T-burg business owners encourage shopping local

After another year of seclusions, limitations and supply-chain shortages, Trumansburg offers a variety of ways to give something meaningful to those special people in our lives while supporting the town and the privately owned, local businesses that keep Trumansburg the unique and quaint village it’s always been known as.

In a time where possessions have become secondary to functionality, mental and physical health and meaningful experiences, Trumansburg businesses have something substantial to offer to those looking to gift this season.

“I recently received a massage myself and realized how hungry I’d been for physical and social contact and how social and physical distancing has affected me,” said Rose Hilbert, owner of The Inn at Gothic Eves. “I think that in the last year and a half, a lot of us are suffering from a lack of physical contact and interaction.”

The Inn at Gothic Eves offers crystal and massage therapy, energy medicine therapy, chakra therapy and a collection of services to help with pressure points, the vascular system and realignment of meridians, Hilbert said.

“We offer individual massages as well as couples massages,” she added. “We have a space for clients to come in and sit with myself or staff and develop the path of services that are individualized and tailored to each client’s wants or needs. We currently offer a special, now through April, that coincides with booking a stay at the inn. Included in a one-night stay [are] a night fire pit and outdoor hot tub. With a two-night stay, you get that with the addition of sauna services and a one-person, 75-minute massage. If you book three nights, you get all of that with a two-person massage.”

Upcoming specials can be found on Gothic Eves’ website. The inn sells gift certificates for services that can be set in any amount and can be purchased in person at 112 E. Main St. or through its website at gothiceves.com.

For the culinary minded, Sunrise Cayuga Farm offers a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscription — where the farm will provide organic sustainable meat subscriptions that are generally for six months but can be purchased month by month as well — for the recipient of your choice.

“You can call or come by the farm and purchase whatever package you prefer, and we will log it for the person you wish to gift it to,” owner Rod Porter said. “And they can come choose what they like.”

Information for the CSA subscription can be found at cayugasunrisefarm.wixsite.com/farm.

In historic downtown Trumansburg, licensed acupuncturist Brian Isacks of The Tao Healing Arts Center offers acupuncture, Chinese medical massage and therapeutic services.

“I’ve been in practice 14 years and am fully licensed,” Isacks said. “I’m originally from Ithaca, but I’m now permanently a Trumansburg resident. I’m happy to meet new clients and introduce people to Chinese medical services. Gift cards can be purchased at www.taohealingarts.org, and if physical gift cards are what you’d prefer, those can be purchased at the Tao Healing Arts Center located at 1859 Trumansburg Rd.”

At a time when many feel tired and overwhelmed, Alison Carpenter, owner of The Beauty Barn, wants to help get people excited about things again.

“We opened on June 22nd, 2020,” Carpenter said. “It was right when everything was shutting down that we were just starting up. I was worried over plans, protocol, opening, just everything! I knew it was going to be either the worst or the best decision of my life. I feel very lucky that it turned out to be the best.”

Carpenter explained why she decided to start her business.

“Since this was going to be built on my property and I knew it was going to be in the middle of a field, it just made sense to make it a barn,” she said. “I adore this town and I wanted to have a place here to make people feel good about themselves and add positivity to the town. I get a lot of people that come in with what they call ‘pandemic hair’ who haven’t had any self-care beauty maintenance in a long time. It makes me feel good to be a part of people getting back to that and having pick-me-up services available.”

The Beauty Barn offers all hair services, facials, all body waxing, makeup and makeup lessons as well as special makeup sessions for events such as weddings, proms, etc. Gift certificates in any amount that can be applied to the service of the recipient’s choice can be purchased at The Beauty Barn located at 7305 Halseyville Rd. Information and a list of services can be found on its website, thebeautybarnflx.com.

“I like how this community and the residents and the businesses support each other rather than compete with each other,” Carpenter said. “I love this town and how everybody’s helped everyone out during difficult times.”

Trumansburg Connection appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.