Meet Syracuse's newest bakery. I-690 East is closing for two years.

Hello, Syracuse

Somehow it's already August next week. It's the stretch of summer where every weekend suddenly matters. Big week ahead: a brand new bakery just opened on South Midler, the state confirmed a two-year eastbound I-690 shutdown is coming, and State Fair signs are creeping back up. Also on the docket: Usher and Chris Brown at the JMA Wireless Dome and Tim McGraw at Lakeview. Let's get into it.

Looking for trivia nights this week? We just published a full guide to every trivia spot in Syracuse.

A new bakery, tha Bejkurij, opened on the East Side this weekend

Tha Bejkurij quietly opened its doors at 273 South Midler Avenue for a soft launch until they sold out of bread. The shop specializes in fresh bread and pastries, with a different bread featured each day. For now they plan to be open Wednesdays and Thursdays, with more days and hours rolling out soon. Here is a sneak peek right here if you want to check it out.

Eastbound I-690 will be fully closed through downtown for two years starting in 2027

NYSDOT confirmed a nearly 1.5-mile stretch of I-690 east from Leavenworth Avenue to Crouse Avenue is coming down as part of the I-81 viaduct teardown. About 50,000 vehicles a day use that stretch, so the detour will be significant. Traffic will be pushed off the highway near West Street, routed along Genesee Street and Erie Boulevard, and put back on at a new ramp at Crouse. Westbound stays open.

Great Northern Mall demolition is officially underway in Clay

Excavators to start taking apart the 38-year-old mall. The demolition is Phase 1 of Guy Hart's ambitious redevelopment plan for the site, which calls for apartments, hotels, medical facilities, and an Upstate Medical campus, all sitting next door to the Micron project. Separately owned and occupied properties will also stay: Dunk & Bright Furniture, Extra Space Storage and the old Sears building housing Sky Zone Trampoline Park and CNY Gym Centre.

The final link of the Loop the Lake trail could break ground in 2027

Onondaga County is now taking soil samples on Murphy's Island near Destiny USA, the last 2.3-mile stretch needed to fully connect Onondaga Lake Park's trail into a complete loop. The county says the plan is to break ground next year. Once done, walkers, runners, and cyclists can make a full lap of the lake for the first time.

Four cyclosporiasis cases in Onondaga County, but the health department says it's unrelated to the national outbreak

State and national health officials are watching a summer surge in cyclosporiasis, the parasite that causes explosive diarrhea and has topped 1,000 cases across 30 states. Onondaga County has four confirmed cases so far, but county health leaders say those are not linked to the multistate outbreak.

A key intersection near the Micron site is getting a upgrade

The state Department of Transportation is adding dedicated left-turn lanes and traffic signals at each leg of the four-way intersection at Route 31 and Caughdenoy Road. Work should wrap up well before Micron traffic actually shows up.

Flock Safety pulled its last license plate reader out of Syracuse, ending an 8-month standoff

The Common Council voted to revoke Flock's contract back in March, but the company left its 13 cameras up for months past the deadline. Syracuse police kept using the readers until June 19, which was after Central Current started asking questions about whether they were still active. All 13 cameras are now gone, and the city is switching to Axon.

Amazon wants a second warehouse in Clay, plus drone delivery

Amazon went to the Clay Planning Board this week with plans for a 234,000-square-foot warehouse within a mile of its existing Morgan Road fulfillment center. It would store commonly used household items that could expedite deliveries in the area.

Syracuse airport keeps getting buried in baggage delays, and Albany didn't step up

Passengers are waiting long than they should for bags at Syracuse Hancock, and the airport director says the current baggage system is "busting at the seams." State lawmakers agree the fix is urgent, but Governor Hochul did not put airport modernization money in her state budget this year. Congressman John Mannion secured $850K in federal funding to start the work, and the state Senate is pushing for $25M in the next round.

107 Carlton Ave, Syracuse, NY 13219 | $229,900

A 1935 Cape Cod that punches above its weight in Westhill. Central A/C, high-efficiency forced air, architectural shingle roof, and vinyl windows keep the Syracuse winters where they belong (outside), while the interior still has the hardwoods and craftsmanship you want from a house built in the 30s. The main floor has a bright front living room, a galley kitchen with white shaker cabinets and stainless appliances, a dining area, a second living space, a dedicated office with pocket doors, and a first-floor bonus room. Out back: a deck, a fully fenced yard, and a detached one-car garage big enough for a golf swing, with a covered portico begging for two Adirondack chairs. Minutes away from Wegmans, downtown, hospitals, and highway access, all in the Westhill School District.

The New York Times put Syracuse on the map this month with a feature on the city's outsized literary legacy, tracing how long winters, cheap rent, and Syracuse University produced a startling roster of American writers. One of our favorite Syracuse IG accounts, @syracusehistory, helped inform the reporting. Worth a read if you have ever wondered why so many great American short story writers had a Syracuse zip code at some point.

As an American Traditional fan I wanted to shout to Keepsake Tattoo. I only recently found out about this shop, and their portfolio is impressive. They are a Syracuse shop with a five-artist team (Thad Jxsn, Drew Bowman, Josh Henning, Matt Chase, and Rob Fay) that specializes in American Traditional work. Bold lines, punchy color, classic subject matter (roses, panthers, ships, daggers), and hundreds of pre-drawn flash designs on the wall if you want something walk-in ready. They also do custom pieces from small and meaningful to large and detailed. Booking an appointment is on my short list. If you have not seen their work, go check it out.

A very good boy at Helping Hounds Dog Rescue in North Syracuse this week, both new arrivals still figuring out shelter life.

Sierra, a 9-month-old female Labrador Retriever and Weimaraner mix, is 65 pounds of high-energy smart girl. Housetrained, spayed, and great with other dogs. Sierra will thrive with an active family.

Sr. HR Generalist at CXtec

CXtec is scaling their people ops and looking for a hands-on HR builder to own employee lifecycle, comp, ER, and compliance from scratch. This is a build-it, not maintain-it role. $80K to $90K salary. If you've built HR programs from the ground up before and want autonomy plus real ownership, this may be your kind of listing.