Central New York Magazine - May/June 2021

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CENTRAL NEW YORKERS REFLECT ON THEIR “GOOD LIFE”

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A LONG WAY BABY: LOOKING BACK AT COMMUNITY PROGRESS FAB COLLABS: LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES TEAM UP

FIELD OF DREAMS A R E A F L O W E R FA R M S D E L I G H T T H E S E N S E S M AY/J U N E

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Weight Loss Surgery It’s about more than just weight loss. It’s about reducing your risk for serious conditions like heart disease and diabetes — and regaining the stamina, mobility and confidence to take on every day.

Crouse’s bariatric surgery program offers a dedicated team of physicians and providers, as well as psychological and nutritional counseling — all with the expertise to support you every step of the way.

What’s more, you can begin the process from the comfort of your own home. View our online informational video — and then consult with members of our bariatric team via telemedicine visits to start your journey. It’s time — and now easier than ever.

Start today at crouse.org/weightloss or call 315-470-8974.

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QUALITY UNIQUE PRECISION Make Your Vision

A REALITY

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ON THE COVER

PRESIDENT Tim Kennedy ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER OF THE GOOD LIFE Annette Peters 315-282-8527 apeters@advancemediany.com SENIOR DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Lindsay Marlenga lmarlenga@ advancemediany.com

EDITOR MJ Kravec 315-766-7833 mkravec@advancemediany.com CONTENT EDITOR Amy Bleier Long 315-282-8553 ableierlong@advancemediany.com DESIGNER Susan Santola ssantola@advancelocal.com

CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Thomas H. Brown 315-470-2053 tbrown@acssyr.com MAGAZINE/EVENTS SALES MANAGER Jennifer K. Queri 315-282-8622 jqueri@advancemediany.com

It’s a-May-zin. From Withy Hollow Flower Farm in Erieville, a zinnia makes her cover debut. Photo

by Alaina Potrikus.

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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Gift Certificates Available

Men’s, Women’s & Children’s Clothing Over

Quality Goods Since 1967

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Brand Names

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

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Inn Between AWARD WINNING classic dining since 1972

LOCAL LOCAL WINE FOOD LOCAL ART

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Serving dinner and takeout Wednesday thru Saturday from 5:00 p.m.

14 E. Genesee St., Skaneateles, NY 13152 (315) 685-7389 S9904357-01 4

You haven’t been to your favorite restaurant until you’ve been to

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www.facebook.com/The-Inn-Between-Restaurant-100853956626328

www.inn-between.com • 12 minutes west of Syracuse on Rt. 5 • 315-672-3166 • Reservations Recommended.

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Open 7 Days a Week!

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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 cnymag@ advancemediany.com.

And now, a word from our contributors:

A little reflection

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n the debut issue of this magazine, founding editor Tim Atseff wrote, “Cen-

Amelia Beamish

tral New York Magazine is about the ‘good life’ in our community. Each issue

“I always love shooting for CNY, but this issue in particular was a treat. It was great seeing all the ways local businesses can work together in a mutually symbiotic relationship. We have so much talent here and I hope I see many more collaborations!”

will celebrate the people who are the trendsetters and the heartbeat of Central New York. It will highlight the places that make our region special and the seasons that renew us.”

We think his words still ring true about the magazine today.

In acknowledgment of our 15th anniversary, we check in with 15 impactful people on how they’re living “the good life” in Central New York. We also highlight 10 ways our community made progress in the last 15 years. Meanwhile, in our seasonal features, check out some the area’s most colorful flower farms and meet four local family businesses to find out how they make it work.

On shooting this edition’s market trends feature.

Also in this issue, which features a newly refreshed design and content reorganization, browse the creations born out of collaborations between local artists, makers and food purveyors, get a seasonal recipe for Roast Chicken with Smashed Potatoes and Spicy Peppers from Eden in Syracuse and learn about Silk Naturals, an indie beauty brand based in the Finger Lakes. You’ll good news, and in Art Profile, a new partnership with the Goldring Arts Journalism and Communications Program at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Finally, before we blow out the candles on our 15th, we check in with our founding editor on what he’s been up to since his magazine days and how he relishes the good life in CNY. We’d like to thank our readers and advertisers who’ve supported us over the years — from the first issue to the current one.

You help us bring the best of Central New York to light in a format worth keeping well past its pub date. We’re grateful you’re a part of it.

Cheers,

MJ mkravec@advancemediany.com 315-766-7833 6

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Matthew Nerber “I’ve always admired the amount of work and artistry that happens behind the scenes of a live performance...

That’s why I loved peeking behind the curtain with Czerton; he’s such a humble, talented guy who just loves the theater and creating worlds for audiences to get lost in.”

On writing about scenic designer Czerton Lim in Art Profile.

PHOTO BY SUE SANTOLA, HEADSHOTS COURTESY AMELIA BEAMISH, MATTHEW NERBER

also find a new sustainability column, full-page highlights of local trends and

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Contents

48 Field of Dreams

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66

82

In Good Company

What Does Your Good Life Look Like?

This Is Us

Family-owned businesses are part of CNY’s narrative.

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15 Central New Yorkers reflect on why they love living here.

How Central New York made progress in the last 15 years.

PHOTO BY ALAINA POTRIKUS

A tour of area flower farms.

Departments

In every issue

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6 Editor's Letter 100 Galleries 103 Flashback

It’s All Good

104 Last word

11 Ways to embrace the season.

14 Positive Vibes: Wabi Sabi.

16 Our Town: Live like a local in Downtown Syracuse.

19 Market Trends: CNY collaborations.

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29 Good News 29 Dusty & Dott duo lands a show.

30 Behind the Scenes: Syracuse Musketeers finds a new home.

34 Caught Doing Good: Sisters, retired nurses enrich the lives of others.

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38 The Seen: A pictorial review of CNY’s socially distanced gatherings.

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87 Making Good 87 CNY designers’ take on the polymer clay earring trend.

PHOTOS BY ALAINA POTRIKUS, STAGE PHOTO COURTESY CZERTON LIM

88 CNY Scout: Silk Naturals indie makeup brand.

91 Farm to Table: Eden’s Roast Chicken with Smashed Potatoes and Spicy Peppers.

94 Down to Earth: A recycling refresher.

96 Art Profile: Scenic Designer Czerton Lim.

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We’re Ready to See You for Surgery.

If you’ve been putting off a procedure, surgery or screening — we’ve got what it takes to care for you right now at St. Joseph’s Health.

Here are some of the measures we’ve got in place to bring you a higher level of safety and care during your procedure.

Care Concierge

Enhanced Cleaning

We’ve got a Care Concierge to greet patients at the door to coordinate their entire journey.

We’ve got increased frequency and intensity of cleaning — using robust disinfecting processes.

Mandatory Pretesting

COVID-Free Zones

We’ve got required testing for all patients before elective procedures.

We’ve got COVID-Free Zones in many of our facilities where we provide care only for people known to not have COVID-19 or COVID-19 symptoms.

Separate Staff We’ve got separate staff to treat patients in each zone — so you won’t be treated by doctors and nurses who are treating patients with COVID-19.

A HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE

WeveGotThisSJH.org © 2021 St. Joseph’s Health. © 2021 Trinity Health. All rights reserved.

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

PHOTO BY MATTHEW DIGATI

PETAL PUSHING Is there any month more fairytale than May? With her blue skies, baby buds and gentle breezes that coax blossoms from the trees. Our paths strewn with pastel confetti. And an ordinary walk is like stepping into a Monet painting. Here’s how to savor the season now.

BY M J K RAV EC

It ’s all good

DRINK PINK With strawberry season upon us, make this simple strawberry milk.

Combine one cup sliced strawberries, a ½ cup sugar and one cup of water in saucepan.

Bring to a gentle boil and simmer 10 minutes.

Strain solids from syrup and allow to cool.

Add ¼ cup syrup to one cup of cold milk and stir vigorously with a spoon. Sip in your backyard, staring up into the clouds.

LET ‘EM BEE Don’t you touch that weed killer. Dandelions are one of the first plants to produce flowers that provide pollen and nectar for bees and other pollinating insects. Put ‘em to good use and add to salads. The leaves of the dandelion (that haven’t been treated with pesticides) help reduce bloat and water weight gain, and are loaded with vitamins and nutrients.

PRESS ON

NIGHT LIGHT Summer gatherings deserve some fanfare. In a nod to fireflies caught in a jar — but nicer for the flies, fill glass jars with battery-operated fairy lights. Place around your deck to light up late get-togethers for old-time summer charm.

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Make a pressed dried-flower phone case. Snip off fresh petals from your favorite flowers and press into a heavy book between sheets of wax paper. Allow to dry for three or four days and arrange into a clear plastic phone case. Snap phone into case, being careful not to disturb your arrangement.

UPS AND DOWNS Check out Central New York author Lisa Palermo Matto’s book “The Up Side of Downs.” It’s an uplifting, inspiring read featuring short vignettes describing Matto’s life with her daughter Marlee, who has Down syndrome. Available on Amazon.com.

FLOWERS EVERYWHERE We like this tip from Food & Wine that uses edible flowers as a culinary accent. Snip pansies or violas to decorate a cake for a spring celebration, cut individual petals from flowers and press into a cheese log on a charcuterie board, or drop a few flowers into your martini glass. Cheers.

WAT E R S PA R K Celebrate the return of the sun with a summer solstice bath. Fill the tub with epsom salts, essential oils and flower petals. Light a few candles and indulge in thoughts of sunny days ahead. For those without a tub, hang flowers from the showerhead and mist the bathroom with essential oils; breathe deep and think of summer.

TOP TO BOTTOM

PHOTOS BY SHUTTERSTOCK

H E Y B U D DY Ants are attracted to the sugary secretions of peony flowers. To avoid bringing these little buggers inside when collecting flowers, trim buds when they’re just starting to show color. Wipe ants gently away or give the stem a shake before bringing them inside.

Protect surfaces from spills. Reuse plastic cake toppers, salad or hummus containers as saucers for houseplants.

You’ll save yourself from water stains and unnecessary spending.

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POSITIVE VIBES

WABI SABI

Finding beauty in imperfection and transience is just the philosophy to embrace right now.

BY M J K RAV EC

Think exposed brick. A dog-eared book. An heirloom tomato. Imperfect, yes. But still beautiful. That’s Wabi sabi, which, simply put, is an appreciation for beauty in nature, age and wear — imperfections and all. This Japanese concept has roots in the Zen Buddhist tea ceremonies, where guests would admire a handmade bowl and all its irregularities. The thought is that the imperfections make the observer aware of how nature and its power affect an object’s creation.

with a sense of loss for a fleeting moment.

As blossoms fall from our own trees in CNY, take in the experience, be mindful of how life changes and relish in being here now — even if everything isn’t perfect.

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PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK

In Japan, Hanami, observing flowers during the cherry blossom festivals, is an example. Even as the blossoms fall from the trees and cover walking paths, the beauty of the flowering is appreciated, albeit

PUT YOUR TRUST IN US. A cancer diagnosis is stressful. We are here to help. Our expert physician teams are dedicated to your type of cancer. With all the resources you need in one place, the Upstate Cancer Center will help you and your family navigate the road ahead.

SYRACUSE • ONEIDA • OSWEGO

UPSTATE.EDU/OPTIONS

(315) 464-HOPE

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It ’s all good

OUR TOWN

Downtown Syracuse

BY AMY BLEIER LONG

From the heyday of the Erie Canal to its current resurgence, Downtown Syracuse is a vibrant hub of activity and continues to evolve. Downtown comprises 82 blocks and its streets are packed with locally owned businesses, shops, restaurants and amenities. An ever-increasing number of apartments and development has helped transform this previously commercial district into a handful of distinct mixed-use neighborhoods, each with its own vibe. Downtown possesses big city elements in a smaller-scale, friendly, accessible environment.

GRAB A BITE Start your day with:

» Joe’s Deli » Modern Malt » The Sweet Praxis » Today’s Special Café » Water Street Bagel Co. Worker bees and residents alike grab lunch at:

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Devinere Dugger, Torrecce Rivers and and Starr Dugger Coleman dining outside at Margarita’s Mexican Cantina last summer.

Eat nearly any time at:

Sit down or take out dinner at:

» 317 @ Montgomery Street » A Mano Kitchen & Bar » Anything But Beer » Apizza Regionale » Bamboo House » Bistro Elephant Steakhouse » Casa Mia Pizzeria & Fish Fry » Charlee’s Pizza Syracuse » China Café » Citronelle » Cugini Pizza » Defi Cusine Corp. » Dinosaur Bar-B-Que » Eden » Kasai

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» Lemon Grass » Margarita’s Mexican Cantina

» Maxwells Restaurant & Bar » Otro Cinco » Pastabilities » PressRoom Pub » Prime Steakhouse » Razzle Dazzle “Our Vegan Corner” » Sakana-Ya Sushi Bar » Tang Flavor » The Evergreen » The Fish Friar » The Hops Spot

» Eleven Waters » Funk ‘n Waffles » Nick’s Tomato Pie » Oh My Darling » Original Grain » Pavone’s Pizza » Salt City Market Treat yourself at:

» Cathy’s Cookie Kitchen » Glazed and Confused » Peace, Love and Cupcakes » Mimi’s Bakery & Café » Sweet on Chocolate » The Ice Cream Stand

PHOTO BY DON CAZENTRE

» Ale ’n’ Angus Pub » Aloha Japanese Bento Express » AppeThaizing » Byblos Mediterranean Café » Cristo’s Café » City Hall Café » Darwin on Clinton » La Cuisine at the Plaza » Liehs & Steigerwald Downtown » Paladino’s The Deli » Panini’s Restaurant » Pasta’s Daily Bread » PMA Foods » Pita Dream » ProntoFresh » Soup R Salads » The Brine Well Eatery

HAVE A DRINK

PHOTOS BY RICK MORIARTY, DENNIS NETT

Caffeinate at Recess Coffee, Café Kubal or Salt City Coffee & Bar. Armory Square’s Al’s Wine & Whiskey, Blue Tusk, Clinton Street Pub, Corner Bar, Kitty Hoynes Irish Pub, Limerick Pub, Mulrooney’s Irish Sports Pub (Mully’s), Syracuse Suds Factory, The Penny and The York make up the nightlife epicenter. Catch the game at Saltine Warrior Sports Pub, Shaughnessy’s Irish Pub, Wolff’s Biergarten and Wild Will’s Saloon.

Try craft beer brewed onsite at Talking Cursive Brewing Company. Head underground for a cocktail at The FITZ.

SHOP LOCAL

THINGS TO DO

Style mavens hit Ambition Upstate, Bergan Brothers Clothing, Georgio’s Furs, Gypsy Freedom, Love Lola by Boom Babies, Mr. Shop, Projex 214, Scholars & Champs, Showoffs Boutique and Scottie D’s Pop-Up, new shop The Spot and Vagabond Clothing. For gifts and décor, visit Antique Underground and Bee Unique. Spruce up your space with Lewis & Tanner Paints’ paints, wallpapers and window treatments. Shop local and American artists and artisans at Mixed Methods and Wildflowers Armory and the McCarthy Mercantile.

Find just the right bauble at Bersani Gallery, Colella Gallery, Kenn Kushner Designs and M. Lemp Jewelers. Pick up a bouquet at Floral Essence. Bring music, movies and video games home or sell them at Sound Garden and Voltage Video Games. Downtown residents get their staples and specialty groceries at Alamo’s Food Market, Armory Square Deli, Downtown Grocery Store, Epicuse, Hanover Deli & Grocery and the Syracuse Cooperative Market.

History, culture and performing arts are on display at the CNY Jazz Central, Erie Canal Museum, Everson Museum of Art, John H. Mulroy Civic Center Theaters, Landmark Theatre, Memorial Hall and Veterans Displays at the Oncenter War Memorial, Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology (MOST), Onondaga Historical Association (OHA), Redhouse Arts Center, SUNY Oswego Metro Center Art Galleries and The Tech Garden Gallery.

Game on at Three Lives arcade and esports bar. Catch a Syracuse Crunch hockey game. Research local genealogy or check out the adaptive technologies at OCPL Central Library. Play league basketball at Horn Companies Court.

Host a private gathering or attend a public event at Rail Line, SKY Armory or Oncenter Convention Center. Dance the night away at Benjamin’s on Franklin, Gilded Club, King of Clubs, Orbis Lounge, Studio 54 and Trexx.

The rock wall at the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology (MOST).

“The Downtown community has a special energy that excites, soothes, supports and challenges. I’m grateful it’s home to me and my businesses.”

Amanda Hughes, owner of The Ice Cream Stand and founder of Jayne’s Collective

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OUR TOWN

Left, chess players enjoying the permanent tables in Hanover Square. Below, the Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival, one of the most popular annual festivals in Downtown.

GET OUTSIDE To enjoy lunch outside, a walk with the pup, or a quiet spot to read, spend time at Armory Square Park, Clinton Square, Columbus Circle, Fayette Firefighters Memorial Park, Hanover Square, M. Lemp Park and Perseverance Park. Run, walk or bike the Onondaga Creekwalk from behind the MOST to the shore of Onondaga Lake. Enjoy the art, architecture and history of downtown by following the Downtown Committee’s selfguided Walking Tour Guides. Skate on the Clinton Square rink during the winter.

There is always something happening Downtown. Try a new spot or get a deal at your favorite restaurant during Downtown Dining Weeks. Learn to love our most famous season at Winterfest. Cheer as the St. Patrick’s Parade moves down Salina Street.

Grab a bag and do your part at the Earth Day Cleanup. Peek inside new and existing downtown residences on the Downtown Living Tour. Find fresh produce and more at the Downtown Farmers Market. From June to August, festival season brings food, music, art and cultural appreciation to the streets. The Mountain Goat Run starts and ends downtown. Celebrate holiday traditions at the Menorah and Tree Lighting ceremonies, with downtown-wide holiday window displays, the annual Gingerbread Gallery at the Erie Canal Museum and Festival of Trees at the Everson.

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PHOTOS BY SARA LAFKIR, MICHAEL GREENLAR

ANNUAL EVENTS

It ’s all good

MARKET TRENDS

ELLIOT MATTICE + FRINGED BENEFITS The owners of Fringed Benefits commissioned local artist Elliot Mattice to illustrate Syracuse through his eyes and applied that design to prints, pillows and tea towels. Syracuse print on 18-inch pillow, $60, exclusively at Fringed Benefits, 6825 E. Genesee Street, Fayetteville, 315-802-4353, fringedbenefitsdesign.com.

BETTER TOGETHER

TOGETHER Whether it’s a project born out of mutual admiration or the desire to take advantage of quality local ingredients, many Central New York artists, makers and small businesses work together to create something exciting that draws on the strengths of each. Some relationships result in exclusive items sold at a specific shop and others are locally designed goods that benefit an area nonprofit.

Here are just some fab collabs and partnerships we can all enjoy.

BY AMY BLEIER LONG PHOTOS BY AMELIA BEAMISH

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MARKET TRENDS

ARTCHER DESIGNS + FRINGED BENEFITS Jordan Archer, a part-time store employee, and her ceramicist aunt Carol Archer create whimsical designs with animal prints suggested by Fringed Benefits. Yellow Zebra bowl, $80, exclusively at Fringed Benefits.

CARDS BY KEALS + NEST 58 Cheerful water-color stationery

by Skaneateles artist Kealy Gorman. Graffiti hearts card, $5, exclusively at Nest58, 58 E. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, 315-685-5888, nest58.com.

AMARANTH PRESS & BINDERY + BLACK RABBIT STUDIO Siblings and studio mates Carrie and Cayetano Valenzuela produced this poster; Cayetano hand-lettered the message and Carrie letterpress printed it on her Vandercook proof press. Black Lives Matter poster, $10 (which is donated to the Black Leadership Coalition), amaranthpressandbindery@gmail.com.

SYRACHA’CUSE + 1911 SPIRITS/ OMMEGANG BREWERY/DUTCH HILL MAPLE/ RECESS COFFEE/ HELPING HOUNDS Mike and Marisa Sharlow partner frequently with area breweries, infusing their recipes with the flavors of locally made spirits and brews. Their Helping Hounds bottle benefits the local dog rescue organization. Gourmet hot sauces, $12 each, Syracha’cuse, 74 Main Street, Camillus, syrachacuse.com.

#HEAGERTEES + EVERSON MUSEUM OF ART After seeing this ringer tee in a vintage photo, Michael John Heagerty approached the Everson and printed a limited run that will benefit the museum. Everson #heagertees unisex tee, $30, at Wildflowers at the McCarthy Mercantile, 217 S. Salina Street, Syracuse, 315-546-4919, wildflowersarmory.com.

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LICA APPAREL + GYPSY FREEDOM Caeresa Richardson provided dresses and organic cotton tees from her sustainable fashion boutique to Angelica Smith, of Lica Apparel, who embellished them with a screen-printed original line drawing. Lica Crowd puff sleeve tee, $57, Gypsy Freedom, 321 S. Salina Street, Syracuse, 315-802-2762, shopgypsyfreedom.com.

BY KELLY + 20 EAST Purchases of Kelly McCrink’s commemorative pillow depicting the Cazenovia Lakers playing hockey at the Burton Street skating rink is helping fund renovations to the outdoor rink. Pillow, $40, 20|East, 85 Albany Street, Cazenovia, 315-815-4540, 20-east.com.

BY KELLY + SYRACHA’CUSE Kelly McCrink personalizes sturdy marble coasters with your favorite town or village. Hometown Collection marble coaster set, $25 for four, exclusively at Syracha’cuse.

BALSAM ROSE SOAP + DUTCH HILL MAPLE Nancy and Bob Lee of Balsam Rose Soap uses the maple sugar byproduct from Dutch Hill Maple’s production process to create a sweet soap. Maple soap, $7, Dutch Hill Maple, dutchhillmaple.com.

AE APOTHECARY + WILDFLOWERS AE Apothecary’s blend of elderberry syrup uses tart cherry juice from Singer Farm Naturals from Western NY. Elderberry Syrup with tart cherry, $35 for 16-ounce bottle, exclusively at Wildflowers at the McCarthy Mercantile.

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MARKET TRENDS

CLEAN SLATE FARM + SYRACUSE SALT CO. Two of the area’s top flavor purveyors joined forces to create this culinary combo, with a handmade salt cellar by Bloomfield-based Wizard of Clay. Salt Cellar and Clean Slate Gift Set, $52, Syracuse Salt Company, syracusesaltco.com.

SYRACUSE SALT CO. + SPEACH FAMILY CANDY SHOPPE The savory flavor of this brittle is enhanced by the addition of Syracuse Salt Company’s Rosemary Flake salt. Rosemary Walnut Brittle, $5.40, Speach Family Candy Shoppe, 2400 Lodi Street, Syracuse, 315-478-3100, speachfamilycandy. com.

RECESS COFFEE + SWEET ON CHOCOLATE Sweet on Chocolate owner Adam Mazzoni selected Recess Coffee’s espresso beans for their rich flavor. Toffee Coffee dark chocolate bar, $7, Sweet on Chocolate, 208 Walton Street, Syracuse, 315-991-4062, sweetonchocolate.com.

INDUSTRIAL LOFT + NEST 58 Using local wood, Mark Papa crafts cutting boards depicting some of the area’s most popular lakes.

Local cutting board, from $139, exclusively at Nest58.

MICHELLE MASTERS + THE WREN’S DEN Artist Michelle Masters of Marcellus illustrates topiaries on prints and sachets, plus collaborates with The Wren’s Den owner Mary Carlic to adorn the packaging of Carlic’s handmade soaps and creams. Thinking of You heart topiary card, $3.50, and Oatmeal & Honey hand creme, $6, The Wren’s Den, 2756 W. Seneca Turnpike, Marcellus, 315-952-5954, thewrensden.business.site.

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TALKING CURSIVE BREWING COMPANY + CAFÉ KUBAL Neighbors Talking Cursive and Café Kubal collaborated to produce an Irish Stout (also brewed with ONCO Fermentation) and a Belgian Dubbel with the coffees’ notes adding flavor. Irish Babysitter, $7 or $20 for four-pack, and Dubbel Kubal, $6 or $18 for four-pack, Talking Cursive Brewing Company, 301 Erie Blvd W., Syracuse, 315-907-6060, talkingcursive.com.

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MICHELLE DARIN + SYNPLE Jewelry designer Michelle DaRin cast the small angel symbol from a necklace that holds special meaning for Synple owner Kelly Landau.

Angel Symbol necklace, $135, exclusively at Synple, 70 Main Street, Camillus, 585-615-3934, shopsynple.com.

BUG, BEAR & BEAN + FOUND THINGS CO. Bug, Bear, & Bean founder Nicole Eiffe created four specially scented candles, each paired with correlating crystal. Natural soy wax candles, $16.50 each, exclusively at Found Things Co., 111 S. Collingwood Avenue, Syracuse, 315-726-4018, foundthingsco.com.

VERLYNN GOODS + THE LOCAL BRANCH Blaine and Mackenzie Vossler, proprietors of The Local Branch, work closely with Matthew Hill to create a sublime coffee experience.

Verlynn Goods ceramic mug, $36, Peaks Coffee beans, $14, The Local Branch, 4 Jordan Street, Skaneateles, thelocalbranch.co.

SUGARFOOT APPAREL + SKANEATELES 300 Frequent collaborators Sugarfoot and boutique Skaneateles 300 partner on special colorways of the designer’s popular local line. Upstate sweatshirt, $74, exclusively at Skaneateles 300, 2 W. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, 315-685-1133.

DONNELLY DESIGNS + WITTY WICKS Craig and Maria Donnelly’s pieces, such as this decorative sign created in collaboration with Aubry Panek, owner of Witty Wicks, are made with locally sourced wood. 315 Home Sweet Home sign, $14, Witty Wicks, 190 Township Boulevard, Camillus, 315-672-3110, wittywicks.com.

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MARKET TRENDS

GIOVANNI FOODS + IN MY FATHER’S KITCHEN John and Leigh-Ann Tumino of In My Father’s Kitchen use all proceeds of their sauce, bottled by Giovanni Foods, to support their direct outreach services for homeless individuals.

Taste & See Pasta Sauce, $6.95, 20|East or inmyfatherskitchen.org.

J MICHAEL + 3ONE5 3One5 created a custom color way of their cap as a nod to J Michael’s location on SU Hill. Dad hat in navy/orange, $24, J Michael, 173 Marshall Street, Syracuse, 315-471-4237, jmichaelshoes.com.

THE WILDFLOWER ORGANIZATION + SYRACUSE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT One hundred percent of The Wildflower Organization’s profits benefits schools in the SCSD. Maya Angelou tee, $22, The Wildflower Organization, thewildflowerorganization.shop.

JM FARMSTYLE + WITTY WICKS Known for warm and rustic woodwork, JM Farmstyle created this piece for Witty Wicks. My Kids Have Paws sign with photo clip, $20, Witty Wicks.

JAMIE NOCE POTTERY + FOUND THINGS CO. Potter Jamie Noce custom makes this and other planters for the plant babies. Neutral drip pot with saucer, $25, exclusively at Found Things Co. BRASH DESIGN + TREE FORTS AND FIREFLIES After Jane Brash finds vintage lockets and fabricates the delicate chains, Kelcey Foster tucks custom mini watercolors and messages inside. Locket, $50, Tree Forts and Fireflies x Brash Design, treefortsfireflies.com.

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RECESS COFFEE + SPEACH FAMILY CANDY SHOPPE Aromatic roasts from Recess mix with sweetness and spice. Recess Chocolate Brickle, from $6.75 for 3-ounce bag, Speach Family Candy Shoppe.

BASED WELLNESS + RIGHT MIND SYRACUSE Based Wellness in Camillus and Right Mind Syracuse created this DIY kit to pamper your face and primp your ears.

At-home Spa Day Kit, $29.99, Right Mind Syracuse, rightmindsyracuse.com.

JM FARMSTYLE + INSPIRED Michelle Marquart and Judi Burrows, owner of Inspired, developed some creative therapy: a decorative DIY décor kit using any of the mineral paint colors the shop carries. Wood Welcome Tags take-home kit, $22, Inspired, 7468 Oswego Road, Liverpool, 315-380-7171, inspired-vhd.com.

MAK + MAED BY MINI Artist Mikayla Trepasso teamed up with jewelry designer Lauren Wallace to create earrings with handmade renderings of famous paintings. Hand-painted Mona earrings by MAK x MINI, $75, MAED by Mini, maedbymini.com.

210 TEAS + FOUND THINGS CO. Sarah Hardy asked Kahs Hills to concoct a custom tea blend that mimicked her plant shop’s “grounded, but uplifting” vibe. Hills delivered a white tea infused with lavender and Hawthorn berries. Once Lost, Now Found tea, $10.50, exclusively at Found Things Co. M AY/J U N E

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

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It ’s all good

MARKET TRENDS

LUCAS’ LOLLIES + SWEET DREAM CANDY SHOPPE Baldwinsville elementary student Lucas Dottolo began creating his own candy which he sells at the candy shop he frequents after piano lessons. Lucas’ Lollies, 65 cents each, exclusively at Sweet Dream Candy Shoppe, 3 W. Genesee Street, Baldwinsville, 315-303-0834, shoppesweetdreamcandy.com.

SYRACUSE SOAPWORKS + ERIE CANAL MUSEUM In a partnership to celebrate New York State heritage, Syracuse Soapworks produced old-fashioned, handcrafted soaps featuring postcard images of the bestknown stops on the Erie Canal. Erie Canal liquid soap, $8.10, Syracuse Soapworks, syracusesoapworks.com, and bar soap, $3.99, Erie Canal Museum, 318 Erie Boulevard East, Syracuse, 315-471-0593.

CAROLYN AHERN + 20 EAST Cazenovian Carolyn Ahern’s masks benefit the village’s fire department; since the beginning of the pandemic she has raised more than $23,000. Handmade mask, $10, 20|East.

COSETTE’S CARDS + NEST 58 Local ten-year-old Dawson Lynn hand-paints each card in her line and 10 percent of her sales goes to local animal charities. Hot air balloon blank card, $4, exclusively at Nest58.

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SYRACUSE CLOTHING CO. + CNY DIAPER BANK Matt and Taylor Sourwine’s locally inspired streetwear supports a rotating selection of local nonprofits, including this design benefiting the CNY Diaper Bank. Born, Raised and Loved in Syracuse onesie, $23, Syracuse Clothing Co., syrclothingco.com.

DAN BINGHAM + KINGSLEY STREET SOAPS Artist Dan Bingham adorned this woodsy soap

by Kingsley Street with buffalo-checked moose.

Moose River soap, $6, at Wildflowers at the McCarthy Mercantile.

THREADS BY TORI + NEST 58 Syracuse local Tori Kroll makes custom friendship-style bracelets.

Upstate beaded bracelet, $12, exclusively at Nest58.

CHLOE STRANG + DROOZ + COMPANY Artist and Skaneateles native Chloe Strang designed a modern take on the Skaneateles map.

Pink Skaneateles screen-printed poster, $32 unframed, exclusively at Drooz + Company.

SYRACUSE SOAPWORKS + MATILDA JOSLYN GAGE FOUNDATION Inspired by the suffragist’s favorite flower, and with a rose motif from a piece of Matilda’s embroidery, Syracuse Soapworks developed this rosescented line for the Fayetteville-based foundation.

Matilda’s Rose Revival Lotion, $9.75, and liquid soap, $8.75, Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation, 210 E. Genesee Street, Fayetteville, 315-637-9511, matildajoslyngagefoundation.org.

SIMPLE ROAST COFFEE + WITTY WICKS Wake up and smell the fresh-roasted scent of ground beans from Auburnbased Simple Roast Coffee.

Joe the Reason I Wake Up candle, from $10 for 7.25-ounce jar, Witty Wicks.

MESCHFOGE EMBROIDERY + TREE FORTS AND FIREFLIES Kelcey Foster watercolors a small painting and hands it off to Megan Eschmann-Fogus who embroiders the rest of the scene. Plant Lady, $49, Tree Forts and Fireflies x Meschfoge, treefortsandfireflies.com.

M AY/J U N E

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The Power to Make Ordinary, Extraordinary.

Help us give back to those who give selflessly.

101,000

Free Diapers

went to Loretto employees in 2020 to support their families.

That’s just one of the ways The Foundation helps Loretto care for those who once cared for us.

lorettocny.org/Donate S9881624-01

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

PHOTO COURTESY DUSTY & DOTT

THAT’S SHOW BIZ Congrats to Manlius couple Andrea Dotto

“TRL found us because of CNY Magazine! If

and Brendan Malafronte on their new show

it wasn’t for the feature, who knows where

“Reading Buddies” from The Reading League

we would all be,” Dotto says. The show is cur-

(TRL) airing on WCNY and YouTube in Au-

rently in production with sets being built at

gust. After a story about how the two Broad-

Redhouse Arts Center. Find Dusty & Dott on

way actors started the online storytelling show

Instagram at @dusty_and_dott, YouTube at

“Dusty & Dott” ran in our July/August issue,

dustyanddott.com and Facebook at facebook.

TRL contacted the pair through their website.

com/ReadingBuddiesTRL.

Good news

BEHIND THE SCENES

Students score simultaneous touches during practice at Syracuse Musketeers Fencing Center in East Syracuse.

READY, FENCE!

After a mall’s closing and pandemic shutdown, a fencing center makes a new home in East Syracuse

BY M J K RAV EC PHOTOS BY ALAINA POTRIKUS

In a second-floor window of the building across from the East

30

schools before settling in ShoppingTown Mall in 2008.

Syracuse Volunteer Fire Department, a neon sign lights up the

Now at its new location at 100 E. Manlius Street in East Syra-

word “fencing” and the image of crossed swords. Inside, the

cuse, Syracuse Musketeers is rebuilding itself after the COVID-19

sounds of metal striking metal emanate from a large room where

shutdown and losing its previous home at the mall.

about eight young fencers ages 7-12 face off in bouts. Black and

“I couldn’t open for eight months because of COVID and I lost

white fencing posters, swords and fencing medals decorate sev-

half of the people…” says Kalpaktchiev. “When the mall closed,

eral of the freshly painted walls. And on another, an American

I was looking for a spot and my brother bought a building. I got

flag and a Bulgarian flag hang side by side.

lucky… He said, ‘if you want the space, you’ve got to fix it up.’”

Welcome to the new Syracuse Musketeers Fencing Center.

Kalpaktchiev and his father did the renovation work them-

The club’s owner, Lubomir Kalpaktchiev, is a former member

selves, tearing down old walls, installing new lighting and floor-

of the Bulgarian National Fencing Team who came to the Unit-

ing, painting and moving equipment.

ed States in 1998 and started Syracuse Musketeers in 2002. He

“It took us three months to fix it up,” he says.

began teaching at the Polish/American Club and at area high

During renovation, Kalpaktchiev took his students to Onon-

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

M AY/J U N E

daga Lake Park to practice fencing in the open air but practice without the scoring boxes was difficult.

“It’s hard to fence [outside] — you can’t use the boxes because there’s no electrical,” he says.

EN GARDE After months of work, the new facility opened in November with 2,000 square feet, a slightly smaller space than his previous location. On a Tuesday night in March, young fencers warm up before dressing in fencing gear — underarm protectors, mask, gloves and white jacket.

Two students face off, their toes just touching their respective start lines. A few parents wearing face masks, sit socially distanced in chairs placed around the room.

Kalpaktchiev stands back and shouts “Ready, fence!” And the bout begins. Fencers move back and forth, lunging,

Top, two of the school’s students took top honors in world competitions, including one who finished 16th in The World Cup in Italy and another who finished seventh in the World Cup for cadets in Austria. Above, all students wear protective masks during bouts.

parrying, advancing and retreating on a strip marked with lines designating boundaries. Kalpaktchiev tells a girl, 7, fencing a boy twice her size, “You’ve got to move your feet.” The boy scores a touch.

“I win,” he says.

“Dude, whatever,” says the 7-year-old. “Ok. Ready, fence,” she says, getting back into the action.

Kalpaktchiev smiles and walks around the room. The M AY/J U N E

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

31

Good news

BEHIND THE SCENES

younger group’s session is almost finished and soon the adult classes will start. The club’s oldest member is 75 and another has been fencing for 50 years. Many have not been back since the pandemic hit, but Kalpaktchiev says he understands.

“People want to feel safe,” he says.

Now, with about 20 members, Kalpaktchiev hopes to build memberships and take some of his most talented fencers to tournaments around the country. Over the years, seven of his students have received college scholarships for fencing and two took top honors in world competitions, including one who finished 16th in The World Clockwise from top left, two fencers face off during the younger students class; Kalpaktchiev at his new location in East Syracuse and a row of épée swords line the walls.

Cup in Italy and another who finished seventh in the World Cup for cadets in Austria.

“I have six students who are really good in their age group from 10 to 14 and we are waiting for United States Fencing Association to open a national tournament so we can go. It’s hard because of COVID.” On the floor, two fencers finish a bout and remove their helmets. “Okay,” Kalpaktchiev says, “Shake hands.” A boy approaches and asks Coach Lubo if he will fence with him.

“You want to fence me?” He smiles. “Ok, let’s go.”

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CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

M AY/J U N E



Classes for children 12 and under run from 5 to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Classes for adults and teens run 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Monday through Thursday. Visit syracusemusketeers.org.

Let’s create health and happiness in your home.

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Good news

CAUGHT DOING GOOD

“She likes to get things going,” says Carol Kincaid (right) of her sister Chris Ganley (left).

“It’s good to have a leader.”

SISTER ACT A lifetime devotion to helping others bonds two siblings as friends

BY SUSA N K E N N E DY

Steady Boxing program to encourage and support men and wom-

“That might be a nice way of saying I’m bossy,” laughs Ganley.

en learning to live an active life with the disease. Their brother

Not that Carol minds Chris’ frequent ideas of things to do, plac-

Patrick VanBeveren runs the program.

es to go, people to help. “I’m the organizer,” says Ganley. “I’m

When VanBeveren asked for help at the gym, Ganley jumped

the worker-bee type,” says Kincaid. “We just fit hand in glove.”

in. Her sister Carol took more convincing. Now Ganley, Kincaid

Together the sisters, both retired nurses, enrich the lives of

and two other siblings all help in some way to ensure the suc-

other Central New Yorkers.

34

churches; and weekly stops to Empower Parkinson, Inc.’s Rock

cess of Rock Steady Boxing participants.

They can’t wait to get back to their pre-pandemic schedule:

“These people have trouble getting out of bed in the morn-

Weekly readings to elementary school students through the Syr-

ing,” says Ganley. “Yet they are at the gym working their tails

acuse School District’s Book Buddies program; thrice-month-

off. It’s inspiring.”

ly visits to Francis House to cook and serve breakfast, make

Giving back is part of being a good person, says Ganley. It’s a les-

lunch and complete other chores to ensure the staff can engage

son she says she learned from watching her father while growing up

meaningfully with those at the end of their lives; assisting their

on Syracuse’s South Side. “He was always doing, fixing, helping.”

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

M AY/J U N E

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRIS GANLEY

“She’s the risk taker, our leader,” 74-year-old Carol Kincaid says of her 68-year-old sister Chris Ganley.

Kevin Visconti, CFP®, registered principal at Diversified Capital Management, LLC, stands outside his office in downtown Syracuse.

Working with the Community Foundation has made achieving my clients’ charitable ambitions seamless and effective. The staff assists my clients with planned giving options that are based on their goals and interests, and explains them in a way that is easy to understand.

GIVING MADE EASY: KEVIN VISCONTI

The Community Foundation will meet people where they are. Whether my clients have specific giving intentions or broad charitable goals, I know they will be connected to customized planning opportunities that meet their needs.

Many of my clients want to give now but are also planning for the charitable legacies they want to leave behind. My clients have confidence in the Community Foundation’s knowledge and ability to steward their charitable wishes in perpetuity after they are gone.

Read more of Kevin’s story at cnycf.org/visconti

315 . 4 22.9538 | CNYC F.O RG

S9798242-01

Good news

CAUGHT DOING GOOD

Chris Ganley with her son Connor and grandchildren. Ganley shaved her head and raised nearly $5,000 for St. Baldrick’s Foundation.

Retirement has given Ganley and Kincaid the gift of time. Time to help: “I have a purpose,” says Ganley. “I feel like I’m filling a need in those I help, and in me.”

And time together, as sisters: “We have a ball together,” reflects Ganley. “We’ve become closer. We listen, support and encourage each other.”

During the pandemic pause the two keep busy helping administer COVID vaccinations. True to their relationship, Ganley first had the idea. What a great fit for retired nurses! Kincaid enthusiastically agreed.

But Kincaid doesn’t always follow her sister’s lead. Ganley shaved her head in March 2020 to support fundraising ef-

“I have a purpose. I feel like I’m filling a need in those I help, and in me.”

Chris Ganley

forts for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation for pediatric cancer research. Kincaid donated dollars, but kept her hair. “Nope, once was enough for me!” As a cancer survivor herself, she lost her hair during treatment.

So from a place of experience, Kincaid asked Ganley if she was certain she wanted to be bald?

“Sis,” answered Ganley. “Sometimes you

PHOTO COURTESY CHRIS GANLEY

just have to step out of your comfort zone.”

36

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

M AY/J U N E

The Fabric Mill

High-quality furniture can stand up to a lifetime of love, but far too often, people settle for the most affordable option, jeopardizing quality in the process. While a cheaply made sofa might need to be replaced after being battered by playful kids and pets, a durable, custom-made piece can last for a lifetime and beyond – no matter what is thrown its way. To benefit families throughout the Finger Lakes region and Central New York, The Fabric Mill in Jamesville, NY, and Decor Fabrics & Design in Rochester, NY, are proud to offer a range of long-lasting furniture made in America. Each piece is lovingly made by 52 pairs of hands from U.S. artisans incorporating sustainable American materials and seemingly unlimited customization options. Shoppers can easily find or create the piece they desire, walking away with the confidence that their new furniture will last. “We live in a society where it’s common to buy things that don’t last long before we throw them away,” says Sarah Clere, Manager of Operations for The Fabric Mill and sister store, Decor Fabrics & Design. “But here, we take pride in crafting furniture that will last long enough to become an heirloom.”

Important Considerations when Furniture Shopping According to Clere, the most important hallmark of quality furniture is the structure. The type of wood used and how each piece is joined will determine whether a piece will last for a few years or a few decades. “The aspects you need to evaluate are usually covered up with fabric, so it can be hard,” Clere explains, “which is why you need to ask questions about what you can’t see when you’re out shopping.” She recommends looking for pieces constructed out of kiln dried hardwoods. They are worth the investment, as these slow-growing woods resist cracking and warping for much longer than softwoods like pine. Also, look for furniture frames using joinery, like dovetail or mortise-and tenon. These are two of the strongest joinery styles available and will far outlast only staples or glue. With these materials and techniques, customers can be sure that their piece will last. Though the wooden frame is important, customers should not neglect the cushions and suspension, which give a sofa or chair its shape and comfort value. When inspecting a spring-based sofa, Clere recommends listening for squeaks and creaks – these are signs of an inferior suspension that will give out within a few years. The most durable suspension is made up of spring coils that are tied in 8 different directions ensuring support, comfort, and resilience. Be sure to always check the material that makes up the cushion, too. Denser foam isn’t necessarily firmer, but it will keep its shape much longer. Customers should also ask if the furnishing in question offers a warranty, which is a demonstration of the manufacturer’s faith in their handiwork. Companies are more likely to offer a full warranty if they’re confident that the piece won’t break quickly and require expensive replacement.

“Our manufacturer that we work with will even warranty their cushions,” adds Clere, “which is almost unheard of in the industry.”

Unique Styles that Fit Personal Preferences In addition to selecting a quality furniture frame, suspension, and cushion it is also important to select a quality fabric cover. Before deciding on a specific pattern, colorway, or other preferences, customers should first consider highperformance fabrics, which can last for over a decade with careful maintenance.

Using abrasion/rub tests such as Wyzenbeek or Martindale, different properties of the textile can be evaluated to give customers an idea of how long the fabric will last before it begins to show wear. “More and more people are starting to live on their furniture,” explains Clere, “so we recommend durable performance fabrics that extend the life of the piece.”

From there, “imagination is your only limit,” according to Clere. Decor Fabrics & Design and The Fabric Mill offer nearly unlimited options for customization.

Their customers don’t simply choose from floor samples. Instead, shoppers can alter their piece’s design, choose a wood or painted finish, change the arm or foot style, and much more. This yields truly unique and individualized furnishings that reflect one’s personal style and fits seamlessly into their space.

Sponsor Content

Local Design Resource If you are looking for more than just quality furniture, let The Fabric Mill and Décor Fabrics & Design be your local interior design resources. We pride ourselves on being able to coordinate your decorating project from start to finish.

From fabric selection to free in-home consultations, professional measuring, and experienced installation - Our knowledgeable and friendly staff will help you navigate through the entire design process. We offer a full line of custom home furnishings, ranging from window treatments to pillows to upholstery, that are all fabricated locally in our custom workroom. As well as a Hunter Douglas Gallery and home décor fabric library with 1000’s of options. We are proud of the professional products and services we provide and take our long-term commitment to the community seriously.

We are here now and we’ll be here in the future, when you need us again.

Contact us for an appointment today!

Good news

THE SEEN

FEBRUARY 28

Green Beer Sunday Green Beer Sunday kicked off St. Patrick’s Day in CNY in a quieter, yet still spirited way. With area restaurants and bars still at 50 percent capacity due to the pandemic, Coleman’s Owner Peter Coleman and son Dennis hosted three-hour seatings by reservation-only all day at the pub. Among the specials: a drink called the Green Vaccine. Syracuse.com reporter Charlie Miller, who covered the event, wrote that the sign behind the bar

PHOTOS BY CHARLIE MILLER

advertising the vodka drink read: “After 2020... everyone needs a shot of good luck.”

38

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

M AY/J U N E

“It’s a way to help make sure others have the same positive experience you’ve had.”

When Priscilla Freeman of Oswego learned she had ovarian cancer, she and her husband Dick found their way to Upstate University Hospital.

“Our oncologist was like an angel on earth,” said Dick. The care and compassion they both received touched them deeply. It filled them with hope and gave them the courage to face cancer, head on.

While Dick eventually lost his precious wife to the disease long past the life expectancy for her type of cancer, the experience inspired him to honor Priscilla by naming the Upstate Foundation as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy. “It’s a way to make something good come from it.”

To read Dick’s complete story and create your own legacy gift, call the Upstate Foundation at 315-464-4416 or visit UpstateFoundation.org/LegacyGiving

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

S9920554-01

Good news

THE SEEN

MARCH 6

Orange lacrosse After more than a year away, students were finally allowed into the Carrier Dome on March 6, when the Syracuse University lacrosse team played Vermont. About 248 appropriately distanced students watched Syracuse win over the Catamounts 17-13. “We just wanted to go to be in the Dome, be with people, other students. I definitely have been missing that part of the Syracuse experience,” junior Katie Hageman told Syracuse.com reporter Lindsay Kramer. The last time fans were in the Dome for a

PHOTOS BY DENNIS NETT

game was March 1, 2020 when the women’s basketball team played Boston College.

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CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

M AY/J U N E

Good news

THE SEEN

S9920511-01

M AY/J U N E

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

41

IN A YEAR OF CHALLENGES WE EMERGED

UPSTATE STRONG

6QTUBUF USFBUFE JUT GJSTU $07*% QBUJFOU JO .BSDI 0WFS UIF QBTU NPOUIT XF WF responded to those needs while continuing to CVJMd PO PVS GVOEBNFOUBM NJTTJPO "T UIF SFHJPO T POMZ NFEJDBM VOJWFSTJUZ XF BSF IFSF UP JNQSPWF UIF IFBMUI PG our DPNNVOJUZ UISPVHI FEVDBUJPO QBUJFOU DBSF BOE SFTFBSDI 5IFTF BSF TPNF PG UIF XBZT 0VS nurses achieved Magnet recognition, the highest award for nursing and patient care, putting Upstate in the top 9% of US hospitals.

Upstate also supports education for nurses. We offer degrees online and more than 700 Upstate nurses have earned specialty certification.

Upstate researchers are making discoveries that lead to new treatments and cures for brain injury, lupus, blinding disease, HIV, cancer and many other diseases.

Upstate is No. 35 nationally on Forbes’ Best Large Employer list, ranking higher than Cornell, Harvard and Johns Hopkins universities. 8F BSF QSPVE PG PVS QVCMJD NJTTJPO BOE PVS TFMG TVGGJDJFODZ 0OMZ PG PVS funding DPNFT GSPN UIF TUBUF

This spring, Upstate graduates 175 new doctors, and over 200 nurses, health professionals and research scientists. On Match Day we got the good news that more than half of our med school grads will be KPJOJOH UIF XPSLGPSDF in New York state.

Scientific breakthroughs at Upstate include the creation of an FDA-approved swab test for COVID19. This self-administered test ranks No. 1 in the US for detecting the virus at an early stage.

Our Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital, which cares for sick and injured kids in 17 counties, has four pediatric fellowships which provide training. new doctors with specialty training

Until now, Upstate was one of the few SUNY schools without a mascot.

This year of heroism and teamwork was a great time to introduce “Hero,” our blue wolf mascot, selected by Upstate employees.

u p st ate . e d u

S9918993-01

Sponsor Content

Kevin Visconti, CFP®, registered principal at Diversified Capital Management, LLC, stands outside his office in downtown Syracuse.

COMMUNITY CAREGIVERS: LEE & JOE Working with theJoe Community Foundation Lee Gatta and her husband, Reddick, feel blessed byhas made achieving my clients’ charitable ambitions the support they have received over the years from Central seamless effective.

The staff assists amy New York. This inspiredand them to give back by creating clients with planned giving options that Foundation. are based charitable giving plan through the Community on their goals and interests, and explains them in

For both Lee and Joe, their firsthand with a way that is experiences easy to understand. family caregiving were labors of love and catalysts for The Community Foundation will meet people future giving.

When they cared for Lee’s mother after she where they are.

Whether my clients have specific had her third stroke, and assisted family members during intentions or broad charitable goals, I know battles giving with cancer, Lee and Joe found that caregivers need will bethe connected customized planning assistance they navigating range of to services available and opportunities that “We meetwould their needs. to find time to take care of themselves. like to provide opportunities that lighten the load for those that my clients want to give but are also carry soMany muchofresponsibility for the carenow of another, ” said planning for the charitable legacies they want to Lee. leave behind. My clients have confidence in the

Community Foundation’s knowledge and ability Family remembrance was equally pivotal in Lee’s to steward their charitable perpetuity introduction to the Women’s Fund ofwishes CentralinNew York.

She served on its Leadership Council after as a way honor theytoare gone. her late sister-in-law, Joanne Reddick. The Women’s

GIVING MADE EASY:

Fund supports programs that promote self-sufficiency for women and girls. “None of us would have gotten where we are today without someone in our lives to encourage and mentor us, and many of the young people in our community do not have that,” said Lee.

KEVIN VISCONTI

Lee and Joe had their sights set on a charitable gift larger than they were comfortable contributing now, so they decided to use a life insurance policy. The proceeds at Lee’s death will fund the Lee M. Gatta and Joe Reddick Fund, which will provide local funding for causes that are of primary importance to them: the support of women and girls through the work of the Women’s Fund, eldercare and cancer care coordination and caregiver support. Their fund carry on for generations, designed to take care of Readwill more of Kevin’s story at the community that has taken care of them. Lee and Joe’s cnycf.org/visconti selfless generosity will leave a lasting legacy that changes the lives of others and inspires the community to do the same. Learn more at 5forcny.org.

315 . 4 22.9538 | CNYC F.O RG S9921121-01

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Area flower farms are a delight to the senses STORY AND PHOTOS BY ALAINA POTRIKUS

Flower farms are flourishing in Central New York, inviting visitors to stroll through the fragrant fields, choose their own colorful blooms and build a bouquet.

For those who can’t make the trip to the farm, subscription services are growing in popularity, providing fresh blooms for your tablescape all summer long.

Take a drive to one of these local flower farms for a moment of tranquility among the blossoms.

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N O R T H S TA R O R C H A R D S The family-run farm known for its locally grown seasonal produce is also home to Central New York’s first U-pick tulip fields. Visitors can walk the half-mile trail past blooming apple orchards to the tulip fields, with 150,000 bulbs planted in brightly colored rows. Boots are recommended when walking the fields. Mother’s Day weekend could be best for picking. Check Facebook or call the nursery for the latest picking conditions, starting in early May. 4741 State Route 233, Westmoreland Instagram: @northstarorchards

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S T R AW B E R RY F I E L D S H Y D R O P O N I C FA R M Just one mile west of Skaneateles, this unique farm grows strawberries hydroponically from June to October, allowing visitors to stand up and pick the sweet fruit. But the showstopper comes in the late summer, when the sunflower maze opens. A small gift shop sells local products, and food trucks will be on site weekends throughout the summer.

4240 East Genesee Street Road, Auburn facebook.com/strawberryfields4240

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W I T H Y H O L L O W F L O W E R FA R M Tucked away in the wooded hills of Madison County near Tuscarora Lake, Withy Hollow Flower Farm invites visitors to roam their fields, visit with their chickens and pet their golden retriever Nelson. Shears are provided to help you pick your own bouquet; the flowers are also available for purchase weekly at the Fayetteville Farmers Market.

3767 North Lake Road, Erieville Instagram: @withyhollowflowerfarm

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S I S T E R S I L O S F L O W E R FA R M Named for the pair of silos that rise above the hilltop flower farm, Sister Silos started with three beds of flowers and has expanded to more than 18 beds with 40 varieties of flowers in 2021. Fresh bouquets are available at the quaint roadside stand — look for gladioluses and sunflowers in the middle of the summer ­— or subscriptions can be purchased for deliveries beginning mid-July. Owner Emily Clare is also hoping to host U-pick bouquet workshops in the late summer and fall; follow their social media for updates.

5139 Skinner Hill Road, Moravia Instagram: @sistersilosflowerfarm

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C ATA L PA F L O W E R FA R M The specialty cut-flower farmette grows unique and seasonal blooms for a weekly bouquet subscription that customers can pick up at the CNY Regional Market or the Juice + Flowers stall at the Salt City Market. No two bouquets are the same, says owner Lindsey Jakubowski, who plants a unique mix of flowers and forages grasses, ferns and naturalized perennials to help vary the color palette. “I lean into Mother Nature herself to tell me what blooms best, and when, so we can learn together what to plant in our own gardens,” she says.

116 N. West Street, Homer

PHOTOS COURTESY CATALPA FLOWER FARM

Instagram: @catalpaflowerfarm_ny

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L O C K W O O D L AV E N D E R FA R M Established in 1854, this fifth-generation farm harvests armfuls of lavender in June and July and hopes to welcome visitors to connect with the agricultural roots of the Finger Lakes. Local honey and lavender soaps and lotions are also available for purchase at Rhubarb Kitchen & Garden Shop in Skaneateles. Check social media for harvest details.

1682 West Lake Road, Skaneateles

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LOCKWOOD LAVENDAR FARM

facebook.com/lockwoodlavenderfarm

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IN GOOD COMPANY

A LOOK AT SOME OF CENTRAL NEW YORK’S FAMILY BUSINESSES

Five generations of the Dickman family have grown their legacy from a 20-acre vegetable farm founded in 1903 into a greenhouse operation that produces more than 15 million plants each year.

A mother and daughter are writing their own chapter of history as the only Black restaurant owners on Marshall Street near Syracuse University.

At Industrial Color Labs, employees are

preserving family photographs and videos using equipment that didn’t exist when the business was founded in 1966.

And a tile business started by an Italian immigrant in 1969 has expanded into a 50,000-square-foot retail and manufacturing complex that spans a full city block on the North Side of Syracuse.

The stories of these family businesses are part of the narrative of Central New York.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY ALAINA POTRIKUS

DICKMAN FARMS Five generations have helped shape the history of Dickman Farms Greenhouses and Garden Center, founded in 1903 on 20 acres of land just outside of Auburn.

The first and second generations were crop farmers, growing vegetables and trucking them to market, eventually expanding into 1,500 acres.

The family built its first greenhouse in 1929, not as a growing space but as an indoor miniature golf course and later a nightclub.

But by 1985, the family looked at its books and made the decision to step away from outdoor farming and focus on expanding the greenhouse business.

“We had to make a real assessment about which portion of the business was profitable,” says David Dickman, who runs the day-to-day operations alongside his wife, Peggy, brother Jim and nephew Bob. “We recognized that there was a lot more opportunity on the greenhouse side of things.”

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Greenhouses now cover 14 acres of land off Archie Street and the complex propagates more than 15 million young and finished plants each year.

The company starts more than 1,500 types of plants, including petunias, dahlias, geraniums and impatiens. It supplies retail garden centers across the Northeast, as well as over 100 Wegmans Food Markets from Massachusetts to North Carolina.

A crew of 65 full-time employees and dozens more seasonal staffers make the operation run smoothly year-round, with the help of modern machinery like an automatic transplanter that can plant 10,000 plants each hour.

The exponential growth hasn’t changed the family values at the root of the business.

David Dickman likes to joke that he has more than 50 years on the job. He started working alongside his grandfather in the fields when he was 12.

His parents, Dick and Dorothy Dickman, both 88 years old, still come in to work each day at the sprawling complex. The couple celebrated 67 years of marriage in 2020.

Dick Dickman helps unload trucks and makes a daily run to the bank. “He’ll jump on a forklift if we need him to,” says David Dickman.

Matriarch Dorothy Dickman handles the cash from the retail space, which stocks items from local artisans along with supplies for home gardeners. “I figure if you can’t trust your mother with money, who can you trust?” jokes David Dickman.

The close-knit family said they are hoping to plant a strong foundation for future generations.

“You have to have the courage to reinvent once in a while,” David Dickman says. “If we hadn’t done that, we would not be in business today.”

The greenhouses are busy year-round with plant propagation, producing retail-ready plants for spring and summer, mums for fall and a poinsettia crop for the holidays. “Then we do it all over again,” says David Dickman. The Dickman family, from left, Jim, Bob, Dick, Dorothy, Peggy and David.

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Daughter Shante Lewis and her mother Dawn Evette Reed of Winnie’s Soul Delicious.

WINNIE’S SOUL DELICIOUS A new restaurant on Marshall Street is the dream of multiple generations of

women and the only Black-owned business on the Syracuse University hill.

Dawn Evette Reed has been cooking since she was 12, learning the secrets of

soul food as she cooked alongside her mother and grandmother.

For years she catered events out of her home, perfecting her recipes for fried

chicken, ribs and smothered pork chops.

In December, she opened her own restaurant, Winnie’s Soul Delicious, named

for her mother, Winnie Reed, who died 10 years ago.

Her partner in the restaurant is her daughter, Shante Lewis.

The mother-daughter team opened the restaurant in the middle of the pan-

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“This is what I was waiting for. This was my dream.”

Dawn Evette Reed

demic with support from customers who lined up along Marshall Street for takeout orders.

Reed says the location near Syracuse University was part of her dream.

“I didn’t want to be just anywhere,” she says. “I wanted to be in a well-known spot, where everyone could come. This is what I was waiting for. This was my dream.”

She was chosen from more than 50 applicants for the storefront space, promising the landlord that she would bring “good old soul food” to the University dining scene.

“A lot of people can make barbecue ribs and fried chicken, but they don’t put love into it like we do,” she says. “That’s what we mean when we say soul food.”

A portrait of matriarch Winnie hangs on the wall, watching over the steady stream of customers that pours into the cafeteria-style restaurant throughout the day.

Side dishes at Winnie’s range from collard greens and fried okra, to black-eye peas and pinto beans, candied yams and the dish Reed considers her signature, baked mac ’n’ cheese. Soul food aficionados come for the stewed pork feet, smoked turkey wing and oxtail over rice.

Reed recalled the feedback she received from one customer who was new to the cuisine.

“He said, ‘someone sent you here to do

Left, a potrait of Reed’s mother Winnie, who the restaurant is named for, hangs on the wall.

Above, Winnie’s fried chicken with sides of collard greens, Winnie’s signature baked mac ‘n’ cheese and candied yams.

this,’” she says, throwing a chef’s kiss.

After opening her business during the pandemic, Reed is looking forward to serving the pre-game crowds when fans return for football and basketball at the Dome.

“I’m going to be ready for it, and it is going to be amazing,” she says.

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Henry “Hank” Voumard Jr. with daughter Michelle Ricciardi of Industrial Color Labs.

INDUSTRIAL COLOR LABS When Henry “Hank” Voumard Jr. returned from serving as a photographer

in the U.S. Navy, he couldn’t find a lab in Syracuse to develop his photos.

He started his own printing business from his mother’s basement and grew

the endeavor into Industrial Color Labs, which has served customers in Central New York for more than 50 years.

His daughter, Michelle Ricciardi, now heads the company, focusing on

photo printing and retouching, video transfer, custom framing services and memory preservation in the digital age.

In its early years, Industrial Color Labs pioneered film developing, slide

processing and photographic printing, with custom dark rooms and equip-

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ment for every type of project.

As point-and-shoot cameras rose in popularity, the company branched into retail, two-hour film processing and portrait services.

The prevalence of digital cameras — and more recently cell phones — prompted another pivot.

“You could see the trend coming, and that really changed our business,” says Ricciardi, who studied business management at St. John Fisher College and spearheaded the lab’s first website and online ordering platforms.

The company’s longevity can be attributed to an ability to adapt and a commitment to customer service.

“It keeps changing and changing,” she says. “Every time the technology changes, we create a new service for our customers.”

The past year brought an unexpected boost to business.

“People are stuck at home and cleaning out their houses, finding old pictures and videos,” Ricciardi says of the pandemic decluttering trend. “We have been busier than ever.”

Technicians working at the company’s headquarters on Highbridge Road in Fayetteville spend hours converting home movies, slides and snapshots into modern digital formats.

The workplace is a living museum of past camera technology, from reel-to-reel movie film to VHS cassettes and camcorders. Digital artists use modern software to retouch torn, faded and scratched

Converting old home movies and snapshots is a huge part of the current business model. “Everyone wants everything in digital formats now,” Ricciardi says.

photos and graphic designers create video slideshows for weddings, memorial tributes for funerals and poster-sized photo collages for graduation and retirement parties.

“Everything that people celebrate — the birthdays, holidays, milestones — customers come to us to help them preserve their memories,” Ricciardi says.

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From left, Nick Romagno, matriarch Anna Romagno, Sera Dussing and Victor Romagno in the updated showroom.

ROMA TILE & MARBLE A trio of siblings is creating a new chapter for the tile business their father start-

ed more than a half-century ago.

Vito Romagno immigrated from Italy at age 18, taking a job with a tile contrac-

tor in Syracuse.

A decade later, Romagno opened his own business on the city’s North Side, found-

ing Roma Tile & Marble in 1969 in hopes of creating a better life for his family and future generations.

In the 1980s, the patriarch was joined by his three children — Nick, Victor and

Sera — who each took on different roles in the family business, from bookkeeping and accounting to fabrication and customer service.

What started as a tile and flooring company 50 years ago has grown into one of

the premier remodeling businesses in Central New York, with more than 40 em-

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ployees and a retail and manufacturing space spanning an entire city block on the corner of Park and Wolf streets.

“We just keep growing,” says Nick Romagno.

The spacious two-floor showroom offers customers a chance to browse samples of granite, marble and quartz countertops and ceramic and porcelain tile, many imported from Italy.

Beyond the display area, the 50,000-square-foot complex houses the massive manufacturing equipment needed to custom cut countertops.

“My dad instilled upon us to work hard because it pays off in the end.”

Sera Dussing

Additional rooms store full stone slabs in every color and variation, stacked against one another.

Customer service is at the heart of the business, from the designers who help clients choose the perfect stone for their project to the installers who ensure a perfect fit.

The team specializes in countertops, vanities, backsplashes, fireplace surrounds and flooring, making sure to offer products that follow the latest home and commercial decor trends.

Vito Romagno passed away in 2001, but daughter Sera Dussing says her father’s work ethic drives the siblings to grow the business.

“My dad instilled upon us to work hard because it pays off in the end,” she says.

“I think he would be very amazed by us,” adds Nick Romagno. “We have taken it to another level.”

Roma Tile has more than 40 employees, many of whom have worked at the company for decades.

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Like our many (many) flakes of snow, each individual’s idea of a good life looks a little different. And while everyone has a unique ideal in mind, we think no matter what you are looking for, you can find it here in Central New York. From establishing family traditions to pursuing professional accomplishments, the area provides a safe, friendly and scenic backdrop to your way of living. We’ve asked 15 Central New Yorkers, who have important roles in building and enriching our community, to share what they love about CNY and how they live their good life.

WHAT DOES YOUR GOOD LIFE LOOK LIKE?

BY AMY BLEIER LONG I L L U S T R AT I O N S B Y S E A N M C K E O W N -YO U N G

These interviews have been edited for length and clarity.

Please visit readcnymagazine.com for the full interviews.

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EMAD RAHIM Emad Rahim, Ph.D., serves as the Kotouc Family Endowed Chair and Professor at Bellevue University. He also operates Inclusive 360 LLC., a management consulting firm. Rahim is on the board of directors at CNY Community Foundation, the Good Life Youth Foundation, Onondaga Community College Scholarship Foundation, Upstate Minority Economic Alliance, Strathmore Neighborhood Association and Syracuse Neighborhood Model Corporation. He sits on the advisory committees of 100 Black Men, Vera House Inc., South Side Innovation Center, Syracuse City School District, YWCA of Onondaga and the Onondaga County Democratic Committee. Dr. Rahim lives on the Westside of Syracuse.

Were you born and raised in CNY? My family and I arrived in

How would you spend a day off in the area? Grab coffee from

Syracuse as refugees in the early ‘80s; we are survivors of the

Recess in Tipp Hill, fresh bread or [a] pastry from Pasta’s Daily

Cambodian Killing Fields. We also lived in Brooklyn and Long

Bread, walk in the Westcott area or Onondaga Lake Park with

Beach, California for a short period of time.

my wife, spend some time in Eastwood at Books End or Books & Melodies on James Street and end the evening by having

Why do you choose to stay and make your home here?

dinner downtown or seeing a movie at the Movie Tavern.

We have roots and history here in Syracuse. We moved to Chicago in 2011 and came back in 2014. The cost of living in

Go-to place to eat? The All Night Eggplant in East Syracuse

Chicago made it hard for us to save for our future goals and

for breakfast, Oh My Darling in Syracuse for dinner, China

to purchase a house. These factors [including traffic and the

Pavilion on W. Genesee Street for Dim Sum on Sundays and

schools], with my demanding work obligations and travel

Jerk Hut Restaurant on South Avenue for takeout.

schedule, tipped the scales and made us want to come back home to Syracuse.

First place you take out-of-town friends or family? Armory Square where we would have breakfast at Funk ‘n Waffles,

What does your “good life” look like and how does CNY play

take the kids to the MOST, have coffee at Recess or Café Kubal,

a role? Spending quality time with my family and friends.

hit local shops like Sound Garden, Wildflowers Armory, Gypsy

Here in Syracuse, I work remote and control my own time

Freedom and Scholars & Champs, have lunch at Pastabilities,

and schedule. I have the flexibility to do the things I love the

see a show at the Landmark Theatre or the Redhouse Arts

most, while still having time to give back to my community

Center and have dinner at Oh My Darling or Otro Cinco.

by volunteering and supporting local initiatives. We operate two businesses, own a home and serve on multiple nonprofit

Favorite way to take advantage of our beautiful outdoors?

boards. Syracuse’s relatively mellow pace and lower cost

Onondaga Lake Park, where we would take the kids bike rid-

of living has afforded us these luxuries. I couldn’t do these

ing, roller blading or walk around the lake trail, have a picnic

things or grow my business in Chicago or New York City.

in the park and let the kids enjoy the playground or fly a kite.

What do you like most about living here? Attending the

How would you describe CNY in a few words? A community

Jazz Fest, NYS Fair, Taste of Syracuse, Winterfest and

that is rich with diversity, tolerance and faith. Families from

Syracuse University games. Supporting annual fundraisers

different ethnicities, religions and cultures supporting each

and events. Hosting barbecues, neighborhood gatherings,

other and celebrating their differences together.

political meetings and professional meetups in our backyard during the summer. Going fishing. Hiking at Beaver Lake and

Best way to get to know the area better? Walk or bike ride

Baltimore Woods. Having the flexibility to drive to Rochester

in different neighborhoods. Spend time at the local libraries,

and Ithaca on a weekday or spend the weekend in Buffalo,

art galleries, parks, theaters, cafes and local shops to hear

Albany or New York City to get away. Syracuse’s proximity to

and see what people are doing and discussing about their

these cities makes this possible.

communities.

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SAM AR A HANNAH Were you born and raised in CNY? No, I was born and raised in the Adirondacks. My childhood hometown is Tupper Lake, NY. I have lived in Upstate NY my entire life. My husband’s job brought us from the Capital District to Central New York in 2004.

Why do you choose to stay and make your home here?

Central New York is rich in art and culture, sports and the great outdoors. It is one of the most beautiful parts of our state and is located proximate to other major markets.

Samara Hannah, currently the executive

What does your “good life” look like and how does CNY play

director of the Redhouse Arts Center, has

a role? My “good life” is all about the people in my life and

been in leadership positions at the Redhouse

making memories. There is always something to do in CNY!

since 2014. She is also board member of

Whether it’s attending live theater, enjoying an SU game with

CazArts. Hannah has been happily married

my family or dining at one of our favorite CNY restaurants (local

for 23 years to her best friend and husband,

only!), we are making memories. I am an active nature walker

Curt. She is a proud mom to two amazing

with my “mom friends” and we are often found enjoying a walk

college-aged children, Emily and Jack, and

on the Erie Canal, Clark Reservation, Green Lakes State Park,

their furry little sister, Dixie. Hannah also has

Onondaga Lake Parkway, Chittenango Falls or through the

two adult step-children, who have made her

Village of Cazenovia.

a proud (step) grandmother of three. She now resides in Cazenovia after moving there from

What do you like most about living here? It’s got a small-town

Manlius last year.

feel with access to so much more!

How would you spend a day off in the area? Go for a long nature walk, followed by dinner with friends.

Go-to place to eat? Meier’s Creek in Cazenovia. And, not dinner, but donuts, Glazed and Confused.

First place you take out-of-town friends or family? Green Lakes State Park or Chittenango Falls. If they have young children, the Rosamond Gifford Zoo! Favorite way to take advantage of our beautiful outdoors?

Hiking and nature walks.

How would you describe CNY in a few words? Safe, home, family.

Best way to get to know the area better? Go for a drive and try stopping somewhere new.

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JOE R AINONE Joe Rainone is the owner of Mulrooney’s Irish Sports Pub — better known as Mully’s — the oldest bar in Armory Square. He is also co-owner, along with Nick Falcone, of Benjamin’s on Franklin. He lives in Onondaga Hill.

Were you born and raised in CNY? Yes, born in Syracuse,

How would you spend a day off in the area? Well, my

and lived in Syracuse all my life except for college. I didn’t

favorite thing to do is get on a boat, have a couple of beers

know if I was going to do anything anywhere else, I knew

and go bother my friends that actually have camps and

I was going to come back. I went to Southern Connecticut

homes on the lake. It’s just kind of fun, you know. I don’t get

State for one year, played football. Came to the realization

to do it very often, but I really enjoy it.

that I wasn’t going to make it in the NFL, so I came home, went to my last three years at Oswego. I’ve always liked

Go-to place to eat? I have two that I really like because the

it here. I love Syracuse. When I was in school, all these

food’s really good and they’re reasonably priced. Apizza

downstate guys, especially on the lacrosse team, you know,

Regionale. Love it. Love that place, and then the other one

Long Island guys, we just battled. Battled about upstate and

is Doug’s Fish Fry in Skaneateles. Oh, I love it, I think it’s the

downstate. So I was always defending CNY.

best fish around. I really enjoy it and I’ve been going there for over 40 years. I just have an affinity for Doug’s.

Why do you choose to stay and make your home here?

My family’s here, of course. Most of my family and all of

First place you take out-of-town friends or family? I’d bring

my friends and all of the acquaintances I’ve made over the

them to Armory Square. I’ve got the two places down here;

years. I kind of have an interconnection with the whole

they can have fun. They can go to dinner, there’s great places

area. So it’s great.

down here for dinner.

What does your “good life” look like and how does CNY

Favorite way to take advantage of our beautiful outdoors?

play a role? I have a lot of friends, a lot of close friends.

I’ve got a trail bike; I go riding a lot. I like the water. The rivers

The opportunity to do things year-round is there. Life is

are fun, the lakes are fun. Lake Ontario is almost like going to

interesting here; you can make it interesting if you want.

the ocean, a freshwater ocean. There’s just a lot of things to

I mean, it can never be boring if you choose it not to be.

do in the summertime. Trail hiking, it’s just great. I like being

There’s so much to do each season. If you want to have a fun

outside.

and interesting life, Central New York is a great place to be.

How would you describe CNY in a few words? It’s beautiful.

What do you like most about living here? I honestly think

The rolling hills, the lakes, the trees in the fall. It’s just a

it’s the people. The people are very nice for the most part.

beautiful place to live. And kind. Most of the people are

Most everybody I run into is nice, and that’s all strata of

kind, I think. It’s hard to describe.

economically advantaged and disadvantaged people, worka-day people and professionals. Everyone seems to be fairly

Best way to get to know the area better? I talk to people.

nice. You don’t have too much trouble making friends.

It’s easy to chat somebody up if you’re out in a bar or

That’s what I like the best about it.

restaurant. They’ll gladly tell you where to go or what to try. Just have a conversation, because like I said, people are friendly and kind, and they’ll help you out.

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L AW R E N C E L O H Were you born and raised in CNY? No, I did my undergraduate at the University of Rochester, which was my first taste of CNY. I came here when I was hired by the orchestra to be music director in 2015.

Why do you choose to stay and make your home here?

Our family loves CNY! It’s a beautiful place to live and to raise a family. Wonderful schools, restaurants and, of course, performing arts. The population is richly diverse, which is important to us. We are close to family in NYC, Pennsylvania and Boston! We feel very much at home here.

Lawrence (Larry) Loh is the music director and conductor of Symphoria,

What does your “good life” look like and how does CNY

the professional orchestra of Central

play a role? My “good life” would be living in a place that

New York. He lives with his family in

has lots to do outside. CNY really delivers with hiking,

Manlius.

biking, boating and skiing. I don’t know if people outside of CNY realize how beautiful it is here!

What do you like most about living here? 100 percent my favorite part about living here is getting to work with Symphoria and all of the musicians, staff, board and volunteers. It’s a small enough place that I get recognized often for being the music director of the orchestra!

How would you spend a day off in the area? I’d take a walk around Green Lakes Park or bike on the Erie Canal. Ideally, I’d have reservations someplace downtown for dinner. If there’s a concert happening that I’m not conducting, I’d head downtown to watch Symphoria perform!

Go-to place to eat? China Cafe in Manlius.

First place you take out-of-town friends or family?

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. Favorite way to take advantage of our beautiful outdoors?

Playing tennis with my family.

How would you describe CNY in a few words? Longer-thanusual winters!

Best way to get to know the area better? Have someone drive you around so you can see all of the amazing neighborhoods, houses, farms and scenery!

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DR . J U H A N NA RO GE R S Dr. Juhanna Rogers is the vice president of racial equity & social impact at CenterState CEO. Her company, Juhanna Rogers, Inc., created “Behind the Woman” airing on WCNY, which shares the stories of diverse women leaders, and she is the host. Rogers is passionate about performing; she is currently a member of the Harriet Tubman Troupe, a community theater troupe associated with Auburn Public Theater. In late 2020, she performed at Syracuse Stage with the troupe in “A Gatherin’ Place,” which she wrote, directed and produced. She lives in Downtown Syracuse.

Were you born and raised in CNY? I grew up in Jersey. The

How would you spend a day off in the area? I go out to some

beautiful thing is that [Syracuse] has been a space in which

of the lakes. I drive to Canada and explore there. I may go see

I’ve gotten access to the things you need to build your life as a

a show at Syracuse Stage or Redhouse. I like exploring the

young, diverse professional and to set you up to be successful.

different spas in the area; selfcare is important. I may drive out to lunch in Cazenovia or Skaneateles. Hang out on the

Why do you choose to stay and make your home here? It’s

water a bit. I try to make my down days a vacation.

a great location. A lot of the things I’ve dreamed of doing all my life are happening here. I have relationships and they’re

Go-to place to eat? Salt City Market. Some of the places in

wonderful ones helping me grow as a young professional,

there, Soulutions, Miss Prissy’s, Erma’s Island.

as a younger woman. That is a huge part of development.

Mentoring relationships, a network of care, and that became

First place you take out-of-town friends or family? I would

more apparent this past December. I was battling COVID

say Auburn because we do the Harriet Tubman tour. We’ll

right before the holidays and… the folks that I have… in this

stop at the theater there, drive back through Skaneateles

community, despite the conditions, made sure that I was ok

and see the Finger Lakes. My mom likes to come up in July;

[and] left Christmas presents on my door. It’s the support.

JAMS, a celebration of Black music, holds an outdoor concert at one of the local beaches. If I have time, we go up to the

What does your “good life” look like and how does CNY play

Thousand Islands. That blows their mind; they’ll say “You all

a role? My good life would be me and the friends I’ve made

have some beautiful living up here.” However, it’s not always

here having access to home ownership and creating a diverse

inclusive. It’s not a sweet treat all the time, but I think just the

neighborhood. There’s restaurants downtown… that reflect

natural beauty of some of these places is so amazing. And I’m

us. I always imagine I’m going to have this house here near a

fortunate to have the opportunity to see them.

body of water and I’ll have a summer family gathering there and a holiday gathering. My good life also has more economic

Favorite way to take advantage of our beautiful outdoors?

opportunities for black and brown people who’ve been here

I’ll just go out and walk around the lakes. My goal this year

for generations. They have not been given access to the same

is to do more hiking. I want to see the Adirondacks and one

opportunities to be employed [or] access to promotions and

more thing I’m looking forward to is taking a wine tour.

PHOTO BY CHERILYN BECKLES

pipelines that would empower them economically. If that were done, the beauty of this city could be felt in a more

How would you describe CNY in a few words? An underrated

eclectic way.

city with massive potential.

What do you like most about living here? It’s easy to

Best way to get to know the area better? Probably just

navigate, there’s no traffic. The diversity and access to

getting out and exploring, sometimes without invitation. I

different cities. To establish that work-life balance, it’s easy

think that has been the best thing for me. As a result, I feel

to do in a space where you’re in an urban center but you’re 10

like I’m getting to share these experiences with people who

minutes in any direction to a body of water.

have lived here 100 years and inspire them to try new places.

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M IC H A E L JOH N H E AGE RT Y Michael John Heagerty is a digital marketing director by day and a staunch supporter of local and small businesses throughout CNY all the time. He is the founder and co-owner of Wildflowers Armory and The McCarthy Mercantile. He can often be found juggling side gigs and helping others pursue turning their own side gigs into main gigs. He can be heard around town rapping exclusively about potatoes as TOTS a.k.a. crispyonthemic.

Heagerty lives in “the Mighty Salt City” and enjoys $1 baked potato season.

Were you born and raised in CNY? No. Family [brought me to

museums, antiques shopping, historic landmarks along the

Central New York]. My mother Connie is the oldest of seven

Erie Canal and more breweries then there are leaves on trees.

and all her siblings grew up in Camillus and attended Bishop

I’d probably end up searching for interesting public art. After

Ludden. I’m blessed to have a large, supportive and extended

that, you’d probably find me at Crazy Daisies enjoying farm-

family tree.

fresh foods for lunch and some live tunes. Because it’s so easy and I’m a romantic traveler type, I’d hop a train to visit a near-

Why do you choose to stay and make your home here? My

by area and explore — no particular itinerary. Swing back to

Aunt Cindy — the youngest of that seven — and her husband

enjoy dinner and homegrown hospitality from Eden in Ha-

David gave me an opportunity to study the art of hospitality

nover Square — wood-fired cuisine is always a win! Art, his-

at their Irish pub & restaurant Kitty Hoynes. I enjoyed

tory, nature, urban exploration and plenty of fine food and

networking and learning from patrons about their CNY

friends — sounds like a pretty solid day in CNY.

appreciation and it rubbed off on me.

Go-to place to eat? I’m big on spreading the love and trying What does your “good life” look like and how does CNY play

new spots. So my go-to changes more than the weather.

a role? There is a rich history throughout CNY that doesn’t

Currently Apizza Regionale.

always get recognized. My “good life” moments usually center around exploring that history and bringing it into the

First place you take out-of-town friends or family?

present, enhancing civic pride.

Wildflowers, because I’m proud of how we’ve been able to create a space where we can showcase much of the talent in

What do you like most about living here? I think that I’m able

CNY.

to make a ripple here.

Favorite way to take advantage of our beautiful outdoors?

How would you spend a day off in the area?

Parks. There are parks everywhere in CNY — from waterfalls

I’d start early in hopes to maximize my daylight and hit up a

to hikes, horse-drawn rides to bike tours along historic

local café (maybe there are some poets or spoken word per-

pathways to beaches, there’s no lack of unique offerings and

formances on the sidewalk patio to enjoy), because I need caf-

ways to connect with nature.

feine to exist. Luckily, we have a bunch! We’ve got tons of parks as well, so I’d stroll the [Onondaga] Creekwalk through

How would you describe CNY in a few words? Begs to be

picturesque Franklin Square (and artists and musicians would

explored and enjoyed. Dig a little deeper and find there’s more

line the path — it would be like walking my own set-list) or

to experience then you’d expect.

hit up Clark Reservation and work up an appetite. Obviously, I’d have breakfast at a local diner like Stella’s because I’m

Best way to get to know the area better? On foot with no

about the diner life. Here’s where things get interesting: We

particular itinerary. The best way for the history to come alive

are so centrally located, there are tons of options if you trav-

is through the region’s museums and cultural offerings.

el outside the city in any direction. Finger Lakes wine tours, 72

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SOR A IRIYE Sora Iriye is a career circus artist. She and her husband, Josh, co-own CirqOvation, an entertainment company with a Cirque-Vaudeville flair.

While waiting for the entertainment industry to return, she has immersed herself in writing about the intersection between her many different identities, particularly Disabled/Disfigured and Japanese American. Iriye is passionate about advocating for and envisioning a world where all people have access to a safe, healthy, prosperous life and reimagining the systems in which we live to reflect the diversity of our society so everyone can find equality and true belonging. She lives in the Syracuse area.

Were you born and raised in CNY? Josh and I have lived here

What do you like most about living here? Without a doubt,

for just over a decade. Our move here was serendipitous. We

it’s the people that keep me in CNY. The communities of

were both sitting in our house in Jersey City one night in 2009

which I’m a part make me simultaneously grateful to live here

and I looked at him and said, “I’ve always wanted to live in a

and hopeful for even brighter futures.

church,” and he said, “I’ve always wanted to live in a church, too!” I know that sounds fake, but word for word, that’s how

How would you spend a day off in the area? I would start off

our conversation went. Since we’re both circus artists — Josh

with a coffee at one of our many fabulous coffee shops (hard

is a juggler, I’m an aerialist — we both needed high ceilings in

to choose just one!), then head down to Labrador Hollow for

order to practice. When we found one in the Syracuse area, we

some hiking and then cap the day off with a live show at one

drove around a bit and immediately knew this was where we

of our many local theaters.

wanted to live.

Go-to place to eat? Do I have to name just one?! Dosa Grill, Why do you choose to stay and make your home here?

Vietnamese Noodle House and Strong Hearts all for the win!

CNY has been incredibly welcoming of us wayward circus artists over the years. We’ve had the privilege of partnering with

First place you take out-of-town friends or family? Stone

a ton of incredible organizations within Syracuse, the coun-

Quarry Hill Art Park in Cazenovia! It’s mind-blowing! It’s

ty, and the larger swath of Central New York. I have fallen in

huge, so we’re always discovering new things.

love with the local community, which is full of scrappy, powerful people making Syracuse a more beautiful, conscious,

Favorite way to take advantage of our beautiful outdoors?

inclusive place to live. I am proud of our city for welcoming

Josh and I are such suckers for waterfalls. Our defaults

refugees. I am inspired by creators, writers, musicians, visu-

are Tinker Falls, Pratts Falls and Carpenter Falls. For more

al artists and theatre folx every day. I know CNY isn’t perfect.

rigorous activity, there are some great trails around our area!

There’s still a ton of work to do as far as making our cities saf-

Spruce Pond and Shackham Pond are gorgeous!

er and more equitable for underrepresented people. I don’t think it’s paradoxical to recognize shortcomings and still love

How would you describe CNY in a few words? Filled with

the areas in which we live. I truly believe in the power of our

passionate, motivated people.

communities to celebrate CNY while nurturing and helping it to grow in the best possible ways.

Best way to get to know the area better? I’m always a fan of going into spaces that are outside of my social comfort

What does your “good life” look like and how does CNY play

zone. Josh and I usually start with finding a coffee shop or

a role? My “good life” is being able to engage fully with my

small restaurant in an unfamiliar area and then let that be the

area but also have quiet time and space to be introspective.

catalyst for new exploration.

Syracuse certainly offers the engagement part, and our home in our small town provides the quiet sanctuary (literally!) that we crave.

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L AU R E N KO C H I A N Lauren Kochian is the president of the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology (the MOST). Additionally she serves as president of the Arts and Cultural Leadership Alliance and on the advisory council for Golisano Children’s Hospital. Kochian frequently volunteers her time with organizations that support people with developmental disabilities.

She lives in East Syracuse.

Were you born and raised in CNY? I was born and raised in

How would you spend a day off in the area? Definitely hit

East Syracuse. I went to SU for my bachelor’s degree. I did

up some of my favorite places to eat. I would probably spend

move away for a few years, but then moved back to get my

the day outdoors. My ideal would be going to Skaneateles. My

master’s degree and I’ve been here ever since.

parents live on the lake in a very secluded area, so spend the day on the water and along the dirt roads, enjoying nature,

Why do you choose to stay and make your home here?

fresh air. I would spend the evening, either at a show — I miss

I have a huge family, most everybody is still here, my parents,

all the live concerts at the amphitheater — or a sporting event.

all of their siblings, my 93-year-old grandma. I’m fortunate, [family] is primarily why I am here, but all the other pieces fell

Go-to place to eat? I love Attilio’s. Great food, great

into place, meaning career, my life partner, all of that.

atmosphere. When the weather is nice, I prefer to eat outside, so for me it’s either Lemon Grass or Prime Steakhouse.

What does your “good life” look like and how does CNY play a role? My good life is exactly what I have here which is

First place you take out-of-town friends or family? The

work-life balance. I love my work; it’s very rewarding. I have

MOST. Certainly we are primarily geared towards kids but

a 15-minute drive home. I come home to a family where I

there’s a lot of fun things for adults to do, too, and to read and

have a wonderful fiancé and children that go to a wonderful

learn about, so I find that people of all ages enjoy spending an

school. It’s an affordable place to live and I can do the things

afternoon or part of a day there.

that I enjoy doing outside of work. I consider myself a nature girl, and there’s tons of opportunity for that around here and

Favorite way to take advantage of our beautiful outdoors?

around the region. Going to shows, being able to do weekend

I’d visit my parents or hike at one of the parks. I love to run,

getaways because we’re so close to so many big cities — those

go walking. I like to cross-country ski. I’m always looking for

are the kinds of things I enjoy doing and they’re really easy to

places that let people pop a kayak in a lake or a pond.

do when you live here.

How would you describe CNY in a few words? As far as the What do you like most about living here? I love the proximity

people go, it’s really authentic. And it’s unique. Syracuse is

to city parks, county parks, waterfalls, even the state parks.

a great example, in a lot of different ways, of old versus new.

I love sports, so between Crunch, baseball and SU sports,

Lots of exciting emerging technology companies, yet you have

there’s always something fun to do. I love being able to go

the contrast of this phenomenal old architecture and really

to the theater or take a quick trip to the Everson. My family

traditional ways of doing things.

has actually built a lot of tradition around the things that Syracuse has to offer. Every February break we’d go to an SU

Best way to get to know the area better? Take a stroll

game. Every holiday season we do the Festival of Trees. It’s

downtown. Ask locals where to eat. Make sure to hit up all

just enabled me to create this great family life because of all

those arts and cultural places. A lot of them are free to get in.

the things we can do with our children.

Same thing with the county parks and city parks. Do a little bit of both and you’d get a good really good sense of the area.

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H ASA N STEPHENS Were you born and raised in CNY? [I was] born in the Bronx. I came to upstate NY to go to college at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva. Upon graduation, I came to Syracuse to work for a career as “DJ Maestro,” a radio personality with Clear Channel Communications (Power 106.9 FM and Hot 107.9 FM), now known as iHeartMedia, Inc. I also worked at News Channel 9 where I did a segment called “Coming Together for a Safer Syracuse,” which later was nominated for an Emmy award. More recently, I was the official DJ for Syracuse University (“New York’s College Team”) basketball and athletics. I have also worked at MTV and made national appearances as a guest host on BET’s “Rap City.”

Hasan Stephens is the founder and CEO

Why do you choose to stay and make your home here? I stay here because

of the Good Life Philanthropic Youth

it’s a great place to establish yourself financially and raise kids, if you know

Foundation, which aims to end the cycles

how to do so. NYC is a great place to visit, but it is too dirty and crowded for

of youth poverty, incarceration, recidivism

me to return. I’ve also fallen in love with Central New York.

and violence through hip-hop pedagogy and entrepreneurship by working with the highest

What does your “good life” look like and how does CNY play a role?

risk youth, primarily ages 13-24. The Good

A good life to me means helping others realize how to gain access to

Life works with youth within the juvenile

wealth and opportunity here. While Central New York is home to some

justice system, schools and community.

of the poorest populations in the country, it’s also beginning to boom

Stephens is also an adjunct professor at

with opportunity. I see my job as helping to connect those people to the

SUNY Cortland where he teaches “Evolution

opportunities.

of Hip-Hop Culture.” Additionally, he is a leadership consultant for the Central New

What do you like most about living here? The city is not too small and

York Community Foundation, Inc.’s The

not too big. You are just one person removed from the decision makers

Leadership Classroom. He currently serves on

and leaders that make things happen. Leveraging that can give you the

the boards of the Upstate Minority Economic

opportunity to make change as you envision.

Alliance (UMEA), and the Redlich Horwitz Foundation in New York, NY focused on the

How would you spend a day off in the area? To be honest, I enjoy looking

foster care system. He is also a member of

at the scenery and the lakes. Upstate is home to some of the most beautiful

the Madden School of Business Advisory

lakes in the country. Enjoying the sun and kicking back with family for the

Board at Le Moyne College and serves as an

single whole month of heat that we get to enjoy. (laughs)

entrepreneur in residence for the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship. He lives in Clay.

Go-to place to eat? The Preserve.

First place you take out-of-town friends or family? Jus Sum Jazz Lounge or Salt City Market.

Favorite way to take advantage of our beautiful outdoors? Hiking at Highland Forest or Buttermilk Falls.

How would you describe CNY in a few words? Potential for growth.

Best way to get to know the area better? Visit the parks, the inner city and the suburbs to gain contrast and perspective of the disparities.

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M ARISOL HERNANDEZ Marisol Hernandez is the editor in chief of CNY Latino Media, a media consortium that publishes the area’s only Hispanic-oriented newspaper and provides translation services. Hernandez is a consultant for the WISE Women’s Business Center, serving as a coach and leader of the EXITO! entrepreneurial workshops offered in Spanish and English.

She also sits on the board of Rochester-based Latinas Unidas and Amigas Conectadas. She lives in Tully with her life partner and has two stepdaughters and a new grandson.

Were you born and raised in CNY? I was born and raised in

in Cortland, and enjoy the Mexican restaurant (Garcias) for

Puerto Rico. I was living downtown (Syracuse) in 1999, doing

dinner, then end up back home. If I still have time, I could

the last semester of my bachelor’s degree and I wanted to

[go] to Labrador or Tinker Falls and see more waterfalls. I love

reconnect with my Latino heritage and the community. I

the outdoors. If I find that there’s a new restaurant opening

found that a lot of Latinos [were] in Rochester and Syracuse.

around here, I would include that in my day.

I was looking to serve my community and use my bilingual skills. I got a job at the Spanish Action League.

Go-to place to eat? I do love Las Delicias restaurant, they make the best mofongos, pork or fish depending on the day

Why do you choose to stay and make your home here? I kind

of the week. We love Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, too. It’s not just

of fell in love with Syracuse. When I first got here, getting to

Latino food, but we’ve tried many of the ethnic restaurants in

know the Latino leaders and the type of work I was doing got

the area as well.

me into many programs that were servicing the community... and [I] got to learn how to advance the community. In doing

First place you take out-of-town friends or family? I have

that, it felt like home. It felt like I belonged.

taken family to go ice skating in downtown Syracuse or go check Labrador or Song Mountain and see people skiing. Or go

What does your “good life” look like and how does CNY

for a hayride with horses. If it’s summertime, I’ve taken people

play a role? Theater, attending plays, seeing outdoor events,

to the NYS Fair and shown them what the Fair has to offer.

experiencing the diverse ethnic food and places here in this area, that kind of got me hooked. I love seeing all four

Favorite way to take advantage of our beautiful outdoors?

seasons. I could experience metropolitan life if I go to

Going bicycling and hiking. I love going to the Jazz Fest,

Syracuse downtown at night or I could go to the Adirondacks

outdoor music festivals. We sponsor a lot of the Latino

and enjoy being by the lake and very secluded places. It’s easy

festivals [throughout Upstate]. If we have the chance to host a

to get anywhere; you travel for two hours north, south, east or

domino tournament, we do that as well.

west and you can see amazing places and experience those.

How would you describe CNY in a few words? Diverse, What do you like most about living here? I think it’s the

affordable, multi-seasonal, low crime rate. People here are

festivals like Taste of Syracuse. The NYS Fair and all that it

very good to each other, too. When people are in trouble here,

has to offer. Dining out and trying new places in the area. To

everyone contributes and helps. I like that.

top it off, the cost of living is great.

Best way to get to know the area better? Just exploring,

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How would you spend a day off in the area? I would probably

getting out there. Many people are afraid to get out of their

go to Geneva Lake, walk around the lake and have a great

comfort zone and seek things out. Every Sunday we get the

lunch at El Morro, a restaurant with best typical Puerto Rican

new Post-Standard, and we see everything that’s going on in

food. Maybe go wine tasting in Geneva. Or end up in Ithaca

the city. If you Google Central New York or CenterState CEO

and see the gorge and waterfalls. On the way back home, stop

or go to their website, there’s tons of stuff to do.

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TA N N E R E F I N GE R Tanner Efinger is the owner and managing director of queer bar and theater Wunderbar. He is also the artistic director of Breadcrumbs Productions, a nonprofit theater company that performs all over CNY but is in residence at Wunderbar. Efinger is also a theater artist, community activist and organizer, and recently directed and taught at Le Moyne College. He lives in Syracuse.

Were you born and raised in CNY? I was not, no. I moved

They’ve got a great bar, they’re fairly new, independently

to Syracuse almost four years ago. My husband got a job at

owned and the food is incredible.

Colgate University and we wanted to live in the nearest “big” city, so we landed in Syracuse.

First place you take out-of-town friends or family? This is probably cheating, but it’s definitely Wunderbar. Mostly

Why do you choose to stay and make your home here?

because I have to work all the time, so I’m like ‘come, have a

I definitely think that Syracuse chose us in many ways, and

drink.’ But we do, I think, have some of the most interesting

the opportunity that I have had to create art and theater here

cabaret, fringe art that exists in Central New York, and we are

keeps me in Syracuse. I also think that, in many ways, the

a developing and growing hub for that. It’s fun because I get to

LGBTQ community keeps me here. The development that has

go to work and bring my friends along who enjoy themselves.

happened with the queer community over the past four years is pretty incredible.

Favorite way to take advantage of our beautiful outdoors?

This is pretty season-specific for me. We go skiing, hiking,

What does your “good life” look like and how does CNY play

apple or pumpkin picking. There’s plenty of cider tours and

a role? I would say my good life in Central New York looks like

wine tours that you can do. And there’s loads of camping,

a region that is exploding with opportunity for local artists

which is fun.

to develop and be creative. And opportunities to deepen the culture and positivity for LGBTQ people; so, the continued

How would you describe CNY in a few words? The two words

growth of both of those communities is where my good life

I’d use would be nostalgia and renaissance. Even though I

lives.

didn’t grow up here, there is something about the seasons, the outdoor offerings, and the small town feel of Central New

What do you like most about living here? I’m definitely going

York that reminds me of childhood. I suppose my passion

to say the seasons. I have lived in many places and just being

for wandering the antiques stores of CNY also brings me this

able to get four distinct seasons, which change my lens on

deep sense of nostalgia that makes me love this region. The

what I’m doing every few months, I think that’s a good thing.

renaissance this region is experiencing creates a striking

It keeps me refreshed with new energy.

balance of energy.

How would you spend a day off in the area? Antiquing,

Best way to get to know the area better? Something I try

no questions asked. I’d probably start at Syracuse Antiques

to [do] is an idea from a book by Julia Cameron called “The

Exchange; it’s one of my favorites in the area. There are so

Artist’s Way.” Take yourself to a museum, to a movie, take 20

many different antiques shops and vintage stores scattered

minutes to write a poem...[try] a new cocktail or [go] to a new

throughout Central New York. So definitely doing a trail of

dance show. Something that you’ve not done before. So this

that would be an ideal day for me.

idea, I think, would be the best way to see the community because it’s intentionally trying to feed your soul by going out

Go-to place to eat? Mello Velo is my go-to dinner spot.

and doing new things.

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D AV I D H A A S David Haas is the executive director of Sarah’s Guest House. Haas is the owner and creator of the popular Instagram account @SyracuseHistory, which focuses on unlocking the mysteries of and evoking pride in the city of Syracuse. He is also the leader of the Syracuse chapter of the National Stuttering Association, a board member for the Historic Oakwood Cemetery Preservation Association, one of the facilitators for the Eastwood Sector of Tomorrow’s Neighborhoods Today (TNT) and a member of the Onondaga County Democratic Committee. He is a resident of Eastwood in the city of Syracuse.

Were you born and raised in CNY? Yes, I was born and raised

What do you like most about living here? Being able to

in the city of Syracuse — in the Eastwood neighborhood I

make a difference. Our mayor, Ben Walsh, has stated before

continue to call home. I was away during college but didn’t

that Syracuse is a unique place because one person can truly

go far. I received my BS from SUNY Oswego and my MS from

make a difference here. It is very true. We are a mid-sized city

SUNY Cortland.

where one individual can pick up a cause and lead a charge/ change. I’ve seen it done over and over. If you want to make

Why do you choose to stay and make your home here?

something happen, come to Syracuse and get started.

At the time, comfort. I was returning home from school looking to start my career. This is where my family, friends,

How would you spend a day off in the area? I’d stop at a local

and past resided. I wanted to be close to them before I

coffee shop and head to Oakwood Cemetery to explore.

decided my next move. As the years marched forward, I knew I wouldn’t leave. I fell in love with my community and saw the

Go-to place to eat? Peppino’s, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, or

impact I could have locally. There is an old oath that notes we

whatever restaurant is currently in Chadwick’s.

should “transmit our city not only not less, but greater, better and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us.” I truly

First place you take out-of-town friends or family? Can I use

believe that we are here to make this place (Syracuse in this

Oakwood Cemetery for more than one answer? Oakwood is a

example) better for the next generation and I feel compelled

157-acre cemetery that was established in 1859 and is on the

to answer that calling.

National Register of Historic Places. It’s an absolute mustsee — an outdoor museum that is rich in natural resources,

What does your “good life” look like and how does CNY

cultural and historic heritage.

play a role? My good life is being surrounded by loved ones and living a life with a purpose. CNY is my home and where

Favorite way to take advantage of our beautiful outdoors?

I’ve found love and purpose. I’m fairly confident I could be

Walking the city streets of Syracuse and enjoying our urban

elsewhere and find my niche in another community, but I

forest.

wouldn’t want to. CNY provides a nourishing upbringing that blends old with new and the opportunity to make a life of your

How would you describe CNY in a few words? A loyal, loving

choosing. I’ve settled in the neighborhood I was raised, near

locality.

the church I was brought up in, with the people who know me

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best. I want to be somewhere that needs me and I need them

Best way to get to know the area better? Follow

— that’s an ideal life and I’m making it happen here.

@SyracuseHistory on Instagram, of course!

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C H R I S T I N A SAU V E Christina Sauve is the CEO at Cooperative Federal, a community development credit union with four offices in Syracuse. She also serves on the board of directors of Home HeadQuarters. In her spare time, one of her passions is learning the kanien’kéha (Mohawk) language, which she first started studying 20 years ago and picked up in earnest last year. She lives in North Syracuse with her husband and child.

Were you born and raised in CNY? I was born and raised in

community — I can actually meet those inspiring people and

CNY, specifically on the near West Side in Syracuse and in

learn from them! I also love being near family while also being

Solvay, and a lot of my family lives in the area. I went away

a reasonable drive from cities like Montreal for weekend trips.

to California for college; I was at Stanford University in the Bay Area and I absolutely loved California. I came home

How would you spend a day off in the area? It’s a Saturday,

after graduation, in part because I wanted to spend time

and I’ll head to the Regional Market and grab a donut to eat

with my sister who was born just a couple of months before

while I pick up produce and other goodies for the week. Then,

I left for college.

we’ll head off to the Rosamond Gifford Zoo for a couple of hours, then maybe head downtown, get some food and walk

Why do you choose to stay and make your home here? I

along the Creekwalk. Basically — eat good food and meander

always thought I’d spend a year or two back in Syracuse and

around mostly outside!

then return to the Bay Area. I felt like to be “successful” I had to leave. But another part of me always felt a connection to

Go-to place to eat? With a six-year-old and my husband’s

this area, especially as a Mohawk woman with deep ties to

and my own busy work schedules, we tend toward take-out!

the region. One day while looking at job ads, I saw a listing

Our go-tos lately are Bamboo House, or I might bring home

for “Activists Posing as Bankers” using the tools of finance to

something from Mr. Biggs Restaurant.

work for social justice and vibrant Syracuse neighborhoods — and I was hooked. I started working at Cooperative Federal

First place you take out-of-town friends or family? To the

as the executive assistant in 2005, and I’m still there to this

grocery store to stock up on salt potatoes and Hofmann’s hot

day, though now as CEO! Just a few months after finding

dogs! My father once brought salt potatoes in his carry-on

my professional calling at the credit union, I met my now

luggage on a visit to family in Arizona. The bag of salt threw

husband. I feel rooted in this area through family, history,

TSA for a loop for a minute.

and my work.

Favorite way to take advantage of our beautiful outdoors?

What does your “good life” look like and how does CNY

Exploring parks and green areas with my kiddo and husband,

play a role? I feel so very fortunate to be near family, to have

looking for good fishing or frog-hunting spots or hunting for

an incredibly short daily commute to work — leaving more

edible wild berries.

time to relax, cook a meal, or just get outside and to be able to afford to buy a home, which would have been entirely

How would you describe CNY in a few words? Community,

impossible in the Bay Area. I love getting outdoors and there’s

Orange, challenges and opportunities.

no shortage of little parks or green areas to explore.

Best way to get to know the area better? I’m a fan of walking What do you like most about living here? There are so many

around places to get to know them better. The Onondaga

people who I find inspiring, working to make our community

Historical Association has some info on walking tours for a

a stronger and more equitable place. And because it’s a small

perspective on how our history has shaped our community.

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M IK E CU RT IS Were you born and raised in CNY? No, I’m originally from Michigan and I spent my college years in Tennessee. My job brought me to CNY. Why do you choose to stay and make your home here? I get the chance to live out my dream on a daily basis as a sports journalist.

What does your “good life” look like and how does CNY play a role? My “good life” looks a lot like how I’m currently living.

Covering college basketball and football and telling interesting stories about the best athletes in Central New York.

Mike Curtis is a sports reporter for the Post-Standard newspaper and Syracuse.

What do you like most about living here? My favorite part about

com. His main beat is college basketball,

living here is waking up every day with the opportunity to get

and he focuses on the Syracuse men’s and

better at my craft.

women’s teams as well as recruiting. He lives in Liverpool.

How would you spend a day off in the area? I would spend it somewhere outdoors. Either downtown or in my local area of Liverpool.

Go-to place to eat? My go-to takeout spot since the pandemic started has been wings from The Cobblestone.

First place you take out-of-town friends or family? The first place I take out-of-town friends or family is either Pastabilities or Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. Favorite way to take advantage of our beautiful outdoors? My favorite way to take advantage of the outdoors is to go on a run or a walk through Onondaga Lake Park. It has one of the best trails in the city.

How would you describe CNY in a few words? Cold weather, but the people are warm and some of the nicest you’ll ever meet.

Best way to get to know the area better? Cover high school sports. I got to know almost every part of the area that way. If you can’t do that, use your GPS to visit the best restaurants around town.

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E V E LY N I N G R A M Evelyn Ingram is the director of community engagement for Wegmans Food Markets; she partners with area nonprofits and helps them fulfill their missions of helping others in the community. She and her husband, Chino, recently purchased a former Presbyterian church on the South Side of Syracuse and they are renovating it into a multi-use event space called The Castle, which is scheduled to open in 2022. Ingram lives in Onondaga Hill.

Were you born and raised in CNY? I was not. I’m originally

Armory Square, [which] to me, gives you a feeling that you’re

from Long Island and I came to Syracuse as a student at

in a metropolitan-type city because of the style of shops and

Syracuse University.

restaurants. So, I [would] do a mix of both.

Why do you choose to stay and make your home here? You

Go-to place to eat? One of our favorite restaurants is Basil

know, I came here as an 18-year-old, full of hope for my future

Leaf in North Syracuse and you can’t say no to The Clam Bar,

[and] I will be honest that I never intended to stay in Syracuse

that’s right next door. I like A Mano Kitchen & Bar downtown.

after I graduated. I’ve really had some great professional

I also like Otro Cinco. [When] we just want some good wings,

opportunities that have led me to find great fulfillment in this

Clinton Street Pub.

area.

First place you take out of town friends or family? Wegmans What does your “good life” look like and how does CNY play

and Destiny, those typically are the two places.

a role? My good life looks like being able to live in an area where the economy is stable but affordable. And looking at

Favorite way to take advantage of our beautiful outdoors?

the comparison between the type of home you can purchase

I do like Onondaga Lake Park, being able to go there and walk

in Long Island as compared to the type of home in Syracuse,

some of their trails and be by the lake. Syracuse Inner Harbor,

it’s really a no-brainer. And my good life involves my husband

that’s almost, I feel like, a little hidden treasure. We like doing

Chino and my son Austin. So it really has provided me the

the wine tours. It’s just a beautiful day, I’m not necessarily a

type of life I’ve always wanted to live. I’m blessed to have

wine drinker but I like the atmosphere of doing the wine tours

a great career working for a great company, to have a great

and going to the different wineries and having lunch. That’s a

family and to have a support network here.

favorite activity in the summertime.

What do you like most about living here? Well, it’s not the

How would you describe CNY in a few words? I would say

weather! (laughs) My favorite part about living in Central

Central New York is a vibrant up-and-coming city that’s a

New York is that I feel that Syracuse is a small big city. I feel

great place to raise a family.

like I have the ability to have such an impact. I feel like the exposure that I’m given, the opportunities I’m given because

Best way to get to know the area better? Being able to

of our size — not too big, not too small — it really gives me a

connect with others that are from the city, that’s always a

sense of achievement and fulfillment.

good way. I get asked, ‘Evelyn, where do you get your hair done?’ or do certain personal things. Being able to have that

How would you spend a day off in the area? I am a fan of

personal interaction with people helps. I always encourage

Skaneateles, so my day would be going to Mirbeau, having a

people if you have organizations that you’re affiliated with,

spa day. After that I would probably walk through the village

[connect] with the Syracuse chapter. That gives you an instant

and have dinner at one of the restaurants there. I like the

connection to people who can direct you, who can help you

quaintness, the [feeling] I get when I’m there. I do also like

really acclimate to the area.

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THIS CN Y H A S SEEN MUCH PRO GR E S S I N T H E L A ST 1 5 Y E A R S .

IS

BY M J K RAV EC

US Central New York has changed a lot in the last decade and a half. Here are 10 ways the community solidified its

The section of East Genesee Street from South Warren to East Washington Streets in downtown Syracuse was closed to traffic to create a pedestrian walkway.

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PHOTOS BY GARY WALTS AND MICHAEL GREENLAR

connections and built on its progress.

1

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT The Downtown Committee of Syracuse reports that it has seen more than $743 million in investment projects — residential development, office buildouts, cultural and entertainment facilities, public infrastructure projects — since 2010.

Residential growth has jumped 126 percent since 2006, accounting for more than half of the investment in downtown Syracuse over the past 10 years. Today, more than 200 street-level businesses keep downtown

The Marriott Syracuse Downtown hosts the Bootleggers Ball and Roaring ‘20s New Years Eve Party in 2017.

Syracuse bustling. According to data gathered by the Downtown Committee that number includes 80 restaurants, 42 shops, 28 salons or barbers, 16 bakeries or sweets shops and 12 banks. In addition to downtown grocers such as Epicuse on S. Salina Street and the Downtown Grocery Store on S. Warren Street, the Syracuse Cooperative Market at the Salt City Market opened

2

this spring.

MARRIOTT SYRACUSE DOWNTOWN Many locals still refer to the Marriott Syracuse Downtown as the Hotel Syracuse. The hotel opened in 1924 and, over the years, hosted famous guests including John Lennon, John F. Kennedy, The Rolling Stones and Elvis Presley, to name a few. After falling into disrepair, the Hotel Syracuse closed in 2004.

Local developer Ed Riley purchased the building in 2014. After nearly two years of renovation, Marriott Syracuse Downtown, a $76 million restoration project, reopened in May 2016 with 261 rooms. “Bringing this hotel back to life was the goal of a committed group of stakeholders which included the city, the county and the state. The hotel will once again be the gathering place for our community within which new generations will create their memories as past generations have,” Riley told Forbes. Today “The Grand Lady of Syracuse” is on the National Register of Historic Places.

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3

ST JOSEPH’S HEALTH AMPHITHEATER AT LAKEVIEW Bringing world-class acts to music lovers on the shores of Onondaga Lake, St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview, an expansive outdoor entertainment venue debuted in September 2015 with Miranda Lambert’s Roadside Bars and Pink Guitars Tour. “The Amp,” as many refer to it, accommodates 17,500 guests, with reserved seating for 5,000 and features an expansive green lawn where listeners can sit back and enjoy today’s biggest acts under a starry sky. Past performers include Cardi B, Mary J. Blige & Nas, KISS, Florida Georgia Line, Bryan Adams & Billy Idol, Heart, Brad Paisley, Peter Frampton, Zac Brown Band and more. The venue also offers a free Moonlight Movie Series throughout the summer.

4

SU CONNECTIVE CORRIDOR This Syracuse University initiative in cooperation with Onondaga County and the City of Syracuse gave students access to downtown Syracuse, its restaurants, venues, amenities and events. Today, the two miles of green streets The Connective Corridor project included a special sidewalk in front of Syracuse Stage that features colorful lights and stepping stones that trigger sound effects.

accommodate walkers, runners and bikers. There’s also a free public bus that runs between the city’s arts and culture centers and the SU campus. Additionally, the project included a grantfunded improvement of more than 70 building facades and the “Corridor of Light,” which includes visual art, interactive features, outdoor video and more.

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5

UPSTATE GOLISANO CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL Golisano opened in 2009, providing services in general pediatrics, pediatric surgery and hematology/oncology for children from birth to age 19. Servicing 17 counties, Golisano treats more than 100,000 child cases a year and is the only Level 1 Trauma and Burn Center and the only pediatric intensive care unit in the region. The hospital features private rooms and baths and a child-friendly design created with bright colors, open daylit spaces and decorative accents that focus on nature. Project architect Douglas Barga told the Post-Standard in 2009, “For children, the hospital experience begins the minute they leave home. They approach the building from a distance, and they see the colors. Our intent was for them to be positive and the children to feel welcome, so it becomes a place they can emotionally resonate with.”

6

CRAFT BREWERY BOOM

7

FINGER LAKES WINE COUNTRY Central New Yorkers can find a wine tour less than an hour away.

Mineral-rich glacial soil and lake temperatures contribute to the unique mini climate of the Finger

In 2019, Post-Standard/Syracuse.com reporter Don Cazentre

Lakes region to produce what many

wrote that craft brewing in New York State was surging with

refer to as some of the best wines in

a seven-year boom that saw the number of breweries jump

the world. A 2019 USA Today poll

from less than 100 to more than 400. Central New York was

voted the Finger Lakes as the top

in on the boom, too. Cazentre wrote that in 2012, Onondaga

wine region in the country. Other

County had four breweries. But in 2019, that number jumped

praises include: Wine Enthusiast

to 22. CNY saw a diverse offering of breweries that featured

and Tripadvisor.com listed the

pet-friendly spots, outdoor areas for picnics, food trucks,

Finger Lakes on their top “wine

live music, fire pits and farm animals. Places like: Hot House

travel” destinations and U.S. News &

Brewing at Barone Gardens in Cicero, which grows its hops in

World Report designated the Finger

a greenhouse year-round; Local 315 Brewing Co. in Warners,

Lakes as one of the world’s best wine

an actual working farm; Seneca Street Brew Pub in Manlius,

tours promising stunning scenery in

which made its home in a former church; and Heritage Hill

a family-friendly region.

Brewery in Pompey, which offers a full-service kitchen and great views of the city.

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8

ONONDAGA CREEKWALK Along Onondaga Creek, a 4.8-mile, multi-use trail that connects Syracuse’s South Side through Armory Square to the South Shore of Onondaga Lake Park features benches, LED lighting, surveillance cams and emergency call stations. Several years in the making, the project that featured a “historical tour of Syracuse” with 12 interpretive signs was a joint effort by the City of Syracuse and Onondaga Historical Association with additional input from Syracuse University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts. The walk ends at

The 25th annual Westcott Street Cultural Fair parade in Syracuse.

9

CNY’S FESTIVALS The growing and continued success of our many cultural festivals brings people together from near and far. The area’s diverse offerings include St. Sophia’s Greek Cultural Festival, Irish Festival, Italian Festival, Middle Eastern Cultural Festival, Polish Festival, Juneteenth, CNY Pride Parade & Festival, CNY Scottish Games & Celtic Festival, St. George Macedonian Ethnic Festival,

a viewing area of Onondaga Lake

Syracuse Bavarian Oktoberfest, Westcott Street Cultural Fair, CNY

and nest sites of the American

Pagan Festival and more. These ethnically and culturally diverse

Eagles who’ve made a home here.

gatherings celebrate all the sights, sounds, flavors and people that enrich Central New York.

10

EAT LOCAL MOVEMENT Farm-to-table restaurants, community-supported agriculture and area farmers markets continue to bring the eat local movement to the forefront. Sampling Syracuse Food Tours, the CNY Regional

Dale Haas of Haas Farms in Red Creek at the Downtown Farmers Market in 2016.

Market, Downtown Farmers Market, Fayetteville Farmers Market and many others are a testament to the craving for fresh, local produce and ingredients. In 2006, farm to table was a relatively unique concept adopted by a handful of local restaurants. Today, an increasing number of dining establishments seek to source more of their food from regional farms and food vendors.

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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 AMELIA BEAMISH

STATEMENT STYLE At once boho and bold, polymer clay earrings’ popularity has increased thanks to makers sharing their creative process on social. The handmade pieces are lightweight but strong, and there’s a style for every mood, like these from five CNY designers.

Clockwise from top left, Sandstone marble quartz earrings, $25, Carter + Clay, carterandclay.etsy.com. The Persephone, $60, evermore., available at Simply Fresh Flowers, Manlius, evermorecny.etsy.com. Stripey Sunset earrings, $25, Tree Forts & Fireflies, treefortsandfireflies.com. Blossom Floral earrings with real pressed flowers, $40, MAED by Mini, maedbymini.com.

Peace and Harmony earrings, $42, Brash Design, brashmadeandfound.com.

Making good

CNY SCOUT

A perfecting powder, right, was the first product Silk Naturals launched with 15 years ago; the powder helps makeup blend better and absorbs some oil. On the left, highlighters, shown in two shades.

The eyes have it

and the lips... and the cheeks...

BY AMY BLEIER LONG

From building a regimen to finding just the

age, guided by her crafty mom who instilled a love of

right color to swipe on, skin care and makeup are

working with her hands. Her later studies in the sci-

pretty personal.

ences, color theory and psychology — plus a post-college soap-making business — gave her the practical background she needed to launch her brand.

ucts should be long lasting yet easy to remove and

Stark didn’t intend to create a whole line, just a

offer a literal spectrum of colors. Interest in natu-

perfecting powder that allowed her skin to breathe.

ral or clean beauty continues to grow — and if it’s affordable, all the better.

Karen Stark understands these demands and

Karen Stark, the founder of Silk Naturals.

ing it online. The powder took off and people asked for blush and foundation, too. As she began to fulfill

works hard to meet them. The founder of Finger Lakes-area in-

these requests, she realized that since makeup performs better

die brand Silk Naturals went through a frustrating search of her

if the skin underneath is clear and smooth, it would be benefi-

own before deciding to enter the beauty industry. “I just started

cial to take the time to develop skincare formulas and find lab

because I was looking for better makeup,” Stark says of products

space to manufacture it. Silk Naturals operates out of the Masonic

that dried out her sensitive skin and her wariness of the chem-

Building in Trumansburg, just southwest of Ithaca. There, Stark

icals found in many mass-market cosmetics.

and a small number of employees make every batch by hand.

Her experience with product development began at a young 88

Friends and family were impressed, so she began sell-

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Since 2006, Silk Naturals has amassed an inventory of over

PHOTOS BY AMELIA BEAMISH, KAREN STARK PHOTO BY ALDEN STARK

And consumers have a lot of expectations: Ingredients should be effective but not irritating. Prod-

500 individual items. According to Stark, the brand offers one of the world’s largest assortment of organic lip products and was one of the first indie companies to make a diverse range of foundations, now at 42 shades; eyeshadows come in 285 colors and blushes, 50.

The company’s name comes from the silk protein used in the original formulations. Vegan alternatives are available for many of the items and most are gluten free. Stark takes a small-batch approach, producing what’s needed each week so customers receive brand-new product. “When somebody posts a before-and-after using our products, part of the reason it’s working really well is because it’s super fresh,” she says.

The natural and sustainable active ingredients Silk Naturals uses are selected by Stark only if their results have been backed up by peer-reviewed clinical studies. When communicating with customers, she wants to be transparent about the ingredients and the skin concerns they address. It is important to Stark that the products are friendly to sensitive skin and skin with rosacea, both of which she deals with herself.

Her customers are knowledgeable and educate themselves on the science behind makeup and skin care. Early on, Stark sold samples for 25 cents and customers gave feedback that allowed Silk Naturals to further tailor the products. Quality driven, Stark isn’t concerned with trends: When larger brands release new palettes, Silk Naturals often already has those colors available. Using a loose powder formulation for blushes and eyeshadows lets Stark’s team pack every color with a ton of pigment. She notes that the chemistry of pressed powder, which mass-market palettes consist of, doesn’t lend itself to bold colors, “I like designing what the big boys can’t.”

Though awareness of the brand has mostly been by word of mouth and via beauty influencers, Silk Naturals is well known in natural beauty circles and ships to 70 countries. Selling directly to consumers online allows Stark to price her items at a fraction of the competitors’ cost. Silk Naturals offers samples of nearly all of its products so you can try before committing to a full size.

Bold, loose powder eyeshadows are packed with pigment and available in a whopping 285 different shades.

Over the last year, Stark saw orders for eye products, blushes, highlighters and skin care surge. In response to the way consumer buying has been influenced by the pandemic, Stark shifted her 2021 priorities — less emphasis on the lip products that typically dominate. Going forward, she also wants to become a resource for makeup application tips to help people

Serums are some of Silk Naturals best-selling skin care products. Stark notes that Calm Down in particular has been useful for handling the new “maskne” concerns.

build their skills and confidence.

“I love working with the customers, I love helping them feel really great about themselves. Giving them that confidence boost, you know? A lot of our products are really simple. It’s just a couple of ingredients but it makes such a difference in

Organic and gluten-free lip balms add moisture with no tint. The evocative flavors range from fruity pear to creamy root beer float.



For more information, visit silknaturals.com.

people’s lives,” she says.

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at home

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Open Mon – Sat 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

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Making good

FA R M T O TA B L E

All fired up Early peppers bring sweet heat to this roast chicken paired with smashed potatoes

BY M J K RAV EC PHOTOS BY ALAINA POTRIKUS

In downtown’s Hanover Square, rush hour is quieter than usual. Yet, there are signs of life returning — people wearing masks are just getting off work and heading out, tiny green buds emerge from tree branches, bass booms from a passing car playing music. And next to Onondaga Savings Bank, in Syracuse’s first steel building, a restaurant is literally firing up for its dinner crowd.

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Making good

FA R M T O TA B L E

Eden chef and restaurant partner Rich Strub.

Inside Eden, which offers wood-fired farm-to-table cuisine, the open flame ovens are blazing. Minimally decorated to showcase the building’s exposed brick, steel beams and original wood floors now built into the concrete-and-steel-framed bar, the space speaks industrial, but with an obvious appreciation of nature shown in the dining tables edged with bark and planters of herbs thriving under grow lights.

Behind a counter, stacks of wood sit underneath the ovens of the open kitchen.

Here, Eden chef and restaurant partner Rich Strub seasons the chicken he’s preparing for CNY Magazine. He sprinkles high over a cast iron pan, slides it onto the grate and watches. “The challenge is to keep your eye on it and get a feel for what the actual temperature is.”

Not that he’d like to add any more challenges to his plate. It’s been a tough year for restaurants — one in which adaptation became a common theme. Open just seven months before the pandemic shutdown, Eden switched from running just as a

What does it pair well with?

restaurant to also running an online program that provided home cooks with a cu-

Try a dry or semi-dry Riesling, “because the peppers are going to be spicy.” Strub likes Forge Cellars and Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard.

rated list of ingredients from local farms delivered right to their door. The program was and continues to be a success. Now, with restaurants allowed to open to 75 percent capacity, Strub says he’s planning to expand the program while operating Eden and continue his mission of bringing people fresh, local food.

HOME GROWN At Eden, about 86 percent of the ingredients come from local farms, says Strub.

Among the offerings in today’s dish of Roast Chicken with Smashed Potatoes and 92

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ROASTED CHICKEN WITH POTATOES AND PEPPERS This recipe serves one, but you can adapt for more servings Potatoes and Peppers 2 - 3 red potatoes 1 habanero 1 Italian long hot pepper 2 shishito peppers 2 cloves garlic 1 shallot 1 Tbsp. butter 3 Tbsp. canola oil

Chicken 1 chicken breast (bone, skin on) Salt Pepper 1 Tbsp. butter 2 Tbsp. oil

» Add potatoes to a sauce pot, big enough to fit them all below the top. Fill pot with cold water and add salt until the water tastes like ocean water. Bring potatoes and water to a boil and cook until potatoes are fork tender. Drain potatoes and place them in the refrigerator to cool. » Once the potatoes are cooled enough to handle, tear them into bite-sized pieces and place them back in the refrigerator. » Mince garlic, shallots and peppers and set aside for later. » Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spicy Peppers: fresh herbs, microgreens and edible flowers from a farm in Fabius, chicken from Local Roots in Cazenovia, peppers (normally from Grey Rock Farm in Tully, but picked from Wegmans at press time), potatoes from Grindstone Farm in Pulaski.

“Our menu changes daily — depending on what’s available and what we can get from our farmers,” Strub says. “We use what’s left over from our online program.”

The late spring/early summer menu at Eden will incorporate arugula, spinach, mushrooms, peppers, peas, baby carrots and baby beets and ramps, if available.

But despite an ever-changing menu, Strub says his most popular dish is consistently the restaurant’s scallops and steak. “Probably half the entrees we serve are steak entrees. People come in and sit down and they see a woodfired grill and they want a steak.” This version of roast chicken might give that steak a run — especially when prepared right.

Strub finishes slicing fresh peppers and garlic and adds them to the pan of smashed potatoes. “When the oil is still hot, add the garlic and peppers,” he says. “You’ll get a lot more aroma when it’s still cooking.”

He places the chicken onto a bed of greens with the potatoes and peppers and

» Heat a pan over medium high heat and add 1 Tbsp. of butter and 3 Tbsp. of oil. Once the butter is melted, add torn potatoes and season them to taste. Coat the outside of the potatoes with the butter and oil and put them in the oven to bake. Turn the potatoes occasionally, allowing the outsides to get crispy (about 20 to 30 minutes). » Warm a skillet over medium high heat on your stove top. Cast iron skillets work best for this, but a saute pan will do in a pinch. Add oil and butter. Salt chicken breast to taste and place in the skillet skin side down. Immediately put the skillet in the oven and allow to cook skin side down until cooked through. Once chicken is cooked through pull it out of the oven and allow it to rest on your cutting board. » When potatoes are crispy on the outside, remove them from the oven and add the minced garlic, shallot, and peppers. The oil and butter in the pan will still be hot enough to cook these ingredients through. » Slice chicken breast. Arrange potato and pepper mixture and chicken attractively on a plate.

Enjoy!

dots the plate with edible flowers — just the right touch for a late spring dinner.

“It’s high pepper season and this is the proper way to roast a chicken so that the skin gets crispy and the meat inside is moist.”



Visit edencny.com.

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Making good

DOWN TO EARTH

HELP SAVE THE WORLD WITH A REFRESHER ON CURBSIDE RECYCLING

It’s tricky this recycling bin-ness.

You can’t rely on the markings on plastic clamshell berry containers to tell you what’s accepted in our local recycling program (clamshell berry containers are not). So how do you know for sure what goes in (and stays out) of the blue bin?

Bin there, done that OCRRA’s Public Information Officer Kristen Lawton says she often gets calls and emails from people confused about what does and doesn’t go into the bin. But our community does “a fantastic job” with over 35,000 tons of household material being recycled annually in Onondaga County.

“Which is insane,” she says. “It’s really a great number and it shows the environmental commitment of our community.”

It’s worth nothing, however, that

Mind your bin-ness

the innocent mistake of so called

BY M J K RAV EC

hope they’re recyclable) only contam-

“wish-cycling” or throwing unrecyclable items into the blue bin (because we inates the good recyclable materials

to see a feature on how to be more environmentally friendly here in CNY. With

94

and adds to sorting costs for OCRRA. “People are well intentioned but

this new column, we hope to bring you real-life ways to waste less and feel better

that’s the reality of it,” she says. “Any-

about doing good for the earth.

thing residents can do to reduce con-

So we went to OCRRA, whose motto “Save the world a little each day” perfect-

tamination [in recyclables] will help

ly coincides with our mission here. There are several topics we could start with

us keep the [sorting] costs down and

(and no doubt will address in future columns), but we chose something we could

the curbside recycling program going

all use a refresher on — curbside recycling.

strong,” Lawton says.

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DRAWING BY MAX KRAVEC

Dear readers: Thank you for letting us know in our recent survey that you’d like

T O M A K E C U R B S I D E R E C YC L I N G E V E N M O R E P R O D U C T I V E , F O L L O W T H E S E R U L E S : 1. When in doubt, throw it out. “If you’re having a dialogue with yourself, if it’s recyclable or not, throw it out,” Lawton says.

2. Don’t bag your recyclables or separate paper from containers. Materials should be loose and empty/rinsed. (If you’re

afraid of materials being blown around the neighborhood, place another blue bin on top to contain recyclables).

3. Ignore the numbers and symbols on plastic containers. Pay attention to the shape of plastic items instead. Only plastic

bottles, jugs and jars go in the recycle bin. “If the base of [the container] is larger than the opening, that’s what we call a bottle or jar... It doesn’t matter if it’s square, round or cylindrical,” says Lawton. Think toiletry bottles and other oddly shaped bottles — those go in the blue bin. Keep OCRRA’s “what goes in” list (printed here) as a handy reminder.

The simplest way to keep recycling productive is to place only cardboard, paper, boxes and plastic shaped like bottles, jugs, jars and stackable dairy tubs in the blue bin. If you’re wondering if something is recyclable, it probably isn’t – trash it.

“Ensuring you keep the wrong things out of the blue bin is just as important as putting the right things in. The more correct items that are in the blue bin, the more recycling actually happens. When too many non-recyclable items end up in the recycling, entire bales of material can end up as trash.”

W H AT G O E S I N

W H AT S TAYS O U T

» Cardboard and paperboard boxes; e.g., pizza boxes (takeout and delivery only), pasta, cracker and cereal boxes — flattened. Note that frozen food boxes go into the trash. “Those all contain a plastic/ wax coating that makes the box unrecyclable,” says Lawton. » Newspapers, magazines, papers, mail, soft cover books.

» Film or stretchy plastics (clean and dry) such as retail plastic bags, plastic outer wrap on cases of paper towels or sports drinks, dry cleaning bags, newspaper bags, plastic shipping pouches, even the plastic bag wrap around this magazine. Recycle these at grocery stores, chain pharmacies and big box retailers such as Target and Walmart. Remove any stickers.

» Plastic jugs and bottles, including shampoo and conditioner bottles, laundry detergent bottles — empty and rinsed. Avoid crushing plastic bottles and jugs; this makes sorting easier at the recycling facility.

» Clothes and textiles — donate clean, dry materials to Salvation Army and Rescue Mission. Even if they’re not wearable, they can still be recycled into industrial wiping rags or fiber for insulation.

NOTE: Plastic caps on bottles, jugs and

» Electronics, including TVs (recycle at various locations in our county. Visit www.OCRRA.org.)

jars must be reattached otherwise they cannot be recycled (spray caps should be removed and thrown in the trash). » Cans and jars — emptied and rinsed with labels on, think peanut butter, pickle jars and soup cans. If the cap/lid is the same material as the container, reattach and recycle.

If it’s a different material than the container, toss the lid in trash. » Plastic dairy tubs (butter, yogurt, cream cheese, etc. rinsed). Note tubs must be stackable or able to nest inside themselves.

To see a video of how OCRRA sorts recyclables, visit ocrra. org/services/recycle.

Learn how to reduce, reuse and recycle more at www.OCRRA.org; www.facebook.com/OCRRA or by calling (315) 453-2866. Join OCRRA’s email list by entering your address in the “Join our Mailing List” section at the bottom of www.OCRRA.org.

» Clean, dry foil pans and aluminum foil — do not fold foil as it ends up contaminating paper. Ball up foil and toss in bin. “Make it 3D, something that’s not flat to help with sorting” Lawton says.

» Crackable plastics (berry “clamshell” containers, salad tubs, etc.) are not accepted as they end up contaminating paper. These go in the trash. » Egg cartons » Styrofoam (trash it) » Latex paint cans (if the paint is dried and the lid is off, these go in your trash) » Food scraps (can be dropped off at OCRRA Compost Sites) » Household batteries (return to OCRRA kiosks at Wegmans and Green Hills Farm)

» Milk and juice cartons, half and half cartons, rinsed (spouts and caps are okay).

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Making good

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ART PROFILE

Lim’s set design for “Talley’s Folly” at Syracuse Stage, a show that was filmed and then streamed for patrons last fall. Above, a cardboard model of the set for “Talley’s Folly.”

Making a scene Scenic designer Czerton Lim’s magical creations at area theaters start with a sketchpad, Google searches and “3 a.m. epiphanies.”

B Y M AT T H E W N E R B E R

Czerton Lim is not an artist, as far as he’s concerned.

When it comes to describing what he does, he’s more comfortable with the term “designer.”

Lim, who has spent the last 20 years designing sets for theater productions, makes a small but important distinction between the two job descriptions. While an artist creates from the “ether,” as he puts it, a designer is first and foremost a problem solver.

“A designer actually has to answer questions,” Lim says. “As a scenic designer, the biggest question is always the script. For me as a designer, I am part of a conversation that creates this world.”

Lim has made a career out of solving design problems for big musicals throughout Central New York like “Elf” at Syracuse Stage, for which he won a SALT Award, and “West Side Story” at Auburn’s Rev Theatre Company (formerly known as

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Making good

ART PROFILE

for navigating roadblocks and arriving at what he calls the “3 a.m. epiphanies.”

Lim’s tools are simple: the script, a pencil, a sketchpad and inspiration images from hours of Google searches. His “Matilda” mood board is heavy on shades of gray, while “Talley’s Folly” favored warmer tones. After he decides on an approach, he will doodle and draw before throwing his sketches into Photoshop. Next come digital renderings and the cardboard models.

Lim doesn’t rely on a particular style or aesthetic, although he is fond of the clean lines of minimalism, and he prides himself on coming to every production with a fresh pair of eyes.

So how exactly did the former pre-med student end up with a career in the theater? Lim says it was a total fluke, just the result of a kid looking for extracurriculars to beef up his college applications. He stumbled into the auditorium one day after class, and rehearsals for the high school musical were under way. Someone mistook Lim for a member of the stage crew and put him to work.

“I have a distinct memory of walking into that auditorium and seeing all those people onstage, and the noise just kind of hitting me,” Lim says. “If I was going to be scared, that moment would have been it.”

But the theater community was a welcome one for a shy kid, and Lim even acted onstage during those first few years. When Cardboard model and tavern scene from “Beauty and the Beast” at Syracuse Stage.

it came time to choose electives at William and Mary, he found himself back in a theater class. One course became two, which became four, and when he visited home the winter of his senior year, Lim broke the news to his parents that his pre-med days were over.

the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse and the Finger Lakes Musical These days, with COVID-19 restrictions forcing theaters to reschedule or cancel whole seasons, Lim has had to reinvent

major in biology and theater in the hopes of becoming an actor.

“And then, of course, reality hits you,” Lim says.

his playbook. He designed the Lanford Wilson play “Talley’s

He quickly learned he wasn’t so much in love with the limelight.

Folly” for Syracuse Stage knowing it would never be seen by a

“I realized that I don’t necessarily need to be in front of the stage

live audience (the show was filmed and then streamed online

to feel fulfilled,” he says. “Because the thing that I was enjoying

for patrons last fall), and he has begun work on the postponed

was the creating, the world building, the environment building.”

“Matilda the Musical,” which Syracuse Stage hopes to present at some time in the future.

After working as a scenic painter for a few years, Lim received his M.F.A. in scenic design at the University at Washington. He

“I don’t think it makes theater less, I think it makes it differ-

began his career as a freelancer in New York City, though he still

ent,” says Lim, who also teaches scene design at SUNY Fredonia.

considers his first big break in set design to be “Forever Plaid”

“And how we approach that thing being different is the subtle

from the Rev Theatre Company in Auburn.

nuance that I’m hopefully allowing my students to have. Really the most important thing is just resilience.”

98

Lim says his parents were supportive, even if they were initially “flabbergasted,” and he eventually graduated with a double

Lim now lives in Fredonia with his family, but considers Syracuse his summer home because he often works in the area while

Born in the Philippines before moving to Brooklyn at age 7,

on break from teaching. Central New York audiences will know

Lim eventually settled in Virginia Beach. He attended the Col-

his work from the Rev, where he has designed everything from

lege of William and Mary as a biology major with an eye toward

“Sweeney Todd” to “Singin’ in the Rain,” and Syracuse Stage,

medical school. Lim says this scientific background gives him

where his frequent collaborations with director Donna Drake

a certain openness, curiosity and creativity, which is essential

have included “Beauty and the Beast” as well as “Elf” and, if

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PHOTOS COURTESY SYRACUSE STAGE, CARDBOARD MODEL IMAGEGS COURTESY CZERTON LIM

Theater Festival).

Lim won a SALT Award for his set design on the musical “Elf” at Syracuse Stage. The designer doesn’t rely on a particular style or aesthetic, but favors the clean lines of minimalism and approaching each production with a fresh pair of eyes.

things go according to plan, “Matilda.”

Drake describes Lim as an excellent collaborator. Working on

dreamed up something that we thought was in the world of what Donna was trying to do.”

a show requires months of back and forth, with Drake returning

Last fall, Steffan and Lim worked together on Syracuse Stage’s

with more and more requests. And while he always delivers on

streaming-only “Talley’s Folly” — a first for Lim, who had nev-

the technical side, she says, his best quality has nothing to do

er designed specifically for film before.

with his work on the stage.

There were some challenges: Lim says the camera is both more

“He makes me laugh, you know, he really does,” Drake says. “I

and less observant than the human eye, and sometimes it will

like to create magic, and I always say to Czerton when we start,

pick up precisely the thing you’re trying to hide from the audi-

‘It’s a $10 million budget!’ Which it’s not. But we pretend we can

ence. He’s excited to bring lessons like these back to his students,

do anything, and it makes us both more creative.”

especially as COVID-19 has changed the way theater is made.

As the pair work on “Matilda,” Drake continues to encourage

Teaching has always been important to Lim, and he’s proud to

Lim to push his creativity to the limits, solving Broadway-size

call himself an educator. But can you call him an artist? Drake,

problems with a regional-theater-size budget.

for one, disagrees with him on this front.

Randy Steffan, the technical director at Syracuse Stage and

“He is absolutely an artist,” she says. “So much comes out of his

a frequent collaborator of Lim’s, described one such instance

imagination. As a human being, he is a kind, good, loving soul.”

in “Matilda” ­— Drake wanted to recreate a moment where one character throws another, sending her flying across the stage.

“Czerton and I exchanged, I bet, 10 emails back and forth,” Steffan says. “And often they would start, ‘Here’s the new bad

Matthew Nerber is a graduate student in the Goldring Arts Journalism and Communications Program at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications.

idea for today!’ And we’d both pick it apart a little bit, until we M AY/J U N E

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Galleries

Spring is in the Air at Edgewood Gallery.

ARTRAGE GALLERY, THE NORTON PUTTER GALLERY 505 Hawley Avenue, Syracuse, artragegallery.org. Open noon to 6 p.m.

Thursday and Friday, noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Free. Check their website for updates.

Leslie Feinberg: Screened In, Looking Out: A Disabilities Photo Exhibit. Renowned trans activist, historian and author of the groundbreaking gender-nonconforming novel “Stone Butch Blues,” Leslie Feinberg began making this photographic series between summer 2009 and winter 2011, when ze was forced to relocate to Syracuse, NY, because of failing health.

(Ze/hir and she/her were Feinberg’s preferred pronouns.) Hir long-standing Lyme+ illness began in the 1970s when there was limited knowledge related to the disease. Anti-trans prejudice embedded in the for-profit health system severely damaged her care and her health to the end of her life. When hir ability to complete writing projects became impaired, she turned to photography to create art through a political lens. In the 2000s, Feinberg posted her images online with a focus on disability issues and class consciousness. As ze says in this series’ artist’s statement, ze began taking photographs with a little silver point-and-shoot Canon to make “...a kind of geographic and emotional GPS of where I was and how I got here.” Ze added: “These photographs are the unexpected form and shape of my memory cabinet. They also reveal the geographic and social isolation of severe illness and resulting disabilities. This body of work reveals my inner struggle for articulation at a time

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when illness and disability — and discrimination and prejudice — were silencing my voice.” Runs May 13 through July 11.

CAZENOVIA ARTISANS GALLERY 39 Albany St., Cazenovia. 315-655-2225, cazenoviaartisans.com. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Icescapes and Landscapes of the Arctic. Jerry Weimar is a local landscape photographer from Madison County.

He is known for his compelling photographs of Central New York and the Adirondacks. Icescapes and Landscapes of the Arctic will focus on new works from his 2019 trip to Greenland and Iceland. The exhibit runs from May 1 through 31. Reception to be held 2 to 5 p.m. May 8.

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 Sunday-Monday. Free. Please wear a mask, observe proper social distancing.

Hand sanitizer, gloves and masks are available in the gallery.

Spring is in the Air. Katya Bratslavsky exhibits her impasto acrylic floral paintings and hand-made jewelry using semi-precious stones and Swarovski crystals; with metal sculpture by Carol Adamec. Runs May 14 through June 25. Due to COVID, there will be no artist reception. Open regular hours, no appointment necessary to visit the gallery, please use protection protocols.

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.

Who, What, When, Where. Based upon the iconic Carrie Mae Weems’ 1998 work of the same name, Who, What, When, Where explores questions of identity, place, and time while investigating the four words fundamental to the construction of narratives. Through Aug. 22.

Jaleel Campbell: Homecoming. The artist’s first solo museum exhibition in his hometown of Syracuse, features digital illustrations alongside newly created video works and a series of his “Jalethal” dolls. Through Aug. 1.

The Floating Bridge: Postmodern and Contemporary Japanese Ceramics. The Everson began collecting contemporary Japanese ceramics in earnest in the mid-1970s, an experimental period when artists were applying geometric forms and conceptual strategies to traditional materials and forms. The exhibition highlights this under-recognized generation of artists who are now credited with laying the groundwork for today’s contemporary ceramic movement in Japan. Through May 9.

Jaleel Campbell print at Everson.

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.

Freedom Bound: Syracuse & The Underground Railroad. Dedicated to the history of anti-slavery and Underground Railroad activity in Onondaga County, Freedom Bound personalizes the story of the Underground Railroad while educating visitors about slavery, abolitionism, tolerance and the meaning of freedom through a highly immersive experience. OHA has recreated the story of how slaves had to make the decision to escape, leaving behind family and the only world they knew, for a chance at freedom. Meet Syracuse stationmaster Reverend Jermain Loguen, fellow abolitionist leaders Samuel May and Chloe Merrick, freedom seeker Frank Wanzer and anti-abolitionist B. Davis Noxon as they describe the Underground Railroad environment in Onondaga County before the Civil War. See the gallery come alive with the lights, images, voices, sounds and music of the period, helping to tell this important piece of our local history. Also see earthen faces found in the basement of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, possibly carved by escaping slaves hiding in the church.

Shu to, 1986, by Itsue Ito at Everson.

Woman’s Perspective: 120 Years of Female Artists. Since the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, women have worked hard to gain equality, opportunity and recognition in the traditionally male-dominated art world. “A Woman’s Perspective,” highlights artwork from the OHA collections created by women since 1900.

These women have documented the landscape and people of Onondaga County for the past 120 years.

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T H E G O O D L I F E

Connect with us on social!

Follow us on social: @cnymagazine T H E G O O D L I F E

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Flashback

E.C. Stearns & Company produced the Yellow Fellow bike models in the late 1800s.

SPIN CITY Syracuse was once a major player in the bike industry

BY CHRIS MELFI

For someone just getting acquainted with Syracuse history, it

E.C. Stearns & Company pitted their lightweight Yellow Fellow

can be difficult to keep track of what the city has been known for.

bike against an Empire State Express train, the holder of the land

First, Syracuse was “The Salt City” and later it claimed the mon-

speed record, in 1896. Experienced riders on a sextuplet Yellow

iker “Typewriter City.” But in between those tales of two cities,

Fellow pulled up next to the train in Solvay, reaching speeds of 45

Syracuse was a major player in the bicycle industry. Over a doz-

mph and edging the train out by a few lengths after the half mile

en manufacturers and many racers called Syracuse home, which

race. An impressive feat, to be sure, but it is doubtful the Yellow

first saw designated bike lanes in 1897. In recent years, Syracuse

Fellow could have kept up with the Empire State Express train’s

has been striving to rediscover its bike culture by implement-

record of 112.5 miles per hour.

the brakes in the summer of 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions.

With a strong connection to cycling history, it is clear to see why Syracuse is keen on bringing biking infrastructure into the 21st

In the late 19th century, the bicycle industry was booming, with

century. Syracuse’s Bike Plan cites economic, health, equity and

more than 300 major players in the market. Some bikes sold for

safety advantages as major reasons to revitalize bike culture. Be-

more than $100. Along with the nearly 20 bicycle manufacturers

sides being a way to connect neighborhoods and a means of exer-

in Syracuse around that time, there were maintenance shops and

cise, bike lanes allow for the urban exploration of Syracuse, a city

other businesses that catered to the industry. Among the most no-

teeming with natural beauty within and without the city center.

table innovators were E.C. Stearns & Company, who produced the

With over 9.5 miles of bike lanes, a blossoming downtown, and rich,

Yellow Fellow models, and Alexander Brown, who, besides invent-

relevant history, Syracuse is poised to re-enter the cycling world.

ing the Smith Premier Typewriter, also invented the pneumatic

Chris Melfi is support services coordinator at Onondaga Historical Association.

tube and two-speed gear for bicycles.

M AY/J U N E

PHOTO COURTESY OHA

ing its Bike Plan and bringing in a ride-share program, which hit

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

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Last word

WITH

TIM ATSEFF

CNY Magazine founder

BY M J K RAV EC

In honor of the 15th anniversary of Central New York Magazine, we felt it appropriate to check in with founding editor and

Favorite place to enjoy the outdoors in CNY? I’m not one for favorites. Central New York is filled with un-

creator Tim Atseff on how it all started, what he’s been up to

spoiled natural beauty down every road around every bend.

lately and why it’s important to reflect on the good life in CNY.

However, I will admit to being partial to a lifetime of meandering around Green Lakes or an occasional golf course.

Tell us a little about you as the founder of Central New York magazine (and CNY Business Exchange and CNY Sports).

What went on behind those first issues?

A little context here, so let’s put the horse before the cart. I think I was born with ink in my veins.

After graduating from Fayetteville-Manlius High School in 1965, I walked into the now-defunct Herald-Journal news-

What have you missed most during COVID? Smiles, laughter and the touch of family, friends…especially our 12 grandchildren. Zoom, FaceTime and Messenger Kids, while adequate, are a poor substitute for the humanity of living. But for now, give me smiles behind masks and social distancing to the alternative. I can wait.

room taking a summer job as a copyboy. A way to earn a couple of bucks for college. It was a summer job that turned into a

So, what have you been up to lately? We know you haven’t

full-time job for the next 46 years.

slowed down…

I held the positions artist, art and design director, editori-

I have an issue with the word “retirement” — preferring “re-

al cartoonist, deputy managing editor and managing editor of

wirement.” So, since rewirement, I have kept busy editing and

the Herald-Journal and Sunday Herald American and manag-

designing several local tabletop books and enjoying the good

ing editor of The Post Standard.

life with pre-COVID travel. And of course, community work

In 2005, I transitioned to marketing and new product development director to produce a new revenue stream for the newspaper engaging both advertisers and readers. Enter

with the Crouse Health Foundation and Onondaga Historical Association.

Then came the pandemic. If there is any advantage to

The Good Life, Central New York Magazine followed by CNY

COVID precautions, it’s time. While some time and plans have

Business Exchange Magazine and Central New York Sports

been lost or deferred, other time was banked. I spent that time

Magazine.

in my studio painting. Painting as therapy. Painting to release

In 1965, I walked into the newsroom with a sense of pur-

my astonishment at the deluge of political jujitsu blaring from

pose looking for opportunities to make a difference. In 2011, I

news reports. Painting to purge myself of pent up anxieties

walked out with the same sense of purpose — to use my cre-

and existential fears. A kenosis of sorts. An emptying of self.

ativity to make a difference. Proud of what I created and ed-

Painting can be humiliating to one’s ego. While I’m not fond

ited. And always inspired by my colleagues. Journalists, who

of humiliating myself, I find it helpful in getting out of my

understood the importance of truth and the willingness to un-

own way…spiritually speaking.

cover it.

What are you working on now?

What time do you get up in the morning and how do you

I’m always creating… Too many canvases, not enough time.

When our Brittany Spaniel, Lucy, gets up. My coffee? Black

political. I choose to paint defiant art. Art that just doesn’t sit

with a newspaper.

on its butt.

Favorite season in CNY and why?

the two disciplines and have built up a body of work reflect-

No favorites. Ecclesiastes and the Byrds said it best, “For ev-

ing the Trump and now COVID years. That work has yielded

ery time there is a season. Turn, turn turn.”

four exhibitions over the past couple of years: The Center for

For the past two years, I have experimented on merging

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PHOTO COURTESY TIM ATSEFF

I have two veins of artwork. One existential and the other

take your coffee?



Visit timatseff.com.

Contemporary Political Art in Washington in 2019, The ArtCar Museum in Houston in 2020, followed by a solo show in Syra-

Another issue that stands out was one of my last. Onondaga Nation Faithkeeper Oren Lyons was the cover story.

cuse at the ArtRage Gallery. Currently, I have a major solo ret-

While Juli Boeheim had set her roots down in Central New

rospective show, the Art of Darkness, at the University Muse-

York, Oren’s roots on this land precede all of us by several mil-

um of Contemporary Art at Southern Illinois University, my

lennia. I had been trying for months to nail him down to tell

alma mater.

his story. Photographer Michael Greenlar described finding Oren best, “He’s like catching smoke.” Well, we caught him and

So back to Central New York Magazine. Do you have a favorite issue or story about a particular issue?

Hmmm-m. That’s like asking which one is your favor-

our readers were richer for it.

Writer Colleen Burns profiled this extraordinary man dedicating his life to preserving indigenous traditions, ceremonies,

ite child. That said, there are actually two issues I’d like to

values and native sovereignty. Her story began, “Oren Lyons

highlight.

woke in the darkness and eased sideways out of bed. His foot

The inaugural issue, with Juli Boeheim on the cover. Someone who has enthusiastically embraced Central New York as

touched moonlit ice, floorboards bleached white by his mother’s determined scrub brush…” The storytelling continued.

her home and who exemplified the magazine’s mission; to celebrate the people who are the trendsetters, and the heartbeat

Did you ever think the magazine would be around this long?

of Central New York. As well as, highlighting the places and

Let me say this. This community deserves a magazine that is a

seasons that makes our region special and unique. Juli was

reflection of itself. Central New York Magazine is just that. True

the front door to the magazine. Warm and welcoming. Inviting

to its mission. For that, I am happy that the magazine is still

readers in. She set the tone for the issues to come.

viewed to have value.

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