Greetings fellow Upstaters!

Posted on April 9, 2012 by

A CHANGE IS COMING……

After 8 months and more than 14,000 visitors to this site..change is in the air!

As of December 1, 2012 this site will no longer be active.  After studying our diagnostics about who visited this site it became clear that almost 90% of you found your way here to find out about New York State festivals!  So, we are changing the whole focus of our efforts to bring you the one, most important clearing house for New York State festivals you will ever need!

http://newyorkstatefestivals.com/

Click it..and take a look!

“Welcome to my blog for all seasons!

My name is “Big Chuck” D’Imperio,  a 25-year veteran radio broadcaster in Oneonta (WDOS, Townsquare Media, Otsego County), newspaper columnist, tour guide, successful blogger and author of several Upstate New York books.

If you should stumble upon this blog, let me know where you live in Upstate (or where you used to live up here). I’ll bet I have been there! This is the latest in a series of books (see photo) I have written about my home region. It is published by Syracuse University Press and it looks at 30 great memorials scattered around Upstate New York!  Check out a selection of my Upstate Books here.   From the famous graves of Upstate legends to the famous people in the region and famous (and unknown) events, to famous monuments and statues, and much more I am sure there is one that will catch your eye!

It is my hope that, over time, you will check out the posts on this blog and we all will eventually learn something new and fun about our wonderful UPSTATE NEW YORK!  And be sure to scroll all the way down..some of the events have been listed far in advance to accommodate your participation.  Plus you don’t want to miss any of my Upstate trivia, factoids, the profiles of famous Upstaters, some selections from the Upstate Book Shelf and a tribute to those famous personalities resting forever in Upstate New York. My email is upstatebooks@yahoo.com.

(And for all you purists out there….yes I do know where Upstate is.  In anticipation of emails saying Western New York, or the Finger Lakes or the Capital District are their own distinct regions or areas of New York, I concur.  But for the sake of simplicity I will encompass them all under the umbrella of “Upstate” just for this blog.  I was born in Upstate [Delaware County] went to college there [Albany County] and live and work there even now [Otsego County].  This blog will focus on the people, places and events throughout New York State outside of New York City and Long Island).

Don’t forget to flip through my archived posts (there are currently more than 200 posts for you to enjoy!)  There is a LOT of good stuff in here!

AND REMEMBER….

When exploring Upstate and all its glories, be sure and visit the premier resort in our region, the spectacular Geneva on the Lake in the heart of the Finger Lakes!

From world-class dining to sumptuous accommodations all wrapped in a view that will stay with you forever, Geneva on the Lake Resort is the jewel of our Upstate region!

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A Gorgeous Festival Of Trees In A Very Historic Place!

Posted on November 7, 2012 by

There are many “festivals of trees” around the holidays.  This is one of the best.

The Tioga County Historical Society (Owego) holds its annual “O Tannenbaum” fundraiser and gala event from November 10 through December 15 this year.  The many trees glitter and shine inside this grand and historic building just off the downtown business district.

Wreaths, swags, decorations and fully decorated trees are the order of the day here!  At the end of the festival the trees are auctioned off to the highest bidder with the proceeds to benefit the operations of the museum.

The museum is the repository of many wonderful historic items which highlight the history of this important Southern Tier locale.  From the Civil War to agriculture to entertainment and more you will be surprised at how much this region had (has) to offer.

And don’t forget to look up!  The gold-gilted “fireman’s chandelier” will take your breath away!

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“Shhhh…” It’s A Real Silent Movie!

Posted on November 4, 2012 by

The Binghamton (Broome County) Theater Organ Society will host a one-hour program, “Silent Film for Families with Kurious Kids and Scintillating Seniors” on Nov. 10 at the Forum Theatre in Binghamton.

The featured film is “Sherlock, Jr.” (1924), a silent comedy film directed by and starring Buster Keaton and written by Clyde Bruckman, Jean Havez and Joseph A. Mitchell. It features Kathryn McGuire, Joe Keaton and Ward Crane. Keaton performs stunts that seem impossible for the 1920s but were done with ease by him. The audience will be treated to the improvisational musicianship of Steven Ball, who reinforces the storyline with his unique talent.

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Congratulations To The Rhinebeck Farmers Market….Voted Best Of 2012!

Posted on November 4, 2012 by

The market began back in 1994 when a group of residents and business people organized with the goal of creating a venue to promote Hudson Valley agricultural products and to enhance the social and economic vitality of the Town and Village of Rhinebeck.

The market has since evolved into something greater. It has become Rhinebeck’s Sunday morning gathering place. A place where neighbors meet and mingle and visitors can sample the very best of the Hudson Valley. Their many vendors provide a diverse and unique selection of farm fresh products including fruits and vegetables, beef, pork, lamb, venison, buffalo, fish, chicken, turkey, duck, pheasant, rabbit, eggs from chicken, duck, turkey and pheasant, goat, cow and sheep’s milk cheeses, dairy, honey, juices, jams, flowers & plants, smoked products and much more.

Everybody loves a famers market.  Why not visit the best!

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It’s In The Can…In Rochester!

Posted on October 31, 2012 by

This is one of the most unusual and creative ways to use canned food items. Make sculptures out of them!  And then donate the procedes from the event to charity.

This is fun.  Canstruction Rochester runs from Nov. 5 to Nov. 16 and the whole city (and others) turns out to see giant canned people, animals, cartoon characters and object d’can!

Click on the link above because, well, this unique event is hard to describe!

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Upstate or Downstate…WE ARE ALL NEW YORKERS! Stay Strong “Big Apple!”

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Glens Falls To Become “Book Lover’s Heaven” Nov. 4!

Posted on October 26, 2012 by

The Chronicle Book Fair in Glens Falls is one of the state’s major independent book fairs.  Dozens of book sellers, authors, publishers and speakers provide a literary banquet for book lovers from all over the Northeast.

I participated in this event in 2011, both as a seller and as a presenter.  The staff is excellent, the host facility (The Queensbury Hotel) is top notch and the opportunity to network with other authors and readers is invaluable.

Hundreds will attend this book and go home with bookbags loaded up with local history books, childrens titles, author-signed first editions and a sack full of great memorys from this great event at the edge of the majestic Adirondack Mouantains.

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Jazz At The Winery…..A Finger Lakes Delicacy! (VIDEO)

Posted on October 25, 2012 by

November 3 enjoy live classical and jazz music on a relaxing Saturday afternoon at Ravines Wine Cellar in Hammondsport (Steuben County). Partake in the parings being offered in the Ravinous Kitchen featuring Pinot Noir and free-range Coq au Riesling avec beurre, cepes & vin.  How do you say “yum” in French…?

The grand food pairing is their dessert wine Appassionata which they are pairing with a selection of tarteletts avec beurre and local autumn fruit from the trees of our neighboring orchards.  The pairings are a la carte, but a seat for music is Ravines’ treat in celebration of their Appassionata.

The tasting room at Ravines is one of the nicest in the region.  While there be sure and view the giant sculpted head of Bacchus, the God of Wine!

Hammondsport is one of the several “gateways” to the Finger Lakes region.

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