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Airport Restaurants / Airport Dining / Airports / Airport News / SYR / → All Tags

Out With Sbarro and In With 'Dinosaur BBQ' at Syracuse Airport

You might not have Syracuse, New York on your travel radar—especially since it’s no longer an AYCJ option—but if you’re headed through town anytime soon be sure to keep a look out for some new airport dining options.

In a major victory for fans of airport restaurants everywhere, officials at the Syracuse Hancock International Airport have decided to remove two Sbarro locations in favor of more local options. In total the airport is looking to spend around $400,000 over the next couple of months to update things, but you won’t go hungry as some temporary kiosks will be set up to supply chips and M&Ms.

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Tragedies / Bus Travel / Road Trips / Megabus / → All Tags

Fatal Megabus Crash Teaches Important Lesson: Don't Sit Up Front

Although we've had our own list of the Top 5 Tips for Surviving Budget Bus Travel, we will now have to add "sitting at the front of a double-decker" to it after a fatal crash of a Megabus left four dead on Saturday. The cause? The bus had veered from its normal routes and was driving on roads unfamiliar to the driver when it drove into a railroad trestle bridge near Syracuse, NY, too low for the double-decker to pass underneath.

This Megabus, driving between Philadelphia and Toronto, was carrying only 28 passengers when the terrible accident occurred. It is the only fatal accident in Megabus' history, and the company says the incident is still under investigation.

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State Fair Travel / Food Travel / Events / → All Tags

Cheese Sculptures Galore At The New York State Fair

The New York State Fair's dairy building is turning 100, and organizers are milking it for all it's worth: The fair will feature a cheese carver to make a special display of state pride when it opens Thursday.

Sarah Kaufmann has both a super unique job and daily temptations; the Wisconsin-based (of course!) sculptor works exclusively in cheese, including a 600-pound model of the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan and, earlier this summer, a lactose version of Neil Armstrong.

For the New York State Fair, Kaufmann will use New York products to create a horse-drawn milk wagon, a dairy cow and a layered birthday cake along with other dairy-themed imagery. Visit her flavorful display starting Saturday, August 29 at 10am, with a special "Dairy Day" planned for Monday the 31st. Just try not to take a bite.

Related Stories:
· Try 130 Cheeses At The Hilton Maldives [HC]
· AFAR Travel Magazine Promises More Than The Expected [Jaunted]
· Deep-Fried Madness: It's State Fair Season [Jaunted]

[Photo of a holiday-themed cheese cow by Kaufmann: SarahCheeseLady.com]

Google Maps / Snow Days / Skiing / Active Travel / Winter Travel / → All Tags

New York Snowstorms Have Us Waxing Our XC Skis

So much lake effect snow fell on Upstate New York last night that the Thruway Authority completely closed a 134-mile stretch of I-90 for six hours. It's since reopened, and now that the roads are finally plowed, it's time to take advantage of all that snow by strapping on the cross-country skis and setting out in search of tranquil winter bliss.

A PR firm in the region recently sent us a link to a really cool Google Maps mashup that pinpoints dozens of cross-country skiing spots across the Finger Lakes, complete with photos, prices, trail guides, websites and, obviously, directions. We'd embed it here, but it's so full of info that it's better to view it full screen.

Of course, in Upstate New York this time of year, you may not even need a map to find decent cross country skiing: Just get to the nearest park and go from there. Today's forecast for Syracuse? "Snow squalls" bringing as much as a foot of new powder.

Related Stories:
· Cross-country Skiing in the Finger Lakes [Google Maps]
· Thruway Reopens After 134 Miles Shut Down [Democrat and Chronicle]
· Snow Days coverage [Jaunted]

Movie Set Travel / Restaurants / Hotels / Museums / → All Tags

Movie Set Travel: The Express

Fall often means one thing to a major portion of the US population: Football. Cue the opening of the season's newest football-themed film, "The Express." It's time for a hit after some pigskin-related clunkers like Leatherheads and We Are Marshall we say!

The Express is based on the life of college football hero Ernie Davis (Rob Brown), the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy. Davis grew up in a rough part of Southern New York state, and he went on to become an unstoppable running back at Syracuse University. He overcomes the odds, forcing his coach (Dennis Quaid) to re-examine the color barrier in the game and becoming an inspiring figure in the country's civil rights movement. We hear it's a playing field tear-jerker.

The film was shot mainly in Syracuse (with a few scenes done in Chicago) so read on for some great things to check out in Orange-town!

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Art / Public Art / Architecture / → All Tags

DIY Art Travel: Quilting at the Gas Station

In the city of Syracuse, New York, artist Jennifer Marsh was sick of driving by a run down, abandoned gas station every day. She took matters into her own hands and hatched a plan to beautify the building--and make a statement about high gas prices.

Marsh enlisted the help of artists from 15 countries and more than 2,500 grade school students in 29 states to create panels to cover the building. More than 3,000 quilt blocks made of every conceivable material were stitched together to cover every available surface--including the pumps--of the 50-year-old gas station.

The crazy but wonderful project cost $29,000, much of it Marsh's own money, with donations making up the rest.

Related Stories:
· International Fiber Collective [Official Site]
· Jennifer Marsh's Gas Station Cozy [Wooster Collective]
· Art coverage [Jaunted]

Coffee Shops / Starbucks Alternatives / Live Music / Waffles / → All Tags

Starbucks Alternatives: Funk 'n Waffles

Sure Funk 'n Waffles offers its own organic version of just about anything you can find on the drinks menu at the 'Bux: coffee, lattes, espresso, blah, blah, blah. But you'll never find funk or waffles at the green monster.

At the end of an alley and down a flight of stairs, Funk 'n Waffles is appropriately close to the campus of Syracuse University. Inside, you'll find purple-and-green-painted walls adorned by local artwork, along with a mix of new and hand-me-down furniture.

You might not notice the Curtis Mayfield playing, though, as the smell of Belgian waffles, maple syrup and coffee is too distracting. The menu includes several sweet and savory options, like a walnut, honey and banana combo or a "falafel waffle" which is basically falafel mix cooked in a waffle iron. The shop also serves panini, breakfast sandwiches and locally made ice cream.

A few nights a week, the place even turns into a music venue. But don't worry. You can still get waffles and coffee when the funk goes live.

Related Stories:
· Funk 'n Waffles [Official Site]
· Starbucks Alternatives coverage [Jaunted]
· Upstate New York Travel Map [Jaunted]

Airports / WiFi / Airport WiFi / Free WiFi / → All Tags

WiFi Wednesday: Free Internet at Syracuse Int'l

Nothing spells travel delays and snowed-in planes like a trip to upstate New York. So we're excited to hear that Syracuse Hancock International Airport recently installed free WiFi throughout its terminals. When you're stuck in Au Bon Pain, waiting in vain for the weather to break, it's so much more bearable when you're complaining about it to your friends on AIM.

According to the folks at SYR, the connection is free and there's even tech support if you run into problems (details here). The service is paid for by the airport authority, which in our experience means it's more reliable than your usual airport WiFi connection. Should be ad-free, too. Got your own WiFi reports? Let us know.

[Photo: PhillipC]

Related Stories:
· Syracuse Hancock International Airport [Official Site]

Celeb Travel / → All Tags

Billy Joel's the Entertainer at Syracuse

New York's favorite drunk-driving piano man, Billy Joel, left his East Hampton estate--for once--this weekend to pick up yet another honorary degree from Syracuse U.

He got a standing ovation from 5,000 grads on hand, and bestowed upon them some career advice: "Don't do it for security or status, prestige, money, or, for crying out loud, don't do it for somebody else." Funnily enough, he avoided talking about his DUI's and the fact that he's married to a random twenty-something, but we congratulate Billy nonetheless. Joel also donated $320,000 to the university's college of visual and performing arts for music fellowships.

And, if he's looking for some more property in the Hamptons, he should check out our Long Island Beach Houses Map. He's probably looking to buy, not rent, but it never hurts to learn something, right Billy?

Related Stories:
·   Joel Serenades 5,000 Syracuse Graduates [AP]