As a garden shows life in Eastwood, a junk TV sits in the weeds

The sun shines brightly on our sweet, little yard in Eastwood. I look over my dear wife Karen’s happy little garden oval out front. Every year, we put love into the ground. Little by little, the garden has widened. It shouldered a big change last year after winter winds toppled the centerpiece olive tree. Karen…

On the screen, ’42’ reminds us of the battle between hate and hope

A look around the Destiny USA theater on Sunday afternoon revealed a wonderfully mixed crowd ready and eager to take in “42.” Black people sat next to white people. Old people sat in front of young people. And once the almost endless previews ended, we all got to experience for a few hours what it…

Doobie Brothers to headline night one of M&T Syracuse Jazz Fest; that’s just alright by me

Ready to spend your July Fourth evening dancing to the Doobie Brothers? The classic American rock band will headline the first of three holiday weekend days at the 31st edition of the M&T Syracuse Jazz Fest, founder and executive director Frank Malfitano announced this afternoon at a news conference in the title sponsor’s main downtown…

A pleasant surprise comes from Liverpool heavy metal band Blind Jaguar

Some teens still love hard rock music. Cool. In January, I sat on the judging panel for the Jewish Community Center of Syracuse’s annual battle of the bands. One of the outfits that filled the SPOT Teen Center in Shoppingtown with hopes and dreams that night was Blind Jaguar. The heavy metal band from Liverpool…

Syracuse bands will recreate the vibe that filled Watkins Glen in 1973

From the seed of the great Thanksgiving Weekend show by the Syracuse All-Stars recreating “The Last Waltz,” a big jam in Cazenovia will blossom. On July 28, popular Syracuse bands Dark Hollow, Los Blancos and the Barndogs will help music fans turn the calendar back exactly 40 years. They’ll play the music that drew 600,000…

Everybody line up. Squirrels to the right, elephants to the left

This sign caught my eye while walking around (and around) Shoppingtown in DeWitt. Usually this corner of the mall delivers the sweet scent of chocolate. On this day, it was cashews, almonds and pecans. I passed but my imagination went wild, as my headline demonstrates.

Smile. Wear orange. Enjoy the extra zip in your step when Syracuse makes the Final Four

Take a good look at today’s date. Fourth day of the fourth month. It’s 4/4. In Syracuse, all minds immediately take out the slash to make it 44. That’s the big dog, the highest pinnacle, the most revered Orange number of all, starting on the football field and moving on to the basketball court. On…

Who needs Valet Parking at a mall? Give me back all of my favorite lot

I’ve been on board with Destiny USA since the first time I walked around the new wing. And I’ve praised the mega-mall in this spot to prove it. Bellyachers and Congel-haters abound in Syracuse, for sure. Me, I think it’s way better to have Destiny USA than to not have Destiny USA. Then came my…

Goose, goose, duck!

On a blustery Eastwood stroll with dear Dogamous Pyle, aka Ellie B, we encountered two resting geese in Norwood Park. One quick bark later, they took flight on a beeline over our ducking heads. I plan to make photos that catch my interest a periodic feature on markbialczak.com. Let’s call it Syracuse through the ‘i’…

The Thompsons come up from Nashville to warm up Central New York Guitar League’s eighth anniversary meeting

Add a very cool father-and-son team to the list of acoustic string players who can absolutely make your jaw drop. Tim and Myles Thompson helped the Central New York Guitar League celebrate its eighth anniversary to open April at the Clarion just west of Syracuse. Dad Tim and son Myles took the drive north from…