It’s Election Day, tonight’s mahjong is sold out, we have to again plan for inclement weather (boooo), it’s Restaurant Week … and Incognito Mode launches tomorrow.

Oh, and I’ve been loading up events to my new calendar like an insane person. You guys were so polite when asking me when my events calendar was going to be done already — but it turns out you really wanted to know what’s going on out there. Last week’s calendar launch was our No. 1 story to date — outpacing even the crosswalk guy reveal by almost 600 opens!

Maybe half of the original reporting I wanted to share today fit … back soon with more news.

Go vote, eat well — and soak up the rest of this dry spell. Rain is in the forecast!
— Abby

🧖🏼‍♀️ SECRETS

By Jonathon Norcross

The mysterious project — we first heard whispers in August — known currently as the Saratoga Sauna Club, was officially announced last week by Beth Tooker, a Saratogian who is one of the venture’s masterminds.

Desperate to learn more, we reached out to Tooker, who provided us with a few exciting tidbits.

Secret location: “We’re not ready to share the exact address (or even the spa’s official name) yet, but here’s a hint: It’s a spot many Saratogians drive past every day without even knowing what’s coming.”

So Saratoga: “More than 200 people signed up as Insiders [to be the first to learn of the spa’s location and more] in the first 48 hours after I posted it on my personal social media — and it keeps growing.”

Origin story: “The idea came from our oldest son. He was doing elevation training in Utah last year, came across an incredible Nordic spa built around contrast therapy, and insisted we think about bringing something like it home.”

Spa City: “Our family has lived in Saratoga Springs for almost 30 years, and within 30 minutes of here our whole lives. Wellness has always been part of who we are … People are looking for healthier ways to connect with each other [right now]. We want [our spa] to be a place where people gather and find community while using a wellness practice backed by a growing body of research.”

☔ FAMILY

By Kathleen Willcox

After this glorious stretch of crisp fall weather, we’re staring down a rainy forecast starting Thursday. Thankfully, there are options. Here’s what to do when Mother Nature hands you a wet blanket:

The Children’s Museum; 65 South Broadway in Saratoga Springs, $14 admission (babies free)
The Children’s Museum is ideal for kids 7 and under, with a range of exhibits built around imaginative play and discovery. Real-world play, hands-on exhibits, and everyone’s favorites: a play ice cream parlor and fire station. Toot toot! 

MiSci; 15 Museum Drive, Schenectady, $15 for adults, $10 for children (babies free)
The Museum of Innovation and Science requires a smidge of a drive, but it’s worth it. You could spend an entire day here exploring science and tech exhibits, digging into engineering 101, and exploring the planetarium. This is a great option for kids 5-12. 

The Tang Teaching Museum; 815 North Broadway, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs. Free! 
This is a particularly child-friendly museum, with fun family events and rotating exhibits that explore deep aspects of culture, but are presented in a digestible way. The Family Saturdays are suitable for kids 5 and up, and often entail fun projects like crafting paper trees with watercolor pencils and wooden dowels. 

Saratoga Strike Zone; 32 Ballston Avenue in Saratoga Springs. Prices vary. 
Guess what? Sometimes no one is in the mood for cultural and educational explorations — including Mom and Dad. When nothing but fun will do, hit the Strike Zone for bowling (you’re worse than you remember, it’s true), video games galore, a children’s play area, bumper cars, and addictive pizza and chicken tenders. There’s also a bar with all the usual domestics and imports on tap. The wait for lanes can be nuts on busy days, so call ahead if you have your heart set on bowling.