A potential lawsuit brews on Caroline Street and a very 'Wicked' cocktail debuts.
PLUS: What to do these last two days of summer.
Missing in action on Caroline Street
There’s a lot of chatter on Caroline Street about the historic watering hole Tin & Lint, whose long-time owner Jim Stanley retired this past spring. Brianna Collins took over (with a silent partner) to much fanfare — but regulars and neighboring bar workers haven’t seen her at the bar since before Travers. The place has recently been closing by 10 p.m. — a far cry from the wild nights of early track season, when Collins kept the place open from 10 a.m. to 4 a.m. (Eagle-eyed Caroline Street fans watched the late-night shenanigans go down on Instagram Stories.) The staff seems to have left with her, adding to the intrigue. Multiple sources have told me that things did indeed turn ugly behind the scenes, and legal proceedings are a strong possibility. Regardless of what happens, look for the young nightlife heavyweight at Noah’s Italian, where she’ll help her boyfriend, Noah Frese, open the sure-to-be-hotspot this fall. As I wrote last week, excitement is in the air for the new Phila Street restaurant and entertainment space by the folks behind Siro’s.
Saratoga businesses show up for Albany’s powerful Capital Sip fundraiser
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Capital Sip event Thursday night in Albany raised more than $50,000 for research advancement for the rare disease. The crowd went wild when Stephen P. Jones, an MS RN CPNP ET from the CF Care Center team, announced that when he started working with CF patients in the late 1970s, the median life expectancy was “grade school” — but is now 65 years.
Board member Kelly Smith learned about CF when she was just 12, after her cousins Matt and Kate were diagnosed with it a very young age. “I did not fully understand what CF was or what it meant for them, but our family immediately jumped into action to do what they could for CF,” she says. “I have watched my cousins grow up to be amazing, successful humans and that is because of the medical advances within CF and the dedication to find a cure.”
The silent auction table included donated items from Saratoga Olive Oil, SPAC, Bocage Champagne Bar, Standard Fare, Tree House and Silverado Jewelry. Saratogian sustainable fashion guru Diane Fowler customized a stunning lavender Coach bag just for the event.
Appletinis and bratwurst
Bars and restaurants are starting to roll out their pumpkin season menus this week and next, but since some fall beers were already on tap I hoped to find at least one venue with an early taste of autumn this week to report to you. I dropped into Wild Horse thinking it was my best bet — after all, its summer cocktail menu had a track theme (think “Post Time” made with gin and elderflower and a Winner’s Circle Old Fashion). I thought maybe as soon as track ended, they’d have new autumnal treats for me?
I missed the new menu by the skin of my teeth.
But I did catch them hard at work crafting an apple martini. Nostalgia, Upstate apples and, well, Wicked: the bright green concoction seems like a perfect fit for 2025. (Meanwhile, the horse racing diehards at the bar were all watching Kentucky Downs with the fervor of the height of Saratoga track season, so the track menu didn’t seem out of date at all.)
The bar’s fall menu dropped yesterday (highlights: Pumpkin Spice Espresso Martini, Brown Butter Old Fashioned and an Apple Cider Mule), and the former Dango’s hosts Oktoberfest this evening, with a stein hoist competition going down at 6 p.m.
Two things to do this last summer weekend
Fall officially starts Monday, and it’s supposed to be a beautiful weekend. Get outside!
Car lovers should head straight to the grounds of the Saratoga Casino Hotel to catch all the action of the car museum’s exciting Saratoga Motorcar Auction. Headliners include a Lamborghini Aventador SVJ, a Ferrari 458 Speciale, and a concours-restored 1964 Pontiac GTO. (Plus, keep your eye out for vintage gas pumps, neon signs, and other memorabilia.) Bidding starts at 10 a.m. today and tomorrow. For a BTS look, tune into Destination Saratoga: All Access podcast.
For tickets, bidder registration, or the full run list, visit saratogaautoauction.org.
You have two weekends left to catch Dancing Grain Farm Brewery’s Sunflower Festival. Wander through the fields today, and nosh while listening to live music. Tomorrow? All of that plus a jam-packed list of activities: Sunflower Mini Sessions with YTK Photography, Sunflower-Themed Farm & Makers Market (handmade goods, local produce, art, and more), and 11 a.m. Sunflower Yoga with Yoga Mandali (flow among the blooms; post-class drink in the taproom).
For tickets, booking links, and updates, visit dancinggrain.com.
Got an event you’d like me to cover? Email me at abby@saratogadispatch.com.