Utica is my hometown, and an area with a lot of personality and a lot of things that make it very distinct. It's incredibly full of tradition and history. From the food to the beautiful intricate buildings to the events that give back, Utica is a place with a big personality and an even bigger heart. The things that I will never forget about Utica, N.Y., are:
1. You get personally offended when people don’t know what classic Utica foods are. (Chicken riggies, greens, half-moons, tomato pie, etc.)
2. You actually have withdrawal from these Utica foods when you’re away. (I’ve forced myself to learn how to make riggies for when I’m away at college, and I would recommend doing the same if you’re in my position.)
3. You end up spending more money than you should because you end up at the mall whenever you need something to do.
4. You know Utica College football and hockey games are a must.
5. You take pride in the Saranac Brewery as if it were your own.
6. You’ve gone on a brewery tour more than once.
7. You know you always have Saranac Thursday in the summer whenever you need a break or to wind down.
8. Events that give back are always looked forward to and are participated in. (The Heart Run and Walk, The Boilermaker, etc.)
9. You know who Rainbow is.
10. You can’t go anywhere without running into someone you know.
11. You’ve gone to the Utica Zoo at least once.
12. You know what true beauty is because you’ve been inside the Stanley Theatre and have seen at least one performance.
13. You’ve either taken a tour of Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute and/or have attended one of their car shows, art shows, etc.
14. You’ve experienced every season of weather in one week. Sometimes you even experience it all in one day.
15. You never really pack any clothes away because of the constant change in weather.
16. You go to any of the several locally owned coffee shops that provide the perfect environment for any mood.
17. You know it’s never the wrong time to treat yourself to one of the numerous locally owned restaurants that are to die for. (Delmonico’s, Bella Regina, Café Del Buono, etc.)
When you've lived in Utica for a long period of time, sometimes it feels like you’ve done it all and that there is nothing left. However, there are tons of memories made through all of these things and that none of them should be underestimated. Anything on this list will give you a new experience and new memories every single time. Once I went away to school, I realized how much I missed the little things there. It’s true that you don’t know what you have until it’s gone.
