Frozen mohawks? Kids in the cold!
BUT FIRST: Stewart's just made it easier to get your favorite beer — just in time for Super Bowl Sunday.
Happy Saturday, Dispatchers!
How many of you are strategizing gear before joining what could be the coldest Chowderfest ever? I’m on my way back from Hudson, where I attended a wine class at the charming Isola restaurant in Kinderhook. As I was checking into The Wick hotel last night, I met someone leaving — for Saratoga. She was headed to the new AC Hotel Saratoga Springs (like The Wick, a Marriott), bound for Chowderfest.
They’re joining the expected thousands who will brave the cold today from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the beloved $2 cups-of-soup tradition. (Keep reading for a really fun way you might be able to save a few bucks.)
I’ll be back downtown in just a few hours, a little nervous if I’m being honest. See you there?
Stay warm,
Abby
Local heavyweights brew up new partnership
Buying your fave Whitman Brewing beer is now easier, thanks to a new Stewart’s collab.
Both local companies are founded and run by families rooted in, are dedicated to the community they serve — and love a quirky flavor name.
Hint: One serves Bark in the Dark and Crumbs Along the Mohawk ice cream, plus a Sausage Egg & Cheese Wafflewich I’m mildly embarrassed to think is delicious. The other? Eccentric beer flavors such as Shadows in My Room and pizzas like my My Italian Grandpa.
Yes, Dispatcher, we are discussing the exciting new matchup between Whitman Brewing Company and Stewart’s Shops.
Whitman has been self-distributing beer since February of 2022, says Samuel VanDemark. The company’s director of sales and marketing, who grew up going to Stewart’s, explains that while all of their beers are in distribution, the deal with Stewart’s feels like a game-changer.
“We want to show the community that local is strong, competitive and accessible,” he says, pointing out that not everyone wants to travel into the city of Saratoga Springs every time they want to crack a Whitman Brew.
“We knew Stewart’s was the best way to spread our beer to the local community while staying local and true to our distribution beliefs,” he adds. “Our priority with distribution is to build community.”
Whitman is staring down Saturday’s Chowderfest, as well as Saratoga Beer Week — which kicks off Feb. 16.
Keep reading!
Water, water everywhere
I can’t get enough of Saratoga Water’s newest campaign, starring the WNBA’s Skylar Diggins. (This new photo came out this week.) The glam, the star power, the pops of that famous indigo blue…flawless.
Free chowder?
High Peaks Canna has some questions — and if you know the answer, they’ll buy your next cup of chowder. So keep your eyes peeled today for their crew who will be roaming downtown, Billy on the Street style. Starting at the City Center at noon, Gabi and Christine are committed to two hours of asking Chowderfest peeps outrageous questions. Are they as funny as Billy Eichner? Are Saratogians as funny as the people of NYC? I have no doubt.
Upstate kids
I grew up mostly in Florida, a kid who played outside with her new toys on Christmas Day — talk about easy. Upstate kids? You guys never let freezing temps like we have right now stop you from having a good time. Three Saratoga parents share their proudest moments.
Fearless Atticus! He knows that when it gets too cold, hot chocolate will warm you right up. Did he return to Gore Mountain during the big snowstorm while I was hunkered down at home? You know the answer.
Craving ice cream in January? Simply sit on top of the heat vent in a winter hat, like Alice did during the recent snowstorm.
Yes, that is an ice mohawk. Gavin had a field day in a heated pool while with his family in Killington last month. “He kept pouring water on his head to make ice sculptures,” his mom told me.
Do you have an idea for a story or something fun to share with the community? Simply respond to this email, like these moms did!
📌 ICYMI…
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Savor this, Saratoga: TogaNola’s efforts to give back are downright delicious
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