It’s time to take a trip down the Bialczak Memory Lane

My sister Frannie has been on a mission lately. She wants some sort of hard copy to chronicle our family. It’s been years now that Fran, Dory and I have been on our own, Bialczak-wise. Our parents, Dolores and Frank, have been gone for a decade now. Frank was an only child. Mom’s older sister,…

Spectacular ‘Strawberry Super Moon’ spotlights Syracuse

They called it a “Strawberry Super Moon.” The Strawberry term is given to the first full moon in June. It’s said to have come from Native Americans, who used the light from the full moon to harvest their strawberry crop. The Super label is given to the full moon that is closest to the earth…

In words and pictures, why we loved our trip to Cape Cod

A good time was had in Massachusetts. Call it a quick getaway. Call it a wonderful trip. For markbialczak.com purposes, we’ll go with “What I did on my Cape Cod vacation (in a few words and pictures).” It will be a fast recap. Promise. Enjoy. Chapter One: A dog’s life Yes, my dear wife Karen…

You don’t have to buy a lot to appreciate this sellers’ market in downtown Syracuse

The Farmer’s Market returned to Clinton Square yesterday. Even though I no longer work across the street, I still had to visit. Even on a drizzly day, it’s got what I seek. Throughout the years and in several different locations in downtown Syracuse, I always made sure I took a few minutes to wander through…

In 36 countries, people have checked out my blog. Far from Syracuse, please tell me what you think

Anybody with a search engine hooked into this www-dot age of ours has the ability to discover what I’ve got to say. Intriguing concept, this far-flung visibility of markbialczak.com, but kind of far-fetched as well. Elusive. Ethereal. Throw in exciting. I write on my lap here at home in the city of Syracuse. Life unfolds…

At the big daily reunion, it’s a great thing to share

Reunion. Now here’s an event fraught with emotional traps pocking its twisting path. You get back together with people you haven’t seen in a while. You’ve changed. They’ve changed. Everybody remembers certain milestones a different way. New life events just might not be that interesting when shared with a group. This weekend, I went to…

A hip-hop past helps solidify Sound Garden’s Syracuse future.

It took a talented politician to step in an help broker the deal that hopefully will keep The Sound Garden in Syracuse. The Most Talented, in fact. News outlets started reporting yesterday that another compromise of the bill that caused store owner Bryan Burkert to declare he was done with the city will move to…

Thanks for the car wash. Now keep your hands off my seat controls. What’s your beef these days?

This car, I decided, I’ll stick with the dealer for routine maintenance. I bought the little beauty from the folks at Driver’s Village, very happy with the deal. They gave me the first oil change for free. Treated me well. Sent me some service coupons in the mail. Then the Chevy franchise that used to…

Generations of women share in Stacy Duger-Huntington’s battle

When I walked into the Lakeside Fire Hall with my dear wife Karen and a handful of friends on Sunday afternoon, the scene overwhelmed me. Hundreds of people were standing in line for a delicious-looking buffet, eating at long and full tables, looking over hundreds of raffle prizes. Socializing. Sharing stories. Fueling hope. Helping. The…

Our pretty peony gets June off to a gorgeous start

On this first day of June, my dear wife Karen just came in from our front yard in Eastwood with one very pretty picture. The growth burst from the peony in the corner of the front garden has been prodigious these past few weeks. Year three for this plant has been a great one. Its…