Happy Halloween!

I don’t know when Halloween became a holiday for adults, or more specifically for women to wear to trampy costumes, but I finally found an event that combined Zombies, running and charity – the rUNDEAD 5k in Saratoga State Park.  This inaugural trail run race was held last Sunday morning, with proceeds benefiting the Special Olympics.  I had a blast dodging zombies on the beautiful, but challenging trails through the scenic park where I originally fell in love with running on dirt and grass.  So much fun!

The recent rains (even Pre-Sandy) had added a degree of peril to the leaf-strewn trails and I saw a number of runners go down as their feet either found a hidden tree root or trail dip, or simply lost their grip on wet leaves.  Ooohhh!  Scary!  The volunteer zombie army, staked out along the course, was awesome – full of fun as they devoured lives in the form of flags hanging from participant’s belts.  Runners who made it to the finish line with at least a single flag were considered survivors and it was great to watch runners and zombies face off at the finish line.

I ran the race without a belt and flags, but I did bring my camera.  Here’s my SEEN gallery – check out the pics for a safe look at zombies!

 

Florence + the Machine – SPAC, 9/16/12

Last weekend may have been one of the best weekends ever.  The weather was outstanding, the Wine Bar was beautifully busy, Lark Fest was once again a joy, and I got to take my middle son to SPAC to close out the season.  Yep, pretty friggin’ awesome.

When the show was first announced, I decided a Sunday night show in September was undo-able.  Especially during the early weeks of school when my body is still craving the languidness of summer.  Nope, not happening.  But, once I realized that the following day was a holiday (Happy New Year!) and I was offered the opportunity to shoot pictures for a Times Union SEEN gallery, everything changed.  We were there!

I have to admit, I don’t really know a lot of the band’s music, but there are a couple of tunes that almost have an anthemic quality that I really like.  I think Greg Haymes gave a really fair and accurate review of the show here.  It was an absolutely gorgeous night and I think I won some “cool mom” points with my boy – winning!  I had hoped to slip a photo of he and I together into the SEEN gallery, an idea which was nixed by my teen.  Oddly enough, he acquiesced to having a photo taken with three beautiful college coeds…See if you can find that picture.  If you can’t locate it on the TU site, you might want to check inside his middle school locker.

Rock & Run recap

SPAC ~ May 20, 2012

Can I blame my less than stellar time (28:27) on Max London?  No, probably not, but I can thank Capriccio Saratoga for the excellent Pasta Puttanesca carb load we enjoyed Saturday night.  I can also say,  that it was a hot morning and a hillier than expected course.  And a lot of fun!  I wish I had taken more photos but I learned during this event that it is really difficult to participate in and photograph the same event.  There were so many shots I didn’t get, including of the bands scattered along the course, that I left feeling a tad disappointed.  Really though, how down can a girl feel after running on a beautiful day with a couple of great friends?

This was the third year for this event and I’m already looking forward to running it again in 2013.  And besting my time, of course.

Welcome!

image: downrangereport.blogspot.com

I wrote an awesomely bitchy note on my iPad earlier.  My intent was to work it into a blog post but, as I was polishing it, it somehow disappeared.  Poof!  Gone.  It was a verbose piece.  I used lots of big words, inspired perhaps by my stay last night at the Saratoga Hilton, formerly Cheryl Clark’s digs.

The post was prompted by the dining experience I shared last night with two friends, each  of us restaurant server alumni.  We went to Max London’s for dinner.  This was the second time around at ML’s for two of us and, unfortunately, the experience was unerringly similar to our last visit – thoughtfully prepared food, nicely presented at the appropriate temperature contrasted with abysmal service.  I’m talking comically bad.  Epic.

It all began with the complete lack of welcome.  Both times I’ve ventured in to this place, the greeting, aka as the tone setter for the evening, in my opinion, was completely absent.  The folks standing behind the bar – posing perhaps for some unseen camera, didn’t acknowledge us whatsoever.  All right then.

The hostess was busy and eventually got to us, estimating the wait for a table as about 20 minutes.  I set the timer on my phone and we walked and window shopped, returning in 12 minutes only to learn that we had lost our table.  A good hostess estimates a bit better than that, I think, and a great hostess notes the time she spoke with the prospective guest and does her best to honor it.

We elected to wait at the bar the second time around and, miraculously, 3 seats magically appeared.  We sat.  And sat.  And sat.  I would estimate it took a minimum of 5 minutes before we were acknowledged.  Please be aware that there were 4 or 5 people working behind the bar, none moving with any sense of urgency.  Not very impressive.  At last, we ordered 3 simple drinks (2 glasses of Prosecco and a g&t) and waited again, probably closer to 10 minutes this time.  By the time the cocktails were served our table was nearly ready and we were advised by the hostess to settle up at the bar because we would soon be seated.

Now, there’s a nice way to convey to a guest that you’d like them to wrap up their check at the bar, I suppose, but her approach was not it.  The way she spoke, her tone of voice and her choice of words, was abrasive.  Nonetheless we attempted to pay the check as soon as it was presented (maybe 2 minutes after we requested it. Pretty good, right?), but after waiting more than 5 minutes to have our credit card processed, we ultimately took our unpaid check to the table.  And a tip?  Forget it.

Our server was earnestly green, a welcome change from arrogantly jaded, and he did his best to provide us with what we ordered.  And the food, by the way, was terrific.  Everything you’ve ever heard about their polenta fries?  All true – delicious!  When we ordered a second mixed drink and the wait to receive it was pushing the ten minute mark, we knew it was time to abandon any hope of the evening being redeemed.  I texted a friend and we headed to Capriccio Saratoga for the remainder of our dinner.

I would be remiss if I didn’t share the funniest moment of the meal.  When we questioned our server about the missing drink he responded, without batting an eye, that the bar was very busy. The laughter that erupted from my table was the purest moment of joy prompted by our dining experience.  Overall impression: the kitchen deserves a much better front of the house presence – an effective dining room manager is sorely needed, in my professional and personal opinion.  You’re welcome.

Rock n Run

Delmar Dash Day

I haven’t really written too much about running lately…because I’ve been too damn busy running!  I ran a couple of races in March, including the Running of the Green (4 mi., 37:10) and the Ice Breaker Challenge 5k (26:25), while April’s focus was the Delmar Dash (5 mi, 43:50).  You should know that I never imagined being able to bang out a 5k like it’s nothing – when did that happen?  As far as running 5 MILES – well, I certainly didn’t ever think I would be able to do that in my lifetime.  So, you know what that means, right?  Time to start pushing to 10k distances! 

I’ve been running with a couple of girlfriends and we’re exploring the Normanskill, as well as the Pine Bush.  I love running down by the ‘kill and would love to organize a couple of moonlit runs during the warmer months.  I think we could do a sweet 5 or 6 mile loop through the Normanskill area to the back nine at Capital Hills and then across New Scotland to Whitehall and back to the DelSo.  If you’re interested let me know.  We’ll probably have to be semi-stealth about it – shhhh.  As far as running in the Pine Bush – wow!  It is challenging and beautiful and kind of scary (ticks!), but it is also the perfect spot to meet my Niskayuna running friend, Chrissy.  And did I mention that it is stunningly beautiful?

May promises to be fun with the Rock and Run 5K, especially fun, in fact, if you’re hitting Saratoga Saturday afternoon for a quick spin through the park’s trails followed by a nice dinner and perhaps a cocktail.  Or two.  The run doesn’t start until 10:30 Sunday morning so there are definite opportunities for fun!  Why don’t you sign up, too?  Let’s make it a real party.

Getting all Natty Bumppo

Although I was wearing Lycra instead of deer skin, and had no intention of hunting, that was one of the mental images I had yesterday while I was running through the woods on my maiden trail run. Another internal movie clip involved my being in a Black-Eyed Peas video, but I digress…

Have you ever gone trail running?! Or perhaps I should qualify that question by asking if you’ve run on a trail in the woods post-age 10 or 12, not including running away from the police while partying on the horse trails, Laker friends. I’m sure it is a natural progression to move from playing in the woods to hanging out with friends indoors, but I am firmly convinced it is time to take it back outside, people. The complete joy of running on pine needles in the dappled light of Saratoga State Park has made a believer out of me. Give me more, please!

When I got the invite to join a friend for one of these “trail runs,” I was hesitant. I don’t run with a partner or group – I’m more a lone wolf sort of runner. I don’t want to be responsible for maintaining a conversation or pace, choosing instead to let my little iPod shuffle dictate my speed. I’m also kind of a freak about knowing how far I’ve run – 3 miles? 4? 4+? I very much allow distance markers and, in the city, counting traffic lights, to inspire me to continue running when my body is more inclined to slow down. But, the weather forecast and the enjoyment I always get when I hang out with Chrissy, prompted me to agree to give it a try, with the understanding that I didn’t plan to run and talk simultaneously. Ground rules in place, we hit the ground…running

post run endorphin high

Despite our not always knowing where we were going and being completely ignorant of distance covered, I can say with absolute conviction that it was one of my favorite runs ever. Chrissy and I are well suited running buddies and we wordlessly pushed each other to run farther and faster and up and down some really fun hills. There was some conversation and plenty of blissful sighs, as well. It was an amazing way to spend a couple of hours and I’m already looking for other places where I can get off the pavement and into the grass. Any suggestions?

On the Edge of 17 – Still

circa ’88 – note the shirt

Last night I revisited my all too brief girlhood when I took in Stevie Nicks at SPAC.  I must admit, I wouldn’t have even considered going to this show, but the opportunity arose for me to take some photos for the TU SEEN gallery and it was a beautiful late August night, so to Saratoga I went.

A little history here (as if that photo on the left doesn’t tell you more than everything you might want to know), Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours album was the first record that pierced my existence.  I have such strong memories of those songs…definitely a desert island album for me.  My first big rock show in 1981 was Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers at the Brendan Byrne Arena.  Imagine my  excitement when Stevie came out to perform Stop Dragging My Heart Around with Tom and the band!  Note to those who may have caught that same tour but weren’t fortunate enough to see Stevie: Sorry, it was the only time NJ was cooler than NY.  Ever.

During my teens when Stevie Nicks had a couple of big solo records, the girls and I were avid fans and, as the photo attests, I’ve got had the t-shirt to prove it.  We wore out a couple of cassette copies of Bella Donna and The Wild Heart doing laps around town in Mary Lynn’s Camaro, believe me.  I’ll never know if it was the husky voice, the cascading blond hair or the sensitive, yet strong lyrics, but I was hooked.  

Last night’s show was simply a blast!  Walking around SPAC with a camera is really fun and the folks I asked to pose were totally into it – thank you all for being so gracious.  And thank you, Sally, for being such an excellent beer holder, I mean assistant. The crowd was small with only amphitheater tickets available in an attempt to keep things intimate.  The opening act, Michael Grimm, was good although we honestly didn’t pay much attention because I was trying to catch some photos before the main event.  And Stevie?  Well, she talked a lot and she changed her clothes a few times, something I’m no longer accustomed to.  Guess it’s been awhile since I saw a female performer live.  But, her voice?  It was money!  She sounded great – perhaps not hitting every high note as she may have in days gone past, but that beautiful husky quality is still there and she sang with a lot of heart.  Landslide and Dreams were definite highlights for me, and the crowd in general, judging from the sing along I witnessed.  Ok, the sing along I may have participated in.  And, while I have no interest in being 17 again, it is nice to know that my senior high quote, courtesy of Stevie, remains timelessly accurate:  “I have my own life and I am stronger than you know.”