Weekend Update: Thanksgiving Edition!

Michelle Datsur, FCRH '19:
"Last weekend my friends and I got together to have a thanksgiving of our own, aptly named “Friendsgiving”, before going home for the holiday. It was a potluck of various delicious foods ranging from cornbread to potatoes to spaghetti squash lasagna. One of our friends even bought a ham on Arthur Avenue, and it was delicious. We gathered around, talked, and watched old thanksgiving episodes of Friends. It was a really great way to relax for a few hours ahead of the business of the week and traveling home, and I hope we do it again next year! "

Connor Murray, FCRH '18:

"This Friday, I went ice skating in Bryant Park. Thanks to the Residence Hall Association, I was able to do this for free!

Connor Murray at Bryant Park

Katie Porter at Book of Mormon

Katie Porter, FCRH '19:

"This weekend, I attended Book of Mormon on Broadway for an RA program! Before the show, we participated in a discussion about religious satire and learned about Mormonism."

Luke Berman, FCRH '18: "Last weekend I went to see Fordham Experimental Theatre’s (FET) performance of Mercy Mercy Mercy, a student written and directed production in the intimate black box theater. FET allows students the opportunity to take on any theatrical position they may be interested, including but not limited to actor, writer, director, or stage hand!"

Weekend Update

Fun times hanging out with Roger Williams

Megan McLaughlin

This past weekend, I traveled to Rhode Island to present a paper at a history conference! I had a great time talking to other undergraduate and graduate history majors and finally found some other people as interested in early American trade as I am. Even better-- Fordham's undergraduate research program paid for my travel.

The University Orchestra is full of talented students

Kaitlyn McWha

This weekend I had the opportunity to go to the Fordham University Orchestra's winter concert. My friend is in the orchestra and plays the cello, so seeing her perform was a lot of fun. Fordham's music program has a lot of opportunities for anyone who sings or plays an instrument. I am so happy that I got to experience a part of Fordham's music program, and I will definitely continue to see more University concerts!

Claire McGonigle

This weekend, I mainly focused on finishing my schoolwork before Thanksgiving break. However, with the basketball season coming to a start, I took some time out of studying to go to the Women’s basketball game against Hofstra with some friends. Fordham won and it was a great night supporting our school and being with my friends!

The Rose Hill Gymnasium is a great place to catch a game

Escaping the City: A Daytrip to Breakneck Ridge

The variety of things to do, places to explore, and opportunities to take advantage of in New York City is truly astounding. Nevertheless, it is still a city, and cities (as densely populated areas with countless buildings as tall and far as the eye can see) categorically have certain limitations. Namely, nature and green space is conspicuously restricted. Although Fordham's Rose Hill campus achieves an impressive balance between grassy areas and the buildings they surround, I sometimes find myself craving an inversion of the urban landscape: nature as far as the eye can see interrupted only by the odd building or two, rather than the other way around.

Campus is even more beautiful in autumn.

To this end, my friends and I recently took a daytrip to go hiking. Although none of us have a car at school, there is a Metro North Railroad station just outside campus that enables practically door-to-door transportation to Breakneck Ridge, a mountain with a number of trails along the Hudson River in Cold Spring, NY.

Hiking at Breakneck is very popular with New Yorkers in the fall, so our train was standing-room only.

The train stop is about 300 feet from the entrance to the trail, which begins with a steep uphill climb. This ended up being the most challenging and tiring section of our hike, with some nearly-vertical sections that required minor bouldering. The effort was worth it though...

Looking south back towards NYC - over 50 miles away.

The view from the summit was astounding.

The view west across the Hudson. Hardly a cloud in the sky.

Although I'm originally from Massachusetts and very proud of New England's reputation for breathtaking vistas when the leaves begin to change color in the fall, I'll admit that I was impressed with the landscape at Breakneck.

A group of birds of prey circled nearby throughout the day.

The park offers a variety of terrain on several trails marked by colored tree markers along the way.

The U.S. Military Academy at West Point is just visible across the river from the southern end of the park.

We had packed lunches and ate on the mountain. Including breaks, our hike took about 5 hours from the time we got off the train until we reached the village of Cold Spring.

A great place to stop and take in the view.

After visiting the town of Cold Spring (where we each grabbed a well-deserved ice cream), we hopped back on the train and headed home.

There may not be any mountains, but Edwards Parade is still a great place to spend time outdoors.

Weekend Update

Beautiful decor in Ed's Chowder House

Caroline McCue

This weekend I made time to meet my grandparents in the city and meet them for lunch in Lincoln Center!  One of the best parts of Fordham is its proximity to Manhattan!  I hadn't seen my grandparents since Easter, so it was awesome to reunite with them!  We went to a great restaurant about 5 minutes away from the Lincoln Center campus called Ed's Chowder House.  It is on top of the Empire Hotel and is absolutely gorgeous!  Here, I had their signature clam chowder and a side Caesar salad.  Seafood always reminds me of my home of Massachusetts, so it was awesome to be able to catch up with them and have a taste of home at the same time.

A lovely night spent in Bryant Park

Allison Misciagno-Bergin

This weekend, it was my friend's birthday and we all went into the city for sushi. It was a nice break from the hectic pace of classes and internships before midterms began. We ended up getting some Ben and Jerry's and sitting in Bryant Park talking for a few hours. It was truly a beautiful sight with amazing friends. It's crazy to that that this park is only 20 minutes away by train from the comfort of my dorm room.

Looking forward to our production of Spamalot

Cerisse Gabion

This weekend was a theatrical one for me. I was recently cast in the ensemble for The Mimes and Mummer's production of Spamalot and we just had our first rehearsal and read-through on Saturday. It was an absolutely hilarious and fun-filled time and I am looking forward to working with my talented cast-mates to put on a great show in November! After that, I attended a Verbal Essences show, one of Fordham Experimental Theatre's umbrella clubs that focuses on Spoken Word performances. To have been in such an intimate environment like the Blackbox Theatre in Collins Hall and being able to listen to some of my peers pour out their emotions in beautiful poetry was a great way to end my Saturday.

Shannon Donovan

Great food, great location

This weekend I went home to spend Columbus Day with my family.  We went out to breakfast at the Irish Coffee Shop on McLean Avenue in Yonkers.  It was great to catch up with them and enjoy a delicious meal.  Just 10 minutes away from Fordham, this is one of the endless food options to explore here!

Caroline Dunn

Enjoyed a great meal and even better company at Dig Inn

I took advantage of Monday’s holiday and went home to Philadelphia for the weekend. I returned to NYC Monday afternoon just in time to meet up with my sister for lunch. She lives on the Upper East Side but works in finance about five blocks away from Grand Central. We tried a new restaurant called, Dig Inn Seasonal Market. Dig Inn is designed in a similar layout to Chipotle in which customers choose the individual components of their meal. The restaurant offers farmer-to-table options that are locally grown and serviced in house. Customers have the option of choosing which proteins they would like served on either a green, like arugula, or a grain, like brown rice. Meals also include a choice or two or three hot or cold sides. Dig Inn’s sides change seasonally, featuring spaghetti squash and pumpkin quinoa for the fall. With most meals costing just $10, Dig Inn is a quick, affordable and healthy spot to grab lunch while in the Grand Central area or near their eight other Manhattan locations.

A Rainy Saturday at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Rainy days at Fordham are the perfect time to travel into the city and take advantage of the wonderful museums. Today I went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art with a group of my friends. 

Since the Metro North has weekend city passes for $4, the transportation was cheap. Additionally, the Met has a recommended admission rate. This means guests are allowed to donate as much as they are able to. For poor college students who are on a low budget and are looking for something fun to do, this is a great opportunity!  

We walked around the Met and explored different exhibits. Every time I go to the Met I always discover a different section of artwork that I had not previously seen. Today I spent a lot of time looking at American Art because the last time I was there I focused on the Egyptian Art. 

One of my favorite exhibits is the large house with the many different rooms. It is always cool to see rooms decorated so nicely with antiques. 

 I love the Met because it has so much to see! 

Weekend Update

Hello everyone! This past weekend was a long one because it was extended with a snow day! There was plenty to keep us busy as the temperatures dipped and Super Bowl XLVIII took over New York City. Although the game was held at the MetLife Stadium in our neighboring state of New Jersey, the city was decked out with promotions and fun activities to take part in. Let's hear what a few of our ambassadors did this past weekend!

Erica Restaino

This weekend, I went night skiing at Mount Peter. It was actually a ton of fun, not too far from the city, and inexpensive.

Kristen Heffernan-Horner

Although none of us are exactly die hard football fans, my friends and I used the Super Bowl as an excuse to get together for some good food and good company. Trying our hand at culinary genius, we filled our stomachs with hot wings, chips and dip, and the occasional celery stick. Although the game turned out to be a general disappointment, there is no such thing as a dull moment when I’m with all my friends and a lot of food.

Shannon McKenna

This weekend, my friends and I decided to check out the Super Bowl Boulevard that spanned 13 blocks on Broadway in Manhattan. The whole street was transformed into a carnival-like celebration for the upcoming game. The boulevard had many booths with football-themed games and even a huge 180-foot long toboggan run!

And to report on our most recent snow storm, our campus has gotten a beautiful coating of white. It truly is a Winter Wonderland!

Tired of the City? Spend a Day at the Farm!

At Fordham, we always take advantage of our location. There are endless opportunities to explore in the city. However, if you're looking for a break from the concrete jungle, we also have some lovely landscape to enjoy nearby as well. Campus Activities Board, a student club on campus, plans fun events for students and is dedicated to providing us with a variety of activities for free or at a seriously reduced cost.

A couple of weekends ago, my friends enjoyed a day at Wilkens Farm, just a short bus ride away from Fordham in Yorktown Heights, NY. There, they have orchards for apple and pumpkin picking, a fantastic bakery (hello, apple cider donuts!), and tons of Instagram opportunties. Speaking of Instagram, check out our Instagram account @fordhamadmissions for updates on what our students are up to! Here are my friends enjoying everything fall has to offer!