Starting this Friday, November 26 through Friday, December 24, Dash and Dot – the Downtown Committee’s seasonal staff members – will resume their mission of highlighting all of the great gift options, services, traditions and holiday experiences found throughout Downtown Syracuse. The elves will take over the Downtown Committee’s social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) to share their adventures, special promotions and holiday tips. And, new this year, the elves’ Downtown expertise has been put to good use through two newly created guides designed to package the holiday experience in Downtown Syracuse. Building on the popularity of Dash and Dot, the Downtown Committee has introduced two new holiday guides: Dash and Dot’s Holiday Activity Guide and Dash and Dot’s Holiday Gift Guide. The Holiday Activity Guide includes a variety of traditions that Downtown Syracuse is known for. The Gift Guide features six categories packed with suggestions to help you find thoughtful, meaningful gifts for loved ones this season.

Downtown Businesses: If you would like to submit an item or an activity to be included in Dash and Dot’s Holiday Gift and Activity Guides, please send the elves a message via email at [email protected]. 

The popular Window Wonderland Walk and Contest returns for its 6^th Annual season this Friday. A record number of businesses (43!) will transform their ground-floor windows into engaging winter and holiday scenes to celebrate the season and vie for prizes. The community is invited to stroll through Downtown Syracuse and check out the businesses identified on a Window Wonderland map, accessible by clicking here, and then go inside these businesses - behind the windows - to see what’s inside! On Friday, November 26, the Downtown Committee will share a link on its website where you can vote for your favorite displays. Voting continues through Sunday, January 2. The top three displays to earn the most votes will receive prizes: $500 for First Place, $250 for Second Place and $100 for Third Place. Winning displays will be announced in the Downtown Committee’s newsletter on Tuesday, January 4. The promotion was designed to boost holiday spirit, entertain visitors, and attract new customers to experience Downtown Syracuse’s variety of retail, restaurant and cultural offerings.

Floridella Boutique has returned to Downtown Syracuse! The women’s clothing store celebrated a soft opening on Saturday at 406 S. Franklin Street (map). With a flair for trendy and classic styles, Floridella offers a variety of apparel, handbags and accessories. The retailer is known for its sophisticated, yet funky style, and selections are curated with comfort and quality in mind. The retailer is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm.

#DealAlert: Follow Floridella on Facebook and Instagram and tag Floridella in a post to receive 15% off. Show proof when you visit this week (through Saturday, November 27) to enjoy 15% off your purchase!

The shelves are stocked at DGX Syracuse, located at 301 S. Salina Street (map), as the store prepares to open next week. Right now, DGX is on target to open on Monday, November 29. It will be open from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm every day. DGX is a new store geared toward millennial shoppers. A division of Dollar General, DGX offers grab-and-go items, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables, health and beauty items, pet supplies, snacks and candy, cleaning supplies and more. The Syracuse location will be one of 27 other DGX stores in the United States, and the chain’s second location in New York State. The building that houses DGX was home to Woolworths from 1941 to 1979, then Rite Aid until 2019.

The Museum of Science and Technology (The MOST) has received an $80,000 grant through support from Senator John Mannion to help fund state-of-the-art upgrades to its Omnitheater and planetarium. The on-going renovations include the installation of new high-resolution digital projectors, new carpeting and energy-efficient lighting, all to enhance the visitor experience.

Show your love for the City of Syracuse with a “Welcome to Syracuse” t-shirt, designed to coincide with the new community-sourced gateway sign, entering Downtown Syracuse from West Genesee Street. This limited-edition t-shirt makes a great addition for holiday gifts! The new gateway sign, “Downtown Syracuse Welcomes You,” came about because of community partnerships. David Has (of @SyracuseHistory), @DigitalHyve, Kelly Wise, a local gardener, the Downtown Committee, Elevators Interiors Inc. and Laser Focus PDM were all involved. Syracuse Tomorrow’s Neighborhoods Today (TNT) provided the funding for plant materials, and local advocates Ed Griffin Nolan and Councilman Joe Driscoll helped champion the efforts. The t-shirt is only available until Friday, December 10th. All proceeds benefit Downtown Syracuse beautification efforts.

If you want to be the Downtown Committee's next Director of Operations, send in your resumes and cover letters now. The Downtown Committee is a downtown management organization that prioritizes Downtown's revitalization through improving its image, strengthening its economic base, increasing its attractiveness and assuring that Downtown remains clean, safe and accessible. The Director of Operations directs and participates in the daily operating duties of multiple buildings and ground sites throughout Downtown Syracuse to ensure the completion of maintenance activities and related projects within schedule and time constraints. The position is open because the current Director of Operations, Chuck McFadden, is retiring after 44 years of service.