Syracuse Woman Magazine September 2017 by Lorna Oppedisano

September 2017

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September 2017

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September C O N T E N T S

Letter from the Editor.............................................................. 6

Past SWM Events...................................................................... 7 Fashion Forward: Geek Chic................................................... 8 Syracuse Eats: Stone's Steakhouse..................................... 10

WISE Woman: Andrea Colella............................................. 14 Special Feature: At the Crossroads of Aging.................... 15 Special Feature: Sustainable Investing............................... 18 In Her Own Words: Jackie Wilson....................................... 20

For a Good Cause: Amaus Dental Services.......................23 New in the 'Cuse: Museum of Intrigue................................24

Cover Story: Jamie Ann Owens........................................... 27 Inspire: Tammy Wilkinson.........................................................38 Inspire: Julia Ebner................................................................ 42 Inspire: Bea Talplacido.......................................................... 46

Upcoming Events.................................................................. 48 Movers and Shakers.............................................................. 50

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LETTER from the Editor

hen I write my letter from the editor, I try to tie the monthly topic to my life, by way of a funny, clever and/or insightful anecdote. This month, I really don’t have a ton to say about my personal style. I like to be comfortable. I try to buy local as much as I can. But I’ll be honest with you, reader: I’m no style expert, at least not in the traditional sense of the word. In almost two years at the helm of Syracuse Woman Magazine, my personal style has evolved, though. And that’s thanks to the amazing community members and organizations I’ve become familiar with in my position as editor. They’ve connected me with the style of generous giving our city has. This summer, I’ve had the honor to help fundraise for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. As I sit here and write this letter, it’s about a week before my second Xtreme Hike. In a nutshell, the Xtreme Hike is an annual fundraiser for the CF Foundation, an organization that depends entirely on grassroots funding like this. Hikers spend the summer fundraising and training, and then conquer one of the High Peaks the last weekend in August. A few months ago, I wrote about last year’s hike in my letter from the editor. It was a 15-mile, daylong trek, and completely changed my life. I’ve been looking forward to this year’s hike since I signed up a few months ago. I’ll admit I haven’t trained as much as I wanted to, but the amount of donations given by my friends and family — what this fundraiser is really about — has awed me. From the people who have answered my email and Facebook post requests to those who attended the Painting with a Purpose class at Painting with a Twist DeWitt, everyone has been so incredibly generous. In the past two months, more than 40 people have helped to raise more than $3,000. That’s pretty stylish.

Lorna On Our Cover: Jamie Ann Owens was photographed by Alice G. Patterson of Alice G. Patterson Photography at the Barnes Hiscock Mansion and on the rooftop of Commonspace.

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OUR TEAM Publisher

Steven J. Pallone Alice G. Patterson

Editor

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

David Tyler

Lorna Oppedisano

Design

Andrea Reeves

Photography B-Team Photography Cindy Bell John Carnessali Alexis Emm Ana Gil-Taylor Mary Grace Johnson

Nichole Cavallaro Nicole Christina Jasmine Gomez Dara McBride Lorna Oppedisano Colette Powers Kathryn Walsh Lindsay Wickham

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Unlike any other publication in the Syracuse area, our feature articles address major topics that interest local women. Each issue includes articles on health, fashion, fitness, finance, home matters, dining, lifestyle and personal perspectives, as well as a spotlight on local Syracuse women. Ads are due on the 15th of the month prior to publication. The print magazines will be distributed locally in over 350 locations and will be in your inbox electronically by the middle of every month. The publication is available free of charge.

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PAST SWM Events

In July, Syracuse Woman Magazine editor, Lorna Oppedisano, was invited to speak with children at the Father Champlin’s Guardian Angel Society summer program. To find out more about the organization, visit guardianangelsoc.org. Photos courtesy Father Champlin’s Guardian Angel Society. The sixth annual Philanthropic Foodies event took place

on Sunday, July 30, at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. This year’s event raised nearly $50,000 to benefit Friends of Dorothy House and GiGi’s Playhouse. For more information on the annual event, visit philanthropicfoodies.org. Photography by John Carnessali.

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FASHION FORWARD Geek Chic

Smart Style By Nichole Cavallaro

hen I hear “dress in business corporate,” I head for the hills. I love having a personal style. And, to me, it’s important to not only look good but feel good about what I’m wearing. To be honest, when I’m in a suit, I am extremely uncomfortable. I can pull off blazers, but only for a little while. When I don’t feel content, it shows. So, when it’s time to look professional, I’ve come to realize I can either look the part or feel like me as the part, even if it’s thanks to a small change or addition. I identify my style as “geek chic.” I’m into designer names, but I am forever a child-at-heart. Geek chic refers to a style in which reading eyewear are accessories, cardigans are in abundance and Oxford shoes are preferred to basic ballet flats. Colors tend to be darker, and the more unique the pattern, the better. I gravitate toward all of that, with an exception: I am a pop culture and movie fanatic. For a while, I often incorporated that into my daily life — except the workplace. Sometimes, I would get lucky and there I’d be, in my suit and nylons, chatting away with a fellow ‘80s kid about movie trivia. So since I can’t dress up in costume, and I couldn’t change the dress code, I decided to change what I was wearing. I started researching “geek chic” styles, looks and trends. Some were about mixing graphic tees with jackets, while other fans were wearing accessories or coloring their hair a vibrant hue. I saw layered blouses and cardigans with skirts, and no heels — just ballet flats or Oxfords. This look was not only different and practical, but it appeared easy and comfortable. I started incorporating some ideas into my wardrobe, but with a light hand. Being subtle and showing a touch of my personality was the key. My success at finding something feminine and “geek chic” happened at a store called Think Geek. Besides colorful tees and all kinds of collectibles, they carry a line called “Her Galaxy.” It was out of this world. My find was a high-waisted, A-line skirt, covered in a medallion design. If you look closely — and you’re a Trekkie — you might notice the design consists of the Star Trek emblem arranged artfully in circles. I wore a professional button down and black wedges to coordinate. The point is to look professional, with a hint of clutch or wearing shoes that have embellished sequins or artwork personality that isn’t usually seen every day. on them. For Star Wars fans, what isn’t out there?! From Target to Etsy, To me, being geek chic is mainly about putting my “grown-up” pop culture labels are everywhere, from mainstream productivity items together — make-up, jewelry, statement pieces — and mixing to custom-made pieces. or complementing them with my I went the fun route and dared to wear the Star Wars leggings under a tulle skirt. Tulle and Star Wars are rarely in the same sentence interesting side. My only rule: If it’s too weird or outfit, unless it’s for a toddler, but this worked as a safe option. for work, wear it later. SWM I know, for a fact, some people are skeptical, thinking, “No way am I wearing those leggings to work!” I’d recommend trying to mix in your love for whatever brings out Nichole is a local lifestyle blogger. Find her work at eneverythingnice. your personality. The Disney brand has a lot of designer-inspired blogspot.com. items — that are surprisingly magical — for adults to wear without looking silly. If you can’t pull off wearing a mermaid graphic tee, Nichole’s blue lace top, tulle skirt and Star perhaps try wearing a mermaid-inspired bracelet, carrying a small Wars leggings are from H&M. Her shoes are from Tory Burch.

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SYRACUSE EATS Stone's Steakhouse

STONE'S STEAKHOUSE APRIL STONE OWNER

Photography by Steven J. Pallone

“Everybody loved the idea — the concept of farm-to-table, knowing where your food’s coming from.” —April Stone, Stone’s Steakhouse owner

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STONE'S STEAKHOUSE

Fine Farm-to-Table By Jasmine Gomez

hen April Stone’s brother was preparing to retire about seven years ago, he thought it would be fun to buy a farm. April thought it was a crazy idea. But her brother’s interest in farming eventually allowed her to bring a passion for farm-totable dining to a whole new crowd. April now owns of one of the newest restaurants to Syracuse’s culinary scene, Stone’s Steakhouse. The business specializes in creating dishes from locally grown and raised products, including black angus beef from Green Acres in Marathon, the farm she co-owns with her brother. April handles the business side of the family business, while her brother humanely raises the cattle. “He really puts a lot of effort into the beef that we have,” April said. “It’s a closed farm. We raise them ourselves.” For April, it’s important to know where food comes from, she explained. She recalled seeing numerous cases of food contamination make the news about a decade ago — something that still happens today. Seeing the cases 10 years ago made her think about ways to be sure she knew where her food was coming from. “I used to think that [if there] could be a way — that if I could grow my own things, if I had enough land – I could always get good food to give to my family and friends if the need ever arose,” April said. She combined the idea of raising her own food with her brother’s desire to farm, and the concept of selling farm-to-table cuisine eventually emerged. April and her brother began selling the beef they raised to friends and family, but they weren’t going through the meat fast enough. She thought a restaurant might be the way to go. April started off with a six-month stint at a kiosk in ShoppingTown Mall, selling foods like gourmet burgers crafted from Green Acres beef.

“Everybody loved the idea — the concept of farm-to-table, knowing where your food’s coming from,” April said. “Even up there [at ShoppingTown Mall], we used other local farms for the greens and the cheeses, whatever we could get locally. So, that’s carried over to here.” Though April wants to support farms in the area, she only looks to places that raise and grow their products consciously. “I want to support local companies, but the meat — I want it to be raised in a humane environment. I really discourage buying anything with pesticides,” April said. “It doesn’t have to be organic, but it has to be raised with consciousness to the environment.” Everything April serves at her restaurant is made fresh, from the main dishes to the desserts. She’s recruited a team of chefs who can help her achieve that goal. For April — who had worked in infusion services since 1994 — the restaurant business is something completely new. Her goal of opening for a short time in ShoppingTown was to “get a handle” on the restaurant industry, she explained. It gave her time to establish relationships with vendors, and discover best practices. “It’s been just a whole new learning curve, but I love doing new things,” April said. “It’s been a great project.” SWM Stone’s Steakhouse is located at 3220 Erie Blvd E. in Syracuse. The restaurant is open from 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday; and closed Monday. For more information, call (315) 214-5408 or visit stonessteakhouse.net or facebook.com/stonessteakhouse.

September 2017

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Ladies' Playlist Greenwood Winery & Bistro

9/4/17: 6 to 9 p.m., ENER-G Band 9/8/17: 6 to 9 p.m., Brass Inc. 9/9/17: 5 to 8 p.m., Tom Chapin,

followed by The Critics

9/15/17: 6 to 9 p.m,. TrumpTight315 9/22/17: 6 to 9 p.m., Soul Mine 9/29/17: 6 to 9 p.m., Stroke

Tasting and Tunes 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. 9/3/17: Cameron Caruso 9/10/17: John McConnell 9/17/17: Denn Bunger 9/24/17: Matt Grainger

Olive's Eatery

"Strolling Fashion Shows each month. Check oliveseaterybville. com for dates.

September 2017 July 2017

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WISE WOMAN Andrea Colella

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SPECIAL FEATURE At the Crossroads of Aging

Part Two: Embracing Aging By Nicole Christina

You can find Nicole’s first piece on At the Crossroads of Aging in our August 2017 issue.

here’s an exciting new cultural trend you may have noticed — older women are speaking up and claiming their power. This is no surprise. The size of the 50-plus population is expected to more than double in the next 35 years. This is a profound demographic shift in the U.S., and there is strength in numbers. We all have an interest in transforming this chapter of life — sometimes referred to as “The Third Chapter” — into a time of satisfaction, pleasure and well-being. And we have more power than we think to do it. It’s no longer unusual to see Facebook posts about people running marathons well into their 80s, as well as teaching yoga, traveling and generally doing exciting things. No longer are the years after 50 seen as a time for winding down and waiting for the inevitable decline. “Compression of mortality”is the new goal — to reduce the amount of time between illness and death. More life, less illness. It follows that women are taking more responsibility for their own health. We’re also taking matters into our own hands, and turning to more “alternative” paths to stayvibrant and well. Yoga is no longer esoteric and fringy. Even in Syracuse, we have many choices of studios and styles. Meditation, acupuncture and herbal remedies are all seeping into the mainstream. Case in point: it’s hard to go anywhere these days without seeing a display for essential oils. Women are also embracing a new definition of beauty as they age. Attempting to conform to the idealized, youthful version takes much more time, work and money than it used to. Like Sisyphus and his boulder, the gray roots just keeping coming back. No amount of makeup can cover the fact that 55 does not look like 35. Fighting aging is a losing battle, and can look pretty unsettling as well. There’s immense freedom in letting go of resisting your age, and making peace with where you are. Consider the popularity of Positive Aging spokeswoman and former model, Cindy Joseph.

She encourages celebrating your age and not trying to cover up lines and sags with makeup. Rather, she encourages some minimal enhancements. The Facebook Group “Growing Grey Gracefully” offers women a forum in which to talk about their ambivalence about gray hair. It’s often a place to share the freedom of choosing to give up hair color. It’s a warm, welcoming and honest group of women coming to terms with aging together. Many women are seeing the years after 50 with new eyes. We’re asking ourselves what we would like to do with this newfound freedom from family duties, and — for some of the more fortunate — job duties, as well. It’s a time of excitement and opportunity, if approached positively. Even if our kids have not yet launched, or have launched and returned, we are reassessing our need to be so intimately involved with their meal preparation and other motherly responsibilities. This is a time ripe for self-discovery. When I ask my clients what they would like to do with their new free time, some are stumped. They’re so used to thinking about the needs of their families and employers. It can be an awkward process if you haven’t had the luxury of pursuing your own pleasures. I’ll often ask, “What did you like to do as a kid?” That can spark some ideas. Of course, embracing aging isn’t always easy, or without painful adjustment. There are the inevitable losses that come with the territory — aging and dying parents, ill friends and families. But it’s really OK to pass the 50-year mark. There’s no shame in looking it. When I’m with my tennis ladies and we’re all wearing our tennis skorts, no one has smooth, tight skin anymore. It’s a mess of veins, scars and stretch marks — the kind of skin that says it’s been around awhile. Truly, no one cares. We’re just out to have fun. We’re all going the same place. Let’s just remember to celebrate our time along the way. SWM Nicole Christina, LCSW, is a Syracuse-based psychotherapist and author, and creator of the web-course Greying and Grateful; Thriving at Middle Age and Beyond. You can find out more at NicoleChristina.com.

September 2017

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September 2017

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SPECIAL FEATURE Sustainable Investing

Soaring in the Right Direction By Colette Powers

ustainable investing is an idea that seems to be changing and gaining more interest — not just with environmentalists, but with institutional and individuals investors, as well. Individuals might have leaned toward socially-responsible investing, which uses an exclusion approach by eliminating from a portfolio companies not aligned with a person’s values. For example, people might have stayed away from investing in companies associated with tobacco, alcohol, gambling or weapons. It’s believed this approach may negatively impact a portfolio by limiting its diversity. There’s a shift from this exclusion approach to a more holistic approach. People have begun investing in companies that strive to make a positive social and environmental impact. Sustainable investors analyze companies differently. They don’t just look at financial data, but expand their analysis to include environmental, social and governance factors — also known as ESG factors. These can include environmental policy and management, climate change strategy, health and safety, working conditions, board structure and business ethics. (1) This shift was influenced by the financial crisis of 2008. Since then, investors have been more likely to want increased transparency regarding a company’s business model, culture and sustainability efforts. (2) With the tools of the digital age, information is more readily available to the average investor. (3) In addition, there’s a growing belief that the corporate sector — and not just government and philanthropic organizations — should be held responsible to help solve global challenges the world faces. That thinking puts more emphasis on a company’s sustainability efforts. (4) These companies may be rewarded for their efforts. Research has shown that companies with practices following standards set by the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board tend to outperform companies that don’t follow such practices. (5) According to Harvard research by Mozaffar Khan and George Serafeim, firms that adopt ESG practices may realize greater profits and higher stock values, while also improving their corporate reputations. (6)

(1) Investor Insights UBS Asset Management Titled Quick Takes – Beyond going Green, 7/17, page 2. (2) UBS CIO Wealth Management Research titled Doing Well by Doing Good, 5/29/16 page 5. (3) UBS Asset Management Article titled Invest Smarter, 3/17, page 5. (4) UBS CIO Wealth Management Research titled Doing Well by Doing Good, 5/29/16 page 5. (5) Source: Eccles, Robert G., Ioannis Ioannou, and George Serafeim. “The Impact of Corporate Sustainability on Organizational Processes and Performance.” Management Science 60, no. 11 (November 2014): 2835–2857. (6) Khan, Mozaffar and Serafeim, George and Yoon, Aaron S., Corporate Sustainability: First Evidence on Materiality, The Accounting Review, (November 9, 2016).

So, both the company and the investor may benefit and feel their efforts and investments can make a difference. Sustainable investors want to know that their investments are aligned with their personal values. Some people —are willing to pay higher prices to companies that have strong sustainable practices and company cultures they’re most comfortable with. (7) Sustainable investors also like their investments to make a positive social and environmental impact, (8) and feel including sustainable companies in their portfolio expands its scope and possibly impacts outcomes. (9) As the demand increases for companies to be transparent, adopt sustainable practices and have positive social and environmental impact, investors can sleep well at night knowing their investments make a difference. (10) SWM

Colette Powers is a Financial Advisor with UBS Financial Services Inc., 440 S. Warren St., Syracuse, NY 13202. Any information presented is general in nature and not intended to provide individually tailored investment, tax or legal advice. Investing involves risks and there is always the potential of losing money when you invest. The information provided may be deemed reliable; however, the accuracy and completeness is not guaranteed by UBS Financial Services Inc. The views expressed herein are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect the views of UBS Financial Services Inc. As a firm providing wealth management services to clients, we offer both investment advisory and brokerage services. These services are separate and distinct, differ in material ways and are governed by different laws and separate contracts. For more information on the distinctions between our brokerage and investment advisory services, please speak with your Financial Advisor or visit our website at ubs.com/workingwithus. ESG Investing Risk – Environmental, Social and Governance factors may inhibit a portfolio manager’s ability to participate in certain investment opportunities that otherwise would be consistent with its investment objective and other principal investment strategies. Underlying companies in a particular fund may not necessarily meet exemplary standards in all aspects of ESG performance; nor is any company perfect when it comes to corporate responsibility or sustainability. UBS Financial Services Inc. is a subsidiary of UBS AG. Member FINRA/SIPC.

(7) UBS CIO Wealth Management Research titled Doing Well by Doing Good, 5/29/16 page 5. (8) UBS CIO Wealth Management Research titled Doing Well by Doing Good, 5/29/16 page 5. (9) UBS AG, UBS Switzerland AG and UBS Financial Services, Inc. titled, To Integrate or to Exclude, Approaches to sustainable investing, 7/13/15, page 4. (10) UBS AG, UBS Switzerland AG and UBS Financial Services, Inc. titled, To Integrate or to Exclude, Approaches to sustainable investing, 7/13/15, page 4.

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September 2017

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IN HER OWN WORDS Jackie Wilson

his month, we sat down with American Fashion Network’s founder and president, Jackie Wilson. Jackie filled us in on why she picked Syracuse as home base for her company, what it’s like to be a leading entrepreneur in the industry and the future of her business. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. SWM: What path led you to the fashion industry?

JW: I definitely have a bit of wanderlust, so I wanted to travel and see the world. And immediately, once I started in the fashion industry, I saw the avenues that would take me to many lands abroad. So it wasn’t really for a love of fashion that I got into this. It was for the business aspect of it, and the ability to travel. SWM: You moved up the ranks in the fashion industry, until founding your company, American Fashion Network, in 2005. How has the company evolved?

JW: We really have become the “Uber” of the fashion industry. I would venture to say we’re the fastest in the world at turning product. We are constantly bringing innovative products to the retailers at a very fast pace. SWM: Briefly explain American Fashion Network’s business model.

JW: What we do is we shop. We shop online. We shop the world retail stores to spot trend, to really understand what people are wearing. We are experts at spotting trend, and translating trend for our retail partners. SWM: Did working in the industry help you acquire those skills?

JW: You learn the skill just from sitting in the seat. It’s like becoming a better pilot over time. You land better. It’s just practice and practice and practice, and asking a lot of questions. We really get into the head of our customer and try to understand what their challenges are and what the opportunities are. SWM: How do you sample and sell?

JW: We sit down with our customers and we work through fabrics. And at the same time, we’re showing original samples that show what is happening in the marketplace, and our translation of that for [the customer].

American Fashion Network founder and president, Jackie Wilson, shows off some fabric samples.

And then they work with their whole team and their trend forecasting people. They have probably about 22 meetings with that one sample before it becomes adopted in. Then, once it becomes adopted, it becomes an order, and we make the decision of where in the world we’re going to make it. [The process is] called CTC, which is concept-to-customer — so, from the time you concept that item to the time it lands on the floor. Typically in our industry, it was 26 weeks. So when I started this business in 2005, it was 26 weeks for concept-to-customer. We do it in eight now. SWM: How do you expedite that process?

JW: We’ve been very disruptive in what we’ve done. It used to be about speed in manufacturing; but just like anything, once it gets out into the marketplace, people figure out how to do it, and it gets cheaper and cheaper and cheaper. The market has become faster and faster and faster. So we always fight to stay ahead of the curve, and our whole thing right now is speed-to-development. We established a sample room a year ago in Los Angeles. We now sample everything in Los Angeles. It used to take us two to three weeks to get a sample made, and we can do it now in a day.

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SWM: A lot of your competition is based in large, metropolitan cities. Why did you pick Syracuse?

JW: This is where we decided to raise our family. It’s a challenge, I would say. I live on a plane, and so does most of my staff. We travel a lot. But while it’s challenging, it’s also really great, because we’re a company of just regular, real people. We are just the true American consumer. And we get the customer. SWM: What does a typical day look like for you?

JW: I do not have a typical day. And I have been thinking about this a lot lately. I think sometimes people don’t understand this, but there is truly not a spare second in my day lately. [It’s] not a complaint. It’s a reality. However, with that said, I do possess the ability to shut it down, and go hang out at my friend’s house. I’m blessed with not being stressed or overly consumed with my work. I do it because I love it. SWM: Being able to unplug like that can be difficult for women entrepreneurs. What’s your secret?

JW: I have a great team, and they’ve been with me for a long time. We have really great retention. SWM: How do you choose your hires?

JW: Really, [they’re] people who I have interacted with, who I know that somebody has referred. Very rarely do we just hire cold. And we spend a lot of time with them. They go through the process. It’s only happened twice in the last five years [that we’ve had to let someone go]. We can tell within three months that it’s not a good fit, and we just respectfully say, “Sorry, it’s not going to work out.” Because culture is the biggest thing.

SWM: You’ve been a single mother for the last decade. How did you balance that with being an entrepreneur?

JW: It was a very big challenge. I feel like the business suffered more. When I would get a call from the school, I’d be like out of here in a second. It all worked out. You suffer from terrible mother guilt, that, “Oh my god, I’m not home.” At the end of the day, they really do come out respecting you. If you’re there for them, they respect you. And that’s the advice I give a lot of struggling young mothers who want to work: just feel the guilt, because it comes with the DNA, but they will respect you in the end. SWM: Your father was also a business owner. Do you think he influenced you?

JW: I think growing up and watching a parent’s work ethic is huge for any child. Watching my dad grow these businesses has been instrumental. He’s just filled with wisdom. And it cracks me up, because I can be filled with wisdom in 3,022 words. He can do it in five. And it just comes with such impact, you know? SWM: What does the future hold for American Fashion Network?

JW: We want to stay in front of the speed thing that’s happening. And we are looking to double our volume, and we’ve been pretty much doubling our volume year-over-year. My goal is to sell the company to my employees — spin off one of the divisions for my kids, but sell my company to my employees. They all came with no experience, and we grew this powerful company together. SWM American Fashion Network founder and president, Jackie Wilson, stands among samples in her company’s Syracuse headquarters.

September 2017

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FOR A GOOD CAUSE Amaus Dental Services

or the past three years, Amaus Dental Services has provided dental care for the poor and uninsured of Central New York, people who might not otherwise have an opportunity for dental care. This month, we sat down with their administrative director, Kathleen Komar, to talk about the organization’s recent expansion and model of sustainable services. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. SWM: Since its founding by Dr. David Dasher, Amaus Dental Services has grown by leaps and bounds. Talk about that evolution.

Kathleen: We’re just amazed at what has happened in three years, and the number of patients [we’ve helped]. There’s no sensation that compares with helping other people. There just isn’t.

Once they get their degree and they set up their practice somewhere, we hope they’ll remember their volunteer experience here. So whatever community they’re in, they will in turn give back and they will help that population as well. SWM: Did you ever imagine that it would turn into a training facility?

Kathleen: [We] never did. Dr. Matthew Hall — he is in charge of the residents at St. Joseph’s Hospital — he sends his residents down here, and they rotate through. Not only are the residents getting a full education here on care from the head up; they will be exposed to a segment of the population they will need to know how to administer to. SWM: Talk about how Amaus Dental is funded.

SWM: Who does Amaus Dental Services primarily serve?

Kathleen: You’ll find out that the Affordable Care Act does not touch dental. And New York state does not have any safety net for dental, vision or a lot of hearing for adults. So this is the path that they have, if they have an infection. Typically, they’ve neglected their dental care for a decade or more. So when they come to us, they have urgent needs. SWM: Talk about Amaus Dental Services' stress on sustainable services.

Kathleen: Our work continues to have a positive impact long after Amaus Dental Services has finished with a patient. There are all these different areas in how that fits. If we have a patient who comes in for a cleaning, we will follow up with that patient. So after the initial cleaning, three months later, we will call them, and we’ll get them booked for their sixmonth follow-up. Another way the sustainable service continues to give back is through our volunteers. Another thing that’s really near and dear to our hearts is that we have become a training facility. We train [students] to be dental assistants, and they learn more here than they could have learned anywhere else.

took to have what we have today.

Kathleen: We have approached national foundations, and they have given us quite a bit of money to continue what we do here. We do a lot of grant writing, and to date, we’ve never had someone turn us away when applying for a grant. And now we have another stream of revenue, which is so exciting. There are now these benefits that are in our honor. We’ve received so many awards. What’s going on here is definitely being acknowledged. It’s amazing how people are just making this as vibrant as it can be. We were able to raise $150,000 in cash for this expansion. [In] total, it was about $229,000 with the equipment that was donated, and that’s what it

SWM: How do you get dentists involved?

Kathleen: Word of mouth. It was a calling for some of the dentists. They retired and they want to continue that patient interaction. And when you tell them, “You don’t have to go to Haiti to really make a difference,” they realize, “You’re right.” The poverty in Syracuse is so high that we’re really only scratching the surface of the need here. SWM

To get involved or donate to Amaus Dental Services, visit amausdentalservices.com. September 2017

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NEW IN THE 'CUSE Museum of Intrigue

Photography by Alexis Emm

Museum of Intrigue

Do you want to play a story today?" â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Jono Naito, Museum of Intrigue developer/lead designer

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A New Kind of Story By Lorna Oppedisano

“I

’ve done a lot of strange things with my life,” Jono Naito, Museum of Intrigue developer/lead designer said. “I’ve studied chemistry. I’ve worked in the [American] Museum of Natural History in New York City. I was in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I was in a circus. I’ve breathed fire.” Come early September, Jono can add “museum creator” to that list. Well, sort of. Earlier this year, the team behind Escape the Estate, LLC — creators of the Escape the Estate presents The Hotel Whitmore escape room in ShoppingTown Mall and Escape the Estate at Frightmare Farms, the nationallyrenowned haunted house in Palermo — was looking for their next venture. Jono, who’d started working for Escape the Estate after moving to Syracuse for graduate school, had an idea: what if they were to present their customers an interactive story experience? “When he first came up with the concept, I had goosebumps going over it with him,” Escape the Estate, LLC, co-owner/Museum of Intrigue set designer Andrew DeRuiter said. The basic concept of the game is elegantly simple. When a player or group of players enters the attraction, they approach the front desk, and see a row of books in front of them. They’re asked, “Do you want to play a story today?” Depending on how many people are playing and what sort of game they’re interested in — some focus more on puzzles, while others emphasize plot and characters — they’re given a scenario and the first clue. And then, the game is in their hands. “So you get to enjoy the museum for as long as you want,” Jono explained. “Once you get past the front desk, the whole museum is an immersive environment.” As guests work their way through the story and museum, they encounter a number of characters, actors hired by the team to help people along on their visits. One time, the “Dorian Grayesque, never-aging” researcher might lend a hand, Jono explained. On your next visit, you might get a clue from the “quirky” security guard. While most games allude to a collective plot, they’re designed so the different storylines don’t overlap. “All of the puzzles and games are designed very specifically so that almost nothing is given away,” Jono said. “I can see you being excited about something, but I won’t know its context or what you

did. All I’ll know is I saw something very strange happen over by the Viking exhibit, and that maybe I’ll want to come play that next time.” The team expects to present six to eight separate games for Museum of Intrigue’s September opening, and plan to add more as time progresses. After finding an ideal location at Destiny USA, the team dove into work, creating the set and games for the museum. Being a local business, they have the advantage of control over every aspect of their creation. Most things the visitors will touch or even walk on have been built from scratch by Andrew, based on Jono’s ideas. They’re even repurposing some of the leftover materials from the space’s last tenant, OptiGolf. “We’re not getting something shipped to us that we’re putting up,” Jono said, “which means every single prop, every puzzle, has been designed here [and] built here. And it lends a level of authenticity that is very noticeable.” The practice of developing everything themselves isn’t new to the group. It’s part of what sets them ahead in the industry. And it’s paid off; in terms of their new venture, the team is certain no one in the entertainment industry has created an experience like this before. “There is this gut and this fire that comes with the thrill of these ideas,” Nicole Ginsburg, creator and co-owner of Escape the Estate, LLC, explained. They’re testing the waters for the new idea at Destiny USA, she said. The fanbase from their other ventures is excited to see what unfolds with Museum of Intrigue. But in terms of Nicole’s role in the company, she’s always keeping an eye open for the next opportunity to provide new spaces and opportunities for artists and actors. “My ultimate goal is to end in entertainment, in the capacity of basically what we’re doing with Escape and with Frightmare: that ability to give brilliant minds tools, space and the funds to create things that they’re passionate about,” Nicole said. “It’s really amazing.” SWM Museum of Intrigue is slated to open in early September at Destiny USA, located by 9090 Destiny USA Drive in Syracuse. Stay tuned online for more specific details. Visit museumofintrigue.com or facebook.com/ MuseumOfIntrigue.

The team behind Escape the Estate, LLC’s, newest venture, Museum of Intrigue poses in one of the exhibits. The attraction is slated to open in Destiny USA in early September. From left: Ben Sobine, Museum of Intrigue site supervisor; Andrew DeRuiter, Escape the Estate, LLC, co-owner/Museum of Intrigue set designer; Nicole Ginsburg, Escape the Estate, LLC, creator/co-owner; Jono Naito, Museum of Intrigue developer/lead designer. September 2017

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COVER STORY Jamie Ann Owens

JAMIE ANN OWENS SOCIETYGURL

Photography by Alice G. Patterson

These people are taking a piece of me, and they’re applying that to their lives. And that’s freakin’ special. It’s an honor.” — Jamie Ann Owens, SocietyGurl

Jamie stands in the Barnes Hiscock Manskon's bar area. Her dress is by LindyBop, and hair flower by Le Petit Couturier. September 2017

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COVER STORY Jamie Ann Owens

The Life of Syracuse’s Favorite Socialite By Lorna Oppedisano

amie Ann Owens — more widely known as Syracuse content creator, SocietyGurl — has had an appreciation for all things vintage, fabulous and ladylike in Syracuse since she was about 3 or 4 years old. Her mother and aunts — ladies who were always “dressed,” Jamie remembered — taught her elegance and grace at a young age. And then there was her imaginary friend turned personality. “Christine Jonvay,” Jamie said, adopting a slight French accent to theatrically enunciate each syllable. Her mother would call Jamie’s name, and receive the answer, “I’m not Jamie. I’m Christine.” When Jamie was invited to a friend’s house for a tea party one day, she insisted on getting a specific outfit — because that’s what Christine wore. The young girl needed a pillbox hat with birdcage netting, a dress “that had to flow,” a purse and a cigarette case, Jamie said with a hearty chuckle, her eyes glittering at the memory. “[My mom] went to the thrift store and found that outfit, and I walked — in her heels — all the way to that tea party, as Christine, gloves and all,” Jamie said. “So, very early on, I wanted to be, you know, a lady.” Jamie hasn’t stopped being a lady and standing out. From Syracuse to Oswego to New York City to Syracuse to Ithaca, and back to Syracuse; from Christine Jonvay to SocietyGurl; from actress to content creator highlighting Syracuse culture to model to mother — everything Jamie does, she does with “a little bit of sparkle,” as she puts it. You have to be a little “off,” she explained. “And I like that ‘off,’” Jamie said. “I believe that I’m a little ‘off’ to go around with red hair, floating around the city all day and telling people to drink cocktails and eat. You have to be.”

Syracuse love Jamie was born and raised in Syracuse. When it came time for college, she attended SUNY Oswego to study music theater, with a focus in opera. During her junior year, she followed her passion to New York City for a short stint, before eventually coming back to Syracuse. Once she’d returned home, she discovered two things that would greatly influence her future: technology and her husband. At the time, Jamie didn’t want to leave New York City, so her father asked her what would convince her to stay in Syracuse. “At that time, computers and internet were becoming big, so I said, ‘I want a computer.’ I didn’t think he would go buy it,” Jamie said. “Well, he bought a computer. And from then, I started learning about the internet.” Shortly thereafter, Jamie met a man at Borders bookstore. He wasn’t her usual type, but she thought he was cute. “There was something so charming and so darling about him, and I fell in love,” she remembered. “And he kept me here.” 28

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The Style Edition

I will always showcase my community, because this is where I live. If I see something awesome, I’m going to tell you about it.” — Jamie Ann Owens, SocietyGurl

The birth of SocietyGurl The couple moved to Ithaca for a short time, but eventually felt home calling, and settled back in Syracuse. By that time, Jamie had a goal in mind: she wanted to be a socialite, a lady. She might have outgrown Christine Jonvay, but that spark of grandiose, old-fashioned, fabulous living hadn’t left her. Then one evening, Jamie told her husband she wanted to dye her hair red. She’d just do highlights, she promised. So, he went to bed, and she went to work with the bleach. “And before I knew it, I was just blonde,” Jamie said. “And I was like, ‘Oh well, I might as well just do it all!’” When he saw the fiery red hue the next morning, she joked with him: “I have a plan,” she said. She didn’t realize that overnight, she’d nurtured that seed already planted in the back of her mind, and her alter ego, SocietyGurl, was about to flourish. Around the same time, Jamie and her husband began exploring their city — going to wineries, visiting apple orchards — and posting videos of their adventures online for family to view. Unbeknownst to her, the Syracuse New Times’ Ty Marshall stumbled upon the videos. He reached out to Jamie. She had to wonder: why did anyone but her family want to watch their videos? “I think they’re really cool,” he told her. “I think you could do something.” So, they sat down, talked it over and came up with a plan: Jamie would develop the character of SocietyGurl into more of a brand, and create video content for Syracuse New Times. Jamie stars in the clips, clueing the viewer in to the city’s hidden and not-so-hidden gems. Her husband shoots the videos, and Jamie edits. Before long, their popularity grew. Jamie still remembers the first time she was recognized in public. “I was in Al’s [Wine and Whiskey Lounge]. And my husband and I were just drinking, and this girl screams — now, mind you, it’s Al’s, so it’s loud — this girl screams from the back of the place,” Jamie said, still slightly in awe of the experience. “She goes, ‘Oh my god, you’re SocietyGurl!’ And I’m like, ‘What?’ And she just comes up to me and hugs me. And she goes, ‘I love your videos.’” It was surreal, Jamie recalled. What started out as a video diary of sorts for her family was morphing into social media followed by “all kinds of people,” she said. Strangers now approached her to talk about the new vintage dress they’d bought after watching SocietyGurl, or the new cocktail they’d tried. All things considered, SocietyGurl let Jamie feed her creativity, and was someone who had always existed on some level. “But these people are taking a piece of me, and they’re applying that to their lives,” Jamie said. “And that’s freakin’ special. It’s an honor.”

The constant spotlight Portraying SocietyGurl is a work of art. While the alter ego has always been in her to an extent, the pressure to stay in character can weigh heavy. Keeping the consistency going can be a challenge in any form of media, Jamie explained. “I want to give people the best quality that I can give them in video content,” she said. “And I believe in what I see in our community, and I want to do it honestly.” Jamie stands on the rooftop of Commonspace with downtown Syracuse’s skyline behind her. Her vintage dress is from Boom Babies, hair flower by Le Petit Couturier, shoes from Modcloth and jewelry from Thrifted. September 2017 September 2017

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Photography by Alice G. Patterson

COVER STORY Jamie Ann Owens

The Life of Syracuse's Favorite Socialite from page 29 When Jamie and her husband started making videos, they enjoyed a fair amount of anonymity. They would go check out the next place on their list, and blend in. Sure, Jamie’s red hair might catch a stray glance or two, but otherwise, they were simply a couple documenting their travels. With the growing popularity of their videos, people eventually began asking Jamie to review their newly opened establishments. While she does love promoting all the city has to offer, SocietyGurl is not a reviewer or a critic, Jamie stressed. “And I think that’s important, because my job is not to make people feel like they are less than,” she said. “My goal is to make people see the beauty in our community, whether it be a restaurant or a business or a product.” When people see Jamie “out of character” from time to time, it can take them by surprise, she said. People tell her she “looks different,” she said. “And that’s happened quite a few times in Trader Joe’s,” she said with a laugh. “‘You look different’ — or, I had one girl go, ‘Oh, you looked better last time.’” It’s not always easy to hear comments like that, Jamie said, but she understands it. After all, she created SocietyGurl. “It is a character,” she said. “She is a character.”

National recognition SocietyGurl collaborated with Syracuse New Times for about three years, and still produces some content for them from time to time. But within the last year, the brand reach has begun to expand nationally. When she submitted a cocktail video to Pinup Industry Magazine, they loved it so much they asked her to do more videos with them, and she’s now worked with them for a few months. It’s helped her connect with others interested in the vintage lifestyle and the pinup community nationally, through conventions and events, and brought SocietyGurl a more national audience. While Jamie’s happy the brand is expanding, the self-proclaimed “100 percent Syracuse girl” isn’t going anywhere, and doesn’t plan to stop promoting the Salt City. “I will always showcase my community, because this is where I live,” she said. “If I see something awesome, I’m going to tell you about it.”

The best surprise As SocietyGurl began to pick up, and her husband’s job as a system architect was going well, life threw the couple a surprise. While she was editing a video, Jamie noticed her stomach looked different. To quell any curiosity, she took a pregnancy test, assuming she’d see negative results. To her surprise, the test result was positive. Thinking she was crazy, Jamie took more tests — about 14 more. Every test resulted positive. The couple just sat there, she remembered.

“Are you OK?” she asked him. “I’m nervous, but I’m OK,” he answered. “We can do this,” she said. “Yeah,” he agreed. “We can do it.” Their son, Griffin, was born, and they couldn’t be happier. “He’s just the best — the best thing that ever happened to me,” she said. “He’s a spitfire. He is my child, 100 percent. He’s got a temper, and he’s 1. He’s a little sassy. I love it.” Being a mother has changed Jamie’s perspective on life. She doesn’t take things too seriously anymore, she explained, adding that as long as Griffin is eating and has a roof over his head, she’s happy. It’s a rare feeling that she hopes more people will get to enjoy, she said. Griffin — their “best surprise ever” — has changed her husband, too, Jamie said, her eyes shining brighter than her hair. “The things that he says to my son when he thinks I’m not listening are the most amazing things that you can ever hear,” she said.

Mastering graceful confidence It’s been a long journey for Jamie and SocietyGurl. In a lot of ways, it’s just beginning. Along with being a media personality and content creator for a nationally-expanding social media channel, Jamie has emceed and modeled in Syracuse Fashion Week, with a group of people she described as loving, inviting and strong. While Syracuse Fashion Week is known for its inclusive diversity, more generally speaking, Jamie knows she faces challenges being a shorter, plus-sized model of color, she admitted. “But I rock it,” she said. From a young age, her mother and aunts instilled in Jamie the value of inner beauty and grace. It’s important to be confident, kind and humble, she explained. Now that she’s older, she’s learning more “about this new part of [herself] — of being sexy, being beautiful, no matter what,” she said. Her alter ego has helped Jamie gain that knowledge. The secret to SocietyGurl’s — and Jamie’s — graceful and modest confidence is simple. “Be. Happy,” Jamie said, stressing each word. “Be happy. The only thing I can tell you is: if you wake up in the morning and you take the littlest things and you make them so big — and they take over your life to the point where you’re not happy — you’re never going to live. In order to live, you have to be happy.” SWM To follow SocietyGurl online, visit thesocietygurl.com or facebook.com/ thesocietygurl. Jamie is one of the Salt City Belles, a group that promotes the vintage lifestyle in Central New York. To find out more, visit saltcitybellesandbeaus.com. Jamie poses in the Barnes Hiscock Mansion. Her dress is by LindyBop, and hair flower by Nicole Marie Jones.

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The Style Edition

Photography by Alice G. Patterson September 2017

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INSPIRE Tammy Wilkinson

TAMMY WILKINSON

Photography by Mary Grace Johnson

THEATRE DU JOUR FOUNDER

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The Style Edition

Theater for the Senses By Lorna Oppedisano

heatre Du Jour founder Tammy Wilkinson is changing the meaning of “theater.” With her 3-year-old business, Tammy aims to facilitate as much interaction as possible amongst everyone involved, from theater-goers to performers. “You can see a show anywhere. You can see a show in all of the best alternative spaces,” Tammy said. “I want to do it outside. I want to do it in castles. I want to do it at wineries. I want to do it at golf courses. I want to do it on your lawn. Whatever you want or need, we will do it.” Tammy’s love for theater began during college at SUNY Morrisville in the journalism technology program, where a group of “vivacious and insanely creative people” introduced her to the theater world. She got a taste of the experience, but didn’t really get involved until she moved back to Oswego in 2005 and joined the Oswego Players. She became more and more involved, and eventually became producer. One of the most challenging aspects of theater was “getting butts in seats,” Tammy said. So, she thought of an innovative approach: move the seats to a whole different setting. Tammy made a deal with a local restaurant to produce a main stage show in their dining room. The Oswego Players bought out the room, and along with the main stage show, brought in a photo booth, music, jewelry vendor and prizes. It wasn’t just a performance; it was an event, Tammy said. “It was insane and amazing, all at the same time,” she said, “but very, very perfect for what we had hoped to do.” Tammy knew she had a unique and refreshing concept on her hands. From that point, she kept mulling over the idea of an “interactive touring dinner theater experience,” she remembered. One day, she went to Syracuse to see a performance about Lizzie Borden at the Barnes Hiscock Mansion. Tammy and the rest of the small audience followed the cast from room to room as the show unfolded. “I was just sitting there with goosebumps thinking, ‘The universe is telling me: this is all the right stuff. You’re on the right track, Tammy,’” she remembered. As the show continued, she turned to her friend and whispered, “This is what I mean! This is what I’ve been talking about.”

Tammy knew there was a need for more interactive theater like this. In October 2014, she filed a DBA, and Theatre Du Jour was brought to life. Since then, Tammy and her team have produced a variety of shows, including “Love Letters,” “The Santaland Diaries” and, most recently, “Steel Magnolias.” Theatre Du Jour has performed at a number of venues, including Barnes Hiscock Mansion. For each show, they work with different local businesses and artists to offer the audience much more than just a play or musical. “We wanted it to be a multimedia event,” Tammy said. “We wanted it to be an experience. And so, part of our mission was to have it be collaborative with different community businesses, [and] have that synergy between us and anyone and everyone who wants to get involved.” While each show is different, the audience can expect roughly the same format. The evening begins with a cocktail hour that usually includes a cash bar, photo booth and local musician, and gives the cast and crew a chance to mingle with theater-goers. Dinner is next, most times in theme with the show. And then, of course, comes the performance. Not wanting to limit themselves to simply traditional plays and musicals, part of the challenge for the director is often to weave more opportunity for interactivity into the shows. “And every director has stepped up to the plate on that,” Tammy said. In the future, Tammy plans to expand Theatre Du Jour’s reach, she said, adding that she’s always on the lookout for more venues she admires. The whole experience of founding and running her own business — something Tammy never expected she’d end up doing — has helped her grow and find herself, she said. “This company has helped me to love myself, love what I do, and trust in the process,” she said. “Because we figured it out as we went along, there’s something really healing about that as a woman — and as a human, period.” SWM To find more about Theatre Du Jour, visit dujourcny.com or facebook.com/ TheatreDJ.

We wanted to be a multimedia event. We wanted it to be an experience.”— Tammy Wilkinson, Theatre Du Jour founder Theatre Du Jour owner, Tammy Wilkinson, sits in The Art Loft in Oswego. September 2017

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INSPIRE Julia Ebner

JULIA EBNER PROFESSIONAL OPERA SINGER

Photography by Mary Grace Johnson

[Opera is] very accessible and has something for everybody. It's just about getting exposed to it and finding the style that appeals to you.” — Julia Ebner, Professional opera singer and fitness instructor

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A Flexible Balancing Act By Dara McBride

t 5 a.m., professional opera singer Julia Ebner wakes up. It’s not quite that early every day, but at least on some Tuesdays and Thursdays, the Baldwinsville native’s first job requires an early start. At 6 a.m., Julia teaches a ballet barre fitness class at Bodhi Barre in Dewitt. After an hour-or-so break for breakfast, she’s back to teach another class. At 10 a.m., she has a few free hours for lesson planning. Then, her afternoon is spent teaching youth dance classes at Tiffany’s School of Dance in Skaneateles or giving voice lessons from a Baldwinsville studio. Depending on the day, she may also teach Pilates or act as a standardized patient for medical students at SUNY Upstate Medical University. Her day usually wraps up around 8 or 9 p.m. “Within a year, about 50 percent of my livelihood comes from music and about 50 percent comes from something within the fitness world, including dance,” Julia said. As American opera companies typically employ per performance, performers often find themselves between gigs. During the 2015-16 opera season, Julia appeared locally, sang with Florida’s St. Petersburg Opera and made her debut as a chorister with the Metropolitan Opera. The odd gaps in her performing schedule, along with perhaps 30 to 40 auditions a year, mean Julia needs second jobs that are as flexible as she is. “I can live here and have jobs that are more fulfilling and interesting to me,” Julia said, “and experience not a slower life, but what is — for me — a fuller life.” With a grandfather who was a singer and an aunt in the opera world, her family made it “easy to fall into the arts,” she said. Julia saw her first opera at the age of 8, a performance of “La Bohème,” in which her aunt performed. She started with piano and clarinet lessons at age 13, before moving to singing once her voice matured. “I was most interested in musical theater, but then my voice teacher gave me an aria from an American opera, and the harmonies were much more interesting,” Julia said. “It was vocally and melodically more challenging, and it just sparked my interest in opera.” Julia studied vocal performance at Syracuse University in the early 2000s, then pursued a master’s degree in opera at Binghamton University and participated in the Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Program.

Julia often works on multiple music projects. In April, she appeared in a Syracuse Symphoria concert as the soprano soloist for Mahler's “Rückert Lieder” and Bach’s “Magnificat.” Her summer projects included directing “Annie Jr.” with The Tiffany School of Dance and Performing Arts Center, as well as singing the role of Maud Gage in scenes from a new opera, “Pushed Aside: Reclaiming Gage,” at the Society of New Music. In October, she plans to appear as Frasquita in “Carmen” with Syracuse Opera. “There is this idea that opera is stuck-up, or only for wealthy people, or that it’s not accessible, and it’s very accessible and has something for everybody,” Julia said. “It’s just about getting exposed to it and finding the style that appeals to you.” While accessible, opera is still the most challenging arena for Julia. All her jobs require some element of performance, but opera requires her to keep track of her character, the music and the overall story. When she’s teaching a fitness or dance class, Julia has more opportunity to be herself and let loose. She’s taught dance on and off since 2000, but it wasn’t until 2013 that she became more interested in fitness. While performing in the opera version of “A Streetcar Named Desire” with the Virginia Opera, Julia popped into a Pilates class at the local YMCA. She was hooked. “I could get through the class and didn’t feel like a total failure,” she said. “I didn’t feel weak or out of place, but I also noticed that I felt taller and I felt centered. I didn’t feel like I had broken my body. So then I kept going, and I never stopped.” About a year later, Julia became certified to teach Pilates, and in 2015, joined the Bodhi Barre staff. She wasn’t familiar with barre — a workout that builds on dance, Pilates and yoga — but it sounded like something she could do. When she sent in her resume, studio owner Colette Calderala was impressed. “I just had no doubt she would be really good at this,” Colette remembered. Colette described Julia as someone who “rolls with things.” Despite being constantly on-the-go, Julia always makes time for her students, Colette said. While she leads a busy life, Julia wouldn’t want to give up her multi-career style. “To work a 9-to-5 would probably blow my mind,” she said with a smile. SWM For more on Julia, visit juliaebner.com.

Professional opera singer/fitness instructor, Julia Ebner, was photographed at Bodhi Barre studio in Syracuse. September 2017

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September 2017

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INSPIRE Bea Talplacido

BEA TALPLACIDO

Photography by Alexis Emm

MUSICIAN AND DESIGNER

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When Music Meets Fashion By Kathryn Walsh

ey, Carson Daly — Bea Talplacido is still waiting for an answer. “I played horribly, but it was so wonderful,” Bea said. “Because I As a young singer/songwriter dreaming about stardom, got up on stage and I was like, ‘Why did I stop doing this? I love it. she decided appearing on the MTV show “Total Request Live” This is where I belong.’” would be her big break. The show had a policy of retiring music Her friend, Charley Orlando, local musician and Funk ’n Waffles’ videos from its rotation after a period of 65 days. Bea thought talent director, invited Bea to play between sets. getting the attention of Carson, the show’s host, would be her Now, she said, “Funk ’n Waffles is like my Cheers. I feel very at ticket, so she wrote to him. Every day. For 65 days. home there, when I’m playing or not.” “I sent him the keys to my car. I sent him a case of his favorite Bea released her album, “Old Habits,” in April. Bringing music beer,” she said. “Anyway, he never wrote me back. Probably a back into her life has been wonderful, she said, and becoming part whole bunch of interns were going through it, laughing, drinking of the Syracuse music scene has been gratifying. my beer.” “It’s kind of like this family,” she said. “Everybody is really Although MTV didn’t come calling, that experience did help supportive of each other.” her get a foot in the door of the music industry. When Bea told She needs all the support she can get, because Bea is busy. that story to the guys at a music venue in Dallas, they hired her In addition to writing and performing music and taking care of as a booking assistant, which led to her opening for musical her son, she has two other jobs: creative lead for local music powerhouses, including John Mayer and Norah Jones. promotions and talent management company, KMase productions, Eventually, she sold almost everything and cofounder of Nona, a luxury highshe owned and moved to New York City. end diaper bag line she runs with a former She hauled her amp and guitar down into fashion industry coworker. I love [performing]. This is where the subway every day, carefully timing Named for the Roman goddess of her arrival to coincide with the cops’ shift pregnancy, Nona was born out of Bea’s I belong.” — Bea Talplacido, change to avoid getting fined for playing cofounder’s struggle to find an awesome musician and designer in the subway without permits. diaper bag. They started working on the “It was probably the hardest job I’ve had project years ago, but they just officially to do, ever,” she said. launched this past spring. The hunt for While living in New York, Bea got the chance to fly to Los ethical, sustainable materials proved time-consuming. Angeles to play in a showcase for a few major record labels. “Everything down to the elastic on the pockets to the hardware, “It didn’t go the way I expected,” she said. “I came back feeling everything, like the paper for our business cards — we really very, just, defeated. And I was like, why am I even doing this? thought about it and were like, ‘Is this the best we can do at this Nobody gets it — I wrote a song on the plane, and that was time?’” Bea said. basically the last song I wrote for years.” Her business partner ended up moving to Bogota, Colombia, She decided to switch gears and use her creativity in a different where she now oversees the bags’ creation at a local factory. way. Pharrell William’s tour manager, whom she had met in Currently, Nona makes one style of bag in a brown-and-gray Dallas, connected her with a designer who needed help for a day. color palette, with a black-and-gray version scheduled to launch That one day’s work turned into two, then three, until she worked this fall. It’s designed for “badass girlboss mamas” who value both her way up to the position of accessories designer for clothing their work and personal lives, Bea said. designer Jimmy’z. Basically, it’s designed for moms like her. Her son, Brixton, is now Then one day, Bea — four months pregnant — found out the 8 and the joy of her life, an aspiring inventor/engineer/musician. company was closing. It was time to switch gears again. A few years ago, they wrote a song together called “Fixed a Heart.” Bea freelanced for a while and gave birth to her son, Brixton — He wrote 90 percent of it, Bea said. Carson Daly, you might named after The Clash’s “Guns of Brixton.” When Brixton was want to start checking your mail. SWM about 2 years old, she moved to Syracuse with her then-husband to be near family. For more on Bea, visit beabeabea.com. To learn more about Nona, She focused on full-time mom life until an old friend asked her visit nonabagcompany.com. to perform in San Francisco. It was her first time playing in public in nearly seven years.

Musician and designer, Bea Talplacido, was photographed at Redhouse Arts Center in Syracuse. The bag besides her is made by Nona, the company she co-owns. September 2017

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UPCOMING SWM Events Thursday, Sept. 14 September Style When: 7:30 p.m. What: Free event showcases local fashion designers and shops. Presented by Syracuse Fashion Week and Downtown Committee of Syracuse. Cost: Free; look online for VIP party details. Where: 100 block of Walton St., Armory Square, downtown Syracuse. Info: facebook.com/SyracuseStyle. Friday, Sept. 1 Summer Film Under the Stars When: Film begins at dusk. What: Presented in partnership with Urban Video Project. All films include pre-show activities and food trucks. Showing “Get Out.” Cost: Free admission. Where: Everson Museum of Art plaza, 401 Harrison St., Syracuse. Info: http://everson.org/connect/events/film-under-stars-get-out. Wednesday, Sept. 6 WBOC Monthly Meeting When: 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. What: First meeting of 2017/2018 season. Check online for details. Cost: $25; member, $10. Where: Genesee Grande Hotel, 1060 E. Genesee St., Syracuse. Info: wboconnection.org. Wednesday, Sept. 6 1 Million Cups When: Doors open, 8:30 a.m.; presentation, 9 to 10 a.m. What: Presentations by local early-stage startup companies aim to draw feedback from peers, mentors, educators and advisors. Open to the public. Cost: Free admission. Where: Syracuse CoWorks, 201 E. Jefferson St., Syracuse. Info: 1millioncups.com/syracuse. Friday, Sept. 8 Savoring Science When: 6 to 10 p.m. What: Fundraiser for the Museum of Science and Technology, presented by C&S Companies, includes food, music, auction and more. Cost: $200 per person. Where: Sky Armory, 351 S. Clinton St., Syracuse. Info: Development coordinator, Kelly Gardner, kgardner@most.org or (315) 425-9068 x2111; info.skyarmory.com/savoring-science most-fundraiser. Sunday, Sept. 10 City Market When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. What: Goods from local vendors include ceramics, vintage clothing, furniture, home decor, handmade crafts, antiques and more. Museum admission is free this day. Cost: Free admission. Where: Everson Museum of Art, 401 Harrison St., Syracuse. Info: citymarketsyracuse.com. 48

Tuesday, Sept. 12 Rosamond Gifford Lecture Series When: 7:30 p.m. What: Lecture presented by Colson Whitehead, New York Times bestselling author. Cost: $30 to $35. Where: Mulroy Civic Center Theaters, 800 S. State St., Syracuse. Info: Friends of the Central Library, foclsyracuse.org. Wednesday, Sept. 13 Business After Hours When: 5 to 10 p.m. What: Event celebrates 90th anniversary of Jefferson Clinton Hotel, includes food, cocktails and live music. Hosted by CenterState CEO. Cost: Free; register online. Where: Jefferson Clinton Hotel, 416 S. Clinton St., Syracuse. Info: centerstateceo.com; kdejoseph@centerstateceo.com. Thursday, Sept. 14 O Yoga Community Yoga Class When: Lululemon Syracuse trunk show, 5:30 p.m.; class, 6:30 p.m. What: Celebrates O Yoga’s sixth anniversary. Refreshments from CoreLife Eatery following class. Cost: Free admission. Where: Everson Museum of Art Plaza, 401 Harrison St., Syracuse. Info: everson.org/connect/events/o-yoga-community-yoga-class-plaza. Friday, Sept. 15 7 Habits of 7 Highly Successful People When: Registration and continental breakfast, 7:30 to 8 a.m.; program, 8 to 10 a.m. What: Presented by seven of the region’s most influential executives and community leaders. Cost: Member, $25; nonmember, $35. Where: Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park, 1 Conservation Place, Syracuse. Info: centerstateceo.com; lmetot@centerstateceo.com. Friday, Sept. 15 Professional Networking When: 5 to 7:30 p.m. What: Hosted by Cuse Culture Magazine and open to all. Cost: $5. Where: One Group, 706 N. Clinton St., Syracuse. Info: facebook.com/CuseCulture. Friday, Sept. 15 Music of Elton John When: 7:30 p.m. What: Symphoria presents hits such as “Rocket Man,” “Crocodile Rock,” “Daniel” and “Candle In The Wind.” Cost: $38 to $81. Where: Crouse Hinds Concert Theater, 800 S. State St., Syracuse. Info: experiencesymphoria.org/concert/music-of-elton-john.

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The Style Edition

Friday, Sept. 15 28th Annual September Song When: 6:30 to 10 p.m. What: Hosted by Hospice of Central New York. Theme is “Fabulous Fifties.” Honors longtime Hospice supporter, Maryann Roefaro. Cost: $125. Where: Traditions at the Links, 5900 N. Burdock St., E. Syracuse. Info: Laurie Simpson, (315) 634-1100 or lsimpson@hospicecny.org.

Saturday, Sept. 23 Teal Ribbon Run When: Registration, 8 to 9:15 a.m.; Teal Dash, 9:30 a.m.; 5K run, 10 a.m.; 3K Family Fun Walk, 10:10 a.m.; awards, 11:30 a.m. What: Fundraiser for Hope for Heather. Register by Sept. 15 for event shirt. Cost: By Sept. 15, $30; Sept. 16 to Sept. 20, $35; day of, $40. Where: Lewis Park, S. Main St., Minoa. Info: hopeforheather.org/TealRibbonRun.htm.

Saturday, Sept. 16 Wish Ball 2017 When: 5:30 to 11 p.m. What: Masquerade-themed gala features cocktails, dinner, live music, auctions, raffle and more. Cost: $150. Where: Oncenter, 800 S. State St., Syracuse. Info: cny.wish.org; (315) 475-WISH; dsimon@makeawishcny.org. Sunday, Sept. 17 Westcott Street Cultural Fair When: Noon to 6:30 p.m. What: Includes parade, vendors, food and more. Cost: Free admission. Where: Westcott Street between Concord and Dell Streets, Syracuse. Info: westcottstreetfair.org.

Saturday, Sept. 23 LadyFest 2017 When: 6 to 11 p.m. What: All-inclusive event open to public. Proceeds benefit Vera House. Cost: Sliding scale, $5 to $10. Where: Spark Contemporary Art Space, 1005 E. Fayette St., Syracuse. Info: facebook.com/ladyfestcuse.

Tuesday, Sept. 19 Upstate Unleashed Conference & 2017 Venture Ecosystem Awards When: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. What: Event aims to bring together more than 300 entrepreneurial leaders. Check online for schedule and speaker list. Cost: $98.37 per person. Where: Marriott Syracuse Downtown, 100 E. Onondaga St., Syracuse. Info: Upstate Venture Connect, uvc.org. Wednesday, Sept. 20 Original Grain x The Sweet Praxis Kitchen Takeover When: 6 to 8:30 p.m. What: Pairing of The Sweet Praxis desserts with Original Grain food. Cost: Check online for pricing. Where: The Sweet Praxis, 203 E. Water St., Syracuse. Info: originalgrainsters.com. Friday, Sept. 22 TEDxUtica | Press Pause When: 5 to 8:30 p.m. What: Designed to bring together a diverse group of community members. Cost: $35. Where: MVCC 1101 Sherman Drive, Utica. Info: facebook.com/TedxUtica.

Sunday, Sept. 23 Festival of the Swans When: Daylong. What: Activities for the whole family. Cost: Free admission. Where: Village of Manlius. Info: manliuschamber.com. Sunday, Sept. 24 Ride for Clear Path When: Sunday, Sept. 24 What: 46-mile ride benefits Clear Path for Veterans. Ticket includes ride, coffee, snacks, lunch barbecue and music. Cost: By Sept. 17, $20; after Sept. 17, $30. Where: Begins and ends at Clear Path for Veterans, 1223 Salt Springs Road, Chittenango. Info: clearpath4vets.com. Tuesday, Sept. 26 Mayoral Candidate Forum When: 3 to 6:30 p.m. What: Hosted by CenterState CEO, includes networking reception. Cost: Member, $30. Where: Crowne Plaza Hotel & Conference Center, 701 E. Genesee St., Syracuse. Info: centerstateceo.com; dwarner@centerstateceo.com. Wednesday, Sept. 27 Russian Grand Ballet’s Swan Lake When: 7:30 p.m. What: Full-length classical production of Tchaikovsky's “Swan Lake.” Cost: $33 to $63. Where: Mulroy Civic Center Theaters, 800 S. State St., Syracuse. Info: russiangrandballet.com. Sunday, Oct. 1 Red, White & Brew When: 1 to 4 p.m. What: Wine and beer tasting event benefits The Centers at St. Camillus. Cost: $35. Where: Kitty Hoynes, 301 W. Fayette St., Syracuse. Info: st-camillus.org.

September 2017

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movers AND Shakers AccessCNY expands center

AccessCNY recently celebrated the expansion of the agencyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s art and music center for individuals with acquired brain injuries. The David Clark Learning Center is a place where those with a life-altering injury come together to regain what they have lost, explore their capabilities and create new meaning in their life. The center is located at 6666 Manlius Center Road in East Syracuse. The David Clark Learning Center was started in 1994 by families looking for support for their loved ones with a brain injury. For more information about AccessCNY, call (315) 455-7591 or visit accesscny.org.

Leadership Greater Syracuse seeks candidates

Leadership Greater Syracuse is looking for people who believe in Central New York and want to do their part to make it even better. Each class is comprised of approximately 50 professionals who represent various nonprofit and for-profit organizations in Central New York. The program starts with an overnight retreat in January, and is followed by one full day a month, from February through November. Class days include key community decision makers in all sectors including education, government, economic development and human services. The application for the LGS Class of 2018 is available at leadershipgreatersyracuse.org. The deadline to apply is September 11, 2017. Call (315) 422-5471 for more information. Submitted information has been edited for length and clarity.

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The Style Edition

Lion King ad

September 2017

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Audi Full Page ad

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The Style Edition