Posts Tagged ‘Omanii’s Lemonade Heaven’

Fairwell (Farewell): A visual vacation

Monday, September 2nd, 2013
Final Days

Final Days: Edelweiss Schuhplattlers (Utica)

Centro Bus Line

Centro Bus Line

Over 86,000 people attending the New York State Fair on Sunday (Source: nysfair.org).

Over 86,000 people attended the New York State Fair on Sunday (Source: nysfair.org).

Walkway over State Fair Boulevard

Walkway over State Fair Boulevard

Frisbee to partly sunny: Meteorologist Peter Hall throws out some souveneirs

Frisbee to partly sunny: WSTM-TV Meteorologist Peter Hall throws out some gifts.

Sand Sculpture: Center of Progress Building

Sand Sculpture: Center of Progress Building

Sit Mean Sit Demonstration (Gate 2)

Man’s Best Friend: Sit Mean Sit Demonstration (Gate 2)

Obey Your Thirst: Omanii's Lemonade Stand

Obey Your Thirst: Omanii’s Lemonade Stand

Butter Sculpture: Dairy Building

Butter Sculpture: Dairy Building

State Park at the Fair: Gray Falcon

State Park at the Fair: Gyrfalcon

Throwback Thursday: Brothers

Thursday, June 20th, 2013
Omanii Abdullah, poet, businessman (performing at the former OnaJava Cafe)

Omanii Abdullah, poet, educator and businessman (performing at the former OnaJava Cafe)

Syracuse is a city of families. On this Throwback Thursday I want to give some dap to the Grace family. Each summer poet, educator and actor Omanii Abdullah sets up his hot dog stand near my office.  He’s as famous for his country-style lemonade as he is for his spoken word performances.  Omanii has specials at his stand, and one of my favorites is the Uncle Vince. It’s named for his brother Vincent Grace, who sadly passed away a few years ago. Vincent was a karate master who influenced a generation of fighters here in the city.
Vincent Grace (at his studio, which was located on South Salina Street)

Sensei Vincent Grace (training at his studio, which was located on South Salina Street back in the day)