The sun shines in Syracuse, put out the flag

Oh, so pleasant was my walk with Ellie B, aka Dogamous Pyle, through our Syracuse city neighborhood this morning. No hat. No gloves. Winter jacket zipper pulled down to three-quarters. After a winter of steady 20s, teens, and polar-vortex really-now temperatures, a break into the 40s with a shining sun is very welcome my man…

Ancient Rome, middle-aged Kevin Costner, open this weekend

A couple of scenes from the trailer for “Pompeii” jumped off my iPad screen. I thought he gladiator stadium in the ancient city of Rome looked pretty darn spectacular. In all, the action peppered throughout by Kit Harington was very dramatic. And, the film is offered in 3D. Still, though, I perhaps am more drawn…

With Ethan Harris eliminated, ‘American Idol’ goes on without upstate New York singers

Talk about a rush. “American Idol” fans have punched the phones and clicked the devices the last two days, and it is decided. After tonight’s FOX broadcast, season 13 will have gone from 30 hopeful singers to 10. Then judges Harry Connick Jr., Keith Urban and Jennifer Lopez get to add their three favorites from…

At 317 at Montgomery, Syracuse Dining Week is a winner

The phone rang with an invitation almost too good for a weeknight. Could my dear wife Karen and I come out to play for dining week with her, David and Althea? It is Syracuse Dining Week, a celebration of local restaurants that has grown to longer than two weeks this year. The concept is gloriously…

You taught your students well, and we still appreciate it

Neal and Carol Bandlow laughed when I brought up how a car full of us Morrisville Agricultural and Technical College journalism students would pull into their driveway just a couple miles east of the campus and think nothing about knocking on the door and being welcomed in. That was back in what I consider my…

Michael Casale loved playing bass, and Syracuse loved him for it

In the middle of Syracuse’s celebration of the Beatles just 10 days ago, Doug Moncrief made sure to shout out in support for a Syracuse musician who was too ill to participate. Moncrief called him Mikey, who “couldn’t make this gig.” Those in the know cheered. Moncrief was sending love to Michael Casale, the Syracuse…

ABC, it’s not so easy as 1-2-3

My fellow Syracuse blogger Christopher S. Malone always has a stylized account of life as a guy turning 31 to share on his interestingly titled blog, The Infinite Abyss(es). He decided I was worthy to be on his list of nominations for the ABC Award. That would be Awesome Blogging Content, for those of you…

‘Winter’s Tale’ requires too much of a leap

A horse is a horse, of course, of course. Except that in ‘Winter’s Tale,’ the evil Pearly, played with true darkness by Russell Crowe, calls it a dog. And so it goes in this fantasy that also stars Colin Farrell and Jessica Brown Findlay as fated lovers in chase of a miracle. The story jumps…

The great Cheesecake Factory caper ends with just desserts

We’d both hopped onto the online menu for The Cheesecake Factory, my dear wife Karen and I, preparing for the Saturday night double date with my darling daughter Elisabeth and her kind, smart boyfriend George. The living room of our happy house in Syracuse, N.Y., resounded with the unmistakeable sound of my stomach growling. Shrimp.…

Fantasy league adds to NASCAR’s roar. Want to play?

Time for true confessions. I am a NASCAR fan. Starting next Sunday with the kick-off Daytona 500, I will use my DVR to record every left turn of the season. My favorite drivers, in order, are: Greg Biffle in his No. 16, Carl Edwards in the 99 and Denny Hamlin in the 10 car. It’s…