👋 Good morning, Syracuse ☀️
Spring is technically here, which in CNY means we celebrated St. Paddy's in a wind advisory with graupel and now we're doing the classic March warmup-then-plunge-again rollercoaster. Classic. This week: SU athletics is in full reset mode with a brand-new AD on the job and a basketball coaching search with a real deadline, your local radio stations are caught up in a national bankruptcy saga, and there's a shooting outside Destiny USA that deserves attention. Plus: maple syrup, some weekend events worth your time, and a local business we genuinely love. Let's get into it.
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Top Stories
Orange Gets a New Sheriff: Bryan Blair Is the AD
Syracuse University officially hired former Toledo Athletic Director Bryan Blair as its next director of athletics this week, completing a whirlwind 10-day stretch that also included naming incoming chancellor Mike Haynie. Blair, 40, oversaw 13 MAC championships and a 282% increase in fundraising at Toledo, and he's being brought in precisely because SU athletics needs that kind of turnaround energy. He called the Syracuse hoops coaching post "the best job on the market."
The take: He's walking into the fire immediately. The transfer portal opens April 7, meaning a new basketball coach needs to be in place with a full staff in less than three weeks.
The Coaching Search Is Officially On and It's Wide Open
With Blair on board, the search for a new Syracuse men's basketball head coach is underway. Adrian Autry was fired last week after three seasons and no NCAA Tournament appearances, putting the program's drought at five years. Names circulating include South Florida's Bryan Hodgson (reportedly interested) and former SU star Gerry McNamara, who re-signed at Siena and took himself off the board. Blair told reporters he's already talked to agents and wants to "move with pace and urgency."
The take: If you're a hoops fan, buckle up. The next two to three weeks will be wild. Don't believe every Twitter rumor; no one is the "obvious pick" yet.
Our Radio Stations Are in Bankruptcy, But Still On
Cumulus Media, the company behind Syracuse's 93Q (WNTQ), 95X (WAQX), and The Score 1260 (WSKO), filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on March 5, citing roughly $600 million in debt it needs to restructure. The company says it's a "prepackaged" filing, meaning most lenders are already on board, and they expect to emerge from bankruptcy by mid-April. Cumulus insists there will be "no impact to employees, partners, or listeners" in the meantime.
The take: The radio industry is getting squeezed from every direction. Local stations should keep broadcasting normally, but if you've noticed your 315 stations sounding a little anxious lately, now you know why.
Shooting Outside Destiny USA Leaves Man in Critical Condition
Early Saturday morning (March 14), Syracuse Police responded to the Yellow Lot parking area outside Destiny USA after a 21-year-old man was shot in the chest and dropped off at University Hospital by a private vehicle. The mall was closed at the time. Police are actively investigating and asking anyone with information to call the Criminal Investigations Division at (315) 442-5222.
The take: No arrests announced yet. If you know something, please call it in.
Burn Ban Kicks In Monday: Don't Light That Pile
The New York State Burn Ban went into effect March 16, making it illegal to burn brush, tree limbs, grass, and building materials outdoors across the state. The ban runs through May 14. It's been in place since 2009 and has helped reduce wildfires in the region by around 40% over that span. Save the bonfire plans for summer.
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Weather
After last weekend's blustery mess (gusts up to 50 mph, wintry mix, parade-day drama), this week is shaping up to be your classic March yo-yo. Monday should bring a brief welcome warmup: above-freezing, maybe even a little sun. Then enjoy it, because temperatures are expected to drop back down mid-week as the pattern resets. No major lake-effect events on the radar right now, but "no major lake-effect events" is basically CNY for "check again tomorrow." The weekend of 3/21-3/22 looks unsettled, so layers are your friend. Spring officially arrives Friday, March 20.
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What's Happening This Week
Monday, March 16
🎨 Stay Fresh Artist Series 032: Anthony Beckham runs through April 3. Local illustrator and painter whose humor-forward characters feel like they wandered out of a dream. Sponsored by Skytop Coffee and 315 Brewing Co. | Free | Downtown Syracuse | Details
📚 Hidden Perspectives: Women's Lives on the Erie Canal at NOPL North Syracuse Community Room. A walk through the stories of women whose lives were shaped by the canal, drawn from the library's own image archive. All month through March 31. | Free | Details
Tuesday, March 17
🎭 Joe Turner's Come and Gone at Syracuse Stage. August Wilson's masterpiece from his American Century Cycle runs through March 29. Pittsburgh, 1911: a boarding house full of displaced souls searching for something. The New York Times called it "rich in poetry and humor." Happy Hour pre-show tonight at 6:30 PM, then curtain at 7:30 PM. | Tickets from $35 | Tickets
🎶 McKinley James at The 443 Social Club. Blues night with a rising artist making waves nationally. | Time TBA | Details
Wednesday, March 18
🎶 Fit for an Autopsy at The Song and Dance. Metal fans, this one's for you. Heavy touring act making a Syracuse stop. | Details
🎶 Harmonic Dirt at The Whiskey Coop. Folk night at one of the city's cozier spots. | Time after 6pm?
🎤 ⭐ Syracuse Songwriters Round at Pink Rock Culture Co-op, 201 E. Jefferson St. This month's lineup: Brian Modafferie, Betty White Devil, and Spencer Bradshaw trading songs Nashville-style in a round-robin format. All-ages, intoxicant-free, and genuinely one of the most welcoming rooms in CNY. | Details
Thursday, March 19
🌿 Forest to Flapjacks continues at Highland Forest through Sunday March 22. Still time to get those pancakes. | Free with park admission | Details
🎭 Joe Turner's Come and Gone at Syracuse Stage, 7:30 PM. Community Night tonight: Stage screens a documentary about August Wilson at 6 PM before the performance. | Tickets from $35 | Tickets
🎨 Richard Baldwin: Modern Abstract Expressionist runs through March 26. Local Syracuse artist born in 1948 whose abstract expressionist work spans feelings, observations, and everything in between. | Free | Details
Friday, March 20
🎭 Joe Turner's Come and Gone at Syracuse Stage, 7:30 PM, with Prologue conversation at 6:30 PM. | Tickets from $35 | Tickets
🎨 Beginnings: A New Century of Associated Artists of CNY at Art in the Atrium, through April 5. Celebrating 100 years of the Associated Artists of CNY with paintings, photography, fused glass, fiber art, and more from member artists. | Free | Details
🍺 The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show in Baldwinsville. North America's largest interactive murder mystery dinner show runs all weekend. A full dinner plus audience-driven whodunit energy. | Prices vary | Details
Saturday, March 21
🛍️ CNY Regional Market in its full Saturday glory. Produce, baked goods, crafts, and the best people-watching in the city. | 7 AM-2 PM | Free | Details
🎭 Joe Turner's Come and Gone at Syracuse Stage, 2 PM and 7:30 PM. | Tickets from $35 | Tickets
🌿 Forest to Flapjacks final day at Highland Forest. Last pancakes of the season. | Free with park admission | Details
🎨 Arts and Minds: A Showcase for Creative Aging at Wilson Art Gallery through March 27. An exhibit celebrating creativity at all ages, featuring work by older adults with and without dementia. Moving and worth your time. | Free | Details
Sunday, March 22
🐰 Breakfast with the Bunny at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo returns for another Sunday morning session. Last chance before Easter. | 9:30-11:30 AM | Non-member: $35 adults, $25 kids | Details
🎶 The Bog Brothers at Funk 'n Waffles downtown. Folk duo with a devoted CNY following. A great low-key Sunday night. | Details
🎨 Joyce Kozloff: Contested Territories, 1983-2023 continues through April 5. Over four decades of map-based works exploring how geography, history, and power shape our world. Worth a quiet Sunday afternoon. | Details
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Paws Up for Adoption
The CNY SPCA in Mattydale is under new leadership and making real progress on animal care and adoptions. Here are three pups currently waiting for their people at 5878 East Molloy Road. Open Monday-Saturday, 11 AM-4 PM.
King (Pit Bull Terrier mix, adult male, ~76 lbs) at CNY SPCA King came in as a stray and took a little time to warm up, but once he did? Full-on cuddle bug. He will sit directly on your feet and demand head scratches. He's also game for literally any activity: fetch, tug, go find it. He does best as the only dog in the home. Vaccinated and neutered.
Lily (Pit Bull Terrier mix, adult female) at CNY SPCA Lily is the kind of dog who is deeply relieved just to be loved. She has four photos on her Petfinder listing and in every single one she looks like she's having the best day of her life. Playful, affectionate, and ready to go home. Vaccinated and spayed.
Ripley (Mixed breed, senior female, medium) at CNY SPCA Ripley is a senior girl who gets along with other dogs and just wants a calm, loving home to spend her golden years in. Smart and friendly, she's the kind of dog that makes a house feel whole. Vaccinated and spayed.
📍 CNY SPCA, 5878 East Molloy Road, Mattydale | cnyspca.org | Open Mon-Sat, 11 AM-4 PM
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Now Hiring in the Salt City
Clinical Assistant Professor, Psychiatry at SUNY Upstate Medical University.
A clinically focused faculty position in the Department of Psychiatry at CNY's only academic medical center. Apply Now
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No education or experience requirements needed. Fill medical supply orders shipped to Upstate Hospital for patient care. NY HELPS program currently waives the civil service exam requirement. Daytime hours, full benefits, and an actual NYS pension. Apply Now
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Score games digitally from NBT Bank Stadium, feeding real-time data to MiLB.com and partner platforms. Part-time, seasonal, and a perfect fit for a baseball-obsessed stats nerd. $25/hr. Apply Now
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Weekend shifts running high-speed production lines at the Baldwinsville brewery. Starts at $40.29/hr after a 60-day probationary period, with Saturday at 1.5x and Sunday/holidays at 2x. Full benefits. Apply Now
