Subscribe | Get featured

Hi Syracuse, we made it to Thursday! 

In today’s fun-for-grown-ups edition: Plan for 40 affordable condos, Swan Lake ballet, and the Sammys Awards + plenty of reasons to put on real pants this week.

Today’s sponsor, Spot Pet Insurance, is something I wish I had before a late-night emergency vet visit left me with a $10,000 credit card bill. It’s cheaper than Netflix… and means you never have to choose between your pet and your savings. It takes less than 5 minutes to sign up – get started here.

📰 In the news

Plan to transform aging properties: A Syracuse developer aims to turn two vacant west-end Auburn buildings at 28 Aurelius Ave into about 40 affordable condos for households earning $60,000 to $100,000, pending repairs and approvals — get all the details.

Voices amplified through projection: Light Work in Syracuse is showing Alisha Wormsley’s The Temple of Our Survival on sanctuary and Black matriarchy, open Thursdays to Saturdays through May 30, featuring a quilted traveling tent — see what the exhibit explores.

Legislative concerns addressed: After questions over cost delayed a key vote, County Executive Ryan McMahon said Micron will pay for a billion-dollar industrial wastewater plant in Clay, with the county bonding construction — get details on funding plan.

Gold & silver are hot: Coming off gold’s best year since 1979, the momentum is carrying well into 2026 with silver remaining one of the most talked-about assets. Curious why they’re back in focus? American Hartford Gold has a free guide that explains what’s happening and how people are approaching it today. It’s free – and definitely worth a read.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Highlights this week:

• Celebrate MAR10 Day with Super Mario characters
• Celebrate spring with musical puppy storytime
• Tip celebrity bartenders to benefit MOST
• This top-tier home warranty is 50% off right now
• Save on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale

🐾 One pet emergency can cost $10,000+

Together with our sponsor Spot Pet Insurance

Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache.

From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving.

As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Spot.

It’s super affordable and reimburses up to 90% on qualified vet bills. It was too late for me, but it’s not too late for you. Sign up today.

🫶 We got your back

Burger mission, solved: Craving a fix? Ale ‘n’ Angus Pub delivers juicy, carefully built burgers and an easygoing pub vibe made for a midweek reset. Bring a friend, trade bites, compare favorites, and head out already debating which stack you’re coming back for next.

Lace up locally: Shove Park Ice Rink makes swapping couch scrolls for smooth laps easy, with rental skates, friendly staff, and room for wobbly turns or crisp carves. Perfect for neighbors, first-timers, and anyone channeling their inner Michelle Kwan, it turns an ordinary weeknight into a chill winter escape.

Art break, anyone? Whether you need a creativity refill or an excuse to wander and think big, Everson Museum of Art serves rotating exhibits, striking architecture, and ideas to mull. Perfect for a solo reset, and even better with that friend who gleefully overanalyzes labels.

Access cash without selling your home: A reverse mortgage can help anyone over 62 cover everyday expenses, support healthcare needs, fund home improvements, or even reduce pressure on 401(k) withdrawals – all while staying in your home. Longbridge offers a free calculator to estimate how much flexibility your home could provide, with no commitment required.

📆 Syracuse for grown ups

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🦢 Grand Kyiv Ballet: Swan Lake @ The Palace Theatre Syracuse | Thursday (3/5) at 7:00 PM – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to trade Netflix for the real thing, Swan Lake by Grand Kyiv Ballet is it. Expect Tchaikovsky, swans, and heartbreak, delivered by dancers from the Ukrainian National Opera and Ballet Theater with sweep, polish, and goosebump precision.

🎨 Whimsy and Joy! Opening Reception @ Edgewood Gallery | Friday (3/6) at 6:00 PM – The opening reception for Whimsy and Joy is serving up acrylics by Kathleen Crinnin, Linda Malik’s sculptural ceramics, Eva Hunter’s mixed media jewelry, plus alcohol ink, oils, pastels, and silk scarves. Come for color therapy, leave with excuses to rearrange walls, and maybe your accessories.

🏆 The Sammys Awards @ Palace Theatre | Friday (3/6) at 7:00 PM – The Sammys are back, mixing awards and live sets from Brass Inc., London McDaniel and Plan Z, Nate Gross Band, New York Flyers, and Stephen Douglas Wolfe. Clap like you know them, or stream it courtesy of Empire Live Sound at SyracuseAreaMusic.com.

🌱 Seed Swap @ First Unitarian Universalist Society of Syracuse | Saturday (3/7) at 1:00 PM – Bring spare seeds, tiny starts, and backyard wisdom to a friendly swap with neighbors and orgs, then head home plotting a better garden. No seeds needed, seed-saving supplies ready, wheelchair accessible, masks required and provided, plus room to trade, chat, and humblebrag about tomatoes.

🎗 St. Jude Gala @ The Oncenter | Saturday (3/7) at 6:00 PM – Shine the nice shoes, this OnCenter gala is feel-good fancy. Expect entertainment, cocktails, dinner, auctions, and a Mission Moment honoring Beth Coughlin and Colin Hayward-Toland’s legacy, with every dollar helping St. Jude families. Dress up, do good, then feel virtuous before dessert.

🎉 2026 Parade Week Kick-Off @ Kitty Hoynes Irish Pub & Restaurant | Sunday (3/8) at 1:00 PM – Parade Week is kicking off at Kitty Hoynes with live music, pints, and the kind of company that knows all the verses to The Wild Rover. It is a fundraiser, so expect a 50/50, raffle prizes, and an unimpeachable excuse to practice your parade wave.

🎼 Youth Soloist & Beethoven’s Sixth @ Park Central Presbyterian Church | Sunday (3/8) at 3:00 PM – Trade slushy snowbanks for a pew at Park Central Presbyterian Church in Downtown Syracuse, and let the Civic Symphony usher in spring, civilized. Youth Concerto winner Daniel Yang tackles Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20, plus Mozart and Beethoven overtures, and Beethoven’s Sixth to close.

Live music & entertainment:

• 3/5 Ginger Roots @ JD at Danzer’s Pizza Pub – 6:00 PM
• 3/5 Sammys Hall of Fame Induction Dinner @ Middle Ages Brewing Company – 7:00 PM
• 3/5 Swan Lake @ The Palace Theatre – 7:00 PM
• 3/6 A Kid Called Danger and more @ The Lost Horizon – 5:00 PM
• 3/6 Mia Asano @ The Westcott Theater – 7:00 PM
• 3/7 Shamrock & Suds Party @ Harvey’s Garden – 2:00 PM
• 3/8 2026 Parade Week Kick-Off @ Kitty Hoynes Irish Pub & Restaurant – 1:00 PM

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🔥 Worth a peek

We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.

• Thinning hair? Don’t wait – here are 3 treatments that work
• This free tool helps connect you with the right financial advisor
• Got debt? You may be able to pay less than you owe
• Protect your pet from disaster with this pet insurance plan
• You can own physical gold and silver in your retirement account

📻 Syracuse report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 40°F – Low: 37°F – Precip: 66%

Rain likely after 11am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 40. East wind 1 to 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Later: Rain. Cloudy, with a low around 37. East wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

—

Tomorrow – High: 47°F – Low: 43°F – Precip: 83%

Rain before 10am, then a slight chance of rain showers between 10am and 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47. Southeast wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Later: A chance of rain showers after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Someone Googled you this week 👀

It may feel like an invasion of privacy, but unfortunately It’s the new normal. Whether you’re joining a committee, selling something locally, dating again, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up online.

Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.

Thankfully, there’s a really easy way for you – or someone you care about – to clean up outdated results that no longer tell the real story. Learn more here.

This house is wild

This corner townhouse in Armory Square’s Center Armory Building delivers 1,200 sq ft across two stories with 21 windows, 1 bed, 1 bath, and a loft office. Granite and stainless anchor the kitchen, luxury vinyl tile flows. A bridge-side table overlooks The MoST and LM Social. A 6,000 sq ft courtyard, storage locker, and two garage parking spaces complete it.

Take a peek inside →