Good morning, Ithaca.

Brand the Brain 2026 invites residents to take a short survey to help local businesses refine their service + messaging.

Six participants will be randomly chosen to win a $50 restaurant gift card.

Ithaca’s classic bars once brought students and locals together for lively nights (favorites like Pete’s Cayuga Bar and The Chanticleer preserved a vibrant scene) while changing laws and rising costs reshaped the nightlife, and these landmarks still hold cherished memories.

Deep Dive, a waterfront music spot, quietly moved upcoming shows to Liquid State Brewing Company and Nocturnal Café after a rushed New Year's bash; its website expired and sound equipment has been removed.

Silent owners have not shared plans for a reopening.

Ithaca College student groups are turning classrooms such as Hill Center room 104 (formerly a lecture hall for health sciences) into stages for live shows.

They plan productions like Next to Normal after meeting restrictions on professional theaters.

The panel Indigenous Voices in Abiayala/Latin America will explore Indigenous media self-representation with scholars discussing Mapuche and Maya cultural production.

This free event will be held on April 9 at 4:45 p.m. in room 108 at the A.D. White House (College of Arts and Sciences).

The Zhu Family Graduate Fellowships, established in 2021 at Cornell, now support three humanities doctoral students per year so they can focus solely on research without teaching duties (a challenge donor Jonathan Zhu once faced).

The program aims to ease funding issues in the humanities.

Today, the Ithaca Public Education Initiative announced its 28th Annual Spelling Bee raised $9,400 to fund grants for local students + schools.

Team N.O. I.C.E won the trophy and teachers, staff, and students can apply for IPEI grants until Monday, Apr. 6.

The City of Ithaca's Department of Public Works began its annual spring street cleaning on Monday, March 30 and will continue through April.

Residents must move parked cars by 7 a.m. on the cleaning day to avoid ticketing and towing.

Home Depot in Ithaca is recalling over 10 million Nexgrill BBQ brushes as their breakable bristles pose an ingestion hazard; models with black plastic or wooden handles between 18 and 21 inches must not be used and consumers should call Nexgrill (800-942-1498) for a refund in gift card form.

Ithaca College’s Performing Arts Walk-In Clinic offers free care for performance injuries; students can walk in on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3-5 p.m. on the fourth floor of the Center for Health Sciences (a 30-year-old resource) without an appointment.

Evie, Sorbet, Priscilla, and Ace from CNY Snap and the Cortland County SPCA are looking for their forever homes.

Evie (almost 4 years old) and Ace (1.5 years old) joined the shelters at different times and now await loving families.

Grace Murray of Ithaca College won the floor exercise title at the NGCA Championships at SUNY Cortland on March 20, ending her career on a high note.

She became the 37th Bomber national champion and joined a legacy of 60 individual titles (with a season-best 9.85) before retiring.

Junior forward Jonathan Castagna signed an NHL entry-level contract with the Calgary Flames on Monday — forgoing his final year at Cornell — and will join the Calgary Wranglers on a tryout agreement for the remainder of the season, a move that prompts roster adjustments for the local team.

Coach Ray Hage returns at Ithaca High as the girls flag football team seeks its first Section IV championship; after a win in Horseheads on March 26, experienced captains Aicha Cisse and Chloe Boyer guide a hopeful squad following challenging seasons.

The new season shows promise.

Junior defenseman Hoyt Stanley signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Ottawa Senators on Monday+ he will join their Belleville AHL affiliate on an amateur tryout for the rest of the season, ending his college career.

The Lord of The Rings: The Fellowship of The Ring Screening

6:00 – 11:59 PM — State Theatre of Ithaca — Ticket information not provided — Experience the epic journey of a meek Hobbit and his companions to save Middle-earth.

Ithaca D.I.Y. Festival

5:30-11:30 p.m. — Ithaca — Free entry — Celebrate the local music scene with performances from vibrant local and college bands.

Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana

7:30-9:00 p.m. — Bailey Hall — Check event page for pricing — Experience the vibrant fusion of cultures through Flamenco in a captivating new production.

Kendall Street Company Concert

7-11:30 p.m. — The Nocturnal Café — $15 adv/$20 dos — Experience an eclectic rock show filled with humor and musical improvisation.

John Butler Concert

8:00 – 9:30 PM — State Theatre of Ithaca — Ticket prices vary — Experience the rhythmic brilliance of John Butler live as he showcases his latest album PRISM.

One Night With You: Elvis Dinner Show

6-8 p.m. — K-HOUSE Karaoke & Arts Hub — $35 per person — Enjoy an evening of Elvis' classic songs and storytelling paired with a delicious dinner in an intimate setting.