Tucked behind the Museum of Science & Technology in Armory Square in Syracuse, New York, sits a piece of history most people walk past without a second glance.

This is an actual segment of the Berlin Wall. A structure that once divided a city, a country, and the world. For nearly 30 years it stood as a symbol of separation, fear, and control. Families split. Lives changed overnight. And when it finally fell in 1989, it became one of the most powerful symbols of freedom in modern history.

Now a piece of that same wall lives right here in Syracuse.

Every day people drive by it, grab coffee nearby, head to dinner, or walk through Armory Square without realizing what’s sitting just a few steps away. Not just concrete, but a reminder of what happens when walls go up and what it means when they come down.

Next time you’re downtown, take a second to find it. Stand in front of it. Think about how far the world has come and how connected even a city like Syracuse is to global history.

#SyracuseNY #ArmorySquare #HiddenHistory #CNY #ExploreSyracuse

Anna Short Harrington (1897–1955) was one of the women who portrayed Aunt Jemima, a character used for decades to market pancake mix and syrup.

She was born on January 30, 1897, in the Wallace area of Marlboro County, South Carolina. One of nine children, she learned to cook at a young age, a skill that would later shape her life.

In 1932, after her marriage ended, she moved north with her five children and settled in Syracuse, New York, where she worked cooking and sewing. In 1935, while making pancakes at the New York State Fair, she was discovered by the Quaker Oats Company and chosen to portray Aunt Jemima.

Harrington spent the next 14 years traveling across the country as a spokesperson for the brand, making public appearances and appearing in national advertising.

She later returned to Syracuse, where she lived for the rest of her life. She died on October 21, 1955, and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery.

#SyracuseNY #HiddenHistory #BlackHistory #LocalHistory #Storytelling

I’ve driven past this site so many times over the past year, watching it rise piece by piece and wondering what it would actually feel like when it all came together.

Now it’s starting to feel real.

You can see the progress in every angle. The structure, the details, even the exterior panels designed like fish scales. It is no longer just construction. It feels like something is coming to life on the waterfront.

As a dad, I keep thinking about that first visit.

Walking in with my kids. Watching them run up to the glass. Seeing fish they recognize from around here like bass and perch, then turning a corner and discovering something completely new. That moment when curiosity takes over and you can see it on their faces.

Syracuse can have nice things. And this feels like one of them.

Something built for families. Something that brings people together. Something that makes the city feel a little more alive.

I cannot wait to experience it with them this summer.

#SyracuseNY #InnerHarbor #FamilyFirst #CNYLife #Aquarium

Can you feel it? Warm summer nights. Pink skies. Fireworks echoing throughout the neighborhood on nights that almost last forever. They’re SO close.

April reminds us we’re not quite there yet, but close enough to start dreaming. Soon the air will feel softer, the nights will stretch a little longer, and everything will glow just a bit brighter.

Until then, we hold onto the feeling and wait for it to find us again.

#SummerNights #Syracuseny #ChasingSunsets #DreamingOfSummer #upstateny

Seeing Syracuse from a drone like this is honestly exciting. Two cranes in the skyline is something you rarely catch, and it really shows how much Syracuse University is growing and investing in its students. New residence halls, a dining center, and modern living spaces are all coming together right now…not to mention the new Chancellor, AD and GMAC! 🧡🍊

#Syracuse #SyracuseUniversity #SyracuseNY #DroneView #CampusGrowth

This week’s forecast has snow back in the mix, and it feels like the perfect reminder of what makes this city so special.

Yes, winters here are beautiful, and they have a way of lingering longer than expected, sometimes all the way to May. But that contrast is part of the magic.

As a proud Le Moyne alum, this campus will always mean something more. It’s not just the snow-covered paths, it’s the way the seasons shift, the way spring slowly shows itself, and the way the entire campus comes back to life.

So don’t get caught up in the snow. Remember what makes this city and this campus so beautiful in every season.

Phins up!

#SyracuseNY #LeMoyneCollege #UpstateNY #CampusLife #SpringInSyracuse

Reminding myself to slow down and actually notice the little things. Seeing New York from a new perspective through my drone makes even the simplest moments feel meaningful.

#SlowDown #NewPerspective #DroneLife #upstateny #MindfulLiving

Before global tours and chart topping hits, Drew Taggart spent his college years at Syracuse University, graduating in 2012. In interviews, he has pointed to that period of his life as part of the inspiration behind Closer, drawing from what he experienced and observed at the time.

The song is not a direct retelling of Syracuse. It pulls from multiple moments and places, but some of its perspective comes from those years on campus.

There is also a piece of Syracuse lore tied to the song. Some believe the “roommate back in Boulder” line was originally a reference to a dorm here, often guessed as Boland Hall. There is no confirmed source behind that idea, but it has stuck around as part of the story.

Play it back and see what you hear.

#syracuseu
#SyracuseUniversity #TheChainsmokers #Closer #SyracuseNY

What if he IS?! IN GMAC WE TRUST 🍊💯🙏 #orangenation #goorange #gmac #syracusebasketball #syracuseuniversity

It’s honestly heartbreaking to watch so many shopping malls across Central New York slowly fade away. Places that were once full of life, where weekends meant crowds, laughter, and memories, now sit quiet and nearly empty.

Great Northern Mall really hits the hardest. It’s been through so much over the years, changing hands, trying to reinvent itself, holding on as long as it could. And now seeing it in the middle of full scale demolition feels like the end of an era for this community.

But maybe this isn’t just an ending. With Micron on the horizon and new energy coming into CNY, there’s real potential for something better. Mixed use spaces that bring people together again with retail, entertainment, dining, and living all in one place could give this area a fresh start.

Hoping what comes next honors what used to be, while building something even stronger for the future.

#CentralNewYork #GreatNorthernMall #CNY #deadmalls #greatnorthern

I don’t think people realize how much there is to do in Central New York, and even just a short drive opens up a whole new list of places to explore. Day trips to spots like Ithaca, plus all the lakes, small towns, and hidden gems in between, make it feel like there’s always something new to discover. It never gets old, and that’s why I’m so obsessed with this little place I get to call home.

#CentralNewYork #ExploreLocal #DayTripVibes #HiddenGems #HomeSweetHome

It happened AGAIN! The Onondaga Lake Parkway bridge has claimed another truck… again. 🫡

Less than two months after new “this will stop it” measures, the bridge is STILL undefeated, now up to 34 hits since 2022.

At this point, it’s not even a bridge… it’s a very committed bouncer.

#OnondagaLakeParkway #BridgeStrikesAgain #TruckVsBridge #LowBridgeProblems #SyracuseNY