What caught our eye - 7/13/19
July 13, 2019
The pageantry that is Saratoga kicked off Thursday, and a little rain didn't dampen the enthusiasm for the first day of the 2019 season. (Skip Dickstein)
BILLIONAIRES, BOURBON, BOTOX AND THE BACKSTRETCH: Local legend has it that sometime around 1950 the venerable New York sportswriter Red Smith gave these directions to Saratoga Race Course : “From New York City you drive north for about 175 miles, turn left on Union Avenue and go back 100 years.” It’s a useful aphorism for the festival of old money and new; smart money and foolish; hot tips and big tippers, big talkers and hot walkers; sleek private jets and little kids at breakfast; the hipsters and the hats; the audacious, bodacious, salacious and rapacious – all in town to be seen and to see, lest we forget, some of the finest thoroughbreds on Earth. They are not off at Saratoga. They are most definitely on. http://bit.ly/TrackOpeningDifferentFeel
SIRO’S PICKS A WINNER: Since the 1930s, Siro’s has been the just-off-track, post-race gathering place. “Siro’s can’t be explained. It must be experienced,” says a veteran maître d’ of the racing-season-only institution. Outside, the vibe is plastic cups and an anything-might-happen frat party. Inside, it’s clubby, welcome-back fine dining. Now, new operators have placed Siro’s kitchen in the hands of Chef David Britton of Glens Falls. This the Great Britton, once of The Sagamore, founder of Springwater Bistro in Saratoga Springs and the DownTown City Tavern in Glens Falls; operator of the current Pies on Wheels and the food manufacturer Da’kine Cuisine. http://bit.ly/SirosHiresChefBritton
TAKE A LONG HOLIDAY: The Saratoga Springs Holiday Inn helped create modern, vibrant Saratoga Springs when it opened on August 15, 1964. Downtown Saratoga Springs was in decline, devastated by fires, a crumbling commercial base, and a lack of new investment, its many historic hotels only a memory. Unwilling to wait for outside investors to turn the community around, local business leaders led a community-based campaign to raise local money – and their success instilled the can-do spirit that’s animated Saratoga Springs for half a century. They persuaded the international hotel organization to wager on Saratoga. Great bet. Last week, the Holiday Inn was sold for $21.8 million. http://bit.ly/SaratogaHolidayInnSold
CUISINE ON THE RISE: Glens Falls once proclaimed itself the City on the Rise, a nod to its annual Adirondack Hot Air Balloon Festival. Now, it’s a city with a rising reputation for culinary innovation and excellence. (See [farmacy] and Morgan and Co.) The Times Union’s Steve Barnes celebrates Chef Colin Miner of the Queensbury Hotel and a change in culinary course as dramatic as the multi-million dollar makeover of the historic hotel itself. http://bit.ly/TUonChefMiner
John Sloan, A Roof in Chelsea, New York, c. 1941/51,
Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College,
purchased through the Julia L. Whittier Fund. P.946.12.2.
WORTH SEEING
UP ON THE ROOF: Painter John Sloan, who dropped out of school at 16 to support his family, was fascinated by struggles of early 20th century New York immigrants. Days of hard work in summer’s heat sent them to tenement rooftops for relief in the evening. Sloan was a founder of the gritty Ashcan School of Art, and this summer his work is on display at The Hyde Collection in what The Albany Times Union calls “a thoughtful, joyous, and keenly focused” exhibit. By the way, the Hyde is launching new summer hours, open seven days a week. http://bit.ly/SloanAshcanArtatHyde
DAVID SMITH’S LAKE GEORGE: America’s greatest sculptor, David Smith, who brought steel to heel to create abstract sculptures at his Bolton Landing farm, also was a gifted painter of Lake George landscapes. This summer, the upscale readers of Quest magazine (“the last magazine devoted to society with a capital S, covering the socially prominent in New York, Greenwich, The Hamptons, Palm Beach and Miami.”) are getting a close look at Smith’s paintings highlighted in a new display in the Bolton Historical Museum, thanks to an expert piece by Lake George Mirror editor Tony Hall. http://bit.ly/SculptorsLakePainting
RIVER RISING: The Hudson River exhibit at the New York Historical Society this summer celebrates the ecological transformation of a great commercial waterway, a reminder, the Wall Street Journal says, that what is now is depicted as callous exploitation was, in fact, unintended consequence. “Every age has its requirements and its blind spots.” http://bit.ly/HudsonRiverReflections
INDOMITABLE SPIRIT: He was a radical, a non-conformist who dispatched artistic convention. He created art that reached “into the very essence of human life, fusing the physical and spiritual in ways that had never before been and — would never after be — reached.” When he died alone 350 years ago, his fame and fortune were at an ebb, his work auctioned to pay debt. Rembrandt van Rijn has been gone for 350 years this summer, but his work remains very much alive in a new exhibit at The Frick and every day at The Hyde. http://bit.ly/RembrandtIndomitableSpirit
THE DAILY TRUTH: Has your organization been transformed by digital, real-time decision-making data? The technology’s there; sometimes the culture is not. http://bit.ly/TheDigitalTransformation
LONG AND WINDING ROAD: The Beetle was born in the world’s darkest hours. It came to symbolize Germany’s economic renaissance and middle-class prosperity. It was an emblem of American 1960s counter-culture and a design triumph as recognizable as a Coke bottle. Soon, it will be yesterday. http://bit.ly/EndOfTheBeetle
NEWS HOOK
BIG ASS BASS: For the first time, the St. Lawrence River has been named the best bass fishery in America by Bassmaster Magazine. Record-breaking fish are being caught there and on Lake Ontario as well. http://bit.ly/StLawrenceBass
DON’T GET THE LURE: At the only full-service hospital emergency room inside the Adirondack Park, the medical staff has become expert in plucking fishing lures – not from the fish but from every intimate nook and cranny of the anglers. http://bit.ly/HookedOnLures
THE GOODWILL HUNT
WELCOME SIGN: A small school in Maine is welcoming its first hearing-impaired student and everybody is learning the ABCs of inclusiveness. http://bit.ly/KindergartenersLearnSignLanguage
THE GIFT OF SINGH: Deryck Singh worked for 32 years at Stewart’s Shops, frequently representing his fellow employees at community events where he dished out donated ice cream. When he retired, Stewart’s gave Mr. Singh and the community a sweet sendoff. http://bit.ly/GiftofSingh
ABOUT TIME: Fifty years after it opened, the Northway is finally getting an exit between 2 and 4. http://bit.ly/NorthwayGetsExit3
FRANK’S ON THE MENU: Of all the good things Price Chopper offers, the friendly wisdom of Frank Murphy may be the most valuable. http://bit.ly/PriceChoppersMayor
ON THE UP AND UP
HOTEL ROCHELLE: The U.S. hotel industry is in the midst of a building boom, and New Rochelle, N.Y., White Plain’s quieter sibling, is pursuing a downtown revival. The largest hotel in Westchester County in 20 years is being built there. http://bit.ly/NewRochelleHotel
34TH STREET MIRACLE: Manhattan’s building boom continues. Macy’s is considering an 800-foot office tower above its iconic Herald Square store. http://bit.ly/MacysTowerPlanned
LOVIN’ SUMMER
YOU CAN HAVE TOO MANY? Twenty years after Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa saved the game with home runs, baseball faces another challenge: Too many homers. We may see more than 6,600 this season — nearly 1,000 more than were hit in 2000, the height of the steroid era. http://bit.ly/TooManyHomeruns
WHO’S COUNTING? JUST TAP IT IN: Six of the 20 best mini-golf courses in Upstate New York are located in Lake George, Lake Placid and Saratoga County, Yelp says. http://bit.ly/UpstatesBestMinGolf
A LITTLE FUN WITH YOUR PHILANTHROPY: The Great Escape and Hurricane Harbor in Queensbury are offering a half-priced admission ticket on Saturday, July 20, to any guest who makes a $10 donation that day at the park’s ticket windows to Make-A-Wish® Northeast New York. There is no limit on the number of tickets one can purchase. http://bit.ly/GreatEscapeDonorDiscount
REELIN’ IN THE YEARS: While the credits were rolling for their competitors, the Caro Brothers, Ed and Tom, have managed to keep a family summer tradition alive. Grab the blankets, kids. The Malta Drive-In is turning 70. http://bit.ly/MaltDriveInTurns70
MOW PATRIOTIC: Zac and Bobbi Williams have a beautiful lawn and it shows their stripes (and stars). http://bit.ly/PatrioticMowers
NEARLY FINAL WORDS
“A difference of opinion is what makes horse racing and missionaries.’’
- Will Rogers
THE SIGNOFF
TWITTER TO THE RESCUE: Sometimes a brief video clip is all you need. http://bit.ly/DogPicksReporter
PLEASE SHARE: Feel free to pass this along to your friends and colleagues.
THANK YOU to our content contributors John Brodt, Bill Callen, Bill Richmond, Tina Suhocki, Lisa Fenwick, Colleen Potter, Nolan Murphy, Audrey McCarthy and Barbara Cataldo.
FACING OUT: FACING OUT is what we do. We help companies, organizations and individuals work effectively with their most important external audiences – their customers, their shareholders, their communities, the government and the news media. www.behancommunications.com
Facing Out features news and other nuggets that caught our eye, and that we thought might be of value to you, our friends and business associates. Some items are good news about our clients and friends, others are stories that we hope will leave you a bit more informed or entertained than you were five minutes ago. As always, we welcome your ideas and feedback.
Let’s make it a conversation: mark.behan@behancom.com
Recent Posts
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
November 9, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
November 2, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
October 26, 2024
Facing Out: The Most Interesting News of the Week
October 19, 2024
Facing Out: The Most Interesting News of the Week
October 12, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
October 5, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
September 28, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
September 21, 2024
Facing Out: The Most Interesting News of the Week
September 14, 2024
Facing Out: The Most Interesting News of the Week
September 7, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
August 24, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
August 17, 2024
Drew FitzGerald Joins Behan as Sustainability Advisor
August 14, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
August 10, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
August 3, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
July 27, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
July 27, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
July 20, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
July 13, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
June 29, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
June 22, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
June 15, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
June 8, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
June 1, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
May 25, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
May 18, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
May 11, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
May 4, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
April 27, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
April 20, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
April 13, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
April 6, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
March 30, 2024
Facing Out: The Most Interesting News of the Week
March 23, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
March 16, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
March 9, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
March 2, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
February 24, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
February 17, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
February 10, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
February 3, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
January 27, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
January 20, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
January 13, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
January 6, 2024
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
December 16, 2023
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
December 9, 2023
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
December 2, 2023
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
November 18, 2023
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
November 11, 2023
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
November 4, 2023
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
October 28, 2023
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
October 21, 2023
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
October 14, 2023
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
October 7, 2023
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
September 30, 2023
The Week’s Most Interesting News
September 23, 2023
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
September 16, 2023
Facing Out: The week’s most interesting news
September 9, 2023
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
September 2, 2023
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
August 26, 2023
Facing Out: The Week’s Most Interesting News
August 19, 2023
August 12, 2023
August 5, 2023
July 29, 2023
July 22, 2023
July 15, 2023
July 8, 2023
July 1, 2023
June 24, 2023
June 17, 2023
June 10, 2023
June 3, 2023
May 27, 2023
May 20, 2023
May 13, 2023
May 6, 2023
April 29, 2023
April 22, 2023
April 15, 2023
April 8, 2023
April 1, 2023
March 25, 2023
March 18, 2023
March 11, 2023
March 4, 2023
February 25, 2023
February 18, 2023
February 11, 2023
February 4, 2023
January 28, 2023
January 21, 2023
January 14, 2023
January 7, 2023
December 17, 2022
December 10, 2022
December 3, 2022
November 19, 2022
November 12, 2022
November 5, 2022
October 29, 2022
October 22, 2022
October 15, 2022
October 8, 2022
October 1, 2022
“The Week What Caught Our Eye”
September 24, 2022
September 17, 2022
September 10, 2022
September 3, 2022
August 27, 2022
August 23, 2022
August 20, 2022
August 13, 2022
August 6, 2022
July 30, 2022
July 23, 2022
Ryan Moore Named CEO of Behan Communications
July 20, 2022
July 16, 2022
July 9, 2022
July 2, 2022
June 25, 2022
June 18, 2022
June 11, 2022
June 4, 2022
May 28, 2022
May 21, 2022
May 13, 2022
May 7, 2022
April 30, 2022
April 23, 2022
April 16, 2022
April 8, 2022
April 2, 2022
March 26, 2022
March 19, 2022
March 12, 2022
March 5, 2022
The Week: What Caught Our Eye 2
February 26, 2022
February 26, 2022
February 19, 2022
February 12, 2022
February 5, 2022
January 29, 2022
January 22, 2022
January 15, 2022
January 8, 2022
December 18, 2021
December 11, 2021
December 4, 2021
November 19, 2021
November 13, 2021
November 6, 2021
October 30, 2021
October 23, 2021
October 16, 2021
October 9, 2021
October 2, 2021
September 25, 2021
September 18, 2021
September 11, 2021
September 4, 2021
August 28, 2021
August 21, 2021
August 14, 2021
“The Week What Caught Our Eye”
August 7, 2021
July 31, 2021
July 24, 2021
July 17, 2021
July 10, 2021
July 3, 2021
June 26, 2021
June 19, 2021
June 12, 2021
June 5, 2021
May 29, 2021
May 22, 2021
May 15, 2021
May 8, 2021
May 1, 2021
April 24, 2021
April 17, 2021
April 17, 2021
April 10, 2021
April 3, 2021
March 27, 2021
March 20, 2021
March 13, 2021
March 6, 2021
February 27, 2021
February 20, 2021
February 13, 2021
February 6, 2021
January 30, 2021
January 23, 2021
The Week: What Caught Our Eye 1/16/21
January 16, 2021
January 9, 2021
December 19, 2020
December 12, 2020
December 5, 2020
November 21, 2020
November 14, 2020
November 7, 2020
October 31, 2020
October 24, 2020
October 17, 2020
October 10, 2020
October 3, 2020
September 26, 2020
September 19, 2020
September 12, 2020
September 5, 2020
August 29, 2020
August 22, 2020
August 15, 2020
August 8, 2020
August 1, 2020
July 25, 2020
Saving the Day: Ed Bartholomew’s Game
July 24, 2020
July 18, 2020
July 11, 2020
July 4, 2020
June 27, 2020
June 20, 2020
June 13, 2020
The Week: What Caught Our Eye 6/6/20
June 6, 2020
June 6, 2020
May 30, 2020
Coronavirus: Talking To Employees About Risk
May 26, 2020
May 23, 2020
Lake George History of Resilience
May 21, 2020
May 16, 2020
May 9, 2020
The Year The Kennedys Came to North Creek
May 8, 2020
April 25, 2020
April 18, 2020
April 11, 2020
April 4, 2020
March 28, 2020
March 21, 2020
March 14, 2020
March 7, 2020
February 29, 2020
February 22, 2020
February 15, 2020
February 8, 2020
February 1, 2020
January 25, 2020
January 18, 2020
January 4, 2020
December 28, 2019
December 21, 2019
December 14, 2019
December 7, 2019
November 30, 2019
November 23, 2019
November 16, 2019
November 9, 2019
November 2, 2019
October 26, 2019
October 19, 2019
October 12, 2019
September 28, 2019
September 21, 2019
September 14, 2019
September 7, 2019
August 31, 2019
August 24, 2019
August 17, 2019
Different Name, Same Great Experience
August 15, 2019
August 10, 2019
Noah John Rondeau: The Famous Hermit of the Adirondacks
August 9, 2019
August 3, 2019
Johnny Podres: Witherbee’s Hometown Hero
August 1, 2019
July 27, 2019
July 20, 2019
July 19, 2019
July 13, 2019
July 6, 2019
June 29, 2019
Portrait of an Adirondack Poet
June 28, 2019
June 22, 2019
June 21, 2019
June 15, 2019
Thomas Edison and The Prospect House
June 14, 2019
June 8, 2019
June 1, 2019
May 25, 2019
May 18, 2019
May 11, 2019
May 4, 2019
April 27, 2019
April 20, 2019
April 13, 2019
April 6, 2019
A Century Ago: A City on the Rise
April 4, 2019
March 30, 2019
March 23, 2019
What caught our eye - Mar 16, 2019
March 16, 2019
What caught our eye - Mar 9, 2019
March 9, 2019
What caught our eye - Mar 2, 2019
March 2, 2019
What Killed the Amazon Deal ... and What Can Be Learned
March 1, 2019
What caught our eye - Feb. 23, 2019
February 23, 2019
What caught our eye - Feb. 16, 2019
February 16, 2019
What caught our eye - Feb. 9, 2019
February 9, 2019
What caught our eye - Feb. 2, 2019
February 2, 2019
Things that caught our eye - Jan. 26, 2019
January 26, 2019
Things that caught our eye - Jan. 19, 2019
January 18, 2019
November 20, 2018
Winning the war for talent: Helping you catch rising stars
November 19, 2018
Who’s to Blame for Political Attack Ads?
November 1, 2018
October 9, 2018
Is that my pizza in a pothole?
June 14, 2018
Preparing for the Unthinkable: Schools Now Lead in Crisis Management and Communications
April 2, 2018
Great Obituaries Will Save Newspapers
March 8, 2018
New Website for Albany Diocese Created by Behan
February 7, 2018
Behan Team Helps Propel Second Statewide Referendum Victory
November 8, 2017
A Graduation Letter to My Kids
May 9, 2017
Donald Trump Is the Media’s Best Friend
May 5, 2017
United Airlines Does Not Have a PR Problem
April 13, 2017
What Do I Need in My Next Communications Chief?
April 6, 2017
Mark Behan joins board of directors of financial holding company
December 5, 2016
Your Firm Will Get Hacked — How Do You Respond?
September 9, 2016
10 Questions Every CEO Should Ask About Crisis Management
October 25, 2014
15 Tips for Effective Employee Communications
March 15, 2012