Downtown Ithaca

Reading Widely Book Club: Quicksand
2024-08-15 17:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | Buffalo Street Books, 215 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca
Join us for our monthly book club led by community members and local literati. This month we’ll be reading Quicksand, by Nella Larsen.
Nella Larsen (1891-1964) is one of the most well-known names in the Harlem Renaissance canon, though much of her personal history remains elusive. The author of two novels, Quicksand and Passing, and several short stories, she received a Guggenheim fellowship in 1930 and later worked as a nurse. Larsen died in New York City in 1964.
Book club books are 10% off when purchased instore and online.
About the Book
Born to a white Danish mother and a Black American father, Helga Crane has long struggled to carve a path for herself amid the racial segregation of the early twentieth century. As a teacher at an all-Black boarding school in the South, Helga quickly becomes unsettled by the way the school measures excellence based on proximity to whiteness. Journeying to Chicago, Harlem, and Copenhagen, she attempts to thrive free from the constraints of category–mother or wife, promiscuous or chaste, white or Black, American or Danish. But these categories, though slippery and unstable, are constantly reinforced.
Helga finally settles into a life that feels secure yet completely at odds with her previous ambitions–married to a preacher in the Deep South, hoping to find peace under the wings of the Church. Landing back where she started, in social and existential oblivion, Helga forces us to consider: In a society marred by injustice, is it even possible to find a true, authentic self? With intriguing parallels to Larsen’s own life, Quicksand is an engrossing page-turner that is as relevant now as ever before.

How to Make A Zine
2024-08-15 18:00 - 20:00 | CAP ArtSpace, 110 N Tioga st, Ithaca, NY, 14850, United States
Learn to make a zine with local artist Yen Ospina! You will have the opportunity to dive into artsy collage or drawing while learning how a simple zine is created. You do not have to have knowledge on how to create art to learn this simple expression of self! Paper, glue, scissors, magazines, markets and crayons will be available for you to explore different topics. All topics will be spoken about in the workshop, there will be samples of work that Yen will bring to share with everyone.

Ithaca Artist Market
2024-08-16 12:00 - 19:30 | Ithaca Farmers Market, Steamboat Landing 545 3rd St, Ithaca, NY, 14850
Join us for the 32nd annual Ithaca Artist Market, a juried show and sale of fine and functional art. This highly anticipated event features local and regional artists, community arts groups, and an array of food, wine, craft beer, and cider vendors. Enjoy live jazz throughout the day from the East Hill Jazz Band, with 10-minute performances by local musicians and theatre at the dock.
Set in the beautiful, open-air Ithaca Farmer’s Market on the Cayuga Lake inlet, the Artist Market offers a unique opportunity to meet over 75 talented artists and explore a diverse range of art forms. Discover stunning paintings, photographs, ceramics, altered books, art jewelry, wearable fiber art, blown glass, collage, etchings, relief printing, handmade books, wood-turned functional items, mixed media, papercut art, illustrations, sculpture, and more.
Visitors can also engage with poets and local arts groups representing theatre, cinema, museums, and more. The event is a fantastic way to experience Ithaca’s vibrant arts scene, with plenty of activities and attractions to enjoy, including a boat tour by Discover Cayuga Lake (to be confirmed) and assistance from the Visitor Center for any questions about the area.
Don’t miss this incredible celebration of art, community, and culture! Rain or shine, the Ithaca Artist Market is a must-attend event for art lovers and enthusiasts.
For more information, visit our website: ArtsPartner.org

Getting Started with Gouache Workshop
2024-08-17 12:00 - 16:00 | Community School of Music and Arts, 330 East State Street, Ithaca
Discover the art of painting with gouache, a versatile medium cherished by illustrators and fine artists alike! In this workshop, participants will explore fundamental painting techniques tailored to gouache, beginning with a focused exploration of creating a value study. From there, participants will advance to crafting a larger painting based on a provided reference photo, employing a carefully selected limited palette on toned paper to enhance learning outcomes.
All necessary materials will be provided, ensuring participants have everything they need to explore and create with gouache. Participants are welcome to bring their own brushes, preferably watercolor or acrylic brushes, to customize their painting experience.

Recovering Your Creative Spirit
2024-08-22 18:00 - 20:00 | CAP ArtSpace, 110 N Tioga st, Ithaca, NY, 14850, United States
Recovering Your Creative Spirit with Brenna Fitzgerald. Are you feeling stuck, uninspired, or unfulfilled? Is something within you longing to be expressed? In this workshop we will explore the feeling of being creatively stuck and how it affects (and is affected by) our inner and outer worlds. Through written reflection, group discussion, mind-body practices, and intuitive collage I will guide participants into a deeper understanding of their own creative blocks. We will examine how fluctuating states of writer’s block and creative flow are normal and learn strategies for finding balance through these changes. Together we will create a safe and supportive container for each person to begin the process of shifting from stuck to unstuck. My intention is to facilitate awareness of and curiosity around your needs and desires and to share tools and practices to help you sustain a fulfilling creative flow well beyond the workshop.

Book Signing with Carol Van Den Hende
2024-08-24 13:00 - 14:00 | Buffalo Street Books, 215 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca
Come on down to BSB to chat with this award-winning author and get a signed copy of her books!
Carol Van Den Hende is the of the Goodbye, Orchid series which won 20+ literary awards including the American Fiction Award, Pinnacle Achievement Award, IAN for Best First Novel, two Royal Dragonfly’s, and Kops-Fetherling Award. When she’s not penning stories of resilience and hope, Carol applies her MBA to global marketing and digital strategy (in chocolate, sweet!).

Fat Tuesday New Orleans piano with Professor Keys
2024-08-27 19:00 - 22:00 | Bike Bar Ithaca, 314 E State St, Ithaca, 14850
A fun night of New Orleans piano with some special guests. Music by Dr John, James Booker, Professor Longhair, and Swing music.

Beyond Policing - Book Talk
2024-08-28 18:00 - 20:00 | Buffalo Street Books, 215 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca
In this talk, Philip V. McHarris invites us to critically examine the role of policing within society and explore transformative alternatives. Drawing from his book, “Beyond Policing,” McHarris delves into community-based safety models that challenge traditional policing methods and offer sustainable, inclusive approaches to public safety. Through a combination of rigorous research and compelling narratives, the talk will explore how we can foster a society where safety is a collective, community-driven responsibility.
Philip V. McHarris is an assistant professor in the Frederick Douglass Institute and Department of Black Studies at the University of Rochester. He earned his PhD in sociology and African American studies at Yale University. He was named one of the Root 100s Most Influential African Americans in 2020, and has appeared on MSNBC, CNN, and PBS and in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Guardian, and more.
Sadé Lindsay is a sociologist by training whose research interests lie at the intersection of criminal justice, punishment, racial inequality, and public policy. Professor Lindsay’s work examines racism and the criminalization of deviance, incarceration, prison reentry, collateral consequences of criminal justice contact, and drug policy and use. Professor Lindsay’s scholarship has been published in outlets such as Criminology and Social Problems and received numerous awards from the American Society of Criminology, the American Sociological Association, and the Society for the Study of Social Problems. Professor Lindsay’s work has been funded and supported by the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Justice, and the Horowitz Foundation for Social Policy, among other organizations. Professor Lindsay received her undergraduate and master’s degrees and her Ph.D. from The Ohio State University.

Jamaica Baldwin and Nancy Miller Gomez in conversation
2024-08-29 18:00 - 20:00 | Buffalo Street Books, 215 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca
Jamaica Baldwin and Nancy Miller Gomez will read poems from their newest collections followed by a conversation and a Q&A.
About the Authors
Jamaica (she/her) is a poet and educator originally from Santa Cruz, CA. Her first book, Bone Language, was published by YesYes Books in June 2023. Her work has appeared in Guernica, World Literature Today, The Adroit Journal, Prairie Schooner, Poetry Northwest, and The Missouri Review, among others. Her accolades include a 2023 Pushcart Prize, a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, a RHINO Poetry editor’s prize, a Glenna Luschei Prairie Schooner Award, as well as the San Miguel de Allende Writer’s Conference Contest Poetry Award. Her writing has been supported by Aspen Words, Storyknife, Hedgebrook, Furious Flower, and the Jack Straw Writers program. Jamaica has a PhD from the University of Nebraska -Lincoln in English with a focus on poetry and Women’s and Gender Studies and she is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Writing at Ithaca College in New York.
Nancy Miller Gomez’s is the author of Inconsolable Objects (YesYes Books) and the chapbook, Punishment (Rattle chapbook series), a collection of poems and essays about her experience teaching in prisons and jails. Her work has appeared in Best American Poetry, Best New Poets, Prairie Schooner, The Adroit Journal, TriQuarterly, New Ohio Review, Shenandoah, River Styx, Waxwing, Plume, The Rumpus, Rattle, Massachusetts Review, American Life in Poetry, Verse Daily, and elsewhere. She received a special mention in the 2023 Pushcart Prize Anthology. She co-founded with Ellen Bass an organization that provides writing workshops to incarcerated women and men and has taught poetry in Salinas Valley State Prison, the Santa Cruz County Jails, and Juvenile Hall. She lives with her family in Santa Cruz, California. More at: nancymillergomez.com.

Hupstate Circus Festival
2024-08-30 - 2024-09-02 | Circus Culture, 116 W Green St, Ithaca, NY, 14850, United States
The Hupstate Circus Festival returns to Ithaca this Labor Day Weekend! With over 25 events over 4 days, there’s something for everyone – free and ticketed shows, indoor and outdoor performances, family-friendly and late-night offerings, and even chances to try out circus yourself!

Telenovela Night
2024-09-04 18:00 - 20:00 | Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W State Street, Ithaca, 14850
At Kitchen Theatre Company, get in the spirit of Laughs in Spanish with a lively pre-show celebration! You’ll enjoy a free screening of classic telenovela episodes, grab a drink from the bar, and immerse yourself in the drama and humor that set the stage for the show.

Variations
2024-09-05 12:00 - 17:00 | State of the Art Gallery, 120 W State St #2, Ithaca, 14850, United Kingdom
In Variations, artists Patricia Brown and Patricia Hunsinger celebrate subtle and broad differences in light, color and texture in painting and printmaking.
September 5-29. Opening reception Friday, September 6, 5-8 pm.
Regular hours Thursday-Sunday 12-5 pm. 120 W State St. Curbside parking and ADA accessibility. 607-277-1626. Made possible in part with funds from the NYS Council on the Arts, administered by the Community Arts Partnership.
Image:
Patricia Brown
Untitled, 24_04_17
Acrylic on Wood panel
18” x 18”

"On Strike Against God" with Alec Pollak
2024-09-05 17:00 - 19:00 | Buffalo Street Books, 215 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca
Join preeminent Joanna Russ scholar Alec Pollak in celebrating the publication of a new critical edition of ON STRIKE AGAINST GOD, out now from Feminist Press. Pollak will be joined in conversation by Jeffry Iovannone to discuss Russ’s legacy and delve into her experience in republishing this “curious and powerful revolutionary work.” (—Alison Bechdel)
ALEC POLLAK is a writer, academic, and organizer. She is the winner of the 2023 Hazel Rowley Prize and the 2018 Ursula Le Guin Feminist Science Fiction Fellowship for her work on a biography of Joanna Russ. Her writing appears in the LA Review of Books, the Yale Review, and various academic publications. She is a PhD candidate in the Department of Literatures in English at Cornell University.
JOANNA RUSS (1937–2011) was a Hugo and Nebula Award–winning author of feminist science fiction, fantasy, and literary criticism. Born in New York City, Russ graduated from Cornell University in 1957 and held teaching appointments in English and creative writing across the country until settling at the University of Washington in 1977. A historic, groundbreaking writer of feminist science fiction, she is best known for her novel The Female Man and now for her darkly funny survey of literary sexism, How to Suppress Women’s Writing.

MIX Art Gallery presents Elizabeth McMahon's "The Moon Tipped Her Hat" Opening Sept. 6th, 5-8pm
2024-09-06 17:00 - 20:00 | MIX Art Gallery, 156 E. State Street, Ithaca, 14850
Elizabeth McMahon, “shape maker,” is an artist whose love of color and happenstance has inspired her work from painting to songwriting, puppetry to collage. She uses a collage process to build her large assemblages and smaller compositions with painted paper cut-outs, colored tape, and yarn.
McMahon studied Fashion at Parsons School of Design and Painting at Syracuse University. While raising a family, she shifted her focus to puppetry and songwriting, winning a Parent Choice Award for her recording, Waltzing with Fireflies in 1994. Recent work has returned to the visual format, showing with the Var Gallery, Milwaukee 2020, 64Arts, Illinois 2021, and a virtual solo exhibition facilitated by Roaring Artist Gallery 2022.
This September, she will take over Mix Art Gallery with her latest work, The Moon Tipped Her Hat, OPENING on September 6th from 5-8 pm, and running through September 28th.

"The World She Edited" - Amy Reading in Conversation with Emily Hopkins
2024-09-06 18:00 - 20:00 | Buffalo Street Books, 215 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca
About the Event: Join author Amy Reading and former New Yorker staffer Emily Hopkins to discuss Katharine Sergeant White and the literary world she curated in her 36-year editorship of The New Yorker. White was the invisible hand behind an impressive cohort of writers and was especially sympathetic to women writers just getting their start. The discussion will include how the book world looks different when read over her shoulder, her long, productive marriage to E.B. White, what happens when an editor decides to become a writer, and other tales from a rich literary life.
About the Author: Amy Reading is the author of The World She Edited: Katharine S. White Edits The New Yorker and The Mark Inside: A Perfect Swindle, a Cunning Revenge, and a Small History of the Big Con. Her recent book has been supported by fellowships from the National Endowment of the Humanities and the New York Public Library, among others. She is the president of the Executive Board of Buffalo Street Books, on which she has served since 2018.

Reading: The Odar Trilogy with Denice Karamardian
2024-09-07 14:00 - 15:00 | The Tompkins Center for History & Culture, 110 N Tioga st, Ithaca, NY, 14850, United States
Denice’s persistence in research and her skill in turning family mythos and historical documents into gripping narratives is awe-inspiring. Now, not only are her family histories saved for her own descendants, but they are also are available to the public as a unique example of local history storytelling.
You can find more info here: https://www.thehistorycenter.net/event-5854457?CalendarViewType=1&SelectedDate=9/4/2024
Join Denice at the History Center on Sept. 7, 2 p.m. – 3 p.m., for a reading of her books.

"And Some Other Third Thing" - Discussion with Authors Ivy Stevens and Tessa Permar
2024-09-07 15:00 - 17:00 | Buffalo Street Books, 215 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca
About the Event: Authors Ivy Stevens and Tessa Permar will be in-store to read selections from their book, and some other third thing, as well as discuss their creative practice and the philosophy of their group.
About the Book: These three authors met at the National Theater Institute in 2013. They started a writing group at the beginning of Covid as a way to cope/stay engaged/be creative/etc. They generated prompts from conversations, books of writing prompts, writing prompt generator websites, or whatever was inspiring them that week. “Like a lot of folks, we all started many projects in 2020, but this is one of the few we all actually kept up with. We never focused on having any kind of final product. Even this book is not the culmination of all our work; it came out of wanting to celebrate what we’d done so far.”

Forensics for Writers: Writing Workshop with Mary Jumbelic
2024-09-08 13:00 - 15:00 | Buffalo Street Books, 215 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca
Mystery and True Crime enthusiasts – join us for this exciting workshop with expert forensic pathologist, Mary Jumbelic! Mary will share her experiences along with the ins and outs of language, characters, and writing to provide authenticity to your work!
About the Author: Mary Jumbelic, M.D. is an author from Central New York, and former chief medical examiner of Onondaga County. A board-certified forensic pathologist, Mary has performed thousands of autopsies during her 25-year career. She has received awards for her work from the National Transportation Safety Board and the New York State Senate, and has been recognized as a trailblazer by the National Organization of Women. As an expert witness, she has appeared on numerous national broadcasts, most recently Dateline and 48 hours.

Join VOICES Multicultural Chorus to "Sing of Celebration"
2024-09-09 19:00 - 20:45 | First Unitarian Society of Ithaca, 306 N. Aurora St., Ithaca, 13077
VOICES is gearing up for our fall semester with a fun mix of pieces for our theme “Songs of Celebration.” We would love to have you join us. We are a non-audition group of singers based in Ithaca, NY interested in learning, sharing, and singing songs from diverse choral traditions. All singers are welcome from beginners to pros. You may participate in the first three sessions without obligation. We meet Monday nights 7:00-8:45 pm on the second floor of the Annex of the First Unitarian Society of Ithaca, 208 E. Buffalo Street starting September 9. Our closing concert is scheduled for early December. Please register so we can be sure to have music and seating for all: https://acithaca.org/groups/voices/join/ Walkins are welcome also. Come sing with us!

LCA & Kitchen Theatre Company Presents "Laughs in Spanish"
2024-09-11 11:00 - 2024-09-22 12:00 | Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W State Street, Ithaca, 14850
Get ready to brighten up your September with “Laughs in Spanish,” a delightful production at the Kitchen Theatre Company from September 11-22! Laughs in Spanish is a fast-paced, cafecíto-induced comedy about art and success – and mothers and daughters.. As a special gesture, the Kitchen Theatre Company will donate 10% of ticket sales to the LCA. Use the code “LCALAUGHS” when purchasing tickets online or mention your community membership to ensure your contribution is counted. For tickets and more information, visit LCATOMPKINS.ORG. Don’t miss this chance to laugh, support, and make a difference! Times vary.

Climate-Fiction Discussion Group
2024-09-11 15:00 - 16:30 | Buffalo Street Books, 215 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca
About the Event: Join us in exploring exceptional works of climate fiction! We’ll use a different book each month as a jumping-off point for talking about our collective climate future. If you can’t read each month’s book cover-to-cover, that’s okay–but the more you read, the more meaningful the conversation. Led by aspiring climate writer Wendy Skinner, with guest poets and writers. Free and open to all. Order your books from BSB for a 10 percent discount.
About the Book: Willa Marks has spent her whole life choosing hope. She chooses hope over her parents’ paranoid conspiracy theories, over her dead-end job, over the rising ocean levels. And when she meets Sylvia Gill, renowned Harvard professor, she feels she’s found the justification of that hope. Sylvia is the woman-in-black: the only person smart and sharp enough to compel the world to action. But when Sylvia betrays her, Willa fears she has lost hope forever. And then she finds a book in Sylvia’s library: a guide to fighting climate change called Living the Solution. Inspired by its message and with nothing to lose, Willa flies to the island of Eleutheria in the Bahamas to join the author and his group of ecowarriors at Camp Hope. Upon arrival, things are not what she expected. The group’s leader, author Roy Adams, is missing, and the compound’s public launch is delayed. With time running out, Willa will stop at nothing to realize Camp Hope’s mission—but at what cost?

Laughs In Spanish
2024-09-11 19:00 - 2024-09-22 20:30 | Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W State Street, Ithaca, 14850
It’s Art Basel, and the stakes are high for the gallery that Mariana runs in the Wynwood Arts District in Miami. And when Mariana’s movie-star mother tries to help out, things get even more complicado. Laughs in Spanish is a fast-paced, cafecíto-induced comedy about art and success – and mothers and daughters.

Ithaca is Books Festival
2024-09-12 - 2024-09-15 | Ithaca Commons, E. State Street, Ithaca, NY, United States
The Ithaca is Books Festival exists to celebrate the authors, performers, and storytellers who illuminate our world and introduce us to new ones.
Events will be hosted all over town including readings and conversations with Jonathan Letham, Steven Salvatore, and Debbie Urbanski. As part of the festival, the book fair will take place on The Commons on September 14th and 15th. Stay tuned for a finalized schedule. We’ll see you there!

Karaoke at the Brewery!
2024-09-13 20:00 - 22:00 | Liquid State Brewery, 620 W. Green St., Ithaca
Hey Superstars! Come sing your heart out with us!

Paper Quilling Workshop at Handwork, Ithaca’s Artisan Co-op
2024-09-14 12:00 - 16:00 | Handwork, 102 West State Street, Ithaca, N, 14850, United States
Ever heard of the art of quilling? Join us at Handwork to learn this craft with a hands-on workshop! Local artist Caroline Spellman will guide you through the steps of making your own quilled paper gift tag by shaping and curling paper strips into a three-dimensional design. Quilling gained popularity in the 18th century among ladies of leisure, who created intricate designs for decorative purposes. Handwork is located at 102 West MLK Jr street in downtown Ithaca. 607-273-9400

Ithaca Oktoberfest Celebration 2024
2024-09-14 14:00 - 19:00 | Liquid State Brewery, 620 W. Green St., Ithaca
Our 7th Annual Oktoberfest is happening Saturday, September 14th from 2 – 7 PM.

LCA Presents Folkloric Danza Performance @ Kitchen Theatre Company
2024-09-16 18:00 - 20:00 | Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 W State Street, Ithaca, 14850
Join us on Monday, September 16, for an unforgettable evening as the Latino Civic Association proudly presents a Folkloric Danza Performance at the Kitchen Theatre Company! Kick off Hispanic Heritage Month with us at 6pm for a special meet-and-greet with the LCA, followed by a vibrant and captivating performance at 7pm. This free event promises to be a celebration of culture and community, but spots are limited—reserve yours today at LCATOMPKINS.ORG.

Reproductive Rights Film Festival
2024-09-19 19:00 - 21:00 | Cinemapolis, 120 W Green St, Ithaca, 14850
New York state’s only Reproductive Rights Film Festival will be held September 19 through 22, at Cinemapolis, 120 E. Green Street, Ithaca NY. In direct response to the end of the rights and security of Roe v. Wade and the upcoming election, End Abortion Stigma (EAS), together with Grandmothers For Reproductive Rights (GRR!) and other sponsors are bringing together a selection of films and virtual programs that highlight the need to advance rights and access to abortion, in the United States and beyond. The festival is free and open to the public.
This year’s film festival is expanded to include five films and three virtual panels. Virtual panels will take place during the week of September 9. The film schedule is Thursday, September 19, 7 p.m.; Friday, September 20, 7 p.m.; Saturday September 21, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Sunday September 22, 3 p.m.
For more information: www.ReproductiveRightsFilmFest.com

Cartooning for Kids Workshop
2024-09-20 17:00 - 18:00 | Community School of Music and Arts, 330 East State Street, Ithaca
If you love monsters, manga, and art, this is the class for you! Create your own eye-catching comics with stories that will surprise. Drawing on elements of art history, mythical creature design, and cartoonism, this workshop will help kids tell their own unique stories!
