"Big Chuck" D'Imperio recently retired as the "morning man" at WDOS-AM730 in Oneonta, NY after a 33-year career in radio. In the year 2000, “Big Chuck” was inducted into the NYS Country Music Hall of Fame as “NY Country DJ of the Year." He is the author of 10 Upstate New York travel guide books, and is a former newspaper columnist with more than 300 columns published. "Big Chuck" is pleased to continue to contribute digital content to Townsquare Media radio websites all over New York State. And, for all you baby boomers out there, yes it is true that "Big Chuck" actually won The Gong Show in 1977 by singing "Bad Bad LeRoy Brown" in a shower stall on live TV!
BIG CHUCK
Spirits Are High At These Awesome Upstate New York Distilleries!
This gallery highlights nine outstanding distilleries in Upstate New York. There are dozens, of course, but these are all first-rate!
10 Iconic Upstate New York Ice Cream Stands That’re Ready For You This Summer!
Ten ice cream parlors or stands in Upstate New York that are still going strong decades after they first opened.
10 Upstate New York Lighthouses That Reflect the Past and Future!
This gallery highlights ten of New York's more than 50 historic and beautiful lighthouses.
Feed Your Need For Speed at These Upstate New York Go-Kart Tracks
Go-Kart racing has become a new, exciting family experience. There are many places where you can go and watch exciting races underway. And there are many that let you, as the driver, experience the thrill of the race. Good for all ages, including the little ones. Check out these ten great go-kart speedways in Upstate Ne wyork.
Is This “Zoo” In An Upstate New York Town the Best in the State?
Animal Adventure Park is a wonderful hands-on family friendly nature theme park in Broome County. More than 200,000 visitors come here every year!
The Best Summer Salads To Enjoy This Summer in Upstate New York!
Cold, creative salads are the meal of choice for a lot of us up here when the summer heat moves in. Here are several of the top restaurant salads you can enjoy this summer.
11 Upstate New York “Cool” Lake Towns to Enjoy This Summer
This gallery shines the spotlight on 11 of Upstate New York's favorite summertime "lake towns."
Baseball in Upstate New York: Legends, Trivia, and Historic Sites
A gallery for sports buffs, baseball fanatics, and trivia lovers. Baseball in Upstate New York. Some very interesting stops along the way!
“Get Your Hot Dogs!” At These 12 Great Upstate New York Eateries!
Today we list a delicious gallery of 12 great places to get a hot dog in Upstate New York. Yes, there are hundreds of them, but these dozen are particularly welcome for your consideration.
Apple Pies Are Ready at These Great Upstate New York Bakeries
A collection of apple pie bakers and bakeries for you to consider when picking up an All-American Apple Pie this summer!
From “9/11″ to “I Love Lucy” Upstate New York’s Moving Memorials
There are hundreds of public statues, memorials, and monuments scattered all over Upstate New York. Here are 11 of them and their amazing stories.
The Oldest Colleges in Upstate New York, Some From the 1700s!
This gallery takes a look at the 11 oldest colleges and universities in Upstate New York. Some date back to the 1700s!
French Macarons Dazzle At These Upstate New York Bakeries
This gallery looks at the oh-so-delicious, brightly colored, multi-flavored macarons that decorate our dessert buffet tables. These cookies never fail to dazzle! These Upstate New York bakeries make some of the best in New York.
12 Upstate New York Adventures For Dad This Father’s Day
This gallery looks at a dozen Father's Day gift ideas for 2023. Adventures, entertainment, dining out, one-of-a-kind experiences. They are all here!
Check Out These Top Strawberry U-Pick ‘Ems in Upstate New York!
Berry picking time in Upstate New York is a time honored family tradition for young and old alike. With more than 100 U-Pick 'Em places in the state to choose from, you just can't go wrong with these dozen fun ones!
These Upstate New York Villages Have 250 People or Less in Them!
This gallery takes a look at ten of Upstate New York's many "micro-villages." Each has a population of less than 250 people!
10 Town Welcome Signs That Tell an Amazing Upstate New York Story
This gallery looks at ten Upstate New York towns which have put their community's claim to fame right out on their welcome sign for all to see. The stories are amazing.
Celebrate National Donut Day at These 12 Upstate Bakeries!
June 1 is National Donut Day. This gallery celebrates the mighty donut (or doughnut) by showcasing a dozen delicious donut bakeries across Upstate New York.
These 12 Upstate NY Parks Say, “Come Visit Us This Summer!”
This gallery offers up a selection of a dozen great New York State Parks for consideration for Memorial Day Weekend, or for the rest of the summer. Each park mentioned is fully linked to their website for more information.
Don’t Miss These Memorial Day Weekend Events in Upstate New York
Here is a sampling of many large and very small events to consider for your upcoming Memorial Day Weekend in Upstate New York. All of them are great fun!
12 of the “Lip-Smackingest” Barbecue Places in Upstate New York!
In honor of this week's National Barbecue Day, this gallery looks at a dozen of the most delicious places to get some mouthwatering barbecue in Upstate New York.
Roadtrip! From Canandaigua to Cazenovia: History, Beauty and Fun
This gallery takes the reader on a 100-mile roadtrip from Canandaigua to Cazenovia with some great stops along the way!
10 Outstanding River and Lake Cruises in Upstate New York
This gallery takes a look at ten top boat cruises and tours available for you to choose from this summer. All are fascinating and so much fun. They get busy, so remember to book early!
‘Give Somebody a Cupcake Day': Where to Get the Best Cupcakes in Upstate NY
Here are 12 Upstate New York bakeries that specialize in making cupcakes.. Give a cupcake to a special person at work, at school, or even a stranger on this favorite "food holiday"
Add the St. Lawrence Seaway of NY to Places With Award-Winning Wines
While most of the time our Finger Lakes Region grabs the spotlight from wine enthusiasts around the country (and deservedly so), in this gallery we take a look at several of the great wineries and vineyards located in the far northern part of New York along the St. Lawrence Seaway Trail.
Howe Caverns Still Packs a Punch After More Than a Century!
For well over a century, Howe Caverns (Schoharie County) has been welcoming guests to New York's "most famous hole in the ground." It is the second most popular natural wonder in the state, behind only Niagara Falls.
Big And Small Marinas Await Upstate New York Boaters This Summer
As boaters take to the waterways of Upstate New York this summer, there are numerous marinas around the region waiting for them to pull in for a spell. Here are some to keep your eye out for.
These Small (But Mighty) Upstate New York Book Stores Are Awesome!
On the heels of Independent Book Store Day, this gallery looks at a collection of smaller (in some case, even tiny) Upstate New York book stores that are due a visit from all of us.
These Upstate New York Ice Cream Stands Are All Over 50 Years Old
This list shines the spotlight on 11 amazing Upstate New York ice cream stands that have really stood the test of time. All are over 50 years young, and one is even more than 85 years old!
13 Small But Mighty Upstate New York Mini Golf Courses
There are plenty of giant miniature golf courses around Upstate New York. In this gallery, we look at the smaller "mom-and-pop" ones that have fun family favorites for generations.