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All posts for the month November, 2016

Ithaca Launches Shopper Zone Parking

Posted by downtownalliance on November 23, 2016
Posted in: Dining, Parking, Shopping, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment
Green Street & Seneca Street garages now offer designated parking for patrons
Locating customer parking in downtown garages has now become a little easier for folks who want to spend a couple of hours shopping or dining downtown, thanks to a new parking feature introduced by the city earlier this month.
The City of Ithaca recently introduced the Shopper Zone, short-term parking spaces designated just for consumers, They are now available in the Green Street and Seneca Street parking garages. Consumers will be able to use a spot in these garage’s Shopper Zone for a maximum of three (3) hours per day.
Shopper Zones, parking spaces designated just for patrons, are now available on the second and third levels in the Green Street Garage. Shoppers will be able to use a spot in the garage’s Shopper Zone for a maximum of three (3) hours daily. Look for the Shopper Zone sign indicating that the spot is available for that purpose. 

Green Street Garage, located at 120-126 E. Green St., is a prime location for shoppers who want to visit The Ithaca Commons, downtown’s four-block pedestrian mall of unique shops and boutiques, and the Dewitt Mall, a series of unique specialty shops, cafes and galleries, located at 215 N. Cayuga St. b2219ed9-edd6-4954-87b6-1d071be46c4b

Seneca Street Garage, 215 N. Tioga St., is also participating in the Shopper Zone program and will have the zone available between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, parking is exclusive to hotel guests.
The Cayuga Street Garage, 235 S. Cayuga St., already reserves its entire second floor for short duration shoppers and diners.

“We asked the City to be certain there could always be spaces available for consumers – the very important people who come downtown for shopping, dining, services, and entertainment,” said Downtown Ithaca Alliance Executive Director Gary Ferguson. “The Shopper Zones is an effort to do just that – reserve spaces in all downtown garages for short-duration parking. Our thanks goes out to Frank Nagy and the City for making this happen.”
Metered on-street parking is also available throughout the downtown area.

The DIA also reminds shoppers and diners that on-street parking downtown is free after 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and free all day on Saturday and Sunday.

Parking in the garages is free on Saturdays and Sundays except when special event parking rates apply. Parking is also free during the week from 8:00 p.m. – 3:00 a.m., Monday through Friday.

For additional downtown parking information, visit the new parking web site at https://parkithaca.com, or call the City of Ithaca Parking Division at (607) 274-6532.

 

Downtown Ithaca reminds patrons to shop small, local throughout the holidays

Posted by downtownalliance on November 22, 2016
Posted in: Shopping. Leave a comment
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 The holiday shopping season is upon us, and the Downtown Ithaca Alliance reminds residents and visitors that downtown Ithaca is home to more than 100 independent locally owned stores and businesses that offer many special gift-worthy items. The organization also encourages shoppers to participate in upcoming special holiday shopping events that are aimed to recognize the local retailers.

Small Business Saturday is Saturday, Nov. 26. This special day for locally owned and operated retail shops, provides an opportunity for patrons to demonstrate their support for local businesses and the community. On Small Business Saturday, many shops may offer special deals and some stores will be distributing “Shop Small” canvas bags to their customers. Founded by American Express six years ago, Small Business Saturday has grown into a powerful movement with more people taking part every year.

To further encourage consumers to shop local on Small Business Saturday, Downtown Ithaca is conducting a #shopsmall selfie contest online. When you shop on Small Business Saturday, snap a selfie and use the hashtags #shopsmall and #downtownithaca on Facebook or Instagram. A prize will be awarded to one winner, and their selfie reposted on Downtown Ithaca’s Facebook and Instagram accounts. Look for additional contest details and rules on Downtown Ithaca’s Facebook Events Page.

In downtown Ithaca’s stores throughout the holiday shopping season, consumers will find a variety of gift options including handcrafted items made by skilled artisans along with quality products from U.S. companies.

The Ithaca Commons, a two-block pedestrian shopping mall, boasts nearly two dozen specialty shops. Many additional stores that each sell unique and thoughtful gifts are located within walking distance of the Commons. Make sure to check out the retailers at the Dewitt Mall, Pressbay Alley, and on East and West State streets.

sbs_shopsmall_rgb_online_logo2Downtown Ithaca also offers more than 50 dining choices where visitors may stop for a delicious meal anytime during their holiday shopping excursion.

“When money is spent at independent locally owned businesses, the money stays here and strengthens the economic base of where we live. Plus, patrons should support these one-of-a-kind businesses because they contribute to the character of our community with exclusive shopping and dining options,” said DIA Executive Director Gary Ferguson.

Last year, more consumers reported visiting their local independent businesses on Small Business Saturday than ever before, according to results from the Small Business Saturday Consumer Insights Survey, released by the National Federation of Independent Business and American Express. More than 95 million consumers shopped at small businesses on Small Business Saturday, marking an eight percent increase from 2014.

For more information, visit shopsmall.com, or call the DIA at (607) 277-8679 or email info@downtownithaca.com.

To continue the holiday shopping spirit past the traditionally busy shopping weekend, Downtown Ithaca will host “Cider” Monday. This tongue in cheek, brick and mortar alternative to Cyber Monday will provide downtown consumers with an opportunity to sample ciders while they shop. Downtown businesses will be welcoming in shoppers with complimentary cups of cider, and some great Finger Lakes ciders will be hosting tastings downtown, too.

Additional details, including cider tasting locations, are available at the Downtown Ithaca Facebook Events Page.

Also, be sure to check out Downtown Ithaca’s upcoming holiday festivities, including Santa’s arrival on December 3, the Ithaca Ice Festival from December 8-10, and the Chowder Cook-Off on Saturday, Dec. 10.

Downtown Ithaca competing for national grant to support summer concert series

Posted by downtownalliance on November 4, 2016
Posted in: Uncategorized. Leave a comment

ithaca_emailProposal needs public votes to advance

to the finalist round
ITHACA, November 4, 2016 –  The Downtown Ithaca Alliance (DIA) has secured its entrance into the Mortimer and Mimi Levitt Foundation’s national AMP (Your City) Grant Award competition to help fund its CFCU Summer Concert Series, but its proposal needs the community’s support to advance to the next round.
Between now and Monday, Nov. 21, the public is asked to register and vote for the DIA’s proposal at the Levitt Foundation website, http://www.levittamp.org. To register, you’ll need an email address and will have to create a username and password. Once you’ve received your registration confirmation email, go to the DIA proposal and click on the “vote” button. You’ll receive an email confirmation that your vote was submitted. Voters must be at least 18 years of age during the voting period.
With the community’s support, the DIA hopes to qualify as one of 15 nonprofit organizations that will win a matching grant up to $25,000. Your support will be measured by the number of online votes the DIA’s proposal accumulates by Nov. 21.
In addition to voting, concert series supporters are asked to spread the word to your family, friends, colleagues and neighbors and to rally the community to sign up and vote for the DIA’s proposal.
The top 25 finalists will be selected through this online public voting, and the foundation will review the finalists and announce the 15 grant winners on January 5, 2017.
“This grant is going to help us sustain and continue to operate on the big yet balanced levels we strive towards,” said DIA Special Events Director Tatiana Sy, noting that past concert series have included national acts such as Talib Kweli, Saul Williams and John Brown’s Body and local favorites including the Gunpoets, Big Mean Sound Machine and Jimkata.
“The other key benefit will be our ability to engage our entire community with musical talent that may otherwise not be accessible to many of our residents. All ages, free concert venues that feature recognizable acts are rare. Residents may not always have the ability to pay ticket prices to attend indoor or gated events. In addition to our local supporters of the concert series, a Levitt AMP grant would help us continue to provide quality musical experiences for the community to enjoy in the city’s center – for whom many, is walking distance of their homes,” Sy added.
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ABOUT THE GRANT
The Downtown Ithaca Alliance, which organizes the concert series, is competing for a matching grant from the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation, a national, non-profit foundation that supports free, destination-making outdoor concerts. The Levitt Amp (Your City) Grant Awards serve small to mid-sized towns and cities with populations up to 400,000 people so they can produce their own Levitt AMP Music Series – an outdoor, free concert series.
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Media Contact:
Darlene Donohue
Communications Manager
(607) 277-8679
darlene@downtownithaca.com
About the Downtown Ithaca Alliance: The Downtown Ithaca Alliance (DIA) is a State of New York chartered 501c3 not-for-profit organization charged with the revitalization, development, promotion, and management of downtown Ithaca.
About the CFCU Summer Concert Series: The 2016 Summer Concert Series presented by CFCU Community Credit is a free outdoor concert series open to the public held every Thursday evening from June through September. Local and national acts perform music in genres including jazz, blues, reggae, folk, hip hop, country, bluegrass, rock, and more!

Downtown Ithaca introducing Brunch Fest

Posted by downtownalliance on November 1, 2016
Posted in: food and beverage event, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

brunch-fest

Inaugural event features specialty foods & beverages, a Bloody Mary mix off, music, and more

Special event sponsored by Wagner Valley Brewing Co. and Vineyards & Gimme Coffee
The Downtown Ithaca Alliance (DIA) is pleased to announce its newly-created event for the mid-Fall season: Ithaca Brunch Fest.

This food lovers festivity sponsored by Wagner Valley Brewing Co. and Vineyards and Gimme Coffee is set for Saturday, Nov. 5, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will feature a combination of breakfast and lunch food and beverage favorites.

The festival is free to attend. Attendees can expect to pay $2 and $5 for sample sized items. Fuller portioned meals will also be available for purchase.

Simeon’s will be serving a tasty sampling of soft dough biscuits covered with creamy gravy while Waffle Frolic will offer its signature dish: Waffles with a selection of toppings. OmNomNomelletes will have a variety of freshly prepared omelettes, french toast, and hot breakfast sandwiches and Kilpatrick’s Publick House is putting an Irish spin on its brunch offerings. Bandwagon Pub, Farm and Brewery will be putting a modern take on brunch and Gateway Kitchen will be serving barbecue food items.

 

The fun doesn’t end with sampling the multiple food choices.  Attendees will have the opportunity to taste and vote in our first ever Bloody Mary Mix-Off! By purchasing non-alcoholic Bloody Mary samples prepared by Coltivare, Gateway Kitchen, Sunset Grill and more, folks will discover who has the best Bloody Mary in town. These establishments will be going head-to-head, vying for your votes for Best Presentation and People’s Choice.

 

Additional beverage options will be available at the Brunch Bar. Sponsored by Wagner Valley Brewing Co. and Vineyards, the Brunch Bar will feature some of the company’s finest brews.

Among these beverage offerings will be a fruity Hop Tropic IPA accompanied by a logo that features stunning artwork from Ithaca street artist, Jay Stooks; a Drenched Double IPA, which is Wagner’s representation of the area’s local hop bounty; and a new Coffee Porter made with freshly brewed espresso and served with whipped cream topping.

A special edition Mangose, a mango infused beer which can be served on its own but pairs nicely with orange sherbet to create a fun beer float, will be available along with a selection of wine, including a sparkling riesling for mimosas and a red hot mulled wine. There will be non-alcoholic options, too.

For the coffee lovers, Brunch Fest will feature Gimme Coffee’s limited edition “Downtown Ithaca” Blend. This special blend, a chocolate and cherry combination with a browned butter finish, will be for sale for $10 per bag during the event.

Entertainment seekers will have fun dancing the day away to 50’s and early 60’s tunes from Steve Southworth and The Rockabilly Rays. Additional performers include Town Squares featuring Luke G, Tenor Caso, & Joe Hayward doing doo-wop & oldies with a punk twist; the Fall Creek Brass Band with their funky beats and groovy bass lines; and two of Ithaca College’s premier A cappella groups, IC Voicestream and Premium Blend.

 

Looking for an event keepsake? Muckle’s Ink will be creating and selling screen printing t-shirts. Event guests will be able to choose from one of Muckle’s Ink designs or purchase a Ithaca Brunch Fest shirt.For more Ithaca Brunch Fest information, visit http://www.downtownithaca.com, or call the Downtown Ithaca Alliance at (607) 277-8679.

Thank you again to our sponsors: Wagner Valley Brewing Co. & Gimme Coffee
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