Archive for October, 2010

Elegant Nails and Spa – Review

Wednesday, October 27th, 2010

By Ellen McQueen, NYU

Midterms. For most college students across the country, these stressful and time consuming tests mean countless hours hunched over textbooks in the library, break-out inducing amounts of anxiety, and an excess of unnecessary nail biting, By the time midterms finally come to an end, and we actually have a chance to look in the mirror, the person looking back at us is stressed out and overtired, and wondering desperately how to make it through the second half of the semester.

As it turns out, an hour or two spent escaping the bustling streets of the city for pure relaxation and pampering is all it takes for me to feel refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready again to take on the world. And where could such a place be found? 373 Sixth Avenue, where Elegant Nails and Spa is available to entirely distress and calm your mind.

The first attribute I noticed about the spa is its color scheme. There are no screaming neon colors or even intense black and whites, but rather it’s entirely colored a sandy beige, transporting me to a mirage-like scene in a southwestern desert. The calming colors work perfectly with the quiet piano music in the background that contain no words but rather a beautiful melody seemingly able to clear my mind of all negative thoughts.

I was greeted by a staff of kind, energetic and helpful women happy to show me to my pedicure chair. I sat down, rolled up my jeans, and allowed the serenading music to close my eyes and relax my tense shoulders. The massage (oh yes, massage) on the chair was turned on for me, and I place my overworked feet into a bath of warm water. As I sat, my tense back and feet muscles being kneaded loose and my nose tickling with the soothing scents of lavender lotion, I realized just how much pressure we New Yorkers put on our feet everyday as they carry us all over the city to where we need to be.

Toenails painted perfectly and professionally (for when I do it myself the paint ends up pretty much all over my feet), I was escorted to the manicure table where another smiling employee, Leonor the owner of the spa, sat awaiting to paint my bitten nails. Humiliated, I placed my disgraceful hands in front of her, attempting with a look of apology in my eyes to hide the hangnails.

“Students expect their peers to have their nails beautiful,” Leonor explained as she rubbed my exhausted arms with soothing lotion. I thought of the countless occasions I’ve sat next to someone with dirty or chewed fingernails, and realized just how true this statement was. I asked Leonor about the type of clientele that usually come to the spa, and she explained that everyone from students to the elderly and both males and females are often showing up for all the wonderful and peaceful treatments that are offered. So, boys, there are no more excuses for those unkempt nails. “Males come for a variety of treatments as well as women,” Leonor explained.

Once she had finished the flawless job on my now perfectly manicured nails, Leonor led me to sit where the paint could dry under warm air. She gave me a short but much needed massage as I sat, soothing my uptight shoulders and calming my overwrought back. I looked out the window to the busy street, feeling fully pampered, relaxed, and able to breathe with ease.

“It’s nice to relax,” Leonor responded to my inquiry about why it’s better for busy and hard working students to take time out of their day for a quick, and cheap, treatment. That is certainly an understatement. Knowing full well the demanding schedule of someone balancing school, work, and a social life, I know how hard but incredible it is to take time out of your day to treat yourself to a pampering of some sort. But after spending an hour in Elegant Nails and Spa, I can assure you that whether it’s a ten-minute massage, facial, or manicure and pedicure it is most definitely worth the trip. Of course you can paint your own nails at home or try to DIY a facial, but you’ll lose the professional aspect as well as the feeling of being pampered and completely at peace.

Exiting Elegant Nails and Spa, I promised Leonor I would be back in a couple weeks for another flawless manicure. It was almost surprising stepping out of such a magically calm surrounding and entering the busiest and most hectic city on the Earth. The soothing lullaby turned to cars honking, the beige colors to grey cement, the wafting of lavender to street meat, and it seemed to be a completely different world. I realized the importance of escaping this anxiety and the stress and expectations of college life to just be able to sit, relax, and breath without constant interruption for one hour. What a concept.

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Joey’s Acquedolci

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010

Check out Joey’s Acquedolci at 181 Grand Street, NY, NY.

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LISTENING TO OTHERS

Friday, October 8th, 2010

written by EKATERINA LALO

I sat down in my favorite restaurant with my friend. We were having a discussion about places we would like to go and clothes we liked to wear. I asked for a weird combination: a cup of Earl Grey tea and a slice of pizza.
When I got my tea, it was English Breakfast. I was upset, but I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. I thought about how often we don’t listen to people or don’t want to understand them. In the meantime, I wasn’t listening to what my friend was telling me . . .
If it was me who wasn’t heard, I would be very offended. Why are we, people, so selfish?
We like to listen to things we agree with. “Thanks, I’m happy that you like my new dress. I bought it today,” a woman says happily, smiling at the gentleman complimenting her. If he said, on the contrary, “I think this color doesn’t suit you,” she would, most likely, give him a scornful look – even if he was right and she knew it. We don’t like to be criticized. But then how would we know that we are not doing as well as we could be?
I think the problem is that we take criticism as something purely negative. We believe that people don’t like us personally when they notice that our clothing doesn’t look nice or that we speak too loudly. However, in most cases, people who share their opinion with us are those who love us, who want to make us better, who kindly point out our mistakes so that we may correct them. We should listen to become better.
You may ask: shouldn’t we be faithful to our own opinion and choices? But how do we form an opinion? We make decisions based on agreement or disagreement with others. As far as I’m concerned, I chose a journalism major because I love to write, I am good at it, and I want to become even better. I need to be able to write in different genres, and I would love to write efficiently in at least three languages. So when I was choosing a major, I decided that studying journalism would give me a new writing perspective: impersonal and objective. I didn’t want to become a lawyer or a nurse like everybody else, even though many people advised me to go for something “more profitable.” I knew that even having a lot of money would not give me the self-satisfaction I get from writing.
But I listened to them, and I understand and support those people who think that money matters. I just also understand that liking what I do is more meaningful for me.
The simple truth: we don’t have to agree. We just need to listen to others; it helps to be more open-minded. If the only culture and mentality you know is your own, how would you know and appreciate your next-door neighbors in a city like New York, where everyone is different. Diversity helps us and at the same time, requires us to listen and understand.
As I was thinking about all that, my friend got angry at me because I did not hear what she said. In the meantime, the waiter came back with the right tea, and I told my friend, “I’m sorry, honey, I got upset about the tea.” She nodded.
And I kept pondering what was more important: her narrative, or my thoughts about listening and diversity.

EKATERINA LALO is a writer for Campus Clipper. You can read more of her thoughts on life and love in the Campus Clipper guidebook, “NYC Student Guide” due out this fall 2010.

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BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL RESUME

Friday, October 8th, 2010

written by CHRISTINA BROWER
photography by ALYSSA LAMONTAGNE

Theoretically, college is supposed to be the path to our dreams – the infamous road that we are all supposed to take in order to successfully launch our careers and begin our lives in the so-called real world. We apply to prestigious schools and pay insane amounts in tuition with the hope that the things we learn and do in the classroom will train and prepare us for the futures we have planned for ourselves.
However, most of us have terrifyingly empty resumes, which serve as nothing more than dismal reminders of the experience we have yet to gain and the things we have yet to accomplish. What’s worse is that landing an internship or job within any given field usually requires some sort of previous experience.
So how are you – a student with nothing but a high school diploma and a few semesters of college under your belt – supposed to break into the working world? By remembering this: experience comes in many forms. There are a lot of ways to beef up your resume without having any prior professional experience. You just have to look a little more closely to see how broad your horizons actually are.
For example, now that you are out of high school, why do you have to stop doing extracurricular activities? Remember how being involved in clubs and intramural activities helped you get into college? Well, the same rules can apply in order to make you a more viable candidate for an internship or a job. Being involved in different organizations on campus not only adds a few lines to your resume, but also gives you the life experience that intern coordinators and human resource representatives are looking for in a candidate. It shows potential employers that you are able to commit your time and effort to doing something, that you can work together with others, and that you can simultaneously balance multiple responsibilities. In addition, some extracurricular activities, such as student governments and activist groups, allow you to exercise your leadership and organizational abilities illustrating how effectively you can handle different levels of responsibility and how efficiently you can accomplish given tasks.
Secondly, try to find a volunteer position in the field of work you would eventually like to enter.  Again, any experience is good experience: a well-rounded person is more appealing to an employer than a one-trick pony. So, for example, if you would like to be a teacher, offer to tutor children around your neighborhood or volunteer teaching kids to read at your local library.
Thirdly, do not whittle away your entire summer at the beach. Getting a summer job will not only put extra cash in your pocket, it will also give you future references who can vouch for your work ethic in addition to your school professors and academic advisors.  Furthermore, talk to the student employment offices at your school to see if they can give you an on-campus work-study job during the fall and spring semesters. This way you can learn the basics of how an office works without sacrificing your grades.
College is the path to fulfilling your aspirations, and yet much of your future is dependent upon the steps you take to get there. Taking the proper measures in the beginning of your journey will ultimately help you out in the long run.

Christina Brower is a writer for Campus Clipper. You can read more of her advice on jobs, fashion, and student life in the Campus Clipper guidebook, “NYC Student Guide” due out in this fall 2010.

Maya Klausner is a writer for Campus Clipper. You can read more of her tips on food, fun, and entertainment in the Campus Clipper guidebook, “ NYC Student Guide” due out in Oct. 2010.

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READING TO SURVIVE IN THE CITY

Friday, October 8th, 2010

written by SABINA ASHBAUGH

July and August are quiet months when New Yorkers can flee the airless subway platforms and sizzling cement of the city by commuting to weekend houses in beach towns along the coast. For everyone else, however, the end of the summer can be a time to indulge in the luxury of staying in, or, for those without air conditioning, a time to seek out the indoor public spaces that offer refuge during the 102 degree heat waves.
When incentive to go outside wanes with every degree, reading is a way to stay entertained during weeks of self-imposed exile. In the midst of stifling humidity, you may find yourself unable to resist the easy mindlessness of the season’s reality television or blockbuster hits. Summer, however, doesn’t have to be a period of mental idleness. When avoiding crowds and too much direct sunlight, easy summer reading offers an escape from the boredom that can come from shutting oneself away.
This summer, Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy could be spotted on subways and beach towels across Manhattan. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a good hot weather choice when the temperature makes it all too easy to toss away anything dense before the end of the first chapter. The novel follows Mikael Blomkvist, a crusading journalist, and Lisbeth Salander, an outcast by choice and perhaps the novel’s most winning character, as they investigate corrupt corporate officials and creepy family histories. Larsson’s characters are endearing, and the author’s clear and economic prose moves the story forward quickly. The novel’s many plot twists will impel readers to keep turning pages even when attention spans seem to dissipate with the heat.
Roberto Bolaño’s sprawling 2666 is just long and layered enough to make it difficult to finish during the busier months of the year. The novel, which is divided into five parts, traces the legacy of the fictional author Archimboldi and the lives of those searching for or connected to him. Bolaño zooms in on the violence of both WWII and the murders of the women of Santa Teresa, a thinly veiled reference to the deaths in Ciudad Juárez, to draw unexpected connections between the lives of the novel’s many characters. Sections such as those describing the Mexico deaths are difficult to read, while other parts are strangely lyrical—eerie descriptions of people and events that blend the distinction between the realistic and mystical. 2666 is an intricate work that will keep readers immersed in Bolaño’s world and out of Manhattan’s humidity.
Summer also provides the opportunity to read the lesser-known works of beloved classic authors. Ernest Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls is a great summer choice for those who cherished The Sun Also Rises or A Farewell to Arms. As in his other works, Hemingway’s prose is stark and ingeniously simple. The novel’s protagonist is Robert Jordan, an American fighting against the fascists during the Spanish Civil War. Hemingway’s account of the guerilla leaders in the mountains portrays the complexity of those who sacrificed for the Republic even as it began to fall. The story also revolves around Robert Jordan’s relationship with Maria—a love fraught with the complications of the war, doomed from the start. Hemingway’s book moves forward quickly, but the recollections of past cruelties and the perpetual uneasiness of the protagonist stays with the reader long after the final chapter. For Whom the Bell Tolls is a great summer read for long time Hemingway fans or those new to the author’s distinctive style.
The Internet offers perhaps the widest range of easy distraction at easy disposal. To keep your mind from completely melting, however, avoid hours of StumbleUpon and an online browsing to sites that require at least some mental activity. Most newspaper and magazine articles can now be found online, and the proliferation of blogs means almost everyone can create a list of fast daily reads. Literary sites like McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, which offers a variety of short and often hilarious works, are a good way to stay entertained while surfing the web. Book reviews like The New York Times’ Sunday Book Review are also available through the Internet. Reviews keep readers up to date on the latest publications while also giving them a sense of which books they’re more likely to enjoy. Twitter offers distraction in less than 140 characters, and comments from public figures like Roger Ebert can provide comic relief throughout the day.
Reading isn’t limited to being a stressful aspect of classes. It can also be a relaxing way to leave summer in the city behind. Reading for pleasure is an easy luxury reserved for the warmer months that serve as a hiatus from New York’s usually frantic pace. Use the heat as an excuse to browse local bookstores or check out new blogs while basking in the AC. Before the temperature dips below the 40s, enjoy the tail end of summer indoors by embracing the seasonal slow pace without dulling your mind.

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LONG HAIR IS MY BEST FRIEND

Friday, October 8th, 2010

 

written by ELIZABETH SHERMAN

I have this theory about my hair. I’m convinced that once it grows out past my shoulders again, every man in Manhattan will think I’m beautiful, and I won’t go more than two days without snagging a boyfriend. Not that I remember what it takes to fool a man into dating me—its been nearly a year since I ended a tumultuous, three year relationship, and I haven’t come close to dating anyone since. But none of that matters: my happiness, my sanity, rests on the length of my hair.
Consider every Victoria Secret Model currently plastered across billboards and buses, the pictures of the most popular celebrities on the cover of almost every fashion magazine, or even the most popular girl from your high school. Each of these women have one trait in common: they all have long, soft, smooth locks of hair. Long hair represents femininity, and as a girl that’s had short hair since I was 12, I’ve often missed out on the pleasure of being considered feminine, in the most traditional, classical sense.  Over the years, I’ve succumbed to the belief that my love life will suddenly take off once I have long hair again.
In my experience, relationships have been tests- long, arduous, frustrating experiments in human emotion. Love has left me reevaluating my values, beliefs, ethics, all doubts about my character have surfaced, every scrap of self consciousness has emerged.  Though it seems bleak, for me, love’s ability to stir up the strongest, most passionate emotions is what draws me to it. The cliché is real, love hurts, and yet most people are dying to experience the mayhem, myself included. Love takes true dedication, a willingness to brave and embrace the potential chaos fearlessly. My over-active imagination might like me to believe that the only reason I’m still single in New York is because of the length of my hair, but in reality, I’m scared of falling in love.
As a successful student and writer, I’m used to working hard. But in both my writing and school work, I know there is going to be a tangible pay off at the end of the day: I can see my work published, and good grades result in the praise of my parents and my peers. Relationships are trickier. For most people, working hard in a relationship often does pay off in the long run, but people’s emotions are unpredictable. Sometimes, the people we love let us down, even when we spend all our time and energy ensuring they won’t; that’s just part of being in a relationship. What if I risk everything, (my sensitive emotions, my trust, all my secrets) and I end up heartbroken and alone all over again? I’ve taken a risk on a person whom I trusted, and he betrayed my trust without even blinking. Of course I’m scared now.
Yet I’m fully aware that there will always be some degree of risk when forging a new relationship, always some chance it won’t work out in the end. Failure is a natural aspect of being human. Not everything goes according to plan and I’m not perfect; I can’t force love on myself or anyone else. But on the off chance that it does work out, it’s usually worth the sacrifice just to experience the happiness that love brings.
I’m still learning how to forge successful relationships. Having the little experience that I have puts me in good shape, despite how dire things might look right now. Everyday I complain to my friends about how I’m still single, but rushing into something now would be a disaster for me. When I’m ready to face all my fear of failure and rejection with my head held high(short hair and all), I’ll deserve the love I desire.

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MAKEUP IN A MINUTE

Friday, October 8th, 2010

written by MEGHAN QUINLAN
illustration by JULIEE YOO

In the city that never sleeps, makeup can help you look ready for a night on a town, and then cover up the fact that you never slept. The transition from my rural hometown to the big city wasn’t difficult makeup-wise (considering my expertise with mascara and lipstick since beginning annual dance performances at age five), but throughout my years in college I have perfected some of my practices. Everyone has their own beauty routines and makeup preferences, but some tips remain universal – such as how to transition from day to night while on the run, and what to do when you’re running late to class. So, read on for my helpful hints to keep you looking fresh and ready to go in a city where you can’t afford to be off your game!

QUICK APPLICATION
In New York City, you want to look refreshed and chic – and this doesn’t require heavy makeup. Sure, you can take the time to apply meticulous eyeliner and artistic eye-shadow, but I was always one of those girls running late to my morning class and developed my own quick makeup routine. My suggestion, based on years of early morning dashing? Right before heading out the door, apply a healthy coat of jet-black mascara (mascara is the essential tool here – it brightens the eyes and draws the focus away from dark under-eye circles caused by sleep deprivation), and some eyeliner if time allows. Cover up any blemishes with spot concealer and run out the door – you can pinch your cheeks to get the circulation going in place of blush as you wait for the elevator or street light, and chap stick or lipstick is a cinch to apply while on the run. It’s quick, easy, and simplistically chic.

FOUNDATION AND COVER-UP
One of my biggest beauty pet peeves is that thick coat of foundation that turns your face a different color than the rest of your body. Foundation and cover-up are helpful tools to even out blotchy skin tones and eliminate blemishes, but use them as minimally as possible – daytime is not the time for thick stage makeup. Plus, extra layers can easily melt off in hot subways, giving your face the appearance of anything but flawless and natural. Additionally, it’s essential to pick the right shade of foundation and cover-up. As with any beauty task, the solution to finding the right look is sampling and experimenting… but don’t go buying five shades of foundation just to find the right one! At nicer stores such as Sephora there will generally be samples (a good tip is to smear the sample on your wrist to match facial skin tone – except for your tan summer months), and once you find a shade that works you will usually be able to find the same (or a similar) product in a cheaper drugstore. Just in case, however, keep your receipts – as a drugstore clerk in high school I remember being frustrated at customers returning make-up, but it’s generally permitted in stores so take advantage of this next time your selection goes awry.

DAY TO NIGHT
I’m constantly on the go and will often be running around all day without a chance to stop home and change. As a dance student, keeping a change of clothes in my over-sized bag is second nature (and it’s not unusual to find changes of clothes in the bags of other New Yorkers, either), but what about makeup? To make your face appear ready for nighttime adventures, you typically make the makeup a little darker and heavier than for your casual daytime appearance. My trick is usually to re-apply mascara, add heavier eyeliner, and some lipstick or tinted lip balm. These are all small and easy to pack in your bag, and can be applied even in a public restroom or in front of a small mirror. Skip extravagant eye-shadow or smoky eyes and leave it for another night when you have more time to get ready – a fresh coat of eyeliner and some refreshed lips is all you truly need.

TAKING YOUR TIME
In the rare New York minute that you have nothing else to do with, consider trying a new makeup trick. Pull out some eyeliner, black or dark colored eye-shadow, a mirror, and some makeup remover (just in case of errors). Pulling off a smoky eye (by applying eyeliner and smudging, then putting dark eye-shadow in the crease of your eye and a slightly lighter shade on the rest of the lid, and smudging the entire eye as desired) will probably take some practice, but the effect is sultry and exciting for a more intense nighttime look. Be sure to use creamy eye-shadow and liner for the most effective results. For an intense daytime look when you have the time, experiment with colored shadows or liners on your eyes – I personally like to use subtly unique eyeliners such as green or plum, but I know others that like to go far-out and use wild, bright eye shadows. You can always pull off avante-garde in a place as wild as New York City, so admire the high-fashion ads and magazines and try a look out for yourself next time you’re bored. If you don’t know how to do it, you can simply experiment, ask a friend, or find a how-to in any beauty magazine.

A NOTE ON BRANDS
Living in New York, it’s tempting to shop around in Sephora or other alluring beauty stores. While I do enjoy the occasional Sephora splurge, I do most of my cosmetic purchases at drugstores such as Pricewise, Duane Reade, or CVS. No one can tell what brand your mascara is after it’s applied, and chances are, no one cares. So save yourself a few bucks, and stick with drugstore buys. I gravitate towards Cover Girl for the mascara and eyeliner in particular, and you’ll even find great deals on such cosmetics periodically – so stock up when it’s a buy one get one free sale, or cheaper than usual. You might need to sign up for the store’s free discount card, but the few minutes is worth the savings, both on cosmetics and your other drugstore purchases.

This article is a sample from Campus Clipper’s student guidebook, “NYC Student Guide” for sale fall 2010. Pick one up to get more advice from savvy students like Meghan at a bookstore near you!

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From Sugarless to Sweetly Cheap: Dessert

Monday, October 4th, 2010

written by Maya Klausner

As dinner draws to a close, you are craving something sweet but are reminded of the bitterly thin state of your wallet. Chains like Pinkberry and Dunkin Doughnuts can get the job done, but sometimes one needs a little splendor with their Splenda. Even with its sumptuous supply of lavish restaurants, New York City can sometimes feel more limiting than an airplane menu if your fiscal position is unfavorable and can even lead you to desert the prospect of dessert.

However, where there is a sweet tooth, there is a way.  New York City is full of undiscovered gems, some of which dwell in unsuspected corners. For example, decadent French patisserie and bistro, Payard, at 714 Madison avenue between 63rd and 64th streets, might deter you with its aureate aura and $22 appetizer portion homemade Foie Gras Terrine. However, the new Francois Chocolate bar may surprise you, with a menu that boasts an extravagant variety of cakes and tarts that transport your taste buds from the second floor of a jewelry store to Paris, and not at the cost of airfare. Payard offers an assortment of specialty macaroons for $8, an assortment of cookies for $8, and a selection of their homemade chocolates for $8. In addition, they generously price their succulent house-made chocolate mousse grand-pére Payard at $7.

One can also bypass the Upper East Side overpriced curse at one of New York’s favorite Italian restaurants, Serafina, with its two locations on 29 east 61st street and 1022 Madison Avenue. Both restaurants have a tempting dessert menu with a Fritelle di Mele, (apple fritters dipped in vanilla bean sugar,) for $7.95 and an assortment of gelato and sorbet for $4.95 or biscotti for $3.95. And when looking for a quick, but uncompromised treat, skip the sit-down/slow-down and enter the express lane on 79th and Madison at their takeout shop with its colorful display of gelato, freshly made smoothies, and buttery croissants.

For a more inclusive experience, visit Chikalicous Dessert Bar, located at 204 East 10th Street, at their intimate 20-seat eatery, where customers can engage in savory repartee with the chefs and sommeliers who serve the food themselves. Upon entering under the whimsical dusty pink canopy into a cozy dining room bursting with the seductive aromas of frosted cupcakes, crispy pastries, and baking chocolate cakes, one gets the idea they are not in the frozen dessert aisle at Food Emporium anymore. Their daily menu features a $14 prix-fixe that will give you more than your New York City cynicism bargained for with an amuse bouche, dessert, and petits fours. Enjoy a unique experience with individual recipes like their lemongrass Panna Cotta with Basil Sorbet, or their Warm Chocolate Tart with peppercorn ice cream and red wine sauce. They also boast an array of signature desserts for those loyal returning customers who can no longer fight off the Chikalicious twitch. These include their red velvet cupcakes, adult chocolate pudding, molten lava cake, and chocolate éclairs. All of these desserts strike a harmonious balance between golden crispiness and warm, gooey centers, The chocolate éclair reaches a perfect fusion with its warm exterior while the inside yields a soft, chilled chocolate mouse.

While the lesser known spots can add a little extra thrill to your experience, sometimes a serving of familiarity can be just what the stomach ordered. Ice cream empire Haagen-Dazs, has enhanced their menu and spruced up their ingredients for an even more scrumptious experience than you remember from when you were six years old. Try their new ‘five’ products, which only use five natural ingredients that blend into a pure and delicious treat and come in a variety of flavors such as caramel, strawberry, lemon, mint, ginger, and passion fruit. The beloved ice cream favorite also offers a new variety of specialty desserts with their all-natural ice cream or sorbet Dazzlers, made with three scoops of Haagen-Dazs ice cream and three layers of toppings. If you are still longing for something sweet after a ‘Dulce split’ or  ‘Mint chip’ Dazzler, seek medical assistance: these rich desserts are packed to the brim with three creamy scoops, layered with fresh toppings, and drizzled with caramel and chocolate syrup. If their prescribed combinations do not suit you, put on the chef’s hat and create your own ice cream sundae, choosing from their boundless selection of flavors and toppings. In addition to their standard ice cream parlor prices, Haagen-Dazs also offers special deals and coupon codes at their plentiful locations sprinkled about the city. Indulge your stomach without indulging your wallet with free coupons that can knock up to 40% off of shakes, sundaes, and gourmet cakes.

So while frozen yogurt in paper cups can be a cheap, quick way to sate that sugary hankering, how much Tasti-D-Lite and Red Mango can one person eat before feeling like a giant human health-conscious cone? You may be attracted to the light prices, but not as enthralled by the dietetic limitations of these frozen treats. With an economical approach to opulence, your post meal experience can be rich, (even if you’re not.)


Maya Klausner is a writer for Campus Clipper. You can read more of her tips on food, fun, and entertainment in the Campus Clipper guidebook, “NYC Student Guide” due out this fall.

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KENNETH MOLLOY: A NEW-YORKER TELLING STORIES

Monday, October 4th, 2010

Written by Jon Reitzel & Photography by Aehee Kang Asano

Kenneth Molloy, a senior at New York University, is double-majoring in Dramatic Writing (through the Tisch School of the Arts) and Classics (through the College of Arts and Science.) In the February 2010, Kenneth’s original play “Ghost of Dracula” had a month-long run in the Wings theater the West Village, where it sold out every night. The production was produced, directed, and performed entirely by students without any aid from the university. I’ve seen “Ghost of Dracula” twice, and both times it managed to completely draw me in, crack me up, and leave me cheering for an encore. Between the grotesque violence (be ready for lots of fake blood,) the literary pedigree (yes, that Dracula,) the tongue-in-cheek humor (there are spontaneous musical numbers,) and the explicit sex scenes (it’s all in good taste) there’s really something for everyone. “Ghost of Dracula” was accepted into the New York Fringe Festival, and recently completed its second run – once again, to great success. I sat down with Kenneth in his 3rd Avenue apartment to ask him about life as both a student and a successful playwright, what it’s like working with other students, and why theater and New York are so inseparable.

Q: What was it like to see your original play performed?

It was pretty awesome. That was probably something that attracted me to dramatic writing more than to prose or poetry: getting to see my work unfold in the visual realm and have others partake in it outside of my own head.

Q: Was it important for you, and for the other people involved in the production, to work with students?

It definitely makes it a more facile, easier experience, to be able to relate with someone with school, and to like, you know, understand working around finals and mid-terms and that sort of thing.

Q: You’ve recently been accepted to the New York Fringe Festival, which has to be very exciting.

Yes, I agree. (Laughs.)

Q: How did that happen? What was the process?

Fringe is a huge production. The entire thing is just like, two people who actually work for Fringe and a bunch of volunteers. It’s a huge thing, it’s really amazing, it’s really . . . this is going to sound lame, but it’s a beautiful thing that all these people are invited to share their shows, their work, in this enormous thing with a largely volunteer force. But as a result, there’s a lot of minutiae that has to be taken care of, and everything needs to go like clockwork, so it’s definitely a different experience from a rag-tag, sort of grassroots production. It is really exciting, and it’s good experience for me; I mean, I would recommend it to anyone – the process is really easy. There’s a small entry fee, but definitely get involved, it’s cool.

Q: The goal of the Campus Clipper Talent section is to show students that they can use their talents both to make money and also to help their community. How would you say theater has affected the community in New York City?

In terms of New York, when you go off-off-Broadway into that community, it’s something that is very uniquely New York, where you get voices that are endemic to the city and that really sort of capture the experience of living here. It is the real, extant, live experience of interacting with other people from your community in an actual place. You know that they are from here, at least are living here: those are New Yorkers on stage, and you are a New Yorker in the audience. There’s New Yorkers telling stories that are drawn from New York, for New Yorkers; so it’s definitely part of the community here, I think.

Q: For students coming to New York for the first time who say “I can’t afford to go to a play” or “I know nothing about theater,” do you have any dos-and-don’ts or advice you would offer them?

There are a lot of plays that are cheaper than a movie. Our show is cheaper than a movie; it was, and I believe it will continue to be cheaper than a movie. You just really have to look outside – student rush is one option, but beyond that you can get great seats for a lower-tier show if you look outside of Broadway or even off-Broadway to off-off. You can see great shows there that eventually move up and become world-famous.

Q: So now that you’ve conquered Fringe, what does the future hold?

I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing and hope people keep approving. In the immediate sense, I’m shopping around my recently completed full-length play, “Catiline: Historia Arbitrabitur,” a topical historical drama about a poorly-conceived revolutionary conspiracy undertaken at the twilight of the Roman Republic. Because we’ve never ever seen that on stage before. (Laughs.)

Q: Is there anything you want to add?

Ladies, I’m single. (Laughs.)

For more information, search for Ghost of Dracula on facebook. To read my full-length interview with Kenneth, uncensored and uncut, check out campusclipper.com.

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