Wreaths are being hung from lampposts, beautiful displays of lights are appearing on houses, and snowflakes are falling from the sky. With the holiday season upon us, a feeling of magic is beginning to fill the air in Saratoga Springs, NY.

Not to be outdone, our Saratoga Springs Hotel is bringing in some holiday magic of our own: On Friday, December 7th, Saratoga Arms will play home to some unique magic of our own. International award-winning magician Aaron Rabkin comes to us all the way from Los Angeles to present his inventive brand of prestidigitation in the show Parlour Magic.

Saratoga Arms is thrilled to invite a select number of guests to enter our historic hotel—through the 140-year-old doors of the property—and transport back in time to play part in this exclusive event of enchantment.

Billed as An Intimate Evening of Conjuring, Aaron’s performance hearkens back to the 19^th century when hosts of the social elite entertained their guests with the finest sorcerers of the time.  As an attendee to Parlour Magic you will witness amazing feats utilizing anything from a deck of cards, to a borrowed $100 bill, to the thoughts in your very own mind; and when not feeling a sense of astonishment, you will be laughing along with Aaron’s deft sense of humor.

But do not simply take our word for it… Here is what a couple audience members had to share about their experiences:

“Aaron was fantastic and his tricks or ‘miracles’ were in fact pretty miraculous. It was a wonderful evening full of laughs in a great setting.”

“Aaron’s performance was charming, comical and captivating. His mind for memory and his talent for trickery demonstrate how good old-fashioned entertainment can deliver a fresh evening of fun!”

This magical event is available for ONE NIGHT ONLY on Friday, December 7, 2012 at 8:00pm. Running time is approximately 90 minutes, which includes a 15-minute intermission with desserts and refreshments. VIP Tickets are $25 per person and general admission tickets are $15. Please call us at 518-584-1775 to reserve your spot.

Here is a sneak peak from Aaron Rabkin’s YouTube Channel to engage and entice you to join us for a night of enchantment and parlour magic at our Saratoga Inn:

Saratoga Arms is an award winning historic 1870 Downtown Saratoga Springs Luxury Hotel, offering intimate charm that no large Saratoga Springs hotel can match. You can read the original blog post here Our Saratoga Inn Hosts An Evening of Parlour Magic!.

Are your holiday cookie swaps filled with just the same old snickerdoodles and rum balls? Are you looking for some new recipes to add to your holiday dessert menu? Or maybe you need a little jump start to get you in the holiday spirit this year?

NEVER FEAR – Saratoga Arms has a fabulous Italian Desserts Cooking School weekend designed especially for you. (And we have something extra special at the end of this post!)

Here is what is in store when you decide to travel to our Saratoga Springs Hotel on November 30th, 2012:

Start your trip out right… A FRIDAY EVENING ITALIAN WINE AND DESSERTS extravaganza. After a long drive, who doesn’t need a nice glass or two, (or three) of wine.

Wake up on Saturday in Saratoga Springs, NY and come down to our dining room for a leisurely breakfast.

Attend a 1/2 day cooking school with Mamma Theresa from Forno Bistro. She has helped hundreds of budding Italian cooks arm themselves with the tools and expertise needed to put out authentic italian cooking. Learn how to make Italian cookies and desserts that you have only seen from the likes of Mario Batali.  Mamma lets you get your hands dirty and leave with a booklet filled with desserts, cookies and espresso and cappuccino RECIPES.

End your Saturday with a DINING CERTIFICATE to either Forno Bistro or Chianti Il Ristorante and let the true Italian chefs cook YOU an authentic Italian meal.

And when you return to your room, Mamma Theresa will have wonderful goodies waiting for you. Each are handmade by her. Trust us, they are delicious.

And here is the extra special part…If you decide to arrive on Thursday rather than Friday, we will give you THURSDAY NIGHT FREE. Why would we do that you might ask? Well, it is Saratoga Springs’ Victorian Streetwalk; An evening of music, choirs, and holiday cheer. The main street of Broadway (where Saratoga Arms is located) is actually closed to automobile traffic. It is our town’s way to kick off the Holiday Season. Make sure to use the “Thursday” promo code when calling or booking online for your italian cooking school extravaganza!

This dessert cooking school weekend is available for ONE WEEKEND ONLY, November 30th – December 2nd, 2012 (or November 29th if you take advantage of the Thursday night free offer). Pricing for the entire weekend begins at $569 per couple. Call us at 518-584-1775 or you may book directly online.

Saratoga Arms is an award winning historic 1870 Downtown Saratoga Springs Luxury Hotel, offering intimate charm that no large Saratoga Springs hotel can match. You can read the original blog post here Thurs. Night FREE when Booking Holiday Italian Cooking School Weekend!.

Courtesy of Matt Malette via Flickr

Independence Day, commonly referred to as July 4th, is a day we commemorate the signing and adoption of the Declaration of Independence from 1776. Saratoga Springs, NY goes all out for an old fashioned all-American 4^th of July celebration. Imagine flags waving, marching parades, politicians, finger-licking good barbecue, and homemade desserts along with family picnics and fireworks… all become a reality in our beautiful city. Throw in a modern day 4-mile Firecracker Race and you have one of the best ways to celebrate Independence Day anywhere. And the best part of it all, our Saratoga Springs hotel is located right in the middle of the all the festivities.

The starting line for the 5K race is just across the street from the hotel. The parade route passes right by our fabulous Saratoga-style front porch. Sit in our old-fashioned white-wicker furniture, sip your lemonade, and salute the flag as it passes by.

Stroll down Broadway to historic Congress Park and meet General Burgoyne, noted American Revolutionary War luminary. Ride on a beautifully restored carousel, admire restored classic cars, or simply watch the ducks and ducklings wander freely throughout the park. Enjoy the bliss of the evening and hear a reading of the Declaration of Independence followed by an exciting fireworks display.

As you reflect on the importance of celebrating Independence Day and living in or at least visiting this wonderful country, maybe the words of Lee Greenwoods, “Proud to Be an American” will play over and over in your head. Come share the joy of patriotism with others for a true blue all-American Independence Day celebration! To add to the events of the day, we are just a short drive from The Saratoga National Battlefield and Historic Park, turning point of the American Revolution, a must see memorial to a battle hard fought and ultimately won.

For a complete list of events visit Saratoga’s All American Celebration. Happy 4th of July from the Smith Family and staff at Saratoga Arms Hotel.

Saratoga Arms is an award winning historic 1870 Downtown Saratoga Springs Luxury Hotel, offering intimate charm that no large Saratoga Springs hotel can match. You can read the original blog post here Saratoga Springs’ All-American Celebration for July 4th!.

Who doesn’t love Italian food? Spaghetti, lasagna and pizza, but oh…there is much much more to know and enjoy. And what do you really know about Italian sauces…Bolognese, Carbonara, Marinara, Ragu, Vodka to name just a few. And then there are the pastas… we all know Spaghetti, Lasagna, Ziti, but there is Vermicelli, Capellini, Fusilli, Fettucelle, Linguine, Cannelloni, Ditalini, Manicotti, Fiori…well you get the picture it can be overwhelming.

Are you intrigued? Sei incuriosito? Do you like to cook? Ti piace cucinare?

Are you ready for some fun? Sei pronto per un certo divertimento?

Our luxury hotel in downtown Saratoga Springs has partnered with DZ Restaurants, Saratoga’s finest Italian restaurant group to offer a taste of Italy right here in Saratoga Springs. It will be a weekend extravaganza of wine, food and learning to cook the authentic Italian way.

Join Mama from Forno Bistro for a half day cooking class. You will learn the art of creating an authentic Italian sauce paired with specialty pasta and then, best of all, you get to eat it.

Mama - Your Italian Cooking Classes Expert Chef

It is a weekend package that begins on Friday night with an evening reception at our Saratoga Springs inn with light Italian style appetizers and specially selected wines presented by the staff at DZ Restaurant group.

Of course a stay at our Saratoga hotel would not be complete without sitting down each morning to one of our sumptuous breakfasts prepared to order by our own top chef, Noel Smith.

The cooking school begins at 11:00 on Saturday and finishes with a completed meal for you to sit down and enjoy.

Included in this fabulous package will be a $40.00 gift card that can be used at any of one of the extraordinary DZ group restaurants and upon your return, you will find an assortment of Italian goodies in your room to enjoy or to take home.

Call your friends, make it a party you’ll talk and laugh about it for a long time to come. Call us at 518-584-1775 to make a booking or BOOK ONLINE.

Close your eyes think of Italy…wine, food and amore.

Amore…Saratoga Arms, DZ Restaurants and, of course, YOU.

Arrivederci

Saratoga Arms is an award winning historic 1870 Downtown Saratoga Springs Luxury Hotel, offering intimate charm that no large Saratoga Springs hotel can match. You can read the original blog post here Italy…in Saratoga Springs – Italian Cooking Classes to Captivate your Culinary Pleasures!.

The week is actually three days, February 23, 24 & 25, 2012, kind of like learning to walk before we run. The organizers plan to add additional days after this “first” one is under their collective belts.

It promises to be an exciting event with brewers from around the region, around the state and even some national and international breweries as well. Festival organizers, brewers, distributers, pubs, taverns and restaurants have come together to offer great beer and good food and access to tastings, brewing techniques and seminars.

The planners have events to fill three solid days of adult weekend activities. Saratoga Arms bed and breakfast has put together an awesome package for Beer Week goers.

• 2-3 nights lodging in this luxury Saratoga Hotel, pay for two the third night is on us (use thurfree promo code if booking online)
• Breakfast for two each morning
• 2 VIP Saratoga Beer Week Passports for full access to all festival events
• Assorted in-room beer gifts
• Saturday morning Brewer’s Breakfast Bash, meet City Steam Brewmaster, Ron Page, talking about his life with microbrews. He will share insights, tips and tricks for the home brewer. He will bring commemorative bottles of Strong Scotch Ale for each guest and some rare private stash beers to sample. THIS EVENT EXCLUSIVE TO SARATOGA ARMS GUESTS.

Pub-crawls, grand food and rare tastings, seminars and BEER, BEER and more BEER and FUN, Fun and more FUN.

No need to worry about a designated driver…just walk home to our Saratoga Springs hotel, located in the heart of downtown Saratoga Springs, in the middle of all the Festival events.

Come meet the Smith Sisters, Amy and Sheila, who are old pros at beer tasting and brewing…take a look

Saratoga Arms is an award winning historic 1870 Downtown Saratoga Springs Luxury Hotel, offering intimate charm that no large Saratoga Springs hotel can match. You can read the original blog post here The Best Lodging Package for Saratoga Beer Week.

Saratoga Arms is located just across the street from the main venue of the Saratoga Dance Flurry. We have hosted some Flurry regulars almost from the day we opened our doors. Those that attend are a hearty good-natured bunch with colorful costumes, assorted dancing shoes and well loved musical instruments. According to their website the mission of the Dance Flurry is defined as “connecting and inspiring (people) through traditional music and dance”. Their core values are dedicated to supporting music and dance from diverse cultures and creating a community that encourages social interaction.

In 2006 on Dance Flurry weekend we had a devastating ice storm. The whole town was without power, many of the guests had already checked in for their weekend of dancing fun. In upstate New York when you lose power you lose heat and lights and hot water. Our staff scrambled to find flashlights and lanterns to assure the safety of the guests in our three story Saratoga Springs hotel. It was a hoteliers’ worst nightmare, but the Flurry folk turned it into an adventure full of laughs and camaraderie. Unfortunately the event planners had to cancel the Dance Flurry weekend and when the weather had improved, we sent our good-natured guests home still smiling to return again the following year. When they return we all reminisce with a smile, remembering the year of the ice storm…

This year the Dance Flurry takes place on the weekend of February 17, 18 & 19. Our regulars are already booked in at Saratoga Arms and we look forward to seeing them again. It is a fun weekend to let your hair down, put on your dancing shoes or tune up that old guitar and meet a great group of people who love to sing, love to dance and live to keep the music alive. You can join in or watch from the sidelines but I invite you to come for that one bright spot in our dreary wintery month of February, you might just become one of our Dance Flurry regulars!

Saratoga Arms is an award winning historic 1870 Downtown Saratoga Springs Luxury Hotel, offering intimate charm that no large Saratoga Springs hotel can match. You can read the original blog post here February Dance Flurry Weekend in Saratoga Springs.

Our city has a big Winter Weekend coming up and Saratoga Arms, Saratoga’s luxury hotel is right in the middle of it all! The weekend of February 3-5, 2012 is designed to fend off those winter blahs.

Something’s Brewing at Saratoga Arms, the city’s finest boutique hotel. We are hosting the first of four Ultimate Bed and Brew Weekends beginning Friday, February 3. With the craft beer enthusiast in mind and a nod to beer and food connoisseurs, Saratoga Arms together with the Olde Saratoga Brewing Company and Sperry’s Restaurant, has designed a package that from start to finish will give you a beer experience that you will talk about for a long time to come. Participate in a behind the scenes tour of our local brewery with beer samplings and end with a gourmet beer pairing meal under the direction of Master Chef Dale Miller at renowned Sperry’s Restaurant. This Saratoga Bed and Breakfast has it all planned out just for you. Meet other beer enthusiasts and sample homebrewed or regional craft beers. Take home specially selected souvenirs of the weekend and maybe a six-pack of locally brewed beer.

We have Beer Weekend guests from last year who had such a great time that they are returning this year with friends and neighbors. They plan to make it an annual event.

As an added bonus this same weekend is the 14^th Annual Saratoga Springs Chowderfest and Winter Festival. On February 4^th more than 35 fabulous local restaurants throughout the city will participate in putting forth their very best chowder recipes for you to sample and judge. There will be wine tastings, live music and plenty of photo ops. Post your pics on our facebook page. See what’s in store in the video below:

Come for the chowder and stay for the beer or the other way around…just come. It’s two events wrapped up in a great winter weekend in Saratoga Springs. Saratoga Arms has a room ready for you and of course there is the breakfast…. ah the breakfast, homemade muffins, hot-from-the-kitchen omelets… but that is for another blog for another day.

Saratoga Arms is an award winning historic 1870 Downtown Saratoga Springs Luxury Hotel, offering intimate charm that no large Saratoga Springs hotel can match. You can read the original blog post here Chowder and Beer…Meant to be together in Saratoga Springs.

There are over 50 venues of entertainment, from musicians and singers to magicians and Santa himself, there to delight old and young. Our Saratoga Springs Hotel always has a caroling group on the front steps. And many dress in traditional Victorian outfits for the evening.

The shops stay open and many locations serve free hot beverages and treats. It is a wonderful way to start your holiday season.

Amy and Sheila, the Smith sisters from our Saratoga Springs Bed and Breakfast, dressed as Victorian ladies during last year’s streetwalk. Take a peak at their experience.

Saratoga Arms is an award winning historic 1870 Downtown Saratoga Springs Luxury Hotel, offering intimate charm that no large Saratoga Springs hotel can match. You can read the original blog post here Saratoga Springs Victorian Streetwalk Turns 25.

We have tabulated our list of the 10 things you might not know about the Saratoga Lip Dub…interesting behind the scenes morsels, a little idea of who these people are, and just a few reasons why Saratoga Springs is a great place to live and a better place to visit. Our list is in chronological order. So as you watch, read our list and follow along.

1. Shauna Sutton, Deputy Mayor of Saratoga Springs, had the “Hey Soul Sister” lyrics taped to her back for anyone behind her to read. She is located at the beginning of the video at the Saratoga Springs City Center, dressed in a blue suit.

2. The folks seen crossing the street from the City Center to the Stewarts Ice Cream cow are actors from the Saratoga Shakespeare Company, a great summer theatre in Congress Park.

3. The porch of Saratoga Arms was filled with many, many, many family members, friends, neighbors, classmates and members of Saratoga Pride.

4. The large wagon filled with garden fresh vegetables (the woman was singing into a zucchini) was from local farms that participate in the Saratoga Farmers’ Market, just voted the 2nd best medium sized farmers market in the country.

5. The Victorian Era dressed people walking across the street participate every year at the Saratoga Springs Victorian Street Walk. The Street Walk will be held this year on Thursday, December 1, 2011.

6. No people or animals were injured during the making of this video. The boy on the stretcher was an actor and we have a wonderful city hospital. :)

7. The white t-shirts and people holding beer steins represent the annual Chowderfest and our citywide Brewfest. And remember, Saratoga Arms offers Ultimate Winter Beer Weekends!!

8. What is the poster of the crazy-haired lady with all of the squigglies? Why, it’s the Saratoga Springs Annual First Night, a New Year’s Eve event with music all over the city…and fireworks at midnight.

9. I have looked but I have never seen a human slot machine or life sized dice at the Saratoga Casino and Raceway.  I’m still looking though.  What would be the return?

10. Over 1,000 people attended the finale in historic Congress Park. What a great way to spend a summer afternoon.

Saratoga Arms is an award winning historic 1870 Downtown Saratoga Springs Luxury Hotel, offering intimate charm that no large Saratoga Springs hotel can match. You can read the original blog post here Top 10 Interesting Tidbits About the Saratoga Lip Dub.

Rarely has Yaddo opened its doors to the public. The only public areas are the lovely outdoor gardens that grace the 400-acre estate. Yet on September 18, Yaddo is opening its doors for the first time in 8 years for a public tour of the Yaddo Mansion and West House. Visitors will see the wonderful architecture of these houses, including enormous stained glass windows, fireplace mosaics and original furnishings and artwork. The 2-hour tour also includes the viewing of artists’ studios and outdoor burial grounds.

The event will be held rain or shine at a rate of $40 per person. The 2-hour tour slots fill quickly and the only remaining reservation times available are September 18th at 8:30am or 4:00pm. Reservations are ONLY available by advance booking via Yaddo’s website. Please note that the final day for placing a reservation will be Thursday, September 15th at 5:00pm.

Take this opportunity to peek into an era and place that few ever get to see. It may be another decade before the folks at Yaddo open their door again.

To get an inside look, click the Yaddo Mansion below for a video tour.

Courtesy of Lina via Flickr

Saratoga Arms is an award winning historic 1870 Downtown Saratoga Springs Luxury Hotel, offering intimate charm that no large Saratoga Springs hotel can match. You can read the original blog post here A Rare Mansion Tour of the Artists’ Retreat, Yaddo.