As Gossip Girl begins shooting its third season next week, we’ve learned that one of the pivotal characters in the season two finale was from right here in upstate New York. Saratoga Springs native Chris Riggi played Scott, the long-lost son of Lily and Rufus on the show’s season finale. Riggi will return for several episodes in season three as well.
According to The Utica Daily News, Singer Shooter Jennings proposed to long time girlfriend, Drea de Matteo during a performance at the Stanley Theatre Thursday night.
Later Shooter tweeted, ”Asked Drea to marry me on stage tonight. I’m a lucky man,” he Tweeted. “I’ll never forget Utica, NY.”
De Matte, who played Adriana La Cerva on The Sopranos, has been dating Jennings since 2001. The couple have a 2 year old daughter, Alabama Gypsyrose.
Alaska Governor and one time Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin visited Auburn last weekend to celebrate former U.S. Secretary of State William Henry Seward.
Seward helped negotiate the purchase of Alaska from Russia for 8 cents per square mile in 1867 and his legacy is part of Alaska’s current celebration of 50 years as a U.S. state.
Palin’s visit was a fundraiser for Seward House, the former secretary of state’s home. She spoke at Seward House Saturday afternoon and though her comments were supposed to be apolitical, an insider told us she got very political at points, discussing the decision not to allow Alaska to accept federal stimulus funds and her view that oil drilling should be allowed in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Actor Burt Young, who played Paulie in the Rocky films, and Fedrico Castelluccio, who appeared in The Sopranos, will be the grand marshals at the Boxing Hall of Fame Parade of Champions on Sunday June 14th at 1:00 pm in Canastota. The parade will feature over 40 boxing celebrities, bands and floats. The parade marks the 20th Anniversary of the hall of fame.
Comedian Michael Ian Black, currently filming the new Comedy Central series Michael and Michael Have Issues, was in Utica a few months ago and took to his blog about the experience.
Black felt that Utica had “nothing to offer anybody.” Ironic from someone who was raised in Hillsborough, New Jersey which isn’t exactly an urban center itself.
Black went on to say, “So what you get is one of those cities that looks like I think all Earth cities will look about a thousand years in the future when we have finally annihilated ourselves and the only evidence left of our existence are the crumbling husks of our former civilization. That’s Utica – the city of a shitty tomorrow, today.”
This is a common misconception made by downstate visitors who only spend a few hours upstate and ultimately it reinforces negative stereotypes about upstate NY and the people who live here.
What do you think of Black’s comments? Are they valid?
