Shhh! And you thought the secret to the wardrobe was Narnia.

Ok, I'm a girl. I admit it. What I shouldn't admit is where I get my clothes. You might be as much a clothes horse as I am. You might take this information and steal off to usurp all the good stuff while I'm writing this. But I am willing to risk it in the hope that smart fashion takes off in Syracuse. Oh, by smart fashion, we're also talking completely green.

Marshall's in Fairmount Fair
3501 West Genesee Street
Syracuse, NY 13031
No joke, this Marshall's has an amazing buyer. Forget the one on Erie Blvd, it sucks. This one rocks. Calvin Klein suits, super cute undies, swim suits in all styles, Michael Kors sunglasses, Sofft shoes...you brand name it and this place has it.

Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas Rummage Sale
10am-4pm October 31st, 2010 (and there is a spring rummage sale too every year)
18 Patsy Ln, Jamesville, NY 13078-3706
Who knows clothes better than a Jewish mother? This sale is consistently stocked with quality clothes, kitchen items, coats/suits, children's toys, books. This is my super secret go-to for clothing, especially vintage suits and jewelry. A Do Not Miss on my Things To Do list.

Boom Babies
489 Westcott Street, Syracuse, NY
Designer dresses, formal wear, men's hats, vintage hankies, cool jewelery, and Halloween costumes out the wazooh. Buyer beware- this shop is wicked but during the peak prom season (March-June, and sometimes August-October for Homecoming) this place is filled with glamor-seeking 16 year olds, harried mothers, and impatient (read: rude) staff. It's a little slice of St Mark's Square chic.

Encore Thrift Shop
119 Brooklea Dr, Fayetteville, NY 13066-1303
And I quote, "located in the Limestone Plaza area of Fayetteville this charming thrift store is staffed by volunteers" and all profits benefit the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra. This place is on the pricey side for a thrift store, not like ye old Salvo, but has top quality brand name goods thanks to it's focus on arts philanthropy and location in richville.

Salvation Army Thift Store
2433 Erie Blvd E Syracuse, NY 13224-1186
The to-go thrift location for Syracuse city residents. This store in particular has all your non-disposable party needs- dishes, silverware, glassware, kitchen appliances, chairs and other household furniture. It also has a warehouse-sized store filled with rows of clothes organized by color. Random, right? There must be a method to that madness because everytime I go I come back with good loot. You need a $16 Tahari pant suit? or 70 little ceramic cups for an amuse bouche? This is THE place.

Newtonian Physics...or The Apple Picking Post

This is disgraceful. Here it is, mere days before Halloween and far too close for comfort for the November 2nd election and there has not been one single post on apple picking in Central New York. Apple picking up here is a lifestyle. It means days of apple cider donuts, spiced cider in a steaming paper cups, and baked apples with cinnamon perfuming the kitchen. If you're a canning freak like myself, it also means churning out quarts of the best complement to Hanukah latkes- pure handpicked and home made apple sauce goodness.

Now, there are exactly twelve million places to go apple picking around Syracuse. My favorite is Abbott Farms. Abbott Farms has something for everyone. Fresh, hot apple cider donuts (for me), spiced hot apple cider, local meats and cheeses, regional food specialty items and gifts (kid's tea sets, cook books, popcorn, New Hope Mills pancake mixes, etc), pies, ice cream, locally made fudge, and burgers made with their own farm-raised beef (beware, the fries are terrible). They have a pumpkin patch, petting goats, kids amusements and haybales to tumble on, a cider press for voyeurs like myself...oh and loads of apple trees.

Of the regional cider producers, you will hear two names consistently: Beak & Skiff and Red Orchard. Beak & Skiff cider is available at all local grocery stores, and they have recently pioneered a vodka made from apples, but you have to go out to the orchard store to get that. You can also pick there BUT Beak & Skiff is like the Disneyland of apple picking: clean, sanitized, and overrun by screaming children and tourists. Red Orchard cider is available from multiple vendors at our Regional Farmers Market. Rumor is they're organic.

Let the good times roll...Assault City Roller Derby

It's true, I've been keeping things from you. Like the time I got all dolled up on a hot Saturday night in August and pre-gamed in a parking lot in Baldwinsville before the Assault City vs. TriCity Roller Derby game. Sadly, our Assaulters got their asses handed to them by the Tri'd n True but no matter. Roller derby is an exciting sport to watch. The referee jeering in particular is highly enjoyable. Mostly because there are about 3 refs to every woman on the rink- and if that wasn't laughable enough- the refs actually think there are rules to be observed. :snarf:

Salt City Strikes Back...in vogue

The 2nd annual market will be on Saturday, October 23rd, 10am – 6pm, at the Case Supply Warehouse at 112 Wyoming St in Syracuse, NY.

The Salt City Urban Art & Craft Market is a unique event for the Syracuse area. Crafters of the new generation are emerging to provide funky, alternative and contemporary handmade artworks and our mission is to create an annual marketplace where a diverse group of local artists and designers have the opportunity to showcase and sell their work.

The Salt City Urban Art & Craft Market is the place to buy, experience, share, and re-imagine all things locally handmade while enjoying local music performances and yummy food provided by a local venues!

Green Drinks has hatched in Auburn

I posted about Green Drinks in Syracuse. Well, I'm sorry if I shock you but...we've already had a spin-off! Auburn is just west of Syracuse and it's a town with a burning secret. Auburn has one of the most progressive renewable energy strategies in the nation. :shocked gasp:
Now, this is just my opinion but listen up...3 hydroelectric sites in town, waste-gas methane digestion with the projected addition of a solar farm, a geothermal HVAC system for its 100 year old City Hall and several geothermal public schools, and continued movement toward Blue City (off the grid completely) energy policy. Now you agree with me, right?

Auburn Green Drinks Oct 19th reminder and listserv
WHAT: Green Drinks event in Auburn NY
WHEN: 7pm 'til 9pm, Tuesday 19th October 2010
RULE: Third Tuesday of every month
WHERE: Swabby's Tavern, 6 South Street in Auburn New York.
WHO: Anyone working on environmental issues or studying them
WHY: Fun, contacts, alcohol (or not), info, gossip, inspiration, business and pleasure
NEW: Just go up to someone and say "are you green?", and you'll be made welcome.
STATUS: Informal, self-organizing network.
URL: http://AuburnSIG.blogspot.com
HOW TO FIND: Look for the all electric three wheel "BugE" vehicle that will be parked near the entrance!
Contact: to sign up for the Auburn Green Drinks notify list, just write a blank email To the automated list: 'greendrinks-on@wells.edu'
For more info, write to William McCracken at william.mccracken@rocketmail.com


Autumn. Prime apple picking time. In the spirit of the green apple, a local symbol of innovation, I invite you to tour through the Creative Core, Central Upstate New York’s regional marketing campaign and website. www.creativecoreny.com Lots to see and do, regional photo competitions, the largest privately funded business competition in the USA, and vital stats and stories from creative (and sustainable) initiatives throughout the 12 counties!

October 14th at 6pm is the next Syracuse Green Drinks, followed closely by November 11th.
We’ll be in the back room of the Lounge unless otherwise noted on the sign in the Lobby of the Genesee Grande Hotel: 1060 East Genesee Street Syracuse, NY 13210. The Genesee Grande has created an easy method of spotting treehuggers- a table-top sign stating “Green Drinks”.