Cazenovia Pilot

Nice Video of Chittenango Falls

The Post-Standard has a nice video clip of Chittenango Falls State Park; those of you reading from out of town will appreciate this clip for the way it shows our early-spring weather as the trees start to sprout their leaves.

Unfortunately linking to the article is not working, so here is a copy of the video until Syracuse.com fixes the links.

Skate Sailing on Frozen Cazenovia Lake

I don't know what you call this sport, but on March 22 I saw two people with parachutes using the wind to "sail" (be dragged) across the frozen lake. Here's a photo of one of them; click to see a larger version in a new window.

This was taken with my abysmal camera phone, hence the poor quality.

Check out Noodly Goodness

Check out Noodly Goodness, a new blog about dining out in Central NY. It's about personal experiences, not critical reviews, and it looks promising to me... plus I know the guy that runs it and he's got unique tastes - so I am sure it will be interesting to read!

Lions Club Hosts Pancake Breakfast this Saturday morning

From the Cazenovia Lions Club:

The Cazenovia Lions Club will be holding their Pancake Breakfast this Saturday, March 22 at the Presbyterian Church, Albany Street, Cazenovia. We will be serving breakfast from 8:00 am to 11 am. This event is a fundraiser for the Lions Club. All proceeds help support our local community programs.

Prices are: Family ticket - $20, Adults - $5, Kids under 12 - $3, and Kids under 5 – Free.

Supporting our local Cazenovia Lions Club supports those we serve and those in need!

Remember as well that the Cazenovia Easter Egg Hunt will take place at Lakeland Park at 10 AM Saturday.

Cazenovia Native Anne Burrell to Host Food Network Show: "Secrets of a Restaurant Chef"

Cazenovia native Anne Burrell is set to host Secrets of a Restaurant Chef on Food Network. The show's first episode will air on June 29 at 10:30 AM, according to this article (with photo of Anne Burrell) from New York magazine's website. Ms. Burrell is described as, "previously known to TV viewers as Mario Batali’s spiky-haired Iron Chef assistant."

Can you identify this house?

A reader in the forums is trying to identify the exact location of this Cazenovia House. Does anybody have an idea where it is?

Thanks!

Syracuse Crunch Hockey Players will Sign Autographs at the Cazenovia P&C on Tuesday, March 4

The Syracuse Crunch have announced that Crunch players Derek Dorsett and Joakim Lindstrom will be at the P&C Foods location in Cazenovia at the Meadowbrook Dairy display on Tuesday, March 4 from 5-6 PM. For information or directions to the store, call 655-4565.

Cool!

Winter Cycling in Cazenovia

The Post-Standard has a nice photo today of Andrew and Linda Johnson of Cazenovia biking on Route 13.

Noted Critic of U.S. Agricultural Policy to Speak at Cazenovia Forum

From The Cazenovia Forum comes word about their upcoming event at the Catherine Cummings Theatre in Cazenovia.

CAZENOVIA, NY – The founder of a Washington, DC-based public interest research and advocacy organization will discuss the impact of the U.S. farm bill on our food supply, our environment and family farms at the next Cazenovia Forum lecture, to be held Friday, March 14, at 7:00pm at the Catherine Cummings Theatre on Lincklaen Street in Cazenovia. The event is free and no reservations or tickets are required. A reception will follow.

(article continues)

Ken Cook, president of the Washington, DC-based Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org), has been touted by national media as being one of the nation’s most influential experts on agricultural and environmental policy. The EWG, which seeks to use the power of information to protect human health and the environment, is perhaps best known in agricultural policy circles for its Farm Subsidy Database, which lists all the nation’s farm subsidy recipients and their share of the $165 billion taxpayers have spent on subsidies since 1995.

The New York Times has credited EWG’s web site and farm subsidy database with helping “transform the farm bill into a question about equity.”

“This is someone who can enlighten us about how our government gives billions in taxpayer-funded agricultural subsidy payments to corporations and wealthy individuals while struggling family farmers in places like Madison County get very little or nothing at all,” said Henry Rutz, co-President of the Cazenovia Forum. “Ken Cook believes U.S. agricultural policy is broken, and you might be surprised to hear whom he thinks is to blame. We’re delighted that he is coming to speak in Cazenovia.”

In addition to EWG’s activities on farm policy, the organization’s research and analysis are major forces in national debates over toxic chemicals, pesticides, and air and water pollution.

Cook is a frequent source of environmental perspective and commentary in national print and broadcast media. In the past year alone, he has appeared on the CBS Evening News, NBC Nightly News, the Today Show, MSNBC, CNBC, FOX Business News, HD Net’s Dan Rather Reports, and CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360. In addition, he has been featured on NPR's Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and Market Place in 2007. The New York Times, The Washington Post, Associated Press, Reuters, The Los Angeles Times and The San Francisco Chronicle regularly seek his commentary and perspective on issues.

This is the sixth event in the Cazenovia Forum lecture series, which was founded in 2006 to promote discussion and understanding of critical issues facing our nation and the world today. The Forum has previously hosted Jim Angle, Washington correspondent for Fox News Channel, Thomas Blanton, director of the National Security Archive, Rebecca Lipkin, London-based producer for the Al Jazeera English television network, Tom Ricks, military correspondent for the Washington Post, and renowned genetic ethicist Harvey Bender from the University of Notre Dame.

The Forum’s events are made possible by large and small donations from local residents and foundations.

Further information can be found on the organization’s website at www.cazenoviaforum.com.

Chenango Water Exercise Group: Water Talk

April Cady of Chenango Water Exercise Group sent the following "Water Talk" column for inclusion here. I hope everyone likes it; I've told April that I'll post whatever regular articles she sends.

As I was reading the paper this morning I gazed outside to see the gently falling snow flakes in the air and I thought; “now this is what winter should look like”. As we all know our winter season this year has been a bit atypical in that we have had a lot of rain, sleet, freezing rain, and ice to contend with. Here at the Chenango Water Exercise Group (CWEG) these are some of the most problematic events of Mother Nature we deal with.

As participants come into the building for their morning routines they have to negotiate the treacherous parking lots and walkways. Recently they have been very slippery and dangerous as they use them. For CWEG members it is double jeopardy because a serious fall can cause untold problems and a setback for their health.
Caution is the buzz word this time of year. People slow down a bit as they come and go and when the weather is particularly hazardous, they just don’t come.

I drive a Subaru with full time four-wheel drive but when the slush dominates the roadways I know I feel a bit unsure as I come down Preston Hill to the pool. Slush and ice are much harder to deal with than snow, in my opinion, and I always hope that our participants use sound judgment when deciding whether to venture out on bad weather days. This seems like a good place to once again remind our crowd that if Hamilton Central School is closed due to the weather, then CWEG is as well. Delays on the other hand are the school system’s way of warning us that the roads are treacherous and to use caution when driving. CWEG meets on those delay days, but vigilance is advised because the warning should be obvious.

Our gal-at-the-pool, Heidi, works hard to keep up with the snow and ice that dominates the walkway between Huntington and Lineberry but often it gets overwhelming. I have seen sanding trucks backed up to the doors and spreading the ice melt, but even that refreezes and becomes ineffective. And don’t get me started on “the wall”. Let’s just say that I have seen much more snow, sleet and ice come on the wrong side of the barrier than on the protective side, making the trip up the walk just that more hazardous.

So a word of concern for ALL who negotiate during this crazy winter; take care! Wear the proper footwear, dress warmly so you can take a few extra minutes, don’t rush to get inside despite the cold, we want everyone to get to where they are going in one piece. Make smart choices when the ice and snow come and avoid the problems that occur when there is a fall or even a nasty slip. The winter will come to an end and then we can all ease up a bit when we are on the walks, in the parking lots, or on the roads.

Wacky Winter Weather Wallops Winterfest

Today is the final day of Cazenovia's 2008 Winter Festival; events included ice skating and the Chilly Chili 5K run/walk. Around 1 PM, a driving winter storm blew through Cazenovia; it featured howling winds and whiteout conditions, quickly dumping 2-3 inches of snow across the area. News10Now has video of the day's happenings, including the snow.

"Star Wars" and "Pirates of the Caribbean" Films to Play at Cazenovia College Theater

From Cazenovia College:

The Catherine Cummings Theatre at Cazenovia college will present "Star Wars Episode 1" with a special presentation on digital animation, at 3 p.m., on Saturday, Feb. 9, and "Pirates of the Caribbean: at the World's End," at 3 p.m., on Saturday, Feb. 16.

Admission for each movie is $4.

"Star Wars, Episode 1" begins with a special presentation by Alyson Markell, who spent 11 years working for Industrial Light Magic, a division of Lucas Digital (George Lucas, creator of Star Wars).

Markell sculpted computer generated creatures for special effects blockbuster movies, including "Star Wars," "Pirates of the Caribbean, the Harry Potter series, "Jurassic Park" and others. Markell will explain how a creature is taken from the initial design through animation and then to the big screen.

Through a special agreement between Buyea's True Value and the Catherine Cummings Theatre, free popcorn will be offered at both movies.

The Catherine Cummings Theatre was named for Catherine Cummings Gorman, a 1925 graduate of Cazenovia College who loved theatre, in recognition of a $1 million gift to the College by the Gorman Foundation of Sherrill, N.Y.

CAZENOVIA MEN'S NIGHT OUT!!! THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13 2007!

Everybody - if you are an adult male, this is a GREAT holiday event. I have participated in a few of these and it is a good time with the friendly merchants of Cazenovia. Get out and enjoy some food and drink... and maybe win yourself a 37" flat screen TV!!

An opportunity for men to visit the local merchants and discover the many wonderful gifts needed for their holiday shopping. In the years past, men not only enjoyed the easy and fun shopping experience, but mostly enjoyed the comradeship they shared with their neighbors.

For additional fun, the local merchants will be raffling a 37 " Flat Screen TV. Every man will receive one free raffle ticket from each merchant he visits. The more stores he visits, the more tickets he receives and the greater his chance to win. No purchase is necessary to receive a raffle ticket. To wrap up the evening, the Lincklaen House will provide complimentary hors d'oeuvres beginning at 8:00 pm. A cash bar will be available. For a second chance to win, shoppers will be able to participate in a 50/50 raffle. The drawing for the television and 50/50 raffle will be held at 9:00 pm. You must be present to win. Sponsored by the Historic Cazenovia Business District Committee of the Greater Cazenovia Area Chamber of Commerce.

Phone: 315-655-4600
Email: copowers@twcny.rr.com
Web: www.cazenoviachamber.com

Annual Christmas Walk is this Friday, November 30

The annual Cazenovia Christmas Walk, presented by the Historic Cazenovia Business District Committee of the Greater Cazenovia Area Chamber of Commerce, will take place this Friday, November 30.

This is the 30th annual Christmas walk. It features a tree lighting (at 6:30 PM in front of the Presbyterian Church) followed by a holiday stroll through the holiday-decorated village. Shops will be open late for your shopping and browsing convenience, and local community organizations will be selling food and drinks from sidewalk stands.

Come out and participate in this excellent holiday tradition!

Lorenzo Visit Brings Memories for Post-Standard Columnist

Post-Standard columnit recently visited Lorenzo State Historic Site, the home built 200 years ago by Cazenovia's founder, John Lincklaen. The visit stirred memories for Case of his 1966 visit to the home when it was still a private residence. He tells about the visit - with some nice tie-ins to the current state of the mansion - in his column.

Cazenovia Forum Event This Saturday Evening 10/27/07

Harvey A. Bender, professor of Biological Sciences and Director of the Human Genetics Program at the University of Notre Dame, will discuss the social, political and personal implications of genetic engineering at the Cazenovia Forum in collaboration with the university’s Hesburgh Lecture Series. The event, during which Professor Bender will present and take questions, is scheduled for Saturday, October 27 at 6:30pm at the Cazenovia College Catherine Cummings Theatre. The event is free of charge. A reception will follow.

More information is available at the website www.cazenoviaforum.com.

Critz Farms Partners with Artists

Critz Farms is partnering with Cazenovia College artists and will host a fall art and farming exhibition this weekend and next at their Cazenovia location. For more information see their website at www.critzfarms.com.

Local watermedia artists strut their stuff

Local watermedia artists strut their stuff in Cazenovia this month. The Cazenovia Watercolor Society, with members all from the central New York area, holds an exhibition during October in the Cazenovia Public Library's gallery. HOURS: Monday - Friday: 9am - 9pm; Saturday: 10am - 5pm at 100 Albany Street Cazenovia NY 13035. For more information, email mdstlouis@frontiernet.net.

Cazenovia Ski Club Mountain Jam - Coming This Saturday, September 22 2007

From the Cazenovia Ski Club:

Tick Tock - Only 4 days left to get your Mountain Jam Tickets at a cheaper price! They'll be $25 at the door. PAY ONLINE AT www.skicaz.com and we'll hold your tickets for you at the door.

OR send a check payable to:

Cazenovia Ski Club
c/o Jack Stevens, Concert Committee Treasurer
9 William Street
Cazenovia, NY 13035.

You can also purchase tickets at The Golden Pheasant, Shephard Links, Beat Street Music, or on Saturday morning at the office of Russ Brownback (55 Albany Street next to the Chamber of Commerce) in Cazenovia.

Over 100 tickets already sold! We have to sell more! We need your support and want you there! Get tickets for your friends and family. Enjoy beer by Harpoon, food by the Golden Pheasant, and great music from Los Blancos, the Gonzalez Bros., Soul Risin', New Day, and Gregg Yeti and the Best Lights with Ashley Cox!

Cider Season is Upon Us

The Post-Standard features two photos of apple cider production at Cazenovia's Critz Farms. Here's an image of Matt Critz, one of the farm's owners, with a fresh-pressed glass of cider:

Photos: Cazenovia Football Defeats Clinton

The Post-Standard has a few photos of Cazenovia High School's 47-6 victory over Clinton HS.

More High School Sports Photo Essays

The Cazenovia varsity field hockey and football teams also had photo essays this week on Syracuse.com; thanks to Sue S. for pointing this out and sending me the links.

Field Hockey

Football

What did I miss?

I have been on vacation since the beginning of the month. What did I miss? Open comments are available for this post; click "Comments" to post one. Thanks!

Cazenovia Restaurants

[Updated 7/28/2007; Nirchi's Italian Grill is now open to the public; they are still awaiting their liquor license. The Brewster Inn has a fish market .]

I got to thinking the other day about the dining choices we have here in Cazenovia. I have occasionally fantasized about opening a restaurant, but I know nothing about the business and I can't cook. I just know what I like - which I guess makes me better suited to be a critic. So I wrote down quick thoughts and a rating for all of the places we have to get a bite to eat.

I am very interested in your opinions, too - where do you agree, where do you disagree, and what did I miss? If you find this kind of thing interesting, I also reviewed the Syracuse beer scene for MaltBlog.

Read on:

Kimberly's Ice Cream Factory. Serves ice cream and chocolates in a very cool little shop. The ice cream is made right there (you can even watch). An excellent product and a beautiful shop, succeeding in a very tough location. In a very short time the product and the friendly staff have made Kimberly's a community destination. 5/5.

Circa is the name of the newest (open since 1/31/2006) restaurant in Cazenovia. It's located at 76 Albany Street at the corner of Mill Street. Circa features fresh, local ingredients in American dishes, from hamburger to lamb stew to fish. Everything about my recent experience there was first rate. My wife and I were greeted promptly, seated immediately, and waited on by a small, efficient team of knowledgeable and friendly staff. The food was fresh and comprised of selections not usually found in Cazenovia - lentil and carrot samosas, freshly made spinach pasta with roasted squash and a rosemary sauce, excellent halibut with an olive tapenade over a mild tomato, onion, and butternut gnocchi mixture. It was all very good, accompanied by a nice wine and beer selection, and topped with excellent desserts from a local baker. We had the sweet potato pound cake and it was phenomenal. The chef/owner even came out to check on our satisfaction, a nice touch. So far this restaurant is a real winner and a welcome addition to the Cazenovia scene. Update 2/12/2007: Circa continues to serve winning food in creative ways. Service can be up and down; this is especially true since the owner had a baby in December and is adjusting the business to accommodate that part of her life. A second chef was hired and Circa now serves lighter, less expensive fare for lunch every day. 4.5/5

Seven Stone Steps. Ambitious and interesting menu of casual, relatively inexpensive lunches and pub grub. Their salads are really great - I've had a sliced duck salad and a grilled swordfish salad over mesclun greens that were among the best I've ever had. Some of their more familiar dishes have a twist to them - for example, the nachos are served with wheat chips instead of corn tortillas, and they serve homemade chips instead of fries. The service is usually good but sometimes it's slow or seemingly understaffed. Good bar selections (beer, wine, cocktails, liquors). The only place in Cazenovia to get a good draft brew - they always have Brooklyn IPA and Cooperstown Benchwarmer on tap [9/16/2005: a recent visit reveals they are also pouring Coopertown's Old Slugger pale ale]. Great that you can order off of the Lincklaen House menu. Prices are good. I like that they do fruit salad as a side for most lighter dishes. Bisque is top-notch, signature popovers are great. 4/5.

Lincklaen House. Excellent quality and above average service, reasonably priced for what it is. The dinner menu is limited but the selections are all very good. The multiple dining rooms are a cool way to get a different experience each time you go, and the "grand hotel" atmosphere feels special. 4.5/5

Stone's Throw. Very ambitious for Caz, priced right for what it is. I'm impressed that they can continue to have good sushi and sashimi (which I love) with so little turnover. Great classy bistro atmosphere (except for the filthy windows [9/16/2005: Windows are much improved, at least now that it's summer. Hopefully they'll stay clean!] and car lights shining in at night). Very limited wine list. Service could be faster for dinner; it's usually quick at lunch. Weird hours. 4/5

The Brewster Inn. We don't get here much now that we have a child, but when we have gone the food and service have almost always been excellent, and you can't beat the atmosphere and the grill. I have noticed that some things are a little weird (lobster ravioli with gruyere cheese? Hmmmm) but overall this is the most consistently ambitious and excellent high-end place we have. The pub menu and the salads are great for the lunch or quick dinner crowd, the wine list is terrific. The beer selection has improved, too. The Brewster also features a fish market now from Tuesday through Saturday that's open to the public; you can also buy their sauces, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil directly from this market. Rating revised on 7/28 up to 5/5 for the improved beer selection, even-better-than-before menu, lakefront setting, and the fact that this is consistently the best and most reliable experience in Cazenovia.

Brae Loch Inn. As an aficionado of things Scottish, I love the setting. I love their outdoor seating, live music, good people, and just the presence of the place. The bar is disappointing considering the way the place is put together - a good scotch selection but I would expect more draft beer and a bigger bar counter. But the evening buffet and camaraderie is great. For dinner it's very hit and miss. I have had great meals there leaving me satisfied and ready to sing BL's praises from the rooftops, then I'll go back and have an absolutely terrible meal - poorly cooked, poorly presented, bad service, sometimes even bad-tasting food. I've had similar experiences with the brunch, but overall the brunch is a fine way to get used to the BL. One thing that will never cease to amaze me - this place has the absolute worst coffee I have ever had. It's not a fluke - every time I go I have a TERRIBLE cup of coffee. 3.5/5. [Atmosphere gets 5/5 from me, food and bar 3/5, coffee 0/5]

Golden Pheasant. A step above basic, extensive if not imaginative menu, good beer/wine selection for the kind of place it is. Lots of chicken and pasta dishes, hearty soups, good lunch selection. Service is usually top-notch for a casual restaurant, sometimes it's surprisingly weak. Downstairs bathrooms are a minus but I don't know what else they can do about it. 3.5/5.

Albert's. For the basic, cheap, fast, hot meal, Albert's is a Cazenovia institution. (Even more so for cold beer) No nonsense at all, from the staff or the menu. We usually end up at GP instead of here, but you always get what you expect from Albert's. 3.5/5.

Cazenovia's Country Kitchen. Reliable, diner-esque food at good prices. My daughter really likes it there and has been counting the days until spring when she can go back again. I am never terribly impressed - there's a lot of homemade items but a lot of Sysco basics, too. The plates on the wall are cool though! 3.5/5

Nirchi's Italian Grill. Casual atmosphere with a solid, basic Italian food menu that also includes salads, sandwiches, and pizza. Menu choices include penne alla vodka, veal with peppers, chicken marsala, lasagna, chicken Parmesan, and much more. For a full review, see this post from July 27. Rating 3.5/5 for great coffee, very good pizza, OK food and OK service.

Cazenovia Grill. [6/25/2007: Restaurant closed permanently in April 2007; location to be taken over by Nirchi's Italian Grill.]

Common Grounds. Certainly the best coffee in Cazenovia and the only place to get real coffee drinks. Decent tea selection. They have light meals including sandwiches and soups, ordered at a counter; there is no table service. Rating 3.5/5. That rating has nothing to do with Project Cafe (which is a great organization) or with the space inside Common Grounds for meeting, watching a band, or just hanging out -- all of that is superb and great for Cazenovia as a whole.

Emma's Cafe on Main. Excellent, homemade food and interesting specials. Great, friendly service. Intentionally limited menu. A "real" diner. Really great prices. Only open for breakfast and lunch. 5/5 because I like a no-nonsense diner.

Great Wall. For a tiny Chinese place in a small town, they do a very good job. Their General Tso's chicken (which I no longer order for health reasons) is comparable to the best take-out I've had. The atmosphere is dingy, which I guess I expect for all of the open cooking done in that small location, but this place would get a better rating if it felt cleaner. It would get the maximum rating if they would only just deliver! 3.5/5.

Caz Pizza. Good pizza, solid ordering system (computerized and effective), attractive interior for a pizza shop. Would be even better if they had a regular delivery schedule and slightly longer hours. 4/5

Nicolena's. [1/29/2006: This restaurant closed in winter 2005.]

Pepi's Pizza. [6/25/2007: Restaurant permanently closed in May 2007].

Subway. I like the way they handled the design, though I don't particularly love the neon signs and food posters on the main drag. I have not eaten there but based on my experience with other Subways I'd give it 3/5.

Angel's. Expensive but very good quality sandwiches. Friendly staff, clean and inviting store, good soups and salads. 4.5/5.

Little Red Coffee Express. I haven't tried this yet but a couple of friends have. It's a converted RV that parks between the Atwell Mill and Harris Cleaners on Albany Street each morning. They serve hot coffee and other breakfast drinks as well as muffins, biscotti, and the like - all to go, of course. You can drive up or walk up; they're open weekdays from 7 AM - 1 PM.

McDonald's. I try to avoid it and I can't really rate something this generic! It's as clean and the people are as friendly as any McDonald's I've been to.

P&C. The roast chicken is really good - I like that markets are doing that now. Their salads are OK. Their fried foods (chicken wings/"fingers", fried chickens) are greasy and gross. Subs are OK, a better selection of bread would be nice. 3/5 for what it is.

Xtra Mart. I get the occasional sandwich here. It's what you would expect from a gas station sandwich - actually a little better than that!

Red Apple. They used to have more prepared foods but now it's mostly microwaveable stuff. The staff are really friendly and fun.

DiPaulo's Pizza. [9/16/2005: This restaurant closed in summer 2005.]

Marshall's Diner. [9/16/2005: Marshall's closed in the spring of 2005.]

Hummingbird Pantry. [9/16/2005: This bakery closed in the summer of 2005; a restaurant named "Circa" is going into this location.]

I am still amazed that there are that many different places to get a meal or snack in town. And there are a dozen places I gave at least 3.5/5. That's not too shabby for a tiny town.

What did I miss? What would you say? Please include your reviews in the Discussions area of this site! :)

Here's the history of updates to this page:

[Updated 6/25/2007; Pepi's Pizza has closed permanently (May 2007). Cazenovia Grill closed in April 2007; the location is being redeveloped as a "family Italian" restaurant called Nirchi's Italian Grill.]

[Updated 2/12/2007; Not a lot of new news on the restaurant scene at the moment, but updates include: Circa is open for lunch, and the Little Red Coffee Express is serving hot coffee and light breakfast items in the space between Atwell Mill and Harris Cleaners. Also, a friend who commutes daily to Cazenovia reports that he only eats at places that accept debit cards, which limits his quick lunch choices to McDonald's and Subway. I wonder if the other to-go places (e.g. Great Wall, the Pizza Restaurants, and Angel's) will consider taking debit cards as a way to improve their lunch business.]

[Updated 2/12/2006; Circa restaurant is open and I've had a chance to enjoy it. A separate post with a a full review will be posted.]

[Updated 1/19/2006; Nicolena's is no longer open and the space is for lease. Circa (in the former Hummingbird Pantry) expects to open in February, according to the Post-Standard. I've had meals recently at Cazenovia Grill, Golden Pheasant, Seven Stone Steps, Stone's Throw, and the Brae Loch Inn.]

[Updated 9/16/2005 and again 10/6/2005; a recent lunch at the new Nicolena's, a great meal at the Lincklaen House, and the closing of three establishments - Marshall's, DiPaulo's, and Hummingbird Pantry - made me realize I really ought to update this! Please bear in mind these are my opinions and are based on my personal experience over a few years - places change all the time and I hope everyone will try all Cazenovia restaurants at least once to see for yourself what they're all about.]

Nirchi's Italian Grill - Review

I had dinner with my wife and daughter last night at Nirchi's Italian Grill in Cazenovia. The menu has a lot of good choices for Italian family dining, including chicken and veal dishes (marsala, parmesan, etc.), pasta dishes (penne alla vodka, cappellini, lasagna), sandwiches, and entree salads. The atmosphere is identical to the old Cazenovia Grill business - same colors, same booths and tables. They have closed off the kitchen from the dining room, which (in my opinion) is a smart move.

The full review follows; you can add comments in the Nirchi's reviews section of the discussion forum.

The restaurant doesn't have its liquor license yet, so drinks were limited to Pepsi products from a fountain sprayer, as well as lemonade, sweetened iced tea (no unsweetened available), and seltzer water.

One very special touch is the availability of gluten-free and whole wheat pastas for an extra charge ($2.50 (the menu says $2, we were charged $2.50) for gluten-free; $1 for whole wheat). As my wife has a wheat allergy, we appreciated this.

We shared a calamari appetizer, which was good if not particularly inspiring. The calamari was properly done - not tough and not gummy - but the white coating did not add any flavor or look especially appealing. The sauces served with it were good - the Nirchi's tomato sauce and a garlic herb melted butter sauce.

Bread arrived with our salads. The bread was a round crusty Italian loaf made with very white flour. The flavor and texture were unremarkable but having freshly poured olive oil with garlic, oregano, and cloves of soft roasted garlic in which to dip the bread made it much better.

Salads (included with our entrees) were made from an attractive and tasty mix of field greens with a small amount of romaine lettuce mixed in, with onions, cucumbers, shredded carrot, and what appeared to be homemade croutons. I ordered crumbly bleu cheese dressing after confirming with the waitress that it would be accompanied by their Italian dressing. When the salad arrived the bleu cheese was on the side as expected but there was no Italian on the salad. When the waitress returned to our table, I told her of the oversight and she quickly brought a small container of Italian dressing. (A warning to the frugal: the $1 upcharge for the crumbly bleu cheese is pretty standard, but it wasn't included on the menu or indicated by the waitress when she recited the dressings as we ordered)

My wife had a gluten-free penne alla vodka; she reported that the pasta was overcooked (I tasted it and agreed - it was practically mush) and that the sauce was not memorable. [Disclaimer: She is Italian and a great cook, so your mileage will vary!] The menu says that the dish is finished with Prosciutto di Parma which we took to mean prosciutto spread around the top of the dish like a crumble. Instead, there was one lonely piece of prosciutto hiding out among the penne pieces.

I ordered lasagna. It was cheesy and hot, and the portion was large enough for a very hungry person. The ground beef layer had very little flavor, though the sauce was tasty and the ricotta cheese was smooth and rich.

Our daughter ordered from the kids menu ($4.99 for chicken tenders and fries).

There were three choices for dessert: tiramisu, chocolate-peanut butter cheesecake, and raspberry chocolate cheesecake. We didn't order anything but coffee... and I'm happy to report that the coffee had a strong, roasted flavor like good Italian coffee does, without tasting burnt like (for example) Starbuck's. In fact, the rest of the meal was all just OK, but the coffee is a keeper.

Service was friendly, but it was apparent that the restaurant is finding its legs - there were confused looks and longer-than-usual waits for some parts of the meal. The initial visit from our server seemed to take quite a while to arrive, and we noticed that others had similar problems.

We'll go back - it was just about exactly what we expected. OK food for OK prices with OK service. Nothing about it was bad, but nothing stood out either (except the whole wheat/gluten free options - that was pretty cool). I am looking forward to trying their spiedies, pizza, and wings.

It's a new and promising business. It's fantastic that they are taking a chance and doing this in Cazenovia, and I hope they have tremendous success with the business and are in town for many, many years.

[Update: I had the pizza at a staff lunch today, 7/27/07. We tried two of the sheet (rectangular) pizzas with three types - cheese, sweet peppers and mushrooms, and pepperoni. All were very good - a tasty and soft (but not mushy) crust, a good sauce-to-cheese ratio, and quality, tasty toppings.]

Nirchi's Italian Grill - Opening Monday July 23

According to a sign posted on the door of the restaurant, Nirchi's Italian Grill will open to the public on Monday, July 23. Their menu is also posted, and features a variety of salads, pizzas, sandwiches, appetizers, and pasta dishes. The posted prices were moderate - about $5-$9 for sandwiches and about $9-$14 for entrees.

For the record, they do have a chicken spiedie sandwich, and as a former resident of the Southern Tier, I look forward to trying it. Good luck to Nirchi's!

Fireworks Tonight!

Enjoy the music (beginning at 6 PM) and fireworks (at dusk) in Lakeland Park in Cazenovia tonight! Bring chairs and blankets, and enjoy one of the best days of the year to be in town: Independence Day.

FREE (GOOD) ICED COFFEE

The mercury shows that it's 85 degrees out there, and it's only 10 AM. Think fast and get thee to the Little Red Coffee Express on Albany Street (across from the Sunoco station and between Atwell's Mill and Harris Cleaners). They are giving away a full-sized version of their new slow-brewed iced coffee. I had a cup about an hour ago and it was fantastic!

The offer is only good until noon today (Wednesday June 27) so check it out!!

Cazenovia's 2007 Valedictorian Finds Academic Gold in South Korea

According to the Post-Standard, Cazenovia High School's 2007 valedictorian Beezly Kiernan won two individual gold medals - and 11 medals total - at an academic competition in Seoul, South Korea. Kiernan has also been a member of the New York State champion decathlon team from Cazenovia.

Mummy's Boy

I hesitated to post this under the category "Living", since it is about Cazenovia's most famous pseudo-resident, Hen. For anyone not in the know, Hen is the Egyptian mummy on display at the Cazenovia Public Library.

Newhouse News Service humor columnist Jeff Kramer (who works, I believe, for the Syracuse Post-Standard) filed an eHarmony profile for Hen the mummy. The article he wrote about it was published by Newhouse papers, including this version on the Cleveland Plain Dealer website. Hen's fame appears to be growing!

Cazenovia Artist Marks Release of Children's Book

Cazenovia illustrator Roger DeMuth has just released his first Children's Picture Book. Written by Harriet Ziefert and illustrated by Mr. DeMuth, Messy Bessie - Where's My Homework? features complex "search and find" illustrations designed to entertain and educate young minds. I stopped by Chameleon Gallery in Cazenovia today; they are featuring an exhibit of the original artwork and product concepts created by Mr. DeMuth - it's amazing stuff. Check it out!

Cazenovia Hosts Vintage Bentleys

From WSTM.com (Syracuse television channel 3) comes this story of the Bentley auto gathering today in Cazenovia. Apparently the cars visited Lorenzo, then the drivers had lunch at the Brae Loch Inn and motored on to Chittenango Falls State Park.

Cazenovia clothing designer is back from Scotland

Clothing designer Markie Roe, of Cazenovia, has returned from a ten-day trip to Scotland. She was there for the Don't Walk Fashion Show, according to the Post-Standard. I met Ms. Roe briefly at Cazenovia Artisans before her trip; her designs are cool and I hope she had a successful adventure.

Photo by Michelle Gabel, credit Syracuse Post-Standard.

Willow Patch Fun, Tomorrow April 22

Looking for something fun to do in the spectacular weather that's on tap for tomorrow? Then come to the Willow Patch in Cazenovia (along the creek bordered by Mill and South Streets) on Sunday (4/22) at 2:00 PM to create "environmental art" using the willows.

Bring tools to cut willows, lots of imagination, and wet condition boots.

Cazenovia Fire Department's Easter Ball to be held April 28

According to the sign in front of the Cazenovia fire department, less than 450 tickets remain to this year's Easter Ball. Here's more information about the Ball, direct from the fire department:

The Cazenovia Fire Deparment is proud to present the ever popular Nik and the Nice Guys at this years Easter Ball. Tickets are pre-sale only and may be purchased at the station Tuesday through Thursday from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.

Ticket sales will also be held on Saturdays from 9:00am to 12:00pm. If you need tickets and cannot make any of these times, please call Chief Sam Usborne at 655-2074 or 391-5528.

Tickets to the event cost $25 each and go to support the fire department for new gear and equipment to keep us safe. Ticket price covers all expenses at the event. There will only be 750 ticket sold. Last year this event was sold out. Thank you for your continued support!

Underage Drinking is the Topic Tonight at the Cazenovia Public Library

From the Post-Standard:

Bridges, Madison County Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, and Madison County's Promise-The Alliance for Youth will hold a town hall meeting 7 to 8:30 p.m. today at the Cazenovia Public Library.

The event is to help raise awareness about the dangers of underage drinking and the steps communities can take to prevent it. For more information, call 697-3947.

Seussical in Cazenovia, profiled by the Post-Standard

The musical "Seussical" is coming to Cazenovia's Catherine Cummings Theatre. The Post-Standard profiles director David Lowenstein, who participated in the original Broadway production of the same musical.

CNY ASA Tasting Dinner at the Lincklaen House

Last Sunday's benefit tasting dinner for the Central New York chapter of the Autism Society of America (CNY ASA) was excellent. Held at the Lincklaen House in Cazenovia, the event featured a ten-course tasting menu prepared by chef Chance Bear, which was enjoyed by about 35 attendees. I'll post more information about the courses and the amazing and unusual dessert when I can get the details. Thanks to everyone who attended and those who supported the ASA even though they could not be there.

Cazenovia Watercolor Society Is Now Online

The Cazenovia Watercolor Society has an attractive and informative new web site. I learned a couple of things and saw some great examples of work by several local artists... check it out!

Little Red Coffee Express featured in Post-Standard

The Little Red Coffee Express is a business that serves coffee, muffins, biscotti, and other on-the-go items directly from a specially converted RV. It was featured in the Syracuse Post-Standard last week. I've had their coffee - it's very tasty!

Great Cazenovia Photo Set

Victoria Station, a personal site run by a Cazenovia native named Vicki, has an excellent photo set of Cazenovia sights. I tried to contact Vicki to get her permission to post this link, but I couldn't find her email address on her web pages.

A Snowy Cazenovia Day

A few pictures from earlier today. Credit for the photos goes to my wife, Aimee. And per Emily's comment, I've started a Flickr profile to upload and share photos more broadly. Thanks, Emily!

My dog, Biko, loves sitting in the snow:

The front of my house:

I love the way the snow looks on the pine trees in the backyard:

No school yet again

Another overnight storm, coupled with high winds and temperatures in the single digits, have closed Cazenovia schools again today. In fact, almost all Central New York districts are closed today, and most counties have travel advisoriess or states of emergency.

National Expert on Government Secrecy to Speak at Cazenovia Forum

The following was provided by the Cazenovia Forum:

CAZENOVIA, NY – Thomas Blanton, the director of the National Security Archive in Washington, DC, will speak at the next Cazenovia Forum lecture on Friday, February 23 at 7:00pm at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 10 Mill Street in Cazenovia. The event is free of charge and will be followed by a reception in the parish hall.

One of America’s foremost experts on government secrecy, Blanton is a frequent guest on nationally broadcast news and discussion programs and is widely known for his advocacy on the issue of keeping government honest and open without sacrificing national security.

The topic of Blanton’s address will be Are You Safer in the Dark? – What the Government Doesn’t Want You to Know.

This will be the second lecture in the Cazenovia Forum series, which was founded last year by local residents to promote discussion and understanding of critical issues facing our nation and the world today. In early December, the Forum hosted Jim Angle, Washington correspondent for Fox News Channel, at an event that drew nearly 150 people.

The organization Blanton has headed since 1992, the National Security Archive, is an independent non-governmental research institute and library that collects and publishes declassified documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. It also serves as a repository of government records on a wide range of topics pertaining to the national security, foreign, intelligence, and economic policies of the United States.

The Archive won U.S. journalism’s George Polk Award in April 2000 for “piercing the self-serving veils of government secrecy, guiding journalists in the search for truth, and informing us all.” More information about the Archive can be found on its website www.nsarchive.org.

Blanton’s articles have appeared in The International Herald-Tribune, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, Foreign Policy, and many other publications. He received the American Library Association’s 1996 James Madison Award Honorary Citation for “defending the public’s right to know,” and a 2005 Emmy Award for outstanding news and documentary research.

More information on the Cazenovia Forum can be found on the organization’s website at www.cazenoviaforum.com.

College Theatre holds Open Casting Call for "Seussical the Musical"

Open auditions are being held for Seussical: The Musical at Cazenovia College. Here are the details as provided by the College's public relations service:

Cazenovia, N.Y. –Auditions for “Seussical the Musical,” will be held on Wednesday Jan. 24 in the Catherine Cummings Theatre at Cazenovia College, 18 Lincklaen St., from 3:30 to 5 p.m. “Seussical” is based on the works of children's author Theodore Geisel, known to the world as Dr. Seuss. The play will be staged Friday through Sunday, April 13 to 15; and Friday through Sunday, April 20 to 22. Show times will be announced.

There are roles for men, women and children, and auditions are open to all. Each auditioner should prepare a short song with or without accompaniment that shows off his or her voice and personality. Callbacks will be held on Friday Feb. 2 from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

The production is being directed by David Lowenstein, who was a cast-member in the original Broadway cast of “Seussical;” and is produced by Colleen Prossner, executive director of the Catherine Cummings Theatre at Cazenovia College. For additional information, please contact Prossner at 315-655-7238.

One-Woman Show at Cazenovia Library

Martha Keim-St. Louis has a solo show of her watercolors in the Cazenovia Public Library for all of January 2007.

Check out the library’s website at http://www.midyork.org/cazenovia/ for library hours. Martha's website is http://homepage.mac.com/mkstl/, if you want to check out her work first. There are several new pieces which have not been exhibited before.

Website for Town of Nelson, NY

Just a quick note to say that the Town of Nelson, NY website is online. It's linked permanently now from the right side of the Cazenovia Pilot homepage as well.

Cazenovia Forum Schedules First Lecturer

The Cazenovia Forum, a public affairs lecture series, has scheduled its first speaker. Jim Angle of Fox News Channel will speak on Saturday, December 9 at 6:00 PM at the Catherine Cummings Theatre in Cazenovia.

Wedding Announcement

Seasson Phillips and Peter Vitiello

Seasson Nicole Phillips and Peter Francesco Vitiello exchanged wedding vows Sept. 30, 2006 in the Third Presbyterian Church, Rochester NY. The Rev. John Wilkinson officiated at the evening ceremony, which was followed by a reception in the Science Museum of Rochester.

The bride is the daughter of Gale and Randall Phillips of Cazenovia NY. The bridegroom is the son of Joanne Abascal Vitiello of West Brighton NY.

Given in marriage by her father, the bride chose Kathryn Anselm as her matron of honor. Her bridesmaids were Jill Weimer and Amanda Vitiello, sister of the groom. Marielle Gelman was the flower girl.

Kevin Swords was the best man and the ushers were Gregory Giovanazzo and Marc Dell'Angelo.

Mrs. Vitiello is a graduate of Cazenovia High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and computer information systems from Nazareth College, Rochester, where she was a member of the swim team and is now an adjunct professor. She is an instructor at the Life Science Center of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and is a May 2007 candidate for a doctorate in biochemistry from the University. Seasson is also a deacon of the Third Presbyterian Church of Rochester.

Mr. Vitiello is a graduate of Curtis High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Lafayette College, Easton PA, where he was a member of the pep band, a Marquis and Excel scholar, a biology teaching assistant and a member of Theta Chi Fraternity. He is a May 2007 candidate for a doctorate in toxicology and environmental sciences from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, where he was awarded the Gilbert B. Forbes award in pediatrics for outstanding research. Peter is also an instructor in the Life Science Center of the university.

The couple lives in Irondequoit, NY and has chosen to take their honeymoon snowboarding in Breckenridge CO this winter.

The above was submitted by reader (and Seasson's father) Randy Phillips.

Cazenovia Meets Westhill Saturday

The unbeaten (9-0) Cazenovia Lakers will meet the similarly unbeaten Westhill squad in the Section III Class B football tournament final, this Saturday at the Carrier Dome. WTVH (Channel 5) has a video report featuring interviews with Cazenovia players and strongly promoting the team's chance to win it all. (Link will open in new window; a high-speed connection is recommended)

Foliage Season is here!

The photo above - of Chittenango Falls State Park in Cazenovia - was taken yesterday (10/3/06) by Post-Standard photographer David Lassman. Check out the New York State foliage report.

Pumpkin Catapult

This cool photo is part of yesterday's photo set on Syracuse.com; it shows the pumpkin catapult at Golub's Our Farm in Cazenovia.