A New York Experience

When I first came to New York, three years ago, I decided to explore everything in the city that was new to me. I started with a visit to the regular tourist attractions, walking in the streets and enjoying the breathtaking skyline. The "apple" was big and tasty, so I contacted the NYC Tourist Information Office and got a booklet filled with all the official events taking place in the city from film festivals in the park to the spectacular parades throughout the year. The information was free, the events were free and they even included maps and guidelines helping to plan and enjoy it all. However, speaking to the average YU/Stern student one may think that there is nothing more to this city than Dougie's (as if it's a tourist attraction that mustn't be missed) and that except for the movies, Broadway shows and museums, this city is either expensive, boring or dangerous. I am dead serious!

Expensive? Maybe. If shopping on Fifth Avenue is what you are into, you might find it slightly hard to raise enough money for a pair of shoes. But New-York has lots of things to offer even to "starving students" like ourselves. In a brochure entitled "Pressing the Right Buttons," I was amazed to find discount tickets to institutions such as the City Opera and Ballet (both $10 for orchestra seats), museums (every Tuesday they are free) and many others. I found department stores that sell designer clothing at half price (Century 21 at 22 Cortland St. is one of them) and nice supermarkets to shop at. I also found that a trip to the beach with the L.I.R.R. is not that expensive (Jones Beach and Fire Island are very interesting… You will never look at beaches the same way again).

Boring? I doubt it. No other city in the world has to offer so many things to do and so many rich cultural experiences. New York offers activities of all types and for all age groups. This city lives! There is more in this city than what some of you may think; feel fortunate for living in such a city. For those who got sick of the Dougie's an a movie routine, here are some things to do when you have some time to kill. It's all affordable.

Jekyll & Hyde, for example, is a very unique restaurant (Warning: the food is not kosher); but calling it only a restaurant would be a crime. The four levels of this restaurant/ bar/ social club are designed with themes from horror movies: a library, an old temple, laboratory and a torture chamber. The extremely entertaining experience inside is well worth the one-hour line outside. The skeleton is going to ask you how the food is while the eyes in the paintings on the wall are going to follow you around. Even just to get to the bathroom you'll have to find the secret passage (hint: try to push the book shelves). In addition, there are live performances in which a mad professor brings Frankenstein back to life. Diners are 'killed,' blood is everywhere, but is it the creature who escaped that does the killing or is it the mad professor himself? Spooky. The place is located at 6th Ave, between 57th and 58th St. (For info Call 1-800-992 HYDE).

Surprisingly, museums, too, have more to offer than just paintings and exhibitions. You can catch a late night 3-D Imax laser show, playing to the music of Metallica or Pink Floyd in (you'll never guess)… the Museum of Natural History (!) The show was originally held in the planetarium, which is going under major renovations, and therefore, it moved temporarily to the Imax theatre until the planetarium reopens (apparently in the year 2000). You might ask what hard rock has to do with museums, but then again it's art as well, isn't it?

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is an interactive movie/show/party in which live actors as well as the audience are an integral part of the experience while the movie plays on the screen. The "Rocky Horror phenomenon" began sometime in the seventies and it seems that it has been only growing since - every big city has a screening of "Rocky". In New York, there are screenings twice a week (Fridays and Saturdays at midnight) at the Village East Theater located on 2nd Ave. at 12th St. Don't forget to bring with you a roll of toilet paper, some rice, toasted bread, water guns, newspapers, and an umbrella (you'll understand when you are there). It's a lot of fun and even if you didn't bring the spirit of excitement with you, just being there will help you get into the right mood. However, this is not recommended for pregnant women, people with weak hearts, or those who are closed-minded.

And for those of you who's adrenaline doesn't let them sit in one place, I'll recommend one of the many dance clubs in which one could easily take a glance at a drag queen exchanging beauty tips with the girlfriend of the gay guy that lives across the street from the East Village weirdo that looks as if he had just come from a Star Trek production. Indeed, there is no one moment of rest in this city that never sleeps. Looking in the right places, though, is the key here. The New York Times, Time Out New York and The Village Voice can be a start, and as a service to you, fellow students, The Commentator is generous enough to publish articles like this. We will try to keep you updated.

Regarding the dangerous part, I couldn't have said that my New York experience was complete until I got mugged, this past week. The fact is, that being in this city and not having a gun stuck in your face is like going to Egypt and missing the pyramids, or not having an apple strudel in Vienna; can you imagine being to Amsterdam and not visiting one of the many 'coffee shops?' This is part of living here, part of our lives as New-Yorkers. If one is cautious, I'm sure he/she will survive even the most unpleasant events to check off their own New York experience.