Syracuse

Preview: Fitz and the Tantrums to play the Westcott April 21
By Alyssa McKinley
April 20, 2013 - 11:30am
Hunter Hunted will open for the indie pop band, which is touring in support of its sophomore album.

After four years on the rise since their debut full length Pickin' Up The Pieces, indie pop band Fitz and the Tantrums have been touring in support of their upcoming sophomore release More Than Just A Dream.

The band has been gracing venues across the nation with their lively blend of indie funk without rest. Their Syracuse show at The Westcott Theater is sure to provide fans with a dose of energy they need to get them pumped for the summer.

The Dirty Projectors loosen up at the Westcott
By Joseph DiDomizio
April 17, 2013 - 12:21pm
The Brooklyn-based rockers performed with Delicate Steve at the Westcott on Sunday April 14.

The audience was a curious mix of ages Sunday night at the Westcott Theater. Waiting to see the Brooklyn-based Dirty Projectors and opener Delicate Steve were the typical retinue of university students and 20-something locals as well as younger fans driven by, and at times attending with, their parents.

Earth Day 2013 events roundup
By Ellie Wilkinson
April 17, 2013 - 11:56am
Cleanups aren't the only way to show your love for the planet on April 22. Check out some of these other local events, and you can celebrate Earth Day all week long.

Earth Day is Monday, April 22, but Central New York has started the party for our planet a week early.

Nearly 5,000 volunteers picked up trash last Friday and Saturday in Onondaga County as part of the Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency’s Earth Day cleanup. In those two days, they collected over 8,400 pounds of garbage. Cleanups are planned through this week and into the weekend around the county, if you’re looking to help out.

Community members recount love tales for oral history initiative
By Leanna Garfield
April 13, 2013 - 10:14am
During the final event for the Black Syracuse Project's "Your Story!" series, members of the Syracuse community spoke about their experiences with love in its many forms.

On a rare sunny Tuesday in downtown Syracuse, a group of strangers gathered in an auditorium above Beauchamp Library to share love stories. A row of chairs faced an empty stage, their voices echoing off the hardwood floor. An initiative by the Black Syracuse Project, “Your Story!” was a chance for community members to recall stories of past love, new love, lifelong love and even love of self.

Gangs of Central New York
By Hani Taha
April 10, 2013 - 2:22pm
Thirty years since former gang leader General Davis ruled the streets, Syracuse is home to 22 gangs and 1,300 gang members, and the violent crime rate remains above the national average.

Three decades ago, it would have been unimaginable to have a conversation with General Davis in a public space like the chic Café Kubal on University Avenue in Syracuse. What can you expect from a man who is a self-proclaimed "one stop shop for gangs in Syracuse"?

Game time at Chuck's brought amped up energy (and a few spilled drinks)
By Jillian D'Onfro
April 7, 2013 - 12:05pm
Commentary: Watching the Final Four game at the legendary campus bar creates lasting memories, despite the 'Cuse defeat.

We didn’t have time to let the Jello shots set. 

“Oh my god!” my roommate Susie squealed from her room as my friend Nik tapped the jiggly contents of one of the orange rinds in our fridge skeptically, “The line at Chuck's is already so long!”

Mic check: Wu-Tang Clan's GZA draws motley crew at The Westcott
By Stephen Salvitti
April 6, 2013 - 5:07pm
Review: The founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan rolled out the classics at Westcott Theatre on Friday.

“Keep it loud as f-ck. At least let me get some feedback.”

GZA’s duel over the iron mic with the inept sound engineer was a reoccurring theme throughout the night. The lack of response from the sound booth, though, was compensated with an electric human feedback comprised of a circuitry of hands forming the renowned Wu-symbol, hammering heads and feet pulsating to the rhythms of the hits of the night: Duel of The Iron Mic, 4th Chamber, Protect Ya Neck, and Reunited.

Syracuse staycations and quick getaways for students on spring break
By Chris McPherson
March 6, 2013 - 7:44pm
Stuck in Central New York for spring break? It doesn't have to be a bummer if you try some of these activities or take a short trip.

Spring break is known as the time of year when many college students take extravagant vacations to tropical locations like Miami or Mexico. But not everyone has the cash flow in order to spend hundreds of dollars to support such a dream. Fortunately, there are still some interesting things to do around Syracuse — and if you’re tired of Syracuse, a great vacation is just a couple hours away. Here are some ideas on how to spend your spring break.

Q&A with singer Aaron Carter: The After Party stops in Syracuse
By Megan Paolone
February 18, 2013 - 9:46pm
After seven years off the road, Mr. Aaron's Party himself is officially back in business.

Aaron Carter is back, without adult supervision.

The 25-year-old singer known for hits like "Aaron's Party" and "How I Beat Shaq" will embark on his After Party Tour later this week after a nearly seven-year hiatus, and he's stopping at Syracuse's Westcott Theater on Sunday Feb. 24. It's possible he was shirtless the entire time, but Carter spoke to The NewsHouse recently about getting back on the road, dealing with female fans and his pet...

The Elevated Underground offers big sound in a small space on the Westside
By Dee Lockett
February 17, 2013 - 6:00pm
The trio behind this up-and-coming Syracuse venue hope to promote and showcase lesser-represented genres in the local music scene.

To get inside The Elevated Underground, you must first climb up over 20 steps toward a bright blue door, then duck down once you’re in. Next door to a park on the corner of West Onondaga Street and South Geddes Street in a quiet residential area on the Westside lies Syracuse’s best-kept music secret.

“You wouldn’t know it now, but it used to be a horror scene down here,” Dusten Blake, 25, owner of The Elevated Underground, said.