College Town Embraces Braniac Image With ‘Nerd Discounts’

ABC's Jared Wiener reports from New York: Restaurant owners in Cornell University’s hometown of Ithaca, NY are so proud of the basketball team’s performance in the NCAA tournament, that they decided to offer some special discounts today.  But these aren’t what you would expect for basketball-related offers; Ithaca, a small city dominated by both Cornell University and Ithaca College, is embracing its braniac image. Showing off your Mensa membership card at any Gimme! Coffee location will get you a free macchiato.  Just bringing a Rubiks Cube to Felicia’s Atomic Lounge will get you $1 off your drink.  If you can solve it in less than three minutes, the drink is free! The Boatyard Grill is offering a free dinner to anyone who brings their Nobel Prize.  So far, that’s happened twice, but it probably will not turn the Boatyard bankrupt.  “I don’t know how many Nobel Prize winners are left in our area,” said Mark Campagnolo, who owns the restaurant.  They are also offering 50% of the check to any Pulitzer Prize winner, but so far no one has taken advantage of that deal.