Josh Shear

I sat down with Tracy recently and she reminded me that I needed to do another post about places I like. So, here are some of my current favorites.

Cafe at 407

I've written about 407 before. I'm actually sitting in the cafe writing this blog post, staring at the real whipped cream on top of a hot chocolate a child is drinking while waiting for the singer-songwriter to start playing. In fact, I'm sitting in an overstuffed chair on the wifi with a cup of coffee on the side table, remembering that this place raises money for a non-profit called Ophelia's Place, which deals with eating disordered youth and adults. There's a conference room in back, next to the employees' cubicles and an outpatient clinic. It's in the village of Liverpool. Go there.

Recess

Recess Coffee is celebrating their fifth anniversary this week. The cafe was packed the other night (that's where I had the aforementioned get-together with Tracy), and they are not going anywhere any time soon. Best hot chocolate in town (York, Almond Joy, peanut butter, and more), and a few really good whole-bean roasts.

Farmshed CNY

Farmshed CNY is a web-based app (that is, you go to the website, you don't download it) that will find you farms, farmers markets, restaurants, breweries, dessert, bakeries and more in Central New York. The idea is to have you buying local foods, drinking local beer, and considering where you're sourcing your stuff. And also it helps you find it, by determining your location by GPS. It's awesome.

Small Potatoes Marketing

Maybe it's weird to recognize a marketing firm, but Marty at Small Potatoes works hard to get Central New York food producers distributed into bigger venues. He started as strictly a shoe leather business, and eventually let himself be talked into a blog and Twitter account, both of which he's done really well with. Look for Better Brittle, Recess Coffee and Brooklyn Salsa at the CNY Regional Market thanks to Small Potatoes, and he's worked with a bunch of other locals you're starting to see more and more places, too!

Laci's Tapas Bar

You've probably heard of Laci's by now; they've been around a couple of years. Tapas is a food presentation that features appetizer-size portions of really beautiful, frequently creative food. The menu is excellent, the service is wonderful, and they're over in a part of town you never go to. Try them out!

What are your favorite hot spots this winter?

Last summer, I did a series on Central New York places you might want to work from or bring a client to. Here are those posts:

• 5 Syracuse-area Coffee Shops to Work From
• 5 Syracuse-area Bars to Work From
• 5 Places to Bring Clients in the Syracuse Area (Note: Edward Thomas Cigar is now something a bit more private and secluded, and is no longer on that list.)

Here are five places in the Syracuse area not on these lists that you might want to try out.

1. Frosty Fuzions

Located in the Gold's Gym in DeWitt, Frosty Fuzions is locally owned, employs a couple of people part-time, and serves organic smoothies and coffee, locally made high protein bread, and other energy drinks and food bars. The owner, Shawn Hannon, is personable and he keeps up on sports and politics, so there's always something to talk about at the counter. He also does corn-based plastics. You don't need to be a member of the gym to go in; just let the folks at the member service center know you're heading in for a smoothie.

2. The Beginning II (B2)

The B2 is a little off the beaten path, but not far (a little bit up Bridge St, past all the action). They have a lot of really good food (they claim they have the best wings in town – they're definitely up there – but the pizza, nachos and sandwiches are pretty awesome as well). The B2 is a sports bar (Syracuse U, Red Sox and Buffalo Bills) with beach volleyball courts out back. It draws a mix of people, from students to retirees, and has a friendly staff. Try them out on a non-sports day if you're not into the sports crowd.

3. The Cafe at 407

I wish I was out Liverpool way more often. Located in the village of Liverpool, the Cafe at 407 supports Ophelia's Place, a safe haven and support center for people with body image issues. The serve fair trade, organic, awesome foods (coffee, salads, sandwiches, soups, cakes, etc.). Free wifi, and a very comfy space.

4. Kelley's

If you're on Tipp Hill or near the Onondaga Hill neighborhood, you're probably not a stranger to Kelley's. Upstairs, Kelley's is a nice-looking place, but at the bar downstairs, it really comes to life. Dark woods, a couple of dining tables in quiet corners and otherwise a sports bar feel. The food is very good (try the Buffalo mac-n-cheese!), and they have some really good off- and on-menu wing sauces that you'll just have to go to experience.

5. Books and Memories

Books and Memories is a large used book and music shop. They're currently in transition, dumping some of their dead weight and opening themselves up some storage space downstairs, but they still have five rooms with narrow aisles, tall shelves, and stacks of books laying around waiting to be filed. While I miss the basement (it was so big they'd have to yell downstairs a few times before closing to make sure they didn't lock anyone in the shop at closing time), I was still able to spend several hours browsing recently – and that didn't include opening up my computer, or checking out any CDs or vinyl. They offer coffee and tea for free while you browse (they have a donation jar, but it's serve yourself and leave something if you want), and the wifi is free as well. It takes up a block on James Street in Eastwood, and is the perfect place to spend a rainy weekend afternoon.

For those Syracuseans not in the know, Funk 'N' Waffles is a great little spot on the SU hill. It has a menu of interesting waffle creations (including chicken & waffles, pulled pork waffles, and a new favorite for some of my friends: a stuffing waffle with turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberry sauce), good coffee, and free wifi.

They are good citizens, opting for local eggs, Dinosaur BarBQue sauces, and other local options when possible.

The only complaint I've ever thought of is that they close at 4:30 on Mondays, which is kind of early.

So, as co-chair of the 40 Below Civic Engagement Task Force, I approached the venue about staying open a little later to host a social networking event, which started at 5:30. I arrived a little before 5, and was pleased to see they had something of a walk-in crowd, which meant they weren't bored in that hour between when they typically close and when we were to start.

Then we brought in 16 people – very few of whom had been there before. And almost to a person, they were so impressed with the venue that they said they would not only return, but bring other new people.

If eight of those people do return with two new people each, and then half of those new people do the same, that's a lot of new customers, thanks to being willing to keep the lights on and paying two employees for four extra hours.

That's a minimal investment for a lot of new customers – and let's not forget that so much of small business marketing is helping the non-profits in your area.

Awesome job, Funk 'N' Waffles.

With a gift card in hand, we made our way last night to the Uno Chicago Grill in Fayetteville. As most of you know, I'm not one for chains, typically. With the gift card, the money's already spent, so I don't see any benefit to not using it.

Aside: The going wisdom is that for every dollar spent at a locally owned shop, 73 cents are spent in the community. For every dollar spent at a chain, 43 cents are spent in the community. Over a large population, that's quite a boost to the local economy when the money's spent at local shops.

One thing Uno does that I like is that when he first approaches your table, the server writes his name on a napkin and places it on your table. Brian did so, and then commenced the "I'm Brian, I'll be your server routine."

Brian's first win was having the bartender pour my Sam Adams in the brewery's "Ultimate Beer Glass." He noticed the Boston hat, and commented to the positive.

But he also noticed the gift card sitting on the table, which had to scare him, because people have the bad habit of tipping on the cash they pay, not the full bill. So if we had spent $30 on food and had a $25 gift card, would he be getting a big fat $1 tip?

The other exceptional thing Brian did that I liked was when we had a half dinner salad left (we each ordered an entree and shared a dinner salad), he offered us "boxes" – not assuming we had the same destination, even though we did – and then followed up by asking if we'd prefer just one (which we did).

Another aside: I was once at a local establishment with a female friend having wings and watching a football game. "He thinks we're on a date," I told her. "Why do you say that?" she asked. "Because he's being awfully attentive to me, assuming I'm picking up the bill, and we have fresh glasses when there's still three sips in the ones we're working on while everyone else has to wait. He wants me to impress you with a big tip." She didn't believe me. We moved to a table away from the crowd at the bar when it got busy, and when he brought the bill over, he said, "I knew you just wanted to be alone."

Brian stopped me on the way out the door to talk baseball, too. Big win for the restaurant.

I went to Saratoga Springs for the first time over the weekend, visiting Todd Engel, a long-time horse lover and attorney specializing in Equine Law. He's local to the Syracuse area, but also spends much of the racing season in Saratoga Springs. We took a whirlwind tour for the weekend. The city has a walkable downtown with restaurants, art galleries and retail shops. The area has tradition and money. Here are some of the spots we hit.

Olde Saratoga Brewing Company. Olde Saratoga does Red Tail, King Fisher, and a bunch of other brews – including Schmaltz, which is a nice coffee porter. They've also taken over Sackets Harbor's 1812 Ale. They have a tasting room that draws a variety of people (both tourists and townies). We saw people in their early 20s and people in their 60s and 70s.

Gaffney's and Sperry's. These are two bars across the street from each other. They both have large patios (we didn't go inside either place) with outdoor bars. Gaffney's has music and is a bit rowdier; Sperry's includes outdoor dining space and is a bit more upscale.

Frankie Flores Gallery. Frankie Flores is a talented painter and illustrator. He had an opening for some new works. He's got storefront show space with a beauty salon in back. Turns out he's a nice guy, too; he joined us for dinner after the opening.

Jacob & Anthony's. A grille with a very pretty bar and a large patio (complete with fire pit), Jacob & Anthony's boasts good service and good food. The Cuban is good, the fries are very good, and I had tastes of the fish tacos and jambalaya as well. Well done, all around. And bonus: You can get something in your price range, whether it's $12 a plate or $30 a plate.

Yaddo. An artists' and writers' retreat, Yaddo boasts a large rose garden with over 200 varieties of roses, and a team of volunteers tending the gardens three times a week. Great spot for photos (oh yeah, I have a few hundred photos I need to pull off my camera – yipes).

Saratoga Saddlery. I'm not big into the whole shopping thing, but the Saddlery has some nice stuff. Cowboy boots, varying styles of hats, horse gear (as in gear you'd wear while riding), and, of course, saddles.

Saratoga Coffee Traders and Uncommon Grounds. Uncommon Grounds is clearly the more popular spot – it's huge, and the line for coffee was 20 people deep when we got there on Sunday morning. Coffee Traders is quaint, has better coffee (also organic/fair trade, I hear), and penny candy (which doesn't cost a penny anymore, but still is within reach).

Saratoga Reading Rooms. The Reading Rooms is a private club abutting the racetrack. I'm told they were founded in the 1930s as a place for men to read the dailies before the races; I feel like I may be placing myself and the people who read my blog in danger if I say any more (even if there's not a Masonic eye on the building).

Saratoga Race Track. We made two trips to the track – in the morning to watch the horses work out, get baths, etc., and again in the afternoon for the races. It was a new experience for me. Workouts were fun, and it was interesting learning about the business. Races were also fun – who doesn't love dressing up and sitting amongst people who are out to be seen? I didn't do any betting, which is probably just as well because in my head I would have bet a show on a horse that won and would have lost every other race we saw.

Siro's. Apparently this was once the place to be seen after the races (it's adjacent to the track). Now it's the place all the tourists go to try to see. The outdoor bar and raw bar are fun, and there were a lot of people.

Hatties. Best fried chicken north of the Mason-Dixon Line. That is all.

9 Maple. Despite the hideously uncreative name (it's just the address of the joint) 9 Maple Avenue is a bar with a ginormous whiskey list, broken into the regions of Scotland (those would be scotches), as well as having both Irish Whiskys and a fair bunch of bourbons (which are an American thing, despite the French word). Very classy, intimate, with a nice jazz quartet playing in the corner.

Adelphi. The Adelphi has done its best to recreate the atmosphere of its origins (Civil War-era), with the exceptions of modern electricity, plumbing and pricing. Their patio is gorgeous, with Adirondack chairs, candlelight, visible stars, and they manage to block the sounds of the city.

Country Corner Cafe. Ah, breakfast. Potato pancakes (but not latkes, which are cooked in olive oil) on the menu in various incarnations, but more importantly a Syracuse favorite – Paul de Lima coffee.

Lyrical Ballad. This is a bookstore built in old bank vaults. As such, it twists and turns, and the first editions are still gated. Sweet little spot I could have spent hours in if we had time.

Definitely worth the trip; I'll probably do it again next year!

My bars to work from were the Blue Tusk, Al's, Empire, the Limerick and Suds.

Bob has some great ideas, too. Not sure how comfortable I'd be bringing my laptop to Dino, but I like Bull & Bear as a spot, and Alto Cinco is a nice spot.

In comments, Greg added Clark's, which I wish had more electricity, but I'm still down.

The brief 5 places... series received a bunch of feedback. Wow! So now we're going to do your takes for the next few days.

My 5 coffee shops to work from were Recess, Kubal, Funk N Waffles, and two Freedom of Espresso stores.

On LinkedIn, Jill hadn't previously heard of Kubal, and Bob pointed out that it's really small. Glenn suggested the Route 57 Starbucks:

Other places that came up in comments:

• Sugarpearl
• Strong Hearts
• Second Story
• Freedom of Espresso's other two locations
• The cafe at Syracuse University's Bird Library

I tried La Taqueria recently, and the short version of this review is, it's worth a few trips.

La Taq is a new restaurant, and a sister to Dolce Vita, which as some of you know has quite an eclectic menu. La Taq does the taco/burrito/nachos thing, but throws in some Dolce with it.

They have a daily (rotating) Dolce-inspired burrito – the first day I went, it was Bombay chicken (shredded chicken with a curry sauce). Rather than that, I tried a three-taco plate, giving the carnitas, steak and chicken a try, as well as the soft and hard tacos, and whatever sauces they happened to have on hand that day.

I was a little nonchalant about what I wanted where, making the woman putting the tacos together a little nervous ("which sauce with which meat?" "eh, whichever order you happen to pick up the sauces is fine."), but as I told her, the first time somewhere, you go to get an idea of what they have, try as much as you can, and then go back the second time and actually get what you'd like.

And now I know when I go back (because I will), there's some darn good stuff on the menu.

It's reasonably priced, the food is fresh and delicious, and they're open good hours. Hopefully they're not cursed by being in that location (it's on South Clinton Street just below Walton) – Slices and a late-night Mediterranean place were both short-lived there.

Let me know what you think if you've been!

After my post last week about coffee shops to work at in the Syracuse area, Jill asked if I'd write a post about places to bring colleagues and clients:

So here we are.

1. Freedom of Espresso, Franklin Square. OK, this was on my coffee shop list, too, but that makes sense, right? I sort of use it as an office sometimes, and this Freedom store is convenient to downtown, but outside of the bustle. And did I mention there's a hot dog cart across the street at lunch time? Well, when the weather supports it, anyway.

2. Alto Cinco. Alto Cinco, for you non-Spanish speakers out there, translates literally to "high five." If you need another reason to bring a client or colleague, try it yourself first. The atmosphere is cozy (they've avoided expansion though they could easily fill a room three times that size), the food is really good, and if you need a wine recommendation, they're right there for you. Bonus: It's across the street from Recess so you can grab some joe or hot chocolate on your way out. No wifi at the restaurant, but it's a good spot for a meeting anyway.

3. Edward Thomas Cigar. OK, this is kind of a boys' club. As in I'm not really sure they'd know how to react if a woman walked in (any volunteers?). But Edward Thomas's new digs are pretty sweet. Most of the space is now members-only; really a ploy to let people bring in some booze. There's a non-member smoking lounge with a big TV. There's no alcohol allowed and the wifi is weak back there. The rest of the place, however, has a strong wifi signal and members can bring a cocktail and a guest or two. The space includes a large room with a dozen flat panel TVs and leather recliners; computer carrels; a conference room; a poker room; and a more open room with one of those coffee tables with a top that lifts toward you.

4. Al's Wine & Whiskey. Al's made my bars to work from post last week. Pull up one of the couches, or take over the pool table in the back room. If you tip your bartender, s/he might even surrender the back room remote control.

5. Burnet Park. Again, no wifi, but Burnet Park has a zoo, a golf course, a pool, a skating rink, a basketball court and softball fields, in addition to some open space. And if you feel the need for food and drink, both Nibsy's and Coleman's are within a few blocks.

Yesterday we did my favorite coffee shops to work from in the area. Well, it's Friday and you're ready to get your weekend on, so where can you get a good brew while finishing up for the week?

1. The Blue Tusk. OK, so the Tusk is over-priced, has consistently mediocre food and a staff that could care a little more. They have a great beer list, and a back room with two little counters that have electrical outlets and wifi from about six different places. There's almost never anybody back there, and even the bar staff will forget you're back there if you stick around long enough. Just don't get locked in!

2. Al's Wine & Whiskey. You kind of have to sneak around at Al's to snag some electricity, but the food is excellent, as are the happy hour specials. They keep a rotating selection of 20 bottles of wine available for $20 each, and if you don't finish it, they'll give you the rest in a to-go bag (for realz). They also have decent beers and a fair whiskey and fine spirits selection, as far as the local scene goes (check 'em out). The place is comfy, and they managed to get entirely rid of the cigar smell from when they allowed that kind of thing. Just watch out for your mouse – they kept the holes in the counter where the ashtrays were!

3. Empire Brewing. Empire probably gets the two biggest thumbs up for food and drink. But the basement location means poor reception for some cell phones, and there's not much electricity. I'd take the last remaining hour of your laptop battery here and plan to spend a few hours "finishing up."

4. The Limerick. Terrible website aside, the Limerick is much bigger and much cleaner than you remember it. And those two cute little side counters across from the bar? They have lamps on them and electrical outlets below them. I get pretty strong wifi signals there from several different sources, and the place doesn't get crowded until 8ish. You'll also be the only working there (unless I'm there, too).

5. Syracuse Suds Factory. For the last time, no, the Suds Factory does not make soap. They make delicious beer (though, to be honest, not as delicious as Empire). It's got a great hardwood-and-exposed-brick atmosphere, and they're happy to share their wireless password if you show that you're buying while you're working. There's unfortunately only one outlet in the entire place and it's nowhere near the bar. Order some food, though; it's consistently awesome.

photo credit: Mike McCune