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THURSDAY-FRIDAY, JAN. 9-10, 2014
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HAPPENIN’ OTSEGO Bresee’s Health Bar had a counter, but otherwise doesn’t meet the “diner” definition.
Nick’s at Fonda Avenue and Chestnut, once Bob & Dan’s, closed shortly before The Neptune.
BEST BETS
Duke’s Diner on Oneida Street represented the diner tradition on the city’s West End.
DINERS in DECLINE
Neptune’s Closing Puts Exclamation Mark On Era’s End
Tammy Christman, Oneonta, shows off a fun, flirty bridal gown at the 2013 Foothills Wedding Expo.
By LIBBY CUDMORE ONEONTA
‘W
e’ll always have the diner,” says Daniel Stern in Barry Levinson’s 1982’s film “Diner.” Not so, it turns out. In Manning’s Oneonta Directory for 1949, a halfdozen diners were listed. Today, the city, arguably, has none, with the closing of The Neptune at midnight, Dec. 28, and the “for sale” sign at Nick’s Laskaris’, now the History Cen- on Chestnut Street, (workter, 183 Main, had chrome ers from the stools and a D&H yards counter, diner would walk up features. Fonda Avenue to lunch there). Though many restaurants, lunch counters and grills lay claim to the diner moniker, the modern definition of a “true” diner, as defined by Randy Garbin, publisher of Roadside Online, is a pre-fabricated building, Please See DINERS, B5
Year’s First Bridal Show Sunday 1/12 At Foothills
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ake, veils, venues, oh my! The Foothills annual Bridal Expo is the go-to show for brides, featuring a fashion show, tastings, booths and more. Noon, Sunday, Jan 12, Foothills Performing Arts Center, 21 Market St., Oneonta. Info, registration, www. foothillspac.org.
AllOTSEGO.diners
Ian Austin/
Linda Burgher, above, is proprietor of Soda Jerks on outer Chestnut Street, a tribute to the diner tradition. At right, Lily Karabinis converted the former Corfu Diner, Main and Chestnut, into Simply Thai, but preserved some of the chrome accoutrements.
New Tradition: Christmas Tree Bonfire At Ommegang By LIBBY CUDMORE COOPERSTOWN
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igger isn’t always better. “This year, we got a 22-foot Christmas tree,” said John Tuchowski, Brewery Ommegang event coordinator. “It did not work. It took us four hours to put up, and we had it up at our St. Nikolas event, within 15 minutes, it had tipped over. We figured we could spend another hour getting it back up, or we could put it in the fire and have Christmas next year.” Thus, a tradition was born,
and Ommegang invited people to bring their own trees to create a post-Christmas bonfire Saturday, Jan. 4. “We’ll burn some trees, drink some beer, exchange some gifts,” said assistant event coordinator Steve Hamilton, Oneonta. “It’s a nice way to say goodbye to 2013, ring in 2014.” Those who brought trees were given an Ommegang gift – a piece of soon-to-be-retired glassware, good for a free beer at the bar. Jan and Mike Stevens, Rome, weren’t ready to take down their own tree, so they brought their neighbor’s instead. “It was out on the curb, so we stole it!” Please See BONFIRE, B5
PIZZA & POTTERY: Make and glaze bowls for the CANO Chili Bowl. BYOB optional, snacks and pizza provided. 6-9 p.m., Friday, Jan. 10, Carriage House, 11 Ford Ave., Oneonta. Info, (607) 435-8718, www.canoneonta.com FREE FILM: Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift star in “A Place in the Sun” (NR), a prelude to Glimmerglass Festival’s production of “An American Tragedy.” Part of the Cabin Fever Film Series. 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 10, Fenimore Art Museum, 5798 Rte. 80, Cooperstown. Info, (888) 547-1400. PIANO MAN: Roger Peltzman plays solo piano as part of the Cooperstown Concert Series. 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 11, The Otesaga, 60 Lake St., Cooperstown. Info, tickets, (607) 5471812. START YOUR GARDEN: It may be chilly out now, but it’s not too early to start planning your spring garden with the “Design For Your Home Garden” workshop taught by Otsego County Master Gardeners. $5, register by Jan. 9. 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, Cornell Cooperative Extension, 123 Lake St., Cooperstown. Info, registration, (607) 547-2536, ext. 0.
AllOTSEGO.life
Ian Austin/
Tom Brieten, Fly Creek, hoists his family’s Christmas tree onto the Ommegang bonfire.
BEER DINNER: Chef Evan Brown presents his first five-course “Great Beer Deserves Great Food” dinner of endive soup, beet salad, potato salad, and a bacon mousse-stuffed rabbit loin. Tickets, $75. 7 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 11, Brewery Ommegang, 656 County Highway 33, Cooperstown. Info, tickets, John Tuchowski, 544 1800, ext. 813.
THE FREEMAN’S JOURNAL • HOMETOWN ONEONTA FOR DAILY NEWS UPDATES, VISIT www.
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Attention Brides
Memorialize Your Happy Day with a Wedding Announcement in Our Newspapers E-mail Details and a Color Photo to info@allotsego.com, or Mail Them to: Weddings, Hometown Oneonta & The Freeman’s Journal, Box 890, Cooperstown NY 13326. Questions? Call 607-547-6103 and ask for the editor.