Central New York Magazine - January/February 2024 preview

WHAT’S TRENDING IN TREATMENTS FOR BODY AND MIND ADDRESSING THE REAL CHALLENGES OF HOME ORGANIZATION CAN THIS TINY HOME PROJECT END HOMELESSNESS?

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OUR ANNUAL WEDDING GUIDE

LOVE THAT FOR YOU

FRESH STARTS, WAYS TO PAMPER AND GOOD FEELS

ON THE COVER

PRESIDENT

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Tim Kennedy

Amy Bleier Long 315-282-8553 ableierlong@advancemediany.com

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

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

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

Contact Jennifer Queri or visit readcnymagazine.com

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 you to the advertisers that make CNY Magazine possible!

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Editor’s letter 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:

It’s just another winter’s tale services for body and mind that can help

calendar changes, I

you recenter (or simply pamper) yourself.

feel optimistic that

This edition also features our annual

this will be the year I

wedding guide. The June 2023 celebration

get my you-know-what

of Sonali Karamchandani and Conor

together, or at least find

Horan, was an elegant affair with a

the right tools to make it easier to keep

touching backstory. As we reviewed

track of all the things I do at home and

galleries from photographers, I was so

at work. I have color-coded planners and

charmed by the stylish personal details

calendars, and I’m getting better at letting

from the weddings of Maddy and Chris

go of emotional attachments to things,

Becker, Kate and Joe Whaley, and Brigid

but my ADHD makes it hard to stay

Judge and Will Leonard that I just had to

consistent. That’s part of why I wanted to

find out more. Plus, if you’re in need of

find out more about local professionals

ideas for wedding shower locations, we’ve

who address the place where home

rounded up more than 20 to help you start

organization and mental health meet. If

your search.

“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

you’re at all like me, we hope you’ll find

In our other departments, you’ll

Norah Machia’s story on page 34 helpful.

find a look at Girls on the Run, a group

(And if you’re ready to clean out that

empowering adolescent girls mentally

closet, keep MJ’s Down to Earth story

and physically, hear how The Sound

handy.)

Garden stays not only relevant but

Ethan Stinson

vibrant, meet a little boy who got to Zoom

“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.”

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

with a superstar and more.

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

Tiny Home for Good offers unhoused individuals in our community. Similarly, Safe Space Organization, a nonprofit that

On writing about The Sound Garden

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 6

Cheryl Abrams

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Amy Bleier Long ableierlong@advancemediany.com

PHOTOS BY SHUTTERSTOCK, COURTESY CHERYL ABRAMS, ETHAN STINSON

E

ach year when the

Contents 56 Wedding Guide Gorgeous inspiration from four real weddings and 24 ways to

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34

44

50

Put it Away Now

Treat Yourself

Tiny Homes, Big Difference

Professional organizers discuss what

Exploring some of the latest trends

Nonprofit constructing tiny homes

leads to clutter, overwhelm and

in services and treatments

for unhoused people provides much-

how they can help.

for the mind and body.

wanted shelter and independence.

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PHOTO BY ALYSSA FLOOD PHOTOGRAPHY

shower the betrothed with love.

Departments

In every issue

11

6 Editor's Letter 93 Galleries

11 Ways to embrace the season

97 Flashback with OHA: A heyday of independent bookstores

14 Positive Vibes: Reading before bed

98 Last Word with The Curd Nerd owner Sarah Simiele

It’s All Good

16 Our Town: Fulton 19 Market Trends: Let’s stay in

50

27 Good News 27 Clay preschooler wins Dolly Parton’s giveaway

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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 PHOTOS COURTESY A TINY HOME FOR GOOD, ALAINA POTRIKUS BECKETT, COURTESY JESSICA ELIZABETH SKINCARE, COURTESY PUT IT SIMPLY ORGANIZING

80 CNY Scout: Girls on the Run 83 Farm to Table: The Brasserie’s Lemon Shrimp Risotto 86 Down to Earth: Textile recycling with the Rescue Mission 88 Art Profile: The Sound Garden

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It’s all good POSITIVE VIBES • OUR TOWN • MARKET TRENDS

BE STILL

BY M J K RAV EC

With shorter days and dark, cold nights, there’s a hint of season’s advice. Take comfort in winter’s chill, which PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK

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.

It’s all good

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.

WA N D E R I N W I N T E R 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.

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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.

PHOTOS BY MJ KRAVEC, SHUTTERSTOCK

MILK IT

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.

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.

WA N D A N D B AT O N

L AV E R U P

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.

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.

It’s all good

MARKET TRENDS

LET’S STAY IN

BY AMY BLEIER LONG PHOTOS BY AMELIA BEAMISH

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.

CHOC FULL: Eight-ounce Xs and Os Heart box, $21.99, Hercules Candy Company, 720 West Manlius Street, East Syracuse, 315-463-4339, herculescandy.com.

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It’s all good

MARKET TRENDS

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

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

DOUBLE THE FUN Domino Effect Set, $24, Salt Point Shop, 100 Brooklea Street, Fayetteville, saltpointshop.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.

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.

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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.

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.

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

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It’s all good

MARKET TRENDS

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.

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.

THE EYES HAVE IT Vera Bradley double eye glass case, $30, Witty Wicks.

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SKIRTING THE ISSUE Mary Tiered Embroidered skirt, $65, The Wandering Kind.

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

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.

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

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

WRAP THIS UP Floral artisan shawl, $32 Olive + Fern.

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

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It’s all good

MARKET TRENDS

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 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.

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

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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.

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

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.

STICK WITH ME Love Heart lollipop in milk chocolate, $2.80, and Plain Heart lollipop in dark chocolate, $2.40, 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.

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Good news BEHIND THE SCENES • CAUGHT DOING GOOD • THE SEEN

HELLO, DOLLY!

PHOTO BY JED CESTARO

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library (DPIL) celebrated

(It’s “Drop,” about the water cycle.)

its 200 millionth book donation with a Wonka-esque

The Cestaros also won a trip to Dollywood, which

giveaway: seven enchanting bookmarks were sent

they will take this summer. Thanks to Rocco, the local

out with September’s 2.6 million deliveries. Winners

Imagination Library partner, the Literacy Coalition

included children in Ireland, Australia, Canada and

of Onondaga County, received a $2,000 donation

right here in the Town of Clay.

from DPIL. The organization helps put books in the

In early November, 5-year-old Rocco Cestaro and

hands of 15,000 children in Onondaga County, and

his mother, Nicole, logged on to Zoom and chatted

this funding will allow the group to reach even more

with Dolly herself. “She asked me where I live and my

children to foster a love of reading and provide a solid

name and my favorite Dolly Parton book,” says Rocco.

educational foundation.

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

Good news

THE SEEN

O C T O B E R 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.

G ood ne ws

O CTO B E R

T H E

S E E N

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

It’s in our attention to detail and customization that we can truly make a difference, as we can offer options and resources to create a room like no other, one that is uniquely you.

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.

Ring in the New Year with Style!

Contact us today to schedule your in-home consultation.

Jennifer Pysnack, Owner & Interior Designer 315.256.0522 • jpysnack@decoratingden.com jenpysnack.decoratingden.com J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y

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Y O R K

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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

Sound baths at Vyana Yoga in Manlius ofer healing and restoration through vibrations made by diferent 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 PHOTO COURTESY VYANA YOGA

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.

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BUILDING TINY HOMES,

BU T M A K I NG A BIG DI F F ER ENCE Syracuse nonprofit says its housing model keeps homeless housed long-term

Andrew Lunetta, the founder of A Tiny Home For Good.

Left, new houses on Rich Street.

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 PHOTOS COURTESY A TINY HOME FOR GOOD

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.

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The forecast calls for showers M A K E A SPL ASH WIT H FE T ES AT T H ESE D IV ERSE LO CATIO NS

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.

Cheers to love

Flowers aren’t just for bridal bouquets and centerpieces

like Coleman’s Authentic Irish Pub or the Blarney Stone serve

celebration. Guests can stroll the garden beds of Withy Hollow

up draft beers and elevated pub fare for special occasions, too.

Flower Farm in Nelson, selecting seasonal blossoms to create

Neighborhood newcomer Emerald Cocktail Kitchen is home

their own arrangements to take home.

to Syracuse’s first rooftop bar and a lounge with a creative

At Crazy Daisies in Syracuse, a private greenhouse can host

menu of hors d’oeuvres.

up to 75 guests for garden parties, with catering provided by

At Seneca Street Brewpub in Manlius, local brews pair with

the on-site cafe known for unique cocktails and charcuterie.

a bespoke grilled cheese menu that includes brie, bacon and

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.

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Tipp Hill is known for St. Patrick’s Day, but local landmarks

— they can create an enchanting backdrop for a private

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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

PHOTO COURTESY EMERALD COCKTAIL KITCHEN

Blooms and bliss

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.

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

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

PHOTOS COURTESY RHETA ALLEN + COMPANY

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 J A N UA R Y/ F E B R UA R Y

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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

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

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.

PHOTO COURTESY WITHY HOLLOW FLOWER FARM, BY JACOB PUCCI

jam, hummus and tzatziki, plus fresh bread, pita and crackers.

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Making good CN Y SC OU T • FA R M T O TA BL E • A RT PROF I L E

PHOTO BY MEGHAN KUBIAK PHOTOGRAPHY

MAIN IDEA Just before the world shut down, Shannon Martin

but the small space she occupied couldn’t fit her

had taken a leap. She opened day spa Skinterest

new dream. In mid-2023, she bought a building

on Main Street in Camillus in December 2019.

across the street.

With the subsequent long-lasting restrictions on

Now rebranded as Sixty One Main Boutique

businesses like hers, she had to adjust her model.

+ Beauty Bar, the store’s upscale, industrial look

Martin brought in fashion, beauty and lifestyle

provides a stylish backdrop for an expanded

items using a new name: Homie. She felt energized

inventory, with room to grow. Upcoming events

by the different direction and later limited the

include a Jan. 5 pajama party with pampering

available beauty services to makeup application

activities and a Shop ‘Til You Drop outfit styling

and spray tanning. Martin began to host events

contest in February.

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

FA R M T O TA B L E

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

BY M J K RAV EC PHOTOS BY ALAINA POTRIKUS BECKETT

PHOTO BY

Making good

Making good

DOWN TO EARTH

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

BY M J K RAV EC

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 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, 86

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

D I D YO U K N O W ? » 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.

PHOTOS BY SHUTTERSTOCK

throughout Central New York. In fact, 65%

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] 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

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.

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.

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Galleries

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

ARTRAGE GALLERY

PHOTO COURTESY 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.

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Galleries

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.

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

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PHOTOS COURTESY EDGEWOOD GALLERY, EVERSON MUSEUM OF ART

Tad Retz’ oil paintings at Edgewood Gallery

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.

Crystal Z. Campbell, Urban Video Project at Light Work

Through the Magic Lantern at OHA

LIGHT WORK KATHLEEN O. ELLIS GALLERY

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.

PHOTOS COURTESY OHA; CAMPBELL PHOTO BY JEREMY CHARLES, COURTESY LIGHT WORK

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

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.

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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

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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.

PHOTO COURTESY SU ART MUSEUM

“Floating Oil” from Assembly at Syracuse University Art Museum

Flashback

WITH OHA

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

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

For many Syracusans the bookstore was a vital resource. Poet

was booming. During this time, the United States was experiencing

and playwright Jackie Warren-Moore wrote in 1997 that “many

a growing economy, which enabled more Americans to start and

years ago, it was only on My Sisters’ Words bookshelves that I

maintain businesses. The county was home to 12 independent

could find work by various women of color.” The Post-Standard

bookstores, seven of which sold used books. Economy Books in

in 2003 wrote that the store was a “touchstone for local gays and

downtown Syracuse and BookVendor in Manlius sold an array of

lesbians.” Syracuse poet Georgia Popoff said that Kavanaugh had

genres. Other stores such as Seven Rays, Sacred Melody and My

always supported and promoted local writers well. Not only were

Sisters’ Words — all now shuttered — specialized in individual

authors able to network, but visitors looking for businesses and

topics.

local events could find flyers, bulletins and business cards in the

In 1994, Mary Ellen Kavanaugh founded My Sisters’ Words at

store’s community room.

In 2003, My Sisters’ Words closed, mainly due to a declining

details welcomed patrons. Inside, oriental rugs on hardwood

national economy. Readers throughout Syracuse felt the loss,

floors, artwork and shelves filled with books by and for women

but three bookstores have opened in the county since 2019 and

enveloped readers in a cozy atmosphere. My Sisters’ Words was

continue to be welcoming and comforting spaces in our community.

one of two feminist bookstores in New York state at the time.

Jordan Scott is assistant archivist at OHA. PHOTO BY THE POST-STANDARD

304 N. McBride Street. A Victorian house with red and cream

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Last word

WITH

SARAH SIMIELE Cheesemonger and co-owner, The Curd Nerd

BY M J K RAV EC

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”

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

by Gabrielle Zevin.

time (which so often involves melty cheese), what are

almost guarantee that there’s something for everyone.

your favorite comfort foods? I have to say fondue, mostly

During The Cheesemonger Invitational in June, you

because we eat fondue every other week during the winter!

were asked to sell a certain cheese to the judges. You

But I also love a “clean out the fridge” mac and cheese

told syracuse.com’s Charlie Miller that you didn’t

where I melt down all the cheese bits in my cheese drawer.

say anything like “award-winning cheese” but rather

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,

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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.

PHOTOS BY SIOBHAN TAVERNE PHOTOGRAPHY

With January and February being high comfort food