News from the Noteworthy from Mark Drnek
City’s Downtown Is Continuing To Evolve
After a string of gloomy, rainy Saturdays, the sun shone warm and bright as Muller Plaza filled with people on Saturday, June 21. They were there to celebrate a new chapter in the history of Oneonta’s downtown (https://www.allotsego.com/gallodoro-stage-in-oneonta-pays-homage-to-woodwind-legend).
The embrace of our performing and visual arts is driving Oneonta’s renaissance, and the Al Gallodoro Memorial Stage is striking evidence of this new era we’ve entered. The stage is a work of art that provides a continuous connection to the audience, and a unique integration to the space around it. The pergola roof is in constant shadow-play with performers and the audience.
This wonderful new stage will complement our “Thursdays in the Park” programming with downtown performances every Friday and Saturday.
Geoff Doyle, the executive director of the Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, has put together a stellar collection of talents for those Friday evening and Saturday afternoon performances. You can find the complete listings for Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at www.exploreoneonta.com.
But wait…There’s more. Water Street will soon be caressed by the twinkling of string lights overhead and, on Saturday evenings, will fill with tables and chairs to support outdoor dining and live entertainment. Watch for announcements on that.
Back to the plaza. Every day this summer, Tuesday through Saturday, the folks at Club Odyssey are setting up umbrella-shaded tables, each offering QR-coded “menus” of every local restaurant, so that visitors can sample the many specialties in our little “foodie” city.
At the tables, you’ll find card games and other distractions to help you while away the time, as kids—young and young at heart—play at cornhole, or with an oversized chess game, or go bounding around on pogo sticks, or cool off in one of our water features.
Increasingly, the City of Oneonta’s downtown is becoming a destination for fun and entertainment, for relaxation and socialization, and Muller Plaza is the epicenter.
But all of downtown is joining the act. Countless locals and visitors are already filling their photo libraries with pictures taken at one of our dozens of “face in the hole” illustrated boards. You’ll find those on the sidewalks in front of our shops and restaurants. My personal favorite: “Take your picture with Pee-wee Herman!”
Art and performance are everywhere, and there’s more coming!
Our Public Arts Commission is working with area artists to adorn our blank walls with murals, and our Main Street windows are becoming a gallery for displays of art and history.
Oneonta’s renaissance hasn’t escaped the notice of developers. Several long-vacant buildings are subjects of discussion or imminent news. Watch for that.
There’s so much happening right now in Oneonta. If you haven’t visited in a bit, there is no time like the present! We’ll save a spot for you.
Mark Drnek is the mayor of the City of Oneonta.
