A new lane to consider

Careful opening that driver’s door. On my recent trip to downtown Syracuse, I had to navigate different traffic patterns. City planners had added a bike lane since my last time to the area. My thought? Clinton Square’s blocks already were tricky enough to navigate for vehicle drivers and walkers alike. Now there are less lanes…

Put the rink on ice?

Time for a real melt? During my recent trip to downtown Syracuse my walk past Clinton Square noticed that the arrival of spring has caused a bit of a melt for the skating rink. It may be time to take down the boards. Cement season is next. Who’s ready for music and entertainment weather?

It’s been a decade

Familiar and new. Some retirement business led me to downtown Syracuse last week. I had to haul out the iPhone to capture the still-notable Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Clinton Square against that cotton-candy sky. At right I noted the former big daily building with the title of its new purpose added at top left.…

Back to jazzy

The Syracuse Jazz Fest returned to downtown Syracuse a week ago, and so did my dear wife Karen and I. We pulled out our bag chairs and headed to Clinton Square on a sunny, hot Saturday afternoon in late June for some music and relaxation. Fest founder and producer Frank Malfitano was back in fine…

Will this Clinton Square tree grow on me?

Syracuse city-goers used to complain that the real trees cut down and brought to Clinton Square for the annual holiday celebration were always decorated the same. From this year on, we’ll have the same artificial tree. I will give the decorators this. The lighting pattern is far different than years past. Here’s a nighttime view…

Is it still a really pretty tree?

So the City of Syracuse switched out to an artificial Christmas tree for the traditional spot on downtown’s Clinton Square for the first time this year. Lots has been discussed in local media spots regarding costs, the saving of one really big live tree that won’t be cut down each year, this and that. I…

Pierogi make us dance, too

So what would put George Three, my terrific daughter Elisabeth and my dear wife Karen in such a good mood in downtown Syracuse’s Clinton Square? We had just eaten our annual Polish Fest meal cooked up by the folks from the food-makers who travel to the event from Rome, N.Y., that’s what. Their pierogi make…

Chip away at the Winterfest spirit

I knot of us took a stroll from Martinfest on Saturday, wandering from the downtown Syracuse parking lot to Clinton Square to take in the Winterfest ice sculptures. The sculptor with the saw was still creating. Hover over a gallery photo for a description. Click on an image for an enlarged slide show. We returned…