Katrina Tulloch

It’s State Fair season in Syracuse.

The New York State Fair butter sculpture is a weird and wonderful tradition that began in 1969, and has continued every year since. (Even the covid year! The butter people wore masks.)

| “Milk, Love What's Real” was the 2019 New York State Fair butter sculpture at the fairgrounds. (Michael Greenlar) File photos

Over two dozen syracuse reporters and editors swarmed the New York State Fair for a few hours on opening day Wednesday, tasked with finding the best food and drinks the event has to offer.

| The Curd Nerd owner Sarah Simiele was named the best cheesemonger in the country in 2023. Her cheese shop is located at 2800 James St. in Syracuse. (Katrina Tulloch) This is CNY

| ‘CUSE CABARET cast (L to R) Novis Fuller, Evelyn Oliver, Frederick Willard (music director), Natasia Lee White and Thomas Netter (also directing). Gatespring Productions

Tom Badman and Michelle Blankas enjoy their soup choices at Empty Bowls Project of Syracuse fundraiser for the food pantries of the Interreligious Food Consortium.

| In downtown Syracuse, Call Sheet Films LLC is filming a romantic comedy set in 1984 about a Spanish foreign exchange student falling in love with the daughter of his host family.

This year’s story starter was titled “Toddler of Terror.”

The winning students were honored at the 2024 Best and Brightest Awards ceremony Wednesday in downtown Syracuse.