Syracuse’s First Presbyterian Church United celebrated its final service on Easter Sunday, but the choir and organist will reconvene for one more rousing choral concert at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 6, at the historic church at 620 W. Genesee St.
The choir, under the direction of Joseph Dowling, will sing at 3 p.m. following an organ concert. Admission is free, and all are invited.
“All are welcome whether you are former members, old friends, family or just curious,” according to the church’s website. “Join us in saying ‘Well done’ to a landmark fixture of Syracuse’s Near West Side.”
The church was founded in 1826 and located on West Genesee Street since 1904. After steadily losing members over the years, the congregation voted last October that the church should be dissolved by the Presbytery of Cayuga Syracuse.
For info, visit firstpressyracuse.pcusa.cc.
Roll over, Beethoven!
Known for its spectacular multi-media presentations bolstered by histrionic heavy metal and glorious, soaring vocals, the Trans-Siberan Orchestra returns to Syracuse to perform “Beethoven’s Last Night 2011,” at 8 p.m. Friday, May 4, at the Onondaga County War Memorial, at the corner of Harrison and South State streets, downtown.
The Boston Herald called TSO’s “Beethoven” a “symphonic slam … with its intricate plot and dazzling stylistic breadth.”
Tickets to Friday’s show cost $31, $48.50 and $58.50; (800) 745-3000.
Buzzards soar Sunday
The Buffalo-based Bar-room Buzzards will fly high when the quartet performs from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 6, at Pensabene’s Casa Grande, 135 State Fair Blvd., in Syracuse.
The May 6 concert is sponsored by the Jazz Appreciation Society of Syracuse. Admission costs $12 or $10 for JASS members. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.
The Buzzards will play jazz tunes such as “Muskrat Ramble,” “South Rampart Street Parade” and “Stompin’ at the Savoy.”
Hatched in 1966, the Buzzards were founded by reed player Paul Preston and the late trumpeter Jim Koteras. The two horn players were co-leaders of the foursome that they fleshed out with banjo and bass. Koteras passed away in July 2005. “We never had a trombone, never had a drummer,” Preston said. “We just fill in. There are no holes.”
The band’s present lineup is Paul Preston on clarinet and soprano sax, Lewis Custode on trumpet, Warren Stirtzinger on guitar and banjo and Paul Zapalowski on bass and tuba.
For JASS information, call 652-0547. To contact Pensabene’s, call 466-0312.
Outings: Love your state park
Every summer, thousands of Central New Yorkers swim, hike, play games and simply bask in the glory of nature at Green Lakes and Clark Reservation. On Saturday, May 5, dozens of those park enthusiasts will demonstrate their affection for those state parks on I Love My Park Day. Volunteers will gather from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 5, at Clark Reservation, 6105 E. Seneca Tpk., in Jamesville. Ditto at Green Lakes, in Fayetteville.
Volunteers will help clean up the parks to get them ready for the season that begins on Memorial Day.
Clark Reservation State Park is a geologic wonder of the last ice age and a botanist’s paradise. The park’s natural features include rugged cliffs and rocky outcrops, woodland and meadow, a wetland and a glacial plunge basin lake. Fishermen can catch pickerel, bullhead and sunfish while birdwatchers may observe cedar waxwings, kingfishers and woodpeckers. Guided nature walks leave from the Nature Center building, which showcases numerous exhibits. Hikers may choose from five trails, including the cliff trail, which has a ledge overlook 175 feet above the water.
For info, dial 492-1590; or visit ptny.org/ilovemypark.
Stage: Sibling rivalry onstage
An exciting new voice in American theater, Tarell Alvin McCraney, wrote the play presently on the boards at Syracuse Stage, “The Brothers Size,” an award-winning work set in the Louisiana bayou. It focuses on big brother Ogun Size, a hard-working auto mechanic and his younger brother, Oshoosi, just out of prison and aimless. Elegba, Oshoosi’s old prison mate, is a mysterious complication.
Performed here at the Storch Theatre under the direction of Timothy Bond, “The Brothers Size” runs at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 3; 8 p.m. Friday, May 4; 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday, May 5; 2 p.m. Sunday May 6; 7:30 .m. Wednesday and Thursday May 9-10; and closes May 12. Ticket prices range from $18 to $50; 443-3275; syracusestage.org.
Film: Rare Western screened
The classic Western film “The Great Barrier” will be screened at 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 7, as the Syracuse Cinephile Society continues its spring film series at the Spaghetti Warehouse, 689 N. Clinton St., near Syracuse’s Inner Harbor.
The movie, also known as “Silent Barriers,” features Richard Arlen and Lilli Palmer. Part Western, part historical drama, this rare gem depicts the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway complete with plenty of action and colorful characters.
On May 14, the Cinephiles will show “Love Me Tonight,” a 1932 musical starring Maurice Chevalier and Jeanette MacDonald; syracusecinefest.com.
Admission costs $3, or $2.50 for Cinephile members. For dinner reservations, call Spaghetti Warehouse at 475-1807.
Pro Baseball: Sluggish Bulls at ABS
After a slow starts similar to that of our own Syracuse Chiefs, the Durham Bulls are battling to rise up out of the International League’s South Division.
The Bulls stampede into Alliance Bank Stadium next week for a four-game series against the Syracuse Chiefs 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, May 7-10.
Durham is the top farm team of the American League’s Tampa Bay Rays, while the Chiefs are affiliated with the National League’s Washington Nationals. Last weekend the Nationals promoted 19-year-old Chiefs outfielder Bruce Harper to the big-league club.
Alliance Bank Stadium’s new state-of-the-art video-display scoreboard will be unveiled prior to the game.
Field-level ticket prices at ABS range from $9 to $20, while upper-deck seats cost $8, and $4 for kids and seniors. Parking costs $5 per vehicle; 474-7833; syracusechiefs.com.
