This Fall, I have a new location to share with you…The Vischer Ferry General Store located at 357 Riverview Road in Rexford NY. Found among the Erie Canal historic preserves, local apple orchards and Greek Revivals, it’s a day trip just wanting to be taken! Known for their coffee, breakfast and lunch menu, the small bistro offers a multitude of services among their crossroads location…A community gathering space on the second floor can be reserved for private parties, book clubs and workshops. A gift shop adjacent to the bistro, which I’ll get back to later; and a breathtaking fresh air space for dining and visiting pop-up events announced to members of the VFGS Insider Club…just join online at www.vischerferrygeneralstore.com. Now, let’s chat about that gift shop! Grab yourself a cup of coffee and start to meander the original wooden planks throughout the store. For me, I was immediately drawn to these colorful Cantha Quilts, hand crafted from recycled saree cloth. Each blanket is unique in size, mixed pattern and color.  They can be used as a table cloth, throw blanket, or main spread on a bed. The colors are abounding throughout with florals, geometrics and stripes. From Peony & Bee, a local artist of Wood & Acrylic Sculptures and Ornaments, you can find unique Fall pieces to capture your favorite memory of the season. For those of you with an eye for art, the General Store also carries Water Color Paintings by local artist Ottavia Huang. Known for capturing the essence of her surroundings, she just might paint you into a future watercolor while enjoying the Vischer Ferry grounds…you never know!

Have you caught the Pickleball bug yet? I mean, this is turning into the next big craze! Not yet an official Olympic Sport, but you wait and see! For those of you who want to give it a whirl, head over to Finishing Touches, they have a plethora of Pickleball Paddles and accessories. You can even play on their new court just beyond the outdoor sitting area. But be aware, there are some pretty, shall I say, “different” terms used…like “Kitchen,” the non-volley zone that is seven feet on either side of the net where players can’t hit volleys; or a “Dink”…a controlled shot that’s hit on a bounce from the kitchen zone that lands in the opponent’s kitchen zone. HMMM…I’m really “Dinking” about this one! It might be best to just “Dink” some wine from the sidelines! Sorry…I couldn’t help myself!

Back to being a bit more serious…If you prefer shopping, let me introduce you to this bronze-like beauty of a Wall Mounted Horse Bust. His canny demeanor adds a touch of our Saratoga heritage while adding a conversation piece to any room. The resin construction makes this piece easy to hang while the texture and details offer a sense of an authentic sculpture. He would be adorable draped in a Fall scarf, Santa Hat at the holidays, or a ring of roses during our biggest race weekends! Heck, even give him the name of a horse who’s won a race for you in the past! And there is no way you can leave this shop without trying some of their candies! New for the palate are the Matcha Green Tea Pearls with chocolate centers. Did you know Matcha tea is well known for reducing arthritic inflammation, a good source of fiber and may even help with relaxation, mood and stress! Now that’s my kind of treat! If you prefer fudge, try the Caramel Apple Fudge! Go ahead, it has 30% less sugar than your average fudge and is gluten free! That make this celiac smile big time! Made in Pennsylvania, it’s all hand stirred over an open flame in small batches and crafted from only pure ingredients! If you’re yearning for a goody, this place is a must-visit Fall destination!

Just down the road, there’s that little hidden shop, Accents at Allerdice, that’s full of Fall décor for the home. As usual, they seem to find the most unique pieces. I loved this large Teak Wood Horse Sculpture on a Stand. Prominent, bold and carved to reveal the wood’s grain… it actually seems to give the impression of the horse in full stride across the finish line! The piece sits 33” H by 22” W upon a sturdy wrought iron post and wood footing. They only have 2 in stock, so be sure to head over before they’re gone! Fall is also a wonderful season for weddings. I love beautiful, sentimental gifts that really touch two souls on their special day such as the “Marriage Takes Three” Carving and Cross on a stand. As noted on the description card, “…it’s not enough for two to meet. They must be united in love by love’s Creator, God above.” I couldn’t have said it any better.

Centrally located in Downtown Saratoga, you can always find Silverwood Home & Gallery stocked with many of the fine luxuries of our beloved area. Supporting local artists has been a focus for their gallery including Rumara Jewett who was recently honored at a reception at the NY State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center for her painting “Coming Home.” Her art, capturing an underlying spirit of each subject, weaves a two-dimensional piece into a three-dimensional masterpiece. Featured here is, “The Third Race” from her Acrylic Sparkles: Thoroughbred Racing Collection. Rumara experiments with this medium to capture the beauty, grace and competitive nature of racing horses. The colors struck me immediately with its golden tones offset by one dark gray horse in the lead running at the glitter steeped rail. A perfect piece at the end of a hallway to draw visitors in to capture a closer look at all the detail! And if your porch is in need of a little refresh after the summer, this Graphic Equestrian Outdoor Pillow is a perfect punch of Fall color with the Saratoga red stripes and a blanketed horse. Perfect for a cozy evening, nestled with a hot beverage and a blanket!

Speaking of blankets, head down the street to Impressions of Saratoga where they just commissioned a Saratoga Themed Blanket bursting with quintessential whereabouts of our city…from the Historic District, the National Museum of Racing, Yaddo, SPAC, and so much more. A true art of dedication to our city that warms the heart the whole year through! You can also find towels, glassware, baby bibs and so much more with singular elements from the blanket throughout the shop! And here’s why I love Impressions so much, they really seek to find artists who are willing to make them one-of-a-kind pieces, like these Jockey Silk Night Lites!  Made exclusively for Impressions, they come in a variety of colors and patterns along with suncatchers from the same artist. All handcrafted from poured glass and made by a mother/daughter team in Massachusetts.

One last stop…The Dark Horse! Have you made your way downtown to meet THE TRUE Dark Horse, Upset, yet? Best to follow them on Facebook for the next big showing! In the shop, there’s no doubt any horse racing fan could resist the Horse & Jockey Lamp, always at the ready to race into your home to add a touch of Saratoga’s winning best! Place atop an entry console or side table, desk lamp or guest bedroom dresser. The spectacular details of this resin crafted piece are proudly Made in America with 12-18 different themed lamps to choose from. For those cool evenings inside, add a hint of the outdoors to your room with an Avenue of the Pines Candle. All custom made for Dark Horse…right down to the wax seal. There are other scents to explore as well, while shopping the vast array of truly unique Toga finds.