Saratoga Goes to Florida
Spa City snowbirds rejoiced at the return of Saratoga Day, a celebration of the 518 in Boca Raton. PLUS: PDT Maison opens for biz, the Mystery Machine comes to town, and more.
If you weren’t physically in Saratoga on Thursday evening, the next best place to be was Josephine’s Italian Restaurant in Boca Raton, FL. That’s because, despite South Florida being 1,400 miles away, enough Saratoga snowbirds were in town to throw a bona fide Spa City soirée.
Dubbed “Saratoga Day” the get-together was the revival of a bygone annual event originally organized by locals who summered in Florida. About a decade ago, performer and Panza’s owner Michael Panza was asked to sing at a restaurant while he was down in Florida, and invited some friends he knew from back home. Some 30 people from the Saratoga area showed up, and the following year he co-opted the name Saratoga Day for his get-together. Over the next few years, the event grew in size to a couple hundred people and multiple nights in different Florida cities. “We’d get people from Saratoga and the Capital Region that were snowbirds, or who were down there on vacation,” Michael says. “And some people just came down because it was such good hanging. It brought everybody together.”
While Covid put a pause on the new iteration of Saratoga Day, it was brought back with a bang this week. Michael teamed up with Florida-based pianist and singer Giovanni Fazio, who used to perform at Siro’s and The Lodge (back when it was a restaurant) in Saratoga, for a sold-out, one-night-only event at Josephine’s. The pair played Sinatra classics as well as classic pop from the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, and beyond, while close to 200 guests dined, drank, and danced.
“They were all local people that come to Panza’s and other Saratoga restaurants and the racetrack,” Michael says. “It was hilarious. We were like, ‘How many people are from the 518?’ and everybody but two tables cheered. It’s pretty crazy that all these people came together.”
In attendance? A Who’s Who of Saratoga’s social scene, including Jim LaVigne and Mary Gavin, Greg and Suzanne Grande, Rod and Amy Sutton, Erin Ennis, Brenda Lee, Dan Cimino, and Jack Anderson. There was even a couple that lives in Florida and comes up to Saratoga regularly that saw a flyer for the event and showed up. “They saw the word ‘Saratoga’ and they came,” says Michael, who advertised Saratoga Day on his personal Facebook account.
The biggest takeaway from the night, according to Michael, is that Saratoga Day needs to be bigger and better next year. Planning a trip down to Florida next winter? Well, stay tuned.
—Natalie
Lunch Is Served
If you didn’t have lunch plans for today, you do now: PDT Maison, the new brunch/lunch restaurant by PDT Catering owner Adam Foti, is now open Wednesday-Monday from 10am-3pm in the former Farmers Hardware on Maple Ave. The large menu has it all—salads and bowls, sandwiches, soups, sweets, sides, and a special brunch section with arancini, strawberry lemon crepes, popovers, and quiche.
Van Go
On Thursday morning, the Mystery Gang, or at least a mystery man or woman, was spotted piloting a pretty darn close replica of The Mystery Machine from Scooby Doo through downtown Saratoga. Another, less mysterious van that you may see on the streets? Whitman Brewing’s new rig, Stu.
Bank on It
Wondering what Adirondack Trust Company’s 1916 Beaux-Arts Saratoga headquarters would look like if its white marble was, say, pink? Color the historic bank any way you’d like when you pick up one of these limited edition Adirondack Trust coloring books, filled with scenes from around the property drawn by local artist Lauren Childs Magina.
Belmont Begins
We’re less than three months out from the second annual Belatoga, and local artist Greg Montgomery is ready: His 2025 commemorative poster is now available for preorder at Impressions of Saratoga. If you want one, don’t wait: Last year, they sold out. To preorder from Impressions, call, stop by the store, or order online.
The Big Ten
Last night, dozens gathered at Samantha Nass Floral Design’s Lawrence Street shop to celebrate the local florist’s 10th year in business. While guests sipped on wine and snacked on small bites by PDT Catering, they chatted about the glories of the Saratoga YMCA’s morning TRX class, the important work of the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, and, of course, the shop’s iconic wooden ducks.
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