Thanksgiving is in our rearview mirror and we are now barreling straight ahead into Christmas, Hannukah, and many other important
honest. Mom, Dad, friends, and other family members are always saying, “Oh, please don’t get me anything!” or “I don’t need anything, save your money!” ...But come Christmas Day, we’re lugging a Santa-sized sack to Grandma’s house and passing out gifts to everyone anyways. Perhaps your present will be exquisitely perfect and adored by the receiver, however, the more likely scenario is that it will be returned, re-gifted, or collecting dust on a shelf somewhere. That’s where this article comes into play –identify the beer lovers in your life and gift the people something that they’ll love this holiday season!
Events & Tickets: A great option for gifting someone a good time while also giving you the option to purchase a ticket for yourself to join in on the fun and create lasting memories!
If you missed the New York State Craft Brewers Festival last month at the Landmark Theatre in Syracuse, or you have beer-loving friends and relatives located in the eastern portion of NY State, good news! The NYS Craft Brewers Association is holding another brewfest on Saturday, January 28th, 2023 at The Desmond Hotel in Albany, NY. Tickets should be up for grabs in December for the upcoming event. Head to www. thinknydrinkny.com for all the details.
Subscriptions: The gift that keeps on giving all year long!
The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club offers 5 different subscription tiers starting at $35.95/month plus shipping and handling: The US Microbrewed Beer Club, The US and International Variety Beer Club, The Hop-Heads Beer Club, The International Beer Club, and The Rare Beer Club. This subscription service has been around since 1994 and one can assume they have not only established relationships and networked their way into providing some of the best beers around, but they’ve been able to work out the kinks in the system to provide seamless customer service. www. beermonthclub.com
cultural and religious winter holidays... Let the gifting commence! If you’re anything like me, it can be hella challenging to find the perfect gift every December for your loved ones. Especially as adults, because well, we’re all a little boring to be
Shirts On Tap is a custom screen print shop based out of San Diego, CA dedicated to helping breweries, brands, and creators bring their artwork to life via a monthly shirt subscription box. Each month, they have several boxes to choose from ranging from different states and cities to different activity categories, that each feature a brewery. From there, you pick a shirt style (mens, womens or unisex), size, and design. Each box includes the shirt, sticker, discount coupon, and bio of the featured brewery. All shirts are limited edition and only printed during the month that brewery or shirt design is being featured. Boxes range from $25-$37/month.
“Identify the beer lovers in your life and gift the people something that they’ll love this holiday season!”
www.shirtsontap.com
Home Décor & Furnishings: So many options to choose from, and you’re even likely to find beer-related items shopping at the big-box stores in addition to perusing online.
Tin Tackers, a woman-founded and owned business, has a giant selection of embossed aluminum beer signs or “tin tackers” as they’re called in the brewing industry, and provide a great gift option for those who have a home-bar area to decorate. Choose from wellknown breweries such as Left Hand or Goose Island, or smaller (and local!) breweries such as Bagg’s Square (Utica, NY). In addition, they too offer a subscription box: Every month you’ll receive an exclusively curated mini-tacker (8” x 8” or smaller) from a partnered brewery in the US. Extra surprise “swag” is included in each box to boot. www.tintackers.com
Novelties & Apparel: Most all of our local breweries (Buried Acorn, Willow Rock, Heritage Hill, etc.) are swimming in logo t-shirts, glassware, stickers, and more. Shopping local not only pumps money into our local economy and small businesses, but they are also readily available options to pick-up last-minute gifts. (And maybe even grab a pint in the process!)
If the beer-lover in your life enjoys non-craft brews like Coors or Bud Light, there are plenty of gift options for them too. Online is your best bet and especially visiting the
brewery’s website directly. For example, the Coors Light website has shopping available with entire collections of items ranging from beach towels and dog leashes to coolers and cornhole sets, hats, sweatshirts and ski goggles to golf tee sets and tackleboxes. www.coorslight.com
Gear & Accessories: ENDLESS options exist in this category. All you have to do is Google “beer accessories” and literally 113,000,000 results are at your fingertips. Let’s narrow down a few options.
Recoil Coolers are unique autoadjustable beverage coolers made to fit all of your drinks, alcoholic and non, alike. They fit 12oz. regular cans, 12oz. skinny cans, 12oz. glass bottles, 15.5oz. energy drink cans and 16oz. tall boys. No need to have several beverage coolers when you can just use one! In addition, the product is locally made right here in Upstate NY (Oneida) and is completely environmentally conscious by utilizing Hemp plastic as the main component, which reduces overall plastic use by 25%. At $24.99 each and with free shipping, they’re a great option for everyone on your list! www. recoilcoolers.com
The Beer Bible is an essential and entertaining book for any craft-beer lover from snobs to novices alike, to read, self-educate and keep on their coffee-tables as a conversation piece and quick reference. It comprehensively covers beer styles and varieties, brewing methods, glassware, history and all things beer-culture related. The first edition was published in 2015, but there’s a newer 2nd edition now available, published in 2021. You can find this book available online on Amazon or at Barnes & Noble. In general, books make a great gift, because there are so many different beer-related books out on the market from cookbooks to the book “Goodnight Brew” which is a parody of “Goodnight Moon.”
Glassware is ever popular and whether you’re looking for a pint glass with something unique or silly printed on the outside, or you’re looking for something on the more classy-side, plenty of choices are readily available. Etsy is a great website for distinctive and
“Shopping local not only pumps money into our local economy and small businesses, but they are also readily available options to pick-up last-minute gifts.”
characterful glassware, and you can find vintage items in addition.
Otherwise, it’s a good idea to do your homework when picking out glassware for the beer-lover in your life who loves a particular style of beer. For instance, Wild Ales & Sour beers should be served in tulip glasses, Tekus or snifters. The bulb and the flared lip of the glass allows for capturing and holding the aromas of the beer, thus enhancing the flavors of the brew when you drink from it. Shape is everything. The stem of these glasses give you the opportunity to gently swirl the brew to release the aromatics, much like one does with wine. The stem also serves to keep the warmth of one’s hand away from the brew, so that the liquid retains it’s chilled state. There are plenty of online articles and YouTube tutorials out there to help choose the right glassware to gift.
There are always kitschy options for gifts too – Beer bottle markers in the shape of mustaches that give you a “hairy” upper lip when drinking that make for party fun and great photos for the ‘gram. Ugly sweater beer koozies. Mini table-top beer pong sets. The “Shakoolie,” a suction-cup insulated beer holder for your showerbeer. Personalized and customizable beer-lover bobble-heads. Beer soap. Beeropoly, a beer-drinking board game. Or even a beer holster that attaches to your belt, thus allowing you to free up both your hands for other activities. So many fun choices!
Do-It-Yourself: Is a wonderful option for the creative folks out there who may want to give their gifts a more personal touch. Beer Advent calendars make fun and delightful gifts. To create this, purchase different individual brews at Branching Out Bottle Shop (Camillus, NY), Wegmans, or Green Hills Supermarket – the key here is to have a totally different beer for each day of the calendar. Wrap each bottle or can in festive wrapping paper, adding bows, stickers, glitter, tinsel, etc. – you can really go hog-wild with the holiday spirit here! Mix ‘em all up, then label each wrapped bottle/can with a number and stow them in a box (the free wine boxes with the cardboard bottle separators that you can get at your local liquor stores are great for this!) then gift the box to your beer-lover of choice with directions to open one each day for either the whole month of December (and perhaps something really special for Christmas Day!), each night of Hanukkah (12/18-12/26), 7-days of Kwanzaa (12/26-1/1), or the traditional 12 days of Christmas (12/25-1/5).
(Tip: you could make an advent calendar with ciders too! Beak and Skiff/1911 Established in Lafayette, NY has single, mix-and-match cans available for purchase of all their hard ciders up at their Tasting Room & Tavern.)
Gift Cards: Perhaps you’re not big on wrapping an actual gift, or need something quick and easy to throw in a card/envelope to gift to someone. Gift cards are a simple and time-efficient option. It also directly supports local businesses when you obtain them from a local brewery, beer-shop or beer-bar such as The Evergreen or Now & Later. This also allows the gift card recipient to pick out what they want – especially if you know that someone likes beer, but perhaps you’re not sure what variety of beer that they actually enjoy most.
To all you Table Hopping readers, have a happy and safe holiday season and see you in 2023! Cheers!
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by dr. BarrY
Okay, it’s holiday time and I, of course, have some suggestions for you. Not the usual eat better and get more exercise although you could use a dose of that...rather these suggestions are for holiday gift giving. Why not try something different than the usual sweater or that bundt cake. Not sure what to get the person who has everything? Problem solved with this article. Looking for something different to get this year? Read on Garth.
First let me recommend Dr. Sheri Rogers monthly newsletter from Prestige Publishing. It’s a health newsletter like no other. Give yourself or a friend a very different perspective on your health. You can get it delivered electronically and it’s very affordable. Want to go a little deeper? Is it time to reorient that brother of yours? There are three books that will change your mind about everything you thought you knew about vaccines and all of them are convincing
need to get the original Kaatsu bands but don’t get the cheapest ones either. My buddy Amazon will kit you up with a lot of choices.
For the person in your life who loves their dog more than they love you I recommend an Advent calendar meant for dogs. I know it sounds funny but it’s filled with dog treats and dog toys. I saw it at Costo and it will definitely be a winner and get you on Fido or Rex’s good side. The pets don’t even have to be catholic. While you are at Costo get some of their winter socks... these are the most comfortable socks I have ever put on my feet and if you don’t find them when you go it’s because I bought them all. Makes a good stocking stuffer. Make sure you look for the winter ones because they have all kinds of socks but the winter ones are the winners.
Of course the best gift you can give some people is the gift of time together. Stop by Aunt whatsername and sit a spell. Take Uncle whoseitnow for a walk by the canal. Get those old tapes from years ago converted into a format you can watch with the family. Then sit and watch with them. Making memories while watching memories...then go for that walk. Don’t forget the real reason for the season. It’s about Faith and Family and you don’t need a shopping list for either of those!
Until next month...get well and stay well.
reads. Dr. Susan Humphries, Dissolving Illusions, The Virus and the Vaccine by Deborah Bookchin and Jim Shumacher and Turtles All The Way Down which is edited by O’toole and Holland. Sure this is a controversial topic but what are the holidays for if not for controversy. This would be an especially good read for the medical person in your life. What to get for the exerciser in your life who has everything? How about blood flow restriction bands which allow you to get the most out of a workout. You don’t
Don’t forget the real reason for the season
“Sure this is a controversial topic but what are the holidays for if not for controversy.”
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by Brianna WeLLen
When is it okay to tell a drinker to order a bottle of wine? According to a woman who complained about her bartender, never. Newsweek reports that this woman was drinking several glasses of wine and then a “judgmental” server told her to just buy a bottle, saying, “do you know just how much wine you drink?” The commenters, of course, are divided, some agreeing with the original poster, who saw this as rude, and some saying that it sounds like the server was just trying to be helpful. The potential tone of the comment aside, I’m with the server on this one. Ordering wine by the bottle is almost always better than ordering by the glass.
The wine bottle menu can be intimidating. Seeing prices in the high double-digits
for something you usually pick up at the grocery store for $7 is enough to make your head spin. But if you’re already out at a bar or restaurant, spending more than $7 per glass, why not just go all in? If your table collectively drinks more than three or four glasses of wine, you will end up saving money. And while there is a markup on bottles at restaurants, these probably aren’t the same bottles you’re spending $7 on. You’ll be able to taste the difference in quality. Having the whole bottle on the table also helps you control your pour. Sometimes the restaurant pour isn’t quite enough if you’re used to filling your glass generously at home; alternatively, if you’re a slow sipper and want to keep your chilled wine cold, you can pour a little from the bottle at a time. With the whole bottle at your disposal,
“With the whole bottle at your disposal, everyone at the table can get exactly as much wine as they like in their glass.”
everyone at the table can get exactly as much wine as they like in their glass.
Especially if you’re dining in a large party, ordering bottles can be a good way to try a few different menu offerings, ones that may not be easily available in grocery and liquor stores (and which aren’t available at the restaurant by the glass). If you’re not sure about the red that someone else is raving about, you can taste a sip before deciding whether or not to commit to a full serving.
And don’t underestimate how classy you’ll feel when ordering a bottle. Saying things like, “Ah yes, I’ll take a sip, this is delicious, for the whole table please,” and sniffing the cork will make you look like a sommelier in the making. And when others walk in and see that ice bucket on your table chilling a full bottle of rosé they’ll think, Who are they? They must be famous or something, or at least the most confident person I’ve ever seen in my life. That alone is worth the price.
“Ordering bottles can be a good way to try a few different menu offerings, ones that may not be easily available in grocery and liquor stores.”
by nancY roBerTs
When I got in touch with Doug LaLone to catch up on what’s new at The Gem and The Preserve at 405, he was out snow-plowing. And I can’t say I was surprised. After all, it’s November and this is Syracuse – though that invisible wall just north of the city did its magic this year, and kept most of the snow from the first big fall of the season north of the city proper. But mainly, talking to LaLone while he was busy plowing snow just reminds me that the LaLone family are energetic and hard-working people. And, LaLone says, they have surrounded themselves with a “working family” that shares that ethic, and for whom, as LaLone tells me, they are very grateful.
“In times like these,” LaLone says, “our employees, and of course our great loyal customers, have kept us thriving.”
The “Little” Gem is a Syracuse landmark. I recall when our family first came to Syracuse, from Buffalo, my new friends were quick to let me know that I hadn’t really moved to town until I’d been to The Gem. Having breakfast at The Gem was a rite of passage. You were “Syracuse” once you’d enjoyed a heaping helping of “fretatta.” For me,
The
the business by son, Anthony, who today runs the Gem – from the kitchen, LaLone points out. “When Tammy and I ran the place, it was from the front end. But now Anthony is head cook and manages the restaurant at the same time. But he’s hitting it out of the park, and we’re really proud of him.”
And clearly the customers are happy, as well. You can drive by The Gem any time it’s open
“In times like these,” LaLone says, “our employees, and of course our great loyal customers, have kept us thriving.”
and expect to see the parking lot full, and the seats inside full of smiling, chatting, happy diners busy tackling a breakfast, a burger, a specialty sandwich, a salad, or a plateful of “the best wings in town.”
In 2018, Len Montreal came to the LaLone family with an idea for a restaurant in the developing Inner Harbor area. And The Preserve at 405 was soon a reality – an upscale location serving pub-meets-fine-dining cuisine, enhanced by specialty and seasonal cocktails, wines, and a range of draft and bottled beers.
Asked about the success of both locations, LaLone doesn’t have to think long. “The people,” he answers. “Our staff – who are incredible. Some of these people have been with us for a long time, and when things got challenging, these people chose to stay with it, to really pitch in and make it happen. So we didn’t just survive, we continued to pack both places. We couldn’t be more thankful and proud of our staff, and happy that we can keep serving our friends and neighbors the best food we can offer.” And,
LaLone continues, that as of January 1, 2023, the LaLones will celebrate their son Anthony, the next generation, taking the helm of the family business. He adds that he and Tammy love to visit other restaurants in the area, and make it part of their weekly “fun times” to enjoy some of the other Central New York restaurant traditions. “We love going out and enjoying a great ‘home-cooked’ meal, too. We love the food, and the tradition. Restaurants are part of the character of a place, and relaxing over great food makes life fun.”
Crafting a successful sequel is never an easy task, but the main challenge facing Ryan Coogler and the continuation of the BLACK PANTHER franchise was the heartbreaking fact that the Black Panther himself, Chadwick Boseman, passed away before filming even began. The original film was a revolutionary oddity in the cinematic world, a blockbuster that had plenty to say, and resonated in a way that ventured well beyond on the scope of typical comic-book fare. Part of this was because it didn’t feel like yet another cog in the unstoppable AVENGERS machine (in the same way that recent ventures like DOCTOR STRANGE AND THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS or THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER did), but it was also in large part to Boseman’s emotional turn as T’Challa.
Without its anchor, how could the character, and the BLACK PANTHER world, stay afloat? Additionally, how do you make a movie that sensitively tackles the unexpected loss of its hero, while still finding a way to advance the cinematic universe that it is a part of?
Coogler’s BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER is an admirable effort that pays respectful homage to Boseman and T’Challa, while also forging ahead towards the future. It never quite delivers in the undeniably powerful and transformative way its predecessor did, but it is as an engaging adventure that excels in ways that the aforementioned Doctor Strange and Thor chapters did not.
After an illness takes the life of King T’Challa, the people of Wakanda are in mourning. The Black Panther no longer serves as their protector and Queen Ramonda (Angela Basset) must deal with the fact that the entire world knows of the nation’s existence, and the vibranium that helps power them. The entire world wants a piece of the priceless commodity, and will go to any means necessary to procure it.
Princess Shuri (Letitia Wright) has taken the loss of her brother as hard as anyone. She blames herself for not being able to save him, and is keen to let the Black Panther fade into legend. Though she may possess the ability to recreate the powerful heart herb that would provide someone with the power to become the Black Panther, she refuses to do so. She instead wants to focus on technological advances that would help Wakanda grow stronger.
Wakandians have always assumed they were the only keepers of vibranium, but as it turns out, there is another society, deep underwater, that uses the same element. The tribe, lead by Namor (José Tenoch Huerta Mejía) has lived in isolation for hundreds of years. When humanity begins drilling in the oceans in hopes of finding vibranium, Namor approaches the Wakandians in hope of forging an alliance to protect themselves, and crush the human rebellion before it begins. Queen Ramonda and Shuri are reluctant to agree, particularly when the underwater king (who also has
“With
does drag on a bit at times.”Angela Basset as Queen Ramonda
wings on his feet and can breathe in the water and on the land) wants to kill a teenage scientist (Dominque Thorne) that developed the technology to hunt for vibranium. Thus begins a war between the two nations, one that could have cataclysmic results
for themselves, and the human race.
The performances of everyone involved help WAKANDA FOREVER rise above any obstacles it faces. Wright, who spends the majority of the movie on the cusp of becoming the new Black Panther has the weight of the world on her shoulders, and carries this tremendous burden with relative ease. The emotions she projects are undeniably genuine, allowing the powerful performer to bring a strong sense of humanity into a production that features a flying fish guy. As Namor, Huerta delivers a starmaking turn as a villain who isn’t all bad, but not exactly a hero, either. He is willing to be vulnerable and compassionate, but also isn’t afraid to slay anyone who stands in the way of him or his people. His conflicted nature aids in his development, and the fact that he considers himself a mutant doesn’t exactly hurt in the eventual involvement of the X-Men in the MCU.
With a running-time of over two-and-a-half hours, WAKANDA FOREVER does drag on a bit at times. Some of the action sequences, while entertaining, don’t hit as hard as they used to. The CGI, which is usually a strong suit of this universe, doesn’t hold the same magic as it used to, either. As it did in MUTLTIVERSE OF MADNESS, I found the effects to be distractingly silly on occasion. This time around it was particularly
noticeable, given the serious tone of the production. To top it off, the fact that Namor’s people look as if they were an early prototype of characters from AVATAR certainly doesn’t do the film any favors. I found this choice particularly baffling, considering AVATAR has been in production for years, and everyone has known that the sequel was right around the corner. The residents of Pandora far outshine those in BLACK PANTHER and considering my 13-year-old daughter said as much as the film ended, I know I am not alone in these feelings.
Flaws aside, WAKANDA FOREVER is a ride worth taking, and while superhero fatigue is starting to rear its head more often than not as of late, it serves its fallen hero well while remaining relevant as an advancement in the MCU.
BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER- B (Now Playing in Theaters)
by deBra merrYWeaTHer
By the time anyone reads this, a victor will have somehow prevailed in “Jeopardy’s” November 2022 Tournament of Champions. As of the cold, windy November morning on which I am writing this, one winning “question” has been challenged. The “Final Jeopardy Answer” for the November 16 playoff game was: “Paul’s letter to them is the New Testament epistle with the most Old Testament quotations.” Competing Jeopardy champion Amy Schneider, and I answering at home from my sofa, asked, “Who are the Hebrews?” I cheered when “Jeopardy” host Ken Jennings ruled Amy’s (and my) answer correct. For the record, champion Andrew He asked, “… Philippiaes?” Wrong question and wrong spelling. Champion Sam Buttrey asked, “Who are the Romans?” Wrong. Truth be told I didn’t know which of Paul’s Epistles had what number of Old Testament quotations. I shouted out, “Who are the Hebrews,” after quickly supposing that Paul, in his writerly efforts to persuade the Hebrews to follow him, would have referred to stories and teachings that resonated with a Hebrew audience; the Old Testament was and is, after all, a compendium of Hebrew/Jewish stories and teachings.
Great reasoning!
Not so fast.
Soon after Amy’s victory, media outlets started to hear from “Jeopardy” fans and biblical scholars that the New Testament Epistle with the most Old Testament quotes is Paul’s letter to the Romans because it’s not universally accepted that Paul himself wrote the Epistle to the Hebrews. Of course, there are religious scholars who question the authorship, timing, and modern day understanding of many religious texts. How can anyone in 2022 know for sure who wrote what and when? Today, we accept that ghostwriters, speechwriters, staff writers, and clerks often compose the more famously attributed information we read, hear, and rely on.
It had never occurred to me that Paul didn’t write what I long understood to be Paul’s letter to the Hebrews, and now, computer home page notifications about “Jeopardy” related dissension was distracting me from writing a holiday themed article about how the tree of life has symbolized the cosmos, human consciousness, and societal structure worldwide in diverse cultures throughout history. So, to clear my mind of “Jeopardy” and get to the writing I intended, I found my store bought “The Jerusalem Bible” so I could see if there were any clarifying footnotes about Paul’s letter to the Hebrews. I found no letter from Paul to the Hebrews. Instead, I found “The Letter to the Hebrews” subtitled “A letter addressed to a Jewish-Christian Community.” Paul’s name appears on all the other letters preceding “The Letter to the Hebrews.” And, lest it sound like I’m going out on some shaking ideological branch of a big tree here, my point in writing about this issue is not to argue about the bible. My point in referencing what I found in my “The Jerusalem Bible” supports any grievances “Jeopardy” Championship contenders Andrew He and Sam Buttrey might have.
“Final Jeopardy” answered and asked? Not quite. Not now.
Will “Jeopardy’s” producers acknowledge there are questions about their question?
“And while biblical scholarship might not be big in the minds of game show writers, discussions of religious texts are big in the world of religion.”Jeopardy champion, Amy Schneider
By the time anyone reads this, we who care will know how the “Jeopardy Tournament of Champions” has been decided. How “Jeopardy’s” producers address the question of their tournament’s final answer connects to how dubious but authoritative answers guide people’s thinking.
Authoritative answers serve as branches in the decision trees people rely on for ongoing analyses. Correct answers determine good grades in school and the workplace. And while biblical scholarship might not be big in the minds of game show writers, discussions of religious texts are big in the world of religion. My “Google search, an activity unknown to anyone not that long ago, concerning “Paul’s letter…” seems to correlate with my receiving a Facebook post discussing the best translations of the bible. Like I said in a previous paragraph, in mentioning a religious text, I stepped out onto the moving limb of a large many-branched tree rooted in a grove of different trees all swaying in the wind.
I’ll go out on another limb. On November 8, I chose not to watch election results; I watched “The Northman” on Amazon Prime. “The Northman” depicts bloody conflict over family trees, archetypal beliefs, with, spoiler alert, many violent champions fighting to the death in a time when people trying to get by, sometimes by being branded as owned by some powerful champion, still believed in the Norse Tree of Life, “Yggdrasill,” which has neither beginning nor end and will, it was thought, survive “Ragnarok.” That’s just one tree of life story.
There are many books in the library and ancient stories online. Happy Solstice. Let there be light.
“In mentioning a religious text, I stepped out onto the moving limb of a large many-branched tree rooted in a grove of different trees all swaying in the wind.”
by keriLYn e micaLe
You work hard all year and now we are finally in the season where what should be valued most is time spent together. This is a sentiment that might remind you of Christmas from a bygone era, an era maybe we should all strive to return to when family and friends were more important than things. Right now you might be asking, “but Keri, how do we go back in time?” and although I don’t have a time machine I can tell you about a place that will help you return to yesterday in an instant. I am, of course,
referring to the most famous (more on this later!) place to dine in all of Central New York – The Western Ranch Motor Inn! Let me explain, the Western Ranch Motor Inn is absolutely stuck in the past; and they intend to stay that way! The Western Ranch Motor Inn is a blast from the past, the décor is authentically retro and their menu is full of homemade comfort food. I don’t know how exactly they pull it off with this theme but they absolutely do; it’s the perfect mix of warm and inviting and interesting. This time of year also boasts perfect seasonal holiday décor, just like you remember! The Western Ranch Motor Inn is conveniently located at 1255 State Fair Blvd. in Syracuse with easy access from the fairgrounds, I-690, and the Thruway.
Now, let me get back to the thing about this being the most famous place
in Syracuse. The thing is, whether you are driving past or stepping into the Western Motor Ranch Inn you might find yourself thinking “Man, this sure looks like the set of a movie.” And it turns out movie producers have felt the exact same way about this location! As of right now, The Western Ranch Motor Inn has been used as the setting for not one but FIVE movies! It was also used for filming a Nike commercial. Not only have famous people come to the Western Ranch Motor Inn to shoot movies, but celebrities have also been known to stay at the motel and enjoy a meal in the restaurant. The star studded list of patrons have included Patton Oswald, Jeff Goldblum, Whitney Houston, and the band members of Three Dog Night. Most recently Patton Oswald shot a film called “I Love My Dad,” in various places in Syracuse, including the Western Ranch Motor Inn. You can see the Western Ranch Motor Inn for yourself as this movie, filmed in 2021, is now streaming.
In addition to their brushes with fame, I would submit that the food that they serve at the Western Ranch Motor Inn should also be famous. This is because pretty much everything served is made in-house and using only the freshest ingredients available! I also love that the nights have weekly themes and specials: Monday is burger night, Tuesday is wing night, Wednesday is Cans and clams, Thursday is Steak night, these steaks are cut and aged in-house and only the best cuts are used so be sure to order the prime top sirloin or the black angus rib eye; Friday is Seafood night with amazing specials on fresh, never frozen, fish, so the menu changes depending on what is available each week; and be sure to stop in on Saturday for Beef, Reef, & BBQ. One other cool note about the Western Ranch Motor Inn is that they strive to use only the best ingredients; things are bought local whenever available and when it comes to meat and fish, if it was ever frozen it’s not on the menu! Most items are made in-house and they go above and beyond to do things like hand bread their chicken tenders! They
A place that will help you return to yesterday in an instant
“The Western Ranch Motor Inn is a blast from the past, the décor is authentically retro and their menu is full of homemade comfort food.”
take time to actually make each dish as it’s order and you can really taste it! We arrived on a lovely November evening and we just knew we were in for a treat. We were seated at a table in the kitschy dining room. The atmosphere is just so cozy and inviting! To begin our meal we absolutely had to order the butternut squash pierogi. These handmade pierogis tasted like fall in all the best ways possible. We especially loved the maple butter glaze drizzled on top. We also couldn’t pass up an order of the stuffed and bacon wrapped jalapenos, as this is one of my favorite dishes of all time. Since we were with the littles, we had to order some chicken tenders. Who am I kidding; I would have ordered them anyway! Because it was wing night I also asked the chef to send me out some homemade wing sauces to try and with 7 little cups of sauce to sample he absolutely delivered. The sauces I tried were Honey Hot, Medium, Bourbon Everything, Garlic Parmesan, XXX (hot), Mild Boss sauce, Spicy Asian sauce. I really liked them all and had a lot of fun with different combinations. I liked the following combos the best: Honey Hot and Mild Boss, Garlic Parm and medium, and
the Bourbon Everything and Spicy Asian. For an entree I just couldn’t pass up the fresh haddock, served Nantucket style with Ritz crumbs and butter. It came with an amazing salad and fries and it was a rich and delightful meal. Kyle strongly considered one of the elk or bison burgers but ultimately couldn’t pass up open-face Angus sandwich, which was cooked to perfection and served with fries and onion rings. It is probably the best deal in town. He enjoyed every last bite! We ended our sweet meal with something sweet: a perfect slice of cheesecake and a generous slice of pecan pie.
Tonight is time to skip the meal prep and skip the dishes because after all it’s the most wonderful time of the year to treat...yourself! One tip I can certainly give you is that when you come to the Western Ranch Motor Inn you really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu! Be sure to check out their homemade special each and every night! They also feature events like live music, darts, and trivia in the bar. Meals are available for takeout, just give them a call at (315) 457-9236 and be sure to stop in as soon as you can and see for yourself how fun and flavorful it is to be stuck in the past – on purpose!
by mike LindsLeY
Just read last year’s article and the year before that and, well, you get the picture. The Yankees continue to fail in October. Pretty soon, baseball fans will start chanting 2009, and I’m not kidding. The Astros smoked NY in a sweep to advance to the World Series. It was same old, same old for the Yanks. Not enough pitching, a lack of clutch hitting, a manager mismanaging the bullpen, injuries, Aaron Judge being a below average postseason player and pre-game scripts in the analytic world that dictate who does what, when, as opposed to actually making in-game decisions and playing baseball.
Oh, how about just trying stuff for fun? Harrison Bader led off a game and didn’t even know it. The Yanks placed Oswald Peraza on the ALCS roster. What took so long? He should have been playing months before. You don’t just try it out and play him in October. By the way, both teams, Philadelphia and Houston, started rookie shortstops in the World Series for the first time in baseball history. What a joke.
This team is so clueless it’s hilarious. They are irrelevant and will continue to be until the owner, Hal Steinbrenner, cares about winning. He is too busy closing soccer partnerships and collecting checks from the Aaron Judge home run chase and YES ratings. Same GM and same manager and same choking in October. Funny, I haven’t heard from social media trolls after my “no faith in this team” tweet. I guess they are trolling someone else or trying to play spin zone on a different social media application.
Sad to say, this article can be written next year and the year after that and for many years, really, until changes are made.
Hey Hal, go look at the football NY Giants in the same city. New GM. New head coach. WINNING. New ideas. New defensive coordinator who uses his players correctly. For as much as sports are different, they really are the same. Just not the Yankees. They try to
“All the resources and the huge payroll? It’s a circus in the Bronx.”
outsmart you with arrogance and stupidity when they just keep hurting themselves. They are the definition of insanity.
I’m not saying you have to get every deal right and win a title every year. But the Yankees? One World Series win in 22 years? Haven’t made the Fall Classic since 2009 and haven’t won it since the same year? All the resources and the huge payroll? It’s a circus in the Bronx.
Other problems for this team:
– Gerrit Cole is not an ace.
– The roster is aging fast.
– Giancarlo Stanton is a waste of time and a bad contract.
– They still don’t know how to develop prospects.
– Bryce Harper and Rob Thomson (interviewed for the Yankee managerial job but it instead went to Aaron Boone) dominated in Philadelphia this season. Both wanted to be lifelong Yanks. Another Cashman screw up.
– Aaron Judge is a free agent. No right move here. Sign him to a huge deal at his age with his health problems and the contract kills you eventually. Don’t sign him and you’re even more irrelevant.
– The Astros aren’t going anywhere.
– Derek Jeter and Don Mattingly are sitting out there to be GM and manager and save the franchise. No one knows the market and team and pressure and uniform more than these two. But they won’t even get a look because the owner is sleeping.
– Manny Machado was dominant in 2022 for the Padres. He was available, like Harper.
– Same thing for J.T. Realmuto on the Phillies. An all-around catcher who has been clutch from the start until November.
Mike Lindsley has been in sports media for over 20 years and has interviewed the likes of Derek Jeter, Jim Brown, Jack Nicklaus and Jim Kelly. He is the host of the “ML Sports Platter” Podcast and a contributor to the Built in Buffalo Podcast Network. Subscribe to his YouTube page MikeLSports.
“The Yankees are a piece of burned toast that has been burning for over a decade. They’re irrelevant and never built for October. Nothing will change in the Bronx anytime soon.”
The Yankees are a piece of burned toast that has been burning for over a decade. They’re irrelevant and never built for October. Nothing will change in the BronxHal Steinbrenner
The Onondaga Historical Association, OHA, does more than house great archives, tailor well thought-out exhibits and sell a variety of Onondaga County and Syracuse related items in a fascinating gift shop. The organization also provides area schools, historic groups, social organizations and others with performances presenting a “first person” account from some of our storied ancestors. Among these performances are the yearly “Ghost Walks,” that take place in Oakwood Cemetery, as well as select locations around the county.
I’m happy to say I’ve been part of many a “walk,” as a guide or a Ghost, and one of these Ghosts is the spirit of Hannah Danforth, among, if not the first woman of European descent to live in Onondaga. She’s a delight to play, and to imagine – coming from a well-to-do background and following her husband to the “wilds of Onondaga” back some years after the American Revolution, with nothing but “bark walls and a hemlock branch roof” for shelter when they first settled here.
Recently, I was given a copy of the book, Revolutionary Women, from which some of Hannah’s story is no doubt gleaned. Because, Hannah, at least in our imagining of her, is proud of the role women played in the Revolution, and has
written up brief stories of some of the more prominent ladies who did their part for “The Cause.”
Needless to say, Berkin goes into a great deal more detail about some of these women, the famous, infamous, and nameless ones, many of whom endured trials hard to fathom – and about whom we rarely think when we think “American Revolution.”
Many of us may have heard of “Molly Pitcher” in grade school, though few of us would have known that there really was, according to Berkin, no single “Molly.” It was a term applied to women who ran water to the men manning the canons, so that they could cool them as they were firing them so they didn’t overheat and fail. (That’s something that, to be honest, I’d never considered as a possibility!) There was a woman who was famous, or perhaps infamous, for taking her husband’s place at the canon, when a canon ball aimed at the Revolutionaries flew between her legs –ripping her petticoats!
While there were women whose lives of gentility were only interrupted insofar as there were few men during the months of fighting for whom to plan dances and dinners (the fighting was, at least in part, more limited during the winter months, and the officers were more free to engage in their social activities in the
larger cities), there were many women who had to step up and perform the duties they normally did – cooking, cleaning, sewing, laundry, childcare, and tending gardens and managing the home – but had to undertake those of their husbands, whether managing a farm or a business. One telling paragraph cites a diary entry from a
became the rage
“There were many women who had to step up and perform the duties they normally did – cooking, cleaning, sewing, laundry, childcare, and tending gardens and managing the home –but had to undertake those of their husbands, whether managing a farm or a business.”Homespun
housewife, Mary Holyoke, wife of a country doctor, who entered her workweek: “Washed. Ironed. Scoured pewter. Scoured rooms. Scoured furniture Brasses and put up the chintz bed and hung pictures. (I’m starting to feel tired...) Sowed sweet marjoram. Sowed pease. Sowed cauliflower. Sowed 6 week beans. Pulled radishes. Set out turnips. Cut 36 asparagus. (Now I’m really weary...) Killed the pig, weight 164 pounds. Made bread. Put beef in pickle. Salted Pork, but bacon in pickle. Made the doctor 6 cravats marked H...” She ends her entry (which goes on) “did other things.”
Aside from managing without the protection and labor of their husbands, many of the women Berkin notes in her book were instrumental in bringing about the war. As with the men, women were loyalists, rebels, or just wished to be left alone – but many felt the pain of the taxes, and did their part to rebel by refusing to drink tea (though it was a much beloved beverage) and refusing to wear British made fabrics. Homespun became the rage among the rebellious females, who not only had to help harvest the raw materials (like cotton), but had to spin, weave, cut and stitch the clothing for themselves, their husbands, and children. And perhaps dye and embroider the garments, as well.
Berkin dispels at least some of the ideas I’d always had of “camp followers.” These women might very well have been the “bitchyfox jades, jills, haggs, strums, (and) prostitutes” written about by a colonel who patrolled the “Holy Ground,” a notorious meeting place near St. Paul’s Church in New York City, where the strumpets plied their trade, but a good many more of them were wives, daughters, and sisters of the fighting men, or perhaps simply women who had no other choice but to follow the army and work for pay: washing and mending clothing, cleaning bedding, cooking, fetching wood and water, nursing wounded or ill men, and then packing up all of their belonging, and often their children, and carrying the whole in baskets on their backs.
Berkin also reminds us the great risk to women from not just the enemy, but from soldiers far from home and perhaps a bit worse for a pint or two. “Ravishment” and rape were not uncommon, and the constant fear that one’s husband would be on the list of those lost, or that there would simply be nothing to feed one’s child, were constant pressures on those who remained at home, while “Johnny” went for a soldier.
There is so much more in the book – but I leave it to you to discover it. But the next time I watch a movie about the Revolution, one thing is certain: I won’t just be wondering how it might have felt to be “Johnny.” I’ll be certain to be thinking of “Jill,” as well.
by JenniFer nasTasi GuzeLak
Struggling to exercise right now? Are you looking for someone or something to help you stay motivated? If you’re having a hard time finding those car keys when it’s time to head to the gym, I’m here to tell you that you’re not alone.
Getting yourself into the gym or heading out for a run on a cold dark morning takes a lot of guts! For most people, December is a time of indulgence. It’s the time of year where social expectations, particularly around food, are high and our learned behaviors, coupled with our innate preference for sweet foods, can drive a lot of our eating behavior. December also marks the beginning of the winter months that bring us less sunlight, colder temperatures and often, dampened moods. It’s no surprise that most of us feel more sluggish and less motivated this time of year.
If you want to maintain your health, there’s no such thing as a winter break from exercise. Having the strong desire and the willpower to accomplish something needs to be a permanent fixture not a temporary practice. That’s what determination is all about! In order to stay healthy both physically and psychologically, you need a consistent, year-round program. Here are a few tips to help you get started.
Central New York delivers its share of bad weather, but there is such a thing as good clothing choices. If you are planning on taking your workouts outdoors then you should invest in some good quality winter activewear. Thermal leggings, gloves, hats and earmuffs are just a few of the things that should be on your list. This will make outdoor training much more pleasurable and it will reduce the risk of catching a chill.
If you’re not the outdoorsy type this time of year, I feel you! However, investing in some new workout gear can really help you stay motivated in the gym, too.
Having a workout plan that you can stick to will help keep you motivated, teach you new things, and make the whole endeavor of embarking on a fitness journey much easier. What will you do to prepare for the challenges that may make reaching your goals more difficult? What are your fitness goals for the next three months? How will you make sure that you stay on track? Make sure you look ahead!
Cold weather doesn’t have to put a freeze on your indoor exercise program. Even though a gym provides a dedicated space, home workouts offer more flexibility and can be more effective and efficient. It’s also a great way to explore new methods of working out!
There are so many fun and interesting group fitness classes that are offered at the gym and most of them are included with your membership. The only thing you have to do is show up! Heading to a barre or yoga class definitely seems much more appealing than running along a cold road. It will also encourage you to make new friends or even meet old ones with similar fitness goals.
Most of us love how busy the festive period is, but sometimes it can be overwhelming to have your routine completely overhauled by a hectic social calendar. Exercise helps to maintain a sense of routine and it will ensure you will have some much-needed time for yourself. Maintaining a regular workout routine can also help combat social burnout at Christmas by helping you find the balance you need in the midst of the holiday chaos.
“Getting yourself into the gym or heading out for a run on a cold dark morning takes a lot of guts!”
do something active. You’ll also have someone to cheer you on, encourage you along the way and motivate you when the going gets tough. Who knows, it may even help change your perspective on working out.
In those moments when you have to climb out of a warm, cozy bed and head into the cold, it can be difficult to remember how great you will feel afterwards. It may be even harder to imagine how you will feel three months from now. On the days that you want to throw in the towel remind yourself why you started and why reaching your fitness goals is so important.
The emerging field of self-compassion research is proving that being kind to yourself is one of the best things you can do for your health. Practicing self-care for some people might look like taking a much-needed mental health day or finally scheduling that doctor’s appointment you postponed. For others it may be as simple as treating yourself to a cup of tea and a hot bath.
It’s hard for us all to stay active this time of year! You You wouldn’t cancel on a friend
Buddy
Staying motivated through these dark, cold months can be tough, so think about finding a workout buddy. You wouldn’t cancel on a friend, would you? Having a scheduled time to meet up with a workout companion gives you an incentive to
need to have the grit and the drive to keep pushing forward and working towards a goal, irrespective of the challenges and obstacles that may stand in your way.
Just remember that you’re not alone. If that’s not enough, let me remind you that exercise helps combat seasonal stress. It also encourages the release of endorphins, fights insomnia, increases self-confidence and helps clear the mind. Those are good enough reasons for me. Good luck to you and happy holidays!
I have been a personal trainer for over eighteen years and I absolutely love what I do. I honestly feel that I have one of the best jobs out there! The most rewarding part of my profession is helping one of my clients succeed at reaching their personal fitness goals. Making a difference in someone’s life makes it all worthwhile. I am currently certified by the National Sports Conditioning Association, Apex Fitness Group, and the International Sports Science Association.
Syracuse Pops Music Director Lou Lemos Receives Ovation Award at 2023 Music Matters Event from the Syracuse Sounds of Music Association, Inc.
I was playing with my trio at the Music Matters event last month. The event was in honor of Syracuse Pops Music director Lou Lemos who was receiving the prestigious Ovation award for his merits with the Pops, and his involvements here in Central New York over the years. The event was held at The Links in their impressive ballroom. The event included a lovely dinner, a silent auction and a stellar performance from the Syracuse Pops.
It was here that I met Lou Lemos. I’m very happy that he agreed to this interview.
Chuck Schiele: For how long have you been involved with the Syracuse Pops – and tell us a bit about your experience with them?
Lou Lemos: I started the Pops Chorus 19 years ago to perform with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra. We continued to perform with the orchestra annually till today. The majority of the performances were on the Holiday Pops and occasionally on a variety of Pops concerts. The group has expanded to about 80 singers in concerts and a membership of about 120.
Over the years we have performed with Symphoria in a variety of concerts. We did a touring concert of the 1st movement of the Messiah with a smaller orchestra in a
variety of towns in central New York. This offered an opportunity for many people to hear professional performances of the Messiah in places where this was not available.
We also sang during the summer in Auburn, Rome and other cities where music played by Symphoria and a large chorus are not typically available.
Today we are opening up and playing in local places such as St. Paul Cathedral, Redhouse Arts Center and soon to be at the Everson Museum Auditorium. These opportunities are great for our expansion and growth.
CS: How did you get started in music?
LL: I started in music at age 4. I had a father and brother that were involved in music. Especially my brother who was a music teacher for most of his life. I started with the trumpet and singing at age 8. Throughout high school I was involved in singing, band playing and also a bass player in the orchestra and other groups. After high school, I went to the Crane School of Music at SUCP.
CS: Your first or primary instrument is?
LL: My primary instrument is my voice. I have sung solos at different times and loved doing it. Singing helped me get into different conducting opportunities.
CS: What are some of the highlights along the way?
LL: My opportunity to conduct and create organizations has given me my greatest success and joy. I served as Musical Director for local productions of Bye Bye Birdie, Brigadoon, Annie and more, I also received SAMMY awards for Phantom of the Opera and Showboat and a SALT (Syracuse Area Live Theater) award winning production of
cHuck scHieLe
“My primary instrument is my voice. I have sung solos at different times and loved doing it. Singing helped me get into different conducting opportunities.”Music Director Lou Lemos
I have received two awards. In 2015 I received the Paul and Veronica Abel Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Art of Choral Performance. And recently received the Ovation Award from the Syracuse Sounds of Music Association. This is the greatest honor I have ever received.
CS: What are your thoughts on the Central NY music scene?
LL: I believe it continues in a positive direction, with Symphoria, Syracuse Opera, the Syracuse Pops Chorus and so many local community organizations and also so many professional performances at the Inner Harbor Amphitheater, Redhouse Arts Center, The Palace Theatre, and the Oncenter; they all contribute to our positive future. In addition with so many school programs that start the future of our music, we are on the right path.
CS: What advice do you have for someone at the beginning of their music life?
LL: Never give up. Music is so great for the future of our young people and we as a group need to continue to encourage this. The Pops has singers from 18 to over 90. That says it all.
CS: What’s in the near future for the Pops.
LL: We are performing at the Everson on December 11 at 4pm a half hour of wonderful Christmas Music. A week later we are part of the Symphoria Holiday Pops on December 17 for a matinee and evening performance. And more to come in the Spring!
CS: Please tell us how to stay in touch with you and your musical involvements?
LL: We have a website: Syracusepopschorus.org and feel free to contact www. syracusepopschorus.org for any questions.
CS: Thank you, very much Lou, for taking the time to chat with us here at Sounds of Syracuse.
LL: Thank you Chuck for a very enjoyable conversation and I look forward to talking to you in the future.
by nancY roBerTs
to buy them, but didn’t care enough to offload them, either. (I will one day when space runs thin.) Others were amusing, or disappointed me, or I’ve simply forgotten. Others I use every day and would feel somewhat lost without.
I won’t bother with things like the built-in necessities like contacts and the camera, or links to apps like Netflix or Prime Video that can quickly find a movie I’d like to watch and add it to my list.
Sometimes I look at my phone and wonder when I’m going to figure out what all those apps were that I simply had to have when I downloaded them.
Some of them, naturally, came with a subscription fee and after the trial period I
Like many others, I’ve migrated from just Messenger (or the built-in text app) to include others, like one of my favorite options, Signal, that allows for a certain amount of privacy while texting, and WhatsApp are options many favor.
There are shopping apps that are useful. Since I shop at BJ’s fairly frequently, I use their coupon app, which can also shop for you – providing your discounts, and, thanks (I say, ironically) to the COVID limitations, allows you to shop and have your purchases brought to your car at the store location when you arrive if you’d prefer not to shop inside.
SkyView is an app that was introduced to me a couple of summers ago, and I must admit I really enjoy it. Turn it on, and it will (if you choose) play some “music of the spheres” to you while you enjoy pointing it in any direction to see what
An app I’m a big fan of is Shazam. If I’m watching a movie, or listening to music, and hear a song I simply have to have on my playlist, but I don’t know what it is, I pull this app up, tap it, and literally in seconds (I’m somewhat astounded at how quickly it works) it will tell me the song and who is performing it.
Plant Snap and Picture This are frequently invoked when I’m walking in the woods and I want to identify a plant, and I’ve just recently added Rock Identifier, as I’m always curious what any rock outcropping I see is, and why I’m seeing it.
There are a number of apps that are everyday useful, like grocery lists and photo enhancers, Waze will help you get where you’re going with live updates about traffic and weather, and WorkFlowy will help you synch your ToDo lists between your computer and phone so you always know what you’re supposed to be doing versus what you are doing.
And for a little fun, try ReFace, to combine your face or a friend’s with a movie star or other oddity, or Randonautica, if you’re in the mood to go wandering and can’t think of where – put in your mood options and let it send you off on a quest.
And with that, my phone has signaled I should be done writing.
I recommend a language-learning app to anyone who has ever studied, or would like to study a foreign language. I refreshed my French, and am (trying as hard as ich kann) to learn German using an app called DuoLingo. While it may not be the very best in terms of how it teaches, and I leave that to language experts to discuss, what I do like is that you can keep it free fairly easily and the lessons are bite sized at about 5-15 minutes depending on your speed and skill. Many apps, especially learning apps, will “trick” you with the free version into running out of errors – and thus not being able to complete a lesson for a period of time, perhaps 24 hours, until your “bank” builds up adequately. DuoLingo will usually let you get through your lesson without running out of “hearts.”
I’m delighted with the Audible and Kindle apps, that allow me to carry books, and listen to books, while traveling. Though I prefer a tablet for reading if I must read electronically (yep, I’m a Luddite when it comes to books), it is nice to know that if you’re stuck in a waiting room or on a trip, you do have something useful to read with you.
December 2
Mike MacDonald • 6:30-9:30pm
Western Ranch Motor Inn, Syracuse December 2
Dirtroad Ruckus Trio • 9am-12am Angry Garlic, Baldwinsville December 2
John Spillett Jazz/Pop Duo • 6-9pm Lemon Grass on Walton, Syracuse December 2
LeAnn Rimes • 8pm
Turning Stone Event Center, Verona December 2
Steel Panther, Claus & Paws Holiday Party 2022 • 8pm
Del Lago Resort & Casino, Waterloo December 2
Tiger • 6-10pm
Sharkey’s Bar & Grill, Liverpool December 2
The Dirty Doves • 7-10pm
Bagg’s Square Brewing Company, Utica December 2
Jimmy Roger N’ Over The Top Maplewood Bar & Grill, Liverpool December 3
Nosmo King’s • 6:30-9:30pm
Western Ranch Motor Inn, Syracuse December 3
Saving Abel • 8pm
Turning Stone Event Center, Verona December 3
Jadakiss
Sharkey’s Event Center, Liverpool December 3
Tangled Roots • 6-9pm
Crazy Daisies, Syracuse December 3
Nosmo King’s • 7-10pm
Western Ranch Motor Lodge, Syracuse December 3
The Dirty Doves • 7-10pm
Brian’s Landing, Jamesville December 3
Mark Zane • 4-4:30pm
Plowshares Craft Fair at Nottingham High School, Syracuse
December 3
King Squiddy and The Sethlapods • 6pm
The Lost Horizon, Syracuse December 3
Dark Hollow • 8-11pm
Funk n Waffles, Syracuse December 3 & 4
Vanessa Collier
443 Social Club & Lounge, Syracuse December 4
‘Tis The Season With The Beach Boys Featuring The Holiday Vibrations Orchestra • 7:30pm
The Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theatre, Syracuse December 4
John Spillett Jazz/Pop Duo • 5-8pm Blue Water Grill, Skaneateles December 4
Lub Dub • 1am-1pm Crazy Daisies, Syracuse December 4
Honey for the Bees • 6-8pm Funk n Waffles, Syracuse December 5
Dead Night With Gratefully Yours • 7:30pm Funk n Waffles, Syracuse December 7
The Dirty Doves • 7-9pm
Copper City Brewing Company, Rome December 7
Chris Duarte • 7-9pm
443 Social Club & Lounge, Syracuse December 8
Eric Scott from Dirtroad Ruckus • 5-8pm Pond Pit BBQ, Pulaski December 8
Jazz in the Burbs • 7:30-9:30pm
The Green Gate Inn, Camillus December 8
Shawn Halloran • 7pm
Kitty Hoynes, Syracuse December 8
Mannheim Steamroller • 7:30pm Landmark Theatre, Syracuse December 8
Underground Springhouse • 8-11pm
Funk n Waffles, Syracuse
December 9
Dirtroad Ruckus • 7-10pm Maplewood Bar & Grill, Liverpool December 9
Freeway • 6:30-9:30pm Western Ranch Motor Inn, Syracuse December 9
John Spillett Jazz/Pop Duo • 6-9pm Lemon Grass on Walton, Syracuse December 9
Dave Jordan Pasta’s on the Green, Baldwinsville December 9
Grand Funk Railroad • 8pm Del Lago Resort & Casino, Waterloo December 9
The Dirty Doves • 7-10pm Dominick’s Sports Tavern, Oswego December 9
Lisa Lee Trio • 6-8pm Crazy Daisies, Syracuse December 9
Mark Zane • 6-9pm Trapper II, Minoa December 9
Sal “The Voice” Valentinetti Christmas Comes to Town • 8-11pm The Palace Theatre, Syracuse December 9
Veronica Lewis • 7-9pm 443 Social Club & Lounge, Syracuse December 9
All Poets & Heroes • 8pm Funk n Waffles, Syracuse
December 10
Dirtroad Ruckus • 8-11pm Kallet Theater, Pulaski December 10
Mark Zane • 6-9pm Stingers Pizza Pub, Manlius December 10
Lindsey Sterling • 8pm
Del Lago Resort & Casino, Waterloo December 10
Luminare Christmas • 8pm Turning Stone Event Center, Verona December 10
Bitter Creek Band • 5-8pm Crazy Daisies, Syracuse
December 10
Bob Piorun & Friends • 7pm
Auburn Public Theatre, Auburn December 10
The Dirty Doves • 8-11pm
The Palisades Hotel, Rome December 10
Shawn Halloran • 8pm
Mccarthy’s, Cazenovia December 10
Fed Ash • 7pm
Funk n Waffles, Syracuse December 11
Patrick Young • 10am-1pm Crazy Daisies, Syracuse December 11
Loren Barrigar & Irv Lyons • 5:30pm
Auburn Public Theatre, Auburn December 12
Dead Night With Half Past Dead • 7:30-10:30pm
Funk n Waffles, Syracuse December 14
Jamie Cunningham • 8-11pm
The Cobblestone, Liverpool December 14
Eric Scott from Dirtroad Ruckus • 6-9pm The Reef, Memphis December 15
Jazz in the Burbs • 7:30-9:30pm
The Green Gate Inn, Camillus December 15
Shawn Halloran • 6pm
Average Joe’s, Baldwinsville December 16
John Spillett Jazz/Pop Duo • 6-9pm
Lemon Grass on Walton, Syracuse December 16
Dangerous Type • 6-10pm
Sharkey’s Event Center, Liverpool December 16
Midnight Mike Petroff’s
Blues Band • 6:30-9:30pm
Western Ranch Motor Inn, Syracuse December 16
The Dirty Doves • 6-9pm
DeMatteo’s, Rome December 16
Dangerous Type Sharkey’s Event Center, Liverpool
SIRSY Unplugged with Special
Guest Erin Harkes • 7-9pm
443 Social Club & Lounge, Syracuse December 16
Fourth Fret • 6-8pm Crazy Daisies, Syracuse December 16
Action! • 8pm
Funk n Waffles, Syracuse December 17
Dirtroad Ruckus • 9am-12am Average Joes, Baldwinsville December 17
Lita Ford • 8pm
Del Lago Resort & Casino, Waterloo December 17
Brass Transit • 8pm
Turning Stone Event Center, Verona December 17
In Too Deep • 5-8pm Crazy Daisies, Syracuse December 17
Tiger Pasta’s on the Green, Baldwinsville December 17
Shawn Halloran • 2pm Beak and Skiff, Lafayette December 17
The Dirty Doves • 8-11pm Moondance Restaurant, Marcellus December 17
Blue Star Radiation • 8pm The Westcott Theatre, Syracuse December 17
The Old Main • 7-9pm
443 Social Club & Lounge, Syracuse December 17
Sophistafunk • 8-11pm
Funk n Waffles, Syracuse December 18
Eric & Meghan from Dirtroad Ruckus • 5-8pm La Parrilla, Oswego December 18
The Dirty Doves • 11:30am-2:30pm Brian’s Landing, Jamesville December 18
Shawn Halloran • 11am Crazy Daisies, Syracuse
December 18
Nachos and Blancos • 12-3pm
443 Social Club & Lounge, Syracuse
December 19
Dead Night With The Long Weight • 7:30-10:30pm
Funk n Waffles, Syracuse December 22
Eric Scott from Dirtroad Ruckus • 6-9pm Flipping Chicken, Fulton
December 22
Celtic Women • 8pm
Del Lago Resort & Casino, Waterloo December 22
Master Thieves
EP Release Show • 8-11pm
Funk n Waffles, Syracuse December 23
John Spillett Jazz/Pop Duo • 6-9pm
Lemon Grass on Walton, Syracuse December 23
Spring Street Family • 8-11pm
Funk n Waffles, Syracuse December 26
The GREAT Salt City BLUES Concert 6 • 7:30pm The Palace Theatre, Syracuse December 26
Dead Night With Half Past Dead • 7:30-10:30pm
Funk n Waffles, Syracuse December 27
Tony Orlando • 8pm
Turning Stone Event Center, Verona December 29
Eric Scott from Dirtroad Ruckus • 6-9pm The Irish Inn, Oswego
December 29
Tony Bennett Tribute Show • 8pm
Del Lago Resort & Casino, Waterloo December 29
The Dirty Doves • 6-9pm
Lakeview Lanes, Fulton December 29
Paega • 8-11pm
Funk n Waffles, Syracuse
December 30
Mike MacDonald • 6:30-9:30pm
Western Ranch Motor Inn, Syracuse December 30
John Spillett Jazz/Pop Duo • 6-9pm
Lemon Grass on Walton, Syracuse December 30
ZBTB - Zac Brown Tribute • 8pm
Turning Stone Event Center, Verona
December 30
Shawn Halloran • 6pm
Barone’s Hot House, Cicero December 30
Jimmy Roger N’ Over The Top
Maplewood Bar & Grill, Liverpool December 30
Jamie Cunningham • 7-10pm
The Irish Inn, Oswego December 30
Mike Powell • 7-9:30pm
443 Social Club & Lounge, Syracuse December 30
Wxrm + Dash xo + Tskev Music + z7 + Jonny Tsunamiii • 8-11pm
Funk n Waffles, Syracuse December 31
Time Trax • 8:30pm-12:30am
Western Ranch Motor Inn, Syracuse December 31
Hairball • 8pm
Del Lago Resort & Casino, Waterloo December 31
Stephen Phillips • 9-11:55pm
Funk n Waffles, Syracuse January 6
Mike Place Pasta’s on the Green, Baldwinsville
December 1
CoComelon • 6pm
Landmark Theatre, Syracuse December 2
Borgore • 8pm
The Westcott Theatre, Syracuse December 2-4
Syracuse City Ballet presents Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker”
The Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater , Syracuse December 2-11
Drosselmeyer’s Nutcracker
Frances Marion Brown Theatre, Oswego December 3
95 Xmas Pajama Jam • 8pm
The Westcott Theatre, Syracuse December 3 & 4
Dinosaur Adventure • 9am-8pm
The Oncenter Convention Center, Syracuse thru December 6
The Madison County Historical Society’s Cottage Lawn Farmers Market • 2-6pm, Tuesdays
Madison County Historical Society, Oneida
December 8
Nikki Glaser Comedy • 8pm
Del Lago Resort & Casino, Waterloo December 10
Christmas Cookie Café • 9:30am-12pm Columbian Presbyterian Church, LaFayette December 10
Winter Art Market • 9:30am-4pm Crazy Daisies, Syracuse December 10
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong • 8pm The Westcott Theatre, Syracuse December 11
Champions of Magic • 4pm
The Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theatre, Syracuse December 12
Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet • 7:30pm
The Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theatre, Syracuse December 15
Comedy Night • 8-11pm Funk n Waffles, Syracuse December 16
Trends and Statements • 5pm
The Westcott Theatre, Syracuse December 23 & 24
Name Brand Covers and DJ Dance Party Sharkey’s Event Center, Livepool thru December 24
Crafted Underground Series The McCarthy Mercantile, Syracuse December 29-January 2
Disney on Ice Presents Let’s Celebrate
The Oncenter War Memorial, Syracuse thru December 30
Proof Positive: Wine, Beer, and Spirits of the Finger Lakes Cayuga Museum of History and Art , Auburn
thru December 12
Anni Albers: Work With Materials
Syracuse University Art Museum, Syracuse thru December 12
Anni Albers: Work With Materials Syracuse University Art Museum, Syracuse thru December 31
Rebecca Hutchinson: Re-Generation Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse
thru December 31
Raymon Elozua: Structure/Dissonance Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse thru January 4
ROMMY TORRICO: Cabeza en las nubes ArtRage Gallery, Syracuse thru May 15
Stephanie H. Shih: My Sweetie Has No Pockmarks Syracuse University Art Museum, Syracuse
December 1-4
The Calamari Sisters
Auburn Public Theatre, Auburn December 1-31
Nick Saint, Private Elf The Spagetti Warehouse, Syracuse December 9-18
A Christmas Story The Musical The Red House, Syracuse December 10
Dashers Magical Gift • 11am & 2pm
The Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theatre, Syracuse thru January 8
Disney’s The Little Mermaid Syracuse Stage, Syracuse January 17-21
Anastasia Landmark Theatre, Syracuse February 15-March 5
Espejos: Clean Syracuse Stage Complex, Syracuse February 24-March 5
By The Way, Meet Vera Stark The Red House, Syracuse
December 6
Syracuse University
Men’s Basketball vs. Oakland Golden Grizzlies • 6pm
Syracuse University, Syracuse December 9
Syracuse Crunch vs. Toronto Marlies • 7pm
The OnCenter War Memorial, Syracuse December 10
Syracuse University Men’s Basketball vs. Georgetown Hoyas • 1pm Syracuse University, Syracuse
December 10
Syracuse Crunch vs. Utica Comets • 7pm
The OnCenter War Memorial, Syracuse December 12
Syracuse University Men’s Basketball vs. Monmouth University Hawks • 7pm Syracuse University, Syracuse December 16
Syracuse Crunch vs. Springfield Thunderbirds • 7pm
The OnCenter War Memorial, Syracuse December 17
Syracuse University Men’s Basketball vs. Cornell Big Red • 3pm Syracuse University, Syracuse December 17
Syracuse Crunch vs. Bridgeport Islanders • 7pm The OnCenter War Memorial, Syracuse December 20
Syracuse University Men’s Basketball vs. Pittsburgh Panthers • 9pm Syracuse University, Syracuse December 21
Syracuse Crunch vs. Laval Rocket • 7pm The OnCenter War Memorial, Syracuse December 31
Syracuse University Men’s Basketball vs. Boston College Eagles Syracuse University, Syracuse
January 6
Syracuse Crunch vs. Belleville Senators • 7pm The OnCenter War Memorial, Syracuse
January 7
Syracuse Crunch vs. Rochester Americans • 7pm The OnCenter War Memorial, Syracuse
January 11
Syracuse University Men’s Basketball vs. Viriginia Tech Hokies • 7pm Syracuse University, Syracuse
January 14
Syracuse University Men’s Basketball vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish • 7pm Syracuse University, Syracuse January 16
Syracuse Crunch vs. Utica Comets • 7pm The OnCenter War Memorial, Syracuse
A person’s style is the manner in which they express themselves. Your fashion sense reflects your personality, as well as how you perceive yourself and others. There are numerous fashion styles, each with its own distinct characteristics. “How do I find the perfect outfit for me?” The first solution is to match your style to your personality. We’ve also included a few styles below to help you find the one that suits you best.
The classic look is elegant and sophisticated. With timeless beauty, classic fashion transcends seasons and years. A requirement for an outfit to be considered classic is that it reflect the trends and styles commonly associated with a specific era. Items in the classic style are typically made of high-quality materials. Classic costumes are well-cut, simple in design, with few decorative details and are made of luxurious fabrics. This style’s primary
colors are neutrals, whites, blacks, tan, and cobalt.
Because artsy fashion is a creative style, it usually does not adhere to any particular standard or rule. This style is for you if you enjoy designing and have a high level of creativity. The main idea behind artsy style is to create something different from traditional styles. This means you can experiment with different colors and styles of clothing and accessories to develop your own personal style.
Most items in this style are handcrafted, come in bright colors, and some have unique or even strange shapes. Handcrafted items are also excellent additions to your wardrobe. The level of appeal of the fashion style will depend on the wearer’s personal taste as well as his or her creativity, making it a fashion style that allows a person the most freedom. Do you enjoy causing havoc? Are you imaginative? Not afraid to experiment with new looks? Then find the perfect outfit for yourself.
The casual fashion style is neither sloppy nor elegant. It could be a set of clothes that makes you feel comfortable while also maintaining a certain level of elegance. The featured garments of this style are relaxed fitted t-shirts and jeans.
Jeans with a fitted T-shirt, black jeans with a shirt, or a sweater with a miniskirt are typical outfits for this look.
Athleisure style is becoming more and more popular because of the comfort and
convenience it brings to the wearer. This style is a newer form of casual wear, consisting of comfortable sportswear designed to be worn every day. It gives the wearer confidence, dynamism, and a modern, healthy and youthful appearance.
Loose pants, sweatpants, shorts, oversized shirts, t-shirt, crop tops, jumpsuits, sneakers are the typical outfits of athleisure style. Why not try a stylish and comfortable casual jumpsuit? This is an appropriate design for gentlemen who enjoy native styles.
This look is distinguished by being fashionable, trendy, and always elegant. Chic fashion outfits are understated and often monochromatic. The primary colors are blacks, whites, and neutrals. The combination with luxury accessories is a style signature. Accessories are precious and often have a contrasting color to the overall outfit.
Minimalism is a style that strives for the most simple but ideal beauty. The primary colors for this style are white, black, brown, and beige. The outfits are simple with a minimum of accessories. To achieve the most sophisticated look, choose well-cut, simple items, as well as color combinations that are harmonious.
The main characteristics of this style are comfort and freedom. This is the look that freespirited and creative people prefer.
Boho fashion is inspired by the nomadic lifestyle and the clothes that aim to break the rules. Because boho designs are inspired by natural elements, there is a preference for handcrafted clothing and accessories made from natural materials. Warm earthy colors, as well as metallics and gemstone tones, are popular.
Bohemian fashion includes voluminous maxi dresses, bell-bottom pants, wide-leg pants, bold patterns and exotic prints, as well as the use of flowy and soft fabrics.
Normcore fashion is appropriate for those who do not want to be associated with participating in trends and fashions that change with the seasons. Normcore wearers purposefully choose clothes that are functional and unobtrusive.
Normcore clothing is simple and timeless, such as polos, t-shirts, hoodies, short-sleeved shirts, jeans, loafers, sneakers... Because these clothes and accessories can be worn by both men and women, normcore is a genderneutral style.
Japanese kimonos, Mexican peasant blouses, Vietnamese ao dai and ba ba, Chinese cheongsam, Afghanistan coats, and colorful bandanas inspired by gypsies… Geeky (or Nerdy)
Introverts, technology enthusiasts, and readers appreciate geeky style. Loose-fitting pants, t-shirts, long-sleeved dresses, midi or long skirts, loafers, horn-rimmed glasses, and
whatever you feel comfortable wearing are examples of this style.
If you can afford it, trendy style is the most convenient and simple style. Fashion changes and evolves all the time, but following the general fashion trend is simple. Trendy people keep up with the latest fashion trends and refresh their wardrobes several times a year as the seasons change.
The academic style is influenced by literature, film, art, and architecture. It has spawned numerous subgenres, the most popular of which are dark academia and light academia. The color palettes used in light and dark academia differ. Dark academia’s color palette consists primarily of dark browns, gray, and black, as well as dark green and, on occasion, navy blue. Lighter academic lighter shades of brown, beige, white, and pastels are used.
Turtlenecks, cardigans, wool sweaters, smart trousers, dress shirts, plaid skirts, Oxford shoes, and houndstooth and tweed clothing are all associated with the academia style.
You are not required to adhere to the styles or standards established by others. You can select one or a few basic elements that are most appropriate for you. The fashion you want to wear is determined by factors such as your mood and the weather on that particular day. You might also want to combine a specific style with your own personal style. Be yourself! Dress as your soul desires and find the perfect outfit just for you.
‘Tis
season
still
and cheer, and so I suppose it’s a little strange
into the waters of modern horror. Last month I reviewed the forgettable and lackluster HALLOWEEN KILLS. This was a title that was familiar to those who had never even seen a single entry in the franchise, and had ad spots running on a continuous loop for weeks at a time. It is the type of big-name Hollywood extravaganza that enjoys success at the box office but does nothing to advance the genre as a whole.
Now available to stream, however, is a lesser known project that certainly didn’t have the same media blitz or name familiarity as a title that has been prominent in pop culture for the past four
decades. Yet it was more terrifying, invigorating, and stylish than Michael Myers has been in years.
BARBARIAN opens on an obligatory rainy night as Tess Marshall (Georgina Campbell) attempts to enter her Airbnb, only to discover that the key is missing from the designated space. She is unable to reach the owner of the property, but to her surprise, finds someone already inside. She pounds on the door and the perfectly-cast creeper Bill Skarsgard opens the door. Apparently, the property was double-booked, leading to an awkward encounter and a perfect setup for a horror film.
Tess is weary until she finds out that Keith (Skarsard) is connected to a band that she is familiar with, and begins to let her guard down. The two share some wine and laughs, before Tess makes
“A production that playfully toys with and then obliterates expectations, injecting suspense and jump scares in equally delightful measures.”
her way to bed. The two say “good night” in an expertly “will they/won’t they” manner, and it isn’t until Tess awakens to find her door ajar that she realizes something may be amiss.
From here, BARBARIAN stares headlong into the typical horror abyss, setting the stage for the same scenario we have seen play out a million times before. We already know where this is going, we already know who the bad guy is, we already know most of the steps of the cat-and-mouse game that is to follow. Or, do we?
Writer/Directer Zach Cregger has crafted a film that is every horror fan’s dream come true. A production that playfully toys with and then obliterates expectations, injecting suspense and jump scares in equally delightful measures. It takes multiple turns, which were slightly disorienting at first, leading me to wonder if I was watching an anthology rather than one full narrative. Clegger cleverly ties these different acts together, providing us with a brief glimpse of how this bananas story got started.
The performances by the entire cast, which also includes a spectacularly scuzzy Justin Long are spot-on, with Campbell emerging as the type of Scream Queen that Jamie Lee Curtis became in 1978. There are laughs, gross-outs, and enough shocking moments to keep the viewer on the edge of their seat, and provides enough deliriously disgusting and outrageous moments that it becomes virtually impossible to forget.
BARBARIAN- A Now streaming on HBO Max
r
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Are you the kind of golfer who gets a bit lazy and doesn’t clean your clubs at all, on or off the course? I was always curious how much effect a wet or dirty clubface would have on your spin rate (especially on wedges), so I decided to put it to the test.
The results might convince you to bring a towel out on the course!
Hitting great wedge shots requires trajectory and distance control, which are greatly influenced by how much spin you can put on the ball. To generate enough spin, you need clean contact with the clubface to create friction.
I was interested in finding out how much the factors we can control on the course would affect the spin rate. So I decided to test how a clubface with water on it, or dirt, would effect launch conditions.
Using my SkyTrak launch monitor to evaluate the ball flight, I was mostly looking for changes in spin rate, which I believe is one of the most critical factors to controlling your wedge distance and trajectory.
I hit a series of wedge shots from various distances. My control was a clean ball, and then I tested shots after spraying the clubface with water and others with dirt on the face.
I also tested on longer clubs like my 7-iron and driver to see if there was any noticeable effect. My theory was that any kind of debris or moisture would influence my ability to generate an optimal spin rate.
“The results might convince you to bring a towel out on the course!”
Here are the results from various distances with my lob wedge:
Club Launch Angle Total Spin (rpm) Carry Yards
Clean Clubface (LW) 32.5 4208 25
Wet Clubface (LW) 32.4 3657 24
Dirty Clubface (LW) 31.5 3925 26
Clean Clubface (LW) 29.7 5616 51
Wet Clubface (LW) 31.1 4635 50
Dirty Clubface (LW) 30.4 5212 49
Clean Clubface (LW) 28.6 7867 89
Wet Clubface (LW) 28.9 6987 91
Dirty Clubface (LW) 28.2 7432 90
I saw pretty consistent results across the board with wedge shots. On the whole, a wet clubface had the most impact on the spin rate. On a 50-yard shot, I saw an almost 20% drop in spin.
Interestingly, dirt did not seem to have as much impact on spin rate as water, but there was still a noticeable drop. My guess is that soil conditions could change how much or how little it would influence the spin rate. But I still believe that dirt is going to limit your ability to spin it correctly (shocking, I know).
On longer clubs, there was far less difference. On my 7-iron there wasn’t a noticeable change with a wet clubface and only a slight drop in spin rate with dirt. With my driver, I only tested with water on the face (who would have a dirty driver???) – there was also no difference in launch conditions.
In golf, you want to give yourself the best opportunity for success. It’s challenging to control any wedge shot without the proper amount of spin on the ball. Some things are within our control on the golf course, and others we can’t control. For example, if you’re in the rough, it’s going to be more difficult to spin the ball because you can’t create enough friction due to grass interference. But that’s your penalty for landing the ball there!
I think this test shows that it should make sense to wipe your clubface clean before hitting any wedge shot. Also, using a premium golf ball and not using wedges with worn out grooves have a significant impact on how much spin you can generate.
Long story short, I think it makes sense to carry a towel around with you and clean your clubs if there is any noticeable moisture or debris on your club before you hit your shot. You could be leaving a few shots on the table if you can’t create proper contact with your wedges.
Lemon-garlic shrimp is a delicious appetizer that’s perfect to throw together before a last-minute party. Or, serve this fresh, citrusy seafood over rice or pasta and make it a main dish on a busy weeknight when you’re short on time.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. olive oil, or as needed 16 large shrimp, peeled, deveined, and tails on, or more to taste
3 large cloves garlic, smashed, or more to taste ½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
2 tsp. seafood seasoning salt and ground black pepper
3 tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped
2 tbsp. lemon juice
3 tsp. lemon zest
Step 1 • Heat oil in a large skillet over med-low heat until warm, 2 to 3 minutes. Add shrimp, garlic, and pepper flakes all at once and stir together. Add seafood seasoning, salt, and black pepper and mix until combined.
Step 2 • Cook and stir until shrimp are bright pink on the outside and the meat is opaque, 3 to 5 minutes.
Step 3 • Reduce heat to low and stir in parsley, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
Prep Time: 10 min.
Total Time: 20 min. Servings: 4
