Explore Elmira 2025 by Mountain Home

#ExploreELMIRA 2025 Guide

E ditors & P ublish E rs

Teresa Banik Capuzzo

Michael Capuzzo

A ssoci A t E E ditor & P ublish E r

Lilace Mellin Guignard

A ssoci A t E P ublish E r

George Bochetto, Esq.

A rt d ir E ctor

Wade Spencer

A ccounting

Amy Packard

contributing WritErs

Don, Knaus, Karin Knaus, Gayle Morrow, Karey Solomon contributing PhotogrAPhErs

Emmie Agee, Molly B

Photography, Michael Cady, Don Knaus, Karey Solomon

s A l E s r EP r E s E nt A tiv E s

Shelly Moore

d istribution

Michael Banik

#ExploreELMIRA is published by Beagle Media, LLC, 39 Water St., Wellsboro, PA 16901, in partnership with Elmira Downtown Development. Copyright © 2025 Beagle Media, LLC. All rights reserved. E-mail info@ mountainhomemag.com, or call (570) 724-3838. #ExploreELMIRA is distributed at hundreds of locations in Tioga, Potter, Bradford, Lycoming, Union, and Clinton counties in PA and Steuben, Chemung, Schuyler, Yates, Seneca, Tioga, and Ontario counties in NY.

Welcome to the Explore Elmira area guide! As the Director of Elmira Downtown Development, I am thrilled to promote our vibrant downtown businesses and showcase the unique charm of our small town in the Finger Lakes region within these pages.

Visitors can expect a warm, welcoming atmosphere filled with local shops, artisanal eateries, and beautiful waterfront views. Our downtown area is bustling with creativity, offering everything from handcrafted goods to farm-to-table dining experiences. Tourists will enjoy exploring scenic parks, engaging with friendly locals, and discovering hidden gems that reflect our community’s rich heritage.

In Elmira we celebrate the roots of diversity that bring culture, flavor, and more. We believe that if you come for a local event, parade, live performance, restaurant, boutique, or café, you’ll be filled with a desire to continue exploring. From the rich architectural history to the literary treasures of Mark Twain—to local figures like Tommy Hilfiger, Eileen Collins, and Ernie Davis—you’ll learn why this area was dubbed the Queen City.

Whether you’re looking to savor local wines, experience outdoor adventures, or simply relax in a picturesque setting, our small town has something special to offer every visitor.

We can’t wait to welcome you!

Executive Director

Elmira Downtown Development

Explore ELMIRA New York

The City of Elmira owns and operates the Centertown Parking Garage, located at 101 W. Water Street near the Clemens Center, First Arena, Chemung County Transportation Center as well as businesses on Water Street, Gray Street, and Church Street. It is open 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and during weekend events.

The Eastowne Parking Garage is independently owned and operated and is located on the 100 block of Baldwin Street near Eastowne Mall, the Star-Gazette, the YMCA, and city and county office buildings on Lake Street.

Parking meters are installed throughout the downtown district for on-street parking. Parking meters are required between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday, and between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays. When parking at a meter, you are only allowed to park there for the maximum time indicated on the meter. After this time passes, please move your car (putting another coin into the meter is defined as feeding the meter and is a violation). Parking meters are not intended for all-day or employee parking.

Parking for events at the Clemens Center, First Arena, Wisner Park, or downtown venues is provided in the city-owned parking garage for $3.00 event parking. Other businesses in the downtown district provide parking in their lots during events for a charge. Event-goers are not permitted to park in private lots or plazas such as Langdon Plaza.

The Mark Twain Building

147 West Gray Street, Elmira, New York

Welcome to the iconic Mark Twain Building, a former hotel dating back to 1929, now boasting all-new luxury apartments in the heart of Downtown Elmira’s rising Arts & entertainment district!

This staple of Elmira’s skyline has been extensively renovated with great attention to detail by incorporating the historic features of the building into a modern, 21st century “urban-chic” aesthetic.

Now leasing newly constructed 1, 2, and 3 bedroom apartments on the building’s second floor, in what were the original ballrooms and parlors of the hotel! Each of these brand-new apartments include:

- All-new appliances - In-unit laundry - Custom lighting fixtures

- Discounted high-speed internet - All building utilities included - Secure covered parking

- New AC & heating systems - On-site office & full-time maintenance

Located at the center of Elmira’s growing downtown district, the building is also home to Beijing Gardens Restaurant and The Juice collective, with numerous other restaurants within just one block, such as Siam Elephants, WMC North, Los Ponchos, and the new Centertown Social Club. Entertainment can also be found just one block away, including the Clemens Performing Arts Center, and the LECOM Event Center for sports and events. Numerous coffee shops, restaurants, and bars are only a short walk away, and a short drive from Elmira’s LECOM campus, Arnot Ogden Medical Center, shopping centers, and nature trails.

Reserve your Luxury apartment Today! submit a

Elmira

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT

ELMIRA DOWNTOWN CLEAN-UP

Join your neighbors to make the Queen City as beautiful as she can be on May 10 from 10 a.m. to noon

ALIVE AFTER FIVE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES

From May through September, Elmira comes alive at a different venue every other Friday in the summer. Live music, adult beverages, food, and fun! (See page 22.)

WISNER MARKET

Every Wednesday June 4 through September 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wisner Park on Main Street turns into a farmers market. Over thirty vendors offer products, including fresh produce, cut flowers, and crafts. Lunch options feature specialties from well-loved Elmira food trucks and restaurants, along with live music and entertainment. (See page 14.)

ELMIRA STREET PAINTING FESTIVAL

The streets burst with colorful art, vendors, food, kids’ activities, and music on June 14, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Main Street. Don’t miss Chemung County’s premier art event of the summer! This is free and open to all participants. (See page 18.)

GUS MACKER

This 3-on-3 half-court basketball tournament, July 19 and 20 on Main Street, is a weekend of hoops and hoopla for all. (See page 26.)

EVENTSCALENDAR

WICKED WISNER TRUNK OR TREAT

An annual community Halloween event that takes place on Main Street at Wisner Park on October 24 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING

Come help Santa and his reindeer light the Christmas Tree on Tuesday, November 25 at Wisner Park!

HOLIDAY PARADE

Join us for our annual Holiday Parade complete with over thirty floats, characters to meet, and smiles to go 'round on Friday, November 28, at 10 a.m. (See page 34.)

HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS

Cozy up with a scenic view during the second year of the Snowglobe Experience on the Lake Street Walking Bridge. Imagine stepping into a cozy, fully furnished snow globe that looks out over the serene Chemung River on Saturdays from November 29 through December 20. New this year, the Winter Market at Hilliard Park will transport visitors to a charming German winter village with cozy vendor sheds featuring local artisans offering handcrafted goods, unique gifts, and holiday treats. Designed to evoke the spirit of a traditional European holiday market, on Saturdays from November 29 through December 20, visitors can browse through a variety of handmade items while sipping hot cocoa or mulled wine. (See page 30.)

MORE EVENT DETAILS AT ELMIRADOWNTOWN.COM

Newtown Battlefield State Park

Only fifteen minutes from downtown, at 2346 County Road 60, Newtown Battlefield State Park offers camping, history, and outdoor day-use activities on the site of a decisive battle in the Revolutionary War. Here in August 1779, the Continental Army fought British regulars, Loyalist rangers, and a thousand Haudenosaunee warriors who sided with the British. The state park includes a granite monument, erected in 1912, a replica Native American village, and a stunning overlook. In 1973, Newtown Battlefield was designated as a historic landmark and placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

One of the highlights is a ninety-year-old rustic Main Lodge built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, including the furniture. This CCC Camp, company 1251-C, was composed of 180 men and was one of two black companies in the nation where, for a time, even the officers were black. Their fingerprints can still be seen on the ceiling planks. The original fireplace is built with bricks from Horseheads. The lodge is rentable for all types of events.

There are eighteen campsites, five cabins, picnic tables with grills, five open air shelters, ball fields, and swing sets. Facility Manager Victoria (Tori) Srnka says, “The thing we hear most is this is such a hidden gem.” During covid they saw an increase in visitation. Those who book campsites there get a permit that also gets them into all New York State Parks for no extra fee.

Tori says the First Day Hike every January 1 is “a time for folks to come and start the year on the right foot—or left—assuming the gate can be open, and the road is accessible.” There are refreshments and a fire in the lodge, and hikers, who can go alone or guided, head out at 1 p.m.

They park opens for camping the weekend before Memorial Day weekend and hold Park Day (May 17 this year), when volunteers meet 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for various projects to spruce up for the warm season. Park Day highlights the support of the American Battlefield Trust. Thanks to them, Tori says, “in the near future the park will be expanding” because the Trust has secured three adjacent properties.

On August 2, Bespoke Apothecary, the farm next door, will have their annual open house Market on the Mountain with vendors, local artisans, live music, a plant ID walk, and tour. On August 23 and 24, the Chemung Living History Center, a local group of reenactors, presents living history around the anniversary of the battle. For more information go to parks. ny.gov or call (607) 732-6067.

~Lilace Mellin Guignard

Downtown: Riverfront Levee Trail

503 Grove Street and 1255 W Water Street are good places to access this easy 4.13 mile dirt/grass trail that follows the Chemung River.

Great for Kids: Tanglewood Nature Center and Museum

443 Coleman Ave., Elmira. (607) 732-6060

Tanglewoodnaturecenter.wildapricot.org

The Gleason Meadows Trail System is near the free museum, which has more than forty animals. There are seven trails for a total of over nine miles, with several only a mile or less. No dogs (other than service animals) are allowed here, but dogs are allowed on the Personius Trails a little down the road (not connected). No bicycles, horses, or motorized vehicles are allowed on any of the trails.

Close but More Remote: Plymouth Woods Nature Preserve

Eighty-eight acres of oak-hickory forest with ecological diversity is the site of 1.6 miles of trail, with loops that allow the user to custom create a hike. Directions: From Route 17 east of Elmira, take Church St./Route 352 (exit 56). Go through Elmira and turn left on Route 225/Hendy Creek Road. Go about three miles and turn right on Kneale Road. Go .4 miles to the preserve parking area on your right.

Wisner Park Farmer’s Market

The Elmira Farmer’s Market, made possible by Elmira Downtown Development, is a weekly something-for-everyone warm-weather market, every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Wisner Park on Main Street, running from the beginning of June through the end of September. Some weeks there’s a themed event with extra activities. Some weeks there’s music (Find more information at elmiradowntown.com.). There are often more than a dozen vendors under canopies, selling home-grown deliciousness and crafts, as well as food trucks offering lunchtime goodies to enjoy at the park’s picnic tables.

Longtime vendor Kelly Mann brings plants, honey, produce, bouquets of cut flowers, and maple products. What’s on her table depends on the season and productivity of the family’s gardens. Among their offerings is a spreadable maple cream. “It’s really good on club crackers, and there’s no cream or butter in it!” Kelly explains. A lot of the produce comes from her father, who grows more potatoes, greens, and squash than he can use; peppers and tomatoes are grown by Kelly and her husband. They all grow garlic. “I love anything garlic!" she says. That pungent season begins with the milder scapes in June and progresses to robust heads of garlic in July. Flowers are perennially popular. “You hear, ‘This is going to cheer up somebody,’ or ‘This is going to be somebody’s birthday present.’”

A historic Elmira tradition returned to the market when a red 1929 Chevrolet truck, formerly owned by World War I veteran Frank Romeo, was restored and returned to its original purpose by the members of the Popcorn Truck Preservation Society. Frank once popped and sold popcorn out of his truck kitty-corner from where the Wisner market is now. Three of the founding members (Lee Doud, Bob Spallone, and Dale Bryant), plus family members and volunteers, take turns setting up at the Wisner Park market, where they make and sell hot buttered popcorn and warm peanuts ($2 per serving) with all profits applied to civic good, including contributions to the Chemung County Historical Society, rides for Eldridge Park, and an elegant windowed carriage house to protect and display the truck when it’s not in use.

“When I was a kid in the 1950s and 1960s, you didn’t stop off downtown without getting a bag of popcorn,” Lee says. Some of their customers remember too. “We have quite a loyal clientele,” he adds. “Some people say 'I remember this truck from when I was a kid.’”

~Karey Solomon

When two established local health systems unite as one collaborative network, healthcare becomes so much more. Centralus Health, an affiliation of Arnot Health and Cayuga Health, is focused on our region’s changing needs and your wellbeing. More than a group of experienced caregivers, Centralus Health is a partnership of advocates who strive to eliminate barriers to better health, innovating and evolving services in our communities for enhanced holistic care close to home. Beyond clinical outcomes, it’s strengthening community connections and setting a higher standard for quality that’s exceptionally personal.

Centralus Health is central to wellness — for all of us.

Centralushealth.org

On Valentine’s Day 1965, a plane from Italy, holding four-year-old Vincenzo Sidari, his father, and his sister, landed in the promised land—America. In 1943, Vincenzo’s father, Salvatore, had been a small boy in Italy among excited adults joyfully shouting, “The Americans are coming!” American soldiers meant freedom. Ever since that day, Salvatore Sidari knew that he would live in the United States.

Sal (as he was called) was a trained tailor and quickly found work in America altering “off the rack” men’s clothing at Mr. Panosian’s. He added an after-hours shop in his home where he created tailor-made suits for local businessmen. He was old-school, always wearing a suit to work and, like in the old country, never cooking. But Vincenzo says, “Mama taught us all—me, Dom (above), our sister, Carmela—how to cook Italian food.” His brother Dom adds, “If you’ve helped with the typical Italian Sunday dinner with five or six entrees, you can do pizza.”

Turns out that’s exactly what the brothers did.

When Vincenzo first went to work, he found employment at Picnic Pizza in the Arnot Mall then went on to manage for them. Once a space opened near Mr. Panosian’s Famous Shoes on Langdon Plaza, he grabbed the chance and opened Vincenzo’s Pizza in 1999 where “I started my journey,” he says. Dominic, seven years his junior and the only “born in the USA” child, co-manages Vincenzo’s Pizza.

Vincenzo’s Pizza specializes in Neapolitan pizza also known as New York-style pizza. The pies are thin crust, placed in the oven just long enough to crisp the bottom while leaving the top soft and inviting. The dough is sauced with a recipe of homemade Calabrian marinara. Name your toppings. Pepperoni and cheese are standard, but specialties could include meatballs, or Italian sausage, or peppers, or onions, or…you name it. Add-ons include ham, chicken, anchovies, olives, mushrooms, eggplant, and more. Sides might be garlic knots, wings, or sandwiches. Pasta dinners are offered.

Their specialty pizzas have catchy names like Caesar’s, Capone’s, the Godfather, Soprano, and the Sinatra, just begging you to taste. The brothers keep slices available for light eaters, which can be served after a quick warm-up in the oven. Whole pizzas take just a few minutes allowing customers to sit and chat with fellow pizza gourmands. Just want to hit and run? Orders are always possible by phone (607) 732-3647 or order online at vincenzospizzaelmira. com. Then stop by 303 North Main (Langdon Plaza) and pick up pizza delight.

~Don Knaus

Vincenzo’s Pizza

Ma’s Cheesy Dreams & other things! Homemade Comfort Food

Over 150 cheesecake flavors, daily specials, and fish fry

Open Mon-Fri 11am-7pm

228 B Oakwood Ave, Elmira Heights (607) 735-2884 • mascheesydreams.com

Extraordinary Chocolates by Extraordinary People

11724 Route 6 • 570-724-9334 82 Main Street • 570-724-6777

GrEat Eats

We Deliver Quality & Guarantee Freshness WHOLESALE • RETAIL

Hours:

Tues-Fri 9am-6pm; Sat 9am-5pm (607) 733-6759

Wellsboro, PA HighlandChocolates.org Tours Available!

Featuring nightly specials & live music on weekends!

Monday-Wednesday 3pm-10pm (kitchen 4pm-9pm)

Thursday-Saturday 3pm-midnight (kitchen 4pm-10pm)

303 College Ave., Elmira NY 14901 (607) 733-0400

patrickselmira.com

650 Pennsylvania Ave. Elmira

It’s just something you need to do before going home!

255 W. Water St., Downtown Elmira (607) 733-0199

Come and Eat with Us

A local family-owned café offering a variety of fresh food with friendly customer service and a smile.

Catering • Seasonal Outdoor Dining

Mon-Sat 10:30am-3:30pm 311 College Ave., Elmira (607) 735-2400

Elmira Street Painting Festival

Every year on the second weekend in June—in 2025 it’s June 14—parts of West Main Street in Elmira are closed for the Street Painting Festival. As many as 150 artists get a eight-by-eight-foot section of street to adorn with chalk. Sponsored by Elmira Downtown Development, it’s a contest, with awards for kids and professional artists, bringing thousands of people to watch art in progress, enjoy music and food from the roster of food trucks, and cheer on their favorite artists.

April Peris, events coordinator for EDD, describes it as “Stretchy—we never cap the number of artists.” Spaces are measured and prepared with a coating of water-soluble tempera paint, which helps even out the surface, and there’s always room for one more. Participants who register will receive an artist bag with goodies, water, and chalk.

In 2023, Summer Small and her husband, drawn by the festival, came to explore Elmira from their home in Knoxville, Tennessee. An artist and professional muralist, Summer won Best of Show in 2023 and finished the weekend by buying a house here. She now works as programs manager at the Arnot Art Museum, a venue she came to love on that first trip.

“It’s very, very busy,” Summer says, describing the high-energy experience of making art on the street. “There are people all around you, asking questions while you’re working. It’s like a performance. There’s a lot going on all the time.” It’s a good way to get exposure as a professional, and also a time to network with other artists, whether it’s to admire other work or resupply needed colors with an informal chalk exchange. But when she’s working, it’s the artist’s equivalent of running a marathon. If this sounds like fun, call (607) 333-5378 to register and find more information at elmiradowntown.com.

You never know what you’ll see next, April notes. One person might draw a superhero, another flowers. Summer likes to draw a local landmark or a famous Elmiran. “People like to be able to point at what you made and know what it is.”

There’s a special magic to working with chalk, she says. “The material is certainly different. It’s very ephemeral art. All that work gets washed away as soon as it rains. You have to enjoy the process and the community aspect because it has to be enjoyed that day.”

~Karey Solomon

Mr. Panosian’s Famous Shoes

One of David Panosian’s (above) grandfathers began Mr. Panosian’s Famous Shoes (in Langdon Plaza, 330 North Main Street, Elmira) 106 years ago, but David says, “I ’ve only been doing this for fifty-five years.” While the store carries recognizable brand names, “famous” might also refer to the store’s well-established place in the hearts of Elmirans.

The storefront is modest, but inside there is the heady scent of new shoes and adventures waiting to happen. An aisle of colorful children’s boots is a reminder of how much fun it was when Mom bought you new shoes. The store stretches on and on, the variety seemingly endless—because having a large selection is a point of pride. Still, the most important distinction here is the service offered to each customer. Everyone who works in the store has at least forty years’ hands-on experience of fitting shoes to individual feet. “These days, most people don’t even know what a good fit is, just because there are so few of our kinds of store left,” David says.

The store bursts with neat stacks of boxes holding shoes, boots, and sneakers for men, women, and children. There are athletic, casual, and dress shoes. Tactical shoes for police, firefighters, and prison guards. The new generation of protective steel-toed shoes, for men and women whose work requires them, resemble hiking boots. Footwear made for hiking often doubles as snow-boots, and staff can advise which styles work best for different conditions. “We’re unique these days,” David says. “In the old days, every shoe store was like this.”

He says lately they’re seeing more people looking for shoes with good arches and ones that are comfortable for those who suffer with plantar fasciitis. Experience counts here too. “We’re not podiatrists, but we know which shoes are better for feet with problems.” The staff can help whittle down the choices.

Still having trouble deciding? “The majority of things are discounted,” David says. If you happen by in a month beginning with an A (April and August) you’ll find a sneaker sale. There’s a curated selection of purses for a little fun distraction as well. Keep up with specials on their Facebook page or call (607) 734-8133.

Displayed at the sales desk is a quote, allegedly from Cinderella: “The perfect shoe can change your life.” David and his staff should know.

~Karey Solomon

Alive After Five

Come to an everyone’s-invited block party on alternate Friday nights May 30 through August 22 in downtown Elmira, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Bring a lawn chair—and a dance partner—to enjoy live music, good food, cold beverages, and a family-friendly atmosphere that will have everyone on their feet under the stars. Each time it’s a different location, different food, and two different bands.

“We want to bring more people downtown to showcase bars, restaurants, and of course, the local music,” says Kylene Kiah, executive director of Elmira Downtown Development. There’s a lot of talent to choose from. Restaurants and bars apply to host, then choose a couple of local bands. Before the event, a stage and sound system is brought in. Set-up and preparation often begin early in a day, which for Kylene can become a twelve-hour marathon. Meanwhile, eateries are preparing extra specials and hoping people bring their appetites. And it’s grand. “I just love that the community comes together in this type of environment when we can offer something free and highlight our downtown businesses,” she says.

The full schedule is posted at elmiradowntown.com and on the Elmira Downtown Development Facebook page. Kid-friendly activities are also provided by Bobby K Entertainment, making it an event the whole family can enjoy. Though only seven venues are chosen to host each year, local businesses are also recognized for sponsoring the festivities. Kylene says the event serves everyone well. Some bands and eateries draw audiences from as far as Ithaca and Binghamton.

From the band’s point of view, the event can be every bit as much fun. “There’s nothing like the feeling of stepping onstage at Elmira’s Alive After Five as the sun sinks low on a Friday night in the thick of summer,” says Travis of The Sweats, a staple area band who have performed at this event.

“Out in the crowd, it’s a perfect mess of summertime bliss,” he adds. “Lawn chairs packed shoulder to shoulder, dance partners spinning under the streetlights, kids weaving through clusters of friends while vendors keep the cold drinks flowing. But the real magic? It’s sharing the stage with the best of the best. A reminder of why live music really matters. No algorithm serves this up. When the lights hit, when the amps roar, and the crowd sings back at you, there’s nowhere else you’d rather be.”

~Karey Solomon

The Garage @ Rye

Charlie Hunter (above) grew up in the neighborhood of Second and Davis Streets, went to the Booth School on the corner (since closed), and roamed these streets freely as a kid. Now, having returned home, he is bringing the neighborhood back, building by building, bar by bakery.

He showed his love on Valentine’s Day last year by opening The Garage at Rye at 357 Davis Street across a spacious courtyard from his first venture, the Rye Bar and Restaurant at 365 Davis. “Food and style are my thing,” Charlie says. Both businesses have “the same attention to detail—always using fresh ingredients and providing top customer service,” but, “It’s a younger crowd at the Garage,” he says.

College students and locals drop by for breakfast, a snack, lunch, or to fuel up on Forty Weight Coffee from the Ithaca roasters. They can plug in at the tables or counter that looks out over the courtyard through a clear garage door. “I like to do things as hard as I can apparently,” Charlie laughs, and clarifies, “the right way. Our baker arrives at 3 or 3:30 a.m. so we’re ready to open by 7.” All breads, croissants, and pastries are made there, and the morning bun—croissant dough wrapped up like a cinnamon bun with a hint of orange—is a big hit. You can order online at thegarageatrye.com or call ahead at (607) 731-6607.

It wasn’t always going to be a bakery and coffee shop. When Charlie was visiting Italy, he decided to use the space to open a pizzeria and bar. He came home and built a copper bar on one wall and bought a pizza oven, but soon realized that in order to do this “the right way,” he needed to find an authentic pizza maker who cared about people and quality ingredients. However, the neighborhood needed a coffee shop, so he went to Plan B.

But starting August, Plan A—pizzeria with a tequila and mezcal bar—will be realized. While he won’t yet say who he’s found to make his pizza dreams come true, he already has thirty or more tequilas and ten mezcals, to which he’ll keep adding. “I like to learn,” he says, “so to have just one mescal isn't interesting. To have twenty and be able to try them is interesting.” It will be a full bar with a focus on flights and tastings of the Latin liquors. These will taste especially good on summer Sunday evenings when live Latin music is played in the courtyard. Arriba!

~Lilace Mellin

Guignard

VINCENZO’S PIZZERIA

Gus Macker 3-on-3 Tournament

Corning’s Gaffer District and Elmira Downtown Development have brought Gus Macker back to the Southern Tier, and, like good teammates, are passing it back and forth. Last year Corning hosted the half-court, 3-on-3 format basketball tournament, which will be July 19 to 20 this year in Elmira, with North Main Street blocked off from West Church Street to West Water Street. The first team to fifteen points wins, and you must win by two. The streetball competition with lots of age brackets (and trophies) sets the stage for a neighborhood party and builds community spirit.

The game started in Scott McNeal’s small-town Michigan driveway in 1974, exploded when Sports Illustrated did a story in 1985, and is now a nationwide phenomenon.

In 2024 there were 110 teams and over 400 players, from ages seven on up. “We had an amazing turnout considering it was our first year hosting it,” says Emmie Agee, marketing and communications manager for the Gaffer District. “The last time Gus Macker came to the area was in the 2000s to our local YMCA. What I remember most about the [2024] tournament (besides the awesome weather we got) was the sense of community and togetherness the whole time. Everyone had a smile on their face; game play was competitive and respectful.” One team came all the way from New Jersey.

April Peris, event coordinator for Elmira Downtown Development, says, “This year, we expect to see greater attendance with more teams and more spectators. We’ll also have a vendor market happening at the same time in Wisner Park (much like Wisner Market), as well as various food trucks. We’re planning a ‘celebrity’ game, and a dunk contest.” One of the local celebrities will be A’Don Allen III, head girls varsity coach at Elmira High School.

“We have a proud and loud history of hoops here in Elmira,” A’Don declares, citing the Elmira Free Academy Days, when “Notre Dame girls won back-to-back State Championships in the early 2000s, [and when] the Elmira High School girls won four consecutive Section IV titles from 2016 to 2020. Horseheads Girls have had an unmatched run of consistency, and I know, I’m leaving so much more out.” He adds, “Hosting the Gus Macker in downtown will further enrich Elmira’s impressive basketball legacy.”

Anyone and everyone can play, but teams need to register by June 30 at macker.com/local/ elmira-ny. It costs $180 per team.

~Lilace Mellin Guignard

The Juice Collective

When the Juice Collective opened its doors at 149 West Gray Street, LaTeka CookeDavis (above left) brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the enterprise. She’d begun learning about juice years earlier in Los Angeles, when she was diagnosed with a brain tumor and her father, a bishop, thought juices would help her heal. She researched the properties of fruits, veggies, herbs, and spices and found combinations that supported health. In April 2020, the West Coast branch of her family moved to Elmira.

A few months later, her father was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. “It caused me to do further research,” LaTeka says. “I’m passionate about making people feel better.” Soon her father’s cancer progressed beyond treatment. Before he died, he told LaTeka to share her healing talents with the world. She says juice became “my canvas, painted with the colors of home, love, and diverse flavors.”

In Elmira, she made juices for friends and her church family. Word spread and she was soon delivering juices to the wider community. After a successful surgery to remove her tumor, she used juice blends to maintain her own good health, then began offering them at festivals and pop-ups. She got connected to Incubatorworks, a networking program for new entrepreneurs. They helped her find her first space, which was in the Arnot Mall. She moved to her downtown location in early May 2024.

These days she’s helped by her mother, Aurellia Cooke, and sometimes her brother Corey Cooke, who is a pastor, Elmira council member (Second District), composer, and musician. Everyone in the family has multiple talents. Aurellia is a nurse who owned several restaurants in LA, and LaTeka, a business school graduate, previously worked in insurance.

In addition to cold-pressed juices combining fruits and vegetables with proven nutritional value and healing properties, she sources and uses lesser-known ingredients like sea moss (“It has ninety-two minerals and gives natural energy,” she says) and the tropical fruit soursop (“It’s a medicinal fruit that kills cancer and rebuilds cells”). Not sure what to order? Try a “Wellness shot”—a small serving of a blend of juices, turmeric, pepper, and ginger. Many of the Juice Collective’s original customers come here to stock up on quantities of juice after cancer treatments at Arnot Ogden Medical Center’s Falck Cancer Center, finding them a good nutritional support when appetite and energy flag. Now a larger audience comes for juice, soup, vegan grab-and-go wraps, and more. Find current hours at thejuicecollectiveny. com or call (607) 442-6071.

~Karey Solomon

We’re lighting the way in your community.

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Holiday Happenings in Downtown Elmira

The holidays officially kick off in downtown Elmira with the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on November 25 illuminating the city’s central square, Wisner Park, with thousands of twinkling lights. Families can enjoy a special visit from Santa Claus himself, who will be on hand to meet and greet children and pose for pictures. But Santa won’t be arriving alone—he’s bringing his reindeer along for a magical experience that will leave all ages in awe. To warm up, enjoy a free cup of hot cocoa from Elmira Tea and Coffee House.

Last year, for two days, transparent tents popped up like spring mushrooms on the Lake Street Walking Bridge. Each enclosed a picnic table, blankets, a rug, strings of lights, and a Bluetooth speaker to fill the air with the joyful sounds of the user’s choice. They are returning this year for four Saturdays—November 29, December 6, 13, and 20.

Kylene Kiah, executive director of Elmira Downtown Development, had seen snow globes in Bryant Park in New York City the winter of 2023 and thought Elmira needed experiences like that. “So, I started looking for ones easy to put up and take down,” she says. She found four sponsors and offered rentals for ninety minutes, which included a hot chocolate bar and s’mores box. There was an optional add-on of a mimosa or beer package. They were used for everything from birthday parties to holiday gift swaps to even a PJ party. “The Snowglobe Experience is not just a place to enjoy some warmth. It’s a perfect spot for taking holiday photos and soaking in beautiful views of the Chemung River and the surrounding landscape,” says Kylene. “Whether you’re looking to relax with loved ones or make new memories with friends, the Snowglobe Experience offers a truly magical setting.” They can be reserved at elmiradowntown.com once time slots become available.

New this year at Hilliard Park will be a Winter Market on November 29, December 6, 13, and 20. Visitors will be transported to a charming German winter village with cozy vendor sheds featuring local artisans, handcrafted goods, unique gifts, and holiday treats. The Winter Market evokes the spirit of a traditional European holiday market, where visitors can browse through a variety of handmade items while sipping hot cocoa or mulled wine. Sponsored by Hilliard Corporation, the market promises to be a haven for those looking for something special this holiday season.

~Lilace Mellin Guignard

Barb’s Soup’s On Cafe

Ahomey atmosphere greets those who walk into Barb’s Soup’s On Café at 311 College Avenue. A seasonally decorated fireplace mantel welcomes visitors, and on the left a thriving jungle of houseplants preens in the bay window, while appetizing aromas waft from the kitchen. The waitstaff carry brimming plates that make choosing a menu selection difficult.

“I always enjoyed cooking for people,” says Barb McClure (above). Becoming a chef on a larger scale happened early in her marriage, because her husband, Mike, was a butcher. Working alongside him, she found using good ingredients in subs, soups, and salads more interesting than wrapping endless cuts. Their fans followed them when they sold that first store and started a deli on Elmira’s Southside. “We’re not fancy, but we buy the best quality products, try to be simple but tasty. Usually that equates to being a little more healthy,” she says.

When they found the house at College Avenue and First Street, Barb envisioned a café there with a large deck for outdoor eating, and a cozy inside space with a combination of booths and small tables. “I put 5,000 screws in that deck,” Barb says now. “I counted.” After eight years, they sold the café and opened another meat shop and deli on the north side of the city. But she always missed the café, and, after covid, they bought it back. She still works alongside Mike, who is the café’s dessert chef.

The menu offers a variety of sandwiches, wraps, salads, and tacos, with soup as the centerpiece. There are always at least six soups and chili at the head of the menu, plus a daily special or two. Not sure which to choose? “Everyone’s favorite is the hot pepper cheese soup,” she says, adding dryly, “It might be the five pounds of pepperjack cheese in each pot? And people always like the cheesy broccoli.” If you come on a Tuesday, try the taco soup. Find out more at barbssoupselmira.com or order at (607) 735-2400.

Lots of regulars order their lunch as takeout, often getting soup to accompany it. “Believe it or not, we sell soup all year long! Sixty to eighty quarts a day in the winter, and we still make a ton in the summer.”

Delicious as everything is, “I enjoy the people even more than the food,” she says. “It’s a hospitality business. And people have to eat.” Luckily, she’s got lunch covered.

~Karey Solomon

Stroll

Community Bank Parades Their Town Spirit

November 28 will be the sixty-seventh Downtown Elmira Holiday Parade, and it promises to be as memorable as all that have come before it. “This is a little bit of bringing kids something when they can’t get to Disney,” says Courtney Shaw. For her, 2025 marks nineteen years on the parade committee as a representative of Community Bank, the presenting sponsor of the parade. “It’s all for the children,” Courtney continues. “Community Bank’s dedication to the parade sponsorship has been more than just a financial investment—it has been a testament to our unwavering support for the community, its traditions, and the joy the parade brings to families and visitors. Over the years, we’ve watched this event grow from its humble beginnings to the grand spectacle it is today, and we are proud to have played a part in its success.”

“We’re a little different from a lot of the parades,” Deb Sullivan, Elmira Downtown Development parade coordinator for forty years, says. “All our things are kind of theme based.” The “cool part of our parade,” she continues, is that organizers try to keep up with “what’s hot” in kid-related popular culture, which is why EDD has about 350 costumes available.

The parade includes twenty EDD floats plus a dozen or so more from other organizations and surrounding businesses. It helps that now EDD has a “brand spankin’ new pole barn,” says Deb, where the floats and costumes are finally all together in one place and “we can get to them.” That accessibility to costumes (they had been stored in the bank’s basement) makes it especially handy for those who decide on the spur of the moment that they’d like to participate as a costumed character and don’t care if the outfit doesn’t fit just quite right.

Along with the floats and the costumed characters, Deb says there are usually two or three DJs, dance groups, the Elmira High School Marching Band, and, of course, Santa. To find out how to participate, give Deb a call at (607) 426-2470 or visit elmiradowntown.com.

The holiday razzle dazzle starts at 10 a.m. at the Clemens Center and Water Street corner, right by WETM studios. It’s a mile route, going west on Water Street, then north on College Avenue, east on Clinton Street, then north on Main Street. It’s about an hour long, with the finish also at the Clemens Center. There is parking at the Centertown Parking Garage on Gray Street.

~Gayle Morrow

Elmira Tea and Coffee House

Celebrating five years of waking up a city, a day at the Elmira Tea and Coffee House (known as ETCH by locals) often begins at 6:30 a.m. when Autumn, the opening barista, arrives at 100 West Water Street. Autumn says she might arrive even earlier many mornings, because she loves her job and really loves coffee. She takes stock of the sitting areas, restocks snacks and supplies, starts the machines, and maybe makes an oat milk latte for herself. By 7 a.m., the regulars begin to arrive. Some take their coffee and go on to start their workday; a few open laptops at one of the tables, and a few others chat at a seating area across the room. Autumn knows many of them by name.

Back in February 2020, the area needed a coffee house. Downtown Elmira was expanding with the growth of the LECOM medical school, a new apartment building had just been built with offices and storefronts below, and Katrina Manning, COO of Capabilities Inc., wanted a forward-facing community enterprise that could provide employment for their clients with disabilities and those in recovery from substance abuse.

Coffee was chosen from Ithaca Roasters Gimme! Coffee. Baked goods and breakfast sandwiches are sourced from the Phoenix Academy, a local BOCES program training students with intellectual and emotional disabilities. Some Phoenix Academy students do their work experience at the coffee shop as well.

“We lean into other businesses supporting people with disabilities,” Katrina says. “Often, you wouldn’t know [by looking] who has a disability and who doesn’t. It’s a message to the community.” The art on the walls—paintings and architectural photographs that on closer inspection are actually expertly-rendered pencil drawings—is created by other individuals with disabilities. The beautifully upholstered furniture was brought back to life in the Capabilities upholstery workshop. Katrina points out a nineteenth-century sofa, comfortably seating three people deep in conversation. Years ago, she found it in a barn on the point of being trashed. Seeing its possibilities, she took it to the workshop where it was restored to life.

Those with a sense of adventure might pair a half-moon cookie with a lavender latte. “People are skeptical,” Katrina says. “Trust me—try it!” There’s lavender matcha for tea drinkers. And for warm weather, Autumn highly recommends the shaken espresso. Open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Sunday, with trivia at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays. Call them at (607) 735-2300.

~Karey Solomon

Bobby K Entertainment

Chemung County

City of Elmira

John H. Cook Painting

Kathleen Bange

Movement Mortgage

Lecom Events Center

Police Benevolent Association

Corning Credit Union

Dimon & Bacorn

Empower Federal Credit Union

First Heritage Federal Credit Union

FM Howell & Company

Gannon Associates Insurance

Gough Holding Corporation

Highstreet

Rentals To Go

Seven Mountains Media

Siemens Energy

Simmons Rockwell

Southern Tier

Custom Fabricators Inc.

Swan Morss Insurance:

Part of the Dunn Group

Visions Federal Credit Union

M&M Hots

If you have a hankering for a great old-fashioned hot dog, stop by M&M Hots on 212 Baldwin Street. Recently reopened, the place has a storied history centered on generations of good food. M&M Hots started offering their signature hot dogs in 1919 when Greek immigrant Andy Patros sold his hot dogs from a corner store on Baldwin Street. They were an instant favorite of locals, and the super-fast service catered to “downtown” folks.

Long-time customer George Karopolos says, “I’ve been coming since I was a baby. Still stop in for the best hot dogs in town.” Folks who grew up here fondly remember the good eats and great atmosphere at M&M’s. They may move out of Elmira, but, whenever they return, the place is a must stop. The standard M&M offering is a hot dog with mustard, secret recipe meat sauce, and minced onions. Regulars usually add an order of fries. The menu includes burgers and onion rings, but most folks stop for the hot dogs. Call (607) 732-9417 with pick-up orders or questions. M&M’s is cash only, but an ATM is tucked in the corner.

The dogs—over 2,000 on an average day—were served by family ever since Andy and his sons ran the business. His son Pete and wife Stella took over the eatery for years. When downtown Elmira was all but destroyed by the Agnes flood in 1972, the family reopened a block up the street and the great dogs’ quick comeback was an inspiration to all. Wilda DeHass, longtime employee and “almost family,” bought the place when the Patros family retired. Wilda ran the place for decades, turning the business over to her son Andy Seymour. Now, Andy’s daughter Katie (above, right) owns M&M Hots. Katie claims her family’s ownership of the local favorite spans forty years.

To the chagrin of many, the restaurant took a four-year hiatus when covid restrictions made it impossible to stay afloat and, later, Andy’s health caused him not to reopen. With a dose of chutzpah and hoopla, Katie and her fiancé, Ryan Gallagher, took over in July 2024. The reopening delighted Elmirans. A city councilman dubbed the event “a rebirth of an Elmira classic eatery.” It’s always been just that. The place served inexpensive meals during the Depression and soldiered on during World War II, when, locals recount, a returning soldier, munching on his favorite hot dog sighed, “Now, I know I’m home.”

~Don Knaus

There’s No Place Like a Holiday Home

For one Elmira neighborhood, festive holiday history and fun is truly “on the house.”

For forty years, the Near Westside Neighborhood Association has delighted the Twin Tiers by hosting their annual Holiday Home Tour. Homeowners in the area volunteer to open their homes and businesses, and all are “decked out in their finery,” according to Sue Skidmore, executive director of the association. Visitors are guaranteed festive decorations and a little education.

“Our families take great pride in their historic homes and work to preserve them,” says Sue. “Including information on the history of each home is one of the main ideas to keep our history alive.”

Ticketholders receive a brochure that includes photos of the included properties and the history, as well as a map. Each home is open from 12 to 4 p.m. on tour day, and a volunteer from the organization helps to host at each location, offering assistance and history. Tourists are also invited to a reception at the close, with goodies and entertainment. Where will this year’s tour take you? That’s what everyone wants to know. “The biggest question is always what homes are on the tour this year,” says Sue.

The organization aims for five or more homes to participate. At some, visitors can view the entire home, and at others, just the first floor. Usually, the homes are in a group or a similar location to limit travel. There is variety in size and décor as well. “We don’t just target the large homes, as there may be others in the smaller neighborhoods that are interesting and worthwhile,” says Sue. Homeowners do their own decorations, which suit lots of different tastes. As she says, “Everyone celebrates their holidays differently.”

This year’s fortieth anniversary event falls on Sunday, December 7. For the most up-to-date information, visit the Near Westside Neighborhood Association on Facebook or call the office at (607) 744-4924. Tickets and brochures are ready by the beginning of November and will be available at a number of Elmira locations and the office at 353 Davis Street.

Looking for a fun tour sooner? The organization is also hosting a similar event July 13— Elmira Blooms. Participants can visit local gardens from flowers to vegetables at homes from Horseheads to the Pennsylvania state line. Contact the office for tickets.

~Karin Knaus

ELMIRA HOME GAMES

Music Festival Season

Saturday, July 26

“Russia Meets the ‘Sons of Vietnam’”

7:00 PM - Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, NY