Our very own Liverpool Community Chorus vibrantly vocalized “The Star-Spangled Banner” on Thursday, July 12, at NBT Bank Stadium prior to the Syracuse Chiefs’ ball game. The hometown nine prevailed 5-4 over the Durham Bulls when the visitors’ right-fielder apparently lost a line drive in the lights for as three-base error that scored the winning run.
It’s possible that the Liverpool Chorus, conducted by John Miller, brought Syracuse’s struggling boys of summer some much-needed good luck.
Brother-sister act
That same Thursday evening, July 12, the busy bars at The Retreat were manned and womanned by brother and sister Mario Romano and JoLee Romano Clement.
Mario handled the patio bar as musician Mark Macri entertained outside, while JoLee mixed drinks for customers inside the air-conditioned barroom.
By the way, The Retreat’s expanded patio bar was created by master carpenter Joe Romano, the barkeepers’ paterfamilias, who lives in Liverpool. Joe’s now hard at work building a new outdoor bar and enlarging the deck over at the Barking Gull, on South Willow Street. We’re all hoping the Gull will take flight sometime during this busy summer.
Wicked Awesome!
Meanwhile, live music continues most nights at The Retreat patio, 302 Vine St. This week country crooner Savannah Harmon will entertain from 7 to 10 p.m. followed by Mark Macri on Friday, July 22, and Wicked Awesome from 6 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, July 24. Prime Time, featuring Liverpool’s own Paul Valentino, plugs in on the patio on July 25 followed by tunesmith Jamie Notarthomas on July 26; retreatrestaurant.com; 457-6358.
Blue Spruce tunes
Meanwhile, over on Seventh North Street, the newly renovated Blue Spruce Lounge now presents live music several nights each week.
Country singer T.J. Sacco gets twangy there at 8 p.m. Friday, July 22, and Letizia and her Z Band appear on Saturday, July 23. On Wednesday and Thursday next week, July 27 and 28, the Blue Spruce will welcome Bad Husband and Club Lite and Billy Dean and Chris Taylor, respectively.
The new upscale nightspot is attached to the Maplewood Extended Stay & Suites, at 400 7th North St., just south of the corner of Buckley Road; bluesprucelounge.com/; 373-0833.
They say the food’s as tasty as the music at Blue Spruce. Think about the double-stuffed tomahawk pork chops, a center-cut chop stuffed with corn bread, yellow raisins, hot peppers, onion, celery and shallots served with garlic mashed potatoes and vegetable, all for $17.
Benefit for ailing mom
A fundraiser for breast cancer patient Maggie Squires Smith will be hosted by the Cicero American Legion, 5575 Legionnaire Drive, Cicero, from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 24.
Maggie, the mother of two kids, ages 10 and 11, has been diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer
Tickets to Sunday’s benefit cost $15 in advance, or $20 at the door. For info, call Lori Squires at 699-1013 or Sherry Howard at 383-7925.
Marimba music Monday
The Kambuyu Marimba Ensemble with perform upbeat African-style dance tunes at 7 p.m. Monday, July 25, at Johnson Park. The concert, part of the 31st annual Liverpool Is The Place Summer Concert Series, is free and open to the public.
Formed in 2004, the Kambuyu Marimba Ensemble was inspired by the music of the Shona people of Zimbabwe. The combo features seven marimbas of four different sizes: a bass, baritone, two tenors and three sopranos, often accompanied by gourd rattle percussion and hand drums.
Unless you’ve lived in Africa, I can guarantee you’ve never heard anything like this. Bring the kids. They’ll dance like crazy; liverpoolistheplace.com; 457-3895.
The columnist can be contacted at [email protected].
