Cornell Food and Brand Lab Internship
Summer 2013
Housing
Housing is not provided by Cornell University, so unless you find
some secret loophole, you will not be living on campus. However,
since it is a college town there are hundreds of students gone for
the summer, hoping to sublease their apartments and often at low
prices. Checkout some listings at:
These offer a wide selection of options that will allow you to live alone in a single apartment, or live with others, either from Ithaca or from the internship program, in multi-bedroom apartments. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with other interns to look for housing together! When you are looking for housing though, keep in mind the distance from Cornell. Most interns end up in Collegetown and the surrounding area because of the short walk to the lab (10-20 minutes). Just be sure to check out the walking distance on Mapquest before selecting a place, or have backup transportation in mind. Speaking of which…
Transportation
Around Ithaca: Walking is the most convenient method for getting around Ithaca and to the lab. Some do choose to bike, but keep in mind that Ithaca is very hilly. If you plan on driving to the lab, plan on having to pay for parking since it is a college campus. There are some meters or you can get a visitor pass for $10/day. Checkout more information regarding parking at here. It’s not necessary to have a car in Ithaca and you can get around without one, but it certainly does make some things a bit easier. There are some dining options, coffee shops and bars in Collegetown if you choose to live in that area that are a short walking distance. Yet, most likely, you’ll need to take the bus, or drive, to get to a main grocery store for anything but necessities. These grocery stores and larger shopping areas tend to be located on Rt. 13, which is a 10 minute drive from most housing areas. The bus does go to these areas, as well as all throughout the college campus, and is $1.50 per ride. Routes and schedules can be found here, as well as maps of the area here and here.
To Ithaca and beyond: There is an airport in Ithaca! Ithaca-Tompkins Regional Airport is located 10 minutes from campus and downtown at 72 Brown Road, Ithaca. They have three major carriers: Continental Connection, USAirways and Delta. For other flying options there is also Hancock International Airport Syracuse an 80-minute drive to Ithaca and Greater Binghamton Airport Johnson City, a 70-minute drive to Ithaca. Aside from flying, there is Amtrak's Syracuse Station, an 80-minute drive to Ithaca as well as many buses, Greyhound Bus Lines, New York Trailways, Shortline Bus, and Swarthout Coaches.
Hotels
Area events cause lodging to fill up quickly. Make lodging reservations before you arrive. Below are a few options 1-3 miles from Cornell
Best Western University Inn
1020 Ellis Hollow Road (East Hill Plaza)
607.272.6100
800.937.8376
Hillside Inn
518 Stewart Ave. (Collegetown)
607.272.9507
607.273.6864
Downtown Hilton Garden Inn
130 E. Seneca St.
607.277.8900
877.782.9444
Downtown Holiday Inn Ithaca
222 S. Cayuga St.
607.272.1000
800.HOL.IDAY
Weather
Ithaca summers can be cool and sunny, hot and humid, or rainy so plan ahead and be prepared for anything. Bring clothing suitable for hot days and cooler nights, as well as an umbrella. We recommend bringing a fan or looking for a place with air conditioning, as the humidity can be oppressive some days.
And now, drumroll please, what you’ve all been waiting for…THE FUN STUFF!
Although the summer won’t be all fun and games, in between long days at the lab and nights working on papers, the group will fit in some fun activities – we promise! Think mini-golf, shooting zombies, watching movies at the Drive-In Theater and eating dinner at the lake. Aside from these organized activities, we highly recommend exploring the area on your own or with other interns as a much-needed break from work.
First, to set things straight, Collegetown and the Commons are not the same place. Collegetown is, as you can tell from the name, a short walking distance from campus. This is a smaller area with apartment buildings, coffee shops, restaurants, and bars – your typical college hang out spots. The Commons is a pedestrian “mall” located in “downtown” Ithaca. This is a larger area and has more of a touristy feel with shops, galleries, restaurants and bars. Both have some great places!
Grocery Stores
You may wonder why grocery stores are under the list of fun things, but if you’ve never been to a Wegmans before you could certainly entertain yourself for an entire afternoon. Be sure to check it out, as well as some of the smaller stores below.
Wegmans
500 S Meadow St
Ithaca
(607) 277-5800
Open 24/7
Tops
710 S Meadow St
Ithaca
(607) 275-8041
P&C Fresh
315 Pine Tree Road,
Ithaca
(607) 272-5836
GreenStar Natural Foods Market
215 N Cayuga St
Ithaca
(607) 273-2917
Dining
Ithaca was named one of Bon Appetit's Foodiest Towns for 2010. Check out lists of options at:
Ithaca also has tons of ice cream and frozen yogurt places for those looking for sweets.
Some personal favorites include:
Agava Restaurant (Southwest-Inspired food, some of which can be on the pricier side)
Viva Taqueria & Cantina (cheaper, classic Mexican food)
Ithaca Bakery (baked goods and coffee, but also great sandwiches, soups and prepared foods)
Collegetown Bagels (owned by the same people as Ithaca Bakery, with the same menu, but with more of a college feel – located in Collegetown and the Commons)
Waffle Frolic (your typical Waffle Bar, also serving grilled cheese and sandwiches – located in the Commons)
Aladdin’s Natural Eatery (good Meditteranean food for dine in or take out – located in Collegetown)
Purity Ice Cream (your typical ice cream shop, founded in 1936)
Shopping
Route 13
Route 13 is made up of a line of shopping plazas that are home to a number of larger, nationwide stores such as Walmart, Kohls, Barnes and Noble, Michaels and GNC. This is also where Wegmans and Tops are located, as well as a number of chain restaurants, frozen yogurt shops and drugstores.
The Commons is home to a number of unique shops, selling everything imaginable.
This is Ithaca’s closest enclosed shopping mall and is about a 10-minute drive from campus and Collegetown. The nearest Target is also located at the mall.
Movie Theaters
Cinemapolis (A small theatre showing independent movies – located in the Commons)
Regal Cinemas (Shows the larger, popular movies – located at the mall)
Other fun things to do
Open Saturdays and Sundays, filled with vendors selling prepared foods, local foods, clothing and more. (Personal Recommendation: Khmer Angkor Cambodian Food – they sell amazing Cambodian food and always have a long line, but it’s well worth the wait!)
Gardens, ponds, a visitor’s center and more! Perfect place to visit on a summer weekend.
The Finger Lakes are fairly well-known for their wine, with a number of wineries in the area.
Performing arts space, home to a number of performances throughout the summer.
Gorges and Hiking
Ithaca certainly lives up to the claim that ‘Ithaca is Gorges.’ There’s a bunch of nearby gorges and trails to hike or swim. Taughannock Falls State Park in particular is home to one of the highest falls east of the Rocky Mountains and is located 25 minutes north of Ithaca. Not all are as far though, Buttermilk Falls State Park is only a short drive as well as many others that can be found here or here.
Cayuga Lake
Ithaca is located on Cayuga Lake, which means in addition to gorges, there are parks and beaches on the lake. You can swim (although the water isn’t the cleanest), rent kayaks, canoes and paddleboards or enjoy a refreshing picnic.
Events
Even though most students are gone for the summer, there are still a number of events in Ithaca!
Some include:
Free, summer festival in early June
GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance
Music festival at Trumansburg Fairgrounds in late July, also featuring vendors and activities – tickets can be purchased in advance or at the gate
The Downtown Summer Concert Series
Free, live music in the Commons every Thursday evening in the summer months
Cornell continues to host a number of lectures, performances and concerts in the summer, many of which are free!
There are frequently performances, concerts and daily events in the area that can be found online.
For more information about Ithaca. checkout: Visit Ithaca or Downtown Ithaca.
Nearby Cities
In case nothing in Ithaca interests you or you want to see more of the surrounding area during weekends or a week off, there are a number of cities in driving distance.
Syracuse
Syracuse is the closest city to Ithaca, and is a little over an hour away. It is home to shopping, including Destiny USA, one of the state’s largest malls, museums, landmarks and a number of events.
Niagara Falls, Canada
Niagara Falls is just over a three-hour drive away and is one of the most photographed places of the world. Not only are the falls a spectacular sight, but also there are countless attractions in Ontario.
New York City
New York is approximately four hours away and there are frequent busses traveling to the city from Ithaca.
Life in Ithaca,NY
So you’re thinking about applying to the Food and Brand Lab, but are worried about living in Middle-of-Nowhere-Upstate, New York for a summer? Don’t fret! Even though your work goes home with you each night and you’ll often feel you need to work 24/7, we still manage to find hours in the day to have fun in good ol’ Ithaca.
But first, some basics...
