triple cities
free
CAROUSEL march 2013
vol. 1 issue 1
music. art. theatre. food. life.
BAND of strings
TRIPLE CITIES CAROUSEL IS LOOKING FOR TALENTED:
Binghamton’s own bluegrass band
WRITERS, PHOTOGRAPHERS, GRAPHIC ARTISTS, AD REPS.
Smokin’ GRASS SINCE 2010
upcoming gigs:
March 2- choconut inn March 8- gallagher’s march 16- choconut inn march 22- barleycorn (owego)
facebook.com/bandofstrings
10% off with this coupon exp. 4/30
JOIN THE TEAM TODAY!
triplecitiescarousel@gmail.com 5 Court St. Downtown Binghamton or
www.riverreadbooks.com
FOR QUOTES AND MORE, EMAIL BMOAS@YAHOO.COM
March 2013 Triple Cities Carousel 3
EDITORIAL. It was not so many years ago I moved to this region, a starry-eyed, naïve college transfer from Orange County, NY. The little information I had about the Binghamton area had been pieced together from my Binghamton University acceptance package, high school trips up Rt. 17 to Magic City Music Hall, and the stories my father would tell about a Ukrainian Summer Camp he went to when he was a child. Somehow, I turned all this information into dreams of a thriving metropolis full of opportunity, and I packed my bags, ready for adventure. Like many of the University students, my dreams were soon shattered, as I began to explore what, at the time, seemed like a depressed factory town with more boarded up storefronts than one could fathom. I holed myself up on campus, succumbed to drinking whiskey out of soda bottles in my dorm room, and seldom made the trek on the 15 to anywhere other than the Shortline station. It is not so easy to pick flowers when you lock yourself in concrete. The following year, I moved off campus and grudgingly started to explore a town I had come to view as a prison. What I found surprised me. Late night walks from downtown uncovered several world-class art galleries. Explorations of the local dives ended in me dancing up a storm to some great local music. One day I missed my bus-stop and ended up in Endicott for several hours, marveling at EPAC and Cider Mill Playhouse. Conversations in the grocery store found me meeting some of the most genuinely interesting people I had ever hoped to encounter. I bought a car and began exploring the local parks, on a hunt to ride every single one of George F. Johnson’s beloved carousels. All of a sudden, my hatred of the region was replaced by a much more intense feeling of love and admiration. Creativity seemed to flow from every corner, and I wanted to be a part of it. Flash forward another year or two, and I was immersed. I was hosting a poetry open mic at The Belmar, hosting a music open mic at Cyber Café West, hosting a radio show and concert series at Binghamton University, and begging a band called Driftwood to let me go on tour with them. As it turned out, the depressed factory town had a whole lot more going on than I thought, and I was lucky enough to be a part of it. The more involved I became in the creative community, the more I talked to the movers and shakers that were making waves in the area, and the more I wanted to help out. The one thing that seemed lacking was outside interest in the arts. The art was there, but the people were not. It was not through lack of trying. My friend Chris Kocher from the Press and Sun Bulletin worked tirelessly to promote the local arts in Good Times, and Police Gazette, mixed in with their delightfully weird feature articles, was also featuring local talent. I would look to towns like Ithaca and Syracuse, wondering why their concerts and galleries were full up, and ours were, well, not. Then the idea hit me. Ithaca had a free monthly arts publication. Syracuse had a free monthly arts publication. They had free newspapers, exclusively covering local arts and events. Aha! We too, could have a free monthly newspaper, exclusively covering local arts and events! And so here we are, after years of talking and months of planning: a free monthly newspaper, exclusively covering local arts and events. Each month, it is the goal of Triple Cities Carousel to inform you, dear readers, of all that is going on in our region. And there is a lot. A whole lot. We’ll be featuring music, galleries, theatre, dance, literature, dining, and more. But, we are in our infancy, and we can only cover so much with the small staff we have. Every paper you pick up helps us grow. Every new advertiser we have helps us grow. Every artist or musician or actor or producer that decides to make something happen helps us grow. The more we grow, the more we can provide coverage, and the more our town grows. It is time to show the world that the Triple Cities are not to be looked at as failed industrial towns. They are to be looked at as a destination for the arts. Let’s get people in the doors. Let’s give the students a reason to stay after they graduate. Let’s fill those empty storefronts with new ventures. Let’s work together, and make this region all it can be. I encourage you all to get out and see something. Go see some music. Go to a show. Go to a gallery opening. Eat at local restaurants. Take our events calendar and put it on your refrigerator. Check out the arts coverage in the Press and Sun Bulletin, the Police Gazette, Bingspot, and anywhere else you can find it, because god knows that at this stage in the game, we’re not covering it all! I hope you’ll bear with my staff and me for the first few months, as we find our voice as a new publication. If you think you can help, get in touch! There’s a lot to be tweaked, and a lot of work ahead of us. In the following months, we will be launching an interactive website, a concert series, and expanding our coverage. It is my sincere wish that you stick with us for the ride.
-Christopher Bodnarczuk
CONTENTS. music..................................................................5 theatre..............................................................6 art......................................................................7 calendar............................................................8 literary...........................................................10 faces & places...............................................11 food & drink...................................................12 horoscopes....................................................14 comics.............................................................14 extras..............................................................15 TRIPLE CITIES CAROUSEL P.O. BOX 2947 BINGHAMTON, NY 13902 Editor-in-Chief Christopher Bodnarczuk Advertising Maxine Goodwin-Fallon, Christopher Bodnarczuk Staff Writers Ty Whitbeck, Maxine Goodwin-Fallon, Charles Berman Contributors Mason Mastroianni, Claire Byrne, Nikki Nevada, Lia Ponterotto, Kristina Plath-Strain, Emily Vogel Photography Ty Whitbeck, Nikki Nevada, Maxine Goodwin-Fallon Printer Our Press Chenango Bridge, NY FOR EDITORIAL QUESTIONS: triplecitiescarousel@gmail.com FOR ADVERTISING: triplecitiesads@gmail.com
PHOTO CONTEST A Picture is Worth 1000 Words! Send us an original photo that represents your feelings towards the Triple Cities, and you could win tickets to see Buddy Guy at The State Theatre in Ithaca, courtesy of Dan Smalls Presents! The top three contestants will have their photos featured in a future issue of Triple Cities Carousel, and the 1st Place Winner will recieve a pair of tickets to see Buddy Guy on April 21st! Send entries in hi-res .jpg or .pdf format to triplecitiescarousel@gmail.com by 3/20/13, along with contact info and “photo contest” in the subject for your chance to win! “Like” Triple Cities Carousel on Facebook to find out about more giveaways!
TED NEELEY DAVID SEDARIS JOHN PRINE BUDDY GUY BILLY BRAGG THE NATIONAL HOT RIZE DAVID BROMBERG
..............................................
3/22 4/9 4/12 4/21 4/26 5/16 5/17 5/18
MAR 5 • THE TOSSERS w/ CONTINENTAL MAR 6 • JAMES MCMURTRY MAR 7 • MARCO BENEVENTO w/ THE SUTRAS MAR 13 • JUKEBOX THE GHOST w/ MATT POND • THE SPRING STANDARDS MAR 21 • SARA WATKINS w/ FIELD REPORT
from JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
ITHACA
STATEOFITHACA.COM
MAR 22 • TODD SNIDER w/ ASHLEIGH FLYNN MAR 23 • HOT BUTTERED RUM • CABINET APR 2 • HONOR SOCIETY APR 4 • AFRIKA BAMBAATAA APR 5 • MEAT PUPPETS w/ THE WORLD TAKES F/ DJ BONEBREAK • CRINGE
THE HAUNT
702 WILLOW AVE, ITHACA NY WWW.THEHAUNT.COM
INFO AND TICKETS
FOR THESE SHOWS AND MORE AT:
DANSMALLSPRESENTS.COM
March 2013 Triple Cities Carousel 5
LEGENDARY
music.
OTHER GUYS
INVADE CYBER CAROUSEL PRESENTS THE BIG TAKEOVER Maxine Fallon-Goodwin Staff Writer
Ty Whitbeck Staff Writer
Glen Matlock of The Sex Pistols and Tommy Ramone of (what else?) The Ramones will be playing an acoustic show together at Cyber Cafe West on March 16. The two will be performing acoustic renditions of classic songs from their respective bands.
There is something to be said about a band that, the first time you see it, brings it so hard that their sound echoes in the eternity of your mind. The next time you
see them, whether it be the following night or a couple years later, they bring it even harder than the last time. That’s The Big Takeover, a high-energy sextet hailing from New Paltz, NY. They’re returning to Cyber Café West on March 1st, after an absence of several years. You must be warned in advance: these players can really play. The Big Takeover is fronted by Jamaican born NeeNee Rushie. Her vocals rain out like a siren, calling from atop the highest tower. She is backed by a soul thumping powerhouse of musicians, beckoning your bodies to move. These musicians are Rob Kissner on bass, Sam Tritto on drums, Billy Trimarchi and Jose Lopez skanking the guitar, Andy Vogt on slide trombone, Chas Montrose on sax, and Lora Cohan on keys. Straight out of the
Glen Matlock was part of the original Sex Pistols line-up, but he left the group in 1977 due to mounting tension between him and the other band members. After leaving the Sex Pistols, Matlock formed the short lived New Wave Punk band Rich Kids with other iconic punk-rockers including Mick Jones of the Clash. Although viewed as the more conservative member of the original Sex Pistols lineup, at age 56 Matlock continues to tour, reunite old bands, and start new projects. Tommy Ramone (born Thomas Erdelyi) originally managed his namesake band, but took over on drums when Johnny Ramone started singing. Tommy didn’t spend much time as the band’s drummer, but during his short time performing with the group he co-wrote their classic hit “Blitzkrieg Bop”. After being replaced by Marky Ramone in 1978, Tommy continued working with the band as a manager and as a producer. Mark your calendars, set a phone alarm, send yourself a text message, whatever you do just save this date. Experience As I write this article I am moving two punk legends as they started, in a down the highway on the way small dimly lit café/pub. Tickets can be from Greensboro, NC to Atlanta, purchase at Cyber Café West, 176 Main St, Binghamton for $20. Buying your GA for a show tonight. Today is day tickets in advance is highly recommend- 13 of a month long tour that will take the band down to Miami, FL for the ed. Virginia Key Grassroots Festival and out to Tennessee and Kentucky before we head home. Until a couple of weeks ago, Driftwood had been hibernating with only a few shows here and there (rare for us) while working on a new album. Although it may seem odd to throw a tour in the middle of these recording sessions, it actually fits well with the way we’ve been recording the disc.
gate, The Big Takeover kick it roots-reggae style with an incredible amount of heartfelt groove. Their sound is unique
IF YOU GO... Fri. Mar. 1 9pm $6
and strong and demands to be heard. With lyrical themes ranging from social injustice to dreams of a more prosperous future, NeeNee and her boys know how to get the crowd pumped and dialed in with their dance heavy blend of reggae laced ska and rocksteady. The band has two albums under their
belt: 2008’s Following Too Close and 2010’s Tale of My Life. Each was incredibly well received and has led the band to push the envelope even further in their live performances. They have played well over 300 shows, including stints with the legendary Pete Seeger, the Original Wailers, reggae superstars Eek-a-Mouse and Tarrus Riley, Sam Kinninger of Soulive, Inner Circle, and The Meditations. The Big Takeover’s studio sound is on point with their live shows. There are times when a band’s studio albums don’t quite stack up to what they are capable of live, but that is not the case with these cats; every note is accounted for and then some. Their March 1 show is also the inaugural Carousel Presents event. Each First Friday, Triple Cities Carousel will be making taking up residency at Cyber Café West to present a series of concerts featuring regional and national touring talent. Come show some support for the band and the newspaper! There will be a $6 cover, and the show begins at 9pm. For music and more, visit www.bigtakeoverband.com.
DRIFTWOOD IN THE STUDIO
CLAIRE BYRNE ON LIFE BETWEEN TOURS
IF YOU GO... FRI. MARCH 15 9PM $20
The new album will mark our 3rd release and thus far, it is our most positive recording experience! That is not to say the other albums were recorded in a negative environment, because they were not! We have found that this time around, we know more about what we want and how to achieve it. Driftwood’s first album, Rally Day, was recorded
school. We would come home when we could and lay down some tracks but the majority of it was done by Dan and Joe. Two years later, we went back into the studio to record our sophomore album, A Rock and Roll Heart. This time we found ourselves in Brooklyn, NY at 3 Egg Studios. The completion of the album in only 2 days came as a surprise to us, as we had anticipated our trip to 3 Egg would be only to lay down a few tracks. We did the whole thing live with few overdubs, so the album has a very raw and organic feel to it. Since its release in October 2011, we have been touring and writing new material.
in our banjo player Joe Kollar’s studio, Yellow Bike. The sessions were comprised mostly of Joe and Dan Forsyth, our guitar player, while Jon Doll (our former bass player) and I were finishing degrees at
Even in its most primitive stages of discussion, we knew right away we wanted to make an album with elements of both the previous records. We wanted the album to have an organic yet slightly more produced sound than the last one. We also knew we wanted to try recording the album to tape. (Continued on pg 7)
6 Vol. 1 Issue 1
THE GOOD WORD OF THE
theatre.
WOODSHED
PROPHETS UPCOMING SHOWS AT Ty Whitbeck Staff Writer
Gather ‘round, y’all, and hear a tale of the twang. It’s been said that somewhere deep within the hills of the Southern Tier there is an entity holed up in a woodshed, stoking the fire to smelt steel with G chords and minor keys. It’s said to have eight arms, eight eyes, four heads and it has been intricately perfecting its craft into what could only be described as “Power-Twang” by those who had heard the rumors and seen the strange light creeping through the fog of Broome County’s foliage. This enigma then tore down the walls it once created with furious anger and unrelenting speed. It was then that it took a group of host bodies and painstakingly branded the words “Woodshed Prophets” on each of the four member’s chests as a reminder to preach the good word of what the locals feared and called “power-twang.” This band of travelers has been at it for a few years now, scorching the earth with every mile down the road and leaving a cloud of ash in their wake. No one who has seen their performance has been able to extricate the demon within each of them successfully. The weight is just too heavy to bear and the show is captivating, often leaving the audience in a whirlwind of spilt beer, sweat and beard hairs. It remains instilled in them to this day and their overwhelming synergy of raucous Americana and roots rock continues to become a household name around the Southern Tier. The Woodshed Prophets will bring their bacchanalia to Fitzies Irish Pub on Saturday, March 16th. Bring your superstitions and prepare to hear their side of the story.
IF YOU GO...
Sat. March 16 10pm
CIDER MILL PLAYHOUSE
Maxine Goodwin-Fallon Staff Writer
The Cider Mill Playhouse continues their 37th season with 2 upcoming shows:
JUST SO STORIES Saturday March 16 at 11:00am Spend this Saturday morning with your family with this special Cider Mill performance. Just So Stories (from the writers of The Jungle Book) is a puppet show performed by award-winning puppeteer Robert Rogers. Learn the answers to pressing questions such as How the Elephant got its Trunk; How the Leopard got its Spots; How the Camel got its Hump; How the First Alphabet was Made. This show is great for children
4 and older but is sure to entertain the entire family. Tickets are $8 and can be purchased online or at the Cider Mill Playhouse.
Trying March 14th-April 7th (Thursday-Saturday at 8:00 pm, Sunday at 3:00 pm) Trying is the story of an aging Francis Biddle, the Attorney General under President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Chief Judge of the Nuremberg trials, as told through the eyes of his 25-year-old assistant, Sarah Schorr. The play is based on playwright Joanna Glass’s experiences from 1967-1968. Tickets are $26 for the general public, and $25 for students and seniors.
IF YOU GO... Just So Stories March 16 3PM TRYING March 14April 7 Times Vary
SWEET CHARITY THE CLASSIC MUSICAL COMES TO EPAC Maxine Goodwin-Fallon Staff Writer We all know the score, whether we realize it or not, featuring classic pieces “The Rhythm of Life,” “Big Spender,” and “The Rich Man’s Frug.” This March the controversial musical Sweet Charity
is coming to the Endicott Performing Arts Center. Artistic Director Patrick Foti describes the play as “the story of a young woman trying to make a living, it’s a story that can be as relevant today as it was in the 1930s, a story about a young woman dealing with all the difficulties of life and trying to get by”. The cast of Sweet Charity is a wonderful display of local talent, young and old. Bring everyone (maybe leave younger children days at 3pm. With two weekends worth of shows and tickets as cheap as $20 at home) out March 15th-17th and the 22nd-24th, Saturdays at 8pm, and Sun- you have no excuses!
IF YOU GO... March 15-17 March 22-24 Times Vary (Left): The cast of Sweet Charity during rehearsals for their EPAC performance
March 2013 Triple Cities Carousel 7
CLAIRE BYRNE OF DRIFTWOOD (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5)
art.
We began shopping around for a space and an engineer to help us capture what we heard in our heads. It wasn’t until Jeb Puryear (of Donna the Buffalo) suggested a church he’d been recording in up in Enfield, NY, that things began to happen. Dan decided to call Donna the Buffalo’s engineer, Robby Hunter, to see what he thought. After a trip up to the one room church and a few preliminary recordings we decided the room and Robby were exactly what we were looking for, and in late November, we began laying down some basic tracks for the album. We setup in a circle, similar to the way we did R&R Heart and began recording to an old Tascam 8-track reel to reel recorder. We loved the sounds we were getting and loved working with Robby. Robby is a unique and charismatic man from England with a distinct resume. He has recorded with a variety of acts, including the Disco Biscuits, Donna the Buffalo, and Branford Marsalis, who he tours with regularly and with whom he won a Grammy. Before his recording career however, Robby was known as “Wacko”, the energetic drummer for the British metal band Raven. Metallica even opened for them once upon a time. With such a varying background, Robby has been functioning as a pseudo-producer as well as engineer on this album. He has a great ear, great ideas, and an even greater attitude: all elements that are necessary for the creative process to blossom. Since the first sessions in the church in Enfield, we have moved to Robby’s home studio for some work, and then to Yellow Bike when Robby went on the road with Branford at the end of February. Although the album is taking longer than expected to complete (when doesn’t that happen?), we have found the time between sessions and the 3 different spaces have only made the process more inspired and productive. I think it is important to be able to take time and breaks so as not to lose the vision or focus. When we return home from this tour on March 10, we will take a few days off and go right back into the studio to complete tracking before moving on to the mixing and mastering process. We here in Driftwood are excited with what we have heard thus far and are anxiously awaiting the final product. We hope you, our valued listeners, will be pleased as well!
ON THE COVER: CELEBRATING J. HART
Triple Cities Carousel is very pleased to have our inaugural cover be a perfect representation of what we’re all about. Mason Mastroianni, grandson of the late B.C. and Wizard of Id comic artist Johnny Hart, has created a custom piece of artwork that we feel ties in all the themes of the magazine to the community we know and love (a community that has shown love for their namesake comic...Broome County=B.C... for just about forever). Not only that, but the Hart family has graciously allowed us to print not only B.C. comics, but also the other projects they are tied to, Wizard of Id (which Mason’s brother Mick writes) and Dogs of C-Kennel (which they both work on), on a monthly basis in our back pages. While we do love Mason, he was out of town at the time of our deadline (we still got a little something from him) so we sat down with his mother (and Johnny’s daughter), Patti Hart, to ask a few questions. This is a family business, after all!
When Johnny died, the family inherited quite the empire. Had Mason and Mick. planned on taking over in their grandfather’s footsteps? Had he trained them? There had never been a plan in place as to what the family would do when
Dad died. Creators Syndicate let us run 6 weeks of classic strips while Mason learned to write and draw BC in about 6 weeks. Then Mason was on his own! Mick is a contributing BC writer as well. Mick writes the Wizard and Jeff Parker (Brant’s son) draws it. By the way, Brant passed away only 8 days after my Dad! However Jeff had been drawing the Wiz for about 10 years so that was a fairly easy transition. How did Dogs of C-Kennel come about? Mick created and writes the Dogs and was drawing it himself when Dad died. When Mason came home and took over BC, Mick asked him to draw it. Mason helped redesign the look of the characters. And a great team was born! Johnny’s style is still evident in both B.C. and Wizard of Id. How do you honor his legacy while injecting a bit of the new team’s style? Pops’ style: That's the million dollar question! Mason works hard to maintain a balance of his "Pops’" style and his own in the strip. It's a fine line to walk to keep the long time readers happy while trying to capture a new market. Mason does a wonderful job at this!
MASON SAYS...
Like many of my ilk, I was born with a pen in my hand. My mom still has the surgical scar. Not that I’ve ever seen it - that would be weird. But take her word for it... I’ve been giving her the money I’ve earned drawing for years now. Medical bills aside, I make my living as an artist, and have done so since I was old enough to quit my job at Wendy's. I attended Rhode Island School of Design for illustration, and worked with pen and ink, ultimately ending up in Orlando. I trained there as a computer animator and effects artist, and quickly jumped into television animation on a show called "Auto B Good." Heard of it? Neither had I... but our team won an Emmy for animation while working on it. I also worked on a few films here and there, doing space ship stuff and cool explosions, mostly. Living in Minneapolis in 2007, with one foot planted firmly in the notion of getting to L.A., My grandfather, Johnny Hart, passed away suddenly. I returned home in haste - and in the midst of a logistical whirlwind - began working on B.C. It’s funny how life can turn on a dime. My grandfather and I were close. In my grief, I took great comfort in being back home with my family. And quickly found that the greatest healing came in carrying on the legacy of my grandfathers’ creations. Being home also offered me the ability to join forces with my younger brother Mick, who was developing a strip of his own called “Dogs of C-Kennel." I came in early on to develop the look and feel of it, and we now partner on it with him as the writer and myself as the artist. We launched in Oct. 2010 with Creators. Go us! As of now, my brother, mother, aunt, grandmother and I co-direct the relative sanity that is a family business in charge of three comic strips. Mick has developed into a fine writer, taking on a head role for writing Wizard of Id as well as Dogs of C-Kennel. My mother Patti, is the business coordinator, which makes her responsible for ... everything. My Aunt Perri, is a contributing writer, letterer and colorist. And my grandmother keeps us from strangling each other with piano wire. It’s a team effort.
MARCH
triple cities carousel sunday.
03 10 17 24 31
Juno & the Paycock (STAR)
Milkweed and Daffodil w/ Outer Spaces (CCW)
Dead Man’s Cell (BU) Trying (CMP) Sweet Charity (EPAC) Classic Pianists of Future (TCO) Experience Beatles w/ Rain (FT) BRW
Trio Cavatina (AC) Trying (CMP) Sweet Charity (EPAC)
Innermission (CCW)
monday.
04 11 18 25
Spring Jazz Jam (GWT) Open Mic (BEL)
Open Mic (BEL)
Open Mic (BEL) Spring Jazz Jam (GWT) Sweet Charity (EPAC) BRW
Open Mic (BEL)
tuesday.
05 12 19 26
Science Cabaret (LDC) Open Mic (CCW) Celtic Women (FT)
Java Joe Jammers (CCW) Pam Houston Reading (BU)
Java Joe Jammers (CCW) Sweet Charity (EPAC) Meg Wolitzer Reading (BU) BRW
Java Joe Jammers (CCW) Sesame St. Live (BCA)
wedne
06 13 20 27
Rick Iacov
Singe
N
Jan Singe
E
S Singe
Pu Se Singe
AC=ANDERSON C BCA=BROOME CO BU=BINGHAMTON CCW=CYBER CAFE CMP=CIDER MILL EPAC=EPAC FT=FORUM THEAT LDC=LOST DOG C
H 2013
events calendar
esday. thursday.
velli/Jeff Kahn (CCW) Jazz Jam (LDC) er-Songwriters (FTZ)
Nate Marshall (CCW) Lukus Wells (LDC) n Freeman Q&A (BU) er-Songwriters (FTZ) BRW
Elemenopees (CCW) Jazz Jam (LDC) Sweet Charity (EPAC) er-Songwriters (FTZ) BRW
Rob Stachyra (CCW) uzzled Players (LDC) esame St. Live (BCA) er-Songwriters (FTZ)
CENTER OUNTY ARENA N UNIVERSITY E WEST L PLAYHOUSE
TRE CAFE
07 14 21 28
Innermission (CCW)
Innermission (CCW) Trying (CMP) BRW
Innermission (CCW) Trying (CMP) Enerjee Jazz (LDC) Sweet Charity (EPAC) BRW
Innermission (CCW)
friday.
01 08 15 22 29
First Friday Art Walk (DT) Big Takeover (CCW) Rick Iacovelli (BTP) Mel & the Boys (BBW)
Thousands of One (CCW) Std. Time Cabaret (GWT) Acoustic Persuasion (BTP) Dead Man’s Cell Phone (BU) Mel & the Boys (BBW)
Raibred (CCW) Poetry Open Mic (RRB) Dead Man’s Cell (BU) Trying (CMP) Sweet Charity (EPAC) Mel & the Boys (BBW) BRW
Mel & the Boys (CCW/BBW) Interactive Macbeth (GWT) Trying (CMP) Sweet Charity (EPAC) Mike Cadden (BTP)
Hung Like Horses (CCW) A Country Mile (BTP)
BBW=BLACK BEAR WINERY BTP=BLIND TIGER PUB BEL=BELMAR WEM=WATER’S EDGE MARKET FTZ=FITZIES PUB GWT=GOODWILL THEATRE JCC= JEWISH COMMUNITY THEATRE TCO=TRICITIES OPERA
saturday.
02 09 16 23 30
Parade Day (DT) Spelunkers (CCW) Band of Strings (CI) Stone Soup (GT) Mary Tewksbury (WEM) Charlie Brown (BTP)
Moho Collective (CCW) Pasta and Song (TCO) Dead Man’s Cell (BU) Cabaret Workshop (GWT) Jamie Willard (WEM) Gene Tirinato (BTP) Improv Comedy (Vestal JCC) Six Mile High/Dr. EF (FTZ)
Tommy Ramone/Glen Matlock (CCW) Music of the Eagles (FT) Dead Man’s Cell (BU) Trying (CMP) Sweet Charity (EPAC) Dusty Wayne/Rusty Pete (BTP) Woodshed Prophets (FTZ) BRW Tumbleweed Highway (CCW) Woodshed Prophets (CCW) Interactive Peter Pan (GWT) Trying (CMP) Acoustic Persuasion (WEM) Sweet Charity (EPAC) Vermont Cheddar (BTP) Krooked Knuckles/Spilt Milk (FTZ) Kim & Chris (CCW) Thom & Beth (WEM) Rick Fry (BTP) Zydeco Po Boys (FTZ)
10 Vol. 1 Issue 1
If you would like to be con-
literary.
sidered as one of our poets of the month, please send a
POET OF THE MONTH: EMILY VOGEL
EMILY VOGEL’S poetry has appeared in numerous journals and anthologies. Her latest collection, The Philosopher’s Wife, was published in July
writing sample to: triplecitiescarousel@gmail.com
BOUND
Thank the Lord for me, if you get a chance, 2011. She has been nominated for the AWP award in creative non-fiction, 2010, and is a Ragazine Pushcart nominee. She lives in Vestal, NY with her husband, poet for my eye has finally vanquished the drudgery of morning fog. Joe Weil, and their daughter, Clare. My body, indebted to the ceremony of you CONFERENCE defies all winters. What a fine excess. After I dismissed my ten o’clock class, No such thing as a relinquished fire. a student approached me, burst into tears No such thing as a franchised heaven. and said, “I don’t get poetry.” No such thing as my good intentions I tried to fathom what exactly he didn’t get. chained to Prometheus’ punitive rock. For ten minutes we tried to analyze Plath’s psychology: Today, I anticipate the dizziness of stars: the foot in the boot, the Aryan eye, the Ich, etc. blur of light attributed to the delirium of hunger. “Implications, implications,” I just kept saying. I gaze at this modest world, dusting of snow, “Library databases. Research extensively. strung-out season of bygones and forgotten discontent, Avoid personal anecdotes. gaze and gaze along this shifting landscape of days. The more complex the argument, the better.” I drift as if the drug of a woman, reinforced My rhetoric was shabby. and spell-cast by the tender army of you. My words kept making me think of those mobiles Yes, what a slow and lovely blast. that spin around the heads of recumbent babies. Thank the Lord for me, if you get a chance, Earlier, a fly died on my dashboard of natural causes. for we are not assailed I wept over the lyrics to a Paul Simon song, terrified by the terrible labyrinths of the dark. that this would be the first day in all of history No hideous beast tears down the walls of this house that the sun was not going to rise. and leaves us lacking. I looked at the student No succubus leaves us destitute of words. and then attempted a two minute briefing And what words indeed! on binary oppositions, and a one minute lesson What words fall out of our mouths, on the female elegy. blue as evening snow. The student cried some more. No such thing as a barrage of scientific explanations. What gives me the right to be the talking head No such thing as grief manifested in the inert stone. of some presumed educator? All I know is that your heart was beating “I just don’t get poetry,” he said again. and I endorsed it, I looked at him there, mulling over the deadline the way the mad might cry an imperfect prayer, like it was the looming date of his execution. cry, and pray, and also dissonantly sing. Finally I said, tired of listening to my voice, ”I don’t get it either. Maybe Plath was just sad.”
IT ISN’T SNOWING Finally, absolute oblivion. There is snow falling outside the window but it’s a trick of the eye and of the mind. No snow is falling, says the realist, says the secretary, says the woman with the briefcase that I meet in the elevator. This morning, out of sheer exhaustion I was thinking hypocrites are running amuck in the city. Our bodies wrapped together is another way of saying look hard at the rising sun and temporarily die, our souls bequeathed to the good blue sky. When the evening curtain is drawn, I’ll love you like a pot of coffee, and it will be snowing whether or not it is. No, there is nothing here aside from breath. I do not eat out of a strange desire for desire. The good psychic says, this year you will grow old.
LITERARY EVENTS RIVERREAD BOOKS: MARCH 1- DOGS OF C-KENNEL BOOKSIGNING WITH MICK AND MASON MASTROIANNI MARCH 15- POETRY OPEN MIC (7PM) MARCH 18- DOWNTOWN BOOK GROUP BEST AMERICAN SHORT STORIES EDITED BY TOM PEROTTA BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY: MARCH 12- PAM HOUSTON READING MARCH 13- JAN FREEMAN Q&A MARCH 19- MEG WOLITZER READING
OH THE
March 2013 Triple Cities Carousel 11
faces and places.
PEOPLE BUSINESS PROFILE: YOU’LL SEE
RIVERREAD BOOKS
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 Each month, Carousel will featown. Now, for eleven questions! ture profiles on progressively minded local businesses. This Name? Greg Bohner (Mr. B) Occupation? Art Education month, our editor CHRISTOLocation? Binghamton PHER BODNARCZUK sits down How long have you lived in the with PAT DAY from RIVERREAD area? BOOKS All of my life What do you love most about the Triple Cities? It’s not very crowded… changing seasons…I love the peeps in Binghamton! Favorite Hangout? A certain swimming hole (some people know what I am talking about) Favorite Restaurant? Thai Time Favorite Local Music? Bluegrass, please! Hidden Gem? That particular swimming hole (I’m not telling you where it is)
Tell us a bit of history of the bookstore, and it’s owners. After a couple years of planning, RiverRead Books opened in September 2008. We are an independent bookstore located on the Riverwalk, in Downtown Binghamton. Connie, Jane and I are friends and avid readers. We lamented that there was no bookstore in Downtown, a place we felt was at a tipping point for revitalization. The bookstore has been a staple downtown for quite a few years now. How do you compete against the big retail stores? What sets an indie bookstore apart from a chain bookstore? Why is it important to support the little guy? We are well into our 5th year of business. All bricks and mortar bookstores, chain or otherwise are struggling to stay relevant in their communities and I wish us all well. It’s a time of rapid change in publishing with the growing popularity of e-readers and e-books, but most people continue to say they prefer to read books in a variety of formats and enjoy shopping and browsing for books.
You are a member of GWSA and host various First Friday events. How important is community building to your business? What type of events do you host? Community building is central to what we do here. We’ve had hundreds of events since opening, creating a venHow do you make this region a betOur store, of course, is an expression of ue for local authors, musicians, books, ter place to live? hobby, and community groups. We’re I help people develop an ability to com- what we like, but it has evolved into so especially proud of our association with municate ideas without using words. Art much more. Since opening, we’ve had thousands of conversations with custhe urban gardening group V.I.N.E.S. is truly the universal language, And if a and are amazed at how they’ve grown picture is worth a thousand words- then tomers about what they like, and that allows us to select books and gifts based what they’ve accomplished. I am serviing food for thought for the on the unique interests of the communipeople that have a hunger for knowlty we’re in. What can one expect when walking edge. into RiverRead for the first time? What do you think this area is in Besides the obvious answer that supWe have a bias in thinking the store has most dire need of? More organic porting the little guy keeps dollars in our the best view in town, looking out over farms, a public market in DOWNTOWN the rivers and the hills beyond. We are Binghamton, self-sufficiency and a sense community, it also supports diversity, leading to a richer culture in Downtown friendly people who will help you find of community. Also, connection of the Binghamton. what you’re looking for or leave you local colleges to the art scene.
alone to browse and enjoy the thrill of discovering your next great read. We have a fantastic children’s section with gifts and games to foster creativity. We have lots of cards, some by local artists and photographers, fair traded gifts items, and the perfect companion to a great book, Leopold Chocolates. We also have KOBO e-readers and sell KOBO e-books via our website. List three books that impacted you greatly: Just 3? I’ll try. Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, Martha Quest by Doris Lessing, Fierce Attachments by Vivian Gornick. What’s new and worth reading? Schroder by Amity Gaige is a stunner.
12 Vol. 1 Issue 1
HEALTHY EATS
food and drink.
BINGHAMTON RESTAURANT WEEK: ADVICE FROM A WELL SEASONED GLUTTON
Ty Whitbeck Staff Writer Something amazing has swept over this town. Something that only happens a twice a year.
Something that showcases the culinary talent that is making Binghamton a more enjoyable and affordable place to get people together. This something is Binghamton Restaurant Week, and it is back with a vengeance. “Binghamton Restaurant Week started in March of 2010 with the goal of enhancing the food and beverage culture in Binghamton,” says Marie McKenna (Lost Dog Café), Co-Chair for BRW. It all started with seven local restaurants and the idea that if they offered 3 course lunches for $10 and 3 course dinners for $25 or less, they’d get new patrons out on the town and into places they might not usually frequent. After having a successful inaugural week, they decided to keep it going, announcing that they would host a fall installment. “The last BRW in September 2012 featured 20 independently owned Binghamton restaurants, sold 16,990 meals and raised $7,034 for C.H.O.W.,” says McKenna. “The 7th bi-annual BRW, March 12th-21st, will feature a record breaking 24 locally owned restaurants and cafes and help raise money for the Binghamton Boys & Girls Club.” What you won’t see on the lineup of participating restaurants is chains. This isn’t about corporate America churning out subpar quality food fare for a high price- this is about showing mom & pop some love and supporting small businesses. There is a lot going on gastronomically in Binghamton, and not everybody knows where to look. Often times, people are afraid to try something new and outside of the box. BRW helps ease the anxiety of trying some of these unfamiliar places one normally wouldn’t think of because of the fixed prices around town. Most, if not all, of these restaurants have their regular menu in addition to what is included in the BRW portion, which is: your choice of appetizer, your choice of an entrée, and your choice of dessert. All of the portions are sized perfectly so that you don’t need a wheel barrow or a
designated driver to go home to a “food coma.” Having intensely participated in all of the BRWs to date, there are a few tricks of the trade I’d like to let you in on. It’s a good thing to go in groups, because there are bound to be times when you see a few things on the menu that get you salivating. The others in your group will probably think the same. If everyone in your group orders something different, you’ll be able to share it with
bit. The fixed prices at these places level the playing field for everybody involved. You can enjoy the fare of a 3 course meal at a 5 star restaurant for $25 one night and have a meal at the café down the road for the same price on the next night. The possibilities are endless and yours to play around with. This area thrives on conversation and word of mouth and if people are talking about BRW, the buzz will branch out and get more people out of their kitchens
IF YOU GO... March 12-21 lunch
Binghamton Hots Brewed Awakenings Cafe West 46 Cortese Restaurant Crepe Heaven Cyber Cafe West Czech Pleeze Little Venice Restaurant Lost Dog Cafe Nezuntoz Cafe Remlik’s Grille & Oyster Bar River Bistro Sake-Tumi Taste of Europe Thai Time Water Street Brewing Co. Whole in the Wall Zona & Co. Grille
the table (or keep it all to yourself…it’s your plate!). Save your bagged lunch for next week. This promotional offer comes but twice a year, so, get out there, and entice your co-workers to join you. Some restaurants go unnoticed during lunchtime because of time restraints. Don’t let that get you down; your employer will understand (hopefully). If you can’t decide where or what to eat, try something you’ve never had before. Get outside of your comfort zone a little
dinner
Burger Mondays Cortese Restaurant Czech Pleeze Gallagher’s Irish Pub Grande’s Bella Cucina Little Venice Restaurant Loft @ 99 Lost Dog Cafe Number 5 Restaurant Remlik’s Grille & Oyster Bar River Bistro Sake-Tumi Taste of Europe Thai Time Tranquil Bar & Bistro Water Street Brewing Co. Whole in the Wall Zona & Co. Grille
for a night on the town with friends. So tell your friends! Tell everyone! This is a big reason why BRW started with seven restaurants and has blossomed into a beautiful 24 participating eateries. Don’t forget, enjoy your food! Savor each morsel, aerate your craft beers, and lick your plates clean! Your taste buds will blossom, your circle of friends will thank you, your belly will be full, and you’ll be supporting small businesses.
Baked Apple Bowls By Stacey Burke, HHC These make a delicious, warming breakfast that will leave you feeling satisfied! Or, they also are a great dessert – naturally sweet and amazingly healthy! Ingredients: 1 Apple, halved and seeds/core scooped out 1 teaspoon coconut oil 4 finely chopped dates 1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds 2 tablespoons finely chopped walnuts 1 teaspoon freshly grated (peeled) ginger 2 teaspoons cinnamon 2 tablespoon chia seeds ¼ cup coconut milk Directions: Halve the apples, scooping out the core and seeds to make a ‘bowl’ in the center. Lightly brush each half (cut side) with the coconut oil. In a bowl, mash together dates, walnuts and 1/2 of the seeds until blended. (Or combine all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until blended and finely chopped). Place mixture in each apple half and sprinkle with the cinnamon. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. While baking, place chia seeds in the coconut milk, and let absorb for 5-10 minutes. When apples are done, drizzle the chia/coconut mixture over apples, and top with remaining sunflower seeds. Who is Stacey Burke? Stacey Burke is a Holistic Health and Wellness Coach, and founder of New Roots to Health. She has worked through Cornell University since 2009 teaching Nutrition, and is currently obtaining her Certification in Holistic Health Counseling from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Stacey works with individuals whom struggle with weight loss, cravings and low energy by supporting them in setting personal goals around 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 this article, and save 50% off a 6-month program!
March 2013 Triple Cities Carousel 13
DARING
gardenista Each month we check in with KRISTINA PLATH STRAIN for advice on what we should we doing with our gardens. Kristina lives and gardens in Gilbertsville.
wellness. HOT YOGA CLEANSES BODY AND SOUL
Well now, would-be gardeners. It’s March. It’s that time of year everyone, no matter how enamored of their couch and their remote, begins to get a little stirred up about being outdoors. You have that first flip-flop day, you wear shorts. Maybe Parade Day dawns miraculously sunny and mid-60s, as it has been known to do. Embrace it. Wobble home from the Main Street revelry, and seize the trowel. Though it will surely snow again before real spring, it’s not too soon to start a garden. That’s right, I said it: start today. Cast off the tedious necessity of waiting until Memorial Day—turns out, it’s no necessity after all—and embrace a spring garden. Apart from the finicky world of tender-stemmed tomato and squash plants, a whole palette of early spring vegetables will thrive in this in-between weather. Hang on to that Parade Day mindset and just think green: lettuce, spinach, kale, arugula-- emerald hues for a cold-hardy bed of salad greens you’ll be harvesting before it’s warm enough to wear short sleeves on Cyber Café’s back deck. Aside from standing up to snow and heavy freezes, these guys are fast growers, rocketing up out of the ground like it’s their mission to cheer you out of your seasonal affective disorder. Peas are also good. Peas have shepherded my psyche out of winter many years, popping up with their chartreuse leaves prim as folded hands, and growing three inches a week until summer. As a rule, you’ll want to choose the brightest side of your house, the sunniest corner of your deck, to begin your spring garden. Ideally, it faces south. Ideally, it has no great trees blocking it off from the sun. Dig some dirt, or fill a few flowerpots with potting soil, and sow some seeds. Maybe you have a dusty old storm window in a corner of the garage? Maybe you can use this to amplify the sun’s power, greenhouse-style, to give your seedlings-to-be an even greater head start on spring? Just prop it up with something so it’s angled towards the sun, and you’re in business. For me, a spring garden is like that rope they toss down from the helicopter into the river to save someone floating on an ice cake, only less dire. When I find myself scowling dejectedly at another obnoxious April squall, I can think, ha, suckers. Can’t touch that spinach in my cold frame. Ha ha ha.
Nicole Nevada Contributing Writer Yoga is an ancient form of discipline involving mind, body, and spirit. Taking care of one’s body is vital
in order for the mind and spirit to be happy. Yoga in general is a great stress relief. Hot yoga steps it up even more, as the room you practice in is approximately 90 -105 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat and movement will increase your heart rate thus increasing circulation. It will oxygenate the body’s tissues by dilating capillaries and remove toxins more rapidly from the body. The heat will allow you achieve a deeper stretch than you would with regular old yoga.
Connective tissue is an abundant component of the body. It is a liquid medium that surrounds every cell. Essentially, it is a system of pulleys and cables that, in conjunction with bones and muscles, allows movement within the body. Fascia is another name for this specific form of connective tissue. To picture the fascia surrounding muscles ligaments and tendons, envision the innards of a citrus fruit. The white parts of the fruit compartmentalize all the different pieces, creating a synergistic relationship which keeps it all together.
Healthy connective tissue aids in sustenance of equilibrium throughout the body. It is composed of a gel like substance which changes from a more liquid (healthy) state to a more hardened (unhealthy) state. This hardening occurs over time. The fascia is mostly composed of protein and carbohydrates, so after long periods of not stretching hydrogen bonding occurs, creating immobility. When this tissue is hardened, much less nutrient waste exchange occurs, resulting in pain, stiffness, and Prepare yourself for a class: inflexibility. When this occurs it leaves Come hydrated and bring a water bottle, muscles tight and starving. yoga mat and a towel Fascia has the ability to liquefy, which is Shorts or short pants are advisable crucial to getting the cells more oxygen Why is sweating so important? and nutrients; this process is called thixotropy. This can be done through The skin forms a boundary between the stretching and massage. The heat and stretching involved in hot yoga is inside of our physical beings and the wonderful. The heated stretch allow for outside world. It is the largest organ of our body. An exceptional way to engage the sheaths surrounding the muscles and care for it is by sweating. Lysosome to loosen, liquefy, and create a faster is an enzyme in sweat that cleanses the exchange of nutrient waste. Thixotropy skin. It aids in the destruction of the cell occurs within the organ’s connective tissues as well. This occurs throughout walls of certain unwanted bacteria and twists involved in yoga. The twists aid fungi. As we sweat we remove imputhe connective tissue to liquefy, which rities and toxins from the body. When creates space internally. The space these toxins accumulate, they become allows the organs to function most adcarcinogenic (cancer causing). Studies vantageously. Creating space in our lives have shown that symptoms of rosacea and within our bodies is vital. and eczema are reduced the more one sweats.
Benefits of heat combined with stretching:
Namaste, and happy sweating!
LOCAL HOT YOGA CLASSES: YOGA BODY SHOP 205 Oakdale Rd. Johnson City, NY (607) 727-2461 yogabodyshop.com EVOLVE HOT YOGA 36 Oakdale Rd. Johnson City, NY (607) 296-0748 evolvehotyoga.com Do you struggle with: Mention this ad to receive 50% off a 6-month program!
Weight loss? Lack of energy? Sugar Cravings? Low-Self Esteem? Stress surrounding food? Cooking Healthy Meals?
Give Yourself the Attention YOU Deserve. Feel Better, Feel Confident, Feel Balanced. Stacey Burke, Holistic Health Coach and founder of New Roots to Health, will work with you in creating the life that you want and deserve! By supporting you in setting and achieving personalized weight loss, health, and lifestyle goals, you will gain confidence, increase your energy, feel happier and healthier!
What are you waiting for? Contact me for your FREE health consultation and discover new routes to a healthier you!
New Roots to Health Stacey Burke, HHC
Email: Stacey@newrootstohealth.com Tel: 607-624-4410 Web: www.newrootstohealth.com
New Roots to Health offers a variety of services including as 6-month personalized Health coaching program, cleanse and detox plans, cooking classes, grocery store tours, workshops and more!
14 Vol. 1 Issue 1
horoscopes. Taurus This is a bad week for trusting blindly what you read in the newspaper. Take the opportunity to tell someone you love them. This may go very poorly if you do not love the person in question, but sometimes you just have to do what the horoscope tells you and deal with the consequences. REMEMBER: Look before you leap, for he who hesitates is lost.
Each month, CAROUSEL features a guest columnist writing our horoscopes. This month, we welcome CHARLES BERMAN, one of our staff writers and host of MAD TRIVIA PARTY on WHRW. As far as we know, he knows nothing about astrology. Gemini Aries Be careful this week, lest you succumb to the illusion that outside forces control your life more than you do. REMEMBER: Sit back, relax, and seize the day.
comics.
B.C.
If you continue down your current path, reading more horoscopes is in your future. This week you will either ignore a significant portion of the poverty and need all around you, or sacrifice your own comfort in a vain attempt to relieve
it. REMEMBER: Many hands make light work, for too many cooks spoil the broth. Cancer You will meet a mysterious stranger this week. You will walk past each other without exchanging words and never meet again. The mystery will not be resolved. REMEMBER: Never give a sucker an even break, for what goes around comes around. Leo This will be a week in which you participate somehow in capitalism. As a result, you may find yourself wanting something that you do not have but
which will not eventually make you any happier. You will be encouraged to trade resources for it because this helps the economy, thereby perpetuating the system that made you want it in the first place. REMEMBER: Actions speak louder than words, for the pen is mightier than the sword. Virgo This week you will be presented with both true and false information from equally reliable sources. You must use only your wits to determine what to believe. REMEMBER: Ignorance is bliss, for knowledge is power, and uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. Libra This week the stars will align in such a way as to create interesting patterns in the night sky called “constellations.” You may enjoy looking at them. Nothing significant will happen this week. Events in your life may cause you to feel otherwise, but these events and your feelings about them are not significant on the scale of the universe. REMEMBER: The early bird gets the worm, for good things come to those who wait.
by MASTROIANNI AND HART Scorpio
This week many things that have been foretold will seem to come to pass due to confirmation bias. Staying up all night worrying about this may lead you to be very tired the following day. REMEMBER: Hell is other people, for no man is an island (apart from the Isle of Man).
WIZARD OF ID
by PARKER, MASTROIANNI, AND HART
Sagittarius No incredible opportunities will be presented to you, but you will feel as if they have, and that you have missed out. REMEMBER: Beware of Greeks bearing gifts, but never look a gift horse in the mouth (especially if it is Trojan). Capricorn You demonstrate common decency to someone this week, and will have the opportunity to feel bitter and spiteful when it is taken for granted. You will emerge unsure whether you are basically decent or spiteful. REMEMBER: nice guys finish last, for the meek shall inherit the Earth.
DOGS OF C-KENNEL
by MICK AND MASON MASTROIANNI
Aquarius This week, you will decide whom to like and trust based on people’s appearances and the opportunities they present to your social advancement. This may advance you socially, expose you as a superficial opportunist, or both. REMEMBER: One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, for you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. Pisces Moving overseas to Europe or quitting your job could mean great change in your life. REMEMBER: Opposites attract, for birds of a feather flock together.
If you’d like to be considered as a guest horoscope columnist, please send a writing sample to triplecitiescarousel@gmail.com.
DRINKING AND DRINKING AND SOME BAGPIPES
PARADE DAY 2013 remember that this is a religious holiday or if you just feel like pregaming with some delicious church wine). The parade will begin at 1:30pm They say everyone’s Irish on St. Patrick’s with assorted performers, pipers, drummers, step-dancers, and other Day, and if that means that everyone spirited offerings from members of the can wear green t-shirts, eat corned community and surrounding areas. The beef and cabbage from a food cart, revelry continues inside and outside of and drink beer until they’re good and the popular bars and pubs along State, socially lubricated, rather than, say, do Main, and Court Street, among others, anything actually related to the Irish or for the rest of the day and night. St. Patrick, then sure! Everyone can be Irish! Have at it, Binghamton. You get to It’s not all fun, games, hops and green be Irish a few weeks early. food-coloring this time around, however (and really, is anything these days?). The city’s 46th annual St. Patrick’s This year’s event is bringing a bit of Day Parade will be held in downtown controversy to the mix, as the new Binghamton on Saturday, March 2nd, roundabout on Court Street is going beginning with a mass at St. Mary’s to make it impossible for fire trucks Church on Court and Fayette Street and other large floats to join in, thus at 11:30am (for those of you who
Lia Ponterotto Contributing Writer
cutting the size of the procession. The parade route will most likely change for next year’s festivities in order to accommodate such vehicles, but this year the actual procession will be much shorter due to their absence. Nonetheless, Parade Day is a lively celebration of community and it’s something Binghamton residents and local students anticipate during the final stretch of unbearably cold winter weeks. We’ll see you (maybe we’ll even see you double) on March 2nd! EDITOR’S NOTE: We assigned this article to Lia knowing full well her storied past experiences with Parade Day. Unfortunately, she seems unable to recall any of her own Parade Day experiences with any certainty. We blame the delicious church wine.
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