The “gender pop” harmonies of Ty Greenstein, Doris Muramatsu and Nate Borofsky (pictured, from left) should provide plenty of sweet ear candy to this Folkus Project-sponsored show at the May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society, 3800 E. Genesee St., on Friday, March 5, 8 p.m. Tickets for the trio’s concert are $15. Call 440-7444 for details.

RadioPlay

Sonic manipulators Reggie Watts (pictured) and Tommy Smith preside over an avant-garde slice of theater incorporating a gaggle of sound-effects techies and performers when the inspired entertainment takes over The Redhouse, 201 S. West St., for 8 p.m. performances on Friday, March 5, and Saturday, March 6. Admission is $25 for adults, $20 for students and seniors. For information, call 425-0405.

Award-winning baritone saxophonist Fred Ho (pictured) and tenor saxophonist Salim Washington will perform a free concert on Friday, March 5, 7 p.m., at the Community Folk Art Center, 805 E. Genesee St., inside the venue’s Black Box Theater, Dee-Davis Room. The sax kings will be here to help kick off the John Coltrane Memorial Contemporary Jazz Series sponsored by Syracuse University’s Department of African American Studies. Five more free concerts will flesh out the spring 2010 series schedule, including Harrison Bankhead with Warren Smith and Bill Cole (March 26), Shayna Dulberger with Smith and Cole (April 2), Gerald Veasley with Smith and Cole (April 9), The William Parker Trance Quartet (April 22) and Untempered Ensemble with Billy Bang (May 5). For information, call 442-2230.

Try to ignore last week’s snowstorms and get into a big-picture perspective, especially when you’d better start thinking about how to fill up the summertime schedules of the kids once they’re out of school. This annual event, presented by our sister publication Family Times: The Parenting Guide of Central New York, hosts a batch of informational tables regarding area day camps and outdoor programs when it returns to the Carousel Center Commons level on Saturday, March 6, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aside from a blowout of brochures, there will also be a noon appearance with popular Family Times columnist Maggie Lamond Simone as she autographs copies of her book From Beer to Maternity, plus lots of fun stuff for children that includes the return of the always delightful Wacky Chad (pictured) and his wacky ways. Admission is free. For information, call 472-4669.

Umphrey’s McGee is a band in constant motion. Whether experimenting with new methods to write and record music, new genres to branch into or new venues to visit, UM is never satisfied being static. “We are always asking, ‘What aren’t we doing that we could be, that would be really cool?’” says keyboardist and vocalist Joel Cummins. “We are all about trying new things and taking a lot of risks. It’s more fun, more interesting.”

The Chanticleer tavern around the corner was all a-twitter with chatter of John Prine in the hour before he was set to perform at the Ithaca State Theatre on Feb. 17. Having savored every last minute and drop of frothy fellowship and beer, many fans were still pouring in through the gates at 7:55 p.m.—five minutes to Prine time. In a less-than-sober scramble to their seats, they flooded the halls and staircases. Many were still hustling to ushers by the time the lights went down. 

Known for popping banjo and guitar strings right and left while tearing through live sets, The Avett Brothers’ nontraditional bluegrass style has earned the trio from Concord, N.C., a faithful following. Passionately honest lyrics, a pounding kick drum, and the steady rhythm of an upright bass have incited more than a few infectious sing-alongs since the release of their debut LP, Country Was (2002). The threesome consists of Scott and Seth Avett on banjo and guitar, with stand-up bassist Bob Crawford.

And baby makes three: Alex Gherardi and Carmen Viviano-Crafts in Le Moyne College’s Emma’s Child.

Cereal Killer

Here’s a product that may convince you to never eat boxed breakfast cereal again. Keeping with the healthy food theme, a real treat was delivered to The New Times’ offices before Christmas: Mad Hectic Oatmeal. It’s no secret that oatmeal is remarkably healthy, but the problem is it borders on the boring. Mad Hectic has you covered with flavors like Almond Pecan, Chocolate Raspberry, French Chocolate, Raspberry Almond, Red Raspberry and Strawberry Pecan. Of course all that flavor comes with a cost—and you’ll have to decide if $7.95 for a 13-ounce package is worth the up to 17 grams of protein each serving dishes out. What’s more, its 6 grams of fiber add up to nearly 25 percent of your daily total.

Beth Gallo devised Mad Hectic, an organic, quick oats product that can be prepared in the microwave or on the stovetop. After turning 40 and surviving breast cancer, she realized she needed to eat better. Gallo describes mornings as that “mad hectic” time when everyone is scrambling to get where they need to be and fit in breakfast, if possible. And a product was born.

Based in South Dartmouth, Mass., Mad Hectic oatmeal is available in stores only there and in Rhode Island. If you want to give it a try, order it at www.madhecticoatmeal.com. 

Dinner for Two

Only a few days remain in the Dining Weeks in Downtown Syracuse promotion, which winds up Saturday, Feb. 27. This go-round, 19 restaurants are offering three courses priced at $25 or less; beverages, tax and tip are additional but you’re not likely to find such a good deal anywhere else this week. For a complete listing of participating eateries, see below. 

In addition, through 10 p.m. on Saturday, you can purchase $25 discount tickets for Anthony Bourdain at the Landmark Theatre, 362 S. Salina St., on April 22. To purchase, go to www.ticketmaster.com and enter the password “DINING.” Bourdain is an internationally acclaimed chef and author and host of the Travel Channel’s No Reservations. 

Brew News

From now through March, it’ll be a blast from the past when Genesee Bock Beer returns to upstate New York. Rochester’s Genesee Brewery recently began shipping thousands of special edition green cans holding the spring brew. Each can displays the familiar white goat and plenty of yellow daisies, giving it a vintage, retro look. 

“There’s no denying it: People love Genny Bock and have nicknamed it ‘the goat,’ which is actually the English meaning of the German word ‘bock,’” says Jason Drewniak, brand manager for Genesee. “Goats are a traditional representative of the bock style. Our Bock Beer is perfect for this time of year, but we actually hear stories about people stocking up in the spring and enjoying it year-round.”

Can-do: Genesee’s Bock Beer is reappearing on local shelves until March 31.

But you need to act fast, because come March 31, Bock Beer will no longer be available. The main retailers for it in the Syracuse area are Rite-Aid, Price Chopper and Wegmans. Suggested retail pricing is $6.99 per six pack.

• The world’s lightest beer, meaning that if it had fewer calories than its 55 you could call it water, gained a nationwide launch on Feb. 1, answering a growing demand for the seeming impossible: good tasting beer with extremely low calories. Select 55 is Anheuser-Busch’s attempt to give drinkers a light refreshment after a full day or one that is delicious while not helping pile on the pounds. 

A light, golden lager with 55 calories and 1.9 grams of carbohydrates in each 12-ounce bottle, Select 55 is made from caramel malts and a blend of imported and domestic hops. Brewed to complement the full flavor of Budweiser Select, Select 55 also carries a crisp finish. And in keeping with this digital age, you can actually interact with other fans of Select 55 at www.select55.com.

The light stuff: If you want a beer that carries as few calories as possible, try a Select 55, new from the makers of Budweiser.

Brewed at Anheuser-Busch’s Los Angeles, St. Louis and Williamsburg, Va., breweries Select 55 is available in 12-ounce, clear glass bottles in six-, 12- and 24-packs, and 12-ounce aluminum cans in 12- and 18-packs. 

Barreling Along

This year’s St. Patrick Hunger Project began Feb. 11, with the goal to fill nearly 100 barrels placed at local business, in each city school building and along the route of the March 13 St. Patrick’s Parade. Last year’s food drive resulted in more than 44,000 meals being distributed to 27 food pantries throughout greater Syracuse. In addition to depositing a food item into the barrels, you can also send a monetary donation to: St. Patrick Hunger Project Fund, c/o Food Bank of Central New York, 6970 Schuyler Road, East Syracuse, 13057.

Those foods most needed are pasta and sauce, instant potatoes, canned fruit, vegetables and meat, cereal, rice, gravy, peanut butter, tuna, dry milk, and baby formula and cereals. For more information, call 427-5882.

Chill Out

Why not close out February with a nice road trip to Canandaigua? The New York Wine & Culinary Center, 800 S. Main St., holds its second annual nICE Festival, a celebration of ice wines and food on Saturday, Feb. 27. Free ice wine tastings as well as Renee Suzette’s Chocolate will warm up the chilliest of late winter days. Seven Finger Lakes wineries will participate in the tasting, scheduled for noon to 5 p.m. You’ll better enjoy the outdoor ice sculpture demonstrations  while sipping free hot chocolate and Keuka Lake Coffee Roasters java, at 2 and 4 p.m. 

Other events during the day include the center’s regularly scheduled classes: Wintertime Wine & Food Pairing, at 12:30 and 3 p.m. ($25 fee); and Kitchen Quick Takes—Crepes Basics, at 1 p.m. ($40 fee). To sign up for the classes or for more information, call (585) 394-7070 or visit www.nywcc.com/learn.

—Georgia Williams

Black Olive: Year-old Armory Square restaurant is taking part in Dining Weeks in Downtown Syracuse, now until Feb. 27. MICHAEL DAVIS PHOTO

Everybody’s favorite bisexual rock folkie returns to Central New York with a concert at the Westcott Theater, 524 Westcott St., on Friday, Feb. 5, 8 p.m. The prolific singer-songwriter, who has notched 20 studio albums since her 1990 debut, had a few concerts canceled last week as she battled strep throat, but the Righteous Babe (which also refers to her Buffalo-based indie record label) should be ready to rock in the Salt City. Gaby Moreno, a Guatemalan performer, opens the evening. Advance tickets are $38; for details, call 299-8886.