Forming an opinion about something is all about 'perspective:' where you've been or where you're coming from is the key determinate. So it is when one looks at the current status of any given location which one chooses to live in -- or is considering such -- in drawing an opinion on how that location rates when compared to others.
The city of Saratoga Springs is no different. Yet one can take note of an interesting divide between two segments when each one voices an opinion on the livability or state-of the Spa City. If one's perspective is that of a transplanted resident, with a lifelong perspective having been formed in the rat hole of New Jersey or Long Island, for example, Saratoga seems like an oasis in the desert, with a small town feel missing from those compared-to environs.
But the general consensus of long time residents -- not to mention those that lived in the city in years past but no longer do so -- is that the town has gone to hell, and is, in fact, starting to resemble those aforementioned rat holes than it is the vision encumbered in their nostalgic memories.
So, where's the reality? As always, it is somewhere in between the two poles.
But it is in this spirit of debate that Nanoburgh hereby launches a new feature, one which serves in each edition a specific example of one good thing about the current day Saratoga and another specific example of one not-so-good thing. This new feature is billed as:
Gone to Hell vs Slice of Heaven
Gone to Hell: Siro's
After
serving for decades as the classy destination restaurant for the
track crowd, an ownership change in the 80's brought with it the very
bright idea of kicking the property's backyard space into an
open-air/post-races hang --- and the party was on. Siro's became
the August "see and be seen scene," with everyone in the
region and beyond having a story to tell relating to a visit there.
There is no doubt that it played a major role in the revitalization
of Saratoga's track scene that kicked-in at that very same time
frame.
Sure,
the overpriced drinks were obscene, but what the hell? We're dealing
here with a clientele that just got done tossing wads of $20's at
horses galloping in a big circle. This is a celebration of the
greatest racing meet in the world, goddamit; and for the dwindling
few that still care about such a fact, that is important shit. Siro's
supplied the perfect spot for just such rejoicing. There's just
something about watching a hammered Wall Street punk slugging down a
$400 bottle of champagne while doing the "woulda-coulda-
shoulda" recap on his wagering follies that warms the heart. You
just can't beat it.
But
another ownership change a couple years back has Siro's on the fast
train to shitsville. Whenever you hear the word "investment
group," one can usually smell trouble; and the whiff here wasn't
pleasant; This new group (mostly out-of-towners, of course) includes
a couple minor league actor types along with a sprinkling of racing
figures and others.
Right
off the bat, this spelled trouble. The "we got great news"
announcement of this changeover brought with it the remark that the
yard's live musical entertainment would be "upgraded" to
include "some of the best tribute acts on the east coast."
The example of a Billy Joel act was even offered. We kid not.
The
first casualty of this dumbing-down the masses philosophy was
Saratoga's very own treasure, the legendary Commander Cody. For
year, the pioneer of 70's western swing meets rock and roll
boogie-woogie had the honor of kicking off the party season with the
opening day performance slot. But the guess here is that no one in
this new "investment group" even heard of our guy, and the
Commander was unceremoniously booted from the lineup. His remarks
from the stage at his recent Parting Glass performance, where he lead
a crowd chant of "Fuck Siro's," tells us that he's not too
happy about it either.
Siro's
truly jumped the shark last August, when former heavyweight champ Joe
Frazier was dragged into the joint and up on the stage to briefly
front his old lounge act, the Knockouts. Just a few months away from
his death, Smokin' Joe proceeded to deliver a few croaking sounds
before being helped back down. For those of you who think that
hearing one more rendition of Mustang Sally will make your head
explode, this one might have done the trick.
Add
to the mix the "you want your picture taken?" and other
assorted hustles that are now a part of the scene, and there should
be little question as to why the real party crowd has headed down the
block to The Horseshoe in recent years.
But
that doesn't concern this new Siro's ownership bunch. Can we say
"expansion" or "extending the brand?" Yep, you
guess it: they just opened up a NYC Siro's franchise, whereby they
will attempt to recreate the Saratoga experience right in the 'hood
of those downstate types for a year-round groove.
It's
kinda like a tribute act in its own right, huh?
Slice of Heaven: The Parting Glass
Rocco's was where you got your pizza in
town. Hell, it was automatic: whenever someone said “let's get a
pizza tonight” anywhere within the Saratoga city line, it was an
order for whoever was closest to the phone to ring up the joint down
on Lake Avenue down near the Fire House and make it happen. But you
had to go get it; I don't think they ever had delivery. That was
fine, because that gave whoever was charged with pickup duty the
chance to catch a quick pop at the bar, where one could always find
the City Hall and Saratogian newspaper peeps at their constituent
service posts on any given night.
1980 was the year Rocco's switched to
the Parting Glass, with a motivated and hard-working family taking
over the site. With an Italian food - meets - Irish beer and music
mix, the Glass was an immediate hit and a welcome addition to the Spa
City's social scene. The two back rooms were opened up and thus was
born both a performance space and a large dart room. The locals and
the tourists bought into the whole thing.
Somehow, this same family has kept it
going all these years later, which is a major accomplishment when
considering the wear and tear that is inflicted on the human psyche
from being in just such a business. The Italian menu has given way to
a more pub grub offering, but it's still good and that's all
fine. It IS a pub, ya know? Likewise, the music has expanded a bit
from the pure-Irish approach. The list of performers that have
graced that stage over the years includes such international big
shots as Alison Krauss and Union Station, Bela Fleck and the
Flecktones, Tommy Makem and many more.
Nanoburgh's sister company 398 Productions has long been a supporter of the Parting Glass, having
placed a number of shows and business affairs in there over the
years. The music section is a gem, with great small-room sound and
lights. The staff and management are top notch. We will surely
continue that support. It is warming to see how the local business
community continues to do the same, with a constant flow of business
mixers coming through the doors.
Long may you run....
