Out & About

Out & About

August

Shakespeare, sailboat rides, outdoor concerts, art shows — there are countless ways to savor summer’s grand finale

By Polly Sparling

Saratoga: A sure bet

For many of us, August is vacation time. Forsaking the daily grind for some summer R&R, we take to the highways in droves, leaving busy local thoroughfares like Routes 9 and 9W empty during rush hour (well, almost empty).

One popular destination for many Valleyites during this steamy month is the town of Saratoga. Just a (relatively) short jaunt north on the Thruway, the Spa City’s famous Thoroughbred racing season is the main draw, attracting horse lovers, people watchers, and gamblin’ men — and women. Races run through Labor Day weekend, with the Travers — one of the oldest stakes races in the nation and the season’s crown jewel — taking place on Aug. 25 (518-584-6200 or www.nyra.com). But the area’s attractions extend far beyond the track; from open-air concerts to garden tours, historical encampments to rodeos, the Saratoga region is chockablock with activities that are sure to please.

The Saratoga Performing Arts Center hosts the Philadelphia Orchestra through the first half of the month (Aug. 1-18). Highlights of the season include the opening-night performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 (“Ode to Joy”); concerts with guest soloists Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman; and “Broadway Rocks,” an evening of musical selections from a bevy of Broadway hits, including Wicked, The Lion King, and Phantom of the Opera. Popular music is also on tap at SPAC: the Allman Brothers Band, Incubus, the Dave Matthews Band, and Toby Keith are just a few of the acts scheduled to take the stage (518-587-3330 or www.spac.org). Other musical offerings in the area include the Saratoga Chamber Music Festival, with featured performers including Emanuel Ax, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, and the Tokyo String Quartet (Aug. 5-19; contact SPAC for schedule information); a free Baroque Music Festival with the amusing and informative Bells & Motley Consort (Aug. 28; 518-893-7527 or www.baroquefestival.org); Tuesday lunchtime concerts at Saratoga National Historical Park (Aug. 7, 14, 21, 28; 518-664-9821 or www.nps.gov/sara); and Thursday evening music at Wiswall Park in nearby Ballston Spa (Aug. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; 518-885-2772 or www.ballston.org).

While the thoroughbreds get most of the attention, you can catch other “horse sports” while in town. There’s harness racing Tuesdays through Saturdays at Saratoga Gaming and Raceway (518-584-2110), and fast-paced polo matches take place at area fields throughout the month (518-584-8108 or www.saratogapolo.com). But if bull riding and barrel racing are more to your liking, don your cowboy hat and hightail it over to Double M Pro Rodeo in Ballston Spa (Aug. 3, 10, 17, 24, 31; 518-885-9543 or www.doublemwestern.com).

Culture mavens have a variety of spots to visit in Saratoga. First on the list (naturally) is the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Learn all about the sport of kings, and experience what it’s like to roar down the backstretch on the museum’s racing simulator (open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily; 518-584-0400 or www.racingmuseum.org). The Waterford Museum and Cultural Center, a restored 1830 Greek Revival mansion, has exhibits on local history and two Victorian period rooms. They’ll hold an open house (Aug. 3, 6-8 p.m.) and a free outdoor concert (Aug. 10; 518-238-0809 or www.waterfordmuseum.com). Discover the interesting history behind Yaddo, the renowned artists’ community founded in 1900, and take a tour of the site’s elaborate gardens (call for schedule; 518-584-0746 or www.yaddo.org). The Saratoga Automobile Museum hosts a series of lawn shows featuring antique autos (Aug. 4), Italian cars (Aug. 11), and German models (Aug. 18; 518-587-1935 or www.saratogaautomuseum.org). At the nearby Hyde Collection in Glens Falls, art created — and collected — by James A. Suydam is on view. The Luminist Horizons exhibit features some of this 19th-century landscape painter’s own canvases, as well as works by his contemporaries, including Hudson River School painters like Frederic Church and Asher B. Durand (Tues.-Sun. through Sept. 16; 518-792-1761 or www.hydecollection.org). With more than 70 artists taking part, Saratoga’s Art in the Park fine-art show is a signature event that showcases works in a variety of media (Aug. 21 in Congress Park; 518-584-4132 or www.saratoga-arts.org). And be sure to check out Horses, Saratoga Style 2007, an outdoor exhibit of fiberglass steeds which have been imaginatively decorated by artists from the Capital Region and beyond.

There’s plenty to keep history buffs busy, too. Saratoga National Historical Park (also known as Saratoga Battlefield) is a must-see. The park includes the site of two crucial Revolutionary War battles (both won by the Americans), the Schuyler House (home to Colonial General Philip Schuyler), and the Saratoga Monument. Special events at the park this month include a reenactment of a Revolutionary-era British encampment (Aug. 4); guided bike tours of the area, accompanied by stories of 18th-century life (Aug. 15); and a history day-camp program for kids aged 10-15 (Aug. 6 and 9). Take a step back in time at the Schuyler House’s 18th Century Day. The free program has oxen-cart rides, demonstrations of quilting and blacksmithing, a barn raising, live music, and fun for the kids (Aug. 12; 518-664-9821 or www.nps.gov/sara). Along with its miles of walking trails and other recreational facilities, Saratoga Spa State Park — home of SPAC and the Automobile Museum — is also one of the nation’s “Dozen Distinctive Destinations,” according to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. A National Historic Landmark, most of the park’s red brick and limestone buildings were constructed in the Depression-era 1930s. Self-guided audio tours are available for rent at the park’s office (518-584-2535).

No visit to Saratoga would be complete without “taking the waters.” Sample the famous carbonated mineral water, which bubbles up naturally from the limestone that lies beneath the ground’s surface, at various sites in and around the city. But don’t say we didn’t warn you: it is definitely an acquired taste.