It’s like a local version of TV’s “American Idol.”
Opportunity comes knocking for singers, songwriters, composers and instrumentalists to polish their talents with a new, free music program. The Onondaga County Public Library MasterClass offers a workshop and a session for anyone 12 years old and older interested in getting feedback from local music professionals and performing at a finale concert.
The OCPL and Larry Luttinger, executive director of CNY Jazz Central, have organized the program. Luttinger lives in Liverpool with his wife, Margaret. The MasterClass begins at 1 p.m. this Saturday, Feb. 21, at Betts Branch Library, in Syracuse. On March 21, it comes to our own Liverpool Public Library.
Music makers, both amateurs and professionals, can sign up for one of four sessions from February to May. They will receive a video of their performance and the comments of three professionals for the purpose of a self-critique.
The program will end with a concert at 5 p.m. June 14 at Le Moyne College. Performers will receive prizes, including an hour-long recording session at Subcat Studios.
Luttinger described OCPL MasterClass as a “regional talent search” open to all area residents even those from outside Onondaga County.
Organizers are inviting music makers in every category of music – pop, jazz, classical, opera, country and even hip hop – to participate. Performances will be limited to four minutes. Luttinger expects each session to accommodate 12 to 20 performers.
MasterClass teachers are Todd Hobin, Joe Altier, Jacque Tara Washington and Jackie Warren-Moore. To register for the OCPL MasterClass, visit onlib.org.
Here’s the schedule:
- 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 21 at Betts Branch Library, 4862 S. Salina St., Syracuse.
- 1 to 3 p.m. March 21 at Liverpool Public Library, 310 Tulip St., Liverpool.
- 1 to 3 p.m. April 18 at Fayetteville Free Library, 300 Orchard St., Fayetteville.
- 1 to 3 p.m. May 16 at Marcellus Free Library, 32 Maple St., Marcellus.
Tickets to the finale concert on June 14 at Le Moyne College cost $10 for adults and $4 for children 18 years and younger, and can be purchased online.
Pheasant, fish and venison
The Limp Lizard BBQ specializes in Southern-style delicacies such as pulled pork, barbecued chicken, catfish, ribs and jambalaya. This Sunday afternoon, however, one of the Limp Lizard’s regular customers, Liverpool contractor Joe Romano, will host a wild game dinner at the little bar and restaurant at 201 First St. There’s no lizard meat on his menu, but Joe will prepare plenty of venison, pheasant, duck, wild turkey and fish.
Last year, I put away plenty of pheasant riggies, roasted wild turkey with biscuits and gravy, and some delicious broiled salmon. My favorite dish was Joe’s wild duck gumbo.
Deer meat is always plentiful hereabouts, and Joe served Italian-style venison sausage with peppers and onions, pizza with venison sausage, venison spiedies, venison golabki and venison tacos with dirty rice. There were plenty of side dishes including potatoes, salads and bread.
So, whet your appetite for something wild! Joe Romano’s feral feast gets underway at 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, at the Limp Lizard. Dinner costs $20 per person; 451-9774.
Broken leg blues
By the way, Limp Lizard co-owner Scott Schimpff is back at work after he had to take a couple weeks off after breaking his left leg while shoveling snow from his pickup truck. Ouch!
Everts at The Retreat
The Retreat, meanwhile, has a new restaurant manager. Scott Everts, who owned PJ’s Pub & Grill for about a decade in Armory Square, now manages the dining rooms at Liverpool’s busiest bistro. Scott replaces Shawn Preble, who’s now helping out at Mohegan Manor in Baldwinsville.
In 2013 Everts and his family sold PJ’s to Syracuse natives Todd Wenzel and Patrick Danial who call their new place Small Plates.
Local landmarks
Maureen Lemko’s wonderful artwork depicting Liverpool landmarks is again on display at the Liverpool Public Library lobby. All artists aspire to show us our world through a new pair of eyes, and Maureen brings a fresh perspective to Old First, the village’s iconic burnt umber brick edifice.
Maureen, who lives in Liverpool and also has a home in Sackets Harbor, also painted images of Liverpool United Methodist’s famous purple door, an old willow basket barn, Liverpool Cemetery and Baldwinsville’s Abbott Farms. Her paintings hang here through February.
Pepsi and periodicals
If you happen to get thirsty or hungry while looking over Lemko’s paintings or browsing the book stacks, you can now drop a few coins in a Pepsi machine or a snack station at Liverpool Library’s comfortably furnished periodical section.
Readers can contact the columnist at [email protected].
