Vibe Check: Single in Saratoga, Cuffing Season Edition
Plus: Crashing a 62-year Saratoga High School reunion, Rhea's new menu and more.
When it comes to singles nights, it seems that the fifth time’s the charm.
At our first four Single in Saratoga mixers—three at Bailey’s, one at Universal Preservation Hall before an Opera Saratoga performance—attendees were a bit reserved. Kudos to them for being part of the brave contingent of Capital Regionites who actually came out to the first singles nights rather than just talking about coming in their friend group chats (you know who you are). But their bravery always seemed to dissipate at the door. They mingled a bit, talked to their friends, then left. Alone.
That was not the case at Wednesday evening’s Single in Saratoga: Cuffing Season Edition, when Bailey’s owner Matt Beecher and I stood in the corner, giddy at the budding romances unfolding in front of our eyes.
“That guy is vibing at the bar,” Matt said of a man who had a steady stream of ladies coming up to chat with him. “He’s smooth talkin’.” (We considered following him and his lady friend out of the bar at the end of the evening to see what happened, but figured that may be crossing the line.)
When another (rather tipsy) attendee, who’d been spotted kissing his beer pong partner, came looking for a rogue ping pong ball, I asked him if he was falling in love.
“No, I’ve just been playing beer pong with the same girl all night,” he said.
“So you had to make out with her?”
“Yeah.”
Thanks to free Deep Eddy Vodka cocktails, One With Life Tequila samples, informative name tags and a singles bingo game that promoted conversation, other attendees were flat-out flirty, forward and forthcoming.
“Are you guys a couple?” someone asked a pair of beer pong players. When they both said no, he didn’t skip a beat: “Oh, I was going to ask if you were looking for a third.” Later, that same guy was looking for a woman he’d been chatting with earlier to get her number. “I think she’s a lesbian,” I said. “Oh, I don’t care,” he replied. “I’m bi.”
After I explained the rules of the bingo game to one attendee whose name tag read “I’m looking for a girl with a pulse,” he asked what the prize was for getting bingo. (We picked four lucky winners to go home with a bottle of Mionetto wine or prosecco, and one to get a free year subscription to Saratoga Living After Hours—shoutout to Austin!) “Shouldn’t the prize be a spouse?!” he asked. When he ended up being one of the four wine winners, he said, loud enough for the crowd to hear, “So who do I get to take home?” And the saga continued. He later asked if he could open his bubbly to share it, and I told him that I was pretty sure that would be illegal, per New York State’s liquor laws. “More or less illegal than your giving me a spouse?” he quipped.
Even the staff were fair game. Despite having written “wingman” on her name tag, my coworker Terese had to explain to more than one man that she was married. (I eventually made her a second name tag with WINGMAN written in huge letters.) Photographer Zach, meanwhile, was busy showing Terese pictures of his “current roster,” and I had to explain to one woman wingmanning for her friend that I was merely a fly on the wall.
As the night drew to a close, I saw no fewer than three new couples walk out of Bailey’s together. Later in the week, I also caught word of a serendipitous romance that budded not at Single in Saratoga but because of Single in Saratoga. One Saratogian who was supposed to come to singles night ended up bailing, instead opting to re-download Hinge while she waited for her food at Taquero. Her first match? Someone who’d been at Single in Saratoga, hadn’t had any luck, and actually saw her in Taquero as he walked back to his car. We’re happy to report that they already had their first date—and have a second one planned for tomorrow.
—Natalie
Quote of the Week
“Listen, don’t listen to me.”
—Spencer Sherry
Class Act
As 25 newly or soon-to-be-minted octogenarians coordinated posing for a group picture at the Gideon Putnam last Saturday, one of their husbands came over to me. “You never aged!” he said, implying that I, too, was a member of the Saratoga Springs High School class of 1961 that had traveled from far and wide to celebrate my 62nd high school reunion in my hometown. While in fact I was a solid half-century younger than most of the people in the hotel’s private event space (I played the part of a careless twenty-something well in my ripped jeans and flannel), I was welcomed with open arms. Literally—reunion planner Shirley Schultz, whom I’d only ever spoken to on the phone, hugged me when I got there (fashionably late, Gen Z style).
Shirley introduced me to all her classmates, who have, incredibly, stayed in contact through the decades. “As classmates we were very close,” Diana Madaio told me. “We did things for one another. We trusted and depended on each other.” And despite the passing of 62 years, the class of 1961 still remembers high school like it was yesterday.
Jon LeChevet remembers that every time he walked by his Latin teacher’s house, he made sure his Latin book was visible in his hand. He remembers driving to Burnt Hills to shoot rats at the dump, and frequenting Rocco’s, which went on to become the Parting Glass. (Other hotspots of the time included Fusco’s, DeGregory’s, Menges & Curtis and Mother Goldsmith’s.)
Marty Sherman remembers leaving basketball practice at Convention Hall, which was located where the condos overlooking Congress Park are today, and passing only five or so people on his walk home.
Lynne Gordon remembers being one sick day away from not graduating and needing to repeat senior year. “I didn’t love going to school,” she says. “But I managed to graduate.” Despite not loving the academic portion of school, Lynne was secretary of the class and captain of the cheerleading squad.
Shirley remembers being the last class that went to the Lake Ave school eighth through 12th grades, as well as the last class to graduate at Convention Hall.
And Diana remembers going to Kay’s drugstore during lunch for a grilled pastry and a soda, and daring a classmate to lick a pole outside the post office in the winter. (The fire department had to come get him unstuck.) “I walked a mile to school every day,” she continues. “I lived by the hospital, and a train ran through the city every morning at 8:30. If you didn’t cross the train tracks before the train, you’d be late. It was like a game—can we beat the train or not?”
I took off shortly after the class of ’61 sat down for dinner, so I missed the ’50s tunes sung by performer Ken Blatt (the crowd joined in to sing the “bum bum bums” in “Sweet Caroline”). As I got up to go, I asked Shirley one last question: How does everyone communicate? Do you have a big email chain or something?
“No,” someone jumped in. “It’s called the phone.”
—Natalie
Another Anniversary
This one may not be 62 years in the making, but there’s still plenty to celebrate at Henry Street Taproom’s 11th anniversary party, going on this afternoon. Stop by the bar and restaurant for live music by The North & South Dakotas from 2-5pm, the ceremonial lighting of the fireplaces, dollar oysters, one-off merchandise and more.
The Ramen Empire
Hoisin duck carnitas, jerk chicken fried rice and crab cake bao buns—you can find those inventive dishes and more at Rhea, which this week unveiled its new menu. And don’t forget the drinks! I’ve got my eye on the Why Is The Rum Always Gone?, a concoction made with Diplomatico spiced rum, Lockhouse amaro, grapefruit, lime, cinnamon, ginger and aromatic bitters. Click the Instagram link above to see the full menu. And, no, the Hangover noodles didn’t go anywhere.
Say Grace
Saratogians now have one more way to get all glammed up. The long-awaited second location of Grit + Grace Salon is now open on Railroad Place in Saratoga. (The first location is in Latham.) Owner Christine Galeo will be hosting a grand opening party on November 4, complete with swag bags, Champagne, smoothies from BARE Blends, light fare from local chefs and giveaways. In the meantime, if you book a service at the salon’s northern location, tag @gritgracesalon in your Instagram story and leave a Google review, you’ll be entered to win a $100 gift card to Grit + Grace North.
Grand Old Flag
Decades after making her first movie—a film about autumn in Saratoga Springs—in a Saratoga High School communications class, Spa City native Sharon Potoker Liese has made it to the pinnacle of a filmmaker’s career. This past October, she won an Emmy for The Flagmakers, the short documentary she co-directed and co-produced. “It’s about the largest flag manufacturer of American flags and flag poles in the United States,” says Sharon, who now resides in Kansas City but says she still identifies as a Saratogian. “Most of their employees are refugees and immigrants, so it was a perfect environment to explore what it means to be an American today and Americans’ relationship to the flag.” The Flagmakers is currently available to stream on Disney+.
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