Saratoga
 

I am dragging my girlfriend along with me and will be there for Wed, Thursday, and Friday.

Off of my recent Mountaineer and Wheeling greyhound track 3-day trip, she seems to have low expectations -- and for all she knows -- the area and atmosphere is no different.

What are some general good ideas for entertaining someone female at Saratoga -- in terms of bars, restaurants, events, or whatever?

Obviously my idea of a good time is getting to the track 2 hours early, getting a voucher, standing in front of the video replay machines, and leaving the track to get some cheap grub at a couple of modest places I favored.

Maybe she can find a real man when you two get to town.

Does she like horses? Give her some money and walk the gift shops! Bonus if she has an appreciation of racing and you can get her to the Museum of Racing -- though good luck on not spending hours there!

What about art? Check out the galleries and Congress Park

Stroll around Broadway and Caroline Street and you're bound to find a place to entertain you for drinks. Does she enjoy sports bars or martini/wine bars?

The Travers Festival is going on so you can impress her by slaying the competion in the Stewarts Ice Cream Eating Contest on Wednesday! (also, several restaurants are running a good deal)

http://www.saratoga.org/visitors/travers-festival.asp

My advice - stop at Saratoga, take a hard right, go south 8 hrs and head for Timonium. Same thing - state fair atmosphere, crappy grandstand, lots of maiden races, but Timonium doesn't have a dirt bath waiting for you when sitting in back of the grandstand.

Marcus Hersch thinks that was a low blow.

My advice - stop at Saratoga, take a hard right, go south 8 hrs and head for Timonium. Same thing - state fair atmosphere, crappy grandstand, lots of maiden races, but Timonium doesn't have a dirt bath waiting for you when sitting in back of the grandstand.

Or, jump a flight to DelMar and enjoy the sand, turf and surf.....

Thanks for the link and suggestions!

Ice cream eating contest sounds fun.

I'll go all-out.

I finally got to answer the Saratoga vs. Del Mar question for myself this year. I lived in Saratoga for 3 years, but hadn't been to Del Mar until this summer. On a strictly racing perspective/experience -- I would take Saratoga. It's a vibe that is more about the horses and the racing and that extends down from Union Ave to Broadway. On a destination basis for doing a lot of other things -- Del Mar. San Diego, Del Mar and La Jolla are awesome!

If she enjoys anything outdoors/nature-related, State Park is a great spot. Go early before you start the whole staring at replays habit.

The great thing for you, is that whatever bar/restaurant you take her to, Del Mar will be on tv over the bar! :) It truly is a fun place to just stroll around after the races, I'm sure she'll have fun!

Of anything I try to plan -- I think the highlight for her will be watching me attempt to win an ice cream eating contest (and probably cheating to do so followed by constantly complaining about the ensuing headache)

The skinny kid always wins.


Beware the ice cream headache and godspeed Douglas!!

(please videotape the contest)

Nove', formerly Sergio's in Wilton (15 minutes north of SPA) is a good Italian restaurant. My advice is to make reservations. Place gets crowded.

I'm sure pictures will be taken.

The other thing she loves is stuff I say when I'm at the track.

Her favorite thing was something my father said though. The same week he got cleared of cancer ... he was back betting and in the middle of a big losing streak mostly between baseball, dice, and horses.

At the track, he stretches out his arms like he's being crucified and yells "TAKE ME OFF THIS CROSS!!!, TAKE ME OFF OF THIS CROSS, JESUS!"

Thanks.

Lest you forget, they are from Erie, PA. His idea of art is pornography.

Substitute Mr. T for Vern Troyer with glasses and a goatee.

My wife loved this as a starting point to a long night, pretty cool place to kick things off, especially if you like scotch.

http://www.9mapleave.com/

He's been there. He tried to leave the bartender a $1 tip. I never took him there again.

I had a lot of great memories -- and the look on your face when I left that tip was among them.

of course, nothing beat watching your ceiling cave in.

Those were the days.

My Girlfriend and I just went 2 weeks ago. We stayed downtown at a B&B. Are you going to the track all days? We went 2 of the 4 (1 was dark).

There are plenty of cool shops and restaurants downtown on Broadway. You could easily spend most of a day doing that. Also the Spa state park has 2 pools. We spent Tuesday there, I handicapped the Wed card while she sat in the sun.

At the track I would "splurge" for grandstand seats, that way you have seats. Both times when I went to purchase GS seats, people sold me their extras, one guy had extra clubhouse reserved so we were really close to the finish line. I think GS are 8 bucks each.

As for specific restaurants, as stated before, there are plenty, just depends on what cuisine you like. Go downtown though, its about a mile away.

As for getting to the track and parking, not sure where you are staying, but come south down East street. As you approach track, accross from the training track you can park for $10 and your super close. The first time I went we came in in Union ave and it took awhile. If I would have went north 1 more exit (off 87) to Lake ave, then left on East street, it would have been much easier.

Do not make the terrible mistake of getting all caught up in one of her picks keying a major pick-4 score and decide that you should get married.
That is my other advice, despite still being married 7 years later.

LOL


If you have a little spare time, drive up to Lake George for dinner or something. It's very nice up there also, kind of a romantic atmosphere... good place for a date. Its a short drive from saratoga, maybe 30-40 minutes.

As far as Saratoga entertainment with your girlfriend in mind... it all depends what she likes. You can get pretty wild and crazy at Horseshoe's, Gaffney's and the Tavern. it's a younger crowd. Siro's is of course always fun. now you can actually get a 16 oz stella at siro's for only 5 bucks!

if she likes mexican food... Mexican Connection is a must. but generally, wherever you go you'll have a good time. She might be all excited about horse racing after a trip to the spaaaa!

Perfect -- she loves Mexican.

Not that far Doug.


http://www.sixflags.com/greatEscape/index.aspx

Also Leon's

http://www.leonsmexicanrestaurant.com/

Siro's has Big Shot, a Billy Joel tribute band, playing on Friday night. They're pretty good, if you are into that sort of thing. Drinks there are much more reasonable than they used to be.

Doug,

Are you refering to food? Salvadore doesn't really sound south of the border, not the one I know.

Contrary to any stereotype that Indian Charlie (and no one else) has of Erie ... I am not dating my sister or cousin.

Everytime we go for Mexican here -- I order the same exact thing

Dude, Erie is generally regarded as the armpit of PA.

You've evenly lovingly described it's greatness to me as well.

I've been to leon's dozens of times... it's a good restaurant. But after finding Mexican Connection, I doubt I'll ever go back to Leons. IMO, Mexican Connection is as good as any mexican food i've had, including in Mexico.

Sniper and I went there a week and a half ago... definately get a pitcher of margarita's. we split two pitchers and both had a great meal... walked out of there with full and satisfied belly's.. and drunk minds.

No it's not. There is a big T through Pennsylvania that is basically Alabama. 80% of Pennsylvania is Alabama.

Erie is like Buffalo -- with 50% of the population and none of the good sports teams.

Thanks Lori - so noted. Will make sure to check it out next week.

The mexican restaurant on Broadway is decent too with excellent people watching.

Very astute, that should be on their town masthead.

Do you have to pay her extra for out of town trips?

The people who pay prostitutes for anything other than sex are messed up.

Do you think Elliot Spitzer wanted to take his high priced Ho bags out for a night on the town? No, you shoot your chowder in their grill and split before they have enough time to grab a towell.