Add local music to this giant mall’s ever-expanding menu

Once upon a time, the halls inside a mall were the last place I’d expect to find a growing local music scene. It’s happening at Destiny USA, the mega shopping, dining and entertainment complex in Syracuse. They call the expansive new wing The Canyon. And that’s the way it looks from the rails of all…

Why I fret, Vol. II

A couple weeks back I caught a photo of these two pine trees behind my backyard neighbors’ fence and shared my anxiety about an eventual fall. They were covered with snow. I could see a possible topple in the future. Here’s that Knock Down, Stay Up post. On the way back from my glorious walk…

Push the button and out comes free water

I fear that something I have valued dearly my whole life is facing extinction. The great American water fountain is going, going … Thanks to some old buildings that have not been spiffed up, they are not quite gone. The sturdy old beauty pictured here wets my parched lips every Thursday night at my bowling…

So close

Almost. We’re one day from April, and the snow here in our Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood is waving its last bye-bye, what with a high of 57 forecast for tomorrow. At least I hope its one final wave. You never know around here. A common comment: Remember the year we woke up to inches…

‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ is full of wonderfully odd

In Wes Anderson’s world of “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” there are more odd ducks flapping about than in the pond next to the nuclear power plant. You know the old saying about funny peculiar or funny ha-ha? In this strange and wonderful offering, Ralph Fiennes and Tony Revolori answer yes and yes. Fiennes’ expansive turn…

Yes, we can change a whole lot in a year

My treasure chest of rediscovered old photographs included a copy of my high school yearbook graduation shot and a candid picture taken by a fellow photography student my freshman year in college. Man, was I uptight for the graduation shot for my high school yearbook. How I left the house that day with my hair…

Whoa! When did your hair get that long?

Daughter Elisabeth and boyfriend George got to the Appleby’s before us for lunch yesterday, seated side-by-side and reading the menus when my dear wife Karen and I spotted them and sat down. Good talk, much smiling, a raised eyebrow or two, more laughs and satisfying catch-up, as usual. Health insurance changes. Physical therapy practices. Family…

Thank you for not just blowing smoke, Carl

When I nominated Carl D’Agostino for the Dragon’s Loyalty Award this morning, I dared him to draw one of his blog-funny cartoons about it. He said he already had something appropriate. And the Florida cartoonist sent me the above, signed. It is three-flame worthy. Thank you, sir.