Hello Sourcers! Once again this week we have an embarrassment of riches, so let’s dig right in.

🪉 Harps!

🀣 Orchids!

👑 Queen!

🦸🏽 Comics!

🎶 Music Videos!

🏴‍☠️ ANARCHY!!!

Whew. Even that list is a lot.

Ok, let’s start out at the lovely Center for the Arts in Homer, which is hosting a Harp Tasting event on Saturday from 2-3pm. This is actual harps, not the delicious Irish lager, but you are not allowed to lick the harps. It’s an opportunity to try out various types and styles of harps, experiencing the different tones, and then vote on your favorite. Not wild about that part. I bet they’re all really good harps.

This weekend in Johnson City, the Southern Tier Orchid Society holds its Spring Orchid Show, with vendors, raffles, expert talks, and demos. This is the 40th anniversary of the event.

The 70th season of the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra continues with One Vision: The Music of Queen at the BU Forum on Saturday at 7:30pm. If you made a list of bands whose music should be interpreted by a full orchestra, Queen might rank very near the top. This concert is free for anyone under 17.

Speaking of free, this Saturday is Free Comic Book Day! It’s also Comics Giveaway Day, but no one wants me to go full into the weeds on comic book distribution disputes (believe me when I say, I could). Free Comic Book Day can be a great opportunity for comic book fans to patronize their local shops, but it can also be sort of the Harp Tasting of comics. Shops are quite literally giving comics away for free, so you can take a risk on something new. Also, there are tons of options for kiddos. Keep in mind that, like public media, free comics are free to you but come at a cost, so try to buy something while you’re there.

If you need recommendations on comic book stores near you, let me know. I have opinions.

This Friday at the Roberson Museum in Binghamton, it’s the Binghamton Out of This World Music Video Festival, with screenings at 6pm, 7pm, and 8pm. This is a collection of locally produced music videos, with the same set screened each hour. Ticket sales support the Roberson’s public programming, and it’s a great opportunity to check out a bunch of new local bands in one go. 

Dare I say it’s the Harp Tasting of local bands?

[EDITORS NOTE: Usually Christine is around to rein in my jokes, but Christine is on vacation this week. Sorry]

Finally, the weekend the folks at PM Press are hosting the Upstate Anarchist Book Fair at their warehouse in Binghamton on Saturday and Sunday. PM Press has been a great presence in the region since relocating here from the West Coast back in 2022; in addition to the Binghamton warehouse space, they’ve also reinvigorated Autumn Leaves Books on the Ithaca Commons. The book fair will feature vendors, author talks, and crafts.

That’s enough to keep anyone busy, and the calendar continues to look pretty full for a while. Hope to see you soon,

Yours,

Bob Proehl

Locally Sourced editor

sponsors

☕️ Java Journeys: Press Café, Ithaca NY

Have you ever been wandering through a festival, soaking it all in, and suddenly realized you needed a pick-me-up before heading home? That’s exactly where my wife and I found ourselves in Ithaca—running on good vibes but low on caffeine before the drive back to our 6-year-old twins (who we knew would be full of energy).

Tucked away at 118 W Green Street in Press Bay Alley, we stumbled upon Press Cafe and instantly knew we found something special.

It’s a small space, but full of bright smiles, good vibes, and that “this is going to be good” kind of feeling. The tucked-away alley location makes it feel like a hidden gem.

The cashier was super friendly, letting us take our time while offering a few recommendations (always a good sign). After debating for a bit, I went with the Maple/Vanilla Cold Brew—and if you love maple like I do, it does not disappoint. Smooth, bold cold brew with a hint of vanilla and a rich maple flavor that’s sweet without being too much—super balanced and refreshing.

My wife switched her order last minute when we saw a special: an Orange Chocolate Cold Brew. It sounds unexpected, but it totally works. Hers was richer and more indulgent, with deep chocolate notes and a bright orange finish that gave it a fun twist.

The drinks were completely different—mine lighter and refreshing, hers deeper and more dessert-like—but both were so good.

And of course, I couldn’t leave without trying one of their Pocket Coffees. Coffee you can take anywhere? Sold. I grabbed the latte version (caramel, cream, and dark chocolate flavors), made with 100% Arabica beans—perfect for a quick boost on the go.

Between the welcoming vibe, creative drinks, and fun extras, Press Café is one of those spots that turns a quick stop into something memorable.

If you’re in Ithaca—especially during a festival—take a walk through Press Bay Alley and check it out. You might just find your new go-to.

sponsor

Binghamton based Honk ‘n Roll group The Neo Politans released their third full length album, Where the Magic Happens, in March. This is the final album in a trilogy that was recorded over two weekends at local recording studio Abandoned Studios. Four days in the studio yielded foundation recordings for thirty songs. The band then layered slide guitar, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, aux percussion and vocals for songs that would be released across three different albums. 

This album is arguably the most upbeat rockin’ album of the three. The first three songs let the listener know this album is going to have classic overdriven guitars, grooving drum and bass, energetic vocal harmonies, and tight aux percussion. 

There are a few slower songs on the album but those might be some of my favorites. “Side the House,” possibly my top track on the album, is a slower song in which the groove carries the listener through a story of an idyllic family. Even though the overall tone is not one of happiness, learning at the end that this idyllic family image is actually a veneer. Following each verse is a distant horn solo that feeds into the melancholic feeling of the song. The song comes to an end with overlapping saxophone, trumpet and trombone solos, giving the feeling of a chaotic family where everyone is talking over each other. 

On the other end of the spectrum, “My Back Door” is a driving track that keeps the momentum up the whole way through. Something that is all over this album, and the previous two, are fantastic conga performances, which we don’t typically hear in classic songs like these, but they fit in so well. This track begins with a bassline that introduces the congas, and eventually the rest of the band. I love the cut in the chorus that highlights the main hook of the song: it leaves just enough silence for the listener to miss that main riff. 

The Neo Politans have several shows coming up throughout the summer where they will be performing new unreleased material. Check out their latest album Where the Magic Happens and look out for their upcoming shows!

https://www.theneopolitans.com/