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Halloween in Downtown Ithaca set for Oct. 27

Posted by downtownalliance on October 16, 2017
Posted in: Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

Parade, trick or treating, free celebration in Center Ithaca expects to draw hundreds

Hundreds of costume wearing youth and their parents are expected to make the trek through Downtown Ithaca next week as part of the community’s annual Halloween in Downtown festivities.

This family-friendly, Halloween-themed celebration, which will include the community’s beloved costume parade and store-to-store Trick-or-Treating, will run from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27. The Downtown Ithaca Alliance (DIA) is teaming up once again with the Greater Ithaca Activities Center (GIAC) to proudly present this annual tradition.

The parade will start at the GIAC, 301 W Court St., Ithaca, at 3:30 p.m and participants will march their way to The Commons, E. State Street, Ithaca. As parade goers make their way to The Commons pedestrian mall they will find dozens of stores participating in all sorts of spooktacular activities (look for a “Trick-or-Treat Here” sign prominently displayed in their storefront window indicating that treats are available). Participating stores are located on the Commons, Aurora Street, East State Street off of the Commons, Gateway Commons, Cayuga Street, Green St. and inside the Dewitt Mall.

This afternoon of innocent and fun frolic will also feature FREE face painting by Festive Face Painting, music, mini carnival-style games, warm apple cider and snacks from 4 to 6 p.m. inside Center Ithaca, 171 E. State St., Ithaca. GIAC is catering the event.

“Halloween in Downtown presents a prime opportunity for families to check out downtown’s locally owned and operated boutiques, specialty shops, restaurants, and attractions while collecting candy and other treats at participating locations. The children typically have a great time, and the shopkeepers enjoy seeing all of the trick or treaters,” says Allison Graffin, the DIA’s marketing director.

A complete schedule of activities is available online at http://www.downtownithaca.com.

Halloween in Downtown Ithaca is happening in conjunction with the 3rd Annual Ithaca’s Wizarding Weekend, a very popular event where downtown Ithaca’s streets will be filled magic and whimsy from October 27 through October 31.

As a nonprofit adventure, Ithaca’s Wizarding Weekend is inspired by the Harry Potter series created by J.K. Rowling and provides a magical look into the Ithaca community while simultaneously allowing fans to celebrate.

Wizarding Weekend is organized by Life’s So Sweet Chocolates and Press Bay Alley. More information, including a full schedule of events, can be found at http://www.wizardingweekend.com.

All of these festivities are free admittance for community members of all ages. During Wizarding Weekend, a $5 all-day festival parking fee will be in effect at the Green St., Cayuga St. and Seneca St. garages on Saturday and Sunday.

For more information, visit http://www.downtownithaca.com, email info@downtownithaca.com, or call (607) 277-8679.

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City of Ithaca to receive $50,000 CommunityWins award

Posted by downtownalliance on September 27, 2017
Posted in: Awards, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Downtown’s ‘Pay It Forward’ program will benefit from the funding 

ITHACA SEPT. 27, 2017 — Today, the City of Ithaca and the Downtown Ithaca Alliance (DIA) are receiving a significant monetary grant for one of downtown’s latest initiatives, Pay It Forward, a community partnership program that enables people in need to easily access food, toiletries, and personal supplies at participating downtown shops and restaurants.
Downtown Ithaca will join City of Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick during a special ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 27 at 2 p.m. on the Bernie Milton Pavilion stage in Bank Alley on The Commons to receive a $50,000 Outstanding Achievement award from The United States Conference of Mayors’ (USCM) CommunityWINS Program and Wells Fargo, which supports the USCM program. Downtown Ithaca will apply the monetary award to Pay It Forward.
Following the award presentation, light refreshments will be available.
“Pay It Forward is an exciting, novel effort to help those most in need in a way that preserves their dignity. If you are hungry, there will be food. If you need personal items, or batteries, or any other items, you will have immediate access without scrutiny.  We want to help all of our citizens, especially those most vulnerable,” says Mayor Myrick. “Pay It Forward brings together the city, the DIA, caring businesses, nonprofits and community members who agonize over how to give to the people on the street. Now with the Pay It Forward Program, they know their dollars go for the basic needs that people truly must have, but sometimes forego to satisfy their addiction.”
Pay It Forward is managed by the DIA, a not-for-profit community development organization charged with creating and sustaining a vibrant and healthy city center. CommunityWINS funding will help the DIA replenish Pay It Forward funds at the participating businesses and allow the DIA to purchase marketing materials aimed towards downtown workers and visitors. The DIA has already purchased and displayed three money collection kiosks where the public can make personal donations. The three red donation boxes are located downtown on Aurora St., in Home Dairy Alley, and in Bank Alley.  All of the money collected from the donation boxes is used to buy food, sundries, and basic necessity items for Ithaca’s homeless and people in need.

Pay It Forward donation box

The community can donate to Downtown Ithaca’s Pay It Forward program by placing cash, checks, or coins in the donation boxes. Pay It Forward boxes are located in three spots on the Ithaca Commons.

“We are honored the United Conference of Mayors and Wells Fargo recognizes this special downtown program which serves as an appropriate way to assist individuals who are in need. The $50,000 grant will certainly strengthen Pay It Forward and will greatly benefit those in need who receive items from it,” says DIA Executive Director Gary Ferguson.

The DIA thanks USMC and Wells Fargo for the funding and thanks the City of Ithaca, the downtown Ithaca businesses, and the Ithacash program for participating in and supporting the Pay It Forward program.
The 2017 CommunityWINS award is given to city-based nonprofit organization initiatives and recognizes mayors for exemplary leadership in developing local programs that promote long-term economic prosperity and improve the quality of life for residents in three categories: neighborhood stabilization, economic development, and job creation. The City of Ithaca was one of six cities selected from 245 applicants who were seeking funds.
“Our 2017 CommunityWINS℠ Grant Program gives the Conference an opportunity to showcase positive change happening now in our cities to make a difference in the lives of residents.  We are grateful to Wells Fargo and the Wells Fargo Foundation for their support of the CommunityWINS℠  Program, which also highlights the talent and commitment of mayors and city governments,” says Tom Cochran, CEO and executive director of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
David Smith, Wells Fargo Home Mortgage consultant for the Ithaca area adds, “Wells Fargo is delighted to collaborate with the U.S. Conference of Mayors to make these grants available for innovative programs such as Pay It Forward that will help provide food, toiletries, and personal supplies for residents here in Ithaca and in our great state of New York. Wells Fargo cares about the communities we serve and the 2017 CommunityWINS grant program is among several economic empowerment efforts we support that are dedicated to building better communities.”
For more information about Pay It Forward, contact the DIA at (607) 277-8679, email info@downtownithaca.com, or visit www.downtownithaca.com. Downtown Ithaca’s initial release regarding its Pay It Forward program is available by clicking here.

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MEDIA CONTACT
Gary Ferguson, Executive Director

Downtown Ithaca Alliance

gary@downtownithaca.com
(607) 277-8679
http://www.downtownithaca.com

About the Downtown Ithaca Alliance: The Ithaca Downtown Business Improvement District (IDBID), is a State of New York chartered 501c3 not-for-profit organization charged with the revitalization, development, promotion, and management of downtown Ithaca. The IDBID operates as the Downtown Ithaca Alliance (DIA). The Downtown Ithaca Business Improvement District was founded in 1997.

About USCM: The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are 1,400 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. Find them on facebook.com/usmayors, or follow them on Twitter at twitter.com/usmayors

About Wells Fargo Housing Foundation: Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a nationwide, diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.8 trillion in assets. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, insurance, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through 8,700 locations, 12,800 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 36 countries to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 265,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 30 on Fortune’s 2015 rankings of America’s largest corporations. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. Wells Fargo perspectives are also available at Wells Fargo Blogs and Wells Fargo Stories.

Downtown Ithaca’s World Famous Moosewood releasing new cookbook this week

Posted by downtownalliance on September 26, 2017
Posted in: Dining, food and beverage event, Shopping, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , . Leave a comment

“The Moosewood Restaurant Table” features 250 natural foods recipes

ITHACA, NY SEPTEMBER 25, 2017 — Plant-based, gluten- and dairy- free eaters will soon have many more recipes to add to their healthy cooking lifestyle.
Downtown Ithaca’s world-renowned Moosewood Restaurant, one of the area’s pioneers for vegetarian and vegan cuisine, is releasing its 14th cookbook, “The Moosewood Restaurant Table,” this week!
The new cookbook, published by St. Martin’s Press, features 250 flavorful recipes highlighting new grains, gluten- and dairy-free, and plant-based dishes.
“The recipes in this cookbook are perfect for anyone who is looking for interesting ideas and wants to explore ethnic recipes. Each recipe was made and tested by our team and are chock full of grains and veggies,” says Wynnie Stein, one of Moosewood’s co-owners and co-author of the book.
“The Moosewood Restaurant Table” joins Moosewood’s 13 other internationally acclaimed cookbooks, including its award-winning “Moosewood Restaurant Cooks at Home” and the very popular “Our Favorites Cookbook.
The new cookbook will be available for purchase Tuesday, Sept. 26 on Moosewood’s website, www.moosewoodcooks.com, at Buffalo Street Books, Barnes and Noble, and at online booksellers such as Amazon.com.
The restaurant is hosting a cookbook author book-signing and recipe tasting for its new cookbook on Saturday, Sept. 30 from noon to 4 p.m. at 215 N. Cayuga St., entrance is on Seneca Street.

Come try some of the cookbook’s featured recipes, including roasted eggplant salad with a chermoula sauce, delicata squash agrodolce with fresh herbs, pita chips with za’atar (a Middle Eastern spice), and an assortment of cookies including peanut ginger, lemon butter, and cardamom with a bitter-sweet chocolate drizzle. This book-signing and tasting event coincides with Ithaca’s 35th Annual Apple Harvest Festival presented by Tompkins Trust Company, the region’s premier fall festival. Before or after you stop by Moosewood, visit The Commons to enjoy food, ciders, rides, and games.

Moosewood Restaurant Table cover image (sm)“Downtown Ithaca is pleased to have Moosewood as part of our thriving and unique dining community, and we congratulate them on publishing another cookbook that includes new and delicious recipes that its loyal followers, vegetarians, vegans, and experimental cooks will enjoy. Moosewood is one of our community’s most recognizable treasures and we are proud of its record of culinary achievement and success,” says Gary Ferguson, executive director of Downtown Ithaca Alliance, a not-for-profit organization charged with creating a vibrant and sustainable downtown.
Established in 1973 and named one of the 20th century’s most influential restaurants by Bon Appetit magazine, Moosewood continues to be a driving force in the world of creative vegetarian cooking. Moosewood, Inc. is a collectively owned business with 19 members who share responsibilities to operate what has grown from a small natural foods restaurant to a large and diverse company.
Since its inception, Moosewood has published 13 other vegetarian cookbooks and produced a line of frozen vegetarian dinners, salad dressings, and soups that are sold in natural food stores and supermarkets across the country.
With a menu of tasty and nutritious entrees that change daily, Moosewood is known for using only the freshest produce (organic whenever possible), whole grains, beans, soy, quality herbs and spices, and the finest imported or domestic ingredients available. Moosewood serves fresh seafood, great homemade desserts, and offer natural sodas, fresh juices, coffees, beers, spirits, and a good selection of wines from New York State and beyond.

Moosewood is located at 215 N. Cayuga St., in the Dewitt Mall, a multi-use building featuring some of the areas one-of-a-kind dining options and retail shops. For more information about Moosewood, email the restaurant at moose@moosewoodrestaurant.com. For information about downtown Ithaca’s other fantastic dining opportunities, visit downtownithaca.com.

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Ithaca Apple Harvest Fest returns for 35th year

Posted by downtownalliance on September 21, 2017
Posted in: ART & MUSIC, Crafts, food and beverage event, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , . Leave a comment

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Lots of food, live performances, and family-friendly fun

coming to The Commons Sept. 29 – Oct. 1

  ITHACA NY SEPTEMBER 20, 2017 —   We’re just one week away from Ithaca’s premier autumn event, Ithaca Apple Harvest Festival presented by Tompkins Trust Company, a community bank that has been supporting Apple Harvest for the past decade!

This family-friendly, community tradition will take place Friday, Sept 29, noon to 6 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both Saturday, Sept. 30 and Sunday, Oct. 1. Now celebrating its 35th year, this highly anticipated celebration will feature fresh local foods, handmade crafts, games, giveaways, and live performances on and around the Ithaca Commons pedestrian mall, 202 East State St., Ithaca.

More than 20 local farmers will be selling many varieties of apples, cider, maple products, and other delectable seasonal produce and baked goods. Look for traditional favorites as well as new offerings. Littletree Orchards will return with their famous apple cider doughnuts — we’ve seen lines at least 50 people deep waiting to purchase this sweet treat — and Laughing Goat Fiber Farm will once again bring its adorable goats to pet and their fiber to feel. Robbie’s Produce is also making a return visit with its fresh picked and juicy produce, plus it’ll be making beautiful, customized garden and floral arrangements to honor Apple Harvest Festival’s 35th anniversary.

 If you’re looking for a tasty, hot meal or snack, more than 20 different food vendors will be serving delicious dishes to suit every palate. Festival newcomer Monks on the Commons is preparing a fall feast, serving freshly baked doughnuts with maple cream and brown sugar bacon, a butternut squash bisque pork sandwich made with cardamom-spiced pork, cinnamon butter toasted roll and apple-blackcurrant chutney, and Trini Style is returning with a savory brown stew chicken, curry chicken and veggies, spinach fritters and roti and rice. If your mouth isn’t watering yet, just wait, there’s more, including classic festival foods such as fried dough, blooming onions, apple crisps, and pumpkin funnel cake.

 In addition to the farmers and foods, nearly 70 craft vendors from all over the community and the nation will converge in downtown Ithaca to sell hundreds of handmade items. Puccoon Raccoon, a Rochester-based jewelry maker, will feature its line of unique engagement/wedding rings, fun charms, stunning necklaces, and dazzling earrings while Katie Van Design will be showcasing its original coloring books and eye-catching prints and Skelly Chic will be selling its one-of-a-kind skeleton sculptures and stationary.  

Live entertainment is also a festival staple, and throughout Saturday and Sunday, we will have a full lineup of acts set to take the Bernie Milton Pavilion stage. Ithaca College’s student-run radio station, WICB 91.7 FM, and Finger Lakes Comedy Festival will join forces to MC the main stage on Saturday and Sunday, and will announce special giveaways in between sets from Mighty Jet Band (bluesy, folkie & rock tradition), Vee Da Bee (southern blues, soul and hip-hop), NEO Project (soul, jazz, funk), and more.   

For those bringing younger guests, check out the free games and activities at the Family Fun Zone presented by Tompkins Trust Company located inside Center Ithaca and stop by the Wizarding Weekend tent to take a spin on their special Wheel of Magic. It’s only $1 to spin and every spinner is a winner! Proceeds offset the costs of the festival. You’ll also get to learn more about what’s planned for Wizarding Weekend, grab your copy of the festival program, the Daily Non Profit, and purchase Passport Tickets, Potions Crawl passes, Magical Artifact Hunt Passes and City of Magic Ball Tickets.

  “Apple Harvest Festival is one of those community events that you simply don’t want to miss. It’s the perfect opportunity to sample all of the yummy fall foods and tasty beverages that this region is known for, and it’s a wonderful introduction to downtown for those who have never been here before,” says Tatiana Sy, special events director for the Downtown Ithaca Alliance (DIA), a not-for-profit group that organizes this annual affair. “We are truly grateful for the community’s continued support of this event.”

Parking for the festival will be available in the Green, Seneca and Cayuga street garages for $5. For more Apple Harvest information, visit downtownithaca.com or check out our Facebook Event Page.

   Concurrent with the Apple Harvest Festival, 2 Funny Entertainment will present its Finger Lakes Comedy Festival from 6 p.m. to midnight, Thursday, Sept. 28 through Saturday, Sept. 30. Comedians will be performing at several downtown locations. In addition, the Multicultural Resource Center is presenting its First Peoples’ Festival, an annual celebration of indigenous culture, on Sunday at Dewitt Park, 315 North Cayuga St., Ithaca. The event will feature a traditional opening at 10 a.m., followed by live music, performances, arts and crafts, food vendors, children’s activities, and a smoke dance competition.

Also, don’t miss the Finger Lakes Cider Week activities, including Monks and Makers: A Cider and Food Pairing Salon on Sunday, Oct. 1 from 1 to 5 p.m. at Ithaca Marriott Downtown on the Commons.  The DIA has partnered with the NY Cider Association for this special event which will feature an intimate 40-minute tasting session inside the event space in the Ithaca Marriott. Engage with a loaded roster of 9 stellar New York State cideries and enjoy delectable bites from one of Downtown Ithaca’s newest restaurants, Monks on the Commons. These sessions are free to attend with RSVP at eventbrite.com. A very limited number of walk-up spots will be held. All participating cideries will also be selling by the bottle!

For additional information on any of these and more spectacular events happening downtown, visit our Facebook Event Page.

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Downtown Ithaca welcoming new salon Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Set for Thursday

Posted by downtownalliance on September 6, 2017
Posted in: Shopping, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

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The Downtown Ithaca Alliance (DIA) and City of Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 7 at 10 a.m. at downtown’s newest salon, Hare and Bristle.

Downtown Ithaca’s ribbon cuttings are free and open to the public and members of the press.

Hare and Bristle offers a non-traditional salon setting featuring a creative and cozy vintage space with a rotating collection of rare art pieces. In this artsy space, salon owner Danielle Kearns, a multi-talented lead stylist and color correcting expert, provides her customers with unique and inspiring haircuts, indie and cutting-edge styles, and fabulous hair color.

“I excited to show the public that Hare and Bristle can give them a haircut that surpasses current trends; cuts that are fun, stylish, and extremely manageable. We’ve already received so many wonderful compliments about our unique services, so I’m thrilled that I opened a salon here,” says Kearns, a New Jersey native.

Hare and Bristle shares space with Petrune, an extremely popular men’s and women’s vintage clothing boutique at 126 E. State St., The Commons. The salon is located on the second floor of the shop and is open Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Thursdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Saturdays, it is open by appointment only. Call (607) 379-8080 or email HareandBristle@gmail.com to make an appointment.

“We are delighted to welcome Hare and Bristle to downtown’s group of exceptional and highly skilled salon service providers. The partnership Hare and Bristle created with Petrune is sure to help both businesses enjoy excellent success,” says DIA Executive Director Gary Ferguson.

Hare and Bristle’s and Petrune’s partnership joins a growing list of hair care and clothing collaborations in downtown Ithaca. Narrative Space, 213 N Aurora St., and Gia’s Elite Style, 121 S Cayuga St., also pair these services under one roof. Additional information about downtown Ithaca’s retailers and salons is available on the Downtown Ithaca website, http://www.downtownithaca.com.

Also, on Thursday, check out the CFCU 2017 Summer Concert Series’ final performances: The Battle of the Bands competition and Jimkata’s Farewell Ithaca concert.

The Battle of the Bands starts at 6 p.m. on the Bernie Milton Pavilion stage with hip-hop artist Knew, the winner Ithaca Qualifying MC Cypher contest, warming up the crowd with her profound rap lyrics before Stranded with a Kiss, Fall Creek Brass Band, and Kitestring duel for Battle of the Bands winner status.  Immediately following the Battle of the Bands contest, Ithaca’s own beloved band Jimkata will perform its final show in Ithaca.

Further details about Thursday night’s performances are available on Downtown Ithaca’s Facebook Events Page and at its website, http://www.downtownithaca.com.

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Sept 2 and 3 CU & IC students come downtown for fun-filled activities, entertainment and more!

Posted by downtownalliance on August 31, 2017
Posted in: ART & MUSIC, food and beverage event, students, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

Downtown Ithaca is once again partnering with Cornell University, Ithaca College, and the Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit (TCAT) to host the 2nd Annual Student Welcome Weekend, a special event created to introduce college students to life at the bottom of the hill.

“Welcome Weekend is Downtown Ithaca’s way of building a stronger connection with the student population, to entice them to frequently visit downtown and feel comfortable in their home for the next few years. Downtown offers a host of shops, restaurants, services, and entertainment for students to feel at home in Ithaca,” says Allison Graffin, Director of Marketing for Downtown Ithaca Alliance.

This year’s setup will be slightly different than last year’s in that the welcome celebration will be held during one weekend, Labor Day weekend, instead of two consecutive weekends.

Roughly 1,800 first-time Cornell University students along with Cornell RAs, and staff are expected to participate in CU Downtown from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2. CU Downtown is organized by the Tatkon Center, a Cornell University support and resource center for first-year students, in partnership with the Cornell Office of Community Relations, the Downtown Ithaca Alliance, and TCAT. a3b0abd2-3249-4aff-8d8c-a2771540dc75

Cornell’s entertainment infused day includes live performances by Cornell student groups and music entertainment at the Bernie Milton Pavilion. Some of the acts include the Indian Folk dance group Cornell Bhangra, the vibrant and entertaining Big Red Marching Band and Pep Band performing as one, Absolute Zero Breakdance Club, Cornell’s one and only taiko drumming group Yamatai, and The Touchtones. Many more entertainers are listed on the CU Downtown event page on Facebook. These stellar performances are open to the public to come and enjoy.

Students will also be able to participate in many activities, including a Hunt for the Throne scavenger hunt where students will seek out dragons, dire wolves, lords, ladies, humanoids, and kingdoms to collect stamps. Top prizes will be awarded to those who complete the hunt!

Downtown shops and restaurants will be in on the fun by offering special samples and freebies for the students who stop by. Self-guided exploration of downtown will round out the Welcome Weekend activities.

From noon to 4 p.m., Sunday, Sept 3, an estimated 700 new Ithaca College students, several residence assistants, and staff will make the trek down the hill to participate in similar activities as part of in Downtown Day — one of the scheduled activities happening as part of Ithaca College’s “First Bomber Weekend.”

As part of the day’s entertainment, IC’s student-operated radio station WICB will be broadcasting music from the Bernie Milton Pavilion. 97bde203-6f74-4c95-b865-24458c2553b7

Prior to experiencing downtown’s offerings, the students will learn how to use the TCAT system, an often intimidating task to those who have never utilized public transportation in Ithaca or anywhere. This service shows the students how to use the buses to reach downtown destinations and familiarize them with TCAT’s new real-time bus schedules on the free MyStop mobile app, notes Graffin.

Downtown Ithaca regularly offers crowd-drawing events, and the city is home to unique boutiques, galleries, and shops, specialty stores, health care services, theaters, and dozens of locally-owned restaurants that serve a variety of American and ethnic foods.

As part of Welcome Student Weekend, students with a glimpse of these types of establishments that are available on The Commons, Cayuga and Green streets, Press Bay Alley & west downtown, Dewitt Mall and Aurora Street/East State.

More information about Student Welcome Weekend is available at www.downtownithaca.com or on our Facebook Events Pages.

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CFCU Concert Series seeks prize-worthy talent for Battle of the Bands Applications for rappers due on Aug. 5; for bands on Aug. 10

Posted by downtownalliance on August 3, 2017
Posted in: ART & MUSIC, Concert, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

ITHACA NY AUGUST 2, 2017 —  Downtown Ithaca’s CFCU Summer Concert Series is proud to present Battle of the Bands, a spectacular opportunity for music artists and groups to showcase their talents to a large audience while competing for incredible prizes that may help take their craft to the next level.

Battle of the Bands is set for Thursday, Sept. 7 at 6 p.m. at the Bernie Milton Pavilion on the Ithaca Commons, East State Street, and will be broken up into two contests: rappers battle and bands battle.

Rap finalists will be selected by a panel of judges to compete in an MC Cypher set for Sept 1 at 8 p.m. at Lot 10, 106 S. Cayuga St., Ithaca. The deadline to register for consideration for this rap competition is Saturday, Aug. 5. The registration form is available at https://goo.gl/forms/dCBqGmwS9kMlvwlA2.

The top four finalists in the rapper’s contest will walk away with amazing digital content courtesy of Well Said Media and the winner of the MC Cypher will perform as the opening act at the Sept. 7 contest. The winner of the rapper showdown will also receive a trip to A3C Music Festival & Conference in Atlanta, Georgia (Oct 4-8). This remarkable festival and conference engages and inspires the artists, entrepreneurs, and creatives that shape hip-hop culture. The top prize package also includes a round trip flight courtesy of FlyIthaca, an A3C Badge, spending money, hotel accommodations, and a professional photo shoot with Casey Martin Photography.

As for the Battle of the Bands competition, the entire contest will be held on Sept. 7.

Three bands — two selected by a panel and a third chosen by the public — will compete for prizes and the winning band will receive a recording session in Pyramid Sound, strings, picks and a full setup for the studio session from Ithaca Guitar Works and a professional photo shoot with Casey Martin Photography! This is an incredible award for anyone looking to accelerate their music career. The deadline to register for this fantastic opportunity is Thursday, August 10. The registration form is available at https://goo.gl/forms/uu95XCtRiS4DcppF3.

“We are really grateful to our Battle partners and sponsors for helping us provide tools and opportunities that will encourage the winning artists to continue pursuing their craft. A3C is going to be a great opportunity for the winning rapper to soak in the culture on a really detailed level as there will be endless panels, shows, and networking events that weekend. We think that this could potentially become a fun and unique tradition for the CFCU Summer Concert Series and hope that people get excited to engage with local artists and audiences in this way on our stage,” says Downtown Ithaca Alliance Special Events Director Tatiana Sy.

Following the thrilling Battle of the Bands competition, the performers and audience are welcome to stay and enjoy Ithaca’s own Jimkata, a beloved anthemic synth-washed rock ‘n roll group, for its last performance in Ithaca. The band originally announced on July 11 that they will be stopping performances indefinitely and announced their final shows.Jimkata, a local favorite, will perform its last show for Ithaca following the CFCU Summer Concert Series Battle of the Bands on Sept. 7 at the Bernie Milton Pavilion. The competition begins at 6 p.m.Jimkata, a local favorite, will perform its last show for Ithaca following the CFCU Summer Concert Series Battle of the Bands on Sept. 7 at the Bernie Milton Pavilion. The competition begins at 6 p.m.

Jimkata

Jimkata is performing its last Ithaca show on Sept. 7 following the CFCU Summer Concert Series’ Battle of the Bands on the Bernie Milton Pavilion.  The battle starts at 6 p.m.

“This has been a wild ride (pun intended) that all of us are grateful to have experienced. We’re extremely grateful for anyone whose lives were touched by our music, anyone who came to the shows, supported our recording efforts, gave us a sweaty hug, offered us a home for the night, bought a t-shirt, shared a meaningful story with us (of which there are so many we’ve taken to heart) or for any other incredible or ridiculous moment we shared with you. It’s impossible to sum up our gratitude or to neatly summarize our vast treasure trove of both good and occasionally shitty memories,” the band members wrote in a heartfelt Facebook message posted on the band’s page on July 11.

“Jimkata has been a staple of the summer concert series for years and it’s only right that we bring that energy downtown for one last time,” Sy added.

This incredible evening of performances will conclude the 2017 CFCU Concert Series. Remaining shows include Fall Creek Band and Kurt Riley’s on Aug. 3, Tenzin Chopak (Aug. 10), Crucial Reggae Social Club (Aug. 24) and The Gunpoets (Aug. 31).

For additional details about the CFCU Concert Series, visit www.downtownithaca.com, visit our Facebook Page, or email tatiana@downtownithaca.com