353. World of Beer

Has anyone been to DestiNY lately? A) Parking is not as bad as I thought (kudos to you, parking lot people…) B) There’s a whole bunch of fun happening there.

Just this week, World of Beer had their grand opening…and I’ve already been there twice!

Who woulda thought… But this is why…

They’ve got Fort Collins Brewery there…and there’s live music..and really great pub fare…it’s quickly going to become the #1 hot spot in Syracuse…so that’s cool.

While I love my traditional bars, like Kitty Hoynes, Als, Colemans, Blue Tusk and the like, WOB sure has a lot to offer! Like…there’s A LOT of beer there… on tap, in bottles…there’s just beer everywhere.

My friends have been participating in the “Mall Beer Crawl” …I think that’s the unofficial name. It’s where you go taste drinks from each bar/restaurant in the mall… and as the mall expands, the Mall Beer Crawl keeps getting longer and longer… and World of Beer is somewhere that will quickly be added to the official list, because it’s awesome.

Tip: It’s general seating, just gotta look out for an open table and grab it before someone else does! The place will always be busy.

location: Destiny

328. Picasso’s Pastries

It’s sunday morning…and all you want is something sweet. Something from a cute little bakery…something…..pastry. Picasso’s Pastries

They’ve got breads, muffins, cookies, cream puffs, cheese rolls, cinnamon buns, donuts and more! Oh my!!!

With it being right before the holidays, this is your 1 stop shop for something to bring over to your relatives house for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Check out their facebook page for daily specials, hours, and more!

Tip: Try their lemon basil cookies…they’re delicious!

location: 466 Westcott Street, Syracuse NY

320. Sammy Malone’s

For all you people who wonder what the heck Baldwinsville is all about, you should know the the nightlife is not so bad!

There are a bunch of bars and restaurants that are always jam packed on the weekend evenings.  With Thanksgiving coming up and friends and family returning to town the one stop I know I need to make is to Sammy Malone’s. (I even think I’m the DJ on the Touch Tunes app there…)

My family loves Sammy’s.  Im not kidding.

Sammy’s has a wide selection of beer, great views of the river, and plenty of seating for game nights…but the one thing that they’ve got that I have not found anywhere else in Syracuse is the best salad.

The salads at Sammy’s are amazing. Not only are they huge but you can legitimately add the entire kitchen sink…from chicken to strawberries they’ve got options galore. I dream about those salads! Also, their cheeseburger soup is the best I’ve had in all of CNY!

Tip: Check out their list of draught beers, they’ve got tons!

location: 2 Oswego St, Baldwinsville, NY 13027

259. Strong Hearts Cafe

This suggestion comes by way of a reader, who sent me the nicest email giving praise and thanks for 365 Things Syracuse. It was so incredibly comforting to know that I’ve got some really awesome followers to my blog!

Strong Hearts Cafe is awesome.

Hands down, there’s no other way to describe this place.

The ambiance is awesome, the food is awesome, the choices are awesome, it’s just plain awesome.

And did I mention it’s completely vegan? Yep, that’s right! Here in our small city we’ve got a fully vegan cafe, and it serves food to die for!

The about page on their website says it all, No plastic products, no styrofoam, no meat, no dairy, and all comes from local sources. Thats the true definition of local food, and that’s what I love about it so much!

Their menu also has some really awesome treats on it, like ….pizza! A Vegan pizza! I’d love to try one of those! I tried the Tofu Scramble for breakfast and you would have never known the difference. Whether you’ve never tried vegan food or you have, this place is seriously somewhere to check out! They’re open late, mostly between midnight & 1am during the week. This makes it a perfect place to study or read a book well into the evening.

Tip: Follow them on facebook for specials and awesome up to the minute events!

location: 719 E Genesee Street

253. Ms. Orange Fan

This one is for all the ladies out there…

Are you tired of getting a bad rap for not knowing anything about sports? Are you annoyed that everyone is always saying, “Girls don’t know anything about basketball!” Well, if you are…it’s time to prove everyone wrong.

The Ms. Orange fan is a great opportunity to combine Philanthropy, Community and everyone’s favorite Basketball team! It’s a ladies-only luncheon, October 27th starting at 9am with a tailgate in the parking lot! They will be featuring appearances by Otto, and the SU Cheer & Dance teams.

You’ll have the opportunity to participate in a silent auction, with proceeds going to the CNY Make A Wish Foundation and the Jim and Julie Boeheim Foundation.

If anything this is a great event to be involved in. It’s helping the community, and also gives you a chance to leave the men at home for an afternoon! Two birds one stone, people, two birds. one stone.

The highlight of the event however is the chance to meet some of the Wish Kids. Awesome! They’ll be escorting some the players and coaches to the tables of the lucky winners of the auction!

Tip: This event sells out every single year, so make sure you get your tickets soon! They’re $70 per person. To reserve your seats/table call the Make-A-Wish offices today! 315-475-WISH(9474).

location: Oncenter

218. Borios

Nestled on the shores of Oneida Lake sits a mainstay in the Syracuse area. While, it’s not downtown…if you’ve mentioned it people always know what it is.

Whether you’ve been to Borios for dinner, brunch a holiday or a wedding you’re taken away by the scenery every time you go there. It’s perfect in the summertime, it’s got the lake right off the deck and you can go enjoy some sun and good company.

Their food is delicious too! Their dinner menu hits all the stops from salads to seafood. Sometimes with the addition of live music it’s the perfect place to go to on a warm summer night…check out their calendar for the events throughout the month.

I personally enjoy Borios, not just because of their clam chowder, but because it’s really great to escape the hustle and bustle of dining in Downtown Syracuse…it’s one of the few places around here I’ll drive 20 minutes to…the views alone are worth the trip! Not to mention, in my quest to find the best patio Borio’s ranks top 3!

Tip: Check out their Brunch from 10:30-2 every Sunday

215. Blue Water Grill

This entire summer we’ve spent doing fun things, whether it’s going to a festival, an outdoor movie, a water park you name it…

When looking for the perfect place to dine in the summer you want a few things. One thing in particular, that I am always looking for, is the option to eat outside….big big plus. Second, is the menu…obviously and third is the accessibility.

Blue Water Grill in Skaneateles has it all…it’s a great place to grab a bite to eat if you’re up in Skaneateles which, if you haven’t gone yet you might as well drop what you’re doing and take the nice drive out of the city straight there. It’s the quaintest little town…it attracts a lot of people and it’s got a beautiful lake.

See what I mean?

Blue Water has an extensive menu of American-ish fare. They even do breakfast everyday from 8-11 and they’ve got sushi too! Even if you’re not that hungry, you should still consider going there for the atmosphere. The views of the lake are beautiful. East Coast summers are my favorites and Skaneateles Lake is just proof that there’s beauty all around us!

Tip: You might need to make reservations on the weekends, try calling to check availability.

location: 11 West Genesse St, Skaneateles NY

214. Bavarian Festival

Something I’ve noticed about Syracuse is that during the summer months we’re constantly staying busy. There have literally been festivals every single weekend since Memorial Day. That’s really exciting! A lot of people come out and support local clubs, cultures, food, etc…

This weekend is no different. Along with the Canine Carnival, Longbranch Park will be hosting the Bavarian Festival this Sunday, August 4th.

German culture is very interesting, especially when it comes to the food and beer, which there will be plenty of at Bavarian Festival! There will also be performances by local dance troupes and live music.

Why do I feel like this is going to be one hell of a party?!

Tip: Bring your own chairs with you to longbranch park so you can set up right in front of the dance floor!

Location: Longbranch Park

 

207. Rudy’s

In honor of Harborfest this weekend, we’ll be featuring some of the coolest things to do in and around Oswego…and when it comes to the coolest place to go to enjoy a bite to eat, Rudy’s is my favorite. It’s actually Rudy’s Lakeside Drive in…but tell me 1 person who calls it that….it’s Rudy’s to everyone!

Rudy’s is right on the water serving seafood and basic American food (mozz sticks, hamburgers, etc…) it’s menu is vast it’s meal is delicious. You walk in, overwhelmed by the amount of people and the fast pace, you walk to the counter order your meal, wait for it, head outside…easy peasy. It’s a little overwhelming but it’s all part of the experience. And the people behind the counter are super friendly!

I recently went to Rudy’s with my Sister and her boyfriend, and we enjoyed a delicious meal out on the deck right on Lake Ontario. It was really great. It’s nostalgic there, it really is one of my favorite spots in Oswego. It’s hometown feel mixed with the variety on the menu and the atmosphere make for a great dining experience.

Tip: Rudy’s is not open 7 days a week during the Fall/Winter. They open 7 days a week starting May 1-Sept 22. For the rest of the year it’s closed on Monday & Tuesday.

location

191. Zumba in the Square

Just because we work during the day does not mean we can’t make time to stay in shape.

Weekends are fun around here because there are so many different 5ks and activities going on, but what about during the week?!

Have no fear, there’s something out there for us mid-day mid-week people looking for a quick work out.

Zumba in the Square! Thanks to Metro Fitness for putting this (FREE!) workout program on every Wednesday in Clinton Square throughout the summer. From 12:15-12:45 you can enjoy a heart pumping sweaty mid-afternoon workout!

Tip: The classes will be cancelled if it’s raining!

Location: Clinton Square