Category: Nightlife

  • What a Riot!

    What a Riot!

    With the name of “Mid-Winter Puppet Extravaganza” presented by a puppet theater company appropriately called ‘It’s a Riot Puppet Theater’, I am (perhaps overly) excited to publish my first Wild Card post. This event certainly seems to fit the bill: This Saturday there will be a single, after-dark performance of life-sized puppets! Perfectly ‘wild card’ sounding!

    Adding to the mystery of the show, I know little about this event beyond the event announcement. Billed as an event for all ages, it will take place outside tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 1st from 6-7 p.m. behind the Standard Art Supply shop at 308 E. Seneca Street. It is hosted by the Durland Alternative Library and is free and open to the public; donations appreciated. Following the puppet show there will be live music and a reception with warm drinks. Dress warmly and have fun!

  • Bar Argos Opens its Doors

    Bar Argos Opens its Doors

    It is always fun to report on the opening of a new bar or restaurant in town…especially if the menu involves a drink titled “The Bagpipe Mariachi.” With a delightfully curious line-up of cocktail creations, Bar Argos opened its beautiful newly renovated doors this week. Wednesday was the official opening night and this Friday, January 17th Bar Argos will celebrate with an Opening Gala, open to the public. The gala will feature an evening of food, live music by the Djangoners, art, tours of the historic inn, and of course, cocktails. I hear there will also be some entertaining surprises throughout the night as well. The soiree starts at 6 p.m. tomorrow night.

    Set on the first floor of the beautifully restored Argos Inn, the Bar is a lovely watering hole for after-work drinks. The shadowy lighting, 19th-century architecture, and historic-meets-modern details such as glass-domed terrariums and chandeliers make for a warm and intimate atmosphere. Built in 1831 the building purportedly served as a past mayoral residence and later as the birthplace of the Duncan Hines company, before opening its doors as Argos Inn and Bar Argos.

    Beyond the Opening Gala, Bar Argos will host weekly ‘Stark Nights’ with a rotating line-up of musicians and artists. Named after Michael Stark – a local musician doing an artist-in-residency program at Argos Inn – Stark Nights will take place 8 – 11 p.m. on Thursdays.

    So maybe next time when you are hankering for, say, something specifically Scottish-Mexican, head to Bar Argos for a Bagpipe Mariachi and let me know how you like it. Bar Argos / Argos Inn is located at 404 E. State Street. Phone number: 607.319.4437

  • First Friday Gallery Night

    First Friday Gallery Night

    First Friday Gallery Night is a monthly community event hosted by galleries and art houses in downtown Ithaca. On the first Friday of every month, year round, downtown galleries, art houses, and boutiques show special screenings, new exhibitions, host receptions, uncork wine bottles, and showcase work of local, national, and international artists. It is free and open to the public and is generally an excuse to meet up with friends, have a few drinks and enjoy some colorful artwork and an evening stroll along the Commons.

    To be sure, gallery hopping on a balmy summer’s evening has its allure, but First Friday Gallery Night is also something that can be especially enjoyed on a darkened winter evening to kickstart the weekend. Sample the art, warm up with a glass of wine, grab some hors d’oeuvres and duck in and out of the galleries with quick jaunt in the frosty wintry night between each stop. Capping the evening off with a dinner at one of the downtown restaurants ain’t a bad idea either.

    First Friday Gallery Night takes place on the first Friday of every month from 5-8pm. Gallery guides with maps of participating locations and show descriptions are available at all participating venues. In all there are usually about 20 venues.

  • Happy Birthday, Johnson Museum!

    Happy Birthday, Johnson Museum!

    This Friday evening the Johnson Museum celebrates its 40th anniversary as well as the opening of its five fall exhibits. A special lineup of artsy concert performances, music, and a reception get the festivities going and a and ’70s-themed dance party continues the revelry late into the night.

    Here is the evening’s schedule of events (as described on the Museum’s website):

    Opening Reception for the Fall Exhibits
    5:00–7:00 p.m.
    Throughout the Museum

    Performance by Michael Ashkin, Tim Feeney, and Annie Lewandowski
    7:00–8:00 p.m.
    Lynch Conference Room, Floor 6
    *Please arrive early, as elevator access will be restricted to avoid interrupting the performance.
    Depot/Centralia/Tiber features works filmed by Professor Michael Ashkin (CU Department of Art) at a decommissioned military depot in upstate New York, in a Central Pennsylvania mining town, and in Rome along the Tiber River. The improvised soundtrack is performed by Annie Lewandowski (lecturer, CU Department of Music) on piano/electronics and Tim Feeney (former lecturer, CU Department of Music) on percussion. This performance was made possible in part by the generous support of the Cornell Council for the Arts.

    Performance: Mother Mallard’s Portable Masterpiece Co.
    8:30–9:30 p.m.
    Lecture room, Floor 2L in the wing
    Mother Mallard returns to the Museum, where they have held performances since its opening 1973! Founded and directed by David Borden in 1969, Mother Mallard is the world’s first synthesizer ensemble. Their program will feature selections from Borden’s Earth Journeys, all variations on “Happy Birthday” and receiving their first performance tonight. Mother Mallard dedicates this performance to the memory of Tom Leavitt (1930–2010), founding director of the Johnson Museum.

    Performance: Cornell Avant Garde Ensemble
    9:30 p.m.
    Mallin Sculpture Court, Floor 2 (rain location: Appel Lobby)
    The Cornell Avant Garde Ensemble performs music inspired by Leo Villareal: Cosmos under the installation and the stars.

    ’70’s Dance Party
    10:00 p.m.–12:00 midnight
    Get up and get down with the best ’70s grooves, plus art, activities, and far-out fun. Can you dig it? Wear your sharpest ’70s threads and party hearty!

  • Welcome to 14850zine

    Welcome to 14850zine

    Welcome to 14850zine! Well, at least welcome to the approximately four people who are reading this initial post (hi mom, dad, husband, and, if lucky, at least one of my sisters!) My hope is that a readership of plus four will soon exist. After much time spent dreaming, planning, designing, and building, I am excited to launch 14850zine. Named after the main Ithaca zip code, 14850zine will cover all things Ithaca and surrounding area – with reviews on restaurants, free events, exploring hidden nooks and crannies in the gorges, classes, and much more. While 14850zine does not claim to be an exhaustive listing of events and things-to-do (see other great blogs, such as IthacaEvents.com or VisitIthaca.com, for up-to-date listings), this blog aims to cover interesting finds – both old and new, and celebrate the small jewels and quirkiness this area has to offer.

    It has been a long time coming, but I am happy that the launch of this blog will catch at least the tail end of summer. Though there are more than enough stories to cover  in every season, summer is especially abundant with exciting events: The ever-popular Farmer’s Market, the Scottish Festival, outdoor movies at the Straight, Shakespeare in the Park, Taughannock Falls concerts, salsa nights at the Big Red Barn, 4th of July festivities and fireworks, the Ithaca Festival, and of course the opportunity to explore the many surrounding trails and gorges.

    Thank you for visiting 14850zine. Please check back regularly for more posts as we go forward and get in touch with us if you have ideas to share.