CLIFTON PARK — Realm Artesian Water recently began sales after receiving New York State Department of Health approval to bottle naturally-sourced artesian water from a protected aquifer in Washington County’s Adirondack region.

Realm’s bottling plant at 8 Fairchild Square in Clifton Park hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 6 to celebrate the company’s sales launch.

From inception, Realm was designed as a fully closed loop, vertically integrated water company. Realm owns and controls its artesian source, operates its own bottling facility, and manages its distribution network end-to-end. Realm’s water is transported directly from the source to the bottling facility, where it is bottled on site using stainless steel piping, advanced filtration, and “rigorous” quality control systems. The facility’s cleaning and sanitation processes use Realm’s own artesian water, helping to reduce exposure to outside contaminants.

THE WILD HORSE

The Wild Horse in Saratoga Springs closed in January for renovations before officially reopening on May 7.

Chef Dylan Burkhart is spearheading Wild Horse 2.0 as its new executive chef. Burkhart is a veteran of two popular Saratoga eateries: Siro’s and Noah’s Italian. He currently serves as the executive sous chef at both spots. “Dylan is excited to bring his experience and deliver a one-of-a-kind culinary experience,” said Wild Horse in its announcement.

The Caroline Street hotspot also unveiled a Noah Frese-curated menu that featured an array of tapas-esque dishes such as beef tartare, open flame calamari, Nashville hot bao buns, and gambas al ajillo. Offerings also include meat and cheese selections, and bigger plates like pork chops, burgers, and chicken thighs.

Wild Horse is open Wednesday through Sunday at 4 p.m. 

HATTIE’S

But when one door opens, another closes. Hattie’s Chicken Shack in Wilton shuttered last week after 15 years in business. Hattie’s will continue to operate its other outposts, including its seasonal one at the Saratoga Race Course. The Southern fare-dishing business didn’t offer a specific reason for the Wilton closure.

HARVEST GRAIN PIZZA

Harvest Grain Pizza in Malta, located in the former home of Dunning Street Station, opened suddenly on May 4 after initially targeting a September or October opening last year. It’s Harvest Grain’s second location.

The pizzeria offers a wide variety of pies, including whole wheat, square pan, Sicilian deep dish, gluten free, a white “Saratoga” pizza, Hawaiian, veggie lovers, and many more.

The Fodero Dining Car-designed building on Route 9 that now houses Harvest Grain has a long history of prior owners stretching back to the early 1950s, when it first opened as the Malta Ridge Diner. In the 1970s, it was a filming location for “My Old Man,” a made-for-TV drama about a horse trainer that was based on a short story by Ernest Hemingway.

SCALLIONS

According to The Dishing, chef/restaurateur Ronald Solevo (the owner and namesake of Solevo Kitchen) has taken over Scallions, where he plans to unveil a new eatery this fall called The Pearl. Solevo will renovate the space to create “a coastal Connecticut seafood restaurant with a hidden twist,” reported The Dishing.

LAKESIDE FARMS

Last but not least, Lakeside Farms in Ballston Lake reopened on April 30. The cider mill/shop/eatery is especially known for its sandwiches, such as The Cortland and The McIntosh. 

Lakeside’s restaurant and country store are now open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

ALBANY — Senator Jim Tedisco (R,C-Ballston Lake) and his colleagues in the New York State Senate in Albany recently honored as a 2026 “Woman of Distinction” Dawn Vavala of Halfmoon, a small business owner who gives back to the community as a major supporter of the City of Schenectady School District Educational Foundation.

“Dawn Vavala is a successful small business owner in Saratoga County who has dedicated her time and energy to giving back to the community and making Saratoga County, Schenectady and the entire Capital Region a better place by living the Rotary Club mission of ‘service above self,’” Tedisco said. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to honor her as a 2026 New York State Senate Woman of Distinction for all her hard work and everything she has done for our local economy and to make life better for residents via her volunteerism.”

For more than 25 years, Vavala has owned Nite Owl Marketing in Clifton Park, which specializes in custom clothing and branded promotional products. Previously, she owned and operated Tuxego of Clifton Park. Vavala grew up in Schenectady and graduated from the former Mont Pleasant High School in Schenectady, is a charter member and past president of Twin Bridges Rotary Club, a Paul Harris Fellow, and a member of its Gift of Life board, which provides life-saving surgery for children in developing countries. She recently helped to bring a child from Mongolia to the Capital Region for life-saving surgery.

Vavala is a board member of the Mother Teresa Academy in Halfmoon and a member of the Southern Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, Saratoga Convention Bureau, and the Schenectady Ole Timers Baseball Club.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Kathleen Willcox is a Saratoga Springs-based freelance wine writer with bylines at Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Wine Business Monthly, Food & Wine, Wine Searcher, and The Drinks Business, among many others. She’s also the author of the wine-centric Substack “Good + Tasty” and co-author of the book “Hudson Valley Wine: A History of Taste & Terroir.”

In other words, Kathleen knows a thing or two about juice.

Saratoga TODAY sought Kathleen’s expertise on the best local wine lists, shops, and vineyards. We were also curious to find out how she ended up at a Champagne tasting event at Versailles, mostly because we were jealous.

Q: What are your top picks for the best wine lists in Saratoga Springs?

A: There are several excellent ones, but I am particularly fond of Bocage and Kindred!

Q: What are your favorite bottle shops in the Saratoga area?

A: I absolutely love Sage Wine & Spirits. Owner Jes Rich has an excellent selection of New York, domestic, and international wines. Jes also prioritizes sustainably produced, independent, artisanal wines that truly reflect time and place.

Q: What are your favorite wineries in New York?

A: That is so hard. I’d say, for the old guard: Dr. Konstantin Frank. (The team there pioneered vitis vinifera and methode champenoise sparkling wine in the Finger Lakes.) For the newer wineries: Apollo’s Praise. If you see their Riesling or Cabernet Franc anywhere, grab it. A very talented young couple (Kelby James Russell and Julia Rose Hoyle) is behind the winery, and I’m inspired by their passion for making authentic, low-intervention wines, often from tiny, manually harvested blocks in their vineyard. 

Q: What are the latest and greatest trending wines right now? In other words, what could I order to impress a sommelier?

A: Albarino! 

Q: Have tariffs impacted wine imports in the U.S.? If so, what has the impact been?

A: It definitely has. We all see the impact of inflation and general economic confusion at the gas pump, at restaurants, and in the grocery store, and it’s the same thing for wineries. While consumption of wine is declining worldwide, the cost of business is going up, and their margins are getting ever thinner. 

Q: I couldn’t help but notice you visited Versailles recently for a Laurent-Perrier Champagne event. What did you do there and how was the experience?

A: I loved it. I am low-key obsessed with the era of the Sun King and the French Revolution, so the opportunity to tour Versailles, check out the grounds, and get a deep dive into the history was priceless. Both the Sun King and Laurent-Perrier share a similar philosophy when it comes to creating things of beauty. In a nutshell: nature is almost perfect, and with human ingenuity, it can be made better. At Versailles, that meant using engineering and a new way of thinking about farming to create complex and harmonious garden spaces, cultivating fruits and vegetables (even oranges) for the first time in Northern France, and generally creating one of the most beautiful places on earth. (And yes, walking through the vast, ornate rooms of Versailles, I did understand some of the motivation for the Revolution too. The palace embodies gorgeous, gilded excess.) Laurent-Perrier, meanwhile, aims to craft transcendent Champagnes through careful farming and production practices that go far beyond what is generally done. Their Grand Siècle Champagne, for example, is the only Champagne that combines three separate vintages with the goal of creating the “perfect” vintage. Iteration No. 27 (blend of the years 2015, 2013, 2012) is about to hit the shelf in the U.S., and it is a perfect example of the Champagne House’s vision.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Brookmere—the 88-room hotel and spa located at the former site of Longfellows—officially reopened on April 30 as a Marriott Hotel. The occasion was marked with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.

Brookmere’s new name—Brookmere Saratoga & Arbor Spa, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel—is one of several name changes since the property opened on Dec. 18, 2024. First, it was referred to as Brookmere Hotel, then Brookmere Saratoga, and now the added “A Tribute Portfolio Hotel” reflects its new association with Marriott. According to Marriott, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel is one with “character” and “striking design moments, bold use of color, and noteworthy art installations.”

Located at 500 Union Ave, Brookmere also houses Regent Restaurant, a regionally inspired French brasserie spearheaded by Executive Chef Christopher Smith.

Longfellows was a popular local restaurant and hotel complex that closed its doors in Jan. 2023. The property sold for $4.9 million, according to county deed records.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Saturday, May 9, Impressions of Saratoga is going to the dogs as part of National Pet Week. 

The shop’s 22nd Annual Dog Day Celebration will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the corner of Broadway and Phila Street.

At Impressions, each dog is greeted with fresh water and treats. If it is their first visit, their photo is taken for the “Doggie Wall of Fame,” which began in 2001. Most days you will find at least one of the five Impressions pups (Cookie, Smitty, Pupa, Byrdie, and Thatcher) hard at work in the office.

H.O.P.E. (Homes for Orphaned Pets Exist), a local pet rescue organization, will be at Impressions with information about their programs and animals looking for forever homes. Donations of pet items such as food, treats, collars, leashes, blankets, and toys will be accepted.

Local photographer Tracey Buyce will be on site to take professional candid photos of furry friends for a $20 fee that will be donated to H.O.P.E.

Wellspring will be in attendance educating attendees on their “Safe Pet Partnership,” a program to find foster homes for pets belonging to people in an abusive situation who are afraid to leave for fear of what will happen to their pets.

The annual “The Battle of the Biscuits” contest will be happening again. Dogs can participate in a treat taste-testing activity to see which snack is the crowd favorite. Dean’s Delicious Dog Treats, Give Pet, and Treat Planet will be sampled.

Tina DeVincenzo will be at the celebration offering her handcrafted pet-inspired candles (plus some special candles for Mother’s Day). A portion of the proceeds will be shared among the participating nonprofits.

Well-behaved pets on leash are welcome at the event.

BALLSTON SPA — Ballston Spa National Bank’s historic Front Street headquarters officially reopened after a year-long restoration project launched last year.

The building was originally constructed in 1824 as a private residence. It was established as a bank in 1838 and is now listed in the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places. The building is one of seven structures in Ballston Spa to be included on the National Register.

According to the bank, the rehabilitation project upgraded the branch’s interior while preserving the building’s historic elements. The branch includes a new ATM and Drive-Thru, modernized banking technology, restored architectural details, and accessibility improvements.

“The bank’s current footprint represents four distinct building campaigns, each component designed by architects with specialty in bank design, and each effort with a clear intention to respect the austere grandeur of the original federal-style building,” said Daniel Mackay, deputy commissioner for the New York State Historic Preservation Office, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony last Friday morning. “The exterior retains most of its original features [and] maintains a prominent and stately presence here on Front Street.”

“Many generations of customers have walked through these doors,” said the bank’s president and CEO Christopher Dowd. “Our intent was to honor the rich history of this building and to ensure that it meets the needs of today’s customers. Today, I am proud to say we have accomplished that goal.”

The branch is now open to the public.

MALTA — “Housing, I think, is the single biggest problem we have here in Malta; affordable housing and housing stock,” said Malta Town Supervisor Cynthia Young at the “Inside Malta” event on Wednesday.

“Housing availability and affordability is really our biggest challenge here, not only in [Saratoga] County but in the Capital Region,” said Saratoga Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Greg Connors.

Though many issues concerning Malta and Saratoga County were touched upon at the “Inside Malta” event organized by the Capital Region Chamber of Commerce, housing was a recurring theme.

According to statistics provided by Young, Malta currently has 5,300 single-family and two-family homes, which comprise 61% of its overall housing. It also has 2,600 apartment units and 735 manufactured homes. 

Yet, the stock is insufficient, as anyone looking to buy a residence in Malta (or Saratoga County at large) can attest.

“Our children can’t come back and buy a house in Malta,” Young said. “My son has been looking to buy a house someplace in Saratoga County, and they probably bid on 10 houses, and they offer above the asking price, and for every single one of them, they’ve been outbid.”

Malta has approved an additional 11 housing projects with 750 total units, but only three of those projects are currently under construction, Young said.

Part of the housing issues stem from an aging population (many downstate retirees are moving north). Simultaneously, the school district enrollments are declining, indicating that Malta lacks younger families.

“I don’t think that’s a healthy environment for any municipality,” Young said. “We might think of ourselves as a family town, but it’s tough for families to afford our homes.”

One event attendee said that an ongoing problem is that exorbitant fees are incurred before a new house even breaks ground. Another cited tiny homes as a possible solution. A third wondered if short-term rentals might be having an outsized impact on housing stock.

Connors said that there are around 2,000 short-term rentals in Saratoga County.

“One of the things about short-term rentals is we don’t really want to necessarily discourage them because it’s an active part of our tourism, and tourism is a big part of the entire county,” Young said. “But one of the things that we also don’t want is a bunch of LLCs just owning our housing stock for short-term rentals because that takes the housing stock away from people who want to live here.”

Young said that she wants to encourage the type of short-term rentals that allow homeowners to rent out their property for a month or so and then utilize that additional income to help afford their home.

Both Young and Connors expressed concern that short-term rental properties are not properly inspected, with Connors citing a recent example of a mother and her child dying in a fire inside a short-term rental property on Long Island that lacked smoke detectors and emergency exits.

One event attendee asked Young and Connors if there was a way to get locals to be less resistant to the creation of new housing stock, especially apartment complexes. Young and Connors didn’t have an easy answer, but Connors said that communication was key.

“The scale is important,” Connors said. “When a developer comes into the town and mentions a number like 900 units, that stuns those of us who live here. It’s not that we don’t want to welcome new people, but… They’ve got to be a little bit more sensitive with the scale of projects that they bring in because the public perception is key.”