Downtown Ithaca

Ellen David Friedman: Keep Going
2026-04-23 18:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Autumn Leaves Books, 115 East State Street, Ithaca, NY, 14850, United States
Autumn Leaves Books on the Ithaca Commons is excited to welcome local author and union organizer Ellen David Friedman for the launch of her new book Keep Going: A Guide to Organizing When It’s Hard. The book, illustrated by artist Fernando Martí and published by PM Press, features true stories from workplace activists and lessons from the frontlines. Keep Going will help workers, unionizers, and labor leaders get started and get unstuck when things aren’t going as expected.
“Against the seemingly limitless power of corporations and billionaires, and the cruelty of a government turning against its own people, there are workers everywhere standing up and fighting back. I’ve known Ellen David Friedman for many years. She knows what it takes to organize and give people real hope. This book contains that experience and helps anyone who is building power in the workplace—step by step, facing endless challenges—to keep going.” —‎Senator Bernie Sanders
This event is free and open to the public. There will be a discussion, Q&A, and book signing. Join us upstairs on the bookstore’s mezzanine. Keep in mind, seating is limited.
About the author:
Ellen David Friedman is a retired organizer with the Vermont affiliate of the National Education Association. She has trained and advised thousands of union members, staffers, and officers, and is the architect of the popular Labor Notes workshop “What to Do When Your Union Breaks Your Heart.” She is a regular contributor to Labor Notes magazine and chair of the Labor Notes board. She lives in Ithaca, New York.

MAKE YOUR OWN PAPER DOLL @ Orozco Gallery
2026-04-23 18:00 - 20:00 | orozco gallery, 115 s cayuga st, ithaca, 14850
GALLERY HOURS | 2-6PM
🗓️ Thursday, April 23rd | ⏰ 6–8 PM
📍 115 S Cayuga St, Ithaca, NY
🎟️ Free | 👤 14+ | Supplies included
🎨This April, Orozco Gallery opens its doors for a month-long pop-up filled with arts & culture in Downtown Ithaca. Featuring artist talks, live music, dance, storytelling, and hands-on workshops, this welcoming sober space invites all ages to gather and celebrate the transformative power of art.
Curated by Yen Ospina as part of Orozco Gallery’s month-long pop-up, this in-person artist talk pairs storytelling with a hands-on mini workshop. Learn directly from artists and explore creativity together.
💵 Free (donations welcome)
🥤 N/A drinks available
♿ Accessible
🌐 orozcogallery.com / @orozco_gallery – RSVP info: https://forms.gle/QbVYMMwfEcuVkXLMA
Now more than ever, art is an act of resistance and renewal — a way to reclaim joy, foster dialogue, and strengthen community bonds. This month-long series is organized and founded by community maker, curator, and activist Yen Ospina in collaboration with the Latino Civic Association of Tompkins County, & Latina/o Studies Program at Cornell University.

Author Reading: Fugitive Tilts
2026-04-24 17:00 - 18:00 | Buffalo Street Books, 215 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca
A reading from – and discussion of – Fugitive Tilts with author Ishion Hutchinson who is joined in conversation with Dante Micheaux!

Artists Talks & Workshops @ Orozco Gallery
2026-04-24 18:00 - 20:00 | orozco gallery, 115 s cayuga st, ithaca, 14850
GALLERY HOURS | 2-6PM
🗓️ Friday, April 24th | ⏰ 6–8 PM
📍 115 S Cayuga St, Ithaca, NY
🎟️ Free | 👤 14+ | Supplies included
🎨This April, Orozco Gallery opens its doors for a month-long pop-up filled with arts & culture in Downtown Ithaca. Featuring artist talks, live music, dance, storytelling, and hands-on workshops, this welcoming sober space invites all ages to gather and celebrate the transformative power of art.
Carolina Osorio Gil 6-7 PM
Yamilka Portorreal 7-8 PM
Curated by Yen Ospina as part of Orozco Gallery’s month-long pop-up, this in-person artist talk pairs storytelling with a hands-on mini workshop. Learn directly from artists and explore creativity together.
💵 Free (donations welcome)
🥤 N/A drinks available
♿ Accessible
🌐 orozcogallery.com / @orozco_gallery – RSVP info: https://forms.gle/QbVYMMwfEcuVkXLMA
Now more than ever, art is an act of resistance and renewal — a way to reclaim joy, foster dialogue, and strengthen community bonds. This month-long series is organized and founded by community maker, curator, and activist Yen Ospina in collaboration with the Latino Civic Association of Tompkins County, & Latina/o Studies Program at Cornell University.

4-H Duck Race
2026-04-25 11:00 - 16:00 | Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County, 615 Willow Ave, Ithaca, NY, 14850, United States
CCE Tompkins is proud to announce that the 4-H Duck Race will take place on Saturday, April 25, 2026 from 11am-4pm. Join us to watch up to 3,000 bright yellow rubber ducks tumble over the Cascadilla Creek falls at the Cornell Botanic Gardens’ Cascadilla Gorge Trail then bob down the creek in a frantic and fabulous race to the 4-H Education Center on Willow Avenue. Take a chance on a duck and win GREAT PRIZES if your duck is among the first to cross the finish line! Enjoy refreshments, entertainment, and activities for kids all afternoon long, around the CCE-Tompkins Education Center at 615 Willow Avenue in Ithaca. All proceeds support 4-H youth programs in Tompkins County!
Need not be present to win!
This year, our Duck Race event will be BIGGER and BETTER than ever!
*Food Trucks
*Raffles & Prizes
*Games
*Animal Encounters
*Artist’s Alley Vendor Market
*And More!
GET YOUR DUCK CHANCES EARLY: https://ccetompkins.wufoo.com/forms/mk8a0391pwr4as/
WANT TO BE A SPONSORING BUSINESS? HEAD OVER HERE: https://ccetompkins.wufoo.com/forms/m1dmc50p1q89uof
GET YOUR DUCK RACE MERCH HERE: Tompkins4H.redbubble.com

Show Pony Studio + Friends: Indie Bookstore Day!
2026-04-25 11:00 - 17:00 | Buffalo Street Books, 215 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca
Celebrate Indie Bookstore Day with Buffalo Street Books and Show Pony Studio + Friends! Join us for flash tattoos, ceramics, prints, zines, paper cut art, stone carvings, and more. We’ll have book bedazzling at 12pm and a book swap at 3pm!
Members – as a thank you for all that you do to support us, take 15% off your purchase on Indie Bookstore Day!

MOVIE NIGHT: THE SHAPE OF WATER @ Orozco Gallery
2026-04-25 19:00 - 21:00 | orozco gallery, 115 s cayuga st, ithaca, 14850
GALLERY HOURS | 2-7PM
🗓️ Saturday, April 25th | ⏰ 7–9 PM
📍 115 S Cayuga St, Ithaca, NY
🎟️ Free | 👤 18+ | Supplies included
🎨This April, Orozco Gallery opens its doors for a month-long pop-up filled with arts & culture in Downtown Ithaca. Featuring artist talks, live music, dance, storytelling, and hands-on workshops, this welcoming sober space invites all ages to gather and celebrate the transformative power of art.
Screening of The Shape of Water during Orozco Gallery’s month-long arts & culture pop-up. Bring pillows or comfy seating.
💵 Free (donations welcome)
🥤 N/A drinks available
♿ Accessible
🌐 orozcogallery.com / @orozco_gallery – RSVP info: https://forms.gle/QbVYMMwfEcuVkXLMA
Now more than ever, art is an act of resistance and renewal — a way to reclaim joy, foster dialogue, and strengthen community bonds. This month-long series is organized and founded by community maker, curator, and activist Yen Ospina in collaboration with the Latino Civic Association of Tompkins County, & Latina/o Studies Program at Cornell University.

Book Launch: Alice McDowell
2026-04-26 14:00 - 15:00 | Buffalo Street Books, 215 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca
Book Title: Your Royal Nature
Book Subtitle: Spiritual Essays to Find Your Way Home
Author Name: Alice McDowell, PhD
Synopsis:
This new collection of essays serves readers who want to grow spiritually and experience the oneness and liberation that is their true royal nature. Those who lead busy and complicated lives will find the short chapters offer a meditative reading experience with guidance, support, and spiritual sustenance. Wide-ranging and thought-provoking, the essays will help you find your life purpose, cope with a world in crises, recognize true guidance, break negative habits, face the unknown, grow spiritually in later life, and find deep abiding love. Alice McDowell draws from spiritual wisdom traditions and personal experiences to take you beyond everyday challenges, give you a larger perspective on life, deepen your spiritual connection, and cultivate your essential nature.
Author Bio:
Alice McDowell, Ph.D., is an author, spiritual director, workshop leader, and retreat guide. She co-founded Light on the Hill Retreat Center in 1991 where she continues to guide individuals and groups on their spiritual journeys. She is author of Hidden Treasure: How to Break Free of Five Patterns that Hide Your True Self (She Writes Press, 2017) and Dance of Light: Christian, Sufi and Zen Wisdom for Today’s Spiritual Seeker. As a professor of religious studies at Ithaca College for eighteen years, she taught courses in mysticism, world religions, depth psychology, and women’s studies. McDowell has a Ph.D. in theology from Fordham University and has trained with Sufi and Buddhist teachers, Christian contemplatives, and humanistic and transpersonal psychologists.
Visit her at: www.alicemcdowellauthor.com
“If you are looking for a book to take you into your deeper, wiser, calmer self, you have found it!”
“This is a book to be savored, chock-full of spiritual practices and suggestions to return to, and chapters to revisit again and again.”

ZINE WORKSHOP @ Orozco Gallery
2026-04-26 16:00 - 18:00 | orozco gallery, 115 s cayuga st, ithaca, 14850
GALLERY HOURS 1-4PM
🗓️ Sunday, April 26th | ⏰ 4–6 PM
📍 115 S Cayuga St, Ithaca, NY
🎟️ Sliding scale | 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 All ages | Supplies included
🎨 This April, Orozco Gallery opens its doors for a month-long pop-up filled with arts & culture in Downtown Ithaca. Featuring artist talks, live music, dance, storytelling, and hands-on workshops, this welcoming sober space invites all ages to gather and celebrate the transformative power of art.
Create your own handmade zine during Orozco Gallery’s month-long pop-up filled with arts & culture. Supplies included.
💵 Sliding scale $5-$10 (cash or Venmo)
🥤 N/A drinks available
♿ Accessible
🌐 orozcogallery.com / @orozco_gallery – RSVP info: https://forms.gle/QbVYMMwfEcuVkXLMA
Now more than ever, art is an act of resistance and renewal — a way to reclaim joy, foster dialogue, and strengthen community bonds. This month-long series is organized and founded by community maker, curator, and activist Yen Ospina in collaboration with the Latino Civic Association of Tompkins County, & Latina/o Studies Program at Cornell University.

Old Greeny Fringe Fest
2026-04-27 - 2026-05-03
Old Greeny Fringe Fest is a week-long, fringe festival in celebration of the weird, wacky, and whimsical, rooted in the legend of Old Greeny—the cryptid of Cayuga Lake. The festival activates traditional and non-traditional venues through performances, installations, community activities, and storytelling, with a strong commitment to sustainability, accessibility, and local culture.
The festival runs from April 27th to May 3rd at venues near the Waterfront Trail and on State Street. There will be more than 50 events and shows at 14 different venues in Ithaca NY. Events include music, dance, theatre, drag, burlesque, circus, clowning, as well as crafting and skill-building workshops for all ages!
Check out the event website for a full program and details.
www.oldgreenyfringefest.com
Tickets to evening shows can be purchased in advance. Daytime events are family-friendly and free to the public! The Cherry Arts is the box office for the festival, so drop by and pick up a program anytime from April 27th to May 2nd.

One Night With You: Elvis Dinner Show Comes to K-HOUSE Karaoke & Arts Hub
2026-04-27 18:00 - 20:00 | K-House Karaoke & Arts Hub, 121 W Martin Luther King Jr St, Ithaca, 14850
K-HOUSE Karaoke & Arts Hub invites oldies lovers to spend an evening with Elvis. One Night With You is a dinner show featuring the comedy and vocal stylings of The King himself, a three-course meal and guest performances, all in the intimate setting of Room K (formerly The Downstairs).
Elvis, who has been touring small-town venues since his supposed death in 1977, tells hilarious stories about his life, interspersed with classic songs, underrated tracks and beloved covers, during the 90-minute show. Duets throughout the evening will feature stars from the rock & roll era, including Neil Diamond and guest interaction and accompaniment are encouraged. Blending live performance with dinner theatre and the dietary restrictions of the aging The King, guests will enjoy a healthy meal with gluten-free and vegetarian options, as well as some of Elvis’ favorite treats.
“If you’ve got a suspicious mind and want the full story, you’ll just have to come hear it from The King himself.” -Sylvie Froncek, producer of One Night With You
The show takes place on the fourth Monday of each month at K-HOUSE this spring. Tickets include dinner and the show. Beverages will be available to purchase from the bar.
Upcoming performances include:
• Monday, March 23 — 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
• Monday, April 27 — 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM and 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM (during Old Greeny Fringe Fest)
• Monday, May 25 — 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Tickets are $35 per person or $120 for a table of four, and reservations are required.
Guests can expect an evening of classic songs, theatrical storytelling, and opportunities to interact with Elvis and sing-along.
Reservations:
https://www.viecycle.com/elvis-dinner-show.html

Volunteer Fair at LIfelong
2026-04-28 14:00 - 16:00 | Lifelong, 119 W COURT ST., ITHACA, 14850
Lifelong Volunteer Fair: April 28th 2pm – 4pm FREE and open to the public Looking to give back and make a difference in your community?
Join us for an inspiring afternoon with 20 local nonprofit organizations and discover meaningful volunteer opportunities that match your interests and skills. Bonus perks! Visit every vendor and you’ll be eligible to receive a 6-pack of local artisan beer, plus a Lifelong lip balm, pen, and tote bag! Bring a friend and come see how you can make an impact!
Registration appreciated (but not required): https://tinyurl.com/LLVolunteerFair2026

Imagine! Pedro X. Molina & Johannes Lehmann in Conversation
2026-04-28 18:30 - 19:30 | Tompkins County Public Library, Borg-Warner West, 101 E Green St, Ithaca, NY 14850, Ithaca,, NY, 14853, United States
Soil scientist Johannes Lehmann (member of the National Academy of Science) and cartoonist Pedro X. Molina (recipient of the Vaclav Havel Award for Creative Dissent) discuss their recent creative collaboration on a graphic novel titled HUMUS. This is the first event in a series, “Imagine! Dialogues on the Power of Imagination as a Public Good,” celebrating the 25th anniversary of Ithaca City of Asylum.

BIPOC Voices In Romance & Fantasy ✨💖
2026-04-29 17:00 - 18:00 | Buffalo Street Books, 215 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca
Join us at Buffalo Street Books to discuss I Accidentally Summoned a Demon Boyfriend joined virtually by author Jessica Cage ˚˖𓍢ִ໋❀

MAKE YOUR OWN VICTORIAN PUZZLE LETTER @ Orozco Gallery
2026-04-29 17:00 - 19:00 | orozco gallery, 115 s cayuga st, ithaca, 14850
GALLERY HOURS | 2-5PM
🗓️ Wednesday, April 29th | ⏰ 5–7 PM
📍 115 S Cayuga St, Ithaca, NY
🎟️ Sliding scale | 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 All ages | Supplies included
🎨 This April, Orozco Gallery opens its doors for a month-long pop-up filled with arts & culture in Downtown Ithaca. Featuring artist talks, live music, dance, storytelling, and hands-on workshops, this welcoming sober space invites all ages to gather and celebrate the transformative power of art.
Learn historic folded letter techniques during Orozco Gallery’s month-long pop-up filled with arts & culture.
💵 Sliding scale (cash or Venmo)
🥤 N/A drinks available
♿ Accessible
🌐 orozcogallery.com / @orozco_gallery – RSVP info: https://forms.gle/QbVYMMwfEcuVkXLMA
Now more than ever, art is an act of resistance and renewal — a way to reclaim joy, foster dialogue, and strengthen community bonds. This month-long series is organized and founded by community maker, curator, and activist Yen Ospina in collaboration with the Latino Civic Association of Tompkins County, & Latina/o Studies Program at Cornell University.

Queer Horror Book Club - Grey Dog
2026-04-29 18:00 - 19:00 | Buffalo Street Books, 215 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca
A fan of queer horror? Looking to get into the genre? Join us for a discussion on Grey Dog, led by BSB staff member Anamarie.
Book club attendees get 10% one (1) purchase in-store!

Environmental History Presentation from Ithaca College Student Researchers
2026-04-29 19:00 - 20:30 | The History Center in Tompkins County, 110 N Tioga St, Ithaca, 14850
On Wednesday, April 29, The History Center is proud to present the work of Ithaca College environmental history students. With the recent disruptive environmental events in our country and around the world, the projects the students have been working on can provide insight into human-environment interactions over time in this place we call Tompkins County. Focusing on the history of Tompkins County residents’ relationship with water, the presentations offer an environmental history angle to the theme of this year’s exhibit on water in the gallery.
Michael Smith, Professor of History and Environmental Science at Ithaca College, developed a course in environmental history requiring students to use local historical resources to study an event in the greater Ithaca area. In doing so, it is his hope that students will develop a sense of “ecological citizenship” and an understanding that they are a part of the community they are studying.
Through a partnership with The History Center, students are recognizing the reciprocal impact of human behavior and ecological changes from events such as the major floods that have affected Tompkins County, the ways that our creeks and lake have changed from industrial to recreational uses, and the debate over hydrofracking.
Each of the groups will present a synopsis of their findings on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 from 7-8:30 p.m. at The History Center. For more information please contact community@thehistorycenter.net

jones et al. - Jazz Quintet in Room K at K-House Karaoke & Arts Hub
2026-04-29 19:30 - 21:30 | K-House Karaoke & Arts Hub, 121 W Martin Luther King Jr St, Ithaca, 14850
You won’t want to miss “jones et al.” live this Wednesday at Room K (K-House Ithaca)! Come hang with this new quintet and groove to eclectic vibes from swing to bossa to R+B and more!
jazz quintet ft:
julia picker – vocals
spencer hadley – trumpet
chengoo michalis li – keys
carter knight – bass
michael millenhaft – drums
$10/PWYC

Black and White and…
2026-04-30 12:00 - 2026-05-24 17:00 | State of the Art Gallery, 120 W State St #2, Ithaca, 14850, United Kingdom
In their show, Black and White and…, painter Ileen Kaplan and Photographer David Watkins explore the use of black and white and touches of color to create abstract, graphic and representational pieces.
The show will run from April 30 through May 24, 2026. Opening reception Friday, May 1 from
5–8pm.

Book Launch: Why Our Moral Views Keep Changing with Audun Dahl
2026-04-30 17:30 - 19:00 | Buffalo Street Books, 215 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca
Join Professor of Psychology, Audun Dahl in conversation with colleague David Pizarro, to celebrate the launch of his new book!

LATIN DANCE CLASS @ Orozco Gallery
2026-04-30 18:00 - 19:00 | orozco gallery, 115 s cayuga st, ithaca, 14850
GALLERY HOURS 2-6PM
🗓️ Thursday, April 30th | ⏰ 6–7 PM
📍 115 S Cayuga St, Ithaca, NY
🎟️ Sliding scale $10-$20 | 👤 14+ | Beginner Friendly
🎨 This April, Orozco Gallery opens its doors for a month-long pop-up filled with arts & culture in Downtown Ithaca. Featuring artist talks, live music, dance, storytelling, and hands-on workshops, this welcoming sober space invites all ages to gather and celebrate the transformative power of art.
Move and learn Latin dance during Orozco Gallery’s month-long arts & culture celebration.
💵 Sliding scale (cash or Venmo)
🥤 N/A drinks available
♿ Accessible
🌐 orozcogallery.com / @orozco_gallery – RSVP info: https://forms.gle/QbVYMMwfEcuVkXLMA
Now more than ever, art is an act of resistance and renewal — a way to reclaim joy, foster dialogue, and strengthen community bonds. This month-long series is organized and founded by community maker, curator, and activist Yen Ospina in collaboration with the Latino Civic Association of Tompkins County, & Latina/o Studies Program at Cornell University.

Poetry Night: Mary Gilliland & Peter Fortunato
2026-04-30 18:00 - 19:00 | Autumn Leaves Books, 115 East State Street, Ithaca, NY, 14850, United States
Join Autumn Leaves Books for a night of poetry with celebrated local poets Mary Gilliland and Peter Fortunato. Both writers will read from their latest books. Mary Gilliland’s collection Within the Shop of the Divine (Arc Publication, 2025) includes poems about grief and recovery, poems “abundant in flora and fauna, rich in life and matter and earthed in the spaces and histories they emerge from.” Her chapbook Red Tide at Sandy Bend (Bodily Press, 2025) considers algal blooms, which reveal a world of toxins and creaturely interdependence both visceral and intimate.
Peter Fortunato’s books World Headquarters (Fomite, 2024) and Desert Wind: My Life in Qatar (Cayuga Lake Books, 2023) are inspired by life in Doha, nature, and the interconnectedness among the local and universal, as well as his years of teaching.
The free event will be followed by a book signing. It will be held downstairs on the groundfloor.
About the authors:
Peter Fortunato has published several poetry collections, as well as the novel Carnevale (Fomite Press, 2019) and a memoir Desert Wind: My Life in Qatar (Cayuga Lake Books, 2023). He holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he was awarded the Randall Jarrell Fellowship, and from Cornell University a BA in English. Fortunato has taught writing and literature at Cornell and Ithaca College, as well as at Weill Cornell Medicine in Qatar. Among his honors are the Emily Dickinson Prize of the Poetry Society of America, a Pablo Neruda Prize from the Oklahoma Arts Council, and a Yeats Poetry Prize from the WB Yeats Society of NY. Peter Fortunato has been a student of Zen and Tibetan Buddhism for more than 50 years, as well as an artist and practitioner of complementary alternative medicine. He lives in Ithaca, New York.
Mary Gilliland is the author of several acclaimed books of poetry including The Devil’s Fools (Codhill Press, 2022), winner of the Codhill Press Pauline Uchmanowicz Award. Her poems have been published widely and collected in anthologies including Rumors Secrets & Lies: Poems about Pregnancy, Abortion, & Choice (Anhinga Press, 2022).
Among her awards are the Stanley Kunitz Fellowship at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown and a Council for the Arts Faculty Grant from Cornell University. She has taught and performed at the Al Jazeera International Film Festival, the Chautauqua Institution, and the Namgyal Monastery Institute of Buddhist Studies.
Gilliland apprenticed to Gary Snyder in the Sierra foothills, where she studied Buddhism and helped to build a wood-framed public school. She retired early from teaching at Cornell in order to devote herself to poetry.

Brassquatch! The Fall Creek Brass Band Musical
2026-04-30 19:00 - 20:00 | The Cherry Arts, 102 Cherry st., Ithaca, NY, 14850, United States
Get a sneak peak of Fall Creek Brass Band’s new original musical! We’ll share a selection of scenes and songs from Brassquatch! and round out the evening with some classic Fall Creek tunes.

Friday Pop-In Permanent Jewelry Happy Hour
2026-05-01 11:30 - 19:00 | Fall Creek Atelier, 118 West Green street, Bay 7, Ithaca, 14850
Friday Pop-In Permanent Jewelry Happy Hour ✨
Join us every Friday (all day!) at Fall Creek Atelier for a relaxed, drop-in experience. Get custom-fit, clasp-free permanent jewelry designed for effortless, everyday wear.
No appointment needed—just stop by whenever it works for you, bring a friend, and make it a moment. Perfect for:
• Friendship bracelets
• Couple bracelets
• Mother–daughter pieces
• Matching group sets
• A meaningful treat just for you
Friday Happy Hour Pricing:
• 1 bracelet — $60
• 2 bracelets — $110
• 3 bracelets — $150
Add charms or birthstones—buy one, get the other half off (mix & match). Leave with something you’ll never want to take off.

My Father and the Silver King Launch: Gail Holst-Warhaft
2026-05-01 17:00 - 18:00 | Buffalo Street Books, 215 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca
My Father and the Silver King…………… Gail Holst-Warhaft
He ran away from home in the East End of London when he was seven years old. He lived on the streets, joining a gang of child pickpockets and at nine went to sea as a ‘ship’s boy.’ After a grueling trip around Cape Horn, he returned to London and found a job in a bicycle shop. When one of the first motor cars in London was brought in for repair, he fell in love with it. By the time he was a teenager, he had become a chauffeur and driving instructor for coachmen and butlers whose employers wanted to own a car, often driving customers to the Music Halls and theaters. A favorite melodrama of his day was The Silver King, a play in which the wronged hero is redeemed after he makes a fortune in a silver mine in South America. When he saw it, my father made up his mind to become ‘The Silver King.’
One of my father’s regular customers was a doctor who took him to Australia as his chauffeur. The doctor, who had relatives in Australia, traveled there to bet on the 1905 Melbourne Cup. My father saw there were only three cars at the race-course. He realized that if he could buy a car he could make money from it. He told the doctor that if he stayed in Australia he thought he could become “a gentleman.” His employer released him and he looked for a way to make money quickly. He was told that cutting sugar cane in Queensland was dangerous and dirty work, but paid well. After a season cutting cane my father returned to Melbourne and borrowed enough money to buy a car. A year later he had set up a successful hire-car business.
My father and his friends had learned to skate in London, tying iron blades on their shoes. In Melbourne he went skating at the brand-new ice rink where he soon became a champion figure-skater. It was there, at the ‘Glaciarium’, that he met his future wife, Gretchen. They soon married and had two children.
One day my father saw a sign on a small shed advertising a business for sale for fifty pounds. The owner, a Frenchwoman called Madame Gouge, told my father that her late husband had started something new in Australia called “dry cleaning.” My father bought the business and traveled to Europe to learn all he could about dry cleaning. He decided to keep the name of the owner and called his company Gouge Dry Cleaning. It became a great success, expanding throughout the state until there were over a hundred branches in Victorian towns. Over the next decades he realized his dream of being ‘The Silver King.’ He built a mansion in a fashionable suburb of Melbourne, and his children went to private schools. Later they became prominent members of Melbourne’s social scene. While my father was away on a business trip to Europe, my father’s first wife, Gretchen, died. Soon afterwards, he began courting his wife’s niece, Marion, seventeen years his junior, who would become my mother. They married in 1937 and had a son, Antony. When the Americans entered the Pacific Theatre in World War II, officers sent their uniforms to be cleaned there. I was born during the war.
When my father retired, he bought a poultry farm in Eltham. He made no money from it but we enjoyed living in the country and becoming part of an unusual community of artists. My father had dreamed of showing me the London he had told me so much about, and when I graduated from the university we traveled to Europe. He was disappointed in London and complained that there was nothing left of his colorful East End. Only at Billingsgate fish market did he catch a glimpse of the cockney world that had formed him and which he had raised his children on.
I was living in Greece when my father died. He had visited me there and impressed the Greeks by dancing in a taverna. I often wonder how much of my interest in the Greek music of the 1920s and 30s I owed to my father and to the Music Hall songs he sang to me as a child. His life was, of course, a rags-to-riches story not so uncommon in his day, but writing his story I came to see what an unusual and daring man he had been. One of the most intelligent things he did, perhaps, was to marry my studious, bookish mother, a marriage that turned out to be as successful as any of his other ventures.

Ithaca Gallery Night - First Friday of Every Month
2026-05-01 17:00 - 20:00
ITHACA GALLERY NIGHT
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2026
5:00–8:00 PM
DOWNTOWN ITHACA
Ithaca Gallery Night is a walkable evening of art openings and cultural experiences throughout Downtown Ithaca. On the first Friday, galleries, studios, and creative spaces open their doors for the public to explore exhibitions, meet artists, and experience the city’s arts community in one cohesive night.
This event is part of First Friday Ithaca Gallery Night openings.
Please visit www.ithacagallerynight.com
to see all participating locations and current event details.
Follow along and share your experience using:
#ithacagallerynight1 #downtownithaca #visitithaca
Facebook Event Link

Closing Reception @ Orozco Gallery
2026-05-01 17:00 - 20:00 | orozco gallery, 115 s cayuga st, ithaca, 14850
GALLERY HOURS | 2-6PM
🗓️ Friday, May 1st | ⏰ 5–8 PM
📍 Orozco Gallery, 115 S Cayuga St, Ithaca, NY
🎟️ Free | 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 All ages | 🥤 N/A drinks available
🎨 In times of uncertainty, art remains a powerful act of resilience.
This April, Orozco Gallery opens its doors for a month-long pop-up filled with arts & culture in Downtown Ithaca. Featuring artist talks, live music, dance, storytelling, and hands-on workshops, this welcoming sober space invites all ages to gather and celebrate the transformative power of art.
Celebrate the finale of Orozco Gallery’s month-long pop-up filled with arts & culture. Catering by Zocalo & Mocktails by Open Spaces.
♿ Handicap accessible
🌐 orozcogallery.com / @orozco_gallery – RSVP info: https://forms.gle/QbVYMMwfEcuVkXLMA
Now more than ever, art is an act of resistance and renewal — a way to reclaim joy, foster dialogue, and strengthen community bonds. This month-long series is organized and founded by community maker, curator, and activist Yen Ospina in collaboration with the Latino Civic Association of Tompkins County, & Latina/o Studies Program at Cornell University.

Busking for Justice
2026-05-01 17:30 - 19:00 | Cafe DeWitt, 215 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca, N, 14850, United States
Busking for Justice Returns May 1 with Lavine and the Flying Machine at Café Dewitt
Immigrant Solidarity will host the next Busking for Justice event on Friday, May 1 from 5:30–7:00 p.m. at Café Dewitt (Dewitt Mall, 215 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca).
The evening will feature live music by Lavine and the Flying Machine with a vibrant blend of klezmer and Yiddish swing—rich with storytelling and irresistible rhythms. Listen for wisps of New Orleans brass bands, the golden age of hazonnus (Jewish cantorial music), smoky French cafés and more.
The ensemble includes Jennie Lavine (clarinet and vocals), Dave Davies (guitar), Sam Swartz (tenor horn and vocals), Greg Ezra (percussion) and Ryan Zawel (tuba).
Admission is free, with donations encouraged. All proceeds will directly support immigrants and families dealing with the impacts of detention and deportation. Food will be available for purchase.
“This is our seventh Busking for Justice event, and we have been profoundly moved by the generosity and spirit of participating musicians, our hosts at Café Dewitt, and all who come to support our immigrant neighbors’ right to due process,” said Jayne Demakos, principal organizer.
Busking for Justice is an ongoing community initiative organized by Immigrant Solidarity, bringing people together through music in a shared commitment to collective care, dignity, and due process.

Mr. Chow's Night Market Book Launch
2026-05-02 11:00 - 11:30 | Buffalo Street Books, 215 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca
Join us at Buffalo Street Books, to celebrate the launch of Mr. Chow’s Night Market written by Emily Sun Li and illustrated by Yu Ting Cheng!
There will be crafts, goodies, story time & the opportunity to meet the author!

Sip & Sparkle: Spring Bloom Edition 🌸✨🥂
2026-05-02 12:00 - 19:00 | Press Bay Alley, 118 West Green Street, Ithaca, NY, United States
Join us at Fall Creek Atelier for Sip & Sparkle: Spring bloom Edition ✨
Shop handmade jewelry, enjoy complimentary mimosas and desserts, take home a goody bag, and receive 15% off your purchase.
📍 Press Bay Alley, Ithaca
🗓 May 2 | 12–7 PM
