T H E
G O O D
L I F E
COOL
WINTER RESORTS STREAMLINE YO U R S PAC E
ANNUAL WEDDING GUIDE
L O C A L LY M A D E HEIRLOOM FURNITURE
Editor’s Letter
Winter wonder
Editor’s picks
L O O K T O T H E WA R M S I D E O F T H E S E A S O N .
MJ’s dog, Marla SWEATER WEATHER
Cherish the little things in winter weather. Dress the dog in a sweater and head out for a walk.
B
ON A ROLL
Also, in this edition, our annual wedding
“Winter is the time for comfort,
guide spotlights some off-the-beaten path
for good food and warmth, for the
wedding venues, gives readers a taste of some
touch of a friendly hand and for a
of the area’s most unique cookie makers and
talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.”
highlights local shops with wedding registries.
Those words put me in front of our fire-
You’ll also find our regular features in-
place while the snow falls outside. The cat
cluding Our Town, which shines a light on
purrs on one side of me, the dog snores on
the town of LaFayette; CNY Scout, which
the other. We’re all bathed in the flame’s glow.
profiles Slumber Soiree; a recipe for Butter-
As Central New Yorkers, we’re painfully
nut Squash Ravioli from A Mano Kitchen &
aware of winter’s dark side — the biting wind,
Bar; Flashback to Archbold Stadium with the
the window scraping, the salted boots. So it
Onondaga Historical Association and Last
pays to draw attention to winter’s warm side.
Word with a world-class ice sculptor from
In the January/February edition of Central New York, we’re celebrating this brighter side with a look at four regional resorts that make the most of the season. If you’re stuck
East Syracuse. All good things that prove winter has a bright side in CNY. Cheers.
inside on a wintry day, use the time to create more streamlined, stress-free spaces at home with our tips from area organizing experts. When you’re done, check out our fea-
MJ
ture on local craftspeople who create beau-
mkravec@advancemediany.com
tiful, handmade furniture. 6
CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE
J A N UA R Y/ F E B R UA R Y
This cocktail reminiscent of a cinnamon roll sounds about perfect for this time of year. Combine three parts cream soda to one-part Fireball Whiskey. Pour into a glass over ice and enjoy in front of a roaring fire.
315-766-7833
MUSIC TO SHOVEL TO
Keep calm and shovel on. Add Enya’s “And Winter Came” to your playlist when you’re clearing the driveway. Just the thing to put you in a zen state of mind.
PHOTOS BY SHUTTERSTOCK, MJ KRAVEC
ritish Poet Edith Sitwell said,
Contents Features
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Into the Woods
Handmade furniture crafted by local artisans.
36
Who Needs Aspen?
Area resorts offer exciting ways to winter.
48
Make Room
Start the new year with a more streamlined, stressless space at home.
52
Altared States
CNY venues with settings as unique as the couple itself.
65
Made With Love
68
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CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE
Gift Guidance
Local gift registries offer eclectic options and excellent customer service.
J A N UA R Y/ F E B R UA R Y
PHOTO COURTESY CRAVE DESSERT STUDIO
A look at some of Syracuse’s most talented cookie bakers.
Departments 6 Editor’s Letter 11 It’s All Good
What to savor in CNY now, Behind the Scenes, Caught Doing Good...
20 The Seen
A pictorial review of Central New York’s social gatherings.
70 The Good Life
Initiative aims to attract talent to Central New York.
72 Our Town
Live like a local in LaFayette.
77 Farm to Table
A Mano Kitchen & Bar’s Butternut Squash Ravioli.
80 Galleries
What’s on display at Central New York galleries.
28
82 Flashback
Ancient Archbold Stadium.
83 The Last Word
With world-class ice sculptor Stan Kolonko.
77
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It’s All Good
LIGHT ‘EM UP It’s a long, cold and dark season. Keep a few strings of twinkling lights up for soft glow and wintry cheer. Not an oxymoron. Repeat, wintry cheer.
Cold play Sparkling snowflakes. Drop from the sky and cling to eyelashes. Coating the ground, whispering to the world, “be quiet, rest, peace out.” Just one way of looking at winter. Try it. Here’s how to savor the season inside or out. BY M J K R AV EC
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It’s All Good
HANG UPS Skip the dryer and hang your laundry around the house (when you’re not expecting company). You’ll save energy and add humidity to dry indoor air.
CLEAN STEAM Make your own aromatherapy shower steamers. Mix 2 cups baking soda, ½ cup water and 5 drops of essential oil into a paste. Press into cupcake tins and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Let cool. Place on shower floor to release aromas. We like peppermint, rosemary and eucalyptus.
BOND, BABE Symphoria presents “Shaken, Not Stirred,” the music of James Bond. “From Russia with Love,” “Skyfall,” “Goldfinger” and “Thunderball” are just a few classics you’ll experience at this spy-themed production with special guest singer David Curry. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 1 at Crouse Hinds Concert Theater. Go to experiencesymphoria.org.
FOR THE L O V E O F… Young passion, romance and two rival families. What’s not to love? Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Redhouse presents Shakespeare’s tragic “Romeo & Juliet.” Feb. 13 through 23. theredhouse.org
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G I D DY U P Head out to Highland Forest for a sleigh ride through the winter woods. Weekends through Feb. 23. Weather permitting. Call ahead for schedule 315-683-5550.
HIGHLAND FOREST PHOTO BY MIKE GREENLAR
G O H YG G E You know the Danish art of being cozy? Put your home in all hygge mode and dress your furniture in layers with soft pillows and cozy throws.
WA N T S O M E M O O R Emily Brontë’s “Wuthering Heights” is worth a read or reread. It’s easy to get lost in this tale of ghosts, lost love, regret, bitterness and stormy weather.
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I N T O
T H E
W O O D S
BY AMY BLEIER LONG
It’s difficult to feel emotional attachment to a mass-produced piece of furniture, particularly if that purchase was the result of a few impersonal clicks on a screen. When you work closely with an independent furniture designer, you’re shaking the hand that will sketch a design based on detailed conversations with you, handpick the lumber, measure out precise cuts, shape, sand and finish — this imbues the piece you bring home with a special quality. And not just quality in terms of craftsmanship; in addition to skillful technique and artistry, you’ll see your own style and interests reflected in the work. You don’t have to look outside of Central New York to invest in unique, well-crafted furniture worthy of being handed down to the next generation. Seven local artisans, working predominantly in wood, show that thoughtful form and function can be crafted to fit any style.
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T H E COU N T RY F U R N I T U R E SHOP When Chris Harter was young, he learned how to repair antiques in his grandfather’s shop and was impressed with the quality of chairs that were centuries old. He started building furniture himself and, in the 41 years since he opened his own business, has made more than 2,500 chairs, settees, tables, beds and numerous case furniture pieces. His work is based on traditional 18th-century
Below, The Arrowback settee. Page 9, Philadelphia Low-back chair.
and early 19th-century primitive styles – Queen Anne, Chippendale and Shaker. Though Harter specializes in the American Windsor chair, he also has designed more contemporary pieces. His furniture showcases a variety of woods including tiger maple, spalted maple, mahogany, cherry and exotic woods. “When someone purchases one of my furniture pieces, they are getting a handcrafted heirloom that was made just for them and their family. No two pieces will be exactly alike,” he says. The Country Furniture Shop, 315-893-7404, chrisharter.com, call for an appointment at his Madison, NY showroom.
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Dashing through the snow at Lake Placid.
N
BY JEANNE ALBANESE
ew York state
boasts 51 ski areas — the most of any state in the country. Hardcore skiers and snowboarders might not need much more than a lift ticket, trail map and some fresh powder, but in an effort to appeal to more visitors, many of today’s ski areas have become year-round resort destinations with activities and amenities for everyone in the family. In the winter, visitors can enjoy a full slate of outdoor adventures from snowshoeing to tubing to snowcat tours and after a day in the cold, roaring fireplaces, saunas and massages await. Drive a few hours from Central New York in any direction, and you’ll bump into a ski area. Here’s a look at four.
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WHO
NEEDS ASPEN?
AREA RESORTS OFFER ENCHANTING WAYS TO WINTER
S T A T E S CNY VENUES OFFER BE AUTIFUL SE T TINGS AS UNIQUE AS THE COUPLE ITSELF
BY ALAINA POTRIKUS
Get ready with your wedding party in a restored farmhouse with modern elegant touches. Walk down the aisle under a canopy of trees to a custom arbor draped with greenery. Enjoy sunset cocktails on a rooftop patio overlooking the city skyline. Or dance the night away in a renovated barn with cathedral ceilings and romantic lighting. The newest wedding venues in Central New York offer an array of options for couples looking to tie the knot in style.
Above, the Victorian farmhouse at Kester Homestead. Opposite page, outside ceremony at Kester Homestead’s Woodland Cathedral.
PHOTO THIS PAGE BY WHITNEY NICOLS PHOTOGRAPHY, PHOTO OPPOSITE PAGE BY KYLENE LYNN PHOTOGRAPHY
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