On the Pod: SLAH Hits the Airwaves
Saratoga Living After Hours joins forces with a new local podcast. PLUS: Saratoga rallies around Lola, the Racing Museum starts a book club, and more.
It’s deadline time over at the magazines. (SLAH is produced by the same folks as print publications Saratoga Living and Capital Region Living.) For the uninitiated, that means the editorial “team” (all two of us) write and edit page after page after page…After each of the 100-plus pages is designed, Natalie does her first round of edits, then Abby. Then we do it all again…two more times.
Is it tedious? Yes.
Do we often have eight-message exchanges over one comma? Yes.
Do we zoom in like detectives if we see even a slight possibility of an extra space in the text? Yes.
Do we factcheck every name spelling and fact three times? Yes.
Does being a journalist require one to have OCD and/or control issues? Possibly.
So what happens when that same person is asked to share her life story (at least when it comes to said journalism career) and is generously allowed to jump on her soapbox about saving local journalism—in a format in which she has…no…control?
Who needs sleep anyway?
Luckily, I was in capable hands. SLAH has partnered with Seriously Catherine, a local podcast hosted by Catherine Hover (founder of Palette Community) and produced by the local (and woman-led) Bright Sighted production network. Every ep features an interview with a fun, positive local leader in the Capital Region—plus a Saratoga Living or SLAH “moment” (Catherine’s takes on what you read here are often hilarious). We’ll also be doing sneak peeks of upcoming issues (winter issue preview coming soon!).
But first, we decided to do an intro ep.
The interview was fun. I’m a talker, Catherine was easy to chat with—and I got to say things I hear in other podcasts like, “Cut that out!” (IYKYK)
And then…the agonizing wait. The cringing when recalling going on too long about something stupid. The fear that I left something out. What if I ended on a negative note? Did I say something dumb?
“I’ve got you,” producer Cat Zadzora assured me over bourbon and beer at Walt Whitman. Hmmmmph, I thought.
As it turned out, I had nothing to worry about. The slicing and dicing that went into that episode was incredible (turns out audio producers are as meticulous—neurotic even?—as us print journos yay!). At one point, Cat expertly cut out some questioning and moved things around so it sounds like I made one thoughtful monologue. She got rid of all the bad staff, and made sure my rambling somehow brought it all back at the end (yes, on a positive note).
Sometimes, you just have to let go and let somebody else take control.
—Abby
Listen to the episode here—we chat about (yup) the state of journalism, plus some spiritual stuff and even Tim Pink’s dating life (that we had oh-so wrong).
If you’re inspired to help preserve the state of journalism in the Capital Region, please consider upgrading your SLAH subscription to a paid one.
**(Thank you, thank you, thank you to our current paid subscribers! We appreciate you more than you might know!)**
Then like, follow and review the Seriously Catherine podcast. It’s super-fun. See you there!
Quote of the Week
“I wouldn’t kick it out of the pond.”
X/Twitter’s Spa Infield Goose, when asked if this year’s “#Belatoga” Belmont winner will get a canoe.
Stronger Together
The community has rallied around Lola Saratoga, the Broadway boutique that was the victim in a smash-and-grab robbery of $100,000 in luxury goods early Tuesday morning. The popular 10-year-old store reopened the next day, more determined than ever, with owner Megan delivering several poignant messages on social media. Just a few of the hundreds of supportive, heart emoji–filled messages include ones from Complexions owner Denise Dubois (“Thinking of you during this time…I will be in to purchase a gift card!”), influencer Ashlee Rose Hartley (“We are all here to support, sending major hugs”), and boutique Chic Underneath (“You will come back stronger than ever. You got this and your neighbors/community have your back”). The Chamber has been encouraging people to shop and buy gift cards from the boutique, which also has a Stuyvesant Plaza locale. Megan, we’re ALL here for you!
Read On
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame announced its new book club this week, promising a “variety of perspectives” on horse racing. They certainly aren’t shying away from the toughest topics, which are sure to cultivate deep and important conversations. Kicking off February 8 with a discussion of The First Kentucky Derby (about the prominent role Black jockeys played in Gilded Age racing culture), club members will also read Lexington (a tale of America’s grueling early days of Civil War-era racing) and Ruffian: Burning from the Start (about a record-breaking filly who was unbeaten in her first 10 starts before tragically breaking down at Belmont) during the first half of the year. Sign up soon—the member price is $30 for the year plus $125 for all six books.
New Life
Shannon Ramirez, a master colorist who was most recently the owner of downtown’s former Sanctuary Salon, has spread out into some sleek, chic new digs: a sprawling 2,800-square-foot salon in what was once a Stewart’s. The space (2505 Route 9 in Malta) was fully renovated by Munter Enterprises, with support from architect John Paone; the interior design work was done by Kennedy Taylor of Studio K Design. Ramirez’s expertise is in the art of balayage—and staying on trend, and has hired a diverse staff of 14. Guests will be able to hang out in a bar area with specialty drinks and snacks, and the salon will soon apply for a beer and wine license.
Food for All
Three cheers for Troy nonprofit Capital Roots—whose Good Food Market is having its much-anticipated grand opening December 19. The organization’s mission is to provide equitable access to fresh and nutritious food, which can be extremely expensive and even hard to garner for seniors and others with mobility issues. (You might have heard of Capital Roots’ Veggie Mobile, which delivers fresh produce to underserved areas at affordable prices.) The new market, which like the Veggie Mobile is sponsored by CDPHP, offers farm-fresh food from local New York businesses at reasonable prices. The seasonal offerings include fruits, veggies, baked goods, meats, eggs and cheeses.
In With the New
Now that we’ve fully mourned the loss of Saratoga Coffee Traders’ Spa City location, it’s time to welcome our new neighbors: the husband-and-wife team behind The Local Branch, which this week celebrated its grand opening in the spot formerly inhabited by the beloved coffee shop. The store (which also has a location in Skaneateles) has an earthy west coast vibe and sells its own line of handmade apparel and leather goods, plus products from other small made-in-America brands. Think apparel, books and gifts of next-level quality. Welcome to the neighborhood!
Gone But Not Forgotten
The Local Branch may have taken the former home of Saratoga Coffee Traders, but the SLAH team was more than happy to travel to Schenectady for a specialty latte from the shop’s new location on Jay Street in Schenectady, which opened last Friday!
ICYMI
Scenes From The Coat Room’s Tiki Bar Pop-Up
First Look: Lake George’s Winter’s Dream