1st peek: Divot's new menu. NYE!
PLUS: Be an 'Adventuress.' Canopy's winter wonderland beginsTODAY.
Last chance! Don’t miss the ‘fantastic’ ‘Baker Street’ final weekend.
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY — The Baker Street Adventuress had some serious buzz at the SPAC Culinary Arts event Saturday — “Opening night last night was fantastic,” someone told me as my eyes watered from the seriously spicy Nigerian soup I was attempting to slurp. So yesterday, I jumped on the phone with iTheatre Saratoga founder Will Severin.
“Opening weekend was great,” he confirms. “I felt like we had something good, but the audience really responding to it? That’s gratifying.”
When I pushed, he opened up about the risk of presenting a new work — the show was written by Severin’s wife, Mary Jane Hansen, and is about writer and actress Edith Meiser, who introduced Sherlock Holmes to homes across American via the radio in the 1930s — but said the audience’s feedback was flawless.
“They got all the jokes, we got the laughs in the right places,” he says. “Here’s a woman who basically has been forgotten, who did something pretty cool. But people respond to that whole underdog vibe. This was not a fictional story.”
Before the 15-year-old theater company rebranded as iTheatre, it was the Creative Place, and is known for its pop-up play readings in hotspots such as Harvey’s. It also has a youth theater workshop in the summer and several productions such as the Baker Street Adventuress throughout the year.
Grab your tickets now for the play’s final weekend this Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Saratoga Musical Hall at City Hall at itheatresaratoga.ticketspice.com.
The Brick’s pivot to Divot
The Divot — under completely new ownership in the space formerly occupied by The Brick — started its soft launch yesterday, and “It was good!” owner Erika tells me. Open 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. they’ve got an enormous menu. Starters include nachos, Mexican street corn and a “sampler scramble” of goodies such as mozz sticks and spicy fried pickles. There’s also a packed salads menu, pasta, tacos and entrées — oh, and pizza, burgers and sandwiches, too. Brunch spans from indulgent faves such as chicken & waffles and biscuits & gravy, to my personal fave: breakfast pizza with scrambled eggs and a drizzle of bacon aioli.
Plus, our girl Sam Guerra will be tending bar Tuesdays and Thursdays after it opens with a Grand Opening December 8, launching the sure-to-be-hot happy hour after the food is perfected.
See you there! Remember: They have bacon aioli.
Call 518-937-7390 or 518-450-1909 to make a res.
Bett on this…for NYE
The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce announced huge plans for New Year’s Eve this morning. Here are some highlights:
Saratoga Springs City Center
Allman Betts Band — Devon Allman and Duane Betts, solo artists and “modern-day guitar heroes” who formed a supergroup that makes “timeless rock and roll for the modern world, blurring the boundaries between blues, Americana and southern soul.”
Universal Preservation Hall
Nicotine Dolls — NYC-based pop/rock whose debut album An Attempt at Romantic this year was a hit, with help of a rabid fanbase built as the band grew since its 2019 inception
Caffè Lena
Reese Fulmer & The Carriage House Band, crowd faves known for their showstopping indie-folk/Americana hits
For more information on all of the other great artists who will be forming and to purchase tickets (begininning at noon on Thursday), visit saratoganye.com.
Today’s Dispatch is brought to you by…
Make your list, check it twice: Canopy is officially open!
Decked out as a winter wonderland, Wilton’s new multi-hyphenate Canopy is a café-nursery-gift shop dream.
For the full effect of this beautiful new winter wonderland, press play on the above embed!
A new greenhouse café and garden destination called Canopy (697 Rt. 9, Wilton) opened its doors today as four generations of craftsmanship blossom into a nursery-focused community space. The new hotspot — currently decked out as a holiday-kissed winter wonderland — is also a café and gift shop and come to us from the Smith family, who also own and operate Mandy’s Spring Nursery in Granville.
“[For Canopy,] we wanted to create something that feels timeless yet transparent — where people can see life and activity inside,” says Todd Smith, who grew up in Wilton and graduated from Saratoga Springs High School in 1987. “It’s a space that connects people to nature and to one another.”
Designed initially by Susan and Donald Davis of SD Atelier in Saratoga Springs and refined by James “Jace” Brown of Beardsley Architects + Engineers, the 9,000-square-foot structure was handcrafted by the Smith family themselves. Among its distinctive details — massive beams, nature-etched steel connectors, and a copper-roofed cupola — the latter was designed by Todd and Leonie’s son, Ford, and built by his grandfather, Peter Smith. “I’m not an artsy guy,” Peter, 85, jokes. “A cupola didn’t feel like part of the critical path to opening. But then one day the lumber showed up, and I built it anyway. Now it’s my favorite part.”
Inside, Canopy blends design, craft and hospitality, uniting retail, horticulture and food experiences under one roof. Inside the Greenhouse Café at Canopy — a cozy, light-filled space surrounded by greenery — guests can enjoy coffee and pastries and explore a curated mix of home goods, indoor plants and seasonal poinsettias that are perfect for holiday shopping or making your own wish list.
In addition Todd, Leonie and Ford Smith, Canopy stars Director of Store Operations David Garvoille, Finance and Business Strategy Manager Alicia Waller, Florist Manager Jess VanDerKern, and Café and Culinary Manager Lauren Sleicher. Together, they’ve created a space that feels both refined and welcoming. “We wanted it to feel grounded and personal,” Leonie says, “a place where people instantly feel at home.”
The Smith family is celebrating the grand opening with a month-long Holiday Market (through Christmas Eve) featuring local artisans.
Canopy’s soft opening was today — if you hurry, you can just make the 5 p.m. Christmas Tree Lighting with free hot cider and cookies. The 16-foot living tree will be raffled off and planted in the winner’s yard or donated to a local park or charitable organization. Raffle tickets will be included with every store purchase.
“Our goal is to be part of the fabric of upstate life,” Todd says, “rooted here, welcoming everyone, and built to last.”
Canopy and its Holiday Market will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays.
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ICYMI…
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Canopy reminds me of Sutton's.