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| Elmira | ||
| county | Chemung County | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 29.200 (2010) | |
| height | 266 m | |
| Tourist info web | www.cityofelmira.net | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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The small town Elmira is the largest place in Chemung County of the US state new York. Except for friends of the writer Mark Twain and the silent film producer Hal Roach - both lived here - Elmira is not worth a detour. The local economy is largely idle, foreign tourists rarely get lost in the city and there are few hotels. All the more surprising is the fact that Elmira has five expensive restaurants, four of which are actually quite good.
background
The city was founded in 1788 under the name "Chemung" and got its current name in 1808. In the 19th century, Elmira, which was connected to both the railroad network and the Chemung Canal, was a major transport hub between the industrial centers in Rochester, Buffalo , Albany and New York City. In the middle of the 19th century, the city became an important point of view Underground Railroad, an aid organization that enabled slaves from the southern states to flee north. During the American Civil War, a notorious POW camp (1864-1865) existed in Elmira for a short time, in which nearly 3,000 Confederate soldiers died.
Since the railroad is hardly of any importance today, they are Haydays by Elmira long gone. The city is economically weak, the one that has existed since 1855 college however, it still attracts many wealthy students.
getting there
By plane
The closest airport is the Elmira / Corning Regional Airportwhich can be reached in 15 minutes by car or taxi from downtown Elmira; the flight connection to New York City is cumbersome and always leads over Detroit or Philadelphia.
By train
The nearest Amtrak train stations are in Syracuse (145 km) and Rochester (201 km).
By bus
The bus company offers a relatively fast and direct connection from New York City to Corning Greyhound.
In the street
Corning is 60 miles west of Binghamton conveniently located on Interstate Highway 86, which you drive on if you are from New York City off to the Niagara Falls Is on the way.
mobility
Dynamic cardsThere isn't much going on in downtown Elmira, where everything is close together and you could actually walk easily. Otherwise, a car in Elmira is more than useful (although that Chemung County Transit System operates some bus routes in the city and beyond).
Tourist Attractions
Museums
- 1 Arnot Art Museum, 235 Lake St, at Gray St. Tel.: 1 607-734-3697. Museum in Downtown Elmira with a small but interesting art collection. The most interesting museum in Elmira.
- 2 Chemung Valley History Museum, 415 E Water St, between Fox St and Lake St. Tel.: 1 607-734-4167. Small museum with a local history exhibition. Two exhibition rooms with exhibits on the topics of railways, fire brigade and everyday life, as well as some original objects from the possession of Mark Twain.Open: Tue - Sat 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sun 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.Price: Entry $ 2 (Seniors, Children $ 1).
- 3 John W. Jones Museum, 1250 Davis St. Museum still in the planning phase, which will in future host an exhibition about John W. Jones (1817-1900), an activist of the Elmira Underground Railroadshould accommodate.
Architectural highlights
- Brand Park Memorial Pool, Brand Park, on the south bank of the Chemung River. 1937 by the Bintz Pool Company Built summer swimming pool with an unusual design, of which only a few examples have survived across the country.
- Maple Avenue Historic District, Maple Avenue. Small neighborhood south of the Chemung River with a high concentration of impressive Victorian houses. Also called "Antiques Alley" because of the many antique dealers.
- The Park Church, W Church St, at Main St. The stylistically distinctive church, built in 1872 by a Protestant community. The inside of the huge church offers space for 1,300 believers.
- Westside Historic District, west of Downtown Elmira, roughly the area between Chemung River, Hoffman St, 2nd St and College Ave.. Spacious district with numerous beautiful Victorian villas. A stroll along Church Street is particularly rewarding.
additional
- Mark Twain Study, Elmira College Campus, College Ave, across from 7th St. The octagonal wooden pavilion built for Samuel L. Clemens in 1874, where Mark Twain later wrote his most famous novels. In 1952 it became Study moved from its original location (the Quarry Farm above Elmira) to the campus. Compared to the Study, in the Hamilton Hall (College Ave, at Washington St) des Elmira College, there is a small exhibition on Mark Twain.
The Mark Twain Study.
The Park Church.
Brand Park Pool.
Elmira Town Hall (Church & Lake St.s).
activities
- First arena, 155 N Main St, at Gray St. Multipurpose hall used for concerts, comedy, circus and other cultural events. 3,900 seats. Also the home stadium of the local ice hockey team: the Elmira Jackals. In winter there are free times for ice skating.
Culture
- Clemens Center, 207 Clemens Center Pkwy, between Gray St and Market St. The largest stage in the city. Musical, drama, comedy, opera, ballet, symphony concerts, music, films, events for children. Guest performances and appearances by local artists or ensembles. The Clemens Center opened as a cinema in 1925 and was largely rebuilt after a severe hurricane (1972). The house has two stages: the beautiful Powers Theater, richly decorated in Beaux Arts style (1,600 seats) and the smaller Mandeville Hall (200 seats). A parking garage is right next door ($ 2 per evening).
- Elmira Little Theater, 1000 Laurel St, at Pennsylvania Ave. Small theater in the south of the city. Musical and drama.
- Youth Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes. Top-class youth symphony orchestra, whose concerts can be experienced at different locations in Horseheads and Elmira.
Sports
- Dunn Field, 546 Luce St.. The local baseball team bears the name Elmira Pioneers. The home stadium of the Pioneers is Dunn Field, a stadium built in 1939 in the south of Elmira with space for 4,020 spectators.Price: Tickets $ 3-5 (Seniors and Children 4-12 $ 2).
shop
Food
- Elmira Seafood, 456 W Washington Ave, at Lincoln St. Small deli near Elmira College.
- Wegmans, 1100 Clemens Center Parkway, at Division St. Large, well-stocked supermarket with the best fast food restaurant in town.
To buy something other than groceries, the locals usually go to Big flats to the Arnot Mall.
kitchen
Cheap
- Campus Pizza, 155 W Washington Ave, at Maggee St. Simply furnished pizzeria on the outskirts of Elmira College that caters to student audiences and is pretty good value for money. New York style pizza with a nice loose base. One of the few addresses where pizza is served on porcelain plates and with the right cutlery. Also chicken wings, burgers, subs, wraps and salads. No alcohol license.
- Classic Cafe & Filling Station, 805 Pennsylvania Ave, at Yale St. Somewhat in a residential area south of Downtown Elmira is the area's only classic diner with 1950s-style furnishings. To eat a good burger, it is better to go to Applebee's or to the Outback, but otherwise the menu is not uninteresting and the atmosphere alone is worth a visit. Attention, the restaurant closes at 8 p.m. in the evening. License for wine and beer.
Pierogi come with a potato or meat filling, for example
- D-‘s Pierogi Place, 810 East Church St, at Harriett St. Elmira's most interesting restaurant is a few blocks east of downtown. D-‘s Pierogi Place opened in 2014 and offers authentic Polish cuisine in the sober ambience of a fast-food restaurant. Satisfying portions at affordable prices. Wonderful piegori and cabbage rolls, potato pancakes, halushki, Polish sausage and Russian steak sandwich (with fried meat sausage and onions). No alcohol. While you are there, it is also worth taking a look at the very cheap Polish imported groceries that are sold under the same roof.Open: Tue - Sat, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
- Pietro & Son, 400 W Washington St, at Davis St. Restaurant with Italian-American cuisine. Pizza, pasta, hamburgers, small wine list. The comparatively interestingly prepared food compensates for the inconspicuous interior design. While pizza bases are soaked in other restaurants, you will be surprised here with a biscuit-like, pleasantly crispy base.
- Vincenzo's, 303 N Main St, at Church St. Small fast pizzeria on the outskirts of Downtown Elmira, which offers New York Style pizza of the upper middle class. The only specialty on the menu are those served with french fries Hoagies. A Hoagie is a variant of the submarine sandwich from Philadelphia, which is topped with plenty of fresh ingredients (lettuce, onions, tomatoes), but without pickles. The basis is a freshly baked Italian baguette roll, meat (e.g. ham, roast beef or turkey) and provolone cheese.
medium
- Beijing Garden, 145 W Gray St, at Main St. Good Chinese restaurant in downtown Elmira with a comparatively elegant interior. More romantic than other Chinese restaurants. Still child-friendly.
- Palms Restaurant, 1157½ N Main St, at Mary St. Italian restaurant a few blocks north of Elmira College, famous among locals for its scampi. The independently run restaurant unfortunately has to deal with the Olive Garden in Big flats compare, which not only offers more attractive decoration, but also more interesting, better food.
- Los Panchos Mexican Restaurant, 250 W Water St, between College Ave and Main St. Independently run Mexican restaurant in Downtown Elmira. Big portion.
Upscale
- Charlie's Café, 205 Hoffman St, at Gray St. One of Elmira's best restaurants. Interesting, slightly eclectic American cuisine with good value for money, extensive wine list. Tasteful interior, pleasant and romantic.
- Hill Top Inn restaurant, 171 Jerusalem Hill Rd. A little above Elmira, east of the motorway, is the area's only restaurant with a view (can be seen from the roof garden of Market Street Brewing Co. in Corning from). You can even eat outside in summer. The very courteous, unobtrusive waiters, the carefully prepared dishes and the small but elegant selection of wines compensate for the unadorned interior. The napkins are made of fabric and if you want, you can choose snails as a starter - but the atmosphere is more relaxed than formal.
- Lib's Supper Club, 106 W 5th St, at Wisner St. Close to Elmira College, a tucked-away restaurant with extensive space that may have seen better days. Signed photos of American stars of the past are on display in showcases. The kitchen tries a very interesting and for the region unusual compromise between Italian and American southern dishes. Steaks, crabs, pasta, extensive wine list. Big portion.Open: Tue - Sat 3:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., Sun 3:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.Price: Mains around $ 20.
- Moretti's restaurant, 800 Hatch St, at 7th St. Traditional restaurant (opened in 1917) with Italian-American cuisine, hidden away in an industrial district north of downtown Elmira. The high prices, the intimate atmosphere and the very friendly waitresses suggest luxury, but the cheap, pieced-together interior furnishings would have desperately needed a make-over 20 years ago and the food is prepared so simply and unimaginatively, despite the fresh ingredients, that a visit is worthwhile hardly worth it at Moretti's.
- Pierce's 1894 restaurant, 228 Oakwood Av, at 14th St. Upscale restaurant (traditional family business) located in Elmira Heights with eclectic cuisine that combines the attempt at regional haute cuisine with concessions to American taste. Very extensive wine list. Not three stars with the Michelin Guide, but one of the most sophisticated restaurants in the area. Eccentric interior design with old-fashioned and somewhat fairytale charm, but which offers the intrepid the perfect setting for formal marriage proposals and similar romantic occasions: intimate little tables, behind which the lady sits on a leather-covered pink or lilac-colored Rococo sofa (from where she sits whole room), while the gentleman sits down opposite her on a small chair and only has a view of the lady. Incidentally, the only restaurant in the area where the waiters serve correctly from the left.Open: closed on Mondays.Price: Mains $ 18-26.
nightlife
- Harry's Inn & Heights, 308 E 14th St, near Scottwood Ave, Elmira Heights. Music club with a concert program and a small kitchen.
- Legends Bar & Grille, 231 Oakwood Ave, Elmira Heights. Nice Sports bar right across from Pierce's. Well-kept dining room with an extensive menu. American-Italian cuisine that (as in most places of this type) can be compared with Applebee's however does not withstand.
accommodation
There are more hotels in the neighboring towns than in Elmira Horseheads and Big flats.
Cheap
- Coachman Motor Lodge, 908 Pennsylvania Ave, at Fred St. South of the Chemung River located motel with 18 undemanding mini-apartments. Last renovated in 1999.Price: $ 60.
- Mark Twain Motor Inn, 1996 Lake St, near E. McCanns Blvd.. Inexpensive and very simple motel, in which even fans of the writer should only book after careful examination (Tripadvisor).
- Red Jacket Motel, 1744 Route 17 West, Lowman. A motel located a few kilometers south of Elmira directly on the motorway for people with low demands (Tripadvisor).
medium
- Holiday Inn Elmira Riverview, 760 E Water St, at Washington St. Tel.: 1 607-7344211, Fax: 1 607-734-3549. Centrally located chain hotel.Price: Rooms from $ 94.
- Lindenwald House, 1526 Grand Central Ave, at the north end of the Clemens Center Pkwy. Bed & Breakfast with 18 stylishly furnished rooms.Price: $ 74-115.
Upscale
- Elmira's Painted Lady, 520 West Water St, between Grove St and Walnut St. Centrally located bed & breakfast with four stylishly furnished rooms, housed in a villa built in 1875 in the Second Empire style.Price: $ 165-225.
- Francis Hall House, 526 W Church St, near Grove St. Close to the center and in the most beautiful district of Elmira, a Bed & Breakfast is housed in a listed building built in 1869 in the Greek Revival style.
Learn
- Elmira College, College Ave, between 5th St and Washington Ave.. The local private university founded in 1855. Well worth seeing campus with picturesque old buildings.
- Elmira Heights Studio / The Dance Shoppe, 251 E 14th St. Tel.: 1 607-737-9014. Private ballet school.
security
health
- 1 Arnot Ogden Medical Center, 600 Roe Ave, northwest of downtown. In emergencies you can find the Emergency room 24/7 medical assistance from Arnot Ogden Medical Center.
Practical advice
- Wash-It Laundromat, 309 Pennsylvania Ave, at Clemens Center Parkway, south of the Chemung River. Tel.: 1 607-271-9258. Coin launderette.
- Downtown Elmira Post Office, 255 Clemens Center Pkwy, at Gray St. Open: Mon - Fri 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sat 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
trips
In the hills east of downtown Elmira is the little one Newtown Battlefield State ParkIn 1779 a decisive battle of the American War of Independence took place here. A stone obelisk commemorates the event. The events that make this happen are more worth seeing Chemung Valley Living History Center Organized twice a year in the park and where costumed people re-enact the battle events.
literature
- Michael Horigan: Elmira: Death Camp of the North, Stackpole Books, 2006. ISBN 0811732762 , on the Elmira prisoner of war camp, 1864-1865 (engl.)
Web link
- Chemung Chamber of Commerce(engl.)
