PRINTER PROOF WORK IN PROGRESS
utica proud college edition college edition
Volume Two • Spring 2019 Volume Two • Spring 2019
CELEBRATING THE PAST, PRESENT & POTENTIAL CELEBR AT I NG T HE PA S T, PR E S EN T & POT EN T IA L CELEBRATING THE PAST, PRESENT & POTENTIAL CELEBRATING THE PAST, PRESENT & POTENTIAL
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utica proud
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utica proud college edition
Volume Two • Spring 2019
DEDICATED TO BECKY DECUSATIS JOE OWENS LOGAN PATENAUDE AND BRIDGET SWAYNE
CELEBRATING THE PAST, PRESENT & POTENTIAL
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VOLUME 2 • SPRING 2 019
ComD 240 | 2019 Research, Analysis and Process
Professor Cindiana Koren, Editor Leah McDonald, Designer / Co-editor PrattMWP College of Art and Design 310 Genesee Street Utica, NY 13502 ckoren@mwpai.edu
© All Rights Reserved All content of artwork, photography, and illustration is original and created by the authors unless otherwise noted. Authors retain full copyright. Reproduction in part or in whole, without written permission, is not permitted.
#uticaproud
Cover Art: Emma Waller
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contents Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Utica Bike Rescue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Why Utica is Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 The Other Side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Flavors of Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Holy Trinity Catholic Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Green n Wave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Pho Mekong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Midtown Utica Community Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Bite Bakery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Utica Public Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Gerbers Tavern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Inkorporated Tattoo Studio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Palermo’s Pizza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Utica Curling Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 John Butterfield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Utica Public Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Cafe Domenico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Hotel Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Union Station . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 The Celtic Harp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Players of Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Oneida History Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Spring Farm CARES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 Eternal Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Nguyen Phat Grocery Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Mohawk Airlines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Stanley Theatre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 A & P Master Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Uptown Theatre for Creative Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 Utica on the Big Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Utica Dance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 Utica Children’s Museum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 Aviation in Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Steven Swan Humane Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Gateway to the Adirondacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106 Sweets in Utica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 Tiger Lily Quilt Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 4 Elements Studio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Cafe Domenico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Utica Rescue Mission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 Palermo’s Pizza . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 Beijing House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122 Mosque . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 The Tram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 Peregrine Falcons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 The City that Loves Refugees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132 Handshake City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
I N T RO D U C T I O N
students team up By Cindy Koren Welcome to the second volume of an ongoing series and extension of an award winning campaign aimed to lift UP the spirits our city designed by four ambitious PrattMWP students. Utica, New York is a classic Rust Belt city moving toward renewed prosperity. Once thriving with a bustling downtown this city has suffered from population and economic decline, but it is coming back UP and we hope to encourage people to Eat UP, Read UP, and Live UP!
TOP: Photo by Mario Orta
As a requirement of the Research, Analysis and Process course taught by Professor Cindy Buckley Koren and Leah McDonald, Utica Proud – College Edition represents the efforts from Communications Design students at PrattMWP College of Art and Design. CELEBRATING THE PAST, PRESENT & POTENTIAL
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UTIC A PROUD
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TEAM UP
The project was launched with a tour of the Oneida History Center which offered a wealth of inspiration and historic resources. Students were then tasked with selecting and researching a unique element of our community from their individual perspectives. They were required to collect historic and relevant assets, conduct interviews, write stories, and create original imagery—both illustrative and photographic.
Utica Proud goes beyond the talent of these young students to reflect the good things in our community that we sometimes take for granted.
— Ron Johns, Executive Editor, Observer Dispatch
TOP: Photo by Mario Orta
This year we teamed UP with the local newspaper, the Utica Observer Dispatch for a 10-part series to share our stories and broaden our audience. We hope you will enjoy this collection and share the pride. #uticaproud
LEFT: Original typeface design by Joe Owens CELEBRATING THE PAST, PRESENT & POTENTIAL
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transforming utica one bicycle at a time Utica Bike Rescue gives the community connections and healthy habits that will last a lifetime by Alexandra Morales
Riding a bike for the first time was an experience I hope I never forget. The wind in my hair, my parents cheering me on, slamming into the back of my dad’s Ford face first after I forgot to brake… childhood at its finest. Most of my favorite memories growing up
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The Utica Bike Rescue community hard at work. (Photo via Andi Alexander)
started on a bike, because that was my brother’s and my activity of choice. Riding around my neighborhood, exploring every street, was how I met some of my best friends in elementary school. I’m not sure what happened to my old bicycle, but it brought me memories and friendships that will stay with me forever. Today, it’s easy to feel disconnected with others, both on a physical and emotional level. People connect more online now, which can be great, but as a result we sometimes miss out on chances to get some fresh air and form relationships with people within our local community. Matthew VanSlyke kills two birds with one stone with Utica Bike Rescue. As its founder and Executive Director, VanSlyke combines his knowledge of transportation with his
LIVING IT UP passion for teaching and empowering others to create a growing community of bike riders, both old and new. As a professional transportation planner, VanSlyke sees the world in terms of mobility. He takes immense pride in the improvements Utica Bike Rescue is able to have on people’s quality of life by giving them the freedom to travel independently. “In my line of work we spend a lot of time developing plans and projects that have delayed benefit,” VanSlyke says. “In contrast, the work that Utica Bike Rescue does provides immediate, tangible benefit to those who need it most.” “If we simply gave things away we’d be doing our customers a disservice.” One of the key reasons Utica Bike Rescue is able to have such an impact is due to VanSlyke’s insistence upon teaching customers to sustain their own bikes, rather than simply giving them a handout. He continues, “We like to make sure that the people who receive bikes from us know how to keep it operational and enjoyable.” More recently, the mission of Utica Bike Rescue expanded to overall health and wellness. Soul Stop, which opened in Clinton last year, is a fitness and training studio that offers spinning and yoga classes, personal training, and bike repair workshops.
“I firmly believe that the ability to travel independently is fundamental to people’s quality of life.” In speaking with Matthew VanSlyke, I’ve realized the many different things bicycles can provide a community. Utica Bike Rescue teaches local kids and families through the Bicycle Rodeo program, and utilizes volunteers to teach bike repair at their workshop. Overarching ideas of sustainability, wellness, independence, and transportation are all aspects of a much larger picture.
beyond the bikes
A brief rundown on the projects associated with Utica Bike Rescue Bikes For Goodwill Organizations
Qualifying clients and families in need are able to recieve refurbished bicycles.
Earn-A-Bike
Participants are trained over the course of several weeks to repair a bike, which they keep upon completion of the class.
Bicycle Mechanic Class
This workshop, taught by trained and experienced mechanics, teaches bicyclists repair techniques.
Campus Connection
While attending college, students are allowed to put a deposit on bikes they can ride all semester.
Only On My Bike
Existing youth summer camps partner with Utica Bike rescue to encourage a healthy and active lifestyle.
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“...The bicycles we provide to folks honestly transform lives… When you travel by bike you’re connected to places in ways that don’t happen with any other form of transportation. I never get tired of hearing people’s stories about their first bike, an epic bike trip they went on or the collection of bikes they have at home. It’s something we can all relate to and the simple independence that bicycles provide is amazing. Being able to play a part in providing this for people is an honor and a privilege that I’m extremely grateful for.” Like Matthew VanSlyke, I believe it is important to seek out opportunities for growth and change in trying times. Rather than hoping and waiting for someone to make a difference, VanSlyke took it upon himself to bring together like-minded people, both volunteers and customers, to work toward the common goal of experiencing life in a more sustainable, healthy, and connected way. It is inspiring to see someone as genuinely passionate about their work as Matthew VanSlyke create such an impact within his community.
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(Photo via Andi Alexander)
Want to learn more? Visit Utica Bike Rescue in the Westminster Moriah Olivet Presbyterian Church at 714 Washington Street, or check out their website at uticabikerescue.org.
I N T RO D U C T I O N
why utica is home The people are the key to the city. by Amber Lim Utica was the first place I arrived in the United States, and coming from a tropical country (such as, Malaysia) where it’s hot and humid all year long, despite the lack of high rise buildings that I so naively expected, I was happy to feel the chilly breeze of fall and see snow for the first time. But it’s easy to take things for granted and soon enough, students seemed to complain about Utica on a weekly basis (if they’re putting effort to be positive for that week).
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LIVING IT UP
While doing research for my topic for Utica Proud, I stumbled upon a blogpost by Sophia Elacqua, a travel enthusiast, blogger, and proud Utican, defending Utica against bad media portrayal, so I reached out to her to discuss why Utica is a great place to call home. Sophia believes that Utica gets a bad reputation largely because of weather, size, and the average income per household is lower than the US average. "There are also many people in need for help in Utica," she adds, "and fortunately, the city is on a mission to bring economic growth to the area and multiple missions, churches, community initiatives and volunteers continue to serve Utica and make it a better place." Being home to 60,000+ people, certainly there is more to the “Town that Loves Refugees” than what can be seen with the eye. Picture by Youchen Zhou
1. Community is family
2. True four seasons and nature
I met some of the nicest, funniest, and most knowledgeable people while going to school here, and people are so willing to take time to help you out. Unlike big cities, people are less stingy with their time when it comes to making connections because they’re not always thinking about what they have to do next.
I have always dreamed of experiencing four seasons before coming here, and Utica gave me exactly that right smack in the face.
Sophia shares that “in this city you are able to make close connections with people from Utica and surrounding suburbs who share similar values and morals. Everyone knows everyone in Utica and no-one is a stranger. “
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Sophia has traveled to 15 countries and worked in New York City, and she observed that some of her friends who grew up in New York City have never driven a car, seen the true beauty of the seasons, especially fall, or have walked into a bar and recognized almost everyone there. She also adds that since Utica is so close to the Adirondacks, hiking is much recommended.
LIVING IT UP
3. Short lines
4. Diverse options
I become grateful every time I come to Utica from New York City because unless it’s almost the Super Bowl or some special occasion, I don’t have to wait in line for 30 minutes to get toilet paper. And because it’s so slow paced, you are more likely to be greeted with a smile and can take all the time in the world deciding which cupcake you want.
In a world of chains and corporations, part of what makes Utica beautiful are family businesses! Cultural diversity also contributes to wide array of authentic cuisines. Some of Sophia’s favorite food spots around the city include Peking Tokyo’s sushi, Aqua Vino, Zeinas, Voss’, Sumo, Polish Community Club pierogies, O’scugnizzo’s pizza, and Friends and Pho.
Another picture by Youchen Zhou
Utica has much to offer that big cities couldn’t, and if you can’t find something interesting to do on your free time, we suggest looking into brewery tours, the Boilermaker 15k Road Race, Stanley Theatre, Munsons William Proctor Art Museum, music on Saranac Thursdays, and so much more. Sophia puts, “It’s always the people that make the place and Utica has a unique community surrounded by our various suburbs with a melting pot of cultures. I’ve been taught to never forget where I’ve come from, and I couldn’t be more
Special thanks to: You Chen Zhou. my talented photography major friend, who took great photos of Utica: https://youchenz.wixsite.com/portfolio Check out Sophia's blogpost: https://thatawkwardtanline.com
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see you aT The oTher side celebrating art, education, and community By Zegstroo
Guests enjoy opening night of Kathy Donovan’s exhibition at The Other Side Gallery. 14
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Nancy Zumpano Photography
It doesn’t look like much from the outside, just a simple brown building, but The Other Side hosts a wealth of knowledge. Not the knowledge that can be found in a library, hidden in a mountain of books, but the knowledge of people dedicated to sharing what they have to offer. In the simplest of definitions, The Other Side is a community. Founded in 2007 by Orin and Kim Domenico, The Other Side serves as host to a local art gallery and a multitude of community events. From lectures and environmental discussions, to the arts and Western wisdom traditions, The Other Side has something for everyone. “We just started adding programs,” said co-founder and owner Kim Domenico. “Sometimes people in the community would want to start something; [The Other Side] is a starting place for [these] things. I always encourage basically anything people want to do… but through the arts.” Over the twelve years that it has been open, The Other Side has and continues to host yoga classes, poetry sessions, community lectures, jazz shows, and many other events. Every month the artwork changes and another local artists is given a chance in the spotlight.
From the perspective of a college student who didn’t grow up in Utica, The Other Side is a sanctuary from the stress and hassle of everyday life. It offers a chance to unwind and meet new people. The atmosphere is beyond welcoming. While interviewing Kim I realized what a special place The Other Side is to so many people. In a world that never stops, it’s important to have a place to be still; The Other Side is this place. Community has always been something of great value to me. To find somewhere in Utica where I instantly felt welcomed has been a huge blessing. If it’s not already obvious, Kim and Orin Domenico care a lot about community. This passion carries into The Other Side. “We think of it as our art and we’d like to think others feel the same way.” If you’re interested in art or education then check out The Other Side. Another important part of The Other Side is that its a non-profit. Kim and Orin care about bringing art and education to up-town Utica. By making The Other Side non-profit they open it up to anyone and everyone. Next time you have a spare evening, stop by and join The Other Side in celebrating art, education, and community!
“We think of it as our art and we’d like to think others feel the same way”
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TASTE IT UP
a small town with distinctive taste People will never forget the flavor and come back to Utica for it by Aijia Fang There are many different kinds of traditional food that comes from Utica, and when we taste those dishes we can not only taste the flavor of Utica but the flavor of the whole wide world. The food that everybody from here should know are “Utica greens” and the most popular “half moon cookies”. “We are just in love with the food here.” When Italian Americans moved to Utica, they invented the dish “Utica greens.” It is a simple dish but includes a very different taste.You can ask for what you like and put it on top of it. When Utica greens come out from a restaurant, people fall in love with it. It has became Utica’s special traditional food.
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TRY IT UP
utica greens and The half moon cookie Utica Greens was named on the menu greens Morelle in 1980s at a restaurant that called Chesterfield created by Joe Morelle, after lots of modified versions it became common in a lot of Italian restaurant. Nowadays you can see this dish everywhere, even in Munson Williams Proctor Arts Institude. I decided to interview the student at Pratt campus. “This is the best “salad” that I had in school, I usually hate greens.” Most Students said they love Utica Greens better than any other salads in school, and Uticans should be proud of it. This green dish is healthy and very easy to make. All you need is a head of escarole, sliced prosciutto, hot cherry peppers, olive oil, cloves garlic, kosher salt, Parmigiano-Reggiano and fresh ground black pepper. People that have made it said, “This is an instant dish, I can use all the other mix greens intead and it still taste great!” Healthy dish like Utica greens, people should always give it a try.
In around 1920 Hemstrought Bakery’s founder Harry B. Hemstrought created the original “Halfmoon Cookie” and became famous from that. It is also called black-and-white cookie, but it is actually a drop cake that have a cookieshape base with both chocolate and vanilla frosting on top. Some people said that “Halfmoon Cookie” and “Black and White cookie” are different - one is from Utica and another one is from Yorkville that was founded in 1902 by Bavarian immigrants. These two cookies look almost the same but taste totally different. Half Moons have a cakey soft base, but Black and White have a crispy cookie like base. For the top, Black and White is glazed but HalfMoons have a thick layer of chocolate and vanilla buttercream. I for myself will always choose the soft baked cookies like Halfmoon. It reminds me all of my childhood memories.
“The tastes of Utica are a
significant memory of those who
have come here.”
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holy trinity catholic church The spiritual backbone for a thriving immgrant community by Allison Keenan Created to serve the budding Polish immigrant community within Utica proper, Holy Trinity Catholic Church was first founded in 1897. It was birthed out of a devout society of Polish immigrants dedicated to the idea of a concrete place of worship within the community they had entered. The worshippers of Holy Trinity migrated to multiple places within the Utica community before finally settling on the Lincoln Avenue location. Initially welcomed at St. Joseph’s German parish on Columbia Street, the devoted immigrants bolstered by their faith and newfound opportunity soon founded the fraternal aid society,The St. Stanislaus Society, dedicated to polish patron saint Saint Stanislaus, upon which the morals and standards of the current Church today was built upon. The first official church dedicated to the St Stanislaus Society was erected in 1897. However, the influx of Polish immigrants to the Rust Belt community soon provided the need for a larger church dedicated
to serving the community of faithful immigrants. The second church was finally completed in 1910 due to extended financial difficulties. Holy Trinity, no stranger to the outside struggles of war and financial hardship, was led by the fundraising efforts of second priest, Father Alselm Muszynsk, who united the divided sections of various immigrant Catholic Poles within the surrounding area. Cut to nearly a century later in 1996, and the unfortunate loss of several small, Utica-based. business, the shifting of living patterns, and the depletion of the parish school reduced the communal strength of Holy Trinity. However the core values of Holy Trinity and the St Stanislaus Society persevered through the hardships of the turn of the century, and into a new, prosperous era of faith and community, as the church united with the parish of St Stanislaus in 2009.
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N New approach in Sangertown by J J Green n Wave brought authentic Hawaiian poke bowls to Sangertown Square’s Center Court around October last year. Green n Wave team has proudly been in the industry with more than twenty years of experience. This is a new concept of healthy eating. Here they blend different concepts of cultural foods into one. The casual dining experience will provide a modern relaxing atmosphere with good quality of Hawaiian and Asian items. The menu consists of traditional ramen soups, Hawaiian poke bowls with chunks of tuna tossed over rice or poke bowls with a twist which include a protein of customer’s choice such as chicken or steak. Their focus is on healthy eating while having fun making it. So enjoy making your meal with your own style.
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EAT UP
pho mekong a taste of home Authentic, Affordable Vietnamese Cuisine in Downtown Utica by Annie Lee During my first year in Utica, I did not leave the campus and explore downtown much; the most authentic asian food I had was probably ramen I brought from home. Having lived in Asia my entire life, I crave anything Asian. I learned that the demographics of Utica is made up of 7.4% Asians as of 2010. Located on John Street, Pho Mekong House of Noodles averaged a four star review on Yelp and 4.5 on Trip-Advisor. We learned about Pho Mekong from another international student and visited as a group one Friday. We continued going regularly at least once every two weeks. Owner Chenda Kong opened Pho Mekong 16 years ago when she moved from Rhode Island to Utica with her family. She worked in a Vietnamese restaurant and therefore decided to start her own place in Utica. To their knowledge, Pho Mekong is the first restaurant in Utica serving Vietnamese cuisine.
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Original illustrations of Fresh Spring rolls, Beef Pho, and Pineapple Fried Rice. 24
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EAT UP
Jackie, Chenda’s niece, said that they are most proud of their beef pho broth. I cannot agree more. It takes a lot of time and effort to produce such clear and flavorful beef broth. Pho Mekong gets most of their ingredients fresh from local stores and the asian spices from local Cambodian market on Bleecker Street; Jackie says it is their way of supporting local businesses. The restaurant is always packed and busy whenever I go, nevertheless, Chenda and Jackie are always energetic and friendly. We usually order grilled chicken vermicelli, beef pho, and pineapple fried rice; they never disappoint. My Vietnamese classmate Minh commented that it is “legit Vietnamese food” and recommended us a dish “kho to.” The seasoned fish served in a hot pot is perfect with rice. I never would have thought to order the dish for its foreign name, but now I cannot wait to return and try everything else on the menu! I asked Jackie to recommend a few tasty dishes people rarely order and she recommended Vietnamese stir fry and curry. Jackie said, “people usually order pho, pad Thai, or drunken noodles, but not curry dishes; they often don’t think curry would be good, but it is.”
On Yelp, I read quite a lot of positive reviews about drunken noodles, which is wok-fried noodles with basil and Chinese broccoli in a spicy garlic sauce. Jackie shared an interesting story about how a man came up with the dish when he was cooking drunk. She added that Pho Mekong’s drunken noodles is one of a kind as they have a secret recipe for the sauce that is different from anywhere else. Moreover, the noodles they use are not the dried up ones but rather the fresh and soft noodles. It is their creativity and attention to details that makes Pho Mekong so highly rated. Not only do they serve great food, the heartwarming family cares for local communities. Two flyers on the wall advertise local interpreter associations providing bilingual language services and cultural assistance for non-native English individuals so they can fully participate in the community. Another flyer gives information on immigration lawyers. It is effective and beautiful to have the flyers displayed regarding Utica’s demographics of Asian population. It would be wonderful for foreigners to enjoy a taste of home and to engage more with the local community.
LEFT TO RIGHT: Pho Tai Nam (Beef Pho), Goi Cuon (Fresh Spring Rolls), Canh Chua (Pineapple Fried Rice).
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a big brother or re ugees By Arisa Thaweeskulchai
Midtown Utica Community Center (MUCC) is an inclusive multicultural and refugee-friendly space that serves all. Chris Sunderlin, founder and executive director of MUCC, taught ESL classes to adult refugees for seven years until he decided to start the MUCC with his own paycheck. It was apparent to him that the refugee population lack opportunities to cultivate, express, and preserve their culture. The MUCC is not like any other community center, it’s like a family, a big brother. It connects services and people together to make everybody’s life a little easier and better.
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“ It’s a family, a place to belong, to feel welcome, “wanted and useful. ”
We would like to thank Elizabeth Lemieux, a large donor who helped purchased the building and funded MUCC’s camp last summer. I visited the MUCC for the first time during freshmen year for a photography project and was amazed by how involved the youths are at this community center. It is hard for anyone who had to move and adjust to a new home. The MUCC serves as a communal space that is open to all, providing them a place that’s theirs so they feel included in the community. Part of MUCC’s purpose is to help change the conversations and thought processes of people about immigrants. Through a partnership with Anna Tobin D’Ambrosio, President and CEO of Munson-Williams-Proctor Art Institute, the MUCC community has been invovled with several exhibits. It has been incredibly powerful to include immigrants, refugees and people of color in every aspect of the community. The MUCC supports a summer youth program through the Oneida County Workforce Development Agency where kids get paid while learning job skills. Their focus may be towards the youth, but anyone who wants to come is welcomed.
Chris Sunderlin wishes to see one of the kids from within MUCC growing up and taking the lead in the future. With the current housing situations for refugees, he envisions an expansion of the center to allocate new refugees in one central location where they could stay for a year and adapt to the American lifestyle before finding their own apartment elsewhere. Other possibilities would be adding a gym, having a storefront and owning a campsite where the MUCC could set up language camps, cooking camps, yoga retreats, and wellness retreats. Chris sees many different futures for the MUCC. Without any affiliation to any organization, Chris created the MUCC from scratch and relies on donations from the people to thrive. For our community and our children, your contribution and support will make a huge impact today, tomorrow, and towards our future.
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LIVING IT UP
’ a bite out of utica s
best bakery By Ava Mayer
Bite Bakery and Cafe is a perfect destination to satisfy one’s sweet and savory needs. The business is located in Franklin Square with two store fronts, one for the bakery, and one for the cafe. It’s a great place for anyone passing by the area who either wants some delicious food, a quick coffee to go, or a commission for a special event. Bite is also a perfect cafe for college students, such as myself, or mothers who want to order cupcakes for their daughters birthday, like mom did for mine. I was turning twenty years old on the PrattMWP campus, when I got to try Bite’s amazing chocolate cupcakes, thanks to my mom. They were some of the richest and creamiests bites of goodness I had ever tasted and I made sure to share them with my friends.
This experience is what inspired me to choose Bite Bakery and Cafe for my Utica Proud Project. I was thankful that coowner of Bite Bakery and Cafe Douglas Allen Leonard got to answer a few questions on why Bite Bakery is such a wonderful spot to work and visit. Why is Utica such a great location for Bite Bakery? “I was born and raised in Utica and left the area to live in NYC. After coming back, I always wanted to bring that NYC vibe to Utica. With a passion for baking and food, we came up with the concept of Bite. Why not Utica - so many good things going on in this area and it is important for younger people to be involved and help be that base to make Utica better now and for the future.”
What is the most rewarding part of working at a bakery? “The most rewarding part of owning Bite is our customers and bringing great products that we take pride in, and making them fresh from scratch.” What is your favorite recipe to bake and why? “Our Italian white cookie recipe is personal as it is my grandmothers recipe and it is one of our most popular cookies that we sell.”
CELEBRATING THE PAST, PRESENT & POTENTIAL
To a new customer at Bite Bakery, what would you recommend they try on the menu? “For lunch, the Bite is our number one seller. It is the grilled cheese with our in-house red onion jam with our homemade tomato basil soup. For breakfast, people love our breakfast burritos filled with eggs, meat, cheese and potatoes. Offered with salsa, it is a must try!”
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reading gives li e more li e Utica public library is the reading center of Utica. by Bryan Park “books are a good source of knowledge�
Why should people visit Utica Public Library? It is because the library provides a perfect place for personal development. With over 25,000 books in its collection, the library is a good source of gaining knowledge. The library supports everything free; visitors can rent books, magazines, DVDs, newspapers, and use computers to search more information. Also they hold many events throughout a year for visitors and members of the library. The librarians are very kind and helpful, they can help visitors with anything they need. Utica Public Library was founded in 1838. It was the first public free library in Utica. The collection of books is vast; they have books for kids, teenagers, students, young adults, adults, and seniors. Recently, the library started to support visitors who need help with e-books and audiobooks as well. Utica Public Library is the biggest library in Utica where many people like to visit.
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The building is very traditional with greek columns with two chandeliers. The interior is really nice, and the rooms and books are organized well by genres and age ranges for visitors to easily find what they are looking for. The space is very cozy and comfortableit is a nice place to grab and read a book.
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good times at gerbers BY CASSIDY HATCH
A restored neighborhood speakeasy connecting the community of Utica.
Authenticity of place and making people in Utica feel good about where they live: that’s what’s important about Gerbers 1933 Tavern. Located at the corner of 16 Liberty Street, Gerber’s brings back the history of Utica into Baggs Square. All of the elements that make up Gerbers—the interior,the food,the drinks,the furniture— make Gerbers a unique and special place. Gerbers is a perfectly restored speakeasy that has a very rich history to it that not many people in Utica may know. The building that houses Gerbers originally opened as Richmond’s Produce in 1848, as Globe Tobacco in 1856, as Daniel Batchelor’s Seed Company from 1856 1902, as Harry Gerber’s, Gerber’s Grill in 1933 and now is Mark Mojave’s Gerbers 1933 Tavern. I talked to Mark Mojave, the owner of Gerbers to find out more about what makes it so special to Utica. Mark Mojave, along with his wife Susan are residents here in Utica. Mark grew up in Whitesboro and moved to Utica when he was 11 and has called it home ever since.
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LEFT: Pictures inside gerbers 1933 tavern and air b&b above. In middle is the original Gerbers Grill menu from
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DRINK AND EAT UP
I was curious to know why Mark decided to restore Gerbers in its original style rather than remodeling. Marks says, “I’m of the opinion that what identifies one successful community from another is authenticity of place.” Mark made sure that all original elements were kept while re-storing Gerbers. After digging up 4 layers of flooring, he discovered the original 1850s hardwood cherry floors and kept the Gerbers name because of the antique original light fixtures with Gerber daisies on the sides.
specialty drinks made for the artist (21 and older), Mark says “We talk to the artist, find out what they like, and feature a specialty cocktail just for that artists opening.” This is Gerber’s way of connecting to the community of Utica. Mark has additionally made Airbnb’s above Gerbers for people to stay and visit Utica. Gerbers in addition features live music whenever they can and also host smaller and intimate events. All of this is to help connect Gerbers to the community and the community to Gerbers.
The Gerbers menu and branding also reflect the idea of bringing back history into Utica. Gerbers has an amended version of the original 1933 Gerbers Grill menu. The favorites are the fried bologna sandwich, an old school classic, they make a killer Reuben and feature a nice whiskey menu in honor of the original menu. Along with the food, they have new wooden Gerber’s labeled beer handles and wooden beer chips, good for one cold beer.
To Mark, “art and music are a part of that.” He says, “this business has been part of this community for many decades with a rich, proud, and interesting history... The place that I want Gerbers to occupy in the community’s mind is that it’s a neighborhood gin joint, a nice one. It’s a place to gather, to stop on your way by or if you’re in town for a few days. You can come here, hang out, try some nice whiskey, have a good steak dinner or fried bologna, and you can’t go wrong. It’s simple, it’s to connect to the community and to make people feel good about where they live.” Mark is proud that Gerbers is a unique and special part of Utica’s history and it has the opportunity to become relevant again.
“This is Gerbers way of connecting to the community “ - Mark Mojave
Gerbers also wants to be an outlet for the community of local artists in Utica. For the past 3-4 months, Gerbers has featured a new artist/ artist’s every month and offered open gallery spaces to exhibit their work. They also have
LEFT: An Illustration of specific things found in Gerbers Tavern. CELEBRATING THE PAST, PRESENT & POTENTIAL
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GET INKED
The TaTToo sTory Tattoos bringing culture by Hae Chan Park It was back in Freshman year in highschool that I first got into tattoos. It’s not the fancy celebrities with fancy little tattoos that intrigued me. It was the pleasing aesthetic combined with the artistic expressions of both the tattooist and the tattooed that allowed me to fall into the world of tattoo. As an artist myself, I started drawing out my own tattoo designs that would someday be drawn on my body. However, knowing the limitations and boundaries I have as a family member of a conservative family, I had to let go of my dreams of getting tattoos. Four years later, I was accepted to the art school in New York and came to Utica. It was my first time getting away from my parents, and it was freedom at last. With the tattoo designs I’ve drew over the years, I now had to
find a tattoo studio. Then I met Joe, the head tattooist in the Inkorporated Tattoo Studio. Inkorporated Tattoo Studio is a studio run by Joe Zielinski who graduated from Utica College. He works hard to bring artworks into people’s body and perfects each and every works. He brought a clean and safe tattoo culture to the city and helps people bring artistic beauty to their bodies. Many people think that Utica is just a gray tone city that lacks cultural aspects and is very dull. Since people have such kind of an idea, they think that the tattoo studios around Utica are not safe and clean. However Joe and his friends work hard the promote the idea that tattoos can be very safe and clean, and furthermore, a way to express artistic beauty on people’s bodies.
(left) Joe working. CELEBRATING THE PAST, PRESENT & POTENTIAL
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ORDER UP
palermos pizzeria The go to for late night take out by Fiona Puig When hunger strikes in the dead of night it can be hard to find a place still selling food when pulling an all-nighter. Luckily, Palermo’s Pizza is here to save the day. Palermo’s has been family owned and operated since 1992 when it opened on 1305 Genesee Street in Utica. Currently under the ownership of Josephine Randazzo, Palermo’s has become a staple among the local college community for their willingness to keep their kitchens open for delivery until 2am on weekdays and 3am on weekends. Palermo’s offers a wide variety of foods, from the
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expected pizzas and melts, to gyros, wings, salads, french fries and cannolis. You’d be hard pressed to find a college student who hasn’t called in an order of fries at one in the morning. Additionally Palermo’s features a friendly and casual atmosphere. When you are in the studio late at night and hungry, many times I though, “you know what? I can just get some fries, ‘cause they’re open till two!” Lizz Perez states, “It has a nice vibe. Before I realized I could call in and order beforehand, I would wait there for 50 minutes and it would feel very homey.”
TEAM SPIRIT
utica curling club For over 150 years, the Utica Curling Club has attracted people from all over the country. by Emily Gobo Since its founding in 1868 by Englishman Benjamin Allen, the Utica Curling Club has always been an important part of Utica history. The club is one of the oldest curling clubs in the United States. For over a hundred and fifty years, the Utica Curling Club has provided for curlers from ages five to over ninety years old. In 1874, the New York Mills Curling Club merged with Grand National Curling Club to form the Utica Curling Club. From 1891 to 1892, a building with three sheets of curling ice was built to house the club. The building, named Rutger Rink was home to the club up until 1916. The club moved to Francis Street and began construction on a new facility in October of that year. Instead of three sheets of curling ice, the new rink housed five sheets.
CELEBRATING THE PAST, PRESENT & POTENTIAL
In the 1940’s, only women who were relatives of the members were able to use the rinks. One of the regular curlers, Marjorie Foster, demanded that women should be considered members. She submitted a report of all the women’s activities and games, including starting an all women’s team, the Utica Tartans. The men finally voted to let the women become members; however, women would not become full time members with voting privileges until 1990. In 1949, the Utica Tartans rebranded themselves and changed their name to the Utica Glengarries. In 1995, the Francis Street curling facility was burnt down due to arson. Luckily, most of the artifacts and stones were salvaged from the fire. The club moved to their current facility on Clark Mills Road.
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TOP: Utica Curling Club insignia depicting a pheonix gripping onto a curling stone BOTTOM: Two college curlers sweeping a stone 40
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T EAM SPIRIT
Interview with member Rebecca McLain Q: How did you find out about the curling club? Rebecca: I actually have two friends who are members of the club and they invited me to a try curling event-which the club has every October. It’s around ten dollars and sometimes it’s free. They invite everyone from the public who has an interest in trying it out. They let you borrow all the gear you need and get you out on the ice. Q: How long have you been in the club? Rebecca:This is my second year in the club and its been a ton of fun! Q: Why did you decide to curl? Rebecca: I thought it was fun. Something to do in the middle of winter. I think its a unique winter sport. Nothing too strenuous, but you get a little exercise. How I found out about the sport was when I first moved to Utica. I was researching for a sports exhibit at the history center and Utica has one of the oldest curling clubs in the Eastern U.S.
Q: What is your favorite thing about curling? Any favorite moments? Rebecca: The people are pretty fun. Hanging out and meeting different people. and being a part of a team. One of the biggest moments was figuring out how to properly throw the stone. It takes a while. You think you know what you’re doing, but then it’s not until you see where it goes where you have that Ah-Ha! moment. Q: Would you recommend being a member of the club? Rebecca:Yes! One hundred percent! Q: How has being a member of the curling club made you proud to a Utican? Rebecca: The historical ties. It’s a really good community with a lot of connections. Once you’re in the club, then you realize there are curlers everywhere - even my dentist is a curler!
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John Butterfield Portrait
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JOHN BUTTERFIELD
john butterfield How did a former Mayor of Utica contribute to the development of American Express? by Daniel Salomon AmericanExpress logo
Apart from being the Mayor of Utica, John Butterfield contributed to the implementation of the telegraph system, built a grand hotel, created one of the world’s most recognized multinational financial corporations, and originated the first cross-national railway. Although not native to Utica, John Butterfield was a tremendous entrepreneur who worked hard to see this city prosper. Born in Berges, New York in 1801 to an immigrant family that settled in New York in the early 17th century, Butterfield became one of New York’s most prominent businessmen. His journey began early at 19 years old. In 1820 Butterfield found employment as a stage driver in Upstate New York, soon after he became a small business owner followed by the creation of one of the biggest companies worldwide, American Express. Butterfield’s involvement in the stage driving led him straight into the express business; he entered the industry just as the national economy was rising and the areas in which he provided service were expanding rapidly and exponentially. His first company in the express business was called Butterfield, Wasson and Company. In 1849 John Butterfield had the vision to join his alreadysuccessful express business with his direct competitor Wells & Company.
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in 1850, John Butterfield proposed to Henry 1858 dedicated to carrying passengers and Wells and William G. Fargo to eliminate their U.S Mail from the East coast to San Franwasteful competition by joining forces, and cisco, California. After a while, in 1861, the later that year these companies consolidated Civil War ruined the route that Butterfield’s and formed the American Express Company. company utilized; the mail route changed This joint-stock business began with an ini- and Butterfield was given a subsidy to overtial capital investment of $150,000; the com- see it. After a while, he served as the mayor pany is now valued at $87.3 Billion. Wells was of Utica in 1865, four years before his death. elected the new company’s first president and John Butterfield established himself as a significant 19th-century inFargo became vice-presinovator, who worked with dent. John Butterfield conhis partners at American tinued in business but not Express tocreate a comas the principal face. After munication web that covthe creation of American ered the East Coast from Express, Butterfield foundUtica to Buffalo and beed another transportation yond, and allowed westcompany, the Overland ern settlements and busiMail Company. At the time Stagecoach Illustration nesses to grow thanks to it was of extreme difficulty to cross the United States, there was a lack of his Overland Mail. John Butterfield was a communication between railroads in the mid- financier, politician, and businessman, who is west and those in California. Due to internal best known for his active role in developing conflicts within the U.S., it was a hard prob- American transportation and communicalem to solve. Nonetheless, Butterfield saw it tion facilities. He was very fond of Utica, and as an opportunity and created the service in worked hard for its community.
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READ UP
a library committed to its community The Utica Public Library isn’t just a home for books. by Maddison Manente As an avid reader, one of the best things about going to school in Utica is that there is a wonderful library literally right across the street! I’m almost always in the process of reading or finishing a book so the ability to have so many free books, and information for that matter, right at my fingertips is amazing.What’s arguably just as wonderful about the library as its collection of books is its detailed and interesting history. Recently I met with Sarah Schultz, the Outreach and Digital Services Librarian at the Utica Public Library, to get an inside perspective on the library and its involvement within the community, now and in the past.
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I asked Sarah what she loves about the library. “I love that we’ve been a part of the community for so long,” said Sarah. “We’re kind of like a personal directory to the world in different ways.” Sarah thinks that the staff at the library is what makes the library unique. She told me a story about how the other day a teenage girl came in looking for a CD that she couldn’t find at a library anywhere else. For some reason the CD was misplaced. “I was like ‘I’m so sorry.’ I marked it missing, and my coworker actually found it earlier this week. She came in the next day with her mom.” Sarah approached the girl and her mother and asked them if they were still interested in the song. “We tend to go the extra mile if we can for our patrons,” said Sarah. Sarah also thinks it’s always fun to see people’s reactions to the glass floors. “...they’re either like ‘oh my gosh there are glass floors—that’s awesome!’ or, ‘I don’t want to
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walk on this floor anymore.’ It’s been here since 1904, it’s not going anywhere, a lot of people have walked on it, but it’s kind of fun to see their reactions to that.” Did you know a fountain used to be in the center of the lobby? I didn’t. Sarah kindly gave me a book of history on the library to peruse back at school. I found the depth and detail of the history in the book amazing, and I was surprised to learn how many agreements, compromises, and changes had to be made over time for the library to become what it is now. In addition to the fountain, something interesting that Sarah pointed out to me during my visit was the fact that the community put on plays in the library lobby over a hundred years ago, and converted a sturdy librarian’s desk into a stage in order to do so. I found a photo of the library after the transformation in the book. Pretty cool!
READ UP
The Utica Public Library hosts events throughout the year, making it a wonderful place to start getting involved with the community, in addition to a lovely resource for education and inspiration. Like Sarah said,“pretty much walk into [the Utica Public Library’s] doors and you’ll find a way to be involved, one way or another!”
CELEBRATING THE PAST, PRESENT & POTENTIAL
TOP: An image of the library lobby converted into an auditorium (left) and one of the many performances staged in the library lobby (right). The date of each photo is unknown but believed to be 1913.
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A sneak peek of just a small portion of what Cafe Domenico has to offer. 48
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not your average cup ofjoe
Spice up your morning routine with a cup of coffee from Cafe Domenico. Julia Eck Walking into Cafe Domenico on a cold Utica morning is about as close as you’ll get to feeling the warmth of the sun in the middle of winter. The atmosphere of this local gem has been shaped through the sound of jazz music, the smell of freshly brewed coffee, and the vibrantly painted walls- a speck of gold in an otherwise grey winter-scape. Unique photographs and works of art adorn every inch of the space, each one holding some form of sentimental value to the members of this family enterprise.
Combined with the various types of furniture and decor, the art escalates the feeling of coziness within the cafe and creates the illusion that you are home. Orin and Kim Domenico (the husband and wife duo who own the cafe) created this space with every intention of having it function as a slow-moving and comfortable retreat where people could go to talk with each other and enjoy a variety of high-quality beverages. They also, both being writers and having roots deeply ingrained in the arts, intended for the cafe to work intimately with the local arts and music community from the start. Next door to Cafe Domenico you can find their not-for-profit arts center where local events are held, however the walls of Domenico’s are reserved for their own special collection. Every time you visit, you are guaranteed to discover something you’ve never seen before- whether it’s an old black and white photograph or a splash of honey in your chai tea.
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Cafe Domenico is not just a supporter of the arts, though, but also of local businesses.When Orin began to cultivate his vision for the space he wanted to make sure it was a beautiful and oneof-a-kind establishment for the community to enjoy, and one that was the culmination of hard work, original perspective, and quality products. The goal was never to open many locations and grow the cafe into a chain, but to form a unique business that was a direct reflection of the people who built it. I can see this vision reflected in every aspect of the cafe, and I feel as though this space brings a much needed sense of artistic expression and individuality to the community. As a college student, it is a great place to go when I have homework to do, or when I want to socialize with my peers outside of an academic setting. And it also has really great coffee!
Orin says that lattes are one of the cafes most popular drinks, on top of their regular coffee, and I highly recommend grabbing a hazelnut one if you’re ever nearby. It is becoming progressively more difficult to find businesses like cafe Domenico that foster a sense of originality and artistic expression, and so this this space is a wonderful asset to the community. It is incredible to see the diverse group of characters that make their way through the cafe, whether it’s to work, talk, or just simply relax. There will come a time when I no longer reside in Utica, but I truly hope that there will not be a time when Cafe Domenico can say the same. This is a space I will gravitate to when I find myself back in the area, in search of caffeine and a little inspiration.
“We wanted it to be a beautiful place and a place that’s comfortable to come that encouraged people to talk to one another.” -Orin Domenico
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An illustration of a relaxing afternoon spent with good friends and even better coffee. CELEBRATING THE PAST, PRESENT & POTENTIAL
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the hotel utica By Sean Bishop
Amongst Utica’s impressive, gothic architecture lies the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel Utica. Formerly the Hotel Utica, The building was designed by Esenwein and Johnson. The hotel stood ten stories high and was equipped with two hundred guest rooms, four dining rooms, two restaurants, an assembly hall and a ball room. Four additional floors were added to the top of the hotel in 1926, increasing the number of guest rooms from two hundred to two hundred and fifty. The hotel’s grand opening celebration was held on the eleventh of march 1912 and was a dinner ball with invitations out to twelve hundred guests.
Lobby of the hotel Utica, 1934 CELEBRATING THE PAST, PRESENT & POTENTIAL
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The Hotel Utica has seen the hands of several owners. The hotel was closed in November of 1972 after over sixty years of continuous operation and was reopened in 1974 under operation of the Hunter House as an adult care facility. In 1995, the Hunter House relocated and the building remained dormant until 1998 when it was purchased by local investors Charles Gaetano and Joseph Carucci. After three years and thirteen million dollars of renovations, the hotel reopened on April 4, 2001 and was inducted into the national trust for historic preservation’s Historic Hotels of America. In 2006 the hotel became a franchise of Choice Hotels International with ownership remaining private. After three more years of fairly successful operation the hotel closed again in 2009 due to loan payment failiures. The building is now operated as a Hilton Double Tree after being purchased by Visions Hotels, a hotel management company based out of Corning, New York. Many of the hotel’s original stunning architectural features have been preserved, however over the years the rooms have been renovated to maintain hospitality.
Hotel Utica Green room, 1934.
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During the life of the hotel utica many recognizable figures have passed through its doors, including Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt, Mickey Mantle, Bobby Darin, Judy Garland, as well as Amelia Earhart with three hundred and forty eight guests attending a luncheon in her honor. The beauty and history of the hotel are still alive and can be experienced today whether you are passing by on the street or staying for the weekend. A step into the lobby will give you only a taste of the grand architectural feat that has stood on the corner of Lafayette and Seneca for over a century.
Amelia Earhart
Bobby Darin
Eleanor Roosevelt
Franklin roosevelt
Judy Garland
Mickey Mantle
The Hotel Utica Lobby, present day.
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LOOK UP
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Union Station provides a Grandiose and Lavish Entrance to the City of Utica by HyunDa Kang Union Station was the first thing that I saw when I arrived to Utica. Octagonal panels on the tall ceiling, concrete pillars, very long wood benches, and the marble floor are the things that caught my eyes. As soon as I entered the main hall, I had to stop, take photos, and send these to my family in Japan to share the beauty of the architecture. Later on, I found out that this beautiful ItalianRenaissance-style building was designed by famed New York City architects:
Allen H. Stem and Alfred Fellheimer. They had experience in designing Grand Central Station in New York City. Ava Mayer and Amber Lim, students of PrattMWP, also pointed out how aesthetic the station was. “My favorite parts of the architecture are super tall ceilings and pillars. It was so beautiful,” said Ava. “Same as Ava, the architecture is very aesthetic and also I like that the station is not complicated that I can find the track in one sight,” said Amber.
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The station not only has beautiful architecture—it is also an elegant place for people to meet and mingle. There is a restaurant that people can go to, even though they are not using the train. I saw people going to the restaurant and enjoying conversation with one another while having a good cup of coffee. Eating good food while feeling the history and the beauty of this architecture was like having an elegant moment.
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LOOK UP
The restaurant opens from 11:30 am - 2:30 pm on Monday - Friday, and 5 - 9 pm on Thursday to Saturday
The Adirondack Railroad does annual events such as The Polar Express, which is a 2 hour trip on the train while having hot chocolate and cookies, listening to readings of The Polar Express Train Ride, and spending time with Santa Claus. During the event, I saw many families in Christmas sweaters and taking pictures in front of a big Christmas tree. They were all smiling and having fun. I could feel the station function as the place for providing blissful family moments.
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LIVING IT UP
come up to the celtic harp Varick Street’s Pot of Gold by Madison Ciccarelli When taking a stroll through Utica’s brewery district, one would be greeted by a bustling Varick Street, lined with a large variety of bars, restaurants, and distilleries. As a local hot spot for people of all ages, the distillery district has in recent years become an integral part of the Utica experience. What you wouldn’t expect is that this colorful array of businesses all began with one unsuspecting pub: The Celtic Harp. Built from the ground up in 2009 by Tom Powers, The Celtic Harp was the first Irish pub in Utica, and one of the first of its kind on Varick Street after an economic recession in the district. According to locals,The Celtic Harp was a welcomed boost to the economy, being a “big deal” when it first opened.
The Celtic Harp was recently dubbed “Utica’s Best Irish Pub,” and one of the top Uber stops in the distillery district. CELEBRATING THE PAST, PRESENT & POTENTIAL
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COME UP TO THE CELTIC HARP
warm environment and support of The pub brought more than pints of the community through its various Guinness and the specialty “Dublin charity events, such as the 315K Dippers,” a delectable, deep fried for the Cure, has built The Celtic corned beef, cabbage and mashed Harp’s reputation as a hub of fun in potato dish served with their Utica for people of all ages to enjoy. tasty mustard harp cream sauce. It brought color and life back into a PrattMWP staff and faculty memneglected Varick Street. The Celtic bers rave about Harp jump-started the revitalization “There was just really how much positivity the pub has of Utica’s brewery district and drove nothing here before brought to the area, and there is it to be what it is The Celtic Harp... just no lack of joy for to this day, a street the many live muof light and muone college bar” sic shows at The sic; it developed a Celtic Harp during new sense of pride the highly anticipated Utican Sarato the area’s colorful Irish heritage nac Summer concert series that through its traditional Irish food kicks off in May of 2019. Because and music events. of its long list of live music events, ranging from Irish bands to What sets The Celtic Harp apart DJs, The Celtic Harp is refrom the various pubs on Varick garded as a great space for Street is its atmosphere. When I the arts community. walked in for the first time, I felt as if I’d entered a home. The staff The Celtic Harp stands as was welcoming and friendly; they a beacon to Utica’s growth opened me up to a wonderful first experience through great food and exciting diversity. The pub is a glittering emerald, rich and and conversation. I can see that its
CELEBRATING THE PAST, PRESENT & POTENTIAL
green; a symbol of the potential Utica has. It will always be a reminder of the influence our local businesses have in bringing life to Utica. As a young creative, I can see that The Celtic Harp is a prime example of the importance of focusing on the Utica’s potential. It captures the potential of this wonderful city; we have to celebrate the strengths of the city’s people. I can see how much change one small business can be in building positivity with something as simple as great food, music, and a Irish luck.
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ARTS AND THEATRE
a spotlight on utica You may have passed this building without even noticing it, but inside is a world of entertainment. by Isabella Carannante Players of Utica is New York’s oldest community theatre since 1913. I had the pleasure of meeting with James Gifford, a man who wears many hats: professor at Mohawk Valley Community College, adjunct professor at PrattMWP, and elected President of Players of Utica. A local to Utica since the 1970s,Gifford has been involved in theatre for most of his life. He joined Players of Utica eight years ago, has directed five shows, and was elected president for the past three years. To say the least, he knows a lot about this must-see spot in Utica.
This is the “ghost light”, which is part of a theatre tradition. Whenever the Players of Utica leave the theatre, they turn this light on to let the ghosts know they are free to do as they please. Once it is time for people to enter the theatre again, the light is turned off and the ghosts cease activity.
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James Gifford was generous enough to give me a tour of the theatre, which is currently undergoing much development. The location, 1108 State Street, is formerly an abandoned church before it became Players of Utica. In 2006, the new theatre opened for plays. They received funding for a portion of the new construction, but not for its entirety.Thus, the construction halted once money was no longer available and the theatre has remained unfinished for thirteen years. Despite this, the unique theatre proves to be continuously successful in their shows, with over a hundred patrons who purchase season tickets annually. The theatre currently holds performances in the smaller Black Box, whereas the much larger auditorium remains the incomplete portion of the building. The financing needed to finish equates to approximately one million dollars. As Gifford states, “It weighs on us a little, but we feel we are up to the task of raising the money!� Even though this is a hefty mission, Play-
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ers of Utica is continuously working towards funding for the theatre’s completion. I also learned that this community theatre is completely volunteer based. People of a multitude of backgrounds come together in Players of Utica, including people of all ages and skill levels, who pour their “heart and soul� into every aspect of their performances, as Gifford said to me. One of their goals is to bring more of the community together, especially as audience members, so that everyone can enjoy the experience of the theatre. James Gifford states that they specifically “would love to see more involvement of Pratt students coming over to see plays.� Due to the close proximity between our campus and the theatre, it is so easy for our students to immerse themselves in the performing arts. As creatives, this has the potential to serve as another outlet and conduit for inspiration. Even just as audience members, we all can show support for the flourishing local arts community, particularly at the Players of Utica.
“It’s a very old theatre and has a long history, so to be involved with it is a bit of an honor.�
*located at 1108 State Street Utica, NY playersofutica.org 66
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peep through utica’s history If you drive along Genesee Street, it is impossible to not see a fabulous neoclassical building: the Oneida History Center By Jeahun Jung
The building itself initially served as Christian Science Church, but since 1989 it changed its purpose and it became Oneida County History center: museum and archive of the city of Utica. If you hear 1989, it doesn’t sound that long ago, but if you consider the fact that previously the history center was placed in a different building, you can see that the Oneida County History center was and still is a spectator of Utica’s history. The Oneida County History center was founded in 68
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1876. Since then, the center collected over 250,000 documents, numerous artifacts, and tons of images from Oneida County through the Mohawk River Valley. If you are looking for any information about the history of Utica, Oneida County, or your own ancestry, the Oneida County History Center is the place to go. The center offers everything related to Oneida County such as documents, artifacts, letters, and genealogy. Many students and researchers come to the center to find information about the Revolutionary War amongst other historical events.
Oneida History Center: basecamp of Utica’s cultural heritage One of the most crucial moments in the history of Utica was the building of the Erie Canal. This was the time when many immigrants came to the area and decided to stay here. According to Rebecca McLain, community outreach coordinator, “The first people who came were Welsh and there are a lot of Irish and Italian immigrants... even today” The center collects and shares the heritage of those immigrants, especially their culture, history, and genealogy.
The center offers many socio-cultural activities. In order to make these activities even more interesting for citizens of Utica, they cooperate with many various heritage groups such as MWACP, Daughters of the Amerian Revolution, and Utica Free Academy.
Maintaining one’s culture, values and traditions is beyond price. - Gaetano Lui
According to McLain, there are many people who come to find their roots from all over the world. “We have had people from New Zealand, England...” She said that as long as someone lived in Oneida County and their information was donated to the center, the center has the records. For Utica citizens, this is a good starting point to find one’s roots.
Their mutual work results in a numerous fascinating lectures and performances. “There is the Saint David Society which is the Welsh heritage club and the Italian heritage club.” Also the center has a facebook page (search OneidaCountyHistory) for more detailed information about activities.
The center is not funded by the government - the center exists thanks to volunteer work and donations. Many people are volunteering in order to preserve the heritage of Utica. It is our mission to protect it and deliver to next generations.
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LIVING IT UP
Brigadoon
searching for brigadoon
Brig·a·doon | noun : a place that is idyllic, unaffected by time, or remote from reality by Karissa Ortiz Growing up, animals were a huge part of my life and I was no stranger to farm life. This might sound strange considering I live in a suburban neighborhood on Long Island, but in a little town called Stony Brook, on a secluded back road sat a little horse farm. It was the childhood home of my best friend of 15 years, and it was my own personal Brigadoon away from home with its rolling pastures where we would watch the horses and run barefoot through the gardens.
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My childhood memories of my friend’s home are something I hold dear to my heart. So when I found myself rolling into the drive of Spring Farms, I was hit with instant nostalgia, it was like a sense of peacefulness took root deep inside me. Home to over 200 animals Spring Farm CARES is an animal Sanctuary that sits on an idyllic piece of land that feels untouched despite the man-made structure. While watching the animals roaming free, living their true nature, another feeling of peaceful energy rolled through me. In a world where you are unsure about how much longer our natural world has, watching the world die around you a person beings to lose hope. So, seeing a sanctuary whose sole mission is to the animals and conservation that hope that you thought was lost begins to build again. In the modern, overpopulated world, the need for dedicated space for wildlife is increasingly important. National parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and protected spaces for nature help conserve the natural world and benefit us all in many ways. Whether a National Park is giving someone space to walk and exercise, or a wildlife sanctuary promoting conservation, these places play an important role in society. Creator of the earth gives us everything without expecting anything consequently. We live in such a beautiful globe which has various different species of flora and fauna, animals, forest, mountains, oceans, etc. National parks and wildlife sanctuaries are one of them and it helps conserve the natural world and benefit us all in many ways. Sadly, humans being are the selfish animal who destroy such beautiful nature for his need. They destroy creatures, contaminating nature, cut backwoods, dump squander on oceans.We demolish favoring condition of plants and animals.
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Spring farms CAREs is not only a sanctuary, it is also a place of adpotion. They pride themselves on all the of the animals they rehomed. Adpotion is so important to Animal conservation. There are many reasons why an animal might be at a rescue, but all those reasons boil down to one thing: they no longer have a loving home. Adoption is a second chance, and everyone (including animals) deserves a second chance.You may not be doing anything completely drastic to save the entire world, but you saved your companion’s entire world. Adopting animals saves multiple lives. Think about it. If you adopt an animal at your local shelter, you free up another space for a stray or an unwanted animal. If shelters are full, then unwanted animals either have nowhere to go, or they go to foster homes. If an animal cannot go into a foster home, some people will just dump their unwanted animals on the street. By adopting an animal, you give a second animal a place to stay until she/he can find a new home.
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DRAWN UP
a piece for eternity “ you’re creating something that’s forever ” by Shannon Krieg Tattoos often hold an immense significance in people’s hearts. They are a way that people commemorate a passed loved one, remind themselves of their roots, or just simply a way to put a smile on their face. However, there used to be a strong stigma and stereotype associated with tattoos. Todd Hunter, owner of Utica’s local tattoo shop Eternal Images, spoke of his experience growing up and seeing this shift of ideologies. Hunter spoke upon this change by saying, “I saw it progress from the beginning, it was bikers and military men. That’s who got tattooed. I was the first place [in the city of Utica], that you could go into a place and get a tattoo, and look around and see what it’s about. To show people it’s not a scary place”. I was extremely impressed by how Hunter saw the acceptance grow from a firsthand experience. Hunter responded by commenting, “Now it’s art! It’s finally came to fine art”. As an art student coming from a family of artists, I resonated with Hunter’s view of tattoos greatly. As a tattoo artist, you must be well versed in many styles based upon the client’s taste, and confident in the execution of each piece. Hunter is
definitely a confident artist as he named types of pieces he has completed, including skulls and flames then hibiscus flowers the next session. Through these different customers, artists are introduced to many walks of life and a strong community is built. On this, Hunter explained that he used to own other tattoo shops but chose to close them down as he found that he was turning into strictly a business owner and was no longer able to take part in the creative process. Hunter spoke about how the payment of his work comes from people’s reaction to his work. Through my talk with Todd Hunter, I understand that being a successful tattoo artist does not come only from the ability, but from the passion and drive to fully give back to the community one builds through artistic expression. I see this in Eternal Images as the team that works there truly “gives the gift of eternal ink”. Eternal Images is a unique location in Utica, decorated with taxidermy, interesting masks, classic tattoo illustrations, and passionate artists like Todd Hunter who appreciate the opportunity to decorate their clients with their own passions.
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nguyen phaT grocery markeT by Everly Liu
Taste the exotic flavors in downtown Utica.
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LIVING IT UP
A store transports people to the time of their facorite pastime in their lives. Nguyen Phat Oriental Store is an Asian grocery store owned by Dung Lu and her husband. Both of them immigrated from South Vietnam to America in 1990. In 1996, Dung came to Utica, New York, and opened Nguyen Phat. The store previously located on Albany Street. In order to keep the regular customers and have more space, Dung decided to move to Bleecker Street where is only one block away from the old location.
The products in Nguyen Phat is abundant. Dung said they have products from countries like Burma,Vietnam, China, Japan, Korea, and Thailand to catering for customers from different countries. With the certain sentimental attachment to the products from their native land, customers would like to patronize Nguyen Phat. Without much decoration, the store interior is plain. Festive tasseled lanterns hung from the drop ceiling tiles; a ceramic lucky cat waved from a shelf behind the register.The nostalgic atmosphere oozing out from every corner of Nguyen Phat Oriental Store.
After about 14 years in Utica, Dung said she loves this city more. In the 1970s or 1980s, a number of Asian markets were founded in Utica.As time goes on,Dung and her husband gradually integrate into this city. They have two sons and a daughter. And she mentioned one of her son who works in a barbershop near New Hartford. For Dung,no matter how far she goes in life, the place where her family is will always be the best place. Nguyen Phat is where Dung and her family belong to. “It was nostalgic; it made me feel connected to Utica,� says Annie Lee, a customer of Nguyen Phat. She says that the store catered to many different Asian cuisines as well as less expensive than their counterparts at Western supermarkets.
BOTTOM LEFT: Illustration of lucky cat. UPPER RIGHT: Illustration of family photo. CELEBRATING THE PAST, PRESENT & POTENTIAL
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The mohawk experience A look into what makes Mohawk Airlines unique and memorable by Mayowa Olopade Starting from the combined efforts of C.S. Robinson and Robert Peach, Mohawk Airlines has became one of the most successful regional service carriers in the northeast. Its unorthodox methods and eccentric events gained much of its notoriety; in fact it was even featured in the period drama television show Mad Men. Mohawk Airlines has long been a fond memory to those who have ridden it, but recently it has been getting more attention due to the increasing amount of information being discovered about it. One of the many things that made Mohawk Airlines unique was the “weekends unlimited fare”, which for $25 a customer can squeeze in as many flights as they can on Saturdays
and Sundays. Mohawk Airlines was also unconventional when it came to its operation. By having multiple flights to and from destinations, it was common to have a flight land and offload passengers while another flight would begin its boarding process simultaneously. Their flexibility with scheduling and managing flights worked and benefitted many of the passengers. There was even the “Mohawk Rule,” where if you boarded a Mohawk Airlines airplane at any station and stayed on it, you will eventually arrive at your destination on the same day. The airline was also infamous for its “Gas Light Service,” in which the interiors of the planes were decorated to the themes of the 1890s. They had brocade curtains and carriage lamps; meanwhile
CELEBRATING THE PAST, PRESENT & POTENTIAL
the flight attendants would don 1890s themed dresses. It was originally reserved for men, but was soon dropped due to the popularity of it. Mohawk Airlines was a pioneer in many technical and social aspects of regional airline corporations, including: being the first airline to hire an African American flight attendant, first airline to utilize a centralized computerbased reservation service, first regional service to operate jet aircraft, and the first regional airline to use flight simulators. Though it came to its end through the merger with Allegheny Airlines system, Mohawk Airlines still leaves its mark on the residents of Oneida County as the golden age of regional commercial airlines.
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raising the curtain BY MATTHEW KIM
After thirteen months of construction under the work of world-renown theater architect Thomas Lamb, the doors for the Stanley Theatre officially opened on September 10, 1928 in the small town of Utica, NY. Shortly after its first silent film screening of, “Ramona,� the Stanley Theater began to draw more and more eyes and eventually became a pillar 80
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for the entertainment industry for years to come. Currently one of the oldest buildings in Utica, the Stanley Theater has created strong connections with the Broadway League and has been granted multiple opportunities to bring in some of the most renown off Broadway shows, concerts, operas and ballet performances of the modern era.
ENTERTAINMENT
While the theater hit a rough patch during the 70s which saw the theater shut down for an extended period of time, constant valiant efforts kept the Stanley Theater on its feet while still preserving its famous Mexican Baroque architectural style. Whether it’s the illuminated entrance lettering or the red coated staircase that leads straight to the Mezzanine, there is so much to be proud of when it comes to talking about the Stanley Theater and what it has accomplished over its time span. Intricate gold floral patterns envelope the interior and exterior structure of the theater which brings the viewer back into the shoes of a twentieth century audience member. During an interview conducted with Joshua Drahos, Student Activities & Leadership Coordinator of PrattMWP College of Art and Design, Drahos was able to give his perspective on what the Stanley Theatre has to offer and some of the incredible memories that can be made there. One aspect of the marquee that
Drahos emphasized was the bread and butter of the theater was how well the theater has been able to organize events that satisfy everybody’s needs, while also delivering a memorable experience that will stay in the audience’s memory banks for an extended period of time. The Stanley Theatre over the years has done a tremendous job of breaking the mold of what theaters are supposed to be and has broken the status quo in all venues of the arts. Holding events such as fundraisers, community events, and other occasions that don’t necessarily pertain to theater are what make audience members want to come back on a consistent basis.
One of Utica’s Greatest Treasures. - Joshua Drahos
From day one, the Stanley Theatre has built a reputation that few and far marquees have achieved in the history of creating entertainment and musical theater. Today, the Stanley Theatre proudly continues to uplift and inspire upcoming generations of entertainers and has only scraped the surface in entertaining those from all over the world.
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THE B ARON
the man that trained america Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, the Baron of the American Revolution. by Tom Shen Baron von Steuben was a famous military figure in Europe during the late 18th century. One interesting fact is that he also has associations with Utica in his lifetime. He was known for his titles serving the Prussian army, as well as, the British and French armies. Once he found Benjamin Franklin in Paris he started establishing his legacy with the American army. It lead him to meet with George Washington and the revolutionary army in Yorktown. He had introduced many innovative ideas with the gun firing system and the arrangement of tents as they moved to Valley Forge. It made the military much more organised and successful. Due to his success over the years in the American army, he was able to become an American citizen and start his residency in New York. He eventually died in Utica without a proper burial, but instead his sword was stored in the Oneida Historical Center of Utica to record his accomplishments during his lifetime.
The Statue of the Baron, Friedrich Wilhelm von CELEBRATING THE PAST, PRESENT & POTENTIAL
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THE B ARON Inside the Oneida Center, there are many weapons used during the time of Baron von Steuben. It is more fascinating and interesting how big of a collection of swords there is. The sword held by von Steuben is up for display in the hall of the Oneida County on Genesee Street. His biography is also written along side with it. The sword collection was said to be the ones that were used during his training with the troops in upstate New York. Without his professional training with the farmer boys, America wouldn’t have won the Revolutionary War.
ABOVE: The display of Steuben’s sword inside the Oneida History Center BOTTOM RIGHT: Illustration of Baron von Steuben with his sword
“Most historian say that three men were indispensable during the American revolution. One was Washington, he wasn’t a great general, but he could get men together, Ben Franklin who got the French and the German to join and there was Steuben!” Frank Tomaino, Trustee at Oneida County
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drawing strength from utica
Howard an
d Amanda
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by Mo Paquin A & P Master Images is a graphic design and printing studio dedicated to helping clients big and small, with multiple service options. There are many graphic design firms and printing businesses troughout the United States, but A & P Master Images are a local, home-grown business from and located in Utica, NY.
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A&P Master Images; a prospering dream come true.
of A&P Maste
r Images
Established in 2003 by a married couple of the names Howard and Amanda Potter, A & P Master Images is a graphic design and printing studio which started in a 15 x 15 room in a Utica home. For the first 5 years of their business, they stayed in that small room before finally moving to Yorkville and then back to Utica. Within the last 15 years, they have grown a business from two people in a single room, to a fullfledged, full-time business that puts 18 other people to work as well.
best in their own field.They both know they can never be #1, but they strive to be a competitive #2, and value knowledge. Howard especially still identifies as a student as they are constantly still learning so they can be even better at what they do. The Potters are local artists who believe in their community and are determined to be some of the best people in their field. A&P Master Images is a thriving business which represents the best of Utica and has earned countless awards, both local and nationwide. They have been ranked within the top 10 most creative in the industry, received a Golden Needle, Striving For Success, Excellence in Small Business, and “Healthy Recycler” awards.
“You don’t have
to be from a big city to make a big impact.”
A&P Master Images to me represents a growing group of hard-working creatives, headed by a strong, familyoriented couple. Amanda is a very positive, well-spoken woman who loves her work and family. She spoke passionately about her business and where they came from, as well as about Utica. Part of the conversation was also a lot about her daughter Ang, and parenting-- how they try their best to foster their children’s aspirations so they can be ambitious in being the best in whatever their dream entails, just as Amanda and Howard are some of the
- Howard Potter
Talking to both Amanda and Howard, you can tell they care a lot about their customers. When asked about what the name of their business means, Amanda explained that A&P Master Images is about mastering not only the customer’s graphics and printing needs, but also their image, how you are perceived by you clients,how you are marketed.They are both highly intelligent, experienced creatives that love their city and the people that live in it.
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uptown theatre for creative arts Reviving the creative arts by Natalie Marinides When you hear the word “theatre� in Utica, your mind probably automatically goes to the Stanley Theatre. However, there is another theatre in town that was built less than a year before the Stanley. The Uptown Theatre opened its doors in December of 1927. It was originally a movie house and vaudeville performance theatre, and by the 1970s, it was one of two Utica theatres (the other being the Stanley) to survive the recession. Throughout the 70s and 80s, multiplex cinemas began to establish themselves and the Uptown became known for being a second-run theatre. Over the course of the years, the Uptown changed management several times, and by September 2013 it shut down, becoming a vacant space on Genesee Street. This building would sit vacant for four years before Devin Mahoney noticed it one day while working across the street, and was inspired to start what is now the Uptown Theatre for Creative Arts.
LEFT: The exterior of the Uptown Theatre, looking onto Genesee Street.
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I spoke with Briana Mahoney, Devin’s wife and co-founder of UTCA, who grew up in nearby Liverpool, to find out more about the history of the theatre and their project of renovating and reviving the space. Devin is a Utica native who went to movies at the Uptown Theatre growing up, and he was distraught to see it sitting there unused. The family was living in Los Angeles at the time, but they still managed to start the
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project from there and formed a nonprofit to take on the building. They made the move to Utica in early 2018, making it a lot easier to work on the project. The couple quickly realized that the revival of this building was something the community wanted to get done and encouraged, but it was a big undertaking and no one had stepped up to the plate yet to take charge. “We really wanted to do something meaningful and have a bigger role in our com-
munity,” Briana said. “It all kind of came together at the right time and when we got here, we got the feeling that everyone had already been working on trying to get this going and they just needed someone to be the catalyst, and that’s sort of what we’re trying to be.”
RIGHT: A frieze wraps the lobby and a mirror stands at the front entrance, both original elements of the theatre. BELOW: An illustration of the interior of the theatre, which will be the biggest part of the renovation process.
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The renovation process is fairly new, only beginning in July of 2018. Briana said they started off with a few intensive weeks of renovating— putting in new floors, painting, etc… Currently the lobby space is used for plays and events, but the renovation of the theatre will be a huge process that requires more fundraising. Classes held in a room next to the lobby include stand up, sketch writing, open mic, and three different levels of improv, for both adults and children. There is a clear demand in the Utica area for these types of programs. Briana sees a bright future for the Uptown: “…it should be a vibrant hub for creative people, a venue that brings in all different types of entertainment.We’re trying to bring in stuff that is unique, but just also really whatever people want— we’re just here to serve the community.” Although she’s not a native Utican and only recently moved here, Briana is already proud to be a part of Utica: “I’m just really inspired by the way that people make opportunities for themselves… if they want something they just find out how to make it work for themselves, and that is really the same kind of energy that’s driving this project. We want this to work, so let’s do it ourselves, and get it done.That’s what I see in a lot of people here.” The revival of the Uptown Theatre for Creative Arts is proof that there are passionate people who truly want to make a difference in this community. The drive to revitalize the city of Utica is everywhere, it just takes the right group of people to get the job done. Classes & Events offered include: • Stand Up Open Mic • Acting for Non-Actors • Improv Level 3 • Improv Level 4 • Kids Digital Studio
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MEDIA
utica on the big screen Utica native brings Hollywood to Upstate NY by Emily Durkin The movie industry tends to bring to mind scenery from sets in Hollywood Studios, the streets of New York or picturesque destinations. Maybe it’s just me, but I certainly don’t picture blizzard-prone Utica, NY. But Emily Sinnott Ramraz and her team saw something special in this small city when they chose it to be the setting for their film, “Falling” (2016). Directed by Ali Askari, “Falling” tells the story of a widower who, upon beginning a relationship with a free-spirited young woman, begins seeing his dead wife.
tions, among many others, were used as sets during the filming process. Sinnott Ramraz says she hopes “by putting Utica on the big screen its exposure will grow and may inspire others to bring projects and business to Utica.” She explained how the community was etremely supportive and went out of their way to assist in the project. In addition to filming at local hotspots, local crews were used when possible. I find it inspiring for young creatives in the area to hear how the community was able to connect and collaborate to create a work of art, especially given the success the film has had in the film community.
Emily Sinnott Ramraz,co-executive producer and costume designer, is actually a Utica native. “Utica has so much to offer,” she told me, "I think it's important to showcase I was told the team will focus on disit.” If you visit the movie’s instagram page tributon in late 2019. So far it has @moviefalling you may spot some been through the film fetsival cicuit. familiar locations such as the Green “Falling” won Best Film in the 2018 Onion Pub, Utica Coffee Roasting Com- Amsterdam International Film Festival, pany, Utica Memorial Auditorium, and the giving both Emily Sinnott Ramraz and sidewalks of Genessee Street. These loca- Utica a reason to feel proud.
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Photo by Nancy L. Ford
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express yourself At Utica Dance, there is something for everyone! For 40 years the faculty here have trained generations of great dancers.
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“There is something for everyone” The biggest difference between Utica Dance and other dance institutions is that students are more than welcome to set their own goals, whether they wish to become professional dancers, or it’s just a form of exercising, and the faculty will cooperate to find the best “Utica Dance is special because it provides the highest quality training to all students whether it’s a young person trying dance for the first time or anyone just interested in the health benefits or if it’s someone who has a dream to become a professional one day,” said Nancy Long - Artistic Director and President of Utica Dance Many local families from all around Utica let their kids attend classes at Utica Dance. Many say that the positive and constructive atmosphere makes the community very suitable for people from all age groups. The students ages varies from 3 to 74 years old. Age and experience doesn’t matter, as long as they enjoy dancing,
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path for the student. Nancy also said, she is very proud of the quality of teaching and the graduating students. She proudly mentioned that many of her students decided to pursue a dancing career, and are attending most prestigious dance schools and conservatories.
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how to be young forever in utica Exploring Utica Children’s Museum by Jessa Baldoria No matter how the generations may change, no matter how much technology will evolve, there’s always one thing certain about children: their curiosity and playfulness never die out. The Utica Children’s Museum, located at Main Street, provides a safe space for the kids to purely be kids and let their imagination go wild. Filled with playpens, educational exhibitions, instruments, and even a mini dance floor, children are keeping the fire of what it means to be a kid alive.Celebrating their 55th year, Utica Children’s Museum has developed from what was once an old drygoods store to a fully revamped interactive environment that is still expanding to this day. Inside the museum, one can see how much renovation went into the exhibitions and play space. As Michelle Truett, a member of the board of directors, describes the evolution,
When families exit the museum, they exit with smiling faces and laughter. 98
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“It was very old, five stories, plus the basement. It’s got a lot of challenges, but it’s also a huge asset to the children’s museum. So when Kid’s Oneida came in here, it was being cleaned from top to bottom. So the floors is now completely open and clean, the basement is clean, and all the things that kids interact with, all of our visitors interact with, is clean.” She handles the marketing side of the museum; she is always thinking of the museum’s future, its events, and its direction. Its inner appeal is very successful. The first floor is overloaded with activities already, areas consisting of a life-sized checker board, a kids library, and mini shop rooms. The second floor is my personal favorite floor. A dinosaur exhibit named “Dinorama” paired with a dinosaur puppet theatre, available music
via multiple pianos and xylophones, and a LED dance floor that interacts with kids’ footsteps. The third floor is a wide space where gatherings are held, such as birthday parties or guest events. It holds the most nostalgia for me because it also holds an art room, resembling the times I was younger and making silly crafts for the fun of it. The fourth and final floor is the most educational. Space exploration, aviance, and fire safety are the focus on this floor, each having their own exhibit filled with artifacts and factual statements. It’s very much important for education to be prioritized with fun activity for children with developing minds that learn based on their association. Researching the museum can be an easy hop, skip, and jump on the website, but I knew that if I truly wanted to know what the place was like, I had to interact with the museum myself, so I took on the task of volunteering there every Friday, and I even volunteered one Sunday. I’ve had the pleasure to be a part of two of their official events: Making Balloon-Powered Rocket Cars and Sign Language & Braille Day. My first day volunteering consisted of helping children make rocket cars, and this is where I got to see children’s pure innocence and joy in the littlest things such as a couple of pieces of paper, a deflated balloon, and a string. Each child who smiled from the little creation
they made definitely made me smile ear to ear. However, my personal favorite event was Sign Language & Braille Day. A special, sweet woman named Margaret who is unable to hear communicates with her six-month-old dog, Carmel, through sign language. Assisted by high school senior Alyssa Smith, children were able to learn how to sign alphabet and numbers, and they took turns spelling out their name. The most charming sight was to see the kids connect with Carmel the dog by signing to him as well. They caught on pretty quickly, showing their underrated intelligence, for I could not even remember half the numbers, not to mention the entire alphabet. I am very glad that I decided to connect with Utica Children’s Museum. The staff is not only welcoming to the guests, but to new volunteers like myself. The parents are very warm-hearted, and their childre were polite, lively, and imaginative. When families exit the museum, they exit with smiling faces and laughter. With more volunteering, I see a little growth within myself. Children contain the ability to bring out a humanitarian quality within adults that are normally always focused on themselves, something unique and easy to overlook. Utica Children’s Museum serves an important factor in the evolution of the city by educating Utica’s children and broadening their imagination by providing them a space where they are completely free to do so.
#na
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# a r ts a n d c r a ft s
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In 1911 an aircraft flew over Utica new York as thousands gathered with their family to witness such a spectacular view. This because the start for the push of aviation in Utica.
In 1919 Utica was the first city in the state to have an aerodrome this was because air shows have had a grand impact on Uticans.
The hangar officially opened June1st , 1928 where the first flight took off at 11 am and marked the first landing of airmail.
The importance of aviation in utica
In 1940 a new pilot training course was opened which was a defense training course for new student pilots
The History of Aviation By Jocelyn Martinez
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“The exhilaration of flying is too keen. The pleasure too great, for it to be neglected as a sport.� - Orville Wright
All Photographs used above were provided by the Oneida County History center.
AVIATION
In 1948 Robert Peach purchased a controlling share of the airline, and the name was officially changed to Mohawk Airlines.
Aviation in Utica has been around since the early 1900’s and it has had a great impact on the community since then. Although early aviation in Utica is vague, it had its beginnings long before the city built its first airport back in 1929. 16 years before that the hayfield known aswicks field near Culver Ave. was Utica’s first landing field. Utica’s aviation went into a post war lull in the early 20’s with only a few crying out for a modern air field. While other cities such as Syracuse, Rochester, and Albany had taken the leap of faith towards aviation, Utica remained dormant. Lindberg’s flight across the Atlantic was perhaps the biggest factor in the decision to launch Utica into the air age.The following year Fred J. Rath ran for mayor and his key goal was to establish the Utica airport... and so it happened. Utica and Uticans owned their own airport that was purchased in 1928. It was 7 miles outside of the city and covered 355 acres. At hangar, 120 feet square housed 20 or more planes which officially opened June 1st , 1928 where the first flight took off at 11 am and marked the first landing of air-
mail.The airport was selected and secured through efforts of aviation committee, Utica post,American legion, purchased and developed during administration of Mayor Fred J. Rath.This was a huge step forward for this small community because surrounding areas were way ahead of them. Having this airport was such a huge convenience of the people residing here in Utica. In 1945, Mohawk Airlines was Founded by aerial photographer C.S. Robinson and it had started out under the name of Robinson aviation. In 1948 Robert Peach purchased a controlling share of the airline, and the name was officially changed to Mohawk Airlines. Robert English Peach as founder-president of Mohawk Airlines grew Mohawk from a tiny air taxi service carrying 1,200 passengers between Ithaca and New York. In 1945 to a major regional airline which carried 1.7 million passengers over an extensive network in the northeastern United States in 1969 Mohawk Airlines is known for achieving several milestones in aviation history. In 1955, the airline beCELEBRATING THE PAST, PRESENT & POTENTIAL
In1958 Ruth Carol Taylor became the first African American flight attendant to be hired in the U.S.
came the first local service carrier to operate jet aircraft with the introduction of the Convair 240.Then, in 1958, Ruth Carol Taylor became the first African-American flight attendant to be hired in the U.S.The airline reached its highest point in the late 1950s and early 1960s and became the largest regional airport in New York. In an interview with Mike Markus, a resident of Utica, Markus talked about the airport that was running duråing this time and how much Mohawk airlines impacted this city. Markus stated, “Having this airport so close to home was such a convenience for anyone living in Utica, you did not have to travel far to go somewhere. It was something I really enjoyed having.” Markus also talked about Mohawk airlines and its triumph: “Mohawk was an airline that I flew frequently mainly because it was so accessible, it was always nice, and it took me where I needed to go. It was the biggest regional airport at that time so why wouldn’t it have an impact here. Now that airport is used to train EMT trainees, it still serves its purpose”.
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STEVEN SWAN HUMAINE SOCIETY
steven swan humane society A no np rofit willing to do anything to get these a n i m a l s i nto happy homes ! by Julia Rothstein Whether it’s the excited wag of a dog’s tail after a long day or the comfort of our cat curled up next to us on the couch, there is no doubt that pets have a way of enriching our lives with the purest form of love and companionship. They are our best friends, our own personal cheerleaders, and the softest members of our families for sure. It’s sad to say, however, that a huge amount of animals find themselves without homes or people to love and care for them. The Steven Swan Humane Society in Utica New York is one of the amazing nonprofits out there helping to find love and care for strays all around the area, quite successfully I might add. Approximately 20003000 animals find their forever homes through the Steven Swan Humane Society every year according to the s he lte r m a n a g e r, John Treen. Treen is in charge of most of the goings on at Steven Swan and has been actively involved there for about 10 years. He states that Steven Swan is the biggest and probably the oldest o r g a n i z a ti o n of its kind in the area which makes it stand out and, due to the effective volunteer programs and many different events promoting adoption, practically every animal who steps foot in the building finds a loving home.
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FOUNDED 1910 $80 FOR CATS $120 FOR DOGS
HEA LT H CARE IN CLUDED
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STEVEN SWAN HUMAINE SOCI ETY
“Adopting Lucy was really one of the best decisions I ever made. We couldn’t love her more and she lets us know in so many ways how happy she is to be a part of our life adventure.” One of the many events held by Steven Swan lead a sweet puppy named Lucy to her forever home with Kelly Murray and her fiance. “Lucy had these big brown eyes and prominent floppy ears” says Murray, “She was a sweetheart right from the beginning. Seeing her in a cage broke our hearts. I promised I would take her home and she’d be part of our family.” As is true for most pet adoptions, not only Lucy’s life changed for the better but Kelly’s as well. Murray also stated that she learns from her pup all the time; how to be compassionate towards everyone and be responisble for another life!
it is a special thing, adopting from your local
animal shelter - it really makes a difference in the life of an animal.
Photography by Nancy L. Ford
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o the Adirondack t y a w e t a G s ’ s Utica
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UTIC A PROUD
the gateway project by Nicolas Montes-Gonzalez The Gateway Project is a plan to construct numerous campgrounds spread across an abandoned theme park. A day-use area along with an equestrian camping area is also in the works in hopes to boost the energy and liveliness of such a drained plot of land. The theme park this project will take over, has been sitting, uninhabited for 20 years. The gateway project has promised and given a plentiful opportunity to replenish its devastated soil and give way to future tourism. The Adirondacks have lacked recreational opportunities in the past. With this project surfacing, in 2017 more than twelve million people visited, increasing the average 20% since 2011. Phase one of the construction was recently completed, continuing to further the development of this 32 million dollar gateway to the Adirondacks. An abundance of work has been thrown into this project, and with good reason. Job opportunities, the economy and tourism will spike in the Utica area with the completion of this development.
with,” said Daniel Buckingham. Since this Gateway project is taking place on such a vast and old plot of land, there is an incredibly unique history that we can really take advantage of and refurbish. Allowing people who are so used a certain kind of lifestyle in Utica, to experience such a different landscape and way of life, just goes to show the limitless opportunities this project can provide for tourism and the economy. People will genuinely want to spend their time doing these outstanding recreational activities because they’ve been so confined to their ways of living in a city like Utica where not much happens. This will surely provide satisfaction to anyone who decides to give back to the Utica community all the while giving to themselves as well. Utica hasn’t seen daylight in the form of fun or any kind of outdoor activities. With this project, Utica will become a city of interest and the amount of tourists will boom. The influx of money will provide Utica with mass amounts of economy support, in turn allowing Utica to grow as a successful tourist city. We hope you come and visit Utica and its beautiful surrounding mountains.
“It's great to experience the range of different sites and locations and products that people can interact with.”
“It’s great to experience the range of different sites and locations and products that people can interact
LEFT: An Illustration of the Adirondacks.
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An Illustration of a cow flying over a Half Moon Cookie. Drawn by by Mario Mario Orta Orta ofafter Photo Halfvisitng Moon Holland CookiesFarm’s 108
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HOLLAND FARMS
sweets in utica Jelly Bun Month by Mario Orta
A gem that is well known in the city of Utica is Holland Farms. This is a local bakery that is known for its delicious half-moon cookies. Holland Farms began as a milk delivery service in 1928 by John Piersma. John and his wife Evlyn each had their own trucks and delivered milk around Utica. It wasn’t until a few decades later that the delivery service soon turned into a bakery and a deli. In 1955, Piersma opened the first Holland Farms Bakery and Deli in Yorkville, NY. However, the milk delivery service continued up until the early 1990’s. It wasn’t until his daughters, Suzanne P. Harrington and Marolyn Wilson, that the bakery grew exponentially. In the early 1980’s, Suzanne and her sister Marolyn took over the bakery as coowners. They instantly made changes to the bakery by expanding it and marketing the business. Here the company grew into a well known business in both Utica and upstate NY. This was also the birth of Jelly Bun month and the perfection of Half Moon cookies.
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Photos from Holland Farm’s Website
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Jelly Bun History Marolyn is responsible for Holland Farm’s first commercial about Jelly Buns. She asked people how they would eat their Jelly Bun’s and used their responses for a commercial. This led to the creation of February being known as Jelly Bun Month. Marolyn created a month long holiday with her genius idea. This boosted sales in the months of January, February and March.
“Service with a smile” -Marolyn Wilson
Jelly Buns were one of the first products that Holland Farm’s had. It is a fried doughnut that is filled with very high quality raspberry jelly. The doughnut is either rolled in confectioners sugar, glazed, or served plane. Half Moons were not started in Holland Farms but the recipe has been known to be the best here. An interesting fact about Holland Farms is that the entire staff is female. Marolyn believes that females are great
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employees and also put more passion and love into making and serving the baked goods and coffee. I witnessed this entering the bakery. Once I entered, I was instantly greeted with smiling faces and welcoming “Hello’s.” I knew immediately that the atmosphere in Holland Farm’s was much warmer than anywhere else I had been previously in Utica.
Half Moons Holland Farms is fluid in the production of its half-moon cookies since they prepare the ingredients the night before. In the morning they bake the frozen cookie dough to have them ready for the early birds. The half-moon cookies are not necessarily cookies. The cookie itself has more of a cake like consistency that is made in either vanilla or chocolate. The frosting is split into vanilla and chocolate icing. This cookie is very popular in upstate New York and has expanded into the rest of the nation. Half Moons are so popular around the country that Holland Farms has resorted to shipping boxes of cookies to people all over the nation. The recipe has been repeated multiple times. However, many Uticans believe that Holland Farms has perfected the recipe. This is because the cookies are made from scratch and the ingredients are high quality.
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I gave some Half Moon cookies to students at Pratt Munson Williams Proctor arts Institute and here is what they had to say. Haley Henriksen from Pratt said that the Half Moon chocolate is very delicious. She said found that the vanilla part of the cookie was very tasteful since it was a type of vanilla she hadn’t really had before. This was an interesting case for Hailey since her favorite sweet is chocolate. Arisa Thaweeskulchai liked that the frosting was not too sweet and that the frosting melted in her mouth. She enjoyed that the bread was very soft and chewy. Arisa and I both noted that the look of the cookie, specifically the frosting could be better. But overall, every individual that had a Half Moon or any pastry from Holland Farms enjoyed it. Holland Farm’s takes its production quality seriously and it is respected amongst the community.
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QUILT UP
sew and tell Quilting, another canvas. by Rebecca Chow For some, quilting is a craft for leisure, to kill time, to relax. For others, quilting is another canvas and the fabrics and stitches are the paint and paintbrushes. Some quilters are more spontaneous and experimental with their fabric choice, stitches, and cuts. Others are focused on crafting precision and perfection. I had the privilege to come across a small quilting store located in an old textile mill, Tiger Lily Quilt Co. Such a
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small store, filled with warm energy and a sense of community. Tiger Lily creates their space with their colorful collection of fabrics and quilts hung up around the store. I had the opportunity to interview one of the sales associates there, Lori Eurto. Lori gave me an amazing insight on the quilting community here which she describes as “cult-like but special.” Originally from a jewelry background, quilting is a whole other dimension for Lori but she enjoys working with textiles and “making friends with the sewing machine.” Tiger Lily provides many different services, from different leveled classes to long arm quilting to occasional community events. All these services create and contribute to a passionate, uplifting, quilting community. As a local store, it
differentiates itself from the larger chains by providing an intimate experience in Utica and providing unique quilting fabrics such as the Boilermaker themed fabric during the season. Classes at Tiger Lily vary in difficulty with small classes up to seven people. Students bring all their own equipment, including a sewing machine! All the materials can be purchased in the store. Some classes use machines and some classes quilt by hand. Classes can range from two to eight hours long, depending on the project. Instructions are present throughout the whole class. Each class runs at its own pace and schedules are constructed as they go to create a leisurely atmosphere,
no pressure! Aside from quilts, students can create bags, skirts, and storage cases. In order to bring quilting culture into the future, Tiger Lily plans on brining modern designs to attract a larger audience as well as knitting in their store since many employees are experienced at the craft. Sewing is an important skill to learn since it has its many uses in fixing a button to creating custom clothing. Quilting has its place in Utica as a traditional skill passed down from each generation to charity work and simply as an art form. In the past year, Quilts of Honor was born to support veterans through love and compassion. Tiger Lily plans to follow this path of charitable quilting to better the community of Utica.
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BRAVE THE ELEMENTS
ceramics in the elements
4 Elements Studio sign
4 Elements Studio in Utica is empowering Utican’s with the beauty and creative powers of ceramics. by Ryan Bradford Studio space is a cornerstone for cities around the world. They are the artistic centers from which the vibrancy of a city truly blooms. 4 Elements Studio is the light in the darkness for the city of Utica. Owned and operated by Vartan Poghosian since February 2015, the studio is a haven for the ceramic community. Vartan finds that Utica has one of the strongest art communities he’s ever experience. He explains; “ Artists here are solid, serious, and established.” Thus, he opens his studio doors to those artists of Utica. His 4 Elements Studio space is open to qualified individuals for clay work of all kinds. He rents out space to active artists as office space, studio space, and for teaching. Not only that, those who take part in the 4 Elements Studio space can elect to have their work curated or sold for them. 4 Elements is also open 24/7 to artists who have come under Vartan’s wing. Formalities out of the way, how did Vartan get here? He’s a gay immigrant from Armenia for god’s sake. Now he owns his own successful studio! Well, in his 20’s he decided he would come to America for the sake of his future, 114
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and because it felt like the thing to do. During his travels he met John Von Bergen in Maine. Understanding their mutual artistic bond, Vartan and John became good friends. John would eventually sponsor Vartan for his green card as well, and so Vartan would end up working for John to pursue his artistic career. This brought him to Utica to work for Von Bergen. Now he’s become established, and detached himself from John so that he can build 4 Elements Studio’s future. Ironically enough, John Von Bergen was one of the founders of Sculpture Space which is a large scale residency opportunity for many artists working in sculpture. This organization was also based in Utica. So, 4 Elements Studio actually works closely with Sculpture Space to assist and build the careers of the artists in attendance. This is all through the previously mentioned qualities of 4 Elements above. In essence, hopefully you now realize the importance of this artistic space in Utica. The opportunity generated here is monumental for sculptures. I can personally attest that the products 4 Elements Studio produces are fantastic. So, if you have any inkling in the world of ceramics, or are interested in purchasing some, then 4 Elements Studio is a must see.
Illustration of Vartan Phogosian’s clay work
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creaTiviTy, coffee & comforT aT cafe domenico Dive into a Heaping Cup of History By Matthew Dyson Walking into Cafe Domenico it is easy to be distracted by the abundance of pictures and paintings that coat the walls. Many Utican citizens may know of this wonderfully cozy and friendly cafe off of Genesee street, but do they know of the story behind how it was founded. As I began interviewing the owner, Mr. Domenico, I was quickly offered a fresh brewed cup of coffee. If that doesn’t give a clear sign of how incredibly friendly this establishment is, I don’t know what will. Soon after, he began his tale of the cafe’s creation. He had just left the school system and was soon after encouraged by his wife to do something he wanted to do. He had always been interested in small businesses and saw the need for a place in Utica where people could come and talk to one another. He also stated the following; “we had really good coffee and a pleasant ambiance,” which I can vouch for. 116
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BREW UP A CUP
They spent about two years searching for a place to start it up with a key factor that Pratt was opening. After attempts to start up directly on the Pratt campus fell through, they ended up starting it where it lies today. Mr. Domenico discussed how there were other concepts for the name, but it ended up being what it is because in the end it was truly a family establishment and as such gained its name. The business contains a multitude of choices to suit your coffee needs as well as having a lovely bakery with which you may soothe your sweet tooth. The seating is an interesting variety of chairs and there are plenty to go around. After all this if you feel that you require even more you can move on over to the “other side” of the building where you will find a lovely community enabled room.
The Other Side began around six years after the cafe itself. It gained its name due to it being the “other side” of the building. People constantly asked him about what he would call the building. Mr. Domenico said that this concept was his “wife’s baby” in some ways, and that it has really grown since it started. When I visited the Other Side for an event, I was pleasantly surprised on how many citizens had gathered inside the building to listen and discuss with one another. It was also incredible to learn about how Mr. Domenico’s father used to teach at Pratt and was a painter himself. This place was filled with surprises that I enjoyed learning about. Overall, Cafe Domenico and the Other Side contain an immense and interesting history and I think anyone who lives in or near Utica should plan to visit these places as soon as possible.
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the rescue mission of utica Building up the community through donations, volunteer work, and kindness by Lizzmarie Perez After I was tasked with the assignment of finding what makes me proud of Utica, New York, my mind immediately went to the amount of places around here that accept charitable donations in order to help people in need. One place in particular stood out the most to me was the Rescue Mission of Utica, a non-profit and faith based organization dedicated to aiding those dealing with substance abuse and addiction, those who are homeless, those with disabilities and generally anyone else in the community who may be in need.
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LIVING IT UP
When I initially got the idea to write about the Rescue Mission, I was under the impression that their sole purpose was to provide meals and housing. After speaking with the Director of Development and Communications, Susan Woods, I learned what a huge understatement this was. Woods spent almost fifteen minutes detailing all of the incredible programs and services they offer the community, including an emergency shelter, addiction stabilization center, spiritual life programs, job training, free hot meals, a learning center and more, if you could believe. It would be an injustice to the Rescue Mission to not touch on their devout Christian faith. In the words of Woods herself, “we believe completely in the life-transforming power of Jesus Christ and we don’t shy away from that.” Although I personally am not Christian, I find such a positive and kind expression of religion to be incredibly heartwarming. People at the Rescue Mission use the strength given to them by Jesus Christ to help those around them in need. This quote from their website sums it up pretty well: “God calls us to reach out to these neighbors in need. At the Rescue Mission of Utica, our calling comes straight from Scripture:“To share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter — when you see
the naked, to clothe him.” Isaiah 58:6-7. The Rescue Mission has fed 147,930 people in need, provided nearly 4,000 food boxes to 6,290 struggling families and individuals, as well as housed men and women seeking aid for 30,677 nights.They provide a safe place for people with mental illnesses at the Enriched Living Center along with an emergency shelter that has helped people for 13,677 nights. None of this could have been accomplished without the amount of aid they receive from the community. When I asked Woods to describe one or two characteristics all volunteers seem to share, she responded without hesitation. “They have huge hearts that want to give back; it’s just amazing.” To those looking to offer any aid to the Rescue Mission of Utica, they are in particular need of assistance in their Finance department. Any accountants or anyone willing to help would be greatly appreciated.You can also help out by giving food, clothing, monetary donations, or by volunteering time. Volunteer work can range from shoveling snow and mowing grass to working in the kitchens or even wrapping Christmas gifts. I sincerely hope you’ll all consider looking at their website and learning more about everything you can do to help.
“They have huge hearts that want to give back; it’s just amazing.”
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don'T pass up palermo's pizza A Slice of Personality. by Zander Varney Utica is home to many one of a kind experiences, but one of the most memorable ones is this little pizza shop on Genesee Street. Palermo Pizzeria is a restaurant that has become a staple in the lives of many of my fellow PrattMWP students, and in the lives of many Uticans. From grabbing a bite to eat before classes or work, to 1:00am snack runs, the food at Palermo’s is something unforgettable about Utica. This along with the one of a kind stories and experiences had at Palermo’s, makes it something truly amazing. Palermo’s isn’t just rich in taste, it also has a rich history. According to co-owner Tony Randazzo, his father worked in a pizza shop called Capri Pizzeria, which he then would go to open another location on Genesee street in 1971 in honor of Capri Pizzeria.The father along with his two sons, Tony and Patrick, would later go to open the Palermo’s location that we have come to love. The Palermo’s Pizzeria location opened in 1992 and was run simultaneously alongside the Capri Pizzeria that the family owned and ran for a solid six years. This puts Palermo’s at 27 years old, and the family’s pizza businesses at a whopping 47 years on Genesee alone! The current location used to be a furniture shop in the early 1950’s, the building has seen its fair share of change, even if the Palermo name that we know and love has only been around since the early 1990s. They even saw the conception and completion of the Oneida Square traffic circle on Genesee street in 2010.
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Every trip to Palermo’s is something unique, the inviting atmosphere, the one of a kind employees, and the stories you couldn’t get anywhere else. A trip to Palermo’s could bring you face to face with people running for councilman, a wide cast of interesting Utican citizens such as the “Kite Guy” who has been seen setting up just a few feet away in the Oneida Square area. According to Tony, this is one of the best parts of the job, seeing the wide array of customers, from all ages, professions, and walks of life. I will never forget the time that I went in for the first time and talked with one of the employees while my food was being made as if we were long time friends. This aspect of feeling like the employees are your friends, mixed with the warm comfortable atmosphere, draws me to go back time and again. -
When asked what makes Palermo’s Unique, co-owner Tony said that it was
Photo and illustration by Zander Varney Quote by an anonymous MWP Student
“Palermo’s is something bigger than the food, it’s the experience” their availability. This aspect of their business truly is great; they are open every day of the week until at least 2:00am, they deliver all across the city, they even take orders online or from their app. Palermo’s has seen a ton of history in its day, and every visit is like none before. The restaurant acts as a sort of epicenter, bringing people together who may have nothing in common other than the love of a hot and tasty meal. This is something that draws many back for another meal, which is truly something to be proud of.
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B EIJING HOUSE
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BEIJING HOUSE
beijing house
Experience some of the most authentic Chinese cuisine in Utica. by Eureka Du Beijing House has been serving food in Utica for about ten years. It has always dedicated itself to serve the local community. The restaurant owner, Chen Caibin, developed the Chinese menu to accommodate the tastes of the local people. With its international flavor, Beijing House is supported by the surrounding community. What is attractive about the Beijing house other than tasty, flavorful food is the welcoming and warm environment we feel once we enter. Chinese classical furniture and ornaments allow customers to feel a pleasant atmosphere. There is another group of customers who choose to take out. Beijing house uses mostly ready-made materials to prepare its dishes. However, comparing to most fast-food restaurants around Utica, Beijing house provides our com-
munity with healthy and delicious food in a short time. The restaurant has always been successful and has not encountered any serious setbacks. Life in Utica is different compared to Mr. Chen’s life back in China. However, with this successful business, Mr. Chen is living pleasantly with his family now. His family moved to New York City in 2000 and wanted to open a Chinese Restaurant. The location of Utica, the lack of competition, and the affordable rent brought them here, and that is how the story of Beijing House began. Besides being a successful business in Utica and a source of income for the family, Beijing House shows how Utica is a culturally friendly environment for all individuals with all kinds of ethnic backgrounds.
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from abandoned church to Thriving mosque by Muhammad Jalloh
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utica How the Mosque Came About Dedicated to Becky DeCusatis Joe Owens Logan Patenaude and Bridget Swayne
The Bosnian Islamic Association of Utica, NY has an incredible history on how their mosque was built and became a fundamental component to Utica’s community. The mosque was formerly the Central United Methodist Church which slowly began going out of business due to the continuous lack of members who would attend. Eventually in 2006 the church was left abandoned and repurchased by the city until 2008 when the Bosnian residents purchased the vacant space. The city was prepared to spend thousands of dollars to have the church rebuilt to its former state being that it played an important role in bringing people together, however at this same time Utica’s Bosnian population increased dramatically. They were looking for a place to build a mosque and the abandoned church was ideal for them to set up, so they bought the church from the city for 1000 dollars and begun building. It took until around 2012 for them to complete the project with help from contractors in multiple areas like Boston, as well as participation from nearly all of the Bosnian community present in Utica at that time. Currently the mosque is open to anyone who would like to come and visit.
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TRAM-TASTIC
espresso yourself A Coffee-House becomes a Coffee-Home By Hailey Henrikson I entered the Tramontane Cafe for the first in the early fall of 2017. New to college, new to Utica, new to the Tram. A sweet coffee smell flooded around me as I walked down the hallway and found myself in a charming room of people seated at tables, a waitress carrying a plate of coffee cups and a central kitchen where employees bustled about within. While my group found a table near the wall, my gaze filtered onto the wall, finding dozens of artistic posters and photographs that served as memories, touching the Tram with all their experiences. A college student looking over the menu before playing a game with friends in the second level of the Tramontane Cafe.
Co-existing within its walls, the hidden coffee house becomes a haven for a diverse experience in art appreciation with game nights, poetry, drag nights, all music, local performers, comedy shows, and of course, coffee lovers just escaping the day to enjoy a big cup and unwind. With homemade sandwiches and soups being served left and right, I settle on a raisin bagel with cream cheese and a large mocha to get through my class later that day. My “Tram Tuesdays� with my group became a tradition and we made sure we attended the lively events frequently and huddled up here for study days whenever we could. This funky atmosphere soon became our cup of tea. CELEBRATING THE PAST, PRESENT & POTENTIAL
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“The Tram is not just for Utica or just Uticans - it’s for anyone who is looking for a place to be.”
I spotted new faces dancing to music, devouring their brunches and laughing with friends; cards shuffled about on their table, telling me they had paused the game to satisfy their hunger.As we slapped Uno cards down on the table during a playful game,our coffees’ were set in front of us and we immediately set our stacks down to turn our attention to the large cups of pure goodness. With being not-your-average coffee-house, this place has become an unforgettable hangout for the past 10 years that has made them a second home who takes care of their employees, customers, and the people of Utica: like us. The community, also known as the “Tramily”, have created a safe space to be able to stir art, stories, and aspirations into your mug along with your sugar. We doodled in our sketchbooks, perched in our own sofas, unaware that the Tram would be temporarily locking up their doors due to a need for renovations. As one of the coffee-loving students, I’m hoping the Tram will be able to re-open with the help of the locals who also share my love for this unique place. I’m looking forward to, once again, walking through those charming doors. You can go support the Tram by going to their GoFundMe at https://www.gofundme.com/Tramontane-Cafe-Spring-Spruce-Up-2018, called The Tram’s Exterior Spring Spruce Up, posted on their Facebook page: follow them on other social medias for updates about re-opening and improvements:
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Many students and locals came to the Tram to relax with games, food and beverages provided by the friendly staff of the homey cafe.
INTERVIEW 1. What made you want to start up the Tram? Robin:We are creatives, entrepreneurs, & community minded folks who see a niche market & a need for a place (A Third Place) for folks to gather, share an experience, and be intergenerationally friendly and welcoming. Garrett: Robin made me do this whole cafe thing! Just kidding. No, my sense is that taking over an unused building in an overlooked underserved urban area and making it into the kind of place that truly dares to be free in embracing all manner of personal and artistic expression is truly transformative. 2. What is the Tram to you? Robin: It is a place I would like to be. If I didn’t own it, I would want to be there. It’s my livelihood, but above all it’s my comfort. Garrett: It’s an insane money-pit with a lot of problems, headaches, worries and constant behind-the-scenes hard work and turmoil. It’s also something I’m fiercely proud of.Though it’s an untraditional business in that both Robin and I put way more into it than we will ever get out of it, I know that it has special value on so many levels. Overall, it’s been incredible and surprisingly rewarding with all the people we’ve gotten to meet and so many unique fulfilling experiences and friendships. 3. What does the Tram mean to Utica? What is the Tram to Utica/ Uticans? Robin: We hope to provide a safe and welcoming environment, while also making a living for ourselves. Garrett: I’d say what we mean to Utica is that we’ve come to be a part of what makes the positive aspects of Utica “Utica” and that alone I consider an honor. We’ve had folks from all over the world say how nice their time was with us, and it’s a wonderful thought that they’ll remember their Tram-Time fondly. 4. What was the best thing about the Tram, in your opinion? What are you proud of? Robin: I am most proud of the fact that we don’t automatically have pretense. We look at all folks as potential friends and loyal customers. We are a place that portrays our personality, we could never exist as a corporate sterile entity. We show who we are, real people, in our own way. Garrett: The best thing about the Tram is simply that we somehow managed to keep it going for over ten years and have grown
a darned solid positive reputation that we can further build on. That and Robin’s freshly baked right out of the oven Chocolate Chip Cookies. Sometimes that’s all you need. I’m also extremely proud of the folks who have worked with us over the years and our extended “Tramily” of friends and supporters. 5. What are the plans to bring the Tram back? Robin: We took a much needed break to work on some interior and exterior needs as well as reassess how we were running our business. We were open 10 years continually with various obstacles and roadblocks (literally and figuratively) in our way. We wanted to step back and decide whether it was feasible or warranted to continue. We have made some important changes for our business and ourselves. Garrett: Burning multiple candles on all ends non-stop or over a decade took a toll on us emotionally, financially, and spiritually. Burnout is a real thing! Taking the sabbatical has been restorative and has given us fresh perspective on how best to proceed with keeping the Tram going once we reopen. Robin and I have been doing various entrepreneurial enterprises since 1993, we’ll be adjusting our pace now for the remaining marathon! 6. What do you see for the future of the Tram? Robin: We look to continue offering a safe welcoming space. We look to invite more individuals to share our vision for making our business profitable while not losing sight of our value as a community asset. Garrett: I’d like to think if we can get the interior mechanism running smoothly, adding a few things and getting rid of what doesn’t work, it’ll free us to perfect the overall vision of what the Tram can be; I want to have the exterior exploding with color and vibrancy, I want to give back more to the community in different ways, and bring in new and exciting music and expand upon our House-Concert style showcases. 7. What do you miss about it the most? What’s the most memorable thing that happened? Robin: We have missed seeing the diverse group of folks that entered our door. We hope to see them and many more in the nearest future. Memorable things had hapCELEBRATING THE PAST, PRESENT & POTENTIAL
Owners: Garrett Ingraham Robin Raabe pened daily, be they large or small. What’s more important is that they actually happened for us and our clientele. Garrett: I miss the little things; the repartee between staff and clientele, the surprises on Sunday open mic nites or during Thursday poetry.The everyday “random” weirdness that is so delightfully pervasive in our environment. 8. How can people help bring it back? Robin:We want folks to know and understand, that we are a business as well as a place to be.We had done the recent GoFundMe for folks to be Micro Investors assisting us with getting some of the exterior work done to help make us a more comfortable and safe environment for us, our workers, and our customers. Garrett:We just hope folks are patient and come back to see us when we announce our reopening, then keep coming back! And bring friends! 9. What’s your favorite thing to get at the Tram? Robin: If you are talking about food and beverage. my personal go to would have to be “The Ridiculous” -a Breve Mocha Chai Latte (named by a good friend, Ken, who worked at Cafe Domenico years ago) Since the beginning of TRAM and before. I have liked a strong beverage made of basically of hot chocolate made with half & half, chocolate syrup, & chai mix, and shots of espresso. It will vary on size and shots of espresso... plus traditional milk... it’s my personal fuel. Garrett: My favorite thing to get is a happy customer, a good feeling, an amazing performance, and a “thanks, dude!” if I do a particularly good job running sound. I like the coffee, too of course! 10. Anything else you want to add that no one else might know or that’s just interesting? Robin: We would like our customers, friends, family-“Tramily”-to be the judge of what’s interesting . they are the ones who make the trek, take the chance, and are willing to share our appreciation for what we are trying to do. Everything to us is just who we are. Garrett: I keep saying I’m going to put a giant coffee-cup shaped hot-tub on the roof. That could be neat, right? I’d also like to get my VW Bus back in action and have Tramwagon coffee tours. At any rate, we have a great deal more we look forward to doing here in the Tramlands! 129
PEREGRINE FALCONS
peregrine falcons in downtown utica Local Falcons Astrid and Ares by Zoë Kelly If you shift your gaze up towards the skies in downtown Utica, you just might catch a fascinating glimpse of the local Peregrine Falcons Astrid and Ares. They chose Utica as their home, and reside in a nest box on the 15th floor of the Adirondack Bank. I spoke to Deborah Saltis, co-founder of the Utica Peregrine Falcon Project, about the beginnings of the Peregrine Project and anecdotes on Astrid and Ares. The project began 6-7 years ago, when Deborah Saltis was approached by Matt Perry. Initially she was in disbelief that Peregrine Falcons were really here in Utica before coming around to the idea and recalls, “I started to just look in the sky when I would go out and oh- that might be a- well that’s different? That’s not a pigeon?”. Matt Perry had been following falcons in Utica and noticed the Peregrines did not have a nest site yet, so he decided along with the Kirkland Bird Club to get involved and build a nest box.The nest box ended up being constructed right outside Deborah’s then office window, which is now a file room. Online you can find their nesting area being streamed by 6 cameras and frequent blog updates on the lives of Astrid and Ares at www.Big-Green.net/falcon.
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TOP RIGHT: Gathering together at a popular perch June 2017 BOTTOM RIGHT: Ares on the long perch, March 2019
All photography supplied by Matt Perry
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BELOW: Astrid flying, June 2017
Peregrine Falcons are powerful raptors. While in pursuit of prey Peregrine Falcons can reach speeds of just over 60mph, like feathered missiles. Ares has been praised as an incredibly skilled hunter, and has been observed performing the most daring of ariel feats. A local falcon watcher recalls, “I have seen Ares do a stoop and get a pigeon. A stoop is when they go up to 200mph straight down. They go from really, really, high in the sky and they come down and take their talons as fists and punch their prey and knock it out. And I could actually see it! I just got lucky and was watching him in binoculars and I could see him hit the prey, the prey fall a little bit away from him, and then he grabbed it”. The agility and speed capabilities of the Peregrine Falcons are astonishing. There are group opportunities downtown for observing the Peregrine Falcons.This year walks are scheduled April 13th at 10am, and April 17th at 6:30pm. The walks take you through the “canyon”- the area between the Adirondack Bank and the State Office Building. On the walks Astrid and Ares’s nesting site will be pointed out, and you can learn more
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about fledge watch and what to expect. Fledge watch is a spectacular show to see in the sky, where the eyases (baby falcons) take their first flight. Deborah explains, ”You need to come to see fledge watch, it’s how you really get to see these birds in action! There’s nothing like watching a Peregrine fly through the air, they are absolutely phenomenal acrobats. Once they fledge and the parents are teaching them to catch prey, they do it by either handing the prey off to them, so the mom is flying around, and the babies come underneath- and sometimes parents drop the food and the babies grab it. And that’s how they learn how to grab things mid-air, because Peregrines take their food mid-air”. Astrid has laid her first egg on April 1st three times in five years, and it will be interesting to see if it happens again this year. The canyon walk and fledge watch are both unique opportunities to observe Astrid and Ares, and be shown what to look for in the sky. The Peregrine Falcons and the walks are a great reason to go downtown and participate in the community in an interesting way.
PEREGRINE FALCONS
“If you get here and you get a little bit of a show, you come back. How could you not come back! They’re just pretty awesome.”
TOP: Astrid in flight, June 2017 BOTTOM: Young Peregrine gets close to rooftop camera, June 2018 CELEBRATING THE PAST, PRESENT & POTENTIAL
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This is an illustration that represents the different countries refugees come from.
MVRCR
we are the city that loves refugees Resettlement for Refugees by Hannah Noh The United States of America, a country of freedom, education, diversity, and opportunity, attracts people from other countries all around the world. However, there are people who are desperate to leave their homes and resettle in the United States for their own safety. Due to wars and conflicts, many people can neither return to their home country or live in safety in their current host country. UNHCR (The UN Refugee Agency) organizes the refugee resettlement process.They identify vulnerable cases to be referred to resettlement countries. a What determines one’s vulnerability? In order to be referred for resettlement, refugees must fit into at least one vulnerability category, such as needing urgent medical needs, women and girls at risk, survivors of violence/torture, and children at risk. UNHCR’s screen measures are taken to ensure they have not committed any serious crimes or will not
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be a threat to others. It is a strict vending process. In addition, the United States conducts its own security process to accept or decline a refugee for resettlement. Refugees go through eight U.S. government agencies, five background checks, six separate security databases, and three in-person interviews. It takes about two years for this entire process to be done abroad. Once a refugee has been determined to be resettled, the State Department assigns their case to one of nine U.S. NGOs. Resettlement agencies are located in areas where there is health care, education, housing, employment opportunity, and more. All of these factors lead to a successful immigration. MVRCR (Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees), located in Utica, New York, was founded in 1981 and has welcomed over 15,000 refugees from Vietnam, Burma, Bosnia, Cambodia, Ukraine, Somalia, and more. MVRCR is one of many refugee centers that are part of the nine U.S. NGOs.The title “Town That Loves Refugees” has been given to the city of Utica because of their dedication to integrity, diversity, community, compassion, and knowledge in helping refugees. Jennifer Van Wagoner, the Grant Administrator at MVRCR, said, “Refugees and immigrants always been a part of the history of Utica and they have played a big role revitalizing this city.” MVRCR offers eight different services: Immigration and Citizenship, Interpreting and Translation, Cultural Competency, Office for New Americans, Adult Learning, Job Placement, Refugee Resettlement, and Community Program. MVRCR’s most intense period of working
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with refugees is the first ninety days. During the ninety days, they help refugees settle in their apartments, obtain their social security numbers, enroll their children in school, connect them with benefits, help them find jobs, and enroll them in English second language classes. They also provide orientations during the ninety day period to the refugees. During orientation, they teach them about emergency help, such as 911, health care, and educational requirements. The office for new Americans helps facilitate citizenship classes and provide free legal advice. They also offer both languages services. Compass provides interpreters in a wide variety of businesses, education institutions, and health care agencies. Tone is the translation department that provides access to translation services through their website. They have a traffic safety program which provides comprehensive traffic safety education, child passenger safety seats, and help with getting a driving permit as well as a driving license. The ultimate goal is for refugees to become integrated into the community and become self sufficient. Furthermore, MVRCR is not only available during the ninety day process; it is available anytime to any refugee, whether it has been one year or five years since their resettlement. I had the honor to speak with Tatjana Kulalic, the immigration coordinator at MVRCR.Tatjana is a refugee herself who left Bosnia in 1999 for the safety of her family. She has been working at MVRCR since 2001. As an immigration coordinator, one of her jobs is to do paperwork to help refugees reunite with their immediate family. When a refugee comes to the United States, they come legally as a humanitarian refugee. After a year of being physically present in the United States, they are eligible to apply for a
MVRCR
green card or become a permanent resident. Once the refugee is a permanent resident, they can file a petition for their family members to legally immigrate to the United States. Mothers who have children overseas are very special cases to Tatjana. During the interview, Tatjana said, “When I do the paperwork to help reunite families, I walk each step through every struggles with my client to see their families. And when I finally see them reunite, that’s when I know what I’m doing is worth everything. It’s not a job where you look at files and close it at the end of the day. I think every second of how I can help them. It is not just a job. It’s more than a job. It became a mission of my life to help refugees who are struggling. It’s not to just get the money to pay our expenses and bills. It’s a emotional connection with refugees.”
to the job orientation, MVRCR have Compass (the interpretation department) available for employers to use. They do introductory keyboard classes to teach them how to use search engines, practice typing skills, improve their email accounts, and even how to find transportation to their jobs. If for some reason they are unable to come to the interview by themselves, they provide transportation as well. They provide simple case management. After they help refugees find jobs, Ashley and her staff members keep in contact with the employers and the clients to make sure that all of their needs are being met. Employers reaches out to MVRCR for refugees to work for them because they are hardworking and punctual. When they face obstacles in their work, they will always overcome because they want to provide for their families. They have the willingness to work hard because they appreciate the opportunities they have here. It takes much resilience to pick up your family and move to another country.
“It became a mission of my life to help refugees who are struggling.”
I met Ashley Bustos who is currently working as the employment manager in MVRCR. She explained that her job as the employment manager is to help refugees with limited English skills. Ashley and other staff members in job placement services help refugees in various ways, from helping refugees fill out the applications to helping them with job placement. MVRCR has relationships with different employers around the area because employers are looking for refugees to hire. During the process of refugees finding jobs, they provide assistance with resume building and interviews, workplace access trainings, and vocational ELL training. When it comes
Without MVRCR, it would have been difficult for refugees to resettle in Utica. Utica is home to many vulnerable refugees who had to leave their home country for their safety. Through MVRCR, many refugees were able to find a second chance in their lives. Thanks to the services and passionate staff members at MVRCR, many refugees can now call Utica their new home. After visiting MVRCR and speaking with their staff members, I have learned a great deal about the refugees in Utica and I have never been more proud of this city.
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LIVING IT UP
bringing life back to the handshake city This isn’t the “Handshake City” that your grandparents knew. by Emma Waller Many people think that Utica is a dying city, but the young locals behind Handshake.City would beg to differ. Handshake. City, founded in February 2018, is a communal urban art park and marketplace that aims to bring food, art, culture, and community service events to downtown Utica, and get this it’s made out of renovated shipping containers. In Baggs Square West, affectionately known as “The Backyard of Utica,” events are held throughout the summer months varying from the music and arts Downtown Getdown festival to the family-friendly Book Jam!
LEFT: An illustration by Emma Waller, featuring the official Handshake.City logo CELEBRATING THE PAST, PRESENT & POTENTIAL
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LIVING I T UP
I sat down and talked with Katie Reilly, one of the founders of Handshake.City, who was able to give me more insight into the project. Reilly and her partners from Made in Utica, the organization that founded Handshake.City, have been organizing events in downtown Utica for the past five years, including a film series, yoga workshops, and a handful of festivals, but until recent years they held most events in the alleyway next to Bite Bakery on Genesee Street. Inspired by tiny houses and sustainable living, Justin Parkinson, Reilly’s main partner on the project, came up with the idea for an urban container park. Reilly stated, “It really started more with the intention to be a marketplace, and then last year as we got started we realized it fit in better with the event circuit. Now it’s all wrapped into one with the marketplace being supported by the events. With that came an unintended art gallery. It became a place for bands and it became a place for vendors as well.” In fact, almost all of the public art at Handshake.City is done by Utica natives or other people from around New York state. Marisa Vallese, an illustrator from Utica, designed the whimsical Handshake.City mural, and local muralist Tony Thompson facilitated a graffiti jam at the Downtown Getdown event at Handshake.City in August 2018.
One of the things that makes Handshake. City so special is the fact that almost all of the labor that goes into it comes from volunteers and people from the surrounding communities. “The whole thing really elongs to the people who volunteer and put their own time into it,” says Reilly. In ‘Phase One’ of the project, volunteers helped excavate and landscape the lot and prepare the shipping containers for use. This year, volunteers will be needed just as much as in the past, since 2019 marks the start of ‘Phase Two’... but what does that entail? “We really want to build out what will be the marketplace, which is actually the containers,” says Reilly. “Right now, they’re really just like empty garage or storage spaces, but we really want them to be more like little stores, with finished walls, shelving, and lighting. So developing this is a huge part of the next phase.” It’s important for the team to continue to develop the containers, in order to benefit the vendors. They would love for people to be able to set up shop in the containers year-round, which would allow vendors to choose their own hours.
“It originally started as an idea
for a marketplace, and it just grew from there.”
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One thing Reilly stressed about the coming plans for the container park is that they welcome all kinds of people, “Vendors can be anyone who has an idea that they want to test. If you have a product idea and want
Whats in a name? “Well, it’s actually an old nickname for Utica... in the past it sort of represented the mob background that Utica has. But we really like to take things that have a previous negative connotation and flip the switch on it to create this new positive meaning behind it.” -Katie Reilly LEFT: Katie Reily, courtesy of the Observer-Dispatch RIGHT: Taken by Katie Reilly, courtesy of Handshake.City CELEBRATING THE PAST, PRESENT & POTENTIAL
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to figure out how it would want to work, we’re sort of an incubator or a launchpad for people trying to figure out what they want to do when launching a new product or business.� If development continues as planned, vendors will have even more options of how to optimize their space, and current long-term members could potentially set up shops of more permanence. For now, it is easy and affordable to become a vendor at the park, temporarily or long-term, and the vendor fee is tax deductible since the organization is a nonprofit.
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In addition to the development of the containers, this year brings many exciting events to Handshake.City. The first Art Jam of the year is in May, where representatives will be seeking out local artists to help create new pieces for the park this year. In addition, Kids Day, an event focused on encouraging safety, will be held in May. Several popular events from last year will also be returning to the park this season, including Barks and Brews and the Guild of Thespian Puppets.
The makers of Handshake.City try to host events of many different kinds, especially focusing on showcasing things that the area is otherwise missing, such as public space to interact with dogs around, live music, public art, food trucks, and open-invite volunteer activities. Every month, this year beginning in May, there is a volunteer day where community members interested in helping out with the preparation of the park for future events are encouraged to come down to Baggs Square West and do their part. In addition to the events, Reilly and her team have even more plans for the future: “One of the other things we want to
do this year too is more workshop-type things. So maybe jewelry making classes or gardening, things like that. That’ll be a new thing that we didn’t do last year - outside of the main events, we really want to do some more hands-on experiences.” One thing that the event coordinators from Handshake.City want to emphasize is the ability for their space to give back to the people who visit it. They want people to come and enjoy the park and all it has to offer, and in return they offer services and experiences that will benefit the park visitors. Whether it’s education-based or community enhancing, the services offered by the folks at Handshake.City are ones that many people can benefit from. •
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CONTRIBUTORS
SOYOUNG BAE Laura Bae was born and mostly raised in Busan, South Korea. When she was 15, she resided in Vancouver, Canada for 5 years. Since she was younger, she was fascinated in art, especially the balance of various colors. Art became one of her rare passions hence she was easily able to access to the area by her mom and her surroundings. After her secondary education, she decided to study art at Pratt. Along with her varied interests, she firstly studied Communications Design with concentration in Advertising Design at Pratt MWP, and then she also majored in Interior Design at Pratt in Brooklyn. As well as she had unconstrained and optimistic characteristics, her heart also lies with music and her commerce besides the art.
JESSICA MARY BALDORIA Jessica Mary “Jessa” Baldoria inherited a gift for fine arts from her father Jesse Baldoria. A native of New York City, she grew up exploring all five boroughs and gaining inspiration from everything around her. An iconic place full of art museums, historical sites, and bustling activity, New York City has provided Baldoria with a platform in which she continues to develop her talents and strengthens her skills. Majoring in illustration and minoring in creative writing, Baldoria currently attends PrattMWP in Utica, NY and will soon return home to complete her studies at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. She is looking forward to taking her love for storytelling and becoming a visual writer and storyboard artist for an animation studio. Baldoria is excited to be a part of creative narratives in any way that she can, and she is also open to other possibilities in her career path.
SEAN BISHOP Sean Bishop is a second year student at Pratt Institute pursuing a major in graphic design. Born and raised in Smithtown New York, He was elected president of National Art Honors Society during his senior year and applied and was accepted to Pratt Institute at Munson Williams Proctor in Utica, New York. He prefers illustrating with traditional media; charcoal, graphite, pen and ink as well as watercolor paints. His subject matter includes questioning space and form through color and value, also illustrative explorations of the dark and macabre. Sean will be relocating to Pratt Institute’s primary campus in Brooklyn, New York upon completion of his sophomore year in Utica. He has ambitions of advancing his skills in typographic design and evolving his illustrative style to incorporate both techniques into his graphic design work. 144
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CONTRIBUTORS
RYAN BRADFORD Rock climber, avid figure drawing student, progressive learner, and artistically driven. Ryan Bradford is influenced by; an education at Pratt Institute, modern design, software engineering, and an extensive athletic background. This illustration major fashions stunning design and illustration to fulfill the passions of an artistic world.
ISABELLA CARANNANTE Isabella Carannante is a Communications Design major, with a focus in Graphic Design. She is currently studying at PrattMWP College of Art and Design in Utica, NY. She is a New Jersey native, and much of her creative work is inspired by her home life, family, and friends. Her traditional work encompasses mostly pencil and charcoal drawings, as well as acrylic paintings. Isabella is currently working on expanding her horizons with more digital work. This includes branding and poster design for several local companies and organizations. She plans to continue her studies at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, and aspires to become a designer in New York City.
REBECCA CHOW Rebecca Chow is an aspiring graphic designer.Yes, graphic design is her passion. She is of Chinese American descent and lives in Flushing, New York. She is currently attending Pratt Institute’s upstate campus (PrattMWP) and working on a portfolio as well as looking into summer internships. Aside from looking for job opportunities, she is experimenting with different design styles and trying to find her identity as a designer. Rebecca’s current design inspirations include: Paula Scher (she has seen the Netflix documentary several times), Natasha Jen, Ellen Lupton, and many more to add on. As for post graduate plans, she is open to any opportunity that she encounters and would like to work in UI/ UX design as her starting career path and work her way up to a creative director.
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CO NTRIBUTORS
MADISON CICCARELLI Madison Ciccarelli is a student at Pratt Institute studying visual development with a focus in graphic design. She was born and raised in Canton, Ohio and is the first woman in her family to attend college. She is inspired by the dense mid-western forests near her home town, as well as naturalistic motifs, science, food culture, and world history. Madison likes to explore themes of time, decay, and anatomy in her work to bring attention to the hidden beauty in materials humans find gruesome and depressing. She dreams of designing products that enrich human experience and encourage others to pay attention to the little details of our world.
YANFEI (EUREKA) DU Eureka is a full-time student at Pratt Institute in New York for Communication Design, with a focus in graphic design. With her international and diverse experiences, she learned to think from various perspectives and empathize with different cultures. While developing her design aesthetic, she always tries to create impactful and expressive work. Her application of colors communicates the characteristics of her theme and visually pleases her viewers. Also, she incorporates her interests in illustration into her digital work.
EMILY DURKIN Emily Durkin is a Connecticut-based illustrator currently working towards her BFA in Communication Design at Pratt institute. Emily has been involved in the creative field since her 2012 enrollment at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts. While her focus is digital illustration, Emily has experience across a variety of traditional mediums and enjoys experimentation. Her deep interest in history, folktales and mysticism is combined with inspiration taken from modern trends and aesthetics to create relevant imagery. She is passionate about the research behind her projects and how they can be used to communicate and problem-solve. In 2017 Emily received a CAS Outstanding Arts Award and by 2020 will have been featured in five exhibitions.
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CONTRIBUTORS
MATTHEW DYSON Matthew Dyson hails from Bucks County Pennsylvania and is an aspiring Graphic Designer. His interest in the artistic field comes from his mother who has been involved in the arts her whole life as well. He hopes to use his art to inspire and continue to impress both his peers and himself. He enjoys using a multitude of different mediums and creating anything from realistic works to graphic images. He enjoys working with others and is very well suited for a group work environment. Communication is a key factor in Matthew’s life. Overall, Matthew is a creative mind that enjoys communicating with others to create new and unique works for all.
JULIA ECK Julia Eck is an illustrator and full time student currently based out of Utica, New York. She specializes in bold and graphic pieces and works typically in traditional mediums such as watercolor, acrylic, and colored pencils. In Spring of 2021 she will graduate from the Pratt Institute of Design and hopes to go on to work full time as an illustrator. However, she currently works as an art teacher for children and does freelance work such as portraits and illustrating kids books. On top of visual art she is a writer and a musician who aspires to incorporate all aspects of her creativity into her practices.
AIJIA FANG Aijia Fang was born in Shanghai, China. She is currently studying communication design at Pratt Institute in Utica with a focus on advertising. She loves music and wants to develop and combine music and design in her future works.
EMILY GOBO Emily Gobo is a twenty year old student who is currently attending PrattMWP. She is a Communications Design major with a concentration in Illustration. She is originally from Clearwater, Florida and graduated from Tarpon Springs High School. Her previous art experiences include attending the Pre-College program at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. In addition, she does both traditional and digital art. She enjoys using watercolors and markers as well as using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. After graduating, she plans on either being a character designer for an animation company or illustrating children’s books. CELEBRATING THE PAST, PRESENT & POTENTIAL
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CO NTRIBUTORS
CASSIDY HATCH Cassidy Hatch is a Communications Design student at PrattMWP. She was born and raised in Syracuse, New York. Cassidy loves any kind of vintage art, fashion, furniture, or car. She loves to travel and has been to England, France, Germany, and Spain and hopes to go all over the world. She’s inspired by many different kinds of old magazines/designs and loves making collages. She hopes to work for a design company like URBN or as an art director and maybe live in NYC or abroad.
HAILEY HENRIKSON Growing up in Helena, Montana, Hailey Henrikson’s artistic career began with her drawing all over her parents walls in sharpie and ultimately exhibiting her artwork statewide. Hailey loves a picture that leaves an untold atmosphere, making you crave for more of the story. She plans to travel and capture moments in the ever-spinning world and its people, animals and places, seen or unseen. Currently a student at PrattMWP College of Art and Design her focus is in film, illustration and writing.
MUHAMMAD JALLOH Muhammad Jalloh is a Sophomore at Pratt MWP College of Art and Design studying Communications Design with focus area being graphic design. He discovered his interest for design from a young age and developed his skills through self-study and through Adobe courses at NYU prior to attending Pratt MWP. He specializes in graphic design and illustrations, and is skilled in adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. His interests outside of academics include martial arts and swimming, he’s had his black belt in karate since 2015 and has been a certified American Red Cross lifeguard since 2016. He also has experience in the culinary field from classes at the Institute of Culinary Education in NYC. Muhammad is a well-rounded student who has experience in both studious and athletic based fields and is likely to succeed in various environments.
HWANYONG(JJ) JEONG He is from Busan, South Korea and mojor in Economics for one year at Michigan State University then moved to MWP major in Fine Arts for first year and changed his major again to Graphic Design. Currently, he is planning to change his major to interior design. Those variety of experiences could be his special weapon yee. 148
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CONTRIBUTORS
ANNIE JO Born in a small town and grew up with nature. Started art because making something that was in the dream was a fantastic feeling in the young age. In the present, a student of PrattMWP and wants to go out and live with art.
JEAHUN JUNG Inspiration is crucial for a person studying illustration. Jeahun Jung gets his inspiration from traveling. Especially getting to know different cultures and their history allowed him to expand his knowledge and create new ideas. He is currently enrolled at Prattmwp college of art and design at illustration major. Jeahun mainly specializes in digital painting, working with 3D design programs, and traditional hand drawing. He is eager to find job as concept art or CGI designer.
HYUN DA KANG Unique, creative, and hard working student designer who came from Japan. My designs are influenced by both Japanes and Korean culture from her hometown and family. I love the progress of solving problems and transforming the ideas into actual things in unique ways.
ALLISON KEENAN Allison was born and raised in Indianapolis and remains largely self taught as an illustrator, inspired mainly by heavy metal album covers and promotional artwork, The Ren and Stimpy Show, Gorillaz music videos, Peter Paul Rubens, John Singer Sargent. Through her education at Pratt MWP, Allison also developed an interest in animation, motion graphics, and video arts. In terms of future career aspirations, she plans on fulfilling her dreams of designing album covers and tour posters, comics and graphic novels, as well as writing and directing her own movie and music videos.
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ZOE KELLY Zoë Kelly a native from Buffalo, is enrolled in the Communications Design program at Pratt Institute. After her first two years on the Utica campus she plans to relocate to Brooklyn to focus on Illustration. She values relationships, her closest friends and three little sisters provide a constant source of inspiration for her artwork.
MATTHEW KIM Matthew Kim is a Communications Design major from Northbrook, IL. Kim is currently enrolled at PrattMWP College of Art and Design earning his degree in Illustration. Matthew took an interest in the arts shortly after being introduced to picture books and children’s novels at a very young age. After studying art through high school, he became inspired by the work of Salvador Dali and his style of surrealism. Matthew mainly specializes in graphite, ink, and paint in his art. Matthew has strong ambitions of becoming a children’s book illustrator and strengthening his skills with his own unique style in all areas of communications design.
SHANNON KRIEG Shannon Krieg is a Communication Design major with a focus in Illustration at Pratt Institute. She has always had an interest in art, but only recently introduced to the wide array of design and its possibilities. She is passionate about communicating ideas in a symbolic way and has always had an interest in narratives. Shannon is aspiring to one day be involved in a creative work that allows her to partake in character design or storyboarding for a studio. She also has ambitions in creating her own visual novel in the future.
TSUAN (ANNIE) LEE New York based art advertising major from Taipei, Taiwan. Pratt Institute Class of 2021. Having to study in international schools of big cities like Taipei, Shanghai, and soon New York City, Annie has been exposed to a diversity of culture and arts since a young age; she is currently exploring varying fields including photography, illustrations, graphic design, and marketing.
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AMBER LIM Amber Lim is a Communication Design student who doesn’t have a set design philosophy, as she believes in flowing to where the project needs her to go, but through time, she observed that some components that naturally make up her design process include sustainability (thanks to her dad who hated littering with fervor), capturing the essence of something (thanks to her appreciation for Chinese characters), and smart mechanism or humor (either hidden or glaringly obvious whenever suitable. She believes she was put in this world to have her own definition of fun all her life and to help people/ animals/plants in need live their own definition of fun. She also feels very weird writing about herself in third person.
XUAN (EVERLY) LIU Xuan(Everly) Liu was born in Lanzhou of China. She has been honing her skills as an artist by learning traditional Chinese painting, and drawing for the past several years. When she was fourteen years old, she began to receive the education of fine arts. And her teacher, a renowned local artist, Kang Zhang taught her not only the techniques of painting, but also some methods to evaluate and understand artworks. Her experience of learning traditional painting lays a foundation for her to have contact with digital design. Now, Xuan is majoring in graphic design in PrattMWP Art Institute.
MADDISON MANENTE One of the three Outstanding Freshman students in her freshman class, Maddison Manente is currently a Sophomore Communications Design student at Prattmwp with a concentration in Illustration. Maddison enjoys creating stories and expressing them in a variety of media, from illustration, to animation, to interactive game design. She is a self-driven individual who likes to surround herself with creative people who are willing to work together to achieve a common goal.
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NATALIE MARINIDES Natalie Marinides was born and raised in Buffalo, NY and is currently attending PrattMWP College of Art and Design in Utica, NY. She is pursuing her BFA in Communications Design with an emphasis in Advertising Art Direction. Throughout high school and college, she has had work shown in several shows and has created designs for various organizations. She has developed a simple and structured style and her designs tend to be very clean and organized. As an avid fan of the television series Mad Men, Natalie takes inspiration from this Don Draper quote: “Make it simple, but significant.
JOCELYN MARTINEZ Jocelyn Martinez is a Mexican-American illustrator from Houston, Texas. She currently studies illustration at PrattMWP in Utica, New York. Jocelyn creates illustrations based around things that make her happy and is inspired by charming illustrations as well as surrealism. When she is not drawing she is spending time with her dog, checking out new burger joints, reading and playing video games. Jocelyn wants to develop a career in book and graphic novel illustrations as well as storyboarding and concept art.
AVA MAYER Ava Mayer is an illustration major studying at Pratt Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute. She used to train thirty five hours a week in classical ballet, which has influenced her work ethic and visual art. She plans on illustrating childrens books, graphic novels, and character designs for movies, among other aspirations. She also aspires to write books and is overall very interested in the art of storytelling. Outside of school, she also enjoys reading, dance, and hiking. Born in Brooklyn, Ava Mayer spent her elementary and middle school years in Bovina, New York.
NICOLAS MONTES-GONZALEZ Nicolas Montes- Gonzalez is an artist that was born and raised in Miami, FL. His grandparents and his family that came before them however were born in Cuba. Nicolas draws inspiration from his Cuban heritage and from illustrators like Sean Usyk. Nicolas is an Illustrator, a painter, and a visual artist. Nicolas attends Pratt MWP as an Illustration major and hopes to become an environmental concept artist for game companies. 152
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ALEXANDRA MORALES Alexandra Morales is a Communications Design major studying at PrattMWP in Utica, NY. Alex works with collage, painting, printmaking, and digital media. Her work has been displayed in showcases and galleries in San Antonio, TX, since 2016 and Utica, NY, since 2017. Alex will graduate from Pratt Institute with a BFA in Communications Design with a concentration in Illustration in Spring 2021.
ABIGAIL MULLEN Abigail Mullen is born and raised in Upstate NY. She is currently a sophomore attending PrattMWP. Abby is studying in Utica, NY. But not for long. Her next stop is Brooklyn, NY. She will be attending Pratt Institute during the fall of 2019. Her major is Communications Design with an emphasis in Advertising and Art Direction, and she also plans to minor in Photography. A hobby of Abby’s is to explore and discover new places. Her travels are a big inspiration to her art. She has traveled to multiple countries in Europe and Africa. Be on the lookout for her upcoming photos as she has a lot of traveling planned for 2019!
HA MINH NGUYEN Ha Minh Nguyen was born and raised in Vietnam. She showed interested in art from a very young age. Minh is currently a communication design student with graphic design concentration at PrattMWP in Utica, New York. She has experience in designing brochures, posters, and characters. She is comfortable working with both traditional and digital media. Minh enjoys experimenting with different styles, materials and color palettes.
HANNAH NOH Hannah Noh was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. She is a student at Pratt Institute located in Brooklyn, New York. She is majoring in Communications Design focusing on Advertising Art Direction. Her work is often influenced by nature and her Korean heritage. She hopes becoming a creative director for a company in New York after she graduates.
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IREMAYOWA OLOPADE Iremayowa Olopade is a sophomore student at Pratt MunsonWilliams-Proctor Institute who is pursuing her degree in Communications design (with an emphasis in Illustration). Born and raised in Portland, Oregon to Nigerian immigrants, she wishes to bring new perspectives and ideas to the world through the usage of media. Her aspiration in life is to be an Art Director at a production studio as a visual storyteller.
MARIO ORTA Mario Orta is originally from McAllen, TX but grew up in Houston, TX. Here, Mario grew to enjoy the arts. In high school, Mario was part of theater, art, tennis and attended college level courses. Pratt was Mario’s choice for college since he considered the arts being his career after high school. After entering PrattMWP as an undecided major, Mario soon chose Graphic Design as his major of choice since Mario enjoys working with computers and being able to communicate innovate ideas with basic elements such as color and composition. When Mario is not working on schoolwork, he draws on the side. Mario will be completing his BFA in Graphic Design at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn.
KARISSA ORTIZ Graphic Design, Digital Illustration, Painting (Oil, Acrylic, and Watercolor), Cartooning, Printmaking, Film Making, Drawing including from life, Sculpting, Bookbinding, Crafting, and Creative Writing.
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MONIQUE PAQUIN Mo Paquin is a Communications Design major with a concentration in Illustration, currently enrolled in her second year at Pratt Institute, working towards a minor in Graphic Design. Mo practices multiple media, such as colored pencil, pen, oil painting, and digital drawing with photoshop, and grew up on art sites such as DeviantArt which sparked her interest in character design and digital media. Despite the fact that she is from rural central New York state, she grew up watching Japanese animation and is inspired by Latin music. She is predominantly inspired by graphic art styles combined with realism, bright colors, and “punk” and urban culture, including fashion and street art, and is interested in combining these themes with the beauty that is the natural world of plants. She is still learning and in the midst of finding her own style, but with an Illustration degree she will one day work as a concept and character design artist as well as work in product design.
HAE CHAN (CHAD) PARK Hae Chan Park, also known as Chad Park (or ASYOUKNOW for artistic works) is a South Korean artist who currently studies at Pratt Institute in New York. He has studied abroad in Shanghai, China for over 10 years and has moved to New York to broaden his artistic career. Currently studying as a Graphic Design major, Hae Chan is greatly inspired by the simplicity of colors, lines, and words and puts these elements into his artworks. His current interests in the field of arts are graphic design, illustration, writing short essays, and making music.
SANGHYUN (BRYAN) PARK Sanghyun Park is a Communications Graphic Design major, currently enrolled in his second year in Pratt Institute. Sanghyun likes to make digital works using Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effect. Growing up and spending his life in two different countries- South Korea and United States, Sanghyun likes to mix and show both countries’ cultures in his works.
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LIZZMARIE PEREZ Lizzmarie Perez is a sophomore studying Communications Design at PrattMWP. Because of her father’s work in the Army, she grew up moving from place to place within the United States. Lizz now currently reside in New Jersey and continues to be inspired by everywhere she’s been and everywhere life takes her. When I’m not creating work, she’s either making music, reading, or spending time with friends.
FIONA PUIG Fiona Puig is an artist from Asbury Park with a love for film and animation. When not attending classes at Pratt mwpai, Fiona enjoys interactive storytelling and can be found working on various storytelling projects.
JULIA ROTHSTEIN Julia Rothstein is a Communications Design Major at Pratt Institute with a concentration in illustration and plans to begin a minor in photography. She has been interested in art since at a young age she was enrolled in an after school art class in which her teacher helped her in mastering her traditional craft. She was greatly inspired by the work of her peers and the work she discovered in museums such as MFA Boston and The Whitney in New York. Her inspiration also comes from traveling and seeing other cultures around the world. Her decision to attend art school was when she discovered illustration and she enjoys the idea of being able to create art with a modern purpose that can help beautify the world. Julia would love to someday work with a fashion magazine.
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DANIEL SALOMON His day-to-day interactions and objects that surround him heavily influence future designer Daniel Salomon’s artwork. Daniel Salomon was born and raised in Caracas,Venezuela, then later moved on to Tours, France and he now resides and studies in Utica, New York. He is a sophomore at PrattMWP School of Design and currently studies Communications Design: Graphic Design. Daniel Salomon’s work is characterized for being minimalistic and humorous; he enjoys clean and simple designs that portray only what is necessary. However, he repeatedly tries to add humorous aspects into his designs in order to give a more personal touch to the work.
YIHANG (TOM) SHEN Basketball lover, ramen eater that was born in Europe with the Chinese blood. Often working with photoshop in very vibrate color combinations that centralize around simplicity and minimalism. He is also really into anime because of the line work and actions involved. Fascinated by almost anything new that comes in his way. Absolutely open to wild and bizarre concepts that he is willing to try for himself, which creates this interesting character of his.
ARISA THAWEESKULCHAI Arisa Thaweeskulchai is born in Thailand and has been pursuing her education abroad from a young age. With her family involvements in the manufacturing and construction industry, she has gained admiration for the beauty of design. Currently a BFA Communication Design student at Pratt Institute, she is interested in exploring the connection between visual language and society’s interaction. She aspires to be a multidisciplinary artist and remain open-minded to new experimentation.
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KAMY VO Kamy Vo is an illustrator and graphic designer whose art style is a mix between punk and street. She is heavily influenced by video games and animations and constantly incorporates them into her work. Her background consists of digital and traditional illustrations, animations, photography, and graphic design.
EMMA WALLER Emma Waller is an illustrator with a background in traditional mediums including watercolor, acrylic, and oil paints. She grew up in central North Carolina, where she gained an interest in art through creating comics with her father as a child, and started pursuing it seriously in 2014. She currently attends PrattMWP and plans to graduate with her BFA in Communications Design from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. By the time she leaves PrattMWP in 2019, she will have been featured in five public exhibitions and shows in two different states. After college, she plans on becoming a book illustrator or concept artist, using her skills as an illustrator to build characters and worlds that tell stories.
ADELIN ZEGSTROO Adelin Zegstroo is a sophomore student at Pratt Institute. Although she is studying Graphic Design, Adelin is interested in exploring a variety of artistic mediums such as relief, jewelry, handcrafts, and traditional mediums as well as digital art. Adelin grew up in Wyoming, but spent a large part of her life moving around the country for her dad’s job. Adelin has lived in California, Washington, Pennsylvania, and is now living in New York. Because she has moved so much Adelin has been exposed to numerous inspirations and art opportunities which helped develop her interest in a multitude of artistic fields. These varied interest mean that Adelin is always working to learn new things and incorporate them into her art.
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YONG ZHANG Yong Zhang is an artist who has a great interesting in illustration and painting. Now she is a student studying at Pratt MWP. She is concentrated at illustration.Yong enjoys using different media to draw. She work on watercolor, and most of her paintings are full of distinctive characters. She also likes to paint with Gouache, color pencil, acrylic, and charcoal. Except for painting, Yong has other hobbies like photography, video games, and travel.Yong is now trying to build his own personal drawing style and work hard to be a professional illustrator.
ZANDER VARNEY Zander Varney is an illustration student from New Hampshire studying at PrattMWP. As a designer, he works with cleaner looks and more simple swiss inspired layouts to keep the information easy to understand and read. His illustrative work is primarily done in digital media and printmaking techniques. Zander is drawn to more saturated colours in his works due to him being colour blind. In his work, he tries to see how colours layer and interact with each other. Zander takes inspiration from the graphic designer Wes Wilson, and the artists Alex Pardee, and Sean Usyk.
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LIVING IT UP
bringing life back to the handshake city This isn’t the “Handshake City” that your grandparents knew. by Emma Waller Many people think that Utica is a dying city, but the young locals behind Handshake.City would beg to differ. Handshake. City, founded in February 2018, is a communal urban art park and marketplace that aims to bring food, art, culture, and community service events to downtown Utica, and get this it’s made out of renovated shipping containers. In Baggs Square West, affectionately known as “The Backyard of Utica,” events are held throughout the summer months varying from the music and arts Downtown Getdown festival to the family-friendly Book Jam!
LEFT: An illustration by Emma Waller, featuring the official Handshake.City logo 2
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CELEBRATING THE PAST, PRESENT & POTENTIAL
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