While all of Liverpool awaits the long-promised opening of the Barking Gull at 116 S. Willow St., on the basin block down at the corner of Lake Drive, the still-dark Gull has already drawn competition.
The Gormel family — paterfamilias John, wife Linda and sons Adam and Josh, who already own The Retreat and The Cobblestone — plan to specialize in wood-fired gourmet pizza pies at the Barking Gull.
Last week, however, a successful Italian eatery – Francesca’s Cucina, 545 N. Salina St.in Syracuse’s Little Italy neighborhood – announced that it was taking over the spot recently vacated by Juanita’s Mexican Kitchen at 207 Oswego St. (it still looks like Old Liverpool Road to me). Anyhow, that same location previously housed a Ponderosa Steakhouse and Wisteria Chinese buffet.
Now Francesca’s Pizza & Italian Kitchen plans to open there by Dec. 1. It’ll be operated by Gary Angeloro and family.
The Gull was supposed to open in May, then July, then September…well, you know how that goes. It’s always tough to get a new project off the ground, and I know the Gormels want to do it right rather than to simply do it quickly.
But the suspense has been building for years!
For most of the past decade, the Barking Gull hosted private parties only, but once that Italian-made pizza oven gets fired up, it will finally open to the public.
The race is on: who will open its doors first, Francesca’s or the Gull?
Eagle eyes
Meanwhile, John Gormel continues to keep a close eye on basin block renovation plans proposed by Val Lamont’s Liverpool Properties, LLC. Lamont wants to add an outdoor deck onto the Limp Lizard, 201 First St., and a mid-block parking lot shared by the Lizard and the White Water Pub, 110 S. Willow St. Liverpool Properties owns both locations.
For the past several months, John Gormel has attended almost every village board and planning board meeting at which the proposed improvements have been discussed.
Preposterous probe
Owls hoot, thunder howls, lights flicker and lives are lost in “Any Number Can Die,” a campy comedy-mystery being staged by the Baldwinsville Theatre Guild. The cast of 10 is directed by John LaCasse, who lives in Liverpool. John’s the former editor of the now-defunct North Syracuse Star-Review, and he’s an experienced local thespian.
“Any Number Can Die,” which features an impressive performance by Kitty Doupe portraying a spooky Haitian maid, opened last weekend and continues at the First Presbyterian Education Center, 64 Oswego St., in B’ville, at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 4 and 5, and Oct. 11 and 12, and at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 13. Tickets cost $20, $18 for students, and $18 for seniors at the Oct. 13 matinee only; 877-8465; baldwinsvilletheatreguild.org.
Sam Roberts honored
Onondaga Community College hosted its annual Celebration of Success breakfast on Oct. 2 at the SRC Arena and Events Center, and one of its honorees was our assemblyman, Sam Roberts.
A Democrat, Roberts represents the 119th District in the state assembly. His district includes parts of the city of Syracuse and the towns of DeWitt, Onondaga and Salina. He graduated from OCC in 2000 with a degree in apprentice training — machine trades, and the next year he received a degree in labor studies. He also has a bachelor’s from Empire State College, and certificates in labor studies from Cornell University. Roberts is retired from General Motors, where he worked as a journeyman tool and die maker for 30 years. He served his co-workers as recording secretary of UAW Local 465 and served the community as a five-term member of the Onondaga County Legislature.
Signs sprout
Royal blue signs urging the re-election of Fourth District County Legislator Judy Tassone are sprouting up like kudzu along front lawns across Galeville.
Where are the signs promoting the candidacy of challenger Carol Sinesi? I wonder what color Carol has chosen…
Tassone is a Republican, and Sinesi is a Democrat.
Time changes everything
Meanwhile, I bumped into former Democratic county legislator Dave Stott at the American Diner a couple weeks ago, and he doesn’t regret his decision not to run again against Tassone.
BTW, the American Diner now stays open until 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
