The Palace Theater

The Palace Theater, on James St. in the Eastwood neighborhood, is a one-of-a-kind venue, active in the community since its opening in 1922. It hosts current movies, 35mm cult film triple-features, and other assorted events. Recently, I caught "Invictus", the story of Nelson Mandela and the South African rugby team, at The Palace shortly after it left the main theaters. I went there with some ESF classmates to see "Total Recall" and "Conan the Barbarian", and was greeted by nerdy trivia and prize giveaways between shows.

As part of the same Brew & View series, Monty Python's "Life of Brian", "Time Bandits" and "Brazil" will be showing on Saturday, May 1. Don't miss "The Big Lebowski" on May 21.

Additionally, if you are so inclined, The Palace is generally the venue to catch a rousing Halloween showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show (something I have yet to experience).

The Westcott Community Center

Housed in a former firehouse at the corner of Westcott St. and Euclid Ave., the Westcott Community Center is a hub of local activity, from bands and community meetings, to art exhibitions. It has also hosted ESF departmental potlucks with students and faculty, and can be rented for any event.

Among the activities it hosts:

- Figure drawing

- African dance and drumming

- University Neighbors Lecture Series

- Karate

- Exercise classes

It is also home to a GED program, as well as a childrens' after-school program.

The Westcott -- as it was called, especially before the movie theater down the street also converted to a concert venue -- is perhaps best known for hosting local young and amateur music acts in an alcohol-free venue friendly to highschool students. Concertgoers still gather on spring and summer evenings to pass the time outside before a show.

In the meantime, tune in online to Westcott Radio, also housed at the Community Center.

Living: Westcott Neighborhood

Many visiting prospective students ask where graduate students live, whether on- or off-campus, and what there is to do outside of class. For myself and a large contingent of my classmates, the Westcott Neighborhood is home. Approximately 1/2 mile from the ESF campus, students that live here can easily bike or walk to class in minutes. Rents are generally from $300 (shared) - $450 per month, per person, including utilities.

Its old houses and mix of residents, students, and graduate students gives the area a relaxed, yet vibrant atmosphere. Rental units - often split-level homes - are mixed together with owner-occupied housing. There is always some commotion in the business district, regardless of the day of the week, but the calmer neighborhood sections are quiet and peaceful.

The neighborhood is home to a handful of local businesses, including:

• The Westcott Theater, a concert venue that hosts many jam bands and touring acts
• Alto Cinco, a Tex-Mex and vegan-friendly restaurant and bar with great fresh food (try the Fried Catfish Burrito)
• Westcott Florist
• Munjed's Middle Eastern Cafe, has great falafel!
• Sabastino's Pizza, great hot wings!
• Recess Coffee House & Roastery, a cafe that roasts its coffee on the spot, it has comfy chairs, free wi-fi, and occasional music and movie nights

For those that enjoy soccer or basketball, Barry Park (previous post) is at the end of Westcott Street, not more than a mile from campus. Petit Library is the neighborhood public library, a quiet and shade-speckled place to check out a book or study.

Food and Drink: Middle Ages Brewery

A Syracuse institution, Middle Ages Brewery, has been pumping out tasty microbrews for almost 15 years. Its local flavor and focus on quality is especially popular with students. Its tap room on Wilkinson Street is open Monday-Friday from 11:30-6pm and Saturday until 5pm. Its beers are named with a medieval flair: Grail Ale, Dragonslayer, Druid Fluid, Wizard's Winter Ale. Wailing Wench and Swallow Wit wheat beer are both regular selections at the ESF graduate "TG" parties.

Sample the wares responsibly, and don't feel pressured to make a purchase. If you do, however, beers can be carried home in half-gallon refillable glass "growlers".

Food and Drink: Farmer's Market

The Central New York Regional Market is a favorite Saturday-morning destination for the go-getters in the ESF community. While early morning around 10am is best, the market is open until 1pm. It is not uncommon to see a dozen or more fellow students and professors doing their weekly shopping on a typical visit.

The Market features locally grown produce, especially during the summer and fall, when the offerings change on a weekly basis, from berries and fruits to apples, squash, and potatoes in the autumn months. A large number of vendors offer necessities with a specialty flair: cream-on-the-top milk, fresh yogurt, unfiltered apple cider, homemade pastas, granola, and breads.

In the summer, fresh local peaches are a must-have. Highly recommended and year-round are the very reasonably priced Mennonite baked goods, locally produced cheeses, and various free-range and grass-fed meats, from Buffalo to Lamb.

Food and Drink: Inn Complete

Every graduate student's favorite hang-out, the Inn Complete is housed in the former ski lodge on South Campus. You can reach it by car or via the Winding Ridge bus route, free to students. The Inn features standard student fare - chicken fingers, cheese fries, wings, sandwiches and wraps - all with a 25% discount for showing your grad ID. Apart from food, there is a great selection of beers at very reasonable prices - $1.50 is the "grad special": a random bottled beer or a selected draft.

On Thursday nights they host a trivia night, and at least twice per year they host a Friday "TG" party for ESF students. Apart from its food and drink, the Inn is also home to free foosball, pool, ping pong, and Nintendo Wii for all students and visitors. (I head here regularly with other ESF friends for my foosball fix.)

Food and Drink: Dinosaur Bar-B-Que

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que - on Willow Street, near Clinton Square in Downtown Syracuse - is a Syracuse landmark and must-see destination. In May 2009, it was voted America's Best Barbecue in a Good Morning America poll. For bikers, blues fans, and barbecue lovers, it needs no introduction.

Try the cornbread, pulled pork, or ribs. All meat is slow-cooked in their own wood-fired barbecue.

It features live blues and rock music Monday-Saturday nights and only takes walk-in reservations. Carpooling is suggested, as parking in the restaurant's general vicinity can be difficult. Campus groups that are lucky enough to have Dinosaur cater their event are usually descended upon by a pack of hungry graduate and undergraduate students.

Outdoors: Winter fun

For those that enjoy outdoor activities during the winter months, options abound. Highland Forest, Beaver Lake, Oneida Shores, and Onondaga Lake Park are popular for cross-country skiing. You can view trail conditions and maps here.

Sledding at Thornden Park or at one of the snow bowls on South Campus is always fun (and free).

Downhill skiing locations include Labrador Mountain (my favorite), Toggenburg, Song Mountain. Special discounts for college students include $15 lift tickets, special "college night" events, and various other promotions at all three locations. Toggenburg also offers snow tubing.

Further North, Whiteface in Lake Placid, home to the 1936 and 1980 Winter Olympics, offers the largest vertical drop east of the Rockies. Gore Mountain in the Adirondacks, and, closer to home, Greek Peak round out the skiing possibilities.

Gearing up for Spring Semester

Happy New Year and welcome to 2010! Things are quiet on the ESF campus this week, as most students have yet to return to campus. Spring classes begin on January 19th this semester, so only those with research to do or other obligations have returned so far.

Things aren't entirely quiet. Construction continues on the pass-through road behind Bray Hall, which will turn on-campus road access from a dead-end into a loop.

Upcoming events on campus include a graduate student TGIF party and snowman-building contest on Friday, January 22nd. Hopefully the snow will stick around!

Here's wishing everyone a happy and productive Spring semester.

Outdoors: Barry Park

View Larger Map

Barry Park, only one mile from campus, offers natural beauty, open space, and outdoor recreation for students and neighborhood residents alike. Amenities include a playground, 2 tennis courts, a handful of basketball courts, and a field for soccer, frisbee, and other sports. In the evenings when the weather is nice, it is common to find people from all countries and backgrounds playing pick-up soccer.

Across the street from the fields sits a pond and drainage basin, home to ducks, geese, and the occasional muskrat or other wild animal. Deer and rabbits have been known to frequent the area as well. Think of it as an oasis from the surrounding residential neighborhood. A trail around the pond measures 1.1 miles in circumference, making it a perfect destination for joggers (or mountain bikers) looking to stay off the hard pavement but still count the miles. In winter the site is used for cross-country skiing, walking pets, and, for the daring, ice skating on the frozen pond (try at your own risk!).

It was founded in the 1950s on the site of a former dump, though no signs of its past use are visible today. However, if one looks around an upturned tree or fresh earth, it is not uncommon to find broken milk bottles and other detritus of yesteryear.

Stay tuned for more installments in the Outdoors series.

TGIF Party

Today is one of those special Fridays when us graduate students come out from our hiding places and congregate to celebrate the end of another exciting week. Approximately once per month, the Graduate Student Association sponsors a party that most students call a "TG", short for TGIF.

These events generally take place on campus in Nifkin (Alumni) Lounge, on the basement floor of Marshall Hall. However, this week's event will be at the Inn Complete, the graduate student pub and restaurant on South Campus. This week is game night, and all events include free food and drink.

Outsiders are invited as well, just bring a valid ID. This is a good way to get to know other students, whether you are considering joining a program at ESF, or are already enrolled here.

Have a good weekend!