Spending a day in Syracuse
 

Traveling to Syracuse on business and find that I have an afternoon and evening free. Anyone have any ideas for that time? I enjoy museums, parks, being outdoors, good restaurants, shopping (not malls)
Thank you for helping a stranger in Syracuse.

Take Jet Blue to NYC

doctorT:

Syracuse is a very boring city, its in the middle of nowhere. Take a sleeping pill and get some zzzzzs

Ok- my post keeps disappearing...
I really enjoy the ceramics at the Everson Museum. Its a nice doable collection with a nice little gift shop. http://www.everson.org/
Then hit the Dinosaur BBQ for dinner. Or if meat isn't your thing, I have had some good meals at the Marx hotel (I think its a Radisson chain). They had an apricot brulee (sp) to die for.

There is a large Indian Casino a short drive from Syracuse in Verona... it is just off the NY State thruway... there you will find gambling, shopping, dining, and entertainment... Turning Stone Casino and Resort has a website...take a look...

There are many things you can do in Syracuse. Definitely check out the Everson as mentioned above, it has a world-class ceramics department and a good exhibit of Stickley, plus much more. After the museum walk over to Armory Square, you'll have your choice of many restaurants for lunch or dinner and small boutiques for shopping. There is also an IMAX theater in the MOST Science Museum, also in Armory Square - the museum is geared toward children but the IMAX has something for everyone and has several different films playing. There are also theater productions at Syracuse Stage, and other art venues include the Delavan Art Gallery and The Redhouse (theater, film, and gallery). Syracuse University has opened it's new building for the School of Architecture (also in Armory Square) and I believe the first floor is open to the public - great space that was once a furniture warehouse. When exactly are you visiting?

Hmm, forgot to mention the Historical Society has a nice exhibit on the Franklin automobile as well as a few wonderful rooms filled with large scale photos of the city's architecture past & present, sport memorabilia is on the upper floors. Right nearby is the Brick Alley Gill for good, casual dining, L'Adour for French (wonderful breakfast!) and the Mission for Mexican.

Also, here is the website for The Redhouse I mentioned in my first post: www.theredhouse.org and also for food in Armory Square there is Pastabilities for Italian, Kitty Hoynes (Irish Pub) Clark's Ale House, and Ambrosia. Try Freedom of Espresso for coffee.

Little Italy offers some of the best Italian food in the city: you'll find Francesca's, Asti's, and Antonio's all on North Salina.

There's a pretty good Erie Canal Museum too. You can also take the OnTrain from Armory Sq to the University or to Carousel Mall. Lots of great old architecture and a decent walk-about in the downtown area. Don't write it off so quickly.

Syracuse University is one of the city's biggest attractions, so why not tour the campus? The university has an impressive collection of outdoor art; you can do a self-guided tour
http://sumweb.syr.edu/suart/index3.htm

or contact the university and arrange for a guided tour.

If you have a car and it's a nice day (you don't say when you'll be there), you might always want to take a drive to Skaneateles and have a wander around this pretty lakeside town.

BT:

If this man/woman is in Syracuse when the high is even 40-45 degrees and you go to that lake you'll freeze your butt off (and I was wearing heavy layers Polartec) due to the wind coming off the cold water, believe me my sister moved for a husband to go up there and we visited the place over Easter (early April) one year for a few hours.

Well, the OP doesn't say when he'll be in town. I used to walk around the area in the middle of winter and managed to enjoy myself. Some people like cold weather or are more used to it.
Do you have anything to suggest that might be more helpful than moans about being bored and cold?

BT:

I am far from a Princess (I take public transportation and wait outside in the cold in Pennsylvania) so I don't have the luxury of a car so when I state its cold there it definitely is. No I don't find Syracuse fun, its a very boring city in the middle of nowhere. The best place to go IMO opinion is 150 miles west to Niagara Falls.

That's all fine Stephanie, but maybe you should READ the original post instead of just whining about Syracuse. He has *one* afternoon and evening free IN Syracuse as part of a business trip. That is not a time frame conducive to a 300 mile round trip drive.
I spent more than 4 years in Syracuse and know perfectly well how cold it can get. I liked it. Obviously you didn't. But why don't you come up with suggestions for the OP to enjoy his/her limited free time in Syracuse rather than trying to make the worst of it? Even a city in "the middle of nowhere" has places that can interest most adults for an afternoon or so. Your snide dismissal of the entire area is an insult to all the creative, intelligent, hardworking people who work and live there.

Welcome! I live here in Syracuse. It's a great city and the winter here is just perfect. We have awesome winters!
The Dinosaur Barbeque is a great suggestion for lunch or dinner. If you like blues they have live bands every night except Sunday. No cover charge. Armory Square is nice for walking, shopping and dining. Even in the winter. Little Italy is nice as well. Still being developed though so Armory Square has more to offer. Haven't been to the Everson Museum in such a long time but I always hear how much people enjoy it. One building I absolutely love in Syracuse is the Landmark Theater. Beautiful building for concerts / plays. (smaller venues hosted here) You may want to see if they are hosting anything while you are in town.
(Landmark Theater # 315-475-7979)
You may also find a Syracuse Crunch game in town at the Onondaga County War Memorial. (# 315-435-2222). They are fun!
It's not a boring town. Hope you enjoy your stay here.
Annika

DoctorT-
Would you be in town for a medical seminar here in the middle of nowhere? This town certainly is devoted to health care. If you're going to get sick Syracuse is the place :-) 4 hospitals and all kinds of medical facilities for out patient care.

BTilke-
Did you go to SU or one of the other universities here in the middle of nowhere?

Stephanie-
There are places in the US I would consider in the middle of nowhere but Syracuse is not one of them. Think about what you are saying before posting. That statement is just stupid.

Stephanie- Why don't you take a couple of pills yourself.
rogfam- You're no better than Stephanie
Doc T- I second the post by annikany, The Dinosaur BBQ is absolutely a must, unless you prefer upscale dining,then I would suggest Phoebe's. Armory Square is also a must. I moved from North Syracuse 2 years ago to Athens, GA and let me tell you..there is always something happening in Syracuse, in Athens, you have to go to Atlanta for any excitement.(I don't miss the cold and snow, though)Onondaga Lake Parkway is a nice park, although it's attached to Onondaga Lake..lol.

I live near Albany & have clients in Syracuse. While I HATE the drive there, it's true that there's always something going on.

There's a local weekly tabloid of entertainment and alternate news ... is it "City Paper"?? that will have a number of suggestions, as well as the local newspapers on-line version -- I have a brain fart right now & cannot remember the name: Syracuse Observer Dispatch??

Thank you, defenders of Syracuse - it's not a bad place at all and especially for a few days visit.

Syracuse New Times

Here's the link

http://newtimes.rway.com/default1.shtml

First board that got personal...