Are you worried about the electrical grid near you staying reliable? Depending on where you live, you might occasionally have a brownout or blip in your power, or your electricity might go out for hours or even days until NYSEG crews can get to your neighborhood.
Those outages can affect just a few homes in the event of a power line being knocked down, or dozens or hundreds of homes, or even most of the region, and they can come from something as small as a vehicle crash, flooding in a neighborhood, or a big storm.
Are you thinking about buying a gizmo to help you get through those power outages? Jackery and Anker, two of the big companies with portable batteries to provide power at home, are having a Memorial Day sale right now! But some of the details aren’t clear in the product descriptions, so let me lay out some organized info for you.
A power station functions like a big rechargeable battery. You can plug it into your normal wall outlet to charge it, then unplug it (and maybe take it to the beach) and use it to run a radio and a fan for hours and also charge your phone.
Solar panels turn sunlight into electricity but don’t store anything.
A solar generator is a power station plus solar panels that are compatible with each other.
So you’ll see power stations that are cheaper than solar generators even if they have similar specifications. Check if the thing with the good price says it comes with solar panels.
Note: We’re only touching on the power supply aspect of preparing for power outages, but there are other things worth thinking about, such as food and water supplies, and backup cooking and lighting options, that have been covered in 14850 Magazine in the past.
Related: Emergency preparedness for the next round of weather crises
I am terrible at remembering electrical terms. I made notes while deciding what size solar generator to buy for myself, then promptly forgot again. So it is possible for you to make this decision without knowing watts from widgets.
Every electrical appliance has an amount of energy (per hour) that keeps it running and another amount (usually higher) that can get it started running. Some are required to say the exact amount on them, but if you go to web pages selling new ones you can get the ballpark range.
Then compare that with what the power stations can output.
A power station that can run your coffee maker or microwave might not be able to start them. Many power stations are rated to supply a higher “surge” for the first moment when your appliance is active.
If you did that comparison you probably learned that a solar generator powerful enough to run your refrigerator for a few days and start your coffee maker costs a boatload of money.
Things that heat and cool use much, much more electricity than other things. I recommend finding non-powered things to replace those functions during a long power outage. We have a well-insulated cooler, a French press, and a small camping stove that runs on sticks. If you have a dorm-style mini-fridge you usually keep drinks in, you may be able to keep that powered much longer than your kitchen refrigerator if you’d like to make sure some key perishables don’t go bad. Or, replacing a 20-year-old kitchen refrigerator with a new model might mean you need much less electricity to run it year-round, and can power it more effectively (i.e. for longer) from a power station.
I bought a Jackery solar generator that can run a box fan most of the day or my husband’s CPAP all night. Look at the prices for solar generators that can run what you need to survive, not just the ones so big that they’ll run everything you want to be comfortable. Buying when there’s a sale might mean you can afford more capacity.
Solar panels are slow. The power station part of my solar generator can charge completely from zero in about an hour when plugged into a working wall outlet, but it takes 15 hours of strong sunlight to charge it from the solar panels. 
Keep in mind that many of the weather conditions that result in power outages mean you may not have strong sunlight for a few days. You can recharge with solar panels on a grey day, but it’ll take longer. Another weather note: some of the solar panels and cables offered by these companies aren’t water-resistant or safe to use in rainy weather, but some models do say their solar panels can be used outdoors in inclement weather.
Consider buying two power stations, at least one with solar panels, so you can have one outside charging while you’re using the other one inside. Alternatively you can crack a window to run the charging cable to the panels outside while you’re using the power station inside.
Some power stations also come with a car charger adapter so you can recharge the power station from your running car, using the “accessory port” (formerly cigarette lighter) in the car. (Make sure your car is running outdoors, not in a garage, and has plenty of ventilation around it, so fumes won’t get into your home.)
If you’ve got an EV (electric vehicle) with a big enough battery, such as the Ford F-150 Lightning, you may even be able to use that as your power station to power your house (or at least select circuits) in “reverse charging” mode.
Related: Lightning strikes twice: The all-electric Ford F-150
Look at how heavy and how big they are. Think about where you’re going to store it between power outages. Some batteries are fire hazards so you want it where you can check on it easily if you smell something, so don’t plan to store it at the bottom of a pile of other stuff.
Look at whether it’s happier if it’s depleted completely each time or happier if it’s continually charged above 30%. Can you find a way to use it every week instead of only during power outages?
One way to reduce the need for higher-capacity power stations, i.e. more expensive and heavier batteries, is to use smaller, less-expensive tools for smaller, simpler tasks they’re designed for.
You can provide some backup lighting in a couple of rooms by installing solar path lights outdoors, and bringing them indoors during a power outage. Most such path lights will provide at least a few hours of evening slow, and they can be brought outside in the morning to recharge in daylight.
Camping gear like a solar rechargeable lantern will come in handy to light up a room, as well. The Duracell 3000L lantern can recharge from a wall outlet or its built-in solar panel, or can run from D batteries. As with the solar path lights, you can use the lantern indoors at night and let it do some recharging outdoors in daylight hours. The Duracell can also recharge your phone or tablet with a USB cable, or with (slow, but better than nothing) Qi wireless charging.
If you buy one brand power station on sale and another brand solar panels on sale you might have to buy cables and adapters to get them to work together.
Buying a whole solar generator of the same brand from the same company eliminates that need for meticulous fiddling.
Jackery and Anker are two of the big brands in portable power stations, and they both have sharp discounts for “Early Amazon Prime Days.” The sales include power stations alone as well as solar generators, the power stations matched with solar panels.
Locally, our Agway stores carry EGO power stations, which are designed to use the same removable EGO batteries you might use for your electric lawn mower or hedge trimmer.
For longer periods without electricity, the big advantage of a gas generator is that it can keep providing power effectively forever, as long as you can keep providing fuel. They’re dirtier, noisier, and inherently more dangerous, though. Westinghouse makes respected gas-only generators and dual-fuel generators (for gas or propane), but keep in mind that these must be run outdoors, never indoors or near an open window.
These power stations are a relatively new product category, but there’s a much older form of big battery that you may already have heard of, an uninterruptible power supply, or UPS. They’ve been common for years in offices where it was important to keep the file server up and running, but they’re also great at home. The key feature is that the stuff’s always plugged into them, so if there’s a power outage, the battery kicks in so quickly that the power to your stuff isn’t interrupted.
You can use a UPS to power your cable modem and Wi-Fi router all the time, maybe another for your TiVo or cable company DVR and even your TV (though that may use up the battery pretty quickly). A “pure sine wave” UPS may be important for the electronic controller of your pellet stove, which can otherwise keep heating your house for days, since the heat’s coming from burning pellets, not from the electricity in your battery. Of course you can also plug your laptop or phone into a UPS to recharge, and you can even plug your UPS into a bigger power station or generator to recharge the UPS.
Installing solar panels for regular use is great for reducing your electric bill, but they won’t give you power during a power outage unless you have an expensive “transfer switch” installed at the same time that’s designed to disconnect your home’s power from the grid, either manually or automatically, during an outage.
The gizmo that does that disconnecting is not something you can buy at Agway or Lowe’s and install in an afternoon. It’s not even something electricians or solar panel companies are likely to be willing to install for you after-the-fact.
The same sort of transfer switch is used when you have a gas generator to provide backup power to your whole home, or if your portable power station is big enough to do more than power a couple of accessories.
Jackery has a new “HomePower” line that’s intended to be big enough to power a lot of the stuff in your house, even your full-size refrigerator, for a couple of days. The Solar Generator HomePower 3000 is available with or without solar panels.
You can use it as a UPS, or uninterruptible power supply, by keeping a few things plugged into it all the time. That’s inconvenient if your refrigerator and your Internet gear don’t live in the same room, but I can imagine keeping the fridge plugged in all the time for uninterrupted power in the event of an outage when you’re not at home, and then carefully running an extension cord to plug in a couple more essentials, or to recharge your smaller power stations.
Alternatively, there’s an optional manual transfer switch for the HomePower that must be wired into your home’s electrical panel (a simpler project than the solar panel transfer switch, but still something a licensed electrician should do) that lets you flip a switch during an outage to supply stored electricity from your HomePower to up to six circuits in your house. You’d want to turn off anything unnecessary, but this could mean you’d have power to your kitchen for fridge and coffeemaker, to your living room for your Internet gear and to power your laptop, a fan, even a small TV, and to the bathroom so you don’t have to take a shower in the dark. You might be able to power your home’s water pump and the electronic controller for your gas furnace, too.
It’s easy to go overboard and spend thousands of dollars on equipment to supply your home with backup power, but the good news is that you can start small and think about what really needs to stay powered as opposed to trying to cover everything in the house that you use on a normal day. 
If you can make do with a big enough UPS or power station to keep the Internet on and keep a CPAP working for a few nights, that’s pretty affordable. You can always add more and bigger batteries later, whenever you’ve got some bucks to spare and whenever there’s another sale. (There’s always another sale.)
Editor’s Note: This article is an expansion of an overview Karen wrote for her friends on social media. Anything you like about it, you can credit her! Anything you dislike about it was probably added by me. As always, some links to products are affiliate links that earn us a small commission if you make a purchase, at no cost to you. — MHA
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Wegmans opened the WKids childcare space at its Ithaca store in 1997, and it’s closing this week after a steady decline in usage in recent years, the supermarket chain says. “While many parents with small […]
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I write to you out of urgency as Cornell University, whose campus sits on our east hill, is putting into motion a plan to bring thousands of students from around the world back to our region in a fashion that will spread the COVID 19 virus in our community. […]
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The annual Spring Writes Literary Festival kicks off Thursday off with four days of events from May 7 – May 10 packed with group readings of poetry, prose, and memoir; panels on writings, genre, and timely topics; creative writing workshops for all ages and experience levels; performances by a local theatre troupe and senior storytellers; a reading and an open mic with local teens; creative writing as a family activity, evening performances, and even a Survivor-style literary showdown!
Events are at the Ithaca Downtown Conference Center, Buffalo Street Books, the Tompkins County Public Library, Lot 10, Liquid State Brewery, and the Cherry Arts.
You can check out all the details and RSVP here: https://springwrites.org/
Experience the thrill of the NASCAR Cup Series at Watkins Glen International!
Top NASCAR drivers take on the legendary 2.45-mile road course, racing wheel-to-wheel in high-speed action around every twist and turn.
Your ticket gets you access to the heart of the track, with opportunities to explore fan zones, watch the pit crews in action, and soak up the full race-day atmosphere.
Tickets and Camping are On Sale NOW!
Details and tickets: https://www.theglen.com/events/nascar-cup-series/
Join us at Taverna Banfi for a Mother’s Day filled with delicious flavors, beautiful moments, and time well spent together. Reservations are now open, secure your table today!
Reservations required, call 607-254-2624
Sunday, May 10, 2026
Seating Available 9:30am – 2:00pm
$73 Adult | $35 Children 5-9 Years of Age
Free for Children 4 and Under
Learn More: https://statlerhotel.cornell.edu/mothers-day
Join with Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/afk-bkem-jvn
Or dial: (US) +1 252-346-6323 PIN: 732490681#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/afk-bkem-jvn?pin=6789867964463&hs=7
Learn more about Meet at: https://support.google.com/a/users/answer/9282720
Join with Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/afk-bkem-jvn
Learn more about Meet at: https://support.google.com/a/users/answer/9282720
Join us at Taverna Banfi for a Mother’s Day filled with delicious flavors, beautiful moments, and time well spent together. Reservations are now open, secure your table today!
Reservations required, call 607-254-2624
Sunday, May 10, 2026
Seating Available 9:30am – 2:00pm
$73 Adult | $35 Children 5-9 Years of Age
Free for Children 4 and Under
Learn More: https://statlerhotel.cornell.edu/mothers-day
Join with Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/afk-bkem-jvn
Or dial: (US) +1 252-346-6323 PIN: 732490681#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/afk-bkem-jvn?pin=6789867964463&hs=7
Learn more about Meet at: https://support.google.com/a/users/answer/9282720
Featuring a $7 waffle, with berry compote and whipped cream, plus a $3 side of sausage or bacon, $5 mimosas and a free chocolate covered strawberry for your mom! You won’t find a better way to celebrate with your mama.
Join with Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/oai-cxmv-ber
Or dial: (US) +1 740-478-2267 PIN: 344497765#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/oai-cxmv-ber?pin=1789918561290&hs=7
Learn more about Meet at: https://support.google.com/a/users/answer/9282720
We’re offering a curated brunch experience featuring:
Four chef-crafted brunch selections
A beautifully styled grazing table
Fresh, seasonal ingredients throughout
🥂 Bottomless Mimosas available
Reservations required: https://sheldrakepoint.com/point-of-flavor-bistro/?mc_cid=e22f9d59d2&mc_eid=105c15f234
Join with Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/dij-zswa-qjz
Or dial: (US) +1 347-614-2180 PIN: 593014529#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/dij-zswa-qjz?pin=4963130676320&hs=7
Learn more about Meet at: https://support.google.com/a/users/answer/9282720
Join with Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/dij-zswa-qjz
Learn more about Meet at: https://support.google.com/a/users/answer/9282720
We’re offering a curated brunch experience featuring:
Four chef-crafted brunch selections
A beautifully styled grazing table
Fresh, seasonal ingredients throughout
🥂 Bottomless Mimosas available
Reservations required: https://sheldrakepoint.com/point-of-flavor-bistro/?mc_cid=e22f9d59d2&mc_eid=105c15f234
Join with Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/dij-zswa-qjz
Or dial: (US) +1 347-614-2180 PIN: 593014529#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/dij-zswa-qjz?pin=4963130676320&hs=7
Learn more about Meet at: https://support.google.com/a/users/answer/9282720
Noon til gone! Full dinner with salt potatoes and mac salad $13. Half dinner $8.
Join with Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/qor-avfg-cfo
Or dial: (US) +1 424-290-1963 PIN: 183152695#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/qor-avfg-cfo?pin=6692250732785&hs=7
Learn more about Meet at: https://support.google.com/a/users/answer/9282720
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Noon til gone! Full dinner with salt potatoes and mac salad $13. Half dinner $8.
Join with Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/qor-avfg-cfo
Or dial: (US) +1 424-290-1963 PIN: 183152695#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/qor-avfg-cfo?pin=6692250732785&hs=7
Learn more about Meet at: https://support.google.com/a/users/answer/9282720
The concert will include a performance of Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 in E minor, “From the New World,” one of the most popular symphonies ever written.
 
Conductor Aaron Burgess will also lead the 80-member orchestra in performances of Aaron Copland’s An Outdoor Overture and Franz Schubert’s Symphony No. 3 in D Major.
 
A suggested donation of $8 is requested at the door, and children are free.
No cover.
Come join us for a traditional Irish music session at Liquid State Brewing! This is a monthly open session on the second Sunday of each month. An Irish session is a community gathering where we all play tunes together. Anyone who plays Irish tunes is welcome to bring their fiddle / whistle / flute / concertina / whatever it might be! Or just stop by and listen. We’ll be making plenty of raucous noise, playing reels, jigs, polkas (!!), slip jigs, and more!! Liquid State has lots of amazing beer and they also have great non-alcoholic drinks. There’s good food too (usually from the Silo food truck folks).
Come dance with us!  Don’t know how to dance?  We’ll show you!  
These dances are free, open to the public, and all ages are invited. The Lansing Community Center is air conditioned with a wood floor.  Square dancing is a low impact aerobic activity that stimulates both the mind and body. Our dancers learn and enjoy Modern Western Square Dance steps used all over the world and dance to a wide variety of popular music. The dancing is easy and fun for people of any age. These dances are FREE and open to all.  Come alone or with a partner.  No special dancing skills are required and beginners are always welcome!
A prix-fixe meal, priced at $14 a person, with a rotating menu and drink specials. Homey atmosphere with a great selection of beers on tap, a variety of tasty local wines, with sandwiches, snacks and other market goods also available. Menu coming soon!
Join with Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/wwq-xvgq-xmp
Or dial: (US) +1 650-667-3786 PIN: 866378469#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/wwq-xvgq-xmp?pin=8821727240388&hs=7
Learn more about Meet at: https://support.google.com/a/users/answer/9282720
$5
All ages welcome.
Beginners class
Wear comfortable shoes.
Bring water.
Get ready for fun, fun, fun!
Line dance is not only great exercise, it is excellent for improving memory and concentration. Your brain will love it!
See you on the dance floor!
Veggies, fruits, mushrooms, flowers, dairy & cheese, meats, honey/maple/jams, breads/pastries, body care, eggs, coffee/tea, cider/wine/beer. Live music, food, weekly programming, kids activities.
DeWayne Perry and the What’s Cookin’ Jazz Trio play their styling tunes every other week. A $20 burger & a pint deal helps to round out the evening. No cover, but please tip the jazz band!
Join with Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/tpp-babj-kxj
Or dial: (US) +1 405-534-5960 PIN: 257945069#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/tpp-babj-kxj?pin=7641117769980&hs=7
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Join us at the Library for a workshop addressing your questions on DIY plumbing repairs that you may encounter at your home. From leaking toilets to changing a sink faucet, you can come and ask your questions to a knowledgeable neighbor!
Let’s cultivate shared creativity! Come on down to share your song or story! Nocturnal Cafe, formerly Sacred Root Kava Lounge, welcomes you to experience our weekly Open Mic Nite hosted by a rotating cast of talented artists including Aria Dawn, Karlee Weaver, Mary Brett Lorson and Laik Uticone. Showcase your talents and enjoy the experience of creative connection. BULA!
Come join the team from Talume Brewing, housed at Hopshire Farms, and taste some of their newest brews. Thursday night is also Neverending Happy Hour at Brookton’s – our happy hour drink specials are live from 4p until close!
Join with Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/vhk-gawg-svf
Or dial: (US) +1 929-277-5806 PIN: 742788770#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/vhk-gawg-svf?pin=4884673585163&hs=7
Learn more about Meet at: https://support.google.com/a/users/answer/9282720
Every second and fourth Thursday, join host Dean Johnson for an Open Mic where you bring your own songs, poetry or stand up to wow the crowd. Totally relaxed & encouraging environment.
Opus Ithaca School of Music presents a Faculty Recital on May 15 at 6 p.m. Free, with donations appreciated to support the Opus Scholarship Fund. You’ll enjoy a wide variety of repertoire performed by Alexei Aceto, Cathryn Gaylord, Andi Merrill, Paige Morgan, Juliana Pepinsky, Ryan Reilly, Liz Shuhan, Sera Smolen, Asher Wulfman, and James Zabawa-Martinez. Program includes works by Bozza, Brahms, Dring, Gaylord, Liszt, Stravinsky, and more.
Doors at 7pm, Small Kings 7:30pm, Nectar 8:30-10:30pm. $10 Cover.
New beer releases, food from Fittnell BBQ, dotCU, and Gelato da Enzo, and music from What’s Cookin’, the Amalgamators, Cisco PL and the Soulbenders, and Deejay DJenn.
Come to Rootstock and be inspired!
Rootstock, the premier youth music festival in the Finger Lakes, will be held at the Bernie Milton Pavillion on the Ithaca Commons from 12-5 p.m. on Saturday, May 16th.
Sponsored and organized by New Roots Charter School and GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance, Rootstock features solo acts, bands, and dance troupes with styles ranging from hiphop to punk to jazz. The event will also feature young entrepreneurs offering their handmade products at the Youth Entrepreneurship Market.
The lineup this year includes youth from many communities and backgrounds, including CUMEP, Southside Community Center, and the Greater Ithaca Activities Center, as well as students from New Roots Charter School, Ithaca High School, Lehman Alternative Community School, DeWitt Middle School, Cortland City School District, and schools as far away as Syracuse and Oswego.
Local soul singer SingTrece, lead singer of revered of the band Stone Cold Miracle,  and WICB Reggae Explosions radio DJ Mike Judah will emcee the event.
The Youth Entrepreneurship Market (YEM) will be vending on the Commons during the Rootstock festival. These youth vendors will be selling their original products such as artwork, apparel, jewelry, and handmade goods, gaining real-world experience in entrepreneurship, sales, and customer engagement.
$25. Delmonico steak, baked potato, salad, vegetable medley, beverage, and pie.
Join with Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/rhi-fbxa-cpj
Or dial: (US) +1 502-785-9249 PIN: 446147829#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/rhi-fbxa-cpj?pin=8102969203407&hs=7
Learn more about Meet at: https://support.google.com/a/users/answer/9282720
Dean Johnson is back again with the crew, playing their signature blend of covers, deep cuts and original material. No cover, but we’ll have the tip jar out!
Doors: 6:30pm, Show: 7:30pm
VIP and General Admission tickets available here: https://tixr.com/e/184094
Benefit My State returns in 2026 with Our State, Our Sound: 90s Edition, a high-energy tribute to the music and culture of the 1990s featuring some of Ithaca’s favorite local performers.
The historic State Theatre will transform into a full-blown 90s celebration as local musicians take the stage to perform iconic hits from across the decade — from rock and alternative to hip-hop and pop.
Featured performers include Maddy Walsh & the Blind Spots, KiteString, Cast Iron Cowboys, Max Childs, SingTrece, and more.
All you can eat! Pancakes, french toast, corned beef hash, sausage, ham, scrambled eggs, sausage gravy, beverages, and desserts.
Join with Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/zhx-okfy-zsp
Or dial: (US) +1 219-515-4311 PIN: 744354191#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/zhx-okfy-zsp?pin=5040846321143&hs=7
Learn more about Meet at: https://support.google.com/a/users/answer/9282720
No cover.
Join us for an Irish session hosted by members of Traonach and the extended community that shaped Ithaca’s beloved sessions at The Watershed, Argos, Chapter House, and Micawbers—now continuing the tradition at K-HOUSE. Free.
Come dance with us!  Don’t know how to dance?  We’ll show you!  
These dances are free, open to the public, and all ages are invited. The Lansing Community Center is air conditioned with a wood floor.  Square dancing is a low impact aerobic activity that stimulates both the mind and body. Our dancers learn and enjoy Modern Western Square Dance steps used all over the world and dance to a wide variety of popular music. The dancing is easy and fun for people of any age. These dances are FREE and open to all.  Come alone or with a partner.  No special dancing skills are required and beginners are always welcome!
An open bluegrass jam every third Monday of the month. Free!
All are welcome to join for this free performance.
The performance will be followed by light refreshments.
https://fingerlakesfiddle.org
The Newfield Historical Society’s Annual Meeting is at Newfield Fire Hall on Tuesday, May 19 at 6:30 p.m. featuring a talk “Teaching the Declaration of Independence” by Tompkins County Historian Charley Githler.  Free and open to the public and refreshments will be provided.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/NHS14867
$5
All ages welcome.
Beginners class
Wear comfortable shoes.
Bring water.
Get ready for fun, fun, fun!
Line dance is not only great exercise, it is excellent for improving memory and concentration. Your brain will love it!
See you on the dance floor!
Veggies, fruits, mushrooms, flowers, dairy & cheese, meats, honey/maple/jams, breads/pastries, body care, eggs, coffee/tea, cider/wine/beer. Live music, food, weekly programming, kids activities.
Learn how to achieve improvement through movement and techniques aimed at strengthening connection between mind and body from Mitch Raymond, MSPT, CEEAA. The connection between our brain and muscles is essential to move ourselves without injury. This presentation will break down how to improve the strength, flexibility, stability, balance, and skill of our bodies through practices that enhance neuromuscular connection and physiologic well being. Suggested donation of $10 and please bring a yoga mat if you have one!
Let’s cultivate shared creativity! Come on down to share your song or story! Nocturnal Cafe, formerly Sacred Root Kava Lounge, welcomes you to experience our weekly Open Mic Nite hosted by a rotating cast of talented artists including Aria Dawn, Karlee Weaver, Mary Brett Lorson and Laik Uticone. Showcase your talents and enjoy the experience of creative connection. BULA!
Join us for a monthly outing every third Thursday from 4-7:30pm at Artist Alley’s Open Studio Night! Immerse yourself in the vibrant world of creativity as local artists open their studio doors to share their works and creative processes.  Whether you’re an art aficionado or just curious, this is the perfect opportunity to experience the dynamic energy of the art community. Don’t miss out on this chance to connect with artists and explore their creative spaces in a relaxed, inspiring setting!
https://www.instagram.com/artist_alley_ithaca/
https://www.facebook.com/artistalleysouthhill
Artist Alley at South Hill Business Campus
950 Danby Rd, Ithaca
Fun-lovin’ trio of singer/songwriters/musicians who perform a mix of original and traditional tunes!
No cover.
Friday night is wing night at Brookton’s Market. Six bucks for six wings, with a rotating menu of flavors. Enjoy your wings alongside the sounds of Dappled Light Effect, with cello, drum, guitar and soaring vocals.
EILEEN IVERS & THE BRIGIDEENS is the fiery new acoustic powerhouse female band formed and led by Grammy awarded, Emmy-nominated, 9-time All-Ireland Fiddle Champion, Eileen Ivers. The group features critically acclaimed musicians and vocalists from the Celtic and Americana traditions.
With The Brigideens, Ivers continues to produce her signature musical sound that led the L.A. Times to proclaim, “Ivers’ presentation was music with the kind of life and spirit that come together when talented artists from different backgrounds find the linkages that connect all forms of music.” Native New Yorkers, Caitlin Maloney is on lead vocals and Hilary Hawke on 5-string banjo, upright bass, clarinet, spoons, and vocals. Anna Colliton, a Chicago native, is a master of the Irish bodhran and adds cajon/percussion. From Maryland, guitarist and vocalist Colin Forhan plays tenor banjo and concertina. 
TICKETS: $30 in advance; $35 at door day of show
TICKET LINK: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/eileen-ivers-and-the-brigideens-tickets-1977188191104
Come down to Brookton’s Market for a unique mix of acoustic originals and all your favorite covers from upstate NY musician Joe Joseph. No cover, but we’ll have the tip jar out!
No cover.
Come dance with us!  Don’t know how to dance?  We’ll show you!  
These dances are free, open to the public, and all ages are invited. The Lansing Community Center is air conditioned with a wood floor.  Square dancing is a low impact aerobic activity that stimulates both the mind and body. Our dancers learn and enjoy Modern Western Square Dance steps used all over the world and dance to a wide variety of popular music. The dancing is easy and fun for people of any age. These dances are FREE and open to all.  Come alone or with a partner.  No special dancing skills are required and beginners are always welcome!
K-HOUSE Karaoke & Arts Hub invites oldies lovers to spend an evening with Elvis. One Night With You is a dinner show featuring the comedy and vocal stylings of The King himself, a three-course meal and guest performances, all in the intimate setting of Room K (formerly The Downstairs).
Elvis, who has been touring small-town venues since his supposed death in 1977, tells hilarious stories about his life, interspersed with classic songs, underrated tracks and beloved covers, during the 90-minute show. Duets throughout the evening will feature stars from the rock & roll era, including Neil Diamond and guest interaction and accompaniment are encouraged. Blending live performance with dinner theatre and the dietary restrictions of the aging The King, guests will enjoy a healthy meal with gluten-free and vegetarian options, as well as some of Elvis’ favorite treats.  
“If you’ve got a suspicious mind and want the full story, you’ll just have to come hear it from The King himself.” -Sylvie Froncek, producer of One Night With You
The show takes place on the fourth Monday of each month at K-HOUSE this spring. Tickets include dinner and the show. Beverages will be available to purchase from the bar.
Upcoming performances include:
• Monday, March 23 — 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
• Monday, April 27 — 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM and 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM (during Old Greeny Fringe Fest)
• Monday, May 25 — 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Tickets are $35 per person or $120 for a table of four, and reservations are required.
Guests can expect an evening of classic songs, theatrical storytelling, and opportunities to interact with Elvis and sing-along.
Reservations:
https://www.viecycle.com/elvis-dinner-show.html⁠
$5
All ages welcome.
Beginners class
Wear comfortable shoes.
Bring water.
Get ready for fun, fun, fun!
Line dance is not only great exercise, it is excellent for improving memory and concentration. Your brain will love it!
See you on the dance floor!
Veggies, fruits, mushrooms, flowers, dairy & cheese, meats, honey/maple/jams, breads/pastries, body care, eggs, coffee/tea, cider/wine/beer. Live music, food, weekly programming, kids activities.
Let’s cultivate shared creativity! Come on down to share your song or story! Nocturnal Cafe, formerly Sacred Root Kava Lounge, welcomes you to experience our weekly Open Mic Nite hosted by a rotating cast of talented artists including Aria Dawn, Karlee Weaver, Mary Brett Lorson and Laik Uticone. Showcase your talents and enjoy the experience of creative connection. BULA!
Every second and fourth Thursday, join host Dean Johnson for an Open Mic where you bring your own songs, poetry or stand up to wow the crowd. Totally relaxed & encouraging environment.
A glorious trio of banjo, cello and guitar with stunning vocals, come enjoy the tunes of the Friends 2 Lovers Band.
The Canaan Institute presents a house concert with The Hilary Hawke Band – a quartet with Hilary Hawke (banjo), Ross Martin (guitar), Camille Howes (fiddle) and Myles Sloniker (bass). Saturday May 30th, 2026. Concert begins at 7:00 pm (doors 6:30). $35 donation at the door (sliding scale, ask). RSVP please cinst.org/rsvp for directions and to reserve your seats at this private venue. More info, venue web site http://www.cinst.org
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