The Crystal Palace in Oneonta is a barber shop and more.
Owner Randy Miritello has combined barber skills and musicianship at the downtown venue at 18 Dietz St. Customers, seen on a walk-in basis, may be entertained by musicians who stop by to play, he said. The back portion of the shop has space for music-making _ and a lounge-like area for listening _ and Miritello said a jam session is held during an open house from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursdays.
"I love music," he said Tuesday. "It's a way to bring people in."
The shop offers haircuts, beard trims, barber facials and straight-razor shaves, Miritello said. On Saturdays, his son, Avery, 13, offers shoe shines. Barber Tony Mercado also works at the Crystal Palace.
Miritello previously worked as a plumber for 20 years under the Angelo's Plumbing business name. But after deciding on a career change, he said, he enrolled in a 500-hour barbering course in 2010 and took exams for state licensing. He signed a lease for space at 18 Dietz St. in January, and after five months of preparation and renovations, he opened the Crystal Palace in May.
Miritello, a singer and guitarist, rehearses at the shop with other members of the Horseshoe Lounge Playboys on Wednesday nights after business hours. The group, which plays a mix of old-time country and bluegrass, performs about 80 shows annually, he said.
The Crystal Palace Barber Shop is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and until 7 p.m. on Thursdays and from 9 a.m. to closing on Saturdays. Miritello said haircuts start at $10, straight-razor shaves are $12 or $15 and up and gift certificates are available. For more information, call the Crystal Palace at 435-0145.
Brewery Ommegang revises hours of operation
Brewery Ommegang near Cooperstown has revised hours for its store and café, which also offers and expanded menu, a media release said.
The café at Ommegang and the store are open from noon until 5 p.m., with tours ending at 4:30 p.m., Sunday through Wednesday. From Thursday through Saturday, hours are noon to 7 p.m. Ommegang is closed New Year's Day.
Café Ommegang serves beef stew, chicken on a waffle and lamb braised in beer, the release said. The brewery offers tours and tastings and its store sells beer, glassware, chocolates, shirts and gifts.
Brewery Ommegang, which opened in 1997 to craft-brew Belgian-style ales, creates six ales year-round as well as a range of seasonal and specialty ales. The beers have won national recognition and are distributed in more than 40 states, the release said.
The brewery is located on a 136-acre farmstead at 656 County Highway 33 in Milford. For more information, write to info@ommegang.com, call (800) 544-1809 or visit www.ommegang.com.
NBT Bank to acquire New Hampshire bank
Hampshire First Bank will merge into NBT Bancorp's banking subsidiary, NBT Bank, in a transaction valued at about $45 million, a media release said, and the closing is expected early in the second quarter of 2012.
HFB, a state-chartered commercial community bank with five locations in southern New Hampshire, was formed five years ago, the release said. HFB (OTC:HFBN) assets were $273 million as of Sept. 30.
NBT is headquartered in Norwich and operates 128 banking sites in four states. NBT Bancorp., a financial services holding company (Nasdaq: NBTB), had assets of $5.5 billion as of Sept. 30.
The merger is pending regulatory approvals and other customary provisions.
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