All Over Albany

Summer with Rob and Carey

Stay-cation week continues on AOA this week with Capital Region summer fun suggestions from Corks & Caftans bloggers Rob & Carey.

He loves wine-- she loves fashion, and they both summers in Saratoga.

About Rob & Carey:

We've lived in the CR for just shy of 4 years. We both moved to downtown Saratoga and have lived on one or the other side of Broadway ever since. Carey is a copywriter at a web and design firm, Shannon-Rose, and Rob is an independent contractor specializing in custom tile and bathroom design.

We started C+C after an unfortunate layoff the day after our honeymoon. It's a mish-mash of things we dig, based around our respective appreciations for wine (Corks) and fashion (Caftans). We have a blast doing it and have met some truly amazing people.

What do you like to do during the summer in the Capital Region?

Anything that gets us outdoors: tennis, walks around the Saratoga Battlefield Park, bike rides---but most weekends, you'll find us on a ratty blanket in Congress Park, playing paddle ball, watching the crazy characters, and drinking contraband wine from Solo cups. (Don't tell the popo.) We're always looking for new places to eat with outside patios, and have been frequenting SPAC a lot more since the dissolution of the old Soviet-style beer garden.

Do you have a favorite summer food, drink or dessert -- something you have to get before the season is out?

When the Farmer's Daughter opens up, so do our belt buckles. We are also a huge fan of the cheese case at Putnam Market. We usually go on their recommendations, try 3-4 varieties, and pack up a picnic. Try the Humboldt Fog if you get a chance... out of this world.

Also, Purdy's wine shop in Saratoga has a pretty solid selection of Rose wine we'd like to pick our way through. A chilled bottle of dry Rose is the perfect summer wine, and we have yet to review one on the blog.

If friends come and visit during the summer, where do you take them?

We had a friend stop in for a weekend who actually ended up showing US a great time. Through a connection, we were able to sit at the very top tier at the Saratoga Racetrack---the fancy shmancy, white tablecloth section. We were totally floored, sweated profusely, and placed a lot of super exorbitant one-dollar bets. A once in a lifetime day.

If the timing is right, the Fasig-Tipton sales are amazing evenings to share with friends. You don't have to be a Sheik to go, either. Go for dinner outside, watch some horses sell for more money than most of us see in a lifetime, have a glass of wine, and confer in really hushed tones. There's a great art gallery upstairs with great views of the yearlings and our favorite auctioneer, Terrence. It's amazing seeing the thoroughbred industry from a completely different angle.

What do you like the most about Capital Region summers?

Rob: Dragging Carey to country music concerts at SPAC.

Carey: The Hattio! (Hattie's Patio). Or, on a more sober note, riding my bike to work every morning down sunny Saratoga streets.

What do you wish we had here in the summertime?

Carey: I'm from Florida, so I wouldn't mind a bit of coastline. But the Adirondacks are pretty breathtaking.

Rob: I'm splitting hairs here, but some muffler laws for the motorcycles on Broadway would be a welcome summer addition!