Throughout December, we will be sharing gift guides highlighting many of Syracuse and Central New York's independent retailers, boutiques and small businesses, and what type of items they carry or experience they provide. First up, places to find presents for babies and young children.

Emerald City comes to the @syrlandmark.bsky.social this holiday season with “Wicked” returning Dec. 3-14. “Wicked” has been a powerhouse production for more than two decades, standing as the fourth-longest-running show in Broadway history. www.thisiscny.com/living/2025/...

Michelle Schenandoah (Oneida Nation Wolf Clan) aims to strengthen relationships to the ideal of rematriation, a women-led movement focused on restoring the Native connection to the Earth and caring for future and current generations. www.thisiscny.com/living/2025/...

The first week of December in Central New York is packed with festive performances, seasonal music and holiday traditions. www.thisiscny.com/living/2025/...

With the turn of a candy-cane switch, the Christmas season symbolically began in Syracuse’s downtown. Hundreds of families crowded into Clinton Square on Friday night for the annual lighting of the 42-foot city Christmas tree. www.thisiscny.com/living/2025/...

Alexander “Alex” Hloderwski Jr. amassed a huge collection of the brightly colored LEGO bricks in his lifetime. But more than anything, he loved sharing LEGO. www.thisiscny.com/living/2025/...

For some, only a fresh-cut Christmas tree will do. Families make a yearly pilgrimage to a local tree farm to either cut their own tree or purchase a pre-cut one. Here’s a guide to Christmas tree farms throughout Central New York. www.thisiscny.com/living/2025/...

When Mark DeVito received his new kidney at SUNY @upstatemedical.bsky.social in September, the moment marked far more than the end of a long wait. www.thisiscny.com/living/2025/...

A fascinating stat: Syracuse has been named the second-highest city in the nation where women are the primary breadwinners in opposite-sex coupled households, according to a recent report by the personal finance site LendingTree. www.thisiscny.com/living/2025/...

We hope everyone has a warm, safe, happy Thanksgiving and that you have something to be grateful for.

This one's for the longtime residents and the expats. Why did the turkeys cross the road? www.thisiscny.com/living/2025/...

Syracuse may not be recognized as a fashion hub, but its small businesses tell a different story. Across the city, shop owners are shaping a local style scene. Meet 9 of them: www.thisiscny.com/living/2025/...

While there were some inconsistencies, cheese-centric bistro The Wedge in Eastwood has many bright spots, finds reviewer @jaredpaventi.com. www.thisiscny.com/living/2025/...

Seasonal and holiday traditions return to add joy to this last week of November. From working off (or working for) your extra Thanksgiving calories to tree lightings and special holiday markets, find out what's happening this week in Syracuse and Central New York. www.thisiscny.com/living/2025/...

Upstate New York mornings practically beg for a warm, homemade doughnut alongside your first cup of coffee. Here’s a short list of some of the most mouthwatering doughnut shops in Upstate New York. Go ahead and try them all. www.thisiscny.com/explore-upst...

An iconic Upstate New York restaurant is celebrating its 100th birthday with an early return of its signature holiday cocktail that you may be pressed to find many places. www.thisiscny.com/explore-upst...

The Oswego and Onondaga County Search and Rescue Teams are looking for people 18 years and older interested becoming search and rescue volunteers. All that’s required is a love of the outdoors and for helping others. www.thisiscny.com/explore-upst...

A beloved Syracuse holiday tradition celebrates its 40th anniversary beginning on Friday. The Erie Canal Museum’s annual Gingerbread Gallery, which transforms the museum into a festive 19th-century streetscape, opens to the public on Friday, Nov. 21. www.thisiscny.com/living/2025/...

Serve our community with your crochet skills! 🧶 Tomorrow, Saturday Nov. 22, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Syracuse’s Off The Hook Crochet Club will hold a Crochet-A-Thon at Salt City Market. Volunteers hope to create 200+ winter hats for donation to United Way of Central New York's Share the Warmth Drive.

IKEA is ready to welcome Syracuse customers. And even though it’s smaller than traditional IKEAs, but it’s just as eye-popping. www.thisiscny.com/business/202...

A house-flipping couple, a former Yankees marketing guy and a Dinosaur Bar-B-Que pitmaster walk into a rundown roadhouse in LaFayette. That’s not a joke setup; that’s the origin story of Brickyard Tavern and Barbecue. www.thisiscny.com/living/2025/...

It’s official: "Weird Al" Yankovic is the first artist on the 2026 Empower Federal Credit Union Amp concert lineup. The show will be part of his expanded “Bigger & Weirder” tour dates featuring Puddles Pity Party as the opening act. www.thisiscny.com/living/2025/...

Four Cazenovia students are on track to become published authors. Students received writing kits from author Stan Tucker’s program Leap for Literacy, and the students worked closely with the teachers before submitting their stories for consideration. www.thisiscny.com/living/2025/...

Whispering Wildflower joined Hanover Square in mid-September, adding a cozy new boutique to a downtown Syracuse corner that’s steadily rebuilding. www.thisiscny.com/living/2025/...

Barb Karper can’t seem to leave @lemoynecollege.bsky.social. Over her five decades there, her roles have included student activities, residence life, student affairs, alumni fundraising and committee and community positions. “That’s why I don’t retire. I just keep reinventing myself,” Karper says.

The Mizpah, a new wine sanctuary and event venue in downtown Syracuse, will celebrate the start of construction with a “first toast ceremony" Wednesday afternoon. www.thisiscny.com/business/202...

“Lizzie Borden Took an Axe” at Covey Theater is a skillful retelling of the events surrounding the killings, blending a melodramatic family saga with snippets of court transcript and speculative inner monologues from principals. Read Len Fonte's review: www.thisiscny.com/living/2025/...

Kick off the season with sparkling displays at Lights on the Lake, explore local arts and crafts at fairs, or enjoy engaging book clubs and creative workshops this week in Central New York. www.thisiscny.com/living/2025/...

Downtown Syracuse’s largest new hotel project since 2013 cleared a key hurdle this week, allowing developers to soon remove a dilapidated parking garage to make way for construction. www.thisiscny.com/business/202...

To find good barbecue, don’t follow your eyes — follow your nose. The Angry Pig BBQ debuted as a food truck in 2019, marking owner Josh Reynolds’ foray into the professional barbecue world. The trailer grew into a brick-and-mortar restaurant this summer. www.thisiscny.com/living/2025/...

José-Luis Novo, who has conducted our local symphony in two of its previous iterations, will be on the Crouse Hinds Theater podium again on Nov. 15. He is the third finalist for The Syracuse Orchestra music director position. www.thisiscny.com/living/2025/...

Primo Nestico’s Bistro & Bar, the refreshed version of the longtime Italian-American spot, quietly reopened Thursday under new owner Marty Richardson and her husband Dave, who also run Nestico’s Too, Eggs & Toast, and Rise & Grind. www.thisiscny.com/living/2025/...

After moving to Syracuse five years ago, Adam Brian Kaiser started making bonbons as a hobby. When his wife and friends raved about his flavors, he toyed with the idea of launching a chocolate brand — and now he has. www.thisiscny.com/business/202...

The people behind Central New York’s Tully's Good Times and CopperTop Tavern restaurants have added a well-known local caterer to their portfolio. www.thisiscny.com/living/2025/...

There’s been a lot of anticipation about an opening date since IKEA announced in July it plans to open in Syracuse. The mini-IKEA is one of about 50 IKEA has opened to make its products more accessible to more people. www.thisiscny.com/business/202...

Salmon fishing on the Salmon River is its own thing with its own set of rules, techniques, and gear. That’s why newbies, like outdoors writer Steve Featherstone, need a guide to sort it all out. www.thisiscny.com/explore-upst...

A Great Lakes dinosaur is once again swimming in an Upstate New York creek, thanks to recent stocking efforts by the state Department of Environmental Conservation. www.thisiscny.com/explore-upst...

Dr. Sarah Matt is a medical doctor, technologist, keynote speaker, med school professor, consultant and author. She spoke to Marie Morelli about leadership, medicine, tech and why she chose CNY. www.thisiscny.com/business/202...

We’ve curated a list of over 25 major festivals or events in the greater Syracuse area in November and December, from musical gatherings to tree lightings and even a big craft beer festival. www.thisiscny.com/living/2025/...

Onondaga County Public Library’s Petit branch in the Westcott neighborhood handles the most checkouts and holds in the system, and is one of two branches without a meeting space. www.thisiscny.com/living/2025/...

"Live at Jazz Central" returns, the first Hockey Romance Night, a discussion about America's past and present, Slamsgiving wrestling event and more this week: www.thisiscny.com/living/2025/...

Two legendary TV hosts are coming to Central New York for a comedy show together at del Lago Resort & Casino in March. www.thisiscny.com/living/2025/...

Buffalo Bills fans can check out a live episode of @syracuse.com and @nyup.com’s hit Bills podcast as part of a special event on Dec. 18 at Turning Stone Resort Casino. Talk all things Bills with @RyanTalbotBills.bsky.social and @MattParrino.bsky.social before and after the show.

Upstate New York has a bunch of fun and fanciful holiday shops that are now open and ready to welcome in the season. www.thisiscny.com/explore-upst...

Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh has announced details for what will be his final downtown Christmas tree lighting in office. Live entertainment, ice skating (weather permitting), lighting of the 42-foot artificial tree and more: www.thisiscny.com/living/2025/...

Room for a home office; open-concept floor plan; attached garage; waterfront access — What features matter to you when you're looking for a home? Central New York has all the options. Here's just one: www.thisiscny.com/realestate/2...

We’ve curated a list of 25 major festivals or events in the greater Syracuse area in November and December, from musical gatherings to tree lightings and even a big craft beer festival. www.thisiscny.com/living/2025/...

The upscale Southern cuisine at Ruby Begonia's in Chittenango largely delivered, reviewer @jaredpaventi.com said. I know I've got my eyes on that cornbread. www.thisiscny.com/living/2025/...

Saab, Inc., the radar and surveillance company that bought a homegrown maker of airport and military sensor systems more than a decade ago, is growing again in Central New York. www.thisiscny.com/business/202...

Funk ’n Waffles will be featured on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: Triple D Nation” this Friday night at 9 on the Food Network, spotlighting the downtown Syracuse hotspot that blends live music with over-the-top waffle creations. www.thisiscny.com/living/2025/...