Thursday, February 20, 2014

5 Wits at Destiny USA


5 Wits at Destiny USA

5 WIts Destiny USA Syracuse NY

 Kevin Tampone | ktampone@syracuse.com 

on February 20, 2014 at 1:31 PM, updated February 20, 2014 at 3:16 PM
Syracuse, N.Y. — Forget sitting on your couch and just playing a video game. The newest entertainment attraction at Destiny USA puts you inside one.
5 Wits, located on the third floor of the mall's expansion section, opens its first immersive, interactive adventure today. But what exactly is an immersive, interactive adventure, you ask?
Here's what you need to know.
Think walk-through. You're not strapped into a ride car. "If you're exploring the ancient Egyptian tomb, you are Indiana Jones for that half hour," 5 Wits CEO Matthew DuPlessie. "It's really hands on."
5 Wits Destiny USA

Each 30-minute show features theme park-style special effects. They all include a series of rooms containing a handful of different puzzles and challenges participants must navigate.
The company's first two Destiny attractions are Tomb, an Indiana Jones-style adventure, and Espionage, a spy-themed show. Tomb opens today. Espionage will follow in about two weeks. A grand opening celebration is planned for early April.
Be ready to exercise your body and your mind. The challenges include mental and physical obstacles. In Espionage, for example, participants might have to crawl through some duct work to break into enemy headquarters or maneuver through a room rigged with laser beams. In Tomb, you have to solve various puzzles using ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics
The shows adapt. The decisions you make and your performance in the challenges affect the outcome. The shows all have multiple endings. You can lose.
The difficulty of the puzzles also adjusts depending on how well you're doing. At Destiny, each attraction will include a virtual character who will help guide customers.
It's intense, not scary. Still, the shows are probably bit much for kids under age 7, according to the company. Children under age 13 must be with an adult at all times. The adventures feature some loud sound effects, flashing lights and some darkness and dim lighting.
5 Wits has been around the block. DuPlessie founded the company about 10 years ago after designing rides and attractions in Florida for Universal Studios and Disney.
5 Wits' first show was Tomb, which opened near Fenway Park in 2004 and ran for six years.



There's more on the way at Destiny. Two more shows will open at the mall later this year. They're both brand new concepts for 5 Wits and are being designed especially forDestiny. One will be a medieval-themed adventure called Castle and the other is a yet-to-be-named futuristic, sci-fi-style attraction.
How much? Admission to each adventure is $14.99 on weekends, holidays and during school vacation weeks. It's $12.99 on other weekdays. Discounts are available if you buy admission to multiple shows at once. The attraction also has a full-day pass available that allows customers to go through all the adventures as many times as they want. 5 Wits is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

CLICK HERE for a Virtual Tour of The Tomb at Five Wits

Five Wits at Destiny USA




Thursday, January 30, 2014

10th Annual Girls Night Out Embassy Suites Syracuse

Embassy Suites Syracuse 10th Annual 

10th Annual Girst Night Out Embassy Suites Syracuse

Friday March 7, 2014 at

Embassy Suites Syracuse

6646 Old Collamer Road South
East Syracuse, New York 13057
1-315-446-3200


Are you starting to feel a bit "snowed in" ?   Or maybe you've felt that way for awhile now.
Days are still short and this winter keeps going and going in upstate New York.

You deserve to get away.  Get your girlfriends together for Syracuse's 10th Annual
Girls Night Out and make your own sunshine. You'll soon forget its cold outside while
 enjoying a night of dancing, shopping, and pampering!

Take advantage of over 30 "ladies only" pampering services that Embassy Suites Syracuse
 has lined up featuring: manicures, tattoos, massage, jewelry, psychics, clothing, chocolate,
 Lia Sophia, handbags and much more!

Plus all Girls Night Out guests of Embassy Suites Syracuse enjoy:


  • Complimentary open-bar from 5:30 - 7:30pm 
  • Two Room Suite
  • Full cooked to order breakfast
  • Special Girls Night Out Group rate
  • Room rate of $99.00 for Saturday March 8, 2014



Click Here and start to feel those winter blues melt away at Embassy Suites Syracuse's

Embassy Suites Syracuse Girls Night Out

Friday, January 10, 2014

Romance Syracuse

from  thefreegeorge.com

Date Night in Syracuse – We Got You Covered (Things to Do in Syracuse Blog)

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Westcott Theatre, Syracuse, Date NightYou want to “paint the town red”, we got it. You want a romantic evening for two, we got that too. Speaking from personal experience, this city definitely has what it takes for an ideal night for two. All you need is maybe a little guidance to make it work. And with that in mind, here’s a few suggestions.
It’s not a bad idea to keep every portion of your date within a relatively tight radius, and that’s real easy to pull off. The best thing to do is pick a show or gig that you’d like to attend and build around that. For instance, if you plan on going to the Red House on West Street to see an acoustic act, being on the edge of Armory Square allows so many options for dining out that your head will be spinning. Here are some choices that make a great combo, particularly for dates.
You can’t go wrong with Pastabilities. This joint will not only enhance date night with its amazing selections, all of which are made from scratch, but it’s also anything but stuffy. The key to a good dinner date is not to become overstuffed, so eating at a place that serves proper portions is a huge plus. You don’t want to be uncomfortable on the rest of your date, after all.
A completely different atmosphere is Kitty Hoyne’s Irish Pub and Restaurant. If you’re searching for a taste of Ireland, they have it here, both figuratively and literally. The food is authentic and very good, and the service is fast and friendly. You may even be lucky enough to have a server from Ireland, a nice little touch I must say. To compliment your meal, they surprise you with a goodbye muse as a nice finish, another added benefit.
The cool thing about the Red House for a date is that it’s small and intimate, perfect for getting in the mood, and offering some great music as well. They have different performances throughout the night, so depending on your time frame, you’ll want to pick which one works for you. If you arrive a little on the early side and have a chance beforehand, it’s also worth checking out the gallery upstairs for a little pre-show art fix.
Bittersweet, Syracuse, Date NightFor the ultimate conclusion…a little vino and a scrumptious dessert. Bittersweet is worth the short hike for a sugar fix. Designed around the premise of vino and sweet treats, it’s quite quickly become a hip destination. They offer a fairly decent wine selection, and you can choose from a two ounce sampling or a four ounce serving if you want just a taste. Their decadent desserts are more than enough for one, so splitting one is your best bet, and besides, it’s more romantic. Unfortunately, there’s no website, but they do have a facebook page should you want to get a peek.
If the Red House isn’t your primary destination, if say you’re going to a show at the Westcott Theatre, there’s two great choices for chow right next door. Alto Cinco is extremely tasty, think Southwestern fare with a flare, and they have a decent wine and beer selection as well. Their dishes are made from all fresh ingredients and offer some pretty intriguing combinations, far beyond your usual Tex-Mex joint.
One step further and literally next door is Munjed’s, perfect if you’re in the mood for Middle Eastern, and let’s face it, this type of chow literally inspires you to share, which makes eating together even more enjoyable. They serve beer and wine as well, but I would suggest a good wine with your grub here, as you will be full up after this one.
For a classy date that’s maybe a little more reserved, a trip to the symphony is top notch. Syracuse Symphony Orchestra provides us with incredible classical concerts and they play regularly at the Crouse-Hinds Theater inside the John H. Mulroy Civic Center. Most of the performances are on Friday and Saturday nights, with a different theme each weekend. If you don’t mind walking a few blocks on this date, there are a few restaurants in Hanover Square to choose from. Prime Steak House is one of the more upscale choices in the area, and there’s also Anthony’s Pasta Bar, which is what I’d pick. For having modern décor, the atmosphere has an unusually warm and inviting feel, and the Italian fare is beautifully prepared and reasonably priced. The little jaunt after will do you good before attending a night at the symphony.
By now, you should have a pretty good idea why Downtown Syracuse is a cool and happening place for date night. Being able to walk in between each portion of the evening adds to the charm and where you end up afterward is in your hands. Even if you choose to stay out for a while, these itineraries leave you in the midst of many possible destinations, so mix and match and design your own, if you’d like, but at least we got you started.
!
–Babette Puzey is a Contributor to The Free George.
The Free George is the online magazine and visitors’ guide of Upstate NY, covering things from Albany to Lake Placid, including Saratoga, the Lake George region and the Adirondacks. Check out our new City Blogs section for our extended coverage areas as well.
from embassysuites.com:

Where to Stay for a Syracuse Romantic Getaway?

Embassy Suites Syracuse, known as Syracuse's Hotel for Romance. Guests enjoy:

  • Two Room Suite
  • Complimentary Evening Reception
  • Free cooked to order breakfast
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Click Here and begin your Romance Syracuse with Embassy Suites Syracuse

Thursday, December 26, 2013

Syracuse Winterfest


Syracuse Winterfest

February 13-23, 2014


The first Winterfest was celebrated in 1985. It was the result of a small group of individuals from the Updowntowners of Syracuse, who committed months of time and energy to celebrate, rather than lament, winter in Syracuse and Onondaga County.

Community involvement and participation grew. It was the third year of celebration of Syracuse Winterfest Inc., and the Updowntowners of Syracuse, Inc. gained the full support of the City of Syracuse, Onondaga County, The Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce, WTVH-5, AM 570/WSYR, and Y94.

During the 1987-88 season, Syracuse Winterfest achieved New York State’s prestigious title of “Winter Festival Capital”. Due to public support and enthusiasm, Winterfest expanded from a weekend festival to its present two weeks.


Embassy Suites Syracuse - Syracuse's Winterfest Hotel

  • Free Cooked to Order breakfast
  • Evening Reception with complimentary drinks and snacks
  • Two Room Suite
  • Packages that include Bonus HHonor Points, Free WiFi, Gift Cards, Discount Room Rates and more!
  • Fitness Center
  • Indoor Heated Pool