Column as I see ’em – Dan De Federicis’ commentary on Saratoga Springs, the Belmont and more!

 

It’s been such a long time,
I think I should be going, yeah
And time doesn’t wait for me,
It keeps on rolling.

Those beginning lyrics to the Boston song “Long Time” from almost 50 years ago (!) pretty much describes my busy professional life and the lengthy hiatus of the Column as I See ’em commentaries.  A lot of you have expressed enjoyment reading this column and asked about its impending return – so I thank you for that encouragement. I am pleased to report that not only is it back, but I will commit here and now to posting it at least once a month going forward.  Sometimes I need incentive and now I have to keep my word…  So, without further ado, here we go:

Well Chowderfest was sure….what’s the word?  Successful, yea very, very, very successful.  In the words of the Times Union:  “Amid warm temperatures, an estimated 40,000-plus people chowed, actually chowdered, down at the 25th annual Chowderfest Saturday in Saratoga Springs.”  Ha! “Chowdered” down – get it yuk yuk?  Those folks at the TU are clever.

 

Congratulations to all the connections at Discover Saratoga and beyond for such a successful event – the crowd of over 40,000 broke a record – on the 25th anniversary of Chowderfest.  Also congrats to not just the winners – but to all participants – for their much-appreciated efforts to make the event so popular.

I left the Mrs. behind to get some Mommy-alone time and got my girls downtown to the fest just past 11am.  Dad had some chowder, and the girls – not being too keen on all the seafood concoctions – preferred the offerings (read chocolate) at Saratoga Candy.  We stopped through the library and they eventually they got their faces painted at The City Center.  Mommy even caught up with us at the end.  A good time was had by all.

The Chowderfest connections sure benefited from a blessing of warmth by Mother Nature.  Man, combine a 56 degree February day with Saratoga Springs, and I think you could have a Liver & Onions festival and draw 10,000 people.

That 56 degree day will be long gone by the time you wake up Tuesday morning.  Saratoga Springs is at the northern end of a weather band that is forecasted to drop snow in the Capital Region, but most of it will be to our south.  You can get the latest updates from CBS6 here.

Well, some snow is fine.  Welcome even.  These poor businesses that rely on winter – ski resorts and snow plow drivers come to mind – are having an awful 2024 so far.  Which reminds me, has the ice rink at the Spa State Park been up and running at all?  The ice fisherman are (wisely) staying ashore for the most part.

So back to the beginning of today’s column, someone tell me why the band Boston is not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?  Several great hits, incredible production, and the second-biggest selling debut album of all time doesn’t get it done?  Ringo Star is in as A SOLO ARTIST – but not Boston?  Off-Saratoga Rant over.

Continuing on rock and roll, I am writing this on Sunday afternoon and the Australian rock band AC/DC will have a “major announcement” Monday at 3am.  How fun would that be if they are announcing a tour and coming to SPAC?  I love Chicago as much as the next person, but they’ve been here 96 times since I moved here in 2006, so a fresh geezer-friendly band would be much appreciated.  We’ll know by the time you read this whether I have my wish.

My other wishes for SPAC someday would be Lionel Ritchie and, don’t hate me for this, but Madonna.  Neither are my favorite, but they were both hit machines in their days and together they cover my life from elementary school to young adulthood.  It would be fun to enjoy songs and artists that were so big the first third or so of my life.  Billy Joel would be a huge get some year as well.

Here’s my sophisticated analysis of that plane stalker story out of Schuylerville that keeps going and going:  Yeesh!

Granted, we’re not even a month and a half into his term, but it says here that Mayor Safford is doing a great job.  I had a boss like him once – so kind and genuine – yet still in command.  I said it on the Saratoga Podcast recently that the 2023 election wins by Mayor Safford and Tim Coll were really good for our fair city and things just feel….functional.  That really is to the credit of the entire city council.  Sure, there’s a long way to go and I’m sure the road will get bumpy (even rocky) at some point, but the first six weeks have been reassuring.

Not quite reassuring is the fact that the “News Releases” page of the Saratoga Hospital web site hasn’t been updated since July 27th.  Certainly something is newsworthy out of our good hospital since the 2nd week of the 2023 track season, no?  I’ll take Cost Cuts for $1,000 Alex.

I walked into Uncommon Grounds Sunday morning to hunker down and write this column – and the line snaked through the place like it was still Chowderfest.  When is Coffee Traders coming back?  Heck, I might even welcome the return of….again, don’t hate me….Starbucks.  Shoutouts to the comfortable Spot Coffee and The Broadway Grind as they are both solid options.

There are a couple of retail establishments in town, who I shall not name but some of you know which I’m talking about, that have odd and limited hours.  It doesn’t make sense – if they want to stay in business that is.  As a friend of mine joked “Is that place open by appointment only?”

A while back I stopped posting those essentially reduntant articles with lists that Saratoga was inevitably on such as “Cities with best downtowns” or “Best cities to retire in”.   They often had outdated/inaccurate info in them, and I was convinced the writer had never been here.  In other words they were crap.  In fact, I think they are simply AI generated.

I’m adding this note late Sunday night, as the Chiefs just won yet another Super Bowl.  Ummm…yay.  Now we get to see Reid, Mahomes and Kelce in even more unfunny commercials.  The Chiefs are a class act though, and damn good.  I’m just sick of seeing them.  OK, second non-Saratoga rant (a mild one at that) over.

The most-heard declaration in the Spa City so far in February?  “These Belmont prices are insane!”

And NYRA’s favorite AC/DC song?  “Back in Black” of course.  (pause for groaning).

Speaking of NYRA money and back to Billy Joel, I wonder what the racing association has to pay him to play “New York State of Mind” after every Saratoga race day?  Is the Piano Man into the ponies?

OK folks, that’s it for this edition.  If you’re looking for me I’ll be refinancing the ‘ol De Federicis homestead so I can afford a seat at the Belmont Stakes, and, God willing, a lawn seat at SPAC to enjoy some AC/DC live.  Stay warm.

Dan@saratoga-report.com

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