This is CNY

20/02/2025

What Crab N Go lacks in elegance, it makes up for in satisfying the primal urge to eat dinner with your hands, with reckless abandon.

Diners can build their own bag, picking from several types of crabs, shrimp, clams, mussels, crawfish and other add-ons, available by the half- or full-pound, or choose from pre-built combos. 🦀

In addition to the boils, the menu includes fried seafood platters and sandwiches, three types of ramen, a teriyaki lunch special and an assortment of Asian and American appetizers.

Jacob Pucci has the full review:

And the meal comes with bibs, gloves and a metal bucket.

20/02/2025

Skaneateles High School had a top graduation rate of 99% in 2024. That was No. 5 regionwide.

Fayetteville-Manlius High School had the second-highest rate in Onondaga County last year at 98%, tied for sixth in Central New York.

See details of 2024 graduation rates for every high school in Central New York here:

Several high schools in the region had 100% graduation rates in 2024.

20/02/2025

Are we tired of winter yet, Central New York? ❄️

The Syracuse area was walloped by yet another snowstorm this week — something residents across the region have become more than acquainted with this snowy February.

After Upstate New York’s lackluster 2023-2024 winter, this season’s lake effect snow has felt particularly relentless.

This month, 78 inches of snow have already fallen in the town of Palermo in Oswego County. And the village of Copenhagen in the North Country has gotten more than 300 inches this season — making it the snowiest populated place in the United States:

We might be shoveling out car-deep piles of snow. But we know how to have fun with snow in the Syracuse area.

19/02/2025

Shoutout to Syracuse snow plow drivers! ❄️ This has been a HEAVY season and we can't say thank you all enough.

Neither hills nor construction vehicles nor nonstop snow are keeping them from plowing his street.

19/02/2025

If a great escape isn’t in your winter break plans, don’t worry. That much-needed respite doesn’t require traveling far to fill your days with fun.

Here is a week’s worth of ways to entertain your kids indoors and out, here in Central New York:

While school's out for mid-winter break, here's how to keep the kids occupied.

18/02/2025

If last winter was a soggy nightmare for CNY downhill skiers, this winter is a snowy dream — a 10 out of 10, said Peter Harris, president of SKICNY.com, which operates Song Mountain and Labrador Mountain. 🎿

Harris said the number of lift tickets he’s sold so far this season is “significantly” ahead of last year.

“This business is a bit of a roller coaster,” he said. “But this is one of the better seasons in quite a few years.”

Jon Spaulding, director of marketing for Greek Peak Mountain Resort in Cortland, said their hotel has been full and skiers are coming out in record numbers. ⛷️

“It’s just been a stellar year,” he said. “It’s amazing what a little help from Mother Nature can do for a ski season.”

Photos by Arthur Maiorella. Full story by Steve Featherstone: https://this-is-cny.visitlink.me/mrLQtF

18/02/2025

A total of 18 school districts in New York had graduation rates of 100% in 2024, according to new data from the state Education Department.

The list includes the Clinton Central School District in Oneida County. That was the closest district with a 100% graduation rate to Syracuse.

The statewide average graduation rate last year was 86%, unchanged from 2023.

In Onondaga County, the Skaneateles and Westhill districts tied for the highest graduation rate at 97%.

Kevin Tampone reports:

Eighteen districts in the state had 100% graduation rates in 2024.

17/02/2025

Syracuse is one of six cities in New York state to get a perfect score on a nationwide assessment of how municipalities support le***an, gay, bisexual, transgender and q***r equality.

The city scored a perfect 100 on the 2024 Municipal Equality Index produced by the Human Rights Campaign, a nonprofit LGBTQ+ civil rights organization.

It’s the second year in a row the city won a perfect score.

The index calculates a municipality’s score based on its non-discrimination laws, inclusive employee benefits, targeted services and programs, positive relationship with police and open commitment to equality from its city leaders.

Quinn Youngs has the full report:

National nonprofit gives city perfect score in rating of policies and programs

17/02/2025

When temperatures in mid-January plummeted and the snow started flying, Noel McCarthy indulged a childhood dream—he started building an igloo.

Now, with help from his partner, Kimberly Bement, he’s almost finished.

“I didn’t know that we would get this far,” McCarthy said. “I got the first row in, and I was like, this thing is ridiculous. It’s huge. But it was a start, so just keep going with it.”

It sits on solid ice on the south shore of Oneida Lake, about 100 yards from the house where McCarthy and Bement live.

Steve Featherstone has the full story:

Noel McCarthy and Kimberly Bement teamed up to build a massive ice-block igloo on Oneida Lake.

15/02/2025

CNY Playhouse lovingly crafted its production of the 1963 musical “She Loves Me, the perfect show to open on Valentine’s Day.

With songs by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick before their “Fiddler on the Roof” took Broadway by storm, and a book by Joe Masteroff, “She Loves Me” tells a familiar story. It has been adapted at least three times in Hollywood, most recently as 1998's “You’ve Got Mail” with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.

The plot of “She Loves Me” revolves around the employees of a small cosmetics shop in pre-war Budapest. Head clerk Georg Nowack has been corresponding with a young woman he has never met. Addressing each other as “Dear Friend,” they have fallen in love without ever setting eyes on each other.

Full review by Len Fonte:

A lovingly crafted dessert of a show, CNY Playhouse’s “She Loves Me” is played and sung with sweet innocence.

15/02/2025

Kristen Weslowski’s late mother had a vision when she purchased the “quintessential old farmhouse” at 1842 Pork Street near Skaneateles in 2000.

“She saw it for her future grandchildren,” Weslowski said. “She hoped to turn it into a safe haven for them.”

Her mother’s wish came true.

The 2.33-acre property, zoned for both residential and agricultural uses, gave those future grandchildren an opportunity for outdoor science, gym, and history classes.

Now it's ready for a new family:

Kristen Weslowski fulfilled her mother's wish to make the home at 1842 Pork Street, near Skaneateles, into a 'safe haven' for her grandchildren.

15/02/2025

New York has six designated Free Fishing Days for 2025, with the first two this weekend, Feb. 15-16.

On free fishing days, the state’s fishing license requirement is waived for freshwater fishing. 🐟

The Free Fishing Days program began in 1991 to encourage New Yorkers to wet a line and maybe buy a fishing license, which supports conservation.

Plus it’s just a lot of fun. Steve Featherstone has all the details:

Fish for free this weekend Feb. 15-16 as DEC waives license fees

14/02/2025

Happy Valentine's Day, Syracuse!

While there’s nothing wrong with a classic dinner date, trying something new with your partner can help avoid staleness in a relationship. ❤️

Syracuse is home to a slew of indoor winter activities that make for creative dates. After all, sometimes the most memorable moments happen when you break your usual routine and try something new.

Whether you’re keeping it casual with a new person or you want some excitement with your longtime love, reporter Colette Goldstein offers up 9 ways to have a fun winter date in Central New York:

Step out of your usual date routine and try out some creative ways to spend time with your significant other.

14/02/2025

Philly has the cheesesteak, New Orleans has the muffuletta, and Miami has the Cubano.

And Syracuse? Well, we don’t have an official sandwich, but if we did, a whole lot of people might tell you it’s the Danny’s Favorite, named for supermarket chief executive Danny Wegman. We’re deep in Wegmans Country, and around here, his version of the Italian sub is practically a local landmark.

But nothing divides this town quite like a Wegmans sub. Lest we forget about all the terrific Italian sandwiches from Vince's Gourmet Imports, Thanos Import Market or Mazzye's Meats.

Charlie Miller has 10 terrific local recommendations to rival the grocery store giant:

We found terrific local sandwiches to rival those from the grocery giant.

14/02/2025

Cold, dark nights are no surprise in a Central New York February. When that icy wind comes hurtling through downtown streets, it can feel like Syracuse is on the edge of the world.

"It was surprising, then, when I found my winter blues so easily cured by the sharp, clear brass horns of The Hot 8 Brass Band playing at The Song & Dance on Thursday night," wrote music critic Arthur Maiorella.

On Thursday, they brought the Crescent City’s traditional jazz heritage and contemporary rap vocals — to Syracuse as part of their “Big Tuba Tour.”

Review and photos by Arthur Maiorella:

Pat Tato & The Baked Potatoes opened the show.

13/02/2025

Winter is Shane Muckey’s favorite time of year for one reason: Salmon River steelhead. 🐟

Muckey, 56, owns Altmar Outfitters lodge and fish cleaning station, a local landmark familiar to thousands of salmon anglers.

The Salmon River is a five-minute stroll from his front door, which is why he bought the place in 1993, and the reason why he’ll probably never leave.

Around here, February belongs to hardcore steelheaders like Muckey who wait all year for steelhead trout to migrate upstream from Lake Ontario.

Steve Featherstone has the full story:

Meet Shane Muckey, a self-avowed steelhead addict with the Salmon River in his front yard.

13/02/2025

If a great escape isn’t in your winter break plans, don’t worry. That much-needed respite doesn’t require traveling far to fill your days with fun.

Here is a week’s worth of ways to entertain your kids indoors and out, here in Central New York.

Plan something different each day or spread the excitement out over the week. All guarantee a chill time.

MJ Kravec has all the details:

While school's out for mid-winter break, here's how to keep the kids occupied.