While students begin to embrace the fall season, the weather is still warm enough for a frozen treat. What better way to celebrate the early fall season than with frozen twists on classic flavors like cinnamon, pumpkin and apple cider?

Known locally for its extravagant flavors and outdoor-friendly environment, Sugar Lips is a must-try for anyone in the area. As one of the oldest ice cream stands in Broome County and with over 60 flavors to choose from, this year’s fall options have the potential to be fan favorites. If you’re looking to try some fall-inspired frozen treats, here is a closer look at a few of the delicious selections from this season’s menu to experience and celebrate the season to its fullest as autumn arrives.

Apple Cider Donut 

The apple cider donut flavor is made of apple cinnamon ice cream and apple cider donut pieces. A hard ice cream flavor, this treat combines ice cream and a classic fall baked good into one unique dessert.

This ice cream tastes like a trip to an apple orchard, with the flavors and doughy texture of the donut complementing the base. It is the perfect combination of toppings and ice cream, with the apple flavor sticking out among the rest of the tastes.

Cinnamon Bun

Cinnamon is a favorite traditional fall flavor, and the cinnamon bun flavor is no exception. With chunks of baked cinnamon rolls and cream cheese frosting blended into the ice cream for a twist on the popular delicacy, this flavor has sweet, tangy bites that taste fresh from the oven. Baked goods and ice cream are wrapped into one, creating a cool and comforting flavor.

Pumpkin Cheesecake 

As one of the most popular symbols of fall, Sugar Lips created a twist on the traditional pumpkin spice flavor many know and love. The pumpkin cheesecake alternative is made of real pumpkin, with spices blended into creamy cheesecake for a unique combination. This reinvented take on pumpkin is creamier, richer and sweeter without overpowering the distinctive pumpkin flavor we all love.

Cape Cod Cranberry 

The last fall flavor that stands out is Cape Cod cranberry, which features walnuts generously mixed into cranberry ice cream. As another popular symbol of the season, cranberries add a refreshing and sour taste to traditional ice cream.

Blended in with walnuts for an earthy crunch, the tart cranberry adds a light flavor to keep this option fruity and fun. It doubles as a nod to Thanksgiving, preparing customers for the upcoming holiday as the season stretches on.

Whether you prefer apples or pumpkins, or spicy or sweet flavors, Sugar Lips has all the options you need to enjoy autumn. With a wide range of seasonal flavors, they always have something new to offer even the most loyal customers who are looking to celebrate the season and taste everything that fall has to offer.

Vendors filled the streets, selling different kinds of handmade goods like jewelry, pottery, clothing, art, baked goods, home decor and more, all incorporating the apple theme. Food trucks sold apple-inspired goods for attendees to enjoy while watching live performances from a variety of bands and local organizations.

Run for the first time by Matt White, 47, of Maine, NY, the Apple Festival saw new and exciting expansions. Typically running down Washington Avenue from North Street to Broad Street, this year’s festival also took over the Endicott Inn parking lot. A big anniversary called for an even bigger venue, especially for an event as beloved as the festival.

“So many people just love this event because it’s been going on for so long,” White said. “It’s a staple in this community. When I talked with the police the other day, they said this is one of the biggest events in the Village of Endicott — over 40 years, you grow an event to that level.”

The Apple Festival was free to attend and fostered an environment that connected the community, vendors and performers, whether they had been coming for years or for the first time.

Ryder Dapolito, 21, of Apalachin, NY, took his small business, Two Guys Who Make Things, to this year’s festival. As the first event that Two Guys Who Make Things has sold its goods, Dapolito shared how the interactive culture of the festival offered a great opportunity to promote the business beyond their online presence.

“It’s really fun interacting with everyone and hearing what people use our stuff for,” Dapolito said.

Many other vendors and attendees have been attending the festival for years, not just those local to Endicott. Derek Courtright, 33, of Sayre, PA, has traveled to Endicott for the last two Apple Festivals. He commented on some of the activities he was able to do this year.

“My experience has been fantastic,” Courtright said. “We’re from an even smaller town, further [down] the PA side, so coming into a big festival is a good outing, something to do.”

“I visited vendors, had some jungle fries, some food,” he continued. “I listened to some music down at the very end. I’m visiting some local shops.”

He noted one staple from the Apple Festival that many community members know and love — Salamida Jungle Fries. Families shared this treat while sipping on fresh-squeezed lemonade and apple cider. Another big hit among festival goers was, of course, Salamida spiedies. While this festival is all about the apple, the Village of Endicott made sure to include its community specials.

As community members made their way down the street, they attended performances throughout the event from local martial arts and theater groups. At the very end of the road, many bands took turns onstage to share their musical talent and passion.

Michele and Steve Johnston, 47 and 55, of Owego, NY, and their band Messy Truth performed mid-day between musical groups Friday at Fred’s and Wreckless Marci. Messy Truth is a cover band that appeals to a broad range of genres and audiences. Having returned as performers to the festival year after year, Michele Johnston shared the band’s experiences and contributions to the community aspect of the event.

“It’s fun because it’s a family event,” she said. “I love kids dancing, having fun. It was a little different this year because we’re away from the crowd, but usually it’s down there, and there’s just people dancing and having a good time. We love festivals, we love these kinds of events more than bars, so we love it.”

Not only is the Apple Festival enjoyable for the community, but vendors and performers also partake in the festivities and have memorable experiences. After 40 years, this festival has grown into a major event that the community eagerly anticipates. Whether attendees go for the food, the music or quality time with friends and family, the annual Endicott Apple Festival has something for everyone.

The event spanned three days and spotlighted diverse aspects of Serling’s life and career through a variety of presentations. Mark Olshaker, an Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker, author, foundation member and close friend of Serling, discussed this year’s theme and the writer’s relevance to the current state of the world.

“We’ve tried to come back to as many of his speeches, pronouncements, writings as we could to sort of tell what he was thinking and what his ethos was, what his morality and his view of the world was,” Olshaker said. “And I think in today’s political climate, socioeconomic climate, what’s going on, it’s very important to do. It’s very relevant and I think Rod has a tremendous amount to say to all of us, 50 years after he died.”

“The Twilight Zone” was at the forefront of the festival, with various discussions around the show and vendors selling merch. The first day of SerlingFest 2025 featured several screenings, including an episode from “The Twilight Zone” titled “On Thursday We Leave For Home,” presented by television writer and author Joseph Dougherty, which explored themes of leadership and the difficulty of relinquishing power.

Serling, a six-time Emmy Award-winning writer, was celebrated not only for his famous series but also for his activism and fight for social justice, both on and off the screen. According to the foundation’s website, he was known as “the ’angry young man’ of Hollywood, clashing with television executives and sponsors over a wide range of issues including censorship, racism, and war.” The second day of SerlingFest showcased a heavier emphasis on politics and current issues from the audience engaging in the many Q&A’s and discussions.

“In ‘The Twilight Zone,’ Rod wrote about the human condition and the issues that he was passionate about — prejudice, scapegoating, mob mentality, individual morality — and we continue to deal with these issues 60 years after the series broadcast its final episode,” Nicholas Parisi, the president of the Rod Serling Memorial Foundation, wrote in an email.

Presenters discussed recent creative works inspired by Serling and his voice outside of “The Twilight Zone,” like Ariana Grande’s song “twilight zone,” psychological thriller television series “Severance” and the horror film “Sinners.” Frank Spotnitz, a writer and producer for “The X-Files,” introduced key episodes from the science fiction series that took inspiration from Serling.

Staying true to SerlingFest 2025’s theme, Olshaker presented a rare speech given by Serling at the Library of Congress that addressed the responsibilities of a writer and the importance of free speech.

“In these days, when so many of our rights are being challenged, when the administration and all of its functionaries are trying to stifle dissent, trying to take people off the airwaves who don’t agree with them, I think this is so important, that writing, which was so important to Rod, is the one element that can preserve all of our other freedoms,” Olshaker said. “And when writing is challenged, when it’s stifled, that’s when we have to worry about all of our other freedoms.”

Anne Serling, one of Serling’s daughters and author of “As I Knew Him: My Dad, Rod Serling,” commented on the speech during her panel presentation and reading on the second day of the festival.

“Writing was what my father believed in, what he was passionate about, what he thought had a chance to save society,” Serling said. “In 1968, when the country was in the midst of the divisiveness and turmoil of the civil rights and anti-war movements, it would tear him apart.”

“My dad penned his speech at the Library of Congress in Washington by saying, ‘So long as men write what they want, then all of the other freedoms — all of them — will remain intact,’” she continued. “‘And it is then that writing becomes an act of conscience, a weapon of truth, an article of faith.’”

Anne emphasized the continued impact of her father’s writing by discussing the “Fifth Dimension” curriculum at Binghamton schools that teaches fifth graders about Serling’s messages through “The Twilight Zone” episodes like “Eye of the Beholder” and “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street.”

Several other presenters brought unique insights about Rod Serling’s impact and influence throughout the event. David Bianculli, a TV critic, columnist, radio personality and professor at Rowan University, discussed teaching Rod Serling’s work to college students and the growing popularity of “The Twilight Zone” among younger generations. He shared his appreciation for Binghamton’s annual SerlingFest.

“For Binghamton and where he comes from, I think this is a great thing,” Bianculli said. “No matter what else I do, I consider myself a writer, and a town that is celebrating a writer — that’s a good town. There aren’t many towns in America that bother to do that.”

Mark Dawidziak, an American author and critic from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, discussed Serling’s impact on his home state from his time as a student at Antioch College and upcoming plans to honor Serling’s legacy with a historical marker on Antioch’s campus.

While day two of SerlingFest primarily featured insightful presentations at the Forum Theatre, the last day of the festival was held at Recreation Park, located a few blocks away from Serling’s childhood home. Foundation members read excerpts from speeches by Serling, which was followed by a “The Twilight Zone” trivia led by Parisi.

To end the festivities, Mr Denton on Doomsday, a band with metal and funk influences based in Lansing, Michigan named after a “The Twilight Zone” episode, performed under the Recreation Park pavilion. The band performed its own music, along with a cover of “Twilight Zone” by Golden Earring with Parisi on vocals.

“I hope that our attendees left with a sense that Rod Serling was a man who used his gifts as a storyteller to explore issues that were important to him,” Parisi wrote. “Joe Dougherty talked about how Rod Serling wrote with a ‘sense of urgency,’ as if Rod were always telling the viewer that if they watched a particular show, they were going to hear something that Rod believed was important and vital and urgent for them to hear. I hope that our attendees came away with an even greater sense of Rod Serling’s passions and how he was able to address them in his work.”

Local community members gathered Tuesday evening to honor the lives of those lost in the Armenian Genocide.

Held at the St. Gregory Armenian Church, the memorial was spearheaded by the Institute for Genocide and Mass Atrocity Prevention, the Center for Middle East and North African Studies, the Russian and East European Program, the American Civic Association and members of the church. Following a few opening remarks and an Armenian song, descendants of survivors sat on a panel to share their family’s stories with attendees. They later answered questions from the audience about their experiences.

“This kind of remembrance is very important for [the] community, for collective healing, not only for the Armenian community, but also the Binghamton community and all of the people who might have a similar story who can connect or relate to Armenian stories,” said Satenik Papyan ‘20, one of the memorial’s organizers and a Ph.D. candidate in the community research and action program. “It was very important for us to also have a service component and give back to the community and show solidarity [toward] all the recent refugees that arrived in Binghamton and globally.”

The event, which was originally supposed to begin at the Armenian Genocide Living Memorial before commencing a walk, only took place at the church due to inclement weather. The panelists took turns sharing their connections to the Armenian Genocide, describing their ancestors’ experiences and the history of their lineages.

Victoria Stepanian, one of the panelists and a junior majoring in philosophy, politics and law, said her great-grandparents witnessed the genocide’s atrocities before leaving to find safety. Her father sought freedom in the United States after the 1979 Ayatollah Khomeini revolution — which established an Iranian Islamic republic — expelling him and his family from the country, where they were previously seeking refuge.

“When I speak my language I remember,” Stepanian said. “When I savor the taste of my heritage I remember. When I lay my head down each night, existing on this earth, I remember. I remember the stories of what my family endured to keep our lineage alive, the sacrifices, the escapes, the survival.”

Armenians generally mark April 24, 1915, as the beginning of the genocide. On that date, hundreds of Armenian intellectuals were arrested by Ottoman officials in Constantinople — now present-day Istanbul — with many of these intellectuals being killed in subsequent months. Conservative estimates concluded that between 600,000 to more than one million Armenians died or were killed while being forcibly marched through Eastern Anatolia.

The panelists all had ties to Binghamton and expressed comfort in finding a supportive Armenian community in the area.

Heather DeHaan, an associate professor of history at Binghamton and one of the attendees at the memorial, spoke on the importance of showing solidarity with victims of the Armenian genocide given its widespread denial which “represents another form of erasure.” DeHaan also described her current research regarding the people within Eurasia during events from “Russia’s war on Ukraine to the Azerbaijani-Armenian struggle over the territory of Nagorno Karabakh.”

In her work, DeHaan seeks to determine what it meant “historically, for people in this region to be neighbors” given both their lives and the disputes they shared.

“My goal is to remind Azerbaijanis and Armenians in particular of a time and place when, despite historic and current conflicts between these two groups, they dwelled together in relative peace, with neither community conflicts nor friendships being defined by today’s ethno-national divides,” DeHaan wrote.

At the end of the discussion, people in attendance were encouraged to ask questions. Some attendees asked what it was like for the panelists’ families when they first arrived in the United States, while others connected with the panelists in terms of the atrocities that their ancestors had also faced. One attendee asked the panel how people who aren’t of Armenian descent could honor and commemorate the genocide’s victims.

In response, one panelist, Nishan Dadian, emphasized the importance of awareness and being educated on past and current events.

“As a great statesman once said, ‘it’s not about them coming for us, it’s about them coming,’” Dadian said. “Be aware, be informed and stand up for what’s right.”

On Thursday, Feb. 29, the Bengali Student Association (BSA) and Thai Student Organization (TSO) organized the BSA X TSO Street Food Fair, an event that marked the first collaboration between the two organizations. The event was scheduled between 5:30 and 7 p.m. in Binghamton University Union 102.

Upon arrival at the event, attendees were immediately hit with the savory aroma wafting over from a well-stocked buffet of Bengali and Thai street food. They had the choice of either taking part in the multitude of childhood games and activities stationed around the room, or digging into some delectable snacks in the buffet area. Guests got the chance to partake in the art of origami, a Bengali cops-and-robbers-esque game and the massive amounts of Bengali and Thai street food prepared by their respective organizations.

Wasif Shamsul, a freshman double-majoring in political science and economics, was particularly excited about getting a long-awaited taste of his home.

“I want to try out some Thai food,” Shamsul said. “I’m familiar with the Bengali snacks because I’m Bengali, like the Fuchka. It’s gonna be nice because I haven’t been home for a while, so it will be like a little taste of home.”

Shamsul elaborated on Bengali street food, explaining what makes it different from street food in other cultures.

“Bengali street food is similar to a lot of other street food, but we also put our own spin on it,” Shamsul said. “I know in India, there’s a variant of Fuchka called Panipuri. It’s nice to enjoy a Bengali dish and see how we differ from other cultures.”

Shamsul went on to describe the impact that events like this one could have on the campus community.

“It’s important to show multiculturalism,” Shamsul said. “A lot of people here are from different and diverse cultures, so it’s really nice to have events with multiple cultures and show off that we are a diverse campus. It’s also a great way for people to come and have a little fun, especially with midterms coming up. It’s nice to destress, hang out with friends and grab some food.”

Multiculturalism guided organization efforts. The fair brought together two major campus cultural organizations to celebrate the street foods of their respective cultures.

Ushima Chowdhury, the president of the BSA and a junior majoring in biochemistry, echoed this sentiment.

“Last semester, we had the idea to have a street food fair,” Chowdhury said. “At first it wasn’t a collaboration, but then I realized that street food is something that is prevalent in every culture, and so in presenting street food, I didn’t just want to showcase our cultures — we wanted to demonstrate the similarities and diversity between multiple of our cultures.”

Chowdhury explained the origin of the collaboration.

“TSO is an organization we’ve never collaborated with before, and I feel like that’s something people might not really think would happen,” Chowdhury said. “But they were the first people we reached out to. We started planning over last winter break, and it came alive today.”

The centerpiece of the event was the street food. Prepared at the fair was a variety of Bengali and Thai cuisine for any attendee to enjoy. Chowdhury gave some insight into the decisions that were made in choosing dishes for the big night.

“Fuchka and Jhalmuri are two of the most representative dishes,” Chowdhury said. “We host Pohela Boishakh every year and those are two dishes that we always try to provide because they’re some of the most popular Bengali dishes. These are dishes that are very commonly available in food trucks so people of all different classes and all different economic levels are able to eat it.”

Evan Delwar, cultural chair of TSO and a sophomore majoring in mechanical engineering, gave some more details as to how this planning took shape.

“The main inspiration for the food was from our actual home countries,” Delwar said. “A lot of these are actual foods that you would find there. For example, BSA picked Fuchka, which is a really fast street food. Even if you go to the city, places like Jackson Heights — you’ll see them there all the time. For TSO, we picked things like chicken sautee, which is what we commonly do for fundraisers. It’s stuff where, if you go to the streets of Thailand, everyone’s eaten it.”

Delwar gave another perspective on the impact of multiculturalism in similar events.

“We just noticed that there’s sort of a divide between the multiple Asian communities on campus, and we thought it would be nice to get them to collaborate and build a connection,” Delwar said. “Particularly between Thai and Bengali culture, we noticed that there’s a lot of overlap in popular street food — how it’s a central part of our culture. People walk on the streets, and you’ll see markets everywhere and other stuff like that.”

Delwar summed up the event in its entirety.

“We really want to get our general bodies to interact, not just our E-Boards,” Delwar said. “It’s great to give them an outlet not only to enjoy the food but to enjoy the games and culture of their home countries.”

After an evening of street food and childhood games, guests left with their bellies full and smiles on their faces. It was a night of food and multicultural celebration for both organizations.

The 9th-annual Mac and Cheese Fest is upcoming this Thursday, March 14, from 6 to 8 p.m., and it’s set to be better than ever before. The festival, which features mac and cheese from two dozen restaurants in the Binghamton area, is a fundraising event for the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra is Broome County’s only professional symphony orchestra. Since being founded in 1955, their mission had been to provide live orchestral music to the area, but in 2017 their mission shifted to include social outreach in its list of goals. Their current mission statement is “building community through the power of live music.”

Ways they build community include their “Family Symphony Sessions” which allow the families of children under 17 to attend a symphony for free, and their “Musical Instrument Drive” which donates used instruments to schools in the area. The Mac and Cheese Fest is a fundraising event that helps make these programs possible.

Event organizer and Binghamton resident Julia Grella O’Connell says that attendees should expect the biggest Mac and Cheese Fest yet.

“The festival is now in its ninth year,” O’Connell wrote in an email. “In the eight previous years, it was held at the Holiday Inn Downtown. This year we are at DoubleTree Hotel in Downtown Binghamton, because it gives us more space, more parking and a better opportunity to host our 24 participating restaurants.”

Restaurants participating in the festival this year include Kampai Japanese Steakhouse, Mooney’s, Big Zues Barbeque, The Brickyard, The Grove, Calzone Bros, Park Diner, Strange Brew, The River Bistro and many more. There have also been vegan options before such as Parlor City Vegan.

When asked about the origins of the event O’Connell recalled when the idea was born.

“The event was born in 2016, when a Philharmonic staff member noted that almost every Binghamton restaurant had mac and cheese on the menu, and that there seemed to be a correspondingly big love for the dish throughout the area,” said O’Connell. “The festival is now in its ninth year and traditionally hosts up to one thousand mac and cheese-loving guests.”

After arriving at the festival and purchasing a ticket, attendees will be allowed to sample mac and cheese from all participating restaurants and will then vote for winners of different categories such as “Most Classic Mac,” “Most Original Mac,” “Judges’ Choice,” “Kids Choice” and “Best of the Fest.” The categories change by the year, giving different restaurants a better chance to show off their mac and cheese strengths.

Past winners include businesses such as Kampai Japanese Steakhouse, which won “Best of the Fest” and “Most Original Mac” in 2023, as well as “Judges’ Choice” and “Most Original Mac” again in 2022 and “Out of the Blue Box” in 2021. Park Diner won “Most Classic Mac” in 2023 and Big Zues Barbeque won “Judges’ Choice,” also in 2023. Having won awards three years in a row, it seems as though “Kampai Japanese Steakhouse” will be the restaurant to beat.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at their website, bingmacfest.com, or at the door using cash or card.

“All you need to bring is an appetite and a love for mac and cheese,” said O’Connell. “It’s a fun night for the whole family.”

The Asian Student Union (ASU) held their annual Asian Night on Saturday, with the theme “Asian Night 2023: Memoria.”

The event was held in the Broome County Forum Theatre from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. ASU is an umbrella organization for many of the Asian groups on campus, and 13 different organizations performed at the event. These performances included a Taekwondo showcase and musical acts, like the OKPOP group and Philippine-American League’s (PAL) Tinikling dance.

Sharon Zohirova, events coordinator of ASU and a junior majoring in philosophy, politics and law, described the planning and purpose behind the night.

“Traditionally, ASU has a showcase of Asian talent across campus,” Zohirova said. “I feel like this is a really important display, and I wanted everyone who wanted to be involved to be involved … It’s a way to unify a lot of the Asian community on campus.”

The night started off with a skit that explained their theme of nostalgia, appreciating where you are in life right now, acknowledging how life can change and practicing gratitude about what you have. The skit spanned the entirety of the show, as ASU interns would act in a video shown every few acts, portraying future versions of themselves looking back on their college years.

Sebastiano Marini, multimedia chair of ASU and a junior majoring in cinema, shared the process behind all the videos presented that night, including E-Board introductions and the skit.

“[The E-Board introduction] was very candid [and] not scripted,” Marini said. “We wrote [the skit] for a couple weeks, shot for a week or two and then edited for a week.”

Throughout the night, various performers took the stage to show dances, songs and fashion. The Vietnamese Student Association showcased a traditional Vietnamese fan dance, and Binghamton Bhangra displayed some of the dances they’ve been working on. During intermission, there was a fashion show that presented traditional garments of various Asian cultures.

Audience members were cheering and laughing the entire night. Winnifred Jing, ASU E-Board alum and a senior majoring in philosophy, attended the event to support the people she knew during the organization’s biggest event of the year.

“This was a change from before where in past years we were on campus,” Jing said. “It was nice to see them pull this off at a different venue with different tech, and still do really well. I thought it was really nice.”

Chris Sandel, an undecided freshman, also attended the event to encourage his friends and shared his thoughts at the end of the night.

“I think everything was really cool,” Sandel said. “I was happy to see my friends have fun. Good job to everyone who performed.”

The night ended with the final clips from the skit and a 20-minute performance from OKPOP, a K-Pop group based in New Jersey. The group switched between singing their own music and comedic bits.

OKPOP shared how being invited to this event “was an honor.” Brto, a member of the group, explained the goals of the music troupe.

“We want to inspire everybody,” Brto said. “We don’t want to limit who we are inspiring. We just want to inspire everyone to do something, make something, be passionate about something and not to give up on their dreams.”

Zohirova shared how she felt the event went overall.

“I’m glad people are leaving with a smile on their face,” Zohirova said. “It definitely represented parts of me I haven’t really seen represented otherwise on campus. I’m really grateful to ASU and the Asian community on campus for that.”

As Binghamton transitions from summer into fall, Broome County embraces the new season with plenty of festivities and fairs to welcome autumn. This past Saturday marked the celebration of the Endicott Apple Festival, endearingly known as “Applefest,” where local businesses and residents gather in anticipation of the fall season.

Between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., Washington Avenue from North Street to Broad Street was closed off and filled with families, friends and students all eager to enjoy the products that more than 90 vendors have to offer. The festival featured local musicians, including Messy Truth and Alex VanTassel, and throughout the day, dance groups from Endicott-based dance companies performed to the live music.

This annual event is supported by sponsors such as Visions Federal Credit Union, BAE Systems and those who are fond of boosting the spirit of the community engagement in Endicott and the greater Broome County area.

Many businesses featured at Applefest are family businesses that distribute homemade products.

Megan Doven, of Mountainside Fruit Market from Choconut Township, Pennsylvania, drove with her family to Endicott to sell their products at the market. Her selection included homemade breads, desserts, pickled goods and fresh local produce. Doven runs this business with the help of her two sons and explained why she comes back to Applefest each year.

“It’s a great event [with] lots of great people, great food, vendors [and] music,” Doven said. “It seems to get bigger and bigger every year.”

Applefest also serves as a great opportunity for small businesses to build a relationship with customers in the area.

Chaz Ramlal, a junior majoring in philosophy, politics and law, spoke further on the community built at Applefest and the importance of engagement with Broome County as a student.

“I feel like there’s a lot of bigger corporate franchises here in Binghamton,” Ramlal said. “Giving back to the people that actually put in the work and try to do something good is more than respectable, so I try to give back to them.”

Events like Applefest introduce these customers to businesses in the area that offer products with locally sourced ingredients, stimulating the economy here in Broome County. The event has been a wonderful way to bring families together, and provides the perfect opportunity to find new customers.

Sheryl Bell and her family, Endicott residents, own and operate Daffodil Hill Bakery in Endicott, a shop highly acclaimed by its customers for its quality pastries and desserts. For the last several years, Bell and her family have brought many homemade pies to Applefest.

“My favorite part [of Applefest] is the people and meeting the community,” Bell said. “It’s fun because a lot of families help with my business, and it’s just a fun thing to do together.”

Applefest is an annual tradition in Endicott and has expanded rapidly with new vendors, performers and customers each and every year — it is the fall festival you cannot miss.

The Finger Lakes CannaMarket is comprised of pop-up markets that have taken place throughout the Finger Lakes region of New York state, with CannaMarket events occurring regularly in Ithaca and Binghamton. Its intention is to create a healthy and safe event to showcase local cannabis businesses and celebrate the growing cannabis community.

The CannaMarket hosted at the Polish Cultural Center this weekend shows how post-legalization cannabis culture began in New York state. Despite the small size of the event space, it can be easy for the average smoker to become overwhelmed. With around 30 different vendors, CannaMarket offers everything a weed enthusiast can imagine and more.

Out of the woodwork of upstate New York, artisans of all kinds have applied their craft to marijuana and put it forth on display. This ranges from handcrafted pipes and bongs to homemade cannabis infusions of all kinds — even including actual cannabis growing and cultivating. Whether you smoke it, eat it, drink it, vape it, grow it, buy it or sell it, there is something here for everyone.

Kenneth McLaurin, one of the CannaMarket organizers, shared his thoughts on the event.

“The way we see it, if you can have wine festivals to celebrate and learn more about wine, cannabis enthusiasts should also have a space to come together and talk about the intricacies of cannabis,” McLaurin said. “People are still approaching cannabis in a traditional way. Cannabis is legal, coming together to have a positive cannabis experience is legal.”

Those attending should try and pace themselves as they walk past the tables. Some vendors will have tables with literal pounds of marijuana in plastic bags open for you to look at, accompanied by labels telling you the strain — whether it’s a sativa or indica — and THC percentage. Don’t be afraid to ask for a sniff of “Cheetah Piss.” The vendors you find here will be overwhelmingly nice. While of course, the vendors are trying to sell their products, they also want to share this passion of theirs with you.

One of the most notable tables was the Cannananas General Score, offering homemade Rice Krispies, red velvet cookies and chocolate chip cookies. Besides offering a small sample of their baked goods, the vendor was also open to talking about the process by which she made them. Like most vendors at the CannaMarket, most weed found here is grown locally, so quality and safety are assured.

The people at the CannaMarket aren’t only open about their weed, they are open about anything in the cannabis community. Not sure how to use resin? One vendor will walk you step by step on what is their preferred way to smoke it. Never smoked a bong before? Another will tell you what the hole at the side is for. With so much cannabis, there is no room for gatekeeping.

This isn’t to say that CannaMarket is some bacchanalian festival of druggy delight. It is truly the first growth of the open cannabis community here in Binghamton.

“CannaMarket is about making a community with people who usually are more likely to be isolated because of past stigma,” McLaurin said. “What we see here as a result of cannabis culture is generational, ethnic and socioeconomic diversity. Everyone enjoys cannabis.”

The Glass Blowout Exhibitions of Binghamton can be found at the Binghamton University Art Museum, Roberson Museum and Science Center and the Vestal Museum, with each hosting different themes and styles.

The director of the BU Art Museum, Diana Butler, coordinated with the executive director of the Roberson Museum, Michael Grasso, and the director of the Vestal Museum, Cherese Wiesner-Rosales, to showcase this exhibition. This allowed for a great moment of interaction between the city and the art, according to Wiesner-Rosales.

“This was an opportunity to bring three local museums together and encourage people from both the local and University community to attend all three exhibitions,” Wiesner-Rosales said.

The exhibition in the Roberson Museum is called “Looking at Glass,” which according to Grasso, features a small sampling of the diverse uses of glass in art, industry, architecture, fashion, medicine and beyond. The exhibition is held from Feb. 11 to May 13, 2023, and allows viewers to get a glimpse into how glass is a part of various aspects of their lives — whether it be in history or now. Grasso mentioned specific objects, such as vessels, windows, containers and artwork from various historic epochs and cultures.

“There are Ancient Roman perfume vials, bottles from shipwrecks on the Spanish Main, 19th century patent medicines, stained glass from local lost architecture, early optical technology, telescopes, period eyewear, fanciful Steuben figurines [and] historic lighting devices,” Grasso said.

“Found in the Ground: Glass Artifacts of Broome County” is the exhibition at the Vestal Museum, from Feb. 11 to May 3, 2023. The exhibition showcases a whole variety of cool items, according to Wiesner-Rosales.

“Objects were found at excavation sites in Downtown Binghamton,” Wiesner-Rosales said. “Visitors will encounter medicine, cosmetics and perfume bottles, along with other artifacts from the 19th through the mid-20th centuries.”

These objects were given on loan to Vestal Museum by the Public Archaeology Facility (PAF) at BU. The project director of the facility, Claire Horn, selected the objects. According to Wiesner-Rosales, the current response by visitors is that they have enjoyed the subject matter, with many people coming to visit.

BU Art Museum is exhibiting the “Bonds: Glass Bonds,” from Feb. 2 to May 13, 2023. This exhibition shows an array of objects manifesting the atomic bonds that constitute glass and the social bonds that glass enables. Throughout the exhibition space, triplets of objects will touch on the art and science of glass, as well as exemplify one aspect of bonds, according to Wiesner-Rosales.

“Visitors will encounter the composition, structure and properties of natural and artificial glasses, view some glass production techniques and actively engage with the diverse ways in which glass objects can be used to create social bonds,” Wiesner-Rosales said.

The BU Art Museum showcases different themes and presents glass that relates to the theme presented. It showcases different glasses, the tools used to form glass, the shattering of different glass, how glass is used as a weapon or form of decoration, different forms of glass being used in history and artworks and tools made up of glass. This exhibition allows visitors to understand the different uses of glass, and to learn how it is incorporated into our lives now or in the past.

The Glass Blowout Exhibitions at the BU Art Museum, Roberson Museum and Science Center, and the Vestal Museum are all open and free to the public. With so much to see and learn, individuals that visit all three of the sites receive a small glass figurine as a bonus.

Returning for their eighth year, Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra’s biggest fundraiser was sold out on the ground floor of the Holiday Inn in Downtown Binghamton. After returning to a full in-person experience last year, the Mac & Cheese Fest has not let up in its output, with 21 participating restaurants showcasing their most creative and tasty dishes.

Like usual, restaurants set up tables all over the room with small cups of mac and cheese that patrons could take to eat — or grab seconds if they wanted. Tables with chips and water dispensers were periodically refilled. The event also featured raffle baskets, with prizes that included free tickets to a Binghamton Philharmonic show and a cannabis gift from Just Breathe.

As the festival progressed and macaroni dishes were consumed, patrons could scan a QR code to pick their choices for three of the five awards of the show. The three awards people could vote for were Most Classic Mac, which went to Park Diner and Restaurant, Most Original Mac and Best of the Fest, which were both awarded to Kampai Japanese Steakhouse.

Park Diner and Restaurant’s mac and cheese was creamy in texture, with a burnt top that gave it a homey and comforting feeling. Kampai Japanese Steakhouse’s sweet and spicy chicken teriyaki mac and cheese was an extremely original sensation to the taste buds — especially with its addition of pickled ginger and scallions. Their experimental approach brought a refreshing fusion of flavors deserving of its two awards.

There was even more praise given out at the festival, however, with awards for New To the Fest and Judge’s Choice — both voted on by the judging panel. One judge at the event was Brenden Capria, president of the Binghamton Cheese Club and a senior majoring in computer science. According to Capria, members of Cheese Club have always come to help volunteer for the event, but this is the second year in a row that the president of the club has been asked to be a celebrity judge.

Capria felt the turnout was fantastic, with the a positive overall vibe.

“I think the biggest thing is not only is our student-run organization able to stay in the on-campus community and promote cheese,” Capria said. “But we’re also bringing it off campus and supporting the cheese-loving community. That’s what we’re all about”

Capria and his fellow judges selected The Fat Cowboys Fireside BBQ as the New to the Fest winner — an award that acknowledges the most impressive restaurant to have been at the festival within the past two years. Having won Best of the Fest the previous year as well, the restaurant did not disappoint with its brisket-topped crackeroni. Using a farfalle pasta covered in a salivating, rich sauce accompanied by brisket and topped with a white cheddar Cheez-It, the sheer variety gave the dish a unique and unpredictable tasting experience.

The biggest award of the night, Judge’s Choice, went to Big Zues Barbecue, which offered a six-cheese macaroni and brisket — with a bacon ranch sauce mixed in as well. The bacon ranch was the essential ingredient that boosted the dish’s flavor without overpowering all of the other ingredients.

Another stand-out dish was McCoy’s Chophouse’s lobster mac and cheese, which included fresh Maine lobster, cajun seasoned cavatappi pasta, multiple different kinds of cheese such as smoked gruyere and gouda, and a variety of cheddar cheeses topped with a parmesan Ritz cracker. The creator of this satisfying and luscious dish was Joshua Crane, 32, an executive chef at McCoy’s Chophouse. Crane said he couldn’t pick just one cheese, so he went with 11 of his favorites.

Crane’s main motivation for being at the festival wasn’t for any awards, surprisingly, but to spend time with family.

“For the first time in my life I got to bring my kids to the competition, and they were dishing out their plates like they were cooks themselves,” Crane said. “I already feel like a winner. I don’t care if I win or not.”

People don’t only come to the festival for cheesy offerings — they also come to see the mayor of macaroni, Chelsea Cheddar. This is the third year that Erika Dentinger, the director of operations at the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra, is playing the character. Cheddar walks around, talks to patrons and makes important announcements — including the award winners.

Dentinger was pleased with how Mac & Cheese Fest turned out this year.

“I think it’s been a hoot and a half,” Dentinger said. “It’s been a great time. We got a lot of restaurants here, and a lot of happy people — formally hungry people — so pretty solid.”

Another year of Mac & Cheese Fest has passed, reminding people that if they’re feeling bleu, a warm bowl of cheese-filled goodness is always the best remedy.

The program, called “Common Ground,” had its first reading of the year on Oct. 3, with a total of seven writers performing a mix of poetry, creative nonfiction and fiction to an audience of peers and supporters.

Held in Lecture Hall 9, the event boasted a talented roster of graduate and undergraduate students, and presented fresh coffee, cucumber melon water and an assortment of cookies and cakes to all who attended. Contrary to what some may believe, the event is not specifically for those who are majoring in English — in fact, people of all backgrounds are encouraged to participate.

Samantha Flatt, a Common Ground coordinator and second-year graduate student in the creative writing program, assisted Nicoletta LaMarca-Sacco, a third-year graduate student in the creative writing program, in leading the event. Before each reader stood up to perform, the two would share amusing icebreakers from readers to loosen up any nerves.

“No matter what you like to write, you will be welcomed, supported and connected with others who have the same interests as you,” Flatt said. “Common Ground is a low-stakes way to dip your toes into the world of being a writer and an easy way to make connections.”

All the readers showcased their public speaking skills and shared a variety of works. Among the readers was Paul Folks, a junior majoring in English.

“I’d never presented my work in front of so many people before, and I felt like presenting to other writers was the best arena for such a thing,” Folks said. “It turned out to be a great experience and I’ll be participating as much as possible in the future.”

Folks had first attended a Common Ground reading in the fall 2021, and then finally performed in the event himself in the spring of 2022. While reading in front of an audience is one part of the event, Folks said being an audience member is also a great way to get involved.

“For writers who don’t feel ready to read yet, I’d still highly encourage attending the event because it’s a great way to get involved on campus and see what your peers are up to,” Flatt said. “Many creative writing students attend and even read at this event regularly — it won’t be long before you begin to see some familiar faces.”

The energy at the event was welcoming and supportive. After each reader finished their piece, the audience applauded and the coordinators would stand and draw attention to their favorite part of the readers’ work. Then, after their performances, the readers answered questions and comments.

The Q&A portion included advice for new writers, questions about specific aspects of their pieces and critiques meant to help improve the quality of the works presented. Additionally, there was time before and after the readings to engage with other attendees and performers to swap information and advice.

“Most writers are somewhat like-minded, in my opinion, so just talking with fellow writers about their writing processes or common reading interests is very nice,” Folks said.

The second reading of the semester will be on Nov. 3 from 6:30 p.m to 8 p.m in the Fine Arts Building. According to Flatt, it is a valuable opportunity for new and experienced readers alike.

“I would say that if you’re interested, you should definitely go for it,” Flatt said. “We welcome writers of all genres and experience levels. Our environment is relaxed and most importantly, fun.”

Those interested in participating in a future event or those who want more information can contact Nicoletta LaMarca-Sacco at nlamarc1@binghamton.edu or Samantha Flatt at sflatt1@binghamton.edu.

Across State Street and Hawley Street are the pieces closest to one another, making for an easy walk. “Gates of Eternity” by Maxin10sity, “Divided” by Mindscape Studios, “Joy Boy” by The Fox, The Folks and “4U” by Julia Shamsheieva and Anima Lux are among the easiest projections to spot. Some other pieces are a bit harder to see as they are further from the central square of projections.

The pieces themselves vary greatly in terms of artistic style, subject matter and audio accompaniment. “Gates of Eternity” starts off underwater and goes through pieces of geographic and human life. Volcanoes, stone, palm trees, butterflies, Egyptian ruins and the figure of a blue man cover the screen, with a soundtrack playing in the background. As you move down the street toward mural mapping, the crowd gets thinner as less people stand to watch the stills go by.

This is a new experience for LUMA, which sought to involve the youth of Binghamton by displaying their art. The presentation had no music accompanying it and was more of a showcase for different art instead of the usual storylines LUMA presents.

“Joy Boy” has a unique style separate from the realistic and technical feel of Maxin10sity. Their artwork is bubbly, bright and vivid in a cartoon heavy style. It’s created to be watched like a retro arcade game as different characters come in and out of the screen, including a baby boy, a fox and a spider. Some of the artwork also appears reflects images from Subway Surfer, pinball machines and circus fun houses. The sounds are what you would hear from an arcade — upbeat sounds, “pings” and beeps, all according to the player’s actions. At the end, the classic “whoops” that signal the character dying plays. When looking around at the crowd one could see many of smiling faces.

Nearby, the piece “Divided” plays. It’s about the “division” of humanity, with a nihilistic feel as blue and yellow circles divide and combine with one another. There are other dualities in texture and style as the piece goes from divisions in color to the division of man and woman. Instead of music, words accompany the piece — making statements and posing questions about humanities divisions. The crowd seemed to just be taking it in. Some looked distracted while others just stared with furrowed brows. The theme here is more obvious than in others, and the voiceover during the piece laid heavy emphasis on its themes.

The next piece was “4U,” with a large crowd standing in front of the piece. Shamsheieva’s work started from the bottom-up to encompass the screen. Neon pink, yellow and blue were the main colors at work as a pattern of squares overtook the building. They shifted by opening like a doorway and wavering, before turning over like tiles, also pulsating like the ripple effect of water. These transitions gave way to different images — yellow flowers against a pink background, the words “United, Unique, Unbelievable, Undaunted” appearing and stills of the building itself. The building went back to a clean smooth state of bright brick before slowly being infected by black venom. The music accompanying Shamsheieva’s piece was a Ukrainian lyrical song about suffering, hope and heart. The way shadows moved across her piece, and the illusions that went into the piece rather than out in the audience created a beautiful style that felt advanced in both technique and knowledge of the building’s architecture.

Overall, the pieces were extraordinary and different, owing to their art form being projection art. I would recommend attending LUMA, especially if you’ve never seen anything like this before.

This year the LUMA lineup includes artists from Ukraine, Southeast Asia, Barcelona, Madrid, Budapest, Bucharest and, of course, Binghamton. From Friday, Sept. 9 through Saturday, Sept. 10, 8:30 p.m. to 12:15 p.m., the sidewalk will be brimming with food trucks and vendors, bringing life to the Binghamton community.

Joshua Bernard, co-founder and operations director of LUMA, said sharing new artwork is what LUMA is all about.

“I think the most exciting thing we can hope for is that folks come away with a slightly different sense of what art can be,” Bernard said. “That they connect with a different kind of artwork they’ve never connected with before and they feel something.”

At LUMA, organizers also aim to have as much input from the community as possible. To make the festival more accessible, tickets are free for everyone who attends, and this year LUMA is using its mapping technology to offer experiences to the Binghamton youth. Architects, engineers and members of the LUMA team created 2D versions of the buildings to give students under 13 years old the chance to enter still drawings on materials the LUMA team has provided.

Next weekend the works of these students and acclaimed artists will be projected over numerous buildings, including 84 Court St., 79 Collier St. and 65 Hawley St. You can also spend $8.50 on an extra ticket to see the special feature — an immersive art performance created by Playmodes, an artistic team from Barcelona. Their piece “Horizons” will be shown in the State Street Parking Ramp, where light and composition will play together. This will be the second time the LUMA festival has included a parking ramp in its festival lineup.

“Part of the fun of LUMA is using the Binghamton landscape, and anytime you’re going to do an immersive arts festival like this you’re going to use whatever assets you have,” Bernard said.

Architecture is a huge asset to the artists, and using it can enhance and collaborate with the stories the artists are telling.

For Julia Shamsheieva — an artist from Odesa, Ukraine — the building, city, region and country are all taken into consideration before and during the creation of each of her pieces. She first heard of LUMA through her artistic team, Anima Lux, and decided the festival was a place where she could create something meaningful and beautiful. She was interested right from the start, as she wanted to show her thanks and appreciation to the American people for supporting Ukraine.

Her piece “4U” has many meanings and audiences — for the American people, for Ukraine and its citizens, for people, not numbers. Working in an active combat zone with airstrikes hitting Odesa this past February, she believes it is important to think not only of the number of casualties, bombings and money spent on weapons but also how the people, animals, land and food are affected. Her usual artistic style — bright, bubbly and playful — has remained the same.

“I want people to feel something, to have a smile on their face … Each project is my child and I put all my heart for it, my soul for it, it reflects my inner role,” Shamsheieva said.

She wants the brightness in her piece to reach the children in Binghamton who see LUMA, to help people in pain.

“Even our military men that are in horrible situations, they also try to record something fun for everyone,” Shamsheieva said. “It is really important among all this darkness, you can become crazy I think, and Ukrainian humor helps a lot I think to survive.”

Her piece comprises these ideas and stands for the four “U’s” — Unity, Unique, Unbelievable and Undaunted. She describes in her piece the spirit of her people, united across Ukraine despite their different nationalities and languages.

She speaks of hope, and brought a new element into her piece with a lyrical song to show hope alongside the darkness.

“The words in this [lyrical] song are also very sensitive,” Shamsheieva said. “She’s singing about heart, about [the] pain of everything. It is a bit of a sad song of course, and it is very unusual for me to work with this style of music.”

She is working with music that tells of Ukraine’s pain and suffering. The companion music to her piece was created by Ukrainian artists Yuri “Saymory” Vodolazhskyi and Maria Kebu, which Shamsheieva described as electronic and folksy. The hauntingly beautiful voice of Kebu sings of sorrow, bittersweet pain and the soul’s distortion as her heart chooses not to cry, but to laugh.

Shamsheieva is working to combine her heart and her usual playfulness to tell her story of a strong united Ukraine, supported by the American people.

“Every day you’re shocked you think this is the most horrible thing, but no,” Shamsheieva said. “There were so many bombs and missiles around my house, and I think how many months, how many festivals we could create with this money. How many people could we help and make really good things with this money and now we need to spend our money for weapons.”

She is saddened by the horrors that happen, and how money is spent on war instead of helping agriculture, the sick and children. However, despite all this horror she still has hope.

“If we can create a useful organization that can stop everything without a weapon, maybe it is about the evolution of humanity, but I really hope that we will find this consciousness, I don’t know, maybe if we have more artists,” Shamsheieva said.

Her way is through her own art. The bright and bubbly style is meant to keep humor and warmth in people’s hearts.

LUMA is a start to bringing art to the forefront of the Binghamton community, supporting local vendors and drawing in tourists. It helps to inspire creativity, kindness and, hopefully, a new consciousness in people. It is a chance to learn about stories and communities across the globe. To see Shamsheieva’s piece how it was meant to be told, and the work each artist is putting forth, come see LUMA in person this weekend.

Work on the mural took 25 days this past summer, by an artist just as adventurous as the mural itself. The artist’s name is Danaé Brissonnet, a self-described nomad, who brought her talent to Binghamton through a series of murals. Brissonnet found the project by applying for a grant funded by the New York State Department of State — started by the Broome County Arts Council (BCAC) and Broome County Department of Planning and Economic Development. The program, called the iDistricts Creative Placemaking Projects, involves artists working on murals all around Johnson City, Endicott and Binghamton. The goal is for 28 mural and mosaic pieces to be created in these cities within a three-year time period.

Brissonnet, 30, was supported by Chrissy Purso, owner of The Rathskeller Pub and Sake Tumi buildings, who gave her both an apartment and a place to store paints. Another big help was Brissonnet’s mother, Daphne Brissonnet, who served as a assistant in the painting of the mural. Brissonnet also found comfort in Binghamton’s emptiness in the summer, though the weather was her only obstacle.

“I liked that there was not a lot of people,” Brissonnet said. “It was calm and almost relaxing. But the wall was tough because it was directly in the sun.”

Brissonnet began her art career after leaving her home in Quebec, Canada at 18 years old, then traveling around Latin America for years. In Matagalpa, Nicaragua, she won a mural competition hosted by a gallery she was working at. Brissonnet found the experience to be game-changing not just for her passion for art but for traveling as well.

“I liked the way I shared [it] with the people, and the way it was so quick and beautiful and easy to get in touch with people by art, and by painting in such a small town,” Brissonnet said. “That’s the way I want to travel and share with people I meet.”

Brissonnet described her latest piece as representation of her own life, as an artist constantly traveling to new places, but also said it related to one of Binghamton’s eccentricities — carousels.

“For me traveling a lot and being always on the go, you become like a merry-go-round,” Brissonnet said. “I had a recurring dream of making a head like that, and when I heard Binghamton is the carousel town, I was like, ‘That’s perfect.’”

Dreams are a major part of Brissonnet’s art, along with historical facts and information about the location she is working in. She finds that dreams are a way to conceptualize art and connect to children in the area. Brissonnet believes herself to be a child at heart, and aims to transfer that sentiment to the children who see her work.

“People will come and ask, ‘What does it mean?’ and I say, ‘Bring your kids they will know,’” Brissonnet said.

Coinciding with murals is another passion of Brissonnet’s — puppetry. As a lover of sculpting, she found a puppetry-performing arts theater community in Vermont named “Bread & Puppet.” She began to do puppet show tours all around Europe, Asia and Latin America.

Brissonnet is constantly on the move, leaving her mark all around the world. Her next piece will be in West Warren in Detroit, Michigan, where her mural is currently in progress. There is no doubt her newest work will be just like the murals she has made all her life — a profound portrayal of imagination and a sense of a close community.

Ciara O’Brien, a junior double-majoring in environmental studies and politics, philosophy and law, is the outreach coordinator and the head of the environmental protection campaign for NYPIRG. O’Brien was encouraged by the turnout at the festival.

“It’s super inspiring seeing all these people out here,” O’Brien said. “There are so many young people who care about our planet today and really want to be able to make a difference for a cleaner and better future.”

The event was kicked off with speaker Eleanore Colton from Network for a Sustainable Tomorrow (NEST), a community organization aiming to create a socially and environmentally just world. After her speech, the first band of the night, The Droogs, set up on the gazebo to perform live music.

The event was sponsored by the city, allowing the clubs to hand out free food and table at Recreation Park. Students and community members kicked soccer balls, played Spikeball and tossed frisbees with a game of Kan Jam. Organizations tabling at the event had free activities, such as origami, sidewalk chalk and painting rocks. The fun did not stop there as the famous antique carousel was up and running for everyone to ride. Food included vegetable and chicken Caesar wraps, cookies, cupcakes and fresh cotton candy.

Kelly Lebohner, a senior majoring in biology, attended the event and enjoyed the rock-painting station. Lebohner and her friends dug rocks out of the dirt to paint on a picnic blanket while listening to the live music.

“I love how the event has activities that involve using aspects of the park, such as the rocks for painting or the sidewalk for chalk,” Lebohner said. “It really emphasized how the Earth provides us with everything we need and we don’t even realize it.”

NYPIRG’s environmental campaign and Zero Hour Binghamton oversaw the hosting of this year’s Earth Day Festival. NYPIRG is a nonprofit group with university chapters working to educate people on public policy, strengthen democracy, protect public health, improve the environment and build communities. Zero Hour Binghamton works toward environmental justice in the area and hosts events such as cleanups. Both BU clubs hope to inspire people to take action against the climate crisis as every small action contributes to a larger impact.

“You can make an impact by reducing the amount of waste you’re generating, cutting back on the amount of meat you are eating, driving with a friend and reducing the amount that you’re shopping,” O’Brien said. “Those small steps make a big change even though a lot of people think that they don’t. You can join a group on campus like NYPIRG, [Team] Sunrise, Zero Hour [Binghamton] or any other organization that is going to bring people together. We’re all working toward political action and demanding that things change in our country.”

Together, the organizations brought in a large crowd of community members and students to celebrate Mother Nature on Earth Day, an important holiday to remind us every year of the climate crisis and how valuable the environment is.

“It’s crucial to have a day where we celebrate our Earth because it sends a message to younger generations how important it is to protect and take care of our planet,” Lebohner said.

The annual event has previously been held on campus and in students’ houses, but NYPIRG hoped to open the event to community members as well this year to bring everyone together to celebrate Earth Day.

“There’s definitely a big divide between the students and the local population, so we really wanted to bring people together,” O’Brien said. “Also, to bring awareness to the organizations working toward environmental change on campus and off campus and the really cool activists and what they have to say.”

Christopher Audette and Amy Liang, ‘21, also delivered speeches to the crowd. Audette is the executive director of the Waterman Conservation Education Center in Binghamton. Liang is a BU alumna and an environmental justice program assistant at New York Power Authority. Liang was formerly the president of NYPIRG and now strives to find environmental solutions through policy, research and community-building. In between the speeches, the band KWK put on an energetic performance.

The Earth Day Festival’s mix of entertainment and powerful speeches highlighted the celebration of progress toward environmental justice as well as the crucial urgency in advocating for political reforms to slow climate change.

“This is such an important time in our history for both raising awareness and activism for the climate crisis,” O’Brien said. “We have to act now. We have such a short window for action. One of the best ways to do that is through grassroots organizations and through community awareness by bringing the community together, inspiring people and telling them every small impact is an impact and everyone can make a difference in things they do in their day-to-day life.”

Diana Fabrizio, a master’s student studying public administration, is the president of NYPIRG. Fabrizio shared methods and tips for limiting climate change and building a more sustainable future.

“We need to follow Indigenous people’s lead as they have a lot of good environmental practices,” Fabrizio said. “They have done sustainable practices for so long and we should be following their lead. You can put pressure on the government and be aware of the big industries that are the key problem and bring light to that, but also do the little steps that we can on our own.”

The event ended with performances by From the Bronx and the headliner, The Plasters. The latter is a student band that won BU’s Battle of the Bands and is the opener for this year’s upcoming Spring Fling. Attendees lounged on blankets in the grass and danced along to the music as the sun set on Recreation Park, bringing an end to a warm and eventful Earth Day in Binghamton.

“There was a huge turnout, everyone is having a great time, people love the food and all the clubs seem to be doing great,” Fabrizio said.

Angela “Angie” Cade, a member of the Binghamton community who passed away in December amid facing housing and health care insecurity, was commemorated in an event jointly hosted by the Stakeholders of Broome County — a housing rights advocacy group — and 100 Black Men of Broome County, an African American-led mentoring organization. The event featured speeches by community organizers and Cade’s family and also had a clothing and food drive in support of the houseless and needy in Binghamton.

Nathan Hotchkiss, ‘12, a member of the Stakeholders of Broome County, explained how the organization found out about Cade’s passing and decided to host the event.

“We learned of Angela’s death through our houseless outreach in Binghamton,” Hotchkiss wrote in an email. “Hearing of this deeply affected our team as it is everything we are working against. We have an obligation to make our community aware of the cruel reality of our housing system. With input from Angela’s family, we created the event to pay tribute to her life, raise awareness of the issues and collect donations to support our houseless community.”

Cade’s story was told by Linda Miranda, ‘17, one of Cade’s sisters. Miranda described how Cade entered the foster care system at a young age and was left without the necessary tools for adulthood.

“The placement in the system was to be temporary, but it turned out that Angela and most of her siblings aged out of the foster care system and, like some of the other children who aged out, turned out on the streets, and some even died not long after being discharged,” Miranda wrote in an email. “The system failed Angela because they didn’t prepare her for real life challenges during her time in the group homes and residential homes for children.”

Myra Cade, another of Angela Cade’s sisters, said she was thankful to see such a crowd come together to commemorate her sister’s memory.

“Thank you people for coming out and making us feel that she did matter, and that she was somebody,” Cade said.

Hotchkiss explained how the Stakeholders of Broome County hoped for the event to be a space for the community to come together and recognize how stories like that of Cade’s come about.

“Tragically, Angela’s story is not unique,” Hotchkiss wrote. “We don’t expect her death to motivate state or local officials to seriously address the housing, substance use and/or mental health crisis currently plaguing our community. Officials are painfully aware and still allow the issues to persist. We hope community members reflect on our roles in perpetuating these circumstances with our various actions and inactions.”

During the event, Salka Valerio, a community organizer for Citizen Action of New York’s Southern Tier chapter, talked about the importance of such community gatherings to work toward solving problems in Binghamton.

“We don’t have a lot of power, we don’t have a lot of money,” Valerio said. “But we created a space here to hold for Angela. People in the community came and donated hats, coats — things to keep people warm, so we can distribute out to people. The community actually really cares, and the more collectively we get together, we organize, we can find ways to fix these collective issues.”

Valerio then said elected officials within the county needed to work harder on providing mental health and housing resources to those in the community who needs it.

“Federally, we got a lot of money to put into communities that were affected by COVID-19,” Valerio said. “That municipality had, you know, they were responsible to put that money into places that would help people that were affected or the community at large clearly. So since housing is a major crisis here, and mental health is a major crisis here, those fundings should have been prioritized for those places.”

Julia Stanley, a community organizer and outreach organizer with the Stakeholders of Broome County and the Binghamton Food Rescue, spoke on the importance of recognizing the houseless as community members.

“We cannot continue to allow people to be trampled,” Stanley said. “We can not continue to stand by. We failed her as a community, and we cannot fail one more person. Houseless people are our community members. They are friends, family and comrades. We are here today to pay respects to Angela, we are here today to provide resources to our unhoused community members who are thankfully still here.”

Hotchkiss said Binghamton University students must increase their awareness of the housing problems in the area and of predatory landlords.

“Students have a lot of power in the area, and there are those eager to siphon and exploit that power for their own personal gain,” Hotchkiss wrote. “Students are often oblivious to how this plays out and impacts the community. In a nutshell, housing that is needed for residents is often reserved and prioritized for students, who come from relatively higher economic backgrounds which means more profits. Student renters should be aware of predatory real estate developers and landlords who are facilitating gentrification and the displacement of Binghamton families.”

Miranda said Cade’s story must be told to try to avoid similar occurrences from happening in the future.

“Someone said that even through all of Angie’s mishaps and her condition, she still found a way of being humane,” Miranda wrote. “She cared for others and loved to be kind even to animals. She loved to crochet, knit and had a green thumb when it came to growing plants. Angie had a lot of love to give, her story needs to be told, that others who have suffered similar experiences would get the help they need before it’s too late.”

The Q Center, which holds weekly events and activities for the LGBTQ+ community, looks to build community and acceptance across the entire campus. Events include workshops, film screenings and community events, all of which fall directly in line with their purpose.

The Gender Bender Walk-In Clothing Closet was a space previously called the Gender Affirming Clothing Closet and has existed since the Q Center first opened in 2016, but was rebranded and expanded this past month. What was once a closet overflowing with items in a cramped area is now a fully functional, inviting space. The closet’s intention has also expanded to include all members of the LGBTQ+ community with an emphasis on transgender and gender-nonconforming students. The closet is run using donations and clothing swaps, meaning anyone who wishes to acquire items from the closet typically donates clothing in return but isn’t required to do so.

Julia Saltzman, a second-year graduate student studying public administration, wrote about the intentions of the Gender Bender Walk-In Clothing Closet.

“Under the new administration of … Nic Fransisco, [coordinator], and Nick Martin, assistant director, we decided to revamp the closet, expand its space and bring new life to this old idea,” Saltzman said.

The revitalized closet does not just offer clothing but now also has a makeup counter, jewelry and privacy curtains if individuals wish to try on the clothing. The new and improved space allows for individuals to explore their identity and present their desirable expression. There is even a mural of the intersex-inclusive pride flag. Overall, the closet is a space that is inviting and fosters both individuality and community.

The Q Center offers a safe space for all and works to expand both self-acceptance and community acceptance. The Gender Bender Walk-In Clothing Closet works right in line with its mission of “family by design,” which pays respects to the unique friendships and chosen families of the LGBTQ+ community.

“The Gender Bender [Walk-In Clothing] Closet is intended to be an affirming space for all members of the LGBTQ+ community at Binghamton [University],” Saltzman wrote. “It was specifically created with transgender and gender-nonconforming students in mind. We hope that, through the closet, we can provide a place to explore gender and expression and resist the gender binary.”

Editor’s note / Disclaimer: Lakhsmi Chatterjee, Arts & Culture Editor, is employed by the Q Center.

The event began with the car parade, which changed locations multiple times throughout its half-hour experience. At first, all of the cars were bunched up together in front of the BU Downtown Center (UDC) on Washington Street with menorahs placed on top. The atmosphere was lively, to say the least, including fun Hanukkah music, sounds of laughter and conversation and lots and lots of honking. A police car and Harpur’s Ferry vehicles drove around honking cars and celebrating their Hanukkah spirit. The vehicles traversed through portions of Downtown, including Court Street all the way to University Plaza, finally ending the parade on campus, driving around the Brain.

Hanukkah, sometimes called the Festival of Lights, is a special Jewish holiday spanning a duration of eight nights. It recounts the victory of a group of rebel Jews called the Maccabees, when they got back their temple from the Greek-Syrians. The temple needed a holy light to burn at all times, and they only had enough light for one night, but miraculously, it lasted for eight. To spread more awareness of this holiday, Yeshiva students, or students of the academy of Torah learning, came up with the idea of having a car menorah. This began a long-standing tradition that is extremely popular today in Hanukkah car parades.

Yael Bruk, a sophomore double-majoring in biology and philosophy, listed Hanukkah as her favorite Jewish holiday, and said she found the parade part of the event to be essential.

“People who couldn’t make it to the Spine tonight saw it going around campus and [saw] the excitement of the Jewish holiday, which I thought was pretty cool,” Bruk said.

On the Spine of BU’s campus, a big, nine-foot menorah stood surrounded by a jovial crowd of people dancing and singing. A couple of people were dressed up in dreidel costumes dancing around to Israeli and Hanukkah music played by an enthusiastic DJ under a tent. The music quieted, and Rabbi Yisroel Ohana of the Rohr Chabad Center for Jewish Student Life revved up the crowd explaining the importance of the holiday before handing the mic off to Eliana Sastow, social chair of Chabad at Binghamton and a junior majoring in psychology. Spearheading the event, Sastow introduced a handful of important figures in the BU Jewish community, such as Maya Hoff, a sophomore studying psychology and the person in charge of Chabad at Binghamton’s annual toy drive, who is aiming to raise $35,000 for children with cancer. The last person she introduced was Zack Ben-Ezra, president of Chabad at Binghamton and a senior majoring in history, who then began to light the candles.

What followed was a joyous occasion of crowds of people conversing while drinking hot cider and eating donuts and potato latkes. The chocolate gelt was thrown off equipped with parachutes off the Menorah Mobile, a van rented out by one of the attendants covered with a vibrant menorah light on the side of it. Benjamin Helwa, a junior majoring in biology, said he enjoyed the festivities the night offered with his friends and was impressed by the turnout.

“I think it’s really fun there is a lot of people that came up,” Helwa said. “Even though it’s really cold, everyone is having fun and running around with a lot of spirit.”

Sastow felt the event turned out great. Her role in the event was quite important, as she had to work out the logistics and do PR for the event. She said she loved the community aspect of the parade, and how it reflected the expression of the holiday as well.

“I think Hanukkah is a really nice holiday that a lot of people know about,” Sastow said. “And being able to show our Jewish pride publicly and not be ashamed of it is a really beautiful thing.”

The Playwrights and Artists Festival, which involves three sets of two plays running on consecutive days, returns for its 18th year with a two-weekend engagement running from Nov. 19 to Nov. 23 and Nov. 26 to Nov. 28. The plays are written based on three paintings selected by the KNOW Theatre’s founder and artistic director, Tim Gleason. Playwrights are able to submit works from across the country.

Gleason provided further insight into this year’s selection process.

“I have many associates through the [Kennedy Center American College Theater] Festival that I call on to help with selection,” Gleason wrote in an email. “We had 86 submissions this year. We split them into groups by painting and send them off to my colleagues. They choose their top 10, we then switch readers and get down to their top five with a number score. I read the last 15 and score them. All readings are done without anyone knowing the playwright.”

Announced in a KNOW Theatre press release, this year’s schedule of selected plays is as follows: “A Voice in the Prussian Sea” by Aly Kantor and “Good Bones” by Chris Shaw Swanson, inspired by Mary Rose’s painting “Stairway to Heaven” on Nov. 19 and Nov. 26, “Maybe Tomorrow” by Brian Leahy Doyle and “The Spot” by Judd Lear Silverman, inspired by Judy Irwin-Salton’s painting “Family Picnic” on Nov. 20 and Nov. 27 and “Origin” by Ron G. Rosenfeld and “Supporting Actors” by Louis DeVaughn Nelson, inspired by Hannah Goldberg’s painting “Eat More Chikin” on Nov. 21 and Nov. 28.

This year’s festival comes after 2020’s Playwright and Artists Festival was confined to a virtual format.

Jeff Tagliaferro, ‘17, the assistant artistic director of KNOW Theatre, explained the process behind putting on last year’s festival.

“After canceling all of our live performances in March of 2020, we jumped into Zoom to present last year’s Playwrights and Artists Festival,” Tagliaferro wrote in an email. “While theatre is never great in a digital medium, we found success as we had playwrights from California, Illinois, Miami and [New York City] involved, and since our performances were Zoom-streamed we were able to host the playwrights and their friends and families who otherwise would probably not have traveled all the way to Binghamton for the event.”

Now the crew at KNOW Theatre prepares to return to a live audience, and Tagliaferro, who is also directing “Maybe Tomorrow” and “Supporting Actors,” detailed the creative process behind the festival thus far.

“We have a pretty small space,” Tagliaferro wrote. “Intimate is the best word for it. We work out of an old firehouse on Carroll Street just beyond the hubbub of the State Street bars [in Downtown Binghamton]. Attempting to rehearse six plays at the same time in our space is hectic but also really fun! Typically, for our main stage productions, we rehearse for six weeks and actors are called anywhere from 12 [to] 20 hours a week. The festival is a different beast. We cast the shows after a mid-October audition and set off rehearsing for about four weeks prior to opening night. Since we all split time on the stage for rehearsals, each cast only gets somewhere between [four to] 10 hours of rehearsal a week. It becomes a very condensed process comparatively.”

As the show dates draw near, Tagliaferro said audiences can expect a variety of stories and experiences from the coming festival.

“As always, we have an eclectic handful of plays; a few endearing love stories, some sociopolitical commentary, time travel and even some farm animals,” Tagliaferro wrote. “I think the ultimate draw is the [discussion] with all the artists involved. Each night after the performances we bring the artist, playwrights, musicians (there are also original compositions created, inspired by the artwork) and actors up onto the stage to discuss the processes with the audience. The festival always ends with great conversation.”

Gleason, meanwhile, said he was excited to bring the festival before a live audience once more.

“Having the audience with us is where theatre thrives,” Gleason wrote. “It is that exchange of energy and thought in the same room that has kept theatre alive through the centuries.”

For those interested in the Playwrights and Artists Festival, more information and tickets can be found on KNOW Theatre’s website.

The “2 Person Exhibition” features two artists: Cindy Henry and Viggo Holm Madsen. According to the Broome County Arts Council website, the works include “fiber mixed-media art and printmaking.”

Nov. 5 to Nov. 27 at Cooperative Gallery 213 (213 State St.)

The “Three Artists in November” show features three individual exhibitions. The show includes the exhibits “Melange” by photographer Bill Gorman, “Iceland’s Natural Beauty” by photographer Geof Gould and “Layers” by painter Eileen Schlag.

Nov. 1 to Nov. 30 at Portrait Art School (186 State St., Floor 2)

The exhibition “Portrait” by Reda Abdelrahman is located in his studio and art school.

Nov. 5 at Garland Gallery (116 Washington St.)

According to the Broome County Arts Council website, Pat Raube, a singer/songwriter who performs “classic folk-rock and something new,” will be bringing his music to First Friday.

Nov. 5 at Kilmer Mansion (9 Riverside Drive)

Art and live music will be brought by the Fine Arts Society of the Southern Tier. Music will be performed by Bob Alan Bricks from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Now through June 1, 2023 at Roberson Museum and Science Center (30 Front St.)

According to the Broome County Arts Council website, the exhibition “Memories of Braided Lives” by various artists “celebrates the labors of women and the items they worked and sewed.”

Nov. 5 to Dec. 30 at Artisan Gallery @ Taste NY (840 Upper Front St.)

According to the Broome County Arts Council website, the exhibition “Breathe In NY, Exhale ART!” is by Broome County Arts Council members. The exhibit “honors the beauty and essence of New York state which is so artfully captured by BCAC member artists,” according to the exhibition’s description.

Nov. 5 at The Discovery Center of the Southern Tier Kids Commons Gallery (60 Morgan Road)

According to the Broome County Arts, The Discovery Center’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) program and the Memory Maker Project’s collaborative exhibition “Bookends” “[celebrates] intergenerational connections.”

Nov. 5 at Phelps Mansion Museum (191 Court St.)

The exhibition “Those Who Crossed Barriers” by PresentArts is about “Americans brave [enough] to cross barriers and willing to face the consequences,” according to the Broome County Arts Council website. Admission to the exhibit costs $15 per person.

Nov. 5 at Bundy Museum of History and Art (129 Main St.)

“What is the value of art?” is the question “Rubbish | a reflective installation” by artist AmarA*jk intends to answer. According to the Broome County Arts Council website, “The opening will include live painting and will be livestreamed on Twitch.tv/AmarAstarjk.”

Nov. 5 at Bundy Museum of History and Art (129 Main St.)

The “Visual Smut | never before exhibited erotic paintings” exhibition also by AmarA*jk will include paintings “from [their] own boudoir,” and will be open to mature audiences only, according to the Broome County Arts Council website.

This question and more were set out to be answered on a U Club Binghamton shuttle to the University Downtown Center (UDC) and the Off Campus College Transport (OCCT) Leroy Southside to Main and Floral.

The greater Binghamton area is home to thriving immigrant communities, represented by the variety of restaurants surrounding our school. In viewing these options, one particular culinary option stands out in its frequency: halal.

Halal chicken is poultry prepared under the Islamic tradition of dhabihah, in which meat is prepared in accordance with Islamic law. Producers of halal chicken must obtain religious certification to ensure they are properly following the process.

Given the multitude of halal restaurants in the Binghamton area, one question must come to mind: which is the best? To answer this question, I went to six local spots and tried a small chicken and rice platter with white sauce with each one.

In no way, with these reviews, am I trying to critique halal cuisine and food as a whole. This should serve as a guide to students interested in halal restaurants across the community — I have nothing but respect for anyone who follows a halal diet.

Sixth place: Royal Fried Chicken (52 Main St.)

Price: $7 (drink included in price)

On Binghamton’s Main Street, you can find Royal Fried Chicken, a locally owned joint. Upon ordering, one thing immediately stood out: the value. Coming in at a clean $7, the meal gives you a good portion size and comes with a drink included. While the meal wasn’t the most mind-blowing I’ve had, with the chicken being inconsistent, the rice and white sauce provided a nice balance and the meal was filling. Royal Fried Chicken is a great option for those who want the best value for their money.

Fifth place: Maryam’s Mart (69 Court St.)

Price: $7

Located in the heart of Downtown Binghamton on Court Street, Maryam’s Mart is a highly frequented, late-night student favorite. The most standout part of this meal was the white sauce, creating the perfect creamy overtone for the platter. While the chicken was decently seasoned, it ran on the dry side of the spectrum. The rice is overall a nonfactor, but it was smooth and fresh. If you are craving halal while downtown, Maryam’s Mart is a good spot to turn to.

Fourth place: The Halal Guys (4700 Vestal Pkwy E.)

Price: $8.99

A recent addition to the University Plaza, The Halal Guys, is an offshoot of the legendary New York City food cart with the same name. Eating this platter, it’s not difficult to imagine how they gained such massive fame. The chicken served its role as the main event well. The orange rice itself was a bit tough. The Halal Guys’ famous white sauce tasted of ranch with additional cream, helping add a little pop to the rice. Overall a solid platter, although it is worth noting its slightly higher price.

Third place: Noor Halal Food & More (144 Grand Ave.)

Price: $4.49

Noor Halal Food & More is perhaps the most unsuspecting spot on this list, as no signs out front proclaims its menu. Yet once you are inside and figure out where to order you will find one of the best halal chicken platters in the Binghamton area. The white sauce is creamy, the chicken well-seasoned and all tied together by a solid bed of rice. When you factor in the jaw-droppingly low price, you get a platter that is tough to beat with all factors considered. This is the best value for a meal.

Second place: Halal Bites (652 Riverside Dr.)

Price: $7.50

The furthest out of the way from the Downtown Binghamton area, Halal Bites made the trip out to Johnson City worthwhile. All of the parts worked together in harmony in this well-flavored and balanced platter. For one, they had by far the best white sauce, with the perfect amount of creaminess. The chicken and rice worked well in tandem and had potent flavors that did not overwhelm the palate. With superb indoor seating, Halal Bites is a great spot to enjoy a great platter with great company and has a reputation for being an underground student favorite.

First place: Kennedy Fried Chicken & Gyro (159 Main St.)

Price: $6.99

Located in the heart of Binghamton’s Main Street, just a stone’s throw away from Royal Fried Chicken, Kennedy Fried Chicken & Gyro is a small place where you order through a literal hole in the wall. The platter that awaited me packed a strong punch. One of the most unique aspects was the savory, fresh red chicken which paired with the white sauce to create a rich explosion of flavor. This was aided by my favorite part: rice that had a clear flavor of chicken stock, providing a hearty balance to the meal. The interplay between each part was fantastic, and yet each part stood out as a strength on its own. Of all the platters, this was the one that I enjoyed the most, and the flavors of the platter stick with me still. Overall, it was a unique eating experience with a decently priced, great meal worth it for the rice alone.

At the end of this culinary adventure, Kennedy Fried Chicken & Gyro’s combination of incredible flavors and value rose to the top. However, Halal Bites and Noor Halal Food & More are both highly recommendable themselves. For those craving a plate of halal food, Binghamton provides no shortage of options.

Thrift shopping is not only a sustainable way to shop — it’s also a great way to get cute clothes at an affordable price. If you’re interested in thrift shopping but don’t know where to start, here are some tips:

Make sure the piece of clothing is in good condition

Almost everything in thrift stores has been pre-owned, and because of this, they may show signs of wear — missing buttons, rips in clothes, broken zippers or sweat stains. Some of these may be easily repairable, but others may take longer or cost money to fix. The main point is to determine what signs of wear you are able to fix and whether it will be worth your time and money to mend it.

Know the general pricing of items

That cute shirt might cost $10, but it might be selling for lower elsewhere. Some thrift stores will try to charge you retail prices, so it’s important to find out how much clothes may retail for and see if you can get them cheaper elsewhere. A quick Google search can pull up both retail prices and prices from secondhand websites like Depop and eBay.

Know how well the piece will fit you

The sizes listed on each piece of clothing might be inaccurate, so it’s important to try each piece on to see how well it will fit you. If it doesn’t fit, but you still want it, consider tailoring it. Learning how to use a sewing machine will be helpful in saving money in the long run since you won’t need to continuously spend money at the tailor. There are plenty of guides on YouTube to learn from, and tailoring is a useful hobby — you can make unattractive pieces of clothing into something entirely new!

Is the piece comfortable?

This is key to buying clothes in general — do you like the material? That fuzzy sweater might be pretty and affordable, but will it be comfortable to wear, or will you be itching to take it off?

Look in all the sections

Don’t be afraid to look in both the men’s and women’s sections and different sizes — you might find designs or patterns you like more. Although the clothes might be too big or small depending on what section you’re looking in, you can alter the clothes by tailoring them to fit you better after.

Keep track of your spending

You might think to yourself that a few $5 shirts are cheap and worth the money, but it all adds up. Make sure you know how much you’re spending each week, or month, depending on how often you’re going.

Go often

This is the most important tip of all. Figure out when your thrift store updates their lineup and go often to see what new pieces they add. You never know — you might find just the right one!

There are many tips for thrift shopping, but these are just a few. You’ll be surprised at what you can find at the thrift store, and you can create your own unique style from thrifted clothes!

Music is a field for anyone and everyone as we strive to discover new sounds that connect us as people. This becomes even more relevant during a person’s time in college, as it is a formative point in one’s life where one may feel the most connected to a particular community or group. Local musician Matthew Cornwell aims to bring the community together through innovating new sounds inspired by his experiences.

Cornwell was born in the Binghamton area and has lived in various other places, but now calls the Southern Tier home once again as he works on his musical endeavors. Cornwell spoke on the Southern Tier music community.

“There is deep camaraderie within our community,” Cornwell said. “Our job is to get as many people at once into a space for a shared experience. People are more aware of art without its presence.”

Delving more into the music itself, Cornwell said music creation and performance are things the local community wishes to immerse itself in. He was very eager to talk about his upcoming musical creations, and spoke on some of his inspirations.

“’Bennie And The Jets’ [by Elton John], love the groove to that song, and ‘Woman’ by Harry Styles is an inspiration,” Cornwell said. “I’m trying to make electronic-infused R&B grunge rock, like a Frank Ocean and Kurt Cobain mix.”

Throughout the music-making process, there are various ways to define music and what it means to be a musician. These two concepts can mean something unique to each individual as there are many factors that can go into it. Personal experiences and what is inspiring to one person compared to another is crucial, as Cornwell said.

“It’s expression at its core, as well as being self-genuine and sharing your soul on a base level,” Cornwell said. “I think I spend a lot of my time in the hip-hop genre while exploring others recently.”

Cornwell said all of this will be encapsulated in an album he has been working on.

“It will be out Jan. 21, 2022, on all streaming services,” Cornwell said. “It’ll be R&B-leaning with grunge elements. It will definitely be something to listen to while you’re [holed] up inside with the cold weather, which is a reason why I chose that release date.”

Live performance is something fans can also look forward to before the album release, as there are multiple venues Cornwell performs at.

“I usually play at Peterson’s [Tavern] pretty frequently,” Cornwell said. “South City Publick House, [The Old Union Hotel] and The Stone Fox of course, as well.”

The year 2021 has been an exciting time to witness the return of live music, especially within the comfort of the Binghamton and Southern Tier community. The inspiration and talent coming from local musicians and artists is astounding and feels novel now that everyone is able to gather in person and experience live music together.

There will be numerous opportunities to see Cornwell perform before his album’s release in early 2022. As COVID-19 restrictions ease up, the local music community is now able to come together and bond over music from passionate local artists like Cornwell.

Behind the humorous vibes and friendly smiles of the group is a band called Serial Milk. Rock and punk bands are notorious for serious attitudes and dark lyrics, making their personalities a bit surprising.

Serial Milk’s duality and musical abilities can be heard when they perform their songs such as “Analysis Paralysis,” an indie rock song about overthinking with a verse of high-energy screaming. The fairly new band is full of surprises and humor, from their band name to their lyrics and song titles, which only adds to their creativity and originality.

Serial Milk began with Embry Barnett, a senior majoring in biology. Barnett was attempting to form a band for the past year. The bass guitarist experimented with other combinations of musicians, but ultimately none panned out.

Cate Reynolds, a junior double-majoring in comparative literature and politics, philosophy and law, plays the electric guitar. Barnett and Reynolds teamed up, and the string duo began jamming together.

Sitting in front of drumsticks laying on the table was the next member to join the band, Lilly Griffin, a senior majoring in biology. Barnett met Griffin through music classes at BU and invited them to be a drummer and write songs together. The trio meshed well, but every band needs a strong lead singer.

Eventually came along Charlie Monsour, ‘21. When Monsour joined the band as the lead singer last July, the band was officially formed and ready to rock and roll. The four musicians quickly fell into sync with each other and began working on songs and their sound, but a band is never quite official without a name.

Every band hopes inspiration will suddenly strike them and they’ll think of a memorable name with some sort of meaning. In their seemingly usual humorous energy, all four members burst into a fit of laughter when asked how they came up with the name Serial Milk.

“The fun answer is I came up with a premonition, and it hit me,” Griffin said. “But the real answer is that we couldn’t come up with a band name. We were all sitting in my basement, and we had 20 band names that we went through and just crossed out.”

Instead of a single idea inspiring the group, it was an affair of forced creativity. The unusual process took around two hours with a long list and a system of brackets.

“The ideas were flying around in that room,” Monsour said. “I feel like that paper with all our possible names on it should never see the light of day. We should’ve burnt it, for sure.”

Regardless, the band name is somehow fitting. It’s a bit edgy, but silly at the same time. It may not have a deeper meaning, but it’s a perfect representation of the vibes of Serial Milk and its songs — playful and punk, inside and out.

“It’s not so serious, and it’s a little bit of a wordplay, which we love,” Monsour said. “I feel like we have a little bit of punk influences in our music too, and when you see ‘Serial’ written out it kind of has a rough connotation.”

Deciding on Serial Milk may have been different from the ordinary band name selection process, but the members’ childhoods mirrored stereotypical music kids’ backgrounds. They each grew up with musical experiences and a love for performing.

Monsour used to put on little shows for their family, and Reynolds strummed campfire chords on an acoustic guitar. Griffin played the drums as a young 5-year-old, and Barnett harmonized with their family to pass the time on road trips.

Serial Milk’s members have come a long way from their younger selves as presidents of their school bands and classical musicians performing in the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) yearly solo festivals.

“When I got to college, I was more about instruments, layering, GarageBand and figuring out how to make music on my own instead of just singing,” Barnett said. “That kind of opened my eyes to starting a new band because I just thought doing it with other people would be more beneficial and fun.”

Monsour now jumps around performing with a confident stage presence, and Reynolds writes riffs and funky progressions on an electric guitar. Griffin’s drumming is precise with a lively energy, and Barnett rocks out on a bass guitar covered in a variety of stickers. The musical influences from their childhoods and families were all quite drastically different.

Griffin is a fan of Dave Grohl from Nirvana and the Foo Fighters, drummer JD Beck and jazz music. Reynolds admires guitarist Johnny Marr from The Smiths but also draws inspiration from rock and blues guitarists. Monsour hopes to emulate riot grrrl-era vocals, like Kathleen Hanna from Bikini Kill and Le Tigre. Monsour also loves Mitski and Phoebe Bridgers, softer indie singers, whereas Barnett admits to barely knowing their names. Instead, Barnett enjoys anime soundtracks and grew up listening to R&B, hip-hop and funk because of their dad, and listened to country, the Eagles and musical theater because of their mom.

“It’s really fun because you would think having completely different music tastes and liking different genres would hold us back, but it actually creates new opportunities for us music-wise,” Barnett said. “We tend to keep a really open mind when it comes to stuff because of it, so I’m appreciative of our different perspectives.”

This variety of inspiration and music taste creates another component of originality to the band.

“We would describe our style of music as the symbiosis of queercore and indie,” Reynolds said.

Barnett joked they’ve never heard Reynolds speak scientifically before, but “symbiosis” is perhaps the perfect word to describe their sound.

Serial Milk’s sound is not uniform and almost refuses to fit perfectly into one genre. Each song seems to have its own unique sound. Serial Milk is not exclusively indie, punk, pop or rock. Somehow, their sound is a mix of all of it — a symbiosis of musical genres, if you will.

“We’re all constantly wanting to try something different from one another,” Monsour said. “It’s a really cool environment where we’re still trying to find ourselves in a way, which I think is really important to always be evolving musically and bringing new elements in and staying on your toes.”

The members compared their music to the late ’80s and ’90s punk scene, with influences from the riot grrrl genre and bands like Bikini Kill. Some of their songs are also lighter with indie vibes and a little bit of pop-rock sounds.

“It’s hard to put ourselves into one genre because every song we make sounds completely different,” Barnett said.

Even their fashion choices showed the variety of sources of inspiration they drew from —their outfits were almost modern while still having ’60s and ’70s influences.

Considering how different their music tastes are, one might expect the band members to butt heads or struggle to write songs together that they each loved. Instead, Serial Milk have fallen into a groove and surprisingly quick speed of songwriting. Monsour shared that the band members immersed themselves into a heavy songwriting flow over the summer. The songs tend to come together with collaborative writing of lyrics and separate musical writings for everyone’s own parts.

“It’s very collaborative,” Reynolds said. “I’ll be like, ‘I have this riff,’ and [Griffin] will be like, ‘Oh, I have this drumbeat,’ and [Barnett] will be like, ‘I can throw this on it.’ And then we all kind of toss around lyrics.”

It’s not always easy, as talented writers tend to be hard on themselves over lyrics or melodies they believe are not up to par.

“It’s a lot of trial and error,” Griffin said. “One thing I really like is that we’re all really honest and if we don’t like something, we’ll say that.”

The members said honesty is rare in creative and musical relationships, but it’s necessary for the desired product. The vulnerability of sharing ideas combined with the willingness for criticism allows the band to create music they all are proud of and love to perform.

The band debated over the first official song they wrote, which was either “Commisery Business” or “Sorry Mom, I’m Smoking Again.” Both song titles are fun, and the former being another play on words like the band’s name.

“I feel like the general vibe of the band is that we don’t take ourselves too seriously, and I think you can see that in the band’s name, the song titles and everything we do,” Monsour said.

Their different taste in music shows when they each claim a different favorite of songs they’ve written so far.

Griffin’s favorite is “Abby,” because of the wordplay and honesty in the lyrics. Barnett’s is “Sorry,” which is a chill song with a funky bassline. Monsour’s favorite to perform was “Analysis Paralysis” because it’s a fun energy release and crowds have gotten hyped up and engaged during it.

Reynolds chose “MILF Therapist” because of the simple riff and an improvisational dynamic that’s different every time, but everyone agreed they were fans of the song, which started as a joke.

“That one came together really fast because we were having so much fun with it,” Monsour said. “The other songs that were more serious lyrically I think were tougher for us because it was more about creating a message.”

The song lyrics and titles are another nod to Serial Milk’s humor and silliness, which is mixed with a cool and nonchalant vibe. The focus on fun and happiness shines through in their performances.

Serial Milk has performed live twice so far, with their first show set up in Griffin’s backyard. Afterward, they said they all felt an extreme adrenaline rush and confidence boost.

“I think after our first performance, people were kind of surprised by us and how good we are,” Griffin said.

Serial Milk also said local bands in the Binghamton area have been helpful in connecting and booking them for shows, with their next two on Oct. 23 in a basement show and Oct. 24 at Garage Taco Bar.

Their music is not currently on any streaming platforms, so you’ll have to attend a concert to check them out for yourself. For information on performances and concerts, check out their Instagram account, @serialmilkband.

Not only were people impressed with their musical talents, but the crowd also had a strong appreciation for the entirely queer and non-male band. This is not something typically seen in the music industry, but Serial Milk embraces the fact that they are the minority in the punk and rock scene.

“Being a person of color [at BU] is obviously isolating and after our last show, a couple of Black queer people came up to me and said, ‘Wow, it’s so nice seeing you up here in a band full of non-men and queer people,” Barnett said.

From choosing a band name to their sound and song titles, Serial Milk sees the importance of defying norms and pushes the boundaries of what it means to be a musician.

“I think it’s important for us to have a fun space to create that and have other people see there’s people in this community creating music that are like them,” Monsour said.

The punk scene is historically and currently dominated by cisgender white men, which Serial Milk says is important to note. A band that refuses to stick to a single genre is not scared to defy the molds of bands that have come before them.

“Not every band is going to look like us, and it makes me feel really good that I’m able to go on stage and inspire others,” Barnett said. “I think all of us are able to do that being a queer group. We’re something people haven’t seen before.”

The genre of neo-noir developed from a cinematic style known as film noir, which emphasizes darker themes. Neo-noir films are often associated with other genres such as crime, mystery or thriller. The Bundy Museum of History and Art’s film series assembles a heavy-hitting chronological lineup of films, documenting how the style has progressed. The Bundy Museum of History and Art showed the 1967 film “Point Blank” in September, a classic crime film that helped jump-start the genre. On Oct. 12, there will be a showing of the 1973 film “The Long Goodbye,” directed by Robert Altman. This film explores themes of intrigue and betrayal as well as the limits of human morals. On Nov. 9, Jack Nicholson will take to the screen in Roman Polanski’s “Chinatown,” which was nominated for 11 Oscars and won Best Original Screenplay for its script written by Robert Towne. The film, “Body Heat,” a sexy and unscrupulous story released in 1981, takes the stage on Dec. 14. “Body Heat” features William Hurt, Kathleen Turner and Ted Danson. On Jan. 11, the 1997 film “L.A. Confidential” will make its appearance, complete with a star-studded cast. With the likes of Russell Crowe, Kim Basinger and Danny DeVito, the film managed to win two of the nine Oscars it was nominated for, despite going up against “Titanic.” The final film, showing on Feb. 8, is David Fincher’s “Zodiac,” released in 2007. The movie is loosely based on the true events of the serial killer who would place encrypted messages about his victims in newspaper columns. Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo and Robert Downey Jr. play riveting characters that bring the stomach-churning and mind-bending historical events to audiences everywhere.

Patrick Charsky, an organizer of the “Neo-Noir Film Series,” will lead discussions for the film showings. As a screenwriter, Charsky used to hold a screenwriter’s group at the now-closed ART Mission and Theater. Closed in 2017, the ART Mission was a small theater that would show foreign and indie films in Binghamton. Charsky noted that residents of Binghamton would have to go as far as Ithaca to watch an indie or foreign film in theaters. He said he was inspired to start the series because of his own personal interest in cinema and the desire to share it with others.

“I consider myself a real cineast, an appreciator of film, so I like to show films and talk with people about them,” Charsky said. “You know, engage the community, try to get people to take an interest in films that aren’t just the franchise tent-pole films.”

According to Charsky, these “franchise tent-poles” are movies that set up a framework for an entire lucrative network of related, plot-driven movies. He said this type of movie is enticing for filmmakers and marketers but raises some concerns.

“With the closure of the ART Mission [and] Theater, there was kind of a void, I would say, for filmmaking that’s not just a business but also an art form,” Charsky said.

There is a balance between wanting to create a film that will make money as well as respect and invigorate the art of filmmaking, according to Charsky. The “Neo-Noir Film Series” at the Bundy Museum of History and Art will articulate a dark, artistic sensibility that draws out the complexity of characters, often spotlighting the internal conflict of antiheroes in morally ambiguous situations. The films are meant to incite introspection as well as promote an understanding of societal ills. Despite their seriousness, though, these films are also simply fun to engage with and discuss with other people. The monthly series is an invitation for those who are looking to connect with others over an entertaining piece of art — a kind of connection which Charsky hopes can fill the void that places like the ART Mission and Theater left behind.

Mimi Sprague, an antique dealer at Mad Hatter Antiques in Binghamton, has been running the event for three years now, back from its early stages as a “pop-up shop.”

“[My partner George Carbaba and I] used to do pop-ups in the old Atomic Tom’s building,” Sprague said in an interview. “We would do something temporary in that building with around 20 other vendors. We wanted something like the Chelsea Flea in New York City. The idea was to keep the pop-up going, but in a regular format where people can reliably find it.”

Eventually, Sprague and the Cutler Flea Market secured the Broome County Regional Farmers Market building as a venue and aimed for a monthly schedule.

“We put it together not really knowing how well it was going to do,” Sprague said. “It turns out people were just amazed by it.”

One aspect of the Cutler Flea Market that sets it apart from other events, especially around the Southern Tier and Western New York, is its focus on quality over quantity. Sprague, along with the majority of vendors she works with, is a career antique dealer working in the area who has a good eye for what people want.

“It has a reputation as not just a flea market, but a real antique show,” Sprague said. “Along with some other artisan goods and local food, we have vendors who are in the Binghamton area, who are in Cooperstown area, in Oneonta and Ithaca. People will drive all the way here just to sell.”

The Cutler Flea Market, on top of being a destination for locals and amateur home decorators, also has a reputation as a good spot for professionals as well.

“Dealers buy a lot from other dealers,” Sprague said. “Stuff to collect or to bring back and sell at their own shops. Even today, I bought a few things for my own place.”

While the Cutler Flea Market has certainly developed a reputation in the local community over the past few years, Sprague wants the event to grow further, specifically among young people and college students, who she feels connect with the low-cost, high-quality goods they have on display.

“You go to Target or somewhere like that, you’re just buying a mass-produced reproduction of something old,” Sprague said. “[Those companies] send people to flea markets around the world, they find something cool, and they reproduce it with particle board instead of wood.”

Sprague said the future of antiques, flea markets and all these types of events is in the hands of young people. With thrifting, frugality and the newfound focus of the younger, college-aged generation, the jump from secondhand clothes to things like home decor is easy and inevitable.

“A lot of the younger kids, millennials and people like that, they don’t want the same old lower quality stuff that stores have been selling in the past,” Sprague said. “In recent years, the antique business has really taken off again.”

The Cutler Flea Market will be held monthly throughout the fall, on the second Sunday of each month. It is located in the Broome County Regional Farmers Market building at 840 Upper Front St. in Binghamton. Admission is free.

Manager Evelyn Kinnear, 29, of Oneonta, New York, spoke about Red Jug Pub’s long-awaited opening.

“We were originally supposed to open in August of 2020, but the pandemic delayed that,” Kinnear said. “We officially opened on July 19 and we are all very excited about the opening.”

Located at 17 Main St., the pub has had a happy welcome to the Downtown Binghamton area, already drawing crowds of both BU students and local residents.

Bartender Mallory Fowler, a junior studying business administration, has been excited to meet people of the community.

“I’m really excited to connect with customers and talk to them and serve my community in that way,” Fowler said.

The Red Jug Pub has around 40 different selections of beers on tap and many other types of drinks. The bartenders are extremely knowledgeable of what drinks they are making and have a wide range of recommendations. They are also very friendly, sparking up a conversation with anyone who is ordering or just sitting at the bar. Kinnear said Tom Terwilliger, co-owner of the franchise, makes her feel as if she is part of a family, and that is reflected in how Kinnear and other staff members interact with clientele.

The pub offers “Halfy-Hour” Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Friday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., where all beers are buy one, get one half off. Along with drinks, the bar also offers a selection of snacks, including hotdogs and pretzels. The bar is also known for its T-shirt giveaways and sales, such as $5 off a beer or lemonade T-shirt tasting every Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Customers can receive a free Red Jug Pub T-shirt if they sample 10 different beers on tap or 4 of their signature vodka lemonades.

“We have a great student clientele,” Kinnear said. “And we are very big fans of all our customers.”

Just like the other bars, Red Jug Pub already seems to be becoming a staple for students and residents in Binghamton.

A lot of work goes into planning an event this large. With teams of volunteers and months of preparation, LUMA is able to make an appearance every fall. Justin McGregor, director of merchandising with LUMA, said that it takes months of planning to pull the festival together.

“The moment we break down on Sunday, we’re planning for next year,” McGregor said. “It’s a year-round thing … It’s a volunteer army and it keeps growing every year.”

LUMA utilizes a wide array of projectors and projection mapping to introduce large-scale artistic designs that encapsulate the Downtown Binghamton area. Aside from the beautiful digital art shows projected on the buildings, LUMA is also home to live comedians, animators, music and local businesses. According to Kassandre Murdock, co-owner of The K-9 District, a dog day care center in Johnson City, said LUMA is a great opportunity for businesses to make a community appearance.

“We want to show the community what good, luxury pet care is all about and bring love with dogs,” Murdock said.

LUMA also serves as a great place for community organizations to increase awareness of their cause. Kristen Crumb-Keller, leader of the Mount Upton United Methodist Church, said LUMA brings a high level of overall community engagement.

“It’s a really big event [and] it definitely brings people to downtown, which is great,” Crumb-Keller said. “There’s also a huge appreciation for the arts which is also great. And it helps our youth group raise money to be able to continue our Christian fellowship in the community.”

Now in its seventh year of production, LUMA has established itself as a beloved part of the Binghamton community and is a favorite of many community members. Keep an eye out for next year’s LUMA announcements.

On Sept. 18 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., the village of Endicott will be hosting the Endicott Apple Festival on Washington Avenue from North Street to Broad Street. The Endicott Apple Festival, also known as “Applefest,” is an event where friends and family can come celebrate the beginning of fall while supporting local businesses. Established in 1985 and known for its presentation of extensive homemade apple products, the festival will feature over 75 vendors, including local restaurants, food trucks and caterers. Some of the products include baked goods, candy apples and the new hard cider station. Not only can you come and eat some delicious fall treats, but you will be able to enjoy a list of live music performances. The musical performers on this year’s schedule, which are listed by their specific time of performance on the festival’s Facebook page, include Rich Wilson, Bass & Brown, Messy Truth, Mark & Nino, Alex Van Tassel and Dirig Brothers.

Monica Jordan and Eileen Konecny, co-chairs for the event, spoke on what they were looking forward to this year. It is evident what truly makes this Applefest special will be returning from last year’s unfortunate cancellation and being able to carry out the long-held traditions. After a prominent rise in popularity for the event in the fall of 2019, supporters of the tradition held high hopes in planning for the 2020 season. However, the event organizers ultimately had to make a decision that would be safest in confronting the rise in COVID-19 cases. Despite challenges such as the absence of some returning businesses, Jordan and her team have managed to bring in a large amount of vendors and extend their entertainment and eating areas to give visitors an even more immersive experience. In discussing the planning of the event, Jordan said she was proud to speak on their major sponsor, also known as their “Silver Apple Sponsor,” BAE Systems.

“The company relocated to Endicott and has since been supportive of community events,” Jordan said. “They’ve gotten involved in other festivities such as Restaurant Week and the holiday parade, finding ways to give to the community.”

Jordan said she is excited, like many are, for this year’s Applefest, as it will revive a community tradition and bring people together.

“It is a village tradition that brings people together with food, music and shopping to celebrate fall and profit vendors,” Jordan said. “I am excited for people to be able to get together with old and new friends in a positive, upbeat way.”

Jordan and her team are volunteers for the event and emphasized the importance of supporting celebrations like this where the main goal is simply to help uplift the community spirit. The entertainment is free and for all ages, so if you are looking for a way to begin your fall festivities, check out Endicott’s Applefest!