The snow story never ends in Syracuse

So at what point exactly does snow cease to be a story in my life here in Syracuse, N.Y.? When does the day come when another layer of the white stuff ceases to gain my attention? I’ve lived in Central New York for 30 years. I stare out the window and say, bring it on!…

Aunt Madea shows some Christmas spirit to Larry the Cable Guy

I must confess, I have not been a regular at Tyler Perry’s Madea franchise. But when the trailers hit before Thanksgiving for the writer, director and actor’s Christmas feature for Perry’s sassy woman with the big and fearless mouth, I laughed. I wanted to see more of Perry’s Madea mixing it up with the on…

Give me my Dunkin’ Donuts coffee and get that Starbucks away from me

My coffee-drinking career started at gas stations. Every once in a while, I’d pull in during my 35-mile drive to work those days and buy a cup of pick-me-up. I was already an adult, on the north side of 30. Why, after all those years of sodas, I experimented with cup ‘o joe, I’m not…

Food and toys make for one wonderful birthweekend

When we brought our beloved puppy Ellie B, aka Dogamous Pyle, to doggie day care three years ago, they told us that she was Food Oriented and Toy Possessive. Where did she get that from, I wondered about our rescue mutt. Which brings me to my recap of my birthweekend. We shall take it plate…

On my 56th birthday, I wonder about my birth day

I just googled This Date in History for Dec. 14, 1957. The site dayoftheweek.org tells me it was a Saturday. A slow day, according to historyorb.com. A play titled “Most Happy Fella” closed after 678 performances at New York City’s Imperial Theater. “Rumple” closed at the Alvin Theater after 45 performances. An American author by…

From the mailbag: Shows and CDs from Tish Oney, Waydown Wailers, Trent Park, Pamme Swan

More good stuff coming into the mailbox, thank you, thank you and thank you. Central New York musicians, producers, venue owners — old friends and newcomers who’d like to introduce yourself — please keep dropping me a line. Send an email to markbialczak@gmail.com. Direct message me on Facebook or Twitter, if you’d like. Alert me…

Do you make it your Hobbit to go see Madea?

The two movies opening this mid-December weekend couldn’t be more different. You have the choice between Tyler Perry’s saucy Madea and J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantastic journeys. My Syracuse New Times preview blog tackles “Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas” and “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.” You can find it by clicking the link below. http://www.syracusenewtimes.com/madea-bilbo-premiere-weekend/ On…

To my wife, summer is never too far away

My dear wife Karen was happy after we received the good news that our furnace could be fixed by tightening some loose parts yesterday afternoon. I sent her a text explaining how our home, sweet, home was indeed warm and toasty during this bit of a freeze in Syracuse, N.Y. Not that the whining, grinding…

Our furnace sounds sick, and I may take ill, too

The furnace check-up is due this afternoon. Now there’s a statement that will make this grown man shake in fear, with the potential for real sadness at the end of the visit. Our heat-thrower, a compact-looking York model, has been a solid cornerstone of our utility room since my dear wife Karen and I moved…

‘Out of the Furnace’ allows Christian Bale to anguish to the end

If you think winter is getting you down already, go see “Out of the Furnace.” There may be somebody in real life who has tougher choices to make than main character Russell Baze, played so very well by Christian Bale. But I doubt that one person is you. The dark drama will keep you holding…