The Ithacan

Local events for students to visit as campus grows quiet over the break

By Nolan Sheehan, Staff Writer • November 23, 2024

As the majority of students prepare their bus tickets, check over their boarding passes and fill up the gas tanks of their family cars, Ithaca College prepares to close down campus for Thanksgiving break. The college’s classrooms will go dark, and with them, any major presence of a student body for the week. Despite most students returning home for the interim, some students are here to stay. The remaining students will find there is very little to do on campus once the break begins. With Dining Services and academic buildings closed, the minuscule numbers of students and staff result in a low amount of entertaining and community-bonding events.

Press Bay Alley & Court: Launchpads for first-time small-business owners

By Matthew Telyczka, Staff Writer • November 22, 2024

What used to be a production center of Ithaca Journal –– the first newspaper in Ithaca –– has been home to Press Bay Alley since 2014 as a springboard for first-time small-business owners. For them, the space represents a support system built upon a shared experience. This sense of community is fostered in part because of John Guttridge, the founder and managing partner of Urban Core LLC, the real estate development company behind Press Bay Alley & Court.

Fake blood leads to very real conversations about safety protocols

By Sheelagh Doe, Staff Writer • November 14, 2024

Kevin Conover, a senior cinema and photography major at Ithaca College, embarked on the filming of an especially bloody scene for his senior film thesis titled “What Simon Said.” Numerous fake, blood-covered props were discarded in dumpsters across Ithaca, which spurred a serial killer investigation by the Ithaca Police Department.

Prelude 13 brings BA students into annual showcase

By Eva Leon, Contributing Writer • November 14, 2024

Starting Nov. 14, the Rotunda Gallery in the Handwerker Gallery will be covered with an innovative and diverse selection of artwork created by the seniors majoring in art at Ithaca College. The exhibit, titled Prelude 13, will open with a reception on the evening of Nov. 14 and be available to viewers through Dec. 12. For over 10 years, seniors in both the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Fine Arts programs have taken the course Theories and Practices: Professional Practices at the college that allowed them to explore professional life as an artist beyond graduation.

Cinemapolis lands vital rent negotiation

By Nolan Sheehan, Staff Writer • October 30, 2024

Surviving through the pandemic, Cinemapolis has stood as a town staple rooted in Ithaca’s rich film heritage. Despite the theater’s resilience, it became increasingly difficult for the theater to maintain its business as its space’s rent continuously increased. As of Oct. 1, Cinemapolis was at risk of shutting down completely because of rising rent. In order to preserve its existence, the theater took the step of buying up the space.

Local entrepreneurs reinvent bar space

By Kellyanne Kearney, Contributing Writer • October 30, 2024

Tavern on The Commons is a new bar that opened Oct. 2. It is still in its opening phase, but with its team’s vast experience with bars and nightlife entertainment, they hope to bring a new bar experience to The Commons for the different demographics of downtown Ithaca. The bar took over the space on Seneca Street previously occupied by Kilpatrick’s Publick House.

IC soars into the Hangar Theatre

By Georgie Gassaro, Life and Culture Editor • October 30, 2024

Ithaca College’s stage productions have worked with other external performance spaces in the past, but never before has the college joined forces with the Hangar Theatre, nor have two large-scale student productions shared a performance space over two weeks as they did with the productions of “Stupid F##king Bird” and “Fever/Dream.” From Oct. 24 through Nov. 3, these two comedic drama adaptations were in rotating repertory at the Hangar Theatre.

Community bakes cupcakes for a cause at the Sophie Fund’s annual contest

By Eva Leon, Contributing Writer • October 29, 2024

An eager group of amateur bakers from Tompkins County gathered at the Bernie Milton Pavilion on Oct. 19 to show off their creative confections at the Sophie Fund’s 9th Annual Cupcake Contest. Scott Macleod and Susan Hack, along with friends and family, founded the Sophie Fund in 2016 after their daughter, Sophie Macleod, died by suicide. The Sophie Fund is a nonprofit organization based in Ithaca that aims to support mental health initiatives specifically aimed toward young people.

Q&A: First-year student Ashton Spinale energizes the quad with freestyle yo-yoing

By Noa Ran-Ressler, Managing Editor • October 25, 2024

The Academic Quad outside of the Ithaca College Library is a bustle of activities in the warmer days leading up to winter. This fall, however, a new face has emerged as a frequent patron of the outdoors. Almost every day — weather accommodating — first-year student Ashton Spinale sets up on the quad with his yo-yo and a pair of AirPods. Spinale said he listens mostly to pop, some rap and whatever his favorite songs are at the time. The music is essential because happy, upbeat songs get him ready to yo-yo to the rhythm.

BIPOC retreat crowns students with confidence in their natural hair

By Mila Ventura-Rodriguez, Staff Writer • October 10, 2024

Taughannock Falls room was packed with students murmuring amongst themselves Sept. 28. It was a gray and cloudy Saturday, but inside there was a spectrum of bright, eye-catching colors. A wide variety of hairstyles populated the conference room, including braids, twists, afros, straight hair and wigs, all with different colors and adorned with charms and accessories.

10th annual Cine con Cultura festival screens Latinx films across Ithaca community

By Nolan Sheehan, Staff Writer • October 9, 2024

As of Sept. 15, the 10th edition of Cine con Cultura began its premiere with screenings at viewing locations all over Ithaca. From Ithaca College’s very own Textor 102 to the big screens at Cinemapolis, the annual film festival screened just over a dozen new films from aspiring Latinx directors and screenwriters.

Mocktails and music fill Nabenhauer Hall for BAU Live Jazz Fundraiser

By Sheelagh Doe, Staff Writer • October 9, 2024

Nabenhauer Hall was glowing with excitement Oct. 6, when Black Artists United hosted an evening of jazz where 14 performances by BIPOC student singers were spotlighted amid a cocktail attire night of food and fun. BAU is an organization at Ithaca College that aims to showcase the talent of the BIPOC community on campus by hosting events and performances, such as their annual cabaret fundraiser.

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