Mini vacation in Ithaca and decided to stop and see a movie. Wonderful small town feel theatre. Fun…read moreart in the lobby. Staff were warm and friendly. Prices were very reasonable! Popcorn toppers were on point!

When looking for an alternative to big-chain theaters, Cinemapolis in downtown Ithaca's Commons…read moreturns into a must-see venue. Being a nonprofit theater this movie celebrates movies with decals and memorabilia. Cinemapolis contributes to the importance to the local arts scene. Upon entering Cinemapolis, we can feel the artsy and quaint vibe. Near the front desk movie goers can play board games as a great pre-movie activity. Cinemapolis emphasizes on value and affordability. The $8.00 large popcorn tends to be easy on the pocket! The concession stand offers tea and coffee for a cold day. The theatre sells unique merchandise. Movie lovers can purchase movie-inspired clothing at the counter. Movie lovers can see "Wicked 2, For Good". What a fantastic movie! A good point to note: the theater opens at 150pm. Stop in and enjoy the ambiance of Cinemapolis.

My experience with The Next Jennaration has been wonderful…read more I live ten hours away so viewing the recitals each year has been nothing short of perfection. The students so clearly love what they do, and work so hard. You can sense the feeling of togetherness from the audience and you can hear about how their teamwork, hard work and chemistry pay off with the many many awards, scholarships, choreography awards, appearances on live TV shows (Dance Moms, America's Got Talent, Live Streaming of the Battles) and many other awards that this group brings. I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to work the front desk for 6 months this year and I could not believe the family atmosphere that the studio has. The office manager (Miss Vonnie) is always ready to meet everyone with a smile and kind, helpful encounter. The owner (Miss Jenna) brings a passion and love for the studio that is second to none. You will find her in the studio 99% of the time with the dancers, and when she is able to come out to the lobby she comes out with an energy showing how much she loves the students and working with them. The teachers have mostly grown up in the studio (Miss Deja, Miss Jessie, Miss Katie, Miss Taylor) and became The Next Jennaration Family and give back to the younger dancers by transitioning their role from team member themselves, to teachers. Other primary instructors (Miss Maria, Miss Jodi) have been training students since the opening and bring the best energy and a technical knowledge that brings everyone to another level. Miss Jodi even trained Miss Jenna when she was younger! :) The students have so much fun with dance and the social interactions that the studio brings. The students work so hard every time they get the chance to be in the studio. Outside of the studio, they are doing fun things to better themselves and the world. If you want to see some of the fun that they have, check out The Next Jennaration vlog. You can witness the way that these students are thinking about bettering the world by watching the team groups finding ways to give back to the community in their free time or competing in competitions that are solely fundraisers for causes in need. It shows the way these values are passed down from the owner and teachers, to the teams. The next Jennaration is the place if you are looking for an experience to build your child physically, socially, emotionally and have a foundation of friendship and a family like atmosphere that is going to last them a lifetime. It is an all around investment in your child's future.

I can not think of a better place to dance and just be, then at The Next Jennaration. I have had…read morethe opportunity to be a part of this dance family for the past 16 years, and can't help but keep coming back! I started dancing with Miss Jenna was I was six years old at summer dance camp, in 2005! I still remember that first day of that camp when I met Miss Jenna and the other dancers, I knew I found my forever dance family. As of four years ago, I was given the opportunity from Miss Jenna pursue my summer internships at the dance studio. This is something common you will find at TNJ, as the staff consists of alumni, like myself, that have so much love and admiration for Miss Jenna, other staff members, and the current dancers. To be able to show our passion for dance, that was first founded at the same studio, to the current dancers is one of the greatest opportunities I have experienced here. When you step through the door you are always welcomed with the most warm and energetic presence from Miss Jenna, the staff, and of course your dance friends. The atmosphere in the studio is something so incredibly special. The level of energy, positivity, and appreciation from one another is so strong you can not help but feel loved when you leave your dance class. I feel this is due to the family-like emphasis Miss Jenna has for all of her dancers. I have created some of the strongest and longest friendships with the dancers I have made at the studio, which I am forever grateful for! Beyond the love we all have for each other, the level of dance training is incomparable to anything I have seen anywhere else. Miss Jenna pours her heart and soul into the quality of training she offers, making sure it is only the best for every dancer in the studio. If you have ever been to a TNJ recital or performance, you know this to be true. Miss Jenna's genuine passion and love for dance is directly absorbed and transferred to the students in their own dancing, it is truly amazing to see. One extremely special aspect of TNJ that many do not initially see, are the life lessons that are adapted by every dancer. The understanding and appreciation of being a part of a team/group is one of the many life skills I feel I have learned in my time here and continue to use and experience in life. As well, commitment not only to yourself, but others around you, is something very unique that we all feel towards each other from the very first time dancing together. This is why I know being a part of the TNJ family has been one of the most incredible opportunities I have ever had. If you are looking for a dance studio that will give unconditional love and acceptance to you or your dancer, along side the nationally and world renowned training from Miss Jenna and the staff, then with all of my heart I recommend you look into classes at TNJ!!

Finally made a trip here!!! Kids spring break. Perfect rainy day escape for an energy burn for…read morecurious minds. Our MOST membership got us in free (saved about $60) Free parking on site You can bring a cooler and eat in Community area (tables and plenty of seating) Great outdoor space for kids to run around Area for water play, Lego building and a cool weather and tornado section Reptiles/snakes/fish section & even got to meet a reptile which was a bonus!

We took our kids (3 years old and 11 months) to check this place out. What a find!…read more There's a lot of really cool science concepts that they definitely don't understand yet, but they still had so much fun exploring. We spent hours here! There is a section specifically for little, which they loved! The water table and the pet/vet section especially. In the "big kid" sections our 3 year old loved seeing all the fish and lizards, the little penny black hole and the vacuum tubes with the Pom-poms. Even the outdoor area was a blast! So many cute and clever ways for kids to learn and play. We had the hardest time getting him to leave. I ended up convincing him we could get a stuffy at their gift shop to take with us. Never thought I'd buy a stuffed white blood cell, but here we are! Again, super cool! Lastly, the staff was all so pleasant and nice, which is always extra appreciated in a kid-centered place.

I've been to the Finger Lakes region of NY several times over the past couple of years…read more I attended the Wine & Cheese Festival this year. It is an incredibly popular event (it sold out this year) that combines the classic tastes of wine & cheese. The ticket price is very reasonable (and in many ways what I found most attractive about the event was the value for the money) it includes 33 wineries (several which I had not visited before). My overall experience was good and visiting all of the wineries is possible if you spread it out over the three (3) day period. If you're not traveling with a group, it is important to note that the event attracts large groups from birthdays to bachelorette parties. It is best to start early to avoid the van, limo and bus groups. Overall, good customer service at each winery and they seemed prepared in most cases for the large crowds. If I had one criticism, it would be the food selection. As a pescetarian, I was surprised how many of the wineries offered dishes with some type of meat. It also wasn't always cheese dish that a winery offered as their food selections (e.g. we had chili and chick peas offered to us). I did love how the majority of the wineries offered a print out of the recipe they were serving. I picked up several of them to try at home. In a nutshell, a festival weekend seems to be a great way to experience what feels like the never-ending wineries in the region (and I would go back and do it again).

Tompkins Center for History and Culture is located in Bank Alley just off the Ithaca Commons…read more Previously the Tompkins Trust building, the architectural character of the Palladian windows, Ionic and Corinthian pilasters, and elaborate brackets under the roof are a perfect home for the diverse history of Tompkins County. The atrium exhibit tower, honoring the Indigenous People exhibit, welcomes all who enter the space. As one walks into the center itself, five towers house exhibits related to PLACE: People, Land, Architecture, Culture and Enterprise. Utilizing the bank's footprint, one can enter the Howe/Nobles Story Vault. Inside, one may choose to record one's own story or watch recorded stories of others who call(ed) Tompkins County home. Tucked just above the main floor is the Cornell Local History Research Library where one may research family histories or just dive into the past through print materials. The old safe (Passage Through Time) houses a walking timeline of local history. A first time visitor will find herself quietly tumbling through the early days of Ithaca, with rich details and artifacts carefully knitting together a rich tapestry that are the towns of Tompkins County. As she exits this air-conditioned gem, she will remark to the staff that the next visit will need to be longer. And she'll bring her family. And then, she'll bring by her friends.

I attended an excellent local prohibition guided walking tour offered by the History Center in July…read more2022. The tour was fun. Our tour guide Ben was dynamic and knowledgeable; he tailored the tour to the participants' interests and stayed longer to answer questions. Learned a lot!

While a small museum, the Museum Of The Earth packs in a lot of exhibits and information. It's an…read moreimmersive experience at times as well with full rooms decked out with artifacts or fun interactive displays. For those in the Ithaca/Cayuga area, it's worth a stop in for an hour or so of your time.

This is an excellent indoor activity for children and adults. The cashier also informed us of the…read moremilitary discount. My husband is a navy veteran and the family receives 50% off admission. So many interactive exhibits. Visually exciting and made learning fun for my daughters on a rainy day.

Great day at a fun fair. Fun to taste apples from a variety of local farmers. I also loved the free…read moresamples of cider. It was crowded, but not too crowded and other vendors if you got tired of the apples, but who gets tired of apples. Fun memorable date or outing for kids. Free to get in and very reasonably priced items. Parking close can be challenging if you get there later in day.

Awesome! Usually held the first weekend in October. Living up to its motto, "Tempting to the Core,"…read morethis festival attracts over 30,000 people and features performers, entertainment, farmers, wineries, bakeries, crafters, food vendors, an apple pie eating competition, music, dancing, eating, food from local restaurants, education, a Ferris wheel, giant slide, Iron Chef event, crafts, and APPLES. The Festival also tries to be environmentally friendly, as it uses compostable utensils and paper plate. A local favorite is the kettle corn. I'm a fan of the candied apples. Om nom! Lots of fun, definitely come enjoy the celebration if you're in Ithaca around this time!

What a find! My traveling companion and I happened upon this intriguing little winery less than 30…read moreminutes before they closed for the evening, and we're so glad we did. The amenable winemaker, Frederic Bouchard, was finishing up a tasting with other guests, so he invited us to look around the rest of the property. We were accompanied by Tucker, the winery's resident canine cutie. When it was our turn to taste, we loved all four offerings: Quotidian White (blend), Quotidian Red (Meritage), 2006 Meleau White (Port) and 2006 Meleau Red (Port). In fact, we purchased all 4 of the wines in addition to the tastings. If you're in the Ithaca area, Ports of New York Winery is well worth a visit.

The tasting flight was engaging and informative. It didn't take long. It doesn't include the…read moreRiesling and champagne. They have artifacts from the family's history of generations working in the wine industry. We bought the champagne and red. The fortified reds were very fragrant and flavorful.