Nature and Science

• Cayuga Nature Center [27] - Visitors to Cayuga Nature Center can explore the wonders of the natural world first hand. Cayuga Nature Center has over five miles of trails and a lodge filled with indoor exhibits including a kids' activity room. Cayuga Nature Center prides itself with our collection of indoor and outdoor live animal exhibits and our seasonal butterfly house. TreeTops, our six-story tree house, and five miles of trails are open from dawn to dusk. Cayuga Nature Center offers a wide range of educational activities including environmental and animal programs, an active outreach program, our TEAM Challenge ropes course, and much more.

• Farmers' Market [28]
• Sciencenter [29] - The Sciencenter, located at 601 First Street in Ithaca, is a hands-on science museum for people of all ages with over 250 fun exhibits, educational programs, an outdoor science park, a seasonal 18-hole miniature golf course, an animal room, and a gift shop. The Sciencenter is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $5 for children ages 3-17. Admission is free to members and children under the age of three. The museum's traveling exhibitions change seasonally and there is always something new to explore. The Sciencenter, named the “2006 Not-for-Profit Organization of the Year” by the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce, welcomes more than 91,000 visitors per year. The Sciencenter is a proud member of Ithaca's Discovery Trail.
• Light in Winter Festival [30] - Favorite Ithaca resident Carl Sagan once said "Somewhere something incredible is waiting to be known." The annual Light in Winter Festival celebrates that possibility by looking at the world through a different lens in the hopes of enlightening, educating and entertaining visitors. LIW takes place the last weekend in January and is one of the few festivals in the world which celebrates the intersections of art and science. In 2007, the Festival theme is "Connections", and will host Pilobolus, the Bang-on-a-Can All Stars with Iva Bittova, Oscar-winning sound designer Gary Rydstrom of Pixar, Christopher Rothko and NPR's "Piano Puzzler" Bruce Adolphe in 'The Tiger's Ear', the NY Times' Andrew Revkin and "The North Pole Was Here", Harvard string theorist Lisa Randall, Wine and the Mind, and more. January 26 - 28, 2007.

• Lab of Ornithology [31]

Recreation

• Cass Park - North off Route 89, just outside town. Skating in winter, swimming pool in summer. This is adjacent to Alan Treman State Park, which contains a marina and a large fenced off-leash dog park.

Performing Arts

• Kitchen Theatre Company [32] - Bold, intimate, engaging... Kitchen Teatre Company is Downtown Ithaca's year round professional theare. Critically acclaimed, this theatre is nationally renowned and offers four performance series (Main Stage, Family Fare, Kitchen Counter Culture, Kitchen Sink). The Kitchen presents an engaging mix of contemporary, regional, and world premiere plays and musicals in an intimate 73-seat theatre that encourages a bold relationship between audience and actor. "Important conversations happen in the Kitchen."
• Hangar Theatre [33]
• Ithaca College Theatre [34] Performs two musicals, an opera, and several plays each year.
• The Ithaca College Whalen Center for Music has numerous free concerts and recitals almost every day of the week during the school year. [35]

• Ithaca College [21] - keep an eye out for the free concerts in particular
• Ithaca Commons
• Cayuga Lake
• Waterfalls - many of the local waterfalls are located in state parks with hiking trails that were built (or rebuilt) by public works projects in the 1930s, often featuring stone staircases and bridges. The waterfalls are found along creeks that flow into Cayuga Lake. At parks with trails, you will typically find a "gorge trail" that follows the course of the creek, and a "rim trail" along the edge of the gorge, with overlooks to the falls underneath.
  • Taughannock Falls State Park - See Trumansburg.
  • Buttermilk Falls State Park - Route 13 S., King Road, and off Rt.96B in Danby. Swimming, hiking, picnicking, and camping. Even if you can stay for only a minute, you should still come and drive in to see the lovely falls at the lower entrance on Route 13. From the lower entrance you can take a hike up along the falls and gorge; from the upper entrance there is a less strenuous hike around the lake.
  • Robert H. Treman State Park - Route 327 (off Rt.13 S.). Swimming, hiking, picnicking, and camping. Hike along the gorge, a relatively vigorous walk if you do the whole loop. Or, you can dip in from the upper entrance and in a short walk see the main falls, called Lucifer Falls. The lower entrance area includes one of the more popular swimming spots in the area. It includes a diving board and the ability to swim underneath a waterfall.
  • Cascadilla Creek Gorge - easy to get to, free & beautiful. A stone staircase climbs spectacularly along the edge of the falls. The walk up from the entrance at Cascadilla Park up to the exit at College Ave. is an essential part of the Ithaca experience (after all, Ithaca is Gorges!) Closed from early winter until mid-spring due to icy, dangerous conditions.
  • Ithaca Falls - Located near the mouth of Fall Creek, Ithaca Falls is 150 feet high and 175 feet wide. Though there is no trail, the base of the falls is accessible from the small park on Lake Street at the base of Gun Hill.

Cornell University

Cornell University [22] is part of the Ivy League and is one of the most selective universities in America, as well as the apex of the State University of New York. It has world class Veterinary, Hotel, and Agriculture schools. Located far above Cayuga Lake, on a hill overlooking Ithaca, it is separated from the city, yet an integral part of it.

• Clock tower [23]
• Johnson Art Museum [24]. Several of the floors have steady exhibits, but they bring in new art and other, sometimes interactive exhibits several times a year. The 5th floor houses an impressive collection of Asian art but also happens to have one of the nicest views of Ithaca, the Cornell campus, and Cayuga Lake.
• Cornell Plantations [25]
• Beebe Lake
• Ithaca Falls
• Wildflower Preserve
• Cornell Concert Series [26]

By plane

• The Ithaca Tompkins County Regional Airport [4], located northeast of the city has flights on US Airways to and from Philadelphia and New York (Laguardia), on Northwest Airlines to and from Detroit, and on Continental Airlines to and from Newark. Weekday bus service from the airport to the city center is available every half-hour via TCAT bus route 31 (from about 7:30AM to 11:00PM), which also offers stops at the Cornell University campus. The one-way fare is $1.50, click [5] for more information. Bus service is not available on weekends or holidays. Taxi service is available but you may have to call and wait for a taxi to arrive.

• Ithacans often use the airports in Syracuse, Rochester or Elmira, because fares from there can be significantly cheaper.

By car

By car, Ithaca is about 1 hour south of Syracuse, 1 hour north of Binghamton, 2 hours southeast of Rochester, 4 hours north of Philadelphia, and 4 hours northwest of New York City. The main routes into the city are New York highways 13, 79, 89, and 96.

Interstate 86 (formerly NY State Route 17) intersects NY State Rt 13 in Elmira, about 45 minutes southwest of Ithaca. Interstate 81 connects with NY State Rt 79 half an hour from Ithaca at Whitney Point, and with NY State Rt 13 about 20 minutes from Ithaca in Cortland. You can reach Interstate 81 by taking NY State Route 17 (currently being transitioned to Interstate 86) West from New York City, or Interstate 476 North from Philadelphia. Interstate 90 connects to NY State Rt 96 near Geneva, NY, about 45 minutes from Ithaca.

By bus

Greyhound [6] and Shortline buses [7] offer service from New York City and Boston.

Trailways [8] is a regional carrier that offers service from Buffalo, Rochester, and others, including connections from Toronto, Ontario. Their complete schedule is not online; call (800) 776 7548.

By train

The nearest Amtrak [9] station is in Syracuse.

As Ithaca is a college town, bus service by TCAT (Tompkins County Area Transit) [10] is frequent and runs late. Taxi service is an inexpensive way to get around the small city, and it is available by phone, but expect to wait an hour or more on busy or cold nights. Avis & Hertz Rental cars are available at Ithaca Tompkins County Regional Airport, and Enterprise-Rent-A-Car and National Car Rental, in Ithaca.

Parking

Parking is easy in most parts of Ithaca. However, there are some parts of Ithaca where parking can be tricky. If you park illegally the chance you will get a ticket is higher than average.

Downtown and the Commons

Street parking is metered and more difficult to come by, although there are always spots available if you're willing to walk. There are three municipal parking structures, one on Green Street just east of Cayuga Street, one at the corner of Tioga and Seneca Streets and the other on Cayuga Street to the south of the Commons. All three garages are free on evenings and weekends, and parking for one hour or less is also free at all three garages. Some local retailers will provide a token for an extra free hour. Parking at metered spaces and for more than one hour at the garages is $1.00 per hour, up to a maximum of $7.00

Cornell University

It is difficult to find parking on the Cornell University campus. It is generally best to avoid driving to campus at all. Bus service onto campus from downtown and other areas of Ithaca runs frequently during the day. One hassle-free and relatively fast parking option for visiting campus during the day is to park at the Seneca and Tioga streets parking garage in downtown Ithaca and then ride the Route 10 bus to campus. Route 10 departs from a heated bus stop located inside the parking garage every 10 minutes (7:30AM-5:00PM on weekdays, less frequently later in the evening) and the ride to Cornell takes only a few minutes. Check TCATbus [11] for schedules and more information.

If you have to park on campus during the day, you will need to buy a visitor parking permit from one of the parking booths around campus, and then you can park in a spot labeled for visitor parking, which are few and far between. The parking booth attendant can give you a map showing visitor parking spots, but during a school day expect not to find anything. There are several small metered lots, including one behind Willard Straight Hall and one in the lower level of the parking garage by the football stadium, that are convenient to central campus but are often full. Larger (and rarely full) metered lots are located across from the Dairy Bar and next to Bartels Hall, but both are at least a 15 minute brisk walk to most places on central campus. After 5 PM, some of the various "tiered" parking lots are available for general parking, but be sure to read the signs, as many lots have restricted parking until 8PM or 10PM and others are restricted at all times. If you are arriving on campus by car during normal business hours, expect to spend at least 10 to 15 minutes looking for parking, and 10 to 15 minutes more walking from your parking spot to your destination, so plan to arrive on campus at least 30 minutes before you need to be somewhere. You can park for free or for cheaper off campus in Collegetown or in Cayuga Heights, but expect your walk to be 20-30 minutes to your destination if it is on central campus.

Ithaca College

The parking situation at Ithaca College is also equally bad, except for a single visitor lot (typically full during business hours) and a dozen or so designated spaces near Admissions (reserved for prospective students). Parking campus-wide is controlled by a color coded permit system, and permits are required to park in anywhere except the visitor lot during weekdays 8AM-5PM (8AM-9PM in the Blue J lot). During the week, the parking rules are strictly enforced, and vehicles without the requisite permit are towed. On weekends, enforcement is somewhat more lax. but think twice about parking in a color coded lot for more than an hour or two.

The following are exceptions often made for special events:

• During School of Music concerts, attendee parking is permitted in lot nearest the Towers and the Whalen parking bridge (J Lot West)
• Patrons attending IC Theatre events may park in the lot directly behind Dillingham (Lot F)
• For Bombers home games, fans may park in the large lot near the football stadium (Lot L)
• Participants at conferences or events held in the Emerson Suites may park in the Campus Center Lot (Lot U)

Many off campus students either walk or take the bus to school. TCAT service to the IC campus from downtown is plentiful, Routes 11, 12, and 65 provide service every half hour or so during the day and every hour at night.

Other areas in and around Ithaca

• Parking in Cayuga Heights is easy. Note however that it is illegal to park overnight on streets in Cayuga Heights.

• Some parts of the City of Ithaca have dense housing and parking at night can be tricky, especially between November 1 and April 1, when alternate side of the street parking is in effect. There is no parking (from 2AM to 6AM) on the even side (house numbers) of the street on even days of the month, and no parking on the odd side on odd days of the month.

Automobile Rentals

• Avis [12] (607) 257 0456
• Dollar/MaGuire Ford Car Renal [13] (607) 272 8000
• Enterprise Rent-a-Car [14] (607) 275 9000
• Hertz [15] (607) 257 8677
• National Car Rental [16] (607) 272 2575
• Rent-a-Wreck [17] (607) 272 5533

Taxicabs, Limousines, & Airport Shuttle Services

• Euro Sedans & Limousines[18] (607) 387-EURO (3876)
• Green Hornet Cab[19](607) 280 3779
• Ithaca Dispatch (607) 277 TAXI
• Right Limousine [20] (800) 647 5466

Shopping in Ithaca is in four major areas: Downtown/Commons, Meadow Street/Route 13, Collegetown, and Lansing/Mall area.

• Downtown/Commons - The most typical Ithaca items can be bought downtown in the commons area. Local crafts are of exceptional quality. Ubiquitous green "Ithaca is Gorges" t-shirts can be bought here as well.

• Meadow Street/Route 13 - Also known as The Strip. The "big-box" stores have been moving in in a major way in recent years along Meadow St. Drugstores, cellphone stores, supermarkets, and major discount retailers are often present in multiple incarnations. There is not much exciting here for the out-of-towner although it is certainly practical. An exception is Northside Liquors (see the Drink section).

• Collegetown, just across Cascadilla Gorge from the Cornell campus, is mostly home to restaurants and businesses catering to the college crowd, and there are several shops specializing in Cornell- and Ithaca-related merchandise.

• Lansing/Mall - Finally, just north of Ithaca in Lansing is the Pyramid Mall, recently expanded to hold Borders, Best Buy, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Target, offering a fairly broad but unremarkable selection of shops. Nearby are the Triphammer and Cayuga malls, which are less elaborate.

Books

A number of independent book sellers continue to thrive in the city and its immediate vicinity. Downtown Ithaca bookstores on or very near the Commons include the following:

• Autumn Leaves, 115 The Commons. (607) 273-8239. Open 7 days a week. 60,000 books, 10,000 records and a Cafe, all under one roof.
• The Bookery I, in DeWitt Mall, corner of Buffalo and Cayuga Streets. Bookery I sells used and collectible books. Companion Buffalo Street Books, also in the DeWitt Mall, sells new books.
• Colophon Books, 205 N Aurora.
• Home Green Home, 215 the Commons, has small book section with titles related to sustainable living.
• Mayer's News Stand, 318 E. State - A huge selection of periodicals with some mass-market books.
• Snow Lion Publications, 605 W. State (but enter via parking lot off 600 block of W. Green) - A Tibetan Buddhist book publisher, also has a browsable area in their warehouse for books and Buddhist tchotchkes.
• Cornell University Bookstore, 135 Ho Plaza on the Cornell Campus - has a selection of general books in addition to textbooks.
• Comics for Collectors, 207 N. Aurora - graphic novels and comics.

Within a 20-minute drive of Ithaca you can also find two barn-sized used-book sellers:

• The Phoenix Books, 1608 Dryden Rd. [Rt. 13], going north toward Dryden
• Book Barn of the Finger Lakes, 198 North Rd. just off Rt. 13 in Dryden, across from the Tompkins-Cortland Community College entrance.

Also, two "big-box" bookstores can now be found in Ithaca:

• Borders, Pyramid Mall (Triphammer Rd exit off Rt. 13 N)
• Barnes & Noble, Route 13 S (next to Tops supermarket)

If you'll be in Ithaca in May or October, look into the dates of the huge Friends of the Library[36] book sale, which lasts a week or two for each sale period and offers over 250,000 items for sale, with proceeds supporting the fancy, new (but cash-strapped) county library on the corner of Green and Cayuga Streets.

With local currency

Ithaca is home to one of the world's most successful local currency experiments. The Ithaca Hour[37] is Ithaca's local currency and is accepted by more than 600 local merchants and service providers. Using Ithaca Hours contributes to Ithaca's economy and small businesses. The Autumn Leaves bookstore at Ithaca Commons serves as the unofficial home of Ithaca's local currency and is the best place to go to acquire Hours. Of course, US dollars are also used in Ithaca.

Ithaca has some of the best and most diverse dining options in all of upstate New York. The areas with the highest concentration of restaurants are in Downtown and Collegetown. Downtown and The Commons has the most variety, ranging from Pizza, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Indian to fine-dining establishments. If you are uncertain about what you want to eat, a stroll along downtown's "Restaurant Row" on North Aurora Street should provide almost anything one is looking for. Collegetown also has a wide selection of dining, but has fewer fine dining options. Also notable is the area to the west of Downtown known as the West End, or The Inlet. Elmira Road, south of the downtown and Pyramid Mall, north of Ithaca in the Town of Lansing, have a selection of fast food and chain restaurants.

Budget

• Collegetown Bagels/Ithaca Bakery [38] Six locations: Ithaca Bakery (Downtown): 400 N. Meadow St., 607-273-7110; Ithaca Bakery (Triphammer): Triphammer Mall, Rte. 13 @ Triphammer Rd., 607-257-2255; Collegetown Bagels (Collegetown): 415 College Ave. 607-273-0982; Collegetown Bagels (Commons): 203 N. Aurora St. 607-273-2848; Collegetown Bagels (East Hill Plaza): 329 Pine Tree Rd. 273-1036. The Brous & Mehaffey family operates fivelocations around Ithaca, so Collegetown Bagels is something of an Ithaca institution. They offer bagels, sandwiches, and coffee with a whimsical, new-agey feel at reasonable prices. Some of the best authentic bagels and fairly traded coffee, and definitely the most Ithacan. Great for breakfast or lunch. $5-$10.

• The Nines. A former fire station in Collegetown turned restaurant/bar, The Nines features live music several times a week, as well as some of the best pizza in the region and a patio that's pleasant on warm summer evenings. This, along with the large selection of beers on tap, makes this a favorite of the student crowd. Their service is slow; orders of pizza often take more than an hour to receive.

• Viva! Taqueria at the corner of State and Aurora Streets. Maximum calories for your money. Very vegetarian and vegan friendly. Be sure to check out the Viva! Cantina next door for an expanded menu, table service, and a bar featuring a large tequila selection.

• Ned's Pizza inside Center Ithaca. Bargain prices on basic and loaded slices. Probably the cheapest fill-up in Ithaca.

• Lincoln Street Diner on Lincoln St. between N Tioga and N Aurora, next to the Fall Creek laundromat. Cheap, good quality breakfasts and lunches. Favored by Fall Creek locals, construction and utility workers.

• Rogan's Corner (formerly King Subs) [39] Located right off the Ithaca College campus on Route 96B serves the "best pizza on South Hill" by the slice with its signature homemade sauce. Rogan's also has hot and cold subs, calzones, wings, Italian dinners, and breakfast for carryout, delivery, or dine-in. Beer on tap coming in September 2008.

• Shortstop Deli on W. Seneca St. between Albany and Geneva. Open 24 hours. Specializes in large, delicious subs. Also has breakfast sandwiches, big cookies, soups, and many varieties of coffee. Veg friendly, with veggie burger and seitan subs and vegan chili. Counter service only, but you can sit on on the window ledge outside.

• State Diner on State St, a few blocks west of the commons. This railroad car diner is one of Ithaca's few 24-hour restaurants.

• Napoli Pizza, 335 E State (Gateway Building a block E of Commons), 607-272-3232. Pizza, wings, and Italian standards.

• Ling Ling Restaurant, East Hill Plaza on Judd Falls Road and Ithaca Plaza on Rt 13 S at Elmira Rd. Frequently voted best Chinese food in Ithaca. East Hill Plaza location has large dining room and Elmira Rd location is mostly take-out.

Mid-range

• Ragmann's, 108 N. Aurora Street, 607-273-5236, [40]. Known for homemade soups, specialty sandwiches, including vegetarian options, Ragmann's is on the Ithaca Commons. Sodas, beer, wine and specialty drinks available. Lunch and dinner $5-$10.

• Just a Taste, 116 North Aurora Street, 607-277-9463, [41]. Dinner every day, brunch 11-3 on weekends. Great tapas bar with a large selection of wines available by the glass. You can also select from a number of "flights" of wine, with a small taste of 4 or 5 different wines. The menu changes frequently and usually features local produce. Probably the best "walk in" eatery in town, and has less students than many other places. Tapas range from $4-$7. Expect to order 2-4 per person, and expect to share.

• Lost Dog Cafe 106-112 South Cayuga St., 607-277-9143, [42]. Offers a wide variety of sandwiches and entrees with a fun and eclectic taste. Vegetarian and vegan meals are always available. Also, try their wonderful selection of teas, espressos, and coffee. Lunch $5-$10. Dinner $8-$15.

• Maxie's Supper Club and Oyster bar 635 W. State St., 607-272-4136, [43]. Maxie's offers dinner daily until 11PM and midnight on Friday and Saturday, and brunch on Sunday until 3PM. Maxie's Supper Club offers a good selection of Cajun seafood food including an oyster bar, as well as authentic southern barbeque. The Cajun fries are delicious, but don't miss the shrimp and grits in tasso sauce, and definitely have lots of the honey butter they serve with the free cornbread. The Supper Club is an excellent place to grab some food and drinks after a late evening event. The restaurant feature locally-produced food and the wine list is award-winningly extensive and also features upstate wines, which often pair well with spicy food. Brunch $10-$15. Dinner $10-$20.

• Moosewood Restaurant Dewitt Building, 215 N. Cayuga St., 607-273-9610, [44]. Famous world-wide for their vegetarian cookbooks, this downtown institution offers reasonably-priced (for a famous brand) vegetarian fare and fish with a different menu every night and a good selection of local wines, beers, and cafe beverages. Save room for dessert. Ask for a table in the furthest room. In the summer, the street level patio is quite pleasant. Lunch $10-$15. Dinner $15-$25.

• Taste of Thai 216 E. State St (The Commons), 607-256-5487, [45]. Taste of Thai has a lovely atmosphere . Voted best Asian and best Ethnic in Ithaca (Ithaca Times, 2003 and 2005, respectively). Heat scale 0-5, where 3 is hot and 5 is "on fire". Try the papaya salad, a curry, or one of the delicious fish or seafood dishes. Lunch $7-8, dinner $10-20.

• Thai Cuisine 501 S. Meadow St., 607-273-2031. Across from Wegmans. This restaurant serves Thai food that has been called the best in the state, although perhaps their reputation is overstated. They specialize in spicy food, but if you order your food hot, be sure to explain to the server that you do in fact want it really hot, because they have been known to smile and nod to an order of "jumping hot" and serve only "medium." The menu is extensive, and the wine list has excellent choices, including local wines, that pair well with spicy Thai food. Try a Finger Lakes Riesling--it matches perfectly. Dinner $10-$20.

• Blue Stone Bar & Grill 110 North Aurora St., 607-272-2371, [46]. On the Commons. This restaurant serves a variety of American dishes with unique and exciting recipes. The menu contains a modest list of well refined dishes. The wine list is constantly improving. The drink list heavily emphasizes mojitos and martinis, but a continuing rotation of fruit infused vodkas keeps it fresh and exciting. Dinner $12-20.

• New Delhi Diamond's 106 West Green St., 607-272-4508. Near the Commons. This restaurant serves a large variety of Indian dishes at dinner, and an $8 buffet at lunchtime. Dinner $15-20.

• Garcia's, 344 Elmira Rd (Rt 13 S), 607-277-3600. Good chain Mexican food.

• Glenwood Pines, Rt 89 (5 mi N of Ithaca), 607-273-3709. Burgers and other American fare, family friendly, dining room with lake view. Known locally for the "Pinesburger" (large burger served on french bread). Convenient stop for folks returning from wineries farther up the lake.

• Fine Line Bistro, 404 West State St. (near Plain St.), 607-277-1077. One of the newer eating spots in town. Eclectic American bistro fare, complemented by a well thought out beer and wine list. Serving from 5 to 11, closed on Tuesdays. Dinner $10-$25.

Splurge

• Olivia Restaurant 381 Pine Tree Road, 607-272-1020, [47]. Hapiness 4-6, Dinner everyday. This is a beautiful modern American Bistro housed in the historic Ezra Cornell train station. Chef/owner Gregory Silverman, a French Culinary Institute Grad, who worked under Dan Barber of Blue Hill and Stone Barns, focuses on simple preparations using seasonal local, organic meats, produce and ingredients and features grass-fed beef. This is the place for an amazing burger, a dinner out, or any special occasion! Dinner entrees $14-22.

• The Heights Cafe 903 Hanshaw Rd. 607-257-4144, [48]. Lunch and dinner. This upscale American-style restaurant is hidden in the ritzy Cayuga Heights area of Ithaca. The menu is definitely among the pricier in Ithaca, but the food is well worth it. This is a great place for a special occasion. Lunch $10-$15. Dinner entrees $20-$30.

• John Thomas Steakhouse 1150 Danby Road, 607-273-2734 or 800-765-1492, [49]. What is probably one of Ithaca's most expensive restaurants is also one of of the best. This traditional steakhouse is in an old farmhouse adjacent to La Tourelle Country Inn on the way to Danby, just past Ithaca College on route 96B. Big steaks prepared traditionally are rated among the best in the state, including NYC. Great for a fancy date or to have your parents take you for parents' weekend. Entrees $20-$30.

• Pangea 102 Third St. 607-273-8515, [50]. Dinner only; closed on Tuesdays. Delicious fusion cuisine, elegant and comfortable decor, and a nice wine list. Wonderful outdoor seating. The desserts are particularly good; try the South of the Border chocolate cake with jalapenos. Entrees $15-25.

• Dijon 311 Third ST 607-256-0503, [51]. Dinner only; book reservations in advance. This restaurant is a culinary gem in the heart of Ithaca. Traditional French cuisine with an eye for seasonal specials. Dinner $20+.

• ZaZa's Cucina, 622 Cascadilla St., 607-273-9292, [52]. Located on the west end of town, this restaurant offers appealing if a bit pricey (for Ithaca) authentic Italian cuisine in a sumptuous, elegant setting that belies its former incarnation as a video store. The food gets rave reviews. Good wine list with extensive selections from Italy. Entrees $11-$25.

• Willow, 202 East Falls St., 607-272-0656, [53]. Classic new American cuisine located in the Fall Creek Area. A great deal every night from 5PM - 6PM, where they offer a three-course dinner and a movie ticket at the nearby Fall Creek Cinema or Cinemapolis for only $28.

• Boatyard Grill, 525 Taughannock Blvd., 607-256-2628, [54]. Great lively atmosphere right along Cayuga Inlet. Located on a peninsula directly across from Cornell University's boathouse, Boatyard Grill serves greasy food (in good portion sizes). Does not accept reservations but with "call-ahead" you can cut your wait time down significantly. Even with call-ahead, expect to wait awhile on parents' weekends as this is a student's favorite when mom and pop are in paying. Entrees $15-$25.

• Watercress, 2 Hickory Hollow Ln (off Taughannock Rd just past Pyramid Mall), 607-257-0859, [55]. Lunch and dinner, Mediterranean-inspired fine food.

• Taughannock Farms Inn - see Trumansburg.

Groceries

Wegmans [56], the largest grocery store in Ithaca, has a very large selection of specialty and ethnic foods, and has a large food court-like "marketplace" where ready-made food ranging from pizza to sushi can be purchased and eaten in the pleasant on-premises eating areas. A tourist experience of its own, like the Wegmans around New York State.

The two other major grocery chains in Ithaca are Tops [57] and P&C [58] [59] [60]. They are both a step down in quality and selection from Wegmans but are favored by some residents for being less hoity-toity. Tops arguably has a better selection of foreign food than Wegmans. Most grocery stores in Ithaca are open 24 hours to serve the college market, although the P&Cs tend to close at 10 or so. There is also an Aldi that sells deeply discounted store-brand foods with limited hours and no free grocery bags.

Greenstar [61] is a food co-op on the west end of town and is open to everyone. They offer a good selection of organic produce and bulk dry foods. Also check out their smaller location, Greenstar Oasis, in Dewitt Mall (near Moosewood) just off the Commons. If you're vegetarian and/or looking for organic selection, this is a great place to shop. It also has its version of the "marketplace" in its deli section where prepared foods are offered to either eat-in (there is a dining area) or take out. It is the only grocery store to offer fresh baked vegan desserts (which are VERY good). Here you will pay for the higher quality since it can get a bit pricey.

If you are in town on a weekend during the warm months (Saturday and Sunday April-October, Thursday afternoons June-August), you should consider getting your groceries and some bites to eat at the Ithaca Farmer's Market [62]. There is a large selection of not only fresh herbs and vegetables, but also free-range and pasture-fed meat. The breakfast burrito is a local favorite. Many local artisans (soapmakers, woodworkers, etc.) also have kiosks, and there are about a dozen different food vendors. Local vineyards also have kiosks.

There are three main Asian grocery stores in town. The most popular are Win Li, south of downtown on Route 13 (near the McDonald's), and Ithaca Tofu, located in the "Small Mall" on Cinema Drive behind Triphammer Mall. The third is a small shop in Collegetown on Eddy Street called Tong Fang. Win Li is the largest and has a very big selection of fresh Asian vegetables and has seasonally fresh fish. They also have some Chinese housewares (pots, bowls, rice cookers, etc.) and a big selection of rice. Ithaca Tofu has a slightly more varied selection of fruit and vegetables (including fresh shiso/ohba), but has much more in the way of Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, and Korean sauces. In keeping with their name, they do have a large selection of all kinds of tofu, but they also have a lot of Japanese snacks, sushi-related items, and they get fresh shipments of pre-cooked Chinese deli staples (chicken feet, tripe, scallion rolls) from NYC every week. Tong Fang caters much more to the college crowd and stocks a large array of teas and instant noodles. It is located right across from the intersection of Buffalo and Eddy streets, so parking is a bit scarce.

Collegetown

• The Chapter House An ancient institution located on Stewart Avenue, near the Cornell campus, the Chapter House has a large selection of regional/microbrew/import beers on tap. Located on Stewart Avenue, its situation between Collegetown and Downtown Ithaca draws on a diverse spectrum of local crowds.
• Rulloffs "Upscale" Collegetown bar on the main strip since the late Seventies; serves lunch and dinner with sandwiches averaging $7.50 and dinner entrees averaging $11. Accepts CityBucks.
• Dunbars Old hole-in-the-wall bar on Eddy Street providing cheap booze and weeknight specials.
• Stella's Restaurant, bar, and coffee shop with downstairs lounge in a hip, Jetson's meets Flinstones space. Large selection of martinis, bourbons, single-malts, and local organic foods.
• The Royal Palm Classic old dive bar on Dryden Road just off of the Collegetown drag.
• The Nines Restaurant/Bar in an old firehouse on College Ave. Outdoor seating, serves some of the best pizza in town. Nobody goes there anymore because it's too crowded, but it's a great place to sit outdoors on a summer evening. Music almost every night. Expect long waits for the food, though.
• Pixel New, hip, upscale club atmosphere with live DJs often. Extensive selection of video games, beer and top shelf liquor - although drinks are expensive ($5-$8, more for beers). On an alley off Dryden Road, between College Ave. and Eddy St.
• Level-B New to Collegetown: often with live DJs. Top shelf liquor - although drinks are expensive. It is the only decently cluby place in Ithaca.

Downtown/Commons

• Micawber's Irish Pub located on North Aurora Street
• Chanticleer Local hangout on corner of Cayuga and State Street marked by a neon rooster. Downmarket, excellent jukebox.
• Korova Relatively new bar on The Commons. Has a good variety of beer selection on tap. Hipster atmosphere.
• Pete's Cayuga Bar Popular with both locals and students who enjoy sports and a quiet atmosphere.
• Simeon's Restaurant with great food also has a large selection of microbrew and imported beer on tap and bottle, as well as wine. Aurora St. at the Commons.
• Moonshadow Funky bar on The Commons with drink specials.
• Viva! Taqueria & Cantina Mexican restaurant that serves Margaritas and has a large selection of Tequila. Aurora St.
• Benchwarmer's Sports Bar on The Commons with many TVs, serves American/Pub style food.
• Uncle Joe's Sports Bar Roomy sports bar on Green Street separated into a bar area with flat-screen TVs, main dining area for watching sports, and a gaming room with pool table and darts. Also serves American style food.
• 2nd Floor Bar Located above Trader K's, new bar in former clothing shop. It has a window bar that allows you to look out over The Commons. Large, perhaps even cavernous, space, includes two pool tables.
• Felicia's Atomic Lounge Hip lounge, with excellent live music on Fridays and Sundays. Cool metallic atmosphere and unique drinks that you probably wouldn't think of yourself.

Wineries

The Finger Lakes are a well-known wine growing region, and dozens of wineries with tasting rooms can be found along the shores of both Cayuga and Seneca Lakes within an easy drive of Ithaca. The region grows white varietals best and produces many good Rieslings and Chardonnays.

• Cayuga Lake Wine Trail [63] - Nestled in the heart of the Finger Lakes is the Cayuga Wine Trail, a 16 winery member organization surrounding Cayuga Lake and offering a unique blend of fine wines.

• Seneca Lake Wine Trail [64] - Association of 32 wineries surrounding Seneca Lake (next Finger Lake to the west from Cayuga).

Elsewhere

• The Rongovian Embassy to the USA See Trumansburg.

• Northside Liquors (identified by giant "Discount Beverage Center" letters) in the shopping center at the intersection of Elmira Rd. and Rte. 13., across from KMart. Northside Liquors has a very large selection of wines and liquors, with a rare wines room and probably the largest selection anywhere of upstate New York wines. If you go on a wine tour but in retrospect failed to buy your favorite wines, just go to Northside Liquors to pick them up instead of driving all the way back to the winery. Smaller, but also with a nice selection of wines, is Sparrow's Wines at Fulton and Green Streets and Triphammer Wines & Spirits located in the Triphammer Mall off Rte. 13.