CAROUSEL triple cities
august 2013
free
vol. 1 issue 6
music. art. theatre. food. life.
editorial.
It’s August, and that means two things: 1) Triple Cities Carousel marks its six month anniversary, which is longer than 90% of the relationships I’ve ever been in, and 2) A steady stream of cars are coming to town, loaded with University students new and old. Allow me to welcome you all to our dusty little slice of heaven… The Triple Cities, The Valley of Opportunity, Bingaling, The Home of the Square Deal, The Twilight Zone, The Parlor City, The Grey City.
As is always the case, August breeds mumbles from the locals about ‘those damn students,’ and mumbles from the students about ‘those damn townies.’ It’s high time we all shut the hell up about that, all of us, and learn to embrace each other as one community.
To the locals… the students may be loud and drunk on Friday nights, but they bring with them valuable minds full of creativity and enough money to sustain the local economy. Go see a student recital… there’s plenty of them: dance, theatre, music… they’re a talented bunch. Give them a chance, and maybe they’ll stick around and become locals after they graduate.
To the students… just because the locals are a different slice of life than you may be used to, doesn’t mean we’re not worth getting to know. Try a bit harder not to puke in our gardens on your weekend walks home from State Street and the frat parties. We’re pretty damn cool, but nobody wants puke on their daisies. Don’t make the mistake of isolating yourselves on campus- granted, there’s a whole lot to do there, but there’s a whole lot to do in the local community, too. See a show, eat at a restaurant, take a stroll in the park… there’s a lot more going on than you might believe.
All of you… whether you look on the bright side or not, you’re all bunking up until May. Get out of your comfort zones. Interact. Create some lasting bonds. It’ll do you good.
-Chris Bodnarczuk
contents.
August 2013 Triple Cities Carousel 3
MUSIC.......................................................................5 ART..........................................................................11 EVENTS CALENDAR..............................................16 POETRY...................................................................18 FILM........................................................................19 SPECIAL FEATURE: SWAMP ROOT...................21 COMEDY.................................................................22 THEATRE................................................................23 FOOD AND DRINK.................................................25 WELLNESS.............................................................27 FUN STUFF.............................................................28 OTHER STUFF........................................................30 TRIPLE CITIES CAROUSEL P.O. BOX 2947 BINGHAMTON, NY 13902 Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Christopher Bodnarczuk Assistant Editor/Calendar Guru Ty Whitbeck Advertising Christopher Bodnarczuk Staff Writers Charles Berman, Stacey Burke, Julian Kappel, Brian Kerins, Kaitlin Mooney, Maria Murphy, Rose Silberman-Gorn, Dan Spaventa, Ronnie Vuolo, Felicia Waynesboro, Ahlpheh Ohtis Wilson, Taze Yanik Contributors Molly Kat, Carol Linskey, Kristina Strain Photography Ty Whitbeck Layout/Design Christopher Bodnarczuk Cover Art “Toys” by Robert Fundis Printer Our Press Chenango Bridge, NY
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music.
August 2013 Triple Cities Carousel 5
LEEANN RIMES AND NIGHT RANGER
Leeann Rimes. Photo Provided.
HEADLINE SPIEDIE FEST
Maria “Murph” Murphy Staff Writer
Yup, it’s August once again and that means the grills are hot and ready for another Binghamton Spiedie Fest and Balloon Rally.
Although it began in 1983 as a spiedie cooking contest, there was not an official Spiedie Fest and Balloon Rally until 1985. As of August 2nd, the festival will have been officially running for twentynine years, and this year there are some musical treats to surely bring in the crowds. The festival gates open on Friday August 2nd at 3pm, and the stage is set to open at 7:30pm with a concert by Night Ranger. This classic rock band [EDITOR’S NOTE: It’s better than calling them an oldies band!] came into existence in early 80s in San Francisco, where a group of young kids were looking to rock. Night Ranger went on to widespread fame for the years to follow, thanks to the singalong hit “Sister Christian.” The 1984 power ballad shot to number 5 on the Billboard
Hot 100 List, staying on the charts for 24 weeks before being immortalized in the playlist of, well, every prom of the last 30 years. Now, celebrating their thirtieth anniversary, this legendary band will be making their way to Binghamton for a show that will be sure to bring us back to acid washed jeans, Aqua Net, and, um, ladies’ shoulder pads. Although each night of the Spiedie Fest will feature a musical guest, Saturday night should be the concert of the weekend. At 5pm on August 3rd, LeAnn Rimes will be making her way on stage to put on a show to go down in Broome County history. The multi-platinum country recording artist first gained acclaim in 1996, when, at 13, she released a version of the Bill Mack tune “Blue,” a song originally intended for recording by Patsy Cline before her untimely death. The young Rimes channeled Cline impeccably, bringing a traditional country sound to the pop oriented charts of the mid- 90s. “Blue” sold 123,000 copies in its first week, catapulting the young teen to worldwide superstardom, and garnering her Grammys for “Best New Artist” and “Best Female Country Vocal Performance” in 1997. In the following years, Rimes retained her fame with a string of country and crossover hits, including covers of “How do I Live” and “Unchained Melody.” While she has been seen in the tabloids more than the charts over the last few years, her
new new album, “Spitfire,” while a critical flop, has been called “the Country album of 2013,” by some, including reviewers at Rolling Stone magazine.
It may shocking to many that a voice as big as Rimes is coming to our little neck of the woods. But with her big voice comes a heart to match, and a humility that’s worth more than any platinum record. “I want people who listen to my music to see me, know me, recognize me as a normal human being who can sing and write,” states Rimes in her online bio, “and, I hope, connect with me through my music in a deeper way than ever before.” This sounds like a girl who could appreciate the joys of living local and loving life, and an artist that wouldn’t take a venue for granted, no matter what the size or location, but instead light it up with song and heart. Despite the hype, the concerts are only a small part of the many offerings at Spiedie Fest, which will be marinating with fun, flavor filled activities for the whole family. Each day will begin with a balloon launch, a yearly highlight of the festival. Even the first shifters don’t have to miss out on the launches, as there is a special evening balloon launch as well each day at dusk that will be a beautiful sight as glowing hot air
balloons fill the night sky with illuminated shapes and colors. This year’s festival will also include special events including, but in no way limited to, sand volleyball tournaments, car shows, and even a meet and greet by New York Yankee, Roy White. In addition is an annual craft fair that will have vendors from near and far selling all sorts of gifts and novelties you may not find anywhere else. You’ll be sure to work up an appetite trying to get your fill of all the activities available that a stop at one of the many local food vendors will be sure to hit the spot. From home brewed soft drinks, elephant ears, and of course spiedies, there is sure to be a whole skewer of tasty treats for everyone. So, before times runs out, be sure to head out and pick up a Spiedie Fest button at one of the many distribution locations found on the festival website. The Spiedie Fest and Balloon Rally opens at 3pm on Friday August 2nd (Buses begin transport from BCC at 2pm) and runs through Sunday the 4th. Friday will end with an evening balloon launch and fireworks show… the park will close after the fireworks. The park opens for balloon launches at 5:30am on Saturday and Sunday and closes at 8:30pm. Full schedule and additional information can be found at spiediefest.com, or by calling (607) 765-6604.
TIM McGRAW ON PAR AT DICK’S OPEN
6 Vol. 1 Issue 6
Julian Kappel Staff Writer
“What they call progress will not wait for me, and I should probably just go out quietly, but I’ve still got something left, something left to say...” Since his emergence into the country music scene in 1992 Tim McGraw has proven time and again that he does indeed have something left to say, and on August 16th he will “speak” through his music at the En-Joie Golf Course in Endicott. Admittedly, country music has never had much appeal for this reporter. However, in anticipation of McGraw’s upcoming concert at the 2013 Dick’s Sporting Goods Open (golf holding my interest even less than country) I began to dig deeper into the life of the straw-hatted superstar. And as hard as it is to admit, I fell under his spell. This isn’t to say I’ll be buying locks of his hair on e-bay. In fact, I haven’t even made plans to purchase an album. But, dammit if the man isn’t as interesting as they get. Not only does he refuse to be pigeon-holed to one genre of music (having recorded songs with Nelly, T-Pain, and Tony Bennett), he’s also branched out into acting with roles in Country Strong and Flicka (his performance in the former even prompting forgiveness for the latter).
Hi, We’re Driftwood. We’re putting out a new album later this year!
Truth be told, McGraw’s life has unfolded in such a purposeful way that Hollywood could take notes on story-telling. He grew up not knowing his father (MLB reliefpitcher Tug McGraw), dropped out of college to pursue a music career, and rose to fame with one chart-topping hit after another.
However, what could really win over this reporter? Is it the way his voice can gravitate between emotionally charged and almost haunting in one song? Is it his mastery over melodic hooks or the way he transforms the most simple of chord progressions into a single, cohesive powerhouse of a song that defies the listener to not stomp their feet and sing along? Perhaps it’s just the fact that he punched a guy for touching his trademark leather cowboy hat? All marks of a true performer and incredible artist, but what really turned this country music-avoiding reporter into a- dare I say it- fan, is the way McGraw literally reinvented himself and became a role-model for the young and old. Realizing that alcohol was having a negative impact on his life, McGraw quit and channeled his incredible energy into exercising, eating right, and being there for his family. It’s a monumental achievement, to say the least. Most importantly, in the time of Snooki and Justin Bieber, his actions are nothing short of heroic. He is a bona-fide role model, not only for the kids, but for anyone that seeks to challenge the status quo miser in their lives. Through his music, Tim McGraw has created the soundtrack to his own life. He grants the listener access to all of the sorrow, sadness and heartbreak of his worst days; he shares the love, joy and pleasure of his best days. Whether you love country music or hate it, Tim McGraw will bring all the good and bad of being human to Endicott in a show that should not be missed. Tim McGraw will be taking the stage at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open at En-Joie Golf Course in Endicott on the evening of August 16th. Tickets are sold out, but you’re bound to have a friend or two with some extras. Start asking around!
THE STEREOFIDELICS
RETURN TO CYBER CAFE WEST Kaitlin Mooney Staff Writer
Wanna Hear It? http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/driftwood/driftwoods-new-studio-album
Pre-order today, and recieve an instant download of our new song “The Sun’s Going Down” Hurry! Time’s running out!
Gracing the walls of Cyber Café West are posters of concerts past: it’s hard to miss the fact that quite a few of them are for StereoFidelics shows. A bit more space is going to have to be cleared for a new poster, because they will be back in town on August 3rd! Melissa McGinley and Chris Padgett are the StereoFidelics, and they are so much more than the indie pop boy-girl duet they resemble. McGinley’s powerhouse jazz vocals complement the band’s retro-rock sound. She can be found belting out soulful lyrics or freestyle scatting behind her drum kit, and the only time she puts her drum sticks down is to pick up an electric violin. Padgett’s quick hands deliver complicated, catchy riffs on the electric guitar, while his feet lay down funky bass lines on a set of organ pedals mounted to the floor. The sheer amount of multi-tasking that the band accomplishes (two people, five instruments) is, amazingly, done without the aid of loops, computers or digital sound effects.
Cyber Cafe West does not invite back just any artist, but the StereoFidelics have earned the honor, after honing their talents through extensive touring throughout the US. The band has garnered a cult-like fan base, drawn in by high energy live performances. The band feeds off their crowd, and when the crowd starts dancing, the band starts moving, providing seamless transitions between songs and giving the audience nonstop entertainment. Playing around 200 plus shows a year, their van is “home,” and playing music is their life. This DIY band also books their own tours and designs their own album covers… they even screen print their own t-shirts! The band’s latest release, Dynamite Fist, drops the boy-girl duets in favor of McGinley’s powerful blues vocals. Padgett’s skillful guitar playing holds together the tracks, with the duo approaching a sound worthy of a five piece outfit. Each song on the album takes on its own style, refusing the entirety of ‘Dynamite Fist’ to be pigeonholed into one genre. Catch the show on Sat, August 3rd at 8 p.m. at Cyber Cafe West, 176 Main Street, Binghamton. It is a free show with a suggested donation (Support music! Support local venues!). It is going to be a night of funky, foot pounding, wall shaking music and if you are lucky it’ll include a Talking Heads cover.
CAROUSEL PRESENTS: GALACTIC COWBOY ORCHESTRA
August 2013 Triple Cities Carousel 7
asked, “Do you really like being away from home so much?!” I said, “Yeah – we live an adventurous life… and I like staying in hotels.” She chuckled and said, “You always did.”
Chris Bodnarczuk Editor-in-Chief
On Friday, August 2nd, Triple Cities Carousel proudly presents the August installment of our Carousel Presents Concert Series. We’ll be bringing Galactic Cowboy Orchestra all the way from Minnesota for an evening of music at Cyber Café West. This writer first came across GCO at the very same café that they’re returning to three, maybe four years ago. The four piece powerhouse (Lisi Wrightfiddles/vocals, her husband John Wright- bass/ vocals, Dan Neal- guitar/vocals, and Mark O’Daydrums/percussion) walked up on stage and played their hearts out to an almost empty room. They have since returned to Binghamton several times, and these days, that room is anything but empty. After their first performance, word got out about their unique blend of music- a little bit bluegrass, a little bit prog rock- and their next trip to Binghamton proved a bit more eventful. A full crowd of locals came to greet them, and not one stopped dancing all night. Binghamton has been lucky enough to become a regular destination for the band, which we bring to town for the first time in 2013 at 9pm on August 2nd. We checked in with fiddle player Lisi Wright a few weeks ago to see what the band’s been up to. What’s been happening in the world of GCO since your last Binghamton visit? It’s been a
What keeps you guys busy when you’re not touring? We’re all professional musicians, meaning that’s what it says on our tax returns. I’m a booking agent by day, and I use my given name, Elisa, which is much more professional sounding than Lisi. Think about it! John has a studio in Savage, MN– The Villa (http://thevillamn.weebly.com/). It’s a gorgeous space and he truly does excellent work and has recorded all of GCO’s albums. Both Dan and Mark are private instructors on their respective instruments.
Galactic Cowboy Orchestra. Photo Provided.
full year since our last Binghamton show! We’ve been on several tours– SE twice, as well as our first Colorado tour– we played our largest festival show to date (Riverbend in Chattanooga, TN– attended by 50k-80k people per night!), and we’ve been in the studio… a lot! We’ll be releasing our new album in the fall. PLUS, since our last Binghamton show, we have acquired an incredibly cute road dog (photo attached). His name is Nicko and he rocks! A new album, huh? Yup! We’re calling it “Zombie Mouth”– due out this fall (probably November). You guys blend some very different styles of music into your live shows... bluegrass,
jazz, progressive rock, country... How did the sound come about, and how do you keep it from conflicting with itself? Excellent question! It’s simply a combination of each player’s influences and it all just seems to blend naturally for us. It doesn’t conflict with itself because it’s played by the same musicians and the vibe works. Fans really dig the variety too! It’s a musical adventure! GCO is a band that seems to be constantly on the road. Are there any standout moments from touring? Sure! Getting to see the mountains of Colorado or the lush woods of upstate New York or the coast of North Carolina. Love it! I, personally, love staying in hotels too. Ha! My mom recently
Coming from such a vibrant cultural hub as the Twin Cities, do you have any advice for those of us working to build a scene in the Triple Cities? Our goal has always been to find our fans. That’s what the music business is all about, it’s what it’s built on, and as mind and genre-bending as our music is, there’s definitely a fanbase out there for us. We keep finding more and more rockin’ peeps who want to dance to our crazy music. I don’t think it matters where you come from, just find your fans… that might mean you have to travel outside of your homebase to do it. So join us, dear reader, as we show Galactic Cowboy Orchestra a night full of fans old and new… twelve hours from their homebase! The show starts at 9pm on Friday, August 2nd, at Cyber Café West, 176 Main St, Binghamton. There is a $5 cover, which goes directly to the band. For more info on the show, check out cybercafewest. com. For more info on the band, mosie on over to galacticcowboyorchestra.com.
REC. PARK MUSIC FEST CELEBRATES 18 YEARS
whiskey breath and diesel fumes, the Prophets bring forth a strong presence of burly men with big beards that can sure pick a guitar right. These gentlemen have found themselves a dedicated following in the greater Binghamton area and, by the minute, they are seeping into the ground waters of surrounding counties. Their raucous brand of Americana Roots Rock (to the layman) has taken them to city limits and beyond, with a populous craving more of their good word.
Ty Whitbeck Assistant Editor
The music scene is changing, here in Binghamton. Some could say it’s retroactive and returning to a more prosperous time, when the people would jovially run out their front doors and jump down the entire flight of stairs just to get to the venue before the band started. Some could say we’re in for something completely new; a modern day renaissance with new venues, new talent, bigger bookings, and, ultimately, more seats filled. Whichever the case, I’m glad it’s getting noticed and being talked about.
Rec Park Fest ‘12. Photo by Ty Whitbeck
The festival started by chance and a ticket to ride in 1996, as Jim Reyen (bassist for the Rhythm Gypsys- the house band at the festival) got a group of pickers together, plus a few local food vendors and support from the city. The West Side had never seen anything of this caliber before, and it has become a noteworthy event at Rec Park every summer since.
When booking the bands this year, old favorites The O’Neill Brothers came to mind. Featuring members of the legendary Susquehanna Hat Company (rock solid veterans of Rooney Mountain), The O’Neill Brothers play a hammer driven, harmony infused style of bluegrass that’s instantly recognizable on “the Mountain.” They sometimes get off that hill and play around, and one of their main stops is under the Rod Serling rotunda at Rec Park. The brothers have been playing together for what seems like all of time, and their expressions show that they still enjoy what they do. They feed off the crowd and the crowd bobs to the lows of the bass mixed with the bent pluckin’ of a banjo, mandolin, and acoustic guitar. Their repertoire includes old timey dance numbers, acoustic Grateful Dead tracks, and old takes on new favorites.
“A lot of people don’t come to the park as often as they should,” says Jim Reyen. “It’s really showcasing Rec Park as a venue for special events. There’s a lot of great talent in this area and people sometimes don’t have access to that talent.”
Joining them earlier in the night are Ithaca, NY’s The Blind Spots. Coming from a town that is littered with amazing talent in every bar, nightclub and street corner, the Blind Spots have had to earn their place among them. Working on their
The Rec Park Music Fest is one of the reasons music is still alive in Binghamton today. Celebrating its 18th year, the RPMF has been providing live, outdoor music and entertainment for every walk of life for an entire generation. Some of the children who used to go to this festival are grown up and have kids of their own now, and still go every year, starting new traditions with new families.
fourth year, The Blind Spots have surely refined their sound. “We’re lucky to have a group of such dedicated people working toward a common goal and all thinking about the future,” says guitarist Mike Suave, and that’s what it’s really all about: the effect of the musically faithful… and a smoking hot ensemble with desire. It’s not a surprise how the Blind Spot’s sound has reached more heads in the past few years: They have that feel. You know, that moment the band breaks into the funk of their first set and is then greeted onstage by a beauty that is Maddy Walsh. The second she belts out her first note, the crowd is intrigued. Her sweet, soulful sound is entwined with some of the coarseness that the listeners typically associate with some of the female singers of the 60s, and the band is crazy tight, too! Joining the crew at the Rec Park Music Fest are hometown favorites The Woodshed Prophets. They have perfected a sound only they can describe as “power-twang” and it’s comin’ in hot. Hell bent on
Also playing are Nashville’s Ben Whisler, featuring Broome County’s Shawn Hawkins on guitar and bringing some of the home of Country music’s best with them. Mary Perna kicks off the festival with her solo acoustic stylings of blues, roots, and Americana. This is Mary’s second appearance at RPMF, and although she lives in Connecticut and has been touring New England for the past 10 years, she is a BHS graduate and is proud to play music again in her hometown. Not much is known about the mystical Salacious Crumb, and instead of using laughter as their vice, these folks play music. Making their first appearance at RPMF since the festival’s inaugural year in 1996, a unionized Salacious Crumb will take the stage and give you their interpretations of hippie rock classics. Who could forget about the house band, Rhythm Gypsys, the group that started it all for the RPMF? The Gypsys will be celebrating their 18th year at the festival by playing their only gig of the year there. Whether you dig rock and roll, bluegrass, funk, or being outdoors, you’ll find solace at the 18th Annual Rec Park Music Festival located, redundantly, at Recreation Park (between Beethoven and Seminary on the West Side of Binghamton). In addition to music will be children’s activities and food vendors, as well as all of the amenities of the park, including the largest of all the Carousels in Broome County. The cost is free and music goes from 2pm-8:40pm. Call the Binghamton Parks and Recreation Dept. @ 607-772-7017 for more info.
FORUM GOES ‘OUTSIDE THE BOX’
8 Vol. 1 Issue 6
Ty Whitbeck Assistant Editor
There was a time when the local communities got jazzed up about the Theatre Organ concerts that came to town. Do you remember those times? I, particularly, do not, and I doubt Nathan Avakian does, either. However, Avakian, a 22 year old world class multi keyboard prodigy from Portland, Oregon, will be bringing his talents to The Forum Theatre in Binghamton, on Tuesday, August 13th. The Forum has had its share of nationally touring musicians over the last couple years; from Natalie Merchant and the Horseflies, to Gordon Lightfoot and now, presenting one of the most interesting performances to date, BTOS brings to you “Out of the Box: Contemporary Music for MP3s, Pipes & Pedals.” This one night only event will be performed by Nathan Avakian on The Forum’s 1926 Robert Morton Theatre Organ. The 1926 Robert Morton Theatre Organ was donated to The Forum in 1975 by Binghamton Savings Bank, where it briefly resided previously. It is owned by the taxpayers of Binghamton. It was in desperate need of repairs and tune-ups before it could be installed within the walls of the Theatre and heard publicly. To replace it, it would cost no less than $600,000, new; a mighty chunk of change. This theatre organ could be constituted as a living being when a competent person takes the
reigns. In the basement sits a sturdy fifteen foot blower that gyrates at high speeds, forcing air up through the ranks of pipes which breathe life into the North and South walls of the theatre. From each pipe is a series of wires and electronics and synapses that act as the “central nervous system” of the organ, relaying the thoughts and dreams driven by the brain, the main console, the playable Robert Morton Organ. The organ, itself has 4 manuals of keyboards and an unfathomable assortment of buttons, knobs, levers and pedals, which allow the player to mimic an entire orchestra. This is one of the things that separate theatre organs from church organs or a B3 Hammond with a hefty Leslie Cabinet.
instruments, the theatres would not have survived. Still, after all these years, the preservation of this olden entertainment is happening around the country, and the theatre organs of yore are being restored to their natural, pristine beauty, while a select handful of organ wizards make them truly speak volumes.
Nathan Avakian is one of those players. At only 22 years old, his fascination with the theatre organ stems back to age four, when he visited a restaurant in Portland, Oregon called The Organ Grinder, part pizza parlor/ part Puget Sound Theatre Organ Society. At eleven, he began taking lessons under Donna Parker and received coaching by Jonas Nordwall, both of whom are noteworthy in the art. More accomplishments From about 1910 to 1928, continued to attach theatres were being themselves to Avakian’s erected nationwide to name over the next two draw attention to the new years. A prodigy indeed, phenomenon of the silent he went on to win the film. Movie goers would American Theatre Organ flock to the closest theatre Society Young Theatre to become a part of this Organist Competition in magic, and, although 2009. In 2010, he founded it was a miraculous Nathan Avakian. Photo Provided. occasion, there was an element missing: musical the Youth Silent Film Festival, where he was accompaniment. Thus, promoters began inviting commissioned to compose six original soundtracks piano players to improvise on the ivory along with on the keyboards for youngsters to direct their own the silent film and the theatrics. Then, the advent of silent films to. Since its inception, the festival has the theatre organ came. Without these monsterous expanded from Oregon, to Ohio, to Australia. After
this, he went world class and completed a successful six week tour of “the Land Down Under” and New Zealand, and he even recorded and released his first album, “Outside the Box,” a contemporary take on the age old theatre organ arrangement. He is currently attending SUNY Purchase, where he is obtaining a degree in stage lighting design. Avakian uses the technology of his generation to his advantage in his arrangements on the keyboards. He writes virtual .mp3 compositions on a laptop to accompany the theatrics of the multi manual keyboard, giving the performance a more modern feel, as opposed to the feeling of listening to a Wurlitzer on a carousel for two hours (but who wouldn’t love that?). The digital tracks are only a backdrop and a framework to the detailed analog works he creates on the pedals and keys. Avakian also incorporates solo piano arrangements into his performances to add diversity and avoid stagnancy. In addition to the music, on August 13th we will see a few of the visual submissions of past Youth Silent Film Festivals put to Avakian’s soundtracks. When he comes to The Forum Theater, located at 236 Washington St., Binghamton, on August 13th, be prepared for a show the likes of which have never been seen. All things considered, you are going to want to be a part of this event. At other theatre organ shows, people have said that “The Mighty Wurlitzer at Radio City Music Hall almost picked up the building and shook it;” only imagine what 1,800 pipes in a smaller building with great acoustics can have dialed into it. Showtime is 7pm-9pm, and general admission tickets are $15, ATOS Members- $10, and under 22 and FT students- $5. Tickets are available at the door or at www.BinghamtonTOS.com. More information can be obtained by calling BTOS Founder and Program Coordinator Paul Stapel at 607-773-1495.
TAKE A CHANCE ON ABBA: THE CONCERT
remember us as we were. Young, exuberant, full of energy and ambition.”
Rose Silberman-Gorn Staff Writer
The young ABBA first formed in 1972 when couples Agnetha Faltskog and Bjorn Ulvaeus, and Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad vacationed together and began making music. ABBA’s name is an acronym of the first letters of the band members’ names. Their big break came when they won the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest. The first Swedish group to win this contest, they would later become the most successful group to ever take part in it. Eight albums and many years later, ABBA had sold over 370 million records worldwide. Both couples divorcing led to tensions in the group, and due to a drop in sales, ABBA ended up unofficially separating in 1982.
The Anderson Center for the Performing Arts, located on the campus of Binghamton University, will be presenting ABBA: the Concert on Tues, August 13th. ABBA: the Concert is an ABBA tribute band, easily mistaken for the original, not just because of the similar name, but also the group’s uncanny ability to capture the vibrant spirit of the 70s pop group. One strategy for maintaining the sound and attitude of the original group has been to consistently feature several members of the real ABBA’s rhythm section. Bass guitarist Mike Watson, guitarists Mats Ronander, Lasse Wellander, and Janne Schaffer, and drummers Ola Brunkert and Roger Palm are among the musicians that have been featured throughout the years.
After falling under the radar for most of the 80s, a resurgence in the band’s popularity came about in 1994. This was due to two cult films that featured ABBA’s music: The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Muriel’s Wedding. More fuel for the resurgence came with the 1999 musical Mamma Mia!, which was adapted entirely from ABBA songs and led to a Hollywood adaptation in 2008.
Formed in 1996, ABBA: the Concert has consistently provided audiences with an unforgettable experience. Audience members can anticipate many of their favorite hits- “Mamma Mia,” “Dancing Queen,” “Take a Chance on Me,” and more- as well as a lot of fun. “The band really got the audience involved,” says online reviewer Cherrise. “We were clapping, singing and loved it all. The end was great, as we all got up and danced to ‘Dancing Queen.’” ABBA: the Concert has sold out shows around the world, in such famed venues as the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles and the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Forty years after their inception, ABBA’s catchy, light-hearted pop songs continue to resonate with people who grew up with them, as well as new fans. This show is a great opportunity for fans to experience their music in a manner as authentic and enjoyable as possible.
Abba: The Concert. Photo Provided.
Since forming, they’ve performed over 1000 times in 20 countries. It’s no wonder they’re in high demand, considering the glowing reviews they’ve received. The Washington Examiner stated, “You’d be hard-pressed to find a more authentic homage to the 1970s Swedish pop group than ABBA: the Concert.”
Considering the high demand for said Swedish pop group’s catchy tunes, as well as the fact that all of the members are still alive, why hasn’t the original ABBA ever reunited? Guitarist and songwriter Bjorn Alvaeus explains, “We will never appear onstage again. There is simply no motivation to regroup. Money is not a factor, and we would like people to
Don’t miss the performance on Tuesday, August 13th, at 8pm. Inside reserved tickets cost $35, and lawn general admission is $18. Tickets may be purchased online through the Anderson Center, which is located at Binghamton University, 4400 Vestal Parkway E., Binghamton, New York.
DANCING UP A STORM WITH
August 2013 Triple Cities Carousel 9
DONNA THE BUFFALO
Chris Bodnarczuk Editor-in-Chief
There are few things that we at Carousel love more than summer music festivals, and there are few bands more entrenched in the upstate festival scene as Donna the Buffalo. The Trumansburg based band has played pretty much every festival that has ever existed, from the legendary (and long extinct) Rooney Mountain Festival in Deposit, to the tent city of Tennessee’s Bonnaroo. So ingrained with the festival scene they are, that Donna the Buffalo plays host band every year to the Fingerlakes Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance (which celebrated 23 years this past month, and has spawned offspring in both North Carolina and Florida), a festival they launched, and have watched grow, for almost a quarter of a century. And, as anyone who has ever been to a music festival knows, you don’t gain acclaim like that if you can’t get people to dance. And dance they do. DTB’s fans, known as ‘The Herd,’ have been following the group dutifully throughout the country for years, and will be stomping their feet at the Choconut Inn (Friendsville, PA) for a special night of music on August 31st. The Choconut’s massive backyard pole barn provides perhaps the perfect setting for a band (and fans) so used to the wide open spaces of festival season. Donna the Buffalo is often referred to as a “jam band,” but a title like that doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface. Sure, they’re known for traversing into half hour long jams, often extending the length of a show to well over four hours, but jam bands are a-plenty, and while they might make people dance, they seldom make people dance well. DTB, on the other hand, brings something different to the table. With strong influence
stemming from old-time and zydeco music (two sounds that are synonymous with dancing), the crowds at Donna shows feature not only the zonedout-hippie-shuffle, but also impressive displays of two-stepping and foot stomping. The band is not a zydeco band, though. And it is not an old-time band. The musicians also pull influence from reggae, rock and roll, and country, creating a bastard sound of everything good to come out of a radio in the last 100 years. With both bouncing and introspective originals (mostly penned by bandleaders Jeb Puryear-guitar/vocals, and Tara Nevins-guitar/accordion/washboard/vocals) and a few choice covers and traditional songs, a DTB show has a bit of something for everyone. And while their home turf may be slightly north of us in the Triple Cities, the region is no stranger to Donna. Jed Greenberg, who played bass with the band through much of their early years, hails from Vestal, and the band spent quite a bit of time cutting their teeth at now defunct Binghamton institutions like West Side Cheers. They have guested on WSKG Expressions, and most recently, played as set in Rec. Park this past May for the Big Splash Sustainability Fair. Always on the road, Donna the Buffalo’s current tour is in support of their new album, “Tonight, Tomorrow, and Yesterday,” which was released this past June. The band’s tenth studio album (and first since 2008), debuted in the Top 20 of the Americana radio charts. The album features many fan- favorites, new and old, including the title track and “I Love My Tribe.” Doors for the August 31st Choconut Inn show open at 6pm, and music starts soon after. Tickets are $20, and can be purchased at the door, or in advance at thechoconutinn.com or at Music City in Vestal. The Choconut Inn is located a short drive down Rt. 26, at 10 Quaker Lake Rd, in Friendsville, PA.
PARTY IN THE PARK WITH THE ARTIMUS PYLE BAND, WOODSHED PROPHETS AND TUMBLEWEED HIGHWAY
Ronnie Vuolo Staff Writer Bainbridge will be rockin’ in the Park on August 10th from 10am to 5:30pm for the 2nd annual benefit for Chenango County Toys for Tots. General Clinton Park will be alive with the sounds of Lynyrd Skynyrd, as played by The Artemis Pyle Band, as well as amazing music by regional acts Woodshed Prophets and Tumbleweed Highway. In addition to the music, there will be over 30 vendors, food, and both Silent and Chinese Auctions. Tickets cost $15 and can be purchased in Bainbridge at Snips and Snails, online at www.facebook.com/ rockinthepark2012 or on-site. With something for all ages, it’s a great way to spend the day and benefit the community at the same time. Located off I-88 at exit 8, parking is available on-site. Check out Facebook for information; discount group tickets and free giveaways. Headlining the program is the Artemis Pyle Band, billed as the “Ultimate Tribute Band to Lynyrd Skynyrd.” Led by wild-man drummer Artemis Pyle, one of the few surviving members of the original band (and the man who gave them their signature
double bass sound), the music is kick-ass southern rock from the first chord to the last. Close your eyes and you can hear the ghosts of the past playing along. Having played with such musical dignitaries as The Rolling Stones, The Who, Charlie Daniels and ZZ Top, they’ll pull you to your feet and get your body moving. Not to be overshadowed are regional bands Woodshed Prophets and Tumbleweed Highway. The Prophets blend rock, folk and country with a strong driving beat and a gritty honesty in their words. From the steady beat of ‘LA’ to the more introspective ‘Room for You,’ they’ll have you moving to the music, and for those who crave more, the band is also playing August 11th at the Rec Park Music Fest in Binghamton. For those who like a country sound mixed with an eclectic blend of musical influences, Tumbleweed Highway will fulfill your needs. Currently promoting their new CD ‘Where Do We Go From Here’, they’re touring the Northeast from western PA to Massachusetts. From the southern rock drive of ‘Hurry Sundown’ to the more mellow country waltz beat of ‘Nothing on the Radio’ you’ll be swaying to the music and tapping your feet. Come on out on the 10th– a great time for a great cause!
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art.
August 2013 Triple Cities Carousel 11
ON THE COVER: ROBERT FUNDIS BEAUTY IN THE GAPS “Corrosion” by Robert Fundis
Maria “Murph” Murphy Staff Writer
The eye, the soul, the hands, the space between. These are just a few of the many topics that were discussed with artist Robert Fundis, during our interview last month. To an outsider, it may have sounded like a philosophical debate or spiritual discussion, but for Fundis it was just another conversation about art; it’s more than paint on a canvas. “It’s anything I can make something out of,” Fundis responds when asked of his chosen media. Fundis grew up in the outskirts of Vestal and has recently returned to Broome County after spending two years in New York City at the New York Academy of Art, where he earned his Masters Degree in Fine Arts. During his studies, he was awarded a prestigious internship within the LiaLeipzig International Artist Residency Program, for which he spent two months in Leipzig, Germany. Only four outstanding students were chosen for the internship, and Fundis was one of them. “It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life,” Fundis says. “And I would like to go back.”
Fundis’s creative process draws some parallels to Eastern Religions such as Buddhism or Hinduism. Although seen to the world as structured religious institutions, those within simply see it as their way of life. Art, and all that it encompasses, is Fundis’s way of life. “When I walk down the street, I’m stopped in my tracks so often,” he says. “It’s an incredible dynamic synergy of materials, organic and non-organic, that we as human beings create and build... then we let them go.” But creation and building, in Fundis’s eyes, do not always begin at the traditional level. His inspiration can often stem from a source overlooked, outcast, or even fearfully avoided by most. That source is death. “Materials, over time, are decaying, yet in that… they are still creating something so beautiful that it could never be planned... and we stumble upon them.” Many artists seek inspiration from nature’s natural beauties, but Fundis finds beauty by looking “in the gaps; the spaces between.” “I see beauty in everything, and that’s the kind of vulnerability I have,” Fundis continues. “I see so much beauty in everybody, where the world doesn’t see much beauty in them.”
As of August 2nd, Fundis will be sharing this beauty with the community as he presents his work at the Anthony Brunelli Fine Arts Gallery. There, he will show some of his more recent work, inspired by these “tiny gaps” and “little spaces.”
“It’s simple, subtle duality between two opposing forces, and then beauty as well; whatever that means to anyone else,” Fundis continues. “I see beauty in all the little in-betweens that we walk over.” Not only does Fundis see beauty in the unlikely, but he also seems to see strength and possibility in the ordinary. Like most arts, his hands are his tools of creation. They are tools more essential than any brush or pencil could be. For Fundis; they hold all the power. “For me, there’s no substitute for the hand,” says Fundis. “The hand is the most important thing.” When listening to him speak, however, his hands are not what one might assume to be his most valuable tool. His mind, imagination, and curiosity stand out greatly upon introduction. Even during a discussion, Fundis is clearly searching and creating within his mind, finding his own beauties with every crack and imperfection, down to wires draping over a stage’s edge. You can see it in his eyes. “The eye flies out of the soul and into the world.”
With that curiosity, comes a self-awareness that is very rare to find within the art scene; a grasp on what was, what is, and what should be. “The biggest dilemma as an artist is finding where you fall in the course of history of art,” he states. And it is obvious that Fundis has found where he has fallen and is working on his own way to make a signature mark on art history. His work is not only an expression of his own passions, emotions, and life experiences, but also an open window for the viewers to peer through and see what find within its pane. “I don’t want to tell the viewer what’s going on,” Fundis explains. “I want to create a piece that the viewer can enter without being overwhelmed.” Robert Fundis will be showing his recent work at the Anthony Brunelli Fine Arts Gallery (186 State Street, Binghamton) in the month of August. Opening Reception will be August 2nd (First Friday) from 6pm to 9pm, and can also be viewed on Saturdays from 12PM to 4PM or by appointment. For more information or to make an appointment, call (607) 624-3406 or visit anthonybrunelli.com. Information on how to purchase any art by Fundis can be found at offthewallgallery.com. To see a sample of the artwork Fundis will be showing at the gallery, just turn the page!
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proudly supporting ARTS INTERVIEWS on WSKG-FM Public Radio visit our current exhibition: COLLECTOR’S ITEMS: LEADING BY EXAMPLE BCAC Gallery Space 81 State St. Suite 501, Stephen’s Square Building Gallery Hours: 11am-5pm Mon-Fri First Friday: 6-9pm information@broomearts.org
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GALLERY: ROBERT FUNDIS ROBERT HOOVER
August 2013 Triple Cities Carousel 13
Our cover art this month comes from Vestal native Robert Fundis. Fundis will be showing at Anthony Brunelli Fine Arts through the month of August. The cover image is a piece called “Toys.” Below, we see “Presence” (top), and “Double Self.” For more on Fundis and his art, flip back to page 11.
ARTWORK ON DISPLAY
AT WATER STREET BREWING
Maria “Murph” Murphy Staff Writer
“Better late than never” are the words of painter Robert Hoover when referring to his career as an artist, a career that began only ten years ago. Although he may not have as many years of experience as other artists, Hoover undoubtedly matches them in talent and passion. “I love painting,” says Hoover. “It’s my whole world... my whole life.” Before joining the Binghamton art scene, Hoover lived and worked in New York City for thirty-one years. During that time he held various leadership positions within the magazine publishing industry, including Art, Creative, and Production Director and Vice President of Production. In addition, Hoover also worked as Operations Supervisor at Hearst Magazines. It was there that he did color press approvals on a multitude of titles, including: Redbook, Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Oprah, Esquire, and Harpers Bazaar. Despite all the ground he covered while in New York, Hoover still proudly calls himself a Binghamton native, as well as a graduate from Binghamton University with a Bachelors in English Literature. He is happy to have returned home. “It was like going from a scalding hot martini to a glass of cool water,” says Hoover. “It’s wonderful being here [Binghamton].” And it just may have been that glass of cool water which opened Hoover’s eyes to the opportunity in front of him; an opportunity to live his passion. “It was kind of a wake up call ten years ago… I had always wanted to paint and something inside me said ‘it’s now or never.’” Since his ‘wake up call,’ Hoover has embraced not only painting, but all forms of artistic expression,
even if not in his chosen media.
“I believe that all of the arts are intimately related. They are all about creative expression; the creative act is the same,” he explains. With a B.A. in English Literature, it is no surprise that poetry is another creative form of which Hoover is passionate. Robert Lowell and Sylvia Plath are two poets that have inspired him on and off the canvas. Hoover’s passion for poetry and his passion for painting seem to run together on parallel lines. “Doing a painting is like writing a poem, but in a different form,” he states. Hoover’s work can usually be found at Burger Monday’s or the Lost Dog Cafe, but this month his paintings will be brightening up a different venue. From August 2nd through the end of the month, the Water Street Brewing Co. will be displaying a collection of Hoover’s paintings, and they are looking forward to it. “We’re excited to have Robert’s work on display in August. We love his work and he’s simply a terrific guy,” exclaims Michele Bleichert, co-owner of Water Street Brewing Co. Hoover’s paintings will be for sale and priced affordably. So, be sure to make opening night or stop in at the brewery throughout the month for dinner or a drink. You might just find a piece of art that is perfect for your home or work space. “A nice colorful painting can really brighten up a house and make it more beautiful,” says Hoover. Opening night will be held at the Water Street Brewing Co. (168 Water Street, Binghamton) on August 2nd (First Friday) from 5pm-9pm. Hoover’s work will be on display from opening night until August 30th, and can be seen during Water Street’s regular hours: Tues.Thurs. 4pm to 11pm, Fri. and Sat. 12pm to 12am, and Sunday from 12pm to 7pm. Info can be found at waterstreetbrewingco. com. Questions about store hours or Opening Night, please call (607) 217-4546. And be sure to visit flickr.com/photos/roberthoover or roberthoover.etsy.com for more information on Robert Hoover’s artwork.
FROM BLIGHT TO BRIGHT:
August 2013 Triple Cities Carousel 15
INSIDE THE HAPPINESS PROJECT
This photo of women at a suffragete rally is the newest addition to the Happiness Project.
Maria “Murph” Murphy Staff Writer Next time you find yourself out and about or on the town, you might want to stop and take a look at some of the abandoned buildings on the street. It just might brighten your day. You may have already seen them… those smiling faces in black and white all over town. They are a product of a local guerilla art movement called the ‘Happiness Project’. It began last August, in 2012 when a Binghamton local (who we were able to interview with the promise of anonymity) had an idea. “I was thinking, what I’d really like to do is street art of vintage photos on these vacant buildings around town, to bring unexpected delight on blighted buildings in the Triple Cities.” Street art has long been a controversial form of art, due to its questionable legality (well, okay, its illegality), but one cannot deny the effect of a bit of color splashed on an abandoned building. It is not about destruction, but rather, creation. It began with one photo, probably the most notable of the three images that have popped up so far. The photo is of a happy, smiling, local couple, anonymous, just like the artist that brought them back to life. The photo, which was likely taken more than 70 years ago, had been found in a box of photographs at an auction. “There was something really special about that photo” says the mysterious artist that blew up the image and plastered copies of it about town, embracing locals to the project before they even had time to realize it was of the guerilla variety. Since then, there have been two more photographs added to the project, placed with care (under cover of darkness) throughout town. One is of a grandmother and granddaughter, and the other is of women attending suffrage rally.
It is a simple project with a simple message: happiness. A happiness that is hopefully making its way through the towns, street-by-street, buildingby-building. “People look at the photos and say ‘wow, they’re so happy!,’ and I’m like: ‘Yes! That’s exactly the point!’” But, behind its simplicity is a bigger goal than sharing some smiles. Those behind the ‘Happiness Project’ are hoping it will also shed light on another issue for the area. “This is as much about re-populating abandoned buildings as it is about art and history,” says an unknown source quoted in the Binghamton Bridge. “It will draw attention to important questions such as, ‘What are we going to do with these [empty buildings]?” They continue, “It’s not right to leave buildings empty like that; it’s disrespectful to the people who have to look at them everyday.” In the meantime, the guerilla photo exhibit will at least brighten up these abandoned buildings temporarily, until something more can be done. While in waiting, the artists behind the project are finding themselves weaving a network filled with others working towards projects and movements to improve the area and spread good vibrations. “Doing this has exposed me to other people who want to do public art,” says our anonymous friend. With those people is the Department of Public Arts, which is hosting a mural arts workshop from August 3rd and 4th from 12pm-5pm. “We are all looking to promote public art in any way shape or form,” says anonymous. The photos will continue to eye us from their respective locations, and more will be added over time, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for new, smiling faces in some unlikely places. More information on the ‘Happiness Project’ can be found at binghamtonbridge.org/happiness-projectstrikes-again. Or to get involved with the public art workshops, e-mail binghamtonbridge@gmail.com for info and RSVP.
triple cities carousel sunday.
The Triple Cities Carousel Events Calendar is featured each month as a courtesy to our advertisers, however we welcome everyone to submit their events to triplecitiescarousel@gmail.com by the 15th of the month prior to publication. Space is limited, so calendar entries, which have no cost, are picked on a first come/first serve basis. Triple Cities Carousel reserves the right to reject any submission deemed to be non-arts related.
04 11 18 25
“War: What’s it For?” (ROB) Kids Theater Workshop “Honk Jr” (EPAC) Recent Abstracts (WSBC) Open Mic (BRK)
Mixmaster DJ Castle (LDC) “In the Heights” Fine Arts Bldg (BU) Kids Theater “Honk Jr” (EPAC) Garlic Fest (DT) Recent Abstracts(WSBC) Open Mic (BRK)
Shakespeare in the Park (EPAC) Contra Dance (TTC) Recent Abstracts (WSBC) Ring of Fire (CRT) Open Mic (BRK) Comedy Fest (BUN/BEL) Road to Nineveh (TCO)
Disney Jr Live (ARENA) Recent Abstracts (WSBC) Ring of Fire (CRT) Open Mic (BRK)
monday.
tuesday.
(AC)=Anderson Center (ANT)=Anthony Brunelli Fine Arts (ARENA)=BC Veterans Arena (BAIN)=Bainbridge, NY (BBW)=Black Bear Winery (BCAC)=Broome County Arts Council (BCW)=Bing. Cntr. for Writers (BEL)=Belmar Pub (BRK)=Brackney Inn (BTP)=Blind Tiger Pub (BOB)=Bobby’s Place (BU)=Binghamton University (BUN)=Bundy Museum (CCW)=Cyber Cafe West (CG)=Cooperative Gallery
(CI)=Choconut Inn (CMP)=Cider Mill Playhouse (CRT)=Chenango River Theatre (CUT)=Cutler Gardens (DT)=Downtown Binghamton (DTO)=Downtown Owego (ENJ)=Enjoie Golf Club (EPAC)=Endicott Performing Arts Center (FIVE)=Number 5 (JAB)=Susan Jablon Mosaics (JBC)=John Barleycorn Tavern (JS)=Jungle Science (KNG)=Kingsley’s Pub (LDC)=Lost Dog Cafe/Lounge (ORA)=Orazio Salati Gallery
05 12 19 26
Kids Theater Workshop “Honk Jr” (EPAC) Mosaic Class (JAB) Open Gallery (JS) Open Mic (BEL) Collector’s Items (BCAC)
Mosaic Class (JAB) Open Gallery (JS) Open Mic (BEL) Collector’s Items (BCAC) Nate and Kate (CRT)
Mosaic Class (JAB) Open Gallery (JS) Open Mic (BEL) Collector’s Items (BCAC)
Disney Jr Live (ARENA) Mosaic Class (JAB) Open Gallery (JS) Open Mic (BEL) Collector’s Items (BCAC)
06 13 20 27
wedne (OUH)=Old Union Hotel (OTZ)=Otsiningo Park (REC)=Rec Park (ROB)=Roberson Museum (SBP)=Sandy Beach Park (SPOOL)=Spool MFG (TCO)=Tri Cities Opera (TTC)=Tioga Trails Cafe (TD)=Tioga Downs Casino (WSBC)=Water St. Brewing Co.
Kids Theater Workshop “Honk Jr” (EPAC) Speakeasy Open Mic (CCW) Milkweed (KNG) Displaced (BUN) Recent Abstracts (WSBC) Collector’s Items (BCAC)
CYBER CAFE WEST 176 Main St. Binghamton
AUGUS
“Out of the Box” (FOR) “ABBA: The Concert” (AC) Java Joe Jammers (CCW) Milkweed (KNG) Displaced (BUN) Recent Abstracts (WSBC) Collector’s Items (BCAC)
Java Joe Jammers (CCW) Milkweed (KNG) Displaced (BUN) Recent Abstracts (WSBC) Collector’s Items (BCAC)
Java Joe Jammers (CCW) Milkweed (KNG) Displaced (BUN) Recent Abstracts (WSBC) Collector’s Items (BCAC)
07 14 21 28
Kids Theater Wo Jazz J Fr
R
R
Jazz J
R
T
R
LIVE MUS
5 Nights a W
ST 2013
esday. thursday.
orkshop “Honk Jr” (EPAC) Jam w/Miles Ahead (LDC) resh Food Face-Off (CUT) Mantraverse (CCW) Open Mic (JBC) Flyin’ Club (SBP) Displaced (BUN) Recent Abstracts (WSBC) Open Gallery (JS) Live Music (BEL) Collector’s Items (BCAC)
Rob Stachyra (CCW) Open Mic (JBC) Displaced (BUN) Recent Abstracts (WSBC) Open Gallery (JS) Live Music (BEL) Collector’s Items (BCAC)
Jam w/Miles Ahead (LDC) Jamie Willard (CCW) Open Mic (JBC) Flyin’ Club (SBP) Displaced (BUN) Recent Abstracts (WSBC) Open Gallery (JS) Live Music (BEL) Collector’s Items (BCAC)
The Puzzled Players (LDC) Open Mic (JBC) Displaced (BUN) Recent Abstracts (WSBC) Open Gallery (JS) Live Music (BEL) Collector’s Items (BCAC)
SIC
Week!
01 08 15 22 29
Summer Adult Poetry Workshop at BC Lib. (BCW) Vermont Cheddar w/Carol Simek (BTP) InnerMission (CCW) Kids Theater “Honk Jr” (EPAC) Last Call (CI) Collector’s Items (BCAC)
Kids Theater Workshop “Honk Jr” (EPAC) InnerMission (CCW) Displaced (BUN) Recent Abstracts (WSBC) Ring of Fire (CRT) Blind Spots (CI) Collector’s Items (BCAC)
Enerjee w/Ayana D (LDC) InnerMission (CCW) Shakespeare in the Park (EPAC) Vermont Cheddar w/Carol Simek (BTP) Displaced (BUN) Recent Abstracts (WSBC) Ring of Fire (CRT) Gone Crazy (BOB) Giant Steps (CI) Collector’s Items (BCAC)
Acoustic Jam (EPAC) InnerMission (CCW) Displaced (BUN) Recent Abstracts (WSBC) Ring of Fire (CRT) Collector’s Items (BCAC)
Vermont Cheddar w/Carol Simek (BTP) InnerMission (CCW) Lorrie Morgan & Pam Tillis (TD) Displaced (BUN) Recent Abstracts (WSBC) Ring of Fire (CRT) Collector’s Items (BCAC)
22 BEERS On Tap!
events calendar
friday.
02 09 16 23 30
Collector’s Items (BCAC), GCO (CCW) “War: What’s it For?” (ROB), Late Ancients (LDC) First Friday Art Walk (DT) Kit Ashman (CG) Kids Theater “Honk Jr” (EPAC) Rick Iacovelli (BTP) Pete Ruttle (OUH) Robert Fundis (ANT) Live Music (FIVE), Displaced (BUN) Open Gallery (JS) Spiedie Fest (OTZ) Recent Abstracts (WSBC), Wreckless Marci (BOB) Kids Theater Workshop “Honk Jr” (EPAC) Live Music (BBW), Fringe Film Fest (BUN), Kit Ashman (CG) Ricky & Blue Shadows (BTP) Pete Ruttle (OUH) Displaced (BUN) Recent Abstracts (WSBC) Ring of Fire (CRT) Slam (BOB) Open Gallery (JS) Live Music (FIVE), Collector’s Items (BCAC)
The Fat Peace (LDC), Live Music (BBW) Comedy Fest (BUN/BEL), Kit Ashman (CG) Shakespeare in the Park (EPAC) Owego Art Walk (DTO) The Beatles Band (BTP) Live Music (CCW), Pete Ruttle (OUH) Tim McGraw (ENJ) Live Music (FIVE), Displaced (BUN) Recent Abstracts (WSBC) Ring of Fire (CRT), Road to Nineveh (TCO) Collector’s Items (BCAC), Open Gallery (JS) Live Music (BBW) The Big Toe Jam (BTP) Pete Ruttle (OUH) Panigma Steel Band (LDC) Displaced (BUN) Recent Abstracts (WSBC) Ring of Fire (CRT) Virgil Cain (BOB) Open Gallery (JS) Collector’s Items (BCAC) Live Music (FIVE), Live Music (BBW) Mike Cadden (BTP) Cabinet (CCW) Pete Ruttle (OUH) Displaced (BUN) Recent Abstracts (WSBC) Ring of Fire (CRT) The Look (BOB) Open Gallery (JS) Collector’s Items (BCAC) Live Music (FIVE)
GREAT Food!
saturday.
03 10 17 24 31
“War: What’s it For?” (ROB), Spiedie Fest (OTZ) Bull Riding (BRK), Kit Ashman (CG) Kids Theater “Honk Jr” (EPAC) Mosaic Class (JAB) StereoFidelics (CCW) L Ectric Brew (BTP) Open Gallery (ORA) Robert Fundis (ANT) Live Music (FIVE), Displaced (BUN) Recent Abstracts (WSBC) Heritage (BOB), Shelter Slam (CI) Decades of Fashion Show & Tea (TCO) Mixmaster DJ Castle (LDC), ExPOzURE (BRK), Fringe Films (BUN),Celeb Follies (CMP) Kit Ashman (CG), Tim Ruffo (CI) Kids Theater “Honk Jr” (EPAC) Mosaic Class (JAB), Garlic Fest (DT) Joe Stento (BTP), Kim/Chris (CCW) Open Gall. (ORA), Park Party (BAIN) Rob Fundis (ANT), Displaced (BUN) Live Music (FIVE), Live Music (BOB) Recent Abstracts (WSBC), Ring of Fire (CRT)
Wreckless Marci (BRK), Kit Ashman (CG) Shakespeare in the Park (EPAC) Mosaic Class (JAB), AudioInflux (JBC) Thom Ormsby (BTP) The Spelunkers (CCW) Open Gall. (ORA), Robert Fundis (ANT) Live Music (FIVE), Displaced (BUN) Recent Abstracts (WSBC) Ring of Fire (CRT),Comedy Fest (BUN/BEL) Johnny Carr Benefit (BEL), Odd Man Out (BOB) Road to Nineveh (TCO) Chris Thater Memorial Races/Concert (REC) HiWay Fruit Market (BRK). Murphy (SPOOL) Mosaic Class (JAB) Mike Whittemore (BTP) The Letter 5 (CCW) Open Gallery (ORA) Robert Fundis (ANT) Displaced (BUN) Recent Abstracts (WSBC) Ring of Fire (CRT) Live Music (FIVE),Giant Steps (BOB) Donna the Buffalo (CI) Woodshed Prophets (BRK) Mosaic Class (JAB) Outer Reef (BTP) Sonando (LDC) Open Gallery (ORA) Robert Fundis (ANT) Displaced (BUN) Recent Abstracts (WSBC) Ring of Fire (CRT) Live Music (FIVE)
WEEKLY Specials!
poetry.
18 Vol. 1 Issue 6
POET OF THE MONTH: MOLLY KAT
Molly Kat is a writer living in Binghamton, NY, who spends her time working with handicapped preschool children. She likes exploring abandoned buildings and eating sorbet with really tiny spoons. Molly gives really wonderful hugs and likes to set things on fire. She recently started writing for a blog: http://selfiesinink.tumblr.com. GONER how my insides ached for my own bed Lily Johanna and Emma Ramona do not need a father I will get healthy minded for my unborn babies I will not fall into the tar pit, stay close to the places the ground is solid stay away from people who resemble cliffs I like to jump from high places.
I am paper thin and razor sharp, I am rock hard. I am piercing and perfect and all the wrong sizes, don’t give me disaster like you’re sorry if you aren’t. I am fucking glorious. Sometimes it hurts so good to live.
I don’t.
BORDERLINE
I lie. I am attracted to self destruction it is so familiar the way a needle full of junk remembers where the best veins are then creates decay; I saved voicemails from your heroin mouth begging me not to go. I have gone before, gone in a good way a bigger than me way; sweet like Georgia peach juice running down my unborn daughters’ chins. I have so much beauty ahead of me. Everything behind is made of stone grinding down to immemorial dust; we are only the stories we tell. I need to change the way I tell myself into being. My being is a work of God, a fucking monstrosity, a deliberate mistake that took too much fun to admit how much it hurts to come down. I am so much bigger than my body, so much bigger than I allow myself the courage to be. I pick loud men who can hold me tight, too tight to move. Keep me from getting big. I am afraid of myself. I broke open on the asphalt, sky dive free fall, weightless maybe no peace in the aftermath, but the crash the boom, blow up, change or die, intent intense. Go all or go home. Go home. I’ve never had a home. I don’t need a home. Home is the death of music, the suppression of the feminine voice, home is created by the male tonic. I am not confined to binary. I am echoing in the alleyway, I can echo on forever and desert the bad places I hold in my stiff neck, grinding teeth; I am echoing in the pit of my belly pulling dirt from my hair washing my skin until it is silk free from the remnants of your touch. My cheeks are bruised my head is split open don’t you die to know don’t you ache for it don’t you burn.
pushups until the muscles give child’s pose, melt into the floor sob until the glass fogs resist the urge to push the pedal to the ground lay the metal against the words cut the skin out that has black ink betrays an untruth burn bright run hot go fast there are bluebirds in the bathroom ceiling they sing the toilet a lullaby kiss the porcelain sink the new home is a castle move every time a relationship ends don’t leave the city just leave the room leave the room the room the mess exists in the brain if it is allowed remember the truth along with the hatred that gets the hurt to satiate itself remember the beauty as soon as it’s safe then start again.
LAST TIME, ROUND AGAIN Spring rain is throwing itself against my home, pavement a darker black music made the air thick a heavy calm, hair braids and a banjo
Little Place, Big Taste!
rhythm and harmony bongo hands and beer bottles the humans in this city have kept me alive their heartbeats slow me down enough to breathe. I am loved in a way that does not break me.
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film.
August 2013 Triple Cities Carousel 19
BROMP BROS. BRING FRINGE FILMS TO THE BUNDY Kaitlin Mooney Staff Writer
Fringe Films is an indie film-making studio fronted by the Bromp Brothers (more formally known as Mark Berretta and James Osterhout). The duo has written, directed and acted in more than sixty short films and 7 full length movies since starting up in 2009. Carousel was given the opportunity to speak to Berretta about the upcoming film festival (“Meet the Bromp Brothers”) at the Bundy museum August 9-10th, where 12 Fringe Film original shorts will be screened. Mark Berretta looks like a guy you would want to tailgate with. He wears a frayed baseball cap and a skull and bones t-shirt from an upstate Demolition Derby (with the sleeves ripped off). Before our interview starts, he orders a Coors Light from the bar. However, once Berretta starts talking about Fringe Films you realize this guy does not spend an ounce of his free time tailgating… when he
isn’t working to “pay the bills” he is writing scripts, editing movies, or scouting out locations.
Berretta started Fringe Films with his childhood best friend James Osterhout, once technology made making quality films outside of Hollywood possible. “We got ourselves Mac computers, a decent camera, and taught ourselves...from that point we started going on a rampage.” Of the sixty or so films released to date, they have covered every genre you can name: Midwestern, Horror, Gangster, documentary etc. They even have a silent movie in their repertoire, “Ash Tray,” filmed at the Endicott Inn. The films are unlike anything you would see in a commercial theater. “I don’t want people to be bored, I don’t want to be bored...we put our own twist on everything, we ‘fringe’ it. We don’t tell people how to interpret our films.” The rampage continues to this day, and it’s not unheard of for the studio to be working on 4 projects at once. Berretta is currently editing 3 different projects for the August film festival at the Bundy. The Bundy Museum of History & Art has housed Fringe Film Festivals before. Just last year the Binghamton Museum hosted the Fringe Films Fade to Fall Festival. It was a huge success with a sold out theatre.
Beretta remembers, “It was a zoo, there wasn’t enough seats for everybody, people were sitting in the aisles.”
In order to accommodate Fringe Film’s fan base of old and new fans, the movies selected for this year’s festival will be shown two days with the option to reserve seating. When asked why show at the Bundy, Berretta fiercely laments his loyalty to Eric Eckman, the director of Operations at the Bundy Museum. “Eric is a great dude, he likes our work, and we really like the Bundy.” Eckman, a wellknown contributor to the arts, has been known to allow the studio into the museum after hours to film pieces in the Victorian mansion. Fringe Films is known for their utilization of Binghamton locations as the back drops for their movies. “In Binghamton you just drive around the block and you can find anything you want. You don’t need sets...I’ve created some films from a location, we were up Clinton Street, turned up a side street and saw what literally looked like a bombed out city. We created two films just from that location” explains Berretta. Concepts for films are not just limited to architecture… sometimes they strike in the form of a Craig’s List add for a vintage 1970s vehicle. The guy who sold Berretta his new set of wheels “...was
a full blown character who was also into Demolition Derbies. He had a huge garage filled with D.D. cars… we got to talking about my films and he said I should come up with him to film a Derby.” Berretta took up the offer and spent two days filming demolition derby culture from the inside at the St. Lawrence County fair. The experience was life changing for Berretta: “I met a group of people, a community, and they treated me like a king. They didn’t know me from squat ... The two days I spent with the families and crew opened my eyes to a different way of life and a different meaning of friendship, family and respect.” The film started out as documentary, but a story slowly unfolded and Berretta chased it with his camera: “It wasn’t what I thought.” The action packed documentary-styled short film will be premiered at the festival. Berretta assures, “it’s going to make people lose their minds! It’s one of the best things I’ve done, and that is why we are Fringe Films… we go into different worlds.” The Fringe Film Festival: Meet the Bromp Brothers will be playing August 9th and 10th at the Bundy Musuem of History & Art at 129 Main Street, Binghamton NY. There is a $5 fee which includes wine and food. To reserve seat please contact Fringe Films at their facebook page or website: www.thefringefilms.com.
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special feature.
August 2013 Triple Cities Carousel 21
DR. KILMER’S SWAMP ROOT: A BINGHAMTON LEGACY
Manganese, that he felt held healing properties. He built a Sanitarium and Hydrotherapium and convinced the town to rename the area Sanitaria Springs. The modern facility contained electric lights, steam heaters and elevators, had Sulpher, Turkish, Russian and electric treatment baths and was surrounded by parkland. His son Ulysses became Associate Superintendent and daughter Edith, Librarian. Brother Andrew later became Assistant Superintendent. He began to advertise a cancer cure, treating cancer patients at both at the Sanitorium and at his Cancertorium at 254 Conklin Avenue. He offered free rail transportation in return for commitment to a 3-6 month course of homeopathic treatment that included special diet, use of the springs and a secret medicine. He opposed traditional treatments including radium, plasters, x-rays and surgery. He died at 83 from a cerebral hemorrhage on January 14, 1924, at his residence at 44 Beethoven Street.
Ronnie Vuolo Staff Writer
Binghamton’s rise to prominence in the second half of the 19th century has long been linked to the three staple industries of the time; shoes, furniture and cigars. Between 1860 and 1890, the city’s population grew from 8,325 to over 35,000, largely due to its industrial operations. Its fame however, also rested on another successful manufacturing enterprise: Dr. Kilmer’s Swamp Root, Kidney, Liver and Bladder Cure. Started in the 1870s as a small venture, it grew to a multi-million dollar empire with offices all over the world. Sylvester Andral Kilmer was born in Cobleskill, NY, on December 19, 1840, one of eleven children of Daniel and Maria Shaver Kilmer. After attending schools locally, and working in Schoharie Co. with Dr. Scott, an Allopathic physician and thereafter, for Dr. Downing, a Homeopathic physician, he set up his own practice in Barnerville where he remained for about 1 1/2 yrs. He then left to pursue studies in ‘eclectic and botanic practice’ in Wisconsin with Dr. Patrick, followed by a course of study at NYC’s Bellevue Hospital, a practical course in Obstetrics and Diseases of Women at the Philadelphia LyingIn Charity Hospital and studies under Dr. D. Hayes Agnew at the Philadelphia School of Operative Surgery. His studies included time at the Central Dispensary in Chicago, relating to issues of women and receipt in 1875 of a diploma from the Bennett Medical College of Chicago.
While Dr. Kilmer was building his new enterprises, brother Jonas and nephew Willis were transforming the Patent Medicine business into a multi-million dollar empire, shipping Swamp Root as far away as Europe, S. America and Australia. Incorporated in 1909 as Dr. Kilmer and Company, they had branches in NYC, Chicago, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) and Kingston (Jamaica). The original building complex, at the corner of Chenango and Virgil, was damaged by fire in 1900. The Kilmer Building, a modern 6-floor/8 story fireproof manufacturing and business headquarters at the corner of Chenango St. and Lewis, replaced it in 1902-3. Father and son built adjoining mansions, designed by architect C. Edward Vosbury, on Riverside Drive. Jonas became a community leader, serving as the director of the People’s Bank from 1899–1907, when he was made a trustee of the Binghamton Savings Bank, as president of the Binghamton Press from 1904 until his death and as a member of the Board of Police Commissioners from 1893–1908. He died in 1912.
Following his studies, he settled in Binghamton ca. 1878, setting up a medical practice and making regular rounds of Binghamton and surrounding communities. He soon became successful enough to buy land for a home and a laboratory where he could prepare his patent remedies. By 1881, he’d been joined by a younger brother, Jonas, who became an equal partner in the concern, handling the business end. Three years his junior, Jonas had a strong background in business, holding a degree from Bryant and Stratton Business College in Albany, followed by 18 years in the NYC mercantile industry. The subsequent expansion in sales necessitated a larger dispensary, built ca. 1882, where they could prepare, bottle and package their products. They made a variety of cure-alls, however Dr. Kilmer’s Swamp Root Kidney, Liver and Bladder Cure was by far the most popular. Despite its effusive claims, it was, in actuality, a diuretic and mild laxative. Made of 10% alcohol, sugar and a combination of buchu and skullcap leaves; golden seal, columbo, rhubarb, valerian and mandrake roots; cinnamon; oils of juniper and birch; balsam copaiba and tolu; venice turpentine; peppermint herb; sassafras and cape aloes, its function in increasing urine output led patients to believe that it was indeed effective in curing their kidney and bladder ailments. Other remedies included: Dr. Kilmer’s Indian Cough and Consumptive Cure; Indian Medicine Jug; Female Remedy; Prompt Parilla Liver Pills; Wild Indian Female Cancer Injection; Wild Indian Female Secret; Ocean Weed Heart Remedy; Autumn Leaf Extract and U & O Ointment.
in 1869, Willis graduated Cornell University in 1890 where he studied modern advertising. He was placed in charge of the advertising department, a move that revolutionized the firm. A talented and aggressive promoter, he commenced a successful national advertising campaign that vastly increased the business’ fortunes. His connection to his first wife’s father, a socially prominent newspaper advertising executive in NYC, aided in his endeavors. His campaign included the publication of the annual Swamp Root Almanac, containing planting times, weather forecasts, phases of the moon, and guides to dream interpretation. It was also full of testimonials to the efficacy of the products, and was a powerful advertising tool.
In 1886, brother Andrew joined the firm, followed in 1890 by Jonas’s son Willis Sharpe. Born in Brooklyn
In 1892, Jonas purchased S. Andral’s share of the business. Controversy surrounded the sale and
The passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906 imposed testing and labeling requirements on patent medicine, most of which contained alcohol and/or narcotics to elevate mood and relieve pain. Swamp Root, having already labeled its ingredients, now substituted the word ‘remedy’ for ‘cure’ in all advertising. Although the law led to a decline in the popularity of patent medicines, Swamp Root continued to be a moneymaker.
some felt it was not entirely an honest transaction. Dr. Kilmer was apparently unhappy with the arrangement and subsequently brought suit against his brother. One issue concerned product packaging that contained requests for patients to write Dr. Kilmer for advice and prescription, a practice, which continued long after Dr. Kilmer’s departure. Dr. Kilmer accused them of representing him as the physician-in-charge of their medical department and falsely diagnosing and prescribing medicine. In 1917 the Appellate Court ruled in favor of Dr. Kilmer. Around the time of the sale, Dr. Kilmer purchased land 10 miles east of Binghamton in a place then known as Osbourne Hollow. The land contained a variety of springs; sulpho-phosphate, Blue Lithia, Red Iron, Black Magnetic and Ferro-
After Jonas’ death, Willis took the helm. Like many tycoons of the era, he lived lavishly and large, appeared dapper in fedora and spats and wielded both political and professional power. In 1904, he founded the Binghamton Press and built the 12-story Press building at 19 Chenango Street. Many believe he founded the paper in order to put the Binghamton Evening Herald out of business and gain control of news stories that might negatively affect his interests. When the Herald went out of business, his adversary, Guy Beardsley, mounted an unsuccessful suit charging conspiracy. Entering the field of thoroughbred racing, Willis was the owner of 1918 Kentucky Derby winner Exterminator. Exterminator was said to be an ugly horse and gelded for that reason. Story has it that he was purchased as a workout horse for another of his thoroughbreds and when that (continued on page 30)
comedy.
22 Vol. 1 Issue 6
FIRST EVER BINGHAMTON COMEDY AND ARTS FEST PUTS LOCAL AND NATIONAL ACTS CENTER STAGE
Taze Yanick Staff Writer
So you’ve probably heard of Athens, Georgia. Maybe even Bellingham, Washington. But who’s ever heard of Marfa, Texas? Why do I bring this up? These places are all known as “small art towns.” Says The 100 Best Small Art Towns in America, “The United States is full of small art towns. Architectural tradition . . . college students eager to exercise their creativity... an influx of artists due to the natural beauty surrounding them, these towns are overflowing with artistic talent and pride.”
clubs in town. “Taking this path through comedy has changed my life completely.”
He was talking to Eric Eckman one day about putting on a comedy show at The Bundy (which Eric directs) and said “Hey, how about a weekendlong thing.” It snowballed quickly and a festival was hatched. Salisbury says, “This is a groundbreaking event... putting a fire under our collective asses. This has never been done in the area’s history, so the pride tacked on with that is immeasurable.”
recorded his own Comedy Central Half Hour Special. He’s been seen on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” “John Oliver’s NY Standup Show,” “The Electric Company,” and a bunch of other basic and not so basic cable shows. He’s the creator and star of the web series “Kicking Dan Out,” featured on My Damn Channel. He even has his own podcast, called “My Dumb Friends,” co-hosted by friend and lover Sean Donnelly, which recently launched on Comedy Central’s Sirius radio station. He’s appeared as a “New Face” at The Montreal Comedy Festival, and
That’s in part thanks to guys like Kevin Salisbury and Eric Eckman of the Bundy Museum, who bring you... wait for it... Kevin Salisbury & The Bundy Museum Present: THE BINGHAMTON COMEDY AND ARTS FESTIVAL.
Kevin Salisbury, who we first met in issue 2 of Triple Cities Carousel, got involved in stand-up about 5 years ago after a really bad break up. “I had nothing else going on and I had a big enough ego to think that what I had to say was good enough for people to want to sit and listen to... it wasn’t. Not for a while at least.” He got his first break doing a set at the end of a metal show and just kept going after that. This also turned him into a comedy promoter, since he was DIY, and there’s no comedy
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These events will all take place at the Bundy Museum Annex, thanks to Eckman. “Eric really does a lot for local artists and he truly cares about the arts community thriving and he thought it would be a good marriage between the two communities… and he couldn’t have been more right. I’ve always been a supporter of the arts, but at the end of the day, I’m a comedy promoter, and having Eric and The Bundy Museum as partners on this has really opened my mind,” says Salisbury. Is there a reason why stand-up comedy and art should be brought together in this way? Salisbury states that, “when you take away all of the layers, stand-up and visual arts are all about self expression. What other reason is there to bring the two together? Even if it wasn’t intended at first, this is... a celebration of self expression.”
Marfa? Really? I think it’s high time Binghamton, New York be put on this list of small art towns. Unexplained glowing orbs in the desert and some galleries? Come on, Marfa! Binghamton has tons of excellent galleries, plus Big Splash, July Fest, Spiedie Fest, great theatre, a thriving music scenefrom jazz to metal, to name just a very, very few. Come on Binghamton, we are a small art town.
On August 16th, 17th, and 18th, over 40 comedians from all over New York, including the Binghamton area, will converge on this city to bring you the best in stand-up comedy, accompanied by visual and performance art. There will be three shows a day (5pm-7pm, 7:30pm-9:30pm, and 10pm-12am), with the first and third show of each day taking place at The Bundy Museum Annex, and the second show of each day taking place at The Belmar and Zona & Co Grille on Friday and Sunday, respectively. On Saturday, the Bundy Museum hosts all events.
early 50s, before Hart created the wildly popular B.C. and Wizard of Id Comic Strips, he produced single-panel gag cartoons, many of which were published in magazines such as Saturday Evening Post and Colliers. These works have never before been collected in an exhibit.
Dan St. Germain. Photo Provided.
The list of performers is truly staggering. It includes home-grown comedians like Maryanne Donnelly and Brock Shields (who recently did a set at the New York Comedy Club- youtube it), as well as Salisbury himself. Also appearing will be regional and national stand-ups like Buffalo-based Tim Joyce. Since 1991, Joyce has been lost and wandering on the road working comedy clubs and colleges from L.A. to New York City. He’s played in 36 states, as well as Canada, performing his comedy in major media markets as well as communities too small to warrant a dot from the makers of fine maps. On television he has been featured nationally on ABC (“America’s Funniest People”) and Comedy Central (“Stand-Up Stand-Up” and “Short Attention Span Theatre.”) Perhaps the biggest name to come to our small art town comedy fest is Dan St. Germain. Dan is a regular on “Best Week Ever” on VH-1 and has
in a Super Bowl commercial with Howard Stern. The guy is hilarious (youtube it), and a lot of his jokes are home grown, based on life in New York. But that is by no means all. Not in THIS small arts town (take THAT Marfa). Along with all these great comedians there will be local visual and performance artists on board. Theres Amara will be doing a live art exhibition backed by some great local live music. Cornelius Nixon (one of this writers favorite painters) and Brandon Molyneux will be showcased as well. To boot, there will be a body arts exhibit featuring local tattoo artists and their work on skin and canvas, as well as a live street art exhibition featuring Tom Bomb and MEONE, which will be backed by DJ Space One (one of this writers favorite DJs). Most recently added is an exhibition of some early works of Johnny Hart titled, “Before B.C.” In the
Is there a reason why the Triple Cities should laugh more? “It’s time to take comedy, something that is a vital part of entertainment... and put it on the big stage here in Binghamton. Binghamton has a reputation of being gloomy and hard-nosed. That doesn’t have to be the way this area is seen. This is one of the most unique and inspiring places out there, and there is so much to be offered here… life would be an awful thing to go through without laughter. We need comedy to get through the not so pleasant things that life can throw at us... comedy takes those awful and awkward and sometimes frightening things and gives you the chance to approach them from a different perspective, put a positive spin on them. It gives you a chance to see something through the eyes of another person in a way that you might not have ever picked up on. Comedy is one of the most important things in life.” So, get on out to the BINGHAMTON COMEDY AND ARTS FESTIVAL. Let’s have a good laugh. A portion of ALL ticket sales will be donated to arts education in local public schools. Weekend passes are $35, and individual shows have an entrance fee of $7. More info can be found at https://www.facebook. com/BinghamtonComedyArtsFestival2013. The Binghamton Comedy and Arts Festival is sponsored by 104.5 The Drive, The Bundy Museum, Triple Cities Carousel, The Belmar Pub, 3i Graphics, Zona and Co. Bar and Grille, and The City of Binghamton.
theatre.
August 2013 Triple Cities Carousel 23
THE ROAD TO
NINEVAH Rose Silberman-Gorn Staff Writer On August 16-18, “The Road to Nineveh,” a new play directed and penned by local playwright, director, and actor Foster Daniels, Jr., debuts at the Tri-Cities Opera House in Binghamton. The play is based on a gospel musical by William Powell entitled “Tears from Heaven.” Daniels scraps the music in favor of straight drama and adds his own touches to create an intimate experience for the audience, simultaneously comedic and wrenching. With an expanded cast and a few more lighthearted moments thrown in to compliment the grittier scenes, “The Road to Nineveh” takes the source material and provides a daring spin in order to provide contrast in the emotional text. “After all,” Daniels jovially says, “the Muse has two faces, laughs and tears and that is the truth of life!”
EPAC PRESENTS SHAKESPEARE IN THE PARK
Samantha Sloma practicing for Shakespeare in the Park. Photo Provided.
Felicia Waynesboro Staff Writer
This summer’s offering of Shakespeare in the Park should prove to be particularly user-friendly. Endicott Performing Arts Center’s Creative Director Pat Foti describes the 2013 Shakespeare in the Park installment as a “variety show.” Excerpts from “Shakespeare’s favorite plays” will be just long enough to wet the theatre-goer’s appetite for more, and short enough that even a newcomer to the works of the Bard can find his or her way through the poetic language. While the title, Love, Shakespeare may sound like the complimentary closing of a letter from the great Will himself, the rest of the title beyond the hyphen - Love, Shakespeare: EPAC Celebrates a Decade of Shakespeare in the Park – reveals that it is EPAC’s way of expressing, in the open air, pride over how the theatre company and the community have shared the legacy of William Shakespeare since these under-the-sky performances were instituted in 2004. The script is a collection of EPAC’s own choices of scenes and intimate monologues (soliloquies) from various Shakespeare plays. Most are public favorites for sure. To name a few of the comedies and tragedies excerpted: Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, Two Noble Kinsman… Two Noble Kinsman? If that doesn’t sound familiar it’s because
Shakespeare wrote that one as a collaboration with another playwright, a Jacobean named John Fletcher, and it has rarely been performed. EPAC snared this tale of the effect of jealousy in a love triangle and a snippet from this uncommon tragicomedy promises to make an evening of theater in the park something of a must-see. The reins of the overall production are in the hands of director Chris Nickerson, an old hand in the EPAC repertory ensemble. Four additional directors (some are actors turned director) will mold the individual pieces. The directorial line-up is Shirley Goodman, Charles Berman (yes, our Charles Berman), Julia Adams and Josh Sedelmeyer. The cast of about 20 actors is a mix, as is often true with EPAC performances, of familiar favorite players like Amoreena Wade (as Juliet), and new discoveries like Marisa Vaness, who plays the horrifyingly unfortunate Lavinia in a scene from Titus Andronicus. Oh, and all performances are FREE to audiences. The concept of free summertime outdoor performances labeled “Shakespeare in the Park” was popularized in the early 1960s, when the legendary Joseph Papp started presenting starstudded casts in Shakespeare’s plays in Central Park to the public without charge. Foti points out that the concept is now used not only throughout theatre-loving communities across the country, but also “around the world.” He says, “Shakespeare needs to be shared with the public and shared with today’s youth. He is the father of theatre. We appreciate the public support we have always received and we like to show that appreciation,” through these free presentations. “It’s a family
experience. Just come out and have a good time.”
Audiences are invited to bring comfortable seating - blankets, lawn chairs – to the Stage at Little Italy in George W. Johnson Park on Oak Hill Avenue in Endicott. Performances are Thursday, August 15 thru Sunday, August 18. Curtain time is 8pm. That’s rain or shine. The show must go on, as they say. Loyal audience members recall the days when the plays were performed in a tent in the park. Foti relates that, “We had a steady following for seven years before the pavilion which now houses performances was built.” He feels that loyalty on both sides- theatre to the community and community back to the theatre- inspired the people of Endicott to have the pavilion built. It returned a feature that was part of the original George W. Johnson Park and provides the framework that accentuates various performances- not just Shakespeare in the Park- all summer long. Some would say that there is nothing like the experience of being part of an audience under an August evening sky, turning into a starry night sky, while everyone’s eyes and ears are bathed in the magic of Shakespeare. “I do love it,” says actor Vaness. “His writing is beautiful and,” she adds, “he manages to put actual thought in an ‘out-loud’ way.” If you want to come and enjoy Shakespeare in the Park living “out loud” in its tenth year in Endicott, there’s plenty of parking. For more info about Love, Shakespeare call the Endicott Performing Arts Center at 607-785-8903, or visit their website at www.endicottarts.com.
“The Road to Nineveh” tells the story of a family tearing apart at the seams under the weight of turmoil resulting from violence and addiction. The multicultural cast features local actors Adara Alston, Qiana Watson, Dwayne Marcus, Jay Fikes, Derick Moore, Joe Badales, and Mary Stewart. Daniels speaks very highly of this troupe of actors, commenting that they “will make you feel the trials and tribulations” of these characters struggling to stay together in the face of multiple hardships. He describes the process of translating a production from script to stage as unpredictable, because “each actor has their own life schedule and experiences that they bring to the table.” Daniels has been living in Binghamton since he was 14. Now at the ripe age of 46, he uses decades of experience in community theatre to produce, direct, write, and/or act in original and semi-original productions. Since 1995, Daniels has acted with the Renaissance Revival Theater Company, Theatricks by Starlight, SRO III, PresentArts, and Southern Tier Actors Read (STAR). Daniels is a proponent of bringing lesser-known theater works to the stage. His company, Kilimanjaro Executive Event Planning services (KEEP), which he founded in 2011, seeks to promote original and little known works, many of which feature artists and playwrights of different cultural backgrounds, especially African-American authors. When asked what he wants audiences to take away from the production, Daniels eloquently puts it like this: “From birth to death, we are all on our own road to Nineveh. The price of salvation is often wrought with sacrifice and suffering in the process of re-evaluating one’s life because we refuse to admit the weakness of the flesh. What price will you pay?” “The Road to Nineveh” plays at the Tri-Cities Opera House (315 Clinton Street, Binghamton) on Fri. and Sat, August 16th and 17th, doors at 6pm and curtain at 7pm, and again on Sun, August 18th, doors at 2pm (curtain 3pm). VIP tickets for preferred seating and after show reception on Fri. and Sat. are $15. Gen. admission tickets are $10, with groups of 10 or more discounted to $8. There is limited seating, so prepaid reservations are advised. The receptions following the Fri. and Sat. performances will be held at the Union Hotel (246 Clinton Street, Binghamton). For more info, call 607-372-9589 or email keeps. theater@yahoo.com.
CLEARING THE DUST AT THE GOODWILL THEATRE:
24 Vol. 1 Issue 6
BIG THINGS HAPPENING IN JC
or money for a four-year degree, and people of all ages who are interested in a change of career focus within the performing arts, a change of fields altogether, or a resume-boosting addition to their collegiate degree.
Charles Berman Staff Writer
In this sense, she hopes that, while “there will be a high bar for the level of talent,” the center could also be a kind of haven for people who have the skills to succeed artistically but who are not the kind of learners who thrive in the environment of a university classroom.
The impressive Goodwill Theatre, on Broad Street in Johnson City, was built in 1920, at the height of American travelling theatre, when Vaudeville acts were ubiquitous.
Kradjian, with clear enthusiasm, describes a vision for the future of the center as bringing the Southern Tier a national reputation as a hub of the performing arts. And she points out that with a “core of resident artists,” practitioners coming from all around to be visiting instructors, and a constant influx of students who may stay in the area, would not only potentially boost the economy but “have a catalytic effect [that will] seed even more artistry from our local citizens” with the expected shot in the arm of creative types into the area, since “there really isn’t anyone doing what we’re talking about doing in the northeast, so we think this will be a unique magnet and will really help to rebrand our region.”
It closed in 1960, and now has sat in Johnson City imposing but dark and empty- surrounded by old factories that might be described similarly- for longer than it was open. What might not be evident from the stony exterior is that for the last several years, the Goodwill Theatre has been at the center of a project much larger than its original remit as a single stage for travelling acts to pass through. The Goodwill Theatre is to become the centerpiece of an entire Performing Arts Complex and Professional Training Academy, whose facilities will also include the already-operating Schorr Family Firehouse Stage and a to-be-constructed building containing more spaces for performance, production, and instruction.
Plans include a new central building that will connect the Goodwill Theatre with a the Schorr Family Firehouse stage, as well as containing its own ninety-nine seat black box theatre, a three-hundred seat thrust stage, and a central box office.
I spoke with Naima Kradjian, CEO of the Goodwill Theatre Incorporated, whose work is truly at the heart of the project. She explained that at a basic level, the reopened theatre would have to include more space for set-building, costume-creation, and more- things that would not have been needed for the bare-bones acts that brought their own materials as they barnstormed through in the 1920s. And this accommodation for the production process that today must take place is a perfect opportunity for education, she explains: “There’s no area for creating the art. We’re creating a performing arts center that will create art and then will also be a training center. For that reason, we needed a lot more real estate than just the theatre.”
The thought behind the multiple stages is to be able to present the different types of theatre that students will encounter in their appropriate venues- and that’s a thoughtfulness and enthusiasm for the purpose that characterizes how Kradjian describes the project. She started in the theatre arts, and now describes how “a training aspect had always been something that I wanted to do, and I had been actually actively looking at spaces to convert...the backstage arts are an area that I know a lot about and care a lot about.”
Soon this will be glorious again. Photo by Ty Whitbeck
large ratio of instructor-to-student to really be apprentice-based.”
The idea behind the venture is that a teaching and certificate-granting institution of about seventy-five students or so would be, in Kradjian’s words, “as important as the whole performing arts aspect of the puzzle. It’s apprentice training. It has to have a
For a prospective designer, stage manager, or assistant director, she says, it can be tough to break in: “It’s hard to find on the job training for that, and if you don’t have on the job training then you’re never going to get the job. So you have to prove that you can do the job but there are very few places to do
Rose Silberman-Gorn Staff Writer
an idea, the idea of freedom, whereas the Civil War was fought because people were trying to hold on to a way of life.”
it. Even if you’re in a university setting you don’t get very many chances to design a set that is actually built if you are a set designer. You might get one. It’s not enough of a portfolio for a job.” In this very hands-on environment, theatrical job-training opportunities would be created for people who might otherwise not have them- including students out of high school without the grades
The ongoing project is currently on track to be fully in operation by 2018, but different pieces of the puzzle are coming to place along the way- the Schorr Family Firehouse Stage is already in operation. People interested in seeing what’s playing there, learning about the project, donating, or potentially volunteering can visit http://www.goodwilltheatre.net.
CONFRONTING WAR ONSTAGE AT ROBERSON MUSEUM
The Roberson Museum and Science Center will be presenting War: What’s it For?, a unique play comprised of three sets of war-based monologues set during three different periods of history. The three different segments of the play, “Patriots and Insurgents,” “Ghosts of the South,” and “I Was There in Sixty-Seven,” take place during the Revolutionary, Civil, and Vietnam Wars, respectively. Why organize the play in this manner? “I wanted to express that the three wars were fought for three different reasons, with three different feelings behind them,” says Judith Present, writer and director of the play and owner of Presentarts. “For instance, the Revolutionary War was fought for
Writing the play in three different sections also creates a certain versatility, as single or multiple sections can be performed at a time for a completely different impact. For instance, “I Was There in Sixty-Seven,” is set to appear on its own at the Phelps Mansion Museum in November 2013 for Veteran’s Day. War: What’s it For? presents a different experience every time it’s performed, partly due to the fact that Judith has rewritten sections many times since she began writing it in 2002. Ms. Present’s initial inspiration came from her ties to the Vietnam War- her husband fought in the war, while she marched in opposition to it. While writing that section of the play, she conducted research by contacting the Veteran Center and interviewing people she knew who’d been drafted. She found inspiration to write the other sections through
books that the veterans recommended to her, such as Founding Fathers by Joseph Ellis.
The actors in the show, including Triple Cities Carousel’s sleepless staff writer Charles Berman, played a huge part in bringing the written play to life. “I was amazed at how the actors have taken to the roles,” Judith says. “Each person brings something a little different to their part.” These fifteen actors are all from around the Triple Cities or Pennsylvania, as are the four musicians that comprise the Trav’lin This Road Singers. Judith initially hired these singers to perform for a “Ghosts of the South” performance, then decided they should sing pieces from each time period in the play. This helps to enhance the show and provide a clearer message about war. Judith’s goal in bringing this play to life was not to convey a cut-and-dry message about war or to inform the audience of facts or dates, but to display “the profound toll that war has on mankind by
allowing different people to tell their stories.” Above all else, she wanted to tell the human message, because that is what people are most emotionally impacted by. This impact is often visible. “The audience, especially veterans, usually will end up a bit tearful by the end of a show,” she admits. There’s a reason why people examine history, especially wars- because the common element to all of it is humans, so it’s inexorably tied to our present and future. The play ends with slightly ominous music from the Desert Storm, giving a hint of future wars and conveying that as long as the human element exists, war is not something that will ever end. Showings of War: What’s it For? take place on August 2nd at 7:30pm, and August 3rd and 4th at 2pm. Tickets are $12, and discounted to $10 for students or vets. Tickets may be purchased online or at the door. Roberson Museum and Science Center is located at 30 Front St, Binghamton, NY.
food and drink.
August 2013 Triple Cities Carousel 25
healthy
EATS
Stacey Burke Staff Writer
It’s hot and the last thing you want to do is cook, but alas, barbecues are summer’s signature style. Maybe swimsuit season has you looking for something healthier to slab on your bun, but both meat-lovers and animal-lovers alike will want to trade out your traditional burger for these fabulous black bean burgers – I make them on the regular! These heart-friendly patties are packed with protein and lots of fiber, as well as super low in calories (one has only 140!) Not to mention they’re simple to pop right in the freezer for an easy grab-n-grill option and are incredibly cheap and easy to make. My Favorite Black Bean Burgers 2 cups cooked black beans
AN EVENING AT LAMPY’S MEDITERRANEAN GRILL: A TRUE FINE DINING EXPERIENCE
Photo by Ty Whitbeck.
Ahlpheh Ohtis Wilson Staff Writer
While there are many restaurants in the Southern Tier that claim to provide a fine dining experience, I have found that most fall short due to either poor service or a lackluster meal. At Lampy’s Mediterranean Grill, located at 105 West Main St. in Endicott, you will find this notion of fine dining fulfilled. The interior is tastefully decorated with muted colors, polished woodwork, and a large ornate wine cabinet that sets the room off nicely. There are two main rooms, with tables capable of seating from two to eight persons, as well as a bar that has room for approximately twenty. There is also a banquet room that can comfortably hold around twenty people. After being seated, our waitress, a very personable young woman named Crystal, quickly arrived and offered us cocktail menus, while inquiring if we would care for sparkling water or the village’s finest tap. We chose a bottle of Pellegrino and a couple of martinis, which arrived promptly. I chose a Chocolate Monkey (a delightful blend of Vanilla Vodka, 99 Bananas, Baileys and Crème De Cacao). My guest chose a Zyr martini (with pickles made in-house), which was also quite tasty. As we sipped our martinis, Crystal ran thru the chef’s specials, which included lobster croquettes as an app (not for your smartphones, techno-freaks) and two entrees: a blue cheese encrusted filet and scallop risotto.
We ordered our appetizers and a couple more martinis, and were soon pleasantly presented with a relish tray, as well as a warm Battaglini bread tray. The relish tray was simple but nice: Kalamata olives, peperoncini’s and more of the house made pickles from our previous martini. The house made pickles (created by Lampy’s employee Jay Lane) were definitely the star of the show, and reminded me of a true kosher dill, with a pop more savory kick in the brine. Now, having been to countless restaurants that provide cold margarine and nondescript bread, I found myself worried that bread might become my meal. The warm Battaglini bread was accompanied by a tray of whole roasted garlic cloves, red pepper flakes and Romano cheese, which Crystal whipped together with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Thankfully, the appetizers arrived as I was reaching for my third piece. For appetizers, we chose were the Greek stuffed mushrooms and the Ahi tuna. The tuna was nicely seared, thankfully accenting the overpowering wasabi, and served with a soy reduction on the side. The mushrooms were firm and juicy, and the blend of lemon, oregano, feta and spinach made me want to leap from my seat and shout “Opah”. I managed to keep my seat, and our salads were soon upon us. My guest chose the caprese salad, a substantial platter of sliced beefsteak tomatoes, roasted red peppers, basil and Buffalo Mozzarella over a bed of mixed greens with a choice of Balsamic Vinaigrette or Peter Luger’s steak sauce. I would suggest a generous drizzling of each. I chose the spinach salad with walnuts and dried cranberries, which was very tasty as well. Due to my limited and discriminating diet (this writer is allergic to shellfish and does not partake of the other white meat) my guest and I chose to stay on the turf side of the menu. I chose the Delmonico with caramelized onions, and skillet fries as my side. My steak was grilled to a perfect medium, retaining both the moisture and the marbled fat that I love
about this particular cut. The skillet fries were thin slices of whole potatoes, broiled with red onion and other spices. The potatoes were crispy on the edges, with a smooth tender center… a delicious side. My guest chose the Greek stuffed tenderloin, medium rare, with garlic mashed potatoes as a side. The Greek stuffed tenderloin was superb, complete with a perfect sear and spot on temp. It had a buttery soft texture that was literally fork tender. The topping (a blend of oregano, lemon, garlic, olive oil, feta cheese, spinach and spices) created a symphony of flavor in my mouth without any individual ingredient playing a foul note. The garlic mashed potatoes were good and had clearly been prepared quite recently. We ordered some after dinner drinks… a hot nutty Irishman for me, and a killer coffee for my guest. Both were flavorful and bold, providing a nice transition between dinner and dessert. The dessert tray (all prepared by the in house pastry chef) was extensive, boasting everything from coconut crème cake to crème brulee. We chose the cannolis and the Limoncello cheesecake. The cannolis were easily some of the best I have ever tasted, with a nice crisp shell and a smooth dreamy mascarpone filling, riddled with semi-sweet chocolate morsels. The Limoncello cheesecake was decadent, with hints of lemon zest and vanilla that lingered on the tongue long after swallowing. Well folks, at the end of a dining experience such as this, I feel thankful that I live in an area that is home to a restaurant such as Lampy’s. The service was outstanding (complete with frequent table cleaning and new silverware between courses) and Crystal’s attention to detail made us feel as though we were her only table. The meal itself was simply fantastic, and I would recommend Lampy’s without hesitation or reservations (although you may want to make one). So, the next time you are in the mood for a true fine dining experience, venture to Lampy’s Mediterranean Grill and Enjoy!
1/2 red pepper 1/2 yellow onion 3 cloves of garlic 1 tablespoon cumin 1 egg (*see substitute below for vegan version!) 1/2 cup whole wheat bread crumbs Dash of salt – n – pepper Feel free to add in some or any of these optional ingredients for more flavor: a teaspoon of chili powder or onion powder, a teaspoon of Worchestire sauce or hot sauce…sky’s the limit! Directions: If grilling, preheat an outdoor grill for high heat, and lightly oil a sheet of aluminum foil. If baking, preheat oven to 375 degrees F, and lightly oil a baking sheet. In a medium bowl, mash black beans with a fork until thick and pasty. In a food processor, finely chop bell pepper, onion, and garlic. Using a paper towel or cheese cloth, squeeze all excess water from this mixture, then stir into mashed beans. In a small bowl, combine egg (or prepared flax substitute), cumin, salt/pepper and other spices and flavorings of your choice- then blend into the mashed beans, stirring well. Mix in bread crumbs until the mixture is sticky and holds together. Divide into 4-6 patties. If grilling, place patties on foil, and grill 8 minutes each side. If baking, place patties on baking sheet, and bake 10 minutes on each side. **Vegan egg substitute: Combine 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed with 2-3 tablespoons of water. Let simmer about 5 minutes, until an egg like consistency is reached. Let cool before use. Stacey Burke is a Holistic Health and Wellness Coach, and founder of New Roots to Health. She works with busy individuals whom struggle with stress around weight loss, cravings and low energy by supporting them in setting personal goals in balancing diet and lifestyle. How often do you get the personal attention you deserve when talking about your health and nutrition? Email her at Stacey@newrootstohealth.com or visit her website www.newrootstohealth. com to learn more about programs that could change your life. Mention you read about her in the Carousel, and receive 25% off a 6-month, personalized program!
26 Vol. 1 Issue 6
GAHLIC! GAHLIC!
IT SMELLS LIKE
THAILIANOS IN VESTAL
FUSES THAI, ITALIAN CUISINE (ON DIFFERENT PLATES) GAHLIC!
Charles Berman Staff Writer
Citizens of the Southern Tier looking to add a little spice to their lives in August may just be in luck. Rather than vegetating at home, gourmets and gardeners alike are invited to make their way to Binghamton’s American Civic Association for the annual Garlic Festival on the weekend of the 10th and 11th of August from 11am to 5pm each day. The Association will further its mission of fostering international understanding by making the festival a “multi-ethnic” one and seasoning the proceedings with contributions from many of the numerous and disparate lands in which that most odoriferous and pungent brother to the shallot forms an indispensable element of the national cuisine. It’s highly unlikely that the Civic Association speaks with cloven tongue when it promises its potential visits that in addition to a veritable cornucopia of gustatorially garlicky delights, they will provide their guests with entertainment as well. Not to allow a deadly silence to suck the blood from the proceedings, the association will present music acts, as well as professional and amateur ethnic dancers from multiple cultures. Anyone who begins to smell anything amiss should be reassured by the knowledge that the money earned will go to help fund the association’s valuable services for immigrants and refugees. Rooting on this gigantic gala of garlic will be not only performers and guests but also a garlicky gallimaufry of vendors selling garlic itself and garlic-related crafts; those interested in vending can do so for $40 for a day or $70 for both days. Celebrating garlic properly could have been a knotty problem, but the American Civic Association seems to have peeled back the layers of the dilemma to breathe new life into the vegetable, presenting a festival that should curry favor with all aficionados of allium. The Garlic Festival will be at the American Civic Association at 131 Front Street in Binghamton on Saturday and Sunday, August 10th and 11th, from 11am to 5pm. Admission is $2 for adults, $1 for children over five, and free for children under five.
Ty Whitbeck Assistant Editor
Life’s all about taking chances, right? When I heard there was a restaurant that serves both Italian and Thai cuisine, I’ll admit, I was pretty skeptical. I didn’t know if I was going to be ordering from a menu of Pad Thai Parmesan or Green Curry Carbonara, but my mind was reeling with possibilities. Located at 1708 on the Vestal Parkway East is Thailiano’s; and their name suggests just that.
broth, Thai chilies, and lemongrass. Although, it was definitely spicy, all of the flavors were honored wonderfully, and it set the precedence for the rest of the meal. For entrees, Mom ordered the shrimp scampi, Dad got the Pad Kee Mao (commonly known as the Drunken Noodle), Ben sided with the penne a la vodka with pancetta and prosciutto, and I opted for the green curry. I was thoroughly impressed with the plating as our meals were presented before us. There is intricate attention to detail, though seeing a couple of Italian
I brought the family along for the adventure, anticipating the same kind of layout as the Italian restaurant that was formerly there, La Vita e Bella, but the whole floor plan has changed. It’s wide open and beautifully lit, with dark hardwood floors and fine art on the walls. My family and I were instantly seated and brought menus, and the waitress filled our drink orders. My mom and I both ordered the Thai Iced Tea, and my brother, Ben, and Dad both got liquor drinks from the bar. If you’ve ever ordered an iced tea at a Thai restaurant, you’ll Pad Thai Parmesean? Thankfully, just Pad Thai! Photo provided. know that it isn’t your typical unsweetened tea with dishes served up next to a couple of Thai dishes lemon. Here, they take a Ceylon tea (or a strong was confusing at first. I luckily got to try everyone black tea) and add orange blossom water and star else’s dinner before trying my own, and as it turns anise, mix it with sweetened condensed milk, then out, the chefs can cook the hell out of both styles serve it over ice and topped with evaporated milk. presented. The Pad Kee Mao had just enough heat, It’s quite thick and sweet, but it sure hits the spot but Dad was feeling saucy and asked for some on a summer day, and it helps take some of the more kick. He got it. After dispersing a heaping heat off the spicy food. amount of ground Thai chilies on his noodles, his face turned as red as his shirt and perspiration was We began to look over the menu, our skepticism inevitable. Like a champ, though, he finished his of it being a fusion restaurant soon vanishing as meal. Ben’s penne a la vodka with Italian meats we learned that there are two sides to the menu: was fantastic. The pancetta and prosciutto were Italian on the left and Thai on the right side. There’s cooked into the sauce, and they really livened up no fusion of cultures, like we once thought, and the complexity and the texture of the meal. The however interesting that may have been, I was glad noodles were done al dente and absorbed the for the separation. sauce nicely. Mom said her scampi was delicious; however, I didn’t get the chance to try it. Every time For starters, the family all got side salads, and I I reached for her plate, she stabbed my hand witb got the spicy lemongrass soup, consisting of beef a fork! It sure did smell good, though!
When I finally got around to my green curry, it had cooled down enough that I could feast ravenously. It was a little saltier than green curries I’ve had in the past, but there were enough flavors between the coconut milk, kefir lime leaves, and green curry paste to help it out. Green curry gets its name and its color from the muddled mixture of green chilies and Thai basil cooked in coconut milk, which gives it a sweet and spicy flavor, and is enhanced by an undertone of kefir lime leaf. I ordered mine vegetarian, and with it came eggplant, green beans, yellow squash, bell peppers and bamboo shoots served over jasmine rice. The veggies were cooked to perfection, soaking up the sauce adequately. It’s good to know that there is a place where both Italian and Thai can be ordered comfortably under the same roof, as bizarre as it seems. I just wish I knew about this place sooner. For my birthday a few months ago, I was feeling Thai, but my grandparents (who particularly favor the Italian fare) were joining us, and we had to find a happy medium… namely, Italian. If only I could have introduced them to Thailiano’s… It’s also a good place if you’re looking to branch out, but don’t feel comfortable enough to order anything too outside-the-box. The others in your party will hopefully share their Thai with you while you find something suitable on the other side of the menu. There were a number of things I was contemplating ordering, so, needless to say, I’ll be back for seconds. If you’re looking to experience something one of a kind and travel to two parts of the globe in a single night, I encourage you to try Thailiano’s. There’s enough diversity there, and the Italian entrees aren’t what you’d normally see on a mainstream Italian restaurant. There is definitely room to grow with this restaurant, and given they’ve only been open since February, they seem to be off to a good start. I hope to see and taste more from them. They’re open Mon-Thurs 4pm-9pm, Fri 4-11pm and Sat 11:30am-11pm. Like them on Facebook and see some pictures of their incredible looking specials. Commence drooling and plan a visit soon.
Oh, $#!% MILKWEED MADE AN ALBUM! IT’S CALLED “MILKWEED.” (or, “Untitled EP”)
YOU CAN BUY IT AT ANY MILKWEED SHOW! (May we suggest any and every Tuesday at Kingsley’s Pub. 9pm)
wellness.
August 2013 Triple Cities Carousel 27
DARING gardenista
Each month we check in with KRISTINA STRAIN for advice on what we should be doing with our gardens. Kristina lives and gardens in Gilbertsville. Can we talk about optimism for a minute? With all this happy trumpeting, one might be led to believe that the realm of the Daring Gardenista is thoroughly full of garden wins and vegetal triumphs. But let me tell you, reader, this year a pox is upon my bell pepper plants. This year the hickory leaves I tilled in last fall have turned out to be more of a growth-suppressant than a nourishing mulch, and half my tomato plants are stunted. Four times daily I don pink rubber dishwashing gloves and pluck copulating Japanese beetles from my raspberry row. Each year new bugs appear, sending me scurrying to Wikipedia, and then to provisioning the arsenal. It ain’t all roses, to put it mildly. Oh, the great outdoors. Photo by Ty Whitbeck.
WELLNESS IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS:
GO CAMPING! Stacey Burke Staff Writer
Summer here in Upstate New York means a variety of things to us that live here. But one thing is for certain, it is finally time to break out of hibernation and do a bit of living. For a majority of us tired of being cooped up inside during our never-ending winters, this involves getting out and taking advantage of good ol’ Mother Nature. As mentioned in last month’s article on Stand-Up Paddleboarding, spending time outdoors can be naturally therapeutic to our mind, body and soul. It gives us time to disconnect from technology, and reconnect to our natural and beautiful surroundings. I’m sure that I’m not alone when I say that one of my favorite summer past-times includes at least a handful of weekends every year spent camping. Maybe you’ve never considered camping as a form of wellness, but it most certainly is! There’s something about sleeping under the stars, the fresh air, the crackle of the campfire that has the ability to let your troubles slip away. There is also an abundance of exploring and activity at your fingertips; opportunities to swim, boat, hike, bike, kayak or simply read and relax all are common partaking’s while camping. And hey, I certainly can’t leave out the fun bonding experiences and memories made with those you are on an outdoor get-a-way with- laughter truly can be our best medicine! Camping itself comes in all shapes and sizes; some prefer the comfort of a classy RV or maybe a pullalong camper, while others are content with just pitching up a simple tent. Designated campgrounds
and parks surround us Upstate, which makes a quick get-away super accessible. There are several close by (see a small list below!) and many include opportunities for some of the activities mentioned above - boat rental, swimming, hiking. Feeling a little more adventurous? Tired of crowded parks or noisy festival camping? Places such as the nearby Adirondacks provide us with miles upon miles of wilderness. An excursion of my own a few years back involved a several mile hike up into these peaks for some primitive style camping. Not only an incredible workout, but being surrounded by the lakes, mountains, and trees without another soul in sight was an amazing experience. A must try!
just make sure to get out while the summer is still here and make the most of it!
So maybe you’ve enjoyed camping several times this summer already, but you’re tired of the half empty cooler holding ruined food floating in water. Eating while camping doesn’t always have to be hotdogs, burgers and s’mores (but let’s face it, s’mores are always welcome!). Some quick and healthy snack ideas that require minimal effort and perfect for an active on-the-go camp trip can include fruit (fresh or dried), granola bars, nuts, seeds, raw/cut up veggies, or popcorn. For meal time, I tend to include items that won’t spoil easy; try marinated veggie skewers, corn-on-the-cob, potatoes, salad, or some black bean burgers (check out my recipe column for my favorite version!) Planning ahead, prepping and portioning are three components to ensure you’re not wasting food and limiting the amount of garbage you produce.
Greenwood Park Lisle, NY (607) 862-9933
Whether you stay local or venture to other parts of New York or the country, camping is guaranteed to provide you a break from your daily stresses and be a source of rejuvenation. Be sure to catch a sunrise or a sunset. Take pictures. Climb a tree. Wade in a stream. Play cards by the campfire. Listen and enjoy our earth. Explore. Whatever you choose,
Here are a just a few of the many local campgrounds you can find nearby! For more parks across New York State, you can visit nysparks.com. Bowman Lake State Park Oxford, NY (607) 334-2718 Chenango Valley State Park Chenango Forks, NY (607) 648-5251
Hickories Park Owego, NY (607) 687-1199 Lighthouse Landing Campground Marathon, NY (607) 423-5639 Oquaga State Park Bainbridge, NY (607) 467-4160 Salt Springs State Park Montrose, PA (570) 967-7275 Tall Pines Campground Bainbridge, NY (607) 563-8271 We’ll be seeing you in the woods, happy campers!
Somehow, though. Somehow standing out there under the blazing sun, overlooking the thriving crops to nurse the ones that need me back to health (or at least give it my best shot), the crisis of the minute pales in comparison to the glowing promise of next year’s garden. It’s always there, that tantalizing mirage, even in the face of drought or pestilence: next year’s garden, where the weather is perfect, the weeds weak and sickly, and the bugs extinct. Sort of like a twisted Lake Wobegon. No matter the fails, no matter the suffering crops, no matter the unreasonably vigorous weeds: next year it will all be easier. The soil will be better. I’ll be smarter. I’ll plant less zucchini. It’s about as religious as I get, as these things go- the faith in improvement, over time, of my ground and my fence and myself. If we were in front of a chalkboard maybe I could draw you a line graph that would explain it all perfectly, but in print maybe the best I can say is this: this is why I garden. I would say it keeps me optimistic, but that isn’t quite right. It’s really more like gardening gives optimism someplace to go. The garden, in its best moments, is proof that it’s worth it to look on the bright side. Like, see! The world isn’t all going to hell! Look at those squash! Try these raspberries! You know? A garden can make those trivial concerns- like, you know, global warming and such- feel insignificant compared to softball-sized beets with glossy red-streaked tops. And even if this year fails to live up to the expectations, well, there’s always next year’s garden…
triplecitiescarousel.com All the fun of porn, with half the shame and none of the cleanup!
fun stuff.
28 Vol. 1 Issue 6
B.C.
by MASTROIANNI AND HART
HOROSCOPES
Each month, CAROUSEL features a guest horoscope columnist. For August, we welcome CAROL LINSKEY, who recently obtained her PhD in History from Binghamton University, thus leading her to the wonderful job of distribution papers for us each month. As far as we know, she knows nothing of astrology. Leo (Jul. 23-Aug. 22): Whatever health problem you’ve been ignoring will begin to show up in other people. Time to pay attention to the mess in the attic. Avoid Geminis. Your lucky number is a quadratic equation.
WIZARD OF ID
by PARKER, MASTROIANNI, AND HART
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Even though listening is a usually a good character trait, doing so outside the women’s bathroom will give you a bad reputation. Start a new hobby, like curling, unless you already enjoy curling for some reason. Your lucky number is 1.618. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Even though you are usually a happy-go-lucky person, someone is bound to lick the red off your candy. Money is a burden so give it away for no reason, and take up Jainism. Your lucky number is transcendental. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Be sure to clean out your ears next time you go out, just in case a Virgo makes the moves on you. Your lucky number is Fn =Fn-1 + Fn-2.
DOGS OF C-KENNEL
by MICK AND MASON MASTROIANNI
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Optimism might be a good approach to get through the most difficult times, but beware of nut bearing trees and tree bearing nuts. Take a trip with a Taurus, but don’t expect him or her to stay with you. Your lucky number is a Platonic Solid. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You won’t be afraid of the dark anymore if you climb the ladder and change that light bulb. Libras are good drinking buddies for Capricorns, but not when sober. Your lucky number is twice the sum of its digits.
DEAR RUMMY Got a question for Rummy? He is learned in many subjects, and he is more than willing to make it up the rest of the time. Send your question to triplecitiescarousel@gmail.com. Be sure to put ‘Dear Rummy’ in the subject! Check back in future issues to see if he’s answered you!
Dear Rummy, God forbid, but hypothetically the zombie apocalypse happens and we’re stuck in the Southern Tier. Where would you recommend holing up, what supplies would you bring, and what would your recommended inebriant be?
Sincerely, Just Want to be Prepared
Dear Prepared,
You “Walking Dead” fans are getting to be a bit much, dude. AMC makes one freaking zombie show, and all of a sudden it’s “zombie apocalypse” this and “did you hear what happened to Carl” that, and “oh snap, the Red Wedding”... okay, maybe that last one is a different show, but it’s just as obnoxious on my newsfeed. Sheesh.
Anyway, you came for advice, didn’t you, hoss? I would recommend hoarding all the gasoline you can so that when the zombie apocalypse does come (and it will, it will), you can drive the hell out of Dodge immediately. Maybe head towards Canada... zombies hate maple syrup, everyone knows that. But, no one ever leaves when a zombie apocalypse hits... they always want to stick around to watch their property values crumble, and to see the damn snot-nosed neighbor kid get his face eaten off. If you’re one of them, I would suggest the Masonic Temple on Main St. in Binghamton, or maybe the Library Tower at BU. The Masonic Temple would need to be barricaded, but there’s bound to be some crazy Masonic secret book full of spells
to ward off the walkers. New World Order, baby, gotta be prepared! As for supplies, I suggest as much weaponry as you can get ahold of. But, something with reach. Like a rifle, or a cannon. You’re going to want to blast their dead heads off before they get too close. Also, food. I’m pretty sure the shelf life of a beef patty from Kennedy’s is 50 years or so, and who doesn’t want to live on Kennedy’s for the rest of their life? Of course, you can’t be eating Kennedy’s sober, which brings me to the inebriant part of your question. Little known fact: Rummy is more of a whiskey drinker than a rum drinker, and I tend to go for the Irish kind. Of course, that makes a fella sleepy and more suseptible to zombie attack. Maybe Jack Daniels is a good route to go. It seems like every time daddy ever drank Jack, he got loud and violent, and while it may have meant years of therapy for me, it could be the difference of life and death for you. Yea, Jack Daniels will be your saving. Very Truly Yours, Rummy
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Your generosity will not be appreciated, but continue to tip the wait staff. Go to an art gallery to look at the frames. If you meet a Sagittarius on a trip be careful of a jealous Taurus in the background. Your lucky number is 1.41421. Pisces (Feb. 19-Mar. 20): Of course your mechanic overcharged you; they have a family to feed! Learn how to change your own windshield wipers. Avoid Tauruses. Your lucky number will appear on a 3x5 index card. Aries (Mar. 21-Apr. 19): You should always be careful when you are discussing philosophical concepts not to overgeneralize. Luckily, this will never happen when you have to pee. Drink lots of Green Tea and hold your voice down. Your lucky number is irrational. Taurus (Apr. 20- May 20): If you’ve been lonely lately, it might be the perfect time to take that shower you’ve been putting off. Don’t answer a question with a question when ordering a pizza. Your lucky number is Pi. Gemini (May 21- Jun. 20): If you get into a tremendous hurry while doing laundry, it will not matter because the machines are on timers. Remember, when psychoanalyzing your friends, you’re really talking about yourself, so lie. Rolling some dice will help you find your lucky number. Cancer (Jun. 21-Jul. 22): Water in your shoes in the morning means you left them out in the rain. Don’t do that. Go to confession and ask your priest for your lucky number.
NJE
TREE AND LANDSCAPING SERVICE
Nicholas J. Edwards Owner/Landscape Designer
ICPI certified paver installer Techno Pro certified contractor NCMA certified retaining walls A.S. degree in horticulture Fully Insured Over 10 years of industry experience
607- 221-0017 NJEdwards312@hotmail.com
other stuff. CHRIS THATER FLYIN’ BRIAN’S FLYIN’ CLUB 7500 MEMORIAL RACE Copies
30 Vol. 1 Issue 6
Brian Kerins Staff Writer
Every first and third Wednesday of the month, the skies over Sandy Beach Park are filled with boomerangs, frisbees, kites, and just about anything that will fly, as the members of Flyin’ Brian’s Flying Club gather for their bi-weekly meetings.
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The club’s origins date back to the summer of 1999, when club founder and president Brian Cavallaro, known more often as Flyin’ Brian, realized that it’s easy to just pick up a boomerang and have a good time, but that for frisbee enthusiasts, sometimes the biggest challenge was finding a partner. Seeing this as an opportunity to spread his love for all things airborne and gather a group of like- minded individuals, he started printing out flyers and holding his meetings in the park. Born and bred in Binghamton, Flyin’ Brian’s qualifications are beyond doubt; having developed an interest in boomerangs when he was “still in the single digits” that holds strong to this day, he has spent much of his life with a boomerang in hand, and now competes on a national level with such personal records as 31 catches in 3 minutes and 109 consecutive catches. The club itself is also the only local chapter of the United States Boomerang Association located in all of New York State.
and that their membership is made up of three generations. For those worried about investing in a sport they have never tried before, there are extra boomerangs provided which newcomers can feel free to pick up and try their hand with.
A typical meeting starts out with a round of introductions to bring new members in to the fold, followed by some warm-ups. The tossing starts soon afterwards with a few rounds of group frisbee. The club uses nonstandard formations to keep the experience interesting, with Flyin’ Brian explaining, “Most times when people toss a frisbee, it’s just pong style, or back and forth. We like to set up in such formations as a star, a clock, and linear.” Once the main group frisbee session is finished, some members keep tossing the disc, while others move on to their preferred mode of aerial recreation. With a starting time for meetings at 7 PM however, the sun cannot be trusted to last through the entire meeting. Luckily, sunset is where the true fun starts, as Flyin’ Brian breaks out the LED boomerangs and frisbees to keep the fun going as long as people can still toss, before rounding the evening off with a riverside fire. Though the club does maintain a very relaxed tone, those that already consider them boomerang pros and are looking for a good time are encouraged to attend as well, as all skill levels are represented within the group. Flyin’ Brian also noted his desire to have an end of season boomerang tournament if there were interest within the club.
Don’t let these numbers scare you however, as, in case the name didn’t make it clear enough, Flyin’ Brian is a man that has never let competition consume his passion. A focus is put on training members, and as such people of all ages and skill levels are welcomed and encouraged to attend, with Flyin’ Brian noting that his own mother attends,
Asked for a closing thought following his interview, Flyin’ Brian instantly responded “Boomerang is life.”
horse was unexpectedly unable to run the Derby, Exterminator ran instead with odds of 50 to 1, winning by a length. He went on to become one of the leading moneymakers for 4 straight seasons and was named 1922 Horse of the Year. Willis also bred 1928 Kentucky Derby winner Reigh Court as well as Sun Beau, the largest moneymaker until Seabiscuit in 1939. Exterminator and Sun Beau were both elected to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. To further his racing interests, Willis built Sun Briar Court (opened in 1918) next to his Riverside Drive mansion. Stretching from Lourdes Hospital to the city line at Margaret Street, it included a stable with 100 fireproof stalls, indoor and outdoor tracks, and clubhouse. The Kilmer racing colors were brown, green and orange. He also built two estates in Virginia. One, a 1000 acre spread on the Rappahannock River, with a 52 room Tudor mansion he called Remlik Hall (Kilmer spelled backwards) and Court Manor, a breeding facility, in the Shenandoah Valley. He owned an opulent private rail car and the largest yacht available to him, 200’ long and 23’ wide, also named the Remlik. In 1917 it was purchased by the US Navy, fitted with machine guns, 3” guns and depth charges and commissioned as the USS Remlik (SP-157) for the purpose of protecting shipping from German U-Boats in France. He introduced golf to the region when he built the first 9-hole course, which later became the Binghamton Country Club and owned a game preserve near Binghamton called Sky Lake. Willis died of pneumonia in 1940 at the age of 70, leaving his widow an estate valued between 10-15 million dollars. He is interred in the family mausoleum in Floral Park Cemetery in Johnson City. It’s alleged that when asked what Swamp Root was good for, he once replied, “about a million dollars a year!” After WWII, his widow, Sarah Jane Wells, sold the rights for Swamp Root to Med Tech Labs of Cody, WY.
Today the Kilmer legacy lives on in Binghamton. The Kilmer Building remains and has been extensively renovated, now housing 2 jewelry stores, numerous offices, an upscale restaurant, (appropriately named Remlik’s) and the NYS Unified Court 6th Judicial District. The Jonas Kilmer mansion is now part of Temple Concord at 9 Riverside Drive. The Press Building incurred extensive water damage as a result of the 2010 fire in the Midtown Mall and is under renovation. The Binghamton Press became The Evening Press in 1960 and merged with the Sun-Bulletin in 1985 to become the Binghamton Press and Sun-Bulletin. The Sun Briar Clubhouse is owned by the Daughters of Charity. Exterminator and Sun Briar are buried in the Whispering Pines Pet Cemetery on Gardner Road. Remlik Hall burnt down under suspicious circumstances in 1939 and was sold by Lady Jane in 1940. Parts of the estate were developed into subdivisions known as Kilmer’s Point, Remlik Hall and Cedar Pointe.
Flyin’ Brian’s Flying Club meets at 7:00 PM the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month between May and October in Sandy Beach Park, located right off Conklin Ave.
DR. KILMER’S SWAMP ROOT (CONTD FROM PAGE 21)
Though the players are gone, Swamp Root remains available to the public to this day, as it has for over 130 years. It can be purchased on the Internet, with a portrait of Dr. Kilmer on the package. T-shirts bearing the logo and other items are also available. Cleansemart.com advertises 8 oz. bottles, listing the brand as the Oakhurst Company. Their advertisement includes information about the origins of Swamp Root and claims effectiveness in treating digestive problems, obesity, water retention, kidney disease, bladder problems, bowel irregularity and liver ailments. It states that while Swamp Root has FDA approval, the FDA has not evaluated the listed claims and that a doctor should be consulted before use. It is a fitting tribute to the products early testimonials.
Dan Spaventa Staff Writer
On August 24th and 25th, the 30th Anniversary Chris Thater Memorial Races will take place in Binghamton’s Recreation Park.
The Chris Thater Memorial is dedicated to the memory of Chris Thater, a 23-year-old avid cyclist who was fatally struck by a drunk driver in Binghamton in 1983. The purpose of the event is to raise awareness in order to prevent fatalities resulting from drunk driving. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2010 10,228 people were killed in automobile accidents involving impaired drivers. That same year, over 1.4 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence and an astounding 112 million drivers admitted to episodes of drunk driving. Bringing this issue to the forefront, the races seek to instill a STOPDWI (“Special Traffic Options Program For Driving While Intoxicated”) and healthy lifestyle message. The mission of the STOP-DWI program is to empower local governments with financially feasible ways to prevent alcohol and drugrelated car crashes. The program was enacted by the State Legislature in 1981 and has been reaching out to the community ever since. The program hopes to enforce highway safety and prevent more intoxicated traffic fatalities. The memorial event would not be possible without the help of numerous sponsors, organizers, and community leaders who work hard to bring the large event to life every summer. From nationally recognized organizations to your favorite local businesses and local media outlets, the sponsors of this event come back year after year to help make this one of the highlights of the summer in Binghamton. Expect many vendors to table at the event with various foods, fitness equipment, and other merchandise available. An accompanying music festival will provide a fun and eclectic backdrop for the weekend’s events. The main stage will host a slew of local and regional talent with genres ranging from jazz to classic rock to bluegrass. Some highlights include Ultra Vibe, taking the stage at 1:45pm on the 25th, who play a mix of jazz, funk, blues, and soul. Another exciting act, The Ayana D Experiment, showcases a dynamic female vocalist specializing in an urban Latin sound. She’ll hit the stage on 4:15pm on the 25th. Sunday’s lineup of musicians keeps up the variety, with The Frank Viera Band, a local country group, and The Shambles, a five-piece Celtic band, performing back-to-back at noon and 1:15pm respectively. The event has brought the community together for decades, appealing to both local athletes and world class athletes for a total about 1,500 participants, some of which travel to Binghamton from the all corners of the US and abroad to compete. With an anticipated crowd of 10,000 spectators, this will be one of Binghamton’s biggest events of the summer! The Chris Thater 30th Anniversary Memorial Event will take place on Saturday, August 24th from 10am until 6pm and Sunday, August 25th from 8am until 2pm. For more information, check out the event’s Facebook page, and for specific race and musical performance times, visit the county website’s page for the event at www.bcstopdwi.com/bcstopdwi/thater-events.