Author: Courtney Kless

In the September issue, we introduced you to Symphoria, which is celebrating a milestone this season. Attending a performance also happens to be a wonderful way to treat yourself. “Symphoria can be a great spot to disconnect from the outside world for a little bit and reconnect to yourself and to other people in the community and have a shared experience of music,” said Executive Director Pamela Murchison. “There’s nothing quite like the experience of live music.” You may remember that Symphoria was officially started in 2012 (its successor, the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, went bankrupt the year before, and its…

Are you looking to try something new? The Warrior Factory Syracuse offers ninja warrior training for children and adults alike. Located in Camillus, the business first opened in December 2019 (there are also locations in Rochester and Buffalo). Guests can try obstacles from American Ninja Warrior, including a spider climb, rings, and warped walls, during an open play session or sign up for a ninja warrior class. “It’s a really fun and unique way to get some exercise, while doing something outside of the box,” said Owner Kathryn Bolster. And no experience is necessary to participate. “You don’t have to…

Families have been visiting the Utica Zoo for more than a century. The land it is located on was donated by Thomas R. Proctor in 1909. “He had a dream that a park could do as much for South Utica as Central Park was doing for New York City,” said Executive Director Andria Heath. “He hired a famous landscape architect, Frederick Law Omstead, who had designed Central Park, to plan the roads and scenic walkways in Roscoe Conkling Park.” In 1914, 80 acres were set aside for the formation of a zoo. In the early days, the Utica Zoo had…

If you’ve read my column before, you probably know that I enjoy hiking. This time of year, my favorite place to do that is Clark Reservation State Park. Located in Jamesville, the park dates back to 1915. That year, Mary Clark Thompson, the daughter of former governor Myron Clark, purchased the land (it was previously military tracts and a summer resort), later donating it to the state. She wanted it to serve as a memorial for her father. The park was then officially created in 1926. Today, Clark Reservation is home to a dozen trails. My favorites are the Mildred…

The Erie Canal Museum’s Gingerbread Gallery has been a popular holiday destination for the past 37 years. Steve Caraccilo, the museum’s operations manager, has been there for 24 of them. “It’s gotten quite popular,” he said. “It’s become one of the family traditions. We get a lot of repeat visitors.” The Gingerbread Gallery began as one-day event in 1986. These days, it runs for six weeks, allowing visitors to walk through an 1800s canal town with gingerbread creations in the storefront windows. Caraccilo said it typically takes about two and a half to three weeks to put the exhibit together.…

These books were recommended by Karen Notte, the early literacy specialist at the Fairmount Community Library, for ages 4-10. Lemonade in Winter: A Book About Two Kids Counting Money by Emily Jenkins Even though it’s cold and snowy outside, two siblings launch a lemonade (and limeade) stand, teaching readers about math in the process. Little Owl’s Snow by Divya Srinivasan Join Little Owl as he watches fall change to winter for the first time. One Candle by Eve Bunting While coming together for Hanukkah each year, a family reflects on a historical event. Pete the Cat’s 12 Groovy Days of…

Joshua LaGrow, Executive Director 1. What are some of the programs/services that Learn As You Grow offers? Learn As You Grow is a family owned and operated business here in Central New York. We’ve been in business for almost 40 years. We provide early education childcare services for infants through school-age, and we also participate with the school districts to provide universal pre-kindergarten (UPK) to children prior to them going to kindergarten. 2. Can you tell us a little about your staff? We have an amazing group of staff and teachers that work for our company. Some of our staff…

Is your family planning to head out of town for one of the (many) upcoming holidays? You’re not alone. “We don’t have any official numbers that are out yet, but we do know based on what we have seen throughout the year with every holiday, more and more people are traveling, and the numbers are definitely on the rise,” said Elizabeth Carey, director of public relations and corporate communications for AAA Western and Central New York. “We’re expecting that Thanksgiving and Christmas numbers could even exceed 2019 travel numbers.” She shared some tips that will help make your trip go…

Does the thought of preparing a turkey and all of the side dishes send you into a panic? This year, why not ditch the kitchen, and treat yourself (and your family) to a Thanksgiving dinner from 916 Riverside? Jake Burgett has been running the restaurant for the past eight years – but he has been around the food industry for much his life. The space was previously home to Castaways Riverside, which his father founded in 1994 (Burgett often helped out around the restaurant). The Thanksgiving dinners have been around for as long as 916 Riverside. Burgett said they have…

With the holidays right around the corner, are you still searching for the perfect gift for a friend or family member? You’ll find something for all ages – and interests – in our annual gift guide. MOST Updates Science Shop It has been a busy year for the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology. In the spring, the museum opened The National Grid ExploraDome, a state-of-the-art theatre and planetarium, then in mid-August, it unveiled updates to its popular Dino Zone exhibit. Now its Science Shop has been updated – just in time for the holiday season. “In a…