Browne & Taylor Shower The People Of Syracuse With Music
8/22/2021 - Syracuse, New York - Today, we headed East down the NYS Thruway to St. Joseph's Health Amphitheater at Lakeview in Syracuse, New York to take in a double dose of classic rock music watching Jackson Browne and James Taylor perform together. Deb the contest queen won free tickets that were on the lawn but since the forecast called for potentially heavy rain we decided to upgrade selling the lawn seats and getting tickets on the tenth row, a smart but costly move. The NYS Fair was happening so we decided to go up early and partake in some food and fun at the fair which is right next to the venue. After a bite there we took the five minute drive up the hill to the concert. Huge lines had formed and nobody knew where to go we managed to get into the show with plenty of time. The unrecognizable Jackson Browne opened the show playing a good set that included some new material and some classic hits like Doctor My Eyes and Rock Me On The Water. Browne was joined for his last two songs by James Taylor to cover his hits The Pretender and Running On Empty. James Taylor and his All-Star Band soon followed and played a great set. The band included great musicians such as Rochester's own Steve Gadd on drums, Blue Lou Marini from the Blues Brothers, Jim Cox from Mark Knopfler's band and Taylor's son Henry on vocals. He opened with Country Road and played classic hits like Fire and Rain, Shower The People and closed the set with How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You). For the encore he played four songs and was rejoined by Jackson Browne for a cover of the Eagle's song he co-wrote with Glenn Frey Take It Easy and he also accompanied on You've Got A Friend. An excellent show.Slideshow[]
Final Day In Italy Includes Milan Trip & Last Supper Tour
Drone Shot Log - Lake Como, Italy
9/15/2019 - Milan, Italy - Today was the last full day of our trip in Lake Como, Italy. We started the day with our last delicious breakfast at the Hotel Du Lac, with the main destination today being the city of Milan, Italy. After breakfast we caught the ferry from Bellagio to Varenna and then the train from Vareena-Esino to Milano Centrale a common theme of our daily adventures. From Milano Centrale, we took the Milan Metro and headed down to Piazza del Duomo to see the gorgeous Milan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano). We also spent some time wandering around the massive shopping centre of Grand Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II a most impressive structure. We walked a few minutes to take a guided tour of the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie the home of one of the greatest artistic masterpieces in the world The Last Supper by Leonardo di Vinci. It was very impressive and the tour continued walking a few blocks to the church of San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore which is sometimes known as the Sistine Chapel of Milan. It truly was an incredible masterpiece collection of artwork. We headed back to Bellagio via train and ferry arriving in time for one last dinner at our favorite spot Pizzeria La Grotta. We then reluctantly packed and spent some time enjoying Bellagio. The next day we were up very early and picked up our breakfast bags provided by Hotel Du Lac and pushed our luggage to the ferry port. Our long journey home via ferry from Bellagio to Varenna, then two trains from Varenna to Milano Malpenso Airport, grabbing a nice lunch in the airport, then onto our non stop from Milan to Toronto. The end of a fantastic adventure.Slideshow[]
9/9/2019 - Lake Como, Italy - A couple drone shots of gorgeous Lake Como. Most shots are near the village of Bellagio and a few shots of the city of Como. Lake Como and it's towns and villages are absolutley awesome !Slideshow[]
Perfect Memorial Day Balloon Launch At Letchworth State Park
5/27/2019 - Castile, New York - The Memorial Day weather forecast was perfect for the annual early hot air balloon launch at Letchworth State Park near Castile, New York. Dom talked me into getting up at 4 AM and heading south to the park. We arrived a little before 6 AM and found a perfect spot right next to the launch spot. Again the weather was absolutely perfect and the launch took place a little after 6. Over twenty balloons successfully launched and they all manuevered into the gorge and then high over the park. We had a good spot and the views were impressive, definitely worth getting up early in the morning. We drove down to Inspiration Point and took a couple photos there hoping maybe one or two balloons made it that way but none were spotted, still some good shots of the falls to be had. We headed back home and stopped at Hilton Family Diner for a nice breakfast before heading home for a nice late morning nap.Slideshow[]
Lightfoot Rides The Carefree Highway To Auditorium Theatre
4/21/2016 - Rochester, New York - Today we headed to downtown Rochester, New York to see the legendary performer Gordon Lightfoot perform at the Rochester Auditorium Theatre. This was a freebie courtesy of Deb the contest queen. The tickets were just okay far back in the center orchestra but again free. The 77 year old Lightfoot was performing on his 50 Years On The Carefree Highway Tour. The show started promptly at 8 PM and Lightfoot put on an excellent show. Although he showed his age a bit, he played two great what he called condensed sets cause that's all his audiences could handle. He played many of his classics such as Rainy Day People, Sundown, If You Could Read My Mind and Beautiful to name a few. He provided a great insightful introduction about the writing of his classic The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. He then went on to perform it beautifully. His band was pretty good and lead guitarist Carter Lancaster hit every classic lick on every classic tune. This was another great free concert watching the legendary Lightfoot perform, thanks again to Deb.Slideshow[]
Victor Wooten Jams At 13th Annual Hilton Evening Of Jazz
2/5/2016 - Hilton, New York - Today we attended the 13th Annual Evening of Jazz at Merton Williams Middle School in Hilton, New York. This years Evening of Jazz featured artist was the five time Grammy award winning bass player, Victor Wooten. The Merton Williams Jazz Ensemble opened the evening with several numbers under the direction of Kevin Weber. They were joined by Victor Wooten for their final number. This was followed by an amazing solo set by Wooten who showed his unbelievable skills at playing the electric bass. He played a great version of the Beatle's classic Yesterday, using multiple loops to play it solo as his own band. He was also joined by a Hilton senior for a great version of Amazing Grace. The final set of the evening featured Dom and his Hilton High School Jazz Ensemble band hitting the stage being directed by Jared Streiff. They opened with a great version of Doug Beach's Cut & Paste that featured Dom performing a superb solo on Tenor Sax and Mike Mancuso soloing on Trumpet. The band was very tight and played several great numbers including Hunting Wabbits and That's Life. They were then joined by Hilton Alumni to play two other numbers Soup Bone and Easy Money with numerous well done solos. The final number the original Jazz Ensemble was joined by headliner Victor Wooten to play Bob Mintzer's Computer. This featured another excellent solo from Dom on Tenor Sax setting up the final solo by Victor Wooten on bass. It was a great show and Dom did a fantastic job playing Tenor Saxophone with a world renowned multi Grammy winning artist. Again just a great show...Slideshow[]
Muse Brings Drones World Tour To Toronto's Air Canada Centre
Reelin In The Steely Dan On Birthday Road Trip To The Falls
1/16/2016 - Toronto, Canada - Today we headed north of the border to Toronto, Canada to watch the band Muse perform on their Drones World Tour at the Air Canada Centre. We left a little early driving to the outskirts of Toronto to pickup the TTC at Kipling to take us right to Union Station and the Air Canada Centre. We stopped for a quick cold view of the CN Tower and stopped and had a decent meal at Hoops Sports Bar and Grill taking in some NFL Divisional Playoff action. After dinner we headed to the Air Canada Centre and got our VIP tickets to the show that included a private reception with drinks and snacks in the exclusive Platinum Club. This also included a private viewing of the Muse-eum display of Muse memorabilia. We went to our seats which were excellent first row center stage. The X Ambassadors opened and did a good forty minute set that included their hit Renegades. Soon after Muse hit the stage which encompassed the entire ice of the Air Canada Centre. They came out and did an excellent show with a setlist of both old and new songs. They opened with Psycho and played an excellent version of Hysteria that included and outro of AC/DC's Back In Black and Rush's YYZ that required a guitar lesson for guitarist Matt Bellamy from bassist Chris Wolstenholme. They had great visuals and effects that included huge bouncing balls, confetti machines, and even a spaceship that flew around the arena and that topped off with great sound. They played hits like Starlight, Time Is Running Out and Uprising. The crowd was very much into it cheering and singing along. They came out for a two song encore that started with Mercy. They then had a nice intro of Ennio Morricone's Man With The Harmonica leading into the final song of the evening Knights Of Cydonia. This was a great show all the way around.Slideshow[]
8/8/2014 - Niagara Falls, New York - Today we hit the road and headed west to celebrate Deb's birthday with a little entertainment in Niagara Falls on both sides of the border. We drove up and decided to take advantage of the beautiful day and walked across the Rainbow Bridge into Canada. We took in some nice views of the Falls on the bridge and the Canandian side. We stopped at Casino Niagara and did some gambling winning a few bucks on the slots and the blackjack tables. We walked back to the American side and enjoyed a delicious surf and turf dinner at TGI Friday's. We then headed to the Seneca Niagara Casino and did some more gambling prior to the Steely Dan concert in their main event center. This would be the sixth time we have seen Steely Dan around Deb's birthday and it has become almost an annual tradition. The band came out a little after eight to the late arriving sell out crowd and played a very good set. They opened with Black Cow and played many of their classics. Donald Fagan continues to sound great singing the classics and Walter Becker played plenty of the lead guitar with the help of Jon Herrington for this show. The set list included hits like Hey Nineteen, Josie, My Old School and finishing the set with Reelin' In The Years. They came out for a single encore of what else Kid Charlamagne, with Job Herrington playing the classic guitar solo. Another great concert and happy birthday celebration!Slideshow[]
Going Back And Doin It Again With Steely Dan At CMAC
Hanging Out In Maui Just Doin Our Thang - Part III
7/20/2013 - Canandaigua, New York - For the third summer in a row Deb and I headed down to CMAC to watch one of our favorite bands Steely Dan performing on their Mood Swings Tour. It was a beautiful evening that started with a nice seafood dinner at Joe's Crab Shack. After dinner we stopped at Finger Lakes Racetrack and Casino to give them a tax deductible donation. Finally onto our final destination CMAC, where we had excellent seats center stage about fourteen rows back. The opening act was Deep Blue Organ Trio. These guys were the perfect opener for Steely Dan and played a too short but entertaining jazz set. Soon after Steely Dan hit the stage and played a tremendous set. They came with their full band ensemble including singers and a brass section. They played a diverse set of their classics including Hey Nineteen, Show Biz Kids, Time Out Of Mind and Don't Take Me Alive to name a few. Walter Becker played some tasty lead guitar for the majority of the first set. Donald Fagan threw in one of his excellent solo numbers New Frontier that was great. They finished the set with their major classics of Peg, Josie, My Old School and finished the set with a version of Reeling In The Years that brought the crowd to its feet with a roaring applause. Jon Herrington did all the heavy lifting lead guitar for this portion of the show and the encore. They came out and played a single encore of Kid Charlamagne which was so well received they almost came out for another one. A very good show by the dynamic duo once again...Slideshow[]
4/12/2012 - Maui, Hawaii - The Maui magic continued today as we just continued doing our thing having more fun each day. The days continue to start with the relaxing early morning beach walks. We decided to take a roadtrip to the top of Mount Haleakala 10000 feet above sea level. Although there was significant cloud cover at Leleiwi Lookout at the peak there were still some breathtaking views including above the cloud views. We headed back to Kaanapali Shores and enjoyed another nice sunset then headed down to Lahaina for a nice dinner at Bubba Gumps. The dinner included some buckets of crablegs and excellent desserts served by what appeared to be Deb's brothers twin working as a server. The next day we decided to hang at the ocean side pool at Kaanapali Shores and do some beaches. We swam and hottubbed and had a nice lunch at the Beach Club pool side including some nice exoctic drinks at the poolside bar. Dom went down to the beach and decided to take a surfing lesson from the friendly people at Island Scuba. Dom got some instruction on the beach, then paddled out and got up the first time and caught some good waves and some good spills. Dom is now a surfer dude. We then journeyed to DT Fleming Beach to do some boogie boarding with the free boards Deb got from her new Hawaii pals. Everyone including Deb went in and caught some of the awesome waves at DT Fleming Beach. After the beach we headed back to the condo took in the usual sunset and headed back to Lahaina for some shopping and some live music at Hard Rock and ending the day with some Coldstone Creamery concoctions that were excellent. More to come but not enough. 1245Slideshow[]
The Return To Thee Place Maui Yes Maui ! - Part I
Seneca Park Zoo Invaded By Kindergardeners
4/7/2012 - Maui, Hawaii - The long journey to thee place yes Maui started early today leaving the house at 4AM. It started with a drive to Buffalo International Airport to catch a flight from Buffalo to Chicago to Honolulu and then a puddle jumper from Hononlulu to Kapalua Airport on the West Side of Maui a stones throw from our condo at Kaanapali Shores. The flight was long but ok except the Island Air flight which seemed like an adventure in itself but we made it safely without issue. We then checked into our condo at Kaanapali Shores and were slightly disappointed to have a side unit closer to the ocean but not our favorite view they moved us the next day to a center unit with the ocean view we have come to know and love. The Maui adventure began with the daily sunrise walks on the beach. We took a drive across the island to Kahului and picked up supplies at the super Walmart and stopped on the way to eat at one of our favorite burger joints on the island Ruby' Diner. We then wasted no time exploring the south west coast including hanging in the favorite Maui town of Lahaina. We went all the way to Kahakuloa Head, then back to Nakalele Point to climb down the mountain side to get our annual and up close view of Nakalele Blowhole. We then stopped at DT Fleming Beach but the winds were to severe to swim it or hang on the beach. We headed back to the condo for dinner at the Beach Club which was excellent, including Nicole's favorite Salmon in the world which did not disappoint. We did some swimming in the ocean side pool and enjoyed a nice sunset easing into our Maui vacation. 2345Slideshow[]
5/27/2005 - Rochester, New York - Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester was the scene of literally hundreds of kindergardeners, including Dominic and pals from Hilton Village Elementary, ascending upon the zoo. The kids were bused in early and enjoyed an overcast but rain free day. The top attractions at the zoo for Dom and pals had to be the sea lions and the penguins. The playground was a zoo within the zoo for all the kids there to release some energy. A fun and educational experience for all.Slideshow[]
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