Thacant » commons

Goings-On About Town

Riley — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 19:46:50 +0000

Ithaca is gorges, unless it’s not summer, so for the past four months and for four months more (or until Slut Day*, whichever comes first) Ithaca will be dismal.

At least there’s some cool stuff going on around town. The Flaming Lips are coming to Cornell in April, which is the biggest deal since Built to Spill ripped apart State Theater in October.

But there’s more! The Avett Brothers, whose single, “I And Love And You” has been making girls’ panties drop people reluctant to fall in love for a few months now will be coming to the State Theater later on in February.

I&<3&U

This century’s Mark Twain will be visiting the State Theater in April. David Sedaris will speak to an audience, likely making us laugh, reflect, or eliciting a cheerful, “huh.”

April Seventh

There’ll be tons of great entertainment in Ithaca until Slut Day* arrives. Besides thacant, listen up to Aaron Terkel’s Concert Connection on WICB, everyday at 8:30, 1:30, 5:30, and 8:30 once again.

And hell, since we’re talking about public venues, stop by and donate a few cents to the Library Downtown – I mean look at this measly donation bin!

a single dollar? weak!

*What is Slut Day?

Well, lemme tell you a thing or two about Slut Day at Ithaca College. Waking up with the bright sun shining through the windows, and stepping out into the warm morning air with nothin but a t-shirt and shorts on. As you look onto the quad, it’s no longer just a patch of barren grass. Instead, on slut day, the freshly mowed grass is littered with girls dressed in scantily-clad (slutty) outfits, draped across every quad on campus. Now, this first exceptionally gorgeous day of spring, complete with the thermometers soaring above 70, every girl on campus gets the opportunity to shake off the winter rust, show off their bodies, and collect a little sun. Whether it be in a skirt on the grass, listening to music, or sprawled out in a bikini on their beach towel, just be sure you’ve got your sunglasses on today, because there’s enough eye candy laying around to make your eyes wander.

like this article? e-mail cbell1@ithaca.edu and tell him so!

Cask Ale, Get Yer Cask Ale Here!

Riley — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 06:16:23 +0000

As the Internet escorts me from Sunday Night to early Monday morning, my cyber-trekkings have lead me to the website for the Ithaca Beer Co. I am graced with images of Brew Fest cups and ‘Zillas being bottled when I see Events posted by the brewery.

On the last Friday of every month, the Beer Co. hauls a firkin – an antiquated term for a cask used to hold liquids, about eleven gallons – to Korova. Since the last Friday of the month is Christmas, the Beer Co. is bringing the quasi-keg over this Friday, the 18th.

If you don’t know what Korova is, it’s the seemingly nameless bar near Taste of Thai and Subway in the Commons. It’s usually got some cool chalkboard artwork hanging outside, and some bangin’ specials – $3 Guinness, yes please!

So if you’re still in town, get to Korova and you’ll be able to tell your folks that you drank from a fricken’ firkin!

5 – 7 pm

cheers

Built

Riley — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:12:46 +0000

It’s come and gone. The Built to Spill show, that is. With that being “the main thing” I was looking forward to all summer and fall, I need something else to get a chub for.

But let’s reflect. Check out Doug;

thanks!

The band opened up with “Traces” from ‘You in Reverse.

Stab

Untrustable

In Your Mind

Else

Wherever You Go

Hindsight (from their new album, ‘There Is No Enemy’)

Nowhere Nothin’ Fuckup

Big Dipper

Carry the Zero

And an encore comprised of the mesmerizing “Kicked It in the Sun” from the Epic of an album ‘Perfect From Now On’ and “Done” which is what I expect to be their next single off of ‘Enemy’.

marquee

Doug Martsch DJ’ed at WildFire Lounge – the former Lost Dog. Attendees enjoyed everything from Blondie to the Beatles while Doug stood behind his Mac, sipping beers and talking to fans.

Check out a full interview with Doug here!

City Underfoot

Riley — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 01:13:53 +0000

If you weren’t all that familiar with the commons before, AppleFest surely changed that for you this weekend. At least I hope. With dozens of vendors, rides, awesome food, and who can forget rain, AppleFest is the first big event of the year.

Leave it to Ithaca to cover up some strange structure that I’d assume contains machines, pumps and wires, with some industrial art and a sign to educate Ithacans on the history of our strange city.

the structure

the sign

The first thing the sign mentions is the Cayugas. Read any any abridged history of Ithaca and the Cayuga Indians are the first group you’ll read about. Unless that history skips to Simeon DeWitt, the State Surveyor General who planned the city. Then comes President Rochon.

Next is Ezra Cornell, who, after making a fortune in the telegraph business, endowed the Cornell Library to the city of Ithaca. It wasn’t until later that the land on the East Hill was developed into Cornell University. But it does appear as though higher education in Ithaca has its roots in communication.

Underground Railroad. I never learned too much about this in social studies during grade school, so I turn to the Internet. Apparently African Americans escaping from the South sought aid in Ithaca at the St. James Zion church.The church still stands, on Clinton Street, which is essentially between the Commons and Wegmans. They should have just stopped there for supplies.

I don’t believe this next plug about the ice cream sundae. Ithaca and Two Rivers, Wisconsin both claim to have invented the Sundae many many years ago. First of all, who cares, and second of all, what defines a sundae? If you have ice cream (or any food for that matter) it’s just a matter of time until someone puts something on it to taste better. Basic rule of human nature. I’ll give it to Ithaca, though. The midwest is boring and I go to school here.

Weak plaque, overall, Ithaca. I can list several other people to help to shape Ithaca’s identity.

put that needle to the groove

Sarah — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:45:56 +0000

There is something about Ithaca that makes me feel welcome. Well I have been coming here for eight or so years (with an older sibling as an alumni) and even though its been that long, any amount of time can go by and it always feels like home. It is hard to feel like an outsider here. There will be someone stranger, larger, smaller, normal, crazier, older, younger, someone more uptight or loose— someone is always flying their freak flag. And I LOVE IT.

Being just three blocks from the commons- the walks over are so pleasant. Having too much time to think can go either way, but right now its definitely a good thing. A way to get your mind in order before classes start and before your every day commitments (for the first time in eight or so months!) lie ahead. Even though this long summer is coming to an end and we will all miss it VERY MUCH- I am definitely looking forward to getting my brain in gear and having some serious fun.

Until then I plan on spending all of my time and money milling around ANGRY MOM records. It’s in the basement of Autumn Leaves and they have a sexcellent selection of serious vinyl. Check it out- it’s never too late for a beautiful hobby like records in wax.

hey guy

Riley — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:15:35 +0000

if you get hungry after drinking in the commons, you may find him

bathroom picasso