New York politician tangles with reporter at Sagamore Hotel upstate


You never know what you’re going to find when you’re on the road. I’ve spent seemingly countless nights in hotels and have run into some strange situations. One thing I haven’t seen, though, is a fight break out between politicians and the media. Well, this is exactly what happened at the Sagamore Hotel, on Lake George in upstate New York.

Last summer, I had the opportunity to head up to Lake George, New York and check out the newly renovated Sagamore Hotel, so I took a closer look at the local news this morning when I heard it mentioned. It turns out the upscale property was the site of a spat between controversial Republican New York gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino and NY Post reporter Fred Dicker.

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According to Fox 5 New York, Dicker asked Paladino about “evidence he had that his rival, Andrew Cuomo, had cheated on his then-wife, Kerry Kennedy, years ago.” Meanwhile, Paladino “accused Dicker of sending a photographer to take pictures of his 10-year-old daughter, whom he fathered during an affair .”

Salacious stuff for Lake George! Check out our past coverage of the Sagamore Hotel.

Playboy makes a play for South Beach hotel

There’s a whole new kind of sexy coming to Miami’s hotel scene.

Rumor has it, Playboy wants to buy out the struggling Sagamore hotel giving the Playboy Bunnies and of course, paying hotel guests, a new place to call home (at least for a night).

The Sagamore, located on trendy Collins Avenue, has apparently missed its last three mortgage payments, and Playboy wants to come to its rescue. And why not? The Sagamore has prided itself as an artsy, luxury South Beach hotel complete with 93 one- and two-bedroom suites, a penthouse and 900-square-foot bungalow suites with spiral staircases and connecting bedrooms, which I can only imagine mirrors something similar to the Playboy mansion.

At the news of the Sagamore’s $31.5 million foreclosure lawsuit, Playboy put plans in motion to market a version of its popular Las Vegas Playboy Club in South Beach. Playboy founder and icon Hugh Hefner, and his brood of beauties, are said to be adding their own redecorating on the hotel suites. Guests willing to pay a premier could sleep in a redesigned Hugh Hefner suite.

What are the chances Hef brings his riveting E! TV Show “The Girl’s Next Door” to South Beach? Seems likely… if plans for the Playboy takeover go forward, the Sagamore will trade in its lavish art scene for bunny-clad waitresses and VIP lounges, according to reports in Florida’s Sun Sentinel.

No official announcement has been made but you can be sure we’re watching this transaction closely. If the Playboy financing goes through, things could get even steamier on South Beach.

Photo credit: Caballero, Miller/Getty