Piggybacking off the Ithaca eateries thread - I've got a... $70 bus trip to Syracuse planned for MLK Day to catch the Crunch game there. (Yeouch, my wallet.)
So here are a few questions -
1) How does public transport in Syracuse work, exactly? There should be a pass vending machine at the mall, right, and I can just cop a day pass there? The online store only has max passes which I assume is for people who are in Syracuse for more than like, 6-8 hours.
2) Has anyone been to a Crunch game and can tell me how the arena is, what food options there are, etc? They refuse to offer an answer on what the concession situation looks like. I know they have a clear bag policy, so I'll take my Cornell one. My ticket is a few rows back from the ice in what looks like a good spot, too.
3) What jersey do I even wear? It's Crunch-Amerks, and I don't have a Bolts or Sabres [gag] jersey. Devils are a nonstarter as they are being a Fucking Embarrassment. Cornell jersey seems a bit much, and I don't think there's a Cornell player on either roster. My CHL Volts jersey (beloved, the one I was wearing last week because its original owner plays for UNO now) also no, especially if I'm travelling to Syracuse, that's far too much and I'd worry too much about losing it or creasing it or whatever. Preds (on Youth Day?), Sharks (would inevitably look like a puck bunny), Flyers away (would rather be caught dead than wearing a Flyers jersey in public), Leafs home or black third (not a Leafs fan, most of these are mystery jerseys) (also I think wearing a Leafs jersey to a Bolts-Sabres affiliate game would get me my ass kicked), Flames (if the Preds and Devils jerseys weren't embarrassing enough...) Kane Hawks (gross), Selanne duck foot Ducks (anachronistic yuck)? I'd have to pack it into the clear bag anyway... and not wearing a jersey is boring...
4) I'm also peeking around and it seems they have a Polish restaurant in Syracuse. This is awesome, except it is closed on Mondays so I won't be able to kill two birds with one stone. Do any of you know any other way to get to Syracuse outside OurBus for public transport? Maybe there's some sorta Cornell shuttle I don't know about? Something I can catch maybe next week, or on a Friday with no hockey in Ithaca?
5) I'll probably have like 2-3 hours in the Destiny Mall after the game. They have a Burger King (a luxury we don't have in Ithaca rn) and an Ikea too. Also a Dave and Buster's. Hell yeah. Any other shops I should be aware of that I might want to burn time at? "You can look this up" I did, but I want the public's knowledge on "hidden gems" and the like.
Historically, the best place to eat in Syracuse is the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. It is the original location, has been a gem for decades. Some how this Southern BBQ honky-tonk blues club biker bar in Upstate NY just works and works well. Local produce, sausages and meats as well as some really interesting characters. There used to be some decent pizza and falafel joints up in the college town area.
Quote from: stereax on January 07, 2026, 07:56:28 PM3) What jersey do I even wear? It's Crunch-Amerks, and I don't have a Bolts or Sabres [gag] jersey. Devils are a nonstarter as they are being a Fucking Embarrassment. Cornell jersey seems a bit much, and I don't think there's a Cornell player on either roster. My CHL Volts jersey (beloved, the one I was wearing last week because its original owner plays for UNO now) also no, especially if I'm travelling to Syracuse, that's far too much and I'd worry too much about losing it or creasing it or whatever. Preds (on Youth Day?), Sharks (would inevitably look like a puck bunny), Flyers away (would rather be caught dead than wearing a Flyers jersey in public), Leafs home or black third (not a Leafs fan, most of these are mystery jerseys) (also I think wearing a Leafs jersey to a Bolts-Sabres affiliate game would get me my ass kicked), Flames (if the Preds and Devils jerseys weren't embarrassing enough...) Kane Hawks (gross), Selanne duck foot Ducks (anachronistic yuck)? I'd have to pack it into the clear bag anyway... and not wearing a jersey is boring...
the alternate universe where Carrie Bradshaw's column was about hockey
Quote from: ugarte on January 08, 2026, 10:41:07 AMQuote from: stereax on January 07, 2026, 07:56:28 PM3) What jersey do I even wear? It's Crunch-Amerks, and I don't have a Bolts or Sabres [gag] jersey. Devils are a nonstarter as they are being a Fucking Embarrassment. Cornell jersey seems a bit much, and I don't think there's a Cornell player on either roster. My CHL Volts jersey (beloved, the one I was wearing last week because its original owner plays for UNO now) also no, especially if I'm travelling to Syracuse, that's far too much and I'd worry too much about losing it or creasing it or whatever. Preds (on Youth Day?), Sharks (would inevitably look like a puck bunny), Flyers away (would rather be caught dead than wearing a Flyers jersey in public), Leafs home or black third (not a Leafs fan, most of these are mystery jerseys) (also I think wearing a Leafs jersey to a Bolts-Sabres affiliate game would get me my ass kicked), Flames (if the Preds and Devils jerseys weren't embarrassing enough...) Kane Hawks (gross), Selanne duck foot Ducks (anachronistic yuck)? I'd have to pack it into the clear bag anyway... and not wearing a jersey is boring...
the alternate universe where Carrie Bradshaw's column was about hockey
You never saw "Old Dogs, New Tricks"?
Quote from: Beeeej on January 08, 2026, 10:46:02 AMQuote from: ugarte on January 08, 2026, 10:41:07 AMQuote from: stereax on January 07, 2026, 07:56:28 PM3) What jersey do I even wear? It's Crunch-Amerks, and I don't have a Bolts or Sabres [gag] jersey. Devils are a nonstarter as they are being a Fucking Embarrassment. Cornell jersey seems a bit much, and I don't think there's a Cornell player on either roster. My CHL Volts jersey (beloved, the one I was wearing last week because its original owner plays for UNO now) also no, especially if I'm travelling to Syracuse, that's far too much and I'd worry too much about losing it or creasing it or whatever. Preds (on Youth Day?), Sharks (would inevitably look like a puck bunny), Flyers away (would rather be caught dead than wearing a Flyers jersey in public), Leafs home or black third (not a Leafs fan, most of these are mystery jerseys) (also I think wearing a Leafs jersey to a Bolts-Sabres affiliate game would get me my ass kicked), Flames (if the Preds and Devils jerseys weren't embarrassing enough...) Kane Hawks (gross), Selanne duck foot Ducks (anachronistic yuck)? I'd have to pack it into the clear bag anyway... and not wearing a jersey is boring...
the alternate universe where Carrie Bradshaw's column was about hockey
You never saw "Old Dogs, New Tricks"?
Old Togs, Hat Tricks
Quote from: ugarte on January 08, 2026, 10:41:07 AMQuote from: stereax on January 07, 2026, 07:56:28 PM3) What jersey do I even wear? It's Crunch-Amerks, and I don't have a Bolts or Sabres [gag] jersey. Devils are a nonstarter as they are being a Fucking Embarrassment. Cornell jersey seems a bit much, and I don't think there's a Cornell player on either roster. My CHL Volts jersey (beloved, the one I was wearing last week because its original owner plays for UNO now) also no, especially if I'm travelling to Syracuse, that's far too much and I'd worry too much about losing it or creasing it or whatever. Preds (on Youth Day?), Sharks (would inevitably look like a puck bunny), Flyers away (would rather be caught dead than wearing a Flyers jersey in public), Leafs home or black third (not a Leafs fan, most of these are mystery jerseys) (also I think wearing a Leafs jersey to a Bolts-Sabres affiliate game would get me my ass kicked), Flames (if the Preds and Devils jerseys weren't embarrassing enough...) Kane Hawks (gross), Selanne duck foot Ducks (anachronistic yuck)? I'd have to pack it into the clear bag anyway... and not wearing a jersey is boring...
the alternate universe where Carrie Bradshaw's column was about hockey
I had to look up who that was :')
Quote from: The Rancor on January 08, 2026, 08:11:57 AMHistorically, the best place to eat in Syracuse is the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. It is the original location, has been a gem for decades. Some how this Southern BBQ honky-tonk blues club biker bar in Upstate NY just works and works well. Local produce, sausages and meats as well as some really interesting characters. There used to be some decent pizza and falafel joints up in the college town area.
Oh! Looks like it's a quick swing on one bus from the rink. And it sounds delightful. I'll see how the timing looks when I get out of the game, but I'm definitely earmarking it for Syracuse trips.
Quote from: stereax on January 08, 2026, 01:02:11 PMQuote from: The Rancor on January 08, 2026, 08:11:57 AMHistorically, the best place to eat in Syracuse is the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que. It is the original location, has been a gem for decades. Some how this Southern BBQ honky-tonk blues club biker bar in Upstate NY just works and works well. Local produce, sausages and meats as well as some really interesting characters. There used to be some decent pizza and falafel joints up in the college town area.
Oh! Looks like it's a quick swing on one bus from the rink. And it sounds delightful. I'll see how the timing looks when I get out of the game, but I'm definitely earmarking it for Syracuse trips.
It's excellent, and I've had BBQ all over the country. They day they opened one in Harlem was cause for celebration - the day they opened another one in Park Slope was cause for buying a stationary bike for home.
There are plenty of very good restaurants in Armory Square (including Dinosaur BBQ). It just depends on how much you're willing to spend or how long you're willing to wait for a spot if it's a more popular restaurant (e.g. Dinosaur, Pastabilities). If there's an event at Landmark theater or a major SU event (parents' weekend), then that can present additional challenges
putting Pastabilities on the same list as the brooklyn bakery Baguettaboutit.
Quote from: Iceberg on January 09, 2026, 06:31:40 PMThere are plenty of very good restaurants in Armory Square (including Dinosaur BBQ). It just depends on how much you're willing to spend or how long you're willing to wait for a spot if it's a more popular restaurant (e.g. Dinosaur, Pastabilities). If there's an event at Landmark theater or a major SU event (parents' weekend), then that can present additional challenges
If the game is scheduled at 1, I should be out by 3.30. Bus is at 6.30 from the mall. So I could get up to Armory(?) and then to the mall.
PIRTLE GOAL. WE UP 2-1!!