clarkson @ cornell, ecachl second round chatter

[Will]

[quote Rich S]As for drinking, we need to start early in the day so that we can hit my favorite watering hole in Binghamton on the way.  Good drink, good grub, and best of all perhaps....no annoying faithful.....lol.[/quote]

So, what's the name of this place? :-P

[ninian '72]

Depends on where you are in Westchester.  It's been a long time, but it used to take about 4.5 hours from Eastchester to Ithaca.  No major road changes in intervening years.

[ninian '72]

[quote Bio '04]Definitely lots of complaining on that board, but I have to admit that this possible shirt slogan was funny, especially with all the talk about the lack of scoring:

Cornell Hockey. Offense is Offensive.

[/quote]

Even Better: "Only the Pope scores More."

Faithful, be ready...

[nyc94]

[quote ninian '72]Depends on where you are in Westchester.  It's been a long time, but it used to take about 4.5 hours from Eastchester to Ithaca.  No major road changes in intervening years.[/quote]

Not to start another 200 post thread about driving to Ithaca but I have made it from just south of Danbury, CT to Ithaca in 3 and half hours.  ::uhoh::  In these instances I would wait about 45 minutes before calling home to say I had arrived "safely".  Anyway, the biggest factor is how long it takes you to get to whatever highway you plan on taking (I-84?) and how many tractors you get stuck behind on Route 79 into Ithaca.  The closer it gets to game time the more cars you'll encounter on 79.  I just made it for the anthems at the Nov. 2004 Harvard game.

[ninian '72]

[quote nyc94]Not to start another 200 post thread about driving to Ithaca ...[/quote]

Not my intention.  Just providing him with a frame of reference from a spot in south central Westchester.

[Bio '04]

[quote nyc94]The closer it gets to game time the more cars you'll encounter on 79.  I just made it for the anthems at the Nov. 2004 Harvard game.[/quote]

That sounds like my experience when I drove up with Molly.  We were trying to get to that game in time for warmups but were relieved to get there by the anthems (I think).  Lesson learned- leave before noon if coming from DC because driving through Harrisburg is a real pain.

[nyc94]

[quote ninian '72][quote nyc94]Not to start another 200 post thread about driving to Ithaca ...[/quote]

Not my intention.  Just providing him with a frame of reference from a spot in south central Westchester.[/quote]

I was actually referring to my own post dragging this out further. :-)

[oceanst41]

That one strikes me as a bit off. Shouldn't it be "only the Pope scores less" or "even the Pope scores more"?

They are trying to insinuate that Cornell can't score, and by saying only the Pope scores more that's leaving out every other team - shouldn't they all score more than Cornell if "offense is offensive."

I think that makes sense in my head  ::nut::

[Tom Lento]

[quote RichH]Pregame, I suggest Ruloff's on College Ave.  Right near the entrance to campus, and walkable to Lynah...they also have food.  The Nines is another block down the road, and has good deep-dish pizza as well as beer...but you have to wait a long time for pizza, usually.

Post-game...I love the Chapter House on Stewart Ave. [/quote]

I hate Ruloff's, but maybe that's just me.  The burgers are probably best in Ithaca outside of making them yourself, I have to give them that, but I avoid it.  Maybe I'm more crochety than I thought. . .

The secret to The Nines, if you're in a hurry, is to call ahead for take out.  That usually takes 20 minutes or so, but I'm not sure how they'll take it if you then try to eat there - maybe you can eat it at the bar.  If it's not too crowded I dont think they'd care much.  If you're running late, you can grab the box and go eat at the game.

If you want a quick sit-down meal you can try the Souvlaki House on Eddy Street, down the block from Dunbars.  They only have cheap mass-market beer, if that's an issue, but I hear they have the best Chicago-style pizza in town.  Vietnam Restaurant on Dryden Road, half a block uphill from College Ave, has no booze, but it's the best bang for your buck in Ithaca provided you're not allergic to MSG.  

Avoid all Chinese and Thai food in Collegetown.  It's cheap, quick, and TERRIBLE.

One more option, somewhat more expensive than everything (excpet Ruloff's) mentioned, is Aladdin's Natural Eatery on Dryden Road, half a block down the hill from College Ave.  If you're into Mediterranean-ish food with lots of vegetarian options, then it's a good place for you.  I think they have a decent beer/wine list, but I could be wrong about that - I only really go in there when I have to have a falafel sandwich.  I can't even tell you if they're good falafels - I'm just addicted to them.

Post-Game, the Chappy used to be my favorite bar, but beware the live music.  Recently it's always been packed (no music), incredibly loud (bad music), or both (decent music).  If there's music on Friday/Saturday, expect a cover (usually between 5 and 10 dollars).  Honestly, the best day to go is Monday/Tuesday - I think those are no music nights where it's not too crowded.

Good lord, I am getting crochety, and way before my time, too.   ::help::

[RichH]

[quote Tom Lento]
I hate Ruloff's, but maybe that's just me.  The burgers are probably best in Ithaca outside of making them yourself, I have to give them that, but I avoid it.  [/quote]

Despite the fact that you didn't give any reasons for your dislike, I'll leave it to Drew & company to make their choice.  I'm no regular at Ruloff's either, but I suggested it for our Clarkson friends because 1) it's not too deep into Collegetown and convenient to campus 2) it has a good kitchen during the day if they want snacks with their beer, and 3) it feels like a bar, as opposed to a restaurant that serves beer.  The Palms and Dinos don't have that "pregame beer" type feeling for me.  Collegetown Bagels still doesn't feel like a place to have a beer to me.  I think Ruloff's was voted one of the top college bars (or something like that) by Playboy magazine.

[Q]Post-Game, the Chappy used to be my favorite bar, but beware the live music.  Recently it's always been packed (no music), incredibly loud (bad music), or both (decent music).  If there's music on Friday/Saturday, expect a cover (usually between 5 and 10 dollars).  Honestly, the best day to go is Monday/Tuesday - I think those are no music nights where it's not too crowded.[/Q]

Good point.  They usually have a band/cover charge on Saturday nights.  Friday nights are usually clear.  A couple of us went to CH after the Dartmouth game (Friday), and got a table in the back room.  We had plenty of room and there wasn't a noise problem at all.  But hey, maybe people would be up for checking out part of the local music scene for $5.  A check of their website shows that there's a band (CD release party) on Saturday night.
http://www.chapterhouseithaca.com/

Good lord, I am getting crochety, and way before my time, too.
  ::help::

Don't worry, Tom.  It happens to the best of us.  :-)

[DeltaOne81]

[quote Tom Lento]
Avoid all Chinese and Thai food in Collegetown.  It's cheap, quick, and TERRIBLE.
[/quote]

I have no issue with the sit down portion of Little Thai House. I mean, its not Thai Cuisine or even Taste of Thai, but its fine. The takeout portion is, well, eh... but in college, at that price and amount of food, it was a hell of a deal

Chinese... yeah, just don't. Collegetown Korean though is pretty good.

[jtwcornell91]

[quote RichH] A couple of us went to CH after the Dartmouth game (Friday), and got a table in the back room.  We had plenty of room and there wasn't a noise problem at all.[/quote]

IIRC there were no empty tables, though, and we basically had to squat at a six-person table that already had a couple at the other end.

And then three hours later Hermo phoned me and called me a pussy for being in bed and not at Dunbar's. :-P

[Tom Lento]

[quote RichH]

Despite the fact that you didn't give any reasons for your dislike, I'll leave it to Drew & company to make their choice.  I'm no regular at Ruloff's either, but I suggested it for our Clarkson friends because 1) it's not too deep into Collegetown and convenient to campus 2) it has a good kitchen during the day if they want snacks with their beer, and 3) it feels like a bar, as opposed to a restaurant that serves beer.  The Palms and Dinos don't have that "pregame beer" type feeling for me.  Collegetown Bagels still doesn't feel like a place to have a beer to me.  I think Ruloff's was voted one of the top college bars (or something like that) by Playboy magazine.
[/quote]

I was going to give reasons, but I thought I'd go on for too long.  Apart from the burgers I think the food isn't good, and it's expensive for what you get.  Plus they used to gouge you at the bar if you ordered anything darker than Budweiser ($25 for a pitcher of Harp?  Are you kidding me?).  Besides, the last time I was in there was for the 2003 FF game with UHN.  Bad times. . .   In short - I just personally dislike the place.  YMMV.  I suppose I should've been more clear about that.  

Chappy - folks interested in the local music scene should definitely go if there's a decent band (what's decent I leave up to you - the CD release group has some talented guys in it, but I don't know anything about the group as a whole).  Folks interested in chatting with other hockey fans should probably avoid it if there's a band.  It's nice to know it hasn't been mobbed on recent Fridays - maybe it's settled down a bit, so I retract my other crochety statement.

Whatever you do, drive safe, enjoy the games, and have a beer for me!

[RichS]

It's Southside Yanni's on the southside of Binghamton.  Casual place with a bit of a sports bar feel (TVs and memorabilia). Some Greek food but plenty of other stuff at reasonable prices.  Pretty decent selection of beers.  Always a great atmosphere and congenial crowd when I've been there on Friday or Saturday nights.

Are you familiar with Binghamton?  I have no idea if I'll get up there in time for a mid afternoon Sat stop, probably not, but after the game is more likely.  Depends on a few things, all of which are up in the air.

The owners are family friends so behave if you go.  ;-)

I always run into old HS buddies when I go so I'm hoping.

[RichH]

[quote Tom Lento]
I was going to give reasons, but I thought I'd go on for too long.  Apart from the burgers I think the food isn't good, and it's expensive for what you get.  Plus they used to gouge you at the bar if you ordered anything darker than Budweiser ($25 for a pitcher of Harp?  Are you kidding me?). [/quote]

*hat zings comically off of head*  

Wow.  Well, at least they have Harp available on tap for them to gouge you.  :-)  Their website advertises $6 pitchers of Rolling Rock (cough), and I remember having pints of mid-range beers like Yuengling, Labatt's, and Saranac for $2-3.  OK, I'll stop being a shill for Ruloff's now, since it's not high on my list of favorite bars anyway.

Oh, and other reasons to like Chapter House: you don't feel out of place if you're older than 22, tasty free popcorn, and bubble hockey.