I have a couple words....

stop being gloomy and start being happy, doc.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

a novel way to spend New Years Eve

Join the Syracuse Peace Council for the New Year's Eve Vigil for Peace in our Community and Around the Globe

Friday, December 31, 5-6 pm, Clinton Square, S. Salina St., downtown Syracuse
Come raise your voice in the call to start the New Year with peace here in Syracuse and in our nation's relations with the rest of the world. Contact Ann, 478-4571, if you wish to RSVP or have someone greet you at the protest.

After the Vigil, all are invited for some hot soup and bread at the home of SPC activists, 340 Midland Ave.


Sign making party for the New Year's Eve Vigil, tonight. Thursday, December 30th, 5:30-7:30, Syracuse Peace Council, 2013 E. Genesee St.
Come by our office to get creative and help craft messages to show our commitment to working for peace in the world and in our community.
We'll have hot coffee and tea to warm you up. Feel free to bring left-over Christmass cookies! RSVP Ursula, 472-5478 ursula@peacecouncil.net


Syracuse Peace Council
2013 East Genesee St.
Syracuse, NY 13210
(315) 472-5478

www.peacecouncil.net
Join SPC on Facebook!

Educating, agitating and organizing for 75 years!

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

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.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

What's #1 on my 1,000 Things To Do in Syracuse list? Live here.

Really live here. Stop the syrabuse, embrace the brilliance of a snowy morning, pick up a Genny Cream Ale ($2), and take a look around. Walk. Explore your neighborhood. Find the hidden websites of the 12million non-profits and community based organizations that call this place home.

Pick up the local hotsheet- the newsletter of your neighborhood (City Eagle, CNY Vision, Our Northside, listen to the spanish-language SABOR LATINO radio show Saturday nights 5-7pm on 1069FM (power1069.com)

Start with a place to live in Syracuse.
On the web, check out:
http://orangehousing.com/
http://syracuse.craigslist.org/

Physical locations to find good apartments or roommates include the community corkboard outside the Syracuse Real Food Co-op on Kensington and just inside the entrance to 2nd Story Bookstore on Westcott Street. Sometimes even asking local business owners while you're picking up a cuppa at Kind Coffee on E. Fayette Street or handcrafted earrings at Craft Chemistry on the Northside will turn up a spectacular apartment.

Buying a house in Syracuse is a damn fine investment. Our housing market didn't bubble...and consequently, it didn't bust. The house Otto-the-Orange-Fan-Gal bought in 2002 for $180,000 has most likely appreciated, and the house Yo'-Mama-Oh-No-She-Didn't bought in 2009 for $30,000 then flipped for $85,000 was a hot property. No, I'm not making it up. You can get a beautiful brand new home in mint condition in Syracuse for well under $200,000. You can get a beautiful, 100 year old house in fine condition for well under $200,000 in Syracuse. You can also find smokin' hot condos in downtown Syracuse, buy a house for $1 on the Near Westside and fix 'er up, or purchase a state-of-the-art super energy efficient custom built home on the Near West side for $80,000.
Yes, these are real numbers. No, I wouldn't play with your emotions like that.

Holla back with questions.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

The sky is falling.

If anyone ever tells you that the sky isn't falling, you tell that punk-@%* pollyanna that you've lived in Syracuse, NY and it durn well is. Snow, baby, snow. I couldn't be happier. No, serious, I love blizzards and think we don't get enough of them. Last week, us northerners got 52" of snow, followed by a thaw over the weekend that sent icicles the size of icebergs plummeting off my roof, and now a continuous flurry of perfect snowflakes that is making me yearn for snow days. Kids don't know how lucky they have it.

And what do I want to do on perfect snowy days like this one? After I've built a fire and put on fuzzy socks, I wander in to the kitchen to make some (kosher) Guinness beef stew and (vegan) baking powder drop biscuits from scratch.

In the spirit of hearty winter cooking, I'm providing you with a resource guide to buying locally raised meats. If you've every had a burger at Empire Brewing Co, you can absolutely taste the difference. If you're kosher, this likely won't help you at all. Go to Wegmans in Dewitt or Price Chopper on Erie Blvd for meat. If you're halal, there are small groceries/butchers that sell meat along the Little Italy stretch of N. Salina Street, at the intersection of Erie Blvd and Westcott Street, and in the Shop City plaza. For the rest of you, order up!


Barb Fuller
Dancing Goat Farm
1667 Co Rt 2
Richland NY 13144
315-298-5032
rabfuller@frontiernet.net

David & Erin Hull
Lucky 13 All Natural Red Angus
6638 Rt 80
Tully, NY 13159
315-696-6856
Lucky13beef@yahoo.com

Will & Allison Schonfeld
Will-Sho Farm (Beef)
1916 Dixon Rd
King Ferry NY 13081
315-246-9782

Dean Richardson
Richardson Farm (Beef)
200 S. Daysville Rd
Pulaski NY 13142
315-298-6579

Kirk & Vanessa Phillips
Circle P Farm (goat)
Parish NY 13131
315-391-1656

Mark & Angela Mattison
Mattland Farm, Family Farming Meats (Beef & Pork)
583 CO Rt 52
Richland NY 13144
315-298-8249

Jim Manning
Ferris Farm (lamb)
Prospect NY
Jim@ferris-farm.com

Sjana McClure-Berry
Berry Farms (beef)
10382 St Rt 90
Genoa NY 13071
315-497-1476

Tom Quinn
Quinn’s Irish Hill Farm (poultry & lamb)
Freeville NY
607-844-8645
tom@quinnsirishhillfarm.com

Monday, December 13, 2010

Do you know the ice skating rink?

Living on Drury Lane? Winter can be tough, and in Syracuse only the strong survive. One of the best pick-me-ups come winter time is a rush of raw endorphins. Run, do not walk, over to your local ice skating rink or Onondaga County Park for some cross country skiing. I happily recommend the roomy and magical Clinton Square rink downtown. It's $3 to skate, $3 additional to rent, and $.50 to get a locker for your boots. After you've toured around one of the best designed rinks I've seen in a while, turn those puppies back in and head over to Roji Tea Lounge (108 E Washington St.), BitterSweet(121 W. Fayette St.), Wise Guys Comedy Club & Bar (201 S Salina St.), or Empire Brewing Company (120 Walton St.) for a hot beverage. Hot Chocolate with Peppermint Schnapps is traditional...and the bartender at Empire does not fool around...she handed me the spiciest, warmest cup o'chocolate mint gorgeousness that I've :hiccup: every had.

For Cross Country Skiing, Snowshoeing and Sledding at a variety of levels, check out Highland Forest for:
- Highland offers a wide variety of mostly groomed ski, and separate snowshoe, trails for all abilities.

In the mood for something slightly more Currier & Ives? Highland Park also offers Sleighrides - 20-30 minute horsedrawn rides are available weekends and holidays (except Christmas Day) on a walk-in basis from 11am - 4pm, December 18 - March 13, 2011. $5 per person, under 5 free. Or take a drive to Skaneateles for their Dicken's Christmas. Live carrollers (don't know how to spell that, I'm Jewish), character actors such as Father Christmas and the Ghost of Christmas Past in costume, sketches/skits, and roasted chestnuts for sale to passers-by. There is also delicious local candy specialties at the area chocolate stores.

Enjoy the snow!