Thornden Park hosts final concert of vaccination series
PRESS RELEASE
Contact:
Larry Luttinger
441 E. Washington St.
Syracuse NY 13202
315-479-5299
Thornden Park hosts final concert of vaccination series
Summerlong cash raffle winners will be announced
Syracuse NY – The final event of the Syracuse Community Health “Family Health Gatherings,” the summer public health event series that has been blanketing Syracuse parks since June, will conclude with a major concert featuring international contemporary jazz artist Eric Darius in Thornden Park’s amphitheater, Thornden Park Drive, Syracuse 13210. The event is scheduled for this Sunday August 22nd from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Darius is well-known to area smooth jazz fans, having performed here for the Health Center’s annual “Evening of Jazz” events and this February’s virtual CNY Jazz Black History Month Cabaret. Of Haitian and Jamaican descent, Eric’s career started in his teens, touring internationally with Sonny LaRosa’s “America’s Youngest Jazz Band.” His first album was released when he was seventeen. After study at the University of South Florida, he has become a leading figure in contemporary jazz, performing internationally at major festivals, theaters, and clubs. His most recent hit single “Breakin’ Thru” has been a staple on Contemporary Jazz radio, reaching #1 on the Billboard Charts.
Derrick Murry, COO of Syracuse Community Health and driving force behind this urban vaccination effort, said this about the current environment, “My message to urban Syracuse and to our entire region is this. We are now in a pivotal and uncertain time in the history of this pandemic. Black and Hispanic Americans are dying at a much higher rate than others, and urban neighborhoods are still lagging behind in vaccinations and are very high in infection rates. Get vaccinated against COVID-19. Don’t listen to misinformation. Turn uncertainty into certainty by speaking to trusted messengers who can provide you with credible information about COVID-19 and the vaccines that are available to fight this virus. Please get vaccinated to protect yourself, your parents, your children, your co-workers, everyone around you. You owe it to your family, your friends, and your entire community, to immunize yourself and eliminate the spread of COVID-19 to others. Do this and we can beat this variant, future variants, and send our children back to school safely as well.”
The biggest incentives of the series will be awarded at the concert. The last of the six flat screen TVs will be raffled, and at the conclusion of the concert, three people who have been vaccinated will win prizes of $1,000, $500, and $250 in a final drawing. According to Larry Luttinger of CNY Jazz, organizer of the series, “I want to thank the health center, 100 Black Men of Syracuse, and all of our dedicated health care and corporate sponsors for making it possible for us to complete this urgent awareness campaign and cultural series. The arts are a powerful platform for social awareness and change. I am humbled to be able to make this effort to move the public health needle in a positive direction for urban Syracuse. If we’ve saved one life, this entire effort has been worth it. So let’s all come celebrate on Sunday.”
Minority arts and crafts vendors will be present, as well as a food vendor for those who don’t wish to bring coolers and food baskets. Additional information is available at www.cnyjazzinthecity.org . The event is rain or shine. Parking is limited in the area, so attendees are encouraged to arrive early and drop off their groups before parking. Patrons are encouraged to bring tent covers, chairs, food and drink, enjoy the afternoon, and bring loved ones 12 and older to attend and be vaccinated.
If You Go
WHAT: The Syracuse Community Health “Family Health Gathering” Series
WHO: Eric Darius
WHERE: Thornden Park, Thornden Park Drive, Syracuse NY 13210
WHEN: Sunday August 22nd, 2021
SCHEDULE: 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.
COST: free
Salt City Summerfest enters week five
PRESS RELEASE
Contact:
Larry Luttinger
441 E. Washington St.
Syracuse NY 13202
315-479-5299
Salt City Summerfest enters week five
Steel band, Latin pop, ballet, jazz and Americana featured
Syracuse NY – Salt City Summerfest continues to energize the downtown sidewalk and patio dining scene with performances that will last through September 11th. This week, the fifth of seven weeks of programming, begins with a lunch concert by The Island Hoppers, a Caribbean-style steel drum band, Wednesday at 12:00 p.m. in Perseverance Park.
Well-known veteran performers and newcomers alike will disperse their talents throughout the week. Wednesday jazz night at the Marriott features Edgar Pagan teamed with Count Blastula’s Adam Fisher starting at 5:30 p.m. Then the weekend schedule presents an eclectic and varied mix of styles. Frenay and Lenin, Loren and LJ Barrigar, Salt City Chill’s Chuck Schiele, Greg Hoover and Tom Parker, Los Blancos accordionist Bruce Gerow, and Jeffery Pepper Rodger’s Pepper and Sassafras provide heavy doses of Americana, the Jimmy Johns vibes trio, Mark Hoffmann’s Swing This Duo, John Spillett, E.S.P., and newcomer Cherie Giraud offer hard swinging jazz, and for a complete change of pace, a group from Syracuse Ballet will break out their moves along the Warren Street restaurant corridor. All groups, days, times, destinations, routes, and a map may be found at www.saltcitysummerfest.org.
“Last week we mixed it up with a magician, and this week it’s dance,” commented Larry Luttinger, organizer of the series. “We’re chock full of heavy resumes as well. I can’t thank these artists enough for wanting to be a part of this grand experiment. We’re turning downtown into a cultural desintation for the rest of the summer, enlivening some slow and difficult times. Let’s everybody remember to have some fun and just chill and experience some joyful noise out there.”
There are several stationary locations and two strolling routes on the festival map that cover all downtown sidewalk dining areas.
There are three rain locations. The Perseverance Park rain alternative is the west side of the Chase Bank building on Warren Street, under the overhand of the sidewalk dining area at Darwin’s. Activities at the Marriott and the Salt City Market also have indoor rain locations.
If You Go
Wednesday August 18th 12:00 to 1:30 p.m.
Perseverance Park – The Island Hoppers
5:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Marriott Syracuse Downtown patio – Edgar Pagan and Adam Fisher
Friday August 20th
5:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Salt City Market Patio – Jimmy Johns Trio
Pasta’s/York Alley – Pepper and Sassafras
Strolling West – Syracuse Ballet
Strolling East – Bruce Gerow
Hanover Square – Swing This 2
6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Lemon Grass Alley – John Spillett Duo
Saturday August 21st
5:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Marriott Syracuse Downtown Patio – Cherie Giraud
Salt City Market Patio – Frenay and Lenin
Pasta’s/York Alley – Chuck Schiele
Strolling West – Loren and LJ Barrigar
Strolling East – Syracuse Ballet
Hanover Square – Greg Hoover and Tom Parker
6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Lemon Grass Alley – E.S.P. Duo
Syracuse’s urban vaccination effort in home stretch
PRESS RELEASE
Contact:
Larry Luttinger
441 E. Washington St.
Syracuse NY 13202
315-479-5299
Syracuse’s urban vaccination effort in home stretch
Flat screen TVs and cash raffles for those vaccinated
Syracuse NY – With weekly positive testing rates at 4 per cent and rising and with the school year closing in, the joint vaccination effort led by Syracuse Community Health and 100 Black Men of Syracuse is turning up the heat to get urban residents vaccinated. Their next “Family Health Gathering” is scheduled for this Sunday August 15th from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Leavenworth Park, 120 Wilkinson Street, featuring national guest artist Will Holton.
The overriding purpose of the concert series, which began back in June, is to break down fear barriers to promote vaccination and to distribute public health information of all kinds in fun outdoor “cookout and concert” settings in parks across the city. Flat screen TVs and cash raffles are offered as raffle prizes to those being vaccinated, free public health information goodie bags are distributed to all attendees, and a vendor healthcare village is present to answer questions from the public. Minority arts and crafts vendors and food vendors are present for those not wishing to bring their own food and drink. This event’s food vendor is Limp Lizard BBQ.
Said Derrick Murry, COO of Syracuse Community Health, “The state’s weekly positive testing average is up to 3 per cent, and in Central New York it’s 4 per cent. Syracuse’s urban neighborhoods are still running dead last for vaccination percentages in the county. The handwriting is on the wall, folks. Unless we act quickly and vaccinate more people, we’re in for more masking, distancing, fractional occupancy in public places and in schools. We need to realize that it’s not about us now, it’s about others, and about our children 12 and up who are going back to school soon. Have a long talk with yourself and convince yourself that it’s your responsibility to get us all past this pandemic before it become a permanent new reality. We can’t hide from this. Irrational fear caused by misinformation is our enemy now.”
Heavy incentives remain in place for the remainder of the series. “We’ve already given out four flat screens, and we’re looking forward to the big cash raffle at the end of the series that will award prizes of $1,000, $500, and $250 to three lucky folks who have been vaccinated during the series,” according to Larry Luttinger of CNY Jazz, organizer of the series. “So far, we’ve gotten some prominent local citizens who, surprisingly, had not been vaccinated yet. This means we’re doing our job to move the needle for urban public health. We want our attendees, entire families, to come and celebrate. Celebrate our great city, the amazing artistry on display, and our determination to beat this virus, every one of us.”
This Sunday’s musical guest, saxophonist Will Holton, hails from Western New York, with a rising career as a recording artist, having released two albums, “Always” in 2009 and “Love Stories Untold Volume 1” in 2012. He has appeared with Ruben Studdard, Keyshia Cole, Stanley Jordan, Roy Ayers and KEM, among many others. An accomplished music publisher and songwriter, Holton wrote the 2009 hit “Love You A Lifetime” for three-time Grammy-nominated artist Najee.
The series culminates in a grand finale concert in Thornden Park with L.A.-based Eric Darius on August 22nd. All information is available at www.cnyjazzinthecity.org . All events are rain or shine. Patrons are encouraged to bring tent covers, chairs, food and drink, enjoy the afternoon, and bring loved ones 12 and older to attend and be vaccinated.
IF You Go
WHAT: The Syracuse Community Health “Family Health Gathering” Series
WHO: Will Holton
WHERE: Leavenworth Park, 120 Wilkinson Street, Syracuse NY 13204
WHEN: Sunday August 15th, 2021
SCHEDULE: 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.
COST: free
Salt City Summerfest at midpoint of seven-week schedule
PRESS RELEASE
Contact:
Larry Luttinger
441 E. Washington St.
Syracuse NY 13202
315-479-5299
Salt City Summerfest at midpoint of seven-week schedule
This week brings dueling guitars, jazz, Americana, magic, and more
Syracuse NY – Downtown streets will continue to ring with music as the Salt City Summerfest presents its fourth or seven weeks of sidewalk dining entertainment. Some of the area’s best known artists will fan out across the city center to provide a heady potpourri of musical styles.
This week’s Wednesday lunch and listen installment featuring the Barrigars, bringing a full family complement to bear on Perseverance Park at Fayette and Salina from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. Dad Loren adds sons LJ on guitar and Mason on bass, cajon, and vocals to the mix to play an acoustic concert in the shaded plaza at the city’s center. That evening at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday jazz nights continue at the Marriott Downtown patio with a duo led by recent Colorado transplant Andy Lawniczak on trumpet and guitar.
The Friday and Saturday schedule includes a dose of blues from Jane Zell on guitar with the legendary Curtis Waterman on harmonica, as well as a mobile duo led by Diana Jacobs. Acoustic Americana is well represented by San Diego transplant Chuck Schiele, Greg Hoover and Tom Parker, Los Blancos accordionist Bruce Gerow, and the duo of Loren and LJ Barrigar. Swing and jazz groups include Mark Hoffmann’s Swing This 2 and baritone Scott Dennis with Dave Solazzo. Alt-rock, rockabilly and blues are provided by Modafferi, and weekend jazz regulars John Spillett and Rick Balestra hold court as usual on the Lemon Grass patio.
Downtown diners are settling in for the weekly shows more and more each week,”, according to festival organizer Larry Luttinger, director of CNY Jazz. “The only thing to expect from all this is the unexpected. Be prepared for a surprise or two along the way, and just enjoy what comes along. Life is just a box of chocolates, right?”
The entire artist schedule and a map is at www.saltcitysummerfest.org. There are several stationary locations and two strolling routes that cover all downtown sidewalk dining areas.
There are three rain locations. The Perseverance Park rain alternative is the west side of the Chase Bank building on Warren Street, under the overhand of the sidewalk dining area at Darwin’s. Activities at the Marriott and the Salt City Market also have indoor rain locations.
Third week of Salt City Summerfest attractions highlights diversity
PRESS RELEASE
Contact:
Larry Luttinger
441 E. Washington St.
Syracuse NY 13202
315-479-5299
Third week of Salt City Summerfest attractions highlights diversity
Brass bands to Fado included in lineup
Syracuse NY – The Salt City Summerfest enters its third of seven weeks of sidewalk and patio entertainment with a diverse roster of artists ranging from brass bands to strolling singers to jazz and RnB groups. 30 musicians will cover a total of 21 sidewalk and patio dining areas across the central business district.
This week’s lunch hour kickoff at Perseverance Park on Fayette and South Salina street features the Alpha Brass Band, hailing from Binghamton, playing New Orleans-style blues and second-line soul in the style of the Rebirth Brass Band and Trombone Shorty. That evening, the jazz schedule continues on the Marriott patio with Sam Wynn and Mike Seraphim playing jazz, soul, and pop favorites. The weekend schedule includes Americana from The Cadleys, Loren and LJ Barrigar, and the duo of Greg Hoover and Tom Parker; ballads sung in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese by Sebastian Escribano; traditional swing by the Swing This Duo, vocal jazz by Aaron Ruiz, and straight ahead swinging jazz from Andy Lawniczak, the John Spillett Duo the E.S.P. Duo, and a vibes trio led by Matt Sokolic.
“Our activities are quickly becoming a known fixture of the downtown dining scene, “according to Larry Luttinger, festival organizer and leader of CNY Jazz Central. “We’re hearing reports that patrons are asking who is going to stroll by from day to day. That’s a good thing. It tells us that we’re doing our part to enliven the landscape and provide a healthy cultural vibe for our urban core.”
A map of all locations and weekly artist schedules is posted at www.saltcitysummerfest.org. There are several stationary locations and two strolling routes where artists will rove about serenading sidewalk dining areas one by one. The west route includes stops at Pastabilities, Kitty Hoynes, Funk n’ Waffles, Al’s Wine & Whiskey Lounge, and the Modern Malt/Sky Armory alley. The east route includes The Fish Friar, Otro Cinco, A Mano, and Luna Loca on Columbus Circle, the former Mission Restaurant.
There are three rain locations. The Perseverance Park rain alternative is the west side of the Chase Bank building on Warren Street, under the overhand of the sidewalk dining area at Darwin’s. Activities at the Marriott and the Salt City Market also have indoor rain locations.
Salt City Summerfest starts Wednesday lunch series
PRESS RELEASE
Contact:
Larry Luttinger
441 E. Washington St.
Syracuse NY 13202
315-479-5299
Salt City Summerfest starts Wednesday lunch series
Week two of outdoor pop-up festival begins jazz schedule
Syracuse NY – The Salt City Summerfest kicks into high gear this week, starting with a “Jazz Wednesday” that starts with a lunchtime concert by the Nick DiMaria Trio in Perseverance Park, the plaza at the intersection of South Salina and Fayette Street, and a 5:30 p.m. performance by the Joe Carello Trio at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown patio. The seven-week stretch of street entertainment will present a Wednesday, Friday and Saturday schedule of strolling and outdoor music and performing arts across downtown Syracuse through September 11th.
A map of all locations and weekly artist schedules are posted at www.saltcitysummerfest.org. There are several stationary locations and two strolling routes where artists will rove about serenading sidewalk dining areas one by one. The west route includes stops at Pastabilities, Kitty Hoynes, Funk n’ Waffles, Al’s Wine & Whiskey Lounge, and the Modern Malt/Sky Armory alley. The east route includes The Fish Friar, Otro Cinco, A Mano, and Luna Loca on Columbus Circle, the former Mission Restaurant.
This week we’re really entering full-time mode with a full schedule,” according to Larry Luttinger, director of CNY Jazz and architect of the festival. “Downtown workers, bring your lunches and catch Nick DiMaria on Wednesday. Nick is one of our prize grads who is now crushing the New York City scene. That evening, catch Joe Carello, who is without a doubt the area’s premier jazz soloist. Scott Dennis is at Salt City Market this week on Friday, with Sean Seals and SMX playing soul and RnB there on Saturday. This week there’s a dose of Latin music as well, with Gringa Grooves and Sebastian Escribano strolling, and there’s plenty of Americana to be had plus some Celtic music by Kyle and Dave Ossont. Toss in John Spillett’s group and Rick Balestra’s group in the Lemon Grass alley over the weekend, and it adds up to much more than its parts. Enjoy, citizens!”
Salt City Summerfest announces jazz schedule
PRESS RELEASE
Contact:
Larry Luttinger
441 E. Washington St.
Syracuse NY 13202
315-479-5299
Salt City Summerfest announces jazz schedule
Marriott Syracuse downtown becomes jazz hub for citywide festival
Syracuse NY – The Salt City Summerfest launches this weekend all across downtown, including a festival-long hot spot for jazz lovers on the patio of the Marriott Syracuse Downtown, the historic Hotel Syracuse at 100 E. Onondaga Street. Performances are scheduled twice weekly, on Saturdays and Wednesdays throughout the festival. The jazz activities start this Saturday, July 24th and conclude on Saturday September 11th. All shows will take place during dining hours, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.
The lineup of regional artists will play a diverse array of styles encompassing the Great American Songbook, RnB and Soul, Latin Pop, and straight ahead swing and bebop.
“How could we not build a mini-jazz festival into this extravaganza? Our name is CNY Jazz!”, commented Larry Luttinger, festival organizer. “We’ve put together a well-rounded and entertaining lineup of the region’s strongest artists, including veterans and newcomers, and a prize graduate of our education programs now working in New York City. The Marriott actually becomes an open air, pop-up jazz club for the rest of the summer, something never done before in Syracuse.”
Among the featured artists are Scott Dennis, the blind jazz baritone and protégé of Nancy Kelly; Nick DiMaria, Cicero-North Syracuse grad and alum of CNY Jazz education programs; two upstate all-star trios led by Joe Carello and Jimmy Johns, vocal jazz duos led by Mike Houston and Melody Rose, newcomer and Crane School of Music grad Andy Lawnizcak, Jazz Scraps, a trio led by Paul Merrill, jazz studies faculty at Cornell; and the debut of newcomer to the scene Cherie Giraud, singing from the Great American Songbook.
Salt City Summerfest was designed to support downtown residents, workers, visitors, businesses, artists, and restaurants through a summer without the major festivals that annually bring more than 100,000 to downtown. The full festival schedule will be announced weekly and be available at www.saltcitysummerfest.org, where a map of all locations may also be found.
Salt City Summerfest starts with a bang
PRESS RELEASE
Contact:
Larry Luttinger
441 E. Washington St.
Syracuse NY 13202
315-479-5299
Salt City Summerfest starts with a bang
Outdoor pop-up festival will cover all of downtown Syracuse
Syracuse NY – Syracuse will get its first dose of big city excitement when the Salt City Summerfest kicks off on Friday July 23rd, the premier weekend of a seven-week stretch of street entertainment across downtown Syracuse that will last until September 11th.
The events will focus on support for the sidewalk dining areas of downtown during peak weekend times from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday lunch hour concerts at noon for downtown residents and workers in Perseverance Park at South Salina and Fayette streets, and in keeping with their 25-year history of providing America’s art form to the city, jazz and funk options at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown’s patio on Wednesday and Saturday evenings. There are two strolling routes where artists will rove about serenading sidewalk dining areas one by one. The west route includes stops at Pastabilities, Kitty Hoynes, Funk n’ Waffles, Al’s Wine & Whiskey Lounge, and the Modern Malt/Sky Armory alley. The east route includes The Fish Friar, Otro Cinco, A Mano, and Luna Loca on Columbus Circle, the former Mission Restaurant.
The performances of the first weekend will cover virtually every downtown sidewalk dining area with music of all kinds. “This weekend launch will be indicative of the amazing body of activity that will light up Syracuse’s downtown dining scene right into the fall,” according to Larry Luttinger, director of CNY Jazz and architect of the festival. “In one weekend, we have, are you ready for this? Mike Houston and Sam Wynn playing Soul and RnB, Edgar Pagan’s GPL Lite playing pop Latino hits, Scott Dennis crooning jazz standards, Stringdom recreating the great acoustic French jazz sound, Harmonessence emulating the New York Voices with a cappella sounds, one-man band Andy Lawniczak, Epic records recording artist Mark Hoffmann plucking and singing on traditional swing and country tunes, Greg Hoover and Tom Parker doubling down on Americana favorites, plus the John Spillett Duo and the Balestra/Colabello Duo swinging on jazz standards. Come on, man! Our area has so much talent, enough to ring downtown like a bell from end to end. And this is only week one.”
Schedules will be announced weekly and be available at www.saltcitysummerfest.org, where a map of all locations may also be found. Starting in week two of the festival, the Wednesday schedule of lunch concerts and jazz evenings on the Marriott patio will begin.
If You Go
Friday July 23rd 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Salt City Market Patio – Mike Houston & Sam Wynn
Pasta’s/York Alley – Stringdom
Strolling West – Andrew Lawniczak
Strolling East – Mark Hoffmann
Hanover Square – Greg Hoover & Tom Parker
Lemon Grass Alley – John Spillett Duo 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Saturday July 24th 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Marriott Syracuse Downtown Patio – Scott Dennis & Friends
Salt City Market Patio – Edgar Pagan’s GPL Lite
Pasta’s/York Alley – Harmonessence
Strolling West – Greg Hoover & Tom Parker
Strolling East – Stringdom
Hanover Square – Mark Hoffmann
Lemon Grass Alley – Balestra/Colabello Duo 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Berkshire Bank Salt City Summerfest will blanket downtown with the arts
| Berkshire Bank Salt City Summerfestwill blanket downtown with the arts |
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| Pop up arts festival will enlivendowntown Syracuse through September |
| It’s going to be a long, hard summer in Syracuse. The remainder of the summer months will present an unprecedented challenge for the culture and economy of the city’s downtown business district. The benefits of the many free outdoor cultural celebrations that provide excitement and economic activity for residents, visitors, small business, restaurants, and local musicians and freelance artists of all kinds throughout the summer – festivals, concerts, special events, and fairs – are largely absent from the urban scene. The hundreds of thousands of festival goers whose spending generates significant sales tax income throughout the summer will be reduced to near zero. A second summer with no significant cultural activity is a major concern for all who depend on the vibrancy and vitality of our urban center to attract and retain employees, residents, and businesses. To meet this unique and unprecedented level of need, CNY Jazz has createda unique festival – a new, innovative, and comprehensive cultural model that changesthis paradigm completely. The “Berkshire Bank Salt City Summerfest” will deliver small, acoustic, mobile cultural content in multiple locations chosen for their proximity to key business clusters – a model with little or no need for infrastructure yet deliver the same excitement and attraction of the arts, safe, compliant, and without public health risk. “We are uniquely positioned to successfully deliver this model for Syracuse,”, said Larry Luttinger, founder and Executive Director of CNY Jazz. “Among other annual celebrations like Jazz in the Square, Jazz in the City, the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival, the 2009 Healthy Buildings International Conference, and others, we’ve presented the only festival of this kind in Syracuse’s history, the 2013 CRAVE festival and state conference, which provided downtown with a weekend with dozens of pop-up arts engagement activities. We’re really excited at being able to blanket downtown with performances for the rest of the summer and into the fall.” The event would not be possible without the strong support of a team of New York State legislators that believe in the value of the arts. Assembly members Al Stirpe, co-chair of the state’s economic recovery task force, Bill Magnarelli, and Pam Hunter have all provided support for the fest, as well as title sponsor Berkshire Bank and corporate supporters National Grid, Lockheed Martin Employees Federated Fund, C&S Companies, OneGroup, Fust Charles Chambers LLP, Bousquet Holstein, Bond Schoeneck & King, Washington Street Partners, and Critical Link. “The summer festivals, music events and cultural celebrations we have all grown to know and love were stifled by the COVID-19 pandemic. The residual effects still impact our local artists, businesses and economy even as we are in the midst of recovering,” said Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh. “The idea to offer pop-up performances to help sustain Syracuse’s entertainment industry is one that I fully support. I am grateful that the CNY Jazz Arts Foundation continues to advocate and innovate in this space, and I look forward to the Salt City Summerfest reviving our community in a much-needed way.” Al Stirpe commented, “I’m thrilled that Salt City Summerfest will fill the streets with music this summer. It’s critical that we support our local artists, restaurants and small businesses and make this a summer of revival for all. Salt City Summerfest is a cornerstone of that vision and will provide a wide variety of regular pop-up performances and activities to entertain residents and visitors alike. I want to thank CNY Jazz for organizing this innovative event series, as well as the corporate sponsors and my fellow CNY legislators, and also for helping reinvigorate our local arts community.” Bill Magnarelli echoed that sentiment, saying “Celebrating summer with the arts is a wonderful way of investing in the economic and cultural environment of Central New York. As we recover from the pandemic, Summerfest offers a unique opportunity to draw people to our parks and landmarks, while also exposing them to the vast array of the arts and artists in our community.” Pam Hunter added, “I welcome the innovative approach Salt City Summerfest is taking to bring events back to Syracuse for the summer of 2021. Their dedication to planning events in a responsible and safe manner will bring back summer activities for our community and will reengage our local businesses and artists who have had so many challenges throughout the last 15 months. I look forward to seeing which local artists will be participating.” Chris Papayanakos, regional president of Berkshire Bank, said “Berkshire Bank is excited to support this new initiative by CNY Jazz. As the title sponsor of the annual CNY Jazz Festival over the last several years this city-wide summer long event is a terrific way to celebrate the local arts as we all emerge from the pandemic.” The festival will present musicians, dancers, actors of all stripes on downtown sidewalks, in locations including Hanover Square, Armory Square, Perseverance Park, the Marriott Downtown, and Salt City Market, plus strolling musicians visiting sidewalk dining areas across the 13202 zip code. A weekly schedule will present talent on Wednesday lunch hours and Fridays and Saturdays during weekend dining times, starting Friday July 23rd during Syracuse Artsweek, and continuing through Saturday September 11th, taking the week leading up to Labor Day off. A region-wide call for talent has already been announced, and a full schedule of performances will be announced at a later date. “The element of surprise will always be in the air during these days, “explained Luttinger about the dozens of pop-up performances scheduled. “You could turn a corner or take a seat and be serenaded by a singing guitarist, a bluegrass trio, a barbershop quartet, a dance routine, a jazz group, a Shakespeare soliloquy, or a soul doowop group. Expect the spontaneous, as if you were walking New York City streets or traveling the subways. We’ll turn downtown into a street level mecca for the arts, while providing paid employment for our area’s struggling gig workers when they need it most.” All details and the ongoing festival schedule will be posted at www.saltcitysummerfest.org, and interested artists may still register at that web site. |
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Syracuse Community Health Center & 100 Black Men of Syracuse announce major vaccination effort for urban neighborhoods
PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT:
Larry Luttinger
441 E. Washington St.
Syracuse NY 13202
315.479.5299
Syracuse Community Health Center & 100 Black Men of Syracuse announce major vaccination effort for urban neighborhoods
Syracuse NY – Urban Syracuse is facing a critical public health challenge. Resistance to vaccination is persistent. Positive test rates for Central New York are nearly twice the state average, and in our city’s neighborhoods even higher, while restaurants and retail businesses are reopening rapidly. Fear of vaccination is deeply ingrained in America’s minority community. Communications with isolated residents lacking computers and transport is difficult. Something must be done.
Building on the success of last summer’s “COVID: Don’t Bring It Home” campaign, a broad community partnership led by the Syracuse Community Health Center and 100 Black Men of Syracuse has answered the call. They are mounting an innovative and ambitious public health effort called the “Syracuse Community Health Family Health Picnics”. These Sunday afternoon events will tour city parks throughout the summer months to pursue multiple goals: overcome fear, fight misinformation, provide equitable health care access, bring isolated urban residents together, lift spirits, provide family health service information, and most importantly, vaccinate urban residents.
The series will travel with a mobile vaccination and testing unit and feature exciting live music by national and regional acts, a health care village, inspirational speakers, and minority arts & crafts vendors. Major prizes, raffles, and other incentives will be offered to those being vaccinated, and every family in attendance will receive a goodie bag filled with public health information and incentives. Families will be able to bring blankets, lawn chairs, baskets, and coolers, and enjoy their afternoons in individually marked lawn spaces.
“The best way to give people the protection they need from COVID-19 is to bring information and services to where they are. The Syracuse Community Health Center Family Health Picnics are just the kind of partnership we need to increase vaccination rates and keep people in the city healthy,” said Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh. “I thank Syracuse Community Health, CNY Jazz, 100 Black Men of Syracuse and all the other sponsors for helping us beat back COVID-19. And I encourage all of Syracuse to enjoy these great events in our city parks this summer.”
A robust media campaign utilizing all traditional and social media, flyers in all Syracuse Housing Authority village and high-rise properties, geotargeted social media ads, and bulk mailings will cover Syracuse’s urban neighborhoods throughout the summer months. An informational campaign led by local media personality George Kilpatrick will blanket the airwaves and internet all summer.
Schedule:
All events are Sundays 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.
June 13 Skiddy Park with Alex Torres y su Orquesta
June 27 Schiller Park with Jeff Kashiwa
July 11 Jubilee Park with U.A.D. Kings of the Fall with the Black Lites
Aug 1 Sankofa Park with the C-Jack Run Showcase and Brownskin
Aug 15 Leavenworth Park with Will Holton
Aug 22 Thornden Park Amphitheater with Eric Darius
All events are free and open to the public.