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If you're planning a trip to the Finger Lakes Region, you can be assured that visitors searching for things to do in Ithaca NY will discover that the city’s artistic energy is everywhere.
Known for its creative spirit, natural beauty, and thriving community of artists, Ithaca has even earned national recognition as one of America’s Best Towns to Visit in 2025, according to CNN and the city also appears on the Top 100 Arts-Vibrant Communities list (ranked #6) from SMU Data Arts, whose Arts Vibrancy Index measures how deeply the arts are woven into a community.
For travelers exploring the region, Ithaca stands out as a place where nature lovers, art connoisseurs and music enthusiasts thrive. And if you want an experience where you can actually meet the artists behind the work - look no further than Handwork, Ithaca’s Artisan Cooperative.
“You know I was just scrolling through google searches seeing all the usual names - amazon, target - whatever - I was so happy to come across your store.”
The man on the phone was calling to make a correction on the order he had just placed with us - a mix up with the address. Why he chose to shop on Handwork’s online store for his Mother’s Day gift was framed by who he wasn’t choosing to shop with - an onslaught of multimillion dollar corporations.
On the surface we all instinctively understand what he is getting at. There’s something heartbreakingly generic about a faceless corporation. Sanitized of any distinct personality. Highly palatable - like ultra processed food. Stripped of its inherent nutrition and injected with engineered flavors designed to hit our brain just right. You can find something perfectly nice at any one of these places. But there is one truth that a big box store or website cannot escape. They have no story.
At least, not a story you really want to engage with.
