TCAT Travesty

 

It all began Saturday night, October 31st. Handfuls of costumed Ithaca students awaited the arrival of the 8:44 TCAT outside of the Towers. The usually prompt TCAT was abnormally late. It arrived somewhere around 9:00 and the bus was gradually crammed with sailors, kittens, zombies, and the like.

I was lucky enough to be greeted with a “meow” by the suspicious (to say the least) bus driver. After collecting $1.50 from what were enough students to fill the bus entirely, we were on our way. But not for long. The Route 12 TCAT came to a stop at Green St. in the Commons where we learned of our unfortunate fate.

Although the Route 12 bus is supposed to transport students to Cornell without a transfer, the bus driver quietly announced that this would be the last stop and that another bus would not be coming for an hour. (More specifically, after taking his break, the same man would come back and pick us up in an hour). Word slowly spread across the bus, and most people remained glued in their seats.

Then all hell broke loose on the TCAT, at least kind of. One brave soul confronted the bus driver who knowingly took all of our money while failing to inform us that he would transport us a matter of blocks. There were cries of “I am going to pee on the TCAT” and “I WANT A REFUND.” The unknown bus driver, who refused to divulge his name, allegedly committed this serious public transportation faux pas last week as well.

Why, you ask? Because the man needs to take his lunch break. “My job,” he cried, “is to take my lunch break!” ??? Soon, the Ithaca police boarded the TCAT and confronted the situation by announcing that this isn’t their problem, leaving dozens of us stranded in the night.

Great Halloween spirit, Ithaca! Happy Halloween to you, too. Jerks!

P. Bread!

Never has there been so much promise in the future of Ithaca, New York. This new hope comes in the form of toasty warmth, cozy furniture, quiet jazz music, hot chocolate and soup galore. My faith in Ithaca has been restored by the confirmation of a Panera Bread opening up on Route 13. Panera is blessing our unfortunate, barren souls here in Ithaca, with its mighty presence.

While most details have been kept under wraps, the establishment of a Panera has been confirmed by executive director of the Downtown Ithaca Alliance, Gary Ferguson. P. Bread should be up and running by 2010 and is currently accepting applicants online, including the position of restaurant assistant manager.

Panera’s menu includes such classics as asiago cheese and cinnamon crunch bagels, the tasty Greek salad, as well as a variety of vegetarian, low-fat, all around delicious soups, and everything in between.

It is the answer to all problems and anxieties. Or at least a snug study spot when the dismal library or other over crowded spots on campus just won’t do. And I guarantee that the furniture will be comfier. So rejoice! Panera is here for you!

Also, be on the lookout for other innovations to the Ithaca community, including the rumored opening of an Olive Garden!

The Red Lions – Coolest Band In Ithaca!

Maybe a short-sighted statement, but The Red Lions are one of the most talented bands Ithaca has to offer, and they are finally making their long-awaited return to Ithaca at Castaways this Thursday, October 22.  The band is opening up for the main act, St. Vincent.

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The frontrunners of the group include vocalist/guitarist/keyboardist Eric Margan, guitarist/vocalist Rick Spataro, Scott Kellerhouse on bass, and James Bertini on the drums.  The band often plays with as many as 15 musicians.  Their self-produced album is titled Midnight Book, which features the fab four as well as many other musicians accompanying the band on piano, trumpet, trombone, flute, violin, cello, and sometimes flugelhorn.  The main force behind their music comes from lead singer Eric Margan, who composes the melodies for the majority of the instruments in their songs.  Influential artists include everything from The Beatles, Andrew Bird, and Wilco to Beethoven, Tom Waits and even the poet Sylvia Plath.   Their genre of music has been classified as pop, chamber pop, lyrical, and orchestral jazz.  If you were to chop up all of these genres and blend them into one delicious smoothie, you would have The Red Lions.

Scott Kellerhouse, a junior at Ithaca College, is happy to return to Ithaca. “I am very excited to open up for St. Vincent,” says Kellerhouse, “her act is probably the biggest name we’ve played with since The Avett Brothers.” The Red Lions have been touring all over the state of New York.

“Since our last show here in Ithaca, I’ve learned that you won’t find a better crowd anywhere in New York, and I’m not just saying that.  This show ought to be insanely fun.”

See you there!

www.myspace.com/theredlions

The Onion Is Coming To Ithaca!?

That’s right kids.  The Onion, America’s Finest News Source, is coming to Ithaca for the first time ever!  On Wednesday, October 21st, Onion writer Seth Reiss will be guest speaking at Emerson Suites at 7:00 PM.  Reiss is part of the creative staff, which is probably the whole staff.

If you’re not familiar with the Onion, it’s a fake news site.  Writers of The Onion sit around all day and think of headlines that make fun of serious political, news, social, and even sports events.  Some of the stories satirize actual news events, and some of them are just hilarious.

For long time fans of The Onion, we have watched it grow for so many years.  I can recall a time when The Onion did not have multimedia, hardly made any money off advertising, and merely existed to humor each and every one of us.  I cannot help but think of times where my stomach has nearly caved in due to the amount of laughter I have experienced from reading a headline like, “Human Head Found In Hamburger.”  Now, The Onion is more successful than ever, able to place advertising in its print edition, on its website, and in between video clips of breaking news stories.  There is even The Onion Movie.

Here are some of our favorite stories:

Obama To Enter Diplomatic Talks With Raging Wildfire

Ex-Nickelodeon Stars Relate Horrors of Green Slime Syndrome

Study: Majority Of “Calm Downs” Ineffective

Don’t miss out on history!  Wednesday, Emerson Suites, 7:00.  I’m gonna beg them to take me with them…

Your Source for Everything Ithaca

Hullo!  Welcome to Why Not Ithaca.  This blog is designed to keep you updated on all the happenings of Ithaca, and why it’s one of the greatest cities to live in!  There has been a lot of attention given to Ithaca College: the Ithacan constantly receiving award for excellence in journalism, 92 WICB being the best radio station in the country, and the city of Ithaca being ranked #1 in USA Today as the biggest emerging city.

You’ve heard it all, but we’re gonna tell you things about this town you don’t even know.  We’re here to filter out all the usual crap you hear about Ithaca and let you know what’s really good, and what’s really good often goes unheard.  We’re going underground, above the town, and inside the back alleys of city streets to find the gems within the rough.

Let us be your alternative source to the Ithacan, and we’ll provide you with the scoop.  Sometimes, we’ll even let you know what you missed, and when it’s coming around again.  Whether it be a concert, street art, a festival, a rumor, or a new business (official or unofficial), we’ll have you covered.

Why Not Ithaca?

Briana

Pete