The Chowderfest Effect

How we tried (and failed) to control the plot at Saratoga's biggest event of the winter.

I always go into Chowderfest with the best intentions. At last Thursday’s Everyone Hot Pot event at SPAC, I was telling people my plan: Take the CDTA to Saratoga rather than have to deal with parking, hit the chowders on the outskirts—specifically South Broadway and Beekman Street—and then head downtown for more chowder and to meet up with friends.

Pete and me, windburned at the bus stop in Ballston Spa; only one other bus-rider was headed to Chowderfest

On the morning of, after a trip to the Y (which was completely packed with Saratogians getting in a pre-chowder workout), Pete and I left our house for the bus stop with hand warmers packed into our pockets. After narrowly avoiding being sprayed by a passing snowplow and getting windburn in the five minutes we were outside, our plans started to go awry.