Author: Michael Davis

It’s hell on wheels! One of the coolest sights at last weekend’s Syracuse Nationals was the Wall of Death stunt show, as veteran (and uninsured) motorcyclists cruised at top speeds inside a wooden cylinder. At one point, one driver was behind the steering wheel for a dune buggy-esque contraption, as he zoomed toward the lip of the cylinder to grab dollar bills from the customers, as shown in these before and after photos.

Alongside the swanky, sporty cars of the annual Syracuse Nationals event is a car show with just a bit more quirk. Hanging out in the Beef Cattle Barn is the Ol Skool Roundup is a setup straight from the 1950s, with one of the country’s largest pinup contests and rockabilly musical acts lending to the sock-hop air. The organizer, known as Sparky, said the show began with only 45 cars, but has since grown to over 1,000. Sparky spoke with the New Times about the show and his life, and showed off his personal on-brand ride.

The Hill Cumorah Pageant, a summertime tradition in Palmyra since 1937, continues with free evening shows starting at dusk on Wednesday, July 18, through Saturday, July 21. Volunteer cast members (shown in these pictures) arrived a week prior to opening night for days of intensive rehearsals. There is seating for more than 5,000 for the event, sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ for Latter-Day Saints. For more information, visit hillcumorah.org.

Just down the way from the popular Howe Caverns, Cobleskill’s Secret Caverns is about as off the beaten path as it gets. The business has a roughhouse, outlaw appeal, much like a red-haired stepchild that still demands some respect, while the venue’s advertising cites itself as the “speleological center of the universe.” The main entrance features a cartoonish bat spreading its wide wings underneath a phrase that promises “your fun king of spelunking.” At this point, if travelers are not immediately hooked by such kitschy promises, they should just turn around and go home. Then there’s the tour itself, as visitors…

The Hill is alive with earth movers and construction workers, as Syracuse University’s Marshall Street section undergoes yet another makeover. The so-called “beach” is now a fond memory, while the back-alley location that once held mainstays such as Hungry Charley’s (or Chuck’s, depending on the demographic) has been replaced by a high-rise complex that looms large over the M Street tenants. The summertime traffic patterns are on the light side now, but all bets will be off when the students return in late August.

This year, Grindstone Farm out in Pulaski will celebrate its 30th anniversary of being certified by the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York. The farm grows all organic produce, without the use of harmful pesticides or synthetic fertilizers, owner Richard de Graff told the Syracuse New Times. De Graff and Grindstone Farm was one of the first few handfuls of organic farms in the state. The number has since grown to about a thousand. Read: “From the Ground Up: Clean, organic produce the pride of Grindstone Farm” De Graff said it was always his goal to grow food that way nutritious and…

The 2018 New York State Blues Festival kicked-off in downtown Syracuse on Thursday, June 28. More than 20 blues bands took to the stage on Clinton Square in front of cheering fans throughout the three-day long event, from just after work to well into the night. Did we spot you?

The annual Syracuse World Refugee Day, held June 23 at Schiller Park, provided an afternoon of soccer, volleyball, dance and music, as well as colorful fashion statements from around the globe.

Vice President Mike Pence’s June 19 Syracuse visit was greeted with protests of the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy involving illegal immigrants.

For 12 minutes — 720 seconds — members of the Syracuse community lay motionless on the ground outside the Federal Building downtown. The gesture was to honor the 49 people who were killed in the Pulse nightclub shooting two years ago, and the subsequent number of victims who have died in mass shootings since, according to the organizers. This was a sister event of a national movement called National Die-In, where similar rallies were held nationwide to bring awareness to gun violence in the United States. The Syracuse branch was organized by Syracuse Students for Change, and also featured anti-gun-violence speakers.

The annual Taste of Syracuse foodie blast held June 1 and 2 at downtown’s Clinton Square included a sanctioned Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog eating contest on Saturday afternoon. Meat and bread flew as several locals attempted to chow down on the most wienies in a 10-minute showdown, resulting in messy mouths, stuffed cheeks and probably more than one lingering stomach ache and night of heartburn. Geoffrey Esper was declared top dog after finishing off 45 franks — nearly five dogs per minute — with a chaser or two of Bromo-Seltzer likely to have followed.

Memorial Day is a time for remembering the soldiers who gave their lives for this country, and sometimes that solemn purpose can be lost among the jovial parades, cookouts and other forms of celebration. The annual Watchfire, hosted by the VVA Chapter 103 and held at the New York State Fairgrounds, offers a touch of seriousness to the day, as thousands gather to burn old American flags in a giant pyre. The pyre is symbolic of the fires that were lit after a battle, so wayward soldiers could find their way back to the troops.

Amid the sights of the May 19 Downtown Living Tour, surely the most stunning images were found on the 17th floor of the State Tower Building, where the urban skyscrapers, area churches and concrete highways of the Salt City commanded attention. With scenery like this outside the high-rise windows, it’s no wonder people are returning to take residence at downtown dwellings.

Get ready for some new thrills this summer, Jurrasic Park style. The Rosamond Gifford Zoo has partnered with Texas-based Billings Productions to transform the space into a Dinosaur Invasion theme park, with animatronic dinos set up throughout the zoo. The huge beasts arrived in the city Monday, May 14, allowing for a sneak peek at what’s in store. The display will run from May 25 to Sept. 3 — for “101 Days of Dinosaurs” — and is free to zoo members and with normal zoo admission.

Terradiol opened for business in 2017, and already boasts more than 10,000 budding marijuana plants. The 90,000 sq. foot facility is located in DeWitt, in the old New Venture Gear building near the corner of New Venture Gear Drive and Fly Road. The company is one of the largest and most advanced medical marijuana facilities in the country. With the increased acceptance of medical marijuana — and in some states legalized recreational use — Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced April 20, 2018, he would be putting forward legislation to decriminalize marijuana-cannabis at the federal level.