Started in 1983 by a group of bikers, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in downtown Syracuse is a full-service restaurant offering a full bar and waitress service. The restaurant's main dining room doubles as a blues club. The Dinosaur's stage features national and regional touring blues acts, as well as a biweekly open jam session for local amateurs. Dinosaur Bar-B-Que also serves as a private event space and has played host to artists like Bruce Springsteen and Melissa Etheridge. The restaurant is open seven days a week. Blues bands typically play every day but Sunday.
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
246 W. Willow St.
Syracuse, New York 13202
(315) 476-4937
www.dinosaurbarbque.com
Boasting some of the best wine and whiskey from around the world, Al's Wine & Whiskey Lounge is in downtown Syracuse. Offering artisan meats and cheeses, Al's also serves seasonal favorites like oysters on the half shell. On Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday nights, Al's doubles as a blues and jazz club, featuring local favorites like the Nasty Truth and the Sliders.
Al's Wine & Whiskey Lounge
321 S. Clinton St.
Syracuse, New York 13202
(315) 703-4773
http://alswineandwhiskey.com/
Syracuse has a rich and varied music scene. It is also the venue for the Central New York Jazz Festival and the Syracuse Jazz Festival. Clinton Square, in downtown, is home to concerts and music festivals like the Northeast Jazz and Wine Fest and the New York State Blues Festival. Supported by charitable contributions, the Blues Festival has been the largest and longest-running free blues festival in Syracuse, with two stages of continuous music over two days. Past favorites have included Bruce Katz, Popa Chubby, and Alexis P. Sutter. As of July 2010, the festival has been canceled due to lack of funding. However, organizers are investing all 2010 contributions toward a 2011 festival.
New York State Blues Festival
224 Harrison St.
Syracuse, New York
315-461-0068
www.nysbluesfest.com