T H E
G O O D
L I F E
IT’LL GROW ON YOU:
THAT’S KIDS’ STUFF:
THE JOY OF HOUSEPL ANTS
OUTINGS, SHOPS, LIT TLE BOSSES AND MORE
UP
Y K IN THE S BIRD WATCHING SOARS TO NEW HEIGHTS
PRESIDENT Tim Kennedy ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER OF THE GOOD LIFE Annette Peters 315-282-8527 apeters@advancemediany.com SENIOR DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Lindsay Marienga lmarlenga@advancemediany.com
EDITOR MJ Kravec 315-766-7833 mkravec@advancemediany.com ASSISTANT CONTENT EDITOR Amy Bleier Long 315-282-8553 ableierlong@advancemediany.com
MAGAZINE/EVENTS SALES MANAGER Jennifer K. Queri 315-282-8622 jqueri@advancemediany.com DESIGNERS Susan Santola Kimberly Worner
CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Thomas H. Brown 315-470-2053 tbrown@acssyr.com CUSTOMER SERVICE 315-470-6397
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 © 2021. 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.
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Editor’s Letter
Spring’s song S H H . L IST E N . I T ’ S L I T E R A L LY I N T H E A I R .
We want to hear from you. Got a story idea? What do like about Central New York Magazine? Email us at cnymag@ advancemediany.com.
Correction
I
noticed the sound while walking the
the bird houses on Meadowbrook Drive in
dog one morning shortly after the win-
Syracuse and peruse area shops for season-
ter solstice. A lone bird, off somewhere
al fashion and decor.
in the distance was singing. It was one
In our family feature package, you’ll find
of those birdsongs you hear in April. Couldn’t
programs that entertain and educate chil-
be right, could it? Birdsong is usually one of
dren in fun new ways, browse some local-
the first signs of spring, but we were in the
ly owned children’s boutiques, meet three
middle of winter. I would later find, while re-
of CNY’s youngest entrepreneurs and more.
searching for a story in this issue, that there’s
We also stop by Pawsitivitea CNY Café &
a reason for the early birdsong. And it’s worth
Cat Lounge in Syracuse, get a comforting
paying a little more attention to.
recipe for Hungarian Potato Pancakes from
In the March/April edition of Central New York, we take a closer look at these harbin-
Eva’s European Sweets and meet a new artist who focuses her creativity on healing.
gers of the season with a feature on bird
All good things to help usher in the green-
watching in CNY. Note — we’re a hotbed of
er pastures well on their way in Central New
bird activity. We hope it helps to make the
York. Cheers.
season more enjoyable. Our other features look at the exploding in-
6
terest in houseplants and the urban jungling
MJ
trend that showcases the wild ways to dec-
mkravec@advancemediany.com
orate with plants. Also inside, take a look at
315-766-7833
CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE
M A R C H /A P R I L
Dave’s Diner serves up hearty classic breakfast fare. Café 119’s is an excellent lunch spot for sandwiches and salads. Manlius Fish Fry features a daily special. Number 1 Kitchen and China Café have your Chinese cravings covered. Find poke bowls, sushi and other specialties at Good Time Sushi. Stingers Pizza Pub has the game on and a long list of munchies. Take out slices and wings from Original Italian Pizza. Pavone’s Pizza & Eatery has been a local favorite for decades. Scenic Root offers upscale dining in a casual setting. For a party or a pick-me-up, Mrs. Kelder’s Cakes has cookies, cupcakes and more. Sno Top has been a quintessential summer spot for more than 60 years. Gabrielle Chocolates & Ice Cream dishes out an assortment of treats.
PHOTOS BY SHUTTERSTOCK, KATHE HARRINGTON
In our last issue, the information about local restaurants was inadvertently left out of the Our Town: Manlius article. We regret the omission.
Contents 50
Features
31
50
62
72
Trends for fashion and home are cheery and comfort-driven.
The highs of bird watching in CNY.
Local organizations engage kids in fun new ways.
Area boutiques help kids show off their unique style.
Child’s Play
Shop Local for Littles
42
58
70
74
Indoor gardens create a world of green happiness.
A look at the birdhouses of Meadowbrook Drive.
Meet some of CNY’s youngest entrepreneurs.
Program teaches kids how, and why, to give back.
It’s a Jungle in Here
8
Wingin’ It
CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE
Home Tweet Home
M A R C H /A P R I L
Little CEOs of CNY
Making Connections
PHOTO BY MICHAEL GREENLAR
Hope Springs Eternal
Departments
16
6 Editor’s Letter 11 It’s All Good
What to savor in CNY now … A Good Feeling … Downtown Doings … Behind the Scenes... Caught Doing Good.
28 The Seen
A pictorial review of Central New York’s socially distanced gatherings.
76 Our Town
Live like a local in Elbridge.
42
78 CNY Scout
Syracuse’s first cat café opens in the CNY Regional Market.
81 Farm to Table
Hungarian Potato Pancakes from Eva’s European Sweets.
84 Art Profile
Artist makes a home for art and community.
88 Galleries
What’s on display in the art world.
90 Flashback
Jordan native, Civil War soldier and artist Voltaire Combe.
31
91 The Last Word
With Syracuse.com Weather Reporter Glenn Coin.
70 On the cover One of the nearly two-dozen colorful birdhouses on Meadowbrook Drive in Syracuse. Photo: Alaina Potrikus
M A R C H /A P R I L
CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE
9
It’s All Good
Green light Dafodils and grassy hills. Scent of earth and rain. A patch of sun, new life’s begun and the air turns from winter to spring. It’s go time. Here’s how to appreciate the season’s oferings now. BY M J K R AV EC
BY AMY BLEIER LONG PHOTOGRAPHS BY AMELIA BEAMISH
MARCH DOESN’T EXACTLY GO OUT LIKE A LAMB IN CENTRAL NEW YORK, BUT THE PROMISE OF EMERGING FLOWERS, FRESH AIR AND LONGER DAYS DOES PUT A YOU-KNOW-WHAT IN OUR STEP. WE’RE MORE THAN READY TO BRING IN SEASONAL MOTIFS (BIRDS, BEES, FLOWERS) AND THINGS THAT REFLECT OUR OPTIMISTIC MOOD. FOR THOSE EMBRACING THE COMFORTS OF HOME COOKING AND SUSTAINABLE LIVING, WE’VE GOT IDEAS FOR YOU, TOO.
FLIGHTS OF FANCY: Metal birds, $12.99 each, The Station 603, 603 E. Seneca Street, Manlius, 315-682-8741.
IT ’S A JUNGLE IN HERE Interest in indoor gardening keeps growing and creates a world of happiness.
PHOTOS BY SHUTTERSTOCK
BY M J K R AV EC
Outside the clouds loom. It’s dark. It’s cold. But not in here. Inside Carol Watson Greenhouse in LaFayette, owner Carol Watson takes a writer on a walk through a tropical world where lacy, delicate plants sit grouped on vintage planters, largeleaf greenery looms prehistoric over visitors and trailing vines dangle from pots hanging overhead. The sound of trickling water from a seven-foot fountain washes over us — rippling waves of calm. It’s a jungle in here.
“So many people call this their happy place,” says Watson as we take a seat at an iron bistro table near purple bougainvillea and palm trees. “Plants make you happy.” Numerous studies show plants are a boost to your mental health — reducing stress, improving mood, creativity and productivity as well as helping to speed healing and recovery. A 2009 study found patients whose rooms contained plants had a higher tolerance for pain, felt less tired and less stressed and had lower blood pressure than patients in rooms without plants.
M A R C H /A P R I L
CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE
43
Wingin’ it
Bird watching soars in popularity. Lucky for us, CNY is a birding paradise. BY
M J K R AV EC
’ i d Ch l S
l Y P a
STORIES AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALAINA POTRIKUS
P
arenting can be an exhilarating challenge. Luckily, between strong school districts, a wealth of outdoor spaces and indoor attractions, Central New York offers many opportunities for fami-
lies to keep kids happy and engaged. In the following pages, you’ll learn about local organizations entertaining (and educating) children through hands-on programs and exhibits; three entrepreneurial students who will inspire your kids to dream big; local boutiques with unique fashions so young ones can stand out in their own style and a program designed to teach kids how to be good citizens, and most importantly, why.