Fancy that, a burst of bulbs

With sun and warmth and spring having claimed Syracuse this week, hurrah hurrah, Ellie B aka Dogamous Pyle, and my dear wife Karen and I caught an interesting site up the block from the Little Bitty in our freshening city neighborhood of Eastwood. The varied and beautiful fruits of the hard work of the neighbor…

D.C. in Photos: Our Canadian Friends

Oh, Canada. The Embassy in Washington, D.C. that belongs to America’s friends to the north certainly is beautiful, I thought, admiring its place next to the Newseum as I walked past with my dear wife Karen during the sunny Saturday of our Easter Weekend getaway. On the walk back, I took my time to get…

Pacino packs a subtle punch in ‘Danny Collins’

Sometimes our great actors can seem to be merely playing themselves. My, that can become tiring. Jack Nicholson as Jack Nicholson, anyone? Arch that eyebrow. Unleash that expression of disgust. Sorry, Jack. Al Pacino has done that to me at times. Not in “Danny Collins.” He’s not a cop or a crime figure or anywhere…

D.C. in Photos: Peek-a-Boo Views

On our five walks around Washington, D.C. during Easter weekend, my dear wife Karen and I saw glimpses of many things that made my wonder, what else? At any intersection, any of the four choices could take you to many interesting places. This wide crossway above was one of the most intriguing to my eye.…

Happy 25th, dear daughter

My smart and beautiful daughter Elisabeth looked comfortable turning 25. I asked her if this was the birthday that made her feel older, and she just shrugged her shoulders. Good for her. On the 20-mile drive from the Little Bitty to the beautiful Brae Loch Inn in scenic Cazenovia to meet Elisabeth and her terrific…

D.C. in Photos: The Night Time

Friday night we walked in D.C. In fact, I caught that one before the sun had settled behind the beautiful buildings. Saturday night we high-tailed it over to Verizon Center and spent time inside with Neil Diamond. It almost took all night to check out all of Neil Diamond’s merchandise available for purchase. Alas ……

Army veteran to bicycle 10,000 miles around America

My friend Jim McKeever has discovered one of the best stories I’ve read in a long time. Please click below to read about Brian D’Apice, who in May will ride around the perimeter of the United States to raise money for two significant world causes, Pencils of Promise and Connecting Families. Army veteran to bicycle…

Masters week means we have to play golf

When the best pros in the world are swinging their sticks in Augusta, Ga., for the Masters, KP, Tater and I always have the itch to be playing golf in Syracuse. Not this year. Not on any of our courses. Yes, the snow has melted, finally, after our 118 1/2 inches for the season. But…

D.C. in Photos: Food and Drink

There are plenty of places to eat and drink in Washington, D.C. Captain Obvious reporting for duty. Gordon Biersch was connected to our hotel on H and 7th. Please, no grousing from the Buy Local crowd. I know. I do. I swear. Keep reading. This one sure was more proudly appointed than its Syracuse sister…

Keeping the music alive in Syracuse

Talk about a tough job. Larry Luttinger is executive director of Central New York Jazz. That’s an arts foundation in Syracuse that’s tied to public and private money. Government spending on the arts has dropped because of the economy. Corporate spending on the arts had dropped because of the economy. Luttinger is convinced that the…