Community Side Quests
I have a saying I repeat to myself all the time:
“Do it for the side quest.”
You know how video games have the main missions? Well side quests are the little adventures that aren’t on the main map. The extra parts of the story that help you reach 100% completion.
In real life, these are the weird, wonderful, sometimes unexpected opportunities that show up when you say yes to curiosity, community, and connection. They’re the moments that don’t always make sense on paper but end up becoming some of the most meaningful experiences you have.
In Ithaca and around the Finger Lakes, following side quests has led me into kitchens, vineyards, meeting rooms, and some very strange situations all in the name of helping people, telling stories, and having a lot fun along the way.
Chili McChiliface & the Downtown Ithaca Chili Cook-Off
One of my favorite side quests is my team, Chili McChiliface, competing in the Downtown Ithaca Chili Cook-Off.
What started as “hey, we should enter this” turned into building a whole team, creating a ridiculous name, recruiting sponsors, and showing up for one of the most beloved community events in Ithaca to compete against all the restaurants downtown.
It wasn't really about winning. It was about getting together with my buddies and having fun. And we had a ton of fun... ending up winning the People's Choice Award Chili in 2025 too which is the top award for the event!
Helping Communicate SNAP Changes
Another side quest has taken me into a very different world being part of a SNAP Working Group focused on helping the local community understand changes to food assistance programs.
A lot of people rely on SNAP to get through the month, and even small changes to the program can have huge impacts. I'm still learning this world and happy to contribute however I can.
It’s quiet, behind-the-scenes work, but it matters.
Sometimes a side quest isn’t flashy, it’s just making sure someone has the information they need to feed their family.
Volunteering at Finger Lakes Wineries
If you’ve ever driven through the Finger Lakes, you know how magical it is rolling hills, vines heavy with grapes, and the feeling that something special is being made right in front of you.
I’ve volunteered with local wineries to help harvest and bottle wine, which is basically the most Finger Lakes side quest imaginable.
It’s hard work. It’s sticky. It’s usually early in the morning.
But it’s also a chance to:
Learn how local wine is actually made
Support small producers
And be part of a tradition that goes back generations
Plus, it gives me great stories and sometimes a great bottle of wine to take home.
Why I Chase Side Quests
Side quests are how I stay connected to this place.
They put me in rooms I wouldn’t normally be in.
They introduce me to people I wouldn’t otherwise meet.
They let me be useful in ways that don’t always fit into a job description.
Whether it’s chili, public policy, or wine grapes, every side quest helps me understand this community a little better — and that makes everything else I do richer.
Got a Side Quest?
If you’re working on something interesting — a fundraiser, a community project, a weird idea, a local event, or something that just needs a little creative energy — I want to hear about it.
Send me a message and tell me your side quest.
If it’s the kind of thing that helps people, brings folks together, or makes Ithaca and the Finger Lakes a more connected place, there’s a good chance I’ll be in.
After all…
do it for the side quest.