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Ithaca College
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Ithaca College - Local Atmosphere - Local Atmosphere - College ProwlerCollege Prowler4.24

Local Atmosphere

A-
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Quick Stats

Fun Local Trivia
  1. The 2000 film "Road Trip" directed by Todd Phillips was shot partially in Ithaca. The film makes several references to the school, but ultimately they call it a fictitious "Ithaca University."
  2. Bike Magazine has called Ithaca "one of America's top 10 biking towns."
  3. Ithaca has its own currency called "Ithaca Hours," which is intended to keep and stimulate business downtown.
  4. Ithaca is named for its location in the town of "Ulysses." The ancient Greek Ulysses lived in the town of "Ithaki."
Notable Natives
  • Hans Bethe – Nobel Prize winner, physicist
  • Alex Haley – author of "Roots: The Saga of an American Family" and the "Autobiography of Malcolm X"
  • Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo – guitarist for Gym Class Heroes
  • Mary McDonnell – actress ("Dances with Wolves")
  • Carl Sagan – astronomer, author
  • Rod Serling – creator and host of "The Twilight Zone"
  • David Foster Wallace – novelist
  • E. B. White – author ("Charlotte's Web")
Local Slang
  • Collegetown: Area near Cornell lined with food and shops
  • The Commons: A pedestrian marketplace
  • Cornellian: A person who attends Cornell
  • East Hill: The hill on which Cornell is located
  • Ithaca is Gorges: Refers to Ithaca's many natural gorges, commonly seen on clothing and bumper stickers
  • Ithacan: An IC student or the name of college newspaper
  • South Hill: The hill on which IC is located
  • Ten Square Miles Surrounded By Reality: Another common bumper sticker referring to Ithaca's unique atmosphere
Points of Interest
  • Buttermilk Falls State Park
  • Cayuga Lake
  • Collegetown
  • The Commons
  • Finger Lakes Wine Trail
  • Hangar Theatre
  • Ithaca Art Trail
  • Kitchen Theatre Company
  • Robert H. Treman State Park
  • Sagan Planet Walk
  • Taughannock Falls

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

Although Ithaca is home to both IC and Cornell University, it is a small college town in comparison to big cities. With quaint coffeehouses, excellent theaters, large used bookstores, happening bars, boutiques, and shops—there’s usually something to do or see in Ithaca. In the midst of it all is the Commons, the marketplace down the hill that features restaurants, outside entertainment, and specialty stores. Collegetown, located next to the Cornell campus, also has a variety of different places at which to eat and shop. Around Lake Cayuga, tourists and wine enthusiasts follow the Finger Lakes Wine Trail, a series of local wineries that offer samples of their specialties. 

It’s hard to walk around campus or go downtown and not see someone with an “Ithaca is Gorges” shirt. No—Ithacans can spell; it’s just that it really is “gorges.” Ithaca and the surrounding areas have deep ravines and gorges in the hillsides, all of which lead to the lake. When students first arrive on campus in the fall, the days are hot, and students can be found outside enjoying picnics, swimming in the gorges, and hiking on picturesque trails. Generally, the Ithaca area features free-spirited and friendly people centered around a backdrop of various options in restaurants, stores, and entertainment. Ithaca allows for individuals to have many choices with the diverse atmosphere it offers.

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Ithaca Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Local Atmosphere at Ithaca College

Chant

Business Administration and Management '15

5.0
A+

Ithaca Is Gorges

The college and the town are full of culture there is always something to do tons of clubs and student groups promoting community involvement. Good shopping, good food, apple fest, and tons of art unique to the area. We even have our own money called Ithaca hours.

May 05, 2012

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Local Atmosphere at Ithaca College

GDwight

Marketing '15

3.8
B+

Great Atmosphere.

I personally love Ithaca as a place. Both Ithaca College and Cornell have nice campuses. The commons is a nice calm place to go to at night or during the day with your frinds (10 min bus ride away) and college town is full of students, bars and restaurants (20 min bus ride away). The mall is a little too far so if you want to catch a movie or go shop at Traget it's not so convenient but the bus ride is direct from IC to the Mall and that makes it manageable. If you're looking for a party there always house parties going on around campus or at the circle apartments. If you're willing to go a little farther away there are always parties at Cornell. To go to parties at night you either catch the bus (but it doesn't go everywhere and it stops at 2am) some are walking distance from campus but not too many or else you grab a cab with your friends. Often you won't even feel the need to get off campus. Mac's (store) has all the essentials, for food you will mostly stay on campus especially if you don't have a lot of money. People tend to go off campus mainly to go house parties.

Apr 02, 2012

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Local Atmosphere at Ithaca College

hacp

Art History '13

3.5
B

Better When Its Warm Outside

Ithaca is a quaint small college town with terrible weather a lot of the year. The commons and collegetown offer decent enough restaurants, bars, some shopping, etc. Relaxed and friendly people. Nearly everyone you meet probably smokes pot, so that can be a bit frustrating after a while, but people are generally pretty respectful of not subjecting you to being around it or anything if you aren't into it. When the weather is nice it is truly gorgeous around here, and IC and Cornell pull some pretty amazing cultural events together and can be really rewarding- but you just have to keep your eye out to find out about them.

Mar 25, 2012

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User rating for Ithaca College - Local Atmosphere is 4.6 out of 5 based on 43 user reviews.

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

Rate the local atmosphere on the following topics

What is the local atmosphere like at your school?

What is the proximity to other universities? Is there much interaction?

Can you see yourself living here after graduation?

Facts

Shopping Centers
  • Cayuga Mall
  • Ithaca Mall
  • Triphammer Mall
City Web Sites
Distances to Nearest Major Cities
  • New York City: : 4 hours
  • Syracuse, N.Y.: : 1 hour

Movie TheatersWhat's This?

Cinemapolis
120 E. Green St.
Ithaca
(607) 277-6115

Cornell Cinema
104 Willard Straight Hall
Ithaca
(607) 255-3522

Fall Creek Pictures
1201 N. Tioga St.
Ithaca
(607) 272-1256

Regal Ithaca Mall Stadium 14
40 Catherwood Rd.
Ithaca
(607) 266-7960

Become a Contributing Author Learn more »

Most Recent Student Author View all

Name
Jennifer Segal
Hometown
Newton ,MA
Major
Communication Management
Grad Year
2014

College Prowler is seeking talented student authors to assist with writing and updating the College Prowler guides to their schools. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain experience and tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college.

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We update this information twice annually, most recently in May 2012, but it may not be the most recent information available for a particular school.
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