Hidden Gem Cafes Around NYC

College and coffee go hand in hand.  Between classes, extracurriculars and city excursions, an espresso boost (or three) per day is essential.  Now if you’re a rare breed who can energetically thrive sans caffeine then more power to you; but for the rest of us the caffeine craze is a vital component to our sanity. Starbucks is my holy grail happy place when it comes to my daily dose of caffeine and becoming a gold card holder may or may not be a personal life goal.  However, even this Starbucks fanatic recognizes that there are numerous coffee shops and cafes around the city that will not only enrich your palette but your cultural experiences here in New York City. Here are a few hidden gems to discover.

Kahve

Located between West 51st and 52nd street Kahve is a trendy and compact establishment with both an international flair and Hell’s Kitchen based appreciation. Named after the Turkish word for coffee, Kahve’s coffee beans are originated from Turkey and Cuba in addition to a “rotating array of other drinks and recipes.” My personal favorites are their Almond Chai and, off the newly reinstated “Fall In Love” menu, the Salted Caramel Mocha latte.  Kahve’s coffee lounge vision of a ‘trendy, yet welcoming atmosphere’ is accomplished with their pressed tin ceiling and exposed brick walls that feature the work of local artists around NYC.  Did I mention that they have sweet treats that perfectly compliment the drinks? What’s the turkish word for obsessed?   

Bibble & Sip

“Bibble means to eat indulgently; sip implies cultured enjoyment.”  If you love cappuccino art, specifically alpacas, jasmine, and salivating treats, you will thoroughly enjoy Bibble & Sip. The cafe’s signature drink is their jasmine matcha latte for those looking for a go to,staple. As for which bibble to nibble on, the possibilities are endless! Some options include orange cranberry scones with an earl grey glaze, almond chocolate hazelnut croissants with salted caramel drizzle or chocolate chip cookies with a twist (brownie chunks).  Whether you want a calming jasmine scented drink and a sweet treat pick me up after a long day of class, a cute outing with friends or are in the mood for some alpaca appreciation Bibble & Sip can become your new go to.

Ralph’s Coffee

This is the perfect spot for fashionistas and coffee lovers alike. Ralph Lauren’s Fifth Ave. Flagship store is home to its very own coffee shop! Located on the second floor, you’ll enter a very Instagram worthy space. Seriously, if you want to feel like a New York City ‘it girl’ blogger post a photo of your coffee mug with #ralphs and mission accomplished.  Speaking of, their cappuccinos are delicious and their brownies are the perfect compliment.  You could sit and overlook fifth avenue in one of the cafe booths or be surrounded by fashion coffee table books and Lauren’s latest collection at the family style dining table adjacent to the cafe itself.  

Rex Coffee

Rex Hell’s Kitchen is a few blocks away from Fordham Lincoln Center on 57th and 10 avenue and it’s great for coffee and an actual lunch.  Grab a chef created sandwich along with your coffee and a baked-in-house pastry afterwards because, why not? Rex gets back to basics with their drink options so for those looking for a just-right latte or mocha, Rex is a good bet.  It’s also good to note that for the lactose intolerant, the coffee shop offers almond and cashew milk options.  And if you’re looking to venture out of midtown, Rex now has Chelsea location.

Whether you need a caffeine kick to wake you up for class, are looking for a quaint place to study, or just want to be able to say that yes, you have actually had coffee that is not Starbucks or even Dunkin' Donuts you now have some options.  For more way to become a cafe connoisseur, there’s even a map specifically featuring coffee shops near subway stops.  Sip, sip hooray!

*All photos are from outside sources.* 

A Comprehensive Guide to New York City Airports

At the beginning of every semester, I anxiously await the final exams schedule’s release. I check flights for price drops rather religiously and think to myself whether or not I should take the plunge. Living cross-country from Fordham most definitely has its drawbacks, but I feel lucky to be able to call two very different places home. Additionally, with all of the flying I have done since I began here, I’ve become an expert of airlines, airports, flight preferences, and packing. So, for all of us who know the struggle of travel all too well, here’s a look at the experience of flying out of NYC’s three major airports.

Hello, JFK!

LaGuardia Airport (Queens, NY): 

Ideal Passenger: Local Traveller, Connecting Flight Traveller

Ah, LaGuardia: outdated architecture, and a beautiful pocket of time travel. The closest airport to Manhattan by distance, the airport is set to be completely overhauled over the course of the next few years. I lovingly refer to LaGuardia as “the maze.” While LaGuardia doesn’t bring the amenities, it does what it sets out to do with moderate efficiency. For all intents and purposes, LGA is a short-trip domestic airport, and probably your best bet if you’re not going too far, or taking a connecting fight within the US. From LC, LaGuardia is accessible by taking the Queens bound Q Train to Astoria Boulevard and transferring to the M60 Select Bus Service for free if you’ve swiped your MetroCard in the last two hours. (Note: This may not be fun if you have lots of luggage because there’s some pretty substantial stairs to climb down at this station) Cabs to LaGuardia from Manhattan run about $45 at a flat rate.

John F. Kennedy International Airport (Queens, NY): 

Ideal Passenger: Long Distance Traveller, Cost Effective Traveller

Aside from the construction occurring on the runways at (most) every given time, JFK proves to be a simple, reliable airport. JFK is probably the easiest to navigate and has lots of options for food and entertainment while you await your flight. Since I fly cross-country and prefer direct flights, JFK normally supplies the highest volume of flights at the cheapest cost. JFK is substantially busier than its smaller Queens cousin LaGuardia, so when flying out of here, it’s essential to account for travel time, check-in, and security to avoid a nervous breakdown in one of the nation’s most high traffic airports. Also note: in cases of bad weather, smaller airports will experience cancellations first, which is where and international airport like this one comes in particularly handy. From Manhattan, JFK is highly accessible via public transportation. But wait! Be careful! The A train connects to the AirTran at JFK, but it’s essential to choose a Howard Beach-JFK bound or Far Rockaway bound A train, and not a Lefferts Boulevard bound train. Do not board a Lefferts Boulevard bound train. You will not make it to the AirTran, and you will be sad. However, if you have made this error, a connection to the Q10 bus is possible! The A train to the AirTran takes about an hour and ten minutes from Columbus Circle to your specific gate, and the fare for the subway and the AirTran comes to a combined total of $7.75. A cab to JFK from Manhattan will cost you around $60, but traffic at most times will make for a longer trip.

Newark Liberty Airport (Newark, NJ): 

Ideal Passenger: Long Distance Traveller

Newark Airport is located about 14 miles from Midtown Manhattan and claims the title as one of the oldest airports in the nation, and also the busiest in the NYC/NJ Metro Area. Be warned, this place is BIG, so make sure to leave enough time for yourself if you're ever trying to make a connecting flight elsewhere out of Newark, because if you have to change terminals, it will take some time. From Manhattan, Newark has easy access from the west side because of its proximity to New Jersey. However, when travelling back to Manhattan from Newark, be advised that New York City Yellow Cabs are not permitted to pick up, and therefore you will have to use a New Jersey cab as well as cover the charge of the toll to re-enter Manhattan. By public transit, the equation becomes pretty simple! From Penn Station, you can hop aboard a New Jersey Transit train for $12.50, which includes the cost of boarding the AirTran once you enter the airport’s radius. Be sure to ask at the window when the next departing train to Newark Airport is if you are not familiar with NJT’s system. Like JFK, Newark has a high volume of flights and extreme passenger traffic, so plan ahead.

All and all, you'll always be ready when you know what you're getting into! May your travels always be safe and stress free!

When Journalism and Theatre Collide

I am a very proud communications major (with a concentration in journalism) here at Fordham. I look forward to getting a job in the journalism field. In addition to my passion for news, I also have a passion for Broadway or anything theatre related at all. That’s why I was so quick to register for Fordham’s “Theatre Journalism” class this spring.

Theatre Journalism is by far my favorite class I have taken at Fordham so far. The class is at Lincoln Center and being a rose hill student, I do have to commute to class via ram van, but it is well worth it! The professor is Frank DiLella. He is the feature Theatre reporter for NY 1 in addition to hosting  the weekly television show On Stage Across America.  He is so knowledgeable because he is active in the communications field right now. He has structured the class in a very experiential way that helps us develop skills that we will be able to use in the future. Some of our assignments included writing TV news scripts and articles, creating publicity plans for Broadway shows, and writing Broadway reviews.   We have also had a ton of guest speakers including, Glenn Burger, co writer of Spiderman: Turn off the Dark and author of Song of Spiderman, and Paul Wontorek of Broadway.com.  But, I must admit my favorite class was when our professor took us to the NY1 studio and gave us a tour. We also had the privilege of talking to many people who also work at NY1 including, Roma Torre the midday anchor for the station

This is the Playbill for a show I saw for my theatre journalism class

What I love most about this class is that it has practical value. Instead of studying about the industry through textbooks, we are actually doing what we would be doing if we were Journalist. This hands on approach enables us to receive extremely valuable experience in an environment that fosters learning. I look forward to taking other communications courses in the future!

The Early Action Deadline is November 1st!

Colorful folders make organizing application material way more fun!

It's seems like just yesterday that I was completing my application for Fordham University...but it was actually 4 years ago! Yikes! Time really does fly by. So for all of you prospective students, relish every moment! For me, applying to college was the most exciting time of my high school career. Organizing and crafting every piece of my application was like putting one foot toward my future.
Now I am jumping toward my future by applying to graduate schools and fellowship opportunities for post-graduation!! This means writing another personal statement, and taking another standardized test, and making sure I get all my letters of recommendation. Fordham has been such a great help in getting me ready for grad school. I have taken practice free GRE tests rights on campus, and my advisors have been continuously critiquing my personal statement. While applications seems tedious now, I know that pursuing further education and fellowship experience will make me the ideal candidate for competitive job positions in the future. I hope to pursue an MA in Public Policy which will, hopefully, allow me to work within legislative government, or just let me leap right into the White House ;) Wish me luck! And good luck to prospective students! May the odds be every in your favor. 

Almost as daunting as the SAT!

Just a few reminders to myself.

THE EARLY ACTION DEADLINE FOR FORDHAM UNIVERSITY IS THIS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST! 

Completing your application for early action is a non-binding commitment, but a good way for the admissions staff to get a jump on holistically reviewing your material. It shows your interest in Fordham and allows for an early admission decision. You still have until May 1st, the national decision deadline, to make your final decision.

You can follow Fordham admissions on Instagram: @fordhamadmissions
and on Twitter: @fordham_admis
and don't forget to join Varsity Outreach: apps.varsityoutreach.com/fordham

These platforms will allow you to get the most up-to-date information on Fordham and the admissions process, as well as allow you to ask questions to current students!