From: Jeff Maggard 17-Nov-1992 1111 <maggard@subpac.enet.dec.com>
Subject: THINGS TO DO IN ITHACA (food, drink, sites, etc.)
Reply-To: maggard@subpac.enet.dec.com
Organization: The Internet
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 06:17:44 GMT


Here's part two:

- jeff


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    Sluggo's Comprehensive Guide to the Finer Things in Ithaca New York
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IF YOU WANT TO EAT, DRINK, OR SEE THE CENTER OF SOCIAL LIFE AT CORNELL 
BEFORE THE SHOW, then read on.  

Collegetown:
'C-town' is a couple square miles of houses/apartment bldgs., shops, and 
bars just south of the Cornell Campus.  Most of the upper-class folk live 
and party in C-town.  I lived there three of my 5 years at Cornell.  It's a
WONDERFUL place have a good time.  Too bad every school doesn't have a
Collegetown--it should be a requirement!  Just about everything you'll want
to see is on three roads:  College Ave., Dryden Rd., and Eddy St.  Find a
place to park (see below) and walk -- driving is silly.

Bruce Willner <brucew@phaeton.ee.cornell.edu> writes:
| I can't think of any good places for a gathering downtown.
Seconding the motion... 
Don't go downtown, you really don't want to have to walk up that hill!!!


THE SOCIAL SCENE -- bars in C-town, 21+ category, most don't have real food:

The Chapter House is at 400 Stewart Ave (BEFORE the green, metal bridge).
The C-house lets underage people in until 7pm.  After 7pm its 21 only!
They've got pretty good pizza, and nachos--served until 11:30 or whenever
the cook gets fed up.  They used to brew their own beer, before their 
contract problems...  Now they serve 'good' American microbrewery beers -- 
about 6 to 8 varieties on tap.  Sam Adams, Pete's Wicked Ale, etc.  They 
don't serve mixed drinks, only beer.  Popcorn is free!  This is a good place 
for people to meet and hang out -- lots of big tables, good social scene!  I 
highly recommend this place.  $2.25 - $2.50 per PINT, $1 for KILLER home made 
root-beer and ginger-ale!  Somebody please say hi to Laurie and James (the 
owners) for me!  HOWEVER, if you're looking for real food (not pizza and
nachos) head up Williams St. to Eddy St., Dryden Rd. and College Ave.  These
three roads have about 2-3 dozen restaraunts, coffee shops, bars, other
shops, etc.  See "FOOD/DRINK IN C-TOWN"

Dunbar's is on Eddy St. at the corner of Dryden Rd.
I never went to Dunbar's and left anything short of trashed!  This is a
place to go and get drunk -- and have an absolute *BLAST* doing it!!!
Wednesday night is 'group therapy' night, where for $5 you get a pitcher of
beer and a round of kamikaze shots.  This place is always packed on the
weekends, but the more people that're in there, the more fun it gets!  

If you want $1 beers (Shaeffer bottles, Detroit's finest!) go to the Royal 
Palm Tavern ("The Palms" to locals) on Dryden Rd., just above College Ave.
21+ only.  No food.  Mixed drinks are average quality, average price.
The place is a dive, no food or munchies.  It's a favorite hang-out for
Seniors.

If you like getting sweat on by hariy football players, Johnny's is right
across the street from The Palms.  $1 Rolling Rock pints on tap.  They serve a
pretty good lunch and dinner--burgers, chicken, and fried stuff mostly, but 
you can do much better for the $$$.  It's too small for a net gathering.
Drinks and 21+ only at night.  Look for the neon.

Rulloff's is also on College Ave., north of Dryden Rd., next to Oliver's and
Collegetown Bagles (see below).  Rulloff's is a nice all ages restaurant
during the day, but their prices are a bit steep for the average student.
Rulloff's is another lunch/dinner place that is 21+ only at night.  They
are usually crowded, and the drinks are pricy.  No food at night. 
Some claim that the social scene can't be beat, *IF* you know the clientelle.  
I have never stepped foot inside Rulloff's at night.

The Connection is a dive where the Owner waters down his drinks and pours
his pitchers with extra big heads.  When I was a freshman, this was the
place to be, but that was then: when my fellow-fraternity-bro's were
bouncers and the beer was MUCH cheaper...  The place does only a fraction of
the business they used to (before Jerry's wife left him) so there'll be
plenty of seats.  I don't recommend this place.

The Club House is a hangout for IC (Ithaca College) students for some reason.  
They (at least they used to) show the Simpson's on Thursdays, and sports the 
rest of the week.  It's a small place and fills up quick.


FOOD/DRINK IN C-TOWN: (all ages bars & restaurants)

Just say *NO* to fast food (i.e. Wendy's)!  'nuf said.

The Nines is on College Ave., right side as your heading to campus, right 
next to the fire station.  The nines is packed every weekend night.  Moreso 
if bands are playing, when you will be charged a cover (approx. $3).  I doubt 
bands play on Sunday tho, but you will wait a while for your food, so don't
go there if you're in a rush to get a quick bite before the show.  Pitchers
are typically about $5, bartenders skills are marginal.  You go to this
place for the pizza, and/or the live music, not the drink selection!  They 
make a great batch of fried mushrooms, btw.

The Chariot is the last place on the left side of Eddy @ the Williams-Eddy
intersection.  The Chariot serves food (good pizza, full dinner menu) 
and *BIG* *STRONG* drinks (White Russians and L.I.-tea are my fav's) at good
prices.  If you're looking for good, strong, cheap (for what you get) drinks, 
this is the place.  Ask someone where it is 'cause it's a bit hard to find,
being below the sidewalk and all...  I spent a summer getting oiled here on
Wednesday nights.  "Wednesday night is Chariot night!" was my motto for
about a year...

If you want the best coffee and muffins on this side of the Atlantic, go the 
Cafe Decadence on Dryden between College and Eddy.  Ask for truffles, they
don't always have them, but if they do, watch out they're orgasmic!  This 
place is too small for a net gathering, but a nice place to sit and chat 
about the meaning of life over a cup-o-joe with a friend or two.

If Cafe Decadence is full, try Temptations on College Ave. across form
Kinko's.  You can't go here and not have the Belgian Waffles -- made with
piles of fresh fruit and fresh wipped cream, YUM!  Cappucino and Espresso
are also delicioso!  This place is cozy, and great for a late-nite-bite with 
that special someone...

Alladin's is on Dryden between Eddy and College.  Open for Lunch and dinner.
They serve beer and wine.  Alladin's Natural Eatery is a good deal; they 
make some really good food at relatively cheap prices.  You can sit down, or 
take out if you're on your way to Bailey.  The falafel pita is a great deal 
at $3.50, and there's lots of other good greek-n-middle-east-like-sorta food 
there.  This would be a good place for a net.gathering -- lots of space.

The Alamo, next to Alladin's, is too cramped for a net.gathering, but offers
a good selection of mexican food.  All ages during the day, 21+ at night
(I think).  They offer specials on food and their portions are large.  I
liked the place, but a friend of mine didn't -- maybe it was the rubber
and plastic decor...?

Olivers is last thing on College Ave (on the right) before you cross the
Cascadilla Gorge and enter campus.  Anyone can get in at any time on the 
weekdays -- they card at the counter.  This is the yummiest (!) deli in 
Ithaca IMO, but not the cheapest.  $5+ for soup, sandwich, and drink will
fill most stomachs.  I highly recommend the matzo-ball-chicken soup -- 
IT'S HEAVENLY!  Decor is olde-tavern (sorta):  tile on the floors, rickety
chairs, lots of greenery.  In the summer, they have live bands outside at
night, and the patio is the place to be for happy hour (when it's not
raining).

Collegetown Bagels is a Cornell institution!  Between Olie's and Rulloffs,
they sell bagels with a pleathera of fillings and hot coffee, which I lived 
on for 3 years.  They have a nice salad bar in back, with the occasional 
hot entree.  Go here for a quick bite before or after the show, or when you
get the last-call munchies!

Little Joe's is on Eddy st., look for the neon.
Little Joe's is possibly one of the two fines Italian places I've been (Joe's
being the other one).  For $6-$12, you'll get SOOO much food you'll explode
before finishing it!  EXCELLENT pasta, bottomless salad, endless
bread-sticks... this place can't be beat, if you've got the time to wait in
line for a table.

The Sangam restaurant is a nice Indian place next to Little Joes.  Go here
if you have a couple of hours to 'dine' on some of the finest Indian cuisine
outside of London!  Good prices for what you get.  Ask for the poori (bread), 
it's really neat.  Prices are reasonable for what you get.

There are lots of other places to go:  The Greek House, The Souvlaki House,
Sa's Place (for good hot subs on the run)...


OUTSIDE CORNELL AND COLLEGETOWN:

Some recommendations:

Dano's On Cauyga -- Cayuga Street, left from the Commons half-a-block.  Best
Food in Ithaca!  Seafood, continental, EXCELLENT homemade desserts!  Nice
wine selection.  Pricy and fancy; ya don't wear a tye-dye here. ;-)

Joe's (the big brother of Little Joe's) -- Buffalo St. and Rt. 13.  Best
Italian around!

Turbacks, Rt. 13 south about 5 miles from Ithaca on the left.  Best prime
rib in New York State--but it's only served on Saturday.  Ask to be served
by Amy Best, she's a friend of mine, and please tell her I say "Hi!"

WINE!  If you get the chance, head up rt. 89 on the west side of Cayuga lake 
and go wine touring.  Just walk in and ask to taste some wine -- most of the 
places are family run and love to chat with out-o-town-folks over a glass or 
two!  The Lakeshore (close to the north end of the lake) is a must see for 
the true wine-touist.  The folks at Swedish Hill are also really nice.


OTHER THINGS TO DO:

GO TO A CORNELL HOCKEY GAME!!!  You've never been to a hockey game until
you've yelled "THE REF F$CKS SHEEP!!!!!" at the top of your lungs with 4,000
of your closest friends... ...except for the folks in section 'O' of
course!    LLLLLLEEEEEEETTTTTTT'SSSSS  GGGOOOOOOOOOO RRRREEEEEEEEEEEEDDD!
(My former war cry--some of you might remember the really loud guy in
section B that yelled that from time to time.  That's me. :-)

Skiing:  Greek Peak is about 25-30 minutes east of Ithaca.  Lame by most
standards, especially at this time of year.  But for the beginner like this
Florida boy, it was a great place to learn...  Lift tix are close to $40 and
not worth it without a 50+% discount coupon (if they exist).

Go see (and not fall in) a Gorge!  They are absolutely beautiful in the
winter.  If it's really cold, they can freeze in all kinds of neat ways!
The Fall Creek Gorge is the big one.  Take a walk over the suspension
bridge, and/or follow the trails down through the woods to the bottom.  The 
view is breath taking!  The Fall Creek Gorge is at the north end of campus,
with the Cascadilla Gorge at the south end just before Collegetown.  There's
a nice trail down through the Cascadilla Gorge that starts downtown and
works its way all the way up the hill to C-town--but you'll need an hour or
so to make the hike!  The trail is supposedly closed in winter to keep
people from falling in, but if you're careful you'll enjoy a lovely winter
stroll!

If you have a couple of hours, or if you decide to go wine touring, stop at
Toughannock (I;ll never spell that one right!) Falls on your way.  The
300+ foot falls are ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL, and a well-hidden wonder of
upstate NY.  If they're 'frozen,' the view is the best you'll see!  In the
summer, one can take a walk with one's sweetie up through the trails, hop
the fence and head down trails above the falls.  There are some nice natural
whirlpools in the stream, perfect for an afternoon romance under the sunny 
blue sky!

If you're into skinnydipping and general nude sunbathing, Ithaca has that
too.  You just don't live in a granola-town unless you got this!  I don't
think too many folks will be out in late November, but if you're interested
anyway, here's whatcha do:  Take route 79 out of Ithaca (in the above
directinos, you'd be backtracking).  About 2 miles or so out of town (after
the speed limit change), there'll be a wooden sign on your right for the
Commonland Community.  Take a right into the 'village.'  Take your 1st
right onto Penny Ln.  About 100 or so yards down on the left there'll be
what looks like a service-tire-track-road that heads toward the woods.  Park
and follow this road on foot, passed the rope, down through the woods.
Follow trails to the right and keep going down to the water (toward the 
left).  At the bottom, if you found the right trail, there'll be a small
clearing on some rocks near a dam.  This is the spot!  If you see a rather
straight-laced-looking-dude with a black dog that answers to the name 
'Baron,' his name is Dave, tell him Sluggo says Hi.  But don't try talking 
him into getting naked, it's not his style!  ;-)

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