The Last Station will be showing at the Film Forum at the Saratoga Arts Center on Broadway on Thursday, March 25^th and Friday, March 26 at 8PM and on Sunday, March 28^th at 3PM.

To complement the film we will have on display a lively collection of poster art from Russia and serve Russian tea and samples of traditional Tula cakes from Tolstoy’s home city of Tula, Russia. 

We would like to reserve your ticket soon - the film is sure to be a sell out!!!

For a contribution of $20 to the Saratoga-Chekhov Sister City program, you will receive one gift ticket for the show. Proceeds from the event will help to support our 10^th Anniversary schedule of public programs. During this decade, over 70 Russia visitors have been guests in our community, our homes and schools; and each September Saratogians are invited to a colorful “City Day Festival” in Chekhov.

To reserve your tickets, please call Tom Fox, Event Chair, at 584-8218

Holiday Inn Saratoga Springs: 

The Holiday Inn is a full service hotel located in the historic downtown district of Saratoga Springs adjoining Congress Park. Less than 1 mile from Skidmore, the hotel features Bookmaker’s Restaurant and Lounge, indoor and outdoor heated pools, 24 hour fitness room and business service center along with FREE internet and parking. Complimentary shuttle service is available to area businesses and attractions and our Priority Club frequency program offers benefits including restaurant discounts, late checkouts, free local calls, and points for travel and merchandise that never expire.

Visit www.spa-hi.com for more information.

Longfellows Hotel:

Owned and operated by a Skidmore Alumni, Longfellows has been a longstanding supporter of Skidmore College and the student body.  The hotel is conveniently located off exit 14, neighboring Saratoga National Gold Course, minutes away from the Saratoga Gaming and raceway, 1.5 miles from the Saratoga Thoroughbred race course, and minutes to all Downtown Saratoga has to offer. Let their dedicated staff offer incredible one on one service to any type of guest needs.

The Carriage House Inn:

The Carriage House Inn is a charming Saratoga lodging facility with (14) fourteen unique non-smoking rooms. The rooms range from comfortable and economical to elegant and luxurious. The Inn’s central location allows you to walk to the entire downtown restaurant and shopping district. Located about 1 1/2 miles down Broadway from the main Skidmore entrance.

Residence Inn by Marriott

Feel at home while you’re away from home at the Residence Inn by Marriott. The Residence Inn is conveniently located close to Skidmore College, Saratoga Race Track, Saratoga Center for the Performing Arts (SPAC), Saratoga Springs City Center, and the wonderful downtown dining, shopping, and nightlife. All of their luxuriously appointed suites feature living and sleeping areas, complimentary high speed internet, fully equipped kitchens with appliances including full refrigerators, conventional ranges with ovens, or cook tops & microwaves and cooking utensils. Amenities include flat-screen televisions & in-room movies. Also come take advantage of their indoor heated pool, whirlpool, fitness room, & sports court.  Reduced rates apply for stays over 4, 11, and 29 nights.  

Courtyard by Marriott

Looking for a luxury Saratoga hotel? The Courtyard by Marriott Hotel is conveniently located in historic downtown Saratoga Springs, less than a mile from Skidmore, and less than 2 miles from the Saratoga Racetrack. We're within walking distance to museums, restaurants, retail shops and the City Center. The Award Winning Saratoga Springs Hotel features 146 luxuriously appointed guest rooms, including luxury suites, 14 allergy-friendly PURE guest rooms, flexible meeting space, a restaurant serving breakfast and lunch, room service offered by the Olde Bryan Inn, an upscale lounge, and business library. Complimentary high speed Internet access in all rooms.

Saratoga Hotel Highlights: Marriott Rewards category: 2007 Candidate for Hotel of the year Recipients of the Diamond Circle Award by Marriott
2006 Platinum Award for Guest Satisfaction
AAA Diamonds: 3

Hilton Garden Inn

The Hilton Garden Inn is convenient walking distance to historic downtown, Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), Saratoga Spa State Park, Hall of Springs, Canfield Casino, Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Gaming and Raceway and the Dance Museum. Its luxurious, spacious rooms offer complimentary in room high speed wireless, equipped refrigerator, microwave, and much more. Also enjoy their indoor pool and whirlpool, exercise facility, and Great American Grill serving up a daily fully hot breakfast.

Wherever  you decide to stay, please help us to further enrich our site by posting a review here on TheSaratogaLife.com. Enjoy your time here in Saratoga Springs!

The show offers a nice representation of Hudson School painters, giant modern photos of shipyards and such, old postcards and delftware with Hudson River imagery, and a couple of multimedia exhibits including a hypnotic film where you sit in a dark room and become a passenger on a boat, watching the shoreline pass in by the night. Be sure to go into the elevator, close the door, and listen to the "sound map" of water sounds recorded at a series of Hudson River.

If you miss this exhibition, you’ll just have to go to the river itself. One of the best things about living in Saratoga is being able to take Amtrak to/from Penn Station and glide along the Hudson for mile after mile as it changes from rural to suburban to the big city. The river is beautiful and relaxing at any time of year. And it’s easy (and not expensive) to take the train down early, enjoy a full day in the city, then come back in the evening.

For best effect, I like to take the train down at sunrise and the train back an hour or so before sunset and leave from Albany since the trains run much more frequently. Keep in mind that the tracks are on the east side of the river which means you’ll want to sit on the right side of the car going down, the left side coming back up. Make a mistake in your initial seating and you’ll likely find the window seats filled up.  Keep an eye out for the decaying Bannerman Castle, on an offshore island a few miles south of Poughkeepsie. It really is falling down, I recently learned, so catch it while you can.

Saratoga Premieres of Architecture of Dance Works by Wheeldon and Ratmansky

Season Also Includes Red Angels by Ulysses Dove, Balanchine’s The Steadfast Tin Soldier and Classic Works by Jerome Robbins and Peter Martins

 
The 2010 Season of New York City Ballet at Saratoga Performing Arts Center presented by HSBC Bank USA N.A., July 6 – 17, will feature 16 stunning ballets including three opening week performances of Balanchine’s full-length, story ballet A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM.  The classic work, based on Shakespeare’s famous play, features elaborate sets and costumes and a cast of over 100 dancers including 27 children.
 
Other season highlights include the July 10 Ballet Gala featuring Saratoga premieres of new works by Alexei Ratmansky and Christopher Wheeldon, commissioned as part of the Ballet’s highly anticipated ARCHITECTURE OF DANCE – NEW CHOREOGRAPHY AND MUSIC FESTIVAL.  Ratmansky’s ballet is set to Édouard Lalo’s Namouna; Wheeldon’s to Argentine composer Alberto Ginastera’s Estancia. Wheeldon’s work will also feature scenic design by internationally acclaimed architect Santiago Calatrava, best known for his dazzling public projects such as bridges, stadiums and train stations in cities around the world, and currently designing a new transit hub at the World Trade Center site in lower Manhattan.
 
The summer program also features THE STEADFAST TIN SOLDIER, a beloved Balanchine work based on a Hans Christian Anderson fairy tale that was commissioned and premiered at SPAC in 1975; STRAVINSKY VIOLIN CONCERTO, which Balanchine created as part of the legendary Stravinsky Festival and which was last performed at SPAC in 2004; several popular works by Jerome Robbins including N.Y. EXPORT: OPUS JAZZ and THE CONCERT; and RED ANGELS, a visually dramatic ballet choreographed by Ulysses Dove that was last performed at SPAC in 1998.
 
“In 2010, New York City Ballet will present for Saratoga audiences, a magnificent program that showcases the extraordinary gifts of its dancers and the exceptional breadth of its repertory. We are particularly excited to present Balanchine’s classic and enchanting A Midsummer Night’s Dream. There is no better stage for this woodland fairy tale than SPAC itself, which has the forest, fireflies and moonlight to make this lyrical work come to life,” said Marcia J. White, SPAC’s President & Executive Director.
 
“Another storytelling gem that will be part of the season is The Steadfast Tin Soldier, which has a special place in our history as a work SPAC commissioned and premiered on its stage in 1975,” she added.
 
“Just as remarkable as its mastery of classic works is New York City Ballet’s unparalleled commitment to new choreography, underscored by its innovative Architecture of Dance festival. Gala audiences will be treated to the Saratoga premieres of new ballets by Alexei Ratmansky and Christopher Wheeldon – two of the most gifted choreographers in the world today,” said White.
 
“The remainder of the repertoire is tremendously rich and diverse, showcasing the full range of ballet, from classical to neoclassical to contemporary. It’s truly a program that will remind audiences of why New York City Ballet is the foremost dance company in the world,” she said.
 
Other works on the 2010 program that have not been performed for Saratoga audiences in several years include: LA SOURCE which combines thrilling ensemble work with virtuoso pas de deux; WALPURGISNACHT BALLET which pairs Balanchine’s elegant choreography with a passionate score by Gounod; Jerome Robbins’ spirited FANCY FREE featuring Leonard Bernstein’s score; and Balanchine’s WHO CARES? set to George Gershwin’s classic score.   
 
The schedule will also include Peter Martins’ BARBER VIOLIN CONCERTO which explores the contrast between classical ballet and modern dance, and Christopher Wheeldon’s AFTER THE RAIN.
 
Also announced were several pre-performance events that will occur during the Ballet’s season. The pre-events are free and open to all ticketholders for that evening’s ballet performance. Events include:
 
§         American Girl Night, July 14 – One of the biggest events of the season, American Girl Night sponsored by Emma Willard School features tea parties, crafts and giveaways. Lawn admission for children 12 and under is $5 this evening to benefit SPAC’s educational program, Classical Kids.
 
§         Children’s Workshops on the Lawn, July 9 and 16 – These fun, educational programs presented by NYCB dancers, musicians and teachers are designed to introduce children to the joys of dance and foster greater understanding of the works they will see on stage. Workshops take place on the apron in front of the Amphitheatre.
 
§         Friday Family Nights, July 9 and 16 – Children and families can enjoy free Stewart’s ice cream, strolling magicians, face painting and more before Friday evening performances.
 
§         Girls Night Out, July 13 – A very special event featuring fine wine and chocolate tastings, spa treatments and products, massages, hair and skin care, boutique shopping and entertainment.
 
§         Thursday Date Nights, July 8 and 15 – Wine tastings, entertainment and other pre-performance attractions for couples.
 
“One of our highest priorities is to introduce new audiences to the sheer beauty and excitement of New York City Ballet. The addition of the Children’s Workshops on the Lawn, American Girl Night, Family Night and other pre-performance events have been a tremendous hit among families who’ve discovered that these evenings offer wonderful quality time together, as well as the opportunity to give children the unforgettable experience of attending a live classical performance,” White concluded.
 
Ticket prices for SPAC’s New York City Ballet performances start at $18 for lawn seats; inside seating ranges from $26 - $72.50. The “Kids Free on the Lawn” promotion entitles children 12 and under to free lawn admission for classical performances (excluding the Gala and American Girl Night); middle school, high school and college student lawn admission is $10. Order forms for tickets to New York City Ballet’s SPAC season are available on SPAC’s website at www.spac.org or by contacting SPAC at 518.584.9330.
 
 
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Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), founded in 1966, is the northeast’s premier performing arts center. Located within the historic Saratoga Spa State Park, SPAC’s 25,000 capacity venue becomes a showcase each summer for the world-class programming of its resident companies, New York City Ballet and The Philadelphia Orchestra. SPAC also presents the Freihofer’s Saratoga Jazz Festival, the Saratoga Chamber Music Festival, Lake George Opera, the Extended Season and rock and pop concerts by Live Nation.  Each season approximately 350,000 guests visit SPAC to attend classical or contemporary performances.
 
 
 
 
 
2010 NEW YORK CITY BALLET SPAC SEASON, JULY 6 – 17
 
 
July 6 – 8:00 p.m.
ALL AMERICAN
 
Fancy Free (Bernstein/Robbins)
Red Angels (Einhorn/Dove)
Barber Violin Concerto (Barber/Martins)
Who Cares? (Gershwin orch. by Kay/Balanchine)
 
July 7 – 8:00 p.m.
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
 
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
(Mendelssohn/Balanchine)
 
 
July 8 (Matinee) – 2:00 p.m.
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
 
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
(Mendelssohn/Balanchine)
 
July 8 – 8:00 p.m.
La Source (Delibes/Balanchine)
Fancy Free (Bernstein/Robbins)
Who Cares? (Gershwin orch. by      Kay/Balanchine)
 
July 9 – 8:00 p.m.
MIXED REP
Divertimento No. 15 (Mozart/Balanchine)
Red Angels (Einhorn/Dove)
Barber Violin Concerto (Barber/Martins)
Fancy Free (Bernstein/Robbins)
 
 
July 10 (Matinee) – 2:00 p.m.
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
 
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
(Mendelssohn/Balanchine)
 
July 10 – 8:00 p.m.
BALLET GALA – SARATOGA PREMIERES
New Ratmansky Ballet (Lalo/Ratmansky)
New Wheeldon Ballet (Ginastera/Wheeldon)
 
Fireworks after the performance
 
July 13 – 8:00 p.m.
ALL ROBBINS
N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz (Prince/Robbins)
In the Night (Chopin/Robbins)
The Concert (Chopin/Robbins)
 
July 14 – 8:00 p.m.
EMMA WILLARD AMERICAN GIRL NIGHT
The Steadfast Tin Soldier (Bizet/Balanchine)
Walpurgisnacht Ballet (Gounod/Balanchine)
New Ratmansky Ballet (Lalo/Ratmansky)
 
July 15 (Matinee) – 2:00 p.m.
Divertimento No. 15 (Mozart/Balanchine)
Red Angels (Einhorn/Dove)
Barber Violin Concerto (Barber/Martins)
New Wheeldon Ballet (Ginastera/Wheeldon)
 
 
 
July 15 – 8:00 p.m.
La Source (Delibes/Balanchine)
After the Rain (Pärt/Wheeldon)
Stravinsky Violin Concerto (Stravinsky/Balanchine)
 
July 16 – 8:00 p.m.
ALL ROBBINS
N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz (Prince/Robbins)
In the Night (Chopin/Robbins)
The Concert (Chopin/Robbins)
 
July 17 (Matinee) – 2:00 p.m.
The Steadfast Tin Soldier (Bizet/Balanchine)
Walpurgisnacht Ballet (Gounod/Balanchine)
After the Rain (Pärt/Wheeldon)
Stravinsky Violin Concerto (Stravinsky/Balanchine)
July 17 – 8:00 p.m.
ALL BALANCHINE
Walpurgisnacht Ballet (Gounod/Balanchine)
Stravinsky Violin Concerto (Stravinsky/Balanchine)
Divertimento No. 15 (Mozart/Balanchine)

The new branch will be approximately 2,600 square feet and will have two drive-up lanes, a drive-up ATM and safe deposit boxes along with teller and customer services areas.  The office will offer the full array of financial services including retail and commercial banking as well as trust and investment  services.  The bank also provides personal and business insurance through its affiliate, Adirondack Trust Insurance. 

Commenting on the new location, Kathie Duncan President of the North Country Region, “As a locally owned and managed bank we are excited to begin construction of our new branch.  We look forward to bringing our brand of banking to Queensbury and to supporting the businesses and non-profit organizations throughout the community.  This new branch will help strengthen our presence in the North County Region and will complement the services we offer at our existing branch located at 24 Maple St. in the City of Glens Falls.  This expansion is evidence of our continued commitment to, and confidence in, this region.”

The Queensbury Branch will be managed by Patricia Hudson, Assistant Treasurer at The Adirondack Trust Company who has extensive banking experience in the Glens Falls area; three or four additional staff will be hired.  The new facility will include offices for Mrs. Duncan as well as Michael Murray, Assistant Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer of The Adirondack Trust Company.

Founded in 1901 in Saratoga Springs, The Adirondack Trust Company is an independent, employee and locally owned and operated, community bank offering a wide variety of business and personal services.  The bank has $870 million in assets and ten branches. The Adirondack Trust Company is rated by Bauer Financial as a 5-Star bank for the period ending December 31, 2009. The bank offers trust, insurance and investment services and originates real estate mortgages, both residential and commercial, and commercial business loans throughout its market area.  The bank's website is www.adirondacktrust.com

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The Adirondack Trust Company

473 Broadway

Saratoga Springs, NY  12866

(518) 584-5844

Photo Caption (left to right): Jack Hopkins, Site Superintendent, Bonacio Construction, Michael Murray Adirondack Trust, Patricia Hudson, Adirondack Trust, Brain Zdgiebloski, Project  Manager, Bonacio Construction, Kathie Duncan, Adirondack Trust.