Top 3 tickets 🎟️ to buy right now
BUT FIRST: Savor this, Saratoga: TogaNola’s efforts to give back on a super-local level are downright delicious.
💚 Savor this, Saratoga
TogaNola’s efforts to give back on a super-local level are downright delicious.
TogaNola’s owner, Jessica Schwartzman, is closing up quite a week.
She premiered her brand’s new packaging (it’s 77 percent post-consumer recycled) last weekend, and today she launched her “In Good Taste” program, which gives 20 percent of online sales to a local nonprofit — beginning with Shelters of Saratoga for the month of February.
“I want people to have a great product,” she says. “But I also want the money to go back into our community.”
Giving back wise, she simply has most of us beat. TogaNola’s exciting changes come in addition to her marketing and consulting work (clients include the nonprofit Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation), attending her first Opera Saratoga meeting Tuesday since being voted in as a board member, and on Friday — as board president of Saratoga PLAN — announcing the retirement of the land trust’s executive director and resultant nationwide search for a new one.
“I just love, love, love people and want to help,” says the entrepreneur, who started off as a nurse before moving into healthcare consulting and branching out from there into strategic planning.
“I had this one client, a big, big healthcare client, and I was working my butt off,” she says. “I came home one day, and was like, ‘I’m making these companies a lot of money, but I don’t think I’m helping people.’ At that point, I didn’t have any hyper-local clients.
“The next day, TogaNola posted on their website that they were closing up shop and open to selling to the right buyer.”
After purchasing the brand and re-tailoring its infrastructure to match her strengths, Schwartzman’s next step was knitting all of her worlds together.
“When you’re doing strategic planning for nonprofits, the biggest thing is where to get money,” she says. “So my work turned into a lot of development and marketing. With TogaNola’s give back program, we want to not only give back, but highlight your organization. If you have marketing materials you want us to share, if you want us to create stuff…I’m willing to do all of this. I’m small and nimble, and I can help.”
So if you’re a 501c3 in the Saratoga region, “and you think that we can support you in a fundraiser,” Schwartzman implores, “reach out to us.”
For more info and to buy granola — 20 percent of online sales in the month of February go to Shelters of Saratoga — visit, toganolasnackcompany.com.
🎟️ Top 3 tickets to buy right now
Commit now, leave your home next weekend — our top events pick for Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
Don’t let this cozy cold snap keep you inside too long. Let’s plan ahead — commit to a ticket now, layer up and leave the house over the weekend. These music and culinary adventures (one each for Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights) are too good to miss.
Thursday, February 5
Everyone Hot Pot with Natasha Pickowicz
Venue: SPAC
Chef and four-time James Beard Award finalist Natasha Pickowicz hits SPAC’s Culinary Arts series with her new book, Everyone Hot Pot. Dig into a festive exploration of Lunar New Year festivity via the ancient East Asian tradition of hot pot, starting with shrimp dumplings, scallion pancakes and — of course — cups of warm-your-belly hot pot broth. The after-dinner chat with Pickowicz will be led by Saratogian Tiina Loite, formerly of the New York Times.
BONUS: There’s just something about seeing the sweeping SPAC lawn — a dream of summer memories — blanketed with snow as you make your way to the warm and toasty (indoor) Pines events space.
For tickets, visit spac.org.
Friday, February 6
Yonder Mountain String Band
Venue: UPH
If cozy is your current vibe, nothing is cozier than the flannel-bedecked Yonder Mountain String Band and its roots music. Known as a driving force in progressive jamgrass (think bluegrass, rock and country with “soulful, funky grooves”), the Grammy-nominated, five-man band bring it down on the banjo, fiddle and mandolin. Heartfelt hits include “Here I Go” and “Didn’t Go Wrong.”
BONUS: UPH is right downtown, so make a night of it and pre-game at a restaurant you haven’t been to yet this winter.
For tickets, visit atuph.org.
Saturday, February 7
Beppe Gambetta
Venue: Caffè Lena
Internationally celebrated guitarist, singer and composer Beppe Gambetta is known for his soulful blend of American roots and European folk traditions — and his flatpicking, lyrical melodies and storytelling. “People have started referring to Phila Street, with its array of new restaurants, as Little Italy,” says Caffè Lena executive director Sarah Craig. “Well, nothing pairs better with dinner at Solevo, Danny’s, Noah’s or Elody than a performance by Italian guitar virtuoso and spreader of good vibes, Beppe Gambetta. He’s fun, classy, warm and very entertaining.”
BONUS: Gambetta even has his own cookbook, which he’ll be happy to sign for you after the show.
For tickets, visit caffelena.org.
🥄 Chowder fever
Now that your nights are settled, let’s talk Chowderfest. Between the beloved all-day soup showcase and the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl the very next day, chowder is going to be a massive deal this next weekend. So the fact that temps are expected to peak at about 14 degrees is no excuse for not going all in for one of Saratoga’s favorite winter traditions. You know the drill: 4 oz. samples of chowder for $2 at any of a long list of Saratoga’s very best restaurants. Embrace the cold, make the rounds, and vote for your faves Saturday, Feb. 7.
For more info, visit discoversaratoga.org.
📰 IN BRIEF
Flannels and Doc Martens
In honor of SPAC’s 60th birthday, Q105.7 Classic Rock took a look back at some favorite concerts from the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s. “How many times have you walked over the Route 50 bridge, left umbrellas in the bushes because they weren’t allowed in the venue, or arrived hours early to tailgate or get a good spot on the lawn?” asks the outlet. 👀 Worth the peek for the photos alone.
Night Work Bread update
The uber-popular Night Work Bread is reopening today — with a temporarily adjusted menu — after their precious bread oven caught fire early last week, reports Stan Hudy in the Daily Gazette.
Got a story to share, event to promote or business to advertise? Simply respond to this email, or reach me directly at abby@saratogadispatch.com.
📌 ICYMI…
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Sweet tooth, activated — and by a local foodie celeb
So much talent in this Newsletter!