Talking YouTube, Syracuse University football, the Heath Brothers and Neil Diamond

YouTube and its little view-counter fascinates me. I can’t help it. Friday night I enjoyed experiencing the Counting Crows and Rob Thomas with my dear wife Karen and our friends Michelle and Kristin at the Lakeview Amphitheater. I knew I was going to post my story about the experience here Saturday morning, so I put…

Celebrating at Jimmy’s joint

It didn’t take my smart daughter Elisabeth long to pick the place for her post-graduation lunch celebration. Jimmy Buffett’s Margarittaville was the restaurant to follow the Saturday morning ceremony at Onondaga Community College. One, said Elisabeth, the Destiny USA location probably would not be overrun with graduates and family from the campus on the other…

OCC gets graduation ceremony right

Hail to the graduates of Onondaga Community College. Our graduate Elisabeth, in particular. But to all of them, really. The bustling college that serves the county that houses the city of Syracuse did it up right. Families and friends arrived with the graduates to file into the big SRC Arena on a gray and getting-chilly…

A shining moment for our student

We gathered at Kelley’s 15 strong Wednesday night to break bread for Elisabeth, to show this amazing young woman how proud we all are of what she’s accomplished these past two years. The food was good. The smiles were better. We were thrilled to then head down the road apiece to Onondaga Community College. My…

Bubbling over at the New York State Fair

It’s State Fair time in Syracuse, and the topic came up last week when I spent Sunday morning playing golf and eating breakfast with my daughter Elisabeth and Georges Three and Two. I told her my dear wife Karen and I planned to attend both Sundays. It’s a shared interest, that dusty collection of food…

I didn’t quite believe what I was hearing

For most of the minutes he appeared in front of the crowd of the big and important festival he put together so well for the community of Syracuse this past weekend, founder and executive director Frank Malfitano was a happy guy. As well he should be, I thought from my spot in the roped-off VIP…

Lake Street Dive unveils its Princess

The catch a rising star moment wrapped the M&T Syracuse Jazz Fet in its happy arms early Saturday night. Lake Street Dive, good to know you now. I only hope those plaques proclaiming it your day all four of you brought home, the bouquets placed in the arms of lead singer Rachael Price and bassist…

Aretha Franklin still qualifies as the Queen of Soul

The Queen of Soul still holds courts on a stage. Aretha Franklin took the 10,000 and more folks who pressed onto the campus of Onondaga Community College for her finale set of the M&T Syracuse Jazz Fest and showed them a thing or two about proper soul singing Saturday night. And it was very, very…

A Big Band jump start to the M&T Syracuse Jazz Fest

Into every M&T Syracuse Jazz Fest a little rain must fall. So it seems sometimes in the history of this big party to celebrate good music and hopefully fine times in Central New York. On the first night of the 33rd edition of the summer event on the campus of Onondaga Community College, the precipitation…

It’s the weekend to welcome Wynton and Aretha

It’s a huge weekend for music where I live. Wynton Marsalis leads the Lincoln Center Orchestra onto the stage of the M&T Syracuse Jazz Fest as the headliner Friday night. If you’ve never had the opportunity to sit in the same place as, oh, a couple dozen of the best jazz players on the planet…