September 11, 2014
On Saturday, September 6, Hamilton students braved wind and scattered showers to embark on the Off the Hill Challenge. Participants went from storefront to storefront, collecting complimentary flowers from the Clinton Florist, sharp cheddar cheese from Tom’s Natural Foods and perfectly proportioned half-moon cookies at Village Crossing. For many first-years, the event was not only their first chance to explore downtown Clinton; it was their first time off the Hill at all since arriving on campus.
“Everyone we crossed paths with was super nice, friendly and glad to have us in their businesses and restaurants,” Laura Whitmer ’18 said. “It was so nice to be welcomed in that way after not being here for very long and not knowing anyone in town.”
Whitmer said her favorite part of the Off the Hill Challenge was being able to spend time off campus and experience the town with friends. Alan Yeh ’18 enjoyed seeing small, local businesses and the lack of chain franchises.
Ellie Pinto ’18 said the close ties between Clinton and Hamilton were obvious.
“The vendors seemed really happy to see us. It almost felt like an extension of the Hamilton community,” she said. “It was really interesting to talk to the people we met, a lot of them were sharing personal stories and it was great to interact with them.”
“We work really hard to maintain a relationship with the college. We want the students to come down and experience Clinton,” said Julie Bigger of Artisan’s Corner. “We know people at Hamilton come from all over and this is a place where you can buy a piece of work that represents upstate New York.”
The 2014 Off the Hill Challenge included several businesses new to Clinton. Tex-Mex restaurant 8-Fresh opened on August 11, while ice cream shop All Seasons and boutique Signature 81 opened in the past few months.
Others, like Clinton Jewelers, have established deep connections to Clinton and to Hamilton.
“We’re a village store. The original owner graduated from Hamilton in the late seventies,” owner and designer Rebecca Brown said. Cash-strapped college students might not buy a lot of fine jewelry, but Brown said she sees an influx of business from the College particularly around graduation.
“We’ll get a bunch of friends who will get a set of bracelets when they graduate so they can all have one,” she said.
Kari Kiehn of BeeUtiful Skin Care & Waxing, meanwhile, says her business sees students from the College every week. According to Kiehn, the salon benefits from being located near three sororitiy houses Tom’s Natural Foods is a staple for some Hamilton students because the Woollcott Co-op shops there.
All the business owners and employees said they had a good relationship with either Hamilton students or their visiting parents. However, a few voiced concerns that if students cannot live off campus next year, they will shop in Clinton less frequently.
Eclectic shops like Paddywacks and Dawn Marie’s Treasures are go-tos for students looking for unique items.
“I do see a lot of students who enjoy buying fun gifts for each other,” Joanne Roselli of Paddywacks said. “We sell whimsy.”
Cathy Mosher of the thrift store Wink said the store is especially popular when students are shopping for themed parties.
“They come in here for 60s parties, 70s parties, now they’re even having 90s parties,” Mosher said. “We have a nice mix of local artists, unique collectibles and just a lot of cool stuff. There are a couple of girls from Hamilton who come in exclusively for vintage clothing. Last year there was a girl who came in to find furs.”
Students go to Wink for their caffeine fix as well as their fashion fix, as the store also has an in-house coffee shop.
“It’s like living in Star’s Hollow,” Mosher said, referencing the idyllic town in the TV show Gilmore Girls.
After completing the course, participants picked up free Off the Hill Challenge t-shirts and were encouraged to continue exploring Clinton. Students lined up at the Cider Mill for doughnuts, cider and samples of pie and cookies.
“The chilly weather made it even better to go to the Cider Mill at the end,” Whitmer said.
“I loved the traditional feel [of the Cider Mill],” Pinto said. “The fact that it’s seasonal made it that much more special. It really had that feeling of fall and family.”
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