Archive for January, 2014

Great Finds

Friday, January 31st, 2014
Mini Cheesecake: 83 & Company

83 & Company, Green Street’s Mini Cheesecake Factory

From the outside, the renovations done at 115 Green Street are impressive. Inside there are some great things going on as well. We recently visited the property, which is home to 83 & Company (and the $7 lunch special). The food was simple, but good.  The bulk of the business seems geared toward the Three C’s: Cakes, Cupcakes and Cheesecake.

The mini cheesecakes (included with lunch) are the perfect afternoon sugar fix.

Throwback Thursday: Narratives

Thursday, January 30th, 2014
Griot Vanessa Johnson (left) coaxing a student performance during an open-air performance on the southside about 10 years ago.

Griot Vanessa Johnson (left) coaxing a student performance during an open-air performance on the Southside about 10 years ago.

Today we recognize Syracuse storyteller Vanessa Johnson.  Ms. Johnson is also an actor, writer and quilt-maker.

Fayette Fanatic

Wednesday, January 29th, 2014
The CNY region gets into a state of readiness as the 168 Centro Bus passes Forman Avenue along the Connective Corridor.

Syracuse shows off another facet of readiness this evening as the 168 Centro Bus (East Fayette/Erie-Shoppingtown) passes Forman Avenue along the Connective Corridor--four days before the big game.

Weather on the glass

Tuesday, January 28th, 2014
Are you an optimist or pessimist?

Optimist or pessimist?

Brace Yourself

Monday, January 27th, 2014
Leaning into a 20 m.p.h wind gust (East Genesee Street, walking west)

Leaning into a 20 m.p.h wind gust (East Genesee Street, walking west)

Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop

Monday, January 27th, 2014
2014 Producer of the Year Pharrell Williams played SUs Block Party in 2010

2014 Producer of the Year Pharrell Williams played SUs Block Party in 2010

Some of our favorite producers are (in no particular order) Kashif,Stevie Wonder, Sly & Robbie, The Bomb Squad, Jam & Lewis, Gamble & Huff, as well as Leon Sylvers, Rick Rubin and Syracuse’s Seth Marcel. It comes to no surprise to us that Pharrell Williams won a handful of Grammy Awards last night, including Producer of the Year. Check out his work ethic, which was chronicled in this Fast Company article a few months ago.  Also shout out to Gregory Porter, who won a Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album.
Jazz Fest Producer Frank Malfitano (right) presents an award to Gregory Porter in 2013.

Syracuse Jazz Fest Producer Frank Malfitano (right) presents an award to Gregory Porter in 2013.

Groove Collective, a roll call

Sunday, January 26th, 2014
Dino Losito on keys.

Dino Losito played keys for Joe Magnarelli and Nancy Kelly on Sunday.

Here’s a short list of musicians we saw in the audience during a few of the performances at the January Jazz Fest: JT Hall, John Dancks, George Feltman, John Spillett, Kirsten Tegtmeyer, Jeff Stockham, John Michael Heagerty (aka Tots), TK Howard, Tom Witkowski, Phil Flanagan, Dave Solazzo, Joe Carello and many more. Great to see musicians support each other at the Mohegan Manor, which we didn’t know was designed by Ward Wellington Ward.

And we can’t forget to give a shout out to graceful CNY dancers such as Mike Colabufo and Margaret Luttinger, who were also in attendance.

The Nancy & Joe Show

Sunday, January 26th, 2014
Nancy Kelly & Joe Magnarelli played the third floor ballroom at Mohegan Manor for January Jazz Fest Sunday afternoon.

Nancy Kelly & Joe Magnarelli played Mohegan Manor Sunday afternoon.

Thanks for Larry Luttinger at CNY Jazz for the invite to the January Jazz Fest program at Mohegan Manor. Outside it was freezing, but inside the performers such as Kelly and Magnarelli kept it feeling hot, hot, hot by transforming the spacious Morris Ballroom (with its 22-foot ceilings) into a more intimate, cabaret-type atmosphere.

Flip the Script

Saturday, January 25th, 2014
And landing at Syracuse,  we tarried there three days.
ACTS 28:12 (KJV)
Blessed Life

James Street

The American Bible Society ranked Syracuse as one of the least Bible-minded cities in the U.S. (#86 out of 100), but before you feel less than blessed remember Acts 28:12.

Griot on Washington Street

Saturday, January 25th, 2014

Thanks to The Paul Robeson Performing Arts Company (PRPAC) for choosing one of our photos for their most recent production. The PRPAC is producing “Mama Said There Would Be Days Like This” with Omanii Abdullah at Jazz Central. We saw a similar production when it was staged at CFAC.  The shows were directed by Ryan Johnson-Travis.