Enjoy discounted shopping and dining during Downtown Dining Weeks! A handful of downtown retail stores will extend their hours until 8:00 pm next Thursday, so you can stop in before and after dinner. Take advantage of winter specials and incentive pricing.

Participating stores include: Showoff's Boutique, Projex214, Olive on Brooklea, Indie Kids, The Changing Room, the MOST, Mr. Shop, Midnight Sun and Modern Pop Culture. 

Enjoy dozens of indoor and outdoor events, parties, cook-offs and much more! Come celebrate Syracuse and all of its winter glory!

A few signature Winterfest events are scheduled for this weekend. Click the links for more information about each.

30th Annual Medallion Treasure Hunt

Culinary Cruise

Hurricane Mix-Off

Ice Carving at Clinton Square

Martini Mix-Off

95X Polar Pub Crawl (Scroll down for more information about this event)

Corn Hole Tournament (Scroll down for more information about this event)

Local car dealers will be showcasing hundreds of the newest cars, trucks and SUV's on the market this weekend - giving people a chance to see what new features are available. Licensed drivers can get behind the wheel of some of the newest Toyota cars and trucks and test drive them around Downtown Syracuse at the Toyota Drive Center. Or, imagine warm summer days as you preview motorcycles, ATVs, personal watercraft, scooters and towable campers. There's plenty of things for kids to do, including magic acts and facepainting. On Saturday, enjoy live music from Just Joe and Brickyard Road, plus wine and craft beer tasting. On Sunday, the kids can party with karaoke and Xbox's Just Dance on a giant screen.

This irreverent romp strips everything tasteful from the Academy Award-winning horror classic, "The Silence of the Lambs." You won't want to miss the butch FBI agent, Clarice Starling, track down serial killer Buffalo Bill before he completes his infamous "Woman Suit." But first, to get to Bill, she has to face down the mack daddy of murderers: Dr. Hannibal Licked-Her! Please note, this is for mature audiences only.

The Evergreen will have four awesome Jack's Abby craft beers on tap this Friday, plus special food pairings. Sample Jack's Abby House Lager, Framinghammer, Blood Orange Leisure Time and Excess IPL. Talk to the Jack's Abby representative to receive a free pint glass, while supplies last! 

Click here to learn more about each beer, and see the food pairing specials.

This Saturday, the Museum of Science and Technology (MOST) will host Charles T. Driscoll, PhD, a Distinguished and University Professor in Syracuse University's College of Engineering and Computer Science. Driscoll will lead a discussion about water-borne pathogens as part of the latest Junior Cafe Scientifique. The talks are aimed at middle school students, who must be accompanied by a parent or adult. The event is hosted by the Technology Alliance of Central New York (TACNY). A light breakfast is served before the event. TACNY Junior Cafe Scientifique features an informal discussion with a scientist, engineer or technologist every month during the school year.

95X is kicking off Syracuse Winterfest with a Polar Pub Crawl. Make your way around Hanover Square and sample some of the best 1911 cider flavors. The first 100 people that come to Maxwells at 5:00 pm to register for the pub crawl will get a free t-shirt! The Pub Crawl will start at 6:00 pm from Maxwells. Registrants will receive a punch card for each bar. Bring that back to Maxwells by 8:30 pm for a chance to win the grand prize drawing - a 1911 Kegerator! There will be plenty of other prizes, including concert tickets, ski passes and gift certificates. 

Click here to see the full list of participating bars. Please note, participants must be 21 or older.

Elina Vahala makes her first appearance with Symphoria in this performance of Corigliano's Red Violin Concerto. This concert also features the Redline Tango and two works of Barber and Gershwin that premiered nine years apart.

Please join music director, Lawrence Loh for the Bond, Schoeneck & King Pre-concert Talk, which begins at 6:30 pm. 

Maxwells is hosting an outdoor corn hole tournament as part of Winterfest. Register inside at Maxwells between 11:00 am and noon on Sunday, February 19th. The tournament starts at noon.

Looking for someplace fun to take the kids over Winter Break? The MOST will be open 10:00 am to 5:00 pm every day during the school vacation with demonstrations, planetarium shows and extra hands-on activities. Click here for a complete schedule of activities. Hands-on activities are free with exhibit admission.

Looking for fun and creative activities for your children (ages 5-12) during mid-winter break? The Everson Museum of Art is offering art classes from 9:00 am to Noon, starting next Tuesday, February 21 through Friday, February 24. Each day will feature a different themed activity to engage young artists, including art making, gallery exploration, storytelling, games and more! 

February 21 - Painting Syracuse Landscapes

February 22 - Creative Mask Making

February 23 - Collage Art inspired Bradley Walker Tomlin: A Retrospective exhibition

February 24 - Printmaking

You're invited to spend time as a family on Wednesday, February 22 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Dig into clay to create a playful creature, watch art come to life through a wheel throwing demonstration, then explore the galleries on your own or in a family-friendly tour with a Museum docent.

John Ferrara's Classical Guitar Ensemble brings music from the Renaissance to the present day, including Spanish and Latin American favorites! Listen on your lunch break next Wednesday!

civicmorningmusicals.org or 315-474-6064

Cost: Free

at the Clinton Square Ice Rink  ( map )

Wednesday, February 22, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

There's just a few weeks left to celebrate winter with a free skate night each Wednesday at the Clinton Square Ice Rink. Enjoy free admission (weather permitting) from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Wednesday evenings through March 9, presented by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. Please note, skate rental fees still apply. 

What is a mule and why were these humble animals the backbone of the early Erie Canal? Join Erie Canal Museum curator, Ashley Maready as she discusses mules, debunks fact and fiction, and discusses history and science during the first in a series of quarterly curator talks. Free parking is available in Museum-designated spots in the lot on Erie Boulevard East under I-81 and 690. 

eriecanalmuseum.org or 315-471-0593

Cost: Free

Monday

@ Wolff's Biergarten, 106 Montgomery Street ( map), 7:00 pm
Play for free and BYOF - Bring Your Own Food. Prizes will be available for the top teams. 315-299-7789

Tuesday

@The Evergreen, 125 E. Water Street (map), 8:00 pm

Play for free. The winning team takes home a $50 gift card each week. 315-870-3500

Wednesday

@The Saltine Warrior Pub, 214 W. Water Street (map), 8:00 pm

Play for free. Prizes awarded to the top three teams! 315-314-7740

Thursday

@Maxwells, 122 E. Genesee Street (map), 7:00 pm

Play for free. The winner of the entire contest takes home a trophy and some swag! 315-299-6633

We hope you'll join us on Tuesday, March 14 at 8:00 am in the Persian Terrace of the Marriott Syracuse Downtown for our first Progress Breakfast of 2017 as we shine a spotlight on Arts & Culture in Downtown Syracuse. 

Mike Intaglietta and Stephanie Crockett will share the Landmark Theatre's story of resurgence, previewing what's next for the historical treasure as the curtain rises on its next exciting chapter.

Carol Eaton, Vice President of Marketing for Visit Syracuse, will share new regional branding initiatives and discuss how the arts have helped boost new business and tourism throughout Downtown Syracuse, helping our community stand-out as a visitor destination.

Sean Kirst, beloved former columnist for the Post Standard and masterful storyteller, will share his favorite stories highlighting the role the arts have played in shaping Downtown's character, culture and charm.

Tickets are on sale now for $25 for one seat, or you may purchase a table of eight seats for $200 (reserved seating). Following breakfast, presenters will be available to mingle with guests. 

Click here for more information

Get sliders for just $1 on Mondays at The Evergreen (map)! Top them off with whatever you like at the fixings bar. Plus, don't forget about Happy Hour every day from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Click here for more information

The Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology (MOST) opened a new permanent exhibit that examines the genius of Leonardo da Vinci. The exhibit features 16 models of da Vinci's machines, including his flying machine, parachute, printing press, odometer and hydraulic screw. The exhibit also gives a nod to da Vinci's art, including a space for visitors to draw their own masterpieces. The exhibit is free with museum admission. 

Click here for more information