By Diana Riojas feature editor
For those spending the sweaty months in Syracuse, here are five swimming spots around central New York that will get you of of the steamy promenade.
Green Lakes State Park
Located about 10 miles east of Syracuse, Green Lakes State Park is home to two glacier lakes and an 18-hole golf course designed by architect Robert Trent Jones. The park also includes more than 17 miles of hiking trails and plenty of picnic areas to enjoy, said park manager Laura Tully.
Tully said that people tend to gravitate to the beach that the lake settles on. There, people can swim in the fresh water. Those who prefer to stay drier can also rent out rowboats and kayaks. Kayak rentals vary based on type and rate, but range from $7 per hour to $20 per hour, as well as a cash deposit. Rowboats can be rented for $7 per hour or $4 per half-hour and include a $20 cash deposit.
For those in need of a break from Syracuse’s day-to-day city life, Tully said the outdoors is key.
“There is no better way to settle your mind than getting into nature,” said Tully. “Even if all you can do is go out and be in nature, it is so good for the mind and the soul.”
For those seeking an escape from the city of Syracuse, adventurers may want to take an hour drive southwest to Fillmore Glen State Park. The park is 941 acres and includes about 4.5 miles of hiking trails, with the most popular being the Gorge Trail, featuring three waterfalls along it. The park, named after the 13th United States President Millard Fillmore also includes a replica of the cabin he was born in, said park manager Jef rey Zaia.
The park also has an in-creek swimming area. Zaia said the creek is dammed up, but by June 15, it will be open for swimming. People can also jump in feet-first of of the wooden walkway.
On Aug. 10, the park will host its bathtub race which contestants race their custom bathtubs down a street.
During the springtime, red and white flowers can be found throughout the park, Zaia said. He added that parkgoers can spend the whole day in the nature.
Thornden Park Pool
Measuring at 50 meters long and maxing at 7 feet deep, Thornden Park
Pool is a quick spot to jump in for Syracuse University students looking to cool of during the summer season.
Aquatics supervisor for the city of Syracuse Bernadette DeMott said Thornden is one of the city’s premier pools. The pool includes
By Allison Weis asst. feature editor
The summer solstice marks the longest day of sun in the Northern Hemisphere’s year and has been honored in many cultures as a time to celebrate a fresh start. On June 21 between 5:30 and 7 p.m. at Thornden Park Amphitheater, Syracuse yogis are welcome to celebrate the beginning of summer.
“It’s such a beautiful setting; it’s really just about taking advantage of the few months we have here in Syracuse to get outside without a coat on,” said Erin O’Toole, instructor at O Yoga.
In the winter months of the year, yogis of all levels often practice in studios, said O’Toole. But practicing yoga outside can have healing benefits, said Kathleen Frizzi from Yoga Syracuse Pop-Up. Frizzi added that being in nature is powerful for some people. It allows them to do things they wouldn’t normally do or feel things they wouldn’t normally feel.
“The closer you are with the earth, the more in touch with yourself you’ll be,” O’Toole said, “if you’re feeling kooky or unsettled, they tell you to go dig in your garden. This is our way to get people close to the source, the stu f that feeds you.”
Allison Mitura, one of Frizzi’s students, said that in yoga, they discuss “grounding into the earth” and reaching the sky. By being outside, she said, you experience it rather than imagining it when practicing indoors.
Mitura said in central New York, there’s a shorter window of time to experience yoga in nature because of the climate.
O’Toole and Frizzi have held similar events in the past and previously filled the whole natural amphitheater. They usually have any-
where from 75 to 100 people come and participate in the event, O’Toole said.
Yoga is for everyone, from 80-year-olds who can practice in their chairs to 8-year-olds who use yoga as a tool to learn how to clear their minds, Mitura said.
“I think everybody should do yoga,” Mitura said. “Yoga is really the presence of body and breath together unified.”
Frizzi started practicing about 20 years ago because she was a runner who was drawn to meditation; from there she started practicing yoga.
O’Toole has been practicing for about 15 years. She started casually at the gym when she received a gift from her friend to try out a studio. At the time, she was getting over an injury, and after the first class, she said she was hooked.
The people who come to the events aren’t just people who practice yoga regularly. They have an open format so that beginners can do poses at their level and more advanced yogis can perform poses at their level, Frizzi said.
The 90-minute practice is designed to accommodate all ages and abilities.
Mitura started doing yoga after she had heard about one of Frizzi’s classes with the Wellness Wednesday series in downtown Syracuse. Since it was free, she decided to try it. Mitura said that Frizzi broke down every position and movement so that yoga wasn’t intimidating.
O’Toole said because the ground may be uneven at the amphitheater, they plan to make sure the flow at the solstice yoga is also one anyone can practice.
“We just make it simple enough for people to enjoy being outside, being together as a community, celebrating the start of summer,”O’Toole said. alweis@syr.edu
By Mandy Kraynak and Sarah Slavin the daily orange
In the summertime, central New York is home to numerous outdoor activities, concerts, festivals and other special events. Here are some inexpensive options — less than $20 each — to fill your summer calendar.
Concert Series at Clay Central Park
Clay Central Park will host free outdoor concerts every Tuesday evening from June 11 to August 13 at the Ernest N. Casale Amphitheater.
Mary Ellen Vinette, a secretary in the town of Clay’s recreation department, recommended the annual concert series to people of all ages.
“It’s a great family event — outside, free music in our beautiful park,” Vinette said.
Some of the bands that will perform include Thunder Canyon, Menage a Soul and Prime Time Horns. Each concert will run from 6:30 p.m. until 8 or 8:30 p.m.
Concertgoers can stay in the park following the performances. Starting June 25, there will be fireworks at Great Northern Mall at 9:30 p.m after the concerts.
Audience members can bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit on. Food from local restaurants will also available for purchase.
North Syracuse Family Festival
The North Syracuse Family Festival will be held at Lonergan Park on May 25 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This free event ofers a variety of familyfriendly activities, including face painting, bounce houses, pony rides, a petting zoo, live music, karate demonstrations and a dunk tank.
Two bands, Dunes & The Del-Tunes and Grit N Grace, will each perform for two hours. Ra fes for prizes will also be available, some of which are free to enter.
“There’s so much going on, and it’s a very
busy day,” said Pat Fergerson, the treasurer of the festival.
The festival, which has been held annually for 14 years, is supported by donations from local businesses.
Attendees can purchase food from local vendors at the festival, but admission to the event and parking for the event are free.
Big Don’s Wild River Outdoor Fun Center
Big Don’s Wild River Outdoor Fun Center ofers nine recreational activities including miniature golf and outdoor laser tag. Miniature golf is $8 and laser tag starts at $15.
Big Don’s is open Fridays from 3 to 10
p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 7 p.m. Because all activities are located outside, the hours are weather dependent.
Danielle Cullen, the operations manager at Big Don’s, said the family-owned business has been in the community for 15 years.
Some of the activities at Big Don’s include mini golf, laser tag, a maze, a climbing wall and an interactive play area for children ages 3-8. Customers pay for each of the nine activities separately.
“We have a lot to ofer in one place,” Cullen said.
The Salt Museum
The Salt Museum, located in Liverpool, just opened for the season. The museum is open on the weekends for residents to learn about Syracuse’s rich salt history.
Rhoda Sikes, who works in the gift shop of the museum, said what makes the museum unique is that there’s no other museum in the area that’s completely dedicated to salt. She said that there’s a lot of great history to learn and visitors can gain a lot from the experience.
“We hope that when they leave they are better informed,” she said.
Sikes said that the museum has been open since 1933 and answers a lot of misconceptions people have about Syracuse’s salt history.
By The Daily Orange Pulp Staff
Summer is a great time to get together with friends and enjoy live music. Here are some of the artists coming to Syracuse in May and June this year.
The Black Dahlia Murder Westcott Theater
The Black Dahlia Murder will take the stage at the Westcott Theater May 15 at 7 p.m.
The melodic death metal band was founded in Michigan in 2001. The band is comprised of guitarist Brian Eschbach, vocalist Trevor Strnad, bass guitarist Max Lavelle, drummer Alan Cassidy and lead guitarist Brandon Ellis. Tickets start at $17 for general admission and doors will open at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
Joe Jackson
The Palace Theatre
Joe Jackson will perform at the Palace Theatre May 17 at 8 p.m. The English, Grammy award winning musician’s latest album was released in January of this year, 40 years after his first album, “Look Sharp!” was released. The world tour is a celebration of the musician’s longevity in the business. Tickets start at $75.
Bear Hands
The Lost Horizon
Bear Hands will be performing at 8 p.m. on June 2 at The Lost Horizon. Bear Hands is currently touring with Twenty One Pilots. Tickets start at $15 to see the Brooklyn, postpunk, indie rock band.
Zac Brown Band
St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview
Zac Brown Band is set to perform at the St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater on June 9 at 7 p.m. The multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning, southern rock group is based in Atlanta. The band’s song, “Chicken Fried” from its album “The Foundation” currently has over 190 million listens on Spotify. Tickets start at $38.25.
John Prine
Landmark Theatre
The Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter John Prine will perform at the Landmark Theatre on June 20 at 8 p.m. For his Spring 2018 performance, Prine sold out his Radio City Music Hall tour. The 73-year-old artist was described by CBS Sunday Morning show as having a late-career renaissance.
“My audience has almost doubled in the last ten years,” Prine said to CBS. Tickets start at $59.50.
pulp@dailyorange.com
By Joey Pagano Staff Writer
The Central New York Regional Market, which is open on Saturdays year-round, will also be open on Thursdays. While attendees may be looking forward to this, vendors said they have been waiting for the Thursday market days since last fall, which last from May until November.
As large as Syracuse is, the farmers market makes it resemble a small town, said Mike Blair, the production manager of Abbott Farms, in an email. By going to the market, he said, families can find high-quality foods at reasonable prices, provide feedback to the producers of the foods they’re consuming and support the local economy.
When buying produce from a farmer, they can ask questions about how it was grown.
JoAnn Delaney
The farmers market exemplifies a cycle that never dies out, Blair said. Farmers spend their own money on supplies, property, equipment and labor necessary to produce a crop, he said, and then consumers pay the farmers directly, allowing the farmers to spend more on production.
“This internal cycle provides a lot of income and business,” he said, “and it provides a supply chain of food throughout the community.”
Challenges do arise when selling their crops at the market, said JoAnn Delaney of Delaney Farms in an email. There’s a certain level of physicality that comes with selling products. Vendors have to set up and tear down displays, keep their tables stocked and run from one selling space to the next to wait on customers, she said.
All the local farmers are competing against the food at grocery stores, and this can be dif-
cult, Delaney said, but there are more obstacles that come with the territory.
“Though it’s fun to watch a large number of people at one location looking to purchase food,” she said, “the competition from out-ofstate produce that’s sold by the dealers at the market is our largest challenge.”
Local food is given the time it needs to grow and mature, maximizing its juiciness, sweetness and overall flavor, Blair said. Conversely,
the out-of-season produce or the produce that can’t grow in Syracuse is picked early so it can ripen and be flavorful by the time it reaches the consumer, he said.
Maureen Doyle from Doyle Farms said in an email that the weather can interrupt not only harvesting, but any other part of the growing process. Weather is one of the biggest challenges with making the farmers market profitable and worthwhile, she said. Though the weather conditions may not always be suitable for crop growth, she said, consumers will always be looking for more produce.
“Whether it’s raining or not, the berries continue to grow and ripen, and if I don’t have customers to buy them, they will go to waste,” Blair said. He adds the waste can also be accounted in the labor, the containers used and cost in gas, along with the loss in wages for farmers that pay the rental fee, taxes and insurance.
It’s extremely important for consumers to seek out locally grown products, Doyle said. Consumers benefit from spending money in the local community by getting fresher products, she said, and injecting the economy with the resources it needs to prosper.
Sometimes, restaurants want to put together a unique dish and farmers agree to grow a certain crop, Blair said. In return, restaurants agree to use the crop only for that specific dish. The vendors build relationships with one another because they all have the same interests and the commitment to farming, Blair said and added that it’s a great experience to be around people who have gone through the same problems and triumphs.
For Delaney, she knows people like to know where their food is coming from.
“When buying produce from a farmer, they can ask questions about how it was grown,” Delaney said. “People also enjoy the personal relationship that gets formed with farmers.” gfpagano@syr.edu
Ernie Davis Dining Hours
a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
8:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
p.m. - 7:00 p.m Starbucks* Monday - Friday 7:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
- Sunday 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
West Campus Express*
Monday - Friday 11:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Saturday - Sunday 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
*Closed University holidays
The Inn Complete* Skytop Rd. South Campus (Starting 5/20/19)
- Friday 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Tuesday - Thursday 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Closed: Saturday & Sunday
By Amanda Eke contributing writer
For the remaining weeks of May and June, “Jazz on Tap” will take place from 2-5 p.m. every other Sunday at Finger Lakes On Tap Brewpub, a restaurant in Skaneateles. The event features local jazz musicians as well as food and drinks.
Central New York Jazz Arts Foundation foresees that dozens of groups will be coming out during this event series and anticipates diferent groups weekly, said Larry Luttinger, executive director of the organization.
Luttinger described people’s affinity for jazz during the summer as one that is “environmental.”
“Jazz is definitely popular all year round and presented just as well,” he said. “However, during summer there is something so great about the outdoor aspect.”
One of the artists performing this year at the event is the Jon LeRoy Trio. The group is named after founding member, Jon LeRoy. LeRoy said he met his current drummer and bassist in 1997 when they worked in a sheet music store together. The three started playing professionally in 1999 in the Albany area.
Born and raised in Liverpool, LeRoy said he enjoys the atmosphere the Jazz on Tap event ofers. He also extends his love for playing jazz in New York because of the diversity he finds in each area.
“Every area is so di ferent. In Syracuse back in the day there were lots of places to play; clubs, steak houses,” he said. “I then played more in Albany. Albany has so many connecting areas, you can get over to di ferent areas quickly.”
Jazz is a freedom of expression; it represents trials and all sorts of things going on.
Ronnie Leigh jazz artist
Leigh said he has traveled all over the United States and Canada performing music for more than 20 years, but he said he has no favorite place to perform. Leigh said things can change day by day on a personal and spiritual level, adding that he just loves to perform and engage with the audience.
“Nothing is better than just baring your soul on that stage,” he said.
Leigh has been coming to “Jazz On Tap” for the past three years and is looking forward to being there and seeing his fellow performers.
“Jazz is a freedom of expression; it represents trials and all sorts of things going on,” Leigh said, “jazz truly is a journey, it is very spiritual music. Where it came from, what it is doing today and how folks use it or abuse it … it means an awful lot. I try to speak truth to jazz music everyday.” aeke02@syr.edu
Another artist who will be performing at “Jazz on Tap” is Ronnie Leigh. As a oneman production with a career spanning five decades, Leigh sticks mainly to piano and vocals. Born in Albany, he began playing music as a kid listening to the vinyl records that family members played — including ones by artists like Miles Davis, and Nancy Wilson.
By Christopher Cicchiello asst. feature editor
As summer is about to begin in Syracuse, local food trucks are revving to life.
The following are just some of the rotating food trucks that you can catch at fairs, festivals, farmers markets and more. In collaboration with the Syracuse Food Truck Association, the weekly Food Truck Rally began Wednesday, May 1. Each Wednesday, six food trucks will be selling food on Water Street in Clinton Square. Along with the rally, other food trucks like Bold Coast Lobster Co. can be spotted at the Food Truck Friday Roundup on June 21 at the Aloft Syracuse Inner Harbor.
Byblos Street Grill
Famous for its falafel and traditional lamb gyro, owner Fady Khabbaz and his partner Larry Pankow have been operating a food truck for the past five years.
Khabbaz also owns two other restaurants, Byblos Bar & Grill and Byblos Mediterranean Cafe, which have more extensive menus.
After entering the food truck business, Khabbaz joined the SFTA, where he has applied his business expertise in promoting food trucks and trying to make street vending a viable option for vendors, he said.
“We are a group of food trucks comprised of seven steering committees, and 29 total members,” Khabbaz said. “Our mission is to give back to the community and provide them with several food options and a unique experience.” Khabbaz feels especially connected to Syracuse after getting a master’s degree in business administration from Syracuse University.
The Bite Box
Although The Bite Box is supplementary to the two restaurants owned by Jeanne Catalfano
— The Deli Downtown and A La Mode Cafe & Catering — it has its own “eclectic menu” embodying many cuisines, she said.
“There are some trucks that like to do one type of food, where we like to mix it up,” Catalfano said. “We do a lot of custom menus, especially when it comes to catering and weddings.”
Besides specialty sandwiches, Catalfano said the one of the menu items that has become best known over the past five years are the “Chicken and a Wa fe Cone,” which consists of a wa fe cone filled with mashed potatoes and chicken topped with their signature homemade Sriracha maple syrup.
Ponchito’s Taqueria
Featuring a Latin American menu, owner Frank Mignacca takes great pride in the tacos,
see food trucks page 11
eight lanes to swim laps and a spray fountain for children.
Public swim hours are Monday through Saturday from noon to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 7 p.m. starting Father’s Day weekend, Demott said.
Along with the pool, Thornden is also home to an amphitheater where Shakespeare in the Park is commonly performed. “Richard III” will premiere at the theater from June 7-16. There are also fields for people to play soccer, football and softball, said Demott.
Schiller Park Pool
Another popular pool spot, Schiller Pool is nestled inside Schiller Park on the Northside of the city. The pool’s dimensions are 55 yards long by 25 feet wide and its deepest point is 12 feet. Schiller is also equipped with 10 lanes for lap swimming. Public pool hours are the same as Thornden Park Pool.
For those looking to exercise their tennis skills, the park is also equipped with six tennis courts along with a softball diamond and a basketball court.
But what makes Schiller particularly special is its city skyline view, Demott said.
Oneida Shores Park
For those looking for a retreat but lacking the funds or time to leave the Onondaga region,
The museum is free of charge and is open on Saturdays and Sundays until the beginning of October from noon to 5 p.m.
Feats of Clay
Feats of Clay, a ceramics and clay shop in Manillus, ofers ceramic painting of small objects. This activity ranges in price from $5 to $15. Samantha Varga, the owner of Feats of Clay, said they now ofer clay hand building, which they started about two months ago. For $15,
Oneida Shores Park may be the perfect staycation spot.
Superintendent Gary Lopez, who has worked at the park for more than 20 years, said the park is maintained at 64 acres. Visitors can enjoy the beach along with other amenities including volleyball courts and boat launches.
average depth of the Oneida Lake in feet
For avid fishers, Oneida Lake is the state’s largest inland lake, with bass and walleye fish being the most popular species found. Lopez said the lake hosts more than 40 different bass tournaments throughout the season.
He said on any given weekend, a number of activities can occur that are accessible for all kinds of people. While the average depth of the lake is 22 feet, the swimming area is shallow enough to make it a family-friendly environment, said Lopez.
For Lopez, a day on the lake may be the just the break people need away from the city.
“It’s a di ferent atmosphere than the hubbub or rushing around in the city,” Lopez said. ddriojas@syr.edu
customers can get a pound of clay and sculpt it to whatever they want. After the clay is fired by the store, the customers can return and paint their creation.
Feats of Clay will have a kids summer camp and adult classes. Varga said they will have events all summer and they will be finalized by the end of May.
Varga said that not only are their clay pieces for decoration, but some creations like mugs and plates can also be usable. She said that people who choose to do clay building by hand can choose to make jewelry and magnets.
Sky Zone
Sky Zone, a trampoline park in DeWitt, ofers a range of activities for patrons to enjoy. Cost depends on height of the jumper. To jump for an hour, it costs $15 for those over 48 inches tall and $10 for those under 48 inches tall.
Pam Tuohey, general manager, said activities include the main trampoline area, dodgeball courts, a ninja warrior course, a challenge zone, foam pit, sky slam — which is similar to basketball — and a warped wall.
The dodgeball courts are sectioned of by age groups, 6-10 years old, 11-15 years old and 15 and older, Tuohey said. She added that
everyone can do any activity they want, but they suggest kids under five don’t do the ninja warrior course.
“The dodgeball courts are always running, we just rotate out depending on the demand of the ages of participants, but it’s mostly the teenagers that like dodgeball the most,” Tuohey said.
Tuohey said that they have a lot of events this summer including private events and summer camp for kids. They also have $10 Tuesdays where everyone can jump for an hour for $10.
pulp@dailyorange.com
burritos and quesadillas that he makes, he said. In addition to running a food truck, Mignacca is planning to open a third restaurant on June 3, which will feature a cantina and serve specialty sandwiches.
Mignacca said that after many trips to Central and South America, specifically Peru, he realized that nearly every “roadside meal was eaten on a tortilla.”
Ponchito’s other specialty item is the “Smothered Nachos,” which have pico de gallo, guacamole, jalapeños, lettuce and a choice of meat all over a bed of freshly made tortilla chips.
“The events are always fun,” Mignacca said. “When people come, eating is one of their main pleasures there, and you’re it and they’re happy to see you.”
Toss ‘n’ Fire Wood-Fired Pizza
Owned by Nick Sanford, Toss ‘n’ Fire is one of the few food trucks in Syracuse to specialize in pizza. The reason for starting a pizza food truck was simple: “I love pizza,” Sanford said.
When Sanford started his food truck four years ago, he said that people were constantly asking him where his restaurant was located. Sanford opened his restaurant of the same name a year and a half later in North Syracuse. It serves wings, sandwiches and salads in addition to pizzas.
With a wood-fired oven imported directly from Italy on the truck, Toss ‘n’ Fire is able to cook pizzas in 90 seconds at 1000 degrees fahrenheit. The two specialty pizzas are the Salt Potato Pizza and the Cheeky Monkey Pizza, which has a spicy tomato oil drizzled on top, Sanford said.
“Our goal is to work together to spread the positivity about food trucks and help people understand that food trucks are everywhere and part of the economy to help bring people to the area,” Sanford, who is also a founding member of the Syracuse Food Truck Association, said.
Bold Coast Lobster Co.
The newest food truck to be featured, Bold
Coast Lobster Co., brings fresh seafood creations to central New York. Owner Kate George said that their season begins in conjunction with the start of the lobster season in May.
“The best part of owning and operating a food truck is being able to meet and serve new people who become not only customers, but
friends,” George said. “To see people enjoying our food is truly a pleasure.”
George added that their truck seeks to bring nearly every iteration of lobster possible. They serve traditional items like Maine Lobster Rolls and New England Clam Chowder, and newer dishes, like Lobster Mac & Cheese.
“Di fculties come from being able to work through a variety of di ferent issues right on the spot,” George said “You almost have to be a jack of all trades in this business because anything can and does happen when you work in a mobile kitchen.”
cmcicchi@syr.edu
By The Daily Orange Pulp Staff
Several art galleries and exhibits in Syracuse will be displaying pieces and collections on a range of topics this summer. Here’s where and when to find the art:
ABOUT-FACE: 50 years after Stonewall. The Paintings of Joe Radoccia
Fifty years after the demonstrations of LGBT members against a police raid at the Stonewall Inn in Manhattan, artist Joe Radoccia has painted portraits of elders in the community. The exhibit will premiere at ArtRage on June 1 with an opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m.
Time Returns: A Continuous Now
The collection, curated by artist Judy Natal and the Everson’s curator of art and programs DJ Hellerman, is a selection of photographs taken from the early 20th century to present. The collection is derived from both the Everson Museum and Light Work and depicts pinnacle moments of social activism and political reform. The exhibit will be on display until Aug. 4 at the Everson Museum of Art.
Robert Benjamin: River Walking
Running until July 27, Light Work’s current exhibit, Robert Benjamin’s “River Walking,” is a solo exhibit of photographs and poetry spanning 40 years. Benjamin’s work centers around his family and the simplicity of life. Along with taking photos, he also writes poetry on his Smith Corona Clipper. In 2011, the Denver Art Museum and Radius Books
published a book of his work, “Notes from a Quiet Life.”
Public Arts Task Force’s 5th Annual Sumart Show
From June 13 to 27, Point of Contact Gallery is hosting Adapt CNY’s 5th annual summer art show. Adapt CNY has a task force called the Public Arts Task Force, which is dedicated to creating a culture of art in Syracuse, according to their website. The show is free and runs from noon to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
number of years the “Robert Benjamin: River Walking” spans
“Stories from the Land” exhibit at Edgewood Gallery Edgewood Gallery is hosting an exhibition from May 10 to June 21. The artwork is a mix of jewelry, ceramics and sculptural wood reliefs, and the exhibit features artwork from Jay Hart, Susan Machamer, Miyo Hirano and June Szabo. According to the gallery’s website, some of the artwork is representative of the human condition. The exhibition runs during the gallery’s normal hours. pulp@dailyorange.com @DO_Pulp
By Haley Robertson editor-in-chief
For “Seinfeld” star Jason Alexander, directing is one of the most compelling parts of show business. After 30 years of screen and stage roles, he said the acting work he’s been given is no longer the most challenging.
“I could live almost without the performance part. The part that excites me is all that discovery process,” Alexander said at a press conference held in the rehearsal room for his latest project.
Alexander is directing Syracuse Stage’s production of “The Last Five Years.” The musical opens May 29 for a three-week run. This is the first time the Stage has produced “The Last Five Years,” which was added onto Syracuse Stage’s 2018-19 season as the seventh and final production on the lineup.
“The Last Five Years” follows one couple’s love story over a five-year period. Through more than a dozen musical numbers, the play intertwines two overlapping timelines — one starting at the beginning of the relationship, and the other starting from the end.
The musical is typically performed with only two actors and a handful of musicians. Alexander has increased the cast size by adding two dancers — shadows of the lead characters Cathy Hiatt and Jamie Wellerstein. This addition eliminates moments where either of the actors would normally sing by themselves.
Alexander hopes this change will help make the plot’s timeline clearer for the audience while opening up possibilities for staging opportunities. No actor will perform without someone else to engage with on stage, which turns each monologue into a scene, he said.
But before Alexander committed to his vision for the show, he asked Jason Robert Brown, playwright and composer of “The Last Five Years,” for permission.
“Why he said yes to me, I don’t know,” Alexander said. “But I’m awfully flattered that he did.”
Georgia-based actress Hanley Smith is starring as the “singing” Cathy. Her earliest memories of “The Last Five Years” cast album are from the Williamstown Theatre Festival, where she’d spend her days of driving with one of her good friends, the soundtrack blaring from the car’s speakers. These moments made her fall in love with the musical.
Not long after those summer drives through the Berkshires, Smith’s friend took his own life.
“For the longest time, I could not listen to ‘The Last Five Years’ anymore because I associated it with him and it made me too sad,” Smith said. About 10 years later, the opportunity to audition for the show came up. She saw this as a chance to honor her friend.
Experimenting with this reimagined version of the show has been a learning process, Smith said. As a creative person, she appreciates having the freedom to contribute her own ideas during rehearsal.
Alexander works with the cast to help
them tell the story dynamically and honestly, Smith said. She described the rehearsal room as a safe space to try new things, adding that Alexander is quick to throw on his many di ferent hats — including actor, director and choreographer.
Theater has been a part of Alexander’s life since he was a kid growing up in New Jersey, not far from New York City. He said his career fantasies were rooted in theater.
“I thought if I was lucky enough to be able to make a living doing live performance on the stage, I’d be a very happy man,” he said.
Alexander has spent years on Broadway, including runs in “Fish in the Dark,” “The Producers” and “Jerome Robbins’ Broadway,” for which he won the Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical.
For Alexander, his acting experience informs his directing style. He said he aims to give actors the guidance and pathway toward total artistic control of every moment of their performance.
“I think you need to have that kind of a blueprint in order to let it go and release into the magic of spontaneity and improvisation,” he said.
Robert Hupp, artistic director of Syracuse Stage, met Alexander several years ago when they worked together at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre. At a Syracuse Stage staf event last
week, Hupp said he’s been eager to find an opportunity to work with Alexander again in Syracuse.
“The fact that it’s ‘The Last Five Years,’ and the fact that Jason has a particular insight into this play that I think is revolu-
tionary for this production, excites me even more,” Hupp said. “And I can’t wait to share this story with our audience here in central New York.” hrober03@syr.edu | @_haleyannn
Charming brick house on quiet street in Dewitt School District. Convenient to Syracuse University, hospitals, and downtown. Mature landscaping, lovely three-season porch with jalousie windows and screens which overlooks a private, partially fenced backyard with many perennials. Inside are a foyer, large living room with hardwood floors covered by carpet, a woodburning fireplace, dining L, two large bedrooms and two full baths, kitchen with refrigerator, washer, dryer, and eating area. In the basement are a bedroom with a half bath, a study, a paneled recreation room, a freezer, and a storage room with an elaborate system of shelves.
Asking $169,000. Location: 109 Humbert Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13224. For sale by owner. Viewing by appointment only. Telephone: 315.446.4138.
every Tuesday 1/2 price food all day long, including wings, burgers, eggplant!
❑ 2, 3, 5, 6 Bedrooms
❑ Furnished
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