Ithacaview.com

Here are some helpful bits and pieces for you Californians coming to Ithaca or upstate (mid-state, whatever-tier) New York

• Cascadilla is pronounced "Cascad - ILL - La". I know it’s wrong, but it’s their street. Pronouncing it the correct way will make you sound like an idiot.
• A burrito is a delicacy - I was once served a burrito filled with black beans and yellow rice. YELLOW RICE???? Are burritos from Cuba?
• Salsa is an artificially colored milk-like substance served in tiny plastic cups. There is no difference between mild and hot except the color.
• Chonies are called boy’s underwear or girl’s panties. I can’t tell you how many strange looks my kid has recieved talking about pulling up or down his chonies.
• There are no freeways and if there were, they wouldn’t have names.
• Don’t try to figure out the difference between the City of Ithaca and the Town of Ithaca or all the villages that seem like they are part of the city. After living here a month or two you will just get used to it.
• Because of the Ithaca College music school, the brass bands playing Christmas music are actually in tune.
• Roads are rarely straight.
• Stopping for red lights is optional.
• Intersections are a free-for-all when turning right or left. It’s best to close your eyes.
• There is an unwritten rule that manhole (sewer) covers must be 6 inches (about 15 cm) below the street level. This makes all roads a slalom and improves driving skills.
• 30° F (0° C) is still t-shirt weather if you are under 35 years old.
• On some roads, cars are considered snow plows, this saves the city money and makes driving more fun.
• If you don’t have 4 or more bumper stickers supporting left-wing causes, you can’t stay longer than a week.
• Anti-Bush yard signs are mandatory.
• Dogs aren’t allowed on the Commons (see webcam) but stoned teenage hooligans are.
• You must shovel the sidewalk in front of your house, then magically make the ice disappear (chemically or through hard labor). If you don’t, a friendly neighbor will insert a snow shovel in you.

Welcome to Ithaca! 10 square miles of sanity surrounded by normality.