Carrie Rowlands Johnson<\/em>
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\nSARATOGA SPRINGS – The soft pads of my fingertips prickle, brushing against rough canvas as I pull back a flap of the fabric. Simultaneously, my other hand touches on a warm, fuzzy pillow. I toss it back onto the air mattress, the small red square coordinating with the cozy plaid comforter it lands on, seemingly quite content to be at rest. <\/p>\nI stretch one bare leg out, then the other, my feet clad in blue chunky heels. <\/p>\n
As I climb out of the tent, my mouth immediately waters in sync with my brain. <\/p>\n
I am gazing across picnic tables expertly decorated with bright pink lobster tails and shrimp, green salads, juicy roast beef and seasoned pulled pork. It is the perfect summer picnic, Adirondack style; the glamping tent prop I\u2019m exiting an intricate part of the elaborate decor.
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\nMy saratoga.com blogging partners greet me with wide smiles bursting with perfect white teeth. I wrap my arms around a carved bear, curious on its girth. Fashionable Lisa Champagne joins in for another photo opp. <\/p>\n
We stroll over to a vintage, restored green truck, five metal letters catching our attention. <\/p>\n
P-I-Z-Z-A. <\/p>\n
The side of the vehicle has been carefully sliced off, a brick pizza oven installed where a window once held residence. Its owners and partners in Classic Crust Mobile Catering are Julie and Greg Carioto. It warms my heart to catch up with old friends.
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\nJulie and Greg drove the truck up the Northway and parked it on the Polo Meadow grounds at the Saratoga Casino Hotel to help add to the vibe, generously donating a catering package to the silent auction.<\/p>\n
As I absorb the ambience (in theme with an Adirondack Summer); sample the foods (complete with hand-fired S\u2019mores); sip my champagne and catch up with friends new and old, I am struck by the uniqueness of this, the Saratoga Hospital gala. My saratoga.com partners and I are fortunate enough to attend many events such as these throughout the summer. My challenge oftentimes is finding a fresh angle.
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\nMy goals are always: 1) shower attention on well-deserved charities and 2) share details with readers, helping you decide which galas to add to your list for next summer. My breadth of reporting knowledge, gleaned over 25 years (not to reveal my age, but ok, I may have started writing at the age of ten) of writing for television, print and digital mediums, does not include anything within the financial realm. I won\u2019t pretend to possess an expert opinion on how to make it work for your budget. <\/p>\n
My experience includes: thousands of interviews with people of all walks of life; thousands of events, things to do with and without kids, places to eat, etc; stories of heartache; stories of joy. From those experiences, I share this: add at least one of these events to your list and find a way to incorporate it into your budget. These are not exclusive, Saratoga-who\u2019s-who-only events. Most are not even invite only. The causes are vital and the experience worthwhile.<\/p>\n
This is absolutely one of my favorite galas. The committee doesn\u2019t disappoint, traditionally selecting a unique theme and decking the halls until it the grounds are \u201con fleek.\u201d You\u2019ll find amazing energy vibrating between the guests. I\u2019m not certain why that strikes me here, perhaps because many are doctors, nurses, chiropractors, pharmacists, surgeons, radiology technicians. They dedicate their lives to helping others. Plus, as my paid job places me in the role of pharmaceutical representative, many are my friends. The monies raised benefit Saratoga Hospital\u2019s Saratoga Community Center (the only facility in the Capital Region, by the way, to provide high quality, routine healthcare to individuals regardless of their inability to pay).<\/p>\n
We are more than halfway through the gala season. To date, favorites have been the Saratoga Hospital Gala, the Ballet Gala and Siro\u2019s Cup. My advice is this: attend at least one. Don\u2019t let life pass you by without getting out there, without getting involved. Whether you are on the gala committee (kudos to the group from the Saratoga Hospital gala, outstanding job!), or a ticket holder\u2014 you matter. Your money matters. Your energy matters. And let\u2019s just be honest and tell it like it is, dolled up faces and pretty dresses matter. Furthermore, I assure you, it\u2019s a fabulous time.<\/p>\n
I bite into a S\u2019More as I wave goodbye to new friends. Turns out I\u2019m not glamping tonight. I re-join my saratoga.com crew as Joe Putrock (wouldn\u2019t be an event without him) snaps one last photo. Memories: must add that to my list. Turns out I already have \u201ctime with friends\u201d covered.
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\nPhoto Interlude One<\/em><\/strong>
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\nGood Old-Fashioned Fashion Fun!<\/em><\/strong>
\nLisa Champagne<\/em>
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\nSARATOGA SPRINGS – Of all Saratoga\u2019s BIG summer parties this year, I vote Saratoga hospital\u2019s 35th Annual Summer Gala #1 for good old-fashioned fashion fun! The Polo Meadow at Saratoga Casino was the venue and despite the fact this particular event is one of the Capital Region\u2019s largest charitable fundraisers– raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for the hospital\u2019s Saratoga Community Health Center–the formal dress and stuffiness you might expect was eliminated when organizers chose an \u201cAdirondack Summer\u201d themed party. Thank you committee members! This was a breath of fresh air and nice change of pace for those of us who have a \u201cbear\u201d of a time \ud83d\ude09 deciding what to wear!<\/p>\nSpeaking of bears, nothing screams \u201cWelcome to the party\u201d quite like the 7 foot black one we bumped into as Carrie and I made our way inside! Okay\u2026it wasn\u2019t a REAL bear but pretty scary nonetheless, and one of the many Adirondack themed props that made for a great photo op!
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\nInside the party tents, the d\u00e9cor was charming–all that you would imagine an Adirondack theme to be: Leafy tall trees and birch wood strategically placed heightened the woodsy feel. Outside, the 1940s style food truck display from Classic Crust Mobile Catering added to the casual yet classic ambience! The cuisine however, was anything but casual and if you had the opportunity to taste test you\u2019d have been absolutely delighted. One taste of that jumbo shrimp and you were hooked!
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\nNeed I go into detail about the dessert bar? Okay, if you insist\u2026 dessert bar was a total hit! Tasty cakes, chocolate mousse, rock candies, and of course s\u2019mores were just a few guest favorites.
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\nMoving to my favorite part of the evening\u2026 Who wore what! Casual cocktail was the attire for this themed party and most everyone in attendance embraced it! Once again the gentlemen got it right! My favorite was Lance Meeson who donned a brightly colored floral print blazer from a store you would least expect (see below) Check out the wonderfully dressed party-goers and note our favorites!
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