FloofAid

Edited poster for FloofAid (fake future website)

    Coming after the founding of Furacuse comes the arrival of FloofAid (FurAid, a rescue centre for real cats and dogs, was taken, even though many furry conventions support those), the worlds first registered charity for helping the less fur-tunate afford tickets and travel to cons across the country, including to Furacuse, which will raise money for FloofAid, which seems ironic, having a con to benefit having people get to other cons, but also fursuits, since life these days is expensive enough, let alone floof. Cons are usually non-profit and thus an organisation or two registered with the IRS is the way to go, yet I don't know the first thing about this myself, and I just don't want to become the Willie Nelson or Bob Geldof of furries. I'd have to find others to run this with in order to get clearance.

    For now, you can contribute to my usual outlets at Ko-Fi (see earlier post), GoFundMe, PayPal, Venmo (@Sposato120, the only place I can accept cryptocurrency, which I'm not wholly familiar with myself, but can convert to real cash there), and CashApp ($Sposato2024). This is not another scam. It comes from me not being able to get to Eufuria, FurPoc, Furrydelphia, Fluffalo, Anthro New England, Anthrocon, or any con for that matter. I just want to pay it forward and help others who deserve it just as much, from young kids to those on disability like myself to others in a bad place that want to be a part of the fandom. While it is a luxury like fine jewellery, it's just not as grandiose per se. Even buying materials to make your own fursuit can cost just as much as having someone else do a commission or getting a premade. FloofAid can even help with that. You'd be surprised how many call themselves furries, but have little to show for it. Even those just starting out their own lives are just getting by.

    While AI is looked down in the community, I have made it my medium for designing. While Canidae are dominant, I put in three dollies and even threw in a Dutchie (rainbow dragon) and I'm not sure what that is (grey floof). I got them from the CNY Pride parade when using ChatGPT to create this from previous images. I didn't want just canines and felines because that's too easy. I even have a couple of hyenas, as well as deer, rabbits, birds and bears in the local group (we've only discussed the furcon).

    Once both NGOs are officially established, I will look into events such as Dougs Fish Fry or adult prom, to opening a Savers that has FloofAid as the local partner in Syracuse, despite Thrifty Shoppers regional dominance over two other national chains combined. Fursuits occasionally appear at Goodwill or other charity shops in random parts of the country, and we'll accept ones that are unsellable for even dirt low prices. We could provide a tax receipt, despite only one out of ten donors even bothering to itemise because it's barely takes off of most peoples taxes. Paul Newman didn't believe in write-offs and the estate continues that policy. Maybe Newmans Own or Warren Buffett could send a few bob over! Also, if you live outside CNY or can't come by, you could ship the fursuit Ground Advantage, but it might not be Savers' policy, yet the diehards will come looking for us to get some rock bottom deals.

    When Furacuse gets going, maybe FloofAid will too, but for now, you can contribute this way.

Furacuse

Furacuse poster made with ChatGPT

    As much as I would love to go on a trip to a furry convention in another town, it remains unattainable for many in the fandom, with the economy right now. Even Eufuria in Albany is out of my league this year. I learned that Fluffalo in Buffalo is actually held this year in a fishing club in Hamburg several miles down US 20 (it's a sizeable, yet low budget rental space, even for there), but it's in October, a couple weeks before Furpocalypse in Stamford, CT in the Tri-State, one of the largest in the Northeast, along with Anthrocon in Pittsburgh. I think Syracuse has the capacity for a furcon itself, and it has been discussed in the local Telegram group. RetroGameCon is also that time of year at the OnCenter in downtown Syracuse, which does have some furries, so it could be done. There are a few hotels nearby, and more in the suburbs, given the State Fair and eventually Micron. The location between the North Country, eastern Ontario, northeastern Pennsylvania, Twin Tiers, and the two existing cons on both sides of Upstate would bring in the people to at least break even, although we want to make a profit, yet we can't compete with Alleghany County being a smaller area with less infrastructure and resources.

    If downtown won't work, then there is Randolph House Hotel in Liverpool, which had been Sheraton, Holiday, and Ramada Inns before coming full circle under the latters sister franchise. It's right off the Thruway, has large event rooms and can have blocks booked, with all the floof under one roof. It'd be a bit of a hike from the bus, especially for those new to the area stunned by Centros paltry frequency, unless it's improved by the time this is established (that's for a whole other post). At least there'd be a few competitors nearby for overflow. The plaza could have a shuttle, but there are some things I won't get into here at this time. I think the CD Record Fair will remain at its current home at St Georges Macedonian Orthodox Church on NY 173 in Onondaga, even though I would never clash with that. There's no one time to do it, but I wouldn't when it's too cold for a start like in the boys' area.

    The dates provided are just an example, so nothing is there this year. Anything of this magnitude requires months of planning and thousands of dollars of sponsorship and investment. Even Furrydelphia had to start somewhere. I just wish more things could be in my area, which is how this blog came to be in the first place, and even this is something that is late to arrive in CNY. Had less trouble with IKEA.

    Since most cons are non-profit, this will raise money for a sister project called FloofAid, which will be the next post. It'll be a registered charity to help those in the fandom with less get to other cons as well as their own fursuits. I know that defeats the purpose of Furacuse, but it would be smaller than ones in the major metros, yet FloofAid will get the less fur-tunate the floof of their dreams, and even to this if they live too far from Syracuse or any con at all. Not even the biggest chain is on every corner.

GoFundMe

Doggy's holding on to that money!

 Please help.

7 Brew Coffee

7 Brew building site in Melbourne, FL in 2022 (I'll get my own snap shortly)

 7 Brew Coffee are a growing chain of drive-thru coffee takeaways, with new locations in North Syracuse and Rome, with Auburn and other area on the way, but there are some they may not have considered yet. They build from scratch and they take no time at all to pop up, so if an old property is sat and no longer of any use, it can just be demolished to make way for 7 Brew, which is easier for people in cars, even though I stumbled upon the Rome one at short notice, which had led me to write this one. May not be the easiest for those of us who don't drive or get on with technology (over-60s).

deWitt or Syracuse (east side) - NY 5

Clay or Liverpool - NY 31 or CR 57 (given Micron)

Cortland - NY 281 or 13 (local chain Coffeemania are also drive-thru only, so it'd be classic David & Goliath in a small town, you know)

Ithaca - NY 13/34/96 (former Burger King)

Auburn - NY 5 (former Eckerd/Rite Aid; confirmed)

Camillus or Fairmount - W Genesee St

Oswego - NY 104

Fulton - NY 3 or 481

Oneida - NY 5

ChatGPT OpenAI express version of 7 Brew Coffee

Salt City Coffee

Notsky the dog furry in Pamplona mode on a Valentine (Open AI)

 Salt City Coffee are one of the largest local coffee chains in town, giving even Café Kubal a run for their money, with four locations (near west side flagship, downtown bar, SU Hill, and Fayetteville) and a fifth on the way, which the other chain decided against, and an existing location that they sold to Salt City Coffee after a rift with next door neighbor 3fifteen and its owner the Rescue Mission, if not the Willowbank Company, the landlord of Marshall Square Mall, which they run in partnership with SU. Salt City Coffee could open a few more stores without selling out and staying true to their name, since CNY or any given area these days has no shortage of local coffee shops to compete with the big chains.

North Syracuse - US 11 & S Bay Rd, Northern Lights Plaza; former Hofmann Hot Haus/Salt City Dogs (unrelated business) (pictured below)

Syracuse (east side) - Salt Springs Rd & deMong Dr; former leMoyne Firehouse at Barbs Bistro after Kubal had backed out (confirmed for the start of the upcoming fall semester)

Syracuse (north side) - 1 Walsh Circle (off NY 370), Regional Transportation Centre; former Dunkin'

Liverpool - CR 57, Glenn Crossing Plaza; one of two former restaurants TBD

East Syracuse - NY 298 & Weighlock Dr; former Starbucks and Jimmy Johns (between Carrier Circle, Northern Blvd and Collamer across from Kinne St off Thruway exit 35)

Fantasy location in North Syracuse

Original Valentine with Notsky and added logo

Revised Ghibli Valentine with added logo and edits

Mystery Bins

Fantasy location in Sangertown Square in New Hartford

 It seems bin stores with Amazon and chain store surplus are growing, and a new chain has come to New York. The downstate location at Palisades Centre is the flagship, so I based the post there, and half of the old JCPenney at Destiny USA in Syracuse back Upstate is the first one here. Now we can just connect the dots. Just starting with ones I know since I haven't done this kind of post in a period due to lack of new material.

New Hartford - Sangertown Square, NY 5 & 5A; former Hess's/Kaufmanns/Macys, although smaller bin store is in the former Sears/current Boscovs wing (pictured)

Auburn - Fingerlakes Mall, NY 5 & US 20; former Rex

Watertown - Salmon Run Mall, NY 3; former Christmas Tree Shops

Albany - Colonie Centre, NY 5; same as Watertown

Greece - Greece Ridge Mall, NY 104, former Sibleys/Kaufmanns/Macys

Williamsville - NY 78; former Best Buy

Binghamton - US 11; former Giant/Weis Markets

Ithaca - NY 13/34/96; former Hobby Lobby

Big Flats - Arnot Mall, off NY 17/I-86; former Sears

Where to Hold Adult Prom in Syracuse

Kitty and doggy are ready for the big night!

    Now in my tenth year of finding a prom in my area (even in 2020 when even the kids were out of luck, and I'm doing this for those who were deprived in 2020-21 as well as those of us of every vintage who are looking to either make up or redo like it's a test we had to take in order to earn it). While I was able to find something I could go to with just one days notice, I'm still determined to get this done, especially since Singers Karaoke Club have now decided that they won't have it this year after all because of other events being planned, even after last years revival following a long, long pause. A pride prom in Rome not just for young people has raised money, and it's on a Saturday this time, which is free if you live right in the area, but not if you have to pay more money getting there than being there, even if it's less than some events back home or starting from scratch. Going even further from town is out of the question for me and many others, even if they can drive. I wrote the list offline first before copying it here. I just wish this could be done in my backyard when they are held in one-horse towns as much as the big cities. Can't even get concerts to come here every time anymore (that's more for the sister blog). I also found where to have it in other Upstate metros, but it'd be more sporadic because I wouldn't know them all combined as well as my own backyard, of course, which is why I stay there. I went to Rome since I could absorb that cost, as that was my only option for the time being thus far, but I ruled out another prom in the Mohawk Valley, being held a hotel in New Hartford in July on a Tuesday, which is rare. The town (Utica) is small, but not that small (even if you do have your own way around). Because of poor bus scheduling in Rome, I don't want to make the same mistake twice in Utica and New Hartford, even though there'd be better chance of a bus turning up, I will stay close to home for these events in future because I had to be picked up and lodged a complaint to one bus company.
    I haven't ruled out holding adult prom in Syracuse, even if it's not in the springtime or this year, although I found a more exclusive event at short notice similar to a couple I went to several years ago. That place closed months after not long before COVID and is still vacant, yet I would buy it and use it as a small event space to let, but until then, here are the numerous options in and around the city I can come up with. Price, parking, ADA compliance and bus lines all are factored in to each venue.
    Someone else in my area said that they're planning on having one this Labour Day Weekend (5 or 6 September), so that saves having to go two counties away again just for that. They'll most likely book one of the larger spots downtown. Might be a different lot than the other two this year, but one must keep an open mind. Just hope tickets are reasonably priced. A charity ball in Jefferson County charged $25 for singles, which would be doable here. Comes before the start of school and homecoming season in the Northeast. Other places are considering, but this is the only one half-confirmed thus far in Syracuse, so that saves me the trouble of navigating (as everyone says these days) this on my own.

Downtown/Armoury Square

Palladian Hall; N Salina St (former OnBank/M&T Bank)

Maxwells, Hanover Square; E Genesee St (formerly Elbow Room)

The Rail Line; S Clinton St

Sky Armoury; S Salina & Clinton Sts (has hosted some proms before, but not in a period)

Marriott Syracuse Downtown (has several regular proms and may be too expensive); E Onondaga, Harrison & N Warren Sts, formerly Hotel Syracuse

OnCentre (same, even though it's taxpayer property); US 11

Landmark Theatre (has hosted a few of these in the corridor and lobby); S Salina St; formerly Loews State (from studio system era under MGM); unavailable during the summer because of renovations and when there are residencies.

Liverpool

Randolph House Hotel, Electronics Pkwy & 7th North St off I-90 (Traditions of Wyndham franchise; formerly Ramada [sister chain]/Sheraton/Holiday Inn. No regular proms this year. Have gone for CD Record Fair and Easter buffet)

Cicero

Carnegie Conference Centre, E Circle Dr; Drivers Village (former Penn-Can Mall in old Denbys wing near clock tower; also no run-of-the-diploma-mill proms in 2025; went for festive do last year)

Mattydale

VFW Post 3146; Truck NY 298 & leMoyne Ave (went for late Lent chippy)

Maplewood Bar & Grill, US 11 (former Zebbs); Mattydale Plaza (former kmart plaza; formerly at Holiday Inn & Suites in Liverpool [previously Maplewood Inn & Suites and Days Inn]; opening by this fall)

East Syracuse

American Legion Post 359; NY 290 (Halloween parties and fundraisers held there; other venue I wanted is closing)

Onondaga Hill

SRC Arena, OCC, NY 173 & 175

Camillus (in name only)/Onondaga

TK Tavern; Howlett Hill Rd, Taunton (original location off NY 5 had Salt City Collective prom twice)

Tipp Hill

Emerald Cocktail Kitchen (suggested to them and they will consider); W Fayette St

Ukrainian National Home (SCC prom moved there after old TK closed from a fire); W Wilbur Ave

Eastwood

Palace Theatre; NY 290 (has no lift to get upstairs at this time unfortunately being older and smaller)

American Legion Post #1276; NY 290 (former Friendlys; not sure if they even do this at new location)

Brewerton

Brewerton Centre for the Arts; US 11 (hosted one two years ago, yet may be too far for some people)

Syracuse (east side)

Harveys Garden (floofs had back room, yet prom could be held upstairs); E Water St

Syracuse (west side)

Singers (last resort during the day if booked as a private event since nights are ruled out)