As in Goldthwait, Bobcat Goldthwait, the unpredictable comedianturned-movie maniac who left our neck of the woods nearly 30 years ago to conquer the stand-up stages of Boston and California, then somehow ended up surviving Hollywood’s boulevard of...

Things looked bleak on Spencer Street last year as an iconic Syracuse diner teetered toward becoming a unique but depressing eyesore. The silver bullet that was once the popular Little Gem Diner had been closed since 2009 as the previous owner, beset by financing woes, abandoned ship.

Among the many follies that make up the history of Syracuse is OnTrack, the train service that began in 1994 to—rumor had it—shuttle riders from Armory Square to the Carrier Dome, Carousel Center and even Jamesville, mostly for Balloonfest.

Chastened by a 600-vote defeat in 2010, former Rep. Dan Maffei has regrouped and is ready to run again, even though some wonder if the 25th Congressional District will even exist in 2012. Census numbers dictate the number of representatives each state gets, and the state Legislature, along with Gov.

Although the series has been going on for about 10 years, since the addition of a new bar and patio this year, the revelry has exploded thanks to the killer combination. Marty Borio, co-owner with his cousin Tony and brother Chuck, explains, “The success of this is based on two things: good music and the best location.

The local TV news market has seen its share of musical chairs over the decades, with broadcasters often hopping from one channel across the dial to a different station. (And sometimes back to a former stomping ground, as Matt Mulcahy can attest.

Thanks to all you Syracuse sleuths, we were able to solve the Case of the Best of Syracuse, and not a moment too soon. Our crack detective and his lovely sidekick got the ball rolling, and you brought it home, with an impressive number of votes, especially in our online balloting.

Pumpkins and fun! 5K run/walk, snacks, entertainment, hay rides and antique tractors. Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Courthouse Park, Church Street, Cortland..

In support of his 31st studio album, Boundless (True North Records), Canadian folk legend Bruce Cockburn is making his touring rounds and bringing an acoustic solo performance to the Earlville Opera House, 18 E. Main St., Earlville, on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 8 p.

Someone needs to let Ann Marie Buerkle know that she is “Washington” now. She is now an integral part of that bad ol’ Washington she derides. Her performance in Washington, D.C., as outlined the Aug. 10 Sanity Fair article “Loco Motion,” couldn’t illustrate that fact any more clearly.