It won't be Saratoga Gaming and Raceway for much longer. People who are looking for the 'casino in Saratoga' will actually go to a place called 'the Saratoga Casino' now...which makes sense. I've always thought of it as the casino. What else would it be?

As of January 3rd, 2011, with the 7th anniversary of the Racino, Saratoga Gaming and Raceway will be Saratoga Casino and Raceway. For more details -- they're extending hours, also -- check out their press release.   

Should old acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?

That's what the quintessential New Years song asks (Auld Lang Syne, for those that might not know offhand).

But when most people think of the New Year, they think of well...new. New promises to yourself that you may or may not keep, perhaps new relationships, new job, new home; whatever it may be.

What are you doing to ring in the new this year? It's a big one -- we're  entering the second decade of the 21st century.    

Were you at a Wilton's Stewart's store this holiday season? Did you buy a Powerball ticket?

You could be the winner of nearly $50 million. Really!

The $48.8 million jackpot was sold at the Stewart's at Route 50 and Jones Rd likely within days of the Christmas day drawing.

But the winner has yet to claim the prize -- though from what I understand it isn't a very easy process. And to top it all off, they have 60 days to decide whether to take it as a lump sum or take it as an annuity for 30 years.

So ladies and gentlemen, check your stockings! If you have any unchecked lottery tickets laying around -- gifts from neighbors, friends, that co-worker you don't really like too much...check them! You could be the winner. (...and if you win -- a finder's fee for Saratoga.com?!? A cool million would do well, thanks)

Or maybe the winner is staying mum and is laughing at all of us scrambling to find the winner. Maybe they'll claim it anonymously.

But then, maybe not! Santa might have been very nice indeed this year to one lucky Powerball ticket holder.  

Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas!

This Christmas weekend we wish everyone the happiest of holidays!

Whether you've celebrated your holiday this season already or are waiting until this Saturday -- this season is (usually) all about family, as is most any holiday.

I have to admit, I am not a Saratoga Springs local -- I'm a transplant. From Jersey, originally. (Insert jokes about Jersey Shore and Snooki here). So my new tradition for the Christmas holiday is driving back down south three and a half hours to central New Jersey, where I will most likely be driven up the wall by my parents after oh.....12 hours?

But we all have our own holiday traditions. My family usually goes to my local cousin's house Christmas Eve and then down to my aunt's Christmas morning about an hour south of us.

I am an only child, so on Christmas morning, I always would pass out the presents to my parents, actually, I still do!...and we would always open our stocking stuffers first...or is it last? Whatever the case -- that was, and is -- my family holiday ritual. One of them, at least.

We would also always go Christmas light hunting. There were a couple of neighborhoods that we could depend on for having great holiday lights displays. As far as I know, there was nothing like the Capital Lights display in Albany.  Are there any other light displays around here that you go to? Or any areas that always look spectacular for the season?

And what about holiday traditions? Do you always go over the river and through the woods, watch stupid movies and eat Chinese food -- what do you and your family do in the holiday season?

I was reminded this weekend how much I love The Grinch Who Stole Christmas -- the original, thanks, not the live Jim Carey full length version. It was probably because I was watching Glee's holiday episode, and it plays off the Grinch like whoa. (Though I hate to admit I was watching Glee, I will do so to fully explain myself)

And as a kid I remembered always watching The Santa Clause with Tim Allen. (What can I say -- I watched some corny movies as a child -- didn't we all??)

But what about you guys? What are you favorite holiday-time movies?

Miracle on 34th Street? Charlie Brown Christmas? It's a Wonderful Life? Movies that make you laugh? Cry? (I have to say, lately, the Grinch never fails to get me at least teary-eyed).

Or, even better -- where do you watch your Christmas.holiday movies? I'm sure there are a bunch of screenings out there at local theaters -- but I couldn't pinpoint them for you.

So -- how about it? What is your go-to holiday movie?  

But! Random side note -- was anyone at Crossgates doing that last minute holiday shopping yesterday (that I really hope you weren't) at 2-ish for the flash mob carolers?      

Some holiday advice from local Saratoga Springs band, and great personal friends of mine, Dryer!

What are you doing with this last weekend of pre-holiday freedom?

Still looking for great gifts for those hard to buy for people? So am I...  

There's a bigger addition going on with this local restaurant, an entire second floor!