Every once in a while we need to go on a business trip. And it so happened that the week of July 9th one was planned. Putting the store on hold we started out in the early morning, heading for New York city. The object was simple, doing some work for my husband’s business, and meeting some reps for mine.

We headed straight down, through New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. We were staying just north of the city, and got in early enough to see the fabric people.

The next morning we were up early so my husband could meet the people he needed to. That done, we headed north again, but decided to avoid the Connecticut shore with its heavy traffic. Truth to tell, the decision was totally based on pizza!

As some of you know, I LOVE pizza. And, if you read the Sewing Notions articles you know we found this great pizza place last fall.

See the
SEWING NOTIONS
Maine Musings

New York Business Trip, Fall, 2011

Well, being only two hours away, how could we NOT return? We headed headed up the thruway to Hudson, New York, our sights set on PIZZA!

The trip along the Hudson River, via the thruway, is not all that picturesque… there are some glimpses of it, but it is basically a rather boring ride, as are most interstate highway drives. To see anything, one needs to get off of the highways! But, we were hungry, and just went straight along, getting off at the Rip Van Winkle bridge, which takes one into Hudson. We headed up main street, parked by the green, and headed for the Park Falafal & Pizza.

The Park Falafal & Pizza has a Mediterranean menu of Kosher vegetarian food. Everything is made on the premises from fresh ingredients. Things are made with care, and it shows.

PARK FALAFAL & PIZZA

The building used to be draped in flags. But at Christmas they came down, and lights were put up. I would have loved to see the buiding at night!

Inside things were the same- people gathered around the few tables to eat, as others came and went, getting pita sandwiches, falafal, and, of course pizza!

INSIDE PARK FALAFAL & PIZZA

The problem in a situation like this is CHOOSING what to have! Plain? White? It was a tough call, but I went for a broccoli on white pizza slice, while my husband went for mushroom. (He has been dreaming of the mushroom pizza for the last six months.) The white pizza with broccoli had small bits of the florettes flecking the pizza. While the mushroom pizza held thinly sliced fresh mushrooms placed carefully on the top. The restaurant’s slogan is “Home of the big slice”. And big they are. I can only eat one! Others went back for a second piece! Sadly, filled with pizza, but longing for more, we headed north again, knowing we will be back!

For more about Park Falafal & Pizza see:
http://parkfalafelandpizza.com/Home.php

Tiring of the interstate blahs we took a short detour on Route 385, going along the river. We passed through Athens and Coxsakie, running along the top of a ridge for part of the way, with the Catskills on the left.

Athens and Coxsakie are small towns, with many picturesque houses. I could have shot picture after picture of houses of all eras. While many were brick, there were also large Victorian houses with wonderful wrap around porches, Italianate buildings, and Second Empire architecture. But, two that caught the eye were Van Loon houses. The first is on the left as one enters Athens from the south.

ONE OF THE VAN LOON HOUSES
Athens, New York.

The second was a long low house, still being lived in. It turned out to be another Van Loon house, built in 1724.

VAN LOON HOUSE
Athens, New York.

The weather the previous two weeks had been very hot in Maine. And it was no different in upstate New York, except the humidity was extremely high. Clouds rolling over the Catskills had an ominous look.

CLOUDS ROLLING IN FROM THE CATSKILL MOUNTAINS

BARN NEAR COXSAKIE, NEW YORK
The Catskills in the background

As it was getting late in the day we needed to make a decision on where to stay. As usual, we were flying by the seats of our pants. We decided to go north of Albany to Saratoga Springs… a place we had not been to for quite a few years. We were hoping to get a room at the Adelphi Hotel, situated right in the middle of the town.

The Adelphi Hotel was originally built in 1877 as an Italian villa, with a second floor piazza over-looking the main street of Saratoga Springs. It was bought in 1979 by Sheila Parkert and her husband Gregg Riefker and lovingly restored. It was resold this past winter, and the labor of love continues.

THE ADELPHI HOTEL
Saratoga Springs

For those that want a place to relax the Adelphi is a wonderful place to stay. The moment one walks through the door into the dim lobby one takes a deep breath, and time slows down. Many of the people who work at the Adelphi have been there for years. They just plain love the hotel. The feeling one gets is of a large private home, lovingly taken care of. This attitude extends to the guests as well… very simply, when asked where I should put something, one said … “Oh, I will do that- you are a guest- we are here to help you.”

We went up to our room on the third floor. Each of the rooms is unique. Ours had a petit point settee and chairs, with a kidney shaped dressing table, that I used for my computer. A chandelier, toile pillows, and a crochet bed spread completed the room’s eclectic mix.

ROOM 36
The Adelphi Hotel

After settling in we decided to go out and take a look at the park down the street. Saratoga Springs has 17 public mineral springs in the area. And Congress Park, located down the street has several of them. This is a lovely ten acre park with ponds, streams, and trees laid out in the Victorian style. Interspersed are small buildings and monuments that house memorials and the springs. An enjoyable place for a stroll, there are seats everywhere to sit and enjoy this green space that is right in the heart of Saratoga Springs. The hustle of the main street with The Gap and other stores seems very distant.

CONGRESS PARK
Saratoga Springs, New York

COLUMBIAN SPRINGS
Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

CONGRESS SPRING
under the Greek Pavilion

Soon after we entered the park the humidity and the clouds from the Catskills- you remember those clouds…combined to make a monsoon like downpour!

DEER PARK SPRING

DETAIL OF DEER PARK SPRING SURMOUNT

Besides the different springs
the park has also pools, and memorials.

SPRING OF LIFE
Congress Park, Saratoga Springs

Not all of the park is serious and classical.
Glimpsed through the trees we saw the building with a covered merry-go-round!

MERRY-GO-ROUND
Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
The horses are so appropriate!

CONGRESS PARK
Saratoga Springs, New York

In case you are wondering what else there is to do in Saratoga Springs- well, there is a lot. Shopping? Yes, there are a lot of shops. But, there are art galleries as well. And they hold a “See you on Saturday” monthly. The galleries have artists and openings, and have been doing it for years. It is done in collaboration with the town council. Restaurants also join in, giving specials. And a trolley service is available to get through town.

The New York City Ballet is in residence during part of the summer, as is the Philadelphia Orchestra. There is a Jazz Festival as well. And then, there are the races. The Saratoga Springs Race Track is famous! There are museums, the National Dance Museum and the National Museum of Racing. And there are several parks- including the Saratoga Spa State Park that has many of the mineral springs- including a geyser!

Feeling the need for a drink we headed back to the Adelphi Hotel. The lobby is very Victorian in feeling, as are the halls and upstairs public rooms.

THE ADELPHI HOTEL
is extensively decorated with an eclectic mix of antiques and vintage items.

UPSTAIRS DOUBLE PARLOUR

The double parlour upstairs is a wonderful place for reading papers, and drinking a cup of tea. It gives onto the piazza at the front of the building. It is easy to settle in with a good book in one of it’s nooks, or else enjoy a cocktail with friends.

 

THE ADELPHI HOTEL
Second Floor Piazza

Downstairs off of the reception area is the bar.

LOOKING BACK THROUGH THE BAR TO RECEPTION

Off of the bar is a small dining area with the walls painted with murals. Another good place to spend time!

THE ROOM OFF OF THE BAR
with murals

Our objective was the courtyard at the back of the hotel, that we could see from our bedroom. We passed through a sunroom on the way to it.

SUNROOM AT THE BACK OF THE ADELPHI

We reached our destination, picked out a place to sit, and settled into the late afternoon calm of the courtyard. Surrounded by plantings and pots of trees and flowers, it was as if the heat and humidity of the day evaporated.

COURTYARD AT THE ADELPHI

While waiting for our drinks to come I followed a small gradual flight of stairs that leads out of the rear of the courtyard to see the swimming pool. At the top of the flight, around the back of the building is a brick corridor that leads to it.

LOOKING BACK DOWN THE WALKWAY TO THE ADELPHI POOL
which is on the right

To the right is an open cupboard filled with clean towels for pool use; to the left is a gate that leads to the pool. The pool is a rather new addition. But, one would never know it. It looks as if it has been there forever, with a small loggia at the back, the campsis growing over the fence, even the shape of it. It is an enchanting spot!

THE ADELPHI POOL
is an amazing shade of blue!
The loggia is seen at the back.

Wandering back to the courtyard I found our drinks ready. The sun slowly left the bricks on the building. The calm was wonderful after NYC and the drive north.

When we had finished our drinks, and had had a small Hors d’oeuvre of brie and crackers placed out at the bar, we wandered down the street to Maestro’s at the Van Dam for dinner.

THE MAESTRO’S
at the Van Dam

We were able to get a seat outside, and enjoyed the people watching and the food!

One of the reasons that Saratogoa Springs has such a nice feel, is the small garden plots on the sidewalk. It softens the whole feel of the street.

LOOKING AT BROADWAY

Wandering back to the Adelphi after dinner we crawled into bed, knowing we were headed home in the morning.

While the Adelphi does not serve meals, they do set out a breakfast buffet in the bar. One is free to eat it in the bar, the room off of it with the murals, the sunroom, or the courtyard… plenty of different ways to start one’s day! There were several pastries and cakes along with several kinds of cut of fruit, yogurt, and cereal. The pumpkin cake roulade was wonderful! While others enjoy chocolate croissants!

Gathering our things together we got ready to leave, stopping to chat with the man on duty at the desk, and the man who had helped get our things to our room the day before, who was outside.

We had decided to head back past the race course, as I had never seen it.

Horses were being worked in both directions.

EARLY MORNING WORKOUT
at the Saratoga Springs race track

The track and stables take up a lot of space,
and the stables are on the other side of the road that leads out of town.

WAITING FOR HORSES TO CROSS THE ROAD

Leaving Saratoga Springs behind, we headed south past Albany, to pick up the Mass Pike heading east, to pick up 495 going around Boston. When we hit 95 heading north we always heave a sigh of relief, as the traffic drops away. Crossing from New Hampshire into Maine, we know we are almost home.

And it is always wonderful to be home!

On Independence Day we decided to go to Camden and have lunch, and people watch. Being on a Wednesday the town was not super crowded, but there was plenty to see!

The town was filled with flags!
And bunting seemed to be everywhere!

Looking down Main Street
to the bank
which is draped in bunting for the
4th of July!

The inn in the center of town was also festive!

Streamers and rosettes add motion to the town!

Window boxes were very festive!

And if a shop had something outside it’s door,
it also got some celebratory trimming!

Even upstairs apartment windows were decorated!

People also went out of their way to wear the
red, white, and blue!

This man’s shirt blended with the flags!

Love the trimming of stars on the sleeves!

Suspenders were also in evidence!

There were even a few hats!

I thought this was a guy thing,
but then I saw these!

Love the high tops!

CAMDEN HARBOR
from the park.

While people watching in Camden is always fun, there is a lot to do there! There are often art shows and music in the park. And some of the windjammers sail from there as well. There are galleries, shops, and good food. If you plan to come to Maine, take a day to visit the town, and to drive to the top of Mt. Battie, which looms over the town. From there, on a clear day, one can see many of the coastal islands. Camden is definitely something to see!