Media Contact:

Danica Bryant
Communications Manager DBryant@VisitSyracuse.org

Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau
572 South Salina St.
Syracuse, NY 13202

Phone: (315) 470-1910
Toll Free: (800) 234-4797
Fax: (315) 471-8545

Syracuse in the News

Syracuse Hosts the Big PSU vs. SU Game and Much Much More

09/07/2008

Source: The Citizens Voice, Wilkes-Barre, PA

View original story »

Football may attract a lot of people from the region to Syracuse next weekend but the city is full of things to do in addition to attending the big Penn State, Syracuse game on Saturday.

It has been almost 20 years since the Nittany Lions faced-off with the Syracuse Orange. The rivalry will be rekindled Sept. 13 when the football teams meet at the Carrier Dome in New York’s popular lakeside town.

Just 151 miles or about a three-hour ride from Northeastern Pennsylvania, many residents from the region have made the drive on Interstate 81 to see Gerry McNamara from 2002-2006 when the guard from Scranton was a star player for the basketball team. With the large Penn State fan base located in NEPA, the caravan of vehicles filled with fans of the Nittany Lions heading north will provide a strong representation at the game as well to area attractions, restaurants and shops.
For those planning to attend the big game next week, it might be of interest to know there is more going on in Syracuse than just the football game. Of key interest is “The Express,” a movie about Ernie Davis, the first African-American Heisman Trophy winner from Syracuse University. The movie will have its premiere in Syracuse next weekend and a bevy of events are planned to coincide with the premiere. The movie opens nationwide Oct. 10.

Dennis Quaid and Charles Dutton star and will be walking the “orange” carpet for the premiere on Sept. 12. There is a gala set for Thursday and a pre-premiere party at Varsity Pizza with a classic car show, adding to the restaurant’s retro feel.

Varsity Pizza has been serving up slices to Syracuse students and visitors to the campus for more than 75 years. The walls are lined with Syracuse athletics memorabilia and vintage Orange gear.

“Varsity Pizza is a landmark on the SU campus,” said Danica Bryant, communications manager for the Syracuse Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It’s so unique. You feel like you’re stepping back in time.”

Another “must see” if visiting Syracuse is the first United States exhibit of original drawing by Michelangelo on display at the SUArt Galleries. “The Man and the Myth” explores multiple facets of Michelangelo’s lfie, art and reputation with more than 25 works including 14 original works. The galleries are located in the Shaffer Art Building at Syracuse University. It is just steps from the Carrier Dome. For more information on the exhibit call 315-443-4097.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Bryant said. “It’s pretty amazing and we’re lucky enough to have it in Syracuse.”

The exhibit runs through October.

Syracuse is about twice the size of Scranton and offers one of the country’s biggest shopping malls called the Carousel Center. It encompasses 1.5 million square feet and plans are for it to get bigger in the future with the DestiNY USA project. The project will add a hotel, aquarium and water park to the mall once it is finished.

DestiNY USA will be a “green facility,” operating entirely on renewable energy sources. In preparation for the new facility, the existing famous and sprawling mall has been painted green inside.

“The ‘going green’ theme is very popular,” Bryant said. “And when you’re shopping at Carousel, you feel like you’re making a difference.”

Those who want to take more than a day to visit Syracuse or who would like to find out about accommodations, attractions and other things to do can access information by calling 1-800-234-4797 or exploring online at visitsyracuse.org.

Some other points of interests while in Syracuse:

Before and after every home football game, Orange fans (and fans of the team’s opponents) pack the famous Marshall Street for dining and shopping. There are shops with Syracuse gear (Manny’s and Shirt World), bars (Chuck’s, Maggies, Lucy’s, Faegan’s and Harry’s) and at least a dozen restaurants including Thai food and a sushi bar.

“Marshall Street is the hot spot on campus,” Bryant said. “There’s always so much life.”

Armory Square is the heart of a revitalized downtown Syracuse. It’s packed with cafes, restaurants, bistros, bars and museums, including the Museum of Science and Technology and the Everson Museum of Art.

“If you’re going to visit Syracuse, you have to make a trip to Armory Square,” Bryant said. “It has a metropolitan feel right here in Syracuse.”