SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau (commonly known as Discover Saratoga) is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, but that doesn’t mean its eyes are solely focused on the past. The organization is using popular forms of new media (such as a podcast launched last year and partnerships with social media stars) to help bring tourists to Saratoga County.

The “Destination Saratoga” podcast, hosted by Discover Saratoga’s vice president of marketing and communications MacKenzie Zarzycki, has thus far showcased local luminaries from institutions like Caffe Lena, Hattie’s, the Saratoga Arms Hotel, and Putnam Place. Zarzycki has also interviewed Brit McAdams, the director of “Paint,” a dramedy starring Owen Wilson that was shot primarily in Saratoga Springs; and Cate Masterson, director of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame (Masterson’s episode is set to premiere on April 11).

“I run into people occasionally in town, and people are recognizing [the podcast] and talking about it,” Zarzycki said. “We’re starting to have sponsors come to us now which is really exciting, especially since we’ve only been live since January.”

The podcast kicked off with a live episode shot on the front porch of the Saratoga Arms during the New Year’s Eve celebration downtown. Other (pre-recorded) episodes have been hosted at the Bright Sighted podcast studio, at Caffe Lena, and at the National Museum of Racing.

Zarzycki said that Discover Saratoga started the podcast so that stories about the community could reach both locals and visitors alike.

“My goal is to bring in different folks within the community who can tell stories, insider stories, talk about hidden gems, and share different experiences that locals and visitors might not be familiar with,” Zarzycki said.

Zarzycki also said she’s also working on a Belmont-themed episode that will hopefully feature some big names and drop right before the racing festival begins on June 4. One dream guest Zarzycki would like to get on the pod is Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, a frequent Saratoga Race Course visitor who is currently building a home on Fifth Avenue that borders the Oklahoma Training Track.

“He’s a huge supporter of Saratoga,” Zarzycki said.

Last year, Discover Saratoga was named the county’s official Tourism Promotion Agency. This meant that the organization shifted its focus from planning events to promoting any and all travel to Saratoga County. Thus, Discover Saratoga has been working with influencers within both traditional media and social media to try to draw attention to the area.

“It’s so hard to dictate exactly what [social media influencers] are going to post and what they’re going to share, but overall I feel like they cover 90% of the itineraries we create,” Zarzycki said. “All in all, I think their videos have been the most successful for us in terms of reach and engagement. Every time they post a video of their point of view or a day in Saratoga Springs, we seem to get a lot of viewers and a lot of new followers.”

In its first year as an official Tourism Promotion Agency, Discover Saratoga’s marketing efforts have reached over 13 million potential visitors, the agency said. Those visitors typically come from within a 3-hour radius of the Spa City. Top markets include the New York metropolitan area, Boston, Syracuse, Burlington, Rochester, Philadelphia, and Buffalo.

Next up for Discover Saratoga is the Belmont on Broadway celebration, which includes a free concert performed by a headlining act that will be revealed at a City Hall press conference on April 10. But the event isn’t just for incoming visitors hoping to catch a Triple Crown winner.

“We look at it as an opportunity to give back to the local community, to thank them for embracing the influx of tourists during a busy time,” Zarzycki said.

For more information on the “Destination Saratoga” podcast, or to watch episodes, visit www.discoversaratoga.org/destination-saratoga/.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Caputo’s Pizzeria, located near the Wilton Mall in Saratoga Springs, is currently undergoing renovations that will transform the eatery into a more formal dining establishment.

Caputo’s Trattoria will offer an “elevated dining experience” via its new “upscale,” expanded dining room and vestibule.

“Our grand opening of the expanded space is coming soon,” Caputo’s said in a Facebook post. “We continue to operate during renovations.”

Caputo’s is also looking for waitstaff, busers, and food runners. Interested applicants should contact or stop by the restaurant to apply.

Caputo’s is usually considered one of the best pizza joints in the Saratoga area. In 2018, Dave Portnoy, of Barstool Sports fame, gave the eatery an 8.1 rating (out of 10) during his “One Bite Pizza Review.” 

GREENFIELD — Vicki’s Pizzeria & Market celebrated its grand opening at 361 Porter Corners Road in the Town of Greenfield on March 27. The new eatery has pizza, wings, subs, smoked brisket, smoked corned beef, breakfast sandwiches, grocery items, and more. Vicki’s offers free delivery for all items.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Launched in Jan. 2025, Inclusive Saratoga is a new nonprofit organization focused on disability inclusivity.

Founded by Meghan Connolly Haupt, the mother of a child with cerebral palsy, the organization works with nonprofit and for-profit businesses to enhance their spaces, programs, and

services to better meet the needs of a community where more than a quarter of the adult population has a diagnosed disability (according to the Centers for Disease Control).

“At the core, Inclusive Saratoga is about bringing people together through shared experiences so that we can all learn and grow,” Haupt said in a statement.

In less than two months, the organization has already shared its expertise with the Saratoga Springs School District Athletic Department, the Saratoga Springs Recreation Department, and the Saratoga Regional YMCA, to name a few noteworthy organizations. 

Haupt has also been appointed to the Saratoga Springs Open Spaces Advisory Committee and has presented at both the New York State Brewers Conference and the New York Restaurant Show.

Inclusive Saratoga is accepting donations from individuals and businesses, and is raising awareness and funds through an apparel campaign. Fundraising allows small businesses and nonprofit organizations access to Inclusive Saratoga without paying full consulting fees.

For more information, visit inclusivesaratoga.com.

BURNT HILLS — One of the oldest dealerships in the Capital Region, first opening in 1954, is looking to make big strides forward in 2025 with its growing powersports division. That dealer is Andersen Boat, Trailers, & Powersports, who will be revving things up with a new inventory of vehicle and equipment options throughout the year.

Owners John Andersen and Chris Snyder are no strangers to the area: Andersen living in the region his whole life and Snyder for the last 10 years. With all of that time between them, they have created a recipe they use to take care of every one of their customers.

“It really just boils down to being kind, courteous, understanding them, and putting yourself in other people’s shoes,” said Snyder. “Treat them like you want to be treated.”

The two owners also want customers to be assured that they are there every single day looking to take care of any order or any issue that comes through the door. 

“You have the owners working day in and day out. If there are any concerns or issues, we address them right away,” Snyder said. “We don’t push them off days, weeks, or months. We address them right then and there.”

Andersen’s offers a variety of options across their different divisions. Their line of trailers consists of 11 different brands and come in many sizes. Andersen’s offers trailers that range from small dump and utility trailers to 30,000-pound gooseneck equipment options. A total of approximately 130–140 are in stock at any time. Andersen’s services those trailers with three professional technicians onsite ready to work on any break or issue that might arise. Warranty options are also given to customers who want one.

The marine division offers several brands of boats, with Starcraft Marine being the main line in stock. However, the store has just picked up Crest Pontoons and made them available for purchase.

The powersports division has been a massive area of focus in recent times for the company, with big moves expected to come as 2025 goes on. The addition of Segway motorsports options like UTVs and side-by-sides has already been made to the store’s inventory. Meanwhile, ATVs, e-bikes, dirt bikes, and even motorcycles are expected to be added as summer comes closer.

The growth doesn’t stop here, however, as Andersen’s will be teaming up with Snyder’s Adventures, an automotive dealership endeavor from co-owner Chris Snyder. This collaboration is expected to bring a boost in resources and knowledge to Andersen’s to help them grow even more moving forward. With this addition, the powersports and trailer divisions of the company will be under the name A&S Sales and Service, while the 70-year-old Andersen boat division continues under the same name.

Andersen’s has been a constant part of the community, bringing their products to a variety of fairs and boat shows, while also holding many open house events at the dealership itself.

Andersen’s is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. They are also open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and available by appointment on Sundays.

The dealership is located at 883 Route 50 in Burnt Hills. Visit www.andersenboat.com. for more information.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — If you have the misfortune of being terminally online, you probably noticed the countless memes posted to X and other social media sites last weekend that featured Saratoga water and bananas.

The inside jokes were a reference to a “morning routine” Instagram video created by fitness influencer Ashton Hall. In the short video, Hall repeatedly dunks his face into a large bowl filled with ice and (you guessed it) Saratoga water. The brand is seen several times throughout the video, as Hall watches a sermon, does pushups, and eats meals all with the aid of Saratoga water. (Hall can also be seen eating a banana and then rubbing the peel on his face, hence the banana references).

Although the video was widely mocked, it’s nonetheless another example of Saratoga water making notable pop culture appearances. The brand was also featured at the 2025 Golden Globe Awards and is regularly seen on Bravo’s “Top Chef” TV series.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — As spring comes into bloom, a new brunch restaurant has opened up in Saratoga Springs. Run by chef Adam Foti, the PDT Maison is looking to add something new to the area with its blend of breakfast, brunch, and dinner options meant to entice anyone that visits, while also providing an atmosphere that inspires people to stick around for as long as they like. 

Foti is no stranger to the region, however, running PDT Catering in the Saratoga County area since 2013, while also being part of several other restaurants over the years. PDT Catering was expanded to include food trucks in 2023, and Foti was also part of the team running PC Market, now Franklin Square Market, until mid-2023. He said that opening his own restaurant was the natural next step in his journey.

With his family coming from Quebec and Sicily, Foti said he has always known what scratch-made home cooking is like, and he wanted to bring that into the restaurant for everyone to enjoy. 

“It’s just sort of baked into my DNA. We just want to take care of people and make good quality scratch-made food,” Foti said. “Good food is made with good ingredients.”

With all food including dressings made from scratch, Foti said that customers can be sure that their food is clean, with no additives like preservatives or high-fructose corn syrup.

The menu for PDT Maison has plenty of options to choose from, including items like a Saratoga club sandwich, falafel or chicken Caesar wraps, a Parisian or Firenze sandwich, protein bowls, several salads, smash burgers, French toast, quiche, popovers, arancini, crapes, and more. Foti said there are also more options coming to the menu in the near future, such as mac & cheese, lobster mac & cheese, and a lobster roll. 

The PDT Maison menu also offers dessert options like French macaroons, chocolate mousse, and cannoli dip. Gluten free, dairy free, and vegan options are available on the menu as well. Foti and his team are also working on steps to add a cocktail menu to the roster sometime in the near future that will offer Mimosas, Bloody Marys, and more.

The PDT Maison is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wednesday through Monday. Customers have the option to order at the restaurant or order in advance online. The restaurant is also available to host private parties, such as weddings, work meetings, luncheons, and more.

PDT Maison is located at 35 Maple Avenue. Visit www.pdtmaison.com for more information.