Central New York Magazine - September/October 2021 by CNY Magazine

THE WRITE STUFF

COZY, COLORFUL TRENDS FOR HOME AND FASHION MAKE A FALL PASTA WITH ROOT VEGGIES WALK AMONG TOMBSTONES AT OAKWOOD CEMETERY

CNY’S LITERARY SCENE , INDIE BOOKSHOPS AND MORE

O U R PI C KS F O R A DV E N T U RO U S , RO M A N T I C & H IS T O R I C E S CA P E S

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF ENHANCING LIVES!

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

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ON THE COVER

EDITOR MJ Kravec 315-766-7833 mkravec@advancemediany.com

PRESIDENT Tim Kennedy ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER OF THE GOOD LIFE Annette Peters 315-282-8527 apeters@advancemediany.com

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

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Lindsay Marlenga lmarlenga@ advancemediany.com

DESIGNERS Susan Santola ssantola@advancelocal.com Chris Boehke cboehke@advancelocal.com

CIRCULATION DIRECTOR Thomas H. Brown 315-470-2053 tbrown@acssyr.com

CUSTOMER SERVICE 315-470-6397

MAGAZINE/EVENTS SALES MANAGER Jennifer K. Queri 315-282-8622 jqueri@advancemediany.com

Antique furniture, Primitives, Glass & China, Jewelry and Authorized Dealer for TROLLBEADS

The Good Life, Central New York Magazine (ISSN 1931-194X) is published six times a year by Advance Media New York, 220 S. Warren St., Syracuse, New York 13202. The Post-Standard © 2021. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic/digital, mechanical photocopying, recording or otherwise, without written permission. All material submitted to Central New York Magazine becomes the property of Advance Media New York, publishers of The Post-Standard and Central New York Magazine. It will not be returned. Such a submission, to name a few examples, may be a letter to the editor, a cartoon, a picture, a poem and the like. Any such material may be excerpted, edited for length or content, and may be published or used in any other way. For example, on Syracuse.com or in The Post-Standard.

home . garden . gifts 315-682-8741 603 E. Seneca Street . Manlius

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Awe-tumn in New York. Adirondack chairs wait for visitors at E.B. Morgan House on the shore of Cayuga Lake. See story page 74. Photo courtesy Inns of Aurora.

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Plants in your Home are Good for your Health!

Studies show that having plants in your home helps improve concentration and productivity, reduces stress and boosts mood.

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According to a NASA study plants in your house remove 87% of air toxins in 24 hours!

www.carolwatsongreenhouse.com 4

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

Improve your health and overall happiness.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

Create an indoor or outdoor garden living space.

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THE BMW ELECTRIFIED FLEET UNPLUG TO UNLEASH.

At BMW we made it our mission to design a versatile Plug-In Hybrid fleet with the power and performance that make each vehicle worthy of being called the Ultimate Driving Machine.® We proudly present the BMW 330e, X3 xDrive30e, and X5 xDrive45e, which boast the remarkable performance of our standard combustion engines working in harmony with the electric motor to increase fuel efficiency and available torque. And with an all-electric range that’s long enough for local trips, you’ll spend less time at the pumps and more time enjoying the road. With the BMW Plug-In Hybrids, you don’t unplug to drive. You unplug to unleash. Contact a Client Advisor at Burdick BMW to take a test-drive today. BMW. The Ultimate Driving Machine. ® Burdick BMW 5947 East Circle Drive Cicero, NY 13039 (315) 459-6000 burdickbmw.com ©2021 BMW of North America, LLC. The BMW name, model names and logo are registered trademarks.

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Editor ’s letter Want more? Check out our website at readcnymagazine.com for seasonal features and stories, fun ideas and recipes, a peek behind the scenes of how we make the magazine and more. And don’t forget to drop us a line at info@readcnymagazine.com. And now, a word from our contributors:

When night comes early to find out how downtown theaters are rebounding after months of going dark and visit with Oakwood Cemetery preservationist Rick Naylor as he takes guests on tours for the living.

pretty much a year-round thing for me.

Also inside, CNY Scout takes a closer look

Just before bed, I light an appropriately

at the craftsmanship behind Horton Daniel

scented candle (always something apple

Furnishings, Farm to Table cooks up a sea-

in September), set the sound machine to

sonal recipe for Roasted Root Vegetable Can-

gentle rain and open a book. On cue, our

nelloni from Cider Mill in Syracuse, guest

black cat, Bear, leaps onto the bed, curls

columnist Caeresa Richardson of boutique

up beside me and rubs his face against the

Ecodessa shows you what to look for in sus-

corner of my book. I shoo him away and

tainable fall fashion and our Goldring Arts

start my escape. I’ve been looking forward

Journalism writer talks to two professors who

to it all day.

collaborated on a book about the TV show

In celebration of great reading escapes,

“Twin Peaks.” To cap off this issue, Last Word

our September/October issue features a lo-

visits with Caroline Lamie, vice president of

cal authors/illustrators and book theme.

Central New York Ghost Hunters.

In this edition, we profile 10 local authors

One more thing: We hope you take advan-

and illustrators who open up about what in-

tage of our annual print and digital subscrip-

spires them, check in with authors Bruce and

tion offerings starting in January 2022. Get

Katherine Coville on how their work and re-

all six issues delivered to your mailbox or in-

lationship have intertwined, highlight CNY’s

box and keep up on all the good life Central

independent book sellers and stop by the

New York has to offer. Visit readcnymaga-

Downtown Writers Center, which has been

zine.com to activate your subscription now.

serving would-be writers for 21 years. We also highlight some great (literal) esIn other departments, see what’s brewing

MJ mkravec@advancemediany.com 315-766-7833 CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

“As a Syracuse University student, I enjoyed discovering what this area has to offer. Showcasing the community gave me the opportunity to learn things about CNY I never knew before.” On writing about downtown theaters coming out of the dark after COVID and local independent bookstores.

Caeresa Richardson “I have always been passionate about fashion and style. It is my pleasure to offer my perspective on fall style trends and sustainable fashion to you in this issue.”

Cheers!

capes in CNY to make this fall.

Kate Reynolds

On writing about how to make more sustainable fall fashion choices.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF KATE REYNOLDS, CAERESA RICHARDSON

It’s

for fall in local shops, go behind the scenes

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Contents

72 Adventure! History! Romance! CNY (and beyond) has it all this fall to make your own great escape.

Binding us together

A storied relationship

Shelf life

The plots thicken

10 local authors & illustrators open up about what inspires them.

Bruce & Katherine Coville share a life and a passion for writing children’s books.

Local independent bookstores offer more than just a good read.

The Downtown Writers Center offers a unique space to tell stories.

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

PHOTO BY DENNIS NETT

Departments

11 It’s all good 11 Ways to embrace the season. 14 Positive Vibes: Reading well. 16 Our Town: Live like a local in Tully. 19 Market Trends: Inspired by the changing leaves.

Good news 31 It’s no small potatoes. 32 Downtown Doings: Theater is back! 36 Caught Doing Good: Host in the graveyard

40 The Seen: A pictorial review of CNY’s social gatherings.

81 Making good

PHOTOS BY AMY BLEIER LONG, ALAINA POTRIKUS, ILLUSTRATION COURTESY GINNIE HSU

81 New mural highlights history. 82 CNY Scout: Horton Daniel Furnishings. 85 Farm to Table: The Cider Mill’s Roasted Root Vegetable Cannelloni. 88 Down to Earth: Sustainable fall fashion.

In every issue 6 Editor's letter 94 Galleries 97 Flashback: The other Onondaga Park. 98 Last Word: With Caroline Lamie.

58 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

FOR WHAT’S NEXT

Our Women’s Health Team Is Here For You. Women are experts at handling each next big thing with grace, grit and strength. And we’re here to be partners throughout every phase of your health journey. From performing standard annual screenings to managing chronic and acute conditions to helping you bring new life into the world, our top-of-the-line doctors, nurses and specialists are here to provide the personalized care you need at this stage of life and the next.

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| womenshealth.sjhsyr.org

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

PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK

CASTING SPELLS As summer bows to fall and the leaves quiver and dance, night falls early and black crows take to the sky. A cool wind blows fire color from the trees — spellbound, turning the streets into nature’s own red carpet. Here how to savor the magic of the season now.

It ’s all good

SMOKIN’ GRASS Pampas grass is having a moment (we’re looking at you, Pottery Barn). You’ll find a similar look in common reed, which grows all over CNY. Cut long branches and display with other dried flowers in a rustic container or hang on walls to add a wispy, dreamy, bohemian vibe to any room.

LEAF THROUGH Accent everything with the icon of CNY’s favorite season — even your reading habits. Use a large colorful leaf to bookmark your latest novel.

PA G A N , R I G H T ? Celebrate Mabon, or the Autumnal Equinox, on Sept. 22 by decorating the house with animal symbols of the season — an owl, stag or blackbird will help set the tone. Other ways to play up the day: host a fall dinner party with seasonal dishes, go apple picking and clean the house of negative vibes before winter sets in.

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

Combine one cup of fresh local apple cider with one shot of Fireball. Garnish with a cinnamon stick. Sip while sitting in the backyard watching leaves accumulate on the lawn.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

PHOTOS BY SHUTTERSTOCK

FIRE IT UP

TWIGGIN’ OUT Bare branches beg to be brought indoors. Gather a few from outside (we like birch) and surround a candlestick holding a battery-operated flame (best to be safe). Display in a corner to create an interesting focal point.

SCA RY M US I C

PHOTOS BY SHUTTERSTOCK, JASON REYNOLDS PHOTO BY JAMES J. REDDINGTON

Bring the kids in costume for a parade, family fun and a live performance of creepy music when Symphoria presents Spooky Symphoria, 10:30 a.m., Oct. 30 at Inspiration Hall. Go to experiencesymphoria. org/event/spooky-symphoria.

ALL WRITE The 27th season of the Rosamond Gifford Author Series begins with best-selling writers Susan Orlean, Sept. 14, and Jason Reynolds (right), Oct. 26. Talks begin at 7:30 p.m. at John H. Mulroy Civic Center. Funds support the Onondaga County Public Library. Go to foclsyracuse.org.

S W E AT E R W E AT H E R Upcycle an old sweater and turn it into a pillow cover. Even if you only have enough material to cover the front of the pillow, you’ll create a seasonal update and give new life to old clothing without spending a penny.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

It ’s all good

POSITIVE VIBES

YOU CAN BOOK IT Reading helps reduce stress, boost mental health

Warning: Reading this magazine may be good for your health.

It’s worth noting other studies prove the benefits of reading

Okay, we’re a little biased. You don’t have to take our word for it.

when it comes to creating feelings of empathy in the reader

Research shows that reading is actually good for you.

and preventing cognitive decline in older people. Other studies

According to a 2009 study from the University of Sussex, read-

show reading improved brain health in older individuals who

ing reduced stress in test subjects by 68 percent. Researchers

read on a regular basis and may be helpful in combatting mem-

found that when people read for a minimum of six minutes, they

ory loss and Alzheimer’s.

experienced a reduction in heart rate, blood pressure, muscle

To practice: Read something you enjoy, whether it’s a fiction-

tension and stress levels, induced by “an altered state of con-

al romance, history or biography, and of course, this magazine.

sciousness” that resulted from reading. The act of reading cre-

Take your pick, light a candle, put on a pot of coffee (or tea) and

ated a feeling of calm in the mind and thereby soothed the body

make it a regular habit to escape with a good book — even if it’s

into a more relaxed state.

just for six minutes.

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK

BY M J K RAV EC

You’ve Asked, We’re Delivering We’re excited to introduce annual print and digital subscriptions to Central New York Magazine. Experience everything you love about Central New York’s people, places and seasons delivered directly to your mailbox or inbox. All 6 issues will feature our award-winning, locally focused content. Stay tuned for subscriber exclusives.

Visit readcnymagazine.com to learn more Annual subscriptions begin with the January/February 2022 issue.

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

It ’s all good

OUR TOWN

Tully BT AMY BLEIER LONG

At the southern edge of Onondaga County, Tully is ideal for outdoors enthusiasts. Its bucolic landscapes, glacial lakes and welcoming, supportive community continue to attract new residents, while the ski resorts, waterfalls and hiking trails bring in visitors from around the region. Active farms still dot the countryside, and the number of locally owned businesses — roughly 70 percent of them women-owned — keeps growing. Agritourism and local food-centered tourism are becoming the centerpiece of Tully’s economy.

Sweet Basil Restaurant & Pizzeria.

HAVE A BITE: The Sweet Basil Restaurant & Pizzeria has a varied menu and a cozy atmosphere. Enjoy breakfast dishes available all day at Elm Street Café. Bloomin’ Cup Café’s soups, salads, sandwiches and pastries are homemade. Locals rave about the service and flavors at Tasty China. Recently opened Heuga’s Alpine Restaurant and Bar at Song Mountain is open year-round for dinner and drinks. Try something unique, order the Bentwood Burger du jour at The Loft at Vesper Hills, made with yak meat raised on the owners’ farm. The View Sports Bar & Restaurant has nightly specials and hearty pub fare. From coffee and breakfast SAMwiches to loaded banana splits, visit Samantha’s Treats & Sweets for whatever you’re craving.

GRAB A DRINK:

“The best part about working in Tully is the supportive and interested community.” Jeremy Randall, artist and owner of Rusty Wheel Pottery

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

Between its brews and its lineup of food trucks and local musicians, ONCO Fermentations has become a good-time destination. Tucked behind The Local Food Market, small but mighty Fine Wine Tully offers a great selection. Nearby, The Nest Tavern is a popular stop for snowmobilers and motorcyclists who want a cold drink and live music.

PHOTOS BY SCOTT SCHILD, AMY BLEIER LONG

Tinker Falls is spectacular, especially during the spring thaw.

SHOP LOCAL:

The view from The Loft at Vesper Hills Golf Club.

GET OUTSIDE: Labrador Hollow Unique Area provides space for fishing, paddling, hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Within Labrador Hollow, the 50foot Tinker Falls is a popular stop. Though most of the lakes in Tully are private, residents enjoy access at Green Lake Beach. Tully Lake, which is a favorite ice fishing location, has a public hand-launch site for boats in Preble. The CNY Land Trust’s South Meadow Nature Area borders Cummings Park and the 79-acre Tracy Lake preserve contains Tracy Lake and surrounding marshes; both feature trails maintained by the Tully Action Group. Cummings Park also offers a baseball field, basketball court, playground and a pavilion that can be rented. Cornerstone Park and its stone fountain provide a peaceful place to sit. At Tully Park, two baseball fields, courts for basketball, tennis or pickleball and a paved walking trail give residents ways to stay active. Behind Kinney Drugs, amateur geologists explore an excavation site for fossils. The Svend O. Heiberg Memorial Forest, part of SUNY ESF, serves as an outdoor classroom and laboratory; 18 miles of public roads and trails for hiking, biking, snowshoeing and snowmobiling provide ample opportunities for recreation and wildlife viewing.

PHOTO BY CHARLIE MILLER

THINGS TO DO: Skiers, snowboarders and apres-ski fans head to sister resorts Song Mountain and Labrador Mountain. If snowmobiling is more your speed, connect with the Tully Trailblazers. Join the Syracuse Astronomical Society for public observing nights at the Darling Hill Observatory. It’s always a good time to work out; Tully 24 Fitness is open around the clock. From the Ground Up Therapeutic Horsemanship provides equine activities and therapy programs for people of all abilities, as well as traditional riding lessons. Hit the links at Vesper Hills Golf Club, Sunset Pines Executive Golf Course or Tully Hill and Dale Golf Course. Join the active Rotary Club in service to the community. Volunteer your time to plant, weed and harvest the Tully Community Garden behind St. Leo’s Parish Hall. Learn the sugaring process and bring home some syrup from Dutch Hill Maple. Adults and kids can take classes at Rusty Wheel Pottery or purchase pieces by the artist-owner. Among Tully Free Library’s many resources is a seed library to grow your own fruits, veggies, flowers and herbs.

The Tully Historical Society manages The Country Peddler consignment shop and the Twice Read Bookstore. Balance your mind and body with a massage and wellness products from Earth 2 Soul. Visit Nightingale’s Tully Lakes Hardware for supplies, quick fixes and, in the spring, baby chicks. Tully Building Supply, which celebrates its centennial this year, is a trusted resource for builders and homeowners. The Local Food Market Tully specializes in regionally produced goods, organic groceries and giftable items. Pull over for Currie Road Veggies’ produce stand; find u-pick fruit or pumpkins at KowBell Farm in addition to their pastureraised chicken and pork. Closer to Otisco, Holly Berry Hill’s shed has fresh eggs and a wide range of produce throughout the season. On Tuesday evenings in August, the Kings Corner Market features two dozen area farmers and vendors with locally made goods. Visit Guttendorf’s Wintry Acres in a historic church in the village for their sweet pickles and baked goods. Cook’s Recreation Motorsports sells and services ATVs and utility vehicles.

ANNUAL EVENTS: Join the Tully Dairy Moo Run 5K and kids’ fun run around Crooked Lake. Enjoy live Music in the Park at Cornerstone Park each summer. Join the community for the Memorial Day parade and a barbecue courtesy of the Tully Rotary. The Cornfield Classic and Girls of Summer lacrosse tournaments draw teams and spectators from around the US. Celebrate with a parade and local vendor market at Tully Community Days. Enter Tully Action Group’s sunflower growing contest. The Boy Scouts’ annual spaghetti dinner raises funds for scouts to participate in activities. Enjoy a community-led performance of the Thriller dance around Halloween. The library sponsors a Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot. A flurry of activity around the holidays includes the Tully Craft Show, Christmas at the Station, Breakfast with Santa, a Christmas sale at St. Leo’s and the fire department’s tree lighting and visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. The Ice Harvest Festival is an homage to Tully’s history. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

The Power to Make Ordinary, Extraordinary.

Help us provide advanced care to keep seniors home longer. More than 6,420 telehealth visits helped us to continue to care for individuals remotely during the pandemic. That’s just one of the ways The Foundation helps Loretto innovate care for better living.

lorettocny.org/Donate S9881624-02

It ’s all good

MARKET TRENDS

THERE IS A SEASON BY AMY BLEIER LONG PHOTOS BY AMELIA BEAMISH

When the leaves turn, turn, turn, it’s time for color and comfort. Put rich, earthy colors, touchable textures and natural elements on display for a style refresh.

WHEN AUTUMN LEAVES Leaves on the Sidewalk in the Rain decorative bowl by Marilyn S. Fegan, $225, Cazenovia Artisans, 39 Albany Street, Cazenovia, 315-655-2225, cazenoviaartisans.com.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

It ’s all good

MARKET TRENDS

SOPHISTICATED STITCHING Darcy Straw Crossbody, $49.95, Two Twisted Sisters, 25 Syracuse Street, Baldwinsville, 315-638-1955, oliveseaterybville.com.

GORGEOUS GOURDS Recycled velvet pumpkin with real feathers, $112, and small recycled velvet pumpkin, $26, Nest58, 58 E. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, 315-685-5888, nest58.com.

NATURAL SELECTION Oval mirror with jute detail, $265, Fringed Benefits, 6825 E. Genesee Street, Fayetteville, 315-802-4353, fringedbenefitsdesign.com.

PUT IT IN NEUTRAL Cotton rainbow cushion, $42, Synple, 70 Main Street, Camillus, 585-615-3934, shopsynple.com.

AS GOOD AS GOLD Flower taper holder, $20 for small and $30 for large, Synple.

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

ROCK SOLID Stone coasters, $24.99 each, Paola Kay Gifts, 105 Brooklea Drive, Fayetteville, 315-632-2192, paolakaygifts.com. CARRY ON Petite Classic Carryall Tote, $218, The Local Branch, 4 Jordan Street, Skaneateles, thelocalbranch.co.

QUILTED COMFORT Quilted throw in taupe, $150, Fringed Benefits.

WOOD YOU BELIEVE Men’s ring by Henneberry Woodworks, $95, Sea Culture, 11 Jordan Street, Skaneateles, seaculturebrand.com.

SNAZZY SNEAKERS Fringe sneaker in plaster, $306, Skaneateles 300, 2 W. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, 315-685-1133, skaneateles300.com.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

It ’s all good

MARKET TRENDS

COLORS OF THE WIND Desert Sands driftwood chime, $27.98, First National Gifts, 2 E. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, 855-810-9076, firstnationalgifts.com.

HEY, BUD Hand-built stoneware bud vase, $45, Mixed Methods, 215 E. Water Street Rear, Syracuse, 315-399-1766, letsgetmixed.com.

BELT IT OUT Woven elastic belts, $42 each, Emma + James, 25 Jordan Street, Skaneateles, 315-685-2747, shopejclothing.com.

FALL FROCK Flowery Feel Dress, $35, Dazzle, 119 W. Seneca Street, Manlius, 315-682-7499, thedazzlestore.com.

FLOORED BY YOU Bohemian Garden Gold eco-friendly vinyl runner, $130, The Station 603, 603 E. Seneca Street, Manlius, 315-682-8741.

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

TIE ONE ON Handwoven chenille scarves by Laurel Moranz, $130 each, Imagine, 38 E. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, 315-685-6263, imagineskaneateles.com.

A WALK TO REMEMBER “Autumn Afternoon” framed watercolor by Donna L. Stoner, $150, Salt City Artisans, 226 Hawley Avenue, Syracuse, 315-479-0400, saltcityartisans.com.

BAND GEEK Fritz headband, $14, H. Grey Supply Co., 53 Albany Street, Cazenovia, 315-815-5016, hgreysupplyco.com.

SOUTHWEST STYLE Bohemian Small & Cross-body Bag, $32, Fashion Rescue 911 Boutique, 52 Oswego Street, Baldwinsville, 315-857-6690, shopfashionrescue911.com. IN LITTLE FLEECES Baby Micro D Snap-T Jacket in Buckwheat Gold, $49, Pride + Joy, 88 E. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, 315-685-7576, skanbaby.com. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

It ’s all good

MARKET TRENDS

TO DYE FOR Tie-dyed overalls by K.MR.Krafts, $100, Wildflowers at the McCarthy Mercantile, 217 S. Salina Street, Syracuse, 315-546-4919, wildflowersarmory.com.

CAP-ITAL IDEA Sea Culture New York Hat, $32, Sea Culture.

WORKING FOR THE WEEKENDER Original duffel bag, $75, H. Grey Supply Co.

PRETTY PLANTER Art planter, $36, The Gift Box Shoppe, 4317 Fay Road, Syracuse, 315-487-9099, thegiftboxshoppe.com.

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CUDDLE SESSION Delray 50-by-60-inch chunky throw, $189, Nest58.

MOUNTAIN MAJESTY Mountain mugs by Hannah Bligh Newell, $50 each, exclusively at Sakran & Shaw, 11 Jordan Street, Skaneateles, 315-345-1091, sakranandshaw.com.

TAKE A HIKE Organically grown cotton jersey Timberland Boot SS Tee, $28, J Michael, 173 Marshall Street, Syracuse, 315-471-4237, jmichaelshoes.com.

RAG TIME Cotton Rag Rug by Handwovens for You by Joyce Lock, $75, Salt City Artisans.

LEAF PEEPING Artisan Beaded Wallet, $27, Dazzle.

I FELT IT Gardenia goat milk and aloe soap with organic wool by Glory Felt, $8, Wildflowers at the McCarthy Mercantile.

FRINGE THEORY Earrings, $18, Fashion Rescue 911 Boutique.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

It ’s all good

MARKET TRENDS

COZY COWL Twisted Twin Cowl in butterscotch by Knitting by Darian, $95, Wildflowers at the McCarthy Mercantile.

SUNSET INSPIRED November Sky teardrop necklace by Morningstar Metalworks, $48, Imagine.

SARI, NOT SORRY Recycled sari zipper pouches, $18.99 each, Paola Kay Gifts.

FAIR TRADE TEE Hand-block printed Yashvi top, $89, Ecodessa, 321 S. Salina Street, Syracuse, 315-802-2762, ecodessa.com.

SHAKE YOUR BOOTIE L’Artiste Tiatia boots, $115, J Michael.

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

GOING SOFT Melody chenille cardigan, $128, Ecodessa.

FAWNING OVER IT Fawn-print bench, $339, Nest58.

APPLE OF MY EYE Papier-mâché apple, $10.25, Pomodoro, 61 E. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, 315-685-0085.

CAN’T TOUCH THIS Snake-print touchless keyring, $18, Colorful Inspirations, 170 Township Boulevard, Camillus, 315-320-4364, colorfulinspirations.com.

TRAY CHIC Textured decorative tray, $29.99, The Station 603.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

It ’s all good

MARKET TRENDS

FLOWER POWER Pink Flower Embroidered Cuff, $35, The Wandering Kind, 46 E. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, 315-291-7177, thewanderingkindshop.com.

TABLE TOPPER Velvet table runner, $44.50, Chestnut Cottage, 75 E. Genesee Street, Skaneateles, 315-685-8082.

BLOCKED PARTY Soruka recycled leather purse, $98, Dazzle. EASILY SUEDE Brenda Zaro Rebecca Suede pump, $238, Paul Karaz Shoes, 414 E. Genesee Street, Fayetteville, 315-663-0200, paulkarazshoes.com.

BATHING BEAUTY Isla handloomed cotton bath towel, $46, Skaneateles 300.

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

MAD FOR PLAID Recycled wool blanket in Stewart Royal Antique Tartan, $100, 20|East, 85 Albany Street, Cazenovia, 315-815-4540, 20-east.com.

TRAIL BLAZER Phil Petter Black Blazer, $595, Projex 214, 211 E. Water Street, Syracuse, 315-447-7961, projex214.com.

GETTING FIGGY WITH IT MacKenzie-Childs Glow Home Apothecary Figmalion hand wash, $24.95, Chestnut Cottage.

JOIN THE CREW Eastbank Crew men’s sweater, $134, Emma + James.

IN THE CLOUDS On Running Cloud S21 sneaker in pebble/raisin, $129.99, Projex 214.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

EDR is dedicated to creating and sustaining a better environment for our clients, community, and employees. Our firm is built on our 40-year legacy of environmental stewardship. We’re excited about our continued growth and role in innovative, future-oriented projects – such as renewable energy, municipal infrastructure, sustainable planning, and environmentally sensitive design.

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PHOTO COURTESY WILLIAM G. POMEROY FOUNDATION

BEHIND THE SCENES • CAUGHT DOING GOOD • THE SEEN

IT’S NO SMALL POTATOES Talk about a hot potato. Thanks to the Onondaga Historical

immigrant who settled in Syracuse in 1839 and worked as a salt

Association for obtaining a historic marker immortalizing salt

boiler. He is the connection to the salt blocks. His sons brought

potatoes through a grant from the William G. Pomeroy Foun-

them out of the blocks and into the bars,” says OHA Curator of

dation. A dedication at Onondaga Lake Park’s Salt Museum

History Bob Searing. It’s the first marker funded through Hun-

in July featured actors portraying brothers Arthur and James

gry for History, a new Pomeroy Foundation grant program help-

Keefe, who, according to OHA, were the first to sell salt pota-

ing communities showcase local and regional foods nationwide.

toes at their Wolf Street saloon. “Their father Daniel was an Irish

Pass the butter, please. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

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DOWNTOWN DOINGS

With renovations underway to replace seating at the Landmark, the theater began selling old seats and plaques to raise money during the pandemic. The idea was a hit with the theater’s supporters.

GIVE ‘EM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE After going dark for a long pandemic, downtown theaters are lit up with community support and a spectacular lineup

B Y K AT E R E Y N O L D S

idea was a hit.

ployees had to temporarily step away from their passion. But the

“The community has always been very supportive to the Land-

Landmark Theatre, Redhouse Arts Center and Syracuse Stage

mark, which we have always been very thankful for,” he says.

found something meaningful — strong support from the Syra-

“The community stepped up.”

cuse community. As they open their doors to theatergoers and

The Redhouse and Syracuse Stage also found community sup-

touring performers, these three venues are setting the stage for

port. While the Redhouse closed for the pandemic, it explored

a spectacular comeback season.

new modes of reaching its audience by streaming performances

At the Landmark, renovations have been underway to replace

and investing in other technology to keep the theater function-

the theater’s original seats and its iconic marquee, which was

ing virtually. Theatergoers responded by tuning in. Executive

damaged by Central New York’s snow. And while a pandem-

Director Samara Hannah says it was a great feeling to receive

ic might seem like a bad time to start a project, it turned into a

“financial support and also the emotional support. It was in-

major fundraising opportunity. To make the most of their sit-

credible to get that vote of confidence.”

uation, the Landmark began selling old seats and seat plaques 32

to raise money, says Executive Director Mike Intaglietta. The

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

Syracuse Stage coped with the pandemic by producing all six

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LANDMARK THEATRE

The pandemic lockdown was hard for everyone, and it was especially difficult for theaters in downtown Syracuse whose em-

“

OUR COMMUNITY’S SUPPORT HAS BEEN UNWAVERING AND ALTHOUGH IT’S TAKEN A DIFFERENT SHAPE, OUR ABILITY TO PRODUCE, DESPITE THE PANDEMIC, HAS BEEN POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THAT COMMUNITY SUPPORT.” Syracuse Stage Managing Director Jill Anderson

shows in its season virtually, at times relying on actors to create videos at home. Like The Redhouse, Syracuse Stage also found people tuning in to watch shows remotely. “Our community’s support has been unwavering and although it’s taken a different shape, our ability to produce, despite the pandemic, has been possible because of that community support,” says Syracuse Stage Managing Director Jill Anderson. With pandemic restrictions easing (as of this writing), people can come together safely, and

PHOTOS COURTESY OF REDHOUSE ARTS CENTER, BY GENEVIEVE FRIDLEY

shows and rehearsals can bring outside guests into the Syracuse area. This fall, four Broadway casts will conduct their technical rehearsals in the downtown theaters prior to their national tours. In preparing for its October debut at the Landmark, Roald Dahl’s “Charlie & The Chocolate Factory” is rehearsing at the theater. The Landmark will also host the performances of “Cats” and the Blue Man Group. Both will rehearse at The Redhouse before then, along with the cast of “Tootsie.” Intaglietta is excited to be opening again,

“Rent” and Rent Talk Back during the 2019/2020 season at Redhouse. While the theater closed for the pandemic, it explored new modes of reaching its audience by streaming performances and investing in other technology.

hosting technical rehearsals that the Landmark has hosted for years because it’s not just the theater that benefits. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

“I and You” livestreamed at Syracuse Stage May 5 through 23.

“It is really amazing to watch. There are dozens of stage crew, designers, directors to make sure



AT THE LANDMARK THEATRE:

“Charlie & The Chocolate Factory,” October 12 to October 16

their show looks, sounds and operates exactly how

“Waitress,” December 7 to December 12

they envisioned it on paper,” Intaglietta says. “We

“Blue Man Group,” February 24 to February 27, 2022

love the boost it gives to surrounding businesses.”

“Hamilton,” March 15 to March 27

Redhouse also found positives from the pan-

“Cats,” April 26 to April 30

demic. Hannah notes that while theaters were on pause, they had time to reexamine their options. “A lot of these tours were looking for off-the-beat-

AT REDHOUSE ARTS CENTER:

“Sister Act,” December 3 to December 19

en-path places that are new and different,” Hannah

“August Wilson’s Fences,” February 25 to March 6, 2022

says. “It gave them time to sort of shop around and

“Macbeth,” April 1 to April 10

get into a market like Syracuse and Central New

“Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” June 10 to June 19

York that is a little less traveled when it comes to AT SYRACUSE STAGE:

things like this.”

“Matilda The Musical,” November 19 to January 2, 2022 “Yoga Play,” January 19 to February 6 “Somewhere Over the Border,” February 23 to March 13 “The Play That Goes Wrong,” April 13 to May 1 “salt/city/blues,” June 8 to 26

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

PHOTO COURTESY OF SYRACUSE STAGE

“Eureka Day,” October 13 to 31

Let’s create health and happiness in your home.

here are certain spaces in our homes where we actually create health and happiness. Rooms where water flows and light shines. Enjoy hundreds of bath, kitchen and lighting products in room settings that help you envision them in your home. Experience working displays that allow you to choose with confidence. Frank Webb Home’s friendly experts delight in helping you make these spaces your own. SYRACUSE, NY 6792 Townline Road • 315-552-9599 To find 48 showrooms throughout the Northeast, visit frankwebb.com

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CAUGHT DOING GOOD

Rick Naylor is president of the Historic Oakwood Cemetery Preservation Association.

HOST IN THE GRAVEYARD Preserving a vibrant park for the living to enjoy and to honor those who’ve passed

BY SUSAN KENNEDY

With childhood friends in tow, Naylor recalls running joyful-

ed to be asked to join his grandmother and great aunts to visit

ly through the Onondaga Valley Cemetery, biking through Oak-

additional relatives.

wood Cemetery and sledding down the hills of St. Agnes Cem-

“I was shocked when we ended up in a cemetery!” laughs Naylor.

etery. He studied in graveyards, too, spending hours making

Naylor and his cousin ran around the graveyard that day,

grave rubbings, devouring each carved detail. “It was a puzzle

looking for funny names, the oldest tombstones and interest-

for me!” recalls Naylor.

ing carvings while his aunts and grandmother edged around

That curiosity and care, Naylor says, are traits he learned

their family’s plots, planted flowers and told stories about the

from his father. “My father taught us how to fix things, and with

relatives who had passed.

those skills he helped anybody,” says Naylor. “Every Sunday

“At that moment I became fascinated,” says Naylor. “Here we were standing next to the graves of the actual people I had heard so much about!” So began what Naylor calls his obsession with cemeteries — 36

their history, their art, their architecture and their landscapes.

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

drive seemed to include us helping someone change a flat tire.” Now Naylor’s the helper. “I am the first one friends call to ask for help. I’ll be over in a minute. I’ll jump in the car. You can count on me.”

PHOTOS BY SUSAN KENNEDY

When he was a six-year-old boy at a Sunday dinner with extended family on Syracuse’s South Side, Rick Naylor was excit-

Robert Sarason and Jane Burkhead with their dogs, Omar and Snoop, at their home.

With deep family ties to the Community Foundation, Robert and I opened a donor-advised fund to continue our family’s traditions of giving and supporting the Central New York community. We make grants through our fund to numerous causes within our community about which we are passionate. These causes include healthcare for women, arts, social justice and Jewish organizations.

GIVING BACK FOR CHANGE: ROBERT SARASON & JANE BURKHEAD

We also named the Community Foundation’s Community Fund as a beneficiary of our estate to support the greatest needs of the community after we are gone. We see the Community Foundation as an Read more of Robert and Jane’s story at cnycf.org/SarasonBurkhead engine for transformative and societal change, ensuring our support will help future generations thrive.

315 . 4 22.9538 | CNYCF.ORG

S9798248-01

“

IT WAS BUILT AS A PARK TO BE ENJOYED BY ALL.” Rick Naylor, president, Historic Oakwood Cemetery Preservation Association

Historic Oakwood Cemetery has been counting on Naylor’s help for years as a volunteer to fix fences, clean tombstones, rake landscapes and host tours. “I’ll go out of my way to find a grave, give [visitors] a map, tell them about the cemetery.” As the newly elected president of the Historic Oakwood Cemetery Preservation Association (HOCPA), Naylor oversees the preservation and protection of the 160 park-like acres that are the final resting place for 60,000 Syracuse leaders of industry, soldiers, abolitionists, suffragists and Victorian families. However, it’s the living, modern Syracuse families Naylor hopes to see more of in Oakwood, walking dogs, running and exploring. “It was built as a park to be enjoyed by all,” he says. So, Naylor’s expanding the regular tour schedule, adding mini tours and mile-long walking tours. You can also schedule a private tour of this historical landmark. As a steward of the cemetery Naylor says, “I’m just helping others, like my father taught us to do.” To those who may think cemeteries are creepy? “I get it,” says Naylor. “But come to Oakwood and take a walk. Just give it a shot. You’ll love it!”

Naylor has added mini tours and mile-long walking tours at Oakwood. You can also schedule a private tour of this historical landmark.

And for those who want creepy: There’s always the Oakwood Ghost Trail Tour that winds you through two miles of the cemetery’s hills and valleys to visit a dozen sites of recorded paranormal activity. Visitors claim to have seen a ghostly woman in a wedding gown wandering near the grave of the bride of Syracuse’s first mayor, glowing orbs hovering near the Split Rock Monument that honors those killed in a WWIIera quarry explosion and a strange light at the Tyler family’s pyramid-shaped tomb. “Nothing jumps out at you,” assures Naylor. “We leave that stuff to the Fright Nights.” 38

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER



For more information: hocpa.org Instagram: @historicoakwoodcemetery and on Facebook at HOCPA.

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THE SEEN

J U LY 1 6 -1 8

Syracuse Nationals Syracuse Nationals roared back to the New York State Fairgrounds after last year’s event was cancelled. The event featured more than 8,000 vehicles, 450 vendors, live entertainment and food and drink. New this year, Nitro Row featured some of the loudest nostalgia drag cars in America. Now in its 22nd year, Syracuse Nationals is the largest car show in the Northeast,

PHOTOS BY DENNIS NETT

attracting 90,000 visitors in 2019.

J U LY 2 4 - 2 6

Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival In its 50th year, the Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival returned to downtown Syracuse for a three-day showcase featuring nearly 130 artists, as well as street performances, strolling musicians and summer fare. The event was held at the intersections of East Onondaga, East Jefferson and Montgomery streets. Attendees browsed contemporary arts and crafts, including ceramics, sculptures, photography, painting, woodworking, jewelry and clothing. This was the first major festival held in downtown Syracuse since the pandemic. 1

1. Lurenza Whitaker of Syracuse looks at handmade art at Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival. 2. Patty Deer hangs her necklaces featuring handpainted Iroquois clan animals. 3. Monica Diolone holds her daughter Luna Sarmiento.

PHOTOS BY VIRGINIA NASH

4. Sebastian Modrow, of Syracuse, gets drinks for his children Paulina, 2, and Freya, 5.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

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THE SEEN

J U LY 2 8

A Hidden Gem in Central New York Come Walk through History with Us! Brockway Trucks  Local History Trains  Military Memorabilia Agricultural History Vintage Tractors and More!

Gatsby Garden Party The Mansion on James set the tone for a Gatsby-themed garden party fundraiser for the George & Rebecca Barnes Foundation. Guests dressed in period costumes and danced the Charleston under the moonlight as members of the GR Barnes Foundation and Chelsea Opera Company came out to support the mansion. Descendants of George and

Three Unique Museums ~ One Price!

George and Rebecca Barnes family members included, back row from left, Lael Pierce, Sarvesh Nair, Bob Maguire, Bob Pierce, Steve McConochy and Stephen Walker. Front row from left, Michele Pierce, Alexis Pierce Nair, Dee Pierce Maguire, Christine Pierce, Aisha Pierce McConochy and Kim Walker.

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PHOTO BY ARLENE STEWART

Rebecca Barnes also attended the event.

LUXURY INDEPENDENT LIVING Local favorites on the menu, local friends to reconnect with, local activities to keep your body and mind actively engaged. You’ll be right at home, at The Nottingham. And among friends.

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

T H E SPA AT T H E I N N S O F AU RO R A

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

BINDING US TOGETHER These local authors and illustrators are open books BY CHRISTINE DUNNE

Compelling tales take us to other places and times, challenge or confirm our perspectives and elicit thoughts, feelings and actions. Authors and illustrators create the words and images that give us these opportunities. Drawing inspiration from their own varied backgrounds, interests and experiences — say, historical representation, a new puppy or time spent in nature — they turn those moments into something that creates connections with others on a wider scale. In the pages ahead, get to know 10 Central New York-based authors and illustrators whose work spans a mix of genres. We asked them to share their creative process, what motivates them and if CNY itself has influenced their projects.

GINNIE HSU

innie Hsu has lived and traveled around the world but finds the beauty of Central New York to be beyond com-

For more information: visithelloginniehsu.com

pare. Whether she’s trekking through a forest, visit-

ing a farm or tending to her garden, she’s always moved by the scenes around her. “I was outside in my yard and there were so many fireflies, and it was just so magical for me,” she says.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GINNIE HSU



mal remnants) in Central New York. She developed a love of nature and illustration while living and traveling with her grandmother in Asia. They would go for nature walks and take sightseeing and hiking trips in the mountains;

These kinds of outdoor experiences, as well as scenes of ev-

then her grandmother would encourage her to create observa-

eryday life, form the basis of her illustrations, which she gen-

tional drawings based on the landscapes and objects around her.

erally creates with mixed media: sketching, painting, colored

Hsu ended up establishing a career in graphic design and teach-

penciling or using Photoshop. She enjoys adding animations to

ing the discipline at the college level, but her deep-seated love

her work, as shown on her website.

for illustration led her to reclaim that original path.

Hsu is frequently commissioned to create illustrations for

Her creative routine typically involves waking up, consum-

books and magazines, with past work on subjects like Lady Bird

ing coffee and breakfast (because she gets “really angry” with-

Johnson, Corazon Aquino (the first female president of the Phil-

out them) and doing warmup sketches of objects like flowers —

ippines) and a year in the life of an organic farm. Current proj-

before delving into the project at hand. If she ever gets artist’s

ects include works about Beatrix Potter, Monet and hunting for

block, she goes for a walk or engages in one of her many other

ecological treasures (for example, mushrooms, leaves and ani-

hobbies to change her frame of mind.

Left: Ginnie Hsu’s illustrations are inspired by her everyday life, nature and well-being.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

CAYETANO VALENZUELA

ne of Cayetano Valenzuela’s favorite pursuits is making dream worlds real through art. It’s an expression of his upbringing

and the magical and supernatural ideas brimming in his mind. “I grew up in Texas…And my family, we’re Mexican Americans,” says Valenzuela, owner of Black Rabbit Studio. “They told all sorts of different stories that were way different kinds of stories than kids up here hear. You know, tons of ghost stories and stories about the devil.” Valenzuela, who is a big reader as well, incorporates these and other fantastical concepts into his illustrations and hand-painted signs. He creates designs for real businesses (Recess Coffee and Three of Swords Tattoo, to name just two) and fictional ones (such as the Salt City Detective Agency, Goblin Market and Palm Readers Guild), as well as fable-inspired animal portraits. He is now working on a comic book that’s seeing interest from publishers. It tells the tale of a family of magicians riding with a circus. When their box of family secrets is stolen by robbers, daughter Maggie works to recover it — unearthing the secrets while also discovering a new power.

Through his illustrated prints, hand-painted signs and other art, Cayetano Valenzuela aims to bring dream worlds to life.

Set in West Texas around 1925, amidst the backdrop of the Texas Ranger massacre of Mexican Americans, the fantasy puts the spotlight on Chicano characters — something not often seen, Valenzuela points out. Valenzuela is a Syracuse fan, calling it a “beautiful angelic city” — especially when the setting sun or early morning light frames his Delavan Studios workspace. The city’s history of invention and innovation is a source of visual storytelling inspiration for him. Syracuse has made its way into his work, and his work into the city. He has designed a Syracuse t-shirt, of which he’s done three different runs, and is responsible for the Mighty Salt City mural on East Genesee Street downtown. 46

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER



For more information: theblackrabbitstudio.com

Jo McNally’s romance novels take place in tight-knit Upstate New York communities where opportunities for love and connection abound.

JO McNALLY

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CAYETANO VALENZUELA, JO MCNALLY

ne thing that sets apart Jo McNally’s contemporary romance novels is their setting in Upstate New York locales



For more information: jomcnallyromance.com

— including small fictional towns in the Catskills and

Finger Lakes, and more specifically, a mention of Kitty Hoynes

long dream after a question from a young girl at a Girl Scouts Ca-

in Syracuse. She finds that small towns often have a Main Street

reer Night (McNally was working for a furniture manufacturer at

with locally owned businesses where people congregate, creat-

the time). While that book wasn’t published, she has since had

ing opportunities for conversation and relationships.

12 novels released by Harlequin. She chose the romance genre

The characters in her novels have a sense of community, and

for the same reason she reads it: The books are so full of hope.

they deal with real-life challenges (for example, agoraphobia,

She writes in the comfy environments of the window-filled

anxiety, grief, PTSD and addiction). While love doesn’t cure

sunroom and living room in her North Syracuse-area home.

these conditions, it can provide extra motivation and support

McNally is driven by the experience of getting to know the

for coping with them. In addition to their CNY influences and

characters and their histories, motivations and personali-

relatable characters, her books are distinguished by their hu-

ties as she writes — a process that involves elements of sur-

mor and emotion.

prise. “That’s the moment I start having fun. If a scene isn’t

Growing up in Brewerton, McNally was always a voracious

working… even if it’s a scene I originally thought I’d love, the

reader. But it wasn’t until she was approaching 50 that she de-

characters will tell me if it works or not. And I’ve learned to

cided to sit down and write a book — spurred to pursue a life-

trust them!” she says. SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

Paul Arras’ books look at TV shows from the 1990s and how they have portrayed and impacted American culture.

PAUL ARRAS ing about his audience.

For more information: twitter.com/northstarshow

“You have to figure out a way to turn your inner

thoughts and ideas into a language that can then be appreciat-

American culture.

ed by someone else out there,” he says. “You’re extending your-

Arras was inspired by his experience growing up and watch-

self and putting yourself out there in the world and doing it in

ing TV in the ‘90s, his education at Syracuse University (includ-

sort of a conscious way.”

ing classes with Robert Thompson, director of the Bleier Center

This approach has guided his two books: “The Lonely Nineties: Visions of Community in Contemporary U.S. Television”

for Television and Popular Culture) and his longtime desire to write a book he could hold in his own hands.

and “Seinfeld: A Cultural History.” Arras, an assistant professor

He also believes his books may be of particular interest to peo-

in the Communication and Media Studies department at SUNY

ple living in mid-sized metropolitan areas like Syracuse, giv-

Cortland, combined degrees in journalism and history to estab-

en that TV provides a kind of gateway to bigger cities and new

lish a scholarly focus on TV shows from the 1990s.

ideas. While Syracuse is only a road trip from every city in the

In “The Lonely Nineties,” Arras reflects on how various programs — “Seinfeld,” “Friends,” “Frasier,” “NYPD Blue,”



Northeast, he notes, only TV can bring another city — or world — into your living room.

“Law & Order,” “The X Files,” “Touched by an Angel,” “The

Arras’ favorite places to write are coffee shops, including Re-

Simpsons” and the like — depicted and impacted commu-

cess Coffee in Syracuse’s Westcott neighborhood. He will find a

nity, while “Seinfeld: A Cultural History” explores the sit-

seat, set up his laptop and force himself to write something —

com’s development, plot and legacy on television and in

all before getting up for his reward of coffee.

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

PHOTOS COURTESY OF PAUL ARRAS

hen Paul Arras sits down to write, he is always think-

LINDA LOWEN

inda Lowen’s career as a writer has been focused on finding opportunities for great storytelling in a changing media landscape, as well as helping budding writ-

ers hone their craft. A former radio and television producer and host, Lowen came to prefer the more introspective nature of writing. Her experience includes producing over 2,500 pieces of online content on women’s issues for the New York Times Company, MSN.com and MSN Living, writing nonfiction book reviews for Publishers Weekly and creating micro-fiction for “Tiny Love Stories: True Tales of Love in 100 Words or Less.” Lowen is a creative nonfiction instructor for the Downtown Writers Center in Syracuse, founder of writing studio Always Wanted to Write (she also offers online writing classes) and a teacher through Writers in the Mountains, the Hobart Festival of Women Writers and Oasis Lifelong Learning. “As much as I enjoy writing, I enjoy giving the job to other people and teaching them to find their stories, how to communicate their stories and how to write so readers aren’t politely clapping and saying, ‘That’s nice,’ but leaning forward and saying, ‘Wow, I want to hear more,’” she says. She’s also had her writing advice published in The Writer and Writer’s Digest magazines and edited a variety of publications, including “Hopeful Grateful Strong,” a collection of essays on surviving cancer by first-time writers. Lowen is excited for her latest opportunity, putting together “100 Things to Do in Syracuse Before You Die” — a guidebook to be published by Reedy Press. She looks forward to revealing the area’s hidden gems to the world, including its beautiful historic PHOTOS COURTESY OF GLINDA LOWEN

city neighborhoods, unique coffee shops and natural delights; one of her current favorites is Three Falls Woods in Manlius. She’s also thrilled to be co-writing a script for a local NutcrackAt her writing studio in the Delavan (shown above), Linda Lowen writes and teaches non-fiction writing to others.

er-themed holiday event in December, in collaboration with CirqOvation, which is partnering with Symphoria.



For more information: alwayswantedtowrite.com.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

DANIEL MIDDLETON designer, Daniel Middleton noticed a lack of books



For more information: uniquecoloring.com

focused on Black history and figures; and those that

did covered the same “tried and true” individuals.

Black History You Should Know,” set for a fall launch. It will

“I’m more about the people we haven’t heard of and the events

showcase Bridget “Biddy” Mason (who went from enslavement

we haven’t heard of,” Middleton says. “Those are the stories that

to one of Los Angeles’ most prominent citizens and landown-

need to be told.”

ers), Onesimus (an enslaved man who passed on knowledge re-

Middleton researched lesser-known individuals and compiled them into two books with profiles and digital illustrations, in-

garding smallpox variolation) and Sesame Street’s Black origins, among other articles.

cluding detailed grayscale portraits that readers can color. In

Middleton is very particular about finding reliable infor-

“21st Century Black Changemakers,” Middleton features 12 bi-

mation from primary sources, like newspaper articles and

ographies of influential people, from British cellist Sheku Kan-

paintings of the subjects, so they are accurately represent-

neh-Mason to Marian R. Croak, the lead developer of Voice over

ed. Equally important is ensuring that readers are engaged

Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology.

with the material, which is why he develops the coloring pag-

“The Black History Activity Book” is similar, but also includes

es and activities.

trivia, word searches and crossword puzzles. It highlights fig-

According to Middleton, his home in rural Central New York,

ures and subjects such as Civil War Army officer Martin Delany,

with its access to beautiful streams and creeks where he can pad-

Juneteenth, the Freedom House Ambulance Service and avia-

dle his kayak, is the perfect setting for producing books and oth-

tor Bessie Coleman.

er content such as videos on historic individuals and stories be-

He is currently working on ”45 People, Places, and Events in

cause it gives him the inspiration he needs to fill his creative tank.

Daniel Middleton’s “21st Century Black Changemakers” features influential but lesser-known Black figures. 50

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DANIEL MIDDLETON

hile working in the publishing industry as a graphic

MICHELLE DaRIN

jewelry artist by trade, Michelle DaRin wasn’t particularly interested in writing. But after trying transcen-



For more information: michelledarinjewelry.com

dental meditation earlier this year, she woke up one

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MICHELLE DARIN

morning with a whole book in her head.

way scene. On another page, DaRin is making masks at a sew-

DaRin joined forces with artist Dee Densmore to create “Along

ing machine, something she’s done passionately throughout

Came Penny,” a children’s book about her family’s experience

COVID. DaRin describes Densmore’s imagery as having a “whole

during the pandemic. The self-published book, which comes out

peace and love and hippie kind of vibe,” which jives well with

this fall, explores the DaRins’ relationship with their four dogs,

her own bohemian style.

including the titular Penny, a yellow lab acquired in December.

A Staten Island native, DaRin attended SUNY Cortland be-

“It was very cathartic for both of us to have something to work

fore moving to the Syracuse area 30 years ago with her CNY-na-

on together during the craziness of the pandemic,” DaRin says.

tive husband, who is an English teacher and the editor of her

The addition of Penny brightened up life for the family, par-

book. DaRin draws inspiration from Central New York’s beau-

ticularly for DaRin’s teenage daughter, Julia. A page in the book

ty, including the eight acres of land on which her home is sit-

depicts Julia crying with joy upon receiving Penny for Christmas.

uated and nearby Jamesville Reservoir. She’s eagerly awaiting

The book includes illustrations of Penny being dressed up

the completion of a new studio that backs up to a creek on her

by her family, clad in DaRin’s jewelry as well as headpieces she

property, where she will create pieces with her frequently ref-

made for Syracuse Fashion Week — there’s even a doggy run-

erenced themes of ancient symbols and nature.

Michelle DaRin’s first book is coming out this fall, based on her family’s relationship with its dogs during the pandemic.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

Liz Petrone was driven to write “The Price of Admission” after her mother’s suicide in 2013, as a way to share her story and help others.

LIZ PETRONE and gave birth just three and a half weeks later,

For more information: lizpetrone.com

she was in a strange place of mourning the trage-

dy and experiencing immense joy. She expressed the duality of

given her commitments as a full-time computer programmer

these emotions in “The Price of Admission,” a book released in

and mom of four; she capitalized on stolen moments in the bath-

September 2020. “I sat down to tell that story and give people

tub and lying next to the kids after putting them to bed. But she

permission to feel joy even when things are hard, or especially

persevered, knowing she needed to honor her mother and con-

when things are hard,” she says.

tribute to conversations around mental illness.

The book discusses other tough subjects like mental illness,

Prior to writing the book, she posted about these challeng-

addiction and postpartum depression, serving as a way for

es on her blog, Facebook and Instagram, developing an en-

Petrone to share her experiences, end the stigma associated with

gaged community of followers that continues to interact with

discussing these topics and prevent others from following the

her updates.

same path as her mother. A CNY “lifer,” the whole story takes

Through her various communities, she encourages everyone to

place in this region — including her son’s birth in her Strath-

take ownership of the things that have happened to them in their

more home — though the setting is generalized for the purpose

life — whether through writing or another avenue of expression

of focusing on the memoir’s key themes.

such as dance. By telling these stories, not only do we become

“The Price of Admission” took Petrone seven years to write, 52

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CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

better people, but the world becomes better as well, she says.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LIZ PETRONE

hen Liz Petrone lost her mom to suicide in 2013

RICK MARTINEZ

ick Martinez’s latest book, “A Captain’s Quandary,” is a fictional ship captain’s letter to kids about the COVID-19 crisis, letting them know things will

be OK if everyone works together and makes good choices. “Parents loved it,” he says, noting he has read the book at virtual and in-person story hours. “They go ‘This is great. It’s what kids need to know — that somebody else besides them has been through it and is going through it and letting them know it’s going to be OK.’” Martinez, who in costume strongly resembles the character Captain Jack Sparrow, leans into the nautical imagery. He identifies with the fictional pirate: Like Sparrow, who was threatened by the ferocious Hector Barbossa, Martinez was often bullied growing up but found ways to get around it. He said that dressing up as Jack and using pirates as a lens helps him command the attention of his young audience. Similar themes surfaced in previous books, including “Goodnight Ship.” In this lyrical work, the ship captain says goodnight to his crew in a manner reminiscent of “Goodnight Moon.” But the book also highlights the crew mates’ strengths, teaching children the importance of appreciating others. Another book, “A Pirate, I Be,” in which a big sister sees her brother transform into a pirate, illustrates the value of using one’s imagination. Martinez, a Central New York native, said his favorite time

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RICK MARTINEZ

to write is when everyone else in his house is asleep or when Rick Martinez uses pirates and nautical themes to teach children lessons about perseverance, imagination and appreciation.

inspiration hits, which could mean three or four in the morning. He’s partnered with Matt Pikarsky, a versatile local illustrator with a “Disney-esque” style. The messages Martinez conveys to children are a huge part of why he writes; the greatest treasure —“that no one can ever take away” — is the knowledge they gain from books.

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For more information: apirateibe.com SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

ED GRIFFIN-NOLAN

n 2018, 40 years after he hitchhiked across the United States, Ed Griffin-Nolan decided to try it again — this time seeking answers to his question of why interest in hitchhiking

(which he has called the ultimate embrace of uncertainty) has dwindled. He concluded people are more afraid of potential risks. “There’s a lot more fear than there is danger,” he says. “If we think about it, it might help us feel through other issues we [experience] as people.” Griffin-Nolan compiled his adventures and insights into the book “Nobody Hitchhikes Anymore,” which has since earned an Independent Publisher Book Award. As he did four decades ago, he was able to truly enjoy travel by taking his time and connecting with others. Hitchhiking forces people to get outside of their comfort zone and meet all sorts of people with all sorts of stories to tell, he says. In this latest book, elements of Central New York made their way into the story, including the Pompey Mall, Beak & Skiff and Skaneateles, all located along Route 20. There are also reflections on how life and politics vary around the country. In fact,

In “Nobody Hitchhikes Anymore,” Ed GriffinNolan recounts his latest hitchhiking adventure — which included a ride with Portia near Buffalo (shown above).

Griffin-Nolan believes Central New York is largely a microcosm of the United States as a whole — making it easy for CNY residents to find connections with people throughout the country. To help see his book to the end, Griffin-Nolan credits the motivating forces of his editors as well as blog readers. Editors hold you accountable, he says, while his readers — who come out. He has written other books, in addition to columns for Syracuse Parent magazine and articles for the Syracuse New Times. Griffin-Nolan has also worked as a massage therapist for 25 years; he owns The Art of Massage at The Spa at 500 in Syracuse.

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For more information: nobodyhitchhikesanymore.com

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ED GRIFFIN-NOLAN

followed him on his trip — kept asking when the book would

Authors Bruce and Kathy Coville at their office in the Westcott neighborhood.

A ST O R I E D R E L AT I O N S H I P Partners in life and literature BY AMY BLEIER LONG

As a young wife and mother in the mid-1970s, Katherine

erature at Syracuse University and as he shared his assign-

Coville was unsure whether she would have a career, and if

ments with her, they became more excited and determined

she did, whether she would pursue art or music. She’d been

to see their work published.

drawing as long as she could remember, encouraged by her

PHOTO BY AMY BLEIER LONG

art teacher mother, but she also loved playing the piano.

One evening, Katherine, who goes by Kathy socially, drew a picture of a giant and asked Bruce to write a story around the

At the same time, her husband Bruce was increasingly frus-

character. The couple worked collaboratively on developing

trated by his inability to become a published author. He en-

the story and the accompanying illustrations and sent it in.

joyed being an elementary school teacher, but had a driving

Everything changed on July 7, 1977 — considered, coinciden-

need to write. His submissions to publishers, some of which

tally, the luckiest day of the century, notes Bruce. The picture

included illustrations by Katherine, had been so far rejected.

book was accepted, and it published the following year. “It

He enrolled in a graduate level class on writing children’s lit-

was earth-shaking,” Kathy says of selling “The Foolish Giant.” SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

It wasn’t a straight line from there to success, but Kathy and Bruce eventually achieved it together and individually. Kathy has illustrated more than 30 books, many of them Bruce’s, and in 2015, became a children’s author herself with the release of “The Cottage in the Woods.” She has since written three more novels, her most recent being 2019’s “Briar and Rose and Jack.” “Once I got into writing, I never looked back. I haven’t done any illustration in a long time. I’m strictly a writer now,” she says. Bruce’s prolific career has produced well over 100 books: a mix of series, standalone novels, anthologies and non-fiction texts. While the stories run the gamut from picture books and early readers to Bruce’s sole adult fiction offering, 8- to 12-yearolds have been his primary audience. “It’s a great age because kids have become very independent at that point, but they still believe in the possibility of magic and adventure, and they haven’t got into all the social stuff that happens in middle school, which distracts so much from reading,” Bruce says. Reading has always been important to Bruce and Kathy, who were and are avid readers drawn to fantasy, science fiction and fables. Their own

Above, an illustration done in black Prismacolor pencils on Bristol Board by Katherine for Bruce’s “Aliens Ate My Homework” series. Two direct-to-streaming films based on this series have been released in recent years.

stories are the type they like to read themselves — rife with all manner of mythical creatures and fantastical situations, but the essence of each tale is truly human.

The couple jokes that they write for kids because

tings are modeled after the place where they grew

their mindsets and senses of humor are, as Kathy

up. For his “Aliens Ate My Homework,” Kathy so

says, “sort of stalled out at that age.” Rather, it seems

accurately drew an image of a swamp resembling

that they possess keenly developed senses of won-

the one behind his childhood home, Bruce says it

der and imagination, and the ability to recall and

looks like a photograph. In a small number of sto-

tap into the well of adolescent feelings and motiva-

ries, Bruce’s characters live in Syracuse and refer

tions. Through their writing, the Covilles demon-

to local streets or buildings of note (even if cloaked

strate a respect for young peoples’ intellect, emo-

by a fictional name), such as the Landmark The-

tional intelligence and integrity.

atre and City Hall.

With the exception of two years in the early ‘90s

In addition to producing the bulk of his oeuvre

when Bruce lived and worked in New York City, the

here in Central New York, Bruce runs his audio-

Covilles have resided in Central New York all their

book company, Full Cast Audio, out of his West-

lives. They were raised a few miles outside of Phoe-

cott-neighborhood office. Using mostly local tal-

nix and attended the same schools. Bruce courted

ent, the company records family-friendly books

Katherine by mail after he left for college, and they

from a variety of authors. Katherine’s “Ivy” was

married shortly after she graduated high school.

released over the summer; Bruce and a team of ac-

Family has kept them in the area; they’ve lived in

tors are recording the third and fourth books of his

the City of Syracuse for nearly three decades and

“My Teacher is an Alien” series and “The Ghost in

are proud grandparents now.

the Third Row” for release this fall. Families have

Central New York and its influence figures prom-

also enjoyed theatrical performances of Bruce’s

inently in Bruce’s work. Fictional small-town set-

work with shows created by Open Hand Theater.

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

In addition to the generations of children here and elsewhere who have enjoyed Bruce’s whimsical tales, students around CNY have flexed their own creative muscles writing endings to Bruce’s suspenseful prompts in his annual Halloween story contest with The Post-Standard. The contest has been running for roughly 25 years; some past entrants have become teachers in local districts and now have their own students participate. This year’s prompt will be revealed September 19 on Syracuse.com and in The Post-Standard with entries due October 5. Bruce’s most recent book, “The Thief of Worlds,” was published in April, the culmination of nearly five decades of work begun as an undergraduate at SUNY Oswego. “Maybe it will be the last book I ever publish. I feel like there’s a real complete circle here,” he says. Whether the Covilles have more tales to tell remains to be seen, but they have already achieved what Bruce wanted to when he first started dating Kathy — to collaborate on a story that he would write, and she would illustrate. They’ve done that and then some, and positively impacted millions of children in the process. Above, Bruce Coville as grand marshal of the Westcott Street Cultural Festival parade in the late 1990s; “There’s a lot more going on than people realize, it’s cooler than people realize,” he says of Syracuse.

PHOTO BY STEPHEN D. CANNERELLI

Left, a stack of entries from a past Halloween story contest. Students in kindergarten through seventh grade can enter.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

In 2018, Cazenovia contractor Mike Walker and Expert Building Services stripped the interior of the barn to its studs, posts and beams, and rebuilt the interior over the course of a year. The restoration was honored by the Preservation Association of Central New York in 2020.

BACK IN THE SADDLE An old barn in Cazenovia finds new life as a bookstore that supports its community and history STORY AND PHOTOS BY ALAINA POTRIKUS

Built in 1858, the carriage house on Albany Street in Cazenovia is one of many historic buildings that add character to the main thoroughfare of the quaint village. But the next chapter for the 150-year-old structure is a page-turn-

community events. The adjacent barn had been used for storage for annual book sales since the 1980s, but library leaders had bigger plans for the space.

er: It now houses Carriage Barn Books, a gently used bookstore,

“Our dream was to always have a bookstore,” says library di-

which has raised $20,000 in less than two years to support the

rector Betsy Kennedy. “It aligns with our mission to strength-

Cazenovia Library.

en our community by engaging our history, connecting people

The library has been a cornerstone of the Cazenovia commu-

and promoting lifelong learning.” The painstaking restoration

nity since the early 1800s, when a merchant named John Wil-

process began in 2018, with contractors replacing rotting beams

liams established a circulating library at his general store with

with reclaimed wood and designing a modern set of barn doors

200 volumes of miscellaneous works, embracing many of the

to mimic the original entrance.

standard English authors. The library moved into its current location on Albany Street, a Greek Revival home with an elegant colonnade, in 1890. It was renovated in the late 1990s, with a two-story modern addition providing more space for the growing collection and

“I joke that every day was like an episode of ‘This Old House,’” says Kennedy, who was assisted by the Cazenovia Historic Commission and New York State Historic Preservation Office to ensure that the barn’s history was preserved as its new chapter began. “It was a challenge.”

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

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CA R R I AG E BA R N B O O KS LOCATION: 100 Albany St., Cazenovia,

adjacent to the library. Follow signs for public parking. HOURS: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to

4 p.m. Saturday; noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. PRICES: Paperback picture books and

board books, $1; hardcover picture books, $2; children’s chapter books, $2; all other books and games, $3. TO DONATE: Look for information at

Carriage Barn Books on Facebook or at cazenoviapubliclibrary.org.

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

The showstopper of the restoration are the former horse stalls, now lined with shelves of books and outfitted with window seats. Carriage Barn Books opened in late 2019 and withstood the stresses of the pandemic to continue to serve local readers. The store has been popular with residents as well as visitors from out of town, who discover the hidden gem while shopping and dining in the village’s historic downtown. “If you’re a book lover, you can’t pass up a bookstore,” says Kennedy. “We are a devoted group.” Books are sorted into categories, like cocktails and wine, gardening, farming and homesteading, travel and history. A DVD section features current movies and television series box sets; the board games area is stocked with Taboo, Trivial Pursuit, Jenga and Twister. The organization sets Carriage Barn Books apart from free-for-all community book sales. “It’s sorted, but not so sorted that you won’t discover something you’re not expecting,” Kennedy says. A brigade of about 30 volunteers helps staff the store, sorting donations, organizing shelves and manning the register. “These are all people who love books, and they want to give back to the library,” says bookstore manager Jane Mistur. Casey Frazee says she brings her children to the Trophies, ribbons and other equine memorabilia donated by area residents decorate the former horse stalls.

bookstore regularly, knowing that the donations support the library’s overall efforts. “It’s easy to say, ‘Get whatever you want,’ because you know the proceeds stay here and keep generating more for the community,” she said as her sixyear-old daughter Annie searched the shelves for her favorite Berenstain Bears books. Kennedy says she loves listening to patrons discussing their favorite books and sharing recommendations. “The conversations that happen here are so interesting,” she says. “You never know what impact a book will have. “If you’re a book lover, this is a great place to be.”

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

SHELF LIFE Sit back and enjoy, these indie book shops offer book clubs, rare finds

B Y K AT E R E Y N O L D S

Nothing beats a good book. As the air turns cool and crisp, try one of CNY’s independently owned bookshops for your next downtime pick.

GOLDEN BEE BOOKSHOP Located in Liverpool, Golden Bee Bookshop sells new books for all ages. Shop in the bright store or online through bookshop.org, which supports Golden Bee and other independent bookstores. Golden Bee offers audio books through Libro.fm and is welcoming members to its monthly book club, which focuses primarily, but not solely, on female authors. Don’t forget to check out Golden Bee Bookshop’s website for its local author highlight.

PHOTOS BY KEVIN RIVOLI, ALEXIS EMM

305 Vine Street, Ste. 2, Liverpool, NY 13088 315-216-7588, goldenbeebookshop.com

At left, a quiet place to sit and read at Books & Melodies bookstore in Syracuse.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

THE LITTLE BOOK STORE The Little Book Store in Clayton serves as more than just a bookstore, it is also a place for the community to gather. Not only does it focus on its mission of putting one mil-

BOOKS & MELODIES

lion books into the hands of readers everywhere, but it holds events such as open mic night for songwriters and come-

Books & Melodies in Syracuse offers thousands of used

dians, author Q&As and signings. When you can’t make it

books, vinyl records, CDs, DVDs and hard-to-find VHS,

to the shop itself, The Little Book Store offers online order-

ephemera and vintage magazines. Searching the stacks of

ing of physical copies, audiobooks through Libro.fm and

goods around the store will leave you wondering where the

e-books via Kobo.

time has gone. Pet the friendly store cat while you browse the expansive shelves, crates of vinyl, locally focused para-

413 Riverside Drive, Clayton, New York 13624 315-955-4752, littlebookstoreclayton.com

phernalia and much more. 2600 James Street, Syracuse, NY 13206 315-434-9268, @books_and_melodies on Instagram

ODYSSEY BOOKSTOR E Named after the epic poem, Odyssey Bookstore is located in Ithaca, otherwise known as the hometown of the poem’s

BOOKS END

main character Odysseus. You’ll find more than Homer nov-

Another store in the city of Syracuse, Books End, supplies

els here, including many different genres and close to 8,000

rare, used, antiquarian and out-of-print books. The shop

titles that span all age ranges. You can join the shop’s book

houses books on any topic at a range of price points — from

club or purchase books from local authors. Odyssey Book-

50 cents to $5,000. Operator Jim Roberts is sure to help you

store provides delivery options and in-store or curbside

find the book you’re looking for or make a recommenda-

pickup while focusing on sustainability through reduced

tion; his expertise is in antiquarian books. As Syracuse’s old-

waste in packaging and energy use.

est bookstore, Books End will celebrate its 34th anniversary in November. It is open seven days a week for you to shop or sell your own used books. 2443 James Street, Syracuse, NY 13206 315-437-2312, thebooksend.com

BU F FA L O ST R E E T B O OK S Buffalo Street Books recently celebrated a decade as Ithaca’s community-owned independent bookstore. Find a variety of books for adults and children and join a subscription club. In April 2011, members of the community came together to raise money and purchase the store. You can become one of the more than 900 owners by purchasing a share to gain a voice in elections and policies, get invited to special events and receive discounts on products. The store is always engaging with its community by hosting writing workshops, book launches and conversations with authors, as well as working with local schools and libraries to promote an environment of lifelong literacy. Dewitt Mall, 215 N. Cayuga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 607-273-8246, buffalostreetbooks.com

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

115 W. Green Street, Lower, Ithaca, NY 14850 607-269-5800, odysseybookstore.com

A U T U M N L E AV E S U S E D B O O K S Ithaca’s Autumn Leaves Used Books is home to 60,000 books, 10,000 records and a café. You can find all categories of books at the store, including fiction, mystery, cookbooks and philosophy. In addition, they have many different collectible books, including author-signed copies, first editions and antiquarian books. In the basement, you’ll find records featuring all genres of music from Bop Shop in Rochester. Autumn Leaves’ staff is very knowledgeable about the inventory and collectible books. After you find your book, the café is the perfect place to sit down and sip a coffee from Dean’s Beans or have a vegan or vegetarian snack, soup, salad, sandwich or pastry. 115 E. State Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 607-273-8239, mediastudy.com/al

RIVER’S END BOOKSTORE

TIME & AGAIN BOOKS AND TEA

River’s End Bookstore in Oswego is a family-owned busi-

Filled with gently used and out-of-print books, Time &

ness that has something for everyone. The shop is an official

Again Books and Tea in Oswego holds up to 10,000 volumes.

bookseller (including signed book plates) for the Rosamond

When you walk into the shop you will be transported back in

Gifford Author Series, which has brought notable authors

time while browsing videos, CDs and magazines. The store

to Central New York for 27 years. The shop also offers sto-

is also home to the Edwardian Tea Room, which sells exot-

ry time for children. Order e-books, audio books or physi-

ic packaged teas and coffees. The Tea Room, which resem-

cal books from the store’s website and have them delivered

bles a European salon at the turn of the century, hosts po-

or pick up in store. Take a walk through Oswego’s histor-

etry readings and writing and discussion groups. Seating

ic downtown to visit River’s End and get staff recommenda-

inside and outside on the deck lets you sit back and savor a

tions or have your book gift wrapped.

good read.

19 W. Bridge Street, Oswego, NY 13126 315-342-0077, riversendbookstore.com

18 E. Utica Street, Oswego, NY 13126 315-342-7552, pweb.westelcom.com/keptwo

STOMPING GROUNDS

BEAR STREET BOOKS AND MUSIC

Stomping Grounds in Geneva has a unique history. Now sell-

Specializing in pre-1970s paraphernalia, Bear Street Books

ing new and used books, founders James and Bethany Has-

and Music in Syracuse features books and vinyl records, as

well got their start creating reproduction maps. The maps

well as a limited selection of periodicals. Browse the shelves

are still sold today along with vintage images and post-

for first editions and hardcover books ranging from fair to

cards of the Finger Lakes region, where the store is locat-

fine condition. Book collectors are likely to find any genre as

ed, and other locales all over the world. The name Stomp-

the inventory ranges from true crime and drama to fiction

ing Grounds is meant to represent the idea of being rooted

and design. Shop over 1,000 books available through abe-

somewhere, as reflected by the maps. You can purchase cus-

books.com, and order collectibles to be safely delivered to

tom framing at the store, stationery, mugs or artwork online

your door. The shop is currently open by appointment only.

and in person. Check out the website for Stomping Ground’s gift collection or vintage books on its Etsy page.

1430 N. Salina Street, Syracuse, NY 13208 315-439-4509. facebook.com/bearstreetbooks

41 Seneca Street, Geneva, NY 14456 315-789-1000, stompinggrounds.com

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

THE TREEHOUSE READING & ARTS CENTER The Treehouse Reading & Arts Center in New York Mills is more than just a bookshop, it provides a place for children and their parents to learn and develop. Books are available for babies, teenagers, adults and for educators. In addition to selling books, The Treehouse Reading & Arts Center hosts programs and tutoring in literacy, writing and the arts, and a summer camp. Parents or teachers can join seminars on topics such as preparing your child for school. Through these programs and by supporting local authors, The Treehouse is a hub for the community. Shop online, check out its blog, or join one of the two book clubs — Loyal Readers Club, which gives you a free book when you purchase 12 books and My Favorite Books Club, which gives your child a handpicked book each month. 587 Main Street, Ste. 304, New York Mills, NY 13417 315-765-6262, treehousebookshop.com

RIVEROW BOOKSHOP Since 1976, Owego’s Riverow Bookshop has been selling used books, paper ephemera, prints and drawings. You can shop the almost 85,000 books in store or sell your own books. While you can order books from Riverow online, don’t miss out on exploring three whole floors filled with books and charming, creaky hardwood floors, plus have a cup of tea or glass of wine — truly an immersive experience. Riverow Bookshop exhibits at many annual antiquarian book fairs and book and ephemera shows at locations around the world, including New York City, California, Boston, London, the UK and Melbourne, Australia. 187 Front Street, Owego, NY 13827 607-687-4094, riverow.com

Riverow Bookshop on the corner. With three floors of used books, you could spend a lot of time browsing here. PHOTO BY KATHE HARRINGTON

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

THE PLOTS THICKEN Downtown Writers Center offers a unique space to tell stories, explore the written word BY M J K RAV EC

Let’s just forget the catchy lead here. I can’t do

lete words. I change others. Wait, do I need this

it. After interviewing two professional writers

paragraph? Her words come into my head again

who run a program that helps writers write, I’m

— “is this essential?”

intimidated (just being honest). I’ve been strug-

My attempt — is it lame? Weak? — is to give you,

gling to come up with a clever opening for this

dear reader, a glimpse into the writing process (or,

story about the organization they started more

selfishly, my writing process). Because it’s essen-

than 20 years ago. And I can’t think of anything

tial (I think) to get an idea of the process if we’re to

that will do it justice.

tell a story about a place that helps writers during

I think of the words that one of them tells her students: “It’s not just what you write, it’s what you revise.” And “writing is hard work.” So, I de-

the writing process. So, what do you call all that doubt — a form of writer’s block?

“ E R N E S T H E M I N GWAY

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

asked Phil Memmer, founder of the Downtown Writers Center, about

this phenomenon. “I don’t believe in writer’s block myself. I believe if you’re a writer, you’re always a writer. You see the world in a different way and eventually it will come out,” he says. Feeling a little better. Memmer’s words reflect the kind of encouragement and support

students at the Downtown Writers Center (DWC), a program run through the YMCA of Central New York, will find when they gather to read, to listen, to critique and to bond over the written word. “There’s a group of people here who will be supportive… who are

going to talk you through the rough spots and help you improve… That’s what a lot of writers need — an audience… and this works as

WO R D S TO W R I T E BY F R O M DWC

an effective way to fill that need,” says Memmer.

“A good writer must read to grow.”

Now, in its 21st year, the DWC serves as the area’s only organization

He is talking about the writing workshops offered at the center.

“You will never know it all.”

committed to the literary arts, offering creative writing workshops, readings by established authors and poets, a local book awards event, young authors programs and other events for “wordsmiths and bookworms,” according to its website.

“It’s not just what you write,

Some of the center’s students write for fun, while others are looking for more intensive classes. Many have also published books — an

it’s what you revise.” “Writing is a lot of work.”

accomplishment that’s increasingly common among its students. “The first three or four years, one of our students got their first book published and we were over the moon about it,” says Memmer. “And now, it’s not a rare occasion anymore. It’s still one of the most rewarding parts about running this thing — seeing people be-

“Is this essential?” “What, then what, so what?” “What are you telling your readers?”

come successful with their writing.” In the last 15 months, the center has seen a surge in interest in programs, says Memmer. With people stuck at home as the pandemic raged, they found more time on their hands. And the DWC filled a void. “We had time to adapt... People looked for ways to be socially in-

teractive and it turned out that a creative writing class turned out to be fun for them,” he says.

Phil Memmer, founder Downtown Writers Center

By moving creative writing workshops and its visiting author series online, the DWC saw a notable increase in people tuning in. “When COVID forced our hand, our audience for our reading series more than doubled — almost tripled,” says Memmer. “The num-



For more information: ymcacny.org/programs/ arts/creative-writing

ber one thing, I think, was accessibility. The downtown events are centrally located, 15 to 20 minutes from Baldwinsville, Camillus… It turns out that Zoom is 30 seconds from everywhere. It’s one thing to hop in a car and head downtown. It’s a lot easier to hop on Zoom.” Growth is a consistent theme with the DWC, which Memmer and PHOTO COURTESY PHIL MEMMER

poet Georgia Popoff started in late 2000. Both saw an opportunity to bring a unique program dedicated to the literary field to the area. “There’s nothing else like it in the region,” says Memmer. “[When we started] I was surprised that Syracuse didn’t have anything in town where you can take a writing class. It seemed like a good idea. So we started with 12 classes and four to five readings. By the end of the first year, [the offerings] tripled.” SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

Popoff, who serves as the center’s workshops coordinator, was involved in an afterschool program at Danforth School at the time. “I was introduced as someone who could teach poetry,” she says. “We started out very small… and just let it grow.” Today, the DWC offers more than 70 classes in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, memoirs, screenwriting, songwriting and more all taught by professional writers from Florida, Delaware and California. In addition, students come from a roughly one-hour radius around Syracuse, but, thanks to virtual programming, also hail from Seattle, Washington, the Canadian provinces of Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia, and other places across the country. Popular programs include the CNY Book Awards, an annual event that celebrates the best books by local writers; readings from more than 20 visiting authors including Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winners; a two-year advanced writing course; and Stone Canoe, an award-winning journal that fea-

Poet Georgia Popoff is co-founder of Downtown Writers Center.

tures the works of area writers. In addition, the DWC hosts a Young Authors Academy (YAA)

There are YAA courses in fiction, poetry, playwriting, digital

for students in grades 6 through 12 — an offering that, like the

storytelling and more all catering to a diverse group of students

DWC itself, continues to grow.

who are united by a desire to write.

The program started in February 2012, with six students who

“They come from different ethnic, cultural backgrounds — im-

met for an hour and a half on Saturdays for eight weeks. “By the

migrants, refugees, students from comfortable circumstances,

end of the eight weeks, it was the students who wanted to con-

inner city, Queer, Autistic,” says Popoff. “It’s been a really giv-

tinue. The students asked to meet two hours for 10 weeks... It’s

ing group of young people. One of our core values is ‘we are all

been building,” says Popoff.

writers together.’”

ANNE FRANK

PHOTO COURTESY GEORGIA POPOFF

“

To further promote a more welcoming space for young writers from all backgrounds, the YAA offers the programs Speaking Out, a platform for teens who identify as LGBTQ, and Numberless Dreams for teens with disabilities taught by writers with disabilities. “Sometimes a unique space is important, and we’ve proven that,” says Popoff. It’s a philosophy that permeates every class, program and workshop at DWC. Both Memmer and Popoff emphasize the benefits of having a safe space where writers can share their work with an audience who will listen and offer constructive critiques. And writers who are nervous about presenting their work will find support and critique — not criticism. “Criticism is harsh, ego driven,” Popoff says. “Critique is constructive within the writing process, so the individual is identifying more of what they know... There’s a difference between being harsh and being exacting...It takes the pain away,” she says. As the DWC begins its fall season in the first week of October, Memmer and Popoff hope to keep the momentum of interest in creative writing going strong with a balance of in-person and online courses as life returns to pre-pandemic levels. “By the miracle of Zoom and Google Meet, I can’t tell you how many people I’ve met that said, ‘This really saved my life during COVID,’” says Popoff. Memmer agrees. “For some people it really became a lifeline. Our community of writers has become much stronger over the last 15 months.”

“ NEIL GAIMAN

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

A D V E N T U R E ! R O M A N C E ! H I S T O R Y ! Among the changing leaves, CNY (and nearby) has it all this fall to write your own literal escape. BY M J K RAV EC

PHOTO COURTESY INNS OF AURORA

It’s a wonderful time of year. Here are our picks for adventurous, romantic and historic escapes that combine the natural beauty of the season with a uniquely CNY landscape.

Left, the nature trail at Inns of Aurora.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

Bristol Mountain Aerial Adventures offers challenge courses for all ability levels.

ADVENTURE On the treetops: Bristol Mountain Aerial Adventures Think of this as a ropes course through the trees. Aerial Adventure courses offer different ways to explore the forest anywhere from 10 to 50 feet off the ground. Each course offers a variety of features including tight rope walks, rope ladders, hanging logs, a wiggle bridge and more — all connected to the surrounding trees. There are more than seven courses suitable for a range of experiences — from beginner to more advanced. A Kid’s Adven-

PHOTOS BY BRISTOL MOUNTAIN AERIAL ADVENTURES

ture Park offers excitement for the little ones while keeping them closer to the ground. Reservations are required. Open through November. 5589 S. Hill Road, Canandaigua. For more information: bristolmountainadventures.com

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

The river wild: Salmon fishing, Salmon River The fall salmon run on the Salmon River in Oswego County offers a taste of Alaska when it comes to fishing. It’s stocked with roughly 300,000 Chinook salmon and 80,000 Coho salmon, according to newyorkupstate.com. Due to the river’s cool waters, salmon return to spawn here making the area one of the top sportfishing spots in the state. Even if you’re not fishing, taking in the activity and excitement itself is worth a trip. For more information: dec.ny.gov/outdoor/37926.html Into the woods: Zipline and Mountain Coaster, Greek Peak Mountain Resort Check out the Greek Peak Outdoor Adventure Center for exciting ways to experience fall. With zip line tours and a mountain coaster open year-round, you can soar over (or through) autumn’s changing leaves. The zip line starts out 15 feet high and goes up to 65 feet at its peak. Before your adventure, guides will get you ready with safety tips and show you how to control your speed. For those that would rather keep their adventure closer to the ground, the mountain coaster offers an exhilarating trip down the mountain. And with a handheld braking system, you control how fast you go. Reservations required. Greek Peak Adventure Center, 1856 NYS Route 392. For more information: greekpeak.net 76

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

PHOTOS BY DENNIS NETT, KATRINA TULLOCH

Top, fishermen take advantage of the fall salmon run along the banks of the Salmon River in Pulaski. Above, Greek Peak Outdoor Adventure Center’s mountain coaster offers riders a trip through the trees.

HISTORY Over quiet waters: Old Erie Canal State Park Running for 36 of the Erie Canal’s 363 miles, Old Erie Canal State Park features a combination of wooded areas, wetlands and bridges that take you to the canal’s towpath where mules towed canal boats on what was once the largest water route in North America. Today, Old Erie Canal State Park is ideal for long fall walks, biking, hiking, canoe paddling and picnicking. The views of what’s left of the canal’s stone aqueducts surrounded by colorful foliage serve as a nostalgic reminder of time’s passing. An easy escape in any season. For more information: parks.ny.gov/parks/17 Mountain high: Exploring the trails at Highland Forest Central New York’s oldest county park offers forest fun for every level of fall connoisseur with 20-plus miles of trail open year-round. Expansive views from the top are breathtaking in any season, but especially stunning in autumn. Mountain biking trails are open through Sept. 30 and feature a mix of mountain trail, backwoods and country roads. Bikers should park in Skyline Lodge and register inside. Free maps of the park’s terrain are available in Skyline Lodge. Highland Forest County Park, 1254 Highland Park Rd., Fabius. For more information: onondagacountyparks. com/parks/highland-forest What lies beneath: Oakwood Cemetery Its website accurately notes Oakwood Cemetery “was designed to be a place of natural and

Top, remains of an aqueduct at Old Erie Canal State Park in DeWitt.

PHOTOS BY DAVID LASSMAN, MIKE GREENLAR, RICK MORIARTY

man-made beauty, where individuals and families could escape their everyday lives and enjoy the surroundings.” Today, Oakwood is a favorite spot for dog walkers, runners, photographers

Above, the view from Skyline Lodge at Highland Forest.

and more. Onondaga Historical Association also hosts ghost walks there. Founded in 1859, Oakwood has 160 acres that showcase its 19th-century style of landscape and historic monuments,

Left, graves near the mortuary chapel in Oakwood Cemetery.

mausoleums and statuary honoring some of the most prominent families of CNY’s past. Notable features include the Civil War section and the 1879 mortuary Silsbee Chapel. For more information: hocpa.org SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

ROMANCE Do the locomotion: Adirondack Railroad Take the A train from Utica to just outside Old Forge, base camp of the Adirondacks. Experience fall while zooming over the rivers and through the woods to spend the afternoon in Thendara. Stop in one of the local restaurants for a late lunch and visit the shops before taking the train back home. The train has a café car that serves light and hearty fare. Book a ticket in First, Premier or Diamond classes and receive a northbound continental breakfast and southbound hors d’oeuvres. Riders in Diamond Class can sit in the train’s dome car, which offers 360-degree views of the outdoor scenery. The ride is about an hour and a half round trip. Runs through fall. For more information: adirondackrr.com Lakeside charm: The Inns of Aurora Snuggled on the shores of Cayuga Lake in Finger Lakes Wine Country, the village of Aurora offers a charming escape among five inns: Aurora Inn, Rowland House, E.B. Morgan House, Wallcourt Hall and Zabriskie House. Overnight guests enjoy a complimentary glass of wine and cheese plate during the daily happy hour, plus access to firepits and Adirondack chairs, binoculars and birding guides, telescopes and star gazing guides, lawn games and more. The newly opened Spa at the Inns of Aurora offers an extensive menu of thoughtfully curated treatments and wellness options. An easy walk gets you to Aurora’s many culinary experiences, including cooking demos and tastings from Aurora Cooks; the creative menu and lakeside views at 1833 Kitchen & Bar; craft beer flights at Fargo Bar & Grill; and signature items from the Inns’ Pantry Collection, gifts, pastries, craft beers and freshly made soups at the Village Market. For more information: innsofaurora.com Watercolors: Thousand Islands Get double the views when you visit the 1000 Islands region where colorful foliage is reflected in the waters of the St. Lawrence. With fewer visitors than during the sumthe region with boat tours (Clayton Island Tours and Uncle Sam Boat Tours) that run through the middle of October. Romantics should stop over at Heart Island and Boldt Castle to hear its story of heartbreak. Meanwhile, Clayton offers waterfront dining and several shops to browse during your day trip or overnight stay. For more information: visit1000islands.com

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

Top and right, Adirondack Scenic Railroad offers views of fall foliage on its Utica to Thendara line. Above, Boldt Castle on Heart Island in the 1000 Islands region.

PHOTOS BY SCOTT SCHILD, SAM MALLER

mer months, you’ll have ample space and time to explore

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Central New York’s

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

JUST OUR TYPE Syracuse is well known as the “Salt

The lifelong Syracuse resident painted

City,” but graphic designer and mural-

an L.C. Smith & Bros. typewriter at Lipe

ist Ally Walker wants to remind us that,

Art Park on Syracuse’s Near Westside. The

at the turn of the last century, it was re-

newest mural in a long line of contribu-

branded the “Typewriter City.” A Syra-

tions by local artists on this surface, the

cuse.com article on the city’s history as a

piece is flanked by — and becomes part

leading manufacturer of typewriters in-

of — “Art Shark,” a sculpture by Brendan

spired Walker to create something to hon-

Rose. Walker’s two-sided work invites

or that past. “I think it’s neat and needs

observers to be more engaged with and

to be highlighted,” she says.

emotionally invested in the city’s history.

PHOTO BY AMY BLEIER LONG

Follow Walker’s work at @allywalkerinks on Instagram.

Making good

CNY SCOUT

Through the woods BY AMY BLEIER LONG

Wood carries within it its own history, strength and character. Artisan Daniel Horton harnesses these natural qualities and elevates the material into functional art. Horton has been woodworking for about 12 years. His first project was a coffee table; he wanted something substantial for a reasonable price and decided to make it himself. “I just got some guidance and [it] ignited something within me,” he says. His first career path had him working with woods of a different kind: he grew up in Syracuse and graduated from Nottingham, moved to Florida to study golf and became an assistant pro. When he eventually returned to Central New York, he realized the seasonal nature of the golf industry here meant he would need to move again. As he considered where to go, a minor injury paused his plans. During that hiatus, Horton began a carpentry job with a friend who is a contractor. He found that he really enjoyed the work and followed his new passion. For several years, he moved back and forth between Central New York and the New York City metro area. He remodeled houses and twice worked for Yonkers-based Hudson Scenic Studios, a firm that fabricates for Broadway

Top, a charcuterie board by Horton. Above, Daniel Horton found his signature, handcrafting mirrors and other functional art, during the pandemic.

productions and large-scale projects. These positions helped him expand on the knowledge and techniques he taught himself. Prior to 2020, Horton was back in Syracuse remodeling homes with friends 82

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER



For more information: @hortondanielfurnishings on Instagram

and crafting furniture on the side, including large tables and backed storage benches. After seeing something he described as an odd-shaped mirror with a very basic frame, he borrowed that idea and put his own spin on it. “It wasn’t until the pandemic that I found this signature, this kind of shaping, and it really just took off from there,” he says. The response suggests he has found his niche; the success led him to launch the eponymous Horton Daniel Furnishings a year ago and devote himself to it full time. With their sinuous frames and visible wood grain, his elegant hand-carved mirrors seem like portals. Charcuterie boards and propagation stations (made from his scrap) are curvaceous, too. Recently, the boards have become so popular he has had to focus more on those and less on mirrors to meet the demand. When time allows, he builds armchairs and slender, distressed-copper-topped accent tables. All his woodwork is unstained; he only applies a finishing oil, which brings out a warmth and richness. His garage and driveway are his workshop, and he can often be spotted sanding away under a canopy tent. Working at home allows him a great deal of flexibility — useful when assembly is punctuated by periods of waiting for a piece to be ready for the next step in the process. He finds this balance less stressful than a 9-to-5 routine. Horton sources exotic woods and other specialty hardwoods from Lakeshore Hardwoods in Pulaski. He also has a strong relationship with a Marcellus-based friend of a friend who mills wood and has several barns full. He frequently works with butternut and mahogany, thanks to their resilience and durability. Each item is one-of-a-kind. He makes his first cut and then lets the wood guide where and how he shapes the rest of the piece. “It’s really about what I have, what the material gives me,” he says. His mirrors and boards can be found in artisan-driven establishments, including 20|East in Cazenovia, Imagine in Skaneateles, Swank in Hamilton, Handwork in Ithaca and Craft Company No. 6 in Rochester. Plant shops like Simply Fresh Flowers in Manlius, Found Things in Eastwood, Bool’s Flower Shop in Ithaca and Stem in Rochester carry the single and double propagation stations. Horton is open to commissions and custom pieces, as he finds the creative challenge and the opportunity to see the reaction when he delivers the final product fulfilling. The business has grown primarily through word of mouth and social media, especially Instagram, which is also his primary point of contact with customers. He has shipped throughout the country, including to PHOTOS BY AMY BLEIER LONG, PORTRAIT BY RAMEZ GHALY

Colorado and Texas. Promotion by the stores carrying his work has given him additional visibility and he has attended a small number of artisan markets with plans to do more regionally and in California, where his brother lives. Horton attributes his entrepreneurial instincts to his family: his parents owned a local business for nearly 30 years. His maternal grandfaTop, two single propagation stations. Above, mirrors and propagation stations are displayed on a wall Horton built to use at artisan shows.

ther ran the city’s first radio and television repair shop on James Street and is credited for bringing TV to Syracuse. Horton says he has been “blown away by the feedback” he’s received so far, and he is excited about what is to come. “This is a part of Syracuse… It comes from here,” he says. “I want to see where it can go, outside of [Central New York] as well.” SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

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Making good

FA R M T O TA B L E

Kale, yeah! You’ll never diss this leafy green again (we heard you groan) after you try The Cider Mill’s seasonal cannelloni made with cold weather vegetables. BY M J K RAV EC PHOTOS BY ALAINA POTRIKUS

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

Making good

FA R M T O TA B L E

Nestled against the tall trees on Fay Road in Syracuse, the barn-red building is bustling with activity. Outside, workers are busy finishing a newly expanded patio for outdoor diners. Inside, the staff is prepping the dish for Central New York Magazine’s fall issue. Owner Dan Seeley greets us at the door. I tell him my mother used to bring me here when I was little — for cider and donuts. “We get that a lot,” says Seeley. “The history of this place is awesome.” That history is lovingly displayed throughout the restaurant. The original cider press plates from the cider mill known to locals as Morey’s Mill and the menu board that was once the headboard of original owner Gwynn Morey (who, at 103, keeps in touch with Seeley) hang on the walls along with

n’ cheese and New York Strip and Salmon, which are adjusted slightly with

black-and-white photos of the building exterior

each season.

over the years. Restrooms are labeled “Elizabeth” and “Gwynn” in a nod to Morey and his wife Eliz-

Come fall, the menu typically features fresh vegetables like squash, corn, cabbage, brussels sprouts and root veggies.

abeth, and pieces of old barn wood have been in-

“One of our chefs works with a hobby farmer from Navarino to grow pro-

corporated into the restaurant’s décor. “There’s a

duce that we use in the kitchen. Additionally, we get microgreens, herbs

strong sense of history to the place,” says Seeley.

and edible flowers from a farm in Pompey,” Hazard says.

The menu also reflects that philosophy. Gener-

For our September/October issue, The Cider Mill Chef Samantha Craw-

al manager Olivia Hazard says they like to feature

ford created this Roasted Root Vegetable Cannelloni with Sauteed Kale and

apple cider on their fall menu as an homage to the

Sage Brown Butter Sauce.

original Cider Mill. “Our cider-brined pork chop and

“This dish is comforting and colorful just like the fall season,” says Haz-

cider donuts are both crowd favorites that feature

ard. “The cold weather produces the best-tasting root vegetables, and we’re

locally made apple cider,” she says.

able to source ours locally which makes them even better.”

Year-round favorites include Chicken Riggies

To top off the dish, Crawford used kale grown in her own garden and sau-

and Heavenly Thighs (cinnamon spice-marinat-

teed in butter along with a few fragrant sage leaves. “They look pretty as a

ed chicken thighs), split rock greens, gouda mac

garnish,” Crawford says. “I think your food should look as pretty as it is tasty.”

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

ROASTED ROOT VEGETABLE CANNELLONI WITH SAUTEED KALE Cook eight cannelloni in salted water until they are al dente. Filling:

Mix all ingredients in a bowl. 1 ½ cups ricotta 1 cup brunoise (finely diced root vegetables: carrot, beet, sweet potato or other) 1 egg

¼ cup shredded mozzarella Salt and pepper to taste 1 tsp. chopped fresh parsley 1 tsp. chopped fresh sage

» Use a piping bag to fill the cannelloni and lay in an 8X8 buttered baking dish. Brush the tops of the cannelloni with egg wash. » Bake at 325 degrees for 18 to 25 minutes uncovered. (Look for bubbling in filling to see if it’s done). For sage brown butter: 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter 5-6 fresh sage leaves 2-3 leaves of torn kale (or as much to your liking)

» In small pan, melt butter over medium heat until it starts to bubble. Add sage and kale and turn heat to medium low. Continue cooking until butter is lightly browned. Add salt to taste.

To drink? For wine, try Pinot Gris. Erath is The Cider Mill’s favorite. For beer, go with a brown ale. Maduro from Cigar City is a good one. Any special preparation tips?

Clockwise from upper right, The Cider Mill Chef Samantha Crawford; the menu board/headboard of the original Cider Mill owner Gwynn Morey; fragrant sage leaves sauteed with kale add more color to this seasonal dish.

Any root veggies will work — just make sure they’re cut the same size, so they cook evenly. The cannelloni can be filled ahead of time and reheated when ready to serve.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

Making good

DOWN TO EARTH

Ready to wear BY CAERESA RICHARDSON

Fall tends to be the most stylish season of the year for me. Af-

Kerby-Jean Raymond, for example, made history with his dis-

ter spending a year in quarantine, fall 2021 may make its mark

play of Black Culture. Raymond’s first haute couture runway

as one of the most stylish and socially conscious fashion sea-

show for his label Pyer Moss took place at the historic Villa Le-

sons in history.

waro, the estate of America’s first female millionaire, Madam

This year’s runway was packed with designers like Stella Mc-

C.J. Walker.

Cartney, Christian Siriano and Pyer Moss who dedicated their

As we take in the trends for fall, here’s how to make similar

fashion lines to making social statements fitting for the time.

socially conscious and sustainable fashion statements this year.

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

PHOTOS BY ALICE PATTERSON, LOVING MY COMPANY

Sustainable and socially conscious fashion is a rising trend. Here’s how to make a similar statement with your style.

START WITH WHAT YOU HAVE The average person wears only 20 percent of the clothing in their closets. However, for various reasons we often add new things to our wardrobe. Shopping your closet is one of the most sustainable ways to become a more eco-conscious fashionista. The best way to get the most value out of the garments you own is to hire a stylist who can survey your closet and pull together outfits that you will wear again and again.

CONSIDER COST PER WEAR (CPW) As you choose to add new things to your closet, buy high-quality garments that you will get more use out of. Fast fashion companies benefit from intentionally designing low-quality garments that force you to return and make more purchases from them over time. As you style yourself for your next networking event or cocktail party, consider investing in a high-quality dress that you can wear in many different ways and on many different occasions so that you Above, Ecodessa employee Julia Boyer with Selena Faux Fur Coat featuring animal print lining.

can get more “bang” for your buck.

REMEMBER THAT CLOTHES ARE NOT TRASH Textile waste is a large and growing global issue. Think of

Left, model Ashley McLeod with McKenzie Studded Crossbody Vegan Leather Purse from Ecodessa.

every garment that you add to your closet as a commitment that you are making. If you take this approach, you will naturally find yourself buying items that you are committed to wearing often. As you go through necessary closet cleanses, you will be more likely to pursue more sustainable methods of disposing of your clothing, such as swapping them with friends or family or selling them on platforms like Poshmark.

THIS FALL, ADD A DASH OF PATTERN WITH LEOPARD You can always anticipate that fall fashion will include animal prints and textures. This year’s “it” animal print is

GO VEGAN...IN YOUR CLOSET

leopard. Luckily, we have seen this trend many times be-

The fashion industry has come a long way in terms of replicating

fore. One way to embrace sustainable fashion as you are

leather textiles. Fall fashion always has a large focus on leather. This

adding leopard to your wardrobe is to participate in fash-

year’s socially conscious design focus has contributed to fashion de-

ion swaps with friends and family or by shopping at thrift

signers placing an emphasis on using innovative sustainable ma-

and consignment stores.

terials including vegan leather and faux fur. One way that you can

INCLUDE AN ELEMENT OF SURPRISE WITH FLORALS

have an environmental and social impact is by buying vegan fashion goods. Organizations like The Fake Movement are making it easy

As a result of not really having a spring/summer fashion

for fashionistas by publishing a database of brands that create veg-

season last year, we have seen a fun and innovative display

an leather goods, including those made of innovative bio materials

of traditional spring and summer florals spilling over onto

like apple skins. As you style yourself this fall, identify vegan fash-

fashion runways this fall. One sustainable fashion trick is to

ion brands that you like and add high-quality vegan leather goods

stay on trend by re-wearing some of your traditional spring

to your wardrobe that you can wear often over time.

garments in innovative ways this fall. Creatively layering

Caeresa Richardson is a CNY resident and owner of Ecodessa, a sustainable fashion retailer with a boutique in downtown Syracuse. Visit ecodessa. com and follow @shopecodessa on social media.

your favorite floral-patterned sundress over basics like leggings and turtlenecks will allow you to get more use out of high-quality garments throughout the year.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

Making good

ART PROFILE

Peaks Performance Two CNY professors explore the quirky mysteries of “Twin Peaks” in their recent book. BY SA M A N T H A SAV E RY

A dead body wrapped in plastic. Cherry pie and a damn fine cup of coffee. A treasured log. A small town between two mountains, filled with enough secrets to make even Victoria jealous. And an FBI agent who arrives with nothing but a tape recorder and a sense of justice. Welcome to the sinister, sexy, genre-defying “Twin Peaks,” David Lynch and Mark Frost’s seminal 1990s television series — and the subject of a 2020 book by two Central New York professors. For Julie Grossman and Will Scheibel, joining forces on a “Twin Peaks” book was a logical extension of an ongoing discussion. “One of the great things about collaborating on the subject of “Twin Peaks,” a weird and quirky show, is being able to share it with somebody,” says Grossman, a professor of English, communication and film studies at Le Moyne College. “We can talk about life imitating art, art imitating life and how the show makes you sort of focus on things in everyday life. “Take the cherry pie,” she continues. “You can’t eat cherry pie or any kind of pie after ‘Twin Peaks’ and not have that experience filtered through the strangeness of the show and its love for the details.” The two professors met after Scheibel moved to the area from Indiana in 2015 to become a tenure-track English professor at Syracuse University. He quickly noticed an overlap in their areas of interest, specifically film noir. Right, Will Scheibel took a break from a film studies conference in Seattle to photograph nearby Snoqualmie Falls and the Salish Lounge & Spa, better known to “Twin Peaks” fans as the Great Northern Hotel, while he and Julie Grossman were writing the book. Top, the book’s cover. PHOTOS COURTESY OF WILL SCHEIBEL

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

Grossman and Scheibel’s “Twin Peaks” tour continued in North Bend, Wash., at the mural behind Twede’s Café or, as it’s known on the show, the Double-R Diner (below).

He realized that the two had similar interpretations of David Lynch’s work when he got to a chapter devoted to the film “Mulholland Drive,” a favorite of both professors, in Grossman’s “Rethinking the Femme Fatale in Film Noir.” But it wasn’t until after the long-delayed third season of “Twin Peaks” aired in 2017 that they formed their partnership. “We were both talking and realized that we had a lot to say about the new season,” Scheibel says. “We already established we had so many similar ideas about ‘Twin Peaks,’ Lynch the filmmaker and similar approaches to film scholarship. We didn’t waste time trying to figure out who’s gonna do what — it just kind of naturally fell into place.” The book is part of Wayne State University Press’ TV Milestones series, a set of about 40 short books that focus on individual television series from “Father Knows Best” to “Breaking Bad,” ac-

within Lynch’s work as a whole. The middle is made up of three

cording to acquisitions editor Marie Sweetman. The books are

key chapters on genre, women (namely femmes fatales) and

designed to appeal to both fans and academics while looking

performance. The final chapter gives broader context to the

at a given show’s place in history and its impact on television.

circulation of the series and the works that have come about

“When Julie and Will pitched ‘Twin Peaks,’” Sweetman says, “I was intrigued by the conversation they wanted to have about

“In the final chapter they also signaled the way in which this

the show’s use of melodrama and noir, female agency and voice

is a very open work that sets up a whole bunch of intertextual

in the face of trauma and all the interesting paratexts.” The fi-

circuits,” says Constantine Verevis, a film studies professor at

nal result also dissects the 1992 film “Twin Peaks: Fire Walk

Monash University in Australia and a colleague of the authors.

with Me” and a pair of “Twin Peaks”-related books by co-cre-

“They talk about the ways in which “Twin Peaks” blurs bound-

ator Mark Frost.

aries and resists closure. They say ‘Twin Peaks’ argues for open

The book begins with a chapter that situates “Twin Peaks” 92

in response to it.

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

borders. I think that’s one of the key contributions they make.”

Sweetman said Grossman and Scheibel’s shared passion was one of the things she loved about this project. “They had an infectious enthusiasm for this strange television series,” she says. “They were both ready to dive in and really grapple with all these different facets of the show.” The two authors became familiar with the world of Twin Peaks, Wash., at different moments in their lives. While Scheibel watched the show years after its premiere as he worked on his doctorate at Indiana University, Grossman got hooked when it originally aired. She fondly recalled the quirkiness of the small town and seeing familiar faces from her own adolescence. “When I was watching the show in the 1990s, I was seeing character actors and performers like Peggy Lipton, whom I had grown up with on “The Mod Squad,’” Grossman says. “There’s this kind of history of TV and media that’s embedded in the show.” Scheibel said this contrast strengthened the final product. “I think one of the ways that our differences enrich the book is the fact that we came at it at two different moments in time,” he says. “It was re-

“

ally interesting for me to hear Julie

OF COMMUNITY

then reading some of the reviews that

I LOVE THE IDEA THAT SEEPS FROM THE SHOW INTO THE FAN WORLD.” Will Scheibel

talk about the experience of watching it when it was originally on the air and came out in 1990. It was fascinating for me to reconstruct that moment of reception that I wasn’t part of.” From viewing parties to festivals, “Twin Peaks” fan activity remains incredibly strong — something that Grossman and Scheibel got to experience for themselves last spring

at their book launch at Le Moyne, just before the coronavirus lockdowns began. “It was so much fun, and it was right before everything shut

Scheibel and Grossman also stopped in Everett, Wash., to visit the on-screen home of Laura Palmer, the murder victim at the center of the show.

down, so there’s a kind of added sort of nostalgic weight to that celebration,” Scheibel says. “I love the idea of community that seeps from the show into the fan world. I’m really grateful we

Israel took his role as tour guide and walking encyclopedia se-

had the opportunity to celebrate with colleagues from Syracuse

riously, clad in FBI garb as he drove the group between the well-

and Le Moyne, and with our friends just before the pandemic.”

known spots — like Twede’s Café, which doubles as the Double

PHOTO COURTESY OF WILL SCHEIBEL

While writing the book, the duo got their own opportunity to

R Diner in the series — and the obscure.

experience Twin Peaks in person while attending a film stud-

“I think it fully clicked for us that we had crossed over into

ies conference in nearby Seattle with Verevis. The three of them

some other way of thinking and seeing,” Scheibel said of the

piled into a van with some friends and family for an unofficial

excursion. “It was just this full-on immersion where you start

“Twin Peaks” tour led by Seattle local David Israel.

to psychologically live in Twin Peaks.” And now, thanks to him

“It was this random community of ‘Twin Peaks’ lovers and

and Grossman, we have a road map for this strange and sinister

David Lynch enthusiasts who were all so excited to be in these

town, one in which it is all too easy to get lost.

spaces and continue to story tell,” Grossman says. “‘Twin Peaks’

Samantha Savery is a recent graduate of the Goldring Arts Journalism & Communications Program at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications.

is all about expansive storytelling. When you become, literally, physically in that world, you’re part of that energy.”

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

Galleries ARTRAGE GALLERY, THE NORTON PUTTER GALLERY 505 Hawley Avenue, Syracuse, artragegallery.org. Open noon to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Free. Check their website for updates.

Living in Limbo: Portraits from the Border by Bill McLaughlin. Artist Bill McLaughlin of New Berlin, NY traveled to Tijuana, Mexico in December 2019 to photograph the migrants and asylum seekers left stranded at the border. They were stranded due to the January 2019 abrupt change in US immigration policy informally known as “Remain in Mexico” in which asylum seekers at the US/Mexico border were returned to Mexico to wait, often for many months, for their immigration proceedings. Sept. 11 through Oct. 30. CAZENOVIA ARTISANS GALLERY 39 Albany St., Cazenovia. 315-655-2225, cazenoviaartisans.com. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Picking Up the Pieces: Reimagining the Material World. Marilyn Fegan picks up discarded furniture and paints it with new worlds – leaves, flowers, birds. Barbara Decker weaves new cloth from discarded silk clothing and sews new garments from scraps of her own handwoven fabric. Runs through Sept. 30. EDGEWOOD GALLERY 216 Tecumseh Road, Syracuse. 315-445-8111, edgewoodartandframe. com. Open 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday - Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sunday - Monday. Free. Please wear a mask, observe proper social distancing. Hand sanitizer, gloves and masks are available in the gallery.

From A Distance: Marna Bell. Black-and-white photography of “Little Odessa,” Brighton Beach in Brooklyn. A return to the photographer’s past. Willson Cummer. Black-and-white photography of forest scenes based on the notion of six-foot distancing. Leslie Green Guilbault. Ceramic series with metal glazing.

Familiar Reimagined. Karen Burns: semi-abstracted landscape oil paintings; Nancy Nixon Ensign: “An Artist’s Year in Quarantine” mixed media; Shawn Halperin: wood and bronze summer jewelry collection; Geoffrey Navias: sacred vessels made from trees brought down during local climate storms. Runs through Oct. 1. Due to COVID, no opening reception. EVERSON MUSEUM OF ART 401 Harrison St., Syracuse. 315-474-6064, everson.org. Open noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Friday, noon to 8 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday -Tuesday. $5 suggested donation.

Beyond the Blue. After more than a year of COVID-19 isolation, the Everson Museum is grateful to shake off the blues by exhibiting life-affirming works from the permanent collection that are filled with joy, humor and above all, color. Beyond the Blue is presented in collaboration with Art Macao 2021. In addition to a physical exhibition at the Everson, these works will be shared digitally with millions of visitors to Art Macao, an international art festival presented in museums, hotels and other popular tourist destinations near Hong Kong. Through Nov. 21. AbStranded: Fiber and Abstraction in Contemporary Art. AbStranded brings together contemporary American artists who use fiber-based materials to investigate the complex lineage of abstraction. A prominent use of the hand looms large — through knitting, weaving, quilting and more — and suggests an alternative mode of communication within a digital society. Together, the works reveal how artists employ the language

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

Kate Malone, Small Lidded Flower Jar and Waddesdon Bird, crystalline-glazed stoneware and porcelain, Victoria Schonfeld Collection at Everson.

of abstraction to speak about the intertwined histories and politics of craft, race and gender. Sept. 18 through Jan. 2, 2022. UNIQUE. Coordinated by ARISE, a non-profit agency based in Syracuse, UNIQUE celebrates the artistic talents of Central New Yorkers living with disabilities. The works included in this exhibition eloquently speak to the myriad thoughts, ideas and feelings that all humans share, regardless of individual ability or circumstance. The annual competition invites submissions of art and literature which are then selected for display by a panel of judges, and the works are exhibited at the Everson Museum. Through Sept. 26. Mutual Affection: The Victoria Schonfeld Collection. Victoria Schonfeld (1950-2019) was a prominent New York lawyer, collector and philanthropist whose discerning eye was matched only by the fierceness of devotion to her friends. From the time she began collecting ceramics in the 1990s, Schonfeld developed lasting friendships with the artists who caught her eye. Schonfeld was particularly devoted to championing female artists, including Betty Woodman, Alison Britton and Carol McNicoll, as well as younger artists like Lauren Mabry and Rain Harris. Her taste encompassed everything from classical beauty to pointedly political works, all linked by her boundless curiosity. Through Jan. 30, 2022.

PHOTO COURTESY OF EVERSON MUSEUM OF ART

Sam Graceffo. Handcrafted jewelry. Oct. 8 through Nov. 19. No opening reception. Unvaccinated people are required to wear masks in the gallery.

ONONDAGA HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION 321 Montgomery St., Syracuse. 315-428-1864, cnyhistory. org. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Free but donations encouraged. Check their website for updates.

Woman’s Perspective: 120 Years of Female Artists. Since the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, women have worked hard to gain equality, opportunity and recognition in the traditionally male-dominated art world. “A Woman’s Perspective,” highlights artwork from the OHA collections created by women since 1900. These women have documented the landscape and people of Onondaga County for the past 120 years. SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY ART MUSEUM 1st floor, Shaffer Art Building, museum.syr.edu. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday - Sunday and until 8 p.m. Thursday. Closed Mondays and University Holidays.

Each One, Inspired: Haudenosaunee Art Across the Homelands. Composed of over 52 contemporary artworks by Haudenosaunee artists from all six Haudenosaunee Nations across what is now New York, this exhibit takes a closer look at the multiple sources of inspiration in contemporary Haudenosaunee art including: treaties, the natural world, community and family members, ancestors, oral histories and connection to land. Collectively, the artworks in this exhibit break convention by challenging the expected, disrupting stereotypes and non-Haudenosaunee historical narratives. Curated by Gwendolyn Saul, Ph.D., Curator of Ethnography and Ethnology, these works are on loan from the Contemporary Native American Art Collection, New York State Museum, Albany. Through Nov. 19. Museum Reception: 5 to 7 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 7.

Willson Cummer: Black-and-white photography of forest scenes at Edgewood Gallery.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF EDGEWOOD GALLERY, EVERSON MUSEUM OF ART

Richard Koppe: American Painting and the New Bauhaus. An instrumental member of the New Bauhaus School in Chicago, Richard Koppe’s artwork demonstrates complex compositions of structured lines, geometry and color. This exhibition draws from the museum’s large collection of Koppe artwork to explore his unique approach to line, plane, color and form in the evolution of his paintings. Through Nov. 19. Museum Reception: 5 to 7 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 7. Collection Highlights: 5,500 Years of Art. Explore the newly reinstalled permanent collection galleries, which include many never-before-seen works of art and new acquisitions. In place of a traditional chronological organization, this new installation places artworks from across the globe and time in conversation with one another. Through Nov. 19. Museum Reception: 5 to 7 p.m. Thurs. Oct. 7.

AbStranded: Fiber and Abstraction in Contemporary Art at Everson.

The Art Wall Project: Ivan Forde. This inaugural Art Wall Project features the work of contemporary artist Ivan Forde, whose installation explores the themes of homeland, migration and identity. The Syracuse University Art Museum’s new Art Wall initiative is dedicated to site-specific works by emerging and leading contemporary artists, commissioned annually. Through May 2022. Museum Reception: 5 to 7 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 7.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

#goodlifeCNY We’ve got it good in Central New York.

outside the area. They have also partnered with Advance Media

Low cost of living, easy commutes, great restaurants and four

New York to create an all-in-one resource for those companies

seasons that offer fun things to do, see, eat and enjoy. There are also plenty of job opportunities.

WE KNOW HOW GREAT LIFE IN CNY IS AND WE’RE SPREADING THE WORD

to help sell the area. The project includes a multimedia marketing effort and a web-

There’s no question we live the good

site that provides potential Central New Yorkers everything they

life in Central New York. And Center-

need to know about the region, and to entice them to join us in

State CEO, along with Onondaga County

the Good Life. Check out the website at www.goodlifeCNY.com.

and several local companies, are work-

It’s filled with stunning videos, photos and enticing stories about

ing together to make sure more people

our home. Share it with friends or family who may be consid-

outside our region know about it.

ering relocating and employers looking for their next new hire.

We know young people are leaving big

Among the website’s many features is a job board for hiring

cities for mid-sized cities to enjoy less

managers and job seekers that pulls jobs from rapidly expanding

crowded areas, lower costs of living and

companies in Central New York. It lets job seekers share infor-

shorter commutes, while still experienc-

mation about their experience and career interests, giving par-

ing a rich, cultural lifestyle.

ticipating employers access to a qualified pool of candidates in-

The New York Times, The Wall Street

terested in finding employment in the region. It can be accessed

Journal, Bloomberg News and Business

from the Good Life CNY site or by linking directly at https://ca-

Insider all cite an exodus of young people from bigger cities like

reers.goodlifecny.com.

New York, San Francisco, Houston and others to midsize cit-

These local companies are working together with CenterState

ies. A 2019 US Census Bureau report found that roughly 27,000

CEO and Onondaga County to support this initiative and pro-

people between the ages of 25 and 38 left bigger cities for less

mote CNY to build our community:

populated areas. What can’t they find in a big city? What are they looking for?

» CPS Recruitment

» C&S Companies

Factors indicate younger people are looking for better housing

» M&T Bank

» Inficon

costs, lower cost of living, shorter commutes, better schools, less stress, better access to nature and a lower population density. That’s Central New York. We need to make sure they know what a great place Central

» Oneida Nation Enterprises, » TTM Turning Stone Casino » VIP Structures » National Grid » Bristol-Myers Squibb

New York is. And there’s an initiative underway called The Good

» Rapid Response Monitoring

Life CNY that promotes the area as a great place to live with plen-

» Syracuse University

ty of job openings.

» Equitable

» Dermody Burke & Brown » Greater Syracuse Association of Realtors

CenterState CEO, the region’s business leadership organization, is leading several initiatives to help address Central New York’s

Join the initiative. Use #goodlifeCNY to highlight the fun and

growing shortage of available workers. They’ve partnered with

beauty of your life in CNY. Follow GoodLifeCNY on social media

Onondaga County and several other companies to underwrite

and post and share your love of CNY.

a campaign to market Central New York to candidates who live

Flashback

Onondaga Park

THE OTHER ONONDAGA PARK Tucked away in the Strathmore neighborhood on Syracuse’s

creation of the park around what would be named Hiawatha

southwest side is the idyllic Onondaga Park, which has been

Lake allowed the city to scrap plans to create a miniature lake

an example of the beauty and utility a city and its people can

at Burnet Park on the city’s westside, which city planners had

create when working together. Situated on over 80 acres, the

hoped to connect to Onondaga Park with a boulevard. The

park is composed mostly of land once owned by Syracuse Wa-

name of the park and the lake were chosen out of respect for

ter Company, including the manmade Hiawatha Lake, which

the Onondaga Nation on whose land the park was constructed.

functioned as an overflow reservoir. In 1898, Alderman George

Today, the site is the focal point of Strathmore; a neighbor-

Sager petitioned Albany to annex parts of the villages of Elm-

hood that represents the makeup and spirit of Syracuse. Dog

wood and Onondaga Valley into Syracuse to construct the park.

walkers and kite fliers can enjoy the green expanses while run-

The villages were amenable to the idea as it offered them ac-

ners and cyclists can take advantage of the paved parkway.

cess to better fire and police protection and Skaneateles water.

Recently the city announced that kayaks would be avail-

Immediately following its conception, city officials told

able to rent for $5 on Saturday and Sundays through the sum-

planners that there was only $150 left in the Parks budget for

mer with advanced online registration. Mayor Ben Walsh, a

the year, which was to be used to clear debris from Onondaga

longtime resident of Strathmore, has also addressed the is-

Creek, cut overgrown grass and station two watchmen within

sue of illegal vehicles racing through the park, hopefully cur-

the park. Residents immediately offered funds and addition-

tailing noise nuisances and potential hazards to pedestrians.

al land to aid in constructing the park, with one citizen offer-

Through civic and citizen engagement, Onondaga Park has

ing to provide and care for a small zoo. Plans started slowly.

grown with Syracuse and continues to be an example of the

Onondaga Park was suited for automobile, carriage, bicycle

best the city has to offer.

and foot traffic, while the existing overflow reservoir provid-

Chris Melfi is support services administrator at Onondaga Historical Association.

ed opportunities for swimming, boating and ice skating. The

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

PHOTO COURTESY OF OHA

BY CHRIS MELFI

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

Last word

WITH

CAROLINE LAMIE Vice president of Central New York Ghost Hunters BY M J K RAV EC

Just in time for Halloween, (we’re so predictable, aren’t we?), we caught up with Caroline Lamie, vice president of Central New York Ghost Hunters and office manager, senior researcher, event coordinator of ghost hunts and tours at Fort Ontario State Historic Site. COVID may have shut down this year’s ghost events (boo, COVID!), but Lamie says she’s planning to bring back events for 2022. That makes us wonder if the spirits are all the more eager to move after being pent up for nearly two years. What time do you get up in the morning and how do you

What are you binge watching now? I binge watch “The Curse

take your coffee? I’m up by 6:30 am. Coffee is Italian with

of Oak Island,” anything with Josh Gates, “Jeopardy,” “The

almond vanilla creamer.

Watch,” “Making It.” I DVR everything!

What’s your favorite season in CNY? My favorite season is

Got any favorite scary movies? Scary movies? Not anything

a toss up between fall and winter. Fall has Halloween and

new. Give me the classics like “The Mummy,” “The Wolfman,”

winter has snow. I love the snow!

“Dracula” and “Frankenstein!”

What’s your favorite spot to enjoy the great outdoors?

Do you have a favorite paranormal experience you like to

I love the Adirondacks and the Catskills. Hiking is my favor-

tell? Too many to list! Seeing my great grandmother after she

ite thing to do. Maybe a nice rustic B&B in the mountains, ex-

died. She was looking at herself in her mirror, fixing her black

ploring historic sites, little antique shops…perfect!

veil. That was one of the first ones. The lady that walked by me on my first day of work at the Fort is something I’ll never

Tell us about your work with CNY Ghost Hunters

forget either. When you hear your name called out loud, it’s a

and Fort Ontario State Historic Site. So I joined Central New

little unhinging! (laughs)

York Ghost Hunters because it was a good fit to my beliefs. I also knew they helped with fundraising for historic sites. As

What are some of CNY’s most haunted places? I would put

far as Fort Ontario, I started out volunteering. Then I got hired

Fort Ontario as no. 1. Herkimer Home. Erie Canal Museum.

to do some painting and maintenance. The next thing I knew

Oakwood Cemetery. The Landmark Theatre. You’ll find lots

I was the office manager, senior researcher and planning

of places on the New York State Haunted History Trail. Not all

events. The research is amazing! The 266-year history is so

places will let you investigate. Please be respectful.

rich here. I love teaching others how to research, too. We are on our way to becoming a National Park. So the research is so

Anything you’d like to add? If you are allowed to investigate

important right now.

a location…be respectful. You’ll get more evidence. Don’t provoke! If a place is truly haunted, you don’t need to provoke. You’ll get more flies with sugar is so true in ghost hunting.



Visit Fort Ontario State Historic Site and Central New York Ghost Hunters on Facebook.

A reenactor soldier stands guard at the Entryway Tunnel of Fort Ontario.

CENTRAL NEW YORK MAGAZINE

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER

PHOTO BY N. SCOTT TRIMBLE

No provoking. You don’t have to tell us twice.

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