In Ithaca, Downtown really is down town. Nestled at the bottom of 50 mile long Cayuga Lake and surrounded on three sides by hills, the city center looks up to Cornell University and Ithaca College and the older suburbs. There was a long-sustained rumor that the Little Rascals filmed their boxcar hill run on one of the tree-lined streets that heads straight into town, and when you visit you'll see why that was a hairy ride.
Craft drinks in an elegant setting.
Locally owned (by many - it's a cooperative after all) organic food market with fantastic ready to eat options.
Really good local beer and really good local food. Really good.
Wide selection of instruments and sheet music.
Historic theatre with a great calendar of events.
Second-hand duds. Good stuff.
Where locals go for coffee.
Hands-on science museum for all ages.
Farm to table butcher with fantastic meats and charcuterie.
Six miles of wide trails accessing the beautiful lake frontage and waterways.
Another waterfall among many...
Great take out for warm nights, eat in during the winter.
Eclectic collection of all things sewing and knitting.
New and used outdoor clothing and gear, information hub.
Groovy vibe, nice people, beautiful items. And yes, it's a barbershop.
Names one of the thirteen most influential restaurants of the 20th century by Bon Appetit magazine. Curious?
Resale shop for the little people in your life.
Local theater in an old hangar.
Blissful city escape in the heart of downtown.
Used books, open late.
Toys for all ages.
Tasty tapas and excellent wine.
Ithaca's independent, cooperatively-owned book store.
A slice of New York City nestled over on West State Street.
Elegant bar food, cocktails, and trivia.
Find a thoughtful gift in a curated collection of American Crafts.
A beautiful collection of artisan crafts.
A hip boutique specializing in vintage, indie, and modern clothing.
A Thoughtful Selection of Wine and Spirits
Everything you need to live green.
Get some delicious, locally-sourced ramen, dumplings, salads, and pho.
In 1912, when Ithaca was a budding Hollywood, before the film industry discovered the wonders of year round summer in southern California, it built a municipal airport down in the marshy flats by the lake. The Hangar Theatre gets its name from the building acquired in 1975, almost 30 years after the airport moved to its current location, a building with a leaky roof and seats upcycled from Ithaca College's old theater. The night of the very first performance it rained, soaking the actors and equipment and halting the performance. Despite this inauspicious beginning, the Hangar has thrived, providing years of excellent theatre for the local populace and adding an educational component for area students. The summer Kidstuff series is phenomenal. A major fundraising drive in 2010 financed a much needed renovation and the theater is now used for musical and speaking events as well. The lobby has a great series of photos of the original airport, make sure to take a look if you're there for a show.
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