A Vacant Downtown Syracuse Church Re-opens as a Wine Bar

Hello, Syracuse

Big week for downtown, and it starts with a building many of us have driven past for thirty years without a second thought. The Mizpah, a church that's sat empty since 1992, finally reopens Saturday as a wine bar and event space. If you've ever wondered what's behind those stained glass windows on Montgomery Street, now's your chance. Out in Clay, Micron poured its first concrete months ahead of schedule, which after years of "someday" headlines is starting to feel real. Not a sentence Syracuse gets to say about a construction project very often. And at police headquarters, the department's highest-ranking woman just filed a discrimination claim against the city. Let's get into it.

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

All week: CNY Book Crawl runs across bookstores in the region Monday through Sunday. Grab your passport, hit the shops, win prizes.

The Mizpah is finally open, and it's stunning

After sitting mostly vacant for nearly three decades, the former First Baptist Church at 350 Montgomery Street cut the ribbon Wednesday on its new life as The Mizpah, a self-pour wine bar and private event venue. Primary owner Michael Greene (also owner of Harvey’s Garden) kept the stained glass, the vaulted ceilings, and the scars of the building intact. Mayor Sharon Owens called it "another amazing location to add to what I call the Syracuse swag." The public grand opening runs Saturday, July 18 from 2:00 - 8:00 PM.

Micron poured its first concrete in Clay, months ahead of schedule

The ceremonial first pour happened Thursday at White Pine Commerce Park, more than a quarter ahead of the original timeline. Micron also used the moment to bump its total planned U.S. investment to $250 billion through 2035. Governor Kathy Hochul, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Rep. John Mannion were on hand. CEO Sanjay Mehrotra noted that six months ago the same crowd was standing in the snow to break ground on the same site.

AI is now handling Onondaga County 911 calls

Two AI tools go live today. The first is a virtual dispatcher that fields non-emergency calls so 911 operators can focus on actual emergencies. The second is a real-time transcription and summarization system that gives first responders a written brief of the situation before they arrive. The county's 911 center has been dealing with a staffing shortage, and officials hope the tools cut burnout.

The highest-ranking woman in the Syracuse Police Department is suing the city

Deputy Chief Julie Shulsky filed a discrimination claim against the city. Shulsky says she was excluded from leadership meetings, spoken over when she was in them, and not included in decision making. She has been with the department since 2006 and was promoted to deputy chief in 2022.

Clay residents have ideas for their $30 million from Micron

The Town of Clay approved a community host agreement that gives it $30 million from Micron instead of the ~$62 million in building permit fees the town could have collected. The tradeoff: permit fees can only be used for permit administration, and the community host money can be used for pretty much anything the town wants. Locals have suggestions. Handicap-accessible parks. Sound barriers to block "the constant hum" of the fab. A splash pad. A community center. $20 million would go toward costs associated with Micron’s arrival and $10 million into community projects.

Kelsey Pfendler rowed solo from California to Hawaii in 43 days and broke both world records

The Boonville native and Adirondack High School grad set out from Monterey on May 21 in a 21-foot boat named Lily. She landed at the Hawaii Yacht Club on July 3, having rowed 2,400 miles alone. She broke the women's record of 86 days by more than half. She also beat the overall men's record of 52 days. First American woman to do it solo. Youngest woman to do it solo. And, the way she puts it, she was 525 miles ahead of the current men's record when she finished.

A Syracuse nonprofit landed on CNN Heroes for building tiny homes for people leaving shelters

Andrew Lunetta noticed the same men kept coming back to the Syracuse shelters where he worked. He asked them what they actually wanted in a home. The answer was consistent: no roommates, no shared spaces, and support that continues after they get housed. So in 2014 he founded A Tiny Home for Good. The nonprofit now houses 47 people across 23 tiny homes and about two dozen renovated properties, with another 23 projects in the works. Rent is capped at 30% of income. No sobriety requirement, no counseling mandate, no deadline to leave.

East Fayette Street is closed while the city tears down the Fayette Street Garage

The stretch between South State Street and Montgomery Street shut down Thursday for the emergency demolition. The closure is expected to hold through the winter, with the project wrapping up by winter 2026. The garage has been closed since November 2025 after inspections flagged deteriorating concrete and moving support columns.

A 5-story apartment building could replace the vacant Syracuse Walgreens

A developer wants to knock down a shuttered Syracuse Walgreens and put up a five-story apartment building on the site. Details on units, timeline, and design are still working their way through the planning process.

19 Kane Ave, Skaneateles, NY 13152 - $1,695,000

A custom Colonial on 1.5 acres inside the Village of Skaneateles. Almost 4,000 square feet, five bedrooms, an open floor plan, a great room with soaring windows, and a heated saltwater pool out back. The finished lower level has a rec space, a gym, and plumbing ready for a fourth bathroom. There's a three-car garage, a brand new HVAC system, granite counters, an eat-in kitchen with an island and a walk-in pantry. A right of way to Shotwell Lane gets you into the village on foot, and the Skaneateles Country Club is a short walk from the door.

Manage day-to-day operations of the Barnes and Schine esports facilities, oversee student staff, run open gaming, leagues, tournaments, and special events, and advise the esports club. Bachelor's required, master's preferred, plus esports management experience. Full-time, $62,400 - $63,800, on campus. Some evening and weekend hours required. There has to be someone local where this would be their dream job.

Lead financial strategy for the Syracuse-area business leadership organization, including annual budgeting, long-range planning, forecasting, and financial reporting to executive leadership, the Finance & Sustainability Committee, and the Board. Also manages accounting operations, grant compliance, audit prep, and multi-entity financial reporting across CenterState's affiliated subsidiaries and LLCs. Salary range $110,000 - $120,000. Resumes due by July 31.

Lead photographer for the Athletics department. Coordinate coverage for all 20 sports, run photoshoots, cover press conferences and events like the Cuse Awards, and manage the department's photo assets. Also supervises a student photography intern program. Bachelor's in Photography, Film, or a related field (or two years of freelance work) plus three-plus years shooting athletic events. $58,000, 11 months, on campus. Some travel required.

Pat the Painter was born and raised on the West Side of Syracuse and has spent 17+ years working as a professional painter, mostly on residential and commercial jobs and as a muralist. He works in oil, acrylic, aerosol, pencil, ink, and lately digital. Murals, comics, posters, album art, and logos are his bread and butter. His work has been in The Source Magazine, gallery shows at Stay Fresh Design, and murals across the city. Follow him at @pat_the_painter on Instagram.

Two dogs arriving at Helping Hounds Dog Rescue in North Syracuse on Saturday, July 18. Both are up for adoption.

Beagler, a 15-week-old male Beagle mix, weighs about 12 pounds. He is a sweet, medium-energy puppy who has done well with every adult he has met and gets along with other dogs. He hasn't been around kids yet but should be fine with respectful ones. He's fine in the car. Beagler is still learning how the world works and will do best in a home with patience, structure, and a lot of love.

Carlos, a 9-month-old male Labrador Retriever/Hound mix, weighs about 60 pounds. He lost his home when his owner surrendered him. Carlos is loving, sweet, and outgoing. He does well meeting new adults, is good with other dogs (and will even share his toys), is fine in the car, and is crate trained. He has not been around kids yet but should be fine with respectful ones.