The Saratoga Casino Hotel Foundation, Inc. recently awarded over $28,000 to 24 different nonprofit organizations. The ceremony took place in Fortunes Restaurant at Saratoga Casino Hotel.
The Foundation distributes these grants annually to recognize and support organizations that benefit residents of Saratoga County. Organizations whose initiatives that support youth, senior citizens, recreation, arts and community benefit are given priority.
Since its inception in 2004, the foundation has awarded over $425,000 to more than 175 nonprofit groups in Saratoga County.

Saratoga Casino Hotel opened a new sports bar on Nov. 1, featuring two tiers of 360-degree multimedia screens to view sporting events.
The new bar also has a large variety of craft beers and an a la carte menu offering high-end pub fare.
The new bar, named the Mane Bar, is located just inside the main entrance to the casino.
It features 20 taps highlighting several local craft beers and a gastropub menu with items such as lobster sliders, wagyu steak sandwiches and truffle parmesan Saratoga chips.
The bar is illuminated with a high-tech, dynamic lighting system which allows the casino to change the overall ambiance of the bar by adjusting the lighting options.

Construction is underway on a $9.5 million renovation project at Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Spa State Park.
Officials said the work will improve visitor services and add a four-season event space.
The project is supported by $8 million in private funding from Live Nation and Saratoga Performing Arts Center. New York state is providing up to $1.5 million in grants from Empire State Development and State Parks, awarded through the governor’s Regional Economic Development Council initiative.
As part of this project, SPAC will undergo a complete replacement and upgrade of the existing concessions and restroom facilities. Two new concessions buildings will replace the existing tent structures, which have lacked proper security, infrastructure and storage space, officials said.

Esperanto, a fast-casual restaurant that has been a Caroline Street institution for nearly 25 years, officially opened its new commercial bakery at 357 Milton Ave. in Ballston Spa in October. The 2,700-square-foot facility will enable Esperanto to increase production of its signature product, the Oboy. Originally known as the Doughboys, it is a handheld...

The area’s premiere new home tour, the 2019 Saratoga Showcase of Homes, announced the three “People’s Choice” award winners as voted on by the public who visited these homes over three weekends in September.
Winners were McPadden Builders in the Classic Home category; Kodiak Construction in the Executive Home category; and Bella Home Builders in the Luxury Home category.
The McPadden Builders home was at the Craw Farm development in Wilton. The Kodiak Construction’s entry was at 50 Warren St. in Saratoga Springs. The Bella Home Builders showcase house was at the Park Grove development in Saratoga Springs.

by Andrea Palmer
The second installment of the “Lucky’s Adventures” children’s book series has been released from author Elizabeth Macy.
“Lucky’s Adventure in Winter Wonderland” follows Lucky and 13 of her dog friends as they enjoy winter fun, recognize the good fortune of their lives and decide to give back to a local animal rescue shelter.
“The inspiration from the first book, ‘Lucky’s Adventure in Saratoga’, was based on a true story. Lucky was lost in Saratoga Springs for four days,” said Macy. “The community was so supportive. It was all over Facebook and social media, and the community really helped find her. It was a wonderful story that I wanted to share about my hometown.”

It appears the 2020 racing season will resemble last year, with 40 days of racing starting earlier in July than years past, and marking Mondays and Tuesday as the “dark days”: with no racing.
It is proposed the season start on Thursday, July 16.