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Spa Catholic Baseball Camp is Back

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Sports.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Central Catholic’s annual baseball camp will return on July 15-18 and August 5-8. The 35th iteration of the camp will be directed by coaches Alphonse Lambert and Dale Long Jr.

The camp is open to boys and girls ages 7-14 and will be located at the West Side Rec Little League fields at 166 Division Street in Saratoga Springs. 

To learn more or to register, visit www.spasaints.com. Registration forms must be printed and mailed with a check to Coach Lambert.

Mark Dion and Alexis Rockman: Journey to Nature’s Underworld Opens July 13

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.

Mark Dion and Alexis Rockman (with Aaron Delehanty, Loud Cow Studio), American Landscape, 2022, mixed-media diorama with taxidermy, found objects, and painted background, 96 inches x 16 feet x 87 inches. Courtesy the artists and American Federation of Arts.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Journey to Nature’s Underworld, a monumental exhibition surveying 30 years of artist Mark Dion’s and Alexis Rockman’s work, goes on view from July 13, 2024, through January 5, 2025 at the Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College.

An opening reception will be held at 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 13. 

Journey to Nature’s Underworld invites visitors on a voyage of discovery into the depths of our threatened natural world through large-scale painted and sculptural works that will occupy the Tang’s two largest galleries. 

Mark Dion and Alexis Rockman have, for decades, been addressing humankind’s strained relationship with the environment and its vast ecological consequences. Although working in different media, Dion and Rockman engage similar approaches and strategies, informed by intensive research and fieldwork, borrowing from scientific methodology and models, and using allegory, dark humor, and references to popular culture. 

In addition to the public reception on Saturday, numerous events will be centered around the exhibition. On Saturday, July 20, the Tang’s annual community open house, Frances Day, will feature tours, music, and artmaking for all ages inspired by the exhibition. 

Admission to the museum is free. For more information, contact the Tang Visitors Services Desk at 518-580-8080 or visit https://tang.skidmore.edu.

Adirondack Theatre Festival Features Broadway, Television Veterans

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.

Parris Lewis. Photo provided.

GLENS FALLS —Adirondack Theatre Festival’s 30th Anniversary season is in high-gear and will feature multiple Broadway and television veterans to join local talent for a showcase of new work.

ATF will present a developmental reading at the Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council (LARAC) Lapham Gallery from July 12 – 14 in partnership with the Lake George Theater Lab.   

Broadway stars arrive at ATF for The King’s Wife, a concert presentation of the new pop musical with a score by Grammy-nominated Nashville songwriter Jamie Floyd, running July 19 -22. Parris Lewis (Tina: The Tina Turner Musical – first national tour) plays Catherine of Aragon and Matthew Griffin (Tina: The Tina Turner Musical – Broadway) plays Henry VIII. 

The season closes with Jeffrey Hatcher’s edgy new adaptation of Dial “M” for Murder. This stylish twist on the thriller made famous by the Alfred Hitchcock film features Nicholas Baroudi (Law and Order: Organized Crime and Fosse/Verdon) alongside Yesenia Iglesias, Dennis Schebetta, and Sigrid Sutter. Dial “M” for Murder runs Aug. 1 – 7.

Single tickets for Todd vs the Titanic, The King’s Wife, and Dial “M” for Murder at the Charles R. Wood Theater range from $25 to $49. Tickets for the reading of Worth: an Intimate Exhibition at LARAC are $15. Tickets may be purchased by visiting www.atfestival.org, or by calling the Wood Theater Box Office at 518-480-4878, or in-person at the Box Office at 207 Glen St. The Box Office is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from noon to 5 pm.

The Orchard Project Presents Variety of Events in Saratoga This Month

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.

On Thursday July 11, contemporary showtunes from works-in-progress musicals, including a performance by Ryan Miller (lead singer of Guster), will be presented at the Tang in conjunction with The Orchard Project. Photo: tang.skidmore.edu.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Orchard Project will present a variety of upcoming events which will allow OP artists to share their works-in-progress with the Saratoga Community. 

This summer’s public events include Open Rehearsals and Industry Days, Classical Training Workshops led by Fiasco Theater (July 8 – 11), the annual Orchard Project Summer Arts Festival Weekend (July 11 – 13), and Bloodstock to Broadway (July 24). 

The Orchard Project’s company-in-residence, Fiasco Theater Company, will teach several sessions for performers of all ages, making the text of Shakespeare accessible and fun to perform. The four-day intensive is a primer on Fiasco’s approach for rehearsing classical texts most efficiently, effectively and joyfully. Workshops for College-Aged Students + Professionals: Rehearsing Shakespeare take place at Saratoga Arts; Mon – Wed 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM, Thu 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM from Monday, July 8 – Thursday, July 11. 

Summer Arts Festival: Thursday, July 11 – Saturday, July 13:

Thursday, July 11 at 6 PM:

The Future of Broadway: A Musical Showcase of Contemporary Composers. 

Featuring Ryan Miller (Guster), Nick Blaemire, Jesse J. Sanchez, Zack Zadek, Anna Denoia, + more. Upbeat on the Roof @ The Tang; picnic starting at 5:30 PM. Miller is working on a new musical “Safety Not Guaranteed.” 

Friday, July 12 at 6 PM:

Work-in-progress sharing by Fiasco Theater Company.

The Haunting of Shirley Jackson: a reading of a new play by Kate Walat. Location + time TBA.

Saturday, July 13 at 7 PM:

Safety Not Guaranteed: a special concert presentation of a new musical premiering in NYC this fall by Nick Blaemire and Ryan Miller of indie rock band Guster. Saratoga Winery.

The Orchard Project is a preeminent artistic development laboratory and accelerator for creators of performance and dramatic stories. Through programs in New York City, Saratoga Springs, and online, the organization inclusively supports and empowers dramatic storytellers from the United States and around the world. Through summer labs and other year-round programs that provide resources including community, accountability, and opportunity for artists at multiple stages of their careers.

More information about all public events is available online on The Orchard Project’s website at www.orchardproject.com.

SPAC: GE Vernova Named New Lead Sponsor Of Saratoga Jazz Festival, Beginning in 2025

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Saratoga Performing Arts Center announced that GE Vernova will serve as the new lead sponsor of Saratoga Jazz Festival, beginning in 2025. 

The two organizations will embark on a five-year partnership, with $200,000 committed from GE Vernova for each year, ensuring the vibrancy and longevity of Saratoga Jazz Festival, one of the largest jazz events in North America. The sponsorship also signals the alignment of SPAC’s and GE Vernova’s shared values of tradition, innovation, community and sustainability. 

 “We are elated to welcome GE Vernova as the new sponsor of the Saratoga Jazz Festival. Our two organizations share deep roots in the Capital Region, and we are uniquely aligned in our commitment to tradition and innovation – much like Jazz itself — steeped in rich history, yet ever-vibrant and evolving,” Elizabeth Sobol, President & CEO of Saratoga Performing Arts Center, said in a statement. 

 “The festival is one of the longest-running jazz festivals in the world, but we are always looking ahead. This new relationship will be the bedrock for us to move through these next few years into the 50th festival, in 2027, and beyond. It is a gift for us, the artists, the Saratoga Springs business community, and for our audience,” said longtime festival producer Danny Melnick, President of Absolutely Live Entertainment.

 Initially founded as “the Newport Jazz Festival at Saratoga” the weekend event was renamed Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival from 1998 to 2024. In 2025, the festival will be titled Saratoga Jazz Festival, presented by GE Vernova and is slated for June 28-29. Visit spac.org for more details. 

Pousette-Dart at Caffe Lena July 14

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.

Jon Pousette-Dart. Photo provided.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — An active performer and recording artist for more than 40 years, Jon Pousette-Dart will be staging a show at Caffe Lena July 14. 

Pousette-Dart founded The Pousette-Dart Band and carved a place in the landscape of American music in the 1970s, going on to record a series of albums for Capitol Records, two of which (Amnesia and Pousette-Dart Band 3) made the Billboard album chart. Their single “For Love” reached #83 on the Billboard singles chart in 1979.

 A mainstay of album-oriented radio, and a busy touring groups in the U.S., he worked with such acts as The Byrds, Bonnie Raitt, Little Feat, The Eagles, James Taylor, and others. 

After the original group disbanded in the early 1980’s, Pousette-Dart continued performing and recording, releasing five solo albums including 2015s “TALK,” a cohesive selection of his best songs to date. 

For tickets and more information, go to: caffelena.org. 

Zimbabwean Superstars Mokoomba to Open Music Haven’s 34th Season July 7

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.

SCHENECTADY —Mokoomba, a vibrant guitar-and-vocal-driven sextet hailing from the southern bank of the Zambesi River, open the 34th Music Haven season at Central Park in Schenectady at 7 p.m. Sunday, July 7.

Revered worldwide for roof-shaking performances at venues like New York City’s famed Apollo Theater, London’s 100 Club and Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center, Mokoomba, also a hit at the WOMAD World Music Festival, has shared stages with the legendary Hugh Masekela, Baaba Maal and Talking Heads’ Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth. The group’s latest disc, Tusona—another dose of soul/funk, reggae and African soukous—is subtitled “Tracings in the Sand.”

Supporting Mokoomba is Albany’s Jordan Taylor Hill, a West African drummer and educator, who will lead a hand-chosen selection of percussionists and dancers he trains in Afropop traditions. 

A variety of food and beverages will be available for purchase at all shows, beginning at 6 p.m. on 7 p.m. concert nights and throughout festivals and special events.

In the case of inclement weather, Proctors (432 State St. Schenectady) remains the official rain site for Music Haven. 

Week of July 5 – 11

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Calendar.

Upcoming events

 

Bike Donations and Volunteers Needed

Please consider donating unwanted bicycles with tires over 20″ that are in fixable condition! Also, we are in constant need of bikes with tires 24″ and over, any style. We’re happy to fix them up!  Not sure if your bike is in fixable condition – send us a pic and we’ll let you know. We need your help – despite closing several times for our volunteer mechanics to catch up, we are still way behind and could use your help. Not sure how to fix a bike, but good with the public or with paperwork – we could use your help too. Please reach out to info@bikeatoga.org or via text 518-290-0746

Rummage Sale

 Held at Ballston Spa United Methodist Church, located at 101 Milton Ave., Ballston Spa. July 13, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Enter at back of the church.

Car Show & Live Music in the Park

Saturday July 13 at Middle Grove Town Park, 438 Middle Grove Rd, Middle Grove. Cars: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. $10 registration fee.  Top 15 People Choice Trophies announced at 2:30 p.m. Live Music: from 11 a.m.  to 3 p.m. provided by Elizabeth Conant, Bonnie Greco, Out of Reach and New American Cuisine. Free public admission. Bring along you family, friends, and folding chairs and enjoy the talented musicians, the antique cars, trucks, tractors.  Have lunch from our food booth. Shop with our vendors.  “Keep Greenfield’s History Alive for our future Generations”

Saratoga Soroptimist Secret Gardens Tour

Eleven unique gardens in Saratoga Springs, Ballston Spa, and Wilton are featured on the 29th annual Saratoga Soroptimist Secret Gardens Tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 14. Purchase $25 advance tickets at www.soroptimistsaratoga.org or at Northshire Bookstore, Cudney’s Cleaners, Faddegon’s Nursery or Adirondack Trust Co. branches. Day-of tickets for $30 will be sold while supplies last from 9:30 a.m. to noon outside the Saratoga Springs Visitor Center, 297 Broadway. Garden descriptions and suggested driving directions are provided with purchase. The tour supports programs and individuals benefiting women and girls, including Wellspring. Questions? Email secretgardensinfo@gmail.com.

Gumbo with Kendrick for TRF

The Principessa Elena Society located at 13 Oak Street, Saratoga Springs, will host its fourth annual “Gumbo with Kendrick for TRF’’ party on Monday, July 15 from 6 – 9 p.m. Louisiana native and jockey Kendrick Carmouche will again prepare gumbo for this event, which will benefit the Saratoga Springs-based Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF), a 501(c) (3) non-profit that is the nation’s oldest and largest Thoroughbred rescue and sanctuary organization. Tickets are $40 in advance and $45 cash only at the door. The menu will be gumbo, rice, cornbread, salad and dessert. There will also be live music. For tickets, https://donorbox.org/events/606398

Pitney Meadows Fire Feast

Pitney Meadows Community Farm’s signature farm-to-table event, Fire Feast, returns. Saratoga’s most unique summer event features local chefs cooking over six open-fire pits. The chefs will source meat, fish, cheese, wine, beer, and produce from local producers and Pitney Meadows’ farm fields. Non-alcoholic beverages will be provided by Bars without Boundaries. Guests can also enjoy drinks from select local breweries, distilleries, and wineries. Seasonal cocktails and mocktails will be available as well. The event will be held at the farm located at 223 West Avenue, Saratoga Springs, on July 17, 6-9 p.m. Tickets available on website: www.pitneymeadowscommunityfarm.org/fire-feast/

 

This week events 5-11

Friday, July 5

Southern Saratoga Art Society Exhibits

2 Locations in Saratoga County | Artists and members of SSAS are exhibiting their work. Clifton Park Senior Community Center, 6 Clifton Common Blvd., Clifton Park, is hosting a show in The Gallery for the month of July featuring artists and SSAS members Fran Cullen, Denise Kornak, Lynne Kaiser and Carol Winterton.  Mechanicville Library, 190 N. Main Street, Mechanicville, will show the artwork of SSAS member and artist Rita Helie.  Visit these shows and support the arts in Southern Saratoga County.  For more information about, visit:  southernsaratogaartist.com. 

Photography Exhibit

Clifton Park Halfmoon Public Library, 475 Moe Rd., Clifton Park | A new exhibition by nature photographer Louis Valenti titled, Saratoga Wildlife: Photographic Images of Saratoga’s Most Wonderful Creatures, featuring stunning wildlife photographs that capture both the unique beauty and the spirit of Saratoga’s wonderful creatures. They will be on display through July 31. The event will be open to the public free of charge daily. Saratoga Arts made this program possible through the Art in Public Places program. For more information about the event, please contact Ally DeRusso, Saratoga Arts at (518) 584-4132 or by email at aderusso@saratoga-arts.org. For more information about Louis Valenti Photography, please visit https://www.facebook.com/Louis-Valenti-Photography or LouisValentiPhotography.com.

Saturday, July 6

Cars & Coffee 

Middle Grove Town Park, 430 Middle Grove Road, Middle Grove | 8 – 11 a.m. The Town of Greenfield Lions Club are hosting a Event is Free and is open to any car or truck, including daily drivers. There will be a 50-50 raffle and door prizes for entered vehicles. This event is being sponsored by Ryan’s Garage. The Greenfield Lions will be selling fresh breakfast sandwiches and coffee. The public is invited to check out the vehicles.

Grand, Gilded and Glorious: A Saratoga Stroll

Saratoga Heritage Area Visitor Center, 297 Broadway, Saratoga Springs | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Every Tuesday – Saturday July – October. Tours run rain or shine. This 90 minute guided walking tour will entertain and enlighten both visitors and residents with the famed stories of this great city. Saratoga Springs was the playground of the rich and famous during the 1800’s and provides the stories of this wonderful, gilded period in our history. Cost is $20 per person (children 12 and under are free). The tour begins at the Visitor Center and ends at the Canfield Casino. To secure tickets, please contact the Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center at 518 – 587-3241. 

Family Saturday

Tang Museum, Skidmore College, 815 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs | 2 to 3:30 p.m.  Our popular Family Saturdays foster multigenerational creative cooperation through looking at artwork, discussing it, and engaging in a hands-on art-making activity. The programs (, are free and open to the public. They are suitable for children ages 5 and older, accompanied by their adult companions. No registration required; supplies provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Led by Njeri Jennings, the Laurie M. Tisch Educator for K-12 and Community Programs at the Tang Teaching Museum, the programs are inspired by current exhibitions and art from the Tang collection. Next family Saturday is August 3.

Sunday, July 7

Summer Sunday Stroll

Meet: NW corner of Division St. and Railroad Place, Saratoga Springs | 10:30 a.m. Wealth & Wellness: Franklin Square. Carrie Woerner, NYS Assemblywoman and former SSPF Executive Director, will lead a tour through the architecturally rich historic Franklin Square area. Tours will be limited to thirty and tickets must be purchased in advance.  The cost per tour is $15 for SSPF members and $20 for non-members.  For additional information on these summer strolls or to purchase tickets to any of these upcoming tours visit www.saratogapreservation.org, call 518-587-5030, or email Sydney Hedge, Preservation & Programs Coordinator, at shedge@saratogapreservation.org.

Lubavitch Rebbe & Melodies of Freedom

Saratoga Chabad, 130 Circular St., Saratoga Springs | 5:30 p.m. Join us for an inspirational evening with personal insights with the rebbe, songs with musical accompaniment as well as a festive meal! $10 donation requested. RSVP to 518-526-0773 or saratorah@gmail.com. 

Saratoga Summer Concert Series: Nocturne Troubadours

Congress Park, War Memorial, Downtown Saratoga Springs | 7 p.m. Songs, magic, life, and the spirit of music delivered with soul, the cosmos, and stringed instrumentation. A blend of newgrass and folk grass with a Celtic spark of pop and twang is a refreshing sound to stir the ear and soul.  Gather your friends and family, bring your blankets and chairs, find a spot on the lawn, and enjoy some of the area’s favorite performers. This free, family-friendly concert series is a program of the Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center in partnership with Discover Saratoga, Saratoga Arts and the City of Saratoga Springs.

Monday, July 8

Nature Makerspace

Wilton Wildlife Preserve, 80 Scout Rd., Wilton |11 a.m. – Noon. Join educators as we learn about different nature-based topics and conclude the program with a craft to take home. Each day will be a different theme! This program has a $3 supply fee per participant. Registration is required at least one business day in advance. To sign-up please email info@wiltonpreserve.org, visit the website at wiltonpreserve.org, or call the office at 518-450-0321.

Tuesday, July 9

Guided Nature Walk: Champlain Canal Trail 

Halfmoon’s Champlain Canal Trail, 8 Brookwood Road and 20 Upper Newtown Road, Halfmoon| 9 a.m.

Meet us for a guided walk. Addison Kubik of the Cornell Cooperative Extension will be sharing his knowledge as we explore. Registration required. 518-371-8622. www.cphlibrary.org

Iron Spring Garden Walk

The Old Iron Spring Park, Front Street, Ballston Spa | 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Join the members of The Ballston Spa House & Garden Club for a casual walk. Chris Burghart, Iron Spring Garden Project Chair will provide a tour of native plant horticulture at the rejuvenated and ever-evolving Iron Spring Garden. The public is welcome. The Ballston Spa House & Garden Club is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the love of gardening, the protection and conservation of natural resources and the civic beautification of the Village of Ballston Spa. For more information on BSH&GC and for membership opportunities, contact club President, KathyFKane@gmail.com.

Wednesday,
July 10

Dinner Take Out

Saratoga – Wilton Elks Club, 1 Elks Lane, Saratoga Springs | 4:30 – 6 p.m. Take out only. Call Monday or Tuesday between 10 a.m. – Noon to place an order, 518-584-2585. Menu: Cost is $15 per dinner. Cash only.

2024 Music in the Park Performance

Gavin Park, 10 Lewis Dr., Saratoga Springs | 7 – 9 p.m.  The Town of Wilton presents Music in the Park on Wednesday nights. Schedule: July 10 Party of Three, July 17 T.S. Ensemble, July 24 Vinyl Vault, 7/31 Nostalgia, August 7 Skippy and the Pistons, August 14 Fenimore Blues, August 21 River Junction, and August 28 Vinyl Vault

Thursday, July 11

2024 Adirondack Greek Festival

St. George Church, 55 Main St., South Glens Falls | 4 – 8 p.m. Enjoy souvlaki and gyro sandwiches and pastries outside under the tent. Friday and Saturday, July 12 and 13 from 12 – 7 p.m., enjoy our Full Festival days with more authentic Greek food/dinners & pastries, music, entertainment, and church tours. Free admission and parking. OPA! No on-line or phone orders will be taken for this event. For more information, call 518- 792-2359. www.sgforthodoxchurch.org.

Upbeat on the Roof Summer Concert Series

The Tang Teaching Museum at Skidmore College, 815 N. Broadway, Saratoga Springs | 6 p.m.  Future of Broadway — Contemporary showtunes from works-in-progress, presented in conjunction with The Orchard Project.  Before each concert, educators will offer Crafts on the Grass: art-making kits for kids starting at 5:30 p.m. All projects are suitable for children aged 5 and up, with adult supervision. Materials will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. The Tang galleries will be open before and after the concerts. In the case of inclement weather, the art-making activities and concerts will be held inside. Admission is free. For more information, please call the Visitors Services Desk at 518-580-8080 or visit https://tang.skidmore.edu/visit.

Tween / Teen Advisory Group (TAG)

Ballston Spa Public Library, 21 Milton Ave., Ballston Spa | 6 – 7 p.m. TAG gives middle and high school students the opportunity to develop leadership skills, brainstorm and help execute imaginative programs and recommend purchases for the library. The goal of the program is to provide a safe, welcoming and inclusive space for tweens and teens to have recreational opportunities as well as social and emotional support. Students should expect a meeting, snacks and activity. In addition, participants will receive community service for each session they attend. Registration is required for this group, limit 20. To sign up, stop in or call 518-885-5022.

Happy birthday America

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Food.

Hello  my Foodie Friends!   

This weekend continues our 4th of July celebrations that will include attending fireworks, parades, barbeques, carnivals, picnics, baseball games, and family gatherings. The Fourth of July is more than just a celebration of summertime — it’s a time to celebrate our freedom and how far we have come. Many families will be hosting or attending an outside event or taking advantage of the long weekend activities. 

Fireworks have always been one of my favorite parts of celebrating our national holiday. Sitting in a chair and watching the spectacular color displayed is so exciting to me.  As I reminisce about my childhood, there is one particular 4th of July that standouts. I love to tell my decades old story of when my two other brothers and our neighborhood buddies had acquired some fire crackers to add to our evening fun. After the firework show had ended at our local park, we still had the need to entertain ourselves and sustain the celebration. My parents were not aware that a group of us “spirited” boys still had unused fireworks in our possession.  Our friends provided the fireworks and my brothers and I were given the task of getting a pan to cover the fire crackers with.  I gave this “heroic” opportunity to my youngest brother instructing on spy-like maneuvers to quietly get the pan past my mother.  Looking back, I am not sure how we actually were able to pull it off getting it past her. We found a quiet corner in our yard to set up.  Anxiously, we lit several fire crackers and put a pan on top of them.  Well, that pan shot so high in the sky, it landed in my father’s favorite red maple tree and stayed there until the following winter.  One winter afternoon my father was looking out the kitchen window wondering what was lodged in his tree.  Getting the pan down was an event in itself.  However, cleaning it was another.  In an attempt to teach the three of us adorable boys a lesson, we were ordered to get the pan back to its “original” shape and color.  We never did get that pan back to its normal shape!!

Outdoor gatherings were always something I looked forward to. Especially, when looking at the vast number of dishes and desserts that will be spread out. Whether it is a picnic gathering, or a simple picnic at the park, no feast would be complete without a sweet treat at the end. A simple way to satisfy the sweet tooth, is with a fruit-ladened tart. It is a wonderful treat to add with wine or even a cup of tea. Fresh fruit tarts are a beautiful way to present a dessert. The secret lies in the pan that the tart is baked in. A tart pan has low, fluted sides with a removable bottom. The design of the pan allows for a better conduction of heat making a more uniform baked crust.  The removable bottom enables you to remove the finished product by easily placing your hand beneath the bottom, and letting the outer ring fall. Tart pans come in a number of sizes to suite whatever you are making. They are also known as quiche pans. 

Ahhh…I love summer.  Being outdoors and enjoying fun times with family and friends (safely) creates those memories that last a lifetime. Stop by Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store, to pick up the tools you need to make your weekend an enjoyable one!  Remember my Foodie Friends; “Life Happens in the Kitchen”.

Take Care,
John & Paula

Backyard picnic trends

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Food.

What’s trending in backyard picnics in 2024? 

Al fresco dining

According to the Food Industry Executive, there will be a rise in at-home al fresco dining with the increasing costs of going out to eat. Of course, ‘al fresco’ sounds much better than saying, ‘We’re simply eating outside.’ Who doesn’t like to dine outside on a beautiful summer evening? It’s a delightful experience with a much trendier description. We’ll take it!

Long tables & fresh florals

Long tables adorned with freshly cut flowers in various vases remain on trend for carefree yet festive decor for any dinner party. It’s inexpensive, and layering mixed-and-matched linens and dinnerware weaves together beautifully.

The charcuterie

Charcuterie boards still rock the table, and you can serve them in various ways: appetizers, main courses, and desserts. You name it, it’s out there. They are perfect for the center of any table to bring about a conversation over nibbles paired to perfection. The charcuterie is a relaxed but stylish offering.

Themed gatherings

If you’re creative and your besties share similar interests, consider a theme based on favorite shows and places. Maybe you like shows like Emily in Paris, or perhaps you just want to eat like the French? A French or any other theme is a fun and memorable stamp on your gathering. You can add a little dinner table trivia with questions hiding under plates, napkins, etc.

Entertainment 

Yard games like lawn darts, croquet, cornhole, and others are a lively addition and are making a comeback in some cases. These activities bring a little competition to the day or evening and a lot of laughter and fun (hopefully).

Whatever your backyard picnic plans, remember to visit the Saratoga Farmer’s Market to bring the garden to the table with everything locally grown and produced, including meats, bread, cheeses, sweets, fruits, vegetables, drinks, and so much more. The market is the place to bring your backyard picnic to a whole new, on-trend eating experience.

The Saratoga Farmer’s Market is open on Wednesdays from 3- 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at High Rock Park in downtown Saratoga Springs. The Monday market at Clifton Park is open from 2-5 p.m. at the Shenendehowa Methodist Church on Route 146. The Thursday Market at Milton begins Thursday, July 11, through August 29 at the Burgess Kimball Memorial Park from 3-6 p.m.  Find us online at www.saratogafarmersmarket.org, where you can sign up for our weekly newsletter, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @SaratogaFarmersMarket.