A Summer Sunday Afternoon In Utica
Several months ago, my friend, Colin Hubbell, called me and said he’d like to do a fundraiser for CURE. We met for lunch so he could tell me about his idea. I’ve known Colin, literally, his whole life. His mother, Michelle, and I are long time friends. For awhile, when Colin was in high school and then went on to college we lost touch. We reconnected when I was working in Utica for Congressman Boehlert and Colin was working for the the congressman on the science committee staff. And, now he’s back home realizing his long time dream of owning a neighborhood bar. Colin and his partners, Nick, Mike, and Mark recently opened The Green Onion Pub in South Utica, which has quickly become a popular spot for an evening of entertainment, good company, and a great selection of all kinds of beers.
Anyway, back to Colin’s idea. He wanted to do something different for a small crowd. His plan was to invite 30 people and offer six different beer tastings (courtesy of Ithaca Beer) paired with six different dishes prepared by three up and coming area chefs. Terry Sardelli from The Willows, Dan Walter from The Balkan/Hadley, and Brian Dewey from the Huddle on Main all volunteered their ideas and talent in creating complementary plates. All money raised would go to CURE. It sounded like a wonderful idea! So, Colin took off and put together a phenomenal event. A great summer Sunday afternoon spent meeting new friends and enjoying some great food and beer pairings. We also had the opportunity to tell Christopher’s story and raise awareness about the devastating impact that epilepsy has on so many lives. Our family was especially touched by the time and hard work all these young men and their staffs donated to this effort. CURE made many new friends on June 26th. We thank all of those who supported the event with their generous donations, which will help to support critical epilepsy research. To anyone looking for a great place to spend a summer Sunday afternoon (or any other day) stop in at The Green Onion Pub. Try some Ithaca beer. And, looking for some unique local dishes, reserve a table at any one of these excellent restaurants.
Finally, Colin, thanks for saying you’ll always be Christopher’s bud! No one could ask for a better friend…..thanks for helping him make a difference.
