e055 - The 315NY Weekly

Hi {{ first name | reader }},

Happy Friday, 315. The big one this week: the Syracuse Orchestra performs the complete Star Wars: A New Hope live to film at the Oncenter, with conductor Sean O'Loughlin leading John Williams' score in real time. There are two shows on Saturday (1:30pm and 7:30pm), and if you've ever wanted to hear the opening crawl played by a full orchestra in the room with you, this is the one. Also at the Landmark this week, & Juliet (from the Emmy-winning writer of Schitt's Creek) runs Saturday and Sunday, and John Legend brings An Evening of Songs and Stories on Tuesday night.

Earth Day and Arbor Day both land this week, and the 315 is going all in. Utica Zoo throws a Party for the Planet on Saturday with crafts, clean-ups, silent auctions, and donation drives. Rome has both The GreatEST American Clean-Up on Saturday morning (followed by bluegrass at Copper City Brewing) and an Earth Month Plogging event at Saranac Brewery on Thursday. The North Country's Community Clean-Up Day meets at Ives Park in Potsdam on Saturday. And at Beaver Lake in Baldwinsville, you can celebrate Arbor Day on Friday with a guided walk through the Arboretum to learn about native trees.

The music and arts calendar is stacked beyond the headliners. Bruce in the USA, the definitive Springsteen tribute, plays the Oncenter on Wednesday. Humane CNY's Boogie Down Disco Night celebrates their 60th anniversary at the Syracuse Marriott with the PopShow Band on Friday. Upstate Medical University's Music As Healing students perform Spring in Harmony at the Community Folk Art Center. The 14th Annual North Country Folk Fest brings free live music, dancing, vendors, and food to St. Lawrence University all day Friday. And the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail kicks off its 32nd annual Wine & Herb Weekend, with herb-infused dishes paired with wine at 10 stops plus a potted herb to take home from each one.

Some quieter picks worth your time: Indie Bookstore Day at Lit Actually in Baldwinsville on Saturday. Intro to Woodburning at The Gallery in Waddington. Alcohol Inks on Ceramic Light Switch Tiles at Salmon River Fine Arts Center in Pulaski. A film screening at SUNY Oswego of Navigators of the Shadow Ring, a locally made cliffhanger adventure modeled after 1930s serials. And at Willard Memorial Chapel in Auburn, historian Elaine Peters gives a lecture on the role trees play in shaping communities. This week's Foodie Corner heads to East Genesee Street in Auburn for At Long Last, a brunch destination that's become one of the Finger Lakes' most talked-about tables. More on that below.

Celebrate HumaneCNY's 60th Anniversary in the Grand Ballroom at the Syracuse Marriott Downtown. An evening of food, drinks, raffles, and disco dancing with music from the iconic PopShow Band. Disco-themed outfit encouraged but not required.

Upstate Medical University's Music As Healing medical students present their spring concert. Join us at the Community Folk Art Center for an evening of instrumental and vocal performances celebrating community and healing.

The 13th annual Independent Bookstore Day celebrates local indie booksellers nationwide with exclusive books, literary items, contests, and cupcakes. Come to Lit Actually in Baldwinsville to join the fun.

Join us for a vibrant evening of culture and community as the Oneida Lake Arts and Heritage Center officially celebrates its reopening at St. David's Episcopal Church. This special event marks a new chapter for the local arts scene, blending visual artistry with a captivating live performance.

The Syracuse Orchestra presents Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert, featuring a screening of the complete film with composer John Williams' iconic score performed live. Led by conductor Sean O'Loughlin at the Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater.

Created by the Emmy-winning writer from Schitt's Creek, this hilarious new musical flips the script on the greatest love story ever told. What would happen next if Juliet didn't end it all over Romeo? Get whisked away on a fabulous journey as she ditches her famous ending for a fresh beginning and a second chance at life and love. Catch the show at Syracuse's Landmark Theatre.

Come enjoy this music performance at CNY Jazz Central in Syracuse.

The Salt City Jazztet performs at a concert celebrating Jazz Appreciation Month. Join us at the Liverpool Public Library.

Legend's live show at Landmark Theatre in Syracuse will feature intimate renditions of his greatest hits and fan favorites, woven together with stories from his life and career.

Come to the Oncenter for this live show. Led by Matt Ryan, Bruce In The USA has been hailed by audiences and critics alike for its meticulous musicianship and authentic stage presence, capturing the essence of Springsteen's iconic sound and the energy of the E Street Band.

Stop by Tyler Art Gallery at SUNY Oswego to see the first BFA exhibition of the spring semester. This semi-annual event marks a pivotal moment as students transition from emerging artists to professional creatives.

Help us celebrate Arbor Day and all the amazing trees that grow at Beaver Lake. Take a guided walk in the Arboretum to learn about native trees.

The Oswego County Historical Society's largest annual fundraiser for the Richardson-Bates House Museum. Participate in a silent table auction with donated antiques, collectibles, gift certificates, and more. Many artifacts and artworks are from Oswego history.

Come enjoy this local theatre production at Oswego Players.

Transform an ordinary ceramic light switch cover into a functional piece of art using vibrant alcohol inks at the Salmon River Fine Arts Center in Pulaski.

A 4-chapter cliffhanger adventure film by SUNY Oswego Cinema & Screen Studies Professor Jacob Dodd, modeled after the 1930s and 40s Republic Pictures' theatrical serials. Catch the screening at Marano Campus Center.

Join us at the White Pines Commons in Phoenix for an afternoon of fun, fashion, and philanthropy. Win coveted designer handbags while supporting a great cause.

Join us at Colloca Estate Winery in Fair Haven for an Authentic Sicilian Sunday Lunch, inspired by generations of family tradition and unforgettable feasts in the heart of Sicily.

Test your music knowledge at Old City Hall Brewery in Oswego.

Create your own oil painting at The Art Scene in Fulton.

Explore opportunities at this job fair at the Oswego YMCA.

The ultimate custom experience at Copper City Brewing in Rome. Create your own hat or belt bag, get linked with a custom, clasp-less bracelet, and pair it all with your favorite Copper City Brew.

It takes a community to keep the gardens and grounds of the Oneida Community Mansion House looking beautiful. Help celebrate spring by raking, picking up trash and brush, maintaining the paths, and more. All are welcome.

Utica Zoo hosts Party for the Planet. Join us for crafts, clean-up opportunities, silent auctions, donation drives, and more.

Join us for the third annual 1958 Gala at the Adirondack Bank Center in Utica. Guests will engage directly with the scientists behind MMRI's groundbreaking research and learn about discoveries happening right here in the Mohawk Valley.

The Anime Club's annual convention at MVCC showcases vendors, artists, lectures, games and contests on various aspects of pop culture, including anime, gaming, comics, and cosplay.

Work together, in groups or as individuals, and pick up litter as part of this annual Great American Clean-Up. Join us at Rome City Hall.

Join us at Copper City after The GreatEST American Clean-Up for an afternoon of foot-stomping music with The Last Minute Bluegrass Band.

During this gathering at the Utica Public Library, we'll discuss several wild medicinal and food plants that grow in the Mohawk Valley, including native, naturalized, and invasive species.

Join us at Saranac Brewery in Utica. What's plogging? A mashup of jogging (or walking) and picking up litter, born in Sweden, now sweeping the globe. It's good for your body, your mind, and your city.

Spice up your evening with some fun Latin rhythms that make you want to move. No dance experience or partner needed. Join us at Canton Yoga Loft.

Come donate blood at Potsdam Presbyterian Church.

The 14th Annual North Country Folk Fest at the Old Java Quad, St. Lawrence University. A free, family-friendly event with live music, dancing, vendors, and food.

Show off your smarts and your stars & stripes spirit. Join PAL of Massena for a fun-filled Trivia Night Fundraiser celebrating America's 250th birthday.

Shane Healey teaches the tools and tricks of the trade at The Gallery in Waddington. Materials provided. Great for beginners or as a refresher course.

Meet at Ives Park in Potsdam. Volunteers will be assigned cleanup areas. Light refreshments provided. Bring gloves and tools if available. Groups, sports teams, and organizations encouraged to join.

Massena Public Library hosts a Spring Celebration Day with a plant sale, bake sale, book sale, and live music.

A free concert of modern folk, bluegrass and Americana music at the Waddington Cultural Center, formerly St. Paul's Church.

Released to nearly universal acclaim, Sirat is an emotional powerhouse. Come check it out at the Roxy Theater in Potsdam.

The Cayuga Lake Wine Trail's 32nd annual Wine & Herb Weekend. Travel to 10 participating wineries and enjoy herb-infused dishes paired with wines, plus collect a potted herb or veggie plant at each stop to kickstart your own garden.

Come to the Fingerlakes Mall in Auburn for reptiles, amphibians, arachnids, supplies, artwork, and more.

Ivanna Michaels and Ginger 'GiGi' Diamond bring you their Birthday Bash Drag Show at Auburn Public Theater. With performances by Ivanna, Ginger, Glory Hellelur Serell, Veronica Grace, and Sassy Ann Grace.

Join the Cayuga Museum & Schweinfurth Art Center for Creative Explorers Family Free Day. Families will explore the museum and art center through special scavenger hunts to earn a prize.

A special Cars & Coffee showcasing one of the most talked-about performance cars in the world, the Ford GTD, now on display at Friendly Ford for a limited time. Stop in, grab a coffee, and experience it up close.

Enjoy some live music at Bluewater Grill in Skaneateles.

Ron Hurne will be performing at the Lunkenheimer Craft Brewing taproom in Weedsport.

Join us at Willard Memorial Chapel in Auburn to hear the role that trees play in creating a better place to live, with Historian Elaine Peters.

Native to Rochester, Catmospheric blends folk-rock with ambient synths on her electro-acoustic harp. Folktronica-soaked tunes that meander through originals, ambient soundscapes, and classic covers. Catch the show at the Smith Opera House in Geneva.

Thank you for reading, sharing,
and being part of this.

Jono Chowdhury
Founder, 315NY