Lonnie May 4th, 2008
Do any Walkable Eastwood readers remember Cliff Hart? The “Blond Bomber Boxer”? Golden Gloves champ? Maybe this bit about the Eastern Golden Gloves Finals from a New York Times article (March 7, 1946) will stir your memory, or at least your soul: Continue Reading »
Lonnie March 27th, 2008
This news has nothing and everything to do with Eastwood. Nothing, because it is about an event that doesn’t take place in Eastwood. Everything, because Eastwood, although quite village-like and distinct, is still within the city. What happens elsewhere in the city, for good or for ill, most definitely impacts us. Well, this one is a goodie! So I’m passing along this press release:
‘Get on the Bus’ trip visits CFAC and Syracuse Symphony April 4
On Friday, April 4, the public is invited to join the fourth “Get on the Bus” free Connective Corridor bus ride to get a taste of Syracuse’s multicultural art and culture. The Connective Corridor bus travels the 1.5-mile signature strip of cutting-edge cultural development connecting University Hill with downtown Syracuse. Continue Reading »
Lonnie October 4th, 2007
On Monday, October 1, at 10:00 a.m., Mayor Matthew Driscoll and Common Council President Bea González held a reception to introduce the members of the City of Syracuse Public Arts Commission. On hand a half hour early were at least a couple dozen friends of the arts who gathered to thank the City for the Public Arts Commission and for following through with an earlier decision to appoint Astria Suparak to the Commission. Coffee from Eastwood coffee roaster, Cafe Kubal, was served before the speeches began. (pictures here)
One person curiously not mentioned in any of the speeches was Eastwood resident Kate Clark, MPA and Fulbright Scholar, and the city’s first ever Public Art Coordinator. Kate oversees the public art process from application submission to project completion and serves as a liaison between the City departments, businesses, the community, and TNT with regard to public art, among many other tasks. Kate has done research involving other cities and members of Syracuse City hall to come up with a streamlined process for public art and a program for it. She has also been the project manager for public art projects here, such as the David Hayes sculptures, Lipe Art Park, Totems Phase II, National Park(ing) Day, and she helped to initiate Urban Video Project, Floating Galleries and the Public Art Trail. She is also the chair of 40-below Public Arts. We are fortunate to have such a bright and hardworking advocate for the arts in City Hall, and she deserves full recognition for her efforts.
Lonnie September 24th, 2007
Syracuse is fortunate to now have a Public Arts Commission in recognition of the fact that art - and the creative people it attracts - make for a healthier, more economically viable city. Why? Because we’re human and we want to have fun, enjoy beauty, get our thoughts provoked once in awhile, and feel like we average folks can enjoy some excellence in the cultural life of the city. People want to live in a city that treats them like people. And people come to a city to see art… and spend money while they’re there. Continue Reading »
Lonnie May 15th, 2007
Floating Galleries of Syracuse transforms vacant storefronts into 24/7 exhibits. The aim of this project is to give local artists and agencies and opportunity to display their work, while fostering economic development by drawing attention to available retail properties.
Floating Galleries is a volunteer organization, which emerged from The Syracuse Public Art Task Force in 2007.
Floating Galleries launches on Thursday, May 17th, 7-10 pm, at its first location, 220 Warren St, previously the Merchant Bank Building.
Short Program at 7:45pm
Music at 9:30pm
All are welcome to attend this opening / launch party.
Contact floatinggalleriessyracuse@gmail.com for more information.
There are some Eastwood residents who have begun to work on getting a Floating Gallery into Eastwood. Contact me if you’re interested in helping with this.
Lonnie May 4th, 2007
Matt and Rachel Godard were celebrating the opening of their Cafe Kubal last Saturday, so we stopped by to see how he was coming along with the latte art. Sure enough, he was ready for filming! Thanks to Dan Hunter, who kindly did the filming, we have a video so you can see how this is done.
Video of Matt creating latte art
While Matt and Rachel took care of customers, Dave Chu played flamenco and classical guitar, sitting on what has to be the original beanbag chair (a bag of coffee beans).
Lonnie April 26th, 2007
The other day I happened into Cafe Kubal, where Matt Godard is roasting some of the finest coffee in upstate New York. Who should be there behind the bar but Chris Deferio, the man I think of as The Ithaca Latte Artist:
I’d seen him in action at the Carriage House Cafe, where he’s the head barista and director of coffee education (now there’s a job!). Well, he’s been teaching Matt a thing or two, which means that even when Chris is back at his regular job, we in Eastwood can still watch our latte turn into something beautiful as well as delicious.
Lonnie April 16th, 2007
Please join the Central New York’s Arts & Crafts Society and the Preservation Association as they celebrate National Historic Preservation Month.
Saturday May 5, 2007
Palace Theater, 2384 James Street, Eastwood
10:00 am on the 2nd floor: Registration begins
10:30 am
Honorable Matt Driscoll, Mayor of Syracuse
Opening remarks
11:00 am
Jonathan Massey, SU School of Architecture
Claude Bragdon: Modernism & Preservation
NOON: Gourmet Luncheon – Mike Heagerty
1:15 pm
Ray Stubblebine, photojournalist & Craftsman Farms Foundation Trustee
Stickley’s Craftsman Homes
Samuel Gruber, PACNY director
Closing remarks
Ray Stubblebine will autograph his new book, Stickley’s Craftsman Homes, which documents over 250 home designs from the Craftsman Magazine and Stickley’s Architectural Department.
$15.00 members / $20.00 friends
Lonnie April 10th, 2007
I think a lot about what makes property values - yours and mine - rise in an urban neighborhood. I’ve concluded that it it is, in part, a certain “coolness factor” that is part reality and part perception. What strikes you when you walk through Little Italy or Armory Square? No, neither of them is perfect, but people want to be there for some reason. Downtown apartments are renting for as much as twice what they are in other parts of the city. Why? Because it’s so cool to live where density and diversity make it so interesting!