e056 - The 315NY Weekly

Hi {{ first name | reader }},

Happy Friday, 315. May arrives this weekend with three holidays packed into eight days. Star Wars Day (May the 4th) shows up three times across the region: Bricks & Minifigs in North Syracuse hosts their annual celebration on Sunday with themed activities and giveaways, The Smith Opera House screens A New Hope on the big screen Monday night, and Copper City Brewing in Rome runs Star Wars Trivia on Saturday. The Kentucky Derby (Saturday) gets two parties: a classic spread at the Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley, and a Derby-inspired High Tea at Geneva On The Lake. And Cinco de Mayo brings parties to Brothers Few in Auburn (early on Friday) and Copper City Brewing on Tuesday.

The music calendar is stacked. Bollywood comes to The Palace Theater in Syracuse on Saturday with Trendsetters, a 100-year retrospective of Bollywood song and dance. Like A Hurricane brings Neil Young to Funk 'N Waffles on Friday night. The Neil Minet Band plays Meier's Creek's cellar in Cazenovia (one of their favorite venues to play). Catmospheric, the folk-rock harpist from Rochester, plays the Smith Opera House Cabaret Series on Monday. And in the North Country, Ogdensburg Command Performances bring an ABBA and Bee Gees tribute to George Hall Auditorium on Saturday afternoon.

The festival season is starting. Maker Faire Syracuse returns Saturday, the largest STEAM event in Central New York with everything from traditional arts and crafts to high-tech creations. Canton Canoe Weekend runs all three days with pro and amateur races, relays, and recreational paddles. SLC Arts and the LoKo Festival kick off Plein Air at SUNY Potsdam on Friday. Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center in Auburn runs a two-day wet felting intensive on creating organic floral forms. And Salamander Saturday at Utica Zoo marks the 10th annual conservation event in support of the Foundation for the Conservation of Salamanders.

Mother's Day is next weekend, but two markets get an early start this Sunday: City Hall Commons in Syracuse hosts the 3rd Annual Mother's Day Market, and Deja Brew in Pulaski runs theirs with 25+ local vendors, live music, and lobster rolls. I Love My Park Day brings volunteers to Higley Flow State Park in Colton for planting, weeding, beach cleanup, and trail maintenance. And the film slate is strong: The Witch at the Smith on Friday (come dressed in your witchiest garb), Hitchcock's Notorious at the Rome Capitol on Saturday, Bohemian Rhapsody at the Fair Haven Arts Center on Tuesday, and A Fistful of Dollars at the Carriage House in Auburn on Wednesday. This week's Foodie Corner heads to Jamesville for School and Vine Kitchen & Bar, the renovated stone schoolhouse that's become one of the area's most charming dinner destinations. More on that below.

Best, Jono

The Meier's Creek cellar in Cazenovia provides a unique listening room environment, and is one of The Neil Minet Band's favorite venues to play.

One of Central New York's most spirited and creative student events, now in its 37th year. This beloved annual tradition brings hundreds of high school students and educators together for a day of friendly competition, artistic exploration, and hands-on teamwork centered around the ceramic arts.

Enjoy this top-shelf, lo-fi musical performance at Funk 'N Waffles in Syracuse.

Experience 100 years of Bollywood through unforgettable songs and dazzling dance performances live on stage. Trendsetters: A Bollywood Musical Journey is a high-energy, visually stunning production featuring lively song-and-dance sequences. Join us at The Palace Theater in Syracuse.

Maker Faire Syracuse features local makers in a family-friendly celebration of all kinds of making and creating, from traditional arts & crafts to high-tech creations. The largest STEAM event in Central New York.

A rambunctious, pro-wrestling themed explosion of entertainment. An evening of non-stop action and belly laughs at Syracuse Ukrainian National Home.

Come celebrate mom with local vendors, handmade gifts, sweet treats, and more at City Hall Commons in Syracuse.

Bricks & Minifigs North Syracuse hosts its annual May the 4th celebration with themed activities, giveaways, special appearances, and more.

Pink Rock Culture Co-op provides art materials and an eclectic trove of 2D collage elements and ephemera for self-guided collage art experiences ranging from collage artwork, decoupage, junk journaling, vision boarding, and mixed-media. Bring projects from home or start fresh.

Step into an evening of suspense, laughter, and unforgettable entertainment at The Foundry's Interactive Murder Mystery Dinner, presented by The ACME Mystery Company.

Hear the stories that have flourished by word of mouth for hundreds of years to the present day. Stories of the specters that haunt the streets, tunnels, homes, and businesses of Oswego.

Oswego is rich in history and blessed with great places to eat. Our foodie guide gives you the inside scoop on local businesses while sampling what they have to offer.

Get ready for an unforgettable summer of live music and outdoor fun at Lakeview Lanes & The Yard. Gather your friends, bring your lawn chairs, and enjoy performances under the open sky.

Experience an evening of live music, movement and mindfulness in a curated event at the Oswego Music Hall. Whether you come for the music, the movement, or the relaxation, this unique evening is sure to provide a deep experience for all.

Join the Friends of Mexico Point State Park for a beach clean-up and prepare for an amazing season.

The annual Mother's Day market at Deja Brew in Pulaski. 25+ local vendors, live music, outdoor seating, and lobster rolls.

Rami Malek won the Oscar for Best Actor for his portrayal of Queen singer Freddie Mercury in this biopic inspired by the band's tumultuous rise to fame and personal struggle. Catch the showing at Fair Haven Arts Center.

Get your creative juices flowing at The Art Scene in Fulton.

Think you know your classic hits, guitar riffs, legends, and lyrics? Prove it. Come test your knowledge at Old City Hall in Oswego.

Been missing going to shows with grown men screaming about how their life sucks? Come rock out to some live music at the Uptown Theatre in Utica.

Kick off your weekend with an upbeat evening of music and movement in Munson's Root Court.

Utica Zoo participates in the 10th annual Salamander Saturday, a conservation event hosted on zoo grounds in support of the Foundation for the Conservation of Salamanders.

Journey behind the scenes and explore the best-kept secrets hidden in storage. These tours offer a rare and intimate peek into seldom-seen museum collections.

The Derby is back. Get ready for the most exciting two minutes in sports and join us at the Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley.

Kick off patio season at Lotus Garden, celebrating Cambodian, Laos, and Thai New Year. Come immerse yourself in southeast Asian culture with food, drink, and dancing.

See what you remember from Star Wars. Test your knowledge at Copper City Brewing in Rome.

One of the great features from the Master of Suspense. Come enjoy this film at Rome Capitol Theatre.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at Copper City Brewing in Rome.

Learn about Munson's African American Community Partners (AACP) with drinks, snacks, and a good time. The AACP advises Munson's work with art, history, and the Central New York community.

Enjoy canoeing events all weekend long including pro and amateur races, relays, and recreational paddles.

An all-ages plein air kick-off with SLC Arts and the LoKo Festival on the SUNY Potsdam campus.

Ogdensburg Command Performances presents "ABBAmania and Night Fever/The Bee Gees" at George Hall Auditorium. The high-energy tribute features iconic hits including "Dancing Queen," "Mamma Mia," "Stayin' Alive," and "How Deep Is Your Love." Dazzling lights, dynamic staging, and rave-reviewed performances.

The Adirondack Mountain Club Laurentian Chapter hosts a 21-mile bike ride from Whalen Park to the Nicandri Center at Robert Moses State Park. The route includes roads, bike paths, and gravel sections.

At Higley Flow State Park in Colton, volunteers gather near the maintenance building. Activities include planting flowers, cleaning and weeding flower beds, tidying the beach and camp sites, trimming trails, and removing branches.

Enjoy a spring wildflower stroll with botanist Anne Johnson at Indian Creek Nature Center. Spring ephemerals should be in full bloom and trees leafing out at the Wildflower Loop.

A 90-minute spring sound healing program featuring cello and African world music at Trillium in Potsdam. Led by psychotherapist Alisa G. Woods and musician Benjamin Mambou, the session includes tapping, a live sound bath, and a mini-concert.

Transform personal memories into lasting documents for future generations, capturing life experiences, values, and personal philosophies. Join us at the Potsdam Public Museum.

Come donate blood at Massena Moose Lodge.

Movies at The Smith in Geneva are not just screenings, each one is an event. Come dressed in your "witchiest" garb and stop by Concessions to purchase Half-Moon Cookies and popcorn, try some honey Mead at the bar, and catch the vintage cartoon short before the feature.

Hang out at the clubhouse at Brothers Few in Auburn for tacos and cold beverages.

Learn how to sculpt organic forms with wool during this two-day, wet felting intensive at Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center in Auburn. You'll learn techniques for creating flowers, leaves, stems, stamens, and how to connect all of these elements into realistic floral forms.

Come on down to Moondog's Lounge in Auburn to enjoy some live music.

Run for the roses, sip with intention. Join us at Geneva On The Lake for a special Kentucky Derby-inspired High Tea experience.

Enjoy some live music at the Lunkenheimer Craft Brewing taproom in Weedsport.

May the 4th be with you at The Smith. Celebrate Star Wars Day on the big screen with the iconic adventure that started it all.

A wandering gunfighter plays two rival families against each other in a town torn apart by greed, pride, and revenge. Come enjoy this screening at the Carriage House Theater in Auburn.

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

Jono Chowdhury
Founder, 315NY