The event serves as a fund-raiser for the MOST’s science and
technology outreach programs that provide students in the area with
hands-on science experiences and learning opportunities. More than 40
brands of mostly New York beer will be poured, as well as music, food
and some top-notch raffle prizes. Some of the spoils for this year’s
raffle include gift certificates from area restaurants, trips on the
Cayuga Lake wine trail, tickets from Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, Syracuse
Opera and Syracuse Symphony, as well as an autographed New York Jets
team football, season tickets to the Syracuse Chiefs and a few other
surprises.
The tapped brands will include Anheuser-Busch, Cooperstown Brewing, Brewery Ommegang, Brooklyn Brewery, Syracuse Suds Factory and Ithaca Beer Company. And while you’re walking around sipping suds, you can also sup on some delectable vittles courtesy of the Empire Brewing Company, Lemon Grass and sister establishment, Bistro Elephant, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, Kitty Hoynes, Peppino’s, PJ’s Pub & Grill, Wegmans, Dominick’s, Frank’s Pinstripe Café, Julie’s Place, Carnegie Catering and Diamond Catering, as well as a few others.
And if that isn’t grabbing you by the barley, there will also be
some rip-roaring live music courtesy of locals The Fabulous Ripcords
and the Baby Boomers, to provide the third necessary element of that
good-time good-vibe downtown festival scene.
“It was a fund-raising idea that came up to embrace the atmosphere
of Armory Square,” said Justin Sawyers, director of marketing and
public relations at the MOST, “and it’s been growing in popularity over
the years. Last year we had 900 people and if they seemed to have a
really good time and enjoy themselves... especially with the beer
involved.”
Only ages 21 and older are permitted to attend, and tickets for the
event are $50 at the door, or $45 if you are a museum member;
discounted advance sale tickets are also available online at
www.most.org for a 10 percent savings should you want skip all the
hassle at the door and head straight for the taps. The price of
admission includes all the food and beer samples you can handle, while
the only thing you’ll have to pay for after the initial ticket is if
you want to ride with lady luck in hopes of winning a raffle.
All of the exhibits normally in operation for kids’ sake are also
going to be running with staff at hand for this event. “It’ll be like
being a kid all over again,” noted Sawyers.
And for this one night only, the MOST is providing free parking for
its guests in the Trolley Lot, which is on the backside of the
building, heading away from Armory Square. For more information, call
425-9068.
A Taste of Spring
Wildflower: One of several venues participating in Restaurant Week at Verona’s Turning Stone Resort and Casino.
Restaurant Week returns to Verona’s Turning Stone Resort and Casino, with five days of menu specials, live culinary demonstrations from chefs in front of The Emerald lobby and gustatory diversions galore from 5 to 10 p.m. On Monday, April 12, check out Peach Blossom executive sous chef Wei Sen Liang as he displays vegetable and ice carvings at 1 p.m. The Emerald’s sous chef Scott Lyons
will prepare a stuffed chicken Aurora (featuring fresh spinach, feta
cheese and banana peppers) on a supreme sauce with wild rice pilaf on
Tuesday, April 13, 6 p.m.
On Wednesday, April 14, 6 p.m., Wildflowers chef de cuisine Mike Tubia
tackles a garlic gnocchi with stuffed wild mushrooms and three-cheese
sauce, plus apricot-stuffed chicken legs and wild rice with teriyaki
glaze and fennel slaw. Club 21 chef de cuisine Andrew Field
devises a spring risotto with seared diver scallops and port reduction
on Thursday, April 15, 6 p.m. Capping Restaurant Week will be the
Brazilian steakhouse Rodizio Churrascaria’s sous chef Dustin Tuthill
preparing a salmon Muqueca, featuring an over-roasted salmon with
coconut milk, tomato and Poblano sauce, on Friday, April 16, 6 p.m.
Other participating restaurants include the dessert-oriented Opals Confectionery and the various venues at The Corner Market, including Crystals, Bella Roma, Stone Street Deli, Soups & Salads, Bamboo and Southern Bull Fried Chicken and BBQ. For reservations, call (800) 771-7711.
