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.