Downtown Ithaca boasts all sorts of holiday shopping and family-fun activities this year

Posted by downtownalliance on November 16, 2017
Posted in: Dining, Shopping, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

Small Business Saturday, Cider Monday, Santa’s visit, Ice Fest, Chowder Cook-Off and more will help get folks in the holiday spirit 

ITHACA NY  NOVEMBER 16, 2017 – The holiday shopping season is upon us, and Downtown Ithaca’s many locally owned and operated shops and boutiques that we’ve all grown to know and love are ready to help you celebrate with some very special shopping events.

Small Business Saturday is Saturday, Nov. 25 and it’s the best time of the year to show your support for local businesses and the community. This special day, an American Express creation and annual nationwide movement, is set up to help locally owned businesses with their most pressing need — attracting more customers. The day encourages people to shop at local small businesses on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. dewitt shop small
On Small Business Saturday, make it a point to visit Downtown Ithaca where you’ll find more than 100 locally owned and operated specialty shops and boutiques on and around The Commons. Make sure to check out the retailers at the Dewitt Mall and Pressbay Alley, and on East and West State, Cayuga and Green streets.

Shoppers who arrive at downtown’s shops early may receive a signature “Shop Small” canvas bag, a special edition item and the perfect accessory for carrying some of the wonderful items you’ll purchase that day.

Downtown Ithaca’s shops sell a grand selection of gift options including one-of-a-kind, handcrafted items such as pottery, paintings, jewelry, and other products made by highly skillful artisans. Shoppers will also find stores carrying affordable and quality made children’s clothing and toys, modern brand name and vintage apparel, top of the line sporting goods and high-end footwear. Specialty shops selling holiday items ranging from greeting cards and holiday stationery made by local manufacturers are also among the offerings.

“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’s estimates show that a total of 112 million people came out across the country to shop on Small Business Saturday. This outpouring of support helped the nation’s small business owners generate roughly $15.4 billion in sales for the day.

While you’re shopping local on Small Business Saturday, don’t forget to share with friends and family on social media that you’re downtown for Small Business Saturday. Downtown Ithaca is hosting a #Shopsmall Selfie Contest so it will keep an eye out for your social media posts. When you shop on Small Business Saturday, snap a selfie and use the hashtags #shopsmall and #downtownithaca on Facebook or Instagram. A special prize will be awarded to the winner. Look for contest details and rules on Downtown Ithaca’s Events Page on Facebook.

To continue the holiday shopping spirit past the traditionally busy shopping weekend, Downtown Ithaca will host “Cider” Monday on November 27. This is an indie store alternative to Cyber Monday reminding the community about local businesses.  In downtown Ithaca, shoppers can enjoy complimentary cider samples as they look for gifts as well as a complimentary cider donut from Littletree Orchards when they show a proof of a purchase made a downtown shop that day.  unnamed-2

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

Downtown Ithaca also offers more than 50 dining choices where visitors may stop for a freshly prepared, delicious meal anytime during their holiday shopping excursion. You may also want to consider purchasing a Downtown Ithaca Gift Card as a gift for your loved one or friends so they can experience Downtown Ithaca.

Also, be sure to check out Downtown Ithaca’s upcoming holiday festivities including Santa’s arrival on December 2, the Downtown Ithaca Ice Festival from December 7-9, and the 8th Annual Chowder Cook-Off happening during the ice carving competition at Ice Festival on Saturday, Dec. 9.

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

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Downtown Ithaca Alliance seeking Special Events Director

Posted by downtownalliance on November 3, 2017
Posted in: Employment, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

October/November 2017

The Downtown Ithaca Alliance (DIA) is currently seeking a Special Events Director for immediate hire.

Position Description:

This is a full-time senior management position with the Downtown Ithaca Alliance (one of three staff directors), reporting directly to the DIA Executive Director.

This position is charged with the planning and execution of the various downtown festivals and special events of the Downtown Ithaca Alliance. This is a full-time, exempt position requiring supervision and oversight of temporary employees, volunteers, and interns. The position requires knowledge of budgeting, event planning and management, and volunteer coordination.

This position also assumes a leadership role in the management and implementation of the Tompkins County Festivals Program, which is administered by the DIA for the Tompkins County Tourism Program.

The Special Events Director shall prepare budgets and plans for each event. The Special Events Director will take a lead working with the Executive Director and Marketing Director on obtaining needed sponsorships for events.

The Special Events Director will work with the Executive Director, other staff, and the DIA Special Events committee to recommend an annual roster of events. The Special Events Director will cultivate and maintain close working relationships with City staff that are involved in the special events process. The DIA Special Events director has historically participated on the City’s Special Events review committee. The Special Events Director will also assist and facilitate other organizations and entities in the planning and implementation of other events in downtown Ithaca.

Currently, the major events of the DIA are:

  • The Ithaca Festival Craft Fair
  • The CFCU Summer Concert Series in Downtown Ithaca
  • The Downtown Ithaca Apple Harvest Festival presented by Tomkins Trust Company
  • The Holiday/Winter Festival and related activities including Visit from Santa, Ice Festival/Chowder Cook-Off
  • The Downtown Ithaca Chili Cook- Off
  • Special purpose one-off event(s)

The smaller events of the organization currently are:

  • Downtown Employee Appreciation Week
  • Halloween in Downtown
  • Bite of Ithaca
  • Gallery Nights

This list of major and smaller events is subject to change.

The Special Events Director will also serve as a secondary staff person for the following activities/tasks:

  • Working with Conferences
  • DIA’s Annual Dinner
  • Strategic Tourism Planning Board contract
  • Summer Sale
  • Fashion Night/Week
  • Gallery Nights

The Special Events Director is an integral part of the DIA staff team and is expected to be knowledgeable and conversant with all of the programs and activities of the organization. As a team member, the Special Events Director will provide temporary assistance as required to support other project, programs, and activities of the organization.

The successful candidate will possess most, if not all, of the following attributes:

  • Background and expertise in event planning
  • Capacity to manage large-scale public events
  • Experience working with and cultivating sponsorships
  • Creative, entrepreneurial, and innovative
  • Someone who can work in a team environment
  • Ability to work with and recruit volunteers
  • Ability to prepare and execute budgets

Salary Range: $40,000-$49,000, based on qualifications, plus benefits.

The Downtown Ithaca Alliance seeks to be a diverse workplace and encourages applications from a broad range of qualified persons.

Organization Description:

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 following vision statement guides the work and operation of the Downtown Ithaca Alliance: “Downtown Ithaca is the economic, social, and cultural heart of Tompkins County. The Downtown Ithaca Business Improvement District will strive to preserve and develop the central downtown core as the region’s center for banking and finance, business and professional offices, government and community services, downtown residences, and as a retail destination highlighted by specialty shops, restaurants, arts, and entertainment. Downtown serves people who live and work downtown, city and county residents, college communities, area visitors, and tourists.”

The Downtown Ithaca Business Improvement District was founded in 1997. It is governed by a 27-member Board of Directors and operates with the following staff: A full-time Executive Director (Gary Ferguson); a full-time Marketing Director (Allison Graffin); a full-time Events Director (TBD); a part-time Events Association (Scott Rougeau),  a Communications Manager (Darlene M. Donohue); a full time Operations Director (Kris Lewis); a half-time Art Director (Lora Morrow) and both clean & hospitality ambassadors For more information, please visit http://www.downtownithaca.com..

Application Instructions

Please send a letter of interest, resume, and any supporting materials in DOCX or PDF form to info@downtownithaca.com and gary@downtownithaca.com. Please put Special Events Director in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

 

Gallery Night Ithaca set to amaze this Friday

Posted by downtownalliance on November 2, 2017
Posted in: ART & MUSIC, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , . Leave a comment

We Are Ithaca portraits project and RESIST! exhibit part of this month’s tour

Downtown Ithaca is thrilled to announce that this month’s Gallery Night will feature an impressive array of artworks including a community-orientated photography project, some politically motivated artworks, and Ithaca College student performances. Gallery Night is set for Friday, Nov. 3 from 5 to 8 p.m. at more than two dozen locations on and around The Commons.

For the photogenic types, We Are Ithaca, the latest portrait project organized by director and photographer Robyn Wishna, will be set up at the Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA), 330 E. State St. During Gallery Night, guests are invited to have Wishna create their portrait for use in this project.

Wishna will use the power of photography to engage diverse communities within Ithaca in dialogue and celebration of the area’s complex identity. In addition, Wishna will record one- to two-minute-long videos that will allow viewers to familiarize themselves with Ithacans. More details about We Are Ithaca are available at www.weareithaca.org.

The CSMA will also display a cultural exhibit, Balcon Criolla Ithaca, that is sure to spice up your evening. This cultural exhibit is an installation of Latin and Latin-American items collected from the homes of community members from Tompkins County and beyond. Balcon Criolla is organized by CULTURA Ithaca in partnership with CSMA and La Casita Cultural Center in Syracuse.

Once you’ve been professionally photographed and experienced some Latin culture at CSMA, head to Ten Forward Cafe, located on the second floor of Autumn Leaves Books, for Christine Finnigan’s and Geri Keil’s “Resist!” exhibit.  For their pieces, the two artists used watercolors and other media to demonstrate their views regarding the current political climate and global warming.The exhibit consists of 12 small political cartoons and nine larger paintings, posters & banners.

unnamed-5

One of the 12 paintings in the RESIST! exhibit that will be on display at Ten Forward Cafe during Downtown Ithaca’s November Gallery Night. 

“The inspiration for these artworks came from the feeling that one cannot in good conscience sit idly by saying nothing while the planet disastrously warms with catastrophic consequences for so many or while our so-called leadership undoes all the good stewardship of the Obama administration to serve only the wealthy few. Its so easy to be busy with your life and not speak out but as artists, we feel we must speak out in the most viable way we can,” says Finnigan.

As guests continue through the walkable tour, they will have the opportunity to participate in the grand opening of Caleb Harrington’s shop, Nothing Nowhere, a pop-up retailer temporarily located in Boxy Bikes, 118 W. State St., in Press Bay Alley. Nothing Nowhere sells handcrafted items, many of them created by the highly skilled, young innovators at Ithaca Generator, a community-operated, high-tech, low-brow workshop. Stop by to celebrate with Harrington and review the shop’s collection of leather accessories, hand-carved spoons, handpainted dining ware and more!

Sunny Days of Ithaca is also hosting a celebration. The gift store will feature some very special activities and items in honor of Ithaca College’s 125th anniversary. In recognition of the college’s history of helping to deliver fine artists of all types in the world, Sunny Days is hosting a collaboration of talented IC students and alums who produce many forms of art.

Starting at 5:30 p.m., IC alum Claire Wilcox (’13) will kick off the celebration with a knitting activity. She invites the public to bring their knitting needles to participate in “knit and reminisce.”  Other IC alums, including Emily Wilcox (’16), Alex Kemp (’16) and Nicholas Lawson Carbonaro (’02), Hal Guitarist (’17), Emma Scheneman (’21) and Grace Dashaw (’21) will also demonstrate their artistic skills throughout the evening.

Though the Gallery Night tour focuses on viewing handcrafted artwork, visitors are encouraged to stop at Circus Culture for its performance art piece, Around the Ring Cabaret. This circus arts featurette will showcase performers of all ages and many disciplines soaring above the ground or bound off of it.  The show starts and 7:30 p.m. and refreshments will be available afterward.

Additional Gallery Night exhibits will be available at more than a dozen other locations in the downtown area. Visit http://www.gallerynightIthaca.com to learn more about the participating locations and artists.

Gallery Night is funded in part by the Community Arts Partnership Decentralization Grant and is organized by the Downtown Ithaca Alliance. The DIA is proud to welcome WITH 90.1 as its new media sponsor.

 

Three Downtown Ithaca businesses expanding and adding new services

Posted by downtownalliance on October 20, 2017
Posted in: Business, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , . Leave a comment

ITHACA NY, OCTOBER 20, 2017 — Three Downtown Ithaca businesses are increasing their structural footprint and bringing new services to the community’s bustling business hub.

Comics for Collectors, Escape Ithaca, and Hotel Ithaca recently announced they are either in the process of adding square footage and/or services to their businesses or have completed those projects.

The largest expansion this fall belongs to Hotel Ithaca, owned and operated by Hart Hotels. Located at 222 S. Cayuga St. across from the Cayuga Street Garage, the hotel has now completed its renovation and rebuilding. A recent ceremony marked the official opening of 90 new upscale rooms in a  new attached five-story building. The ground floor features a conference space and a banquet hall while some of the new guest rooms feature gas fireplaces, balconies, and other similarly cozy amenities.

hotel ithaca

Hotel Ithaca’s new wing

 

Hotel Ithaca now boasts 171 total rooms, making it Downtown’s largest hotel. The main tower was completely renovated and its 81 rooms were redone last year. The hotel has on-site parking as well as parking in the adjacent Cayuga Garage. It also has an indoor pool and a restaurant (Max’s Classic American Grill).

At its opening ceremony, Hart Hotels President David Hart noted the company’s decision to reinvest in Ithaca, a figure totaling roughly $15 million. Hart thanked his staff and the City for their efforts to make this major renovation project possible.

Downtown’s lone graphic novel shop, Comics for Collectors at 207 N. Aurora St., is also building on its investment in the area. Late last month, Comics owner Tim Gray signed a lease for the neighboring space, formerly Colophon Books, at 205 N. Aurora to make way for more products. Gray says the shop’s space will increase by roughly 700 square feet, doubling the size of the existing establishment.  It’s the first expansion the business has experienced since moving to downtown Ithaca’s North Aurora location in 1994.

Gray says the growth in popularity for graphic novels for young readers and the increasing interest in fantasy-related, roleplaying games, along with the lack of space to provide newer items prompted him to increase the size of his store.

“We carry a lot of fantastic and new graphic novels for younger readers, but it’s hard for customers to see them on the shelves because they are scrunched together with all of the other graphic novels,” Gray says.

Comics for Collectors already sells fantasy-related board games, too, but they occasionally get overshadowed by the incredible selection of graphic novels, or the customers don’t purchase the game because of their lack knowledge about them.

“Often times people come into the store and they’re really interested in the games, but they’re apprehensive to buy them because they don’t know how to play them. With the extra space we’re going to create an area where we can provide customers with brief game demonstrations,” Gray says.

Comics for Collectors

Comics for Collectors leasing neighboring space to add a special section to the store. 

 

Graphic tee shirts (a new item) will also be sold in the additional space, which will be connected to the current shop with an interior portal that is being built later this month, Gray says.

This ambitious project is set to be complete by Wizarding Weekend, Oct. 28.

As for Escape Ithaca, downtown’s only interactive, role-playing adventure, its expansion is complete.  After less than one year in business, Escape Ithaca last month moved from 109 W. State St. (above State Theatre) to a location across the street at 124 W. State, a 1,200-square-foot space nearly double the size of its former site.

“We explored many different options and locations, and after the past year in business, we decided that being in Downtown Ithaca was the only logical choice. We have found Downtown Ithaca to be where the foot traffic is. We see Ithaca residents, tourists, young professionals, and students. We knew that we needed to expand when we had several customers asking for new rooms, larger groups, private parties, etc. It seemed like it was the right thing to do to meet the demand of our customers here in Ithaca,” says Escape Ithaca co-owner Ray Weaver, adding he’s poured thousands of dollars into securing and renovating the new space.

As a result of acquiring additional square footage, Escape Ithaca will soon offer a second escape room, the Sorcerer’s Study, an extremely popular escape room that made its debut last October. Weaver says the new room should be open just in time for Wizarding Weekend. During the Sorcerer’s Study’s initial opening, Escape Ithaca will offer special “Walk-in” rates the entire weekend!

Escape Ithaca

Escape Ithaca moved to 124 W. State St., a space that is double the size of its former location. The additional space will allow the business to add a new interactive, role-playing adventure room. 

 

“As evident by these and other Downtown Ithaca projects, the community is growing, and it will continue to flourish as more residents, students, business professionals, and tourists recognize Downtown Ithaca as a place for fun, popular, and unique experiences and services. We thank these businesses for investing in our community and we congratulate them on their expansions and continued success,” says Gary Ferguson, executive director of the Downtown Ithaca Alliance, a not-for-profit group charged with maintaining and promoting downtown’s thriving business improvement district.

For additional information on any of the expansions, contact the DIA at (607) 277-8679.

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

1456X180AppleHarvest-01

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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