SARATOGA SPRINGS — J. Gregory Connors, president and CEO of the Saratoga Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), was appointed last week by Governor Kathy Hochul to the SUNY Empire University Council.
Connors, who has begun a seven-year term, was chosen for the post after partnering with the university on several recent initiatives in his capacity with the SEDC.
University Councils provide advice and counsel to each SUNY president and their administration. They assist the SUNY Board of Trustees in choosing presidents for each SUNY school and, once chosen, presidents work at their own discretion with their University Councils on matters including university programs, budgets, enrollments, facilities, and student housing.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Julie & Co. Realty announced this week that Aaron Tomczak has joined the brokerage.
Tomczak grew up locally, graduating from the University at Albany, and has worked in the Capital Region his entire life. He began his career with Pioneer Bank in Albany, where he worked in commercial lending and portfolio management for several years.
In 2022, he transitioned into real estate development in Saratoga Springs. Currently working as a commercial real estate associate and asset manager with Bonacio, he oversees the company’s real estate portfolio and manages key stakeholder relationships, while also generating new real estate development opportunities.
Chefs Armand and Tatiana Vanderstigchel outside their restaurant Brasserie Benelux on Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs. Also pictured: former Mayor Ron Kim and Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce President Todd Shimkus. Photo provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Why contend with jet lag, weak air conditioning, and airplane seats lacking legroom when you can feast on European fare here at home?
Husband-wife duo Armand and Tatiana Vanderstigchel opened Brasserie Benelux in the Spa City in 2021 and have been working in tandem to celebrate traditional European beer cultures ever since.
Chef Armand is the author of three cookbooks and a noted Buffalo wing connoisseur (more on that later) while Tatiana is the eatery’s pastry chef, specializing in crepes and apple strudel (which Armand said “sells like crazy”). Together, they’ve crafted a menu that takes tastebuds across Europe, from Dutch Bitterballen and Scandinavian salmon to Swedish meatballs and Bavarian pretzels.
Unsurprisingly, Oktoberfest is kind of a big deal at Brasserie Benelux. This time of year, expect special menu items like Oktoberfest roast chicken, smoked pork chops Kasseler, goulash, German potato salads, and Black Forest veal schnitzel (the offerings change weekly). And, of course, there are European brews on tap to cleanse the palate.
As the diverse menu might suggest, it took some globe trotting to discover and cook such a diverse array of dishes. Chef Armand was born in the USA but spent 17 years in the Netherlands. His areas of focus include Belgian, Dutch, German, Austrian, Polish, Belarusian, Alsatian, Czech, and Scandinavian food culture.
Being an Upstater since the early 90s, Armand is also fond of the North Country, which inspired one of his tomes, the “Adirondack Cookbook.” He first ventured into the area at the invitation of some Long Island friends who worked at the Saratoga Race Course.
“Immediately, I felt a comfort and attraction to the town,” Armand said. “In my opinion, Saratoga is a gateway to the Adirondacks.”
Armand celebrated the release of his first cookbook with a party at the Inn at Saratoga and then bounced around town selling copies. It soon became his long-term ambition to save up enough money to open up a restaurant in the Spa City.
“One of the interesting things in life can be foresight and I can remember standing on Broadway; I was looking at the location where I am now, and I said, ‘There should really be a European restaurant here.’ So, look what happened,” Armand said chuckling. “You never know, right?”
Another of Armand’s books, “Chicken Wings Across America,” helped solidify him as a wing expert as well. He’s been a judge at the Buffalo Wing festival in Buffalo, New York and was inducted into the national Chicken Wing Hall of Fame.
In the interest of thorough investigative journalism, we at Saratoga TODAY had to uncover the truth from Chef Armand: Who in Saratoga makes the best wings? (In the interest of fairness, we won’t include his own Wing Fest Buffalo Wings, currently on the menu at Brasserie Benelux).
“[I’m] always very intrigued and enjoying the Buffalo wings at the Parting Glass,” Armand said. “That’s been around for a long time and it’s a fun place with a lot of history… Another place I like for the wings is Harvey’s, a lot of my staff goes there late at night.”
Take it from someone who has made a career of studying the great cuisines of the world: There’s plenty of excellent food just around the corner.
New York State Restaurant Association & Discover Saratoga logos via their respective organizations.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The New York State Restaurant Association (NYSRA) and Discover Saratoga recently announced a new collaborative partnership aimed at bolstering the restaurant and hospitality industries in the county. This strategic initiative will offer dual membership opportunities, making it easier for industry professionals to connect, collaborate, and grow.
As part of this partnership, NYSRA is offering special discounted membership rates for Discover Saratoga hospitality members who are not currently NYSRA members.
“This partnership represents a significant step toward uniting and strengthening our region’s hospitality community,” said Melissa Fleischut, president and CEO of NYSRA. “As long-time supporters of the Capital Region, we recognize the incredible momentum building in Saratoga’s restaurant, hospitality, and tourism sectors. By lowering the barrier to entry, we hope to provide more businesses with access to essential tools, training, and advocacy that drive long-term success for both of our organizations.”
“Discover Saratoga is thrilled to partner with the New York State Restaurant Association
to support the growth and success of our local hospitality community,” said Darryl Leggieri, president of Discover Saratoga. “Our organizations complement each other in meaningful ways—NYSRA provides statewide advocacy, training, and cost-saving programs, while Discover Saratoga drives visitation and economic impact here in Saratoga County. By offering these discounted dual memberships, we’re making it easier for restaurants and hospitality businesses to benefit from both networks, maximize their resources, and thrive in today’s competitive marketplace.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga County Business Showcase is returning this fall, scheduled for 4 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at the Gideon Putnam in Saratoga Spa State Park. The event is open to the public. A post-event exhibitor mixer will also take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The expo is the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce’s premier event for businesses and organizations of all sizes and industries looking to grow, connect, and build their brand throughout the county’s business network. From startups to seasoned corporations to B2B service providers, this event offers a platform to meet potential clients, collaborators, and fellow professionals.
“This showcase is our largest professional networking event of the year and presents a phenomenal opportunity for anyone looking to cultivate valuable relationships, explore new opportunities and establish impactful connections within our community,” Chamber President Todd Shimkus said in a news release. “We anticipate a great turnout of exhibitors and attendees eager to engage within a lively networking environment.”
Businesses and organizations interested in being an exhibitor or sponsor are encouraged to reserve booth space by emailing Andrea Mulholland at amulholland@saratoga.org. Limited spaces are available. More information about the event is available online at saratoga.org.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Williams Financial recently announced that Tyler Cinelli has earned the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) certification, recognized as the standard of excellence in financial planning.
The CFP marks identify those individuals who have met the rigorous experience and ethical requirements of the CFP Board, including having successfully completed financial planning coursework at an accredited college or university and passed the 6-hour comprehensive CFP certification exam.
As a financial planner and the firm’s retirement plan specialist, Cinelli works with households to clarify and pursue their financial goals, while also assisting in designing and managing the firm’s investment portfolios. He also serves as Williams Financial’s trading specialist, executing client trades during both regular account rebalancing and in response to cash flow needs. Cinelli joined Williams Financial in 2017.
“Tyler’s dedication to professional growth is matched only by his care for the clients he serves,” said James (JJ) Williams, the CEO and founder of Williams Financial. “Earning the CFP certification demonstrates his commitment to delivering the highest standard of fiduciary financial planning, and we are proud to celebrate this milestone with him.”
Williams Financial is an independent, fee-only Registered Investment Advisory firm with offices in Saratoga Springs and North Bennington, Vermont.
The entrance of Siro’s, located at 168 Lincoln Ave next to the Saratoga Race Course. Photo by Jonathon Norcross.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — After uncharacteristically remaining open throughout September, Siro’s has decided to extend the party by staying open through October as well.
Typically, the restaurant closes near the conclusion of the Saratoga Race Course summer meet, which wrapped up on Labor Day this year. But thanks to the forthcoming Noah’s Italian Chophouse, which Siro’s has called its “sister restaurant,” Siro’s has decided to extend its stay in the Spa City. Its dining room will be open for business Thursdays through Saturdays, from 5:30 p.m. until 10 p.m.
In addition to its elongated schedule, the popular restaurant located across from the track has unveiled a new autumn menu. Appetizers include chicory salad, butternut squash bisque, French onion soup dumplings, pan-seared foie gras, and roasted bone marrow. Entrees include breaded veal chop, brick chicken pimentos, beef short rib, Chilean sea bass, and truffle cavatelli.
The executive chef of Siro’s, Noah Frese, is behind Noah’s Italian, which will be located at 43 Phila Street in downtown Saratoga Springs.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation is hosting its popular Pints for Preservation Pub Crawl on Saturday, Oct. 18.
The event starts at 3 p.m. at Druthers Brewing Company, 381 Broadway, with stops at bars throughout downtown Saratoga Springs, including Tin & Lint, Saratoga City Tavern, Henry Street Taproom, and The Parting Glass. All proceeds from the event support the Foundation’s mission to promote the preservation and enhancement of the architectural, cultural, and landscape heritage of Saratoga Springs.
Participants will enjoy drink specials throughout the day, as well as light fare at Saratoga City Tavern and The Parting Glass. Participants can take part in an Architectural Scavenger Hunt to win a “Major Award.” Raffle tickets will also be available to win several prizes from local businesses. The crawl will culminate with an after party at The Parting Glass where winners will be announced.
All participants will receive a complimentary pub crawl t-shirt and pint glass with the purchase of tickets, while supplies last. The online registration deadline is Friday, Oct. 17 at 9 p.m. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit www.saratogapreservation.org, or call (518) 587-5030.
Photo provided by the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Petal + Hive, a clean beauty store, recently celebrated its grand opening at 510 Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs during a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce.
The business, founded by Jillian Ehrenberg, first opened in Ballston Spa in 2020 and then moved to the more spacious location on Broadway this year.
Petal + Hive bills itself as Saratoga’s destination for clean beauty and self-care. The boutique features Ehrenberg’s own Petal + Hive everyday bath and body line and Acta Beauty, her prestige anti-aging brand launched in 2023. Petal + Hive also offers a curated selection of cosmetics and wellness products from like-minded indie brands.
Photo provided by the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation recently announced that it sold the 1851 Alexander A. Patterson House at 65 Phila Street to Cecelia (CeCe) Bette.
In 2024, the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation completed the rehabilitation of the historic property that had been long neglected. After years of advocating against demolition and working with the city to enforce property maintenance codes, the Foundation acquired the building in May 2021 with the assistance of Mark Haworth, a long-time member of the Foundation. The Foundation undertook a comprehensive rehabilitation, including environmental remediation, structural stabilization, and exterior restoration.
Since listing the property in 2024, the Foundation had sought a buyer who would complete the interior of the home and be a good steward for years to come. Upon returning from a job in England, Cecelia Bette knew she wanted to set down roots in Saratoga.
“When 65 Phila became available, it was clear to me that it was not only a great property in a great location but the perfect opportunity to put my talents to work,” Bette said in a news release. “I recognized the tremendous job the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation had done rehabilitating the property and knew I could pick up where they left off.”
As the granddaughter of Michael Bette, founder of Albany-based BBL Construction, Cecelia has been surrounded by construction and historic preservation from a young age. Now working as a licensed associate broker at First Columbia and Bette & Cring, Bette was looking to embark on her own project. “I am thrilled to work with the Foundation and do my part in preserving some of Saratoga’s history,” she said.
More than four years after purchasing the property, the Foundation’s Executive Director Samantha Bosshart was thrilled to see the house in good hands. “There were times when I thought that 65, and its neighbor, 69 Phila Street, would be lost,” Bosshart said. “I’m so excited to have CeCe finish what took a village to do to get 65 Phila Street to this point. The Foundation is so fortunate to have so many who believed in the project. Welcome to the neighborhood, CeCe!”
