power shift. And then the Saratoga pride…It was pretty epic.”

“I am so excited she won and that I got to know her when I was shooting the races!” says veteran photographer Cathy Duffy. “Lady Eli was a horse that was very special to her, and it means a lot to me that I got to photograph them together.”

“She was always an extremely hard worker,” Chad Brown — for whom Devaux was an assistant for eight years — told Daily Racing Form. “She has carefully managed that horse, he’s been consistent. She made an equipment change a couple of races ago and the horse has maintained a consistent pattern and that’s the sign of a well-managed horse. Well deserved to her and her team, they work hard.”

“HERStory made at the Kentucky Derby,,,” reads a post to X by non-local Flavor Flav, who made headlines for inviting the female Olympic hockey team to Vegas. “Congratulationz Cherie Devaux on making history and earning yourself an invite to Flavor Flav’s SHE Weekend in Las Vegas so the world can celebrate you,!!!”

“If I wasn’t in the race I would have rooted for her,” Mike Repole, owner of Renegade, told the Lexington Herald Leader.

“Loyalty with Cherie,” José said when asked after the race how he chose to ride Golden Tempo. “Working with her all winter at Fair Grounds. We always knew we sort of have a lot of ability … she has been very loyal to me, so I feel like I should give that back. And I knew always Golden Tempo was going to be my mount.”

Congratulations, Cherie!

Mother’s Day and Father’s Day land back-to-back every year, and honoring both with equal fanfare is genuinely hard. We can’t move the calendar, but we’ve found the next best thing: a double-gift that makes both parents happy.

High Peaks Resort in the Adirondacks is the perfect getaway — for Mom, Dad or the whole fam. Send Mom there for a spa weekend with her girlfriends and Dad to play golf — or Mom there to play golf and Dad to chill out in nature.

Or gift them a joint gift of a planned weekend away for the whole fam!

👉 Use the code DISPATCH at highpeaksresort.com for…

10% off any 2026 stay!

🏌️ Adirondack Golf Package

⛳ Whiteface Club & Resort is just minutes down the road from High Peaks Resort. One of the most celebrated golf courses in the country, the century-old course consistently earns top marks by Golfweek and boasts epic views of the Adirondacks.

Here’s what you get at Whiteface with the Adirondack Golf Package:

• 18 holes of golf and a cart rental, per person, for every night of your stay (two-night stay minimum)

• Tee times reserved in advance (call 518-523-2551 to book)

And here’s what you get at High Peaks Resort:

• Welcome beverage on arrival

• Morning coffee + afternoon refreshments in the High Peaks Resort lobby

• Access to indoor pool and fitness room

• Access to two outdoor pools and a fleet of over watercraft (starting June 15, weather permitting)

Lock in your next golf adventure!

🏌️ Packages available May 8-Oct. 10! ⛳

🚴‍♀️ Other options: Spring Activity Guide

If golf doesn’t pique (“Peak?”) your interest, the resort has multiple other tricks up its well-lined fleece sleeves.

Fat tire biking

You haven’t gone fat tire biking until you’ve hit the Adirondack trails in the Spring and Summer. The wide, low-pressure tires can handle the soft, uneven trails. If you don’t have your own gear, High Peaks Cyclery offers rentals.

Hiking and outdoor exploration

You’ve got a 6-million-acre park in your backyard! Go and check it out. At the lower elevations, all of the flowers pop up first, along trails, bogs and forest paths. Gentle lakeside trails are also on tap, with great views of Spring and early Summer bird migration to take in. Talk to the concierge about a guided experience if you want someone to lead the way.

If you’re looking for a light challenge, hit the Brewster Peninsula Nature Trails, four connected paths across a 133-acre peninsula that extends into Lake Placid. It’s just minutes away from the Resort.

Peep the birds

Spring birdwatching is world-class in the Adirondacks. High Peaks can help advise you on guides to contact (Ed Kanze is always a pro), or you can head out on your own to Bloomingdale Bog, where Canada Jays are known to eat from visitor’s hands.

Riverwalk, forest bath

If you really need to relax, consider hitting Adirondack Forest Bathing, where you’ll be led by guides through sensory walks that ground your thoughts and ensure you fully experience the forest’s glory.

Make candles

Pure Placid offers incredible self-guided and instructor-led candlemaking classes that are low-key, genuinely fun and give you a pretty memento to take home with you.

Hit the spa

You’ve hit the trails, now treat your aching feet to some TLC at Adirondack Foot Sanctuary. There are curative foot soaks, lower-leg and foot massages, facial, and nail services, with artisan tea and a relaxed atmosphere.

Explore spring activities

Essential High Peaks, at a glance

🛏️ Choose from three distinct lodging experiences: High Peaks Resort (105 rooms, Adirondack style, rooms overlook Mirror Lake or the Adirondack Mountains); Lake House (44 guest rooms, most with balconies or patios overlooking Mirror Lake and the Adirondack Mountains); and Waterfront Collection (28 rooms with access to the Waterfront Lawn and Mirror Lake, an outdoor pool).

• There are two indoor heated pools, two seasonally available outdoor pools, and one indoor jacuzzi tub.

• Dog-friendly! A portion ($5) of every nightly pet fee is donated to dog-focused charitable organizations. Last year, more than $10,000 went to the Tri-Lakes Humane Society.

• The resort is available for corporate retreats (with 10,000 square feet of meeting and conference space), weddings, special events and private parties (with personalized catering services and versatile venues to fit any type of party).

• Amenities include: private, gated parking and high-speed, free internet. Plus, all rooms include HD flat-screen TVs, in-room device charging ports, a coffee maker and a mini-fridge.

• Available upon request, at an additional charge: microwave, rollaway bed, Pack n’ Play.

👉 Use the code DISPATCH at highpeaksresort.com for…

10% off any 2026 stay!

Together with…

Plan your Lake Placid adventure today!

Allison Bradley, Four Seasons by Sotheby’s.

HEADS UP

🗓️ Featured Event (because Mom deserves to know you planned ahead)

[Fill out this intake form to see YOUR event featured here!]

🥂 Spill the tea with Mom

Make a beeline for Bocage Champagne Bar, which is hosting its 4th Annual Mother’s Day Tea. (Reserve now for her May 10 special day.)

“What started as a one-time idea has turned into a bit of a tradition for us, and this year’s shaping up to be our best version yet,” says Bocage co-owner Zac Denham. “It’s a Champagne-forward take on tea service — sweet and savory bites, unlimited pours, and a build-your-own spritz station — designed to feel relaxed and celebratory rather than overly formal.”

Sweet, savory, check. But let’s face it, unlimited pours is where they have us! Oh, and the petit lobster rolls and caviar add-ons, too…

To make a reservation for one of the two seatings (11 a.m. or 1 p.m.), visit bocagechampagnebar.com.

🫶 Some other Mother’s Day brunches to choose from: Excelsior Springs Event Center, Thirsty Owl Saratoga, and Diamond Club Restaurant. Reserve ahead.

Beyond Saratoga County: For a listing of events across the greater Capital Region, visit our friends at ishbulletin.com.

🍝 Join 41 of your neighbors who are already signed up to meet 5 strangers for dinner — then have a nightcap at The Misfit to gossip about how it all went down. The Dispatch’s second Dinner Club is coming up fast (May 6)!

I want a seat at a table!

🗓️ Saratoga Springs Events Calendar, April 30-May 6

Tonight, April 30

Community Night — Saratoga Outdoors | 5-8 p.m.

Stop by Saratoga Outdoors to celebrate Feeder Canal Alliance. The non-profit will be on-site, and 30% of all sales goes directly to them. Plus, there will be a raffle for a $100 Saratoga Outdoors gift card.

Flow on the Farm Yoga — Pitney Meadows Community Farm | 6 p.m. (recurring)

A new weekly outdoor yoga practice — tonight is the launch! — for connecting with nature. All levels welcome.

Stags’ Leap Wine Dinner — Salt & Char | 6 p.m.

Celebrate Napa’s storied wines with a four-course wine pairing dinner featuring Stags’ Leap wine selections, perfectly paired with our Executive Chef’s customized menu!

Undrunk Club — Canopy Saratoga | 6 p.m.

This is your girls’ night, your reset, your “I needed this” kind of night 💕

Come party with your booze-free besties: girls’ night, reset, “I needed this.” DIY candle bar, build your own bouquet, plant bar.

Garland Nelson Live! — Diamond Point at Embassy Suites | 6:30 p.m.

Get there early to get a seat — Saratoga’s beloved hometown singer packs the place.

Peak Jazz Series: Charlie Ballantine — Caffè Lena | 7 p.m.

Named one of the Top 200 Living Guitarists by All About Jazz and a “Rising Star” in DownBeat magazine’s Critics Poll, Charlie Ballantine’s style has been hailed both “technically masterful” and “deeply expressive.” Expect him to move between jazz, folk, rock, blues and roots.

Saratoga Film Forum Weekly Screening — Dee Sarno Theater at Saratoga Arts | 7 p.m.
Triumphant comeback of a beloved film forum, with a focus on independent and curated film to reinforce the region’s appetite for alternative cinema outside commercial theaters. Tonight’s movie: Sentimental Value.

Friday, May 1

Stitch & Sip — Canopy of Saratoga | 10 a.m.

Join the Saratoga Springs Public Library in the café at Canopy of Saratoga for a handcraft circle. To participate, bring your current project (knitting, crocheting, cross-stitch, etc) for a working chit-chat. Coffee and pastries available for purchase. Registration for the 8 available seats is required.Bottom of Form

Live Music: Jeff Brisbin — Henry’s Irish Tavern | 5 p.m.
A local legend at a Saratoga institution.

Cookies De Mayo — Ladylily’s Place | 6 p.m.

Beginners-friendly class to learn the best (and most delicious!) ways to decorate sugar cookies! Think piping practice with Royal Icing and other tips for dough and decorating.

Mornings for Mental Health — Whitman Brewing | 7:30 a.m.

A free, guided meditation to lead you into the weekend. TGIF.

Monét X Change: High Heels, Bad Knees Tour — Universal Preservation Hall | 7:30 p.m.

The RuPaul’s Drag Race veteran brings her solo tour to downtown Saratoga. “It’s adults only,” says UPH director Teddy Foster, “because it’s filthy stand-up comedy.”

Roy Book Binder Tribute / Live Stream — Caffè Lena | 8 p.m.

A tribute to one of the last practitioners of the Piedmont blues tradition, available in-room and via live stream. Roy Bookbinder was to play Caffè Lena on this very day, but passed away March 3. In his memory: a poignant live watch party featuring highlights from his last four shows at Caffè Lena.

Saturday, May 2

5th Annual Turning Point & Women in War Symposium — Old Saratoga American Legion Post | 8:15 a.m.

An all-day, immersive symposium on women’s roles in wartime, now in its fifth year — expect renowned authors and historians to share insights into one of the most pivotal moments in American history.

Saratoga Battlefield Guide Tour — Saratoga National Historical Park Visitor Center | 9 a.m.

Join the Official Saratoga Battlefield Guide for a free, one-hour tour (follow along in your own vehicle) related to the Saratoga Campaign. This week’s focus: the Battle of Freeman’s Farm.

Saratoga Comic Con — Saratoga Springs City Center | 10 a.m.

A regional comics and pop culture convention that draws collectors, cosplayers and fans of the form.

💁‍♀️ A Bead Just So: Beading Pop-up — Petal + Hive | 10 a.m.

A drop-in beading session with Kate, the owner of A Bead Just So.

Discover Duncan: New Love — Albany Dance and Fitness | 1:30 a.m.
Part of the “Discover Duncan” workshop series teaching Isadora Duncan’s influence on American modern dance. No prior dance experience required.

🧸 Drop-in Craft: Button Snails — Saratoga Springs Public Library | 2 p.m.

Stop by the Children’s Room to create your own cute snail craft with the library’s teen volunteers.

🏇 Kentucky Derby Party — Wheatfield’s | 3 p.m.

Watch the Derby on one of the largest screens in town at a party sponsored by Redemption Bourbon & Rye and White Claw.

🏇 Kentucky Derby — Saratoga Casino Hotel | 4 p.m.

Watch and wager at different spots around the Racino — with an after-party kicking off at 9 p.m.

🏇 10th Annual Derby Party Fundraiser — National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame | 4 p.m.

A “spectacular” party and fundraiser features bites and sips from local restaurants before capping off with a live showing of the fastest two minutes of sports inside the prestigious Hall of Fame.

🏇 2026 Derby Day — Saratoga National | 4 p.m.

A glam way to go — party features Anthony Stabile (The Big “A”) as the on-site handicapper and announcer, plus VIP upgrade options.

🏇 Kentucky Derby Patio Kickoff Party — The Wild Horse | 5 p.m.

The Caroline St. hotspots has reopened after much-anticipated renovations. Patio vibes beginning at noon; Derby party kicks off at 5.

The Players — Universal Preservation Hall | 7:30 p.m.

Keith Howland and Jeff Coffey, two former members of the legendary band Chicago, along with their all-star band and a “kickin’ horn section!”

Sunday, May 3

Saratoga Comic Con — Saratoga Springs City Center | 10 a.m.

A regional comics and pop culture convention that draws collectors, cosplayers and fans of the form.

Guided Bus Tour: “War on the Middleline: The 1780 Raid on Ballston” — Saratoga County Municipal Center | 10 a.m.

A bus tour through the sites of a Revolutionary War raid with James Richmond.

Polarity Series: Joy vs Grief GEM Meditation Circle — Turn A New Leaf | 10:30 a.m.

A meditation practice that works with the emotional polarity of joy and grief through the lens of gemstone consciousness. Featured Gems: Carnelian, Pink Sapphire, Rose Quartz.

Flow on the Farm Yoga — Pitney Meadows Community Farm | 10:30 a.m. (recurring)

A new weekly outdoor yoga practice for connecting with nature. All levels welcome.

💁‍♀️ Learn Ear Seeding — Petal + Hive | 1 p.m.

Learn how to safely apply ear seeds — wearable acupressure tools applied to specific points on the ear for therapeutic effects — with licensed acupuncturist Lauren Burke, owner of Saratoga Springs Community Acupuncture.

🧸 Drop-in Craft: Happy Toadstools — Saratoga Springs Public Library | 1 p.m.

Stop by the Children’s Room to create your own cute toadstool craft with the library’s teen volunteers.

🧸 Virtues & Music — Saratoga Springs Recreational Center | 1 p.m.
Interactive class for kids ages 8 - 11 plus music instruction in a ukelele band!

Drank the Gold and Benny Bleu — Caffè Lena | 7 p.m.

A Celtic and Americana pairing to close out the weekend at Caffè Lena.

Monday, May 4

Escape Room: Downtime for adults — Saratoga Springs Public Library | 9:30 a.m.

No minors allowed for two whole hours! Adults of all abilities take over the Teen Room for crafts, board games and socializing with other adults.

Pizza & Pints — Morrissey’s Lounge & Bistro | (Recurring)

Every Monday, enjoy your choice of pizza and a draft beer for just $25 per person.

Martini Mondays — Chianti Il Ristorante | (Recurring)

Kick off your week with Martini Mondays! Enjoy classic & creative martinis for just $10.

Read Against the Machine — Saratoga Springs Public Library | 9:30 a.m.

Ongoing reading group that meets the first Monday of each month to discuss non-fiction titles that examine social issues of all types. This month’s book: Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner.

Tuesday, May 5

Handcraft Meet-up — Saratoga Springs Public Library | 9:30 a.m.

Don’t leave your home! Informal — and online — knitting and handcrafting meet-up.

🧸 Paws & Chill with Sophie the Golden Retriever — Saratoga Springs Public Library | 3:30 a.m.

Sophie the Golden Retriever visits the Teen Room for snuggles, pets and hellos.

$1 Oyster Night — Henry Street Taproom | (Recurring)

Just what it sounds like — slurp $1 oysters all day.

Wednesday, May 6

Using the Google Gemini AI App by Senior Planet — Saratoga Springs Public Library | 10:30 a.m.

Registration required for this hands-on workshop about Google Gemini. This tips, use cases, learning voice features and — importantly — privacy settings.

Paul Gilbert WROC World Tour with Greg Koch — Putnam Place | 7:30 p.m.

After playing to sold-out arenas the world over, guitarist Paul Gilbert — a founding member of MR. BIG — hits Putnam Place. As a solo artist, the “ferocious” guitar player explores punk, pop, classical, blues, jazz and progressive styles.

💁‍♀️ Drink to Your Health: Mocktail Making Event — Petal + Hive | 6 p.m.

Learn the basics of using herbs to create delicious, healing, herbal mocktails in this hands-on class. Participants receive a recipe book, tasting flight of bitters, tasting flight of tonics and 3-4 mocktail tastings/

Harvey’s Famous DJ Trivia — Harvey’s Restaurant and Bar | 7:30 p.m. (Recurring)
A Saratoga tradition with resident DJ Aiden. Win prizes provided by Harvey’s and swag from our monthly rotating sponsors.

Ladies Night — Standard Fare | Recurring

“Girl Dinner” special: Crunchy Caesar salad, truffle fries, and a Tiny ‘Tini for $30 bucks.

Thursday, May 7

🧸 Toddler Story Time — Saratoga Springs Public Library | 10:30 a.m.

Children ages 18-36 months (with a caregiver) will enjoy includes highly interactive books, songs and activities to foster emerging language skills.

Community Night — Saratoga Outdoors | 5-8 p.m.

Stop by Saratoga Outdoors to celebrate Saratoga Plan. The non-profit will be on-site, and 30% of all sales goes directly to them. Plus, there will be a raffle for a $100 Saratoga Outdoors gift card.

Community Collage Night — Saratoga Arts | 6 p.m.

Join artists Benj Gleeksman, Alison Bachorik, Avery Hartranft and Emily Tironi for a hands-on collage night — paper, glue, collage materials and some basic drawing materials will be provided.

Flow on the Farm Yoga — Pitney Meadows Community Farm | 6 p.m. (recurring)

A new weekly outdoor yoga practice for connecting with nature. All levels welcome.

👩‍🔬 Cosmetic Chemistry Blend & Sip: Neck and Décolleté Cream — Petal + Hive | 6 p.m.

Step into the role of cosmetic chemist and experience how professional skincare is formulated in a fun, hands-on setting. Guided by cosmetic chemist and Acta Beauty founder Jillian Ehrenberg, you’ll participate in creating a small-batch serum or cream using professional mixing equipment. The night’s take-home product: Neck and Decollete Cream.

Submit your event!

I’m taking my annual spring brain break this week. Covering this year’s Saratoga Summer — our final Belmont, plus a staggering 51 days of racing, for starters — is going to take everything I’ve got.

So I’m breathing in some crisp mountain air to re-center and recharge.

Luckily, since Saratoga stops for no one, our own Kathleen Willcox jumped in to keep you in the loop.

— Abby

🫶 May 6 Dinner Club: Take the quiz, get paired with 5 neighbors, receive your restaurant invite the morning of May 6, and enjoy your meal as you make new friends. Then head to The Misfit to reunite with the whole group — 41 and counting! — for a nightcap to gossip about how it all went down.

Dispatch Dinner Club: the only Saratoga supper club that supports our beloved local restaurants (last month’s booked tables at Rhea, Kindred, Coat Room, Standard Fare, Omakase, The Market and Chianti) while we make real connections. See you there!

I want a seat at a table!

🤝 MEET THY NEIGHBOR (🚨 new section alert!)

Hello, neighbor: Creating kindness in an increasingly polarizing world

By Kathleen Willcox

Have you also found it getting harder and harder to discuss anything? From youth sports to a love of steak, even the most innocent enthusiasm or topic of conversation feels fraught with peril.

Saratogian Molly O’Gorman, the director of narrative and engagement for the Service Employees International Union — the second-largest union in the country, with 2.1 million workers — has seen the increasing alienation and uncomfortable silences creep into her professional and personal life.

And has developed some ways to tackle it. (Maybe that’s why she always seems to be smiling.)

Instead of throwing her hands up in defeat, O’Gorman says she has become “determined to build community in a different way.”

In Saratoga, that means tackling it on two fronts: what to do during everyday life such as grabbing groceries, and getting involved and volunteering for political and social organizations that resonate with her personally and politically.

“Saratoga is a bellwether county,” O’Gorman says. “What we do, and how we vote, matters. The school board matters. The stances they’ve been taking on trans rights and critical race theory have an impact here, and beyond.”

But it also involves a mental shift during the day-to-day.

“It’s funny because when I run into someone, generally a stranger, on the street, in the grocery store, or in my neighborhood and they do something polite or kind for me, I have no way of knowing what church they go to, what their politics are, or how they feel about anything really,” she says.

“As a mental exercise,” she continues, “I’ve been trying to pretend that they are as different from me as possible. It helps me see everyone as potentially kind and community-minded in an increasingly polarized world.”

🎟️ SOLD OUT

Lola’s early screening of ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’

On Thursday, Lola Saratoga will present an early screening of the new Devil Wears Prada 2 film starring Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt — and congrats to the fashionistas for selling out!

Those that grabbed their tickets in time will enjoy red carpet treatment, a raffle, and an early viewing of the season’s “it” movie! And 100% of the profits will be donated to Girls Inc.

📸 PARTY PICS

Opera Saratoga takes on NYC

Photos by Bill Lynch

Last Thursday, Opera Saratoga threw a Spring Soirée at the gorgeous home of Karen Brooks (LEFT) and Robert Schroeder — and the great Bill Lynch was on the scene for the Dispatch. The Capital Region’s only professional opera company drew an A-list arts crowd including author A.M. Holmes (CENTER, above right), and bold-faced names from the Met Opera and New Music USA.

OS has a huge line-up for its spring season at UPH, including My Fair Lady and The Elixir of Love. Visit atuph.org.

👉 Send us your party pics! abby@saratogadispatch.com.

🍺 Brewseum ferments a sell-out

By Kathleen Willcox

For the fifth year in a row, the annual Night at the Brewseum at the gorgeous Canfield Casino completely sold out its boozy event, featuring about 50 local brewers, cideries, wineries, and restaurants.

“People want to support a good cause,” says John McDonald, a vice president at the Saratoga Springs Lion’s Club — all of the ticket proceeds benefit the Lions’ Mission Goals in Sight, Hearing, Diabetes, Youth and Community. “And it’s a great night of food and drinks.”

“I loved that there was a nice healthy sampling of Pilsners and lagers,” says local community booster and beer enthusiast Laura Tilton. Her faves? “The German Pils at Common Roots and the Alchemy Pilsner, which I found bright and refreshing.”

Another experienced party-goer — who insisted on using only his first name — gave the event high marks.

“I enjoyed the variety of light beer,” Bill says. “I usually don’t enjoy beer events because there is a focus on IPA’s. I also appreciate the limited number of tickets. There was a lot of people, but it didn’t feel overcrowded.”

Standard Fare’s spring menu brings in fresh newbies, old faves

“I wasn’t sure, but now that I’ve tasted it, holy sh*t! In a good way.” — overheard at Standard Fare’s spring menu preview last week.

I was dining at the bar (and meeting Molly O’Gorman, see above), digging into tempura fried squash blossoms — which were stuffed with shrimp mousse. Any initial pause was immediately forgotten, thanks to the outstanding crispiness of the thin tempura batter, and the firm, shrimp (but not shrimp-y if yaknowwhatimean) mousse.

Other hits: homemade rosemary focaccia and taleggio butter and yellowfin tuna loin carpaccio with crunchy garlic.

Thankfully, tried and true hits like the meatloaf, pork chop, and the “doesn’t taste vegan or gluten-free” zucchini lasagna make their bow on the full menu as well.

“We want to reflect seasonality,” says Clark Gale, Standard Fare’s co-owner, “but still provide a few anchor items that our regulars get attached to.”

📌 ICYMI…

Human connection in an AI world

EXCLUSIVE: 🏇 Tom Durkin’s fave Saratoga moment

Saratoga’s real 💧 water story

Allison Bradley, Four Seasons by Sotheby’s.

🗓️ Featured Event

DISPATCH DINNER CLUB

[fill out the intake form to see YOUR event featured here!]

🍝 Our second Dinner Club is May 6 — and this time I thought I’d let your neighbors who came to the launch party do the talking.

Recap, here’s how it works: You take a short quiz, we match you up with five of your neighbors with similar interests. The morning of the event you’re texted where to go, and you show up! Afterwards, we all meet up at The Misfit to gossip about how it all went down.

What people said about the first one:

• “No walking up to a group of people solo at a ‘mixer.’ Sitting down at a table — in your reserved seat — for dinner was the game-changer.”

• “Exceeded my expectations.”

• “We all had similar interests, things in common, and were all very impressed with how we were all matched for the evening. We exchanged information so we can all keep in touch and meet for dinner again!”

• “I love going on foodie adventures… usually while on trips where you never see the people again. This is awesome because we can all meet up again and have truly found new friends!”

• “So fun and not in the ways I expected!”

  ---

I want a seat at a table!

I want a Featured Event!

Tell us what you want, what you really really want!

On April 18, we asked you what kinds of deals you’re on the lookout for — and 85% (!) of you said restaurants and breweries over anything else. Quick follow-up here, so we can go on the hunt.

🗓️ Saratoga Springs Events Calendar, April 23-29

Tonight, April 23

Community Night — Saratoga Outdoors | 5-8 p.m.

Stop by Saratoga Outdoors to celebrate Friends of Saratoga Spa State Park. The non-profit will be on-site, and 30% of all sales goes directly to them. Plus, there will be a raffle for a $100 Saratoga Outdoors gift card.

Art “Therapy” Workshop — Petal + Hive | 6-7:30 p.m.

The Art Club owner and artist, Virginia Fretto, will guide all participants through a variety of inspiring prompts to quiet the mind and open creative expression. No prior art experience needed, and this workshop will be fulfilling to all levels of creatives. Attendees will leave with their finished art composition & a set of 6 tempera paint sticks to continue to explore their art practice at home.

CulinaryArts@SPAC presents: Heartland Masala with Jyoti & Auyon Mukharji — The Pines @ SPAC | 6-9 p.m.
It’s going to be quite a feast! The Darlingside, Kansas-born musician Auyon Mukharji collaborated with his mother, the Indian-born Jyoti Mukharjo, on a book that showcases 99 recipes from across India, with a special focus on Punjabi and Bengali cuisine. Your evening: reception, family-style meal, Q&A.

🎥 Saratoga Film Forum Weekly Screening — Dee Sarno Theater at Saratoga Arts | 7 p.m.

Triumphant comeback of a beloved film forum, with a focus on independent and curated film to reinforce the region’s appetite for alternative cinema outside commercial theaters. Tonight’s movie: Blue Moon

Saratoga Songwriter Night: Deb Zep-Douglas & Michael Richardson — Kraverie | 7-9 p.m.
The songwriter hits Kraverie for the very first time.

$1 Oyster Night — Standard Fare | Recurring

As it sounds — slurp up $1 oysters all night long!

Friday, April 24

Memorize that Poem — Saratoga Springs Public Library | all day

For National Poetry Month, children are invited to recite a poem for us at the Children’s Room Desk any day during April. Participants will receive a Stewart’s ice cream coupon!

Live Music: Jeff Brisbin — Henry’s Irish Tavern | 5 p.m.
A local legend at a Saratoga institution. Brisbin’s weekly presence across the city’s bars has become its own kind of live music infrastructure.

13th Annual Night at the Brewseum — Canfield Casino | 5 p.m. VIP; 6:30 p.m. GA
“Not your standard brew fest:” This beloved event — which is known for selling out — features an all-local display of craft beers and ciders, wines (from both wineries and local bottle shops) and food.

The Collingsworth Family Classics & Hymns — UPH | 7 p.m.

“We’ve never had this genre in here before,” says UPH Director Teddy Foster, “even though we look like a church.” This evening of family worship and Southern Gospel promises “excitement, spiritual anointing, family emphasis and musical excellence.”

Music of the American Revolution: Celebrating 1776 — Bethesda Episcopal Church | 7 p.m.

Special concert program dedicated to the music that soundtracked the birth of the United States — yup, in celebration of this summer’s 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. The acclaimed chamber ensemble Musicians of Ma’alwyck will perform a program curated to highlight the diversity of musical life in early America.

Grateful Dub: A Reggae-Infused Tribute to the Grateful Dead w/ Roots of Creation — Putnam Place | 8:30 p.m.
Combining their longtime love for Reggae-Dub style music and the Grateful Dead, RoC reworked some of the world’s favorite Dead tunes into a new studio album. The band will also open the show with an original set of music.

Saturday, April 25

Spring Makers Market — Innovation Center at Saratoga | 10 a.m.
A local makers market that functions as both retail and community. The Innovation Center has become a stellar anchor for this kind of event.

Discover Duncan: Divine Love — NACRE Dance Group | 11:30 a.m.
First in a series of “Discover Duncan” workshops teaching Isadora Duncan’s influence on American modern dance. No prior dance experience required.

Gary Zack Opening Reception — Spa Fine Art Gallery | 12 p.m.
An opening reception at one of the city’s more focused commercial galleries. Arrive early to talk to the artist.

Poetry Open Mic Featuring Two Poets Laureate: Jay Rogoff & Adonis Richards — Caffe Lena | 2 p.m.
Two poets laureate — Adonis Richards of Schenectady and Saratoga’s own Jay Rogoff — share a stage at Caffè Lena.

Meet Bo the Beaver! — Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library | 3 p.m.

Wildlife educator Alexis Broz brings a live North American beaver to the library. Children will be delighted; adults will be surprised by how much they didn’t know about beavers.

Spring Dinner — Union Gables Inn & Libby Supper Club | 6 p.m.
Six seasonal courses at the stunning, historic Union Gables with chef Justin Daw.

The Music of Sam Cooke — A Change Is Gonna Come starring Bradd Marquis and the Magnificent — Universal Preservation Hall | 7:30 p.m.

“I would follow Bradd Marquis anywhere,” Teddy Foster says of the star who’s bringing the music of soul icon Sam Cooke (“You Send Me,” “Twistin’ the Night Away”) to UPH.

The Dave Matthews Tribute Band w/ Rich Ortiz — Putnam Place | 8 p.m.
A 20-year tribute act with a following large enough to fill the room. Local fave Ortiz opens.

Sunday, April 26

Earth Month BINGO — Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library | all day

Pick up a BINGO sheet at the Ask Desk and celebrate Earth Month with suggested fun activities and a chance to win a prize!

Sundays We Brunch — Adirondack Winery

Ladies, assemble your brunch squad – the winery has unlocked your ultimate flavor experience with Brunch all day on Sundays!

Mindful Painting: Seascape Edition — Nourish Designs | 10:30 a.m.
Guided painting session: Be transported to the beach as you bring a seascape to life.

Virtues & Music — Saratoga Springs Recreational Center | 1 p.m.
Interactive class for kids ages 8 - 11 plus music instruction in a ukelele band!

Concert: The Christine Spero Group — Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library | 2 p.m.

An afternoon music program at the library, featuring music of the ‘60s and ‘70s.

Modern Calligraphy + Hand Lettering Workshop — Nourish Designs | 3 p.m.
Discover the art of beautiful lettering in this beginner-friendly Modern Calligraphy class! (Teens welcome.)

Live Music: Triple Trouble & Special Guests — Artisanal Brew Works | 4 p.m.

A recurring Sunday booking. April 26 features beloved local singer/songwriter Maggie Doherty and Jeff Walton.

Tommy Castro and The Painkillers: Closer To The Bone Tour — Parting Glass | 7 p.m.
Fresh off last year’s release of Closer To The Bone, this four-time B.B. King Entertainer of the Year delivers “a masterclass in searing guitar, soulful vocals and grit-and-groove blues. “

Soul Asylum Acoustic with Support by Corey Glover — Universal Preservation Hall | 7:30 p.m.
Foster calls Soul Asylum’s Sunday night show “a huge deal.” Better grab your ticket fast — the main floor is almost completely sold out. The evening offers a rare chance to see Dave Pirner and Ryan Smith perform an intimate, one-of-a-kind acoustic set. Says Teddy Foster, “This is a big, big, big show for us.”

Monday, April 27

Pizza & Pints — Morrissey’s Lounge & Bistro | (Recurring)

Every Monday, enjoy your choice of pizza and a draft beer for just $25 per person.

Martini Mondays — Chianti Il Ristorante | (Recurring)

Kick off your week with Martini Mondays! Enjoy classic & creative martinis for just $10.

Finding Purpose in an Uncertain Future with Philip A. Glotzbach — Saratoga Springs Holiday Inn | 5:30 p.m. dinner (optional); 7 p.m. talk

The Saratoga Torch Club will host a conversation with Skidmore College President Emeritus Philip A. Glotzbach, “offering timely guidance for students and families navigating college and the rapidly changing world beyond it.” Must sign up for dinner by tomorrow; or arrive later for the free talk.

At the Edge of the World: An Antarctic Expedition — Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library | 7:30 p.m.

Local author Mark Marchand recounts a two-week expedition to Antarctica in photographs and stories.

Tuesday, April 28

Story Time — Saratoga Springs Public Library | Baby (0-18 months) 9:30 a.m.; Family (up to 5 years old) 10:30 a.m.

Story time that incorporates books, songs and activities.

Teen Crafternoon: Iron-On Patch Bags — Saratoga Springs Public Library | 3-4 p.m.

Teens in grades 7-12, are invited to the Teen Room to customize a canvas zip-up bag with iron-on patches — perfect for home or school! No registration required.

$1 Oyster Night — Henry Street Taproom | (Recurring)

Just what it sounds like — slurp $1 oysters all day.

Wednesday, April 29

Music and movement — Saratoga Springs Public Library | 9:30 a.m.

High-energy program incorporating movement, songs and dancing. With the help of their caregivers, children ages 0-5 will practice listening and following directions and work on their fine and gross motor skills.

Memories to Memoirs — Clifton Park Senior Center | 10 a.m.

A writing workshop for adults who would like a gentle, supportive atmosphere and thought-provoking assignments.

👩‍🔬 Skincare Blend & Sip: Cosmetic Chemistry Lab Workshops — Petal + Hive | 6-8 p.m.

Step into the role of cosmetic chemist and experience how professional skincare is formulated in a fun, hands-on setting. Guided by cosmetic chemist and Acta Beauty founder Jillian Ehrenberg, you’ll participate in creating a small-batch serum or cream using professional mixing equipment. The night’s take-home product: Hydrating Overnight Serum

Harvey’s Famous DJ Trivia — Harvey’s Restaurant and Bar | 7:30 p.m. (Recurring)

A Saratoga tradition with resident DJ Aiden. Win prizes provided by Harvey’s and swag from our monthly rotating sponsors.

Ladies Night — Standard Fare | (Recurring)

“Girl Dinner” special: Crunchy Caesar salad, truffle fries, and a Tiny ‘Tini for $30 bucks.

Thursday, April 30

Community Night — Saratoga Outdoors | 5-8 p.m.

Stop by Saratoga Outdoors to celebrate Feeder Canal Alliance. The non-profit will be on-site, and 30% of all sales goes directly to them. Plus, there will be a raffle for a $100 Saratoga Outdoors gift card.

Undrunk Club — Canopy Saratoga | 6-8 p.m.

This is your girls’ night, your reset, your “I needed this” kind of night 💕
Come party with
your booze-free besties: girls’ night, reset, “I needed this.” DIY candle bar,
build your own bouquet, plant bar.

🎥 Devil Wears Prada 2 movie premiere — AMC Downtown Saratoga | 6 p.m.

Lola Saratoga presents an early screening of the NEW Devil Wears Prada 2 film starring Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt. Red carpet treatment! Raffle! Early viewing of the season’s “it” movie! And 100% of the profits will be donated to Girls Inc.

Submit your event!

Ever wonder why I write these borderline-cringey little notes?

Yup, because I want you to know it’s me. Abby. A real person.

The Dispatch is about community and connection — and so is Jillian Ehrenberg of Petal + Hive.

So … we connected. Enjoy her interview!

— Abby

After that intro, you knew this was coming…

The next Dispatch Dinner Club is May 6. Book now to join the 33 of your neighbors who have already signed up! You’ll be matched with five of ‘em for dinner at restaurants all over town — then we’ll all meet up for a nightcap at The Misfit to gossip about how it all went down.

I want a seat at a table!

No awkward mingling, like-minds only. Connect and support local!

Human connection in an AI world

I want a world where the flex is not to be on your phone. Until then…we need more entrepreneurs like Jillian Ehrenberg, the owner of Broadway’s clean beauty shop Petal + Hive. A cosmetic chemist who last year moved her business from Ballston Spa to Saratoga, Ehrenberg has also been building something she calls the Wellness Connection Project and using her larger new space to host workshops, events and walk-in conversations.

Why focus on human connection, and why now?

“We’re in a time when we’re lacking connection more than ever. It’s not just being on the phone — it’s being inside your own news stream, your own bubble. You can be friends online with people you’ll never actually meet. But we’re wired for connection, and not everybody knows how to practice it.”

Why move the shop to Saratoga?

“I wanted room to host events without people feeling squished, and my old space was tiny. Now I have people reaching out twice a week asking if we can host or co-host something. I don’t know how they’re all finding me, but I’m like: Bring it.”

Tell me about your skincare workshops.

“I’m a cosmetic chemist, so I have my own skincare line. At a ‘Sip and Blend,’ I bring out the professional equipment and we make a product from scratch. Everyone leaves with some. Along the way, we talk about ingredients — how to read a label, what to avoid if your skin is sensitive. But mostly, people just talk. It’s great.”

You’ve said the walk-in conversations at the store can get pretty deep.

“People come in with really heavy things. A lot of folks say, ‘I need to switch to clean products because I just got a cancer diagnosis,’ or something similar. Everybody’s dealing with a lot. I want this to be a place where you walk in and feel like you can breathe.”

To learn more about Petal + Hive’s upcoming events, visit petalandhive.com. (And you must go shopping, too!)

Crystals and healing

Saratoga’s Molly Brindle — author, Reiki master and inspiring local celeb — is joining forces with Complexions for an Evening of Crystals & Spiritual Healing on May 13. The event is already almost sold out, so if you’re interested in learning about crystals (and making a bracelet personalized with your own intention to take home!) and trying out Reiki, book your ticket now.

“Energy is everywhere, in your cells, in the earth, in the air — and in the crystals we wear as jewelry!” says Brindle, who adds that her private Reiki energy sessions she’ll be doing during the event “calm and balance your chakras and energy field.”

To grab one of the last tickets, visit complexions.com.

🎥 Saratoga in the limelight

A look into Saratoga’s track season — and the culture surrounding it — just earned director Samuel Centore a win in the documentary short category award at the 2026 Sarasota Film Festival.

The doc, 40 Days in Saratoga, took home its prize on April 17, says Dan DeFedericis of the Saratoga Report.

💃 Tales from downtown Albany

Anyone else a sucker for pop culture moments? Both the ones that cement a moment in time, and those that inexplicably seem to have a mind of their own … like the “Steamed Hams” sketch from The Simpsons.

A few weeks ago, I previewed a Steamed Hams event going down at Druthers — the man, the myth, the legend Bill Oakley was coming to Albany.

For the very first time.

Even though one of his most famous Simpsons moments — a Meme of the Year winner — was literally about Albany. (The memorable double-down dig, anyway.)

And Saratogian Laura Tilton — who claims to weave Simpsons references into 72% of conversations and “essentially” think in Simpsons lines — not only went, but she wrote all about it.

To have a read (it’s fun!), see He does Steam a good ham.

🍎 School report

Saratoga Report’s Dan DeFedericis made an impassioned plea on behalf of his daughter’s school, Spa Catholic. See what he has to say!

Speaking of education…

The Saratoga Torch Club will host a conversation with Skidmore College President Emeritus Philip A. Glotzbach, “offering timely guidance for students and families navigating college and the rapidly changing world beyond it.”

The talk — 7 p.m. on Monday, April 27 — is free to attend, and no reservation is required. To attend the group’s dinner (at 5:30, before the event), a reservation must be made by Friday afternoon. (Email torchman999@gmail.com.)

For more info, visit Civic Conversations.

….and the little guys

Malta’s Skool of Fish preschool (100 Saratoga Village Blvd., Suite 52) celebrated its grand opening during a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. Congrats!

For more info, visit skool-of-fish.weebly.com.

📌 ICYMI…

UPH outdoes itself

Trinity Mouzon Wofford’s first-ever Saratoga event

EXCLUSIVE: 🏇 Tom Durkin’s fave Saratoga moment

Saratoga’s real 💧 water story

---

🙌 Support the Dispatch

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Saratoga Springs — free.

Real stories, local secrets, and everything worth knowing about the city you love — straight from a human journalist who calls it home.

Never corporate. Always local. Every donation helps!

— Abby

Support the Dispatch!

Allison Bradley, Four Seasons by Sotheby’s.

Happy Monday, Dispatchers!

Anyone else freezing?

— Abby

Dispatch Dinner Club announcement ahead! Save your seat for May 6:

Grabbing my spot!

🍝 DINNER CLUB

May 6 after-party announcement!

If I had to pick a place that screamed “nightcap,” it would be The Misfit.

And they said, “YES!”

We’re so excited that the Dispatch Dinner Club May 6’s after-party venue will be at this spacious cocktail emporium. An informal survey yielded the following excitement:

• “Seating!”

• “Michelle’s the best.”

• “Two words: espresso martinis.”

Join the 29 of your neighbors who have already signed up to support local — and meet locals — on Wednesday, May 6.

1. Take the short quiz.

2. Get matched up with neighbors who think like you, helping to fill up tables across town at small-group dinners.

3. Meet up at The Misfit after to gossip about how it all went down.

Grabbing my seat at a table!

Keep reading!

Were you seen by Seen in Saratoga?

Dispatch Dinner Club dish: how it all went down

🎟️ HEADS UP

A Sure Bet

Saratoga's Prohibition-era underbelly gets a night of its own on Thursday, May 21, when the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, the Holiday Inn and the Saratoga Springs History Museum team up for Bridles and Bootleggers: The 2026 Trifecta Tour.

From 6 to 9 p.m., a complimentary trolley shuttles guests between all three venues for expert-led talks on the gangsters, Thoroughbreds and speakeasies that defined Saratoga in the 1920s — with snacks and drinks at every stop.

To grab your ticket, visit racingmuseum.org.

UPH trifecta

Some weekends, UPH outdoes itself. This is one of those weekends.

Friday April 24, 7 p.m.: The Collingsworth Family Classics & Hymns

“We've never had this genre in here before,” says UPH Director Teddy Foster, “even though we look like a church.” This evening of family worship and Southern Gospel promises “excitement, spiritual anointing, family emphasis and musical excellence.”

atuph.org

Saturday, April 25, 7:30 p.m.: The Music of Sam Cooke starring Bradd Marquis

“I would follow Bradd Marquis anywhere,” Foster says of the star who’s bringing the music of soul icon Sam Cooke (“You Send Me,” “Twistin’ the Night Away”) to UPH on Saturday.

atuph.org

Sunday, April 26, 7:30 p.m.: Soul Asylum Acoustic

Foster calls Soul Asylum’s Sunday night show “a huge deal.” Better grab your ticket fast — the main floor is almost completely sold out. The evening offers a rare chance to see Dave Pirner and Ryan Smith perform an intimate, one-of-a-kind acoustic set. Says Foster, “This is a big, big, big show for us.”

atuph.org

📨 DEAR DISPATCH

“Will interest rates fall again?”

By Allison Bradley, Four Seasons by Sotheby’s Realty

The sub-3% frenzy of the post-pandemic housing market is recent enough that I understand the impulse to wait and see if today’s 6.5% rate drifts back below 6. It probably won’t. So instead of waiting, here’s a tool worth wrapping your brain around.

The 2-1 buy-down: making 6.5% feel like 4.5%

A 2-1 buy-down temporarily lowers your interest rate for the first two years of your loan, giving you breathing room while you settle into your new house.

• Year 1: you pay as if your rate is 4.5%

• Year 2: you pay as if your rate is 5.5%

• Year 3 and beyond: you pay the full 6.5%

If rates stay where they are, you’ve had two years of cheaper payments. If rates fall, you refinance. And unlike rent, a portion of every payment is building equity in a home that’s yours.

What the savings look like: On a $500,000 home with a 20% down payment, a 2-1 buy-down saves about $9,000 in cash flow over the first 24 months.

Why sellers say yes: For a few reasons, in a stable market many sellers would rather give you a $15,000 credit toward a buy-down than drop their asking price by $30,000.

(Temporary buy-downs are a recognized product under Fannie Mae’s Selling Guide, section B3-4.1-02.)

💃 LAST CHANCE

Heartland Masala: Indian Cooking from an American Kitchen

with Jyoti and Auyon Mukharji

April 23, 2026 | 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

The Darlingside, Kansas-born musician Auyon Mukharji collaborated with his mother, the Indian-born Jyoti Mukharjo, on a book that showcases 99 recipes from across India, with a special focus on Punjabi and Bengali cuisine.

It’s going to be quite a feast!

“We draw inspiration from across India,” Mukharji says. “It’s both lightness and darkness. And it’s not just a cookbook.”

Tickets are $125 and are available at spac.org.

🥶 SPIRIT ANIMAL

Ashley Salvadore putting on a puffer coat this morning to walk the dog is all of us.

ICYMI…

Trinity Mouzon Wofford’s first-ever Saratoga event

🗓️ Poetic Echoes 🎻 and more, Events Calendar: April 16-22

EXCLUSIVE: 🏇 Tom Durkin’s fave Saratoga moment

Saratoga’s real 💧 water story

The author of The Hunting Wives book was extra-dishy.

Ever thought about who would play all of us on Netflix?

— Abby

Saratoga welcomes home Trinity Mouzon Wofford for her very first local event

In her new cookbook Eating at Home, Trinity Mouzon Wofford — yes, that Mouzon, from the storied house along High Rock Park — a fourth-generation Saratogian and founder of the acclaimed wellness brand Golde (I’ve been addicted for years, since I first met the entrepreneur) shares the recipes and rituals that anchor her family’s kitchen.

Raised in Saratoga Springs and now based in Chatham with her husband, Issey Kobori, and their young daughters, Ruby and Maya, she traces her love of food back to her grandmother, a Skidmore graduate who kept almond butter, sourdough and canned sardines on hand long before any of it was fashionable.

(Abby) We’re so excited for your Northshire book event on Wednesday. (Trinity) This will be my very first time doing something in Saratoga, so I’m really looking forward to it.

What inspired you to write your cookbook? The journey started four years ago when an agent reached out. I was pregnant with my first daughter and hesitant — I’m not a professional chef. But over a year of writing the proposal, I realized that what I cared most about wasn’t which superfoods to eat. It was the commitment to mealtime itself. Even as a wellness entrepreneur, I’d found that cooking, grocery shopping and sitting down to eat were the most foundational parts of my practice.

How did you choose what to include? The book is largely a collection of mine and Issey’s home recipes. The first chapter is called Component Cooking — the idea that on a slower day you make stock, cook a pot of beans, blanch some vegetables, and tuck them away so weeknight meals become assembly rather than a headache. So much of life is mundane, but there’s loveliness to be found in it.

Anything new with Golde? We’ve been rolling out a new look for the brand — we just launched a new website, with new packaging rolling out through this year. It’s been really fun to get back into that real creative space with the business and think about how we want it to continue to evolve.

Trinity Mouzon Wofford will sit down with Edible editor Jenn Taber VanDerwerken at 6 p.m. at Northshire this Wednesday, April 22. For more info and to order Eating at Home ahead of time, visit northshire.com.

Hive After Hours

Petal + Hive, the clean beauty and skincare store that last fall moved from Ballston Spa to downtown Saratoga, has an impressive series of evening events built on hands-on creativity.

Monday:

👩‍🔬 Skincare Blend & Sip: Cosmetic Chemistry Lab Workshop | 6-8 p.m.

Step into the role of cosmetic chemist and experience how professional skincare is formulated in a fun, hands-on setting. Guided by cosmetic chemist and Acta Beauty founder Jillian Ehrenberg, you’ll participate in creating a small-batch serum or cream using professional mixing equipment. The night’s take-home product: Modern Hippie Cream Cleanser

Register now for April 23:

🎨 Art "Therapy" Workshop | 6-7 p.m.

The Art Club owner and artist, Virginia Fretto, will guide all participants through a variety of inspiring prompts to quiet the mind and open creative expression. No prior art experience needed.

🏇 Journalism races at Oaklawn Handicap

Some of the horses you fell in love with last season are racing today, at the Oaklawn Handicap. Post time: 7:20 p.m.

The star-studded lineup includes Sovereignty, White Abarrio and Publisher.

But my money — as always — is on Journalism.

Journalism (variations on a theme here) adds lore to on-the-market downtown building

Your favorite neighborhood journalism nerd (🙋‍♀️) enjoyed finding out that the historic, on-the-market building that’s home to the Wine Bar was once lit up by Saratoga’s very first newspaper (The Saratoga Sentinel, founded in 1818).

Represented by Dan Roohan and Kelly DMichele, the 6,000-square-foot property is listed for $3,700,000 and houses the Wine Bar (first and lower levels) and three upper-floor residential apartments. The restaurant — which boasts two working fireplaces, a full bar, and a fully outfitted food and beverage setup — will remain open until the building sells. While the furniture, fixtures and equipment are included in the sale, the business itself is not; select items, including the cigar humidor, cigar locker, baby grand piano, selected artwork and cigar lounge license will not transfer.

Another fun fact: Made of brick at a time when its neighbors were constructed of wood, the three-story, mixed-used stunner was one of the few structures to survive a devastating fire in the 1830s.

Happy 420 Weekend to those who celebrate.

Head straight to High Peaks, where the brand pop-ups and deals start at 11 a.m. today — plus an HPC prize wheel, and Dave’s Garage Sale, which is going on all weekend.

Today’s pop-up: PAX engraving 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. “They are in store offering the free engraving of a Pax device,” says High Peaks owner Roger Sharp. “They have their own brand of battery that their pods only work with.” Specials: Sticky’s prerolls and eighths

Sunday: Pop-up: Mad Hatter Tea Party by Circle Hill 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.; Specials: Circle Hill rosin

Monday: Battenkill Buds 1-4 p.m.; EQX: 3-5 p.m.; Florist Farms: 5 p.m.; Specials: NYCE, OMO, MVP

🙌 SUPPORT YOUR DISPATCH TODAY

Your Dispatch is FREE to read — and only possible because of our paid subscribers. Just $20 bucks goes a long way in helping to keep us going.

Never corporate, always local and written by me, a human.

— Abby

Support the Dispatch!

iTheatre brings pub theatre to Harvey’s

Saratoga’s own iTheatre continues its unique free play reading series with All I Had by Ellen Clarkson, 5 p.m. April 25 and 26 at Harvey’s Restaurant and Bar (14 Phila Street). “Buy a drink or two while you’re at it and pay-what-you-will to support our continued Pub Theatre tradition,” says founder Will Severin. “Our play readings always focus on un-produced original works and pop up in various venues in the Spa City. This one is about the American Dream of fame, fortune and status as defined by a 70-year-old who gets sick, watches the accolades fade — and then joins forces with his Haitian home health aide to make both their dreams come true.”

A $5 reservation guarantees you a seat. Reserve at itheatresaratoga.

📌 ICYMI…

Were you seen by 📸 Seen in Saratoga? (Dispatch Dinner Club launch!)

🗓️ Poetic Echoes 🎻 and more, Events Calendar: April 16-22

EXCLUSIVE: 🏇 Tom Durkin’s fave Saratoga moment

Saratoga’s real 💧 water story

Allison Bradley, Four Seasons by Sotheby’s.

🗓️ Featured Event

SCHENECTADY-SARATOGA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA — CONCERT IV

POETIC ECHOES

🎻 The Saratoga Springs Symphony Orchestra wraps its season in style this weekend, teaming up with Saratoga Voices for a program that weaves together poetry and orchestral music. Langston Hughes, Walt Whitman, and Shakespeare all make an appearance — through Florence Price, Vaughan Williams, and Mendelssohn, respectively — and the finale, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” is about as good a closer as you can ask for.

The concert is Saturday, April 18 at UPH, with a pre-concert talk led by Artistic Director Glen Cortese at 6 p.m. Tickets run $17–$24, and kids under 18 are free with a ticketed adult. Sunday matinee will be at Proctors.

To buy your ticket, visit atuph.org.

Submit your event!

🗓️ Saratoga Events Calendar, April 16-22

Tonight, April 16

🎥 Saratoga Film Forum Weekly Screening — Dee Sarno Theater at Saratoga Arts
Triumphant comeback of a beloved film forum, with a focus on independent and curated film to reinforce the region’s appetite for alternative cinema outside commercial theaters. Tonight’s 7 p.m. movie: It Was Just an Accident

More Gangsters of Saratoga — Saratoga Springs History Museum
A continuation of Saratoga’s layered past, this 7 p.m. program focuses on the city’s lesser-polished narratives and their place in local memory.

Friday, April 17

Historical Sewing Demonstration — Saratoga Springs Public Library | 10 a.m.

Inspired by the upcoming Saratoga 250th anniversary, Librarian Caitlin sets out to bring history to life with a sewing project.

Community Field Trip: Shaker Heritage Society | 10 a.m.
This approximately one and a half hour tour leads through the Church Family site, where the Society’s offices are located. The property includes nine remaining Shaker buildings, herb garden, open fields, apple orchard, Ann Lee Pond nature preserve, and the Shaker cemetery where the founder, Ann Lee, is buried.

Craft Supplies Give and Take — Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library | 10 a.m.
Recycle and donate unwanted craft supplies in good condition on Thursday and Friday. Shop for new-to-you supplies on Saturday and Sunday. You don't need to donate craft items in order to shop.

Saturday, April 18

“I Exist As I Am, That Is Enough” Morning Meditations — Walt Cafe | 7:30 a.m.
A reflective practice placed in a casual setting, suggesting the integration of mindfulness into everyday spaces.

🐴 Birthday Party for the Horses — Old Friends at Cabin Creek | 12-3 p.m.

Open house: All are welcome! Old Friends at Cabin Creek (483 Sand Hill Road, Greenfield Center) will host its 16th Annual Birthday Party for the Horses on Saturday. Per tradition, guests sip on donated soups as they stroll the grounds to visit the 14 retired Thoroughbred racehorses (and one quarter horse!) that call the idyllic spot home. Admission is free; a $10 donation is suggested.

Dueling Pianos at the Winery — Adirondack Winery | 7:30 p.m.
Step into the spotlight at Adirondack Winery’s Queensbury Tasting Room for an electrifying showdown.

Fourteenth Annual Garden & Landscape Symposium — Fort Ticonderoga
A structured symposium that reflects sustained interest in horticulture and land use, with an audience oriented toward both practice and preservation.

Volunteer Fair — Saratoga Springs Public Library | 12-2 p.m.
A centralized effort to connect residents with service opportunities.

Sunday, April 19

Rock Painting Class — Nourish Designs | 10 a.m.
A casual, accessible craft format that lowers the barrier to entry for creative participation.

Pattern and Mandala Drawing Workshop — Nourish Designs | 1 p.m.
A guided creative session centered on repetition and form, appealing to those interested in meditative art practices.

🧸 Drop-In Buggy Face Masks | Saratoga Springs Public Library | 1 p.m.

Stop by the Children’s Room to make your very own foam bug mask with help from our teen volunteers! No registration required.

Poets in the Museum — Skidmore College’s Tang Museum | 3 p.m.

What happens when 13 local poets walk into an art museum? At 3 p.m. Sunday, in the Tang’s upstairs Molloy Gallery, we’ll find out. Each poet will read next to the painting, sculpture, drawing or photograph that inspired his/her poem.

Sundays We Brunch — Adirondack Winery
Ladies, assemble your brunch squad – the winery has unlocked your ultimate flavor experience with Brunch all day on Sundays!

Earth Month BINGO — Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library | all day
Pick up a BINGO sheet at the Ask Desk and celebrate Earth Month with suggested fun activities and a chance to win a prize!

Live Music: Triple Trouble & Special Guests — Artisanal Brew Works | 4 p.m.
A recurring Sunday booking. April 19 features Triple Trouble Jam.

Monday, April 20

👩‍🔬 Skincare Blend & Sip: Cosmetic Chemistry Lab Workshops — Petal + Hive | 6-8 p.m.

Step into the role of cosmetic chemist and experience how professional skincare is formulated in a fun, hands-on setting. Guided by cosmetic chemist and Acta Beauty founder Jillian Ehrenberg, you’ll participate in creating a small-batch serum or cream using professional mixing equipment. The night’s take-home product: Modern Hippie Cream Cleanser

Pizza & Pints — Morrissey’s Lounge & Bistro | (Recurring)

Every Monday, enjoy your choice of pizza and a draft beer for just $25 per person.

Martini Mondays — Chianti Il Ristorante | (Recurring)

Kick off your week with Martini Mondays! Enjoy classic & creative martinis for just $10.

Tuesday, April 21

Apple for Everyone — Saratoga Springs Public Library | 9:30 a.m.

A hybrid all-things-Apple chat group, where you can bring your device, app, or software questions to get some answers. All levels.

Citizenship Discussion Group — Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library | 9:30 a.m.
A civics-focused session that supports naturalization while reinforcing engagement with government and history.

Wednesday, April 22

Teen Bite Club: Chips and Dip — Saratoga Springs Public Library | 3-4 p.m.

The first rule of Teen Bite Club… you have to eat what you make! Teens in grades 7-12, stop by the Teen Room to mix, match, and sample a bunch of different chips and dips. No registration required.

Memories to Memoirs — Clifton Park Senior Center | 10 a.m.
A writing workshop for adults who would like a gentle, supportive atmosphere and thought-provoking assignments.

Harvey’s Famous DJ Trivia — Harvey’s Restaurant and Bar | 7:30 p.m. (Recurring)
A Saratoga tradition with resident DJ Aiden. Win prizes provided by Harvey's and swag from our monthly rotating sponsors.

Thursday, April 23

🎨 Art "Therapy" Workshop — Petal + Hive | 6-7 p.m. *Must register in advance!
The Art Club owner and artist, Virginia Fretto, will guide all participants through a variety of inspiring prompts to quiet the mind and open creative expression. No prior art experience needed, and this workshop will be fulfilling to all levels of creatives.

Submit your event!

At some point, a Manhattan editor nodded gravely, concurring that our racetrack is shorthand for moral collapse.

Meet you at the bottom of the moral ladder in just seven weeks.

— Abby

Dispatch Dinner Club party pics ahead! Save your seat for the next one, May 6:

Fix my FOMO now!

🥘 DINING

Back in action

After a quick change of hands, revered hotspot 15 Church is re-opened for business. The new menu kicked off at 4 p.m. yesterday, boasting an expanded raw bar menu (tuna carpaccio, vertical bay scallops, a raw bar flight and even a Bocage-style caviar bump).

There’s now a Snacks menu, too — think potato croquettes, house-made pickles and Vidalia onion rings.

Crowd favorites such as the ricotta gnocchi à la Bolognese, sea bass with bok choy, and the street noodle entrée have stayed firmly put.

⚾ SPORTSBALL

Red Sox call up a familiar face

If you’re watching the Red Sox/Twins game right now (I won’t tell), keep your eyes peeled for pitcher Jack Anderson. The 26-year-old righty had a huge day yesterday, reports MLB.com. He woke up in Nashville — where his AAA team (Worcester) was playing — and then was called up (to Major League Baseball!!) and flown to Minneapolis, where he made it in time to join the game.

For more on the actual baseball of it all, check out that MLB article. My job is to tell you that a source tells me that Anderson spends his summers right here in Saratoga.

VOLUNTEERING

Drivers in need for senior meal delivery

The Saratoga County Department of Aging and Youth Services has an immediate need for volunteers to deliver meals to homebound seniors who live in the greater Greenfield area; meals are picked up at Galway Town Hall and delivered to residents.

Schedules are flexible, with a minimum commitment of only once a week. Meals are picked up at 11 a.m. and delivered until 1 p.m. each weekday.

The program helps seniors (age 60 and older) remain independent and in their own homes, by providing them with a nutritious and ready-to-eat lunch.

To volunteer for this essential program, call 518-363-4020 today.

📰 IN BRIEF

Feeling it

New Yorkers’ consumer confidence is at its “lowest point in years — and the future looks even shakier,” says an Ish Bulletin report on the findings of a new Siena poll. The poll was taken in early March, pre gas prices hike. Ouch.

That incident yesterday

I try to stay away from crime, but this deadly fight was all anyone was talking about yesterday. An arrest was made, reports the Times Union, which ran a synopsis of the whole day’s sad events.

Spring is here, Dispatchers

And your pets are ready to step into warmer weather — now that it’s finally decided to show up — in style. The Pampered Pooch and Pals has skipped the corporate vibe for a more relaxed, Ballston Spa feel.

Whether you’re troubleshooting a picky eater or hunting for a harness that can actually handle a hike, they take the time to really listen and help you find a fix that works — plus, their shelves are packed with high-end food and small-batch treats.

The real heart of the shop is their hands-on care. Doggie Daycare is a low-stress hangout where social pups can just be dogs, and the Grooming suite is all about turning scruffy adventurers into the best-looking pups on the block.

I want my pup feeling springy!

Together with our friends at Pampered Pooch!

🍸 Thank you, Coat Room

I can’t believe it’s already been a week since the Dispatch Dinner Club launch! Special thanks to Coat Room, who hosted our after-party. We packed the place (wall to wall!), ordering Snowbirds (IYKYK) and gossiping about having dinner with strangers.

Keep reading!

Dispatch Dinner Club dish: how it all went down

📸 Were you seen by Seen in Saratoga?

First, we dined…at 7 restaurants all over town.

Then we reunited at Coat Room — to have a nightcap and gossip about how it all went down.

Event sponsor: Allison Bradley, Four Reasons Sotheby’s Realty

Restaurants: Coat Room (2 tables), Rhea, Chianti (2 tables), Omakase (2 tables), Standard Fare, The Market, Kindred

Join us next time, May 6!

Save my seat!

📌 ICYMI…

EXCLUSIVE: 🏇 Tom Durkin’s fave Saratoga moment

A bikini-clad 👙 horse hits downtown

Saratoga’s real 💧 water story

Day Trip from Saratoga: Indulge in Kinderhook