Finding Cleveland in NYC

One of the main reasons I decided to attend Fordham was because of its prime location.  Living in NYC for the past three years has been an incredible experience, and I would not trade it for anything, but that doesn't mean I don't get homesick from time to time.  Because I'm from Cleveland, Ohio, I only get the chance to go home during longer school breaks, so I've found some in things in New York that remind me of back home.  

Luckily, Fordham has a way of bringing a bit of Cleveland to me here.  Last month I attended the Cultural Affairs Raffle.  These raffles happen each month, and students have the chance to purchase discounted tickets to events around the city, usually Broadway shows or sporting events.  When I went, I had the option of getting tickets to Finding Neverland, an opera, or a Brooklyn Nets game.  I chose the basketball game because the opponent for the night of the game was the Cleveland Cavaliers! I was so excited that I would get to cheer on my team even though I was 500 miles away from the Cavaliers' home court.  

Barclays Center where the Nets play 

Great seats for only $20

I was able to bring my friend to the game, and even though the Cavs couldn't manage a win that night, we still had a great time.  Getting to the Barclays Center was a simple as walking up Fordham Road and taking the 4 Train, and on the way back we took the D train and road back to campus from the subway station in the Fordham security shuttle that waits at the station for students every night. 

Trying to enjoy being a college student in NYC while maintaining a budget may seem like a daunting task, but Fordham works to give all students the opportunities to experience the best of what the city has to offer.  Each of the tickets I got for the game had a face value of $115 (yikes!) but I only had to pay $20 for each (score!).  As a Fordham student, I am able to take full advantage of living in NYC, and even though I miss Ohio at times, I can always find ways to bring a little bit of home here. 

The Cavs warming up

Time for tip-off

LeBron James shooting free throws  

All the world's a stage! Recent and Upcoming Productions at Fordham and in NYC!

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to be in the Mimes and Mummers first production of the semester, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead by Tom Stoppard. This show is an interesting take on Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Stoppard gives the audience a sort of “Behind the Scenes” look at the events of Hamlet through the eyes of two minor characters, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. I played the role of Ophelia in this production. The show was a huge success; we were even sold out on Thursday and Sunday!  

The poster for this production was made by the Mimes & Mummers' Vice President, James Demetriades, FCRH '14! 

The following Monday, I went to our monthly Campus Activities Board (CAB) raffle for events around New York City. At the raffle, you’re given one ticket with a number on it. It’s free to enter the raffle, and then if your number is called, you’re given the option to buy tickets to any of the available events for only $20! This month, the events were Phantom of the Opera, Sleep No More, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder and Aziz Ansari’s Madison Square Garden show. I lucked out this month, and my number was called! I chose tickets to Sleep No More, an interactive reimagining of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. My roommate and I are so excited to go later this month! 

Tickets for this show normally run upwards of $85; getting them for a fraction of that price is just one of the many perks of being a Fordham student!

To complete my week of theatre events at Fordham, on Wednesday I auditioned for Fordham Experimental Theatre’s Playwrights’ Festival. Every semester, students are invited to submit shows that they have written that are between 5 and 30 minutes long. The executive board of the club picks between 3 and 5 of them to be performed. I was fortunate enough to be cast in one of the shows, The Sweepstakes Redemption written and directed by Nick McNallen, FCRH ’16. The Playwrights’ Festival is one of my favorite events at Fordham, and I’m so excited to be a part of it this semester!

The poster for the Spring 2014 Playwrights' Festival; I was in Confessions by AJ Golio! 

10 Things To Do For Under $10

Worried that living in a city will be hard on your wallet? Here are a few activities that Fordham students can do for less than $10!

1. Support the Rams and head to a game!

All campus games are free for students to attend- football, basketball, baseball- you name it! Going to games is a fun way to take a break from schoolwork and support your fellow Rams. Very often there are free giveaways at games such as Fordham t-shirts, hats, and signs.

   2. Cappuccinos and cannolis on Arthur Avenue

A dessert date on Arthur Avenue is an inexpensive, fun, and delicious way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Grab a friend and head to Palumbo’s Bakery to receive 20% off your treat with your Fordham ID. Eighty-cent mini cannolis? Count me in!

3. Explore the New York Botanical Gardens

Open Tuesday through Sunday, the Botanical Gardens offer free entrance to all Fordham Students. Located right across from Fordham’s Rose Hill campus entrance, the Botanical Gardens is a great place to go for a walk with friends or take an afternoon jog.

4. Go to the zoo! (On Wednesdays)

Every Wednesday, the iconic Bronx Zoo is open to the public free of charge (although donations are much appreciated). Take a walk with some friends to see all the animals and be careful to watch out for wandering peacocks.

    5. Experience Central Park

A couple minutes walk from the Lincoln Center campus, Central Park is perfect for playing ball, having a catch, or going for a run or walk with friends. Hop on the Ram Van for only $3 and you are just blocks away from 843 acres of beautiful greens, ponds, and paths.

6. Take an exercise class

The Ram Fit Center offers free exercise classes for all students Monday through Friday- including spin, yoga, strength, conditioning, and dance classes. No signups are necessary and classes are fun, encouraging, and taught by certified instructors. This semester’s class schedule can be found online here.

    7. Go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the AmericanMuseum of Natural History (or both!)

Take a $2.50 subway ride to Manhattan and check out two of New York’s most famous museums. Both museums have suggested admission rates, but have a “pay what you want policy”. Toss in a $5 donation and explore centuries of art and American history.

8. Play squash

Rainy day? Make use of Fordham’s Squash facilities by heading to the Lombardi center and request a couple balls and rackets for a game of squash with friends all free of charge. Bring a bathing suit and hop in the pool to cool off after your game.

9. Order tacos!

Estellita's chicken fajitas and guacamole 

Order $2 tacos for delivery from the Fordham student favorite restaurant Estrellita’s on Arthur Avenue. Add in an order of fresh homemade guacamole and chips for an inexpensive break from campus food. Hmmm hmmm hmmm good. 

10. Follow and like Campus Activities Board (CAB)

Stay up to date on campus happenings by following CAB on Twitter and liking them on Facebook. The student run club is always hosting various free or minimal cost events open to all Fordham Students. Movies are played on a weekly basis in Keating’s largest auditorium and Broadway tickets are raffled off each month. CAB also hosts fun events such as Bingo nights, comedy shows, and even trips to the Empire State Building.

The moral of the story is you do not have to bust your wallet to have fun and eat well as a Fordham student in New York City! Both the city and Fordham offer many activities for students of all interests. Tomorrow, for example, I am going to sign up with free Yankee game tickets through CAB!  

December Preview

December at Fordham can be short and quick – with just a week left of classes, two reading days, and then finals.  But that doesn’t mean that Fordham shuts down for the month.  Not only is the campus beautifully decorated for the season, but also in between studying, writing papers, and packing for the long winter break, students still take time to enjoy themselves with fun campus activities. Every year, the Campus Activity Board (CAB), the club responsible for planning fun events for students on campus, has a Holiday Week. Every day of the week there is another CAB-sponsored activity to get everyone into the holiday spirit.  Some events include a Cultural Affairs Christmas Ticket Raffle, in which students can win $20 tickets for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular or for The Nutcracker, a Holiday Fair, a viewing of the holiday-classic Elf, gingerbread house making, and a trip to go ice skating at Bryant Park.

Another annual tradition is the Peer Educators’ Holiday Scavenger Hunt.  This is a fun event where you and a team of friends are given a list of tasks and clues (related to the holidays) that you must complete or find in the Lincoln Center area.  Prizes are awarded and hot chocolate is given out! A Senior Night is also scheduled for this month.  Senior Nights are themed dance parties, only open to seniors at the Rose Hill campus.  This month, the theme is Santa’s Workshop (I’ll be dressing as an elf!)

This month is also an exciting month for sports at Fordham.  After winning our first ever NCAA FCS home playoff game versus Sacred Heart University 37-27, Fordham’s record-breaking football team travels to Towson University in Maryland next Saturday for the next round of the playoffs.  On the same day, our men’s basketball team plays St. John’s University during the 2013 MSG Holiday Festival at Madison Square Garden.

Of course, many more activities will be going on at Fordham this month, but these are a few of the things I’m looking forward to this December!