Ithaca biker friendly? R there jobs? (sublet, apartments, rentals)

[GIrlnextdoors]

Hi. I am looking for a cool, artistic, quietish place to work on writing a novel for the summer.....and have been consistently directed towards Ithaca. Is Ithaca biker/walker friendly, or do you really need a car? Also, is work at all possible out there--I am most happy doing gardening/landscape design. I have some freelance clients so would probably only need a part-time gig...
Also, what is the scene like in Ithaca in the summer? I am 34-years-old, would I be a crone in that neck of the woods?
Thanks for reading...

[Ellie C.]

Summer is the most beautiful time of the year here. Also, seasonal rentals can be easily found because many students take the semester off. There's a great bus system, and if you don't mind hills, it's very cyclist friendly.

And no, you won't be a crone here. Far from it.

Part time jobs shouldn't be a problem to find. If you're interested in working the vineyards you might want to see about the transportation issue though. Otherwise there are lots of restaurant-bar-coffee house gigs in town you could get.

What kind of novel are you writing?

[Emitchell]

Ithaca is very cycling friendly... but some of the hills are long and steep. If you live downtown it won't be a problem. You should be able to get along without a car.

Summers are nice as most of the students leave town.

[Sgoldie]

Try this - Constance Saltonstall Foundation for the Arts - Ithaca, NY

[VTP]

I agree that Ithaca is unique in that even though it's a college town, a 30-ish or even 40-ish person wouldn't feel like a crone. Agreed also that jobs, especially in the restaurant/coffeehouse sector, would be very easy to find. I would prefer to have a car just to get around but you can certainly survive without one, especially if it's just for a few months. There are dozens of "For Rent" signs all over the place, near the center of town. Most of these are for the summer or for the next school year. Be advised, though, that since many of these apartments are pitched to college students, they can be hideous inside. Most are old and haven't been renovated in quite a while. There are a few small apartment buildings near the center of town; these may be a slightly better bet. If you're looking to stay for just the summer, I'm sure there are student leaseholders who would love to sublet for a few months but keep the space when they return in the fall. You could try Craigslist or placing an ad in a local paper. There are some great parks and a waterfront area, along with gorges and other natural attractions. The Cornell campus is amazing, a site of neverending activities of all sorts. Some are open to the community at large. I think you would be happy summering in Ithaca.