Central New York Magazine January/February 2024

WHAT’S TRENDING IN TREATMENTS FOR BODY AND MIND OUR ANNUAL WEDDING GUIDE

ADDRESSING THE REAL CHALLENGES OF HOME ORGANIZATION + CAN THIS TINY HOME PROJECT END HOMELESSNESS?

FRESH STARTS, WAYS TO PAMPER AND GOOD FEELS

Single-Port Robotic Surgery: EXPERIENCE MATTERS

As the region’s leader in robotic-assisted surgery Crouse Health is the only area hospital to offer the latest, minimally invasive technique for prostate surgery using a single, small incision. The da Vinci SP system uses advanced technology designed for access to tissue in the body with greater precision and enhanced mobility.

A pioneer in robotic-assisted surgery, urologist Po Lam, MD, is the first and only surgeon in the region to utilize the da Vinci Single Port robotic system for prostate removal. His experience with the SP system places him in the top tier* of robotic surgeons in the U.S. using this innovative technology.

*Intuitive Surgical

See interview with Po Lam, MD, and SP patient Dan Cannucciari: crouse.org/ RoboticsSinglePort

Ask your physician if Single Port robotic surgery is appropriate for you.

PRESIDENT

Tim Kennedy

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

Lindsay Marlenga lmarlenga@advancemediany.com

CIRCULATION MANAGER

Gerry Bauer 315-470-3118 gbauer@advancelocal.com

MAGAZINE/EVENTS

SALES MANAGER

Jennifer K. Queri 315-282-8622 jqueri@advancemediany.com

ADVERTISING ACCOUNT

REPRESENTATIVE

Debbie Feeley 315-282-8573 dfeeley@advancemediany.com

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Amy Bleier Long 315-282-8553

ableierlong@advancemediany.com

ASSISTANT EDITOR

MJ Kravec 315-766-7833 mkravec@advancemediany.com

DESIGNERS

Susan Santola ssantola@advancelocal.com

Kimberly Worner kworner@advancelocal.com

CUSTOMER SERVICE

315-282-8622

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Contact Jennifer Queri or visit readcnymagazine.com

ON THE COVER

From melt-in-yourmouth Valentine’s chocolates (see story, page 24) to the giving spirit of our community, CNY always has heart. Design by Susan Santola.

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 © 2024. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic/digital, mechanical photocopying, recording or otherwise, without written permission. 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.

Thank

advertisers that make CNY Magazine possible!

Love You Live Where

This is CNY is a new website celebrating good news and good living across Central New York.  The platform is also used as a recruitment resource for CNY companies looking to attract talented candidates to our region. Thank you to our community partners for supporting This is CNY.

It’s just another winter’s tale

Each year when the calendar changes, I feel optimistic that this will be the year I get my you-know-what together, or at least find the right tools to make it easier to keep track of all the things I do at home and at work. I have color-coded planners and calendars, and I’m getting better at letting go of emotional attachments to things, but my ADHD makes it hard to stay consistent. That’s part of why I wanted to find out more about local professionals who address the place where home organization and mental health meet. If you’re at all like me, we hope you’ll find Norah Machia’s story on page 34 helpful. (And if you’re ready to clean out that closet, keep MJ’s Down to Earth story handy.)

January often signifies new beginnings, and you’ll find this underlying theme throughout the issue. There are probably few fresh starts as poignant as those A Tiny Home for Good offers unhoused individuals in our community. Similarly, Safe Space Organization, a nonprofit that facilitates group therapy sessions for a variety of needs, creates opportunities to work through and move past some of life’s most challenging experiences. We also explore a number of increasingly popular

services for body and mind that can help you recenter (or simply pamper) yourself. This edition also features our annual wedding guide. The June 2023 celebration of Sonali Karamchandani and Conor Horan, was an elegant affair with a touching backstory. As we reviewed galleries from photographers, I was so charmed by the stylish personal details from the weddings of Maddy and Chris Becker, Kate and Joe Whaley, and Brigid Judge and Will Leonard that I just had to find out more. Plus, if you’re in need of ideas for wedding shower locations, we’ve rounded up more than 20 to help you start your search.

In our other departments, you’ll find a look at Girls on the Run, a group empowering adolescent girls mentally and physically, hear how The Sound Garden stays not only relevant but vibrant, meet a little boy who got to Zoom with a superstar and more.

We hope you enjoy this issue and that your year is off to a great start!

Amy Bleier Long ableierlong@advancemediany.com

As always, we’d love to hear from you about story ideas, thoughts, tips, suggestions, you name it. Drop us a line at info@readcnymagazine.com.

And now, a word from our contributors:

Cheryl Abrams

“Learning about Fulton’s Lake Neatahwanta, translated as “little lake near the big lake,” was a pleasant discovery, along with the area’s abundance of nature activities, eateries and developing downtown vibe.” On writing about the city of Fulton

Ethan Stinson

“Highlighting local gems like The Sound Garden is greatly important to me, as such places are crucial toward raising awareness for the arts and developing a strong sense of community.”

On writing about The Sound Garden

56 Wedding Guide

Gorgeous inspiration from four real weddings and 24 ways to shower the betrothed with love.

34 Put it Away Now

Professional organizers discuss what leads to clutter, overwhelm and how they can help.

44 Treat Yourself

Exploring some of the latest trends in services and treatments for the mind and body.

50 Tiny Homes, Big Difference

Nonprofit constructing tiny homes for unhoused people provides muchwanted shelter and independence.

PHOTO BY ALYSSA FLOOD PHOTOGRAPHY

Departments

Good News

27 Clay preschooler wins Dolly Parton’s giveaway

28 Behind The Scenes: Safe Space Organization

30 Caught Doing Good: John and Laura Lally

32 The Seen: A pictorial review of CNY’s social gatherings 79 Making Good 79 Sixty One Main opens in Camillus 80 CNY Scout: Girls on the Run

Farm to Table: The Brasserie’s Lemon Shrimp Risotto

Down to Earth: Textile recycling with the Rescue Mission 88 Art Profile: The Sound Garden

Galleries 97 Flashback with OHA: A heyday of independent bookstores

98 Last Word with The Curd

I had long envisioned creating a central gathering place for artists and people of all ages to learn, share and grow together. Founding the Oneida Lake Arts & Heritage Center allowed me to tap into my history and passions while achieving my dream.

I believe you can do a lot with a little. From teaching music in Utica, to leading a community chorus in Madison County, to volunteering for local arts and music organizations in Syracuse, teaching and giving back has always been my key.

I want my impact to keep going and growing. That’s why I chose to partner with the Community Foundation – to endow a continuing legacy for the arts in Central New York. The Linda Verni Williams Fund will provide annual support to my chosen charities, including the center, to ensure my dream lives on.

CENTERED GIVING: LINDA VERNI WILLIAMS

Read more of Linda’s story by scanning the QR code or visiting cnycf.org/verniwilliams

Linda sits at her piano at the Oneida Lake Arts & Heritage Center.

It’s all good

POSITIVE VIBES • OUR TOWN • MARKET TRENDS

BE STILL

BY MJ KRAVEC

With shorter days and dark, cold nights, there’s a hint of season’s advice. Take comfort in winter’s chill, which calls for all things to rest — under the warmth of a blanket, with hands cupped around hot coffee, by a fire lit during the day, to restore, renew and reenergize. Here are seven ways to savor the season now.

WANDER IN WINTER

Studies show that spending time outdoors helps ease stress and depressive symptoms. Go for a short daily walk around the neighborhood or try a winter walk on weekends at a local park. Visit cnyhiking.com for a list of hiking trails in CNY by county, complete with user-friendly descriptions. Bundle up.

FLAKE OUT

While you’re out on a winter hike, look for twigs and branches to turn into winter ornaments. Use a hot glue gun to secure branches in any flaky pattern you please. Then tie with twine and hang in a kitchen window until spring comes.

MILK IT

Make a sleep-inducing moon milk with cherry juice, which naturally contains the compound melatonin. Try this recipe from thecoconutmama.com. Heat ¾ cup oat milk in a stovetop pan with ²/3 cup unsweetened tart cherry juice and one chamomile tea bag over low heat. Stir to combine. Remove from heat when warm and stir in 1 Tbsp. honey or maple syrup. Optional, garnish with dried rose petals. Sip about a half-hour before bedtime.

OLD FLAME

Don’t toss your spent candle jar. Instead, place jar in the freezer for several hours. Once wax is frozen, break it up carefully with a spoon and toss. Reuse the jar for tea lights, air plants or as a bud vase just the right size for a bathroom sink.

WAND AND BATON

Experience the magic of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” while Symphoria performs John Williams’ enchanting score. Like magic in surround sound. 8 p.m. Jan. 19 at the Landmark Theatre. Runs 180 minutes including intermission. For tickets, visit ticketmaster.com.

LAVER UP

Turn your bathroom into a spa and tie fresh lavender bunches around your shower head. Lavender promotes relaxation and also serves as an anti-inflammatory. Use to soothe a winter cold, or just to unwind at the end of a long day.

WE HEART IT

Tap into your inner kindergartner and make old-school Valentine crafts with the kids. Simply cut paper hearts out in red, pink and white and tie to tree branches with a ribbon, glue to a simple wreath or string to make a sweet garland.

SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF THIS

Reading a book before bed can help improve sleep

BY MJ KRAVEC

That groggy, tired feeling is all too common. About 50 to 70 million Americans have trouble sleeping, with one in three not getting the seven to eight hours nightly that’s needed for optimum health, says the National Institutes of Health.

Aside from negatively affecting everyday tasks, including working, driving, learning and focusing (not to mention our mood), lack of or poor sleep are linked to high blood pressure, obesity, heart conditions, diabetes, stroke, depression and other mental health issues.

But recent research shows that adopting a simple routine — such as reading a book — can help improve well-being by inducing a more relaxed state and helping us drift off to sleep more easily. According to Healthline.com, a 2021 online survey asking half of the participants to read before bed and the other

half to avoid reading before bed and engage in another activity instead found that after one week, 42% of the reading group reported better sleep than in the previous week compared to 28% in the non-reading group. In other research, a University of Sussex study that raised stress levels for its subjects and tried various ways to reduce them (through reading, tea drinking, listening to music or taking a walk) found that reading helped reduce stress more than any other activity, lowering subjects’ stress levels by about 68%.

To practice: Pick up some light or humorous reading (you might want to avoid Stephen King) and read 15 to 20 minutes before bedtime. Also, opt for a physical book instead of an e-reader, as blue light from electronic devices interferes with the body’s ability to produce melatonin, the body’s sleep hormone.

TRY THESE BEFORE BED

» “Bedtime Stories for Stressed Out Adults,” introduction by Lucy Mangan

» “Goodnight Mind: Turn Off Your Noisy Thoughts and Get a Good Night’s Sleep,” Colleen E. Carney Ph.D., Rachel Manber Ph.D.

» “The Comfort Book,” Matt Haig

» “This Book Will Put You to Sleep,” Professor K. McCoy, Dr. Hardwick

» “Sleepily Ever After: Bedtime Stories for Grown Ups,” Zachary Seager

Good news!

We do the research for you on new businesses, hidden gems and community favorites. For food & drink, entertainment, local shopping, places to go, things to do, people to follow…don’t miss an issue! Subscribe now!

Six issues for only $30

Subscribing online at www.readCNYmagazine.com is best. Or, fill out this form and mail it to us with a check to start your home delivery subscription.

Name:

Address:

Email address:

Phone number:

Mail to: Advance Media New York, attn. Jennifer Queri 220 S. Warren Street, Syracuse, NY 13202 Make check payable to Advance Media New York memo: CNY Magazine

Please tell us about yourself. It helps us better understand our readers and craft our content.

Fulton

BY CHERYL ABRAMS

An easy 30-mile drive from downtown Syracuse, the City of Fulton prides itself on its historic downtown waterfront located on the Oswego River. The community-oriented city features a wide variety of activities and attractions, including picturesque nature vistas, diverse eateries and unique shops, an auto speedway scene that’s been famous for years and about 14 different parks that dot the landscape. Recent investment in the area is creating more opportunities and amenities.

GRAB A BITE

For good home cookin’ stop into Mimi’s Drive-in, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner in a classic American diner setting since 1970, or start your day early at Cathy’s Café or Aunt Dee’s Diner. For more than 60 years, both Mr. Mike’s Seafood and Uly’s Seafood have been serving up fresh fish dishes. J&T Flippin Chicken gets finger-lickin’ reviews for its BBQ and Kristen’s Kitchen at the Battle Island State Park and Golf Course pleases with its signature jumbo wings and a snack shed on the course. Cayuga Street Steakhouse, formerly the Blue Moon Grill, has been a long-time staple known for its delectable meals and cozy bar/cocktail area. Try family-owned Mama Gina’s for its wood-fired pizza, while new eatery El Mezquite de Luna serves up highly rated Mexican meals. For a casual slice or a sandwich, visit Red Baron Pizza Shop or Emeterio’s Pizzeria. Dig into nachos, tacos and burritos at Fajita Grill Dragon City’s Chinese dishes are available for dine-in or takeout.

HAVE A DRINK

Fulton features a variety of watering holes to quench any taste and desired atmosphere. Sports bars are most popular, with Chubby’s Sports Bar & Grill and Muskies Sports Bar and Grill hitting drinks and pub fare out of the park. Chester’s Last Stand is a bar and grill in the heart of the city, located close to Lake Neatahwanta. Wag In on the River offers cold brews and river views. Tavern on the Lock serves up good grub and beverages, along with a picturesque view. A recent outside addition on Lakeview Lanes called The Yard provides a fun atmosphere for summer entertainment. Visit 114 Reserve, a new café with a cool yet cozy vibe.

“More energy and thought have been put into the development of our city than ever before. I’m happy to still live in Fulton and I’m optimistic about our community’s future.”

Kristen Aluzzi, Owner, Kristen’s Kitchen at Battle Island State Park and Golf Course

PHOTOS BY JARED PAVENTI, BRENDA DUNCAN

A view from Tavern on the Lock.

Mimi’s Drive-in serves classics all day.

SHOP LOCAL

The Village Shops features an eclectic mix of individual boutiques. Browse women’s clothing in a variety of styles and sizes at EyeKandy Boutique Brown Bag Boutique carries molded olive oil soaps, crocheted items, handmade greeting cards and home décor from 25 vendors under one roof. Sassy & Sweet Boutique, Fulton’s newest shop, features custom shirts, décor and more. Peruse the collectibles and antiques at Attic Treasures The Dixie Bell Boutique & Décor carries clothing and home items you likely won’t find elsewhere. The Robin’s Nest Quilt Shop specializes in a wide variety of supplies for quilters. In business for more than two decades, Jo-Dale Farms carries an extensive selection of landscaping supplies and animal feeds. Besides stocking sport and outdoor footwear, Cortini Shoe Zipper Canvas Repair fixes items so you can reuse and recycle your gear. Get out on the road, or the off-road, with new wheels from Wheel-a-Way Motorsports

THINGS TO DO

Fulton’s Living History Tour, held for the first time in 2023, features a walk (or bus ride) through the city’s most historical neighborhood. The Fulton Public Library opened in 1906 and the Pratt House Museum maintains important city memorabilia. Next to the library is Veterans Park, with the Case family home across the street; Charles Case was an abolitionist who assisted with the Underground Railroad. Another landmark is the Fulton Chocolate Works Museum, which honors the history of confections made by Nestle in Fulton for many years. Many activities, especially for families, take place at Lakeview Lanes, Fulton Ice Arena and Fulton War Memorial

The Fulton Parks and Recreation Department organizes a variety of programs, including classes such as Ink & Petals, combining creative journal writing and flower arranging. Take your shot at Pathfinder Fish & Game Club or rack ‘em up at Fairway Billiards Make summer memories at Midway Drive-in Theater Catch a show or take classes at the CNY Community Arts Center

ANNUAL EVENTS

The Oswego-Fulton Farmers Market is open Saturdays, June through mid-October. Big Truck Day gives kids of all ages the chance to appreciate big rigs, military vehicles, payloaders and more. A Tunes in June concert series takes place in the summer, and the July 4th holiday features the Patriotic Porches Contest. The Oswego Paddlefest commences in Fulton and supports Oswego’s H. Lee White Maritime Museum. Come autumn, enjoy live music, activities and dance performances at the Fulton Fall Festival and see the creativity in the Joseph LaBeef Halloween Decorating Contest The Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony kicks off the holidays after Thanksgiving. Winter snow provides the canvas for the Snowman Building Contest. Nearly all the events in Fulton are thanks to the volunteer Fulton Special Events Committee.

GET OUTSIDE

Lake Neatahwanta (“little lake near the big lake” in Iroquois), a 715-acre warmwater lake, helps define Fulton as a water destination. Enjoy a riverfront view and pavilion at Canal Park and ball field at Foster Park Hulett Park features a playground and splash pad, and Indian Point invites with picnic tables and a boat launch. For more athletic fields, fitness trails, playgrounds and scenic spots, visit John Lincoln Park, Patrick Park, Quirk Park, Recreation Park, Rowlee Beach Park, Voorhees Park, Oswego Falls Park and Teen Haven North Bay Campground is a peaceful lakefront setting and short trail hike away from Bullhead Point and Pavilion, where you can enjoy a free city-sponsored concert, a fishing pier and boat launch. Fishing and ice fishing are popular year round. Battle Island State Park and Golf Course offers golfers magnificent views. In winter, cross-country skiing is permitted in the park. The Fulton Speedway has been providing chills and thrills to car racing fans since 1961. Thunder Island Family Amusement Park features go karts, mini golf and water attractions. Multiple fitness and nature trails wind through the city.

PHOTOS BY ELLEN M. BLALOCK,

DAVID LASSMAN

People watch the races from the stand at the Fulton Speedway.

Kayakers begin the Oswego Paddlefest at Indian Point.

LET’S STAY IN

Whether you want to cozy up alone or entertain your crew, there are lots of benefits to an evening in. To add some pattern to your home or closet, try the birds, botanical elements and flourishes found in folk art motifs from around the world. And while you never need an excuse to buy chocolate, this Valentine’s Day, indulge in confections made in CNY by local chocolatiers.

and

BY AMY BLEIER LONG

PHOTOS BY AMELIA BEAMISH

CHOC FULL: Eight-ounce Xs

Os Heart box, $21.99, Hercules Candy Company, 720 West Manlius Street, East Syracuse, 315-463-4339, herculescandy.com.

GAME NIGHT

DOUBLE THE FUN

Domino Effect Set, $24, Salt Point Shop, 100 Brooklea Street, Fayetteville, saltpointshop.com.

RIDE

IT OUT

Ticket to Ride Nordic Countries, $59.99, Play the Game, Read the Story, 689 N. Clinton Street, Syracuse, 315-472-4263, playthegamereadthestory.com.

AS A PLATTER OF FACT

Charcuterie platter set, $43, M. Graham Interiors, 309 Vine Street, Suite 3, Liverpool, 315-440-6637, mgrahaminteriors.com.

WHY NUT Bourbon-smoked chili peanuts, $12.50, Colorful Inspirations, 170 Township Boulevard, Camillus, 315-320-4364, colorfulinspirations.com.

WHO KNOWS YOU

The Best Friend Game, $28, Paola Kay Gifts, 105 Brooklea Drive, Fayetteville, 315-632-2192, paolakaygifts.com.

FOOD IS LOVE

“Snacking Bakes,” $25, and “The Dinner Party Project,” $40, Golden Bee Bookshop, 324 First Street, Liverpool, 315-299-5558, goldenbeebookshop.com.

DO THE TWIST

Soft pretzel baking mix, $25, Skaneateles 300, 2 W. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, 315-685-1133, skaneateles300.com.

UNPLUGGED ENJOYMENT

“Big Book of Family Games,” $19.99, Drooz + Company, 36 E. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, 315-920-8888, droozandcompany.com.

POWER UP

Earrings, $6, Olive + Fern, 19 North Street, Marcellus, 315-200-2464, shopolivefern.com.

OH, CHUTE

Snakes and Ladders, $21.98, First National Gifts, 2 E. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, 855-810-9076, firstnationalgifts.com.

OUT OF CONTROLLER Game socks, $12.99, Witty Wicks, 190 Township Boulevard, Camillus, 315-672-3110, wittywicks.com.

ROLL WITH IT

Decorative dice, $10 each, Nest58, 58 E. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, 315-6855888, nest58.com.

FOLK ART FLAIR

WIPE OUT

Swedish dishcloth with botanicals and birds, $7, Olive + Fern.

BABY BOTANICAL

Lausanne Dress, $42, Pride + Joy, 88 E. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, 315-685-7576, skanbaby.com.

COVER THE SUBJECT

Maria Black Embroidered Cardigan, $160, The Wandering Kind, 46 E. Genesee Street, Skaneateles,315-291-7177, thewanderingkindshop.com.

THE EYES HAVE IT

MUG SHOT

Myth imprint mug, $24, H. Grey Supply Co., 53 Albany Street, Cazenovia, 315-815-5016, hgreysupplyco.com.

WRITE STUFF

Roger La Borde journal, $18.99, Paola Kay Gifts.

SKIRTING THE ISSUE

Mary Tiered Embroidered skirt, $65, The Wandering Kind.

Vera Bradley double eye glass case, $30, Witty Wicks.

STORE IN STYLE

Pattern cardboard floral/striped box set, $49, Skaneateles 300.

WHAT A PEASANT DAY

Peasant blouse, $86, Bev and Co., 18 E. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, 315-685-5064, bevandco.com.

HOT STUFF

Retro-style silicone potholder, $4.99, Olive + Fern.

WRAP THIS UP

Floral artisan shawl, $32 Olive + Fern.

LET’S DISH

Tranquillo floral small quiche dish, $28, Paola Kay Gifts.

IT PAISLEY TO DISCOVER

Molly Bracken fit and flare Fuschia Livia maxi, $106, Synple, 70 Main Street, Camillus, 315-320-4212, shopsynple.com.

CARRY ON Desert flowers beaded clutch, $90, KàBee Boutique, 60C E. Main Street, Marcellus, 315-673-7266, shopkbboutique.com.

LOCAL CHOCOLATE

SWEET HEART

Eight-inch diameter heart-shaped chocolate chip cookie cake, $19.99, Maxwells Chocolates & Ice Cream, 14 Utica St., Hamilton, 315-824-1280, maxwellschocolates.com.

LIP SERVICE

TAKE A PIZZA MY HEART Sweetheart Chocolate Pizza, $23.95, Chocolate Pizza Company.

Chocolate lips, $1.99 each, Hercules Candy Company, 720 West Manlius Street, East Syracuse, 315-463-4339, herculescandy.com.

A SWIRL OF EMOTIONS

Three-ounce chocolate heart, $4.99, Chocolate Pizza Company, 3774 Lee Mulroy Rd, Marcellus, 315-673-4098, chocolatepizza.com.

LITTLE LOVES

Half-pound box of assorted miniature chocolates, $16, The Speach Family Candy Shoppe, 2400 Lodi Street, Syracuse, 315-478-3100, speachfamilycandy.com.

HEART SHAPED BOX

Heart locket 3-piece artisan chocolates, $18, Rue Claire Lavender Farm and Artisan Chocolates, 9403 Route 414, Lodi, 702-897-8909, rueclaire.com.

BERRY DELICIOUS

Chocolate-dipped strawberries, $25 for a dozen, Maxwells Chocolates & Ice Cream.

IN A BIT OF TRUFFLE

Nine-piece chocolate heart box of truffles, $28, Sweet on Chocolate, 208 Walton St., Suite 1, Syracuse, 315-991-4062, sweetonchocolate.com.

Love Heart lollipop in milk chocolate, $2.80, and Plain Heart lollipop in dark chocolate, $2.40, The Speach Family

LOVE IS BLOOMING

Eight-ounce Heart & Roses, $16, The Speach Family Candy Shoppe.

COUNTING ON IT

Seven-day Valentine’s Count Down with petite bar chocolates (includes String of Love silk bracelet with Hawaiian pearl and gold-tone heart charm, not shown), $68, Rue Claire Lavender Farm and Artisan Chocolates.

“I feel so good and blessed to be able to leave a legacy.”

Mary Nelson has worked in the radiology department at Upstate University Hospital for 25 years, and is a well-known youth advocate in the Central New York community. She also is a member of the Upstate Legacy Society, established as a tribute to donors who have included the Upstate Foundation in their estate plans. Someday, her legacy gift will beneft children with disabilities.

“Leaving a legacy is something I always wanted to do, to be able to give back to special needs youth in our community. I’m inspired by my grandchildren,” explained Mary. “I have two grandchildren with disabilities and I want to make sure other children with disabilities can receive excellent care.”

Mary added that she wants her grandchildren to be successful in life, and not look at their disability as a consequence to allow them not to strive. Her mantra is, “Don’t let your circumstance become your consequence.”

Mary’s advice regarding legacy giving? “Find your passion for which you want to be remembered. My legacy is always giving back and not looking for anything in return.”

Please join Mary in making a legacy gift today!

To read Mary’s complete story, visit www.UpstateFoundation.org/LegacyGiving, or to create your own legacy gift, call Upstate Foundation at 315-464-6490

Our mission: Impacting patient care, education, research, and community health and well-being through charitable giving.

Good news

BEHIND THE SCENES • CAUGHT DOING GOOD • THE SEEN

HELLO, DOLLY!

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL) celebrated its 200 millionth book donation with a Wonka-esque giveaway: seven enchanting bookmarks were sent out with September’s 2.6 million deliveries. Winners included children in Ireland, Australia, Canada and right here in the Town of Clay.

In early November, 5-year-old Rocco Cestaro and his mother, Nicole, logged on to Zoom and chatted with Dolly herself. “She asked me where I live and my name and my favorite Dolly Parton book,” says Rocco.

(It’s “Drop,” about the water cycle.)

The Cestaros also won a trip to Dollywood, which they will take this summer. Thanks to Rocco, the local Imagination Library partner, the Literacy Coalition of Onondaga County, received a $2,000 donation from DPIL. The organization helps put books in the hands of 15,000 children in Onondaga County, and this funding will allow the group to reach even more children to foster a love of reading and provide a solid educational foundation.

For more information: visit onliteracy.org/imagination-library

Good news BEHIND THE SCENES

PLAY IT SAFE

Creating a place for Central New Yorkers to get vulnerable and heal

BY LORNA OPPEDISANO

About five years ago, Tracy Dando Mergler, founder and director of Safe Space Organization, returned from a disordered eating treatment facility with a goal in mind: to break routines and create the community and connection she had discovered in her time at such facilities over the previous decade. She asked herself how she could foster that in the Central New York region.

“Safe Space was a vision because it was what I needed,” she says.

Mergler sat down with crayons and markers, her special education teaching background shining through, and let her ideas take shape. The original concept was one large facility containing multiple rooms for various groups, communal space and offices.

She started by organizing two different support groups per week, as well as an art therapy group. The groups met at community spaces in downtown Syracuse and some convened virtually.

Mergler established Safe Space Organization as an LLC in 2019.

“Physical health is deemed very important, so I thought people were going to see how important mental health is,” she says.

The need for a resource like Safe Space became even more apparent during the pandemic. “It was clear that it wasn’t just the recovery world that needed this support; it was everybody,” Mergler says. “I had experienced this magic, and I had to go and do this. Group therapy is something most of us haven’t done.”

Within Safe Space, most group therapies are peer-to-peer, with the exception of some run by doulas or social workers. The format of each group depends on the needs of its members. When individuals discover a group therapy that works for them, the benefit is finding a level of safety and connection they might not experience in their day-to-day life.

“When you get people into a space and create a bubble of safety and understanding, vulnerability naturally happens because as humans, we crave it but rarely initiate it in our daily lives

Safe Space Organization, a nonprofit that seeks to change how we think about mental health, offers group therapies for a variety of identities, including postpartum parents.

“

OUR GOAL IS TO HELP YOU WHILE YOU’RE IN THAT SPACE AND THEN LET YOU THRIVE AND SPREAD YOUR LIGHT TO HELP OTHERS.”

Tracy Dando Mergler

because of fear,” Mergler says. “Vulnerability is one of the scariest things for us to do as human beings because we are putting our stuff out into the world with no idea how it is going to be received.”

Sessions typically include check-in, time for work to be done on a skill or topic and a conversation about what has and hasn’t been working. Kara McCall attends a Safe Space group focused on postpartum parents.

“The group offered me community during a very isolating time and I formed friendships there I expect to continue throughout my daughter’s life,” McCall says. “It was so important to have a space to gather and commune with other moms.”

Safe Space Organization continued to grow through the pandemic. In 2022, Mergler registered Safe Space as a 501(c)(3) organization. Last year, she realized her vision for one large space was not coming to fruition and she would need to build trust first before expecting community members to come to the organization. She decided to pivot, choosing instead to help people in smaller, community-based locations.

Mergler anticipates Safe Space’s headquarters will open at 120 E. Washington St. in downtown Syracuse in January. She’s working with a designer who specializes in trauma design to build out a communal space and areas for art therapy, dining and small-group breakouts.

“The goal is to make the space feel like home and not a medical facility,” she says.

This model will allow Safe Space to create places tailored to specific communities. To do that, she is partnering with established businesses for space and programming, such as Northbound Mind + Body, Branches of Growth and local libraries, to name a few.

The organization now offers 15 different support groups, including those focused on men, teens, LGBTQ+ folks, individuals dealing with trauma, postpartum parents and their partners and people battling disordered eating. Mergler expects to grow in the near future to include groups geared toward the refugee community, parents who have lost children to gun violence, children of incarcerated parents and

people affected by suicide.

“Vulnerability is the magic component that makes Safe Space different from creating community in a neighborhood, a sporting event or even at the office,” Mergler says. “Through vulnerability, we realize, not only are we not alone, but many of us are working through the same belief systems, same childhood wounds and same stressors in life. Just being seen, heard and validated can be so healing and allow individuals to move through and process their pain.”

While sessions are primarily free, Mergler says they do ask for donations when it’s feasible for an individual to contribute. She hopes to keep Safe Space accessible to as many people possible and plans to also offer company memberships in the coming months, allowing businesses to purchase memberships for their employees. She stresses the importance of having somewhere to go in difficult times, when friends and family might not be able to relate.

“Our goal is to help you while you’re in that space and then let you thrive and spread your light to help others,” Mergler says.

For more information: visit safespacecny.org.

Mergler leads a class session.

Good news

CAUGHT DOING GOOD

GETTING IN THE ZONE

SU alum ensures a game-changing inclusive experience for athletes with disabilities

Autumn’s kaleidoscope of foliage was on the brink of bursting this past September as Syracuse University football fans gathered on the quad before the much-anticipated game versus Army. Peals of laughter came from a group of football-tossing teens in orange shirts when the robust sounds of the marching band’s horns and drums rang out. Nineteen-year-old Conor Chambrone, wide-eyed and smiling, paused to admit he was nervous. “But that’s normal, right?” he asks his friend David Sullivan. “Totally normal,” says Sullivan, throwing an arm over Chambrone’s shoulder for support.

Chambrone has autism and fears loud noises. He’s learning to manage his worry at Liverpool High School — successfully walking past the groans and rumbles of the school bus line for instance — but on this day he is about to tackle the roar of a college stadium filled with sports fans. The stadium known as

the Loud House, of all places.

“Socialization can be a challenge,” says Conor’s father, Angelo Chambrone. “But I’m hopeful he’ll warm up quickly to the crowds.”

It’s an exciting day for Conor, David and other special needs student-athletes and their families as they head inside the JMA Wireless Dome as guests of John and Laura Lally. The former SU lineman and 1982 graduate and his wife created The Lally Zone by purchasing 30 season tickets in section 129 to welcome athletes with physical and intellectual disabilities and their families to sit together and cheer for SU.

“These kids are amazing and so happy,” says John Lally. “They’re just doing what the rest of us are doing as part of a normal day — watching a football game. Their enthusiasm is heartwarming and refreshing.”

The Lally Zone shines a light on Unified Athletics, which pairs

SU lineman and 1982 graduate John Lally and his wife Laura created The Lally Zone for athletes with physical and intellectual disabilities and their families.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY SUSAN KENNEDY

athletes who have special needs, such as Conor and David, with general education students who become their partners. Many Central New York high schools have Unified basketball and bowling teams in addition to traditional sports teams. Liverpool Central School District’s Unified Coach John Sheridan hosted a tailgate for his players and their families before heading inside to the Zone. “Unified sports gives everyone a place on the field. And the Lallys are giving everyone a place to be a sports fan,” says Sheridan. “My athletes feel special, important, because they’ve got game tickets like everybody else.”

Elsewhere in The Lally Zone, Dom Cambareri and his two sons cheer with arms raised as SU makes its way toward the end zone. Dom’s 29-year-old son, Domenico, has some developmental challenges and communicates by typing his thoughts. When Dom asks his son whether quarterback Garrett Shrader would have a great game, Domenico types: “I think he will be awesome.”

“It’s wonderful to be here with families that accept you for who you are,” says Dom Cambareri. “There shouldn’t be any obstacles to participation.” That’s the same message Cambareri sends as the volunteer executive director of Syracuse Challenger Baseball, an inclusive baseball league with 230 member families.

“Every child sees themselves as part of something bigger. No matter the kind of ability they have, they all want to be part of the team, and the Lallys have made that possible,” he says. The Lallys donated $100,000 in June to kickstart funding that will renovate Carrier Park — the Challenger team’s home — into an adjustable six-field super complex.

The Lallys’ generosity has funded other causes, too, including a $25 million dollar seed gift to build the John A. Lally Athletic Complex for SU athletes, but it’s the Unified athletes who make Lally emotional. “I’ve been blessed with athletic ability and business success,” says Lally. “That all is

good and well, but this makes a difference,” he says. He smiles at the athletes visiting the Zone high-fiving each other with glee. “To see the look on their faces today you understand that athletes of all abilities deserve support.”

Lally understands the value in supporting those with special needs. As a boy he often spent time doing arts and crafts with his disabled cousin. “We’d get some unusual looks from people wondering why this large defensive guard was doing ceramics class alongside this girl,” recalls Lally, laughing. “She was happy, and I was so happy just painting a ceramic turtle with her.” In addition, he has a daughter with juvenile diabetes. Being different, says Lally, is no big deal.

In the stands, Conor Chambrone makes his way to his seat a bit after the rest of his group. “It’s loud in here,” Chambrone

 For more information about The Lally Zone, Syracuse Challenger Baseball and Unified Athletics: contact Lori Jung, 917-399-6962, lori@hudsonwestpr.com.

says. “Louder than the cafeteria for sure!” But he’s successfully calmed his nerves by using his deep breathing exercises and joins his friends to watch the game in The Lally Zone. “This is a big confidence builder,” says Angelo, as he and his son cheer along with the crowd.

Domenico Cambareri types on his iPad that he is grateful to the Lallys for providing him the opportunity to really experience the excitement of an SU football game with his friends. More families and friends will have the chance to cheer as the couple plans to invest in The Lally Zone again next year. Watching elite athletes, says Lally, is spectacular. But watching athletes of differing abilities succeed is unbelievable. “It’s transformative,” says Lally’s wife, Laura. “For them, and for us. Once you discover the world of Unified sports, you can’t resist it. Your heart is filled.”

Above, from left, Laura and John Lally with student athletes and their supporters at The Lally Zone tailgate. Left, Syracuse Challenger Baseball Executive Director Dom Cambareri with the Lallys at the Dome.

OCTOBER 15

Ms. Orange Fan Luncheon

The 32nd annual Ms. Orange Fan Luncheon was held at the JMA Wireless Dome for the first time. The event, which has raised more than $1.5 million for Make-A-Wish of Central New York since it began in 1992, garnered an additional $80,000 to support the chapter’s mission to grant wishes to local children facing critical illnesses. The luncheon, attended by 550 women, also marked the first under new Syracuse Men’s Basketball Head Coach Adrian Autry, whom the organization thanked for continuing the legacy of this impactful event. The coaching staff and 2023-24 team were also in attendance. A wine pull, silent auction, raffle baskets, 50/50 raffle and autograph opportunities contributed to the total raised.

PHOTOS BY BILL

Good news THE SEEN

OCTOBER 7-8

RetroGameCon X

RetroGameCon, a showcase of video games, artists, crafters, tabletop gaming suppliers, game developers and content creators, returned for its 10th year. The event brought more than 7,500 attendees to the Oncenter in Syracuse and is the largest gaming event in the state. Attendees enjoyed celebrity guests, cosplay events, panels, tournaments, playing on classic game consoles and computers, scavenger hunts and more. Event raffles and auctions contributed to the more than $13,600 RetroGameCon raised in 2023 for Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital via Extra Life, a gamer-centric charity that benefits pediatric programs at Children’s Miracle Network hospitals.

Attendees at the event enjoyed vendors, pinball and arcade games from Skill Shot Arcade, a vintage computing exhibit and panel discussions. Organizers also raised more than $1,400 for The Trevor Project, which provides counseling and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ+ young people, through merchandise sales at the convention.

ORGANIZING A HOME MEANS TACKLING YOUR STUFF –MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY

BY NORAH MACHIA

It’s no secret that clutter and disorganization typically result in a stressful home environment, but for many people, the thought of fixing the situation sends them into panic mode. This is particularly true for women who are juggling a career with raising a family and whose busy lives get in the way of tackling the problem.

Typically, people have a big misconception about their cluttered homes — they believe nobody else’s space could compare to the chaos they are experiencing, and as a result, they’re too embarrassed to ask for help.

But the situation can be remedied by a professional organizer with the expertise and knowledge to clean up the clutter, organize the space and put a system in place that will make life much less stressful for everyone in the household.

Three Central New York professional organizers share some of the biggest challenges people face when trying to do it themselves.

Nearly 13 years ago, Liz Bremer decided to leave her job as

PUT IT SIMPLY ORGANIZING

Nearly 13 years ago, Liz Bremer decided to leave her job as project manager for a large firm and start her professional organizing business.

It was a leap of faith, but one that has paid off. Today, Bremer has a team of five professional organizers who work as subcontractors for her company Put It Simply Organizing.

Bremer makes the first contact with the client and assesses the home to figure out what’s working and what’s not working, she says. Then she assigns an organizer from her team who is the best match for the client to take on the project. If needed, she also makes referrals to local repair people and junk haulers.

Bremer has a master’s degree in environmental engineering from Syracuse University and a Certified Professional Organizer designation from the Board of Certification for Professional Organizers. “We have a very definitive method” when it comes to helping clients get organized and stay organized, she says. Most of her clients are residential, but the company also works with businesses.

“We start by asking clients what motivates them and why they decided to do this project” to help better understand their goals, she says. “Then we start with sorting and purging.”

During the process, “we ask if an item serves a function in the room, or if it should be put elsewhere in the home,” Bremer says. Other options include putting the unwanted items in a donation bin, a recycling bin or a trash bag.

The company often works with people who have sold their homes and have become overwhelmed with sorting their belongings. “It’s ideal if people call before they move, so they don’t haul things they don’t need into the new home,” she says. Sometimes, a pre-existing condition such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Obsessive Compulsive

For more information: visit putitsimplyorganizing.com

Disorder (OCD) can make the process even more challenging. “There may be a mental block that prevents a person from moving forward.”

For example, someone with OCD tends to be a perfectionist, and that perfection can get in the way, says Bremer. “A person may want to take eight steps to accomplish something that may be done in three steps because they are overthinking the process.”

Sentimental reasons also make it difficult for people to purge and organize homes, because “there are so many feelings attached to items, and all those feelings are exhausting,” she says. People often experience guilt when they consider removing unwanted items from their homes, particularly ones given to them by parents or grandparents.

In those situations, patience on the part of the professional organizer is vital, says Bremer. “We ask questions so people can make the best decisions possible,” she explains.

She says that a common mistake people often make is designating one room for many different purposes. “They may have office space that is also used as a craft room, and they have a treadmill in there as well,” Bremer says. That’s when it’s essential to determine what the actual function of the space is and decide on a purpose and vision for the room, she adds.

A final step is establishing a system that helps the client keep things organized. This may include using clear plastic containers with labels, new shelving in a closet or designating areas in the home for specific items to be placed.

More people, particularly women, are starting to realize they are triggered by clutter, and it leads to increased anxiety, says Bremer. “We tell people to let go of stuff and let go of the guilt,” she says. “It will make them feel calmer and happier.”

OPEN SPACE SYRACUSE

One of the greatest joys that Taylor Arras finds in decluttering and organizing is helping clients find a place for their discarded household items. Arras, a professional organizer and owner of Open Space Syracuse, has a business motto that she lives by: “Giving unused items a second life is great for our community and our planet.”

When unused items are resold, it means less trash in the landfills and some money back in people’s pockets. If clients choose to donate items, it provides that good feeling of helping others in the community, including their own neighbors, says Arras.

Her passion for decluttering started several years ago when she discovered Facebook Marketplace and began listing baby items her own children had outgrown. “Then I started selling everything that wasn’t nailed down,” says Arras, who studied magazine journalism at Syracuse University.

“Children come with a lot of gear and other stuff,” says the mother of two. She also joined a “Buy Nothing” group in her area and that allowed everyone to rotate toys as a community.

“Once I began selling and donating things, it gave me the urge to help other people clean out their homes,” Arras says. She says one of the most common dilemmas people have is parting with children’s items because they tend to be sentimental.

Arras recommends the hide-and-rotate system with toys: put them away for a few months in storage, then bring some back out into the playroom and they will be like brand new ones.

“The fewer toys children have to choose from, the more engaged they are in play,” Arras says, noting that both children and adults get overwhelmed with decision fatigue. “It’s a real

thing when it comes to decluttering,” Arras adds. “People have difficulties deciding what to keep and what to get rid of. They may not realize it, but they’re using their home as a storage unit.”

It’s not just playrooms that are her focus. Arras helps to organize other areas of the home, including basements and garages. When clients first call, it’s usually after they have tried to organize on their own. “But they’re just too busy and their system didn’t stick,” she says.

“We are all having items coming into our homes and we often have no time to deal with them,” Arras says. “So they accumulate.” Women, in particular, feel pressure to have perfect households. “It’s literally impossible. There are not enough hours in the day.”

“Almost everyone apologizes when I first enter their homes,” Arras adds. “I tell them their houses are no different than any others, and it’s very manageable.”

Unfortunately, “society seems to equate a messy house with being a bad person, and people have a secret shame that they’re the only ones who are struggling,” she says. “I tell people it’s simply not true.”

Her primary focus is helping to get rid of clutter. People often have a difficult time doing this on their own because organizing is not just a physical process, but it’s also an emotional one, Arras says. “Organizing is all mental.”

“I love it when I can go back multiple times to the same home and really take the time to help with the process,” she says. “Not only do I see the house change, but the energy of the person changes,” she adds. “Clutter triggers anxiety, and less stuff really means more peace.”

When she was pregnant with her first child, Kristina Blackford had an overwhelming desire to clean and organize her home in preparation for his arrival. “I started nesting,” she says. “I needed to have everything in place to still feel in control. It was very therapeutic.”

Her mother was an amazing homemaker who not only kept the house well-organized, but also made it a warm and welcoming place, especially during the holidays, Blackford says. “We created many special traditions and memories, which I have continued with my own family.” After graduating with a broadcast journalism degree from Buffalo State University, she worked in marketing before stepping out of the workforce to be at home with her two sons.

Last year, Blackford decided to start a professional service business called Placed., a venture inspired by her childhood. Her company offers organizing and interior styling services for both residential and commercial clients.

While it may seem like a luxury to hire a professional organizer, “it’s well worth the investment if it makes people feel comfortable, safe and relaxed in their homes,” Blackford says.

“The proof is out there,” she says. “Anxiety and depression are connected to the shape of your environment. When the right visual changes are made, people feel relief and a sense of comfort.”

Sometimes clients are embarrassed at first “because they feel like they lost control of their homes,” Blackford says. “But I’m truly excited about the challenge and I tell people we absolutely can fix it, even if we start with one drawer at a time. I measure all the spaces and come up with a game plan.”

When the organizing process starts, “I tell people it’s probably

going to get worse before it gets better,” she adds.

People often have difficulty letting go of sentimental items, but “they get a sense of relief giving up something that is taking up space and not being used,” she says. “You don’t have to keep every gift. Just appreciate the sentiment.”

For those who genuinely want to keep certain sentimental items — even if they are not serving a particular purpose in the home — the focus becomes how to store those items where they are accessible, so people can look at them from time to time but they’re not taking up space in living areas. Memory boxes are an option to store baby items, special artwork and other childhood mementos, she adds.

Blackford also helps order storage products that complete the organizing and styling process. She designs spaces based on what the priorities of the client are and how they see themselves living. “For people who spend a lot of time in an office, efficiency is important and the atmosphere is key,” she says. “They want to make the surroundings energetic.”

“At the end of the day, the entire household benefits, especially when a system is in place that everyone can follow,” Blackford adds. “It makes it easier for other family members to be more helpful because they know where everything is located.”

The organizing process also saves money in the long run. “People become more thoughtful about buying in the future,” she says. “Visibility is a key component. If they don’t know where items are located, they keep buying new ones.”

The most rewarding part of the process is when it’s complete. “I enjoy seeing people’s faces light up, their shoulders relax and they take a deep breath when it’s done,” she says. “The space is no longer chaotic, it’s comfortable.”

Blackford designs and reorganizes spaces based on a homeowner’s priorities.

“Anxiety and depression are connected to the shape of your environment. When the right visual changes are made, people feel relief and a sense of comfort.”

Kristina Blackford

FOCUS GROUP

Organizing a household can be a daunting task for many people, but for those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), the process is even more challenging.

But not impossible, says Maeve Nesci, an educator who is a coach and advisor for women with ADHD throughout Central New York. ADHD has traditionally been underdiagnosed in females, and for many, their diagnosis was not made until adulthood.

Nesci works as a professional organizing subcontractor in Syracuse, specializing in helping women with ADHD organize their homes. Last year, after meeting countless women who believed they had ADHD or had recently been diagnosed, she decided to start a separate coaching business to help women address the many other issues surrounding an ADHD diagnosis. She realized organizing was only one of the many ways a life may be impacted.

“Women are often being diagnosed with ADHD after they have children of their own,” she says. For these women, the specific routines that have enabled them to manage and even thrive in their lives have worked for years, but “their worlds implode after they have children,” Nesci says.

“Many women may already have systems in place,” but it becomes difficult to stick with them because of the time demands that come along with motherhood. “It becomes too much to handle,” she explains.

A person with ADHD has what experts refer to as a neurodivergent brain, or one that develops differently starting in utero. “An ADHD brain is actually a beautiful and creative one” but the ADHD thought processes make

it challenging to follow a path of connected ideas without getting easily distracted, says Nesci.

Prior to the widespread research in recent years, younger children with ADHD may have been unfairly labeled as lazy or unmotivated because they were unable to keep their rooms clean or complete their homework. “People didn’t always realize a person with ADHD has a different type of brain,” Nesci says. “It’s not a morality issue. A person isn’t being lazy.” Unfortunately, girls and women typically put pressure on themselves to be perfect. When they are unable to live up to that expectation, they often develop low self-esteem or become depressed, she notes. Nesci has master’s degrees in both education and writing, and a Certification in Health Coaching from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in New York City. She discovered the unique struggles of females with ADHD while teaching and designing curriculum for high school students with ADHD.

Her coaching program addresses the intense shame, anger and low self-esteem experienced by many women diagnosed with ADHD who have been misunderstood for years, having been perceived as lazy or lacking in intelligence. “They have to heal first before they learn how to work with some of the symptoms they may struggle with, as well as acknowledge the amazing ADHD attributes they do have,” Nesci says. “Education and acknowledging their history is a cornerstone of what I do and key in building confidence.”

Her approach is a holistic one because ADHD affects every aspect of a person’s life, including emotionally, intellectually and physically. “I look at each woman as an individual because ADHD presents differently with everyone, and then I educate and coach strategies on the most challenging aspects for that particular woman,” she adds.

These strategies include understanding time and executive function, eating for optimal brain health, starting and finishing dreaded tasks, making smoother transitions, working with impulsivity and many others.

“The overall goal is to educate, equip and empower,” Nesci says.

ADHD coach Maeve Nesci

Sound baths at Vyana Yoga in Manlius offer healing and restoration through vibrations made by different instruments.

TREAT yourself

Trendy services to adorn and pamper your body and mind

BY DANIELLE BENJAMIN

With the new year comes new resolutions. Often these include ways to live happier, healthier lives. People flock to the gym and spend more time in the produce aisles of the grocery store. But there are other ways to take care of yourself this year. Thanks to social media trends, various health and wellness treatments have been popping up across the country. We chatted with specialists in Central New York to give you an idea of some of the services offered locally. So in the words of Donna Meagle and Tom Haverford (from the show “Parks and Recreation”), let 2024 be the year you finally “Treat yo’ self.”

Sound Baths

A unique form of meditation, sound baths stem from the belief that sound offers restorative and healing properties through different vibrations. During sound baths, participants can expect to enter a quiet space and be enveloped in a sense of calm and peace before a session begins. During a sound journey, crystal alchemy bowls, harps, symphonic gongs and other instruments bathe participants in sounds. According to Helena Vera at Vyana Yoga, “A sound bath is a meditative experience that encourages and supports a state of deep relaxation where stress release and cellular healing is encouraged.” During the process, cells throughout a person’s body reverberate, impacting them energetically, physiologically, psychologically and emotionally. Sound baths have also been proven to encourage a person’s relaxation, lower blood pressure and improve their overall sense of well-being.

At Vyana Yoga in Manlius, Vera, an RN, yoga therapist and sound alchemist, leads sound journeys twice monthly, coordinating with the lunar calendar. Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable clothing and drink plenty of water before and after the sessions to help release toxins from the body and promote the benefits of the vibrational frequencies. Sound baths last about an hour.

Additionally, Vyana Yoga is home to a tea lounge and yoga studio. The studio’s specialists host a variety of other health and wellness workshops.

Vyana Yoga, 131 W. Seneca Street, Manlius, 315-692-4471, vyanayoga.com. Search Vyana Yoga on Facebook, @vyanayoga on Instagram.

Microneedling

Microneedling has become increasingly popular due to its effectiveness and versatility with treating certain skin conditions. People with fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, hyperpigmentation and more have found success with microneedling treatments. The minimally invasive process stimulates the skin’s natural healing processes. During a procedure, numbing cream is applied before a Skin Pen with multiple fine needles is used across a client’s face to create micro-injuries on the skin’s surface. These injuries trigger a reaction in the skin’s production of collagen and elastin to promote healing. It is important for people considering microneedling to consult a skincare professional before scheduling any treatments and to follow all pre- and post-procedure instructions. Additionally, folks with active acne, eczema, rosacea or other skin irritation should avoid this type of treatment.

Led by President Jessica E. Falcone, Jessica Elizabeth Skincare provides a variety of skincare and facial services. Falcone and her professionally trained staff work with their clients to provide the best treatment plans for each individual. In addition to microneedling, they provide laser hair removal, chemical peels, facials, teeth whitening and a variety of injectable treatments.

Jessica Elizabeth Skincare, 264 ½ W. Jefferson Street, Syracuse, 315-477-1537, jessicaelizabethskincare.com. @jessicaelizabethskincare on Facebook and Instagram.

IV Treatments

While many people are accustomed to taking vitamins and other supplements to improve their overall health and wellness, orally ingesting pills is not the only option available. Over the past few years, IV (intravenous) therapy has gained popularity for its effectiveness. Through the body’s natural digestion, the benefits of many supplements are lost. Alternatively, IV treatments allow supplements to directly enter the body’s bloodstream, improving absorption and increasing their positive effects. Different concoctions of vitamins and minerals are tailored to meet individual needs. IV therapies can boost immunity, fight dehydration, improve hangovers and address other concerns.

The team at Captivate Wellness specializes in IV therapy, with locations in both Syracuse and Skaneateles. Clients are able to schedule an appointment at either location or hire their mobile service to receive treatment at home. Services can even be arranged for weddings or bachelorette parties. A single treatment typically takes about 45 minutes while the client relaxes in a comfortable setting. Anyone considering IV therapy should consult their doctor to ensure it is an appropriate choice for their concerns. Captivate also specializes in dermaplaning, chemical peels and other health and beauty treatments. Captivate Wellness, 4317 E. Genesee Street, Syracuse, 315-470-3234, captivatewellness. com. Search Captivate Wellness on Facebook, @captivate.wellness on Instagram.

Floatation Therapy & Halotherapy

Experiencing a modern resurgence in popularity, floatation therapy has been around since the 1970s. Also referred to as isolation tanks or sensory deprivation tanks, float tanks are filled with highly concentrated salt water. The supersaturation of Epsom salt allows a person to float atop a shallow pool of water. Both the air and water are heated to body temperature and the room is devoid of any light or sound. Deprived of any outside stimulation, the participant experiences a sense of floating in space. Floatation therapy is ideal for people looking to reduce stress and ease any muscular aches and pains. Sessions are done with individuals or couples for ninety minutes. Participants must fully shower before entering the tanks and adhere to strict sanitization standards.

Conversely, halotherapy is a dry therapy recommended for treating respiratory concerns. During a halotherapy session, participants enter a salt room where a Halo generator machine distributes ultra-fine salt particles into the air. This allows people to breathe in the salt, which then pulls out moisture and congestion from their respiratory systems. Halotherapy is also a natural treatment for certain skin conditions.

Glenn Runyan, owner & manager of Bodymind Float Center Syracuse, first discovered floatation therapy in 2013 upon finishing his service with the U.S. Army. The therapy helped remedy some troubles he had been experiencing from active duty. Runyan quickly became a part of the Bodymind family in Rochester before eventually taking over the Syracuse location. His goal is to provide these wellness services at an affordable price so anyone can experience the health benefits associated with them.

Bodymind Float Center Syracuse, 2949 Erie Boulevard E., Suite 101, Syracuse, 315-992-8656, floatsyracuse.com.

Search Bodymind Float Center Syracuse on Facebook, @bodymindsyracuse on Instagram.

Flash Tattoos

Over the past several years, society has become more accepting of tattoos. With this acceptance has come a rising trend in tattoo flash events. Unlike typical tattoo appointments and designs, which are planned with the tattoo artist, flash tattoos are cheaper and quick — they really are done “in a flash.” During a flash tattoo event, which is usually eight to ten hours long, participating artists will have a set of simple, small designs that customers can choose from, often themed, and budget-friendly between $20 and $60. People looking to get a tattoo can browse these designs ahead of time but must be prepared to be both decisive and patient as they wait their turn during the event. As with any tattoo appointment, clients should be well-rested, hydrated and fed. Jessica Cordero, tattoo artist and co-owner of Cordero Collective Tattoos, says that flash tattoo events provide not just inexpensive ink, “but also a feeling of connection to others and participation in something unique.” She prides herself on creating an inclusive community that is welcoming to all people, both tattoo newbies and enthusiasts, all while bringing female and queer perspectives to a historically male-dominated industry. In addition to flash tattoo events, Cordero Collective provides standard tattoo consultations and appointments.

Cordero Collective Tattoos, 2105 W. Genesee Street, Syracuse, 315-940-0610, corderocollectivetattoos.squarespace.com. @corderocollectivetattoos on Facebook and @corderocollective on Instagram.

BUILDING TINY HOMES,

BUT MAKING A BIG DIFFERENCE

Syracuse nonprofit says its housing model keeps homeless housed long-term

BY KEN STURTZ

When Eddie Piazza was released from prison, he suddenly found himself with nowhere to go aside from a homeless shelter, but he disliked the persistent drug use and violence he encountered there, so he left after just a few days.

He stayed at a friend’s apartment but had no place he could call home. While discussing finding a place to live with staff at Catholic Charities, they connected Piazza with Andrew Lunetta.

“And Andrew said, ‘I hear you’re looking for a place to stay,’ and I said, ‘yeah,’” Piazza says. “And he said, ‘How would you like a house?’”

Piazza says he nearly fell out of his chair. Lunetta’s words almost didn’t register at first, but two days later he moved into a tiny home on Bellevue Avenue in Syracuse. Nearly six years later, he still lives there and says Lunetta and the nonprofit Lunetta founded, A Tiny Home for Good, changed his life, calling it a godsend.

The small nonprofit builds single-unit efficiency houses on vacant lots throughout Syracuse and then rents them to homeless men and women. A Tiny Home for Good maintains the properties and also provides case management for tenants. It’s a model that aims to address one of the most vexing challenges in homelessness: lack of safe and affordable housing for homeless individuals with subsidized income.

Andrew Lunetta, the founder of A Tiny Home For Good. Left, new houses on Rich Street.

It’s a problem Lunetta witnessed firsthand when he moved to Syracuse to attend Le Moyne College 15 years ago and began volunteering at the former Oxford Street Inn, a homeless shelter operated by Catholic Charities. The nonprofit eventually hired him to work there and he forged relationships with the residents, many of whom had lived there on and off for decades.

“I got to know people and learned more about the struggles that they faced and also why when they moved out of the shelter, almost inevitably, they would be back,” he says.

Lunetta visited some of the apartments shelter residents were moving into and realized that on their budgets the living conditions were horrendous and, in many cases, worse than the shelter. There was zero supervision and intense drug activity.

And he says the residents didn’t know how to advocate for themselves the way a regular tenant would.

“Often they just lived in squalor or came back and lived with us,” he says.

Lunetta wondered if there was a way to address the revolving door. He began asking shelter residents what they wanted in a housing situation and what it would take to stay housed longterm. The answers, to his surprise, were simple. They wanted four walls of their own with a bedroom, a bathroom and no roommates, especially if they were dealing with mental health issues or drug addiction.

“Most people just kind of described a tiny home without using that term,” Lunetta says.

A row of single-unit homes built in 2018 has become a special neighborhood on Bellevue Avenue.

As a city resident, he often looked with dismay at the abandoned homes and vacant lots that dot many neighborhoods. The more he thought about it, the more he wondered if it was possible to build new houses for homeless individuals on those properties, which were close to bus lines and already had some existing infrastructure.

In 2014, he was finishing a master’s in public administration at Syracuse University and working at the shelter but couldn’t stop thinking about building tiny homes. So, he recruited several friends to be on the board, started the nonprofit and began raising money.

“What I was able to bring to the table was a really good story about why it would work and why what we’d done in the past was not working,” he says. “The idea of tiny homes was pretty intriguing at the time.”

The nonprofit raised $30,000 and another $30,000 in in-kind donations of materials and labor, but Lunetta’s goal was to kickstart the effort by building two houses and to do that he needed land. He worked with the city and Onondaga County to identify tax-delinquent vacant lots that would work, but when he began meeting with neighbors he ran into heavy opposition that he says caused the city and county to back away.

For the better part of a year and a half, Lunetta struggled to get the project off the ground. He became so frustrated that he considered quitting, but his board encouraged him to keep trying.

“Just knowing that if I didn’t double down on this, a lot of the guys who I knew would benefit from our housing would likely not ever find a permanent solution,” he says.

He began looking at vacant land that was privately owned and started knocking on doors. He eventually found a woman who agreed to sell him a postage-stamp-sized lot for $2,000. They finished construction on the first two homes in 2016, largely thanks to the work of volunteers.

Lunetta left his job at the homeless shelter and focused on A Tiny Home for Good full time, but he didn’t take a salary until the nonprofit finished the first two homes. He made just enough to pay for food and rent. The nonprofit received more donations and support and continued building houses. It soon had tenants that needed support and Lunetta found he was being stretched thin by

“That has shown, in my mind, a real answer to homelessness.”

Andrew Lunetta

For more information: visit atinyhomeforgood.org.

the demands of the growing organization, which up until then had relied on its board and some dedicated volunteers.

A Tiny Home for Good added its second fulltime employee in 2018 and its first case manager just before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the nonprofit finally purchased a headquarters building on South Avenue with the help of several donors. The building includes offices, storage space and a community meeting area. Previously, staff had worked out of coffee shops.

The nonprofit today has grown to have three roles. One is constructing new or rehabbing old tiny houses. It hires contractors to do some of the work, but still relies on a cadre of mostly older volunteers. Corporate and student groups volunteer each month. The organization also acts as a landlord, managing and maintaining the housing it owns. Tenants pay rent based on income, with the average being $410 a month. The final role is case management for tenants. That can mean driving someone to an appointment or helping to connect them with services.

In the last two years, the staff has worked on a mix of projects, building new tiny homes and rehabbing older dilapidated houses. They are currently working on four separate buildings, several of which are multiunit houses. One of its most recent house builds was supported by National Grid. That house was highly insulated and included solar panels.

To date, A Tiny Home for Good has constructed 34 units of housing on 16 different parcels.

Lunetta looks at that number often and admits he sometimes feels frustrated that it’s not more, given how hard and how long the nonprofit has worked. But when it comes to housing homeless individuals longterm, he says, quality matters as much as quantity.

“We’ve pretty much had the same tenants at all of those places since they’ve been built,” he says.

“That has shown, in my mind, a real answer to homelessness.”

Piazza agrees. He still lives in the same 300-squarefoot tiny home. There’s enough room on the property for his vegetable garden. And he is on the nonprofit’s board and chairs its tenant committee.

The 70-year-old is confident A Tiny Home for Good has made a difference in homeless individuals’ lives, including his.

“I’d be dead right now if not for the tiny house, no doubt at all,” he says. “It’s a place I can call my own.”

These tiny homes allow individuals to have a place to live independently and alone, which people prefer over having a roommate or homeless shelters.

La Vie en Rose

A sophisticated ceremony and reception fulfill a bride’s big dreams

BY BECCA TAURISANO

PHOTOS BY ALYSSA FLOOD PHOTOGRAPHY

As a teenager living in Mumbai, India, Sonali Karamchandani dreamed of a typical American wedding, one in which she wore a white dress and married the love of her life. She came to the United States in 2016 to pursue her master’s degree in information management at Syracuse University and met Conor Horan in November 2019. On June 18, 2023, Sonali made her dream come true when she and Conor married at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown (still fondly referred to as the Hotel Syracuse) in a traditional American wedding ceremony, white dress and all.

After meeting on a dating app, Sonali and Conor had their

first date at Dolce Vita in Syracuse and dinner lasted four hours. “We hit it off immediately,” Conor says. Conor, then working as a navigator on an oil tanker, was often offshore for as long as three months at a time. He did not waste any time in getting to know Sonali and four days later, the couple had already been on their third date.

Growing their relationship was challenging when Conor was at sea, however. Spotty internet service and twelve-hour night shifts meant he was not always able to respond to Sonali’s messages. When Conor was back onshore, their time together was concentrated, but to them, it just felt right.

Shades of rose and mauve in the floral arrangements and the bridesmaids’ dresses were in honor of Sonali’s late mother, Prerna. The bouquets’ blooms referenced the rose garden at Sonali’s childhood home. The peonies are a nod to Conor’s mother’s favorite flower.

Sonali and Conor hosted a formal sit-down dinner in the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott Syracuse Downtown. Their dinner menu included sea bass, chicken and spinach-and-ricotta gnocchi. Opposite, Sonali’s stunning sapphire-and-diamond earrings, were her mother’s.

When the time came to get engaged, Conor wanted Sonali to have the perfect ring. Sonali designed the custom 2.5-carat, round-cut diamond engagement ring online through James Allen. The decision to get engaged was made mutually, but Conor wanted to surprise Sonali with the proposal. In the same outfit he wore for their first date and with ring in hand, Conor proposed to Sonali at Dolce Vita on June 24, 2022.

The engagement was bittersweet for Sonali because her mother had passed away in 2021. Due to lingering COVID restrictions, she was unable to travel to India to be with her family. While Conor was at sea, Sonali moved in with his parents, Vincent and Irene, for a month to try to cope with the pain of losing her mother.

While planning the wedding, the couple looked for ways to incorporate the memory of Sonali’s late mother, Prerna, and Irene stepped in to help Sonali. Recollecting the rose garden at Sonali’s childhood home and her mother’s favorite color, mauve, a theme for the day began to take shape. Roses featured prominently in design elements throughout the wedding from the flowers to the cake, the favors and even the first dance, “La

Vie En Rose.” The color palette of blush and mauve with touches of gold gave an air of femininity to the ceremony and reception. For the ceremony, the bride wore a custom-designed satin square-neck dress from Mirror Mirror Inc. in Baldwinsville, with her own long-sleeved lace topper, which she removed for the reception. A white Yves Saint Laurent bag (a wedding gift from her father) and white Manolo Blahnik stilettos completed the ensemble. Sonali wore sapphire-and-diamond earrings and a bracelet which belonged to her mother for her “something borrowed, something blue.” Glam Squad Syracuse gave her a romantic look for the day, styling her hair in a tousled updo which swept the higher neckline of her lace topper.

The couple kept things simple for their bridal party. The bridesmaids were asked to choose a long dress of any style in

Sonali created the greenery-covered backdrops for the seating chart and sweetheart table. Using a Cricut machine, she customized acrylic cubes to create the stacked seating chart and made a special one as a memorial to her mother.

blush or mauve. The groomsmen wore black tuxedos and black ties, except for Conor’s brother Quinn, who wore a pink tie and stood on Sonali’s side when one of her bridesmaids was unable to participate in the wedding. Conor’s tuxedo was from Giovanni’s Tuxedos in North Syracuse.

Whistlestop Florist provided the gorgeous blooms for the day, including the bride’s bouquet of Quicksand roses in a muted blush color. Rose petals were strewn about the venue. The stunning table centerpieces consisted of gold pedestal containers filled with a profusion of roses, peonies and hydrangeas in shades of blush and white, framed by glossy greenery.

The tablescapes included gold-tipped chargers Sonali ordered online and favor boxes filled with rose-scented candles handmade by a friend in India. The formal sit-down meal catered by the

Marriott started with an amuse bouche of chicken tikka masala sliders, a nod to the bride’s heritage.

Sonali designed the wedding decor herself: she created the greenery-covered backdrops for the seating chart and sweetheart table, customized the acrylic cubes used in a memorial to her mother and for the seating chart with her Cricut machine and sourced all the custom signage from Etsy. Sonali customized classic white invitations from Shine Wedding with a touch of blush at the edges.

The vanilla wedding cake was a triple-tiered confection by Gingersnap Bakery in Phoenix, with mocha filling and white chocolate buttercream frosting. The bottom layer was decorated with rose-shaped swirls, the middle layer with gold sprinkles and the top layer was classic white buttercream with a floral arrangement in the wedding’s colors.

With guests coming from as far as India and Indonesia, as well as California and Florida, the couple wanted to include their friends and family as much as possible. Music was just one way Sonali and Conor involved their guests in the day. On the response cards, guests

The ceremony and reception were on opposite ends of the Grand Ballroom. Conor and Sonali had a sneak peek of the reception area before the ceremony.

Above, cocktail hour featured passed hors d’oeuvres such as mushroom risotto balls, naan with goat cheese and chutney, and street tacos. Top, the dessert table included tiramisu shooters, mini fruit tarts, flourless chocolate cake and lemon bars.

After the ceremony, the couple’s photographer, Alyssa Flood, took them to the roof of the hotel for photos with the Syracuse skyline in the background.

could make a song request, promising to dance if their song was played. The song requests made up the wedding playlist for the music provided by DJ Momentum from Utica. Guests were also encouraged to take photos with an Instax instant camera and sign the wedding guestbook.

Sonali and Conor chose the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott Syracuse Downtown for their ceremony and reception, and the luxurious baroque-style decor served as the perfect backdrop for their day. “Our venue dictated the direction and feel for the day. I wanted my dress, jewelry and color palette to reflect that. The Grand Ballroom did not need a lot of decorating; it’s such a gorgeous venue,” says Sonali.

Like many couples, they were nervous for the actual wedding day. Conor wanted everything to go well, knowing how much effort Sonali had put into the planning. Remembering when he first saw her, Conor says he teared up. “I’m not a crier, but when they started playing music, I did. She looked incredible and it felt amazing to see her.”

Choosing to write their own vows, Conor says it was tough to properly put his feelings into words, but the nerves went away when saying them aloud. “There were other people in the room, but I was speaking to one person,” he says. Sonali agrees. “When I wrote my vows, I just remembered how much I loved him and why. It was simple.”

Through it all, the couple managed to find sweet moments to connect. After the ceremony, Conor and Sonali had their photographer, Alyssa Flood, take a series of photos of them on the roof with the Syracuse skyline in the background. “We just wanted that time to remember, during the chaos of the day, that it is all about the two of us,” Sonali says.

Eight weeks before the wedding, Sonali had a dream that her mother walked her down the aisle and told Sonali she would be going somewhere far away. When Sonali’s father, Deepak, gave his speech at the reception, he thanked Conor’s parents for being there for his daughter and told them she had gained a family. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room. “To honor both our families and feel like my mother was there with us was incredible,” says Sonali. “Everything about this wedding was special.”

Maddy & Chris

AUGUST

19, 2023

BY AMY BLEIER LONG

PHOTOS BY KYLENE LYNN PHOTOGRAPHY

When Madeline Rieks and Christopher Becker started planning their wedding, they wanted it to be really small and to not feel “super wedding-y, just a fun party,” Maddy says. They were thoughtful about investing their focus and budget on the elements that guests remember most: good food and drinks, and upbeat music and dancing. Just under 100 friends and family members joined the couple at Owera Vineyards on a beautiful summer day. Colors of sage green, dusty blue and champagne complemented

the lush scenery and meaningful touches made by the couple were all around. They credit their event planner, Sarah LoPiccolo, for making everything run so smoothly. Some of their favorite moments included a first look and private vow reading (“What we said, I don’t think it would have been the same if we knew other people were going to hear them,” Maddy says.) and being whisked off for a post-ceremony golf cart ride around the property so the newlyweds could absorb the moment alone together.

To write their private vows, the couple scheduled a month’s worth of Sunday coffee dates to write separately together. Chris’s cousin officiated the ceremony with a light-hearted, very personalized script the couple wrote. Of her dress, Maddy says, “I wanted something simple but a little fun. The bow was the perfect thing.”

The couple calls their golden retriever, Berkely, their best friend. He attended the wedding and was represented in several ways, most prominently on their wedding cake. They aren’t big on cake, so they simply stacked two Wegmans cakes together. The Patisserie provided a dessert display.

Maddy read an article about a couple who burned a candle at their wedding, so that anytime they light the candle or smell that fragrance, thanks to the tie beween scent and memory, they recall their big day. Maddy and Chris picked out a candle two weeks before their wedding and it’s already serving its purpose whenever they open the cabinet the candle is stored in.

Maddy used the online design site Canva to create all the printed materials for the wedding and other elements, such as the “You look grape!” that she made with a Cricut.

Chris and Maddy are “huge coffee people,” she says. They hired Salt City Coffee’s coffee cart to give everyone a caffeine boost. Maddy says it was the only way everyone was able to stay up for the after party.

To create simple, modern table numbers, the couple got scraps of stone countertops at Syracuse Tile and Marble. Chris smashed the pieces into jagged shapes, then laser cut numbers out of thin pieces of wood and painted them.

VENDORS

VENUE: Owera Vineyards

PHOTOGRAPHER: Kylene

Lynn Photography

CATERER: CopperTop

FLORIST: Whistlestop Florist

CHANDELIER GREENERY: Spruce Ridge

Landscape & Garden Center

DJ: Classy Cat Entertainment

DESSERTS: The Patisserie

COFFEE CART: Salt City Coffee

DOG HANDLER: Justin at Sit Means Sit

DRESS: New York Bride & Co.

SUITS: Mr. Shop

HAIR: Element on Water

Brigid & Will

SEPTEMBER 30, 2023

BY AMY BLEIER LONG

BY ANNA DUNCAN PHOTOGRAPHY

Brigid Judge and William Leonard wanted a party so colorful and so personalized that it couldn’t be anyone else’s. Hobbit Hollow Farmhouse Manor served as the perfect blank canvas for the from-scratch event they hoped would be a massive disco under a tent. Planner Megan Hiltbrand, of MLH Events, arranged more than 100 disco balls throughout the space.

Brigid and Will were closely attuned to the guest experience, creating a fun, welcoming and nostalgic atmosphere from the moment the shuttles arrived prior to the ceremony to the

afterparty at LakeHouse Pub in the village of Skaneateles.

“There were a lot of surprises that we brought to the table,” says Brigid. After dinner, the couple left and returned with a bridal outfit change and Otto the Orange. Before the end of the night, 10-15 pizzas were delivered and devoured. Other personal touches: a custom vinyl record labeled Live in Skaneateles for their guests to sign, coffee from their favorite Brooklyn spot, beer from a close friend’s local brewery, desserts from Brigid’s hometown bakery, Brigid’s aqua dress and Will’s velvet suit.

PHOTOS

Floral arrangements tied to a pergola served as the backdrop for the short-but-sweet outdoor ceremony officiated by Brigid’s brother.

The newlyweds both attended SU but didn’t meet until years later in New York, when they both worked for the same company. As a nod to their time at the university, Otto the Orange attended and entertained guests.

Brigid and Will love to play card and board games. As their favor, Will created customized decks of cards with a little disco ball on the package. Will, Brigid and their cat graced the king, queen and jack cards, respectively.

Over the dance floor, a cluster of different-sized disco balls were hung along with blooms and grasses, creating a stunning and nostalgic focal point. A live band kept the crowd on their feet; the couple’s first dance was to Lionel Richie’s hit “All Night Long.”

Rather than choosing a single color or palette, Brigid had a vision to use all the colors. Her bridesmaids’ dresses, vibrant glassware and taper candles were ways this was reflected.

VENDORS

WEDDING PLANNER AND DECOR: MLH Events

VENUE: Hobbit Hollow Farmhouse Manor

PHOTOGRAPHER: Anna Duncan Photography

CATERER: Pure Catering & Events

FLORIST: Plenty of Posies

RENTALS: McCarthy’s Party

Rental; She Rents Vintage

BAND: Uptown Groove

DESSERTS: Skaneateles Bakery

BRIDE’S DRESSES: Estee Couture; alice + olivia

SUIT: The Black Tux

HAIR & MAKEUP: Glam Squad Syracuse

LIQUOR: Auburn Discount Liquor

BEER: Skaneateles Brewery; Syracuse Beer Depot

TRANSPORTATION: Big D’s Limousine

VALET: Valet Park of America

MOBILE RESTROOMS: Rentals to Go

Kate & Joe

SEPTEMBER

2, 2023

BY AMY BLEIER LONG

BY KERRI LYNNE PHOTOGRAPHY

Central New York natives Katherine Monashefsky and Joseph Whaley live in Denver but wanted to wed here, where their extended families live. Kate envisioned a wildflower-filled garden party she called “Bridgerton on a budget.” The immaculately manicured property at Owera Vineyards drew her in and fit what she was looking for in an outdoor venue.

Though Kate was worried about planning and putting together elements from afar without being able to see it all come together in advance, she couldn’t have been

happier with the results. From white paper fans on guests’ chairs and a string duet at the ceremony to the whimsical signage illustrations and unique take on a guest book, “little details and touches make the look more complete,” she says.

Some moments that were most meaningful to the couple included their respective time with their friends while getting ready, a pre-ceremony first look and private vows, and the heartfelt speeches given by Kate’s younger sister, one of Joe’s brothers and Kate’s father.

PHOTOS

It drizzled lightly during dinner and then Kate and Joe noticed people getting up from their tables and going outside. A blazing sunset provided an incredible backdrop for photos, and then a rainbow emerged (opposite page).

Above, using a template and charming graphic illustrations she bought on Etsy, Kate designed the seating chart, welcome sign, guest place cards, table numbers and dessert place cards. Right, greenery, a chiffon table runner, candles and the bridesmaids’ bouquets decorated the head table.

In lieu of a traditional guest book, the couple had postcards created with photos from their two engagement shoots, one in Colorado and one in Skaneateles. Guests signed with Sharpies and pastel pens and placed their messages in a white mailbox.

VENDORS

VENUE: Owera Vineyards

PHOTOGRAPHER: Kerri Lynne Photography

CATERER: CopperTop

FLORIST: Spruce Ridge

Landscape & Garden Center

STRING DUET: A Note of Elegance

DJ: RD Entertainment Services

MINI CUPCAKES: Mrs. Kelder’s Cakes

DRESS: Lovely Bridal

SUIT: The Black Tux

HAIR: Aurelia Giardina, Adagio Salon

MAKEUP: Glo by Genevieve

Befitting the garden party theme, a cellist and violinist played during the processional and ceremony. The duo then livened up the cocktail hour with a selection of pop song covers.

The forecast calls for showers

MAKE A SPLASH WITH FETES AT THESE DIVERSE LOCATIONS

BY ALAINA POTRIKUS BECKETT

A wedding shower is a time-honored tradition that brings together friends and family to celebrate upcoming nuptials, with personal touches to honor the couple and their matrimonial journey. From traditional gatherings to co-ed activities, here are some ideas to help plan an event to remember.

Downtown elegance

Entertaining options abound in the heart of Syracuse. Built atop a historic train trestle on the edge of Armory Square, the Rail Line is a modern, industrial chic venue with indoor and outdoor options.

Plan a four-course luncheon at SKY Armory, where sample menus include pan-seared tuna sashimi with wasabi creme fraiche and slow-braised pulled chicken mini tacos. Or consider Oh My Darling and speakeasy-style bar The Fitz. The South Salina Street establishments are known for their comfort food and cocktails. Desserts include a threelayered carrot cake tower, snickerdoodle pie and individually wrapped red velvet cakes.

For a nostalgic atmosphere, Eleven Waters brings guests back to the 1920s heyday of the Marriott Syracuse Downtown. A modern bistro menu serves up farm-to-table fare with a polished presentation; for a more casual atmosphere, check out the hotel’s Shaughnessy’s Irish Pub.

Blooms and bliss

Flowers aren’t just for bridal bouquets and centerpieces — they can create an enchanting backdrop for a private celebration. Guests can stroll the garden beds of Withy Hollow Flower Farm in Nelson, selecting seasonal blossoms to create their own arrangements to take home.

At Crazy Daisies in Syracuse, a private greenhouse can host up to 75 guests for garden parties, with catering provided by the on-site cafe known for unique cocktails and charcuterie. A whimsical greenhouse at Green Effects Cut Flower Farm and Nursery in Manlius is the perfect setting for a quaint bridal tea, complete with a floral arranging workshop.

Cheers to love

Tipp Hill is known for St. Patrick’s Day, but local landmarks like Coleman’s Authentic Irish Pub or the Blarney Stone serve up draft beers and elevated pub fare for special occasions, too. Neighborhood newcomer Emerald Cocktail Kitchen is home to Syracuse’s first rooftop bar and a lounge with a creative menu of hors d’oeuvres.

At Seneca Street Brewpub in Manlius, local brews pair with a bespoke grilled cheese menu that includes brie, bacon and spicy jams. Nearby A.W. Wander is a craft beer destination with wood-fired pizzas.

For wine lovers, the private cellar at Anyela’s Vineyards in

Emerald Cocktail Kitchen’s second floor can be booked yearround; in the summer, guests can reserve part of the rooftop.

Skaneateles can accommodate up to 50 guests with a private bartender to pour estate-crafted wines.

The 80-acre farm at Madison County Distillery is a bucolic backdrop for wedding events. Their artisanal cocktails feature Stone Quarry Vodka, General’s Gin and other small batch libations.

Mimosas for all

The classic breakfast-meets-lunch menu is a popular choice for showers, and many Central New York venues get rave reviews for their brunch selections.

Overlooking Cazenovia Lake, the historic Brewster Inn is known for its Sunday a la carte brunch menu, with bottomless beverages, creme brulee French toast and eggs Benedict with a side of smashed salt potatoes.

Maxwell’s in Hanover Square also gets high praise for its bubbly mimosa bar and punch bowl Bellinis made with Prosecco and peach nectar.

A charming atmosphere

Skylights illuminate the atrium of Phoebe’s Restaurant and Coffee Lounge, and a smaller parlor dining room is perfect for intimate events. The brunch buffet earns raves for its deep-dish quiche, baked French toast and mimosas and Bellinis.

At Spill the Tea Cafe in Minoa, a decorative tin ceiling paired with rustic lighting creates a cozy ambience for private events. The cafe specializes in tea blends and coffee roasted in-house, as well as fresh-baked pastries and sweet treats.

Known for its intimate live music performances, the 443 Social Club and Lounge in

The Rail Line offers an industrial chic atmosphere for a bridal shower. Styling shown here by wedding planner Rheta Allen.

the Hawley Green neighborhood is an eclectic gathering space. Party offerings include a grazing table layered with cheeses, cured meats, dried fruits and nuts, olives and pickles, dips like fig jam, hummus and tzatziki, plus fresh bread, pita and crackers.

On the waterfront

Watch the sunset over the riverfront at The Pier in Central Square, where wall-to-wall windows illuminate a dining room and dance floor accented with rustic beams and sparkling chandeliers.

On the shore of Owasco Lake, the Chantelle Marie Lakehouse features a glass-roof pergola and an antique barn for smaller celebrations.

Or spend your day on the water: Mid-Lakes Navigation hosts lunch, dinner and cocktail cruises on Skaneateles Lake catered by the Sherwood Inn.

Above, the Brewster Inn is a popular location for wedding festivities. Right, one section of Withy Hollow Flower Farm’s u-pick garden.

Making good

CNY SCOUT • FARM TO TABLE • ART PROFILE

MAIN IDEA

Just before the world shut down, Shannon Martin had taken a leap. She opened day spa Skinterest on Main Street in Camillus in December 2019. With the subsequent long-lasting restrictions on businesses like hers, she had to adjust her model. Martin brought in fashion, beauty and lifestyle items using a new name: Homie. She felt energized by the different direction and later limited the available beauty services to makeup application and spray tanning. Martin began to host events

but the small space she occupied couldn’t fit her new dream. In mid-2023, she bought a building across the street.

Now rebranded as Sixty One Main Bouti que + Beauty Bar, the store’s upscale, industrial look provides a stylish backdrop for an expanded inventory, with room to grow. Upcoming events include a Jan. 5 pajama party with pampering activities and a Shop ‘Til You Drop outfit styling contest in February.

For more information: visit 61 Main Street, Camillus, 315-663-4034, sixtyonemain.com

Making good

Girl power!

Running program helps upstate girls find strength, support and sisterhood

BY ALLISON KENIEN

Elizabeth Dreyfuss witnessed the transformative power of running when she lived in Atlanta more than 20 years ago. She was tutoring fifth grade girls at an inner-city school and she recognized that her students needed support.

“I could see that these girls could use some confidence and they could use some tools to navigate growing up,” Dreyfuss says. “I saw Girls on the Run and thought, ‘this would be great for those girls.’”

Girls on the Run is an international program for adolescent girls that uses running to teach healthy habits, boost confidence and develop social skills.

Dreyfuss became a volunteer coach and witnessed the impact it had on the girls in Atlanta. Then, when she returned to her hometown of Skaneateles, she decided to launch the program

here in Central New York. She built a group based out of the Skaneateles Community Center in fall 2002. She had 10 girls sign up. Within a few years the program expanded as Dreyfuss helped new volunteer coaches create teams at other community centers and schools in the area.

Now, over 20 years later, more than 3,000 girls have participated in Girls on the Run across upstate New York. The local council serves a territory made up of 11 counties that span from St. Lawrence County in the north to Tompkins County in the Southern Tier.

“The growth is really organic,” Dreyfuss says. “People hear about it and they see us out running. It’s people who are really interested in what we’re doing and want to keep it going or further it.”

Girls on the Run offers ten-week programs for girls of all abilities

Girls participate in a 5K in June through Girls on the Run, an international program for teens that teaches healthy habits and boosts confidence and self-esteem through running.

who are in third through eighth grades. Registration opens in February and there is a $150 program fee with financial assistance available. Starting in March, each team meets twice per week with at least eight student participants. Adults and older teens serve as volunteer coaches; they complete a background check and a comprehensive training program including CPR and first aid certification.

During each team practice, the coaches follow a research-based curriculum. The lessons for third through fifth grade focus on the mind-body connection and building confidence by accomplishing various running goals. Then, from sixth through eighth grade, the girls move into the “Heart and Sole” program, where they learn to value their unique identity and find their place within the community.

During practice sessions, the students participate in activities that weave together exercise and personal growth. They develop life skills that fall into three themes: self-care, socialization and community involvement.

All of the learning happens through fun running games. For example, during one activity the coach will call out a statement like, “The things you say to yourself can change your self-confidence.” Then, the girls will run as they consider their opinion of the statement and eventually stop at a cone that says “yes,” “no,” or “maybe,” depending on their decision.

Throughout the program, the girls prepare to tackle a special challenge: a 5K race that’s held in June each year. The girls register for the 5K with an adult buddy, which creates an opportunity to practice social skills and spread healthy habits into the greater community. A girl might invite a parent or guardian to train for the 5K race, or she might partner with a volunteer coach.

At a recent Girls on the Run fundraising event, several students from Grant Middle School in Syracuse talked about how the program has impacted their lives.

Seventh grader Chloe Paul stood up at the event and spoke about confidence. She said that the program has made her feel less shy and that it built up her courage to talk, which was a powerful statement coming from a middle school student speaking in front of a crowded room of adults.

Other girls shared stories of discovering their support system through family and teachers,

Over 20 years later, more than 3,000 girls have participated in Girls on the Run across upstate New York.

meeting new friends and building a healthy lifestyle.

“[The program] taught me many lessons like not to eat a whole bag of chips or drink a whole bottle of soda,” joked Hani Abdi, another seventh grader. “I got ahold of my healthcare and started focusing on my body more. You can always fit a little jog or run into your day. Do not skip your exercise.”

Then, she shared her excitement for the upcoming running season: “My goals for the spring are to run farther and maintain a steady pace. I want to meet more girls, have a healthier lifestyle and meet all of my goals.”

Dreyfuss hopes the program will continue to attract more girls and the women who want to support them. “It’s such a great program and it’s wonderful to see it grow to this level,” Dreyfuss says. For more information: visit gotrupstateny.org.

The #1 hospital in Syracuse.

Every day, our doctors, nurses and specialists work hard to earn your trust. That’s why we’ve been named a Best Regional Hospital for the 9th year in a row.*

With our 12 high performing designations, we’re leading the way in the region. Because when you need medical care, you want to be in safe, capable hands you can depend on.

*U.S. News & World Report

Making good FARM TO TABLE

Make a bowl of comfort with The Brasserie’s creamy Lemon Shrimp Risotto

BY

BY MJ KRAVEC

PHOTOS BY ALAINA POTRIKUS BECKETT

PHOTO

Making good

FARM TO TABLE

Written on the window outside The Brasserie Bar & Bistro in Camillus, the words “European flair, local flavor” describe the restaurant’s overall theme. Inside, the open space is warm and inviting, with soft, golden lighting from overhead Edison bulbs, a wood bar and plenty of candles. On a back wall, a silhouette mural of Paris is a reminder of the restaurant’s influences. There’s an air of casual elegance, which is exactly what The Brasserie’s Michele Roesch was aiming for when she co-founded the restaurant with her mother, Nora, eight years ago after studying abroad. “It’s a comfortable, local place that’s just a bit elevated,” Roesch says.

At The Brasserie in Township 5, the food is simple, hearty, and, according to their website, “usually French,” with locally flavored fare served in a relaxed setting. Roesch says the local flavor allows The Brasserie to put its own twist to classics, like its Riggies, which features rigatoni pasta in vodka cream sauce, cherry pepper relish, banana peppers and parmesan. Other twists include Brasserie’s Bruschetta, Brasserie’s Greens and Brasserie’s Burger.

“We just wanted to take local dishes that we loved and we put our spin on them,” she says. “And the beer and wine list — we also wanted to make sure we had some local features there.” Local offerings include draft beers from Middle Ages Brewing, Meier’s Creek Brewing Company, Saranac Brewery, Haberle Brewing Company, 1911 and Dr. Frank to name a few. There are also tantalizing cocktails that change with Central New York’s seasons including, at the time of our visit, a Pumpkin Pie Espresso Martini and Caramel Apple Mule. Come January, The Brasserie will feature winter-themed martinis and specialty cocktails.

The Brasserie’s menu includes shareable appetizers, soups and salads, burgers and entrees, all ranging from lighter fare, like a Brasserie salad of greens, candied walnuts, feta and strawberries with strawberry balsamic to more filling dishes like Steak Frites, a grilled strip steak topped with red wine-and-herb compound butter, served with fries and topped with the vegetable of the day.

The Brasserie chef Pete Koloski shares a Lemon Shrimp Risotto, which easily incorporates a variety of local, seasonal vegetables.

Popular items include The Brasserie Riggies, Chipotle Turkey Panini with roasted turkey, bacon, cheddar and chipotle aioli on ciabatta and The Cubano with shredded pork, ham, mustard, dill pickle and Swiss cheese on toasted baguette, according to General Manager and Events Coordinator Maddi Cline.

When it comes to local and seasonal produce, The Brasserie makes it a point to incorporate those items whenever possible, says Cline. “We use squash and hot peppers from Oliver’s Produce. Seasonally, we try to incorporate local ingredients in our menus and in our daily specials when we can.”

For our January/February issue, The Brasserie chef Pete Koloski shares a Lemon Shrimp Risotto, a dish that easily incorporates local squash, peas, broccoli or asparagus when in season.

“We love this recipe for this time of the year because it’s a warm and creamy dish to combat the cold weather, however the lemon and shrimp offer a more light, healthy and hearty option for guests to start the year off with,” says Cline.

In January, The Brasserie offers a variety of winter-themed martini and cocktail specials.

LEMON SHRIMP RISOTTO

Ingredients

8-10 large or 21-25 medium peeled and deveined shrimp

1 ½Tbsp. clarified butter

1 ½ Tbsp. flour

1 ½ cups heavy cream

Zest and juice of 1 lemon or to taste

½ tsp. sugar

Pinch of salt to taste

Pinch of white pepper

1 cup blanched vegetables (squash, peas, broccoli, asparagus or spinach — whatever you prefer)

3 cups prepared risotto, made to your liking

Directions

Prepare risotto according to instructions. Blanch vegetables and set aside.

In a 12-inch sauté pan, heat butter until it’s hot. Carefully add the peeled and deveined shrimp to the pan. Sautee the shrimp until they’re lightly colored on one side then turn over until shrimp is almost white all the way through. Remove all the shrimp from the pan and set aside. In your sauté pan, add flour until mixed well with remaining butter. Add heavy cream, salt and pepper, and whisk until thickened. Add lemon zest, lemon juice and sugar, and simmer for a couple minutes. Add your vegetables and shrimp back into the pan for just about a minute while stirring often. On your serving plate, arrange risotto in the middle of your dish and top with sauteed shrimp, vegetables and remaining sauce.

To drink?

White wine. At The Brasserie, try Simi Chardonnay, Dr. Konstantin Frank Dry Riesling or Barone Pinot Grigio. The Brasserie Bar & Bistro

200 Township Blvd., Suite 20, Camillus, 315-487-1073, brasseriecny.com

Making

Thrift and thrive

Donations to Rescue Mission’s Thrifty Shopper turn unusable items into a world of good

BY MJ KRAVEC

A fresh start in the new year. Maybe it begins with something as simple as cleaning out your closets and finding things to donate. Several organizations accept these goods and if your goal is to make the most of them, donating to the Rescue Mission turns useable items into funds for programs that help those in need, while keeping millions of pounds of waste out of landfills each year. Additionally, customers will find unique, affordable pieces while enjoying the surprises, delights and, sometimes, nostalgia that shopping at a thrift store provides.

Through its Thrifty Shopper locations and donation centers in nine counties, Rescue Mission helps prevent worn textiles and broken home goods from piling up and, on average, accepts items from more than 21,000 people each month.

According to Luana Lovenguth, chief social enterprise officer for the Rescue Mission Alliance of Syracuse, Thrifty Shopper stores have given more than five million donated items a second life and kept nearly 19 million pounds of trash out of landfills last year alone. But in addition to the environmental benefits, items donated to the Rescue Mission help fund several programs to help people in need throughout Central New York. In fact, 65% of the funding needed to operate the Rescue Mission comes from donated items and store sales, Lovenguth says.

“One hundred percent of net revenue generated from donated goods and store sales provides food, shelter, clothing and hope to those most vulnerable in Central New York. When you donate or make a purchase at Thrifty Shopper, you are helping others thrive,” she says.

The Rescue Mission accepts clothing, shoes, toys (all in any condition), jewelry, accessories,

 DID YOU KNOW?

» According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the average person throws away 81 pounds of clothing each year. New York residents and businesses throw away almost 1.4 billion pounds of textiles, including clothing, shoes, belts, hats, handbags, drapes, towels, sheets and other linens that could be reused or recycled.

» In the United States, textile disposal is one of the fastest growing forms of waste.

» 85% of used textiles end up in landfills and incinerators — a majority of which could be reused or recycled.

linens, household items, sporting goods, books, electronics and small appliances. They also accept furniture in good, sellable condition. (Please note they do not accept infant furniture, mattresses, bed pillows or sleeper sofas). Staff and volunteers sort donated items by hand to determine if they are sellable or recyclable. Those that are not go in the trash.

In 2023, over 7.5 million pounds of books, toys, clothing, shoes, cardboard, electronics and metal were recycled, Lovenguth says.

Even items that seem unusable, such as unwearable, ripped and stained clothing, drapes, sheets, towels and other materials, can benefit the environment when donated to the Rescue Mission.

“Textiles that are not sellable (stained, torn, faded, pilling) are bundled and sold in bulk and are either turned into fibers that can be used for insulation or composite or are reused as industrial rags. We have the same process for toys — toys that are plastic, metal or wood that are broken or missing pieces are recycled,” she says.

Donations are accepted at Thrifty Shopper locations and attended donation centers in Walmart parking lots from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Please keep in mind that donations left during off-hours are vulnerable to theft and weather conditions, which costs the Rescue Mission thousands of dollars in disposal fees, Lovenguth says. Furniture and other large items can only be accepted at Thrifty Shopper locations during operating hours. For more information, visit ishopthrifty.org.

“[In 2023] we have recycled over 7.5 million pounds of books, toys, clothing, shoes, cardboard, electronics and metal”

Luana Lovenguth, chief social enterprise officer for the Rescue Mission Alliance of Syracuse

ABOUT THE RESCUE MISSION’S PROGRAMS

The Rescue Mission operates programs in Syracuse, Auburn and Binghamton. Those services include emergency shelter, meals, supportive permanent housing, employment resources and spiritual care. In all locations, case managers help guests develop individual plans and connect with the support they need to leave homelessness and hunger behind, says Lovenguth. In Syracuse, the Rescue Mission serves three meals a day, 365 days a year, to anyone in need. Its Community Clothing Center offers men’s, women’s and children’s clothing and shoes for free to anyone in the community. Additionally, the Mission operates a 24-hour emergency shelter, single-room apartments, an adult home and supportive, permanent housing opportunities. Its Auburn branch operates a 28-unit housing complex that serves families at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Case managers work with families to achieve their highest level of stability and independence. The Binghamton Rescue Mission offers a combination of dormitory and single-room apartments for men, and a home to assist formerly homeless women.

Making good ART PROFILE

Fertile Ground

Celebrating the retro appeal of records (and DVDs and CDs)

BY ETHAN STINSON

In an era where streaming and digital media are all the rage, The Sound Garden still provides a blast from the past. Make that tens of thousands of blasts, in the form of vinyl records, DVDs and CDs, along with the intimate record-store experience that comes with these tangible items.

There’s likely not a Spotify playlist on this earth that would follow up Black Sabbath’s floor-scraping metal with the modern,

experimental sounds of DJ Shadow, but that’s what greeted customers who entered the downtown Syracuse store on a recent weeknight. The loudspeakers give a clear and immediate signal of the store’s diverse collection, one that is quickly corroborated by the variety of band posters and flags on the walls.

The United States has about 1,400 independently run record stores. This may sound like a sizable number, but according to

Sound Garden employee Casey Keefe shows off some vinyl. The shop has seen a steady revival of interest in vinyl records and CDs.

Billboard, this represents a meager 0.4602 shops per 100,000 people.

Acknowledging that physical media are no longer the primary way for people to consume entertainment, Sound Garden General Manager Nick Shelton has worked hard to keep his store relevant while holding on to its retro appeal. For him, the store is valuable for the strong sense of community and culture it cultivates. “I get to meet new people constantly, and we often share an interest in some capacity,” Shelton says.

In his 13 years at The Sound Garden, Shelton has noticed a steadily growing revival of interest in vinyl records and CDs that has brought more customers into the store.

Whether it be the desire to relive one’s childhood, to enjoy the sound quality or touch of physical media or to avoid mindlessly skipping songs while streaming, shoppers come in with the hope of better engaging with the music they love.

“I think people like feeling like they’re a part of the artists’ lives, and buying music kind of makes them feel that way,” Shelton says.

The Sound Garden maintains a diverse selection of products, from new and popular releases to oldies and more obscure media.

Left, shoppers picked up the new Jon Batiste album in August.

Making good ART PROFILE

To feed their appetites, The Sound Garden maintains a diverse selection of products, from new and popular releases to oldies and more obscure media. “A lot of record stores might specialize in certain types of music,” Shelton says. “We keep it across the board everywhere to make this a place for everybody.”

These efforts at engagement include a variety of live performances and other special events. Notable groups like Coheed and Cambria, Bad Wolves and The Murder Capital have headed to Armory Square to play sets and sign autographs.

“You just don’t get those kinds of interactions at other stores like the mainline stores that might sell CDs,” says longtime customer James McCampbell. “They wouldn’t have an in-store performance by a band like Murder Capital.”

For Shelton, having access to such notable artists as Metallica’s Robert Trujillo in a more intimate setting has provided him and customers a whole new way to experience and appreciate their musical heroes. “Seeing [artists] as actual people rather than as celebrities has been really cool,” he says. Listening parties have also proved a major draw by allowing customers to be among the first public listeners of new releases from popular artists including Greta Van Fleet and Gucci Mane. More recently, the store hosted an event for the Duran Duran album “Danse Macabre.”

T-shirt, vinyl and poster giveaways add to the appeal of the listening parties. “Things like those are pretty cool because the fans get really excited about their new album,” says Robyn Drake, a Sound Garden employee.

The band Bad Wolves, pictured with Sound Garden staff, came to the store to sign albums in November.

“You just don’t get those kinds of interactions at other stores like the mainline stores that might sell CDs. They wouldn’t have an in-store performance by a band like Murder Capital.”

James McCampbell

Regulars like McCampbell, who has been shopping at The Sound Garden since it opened in the late 1990s, also appreciate the store’s eclectic variety of music, films, graphic novels and more.

“Here, they make it a little bit easier to find the more obscure artists,” says McCampbell, who gravitates toward records by Captain Beefheart and movies from the cult-film distributor Vinegar Syndrome. “When you go to other places, they have kind of bland, acceptable music.”

The store also gives less frequent customers like John Squires, who visits Syracuse a handful of times yearly, a reason to keep returning: namely, the ability to continue a longstanding commitment to collecting physical media.

“I’ve been buying music for 50 years and will keep on doing it,” Squires says. His return visits have resulted in a significant swelling of his collection to more than 5,000 CDs.

Shelton says the passion and knowledge of the store’s employees have been a consistent draw for fellow music lovers. “Thankfully we’ve managed to stay ourselves this whole time,” he says, “and just continue being first and foremost a record store.”

The Sound Garden and its staff have created a space where community members, regardless of background or tastes, can gather and appreciate art without fear of judgment.

“[This place] allows people to not feel like they have to shy away from or be embarrassed by the things they like,” Shelton says.

As time and technology continue to surge forward, customers like McCampbell view that consistency as a model of how similar businesses should operate.

“I use this place as the template of the kind of places I like to go to,” he says.

Ethan Stinson is a student in the Goldring Arts Journalism & Communications Program at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Brian Bader, a Sound Garden employee, holds exclusive Taylor Swift albums, which came out in pastel-colored vinyl.

The Sound Garden, 310 W. Jefferson Street, Syracuse, 315-473-4343, sgrecordshop.com

MLS ID# S1500121 6234steinwaydrive.howardhanna.com

Galleries

Mahtab Hussain’s “Shemagh, beard and bling” from “You-Get-Me” Series at ArtRage Gallery

ARTRAGE GALLERY

505 Hawley Avenue, Syracuse. 315-218-5711, artragegallery.org. Open 2 to 6 p.m., Wednesday-Friday, noon to 4 p.m., Saturday (and by appointment for groups).

William Mazza: Forest for Trees. William Mazza, a co-founder of Syracuse’s Altered Space gallery (1990-1996) and currently based in New York City, uses chance, duration and accumulation to interpret landscape as the relationship of people to mediated environments. The most material expressions of his wide-ranging projects are drawings, paintings, animations and video created by translating subjects such as lived environments, spatial relocations, television programs or text into constructions of landscape. While Mazza responds to his surroundings in many exploratory ways, in his Literary Landscape series he mines the words from texts written by such authors as Angela Davis, Cecilia Vicuna, Anne Waldman and Susan Sontag. He then separates them into the letters that fill one written page and one painting. Runs through Jan. 13.

Mahtab Hussain: Muslims in America, Syracuse Edition. British photographer Mahtab Hussain is creating a major new body of work about the Muslim experience in America.

In September 2023, ArtRage hosted Hussain for a two-week residency to photograph Syracuse’s Muslim community; the resulting work has become this exhibition. The work created in Syracuse will join his work from New York City, Los Angeles and Baltimore, and will be published as an artist book and a touring museum exhibition in 2026. Hussain uses photography to explore the important relationship between identity, heritage and displacement. Specifically he is known for photographing the Muslim experience in the UK, US and Canada. His themes develop through long-term research articulating a visual language that challenges the prevailing concepts of multiculturalism. His work has been widely exhibited in the UK and North America and is in many collections including the Brooklyn Museum and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. See more at mahtabhussain.com. Runs Feb. 3 through March 16.

EDGEWOOD GALLERY

216 Tecumseh Road, Syracuse. 315-445-8111, edgewoodartandframe.com. Open 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Closed SundayMonday. Free.

Two Views. Wayne Daniels: landscape oil paintings of CNY. Tad Retz: oil paintings of the seascapes of Maine and landscapes of CNY. John Volcko: turned wood vessels. Karen Convertino: mixed media jewelry. Runs Jan. 12 through Feb. 23. Opening reception 6 to 8 p.m., Jan. 12.

EVERSON MUSEUM OF ART

401 Harrison St., Syracuse. 315-474-6064, everson.org.

Open 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.

Janet Biggs: Imagination and Desire in a Northern Landscape. In 2009 and 2010, Janet Biggs traveled to the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard with a crew of artists and scientists to document the changing Arctic landscape. As the subject of centuries of exploration, the Arctic was once seen as indifferent to human enterprise, so vast and inhospitable as to be immune to any imposition. Today, scientists expect climate change to leave Arctic summers ice-free as early as the next decade, and Svalbard, located halfway between Europe and the North Pole, finds itself at the epicenter of this metamorphosis. Using footage compiled on her voyages north, Biggs explores this history and the alarming consequences of human enterprise in three videos: “Warning Shot” (2016), “Brightness All Around” (2011), and “Fade to White” (2010). Shown together, these works are a clarion call for a heroic landscape that will completely transform within our lifetimes. Janet Biggs: Imagination and Desire in a Northern Landscape is organized by the Barry Lopez Foundation for Art & Environment. Based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the Barry Lopez Foundation works with contemporary artists to organize exhibitions addressing climate change, biodiversity, habitat loss and our relationship with the land in a time of environmental crisis. Runs Feb. 10 through May 12.

Off the Rack. Off the Rack is the happy byproduct of a major renovation of the Everson’s on-site art storage. As hundreds of paintings and framed works are displaced from their racks while renovations take place, the public has an unprecedented opportunity to view objects that have been in deep storage for years, never-beforeseen recent acquisitions and some perennial favorites — all hung together salon-style in our exhibition galleries. This smorgasbord of paintings and works on paper showcases the breadth and depth of the museum’s collections and provides a glimpse into the world of collections management and care. Runs through May 5.

Off the Rack at Everson

Tad Retz’ oil paintings at Edgewood Gallery

LIGHT WORK KATHLEEN O. ELLIS GALLERY

316 Waverly Ave., Syracuse. 315-443-1300, lightwork.org. Open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday-Friday, and 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For guided tours, contact info@lightwork.org.

Sophia Chai: Character Space. This exhibition is comprised of photographs made of mark-makings done in the artist’s studio. These images are based off the Korean alphabet and center around the ideas of language, optics and photography. Chai’s photographs enact both an absence and a presence, visually comparable to the shape the mouth makes before speaking, holding the time for contemplation between intellect and intuition via spatial connections and relationships. Runs Jan. 19 through May 17.

Urban Video Project: Crystal Z Campbell. On view on the north facade of the Everson Museum, dusk to 11 p.m., Thursday through Saturday. Runs Feb. 22 through May 25.

ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION

321 Montgomery St., Syracuse. 315-428-1864, cnyhistory.org. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Free but donations encouraged. Check their website for updates.

Suit Up! A look at Syracuse sporting uniforms through the years. Suit Up! is up in the Onondaga Historical Association’s large first floor gallery. The exhibit, in collaboration with Syracuse University Research Center Special Collections, displays various Syracuse sporting uniforms throughout the decades. Local professional and collegiate teams are featured in this sporty jaunt through local nostalgia, celebrating the history of Syracuse athletics. Runs through December 2024.

Through The Magic Lantern: Illuminated Images of Onondaga County. This exhibit explores the magic lantern show. The predecessor to the 35mm slideshow and PowerPoint

presentation, magic lantern shows were once very popular events. They were education and entertainment all rolled into one and some even featured an early form of animation. The magic lantern projected a painted or printed glass slide onto a screen, often accompanied by commentary and music. The public could watch a professional show at the theater or do their own show with family and friends at home. The exhibit sheds some light on the legacy of the magic lantern through OHA’s largest lantern slide collection, the Will H. Olmsted Lantern Slide Collection. In 1937, Olmsted, an avid amateur photographer with a heart for preserving local Syracuse history, decided to put together a pictorial history of Syracuse for future generations. He not only collected or created over 1,200 glass lantern slides, he also wrote commentary to go along with the slides and told the story of Syracuse. You will see an assortment of magic lanterns and lantern slides from Olmsted’s collection which display Onondaga County’s history between the 1850s and 1930s. There is even a modern “magic lantern” show using select images and commentary from Olmsted’s collection. Runs through April 2024.

Look At What We Got! One of the most common questions the archivists and curators of the Onondaga Historical Association are asked is, “Will the document or artifact I’m donating be on exhibit?” The answer is always a resounding “possibly.” With limited exhibit space, and exhibit topics that don’t always include every item in our collection, OHA has many magnificent items preserved and protected, but not on display.

Look At What We Got is OHA’s chance to exhibit an eclectic assortment of artifacts and documents that were donated to OHA in the last five years. The exhibit will also provide insight into the choices OHA’s archivists and curators make when accepting donations. Runs February 2024 to May 2025.

Crystal Z. Campbell, Urban Video Project at Light Work

Through the Magic Lantern at OHA

Galleries

SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY ART MUSEUM

1st floor, Shaffer Art Building, museum.syr.edu. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday and until 8 p.m. Thursday. Closed Mondays and University holidays.

Assembly. Assembly features artworks made by Syracuse University faculty and recent alumni that contribute to emergent forms of ecological understanding. By placing these works in dialogue with objects from the museum’s collection, the installation considers a broad cultural evolution from an environmentalism of the sublime to an ecology of intimacy. Runs Jan. 18 to May 12.

SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

222 Waverly Avenue, Syracuse. Library.syr.edu. Open to the public 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Friday. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 6th Floor is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday and until 7 p.m. on Wednesdays.

Spring 2024 SCRC Exhibition: Plasticized: Creativity, Consumption and Labor in 20th Century Plastics. Curated by Lead Curator and Curator of Plastics and Historical Artifacts Courtney Hicks, “Plasticized: Creativity, Consumption and Labor in 20th Century Plastics” presents evidence from

the perspectives of plastics creators, artists, innovators, engineers, laborers, consumers and corporations amidst the acceleration of plastic production in 20th century material culture. This exhibition illustrates shifting cultural perspectives surrounding this enigmatic and complicated material while highlighting plastic innovations and developments in fashion, art, packaging, architecture, industrial design and more. Featuring materials from the Plastics collection area at Syracuse University Libraries’ Special Collections Research Center, these selections provide historical traces directly from those who imagined, designed, worked with, consumed, promoted, activated, marketed and resisted this uniquely synthetic material. Engage with historical plastics from the past through a multitude of lenses — all from the ascent of plastic within American industry, which directly contributed to today’s saturation of plastic products in our everyday lives. This exhibition will open during the spring semester of 2024, with an opening reception 4:30 to 6 p.m. February 29.

“Floating Oil” from Assembly at Syracuse University Art Museum

Flashback

WITH OHA

COMMUNITY AMONG THE SHELVES

A look back at the area’s independently owned bookstores

BY JORDAN SCOTT

Onondaga County’s independent bookstore scene in the 1990s was booming. During this time, the United States was experiencing a growing economy, which enabled more Americans to start and maintain businesses. The county was home to 12 independent bookstores, seven of which sold used books. Economy Books in downtown Syracuse and BookVendor in Manlius sold an array of genres. Other stores such as Seven Rays, Sacred Melody and My Sisters’ Words — all now shuttered — specialized in individual topics.

In 1994, Mary Ellen Kavanaugh founded My Sisters’ Words at 304 N. McBride Street. A Victorian house with red and cream details welcomed patrons. Inside, oriental rugs on hardwood floors, artwork and shelves filled with books by and for women enveloped readers in a cozy atmosphere. My Sisters’ Words was one of two feminist bookstores in New York state at the time.

For many Syracusans the bookstore was a vital resource. Poet and playwright Jackie Warren-Moore wrote in 1997 that “many years ago, it was only on My Sisters’ Words bookshelves that I could find work by various women of color.” The Post-Standard in 2003 wrote that the store was a “touchstone for local gays and lesbians.” Syracuse poet Georgia Popoff said that Kavanaugh had always supported and promoted local writers well. Not only were authors able to network, but visitors looking for businesses and local events could find flyers, bulletins and business cards in the store’s community room.

In 2003, My Sisters’ Words closed, mainly due to a declining national economy. Readers throughout Syracuse felt the loss, but three bookstores have opened in the county since 2019 and continue to be welcoming and comforting spaces in our community.

Jordan Scott is assistant archivist at OHA.

Mary Ellen Kavanaugh founded My Sister’s Words, a feminist bookstore at 304 N. McBride Street, in 1994. PHOTO

Last word

SARAH SIMIELE

WITH Cheesemonger and co-owner, The Curd Nerd

BY MJ KRAVEC

With winter being comfort food season, we thought it’d be fun to chat with Sarah Simiele who owns The Curd Nerd, a specialty cheese shop in Eastwood, with her husband, Matthew. Simiele was recently named America’s top cheesemonger at The Cheesemonger Invitational in Brooklyn, the largest competition for cheese experts in the country. We wanted to know what her favorite comfort food is (obviously something cheesy), what she’s reading now and why she had pockets in her wedding dress.

What time do you get up in the morning and how do you take your coffee (or tea)? Typically, I’m up around 6:30, 7:00. On a good day, I’d get to sleep until 8:00. Coffee, definitely coffee. Usually a latte, preferably seasonal, so pumpkin spice, blueberry, or really whatever The Cracked Bean Roastery’s flavor of the month is currently.

What’s your favorite spot to enjoy the great outdoors in CNY? I’m usually more of an indoors person, but I love apple picking so I’d have to say Beak & Skiff. Typically though, if I’m outdoors, I’m in my yard with my dog or in my garden.

Favorite season? Absolutely fall! Pumpkins, apples, Halloween, good food, plus some of my favorite seasonal cheeses are released in the fall.

What are you binge watching or reading right now? I’m currently trying to get ahead on my book club list, so I’m just starting “Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow” by Gabrielle Zevin.

With January and February being high comfort food time (which so often involves melty cheese), what are your favorite comfort foods? I have to say fondue, mostly because we eat fondue every other week during the winter! But I also love a “clean out the fridge” mac and cheese where I melt down all the cheese bits in my cheese drawer.

Fun fact about you? I specifically bought a wedding dress with pockets so I could have a cheese snack in my pocket on my wedding day.

Can you offer a tip to readers on either a cheese to try or how to get the best tasting experience from cheese? My best cheese advice is to always keep trying and retrying cheese! Cheese changes seasonally, so something you didn’t necessarily love last time might be your favorite this time around. Also, there’s so much variation in cheese,

don’t close yourself off to a whole style of cheese. I can almost guarantee that there’s something for everyone.

During The Cheesemonger Invitational in June, you were asked to sell a certain cheese to the judges. You told syracuse.com’s Charlie Miller that you didn’t say anything like “award-winning cheese” but rather described the tasting experience of what makes the cheese special and that the cheese “changes flavor depending on where you bite it. It’ll taste like toasted nuts with grassy notes, and then it’ll taste like toasted pineapple. It takes you on a journey.” That’s a beautiful, evocative description. It really gives the taster a sense of what it’s like. How do you do that? First of all, thank you! I think my ability to describe cheese comes from my reverence for it! Cheese is a food that takes so much work and time and energy, and it deserves to be eaten that way.

Simiele in her Eastwood neighborhood shop, which opened in 2022.

Looking for us?

Find us at one of these local boutiques!

Almost Local

18 W. Park Row, Clinton

BeeKind

118 Milton Avenue, Syracuse

Carol Watson Greenhouse 2980 Sentinel Heights Road, LaFayette

Center Street Market 106 Center Street, Canastota

The Curd Nerd 2800 James Street, Syracuse

Drooz + Company 36 E. Genesee Street, Skaneateles

Epicuse

334 S. Salina Street, Syracuse

Golden Bee Bookshop 324 1st Street, Liverpool

H. Grey Supply Co. 53 Albany Street, Cazenovia

Olive + Fern 19 North Street, Marcellus

Paola Kay Gifts 105 Brooklea Drive, Fayetteville

Parthenon Books

333 S. Salina Street, Syracuse

Salt City Artisans 226 Hawley Avenue, Syracuse

The Station 603 603 E. Seneca Street, Manlius

Synple 70 Main Street, Camillus

The Wren’s Den 2756 W. Seneca Turnpike, Marcellus

Wildfowers Armory 217 S. Salina Street, Syracuse

The award-winning Central New York Magazine arrives in mailboxes six times a year. www.readcnymagazine.com