Looking Forward to Spring at Fordham

Winter in New York can be a wonderful time to enjoy the snow and the city.  However, this winter has been particularly brutal, so it has me looking forward to fun outdoor activities on and around the Rose Hill campus.  Fordham looks beautiful in every season, but spring looks especially great on this campus.   

One of the most popular things to do in the spring is to lounge around outside on Edward’s Parade (Eddie’s).  The snow and cold has me dreaming of when it’ll be warm enough to lie outside, read, play Frisbee, and chat with friends in between classes or on the weekend.  As the weather gets warmer, Eddie’s becomes increasingly more crowded with students. On sunny days, Eddie’s is the place to be!

Classic sitting on Eddie's in front of Keating Hall picture.

Right across the street from the Rose Hill campus is the New York Botanical Gardens.  This is free for Fordham students and is the perfect place to stroll or go for a run.  I love being so close to a quiet and beautiful space that allows me to relax and forget the stress and noise of the city.

Another park I enjoy spending time in is Van Cortland Park, which is only about a mile away from Fordham’s campus, so it is only an easy walk or short bus ride away.  This is a huge park (one of the biggest in New York City) with lots of trails, and scenery that’s perfect for a long run or spending the day outside enjoying the weather.

Van Cortlandt Park, a pretty place to be despite some snow!

While there is still plenty of fun to have at Fordham despite the snow and cold, I am definitely looking forward to spending time outdoors, sans jackets, mittens and boots and taking advantage of these beautiful places this spring during my last semester at Fordham!

Father Phil's Bucket List

There are always tons of things going on around Fordham, several which are organized by the Campus Activities Board (CAB).  Last night in Keating 1^st Auditorium, CAB hosted an event called “Father Phil’s Bucket List.”  He gave the students some inspiration about how to best spend their time in college, and how to take advantage of all that Fordham has to offer.  Father Phil started off with a quote from Howard Thurman:  “Ask yourself what makes you come alive and do that.  Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”  He spoke about the importance of discovering our personal mission and delving deep into all that we do.  He also said we should expand our minds by learning another language and reading more, both for school and leisure.  He discussed how following the news will help us to formulate our own opinions on current issues, giving us the tools to engage in critical thinking and meaningful discourse.

The view on my way home from studying abroad!

Father Phil also encouraged the students to go out and see the world in whatever way they can.  He talked about how much travel can broaden our horizons and change the way we see the world.  Through visiting other countries and continents, we can immerse ourselves into other cultures and learn not only about these people, but also learn more about ourselves in the process.  Here at Fordham there are countless study abroad programs available to students in various locations and for different lengths of time.  Whether it is a weeklong study tour, a month in the summer, or a whole semester, you can find a program that best suits you and your academic career path.  Father Phil also spoke about the importance of serving those in need, following in the Jesuit tradition.  Fordham has endless opportunities to help others not only in the local community, but also across the country and beyond through programs like Global Outreach.

Eddie's Parade at sunset

Another point that Father Phil spoke about was appreciation for nature.  He discussed the beauty that surrounds us here at Fordham, both on and off campus.  Just across the street from our main entrance is the New York Botanical Garden, where students can enter for free simply by showing their Fordham ID.  He also encouraged students to eat well, especially since just outside campus is Arthur Avenue, the heart of the Bronx’s “Little Italy.”  This area is lined with delicious Italian restaurants, pizzerias, and bakeries to explore.  Students can even visit Manhattan by the Ram Van, Metro-North, or subway.  Father Phil talked about the importance of exercise and, fortunately, Fordham has great gym facilities and even intramurals for students who want to participate in sports on a recreational level.  He ended with an old Italian proverb:  “With hard work and determination one can climb a mountain.  With Faith and imagination, one can move it!”

My intramural flag football team

Weekend Update

It's easy to see why students love Fordham during the holidays!

Linda Mule

The buzz is back on campus! After students departed as early as the Monday before Thanksgiving, Fordham's campus is back to being the fast paced and upbeat campus we know and love. The only difference? The huge wreathes and holiday decor which adorn buildings around campus! The holiday season is upon us at Fordham, with everything planned from a holiday fair with free sign ups to go ice skating in the city, Hanukkah celebrations, and Christmas carols! This is a magical time of year, and students are happier than ever to be back home for the holidays, their Fordham home. 

Just some of the miniature New York landmarks

Shannon Donovan

The New York Botanical Garden is right across the street from the main entrance to Fordham.  Every year they have a Holiday Train Show, featuring model trains on a track that runs through a miniature city.  The replicas of popular buildings and landmarks are made of natural materials like bark and leaves.  It is a holiday must!

One of the hundreds of dolls in the NYC store

Kate Callahan

This weekend my parents came to watch me perform with the University Choir in the Annual festival of Lessons and Carols.  Alumni, students, families, and visitors come from all over to see the show, and for many of them it marks the start of the holiday season.  During some downtime, my mom and I walked down 5^th Avenue to check out the window displays at Saks and the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center.  We stopped at the American Girl Place along the way to see some of my favorite toys from when I was a little kid.  The (window) shopping and concert really helped me get into the spirit!

Outdoor Fun Just Steps Off the Rose Hill Campus!

Sometimes during the semester, it is necessary to take a break from school-related activities to "recharge your batteries." Luckily, there are many nearby that are great for a quick study break and some fresh air! A plethora of options exists in both the Bronx and Manhattan, but two of my favorite places to take a short break are located minutes from the Rose Hill Campus.

From a recent fall trip to the NYBG

Directly across the street from the main entrance to the Rose Hill campus is the entrance to the New York Botanical Gardens. Fordham students receive free admission to the gardens with their student ID, and its close proximity to campus makes it the perfect place to go for a quick change of scenery. Our free admission allows access to the grounds of the gardens, giving students a choice of which part they want to explore.

The Bronx Zoo is just a few minutes off campus, too! On Wednesdays, admission to the zoo is free, which works perfectly for us since many Fordham students have few (or no) classes on Wednesdays! Measuring 265 acres, this unique city zoo makes for a great place to spend a few hours enjoying the outdoors, walking around with friends and learning about the Wildlife Conservation Society's efforts.

My recent trip to the Bronx Zoo included a stop at Tiger Mountain

Weekend Update

It's never a bad idea to bring home cupcakes!

Danielle Smith

This weekend I took a trip back home to Long Island to visit my family. To get home I generally take the Ram Van into the Lincoln Center campus and then walk to Penn Station. On my walk to Penn Station, I passed a Baked by Melissa where I bought cupcakes to surprise my family (and have a few myself)! I loved spending time with my family and they were especially grateful that I brought home cupcakes.

Expressions Dance Alliance takes on the Botans

Gianna Rosamilia

This weekend Expressions Dance Alliance had their biannual photo shoot for their recital at the end of the fall semester. Some of the girls from the company got together and walked over to the Botanical Gardens to take pictures to promote the show, "Dreamers". The Gardens are absolutely beautiful this time of year. The weather was perfect, and it was an incredible day to spend outside with everyone. Not only did we take some awesome pictures for flyers and footage for our promo video, but we got to enjoy the gorgeous scenery of New York's Botanical Gardens, which is free to enter with a Fordham ID! EDA's show this semester takes place at 8 PM on November 21 and 22 in Collins Auditorium, and features student-choreographed lyrical, jazz, contemporary, and tap dances!

Great food, great sights, and great fun!

Emily Tanner

This past weekend I went to ‘Broadway Bites’ in Greeley Square Park! It features a bunch of different vendors of the yummiest food in NYC, from Italian to Mexican to Thai, even some baked goods! It’s called a ‘pop- up market’ and will be on Broadway until November 15th. I had a super fun time in Manhattan with my friends trying all of the different cuisines and just hanging out in the best city in the world.

We loved the laser show

Kirsten Simons

This Friday after work, some friends and I went to get dinner at City Bakery in Chelsea. We had incredibly delicious hot chocolate with our meal and then headed to Brooklyn for the New York Festival of Lights. The festival took place under the Brooklyn Bridge, and it was incredibly fun. The festival featured art from several different artists, all of which centered around lights of all kinds, everything from Christmas tree lights and lasers to fluorescent lights and projections on the side of the bridge.

A beautiful trail at the Botanical Gardens

Anna Romagnoli

This past weekend I took a study break in the Botanical Gardens right across the street from the Rose Hill campus.  It is free for Fordham students and a great place to go on a walk or run and enjoy the fall weather!