Evil City String Band Plays Rocky Sullivan's of Brooklyn, Oct. 22

One of Ithaca's best bands plays one of New York City's best bars when the Evil City String Band visits Rocky Sullivan's in Brooklyn on Saturday 22 October.

Evil City String Band is a stalwart of the Ithaca music scene, including the GrassRoots Festival. The band comprises Richie Stearns on banjo, Paddy Burke on guitar, Rosie Newton and Steve Selin on fiddle(s), and Stephanie Jenkins on stand-up bass.

Rocky Sullivan's is well-known on the New York City scene.

A few years ago, Rocky's moved from Manhattan, after a decade or so, to more spacious quarters in Red Hook, Brooklyn. It has a fine bar, and an open kitchen featuring a wood-burning pizza oven.

Beyond the bar and restaurant space is a room for music, with a large stage, and some haphazard seating and tables.

There are also rooms for pool and darts. There is a multi-level rooftop patio with tables, chairs, a view of the harbor, and legal ashtrays.

Rocky's is music-friendly. Own of the owners is Chris Byrne, who plays uillean pipes, and was a member of the band Black 47.

Rocky's is known as one of the friendliest spots in the city and will be a happy meeting ground for Ithacans and city-o's on October 22.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Go Out And Buy New Music Without Getting Wet

It is a slow news day, if you don't count hurricanes. Ms. Irene is keeping anything else much from happening.

So it's a good day for Ithaca Blog to give a plug to its sort-of-sponsor, Angry Mom Records.

Two years ago, Small World Music moved in with Angry Mom Records in the basement of Autumn Leaves Books on the Commons.

Borders is gone, but we're still here, nice as ever, with a vast selection of new and used music on CDs and LPs.

Artists with recent releases on CD include Jeff Bridges, War On Drugs, Blue October, Kris Delmhorst, Steve Cropper, Fistful of Mercy, Joss Stone, and John Hiatt.

You can get here without getting wet (practically) by parking in the Green Street structure (free on weekends), and entering Autumn Leaves by the back door, about 20 paces from the covered stairs of the structure.

We're open Sundays til 6 pm. We open every day at noon. Closing times are 8 pm on M, T, Wed; 9 pm on Fri. & Sat.

Steve Burke
for Angry Mom Records/Small World Music
and Ithaca NY Blog

You Won't Miss Your Water This Weekend

It should be a good weekend for movie theaters, with threats of rain scaring everyone.

In New York City, they are pre-emptively closing the subways, which we don't think ever happened before.

We were planning on going to Binghamton to see a minor league game where the NY Mets major league star, Jose Reyes, is playing this weekend, on a re-hab assignment for a sore hamstring. But now, probably not.

So, Plan B, check your movie schedule. We really liked "Tree of Life," showing at Cinemapolis.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Hee-Haw Nightmare at Maxie's, Tuesday 23 August

On the old-timey scene in Ithaca, Hee-Haw Nightmare is as close as any band gets to the Holy Modal Rounders, the seminal band in 1960's New York that incorporated into their folk repertoire a good dose of the psychedelia of the time, and the noise and anarchy of the punk movement ahead.

The Rounders were not for everyone. I never heard a band booed as loudly as they, as an opening band one night at the Bowery Ballroom. The Rounders waved cheerfully from the stage as if they didn't understand, or care, or both.

At GrassRoots this year, Hee-Haw Nightmare were set to take the stage at the Dance Tent, and a middle-aged guy said to his wife, "Uh oh, Hee-Haw Nightmare. Let's get out of here." High praise, indeed.

The free show at Maxie's goes from about 6:30 - 9:30.

Steve Burke
Ithaca NY Blog

Leave Earlier This Weekend

Are you one of those drivers who mouth "Next time, leave earlier" at other drivers exhibiting impatience about  time and circumstance on the road?

Good for you, because then it is not only me.

It's not our fault they decided do one last thing, like washing the cutting board, before leaving the house, is it? Of course not.

There is likely to be a lot of vehicular angst and vituperation this weekend in Ithaca, as freshman students and their families arrive at Cornell, lost, addled, and possibly going the wrong way on some of our cunningly deceptive one-way streets.

At the same time, NYSEG still has plenty of streets torn up, in a grid-laying project they were supposed to have finished by now, but haven't.

None of this, again, is your fault, or mine, but let's be kinder this weekend. There are going to be plenty of parents driving around who already feel like crying. We better leave even earlier, ourselves.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Restaurant-Hopping At 8 PM When There's Music

All we wanted was dinner, but it was hard to get at 8 pm, in restaurants also featuring music.

We found this to be the case last night, when we hit Culture Shock for dinner at 8, but the place was too chaotic, with a band coming in, and also a little crowded, with more of a drinking and listening crowd than a dining one, it seemed.

As we wished to be with our own (hungry) kind, we tried Delilah's across the street.

But it was the same there. With an 8 p.m. show,  there were guys combining mike stands, and saying "check," but to the sound guy, not a waiter.

All this is fine and we love music and love work for musicians. But we were zeroed in on the meal-up.

So we strolled to Aurora Street, which was busy with people enjoying Dining Al Fresco. We happily joined them.

Our stringent dietary choices include eating outside on nice nights like last night. So we sat down at Sahara's, a newish Mediterranean place, where Micawber's bar used to be.

We don't intend to do a full restaurant review, just to say that the felafel is very fine at Sahara's, and so is the fatoush salad, and the latter is served in fattish portion. We by no means finished the whole thing, not even half.

In the interest of blunt honesty, not to mention our credibility, we will say that the coffee was weak. But we're not really fussy, and had a great time.

The moral of the story, we think, is to finish, not start, eating by 8 pm at a joint that will have music. And  support your local restaurants, and bands.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Maine Was Vacationland

There were no posts here this week on Ithaca Blog (nor our other, semi-literary blog, "Brooklyn 3 New York"), because we were vacationing in Maine. Here's what we can tell you about Maine.

1. Maine is the only state with a one-syllable name. (Life is simpler in Maine.)

2. Maine is far away. Travel there with someone who can tell jokes or sing harmonies.

3. We were bringing a ukulele we are just learning to play, and our traveling companion said no, there is newly a ukulele embargo in Maine; but this is not true.

4. There are a lot of lakes in Maine, and these perhaps make better vacation spots than the ocean, because the ocean never warms up near Maine, but a shallow lake in Maine can be warmer than land.

5. There are a lot of lobsters in Maine, which is a puzzle to us, because we wonder who encourages their population growth? There are many more people in the U.S. than 50 years ago (we have noticed), yet there still seem to be enough lobsters for everyone. We are glad they are keeping pace with us, but it is a natural world wonder to us that it's so.

6. Vermont and New Hamster are picturesque states, but they do not provide good west-east roads, such as one needs to get from Ithaca to Maine. You have to take the Massachusetts Turnpike. But then you have to urinate in another state: we found to our shock and chagrin that the rest stops on the Mass Pike are closed, due to budget cuts, which seems very inhospitable. On our trip back, we decided to boycott buying beverages in Massachusetts, as a pro-active reaction.

Ramblin' Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Summer = Peaches At GreenStar

This is the second year running that GreenStar Co-op has sold peaches from Pennsylvania that are practically perfect.

The price is crazy, too, at $1.69/lb. Industrial peaches in the supermarkets are $1.99.

Yesterday we told our friend K. Okay, she says, and buys one. Last night she was back, to buy eleven.

That might be too many, but these are good peaches. Enjoy yourself in nice summer.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Last-Minute Tickets For Karan Casey: Do-able, at Angry Mom Records

Tickets will be available for the Karan Casey performance for peace most of the day Tuesday, the day of the show, at Angry Mom Records.

(Your friendly ticket purveyor will be me, partner in Angry Mom Records, staff-person on Tuesdays.)

Angry Mom Records is in the basement of Autumn Leaves Books, on the Commons, and opens at noon.

Tickets will also be available at the venue, the Community School of Music and Arts, when doors open for the 7:30 show.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Water Everywhere

We wonder if today is a record-setting day for water use in Ithaca.

Today being the day after GrassRoots Festival, when a lot of Ithacans were camping in Trumansburg, and not using water as usual.

We imagine there is a lot of laundry being done today. And long, hot showering.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Karan Casey Tickets Are At Angry Mom Records

Tickets for the Karan Casey concert in Ithaca, a benefit for local peace efforts, are available at Angry Mom Records on the Commons.

The concert is at the Community School of Music and Arts, on Tuesday 2 August, at 7:30.

Tickets are $20. Angry Mom Records is in the basement of Autumn Leaves Books, 115 The Commons, and opens at noon, 7 days a week.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Storm Report

Unless you drank a box of wine, you couldn't have missed the box of rain last night.

We don't particularly like nature, and no one likes being woke up, but it was a pretty good show.

Our bedroom window faces west, and the western sky was lit: silver, orange, blue, alternately; sometimes at once. Then black, which is normal, but was dramatic, for the contrast. It seemed extra black.

It was better than rock-show lights, because it was real.

Trees swayed and reminded us of dancers in Swan Lake at the Staatsoper - again, though, better. Maybe we like nature some.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

What Tourists Do in Ithaca

This is what a tourist in Ithaca does on a day like yesterday:

1. breakfast at Cafe Dewitt
2. bird at Sapsucker Woods
3. swim at Treman Park
3. dine at Moosewood

At least, that's what our friend Lori from California did.

Tomorrow, she will have breakfast at Ithaca Bakery on Meadow Street with me. I figure that's what a real Ithacan does on a down-to-earth Sunday.  She'll see Ithaca Hours in action.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Last Two Days For Advance GrassRoots Tix

Today and tomorrow are the last two days for advance 4-day tickets to GrassRoots Festival.

Advance tickets are $95. After tomorrow, they will only be available at the gate. That means $110, and a line.

Tickets are available at Autumn Leaves Books on the Commons, upstairs from us here at Angry Mom Records, from whence we write you.

Please note: checks and credit cards are no good at this point. Too much potential loss for the Fest from bad accounts.

Autumn Leaves has a cash machine. It does not charge a fee.


Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog, and Angry Mom Records/Small World Music

Does Drinking Hot Beverages Cool You Off?

This is an important question on a day of record heat in Ithaca, and much of the country.

Q: Is it true that drinking a hot beverage will cool you off?

A: It will if where you drink it is air conditioned.

Beyond that, hot drink or cold doesn't make any difference. What's important is the amount and the content.

Watch out for sugar, chemicals, and alcohol. Not to mention calories. Even good, natural juice is relatively high in calories.

Dilute, we say. Water is your friend. We prefer ours cold.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

10% Off At GreenStar Today

If you like good food and a bargain, today is the day and GreenStar Coop is the place.

Every month, on the 10th, GreenStar runs a promotion called "Ten on the Tenth." Members get 10% off everything that is not already on sale.

You should also like people, at least somewhat. It gets crowded at GreenStar on the 10th.

Try the special Summer Blend juice by Red Jacket orchards, of Geneva, a longtime GreenStar supplier, and superstar of various greenmarkets in the NYC area, where people wait on long lines for their products. The Summer Blend juice is a blend of apple and lemon.  Crazy, right. It's great. Thanks to our pal Jonathan in the produce department for the tip.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog 

It Takes To Train To Laugh: Laughter Yoga Class from Ithaca Freeskool

Ithaca Freeskool, the anarchist organization of learning, brings the Laughter Yoga movement to Ithaca with a (free) class this weekend.

Laughmasters Katrina and Marina (real names, we presume) conduct the session Saturday 9 July at 11 a.m. at Jillian's Drawers on the Commons.

Although held in a store for kidware, the class is intended for adults.

You can find info about Ithaca Freeskool with simple engine search. There is also plenty of information online about Laughter Yoga, a real thing and a nice thing. 

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Karan Casey Tickets Available Soon

Tickets for Irish singer Karan Casey's show at CSMA on Tuesday 2 August will be available soon at Angry Mom Records on the Commons.

"Soon" means as soon as they are printed. Within the next few days, we hope.

Karan is coming to perform a benefit concert for local peace efforts, as she has 7 or 8 times now, by rough count.

Karan is touring with John Doyle. John, like Karan, is ex-of the Irish supergroup Solas. The first-ever of these benefit concerts was by the incarnation of Solas that included Karan and John.

Please stay tuned for more info as it develops.

Steve Burke
for Angry Mom Records/Small World Music, and Ithaca NY Blog

Fireworks on Friday the 1st

Ithaca's Fourth of July fireworks show will be held on the First of July, in Dryden.

For a couple of years now, the Ithaca show has been generously hosted by the TC3 campus in Dryden, after Ithaca College declined the honor anymore, after a roof went on fire one year from a misfire. (We were on a blanket right next to it; it was pretty riveting.)

The show has always been held off-date, which is cheaper.

TCAT promises a fleet of buses leaving from Green Street for public transport round trips.

Like the midnight movie show that starts at 12 a.m., and noon Mass that starts at 12 p.m., the fireworks show starts when it is dark.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Where To Buy Music In Ithaca

When a couple of people, in a week, lament the loss of our old store, Small World Music, as a place to buy new music, we know it is time to crassly remind one and all that SWM is still here. Just in a different abode.

The funky store on West State Street is now on East State Street, at 115, also known as 115 The Commons, aka 115 E. Martin Luther King Street.

To make things even simpler, SWM shares a space with Angry Mom Records, in the basement of Autumn Leaves Books.

SWM still does what it always did, selling new and used CDs and LPs.

New releases currently include "A Treasure" by Neil Young, "Revelator" by the Tedeschi Trucks Band, and "Ukelele Songs" by Eddie Vedder. There are also newish works by Fleet Foxes, Foo Fighters, and our current #1 (and the nation's), Adele.

SWM at Angry Mom Records is open every day at noon. Til 6 on Sundays, 8 on M, T, Wed.'s, and 9 on Fridays and Saturdays. Phone is 319-4953.

Steve Burke
for Small World Music and Ithaca NY Blog 

One Month (Or So) To GrassRoots Festival

It's the first day of summer, which puts us in mind of GrassRoots Festival.

(So do the e-mail reminders we got from them.)

Advance Tickets, for $95, will be on sale through July 13.

Volunteer work is still available. Registration goes through July 11,  though the earlier you register, of course, the better shot you have at getting work you want at times that suit you.

Registration, ticket sales, and information are all available at www.grassrootsfest.org.

Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday 18 June

"We Hail From Kings and Queens" is the theme of this year's Juneteenth Celebration in Ithaca, on Saturday 18 June.

Juneteenth is a celebration of African-American history and culture. The date commemorates the post-Civil War emanicipation of the last remaining slaves in the United States, in east Texas, on 19 June 1865, with the arrival of federal forces in Galveston.

Juneteenth is an official holiday in 37 states, including New York.

The celebration in Ithaca is at the Southside Community Center, on S. Plain Street. The street will be closed to car traffic for a street fair, with music, food, children's activities, and vendors, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Stephen Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

To Edify (Not Mollify)

Ithaca being an academic community, we thought our readers might appreciate this recent exchange with our friend Sal, who teaches high school English in Rockland County.

Sal writes:

- Latest ponderable from 11th grade vocab quiz:
Asked to use "mollify" in a sentence, a student submitted, "I put fabric softener in my dryer to mollify my underwear." How does one judge this?

I replied:

- Sal, I think you have trouble if you give this.
The sentence then becomes a correct-enough template to define any verb.
"... to circumnavigate my underwear."
"... to amortize my underwear."
If they say that's why they did it, then you can't call them wrong, can you? Unless you hold fast to your right (your responsibility) to consider whether the mollification, circumnavigation, or amortization of the underwear was a reasonable expectation.

Teach your children well -
Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

No-Fracking Day in New York, Sat. 25 June

Saturday 25 June will be a day of protest throughout New York against chemical drilling for natural gas, a controversial process known as fracking.

Ithaca will host one of the largest of the state-wide events.

"The Epic No Frack Event" is an all-day event, from 8 a.m. - 11 p.m., at three locations on the Ithaca College campus. It features 45 speakers, 6 films, and 10 musicians.

Complete details are available at AllFrackedUp.com.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Karan Casey Concert For Peace, 2 August 2011

Karan Casey, the Irish singer, returns with her band to Ithaca in August for a benefit concert to promote peace efforts by local groups.

Ms. Casey has done a series of these concerts in conjunction with her friend (and ours), Ellen Grady, who works with the Ithaca Catholic Worker and other peace and justice groups.

We saw Ellen recently, working on the Peter DeMott Peace Trot, set for Father's Day, Sunday 19 June.

The trot is a 3K race (or walk; go at your own chosen speed), which is also a benefit for peace groups. It is named for the late Peter DeMott, a peace activist and Ellen's husband.

The peace trot is a lot of work, Ellen acknowledges, and the concert will be, too. But the race - the second annual - promises to become a tradition, as Ms. Casey's concerts have become.

You can read more about Karan Casey here on Ithaca Blog, where we have publicized each of her Ithaca concerts since our start. Just type Karan's name into the search field.

The concert is set for Tuesday, 2 August, at the Community School for Music and Arts. We will have more details as they come.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Google Error, But Now Back On the Blog

Good to be back here on Ithaca Blog. For the past few days, Google had some access issues, and we couldn't log in. It seems they are now resolved.

For some reason, we were able all along to post at our other site, Brooklyn 3 New York. This is a fiction site, start of a book, which we mean to mention to you readers once in a while, anyhow. Do us a favor and have a look over there, at our other writing project. Just search, Brooklyn 3 New York.

Be back with you soon again, here.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

2nd Annual Peter DeMott Peace Trot, On Father's Day

Father's Day, Sunday 19 June, is the date for the 2nd annual 3K "Peace Trot" to promote local peace efforts, and to honor the memory of the late peace activist and beloved Ithacan, Peter De Mott.

The event last year was a great success: well-organized, well-attended, and a lot of fun.

This year's promises as least as much. Organizers are asking participants to register, so they know how many t-shirts to print, etc.

Details and registration are available at http://www.peterdemottpeacetrot.org/.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Donna The Buffalo Show Tonight; New Tara Nevins CD

The show probably doesn't need any help, but just so you know, Donna the Buffalo plays a rare Ithaca (as opposed to Trumansburg) appearance tonight, at Castaways.

Tara Nevins of DTB released a new solo CD this week. It features appearances by Levon Helm, Alison Moorer, and Larry Campbell. The CD is available at Angry Mom Records, in the basement of Autumn Leaves Books on the Commons.

Tonight's show starts at 9 p.m. with opening act, Double E.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

GreenStar Dance Party Cancelled

The GreenStar Dance Party we touted in our previous posting has been cancelled due to rain threat, not to mention actual rain.

They'll try again a week from tonight.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Outdoor Dance Party at GreenStar Tonight (Maybe)

GreenStar Coop resumes its popular outdoor dance music series tonight, barring rain. A pretty low bar, lately.

The band this time in Djug Django, purveyors of gypsy swing.

The event goes from 5:30 to 7:30.

There is a rain date, by the way: Thursday 26 May.

Should it rain, there are a couple of noteworthy indoor music events tonight.

There's a Bob Dylan Birthday event at Castaways. It features folkie Jamie Notorthomas, but we believe it is an open-mike event. You can imagine the range of Dylan interpretations that might be taken. Or you can not imagine, and go. The show is from 9 p.m. til 1 a.m.

At the newish Culture Shock raw foods emporium on S. Cayuga Street, Don Slatoff leads his Jazz Circus. It goes from 9 - 11 p.m.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Mea Culpa, Fellow Ithacans

I had two sharp self-realizations today, leading to the same conclusion: that I am not as good an Ithacan as others, in caring for nature to one's core.

One, because I tried to throw away something I shouldn't. Two, because I made fun of a fish.

In the first case: I hired Zolar truckers to haul away some furniture and other stuff from the old location of my store, Small World Music. We're now on the Commons, with Angry Mom Records. I still had stuff in the old place, up West State Street.

The truckers looked at the stuff. The very first thing I pointed at was an old wooden secretary.

"You're throwing that away?," said the guy.

"Yeah," I said.

"No, you're not," he said. "That's a great piece."

"It's falling apart," I said.

"It's an antique," he said. "It's oak!"

Now, to me, two things.

One, what do I care if it's oak? It has to be something. So it's oak. So what? I am from Brooklyn, and  I am vaguely aware there are different types of trees, but it is not important to me.

Two, it is falling-apart oak.

I get bad looks, like I am a real dumb lawyer at the Supreme Court, or worse, a real bad steward of planet Earth who claims to be a dedicated Ithacan. This will not do for my reputation,  so I relent. The oak stays.

The second thing: the fish.

It is hours later. I see in the Ithaca Journal that they are finding sturgeon in Lake Cayuga, and are happy about it, and warning people not to catch them, or if you catch them, throw them back. They are endangered, and protected.

This is great with me. I am all for this process in general, and especially for something as cool as sturgeon. I like the name, sturgeon. It is close to surgeon, although it is a fish.

But then I read that sturgeon can live to be 150 years old. That's what it says in the paper. It leads me to a thought I find is shameful, when I make the mistake of expressing it.

"Can you believe this?," I say to my friend. "Can you imagine living 150 years as a sturgeon?"

To a response of silence. Then,

"It's a living being."

"Yeah," I say, "of course. "But come on! A sturgeon? 150 years?

"They're bottom-feeders. They don't have teeth.

"They live in a place I would object to, dead.

"For 150 years? How long is a hundred fifty months? I couldn't take it that long.

"How long would be too long?  I would say 110 years, max.

"You know? Go ahead. Try to catch me. At least I would have some excitement. Something to tell the grandfish."

More silence. And nothing more.

Now, in  my own defense, I wasn't saying don't save them. I was just reacting to a lifestyle, and saying how I'd feel if I lived it.

But I don't. I'm not sturgeon. And I'm not oak. Let me be sensitive to that.

l'll try to do better tomorrow. That's Ithacan. Meanwhile, mea maxima culpa. That's Catholic, but Ithacan, too.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Father Dan Berrigan Turns 90

Last week, when Pete Seeger turned 92, we asked here whether anyone has ever worked or fought harder for a good America.

Father Dan Berrigan, S.J., who turns 90 today, might make it a photo finish.

Dan was at Cornell in the 1960s, as head of Cornell United Religious Work, in Anabel Taylor Hall, when he acted on the belief that drafting American kids to attack people in Vietnam with obscene killing technology was sinful and criminal.

With his brother, Father Phil Berrigan, and others (including our friend, the late John Grady, Sr.), Dan destroyed draft files and infiltrated weapon plants.

Dan was forced to leave Cornell: not by Cornell, but the FBI. He went into hiding to avoid arrest, and continue his work.

Dan has worked for peace a long time. He has served time. He works to serve his religious convictions, which are based on non-violence and love.

He writes good poetry and is a funny guy. As we did  Pete Seeger, we wish Dan a happy birthday, with many happy returns.

Jim Breuer at Angry Mom Records/Small World Music (And the State Theater)

Comedian Jim Breuer spent some time browsing records and CDs at Angry Mom Records/Small World Music on the Commons today. He performs at the State Theater tonight with Ralphie May.

Breuer is probably best known for his tenure on Saturday Night Live, where he did a recurring sketch, "The Joe Pesci Show." He also does a great Godzilla.

He was paying special attention to the comedy records. No one (else) in the store knew him.

We walked over and said, there's nothing by you in there, is there? And welcomed him to town, and said break a leg tonight. He said thanks and we shook hands.

Of course we drop names of show biz stars when they come to our store. Go out and see Breuer and May tonight for a fun time.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog & Small World Music 

Buffalo Street Books Is Back

Eleven days ago was the re-opening of Buffalo Street Books, a remarkable re-birth, as Ithacans stepped forward to buy a failing private business - Ithaca's oldest independent bookstore - to be operated now as a co-operative business, owned by hundreds of share-holders.

A full ownership stake costs $250. A supporting membership costs $25.

We were there a few days after the grand re-opening. It might be the first blush of commitment, but we were there on a Tuesday afternoon, not prime shopping time, and the checkout line was six people.

We got a copy of Leslie Daniels' new novel, "Cleaning Nabokov's House," and a membership. The membership gets you 10% off all purchases.

Buffalo Street Books is on Buffalo Street, indeed, inside the lovely Dewitt Mall.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Happy Birthday, Pete Seeger

Is there anyone who has worked or fought harder to create a good America than Pete Seeger?

There isn't anyone who has done it longer. Pete Seeger turns 92 today.

We've had cause to write about Pete a few times here on Ithaca Blog, including the time we met him, when he wanted to find out about Ithaca Hours. You can see those postings by searching for "Pete Seeger" in the field here.

We wish this fine man all the best, with many happy returns of the day.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Mother's Day: For Peace

A local group has created a web site, called mamasforpeace.org, to publicize the historical origins of Mother's Day in the U.S. as a day to promote peace and social justice.

Julia Ward Howe, author of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," wrote "Mother's Day Proclamation" in 1870:

... "To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
     The amicable settlement of international questions,
     The great and general interests of peace."

Of course, America being what it is, as Christmas became a month of shopping, Mother's Day became a day of flowers and eggs benedict. Mamasforpeace.org is trying to change it back.

Visit the site and log in with your thoughts about honoring our mothers by achieving peace.

Stephen Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Ithaca Music For Our Favorite Bar in Brooklyn

The Red Hook section of Brooklyn is remote, between projects and docks, served by buses but no near subway. It is not fancy and not even strictly reputable, but then neither was Brooklyn, back when.

It has a bar that recalls good old Brooklyn to us, native there.

The place is called Rocky Sullivan's.

It's not an old bar. It's only been in its Brooklyn location a few years, having moved from exorbitant Manhattan.

It has nice furnishings, a marble-topped bar, big windows, a good kitchen, a wood-burning pizza stove, a  music room which holds over 200, and a rooftop patio with a view of the piers.

Our friend Larry, from Bensonhurst, has a piece of the place. Larry has been to Ithaca a few times, including GrassRoots Festival, and is interested in putting excellent, crowd-pleasing Ithaca music into the joint.

Also interested in this is owner Chris Byrne, a musician himself, from the band Black 47.

We went to Rocky's last autumn to check out the prospects. We sure think it will work.

Now with winter past, we will get moving. Plans for the first gig are Richie Stearns and Pat Burke, of the Evil City String Band, playing with Stephanie Jenkins and Rosie Newton, of the Pearly Snaps, who now live in NYC.

The date is not set but it will be sometime soon -  May or June. Keep an eye out here, and in the meantime, check out Rocky Sullivan's website and Facebook page.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Our Favorite Easter Joke

With all this thinking about Easter songs, we remembered our favorite Easter joke.

It is the only Easter joke we know, actually, so perhaps it should just be called a favorite joke.

We posted it here on 9 April 2009. You can find it by searching here for "Big Fat Tony."

It's funny even in print, we think, but you should hear us tell it live, with pinpoint dialects, pregnant pauses and everything. Wow, then it is hilahrious, as Tracy Morgan says. No kidding.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Those Songs About Jesus For Easter

Continuing from previous post: here are our top picks for songs to celebrate Easter.



"Jesus Wants Me For A Moonbeam" (The Vaselines)

"I'll Have A New Body" (Hank Williams)

"Were You There" (Johnny Cash)

"Jesus Christ, What A Man" (Oak Ridge Boys)

"He Bumps When He Rides" (Jamz Gang)

"The Christian Life" (The Byrds)

"Help Me Jesus" (The Staple Singers)    

"Jesus Is Waiting" (Al Green)

"Anti-Christ TV Blues" (Arcade Fire)

"When He Offers His Hand" (Townes Van Zandt)

"Mercy Seat" (Nick Cave)

"Citrus" (The Hold Steady)

"Roll Away The Stone" (Leon Russell)

"Plastic Jesus" (Flaming Lips)

"We Bid You Goodnight" (Grateful Dead)

... enjoy the day
Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Easter Playlist For Jesus

Owning a music store (Angry Mom Records/Small World Music, LPs and CDs), we wonder how come there are so many compilations of Christmas songs, for J. Christ, but no Easter ones?

Mr. Christ, himself (Himself?) probably counted Easter as the greater day. It marked much more achievement than simply being born.

Our friend Bill Chaisson is a host of the Nonesuch show on WVBR radio, on Sundays. It is a show that goes for hours and generally has themes. Bill put out a message asking for suggestions for his Easter show, this Sunday.

Bill alluded to a geographic theme, about the Middle East, Christ's home in his brief earthly tenure.

We suggested to Bill a playlist about the guy himself, as rendered by many fine musicians. Our guess is that Bill will consider it a little too wacky. But we don't think so. We think our suggestions comprise a fine compilation, to rival any Xmas one. We'd love to see that happen. So we will pass it along to you, directly.

GrassRoots Festival Looms

Okay, it's zero degrees outside. Want it to feel like summer real fast?

Then get this: Early Bird tickets for the GrassRoots Festival, in July, go off sale May 1.

Early Bird tickets are $85, for the 4-day festival. On May 2 they go to Advance Sale price of $95.

Tickets are available online at http://www.grassrootsfest.org/, and at locations in town, including our favorite, Autumn Leaves Books, on the Commons. We like the place especially because our music emporium, Angry Mom Records/Small World Music CDs, resides there, in the basement.

We carry tons of good music, including loads of local, and the genres of music (and the actual bands) you will see at Grassroots.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

We Know, We Know, We Should Post More

We acknowledeged this critique last posting. And tried to explain. Besides this blog, we're also writing one to turn into a book (see "Brooklyn 3 New York" here on Blogger.com).

But we haven't done anything in either, the past week. We went to Florida (I mean, literally).

Lucky us, for that. But also lucky us to have you reading. Between our two sites, we have lots of readers, and we are grateful.

Now we're back home and will get busier. We hope you'll stick with us.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog
and Brookyln 3 New York

Guy Says We Should Post More

B., a rock and roll guy who pops in to our record store occasionally, told us today that he has started reading Ithaca Blog, and that we need to "post more," or maybe he said "update more."

Or maybe some combination or variation of those words. Whatever sounds most blunt, that is probably what B. said, or meant, because he is that direct kind of guy. We don't mind.

So, B., this one's for you. Partly.

It's also partly for yous, who read us here, to let you know, and/or remind you (long-time readers), we have slacked off a bit here because we are also trying to write a book.

We are posting the early manifestations of that here on blogger.com, too; look at it by searching for Brooklyn 3 New York.

That work is an attempt to render a few blocks in Brooklyn NY as it used to be.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Land Trust Benefit at Maxie's, NEXT Tuesday

After work tonight at Small World Music/Angry Mom Records, we went directly to Maxie's to enjoy and support a fundraiser for the Finger Lakes Land Trust by the Evil City String Band.

Imagine our chagrin to find that the event was mis-reported by the Ithaca Times. It is next Tuesday.

Actually, our chagrin was unsevere. We figure it is more time to alert more people. How's that for positive thinking. See you there on 4/12, we hope.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Race For Mayor Begins

The race for mayor of Ithaca began today with the announcement of her candidacy by Pam Mackesey.

Ms. Mackesey is a county legislator who previously served on the city council.

Local electoral news has been dominated by lately by incumbents declining to run again, including the current mayor, and 4 council members, or maybe 5.

In the wake of the mayor's announcement, we thought about what kind of person would want to be mayor. There are two, maybe: professional politicians (or semi-pro, at least); and renegades.

For any other kind of normal person, the job would be a drag. You would never be able to shop peacefully at Wegman's again.

For a professional politician, the job of mayor probably looks pretty good. You don't have any peers. You have a certain authority and autonomy. You will get a certain amount of blame for things, but also praise, when things go well; you can work at spreading the blame around, while keeping the praise as yours-all-yours. So if you like that kind of thing, and are convinced you can do more good things than bad, you might want the job.

The renegade is the other type who might want it. If you believe in change, revolution, foment, or just progress of a marked nature, being mayor would get you heard.

Our sense is that soon, right soon, there will be 4 or 5 more candidates, and you'll be able neatly to divide them in these two categories. It will be an interesting race.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog

A Real Favorite Word

We saw an on-line feature today about the 10 Favorite Words of people in the U.S.

We looked to see how they determined this, but found it was a silly promo listing a bunch of whimsical words, and if there is anything we do not like in general it is whimsy. We don't even like the word whimsy.

But it reminded us of a real person with a real favorite word, for a real reason, our friend Anne.

Anne asked us out of the blue one morning whether we had a favorite word. It was one of those questions you ask when you would like to be asked it yourself. But we bit and didn't mind; we like Anne and she doesn't normally talk that much, and we like to encourage expression.

So we said,

- No, Anne, do you?

- I do.

-What is it?

- It's the word "muffin."

We pondered this and thought of a couple of possible reasons why, neither of which we hoped was the reason; so we asked. Why muffin?

"Because," Anne said. "Because there is the word 'muffin,' I don't have to say, 'I eat cake for breakfast every morning.' "

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Record Store Day at Small World Music

We interrupt normal broadcast here at Ithaca Blog to smallcast to the many people who are sent to this site each day lately by searching for "Record Store Day Ithaca" and, apparently, getting some outdated information along the way, from the "Record Store Day" site, which we should correct.

The "Record Store Day" site gives splendid information about Small World Music that is still true, except for our location.

(We say "our" because we, that is, I, do both Small World Music and Ithaca Blog.)

SWM is no longer at 614 West State St. in Ithaca, but at 115 East State St., on the Ithaca Commons, in the basement of Autumn Leaves Books, sharing space with a wonderful enterprise called Angry Mom Records.

You can check Yelp.com for disinterested reviews of just how wonderful it all is. Meanwhile, know that the newly-combined, power-packed force of Angry Mom/Small World makes Record Store Day in Ithaca a crazy day of greatness for all music lovers.

We invest plenty of money and time in this event, which is a co-op enterprise of independent stores all over the country. We will have all the cool products that great artists and labels are offering specially for the day. We will have live bands in the store. We will have give-aways and contests.

For all who didn't know about it yet, check it. Record Store Day is a big celebration and getting bigger every year. There's a reason we are here, and thriving, and Borders is gone. You know?

Record Store Day is Saturday 16 April. Angry Mom Records/Small World Music usually opens at noon, 7 days a week, but on Record Store day we open at 10 a.m.

Steve Burke
for Small World Music/Ithaca Blog

Ithacan Travels to War to Hear Children Talk of Peace

Have you ever noticed that whenever you see Arabic people in the media, they are screaming, holding weapons, or near something on fire?

You never see community groups in a meeting room, or hear voices of individuals, from countries being occupied or strafed with bombs.

That would remind you they are just like you.

Our friend Clare Grady, a peace activist, is going to Afghanistan as part of an international group to listen to peoples' voices, beseeching peace - specifically, young people.

The delegation was invited to Kabul by a group called Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers.

The young people of the group have never known life without war.

They are sponsoring a project called Live Without Wars. There will be talking and listening, a multi-ethnic walk, and planting of trees in Kabul.

The event takes place the weekend of March 19 - 21.

Clare leaves tomorrow. We made a donation to support the trip and hope you might, too.

Donations can be sent to Ithaca Catholic Worker, P.O. Box 293, Ithaca NY 14851.

More information is available at http://www.livewithoutwars.org/.

Stephen Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Grady Girls Play Music Against Militarism, Sun. 13 March

The Grady Girls play a benefit concert on Sunday night against drone warfare by the U.S. government in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Drones are mechanized aircraft that drop bombs without personnel on board. In other words, they are completely automated killing machines.

The people on the receiving end of these bombs can't possibly conceive of them as anything but the ultimate weapons of terrorism.

The U.S. government uses them, ostensibly, to kill political foes in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They kill a lot of innocent civilians, too, but no one in the upper reaches of the U.S. government seems to care about that, as long as nobody notices or says anything.

Well, the Grady Girls do, and they want us to, too.

The Girls are playing their fine Irish music in support of a walk by local peace groups next month to Syracuse, where the drones are maintained.

The event is at Delilah's on Cayuga, 112 S. Cayuga St., Sunday 13 March, at 6 p.m. It runs until 11:00. It's loose, so come by any time. If you don't know, the Gradys and their compatriots are a wonderfully convivial conglomeration; you will have a wonderful time.

There is no set fee, but it is a benefit for a big effort, so please contribute nicely.

Stephen Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

2 Free CD's For You Today At Angry Mom Records/Small World Music

Tuesday is the day that I (or, I and I: maker of Ithaca Blog, and partner in Angry Mom Records/Small World Music, on the Commons) work in public all day at my music store in the basement of Autumn Leaves Books, at 115 The Commons.

And every Tuesday in a while, while I am there, we do this: offer you, Ithaca Blog reader, not one, not three, but two free CD's, from our multiple shelves of many hundreds of CD's bargain-priced at $3 and less.

Of course, some of them are crazy and unheard-of; but some are quite reet. Anyway, you can't go wrong at the price of free, not to mention the number of two.

No purchase necessary. We want to entice you to the store, and thank you for reading the blog.

To avail yourself, simply mention this offer to me, or to charming Mr. Lee, who also staffs the store tomorrow. We will be happy to serve you, and meet you.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog
and Angry Mom Records/Small World Music

Prominent Readings at Buffalo Street Books

Buffalo Street Books is pretty busy for a place scheduled to shut.

Ithaca's oldest independent book store announced in February that failing business would force it to close.

Immediately, Ithaca rallied around an effort to save the store. Over $200,000 has been pledged for that goal. Details are available at http://www.buffalostreetbooks.com./

Meanwhile, the store has notable readings scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.

Monday's is by Leslie Daniels, from her book "Cleaning Nabokov's House." The reading will take place at 6:30 p.m., not at the store, but at the Kitchen Theater, now located on W. State Street.

Tuesday's is by Tea Obreht, from her book "The Tiger's Wife." It is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the bookstore, but we wonder if it might have to be moved somewhere bigger. Ms. Obreht was featured this morning on "Weekend Edition" on National Public Radio.

Stephen Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Dimanche, Lundi, & Mardi Gras at Maxie's

Maxie's has evolved over the years but is essentially a New Orleans-inspired restaurant, and so they don't let Mardi Gras go too easily.

The restaurant has free music events scheduled for each of the next three nights.

Sunday, it's Jorge Cuevas and the Caribe All-Stars. Monday, Johnny Dowd and friends. Tuesday, the Chicken Fried String Band.

There are dining and drink specials, and special decor, and beads, of course.

Go and help the good times roll.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca BY Blog

Hydrofrackers Dump Toxic Water in Cayuga Lake, Says NY Times

The NY Times reports today that companies drilling for gas in Pennsylvania are knowingly and systematically dumping toxic wastewater into sources of drinking water, including Cayuga Lake.

Documentation shows that the wastewater, from the drilling process called hydrofracking, contains levels of radiation and carcinogens which cannot be successfully treated.

The levels are hundreds of times above standards considered safe.

The wastewater - essentially untreated - is dumped into public water, unfettered by regulation.

With lobbying money, gas companies have evaded regulation by the Environmental Protection Agency. Special clauses in federal regulations exempt the gas companies from disclosing the chemicals they use in hydrofracking.

The Times reports that a company in the southern tier of New York, near the Pennsylvania border, is dumping hydrofracking wastewater into the southern portion of Cayuga Lake, a source of drinking water in Ithaca.

The toxic waste is also being dumped into rivers serving Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and hundreds of other communities. The population affected totals over a million.

At least three of the highest-ranking state officials in Pennsylvania with responsibility for overseeing gas company activities there have left the government for jobs with the gas companies.

The population affected has been served this week, by corporate journalists, with news about Charlie Sheen.

Here in Ithaca, there has been no notice of these issues by local media; but citizen groups have been laudibly active in spreading information. Two of the foremost are Toxics Targeting, and Shaleshock. They are readily available on the Internet and in person, and can certainly use your help.

Stephen Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Trivia Quiz: Win $10 From Small World Music/Angry Mom Records

What is the only pop song ever to include the word "inquisitive" in its lyrics?

Be the first, second, or third to give us the answer (mulitple winners!) and win a $10 gift certificate to Small World Music/Angry Mom Records, in the basement of Autumn Leaves Books on the Commons.

The question arose at the music party, with talented, hip DJ's, that Angry Mom ran at Silky Jones on the Commons last Sunday.

There were multiple DJ's stacking wax, and the question came up, what songs are guaranteed party-starters?

We were not spinning, but had an opinion. We named the song in question. We said, not only is it stirring, to your very soul, but it uses the word "inquisitive." And it is the second word in the song. Beat that.

We mean, James Brown, for example, has many party-starting songs, but probably none including a four-syllable adjective, at least not one not starting with the letter "m." (And that particular word, now that we think of it, is probably not technically an adjective, but a present participle.)

We'll give you two hints. One is probably obvious: it is a soul song. Hint #2: it charted in 1967.

And, extra bonus, if you can tell us a different song employing the word "inquisitive," we will give you an $11 gift certificate.

Send your reply (we are ready for the deluge) to us here via Ithaca Blog; or e-mail us personally at stephenpburke@.gmail.com.

Stephen P. Burke
for Small World Music & Ithaca NY Blog

Anti-Frackers, Meet Gov. Cuomo in Binghamton, 2/24

Late notice, but we just saw a call for a rally from people fighting unnatural drilling for natural gas in New York, when Governor Cuomo comes to Binghamton on Thursday 24 Feb.

The news came to us from http://www.toxicstargeting.com/. Cuomo comes to Binghamton tomorrow, we know not why, exactly. But anti-fracking activists want to make a scene while he is here, in the New York epicenter of the likely calamity of fracking, and ask him to do specific things, and perhaps take a general stand.

We posted here on Ithaca Blog on 22 August 2010 about a visit by then-candidate Cuomo to Binghamton where he would answer no questions about fracking. No more for that.

Andrew was daunted then by a big turnout of mouthy Ithacans and a repeat of that, let's say a furtherance, would be fine.

Toxics Targeting reports that Mr. Cuomo will be at the Riverwalk Hotel, 225 Water Street in Binghamton; they are calling for citizens to gather before 10:30 a.m.

If you can't go, as we can't, maybe send a tidy check, as we will, to the Shaleshock organization, a grassroots group that is quite potent in the movement, and of course could use your help. Their address is 115 The Commons. You can visit them there, too, and get personally involved. Remember: this land is your land. And the water is all of ours, and not for the Halliburton corporation, and other scheming frackers, to defile.

Stephen Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

More Fun, Sunday Night, Feb. 20

The Commons will barely be cleared of Chili Fest fun by the time more starts, when Angry Mom Records hosts an all-vinyl music party at Silky Jones, on the east end of the Commons.

The event promises "the best music you ever heard/the best music you never heard." There will be multiple DJs, including some from the Angry Mom staff.

It starts at 8 p.m. and goes until last call.

For more details, check out Angry Mom Records on Facebook.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Beautiful Day for Chili, Sunday 20 Feb.

We have gotten a lot of hits on Ithaca Blog this morning via the search for "Chili Cook-Off."

Yes, the Chili Cook-Off is happening. The weather is beyond benign, and the Commons is packed.

The karaoke machine is spinning. The cushions around the mechanical bull are inflated. People are dressed up like it's a ski resort, except the equipment is spoons, not skis.

Don't forget the free offer from Small World Music/Angry Mom Records, as posted here on Ithaca Blog on Tuesday 15 February.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

One-Day Delay on Chili Cook-Off: (Very) Late-Breaking News

We just got very late-breaking news that the Chili Cook-Off on Saturday 19 Feb. has been moved to the following day, because of bad weather.

The news comes to us from the event's volunteer co-ordinator, who got it from the event's main co-ordinator.

We asked for a double-check, before posting this announcement; and got that confirmation.

We asked for the confirmation because we thought, isn't bad weather always possibly part of the deal, for a February event?

But the concern tonight is that there will be no power tomorrow, with high winds that will likely last.

See our past couple of postings for details about a free offer at Angry Mom Records/Small World Music to people attending the event. That offer now will hold for both Saturday and Sunday.

Steve Burke
for Small World Music/Angry Mom Records/ Ithaca NY Blog

Something Free For You on Chili Cook-Off Day

The Chili Cook-Off Festival comes to the Commons this Saturday, 19 February, and we have something free for you that day at Small World Music/Angry Mom Records, on the Commons, in the basement of Autumn Leaves Books.

(We are Small World Music and Ithaca Blog, both.)

On Saturday, simply mention this offer, and select for yourself a free CD from our bargain shelves of CDs for $3 and less.

We have many hundreds, so you are bound to find something you know you will like; or don't know you will like; but it's free, so you can't lose. Right?

No purchase is necessary. When we say free, we mean free, doggone it. We hope to see you.

Steve Burke
for SWM & /IBlog

Small World Music, On the Commons

We see today on Facebook that even some of our FB Friends don't know that Small World Music (our store) has moved: to the basement of Autumn Leaves Books on the Commons, cohabiting there with Angry Mom Records.

Angry Mom has the LPs. Small World Music has the CDs.

Including Richie Stearns's new one, which was how this came up on FBook, someone looking for a store to buy it from. We got it.

And we got lots more Local music, plus International, Americana, Jazz, Blues, Rock/Pop, etc.

New releases featured at the moment include Decemberists, Drive-By Truckers, Iron and Wine, Wanda Jackson, Richard Thompson, James Blunt, Bright Eyes, and Social Distortion.

Angry Mom/Small World opens at noon, 7 days a week.

Steve Burke
for Small World Music and Ithaca NY Blog

In Egypt, the Power of the Square

We talked briefly today with our friend Clare Grady, the often-jailed peace activist, about Egypt. She said she is thinking about "the power of the Square," as in Tahrir Square, where people are staying and demonstrating in massive numbers.

"Tiananmen Square, now Tahrir Square. There's great power when people unite physically.

"The media and the Internet are okay for communication and planning. But nothing works the way actually gathering does."

I said I never thought about it, but it seems true. "It lets people in power see you," I said. "And scares them."

Clare said, "It also lets you see each other, and builds your resolve."

Clare said she is ruminating on a gathering here in Ithaca - on the Commons, maybe. Demonstrations across the U.S. might be helpful in influencing our government.

We will be sure to let you know if Clare, or anyone else, organizes something here.

It's A Good Night Not To Like Football

It's a good night not to like football, if you prefer the idea of lots of room outside. The Super Bowl is on tonight, and you can probably ski down main street during it.

You know, famously, Jewish people go to Chinese restaurants on Christmas. They are two groups that do not generally care that much about Christmas. So, maybe tonight, outdoor enthusiasts could all meet, get together, right downtown, anywhere they want.

You might want to check with restaurants first, tonight, though. It may be that any restaurant without a TV in the bar doesn't open tonight, for anticipated lack of interest. We hear that Maxie's is closed, for instance.

have fun -
Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

On Egypt: The President and Secretary of State Look Tired

Obama and Rodham-Clinton look tired lately - maybe even soul-sick, with the hypocrisy they have to perpetuate, or think they have to, in Egypt.

The revolution in Egypt is right. But our government won't outright support it, because of money. Not just money, but dirty money.

"Democracy Now!" on the web presents clear details about the billions of "foreign aid" cash we send Egypt, with the firm understanding that they will send back most of it for weapons. They get to keep some of the cash, for their effort. But primarily it is gigantic money-laundering for Lockheed-Martin, Boeing, and others.

Our government supports the Egyptian regime because they follow instructions: take this massive money, from U.S. taxpayers, and give it to U.S. corporations, for obscene and wasteful weaponry.

Of course, we do it with a slew of countries, but Egypt has been one of the biggest and best flunkies for a while.

The scheme is the ultimate in corporate welfare and pocket-lining.

The Democratic and Republican organizations get their cut of it, naturally, or it wouldn't happen, as it is quite immoral, and should be illegal. But like many big crimes, when powerful parties get paid, it thrives.

The problem in Egypt, as far as U.S. powers are concerned, is that maybe someone new in charge won't be as reliably venal.

Obama and Rodham-Clinton, certainly, are smart enough to understand all this. They are pretty smart people. Likely, on some level, they despise the works. But they don't lead; they follow. They have to - or, again, think they do. Let them stand up against the venality, and see what happens to their coffers, and those of their colleagues.

Bernie Sanders (Senator from Vermont), for one example, would do the right thing in this situation, if it were in his power. Sanders is an independent, de jure and de facto. He is not motivated by massive money, and disdains any that is dirty. His campaign financing comes from the citizens he represents. Pretty much all others at the highest level of U.S. government are cogs. Not even by necessity, but by choice, for easy money. Nothing personal, but, you know. It is so obvious it is barely an observation.

Once, O. and R-C were well-meaning and progressive. At their best and deepest levels, they probably still are. But in the corrupt terrain of the criminal rich, they fail the public good - sometimes at catastrophic levels, like now.

Here's the thing about social justice movements: when executed well and massively, they help smart, good people act so.

That's why we must act, meet, demonstrate, vote - those of us interested in peace, justice, fairness.

In a history-making way, this is what the people of Egypt are doing, right now. Do what you can for them, and then maybe our people in power will find the strength to do so, too. And let's then see what we can do to spread this sense and wellness.

Stephen Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

"Blue Valentine," And Penny and the Quarters

We don't review movies on Ithaca Blog, because plenty of other places do that well, but we would like to recommend this picture "Blue Valentine," newly released.

We saw an advance copy "per dolem", as we say in Latin ("by means of a trick"). It has won prizes at Sundance, Cannes, etc.

We mention it not only because it is good, but because we own a record/CD store, and the film features an astonishing song by an astonishing band that, somehow, was never famous, or even known.

The song is called "You And Me." It is by a group from long ago called Penny and the Quarters. They were from Ohio and that is about all anyone knows about them.

The song is presented in a demo version, with nothing but voices and one guitar. It is a gospel-based soul ballad. It is staggeringly simple, and beautiful for that.

It is reminiscent of "People Get Ready" and "This Old Heart Of Mine," two huge soul hits. If it antedates them, it is a brilliant amalgamation. If it predates them (no one knows, at the moment), it is monumental, if that is not too strong. (For people interested in song composition and history, not to mention copyright law, it is not.)

The makers of the film are searching for any vestiges of the band, to pay them.

You can read a bit about the band on Wikipedia - or, better, hear the song on Youtube. Simply search there for Penny and the Quarters.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Richie Stearns' New CD, And Release Gig On Sat. 29 Jan.

We usually don't think to post here for local music shows days in advance, but this Saturday comes a large one, as Richie Stearns issues a new CD, and celebrates it at the Chapter House, at 10 p.m.

It's Richie's second release, only, apart from CDs by the Horseflies. His first, a completely solo effort (called "Solo"), was about 6 years ago. The new one has band-mates, including local cohorts, the Evil City String Band; and largely-renowned players Carrie Rodriguez and Dirk Powell.

ECSB will be with Richie at Saturday's show; other prominents too, we gather.

We recommend getting there early. It should be a large crowd.

The CD is already available at Ithaca's own retail music store, Angry Mom Records/Small World Music, located in the basement of Autumn Leaves Books, on the Commons.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Are Sports The Most Benign of Entertainments?

As a fan of the New York Jets football franchise since a tender age, we are excited about the prospect of them going to the Super Bowl this year for only the second time in their history. (The first (that is, only) time was over 40 years ago. Their current date with destiny is still only potential: one qualifying game away.)

We know it is a violent sport: much more so these days, with players strong and fast as torpedos, and concussive contacts encouraged for television.

Personally, we preferred the game in the old days, when some players were pretty athletic, but many were out there only because they ate more than most people.

Sports have the attribute of getting people happily excited, collectively, which is rare. You see it at good concerts, but those don't last long. People remember sporting events a long time.

Sports and concerts - good concerts, anyway - also share an aspect of unpredictability, or at least surprise. Unanticipated turns will occur during both, even for the performers.

We were out with friends last night who were all talking about the TV series they follow. Not only had I never seen any, I'd never even heard of most. I learned there are lots of shows on TV.
The only thing I watch on TV, about, is sports. I watch them because you absolutely cannot know what will happen. And yet, you hardly have to pay attention to find out.

The mindless entertainment of a TV series seems troublesome in its length. You have to watch it all year? Never for that.

I can commit to work and relationships over time; to avocations; not much else. Like, what else? Certainly not TV shows. A game is a few hours, one time. You barely have to pay attention. You can do other things at the same time. Do the dishes. Pay the bills. Broil. Just come back to the living room when you hear shouting.

Steve "Broadway" Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Four Cheers/Stars For Maxie's

We just got in from dinner at Maxie's, and had a great meal and great time there, and realize we probably don't express our esteem for the place as much as we should.

The food is always great. We know some people think it is expensive there, and it's true that you can spend nice money there, if you want. But you can also not, and it doesn't affect their hospitality.

We enjoyed the music, which (expensive?) Maxie's presents free, twice a week. It was a delightful scene, with happy people.


The service was impeccable, as always. It didn't matter that the total tab for two people (ordering light: a sandwich; sides; no alcohol) was less than $25. I mean, it didn't matter to them. Somehow the place has created a culture, not to be too high-faluting about it, of consistent friendliness, not to mention coolness, among the staff.

About the money. You can get a po' boy sandwich of first rank there, maybe 6 or 7 varieties, for $8.95 or $9.95, loaded down with fries. No food service fare here - everything fresh. This is not much more money than the State Diner, for goodness sake.

Whenever we have visitors, we take them to Maxie's. When they ask what's good, we say everything - order anything. And it is. When we leave, our guests invariably ask, do you know the staff? Everyone treated us so great. We say some of them, sort of; not all of them; that's just how they are.

So do yourself a favor - and do restaurant culture a favor, too - and go enjoy Maxie's, a really fine place, and boon to this town.

Dueling Banjos on Ithaca Sunday Morning Radio

Ithaca now has two locally-produced, marathon folk music programs on Sunday mornings.

After years of hosting Nonesuch on WVBR, Tracey Craig packed her leaving trunk a few weeks ago to start a new show, Rootabaga Boogie [sic], on a new station, WITH-FM, a little further left on the dial.

After a couple of weeks of improvising, Nonesuch has installed a new permanent host, Nicholas Hill, for the first two hours of the broadcast; the remaining hours will be hosted by a rotating cast of jocks.

We are listening to both right now. Nick sounds a little uncertain about the this and that, but inviting nonetheless. So far, his selections are tried-and-true, such as Peggy Seeger, Ewan McCall, and Johnny Cash (singing "Joshua Gone Barbados," a cover new to us, and a great one).

Meanwhile, Tracey is doing what Tracey does, an idiosyncratic take on multiple genres that she construes as, foremost, an Ithaca blend; and she should know, having done it many years, as well as presenting live shows at venues large and small.

Tracey's new show is 2 hours, versus 4.5 hours at Nonesuch. Still, she manages to pack in interviews and live studio sets by local and visiting musicians.

We hope and trust the competition will be healthy and fun for all. Thanks to Tracey for keeping on and to Nick for jumping in.

New Year's Eve, Party?

Ithaca Blog gets a lot of hits in December by people searching for "New Year's Eve party."

It's hard to accommodate these seekers of seasonal fun, because NYEve is an amorphous time in Ithaca.

All bars and clubs are open, of course. For the most part, however, they don't have A-list entertainment.

A-list entertainers want pay, and there is no incentive for bars and clubs to pay large coarse notes on 12/31, as patrons will come out anyway.

Even if the pay were good, it is a hard night for musicians, as people are listening to them even less than usual. The people are howling for beverages, as it is a night when, shall we say, giddiness, is not a source of opprobrium, in a public that is less than observant.

Against the odds, anyway, local big guys The Sim Redmond Band will have a show at Castaways, and it will be the largest event of the night. Opening is Sunny Weather, old Ithaca favorites in reunion.

SRB does it every year, so it must work for them, and one and all. It also sells out, so if interested, you should get ticketed by Castaways soon.

Overall, the party line is this: anyplace will do tonight, if you are interested in being among the drunk, disorderly, and disoriented. Every place you can think of will be packed.

Personally, what we like to do on New Year's Eve is meet some friends and eat sushi and drink champagne. Then, even if nothing else good happens all year, at least you had sushi and champagne.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Not Much Christmas Spirit At The Mall

We have the kind of lifestyle where we are not obleejed to do much Christmas shopping, just a little, so we planned just one trip for the season to the malls in Lansing.

We went on Monday, in the afternoon, when we figured it might not be too fierce, and maybe actually friendly. Wrong.

For one thing, the weather is bad up there, in a hilltop micro-climate, and driving turned from safe downtown to slightly treacherous, with light snow turning to squall, and very poor seeing-action.

The traffic was nuts, with a convoy of cars trying to make a left at the Triphammer Road exit, and the exit lane on Route 13 was not lane, but line, a good ways down the highway.

Inside the mall, I can tell you briefly, I did not find a good quality in any of the things I wanted. It was also, not vaguely, harried and grim. So I sure split.

But the splitting was rough, indeed, with all roads clogged, and any semblance of driving civility subsumed, by people refusing entry to the roads to mall-leavers; running signals and signs; cutting and blocking, honking and glaring and mouthing stuff, etc.

What world is this, I wondered?- trying to keep my cool, and my spirit of giving, which was my reason to be there in the first place.

I came downtown and went to the Commons. I mean, all along, I had intended to patronize both venues, as a generous Santa and a guy trying to spread the money action around. But I can tell you, next year I don't think I'll bother with the mall.

I am partisan, as an owner of a business on the Commons (Small World Music, CD's and LP's, shameless plug; hello to all our fans who still don't know we have moved from our old place to the basement of Autumn Leaves Books, joining Angry Mom Records there).

I found the good-quality things I wanted at Benjamin Peters clothing store. I also found some nice things at Now You're Cooking and Ten Thousand Villages. That's the main thing. But another thing is that I had a pleasant time.

The traffic downtown was busy, but easy, and not heated with hate. I parked for free in the Green Street garage. My fellow shoppers were relaxed and smiley. The store people were cool and nice.

I can tell you, as one of those store owners, we are nice because we really appreciate your business, and if I did not think it was hokey, or bad reading, I would insert that word "really" four or five times or more.

At the mall, God bless the workers there, but they really have no incentive to be nice. The small business owner, on the other hand, thinks of you as great sweetness.

The clerks at the mall don't care if they never see you again - and actually, as you simply represent more work, without attendant compensation, they'd prefer not to. But independent business owners and workers consider your very presence a success, an event, and a blessing. If you think I'm overstating it, ask one.

So: I wish you luck with your gift-giving. This is really a great time of year, an affirmation of humanity, when people give and act for each other, and say charmingly nice things even just in passing: "happy" this, "merry" that. "Merry" - you know? That in itself is a great idea and goal.

In the dead of cold and dark, we strive to bring joyful life to our loved ones and the world. Not bad.

Local First Ithaca and other community groups are doing a great job emphasizing how important it is, economically, to shop at home-grown businesses. I guess here I am trying to note how much easier and more fun it can be.

All the best - and much merriment! - to you and yours for the season.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog
and Small World Music/Angry Mom Records

Captain Beefheart, Christmas Music, 2010

Captain Beefheart, the singer and composer, died this past week, and due to social media, his music is all around, at least among my facefriends.

It is a pointed counter to the seasonal music one hears all around at Christmas, which even if well-meaning, is mostly insipid and pretty bad. Beefheart's music can be pretty bad, too, but in a different way: interesting, if not actually crazy.

He always seemed to me a few steps from living in a lot. But he was lucky, as well as talented (he probably earned more life-time from his paintings than his records), and he had a productive career, and seemed to live as he wanted.

We presume his music is available all over Youtube; but haven't checked. See if you can find "The Dust Blows Forward" from the "Trout Mask Replica" LP of 1970 or so. It is a poem, or a lyric unaccompanied by music; and it is funny.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Benchwarmers Restaurant Closed

We were scheming a semi-promptu meeting with some friends who, like us, are big fans of the New York Jets football team, which meets its arch-rival NFL club, the New England Patriots, in a large, nationally-televised contest tonight.

Benchwarmers Restaurant on the Commons is generally an excellent venue for such a meeting: a sports joint with lots of TV's, a sports-and-TV-appropriate menu, and swell crowds when big games are going.

But we walked past yesterday, and saw sheets of brown paper covering the windows, and a small sign that said, "Closed For Rennovations."

Well, maybe, if "rennovations" is a synonym for "evver." That was our immediate wise-guy thought.

Our second thought, or maybe first feeling, was sympathy for a good business that we guess hit hard times.

We're sorry to see them go and will miss them. So will downtown in general and the Commons in particular.

Good luck and best wishes to the Benchwarmers crew.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Weekend Out, 12/3,4,5

The weekend is supposed to be relatively warm, or warmer than subsequent weekends will be, so it is a good weekend to go out, also before you get too busy and all. There is good music in town all weekend.

On Friday, David Bromberg returns to the State Theater. Bromberg was one of those young hotshots - though always a funny, self-deprecating one - who now is an elder statesman of American acoustic music. 8 pm.

On Saturday, the Suffer Jets roller derby team joins No Radio Productions for a "Derby Disco" night at the lounge above Delilah's (formerly Wildfire's), 106 S. Cayuga Street. No doubt it will be funky. 9 p.m.

Also on Saturday, Johnny Dowd presents his new program, Songs For Lovers, at Castaways. With alt-country rockers, Hubcap. 9:30 p.m.

On Sunday, Jennie Lowe Stearns plies the intimate confines of Felicia's, from 7 - 9 p.m. Then, at Castaways at 9 p.m., Langhorne Slim, a singer-songwriter out of Brooklyn with some grit.

have fun
Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Our Friend's Cold

Our friend C. wrote on Facebook about her terrible head cold, and we might think this is a rather slight matter for someone to write about, except we have this same head cold, and know it is dire, and a great issue indeed, if you will pardon the pun.

It has lasted two weeks and shows no signs of abating. One tries to hurry and get better before Thanksgiving, when traveling to see family, but that might be like trying to fall asleep fast because you have to get up early. It doesn't work.

This cold has us thinking about the nature of mucus, because we have produced more of it lately than an elephant, and realize now that mucus is not finite.

If you can't write about a head cold to your innocent and unsuspecting friends, what malady can you? You can't just casually write about some real chronic disease you have. That's too serious. And no one wants to read about anything that involves, let's say, inside your pants. Forget that.

So, head colds it is for the Internet. We have been eating a lot of soup lately, and saltines. When shopping, we noticed a variety of saltines that is unsalted, which seems really wrong. It should have another name.

feel better -
Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Free CDs For You Today at Angry Mom Records/Small World Music

Here we are at Angry Mom Records/Small World Music, in the basement of Autumn Leaves Books, on the only day of the week when we staff the store ourselves. And we realize it has been a while since we publicized the place, in which we have keen interest.

So, as we have done before, we make this special offer to Ithaca Blog readers: come in today, and pick out not one, not three, but two free CDs for yourself from our extensive selection of used, bargain-priced CDs from the $5-and-less shelves. Totally free - like, no purchase necessary.

We know it's short notice, but we just thought about it. The offer is good today only, while Steve works. Tomorrow, with George and Lee, it would confuse them. You have til 8 p.m.; the rain is not so bad.

See you soon!
Steve Burke
for Small World Music & Ithaca NY Blog

Chevron Spends $4 Billion For Shot at Hydro-Fracking

The Chevron Corporation has purchased the Atlas Energy company of Pennsylvania to obtain a stake in the natural gas fields of Pennsylvania and New York.

The deal is worth over $4 billion in stocks and cash.

The gas fields in Pennsylvania, New York, and elsewhere in the eastern U.S. have only recently become accessible, through a controversial process called hydro-fracking, which pumps toxic chemicals into the ground to free the gas.

Concerns for water safety have led to popular and political opposition to hydro-fracking, including calls for outright bans.

Chevron, ExxonMobil, and other corporations are spending billions for the chance to drill even though the price of natural gas, and the demand for it, are low.

Opponents to hydro-fracking say that citizen protest can add to the cost of operation, and derail potential profits. In Ithaca, the Shaleshock organization is a leading voice of opposition: www.shaleshock.org.

Stephen Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Marathoners Run Fast

It was a beautiful day in the city yesterday for the running of the New York Marathon.

Nobody seems to mind that a lot of the city shuts down for the race. Most New Yorkers are running from something, and admire people who can run away from their problems, if just for a day.

The winner, Gebre Gebremariam, ran the course in 2:08:49. This is less than 5 minutes per mile, for 26 miles. He had to pull away from his nearest competitor in the final mile. This means he was still going fast.

This is also what it means. I go to the gym, but I can't run a 5-minute mile. So if Gebre Gebremariam and I were to race each other 26 miles, and he spotted me the first 25 miles, letting me sit in a beach chair with my feet up at the 25-mile mark until he showed up after running that distance, he would still kick my ass.

I'll go to the gym today anyway. Congratulations to all marathoners.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Kristallnacht Remembrance at Cornell, Sun. 7 Nov., 1:30 P.M.

Kristallnacht, or the Night of Broken Glass, was a series of attacks against Jews in Nazi Germany and parts of Austria on November 8 - 9, 1938.

Virtually every synagogue in Germany was set on fire. Graves were uprooted. Homes were invaded and people beaten to death in the streets. Businesses were robbed and destroyed. 30,000 Jewish men were abducted and sent to concentration camps.

Today at 1:30 p.m., , Cornell hosts "Commemorating the Holocaust - Affiriming Community,"
in the auditorium in Sherman Hall, in the Veterinary School, on Tower Road.

President David Skorton will speak.

Cornell Plantations is the site of a sculpture by Andy Goldsworthy called "A Garden of Stone - A Holocaust Memorial." Goldsworthy uses natural and found materials to make site-specific sculptures. His work is known world-wide.

Stephen Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Land Grab By Gas Company

Chesapeake Energy Corporation announced a deal to buy mineral rights to half a million acres in the Appalachian basin, to drill for natural gas.

The purchase includes parts of Tompkins County.

The dangers of the drilling process called hydro-fracking have been publicized in the documentary film, "Gasland", and by a local grassroots group called Shaleshock.

The language of Chespeake's chief, Aubrey McClendon, is eerily telling about the company's huge financial resources (the purchase was for almost a billion dollars) and casual attitide towards environmental stewardship.

"We've been poking around and we saw something we liked and we bought it," he said.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

James Carville at IC, Monday 1 Nov.

On the night before Election Day, Ithaca College presents James Carville, ex-political operative and current commentator.

We want to go, to see if Carville retains walloping significance, which we doubt, and to see if he is turning into a caricature of the caricature of him presented regularly on Saturday Night Live (last night, in fact).

The event is free.

It takes place at 7:30 in the Emerson Suites, address unknown at Ithaca College, the School Without Streets.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Music on Halloween

Dead people can't enjoy music, or at least not live music, so on Halloween, we recommend you do, before it's too late. Eventually it will be.

How is that for Irish fatalism, in the spirit of the thing?

The Grady Girls will do a lively set at Felicia's, at 7 p.m.

The big show in town is at the State Theater: Sim Redmond Band, Donna the Buffalo, and Railroad Earth. Doors open at 6:30, says the publicity; music starts at 7:30, and goes all night.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Lexicon And On

We watched David Letterman tonight, as we do sometimes because we work late, and dopey stuff helps us relax.

(You will see that we keep late hours sometimes if you notice the time of this posting.)

Anyhow, Mr. Letterman was interviewing a snow-boarding dude. (We assume most guys such as this, who have long hair and snow-board for a living, are dudes.)

In the course of the conversation, Letterman alluded to their differing life experiences, as reflected in their language.

"You know, I feel like I'm missing something," Letterman said about his life: "I'm 62 years old, and I've never been 'stoked'."

Neither have we. We don't even think we were even ever "psyched," although we remember when this was common.

A similar phenomenon, which we have noted here before, is that we have never found much to be "awesome," at least that we would talk about, rather than ponder; but people today do, pretty frequently.

Of course, it is all a matter of lexicon, which delights us, personally. We wonder, as "psyched" has turned to "stoked," what's next in line. "Awesome" has, in our memory, lasted a real long time, and we wonder if it will go on. It seems to have legs. And when did that expression start? And, stop?

We bid you goodnight now, as we hit the hay; crash; and, our personal lexicon favorite, geeze.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Stressed? Zag With Your Friends

Our friend Catherine Saar, who runs an enterprise called Saar Coaching (Google it, or find it on Facebook), posted a reprint today of a piece on how to be happier at work.

The strategy that most impressed us was called "Invest in your social network."

The basic idea is that, when or over-worked or -whelmed, often our impulse is to retreat, to close ourselves off, and to approach work (and life) with a bunker mentality; and that this is the exact wrong approach.

Focus on the work, sure. But also make sure you spend time - keep time; make time - to enjoy friends. This helps keep things in perspective. It helps us enjoy life, which should be part of one's everyday routine. All this is likely to help you achieve your work.

We generally like zagging when common wisdom says zig. Thank you to Ms. Saar for the good advice.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Stephanie Miller Event: Sold Out

Well, our instincts in the previous post were sort of correct about the possible popularity of the Stephanie Miller/Bill Press appearance at the Hangar Theater this Saturday.

We contacted the Hangar and found it is sold out.

Try Craigslist for tickets?

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Stephanie Miller and Bill Press at the Hangar Theater, Sat. 23 Oct.

Two stars of lefty talk show radio, Stephanie Miller and Bill Press, appear at the Hangar Theater this Saturday night for an evening of commentary and, we imagine, comedy, of the political sort.

This kind of fare is generally irresistible to the typical Ithacan. The ticket price, a mere $10, is likewise nicely likeable in a town where people are used to cheap entertainment all the time.

We're a little surprised the event is not in a bigger venue for more money. We recommend getting tickets asap.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Cayuga Beans in NY Times Magazine

The Sunday New York Times magazine today features a piece on Cayuga Pure Organics, our local growers of beans and grains whose products are the rage of restaurants and farmers markets in the big city.

We've written about CPO before here. Their products are amazingly good, and available in Ithaca at GreenStar Co-op.

The co-op gets a generic mention in the Times piece, as does a particular local tacqueria that orders 500 pounds plus of CPO's beans per week.

Congratulations to Dan, Adrian, Anne, Eric and Tycho, and thanks for the great work.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Wednesday Morning: Fire on the Commons

There was a fire this morning on the Commons, in the Petrune building on the north side of the middle of the mall.

We are directly across from the building. Reports are there are no injuries. Exterior damage is minimal. Interior is probably moderate, mostly smoke damage.

At the moment, the middle of the Commons is closed, but fire crews are packing up and preparing to leave, so re-opening is probably imminent.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Happy Birthday

As you might have noticed, Google noticed, and much of the world remembers, it seems, that today is John Lennon's birthday. He would have been 70.

Of course, he is noted for his music, his peace activism, and his energy and humor, all great. For us, though, one of the most important things about him was his writing.

Lennon wrote two books in the mid-1960s: "In His Own Write" and "A Spaniard in the Works." They were books of short comic vignettes, absurd and playful, with drawings. They showed influences of Lewis Carroll, James Thurber, and even James Joyce.

They were the first books I ever owned. I got them when I was 10 or so. I had to send away for them. Maybe there were bookstores in Manhattan that sold them, but there weren't in East Flatbush, Brooklyn.

I treasured them, I guess. I enjoyed them and learned from them.

Lennon was a big inspiration to me. I started a newspaper at school in 6th grade because I knew he had.

I imagine his was better. I remember reading a weather forecast he wrote for it. "Today will be Muggy," he wrote. "Followed by Tuggy, Wuggy, Thuggy, and Fuggy."

Stephen Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Fighting Cancer Locally, at the Cancer Resource Center's Walkathon/Race

Most of us, probably, have had our lives touched by cancer.

In Ithaca, we are blessed to have the Cancer Resource Center of the Finger Lakes, a not-for-profit group offering services to people with cancer.

One of the best ways to help the Cancer Resource Center is to support their annual Walkathon/5K Race. The 17th annual event happens this year on Saturday 23 October, in Cass Park.

Pre-registration is available on-line at CRC's web site, www.crcfl.org. Registration the day of the race, at 10 a.m., is at 9 a.m. The event happens rain or shine.

If you are not a runner, or even that much of a walker, there will be music and other activities at the site. You can sponsor runners. You can buy a t-shirt. Or you can simply make a donation.

Please contact the Center for more information on how to help.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Apple Harvest Festival, Ithaca Commons, Fri. 1 Oct. - Sun 3 Oct.

A reminder that agriculture is Tompkins County's second-largest industry comes this weekend with the 28th Annual Downtown Ithaca Apple Harvest Festival.

The festival stretches from Friday noon til dusk on Sunday.

Favorable weather this season has produced a crop with exceptional flavor, growers say. Dozens of varieties will be available for sale on the Commons, along with cider and pies.

The family-friendly festival also includes amusements such as magic, belly dance, an Iron Chef competition, pie-eating contests, and a Ferris wheel.

Over a dozen bands provide music. On Saturday, at Dewitt Park, a First People's Festival celebrates Iroquois and other indigenous culture of the region. The State Theater hosts a concert by children's performer Dan Zanes , at noon.

More information is available from the Downtown Ithaca Alliance at www.downtownithaca.com.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Commons Finds You Can't Partly Quit Smoking

Six weeks after its start, the city of Ithaca has declared the partial ban of smoking on the Commons a failed experiment, and decided to ban smoking on the pedestrian mall entirely.

The partial ban prohibited smoking in the center of the Commons, near the pavilion and the playground. But the result was not to reduce smoking, only to relocate smokers into smaller areas, intensifying second-hand smoke in these areas to intolerable levels for passers-by and adjacent businesses.

Outdoor dining in the smoking areas fell off to next to nothing. Businesses in the smoking areas were forced to keep doors closed. Fights between non-smokers and smokers - about the borders and other issues - were daily, if not hourly, and spirited, when not vituperative or even violent.

Our business, Small World Music, inside Autumn Leaves Books, is on the border of the smoking/non-smoking areas. Originally we supported the partial ban (see our July 28 post here on Ithaca Blog), but can attest first-hand to the failure.

We support the ban, and commend city officials for so quickly recognizing and fixing the failed policy.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

New York Pizzeria and the NFL

We went to Trumansburg today to help out at a benefit there, but with another, non-altruistic motive: to bring home a pie (large, of course) from New York Pizzeria.

Of course there is plenty of pizza in Ithaca and we like all of it nicely, but NY Pizzeria's is the best in the region, we think. We looked forward to stocking our freezer with a box of this rarefied product.

Imagine our shock and chagrin to find, at 2 p.m. (on our way home), that NYP does not open until 4 p.m. on Sundays.

We understand about day of rest, and all that. Still, we wonder what gives - this time of year, when the NFL provides televised spectacles all Sunday, starting at 1 p.m.

It seems to us that Sunday starting at 1 p.m. is probably the prime pizza-buying time of the week.

Not that we sit around and watch the NFL much, although we wish we did. But we look at it a little, and when we do, see plenty of ads for Papa John's pizzeria, and also frozen varieties.

It's bad enough that you have to watch these cheesy (ha) ads, but then not to have a flavorful and authentic alternative to their cruddy products? It's unfortunate.

Not for us to tell the NYP people how to run their shop. But they do name themselves after the city that never sleeps. Where is the "if I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere" spirit when it comes to day-long game-day pizza?

As a non-resident of the famously proud town, I'll keep my nose out of T-burg's business, beyond this. But I think it is time for a sit-down, or even a walk-and-talk over there, you know what I'm saying?

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Seeing Signs For No Fracking

We had some friends from Brooklyn here for the weekend. Sunday we enjoyed the Porchfest in Fall Creek.

Most Ithacans probably take for granted the creativity behind such an event. Our friends didn't. They were impressed by the do-it-yourselfness and sociability.

As we strolled the neighborhood, what also came to light is the political activism in Ithaca. Alongside the "Porchfest" signs on many porches were "No Fracking" signs on lawns.

Our friends didn't know what this was. A quick explanation brought no flicker of recognition. But the next time they hear of it - which they inevitably will, downstate - they will remember.

The signs are a good way to spread the word about the dangers of hydraulic fracturing in our area. They are available for a $5 donation from the Shaleshock group organizing opposition to fracking.

Shaleshock's office space is in the Peace and Justice Center, on the 3rd floor 115 The Commons (in Autumn Leaves Books).

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog

Rhinefest and Porchfest Weekend, Sept. 11 & 12

Ithaca is a festive place, and this weekend brings two newish but seemingly entrenched celebrations of Ithaca neighborhoods, one past and one present.

On Saturday, the 2nd annual Rhinefest honors the historic West End waterfront district, once a rough and tumble area known ironically as the Rhine. The festival features costumed street theater, a silent movie hall, an antique car show, and lake cruises. In the evening there is a "speakeasy" recreation at Castaways, featuring musical group the Bill Murray Experience.

On Sunday, the 4th annual Porchfest brings local musicians out of their houses and onto their porches for performance. More than 70 musical acts participate in the event, scheduled from 1 to 5:30 p.m., in the Fall Creek and Northside neighborhoods.

After the ambulatory listening, there will be picnics, and more music, in the Auburn Street triangle park.

Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog