Sponsored by
I Almost Threw Out My Keurig. It Wasn't Broken.
Every cup from my Keurig started tasting weak, flat, stale — so I unplugged it and stuck it in a closet. Then I learned the dirty secret of grocery store K-Cups: by the time a pod reaches your kitchen, it's usually spent months going from factory to warehouse to truck to shelf. The flavor oils are long gone. Some brands even over-roast to hide it.
The fix wasn't a new machine. It was fresh pods from Angelino's, a family-owned L.A. roastery that roasts, packs, and ships within 3–5 days — straight to your door, from 39¢ a cup. Over 1,000,000 happy customers. 50+ flavors, no subscription required, and 15% off your first order, applied automatically at checkout.
From the editor
Happy ‘day after,’ Dispatchers.
What a night with the Dispatch Dinner Club! We filled (often multiple) tables at Familiar Creature, Rhea, Solevo, Chianti and The Market — neighbors meeting neighbors at restaurants all over town. By the time everyone found me at the Misfit for the after-party, all 54 diners were nothing but smiles.
“Abby, who is…?” was the question of the night. Let’s just say that the Dinner Club is a great way to reconnect with someone you last saw 10, 20, even 30 years ago. And extra-fun if that hazy memory was from “maybe O’Dwyer’s.”
Plus: Dinner Club nights have now brought more than $20,000 in business to some of our favorite downtown restaurants.
👉 Next one’s Nov. 11.
See you there?
— Abby
In this issue:
🤔 Can we have nice things though?
🎭 Get a ___ …
🤩 Dazzling, darling
💃 Was this forwarded to you by a friend? Subscribe — and join the more than 6,000 of your neighbors who never miss a thing.
🤔 GOOD QUESTION
“What happened to those colorful boxes that used to collect donations Downtown?”
After the Dispatch team tracked down the man whose voice — thick Long Island accent and all — rings out from the pedestrian crosswalks, readers started writing in with their own hyperlocal mysteries. The “crosswalk guy” story shot to the top of our most-read list, so we got the message: You’re curious. We’re on it.
First up: those colorful boxes.
Scan appeal? Colorful donation boxes that were decorated by local artists — and beloved by at least one curious reader — have been replaced with these more modern ones. Let’s see how they’re doing…
By Monica Frydman
The original 12 donation boxes — arranged by then-Mayor Joanne Yepsen and the Downtown Special Assessment District — first appeared downtown in 2016, painted by local artists and paid for with private donations. Sadly, they were eventually vandalized and removed.
Six returned to the streets in 2024, but they work (and look) differently now: Instead of collecting cash, they have QR codes that take donors directly to Shelters of Saratoga and RISE. You can find them outside Roohan Realty, Compton’s Restaurant, Bluebird Spa City Motor Lodge, Uncommon Grounds, City Hall and Impressions of Saratoga.
The QR codes, however, have brought in only a few hundred dollars since 2024, according to Public Safety Commissioner Tim Coll. And the boxes carry a message that’s become a political lightning rod in the wake of the “no camping” ban: “Contribute to the solution, don’t encourage panhandlers.” Sound familiar? Just this week, the same message started appearing on electronic signs on the route into town from the Northway.
If you have a mystery for Monica to solve in an upcoming “Good Question” column, simply respond to this email with your query. Don’t be shy!
🍽️ DISH
🏈 Dancing Grain — known for major Bills tailgates this time of year — is doing a Real Men Wear Pink special fundraising event this Sunday, Oct. 18 at 3:30. “It’s such a great spot,” raves one of the coordinators, Dan Cohen. “Team Breast Friends!” Pinkest tailgate wins (go all out!); money is being raised for the American Cancer Society. More details on Dancing Grain’s Instagram.
15 Church’s casual new “Cheesesteak Alley” launches Oct. 21 on the hotspot’s patio, it announced on Instagram.
Bocage’s popular Pet Nat Fest (the 4th annual) will pop off Nov. 8, also per Insta.
🎭 THEATER
Home Made Theater’s unique spin on ‘Clue’
‘Clue’ played to a packed house during its opening weekend. (Cast photo by Brian Williams.)
Nearly every seat inside Saratoga Music Hall was filled for Friday’s premiere of Clue, a stage adaptation of the cult classic film and board game.
Home Made Theater’s cast notably brought their own interpretations to each character, shunning recreations of the film performances. Even for those (like me) familiar with the movie, the play offered plenty of surprises, including a bit of physical humor during the conclusion that brought the house down. Chelli Lopez (making her Home Made Theater debut) as Col. Mustard and David Skeele (who became a Saratogian just a couple years ago) as Mr. Green were standouts in my view, though every cast member had time to shine.
Pro tip: If you attend the show, be sure to grab a program when you arrive. Some contain special items that will get you bonus gifts/experiences.
To grab your ticket for the last weekend of performances (Oct. 16, 17 and 18), visit homemadetheater.org.
📌 ICYMI…
🤩 Light up
Frank Lombardo invites you to create your own unique lantern using paper, oil and LED candles (all materials will be provided) — to bring to the Old Champlain Canal Lantern Festival at the Gateway Visitor Center Oct. 28. His workshop? This Sunday, Oct. 18 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Hudson Crossing Park Pavilion (Co Rd 42, Schuylerville).
📰 IN BRIEF
Supervisor and former finance commissioner Minita Sanghvi took to Facebook yesterday to announce she won’t run for reelection next year.
Jonathon Norcross profiled Kevin Richards (my line dancing teacher!) in the Post-Star.
A $2 million project to “upgrade utility systems and make safety improvements” at SPAC has begun, reports New York Almanack.
GlobalFoundries will soon break ground on its second Saratoga County chip factory, reports Albany Business Review.
Darley America took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce retirement plans for Sovereignty. The Thoroughbred won the Belmont, Jim Dandy, Travers and Whitney here in Saratoga, plus the Kentucky Derby.
The Dispatch is free to read — and only possible because of our paid subscribers. Help the cause today for as little as $8/month.
