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Syracuse is a pedestrian stronghold
Posted by eleahy | 09/05/08
Syracuse is a very misunderstood city.
It starts with the views one gathers from routes 690 and 81. From these perspectives one might wonder, “why get off?”
Our beloved city can resemble a bit of a backwater: Industrial and isolated, even harsh.
The truth of the matter is that Syracuse is really a walking city, filled with every kind of neighborhood, interesting characters, memorials, small businesses, churches, schools, libraries, galleries, eateries, lots of great architecture, trees and more than four dozen parks.
It has been ravaged by the call of the suburbs, the malls and the shopping centers - leaving pox marks in many of its great neighborhoods. These developments were designed with the car in mind...
CATEGORY: General Society
TAGS: Interstate 81,690,syracuse architecture,downtown syracuse,walking city
Why not follow the Pro
Posted by eleahy | 08/27/08
This week the City Eagle wraps up a two-part conversation Nancy Keefe Rhodes had with the new director of the West Side Initiative Daniela Moska-Wozniak.
I am reminded of the two years I spent in Massachusetts and Rhode Island around 2000. What I discovered was that Boston was a hassle, and instead, Providence RI was a gem of a city that in many ways reminded me of Syracuse, only on the right track.
Here are some of the two cities similarities:
✔ Each had a mayor that was clever and charismatic and eventually sent to jail for corruption.
✔ Each covered up water attractions: Providence’s two rivers and Syracuse buried the Erie Canal, fenced in Onondaga Creek and encouraged industry on Onondaga Lake...
CATEGORY: General Society
Me too ugly American
Posted by eleahy | 08/22/08
I am a little embarrassed watching the coverage of the Beijing Olympics as our announcers are often sounding like squeamish ugly American Tourists.
“They eat bugs!”
Yet, I have to admit I have always been a big fan of the photogenic-brained Bob Costas, who attended Syracuse University. He also worked on air here. A former Syracuse news producer of his once told me, they would hand Costas a script at the top of the show and he would look it over, hand it back and then hit the marks consistently. I enjoyed his conversations on “Later with Bob Costas,” as he was so well versed in his guests. And I always found Costas articulate and often charming...
CATEGORY: General Society
TAGS: olympics,carillo,costas,beijing
Whoopee made in China too
Posted by eleahy | 08/14/08
Before laying out some cash for a whoopee cushion, it occurred to me that I may have been duped. I was brought back to the day in 2002 when my friend Eric ripped my brand new yellow whoopee cushion in one seating. He even wrote a note on it, “I’m sorry I busted your whoopee, Eric.”
From that point, there seemed to be a rash of inferior Whoopee cushions. I couldn’t seem to keep any in stock for long. I had taken to carrying one in my purse in case an occasion might arise, but was forced to stop because of these poor quality issues.
I reasoned, maybe since the age was six and up, we were going too far up. Perhaps taxing the rubber beyond the proper weight restriction...
CATEGORY: General Society
TAGS: whoopee, Bronx cheer,made in china,congressman walsh
Always an animal
Posted by eleahy | 07/24/08
Women of my generation — baby boomers — have been haunted with animal tags since we were chicks; I mean young.
I asked my 20-something, office cubicle mate, Joe, “Do women of your generation have any animal nicknames?”
“Bitches — that’s technically a female dog,” he said.
“Yes,” I replied, “but anyone can be a bitch nowadays — even guys — you know, like, ‘you are my grill bitch.’”
We all know about Hef’s bunny syndrome. Syracuse had its own version in the 1970s with foxes at the top of the round Holiday Inn on Genesee Street, which is now the Renaissance Hotel. Women would dress in fox outfits — to serve cocktails — complete with hosiery and high heels...
CATEGORY: General Society
TAGS: cougars,urban,baby boomers,foxes,playboy,joe
Keep your motor not running
Posted by eleahy | 06/13/08
As reporters all over the nation are scurrying about for the scoop on what the public is doing in regard to gas prices, I kick back and rely on my own edgy style. “Edgy,” that’s me. Simply put, I go to the edge of life by asking mom and dad their take on the topic at hand? Married for 60 years and heading towards their 90s, they know a little something about gas, modes of transportation too. Do they have a thought, an idea, or a possible solution to America’s current high priced gas woes? Of course they do!
In the afternoon, father normally takes mother for a drive. She doesn’t really care where they go, often making up destinations just so he will take her out...
CATEGORY: General Society
Stay-cation: everybody must stay home
Posted by eleahy | 06/06/08
Our newsroom here at the Eagle is similar to the catacombs of Ancient Rome – only with vending machines. There are open cubicles separating the various town’s editors. Then there is a random guy named Joe and the city editor, which is me. Joe and I are housed in what is more like a cubicle-slash-cave. It’s a special secluded place for two. The room is lit by fluorescence and we walk on ink stained carpet. The various employees shout out conversation or questions over the fabric covered walls.
In the epicenter sits our sports guy, Phil. He has a giant brain. He knows from an encyclopedic perspective all things sports, music and politics complete with names, dates, statistics, lyrics and speeches. He can also spell.
Last week someone called out “stay-cation...
CATEGORY: General Society
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