The Good Life, Central New York Magazine

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PRESIDENT Tim Kennedy VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES William Allison 315-470-2080 ballison@syracuse.com

EDITOR MJ Kravec 315-766-7833 mkravec@advancemediany.com ASSISTANT CONTENT EDITOR Amy Bleier Long 315-470-2146 ableierlong@advancemediany.com

MAGAZINE/EVENTS SALES MANAGER Jennifer K. Queri 315-466-3857 jqueri@advancemediany.com DESIGNERS Chris Boehke cboehke@advancelocal.com

CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Thomas H. Brown 315-470-2053 tbrown@acssyr.com

CUSTOMER SERVICE 315-470-6397

Susan Santola ssantola@advancelocal.com

The Good Life, Central New York Magazine (ISSN 1931-194X) is published six times a year by Advance Media New York, 220 S. Warren St., Syracuse, New York 13202. The Post-Standard © 2018.

All material submitted to Central New York Magazine becomes the property of Advance Media New York, publishers of The Post-Standard and Central New York Magazine. It will not be returned. Such a submission, to name a few examples, may be a letter to the editor, a cartoon, a picture, a poem and the like. Any such material may be excerpted, edited for length or content, and may be published or used in any other way. For example, on Syracuse.com or in The Post-Standard.

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Editor’s Letter

A quiet place I love Black Friday.

Kick off the holidays with content editor Amy Bleier Long’s

I wake up early while it’s dark. The house is still sleeping,

compilation of gifts from area shops and roundup of what to

tired from yesterday’s roasting and baking and football. I put

wear to seasonal gatherings. Next, take a turn into the city

on a pot of coffee and pour over the inserts for Target, Kohls

and discover the magic of the holidays in downtown Syra-

and Walmart in yesterday’s paper. Maybe I’ll have pumpkin

cuse. Finally, follow writer Sandi Mulconry as she takes us

pie for breakfast or maybe I’ll just add pumpkin spice cream-

behind the scenes of Dickens Christmas in Skaneateles to cel-

er to my coffee. I think about all the people lined up out-

ebrate 25 years of merriment. In other departments, browse

side the big stores right now, in the dark. My sister might be

Social Lights, Caught Doing Good, Farm to Table, Artist Pro-

one of them. She might even have a cup from Starbucks in

file, CNY History and more. Before closing the book, visit

hand. I will tease her later and tell her, “You’re one of them.”

with Jim Greene, who portrays Charles Dickens at Dickens

It’s all in good fun.

Christmas in Skaneateles, to find out what it takes to get into

I don’t begrudge anyone for getting up early to shop at the

the spirit of the season (hint: eggnog helps).

big stores. I appreciate the fun and the frenzy, but after all

When you’re done, raise a mug ­— or a glass — and toast.

the work from the previous day, I like my Black Fridays a lit-

Here’s to savoring the season in Central New York and all the

tle quieter. So, I’ll hit the smaller shops in our area—there

quiet beauty it has to offer.

are so many to visit.

Cheers,

In this special holiday issue, we’re celebrating our local shops and villages in the warmest ways. Join us as writer/ photographer Alaina Potrikus takes us through Central New

MJ

York’s charming towns to show you where to shop and where

mkravec@advancemediany.com 315-766-7833

PHOTOGRAPH BY SHUTTERSTOCK

to stop for a bite or a warm drink.

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CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

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Contents Features

35

59

71

Village shops offer a unique shopping experience.

Downtown Syracuse celebrates the season.

A look back at some standout moments.

Hometown Charm

City Street Lights

The Scene in 2018

47

64

75

Holiday gifts to stimulate the senses.

Dickens Christmas in Skaneateles turns 25.

What to wear to holiday gatherings.

A Sense of Wonder

Silver Bells

‘Tis the Season

PHOTOGRAPH BY AMELIA BEAMISH

Mason Jar Subaru WRX STI with tree, $30, Sprinkled and Painted, sprinkledand painted.etsy.com.

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Departments 8 Editor’s Letter 12 It’s All Good

What to savor in CNY now.

14 (315)

More than an area code: CNY Barometer … Downtown Doings … Behind the Scenes … Caught Doing Good … and more.

24 Social Lights

A pictorial review of Central New York’s social scene.

82 CNY Scout Locally made ornaments.

86 Farm to Table

Empire Farm Brewery’s Curried Butternut Soup Bisque.

59

90 Artist Profile

PHOTOGRAPHS BY SCOTT SCHILD, EMPIRE FARM BREWERY, SANDY ROE PHOTOS AT 1020

Skaneateles artist Gary Trento finds meaning in the simplest things.

94 CNY Art

What’s on display at Central New York galleries.

97 OHA History

A profile of local pumpkin production.

98 The Last Word

With Jim Greene, aka Charles Dickens at Dickens Christmas in Skaneateles.

90

86 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

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It’s All Good

Embers only NOVEMBER, DECEMBER SHOULD BE SOMETHING TO REMEMBER. SEE WHERE WE’RE GOING WITH THIS? TO REALLY CAPTURE THE WARMTH OF THE LAST TWO MONTHS OF THE YEAR, MAKE THE MOST OF THE SEASON’S GIFTS. HERE ARE SEVEN WAYS TO SAVOR THE BEST OF CNY RIGHT NOW. C O M PI L E D BY M . J . K R AV EC

1.

NATURE MADE

2.

GET GLOWING

Gather golden leaves, pinecones or acorns to accent your dining table. Use as placeholders or as a filler beneath a candle for a simple and elegant centerpiece.

Place battery-operated candles in an outoor lantern at your front door to welcome guests. Banish the burr of winter eves and keep the flame “burning” from November to February. Or March. Or April. Let’s be real.

3.

BALLET TWO TO The Nutcracker Sugar Plum Social takes place 3 to 5:50 p.m., Sat. Dec. 1 at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown. This family-friendly event features holiday activities, buffet, cash bar and photos with dancers from the Syracuse City Ballet’s Nutcracker. $35 per adult, $25 per child. Go to syracusecityballet.com. The following week, Dasher’s Magical Gift, a local tradition featuring performers from Dance Centre North, brings high flying holiday magic and a colorful cast of characters to the Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theatre, 11 a.m., Sat. Dec. 8.

Alena Zhang, as Dasher in “Dasher’s Magical Gift” in 2015.

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

5.

DASHER PHOTOGRAPH BY AMELIA BEAMISH, REINDEER BY MICHAEL GREENLAR, OTHER IMAGES SHUTTERSTOCK

4.

FIR REAL Bring fresh cut greens into the house and hang sprigs over mirrors or artwork or place in a vase with water for a simple, natural nod to the season.

GET GINGE-Y WITH IT Step away from the gingerbread house kit.

Make old-fashioned gingerbread cake instead.

It’s warm, sweet and much easier than a gingerbread house. Trust us. We’ve been there. Find a recipe at bonappetit.com.

6.

PRETTY PAPER With the Sound of Music coming to the Landmark Theatre (see page 96), we thought it appropriate to take brown paper packages tied up with strings to heart. Recycle paper grocery bags by wrapping a few gifts in brown paper and tying with simple twine.

7.

VILLAGE, PEOPLE The Village of Cazenovia hosts Men’s Night Out December 13.

For those who need help shopping (we’re not saying all men), helpers will be on hand throughout the village to point you (men) in the right direction. Sorry, guys, we can’t help it.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

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NEWS, INTERVIEWS

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C U LT U R E , C O M M E N T

CN Y BA ROMETER IT ’S W H AT ’S U P

ORANGE APPEAL Syracuse University is the No. 1 college in America for school spirit for the third year in a row, according to the most recent rankings from the Princeton Review.

In September, actor and North Syracuse High School graduate Richard Gere dropped into Julie’s Diner on Route 11 in North Syracuse for breakfast with his pregnant wife, Alejandra Silva, his father, Homer Gere, and another woman. Diner owner Kristen Macko said Gere was very gracious, chatting with patrons and posing for a picture with the diner’s staff.

POUR FAVOR The Finger Lakes was named America’s top wine region in a nationwide poll conducted by 10Best.com, an affiliate of USA Today. Several Finger Lakes wineries ranked in the Top 10 in other categories.

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PHOTOGRAPHS BY MICHAEL GREENLAR, AP, SHUTTERSTOCK

GERE SHIFT

THEY’RE BAAACK The Downtown Committee’s seasonal staff members Dot and Dash make a comeback to downtown hotspots starting the day after Thanksgiving. Follow the Downtown Committee on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and send your guesses of where the elves are to mail@ downtownsyracuse.com. Correct guesses will be entered for a chance to win a gift card from a downtown business. A winner is picked every week.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY DISNEY ABC, EVERSON MUSEUM, DAVID LASSMAN AND KRISTEN MACKO

“Humanity is on the brink of failure...The three other compounds ­— in Syracuse, New York; Beckley, West Virginia; and San Angelo, Texas — have been overrun and destroyed.”

MICHAEL LANGDON, DELIVERING SOME BAD NEWS TO A GROUP OF SURVIVORS OF A NUCLEAR MISSILE ATTACK ON “AMERICAN HORROR STORY.”

A STAR IS BORN Tyler Wladis, an 8-year-old child actor from Fayetteville, plays Graham in ABC’s new sitcom “Single Parents,” which premiered in September. The comedy follows a group of single parents as they each raise their 7-year-old kids.

Graham is the son of Angie, who is played by Leighton Meester — most known for her character Blair Waldorf in “Gossip Girl.”

RIDING HIGH Tom Berenger and Keith David returned to Syracuse in September to celebrate the premiere of “American Dresser,” the first movie made at the Central New York Film Hub. Berenger, David and Jeff Fahey joined writer-director Carmine Cangialosi for a special screening of the film at the MOST in Armory Square.

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(315) DOW NTOW N DOINGS

BY T E RI W E AV E R

“A symphony of flavors” C I T R O N E L L E OW N E R SAYS H E’ S A I M I N G FO R A F U L L S E N S O RY E X P E RI E N C E AT L AT E ST D OW N TOW N R E STAU R A N T

kale Caesar salad at Citronelle: Tuscan kale with a pickled egg and croutons.

Max Chutinthranond doesn’t simply taste food. To him, it’s a

da and sage. Roasted calamari stuffed with rice, Iberico cho-

full sensory experience.

First, you see and smell, then taste. Chewing changes every-

rizo and apple gel. Piquillo peppers stuffed with goat cheese

thing, he said. But it’s swallowing, and then breathing, that re-

and boquerones. Mushrooms — enoki and beech — tucked into

ally tells you what the food tastes like.

a cremini cap stuffed with chickpea puree, gorgonzola and a

“You don’t know,” he said, “until you breathe.”

piece of honeycomb.

For 24 years, Methin “Max” Chutinthranond has run Lemon

“The honeycomb,” he said, after tasting the mushrooms during

Grass in Armory Square. This summer, he and his wife, Pook,

a test for the kitchen, which is headed by chef Hans Lazuardi.

opened their latest venture, Citronelle, just a couple doors down

“It brings it all together.”

from the Thai and Pacific Rim restaurant.

The Chutinthranonds first opened Lemon Grass in Matty-

Citronelle is both a restaurant and banquet facility with a

dale in 1989. Five years later, Lemon Grass moved to Armory

menu that pulls from a variety of traditions: Japanese, French,

Square. He and his family had opened Thai Cuisine in Ithaca

Spanish, Greek, American, Italian and more.

in the 1980s, a move that marked Chutinthranond’s first expe-

“It’s new American cuisine,” Chutinthranond said of the space at 113 Walton St., Syracuse. It’s also what Chutinthranond calls 16

a symphony of flavors: roast chicken stuffed with smoked Gou-

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

rience in a commercial kitchen as a restaurateur.

Before he moved to Ithaca, Chutinthranond was a develop-

er and businessman in Bangkok. Over the years, he says, he learned to cook by watching and reading and cooking through recipes from Jacques Pepin, Julia Child and Marcella Hazan.

But he learned to eat — to appreciate food textures, recipe combinations and the exacting work it takes to create consistency — from his grandparents who helped to raise him in Thailand.

His grandfather’s breakfast ritual never changed. At 7 a.m., he ate toast, butter and marmalade. It was a house with a cook, Chutinthranond said, and each day his grandfather would decide what the family was to eat.

Chutinthranond was 9 when his grandfather died suddenly. “It was 6:08 p.m.,” he said. “That was the darkest day of my life.”

The next day, his grandmother told the boy to take his grandfather’s chair at the family table. The seat came with a task. As the oldest male, Chutinthranond was to start planning the meals.

With the combinations of dishes in his memory and his grandmother watching closely, he began putting meals together. Noodles at lunch. Curries the center of dinners, with varying dishes to com-

with white marble and chairs and stools made by Stickley.

The atrium ceiling is more than two stories tall.

A few days before Citronelle opened, he and his wife, Pook, were in Citronelle’s kitchen.

Pook Chutinthranond is overseeing all the desserts at Citronelle, as she does at Lemon Grass. They moved stacks of Monsoon Pottery bowls and plates — made by their daughter, Danielle, in Chicago — to the dessert station.

A few weeks before, he was going over Citronelle’s menu.

He talked about the burger mix made with 21 percent fat (“You’re tasting meat that has life”), the sausage, sage and Gouda stuffed into a spring chicken (“It starts to make a symphony”).

He talked about another Citronelle dish that’s simple, like toast, butter and marmalade. It’s sautéed shrimp, garlic, olive oil and parsley.

“You would jump in,” he said, smiling, “and you would die.”

plement that night’s spicy, creamy or tangy sauces.

“You must have the right partners,” he said now. For the next three years, the boy ordered the food and the family ate it. “We talked about food all the time,” he said.

In the 1990s in Syracuse, Chutinthranond wanted his customers to have a similar experience, to appreciate when a ginger curry sauce complements seafood but not chicken, how one sauce can improve beef but overpower fish.

He also wanted to change people’s expectations about Thai and other Asian foods. To some, Asian food meant large portions and cheaper prices, with leftovers to take home. “I did not do that,” he said. “I almost went out of business,” he added.

Chutinthranond wanted to show how the complex combinations of curries and baked pots deserved a closer look. Vegetables in exact dices and broths with consistent flavors, replicated night after night, take skill and dedication.

Chutinthranond wanted to elevate his customers’ expectations for Thai and Pacific Rim foods. “People came,” he said of the early years in downtown Syracuse. “They said, ‘Food is good. But expensive.’ ” It took about a decade, he said, to build up a clientele.

Two decades after running Lemon Grass downtown, he started having to say no to larger parties, he said. His current space, with

PHOTOGRAPHS BY TERI WEAVER

Lemon Grass on one side and Bistro Elephant on the other, didn’t allow for bigger banquets.

Now, Citronelle — at about 10,000 square feet — can handle those parties, he said. The 2,000 square-foot-kitchen has four lines, spac-

Some of the dinnerware was made by the

es for cooking, prepping and plating foods.

Chutinthranonds’ daughter, Danielle,

He said he thinks the kitchen will be able to send out 180 plates

who runs Monsoon Pottery in Chicago.

at a time, if needed. The entire place can handle about 300 seated guests and a cocktail reception for about 600, he said.

The space also includes a restaurant with a 60-foot bar topped NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

17

(315) BEHIND THE SCENES

BY AMY BLEIER LONG

Candy stripers

18

Whether you hang them from your tree, crush them over choc-

After Halloween, the Hercules team shifts into overdrive, work-

olate bark or use one to garnish a festive cocktail, candy canes

ing 14-15 hours a day, producing candy canes, ribbon candy, and

are one of the most recognizable symbols of the holiday season.

chocolate delights by hand. Air conditioning and humidity con-

For more than 100 years, family-owned Hercules Candy has been

trol in the new building frees them to be less dependent on the

making the striped treats by hand in East Syracuse.

weather and they can now make hard candies year-round. Five

Terry Andrianos runs the business with her husband Steve,

full-time employees and additional seasonal staff work through

whose grandfather founded the company in 1910. Two of their

the holiday season to accommodate the demand; the expansion

three children, twins Craig and Cara, work with them. Until this

will allow Hercules to hire more employees.

past September, Hercules Candy was located on West Heman

Each November, the company opens their doors for their Can-

Street. Thirty percent growth over the last year – which Andria-

dy Cane Open House, giving the community an up-close look at

nos attributed to their popular YouTube channel – necessitated a

how the treats are made. This year marks the 20th anniversary

move eight blocks away to 720 W. Manlius Street, close to James

of the event. In recent years, the open houses drew 500-700 vis-

Street and Thompson Road. The new facility is more than twice

itors per day. Attendees will get to sample the flavor being made

as large as their previous location, providing a lot more room to

that day, enjoy cookies and apple cider and have a chance to win

produce, wrap and sell confections – plus parking. A larger store-

door prizes, as well as shop for all kinds of sweets.

front has updated displays, a company history nook, space to

Making the candy canes can take up to two hours, so depend-

expand their vegan offerings and a viewing window for visitors

ing on what stage the candy makers are at, you might see the

to see the employees as they handcraft candies.

ingredients boiling and flavoring added, the aeration process

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

PHOTOGRAPH BY JOHN BERRY

G E T A G L I M P S E O F C L AS S I C CA N DY M A D E BY H A N D

where the mix is pulled on a candy hook until it’s glossy and white, the application of the color stripes or the shaping, cutting and bending of the canes. The tour supplements the part you see in person with a video that shows the process from start to finish.

Each season, they make around 3,000 candy canes to sell in their store.

Hercules offers seven flavors, which are, in order of popularity: peppermint, raspberry, wintergreen, orange, root beer, cinnamon and spearmint. Since they’re handmade, “No two candy canes are alike; that’s what makes it kind of fun, slightly different like a snowflake,” says Andrianos.

For the many families who attend the open house each year, Andrianos says, “It’s their tradition, just like baking cookies or cutting down a Christmas tree.” Sharing in others’ holiday fun becomes the Andrianos family’s way of celebrating the holiday season, too, since they don’t take a break until after Christmas.

An open house at Hercules Candy Company’s former location in East Syracuse. Steve Andrianos pulls and twists the candy mixture to begin PHOTOGRAPHS BY DAVID LASSMAN

forming candy canes.

Working with him, his daughter, Cara.

To get hooked on Hercules’ handiwork and scope out their new space, stop by the Candy Cane Open House on November 17 or 24 and search Hercules Candy on YouTube.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

19

(315) CAUGHT DOING GOOD

BY SUSAN KENNEDY

Giving season Give your family the gift of philanthropy this holiday season by together choosing a cause in CNY to support.

Area nonprofits need help and donations year-round, but when everyone’s in the generous holiday spirit, it’s a great time to start giving back. Now’s the chance for you to get “Caught Doing Good”!

The Salvation Army Contact: Josiah Benedict, 315-479-3630, josiah.benedict@use.salvationarmy.org The Salvation Army/United Way of CNY-sponsored Christmas Bureau is the largest Christmastime giveaway in Syracuse, offering gifts and food to more than 7,000 eligible low-income children.

12/17 & 12/18: Sort, set up and stage

Christmas Bureau gifts in the OnCenter’s Main Exhibit Hall.

12/19: Distribute gifts, food baskets, toys and books.

12/20: Clean up following the giveaway.

THROUGH CHRISTMAS: Ring that

Red Kettle bell! Sign up online at redkettlevolunteer.org.

WEEKLY/YEAR-ROUND: Drivers urgently needed! Take an hour, pick up donated food/items from area businesses, drop off at the 1407 S. Salina St. location.

Hope for the Holidays: Old Newsboys

Since 1932, The Post-Standard has collected donations and distributed a special edition of the newspaper to raise money for those in need. Today, teams of volunteers take to street corners in December to collect money in a friendly competition, giving more than $50,000 annually to the Christmas Bureau.

NOW: Sign up to be an Old

Newsboy — Join/Form a Team!

12/7 & 12/8: Stake your ground on a street corner to collect donations and distribute the special edition newspaper.

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CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

Rescue Mission

ACR Health

Contact: The Rescue Mission Holiday Center, 315-701-3898

Contact: Mary Doody, 315-475-2430

The Rescue Mission provides programs across CNY to help end hunger and homelessness. All guests receive holiday stockings filled with necessities.

ACR Health provides services to those with chronic illness, through programs across nine CNY counties. ACR’s 35th Anniversary Celebration is November 8.

NOW — CHRISTMAS EVE:

URGENT/NOW: Collect hygiene items

Be a Holiday Angel!

for men, women, children. Especially undergarments (underwear for men/ women and sports bras for women), bath towels and blankets, new/gently used.

Shop, wrap and drop off gifts noted on an ACR client’s wish list. Or donate funds. Choose at random or have ACR select a person/family who inspires you most to become a Holiday Angel.

NOW/YEAR-ROUND: Volunteer to serve a meal, help guests find clothes in a Thrifty Shopper store, decorate meal delivery bags, placemats and holiday decorations.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

Volunteer to deliver the Holiday Angel gifts (through Christmas Eve, if necessary).

PHOTOGRAPH BY LAUREN LONG

Contact: Diana Cavender, 315-470-2054, dcavender@advancelocal.com

Richard Levy stands in the living room of his home in Syracuse.

My life changed forever when I was forced to flee Nazi Germany as a young, Jewish boy. I was rescued through the extraordinary kindness of a British family in 1939. My life was saved. Over time, I developed the notion that I was set out to better the world through moral and ethical action.

Inspired Giving: Richard Levy

I decided to open a fund at the Community Foundation to provide for the causes that resonate with my own life experiences such as refugee resettlement, civil rights and healthcare.

My fund makes it easy to facilitate my annual giving now. Leaving a portion of the proceeds of my estate to the fund allows this giving to continue even after I’m gone. It gives me great comfort in knowing that my wishes will continue to help future generations facing their own challenges. since 1927 Read more of Richard’s story at Levy.5forCNY.org

cnycf.org (315) 422-9538

S8439767-01

(315) United Way of CNY

Everson Museum

Contact: Vince Spicola, 315-428-2232, vspicola@unitedway-cny.org

Contact: Everson.org/FOT18

THROUGH 12/19: Provide a new or gently

used children’s book for Christmas Bureau families. For all reading levels and ages.

Volunteer to collect the books.

Meals on Wheels Contact Tina Casella, 315-478-5948 x213 Serving meals to the homebound in CNY for nearly 60 years.

URGENT/NOW: Deliver Meals

Many regular volunteers leave CNY in the winter, so meal delivery is crucial.

Groups can “Adopt a Route” to cover.

Known for its collection of modern and contemporary American art, the museum works to make art more accessible and enable community outreach.

NOW - MID DEC: Create and donate a tree, wreath or display to the Festival of Trees — all items sold benefit the museum — or volunteer at the event.

Samaritan Center Contact: 315-472-0650, volunteer@samcenter.org Serves meals to the hungry 7 days a week.

URGENT/NOW: Weekend volunteers needed to provide hot meals to guests at its new location, 215 N. State St, Syracuse.

THANKSGIVING, CHRISTMAS: Holiday Meal

Prep & Delivery — prepare and serve a hot meal to clients on the actual holiday.

Interfaith Works Contact: 315-449-3552 Interfaith Works helps New Americans adapt to life in Syracuse. Holiday gifts of games are especially welcome as games are universal across cultures, languages and generations.

NOW: Be a Holiday Ambassador

Purchase gifts for a specific family, whose names and ages you’ll receive. Or send a check with a personal card.

FAMILY GIFT IDEAS: TOPS Gift Cards; baskets

with teas, cookies & spices; small blankets for cuddling; board games, family puzzles; homemade cards, drawings; book bags filled with essentials for all ages.

CHILDREN/YOUTH GIFT IDEAS: Waterproof/warm

The Everson Museum’s annual Festival of Trees.

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

PHOTOGRAPH BY DENNIS NETT

mittens/gloves, earmuffs; books; big hair clips, ankle/wrist bracelets; toy cars/trucks; crazy socks; pajamas; coloring books, decorative empty boxes; stuffed animals; journals; puzzles; building blocks; sunglasses; mugs; anything sports related; games.

LIFE SAVING SYNERGY Experience the cutting edge of medicine at the St. Joseph’s Health Cardiovascular Institute, as we bring together nationally acclaimed specialists from all facets of cardiovascular medicine to provide the widest range of treatment options in the region.

Our commitment to constant self-improvement is strong, and with our ever-growing list of world-class services including our Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery Program, patients recover faster and more safely, because to us...

EVERY BEAT MATTERS.

A H I G H E R L E V E L O F C A R E | visit everybeatmatterssjh.org © 2018 St. Joseph’s Health. © 2018 Trinity Health. All rights reserved.

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Social Lights EVERSON MUSEUM’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY GALA

9.15

The Everson Museum of Art celebrated the 50th anniversary of its iconic I.M. Pei-designed building at 401 Harrison St. in Syracuse. The celebration kicked off with an immersive, interactive gala, inspired by the building’s architecture. The vertical performance group BANDALOOP entertained throughout evening. The gala event is part of a yearlong celebration of the museum’s five decades of significant acquisitions and groundbreaking exhibitions along with pioneering public programs

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1 . Patrons are photographed against a backdrop of I.M. Pei.

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PHOTOS BY MICHAEL GREENLAR

sponsored by the museum.

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2 . The vertical performance group BANDALOOP

performs on the outside walls of the museum.

3. From left, Everson Museum of Art Executive Director Elizabeth Dunbar, Terry and Ellen Lautz and Terry Delavan.

4. Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh, center.

5. Light Work Director Shane Lavalette, center.

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Social Lights

OPEN HOUSE DECEMBER 9 2-4 PM www.mssyr.org 315.449.9033

BREW AT THE ZOO & DINOS, TOO!

8.3

The Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo held their 2nd annual Brew at the Zoo & Wine, Too! fundraiser at the zoo. The event was renamed Brew at the Zoo & Dinos, Too! to include its Dinosaur Invasion! Exhibit, which brought 13 gigantic animatronic dinosaurs to zoo grounds for the summer. About 2,000 people attended the event, which included a VIP reception with special tastings and animal meet-and-greets. Guests enjoyed roaming zoo grounds to sample more than 40 beverage stations and 10 food stations catered by Tops Friendly Markets. Beer and wine sponsors Spirit & Sanzone and TJ Sheehan Empire Brewery, IBU Brewery in Brewerton, 1911 Ciders and Spirits, Zugabe Vineyards in Geneva and Anything But Beer, a new Syracuse brewer of glu-

World-Class Montessori Education

ten-free fruit ciders and wine hybrids. The event also featured a silent auction with mobile bidding and music by Black Tie Entertainment. A T-Rex Jurassic Park “Jeep” photo op was a big hit with guests at $1 per photo. The annual

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event supports the zoo’s education and conservation programs.

PHOTO BY MARIA SIMMONS

Distributors were joined by some new additions including Saranac Brewery,

Exclusive stores Luxury brands More than 170 specialty shops

Brooks Brothers l LEGO l L.L. Bean l Madewell l Soft Surroundings l Von Maur

I-90 to Exit 45, Victor www.eastviewmall.com (585) 223-4420

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Social Lights

SYRACUSE STYLE FASHION SHOW

9.13

The Syracuse Style Fashion Show took over Walton Street in downtown Syracuse, with an 80-foot lighted runway, three downtown salons, 100 models and 15 Syracuse retailers. The show featured women’s, men’s and children’s apparel, jewelry and accessories while participating retailers included a comic book store, guitar shop, sneaker store, boutiques and salons. “A city needs culture, artists, visionaries, commerce and just a little sparkle,” said Lisa Butler, executive director of Syracuse Fashion Week. “As the renaissance of downtown Syracuse continues, Syracuse Fashion Week has been proud to foster our creative community.” The event was free to attend, but available. Those with VIP tickets were also invited to an exclusive, pre-show party at Empire Brewing Company. All proceeds from the sales benefited the Food Bank of Central New York.

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PHOTOS BY SCOTT SCHILD

a select number of $50 VIP tickets and $175 street-seat high-top tables were

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Social Lights

7TH ANNUAL PHILANTHROPIC FOODIES CULINARY SHOWCASE

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The 7th annual Philanthropic Foodies culinary showcase was held at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown. The event raised about $51,000 for two local nonprofits - Friends of Dorothy House and Shamrock Animal Fund. Guests enjoyed a varied menu and tasting stations prepared and served onsite by 18 local chefs and paired with beverages from local businesses. The night also featured a live and silent auction, wine toss and entertainment provided by Professional Victims (Ashley Cox and Shawn Sullivan) and jazz soloist Jimmy Cox. Over the past six years, Philanthropic Foodies has raised nearly

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1 . Chef Jason Jessmore, The Chef & The Cook, Chef4Rent.

2 . Philanthropic Foodies attendees Dr. Lindsay

MacConaghy and Stephanie Crockett.

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PHOTOS BY JOHN CARNESSALI

$270,000 for area nonprofits.

3. Chefs Jason Jessmore, Mark

and DeAnna Germano (The Chef & The Cook, Chef4Rent), Mark Pawliw (Farm to Fork 101), and Chef Anthony Donofrio.

4. Miso-cured tofu, yuba, tomato-black tea coulis and mustard greens from Chef Anthony Donofrio.

5. Philanthropic Foodies committee members Jill D’Amico, Renee Duffy and Jamie King.

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CORPORATE NIGHT AT THE NUTCRACKER 2018 Syracuse City Ballet invites Central New York business leaders, clients, and staff to experience Syracuse’s beloved holiday classic. Celebrate in style while supporting the Ballet’s leading programs both on stage and in the community!

Friday, November 30 th, 2018 The Nutcracker Performance 7:00 P.M. Reception is at 9:00 P.M. – 10:30 P.M. For more information on custom packages, additional performances and to purchase tickets, please visit www.syracusecityballet.com NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

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Social Lights

2018 SUGARMAN LAW FIRM WISH BALL

9.22

Make-A-Wish Central New York celebrated wishes and the supporters who make them come true at the 2018 Sugarman Law Firm Wish Ball at The Oncenter in Syracuse. This year’s ball paid homage to sports-related wishes and featured WSYR Newschannel 9 Sports Director Steve Infanti as emcee. During the event, Make-A-Wish honored Individual Honoree Darren Petragnani, Corporate Honoree Dunkin’ Donuts, and Cindy Award Honoree Cheryllyn Tallman. The evening also included such highlights as a wine pull, high-end basket raffle, silent auction, and entertainment provided by Central New York party band “The Horn Dogs.”

Wish Ball is made possible through the generous support of Sugarman Law Firm, Carrols Corporation and the following sponsors: Anaren, Carrier Corporation, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, NBT Insurance Agency, LLC, Northwestern Mutual, and SUNY Upstate Medical University.

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1 . Wish kid Tyler Halpin, left, responds to a question posed by Wish Ball Emcee and WSYR

Newschannel 9 Sports Director Steve Infanti, right. Also pictured are wish kid Alex McLaughlin, second from left, and wish kid Domanic Fuller, second from right.

Alayah Green is one of 12 featured wish kids in MakeA-Wish Central New York’s 2019 Wish Calendar, which was unveiled at the 2018 Sugarman Law Firm Wish Ball.

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2 . Pictured from left, Wish parents Trey and Tina Walewski with

Sugarman Law Firm Partner Stephen Pesarchick and Susan Myers.

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PHOTOS BY JOANN CUCCI

3. Four-year-old

ARC OF ONONDAGA ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS DINNER

6.7

Arc of Onondaga’s Achievement Awards Dinner was held at Drumlins Country Club in Syracuse. Now in its 24th year, Arc’s signature event draws nearly 500 people from the community and celebrates achievements of individuals with developmenPHOTOS BY SUSAN MORRISON BLUE HAT PHOTOGRAPHY

tal disabilities and honors the community members and businesses who support them. The event was presented by Master of Ceremonies CNY Central Anchor Matt Mulcahy and included cocktails,

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networking, a vast silent auction and an awards presentation followed by dinner.

1 . Arc of Onondaga’s Guardianship

A live auction emceed by CNY Central’s

Committee, recipients of the Mary Carol and Robert J. Fisher Founders Award.

2 . Arc Person of the Year award recipient, Cleo Hamilton with Beth Myers, executive director of The Taishoff Center for Inclusive Higher Education at SU.

Chief Meteorologist Wayne Mahar was another highlight. All proceeds benefit the Arc of Onondaga Foundation, which helps to fund services and programs for people with developmental disabilities.

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COHEN COMPAGNI BECKMAN APPLER & KNOLL, PLLC We are pleased to announce that the 2019 U.S. News & World Report — Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” edition and the 2019 Upstate New York “Super Lawyers” edition again recognize our attorneys as Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers respectively. CCBLAW attorneys have been so recognized since the inception of the Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers designations.

Best Lawyers designates CCBLAW as Top Listed in Syracuse for Health Care Law. Best Lawyers recognizes Stephen H. Cohen, Michael J. Compagni, and Marc S. Beckman for Health Care Law; Laura L. Spring for Litigation — Labor and Employment; Andrew M. Knoll for Litigation — Health Care Law; and Cohen again for Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law. Super Lawyers recognizes CCBLAW attorneys Cohen, Compagni, Beckman, and Spring, together with Bruce A. Smith, and Bruce E. Wood. Smith and Wood primarily practice in the areas of Health Care Law and Real Estate Law.

507 PLUM STREET, SUITE 310 SYRACUSE, NEW YORK 13204 PHONE: (315) 671-6000 FAX: (315) 671-6001 web: www.ccblaw.com

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Local love on an embroidered pillow at Paola Kay Gifts in Fayetteville.

HOMETOW N CH A R M ARE A SH O PS O FFE R Q UAINT SE T TIN GS , U NI Q U E GIF TS AN D ARTISAN CO FFE E

BY ALAINA POTRIKUS

Shopping at local retailers in Central New York is about more than checking items off your holiday gift list.

“Shopping locally simply means more money stays within our community,” said Michael John Heagerty, co-founder of Wildflowers Armory artist collective in downtown Syracuse.

From chic boutiques in the suburban villages to the growing array of options in the city itself, the perfect gift this holiday season could be a hometown shopping excursion.

Here are some ideas and highlights (we couldn’t possibly cover them all) to help you make your hometown shopping plans:

FAY E T T E V I L L E NOT FAR FROM THE CHAIN STORES AT TOWNE CENTER PLAZA, the village of Fayetteville offers more boutique shopping opportunities.

Start your day at Paola Kay Gifts, where holiday crowd pleasers include Syracuse gifts outside of the typical orange-and-blue fan favorites and custom monogrammed items from glassware to jewelry boxes. Next door, check out Chloe’s Closet, an upscale children’s boutique that stocks trendy clothing and unique gifts for babies, toddlers and young children.

Continue your shopping in the village center, home to Elsbeth Rose East (women’s clothing), Paul Karaz Shoes and Heidi A Clothing Boutique. Bear right on South Manlius Street for the Rose Cottage, a gift shop that also features custom framing, exclusive paper goods, Patience Brewster ornaments and Caldrea soaps and lotions.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALAINA POTRIKUS

Left, Lola greets visitors at Paul Karaz Shoes. Above, wrap and handbag at Paola Kay Gifts.

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WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Skip the lines at Starbucks and grab a cup of artisan coffee at Freedom of Espresso or a sushi and Japanese fusion lunch at Kyoko.

Top and above left, specialty soaps and bumper stickers at Paola Kay Gifts. Above, the exterior of Elsbeth Rose East. Left, women’s shoes at Paul Karaz Shoes.

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Left, handmade sweets at Lune Chocolat. Below, scented candle bowls, women’s fashions and bath bombs all from Dazzle on West Seneca Street next to Tops Friendly Market.

MANLIUS WITH A LITTLE SLOWER PACE THAN NEIGHBORING FAYETTEVILLE, the village of Manlius is also worth a visit during holiday shopping excursions.

Stop at Lune Chocolat on Brickyard Falls Road to pick out sweet treats for your holiday gatherings. Pre-packaged boxes of chocolates and coffee make great stocking stuffers and hostess gifts with a local twist. The all-natural and hand-made items also include a BBQ spice rub featuring cocoa and chili powders, which tastes great on chicken and pork, or their chocolate salami, made with berries, chocolate and crushed cookies instead of meat.

Don’t miss Dazzle, which moved to a new location on West Seneca Street next to Tops Friendly Market earlier this year. The gift store stocks women’s clothing, jewelry and gifts along with Fayetteville-Manlius spirit wear for the whole family.

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WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Grab a soup and sandwich along with local meats and charcuteries at Side Hill Farmers, a co-op of local livestock farmers located in the plaza behind SnoTop. Or head out of the village on Route 92 toward Enders Road to select some holiday spirits from The Wine House, which stocks more than 500 wines from around the world and hosts weekly tastings and classes.

S K A N E AT E L E S LONG KNOWN FOR ITS UPSCALE SHOPPING AND DINING SCENE, Skaneateles is the perfect day trip for holiday shoppers. From Thanksgiving to Christmas, the lakeside community turns back the clock for the annual Dickens Christmas celebration, featuring costumed characters, live music and horse and wagon rides.

Enjoy the merriment as you window shop along East Genesee Street, where shops and restaurants are around every corner.

Don’t miss Drooz + Company, a modern day general store with a curated collection of gifts, housewares and food items. Be sure to check out the view of Skaneateles Lake from the back room filled with books, toys and curiosities for children. For more oneof-a-kind gifts, stop into Nest 58, an eccentric home store stuffed with fun decor finds.

And that’s just the beginning: Art lovers will enjoy Skaneateles Artisans and Gallery 54; The Local Branch offers locally and American-made products and leather goods. For women’s clothing, turn to Emma James Boutique, Skaneateles 300, Cate & Sally and Imagine (boutique jewelry); for babies and children, try Pride + Joy. Check out Pomodoro for greeting cards and other stationery and White Sleigh for seasonal decor. Rhubarb Kitchen Shop offers options for the amateur chef; the Chestnut Cottage will set you up with florals and centerpieces for holiday entertaining.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Foodie adventures abound in Skaneateles, from fast-food favorites like Doug’s Fish Fry to multi-course masterpieces at The Krebs. Stop into the downtown tasting room of White Birch Vineyards, which offers Finger Lakes wines and spirits and a small plates menu; bring home some baked goods from the patisserie at the historic Sherwood Inn or chocolate, red velvet and pumpkin whoopie pies from Skaneateles Bakery.

Funky signs and other fun finds at Nest 58.

Right, Skaneateles ball caps from Drooz + Company. Far right, shops on East Genesee Street.

C A Z ENOV I A THE LAKESIDE COMMUNITY IN MADISON COUNTY boasts a historic downtown business district that looks like a Norman Rockwell painting, with high-caliber shopping to match.

Those shopping for families will love Lillie Bean, which stocks colorful and chic clothing for women and children from designers not found in big box stores. The 20|East farm store offers local food products along with high-style home goods; be sure to check out the fresh floral arrangements for sale. Lavender Blue brings a taste of Europe to Central New York, with oil coated tablecloths and accessories sourced from the south of France, Spain and Italy.

Other storefronts on the Route 20 corridor include Cazenovia Artisans, where you can admire and purchase fine art and crafts items created by local talent; J.D. Hunter/Home, an interior design mecca with lamps, pillows, glassware and candles; Cazenovia Abroad, known for its classic silver ornaments; and Tizzy’s Antiques, which offers an eclectic mix of vintage home furnishings.

Clockwise from left, sweaters for game day and children at Lillie Bean, interior display of local goods and faux flowers from 20|East.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Take a shopping break at the Loka Leaf Tea Lounge, which specializes in loose leaf teas, or stop by happy hour at the Seven Stone Steps, the tavern at the historic Lincklaen House.

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Top left, pillows push hometown pride and bottom left, gourmet sauces at 20|East. Above, puzzles and games at Lillie Bean.

Richard Hannafan 315-815-4131

20 | EAST & Cazenovia Cutblock 315-655-3985

Visit UNIQUE SPECIALTY SHOPPPING AT ITS FINEST

Ladies Night Out: Thursday, November 15th Annual Christmas Walk: Friday, December 7th Men’s Night Out: Thursday,December 13th go to Cazenovia.com for more information.

for the Holidays!

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BA L DW I NSV I L L E HEAD NORTH TO THE QUAINT VILLAGE OF BALDWINSVILLE, where you can take a quiet walk through the historic business district as well as a pedestrian-friendly trail along the Seneca River.

The heart of the village is home to The Purple Painted Lady, a decor shop that offers classes in Annie Sloan chalk paint and milk paint, both ideal for repurposing vintage and antique furniture. New to the village: Fashion Rescue 911, featuring women’s clothing and accessories and Central New York’s only mobile fashion boutique, a restored fire rescue engine.

Follow the mural of Baldwinsville across the river to Olive’s Eatery, where you can enjoy lunch and dinner while browsing the shops at Two Twisted Sisters. Don’t miss à la Maison, a home decor and gift shop with European flair on the second floor; local nonprofit Maureen’s Hope also stocks bracelets and jewelry to raise funds to support families facing cancer.

Clockwise from top, colorful watches on display at Two Twisted Sisters, cat-themed cups at The Purple Painted Lady, and home decor and mantel display at à la Maison.

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WHILE YOU’RE THERE:

Try the curated menu at The Chef and the Cook, which features local ingredients for a fun spin on fine dining. Bring home some sweets from JessiCakes, which specializes in custom cakes, cupcakes and sugar cookies.

Olives Eatery @ Two Twisted Sisters features a cafe and two floors of unique, independent shops. Above, gourmet salsa from local company SalsaCuse at à la Maison.

Get read for holida gatherings with st lish new shades and save.

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*Manufacturer’s mail-in rebate offer valid for qualifying purchases made 9/22/18–12/10/18 from participating dealers in the U.S. only. Rebate will be issued in the form of a prepaid reward card and mailed within 4 weeks of rebate claim approval. Funds do not expire. Subject to applicable law, a $2.00 monthly fee will be assessed against card balance 6 months after card issuance and each month thereafter. See complete terms distributed with reward card. Additional limitations may apply. Ask participating dealer for details and rebate form. ©2018 Hunter Douglas. All rights reserved. All trademarks used herein are the property of Hunter Douglas or their respective owners. 18Q4MAGVC1 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

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The Fabric Mill 5900 E Seneca Tpke Jamesville, NY M-F: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm Sat: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Sun: Closed 315-492-0336 www.thefabricmillcny.com

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CAMILLUS ON THE WESTERN SIDE OF THE ERIE CANAL, the village of Camillus offers elevated casual shopping options just a short drive from big box stores like Costco in Township 5.

Start your day at Witty Wicks on Main Street, known for its signature all-natural, soy wax candles paired with charming holiday decor. Nearby, Salvage Designs and Restored Decor both repurpose vintage and antique furniture with a modern twist; down the block, Colorful Inspirations offers a high-end take on seasonal decor, including lifelike silk florals, hand-painted glass, and stunning wreaths and topiaries. (Check out the Moving Flame flameless candles, a safe yet realistic option for candle lovers.)

Shops at Camillus include Witty Wicks on Main Street, left, and Colorful Inspirations, below.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE:

Grab a cup of coffee at Freedom of Espresso in the former Camillus Cutlery building to enjoy as you stroll through the village or stop at Mo’s Pit BBQ on your way home for wood-fired meats and homemade BBQ sauces.

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S Y R AC USE

Above and left, Wildflowers Armory, a multi-vendor marketplace. features unique creations from Central New York artists.

THE GROWING ARRAY OF SHOPPING OPPORTUNITIES in downtown Syracuse is drawing more attention each year.

For a taste of city living, dining and shopping, start your day in Armory Square, where you can pick up the latest vinyl at Soundgarden, grab a coffee at Freedom of Espresso and catch an IMAX movie at the Museum of Science and Technology.

Tucked behind the MOST, Wildflowers Armory is a multi-vendor marketplace featuring the best and brightest of Central New York artists and artisans.

The merchandise rotates every three months, as new makers bring their wares to the shop to celebrate creativity in the Salt City.

Across the street, Showoffs and Projex214 offers men’s and women’s clothing for discerning buyers.

Highlighting brands not found locally, stylists can help you refine an outfit for a special occasion or show you how to take a daytime look into nighttime.

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Showoffs offers high end clothing for men and women.

WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Armory Square newcomer The Hops Spot bills itself as a burger bar and poutinerie, with starters like duck wings and tacos, sriracha tofu and pierogis and more than 40 craft beers on tap. Stop by Sugar & Co. wine and dessert bar to end your evening on a sweet note.

2018

Open House with Refreshments, Live Music, and Sleigh Rides

Dec. 6 & 7, 7-9PM

Dec. 8 & 9, 1-4PM

Guided Tours Dec. 12–15, 1-4PM

Lorenzo State Histric Site

17 Rippleton Road, Cazenovia | 315-655-3200 | www.friendsoflorenzo.org

Adult Admission: $6.00 | Child Admission (12 & Under): $2.00 S8800020-01

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a sense of wonder WITH COLORFUL SIGHTS, CHEERFUL SOUNDS AND DELICIOUS TASTES AND SMELLS, THE HOLIDAYS ARE VERY SENSORY. GIFT GIVING CAN BE, TOO, WITH PRODUCTS AND EXPERIENCES THAT CAN BE ENJOYED OVER AGAIN, CREATING LASTING MEMORIES.

BY AMY BLEIER LONG PHOTOGRAPHS BY AMELIA BEAMISH

drinking buddies Bitters are alcohol-based aromaticinfused extracts that add complexity and flavor to cocktails and can also be used in coffee or as baking extract substitutes. Five Flavor Bitters bar set, $39.99, Metro Home Style, 689 N. Clinton Street, Syracuse, 315420-2335, metrohomestyle.net.

tiny tin Playful flavors come in vintage metal slider tins – the balms are colored but go on clear.

Lip Licking Lip Balms, $6 each, Drooz + Company, 36 E. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, 315-920-8888, droozandcompany.com.

you say tomato Spice up any number of dishes with locally made salsa; it starts out sweeter (it features local honey) and then delivers a kick. Sweet SalsaCuse, $6.50, SalsaCuse Salsa, salsacusesalsa.com.

pro tip Meal planning that’s a pleasure: Local company Chef 4 Rent – from the chef-owners behind Baldwinsville’s The Chef & The Cook – offers an in-home meal delivery service. Each week, they shop, plan and deliver farm fresh, locally sourced prepared meals that can be finished in less than 30 minutes with easy-to-follow recipes and are made with likes, dislikes and allergies in mind.

like the mama-razzi

Spoon these fruity pecan preserves on biscuits and have breakfast in bed. The Great San Saba River Pecan Company preserves, $7.99 each, The Gift Box, 4317 Fay Road, Syracuse, 315-487-9099.

whiskey business

Artisanal pasta and gourmet mushrooms by an Upstate New York maker and grower, respectively, add deep flavors. Spinach Garlic pasta, $9, Flour City Pasta and Dried Wild Porcini Mushrooms, $7, Fruit of the Fungi, Farm to Fork 101 at Wildflowers Armory, 225 W. Jefferson Street, Syracuse, 315-546-4919, wildflowersarmory.com.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

PHOTOGRAPH BY JEN HUDSON PHOTOGRAPHY

A double old-fashioned glass with a notch for a cigar to hold his two favorite vices. Whiskey Cigar Glass, $26.99, Paola Kay Gifts, 105 Brooklea Drive, Fayetteville, 315-632-2192.

loyal locavore

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

Fill out a few of the included recipe cards with favorite dishes ahead of time for a truly personal gift.

Gather Round recipe box, $26.99, Rhubarb Kitchen Shop, 59 E. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, 315-685-5803, facebook.com/ rhubarbkitchengarden.

a dollop of decadence

Double entendre aside, give mom her favorite blend and this cute mug. Mom’s Gonna Snap enamel mug, $16.25, 20|East, 85 Albany Street, Cazenovia, 315-655-3985, 20-east.com.

Meal deliveries, $75 per person per week for 3 meals a week (group and subscription discounts available), Chef 4 Rent, 7 Syracuse Street, Baldwinsville, 315-303-4159, cheffourrent.com.

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recipe round-up

confection perfection With flavors like potato latke and sufganiyot (jelly donut), these holiday specialty chocolates are a real treat. Four-piece Hanukkah collection, $8.50, Lune Chocolat, 4675 Brickyard Falls Road, Manlius, 315-692-4173, lunechocolat.com.

fresh ideas Central New York native and Emmy-nominated chef Julie Ann Sageer published an awardwinning cookbook of authentic Mediterranean recipes. “Julie Taboulie’s Lebanese Kitchen” cookbook, $30, Nest 58, 58 E. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, 315-685-5888, nest58.com.

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fair trade flair Check the boxes for form and function with a hand-woven straw basket with leather handles from Bolgatanga, Ghana. Authentic Bolga basket, $59.95, Better Brittle at CNY Regional Market, 2100 Park Street, A Shed, Syracuse, 315-380-8877, betterbrittle.com.

make the MOST of it Get hands on, literally, exploring energy, earth, space, life science and more: A membership to the MOST includes free admission to the museum and planetarium, free or discounted general admission to 350+ reciprocating museums and discounts on IMAX movie tickets.

Keep him in checks

double duty

saving face

It’s a hat, it’s a scarf, it’s adorable.

Fur Pom Pom Scarf Hats shown in blush and taupe (also available in black, gray), $29.99 each, The Changing Room, 425 S. Warren Street, Syracuse, 315-299-4320.

Natural and sustainable facial hair care products to condition and style, with a forest-inspired scent. Beard Balm, $16, and Mustache Wax, $12, The Local Branch, 4 Jordan Street, Skaneateles, thelocalbranch.co.

Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology (MOST) one-year membership, from $59 for individual adult membership to $119 for Household Plus membership (three named adults and all children under 18), Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology (MOST), 500 S. Franklin Street, Syracuse, 315-425-9068, most.org.

Layering pieces in classic patterns – can you ever have too many?

Patagonia Fjord organic cotton flannel shirt, $89, and Woolrich Stone Rapids organic cotton plaid flannel, $49.98, Roland’s.

throw down Ultra-soft and stylish, this grey striped throw blanket is the ideal way to stay snug this winter. Saranoni Luxury Blanket, $74, Paola Kay Gifts.

oh, sugar sugar Each cube provides some selfcare pampering by softening and nourishing skin. Harper + Ari sugar exfoliating cube bottles, $26 each, Skaneateles 300, 2 W. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, 315-685-1133, skaneateles300.com.

getting warmed up

speed racer

A cozy way to keep the morning chill away. Men’s Moloa Nubuck leather and shearling slippers, $99, Roland’s, 14 E. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, 315-6857389. Women’s cable knit slipper socks in camel, $29.99, The Changing Room.

With twelve magnetic blocks, including rolling wheels, create a variety of speedy vehicles.

Daredevil Wooden Block set, $35, Pride + Joy, 3 W. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, 315-685-7576, prideandjoyshop.com.

wax on Tactile colors and patterns add another layer to everyday meals. Textured handmade pottery, dinner plate, $48, salad plate, $36, ceramic bowl, $40, Nest 58.

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Once melted, this candle’s warm soy wax can be used as a moisturizing lotion for hands and body. Lotion candle, $10-$30 depending on size, Anomalie, anomalieshop.com.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF THE MOST

GREAT PLATES

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diary of a worldly kid

frame up

Encourage young travelers with this keepsake journal/ scrapbook that features fun facts and games to play on the road or in the air. Kids’ Travel Journal, $12.99, Pomodoro, 61 E. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, 315-685-8658.

art appreciation On 104 acres of conserved land and groomed trails, large-scale outdoor sculptures celebrate the interplay of art and nature. Indoor exhibits, programs and The Dorothy Riester House and Studio serve to inspire artists and creative thinkers.

Stone Quarry Hill Art Park one-year membership, from $15 for a student to $75 for a family, Stone Quarry Hill Art Park, 3883 Stone Quarry Road, Cazenovia, 315-655-3196, sqhap.org.

Put your latest family portrait in this chic scalloped frame and make grandma happy. Marble photo frame with 4-by-6-inch photo opening, $34, Skaneateles 300.

feeling fortunate

5781 Bridge St., Suite 32 E. Syracuse, NY 13057 frameologyoptical.com

totes stylish

Each folded star unwraps to reveal a positive prediction or affirmation. Lucky Stars handfolded fortunes, $22 for large jar, Kathryn Alonso-Bergevin at Salt City Artisans, 226 Hawley Avenue, Syracuse, 315-479-0400.

Spicer cork and leather purse, $209, Imagine, 38 E. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, 315-685-6263, imagineskaneateles.com.

unexpected unconventional on point Alexis Bittar 10k gold-plated black Lucite and stone cuff, $211.99, Paul Karaz Shoes, 414 E. Genesee Street, Fayetteville, 315-6630200, paulkarazshoes.com.

it’s poppin’ Display hometown pride in a graphic way. SYR Color Pop pillow, $39.99, Syracusey, syracusey.com.

not your traditional optical stick ‘em up

choose your own adventure

Delight vintage lovers and entertainers alike.

Depression glass candlesticks, $18 for set of two, The Station, 603 E. Seneca Street, Manlius, 315-682-8741.

in the shadow and the light Etched porcelain candle cups create an elegant ambiance. Silhouette five-inch tall candle holder, $29.99, Paola Kay Gifts.

ART PARK PHOTOGRAPH BY BOB GATES

A guide to a literal world of experiences, for someone who loves taking risks or wants to try something new. “Ultimate Book of Adventure,” $19.95, Drooz + Company.

skirt the issue An eye-catching skirt elevates a weekdayto-weekend wardrobe.

Vegan leather skirt, $179, Showoffs Boutique, 214 W. Jefferson Street, Syracuse, 315-471-4636.

Voted one of

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the sound of music

live and in person A night at the symphony – or several nights – to enjoy the sonorous sounds of Symphoria. With a gift certificate for a Flexpack, recipients can choose four, five, or six concerts from any of the Syracusebased professional symphony’s series.

Symphoria Flexpack subscription, from $120, Symphoria box office, 234 Harrison Street, Syracuse, 315-299-5598, experiencesymphoria.org. Marc Ramos

Handmade in Brooklyn, these open ear headphones provide comfort, clarity and accuracy, making an audiophile’s listening session sound like an intimate performance. SR225e The Prestige Series Headphones by Grado Labs, $200, Tenacious Sound of Syracuse, NY, 270 W. Jefferson Street, Syracuse, 315-928-6273, tenacioussound.com.

pet sounds

An attractive way for guests to announce their arrival. Michael Healy handmade brass pinecone door knocker, $170, Paola Kay Gifts.

Young children will be transported to the countryside with the sounds of chirping birds, clomping hooves and spirited neighs activated by how they play with the toy. Kid O Myland horse, $20, Lillie Bean, 57 Albany Street, Cazenovia, 315-655-0677.

Getting tinkling notes from this chime is easy breezy. Bells of Vienna windchime in green, $125, Imagine.

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they’ve got the beat

PHOTOGRAPH BY MARC RAMOS

who’s there?

chime will tell

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Whether it’s the latest by a favorite artist or a new discovery, music makes a meaningful gift.

Paul McCartney “Egypt Station” vinyl album, $24.99, Prince “Piano & a Microphone 1983” CD, $12.99, The Sound Garden, 310 W. Jefferson St, Syracuse, 315-473-4343, sgrecordshop.com.

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special delivery Treat someone to the beauty and fragrance of fresh flowers for a gift that keeps on giving through the year. Select cut stems of their favorite blooms or pre-made seasonal arrangements (recipient must live in local delivery area) and have them delivered monthly or bimonthly.

Flower Lovers Special, six-month and 12-month subscriptions starting at $30 per month plus delivery, Coleman Florist, 4000 E. Genesee Street, DeWitt, 315-446-0862, colemanflorist. com/flower-lovers/ flower-lovers-special/

sniff box A gentle fragrance in a discreet package activated by the push of a button. Votivo Black Box fan diffuser with Red Currant fragrance pod, $55, Colorful Inspirations, 45 Main Street, Camillus, 315-320-4364, colorfulinspirations.com.

woods, man The scent of pine, vetiver and sandalwood travels up sustainably harvested rattan reeds and into your surroundings.

Reed diffuser in Roam, $38, The Local Branch.

team spirit Inspired by oranges, S.U.’s classical architecture and our crisp winters, these fragrances feature fruity notes, amber and florals (her) or spices (him). Syracuse University for Her and Syracuse University for Him, $39.98 each, 1st National Gifts, 2 E. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, 315-685-5454.

tween dream wine not?

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From repurposed wine bottles flow the aromas of varietals of reds and whites – and proceeds benefit animal rescue groups. Rescued Wine candle in Pinot Noir, $28, Metro Home Style.

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226 Hawley Ave, syracuse, NY 13203 315-479-0400

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF COLEMAN FLORIST

Another reason to spend hours in the bathroom. Shower Jelly gift set, $8, Kingsley Street at Wildflowers Armory, 225 W. Jefferson Street, Syracuse, kingsleystreet.com.

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S O M E T I M E S T H E B E ST W AY TO V I S U A L I Z E YO U R N E X T K I T C H E N I S TO TO U C H, H E A R , A N D TA S T E I T.

Open drawers. Turn knobs. Light burners. Welcome to a showroom unlike any other– a dynamic space to test-drive appliances, take classes, and taste every delicious possibility.

Syracuse • 5801 Court Street Road, Syracuse, NY 13206 • 315-437-1511 • subzero-wolf.com/syracuse

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Making a scene

The Changing Room on South Warren Street won third place in the downtown

The Downtown Committee of Syracuse will once again host its annual Window Won-

PHOTOGRAPH BY SCOTT SSCHILD

Committee’s 2017 Window Wonderland contest.

derland contest Nov. 23 through Jan. 1, 2019. Now in its third year, the event showcases downtown Syracuse businesses and their best attempts at making you look – again and again. Cast your vote for best display and find more information at downtownsyracuse.com. Winners will be announced Jan. 2, with cash prizes awarded to first, second and third place. Last year, nearly 30 businesses competed. Here’s a look at some of the spirits of Christmas past.

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Kitty Hoynes on West Fayette Street won first place and a $500 prize with 296 votes in 2017.

created this display in 2017.

Right, Cathy’s Cookie Kitchen on West Jefferson Street designed a sweet window display. Last year, nearly 1,500 votes were cast in the downtown Committee’s Window Wonderland Contest.

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PHOTOGRAPH BY SCOTT SSCHILD

Sky Armory on South Clinton Street

Left, Ish Guitars on South Franklin Street. Above, Element on Water Salon on Water Street.

DEC. 8-9

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Oh, what fun!

H O L I DAYS I N T H E CIT Y C E L E B R AT E S T H E M AG I C O F T H E S E A S O N W IT H L I V E P E R FO R M A N C E S , A H O L I DAY T RO L L E Y, I C E S C U L P T I N G , D OW N TOW N S P ECI A L S A N D SA N TA’ S S L E I G H T E A M .

BY M J K R AV EC

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A wonderous walking experience, live reindeer, ice carving

ings to and from Hanover Square, the Erie Canal Museum, the

demonstrations, skating penguins, choir performances, shopping

Onondaga Historical Association, the Marriot Syracuse Down-

and more are just a few attractions at the second annual Holidays

town, Armory Square and the Everson Museum.

in the City Dec. 8-9. The event, which is sponsored by Advance

Other features of the event include a Holiday Window Walk,

Media NY and The Downtown Committee of Syracuse, brings

with guided map to the windows entered in the Downtown Com-

together area businesses, special events and one-weekend only

mittee’s Window Decorating Contest, Santa Claus skating at the

highlights to showcase downtown Syracuse during the holidays.

Clinton Square ice rink, Gingerbread House exhibit at the Erie

“Downtown brings the magic of the season to life,” said Merike

Canal Museum, “Polar Express” pajama party at The MOST,

Treier, executive director of the Downtown Committee of Syr-

holiday movies at the Landmark Theatre, The Everson Muse-

acuse. “…we hope to continue this new tradition for families

um Festival of Trees and much more. There will also be events

across Central New York.”

and activities on every floor at the Onondaga County Public Li-

Among some of the weekend highlights: Live reindeer with

brary in the Galleries including storytelling, crafts, hot choco-

Santa’s sleigh for photo opps, choir performances, a free “Smart

late and more. Visitors who walk to each attraction, perusing the

Santa” experience for parents and children, ice sculptures in

holiday windows will find specials at many downtown restau-

Clinton Square and a holiday trolley to connect all the happen-

rants, bars and shops.

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PHOTOGRAPHS BY SANDY ROE PHOTOS AT 1020

Harmonic Collective Choir performs in Hanover Square, Ice carving demonstrations take place throughout the day, holiday characters roam the streets and live reindeer delight children in Hanover Square.

For a full schedule of times, events, shuttle routes and specials visit holidaysinsyr.com NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

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D I C K E N S C H R I S T M A S C E L E B R AT E S 25 YEARS OF MAKING MERRY

PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID LASSMAN

BY SANDI MULCONRY

Characters from “A Christmas Carol” and other contemporary figures roam the village of skaneateles weekends from Thanksgiving to Christmas.

Central New York has great expectations for….

grand opening.

Oops, wrong Dickens novel!

you from village merchants to the Skaneateles com-

Dickens Christmas, the street theater production that incorporates the telling of “A Christmas Carol,” returns to the village of Skaneateles for its 25th season Nov. 23, the day after Thanksgiving, and runs weekends through Christmas, with an abbreviated show Christmas Eve. If the thought of mall and big-box shopping leaves you cold, spend a few hours in Skaneateles and you’ll be warmed by the magic of the season.

Dickens Christmas began in 1993 as a simple thankmunity. Since 2001, it has been produced by Scarlett Rat Entertainment under the direction of Jim Greene, of Dryden. Now recognized for his portrayal of Dickens (whom, he says, he plays as “a jolly kind of bacchanalian”), Greene joined the cast in 1999 in a less lofty role—that of Victorian rat catcher.

Upon taking the helm, he moved the setting from London to Skaneateles, adding American characters and local color and changing the premise: The year is 1842, and Charles Dickens and Queen Victoria are visiting Skaneateles for an American Christmas. Based on characters they meet on village streets—Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, Jacob Marley and others— Dickens writes “A Christmas Carol” upon his return

In Skaneateles, Black Friday becomes Bright Fri-

to London. (The actual novel was published in 1843.)

Like Dickens, who was first played by the late Ted

wagon—make their way down Fennell, Jordan and

Davenport, of Skaneateles, Scrooge has been played

Genesee streets in the World’s Smallest Christmas

by just two actors in 25 years—Bob Krigbaum, of On-

Parade. The parade steps off at noon, arriving at the

ondaga Hill, until 2012 and John Michael Decker, of

Hannum House ten minutes later for the production’s

Queensbury, ever since.

PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID LASSMAN

day, as Dickens characters—many in a horse-drawn

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Festival production manager Brett Norsworthy, right, with his wife Fran and son Duke. Norsworthy and his family became the Cratchit Family in 2000.

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Bob Krigbaum portrays Ebenezer Scrooge in 2005.

Decker, who—unlike his character—loves dogs, often stops

Over the years, the cast has grown from 10 to about 70 (the

to engage them, telling them, “I want you to bite anyone who

characters change a bit, depending on who’s available)—en-

says Merry Christmas!” That line, he says, always gets a laugh.

compassing professional actors, residents and young appren-

He’s equally facile with children, advising them, “You’ve got to

tice talent. “We set the bar high for the kids,” Greene says, “and

work for a living” and offering them jobs as a chimneysweep for

we see some beautiful performances.”

Should Scrooge approach you with a “bill” or an “eviction no-

hour days over three weekends. “People build their characters

tice,” be sure to take one—in reality, they’re certificates from lo-

by learning the basics of improv and considering the kinds of

cal merchants.

activities their character would be doing,” Greene says. They

Production manager Brett Norsworthy, of Wolcott, has been

also learn about Victorian language, formality and class levels.

with the production 18 years. He, his wife, Fran, and their four

As artistic director, Maria DeMitchell, of Marcellus, who has

daughters and son, Duke, became the Cratchit family in 2000.

played Queen Victoria for the last decade and was a lady-in-waiting

Once Duke outgrew the role of Tiny Tim, Norsworthy started

before that, trains the performing company. “We try to evoke the

playing Barry M. Deep, the local mortician.

nostalgia of a kinder, gentler time,” she says. “The characters are

When people see him measuring them for a Christmas cof-

68

happy people and they turn that happiness outward to the guests.

fin, he says, their reactions range from a chuckle to full-blown

“We play a lot of games and share a lot of laughter and fun.

laughter to screams of horror. “They play along,” he says. “I let

We come together to play, and play with guests, in the best pos-

them select the color of wood that best fits their complexion.”

sible sense.”

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PHOTOGRAPH BY GARY WALTS

The show comes together in just six rehearsals—two five-

a penny a fortnight.

Charles Dickens characters Christmas Present, Bob Cratchit, Lady Charlotte Ann, The Widow Long and Tess O’Shea, sing carols on opening day of Dickens in 2015.

Girl Scouts serve eggnog; the library, historical society and area churches host performanc-

young people start with us when they were

es. Two evening events, Skaneateles Sings

Christmas, Christmas Eve

in the fourth grade and stay until graduating

and Shop Skaneateles, are designed for locals.

LOCATION: Village of Skaneateles

DATES: Nov. 23, weekends until

from high school,” she says. “We’ve had moth-

Despite Central New York’s notorious win-

ers and daughters, fathers and daughters, and

ters, in 25 years Dickens Christmas has been

HOURS: Noon to 4 p.m. Noon to 2:30 p.m. Christmas Eve

mothers and sons and daughters.”

cancelled just twice due to weather.

ADMISSION: Free

For many Central New York families, actors

This year, the festival runs five full week-

and non-actors alike, Dickens Christmas has

ends. Among the activities guests can look

become a tradition. “They come to sing car-

forward to are:

ols with us each year, especially on Christ-

 Midday Revels, 2 p.m. at the gazebo.

mas Eve,” Greene says. “Everybody’s busy,

Twelve groups form, representing the 12

but they take the time to gather with us, wish

days of Christmas. At the end, Queen Victo-

each other well, and leave with warm hearts

ria awards a silver teasel to the most spirit-

and good feelings.”

ed performer.

And sometimes, they leave with a lot more.

PHOTOGRAPH BY GARY WALTS

If you go

The cast is multigenerational, with many players returning year after year. “We’ve had

 “A Christmas Carol” trunk show, featuring

PARKING: Paid parking in

the municipal lot between Jordan and State streets. Free parking in the lot adjacent to Ace Hardware/Skaneateles Town Square on Fennell Street and at the Austin Park Pavilion. A horse-drawn wagon shuttles between both locations and the village.

One year, when a couple won the silver teasel

guests from the audience, 12:30 p.m. at the

MORE INFORMATION:

for their spirited rendition of “The 12 Days of

gazebo and 3 p.m. at the library.

Christmas,” the woman found that, instead of

 Horse-drawn wagon and carriage rides

315-685-0552, skaneateles. com/visit/dickens

the teasel she was expecting, her “prize” was an

around the village. Wagon rides are $2; car-

engagement ring. Her husband-to-be then got

riage rides, $20.

down on one knee to propose. (She said “yes.”)

 Music and other entertainment.

Dickens Christmas is made possible by the

 A snowman-building contest Dec. 22 in

sponsorship of nearly 150 local businesses

Clift Park.

and is further supported by ticket sales from

 Free refreshments, including roasted

a Dickens raffle.

chestnuts.

The production is one that involves the en-

 For children, Mother Goose will read hol-

tire community. The Chamber of Commerce

iday stories and Father Christmas will hand

arranges bell-ringers for the Salvation Army;

out holiday treats.

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“Dickens Christmas has been a huge boost to the merchant community,” says Sue Dove, executive director of the Skaneateles Area Chamber of Commerce from 1996 to 2014. “It’s the difference between being in the black and being in the red.”

“It’s such a positive event for local people, businesses, organizations, and visitors to our village,” says the Chamber’s current executive director, Hilary Fenner, a native of Skaneateles who experienced the wonderment as a child.

Sounding very un-Scrooge-like, Decker says, PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID LASSMAN

“When you visit Skaneateles, you get a bunch of beautiful little unique shops and lovely places to eat. And, we remind you of all the positive things about Christmas—love, togetherness, family and song.”

Ted Davenport, event coordinator and the festival’s first Charles Dickens, in 1996.

One final word of advice: “Say ‘Merry Christmas’ to Mr. Scrooge, because that gets him annoyed, and the more annoyed he gets, the funnier he gets.”

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THE SCENE IN 2018

THEY SAY THERE’S NO LOOKING BACK. BUT SOMETIMES, THERE’S GOOD REASON TO: PERSPECTIVE. HERE ARE SOME OF THE MORE MEMORABLE HAPPENINGS IN 2018, ACCORDING TO OUR EDITORS. SO TAKE IT WITH A GRAIN OF SALT. BETTER YET, SAVE THE SALT FOR THE SIDEWALK. IF THE START OF THE NEW YEAR IS ANYTHING LIKE THE LAST ONE, WE’RE GONNA NEED IT.

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Kickin’ it S.U. football beat Florida State in the Dome and sent shock waves. Syracuse went 3-0 for the eighth time in program history and snapped a 10-game losing streak to the Seminoles.

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Brrr-utal start

Timeless beauty

Also, in the arts world

The first week of January was the coldest period in Syracuse since 1904. It was also the fourth-snowiest start to the new year on record. The average temperature for the first seven days of 2018 was 7.3 degrees.

The Landmark Theatre celebrated its 90th anniversary on Feb. 12. The theatre is still waiting to find out if it gets a $500,000 grant from the New York Office of Community Renewal for a new marquee.

It would make a nice birthday gift.

Dr. Paul Phillips and his wife, Sharon Sullivan, donated nearly $5 million to the Everson Museum just as it celebrated its 50th anniversary. The museum is more than 100 years old, but its current I.M. Pei-designed home was built in 1968.

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Sweet!

A Syracuse team that barely made it into the NCAA Tournament field made the most of its opportunity, dancing all the way to the Sweet 16 before losing to Duke. Playing with just seven scholarship players, the 11th-seeded Orange beat Arizona State in the First Four before upsetting No. 6 TCU and No. 3 Michigan State.

Drama queen In March, the Redhouse opened at its new location on South Salina Street with “On Golden Pond” starring former “Love Boat” star Fred Grandy.

“These guys deserve an awful lot of credit,” Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said after the loss to Duke. “I’m really proud of these guys.”

Get out!

PHOTOGRAPHS BY DENNIS NETT, MICHAEL GREENLAR, LAUREN LONG, SCOTT SCHILD, EVERSON MUSEUM

Like a house guest overstaying its welcome, winter wouldn’t leave.

We jumped from winter to summer and the word “sprinter” was born.

Scrubbing up nicely

Waaaay fair More people than ever came to the New York State Fair this year: 1,279,010 visitors. That’s a 10 percent increase from last year. In other fair news, Troy Waffner was finally named director to the fair after five years as acting director.

All they need is Chris Pratt Animatronic dinosaurs invaded two places in CNY this year, roaring into the Rosamond Gifford Zoo over the summer and taking shelter at the Milton J. Rubinstein Museum of Science & Technology’s Dinomania! exhibit (on display through Jan. 21, 2019).

St. Joseph’s Health made its first real operating profit ($1 million) in five years on revenue of $694 million for 2018.

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With so many opportunities to gather together in the coming months, fashions from local boutiques will have you well-dressed now through the new year.

PRODUCED BY AMY BLEIER LONG PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALEXIS EMM

1 | Michael Stars velvet baseball cap, $38. Cate & Sally, 4 E. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, 315-6851105, cateandsally.com.

1 2

2 | Gold necklace, $28.

3 | Gold bracelet set, $52.

4 | Skies Are Blue plaid button down, $46.

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5 | Kut from the Kloth high rise Mia Skinny jeans, $89.

6 | Mystree knit shawl, $72. All Emma James Boutique, 3 E. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, 315-685-2747, emmajamesboutique.com.

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7 | Paul Green Cayanne Smoke Brushed Metallic peep toe booties, $349. Paul Karaz Shoes, 414 E. Genesee Street, Fayetteville, 315-663-0200, paulkarazshoes.com.

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8 | Lulu black leather handbag, $300. Skaneateles 300, 2 W. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, 315-685-1133, Skaneateles300.com.

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1 1 | Enzo of Italy quilted vest with detachable hood, $225.

2

2 | Bill’s Khakis tartan plaid sport shirt, $145.

3 | Hilts-Willard casual gloves with leather trim, $90.

4 | Mine Apparel five-pocket corduroy slacks, $135.

5 | Kolte hand-stitched leather belt, $160.

6 | Dapper Classic navy socks with fox design, $22.50, all Koolakian’s Menswear, 132 E. Genesee Street, Syracuse, 315-4717410, koolakians.com.

7 | Chukka boots in heritage brown, $205, American Reserve Clothing Co., 208 Walton Street, Syracuse, americanreserveshop. com.

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1 | Lambretta burgundy sport jacket, $195.

2 | A Fish Named Fred racing cars shirt, $145.

3 | Lambretta burgundy pants, $95.

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4 | Mezlan Fresco loafer in blue, $355, all Projex214, 214 W. Jefferson Street, Syracuse, 315-447-7961, projex214.com.

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S PA R K L E , S H I N E , A N D P E RS O N A L I T Y – H O L I DAY F L A I R I N U N E X P ECT E D C O LO RS .

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1 | Pink sweater embellished with tinsel and crystals, $72.99.

2 | Slouchy ice blue velour pant, $45.99, both The Changing Room, 425 S. Warren Street, Syracuse, 315-299-4320.

3 | Inge Christopher teal clutch, $195.

4 | Pelle Moda Ruby heels in pewter metallic, $160, both Paul Karaz Shoes.

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1 | Milano black/ bronze one-shoulder sequin dress, $98.

2 | Barbara black sparkle heels, $59.99.

3 | Black beaded clutch, $32.99. All Boom Babies, 489 Westcott Street, Syracuse, 315-472-1949, boombabies.biz.

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4 | Black feather earrings, $65. Skaneateles 300.

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G L A M I T U P FO R A N Y O N E O F T H E LO CA L C E L E B R AT I O N S A N D RI N G I N 2 01 9 I N ST Y L E .

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1 | Mr. Shop custom tuxedo in navy fabric with black satin lapel, buttons, pockets, $1,295.

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2 | Eton satin stripe stud front tuxedo shirt, $285.

3 | Bruno Piattelli slim black tie, $95.

4 | Lloyd patent leather loafers, $309. All Mr. Shop, 259 W. Fayette Street, Syracuse, 315-478-3938, mrshopsyracuse.com.

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CNY Scout

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Your next holiday heirloom

BY AMY BLEIER LONG PHOTOGRAPHS BY AMELIA BEAMISH

Holiday decorating is a ritual that can be guided by aesthetics, heritage, or a collection of trinkets and baubles that individually bring joy. Whether you focus on a specific color palette or theme, keep it traditional or go with a whimsical approach, Central New York-area artists offer a festive variety of ornaments.

Crafted from a mix of materials, the ornaments shown here were handmade by local independent artists. If you’re filling a blank spot on your branch, consider sprucing it up with one of these pieces you’ll want to pass down.

On this page, from top: Porcelain hand-made ornament glazed in Wedgwood Blue by John Conroy, $20, Skaneateles Artisans, 3 Fennell Street, lower level, Skaneateles, 315-685-8580, skaneatelesartisans.com; Two handmade gold glass icicles, $24, Collin Russell Glassworks, collinrussellglass.etsy.com; Basket with candy cane cross stitch, $5, Maria’s Fabric and Fiber, mariasfabricandfiber. etsy.com; Finger Lakes ornament, $8, LaserArts by George Perzel at Imagine, 38 E. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, 315-685-6263, imagineskaneateles.com Opposite page, on left tree: Crochet light bulb, $3, Maria’s Fabric and Fiber. Handmade stoneware dreidel by ADK Girl, $10, Art Mart Syracuse, 1153 W. Fayette Street, Syracuse, facebook.com/adkgirlart. Handcarved Snowman icicle, $12.95, Robert Francis Art Studio, 315.214.1622 after 3 p.m., rfstudio.com. Felt Stocking, $5, Sweatered Mary’s Gifts, sweateredmarysgifts.etsy.com. Hand-painted Solid Wood Finial, $25, Michele Sprague Design, MicheleSpragueDesign.Etsy.com. Small classic amber handmade blown glass, $24, Collin Russell Glassworks.

On right tree: Adorable paper Nautilus ornament in hot chocolate pattern

by Genoveffa Vitale, $6, Skaneateles Artisans. Ready-made ceramic pet ornament, $25 (custom also available), Noble Friends Shop, 315-329-1603, noblefriendsshop.com. UpCycled Bike Chain Glittery Snowflake Ornament, $10, Upcycling4ACause at Wildflowers Armory, 225 W. Jefferson Street, Syracuse, UpCycling4ACause.etsy.com. “Summer Breeze” hand-painted glass ornament, $28, Heidi Detor of Because I Can Studio, heididetor. com. Hand-beaded floral ornament, $75, Judi Witkin at Gallery 54, 54 E. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, 315-685-5470, gallery54cny.com. Clay and resin Octopus in real clamshell, $40, Eclectic Clay, eclecticclay.com.

Bottom: Galaxy painted glass, $8, Jessica Natale Art, available at Fashion Rescue 911, 52 Oswego Street, Suite 2, Baldwinsville, etsy.com/shop/ JessicaNataleArt. Wood Turned Sea Urchin Ornament by Michael Gotthelf, $39, Skaneateles Artisans. Holiday mini mason jar, $13, Sprinkled and

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Good Reads

Snow bound B Y C A R O LY N D AV I S

As we settle in for another Central New York fall and winter season, we know we can count on activities galore – Lights on the Lake to Winterfest, skiing, snowboarding and ice skating in Clinton Square. For those who want to stay inside, curled up with a warm cup of cocoa and a good book, we offer the following recommendations.

SNOW CRASH BY NEAL STEPHENSON

Go on a wild adventure that combines Sumerian myth and virtual reality in a refreshingly peculiar way. Hiro is just a guy who delivers pizza for his Uncle Enzo’s business, but in the metaverse he’s a warrior prince. There is a computer virus that’s attacking hackers all over and his aim is to find and defeat the virtual world villain who intends to bring the infocalypse.

A ROSE IN WINTER BY KATHLEEN WOODWISS

Erienne Fleming has plenty of suitors, yet she only has eyes for the raffish American Christopher Seton. But she can’t marry the one she loves because her father needs to pay off a debt and pushes his daughter into an arranged marriage with the strange and reserved Lord Saxton. He always wears a cloak and mask to hide his scars. When Erienne discovers he is a gentle man with a loving soul, she promises to be a loyal wife.

Then Christopher returns and she is drawn to his passion and secrets. She must make a choice between honor and her heart.

THE WOLVES OF WINTER BY TYRELL JOHNSON

ICE BY LINDA HOWARD

This thriller takes readers on a fierce ride until the very end. Gabriel McQueen is a military man from Maine. During a dangerous ice storm he saves Lolly Helton, his high school adversary, from the weather and the two men who took her hostage.

ICE BOUND BY DEAN KOONTZ

A team of scientists starts an odd experiment on the Arctic Icefield. When they plant 60 powerful explosive charges that are supposed to detonate at midnight, they get more than they bargained for. Before they can get to a safe place, a tidal wave breaks the ice where they are working. Marooned on an iceberg during a brutal winter storm, the bombs keep ticking and they discover there is an assassin among them with his own mission.

WINTER GARDEN BY KRISTEN HANNAH

Meredith and Nina are sisters, but very different. When their father falls ill, the sisters are together again, with their cold and disapproving mother Anya. When they were children the only connection with her was a Russian fairy tale Anya occasionally told them at night. On his deathbed, the girls’ 84

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father makes them promise the fairy tale will be told one more time from beginning to end. When they discover the terrible things their mother suffered in war-torn Leningrad, they change who they think they’re supposed to be.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

This post-apocalyptic tale tells the story of Lynn McBride, who learned a lot when society collapsed because of nuclear war and disease. Memories of her former life haunt her as she decides to keep moving forward in the Canadian Yukon, forced to trap, hunt and kill. She wants to know what she is meant for in the new, frightening world. Jay, is a perplexing man with dark secrets of his own that set a chain of events in motion that puts Lynn in a role she never dreamed of playing.

BOY, SNOW, BIRD BY HELEN OYEYEMI

Boy Novak arrives in a small town in Massachusetts, looking for a beauty she never found in New York. She marries a local widower, Arturo Whitman and is stepmother to his attractive daughter Snow. Boy never saw herself as the wicked stepmother, but after the birth of her daughter, Bird who is dark skinned, exposes the Whitmans as light-skinned African Americans who are passing for white. Boy, Snow and Bird are divisive and have a complicated relationship, yet they have a tireless desire to know each other.

CAROLYN DAVIS IS SENIOR PAGE FOR ONONDAGA COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

The Townsend Collection by American Standard.

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It’s a pleasure when our passion for quality products becomes part of the creative process. As an addition to the wide assortment of brands that homeowners have come to enjoy in our showrooms, we’ve recently curated new collections to help architects and designers distinguish their work when transforming baths and kitchens.

Product knowledge, detailed coordination and an accessible, friendly staff are added values we offer to ensure your project goes smoothly.

SYRACUSE 6792 Townline Road For other showroom locations, please visit frankwebb.com

Architects & designers are encouraged to visit frankwebb.com/professionals.

S8509149-05

Farm to table

Like butter B U T T E R N U T S Q UAS H IS T H E N E W P U M P K I N S PI C E . O K , W E M A D E T H AT U P. B U T I T ’ S K I N D O F A B I G , B U T T E RY D E A L T H IS T I M E

est. 1982

O F Y E A R . T H IS S E AS O N A L R EC I P E FO R C U R RI E D B U T T E R N U T S O U P B IS Q U E W I T H C H I L I T RU F F L E C R E M A F R O M E M PI R E

Old-Fashioned Meat Market & Deli

FA R M B R E W E RY I N CA Z E N OV I A IS J U ST T H E T H I N G W H E N T H E W E AT H E R T U R N S B RIS K . S O T H E R E , P U M P K I N S PI C E .

Spera’s was founded in 1982 by Tony Spera, who came to the USA from Italy with his family at a young age. His dream was to own his own butcher shop resembling those in Italy. After Tony passed away in 1988, his dream continues to be carried out by his family.

BY M J K R AV EC

Holiday Favorites Your Family Will Love Bone In Prime Rib • Bonlesless Prime Rib Tenderloin • Turkey Breast • Crown Roast of Pork Call today to place an order - 315-699-4422

A place where you can truly talk to the butcher

Meet Tom!

6250 Rt 31 Cicero, NY • 315-699-4422 • speras.net 86

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Christmas is Tom’s favorite holiday. He has always adored the Christmas jingles along with spreading holiday cheer by decorating his home in Oneida, even winning the town’s holiday decorating competition! For the holidays this year, Tom suggests a delicious Bone-In Prime Rib Roast. Stop in to get yours today and ask Tom about his immense love for Christmas!

SHUTTERSTOCK

As a child, Tom was captivated by the meat cutters as they worked persistently. The sights and sounds lured him into a career spanning over 45 years in the meat industry, 15 of those being at Spera’s. In his free time, Tom can be found hiking, fishing, snowshoeing and camping.

THE MENU AT EMPIRE FARM BREWERY IN CAZENOVIA IS KNOWN FOR ITS USE OF LOCALLY GROWN PRODUCE. WITH A PHILOSOPHY “EAT WHERE YOU LIVE,” YOU CAN’T GET ANY FRESHER OR MORE FLAVORFUL. “OUR MENU REVOLVES AROUND THE HARVEST CYCLE OF OUR LOCAL

Curried butternut soup bisque with chili truffle crema

PRODUCE,” SAYS EMPIRE FARM BREWERY CHEF JESSIE CANESTRARE.

RECIPE BY EMPIRE FARM BREWERY CHEF, JESSIE CANESTRARE

SINCE THERE’S NO CREAM OR THICKENING AGENT, THIS SOUP OFFERS

INGREDIENTS

FLAVOR AND COMFORT WITHOUT HEAVY CALORIES, SAYS CANESTRA-

4 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 large butternut squash (about 3 pounds), halved vertically and seeded 1 large Spanish (yellow) onion, diced 2 tablespoons minced or roasted garlic 3 tablespoons of yellow curry powder 1 tablespoons of kosher salt Fresh cracked black pepper, to taste 4 cups vegetable broth

RE. “I ALSO LIKE THAT IT’S A VEGETARIAN FRIENDLY DISH WITH SEASONAL PRODUCE AND JUST A LITTLE SPICY KICK TO WARM YOU UP ON THOSE COLD WINTER NIGHTS.”

Chili truffle crema 1 cup crema (or sour cream) 2 tablespoons Sriracha sauce 2 tablespoons white truffle oil Salt and pepper to taste

1. Dice all vegetables, uniform in size. Slowly melt butter, in a stock pot on medium heat.

Add vegetables, stir frequently, and cook until soft. Add spices, garlic and cook for 1 minute.

2. Add vegetable stock and allow to come to a boil. Set aside for 10 minutes to cool slightly. In the meantime, prepare the Chili Truffle Crema by mixing all ingredients in a separate bowl.

3. In a food processor, or immersion blender, puree soup to a smooth consistency. If the soup is too thick for your liking, add more vegetable broth.

4. Garnish soup with the Crema, and serve immediately, or allow soup to cool and put in a food-safe storage container and refrigerate or freeze. This soup has a refrigerated shelf life of four days.

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF EMPIRE FARM BREWERY, BREW STUDS

INSTRUCTIONS

Open for the Holidays

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“Soup is cuisine’s kindest course.

It breathes reassurance; it steams consolation; after a weary day it promotes sociability, as the five o’clock cup of tea or the cocktail hour.”

CLASSIC ITALIAN DINING

LOUIS P. DE GOUY

GOES WELL WITH…

New Dinner and Beverage Menu Now Available at www.myavicollis.com

“I’d pair this soup with a turkey cheddar melt with cranberry aioli.”

AND TO DRINK? “Slo Mo IPA. The Falconers Flight hops would cut through the thick savory quality of the soup nicely.”

Stop by our pizzeria and pick up a jar of Avicolli’s Tomato Basil or Vodka Sauce to take home. Frozen entrees also available.

What’s on their November/December menu?

“Cranberries are fun and they pair well with our Cranbaby Wheat ale, complimenting a heartier palette in the colder seasons. I’ll also be incorporating fingerling potatoes, zucchini and squash as well as seasonal herbs like rosemary, sage and chives. We rely on our local food reps to keep us updated with the harvest calendar to feature whatever is current.”

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

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Portrait of the artist.

“Pillows on White Tablecloth,” oil painting, 34” W x 40” H.

Out of nothing S K A N E AT E L E S A R T I S T G A R Y T R E N T O F I N D S M E A N I N G I N T H E S I M P L E S T T H I N G S

What do the Skaneateles-based artist, Gary Trento, and comedian Jerry Seinfeld have in common?

Nothing. Literally.

“Nothing happens, in a sense, in my paintings,” Trento has stated. “A girl blowing bubbles is the most active I got.”

As Seinfeld was able to capture the humor and irony in the “nothings” of everyday life, Trento has captured the beauty and significance of seemingly insignificant objects. He manipulates and choreographs pitchers, bowls, pillows and people into masterful compositions that make something out of nothing.

“I want to believe you find meaning in the simplest of things,” he explains.

Trento, 76, started painting at 13 years old, taking Friday afternoon art classes with three other kids in the 90

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home of a local artist in his hometown of Tenafly, New Jersey. It was an unconventional approach to painting.

“We painted Chinese lanterns,” Trento says with a note of lingering dread in his voice. “I can’t really get involved with those anymore.”

Trento’s visual vocabulary has expanded considerably since the Chinese lantern years, although there remains a certain leanness to the variety of objects and subject matter that appeal to him. The objects exist in their own space and time with the emptiness around them as vital to the composition as the objects, or subject matter themselves.

“An open space has to be filled,” Trento states. “The openness is the sensation I’m looking for. I’m trying to paint around the objects, as well as the objects.”

This goes to the heart of Trento’s painting philosophy. He is a self-proclaimed “representational” painter.

IMAGES COURTESY OF GARY TRENTO

B Y K AT H E R I N E R U S H W O R T H

Standing Hannah Blowing Bubbles, oil painting, 36”W x 50”H.

He’s not trying to capture an identical rendering of the objects, or subjects he chooses to paint. He calls that approach to painting “making pictures.”

“My painting is not the facility of depiction,” he says. It’s the representation of the subject matter. Representation means it’s standing in for something else. I make images, not pictures. I don’t want to make pictures.”

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Which is why when you look at a Trento still life, there might be a certain, and deliberate, discomfort to the composition. He challenges gravity, pushing objects to the edges and balancing them within tilted picture planes. Lemons teeter on the edge of a table, a book hangs precariously over a tabletop, pitchers look as if they’re about to slide to the floor, but sit firmly atop the table in defiance of the laws of physics. His rep-

“Sarah Hands Clasped,” pastel, 20” W x 26” H.

ertoire of objects is common, but it’s how Trento manipulates them within space that encourages us to step up and explore the painting, not merely see it.

“I like something that’s familiar and common,” he says of his compositions, “but it still pushes you to reinvent it. I paint the pot because Cezanne painted an apple. He was excited every time he saw it. I’m not painting the pot. I’m painting what it means to me at that time.

Trento has never been concerned with narrative painting, or imagery that evokes a political or social tone. If he does interject narrative, it’s subtle, open-ended, unresolved as in the paintings, “Spring Thaw,” (2004/2013) and “Standing Hannah Blowing Bubbles” (2004). The figures in these paintings stand aloof from the viewer, emotionally distanced from us. He specifically tells the model to engage in their own thoughts and to forget about him. Trento’s compositions are rich with detail, yet reveal little.

His paintings, like the man, are soft-spoken, subtle in tone and exude a palpable calm.

Trento’s not into feather ruffling or provocation and neither are his paintings.

“I want to make a quiet painting,” he says.

“One that makes you want to come back.”

A painting by Trento can sneak up on you, transitioning from what initially might seem like a well-conceived and executed still life or figure to something more meditative in spirit. He describes the act of viewing one of his pieces as the act of looking “for,” not “at” the work of art. In other words, it takes work on the part of the viewer to grasp the subtleties of observation Trento has represented on his canvas…the perspective he employs, the objects he pairs with the figures, the expressions (or lack of) on his subjects’ faces, the selection, spacing, and arrangement of objects on a tabletop. Trento’s specific choices impart significance to the objects or subjects and impact the success with which we look “for,” not “at,” the painting.

“It’s how you see something without transforming it,” Trento explains of his

“I want to make a quiet painting. One that makes you want to come back.”

PAINTER GARY TRENTO

“Woman in Black” Oil Painting, 35”W x 42”H.

“Spring Thaw,” oil painting, 52” W x 76” H.

approach. “I can’t transform a pot. I’m going to look at it and get as much meaning as I can out of it.”

That’s why the world needs people like Jerry Seinfeld and Gary Trento. Their power of observation, ability to see something in the most insignificant object and interpretation change the way we perceive something.

“If it’s (a painting) going to be meaningful,” Trento concludes, “it becomes a moral issue because it changes someone’s life in some way.”

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CNY Art

“Oshun Media: fabric, shells and beads 2012” by ellen blalock at ArtRage.

ArtRage Gallery, The Norton Putter Gallery 505 Hawley Avenue, Syracuse, artragegallery. org. 2 to 7 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, noon to 4 p.m.

Saturday. Free.

Stitching Stories: Thread, Needle, Narrative. The Quilts of Ellen M. Blalock.

Syracuse artist Ellen M. Blalock is an accomplished multi-disciplinary artist who is best known for her photography, video and fiber art. The exhibit will include a broad array of her quilting work from the past 20 years and aims to include two new quilts that she is currently creating as part of new series of work dealing with mental health in the African American community. Blalock learned to sew at a young age often making clothes for herself and her family. In 1998 she made her first quilts when asked to create an exhibition for Syracuse’s Community Folk Art Gallery about her recently completed “Family History Project.” Having just finished a family oral history project she decided to tell her own family’s stories through quilts. Blalock connects with the rich history of fiber arts found throughout the African Diaspora and her work is part of the African American quilting tradition of story quilts. Since her first large quilting project, consisting of 25 quilts in 1998, Blalock has continued quilting throughout her artistic career, taking commissions, and creating work for sale and exhibition. Opening reception 7-9 p.m. Sat. Nov. 10. Through Jan. 12, 2019.

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Edgewood Gallery

Everson Museum of Art

216 Tecumseh Road, Syracuse. 315-445-8111.

Edgewoodartandframe.com. 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Tuesday- Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sunday-Monday. Free.

401 Harrison St., Syracuse. 315-474-6064, everson.org. Noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Friday, noon to 8 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday-Tuesday. $5 suggested donation.

“Mediating Illusion”. Sally Hootnick will be exhibiting paintings and encaustics ranging from realistic to abstract, with Millie St. John Schmidt ceramics and metalsmith jewelry by Dana Stenson.

Exhibit dates: Nov. 23-Jan. 4; Opening reception 6-8 p.m. Friday Nov. 30.

On My Own Time. CNY Arts’ 45th annual On My Own Time exhibition connects Central New York businesses in a collaboration that promotes the benefits of the creative process across community sectors. Original works created by amateur artists working in a variety of professions were displayed at their work sites. This professional juried selection recognizes the outstanding works by employees of Central New York companies and organizations participating in On My Own Time this year. Through Nov. 18. {Re) Generation: Women Artists After 60. This exhibit explores the creative and transformative power of age for women artists working and thriving in the contemporary art world.

This exhibition is presented through the Everson’s Community exhibitions programs. Dec. 15 through Jan. 20.

“Mediating Illusion”

by Sally hootnick at Edgewood Gallery.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

Light Work Gallery, Kathleen O. Ellis Gallery at Light Work 316 Waverly Ave., Syracuse. 315-443-1300, lightwork.org. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. MondayThursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday and by appointment. Free.

2018 Light Work Grants: Nydia Blas.

Nydia Blas is a visual artist living in Ithaca, New York with her two children.

She holds a BS from Ithaca College, and received her MFA from Syracuse University in the School of Visual and Performing Arts. She currently is a freelance photographer and serves as the Executive Director of Southside Community Center, Inc, a historically Black community center. She uses photography, collage, video, and books to address matters of sexuality, intimacy, and her lived experience as a girl, woman, and mother. Most recently her work is featured at two locations of The Wing: Home Base & Social Club for Women in New York and DC, and an exhibition entitled Vigilance, Struggle, Pride: Through Her Eyes which is traveling through Europe. Through Dec. 13.

Onondaga Historical Association 321 Montgomery St., Syracuse. 315 428-1864, cnyhistory.org. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday – Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Free but donations encouraged.

Donald R. Waful: The Remarkable Life Story of a Local Syracusan.

This exhibit examines the life of Don Waful, who is 102 years old. Designed and installed by SUNY Potsdam undergraduate student, Mahala Nyberg, details Waful’s experiences during World War II as well as his experiences before and after the war in Syracuse. Nyberg has worked with Waful for the past two to three years documenting his extraordinary life story, significant in its own right and one that deserves to be shared with his community. Through Nov. 25.

Donald R. Waful exhibit at OHA.

Munson-WilliamsProctor Art Institute 310 Genesee St., Utica. 315-797-0000. Mwpai. org. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Free but special exhibitions may have a fee.

American Indian Art from Fenimore Museum: The Thaw Collection. The Eugene and Clare Thaw Collection of American Indian Art at Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, is a showcase of landmark creations by gifted North American artists, working across millennia and across the continent, from the Arctic to the Southwest and the Eastern Woodlands to the Pacific Northwest. The Museum of Art is honored to host the exhibition, American Indian Art from the Fenimore Museum: The Thaw Collection, which features more than 35 exceptional objects that include a rare war record in pigment on cowhide and a feather headdress from the Lakota; a ca. 1925 jar by Maria and Julian Martinez, from San Ildefonso, New Mexico; an early-19th-century Haida Raven mask, from British Columbia or southern Alaska; and a Beacon Lights basket, 1904-05,

by Louisa Keyser (Dat So La Lee, ca.

1850-December 6, 1925), from Washoe, Carson City, Nevada. Through Dec. 30.

“Orange Blossom” by Margie Hughto at Everson Museum of Art.

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CNY Stage Magic of the Holidays 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14 and 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15, Crouse Hinds Theater, 411 Montgomery St., Syracuse, 315 435-2121, experiencesymphoria.org.

Symphoria celebrates the magic of the holidays with guest vocalist Nick Ziobro, the Syracuse Pops Chorus, the Syracuse Children’s Chorus, dancers and more!

The Nutcracker 7 p.m. Nov. 30, 1 and 6 p.m. Dec. 1, 2 p.m. Dec. 2, Sensory-friendly performance 10 a.m. Dec. 2., Crouse Hinds Theater, 411 Montgomery St., Syracuse, 315 435-2121, syracusecityballet.com.

Syracuse City Ballet brings this favorite holiday production to the stage again this winter! Feel the magic at this performance for the entire family filled with fun surprises, dazzling sets and costumes, and stunning choreography.

Oksana Masolva as the Sugar Plum Fairy in “The Nutcracker.”

The Sound of Music

Miracle on 34th Street

7:30 p.m. Dec. 11 – 14, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15, 1 p.m.

Dec. 16, The Landmark Theatre, 362 S. Salina St., Syracuse, 315 475-7979 option 3, landmarktheatre.org.

Dec. 7-22, The Central New York Playhouse, 3649 Erie Boulevard E., Dewitt, 315-885-8960, cnyplayhouse.org.

Single mother, Doris Walker, doesn’t want her six-year-old Susan’s head filled with romantic notions. Their neighbor, Fred Gailey, tries to woo Doris by charming Susan and taking her to see Santa Claus at Macy’s, where Doris works. Doris is not impressed, but when it turns out that Macy’s Santa may, in fact, be the real Kris Kringle, a wave of love spreads across New York City that melts even the most cynical hearts.

A Charlie Brown Christmas 7 p.m. Dec. 6-8, 2 p.m. Dec. 9 (ASL interpretation performance), 7p.m. Dec 13 and 14, 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 15 and 2 p.m. Dec. 16, The Redhouse, 400 S. Salina St., Syracuse, 315 362-2785, theredhouse.org.

By Charles M. Schulz. Based on the television special by Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson with stage adaptation by Eric Schaeffer. Everyone is giddy with Christmas cheer, but Charlie Brown has the Yuletide blues. Will directing the Christmas play help him get in the spirit of the season? This musical adaptation features the iconic score by Vince Guaraldi.

Elf the Musical Nov. 23-Jan. 6 (Call for showtimes), Syracuse Stage, 820 E. Genesee St., Syracuse, 315 443-4008, syracusestage.org.

This holiday season channel your inner elf and join Buddy on his journey from the North Pole to New York City to find his family. For this journey you’ll need provisions (four food groups recommended: candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup), snowballs, and an ability to sing very loud (but maybe wait for the ride home).

Nick Ziobro is the guest vocalist performing with symphoria in “magic of the holidays.”

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ZIOBRO PHOTOGRAPH BY DENNIS NETT, NUTCRACKER PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF SYRACUSE CITY BALLET

A new production of The Sound of Music is touring North America! The spirited, romantic and beloved musical story of Maria and the von Trapp Family will once again thrill audiences with its Tony®, Grammy® and Academy Award® winning Best Score, including “My Favorite Things,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “Edelweiss” and the title song.

OHA History

Two boys sit atop a pile of pumpkins in Onondaga County, c. 1960.

A profile of pumpkin production

BY THOMAS HUNTER

When autumn arrives, many Central New Yorkers buy pump-

However, by the end of the 19th century, pumpkin produc-

kins to adorn homes as Halloween and harvest decorations

tion steadily declined throughout the U.S. It did not recover

or to incorporate them into traditional Thanksgiving dinner

until after World War II, when an end to sugar rationing cre-

desserts. The word pumpkin is a derivation of the Greek word

ated a resurgence in Halloween trick or treating and pump-

pepon, meaning large melon.

kins were again carved into jack o’lanterns.

We don’t know how long pumpkins have been grown in Cen-

Beginning in the 1970s, farmers focused on growing big-

tral New York. For at least the past several hundred years, the

ger, more durable pumpkins with thicker stems, uniform col-

Haudenosaunee have grown squashes, including pumpkins,

or and an oval shape for carving and decorating. These in-

along with beans and corn, in an interdependent, supportive

edible, ornamental pumpkins now account for almost all the

configuration, known as The Three Sisters.

pumpkins grown in the U.S.

In the 19th century, New York farmers grew pumpkins

Today, farmers in New York, Illinois and Pennsylvania grow

for food and medicinal uses. At a meeting of the Onondaga

the most pumpkins in the U.S. In New York, about 7,000 acres

County Medical Society in 1859, a Dr. Mercer proposed that

are dedicated to growing about 50,000 tons of pumpkins and

patients ingest pumpkin seeds to expel nasty tapeworms. A

almost all are grown for carving and ornamentation. Onon-

local farmer advertised that his pigs were of the finest qual-

daga County is listed among the top New York State coun-

ity because they ate pumpkin vines. In 1885, J. Will Page of

ties for pumpkin production with about 270 dedicated acres.

Pompey Hill reported that he was experimenting with grow-

PHOTO COURTESY OHA

ing pumpkins under glass.

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CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

97

The Last Word

Jim Greene

A K A C H A R L E S D I C K E N S AT D I C K E N S C H RIST M AS I N S K A N E AT E L E S

We’re closing our November/December issue with a Q&A with Jim Greene, director of Scarlett Rat Entertainment – the acting group behind Dickens Christmas in Skaneateles. We wanted to know how he preps for his role as author Charles Dickens and to find out what it takes to get into the holiday spirit. We had no idea the Muppets have anything to do with it.

How long have you been portraying Charles?

I started playing Dickens the year Ted Davenport, who was the first Skaneateles Charles Dickens, retired. ! believe it was 2000 so I have done my best to fill those shoes for 18 years.

How are you most like him?

Well I like attention and entertaining people. I also believe in social reform. Trying to right wrongs. Dickens was instrumental in child labor and welfare reforms in his times. I don’t believe I have affected any change but I do try to support justice for all. In Ska-

What’s your favorite version of “A Christmas Carol”?

neateles, the first year I portrayed Dickens many people said I looked

I think the quintessential version is the

just like him! The truth is I looked like Ted Davenport. Neither of

1951 version starring Alistair Sim. I draw

us looked anything like Charles Dickens. Perception is everything!

heavily upon that one. I am a big fan of the George C Scott version and for kids, noth-

How are you different?

ing beat the Muppets! I have also fallen in

I think I’m less judgmental. When Dickens visited Upstate New

love with the public television special “A

York he was very critical of the inhabitants. He felt we were sav-

Christmas Carol, The Concert.”

age bumpkins and wrote such. That, and I’m bald.

Best gift you ever got?

Ever wish you could play somebody else?

Our daughter surprised us last year

Fortunately I do get to play somebody else. Being an actor gives

with tickets to Ireland. She said two

me that opportunity throughout the year. I play Emrys Fleet, Rat-

things that made me weep. First, she

catcher at Renaissance Festivals as well as different roles for events

reminded me that I had been talking

like radio plays, mystery dinners, etc. Over the years I have played

about it for years but we could nev-

many different people at theme parks, on

er coordinate the timing and she and her brothers just didn’t

television and in movies. As far as Ska-

want us to never get there. Secondly, she said “It’s ok, Dad, I had

neateles goes though, I love being Charles!

a really good year.” There is nothing a parent wants to hear more than that! Also, my big brother gave me a skateboard when I was

Any tips for getting into the holi-

8! It was an early version with metal wheels, but it was heaven!

day spirit?

Simply feel the warmth of love for your fellow humans! I’m very

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

Dickens?

much a traditional holiday guy,

There have been so many remarkable things, I couldn’t pick

so the music and decorations

one. I have helped with marriage proposals, delivered anonymous

pretty much do it for me. Also, do

gifts for those less fortunate, offered some comfort to those who

nice things for strangers! Practice

are suffering. I would say that hearing people laugh out loud has

kindness and share goodwill! Most

been pretty awesome! I am genuinely grateful for every moment.

importantly, drink eggnog!

98

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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

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