Saratoga Arms Blog

Hurricane Earl is not visiting Saratoga Springs!

Inn Keeper — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 15:58:23 +0000

Come inland, upstate or climb off that yacht.

Join us for the final weekend of the 142^nd meet at Saratoga Race Course, America’s oldest racecourse. We offer refuge from the storm and a weekend to remember. The Woodward, The Hopeful and The Spinaway are the featured races. Place your bets and cheer on your favorites before this racing season is put in the history books. Take home a souvenir long sleeve tee shirt, the final NYRA giveaway, with your Sunday admission to the track.

Final stretch activities on Saturday and Sunday, include music festivals and street entertainment, just off our front porch and up and down Broadway. Sam the Bugler will soon sound his final call to the Post…listen closely he’s calling you.

The restaurants, the shops and the charm that is Saratoga are beckoning… now and into the fall season. Saratoga Arms is the hotel that offers a four-star experience with a welcome home atmosphere. We have a room just for you.

A Room Redo…Part III

Inn Keeper — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 22:16:43 +0000

It has been awhile since we updated the saga of the room renovation Kathleen embarked upon this Spring. Let’s pick up where we left off. (Hint: If you need a refresher click on Room Renovations .)

Kathleen and Pamela shop the Springfield, Massachusetts store. Lots and lots of fabric, but the place has never been sorted out. Difficult to find anything.. One of the sales clerks told them that nothing is ever thrown away. They leave without making a purchase. A few weeks later Kathleen and Noel fly to Atlanta for the newest grandchild’s christening, and Kathleen gets a chance to go into town to two wonderful fabric shops. There’s the perfect fabric, but Kathleen has never paid $20 per yard for anything. So she buys a one yard sample. Kathleen is going to meet Pamela in Delaware in two weeks to shop a fabulous discount fabric center. When she shows them the sample, they tell her that the fabric is too new and they would not have it for a year or so. Kathleen and Pamela like the fabric so much that they decide to bite the bullet and buy one hundred yards in Atlanta. While in Delaware they buy all of the coordinating fabrics. On the drive home Kathleen has a thought. Mr. Springfield has said he has the ability to best anyone’s price on fabric. Kathleen sends him a sample of the sample. When Springfield calls the next morning, they tell Kathleen that if she accepts two rolls totaling 101 yards shipped directly from the factory the price will be $12 per yard. Within the next week fabric is sent to Marked Tree, Arkansas for quilting, fabric is given to the drapery lady in Glens Falls, and the upholstery is delivered to a fellow up north. Ned (the best painter and plasterer in the world) is on the job, the carpet has been ordered, and new lamps are being sent from California. The room is rented soon, we have a deadline…are we going to make it?

2010 Saratoga Hat Contest Winner

Inn Keeper — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 14:06:27 +0000

Marta Glazen of Cleveland, Ohio, won the 19th annual Saratoga Hat Contest, on Sunday, July 25, 2010, in Saratoga Springs. She took first place and won a silver plate trophy, clubhouse lunch for two and a $500 betting voucher. Marta was a guest at Saratoga Arms and “wowed” all of our breakfast guests when she came down from her room ready to head out to the track. This is the second year in a row that Marta has won the contest. Marta is a professional though…She owns a hat shop in Ohio!!

Saratoga Arms is the recommended Saratoga Springs hotel

Inn Keeper — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:23:14 +0000

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a wonderful article in their US and International Travel section titled “Weekend in Saratoga, N.Y.” They recommend various eating establishments, places to visit and hotels in Saratoga Springs NY, with Saratoga Arms being amongst them. You may visit the link and read the entire article.

Weekend in Saratoga, N.Y. | ajc.com

A Room Redo…Part II

Inn Keeper — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 19:05:23 +0000

The first telephone call is made to Pamela Whitney now living in the DC area. Pamela is the decorator who worked with Kathleen on all the rooms in the addition. (www.pamelawhitneydesigns.com) She designed all the furniture and had it made in a factory in Mexico. Television armoires that also serve as dressers, desks that double as nightstands and headboards high enough on the wall that you can lean against them to read without being bothered by mouldings. Pamela has an instant and excellent understanding of what is needed. Kathleen has a formula for fabric in a room. One hundred yards of the principal fabric for quilt, drapes, shower curtain and pillow shams: thirty yards of a stripe or nubby solid for dust ruffle, pillows and trim; and ten yards of an upholstery fabric for easy chair and cushion on the straight chair. Off the two ladies go to Springfield, Massachusetts, to a shop that bills itself as the largest fabric store in America.

Stay tuned for the next installment of “A Room Redo”…

A Room Redo…Part I

Inn Keeper — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 16:44:44 +0000

White paint on woodwork around windows in Room 201 is peeling in large patches. Why, the wall feels a little damp. The best roofer in America (Sam Design) looks it over. We will need a carpentry crew, metal bender, and of course, his team. And he knows a place in Granville, up on the Vermont border, that will be able to duplicate the purple gray fish scale slates that we will need to replace across the front of the building. All the workmen used Room 201 as a staging area. When the outside is fixed, and all the contractors have gone home, we look at the room. Peeling paint on the woodwork, dated colors, a quilt that no longer fits the new thicker mattress, a stain on the rug. It’s time for a complete redo.

Stay tuned for the next installment of “A Room Redo”…

2010 Kentucky Derby

Inn Keeper — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 19:39:03 +0000

I wrote a few months back about a little horse that ran in Saratoga last summer. The horse’s name is Dublin and he won that race. I also speculated that he would run in the Kentucky Derby, which is being held tomorrow. Dublin is certainly running tomorrow, one in a big field of 20. Well I just checked the current odds and it seems like Dublin will need a bit of the “Luck of the Irish” because he is currently 20-1. Current favorite…Lookin at Lucky. Seems as though there might be a lot of “lucky” running around Churchill Downs tomorrow.

Thinking about the Kentucky Derby in February?

Inn Keeper — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:57:29 +0000

In the early part of last year’s racing season, Kathleen took two Irish girls from Ballybunion, County Kerry, who were working at the hotel for the summer to the races. They put a sentimental bet on a young horse with good odds named “Dublin” and were handsomely rewarded when the horse won. At the end of the Saratoga meet, Dublin won the Hopeful Stakes. Now D. Wayne Lucas is talking about running Dublin in the Kentucky Derby. I bet Paddy Power will take a few more sentimental bets.

Rachel Alexandra to race in Saratoga on September 5th

Inn Keeper — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:15:34 +0000

The New York Times, Joe Drape, has confirmed that super filly and Preakness winner, Rachel Alexandra, will race against the boys again the the Woodward Stakes here in Saratoga on Saturday, September 5th. Saratoga Arms does have limited availability left for that weekend (Labor Day) and would welcome anyone who would like to continue to watch history. Run like a girl Rachel!!!

And they’re off!!!

Inn Keeper — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:52:48 +0000

Opening Day and the excitement throughout the city of Saratoga Springs is palpable. Up and down the crowded sidewalks visitors mingle with townsfolk, darting in and out of shops and restaurants, chatting on the benches, admiring the artistic horse sculptures, and the lush hanging baskets. Flags are waving proclaiming the arrival of the 141st meet at Saratoga Race Course. The Daily Racing Form is the preferred reading choice. The town is hopping and we are ready.

The Smith family and the staff of Saratoga Arms are welcoming back old friends who return year after year to their favorite Saratoga Springs Hotel. We are confident that first time guests will fast become part of the Saratoga Arms growing circle of regulars.

The Saratoga Arms dining room this morning was abuzz with racing talk and old friends catching up on the events of last year that passed so quickly. Noel continuus to delight diners with his usual scrumptious breakfasts and Kathleen shares Saratoga news and offers up tips for an enjoyable stay.

Come join us…the Racing Meet only lasts until Labor Day. The talk in the racing community is that the quality of horses and the racing will be the best ever. Don’t miss the fun.