Salt City DISHES

Salt City Slam!

2012-02-25T15:40:00.002-05:00

Congratulations to Mozart Guerrier and Seneca Wilson of Salt City Slam, the winners of our most recent DISHES event!

With the $1,000 raised by DISHES attendees, Guerrier and Wilson plan to launch a monthly poetry slam at Art Rage Gallery, on the North Side.

Stay tuned for pictures and more highlights from the dinner.

DISHES #3 is tonight!

2012-02-19T12:15:00.000-05:00

Menu:

Soup:

Winter Root Vegetable (vegan, gluten free)

Salad:

Roasted Beet Salad with Baked Apple Chips, Feta Cheese and Herb Vinaigrette (vegan without the cheese, gluten free)

Entrees:

Two Bean Vegan Chili (vegan, gluten free)

Vegetable Lasagna with Spinach and Oyster Mushrooms (vegetarian)

Hot Turkey Sandwich with Sumac Gravy, over Columbus Bakery Bread

Beef and Potato Stew

Live music by Andrew Greacen

And of course, the presentations:

MobileSauna: A mobile sauna that is free and open to the public.

CINECUSEbrings independent filmmakers to Syracuse to shoot a film, over 48hours, with local filmmakers and actors.

Dogpark: Build a fun, social place forpeople to bring their dogs on the southern edge of Barry Park.

TheErie Canal's Rustiest Bike Circus Tour:

Circusartists bike between Syracuse and Rochester, performing along ErieBoulevard and presenting historically themed circus shows in canalcommunities along the way.

SaltCity Slam: Monthly spoken word/poetry slam competition on theNorthside.

setting up for DISHES #3

2012-02-18T17:00:00.000-05:00

Check us out decorating the theatre for tomorrow's dinner on our facebook page, HERE.

SOLD OUT EVENT

2012-02-17T00:00:00.000-05:00

Tickets went on sale Wednesday, February 15th and sold within 3 days. Holy moly, amazing! Thanks everyone for the show of support and generosity. For those who missed getting a ticket this time around, many apologies - - we are looking for a larger venue for future events to ensure that you there.

mini-preview

2012-02-15T15:49:00.000-05:00

Enjoy this sweet promo video made by Daylight Blue Media. We hope it persuades you to join us this Sunday and then some.

Get your tickets!

2012-02-15T15:33:00.004-05:00

Tickets are now available for $10-$20 (sliding scale) at these fine establishments:

Craft Chemistry 745 North Salina St
Recess Coffee and Roastery 110 Harvard Place
and
Sound Garden 310 West Jefferson St

upcycled decor

2012-02-09T15:34:00.000-05:00

We love to create a warm, cozy, inviting environment for you and your friends while you eat, talk and listen at the DISHES dinners. We prefer to hand craft the decorations out of found materials, like these fan flowers that will adorn the upcoming DISHES dinner in a few weeks:

Upcoming DISHES dinner

2012-01-24T17:50:00.002-05:00

Tickets go on sale on Wednesday, February 15th at Recess Coffee, Sound Garden and

Craft Chemistry for $10-$20 each (sliding scale).

Choose to follow your passion this year!

2012-01-01T12:57:00.000-05:00

“There is no doubt that creativity is the most important human resource of all. Without creativity, there would be no progress, and we would be forever repeating the same patterns.” — Edward de Bono

Happy New Year and all the best in 2012,

Love the DISHES team

Now accepting proposals!

2011-12-01T17:59:00.002-05:00

We want to hear about your creative community based idea to enliven our city! If you are interested in presenting at the upcoming DISHES dinner, submit your idea to us at saltcitydishes@gmail.com by January 15, 2012.

date is set for the next dinner!

2011-11-09T18:13:00.007-05:00

Plans are in motion (and we're hungry already!) for the next Salt City DISHES dinner which will be happening on.... drum roll.... SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19th, 2012. Yuppers people, we can't wait!!!

We will be Requesting your Proposal in a few days.... start organizing your bright/creative idea to enliven Syracuse!

we're still here

2011-09-20T18:09:00.003-04:00

The DISHES committee will be taking a short break and will be back in December, ready to promote the February 2012 dinner!!! Stay tuned!

SUBPAR, we love it!

2011-09-10T18:01:00.003-04:00

SUBPAR has successfully installed their handmade ceramic printed tile's at 748/750 N. Salina St. An impressive must see in person!

Thanks for dancing with us!

2011-08-20T12:34:00.004-04:00

The dance party was a blast and we raised a nice pocket of loot to help fund the next dinner! Thanks to everyone who came out on the hot hot night! We definitely had a bit more food left over than we would have liked, but much of it was happily donated to the local parish!

Special thanks to Graphik Nature Studios for the photographs, DJ Afar & Jeff York for the spinning tunes, Eleven Winery for the tasting; Wagner Brewing for the beer, Wild Flour Baking for the mini-vegan cupcakes, Craft Chemistry for the cheesie nachos and popcorn, Northside UP for the mood-lighting, Not Another Theatre Company for loaning us their PA system, Thanos Imported Grocery for the cheese platter and olives, Sparky Town for the cookies and brownies, and thanks to our DISHES chef Luke, from Mandana Inn, for the cornbread and honey butter!

Come dance!!!

2011-08-19T12:18:00.002-04:00

The 'Dance for DISHES' party is tonight!!! We have the gym all dec'd out, DJ in place, food snacks ready, beer and wine all set - we just need you and your friends! 100% of the profits will help fund the 2012 season.

Here's the entrance to the space:

Dance for DISHES - WHERE IT'S AT

2011-08-17T15:39:00.003-04:00

it's in a gym? YES

it's on the Northside? YES

it's off N. Salina? YES

so where is it?

get yours!

2011-08-12T14:50:00.002-04:00

Tickets now available for the anticipated 'Dance for DISHES' at:

Craft Chemistry - 745 N. Salina St

Sound Garden - 310 Jefferson St

Recess Coffee - 110 Harvard Pl

See you on the dance floor Syracuse!

You say wHaT?!

2011-08-10T16:53:00.003-04:00

Yes all! Dance for DISHES is in a gym! Same complex as the St. Clare Theatre where we host the community dinners, but this time we just thought we would change up the atmosphere!

Here's a sneak peek -

Salt City DISHES Summer BASH!

2011-08-05T10:34:00.004-04:00

Can't wait for our dance party on the 19th!

Tickets go on sale August 12!

Love,

DISHES

Bikes 4 Peace: Upcoming Repair Clinic

2011-07-22T10:58:00.004-04:00

Want to learn to mend a flat? Fix your brakes? Hang out with some awesome volunteers?

The May 1st DISHES winner, Bikes 4 Peace, will hold its next bike repair clinic on August 3rd at the Spanish Action League, 700 Oswego Street, in Syracuse.

Next event: August 19th!

2011-07-20T12:10:00.003-04:00

We're thrilled to announce our next event, an end-of-summer bash in the gym of the Assisi Center, on the 800 block of N. Salina Street.

Friday, August 19, 8-11 pm
Dance, eat, drink!
Live DJ

Tickets, $10-$20, go on sale beginning August 12 at Recess Coffee and Craft Chemistry.

All funds go to funding DISHES' community dinner/grantmaking series. Help make it possible for us to continue awarding grants in 2012.

Ty Marshall's "Cardiff Giant"

2011-07-20T09:39:00.004-04:00

Check out the Post-Standard's article on Ty Marshall, one of our May 1st presenters. Marshall is looking for support for his recreation of the Cardiff Giant, which he hopes to unveil in time for the hoax's 142nd anniversary this October.

Marshall hopes to raise $3000 to make his project possible. You can donate via Kickstarter here.

Good luck, Ty!

Bikes 4 Peace, our May 1st Winner!

2011-07-08T17:41:00.008-04:00

On May 1st, Bikes 4 Peace, a program put on by the Syracuse Peace Council, won the $1,000 DISHES grant. Thanks to a rocking group of volunteers, Bikes 4 Peace sponsors free bike repair clinics for kids throughout the city of Syracuse.

The next bike assessment is scheduled for Thursday, 7/14 at 6 pm, SUNY EOC (100 New St., 2nd floor, Room 238).

The next repair clinic is slated for Saturday, 7/16. Details still to come about where that clinic will be held.

For more updates, and to check out what Bikes 4 Peace has planned for the rest of the summer, check out the group's Meetup site. There are some terrific resources on the site for cycling in Syracuse. Now that the city has announced its "complete streets" initiative, there's never been a better time to take up two wheels.

Syracuse Art Library

2011-06-29T11:50:00.002-04:00

Just two more days to visit Syracuse Art Library's first show at Petit Library on Victoria Place, off Westcott St. The show features work by 10 local artists. Take a piece home and give a home to our homeless local art.

For more about the Art Library, presented at the May 1 DISHES, you can visit the group's Facebook page.

Congratulations, Art Library, on your first show!

Art on the Porches turns 11

2011-06-17T09:53:00.009-04:00

In town this weekend? Our friends in the Strathmore neighborhood are putting on the 11th annual 'Art on the Porches' event this Saturday, June 18th from 11am - 5pm.
At the May 1st dinner, the 'Art on the Porches' organizers presented their mission to expand their outreach efforts for this year and the years ahead. And we'd like to let them know we'll all be there!

It is an excellent opportunity to meet local artists and buy art while eating delicious foods and jamming to great music! Bonus - if it rains, the art is "on the porches!"

For more information, please visit the Facebook event page.

Sponsor Spotlight: Small Potatoes

2011-04-27T18:23:00.002-04:00

Enormous thanks to Small Potatoes, which is donating Flour City's Rasta Pasta for our May 1st dinner.

Small Potatoes is working on expanding, and needs your help. You can learn more about founder Marty Butts's plans for the bigger, better, buffer Small Potatoes -- and also pledge your support -- here.

Sponsor Spotlight: Grindstone Farm

2011-04-27T17:59:00.005-04:00

Many thanks to Grindstone Farm, which is donating spinach for Sunday's DISHES. Grindstone is an organic farm in nearby Pulaski, NY. It grows more than 100 varieties of fruits and vegetables, which you can plug into with your very own CSA share. There are full and half seasons, "academic" shares (academic year only), even a flower share. CNY flowers delivered to you all summer -- what a fantastic way to celebrate the season. (And when you go pick up your share, you can think about that first line of Mrs. Dalloway: Mrs. Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself.)

For more, visit Grindstone on the Web!

Sponsor Spotlight: Wild Flour Baking Co.

2011-04-27T17:41:00.009-04:00

The dessert rampage continues!

Many thanks to Wild Flour Baking Co., which is donating the vegan cupcakes that we're lucky enough to indulge in on Sunday evening.

The locally-owned company bakes with organic ingredients whenever possible, and relies on "pure muscle" to bake their scrumptious cupcakes -- such "old school" tools at whisks, bowls, and thermometers. And evidently, they "have the biceps to prove it!"

Personally, I have the satisfied belly to prove how delicious Wild Flour cupcakes are, but that's because I'm on the consumption end of this cycle.

You can reach Wild Flour at info@wildflourbakingco.com, or on Facebook, where you can find out about specials and other baking news (like the peanut butter cups that are coming soon!).

Sponsor Spotlight: Bittersweet at DISHES

2011-04-22T17:21:00.008-04:00

Bittersweet
121 W Fayette St, Syracuse, NY 13202
315-474-WINE

I remember the first time I stumbled on Bittersweet this past winter. Syracuse was suffering under a cold, steady drizzle -- and I was too.

Bittersweet appeared out of the gloom, a warm-looking space offering the ultimate in warming treats -- dessert and wine. (For those who like to pair wine with something a little more substantial, "heartier" fare, including sandwiches and salads, is also available.)

We're so lucky that Bittersweet owner Patrizia Barbieri is donating its delectable Death by Chocolate Cake to the DISHES dinner next week.

If you can't wait that long to try a piece, stop in to taste your own! Bittersweet is open until midnight Monday-Thursday, and until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. (I guess we're not the only ones who have chocolate crises late at night.)

Foodies out there can plan trips around specials (flourless chocolate cake! Chocolate and cheese cake!), which are often announced via Facebook.

Sponsor Spotlight: Columbus Baking Company

2011-04-20T14:49:00.005-04:00

The folks at Columbus Baking Company were generous enough to support DISHES on our debut run. In fact, they were our first supporter for that event. We're honored that, for the May 1st DISHES, they are donating pizza dough! Which -- you guessed it -- means that, among other delectables, our chefs are making pizza.

You can pick up your own round of pizza dough from the company, which is located at 502 N. Salina Street (315 422 2913). Or visit the company on Facebook here.

SOLD OUT

2011-04-19T17:15:00.001-04:00

All the available tickets have been purchased. THANK YOU, Syracuse, for your incredible show of support. May 1st, here we come!

Nearly SOLD OUT!

2011-04-19T14:41:00.001-04:00

Tickets for Salt City DISHES are now sold out at Craft Chemistry and Sound Garden. If you are looking to purchase, make your way to 2nd Story for the last remaining few!

Tickets go on sale TODAY

2011-04-15T12:31:00.001-04:00

Finally, the day has come! Salt City DISHES tickets will be available for purchase at 2 p.m. today at Craft Chemistry, Sound Garden and 2nd Story Bookstore. Don't wait too long to buy them, remember what happened last time?

Tickets for May 1st dinner on sale Friday, April 15th!

2011-04-13T09:24:00.008-04:00

Get your tickets! Get your tickets! Tickets are available for purchase on Friday, April 15th! For the ticket price of $10-$20 (you choose what you pay), enjoy a home-cooked locally sourced meal, drinks, live music from the SU Klezmer Ensemble, dessert, and 8 unique Enliven Syracuse presentations! What could be more exciting? Oh yes, you get to vote on the project that you want to see happen!

Purchase your tickets at any one of these amazing local businesses:
Craft Chemistry 745 N. Salina St
Sound Garden 310 Jefferson Ave
2nd Story Cafe & Bookstore 550 Westcott Ave

Your ticket purchase will benefit the selected project chosen at the May 1st dinner and support the future happenings of the DISHES dinner/events. Thank You!

Past DISHES presenters

2011-04-11T01:46:00.003-04:00

Ami Olson at The Eagle published a really nice write up last week about what happened to past DISHES presenters' projects. You can check out the article here. The article includes updates about Walking on Water, Syracuse Skillshare, Thumbs UPstate Improv Festival, the Syracuse Community Cookbook Series, and Storefront for Syracuse. Thanks, Ami!

We're so delighted that these projects were able to grow their audience and see their projects realized after presenting at DISHES.

Looking to find out more about the first winner of DISHES, SUBPAR? You're in luck, because they will be presenting an update at the next DISHES, on May 1st, about their winning proposal. Just another reason to buy your ticket (when they go on sale on April 15th) to the next DISHES dinner!

May 1st promo flyer!

2011-04-03T20:11:00.001-04:00

A Photo Finish

2011-03-31T10:06:00.006-04:00

We're surfing these final days of the May 2011 RFP.

In case you need a little inspiration, you might want to check out Lorna Oppedisano's piece on what's new for our May event; take a look at some of the new additions to the Sunday Soup Network (Phoenixville, PA; Northampton, MA; Providence, RI; and Bologna, Italy, with the charming name Cosa bolle in pentola?); or check out the video below.

Creativity takes space. Space means time alone. Don't fear it.

Gorgeous new promo video, thanks to Courtney Rile and Michael Barletta of Daylight Blue Media!

2011-03-29T20:33:00.003-04:00

In case you forgot what the first DISHES felt like back in January; if you weren't able to make it; or if you're still not sure what this whole DISHES thing is all about -- check out our new promotional video!

DISHES Event from Daylight Blue Media on Vimeo.

A million thanks to Daylight Blue Media.

Last chance for a grant in 2011!

2011-03-29T10:16:00.004-04:00

Hey! you! Syracuse! Yeah, you!

We have an important announcement about the May 1st DISHES.

It is likely to be our last grant-making community dinner in 2011.

Don't worry, we're not going away. Here's the deal.

Our summer event will be a different animal. (Details about that, as they say in publishing, TK.) In the fall, the people of DISHES will take a rest. You know, to gather acorns and nuts and things, and prepare for hibernation. We'll be back with another community dinner/grantmaking initiative in 2012.

That means May 1st is your last chance until January 2012 to secure a grant to support your project.

So if the promise of $1000 wasn't motivation enough... Be sure to get those proposals in tout suite!

New addition to the Soup Network: Flagstaff SUPPER

2011-03-23T13:09:00.003-04:00

The "Soup Network" has a new member -- Flagstaff SUPPER.

To celebrate, we sat down to talk with one of its founders, Carolyn Deuschle. (OK, we sat down and emailed with her. But still.)

Have a read and get inspired!

Tell us a little about SUPPER!
SUPPER is a lot like DISHES. We bring people together for a dinner, at the end of which we fund a community enrichment or public art project. We seek to be an artist incubator, and in so doing we really want to try to bring people's attention to how their work can improve Flagstaff, by whatever definition improving Flagstaff means to them. Along the way, we want to expand the idea of what an artist is.

What does it stand for?
SUPPER stands for Supporting Urban Projects for Public Engagement and Revitalization.

Who did you team up with to make it possible?
From the start, I teamed up with two friends and a local businessman, turned friend, who runs a delicious bagel shop here in town. Recently a woman, who caught wind of our project, because coincidentally she was fielding interest in a FEAST-like event of her own in Flag, has joined our group.
Everyone brings something different to the table---whether that's a different creative perspective, skills in accounting, connections, or understanding of catering and hosting events. Obviously, none of us have ever done anything like this so a lot of discussions happen, sometimes about the most seemingly inane parts of the event. But everything feels really important to us, and we're all trying really hard to work together to make this as good as it can be on the first go-round.

How are you different from the traditional "FEAST" model?
Something that might make us a bit different from other food-based micro-grant initiatives is that we're working hand-in-hand with the city's public art commission. Since Arizona is such a heavily trafficked tourist destination, a certain amount of tax is apportioned from the sales of bed, board, and booze (it's called the BBB tax) to go to public art and beautification projects. That said, we want the commission to see SUPPER as a kind of artery for what they do, and to support us and the projects we fund. It's really important to us that a public art project that gets a SUPPER grant doesn't get taken down shortly after it's erected, so we're seeking to build a strong relationship with the commission so our projects get approved by the city for installment on public property. So far, the commission has been really supportive of SUPPER.

When and where is your first event?
Our first event is on Saturday, May 7th and it will be at Mia's Lounge, a bar here in town. We searched high and low for an all-ages venue in Flagstaff that would be a good host to SUPPER, but we really felt like we didn't have any options other than a bar. We hope that one day we can have it be an all-ages event, but until then, Mia's is a really fantastic space and we're very grateful that they've been so generous with us.

What are your hopes for it?
We want people who've never dreamed of calling themselves an artist to apply for a SUPPER grant, and for them, regardless of whether they get the grant or not, to feel community support for their project and the creativity they bring as an individual. Another hope is that SUPPER funds projects that have a tangible impact on the community.

What is the art scene like in Flagstaff?
The art scene in Flagstaff is really interesting. Of course since the Grand Canyon is so close (Flagstaff is the closest city to the canyon), there's a lot of paintings of that landscape and the galleries here are mostly filled with southwestern art. But there's also a lot of people doing their own thing, exploring art on their own terms despite that commercial lure. Though Flagstaff is a small town (around 60,000 people), there's a lot of diversity here too. There's a huge Native American and Hispanic population, both bringing their own artistic voices into the mix. A common thread that unites people in Flagstaff seems to be their love of the environment and the outdoors, regardless of cultural background. And I see this often times as the underlying theme of the kind of art that gets produced here. All that said, I'm really curious and excited to see what proposals end up being submitted for our first event.

Is there anything that you've figured out along the way that you wish
you'd known when you first started to put SUPPER together?
As much as I tried to prepare myself, I still don't think I realized just how hard and time-consuming it would all be. But on the other end of that, I also didn't realize how good it would feel when community businesses and members showed their support and generosity with their skills and resources. It helps me remember that we're all in this together, in a certain way, that I'm not the only one willing to invest my time and resources into this project, that other people believe in it, too. I guess I'm glad I didn't know this from the start though. It probably feels better as a surprise.

Do you have any all-time favorite public art projects -- in Arizona or
elsewhere?
Actually, one of my all-time favorite public art projects I saw when I visited Flag a couple of years ago, a few months before I eventually moved here. I was driving through the Navajo Indian Reservation, a desolate place in the Painted Desert where there's really not much to look at besides the vast expanse of the landscape and the abandoned and decaying buildings that line the highway. But when I looked closer I saw that on the sides of these buildings an artist---who I eventually learned was a physician who worked at the reservation named Chip Thomas---had wheat pasted posters of members of the Navajo tribe. I'm not sure entirely what the intent of the project was---perhaps to bring drivers-by face to face with the community they were crossing----but it was provocative nonetheless. And as a newbie to the West, it helped show me the possibilities of art-making in the western landscape.

Request for Proposals

2011-03-02T11:06:00.015-05:00

Have an idea to brighten up the I-81 underpass?

Want to start an urban farm?

Launch a workshop series downtown?

Salt City DISHES: Dine in. Sustain Happenings. Enliven Syracuse! is a quartely event series/community dinner that provides grants to public arts projects that make the city of Syracuse a more dynamic, vibrant place to live. DISHES is a unique opportunity to present your idea - and gain funding - at a delicious community meal. The audience votes on the project that has the most potential. The winner takes home a grant to realize their project and returns to the following DISHES dinner to tell us about how it went.

We're currently soliciting project proposals for our upcoming dinner on Sunday, May 1. Presenters will compete for a $1000 grant to fund their work.

Your proposal must include:

A title; budget; timeframe for completing it; where it will take place; and who will be involved with putting it into action.

Please also include a brief (250-word) summary of why it matters and what it will do for the community, and include any visuals or relevant URLs. E-mail the whole package to saltcitydishes@gmail.com by April 1st.

Proposals from people who haven't yet pitched a project will take priority. And please note that we endeavor to fund projects that enjoy the support of our city's many different stakeholders. We're not able to support guerrilla art projects at this time. Finally, to be eligible for consideration, projects must be slated to take place in the city of Syracuse.

Have questions? Email us: Saltcitydishes@gmail.com

facebook.com/saltcitydishes / Twitter: @Saltcitydishes

Can't wait for everyone's proposals!

Join our mailing list!

2011-03-01T11:27:00.007-05:00

Planning is underway for the next Salt City DISHES, scheduled for May 1. To make sure that you're up to date, send us a message to join our mailing list! We'll be sending out information about advance ticket sales, the menu, press, the progress of our January winners, SUBPAR, and other important information.

We promise not to overload your inbox with crap, or sell your information to this guy (or to anyone else for that matter).

photo courtesy eqcomics.com

We need you: Getting ready for our next event!

2011-02-27T17:53:00.011-05:00

Hey guys! Christine here, and just wanted to give everyone an update on what's going on with the planning for the next event :)

If anyone has been following our Twitter feed (@SaltCityDishes), you'll know that I've been posting tweets about our next event at the St. Clare Theater at 5PM on Sunday, May 1st. We're all really excited, but wanted to know what you guys are looking forward to the most, such as the food, music, presentations, people, etc. We want to know what you think! Let us know in the comments below, or via our various social media accounts:

Twitter: @SaltCityDishes
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SaltCityDISHES
Email: SaltCityDishes@gmail.com
Also, we have new guidelines for the request for proposals -- they will be up soon. We will be accepting proposals beginning tomorrow, March 1, until April 1st.

We're so excited and can't wait for May!! Can't wait to hear back from you guys!!
~Christine

Link for photo

Redhouse Art Radio interviews the ladies behind DISHES

2011-02-23T15:32:00.004-05:00

The co-founders of Salt City DISHES, Briana, Stasya and Rachel, had a unique opportunity to talk about themselves and the DISHES effort on the monthly podcast "Arts Talk" by Redhouse Art Radio. Give it a listen, let us know what you think and get pumped for the next DISHES - May 1st, 2011.

Arts Talk: A Conversation with the Ladies of Salt City DISHES

The Syracuse NewTimes: Deep DISHES

2011-02-06T11:19:00.005-05:00

Photo by Robyn Stockdale of Graphik Nature Studios

Nothing brings people together, fosters community, and brings out the beauty and potential of a space better than shared art.

Read Lorna Oppedisano's full story here.

The Eagle: Salt City Dishes links artists with community to fund projects

2011-02-03T10:12:00.009-05:00

Photo by Maren Guse.

With money tight all around and arts taking an especially hard hit in every budget process, are community generated funding systems like DISHES the future of public art?

Read Ami Olson's full story here.

Salt City Dishes Wrap Up

2011-01-31T22:11:00.043-05:00

Hi there! My name's Christine and I'm helping out with the social media for Salt City DISHES by mainly blogging, using our Twitter account (@SaltCityDishes), as well as posting things to the Facebook Fan Page.

For those of you who weren’t able to attend, the inaugural event was held at the St. Clare Theater on North Salina Street, on Syracuse’s North Side. The theater had a comfortable and cozy atmosphere, with small candles lining the tables throughout the room, along with strands of lights strung across the ceiling. DJs from WAER, Syracuse's local campus radio, played background music as the guests arrived.

Briana's homemade cupcakes were also a hit (and very pretty to look at!)

Once everyone was seated, our hosts for the night, Briana and Stasya, welcomed everyone to the event, thanking everyone who was able to help make it a reality. While listening to them speak, I thought about not only the importance of this event for a city like Syracuse, but its ability to bring together groups of people who might all share the same cause, but might not have been necessarily ever able to ever meet if it was not for DISHES. It made me proud to be able to be able to work with this organization.

Nine groups gave presentations about how they planned to use the money from DISHES to better Syracuse or the surrounding area. After the groups presented, our diners voted on the project they believed had the most potential -- awarding them $1,000 to realize their project.

The first presenters were Thomas and Meg from Library Far. Library Farm allows people to "check out" a plot of land at the Northern Onondaga Public Library in Cicero, NY, where they can grow their own fruits and vegetables. Anyone is allowed to sign up and begin using a plot of land.

http://www.nopl.org/library-farm

Twitter.com/noplibrary

Joe, Mike, Ken and Vanessa presented their idea for hosting an Upstate Improv Festival in Syracuse on April 8 & 9, 2011. The event would be "another reason for young artists to visit and perform in Syracuse," they said, and would be based on other such festivals in Providence, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. In addition to comedy performances, the festival would provide workshops on improvisational skills.

upstate improve website

___

Tonja Torgerson and Joel Weissman, with Syracuse Urban Beautification Public Arts Resistance (SUBPAR), were next to present.

View the video of their winning proposal on our Facebook page, as well as a summary of their project on our blog as well or within the article that appeared in The Eagle. One of the things that I liked most about their proposal was the amount of detail for each individual tile that would be placed to make the city more aesthetically pleasing.

Daniel Alguilera from Syracuse Community Cookbook Series was next to present. He proposed collaborating with the Photography and Literacy (PAL) Project and La Casita Cultural Center where the cookbooks would not only pass down recipes to younger generations, but allow them to become more engaged within in their culture. Listening to his proposal, I thought of the recipes that have been passed down to me from my grandparents and how important they are to me.

Jay Muhlin and Nathaniel Sullivan, from Walking on Water, were up after Daniel. They proposed a collaborative audio tour for those wishing to walk down Water Street from Crouse Avenue to Clinton Square. Being within their 'target' audience, one of the interesting things that I took away from this presentation was their solution of trying to make more students walk downtown. I was initially hesitant at first, but after listening to their presentation, believed in their project and wanted it to succeed.

Storefront for Syracuse presented after a short intermission, proposing to revitalize old abandoned store fronts in Syracuse's downtown area, making them usable for local artists and students wishing to use them for exhibitions, and giving a new look to Syracuse's downtown.

http://aias.syr.edu/front

Sara Mills from Art Cart presented her idea of a mobile bus with art supplies that would travel to outdoor locations throughout the city, providing free art activities within the community.

Skillshare was the second to last group to present: they proposeda day of free community workshops for anyone with a skill they would want to share with others. This past summer, Skillshare included workshops such as Real-World Community First Aid, Composting 101, Community Bike Repair and Divine Decks.

The final presentation was from FiboCuse, whose goal was to define the Fibonacci Spiral in Syracuse and gradually expand it beyond the city. Markers defining the spiral would be placed throughout the city and would be made between a collaboration of local high school students and artists.

Out of all of the night’s presentations, this was the most interesting and unique approach in attempting to improve Syracuse's overall image. I had heard of the Fibonacci sequence before, but never applied in this way. I hope that this project does become implemented, because of its originality and promise for Syracuse.

The night ended with a performance from Brown Bird, whose music perfectly complimented the atmosphere of the night. Overall, it was an amazing time and a great way to meet new artists and thinkers within Syracuse. I cannot wait for our next event in May and I am excited for what new ideas I will see there!

About the cupcakes served at DISHES.....

2011-01-30T10:30:00.006-05:00

Yummmy.... nothing like a delicious cupcake to follow-up a delicious dinner! I was talking with your sweet-tooth the other day about the cupcakes served at the DISHES dinner last weekend and they asked me, "Who made those and can I get the recipe?" Absolutely! One of the lovely co-directors, Briana, made those special not only for the vegan's at heart but for everyone! Now, you too can share these cupcakes with those you love. Enjoy!

Vegan Vanilla Cupcake Recipe & Icing

Documenting DISHES

2011-01-27T14:23:00.005-05:00

In addition to fantastic video documentation of the event done by Daylight Blue Media, we were fortunate enough to have Robyn Stockdale capturing the energy and emotion of the evening with her photo-camera.

Simply put: Robyn blew us away with her photographs.

Check out the full album on our facebook fan page.

Like what you see? Give the talented woman some love on her site and Graphik Nature Studios facebook page.

The winning presentation - SUBPAR!

2011-01-27T09:43:00.005-05:00

What an exciting time we all experienced watching the presentations at the debut DISHES event! Enjoy this live recording of Joel and Tonja's presentation, SUBPAR, and share in our enthusiasm for this winning project. Congratulations!

SUBPAR Winning Presentation at 1/23/11 DISHES from Daylight Blue Media on Vimeo.

2011-01-24T12:55:00.007-05:00

Congratulations to Tonja Torgerson and Joel Weissman! Their project, SUBPAR, presented at the first Salt City DISHES on 1/23/11, won the audience over and secured themselves a $1000 grant to realize their project. Hurray!

___

“Syracuse Urban Beautification Public Art Resistance” SUBPAR is meant to integrate challenging art into the visual landscape of Syracuse. Dereliction and mass media advertising dominate the physical and mental environment of our city. SUBPAR aims to create street art installations that offer critical perspectives while forcing beauty into the urban surroundings.

As an initial venture, SUBPAR’s founding members (Tonja Torgerson and Joel Weissman) are creating hand-made ceramic tiles as a form of unconventional street art. This project involves multiple installations that are spread throughout the city. Due to the hand-made nature of these tiles we are able to create a huge array of shapes and sizes that are specific to the location. This project also utilizes screen-printed imagery and text on these tiles to draw attention to the current neglect of Syracuse’s urban environment.

Syracuse has suffered from a vicious cycle of urban decay. As businesses have failed and buildings have become abandoned, the center of the city becomes more vacant while new, excessive, business complexes are constructed away from the city’s heart. Even more detrimental to the street life of Syracuse is the placement of the interstate system through the city’s center. This makes it difficult to traverse and experience the city in any means besides a vehicle. These conditions create an atmosphere that is crippling to the creation of a pedestrian culture and urban vibrancy within Syracuse. SUBPAR intends to counteract this lackluster environment by developing beauty in the urban environment and re-appropriating spaces for art within the public realm.

The creation of site-specific street art installations is only a catalyst for the greater objective. The works created by SUBPAR serve to prompt individuals and collectives to recognize the need for civic improvement.

___

Join us at the next Salt City DISHES dinner on May 1st to hear how their project is going.

DISHES inaugural event is SOLD OUT!

2011-01-23T07:05:00.003-05:00

It's astonishing to be SOLD OUT for the debut DISHES event, though we were crossing our fingers and toes the entire time. Thanks for purchasing your tickets in advance and ensuring that the winning project will receive the prize of $1000 to realize their project. In fact, all the presenters are winners because they are promoting their projects to many hungry people (mind and belly!)

Just to clarify, sold out means sold out. We are unable to admit anyone without a ticket to this evening's event and we would like to apologize in advance if we have to turn you away. The St. Clare theatre is at capacity and we want to ensure everyone's safety.

The next DISHES dinner/community art event will be on May 1st.

Thanks everyone!!

Where is The St. Clare Theatre?

2011-01-23T07:00:00.006-05:00

St. Clare theatre is located off N. Salina St - up the parking lot between Assumption Church and Pavia's Market. Use address 840 N. Salina for your gps or online map search. There is plenty of parking in the lot of off-street.

Sponsor Spotlight: Wegmans and TOPS

2011-01-22T12:59:00.004-05:00

An enormous thank you to the Pond Street Wegmans and to the Shop City TOPS, which donated the gift cards that made it possible for us to put together a delectable menu.

We thank the management of both stores for their commitment to the North Side, and to recognizing the energy in our community!

Sponsor Spotlight: Local Farms

2011-01-22T12:52:00.004-05:00

We think of Syracuse as post-industrial, formerly urban, rust-belt city. And, as attendees tomorrow night will see, so many of the presentations reflect that self-same gritty character. So it's hard to remember, sometimes -- especially in the winter -- that we're surrounded by farms.

But our chefs have pulled together a delicious menu that's sure to remind you.

And they wouldn't have been able to do it without donations from Robert Hunter, of Hunter Farms, who has supplied the garlic; Horsford Farms, where we picked our own massive amounts of carrots, potatoes, onions, and lettuce; Owen Orchards, which generously donated the apples that will be used for the candied apple and walnut salad; and Autumn's Harvest Farms, which donated meat.

It takes a village to feed a village. Thank you, sponsors, for making it possible to serve DISHES that are farm to table!

Sponsor Spotlight: Wagner Brewing Company

2011-01-22T12:42:00.007-05:00

Beer!

We all know that an extra beer or two helps to keep away the Salt City winter blues. (I think that only in 18th century London did people drink more beer per capita. Read James Boswell's Life of Samuel Johnson, LLD for details.)

And with the mercury registering below zero on Sunday, we'll certainly need the extra calories. By the way, in a detail that you couldn't make up, the beer we'll be serving is called "Sled Dog."

Thanks to Wagner Brewing Company for donating the "Sled Dog" that will make it possible for attendees and presenters to carry on in good cheer! And special thanks to our chef, Luke Szabo, for organizing the donation.

P.S. If the beer whets your appetite for more, Wagner's, on nearby Seneca Lake, is open year-round for tastings.

Sponsor Spotlight: 2nd Story Cafe & Bookstore

2011-01-22T12:20:00.003-05:00

As DISHES wraps up on Sunday evening, we'll be serving coffee and cookies courtesy of 2nd Story Cafe & Bookstore, 550 Westcott Street.

If you haven't had the chance to stop by -- and from the way that tickets have been selling out at 2nd Story, it seems as though many of you have -- you should!

2nd Story sells Gimme! coffee, which is roasted in Syracuse. If the Ithaca connection doesn't have you convinced, consider this: Time Out New York recently named Gimme to its Top Ten list of best coffee destinations in New York City (the company has outposts in Brooklyn and downtown Manhattan).

2nd Story is open every day except Thursdays, and serves a delicious brunch, if you're looking for something a bit more substantial than a cookie or scrumptious banana bread. And there's no better place to beat the winter blues, with tea, a cookie, and a novel, than in this warm, welcoming cafe.

Thanks, Alexis, for your generosity!

DISHES menu

2011-01-22T09:31:00.004-05:00

A feast for your eyes, ears, and bellies! Your taste-buds will be dancing and your bellies smiling with this delicious menu:

Swiss Chard Feta Bites (VEG)

Mini Maple Braised Chuck Tacos

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup (V, Gluten free)

Beef and Potato Stew

Candied Apple and Walnut Salad (V, Gluten free)

Oyster Mushroom and Swiss Chard Souffle (VEG)

Roasted Tomato and Fennel Fettuccini (VEG)

Fresh Baked Bread from Columbus Baking Company

Pumpkin Pie, variety of cookies, vegan cupcakes and other assorted desserts

Specially prepared by Sarah Pallo and Luke Szabo! Many of the ingredients for tonights dinner were lovingly donated by local farms. See Sponsor Highlights for more info.

Post-Standard coverage; menu, more "sponsor spotlights" coming soon

2011-01-20T11:32:00.003-05:00

Thanks to the Post-Standard for the write-up. We hope to see you on Sunday!

We have a host of sponsors to spotlight today, among them the local farms that have provided the squash, garlic, carrots, potatoes, onions, and lettuce chefs Luke Szabo and Sarah Pallo are using to cook this Sunday's feast. Check back soon for updates, plus a full menu.

Sponsor Spotlight: Public Arts Task Force

2011-01-18T10:37:00.005-05:00

Long before DISHES was but a twinkle in our eyes, the Public Arts Task Force (PATF) was conceiving and initiating public arts events throughout Syracuse. Co-Chaired by Vanessa Rose and Briana Kohlbrenner, PATF -- as its mission statement puts it -- is "comprised of artists, community leaders, arts organizations, and interested volunteers who believe that public art is a powerful tool in community building."

Ongoing projects include Lipe Art Park, the Onondaga Creek Parade (slated for the spring), and Rack Pack, an initiative to design and build five bike racks throughout the city. PATF has also made make possible such events as PARK(ing) Day and the much beloved-Salt City Urban Art & Craft Market.

PATF meets at 5:30 pm on the first Thursday of every month at the Everson Museum. We thank the group for making Salt City DISHES possible!

Sponsor Spotlight: Small Potatoes

2011-01-18T08:54:00.003-05:00

Thanks to Martin Butts over at Small Potatoes, a Syracuse-based sales, marketing, and advocacy firm, attendees to the debut Salt City DISHES will be enjoying Flour City Lemon Garlic Fettuccini Pasta.

Small Potatoes works with small-scale and start-up companies that produce natural, organic, and fair trade foods in Central New York. It also works with restaurants, schools, retailers, and community organizations to devise strategies to buy and sell locally produced goods. Small Potatoes clients include Flour City Pasta, Recess Coffee House & Roastery, Syracuse Soapworks, Better Brittle, and Superfood Citizens Initiative.

You can visit Small Potatoes on the Web here.

Thanks, Martin!

Sponsor spotlight: Columbus Baking Company

2011-01-13T18:32:00.008-05:00

We're delighted to announce that Columbus Baking Company will be donating the bread for our debut community dinner on Sunday, January 23.

Columbus Baking Company (502 Pearl Street; 315-422-2913) is an anchor business on the Northside. And by anchor business, we mean it; Columbus has been in business for 115 years.

Thrilled? We are too. Go ahead - you can even "like" it. Visit the company on Facebook by clicking here.

We thank you for your generosity, and we commend you for your commitment to Syracuse and the Northside!

It's Pretty

2011-01-12T20:33:00.004-05:00

We've plastered this lovely flyer all over town! Maybe you've seen it in your favorite coffee shop??

Salt City DISHES article in local paper!

2011-01-12T20:29:00.004-05:00

The City Eagle, January 11th, 2011, by Ami Olson

The dish on Salt City DISHES

Community dinners generate microgrants for arts-based community projects

Get in on the ground floor for just ten bucks.

It sounds like a scam, but it isn't – when Salt City DISHES holds its first quarterly dinner Sunday Jan. 23, participants will consider pitches for different community-based arts projects, then vote to fund one of the projects with a microgrant established that night from the dinner admission proceeds.

And the cost to eat, view the pitches, vote and help fund the resulting project? $10. (Or $15; admission is on a pay-what-you-can sliding scale.)

Salt City DISHES, (an acronym for Dining In. Support Happenings. Enliven Syracuse), is based on the similar Brooklyn FEAST program, created by a friend of Salt City DISHES co-founder Rachel Somerstein.

When Somerstein relocated to Syracuse last August, she saw a similar need for funding community improvement projects with a heavy dose of public art.

As of the Jan. 10 deadline for proposals, Somerstein said eight had been submitted and another handful were expected to sneak in.

She wouldn't hint at what the potential projects entailed – they'll be unveiled at the dinner – but did say she had hoped they would be thoughtful and creative, "and they are."

Somerstein said the St. Clare Theater can hold around 130 people, and she hopes to raise around $1,000 to offer to the first DISHES project.

But since it's a microgrant situation, whoever wins the funding will be held accountable for following through on their project.

At the next DISHES dinner in May, whoever wins this month's monies will present their progress. If it isn't finished, and it ought to be, they'll have to explain why – directly to the people who helped fund their work.

The DISHES steering committee includes Somerstein and co-founders Brianna Kohlbrenner and Stasya Panova; Sara Caliva, director of Northside UP; chefs Sarah Pallo and Luke Szabo; filmmaker Courtney Rile; photographer Robyn Stockdale and Jeff York, in charge of music.

DISHES runs from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday Jan. 23 at St. Clare Theater, 840 N. Salina St. Tickets will be available at the door, or in advance at Craft Chemistry, Second Story Café and Sound Garden.

The menu has not been finalized yet but the food (made with donated ingredients) will be prepared two local chefs, while Rhode Island-based folk funk band Brown Bird entertains.

If you have an idea for a DISHES project, but missed the January deadline, send your proposal in early for the May dinner; saltcitydishes@gmail.com.

RFP Now Closed; Thanks for your Proposals!

2011-01-11T09:31:00.007-05:00

We're thrilled by the response to our RFP, which is now closed. If you weren't able to make your proposal for this time around, take heart -- the next installment of DISHES is (tentatively) slated for May 1.

We look forward to seeing you all on the 23rd! In the meantime, if you'd like to purchase tickets in advance, you can do so at C2 (745 N. Salina Street), 2nd Story Cafe & Bookstore (550 Westcott Street, 2nd floor), and The Sound Garden (310 W. Jefferson Street).

An Open Letter to Procrastinators

2011-01-10T12:47:00.002-05:00

You know who you are.

You are in good company.

Some of us at DISHES -- despite our love of deadlines -- are known for turning things in at the wire.

We have turned in applications to graduate school with seven hours until the deadline. We have filed stories, shipped magazines, proofread articles with precious minutes to spare.

In short -- we know what it's like. We worship The Deadline, too.

As of this writing, you have about T minus 11 hours to submit.

Let's make it a photo finish, people.

We look forward to reading your work.

Last day to submit a proposal!

2011-01-09T10:15:00.002-05:00

Put your ideas front and center!

TWO DAYS LEFT

2011-01-08T20:00:00.001-05:00

Put yourself in good company and submit your project for DISHES!

Three more days!

2011-01-07T11:00:00.005-05:00

Salt City DISHES is officially on the map at Sunday Soup Network.

When you make a proposal, you're not only doing something for your city.

You're joining a national movement.

Send proposals to saltcitydishes@gmail.com.

5 days left to submit your proposal!

2011-01-05T11:50:00.003-05:00

5 ways to get inspired to do so:

1. Candy Chang's "I Wish This Was" Project

2. 2011 TED prize winner JR

3. Love Letter to Syracuse

4. BIG BANG BIG BOOM, painted animation by BLU

5. The Heidelber Project

Accepting proposals thru Jan 10!

2011-01-03T10:33:00.002-05:00

Few spots remain! Dont miss this unique opportunity to share your idea with an audience and the chance to fund your project!

Food for thought

2010-12-29T14:11:00.002-05:00

Request for Proposals

2010-12-20T14:40:00.003-05:00

Starting now and until Jan. 10, we’re accepting proposals from the greater Syracuse community for arts projects that you believe would make the city a better, more dynamic, more vibrant place to live.

For more information, please visit our proposals page. We are looking forward to hearing your ideas!

The Artist

2010-12-17T17:44:00.000-05:00

like-initiatives around the globe

2010-12-17T10:01:00.005-05:00

We're not alone in this ambition.

And -- for our Upstate audiences, at least -- the Northside's a lot closer than Ukraine.

The Soup Network

Launching the new logo design!

2010-12-15T17:28:00.001-05:00

DISHES has a new look:

Thank you to Damian Vallelonga! We love it!

Projects that have made it to the finish line

2010-12-15T10:41:00.000-05:00

Want to see some examples of what sort of projects DISHES hopes to fund?

Take a look at Melanie Jelacic's proposal for the Metropolitan Pool shower room, which she pitched at FEAST in Brooklyn last February. Jelacic recognized that the showers at a public pool in Brooklyn were really moldy and - frankly - ugly. She also knew that if the city were to tile the showers, it would do so without much attention to aesthetic. So she designed a mosaic for the showers, sourced tile at-cost, and hired a bunch of neighborhood kids to install the tiles. (You can see her pitch by clicking here.)

Another grant-winning project, pitched by a graphic designer in Brooklyn, involved creating a designed "wallpaper" to put up on the many abandoned buildings and dumpsters that described his Brooklyn neighborhood.

Inspired? Share your great idea with us in the form of a proposal! Hit the tab 'Proposals' above for more information.

Lingering questions about DISHES?

2010-12-14T17:03:00.000-05:00

Here is a link to an article written on ARTSblog about FEAST in Brooklyn (the inspiration behind Salt City DISHES). Need some visuals? Check out this video created by FEAST in Brooklyn that shares the short and sweet of it.

Be safe on the roads tonight, Syracuse. More snow is headed our way!

New Facebook Page!

2010-12-14T16:25:00.001-05:00

If visits to our blog don't meet your daily dose of DISHES... we've got great news: our new facebook page!

Do check it out and 'Like' us, so that you can make your love for Salt City DISHES public.

Looking forward to seeing your face!

New look!

2010-12-13T23:53:00.000-05:00

Our site is much more gorgeous -- and far easier to use -- thanks to Damian Vallelonga.

With Bre and Stasya, two other drivers of this arts-as-community-development bus, Damian is also at work on a new logo. Stay tuned for that, as well as the musical act and menu slated to make DISHES a lively debut.

inspiration for DISHES logo

2010-12-12T18:09:00.001-05:00

The power of microgrants

2010-12-06T23:47:00.000-05:00

DISHES is slated to be a great party. This much we know.

You might not know the extent that microgrants and microloans have been proven to transform the lives of go-getters from Bangladesh to Burma.

Best known among them is Grameen Bank, founded by Nobel Peace Prize-winner Mohammed Yunus. Grameen Bank extends small loans to entrepreneurs in Bangladesh -- and charges affordable interest rates, which aren't easy to secure if you don't have any collateral to put up against the loan.

Kiva.org and TrickleUp are some of the U.S.-based organizations that enable donnors to give loans and grants to entrepreneurs in the developing world. (Kiva works with people in the States, too.)

Although the types of projects DISHES supports may differ from ones enabled by these other institutions, the spirit is the same: if everyone donates a little bit, our city -- and our lives -- will be the richer for it.

Venue Spotlight: Saint Clare Theater

2010-12-05T21:27:00.000-05:00

Thanks to NorthsideUp, DISHES has a home: The Saint Clare Theater, 1119 N. Townsend Street. Here are two photos of the beautiful space!

Stay tuned for updates about the menu, new logo, and musical guests!

DISHES Launches!

2010-10-24T22:33:00.000-04:00

WHAT IS DISHES?

Dine In. Support Happenings. Enliven Syracuse! is a quarterly community dinner/arts event that aims to spur community development through the arts. Once a season, we get together on the North Side to share a delicious meal, listen to one another’s suggestions for a community-based arts project, and vote on the project that has the most potential. The winner takes home a grant to realize her project – and returns to the following DISHES dinner to tell us about how it went.

Starting now and until Jan. 10, we’re accepting proposals from the greater Syracuse community for arts projects that you believe would make the city a better, more dynamic, more vibrant place to live.

January 23rd is our first DISHES/community dinner at the St. Clare Theater on the North Side. Everyone is welcome. For a $10 donation, you’ll get a delicious dinner and a ballot to vote for what you believe is the best proposal. The winning proposal takes home the money that we raised that evening, from attendees, to make her project possible.

DISHES is entirely volunteer-run, and survives thanks to donations from the community.