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Best of Ithaca 2008
By: Pamela Goddard
Once again, for the 26th time, it's the Ithaca Times's annual roundup of what's best, what's most popular and what generates the most buzz in Ithaca. The Best of Ithaca Reader's Poll is an annual reflection of this diverse and quirky place. Like a twist of a kaleidoscope, each year we shift the questions a little bit in order to get a new perspective on our town. We hold up the mirror, and you show us what we look like. Here we go...
What winners have to say:
PLACES
Best Place to Watch Sunrise:
On Cayuga Lake
Ah, there's some romance this year for Cayuga Lake. Last year Cayuga Lake had little to say when it was chosen as "Best fishing hole." This time the lake simply smiled, happy to hear that others recognize what it has always known.
Best Scenic Walk:
Robert Treman Park
The waterfalls, the woodlands, the gorges - and an old mill. What could be better? Robert Treman Park has everything, including places to rest and enjoy the views.
Best Park for a Picnic:
Stewart Park
Pavilions, ball fields, a playground and merry-go-round ... and the lake. Pack a cooler, fire up the grill, gather some friends, and enjoy the sunset ... or the sunrise.
Best Place to Mountain Bike:
Shindagin Hollow Forest
Surfing through Google, we found this review at bikerag.com, "Really great stuff, intermediate stuff that most can ride, not too many drops, log rides, ramps, a-frame, see saw, nice short technical stunt trail.. I would come back here and check out the rest of the trails if I was in the area.. They are good trails and linked with some stunts can be a good day of riding! Thanks to the locals that built the goods, some of the best stunts I have seen in my travels..."
Best Tourist Attraction:
Taughannock Falls
It's taller than Niagara Falls, though usually with less water, and you can either walk in from the lower park by the lake or drive up to the overlook. Easy to get to and stunning at any season of the year.
Most Underrated Hangout Spot and Best Cocktail Selection:
Felicia's Atomic Lounge
"Oh, wow! Thanks to everyone who drinks here and voted," says Amelia Sauter.
Felicia's also was voted Best cocktail selection. Could there be a connection?
Sauter adds, "We're a particularly social bar with a very diverse crowd. Since we're four blocks from the Commons, people have to seek us out on purpose." Whether you walk in on your own, or with a group of twenty, the combination of staff and clientele makes for a special atmosphere.
And about those drinks. The cocktail selection changes a lot, and features seasonal fruits and veggies. "And, we take risks," Amelia says, noting such things as figs, cantaloupe, lemon balm, and crab apples in their cocktails. Hits, such as Felicia's Ginger-Rita, stay on the menu. "If you don't love your cocktail, we'll make another free of charge. When people know that, they're willing to take risks on something new. We have excellent bartenders. When people like the staff, their drink tastes better."
Last year, Best bartender - male and female - went to Felicia's staff. Maybe Amelia's on to something?
Most Overrated Hangout Spot:
The Commons
Has its time come and gone? Our pedestrian mall has gone through tough times in the past few years. Will millions of dollars of renovations bring back The Commons' former glory? Perhaps some of the empty storefronts will fill in with new shops and eateries. Perhaps, perhaps ...
PEOPLE
Best Ithacan Most Likely to Change the World:
Sue Bissell
Bissell is changing the world through massage at the Finger Lakes School of Massage. "This is a big surprise to me. I'm very flattered. If it was up to me, I'd vote for people like the organizers of the Pod-car - big shakers and movers," Sue says. "I don't think we're changing things in big ways, just one student at a time. I've taught over 2,000 students at the school. I want to open them to the possibility of healthy living for themselves and for their clients."
Asked about the extraordinary showing of the FLSM in the reader's poll, Sue quips, "We have seventy students at the school. They may have organized something. But I think the FLSM does have a big impact on the community. A lot of our students do community service massage for the disabled, and at the hospital and in nursing homes."
Students at the FLSM clearly appreciate the education they receive.
Best Teacher:
Uriel Carpenter of Finger Lakes School of Massage
Best Massage Therapist:
Meredith Reilly
Another teacher at the FLSM and a graduate of the program, Reilly says, "It is an amazing place. Everyone who walks through the door feels welcome and at home. The potential of each individual is brought out in ways I've never experienced before."
After studying biology at Cornell, Reilly attended the massage school.
"It's all living organisms," she jokes. Reilly practices at the FLSM and at Bodyworks downtown Ithaca. "I received an incredible education at the school. I'm really grateful to my teachers. My colleagues and my clients are my inspiration."
Best Male Waiter:
Patrick DiCacchio
Asked what it felt like to be voted "Best," DiCacchio said, "It feels great. When people know your name, and come back, that means something." After ten years of food service experience, starting at age 14, DiCacchio is now working at the Fine Line Bistro. "We've certainly had a lot of support for the new restaurant," he says. "Right now I have a table of six who come in regularly. This is the first restaurant I've ever worked in where I have nothing to worry about. We've got an excellent bartender, great wait staff, and I never to worry about what comes out of the kitchen. I have no plans to go anywhere else."
Best Female Waiter:
Thalia DeJesus
The Simeon's food server says, "I was so surprised. This came out of nowhere."
While Thalia enjoys working in the fun atmosphere and active location of Simeon's, she's looking forward to the time when she can end her six-year career as a waitress and work in massage therapy.
Best Local Celebrity:
Guthrie Noonan
What does it take to be a local celebrity? According to those who know him, Noonan's a winner simply because he knows so many people. His partner says, "So many people know him. He's been in Ithaca a long time and worked so many places. We walk down the street and he's always stopping to talk to people.
Best Ithaca Firefighter:
Guy Van Benschoten
"This is a very pleasant surprise," Guy says. "I'm honored to accept on behalf of all the firefighters."
We caught up with Van Benschoten on Sept. 11, a special day for firefighters in New York and across the country. Guy has been a firefighter for 33 years. "I think it's a great job. I see it as an opportunity to help people. I'm not looking for recognition. We all think about the lessons we learned on 9-11, and want to keep everyone safe. This is really a team effort. It's about all of us, and nothing about me."
Best Plumber:
Drain Brain
You've seen the bright green trucks around town. For 18 years, Drain Brain plumbers have built a steady clientele and relationship with the community. If you want to catch the boss on the phone, it's best to call early in the morning. Mike (the boss) credits Drain Brain's success on the trust people put in the business, and the fact that they offer same day service. An important service, when your pipes are leaking or your drains are clogged.
Best Local Do-Gooder:
Jennifer Dotson
"This is a total surprise. I didn't even know there was a contest. I never win anything - not even raffles," she says. "But, I can't figure out if I'm happy or not. It's a little weird. Do-gooder, what's that?"
"Do-Gooder" does after all have certain connotations that are not always positive. Then again, Dotson has been active in community organizations for many years. Dotson has taken special interest in transportation concerns in Ithaca, including Curb Your Car and acting as a bike valet at the Ithaca Festival. She now coordinates the Ithaca Car Share program. Oh yes, and she's on the Ithaca Common Council with one of the most active committee schedules around.
"It is nice to be getting recognition for hard work," she says.
Best Volunteer Organization:
Loaves and Fishes
For 25 years, the volunteers at Loaves and Fishes have been doing more than filling empty stomachs. They've also been building community. Executive director, Chris Pothier says, "I'd like to acknowledge Maggie Whitehead, who does a great job as volunteer coordinator. I also have to mention and give thanks to our wonderful kitchen managers, Neil Golder and Isaiah Parker.
"We have a busy program. I don't know how many hundreds we serve each week - thousands each year. I think it's a great place to volunteer. It's a great way to been involved in the community. People can look at the Web site, loaves.org, for opportunities. There are lots of ways to be involved - in the kitchen, the garden, the dining hall, or things you can do at home. Our volunteers are very dedicated. Some have been here since we opened, definitely twenty years. We have an older, steady group and a continuous flow of students who give that youthful energy."
Best Attorney:
Raymond Schlather
We caught Ray on the cell phone, between trips to Elmira and Syracuse.
"Thank you, what a pleasant surprise," he said. "I'm humbled and honored. I hasten to add that this is due to the people I work with. We have a great group working together in everything from marital relations to criminal defense and trail work. I feel privileged to work in such a dynamic area. I've been in practice for over 30 years and have done a lot of civil rights litigation. We're active in several parts of the community. I really do value being able to live and work in this area. I'm very pleased."
FOOD & DRINK
Best Chef and Best New Restaurant:
Seth Gregory and
Fine Line Bistro
Gregory has been cooking up good things in Ithaca for five years.
Last January, he and co-owners Danny and Emily Doyle opened Fine Line Bistro. The atmosphere, service, and food have been earning them an appreciative audience. When asked
what might have motivated people to vote for them, Gregory says, "We give a lot of attention to detail and try to be adventurous with food. There are six to eight specials every day, with a lot of local organic ingredients. There's always something new, any time you come in."
Best Finger Lakes Winery:
Six Mile Creek
Manager Eric Russo says, "We're happy that the local readers vote for their hometown winery. This was unsolicited, and it's nice that they take pride in the hometown winery. We're just going to keep doing what ever they like."
Best Brunch:
DeWitt Cafe
Co-owner and chef, Josh Eckenrode says, "We try to offer a variety of things, innovating with seasonal local produce and interesting flavors. Giving customers something new is the key - something to remember."
The DeWitt Cafe has been an Ithaca institution for 35 years. The Cafe opened soon after the building was purchased and transformed from a school to a business with residential rentals.
"We like to describe the Cafe as an indoor version of the European sidewalk style cafe. It's hard to describe, especially Sunday Brunch, but there's something about the energy of the place. People are having fun, even the staff has fun. It's energetic and fast paced."
Best Breakfast:
State Street Diner
Owner Stavros says, "Thanks. We take pride in our work and our staff is doing a great job. The diner has been here since 1936. There are regulars who come every day. There are students through the week, office, and working people. For a lot of people, it's an Ithaca tradition. People who come to reunions make a point of stopping in. We just try to be consistent and serve Ithaca as we have for over 70 years."
Best Beer List:
Chapter House
It's right there on the front page of their Web site. (OK, old-time Ithacans, can you believe that The Chapter House has its own Web site? Yeah, the place that looks like an Old English Pub...) From pale ale and pilsner to stout, you'll find it all at the Chapter House. Spend the winter beer tasting - there are a dozen brews from Ithaca alone, including Bellwether Hard Cider on tap. While you're there, enjoy the great music including Boy with a Fish and IY in the next month.
Best Organic Food:
Smart Monkey
When asked if there's any competition in this category, owner Mary Ann Friend says, "Yes there are lots of organic options on Ithaca restaurant menus. I'm really pleased. I think Ithaca cuts new ground, especially with organic food. Moosewood pushed way ahead of its time on vegetarian and vegan food, but when they opened it was almost impossible to find organic. Finding good sources is really important for a restaurant. Even Sysco sells organic now. With me, it's so important in terms of personal and environmental health, and to support small farmers."
Best Casual Dining and Best Cheap Eats:
Viva Taqueria
The popular Mexican restaurant is also one of the busiest places around.
Best Thai Food:
Taste of Thai
"I think this is our fifth Best of Ithaca award," says manager Bruce Anderson. "Of course, it's very gratifying that our customers rank us at a high level. We have high quality staff and equally high quality food. The fact that people keep coming back totally excites us."
Some of the dishes people keep returning for are the increasingly popular noodle dishes such as Pad Thai. Part of the special nature of the food reaches back to a multi-generational restaurant tradition. April Pancharoen (co-owner with her husband Oh) grew up in a restaurant in Thailand. "Mom's recipe Cashew Chicken" is named for her, and is just one of the family specialties which has made its way to Ithaca.
Best Fine Dining:
Madeline's
Madeline's Teri Miller says, "Madeline's takes fusion cuisine seriously and we are thrilled that our loyal customers appear to appreciate and understand that. We have been a bit spoiled here in Ithaca over the last 11 years, where residents are open-minded, intelligent, and so many cultures come together. Our
concept of combining traditional European dishes with exotic eastern flavors and spices for fine dining was an instant success. Our menu continues to evolve and Madeline's looks forward to providing our customers with many more years of exciting dining experiences. Thank you so much for this great honor."
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Best Museum:
Herbert F. Johnson Museum,
Cornell University
From the Richard J. Schwartz Director Franklin W. Robinson: "We are thrilled to be chosen. Last year we had over 99,000 visitors, half of them from all around Ithaca and Tompkins County; in addition, we gave special tours for schoolchildren from sixty schools from the Southern Tier and Pennsylvania. We are truly a community museum, and we are proud of it. Thank you very much!"
Best Radio Voice:
DJ Nicky Wood
You can catch Nicky play every Saturday from 2-5 p.m. as he hosts "The Ultimate 80s Show" alongside MC Marty Marts. "Thank you. That's really cool because it's a specialty show- it's not an everyday show. I've been doing it for eight years, and I didn't realize it was so popular! The '80s is a great decade, but it seems like every radio station plays the same 20-30 songs. We try to play the tunes that you don't hear, that make you go, 'Oh my god!' Thanks to everybody that voted for me. I'm so happy about it, and I'll keep the show as alive as possible. It's always great to be appreciated in your hometown ... Thank you so very much Ithaca!"
Best Club DJ:
The Common Ground
The crew at the Common Ground wasn't available for comment at the time of publication, but our hats go off to this popular duo of DJs. DJ Joey B at Common Ground plays Top 40 and dance hits every Friday night, while DJ Joe Rundle plays most Saturdays with '80s, '90s and hits from today.
Best Local Musical Newcomer:
Mike Brindisi &
The New York Rock
"I am honored and thrilled," said Brindisi. "I've put a lot of hard work into this last year especially and it's nice to see some recognition. We go into the studio the first week of October to record a full-length album, and hopefully booking a tour in the spring. We have a lot of irons in the fire. Our main goal is to get is to get this full-length album out. Thanks so much, Ithaca!"
Best All-Ages Venue:
The Haunt
Chris Mazer, talent buyer and event manager, said "more all-ages shows is something that we're actually going to be working on a lot harder over the next couple of months, with both Saturday and Sunday matinees. It's not just important for the club to keep it all ages but also for the Ithaca music scene in general. If you don't give younger kids opportunities to see live music they won't get inspired to play it themselves. We're very excited and surprised to win - thanks."
Best Fine/Visual Artist:
Alice Muhlback
"It makes me very happy to win best local artist!" Muhlback said, "especially since I just recently closed my shop to spend more time making art. It's just what I needed, thank you, thank you."
Best Local Author:
Diane Ackerman
"What a lovely surprise!" said Ackerman. "I'm absolutely delighted. Ithaca is a joy to live and write in, and full of so much inspiration. I wrote most of The Zookeeper's Wife here, even though it's set in Poland. And I've just finished writing a natural history book that's partly set in my backyard."
Best Public Art:
The Sagan Planet Walk
(aka the solar system walk)
The Sagan Planet Walk is a walking scale model of the solar system, extending 1.2 km from the center of The Commons to the Sciencenter.
Lara Kimber, Associate Director, Sciencenter said, "This is fantastic! The Sagan Planet Walk is a memorial tribute to the late astronomer Carl Sagan. Originally conceived by Charlie Trautmann, Executive Director of the Sciencenter, the project is a walking scale model of the solar system that extends from the Commons to the Sciencenter. It was designed by local artist Erin Caruth, and the project was coordinated by past Sciencenter board member and long-time volunteer Bob Orrange. This year, as part of the Sciencenter's 25th Anniversary, we are developing a new Asteroid Station, which will feature a real (big!) meteorite that can be touched. It is currently in production and will soon be located on Seneca Street outside the Tompkins Trust Company. Thanks so much, Ithaca - this is a wonderful honor!"
Best Local Gallery:
Handwork Gallery
Due to a devastating fire earlier this year, the Handwork Gallery has had a tough year, but they've bounced back in fine form.
Marjory Martin, potter and president of the executive committee of Handwork, said, "Our grand re-opening on gallery night felt so good because the fire was so devastating to everyone. The fire happened January 8, and we opened the temporary store on The Commons right before Valentine's Day - we pulled it together so quickly. We learned a lot, and everyone pitched in. In spite of the devastation there have been a lot of positive things, too. We're very lucky. We wanted to re-open as soon as possible, and it's amazing that we did it as quickly as we did. And now we have a beautiful new store! There's a silver lining to every
cloud. The members are happy with the improved space and the customers seem to be as well."
Best Public Event:
Ithaca Festival
Despite incurring a $100,000 debt this past year thanks to the combination of running two festival venues and poor weather conditions, the Ithaca Festival still managed to win Best Public Event in our poll this year, truly proving that it's the best festival out there.
From Ed Marion, president of the Ithaca Festival Board of Directors: "Well we're absolutely thrilled that we are the first among equals in this town. We're honored. We're thankful to everybody."
ESSENTIALS
Best Student Landlord:
CSP Management
Jerry Dietz says, "Who even knew? In this town, that's a special category. While it's good to be the best student landlord, we try to be a good landlord to everyone. It's nice to have this recognition. Nice that people had a good enough experience with CSP to put our name down."
Asked how many students CSP serves, Dietz says that they don't keep track. "The number ebbs and flows, but I'd says at least 30-35 percent of our rentals. There's an interesting shift in student housing, with more and more willing to live right downtown. Did you know that 75 percent of our city's housing is rental property? Whenever I hear that I'm always surprised. This is a very transient town, and there's a big need to fill. It's not just students."
Best Carpet Cleaner:
ABC Carpet Cleaners
Owner Ken Adams says, "I think our strong ethic of integrity, providing great service for great value. This is our 38th year in business. We're locally owned and operate in a building opposite Wegmans, which is easily accessible. People might want to know that we have the only regional washer for oriental carpets.
"And, we're all green. For the past three years all of our products are made from plant and renewable resources. Our carpet cleaning is safe for everyone - pets, children, and the environment. It matters to us. We want to protect our employees as well as our customers."
Best Dentist's Office:
Ira Kamp
Kamp has been voted the best before.
Kamp's dental assistant and office manager Tracy Elster says, "He's very accepting of everybody and doesn't turn anyone away. And, he's very knowledgeable and nurturing. Dr. Kamp is really working for the community, rather than for the money. We want to help out in any way we can."
Best Tattoo Parlor:
Stiehl's
Ron Stiehl says he's the "right hand man" to his wife, business owner Dawn Stiehl.
"We're going on 12 years," Ron explains. "When we decided to do tattoos, we brought in quality people - real artists whose canvas is people's skin. We use good inks, sterile tools - the best. A good tattoo is a thing of beauty. Believe me, there's lots of people who have piercings and tattoos, and you'd never know. We've done a lot of doctors and lawyers, a lot of professional people. It's something that means something to them, and nobody sees it."
Best Yoga Studio:
SOMA
Owner Jessica says, "Thanks, this is very exciting. I had no idea, and I'm completely honored and thrilled. It's been an uphill climb. I've never advertised, so this is very much a grassroots operation. I run the place very casually. We have a relaxed, informal atmosphere with no stress. There are great people working here - massage therapists, and other yoga teachers. We're all independent, but work as comrades."
Best Auto Repair Shop:
Autoworks
Karen and George Rushlow are the owners. Karen says, "We are shocked. I was completely blown away, this is really exciting for us. We're a little shop that opened in 2001. We worked really hard and expanded to a second shop in 2005, and added towing in '07. Now, we're a AAA certified repair shop and roadside contractor. We're very choosy about the techs we hire, and we're able to specialize in everything."
Rushlow urged us to talk with Sean Bollaway, who's been the guy at the front desk for the last six years. "We owe a lot to him," Karen says.
"It's true, I enjoy talking to customers and dedicate time to make things work," Sean says. "But, without Ben and the other service workers we wouldn't be where we are now. We've got a great team that takes pride in what goes on here. This makes us feel good about the time we take with each customer."
Best Hair Salon:
Satori
Located at the Village Green on Hanshaw Road, Satori is owned by Lynette Grider and Christi Boothe. More than just stylists with a lot of experience, Satori offers a full line of spa treatments as well. The co-owners have decades of experience behind them.
Lynette says, "We're thrilled to death." Asked how the team came to open the spa/salon, Grider explains, "We've been best friends for twenty years. This has been a dream of ours for at least ten years. We wanted to create a positive impact on the community, but wanted to wait until everything was right. In just three years, we've grown from four employees to twenty and we see 280-300 clients a week."
Best Elementary School:
Fall Creek
Last year, readers of the Ithaca Times voted the Fall Creek neighborhood "Friendliest."
Principal Karen Keller says, "I do think our neighborhood has something to do with it. We have great kids and great staff, along with a great neighborhood. We have a really dynamic staff and an active and positive PTA this year. I think that collaboration is really strong. We try to instill that involvement in our students. Every Friday we have a school-wide celebration - birthdays and more - students can sign up to perform and they always do. It's a positive, upbeat time. The children do the morning announcements. We find ways to keep this a happy, upbeat place where adults and children want to walk in the door every day."
Rebecca James, president of the Fall Creek PTA, says, "We have a ton of really active parent volunteers. It's a welcoming school. Parents are welcome and invited to volunteer, or stop in to have lunch with their children. And parents are always invited to the weekly assembly every Friday."
Best Place to Work Out:
Island Health and Fitness
When hearing the news of the honor, General Manager John Comereski said he was "very pleased the community thinks of us in that respect."
Island Health has earned Best of Ithaca status before, but that doesn't change his feeling when hearing the fitness center was chosen again.
"Just because we've won it before doesn't take away of the steam away from winning it again," Comereski.
As for what he believes sets Island Health apart, he said he hopes it's a number of things,
"I'm hoping it's our services and the facilities themselves," Comereski said, "and I'm just hoping that people that come here get the results that they want. I hope it's all of those things."
Best Spa:
Rasa Spa
Owner Rachel Hogancamp says, "Thank you very much. There are a lot of great spas, so it's exciting that people notice and voted for us. I think we're trying different ways to find a niche, offering things like meditation and classes on cooking and crystals that are beyond a regular spa. We want this to be a place where people can gather. I think our tranquility room really lends itself to that. Being at Island Health Club, being able to work with the hospital, gives us lots of opportunities. When we think of programs we think of ways to help people take care of themselves and take time for them. That's hard these days."
And last but not least - congratulations go out to a winner that could not be reached for comment ...
Best Barbershop:
Cornell Barber
Best Reason Why You're Still Living In Ithaca
-my 2 year old niece Sofia Juliana (it certainly is not the cost of living or the annual salary!)
-Really cool people
-The land and the people
-Culture
-school
-Cornell, active community, great outdoors
-Waiting for children to graduate
-Local food
-Bikram's Yoga College of India, Ithaca Branch
-Job
-The people
-Wish I was, but i still get to visit all the time for my kids!
-Work, work, work.
-Ithaca free-clinic
-My Friends and Family
-Country Cosmopolitan
-I'm not old enough to move out
-Because everyone I love is here.
-Born here
-I was born here
-I'm stuck here
-Maxies
-Jim Beam
-Finger Lakes School of Massage
-10 sq miles surrounded by reality
-Summer
-There are so many folks doing inspiring things
-Stable real estate market.
-Friends
-Work
-Summer
-Live Theatre
-Environmental beauty, clean water, fresh air
-Great area, Great food, great people.
-Still going to school.
-It's Just a great place to be!
-My Parents are still here.
-Thousands of things to do. Choices.
-All of the activities that are available.
-Ithaca is 10 sq miles surrounded by reality.
-Atmosphere and friends.
-Overall quality of life.
-The People!
-Geographical Beauty
-The lake and the waterfalls.
-The beauty and the people.
-It's Home. Progressive and Beautiful.
-Summer is paradise
-Friendly community
-High quality of life in this walkable city.
-Can't find a friendlier more beautiful place.
-Family, Quality of life
-Culture; theatre and arts are excellent in a small city
-Spirituality
-Summer
-Samurai Sushi
-No imagination, can't find our way out of town.
-The outdoor store
-The beauty, the nature, the people, the culture
-Born here! Love it!
-I like extremely high taxes
-The natural beauty of the area.
-The Environment
-Its diversity and culture and uniqueness.
-TO be able to laugh at the liberalist marxists
-Is there any other place?
-Shortstop Deli
-Love the Atmosphere, People, and community.
-I'm building a house and a career.
-The People.
-School
-The Lake, Paddle, Meditate, Swim
-Home since 1990
-Been here 62 years, my family is here
-10 sq miles surrounded by reality
-My Job and my wife.
-The People
-The Culture
-My Partner's Career
-It's a pleasure
-Small but International Feel
-The People and Culture
-I can't get enough of its mainstream conservatism
-Stuck here for school
-Safety!
-The people and the cost of living
-Haven't graduated yet
-There's so much to do with my kids!
-Quirky and Cornell
-Family
-Family and friends
-It's a green community and my friends live here
-Everything is the perfect shade of green here
-The Gorges
-I'm making good money and I'm pregnant
-It's beautiful, full of life with food from every part of the world!
-I grew up here
-Summer and fall
-Ithaca's personality
- The nature, the liberal atmosphere, Wegmans and Greenstar
-Massage school
-There's no place like it!
-School, the beauty everywhere and the people
-Grad school
-Partner is doing PhD at Cornell
-I keep forgetting to leave before winter happens
-It's like a mini San Francisco
-Why not
-The natural beauty
-Peace
-God, I wish I was still - but the people are why I keep coming back for vacation
-The lake
-My daughter
-Quality of life - no commute, great cultural events, great people
-Greenstar Co-Op and the scenery
-School
-Ithaca is Gorges
-It's cool
-Local music
-Fear of reality
-Great place to raise kids
-Gimme Coffee
-Love it
-Work
-It hasn't let me leave
-Hills and valleys
-Family, friends and great community and FLSM
-International flavor
-The beauty
-Summer and early fall
-Diversity
-Grad school and local farms
-The food
-It is a progression
-Job
-Diversity of culture/people
-Korova (Trivia)
-This place isn't perfect but I have no desire to leave. This is a comfy place to live. Never leaving.
-Beauty and culture
-The Falls
-My Hot Girlfriend
-Summertime
-They have a roller derby team
-All the love
-Prettiest topography in the U.S.
-I work here and own a home here
-The space to be free
-School
Best Thing That Has Happened to Ithaca?
-Applefest/Chilifest.
-Wegmans
-I stopped drinking
-Gimme Coffee
-bike trail
-BIkram's Yoga College of India, Ithaca Branch
-New Big stores at Pyramid Mall
-Finger lakes school of Massage
-Target
-Higher gas prices
-The Glaciers that carved the lake.
-Grassroots festival
-Dunkin Donuts
-It's groovy and the Sciencenter!
-Colleges
-The Colleges
-LACS
-Maxies
-New Development Downtown
-Farmer's Market
-Finger Lakes School of Massage
-Paved Roads
-Repaving the Roads
-Kohl's
-Roller Derby-The Suffer Jets
-Arthur Knuckes
-Met my wife
-Sciencenter
-Cornell University
-Wegmans
-Outside dining on Aurora St.
-Ithaca free clinic and Ithaca loves Teachers in February.
-WInter- it keeps us from growing too much!
-Ithaca free health clinic.
-Island Fitness
-The TCSPCA is no-kill
-Gimme! Coffee
-Ithaca neighborhood housing.
-The gardens on the traffic islands
-Community Garden
-Talk of a bike lane
-Dali Lama's Visit
-upgrade of cultural facilities, theaters especially.
-Development of the commons
-Movement towards carshare and conscious biking behavior.
-The Farmer's Market
-The commons
-Cornell U. and Ithaca C.
-Ithaca is gorges but pricy
-Being voted as one of the best places to live.
-Applefest
-The glacier 10,000 years ago
-Mayor Peterson
-Keep State Theatre alive and running
-Walmart plus Lowes
-Carolyn Peterson
-Cornell, IC, TC3
-Car Sharing
-CarShare
-Walmart and Wegmans
-Revival of State Theatre.
-Kohl's
-Dan Smalls
-Formation of Historic Ithaca
-Global Warming
-Starbucks
-Increased sense of community
-Peak Oil
-Kids Discover the Trail
-Children's Garden
-The Sciencenter
-Cornell and I.C
-Walmart
-Satori!
-The Culture
- Clean up of Stewart Park and Cayuga Lake shore
- Spirit and Kitsch Art Garage
-Gimme Coffee
-Finger Lakes School of Massage
-Redoing the streets
-Satori Salon/Spa/Shopping experience
-Ithaca Festival
-Ithaca Car Share
-Realization that we need to make improvements
-The big peace sign
-Me
-The wineries
-Wegmans
-West side improvements and trail
-Waterfront Trail
-Local music
-Formation of the Sim Redmond Band
-Cinemapolis/Fall Creek Theater
-Failure to build an interstate nearby
-State Street gentrification
-Fine Line Bistro
-Colleges
-Greenstar market
-Weed
-The Ithaca Festival Peace Sign
-Much needed paving of city streets (must be an election year)
-downtown development
-Tompkins County Spca went no-kill
-Grassroots
-Discovery Trail
-Sustainability
-The Ithaca SufferJets
-Gorges
-Felicia's Atomic Lounge
-Snow
Best Thing That Should Happen to Ithaca?
-Podcars
-get rid of half the college students
-smoke-free commons
-become energy independent
-Dog park
-finish the bike trail
-Clean air, clean water, bike paths
-Highway loop around Ithaca
-Water-front trail
-Fix up some of the parks
-Less Potholes on the streets
-More bike lanes, routes, racks, trails, etc...
-More trees, less development
-Bike lanes and increased traffic enforcement
-There should be no taxes on anything
-Populate
-Get Bigger
-Pave over the commons
-More downtown development
-Get a trader Vics or wholefoods supermarket
-Get rid of Starbucks downtown
-Paved Roads
-Repaving the Roads
-Better, more efficient public transportation
-Get neighborhoods off the grid with solar initiatives.
-More Brunch places.
-Better music venues for smaller shows than the state theatre.
-Improved Economy and Jobs
-Clean up the lake.
-Expand Farmer's Market
-A new school district superintendent
-More street festivals.
-An endowment for all local children to attend college/university.
-Keep bus fares Low to promote mass transit.
-Traffic to be changed to better patterns
-Better bike lanes.
-Amtrack station!
-Banana Repubic
-Revitalize the commons
-Tow rope for pedestrians and cyclists up Buffalo St.
-Improve mass transit
-Lower housing prices
-Bike lanes!
-Better air service.
-should repair sidewalks
-The roads be repaired,
-lower property taxes, ask Cornell for help
-Swimming in the lake (Stewart Park)
-Community Wide Effort to address the race issues in Ithaca.
-Improve local schools educations
- Highway to bypass Ithaca.
-More funding for art and common grounds
-Windmills! more green
-Fix the roads
-The Commons should get improved
-Fill the Commons with cement 100 feet deep
-Keep it green
-Fix the roads! Stop so much development
-less big box stores
-More restaurants
-Carolyn Peterson another term.
-3 AM last call.
-Increase low cost public transportation
-Green Consciousness
-More stores, better housing, and better roads.
-Designated Bike Lanes
-Trolley
-Don't Let Walmart Expand
-A drunk food alternative to Commons' pizza at 1:30.
-Rebuild the Strand Theater
-Renovate Stewart Park
-Global Warming
-More republicans
-Say "no" to Super Walmart
-Costco
-Less local music, more good music
-A bypass for commuters on 13
-Bike Sales through city and town
-New charter school
-It doesn't get too popular
-The return of Dunkin' Donuts
-Shopping
-Olive Garden
-More dance clubs
-Bring in entertainment industry
-Toxic cleanups completed
-A stable and consistent dog park
-Commons revitalization
-Destroy Walmart
-Revamp Commons
-Repair damaged roads
-Safe bike routes
-Revitalize the Commons and downtown ... encourage bigger business growth ... there are too few good jobs here
-Rooftop bar
-Trader Joe's
-That it remains undiscovered
-Better access to NYC
-Increase in wages
-Completing the Waterfront Trail
-A dam fine steak house
-Someone should open a marina where you can rent sailboats
-A strip club
-Continued restoration of State Theatre
-Nothing, fine as it is
-Revitalize the Commons
-Bicycle lanes
-Beach at Stewart Park
-Mandatory drug testing for Section 8 tenants
-Return of passenger trains
-Rich, optimistic developer comes in and makes a high-end mall out of the white brick building where Hickey's Music is
-Walmart Supercenter
-Ski lift public transportation from Cornell to the Commons and Commons to IC
-Crispy Crème
-LEAVE 6 MILES CREEK ALONE! CITY OF ITHACA RUINED FIRST DAMN!
-More affordable housing
-We should compete with other cities to become the Sustainable Energy capital of the U.S.
-More interesting jobs
-Help Public Schools
-No cars in city limits
-A roller rink
-All season roller rink
-A visit from the Marley's
-IKEA
-Get rid of Wal-Mart
-Repaving roads
-Paving the roads
Best Way To Revitalize The Commons?
-open more stores that will bring in a bigger and more diverse crowd
-bring in one staple store where you can buy things other than gifts and then keep the stores open later during the week.
-The commons is lacking a good local coffee shop. The closest Gimme is blocks away.
-Add more well known stores, so it's more of a popular shopping district.
-Gimme Coffee and make it open-late.
-1) STOP the police harassment of innocent civilians; 2) Cede more room to restaurants
-make more kid friendly.
-get rid of the dollar stores, lower the rent
-Don't let things sit so vacant so long! More lunch places.
-Trader Joes... and keep the commons rats in check
-Put the young people that hang there on the committee- seriously!! And really take their ideas to heart.
-Free TCAT, Free outdoor seating
-More open space and better sightlines
-Clean up all the garbage everyday
-More fairs
-Finish the construction
-New shops/Expand
-Make it an amusement Park
-More Free parking!
-Make a large section of the commons focus on food, crafts, fine arts, music, tours, etc. from New York and the Ithaca Region
-Nicer, more lighting and landscaping, better rent deals
-Better, but not industrialized shops
-Lower the Rent
-Lower the Rate
-Better, more efficient public transportation so that having to park downtown is less of an issue.
-Entice high end anchor stores to do business there, the way that every mall in the world does; fashionable clothing
-Get stores open and keep 'em there. shop downtown people!
-Control the obnoxious loitering (skateboarding, yelling at high levels and foul language, etc.) and bring down rent or create tax breaks to bring business into the Commons to make it competitive.
-Bring traffic back!
-A coffee shop again :( less stores that cater to student's parents.
-Open it up to drive-thru traffic.
-Keep Trees
-Get rid of the dirty people
-Reduce rents to attract better stores, More police.
-Lower parking rates, more outdoor dining, activities for families.
-Lower the rent.
-Open back up the street!
-Limit development in the s.w. corridor
-Free parking
-More chain stores and boutiques
-Better shops
-Beer Garden, Merry-go-round, flea markets.
-Allow more plants and flowers
-More music.
-More stores regular people can shop in
-Invest in restructuring walkways.
-More protected areas to get out of winter weather.
-More sheltered areas to protect from snow and rain.
-Make State a through street.
-Let dogs roam
-More useful stores so its not just a cute tourist spot.
-open to traffic
-Reopen road through commons.
-Greater variety of unique stores
-Lower Rents!
-More stores and shops
-Fix the pavements!
-Lower rents to encourage small business.
-Need new organizers
-Charge cheaper rents
-Lower rent to businesses
-Another music venue and bar, stop some loitering
-Give it a look of the old and the new together
-More restaurants and more theaters.
-Better Stores
-Ban Smoking!
-Collective ownership of buildings on the Commons-Guillotine the private owners that jack up the rent-Viva La Revolucion!
-Put in a Banana Republic
-Renovate 1st Floor facades to original designs. Attract an artisanal bakery, a small grocer/market, a wine bar in the basement of Clinton Hall that operates during State Theater shows, and a video store. Get the loiterers out.
-Help businesses stay and move in.
-Model it after Harvard Square
-More open air dining
-More recycling (more items accepted, same day trash/ recycling pickup for everyone, more recycling bins downtown)
-More live music in restaurants/bars every night, like Charlottesville!
-Develop regional land use plan to prevent sprawl. Continue to make driving downtown and parking near the commons more convenient
-Year round indoor entertainment venues for music, dancing, theater, speakers; include opportunities to feature talent from Ithaca public schools, Cornell, Ithaca College
-Stabilize business rents, hand out more tickets.
-Flagship stores like Ann Taylor and Banana Republic
-Free parking
-Entice a better variety of shops to do their business there.
-Better shops and stores
-More outdoor Music
-Make it drive through friendly with more parking!
-Enforce noise ordinances
-More diversity of businesses
-Less weirdos hanging out
-Put the street back in
-Decrease crime
-Allow dogs on the Commons, no more smoking/drinking - attracts too many juvenile and adult delinquents - very unappealing!
-Bring in more corporate stores (like Pearl St. in Boulder)
-Complete overhaul! Make it more like a shareable community space instead of a sometimes scary hippie hangout and please get rid of the bongs in all the windows ... passé! Not to mention no one cares if you smoke pot anymore.
-More street performers
-Better (more enjoyable and more usable, not just more frequent) bus service
-Get rid of all but one pavilion, open up space for outdoor dining ... more businesses (anchor store) ... get RID of loiterers ... foot patrol would be nice to see to discourage panhandling
-Have more live music and less head shops
-A bar/restaurant on the roof of the buildings where it is all open, fresh air, etc.
-Have more outdoor activities on the weekends ... if you hold a festival, they will come
-Lower rents for storefronts
-Keep it the way it is
-Need one or two national retailers for women's clothing - we drive to Syracuse now
-More signage and filling the stores
-Someone should open a jazz club on the Commons
-Lower the drinking age to 18
-Clear out the stuff in the middle and put more cafés along the State Street portion of the Commons
-Lighting, a more open design
-How about stores that people actually want to go to? Or how about lower parking meter prices and parking ticket fines, as well as give the two-hour free garage parking so people want to drive into town to actually go to the stores that they want to go to
-Keep the retail shops open after 5 p.m. People are out having dinner and a few drinks and would probably spend some money if there were shops open for business. And have more late night entertainment on the Commons
-Incentives for new businesses
-Destroy the Downtown Partnership; form more effective organization that includes West State Street as well
-Flagship stores to anchor the Commons, like Gap, Ann Taylor, Banana Republic ... Get the students interested in the Commons, need more young blood there that isn't just the usual Commons rats
-Add nearby housing
-City should own all the buildings and rent them out to local businesses. Free parking offered regularly. Have more diverse events there to pull more people to the area.
-Remove all sculpture and junk, add the following stores: The Gap, H&M, a McDonalds, a Whole Foods or other fancy organic grocery store, and beautiful, well-maintained residences above all stores.
-Make all of downtown vehicles (no cars) preferably all of the city (Put us on the world map)
-ITHACANS:
1. Don't threaten to shut it down.
2. Don't threaten to ban smoking on the commons.
3. Stop bitching about the hoodlums on the commons. They exists whether there are commons or not. If there aren't commons, they will be in Dewitt Park.
4. Stop bitching about everything wrong with the commons in the paper, etc. It just pushes a negative perception of the commons to people who DON'T frequent it that often.
5. When you hire someone to do such an important project like the Green St. Garage, hire someone who can do it quickly, and do it right the first time. The construction obviously hurt business on the commons (but will hopefully help in the long run), and continues to do so as the project is not finished (as it was supposed to be before summer) AND NOT ONLY THAT - but they have spent the past 2 weeks ripping up the sidewalk they poured, and relaying. This was and should be DONE! Glad to see where my taxpayer money is going I'm sure it hurt the Center Ithaca building as well, I wouldn't be paying the prices they charge so I can listen to a jackhammer every day for a year. Less people living on the commons = less money being spent on the commons.
-Free parking, club at corner of Cayuga and Seneca where The Odyssey used to be!
- those owners don't give a crap if it sits empty - it's a tax write-off that way. I've inquired - it's insane.
Best Sustainability Idea/Initiative?
-Can't wait to see how Ithaca Car-share works out! hopefully that will sail, and we will have more car-sharing!
-Wind and solar energy everywhere we can install it!
-Text book rental service for students
-Mandatory Composting
-Teach local community development. Participating in CSA's or local food growth, supporting local business and caring and supporting those in the local community who may not be so fortunate as to afford these initial steps. I know this is already being done but it needs to be broadcast louder and deeper to people.
-Car Share
-Carless hours on selected streets, diagonal crosswalks, Bike lanes (2008!), Municipal farm and amp energy production.
-Wind Turbine Farm
-Fix some of the water flows/pollution.
-The amount of CSA's in the area!
-Car Free - ok i settle for 50 education- and amp an increase of trolleys and trains and amp water vehicles.
-Lets REALLY get progressive. Enough patting ourselves on the back and being one better than the worst. F---ing bike lanes already, and free public transport, and enough goddamn stores to funnel $$$ out of the community. I mean come on!
-Ithaca Hours
-That it's an open minded community (some of it)
-Solar Power
-Do better night police patrols
-Solar power on all downtown buildings
-Hydrogen Fuel Stations
-Cheaper housing /community living
-Local Food Initiative
-Carshare
-Carshare
-Continue no-waste at the festivals
-Better, more efficient public transportation.
-recycling
-CarShare
-Carshare
-compost-able utensils, take-out boxes, places, etc.
-Carshare
-Get rid of parking meters.
-Safe bike trails on sides of roads, carhare, all the local produce and markets.
-Help Ithaca become more walker/biker/mass transit friendly.
-Go More Green!
-Carshare
-Electric Trolley
-Bike plan
-Cheaper Public transportation that goes to more places. Less cars in general. Car free zones
-Continue recycling h20 bottles, etc..
-local foods campaign
-Car free zone
-50 cent fares for TCAT
-Solar power on public buildings, wind power.
-Solar panels, like on the library.
-geo-thermal for new construction
-local food program, CSA's etc..
-Bike to work, build bike paths
-Green business building at Ithaca College
-Green fund for local carbon offsets!
-Bring back Stewart Park for swimming and picnic.
-Go Green!
-Carbon Offsetting
-A Train Station!!
-Sustainability is the silliest word in the lexicon, for now.
-Use the pavements to heat our homes
-Corn recycle and compost-able plastic ware.
-Keep cost of living down
-Co-op extension
-Large scale composting
-WInd Power
-Geothermal, lake shore cooling
-More stores, jobs, and housing.
-Designated Bike Lanes
-Carshare
-Walk. No really. Just walk to where you're going. Or ride your bike. It's simple.
-Ithaca Car Share
-A bridge over the lake connecting 96 and 13
-Produce a book that highlights the many wonderful, sustainable programs, organizations, and initiatives in Ithaca. Include histories and advice from initiators, and leaders of these sustainable programs and market it to people in other cities , especially policymakers, who want to help make their area more sustainable.
-Finish waterfront trails
-Functional bike trails/paths around town
-Create city co-op for purchasing energy--efficient home and business supplies (insulation, windows, lights, etc.) at lower cost.
-Comprehensive bus service to outlying communities
-The new Reuse center
-Pod Cars
-Better public transportation
-Sustainable Tompkins
-Add more events
-Windmill project
-Wind farms
-More initiatives for solar panel usage on houses, more initiatives for composting everywhere. Incentives get people to try new things.
-Public transport
-Green senior housing
-Local community gardens like in New York City, not just the co-op!
-More TCAT buses at cheaper prices and higher parking fees to encourage bus usage
-Green power for all city buildings/offices
-More affordable quality housing
-Green power/wind power
-Organic farming
-The transport circle CU is thinking of putting in
-All city cars hybrids
-Cooking, gardening and composting classes at the Farmer's Market
-LEED buildings at IC
-Six Mile Creek water plant
-Bicycle lanes. I know I would ride my bike more places if I didn't think I would die
-Medical marijuana
-Enfield Elementary's Go Green Project
-Wind and solar power for every house
-Compost initiative, more recycling (how about every week?)
-Mass transit gondola system ... like in Disney World
-Backyard gardening
-Get off the grid, the entire city.
-Renewable energy source
-TCAT free to all
-More bike paths
-Make the city pedestrian
-Compost bins on the commons at all times, not just during events. Possibly a composting center(s) around the downtown area, so that people in the downtown area without the room to compost (or for instance people like me who move every year or don't stay in the same home long enough to start a compost) can start to do so. The compost can be used during the spring when Ithaca plants flowers/plants. Etc.
-Bike lanes
-Create a coalition of engineers and economists (to join the usual "activists" here in Ithaca) to address the idea offered above [compete with other cities to become the Sustainable Energy capital of the U.S.]
- The Green Building on the top of State Street seems like a good idea
-Carshare
-Bike lanes
-Vertical wind turbine and solar panel installation
-Go solar and hybrid all the vehicles
-Wind farms
-More tax breaks for solar power, especially for businesses
-Alleviate traffic issues/cut down on driving
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Suicide has recently come to Ithaca in a very public, and at times controversial, way. This past academic year, after three years with no suicides, Cornell experienced what is known in the scientific community as a "suicide cluster." OK, so maybe you're like me and you thought this whole JetBlue flight attendant story was good for maybe one news cycle.  |
