The Mohawk hairstyle has numerous varieties, but its origins date back thousands of years. We saw this freshly quaffed version during a martial arts tournament.
Archive for November, 2013
Vintage Style
Saturday, November 9th, 2013Stars Never Sleep
Saturday, November 9th, 2013
Blowin in the Wind from the upper deck of the Canyon, DestiNY USA
Great acts are hard to follow, especially a well-loved band like Blowin’ in the Wind. The band played a Concert in the Canyon (DestiNY USA) last week to the delight of hundreds of their fans, shoppers and visitors to the area who poured into the mall. The acoustics weren’t the best, but everyone seemed to have a blast. Highlights of the show included a salute to military personnel and Charity for Children, Inc., a magical Michael Jackson montage (led by Eric Blackwell) and a public performance of the new DestiNY USA theme song.
Blowin’ was also joined for this gig by ultra-talented Dequan Bowens (aka Killer Keys),who we’ve seen jam with many local bands over the past few years.
It’s great to see a hard-working band get some more exposure and build their fan base. We’re not sure who the next schedule group to play the canyon will be, but Blowin’ has set a high standard.
Packed house.
Nino Albino, co-founder of Charity for Children, introduced the band.
Percussionist Frank Spaights.
Billy Harrison keeping the beat on drums
Kathy Blackwell and Al Cutri: Killin’ it at the Concert in the Canyon.
The band conducted a television interview after the show.
Eric Blackwell during the MJ montage.
Kathy Blackwell invited Children for Charity ambassador Abbey Kessler on stage.
Practical Fashion
Friday, November 8th, 2013
Bracing for the wind, Irving Avenue
Return to Forever
Friday, November 8th, 2013
Near Lincoln Hill, 7 a.m.
Throwback Thursday: Sesquicentennial
Thursday, November 7th, 2013
We met J. Murray, a local historian during a sesquicentennial tour of Oakwood Cemetery
Northern Migration
Wednesday, November 6th, 2013
Crows near Washington Street
Romancing the Stage
Tuesday, November 5th, 2013
Singer Gregory Porter returned to Syracuse last week.
A Gregory Porter concert is a little like the Matrix: We could tell you what it’s like, but you really have to experience it for yourself.
We wrote in a previous post that it’s difficult to classify Porter, but in his vocals one can hear Nat Cole, Ray Charles, Joe Williams and even Donny Hathaway. He effortlessly blends ballads, shout blues and the sacred sounds of the church.
The superstar jazz singer returned to Central New York Friday for the first time since his appearance at the 2012 Syracuse Jazz Festival. Earlier in the day he did a clinic for students and also talked about his life’s story.
But the real treat was the show.
From the time they hit the stage at about 7:30 p.m. Porter and his band (Chip Crawford, Emmanuel Harrold, Aaron James and Yosuke Sato) nearly blew the doors off Storer Auditorium.
Porter kicked things off with the ballad Be Good, and from the first note, a wave of goosebumps washed over the theater. He sprinkled in Liquid Spirit and No Love Dying from his new album, as well as the crowd favorite On My Way to Harlem.
For an encore they poured it on with the bass-driven cut, 1960 What? which featured Aaron James slapping and literally dancing with his upright instrument.
The music created by the band was spicy like Cajun catfish and Porter’s strong, spiritually connected vocals were smooth like banana pudding.
At the end, most people lingered to soak in the experience, and everyone left satisfied.
WAER-FM 88’s Eric Cohen and Jazz Fest Producer Frank Malfitano welcome Gregory Porter to the stage.
WAER FM-88’s Program Director Eric Cohen said it best when he said that for one night, Syracuse became the center of the Jazz Universe.
A great starting five: Crawford, James, Porter, Harrold and Sato
Matters of the M.I.N.D.
Tuesday, November 5th, 2013
M.I.N.D. Lab: Shaping a new perception of reality in Downtown Syracuse.
Here are some photos from last night’s open house for the Newhouse School’s M.I.N.D. Lab, which is located in the AXA Towers (ground floor). Special shout out to Danushka Bandara, grad student and science guy, who demystified the workings and practical applications for many of the center’s devices. Would love to see someone from this group do a TEDx series or similar symposium.
Danushka Bandara sits at the fNIRS device, which measures blood flow in the brain.
EEG and eye-tracking station: Blending media and science.
Students of Inspiration, not Limitation
Monday, November 4th, 2013
Former SU Dean and program namesake Barry Wells
Maybe it’s because I have two mentors who began educational transition programs that got me interested in finding out more about the WellsLink Leadership program at Syracuse University. It also could be the fact that I too was a member of a similar program. Either way, I was happy to hear that the organization celebrate its celebrating its 10th year anniversary on campus.
This year’s speaker was poet Nikki Giovanni. Giovanni was introduced by former-SU staffer Dr. Paul Buckley. There was also an appearance by former SU Dean Barry Wells, who started the program. To get an appreciation of what the WellsLink has done, and continues to achieve, listen to the sound clip from Paul Buckley below.
Featured speaker for the event poet and educator Nikki Giovanni read a few of her pieces during the Friday afternoon ceremony.
Dr. Paul Buckley, who currently serves as a dean for undergraduate students at Dartmouth College, worked closely with the WellsLink program when he was at Syracuse University.