OMG I MISSED IT

flash. bang. wow. That's just the way it is. Things will never be the same. You live here, start going out every weekday, every weekend...catch as much of the magic as you can, but still it's gonna happen.

Recap on February; some very cool things went down. The Syracuse Opera had an opera karaoke night at Opus Restaurant in Armory. They brought the pianist and the public brought Attitude with a high A. The Syracuse Crunch Hockey team was doing their thing on ice with a game nearly every day. I watched a near-win by the Crunch vs. the Binghamton Senators. Our boys were up, and then they were down. It was a rough game, made a little rougher by my startled realization that I'm scared to death of "Al" the snow gorilla mascot. Snow gorilla, my tush. He's a yeti. And he has orange eyes. Creepy...I haven't felt this kind of fear since watching Arachnophobia at far too impressionable an age.

Syracuse's Drama Department performed a short run of a highly erotic play based on Lysistrata with as much subtlety to the theme of sexual warfare as only the under 22-year-old set can muster. Considering the cast size, I estimate I paid $1.25 per actor to see two hours of mostly-nude 18 year-old's masturbate on stage. Perhaps that shouldn't go in the 'very cool' category.

Rabbi Brad Hirschfeld spoke at Hendricks Chapel and Congregation Beth Sholom-Chevra Shas. The title of his discussion was, “How Big Is Your God? Religious Pluralism in an Age of Increasing Extremism”. He's a BFD, folks. President of Clal—The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, which is a think tank and resource center committed to religious pluralism. Newsweek magazine lists him as one of America’s “50 Most Influential Rabbis” and Beliefnet.com has him on the shortlist of the nation’s leading “Preachers and Teachers”. Not that I trust those online crazies, but still, he's something.

Major things not to miss in March, in date order:
0) Women Rockin' the World Benefit Concert, March 12, 2011 7-10:00 pm
FEATURING: emma’s revolution & Colleen Kattau, at May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society (3800 E. Genesee Street, Syracuse). ArtRage is celebrating the 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day & our exhibition of women’s art with this ROCKIN’ CONCERT to benefit the gallery. Tix $15.
1) Permeable Pavement in Cold Climates, with expert presentations on green infrastructure, green jobs, and green funding in Onondaga County. This day-long event will not keep you from your St. Patty's Day drinks and is being held at our sustainably-minded zoo (mere steps away from Tipperary Hill and Armory Square for post-green green drinking)
2) The Regional Chamber Business Show on March 24th, at the Fairgrounds in Syracuse, NY. This promises to be the most interactive event yet to feature businesses from across Central Upstate NY. And Dinosaur BBQ will be there!
3) The We Live NY Summit March 25th in Ithaca, NY. If you do nothing else this year (and you're under 40) git yourself to Ithaca for this one day.
4) Career Connections at Carousel Mall's Sky Deck on March 30th. For the unemployed or underemployed, this free full day of resume workshops, panels, speakers, and employers can provide a world of information toward effective job searching. Help yourself.

Oh, and the "Ah-hah! So that's what they're up to" moment for those of you wondering what was happening on the E. Genesee Street portion of the Connective Corridor near Phoebe's and Syracuse Stage: here.

This Economy Sucks....$ from the Green Apple (tree)

Ever think to yourself, man, all I need is some cold, hard cash to start my own bidness! No more punching a clock. No more daily grind. All I want is to be my own boss.

New Year's arrived right on time. Do it.

Yeah, yeah, money doesn't grow on trees. But if you've got the best business/ business plan in upstate NY, up to $250,000 could be yours.

This link is for you.* The NY Creative Core is looking for the most innovative and growth-oriented entrepreneur or emerging business.

The competition will run in three categories: Emerging Business, 15K innovations in agri-business, and the $6,000 Business Idea. The 1st place winner in the Emerging Business category will win $200,000, the 2nd place winner will win $50,000 making this event one of the largest business plan competitions in the country. The Business Idea competition will award one talented high school or college student a $5,000 cash prize for a great business idea essay. An additional $1,000 will be awarded to a professor, school, or business club associated with the student winner.

Deadlines:
250K Applications are due by:
Friday, January 21, 2011 at 5:00 pm EST.

Business Idea Applications are due by:
Friday, February 11, 2011

Participation in the competition is limited to individuals or entry teams from the Central Upstate New York region (defined as: Cayuga, Cortland, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, Seneca, St. Lawrence, and Tompkins Counties). Judging will be based on three categories as selected by the individual or entry team:

$250,000 Emerging Business Competition Company currently in existence – formally incorporated by January 22nd, 2010. Revenue stream between $0 and $5 million
$150 application fee (1st place winner $200,000 prize, 2nd place winner $50,000)


$15,000 Innovations in Agri-Business Competition Recognizes a company that has developed and implemented an innovative product, process, or technology that has significantly impacted their competitiveness and the competitiveness of the region’s agricultural community. No Application Fee ($15,000 prize)


$6,000 Business Idea Competition Open to High School and College Students only. $5000 is awarded to the student and $1000 is awarded to the institution the student attends.
No Application Fee ($6,000 prize)

* what link? The link in the title, fool. Click on the title! And don't even tell me you've missed all my other hidden links.

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.

Green of the Crop

Belated post...but at least you can see that green is growing in Central New York. Implementing the competition is and has been a wonderful team effort with the Creative Core, Syracuse Center of Excellence, AMOS Project, CNY Works, and the Metropolitan Development Association...the $150 cash prizes come from a Who's Who of green development organizations and agencies in Central New York and the prize sponsors are green businesses from all over Upstate NY. Look for more info next week at the awards ceremony and keep Green of the Crop in mind for next year.