Porch Party Kicks off Preservation Foundation’s Historic Homes Tour Weekend
SARATOGA SPRINGS – We’ve all heard this one before:
“Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose” – Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr
Ol’ Jean-Baptiste certainly got a lot of mileage out of that epigram. And while it certainly stands the test of time, allow me to offer a corollary that appears to be relevant:
“Le plus de choses ne changent pas; mieux nous ressentons les choses.”
Which, loosely translated into English, means: The more things DON’T change; the better we feel about things.
Certainly this appeared to be the case amongst the festive gathering of a few hundred folks (from a remarkably broad age spectrum) who came to support the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation (SSPF), and celebrate the 150th birthday of one of our town’s East Side architectural treasures: 150 Phila Street. The Thursday evening, May 10th event served as an elegant and rousing kickoff to the traditional Mothers Day weekend Historic Homes Tour, which takes place today – Saturday, May 12 – from 10 am – 4 pm – and has 150 Phila Street as one of the stops on the tour, which this year focuses on the East Side of Saratoga Springs.
Other stops on today’s tour include:
144 Spring Street
29 Fifth Avenue
31 Fifth Avenue
38 Circular Street
115 Circular Street
A “Rehabilitation-In-Progress” at 34 Circular Street
Caffé Lena – 47 Phila Street
And a condo at 55 Phila Street, “The Spencer Condominiums”
If you wish to join the tour, you may certainly do so by purchasing a ticket at SSPF’s 112 Spring Street location, from 9:30 am- 3 pm today. Tickets are $35 for SSPF members / $45 for non-members. The owners of these properties have graciously opened their homes today,
And don’t tell me that you haven’t walked by a few of them and thought: “I wonder what’s inside?”
Well, now’s your chance. Enjoy this gallery, and then lace up your most comfy walking shoes – you’ve got exploring to do!
SSPF’s PORCH PARTY GALLERY
Gallery Interlude:
I want to acknowledge our hosts: Theresa and John Behrendt. The are the epitome of what a host at this type of event should be. Welcoming, gracious – and Theresa was nothing less than a rockstar in her greeting. The Preservation Foundation showcased a star power couple here for their cause – and I came away from listening to them both feeling I had learned something about both gentility and enthusiasm.
OK – back to the gallery:
Arthur Gonick
May 12, 2018
