At Dark Horse Mercantile, they have such creative racing keepsakes. Take for instance this 1930’s Horse Race Pocket Watch. A rare vintage gem for horse racing enthusiasts! Just turn the winder a few times and the pointer randomly spins around the dial until coming to a stop on the “winning” horse. I can see grandkids being occupied for hours on grandpa’s knee or even grownups placing their friendly bets over bonfire beverages in hopes for winning glory by night’s end! Another fun find is the Branded Saratoga Shoe crafted by local artist Bill Herrington. These real horseshoes, hung with braided rope, make a perfect gift for out-of-town visitors or proudly displayed for luck in your own home! And remember, in Simply Saratoga SPRING, I featured artist Melissa Crase and her “Colors of Racing”? Well, Dark Horse is hosting her artwork in a show on May 20th between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Be sure to stop in and meet the artist in person. Her vibrant colors and textures, usually achieved with anything but a paintbrush, are often “ordinary things painted with unexpected colors” as Melissa likes to put it!
Dark Horse Mercantile
445 Broadway, Saratoga Springs
ImpressionsSaratoga.com | 518-587-0689
Just down the street, Impressions of Saratoga always has that special home décor not easily found elsewhere. Like this full color Saratoga City Map Pillow made of 100% natural cotton with poly fill. At 18” x 12”, it’s a perfect lumbar or place to rest your head on a lazy afternoon! And if sprucing up your curb appeal is a high priority, why not put a little Saratoga flair at the end of the driveway with this stunning Post Mounted Copper Mailbox. Each hand embossed and polished copper plate is mounted on USPS approved black steel boxes. So many to choose from yet no two are alike. Visible from both sides, the polished copper would surely be a show stopper!
Impressions of Saratoga
368 Broadway, Saratoga Springs
ImpressionsSaratoga.com | 518-587-0666
Now for the inside, Finishing Touches surely knows how to complete a space! Want to add a bit of flair to your summertime feast? Check out these Hand-Crafted Bees Wax Candles poured in Connecticut. Each uniquely shaped stick adds a touch of whimsy. Mix and match colors and shapes to create your own chic setting. If you prefer candles in a container, they also have these playful Oyster Can Candles available in a variety of different labels, colors and scents. Each clever “oyster can” can be displayed individually or on a shelf collectively. It's a great gift for an oyster loving friend as well! Now, I hunt summer long for unique planters. They add interest to any garden or table top. So, naturally when I spotted the Owl and Hedge Hog Planters, I couldn’t help but take a few pics for this article. They are adorable for indoor or outdoor settings and add lots of charm to small spaces!
Finishing Touches Home Decor
450 E High Street, Ballston Spa
FinishingTouchesStore.com | 518-584-1490
And not too far down the road, Accents at Allerdice in Malta just brought in these spectacular Acacia Wood & Leather Folding Stools. This alternative seating quickly unfolds for extra guests or would be a warm welcome for an overnight companion to place luggage. Easily stored away, this item won’t be around long… so be sure to get over there fast! And while you’re there, ask to see the Thoroughbreds Pre-Lit Round Orb Light. A beautifully crafted soft light for a hallway or simply to add a touch of Saratoga charm to any room. Easily plugged in, this light is great as a gift for horse lovers!
Accents at Allerdice
2570 U.S. 9, Malta
Allerdice.com | 518-899-6222
Out to the lake and The Furniture House where they have the best assortment of Natural Edge & Acrylic Poured Wood Tops in the area. Looking for something extraordinary for your home? Well, look no further than this deep blue, swirled top, inlaid with a natural slice of tree trunk as if an island floating in water. Exceptional, I’d say! You could look at that for hours and still see something new each time. Truly a one-of-a-kind piece! But they don’t stop there, here’s another option of Smokey Clear Acrylic Wood Top with Inlaid Sticks and Rocks (finished by Mario’s kids Emily and Michael!). Just stunning to behold and adds a touch of elegance to a rustic setting. The small wooden inlaid “bow-ties” are purposeful in tying the wood portions together, but I think they add a bit of a panache to this smokey crown!
The Furniture House
1254 NY-9P, Saratoga Springs
TheFurnitureHouseNY.com | 518-587-9865
Back in Toga, Silverwood Home & Gallery is bringing the outdoors in with some of their store favorites…these Fern Paper Placemats and Table Accessories make any table shine! These fern table delights are not only beautiful, but make clean up easy too! And if your walls need a bit of a Summer lift, Fern Framed Prints add a soft touch of the outdoors, complimenting any color wall or décor.
Silverwood Home & Gallery
398 Broadway, Saratoga Springs
SilverwoodGalleries.com | 518-583-3600
Now onto what’s in store for party appliances! One of my favorite subjects! At Marcella’s Appliance, they have the GE PROFILE™ OPAL™ NUGGET ICE MAKER, perfect for drinks when craving nugget ice over larger cubes. As a convenient countertop appliance, it produces up to 3 lbs. of ice per cycle with a maximum of 24 lbs. per day! And with WIFI capabilities, your party can move forward without worrying about the next round of chilling chips! WooHoo, bring on the frosty drinks!
Marcella's Appliance
15 Park Avenue, Clifton Park
MarcellasAppliance.com | 518-952-7700
And at Earl B. Feiden’s, wait until you see this…the Lynx SmartGrill! A WIFI grill that automatically cooks food based on user preference with a smart device or voice commands! The patented ProSear2 Trident burner is the secret; a variable infrared burner that produces efficient, direct heat. Starting with your selection of over 100 recipes via the SmartGrill app, the database will determine the optimal grilling time and technique for your food and where on the grill to place each item to ensure everything is cooked to perfection and on time! Now that’s grilling made easy!
Earl B. Feiden Appliance
1771 U.S. 9, Clifton Park | 518-383-2215
785 U.S. 9, Latham | 518-785-8555
EarlBFeiden.com
Are you ready for Summer entertaining? Gardening, lake or poolside parties, firepit chats and long days of fun in the sun? Saratoga is glorious this time of year. Be sure to get out and stroll the streets, walk through Congress Park and bring a picnic lunch. Take the kids on a Carousal Ride or stop for eats at one of your favorite restaurants… It’s all so Saratoga!