Archive for July, 2011

Summer Gaming Conventions GO!

Friday, July 8th, 2011

Who says gamers are anti-social? Photo © otacracy.com

The summer is half over, and there are still plenty of gaming conventions coming up in the next two months where gamers can not only play but also commune with their fellow geeks. Personally, I’m playing games pretty much every day anyway, but cons are where I can meet up with other people like me who are as enthusiastic about RPGs as I am, people in front of whom I don’t have to contain my enthusiasm for gaming in favor of social propriety. So slap on your best night elf costume, grab your 20-sided dice, and join the party at the following upcoming conventions.

Historicon (July 7-10, 2011 in Valley Forge, PA)

Historicon is the largest miniature wargaming convention in the U.S., and it’s happening right now. This year’s theme is the American Civil War, but that’s just the overarching topic for the convention, and there will be a variety of settings for games all weekend. If you’ve ever wanted to get into wargaming, check the schedule for games that say “rules taught at table,” and be ready to interact with people’s kids. For the experienced wargamer, there is a schedule of tournaments with trophy prizes.

Admittedly, the modern college gamer isn’t mainly into strategic wargaming. For the less hardcore/mentally middle-aged, there is…

Otakon (July 29-31 in Baltimore, MD)

Though not specifically a gaming con, Otakon is the largest otaku culture convention in the Northeast, servicing enthusiasts of anime, manga, video games, and Asian culture. Anime cons always have a game room, and Otakon’s is full of popular arcade consoles, TVs connected to home gaming consoles like Xbox, and LANed computers. Of course, there are tournaments for games popular with the otaku crowd, particularly music games like Dance Dance Revolution and fighters like Naruto Shippuden. The competition may not be as fierce as it would be at a dedicated gaming convention, but there are upper echelon gamers that show up to tournaments no matter who hosts them in addition to crouching tigers, hidden dragons among anime watchers, so coming in first will still be a challenge.

Though Baltimore is far for the NYC college student, there should be plenty of others making the trip. Find people who are chipping in for a bus on the Otakon forums or at college anime clubs. Pack some entertainment for the three-hour bus ride and some snacks from Morton Williams to share.

DexCon (July 6-10, 2011 in Morristown, NJ)

This convention is already in full swing, and pre-registration is required to enter most of the events. However, DexCon is one of the most encompassing gaming conventions in the Northeast, and it is definitely worth looking forward to next year if you plan to compete or role-play. In addition to wargaming, they feature conventional role-playing, LARP, real-time strategy (e.g. StarCraft), and console games of all kinds. If you’re not preregistered, you can still buy a day pass and enjoy gaming at events that have space. Don’t forget to spend all your money at the dealers’ room; there’s nothing like leaving a con with an armful of swag and merchandise.

Once the semester starts, there won’t be many opportunities to run away to game for whole weekends, so I find it best to take advantage of the summer to immerse myself in gaming and the community that accompanies it. But then again, New York Anime Festival and Comic Con is in October…

-Avia Dell’Oste

@Hunter College

Check out my blog RP Your Life!

Get the great Student Discount I mentioned and more by clicking.

Download our NEW App on iTunes!

Become a fan on Facebook and follow us on twitter!

Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter for student promotions and coupons and download the coupon booklet here!

Share

Shopping For Summer

Thursday, July 7th, 2011

Shopping for summer is always fun, and this summer there are a lot of great options to choose from. Here are a few things that I really liked:

[portfolio_slideshow]

To look great in your new summer outfits, try out Beach Bum Tanning where you can get two weeks of free tanning by purchasing a full-size bottle of lotion. You can also check out www.campusclipper.com to look for great student discouts.

Bushra Tawhid

Image credit: www.express.com, www.zara.com, www.hm.com, www.forever21.com, www.betseyjohnson.com

Get the great Student Discount I mentioned and more by clicking.

Download our NEW App on iTunes!

Become a fan on Facebook and follow us on twitter!

Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter for student promotions and coupons and download the

coupon booklet here!

 

Share

onLove: When Friends Pay a Visit

Thursday, July 7th, 2011

One of the great things about living in a vibrant city like New York is that my friends from back home are always more than willing to come visit me. Especially now that summer is in full swing, plenty of out-of-town friends are staking their claim on available weekends and planning overnight stays at my apartment. These get-togethers are usually marked by touristy outings, drinks at what is deemed to be a “classy” wine bar or lounge, and people-watching in Union Square at 2AM.

While I do love my friends dearly, gone are the days of having a large, three-bedroom apartment with multiple roommates and plenty of space for people to crash at the night’s end. Now, in my humble one-bedroom abode, I have a futon shoved haphazardly into my kitchen area, which is usually an uncomfortable 90+ degrees thanks to my refusal to buy an air-conditioner (equal parts laziness and thriftiness.) The other sleeping arrangement I can offer my guest is for us to share my bed. But two sweaty, adult bodies on a full-sized mattress pretty much negates my sad little desk fan, which spins madly in the night as it struggles in vain to keep the room cool.

Of course I preface any potential visitation with a disclaimer, warning my guests that my apartment is nothing like the glamorous ones they may have seen on sitcoms and other television shows based in NYC. But no matter how much I try to prepare my friends for the harsh reality of non-luxury New York City apartments, it seems as though I never do a good enough job, because many arrive and their eyes instantly widen in surprise. Beads of sweat form on their brow, the inevitable result of walking up four flights of stairs. And their discomfort is apparent as they take a quick survey of my cluttered, cramped space.

After the initial shock wears off, there is always another concern hovering in the air: What are my friends going to do the entire time they’re here? For some, this is their first time in New York sans elementary school field-trip itinerary. Your friend will turn to you for advice on where to go, what to see, where to eat… and you’ll be expected to provide answers. So the awkward but necessary question comes shortly after my friend gets settled.

“Uh… what do you wanna do?” I ask, hoping my inquisition will not be met with silence, a shrug, or a hasty “I dunno, what do you wanna do?”

In order to avoid being caught in an awkward verbal ping-pong match, where half-hearted ideas are lobbed back and forth for several minutes, try to keep a few fail-safe plans tucked away in the back of your mind.  Even if you just spend an hour regrouping at an air-conditioned cafe, your friend will appreciate your taking the initiative. Also, this is a great time to take advantage of all the student discounts and fun activities the city has to offer. A trip to a museum or impromptu elevator ride to the top of the Empire State Building will help remind even the most jaded New Yorker that the city is teeming with diversity and life. And local knowledge coupled with the enthusiasm and excitement that a visitor brings can lead to a great bonding experience.

If offering up your couch isn’t a realistic option, friends can still visit—just work out another arrangement before they arrive.  There are plenty of affordable hotels, and some are even offering reduced rates during the summer. Blue Moon Hotel on Orchard Street (between Broome and Delancey) is offering a student discount of 10%.  As a compromise for their staying elsewhere, you can offer to treat your friends to a lunch or pay for their ticket to one of the exhibits you end up visiting.

-Alex Agahigian, NYU-

I have lots of other things to say

Photo Credit: wirednewyork.com

Download our new iTunes App

Become a fan on Facebook and follow us on twitter!

Don’t forget to sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter for student promotions and coupons and download the coupon booklet NOW

Share

onValues: A Real Exercise in Diversity

Thursday, July 7th, 2011

I’ve been on a Scandinavian music kick lately.  Not the ABBA/Roxette wave of the 80s, but more recent bands, like Jonsi or Veronica Maggio—poppy, top 40 hits from Northern Europe as well as more indie-cred artists.  I like the un-ironic umlauts over the vowels.  I like the combination of English and Swedish/Icelandic/Norwegian that peppers the lyrics.  And regardless of whether I actually understand the language, the songs are still catchy as hell.  In the same way that a lot of my friends have loads of K-pop and J-pop on their iPods, one friend and I are collecting the popular music stylings of a more pale-blonde inclination.

scandinavian stylings

I wouldn’t classify my core friend group as “diverse” in that statistical way that colleges like to quantify.  We’re all American citizens, all but one from East Coast suburbs, Anglophiles with soft spots for Paris or Rome, Diet Coke addicts, and inexplicably almost all English majors (I promise I didn’t plan that one).  We have our fair share of personal drama and “real world” problems, but on paper, we’re culturally monotonous.  It’s only in the things that we do and consume that cause us to become “diverse.”

“Diversity” has become some quantifiable commodity in college, where the statistics of so many different races and social classes and sexual orientations have some high number to hit in the demographics.  Which is, of course, nice, but it doesn’t quite tell the story of these people’s cultural interest differences.  Especially in a city like New York, where authentic recreations of different cultures are condensed and immediately available, the statistical “diversity” can be overshadowed by the culture that the students want to embrace.  For example, I count as several minorities in the eyes of my univeristy, but realtalk: I could just as well have been a suburban daughter of the vast whitewashed-collar South.  I wouldn’t count myself diverse if we’re talking about my origins.  I’d count myself diverse only in my current experiences.

I’ve lived in London and Shanghai.  I’ve visited Edinburgh, Paris, and Amsterdam.  I’ve seen both coasts of continental America.  I’ve hand-made croissants, climbed up a waterfall, read Hemingway at his café, haggled for pirated DVDs in Chinese black markets, trespassed multiple times to get good views of a city, bummed at a beach house for a week, taken a power shower on a fire escape.

It’s important to keep in touch with your roots.  I won’t deny that.  There’s a host of literature (and literary analysis) on the personal destruction that ensues when protagonists attempt to erase their origins.  But there’s also something to be said for personal exploration once we’ve reconciled ourselves with our past.  There’s no point in being diverse if you’re just going to be the same diverse your entire life.  That’s a huge disservice to all the people who do come from obscure backgrounds.  They have to carry that culture on their own.  There are no questionnaires on our diverse experiences once we get into college, which is really what should be encouraged.  It’s nice that there’s been such an effort to surround me with different people, but that’s no true incentive.  More direct exposure, more real opportunities to study abroad, less insular summer programs.  Less expensive cultural experiences.

I’ve never taken a Scandinavian class.  Historically, I’ve been a Western European kind of lady.  But I’m super into this music coming from a lot of Swedish artists (Miike Snow and The Knife are also Swedish.  True facts), I’ve begun writing some fiction with German characters, and there’s a $1.50 student special on Brazilian coffee at the O Cafe (Brazilian coffee ≠ Colombian coffee ≠ New Zealand coffee. Try them all!)… so…

Adjö, ses nästa vecka.

x
Robin (Princeton University)

I tweet while I’m at work.  I’ve yet to master the hashtag.
My blog, where I post all my European interests and more.

Photo from flickr, creative commons license.

Download the Campus Clipper iTunes app for up-to-date discounts and savings.
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
Remember to sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter for the latest student coupons and download our coupon booklet today.

Share

Family Time

Thursday, July 7th, 2011

I suppose it was around 11th grade when I realized that having a family dinner every night isn’t the norm for most families that I know. Almost every night for as long as I can remember, my family (Mom, Dad, Sister, and I) has sat down to dinner together, at our dining room table. Regardless of whether we had an elaborately cooked meal, leftovers, or restaurant take-out, the four of us sat around the table and spent time together. We’d talk about our day at school or work, or plans we had for the rest of the week, anything really.

However, I’ve noticed that a lot of families aren’t like this at all. Kids will dole their share onto their plates then head right back to their televisions or computers, and parents are guilty of doing the same. Dinners are turned into rushed meals of standing at kitchen counter-tops, avoiding eye contact, and rushing away as soon as possible. Often times the kids are left on their own, to make or buy their own dinner whenever and wherever they please. I’ve found that when I tell those sorts of people that my family does in fact have a family dinner every night, they look at us as if we’re crazy. My sisters claims to have had similar experiences among her peers, as well. Although my family’s Sunday brunches are spent sharing bagels from Bagel Bob’s (which sweetly offers a 10% student discount), we are supposedly the anomaly.

Recently my family’s been bonding over Jeopardy. Every night at 7:00 as we eat, the TV turns on, and the table conversation becomes a blend between the last movie I saw, the vacation my sister and I are pressing to be planned, and everyone yelling out what they hope is the right answer to the last trivia question. It’s a bit nontraditional, yes, and sure, we know that eating with the TV on is unhealthy, but it’s the weird sort of way that my family bonds, and it’s special.

This vacation that I hope gets planned is also an attempt to have more family time. I’m aiming for a recreation of a childhood vacation, where we traveled to Vermont. The two activities that are most vivid in my memory are the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream factory tour, and the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory tour.

For the past few years my family has been having fewer and fewer vacations together, what with the recession, and two students in college, two parents at work, and few over lapping vacation days, but I’m really pushing for this Vermont vacation to happen because I think it’s important for us to spend time together—and who doesn’t love ice cream and teddy bears? The point is, spend some time with your family, the summer is a great opportunity for that. My sister’s been working with my grandmother to put together a family tree and organize old photos; maybe you could do something like that with your own family. I think you’ll find it worth your while.

/elizabeth Kaleko, Tufts University

Photo by Normal Rockwell

Download our NEW App on iTunes!
Become a fan on Facebook and follow us on twitter!
Don’t forget to sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter for student promotions and coupons and download the coupon booklet NOW

 

Share

Golf Wang 101: an OFWGKTA Primer

Thursday, July 7th, 2011

If you’ve never heard the phrase Odd Future, you probably don’t spend a lot of time reading about music on the internet. Which in this case is lucky, since the good- or badness of this group of teenagers from LA has been debated, discussed, and reblogged ad infinitum over the past few months, without necessarily including any real consideration of their music. Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All is a rap music and art collective, composed mainly of teenagers, with the twin goals of making art and making you talk about them. That second part has surely been achieved faster than even Tyler the Creator, the group’s leader, could have hoped. Luckily for us consumers, the music is almost as good as the controversy, and should last a lot longer.

A few of the members of Odd Future

Over the last year and a half, Odd Future has put out about a dozen mixtapes, all available for free on their website. [Beware: the content behind these links might be offensive, but it’s not meant to be taken too seriously.] Incredibly, almost every track has been produced by Tyler, an impressive show of prolificacy from an artist who can’t yet buy alcohol legally. Several of the wolf gang-ers were still in high school while the majority of their corpus was recorded, and the group’s online promotion is even more aggressive than the music itself. Which is plenty aggressive. Beyond making good, original music at such a young age and marketing it well, the key to Odd Future’s appeal is their angry, silly, violent, playful, and above all, provocative ethos. Members of Odd Future love skateboarding, fire, and upsetting you, and not necessarily in that order. They want to make you uncomfortable, and they want to enjoy themselves while doing it.  In other words, their effect is basically that of a classroom full of class clowns. Or full of teenage Eminems.

The Odd Future media blitz was (of course) not accomplished solely through posting tons of good free music (which they did). In a week of brilliantly targeted internet manipulation and branding, Tyler released his first music video, “Yonkers”–a real showstopper, and maybe the best video of the year–hours after making an appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, the first TV spot for a group that had yet to tour the east coast. Tyler’s energetic performance with fellow wolf Hodgy Beats was everything that late night TV usually is not: electric, exciting, and bursting with wild energy. A few days later, the internet was abuzz.

All of which is introductory to what I really wanted to talk about, the hundred or so songs that Odd Future’s put out so far. To this point there are eleven mixtapes, three albums, and dozens of youtube videos that constitute the body of Odd Future’s work. Odd Future Tape and Radical feature all of the (rapper) members of the group, and are a good place for the uninitiated to get acquainted with the whole gang (Radical is better). The biggest OF release so far is Goblin, Tyler’s first solo album and the first real material OF album. It’s strange, long, self-referential, kind of spooky, and very personal–to the point that it’s the rare album that can be described as confessional shock rap. I’d also recommend Nostalgia, Ultra, which is somewhat of an anomaly in the OF catalog. It’s the debut of Frank Ocean, the only R&B singer in the group, and its appeal is definitely not tied to the balls-out OF aesthetic: it’s just an album of buttery smooth love songs that both your mother and your hottest friend might like.

Earl Sweatshirt, age 16

My favorite wolves are Tyler, Hodgy, and above all, the mysterious Earl Sweatshirt. Earl is the youngest member of the group, and after recording a phenomenal mixtape and a handful of other songs in 2010, he disappeared. Tyler began a FREE EARL campaign, while refusing to answer any questions about his bandmate’s whereabouts. As his music blew up on the internet, Earl was MIA. By far the best lyricist in the group, Earl ranks as either one of the most exciting new voices in hip-hop or the greatest sixteen-year-old rapper ever, depending on who you ask. None of which will matter much unless he decides to make some more music. A couple of months ago, Kelefa Sanneh of the New Yorker found Earl, improbably, at a boarding school in Samoa. Through emails with the writer, the young rapper urged OF fans to leave his mom alone. Tyler has challenged the accuracy of the New Yorker story, of course.

I love Earl, and a lot of the OF catalog is really good stuff. Odd Future’s music is very raw, roughly equal parts clever and stupid, and pretty inconsistent, but most of all it is new and exciting, like a child is new and exciting. Through all of the background stories and internet hype and overheated controversy, it’s very easy to lose sight of the only good reason that anyone should care about Odd Future, which is for their music. But that’s clearly how Tyler wants you to come to the music, and the important thing is that you enjoy listening. Just don’t think about it too hard. Click through and check it out for yourself!

—Aaron Brown

Check out my tumblr

Click to get a coupon for free coffee and other great Student Discounts!

And download our NEW App on iTunes!

Become a fan on Facebook and follow us on twitter!

Don’t forget to sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter for student promotions and coupons and download the coupon booklet NOW

Share

Fuerza Bruta: Look Up Review

Wednesday, July 6th, 2011

This past weekend I had the pleasure of experiencing the off-Broadway hit Fuerza Bruta: Look Up. I had seen plenty of ads for it on the subway and thought it was definitely of interest to me, but never quite committed any time to going. Luckily, my brother bought me tickets to a showing of Fuerza Bruta for my birthday.

The "running-man" crashing through a wall.

Right off the bat, I have to say this show probably isn’t for everyone. It is not your normal theater-going experience. For one, you will have to stand the entire time because the spectators and performers share the stage. I enjoyed this because there are points in the show where you get to interact with the performers and take part in their seemingly random dances and confetti-fests. The performers themselves are very friendly and want to get you involved. The “running-man” of the show, John Hartzell, even took a photo on stage with my girlfriend, who attended the show with me.

Also, you will be forced to move from place to place on the stage for changes in the set. This can be very uncomfortable because the stage crew will pack you and your fellow audience members together like sardines. At times this can detract from the experience of the show. It can also be discouraging to shorter audience members if they end up behind someone very tall. However, if you are a real New Yorker, you spend half your life standing around, side by side, with people you don’t know during commutes on the train or bus. I wasn’t bothered too much by this aspect of Fuerza Bruta, but if you think you may be, you have been warned.

As for the actual show, I have to admit there is nothing spectacular about it. The show doesn’t have any dialogue, though I’m positive I saw the performers shouting to each other every once in a while. However, whatever they were saying was drowned out by the loud, electro music that set the tone for the entire performance. The show also doesn’t have spectacular choreography for the portions that involve dancing. The dancing, in fact, basically involves the performers dancing and you dancing along with them.

Half of the time you will be watching a man in a white suit run, get shot, and attempt to continue running, crashing through walls and barriers along the way. The other half of the time you will watch an overheard pool, home to the spectacle of four performers who will swim, smash and stare at their onlookers imperviously, knowing there is a secure barrier between their fun and your wonder.

Performers in the overhead pool.

Despite the fact that Fuerza Bruta seems to be a hodge-podge of disconnected acts, I found the visual spectacle of it all very interesting. Without giving away too much, I will let you know that many bungee cords are involved; moving strobe lights illuminate the stage; performers will be as close as next to you and as far as the ceiling; smoke and confetti will cover the stage (and possibly you); you will get wet, and it can vary depending on how much you interact with the show. For the record, my girlfriend and I were soaked and it was exhilarating. Like I said, this is not your normal theater-going experience.

If you are looking to go out for an hour, dance, get pushed around, get wet, and watch an unexplainable show all at the same time, then this show is for you. I enjoyed it because watching Fuerza Bruta felt like being in a club that was conceived by Dali but run by Duchamp. It is quite artistic, from the music to the set to the pool to the performers and to the way all of those things mesh together. At the same time, however, the show achieves nothing (though a quick flip through the program will reveal that that is exactly what’s at work). I align the show with club-going because I think the type of people who will enjoy the show most are younger individuals who like to dance and party and bask in the nothingness that is achieved by doing so.

For students who are interested, a student discount is available for Fuerza Bruta showings during the Student Rush. The Student Rush occurs two hours before each show time and makes $25 tickets available to college students on a first-come, first-serve basis (actual price is $79). For more information about show times and Fuerza Bruta: Look Up, visit www.fuerzabrutanyc.com.

–Christopher Cusack, Hofstra University

Photo Credit: www.donhall.blogspot.com

Check out my blog here.

Download the Campus Clipper iTunes app for up-to-date discounts and savings.

Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Remember to sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter for the latest student coupons and download our coupon booklet today.

Share

Record Store Fun

Wednesday, July 6th, 2011

Sound Fix of Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Music has always been an integral part of my existence, so much so that I enjoy nothing more than listening to music. It’s that simple. If you’re music-obsessed like me, then I suggest planning a day of record store fun. I define record store fun as visiting several different record stores in the span of one day and browsing for jewels in the form of CD or vinyl. I find my record store visits are usually affordable, keeping in mind my average college student budget, mostly because of the wide array of albums that can be bought used. Another thing—if you’re itching to buy a new album before it’s on sale, independent record stores tend to have lower prices than chains like Best Buy. I’d like to recommend a few record stores that you can visit alone or with friends. But it’s always more fun with friends, for sure!

My intention is not to critique or rank any of these record stores against one another. Instead I’d like to just suggest a few that I think are worth your time. The first that I’d like to discuss is Other Music, located in NoHo. Other Music is the best place to find an obscure album in many different genres. Although small, the store has a wide selection of used CDs, but it’s lacking in the arena of used vinyl. However, Other Music makes up for this with their great selection of new vinyl and new CDs. Another plus, Other Music is very well organized and you’re bound to hear some great tunes while browsing for that album you’ve been looking for. Two other great record stores in the area are St. Mark’s Sounds and Rockit Scientist. St. Mark’s Sounds is a popular staple in the East Village, and is a rather wide space.  There is an immense CD selection that will appeal to just about anyone. Rockit Scientist is right across the street from St. Mark’s Sounds, and although it’s smaller, it gives a nice shot of nostalgia for an enthusiast of underground classics. My last record store suggestion within the borough of Manhattan is Village Music World of Greenwich Village. Village Music World is student discounts and student savings friendly! You can use a Campus Clipper coupon and receive a 2-dollar discount on any CD you decide to purchase.

There are three record stores I shall recommend in Brooklyn, and they are: Earwax, Sound Fix, and Academy Records. All of these record stores are located on the north side of Williamsburg, separated from each other by only a few blocks. Academy Records is the go-to place for your vinyl desires and also has a small but rich used CD selection. Sound Fix is the most hyper-organized of the three and is probably my favorite of all because of the super friendly staff. And also it’s a guarantee you’ll find many treasures from their used CD selection. They also have very convenient listening stations as well as handy descriptions of albums that decorate the walls. Earwax has a wider selection of used CDs than the other two, allowing you to score that album you’ve been searching for by an artist no one else knows or cares about it.

Record store fun can be a nice break from the worries of the everyday, and it’s always nice to return home with something that you can enjoy over and over again. Another thing, many of the record stores mentioned here hold record store day events, which involve musicians performing for free within the store. If you love all things music, then I say check out these places and have some fun!

Anjelica LaFurno (Baruch College)

Visit my tumblr here

Image credit: thedailyswarm.com

Click here to download the Campus Clipper iTunes App!

Follow Campus Clipper on Twitter or keep current by liking us on Facebook

Interested in more deals for students? Sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter to get the latest in student discounts and promotions. For savings on-the-go, download our printable coupon e-book!

Share

The Optical Dilemma

Tuesday, July 5th, 2011

Every time I get ready to leave my apartment, I find myself engaged in different methods of preparation. Sometimes I shower, ensuring that every last inch of skin glows while emanating a floral scent. Other times, I know the dive bar I’m heading to will be as filthy as my kitchen sink piled high with neglected dishes, so I settle on just brushing my teeth. I also consult the weather when choosing each piece of attire as I ponder whether pants or shorts are the best option. And of course I play with my hair, asking myself: “Straightened, or slightly wavy? Up or down? Ponytail? Bun? Bandana?”

The amount of questions I silently pose to myself are varied and depend on a myriad of constantly changing factors like my mood, the temperature, the destination, and how late I’m running. Even when I think I have a recipe for dressing myself, an equation which cannot fail, some new rule or situation destroys my previously conceived solution, and so I start from scratch as I create my outfit for the day. However, despite this seemingly random collection of questions with no discernible pattern, there is one constant in my pre-departure rituals. Prior to applying my makeup, but after selecting my clothing I literally squint at myself in the mirror and address my low-to-mid grade myopia with the following question: “Glasses or contact lenses?”

This binary question’s answer isn’t as straightforward as one might think. While in the past I reserved my contacts exclusively for those “special” occasions like a date or a concert where I knew elbows would be flying, and plastic frames would be a hazard, there are a number of other factors that now come into play. Do I want to pull off a pseudo-hipster look with oversized frames? Maybe I will look more fashionable for my job interview if I wear contacts and amazing eye-makeup? My parents will see the dark circles under my eyes no matter how much cover-up I wear… better put on my glasses for dinner.

The Glasses v. Contacts case is ongoing and won’t reach a conclusion, unless I opt for Lasik surgery. Since that’s not something I foresee happening in the near future, I oscillate between the two forms of corrective lenses, trying not to show favoritism as optical variety is an easy way end fashion monotony. But it’s hard to feel like a smart shopper when you have to worry about buying contact lenses. However, student discounts are available for those of us who need to address our eyesight issues while still having fashion flexibility as there are plenty of opticians in New York who understand the plight of the stylish, yet visually impaired student.

One place that falls into this category is Optyx. This optometry shop has multiple locations in the city and is offering students their 1-day contact lenses at prices as low as 77 cents per pair. And while 1-day contact lenses may seem like an unnecessary luxury when there are some brands that can last up to a month, the reality of contact lenses is that for those with sensitive eyes like myself, the 1-day pairs tend to be less harsh due to their being placed in a milder cleansing solution prior to wear. Additionally there is less chance of getting an eye infection when using 1-day pairs. And a trip to the doctor for an ocular issue is much more unfortunate and expensive than buying affordable 1-day-wear contact lenses.

This summer I have embraced the freedom of choice. As much as my friends and I may complain about how long it can take to get ready sometimes, I think the general consensus among all of us is too much choice is better than no choice at all. Thanks to student savings from places like Optyx, I no longer have to worry about when I’ll be able to afford my next batch of contact lenses.

-Alex Agahigian, NYU-

I have lots of other things to say

Photo Credit: livestrong.com

Download our new iTunes App

Become a fan on Facebook and follow us on twitter!

Don’t forget to sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter for student promotions and coupons and download the coupon booklet NOW

Share

Fathom Events/The Lord of the Rings

Tuesday, July 5th, 2011

Over the past three weeks, Fathom Events had a special showing of The Lord of the Rings trilogy in their extended editions, one each weekend for June 14th, 21st, and 28th. The Lord of the Rings films, based on the books series by J. R. R. Tolkien, follow Frodo Baggins, a hobbit, on his adventure through Middle Earth to destroy the last of twenty powerful rings, forged to bring power to he/she who wears one. Each wearer of the ring is soon corrupted by the evil forces with which it possesses, and the movie’s adventure is both a battle on land against armies of Orcs and other evil creatures, as well as of the mind, in an attempt to thwart the call of evil. Until the ring is destroyed—only possible in the fires from which it was made, in the fires of Mount Doom, smack in the middle of antagonist, Sauron’s, territory—it will continue to be sought by those in power greedy enough to desire more. This trilogy is a fantasy adventure film series classic, gaining rave reviews across the world, a definite worthy use of your time, despite their length of about three hours each (for the non-extended versions).

Back to Fathom Events, a company that aims to set up “live one-night entertainment events, engaging business events, and even church worship” for the public to attend. Fathom Events puts on many different types of shows, including performing arts, sporting events, concerts, original shows, and classic films. Though they do cost money, they’re a great way to spend time and bring more culture into your life. Some things coming up in July include a live showing of Wimbledon, Giselle, many operas, the Israeli Philharmonic, and more.

If you’re looking for something to do this summer, or even past this summer into the year, this should definitely be on your list. And if you don’t want to spend the extra cash, you can recreate the movie theater experience at home with popcorn and sodas bought inexpensively from your local super market, such as Morton Williams.

/elizabeth Kaleko, Tufts University

Image from: lotr.wikia.com

Get great more Student Discounts!
Download our NEW App on iTunes!
Become a fan on Facebook and follow us on twitter!
Don’t forget to sign up for our bi-weekly newsletter for student promotions and coupons and download the coupon booklet NOW

 

Share