The following section describes Ithaca's bars, lounges, and nightclubs. For special events check the middle page of the Ithaca Times or see the Thursday ``Ticket" section of the Ithaca Journal which lists upcoming weekend events.
ABC Café
308 Stewart Ave., 277-4770
Next to the Chapter House, the ABC Café offers a variety of
musical acts and vegetarian food.
Benchwarmers
137 East State St., 277-7539 (Downtown Commons)
For the sports fans this is your place. Multiple televisions and
a full bar for your sports enjoyment. Check it out on Monday
nights when they have a 20 cent wings special.
Cayuga Lake Cruises
702 West Buffalo Street, 256-0898
Sail the M/V Manhattan for panoramic views of Cayuga Lake.
Private, lunch, dinner and cocktail cruises available which sail
daily. The menu features the Bistro Q restaurant.
Castaways
413-415 Taughannock Blvd., 272-1370 (Downtown)
Every week a different band or DJ is featured. Large open space
for dancing and a full bar. Many Cornell ethnic clubs sponsor
events that are held at Castaways. Keep a lookout for signs and
advertisements. The attendance of these events are excellent.
Grads say: ``Castaways has a great 80's night on Thursdays. More
intimate than the version at the Haunt and much better music."
Catch their Latin and Brazilian nights.
Chanticleer
101 West State St., 272-9678 (Downtown Commons)
Chanticleer caters more to local townspeople, however, on occasion
small bands are entertained on the second floor. Grads say:
``Chanticleer actually has quite a good mix of graduate students
and local townspeople - I think it's a great unpretentious crowd."
Chapter House
400 Stewart Ave., 277-9782 (Lower Collegetown)
``The Chappie", not too far from the Stewart Avenue bridge,
entertains many graduate students any weekend night and is also
quite popular Thursday nights. There are a wide selection of
beers on tap and house-made root beer and ginger ale for the
non-drinkers. It also offers free popcorn and a selection of
games including darts, pool, and foosball. They often have
live music on Thursdays and Saturdays, and if they do there
is a cover charge.
Collegetown Bagels
415 College Ave., 273-0982
Collegetown Bagels, which tends to be less overrun by undergrads,
features live music on weekends. Also CTB serves a few beers on
tap.
Common Ground
1230 Danby Rd., 273-1505
Located on Route 96B past Ithaca College, the Common Ground is
Ithaca's predominantly gay and lesbian bar but has a significant
straight following because of its dance music and welcoming
environment. The dance club/bar features a wide range of music on
different night, from swing to techo to Latin (Tuesdays). In
addition, the Common Ground often features live music, small
theatre productions, drag shows, a Men's Night on Thursdays and a
Women's Concert Series early in the evening on Fridays.
Crooked Board
21 Creamery Road, Slaterville Springs, NY 14815, 539-7748
The best kept secret in town (or just 10 minutes out of town)!
This quaint bar is for locals and us lucky graduate students who
know about their drink specials. Stop by between 7 and 10 on
Mondays and 8 and 11 on Wednesdays for all you can eat wings and
all you can drink beer.
Double Nickel Saloon
624 W. State St., 273-9682
Dunbars
409 Eddy St., 216-0904
Thursdays cheap beer and mixed drinks.
The Haunt
702 Willow Ave., 275-3447
During the week the Haunt features a variety of live shows of
local and well known bands. The weekly big event is the ``The
ORIGINAL 80's Dance Party" every Saturday evening (cover charge
only $3). It's a good place for grad students who like the
nightlife but try to avoid the Collegetown scene. For those who
prefer an alternative night life, try The Haunt on Sundays for a
Goth/Industrial theme. Grads say: ``It's a great place to meet
locals as well as IC students." ``As a TA I love this place,
undergrads usually don't go down the hill."
Johnny O's
408 College Ave, 272-0999
Level B
410 Eddy St., 272-3888
Bring ID.
Micawber's Tavern
118 N. Aurora St., 273-9243 (Downtown Commons)
Famous for its Happy 15 Minutes, Micawber's is a small but
friendly place to relax and enjoy a beer. Sign up and they will
keep track of all the different types of beer that you taste
during your visits. If you complete the challenge of tasting all
the beers posted on the wall next to the bar your picture will be
displayed and you will receive a prize!
Moonshadows Tavern
114 The Ithaca Commons, 273-8741
Moonshadows, an alternative to Collegetown nightlife, is a great
place to meet IC students. Come to Moonshadows to relax, listen
to music, and play a few board games. Full bar.
Moosewood Café and Restaurant
Dewitt Mall, Seneca St., 273-9610 (Near Commons)
Best known for its vegetarian food and line of cookbooks,
Moosewood sometimes features live acoustic and folk music. Full
bar. Grads say: ``Good vegan/vegetarian affair - bargain nights
on Tuesdays. With a different menu every night it's sometimes hit
or miss, but pretty good overall. The portion sizes are a bit small
for those with large appetites."
The Nines
311 College Ave., 272-1888
The Nines is one of the few establishments in Collegetown that is
not dominated by undergrads. Live music every night. Blue Jam
every Monday. Full bar.
Pixel
107 Dryden Rd, 277-7529
Happy Hour 4-7 p.m. Arcade and bar.
Rongovian Embassy to the USA
1 West Main St., Trumansburg, 387-3334
Not so far afield, ``The Rongo" often has high-quality musical
acts including string jam and jazz bands which may be worth the
20-minute drive. Grads say: ``. . . does good mexican food."
Royal Palm
209 Dryden Rd., 272-9636 (Collegetown)
Royal Palms usually attracts many Professional Graduate Students.
Seemingly a crowded place because of the rows of wooden booths,
however, if you can make it to the back there is open elevated
space that can be used as a dance floor. Choose your own music at
the jukebox. There is also a full bar, but your drinks are served
to you in small plastic cups. Grads say, ``. . . gets very crowded
from midnight until closing. Before then it's a quiet and cheap
place to get (bad) beer."
Rulloff's Restaurant
411 College Ave., 272-6067 (Collegetown)
Rulloff's is a popular restaurant by day for all members of the
Cornell community, but after 10pm it is 21 and older. The night
crowd is a mix of graduate students and senior undergrads. There
are three levels each with a separate bar for your convenience.
Check out Monday night Karaoke.
Simeon's on the Commons
224 East State St., 272-2212
Simeon's is a late night bar and café with a sophisticated bar
menu.
Stella's Martini Bar
403 College Ave., 277-1490
Stella's is the closest thing in Ithaca to a metropolitan lounge.
The service is attentive, friendly, and attractive. Choose from a
large variety of delicious cocktails.