The first thing that we’d ask for in late August for the beginning of a new school year seems to always be jeans. JEANS on jeans on jeans. Abercrombie, American Eagle, and Hollister thrive off of the new high schoolers and the kids about to go off to college searching for jeans. If you have just outgrown your other pairs or just need that fresh Abercrombie smell, all that matters is that you need more. I’m not sure if it’s the spray bottle of cologne they use to douse the denim that draws people in and causes a craving or if it’s just the feeling of new jeans on your bodies that does it. Either way, I have been susceptible to the jean craze for as long as I can remember… until now. Parents, girls and boys, I have a solution for you. I call it the three prong attack. I, like many of you, had tons of jeans that accumulated and ended up at Goodwill and the Salvation Army by the time I was in my sophomore year of college. Now, in the wake of it all, I was desperate and looking for an alternative. Well, here it is.
Model ready for the war on denim. Photo from Google.
The three prong attack has to do with the basics. It’s all about basic. Besides, you know you’ll be wearing leggings half the time anyway, why kid yourself?
Number one on the three prong attack:Darkwash
Find a pair of darkwash denim that is limited in fading and almost dark enough to be black. I’m talking a deep, deep ocean blue here people. These will carry you through dinner parties to out with friends to rushing to work and throwing on a white tee and vans for school.
Now, the real question comes as to if you should get high-waisted, mid-rise, or low-rise. If you’re into crop tops on weekends or even just want some extra coverage in the mid-section I would suggest a high-waist. High-waist you can cover up with flowy shirts during the week and they can even act like a pair of spanx. If you can find a pair of mid-rise, which is hard to do and you’d probably have to spend more, I’d do it. These can still give you crop top time while showing less than you would with low-rise and are not up to your chest for during the week. And low-rise is for the risky crop toppers and the ones who are going more casual for a dark wash.
Either way, choose one that you feel more comfortable in and utilize them for these occasions. The real trick is to only get one trusty pair, they will be your buddy for all occasions. SAVE SOME MOOLA. Chances are if you’re a parent your child will grow out of them anyway.
Photo from Google
Part two of the three prong attack:Medium Wash
This jean is the trickiest of them all. Finding a good medium wash is like the holy grail of denim. It is almost impossible to see which wash will go with more things and which ones are edging into dark and light territory. Especially with the stores that dim their lights so much… like aren’t you supposed to be beach themed anyways? I still have not quite found the pair of my jean dreams, but I have come very close. My recommendation for this is stick to mid-rise or low-rise, and find jeans that have less of a grey hue and more of a navy hue. Bright blue mixed in wouldn’t hurt either. Don’t go too blue, but don’t go too close to light wash or grey denim either. And stay away from too much fading, because you’ll get sick of them. Now, this attack has nothing to do with ripped denim. If you want a pair of those, then that will be a splurge and decision you’ll have to make on your own. Personally, I don’t think they are a necessity, but I do have a few pairs and filter them in and out each season.
Photo from Google
Part three of the three prong attack:Light-wash
Ahhhh the light wash. Perfect for all season… if done just right. They are not as finicky as medium wash, but can be troublemakers. If you go too light, they’ll end up looking like white jeans or really bleached. And if you go too dark, you’ll end up with a bleached medium wash. No one wants these examples to be a part of their jean triangle. The perfect pair of light-wash has a good amount of fading all over and not in secluded areas, while having a doused baby blue. You can either buy an all light wash, no fading pair, or a pair with baby blue fading. Either way, you can’t go wrong. Also, a little distressed on the jean is a definite plus. Because light-wash are already so casual, you might as well buy a pair that looks like they were from the 70’s and you made them your own. I also recommend for the light wash to either stick to mid-rise or low-rise. And definitely as skinny/slim as you can get.
Photo from Google
Now you’re probably wondering- what about cropped jeans? or flared jeans? or wide-leg jeans? Or boyfriend jeans? or girlfriend jeans? Those are all extra jeans that can pile up in your closet if you so choose! But, the basic jean necessities in my opinion are the ones listed above.
Foodies: I promise I have dined at all of these fabulous places and have taken numerous photos of my meals, but for some I was just enjoying the moments too much to capture. I have scoured through my old instagrams to at least give you some idea of the food and places I am describing. You will not regret attending any of these establishments, and especially not dropping the extra dollars at some of the more “uppity” places. Each location is special; with great history, ambiance, and of course, food. I want to update this article as I go along with my own photos and documentation, but for now I just couldn’t wait to put these on the list and share.
I am starving to know your favorite restaurants or recommendations for some you feel should be listed on here. After all I haven’t eaten evveerrrywheree, although I can’t say I haven’t tried.
(These are not in order of my favorites, just in order of how I thought of them!)
1. The Brewster Inn $$$
Whether you want to spend $2000 on a meal for a large party or just $55 for a date the Brewster is the place to go. Everything on the menu is impeccable, the staff is friendly and efficient, and the bar is ideal. Have I mentioned the views? Sit on the outdoor patio on a romantic getaway and watch the sailboats go by on Cazenovia Lake, Cazenovia, N.Y. If you’re looking to really save money, I suggest going on Burger Night (Monday nights) and having their killer burger, topped with your favorites and crumbly fried onions. My personal favorite. The bar is great especially if you enjoy local drafts and an elaborate wine selection, but the wines are pricey if you really want to indulge.
photo from Google
photos by me
2. Lincklaen House $-$$
Sticking to Cazenovia, this restaurant is just down the street from the Brewster Inn and has much more of an old New England feel. Set in downtown Caz; only a hop, skip, and a jump from Cazenovia College, it has a great tavern scene. For those that want to have a bowl of french onion and sit by a cozy fire in the winter, they also have a back dining room that is perfect for old friends to catch up or an evening with your significant other to do just that. Like the Brewster, the bar is great but their bar food is what really sets this charming place apart. Homemade potato chips and kind staff members are two great parts of its charm.
photos from Google
3. Ray Brothers Barbecue $-$$
The best barbecue you’ll get in Upstate New York (unless of course you waited in line at Dinosaur BBQ, but Ray’s can hold its own if you can believe it…) Ray’s is making a name for itself and fast. An unconventional setting with silverware in mason jars and paper napkins in Bouckville, N.Y., the food is just as awe-some. The Carolina Pulled Pork with Bomb Sauce (they have a whole list of homemade sauces to choose from) is straight out of heaven, I’m convinced. Most of their meals come with two sides, and if you’re like me and could never choose between homemade coleslaw and macaroni and cheese, then you need to try Ray’s. They have a bar which a lot of locals love to gather at, a great porch and an outdoor area for your kids to hangout while you eat. It’s great for the whole family and is pretty inexpensive.
photos from Google
4. Ye Olde Landmark Tavern $$-$$$
This restaurant/inn is right up the street from Ray Brothers BBQ in Bouckville, N.Y., and has been around a lot longer. Set in an old colonial home with brick, columns and on the corner of the street, its exterior is as charming as its interior. When you are greeted warmly at the front door there is a full bar to the left of you, and multiple dining rooms that seem idyllic for holiday parties to the right. The food is incredible. Anything you order on this American-German-Italian menu is cooked to perfection with care and beautiful place setting. The wine selections go well with the meals and the desserts are out of this world. My favorite meals there so far have been on the “small plates” menu, which in my opinion should be called the perfect proportions menu- The Lobster Pot Pie, Chicken Schnitzel with classic German potato salad and the burger. Make sure you go, you don’t want to miss this place.
photo from Google
5. Upstate Tavern $-$$
Following the tavern theme, the Upstate Tavern inside the Turning Stone Casino and Resort in Verona, N.Y. should not be missed if you want to experience authentic Upstate cuisine. Ever heard of “riggies”? We in Upstate New York pride ourselves on this spicy, creamy pasta dish, and I personally believe the best are at Upstate Tavern. Made with shrimp instead of the traditional chicken, this pasta will fill you up to the brim with happiness. Also listed on the menu are traditional Utica greens, chicken speedie skewers, salt potatoes, and local Saranac beers. The apple pie comes out freshly baked, hot, and in its own individual dish wrapped in a brown bag with fresh vanilla ice cream on top, and is perfect for any time of the year. My personal favorite has to be (surprise) the burger, with a sunny side egg on top and cooked medium-rare. Stop here on your night out next time before you hit the bars… or after. It’s open late!
photo by me
6. Wildflowers $$$
My family’s go to restaurant on Christmas Eve, Wildflowers in the Lodge at Turning Stone Resort and Casino is an escape. Four stars and waiters with taste and flair, you know you’re in for a treat as soon as you walk in the door. The meals are artfully prepared by the top chefs in Upstate, and each one comes out more unique than the other. The cappuccino is unusually wonderful for this area, and the filet mignon, well, is there to please. Don’t forget to try the desserts, there is a surprise in every bite! The restaurant itself is donned with leather and Native American accents. It’s an all around wonderful experience.
photo from Google
7. LoFo $-$$
LoFo, or “Love Food,” in Armory Square, Syracuse, N.Y. is an awesome little side restaurant/cafe/bar with major character. Despite what you may assume with its mostly vegan/vegetarian menu, LOFO serves a delicious chicken and brie sandwich and has pressed juices and smoothies that will make you feel like a new woman/man. If you feel like relaxing before making it to your dinner reservation just down the street, enjoy a great glass of local wine. Or, stop here and read the paper outside and enjoy its great breakfast. Eggs, toast, and awesome potatoes. It’s the cutest dream restaurant, and you’ll never see someone you don’t like. (At least I don’t…) The homemade granola and yogurt is just as good if you’re heading to Lululemon down the street before your morning workout, too.
photos by me
8. Blue Tusk $$
Unconventional huge restaurant/bar with outdoor seating in the midst of all the shops in downtown Armory Square, Syracuse, New York. You place your order and pay at the front, and pick up your meal/drinks straight from the bar and then pick your seat. These are not your ordinary deli sandwiches. They are stacked high with meat and are so delicious they don’t even need a side to accompany them. The lobster salad sandwich, which is lobster salad on a CROISSANT, is the most incredible and delectable thing you’ll have eaten in a Syracuse, ever.
photo by me
photo from Google
9. Dinosaur B-B-Q and Pastabilities $$-$$$
Because these two are so well known and popular I feel as if I have to write about them even though this list is more for the lesser known joints in Upstate. Both are incredible, both have delicious food, great atmosphere, and you will not regret the wait times for either if you are stuck in line on a Wednesday or without a reservation. Pasta at Pastabilities is basically visiting a Syracuse little Italy, and Dinosaur is straight out of Tennessee. They are icons of Upstate dining. Both have been featured on the Travel Channel and Food Network.
Exterior of Pastabilities. Dennis Nett/The Post-Standard
photos from Google
10. East Sushi $-$$
Located in the smallest city in New York, Sherrill, (also in Utica, N.Y.) this sushi restaurant really knows what they are doing. It’s small, but the food packs a punch. They are quick, friendly, and everything is fresh. The seafood is great and the soba noodle soup is my all time favorite all year round. Located right next to everyone’s favorite ice cream shop “Ebeneezer’s” and the town’s favorite Chinese restaurant “Taste of China,” it’s a one stop shop for your families biggest feast yet.
photo from Google
11. Mitsuba $$-$$$
This tiny Japanese sushi bar in downtown New Hartford, N.Y. (also in Rome, N.Y.) is THE place to get authentic, fresh, artistic sushi in the downtown area. It is beautifully prepared, always different (as in the menu changes) but your classic favorites will be there for you, and just plain great. You’ll pay a pretty penny for more unique rolls, but the waitress comes with a hot hand towel and random free sushi bites which makes it all worth it– besides the delicious meal you’ll be getting. They have an array of Sakes hot and cold, as well as meals hot and cold for the raw fish squeamish. Not really big enough for the whole family, but worth the lesser company or date for yourself.
photo from Google
12. Papa Gallo $-$$
Papa Gallo is the best Mexican this side of the state as far as I’m concerned. Located in Fayetteville, N.Y., Papa Gallo has a delicious American-Mexican fusion menu with just enough spice for the whole family. You’re probably wondering how I am not part cow yet but I had to try the burger and it was of course, wonderful. The enchiladas and the rest of the Mexican flair is no short of special, either. If you’re looking for Mexican in this area, this is the best that you’ll get.
photo by me
13. Tully’s Good Times $
Tully’s is a Syracuse, N.Y. (multiple Syr. locations) institution for their chicken tenders and sports bar atmosphere during basketball season. These chicken tenders are so good the whole family will be ordering them, not just the children. They come with a perfect sauce, coleslaw, and french fries. Oh and GARLIC BREAD. It’s the best tenders you’ll get in this area, hands down.
photo by me
14. Peter’s Cornucopia $-$$
Located in downtown New Hartford, N.Y., “Peter’s” is the place to go to buy all of your organic groceries while also grabbing a bite to eat of fresh, cooked to order food. They serve all organic meals, delicious organic coffees and smoothies/juices. The soups are always the perfect temperature and the wraps you can tell would never be as good made in your own kitchen, even though you can buy all of the ingredients right in front of you! The New Hartford-ians try and keep Peter’s a secret– but I know, and I’m sharing it with the world!
photo from Google
photo by me
15. Sherrill N.Y. Pizzeria $
For me, picking a pizza place to list here was almost impossible. There’s Pepi’s in Oneida, Sicilian Delight in New Hartford, and Nick’s Tomato Pie in Syracuse. Finally, after a long period of really thinking it through, I decided I couldn’t skip “Franks,” or Sherrill N.Y. Pizzeria in Sherrill, N.Y. Growing up, this was the pizza I ordered and was given at all childhood parties/sleepovers/school events. It’s a thicker New York style crust, made in front of your eyes in a dusty little bakery. The restaurant has a back room for seating, and a bathroom so small you can barely fit in after eating their slices- but it is home. This pizza is always delicious, always dough-y and fresh. The chicken-wing is my favorite, but you can’t go wrong with pepperoni either. This to me is true “Upstate” pizza.
photos by me
16. The Colgate Inn $$-$$$
Hamilton, N.Y. is a quaint Upstate New York town located around many smaller, beautiful lakes and the better known Colgate University. Although this is one of the smallest college towns probably ever, it is home to some delicious restaurants (La Iguana and No. 10 Tavern), a beer bar (Good Nature Brewery), local coffee shop, and old time candy store and ice cream parlor (Maxwell’s). The pillar of fine dining, inside and out, is the Colgate Inn. The food, the atmosphere, the greatest Thanksgiving dinner you’ve ever seen, and the Colgate Hockey team are just some of the reasons to visit this historic tavern/restaurant/inn.
Bootsie 