The decorated tiki bar at Easy Sailor has a large red octopus wall sculpture, vintage-style paintings, rustic wood walls, and nautical decor.

A bowl of ramen with sliced pork, halved soft-boiled eggs, chopped green onions, spinach, seaweed, and noodles in broth from Public Provisions in Rochester.

A band performing on stage with blue and red curtains, three musicians are visible: one singing and playing guitar, one playing bass, and a drummer in the background. The scene is lit with colorful stage lights at the 5 Spot in Nashville, TN.

Colorful sculpture of a one-eyed monster with purple arms and a pizza body, surrounded by a pizza-themed backdrop and blue curtains at Denver's Meow Wolf.

Filipino food plate with rice, fried egg, diced beef stir-fry, and spring rolls from Pinoy Boy in Buffalo, New York.

A stage decorated with candles and white drapery, with a person dressed in dark clothing performing under blue lighting, at an event called the Edgar Allen Poe Speakeasy.

A pour over coffee from AM:FM Coffee in Rochester, NY

Senojfromtheroc performing at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Arts

Music

Culture

Cuisine

Drink

The Underrated Vibes

Andy Gold 12/4/25 Andy Gold 12/4/25

Relax at this Posh New Coffee Shop and Cocktail Lounge in Syracuse

Pausa is a small escape when traveling through Syracuse. In a way, it is a portal to a relaxing time, alluring and full of elegance. This is truly a lounge where locals are spending time out with friends, and savoring the moment. If you find yourself in need of an espresso or just want a cool lounge to hang out at with a nice craft cocktail, Pause Coffee is the place to be.

Andy Gold 10/10/25 Andy Gold 10/10/25

The Salt City Market is a Promise of a Better Tomorrow

Deep in the heart of downtown Syracuse, where South Salina meets West Onondaga, is a great food hall that combines the diverse and rich delicacies of Syracuse’s numerous cultural identities under one bazaar-style marketplace. The Salt City Market is a transformative community space that provides sustenance in the form of food and beverages, affordable housing, a coffee shop and bar, a cooperative grocery store, and the promise of a better tomorrow.

Andy Gold 8/29/25 Andy Gold 8/29/25

Everybody Down to the Erie Canal Museum, 200 Years on the Erie Canal

Since opening in 1962, the Erie Canal Museum has been educating travelers, students, and museum goers alike about the extensive policies, strategies, and stories that led to the creation of the canal, including the technological advancements that came from it, and the prosperity that was built in the Empire State because of it.

Andy Gold 8/5/25 Andy Gold 8/5/25

Soccer Fans Unite for a Pint at this Salt City Biergarten

Wolff’s Biergarten is a local Central New York (CNY) bar and restaurant rooted in Albany, dating back to 2009, with locations in Syracuse and Schenectady. While the Syracuse location does not feature a food menu, the bar shares an ethos of serving delicious craft beers by the litre, hosting karaoke and trivia nights, college nights, industry nights, Bingo, and an awesome happy hour. Importantly, Wolff’s Biergarten and many of its patrons all share one commonality: a love of soccer.

Andy Gold 7/27/25 Andy Gold 7/27/25

This Indie Music Shop With Roots in Baltimore is Spinning Hits in Syracuse, New York

The Sound Garden has roots that originated in Baltimore in 1993, and they opened the Syracuse shop in 1995. In 2008, it moved to its current location and has maintained its status as an indie music store in Syracuse for the past 30 years.

Andy Gold 7/7/25 Andy Gold 7/7/25

A Quiet Reset at Recess Coffee on Montgomery St.

I have always loved sitting down in a warm café with a cortado get a sense of the ambiance, the people, and the flow of the city. Recently, I stumbled upon Recess Coffee on Montgomery St. in Downtown Syracuse. It was a hot day strolling around town, and the high temperatures were catching up with me. This felt like an opportunistic moment to sit down, hang out, and try a local roast.

Andy Gold 7/6/25 Andy Gold 7/6/25

The Whiskey Coop: An Elegant and Casual Experience at the Armory Square

The Whiskey Coop at the Armory Square in Downtown Syracuse is both spacious and elegant, while simultaneously offering a casual and relaxed experience for visitors seeking a well-crafted meal and a stellar selection of spirits.

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