Thirsty? Downtown’s new (wine) tasting room gets opening date. Macarons. War-torn fine wine. Pirate ship.
PLUS: 250 reasons to try the new Stewart’s ice-cream flavor.
Sip, sip hooray! Keuka Spring’s new tasting room set to open.
Keuka Spring Vineyards has been hard at work on its new Spring Street digs, promising a stunning, wine country-worthy tasting room — think live music, snacks and — of course - wine tasting. And vino lovers, get ready: It’s set to open Nov. 1. The new tasting room will be a huge step up from the winery’s first location, a modest shop on the lower level of the Marketplace that didn’t leave much room for sitting down to enjoy a glass (us wine girlies made do…). The new locale is in the former Red Wolf Pottery space across from Congress Park, which has undergone a complete renovation. “We can’t wait to give Saratoga the experience that people have at our vineyards,” says the family-owned brand’s East NY Region Manager, Autumn Manning.
Sunday fun day
I finally nailed down the exact “treats” being served with the Prosecco at the great Ruth Reichl’s talk at UPH tomorrow: French macarons. The A-list food writer and reviewer with a storied career at the LA Times and Gourmet magazine, among others, will sit down with Tiina Loite at 11 a.m. as part of the Saratoga Book Festival.
For more info and to grab your last-minute ticket, visit atuph.org.
Breaking bedtime
The book fest kicked off with an epic, sold-out concert Thursday night. Headliners Bela Fleck, Edmar Castañada and Antonio Sánchez were supposed to play for 90 minutes, but “they played until 10:30!” says a source. The popular musicians, it turns out, took the book fest’s declaration that the night would be a “fusion of sound and story” seriously, and you could hear a pin drop as Castañada and Sánchez (from Colombia and Mexico, respectively) told part of their life stories. Fleck admitted to being a little nervous — “I don’t usually tell stories!” he started — but also brought the house down. “The crowd went wild with cheering and clapping,” says one concertgoer, explaining that the unique personal sharing must be what stretched the night out. “Plus, the audience felt so connected to them after they spoke, adding that extra something to the incredible music.”
Tiny house, big dreams
The ‘ship-house’ is here! After a short delay, Chloe Barcelou and Bradon Batchelder’s famous tiny house has arrived in Saratoga — and is parked in front of Ben & Jerry’s. They had plans to sneak in some spa-time R&R this morning; they might need it after spending the night in the heart of downtown. Come see them speak today at 2:30 p.m. at Saratoga Music Hall (474 Broadway, on the third floor of City Hall). They’ll be joined by restoration royalty Ethan and Elizabeth Finkelstein of Cheap Old Houses.
HGTV stars (and a tiny home!) draw DIYers to free event this Sat.
The Rat Pack would be proud.
Be the first to grab your tickets for UPH’s first-ever gala at home! Tickets are on sale for “Meet Me at the 500 Club” Nov. 5. The Vegas-worthy nod to Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin will feature gaming such as craps and roulette, dancing, live music, food by the Adelphi and — I hope — a sea of people dressed up to the nines as if the Rat Pack itself were back. “It’s going to be a real swanky night,” says UPH director Teddy Foster. “We’re turning the Great Hall into a nightclub, and you’re going to cruise around and swoon to Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.”
For more info and to grab your ticket, visit atuph.org.
Dare to drink different
Bocage’s wine tasting event next Sunday is making a bold statement: all 15 (!) wines are ones you’ve never tried before. Pendenza’s fabulous Megan Anderson is bringing in fine wines from Slovenia, Lebanon and even Syria. The latter has been the wine to talk about amongst the European elite and just landed in its first American Michelin-starred restaurant — but has never made an appearance here. “We’ll taste and talk,” Anderson says. “I won’t be giving a lecture. It’s going to be the ultimate social event because each wine is here for the first time, so there’s so much to talk about.”
Tastings are at 1, 3:30 and 5 p.m. on Oct. 12. For more information and to snag your spot, visit bocagechampagnebar.com.
Newest Stewart’s ice-cream flavor serves up 250 reasons to dig in
Limited-edition ‘Knox Cannonball Crunch’ is as noble as it is delicious.
This exciting Positively Saratoga news is brought to you by our friends at Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.
Saratoga 250 and Stewart’s Shops have unveiled a special Henry Knox-themed ice cream ahead of the 250th anniversary of Henry Knox’s Noble Train of Artillery.
Knox Cannonball Crunch took the victory in an ice cream naming battle that played out over the summer.
Saratoga 250 Commissioner members, Stewart’s Shops representatives, Saratoga County representatives and 18th century reenactors gathered on the morning of Oct. 1 to unveil this commemorative dessert at Stewart’s Shops in Schuylerville.
Saratoga 250 and Victory Circle Partner Stewart’s Shops commemorated the 250th Anniversary of Henry Knox’s Noble Train of Artillery with a special ice cream naming poll to honor Knox’s remarkable feat—hauling artillery from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston Harbor in the dead of winter (Dec 1775–March 1776)—by creating this limited-edition commemorative flavor. History buffs and ice cream enthusiasts had the option to vote for a variety of names with the top three contenders being Knox Cannons ‘n Cream, Knox Cannonball Crunch or Knox Sled Tracks
Pictured above (l-r): Saratoga County Administrator Steve Bulger, Reenactor and Saratoga County Assistant to the County Historian Anne Clothier, Saratoga County Historian and Chair of the 250th Commission Lauren Roberts, Reenactor Dane Roberts, Reenactor and Saratoga 250 Commissioner Sean Kelleher, Town of Saratoga Supervisor Ian Murray, Saratoga 250 Commissioner Heather Mabee, Stewart’s Shops Public Relations Manager Robin Cooper, Saratoga 250 Commissioner Bruce Venter, Stewart’s Shops Marketing Director William Majewski
“What sweeter way to learn about history than having an ice cream cone,” Stewart’s Shops Marketing Director William Majewski said at the event, “and just like Colonel Knox delivered to General Washington, Knox Cannonball Crunch will deliver to your tastebuds.”
The flavor is available at more than 40 Stewart’s Shops located along the Knox Trail in New York now through the end of the year. These shops are located in: Ticonderoga, Bolton Landing, Lake George, Queensbury, Fort Edward, Gansevoort, Schuylerville, Stillwater, Mechanicville, Waterford, Cohoes, Watervliet, Rensselaer, East Greenbush, Schodack, Valatie, Kinderhook, Chatham, Claverack, Hudson and Hillsdale.
Knox Cannonball Crunch and select ice cream flavors will also be available on Oct. 11 at Saratoga 250’s Saratoga Siege Weekend event in Schuylerville. This living history event celebrates Saratoga County’s revolutionary history both on and off the battlefield, including perspectives from all sides of the conflict and life in the area. The two-day, free family event takes place Oct. 11 and 12.
Saratoga County Historian and Chair of the 250th Commission Lauren Roberts explained Knox’s amazing feat and why his artillery-toting journey through the Schuylerville area during Christmas of 1775 is so important to American history. “He was successful in his mission,” she said. “We want to commemorate what he was able to do.”
In December, Saratoga 250 will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the daunting, courageous, and successful winter 1775 journey of Henry Knox and patriots who delivered vital artillery from Fort Ticonderoga to the high ground over Boston Harbor causing the British to leave the city. The regional collaboration between states, counties, and historic sites will include a “cannon relay,” handing off a replica Revolutionary era cannon from place to place on its path from Fort Ticonderoga to the high ground over Boston Harbor in the winter of 1775-1776. Saratoga County will receive the cannon on Dec. 13, 2025.
These events are part of Saratoga County’s 250th commemoration of the Battles of Saratoga and American Revolution.
Learn more at www.saratoga250.com.
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Great collection today loved the book festival reports, fun UPH fundraiser and then the Knox ice cream. Yum.