“As contemporary history reminds us we are human to the extent that we are able to choose between alternatives.”

~ John G. D. Clark

Living in the melting pot known as New York, it is no surprise to see many things considered out of the norm of society. One of the best places to see these types of people is on the subway. The subway system is like the “great equalizer.” Everyone takes the subway regardless of status, income, or family background. It is the only place where you can find a business man writing out important documents sitting next to an old Chinese man in a sweats and sneakers.

I sat on the train, traveling home late at night after an event with my family and the array of strangers to view followed with more intrigue that it would in the daytime. My parents had found a spot to squeeze into and I stood, holding onto a pole wondering when my feet would fall off. That is when I noticed who my parents sat next to: an amazing mohawk. I noticed the hair before I noticed there was even a human being attached. Also called the Liberty Spikes, his hair stood straight in around 20 partitioned hair groups and created a perpendicular halo. It was amazing. How can hair do that? This was my first experience with seeing a well done mohawk in person that occurred around the age of 12-14. I have seen plenty of bad ones, but never artistically perfected hair spikes standing from the base of the man’s head and reaching for the sky. They stood for the freedom that they took their name from, defying gravity and proclaiming individuality.

I wish I could have complemented the man. However, my parents were there and this was the classic example of a “young person you should not talk to”. “Alternative”, the way this man was dressed, does not equal delinquent or drug abuser. To me, he was simply a person with really cool hair. To them he was already categorized into a dead-zone which they refused to associate into. The man left for his stop on the subway and my mental compliments faded with their conversations in my head.

~By Sophia Calderone

For students searching for a great Cuban restaurant, look no further! Varadero Cuban Cuisine has opened up in the heart of the East Village. The restaurant recently underwent a major renovation and now offers a welcoming ambiance paired off with delicious food and drinks.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the restaurant. My friend and I visited during dinnertime. All of the doors were open to let in the natural lighting. So it felt a bit like an open air café. Very inviting. Overall, the restaurant had a really relaxed vibe. It was quiet and welcoming.

Varadero’s owner, Manny, explained that the original restaurant needed a lot of work; a complete renovation. He wanted to create a new face for the restaurant. The renovations began in early January and Varadero was finally open for business a few months later! Now the restaurant is much more beautiful and open! The windows provide a great deal of natural lighting and the benches along the wall are nice and comfy. There is also a bar in the corner where you can sit and enjoy a drink or two.

The meals were also very filling and homey. They offer a great, authentic taste of Latin America. For the appetizer, my friend and I ordered both the chicken and beef empanadas. Empanadas are my favorite and these were very good. The crust was flaky and the meat inside was really tender and juicy.

For the entrée, my friend and I both ordered the recommendations from the waiter. My friend had the Ropa Vieja, which is shredded skirt steak with sauce and vegetables. It came with white rice, black beans and plantains. I love plantains, so it was a nice treat to get them. Their sweetness balanced well with the more salty beef and savory sauce.

Thanks to the waiter’s recommendation, I ordered the tilapia. It came with a lemon and capers sauce. I’m not a huge fan of capers and found them to be pretty salty. I’d never had capers before, so I wanted to try them out. But you can order the meal without capers! If you’re not a huge fan of salt, I would recommend that. But otherwise, the fish was really delicious. It came with vegetables and mashed potatoes. The potatoes were light and fluffy. The meal was very filling overall.

My friend and I also got drinks! We were going to order the sangria because it is supposed to be very good, but we decided to try the mojitos instead. They really good, strong, and refreshing. I got the passion fruit sake mojito and my friend got the mango mojito. The mango tasted so good. The fruity taste blended well with the mint. The drinks also came in mason jars, which I thought was a really nice touch. The restaurant also has happy hour Monday-Friday from 4-8pm, where the drinks are only four dollars! They also have live Latin music on Saturday evenings, which is awesome.

Varadero will also be offering great discounts for college students! Students get 50% their meal from 11am-4pm and 30% off all other times. You can download the coupon from the Campus Clipper website here. So whether you’re stopping by for the drinks, the food, or the live music, Varadero Cuban Cuisine should be your first stop in the East Village!

Varadero Cuban Cuisine

214 E 9th St

(212) 598-4321

varaderonyc.com

~By Megan Soyars

“Kiin” means “eat” in Thai, and Kiin Thai Eatery, which opened in the East Village recently, lends new meaning to the simple word. Kiin offers a variety of sumptious dishes, all based in traditional and home-style Thai cooking. The owners, Phakphoom Sirisuwat and Supanee Kitmahawong, seek to bring authentic recipes to NYC locals. Many of the dishes are inspired from century’s old central and northern Thai cuisine.

At Kiin, I enjoyed the pineapple fried rice lunch special.

 All lunch specials come with sliced veggies and an option of either sweet and spicy papaya salad or cucumber soup. The rice was very sweet and flavorful. It was cooked with curry flavoring, slices of ham, shrimp, pineapple, and raisins. The dish also came topped with sweet dried pork, which had a very intriguing texture and flavor. This lunch special is a variation of their popular entree, in which the fried rice is served in the shell of an actual pineapple. Yum!

Other popular entrees include: Pad Thai with Shrimp wrapped with Egg Crepe ($15) and Pad Kee Mao with Tender Pork ($13). They also offer a number of vegetarian options.The food at Kiin Thai Eatery is filling, but leaves you with a light, clean feeling. Many of the dishes come laden with fresh vegetables. The prices are also very affordable for students! The lunch special prices range from $9-$11, but the food is filling and the portions are pretty generous. Entrees range from $11-$16.

They also offer a full bar, offering classic and modern cocktails, wine, and beer. They also offer non-alcoholic beverages, including thai iced tea of course!

Last but not least, the ambiance at Kiin is very clean and inviting. The walls, tables, and chairs are all white, and the wide windows offer plenty of natural lighting. There’s a sense of relaxation and open space when you enter the restaurant.

There is also a Zen element to the decoration. There are plenty of fresh plants situated around the restaurant, and fresh white flowers on each table. There are also several contemplative Buddha statues.

So remember stop by Kiin for some authentic and affordable Thai dishes! They are open everyday from 11:30am-10:30pm.

Kiin Thai Eatery

36 E 8th St.

212-529-2363

kiinthaieatery.com

~ By Megan Soyars

The Dark Silhouette

Night, the beloved.  Night, when words fade and things come alive.  When the destructive analysis of day is done, and all that is truly important becomes whole and sound again.  When man reassembles his fragmentary self and grows with the calm of a tree.  

~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

I used to visit a library near my school before going to my after school choir meetings. One day I was startled by a very distinct image. A silhouette, dark against the beaming rays of the afternoon sun. Gleaming white eyes came from a man leaning against a door, hidden between two stores. Eyes that surveyed the rush of public school children screaming and laughing with their friends. As I walked closer to him, I could see his skin was the blackest of black. His tall, lean figure shadowed over what was a young girl around the age of six or seven, who’s moist white eyes sparkled against her dark skin.

It was as if he was protecting her. A younger sister perhaps? Just someone in his care? Midnight. Silence. The beauty of contrast. Those thoughts swirled in my mind all years ago. Their silence against the roaring of the school children. The little girl’s delicate form under the towering protective position of the man before her. Both of them, with pearl-like eyes gleaming against the dark of their skin, watching the afternoon pass by them. I tried not to stare as I walked past the pair. The image was burned into my mind forever. Two figures of night in the afternoon.

~Sophia Calderone