Tim's New Brew Barn and Beak & Skiff's New Adventure Park

Hello, Syracuse

The last full week before the Fair. Three big openings this week. Steig's Grillhouse quietly opened last week in a former Manlius bank building. The fall activities are arriving early. Tim's Brew Barn opens on Friday at the popular Tim’s pumpkin patch. And Beak & Skiff announced Apple Grove Adventure Park, a $1 million expansion that turns the orchard into something closer to a big playground for kids (opens August 29). Hot-air balloons float over Heritage Hill. The NYS Fair opens next Wednesday. This is your last week before you eat way too much Tully’s Tenders, Pizze Fritte, and chocolate milk. Maybe just me? Let's get into it.

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

Tim's Pumpkin Patch is opening a brand-new brew barn

One of CNY's most beloved fall spots is getting an upgrade. Tim's Brew Barn, the new addition on the family's property, officially opens Friday, August 21. The barn is a brand-new facility built next to the pumpkin patch, and the family has been quietly teasing it on Instagram for weeks. Consider this your excuse to visit before the corn maze crowds arrive.

Beak & Skiff drops $1 million on a new attraction

Beak & Skiff's new Apple Grove Adventure Park is a $1 million expansion at the Apple Hill campus. Day passes are $20, season passes are $65, and the family 4-pack season pass is $220. It opens August 29.

Steig's Grillhouse is officially open in Manlius

The long-awaited Manlius restaurant from Liehs & Steigerwald opened its doors last week. The grill house moved into a former Manlius bank building and pairs the butcher shop expertise with a full-service dining room.

Everything you need to know about the 2026 NYS Fair

The Fair runs August 26 through September 7, and news has already published the master guide: parking, gate hours, ride wristbands, Chevy Court and Suburban Park concert lineups, food debuts, and the daily promo schedule. Save it now and you’ll thank yourself when you want to know what’s going on.

CNY Regional Market adds permanent vendor stalls

The Regional Market is getting bigger. A new set of permanent vendor stalls is going in. Giving small food businesses a foothold that doesn't require pop-up tents. This infrastructure investment should help grow small businesses in the local community by giving them an affordable permanent place to operate.

The Westcott Theater sues the city to reopen after a license denial

The Westcott Theater's owner has sued the City of Syracuse after the city denied a license for a Saturday event. The legal fight puts a spotlight on some of the legal hoops businesses have to go through to operate on a daily basis.

What Trump's vaccine rollback means for New York schoolkids

Short answer: nothing changes in New York. President Trump's Monday executive order to downsize and spread out childhood vaccinations has no effect on what's required for New York's schoolchildren, because the state has an ironclad mandate for public, private, and parochial schools. The Supreme Court long ago ruled that states set their own school vaccination rules. New York still requires the same vaccines for daycare, pre-K, and school.

Ryan McMahon buys campaign ads 15 months before the election

The Onondaga County Executive is running ads early. McMahon told Syracuse.com the ad buy is meant to "drown out some of the noise" from a bruising summer of aquarium overruns, zoo-feud fallout, and general county-hall drama. The election is still 15 months out.

A WWII-era artillery shell was found in a Jordan basement

A large World War II-era artillery shell turned up in the basement of a Central New York home this week. The item was secured and removed safely. This is your reminder to check what's actually in the boxes when you inherit grandpa's basement.

A body was found in a water cooling tower at a DeWitt business

DeWitt Police are investigating after a body was discovered in a water cooling tower at a local business. Details are still limited and the department has not released the person's identity.

4534 Hollyshire Way, Clay, NY 13041

$599,900 | 3 bed | 3 bath | 2,032 sqft

A fully finished new build in the Wildflower "Parade of Homes" neighborhood, on a one-acre lot with no rear neighbors. Highlights: 10-foot ceilings, wide-plank hardwood, a custom front porch with a cathedral ceiling and grand double entry doors, and a three-car garage with black wood-grain doors. The kitchen has quartz counters, soft-close cabinetry, and a 10-foot island. The primary suite has a spa-like bath, walk-in closet with custom organization, and a dedicated laundry room with direct access. The basement has two egress windows (ready for a 4th bedroom) and spray-foam insulation, so a future family room, gym, or guest suite is a light lift.

Syracuse History on Instagram recently posted a before-and-after of the 500 block of North Townsend Street, showing houses being demolished to make way for the Saint Joseph's Hospital parking garage.

The post came up after 500 North McBride went up for sale. It's a good reminder of how much the hospital footprint has reshaped that whole area.

Different angle this week: instead of one artist, we're pointing at a design studio that supports a whole roster of them.

Stay Fresh Design is a Syracuse studio working on art, branding, photography, website design, and their gallery hosts local and national artists. If you've seen good branding on a Syracuse business recently, there's a decent chance Stay Fresh made it. Their client list includes places you definitely know: Syracuse Antiques Exchange, 1911 Established, Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards, Ayrloom Cannabis, Oh My Darling, Three Lives, Funk 'n Waffles, Glazed & Confused, Central New York Brewfest, Destiny USA, Elevate Fitness, and The Sound Garden.

Right now the gallery has a current show worth the trip: Stay Fresh Artist Series 36: A Tribute to Nickelodeon, running July 31 through August 21.