SYRACUSE PARTY

What Happened to the Party in the Plaza?

Posted by admin in Thursday, June 18th 2009

Local residents,and even some who have not lived here in years .. LOL ..will no doubt remember the “Party in the Plaza “.This event; which ran wed evenings 5-7 from memorial day to the fall was a mid week tradition of socializing,beer and live music.

Many people over the years attended; looking for “Mr. right” or at least Mrs. “right now” there.

The event regularly drew 1000s of people to the Federal Building plaza in downtown Syracuse, for decades.In recent years the attendence has dwindled to more like 100s of people,and the event repordedly became a money loser..[the point is to raise money for charity and other events as a nonprofit group].

This was due to a variety of factors.There were competing events scheduled on wed nites.I would argue that the refusal to pay for “name entertainment” and the reliance on the same few groups every year for decades ,failed to increase the audience.

As time went on local bands refused playing for free [expense money only].Maybe it had just run its course?.

Well aparently there was some issue withe former Federal Building Plaza location.

The event has now been moved “one block south” to the Atrium parking garage,[you read right !,the parking garage across the street from the construction site ].

Aparently the plan is to use the top level of the 4 story structure…no word on Rain plans!.The event is now on thursday evenings and has been renamed “OBCITYAN”…hmmm….

I would note that wed. evenings a local radio station is running free concerts at the inner Harbor with national acts playing for free.

The new event aparently will feature djs no live bands..Anyway here is the well hidden press release.

“The first event is sceduled for June 25 The “OBCITYAN” at a roof top garage new event replaces the Party in the Plaza; it’s a lynchpin of nightlife in Syracuse, New York.

Every Thursday in the summer, starting about five p.m., the party fills up to the roof top that you can see the surrounds the City complex.

Up to 1,000 people will turnout to listen to music, dance and munch on all manner of festival food. “This makes or breaks businesses in downtown Syracuse, it’s like another weekend night,” On top of that, 40% of the profits are distributed among other local groups to help them organize additional public events downtown. ”