You're not too old to celebrate Pi Day

Staying in the city for your school’s break? Visiting for the week? Check out Inside New York‘s editors’ picks for the best events happening this week:

Monday, March 12

Open Mic Monday @ Nuyorican Poets Cafe
Participate or just join the enthusiastic office at one of NYC’s most loved and best known poetry slams!
236 East 3rd Street Between Ave B & C , F to 2nd Ave, 9pm

Tuesday, March 13

Yoga and Meditation -FREE
Siddha Yoga and Meditation holds a weekly sessions called a “satsang” where the emphasis on meditation rather than physical exercise. What better time to center yourself than spring break?
Siddha Yoga and Mediation, 230 W 29 st, Tuesdays 7:00-8:30 pm, subway: 6 to 28th st.

Speaking For Myself- A new film directed by Bert Shapiro
Against a background of “unseen” Manhattan, Speaking for Myself tells the inspiring story of eight contemporary artists living in New York City. Speaking for Myself pulls back the curtain so that we see the world through the artist’s eyes, their passions, inspirations, hard work and persistence. A uniquely fascinating and motivating journey. Featuring a dancer, a concert pianist, an actress, a Noh performer, a multi-instrumentalist, a tabla virtuoso, an organist and a singing poet. This very personal film focuses on the work and passions of these varied performing artists. Artists from the film, as well as the film’s director will be on hand to answer questions.
32 Second Ave & 2nd St, 6pm, $6

There’s pie if you click here

Thanksgiving means getting out of the city while literally a bajillion other people are trying to do the same thing! It’s not as bad as the zombie apocalypse, but still. It’s gonna suck. Fortunately, old man Bwog has been flying the friendly skies/riding the rails/cruising down the open road to get outta here for many a holiday season. Find out how to skip town like a pro, below. And don’t forget to charge your gadgets.

Unfortunately, this airline doesn't offer online check-in.

Planes

• Before you leave, check if your airline offers online check-in. This service allows you to check in to your flight before you even arrive at the airport. Most major airlines, including  United,  Continental,  Jetblue, US Airways, Southwest, Delta, American Airlines, Air Canada, and British Airways offer this useful service.
• Early morning flight? Bring your own snack, because Au Bon Pain won’t be open yet.
• To get to the LGA by bus, you can take the M60 for only $2.25—but expect lots of humans and travel time, so bring a book and leave at least an hour-and-a-half before your flight time. Bonus: there are luggage racks!
• You can swiftly reach JFK by taking the E to AirTrain, a monorail that drops you off right at your terminal. Be sure your MetroCard has $7.25, though, cause AirTrain is $5. Supply and demand, you know how it is.
• If you want to travel by cab but don’t want to take too big a hit to your wallet, use ESC’s service Carsplit. You share a cab with other Columbians headed to LGA, JFK, or EWR who need to arrive at the same time. And maybe you’ll make a friend!
• If you’re flying out of Newark, shun the GWB, and take NJ Transit from Penn Station to Newark AirTrain.
• To avoid being that pesky person who takes forever at security, wear comfy moccasins or other shoes you can slip right on and off.

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Keep your eyes open for the September issue of The Blue & White, coming soon to campus. Until then, Bwog will honor our heritage/amorous affair with our mother magazine by posting highlights of the upcoming issue online. Among the treats to look forward to: a litany of bizarre and outdated freshman hazing rituals, a conversation with a luminary on DIY education, and a (half-fictional) account of romance in the John Jay dining hall. This month, staff writer Lily Icangelo gives you a few reasons to visit local business Columbians often overlook.

Illustration by Sevan Gatsby

I was told there would be a cat. After asking a few friends if any of them had ever stepped inside Possibilities @ Columbia—one of those places that seems to exist as just a sign and a window-front, not an actual store—only one of them replied that she had. She told me that she visits that shop on Broadway between 111th and 112th streets once in a while to see the cat and the slew of young children that often roam the store. College students will do just about anything to see cute animals, toddlers included.

Columbia has a habit of trapping its students in a vortex of never ending work, constant motion, and rollercoaster-like emotions. Such extremes make it easy to forget not only that there is a world outside Columbia, but that world exists along the same streets we consider part of our campus. Though we make use of a number of local eateries and shops, we pass many storefronts every day without actually walking through their front doors.

Although my friend had shone a small light on the atmosphere of Possibilities @ Columbia, what the store actually sold was still a mystery (adorable animals and tiny toddlers perhaps? One can only hope). So instead of walking past that obscure store with the @ sign in its title as I have so mindlessly done for the past two years, I decided to actually walk in. (more…)

This weekend, America is turning 232, making it just slightly older than the Columbia College website. Traditionally, Americans celebrate their country’s birthday by cooking meat on grills outdoors and then watching fireworks. For this week’s Guide to the Weekend, we’ve consolidated a few events that will give you the opportunity to do just that.

Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular; 9PM

Prime Viewing Spots: Manhattan: East River Park, South Street Seaport, FDR Drive between 14th and 42nd Streets; Brooklyn: Greenpoint, Empire Fulton Derry State Park (in DUMBO), Brooklyn Heights Promenade

Brooklyn Independence Day Parade; Between 66th and 86th Streets on 13th Ave in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn

Head to 66th Street in Dyker Height’s for the 103rd Annual Independence Day Parade! Who knew Brooklyn had a 66th Street?  Featuring classic parade staples like floats and veteran marching bands.

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Bwog’s Jessica Cohen guest hosts this week’s almost all-free guide.

Monday, July 30, 2007

Bryant Park Monday Movie

5:00pm (FREE)

All The King’s Men (1949) is on tonight.  Don’t confuse it with this one, please.

Whole Foods Market – Salami Tasting, Gourmand Conversation

7:00pm ($15)

You’re secretly or not-obsessed with salami and want moral support.  For real – the people at this Whole Foods know what they’re talking about.  Also, an alternative dating locale?

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Reading and Discussion at The Strand Bookstore

7:00-8:30pm (FREE)

Wrap your head around the Dover, PA trial on teaching intelligent design in schools with Gordy Slack, Matthew Chapman and Laurie Goodstein.  It’s another Summer for the Gods.

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Now that you’ve (hopefully) emerged from the Deathly Hallows, here are our picks of the week to keep you entertained, courtesy of Bwog scheduler Stephanie Quan.

IT IS RESTAURANT WEEK!!!!

Monday, July 23rd

* Boyz II Men – does anybody remember On Bended Knee? and I’ll Make Love to You?  Wingate Field, 7:30pm

* Lawn Party – the less pretentious version of Princeton’s famous spring flings. Rockefeller Center, 11am

* Ghostface Killah – free, seriously. Highline Ballroom, 10pm



Tuesday July 24^th

* Odette Magritte – something to brighten your day. Clinton Cove at 55th Street, 6pm

True Stories Tuesdays with Master Lee – safe space to perform and tell stories, for 8 minutes. Mug Lounge, 8pm, $3

The Nightshade Family/Alice in War/Blueprint/Minor Gods – Wonderland never looked so good. For decent prices, come watch plays that range in topic from student/teacher relationships to secret worlds on the other side of the basement wall, part of SPF 2007, these shows will run all week. See here for locations, times, and prices.

The One-Hour Armchair Walking Tour – James Kaplan talks about the high points of his four hour ramble through historic Lower Manhattan (aka. The All-Night Walking Tour on July 4^th), Fraunces Tavern Museum , 12:30, free with museum admission

Also – the Plain White T’s visit TODAY studios, if you want, you could be one of those fans pressed up against the glass for free, Rockefeller Plaza 7am (more…)

Bwog scheduler Stephanie Quan is back with your agenda for the week. As usual, * denotes free.

Monday, July 16^th

The Decemberists, Grizzly Bear, Land of Talk – Green screen challenge anyone? This Central Park Summerstage concert is not free. However, it is free to sit outside the concert area and listen while picnicking. Central Park Summerstage, 6:30pm, $35

Ben Jelen- His version of wicked little town is wicked good. Bowery Ballroom, 7pm, $15

*Makoto Nakura – touring the world with his Marimba. Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts at Pace University, 7:30pm

*Lap Swimming – to promote adult swim, the city department of parks and recreation is opening up pools for free. Bonus: if you swim 25+ miles by the end of the summer, you get a t-shirt. Locations, M-F 7-8:30am 7-8:30pm

Tuesday, July 17^th

*NY Philharmonic Concert in the Parks: Central Park- This time they’re bringing fireworks! Be sure to get there early. Great Lawn, 8pm.

*Marc Ribot: Musical Portraits- the three sides of this guitar virtuoso. World Financial Center Plaza, 7pm

*Breakdancing- free classes with Harlem One Stop. Highbridge Recreation Center, 6pm

*Beatrix Ost and Robert Thurman discussion- “Beatrix Ost will discuss her first book, My Father’s House: A Childhood in Wartime Bavaria with her friend Robert Thurman, President of Tibet House, Professor at Columbia University”
The Strand, 7pm (more…)

Summer is slipping by much too fast. Stephanie Quan continues to give you a list of things to make your time pass even faster.

UPDATED 3:55 PM EST

Monday, July 9

*MC Hammer, Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, MC Lyte- So close, you can touch him. Do dododo da dum da dum. Wingate Field, 7:30pm  

*Wait Until Dark- One of Audrey’s lesser known films. She plays a “blind heroine-in-distress terrorized by thugs in her Greenwich Village apartment”. Bryant Park, 8pm

*Dancing Under the Stars- Free dance lessons, if you’re willing to travel to Queens after work. Wallenberg Square, 6pm 

Tuesday, July 10

*Manhattan School of Music Presents Classic Kids- Watch young virtuosi outdo you in every instrument you thought you were good at. Bryant Park, 12:30pm

*Word for Word Poetry- The Academy of American Poets presents up and coming poets and their work. Bryant Park, 6:30pm

*Concerts in the Parks- The NY Philharmonic begins its New York series in Brooklyn this night. Pieces include Berlioz: Le Corsaire Overture Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6, “Pathétique.” Prospect Park, 8pm. (more…)

Part of an ongoing series in which Bwog takes you to the less traveled corners of our metropolis (less traveled by CU students, anyway).

Remember Francie Nolan, the young protagonist of Betty Smith’s A Tree Grows in Brooklyn? She was thrifty and imaginative, a voracious reader, nimble with her hands. She worked her little Irish heart out to triumph over the filthy, crowded squalor of her neighborhood, Williamsburg.

If only Betty Smith had the chance to rewrite her novel for the 21st century. Francie would persevere over a boring suburban existence, eventually arriving at a warehouse loft on North 10th. She’d cut her bangs sideways and strut down Bedford in a pair of American Apparel leggings. She’d join an artist collective and smoke clove cigarettes, rolling her eyes at the trust-fund babies who wear thrift to look chic.

Williamsburg is no longer up-and coming. It’s come. Which means there isn’t much time to explore this eclectic neighborhood of performance art warehouses, restaurants, bars, cafes, and clubs on the L line, before the invasive Starbucks and Duane Reades strangle the native fauna.

Williamsburg proper can be found at the first stop into Brooklyn on the L (four stops from Union Square). Each additional stop on the L from Manhattan butts further into “old-school” Brooklyn – the Hasidic, Italian, and Hispanic neighborhoods more reminiscent of Francie Nolan’s old hood. But push a little further, and almost-hot Bushwick (called Wushwick by real-estate junkies eager to capture the cache of its uber-trendy neighbor) will put you back in hipster territory.

Places to check out, and a map to get you there, after the jump.

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Part of an ongoing series in which Bwog takes you to the less traveled corners of our metropolis.

Park Slope: where baby strollers outnumber cars, Starbucks and Ozzie’s Coffee shop co-exist in peaceful latte-chugging harmony, and human-scale Victorian row houses frame Brooklyn’s man-made forest, Prospect Park. In this neighborhood off the B, Q, 2/3, R, and F trains, you’re vegan until proven otherwise, and you’re either pregnant or planning to take paternal leave. Instead of lemonade stands on its tree-lined streets, Park Slope has savvy and precocious twelve-year-olds selling panino to passersby while strumming their sitars.

The neighborhood is expanding fast, as it accepts increasingly richer Manhattanites – recently graduated, corporate-by-day, hipster-by-night types, but also do-gooder non-for-profit freelancers. Park Slope plays host to young writers, (Jonathan Safran Foer lives somewhere on Second Street) and movie actors (Jennifer Connolly, Steve Buscemi). The night life on Fifth Avenue rivals whatever the overpriced Village has to offer.

Find out where to catch some of the city’s best free concerts and where to get designer ice cream after the jump. (more…)

Hey you, with the pallid skin! You could wait for Columbia to bring the sunshine to you with a cheesy Coney Island-themed event. Or you could go hang out at the real thing, as Bwog did one lovely Friday afternoon. Brighton Beach welcomes thousands of urban refugees every summer with miles of umbrella-freckled sand and a calm surf that washes away stress and the sweat of the city.

Of course, Brooklyn’s south shore offers much more than a place to tan your hide. Coney Island itself is worth at least look-see during your time at Columbia, offering a bunch of free concerts and a touch of the bizarre. Plus, the neighborhood Brighton Beach contains possibly the best little Russia this side of the Ural mountains–you really owe it to yourself to throw down a towel and soak in the rich confluence of Slavic and Brooklyn accents as you slurp a fudgsicle.

If you go: Pack your sunscreen and take the 1 downtown to 42nd street, where you’ll transfer to the Brooklyn-bound (not Queens-bound) Q. Get off at Brighton Beach and follow signs to the boardwalk. Coney Island is farther west.