Archive: Around Town

On Saturday, August 11th, the YMCA of Ithaca & Tompkins County hosted its first ever PizzaPOLLooza! Members and Non-members alike were able to sample pizza from 17 participating pizzerias from Ithaca and surrounding areas.

The pizza parlors showed up in style—providing delectable and diverse slices for every taste imaginable. There were “Grandma Pies” with homemade mozzarella made in-house from Bambino’s Bistro; golden deep-dish delights from The Nines; Mexican-style slices with fresh avocado from Pizza Aroma; a fusion Philly Cheese Steak pie from Domino’s; focaccia bases topped with garden tomatoes from Ciao!; and  gooey, bacon-loaded bites from The Connection. But it was local favorite, Ned’s Pizza, which hit the home-run of the day—they swept first place in all three categories according to the taste-testers: Best Sauce, Best Crust and Best Overall Slice.

Pizza Aroma slid in as runner up for both Best Crust and Best Overall Slice, but A-1 Pizzeria held strong by winning 2nd place for Best Sauce. Families worked off their loaded pizza plates with hula-hoops, Frisbees, and free-form parachute games to accompanying music generously provided by Cornell Bennett.

The event was a grand slam success in the Y’s culture of giving, as great awareness was raised for the Y’s annual scholarship fund. We’re already planning and looking forward to next year’s PizzaPOLLooza which will include pizza-tossing and pizza-decorating contests in addition to the pizza poll!

Participating pizzerias and businesses included Casa Blanca Pizzeria, Ciao!, Domino’s Pizza, Italian Carry Out, Ned’s Pizza, Northeast Pizza, Papa John’s Pizza, Paradise Café, Pizza Aroma, Sammy’s Pizzeria, Sicilian Delight, The Connection, The Nines, A-1 Pizzeria, Todi’s Italian Pizza, Lansing Pizzeria, and Bambino’s Bistro. Gift cards were also kindly donated and raffled off from: The Rose, Lucatelli’s Ristorante, Fabio’s Italian Restaurant, Little Caesar’s Pizza, The Sub Shop, Pizza Hut, Ron Don’s Village Pub, King Ferry Pizza, Avicolli’s, Giuseppi’s Pizza, Nino’s Pizzeria, Mario’s Pizza and Donoli’s Restaurant. Tops Friendly Market donated paper goods and beverages as well.

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