Meet Robin Raabe Community snapshot: Clinton's Park Row

PEOPLE & PLACES OF THE MOHAWK VALLEY

JUNE 2016 $2.95

Meet Robin RaabeTram co-owner says customers are family

Community snapshot:Clinton’s Park Row

Tasteslike homeSpecialty grocerscatering to immigrant,ethnic groupsmake exotic foodseasy to find

It seems like only yesterday that I attended my five-year col-lege reunion. How is it already time for another?

The last five years have gone by in a blur; and the last fewmonths, it seems, have gone by even faster. Weren’t we just talk-ing about spring cleaning? How is it summer already?

(And how do I already have so many weekends booked onmy calendar?)

If you haven’t figured out your own summer plans yet, don’tworry – we have some ideas.

For those looking to explore close to home – maybe take awine tour, even? – John Pitarresi has advice on what to see anddo in Ithaca this summer. This quintessential college town islocated in New York’s beautiful Finger Lakes region (and, inci-dentally, is where I’m headed for my reunion in a few weeks).

For those headed farther afield, check out our infographic onsummer travel stats.

And finally, for those of you who’d rather entertain at home,check out Tennille-Lynn Millo’s “Home & Garden” story on Page24 to learn more about the growing trend of party sheds – theytake the idea of an outdoor bar to the next level.

Enjoy your summer!

From summer trips tosummer parties, we’ve

got you covered

Letter from the editor

Courtney Potts

Accent editor

Accent is a supplement to the Observer-Dispatch and Times Telegram,

published monthly by GateHouse Media Inc., with offices at 221 Oriskany Plaza, Utica, NY 13501.

EDITOR: COURTNEY POTTS ([email protected])

LAYOUT: PETER FRANCHELL ([email protected]

ADVERTISING SALES: ERIN PITTMAN ([email protected])

CIRCULATION: ROBERT GALL ([email protected])

FEATURED WRITERS: Tennille-Lynn Millo; John Pitarresi; Cynthia O’Connor O’hara

PHOTOGRAPHERS:Matt Ossowski; Chris Penree

COVER PHOTO: ‘DRAGON FRUIT’ Matt Ossowski

LOCAL FACES

For Tramontane Café ownerRobin Raabe, business isabout more thanmoney

COVER STORY

8

Neighborhood: Explore Clinton’shistoric downtown area– 18

Home&Garden: Dressed-up shedsthe next big thing in entertaining– 22

The big event: Saranac kicks offsummer calendar– 4

Day trip: Ithaca offers food, adven-ture– 27

Looking for exoticingredients? These localstores have you covered

12

4 ACCENT | JUNE | 2016

The Big Event

STORY BY ALISSA SCOTT

Do you live for Thursdays?F.X Matt Brewing Co. con-

tinues pouring cold brews andplaying live music this yearwith the 18th annual SaranacThursdays summer concertseries.

The season kicked off May19 and will run throughThursday, Sept. 1, in the brew-ery’s outdoor beer garden.Gates open at 5:30 p.m. eachThursday, with live music from6 to 9 p.m.

As always, the Saranacfamily of beers and handcraftedsoft drinks will be availablealong with live music fromlocal bands and food by Dean’sConcessions.

This year’s lineup includes,in order: Last Left, Born ToRun, Wild Adriatic, Classified,Floodwood, The Crazy Fools,MoChester, Gridley Paige,Enter The Haggis, SimpleLife,Annie In The Water, TheBomb, Lonesome Dove andThe Matt Lomeo Band.

Showtime and The NewYork Rock performed in May.

Admission is $5 for those21 and older, and gets you inthe gates and one drink on thehouse. A portion of proceedswill benefit the United Way ofthe Valley and Greater UticaArea.

Also this month:• Utica Zoo will host its

17th annuaal Wine in theWilderness from 6 to 9 p.m.Saturday, June 4. Partygoerscan sample and purchase NewYork state wines, including alimited-edition chardonnay byMohawk Valley Winery withUtica Zoo artwork on the label.Simple Propos and RemsenSocial Club will perform livemusic. Tickets for zoo mem-bers are $30 in advance or $35at the door. Non-members pay

$35 in advance or $40 at thedoor. Designated driver ticketsare $20. Tickets will be avail-able at uticazoo.org/wine.

• Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute’s annualsummer exhibit kicks offSunday, June 12, with a galleryof 60 large photos by renownedNational Geographic photogra-pher Steve McCurry. McCurryis famous for his cover image of“Afghan Girl.” Members willhave a preview gala at 7:30p.m. Saturday, June 11.

Tickets to the gala cost $25.The regular exhibit is $10 forthe general public, $5 for full-time students and free for chil-dren and members.

• American country groupThe Band Perry, known fortheir hit song “If I Die Young,”will perform at 8 p.m.Saturday, June 25, at TurningStone Resort Casino’s EventCenter. Tickets range from $29to $44.

Saranac kicks offsummer calendar

Bits & Pieces

Run for a causeExcited to check out

Clinton’s Village Green afterreading our story on page 18?Here’s the perfect excuse for avisit (as if you needed one!).

On June 4, the KirklandArt Center, located at 9 ½ E.Park Row, will hold one of itslargest regular fundraisers – the38th annual KAC Run andWalk. There will also be a fes-tival on the green from 11 a.m.to 7:30 p.m. to celebrate.

The event includes aYouth Fun Run (4:45 p.m.), aone-mile race (5:15 p.m.) and a5K walk and run (6 p.m.)Awards will be handed out at 7p.m.

Participants should regis-ter in advance atwww.kacny.org/kac-run-walk.

Register early and you couldreceive one of 100 limited-edi-tion shirts commemorating theevent.

Funds raised from the Runand Walk help support a vari-ety of art-related programs,including dance classes, adultart workshops, and the KAC’sgallery series. For more infor-mation, call 853-8871 or [email protected].

We want to hearfrom you!

Questions? Comments?Story ideas? We love them all!

Email your letters to theeditor to [email protected] mail them to CourtneyPotts, c/o Observer-Dispatch,221 Oriskany Plaza, Utica, NY13501.

Explore Old MainIf you’ve ever wanted to

get inside the “Old Main”building at the former MohawkValley Psychiatric Center,now’s your chance.

Assemblyman AnthonyBrindisi and the LandmarksSociety of Greater Utica haveorganized a series of free edu-cational tours of the building tobe offered June 10 and 17.Tours will leave every 20 min-utes from 9 a.m. to noon andfrom 3 p.m. to 5:40 p.m. eachday.

Interested individuals mustregister in advance, however,and tour space is limited. Toregister, email

[email protected] atleast one week prior to yourrequested tour date. Be sure toinclude the names of all indi-viduals interested, the request-ed date and time of the tour,and any relevant group affilia-tions or special needs (wheel-chair access, etc.).

Built in 1843, Old Mainwas the first publicly-fundedfacility to treat mentally illindividuals in New York State.It’s also an exceptional exam-ple of Greek Revival architec-ture, and listed on the NationalRegister for Historic Places.Tours will focus on the build-ing’s history and its role in theearly years of American mentalhealth treatment.

ACCENT | JUNE | 2016 5


Fashion

Ready for date night?Simple styles work for any summer occasion

BY FRANCESCA BAIOSmall Town Couture

Imagine the scenario –it’s Friday and you’reexhausted from the week.Even the thought of gettingdressed to head out for datenight seems exhausting. Trustme, I hear ya! But our areahas so many fun date nightopportunities; it’d be a shameto pass them up!

My tips? Streamline yourcloset to make decisions a lot

easier. I have a lot of blackand white essentials that Ikeep in my closet to helpmake this process a littlesmoother. Another trick canbe to find out what your sig-nificant other is wearing andthen try to complement eachother.

Sometimes knowing whatsomeone else is wearing helpsmake your decision a littleeasier.

Here are a few othersuggestions depending on the

occasion.

CasualWhether it’s a laid back

night together or a fun day-time activity, casual dates canbe so much fun! It’s easy forboth sexes to look comfort-able and fabulous.

For her: Consider pairinga casual dress or a pair ofcut-off shorts with sneakers.This is a great way to be fem-inine and casual – and canwork for a variety of occa-


sions.For him: Try pairing a fit-

ted tee with a pair of shortsand a casual sneaker. A casualoutfit with a great fit is a greatway to complement your bodyand look awesome doing it!

Tip: Investing in a pair ofcasual sneakers is a great idea!You can find a good canvaspair for about $50. If you’veworn the sneakers to the gymrecently, you probably don’twant to wear them on a date!

DressyHeading out for a night on

the town? I’ve got the outfitsfor you!

For her: When it comes tosummer date night style, don’tbe afraid to show off those legs!To make your legs look longerand leaner, pair a nude heelwith a dress (or skirt) that hitsabout 3 inches above yourknee. You’ll be turning headsall night!

For him: Adding a blazerto a pair of fitted jeans or pantsis always a good idea for datenight! Finding a blazer that’s fitperfectly for your body willmake you look longer and lean-er – and can make an afford-able blazer look expensive!

Tip: Don’t be afraid tomake friends with a tailor!Having clothes that fit right isa win for her and him!

ConcertDepending on the concert

venue, you can be casual ordressy! No matter which lookyou go with, you’ll probably

blend right in!FFoorr hheerr:: You can’t go

wrong with an LBD (littleblack dress), bold necklace andopen-toed bootie for a concert!It’s easy to put together andlooks great on so many bodytypes. Tie a flannel shirtaround your waist if you areheaded to a rock or countryconcerts!

FFoorr hhiimm:: Pair a skinnyjean, fitted tee and an unbut-toned button-down shift with aboot! This is an easy way tolook effortlessly cool and worksfor all genres.

Tip: Ladies, bring a smallcross-body bag (with not a lotin it) and gentlemen, make sureyou don’t have a lot in yourpockets! Security at concertshas been increasing, so the lessyou go inside with the better!

Happy summer!

Francesca Baio lives in New Berlin, where she writes about fashion and beauty for her blog, smalltowncou-

ture.com. Follow @SmallTownCouture on Instagram for more fashion advice.

All in the‘Tram’-ily

Local faces

For Tramontane Café ownerRobin Raabe, business is aboutmore than money

STORY BY JOHN PITARRESIPHOTOS BY TINA RUSSELL

There is nothing quite like theTramontane Café.

Not around Utica, anyway.Funky. Cool. Kitschy.Eclectic. Quirky. Artsy.Those are a few of the adjectives

that have been used to describe theplace. No wonder. Robin Raabe, who co-owns “The Tram” with GarrettIngraham, seems to be many of thosethings and a lot more, including smart,warm and open.

“We are amid a collection of kitschand collectibles,” Raabe said. “We like tohave a lot of color patterns and texturearound and a lot of talented folks. A lotof musicians and artists find their way tous.”

Raabe and Ingraham, a couple for23 years, opened their Lincoln Avenuebusiness eight years ago. Earlier ventures

Stats

Age: 46

Residence: Utica

Education: Utica Free

Academy, Mohawk Valley

Community College

Employment: Manager, co-

owner of Tramontane Café

Family: Mother, Victoria

Raabe; significant other of

23 years, Garrett Ingraham

Favorite musical performer:

Foreigner (Lou Graham era);

Dream Theater

Sports teams: CNY Roller

Derby and Utica Comets.


Local faces

included a vintage clothingstore, Chancy’s, on ColumbiaStreet; and a coffee house,Virgo Bat & Leo Phrog’s, from1999 to 2003 on ColumbiaStreet and then lower GeneseeStreet.

The Tram serves coffee,sandwiches, soups, muffins,cookies, other desserts andplenty else. And most every-thing is made on site, exceptfor the bagels, which comefrom The Bagel Grove, whereRaabe used to work. It catersto all kinds of tastes in food –vegan, vegetarian, carnivore –and all kinds of tastes in cul-ture.

Open mic nights onFridays and Sundays attractpoets, musicians, comediansand who knows who else to thesmall stage in the back. Butthere’s no 21-and-older rulehere; even the youngest guestsare welcome. And no alcohol isserved at The Tram – not evenwine – because Raabe is not afan, for many reasons. Also,nothing is fried.

The Tram reflects Raabe’spersonality, and is often busy,but it’s hardly a gold mine.Ingraham works a full-time jobat Broddock Press and Raabehasn’t had a paycheck in years.But turning a profit – while agoal – doesn’t seem to be theprimary motive.

“I guess we do it for thelove of it,” Raabe said.

Here’s what else we

learned during our chat.What does “Tramontane”

mean and why did you use it asa name?

“‘Over the mountain, liter-ally. It means stranger in astrange land, odd and different.It also is an instrumental byone of my favorite bands,Foreigner. We picked it just tonot be like everyone else. Wewanted to stand out from oth-ers. We’ve always been a littlequirky.”

HHooww wwoouulldd yyoouu cchhaarraacctteerr--iizzee tthhee ccaafféé??

“We always say we’re anall-ages, intergenerational–friendly venue and meetingplace. We’re a coffee house-café. We had a really terrificpoetry reading last night. Wehad 25 people (reading). … Weoffer soup, salad, sandwiches.We do all of our baking inhouse. Desserts, muffins, cook-ies. …We cater to vegans, veg-etarians. We have gluten-freeoptions.”

And, yes, you have meat –but no alcohol.

“We have bacon all overthe place. Chicken salad goespretty decently and BLTs. …I’m very happy to say we don’thave alcohol. We do havefriends who are in recovery,and they don’t have a lot ofplaces they can venture towithout some sort of tempta-tion, so we like to know we area place for everyone to comeinto.”

Did you train as a chef orjust pick things up along theway?

“I definitely picked thingsup. I have no formal training.A lot of my previous employ-ments prepared me for makingsandwiches. I worked at theDevereux and at the BagelGrove. I have a lot of experi-

ence in quick service and sand-wich preparation and along theway I learned how to makesoup, muffins and cookies andpeople seem to like it.”

What inspired you to dothis?

“I guess our own personalneed for a place to go. I couldventure out to a fine drinkingestablishment to hear livemusic … I’m actually allergicto alcohol. We don’t use winefor anything. And I also alwayswanted to provide a place forfolks who don’t quite need liba-tion to have an enjoyable expe-rience. And especially the all-ages aspect. We wanted tomake sure much younger folkscould have a place to learnsome culture and actually talkto each other in real life.”

Who were your mentors?“My mother, as a strong,

independent female, that’s oneperson. School-wise, SisterClaire Weber, CSJ, my businessteacher at (Utica FreeAcademy). She was pretty cool.… Just a strong person beingencouraging. To be honest withyou, as a shy wallflower, retir-ing type who doesn’t remember

high school that much, she wasa standout.”

What do you love aboutthe business?

Similarly to when I had myclothing store, it’s the folkswho come in and … diversity.We have a 7-year-old who ishome-schooled who comes withhis mom during the day. Theyplay cards, they do flash cards,they talk, they play games. Hedrinks coffee! He’s going to bewell prepared. …. One of ourfriends who recently passedaway, who we miss thoroughly,Roger Smith, was a seriousRenaissance man. Poet, writer,photographer, artist, he didcollages, so many things. … Heinfluenced our lives a lot.We’ve got one young personwho started coming here whenhe was 7, as well, doing ouropen mic nights. He’s now 14and is well versed in his bluesguitar and classic rock tunes. Ijust like to see how folks willgrow with us and learn with usand teach us the ways of theworld and bring us some cul-ture. We’ve met some true rockstars, some sports stars. Buteveryone, as I call it, we treat


them as “Tramily,” as real peo-ple. We try to treat everyonewith as much respect as possi-ble. Make them feel very wel-come and at home.”

What do you do whenyou’re not working at the café?

“Those silly Comets kidscame to visit us three yearsago. They, for some reason,liked us. We made sandwichesfor them at lunchtime everyonce in a while. We got theencouragement to go checkthem out. I’d never been to alive hockey game before. ….They hooked us fast and furi-ous. Went to the games, andwe enjoyed it thoroughly. Thatwas super. I made sure I wentto the home games. I missedone game (this year). … Theyhave been super-terrific formany if not all the local inde-

pendent small business in thearea.”

What would you like to bedoing fivee, 10 years down theline?

“I’d like to have a legiti-mate, full, real day off. A daywhen I don’t have to lock thedoor or unlock the door.That’d be awesome. I’d like tomake it a self-sustaining prop-erty. This building is a goodbuilding. It just needs to beused to its potential. I hopeGarrett would be able to workon his independent, fun things.Like puppeting. He’s part ofThe Guild of ThespianPuppets. They’re out andabout doing shows. He’s also agraphic designer/cartoonist. …I just turned 46. It would benice to take a couple days andgo on a mini vacation.”


Recipe box

Planning a picnic?Ham it up!

Whether they’re enjoyed on the deck, in the backyard, or at

your favorite picnic spot, these zesty sandwiches are perfect

for warm-weather gatherings.

Cynthia O’Connor O’Hara is a recipe developer, food writer, and the author of The Harried Housewife’sCookbook series. Write to her at P.O. Box 16, Whitesboro, NY 13492-0016 or visit her Web site at

www.theharriedhousewife.com.

Herbed Ham SaladCroissant SandwichesPrep time: 15 minutes

Serves: 4

INGREDIENTS• 2 cups minced cooked ham

• 1/3 cup regular or light mayonnaise

• 2 tablespoons minced celery

• 1 tablespoon minced onion

• 2 teaspoons minced fresh flat-leaf parsley

• 2 teaspoons minced fresh chives

• 1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

• Pepper to taste

• 4 croissants, split

• Spring salad greens (optional)

DIRECTIONSIn a medium bowl, combine ham, mayonnaise,

celery, onion, parsley, chives and mustard;

season with pepper.

Spread bottom halves of croissants with ham

mixture; add spring salad greens, if desired.

Cover with top halves of croissants. Makes four

sandwiches.


Cover Story


Cover Story

STORY BY TENNILLE-LYNN MILLO

PHOTOS BY MATT OSSOWSKI

Utica is a city of immi-grants, and the internationalflavor that provides has carriedover into many of its neighbor-ing communities as well. Theimpact can be seen in manyfacets of our local culture, butespecially in our relationshipwith food. Living in a meltingpot makes it easy for local resi-dents to find authentic ethnicrestaurants, of course, but italso makes it easier to findsmall specialty grocery storesthat specialize in the ingredi-ents they need to recreate theirfavorite dishes at home.

Because sometimes when itcomes to making a fresh newmeal for your family, the secret

isn’t having the right ingredi-ents, it’s knowing where to findthem.

Many of the small interna-tional grocers in Central NewYork sprang up to serve specif-ic immigrant or refugee com-munities in their area. But withexotic produce, imported spe-cialty items and – often – sur-prisingly reasonable prices,there’s plenty in these neigh-borhood fixtures to appeal toother shoppers as well. Largergrocery stores in the area maystock some of these uniquefoods but when it comes tovariety, specialty stores can’t bebeat.

We visited four local spe-cialty markets to learn moreabout them and what theyoffer. While we know it can beoverwhelming to venture into

an unknown market that’s fullof unfamiliar smells, languagesand labels, it’s an adventurethat’s worth the trip.

AsianNguyen Phat Oriental

Store, located at 643 BleeckerSt. in Utica, has been bringingAsian staples to the area for 21years. Moving to the area fromVietnam, owners Phong Leinand his wife, Dung Lu, knewimmediately that their job was

to help other members of thelocal Asian community, who atthe time had limited access tothe products they needed tocook. Setting up shop in asmall space next to Café Carusoon Bleecker Street, Lein andhis wife worked hard to growthe business over time: travel-ing farther to get more prod-ucts, taking requests from thecommunity on what items theyneeded, and, after nine years,moving their business into a

Amelting potof international flavors

Have a taste for something exotic?Specialty grocers stocking uniquefoods at reasonable prices

“My father and I drive to New York City everyWednesday to pick up our produce”

– Vi Lien


Cover story

larger building that couldhouse more merchandise.

Today, Nguyen Phat isone of the largest Asian mar-kets in the area, stockpiledwith large bags of rice – jas-mine, black, short and long –and packed with fish sauce,sushi vinegar, ring fish, ricenoodles, candy and sweets.But, it’s the store’s fresh fruitand vegetable selections thatkeep customers waiting outsideits door as early as 4 a.m.

“My father and I drive toNew York City everyWednesday to pick up our pro-duce,” Vi Lien said. “It’s a dif-ferent variety every week, andit’s our busiest day. We usuallydon’t close our doors until mid-night because we’re still filledwith customers trying to stockup.”

Phong Lein has made apoint of filling his produce sec-tion with an abundance ofexotic items that are unusual inour area, such as galangal, kaf-fir leaves, lychees, Chinesebroccoli, and sweet tamarind.However, these items go quick-ly and hardly ever remain onthe shelves by the time the nextproduce round arrives.

As a full market, NguyenPhat also offers some meatsand poultry, but it’s best

known for its fresh seafood,which is kept alive until pur-chased. Here customers canfind octopus, crab, squid, tuna,and several other types ofwhole fish, depending on theavailability during the week.

Not ready to prepare awhole fish or take a taste ofspiky fruit? Lein encouragesstarting with condiments. Tryone of their different soy saucevarieties, which range fromdark to light, to see the differ-ent flavors they can add to

dishes. Or, sample Kewpie, atype of Asian mayonnaise.

PolishPulaski’s Meat Market,

located at 1201 Lenox Ave. inUtica, has been carrying onPolish culinary traditions for45 years. One of the onlyremaining Polish markets inthe area, Pulaski’s has beenimporting products fromPoland since the original own-ers, Irene and John Bulawa,settled in Utica after moving to

the United States. Think Polishfood is just a bunch of kielbasaand pierogi? Think again.You’ll need to venture into thiscorner market to experiencethe old-world variety Pulaski’soffers.

Lined with an impressivearray of chocolates, cookiesand candies, the aisles give wayto more unusual items, such asdried Polish mushrooms, blackcurrant syrup, poppy seed fill-ing, and white borscht and redbeet soup mixes. There’s also a

Specialty grocersInterested in shopping

locally? Here are a few othersmall grocery stores in thearea, both specialty shops andgeneral markets.UTICASammy and Annie Foods (Italian)717 Bleeker St.www.sammyandfoods.comGolden Burma Asian Market

(Asian)314 South St.315-507-2149Lucky Mey’s Market (Asian)1633 Oneida St.315-735-5963Your Bargain Grocer506 Columbia St.www.yourbargaingrocer.com315-266-0039The Local Farm to Table (Locally

grown)900 Lansing St.

www.thelocalfarmtable.com

NEW HARTFORDPeter’s Cornucopia Inc. (Natural)38 New Hartford Shopping Centerwww.peterscornucopia.net

FRANKFORTThe Locavore (Locally grown)159 E. Main St.315-895-0325Melrose Supermarket208 E. Main St.315-894-3272

HERKIMERThe Village Market24 W. Main St.315-866-3344

LITTLE FALLSKelly’s Meats516 Albany St.315-823-3791

ROMEMazzaferros Meat & Deli

(Italian)7824 Ridge Mills Road

The wide selection at

Pulaski’s Meat Market attracts

customers from as far away as

Albany.

Cover story

large meat and deli section thatdraws patrons from as far awayas Albany.

“Everything here is differ-ent and unique for our cus-tomers,” co-owner BarbaraBulawa said. “All of our meatsare handmade. We take thetime to craft our sausage, kiel-basa, hotdogs, and even ourbacon. We have customers whohave been coming here foryears, just for their meat.People know if it’s not hand-made or imported fromPoland, we don’t sell it.”

Following the tradition oftheir in-laws, Barbara and herhusband, Vincent Bulawa, haveprided themselves on keepingtheir market consistent withstaple items such as daisy hamsand Morski cheese, and oldfamily recipes. But they’ve alsoadded innovation with eachnew generation, putting unex-pected twists on their menu,such as reuben, blueberry andapple pierogis, and jalapenokielbasa to attract more adven-turous palates.

BosnianRuznic Grocery Store,

located at 801 Albany St. inUtica, has been catering to theBosnian community for 13

years. Opening its doors in2003, Ruznic’s promised sweetBosnian bread, cookies, meatpies, and all the baking staplesone could need from theircountry. But, it ended up pro-viding more than just a taste ofhome for local Bosnians – itopened the doors for all ofCentral New York to try some-thing new.

“We had a big Bosniancommunity here that needed tohave some of their food from

Cover story


back home. It was part of ourculture and our lives. So Iopened a market to bring thatto everyone,” owner SamirRuznic said. “But, as we grew,the store needed to meet theneeds of the Balkan communityand the people coming fromCroatia, so I added their thingsto the market.”

Bringing customers spe-cialty items such a chickenspreads, sour cherry juice,vanilla sugar and goulash

cream was important toRuznic. However, offering freshbread, just as they would havein their markets at home, wasequally important. And, as themarket grew, so did requestsfor meat pies, cevapi (Bosniankebabs made of sausage, lamband beef), and Chorba (a popu-lar beef and vegetable soup).So Ruznic expanded his mar-ket to include a restaurant –allowing customers to shop,and also take their dinner

home.More recently, he expand-

ed his market into Syracuse,naming the new store RuznicII, so that he could reach thegrowing Bosnian communitythere, many of whom had beentraveling to Utica to shop forthe last 10 years.

ItalianRocco Gualtieri Market is

one of the Mohawk Valley’soldest Italian markets. Locatedat 294 E. Dominick St. inRome, Gualtieri’s has beenimporting Italian productssince Rocco opened its door in1902. Today, it’s still set in theoriginal store and style as itwas 114 years ago, completewith large pickle and olive bar-rels, hanging scales, and spe-cialty sausages and cheesesstored above the deli counter.

Owner Dave Gualtieri,Rocco’s grandson, has strived

to maintain the same consisten-cy and product selectionthroughout the years.

“My grandfather estab-lished a good name when hecame to this store and we keepthat going,” Gualtieri said. “It’san old-time market that givespeople the service they stillwant. Traditions have changed,and people may look for theirproducts and all their needs inlarger, convenient grocerychains now, but the cookingshows and food magazines con-tinue to draw that next genera-

To meet demand, Ruznic recently

opened a second Bosnian

grocery shop in Syracuse.

tion to us.”Selling fresh Italian bread,

cured Italian meats andcheeses, imported and locallycanned tomatoes, anchovies,and a slew of olive oils hasmade Gualtieri’s Market standout for more than 100 years.But venturing into Gualteiri’s,

and perusing the items on theold wooden shelves, does comewith a warning: Once you sam-ple the slices of fresh deli meatsand experience the style andflow of a traditional Italianmarket, you’ll never look atgrocery shopping the sameagain.


Cover story

“My grandfather established a good name whenhe came to this store and we keep that going”

Dave Gaultieri continues his

grandfather’s legacy selling

imported Italian products.


Neighborhood


Neighborhood

STORY BY TENNILLE-LYNN MILLOPHOTOS BY MATT OSSOWSKI

The history of many towns can be toldthrough the ebb and flow of certain neighbor-hoods; Clinton’s Park Row is no exception.

Established in the early 1800s, the VillageGreen was intended to be the hub of Clinton, aspace that would draw families in for communitygatherings, picnics and religious events for yearsto come. The attractive atmosphere it created alsodrew new businesses and new residents to the vil-lage center.

Once home to five different churches, includ-ing Clinton Methodist Church (now the KirklandArt Center) and Clinton Baptist Church (now thevillage Historical Society), the charming ovaldesign of the green eventually gave way to ParkRow, and became one of the first business districtsin the area as well.

Charming shops, villagegreen add to Clinton’shistoric charm

THINGS TO DOClinton Farmers Market

On the green

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays (in season)

Kirkland Art Center

9 ½ E. Park Row

315-853-2038

Village concerts (free)

On the green

7 p.m. Tuesdays (in season)

West Park Row has been a

popular location for retail-

ers since the mid 1800s.


Neighborhood

“Park Row has alwaysbeen a mixed commerce set-ting,” Richard Williams,Clinton’s town historian said.“It’s a beautiful area that’smanaged to change with thetimes. From shopping needs totechnology advancements, peo-ple have always enjoyed thevariety that comes with ParkRow.”

The farm supply and mer-cantile buildings that first sur-rounded the green weredestroyed in 1863, when alarge fire burnt their woodenframes to the ground. But thatmade room for the second gen-eration of buildings, redesignedto offer apartment space aboveall of the street-level businesses.

Later, Park Row became apopular location for retailers.Growing from small grocersand meat markets to pharma-cies, lawyers’ offices, and spe-

RESTAURANTSAcross The Row Bistro

8 E. Park Row

315-381-3076

www.acrosstherow.com

Nola’s

7W. Park Row

315-853-3052

www.nolasinclinton.com

Utica Roasting Company

1W. Park Row

315-272-2358

www.wakethehellup.com

The AnnexWine Bar

7W. Park Row

315-557-5078

www.theannexwinebar.com

Giovanni’s Pizza

12 E. Park Row

315-853-7700

Hamilton College provides a steady flow of

customers to village shops and restaurants.

Neighborhood


SHOPPINGAdirondack Cheese Company

13W. Park Row

315-853-1461

Ali-Linz Home and Accessories

3W. Park Row

315-853-1453

DawnMarie’s Treasures

Consignment Boutique

18W. Park Row

315-796-9099

Village Crossing on the Green

11W. Park Row

315-853-5299

Krizia Martin Fine Apparel &

Giftware

20W. Park Row

315-381-3271

No. 6 Cigar Company

6W. Park Row

315-853-2980

The Clinton Florist

5 S. Park Row

315-853-2731

cialty shops, the success of thearea continued to climbthroughout the years. Andnearby Hamilton Collegehelped, of course, by providinga steady flow of students, par-ents and professors, all lookingto have their shopping needsmet.

Catering to that demo-graphic gave Park Row arefined twist that called forcrafted desserts, home collec-tions, and noteworthy chefsand restaurants. It also becamean obvious choice for certainartistic pursuits, such as theKirkland Art Center and theannual Clinton Art and MusicFestival.

Today, the neighborhoodis still drawing the communitytogether – not just for Sundaymorning church socials, but forart, history and artisanalchocolates to boot.

Stone

Presbyterian

Church sits at

the south end

of the village

green.

The green was created as a

community gathering place –

a function it still fills today.


Home & Garden

Come on in … the party’s out back!

Dressed-up sheds the next big thing in outdoor entertainingSTORY BY TENNILLE-LYNNMILLOPHOTOS BY CHRIS PENREE

For years we’ve followedthe backyard party trends.There was the coveted whitetent, whose arrival allowedguests to dine outdoors withoutthe threat of rain or wickedsunburns; the fancy line ofpatio furniture that broughtindoor luxury outdoors; andthe millions of twinkle lightsand lanterns that made ourbackyards shine as bright asthe stars above. But all thistime, the next big thing in

backyard must-haves was inthe one place we never thoughtto look (and sometimes activelytried to hide) – the shed.

Once exclusively a broomand wheelbarrow storage facili-ty, spacious, decorated shedshave become the latest craze tosweep the nation. From cot-tage-inspired “she sheds” builtto offer women a peaceful,relaxing escape from the busi-ness of running their homes, to“man cave”–inspired shedsequipped with beer taps andsports paraphernalia, party

sheds are changing the waypeople look at their backyardsand at the placement of theirparties.

Gary Heffron, owner ofHeffron’s A Moment in TimeRetro, located at 2051 GeneseeSt. in Oneida, was one of thefirst local designers to intro-duce the party shed to the pub-lic. Coming up with the ideaafter visiting a friend who’dconverted the second floor ofhis office into an old-fashioneddiner, Heffron was inspired bythe idea that any space could

be transformed into somethingfun and unique. And, once hewalked past a raw shed sittingin his construction lot, Heffronknew just what space he want-ed to master.

In 2011 he put hammer towood and built his first partyshed.

“As I began redesigningthe shed, people started watch-ing, curious about what I wasdoing,” Heffron said. “Iinstalled lighting, a black-and-white checkered floor, a sink,some vinyl seating for people to

Home & Garden

sit and relax in, and a bar. Iput it in my backyard, andinvited everyone over to enjoyit, and the response was imme-diate. Everyone loved it.”

Intrigued by all the posi-tive feedback and requests fromother individuals to custom-make them sheds of their own,Heffron began to realize thepotential of his new backyardsanctuaries. He looked into fur-niture designs, joined forceswith Heritage Structures tobuild the sheds, and eventuallyused the same concept to trans-form a trailer into a party trail-er, which he rented out formobile party purposes with theintention of advertising theinterior design and feel of aparty shed.

Five years later, Heffron’s

idea not only launched a newbackyard market, it became aglobal success. And others havepicked up on the idea – eitheron their own or through hisexample – including a new FYIchannel design show titled “HeShed, She Shed.”

Heffron’s own designs andfurniture now fill restaurantsand hospitality locations acrossthe country, and some as faraway as Australia.

“Once I envisioned doingthe sheds, I wanted to get it outthere,” he said. “The biggesthurdle was the publicity andadvertisement to make itknown, but with the help of theparty trailer, social media, anda few home shows, the businesstook off.”

Custom designing anything

from new construction to anexisting shed renovation,Heffron ensures his customersthat the possibilities for theirsheds are only limited by theirimaginations (and maybe theirbudgets). From quaint cottagedwellings to contemporarydesigns or Adirondack-themedcabins, the one thing thatstands out with each shed is itsability to provide a quietreprieve from the world, rightin your own backyard.

“What started from ourown little shed has brought onsomething that’s now a part ofour everyday lives,” Heffronsaid. “And I want everyone tobe able to enjoy that. It’s some-thing I put in mind when gaug-ing my customers. I knew not

everyone could afford a shedloaded with electricity andwater and all the whistles, so Iselected different ways I couldsell them to make them afford-able for everyone.”

Heffron also has taken histime to ensure the quality andstability of each shed, so whenan individual purchases theparty haven they’re guaranteedit’s a purchase that will adorntheir backyard for life. So,whether you’re looking for aspace to cater to those fabuloussummer backyard parties, or aquiet, peaceful retreat for yourown staycation, party shedsjust might be your final back-yard must-have.



Day trip

The 3 D’sDDistance from Utica: 109 milesDrive time: 1 hour, 56 minutesDirections: Take I-90 West to481, head south on I-81, takeExit 12 to Route 13 intoIthaca.

About IthacaWhat is now the city of Ithaca was

once the site of a traditional Cayuga

Indian village at the inlet on the south

end of Cayuga Lake.

The Cayugas were pretty much driven

off by the Sullivan Expedition during

the RevolutionaryWar, and the first

white settlers arrived in 1788. Later,

the surrounding land was parceled

out to veterans of the war.

In 1821, Ithaca was still a village with

only about 1,000 people, but the

founding of Cornell University in 1868

and Ithaca College in 1892 spurred

growth. The population has remained

around 30,000 since the years after

WorldWar II.

STORY BY JOHN PITARRESI

What gives Ithaca itscharacter?

It’s a college town, in abig way, and that makes itdifferent and very interesting,especially considering its ruralsurroundings.

Home to Ivy LeagueCornell University, nationallyrecognized Ithaca College, andnearby Tompkins-CortlandCommunity College, Ithaca ispopulated by students andfaculty from all over the

globe. And it’s as culturallydiverse as any town you mightimagine outside a major met-ropolitan area.

But its attraction for visi-tors goes far beyond its aca-demic prowess. Its setting atthe head of Cayuga Lake, inan area decked out withnumerous natural gifts, is agreat advantage as well.There are a number of stateparks, wineries and otheractivities to keep visitors com-ing back for more.

Dining also is big: BonAppetit magazine once rankedIthaca as one of the “foodiest”towns in America, and thecity boasts more restaurantsper capita than New YorkCity. Many of them are locat-ed in the Downtown IthacaCommons, a pedestrian shop-ping area that is four blockslong and full of everything –more than 100 shops andrestaurants, plus plenty ofstreet vendors and entertain-ers.

Ithaca offers food, adventure

The Johnson

Visitors Center

welcomes guests

to the Cornell

Lab of

Ornithology

Day trip


One recommended stop isThe Piggery Butcher Case onFranklin Street. It specializes inpork, but sells other meats aswell from animals raised on itsfarm up the road inTrumansburg and at otherlocal farms. The Piggery evenoffers butchering classes for itsmore hands-on customers.

Here are a few other popu-lar spots to explore whileyou’re in town.

Ithaca Farmers MarketSteamboat Landing545 3rd St., Ithaca,607-273-7109www.ithacamarket.comIf you are looking for

something iconic about Ithaca,the Ithaca Farmers Market atSteamboat Landing undoubt-edly would be it.

Superlatives tumble out ofthe mouths of visitors to themarket, which began morethan 40 years ago.

“It’s like a microcosm ofIthaca as a whole,” one fre-quent visitor raved. “So muchfood. Cambodian. Cuban sand-wiches. Flatbread. There isalways live music, things forkids to do, climb and play.”

The market dates to 1973,when it was founded as a venuefor local growers and craftspeo-ple. It moved several times, buthas been anchored atSteamboat Landing on the lakewaterfront since 1988. Morethan 150 vendors offer fruit,vegetables, meat, eggs, poultry,dairy products, baked goods,jams and jellies, and numerousgifts and crafts.

As many as 5,000 peoplewill shop at the market on atypical day, although some arethere just for the atmosphereand to people-watch, or to havebreakfast or lunch. The market

also presents musicians – local,and sometimes from aroundthe country and around theworld – on most Saturdays andSundays from April throughNovember.

From now throughOctober, the market is open 9a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays.Winter hours can be found onits website.

TaughannockState Park

1740 Taughannock ParkRd.,Trumansburg

607-387-6739http://www.nysparks.com/

parks/62The centerpiece of

Taughannock State Park is, ofcourse, Taughannock Falls.

It’s the tallest free-fallingwaterfall east of the Mississippiat 215 feet. That’s 33 feethigher than Niagara Falls.

The water volume is farless, of course, but the scene issensational. The falls cutthrough cliffs that climb spec-tacularly to 400 feet, creating alimestone gorge that stretchesmore than a mile through thepark.

The park is on the westshore of Cayuga Lake, thelongest of the Finger Lakes,and it offers a multitude ofactivities, from swimming,boating and fishing to naturestudy and concerts.There are also miles of hikingtrails, and tremendous accessto the water.

Taughannock’s 2016Summer Concert Series, spot-lighting local talent, runs sevenconsecutive Saturday evenings,beginning July 9. It will con-clude with a silent movie underthe stars Aug. 27.

Ithaca Beer Company

122 Ithaca Beer Dr.,Ithaca607-273-0766Ithacabeer.comThe Ithaca Beer Company

prides itself on reflecting theculture, creativity and diversityof its home area.

The brewery offers a multi-tude of beers – a half-dozen ormore year-round brews, led byits signature Flower PowerIPA, which has ranked highlyin several national competi-tions; a half-dozen more sea-sonal beers, including HappyPils; and a couple of specialtyitems, including this year’sAnniversary Beer, BalticPorter.

The brewery is about morethan just beer, of course. Thetaproom’s brewpub has anattractive menu, with a fewofferings using beer or beermakings as ingredients – ched-dar ale soup, for example.

The Botanical Garden at Cornell

Plantations is famous for its

rhododendrons.

Day trip

Many of the other ingredientscome from local farms andbusinesses, including SilverQueen Farm and Purity IceCream.

The brewery is open noonto 9 p.m. Wednesday throughSunday, but guests are warnedto get there early on weekends,when the crowd is heavy.

Cornell Labof Ornithology

159 Sapsucker WoodsRoad, Ithaca,

800-843-2473www.birds.cornell.eduThe Cornell Lab of

Ornithology is the world-wideand world-class resource foranyone interested in birds. Andwho wouldn’t be interested inthe thousands of species of

birds, with their endless combi-nations of colors and behav-iors?

While the lab has an aca-demic mission, it also caters tovisits at Sapsucker Woods, thelab’s 230-acre sanctuary thatoften is described as “amaz-ing.” There are four miles oftrails, and you can join guidedtours or borrow a pair ofbinoculars, pick up a checklistand explore on your own. Morethan 200 bird species andmany other animals have beenrecorded there. And … it’s free!

The Johnson VisitorsCenter at the Lab includesinteractive exhibits, world-classbird art – including the classicworks of John James Audubonand Louis Agassiz Fuertes –and the recently completed

World of Birds Mural. Thepainting, by Jane Kim, detailsthe evolution of 243 speciesover nearly 400 million years.

Guided tours of the laband trails are offered at 2:30p.m. Mondays and Fridays,and at noon Saturdays.

Cornell Plantations1 Plantations Road, Ithaca607-255-2400www.cornellplantations.orgCornell Plantations is the

name for more than 4,000acres owned by the university,with a mission to enhance andpreserve the school’s horticul-tural collections and naturalareas.

The Botanical Garden is a35-acre site at the heart of thePlantations. There are a dozenspecialty gardens, including aspectacular display of rhodo-dendrons. The recently openedNevin Welcome Center has acafé and gift shop and otheramenities.

The Plantations alsoinclude the F.R. NewmanArboretum, 100 acres of plantcollections and installations,and several hiking trails ofvarying lengths around nearbyBeebe Lake.


Cornell Ornithology Lab

SUMMER TRAVELThe official summer travel season begins May 26 (the Thursday

before Memorial Day) and continues through Labor Day on Sept. 5.

Here's a look at howmany of us will be hitting the road (or skies)

during that 16-week period.

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics

657millionThe number of

long-distance

summer trips made

in 2001.

Average distance to our

destination, in miles

284

5%

90%7%2%

352.1Average age

of travelers

For trips under 500 miles:

Saturday or Sunday

For trips between 500 and 999 miles: Friday

Number of

trips that

are more

than 1,000

miles

NightsAverage length of stay

Howwe travelPersonalvehicle

Air

Trainor bus

Most popular

departure dates:

Vacation / sightseeing: 21%Business: 16%To see friends /

relatives: 34%

Whywe're packing

up our bags:

Meet Robin Raabe Community snapshot: Clinton's Park Row

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Transcript of Meet Robin Raabe Community snapshot: Clinton's Park Row