BSO

BSO

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Saratoga 2009 pt 2

More From the Races

 



Okay, I got the last of the pics from Jeff Ziff and combined with some of my own photos here's the rest of the photographic record of my trip Saturday to the races at Saratoga.

The race track can be a confusing place.





The better to see the way. 





Was this horse named after me?





Fabulous hats.





A view of the track.



Waiting for the race to begin. 





Of course there is that famous trumpet blast before each race. I thought it might be recorded, but after the race, when we went into downtown Saratoga, I found out that an actual person plays it and he is a celebrity of sorts. His name is Sam (never got his last name) and he played a little on the street and signed autographs for the racing fanatics. 





Believe it or not, to get his autograph and that of some of the jockys costs ten bucks! Yet there was a line of fans waiting to pay. Later in an art gallery I saw that Sam was even included in one of the paintings.





All over downtown bands were playing outside on one of the last perfect summer nights. The music ranged from country....





To psychedelia....





This sign in a bar window reminded me of Springfield's long vanished Blue Moon Cafe, where my grandfather had been a notorious character before I was born.

 



A coffeeshop for superheroes. 





A majestic lion on the steps of Saratoga City Hall. 




 

Bo Goes National

 



Despite some national TV appearances, Massachusetts' favorite comedian Bo Burnham has been pretty much stuck in the New England comedy circuit. Now he's doing a national college tour which if nothing else promises to make him a rich young man. Bo stops by UMass this Saturday on the 12th. 





 

They're Back!

Speaking of UMass, sleepy ole Amherst has come roaring to life in the past several days as the students have returned to UMass and the other north Valley colleges. All the merchants have their welcome signs out, such as the Amherst Big Y.





However, not everyone is happy, such as the American Legion Post.





On campus today iconic posters meant for dorm walls were for sale.





I was a member of the Science Fiction Society when I was at UMass.





Recruitment has already started for this semester's zombies vs. humans war.





It's nice to know that after all these years I still have friends in high places. 





Seen at Not Bread Alone.

 



2 comments:

Anonymous said...

hello tom, i saw the pictures of you at the saratoga racetrack
My cousin lives in saratoga springs. she 's an audiologist. Another cousin works at skidmore.

Mary E.Carey said...

That's interesting about the guy who plays the trumpet at the races. Looks like you had a fabulous time!