things to do in ithaca [dot com]

Maxie’s is an awesome restaurant that serves New Orleans creole cuisine. If you’ve been in Ithaca for a few years and never tried it, go as soon as possible, otherwise when you finally do go you’ll be upset you hadn’t been going forever.
The raw bar has 3 different types of oysters and if you going for dinner you’ll find yourself paying $3 a piece. This adds up quick, but 4-6 pm everyday is happy hour at the raw bar with half off specials. It’s a ton of fun watching the fast pace shuckers open oyster as oyster with a beer and a half dozen raw oysters.

Hit the commons on a fall afternoon. I’m late writing about it because it was a couple weeks ago at this point, but I had fun. There is plenty of good food. This year I had the Tibetan lo mein and the philly cheesesteak. Both were alright. The line for apple cider and donuts is crazy long but I guess you have to get them if you go to the apple festival. There are rides and games if you are bringing kids or are a kid. The best part was the music. The guy who always walks around the commons wearing garbage (but looks clean, so I think it’s just his style) was going CRAZY dancing this year. Also the cool new tornado fries I have seen at fairs and stuff made an appearance. It was a good way to spend 4 hours.

This is the biggest shopping center in Ithaca. It has a good selection of stores, anchored by Target, Best Buy, Bon Ton, Sears, and Dick’s. They also have a huge Regal movie theater that shows current movies. The food court is so so, so plan on eating before or after. Right outside the mall is a good selection of restaurants including Applebees, Chinese Buffet, and Kyusha, a fun Japanese hibachi restaurant. For clothes, there is a Gap, American Eagle, and, hmm, not a lot I guess. Anyways, if you want to see a movie, buy stuff at Target, or are bored, go to the mall.

October 4, 2011, Dennis Liu, from Cornell Daily Sun

Singer Billy Joel will perform at Bailey Hall on Dec. 2, according to a Cornell University Program Board press release.

The event, entitled “Billy Joel: An Evening of Questions & Answers … and a little music,” will primarily focus on conversations between Joel and the audience, according to CUPB Chair Cameron Breen ’12.

“[Joel] wanted to have an intimate setting with the students,” Breen said. “He’s going to talk about his experience being a musician and he’s going to take questions from the audience. It’ll be a really unique opportunity for students and faculty to experience what his life was like.”

Tickets for the show will be distributed using an unprecedented lottery system due to the expected high demand for the event, Cornell Concert Commission Executive Director Harris Nord ’12 said.

Ticket sales will be limited to Cornell students, faculty and staff, who can sign up on the Cornell Concerts website to enter into the lottery. Signups will occur on Oct. 5 between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m., and winners will be announced that afternoon, according to the press release. Participants will be selected at random Wednesday afternoon to be given an opportunity to purchase actual tickets from Oct. 6 to Oct. 7.

The lottery will reduce the chance that the ticket website crashes and provide Cornellians with equal opportunities to attend the event, Breen said.

Breen called the lottery a “special exception” due to the event’s relatively small venue compared to Barton Hall, where concerts are usually performed. Bailey Hall has a seating capacity of 1,326, according to the University’s website. Barton Hall has a capacity of around 5,000.

David Roger ’13, a Joel fan, said he was looking forward to the intimate atmosphere of Bailey Hall.

“I’ve seen him twice. Both times have been incredible,” Roger said in an email. “But they’ve been with 20,000 and 50,000 other fans, respectively. To be among 1,000 people to see him is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

“I’m extremely excited. I’ve never gotten to see him in concert,” James Gladstone ’13 said. “He’s a very intelligent man. I think it’s going to be an interesting atmosphere.”

In response to the lottery system, Gladstone said that he would “rather have the first-come-first-serve” system that is more common for Cornell concerts.

“If people really want to see him enough, they’ll get online early,” he said.

The event will be co-sponsored by CUPB and CCC.

Joel’s music career has spanned four decades and has produced number-one hits like “Piano Man,” “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” and “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” In 1999, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Joel previously appeared at Cornell in 1974 for a concert in Barton Hall and in 1996 at Bailey Hall, where he hosted an event under the same name as December’s performance. The Cornell Daily Sun reported that many people waited more than 30 hours to get tickets to the show. Joel spoke about his life and career and gave Cornellians advice on how to enter the music industry.

“If you think you can, you can,” he said. “If you think you can’t, you won’t.”

This place is awesome in the summertime. Hundreds of college kids swimming and jumping from cliffs ranging in height from 8 feet to 60+. The atmosphere is amazing with so much energy, just watch out for the naked guy and his dog, they are always there sunbathing.

Nothing to do? Luckily, Wegmans is open 24 hours. Whenever I’m bored with a couple friends we like to go to Wegmans and get some stuff to cook at home. Or if we’re really lazy, stuff to eat out of a box (Little Debbie). If you want to get something hot and ready, be aware that the cafe closes at 9 (though I heard recently they may extend the hours to 10).

For a few hours of fun on a nice day, head up the West side of Cayuga Lake, tour the vineyards, and do some tastings. Unless you’re looking to spend an entire day out (and you may be), the best route in my opinion is

Six Mile Creek Vineyard – this is right in Ithaca so it is a logical starting point.

Americana – As you head north along the scenic bypass, this is the first stop. Say hello to Theo the cat while you are there. This place is in a big barn with a nice bistro attached. Great time to stop for lunch.

Lucas – The next stop on the abbreviated Ithaca wine tour. This place is more laid back and specializes in sweet wines. Loud and crowded, it is a good place to meet people and have fun.

Sheldrake Point – Specializing in dry wines, the atmosphere here  is more reserved and the crowd seemed to be a little older and more serious (though I probably only noticed this because of the atmosphere). Very good, highly rated wines with a restaurant at the vineyard.

Thirsty Owl – The last point on the recommended itinerary, this is one of the more famous vineyards on Cayuga Lake, and for good reason. Excellent wines and a fun atmosphere make this an ideal place to finish up the day and head back to Ithaca.

This is one of Lex Chutintaranand’s, the famous Ithaca restauranteur, first restaurants. I went here a few nights ago. They offer about 40 different wines which can be ordered in flights of 5. Flight names included the Italian flight, the local white flight, and the reds.

The food was fantastic. The patio in the back had a great atmosphere. Awesome place to go with a date.

The closest ski and snowboard facility to Ithaca is Greek Peak at 18 miles away. It is possibly the best skiing in Central NY with 31 trails and 952 feet of vertical drop. Directions are below.

To Greek Peak Mountain Resort from Ithaca (18 Miles) and points West

• Take Route 13 North to Dryden
• go straight through the light at Dryden
• follow 392 East all the way to the resort
  (Note: you will be making a right turn in Virgil; at the stop sign to stay on Route 392)

Rates are reasonable for a resort of this quality. Lift ticket prices are listed below.

*Junior is age 14 years and under

Rates are subject to change without notice

For more information, visit Greek Peak.net

Taughannock Falls is one of the must see destinations in Ithaca, NY. There are two ways to see the falls. If you just want to see the falls, the easiest way to do it is by going to the viewpoint across the gorge where there is a parking lot.

The more difficult (and more rewarding) way to see the falls is to take a short hike along the floor of the gorge to the bottom of the falls. This is the classic picture you will see of people who have visited.

For more info on specific trails and directions, visit Taughannock.com