Ultimate Summer Weekend Bro-Trip: Saratoga Springs, NY- Saturday Day Time

Saturday- Day Time

Coffee: You’ve got a busy day ahead of you, so skip the brunch scene and just grab a coffee and a bagel.  I’d recommend either Uncommon Grounds or Bruegger's. Uncommon Grounds is a large coffeehouse located in the heart of Saratoga. With its sleek look and central location, Uncommon serves as the centerpoint of the downtown area. Uncommon has a hipster vibe to it and sort of caters to the college crowd, but it’s generally perceived as the best place to chill and drink a coffee in Saratoga. The bagels and sandwiches are pretty solid there too. However, hands down the best bagels in Saratoga hail from Bruegger's. Brueggers is a bagel-first spot also located downtown. While the décor and vibe don’t exactly match that of Uncommon, the bagels are way better and the coffee is just as good.

Golf: This is a getaway with your guy friends’ right? Well, what type of bro trip doesn’t involve at least one golf outing?  If any of your boys’ are hedge fund managers or Johnny Manziel, then head to Saratoga National (pictured below). National is constantly ranked among the best public golf courses in the country and a favorite of former New York Giants Head Coach Bill Parcells. This course is pretty amazing, but it’s going to run you about $200.00 a piece. However, if you and your bros aren’t oil rich yet, then head to the Saratoga Spa Golf Course. Located in the Saratoga State Park, the Spa Golf Course offers great scenery and an above average round of golf. At $44.00 for 18 holes, Spa is definitely the best bang for your buck in Saratoga.  Grab five stogies and hit the links.

Sandwich/Lunch: After Golf, grab a quick sandoozle before you hit the Track. There are really only two great options here, Putnum Market and Roma’s. Putnum  proclaims itself as the best food store between New York City and Montreal, and this is 100% true. The deli meats at Putnum are unmatched in quality and the breads are first-rate as well.  However, the sandwiches run a little expensive at Putnum and it’s really more of a place you take your girl to. Instead, head over to Roma Foods’ on the West Side of Town. Romas’ is an Italian Deli and gourmet food store, that's well regarded among most Saratogians. Also, it delivers exactly what you want, huge subs stacked high with quality deli meats. At around $6.00 a piece for a footlong, Roma’s is the best deal in town.

Track: It’s money time now. A day at Saratoga Race Course is a “no brainer” for any bro-trip. We’re talking beers, racing programs, and girls in sundresses for days. However, in order to get the most out of your afternoon at the Track, follow my advice. First, get a picnic table. The picnic tables on the Track’s lawn are the prime way to spend a Saturday day-drinking with your boys. One of the great things about the Track is ithat it's cooler friendly, so you guys can bring in a couple of cases of beer and thus solve your alcohol problems for the day.  Of course, the tables fill up quickly so you might have to send one of your boys to the Track at around 7:00 a.m. to claim a table by throwing a table cloth or blanket over it. Grandstand seats aren’t a terrible idea either. For just a few extra bucks, your group of bros can get reserved seats and a nice view of every race.  Solid way to watch a big stakes event.

Second, dress the part.  I’m talking button downs, seersucker, colorful pants, and bow ties. Think a Nantucket wedding or an Ole Miss tailgate. You’re at a horse racing track after all, so you might as well look like a big shot from the 1940s. Sure you’ll look slightly douchey, but what do you care, your reading an article about taking a “Bro-Trip.” Further, there’s a reason why there’s a website called “Hot Chicks with Douchebags.”

 
Third, bet big. A Bro-Trip after all is all about making memories. Well, who wants to tell their co-workers about how their friend Sully broke even at the Track? Instead, throw at least twenty dollars down on every race. This way, the stakes are high. Your boy that won big can buy everyone a round of shots later, while your friend that lost $200 can angry drink for the rest of the night.

Post Track Drink- Siro’s: After the Track, head over to Siro’s for a nice post-track cocktail. Siro’s is an outdoor bar where the who’s who of Saratoga (or people who think their important) come to drink after the Track. Siro’s is usually pretty packed, but luckily you never have to wait too long to get a drink. The girl situation is usually pretty good there, especially if you like cougars, and there’s always a live band playing. Of course, this can be a blessing or a curse. If it’s a Billy Joel or Frank Sinatra tribute band you’re usually in for a good time. However, if it’s some 40 year old hack playing standard bar music, you probably won’t stay too long. After all, how badly do you want to hear the 10,000^th rendintion of “Living on a Prayer?”

 

Look out for Saturday Night post.
 

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