96 minute read
Editor's Letter
A little reflection
Itral New York Magazine is about the ‘good life’ in our community. Each issue 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. n the debut issue of this magazine, founding editor Tim Atseff wrote, “CenIn 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. 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 also find a new sustainability column, full-page highlights of local trends and 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
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:
Amelia Beamish
“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!” On shooting this edition’s market trends feature.
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
It’s all good
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.
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.
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.
PRESS ON
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.
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.
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.
PHOTOS BY SHUTTERSTOCK
WATER SPARK
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.
HEY BUDDY
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.
TOP TO BOTTOM
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.
PHOTOS BY RICK MORIARTY, DENNIS NETT
HAVE A DRINK
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
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.
The rock wall at the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology (MOST).
THINGS TO DO
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.
Amanda Hughes, owner of The Ice Cream Stand and founder of Jayne’s Collective
It’s all good
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.
ANNUAL EVENTS
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.
PHOTOS BY SARA LAFKIR, MICHAEL GREENLAR
It’s all good
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.
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.
It’s all good
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
It’s all good
MARKET TRENDS
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 MJ KRAVEC PHOTOS BY ALAINA POTRIKUS
In a second-floor window of the building across from the East Syracuse Volunteer Fire Department, a neon sign lights up the word “fencing” and the image of crossed swords. Inside, the sounds of metal striking metal emanate from a large room where about eight young fencers ages 7-12 face off in bouts. Black and white fencing posters, swords and fencing medals decorate several of the freshly painted walls. And on another, an American flag and a Bulgarian flag hang side by side.
Welcome to the new Syracuse Musketeers Fencing Center. The club’s owner, Lubomir Kalpaktchiev, is a former member of the Bulgarian National Fencing Team who came to the United States in 1998 and started Syracuse Musketeers in 2002. He began teaching at the Polish/American Club and at area high schools before settling in ShoppingTown Mall in 2008.
Now at its new location at 100 E. Manlius Street in East Syracuse, Syracuse Musketeers is rebuilding itself after the COVID-19 shutdown and losing its previous home at the mall.
“I couldn’t open for eight months because of COVID and I lost half of the people…” says Kalpaktchiev. “When the mall closed, I was looking for a spot and my brother bought a building. I got lucky… He said, ‘if you want the space, you’ve got to fix it up.’”
Kalpaktchiev and his father did the renovation work themselves, tearing down old walls, installing new lighting and flooring, painting and moving equipment.
“It took us three months to fix it up,” he says.
During renovation, Kalpaktchiev took his students to Onon-
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, 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
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.
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 SUSAN KENNEDY
“She’s the risk taker, our leader,” 74-year-old Carol Kincaid says of her 68-year-old sister Chris Ganley.
“That might be a nice way of saying I’m bossy,” laughs Ganley.
Not that Carol minds Chris’ frequent ideas of things to do, places to go, people to help. “I’m the organizer,” says Ganley. “I’m the worker-bee type,” says Kincaid. “We just fit hand in glove.”
Together the sisters, both retired nurses, enrich the lives of other Central New Yorkers.
They can’t wait to get back to their pre-pandemic schedule: Weekly readings to elementary school students through the Syracuse School District’s Book Buddies program; thrice-monthly visits to Francis House to cook and serve breakfast, make lunch and complete other chores to ensure the staff can engage meaningfully with those at the end of their lives; assisting their churches; and weekly stops to Empower Parkinson, Inc.’s Rock Steady Boxing program to encourage and support men and women learning to live an active life with the disease. Their brother Patrick VanBeveren runs the program.
When VanBeveren asked for help at the gym, Ganley jumped in. Her sister Carol took more convincing. Now Ganley, Kincaid and two other siblings all help in some way to ensure the success of Rock Steady Boxing participants.
“These people have trouble getting out of bed in the morning,” says Ganley. “Yet they are at the gym working their tails off. It’s inspiring.”
Giving back is part of being a good person, says Ganley. It’s a lesson she says she learned from watching her father while growing up on Syracuse’s South Side. “He was always doing, fixing, helping.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRIS GANLEY
he Fabric MillT
High-quality furniture can stand up to a lifetime of love, but far too often, people settle for the most afordable 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 beneft 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 ofer 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 fnd or create the piece they desire, walking away with the confdence 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 diferent directions ensuring support, comfort, and resilience. Be sure to always check the material that makes up the cushion, too. Denser foam isn’t necessarily frmer, but it will keep its shape much longer. Customers should also ask if the furnishing in question ofers a warranty, which is a demonstration of the manufacturer’s faith in their handiwork. Companies are more likely to ofer a full warranty if they’re confdent 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 specifc pattern, colorway, or other preferences, customers should frst consider highperformance fabrics, which can last for over a decade with careful maintenance. Using abrasion/rub tests such as Wyzenbeek or Martindale, diferent 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 ofer nearly unlimited options for customization. Their customers don’t simply choose from foor samples. Instead, shoppers can alter their piece’s design, choose a wood or painted fnish, change the arm or foot style, and much more. This yields truly unique and individualized furnishings that refect one’s personal style and fts seamlessly into their space. 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 fnish. From fabric selection to free in-home consultations, professional measuring, and experienced installation - Our knowledgeable and friendly staf will help you navigate through the entire design process. We ofer 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.
Kevin Visconti, CFP®, registered principal at Diversifed Capital Management, LLC, stands outside his offce in downtown Syracuse.
COMMUNITY CAREGIVERS: LEE & JOE
Working with the Community Foundation has Lee Gatta and her husband, Joe Reddic , feel blessed by made achieving my clients’ charitable ambitions the support they have received over the years from Central seamless and effective. The staff assists my New Yor . Tis inspired them to give bac by creating a clients with planned giving options that are based charitable giving plan through the Community Foundation. on their goals and interests, and explains them in a way that is easy to understand. For both Lee and Joe, their frsthand experiences with family caregiving were labors of love and catalysts for The Community Foundation will meet people future giving. When they cared for Lee’s mother afer she where they are. Whether my clients have specific had her third stro e, and assisted family members during giving intentions or broad charitable goals, I know battles with cancer, Lee and Joe found that caregivers need they will be connected to customized planning assistance navigating the range of services available and to fnd time to ta opportunities that meet their needs. e care of themselves. “We would li e to provide opportunities that lighten the load for those that Many of my clients want to give now but are also carry so much responsibility for the care of another,” said Lee. planning for the charitable legacies they want to 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 wishes in perpetuity introduction to the Women’s Fund of Central New Yor . after they are gone. She served on its Leadership Council as a way to honor her late sister-in-law, Joanne Reddic . Te Women’s GIVING MADE EASY: Fund supports programs that promote self-sufciency 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 KEVIN VISCONTI community do not have that,” said Lee. Lee and Joe had their sights set on a charitable gif larger than they were comfortable contributing now, so they decided to use a life insurance policy. Te proceeds at Lee’s death will fund the Lee M. Gatta and Joe Reddic Fund, which will provide local funding for causes that are of primary importance to them: the support of women and girls through the wor of the Women’s Fund, eldercare and cancer care coordination and caregiver support. Teir fund will carry on for generations, designed to ta e care of the community that has ta en care of them. Lee and Joe’s selfess 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.
Read more of Kevin’s story at
cnycf.org/visconti
SUITE DREAMS:
PRESENTED BY FRANK WEBB HOME
SUITE DREAMS:
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FIELD DREAMS
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.”
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.
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 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.
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.
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 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.
Converting old home movies and snapshots is a huge part of the current business model. “Everyone wants everything in digital formats now,” Ricciardi says.
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.
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.”
Sera Dussing
Roma Tile has more than 40 employees, many of whom have worked at the company for decades.
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 Syracuse as refugees in the early ‘80s; we are survivors of the Cambodian Killing Fields. We also lived in Brooklyn and Long Beach, California for a short period of time.
Why do you choose to stay and make your home here?
We have roots and history here in Syracuse. We moved to Chicago in 2011 and came back in 2014. The cost of living in Chicago made it hard for us to save for our future goals and to purchase a house. These factors [including traffic and the schools], with my demanding work obligations and travel schedule, tipped the scales and made us want to come back home to Syracuse.
What does your “good life” look like and how does CNY play
a role? Spending quality time with my family and friends. Here in Syracuse, I work remote and control my own time and schedule. I have the flexibility to do the things I love the most, while still having time to give back to my community by volunteering and supporting local initiatives. We operate two businesses, own a home and serve on multiple nonprofit boards. Syracuse’s relatively mellow pace and lower cost of living has afforded us these luxuries. I couldn’t do these things or grow my business in Chicago or New York City.
What do you like most about living here? Attending the Jazz Fest, NYS Fair, Taste of Syracuse, Winterfest and Syracuse University games. Supporting annual fundraisers and events. Hosting barbecues, neighborhood gatherings, political meetings and professional meetups in our backyard during the summer. Going fishing. Hiking at Beaver Lake and Baltimore Woods. Having the flexibility to drive to Rochester and Ithaca on a weekday or spend the weekend in Buffalo, Albany or New York City to get away. Syracuse’s proximity to these cities makes this possible. How would you spend a day off in the area? Grab coffee from Recess in Tipp Hill, fresh bread or [a] pastry from Pasta’s Daily Bread, walk in the Westcott area or Onondaga Lake Park with my wife, spend some time in Eastwood at Books End or Books & Melodies on James Street and end the evening by having dinner downtown or seeing a movie at the Movie Tavern.
Go-to place to eat? The All Night Eggplant in East Syracuse for breakfast, Oh My Darling in Syracuse for dinner, China Pavilion on W. Genesee Street for Dim Sum on Sundays and Jerk Hut Restaurant on South Avenue for takeout.
First place you take out-of-town friends or family? Armory Square where we would have breakfast at Funk ‘n Waffles, take the kids to the MOST, have coffee at Recess or Café Kubal, hit local shops like Sound Garden, Wildflowers Armory, Gypsy Freedom and Scholars & Champs, have lunch at Pastabilities, see a show at the Landmark Theatre or the Redhouse Arts Center and have dinner at Oh My Darling or Otro Cinco.
Favorite way to take advantage of our beautiful outdoors? Onondaga Lake Park, where we would take the kids bike riding, roller blading or walk around the lake trail, have a picnic in the park and let the kids enjoy the playground or fly a kite.
How would you describe CNY in a few words? A community that is rich with diversity, tolerance and faith. Families from different ethnicities, religions and cultures supporting each other and celebrating their differences together.
Best way to get to know the area better? Walk or bike ride in different neighborhoods. Spend time at the local libraries, art galleries, parks, theaters, cafes and local shops to hear and see what people are doing and discussing about their communities.
Samara Hannah, currently the executive director of the Redhouse Arts Center, has been in leadership positions at the Redhouse since 2014. She is also board member of CazArts. Hannah has been happily married for 23 years to her best friend and husband, Curt. She is a proud mom to two amazing college-aged children, Emily and Jack, and their furry little sister, Dixie. Hannah also has two adult step-children, who have made her a proud (step) grandmother of three. She now resides in Cazenovia after moving there from Manlius last year.
SAMARA 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.
What does your “good life” look like and how does CNY play
a role? My “good life” is all about the people in my life and making memories. There is always something to do in CNY! Whether it’s attending live theater, enjoying an SU game with my family or dining at one of our favorite CNY restaurants (local only!), we are making memories. I am an active nature walker with my “mom friends” and we are often found enjoying a walk on the Erie Canal, Clark Reservation, Green Lakes State Park, Onondaga Lake Parkway, Chittenango Falls or through the Village of Cazenovia.
What do you like most about living here? It’s got a small-town 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.
JOE RAINONE
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, and lived in Syracuse all my life except for college. I didn’t know if I was going to do anything anywhere else, I knew I was going to come back. I went to Southern Connecticut State for one year, played football. Came to the realization 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 it here. I love Syracuse. When I was in school, all these downstate guys, especially on the lacrosse team, you know, Long Island guys, we just battled. Battled about upstate and downstate. So I was always defending CNY.
Why do you choose to stay and make your home here?
My family’s here, of course. Most of my family and all of my friends and all of the acquaintances I’ve made over the years. I kind of have an interconnection with the whole area. So it’s great.
What does your “good life” look like and how does CNY
play a role? I have a lot of friends, a lot of close friends. The opportunity to do things year-round is there. Life is interesting here; you can make it interesting if you want. I mean, it can never be boring if you choose it not to be. There’s so much to do each season. If you want to have a fun and interesting life, Central New York is a great place to be.
What do you like most about living here? I honestly think it’s the people. The people are very nice for the most part. Most everybody I run into is nice, and that’s all strata of economically advantaged and disadvantaged people, worka-day people and professionals. Everyone seems to be fairly nice. You don’t have too much trouble making friends. That’s what I like the best about it. How would you spend a day off in the area? Well, my favorite thing to do is get on a boat, have a couple of beers and go bother my friends that actually have camps and homes on the lake. It’s just kind of fun, you know. I don’t get to do it very often, but I really enjoy it.
Go-to place to eat? I have two that I really like because the food’s really good and they’re reasonably priced. Apizza Regionale. Love it. Love that place, and then the other one is Doug’s Fish Fry in Skaneateles. Oh, I love it, I think it’s the 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.
First place you take out-of-town friends or family? I’d bring them to Armory Square. I’ve got the two places down here; they can have fun. They can go to dinner, there’s great places down here for dinner.
Favorite way to take advantage of our beautiful outdoors?
I’ve got a trail bike; I go riding a lot. I like the water. The rivers are fun, the lakes are fun. Lake Ontario is almost like going to the ocean, a freshwater ocean. There’s just a lot of things to do in the summertime. Trail hiking, it’s just great. I like being outside.
How would you describe CNY in a few words? It’s beautiful. The rolling hills, the lakes, the trees in the fall. It’s just a beautiful place to live. And kind. Most of the people are kind, I think. It’s hard to describe.
Best way to get to know the area better? I talk to people. It’s easy to chat somebody up if you’re out in a bar or 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.
Lawrence (Larry) Loh is the music director and conductor of Symphoria, the professional orchestra of Central New York. He lives with his family in Manlius.
LAWRENCE LOH
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.
What does your “good life” look like and how does CNY
play a role? My “good life” would be living in a place that has lots to do outside. CNY really delivers with hiking, 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!
PHOTO BY CHERILYN BECKLES
DR. JUHANNA ROGERS
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 beautiful thing is that [Syracuse] has been a space in which I’ve gotten access to the things you need to build your life as a young, diverse professional and to set you up to be successful.
Why do you choose to stay and make your home here? It’s 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 wonderful ones helping me grow as a young professional, as a younger woman. That is a huge part of development. Mentoring relationships, a network of care, and that became more apparent this past December. I was battling COVID right before the holidays and… the folks that I have… in this community, despite the conditions, made sure that I was ok [and] left Christmas presents on my door. It’s the support.
What does your “good life” look like and how does CNY play
a role? My good life would be me and the friends I’ve made here having access to home ownership and creating a diverse neighborhood. There’s restaurants downtown… that reflect us. I always imagine I’m going to have this house here near a body of water and I’ll have a summer family gathering there and a holiday gathering. My good life also has more economic opportunities for black and brown people who’ve been here for generations. They have not been given access to the same opportunities to be employed [or] access to promotions and pipelines that would empower them economically. If that were done, the beauty of this city could be felt in a more eclectic way.
What do you like most about living here? It’s easy to navigate, there’s no traffic. The diversity and access to different cities. To establish that work-life balance, it’s easy to do in a space where you’re in an urban center but you’re 10 minutes in any direction to a body of water. How would you spend a day off in the area? I go out to some of the lakes. I drive to Canada and explore there. I may go see a show at Syracuse Stage or Redhouse. I like exploring the different spas in the area; selfcare is important. I may drive out to lunch in Cazenovia or Skaneateles. Hang out on the water a bit. I try to make my down days a vacation.
Go-to place to eat? Salt City Market. Some of the places in there, Soulutions, Miss Prissy’s, Erma’s Island.
First place you take out-of-town friends or family? I would say Auburn because we do the Harriet Tubman tour. We’ll stop at the theater there, drive back through Skaneateles and see the Finger Lakes. My mom likes to come up in July; 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 Thousand Islands. That blows their mind; they’ll say “You all have some beautiful living up here.” However, it’s not always inclusive. It’s not a sweet treat all the time, but I think just the natural beauty of some of these places is so amazing. And I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to see them.
Favorite way to take advantage of our beautiful outdoors?
I’ll just go out and walk around the lakes. My goal this year is to do more hiking. I want to see the Adirondacks and one more thing I’m looking forward to is taking a wine tour.
How would you describe CNY in a few words? An underrated city with massive potential.
Best way to get to know the area better? Probably just getting out and exploring, sometimes without invitation. I think that has been the best thing for me. As a result, I feel like I’m getting to share these experiences with people who have lived here 100 years and inspire them to try new places.
MICHAEL JOHN HEAGERTY
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 Central New York]. My mother Connie is the oldest of seven and all her siblings grew up in Camillus and attended Bishop Ludden. I’m blessed to have a large, supportive and extended family tree.
Why do you choose to stay and make your home here? My Aunt Cindy — the youngest of that seven — and her husband David gave me an opportunity to study the art of hospitality at their Irish pub & restaurant Kitty Hoynes. I enjoyed networking and learning from patrons about their CNY appreciation and it rubbed off on me.
What does your “good life” look like and how does CNY play
a role? There is a rich history throughout CNY that doesn’t always get recognized. My “good life” moments usually center around exploring that history and bringing it into the present, enhancing civic pride.
What do you like most about living here? I think that I’m able to make a ripple here.
How would you spend a day off in the area?
I’d start early in hopes to maximize my daylight and hit up a local café (maybe there are some poets or spoken word performances on the sidewalk patio to enjoy), because I need caffeine to exist. Luckily, we have a bunch! We’ve got tons of parks as well, so I’d stroll the [Onondaga] Creekwalk through picturesque Franklin Square (and artists and musicians would line the path — it would be like walking my own set-list) or hit up Clark Reservation and work up an appetite. Obviously, I’d have breakfast at a local diner like Stella’s because I’m about the diner life. Here’s where things get interesting: We are so centrally located, there are tons of options if you travel outside the city in any direction. Finger Lakes wine tours, museums, antiques shopping, historic landmarks along the Erie Canal and more breweries then there are leaves on trees. I’d probably end up searching for interesting public art. After that, you’d probably find me at Crazy Daisies enjoying farmfresh 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 nearby area and explore — no particular itinerary. Swing back to enjoy dinner and homegrown hospitality from Eden in Hanover Square — wood-fired cuisine is always a win! Art, history, nature, urban exploration and plenty of fine food and friends — sounds like a pretty solid day in CNY.
Go-to place to eat? I’m big on spreading the love and trying new spots. So my go-to changes more than the weather. Currently Apizza Regionale.
First place you take out-of-town friends or family?
Wildflowers, because I’m proud of how we’ve been able to create a space where we can showcase much of the talent in CNY.
Favorite way to take advantage of our beautiful outdoors?
Parks. There are parks everywhere in CNY — from waterfalls to hikes, horse-drawn rides to bike tours along historic pathways to beaches, there’s no lack of unique offerings and ways to connect with nature.
How would you describe CNY in a few words? Begs to be explored and enjoyed. Dig a little deeper and find there’s more to experience then you’d expect.
Best way to get to know the area better? On foot with no particular itinerary. The best way for the history to come alive is through the region’s museums and cultural offerings.
SORA 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 for just over a decade. Our move here was serendipitous. We were both sitting in our house in Jersey City one night in 2009 and I looked at him and said, “I’ve always wanted to live in a 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 our conversation went. Since we’re both circus artists — Josh is a juggler, I’m an aerialist — we both needed high ceilings in order to practice. When we found one in the Syracuse area, we drove around a bit and immediately knew this was where we wanted to live.
Why do you choose to stay and make your home here?
CNY has been incredibly welcoming of us wayward circus artists over the years. We’ve had the privilege of partnering with a ton of incredible organizations within Syracuse, the county, and the larger swath of Central New York. I have fallen in love with the local community, which is full of scrappy, powerful people making Syracuse a more beautiful, conscious, inclusive place to live. I am proud of our city for welcoming refugees. I am inspired by creators, writers, musicians, visual artists and theatre folx every day. I know CNY isn’t perfect. There’s still a ton of work to do as far as making our cities safer and more equitable for underrepresented people. I don’t think it’s paradoxical to recognize shortcomings and still love the areas in which we live. I truly believe in the power of our communities to celebrate CNY while nurturing and helping it to grow in the best possible ways.
What does your “good life” look like and how does CNY play
a role? My “good life” is being able to engage fully with my area but also have quiet time and space to be introspective. Syracuse certainly offers the engagement part, and our home in our small town provides the quiet sanctuary (literally!) that we crave. What do you like most about living here? Without a doubt, it’s the people that keep me in CNY. The communities of which I’m a part make me simultaneously grateful to live here and hopeful for even brighter futures.
How would you spend a day off in the area? I would start off with a coffee at one of our many fabulous coffee shops (hard to choose just one!), then head down to Labrador Hollow for some hiking and then cap the day off with a live show at one of our many local theaters.
Go-to place to eat? Do I have to name just one?! Dosa Grill, Vietnamese Noodle House and Strong Hearts all for the win!
First place you take out-of-town friends or family? Stone Quarry Hill Art Park in Cazenovia! It’s mind-blowing! It’s huge, so we’re always discovering new things.
Favorite way to take advantage of our beautiful outdoors?
Josh and I are such suckers for waterfalls. Our defaults are Tinker Falls, Pratts Falls and Carpenter Falls. For more rigorous activity, there are some great trails around our area! Spruce Pond and Shackham Pond are gorgeous!
How would you describe CNY in a few words? Filled with passionate, motivated people.
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 zone. Josh and I usually start with finding a coffee shop or small restaurant in an unfamiliar area and then let that be the catalyst for new exploration.
LAUREN KOCHIAN
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 East Syracuse. I went to SU for my bachelor’s degree. I did move away for a few years, but then moved back to get my master’s degree and I’ve been here ever since.
Why do you choose to stay and make your home here?
I have a huge family, most everybody is still here, my parents, 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 into place, meaning career, my life partner, all of that.
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 work-life balance. I love my work; it’s very rewarding. I have a 15-minute drive home. I come home to a family where I have a wonderful fiancé and children that go to a wonderful school. It’s an affordable place to live and I can do the things that I enjoy doing outside of work. I consider myself a nature girl, and there’s tons of opportunity for that around here and around the region. Going to shows, being able to do weekend getaways because we’re so close to so many big cities — those are the kinds of things I enjoy doing and they’re really easy to do when you live here.
What do you like most about living here? I love the proximity to city parks, county parks, waterfalls, even the state parks. I love sports, so between Crunch, baseball and SU sports, there’s always something fun to do. I love being able to go to the theater or take a quick trip to the Everson. My family has actually built a lot of tradition around the things that Syracuse has to offer. Every February break we’d go to an SU game. Every holiday season we do the Festival of Trees. It’s just enabled me to create this great family life because of all the things we can do with our children. How would you spend a day off in the area? Definitely hit up some of my favorite places to eat. I would probably spend the day outdoors. My ideal would be going to Skaneateles. My parents live on the lake in a very secluded area, so spend the day on the water and along the dirt roads, enjoying nature, fresh air. I would spend the evening, either at a show — I miss all the live concerts at the amphitheater — or a sporting event.
Go-to place to eat? I love Attilio’s. Great food, great atmosphere. When the weather is nice, I prefer to eat outside, so for me it’s either Lemon Grass or Prime Steakhouse.
First place you take out-of-town friends or family? The MOST. Certainly we are primarily geared towards kids but there’s a lot of fun things for adults to do, too, and to read and learn about, so I find that people of all ages enjoy spending an afternoon or part of a day there.
Favorite way to take advantage of our beautiful outdoors?
I’d visit my parents or hike at one of the parks. I love to run, go walking. I like to cross-country ski. I’m always looking for places that let people pop a kayak in a lake or a pond.
How would you describe CNY in a few words? As far as the people go, it’s really authentic. And it’s unique. Syracuse is a great example, in a lot of different ways, of old versus new. Lots of exciting emerging technology companies, yet you have the contrast of this phenomenal old architecture and really traditional ways of doing things.
Best way to get to know the area better? Take a stroll downtown. Ask locals where to eat. Make sure to hit up all those arts and cultural places. A lot of them are free to get in. 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.
Hasan Stephens is the founder and CEO of the Good Life Philanthropic Youth Foundation, which aims to end the cycles of youth poverty, incarceration, recidivism and violence through hip-hop pedagogy and entrepreneurship by working with the highest risk youth, primarily ages 13-24. The Good Life works with youth within the juvenile justice system, schools and community. Stephens is also an adjunct professor at SUNY Cortland where he teaches “Evolution of Hip-Hop Culture.” Additionally, he is a leadership consultant for the Central New York Community Foundation, Inc.’s The Leadership Classroom. He currently serves on the boards of the Upstate Minority Economic Alliance (UMEA), and the Redlich Horwitz Foundation in New York, NY focused on the foster care system. He is also a member of the Madden School of Business Advisory Board at Le Moyne College and serves as an entrepreneur in residence for the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship. He lives in Clay.
HASAN 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.”
Why do you choose to stay and make your home here? I stay here because it’s a great place to establish yourself financially and raise kids, if you know how to do so. NYC is a great place to visit, but it is too dirty and crowded for me to return. I’ve also fallen in love with Central New York.
What does your “good life” look like and how does CNY play a role?
A good life to me means helping others realize how to gain access to wealth and opportunity here. While Central New York is home to some of the poorest populations in the country, it’s also beginning to boom with opportunity. I see my job as helping to connect those people to the opportunities.
What do you like most about living here? The city is not too small and not too big. You are just one person removed from the decision makers and leaders that make things happen. Leveraging that can give you the opportunity to make change as you envision.
How would you spend a day off in the area? To be honest, I enjoy looking at the scenery and the lakes. Upstate is home to some of the most beautiful lakes in the country. Enjoying the sun and kicking back with family for the single whole month of heat that we get to enjoy. (laughs)
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.
MARISOL 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 Puerto Rico. I was living downtown (Syracuse) in 1999, doing the last semester of my bachelor’s degree and I wanted to reconnect with my Latino heritage and the community. I found that a lot of Latinos [were] in Rochester and Syracuse. I was looking to serve my community and use my bilingual skills. I got a job at the Spanish Action League.
Why do you choose to stay and make your home here? I kind of fell in love with Syracuse. When I first got here, getting to know the Latino leaders and the type of work I was doing got me into many programs that were servicing the community... and [I] got to learn how to advance the community. In doing that, it felt like home. It felt like I belonged.
What does your “good life” look like and how does CNY
play a role? Theater, attending plays, seeing outdoor events, experiencing the diverse ethnic food and places here in this area, that kind of got me hooked. I love seeing all four seasons. I could experience metropolitan life if I go to Syracuse downtown at night or I could go to the Adirondacks and enjoy being by the lake and very secluded places. It’s easy to get anywhere; you travel for two hours north, south, east or west and you can see amazing places and experience those.
What do you like most about living here? I think it’s the festivals like Taste of Syracuse. The NYS Fair and all that it has to offer. Dining out and trying new places in the area. To top it off, the cost of living is great.
How would you spend a day off in the area? I would probably go to Geneva Lake, walk around the lake and have a great lunch at El Morro, a restaurant with best typical Puerto Rican food. Maybe go wine tasting in Geneva. Or end up in Ithaca and see the gorge and waterfalls. On the way back home, stop in Cortland, and enjoy the Mexican restaurant (Garcias) for dinner, then end up back home. If I still have time, I could [go] to Labrador or Tinker Falls and see more waterfalls. I love the outdoors. If I find that there’s a new restaurant opening around here, I would include that in my day.
Go-to place to eat? I do love Las Delicias restaurant, they make the best mofongos, pork or fish depending on the day of the week. We love Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, too. It’s not just Latino food, but we’ve tried many of the ethnic restaurants in the area as well.
First place you take out-of-town friends or family? I have taken family to go ice skating in downtown Syracuse or go check Labrador or Song Mountain and see people skiing. Or go for a hayride with horses. If it’s summertime, I’ve taken people to the NYS Fair and shown them what the Fair has to offer.
Favorite way to take advantage of our beautiful outdoors?
Going bicycling and hiking. I love going to the Jazz Fest, outdoor music festivals. We sponsor a lot of the Latino festivals [throughout Upstate]. If we have the chance to host a domino tournament, we do that as well.
How would you describe CNY in a few words? Diverse, affordable, multi-seasonal, low crime rate. People here are very good to each other, too. When people are in trouble here, everyone contributes and helps. I like that.
Best way to get to know the area better? Just exploring, getting out there. Many people are afraid to get out of their comfort zone and seek things out. Every Sunday we get the new Post-Standard, and we see everything that’s going on in the city. If you Google Central New York or CenterState CEO or go to their website, there’s tons of stuff to do.
TANNER EFINGER
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 to Syracuse almost four years ago. My husband got a job at Colgate University and we wanted to live in the nearest “big” city, so we landed in Syracuse.
Why do you choose to stay and make your home here?
I definitely think that Syracuse chose us in many ways, and the opportunity that I have had to create art and theater here keeps me in Syracuse. I also think that, in many ways, the LGBTQ community keeps me here. The development that has happened with the queer community over the past four years is pretty incredible.
What does your “good life” look like and how does CNY play
a role? I would say my good life in Central New York looks like a region that is exploding with opportunity for local artists to develop and be creative. And opportunities to deepen the culture and positivity for LGBTQ people; so, the continued growth of both of those communities is where my good life lives.
What do you like most about living here? I’m definitely going to say the seasons. I have lived in many places and just being able to get four distinct seasons, which change my lens on what I’m doing every few months, I think that’s a good thing. It keeps me refreshed with new energy.
How would you spend a day off in the area? Antiquing, no questions asked. I’d probably start at Syracuse Antiques Exchange; it’s one of my favorites in the area. There are so many different antiques shops and vintage stores scattered throughout Central New York. So definitely doing a trail of that would be an ideal day for me. They’ve got a great bar, they’re fairly new, independently owned and the food is incredible.
First place you take out-of-town friends or family? This is probably cheating, but it’s definitely Wunderbar. Mostly because I have to work all the time, so I’m like ‘come, have a drink.’ But we do, I think, have some of the most interesting cabaret, fringe art that exists in Central New York, and we are a developing and growing hub for that. It’s fun because I get to go to work and bring my friends along who enjoy themselves.
Favorite way to take advantage of our beautiful outdoors?
This is pretty season-specific for me. We go skiing, hiking, apple or pumpkin picking. There’s plenty of cider tours and wine tours that you can do. And there’s loads of camping, which is fun.
How would you describe CNY in a few words? The two words I’d use would be nostalgia and renaissance. Even though I didn’t grow up here, there is something about the seasons, the outdoor offerings, and the small town feel of Central New York that reminds me of childhood. I suppose my passion for wandering the antiques stores of CNY also brings me this deep sense of nostalgia that makes me love this region. The renaissance this region is experiencing creates a striking balance of energy.
Best way to get to know the area better? Something I try to [do] is an idea from a book by Julia Cameron called “The Artist’s Way.” Take yourself to a museum, to a movie, take 20 minutes to write a poem...[try] a new cocktail or [go] to a new dance show. Something that you’ve not done before. So this idea, I think, would be the best way to see the community because it’s intentionally trying to feed your soul by going out and doing new things.
DAVID HAAS
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 in the city of Syracuse — in the Eastwood neighborhood I continue to call home. I was away during college but didn’t go far. I received my BS from SUNY Oswego and my MS from SUNY Cortland.
Why do you choose to stay and make your home here?
At the time, comfort. I was returning home from school looking to start my career. This is where my family, friends, and past resided. I wanted to be close to them before I 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 impact I could have locally. There is an old oath that notes we should “transmit our city not only not less, but greater, better and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us.” I truly believe that we are here to make this place (Syracuse in this example) better for the next generation and I feel compelled to answer that calling.
What does your “good life” look like and how does CNY
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 I’ve found love and purpose. I’m fairly confident I could be elsewhere and find my niche in another community, but I wouldn’t want to. CNY provides a nourishing upbringing that blends old with new and the opportunity to make a life of your choosing. I’ve settled in the neighborhood I was raised, near the church I was brought up in, with the people who know me best. I want to be somewhere that needs me and I need them — that’s an ideal life and I’m making it happen here. What do you like most about living here? Being able to make a difference. Our mayor, Ben Walsh, has stated before that Syracuse is a unique place because one person can truly make a difference here. It is very true. We are a mid-sized city 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 something happen, come to Syracuse and get started.
How would you spend a day off in the area? I’d stop at a local coffee shop and head to Oakwood Cemetery to explore.
Go-to place to eat? Peppino’s, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, or whatever restaurant is currently in Chadwick’s.
First place you take out-of-town friends or family? Can I use Oakwood Cemetery for more than one answer? Oakwood is a 157-acre cemetery that was established in 1859 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s an absolute mustsee — an outdoor museum that is rich in natural resources, cultural and historic heritage.
Favorite way to take advantage of our beautiful outdoors?
Walking the city streets of Syracuse and enjoying our urban forest.
How would you describe CNY in a few words? A loyal, loving locality.
Best way to get to know the area better? Follow @SyracuseHistory on Instagram, of course!
CHRISTINA SAUVE
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 CNY, specifically on the near West Side in Syracuse and in Solvay, and a lot of my family lives in the area. I went away to California for college; I was at Stanford University in the Bay Area and I absolutely loved California. I came home after graduation, in part because I wanted to spend time with my sister who was born just a couple of months before I left for college.
Why do you choose to stay and make your home here? I always thought I’d spend a year or two back in Syracuse and 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 this area, especially as a Mohawk woman with deep ties to the region. One day while looking at job ads, I saw a listing for “Activists Posing as Bankers” using the tools of finance to work for social justice and vibrant Syracuse neighborhoods — and I was hooked. I started working at Cooperative Federal as the executive assistant in 2005, and I’m still there to this day, though now as CEO! Just a few months after finding my professional calling at the credit union, I met my now husband. I feel rooted in this area through family, history, and my work.
What does your “good life” look like and how does CNY
play a role? I feel so very fortunate to be near family, to have an incredibly short daily commute to work — leaving more 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 impossible in the Bay Area. I love getting outdoors and there’s no shortage of little parks or green areas to explore.
What do you like most about living here? There are so many people who I find inspiring, working to make our community a stronger and more equitable place. And because it’s a small community — I can actually meet those inspiring people and learn from them! I also love being near family while also being a reasonable drive from cities like Montreal for weekend trips.
How would you spend a day off in the area? It’s a Saturday, and I’ll head to the Regional Market and grab a donut to eat while I pick up produce and other goodies for the week. Then, we’ll head off to the Rosamond Gifford Zoo for a couple of hours, then maybe head downtown, get some food and walk along the Creekwalk. Basically — eat good food and meander around mostly outside!
Go-to place to eat? With a six-year-old and my husband’s and my own busy work schedules, we tend toward take-out! Our go-tos lately are Bamboo House, or I might bring home something from Mr. Biggs Restaurant.
First place you take out-of-town friends or family? To the grocery store to stock up on salt potatoes and Hofmann’s hot dogs! My father once brought salt potatoes in his carry-on luggage on a visit to family in Arizona. The bag of salt threw TSA for a loop for a minute.
Favorite way to take advantage of our beautiful outdoors?
Exploring parks and green areas with my kiddo and husband, looking for good fishing or frog-hunting spots or hunting for edible wild berries.
How would you describe CNY in a few words? Community, Orange, challenges and opportunities.
Best way to get to know the area better? I’m a fan of walking around places to get to know them better. The Onondaga Historical Association has some info on walking tours for a perspective on how our history has shaped our community.
Mike Curtis is a sports reporter for the Post-Standard newspaper and Syracuse. com. His main beat is college basketball, and he focuses on the Syracuse men’s and women’s teams as well as recruiting. He lives in Liverpool.
MIKE CURTIS
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.
What do you like most about living here? My favorite part about living here is waking up every day with the opportunity to get better at my craft.
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.
EVELYN INGRAM
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 from Long Island and I came to Syracuse as a student at Syracuse University.
Why do you choose to stay and make your home here? You know, I came here as an 18-year-old, full of hope for my future [and] I will be honest that I never intended to stay in Syracuse after I graduated. I’ve really had some great professional opportunities that have led me to find great fulfillment in this area.
What does your “good life” look like and how does CNY play
a role? My good life looks like being able to live in an area where the economy is stable but affordable. And looking at the comparison between the type of home you can purchase in Long Island as compared to the type of home in Syracuse, it’s really a no-brainer. And my good life involves my husband Chino and my son Austin. So it really has provided me the type of life I’ve always wanted to live. I’m blessed to have a great career working for a great company, to have a great family and to have a support network here.
What do you like most about living here? Well, it’s not the weather! (laughs) My favorite part about living in Central New York is that I feel that Syracuse is a small big city. I feel 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 of our size — not too big, not too small — it really gives me a sense of achievement and fulfillment.
How would you spend a day off in the area? I am a fan of Skaneateles, so my day would be going to Mirbeau, having a spa day. After that I would probably walk through the village and have dinner at one of the restaurants there. I like the quaintness, the [feeling] I get when I’m there. I do also like Armory Square, [which] to me, gives you a feeling that you’re in a metropolitan-type city because of the style of shops and restaurants. So, I [would] do a mix of both.
Go-to place to eat? One of our favorite restaurants is Basil Leaf in North Syracuse and you can’t say no to The Clam Bar, that’s right next door. I like A Mano Kitchen & Bar downtown. I also like Otro Cinco. [When] we just want some good wings, Clinton Street Pub.
First place you take out of town friends or family? Wegmans and Destiny, those typically are the two places.
Favorite way to take advantage of our beautiful outdoors?
I do like Onondaga Lake Park, being able to go there and walk some of their trails and be by the lake. Syracuse Inner Harbor, that’s almost, I feel like, a little hidden treasure. We like doing the wine tours. It’s just a beautiful day, I’m not necessarily a wine drinker but I like the atmosphere of doing the wine tours and going to the different wineries and having lunch. That’s a favorite activity in the summertime.
How would you describe CNY in a few words? I would say Central New York is a vibrant up-and-coming city that’s a great place to raise a family.
Best way to get to know the area better? Being able to connect with others that are from the city, that’s always a good way. I get asked, ‘Evelyn, where do you get your hair done?’ or do certain personal things. Being able to have that personal interaction with people helps. I always encourage people if you have organizations that you’re affiliated with, [connect] with the Syracuse chapter. That gives you an instant connection to people who can direct you, who can help you really acclimate to the area.
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The Marriott Syracuse Downtown hosts the Bootleggers Ball and Roaring ‘20s New Years Eve Party in 2017.
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 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 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.
3ST 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.
The Connective Corridor project included a special sidewalk in front of Syracuse Stage that features colorful lights and stepping stones that trigger sound effects.
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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 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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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.”
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CRAFT BREWERY BOOM
In 2019, Post-Standard/Syracuse.com reporter Don Cazentre wrote that craft brewing in New York State was surging with a seven-year boom that saw the number of breweries jump from less than 100 to more than 400. Central New York was in on the boom, too. Cazentre wrote that in 2012, Onondaga County had four breweries. But in 2019, that number jumped to 22. CNY saw a diverse offering of breweries that featured pet-friendly spots, outdoor areas for picnics, food trucks, live music, fire pits and farm animals. Places like: Hot House Brewing at Barone Gardens in Cicero, which grows its hops in a greenhouse year-round; Local 315 Brewing Co. in Warners, an actual working farm; Seneca Street Brew Pub in Manlius, which made its home in a former church; and Heritage Hill Brewery in Pompey, which offers a full-service kitchen and great views of the city.
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 Lakes region to produce what many refer to as some of the best wines in the world. A 2019 USA Today poll voted the Finger Lakes as the top wine region in the country. Other praises include: Wine Enthusiast and Tripadvisor.com listed the Finger Lakes on their top “wine travel” destinations and U.S. News & World Report designated the Finger Lakes as one of the world’s best wine tours promising stunning scenery in a family-friendly region.
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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 a viewing area of Onondaga Lake and nest sites of the American Eagles who’ve made a home here.
The 25th annual Westcott Street Cultural Fair parade in Syracuse.
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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, Syracuse Bavarian Oktoberfest, Westcott Street Cultural Fair, CNY Pagan Festival and more. These ethnically and culturally diverse gatherings celebrate all the sights, sounds, flavors and people that enrich Central New York.
Dale Haas of Haas Farms in Red Creek at the Downtown Farmers Market in 2016.
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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 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.
