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Saratoga-Based Author Concludes Bestselling Trilogy with New Book

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Entertainment.


Photo of author Mai Corland and cover art of “Three Shattered Souls” provided by Entangled Publishing/Red Tower Books.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — If you’ve ever visited the Saratoga Springs Public Library in search of the latest popular fiction title, don’t be surprised if the author of the book you’re borrowing is in line behind you.

“I love the library here in Saratoga,” said Mai Corland, a New York Times bestselling author and Saratoga resident. “From when my kids were very little, we would go to the library. During COVID, it was integral and it remains integral in our lives.”

Corland just released “Three Shattered Souls” earlier this month. It’s the final installment of her romantasy trilogy, “The Broken Blades,” which is primarily set in the fictional land of Yusan, but was written right here in the Spa City.

In an interview with Saratoga TODAY, Corland gushed about the city’s many literary institutions and events, from the Yaddo artists’ retreat to the Saratoga Book Festival to the Northshire Bookstore.

“There is a long history, especially in Saratoga, of supporting the arts,” Corland said. “For a small town, there is a great arts influence…It’s not as cookie-cutter as other places tend to be.”

The home of health, history, and horses served as inspiration for some of Corland’s prior work, especially the young adult novel “Everyone Hates Kelsie Miller,” which takes place partly in Saratoga and includes references to the horse racing industry. Another YA title, “Emma and the Love Spell” is set in a fictional town with a distinct Upstate New York feel. (Both books were released under the name Meredith Ireland.)

“The Broken Blades” trilogy, however, takes inspiration from Korean history and mythology. Corland was born in Seoul, adopted, and then moved with her new family to New York City, where she was raised. Sometime around the 9/11 terrorist attacks, her family decided to relocate. Corland’s sister was interested in Skidmore College, prompting her parents to make the move upstate when they fell in love with Saratoga. At age 22, when Corland was about to leave New York to attend law school in Miami, her life took an unexpected turn when she met her future husband here in New York. In other words, the author of romantic stories had her own life profoundly shaped by romance.

Of course, romance is only part of the romantasy genre. The “Broken Blades” trilogy opens with five deceptive assassins competing (and, at times, collaborating) to kill the king of Yusan. The final installment in the series, released on July 15, contains dark subject matter, such as death, violence, and genocide. These elements were influenced, in part, by real historic occurrences, such as the Jeju uprising/massacre, which caused the deaths of tens of thousands of people. The adult subject matter could appeal to fans of “A Song of Ice and Fire,” the fantasy series by George R.R. Martin that was adapted for television as “Game of Thrones.” But Corland’s incorporation of Korean history, as well as her feminist perspective, puts a distinct spin on familiar fantasy themes. 

“Three Shattered Souls,” which Kirkus Reviews called “a compelling and skillfully written end to a thrilling fantasy series,” is now available via online and brick-and-mortar booksellers nationwide. 

Local Youth Dancers Vie for Coveted Roles in New York City Ballet Production

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Entertainment.


Local youth dancers rehearse on the SPAC stage for “Coppelia.”
Photo by Jonathon Norcross.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — More than 250 kids from across the Capital Region auditioned earlier this year for roles in the New York City Ballet (NYCB) production of “Coppelia” at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC). Of those tiny dancers, less than 40 made the cut. It was, said NYCB Children’s Repertory Director Dena Abergel, an all-time record for the most young auditioners.

“Usually we get 60, 70 kids,” Abergel told Saratoga TODAY. “It was unbelievable. I came into the room and the whole thing was full.” 

“Coppelia,” which was performed at SPAC from July 9 to 12, included 24 children’s roles with 8 understudies, plus a few teenage roles. Whittling down the list of candidates entailed both technical and practical considerations; being able to do the steps properly was clutch, but height requirements also came into play. Once the select few were chosen in March, Abergel returned to Saratoga in late June for a “Coppelia” intensive that included daily, four-hour rehearsals.

“They were learning a tremendous amount of choreography each day,” Abergel said. “This is actually the most dancing that there is for a children’s role. It’s real ballet. It’s not like stand on the side and jump and move your arms. This is real technique, real ballet. So, we need a lot of time to teach them [George] Balanchine’s beautiful choreography.

Two kid dancers from the Saratoga area, Bryn Gowan and Madeline Del Prete, had to rehearse for around 30 hours, in addition to practicing at home. But they seemed to thrive in the midst of this demanding schedule.

“It’s like the best thing I’ve ever done in my life,” Del Prete said of the experience. 

“It’s a little exciting but also a little nerve-wracking because you’re around a bunch of really good dancers,” added Gowan, who studies at the Saratoga Springs Youth Ballet.

Gowan also performed with the NYCB last year, while Del Prete made her debut this summer. Both said they intend to keep dancing well into adulthood.

“It’s really fun to move your body in a different way,” Del Prete said. “It’s technically hard but it’s just so fun to do.”

New Food and Beverage Offerings at the Track

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.


Photos of highlighted food options at Saratoga Race Course by Aidan Cahill.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Last week, the New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced a variety of new additions to its food and beverage lineup for this year’s Saratoga Race Course summer meet.

Saratoga Sunrise, the official cocktail of Saratoga Race Course, has undergone a change: lemonade has replaced orange juice in a recipe that includes Belvedere vodka, grenadine, and a lemon garnish.

Five newly redesigned food carts will debut trackside, including: Union Ave Grill (sweet sausage with roasted tomato and onion piperade), Toga Gyros (a vegetarian favorite with crispy falafel bites paired with a refreshing cucumber yogurt sauce), Taco Republic (chicken carnitas tacos, slow-braised and pulled, layered with pico de gallo, salsa verde, and cilantro on warm flour tortillas), Capital Q (slow-smoked BBQ brisket panini with barbecue sauce, crispy onions, and pickled jalapeños), and the Carnegie Hot Dog Cart (a spicy all-beef sausage dressed with classic toppings: Dusseldorf mustard, relish, sauerkraut, chopped raw onions, and a NY pushcart onion sauce).

The new Subourbon Life canned cocktail line features non-carbonated, Bourbon-based drinks, including Bourbon and Pink Lemonade; Bourbon Iced Tea and Lemonade; and the Bourbon Margarita, comprised of Bourbon, lime and a touch of citrus. Each option is available at the Subourbon Beverage Express adjacent to the Finish Line Bar and Grill.

The list of new and returning spirits and wines includes: Bulleit Bourbon; Casamigos and Tres Agaves Tequila; Hendrick’s Gin; Mount Gay Rum; Moët & Chandon Champagne; Mionetto Prosecco; Josh Cellars, Ruffino and Joel Gott Wines, including a light pinot grigio from Ménage à Trois; and Albany-based ALB Vodka.

Vocal Ensemble to Perform in Saratoga

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Excelsior Vocal Ensemble will present “Celestial England” at the Bethesda Episcopal Church at 26 Washington Street on July 19 at 3 p.m.

Excelsior will perform English choral music from across the centuries, including Herbert Howells’ “Requiem,” William Byrd’s “Mass for Five Voices,” five spirituals from “A Child of Our Time” by Michael Tippett, and selections from Gustav Holst’s “Choral Folk Songs.” Special guest organist Derek Stannard will also perform.

For tickets, visit www.saratoga-arts.org/events.

Saratoga County Fair Returns: Wrestling, Kangaroos, Air Rifles, Magicians, & More

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Entertainment, Featured.


Posters provided.

BALLSTON SPA — There aren’t many places on earth where you can see a kangaroo, professional wrestling match, beauty pageant, magician, and a waterskiing squirrel all in one day. But you can do it at the 2025 Saratoga County Fair, which returns to Ballston Spa on July 22 and runs until July 27.

This year, the fair will be open 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. from Tuesday through Saturday, then from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Sunday. Parking is free in the fair parking lots, with shuttle buses available for those in lot D. Admission costs $15, but is free for kids 12 and younger. Tickets are still available online at www.saratogacountyfair.org/home.

Amusements of America will be providing the rides, games, and food offerings in the carnival section of the fair every day from noon until 10 p.m. Rides include adult attractions like the Crazy Mouse; Starship 3,000; Pharaoh’s Fury; Free Fall; Sky Fall; Orbiter; and Top Gun. Family-friend rides include two Ferris wheels; the Wacky Worm roller coaster; bumper cars; a carousel; and a Tilt-A-Whirl. As for food, expect everything from deep-fried favorites to local gourmet food trucks.

The fair’s itinerary is packed with activities, shows, exhibitions, and events. For a full list, you can view the fair’s calendar on its website. But we at Saratoga TODAY have prepared this curated schedule of some of the most exciting, unique, and just plain weird things to do at the 2025 fair. We’ve also bolded some special headlining events for each day. No matter what your interests or hobbies, there’s something for everyone, even if it’s just snacking on a funnel cake and riding some rides (though, we recommend having the funnel cake after the rides, not before).

  • Tuesday, July 22
  • County Draft Horse Show (10 a.m. at the Adirondack Trust Company Horse Show Ring)
  • 4-H shooting sports booths (archery, air rifle, and laser from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
  • Drive a robot at the 4-H Center (10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
  • Niagara Down Under (kangaroos and more from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
  • 4-H Goat Show (1 p.m. in the Small Animal Show Ring)
  • Dialed Action Sports BMX bicycle stunt show (at The Point/Gardiner Walk at 12, 4, and 7 p.m.)
  • Twiggy the Water Skiing Squirrel (shows at 1:30, 3:30, and 5:30 p.m. at the Grandstand Meadow Stage 2 Area)
  • Magician Alyx Hilshey (performances at 1 and 3 p.m. in the Talent Building)
  • Saratoga County Fair Pageant (4 p.m. in the Talent Building)
  • 4-H Swine Show (6 p.m.)
  • Beatin’ the Odds concert (7 to 10 p.m. at the Jeff Townsend Live Music Pavilion)
  • Demolition Derby (7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Grandstand)
  • Wednesday, July 23
  • County Draft Horse Show (9 a.m. at the Adirondack Trust Company Horse Show Ring)
  • 4-H Dairy Cattle Show (10 a.m. at the Stewart’s Dairy Show Ring)
  • 4-H shooting sports booths (archery, air rifle, and laser from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
  • Drive a robot at the 4-H Center (10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
  • Niagara Down Under (kangaroos and more from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
  • Magician Alyx Hilshey (performances at 12, 2, and 4 p.m. in the Talent Building)
  • Open Draft Horse Show (1 p.m. at the Adirondack Trust Company Horse Show Ring)
  • Twiggy the Water Skiing Squirrel (shows at 1:30, 3:30, and 5:30 p.m. at the Grandstand Meadow Stage 2 Area)
  • 4-H Sheep Show (3 p.m. in the Small Animal Show Ring)
  • Dialed Action Sports BMX bicycle stunt show (at The Point/Gardiner Walk at 3, 5, and 8 p.m.)
  • Saratoga’s Got Talent (6 p.m. in the Talent Building)
  • The Dynasty professional wrestling (7 p.m. at the Grandstand)
  • River Country Band concert (7 to 10 p.m. at the Jeff Townsend Live Music Pavilion)
  • Thursday, July 24
  • 4-H Western Horse Show (10 a.m. at the Adirondack Trust Company Horse Show Ring)
  • 4-H shooting sports booths (archery, air rifle, and laser from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
  • Drive a robot at the 4-H Center (10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
  • Niagara Down Under (kangaroos and more from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
  • Magician Alyx Hilshey (performances at 12, 2, and 4 p.m. in the Talent Building) 4-H Alpaca Show (1 p.m. in the Small Animal Show Ring)
  • Twiggy the Water Skiing Squirrel (shows at 1:30, 3:30, and 5:30 p.m. at the Grandstand Meadow Stage 2 Area)
  • Dialed Action Sports BMX bicycle stunt show (at The Point/Gardiner Walk at 3, 5, and 8 p.m.)
  • Stewart’s Ice Cream Eating Contest (3:30 p.m. in the Townley Building)
  • Goat Show (4 p.m. in the Small Animal Show Ring)
  • 4-H Beef Show (4 p.m. in the Stewart’s Dairy Show Ring)
  • Tractor Pull (6 p.m.)
  • Saratoga’s Got Talent (6 p.m. in the Talent Building)
  • County Draft Horse Show (7 p.m. at the Adirondack Trust Company Horse Show Ring)
  • Family Bingo (7 p.m. in the Lewis Building)
  • Skeeter Creek concert (7 to 10 p.m. at the Jeff Townsend Live Music Pavilion)

Friday, July 25

  • 4-H English Horse Show (10 a.m. at the Adirondack Trust Company Horse Show Ring)
  • Dairy Cattle Show (10 a.m. at the Stewart’s Dairy Show Ring)
  • The Children’s Museum at Saratoga (10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Lewis Building)
  • 4-H shooting sports booths (archery, air rifle, and laser from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
  • Drive a robot at the 4-H Center (10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
  • Niagara Down Under (kangaroos and more from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
  • Magician Alyx Hilshey (performances at 12, 2, and 4 p.m. in the Talent Building)
  • The Dambreakers concert (1 to 4 p.m. at the Jeff Townsend Live Music Pavilion)
  • Twiggy the Water Skiing Squirrel (shows at 1:30, 3:30, and 5:30 p.m. at the Grandstand Meadow Stage 2 Area)
  • Dialed Action Sports BMX bicycle stunt show (at The Point/Gardiner Walk at 3, 5, and 8 p.m.) Taste of Saratoga County (local culinary delights in the Townley Building from 4 to 6 p.m.)
  • Draft Horse Obstacle Course and Games (5:30 p.m. at the Adirondack Trust Company Horse Show Ring)
  • Saratoga’s Got Talent (6 p.m. in the Talent Building)
  • Family Bingo (7 p.m. in the Lewis Building)
  • • Electric Rodeo concert (7 to 11 p.m. at the Jeff Townsend Live Music Pavilion)

Saturday, July 26

  • 4-H Rabbit Show (9 a.m. at the Small Animal Show Ring)
  • 4-H shooting sports booths (archery, air rifle, and laser from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
  • Drive a robot at the 4-H Center (10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
  • Niagara Down Under (kangaroos and more from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
  • Magician Alyx Hilshey (performances at 12, 4, and 6 p.m. in the Talent Building)
  • The Bennett Brothers concert (12 to 3 p.m. at the Jeff Townsend Live Music Pavilion)
  • Twiggy the Water Skiing Squirrel (shows at 1:30, 3:30, and 5:30 p.m. at the Grandstand Meadow Stage 2 Area)
  • 4-H Poultry Show (2 p.m. in the Small Animal Show Ring)
  • Dialed Action Sports BMX bicycle stunt show (at The Point/Gardiner Walk at 3, 5, and 8 p.m.)
  • Taste of Saratoga County (local culinary delights in the Townley Building from 4 to 6 p.m.)
  • 4 Wheel Drive Truck Pull (7 p.m.)
  • 4-H Young Farmers Olympics (7 p.m. in the Stewart’s Dairy Show Ring)
  • Family Bingo (7 p.m. in the Lewis Building)
  • Big Sky Country concert (7 to 11 p.m. at the Jeff Townsend Live Music Pavilion)
  • Sunday, July 27
  • 4-H Master Showman (9 a.m. to 12 p.m.)
  • 4-H shooting sports booths (archery, air rifle, and laser from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
  • Drive a robot at the 4-H Center (10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
  • Niagara Down Under (kangaroos and more from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.)
  • Magician Alyx Hilshey (performances at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. in the Talent Building)
  • Dialed Action Sports BMX bicycle stunt show (at The Point/Gardiner Walk at 12, 4, and 7 p.m.)
  • Country line dancing lessons (from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Jeff Townsend Live Music Pavilion)
  • Cosplay costuming construction (12 to 3 p.m. in the Lewis Building)
  • 4-H Dog Show (1 p.m. in the Stewart’s Dairy Show Ring)
  • Twiggy the Water Skiing Squirrel (shows at 1:30, 3:30, and 5:30 p.m. at the Grandstand Meadow Stage 2 Area)
  • Saratoga’s Got Talent: Best of Fair (4 p.m. in the Talent Building)
  • The Down Home Boys concert (4 to 8 p.m. at the Jeff Townsend Live Music Pavilion)
  • Demolition Derby (6:30 p.m. at the Grandstand)

Back at SPAC: New York City Ballet Arrives for 59th Saratoga Residency

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Entertainment, Featured.


Backstage crew members prepare for the New York City Ballet’s annual residency at SPAC. (right) New York City Ballet Production Stage Manager Jacqueline Reid shows off a costume
used in “Coppélia.”
Photos by Jonathon Norcross.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Five tractor-trailers hauled lavish sets, hundreds of intricate costumes, and more than 1,000 gleaming ballet shoes into the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) on Monday morning in preparation for the New York City Ballet’s (NYCB) 59th annual residency in the Spa City, which began on July 9 and concludes on Saturday, July 12. 

Also arriving at Saratoga for the residency (though not in tractor-trailers) were more than 90 dancers, as well as dozens of members of the New York City Ballet Orchestra.

This year’s performances include the full-length story ballet “Coppélia,” which held its world premiere at SPAC in 1974; Jerome Robbins’ spirited “In G Major,” an audience favorite set to Giuseppe Verdi melodies; George Balanchine’s “Stravinsky Violin Concerto”; and Justin Peck’s newest work “Mystic Familiar,” which will have its SPAC premiere. 

“Nowhere else in the world outside of New York City does the full company of dancers and musicians present a robust week of repertoire, every single year,” said Elizabeth Sobol, president and CEO of SPAC, in a statement. “SPAC is unique and incredibly fortunate to be able to bring these world-class artists to our community.”

Called “story ballet done to perfection” by The New York Times, George Balanchine’s “Coppélia” will feature scenery and costumes by Rouben Ter-Artunian, as well as lighting by Mark Stanley. Included in the cast will be around 30 local children, who began auditioning for their roles in early March.

“Mystic Familiar” is set to an original score by composer Dan Deacon, who also provided the score for Peck’s 2017 ballet “The Times Are Racing” and Francis Ford Coppola’s 2011 film “Twixt.” The set design will feature a backdrop by the Los Angeles-based visual artist Eamon Ore-Giron, whose work was featured in the 2024 Whitney Biennial.

Here is the full NYCB performance schedule at SPAC:

Coppélia

July 9 @ 7:30 p.m.

July 10 @ 7:30 p.m.

July 11 @ 7:30 p.m.

July 12 @ 2 p.m.

“Mystic Familiar” + “In G Major” + “Stravinsky Violin Concerto”

July 11 @ 2 p.m.

July 12 @ 7:30 p.m.

For tickets or more information, visit spac.org.

SPAC Offering Free Dance Workshops

Last week, SPAC and the NYCB announced that they would offer a series of free dance workshops for children, teens, and adults of all abilities on July 10 and 12. 

Held at the SPAC School of the Arts, the workshops are led by NYCB dancers and the choreography is inspired by “Coppélia.” Additional access workshops will feature modifications so that participants of all abilities feel welcome.

New York City Ballet Workshop Schedule:

July 10 @ 5:15 p.m.: NYCB Ballet Essentials Workshop, Access Workshop for Teens and Adults

July 12 @ 10 a.m.: Children’s Access Workshop

July 12 @ 12 p.m.: Children’s Workshop, In Motion Workshop

For more details on the workshops, visit spac.org.

Saratoga Summer Concert Series to Kick Off July 6

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.


Alex Torres and His Latin Orchestra perform in Congress Park as part of the 2024 Saratoga Summer Concert Series. Photo by Thomas Dimopoulos.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Summer Concert Series returns to Congress Park for the 2025 season, kicking off on Sunday, July 6 with Fenimore Blues. The free, family-friendly concert series is a program of the Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center in partnership with Discover Saratoga and the City of Saratoga Springs.

The series will take place on Sundays in July and on Tuesdays in August. Shows will begin at 7 p.m. at the War Memorial in Congress Park. Each concert will be approximately 90 minutes. In the event of rain, performances will be held at the back covered patio at the Heritage Area Visitor Center, located at 297 Broadway.

The 2025 lineup is as follows:

° July 6 – Fenimore Blues: Fenimore Blues, based in Saratoga Springs, performs an eclectic mix of blues, R&B, and rock.

° July 13 – MPThree: MPThree is an acoustic band with a musical style rooted in country and classic genres, with a focus on storytelling and connecting with the audience.

° July 20 – Mostly Modern Festival-FAB 5: this program features the Mostly Modern composers mixed with The FAB 5’s most popular jams.

° July 27 – Skippy and the Pistons: local band Skippy and the Pistons is an 8-piece classic rock horn band, celebrating 50 years together.

° August 5 – Big Medicine: Big Medicine features honeyed vocals, supple R&B, folk rock grooves, and rich acoustic-based textures.

° August 12 – Rustic Spirit: the music of Rustic Spirit is a heavy dose of southern rock classics with a unique blend of country and classic rock.

° August 19 – Garland Nelson and Soul Session: Soul Session’s emotive style across all genres earned them the distinction of 2019 Eddies Award Winner for “Best Band in Capital Region NY.”

° August 26 – Tops of Trees: an original Rock & Soul ensemble hailing from upstate New York, the band aims to thrill audiences with high-energy performances and a modern interpretation of soulful music steeped in early R&B, funk, and soul.

For more information, please contact the Saratoga Springs Heritage Area Visitor Center at (518) 587-3241 or visit www.saratogaspringsvisitorcenter.com.

New Biography Shines Light on Eldest Schuyler Sister

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Entertainment, Featured.


Cover of the book “Angelica: For Love and Country in a Time of Revolution” by Molly Beer, published on July 1 by W. W. Norton & Company.

Update: Due to a flood at the Northshire Bookstore, the event featuring author Molly Beer will now take place at Pitney Meadows Community Farm at 223 West Avenue in Saratoga Springs. The date and time of the event (Tuesday, July 8 at 6pm) remain the same.

SCHUYLERVILLE — In her 58 years of existence, Angelica Schuyler had one of her childhood homes in present-day Schuylerville incinerated by retreating British troops; maintained correspondence with American luminaries like Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson; eloped with a British-born businessman with a shady past; befriended Benjamin Franklin in Paris; attended the first inauguration of George Washington; was the namesake of a town in western New York; birthed eight children; and served as the inspiration for a Tony Award-winning performance in a hit Broadway musical. 

Yet, despite such an accomplished and remarkable life, Angelica Schuyler has always been depicted as a supporting character in the stories of other people’s lives: her father, General Philip Schuyler; her brother-in-law Alexander Hamilton; and her husband, John Barker Church. A new biography, “Angelica: For Love and Country in a Time of Revolution” by Molly Beer, aims to cast this pivotal figure in a new light, one in which power is not just defined by battle victories and terms in elected office.

“[Historically], we think about power as being located in the men and women are connecting them, but now we talk more about soft power and social networks and connections and being locuses of power. Historically, she occupies this locus of power,” Beer told Saratoga TODAY. “A rubric for greatness is completely male specific, but when we talk about what power looks like now, she checks a lot of those boxes.”

Angelica’s power often lay in her extraordinary social and diplomatic skills, which allowed her to form connections with everyone from passionate patriots to loyal monarchists, from Americans to Brits to the French. Beer believes these talents may have arisen from Angelica’s outsider status as a Dutch New Yorker.

“From early childhood, she is seen as a foreigner,” Beer said. “She’s always navigating the Dutch-British divide and I think people who are used to crossing cultural lines get good at it.” 

All of this isn’t to suggest that Angelica was without flaws. Although historians and gossip-mongers have long speculated that her relationship with Hamilton may have been more than friendly, the true blemish on the eldest Schuyler sister’s legacy was her use of enslaved people, a sin from which Beer doesn’t shy away. Beer never found any evidence of Angelica speaking about the issue of slavery directly, and it’s hard to piece together what Angelica’s thoughts may have been. On the one hand, she was a client of the famous hairdresser Pierre Toussaint, a formerly enslaved Haitian-American. On the other hand, enslaved people worked at the Schuyler family farm that still stands in the Village of Schuylerville (then called Saratoga). This farm reminds visitors of early America’s inability to rid of itself of a practice that the French (with whom Angelica spent much time) found abhorrent.

Despite these grim reminders of past crimes, historic sites can also serve as inspiration. Beer grew up in Angelica, New York, the town named after the eldest Schuyler sister, and her school bus drove past Belvidere, a mansion built for Angelica and her husband, every day.

“I always knew that this is where this historic woman who had to do with the forming of the country had lived,” Beer said. “The effect for me was that even if you’re from this place and even if you’re a girl, you can matter in the world. If you read books and you study hard and you’re brave, you can go do stuff. For me, that was important. One of the reasons I wrote the book was because I thought that would be useful for other girls to know.”

Beer will discuss all things Angelica Schuyler at the Northshire Bookstore on Broadway in Saratoga Springs on Tuesday, July 8 at 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.northshire.com/event/northshire-saratoga-molly-beer-angelica-love-and-country-time-revolution.

The Schuyler Estate, where Angelica spent parts of her childhood, is open to visitors on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/sara/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm.

Yaddo Summer Benefit Smashes Records

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Entertainment.


Attendees of the 2025 Yaddo Summer Benefit gather under a tent on the nonprofit retreat’s lawn for dramatic letter readings and a musical performance by singer-songwriter Natalie Merchant. Photo courtesy of Yaddo.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Yaddo, the famed 400-acre artists’ retreat in Saratoga Springs, drew a crowd of more than 450 supporters and raised nearly a quarter of a million dollars at its annual summer benefit last Thursday night. Both the number of attendees and the fundraising total were all-time highs, the nonprofit said.

Guests were treated to a buffet of bites and mixed drinks prior to the event’s main act: a series of dramatic letter readings performed by actor Oliver Wadsworth, singer-songwriter Natalie Merchant, and Yaddo President Elaina Richardson; followed by an intimate performance at the piano by Merchant, who sang for the first time solo, her 2023 original song “Sister Tilly.” The letters were written either by or about some of the retreat’s most acclaimed artists-in-residence, such as Truman Capote, James Baldwin, Sylvia Plath, Leonard Bernstein, Langston Hughes, and many others.

This summer, Yaddo will be hosting a number of events, including Wine & Roses (offering live classical music paired with regional wines on July 17, July 31, and August 14), select Sunday yoga classes in the gardens through October, and a rare open house on September 27. The Yaddo Gardens will also be open to visitors until October 9. For tickets, event details, or to learn more, visit Yaddo.org.

A Spooktacular Summer: Ghost Tours Return to the Canfield Casino

Written by Jonathon Norcross on . Posted in Entertainment.


Images provided by the Saratoga Springs History Museum.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A spinning roulette wheel. Doors slamming shut. A whiff of lavender perfume. Apparitions in the windows.

Over the years, there have been dozens of people who have reported seeing, hearing, and feeling the presence of otherworldly spirits in Saratoga’s Canfield Casino, which is now the site of the Saratoga Springs History Museum.

Saratoga TODAY collected just a few of these experiences, as relayed by the museum’s Executive Director James Parillo:

° Three people heard the chiming of crystals dangling from a lamp stationed in an empty room;

° the sound of what could be casino chips hitting the floor, heard “over and over again”;

° pounding on the side of an elevator that was once used inside the Adelphi Hotel;

° mediums communicating with unknown entities that smelled of perfume;

° people who feel pressure in their chest or have difficulty breathing when they reach the museum’s third floor;

° a woman who felt a room become ice cold before seeing the apparition of a man who descended a staircase;

° people in Congress Park who say they saw a woman in Victorian clothing looking out one of the casino’s windows;

° seven people who heard audio over a radio receiver of gamblers placing bets;

° three staff members who saw a “lady in a white dress,” believed to be the spirit of Reubena Walworth, a nurse who tended to Spanish-American War vets and later died of typhoid fever. 

Whether one finds these stories to be convincing evidence or not, there’s no denying that Canfield has become a hot spot for ghost investigators and paranormal enthusiasts. In 2010, the “Ghost Hunters” TV series on the Syfy network featured the Canfield Casino in one of its episodes, helping to popularize the site’s status as a haunted locale. Nowadays, Parillo said he gets biweekly requests from YouTubers hoping to film inside the museum. 

In an effort to satiate the public’s curiosity, the museum has announced the return of its popular “Ghost Tours of the Canfield Casino,” running from July 2 through August 29, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 

This season’s tours will aim to “immerse guests in Saratoga’s spectral history with new stories, local legends, and chilling accounts of real paranormal encounters,” the museum said in a press release. Participants will be guided through the “opulent yet eerie” halls of the casino, hearing tales of mysterious events, often from people who have experienced them firsthand.

“It’s important to us that whoever is telling the stories has experienced something,” Parillo said.

The tours are for visitors ages 10 and up. Advance reservations are strongly encouraged. For tickets and more information, visit www.saratogahistory.org/ghost-tours-summer-2025.