CAROUSEL triple cities
june 2013
free
vol. 1 issue 4
editorial.
Oh June, how I love you so. June means summer in Binghamton, and it couldn’t be nicer. The sun is actually shining, State Street is navigable on a Friday night now that the University is on break, and those white flowery trees on Leroy don’t smell so gross now that they’ve bloomed! Summer in Binghamton is a big part of the reason I made a home in this region. The Triple Cities glow this time of the year, and there’s fun going on at every corner. Neighborhood block parties, anticipated festivals (okay, well most of those are in July and August… Spiedie Fest, July Fest, Rec Park Fest, I’m talking to you), sunbathers in the park, a long awaited, if grossly foolhardy dip in the Susquehanna… our community really does pack a lot of fun into the few sunny days we get in the Valley of Opportunity. June also means some changes for Triple Cities Carousel. We must say goodbye to two of our staff writers. Lia Ponterotto has decided to move back downstate to seek employment in the City, and Maxine Fallon-Goodwin is leaving on a year-long adventure to Australia. We’ll miss you both! There are great changes happening for the paper as well. This month, we up our distribution by 20%, which is a huge milestone indeed. Four months in, I think I have finally (sort of) figured out how to line up my margins correctly. And we’re giving away all sorts of free stuff! We did a trial run in May, and it appears that the Golden Tickets are here to stay. The Carousel crew is an active bunch, and we like to be out and about the town as much as possible. We hand out hundreds of copies of the paper at each First Friday Art Walk in downtown Binghamton, and in May we also took over the beer tent at Binghamton Big Splash, handing out not just booze, but papers, too! Since we’re at so many events, and because we love you so very much, we’ve begun to hide some prizes within our pages, in the form of Golden Tickets. From now on, anytime you see the Carousel crew handing out papers, you’ve got even more incentive to pick one up! Last month we gave away Golden Tickets to not just our Carousel Presents Thunder Body show, but also for Old Crow Medicine Show at Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown. This month, we’ll be giving away not just concert tickets, but vouchers for free meals, beers, and more! And speaking of Carousel Presents, perhaps the best prize of all this month will be tickets to July’s show. Triple Cities Carousel is proud to announce that we’re bringing legendary country-rockers New Riders of the Purple Sage to the Cyber Café West on Wednesday, July 3rd… which happens to be the café’s 16th anniversary! But that’s next month! Pick up a copy of Carousel from us either at First Friday or at the Owego Strawberry Fest (we’ll be set up in front of Las Chicas) for a chance to win, and if you don’t, be sure to stop by the Cyber Café for some advance tickets! Until next time. Thanks for the love! -Chris Bodnarczuk
June 2013 Triple Cities Carousel 3
contents.
THE CREW.............................................................04 MUSIC.....................................................................05 FILM.......................................................................08 THEATRE AND DANCE.........................................09 ART..........................................................................11 EVENTS CALENDAR..............................................14 FACES AND PLACES.............................................17 FOOD AND DRINK.................................................20 POETRY..................................................................23 WELLNESS.............................................................24 FUN STUFF.............................................................26 TRIPLE CITIES CAROUSEL P.O. BOX 2947 BINGHAMTON, NY 13902 Editor-in-Chief Christopher Bodnarczuk Advertising Stephen Argento (Mentor/Consultant- Sales and Marketing), Christopher Bodnarczuk Staff Writers Charles Berman, Stacey Burke, Julian Kappel, Brian Kerins, Kaitlin Mooney, Maria Murphy, Ty Whitbeck, Taze Yanik Contributors Kristina Strain, James Strazik, Earl Walker, Felicia Waynesboro Photography Ty Whitbeck Layout/Design Christopher Bodnarczuk Cover Art “The Scythe” -Bess Greenberg Printer Our Press Chenango Bridge, NY FOR ADVERTISING: triplecitiesads@gmail.com FOR EVERYTHING ELSE: triplecitiescarousel@gmail.com
4 Vol. 1 Issue 4
the crew.
Since launching in March, we’ve received countless emails from people asking about the staff and contributors, and a few asking us just who the hell we think we are. Well, here we are! Some of us, that is. Check back each month, and you’ll find out all our dirty secrets!
June 2013 Triple Cities Carousel 5
AL HAMME HOSTS
J.C. JAZZ JAMS Taze Yanick Staff Writer Long ago, when this writer was lucky enough to play for two semesters in the Harpur Jazz Ensemble at Binghamton University, Al Hamme had recently retired. Mike Carbone was
the director at that time. I remember the first concert we did in Osterhaut Theater at SUNY-B, as we used to call it. As I recall, the legendary bassist Rufus Reid was the guest artist that semester. After a great show, one of the most eye-opening musical experiences of my life, Al Hamme came up to me, shook my hand, and said something like, “great job.” The way he said it, it was one of the most encouraging things another musician had ever said to me. Al Hamme, for those of you who don’t know already, has been playing saxophones, composing, recording, collaborating and improvising with countless musicians in the Binghamton area for four or more decades. He is a key figure in nurturing creative music in this area, including such homegrown and now internationally recognized musicians as pianist/ vocalist Dena DeRose and trombonist Steve Davis. Hamme is a force to be reckoned with, and he shows no signs of stopping. He founded the jazz program at Binghamton University in 1964 and directed it for 33 years. Other responsibilities while on the faculty at Binghamton University included: Director of the Concert Band and Wind Chamber Music Program (1967-1989); Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Department of Music (1975-1985); and Chairman of the Music Department (1980-1985). He also served as the director of the Cornell Jazz Ensemble for six years and was chosen to be the first Artistic Director of the School of Jazz Studies for the New York State Summer School of the Arts Program (1985-1991). He has recorded with Slam Stewart, Phil Woods, Tom Harrell, Peter Appleyard, Richard Wyans, Bucky Pizzarelli, Tony Marino, Mike Holober, Sherrie Maricle, Ann Chamberlain, Steve Gilmore, Steve Brown, Tom Whaley, Bill Carter, Fred Hersh, Ron Vincent and Gene Bertoncini. Hamme contributed to Slam Stewart’s final recording in 1987, The Cats Are Swingin’, and Jacque Tara Washington’s Jazz Passions, as a performer, arranger and producer. His recordings with his own band, The Swing Street Jazztet, include The Swing Street Jazztet Plays Dave Wheeler and Potpourri: The Open Studios Sessions. This month, he will be running the Jazz Jams at the Firehouse Stage at the Goodwill Theater in Johnson City on Mondays June 3rd and 17th. Some of the very best jazz players in the region join him and aspiring improvisers can try their hand sitting in. If you bring an instrument and intend to sit in, it’s free. The Schorr Family Firehouse Stage is the first performance venue of the Goodwill Theatre Performing Arts Complex and Professional Training Academy. It is an intimate and flexible theatre space located on the first floor of the former Municipal Building Fire Station. It currently houses over 65 events per year in an annual season that runs from September thru June. The Monday evening Jazz Jams at the Firehouse Stage presents yet another side of the Triple Cities thriving music “scene” you might dig. June 3 and June 17. Tickets are $10 at the door, but if you show up with an instrument and intend to play, it’s free.
music.
LOCAL INDIE SCENE INVADES JOHNSON CITY
Kaitlin Mooney Staff Writer
If you have ever found yourself searching for a glimpse of the local indie scene here in the Southern Tier look no more. Sasquatch Music captures the creature that is local music and delivers it all to one venue. Head down to Spool Mfg Saturday June 22nd to catch local heroes: Crimson Brethren, Cwabs, If Madrid and Earl Boykins. Eric Yetter of Owego founded Sasquatch Music as a much needed outlet to promote local bands and all age shows. “I wanted to put on shows where anyone felt like they could come. House shows exclude some folks away and bar shows exclude anyone under 21.” The Sasquatch Music Presents Show at Spool Mfg is for everyone. This all age show will be featuring music from four local bands for the outrageously low price of five dollars. This is great news for the under twenty-one crowd, but if you are of legal age there is even better news; there will be beer. Sasquatch Music is pairing up the North Brewery of Endicott to provide some of the finest craft beer the area has to offer.
Crimsom Brethren. Photo Provided.
known to exhibit all kinds of art from visual to auditory and beyond. Yetter honed on Spool when looking for a venue because, “Spool has a great space and great folks that are up for different ideas. We have tried to do shows when they have art exhibitions up, it’s really nice to have that added dimension to the show.” Spool Mfg will be featuring Denmark’s Eva Stengade’s exhibit Speed Inside. Stengade’s large scale paintings of New York City subways are the perfect backdrop to some Triple Cities indie rock. The Sasquatch Music Local Showcase is the second of only three public showings of this exhibit, which will be leaving Johnson City mid-July. For more
information on Stengade (and to see some of her paintings) flip forward a few pages to read a feature by Carousel staff writer Maria “Murph” Murphy. The event’s line-up features a little something for everyone. From the punk rock riffs of Crimson Brethren and Earl Boykins to the electric beats of Cwabs and the sweet indie pop of If Madrid you won’t stop moving from the moment you enter the doors until well after you leave. Spool Mfg is located at 138 Baldwin Street, Johnson City. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the music begins at 9 on Saturday, June 22nd. All ages, 21+ to drink. Find Sasquatch Music on Facebook for links to the bands and updates on future shows.
MATUTO MIXES Spool Mfg, the Southern Tier’s only art space that sets up camp in an abandoned textile factory is
BLUEGRASS AND BRAZIL AT CYBER CAFE WEST
Brian Kerins Staff Writer On June 28th, Cyber Café West will be getting some South American flare as Matuto presents their electrifying fusion of Brazilian music and Americana, hot off the release of their new album The Devil and The Diamond.
The New York City based band’s roots date back to lead singer Clay Ross’ solo album, “Matuto,” which featured many collaborating artistsincluding future band member Rob Curto, and presented a prototypical version of the band’s sound by featuring Matuto. Photo Provided. classic American Folk songs played over Brazilian rhythms. The band’s true debut came in February of 2009, with performances at the Garanhuns Jazz Festival and the Rec Beat Festival. Before the end of the year they had also headlined festivals in the US and Canada, setting the trend for the busy touring
schedule that has carried them up and down the Americas nonstop for the past four years.
The Diamond, this past May. The album opens with “Toca Do Sino,” a song with an unquestionably Brazilian air, yet a heavy fiddle presence reminds listeners that the song is most definitely steeped in bluegrass and Americana as well. Those looking for a more traditional American Folk experience need only look to “Chicken Teeth” to see that Ross has not lost track of his South Carolina roots, an attitude which extends to and influences the entire band. Special attention should be brought to percussionist Ze Mauricio, as his mastery over a diverse range of Brazilian percussion instruments, such as the alfaia and the berimbau, roots the band’s groove in Brazil and sets the high intensity, driving rhythm that fellow band members Clay Ross, Rob Curto, Richie Barshay, Michael Loren Lavalle, and Mazz Swift capitalize on.
They have not allowed this to keep them completely out of the studio, however. Matuto released a selftitled album in 2011, and a follow-up, The Devil and
Matuto will be playing at Cyber Café West, located at 176 Main Street in Binghamton, at 9 PM on June 28th. Bring yer’ dancing shoes.
CAROUSEL PRESENTS:
6 Vol. 1 Issue 4
ZYDECO PO’ BOYS
Zydeco Po’ Boys. Photo by Stephen Schweitzer.
Kaitlin Mooney Staff Writer Who doesn’t love to dance? Aside from some angry elders in Kevin Bacon movies of yesteryear, we’re pretty sure everyone dances. Well, there ain’t no better dancing than two steppin’ to some zydeco, so we’re putting on a show. That’s right! Carousel Presents is excited to feature Zydeco Po Boys at Cyber Cafe West on Friday, June 7th! For those of you readers who were interested enough to read last month’s staff bios, that name might sound familiar… that’s because Triple Cities Carousel’s own resident foodie photographer, Ty Whitbeck, plays washboard in the band! Call it rigged, call it nepotism, but trust us… we wouldn’t be presenting the show if it weren’t so damned good! Ty provides the chka-chka backdrop for a band made up of a who’s who of veteran Southern Tier musicians: Peter Laba on the accordion and button
box, “Crash” Landon Mullen on the fiddle, Zeb Maffei on the guitar, Dave Tapia on the bass guitar, and Andy Thomas on the drums. Based in Tioga County, Zydeco Po Boys are a dance band through and through. They like to call what they do “Susquehanna swamp jazz,” but as the name suggests, the band is channeling Louisiana through their instruments. Zydeco, the masterful blend of Cajun and blues, has found a home right here in the Southern Tier, and we couldn’t be happier. The band will be taking the stage at Cyber Café West as part of our monthly Carousel Presents Concert Series on Friday, June 7th, at roughly 9pm. We can’t say for certain how long they’ll play, but zydeco bands are never known for their brevity, so we expect the party to go on until the Café closes at 1am. There is a $5 cover, with proceeds going to the band and their penchant for cheap beer. Cyber Café West is located at 176 Main St. in Binghamton. As the Po Boys themselves would say, “Dance all night. Dance a little longer.” Of course, they also say “come on let me ride that donkey, donkey, come on let me ride.” Who knows what to make of that.
SUNDAY SUPERJAM EACH WEEK AT THE BRACKNEY INN Ty Whitbeck Staff Writer
So, you think you’ve got a story to tell, huh? What’s that? You also play banjo, bass drum, the kazoo and foot tambourine all at the same time? That’s interesting. Well, what if I were to tell you that there’s a place just over the border in Brackney, Pennsylvania where you could let the world hear your tale? You’ve heard correct. Little known fact about the Brackney Inn is that they’ve been doing this open mic thing for years, but things really took off when Pat Donnelly, Kevin Conroy (formerly of the String Band, currently with Six Mile High) and Rob Stachyra (Dirt Farm and Woodshed Prophets) became regulars and began calling out to serious musicians and noisemakers to join them. “The music used to be played on the back stage and involved anywhere from one to five or more players doing a variety of music, playing anything they could get their hands on, be it guitars or spoons or buckets,” Pat Donnelly of the Brackney Inn says. “As the music grew, and the caliber of the players did too, the music was moved to the center fireplace stage facing the bar for everyone to enjoy.” It evolved from being a primitive open mic configuration to more of a “pro-jam gathering,” which in turn, has more people coming out to absorb these players and offer some licks of their own. “Pat runs the open mic at the Brackney and provides the backline; however Kevin and Rob host it every other week. It’s mostly set up for acoustic but there is an electronic drum pad that works for some people,” says Crash Landon, a regionally known old-time fiddle player, who also plays at the Brackney Inn gig. “Each week is a great scene and over the last several years it has grown to be more of a musician’s showcase,” Pat says. “The talented singers and songwriters that started this open mic years ago still stop by and now we have Kevin Conroy and Rob Stachyra, along with other familiar faces, like custom stringed instrument luthier Frank Vasconi, Christine Barnaby and others.” Keeping a solid group of rotating musicians in a community is how bigger things happen. Like minds start talking, similar tastes hook up and make magic on stage. Even if only impromptu, some of the best, never rehearsed music happened on a whim. It’s been rumored that Ludwig van Beethoven first performed his Sonata Pathétique at a pro-jam in Vienna in 1798. Don’t quote me on that. The Brackney Inn Musicians Showcase happens every Sunday from 5pm-8pm and you can find all these fine players and more at 769 Brackney Hill Road (or Quaker Lake Road), Brackney, PA. But, Sundays aren’t the only time you can see music at the Inn. They regularly host live bands on weekends. For more information on the open mic and other upcoming shows, feel free to call up their headquarters at 570-663-2993.
TOM O’CONNOR AT FITZIES PUB
June 2013 Triple Cities Carousel 7
Taze Yanik Staff Writer
Tom O’Connor gigs a lot. He also shows up for open mics whenever he can. Whether or not he’s making any money, he plays for the love of the music. This writer personally met him for the first time at the Monday night open mic at the Belmar and was immediately impressed by his abilities as singer, songwriter and guitarist, all of which he blends seamlessly onstage. Talking with him for a while after his set, I thought, “Hey! Good musician. Nice guy.” As I recall, we had a drink together and parted as friends. Since then, I’ve heard him play several times in the Binghamton area. I’ve never been disappointed. We’ll all have a chance to hear him again on Wednesday, June 26th at Fitzies Irish Pub. O’Connor is a 30-year old singer/songwriter from Binghamton, New York, one who has released two full length albums and amassed a large fan base in the Triple Cities and his adopted hometown of Washington, D.C. While attending West Virginia University, he played on the ice hockey team, spending his off seasons learning guitar and writing his first songs. By the time he graduated in 2005, he was routinely performing throughout that region, eventually relocating to Arlington, Virginia. O’Connor has performed nearly 500 shows in venues throughout the United States and his highly anticipated third album will be released in 2013 accompanied by a full time touring schedule Say the critics: “Enough hooks for commercial radio but lyrically maintains the depth and poignancy of a great singer/songwriter” -VC Reporter (October 2011) “A collection of songs sung with genuine feeling” -Leceister Bangs (January 2011) “A melodic and sincere album from a singer with a warm and soulful voice” -Alt Country Magazine (January 2011)
Tom O’Connor. Photo Provided.
“A strong disc full of well-crafted songs” -OnTap Magazine (December 2010) “An incredibly talented lyricist that knows how strike an emotional chord with listeners.” -insidenova. com (December 2010) Enough said then. Believe it or not, Fitzies Irish Pub hosts some of the best, most eclectic live music in this area, several
days a week (for a full listing Fitzies events, check out the calendar in the centerfold of this paper). Tom O’Connor’s appearance will be no exception. Check it out.
O’Connor takes the stage at 10pm on June 26th. Fitzies Irish Pub is located at 9 Main St. (corner of Main and Front) in Binghamton. It’s not as scary as it looks.
DOWNTOWN SINGERS AND ORCHESTRA
HONOR THE LATE ALLAN CRABB
Maria “Murph” Murphy Staff Writer
This June the Sarah Jane Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church will be filled with song and chorus as the Downtown Singers and Orchestra perform their thirtieth annual spring concert. Each song in the performance has been carefully and thoughtfully compiled by the choir’s president, Michael Randolph, and the concert’s conductor, Marisa Crabb, in order to appropriately honor Allan Crabb, founder of the group and Marisa’s late husband. Allan Crabb passed away last year. “This spring concert is really a tribute to Allan,” says Randolph. “When you take someone with that kind of charisma and personal magnitude; someone who has that kind of passion and dedication; who formed a choir that he was truly the heart and soul of… and then he passes away… that leaves a pretty big hole.”
Crabb began the Downtown Singers and Orchestra thirty years ago with only twenty-five singers and orchestra. Since then the group has had up to 200 performers on stage for their concerts. Crabb founded the Downtown Singers with Welsh tradition in mind: Everybody sings, no auditions. That tradition carries on still. The group has two annual concerts: a winter concert called The Messiah and a spring concert and they truly welcome everyone from all walks of life to join them in performing. “Allan strongly believed that every person has a voice, and if you want to sing and you have a love for music, then come join us and sing,” says Randolph. Although Crabb was a world class tenor soloist from Wales, he had a great love for Binghamton. “He always considered Binghamton to be his hometown,” Randolph states. “He loved it here.” Behind a man who loved his town and musicians is a town full of musicians who love him right back. “Binghamton lost a very human and soulful voice when we lost Allan Crabb, and it’s a challenge to
the Downtown Singers and Orchestra to keep that going,” says Randolph. “Turns out it ain’t easy, but nothing worthwhile is easy. That’s what makes it worthwhile.” While preparing for and performing their spring concert, the Downtown Singers and Orchestra are conducting a formal search for a successor to the late Artistic Director; applications are welcome. The spring concert will be composed of hymns, lamentations, and requiems by Karl Jenkins, Brahms, Wyeth, and Mack Wilberg. “That’s the problem with music this good,” says Randolph. “You don’t know how to describe it.” So don’t wait for a description. Come and hear it for yourself. The concert will be held on Saturday, June 1st at 8pm at Sarah Jane Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church, 308 Main St, Johnson City (across from Post Office). Tickets are $15, general admission. For more information/tickets please e-mail DTS_Concerts@stny.rr.com, or call: 607429-9978. Also visit downtownsingers.org.
8 Vol. 1 Issue 4
film.
GASLAND PART 2 DIRECTOR JOSH FOX TO VISIT BINGHAMTON
Chris Bodnarczuk Editor-in-Chief I should preface this article by stating that Triple Cities Carousel holds no official political affiliations. We are an arts and culture newspaper, and only that. But, effective art always makes a statement. And oftentimes that statement is political. Perhaps no one in the current public sphere tows the line between the two like Josh Fox, the Pennsylvanian filmmaker and environmental activist that directed the Academy Award nominated 2010 documentary Gasland. When I spoke to Fox this past month, he was checking in from Telluride, CO. Fox was in Colorado touring with his follow-up film, Gasland Part II. This tour- which will hit 20 cities by the end of June, brings Fox to Binghamton’s West Middle School on June 5, for a special screening and Q&A session. The controversial first film, which explores the effects of hydraulic fracturing (fracking), has been praised by environmentalists and shunned by the natural gas industry. Since its initial screening on HBO, the film has been screened in Congress, shown on television in 30 countries (to roughly 50 million viewers), and nominated for an Academy Award for ‘Best Documentary.’ The film has also gotten Fox labeled as a propagandist by some of the biggest corporations in the world- those that he criticized in Gasland. In 2012, he was arrested for attempting to film the proceedings of a U.S. House of Representatives hearing on fracking. It is this negative backlash that inspired Fox to make Gasland Part II, which was unveiled at the Tribeca Film Festival in April. The film, which will make its television premiere on HBO on July 8, focuses on what Fox calls “a new level of contamination… contamination of our democracy.” “Why isn’t change happening in government?,” Fox asks. “The truth of the contamination is obvious.” The contamination Fox speaks of is corporate interests, which he feels is taking precedence over the safety of the American people. “The facts are there. So, why is the government so unable- or unwilling- to do anything?” His concern is justified. In 2009, Fox set out to learn about hydraulic fracturing- a then fairly unknown process of extracting natural gas from deep shale deposits. Gas companies were coming to his neighbors with land-lease deals for wells, and they said it was perfectly safe. But, there were rumors of disaster caused by fracking in nearby Dimmock, PA. “I wanted to find out who was telling the truth,” Fox says. “I wanted to know if the gas companies were telling the truth when they said that it would be just like a fire hydrant in a field.” Fox, a then unknown filmmaker and theater director, grabbed a camcorder and went to Dimmock. He planned on making a short Youtube video weighing the pros and cons of fracking. He found enough cons to make a feature film. Many of the people in Dimmock, where wells had been drilled and fracking was happening in full force, were sick. They were getting headaches.
They were losing weight. Their pets were losing hair. Their tap water had a brown hue upon coming out of the faucets. Some residents could even light that tap water on fire. Perhaps even more disturbing than that was the fact that many people seemed terrified to talk about it. Fox quickly realized that there was much more to the story than people knew, and he set off on a cross-country trip to document the effect of fracking in communities as far out as Colorado and Wyoming. While the natural gas industry has since tried to refute all the evidence suggesting dangers involving fracking, the answer, to Fox, was clear. And so he made Gasland. Upon its release, Gasland took off at unprecedented speed. The film brought the word ‘fracking’ into the national lexicon, and Fox has since been hailed as “the Paul Revere of fracking” by Dave Shiflett of Bloomberg News. The film won a 2010 special jury prize at Sundance, an artistic vision award at Big Sky Documentary Film Festival, a 2011 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Directing for Nonfiction Programming, and was nominated for a 2011 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. He was also demonized by the natural gas industry, which has released countless statements refuting the idea that fracking had anything to do with the situation in Dimmock, and sponsored many parody videos that can be found on the internet, making light of the situation at hand. “You could never expect what happened,” says Fox. Fox took the film on tour to 250 cities, and there was an outpouring of support for him and the antifracking movement. “I have to tell their stories,” he says. And so he does. Gasland Part II is a continuation of the first film, and a critique of the government’s apparent lack of concern for the countless people negatively affected by fracking. It is built off of frustration, yes, but also hope. “It’s about something much deeper. It’s about American character. I’ve seen apathy, but I’ve also seen an incredible amount of people put aside their superficial concerns to fight for our rights. You don’t set out to change the world and wait 20 years to do it.” The Triple Cities, of course, are at the center of the fracking controversy. While New York is currently awaiting its fracking fate, our community is on the border of Pennsylvania, where the process is occurring on a daily basis. Countless signs in countless front yards stand on both sides of the argument. “Go Frack Yourself,” some say, while others point to possible job growth as a benefit to allowing fracking across the border. It is because of this that Binghamton finds itself as a stop on Fox’s current tour. On Wednesday, June 5, there will be a special advance screening of Gasland Part II at West Middle School in Binghamton. This is to be followed by a Q&A session with Fox himself. Doors open at 6pm, and the screening starts at 6:30pm. The event is free, though there is a suggested $5 donation. West Middle School is located at 1 West Middle Ave, Binghamton.
DREAMGIRLS
TAKES CENTER STAGE AT FORUM THEATRE James Strazik Contributing Writer
Before America had idols, talent, and “The Voice,” it had “Dreamgirls,” a sexy and seductive musical, belting strife and jubilation, that has swept across towns nationwide for three decades and counting. This former Broadway sensation (music by Henry Krieger, book and lyrics by Tom Eyen) was nominated for thirteen Tony Awards, winning six, and took home two Grammies. Its current cast and crew tote an impressive list of credits and accomplishments, earning reviews of hysterical delight over the tour. Dreamgirls’ 1981 debut was hailed as cuttingedge, and was updated in 2009 tour to keep that promise. The show employs a captivating backdrop fashioned from moving LED panels, providing a cinematic feel and allowing for rapid scene change. At the forefront of the spectacle are lavish, pupil dilating costumes, well complimented by plush lighting. The final ingredient to fully immersing the audience? A marvelous band. The story begins with “The Dreamettes,” a young female trio from Chicago, who enter a popular Apollo Theatre talent show with hopes of achieving stardom. Despite not winning, they’re approached by an ambitious used car salesman, Curtis Taylor, who is determined to launch their career (and his, too).
June 2013 Triple Cities Carousel 9
theatre and dance.
SHAKING THINGS UP AT CIDER MILL PLAYHOUSE
James Strazik Contributing Writer Was the King abducted by extraterrestrials? Fat chance. Elvis Presley can be found captive and kicking in the 2004 jukebox comedy musical, All Shook Up, which comes to the stage of the Cider Mill Playhouse this June.
Chad immediately catches the attention of a young mechanic chick named Natalie, who is wistful for love. And in Shakespearian fashion, their blossoming romance is riddled with turbulence and gender confusion.
All Shook Up is the offspring of this unlikely union. Born out of wedlock, the play is a high-energy jive engine, written by Joe DiPietro. It takes place over a period of 24 hours, primed to keep audiences on their toes and swingin’ as the clock pushes forward.
Along the path of this boy meets girl tale-spin, Chad introduces the townspeople to the allure of romance and rock & roll, turning on the heat and transforming the squares into swingers. Set in motion is a mess
of love-triangles, hard fought love, and illegal activity (otherwise known as “a hell of a day.”) Where is the King in all this? While the production is fueled by popular Elvis tunes, the King comes to life during the opening of the first act, in a prison sequence to the tune of “Jailhouse Rock,” which features a boisterous routine from oddly cheerful, cart-wheeling prisoners. All Shook Up will open at The Cider Mill Playhouse on June 6th, and is their first production to start off the summer season. So get those legs twitching and kick off the summer with liquid hips. The Cider Mill Playhouse is located at 2 South Nanticoke Ave, Endicott, NY. For tickets, check out cidermillplayhouse.thundertix.com, or call 607748-7363. All Shook Up will be playing June 6th - June 30th. Shows begin at 8:15PM on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and at 3:00PM on Sundays (Exemption: Showing on June 29th is at 4:00PM).
SANDWICHED AT EPAC
Julian Kappel Staff Writer
It can easily be argued that the real driving force behind Dreamgirls is the story of Effie Melody White; the overweight, short-tempered lead vocalist of the trio who falls in love with manager Curtis Taylor. Her love is unrequited, as Curtis has wide-eyed lust for Effie’s best friend, Deena.
“Sandwiched,” an original play by Barbara Slocum, tells the story of a middleaged woman torn between helping her aging parents and supporting her adult children.
After changing the group’s name to “The Dreams” and shifting the style of music from R&B to pop, Curtis replaces Effie with Deena as lead singer. He believes she will appeal more to the white crowd. Soon after, Effie is dropped from the group altogether. Effie, coming to grips with this cruel twist of fate, exalts a show stopping performance.
The production will open the beginning of June at the Endicott Performing Art Center.
The Broome County Forum Theatre is located at 236 Washington Street in Binghamton. For tickets, contact the box office at (607) 7781369, or visit www.ticketmaster.com. Parking is available in the Metro Center parking lot on Henry Street and at all municipal parking ramps; fees vary.
Chad the roustabout rolls into town, a motorcycling, guitar-playing and blue-suede shoe greaser who professes a song in his soul and love for the ladies. An ex-con and every girl’s dream, out for a good time.
Not the King himself, of course. Elvis Presley’s timeless classics meet William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night;” nervous glances are exchanged, sparks fly, and they make boogie woogie.
Soulful R&B and hearty drama carry a classic tale of greed, spite and romance. Rags-to-riches abruptly met by the towering weight of fame and fortune.
Dreamgirls is coming to the Broome County Forum Theatre on Sunday, June 2nd. Catch the dream with a powerful performance amidst a starlit wonderland.
The story is set in dystopian heartland, USA in 1955, where rigid mayor Matilda has instituted a “decency proclamation,” making it against the law to dance, neck, or display joy. A crackdown on immoral behavior, rendering townspeople as suppressed, hormonal boiling pots.
made it a unique experience. Even though the group has no history, she explained, they decided early on to make history together. Although producing this play was a unique experience, Slocum drew from 34 years of directing the high school drama club and 40 years as a speech language pathologist at Chenango Forks High School. Two years after her retirement she said there was a void in her life. “There’s a purity I saw in the performances of High School students... how clean and honest their performance was,” she says. “It got me thinking ‘I really need to put that aspect back in my life.’”
The play focuses on Bonnie, a woman in her 60s with no children, as she searches for balance and deals with the demands of being part of “the sandwich generation.” Often her aid goes unnoticed until withdrawn and is then met with reproach. Heroism is a large theme in the play, explains Slocum. Not the heroes so often celebrated on television and in the news, but the unsung heroes of everyday life. “People who sacrifice on behalf of others are heroes,” she says. “Some are older women sacrificing days, weeks, months or years of their lives as caretakers, which is a huge sacrifice.” Slocum knows that Sandwiched isn’t just a personal project. With the help of other theatre professionals, both local and in New York City, she has realized that the piece speaks to a large demographic of women who she believes are under-represented in modern theatre.
Writing and producing “Sandwiched” was the perfect remedy.
Barbara Slocum. Photo Provided.
“We’re a group of women who do our thing quietly, but consistently,” she says. “And I wanted to tell it how it is without dressing it up.” Local actors and actresses responded to Craigslist ads, and Amy Smith, an equity actor from New York City, was cast in the role of Bonnie. Slocum explained that this is the first time anyone in the production has worked together which has
Regulars of the Endicott Performing Arts Center will have the chance to experience something out of the ordinary musical theatre. Sandwiched is a drama with a healthy dose of brevity... just like life, and Slocum is committed both philosophically and artistically. “It’s been hard work, but joyful work,” she says. “I’m getting tireder and tireder, but happier and happier.”
There will be evening shows at 8 p.m. on June 7, 8, 14, and 15 and a 3 p.m. matinee on June 9 at the Endicott Performing Arts Center, 102 Washington Ave, Endicott. General admission is $18, or $15 for seniors and students.
10 Vol. 1 Issue 4
KNOW THEATRE PREMIERES
OBSCURE TENNESSEE WILLIAMS PLAY Charles Berman Staff Writer
Binghamton’s KNOW Theatre has gained a reputation for choosing daringly in the selection of their programs, and their current choice production demonstrates a desire not to leave enticing theatrical envelopes unpushed, while exploring the less-seen repertoire of a canonical playwright. Vieux Carré by Tennessee Williams recalls the writer’s early life in a squalid portion of New Orleans’ French Quarter, and does not flinch from depicting the poverty, disease, crime, manipulation, hunger, and yearning experienced by the young writer and his neighbors. Williams writes about 1938 from the more publically candid refuge of 1977, but still the play closed after only five performances upon its original New York opening. Not an auspicious start, perhaps, but maybe for some fathomable reason KNOW Theatre thinks that this piece about a yearning from art and expression amid urban decay and misery will strike a chord among Binghamton theatregoers.
Premiering when the writer was sixty-six, Vieux Carré comes from a point in his career at which Williams could look back and reflect on how the early experiences he evokes here affected him as a creative artist, while still doing so vividly and involvingly. It’s an impassioned recollection of an impressive world where “‘landlady...’ [is] the biggest one-word contradiction in the English language.” This gives it a telescoping sense of contrast, as the play is recalled from a distance by a writer who nonetheless, in the moments the play describes, is a man of few words. He, as opposed to the strident attempts of his neighbors to write their ways out of miserable circumstances, is- in the words of his consumptive artist neighbor- “a young man of very few spoken words, compared to my garrulity... practically monosyllabic.” The questions of whether art can revive a dying urban area, and of whether its effect can uplift the lives of those who are forced by circumstances to live with poverty, disease, and hunger are ones that it doesn’t take much imagination to make relevant to Binghamton. And indeed the run does not conflict with First Friday. Appropriately for the material’s themes- and admirably- Vieux Carré will be presented as a “pay what you can” performance on June 20th. Other performances will be the 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, and 30 of June -- Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 and Sundays at 3:00. For those dates, tickets are $20 for general admission, $15 for seniors, and $10 for students. The production is directed by Brand Reiter.
June 2013 Triple Cities Carousel 11
PRIVATE RESERVES
art.
AT BCAC
Julian Kappel Staff Writer
If you’ve ever wondered what art collectors have in their vaults, you’ll want to visit the Broome County Arts Council from 6 to 9 pm on June 7 for the opening of their summer exhibit. The fourth annual exhibit of “Collectors’ Items: Leading by Example” will showcase fine art on loan from current and former members of the BCAC Board of Directors from their private collections. “Our board makes a commitment to not simply support the arts esoterically but to demonstrate their support by making an investment in its development,” said executive director Sharon Ball. “Members bring in a variety of pieces and we always end up with a very interesting show.” The opening will coincide with Binghamton’s First Friday Art Walk and the exhibit will remain open to the public until the beginning of September. Anyone who has visited the exhibit during previous years will be treated to a completely new display. “We ask that returning members loan different pieces each year,” said Ball. “That way it’s different each year and evolves as the board evolves.” Accompanying each piece is a collector’s statement which provides some background for the curious observer such as where it was found; what drew the collector to this particular piece; and what unique meaning does it hold for them now. “Many times the art was created by a local artist ... or framed, or repaired locally,” said Ball. “In this way the show helps contribute to the local artistic economy.” Contributing members submit up to four pieces which are then arranged by board members and retired art professor James Mullen. Mullen then focuses on bringing harmony to the eclectic arrangement provided by the board. “It’s quite a challenge to find a theme when there are so many variables ... color, form, shape, size or message,” said Ball. “In literature, changing one word to another changes the meaning of the whole work, and the same is true with each piece of art.” As a special treat for the opening, “Food Artist” Cindy Rotella of Regalo Gifts and Designs will provide a First Friday food tasting from 6-8 p.m., said Ball. “Collectors’ Items” is the only exhibit the Arts Council curates that does not feature items for sale due to the fact that each piece is on loan from the board members. However, Ball explained that visitors will take away something valuable all the same: “There’s this whole dimension of curiosity about the art that other people collect... this gives people the opportunity to see the board’s dedication to the art that they champion.” For more information about the Collectors’ Items exhibit, the BCAC, grant opportunities and other resources for the arts community and public, visit broomearts.org.
EVA STENGADE EXHIBIT ON DISPLAY AT SPOOL MFG
Eva Stengrade working on a piece from “Speed Inside.” Photo by Ty Whitbeck
Maria “Murph” Murphy Staff Writer
“Stand clear of the closing doors, please!” If you have ever ridden on a New York City subway, then you have heard this familiar phrase more than once as the train prepared to leave its station. And now through July 13th, you may expect to hear a conductor’s voice come overhead as you walk through Eva Stengade’s exhibition, “Speed Inside,” featuring huge acrylic paintings of New York City subways. Stengade is from Albertslund, a small town outside of Copenhagen, Denmark. She began painting when she was very young. “I’ve always been painting,” she says. “My grandfather gave me his little set of oil paints from when he was young. Then I started.” Stengade’s inspiration has changed over the years, from Michelangelo to Dali to Francis Bacon and also “The Skagen Painters,” of which her great greatgrandfather was a member. Despite her overall varied inspiration, Stengade had a one track mind for this exhibition.
“I love the subway, because the people are of all different cultures,” she says. “That is how I think about human beings. We are all the same, but we just look different. I love that about people.”
Stengade’s paintings are of photos she and her partner Paul Gordon took with their cameras and smart-phones inside subway cars in New York City. They did not photoshop the pictures; rather, they let the movement of the trains create the special effects for them. “We were just playing with the cameras,” says Stengade. “Even the title [of the show] comes from the images; you can see the speed.” Much like her paintings, Stengade has a great deal of “speed inside,” as she and Gordon travel from New York to Copenhagen and back as much as four times a year. Stengade works as a scenic painter at the Royal Theatre in Copenhagen, and holds exhibitions in Denmark. This past May, Stengade had an opening for a show in a town outside of Copenhagen… on the same day as her opening reception at Spool Mfg. Although she and Gordon keep trucking through their travels, Stengade has dreams of settling in the states. “I love New York and would love to be closer to here,” she says. “My big dream is to buy a hay barn with lots of space, and to live and work there just like many artists did in the sixties; that would be nice.”
For now, she and Gordon will continue to journey on from country to country finding art spaces to display her beautiful paintings. “I wanted her to see this place [Spool],” says Gordon. “No place else in town could fit these pieces.” Space is always an issue when your paintings reach from floor to ceiling, but the search and effort can all be worth it if you need to give a large scale effect. “I have been looking for something to paint in big scale for my own project,” says Stengade. “I wanted to see if this worked in big scale, and it seems like it did.” So come and see for yourself. Catch “Speed Inside” at Spool Mfg. (138 Baldwin Street, Johnson City).
“Speed Inside” can be view by appointment from now until Saturday July 13th, on which date there will be a closing reception from 7pm- 10pm. There will also be an Interlude on Saturday June 22nd at 8pm, featuring live music by Crimsom Brethren, If Madrid, CWABS, and Earl Boykin. For more on that show, flip back a few pages to the music section. For questions, or to make an appointment, please e-mail info@spoolmfg.org, and be sure to visit spoolmfg.org. Visit evastengade.dk for more information about the artist.
12 Vol. 1 Issue 4
COVER ARTIST: BESS GREENBERG FROM LOCKER ROOM TO DARK ROOM
There’s nothing quite like coming back to your hometown after being away for a long time, and Bess Greenberg is no stranger to this feeling.
She began her career doing documentary work and even worked at The New York Times while completing her MFA degree. “I began as a documentary and street photographer. There is something very beautiful about responding to the moment,” Greenberg said. “Ultimately, I believe that photography is a tool that can help break down walls and barriers of many kinds- and this can be done in different ways through documentary or conceptual work. In creating different kinds of work, I find a different sense of fulfillment.”
Greenberg was away from home for twelve years playing professional basketball and learning about photography before returning to Binghamton. She is, of course, happy to be back.
Her methods of photography have even broken time barriers. Greenberg can often be found using vintage cameras and equipment dating back well before her time.
“I have always felt a strong connection to the community here,” says Greenberg. “After so many years living in different places, it feels really wonderful to be back home.”
“I am very interested in traditional methods,” says Greenberg. “Most often, it is in the traditions of the past that I find the most inspiration.”
Maria “Murph” Murphy Staff Writer
Greenberg grew up in Vestal, and was very involved in the basketball program in both high school and college. She played for the Binghamton University Bearcats, and even ended up in their Hall of Fame. Eventually she went on to play professional basketball overseas in Denmark and Israel. It was in these foreign countries that Greenberg began to grow, in a cultural sense. Yet, even though she was living out one of her passions, Greenberg felt something was still amiss. “There was a big part of me that wanted to explore outside the lines of the basketball court. As I grew older and had more experiences, it became clear that my desire to pursue photography was something I couldn’t ignore any longer,” says Greenberg.
Today, Greenberg is an art curator and photographer in New York City, where she founded two galleries/ cultural events spaces located at 25 Central Park West… 25CPW and Red Roots. “Anyone in Binghamton that wants to come on down to New York and feel a bit of home should definitely come on by,” she says. Despite her success in the city, Greenberg’s heart still lies in Binghamton. She commutes up and down the state throughout the year for gallery shows, photo shoots, and to play her upright bass with her Binghamton based band, Milkweed. “There is a rawness, a realness here in Binghamton, that I find refreshing.” Greenberg continues, “Binghamton helped form who I am, and that I am proud of.”
It can be a rare and refreshing thing to see a young person so passionate Bess Greenberg. Photo by Ty Whitbeck. and supportive of her As fate would have it, a hometown and, as a photographer, Greenberg is group of photographers in Denmark had been not one to overlook the possibilities and beauties encouraging Greenberg to attend the International that lie within something. Center of Photography in New York City, where she later earned her Masters of Fine Arts in “I really do appreciate Binghamton as it is- it is home to me. I have only felt embraced and Photographic Studies. supported here. But, at the same time, I see the “I basically went straight from the basketball court potential of what Binghamton can grow into- and in Israel into art school in New York City,” says I’m excited to be a part of that process.” Greenberg. “I love basketball- always will- but I will never regret the decision to leave basketball when For more information on Bess Greenberg and her many talents visit www.bessgreenberg.com and I did. It was time.” www.25cpw.org. Also, check out Milkweed, 25CPW Although her passion for photography may have and Red Roots Gallery on Facebook. blossomed while overseas, Greenberg’s inspiration began right here in her hometown of Vestal. She says her three older brothers and her parents have always been positive influences on her and have always supported her passions. To the right is A sample of Bess Greenberg’s photgraphy. From top to bottom is “Installation “When I was in high school and began speaking #1,” “Open Door,” and “Sight Line.” Greenberg about my interest in photography, my brothers also created our cover art this month, which is bought me my first camera,” says Greenberg. a piece she has aptly titled “The Scythe.” Over the years as a photographer, Greenberg’s styles and tools have changed.
THE FANTASTIC THREE!
June 2013 Triple Cities Carousel 13
COMIC BOOK STORES OF THE TRIPLE CITIES
Felicia Waynesboro Contributing Writer
If you’ve got an inner-child who sometimes breaks out- or just wishes to break out- you may want to consider indulging that part of yourself with a visit to a comic book shop. The Triple Cities area boasts three comic book stores and no matter what your age, you are likely to come out of any one of them a happier person than when you went in. The concept of a store devoted solely to comic booksand auxiliary items related to comic books- came into popularity around the late 1970s. Before then, kids bought their comics at the newsstand, or from a shelf or spinner-rack at the Comics! Photo by Felicia Waynesboro. grocery or drug store. But, when comics became widely recognized as a fragile commodity that could be collected and sometimes valued for big bucks, America and the world entered a new era of popular culture. Comic books were no longer just for kids and comic shops began to sprout. A customer gets a feeling of nostalgia the moment a foot is set through the front door of any one of the local comic stores- the smell of old wood and the sight of old friends- like Spiderman, or Archiestaring out from the paper covers. Action figures parade in the display cases. But, there is also the feeling of change. Gaming tables are set up in a speed-dating-style arrangement in an area of the store where players come to engage in role playing games (RPGs) such as “Wild Talents” or tabletop collectible miniature games (CMG’s) like “Heroclix”, based on comic book superheroes. It’s a lot more social than playing video games at home.
The cost of a new comic today is typically $2.99 to $3.99. Wednesday is universally the day when new issues are released, and fat preview catalogs on the store counters bulge with available titles from major publishers like Marvel and DC, as well as from scores of smaller presses like IDW or eigoMANGA. Centerfield Cards & Comics 125 W. Main Street Endicott, NY 13760 607-748-5165 centerfieldcardsandcomics.com
“Back in the day we used to just read ‘em,” says Scott Jones, the 40-something owner of this shop. “I clipped stuff out of the back and mailed away for it- the X-ray specs and all that crazy stuff- and I’d read ‘em so much the covers would fall off. Now days everything is marketed to be a collectible kind of thing.” As proud as one may become of a comic book collection, Jones advises not to count on it acquiring any particular monetary value. “My biggest advice to people who come in is to find something you like- a genre, an artist, a writer- and stick with that. If your collection goes up in value that’s always nice… but if it doesn’t go crazy up in value you still have something you enjoyed.”
private collectors. New comics and graphic novels sit on the shelves. A few highly valued classics are kept in protective plastic to the side. About the most expensive comic to be found in the store would be an older Batman that sells for an approximate $150. Annually, the USA celebrates a Free Comic Book Day when publishers produce special, full-length comics to be given away free in comic shops nationwide. Feurstenberg says that the most recent Free Comic Book Day, in May, [5/4/13] was “record shattering” for his shop. Owners agree that this free day is a great way for people to let themselves be drawn back into something they once loved and for the youngest potential readers to discover that reading is fun. Fat Cat Comics 278 Main Street Johnson City, NY 13790 607-797-9111 fatcatcomics.net
There’s no need, however, to wait for the special event to get reunited with comic books or to nurture a love of reading. “I want children to read because they WANT to read,” says owner Tawna Lewis. She says that children make up a large part of her clientele. Lewis points out that a young child, “can see the pictures and see what’s going on. Eventually they’re going to want to know – what are they
saying?” Of slightly older fans she says that comic books are mostly aimed at a college audience, “so you’ve got 10 and 12 year olds reading books that were made for college kids… I’ve had parents come in and say that their children’s marks had improved in reading and comprehension and math- all kinds of things,” because of the stimulation from reading comic books. “Anything you can do to get a child to want to read and enjoy reading is going to be such a boost to their life.” Evolving from Fat Cat Books, a science fiction and comic book specialty store created in 1976, Fat Cat Comics can legitimately call itself one of the oldest comic book specialty stores in the United States. Lewis managed the shop for over 20 years before taking over ownership in 2010. Chris Giarrussoformerly of Marvel and today best-known as the author/illustrator of the popular G-Man series at Image Comics- was once employed by Fat Cat. He said in an email that the crew at the store always treated him like family, “and provided much-needed encouragement when I began taking my first steps down the path of becoming a professional cartoonist. I doubt I would have made it to where I am without Tawna and Fat Cat.” And there IS a “fat cat”- actually two, named Dizzy and Lex, who love to be pet by customers. So, whichever shop you choose to zap into, follow Scott Jones’ advice: “Buy something you like and have fun.”
10% off with this coupon exp. 7/30
Charging Star Comics 345 Harry L. Drive Johnson City, NY 13790 607-341-5179 chargingstarcomics.com This store opened on Black Friday 2006 and Ryan Feurstenberg is the only one of the three owners featured in this piece who started his store “from scratch” (The others ended up buying stores they had fallen in love with). Action figures from Feurstenberg’s own collection dangle from the ceiling and greet customers by seeming to fly through the fantasy atmosphere. Cardboard bins hold the vintage comics, mostly purchased from
5 Court St. Downtown Binghamton or
www.riverreadbooks.com
JUNE
triple cities carousel sunday.
monday.
tuesday.
wedne
02 09 16 23 30
03 10 17 24
04 11 18 25
05 12 19 26
Miracle on South Division Street (CRT) Dreamgirls (FT) Musicians Showcase (BRK) Open Mic (CI) Chillout Sessions (FTZ)
Bad Cello, Forest Friend, more (BGL) Miracle on South Division Street (CRT) All Shook Up (CMP) Sandwiched (EPAC) Musicians Showcase (BRK) Open Mic (CI) Chillout Sessions (FTZ) Poetry Group (RRB)
Miracle on South Division Street (CRT) All Shook Up (CMP) Father’s Day Jazz Concert (GWT) Musicians Showcase (BRK) Open Mic (CI) Chillout Sessions (FTZ)
Musicians Showcase (BRK) Open Mic (CI) Chillout Sessions (FTZ)
Fully Committed (CRT) All Shook Up (CMP) Rats! Pied Piper (EPAC) Musicians Showcase (BRK) Open Mic (CI) Chillout Sessions (FTZ)
Open Gallery Hours (JS) Mosaic Class (JAB) Open Mic (BEL)
Open Gallery Hours (JS) Spring Jazz Jam (GWT) Sandwiched (EPAC) Mosaic Class (JAB) Open Mic (BEL) Collectors’ Items (BCAC)
Open Gallery Hours (JS) Open Mic (BEL) Mosaic Class (JAB) Collectors’ Items (BCAC) DT Book Club (RRB)
Open Gallery Hours (JS) Spring Jazz Jam (GWT) Open Mic (BEL) Mosaic Class (JAB) Collectors’ Items (BCAC)
Open Mic (CCW) Milkweed (KING) Waltz/Swing Lesson (BCC)
Java Joe Jammers (CCW) Milkweed (KING) Sandwiched (EPAC) Collectors’ Items (BCAC) Waltz/Swing Lesson (BCC)
Java Joe Jammers (CCW) Milkweed (KING) Collectors’ Items (BCAC) Waltz/Swing Lesson (BCC)
Java Joe Jammers (CCW) Milkweed (KING) Collectors’ Items (BCAC)
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.
Gasland Scree Chris Bodnarczuk/No
Jackie Colom
Dan P
Puzzled Players Comedy
(BBW)=Black Bear Winery (BCAC)=Broome County A (BCC)=Broome Comm. Co (BEL)=Belmar Pub (BGL)=Beagle Pub (BRK)=Brackney Inn (BTP)=Blind Tiger Pub (BWSC)=Bing. West Senio (CCW)=Cyber Cafe West (CI)=Choconut Inn
2013
events calendar
esday. thursday.
friday.
saturday.
01 08 15 22 29
Miracle on South Division Street (CRT) Hats Off Band (BRK) Stereopticon (FTZ) Book Group (RRB) Los Vega (FIVE) Voodoo Highway (CCW) Mosaic Class (JAB) Thom Ormsby (BTP)
ening w/ Josh Fox (WMS) obody Bothers Gus (FTZ) Rob Stachyra (CCW) Open Gallery Hours (JS)
Mary Tewksbury (CCW) Open Gallery Hours (JS) Lukus Wells (LDC) Sandwiched (EPAC) Collectors’ Items (BCAC) mbo/Joanna Nelson (FTZ)
TBA (CCW) Open Gallery Hours (JS) Collectors’ Items (BCAC) Pokorak/Joe Alston (FTZ)
Improv Theatre (LDC) Al Millus (CCW) Open Gallery Hours (JS) Collectors’ Items (BCAC) Tom O’Connor (FTZ)
y Arts Council ollege West Gym
or Center
06 13 20 27
Vermont Cheddar w/ Carol Simek (BTP) Miracle on South Division Street (CRT) InnerMission (CCW) All Shook Up (CMP) BBQ w/ Milkweed (BEL)
Collectors’ Items (BCAC) BBQ w/ Six Mile High/Tom O’Connor (BEL) InnerMission (CCW) Randy McStine (BTP) MOSDS (CRT) Mama’s Black Sheep (LDC) All Shook Up (CMP) Sandwiched (EPAC)
Vermont Cheddar w/ Carol Simek (BTP) BBQ w/ Lukus Wells and Dr. EF (BEL) Collectors’ Items (BCAC) Peabody Dance Lesson (BWSC) InnerMission (CCW)
BBQ w/ Stereopticon/Hunter Davidsohn (BEL) Randy McStine (BTP) All Shook Up (CMP) Rats! Pied Piper (EPAC) InnerMission (CCW) Collectors’ Items (BCAC) Peabody Dance Lesson (BWSC)
(CMP)=Cider Mill Playhouse (CORN)=John Barleycorn Tavern (CRT)=Chenango River Theatre (DT)=Downtown Binghamton (DTO)=Downtown Owego (EPAC)=Endicott Performing Arts Center (FIVE)=Number 5 (FT)=Forum Theatre (FTZ)=Fitzies Pub (GWT)=Goodwill Theatre/Firehouse Stage
07 14 21 28
First Friday Art Walk (DT) Carousel Presents: Zydeco Po’ Boys (CCW) Rick Iacovelli (BTP) Tim Ruffo (CORN) Hindsight (MR) Pete Ruttle (OUH) Collectors’ Items (BCAC) All Shook Up (CMP) Band of Strings (LDC) ,MOSDS (CRT) Sandwiched (EPAC),Live Music (BBW) Katie Scott (FIVE)
MOSDS (CRT), Rize (MR), Kim and Chris (CCW) The Big Toe Jam (BTP), Gretchen Wilson (TD) Pete Ruttle (OUH) STARCRAZY (LDC) All Shook Up (CMP) Sandwiched (EPAC) Owego Strawberry Fest (DTO) Zydeco Po’ Boys (OP) Live Music (BBW) Collectors’ Items (BCAC), Anne Serling (RRB) Splash (FIVE) Black Mountain Symphony (CCW) The Beatles Band (BTP) Tim Ruffo (MR) Pete Ruttle (OUH) Rick Pedro Patriotic Piano (GWT) Live Music (BBW) Collectors’ Items (BCAC) Brotherhood (FIVE)
Zydeco Po’ Boys (LDC) Matuto with Clay Ross (CCW) Mike Whittemore (BTP) Fully Committed (CRT) Pete Ruttle (OUH) All Shook Up (CMP) Rats! Pied Piper (EPAC) Live Music (BBW) Collectors’ Items (BCAC) Poetry Open Mic (RRB) The Look (FIVE)
(JAB)=Susan Jablon Mosaics (JS)=Jungle Science (KNG)=Kingsley’s Pub (KNOW)=KNOW Theatre (LDC)=Lost Dog Cafe/Lounge (MPW)=Musicians Performance Warehouse (MR)=Martini Room (OP)=Owego Pub (ORA)=Orazio Salati Gallery (OUH)=Old Union Hotel
Dave Weiner Guitar Workshop (MPW) Miracle on South Division Street (CRT) Ricky & Blue Shadows (BTP) TBA (CCW) Mosaic Class (JAB) All Shook Up (CMP) Tight Spots (BRK) If Madrid (FTZ) Beatle Band (FIVE) \
Jeff Pettit Band & Charles Havira Band (CCW) Charlie Brown (BTP),MOSDS(CRT) Vieux Carre (KNOW), A Koch (RRB) All Shook Up (CMP) Hi-Way Fruit Market (BRK) Sandwiched (EPAC) Sleeping Beauty (GWT) Owego Strawberry Fest (DTO) Mosaic Class (JAB) Happy Thieves in Paradise (FTZ) Samba/Rumba Workshop (BWSC) Singer Songwriter Showcase (CCW) Joe Stento and Friends (BTP) Interlude w/ Music (SPOOL) Wreckless Marci (BRK) Butch Skeeene (FIVE) Mosaic Class (JAB) Forest Friend (FTZ)
Melanie and the Boys (CCW) L Ectric Brew (BTP) Fully Committed (CRT) All Shook Up (CMP) Expozure (BRK) Rats! Pied Piper (EPAC) Mosaic Class (JAB) Mantraverse (LDC) Milkweed (FTZ)
(RRB)=RiverRead Books (SPOOL)=Spool MFG (TD)=Tioga Downs Casino (WMS)=West Middle School
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
PERSONS of interest Each Month, CAROUSEL turns the spotlight on the people that make the Triple Cities what it is. Artists, musicians, cashiers, business owners, students, teachers... we are all part of the fabric of this town. Now, time for eleven questions!
June 2013 Triple Cities Carousel 17
faces and places.
BUSINESS PROFILE:
Name: Patti Hart Occupation: I’m the keeper of the clowns at John Hart Studios Location: Nineveh How long have you lived in the region? My whole life What do you love most about the area? Ooh. The weather. Ha! I’ve always loved how friendly the people are.
SEA HAG SOAPS AND ART MERCANTILE Sea Hag. Grace the dog standing by. Photo by Ty Whitbeck.
Chris Bodnarczuk Editor-in-Chief
Patti Hart. Photo by Chris Bodnarczuk.
Favorite hangout? The Belmar Favorite restaurant? Oh man, that’s a tough one. Consols? Consols! Favorite local music? Dr. EF and the Rudimentary of Sound Hidden Gem? Well, there’s Danny’s Diner! How do you make this region a better place to live? I gave birth to the two boys that carry on Johnny Hart’s legacy! What do you thing the Triple Cities are in most dire need of? Jobs.
The owner, Colleen Kane, greeted me with a warm hello, giving me a quick tour of the place. A poodle mix, Grace, followed us around for a while before making a home near some quilts in the corner. Sea Hag embodies everything local, with a bit of
I had heard rumors of the place before. “Oh, you should go to Sea Hag,” they said. “It’s awesome,” they said. “They make soap,” they said. Soap. Oh, yeah, sounds freaking incredible. If you think I smell bad, just come right out and say it, punk. And yet, one day I found myself driving through the rolling hills of Brackney, PA (smelling perfectly fine, thankyouvery much) with no particular place to be. It seemed like perhaps it was time to see what all the hullabaloo was about. And so, I found myself driving down McCormick Rd, where I found a pretty, if unassuming barn, with a sign out front that said ‘Sea Hag Soaps and Art Mercantile.’ I walked to the door, not expecting much more than, well, soap. Dear reader, I couldn’t have been more wrong. The moment one walks inside, they are greeted by a massive open space full to the brim with pretty much everything imaginable. There is soap, yes, but we can get back to that. Art. Crafts. Antiques. Food. Coffee. Jewelry. Sea Hag has it all.
whimsy added in for good measure. There are hand knitted socks embodying every color of the rainbow, Scrabble tiles turned into jewelry, some of the strangest antiques one could find (when I returned a week later with Carousel’s esteemed photographer, he took it upon himself to buy an 1/16th sized upright piano), and vibrant, strange artwork on the walls. Colleen explained that while most of the painters were local, she has been known to have artists from all over the country drop off pieces to be sold. The place doubles as an art gallery, really.
Then there’s the soap. I have never been one to pay much attention to the soap I use, and yet I left that day with a bag full of assorted scented soaps. Soap is the cornerstone of the Sea Hag operation. Colleen and an assistant make all the soaps (and lotions and balms) on premises, and have for over 13 years. All come individually wrapped and labeled, and there are countless varieties to choose from, each with a name as quirky as the shoppe they come from: “Lingering Linden,” “Old Dad,” “Prudish Potpurri,” “Scrooge’s Scrub”… there’s even a particularly sexy scented soap labelled “Naughty or Nice”… and it comes wrapped in lace! I really can’t begin to say enough good things about Sea Hag. Floor to ceiling, first floor to loft… every nook and cranny is covered with some of the most genuinely cool things I’ve ever seen in a store. Antiques, local crafts, food, soap… whatever it is you’re looking for, chances are they have it. I could send you to their website (seahagsoaps. com), but the real magic is stopping by for yourself. Myself, I’d make it a point to head over at 9am on June 8th, when they’ll be opening the basement up for an antique auction! If you can’t make that, they’re open Tuesday-Saturday 10pm-5pm, and Sundays from 12pm-4:30pm. Sea Hag is located at 1044 McCormick Rd. in Brackney, PA. Bring a map the first time. The place is a bit off the beaten path, but once you find it, you’ll never forget it.
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20 Vol. 1 Issue 4
food and drink.
1ST SOUTHERN TIER
BREWFEST HITS WATER STREET
healthy
EATS THE STREETS RUN RED! Stacey Burke, HHC Staff Writer
Oh June, you have arrived… soon bringing an abundance of that little red berry that we love. Strawberries are not only delicious, but pack a mean punch with their loads of Vitamin C, antioxidants and phytonutrients. This recipe combines the fruit with some other nutrient packed elements such as quinoa (the only grain that is a complete protein) blueberries (another soon-to-be ready berry high in antioxidants and many other vitamins) and coconut milk (a nice source of fats). So enjoy this dish warm or cool, and rest assured you’ll be starting your day of with a bang.
Maria “Murph” Murphy Staff Writer
This Father’s Day weekend why not take your dad out for a beer, or two, or three? On June 15th Upstate Wine Country is holding their first ever Southern Tier Brew Fest at the Doubletree Hotel by Hilton (formally known as the Binghamton Riverwalk). The Festival will consist of six different New York State craft breweries: Bandwagon Brewpub (Ithaca), Birdland Brewing Co. (Horseheads), Cortland Beer Company (Cortland), The North Brewery (Endicott), Upstate Brewing Co. (Elmira), and Waterstreet Brewing Co. (Binghamton). “We take great pride in having local New York State Breweries at our events,” says Dan Tompkins, founder and partner of Upstate Wine Country. “And there’s going to be plenty of beer to taste.” Over the past five years, Upstate Wine Country has produced many wine tasting events and festivals in Upstate New York and Upstate Pennsylvania and now, thanks to the voice of the public, there will be beer tasting events and festivals as well. “We have been getting more and more requests to add a brew fest to our event list, especially in Binghamton,” says Tompkins. But this event is not just for the beer enthusiasts. There will also be vendors sporting specialty foods, cigars, and other handcrafted items, as well as many more non-alcoholic activities for those underage and, of course, the beloved designated drivers. “It’s very important to us that we advertise the designated drivers tickets,” says Tompkins. “There’s a cool space with video games and lots of big screen TV’s; there are lots of other things to do as well as tasting.” So be sure to get a ticket, designate a driver (or get a cab), and enjoy this first time Brew Fest responsibly! The Festival will be held on Saturday June 15th from 1pm-5pm at the Doubletree Hotel by Hilton (formally known as the Binghamton Riverwalk). Beer tasting tickets are $30 in advance and $40 at the door (includes admission, complimentary beer tasting glass and the opportunity to enjoy tasting the beer of all participating breweries). Designated Driver/Under 21 tickets are $5. For more information or to buy tickets online go to upstatewinecountry.com or call (570) 836-5253.
THIS MONTH, WE REALLY MEAN IT! aaaaa
OWEGO STRAWBERRY FEST
Strawberry Fest. Photo by Ty Whitbeck.
Ty Whitbeck Staff Writer
Daiquiris, anyone? While some may take them sans rum, all of historic downtown Owego is buzzing on a certain weekend in June. For the 33rd Annual Owego Strawberry Festival, held on June 14th and 15th, events are focused on the community and, of course, strawberries. On the evening of the 14th, when the sunset hits Front Street at just the right minute, the people and their families emerge from their homes to take part in the annual block party in the “Coolest Small Town in America.” It’s the beginning of Strawberry Fest, and it’s one of Owego’s claims to fame. That same night, there is a sanctioned Strawberry Festival 5k Run/Walk which benefits the festival, Owego Schools and future events held in the Village of Owego. Also, if you stick around long enough, you’ll see fireworks on the Front Street bridge and immediately following, (my band) Zydeco Po’ Boys will be scratchin’ circles on the dance floor at the Owego Pub until closing time. Commencing the activities to follow on the morning of the 15th is the Owego Strawberry Festival Parade. The entrances to the festival are now open and stationed with farmers selling their pints and quarts of strawberries. Usually, directly to the right of them is a team of volunteers with a cooler and a blender, whipping up virgin and adult versions of the daiquiri cocktail. The entire perimeter of downtown’s grid work is lined with pop-up tents showcasing local art, crafts and face painting for the kids (in all of us), wine tasting for the adults, food vendors and just about anything strawberry related you could possibly think of. There is also a Firemen’s Hose Race at the fire house on North Street to honor fallen Owego firefighter, Matt Porcari. The streets may be painted red with pop-ups, but don’t let that stop you from experiencing the store
fronts that make Owego, New York a destination, instead of just a town one “passes through.” The galleries will still be open and the restaurants will be serving up their quality food fare. Bob, owner of The Cellar, will be slow smoking a whole hog (to be served with his legendary homemade BBQ sauce) in front of his place on Front Street. There’s also a bar atop the roof at Tioga Trails Café, which overlooks the entire town of Owego and offers a good selection of draft beers and some of the strongest daiquiris in town. Music intends to fill all of the nooks and crannies of the town with three outdoor stages and some other street performers. This year’s talent includes: regional favorites Dirt Farm, Hover, Autumn Wind, Phillips Head, Country Mile, and Poor Boys (not to be confused with the zydeco outfit playing the night before). The music can be enjoyed from 11am to 5pm and don’t forget “The Cats,” whom will be playing from 12:30 to 4 at the Front and Court Street entrance to the festival. Whether you’re into magicians, jugglers and puppet shows, trackless train rides, art, live music, wine tasting, fireworks, or, if you just like to eat, the Owego Strawberry Festival will have something for you and the whole family… including lots of great memories to walk away with. Tell your friends, bring your parents, psych up the kids, throw a house party, do something to celebrate this wonderful local “holiday” here, in Owego. Admission is free to the festival for both days. The Friday Night Block Party is from 5pm-10:30pm (Zydeco Po’ Boys play at the Owego Pub at 167 Main Street following the fireworks and there is no cover). Saturday morning festivities start at 10am and go until people are tuckered out, usually around 5pm. The Carousel will be there, too! We’ll be tabling in front of Las Chicas Taqueria all day on Saturday! You’ll be able to find parking on Southside Drive, before the bridge, or along Front Street by taking a left after the bridge. Bring a lawn chair, some sunscreen and visit Owego as you’ve never pictured it before! If you’re coming from out of town and need a place to lay your head, consider staying at the Owego Treadway Inn, located at 1100 Route 17C. For more information, visit www. owegostrawberryfestival.com.
Quinoa Berry Breakfast 3/4 cup cooked quinoa 1 cup sliced strawberries 1/2 cup blueberries 1/2 cup coconut milk 2 teaspoons chia seeds 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 2 tablespoons chopped almonds
Directions: Start by placing the 2 teaspoons to chia seeds in the coconut milk, letting absorb for about 5 minutes. Using either warm or cooled quinoa (whichever you prefer) pour the milk and chia seed mixture over the quinoa. Top with strawberries, blueberries, cinnamon and almonds. Enjoy!
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!
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DINNER BEHIND BARS AT
June 2013 Triple Cities Carousel 21
CALABOOSE GRILLE
topped with a dry-rubbed grilled chicken breast, fresh tomatoes, basil and mushrooms. The first bite of the Rigatoni Rustica is intense. I try to get a little bit of everything into a single forkful to experience this thing head on. It surely does the trick and I’m finding it difficult to put my fork down.
Ty Whitbeck Staff Writer
If you do the crime, you’re gonna do the thyme. It’s a good thing I can’t be arrested for distasteful food puns or else I would have landed myself in the slammer nearly a life sentence ago.
Tonight, I’m visiting Calaboose Grille, located at 176 Main Street in Owego, NY. I know, I’ve been giving Owego a lot of props lately, but it’s for a good reason. This little downtown area is just happening from street corner to perpendicular street corner. Calaboose Grille takes up residency in the former Owego Jailhouse and upon making my first steps into the joint, I feel its history. Where once an inmate would have gotten booked and printed, now stands the hostess table. Around the corner, the jail cells have been converted into booths that comfortably seat four. Even the cold, hard steel bars have been restored. My waitress greets me with an ear-to-ear smile and seats me in one of the booths. For the sake of the story, we’ll say there was a riot in Cell Block #9. I’ll also mention that it’s the first day of American Craft Beer Week (5/13 through 5/19) and I’m partaking by supporting a local small brewery located not too far up the road- I order a pint of Ithaca Nut Brown. Calaboose prides itself in sourcing produce and meat from local NYS and PA farms, so most, if not all of the menu items are socially and
The tomatoes and basil are chopped finely and really add a fresh, cooling flavor to the contrast of the meal. The chicken is pounded thinly and dryrubbed with a blend of what tastes like paprika, cayenne, chili, garlic, and onion powder… then grilled. Underneath it all is a pool of rigatoni al dente enveloped in a sauce that is out of this world. The bold roasted garlic flavor carries but does not overpower the sauce and the lightness of the cream make it not so straining on the gut in the end. Each ingredient compliments the next one well and there is a great balance of flavor here, not a single note is lost within another.
Rigatoni Rustica at the Calaboose Grille. Photo by Ty Whitbeck.
economically responsible. They cater to certain dietary restrictions, and many dishes can be made gluten or lactose free or vegetarian. Making everything from scratch allows the staff to use the freshest ingredients possible and leave out what’s undesired. These are both big deals and score highly in my book. When I get to looking at the menu I notice that they have expanded it and added some new pasta dishes and entrees to the lineup. It all sounds dandy, but I’ve been told by a handful of food eaters that the Rigatoni Rustica should not be overlooked. I take their advice. Dinner includes a
side salad, which comes to the table first. It’s a plated bed of dark greens, romaine hearts, black olives, onions, cukes, and tomatoes with a garlic peppercorn crouton. My choice of dressing is a crumbly bleu and balsamic vinegar. I love a good balsamic. Tangy, slow like molasses and chock full of cracked peppercorns, this house made dressing takes the title; paired with the stinky bleu, it’s a match made in food heaven. Just as I finish my salad, the Rigatoni Rustica takes residency on my table. It’s about time to sink into the velvety roasted garlic cream sauce that I’ve heard so much about. It’s tossed with rigatoni and
My meal was fantastic. I can honestly say I’ll be making another trip to Calaboose in the near future for a heaping soufflé dish of their baked smoked Gouda mac & cheese and local, seasonal vegetables. If the weather’s nice, who knows, maybe I’ll just get a table outside on their deck, just across the street from the Courthouse Square. If you plan on getting a table, note that they are open for lunch and dinner on Monday through Friday from 11am-9pm and Saturday from 11am10pm. You can find parking in the municipal lot on Court Street (which is a one-way), just before the restaurant on the corner. Visit www.calaboosegrille. com to see their full menu, and always remember to shop and eat local!
FLAVOR TURNS OBSCENE AT GET FORKED
Ty Whitbeck Staff Writer
As I type this, I continue to lick my fingers clean of the meal I just devoured. I just can’t seem to let any of it get away. You remember my friend Whiskey Chris, right? He’s the one with the O-face you can’t forget, from the April issue of Carousel. Well, he and I embarked on quite the journey to a new contender in town’s storefront on the corner of Washington Ave and North Street, in Endicott. All I really want for you to understand from this experience is how badly I want you all to Get Forked. That’s right, I said it! Get Forked! They humbly call themselves a sandwich shop, but this is gourmet beyond compare. They source locally virtually every ingredient they use; to the left of their menu board, a plethora of regional farms are listed that Get Forked does business on a daily basis with. And practically every bit of the food is constructed inhouse. “If the recipe calls for house cured bacon and a pistachio basil aioli, he [Executive Chef Jay Ii] is in here at 4am curing the bacon, whisking up the aioli, and baking the bread,” the woman behind the counter, Tonja, tells us.
Now, I’m sure most of you have had a submarine sandwich before; a hoagie, a hero, whatever the nomenclature you choose, take what you know and throw it right out the window. Forget everything you have learned about lettuce, tomato and onion because you won’t see anything like that here.
Things start to get real interesting as we approach the counter. Whiskey Chris and I are just shaking our heads in befuddlement, and almost ready to commit to our order. He goes with the Divine Swine; I decide on the Monte Cubano. Both sandwiches come with house made kettle chips (complete with minced garlic/parmesan seasoning) and a pickle spear. We’re feeling hungry so we also put in for Poutine, hand cut fries with cheese curd and…wait for it… duck gravy. A must try. The Divine Swine. Where do I begin? They take a soft, crusty roll and layer pulled pork shoulder (which is smoked in-house), thick-cut housecured bacon, a super spicy jalapeno kimchi slaw, and Cotija, which is a dense Mexican cheese that resembles a Greek feta. Whiskey Chris was kind enough to let me sample his sandwich, you know, for research and comparison. Tonja was right, it is spicy. It’s a well-rounded heat, though. The slaw is ultra-crisp, as a good slaw should be, and packed with a huge amount of heat right off the pepper that lingers. Take that with
the slow cooked smoked pork shoulder that’s been hot-boxed in its own juices for 14 hours and we’re almost there. It’s then that I taste the saltiness of the house-cured bacon and the influx of Cotija. The swine’s name lives up to its divinity and Whiskey Chris has vowed to get fat off these sandwiches someday... it might not take too long. While having an intervention with him and his sandwich, I almost forgot about the leviathon sitting in front of me. They call it the Monte Cubano… a fusion sandwich I try to pick apart, culturally speaking, as best as I can. First, they take two slices of country white bread and turn it into French toast, as if by magic. Then they melt Fontina cheese; add whole mustard grain, olive oil pickles, and then the meat: malt brined turkey and the same pork shoulder that shows up on the Swine. I’m sitting here, staring at this thing, piled about 4 inches high of malted, fermented delicacy fit for a good old fashion Cuban exile and I can’t, for the life of me, figure out how to pick it up. The brine of the pickles and the meat are permeating through every pore of the bread and making a mess of me. First bite is huge and sloppy. Tonja sees Whiskey Chris and I eating like a couple of Neanderthals and offers some more napkins. The taste I pick up the most is the thick layer of
olive oil pickles mixed with the mustard seed. It’s a complex texture. They are heavy on the vinegar and spice, which is what I look for most in pickles. Blanketed between the French toast and Fontina are the turkey and pork shoulder. Good gourd! The synergy between the two blends perfectly and adds an incomparable amount of flavor that you’ll only taste from kitchens that really know what they’re doing. Jay must have been a scientist’s apprentice as a boy, because the chemistry of the whole meal is a formula for madness. If you haven’t made a mess of yourself reading this already, I urge you to gravitate on down to Get Forked and allow yourself to experience what we just have. It’s inspiring to know that a couple of outside of the box thinkers and geniuses of global cuisine can create something gourmet and affordable while using local ingredients. The only way to truly experience what it is they’re cooking up is, well, to go fork yourself.
Located at 1 Washington Ave. in Endicott (Corner of Washington and North), Get Forked is open from 12-3pm for lunch and 5-8pm for dinner. Sandwiches range from $6 to $8. For their extensive, mouthwatering menu and more info, visit and “like” Get Forked on Facebook.
MARKET FRESH: A GUIDE TO
22 Vol. 1 Issue 4
REGIONAL FARMERS’ MARKETS
that you’ll find at your market in abundance includes lettuce, spinach, spring onions, garlic scapes, rhubarb, radishes, sprouts, and strawberries.
Stacey Burke Staff Writer
As if the convenience of having all of these goods right at our finger tips isn’t enough, some may wonder why buy local? There are plenty of reasons! For one, your money goes directly back in to the family farms and your own community. The quality of the food is remarkable- it is fresher, tastes better, and is often grown with less pesticides and chemicals. And since it hasn’t been shipped from thousands of miles away, the food is environmentally conscious, meaning less carbon dioxide emissions and packaging!
Living in upstate New York is an entirely different experience than the rest of the country thinks. We’ve all got that relative or friend that lives across the country and thinks that “New York” means “New York, New York.” High-rises. Concrete. Traffic. In fact, upstate New York has such incredible and rich acreage that it is covered in approximately 36,000 farms, contributing to a $3.6 billion industry vital to NY’s economy. Production wise, New York ranks nationally as #2 in apples and maple syrup, #3 in dairy, grapes, wine, and corn silage, #4 in pears, #5 in floriculture and #4 in organic farms! Not only does the soil and land make upstate so prosperous in the farming and agriculture business, but the climate as well plays a major role. Yes, fellow New Yorkers, we all know the pain of our excruciatingly long and cold 6 month (or longer) winters. But, without them, we wouldn’t appreciate the sunshine nearly as much! We relish in our 3 months of divine summers, our beautiful fall foliage and bursting spring blossoms. We are the essence of seasons here, allowing for a bountiful and abundant harvest. I know I am not alone is saying
Farm Fresh Veggies. Photo by Ty Whitbeck.
that with spring and early summer starts one of my favorite parts of the year – farmers’ market season! The Southern Tier and surrounding areas are nestled amongst some of the most prime of the farm lands, making our farmers markets plentifuloverflowing with lots of seasonal goodies. Some of the products you will find at these markets include fresh fruits, vegetables, humanely raised, grass fed and organic meat, poultry, eggs, cheeses, flowers, baked goods, gluten free goods, fresh & ground coffee, herbal teas, honey & maple syrup products,
wines, jellies, pet treats, spa products, handmade ceramics, alpaca items, crafts, jewelry, homemade soaps, lotions, herb plants, bedding plants, and much more! What you find depends on the market you visit, as all vary in size and vendors. Markets such as those in Otsiningo Park and Vestal have around 20-30 vendors, while some of the smaller ones scattered around Tioga County typically have 5-15 vendors. The nearby Ithaca Farmers’ Market has close to 150! What’s in season for June? Well, the produce
BROOME COUNTY
So now that you know the whats, the whys and the hows, let’s talk about the wheres! Below is a general guide to finding some (not all) markets in our area. Not only will you find some of the products listed above, but many of these markets have special events weekly – whether chef demo’s, music or arts! For example, on June 22nd, the Vestal Farmers’ Market is featuring the Czech Moravian dancers– they bring music, barbeque and plenty of fun! The Newark Valley Farmers’ Market has a community jam session on June 9th– so grab your instrument and head on down to strum your stuff with other local musicians! No matter which market you attend, there is bound to be abundant fresh, local foods and goods, entertainment and a true community feel.
REGIONAL FARMERS’ MARKET LISTINGS
Binghamton/Otsiningo Park Farmers’ Market Otsiningo Park, Upper Front St, Binghamton Saturdays 9am-1pm May 4- November 23 Downtown Binghamton Farmers’ Market Courthouse Square. Collier St, Binghamton Tuesdays and Fridays 9am-2pm June 7- October 29 Koo Koose Farmers’ Market Across from Village Hall. Deposit. Saturdays 9am-12:30pm June 22- September 7 Vestal Farmers’ Market Library Parking Lot. Vestal Pkwy East, Vestal Saturdays and Wednesdays 9am-1pm May 25- November 20 CHENANGO COUNTY Coventry Famers’ Market Coventry Fire Station. North Rd, Greene Sundays 12pm-6pm. Tuesdays 3pm-6:30pm June- November Chenango County Farmers’ Market East Side Park. West Main St, Norwich Wednesdays and Saturdays 8am- 1pm June 8- October 30 TOMPKINS COUNTY Groton Famers’ Market Center Village Court Apts. South St (Rt. 38), Groton Tuesdays 3:30pm- 6:30pm July 9- September 10
Ithaca Farmers’ Market (Dewitt Park) Dewitt Park. North Cayuga St. & East Buffalo St. Tuesdays 9am-2pm and Thursdays 4pm-7pm May-October Ithaca Farmers’ Market (East Hill) East Hill Plaza. Pine Tree Rd, Ithaca Wednesdays 4pm- 7pm June 5- October 30 Ithaca Farmers’ Market (Steamboat) Steamboat Landing. Third St. (off Rt. 13), Ithaca Saturdays 9am-3pm and Sundays 10am- 3pm April-December Trumansburg Farmers’ Market Village Park. Rt. 96 (Main St.) and Rt. 227, Trumansburg Wednesdays 4pm-7pm May 15-October 30 TIOGA COUNTY Newark Valley Farmers’ Market Village Green. 9 Park St, Newark Valley Sundays 12pm- 4pm May 19- October 27 Owego Famers’ Market Rite Aid parking lot, Owego Tuesdays and Fridays 9am- 1pm June 14- October 29 Waverly Farmers’ Market Muldoon Park, Waverly Mondays 3:30pm- 6:30pm June 24- October 21 Spencer Farmers’ Market Rt. 34 (Park near pond), Spencer Saturdays 9am- 1pm June 8- October 1
June 2013 Triple Cities Carousel 23
If you’d like to be considered for our ‘poet of the month’ section, please send a writing sample and a brief bio to: triplecitiescarousel@gmail.com
poetry.
POET OF THE MONTH: EVAN JAY WILLIAMS
EVAN JAY WILLIAMS was born in the Triple Cities area and grew up in Owego, NY. He is a twenty-something musician and writer whose work has previously appeared in, or is forthcoming from, the journals The Finger, Nevermore, and Signatures.
Playmates he’s all grow’d up now, baggage in tow, while she’ll, well, grow forever older; yet it wasn’t always so, for, younger ago, neither knew to accept just so much for whatever
Aubade questions are inquired of this, the first, the only dawn, though a horizon was never a sounding board, and absorbs whatever we may seek, forsaking alike philosophers, charlatans, even the blessed meek; yet as the morning pallette limns the early pastels of the world, we could forgive even the supremacy of light over sound, and all other inadequacy
The Florentines we members of the inverted fraternity, renaissance men harboring their silent infirmities, hereby resolve neither to abstain nor absolve, yet to resist, with our hearts’ every wretched twist, those forces that force us to flee, to take flight, to be endlessly pursued under the auspices of the offices of the night
Wanderer i stand here, at the head of this valley, young and small as i am to all that has come before and before and before me, this sky-canvassed tunnel extending toward that smashing, slapping sea, with arms flung wide and my bare feet squared, for so far as anyone else is concerned, i am god
Birdman of Alcatraz cat, domesticated inmate, sleepily sequestered within his upholstered cell, emulates leonine cousins, paws perched at stony attention and guarding their noble dens, as his lidded slits peer between the tiny-barred screen at all the ditzy citizens flitting, free, and invisibly victimized from his shaded repository
24 Vol. 1 Issue 4
wellness.
DEALING WITH STRESS: 10 STEPS TO TAKING BACK YOUR LIFE
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. This week, my husband and I harvested and ate our first homegrown asparagus. Sure, by the time you read this, the spears we left standing will have grown up into a miraculous ferny forest of green, but I just can’t resist letting spring pass by completely without singing a little ode to the weird, delicious, and certainly requiring-of-patience asparagus patch. Thing is, we planted this asparagus three Aprils ago, and this is the first time we’re getting to eat it. And that is the way with asparagus. You dig a long trench, you fork in some manure or compost, you lay out the crowns (all bleakly white and quite spidery) and then you wait. For 730 days or so. Compared to asparagus, the desperate wait for the season’s first tomato is complete child’s play. The funny fact of the matter is, I didn’t mind the wait so much. I knew what I was getting myself into, and I knew it would be worth it. Digging that long, muddy trench: it felt permanent. This wasn’t just the transient, haphazard sowing of a few radish seeds or floozy annuals. This was an announcement of intent. Intent to flourish. (So I told myself, as I waited two entire years to eat the darn stuff.)
Don’t worry lil’ fella. It’ll be okay. Photo by Ty Whitbeck.
Stacey Burke Staff Writer The human mind is an incredibly powerful machine. We have the ability to create thoughts, perceptions, ideas, dreams, fears, emotions– all of which have an impact on our physical and mental well-being. We also have the power to choose how we react to our environment, to create our perception. Take a stab at what one of the most common reactions is that we choose? Unfortunately it’s not joy or happiness, but rather the oh-so notorious and widespread state of stress. No, you may not be able control the stressors in your life, but you can control your reaction to them… what a freeing thought! After all, life isn’t what happens to you, but how you choose to react to what happens to you! It may feel nearly impossible to overcome stress– whether money, relationships, work, health… the list of triggers can seem never-ending. The truth is, chronic stress wreaks havoc on your mind and body, and can cause a slew of health problems including weight gain, depression, anxiety, insomnia, imbalanced hormones, suppressed immune system, high blood pressure, fatigue, accelerated aging, increased risk for heart attack and stroke, impaired fertility… the list goes on. And the number of stressed out people is astonishing – 77% of us say we regularly experience physical symptoms of stress (not including psychological symptoms such as anger, irritability, nervousness, or a flat out tearfest). Yikes! Does that sound like the way to live? Stress is not a one-size-fits-all deal, it impacts everyone differently and therefore what alleviates stress for one person may not for another. But, the good news is, you can find what works for you
and learn ways to create more peace in your life. Reducing the stressors and choosing to remain calm can be in your hands (and mind). Start by picturing the areas of your life like a circle– your relationships, career, home life, money, health– what area causes you the most stress? Where do you feel an imbalance, or what causes your circle to become a lop-sided blob? Is it the stack of bills piling up on your desk or the friend that does nothing but complain? Is it your overbearing boss or your busy schedule that keeps you from time to do what you really love? Next, ask yourself a few questions, such as “What is it about the situation that is causing me stress?” “Does it need to be this way?” “What would happen if I just let it go?” “Does this really matter?” Understanding where your stress stems from is the first step in knowing how you can take control and choose a different route. You can then find ways to tackle it– for example– how can you budget better to reduce your spending? How can you rearrange your schedule to allow more time outside of work? Is this relationship more harmful than good? Would you be better off at a less stressful job even if that means less money? Remember, we all have only one life, so make it one you love! Here are 10 things to try that can help you learn to eliminate stress from your life by reducing negatives and adding in more positive and calming forms of energy: Breathe! Yes, it can be as simple as breathing. Slowly, deeply, in and out through your nose. This allows your body to calm especially in the heat of the moment. Exercise! A simple walk or even an intense sweat fest can rid stress quick! Some people find yoga to be a great method to combine not only exercise, but
meditation and breathing as well. It’s a powerhouse de-stressor! Meditate! Spending even 10 minutes alone a day work wonders- find a quiet place, clear your mind of all thoughts and focus on your breathing. Surround yourself with the right people! If there are people in your life who drain you and are a source of constant negative energy, slowly eliminate them. You become like the top five people you are around most– spend time with those who bring joy into your life. Smile and laugh! Seriously, the more you do this, the happier and less stressed you will feel. Listen to music you enjoy! Need I say more? Flip back a few pages to find a plethora of options! Journal! Especially in the morning… getting your frustrations out on paper (or computer) can really help clear your head, and also help you discover more about yourself and where things are stemming from. And you won’t be carrying around those pent up feelings all day. Spend time in nature! Not much explanation needed here– enjoy the healing abilities of being surrounded by nothing but trees, mountains, water… whatever you choose. It’ll soothe ya. Simplify your life! De-clutter your home, cut back on expenses, live a simple life! Less is more… and all the extra hoopla can just end up stressing you out. Limit media! I know, I know, it sounds crazy doesn’t it? But, with all the technology surrounding us, we often get stressed by an abundance of emails, news, texts, social updates… cutting back daily can do wonders to ease your mind.
In the meantime, though, I watched the bed through the seasons. First, the snubnosed spears pushing up very much like alien appendages, then the opening of the spears into Christmas-tree shaped ferns. They do that, you know… turn into giant tree-like things festooned with little red berries. On hot July afternoons, while I pulled weeds from the toes of the tomato plants, or deadheaded the floozy annuals, looking over at the asparagus bed gave me calm. It was cooling, somehow, to feast my eyes on all that soft greenery. You know how people talk about the difference between grocery store tomatoes and homegrown. On and on they preach about how there’s two things money can’t buy: true love and good tomatoes. Well, to that I would like to add: real asparagus. I tossed our first spears with olive oil and roasted them at 450 for fifteen minutes, and they were absolutely transcendent. Complex and succulent and with the deep rich umami flavor of really fresh sushi. Don’t believe me? Well, if you’re in any kind of stable housing situation, buy yourself some asparagus crowns—it’s not too late to plant them—and see for yourself. I’ll be waiting 730 days or so for your first ecstatic report.
26 Vol. 1 Issue 4
fun stuff.
HOROSCOPES
B.C.
by MASTROIANNI AND HART
Each month, CAROUSEL features a guest horoscope columnist. For June, we welcome Binghamton’s favorite letter carrier, EARL WALKER. As far as we know he knows nothing about astrology. Gemini (May 21-June 20) You will be especially pleased with the reflection you find in the mirror. Don’t change a thing, except perhaps to apply a bit more Windex. Swing dancing with a new partner will trip you up. Cancer (June 21-July 22)
WIZARD OF ID
by PARKER, MASTROIANNI, AND HART
It’s an excellent time to give up a vice. Unfortunately, several new vices are waiting in the wings for just this occasion. It’s high time you visited a diner. Order something that is not on the menu; it will be sure to please. Leo (July 23-August 22) Confined spaces seem to call out to you. Do not be enticed by their charms. Open spaces also prove dangerous for you. I suggest staying home until this all blows over. Virgo (August 23-September 22) When nature calls, as it surely will, don’t answer. It’s a trap! Now is the time for zip-line adventures. Seek them out at your earliest convenience. Libra (September 23-October 22) Good lord, see a doctor or a shaman immediately! Scorpio (October 23-November 21)
DOGS OF C-KENNEL
by MICK AND MASON MASTROIANNI
Romance eludes you. Pursue it relentlessly anyhow. Although romance will still fail to materialize, your financial standing will not completely fall apart. Sagittarius (November 22-December 21) Vinyl is your friend. Microwave ovens are not your friend at this point in your life. Turn to backyard grilling as a reliable alternative. Capricorn (December 22-January 19) Your carbon footprint manages to temporarily shrink two sizes. Do not rush out and purchase new shoes, however. Adjust the lighting in your living space; the benefits of this will confuse you.
DEAR RUMMY Our dear editor has never considered himself to be the type of person that any self respecting human being would ever come to for advice.
All things considered, he’s kind of a mess, and he makes terrible decisions regularly. And yet people come to him daily, looking for advice. Thus, it seems only fitting to make the worst decision of all. Our editor is starting an advice column.
Dear Rummy,
My partner says that I am “beautiful, amazing, and nurturing.” However, he pays more attention to his books, papers, and Playboys than he does to me. What should I do? Sincerely, Bored to Tears Dear Bored to Tears,
Got a question for Rummy? He is learned in many subjects, including ethnomusicology, craft beer, gonzo writers, cuisine, relationships (mostly failing ones), pop culture, and more. Send your question today, to triplecitiescarousel@gmail.com. Be sure to put ‘Dear Rummy’ in the subject! Check back in future issues to see if we’ve answered your email!
When your partner tells you all of those things, he probably means it. No man has ever used the term “nurturing” unless he really meant it. I know you want attention, but you must be careful how you go about getting it, lest your fella adds “overbearing” to the list of adjectives he uses to describe you. You say he likes books, papers, and Playboys, huh?
Before you make any moves, you should probably look into what books and papers he is reading, to make sure he’s a keeper. The Playboys, well… there’s no changing that, but the books and papers we can do something about. Find out what subject he enjoys reading about, and find a movie to watch with him that fit into that category. A picture is worth 1000 words, and a film is 26 pictures per second. That’s roughly 190,000 words in a two hour movie! He’ll be sure to have more time for you if he’s read that much! Of course, some books are full of terrible things, and maybe if he’s reading those, you shouldn’t keep him around anyway. The real clincher there, though, is what papers he reads. Is it a Triple Cities Carousel that he’s got sitting on the coffee table? No? It’s time to move on. Truly yours, Rummy
Aquarius (January 20-February 18) In your dealings with youngsters, keep in mind that while they may exhibit irresistible characteristics of cuteness, they can surely maim you if they really try. Keep looking up. Pisces (February 19-March 20) Your efforts to change your race will continue to fail you, but not quite as badly this month. Tattoo positive thoughts somewhere on your scalp. They will eventually sink in. If not, give in to despair. Aries (March 21-April 19) Take special care to avoid exchanges with those whose craft involves adding machines with paper. While traveling to foreign lands, don’t bother converting units of measure. This will serve you well if you manage to avoid disaster. Taurus (April 20-May 20) Your green thumb will let you down this month. Consider hiring a landscaper. Make room for a little more Neil Diamond in your life.
An unflinching investigation of the toxic influences polluting our democracy
FREE ADVANCE FILM SCREENING WITH DIRECTOR JOSH FOX!
WEDNESDAY JUNE 5 WEST MIDDLE SCHOOL 1 WEST MIDDLE AVE, BINGHAMTON DooRS OPEN AT 6PM, SCREENING STARTS AT 6:30PM $5 suggested donation
WHAT THE OIL AND GAS COMPANIES DON’T WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT FRACKING
join us for this special screening one month before the hbo premiere!
DIRECTOR Q&A TO FOLLOW SPONSORED BY: Citizens Action of NY, New York Residents Against Drilling, Vestal Residents for Safe Energy, Save the Southern Tier, Sierra Club, Susquehanna Group, Working Families Party of the Southern Tier East, Concerned Citizens of Rural Broome, City of Binghamton Residents Against Hydrofracking, Concerned Citizens of Town of Binghamton, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Binghamton Green Sanctuary, Binghamton Friends Community Meeting (Quakers), Owego Residents Against Fracking Tioga