Heid’s of Liverpool, our world-famous hot dog stand, now operates a handy-dandy new mobile food trailer that peddles franks and snappys at area festivals.
The new cart-de-cuisine actually resembles Heid’s memorable art deco architecture, complete with a mini-tower framed in blue neon and topped with a red-neon “Heid’s.”
The mobile food trailer will be showcased serving countless coneys and dogs at the 33rd annual M&T Syracuse Jazz Fest July 17 and 18, on the Onondaga Community College campus.
While the Liverpool landmark-on-wheels will do boffo business at the festival food court, musicians such as Wynton Marsalis, Buckwheat Zydeco and Aretha Franklin will star onstage.
Admission is free, and parking costs $5; syracusejazzfest.com; 437-5627.
New OLP tram due
Speaking of wheels, Onondaga Lake Park will soon unveil a new tram, according to Marty Skahen, the chief of staff for County Excecutive Joanie Mahoney.
“Regular tram operation stopped at the end of the 2013 season due to the age of the trams and mechanical issues,” Skahen wrote in an email last week. “We’ve purchased a new tram that will be here in a few weeks.”
Hot music, hot sauce
Hot music meets hot sauce most weekends at the Limp Lizard Barbecue, 201 First St. Singer Ben Blujus, who lists Jimi Hendrix as a primary influence, performs there at 9 p.m. Friday, June 5.
Rockabilly ravers Morris & The Hepcats rock out at 9 p.m. Friday, June 12, and progressive rocker Dave Porter and his synthesizer, Bob, plug in on Saturday, June 13. The Fabulous Ripcords return on Friday, June 19.
Admission is always free at the Limp; 451-9774.
Josey dives in Saturday
Liverpool’s most intrepid outdoorsman, the outlaw Josey Wells, plans to swim across Onondaga Lake some time on Saturday, June 6.
“I’m planning to dive in from the pier at the marina,” he said, “because there’s not a real beach open yet anywhere on the lakeshore.”
Now that the experts say Onondaga Lake is clean enough in which to swim, Josey, a 30-something U.S. Navy veteran, wants to be the first person to traverse the mile-wide body of water since swimming was banned there in 1940.
Hurst reminisces Sunday
The Liverpool Willow Museum opens for the season from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 6. On Sunday, 95-year-old Ken Hurst, whose family donated the building that houses the willow exhibit, is expected to man the museum. It’s a rare opportunity for visitors to hear from a man who has firsthand knowledge of the village’s once-thriving willow-weaving industry.
The Willow Museum sits on the grounds of the Gleason Mansion, 314 Second St. Admission is free; 451-7091.
B’ville bistros
Chef Kevin Gentile has left Mohegan Manor in Baldwinsville to sign on as executive chef and GM at Bella Cigna, in Manlius.
Former Retreat restaurant manager Shaun Preble now tends bar at Mohegan Manor, 58 Oswego St., as well as at B’ville’s new Basta on the River, a casual dining venue at 7 Syracuse St. Basta is owned by Jason Reith, who also a partners with Dennis Sick at Mohegan Manor, which explains Shaun’s dual duties.
For info on both bistros, call 857-0078 or visit moheganmanor.com or Facebook.com/BastaCantina.
Sunday session downtown
Liverpool-bred trombonist Melissa Gardiner leads the house band at a weekly jam session from 3 to 5 p.m. every Sunday, at the new Funk ‘N Waffles, located down city at 313 S. Clinton St. The house combo includes Gardiner, Will Gorman on keyboard, Matt Vacanti on bass, Josh Dekaney at the trap set and Jeff Martin on guitar. Admission is free; 474-1060.
On Mother’s Day, Melissa, who has a 4-year-old son named Julien, improvised a song on the spot about appreciating maternal duties and responsibilities. She called it “Mother’s Day Blues.”
Two more Liverpool women took center stage at the session. Cecilia Vacanti played Gypsy fiddle on Django Reinhardt’s “Minor Swing,” and Vanessa Vacanti vocalized “Fly Me to the Moon.” Those talented gals are the daughters of bassist Matt Vacanti.
JASS Jam June 10
The Jazz Appreciation Society of Syracuse and its president, Bobby Morris, who lives in Liverpool, conducts their next open Jam Session from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, June 10, at the Syracuse Suds Factory, down city at South Clinton and Walton streets. Admission is free, and all musicians and vocalists are invited to sit in; 471-2253; sudsfactory.com.
The columnist can be contacted at [email protected].
