Archive for the ‘Student Maximu$ Summer/Fall 2010’ Category

STUDENT MAXIMU$: STUDENT TALENT

Wednesday, January 19th, 2011

Our publication, Student Maximu$ magazine, has a mission. First, to provide students with coupons in order to make their experience in NYC a fun and affordable one. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, Student Maximu$’s mission is to showcase the talents of NYC students. Each issue of Student Maximu$ features a young person who is using his or her unique abilities to make their mark on the world. I’d like to give you a brief snapshot of some of the talented students who have been featured in our magazine. Cheer them on as they succeed, and use their stories to inspire your own!

GENESIS BE

 

At only 22 years old, innovative rapper Genesis Be has released 3 albums, performed at sold-out shows, and created a record label. These milestones become more impressive since Genesis Be is not only a woman in a male-denominated industry, but her lyrics do not contain sex, violence, or any of the lurid subjects popularized in rap. Rather, Genesis Be uses her lyrics to promote moral awareness. Called “the CNN of the ghetto,” Genesis uses her musical talent to educate others with such songs as “I don’t discriminate.”

ADAM SCHATZ

 

Previously a Jazz Saxophone major at NYU, Adam possesses both musical finesse and an entrepreneurial spirit. In 2008, Adam created Search and Restore, a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of modern jazz in New York.  As a jazz musician, Adam was disappointed in how few jazz venues seemed to exist in NYC. Plus, there was limited awareness of the venues in the first place. But Search and Restore is combating that issue. Check out their website, www.searchandrestore.com, to find out about upcoming jazz concerts (and listen to some free tracks!) Also, check out his recent interview with the New York Times here!

ANNIE ESCOBAR

Many people love taking photos, but few use this talent to promote social awareness. However, Annie Escobar has implemented her virtuoso for photography to inform others of disadvantaged regions. Recently, Annie traveled to Nablus in the Middle East to document the poverty in that region. While in Nablus, Annie experienced a deep sympathy for the plight of the impoverished families she stayed with, yet at the same time was inspired by their tenacity and spirit. After returning to the U.S., Annie hosted a photo benefit to spread awareness of that area.

NICK DEE

A student at NYU, Nick Dee is something of a jack-of-all trades. He’s a blogger (or bleeger, as he’s coined it) a musician, and a stand-up artist. On his original website, www.nickdee.com, Nick Dee seems to hold an informal conversation with you each time he updates. He lets you know of upcoming gigs, and if he doesn’t have any happening, it’s because he’s “too damned busy.” On his official website, http://nickdeeofficial.com, you download or purchase his independently-produced album, “Sorry I’m Not Sorry.” Nick’s tracks synchronise an electropop beat with rap rhythms.

KENNETH MOLLOY

Just last year, Kenneth Molloy, produced his own original play, “Ghost of Dracula,” which sold out during it’s month-long run at the Wings Theater in the West Village. Molloy describes his play as “the bastard child of ‘Dracula’ and ‘The Breakfast Club,’ with a lot more blood and music.” The “Ghost of Dracula” has also been accepted into the New York Fringe Festival. Kenneth experienced a great sense of pride to see his work performed live on stage. He’s currently working on a new play entitled, “Catiline: Historia Arbitrabitur.”

These five students have followed their creative dreams, whether it be writing an original play, producing their own record album, or showcasing a photo documentary. Although each of these students is unique, they have one thing in common–they are letting the world know about them. If you feel you have a talent, don’t hide it in the closet! Follow the examples of Genesis Be, Adam Schatz, Annie Escobar, Nick Dee, and Kenneth Molloy. Get your name out there, whether it means starting a blog or creating your own website. Maybe one day your name will be in the pages of Student Maximu$ magazine.

-Written by Megan Soyars, Campus Clipper blogger

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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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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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Make New Friends and Keep the Old: Wet, Hot, New York Summer

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010

This past weekend, College Girl was up in the city visiting me.  We devoted about two hours only to talking about her split with Navy Boy (after which I promptly defriended him on facebook – I am of the opinion that it’s totally appropriate for friends to hold grudges for each other when one half of the friendship is too nice to be mad on their own behalf, but I digress) and the rest of the weekend enjoying New York City in the summer.

I have no job, and all of my friends know this.  They know that my life is primarily dictated by how much money my parents are willing to give me at any given time, and seeing as how College Girl is their favorite friend of mine, they weren’t too hard to get money from for the weekend.  However, I set myself to the task of finding free things to do, and as most of us either know or are learning, there’s plenty to do in the city that’s free.  I think I’ve seen a few blogs from some of the other bloggers dedicated entirely to the city’s free events scattered throughout the summer.

Brooklyn Bridge Park and Bryant Park both have movies showing throughout the summer, sponsored by SyFy and HBO, respectively.  In Brooklyn, every Thursday you can see a movie with the sun setting on Manhattan in the background and music provided by a DJ.  Their selection is varied, from Dreamgirls to Rear Window to The Big Lebowski and I’m counting down the days until August 26th when they’ll be playing Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.   Bryant Park is showing old school Hollywood movies, with classic favorites Rosemary’s Baby and Carousel. These two parks aren’t the only places showing free movies throughout the summer, but they’re my two favorites.

College Girl got to New York via the Megabus right around noon, just in time for a day of thunderstorms.  I have this standing theory that whenever I have a visitor, the weather is going to be bad, and the rain starting just as she texted me that she was in her cab is my case and point.  We wandered around my area of East Harlem for a while, not completely out of the rain even with umbrellas, before an impromptu trip to Whole Foods for ice cream, waffles, and pie.  Let it be known that from my stop on the 6 to the Whole Foods at Union Square takes about half an hour, but it’s definitely worth it for the blueberry pie.  After that we decided on an easy night of Chinese food and “Degrassi.”  Laughing at the absurdity of a tornado warning in New York that night, we both relaxed and caught up on each other’s lives, hoping that the next day would bring nicer weather and a chance for me to show off what I’ve learned about the city from living in it on my own for a year.

One of the best things about the city in the summer, not even taking into account the free opportunities offered, is Central Park.  With that said, Central Park is the perfect place for those with few funds to hang out.  Every summer Central Park is host to Shakespeare in the Park, often boasting big name actors that love their craft so much they are willing to put on a free show.  Tickets are hard to come by, free as they are, and can be gotten through an online lottery or standing in line for hours.  Saturday was The Merchant of Venice, and as much as I enjoy Shakespeare I wasn’t that interested until I saw the name Al Pacino.   I haven’t lived in the city long enough to be  immune to the appeal of stars like him, and again, the fact that such a thing is free, blows my mind.

Central Park also has its Summer Stage, and since we were unable to get tickets to Shakespeare in the Park, College Girl and I walked around until we literally stumbled upon a crowd of people all heading to, what we soon discovered, a free performance of the  Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.  With the air cooling thanks to the sun going down, we watched the Alvin Ailey dancers with the soundtrack of live blue music in the background, and it was maybe of my favorite experiences of the city so far.

-Mary K

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Late Night Creations

Friday, July 2nd, 2010

written by Sabina Ashbaugh

We always substitute an egg with two tablespoons of vanilla soymilk—a slight variation that leaves the dough runny and easier to mix with the cracked wooden spoon. The timer is set for 12 minutes, not 14 as the cookbook suggests, with a reminder at the six-minute mark to switch the top and bottom trays in the oven. Despite these careful discrepancies, accumulated over countless nights, our creations are never completely predictable. We speculate whether it might be the heat of the dimly lit kitchen, and that volatile summer breeze that seeps in through the windows and seems to soften the contours of the room.
Despite our many trials, my sister and I never fully plan our baking efforts, or even carefully measure out the ingredients of our amended recipes. The soymilk substitution, now a permanent step in the cookie making process, came from a late realization that the egg carton was deceptively empty. As if to support this impulsiveness, the planned desserts baked for family dinners—the pumpkin or apple pies, the blueberry cobblers, the cinnamon buns, the madeleines—are never as good as the spontaneous endeavors to satisfy late night cravings. The immediate satisfaction of these creations quickly assuaged the worries and anxieties amassed during school or work. Tasks divided and ingredients laid out, my sister and I get to work setting right the wrongs of the day.
It has been a year now since I moved away from home. Some months have flown by while others have painstakingly inched to a close, with pangs of homesickness and late night baking cravings that seemed to arise out of nowhere. Family, a concept that had seemed so natural and tangible just a year ago, has slowly been abstracted to stand for that sense of place so radically reconfigured after leaving for school. In times of stress, I often caught myself about to call the house with a confused plea of “What should I do?”
With distance I have come to realize how often I unintentionally underappreciated this form of support. I cringe at the thought that the ease and spontaneity of those nights spent baking are a lost bridge between my sister and I—treasured memories to look back on fondly but ones impossible to recapture. And yet the removal of this crutch has also forced me to examine how I will right the wrongs of the day in my own way—not by baking, but through the careers and choices that lie ahead.
Moving away is an exciting step towards independence and deciding how and what one wants to change in the world. In the midst of so many choices, the advice offered by family is a means of grounding oneself in times of transformation. Finding a niche in college involves exploring how one will contribute to society and improve the lives of others, but it also requires the recognition of the debt owed to those at home.
Growing up compels us to accept these recipes, relationships, and plans for future change. Family rituals become memories as traditions are re-made. It is important to maintain ties with those that helped us get where we are, and continue to want to see us succeed. Helping others starts by looking out for and appreciating those at home, and paying tribute to those left behind.

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Free Activities In the City!

Friday, July 2nd, 2010

written by Adam Davis

It might be tempting to stay in the office or the apartment during the hottest months, but New York City offers plenty of free summer activities that don’t involve huddling by the air conditioner.  And what better time is there to relax, meet new people, and enjoy some arts and culture?

SUMMERSTAGE
The best part of summer is Summerstage, a performing arts festival that includes dancers, singers, and even poets and novelists.  This year Summerstage is expanding to include performances in parks throughout New York City, thus making these can’t-miss shows available to people in all five boroughs.  During its 25 years, Summerstage has hosted over 1,700 notable artists and writers, including David Bowie, M.I.A., Toni Morrison, and Joni Mitchell.  This summer’s lineup consists of 91 free shows, including artists such as Dan Deacon, White Rabbits, and Public Enemy, along with a four-night concert featuring the alternative rock band Pavement.  See www.summerstage.org for specific dates and times of various shows.

NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC, OR THE “BIG FIVE.”
If you appreciate classical music, you have to check out the New York Philharmonic, or the “Big Five.”  They are the oldest orchestra in America by almost four decades and had their record-setting 14,000th concert in 2004.  During the summer, the “Big Five” perform for free at parks in all the boroughs, but most often at the Great Lawn in Central Park.  All shows begin at 8 p.m. and are followed by fireworks.  Check out http://nyphil.org/attend/summer for a full schedule.

TODAY SHOW SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
On the other hand, if Sting, Christina Aguilera, Maroon 5 and Lady Gaga are more your taste, the Today Show summer concert series offers a chance to see them for free, if you are willing to get up early enough.  The concerts are hosted at Rockefeller Center at 7 a.m. on Friday mornings, but you have to get there up to two hours earlier (depending on the popularity of the performer) to ensure you get in.  For more info, go to http://today.msnbc.msn.com and click on “Concert Series.

BRYANT PARK’S SUMMER FILM FESTIVAL
For those who look forward to summer blockbusters, Bryant Park’s Summer Film Festival shows movies—albeit classic ones—every Monday night. The lawn opens at 5 p.m. for blankets and picnicking and the films begin at dusk, usually between 8 and 9 p.m., but make sure to get there early in order to secure a good spot and enjoy some classic animated shorts. Some films scheduled to appear on the 20-foot screen this summer are Goldfinger, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and Rosemary’s Baby.  To get a complete list of films and dates, visit
www.bryantpark.org and click on “Summer Film Festival.”

BROOKLYN FLEA MARKET
Another interesting thing to check out is the Brooklyn Flea Market, which moves outside during the summer. The flea market has recently expanded from its original venue in Fort Greene to include a second location at the Brooklyn Bridge Park.  The Brooklyn Bridge Flea Market features over 100 vendors, with antiques, jewelry, and local artwork galore. If you get hungry while browsing, feel free to sample some of the unique local foods like McClure’s Pickles, Early Bird Granola, or fresh lobster rolls from Red Hook Lobster Pound. The Brooklyn Bridge Flea starts June 14th and takes place every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.  To see the latest finds, check www.brooklynflea.com.

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The Melody Of Unexpected Rhythm

Friday, July 2nd, 2010

written by Angela M

Illustration By Tao Zao

I grew up on Disney and nightly walks with my Russian grandparents, sunflower seeds sticking to my fingers, old lady tales dripping from my ears like borscht. I was never told not to smile at a cute Asian boy, or to repress a casual wink at a dashing Spaniard.

Maybe I was never told to not do these things because: 1) I don’t smile often, and 2) I can barely wink. Regardless, there was never any objection to multicultural friendships. Romantically speaking, though, it was never really spoken about, perhaps because it was never really expected.
My first legitimate ounce of interest in the opposite sex could have something to do with my current situation.
I was in the first grade, and his name was Timothy. He was everything I wanted in a boy. He never spoke to me; he rarely, if ever, held the staircase door open for me; and he cheated on me. I don’t know whether it counts as cheating if we were never in a relationship, but my heart was temporarily in shambles. Did I mention that Timothy was Asian? Did I also mention that I’m white and Jewish and from Brooklyn?
At 22, and not a bit less romantic than my first grade self, I find my heart taken once again (this time, in a less make-believe type of way). I am in love with a writer who just so happens to be outside of my race. Raised Muslim but not practicing, my Indian love connects himself with the folk of Jackson Heights, Queens before anything else. To sum things up, not only am I dating a fellow who’s a hundred beautiful shades darker than my pastey self, but I am also dating someone outside of my borough.
We met at a house party. His band was playing, and I later on learned that he had asked our mutual friend to invite me, since he was too shy to do it himself. The night felt like something taken out of one of those typical teenage movies where the girl seems to be playing coy, not realizing what’s going on, and the guy is fumbling over every other word, crossing his fingers that he doesn’t look as dumb as he feels. It took me half the party to realize that I was falling heavy over someone who I had never expected to come across.
Surprisingly, my mother was more accepting of my new found love than some of my friends. When I say some, I really just mean one. My Jewish friend Rebecca* was stunned to realize that I was romantically involved with someone so far from my religion. I kept it secret from her for as long as I could, afraid of the very reaction that I got. She started telling me that being a Jew meant that I was part of the chosen ones, and how keeping religion alive in my family was imperative. Basically, she made me feel like the black sheep of the herd. A day after her attack, she apologized wholeheartedly and told me that I have her full support in any decision that I make in life. (I can only imagine how Rebecca’s reaction would have been if I had confessed that I was getting married!) Just to be clear, I consider myself Jewish more in terms of culture than practice. Echoing Keats, “Love is my religion.”
In a city where love has an astigmatism and hearts beat to their own bongo, interracial coupling is more common than ever. Every way my head turns, I see it: hands of different colors holding on to each other. It’s beautiful, really. And now, I am part of it. We grew up hearing different languages being spoken at home, eating foods synonymous to our cultures, but we were also scolded by our parents for leaving cookie crumbs in our beds, and watching too many T.V. shows instead of doing our homework. Plenty of people in college date people who they didn’t expect to be with. We aren’t really all that different, though. We both love literature and writing, we listen to the same type of music, and, obviously, we both enjoy a good house party.

*Name changed to protect privacy.

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Cheap Eats Vegan

Friday, July 2nd, 2010

written by Christina Roylance

Think being a vegetarian means expensive specialty restaurants, and lots of drama when you go out to dinner with friends? Do you feel that you’ll have to be the most finicky customer of all time and waiters will hate you? This could not be further from the truth.  Living in NYC is getting easier and more enjoyable every day to be a vegetarian or vegan.  There’s tons of options, and you don’t need to drag everyone to your all-veg restaurants; there are simple ways to get cheap awesome vegetarian food by being knowledgeable about good places and keeping a few things in mind.
NYC is a mecca of different cultures and backgrounds. Ethnic foods abound in the city, and there’s often cheap, local places for whatever foreign flavor you want–Indian, Thai, Japanese, Italian, Middle Eastern, Mexican, whatever.  Many of these cuisines are sensitive to vegetarians, and can easily be requested vegan, as long as you know what to ask for.

Middle Eastern food is a great resource for vegetarians.  Falafels are cheap, vegetarian fast food sandwiches: deep fried tahini balls with hummus and veggies!  It’s a great, simple, yet filling option.  Aldiwan Lebanese restaurant is located on A if you want a sit-down Middle Eastern dinner.  It also has a great selection of vegetarian appetizers, as well as a tasty vegetarian Mousaka entrée that’s big enough for two.

At lunchtime, there’s always Indian food all-you-can-eat buffets for cheap.  Indian Taj on Bleeker has a $10 deal that’s even cheaper with a Campus Clipper Coupon.  Indian food is hearty and flavorful, and you can just ask the servers which dishes do not have any meat or cheese.  These buffets are usually huge, so there’s bound to be a selection of vegetarian things to eat.

Thai food is a personal favorite of mine.  Entrées tend to be large so you can cut the cost by splitting dishes.  There are always a great deal of vegetarian options, but just ask if there are any eggs in the dish and it’s easy enough for you to be accommodated.  Boyd Thai on Thompson has great vegetarian options, and vegan treats and desserts available as well!

Mexican cuisine is great because if that’s what you’re craving, you can either get fast and cheap take-out style places or sit down to dinner.  Vegetarian and vegan burritos are easy since you often custom order them.  With rice, beans, veggies, and guacamole, (and cheese and sour cream if you’re not a vegan) a vegetarian burrito is filling and quick.  Try grabbing one from Burritoville, and use your Campus Clipper Coupon to save $1.

Surprisingly, lots of sushi restaurants can accommodate vegetarians as well, with veggie filled sushi rolls. It is important to make sure the restaurant doesn’t use fish sauces or oils in the preparation though if you’re a strict vegetarian.  Sushi Yawa on 8th street has tons of vegetable rolls (cucumber, avocado, sweet potato, spinach, and more!), and a bunch of vegetarian appetizers as well.  Plus, everyone I know loves sushi, so non-veg friends will be happy to accompany you.

Italian food is everyone’s favorite–who doesn’t love pasta?  It just takes a few easy questions when ordering your pasta dish to know if it’s vegetarian or vegan.  Just ask if there’s meat in the sauce, request no parmesan, and ask for your food cooked with olive oil instead of butter.  Most dishes are prepared that way already, but if you just check it should be easy to make any changes.  Grotta Azzurra in Little Italy has an affordable $10 prix fixe for lunch, as well as a Thursday night ladies night, with free appetizers and half-off on drinks!

So just because you’re vegetarian or vegan doesn’t mean eating out has to be boring or expensive!  You can still eat your favorite things; just be a little conscientious and ask the right questions.  You don’t have to miss out on any great deals or fun nights out just because you have different dietary needs.  So remember to use Campus Clipper coupons to get the best deals, and be sure to experiment and have fun.

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Adam Schatz: Search and Restore

Friday, July 2nd, 2010

written by Aramis Grant

NYU senior and Jazz Saxophone major ADAM SCHATZ runs an art organization called Search and Restore – a nonprofit group, dedicated to the promotion and audience expansion of NYC’s modern jazz scene. Search and Restore was created in 2008 with the goal of “making the jazz scene more sustainable,” as Adam described it.
“Everything we do is to expand,” said Adam about the efforts of the Search and Restore team.
The team’s base is SearchandRestore.com – made in February of last year. The website is an “all-encompassing website for live jazz and improvised music in New York City,” as expressed on the site.
SearchandRestore.com is host to numerous events — listing many venues, times, days, and dates that all the jazz shows in the city are happening.
Being a jazz student and playing in multiple jazz bands, Adam wasn’t happy with the small amount of light being shed on jazz musicians.

Adam Schatz "Search and Restore"

“Jazz was literally boxed in … the shows were being held in really small clubs. It wasn’t a good way for people to find out about what was going on,” said Adam.
Besides expanding the size of the venues jazz artists were playing at, Adam wanted and does work to expand the jazz audience and jazz awareness.
“We want to bring the music we love to more people,” he said.
Adam also makes it his duty to reach out not only to the general public, but specifically to the people he relates to the most … students.
Search and Restore advertises affordable tickets to shows with no drink minimums, at venues that don’t have an age requirement.
Adam invites people to become involved with the NYC jazz scene, stating it is the “most human form of music that exists.”
“It is so anchored in improvisation in the way that no other form of music is. It’s fun to watch because it happens right in front of your eyes,” said Adam, “People need to feel the music through the experience.”

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