Simple Reflections: When “Syracuse Is So Small” Starts to Feel Big

Since my last blog post, I’ve gone to so many things that absolutely were not on my bingo card for the year. November felt full in the best way—full of rooms I hadn’t been in before, conversations I didn’t expect to have, and reminders that Syracuse keeps revealing new sides of itself the more willing I am to show up.

One of the highlights was attending an album release party at Song & Dance for a local artist named PHEN, who just dropped his debut album, Kid. One of the potential downfalls of having this blog is the possibility that I’ll hate what I’m writing about. Because of that, I was genuinely nervous going into this listening party. I had no idea what the vibe would be, what kind of music I was about to hear, or honestly what I was walking into at all. I literally only knew one person there.

But I was so glad I went.

First of all, the music was amazing. PHEN is incredibly talented, but beyond that, he’s just a genuinely kind person, and you could feel that in the room. His family was there cheering him on, and that kind of support came through in the music itself. At one point, PHEN had the entire crowd singing one of his choruses, and let me tell you, the crowd sounded like a paid actor, well, in this case, paid musicians. Being there made me realize how much of Syracuse’s local music community I haven’t even scratched the surface of yet.

That feeling carried into other moments this month too. I attended a networking event with CNY Arts, where I got to see a new exhibit titled Freeway Futures: Re-imagining the I-81 Viaduct. It was so cool to experience art that felt deeply tied to place and possibility. I mingled with other local artists and creatives and even picked up a small book of stories told by immigrants in and around Central New York (I already read through It and it is a really great read BTW). And once again, I only knew one person there.

The same was true for Cozy Craft Club's event and the Pretty Girls Wellness pop-up with Imani. Each time, it felt like stepping into another little world of Syracuse that I hadn’t tapped into yet. And honestly, this has been the theme for every new thing I’ve tried this year, walking into rooms where I don’t know many people, and leaving feeling more connected than I expected.

All of this makes me think about how often I've heard people say, “I see the same people everywhere,” or “Syracuse is so small.” And I always wonder, why is that such a bad thing? Isn’t the point of community to recognize people, to feel a sense of belonging? If you’re only seeing brand new faces everywhere you go, how do you know where you truly fit in?

Whether it's an R&B night with Dj 40 and Mike O'Leary or The Syracuse Run Club or yoga with Lisa! As much as I love meeting new people, I also love walking into a space where I do see familiar faces. That's the type of thing that makes you feel like you're apart of the community.

Another example, recently, I went to Graced For More’s Bible study at The Society. If you've known me for some time now then you know I come from a God fearing family, okay! So I've been meaning to go and when I finally got the chance to, I fully expected to not know anyone besides the friend I planned to go with. But the moment I walked in, I immediately recognized a few women and instead of feeling bored or boxed in, I felt affirmed. It confirmed that I was exactly where I was supposed to be and that these women are clearly aligned with the path I'm on as well (and yes I gave my parents a call to let them know all the details afterwards LOL).

However, maybe that’s the real takeaway. Maybe this is your sign to not only try new things, but also to try different things. Yes, the point is to get out and do things you know you'll like, but if you keep going to the same types of events, it’s inevitable that you’ll see the same people. Syracuse being “small” isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But if it’s starting to feel a little too small for your liking, maybe it’s time to venture out. Take it upon yourself to really meet new people and immerse yourself in their worlds.

Syracuse truly is a growing city, and it’s not hard to find new things to do or new people. But if you do need that little nudge, here it is:

As you know, I’m hosting the blog’s 6-month anniversary celebration this Friday, December 19, from 5–8 PM at The Society. The entire point of this event is to bring all of these different worlds together. Meet someone new. Find something new to get involved in. Come promote yourself and let people find you. It’s a chance to gather the many communities this blog has introduced me to and celebrate them in one really fun, real-life moment.

This is also just a small thank you for welcoming me into so many different spaces and for somehow taking this online ecosystem of people and bringing it to life in person. I feel like I've truly met a ton of amazing people who just haven't met each other yet! So, please join me. It honestly wouldn’t be possible without everyone’s support. 💛