Win a Free Winter Recess Mini Vacation




Arts, sports, spas, speakers, cooking classes, winery tours - the list goes on and on. With your "VIT Pass," you'll gain access to everything - and qualify for discounts throughout the community. Scan the highlights below, see the complete events list or search for specific events. Check back soon for new events. We're adding them daily.







Skiing & Snowboarding, Great Deals at Greek Peak

Date: Daily
Location: Greek Peak
Fee: 20% off a daily lift ticket with VIT Pass

Ph: (800) 955-2754
Website: www.GreekPeak.net
Email: info@greekpeak.net
Teachers, bring your VIT Pass for discounted skiing and riding at Central New York's largest mountain resort.


Explore Ithaca College

Date: Daily, except Sunday
Location: Ithaca College Campus
Fee: Free

Ph: (800) 429-4274, (607) 274-3124
Website: http://www.ithaca.edu/admission/visit.php
New York’s largest comprehensive, residential college is also one of the nation’s finest. Tour the beautiful South Hill campus.


Science: “Toys: The Inside Story” at the Sciencenter

Date: Daily
Location: Sciencenter, 601 First Street, Ithaca.
Fee: Free with coupon (Reg. $6 adult/ $4 child).

Ph: (607) 272-0600
Website: www.sciencenter.org
Ithaca’s award-winning Sciencenter hosts a new, hands-on exhibition, “Toys: The Inside Story.”


Art: Explore the Johnson Museum

Date: Daily except Monday
Location: Cornell Johnson Museum
Fee: Free

Ph: (607) 255-6464
Website: www.museum.cornell.edu
One of the nation’s premier university museums, the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art has one of the finest collections in Upstate New York.


Outdoor Exploration: Winter Recess at Cayuga Nature Center

Date: Open Daily, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Location: 1420 Taughannock Blvd. (Rte. 89), Ithaca
Fee: $3 Adults, $2 Seniors/Students, $1 Kids

Ph: (607) 273-6260
Website: www.cayuganaturecenter.org
Visitors to Cayuga Nature Center can explore the wonders of the natural world firsthand – and winter is the perfect time.


Taste & Tour: Celebrating 25 Years on the Cayuga Wine Trail

Date: Daily
Location: 16 local wineries
Fee: Free wine tasting for you and a guest w/ VIT Pass

Ph: (800) 684-5217, (607) 869-4281
Website: www.CayugaWineTrail.com
Email: info@CayugaWineTrail.com
Be among the first to celebrate the Cayuga Wine Trail’s 25th anniversary.


Explore Cornell University

Date: Daily
Location: Cornell Campus


Ph: (607) 254-INFO
Website: www.Cornell.edu/Visiting/Ithaca
Cornell is a global destination for great minds. Campus tours depart from Day Hall at 1:00 p.m. daily.


Opening Reception: ITA and NYSUT Welcome Teachers

Date: Sat., Feb. 16, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Location: Holiday Inn Ithaca Downtown, 222 S. Cayuga, Ithaca
Fee: Free with VIT Pass

Ph: (607) 272-8950
Join the Ithaca Teachers Association, New York State United Teachers and the Ithaca Visitors Bureau in a complimentary welcome party for teachers.


Outdoor Rec: Taughannock Falls, a Miracle of Ice

Date: Sun., Feb. 17, 11:00 a.m.
Location: Taughannock Falls State Park
Fee: Free

Ph: (607) 387-7041
Website: www.nysparks.state.ny.us/parks/info.asp?parkID=93
Bring your XC skis, your snowshoes or your coziest winter boots for this hour-long exploration of the Northeast’s tallest waterfall.


Sneak Preview Party: Gaia Girls “Air Apparent” with author Lee Welles

Date: Sun., Feb. 17, 12:30 – 4:00 p.m.
Location: Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd., Ithaca
Fee: Free

Ph: (800) 843-2473 or (607) 254-2473
Website: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/
Gaia Girls fans, this one’s for you. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is pleased to present author Lee Welles for a sneak preview of her forthcoming book, “Gaia Girls Air Apparent,” the third installment in the award-winning Gaia Girls series.


Spa Indulgence: Open House Receptions at Rasa Spa

Date: Sun., Feb.17 and Thurs., Feb 21, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Location: 310 Taughannock Blvd., Ithaca, at Island Health & Fitness, 2nd Floor
Fee: Free with VIT Pass, plus daily spa discounts

Ph: (607) 273-1740
Website: www.RasaSpa.com
Come refresh your spirit and rejuvenate your body at Rasa Spa, Ithaca's premier whole body health care spa, where you'll be welcomed at our open house wine & cheese receptions and celebrated with daily spa discounts.


Teachers Reception: Satori Day Spa Salon Happy Hour Spa Party

Date: Mon., Feb. 18, 4:00 p.m.
Location: Satori Day Spa Salon and Store, 840 Hanshaw Road
Fee: Free with VIT Pass

Ph: (607) 266-0130
Website: www.SatoriDaySpaSalon.com
Kick off teachers week with a complementary spa happy hour catered by Ithaca's favorite purveyors of food and wine.


Science: Smashing Atoms

Date: Tues., Feb. 19, 10:00-11:30a.m.
Location: Cornell Wilson Laboratory, Room 319
Fee: Free (Max. 20 people)

Ph: (607) 255-5722
Website: http://www.lns.cornell.edu/WebHome.html
Cornell’s Wilson Laboratory opens its doors for a behind-the-scenes tour of the only "atom smasher" on an American university campus.


History: “Make it Take it” at the History Center

Date: Tues., Feb. 19; Thurs., Feb. 21, 10:00 a.m.
Location: The History Center, 401 East State Street, Ithaca
Fee: $10 with VIT Pass (Reg. $15)

Ph: (607) 273-8284
Website: www.thehistorycenter.net
This popular family program offers kids ages 5-10 a fun, hands-on crafts project that opens a vivid window into New York history.


Culinary Class: Sincredible Pastries presents... "The Chocolate Goddess Party"

Date: Tues., Feb. 19, classes at 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Location: Sincredible Pastries Kitchen Studio, 29 Searles Road, Groton
Fee: $35 with VIT Pass (Reg. $45)

Ph: (607)533-7051
Website: www.sincrediblepastries.com
Please join Sincredible Pastries executive chef Marion Cardwell-Ferrer for some sinfully edible indulgence—a fun and magical chocolate fantasy class. If you love chocolate and love to be pampered, this one’s for you.


Science: Have Spacecraft, Will Travel—Flying the Solar System with Rick Kline

Date: Tues., Feb. 19, 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Spacecraft Planetary Imaging Facility, Cornell Space Sciences Building
Fee: Free with advance reservation, max 20 participants

Ph: (607) 255-3833
Website: http://www.astro.cornell.edu/facilities/SPIF.php
Tour guide Rick Kline, data manager for the Cornell Spacecraft Planetary Imaging Facility, takes you on spectacular journey through the solar system.


Wine and Wellness: Reception at La Tourelle Resort and August Moon Spa

Date: Tues., Feb. 19, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Location: La Tourelle Resort, 1150 Danby Rd. (Rt. 96B), Ithaca
Fee: Free with VIT Pass

Ph: 607/273-2734
Website: www.LaTourelle.com
August Moon Spa at La Tourelle Resort is pleased to host educators for a complimentary afternoon reception featuring local wines from the Cayuga Wine Trail and a variety of interactive wellness presentations.


Theater: Opera, Mozart's La Finta Giardiniera

Date: Feb. 19, 21, 23, 8:00 p.m.
Location: Ithaca College Theatre
Fee: Tickets: $4.50-$10

Ph: (607) 274-3224
Website: www.ithaca.edu/theatre
The Ithaca College School of Music and the Department of Theatre Arts collaborate in one of Mozart's most lively operas.


Drum For Wellness: Relax Into Your Natural Rhythms

Date: Weds., Feb. 20, 3:00 – 3:45 p.m.
Location: Toko Imports, Dewitt Mall, 215 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca
Fee: Free

Ph: (607) 277-3780 or (607)277-8080
Come enjoy a Rhythmic Journey with Sound Circles facilitator, Lansing Day.


Culinary Class: Easy Hors d’ Oeuvres, Luscious & Lean

Date: Weds., Feb. 20, 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Location: La Tourelle Resort & Spa, 1150 Danby Rd. (Rt. 96B), Ithaca
Fee: $25 with VIT Pass (Reg. $30)

Ph: (607) 273-2734
Website: www.LaTourelle.com.
Simple culinary ideas and techniques to turn healthful ingredients into savory appetizers and unforgettable hors d’oeuvres.


Music: The Alban Berg Quartet

Date: Weds., Feb. 20, 8:00 p.m.
Location: Bailey Hall, Cornell University
Fee: All seats $16 with VIT Pass (Reg. $32/27/22)

Ph: (607) 273-4497
Website: http://www.cornellconcertseries.com
"One of the greatest ensembles of our time.” —San Francisco Chronicle.


The Legendary Taj Mahal

Date: Thurs., Feb. 21, 8:00 p.m.
Location: Ithaca's historic State Theatre
Fee: Free drink coupon with VIT Pass

Ph: (607) 277-8283
Website: www.StateofIthaca.com.
Email: info@stateofithaca.com,
Blues & roots legend Taj Mahal lights up the stage for an intimate Ithaca performance.


Purity Ice Cream Sundae Soiree

Date: Fri., Feb. 22, 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. (or as supplies last)
Location: Purity Ice Cream, 700 Cascadilla St. (Rte. 13 @ Cascadilla), Ithaca
Fee: Free with VIT Pass or Winter Recess Coupon

Ph: (607) 272-1545
Website: www.purityicecream.com
Here’s an event guaranteed to make history a little sweeter. The ice cream sundae was invented in Ithaca in 1892, and to commemorate the momentous occasion, Ithaca’s favorite ice cream shop is offering free, create-your-own sundaes to the first 200 teachers and their "pets."


Teachers Happy Hour: Swingin’ Singles Golf Mixer

Date: Fri., Feb. 22, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Location: 4-Seasons Golf Center, 1779 Hanshaw Rd., Ithaca
Fee: Free with VIT Pass

Ph: (607) 272-4742
Website: www.catchmakers.com
4 Seasons Golf Center—Ithaca's “virtual reality” golf facility—is teaming up with Catchmakers, Inc.—the new local alternative to internet dating—for a late afternoon Swingin' Singles mixer, with wine tasting courtesy of Six Mile Creek Vineyard.


Comedy: Bob and Tom Show Comedy All Stars

Date: Fri., Feb 22, 7:30 p.m.
Location: Ithaca's Historic State Theater
Fee: $28, all seats

Ph: (607) 277-8283
Website: www.StateofIthaca.com
Email: info@StateofIthaca.com
Midwest radio gods Bob Kevoian and Tom Griswold bring some of the greatest (but underexposed) comedians into the spotlight.


Theater: “Running Into Me" with Vickie Tanner

Date: Fri-Sat, Feb. 22-23, 8:00 p.m.
Location: The Kitchen Theatre
Fee: $16 with VIT Pass (Reg. $18), incs fees

Ph: (607) 273-4497 Ticket Center
Website: www.kitchentheatre.org
Email: information@kitchentheatre.org
Actress/playwright/teaching artist Vickie Tanner draws from her experiences growing up in 1970s South Central LA and 10 years work in NYC public schools in this remarkable play about the challenges faced by urban teens.


Movies: High Falls Film Festival Shorts for Kids

Date: Sat., Feb. 23, 2:00 p.m.
Location: Cornell Cinema,Willard Straight Theater, Cornell Campus
Fee: $3 adults, $2 kids

Ph: (607) 255-3522
Website: http://cinema.cornell.edu
Cornell Cinema presents An entertaining collection of short films for kids, and some by kids, from around the globe that originally screened at Rochester’s High Falls Film Festival.


Comedy: LOL with The Nobodies of Comedy

Date: Sat., Feb. 23, 8:00 p.m.
Location: Ithaca's Historic State Theater
Fee: 10% off with VIT Pass

Ph: (607) 277-8283
Website: www.StateofIthaca.com
Email: info@StateofIthaca.com
Get ready for a night of incredible comedy starring the funniest comics you've never heard of.


In Concert: Lyle Lovett & John Hiatt

Date: Sun., Feb. 24, 7:30 p.m.
Location: Ithaca's historic State Theatre
Fee: Tickets $49, $39

Ph: (607) 277-8283
Website: www.StateofIthaca.com
Email: info@stateofithaca.com
Two songwriting giants together on stage in an intimate acoustic performance.



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