First Course: The Misfit and The District
PLUS: Juneteenth in the Capital Region, Greg Montgomery's 2022 Travers poster and more!
The Misfit
This past Thursday, I got the text message I’d been waiting for: The Misfit, the semi-underground bar that I knew was in the process of taking over 1 Caroline Street, was about to open. The text came from owner Michael Mills, whom I knew of from his other company, Mills Entertainment, a division of Creative Artists Agency. “Other than being a busboy when I was 19,” Mike told me, “this is my first time on this side of the hospitality spectrum.”
Mike’s first official night on that side seemed to go swimmingly, as a small crowd of friends and family gathered for the bar’s soft opening. (It officially opened to the public on Friday.) Neon signs and a wall of artfully placed lightbulbs accented the dark room—it is underground, after all—while rustic wooden beams gave the space a homey feel. Large columns that had crowded the bar when it was The Cellar have been removed, allowing for more room to move around and a few more seating options.
While the menu does include craft beers and wines, the highlight is the expansive cocktail list, which is broken down into categories: Signature Cocktails (including my uber-gingery Misfit Mule and my friend’s Miami Sound Machine rum drink), Staff Favorites (including a purple Empress Gin concoction, which a bartender recommended), Classics (Shaken Daiquiri, Mary Pickford and Pimm’s Cup), and Mocktails (there are two tee-totaling options). Three of the Signature Cocktails—the Jessica Rabbit, Boujie Bitch and Jack Sparrow—are available in “large format” for four or more people for $100.
As for the name “The Misfit,” the theme is realized in a collection of framed mug shots known as the “wall of misfits.” The staff at the bar are also known as misfits, at least on Instagram. Our server, bar manager David, seemed normal enough (he came from Miami via Albany’s Savoy Taproom, and hasn’t seen a Saratoga racing season in two decades), though another bartender whose name I didn’t catch definitely fell more toward the “misfit” end of the spectrum: “I kind of want to go ride the bull,” he chimed in when David was talking to us about our plans for the night, referring to the mechanical bull at Nashville of Saratoga. “I once saw some girl ride it for 69 seconds—pretty lucky.”
The District
On Friday, I saw the Instagram post I’d been waiting for: The District, the above-ground restaurant and bar that I knew was in the process of taking over 43 Phila Street, was open. It had actually opened the night before, and was in the process of a soft launch—GM John Cole says a big opening bash is in the works. I got myself there in about two hours flat, and while John wanted me to wait til the real opening to do a “real” story, I’ll give you a sneak preview: The District is a scratch kitchen (“the only thing brought in from the outside is the hamburger buns,” John says) serving New American cuisine with a Mediterranean influence. “New American is this concept that means we can put literally whatever we want on the menu,” added chef Zack Scarborough, formerly the sous chef of The Adelphi’s Blue Hen.
We ordered the pickled-in-house giardiniera and the hummus, which came with house-made naan bread and veggies, before John proceeded to bring out the focaccia (yes, house made), chicken wings (the spicy sauce is made of smoked jalapeño and fresno peppers, orange juice, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar and greek yogurt) served with tzatziki, and a trio of desserts (Zeppole, Affogato and Pot de Crème, which came with a delightful honeycomb candy on top).
Want more details? I’ve already said too much. Stay tuned for the “real” story, or check out The District for yourself: It’s open Monday and Tuesday 5-10pm, Thursday-Saturday noon-10pm and Sunday noon-8pm.
Quote of the Week
“I ate some rotisserie chicken and had the most productive day.”
—Overheard at Walt Cafe
Juneteenth, Four Ways
This weekend, Saratoga Springs will commemorate African American freedom and celebrate education and achievement at a few events:
June 19: "Brandtville Boogie" Tour with Carol Daggs
Local author Carol Daggs will lead a guided tour of the Saratoga neighborhood once known as “Brandtville,” a historically African American rural farming community on the southeastern edge of the city, beginning at 10:30am.
June 19: Opera Saratoga’s 2nd Annual Juneteenth Celebration Concert
This one’s technically in Schenectady, but its our very own Opera Saratoga that’s putting on the 2:30pm show. Baritone Sidney Outlaw will celebrate the legacy of Black composers and writers in American song, featuring works by Langston Hughes, Robert Owens and more.
June 19: SPAC’s “From the Harlem Renaissance to Today”
On Sunday at 3pm, SPAC will bring the Chamber Music Society to Pitney Meadows for a program “that celebrates humanity and the way we observe complicated, multi-layered traditions.”
June 20: Saratoga BLM’s Juneteenth Liberation Celebration
For the second year, Saratoga Black Lives Matter will host their Juneteenth celebration; this one is from 2-8pm at the Spa State Park’s Orenda Pavilion and will feature music by Mundy, spoken word and poetry, art-making, food, voter registration and more.
The Big Reveal
The wait is almost over, Greg Montgomery fans. The artist, who’s best known in town for his annual Travers posters, will unveil his 2022 design at a meet-and-greet and signing at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame today from 1-2pm. Greg is just one part of a larger event at the museum that will highlight some of Saratoga’s Thoroughbred aftercare organizations and feature family-friendly activities all day long.
And Speaking of Fun Happening on Union Today…
There’s a huge all-day event being put on by the awesome team at the Saratoga Automobile Museum today, from 9am to 3pm. Pre-registered Super Cars, Rare Classics and Exotics will be on hand all day, culminating with an afternoon procession. PLUS: live music and food trucks all day! *Union will be closed between Nelson and East Ave. for the event. Spectator parking is located at the main entrance to the Race Course (Gates 4 and 8).
A Groundbreaking Ground-breaking
Eight months after the Saratoga Senior Center announced a new Center would be built at the Saratoga Regional YMCA’s Saratoga branch, construction crews are finally breaking ground. On Tuesday, both organizations will share their plans for the new facility which will not only include the 14,500-square-foot Senior Center but also 25,000 square feet of additional space for the Y’s programs and services.
This Week in Saratoga Living After Hours
On Monday, we tested how well Saratogians know their city with a picture scavenger hunt of sorts.
Then, on Tuesday, we recapped two al fresco performances: The Ice House’s Drag Brunch and Opera Saratoga’s A Hundred Years of Broadway—A Broadway Cabaret.