Weekend at Ithaca
March 9, 2017 9:58 AM Subscribe
Going to Ithaca for the weekend, tell me fun things to do!
I'll be visiting friends at Cornell until Sunday. We're all in our late twenties/ early thirties if that's something for consideration. I've been to Ithaca many times before, but I want to know what I shouldn't miss this time. Is there a music venue we should check out, where are the best places to eat, do you have a favorite winery or venue, etc? I'm really adventurous, so if there's anything off the beaten path, or nearby Ithaca, I would be more than willing to drive out of my way. Tell me the inside scoop!
I'll be visiting friends at Cornell until Sunday. We're all in our late twenties/ early thirties if that's something for consideration. I've been to Ithaca many times before, but I want to know what I shouldn't miss this time. Is there a music venue we should check out, where are the best places to eat, do you have a favorite winery or venue, etc? I'm really adventurous, so if there's anything off the beaten path, or nearby Ithaca, I would be more than willing to drive out of my way. Tell me the inside scoop!
Best answer: Bandwagon is my favorite place for dinner. The Museum of the Earth is great fun if you have any interest in science. Might be a little cold for it this weekend, but I always enjoy walking around Sapsucker Woods.
posted by maurice at 10:34 AM on March 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by maurice at 10:34 AM on March 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Damn, do I miss Taste of Thai, Moosewood, etc. And I used to live on Sapsucker Woods Rd. several years ago.
Anyhow, I wanted to mention something that shouldn't be missed, the pedestrian suspension bridge at the edge of Cornell.
You'll get a new appreciation for the phrase "Ithaca is gorges".
posted by strelitzia at 10:58 AM on March 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
Anyhow, I wanted to mention something that shouldn't be missed, the pedestrian suspension bridge at the edge of Cornell.
You'll get a new appreciation for the phrase "Ithaca is gorges".
posted by strelitzia at 10:58 AM on March 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
Best answer: This coming week is Cornell's spring break so it should be pretty quiet in town after Friday night. Unfortunately as a result it doesn't look like there are a lot of events this weekend. One play at the Schwartz Center.
Everything upthread is exactly right. Sapsucker Woods/ Cornell Lab of Ornithology also has a lovely building for bird watching which would keep you warmer. The top floor of the Johnson Museum at Cornell has a fantastic view of the whole town. From there you could easily walk down to *gulp* the pedestrian suspension bridge. I find it terrifying but I also have a beloved who likes to stand in the middle and jump, so YMMV.
Places you might not have already been that are a good local vibe:
Northstar, for drinks or brunch.
Carriage House, for breakfast or lunch or brunch.
Atlas Bowl, good food, fun bowling. If you're already up that way you could keep going and take a lovely ride to Cayuga Creamery, or just noodle around Trumansburg, which has a nice small town main drag.
posted by tchemgrrl at 11:04 AM on March 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
Everything upthread is exactly right. Sapsucker Woods/ Cornell Lab of Ornithology also has a lovely building for bird watching which would keep you warmer. The top floor of the Johnson Museum at Cornell has a fantastic view of the whole town. From there you could easily walk down to *gulp* the pedestrian suspension bridge. I find it terrifying but I also have a beloved who likes to stand in the middle and jump, so YMMV.
Places you might not have already been that are a good local vibe:
Northstar, for drinks or brunch.
Carriage House, for breakfast or lunch or brunch.
Atlas Bowl, good food, fun bowling. If you're already up that way you could keep going and take a lovely ride to Cayuga Creamery, or just noodle around Trumansburg, which has a nice small town main drag.
posted by tchemgrrl at 11:04 AM on March 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
HOPSHIRE BREWERY! (best in the entire area, IMO .. just a few miles east on rt 13)
posted by The_Auditor at 11:37 AM on March 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by The_Auditor at 11:37 AM on March 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
I've never been, but there's a farm to table restaurant - Coltivare close to the center of town that supports a local community college. They have a farmer's market in the same building on Sundays from maybe 11 to 2. It's only one room, but they have a lot of artisan things (homemade cheese, moonshine, maple, honey, jewelry, veggies, I think there's a lady who spins her own yarn?) there. It would only kill fifteen minutes but it would be fun to do on the way to lunch.
It's an hour away, but there's the Corning Museum of Glass.
posted by Bistyfrass at 12:12 PM on March 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
It's an hour away, but there's the Corning Museum of Glass.
posted by Bistyfrass at 12:12 PM on March 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
There is a spot near the Cargill salt mine that is one of the few places it is legal to collect fossils (trilobites).
posted by 445supermag at 12:30 PM on March 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by 445supermag at 12:30 PM on March 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
just noodle around Trumansburg, which has a nice small town main drag.
Further TBurg adventures, all beginning with H:
Hive 45: the new restaurant/bakery by the folks from the (dearly missed) Felicia's Atomic Lounge.
How Sweet It Is: The new year-round Trumansburg base of Sweet Melissa's. My pick for local icecream.
Hazelnut Kitchen: Make sure you get reservations.
posted by zamboni at 1:31 PM on March 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Further TBurg adventures, all beginning with H:
Hive 45: the new restaurant/bakery by the folks from the (dearly missed) Felicia's Atomic Lounge.
How Sweet It Is: The new year-round Trumansburg base of Sweet Melissa's. My pick for local icecream.
Hazelnut Kitchen: Make sure you get reservations.
posted by zamboni at 1:31 PM on March 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Do your friends like karaoke? K House. Ask to book the emoji room.
posted by zamboni at 1:34 PM on March 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by zamboni at 1:34 PM on March 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Forgot The Watershed, which opened a few months ago, and Bar Argos.
posted by zamboni at 1:38 PM on March 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by zamboni at 1:38 PM on March 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Man, you're all making me miss Cornell. There's not been a day in the last three decades I haven't missed Collegetown Bagels, and just yesterday, when debating whether to get pizza, I sighed that i couldn't go to The Nines.
Also, be sure to check out 14850.com, for restaurant reviews and updates about events.
This Sunday, the Cayuga Lake Creamery is serving free kiddie-size ice cream. Sadly, Hal's Deli (downtown) is closing this May after 56 years, so you can give it a send-off.
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 4:34 PM on March 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
Also, be sure to check out 14850.com, for restaurant reviews and updates about events.
This Sunday, the Cayuga Lake Creamery is serving free kiddie-size ice cream. Sadly, Hal's Deli (downtown) is closing this May after 56 years, so you can give it a send-off.
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 4:34 PM on March 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
When you need a break for used books or used/new music, head to the commons for the wonderful Autumn Leaves bookstore with Angry Mom records in the basement. And down the street you can pick up crazy 'ice cream rolls' a la Thai street food style.
posted by chr1sb0y at 5:48 PM on March 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by chr1sb0y at 5:48 PM on March 9, 2017 [2 favorites]
This coming week is Cornell's spring break so it should be pretty quiet in town after Friday night.
Cornell's spring break starts April 1 (or the evening of Friday March 31) this year. Don't know if that's unusual, but that's what it is.
Buttermilk Falls has some decent walking, but there's quite a bit of elevation change. Sapsucker Woods is pretty small for walking around if your objective is a walk rather than bird watching. It is level, though.
posted by hoyland at 6:11 PM on March 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Cornell's spring break starts April 1 (or the evening of Friday March 31) this year. Don't know if that's unusual, but that's what it is.
Buttermilk Falls has some decent walking, but there's quite a bit of elevation change. Sapsucker Woods is pretty small for walking around if your objective is a walk rather than bird watching. It is level, though.
posted by hoyland at 6:11 PM on March 9, 2017 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I go to Cornell now! Spring break actually isn't until April 1st, so there should be some things going on this weekend--however, I think it's going to be pretty cold, so that might make nature outings a bit more difficult. I'd definitely also recommend the Johnson and the Lab of Ornithology if you haven't been there yet. You could check out The Haunt and see if any of the shows this weekend interest you.
I also love walking up to the Cornell plantations and botanic garden--the website has walking/driving directions and a map. There's a cool bell at either the Newman or Southeast Overlook.
If you're feeling adventurous and you're back when the weather is nicer, I'd recommend checking out Ezra's Tunnel. It's not an official spot by any means--but that makes it fun to explore! It does involve a small rope climb, which might seem intimidating at first--but it's definitely worth it. Here's a blog post describing how to get there, and a rough map I made to show where it is. :)
posted by Lurch at 6:35 PM on March 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
I also love walking up to the Cornell plantations and botanic garden--the website has walking/driving directions and a map. There's a cool bell at either the Newman or Southeast Overlook.
If you're feeling adventurous and you're back when the weather is nicer, I'd recommend checking out Ezra's Tunnel. It's not an official spot by any means--but that makes it fun to explore! It does involve a small rope climb, which might seem intimidating at first--but it's definitely worth it. Here's a blog post describing how to get there, and a rough map I made to show where it is. :)
posted by Lurch at 6:35 PM on March 9, 2017 [4 favorites]
Plenty of waterfalls in the area, given the gorges. Buttermilk is good, there is another one that has you walking along a small...river? and is less than a mile back. Named for a local Native American if you want an easy outing with lovely sites. Plenty of wading if the weather is right.
posted by childofTethys at 5:04 AM on March 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by childofTethys at 5:04 AM on March 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
Check out Trumansburg! I guess the Rongo is closed down, but Hazelnut Kitchen is great, and most of the students don't make it up that far the other side of the lake. I always preferred Treman to Buttermilk, but I doubt either would really be much fun this time of year. Autumn Leaves is great, and so is Buffalo Street Books and the DeWitt Mall is perfectly Ithaca.
(also, it's weird that people call it Ezra's Tunnel--when I was there we all called it the gun factory)
posted by wpgr at 6:57 AM on March 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
(also, it's weird that people call it Ezra's Tunnel--when I was there we all called it the gun factory)
posted by wpgr at 6:57 AM on March 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thank you all for the wonderful suggestions!
I'm definitely checking out the suspension bridge and Atlas Bowl on this trip, and will have to come back in warmer weather for the rest.
Special thanks to Lurch for showing me Ezra's tunnel/ the gun factory on the map. My friends had never heard of it so it got me extra cool points!
posted by Champagne Supernova at 7:52 PM on March 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm definitely checking out the suspension bridge and Atlas Bowl on this trip, and will have to come back in warmer weather for the rest.
Special thanks to Lurch for showing me Ezra's tunnel/ the gun factory on the map. My friends had never heard of it so it got me extra cool points!
posted by Champagne Supernova at 7:52 PM on March 10, 2017 [1 favorite]
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Ithaca Beer Co. (although it looks like this weekend will be too cold to sit outside in an Adirondack chair, still relaxing and fun).
Taste of Thai on the Commons.
The Nines for thick crust pizza and corn nuggets (and beer).
Sometimes Moosewood.
Collegetown Bagels.
Purity Ice Cream.
posted by Kriesa at 10:15 AM on March 9, 2017 [5 favorites]