Top Five

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Top Five Places to for Sunday Brunch
1. Empire Brewing Company, Armory Square - Enjoy some "untraditional" brunch favorites along with a necessary mimosa, bloody mary or home brewed beer.
2. Alto Cinco, Westcott St. - Yes, they have brunch! Chow down on your Mexican favorites from Cinco with a brunch twist. Still includes vegan and veggie options (scrambled curry tofu or vegan soy sausage).
3. L'Adour, E. Washington St. - Brunch is excellent here including French favorites like quiche, goat cheese salads and baguette and puff pastry creations, but expensive. Save your pennies and enjoy a real treat!
4. Stella's Diner, Wolf St., Northside - An all time Syracuse favorite, Stella's always has a line out the door. Eat up their breakfast/brunch menu all day!
5. The Lincolen House, Cazenovia - This gem is an excellent discovery for a special event or for an every day brunch. Sink your teeth into family favorites with an upscale twist.

Top Five Places to Hear Your Fav' Live Music
1. Mac's Bad Art Bar
A hot spot in Mattydale no less, Mac's brings in some of the best talent around for you to rock out to in a "bar with an attitude" atmosphere. You can't miss their bright blue neon "Mac's" sign! Check out http://www.macsbadartbar.com/ for their upcoming shows.
2. Bull and Bear Pub
In Hanover Square, this bar/eatery turns into a place to bob your head, sing a long and dance when the sun goes down. http://www.bullandbearpub.com.
3. The Landmark Theatre
A downtown historic site on Salina Street, the Landmark brings in some great acts from around the country in its beautifully refurbished space. http://landmarktheatre.org/ (The War Memorial @ The OnCenter is also a good place to see national acts.)
4. Jazz Central
A truly hidden gem at 441 E. Washington Street, Jazz Central, the physical location of The CNY Jazz Arts Foundation, has live - you guessed it - jazz music every weekend and many times during the week. Try something new and venture down to this hot spot to hear some cool music. Visit http://www.cnyjazz.org/jazzcentral.asp for a full calendar of events and contact information.
5. Mezzanotte Lounge
Voted the best live music venue by the New Times in 2006, you have to visit Mezzanotte in "Little Italy" - 658 N. Salina St. - for a real change of pace. Offering acts from rock and roll to funk, acoustic, jazz and DJ's spinning techno, Mezzanotte is not to be missed. http://www.myspace.com/mezzanottelounge

There are so many other rockin' places to hear music in the Greater Syracuse region - from the Fireside Inn (Baldwinsville) to The Dino BBQ, OHM in Armory and Manhattan's in Hanover to all the outdoor festivals and the multiple college and university campuses in our area - we simply ran out of room on this category. For a more complete list of venues to ensure your ears are hearin' what they like, visit http://syracuselivemusic.com or http://www.hollerbackproductions.com/.

Top Five Worst Syracuse Put-Downs
1. "It snows all the time." Actually, it only snows during winter (fancy that). There are three other seasons to enjoy in Syracuse, and true complainers find reasons to whine about all of them. (rain, heat, wind, humidity...) Get out there and enjoy the year-round recreational activities we are so lucky to have!
2. "There's nothing to do around here." Quite the contrary! Explore our site, as well as our partners to see the many things to do. Get out there and enjoy the city!
3. "There are NO jobs." Um, right now Essential NY Jobs.com is listing over 9,000 jobs in Central NY. Nine thousand?!! Some local companies are even struggling to fill positions in engineering and healthcare fields.
4. "Syracuse is in the middle of no where." Syracuse is in the middle of everywhere! Who else can get to a lake, wine country, Times Square, Niagara Falls, or a Red Sox game within five hours?
5. "Syracuse Sucks." Well, that's just silly.

Top Five Ways to Spend a Friday Night
Visit www.nightlyfe.com for more specifics!
1. Check Out a Movie. Not only does Syracuse have a plethora of Regal theatres in your neck of the woods, but if you are looking for something a little more independant, check out the newly renovated Palace Theatre in Eastwood, Westcott Theatre in the SU area, Manlius Art Cinema or Bristol IMAX at the MOST. And if you are on a budget, check out the Hollywood Theatre in Mattydale, where tickets are only $1.50! Be sure to keep your eye out too for the Syracuse International Film and Video Festival.
2. Laugh it Up. Every Friday (and Saturday) night(s) The Comedy Playhouse brings in outstanding acts from accross the country. Also back in town is Wise Guys, newly opened at 426 N. Franklin St. (the old Dakota's) with a lounge and eatery. Re-discover your funny bone and check em' both out.
3. Grab Some Grub. We Syracusans love our food - from gourmet selections offered in Armory Square to delicious ethnic cusine like Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, Indian, Mexican, German, Greek, Polish (Eva's European Sweets, 1305 Milton Ave.), Italian (you know there are TONS more too - my favorite, as pointed out in the NY Times is Angotti's on Burnet), Chinese, (come on, way too many to list!), Japanese, French and American -- there really is something for any mood that your taste buds are in -- and by no means do these links represent all there is to offer. Get out there and explore - and for online menus check out http://www.cnymenus.com/. For some amazin'take out you must also try Choices in East Syracuse - so good!
4. Get Some Culture. Syracuse has an abundance of "artsy" things to do from museums like the Everson and the Delevan, to the Opera, Symphony and playhouses like Syracuse Stage or The Red House. Make sure to drink your red wine with your pinky in the air.
5. Go Out! You know Syracuse has lots of bars - and not that we are encoraging destructive behavior, but sometimes you just have to blow off some steam! Check out Armory Square, Hanover Square, Tipp Hill and Little Italy for some cool places to hang - whether it is to dance, drink, hear a band, watch sports (which is another thing you could do on Fridays, depending on the season and if there is a live game,) or just catch up with friends. Remember to be safe and not to drive drunk!

Top Five Ways to Enjoy Winter
1. Skiing. Upstate NY has tons of amazing ski mountains, including Toggenburg, Labrador, Greek Peak and Song . Plenty for the beginner or avid skier. You can also go cross country skiing (snow shoeing OR go for a sleigh ride) at Highland Forest or Beaver Lake. I'll lump snowboarding and sledding into this one as well.
2. Shopping. What better reason to shop than to expand your "winter wordrobe?" Every Syracusan should have an ample collection of coats, complete with colorful hats, gloves and scarves. I personally have 22 coats for all types of weather & occasions. And since those fuzzy boots are in style, why not splurge on a few awsome pairs of boots? Believe me, you'll use 'em.
3. Hot Cocoa. Fall back in love with this childhood favorite. There's nothing better than coming in from a cold, snowy day and curling up with a mug of hot cocoa. It should be a staple of every Syracusan.
4. Photography. Winter snowfalls make some of the most beautiful photographs, especially on black and white film. Take a small hike and try snapping a few shots, even if it's only to prove to non-Syracusans how much snow we actually get!
5. Get Togethers. In order to get through those hard winter months last year, my friends and I started a poker night. Every Thursday we'd gather at someone's house for cards. It gave us a reason to get out of the house, share some laughs and wine, and really helped the weeks fly by.

Top Five Ways to be "Green" in Syracuse
1. Live Near Your Workplace. I know most of us have small commutes compared to a place like New York City. But if you live in the 'burbs and work in the city, why not live even closer? Imagine how much gas you'd save if you had the option to walk or bike to work when the weather permits? Check out homes or apartments in the city...
2. Buy Locally. Frequent the farmer's markets, the Regional Market and the Syracuse Real Food Co-Op. The produce is bigger, fresher, and better tasting than the supermarkets. Also check out the "Grown Locally" signs in Wegman's and Price Chopper as the next best thing. Remember New York State also produces milk, cheese and wine, among other things.
3. Fill Up Your Blue Bin. We have a fairly respectable recycling program, so use it! Be sure to follow the directions of what CAN and CAN'T be placed in the blue bin (found in the phone book). But remember, to complete the recycling circle, you should BUY recycled materials as well.
4. Use the Centro. It may not be the most convenient of transportation systems, but the more we use it, the more efficient it can become. If buses start filling up they'll add more routes and better schedules. Start small. Try taking it to the fair this year (avoid those horrible parking lot traffic jams) or take the "Shopper Special" to the mall.
5. Stick it to National Grid (NiMo). Conserve enegry, even in our cold winter months. Get some extra sweaters, dust off that afghan from Grandma and turn down the thermostat a bit. Us northerners can take a bit of chilly weather, can't we? Replace three of your most used lights with compact flourescent bulbs (the twirly ones) and watch your electric usage plummit. Take that, NiMo! You can also buy green energy through NiMo by clicking here. Reduce our dependancy on oil -- sign up for green energy today!

Top Five Places for a Cosmo
1. Rain 218 N. Franklin St.: 474-3487.
Oh girl, if you never venture outside of the squares, take a walk on the wild side and check out this fun bar and discover "the best cosmo in the city." Gay friendly.
2. World Lounge and Martini Bar 134 E. Genesee St., Hanover Square: 424-1390.
This place is not off the beaten path, but if you are a "Sex in the City" kind of gal looking for a good cocktail, this is the place for you.
3. OHM Lounge 314 S. Franklin St.: 475-1985.
A new Armory Square addition, OHM replaced the former Armory High. If you have not seen the renovated duds, make sure to go -- you will be impressed!
4. Ambrosia 201 Walton St.: 426-8800.
Enjoy a great drink with your upscale meal or come after dark to sip in a dance atmosphere. Word of caution: drinks in "up" glasses are hard not to spill in a crowded bar!
5. Mezzanotte 658 N. Salina St.: 478-7001.
Venture up to Little Italy for a tasty drink in a beautiful atmosphere. Make sure to check out their live music offerings as well.

Top Five Places for a Sub/Hoagie/Grinder (or whatever you call it!)
1. Lucky 7’s Market 3100 Court St: 463-0491.
A hidden gem if there ever was one. Not only sandwiches, but awesome pre-made lunches and dinners of all kinds. Bring home some chicken lo-mein or a heap of delicious potato salad.
2. Brooklyn Pickle 2222 Burnet Ave: 463-1851 or 1600 W Genesee St: 487-8000.
Well-known as a great place for a sandwich. Can’t leave this one off the list.
3. Mimi’s Bakery & Café 260 W Genesee St: 422-6630. The building blocks of a great sandwich are great bread, and Mimi’s has ‘em. Baked fresh on the premises, they offer wheat, white, caraway rye or sub rolls.
4. Dorian’s Pizza & Deli 534 Westcott St: 472-2697. An SU student’s favorite. Jam-packed sandwiches, most with a Greek twist to them. Also great wings and pizza.
5. Kases & Kegs 1302 Burnet Ave: 472-8810. Not the prettiest place in the world, but the sandwiches are big and delicious. Give it a try.

Top Five Places to Walk Your Dog
1. Onondaga Lake Park. Great views and usually a nice breeze. And I promise the lake doesn't smell from the park! Just watch out for people zipping by on roller blades or bikes.
2. Mercer Park in Baldwinsville. Let your pup get his feet wet in the Seneca River. There’s also a beautiful gazebo to rest in.
3. Oakwood Cemetery. Winding trails and plenty of gravestones to sniff.
4. Creek Walk. Newly landscaped and ready to be used. Have the trail to yourself!
5. Jamesville Beach. My dogs love the feeling of sand between their toes.

Top Five Places for Kick Ass Nachos
1. Juanita’s Mexican Kitchen. Real melted cheddar and thick tortilla chips that don’t break when you scoop.
2. Dinosaur Barbeque. Pork meat on nachos? Believe me, they’re delicious.
3. Beans. Little known place on Tipp Hill, inside Steve’s Bar. Wash it down with a margarita.
4. Alto Cinco. Go in the summer when you can chow down outside.
5. Wacky Wyatt’s in Baldwinsville. Starve yourself to gear up for these nachos.