Bikini-clad horse named after...me?
BUT FIRST: A local arts leader named top in the country. And a lotta beer news.
❄️ Dear Dispatchers,
I promised one super-long “weekend vibes” Dispatch to savor over this snowy, long weekend.
As it turns out, what I had planned was … too long.
So enjoy today’s fun Dish column of insider info about the town we love.
And tomorrow? While I fly back to Saratoga from Costa Rica to embrace the rest of winter — and I’m hitting the ground running — you’ll receive a deep dive into one of my favorite winter wonderlands where we can all meet up over our next long weekend perhaps?
🌴 Pura vida.
—Abby
🏆 Opera Saratoga ED named one of country’s best
Arts world heavyweight Musical America just unveiled its Top 30 “Professionals of the Year” — in the country! — and Saratoga’s very own Mary Birnbaum shines among the list’s elite. “We sing the praises of those who go above and beyond to keep the arts alive and thriving,” raved the esteemed outlet that covers classical music and the performing arts. “Each of these individuals goes above and beyond to keep the arts alive and thriving.”
Of Opera Saratoga’s General and Artistic Director specifically, the platform said, “Birnbaum’s credits are numerous, esteemed, and growing.” It singled out In a Grove, which she directed, Opera Saratoga performed in Spa State Park last season, and The New York Times called one of the best classical performances of the year after its turn at the Prototype Festival. “Never one to rest on her laurels, Birnbaum is focused on upcoming projects” such as the operatic adaptations of a graphic novel and The Real Housewives of New York.
Congrats, Mary!
Haven’t been to the “new” Union Gables (walkable from downtown) since the historic property changed owners? It’s stunnnnnning, haunted by ghosts (says me)…and Opera Saratoga’s hosting a happy hour there this Thursday, Jan. 22. (Welcome bubbles, gourmet bites and singing included.)
RSVP now (all money goes to the opera), and I’ll see you there!
👏 Bond Schoeneck & King is on the move — and growing
Bond Schoeneck & King — a powerhouse Albany law firm — is moving its Saratoga arm into larger (much larger) offices across Broadway from Congress Park. The extra room (Albany Business Review estimated that the 11,000-square-foot space is four times as big as where they are now) will allow for the hiring of more attorneys and will thus increase its presence in Saratoga.
🎉 New beers added to Saratoga Beer Summit
The Saratoga Beer Summit is shaping up nicely, with a whole list of new beers recently added, says ESPN Radio. Check out the list (includes beer, mead, cider — and even some wine), then visit saratogabeersummit.com to grab your tickets for the Feb. 21 event.
🍺 More beer news: Dancing Grain, Artisanal Beer Works get shout-out
A site called “Porch Drinking” (sounds great — sign us up!) just named its favorite spots for having a cold one “Near Major Horse Racing Tracks.” “What do you think is the main drink at horse racing events?” the site asked on Wednesday, Jan. 14. “Most of you would probably say champagne or some of the signature cocktails. But in reality, beer still holds one of the top places for the biggest consumption at horse racing events.”
For Saratoga (which the site called “a lovely place”), it named Artisanal Brew Works and Dancing Grain Farm Brewery. For the former, it called out “unique flavors, such as plenty of IPAs like Go Dank or Go Home, Belgian Ales, Fruited Ales, Traditional Ales,” and quipped, “what shocked us most was their sour ales collection (which, for me, was undrinkable, but still worth the try).” Dancing Grain was hailed “more picturesque” and “a wonderful, relaxing place where you and your friends can talk about how to bet on the horse racing before the race.”
🍻 Even more beer news: Historic brewery spot set to become a(nother) brewery again soon
Ballston Spa’s Real McCoy Beer. Co. has sadly closed its doors, but Back Barn Brewing is making sure the site remains a hotspot to grab a beer. (There’s no opening date just yet, but I’m on it.) “History Saving History,” the Schenectady County farm brewery said on Instagram about moving into the historic Doubleday House at 28 Washington St. “The decision to bring Back Barn Brewing’s beer to Ballston Spa was an easy one.”
🎨 I was a muse!
No, really. I was a muse.
As long-term Dispatchers know, I became a little obsessed with these “deranged” (the artist’s word, not mine!) horse paintings that started selling like hot cakes after being displayed near the hostess stand at the Phila Street restaurant Standard Fare. The overall series was called Thad’s Pick, named after artist Daniel Fairley’s father-in-law (and Standard Fare co-owner Zac Denham’s dad), whose bets on horse No. 5 one fateful day at the track turned out some major last-place finishes.
Yadda, yadda, yadda … an inside joke that does not have to do with this middle-aged writer in a bikini inspired Fairley to paint — wait for it — “Abby’s Pick.” She’s being framed right now, and I’ll tell you the whole inside joke/story as soon as she’s on display.
I can’t wait!
Keep reading!
🎙️ Discover Saratoga’s podcast gets renewed for second season
Discover Saratoga this week announced that its podcast, Destination Saratoga: All Access, is back for an exciting second season. New eps drop every Friday (the first one — about the upcoming Chowderfest and more winter fun activities — is already available) through April 24 and cover all sorts of local stories. The podcast’s fabulous host, Discover’s VP of Marketing/Comms, MacKenzie Zarzycki, promised me “an exciting lineup of local business owners, arts organizations, venues and community leaders.”
ICYMI, snowy weekend edition…
😭 15 Church’s new menu sparks ‘Tears of joy’ — and everything Saratoga 🎥 film fest
🍺Extreme Heights Cidery’s seventh winter warmer packs some heat
👌👌👌👌