Behind the win: IC Dining’s flaming hot victory at Chili Cook-Off

By Meital Fried, Life & Culture Editor • March 20, 2026

Ithaca residents emerged from their dreary hibernation March 7 for Downtown Ithaca’s 28th Annual Chili Cook-Off, a day of warm weather and fiery mouths. For the first time, Ithaca College’s Dining team participated in the contest independently, winning both Best Vegetarian/Vegan Chili and the People's Choice Award.

Comfort Food Trail brings warmth to The Commons during frosty January

By Meital Fried, Life & Culture Editor • January 29, 2026

The second annual Comfort Food Trail, which takes place from Jan. 16 to Feb. 1, aims to introduce customers to new establishments and boost business for downtown restaurants during what owners say is their slowest time of year. 

Hupstate Circus: A local weekend of international talent

By Nolan Sheehan, Staff Writer • September 9, 2024

For Labor Day weekend, Hupstate Circus came to Ithaca, bringing talent from all across the world. Performers and performances inspired by Canadian, Australian and Ecuadorian cultures are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the mass appeal brought on by Hupstate. The members of the Hupstate Circus Board of Directors introduced every show, speaking on their passion for the performers and the art of circus. Four years ago, the Hupstate Circus was born with the goal of bringing circus art to the United States. Emerging as a not-for-profit organization in 2023, the circus’s board gained sponsorships from a multitude of organizations around Ithaca.

The three colleges of Ithaca welcomed on The Commons

By Morgan East and Georgie Gassaro • September 14, 2023

Downtown Ithaca Alliance’s (DIA) Welcome Student Weekend was held this year on Saturday, Sept. 9, from noon to 5 p.m. The event was geared toward first-year college students to introduce them to the different businesses, events and organizations in town but was also open to the entire Ithaca community: students of all years, parents and children, teachers and Ithaca residents of all ages.  

Ithaca College community questions Yellow Deli and Twelve Tribes presence

By Caitlin Holtzman, Editor in Chief • May 3, 2023

Internationally, the Twelve Tribes run multiple businesses including the Yellow Deli and Maté Factor, which have both had locations in Ithaca. The Twelve Tribes now runs the deli on The Commons.

Downtown Ithaca Alliance plans to create a new bus hub

By Vivian Rose • April 12, 2023

The Downtown Ithaca Alliance is currently looking into creating an intercity bus hub in the City of Ithaca for people to wait for buses that travel between cities.

24 Annual Chili Cook-Off Warms Ithaca

By Cayenne Lacko-Cave and Mack Rovenolt • March 9, 2022

Prism lights and little bites return to The Commons

By Elijah de Castro, Staff Writer • December 4, 2020

The Downtown Ithaca Alliance (DIA) combined the Winter Light Festival with the Bite of Ithaca restaurant promotion to create the Winter Lights & Bites Festival.

New restaurants serve up distinctive dishes for community

By Emily Lussier, Senior Writer • October 20, 2020

Even with COVID-19 putting pressure on restaurants, new restaurant owners in Ithaca have found ways to open their doors.

Annual festival to celebrate fall in pandemic-friendly fashion

By Emily Lussier, Senior Writer • September 23, 2020

Because of the safety precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Downtown Ithaca Alliance canceled the Apple Harvest Festival 2020.

Demands of restaurants lead to closures

By Madison Fernandez, News Editor • December 12, 2019

From pizzerias to Moroccan concepts, Hicham Oulida, Towers Marketplace retail manager at Ithaca College, has owned six restaurants — five of which were in Ithaca — over the past decade. He...

Ice sculptors compete for prizes on The Commons

By Arleigh Rodgers, Staff Writer • December 4, 2018

Although the cooler months are already in full swing, the city will bundle up this weekend to celebrate the cold rather than combat it.