The Ithacan

Sophomore students dial up the downtown DJ scene

By Tess Ferguson, Senior Writer • December 4, 2024

What started as a dorm room hobby turned sophomores Maddie Schnitzlein and Ari Klein into a dynamic duo at the helm of Ithaca nightlife. The pair began DJing at the local venues Moonies Bar & Nightclub and Lot 10 Bar and Lounge in October and have since made a name for themselves on and off campus. Despite beginning their practices solo, Schnitzlein and Klein have been perfecting their craft together and performing most Thursday nights all semester.

Stress beyond finals season: travel logistics prove difficult close to holidays

By Mariana Contreras, Life and Culture Editor • December 4, 2024

Though Thanksgiving break has come to an end, Ithaca College’s next break creeps right around the corner as students prepare for their last weeks of classes and finals. In addition to studying for finals, many students have to deal with the extra stress of traveling. From finances and logistics to weather conditions, there are various factors they need to consider when getting ready for the holiday break.

Q&A: Local author and Tompkins County Legislature’s guide to Ithaca’s unique charm

By Liam McDermott, Staff Writer • December 3, 2024

Amanda Jaros Champion released her new book “100 Things to Do in Ithaca Before You Die” Sept. 1. This marks Champion’s second published book after “Labor of Love: A Literary Mama Staff Anthology” released Jan. 26. Champion has lived in Ithaca for about 24 years and has been serving on the Tompkins County Legislature since 2018. Staff writer Liam McDermott spoke with Champion about her new book and the inspiration behind it, including her history with the City of Ithaca.

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.

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