Author: Courtney Kless

From the Erie Canal Museum’s Gingerbread Gallery (Nov. 22-Jan. 12) to the Everson Museum of Art’s Festival of Trees & Light (Dec. 5-15) to the Rosamond Gifford Zoo’s Holiday Nights (Fridays and Saturdays in December), Syracuse has so much to offer during the holiday season. Here are a few other places you should visit while you’re in town: Sports and Recreation Central Rock Gym Do you need a place where your kids can release some of their pent-up energy? Look no further than Central Rock Gym! As you may have already guessed, the gym specializes in rock climbing—or you can…

1. Can you tell us a little about your dance background—and what inspired you to take on the role of director of Light of the World Ballet? I began ballet at the age of 6 at Syracuse School of Dance, and later, when I was 14, I studied under Deborah Boughton at Center of Ballet and Dance Arts. At 18, I was accepted as a trainee with a professional international touring company, Ballet Magnificat! in Jackson, Mississippi, and the following year I was accepted into the company as a professional ballerina. After dancing professionally for seven years in Jackson, I…

Can you tell us a little about the history of Joan Condlin’s Liverpool School of Dance? How did you transition into your role as director? In 1972, my mom, Joan, put out feelers in Liverpool for dance by renting a VFW on Old Liverpool Road, next to what used to be a McDonald’s. After one year, we had outgrown that space and moved to the top floor of the Antique Mart on 1st Street. In 1985, we entered and started the after-school programs in the districts of Syracuse, Jamesville-Dewitt, Liverpool, Baldwinsville, and North Syracuse. At the age of 17, after graduation,…

If you’re anything like me, you enjoy planning a day trip or weekend getaway each fall. Have you considered Inlet as your next destination? “We are a tiny town surrounded by lakes and forests with so much to explore: hiking, biking, paddling, boating, fishing, hunting, swimming, camping, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, ice skating, snowshoeing, and so much more!” said Tourism Director Adele Burnett. “There are just over 300 people who live in Inlet year-round, and probably four times that many seasonal residents.” Known as “the little town that could,” Inlet is nestled along the Fulton Chain of Lakes in the Adirondacks.…

1. Can you tell us a little about the Creative Environment Day School and the programs that you offer?The Creative Environment Day School was started in 1966 by my grandmother, Sheila C. Brittain. She saw a need in the community for a safe, welcoming place for families. At that time, mothers were going back to work, and she saw that there was no full-day school in the area. So, she created it. It started out in a church for a few years, and then she bought the building that we are currently in, and we have been here ever since.…

The Everson Museum of Art has a fresh new dining option for Central New Yorkers.“Louise is more than just a café—it’s a space where community, art, and cuisine come together,” said Dominic Tricase, director of marketing and development at the Everson. “We’ve been thrilled with the positive feedback we’ve received since opening, and we look forward to welcoming even more visitors. Whether you’re an art enthusiast, a food lover, or just looking for a unique dining experience, Louise has something special to offer.”Named after Louise Rosenfield, a museum trustee and a Dallas potter with a lifelong passion for functional ceramics,…

It feels like there’s a national day for just about everything—even lighthouses! (FYI, National Lighthouse Day falls on Aug. 7.) You can celebrate all month long at the H. Lee White Maritime Museum. It runs boat tours to the Oswego West Pierhead Lighthouse between mid-June and September. “It’s just a great experience because people can see the Oswego community from a different perspective: out on a boat looking into the harbor, up the river,” said Executive Director Mercedes Niess. “It’s pretty spectacular.” Constructed in 1934, the 57-foot lighthouse stands near the meeting point of the Oswego River and Lake Ontario.…

The summer months in Central New York are packed with festivals and special events.Skaneateles has two you won’t want to miss.Curbstone Festival and Sidewalk Sales – July 11-13The first is the Curbstone Festival.“I think of it as a really cool outdoor market,” said Hilary Fenner, executive director of the Skaneateles Area Chamber of Commerce. “You get to shop at the same places, but you get to do it at a time when you get to be outside and enjoy the beautiful weather…It’s also a chance to shop from businesses that maybe you have heard of but haven’t been able to…

Planning a getaway this summer? Look no further than Cooperstown! The village is famous for its baseball history, but it has a lot more to offer families. Here are a few places you should add to your itinerary: Museums and Historical Sites National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum No visit to Cooperstown is complete without a stop at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. It boasts a collection of more than 40,000 artifacts (like bats, balls, gloves, and uniforms), but the highlight is the plaque gallery, where you can see tributes to some of the game’s biggest…

Travel back in time during a performance by Syracuse Shakespeare-In-The-Park.It all began during a lunch conversation more than two decades ago, when two couples, who both adored Shakespeare, realized there weren’t many opportunities to see his works performed outdoors in the Elizabethan tradition. So, they decided to create one. In 2003, Syracuse Shakespeare-In-The-Park presented its first show, A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream, in Thornden Park.To this day, it is the only organization in Central New York that focuses exclusively on the famed playwright and poet.“Our mission statement revolves around preserving Shakespeare’s language and making it accessible and available,” said Dan Stevens,…