Binghamton

Binghamton is a city of 48,000 people (2020) in upstate New York, at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers. It is the cultural and financial center of the Greater Binghamton Metropolitan Area and is the Broome County seat. Binghamton is part of the "Triple Cities" with Endicott and Johnson City.

Binghamton has many fantastic examples of Romanesque Revival Architecture in the city's center; for this, and for its collection of ornate mansions and nice homes, it's known as the Parlor City. The Binghamton area is also known as the Carousel Capital of America, home to 6 of the remaining 150 antique carousels in the nation. Other historic attractions are the Roberson Museum, Kopernik Space Center, and the Ross Park Zoo.

Rod Serling, the screenwriter and television producer, was born here, and the regional sandwich known as the "spiedie" was created here. They are celebrated at the annual Rod Serling Video Fest and the Spiedie Fest and Balloon Rally, respectively. Despite Binghamton's location as the urban core of the region, it has been named a Tree City by the National Arbor Day Foundation for many years, and has been ranked as the 9th best Green City by Better Homes and Gardens. The city has also achieved international recognition as a finalist for Philips Livable Cities Award for its Design Your Own Park program.

Neighboring Vestal is home to the State University of New York at Binghamton (Binghamton University), which acts as an athletic, academic, and cultural center for the city.



Neighborhoods


The City of Binghamton is divided into seven neighborhoods.

City Center: This is the region's administrative, business, entertainment and transportation center. It is located at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers south of the Norfolk Southern rail tracks and west of the Brandywine Highway. Generally, the city is characterized by commercial properties and several high-rise apartments towards the rivers with lower class single- and multifamily dwellings towards the highway. There are several areas of urban blight, most notably along the Brandywine industrial spine.

Downtown Binghamton is notable for its architecture and is the site of the Court Street Historic District. This district has 89 historic buildings from the turn of the previous century, of which the Press Building and the Security Mutual Building are the most notable. A number of buildings on the National Register by famed architect Isaac G Perry are located here as well, including the Perry Block, the Broome County Courthouse, and the Phelps Mansion.

Westside: Located across the Chenango River from Downtown. This area is largely residential and its character ranges from urban to suburban. In general, the area between Seminary Avenue and the Susquehanna River is inhabited by middle to upper-class residents, while the area north of Seminary Avenue to the First Ward is inhabited by working-class residents and students from the neighboring colleges. There is a commercial corridor along Main St with mostly light commercial facilities and a couple of large plazas. Binghamton High School, location of the Helen Foley Theater, is located here, just across the Court St bridge from Downtown. Lourdes Hospital can also be found here.

Despite its residential character a number of historic and architecturally significant buildings can be found on the Westside. The Roberson Museum, the Gen. Edward F. Jones House, and the Abel Bennett Tract can be found here.

Southside: The Southside refers to the area of the city south of the Susquehanna River. It varies from upper-class homes in the western and southern portion to mostly middle class everywhere else. There is a small commercial center at the southern end of the S Washington St bridge including a variety of light commercial and restaurants and is also the site of Binghamton General Hospital. More light commercial and some light industrial can be found along parts of Conklin Ave, with more industry the further east one travels.

The Southside is also home to the Ross Park Zoo and the Discovery Center.

Eastside: The Eastside lies east of the downtown area along the north bank of the Susquehanna River. It is mostly characterized by the Brandywine Industrial Spine, a region of heavy industry and urban blight that separates it from the rest of the city. Beyond this the neighborhood is largely working class, with various shops and restaurants concentrated on Robinson St. Rt 11, or Upper Court St as it is known once it passes under the Brandywine, is more commercial in nature, with several strip malls and home to most of the region's adult entertainment outlets.

The original Dick's Sporting Goods store is still in operation here, it can be found on Upper Court St a little past the Salvation Army. The area is also home to the New York State Inebriate Asylum, the first mental health facility to treat alcoholism as a disease. It too was designed by Isaac Perry and is listed on the State and National historic registers.

Northside: The Northside is located just north of downtown across the Norfolk Southern rail tracks. It is characterized by large sections of commercial activity just north of downtown and along Chenango St. The rest of the area is residential, mostly working class single family homes.

First Ward: The First Ward is largely a residential neighborhood. It occupies the area west of the Chenango River between the Norfolk Southern tracks I86/Rt 17. There are several notable Victorian style mansions along front street that have been transformed into multi-family dwellings, but beyond that the First Ward is mostly known for Antique Row, located along Clinton St. Many portions of this street are blight, particularly toward Front St, but what is left has been turned into numerous antique shops. The Tri-Cities Opera can also be found on Clinton St.

Ely Park: Ely Park is the area west of the Chenango River and north of I86/Rt 17. It is generally residential and is primarily known for the municipal golf course and the government subsidized housing project of the same name located here.

Greater Binghamton
While the Binghamton Metropolitan Statistical area includes all Broome and Tioga Counties, the area referred to as Greater Binghamton is much less defined. Generally, it refers to the larger region of conurbation surrounding the city of Binghamton, from Kirkwood in the east to Endicott in the west and includes the following list of towns and villages. Most of these communities are considered to be small suburbs or bedroom communities with a couple of thousand residents, however, there is an exceptionally high level of integration between them, so much so that most outsiders will not realize they have crossed a municipal line. Many natives, even, will have trouble distinguishing where one community ends and another begins. These communities are only meaningful within the region, as the entire area is known as 'Binghamton' to the outside world.

Chenango Bridge: A small suburb of Binghamton, it is located the furthest north along the Chenango River. It is notable for the Rt 12A bridge across the river.

Conklin: Located just east of Binghamton along the Susquehanna River. Its industrial park is home to several major employers in the area including L-3 Communications, Universal Instruments, and Frito Lay. There is a small castle built as a residence by Alpheus Corby in 1900. It houses several of the town offices.

Endwell: A generally upscale residential suburb sandwiched between Endicott and Johnson City and across the Susquehanna from Vestal. It is home to Highland Park and its well known Fourth of July fireworks display, and to several golf courses and the IBM Glen. Traditions at the Glen Spa and Resort can be found here.

Endicott: The third and smallest member of the 'Triple Cities', although like Johnson City it is classified as a village. Now a working-class suburb, it was once an industrial powerhouse thanks to the plants of the Endicott-Johnson Corporation. It is also recognized as the birthplace of IBM. Recruiting for these factory jobs left a lasting imprint in the form of Little Italy, a still largely Italian neighborhood on the North Side.

Hillcrest: Located north of Binghamton on the east bank of the Chenango river; it is between Port Dickinson and Chenango Bridge. This is a small residential suburb.

Johnson City: Part of the 'Triple Cities' (although, again just a village), Johnson City is one of the major communities in the region. The village immediately borders and is indistinguishable from Binghamton's west side. One of the region's main shopping centers, the Oakdale Mall can be found here, as can the Endicott-Johnson Industrial Spine, a 230-acre (92 ha) area of industrial ruins that is slowly being revitalized. There are many small shops along Main St in Johnson City's center.

Port Dickinson: Located north of Binghamton on the opposite side of the river from Hillcrest. Broome Community College can be found here, as can Otseningo Park: home of the Spedie Fest and Balloon Rally. Port Dickinson (Port Dick) is largely residential in the immediate vicinity of BCC, however, further north is the Upper Front Street commercial district. This is a smaller version of the 'Parkway' in Vestal and contains many shops, restaurants, plazas, and strip malls. A few of the bigger chain stores can be found here such as Lowes and Regal Cinemas, one of the regions two multi-screen movie theaters. Port Dick is also home to Sam the Beer Man.

Vestal: Vestal occupies all of the southern bank of the Susquehanna River west of Binghamton. This is the regions commercial center, with many large plazas, strip malls, shopping centers, and most of the regions big box stores built along the Vestal Parkway. There is also a lot of heavier industry and a sewage treatment plant located along Old Vestal Rd. Upper-class residential areas are built along the hillsides and hilltops to the south. The western part of Vestal, known as 'Four Corners' is home to the Vestal schools (ranked among the highest in the nation) and has more of a small town character, with small shops along Front St and middle-class neighborhoods. The Parkway is the area's busiest roadway and is best avoided unless you have a reason to be there.

West Corners: Located just north of Endicott along Rt 26, this is generally considered the furthest westward extent of the Greater Binghamton region. There is a small shopping plaza surrounded by residential areas. West Corners is only notable for being home to the nationally recognized Phil's Chicken House.

Climate
Binghamton has a humid continental climate with 4 distinct seasons and is well known for its gloomy weather. On sunny days, it is common to hear locals remark on the absurdity of sunlight in Binghamton: "What is this crazy yellow orb and why does it hurt my eyes so?" This doesn't happen often though considering Binghamton averages only 52 sunny days a year. Binghamton also has a reputation as one of the rainiest cities in America. Its not, it only gets about 36 inches of rain (90 cm) a year, but it does average 161 days of precipitation so it can certainly seem like it.

Spring weather in Binghamton is often very unsettled, especially early on. Snowstorms in late April, although uncommon, are not unheard of. Oftentimes, snow is preceded or followed by warm weather... sometimes in the same day! Spring flooding is common and the rivers are often elevated through the entire season as first snow melts and then heavy rains come. Rainy days are no more common than the rest of the year but are often heavier. However, once the unsettled weather of March and April is over, the weather is often fantastic with warm, pleasant days and the scent of myriad spring blooms filling the air.

Summer is generally not too hot, with temperatures often in the low to mid 80s°F (27-30°C). However they tend to be very humid, often oppressively so, and are best described as 'swampy'. Humidity tends to be worse in August and in the afternoon when temperatures are highest. Frequently the humidity will stay elevated for days at a time with no break, and often gets worse at night, making sleep uncomfortable without air conditioning. Swarms of enormous mosquitoes patrol the city on these days and have been known to carry off cats and small dogs.

Fall can be one of the most beautiful seasons in Binghamton and not just for the scenery. The humidity generally breaks in mid September and temperatures will usually remain pleasantly warm right up until it snows... usually on Halloween.

Winter tends to be cold, snowy, and unpredictable. Some years are subject to repeated freeze/thaw cycles that leave the city covered in a thick layer of hard packed snow and ice. Other years, it starts snowing and never stops, with each new storm packing the snow underneath into a thick layer of hard packed snow and ice. See the trend here? The city is perfectly situated to take advantage of both lake-effect snows off the Great Lakes and Nor'Easters coming in off the Atlantic (a Nor'Easter is like a hurricane, only with snow instead of rain). However, the city's distance from the Lakes and the barrier formed by the Appalachian Mountains tends to limit these to only a foot or two at a time. The Public Works Department does a passable job of keeping the highways clear, but has done a terrible job on city streets, with some streets not getting plowed at all until days after the storm has passed.

By plane


BGM Airport is not served by mass transit. Ground transportation options include:
 * On-site car rental from Avis, Budget, and Hertz.
 * Off-site car rental is available from Enterprise. They offer complementary pick-up and drop-off service if your flight arrives or departs during normal business hours.
 * Licensed taxis are available outside the terminal and will take you anywhere in Broome County for $25. It's a good idea to call as soon as your flight lands, although at peak arrival times cabs may already be lined up outside.

The closest larger airports are Syracuse-Hancock International Airport, roughly north of Binghamton, and Albany International Airport,  northeast. If you're originating from outside the East Coast, you may find these airports to have a better range of flight options, along with more competitive fares due to the presence of low cost carriers. Besides a wider range of mainline and regional service on American, Delta and United, Syracuse is also served by Allegiant and JetBlue, while Albany is served by Southwest Airlines. Another alternative is to fly into one of the three New York City airports (Newark, JFK, or LaGuardia) and reach Binghamton via frequent bus service from Port Authority (see below) - this may be more convenient if you're arriving from the West Coast or abroad.

Another option is to fly into Elmira or Ithaca, both of which are about an hours drive. Tickets tend to be a little cheaper and have more options available than direct flights in and out of BGM.

By bus
Intercity bus service is available from the Binghamton Bus Terminal in center city adjacent to BC Junction (the hub for local bus service.)

New York City

 * Greyhound/ Trailways: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, New York City (Port Authority)
 * Coach USA : Monticello, Newark NJ, New York City (Port Authority)
 * Megabus sells tickets on its website between Manhattan and Binghamton. Megabus does not run its double decker buses to Binghamton; these tickets are discounted advance purchase fares for existing service to/from Port Authority on Coach USA (which owns Megabus). Tickets purchased through Megabus are only valid on a specific date and time. Unless you're booking the overnight departure or several weeks in advance, the Megabus fare may not be that much less (and occasionally are actually higher!) If you're not certain about your travel dates and times, consider purchasing a standard ticket directly from Coach USA - they are valid on any bus within 30 days (one-way) or 90 days (round trip) of purchase. You can only buy tickets to or from Manhattan through Megabus, tickets for Coach USA's other destinations (Ithaca, Monticello, etc.) must be purchased at the bus station.

Further Upstate and Canada

 * Greyhound/Trailways : Cortland, Syracuse, Ithaca, Geneva, Rochester, Buffalo, Toronto
 * Coach USA: Owego, Ithaca, Deposit, Norwich

Eastern New York State and New England

 * Coach USA : Oneonta, Colbleskill, Albany
 * Greyhound/Trailways : Oneonta, Cobleskill, Albany, Worcester, Boston (South Station)

Southern Tier

 * Coach USA : Corning, Elmira, Big Flats, Olean, and Jamestown; and continuing service to Mayville-Chautauqua Institution (seasonal), Westfield, Dunkirk/Fredonia, and Buffalo on a Coach USA ErieLine connecting bus.

By train
The nearest Amtrak station is away in Syracuse, served by Empire Service/Maple Leaf trains and the Lakeshore Limited. While it is possible to take a train to Syracuse and a bus to Binghamton, unless you're arriving from west of Buffalo it's usually cheaper and faster to take a bus directly. New York City is well served by Greyhound/Trailways and CoachUSA (see above).

By car
Three highways service the Binghamton area.
 * I-81 runs north to Syracuse, Watertown and the Thousand Islands. Along the way it passes by the Finger Lakes region, Lake Ontario, and the Adirondack Mountains. To the south it passes through the Endless Mountains on the way to Scranton, Pennsylvania.
 * I-88 begins in Binghamton and runs northeast to Albany. It passes through Oneonta and Cobleskill, and is the nearest highway to Cooperstown.
 * I-86/NY17 passes through the entire Southern Tier on its way downstate. To the west it passes through Elmira and Corning and eventually ends at I-90 in Pennsylvania. To the east, it skirts the Catskill Mountains and I-86 ends at I-87 in the Hudson Valley region, but NY17 turns south and eventually ends in New Jersey.

Public transit
Public transportation in Greater Binghamton and outlying areas is served by BC Transit, a service of the Broome County Department of Transportation. Buses run weekdays approximately 6AM-9PM, Saturdays 7AM-6PM, and Sundays 9:30AM-5PM. Some routes do not operate on weekends, service may be limited or suspended on public holidays. Cash fares are $2 per ride (includes one transfer ticket, if requested). If you'll be riding the bus more than twice in one day, an unlimited day pass can be purchased for $5 from the driver. Weekly ($25) and monthly ($70) passes are also available from the BC Transit office (at the junction) or Weis Market locations in Broome County.

Transit options are not limited to the local fixed-routes buses. BC Country provides transportation in outlying areas but must be arranged in advance.

Taxi
Taxis are plentiful in the city, during non-peak times plan on calling 20 minutes before you're ready to leave. Reserving a cab in advance is generally unnecessary and many operators in Binghamton discourage this practice unless you have a flight or bus to catch.
 * University Taxi Cab +1 607-759-6273
 * Yellow Cab +1 607-348-6115
 * All Star Cab +1 607-348-6115
 * AAA Taxi +1 607-221-5894

There are also several smaller operators with fleets of less than five vehicles. BC Junction, the airport, the Binghamton University student union, and some downtown hotels have taxi stands but this is the exception rather than the rule. You may find yourself sharing your cab with other passengers when demand is high (although drivers will only pick up additional passengers who are going in the same general direction, and you'll generally be dropped off in the order you're picked up.) Fares are regulated by the county (although can vary by a dollar or two depending on the operator) and use a zone system, rather than a taximeter.
 * The base fare varies by operator, but is usually $6-8.
 * Fares increase by $1 per zone as you travel through each of the six city zones:
 * Central City
 * Westside and First Ward
 * Upper Front Street
 * Northside and Eastside
 * Southside
 * East Vestal (up to and including the Binghamton University campus)
 * As a rule of thumb, you're crossing into a new zone each time you cross a river, train tracks, or a town line.


 * Outside the zone system described above, the fare increases $2 by town:
 * West Vestal (beyond the BU campus)
 * Johnson City
 * Village of Endwell
 * Village of Endicott


 * Rural communities (e.g. Port Dickinson, Windsor, Kirkwood) are charged based on total mileage. The dispatch center will give you a fare before the driver picks you up.
 * Trips to the Binghamton Airport, regardless of origin are $25.

Ride-hailing
App based ride-hailing services Uber and Lyft are available in and around Binghamton. Rates and availability depend on time of day and demand.

Bicycle
Bicycle routes exist but are limited. There are several streets with designated bike lanes, and several more with markings to warn drivers of possible bicycle traffic. However, bicycle transportation is not common, and many drivers, while not hostile, seem unsure of how to handle bike traffic.

Highways and roads

 * Interstate 81 is a major north-south federal highway that passes through the central and southeastern part of Greater Binghamton. It connects Binghamton with Syracuse to the north and Scranton to the south.  While traffic can be heavy during rush hour, it generally moves along at speed.
 * Interstate 86/New York State Route 17 is an important route in the area, serving as the main east-west travel axis in the Greater Binghamton region. Traffic can be heavy during rush hours but generally moves along at speed without problems. The route connects Interstate 90 in Erie with Interstate 87 (New York State Thruway) in Harriman as a divided highway, and is known as the Southern Tier Expressway west of Binghamton.
 * Interstate 88: the Senator Warren M. Anderson Expressway/Susquehanna Expressway. It is a direct link from Binghamton to Schenectady, with links to the New York State Thruway (I-87/I-90) providing access to Albany.
 * U.S. Route 11 parallels I-81 for most of its north-south route, but goes through the city rather than going around it. US 11 follows Court St through downtown, then turns north onto Front St after crossing the Court St bridge.
 * New York State Route 7 parallels US 11 on the south bank of the Susquehanna River from the Pennsylvania border until it turns north at the Tompkins St bridge. It is known as the Brandywine Highway from the Tompkins St bridge until it intersects I-88 (which it parallels to Schenectady).
 * New York State Route 12 begins in the Greater Binghamton region, diverging from US 11 just north of Port Dickinson. NY 12 connects Binghamton with Utica. Upper Front St continues along NY 12 for a mile or two north. NY 12A diverges from here to the community of Chenango Bridge.
 * New York State Route 17C travels west to east into Greater Binghamton from Owego, and is known as Main St in most of the communities it passes through. It terminates at Front St in Binghamton, but the road continues as Court St (US 11) into downtown.
 * New York State Route 26 is the major north-south route on the western end of the Greater Binghamton region. It starts at the Pennsylvania border in the south of Vestal, and travels north to Endicott, West Corners, Whitney Point, and beyond.
 * New York State Route 201 is a short, north-south highway between the two major shopping districts, connecting Harry L Drive in Johnson City (including the Oakdale Mall) and the Vestal Parkway with I-86/NY 17 and NY 17C. This is one of the most heavily traveled bridges across the Susquehanna River, and traffic can occasionally grind to a halt on the southbound lanes during rush hours.
 * New York State Route 363 is known locally as North Shore Drive. It is a short, north-south limited-access highway that bypasses downtown Binghamton and links NY 434 to NY 7, and to I-81/NY 17 (Exit 4 S).
 * New York State Route 434 is generally called the Vestal Parkway between the Binghamton city line and Tioga County border. This road is heavily traveled and best avoided when possible. The section between Bunn Hill Rd and African Rd is home to numerous plazas and strip malls, and is very congested throughout the day.

Important local roads

 * Chenango Street Main thoroughfare through Binghamton/Port Dickinson/Hillcrest on the east bank of the Chenango River.
 * Clinton Street Main thoroughfare through the First Ward in Binghamton. Home to Antique Row.
 * Conklin Ave Main thoroughfare through Binghamton/Conklin on the south bank of the Susquehanna River.
 * Court Street Main thoroughfare through Binghamton east of the Chenango River.
 * Floral Ave Largely residential. It connects Main Street in Binghamton to the Traffic Circle.
 * Front Street Main thoroughfare through Binghamton/Port Dickinson on the west bank of the Chenango River.
 * Hooper Road Main thoroughfare through Endwell.
 * Main Street Once was the major connecting road of the Triple Cities (Binghamton, Endicott, and Johnson City) and served as the commercial heart of each. Many unique small shops can still be found in each of their respective shopping districts.
 * Old Vestal Road Once was the main east/west thoroughfare through Vestal. It now serves as an alternative to the Vestal Parkway, but can become congested with other people seeking to do the same.
 * Riverside Drive Main thoroughfare through Binghamton/Johnson City along the north bank of the Susquehanna River. Notable for the number of large, historic residences along its length.

Parking

 * Metered parking is available on most city streets around the city center, and a few blocks either side of Main Street on the West Side - a quarter gets you 15 minutes of parking, and the maximum a meter can hold at any one time is two hours. Street parking is free after 6PM Monday through Friday and all day on weekends. Take note that some of the spaces on Court Street are angled relative to the curb and as the signs clearly state, you must back your vehicle in. Park incorrectly and you will get a ticket.
 * Alternatively garages are also available on State Street near City Hall and the Courthouse, Exchange Street across from BC Junction and Water Street behind Boscovs Department Store. Paid lots exist on Stuart Street near the Holiday Inn and behind the Metrocenter. Garages charge by the hour and the paid lots charge a flat fee for the entire day, and fees are collected around the clock, every day.
 * Parking is free on other city streets in residential areas, be aware that from December through April the city requires alternate side parking to assist with snow removal. After 5PM, remember to park for tomorrow, meaning if the next day is an even day (2nd, 4th, 6th, etc. of the month) park on the even side of the street, likewise if tomorrow will be an odd day (1st, 3rd, 5th, etc. of the month), park on the odd side of the street after 5PM. Park on the wrong side overnight and you'll wind up with a ticket. Bear in mind that the alternate side rule still applies even if one side of the street is marked "no parking" (unless the block has a sign noting an exemption.) Prior to 5PM, vehicles are supposed to be parked on the side of the street that corresponds with that day's date, although in practice this is not enforced unless it's snowing and the plows are out. From May through November, you may park on either side of the street provided it isn't marked "no parking".
 * Binghamton University operates on a campus wide permit system. You may purchase a visitors parking pass for $6 from the information booth, park in a metered space (one set is near the library, the other next to the administration building), or the garage near fine arts for $1/hour. Parking can be difficult to find during the week while classes are in session, and the university encourages off campus students to use transit or walk.
 * New York State Law allows police to issue a parking ticket if the inspection sticker on your vehicle is out of date. In Binghamton, there is a higher than usual chance you'll be cited for this reason, even if no other parking violations have occurred. You should always drive with a current inspection sticker, but avoid street parking and stick to garages, private lots and driveways if yours happens to be expired.
 * Parking fines in Binghamton are expensive even by New York State standards. Most minor violations (e.g. overstayed meter, parked on the wrong side during winter) run $70, however if you pay the ticket within two business days, either in person at city hall, online, or through mail (the city uses the postmark determine the date of payment), the fine is reduced by 50%. Tis doesn't apply to more serious violations such as blocking a fire hydrant or using a disabled space without the appropriate permit.

See




Big box stores

 * Oakdale Mall - anchored by JCPenney and Burlington Coat Factory, it is the only indoor super-regional mall in the Greater Binghamton area and within a 50-mile radius. Located in suburban Johnson City.
 * Vestal Parkway in suburban Vestal has most of the area's big box retail strip centers.
 * Downtown Binghamton has several shopping options including a Boscov's department store on Court Street.

Eat
Binghamton has always been (and still is) a melting pot of ethnic flavors. The city's history has been strongly influenced by German, Italian, and Polish immigrants; with many today coming from Eastern Europe, Latin America, and India. The eateries in the city reflect this and provide that big city cultural and culinary experience largely missing in many small cities. Many of the national chains are present in the city as well, and are easily located.

Japanese
The Binghamton area has a relatively high number of traditional and not so traditional Japanese restaurants, possibly owing to the significant international student population from Asia (which may also explain why the majority of these restaurants are located within a mile or two of the Binghamton University campus on the Vestal Parkway.)



Italian
Binghamton has some of the most authentic southern Italian and Sicilian food this side of Italy. Each of these restaurants also serves pizza but the focus is on fine Italian dinning.

Pizzerias
Pizza in Binghamton is predominantly New York style. However, Binghamton is well known (and sometimes reviled) for its 'sheet' or square pizza. Those who enjoy New England (Greek) Style pizza, may want to check out Amici's (see above)



Spiedies
The Spiedie is a regional dish born in Binghamton to Italian immigrants. It consists of marinated chunks of meat grilled over charcoal on metal skewers. It is served still on the skewer with a slice of Italian bread (almost always Felix Roma's) used to pull the meat off, usually with a little marinade drizzled on top. The original meat was lamb, but has come to include chicken, pork, and venison.



Drink




State Street
One of the most popular areas in Binghamton for the drinking crowd, particularly among BU students. The pub area of the street is generally closed town to vehicular traffic in the evenings on weekends. This is the epicenter of the weekly 'Pub Crawl' among graduating BU seniors and 19 year olds with class C licenses from Connecticut who coincidentally share the same birthday with all of their friends.



LGBT
Although not quite to the extent of rainbow filled Ithaca, Binghamton is a diverse and accepting city with a "live and let live" attitude. Nearly all the major bars and nightlife spots see both locals and college students who are openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender on a regular basis, odds are nobody even gives it a second thought. (Bars where being openly LGBT could be problematic are well off the beaten path in the rural outskirts of the city and likely would not be of any interest to tourists. Even if you did happen to stumble into one by mistake, odds you would face outright hostility or violence are fairly low).

Sleep
Binghamton has many places to stay, but if you will be visiting around Binghamton University's Commencement (late May, early June), be sure to book VERY early. Hotels have been known to fill up a year in advance.

Hotels and motels




Learn

 * Binghamton University is one of the four flagship "University Centers" of the SUNY system and is generally regarded as a "Public Ivy" due to its high level of research activity. The university is well known for its programs in engineering, computer science, biotech, nursing, K-12 education, music (particularly opera performance and musicology) and theatre, however a wide variety of undergraduate, masters, doctoral, and pre-professional programs are offered.
 * SUNY Broome  (formerly Broome County Community College) is a two-year community college offering associate degrees and certificate programs. Broome also has an attrition agreement with Binghamton University: students who complete an associate degree with at least a 3.0 GPA are guaranteed transfer admission to a BU bachelor's program with all credits eligible for transfer.
 * Davis College is a Pentecostal Bible college and seminary.
 * Additionally, for-profit career colleges Ridley Lowell  and Elmira Business Institute both have satellite campuses in Binghamton.

Work
Binghamton (along with Upstate New York in general) struggled economically over the second half of the 20th century. New York State has been trying to develop Binghamton as the state's "tech hub", encouraging startups and small businesses to relocate to the area with substantial tax and other incentives. While there has been some growth in the technology sector the past few years, so far this has been largely restricted to engineering, robotics, and aerospace and hasn't yet extended to software or web development. Companies such as IBM, Sanmina, BAE Systems, Universal Instruments, and Lockheed Martin all have a substantial presence in the Triple Cities and are among the largest employers in Broome County.

The other two major skilled fields are medicine and education. Both hospital systems in the area, United Health Service and Our Lady of Lourdes (Catholic Health) always have a demand for medical staff (especially nurses), along with IT, administrative, and support professionals. Binghamton University, being one of the flagship campuses of the SUNY system, employs a significant number of faculty members, researchers and support staff members. Although not to the same extent, Broome County Community College also employs a similar range of people.

High paying positions that do not require either professional licenses and/or a graduate degree are still relatively hard to come by. There are still a small number of manufacturing jobs available through Raymond Corporation, Felchar, and Frito-Lay. Several larger companies operate call centers in and around Binghamton, including Time Warner Cable and New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG). Contract call centers (hired by a company to replace or augment their in-house customer service department) also exist. The largest of these is Nationwide Credit (NCI), a former collection agency in Endicott.

Being a college town, there are also a multitude of jobs available each year in restaurants, bars, and retail, although many of these positions are part-time without benefits. That said, these positions may help you get your foot in the door into the area if you're looking to relocate, and Binghamton is not a bad small city to relocate to or settle down in. Many believe that Binghamton is on the verge of its second renaissance with a multitude of natural and cultural resources, a relatively low cost of living, and extremely friendly and hard working people who would be more than happy to welcome you into the community.

Connect
The area code for the Greater Binghamton Area is 607. Dialing the area code is not necessary if you're placing a local call. All major cell networks cover the town.

Internet access is nearly universal in private homes in Endicott and is usually usable, if not lightning-fast. The most reliable source for public internet access is likely the George F. Johnson Memorial Library.

Two post offices are available:

New York State

 * Ithaca
 * Cortland
 * Syracuse

Pennsylvania

 * Scranton
 * Allentown