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  • Weighter Music Series

    Weighter Music Series

    For those of you out there in the local music scene, next Thursday, Feb. 27 is the launch of an interesting new Ithaca concert series with a bent toward the experimental. Weighter Music is excited to present the Weighter Music Series series in Ithaca with a solo performance from Weighter founder Nick Hennies. Weighter Music/Recordings is a record label founded in 2013 by percussionist and composer Nick Hennies and is focused on the release of unconventional musical compositions.

    Hennies, who very recently relocated to Ithaca from Austin, TX, has an active career as a solo artist as well as being a member of Meridian, a percussion trio with Greg Stuart and former Ithaca resident Tim Feeney. Through this new concert series venue Hennies aims to promote adventurous and artistic music outside of an academic environment. He hopes that this series will foster an open exploration of experimental music within his new community and attract both local and visiting musicians for guest performances.

    For the inagural program on Feb. 27th Hennies will perform two of his solo albums in full, Duets for Solo Snare Drum and Psalms. Duets for Solo Snare Drum opens the program, consisting of three pieces for the solo snare drum that are in “duet” with three different non-performative elements. One4, by John Cage, explores unconventional timbral possibilities of the snare drum while prominently using silence as a compositional tool. Snare Drum and FM Noise by Austrian composer Peter Ablinger pairs radio static with very soft, white-noise-like snare drum rolls. Hennies’ own piece, Cast and Work, a 23-minute continuous drum roll with sine waves, is a deeply meditative listening experience. Cast and Work will also feature guest performances by Ithaca musicians Annie Lewandowski (piano) and Chris Demetriou (percussion).

    The second half of the program is Hennies’ cycle of compositions called Psalms. Each of the five pieces are for a single percussion instrument (vibraphone, snare drum, woodblock, and triangle) and use long periods of rapid fire repetition to expose hidden depths and detail in what we normally think of as familiar sounds. Psalms is also notable in that includes Alvin Lucier’s classic piece for the solo triangle from 1987, Silver Streetcar for the Orchestra.

    The music event on Thursday, Feb. 27 will take place at 8 p.m. at the Community School of Music and Arts (330 E. State St.) in the 3rd floor performance space. Admission is on a sliding scale from $5-$10. The Weighter Music Series will continue on March 23rd with a performance by Chicago organ/electronics duo Coppice.

  • 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!

  • Knitting Etc.

    Knitting Etc.

    Though I admit that I do love to peruse the aisles of big box craft stores now and then for good deals, it is especially exciting to highlight some of Ithaca’s smaller and more unique artsy/crafty shops. There are a number in town that specialize in sewing, art supplies, stationary, and yarns and knitting. For all Ithaca’s knitters (and would-be knitters) out there, today’s post is about a cool shop that I recently discovered: Knitting Etc.

    Knitting Etc. is tucked within the shops at Triphammer Marketplace (which surprisingly houses some other interesting gems…a Russian grocer, Terra Rosa – an eye-candy gift boutique,  Finger Lakes Reuse Center, a Chinese grocer, Instant Replay Sports, and Ithaca Coffee Company – a food store for the gourmand. But more on these other shops later…). Knitting Etc. is filled with a colorful array of yarns in all textures and colors, knitting books, patterns, supplies, tools, and a friendly and knowledgeable staff who want to share their love of knitting with you. Beyond a storefront, Knitting Etc. has created a small community of knitters replete with classes, open knitting sessions, and knitting-related events.

    Ever wondered about rigid heddle weaving? No problem, they’ve got you covered. Oh wait, never heard of rigid heddle weaving? (Ok, me neither), then you can start with some basic classes in knitting socks. Started a project but got tangled up? Knitting Etc. invites you to their regular Thursday night Open Knit Night where you can get help on that half-knitted sweater you’ve been trying to finish for the past year. Or just come for some social knitting. This place has a full events calendar with classes, workshops, invited teachers, and open knitting sessions most days of the week. You’ll never be bored again! Though admittedly I am no knitter myself (I crocheted some potholders for mom in grade school), I love finding places like this in Ithaca with a rich and in-depth devotion to a single craft or field of study. And the staff, led by owner Hickory O’Brien Lee, is clearly passionate about their craft and can answer any knitting-related question you put to them.

    So with the polar vortex tormenting upstate New York, what better a time get out your knitting needles, cozy up to a movie, and knit that winter scarf. Have fun stocking up in some exotic yarns from Knitting Etc. for the project.

    Knitting Etc. is located in the Triphammer Marketplace at 2255 N. Triphammer Rd. Phone: 607-277-1164.

  • 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

  • Bon appétit!

    Bon appétit!

    By now, a few days post-Thanksgiving, you may be getting a tad tired of leftover turkey and gravy reincarnations (another turkey-cranberry sandwich, anyone?). No need to despair, put the rubbermaid back in the fridge and head out for a special prefix supper for Ithaca Restaurant Week.

    Long the preserve of larger metropolises, Restaurant Week has made it to Ithaca! From Nov. 30 – Dec. 8 a number of participating Ithaca restaurants are offering special plates, prefix dinners, and free appetizers, desserts, or drinks with an entree. This is a tasty opportunity to try a new restaurant or to enjoy a three-course dinner special at a favored spot. At some locations chefs will highlight their signature dish. There is a line-up of special events with tastings, music, and entertainment happening every night of the week at various restaurants. Around 25 Ithaca restaurants are participating this year. Specials are to be found for dinner, lunch, and brunch.

    You may have heard the often-repeated stat that Ithaca has more restaurants per capita than New York City. That’s exciting, but only if you take advantage of this fact. So get out and treat yourself to a dinner on the town. Bon appétit!

  • 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.

  • Learn to Cook with Kuzu*

    Learn to Cook with Kuzu*

    For today’s post I am excited to talk about the many wonderful classes offered by GreenStar Coop. For several years I’ve attended many of GreenStar’s evening classes and workshops and have always found them informative, inspiring, and personal. With class topics ranging from “Backyard Medicinals and Wild Edibles,” to “Gut and Psychology Syndrome,” to “Raw Food Desserts” the emphasis is on health, wellness, natural care, cooking, and alternative and homeopathic healing modalities.

    Earlier this week I attended the “Fall Harvest Desserts” class led by Theresa Joseph and assisted by Anita Devine,two familiar faces who lead several of the popular macrobiotic cooking classes throughout the year. (The pair is featured above in the photo). This class was noteworthy, (not only because I got to sample loads of delicious – and relatively healthy – desserts made by Theresa), but because this was the inaugural class to be held in GreenStar’s newly opened classroom space. Simply christened “The Classrooms at GreenStar,” this space sits just across the street from the Buffalo St. GreenStar store and holds three classrooms dedicated to continuing and expanding their educational endeavors. Additional plans are in the works to further renovations of this new space to include a functional teaching kitchen, (you know, one with those nifty ceiling mirrors above the countertop workspace for the audience).

    The class series is organized and run by Education Coordinator, Pam Wooster. Pam has been with GreenStar for 21 years and started these classes back in 1995. With the task of setting up the class calendar, selecting topics, and soliciting guest practitioners specializing in a range of topics, I think she has one of the most interesting jobs in town and I told her that if she is ever in need of an assistant that yours truly would no doubt make an awesome assistant.  🙂

    In any case, with or without an assistant, Pam does a great job of running this program, balancing topics, and selecting engaging practitioners. As a general rule, practitioners in the realm of health and wellness who have a degree, certification, or training in their area of specialty are invited to teach a class or workshop. (Though I hear plans are in the works for a possible more informal ‘home-based’ series where the teachers do not necessarily need to be professionally trained, but could be self-taught and have years of experience).

    Classes range from lecture-style seminars, to more informal discussion sessions, to hands-on workshops and can address both physiological and psychological needs. One of my favorite hands-on workshops that I’ve attended (besides ones in which I get to sample tasty treats), has been an aromatherapy workshop led by Kash Iraggi of Balance Aromatherapy. Students had the chance to mix their own blends of essential oil spritzers from dozens of heavenly pure oils. I made a enlivening concoction from citrus, clove, and eucalyptus oils. Many of the cooking classes that I’ve attended have been invigorating and refreshing, challenging me to be more creative in my cooking methods and introducing me to new ingredients I had never tried.

    Pam draws upon local resources, listings in local media, and a network of practitioners to find instructors for the classes and develop new class subjects. Attendees to every class add suggestions for new class topics that would interest them, and practitioners themselves are welcome to contact Pam at pam [at] greenstar.coop if they feel they have something unique in the realm of health and wellness to share with the community. Over the years some of the more popular classes have been Pricilla Timberlake’s annual Thanksgiving cooking class and Anita Devine’s macrobiotic cooking classes. This past summer “Beer 101” drew a large attendance with the Ithaca Beer Co. leading a class on beer history and brewing.

    All classes and workshops are one-time events, and you simply sign up per class ahead of time by calling the GreenStar at 607-273-9392. Classes are held at their main store at 701 W. Buffalo Street. Many of the classes are free, but the more materials-intensive classes (such as the cooking classes), usually cost $8 for GreenStar members and $10 for non-members. Visit GreenStar’s Event’s page to see the calendar listing each month’s class offerings.

  • Hollenbeck's Cider Mill

    Hollenbeck's Cider Mill

    Though I am slightly breaking the rules by covering something just outside the Tompkins County line, I thought a mention of Hollenbeck’s Cider Mill too good to pass up. A longtime tradition of my husband’s family, and now mine, an October visit to this charming cider mill just outside Cortland is a festive and tasty way to indulge in the fall season.

    An apple orchard, country store, farm stand, and cider mill, Hollenbeck’s feature attraction is the antique cider press that is still in use. On weekend days they do several open apple pressings for the public and onlookers are treated to just-off-the-press cups of the golden cider as it pours from the spout. The cider is cool, crisp, and sweet, and if your in the mood, you can pair it with an old-fashioned doughnut that they roll out hot on the spot from their doughnut maker.

    Mr. Hollenbeck, who was been in the apple and cider business for decades, skillfully operates the giant wood and iron press. You can watch as a cascade of apples bounce and tumble into a chopper, then the resulting juicy pulp is carefully sandwiched into layers of burlap between wood planks as the press is prepared. The fun starts when the press jumps into gear and squeezes the heap of apple pulp and a waterfall of cool cider pours down into the cider spout.

    After you’ve had your fill of cider and doughnuts, you can pick up bushels of fresh apples (there are dozens of varieties to choose from), pumpkins and other fall harvest goods, as well as homemade fruit and berry pies from the adjoining bakery and sundries such as maple candies, nut and chocolate fudges, cheeses, and honey products from the store. The store also has an unusually impressive offering of tasty-looking canned goods – everything from onion jams to pickled hot peppers to fruit marmalades.

    Hollenbeck’s Cider Mill is located at 1265 New York 392. Be sure to call ahead at 607-835-6455 to ascertain whether they are doing a pressing later that day.

  • Cheap Reads

    Cheap Reads

    I would of course be remiss, dear readers, if I failed to mention the annual highlight of Ithaca…the autumn Friends of the Library book sale. I know several locals who consider this their not-to-be-missed, super important, highlight of the year. (Yes, we are a literary bunch here in little ole’ Ithaca). Indeed, I myself admit to lining up once or twice on the opening day with my empty Greenstar bags, dreaming of the books that will soon be mine for a mere $4.50 a pop. Once inside I try, usually unsuccessfully, to ration my purchases…I mean, why pay a whopping $4.50 when I could pay only $.25 in a few weeks! Never mind, I stuff my green bag and press onward.

    Today books will cost you $1.50, (paperbacks and children’s are cheaper). It is the second week of the sale, and next weekend – being the final – books will be sold from $.50 down to $.10. Yes, a dime. Reminds me of that CAKE song, “I’m a Dime.” Apparently that dime never made it to the Friends of the Library Booksale. (Any CAKE fans out there? Ok, never mind).

    Anyhow, go find some change underneath the sofa or behind the washer, and head downtown to the book sale. With over 250,000 books, audio books, and CDs on sale there must be something there for you!

    The book sale is located in a warehouse at 509 Esty St. Today they are open from 10am – 8:00pm. Next weekend they are open Saturday through Tuesday. Click here for the details about the hours.

  • How'd You Like Them Apples

    How'd You Like Them Apples

    This time of year you can spend each weekend at a different u-pick apple orchard, but if you are serious about your apples then stop by the Cornell Apple Orchards for a tasting of unique Cornell-bred apples. Though the orchards are off limits for picking, their roadside store offers an abundance of fruits and cider as well as a selection of honey products, maple candies, Cornell Dairy treats, and locally-made cheeses. The Cornell Orchards is a collection of orchards, vineyards, and fruit farms managed by the Department of Horticulture. While the orchards are split into a variety of locations and their research facility is in Geneva, the Cornell Orchard shop site includes the storage and packing facilities, a cider press, and a research lab, and is surrounded by 37 acres of fruit plantings.

    Upon entering the shop you are overwhelmed by a deliciously sweet and crisp fragrance of apples. Baskets of apples are laid out inviting visitors to sample all the varieties. Don’t be shy – try one of each! Bags of apples and other fall produce – corn, plums, pears, gourds, and pumpkins – line the shop shelves. At the back of the store workers sort bins of apples that cascade from a conveyor belt emerging from the back storage area.

    The opening of the Cornell Apple Orchards is always a welcome fall treat, and I stopped in this past weekend. I was delighted to sample, among others, “Autumn Crisp,” a Cornell variety which is a cross between a Golden Delicious and a Monroe. Developed by Cornell (at the Geneva research station), it is the 63rd apple released from their breeding research station. It is juicy, crisp, and sweet, but not cloying. I loved it and bought a bag to take home.

    There is also cider to sample and sometimes pears to taste. Upon asking one of the store clerks/researchers I was treated to a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the back storage room. Crisp, cool, and fragrant with an even more intense sent of fresh apples, the store room was stacked floor to ceiling with giant crates of apple in all varieties.

    The Cornell Apple Orchards shop is open from mid-August through April. Hours change, so check the website. The shop (in Ithaca) is located at 709 Dryden Rd. (across from the Cornell Vet School).