Weekend Romp
what to do when your sister comes to town
PrintOne of the best and worst things about going to school in the city is the constant barrage of visitors, all expecting to be entertained and dazzled by the Big Apple. Last Friday, my twin sister decided to take an impromptu trip to visit for the weekend, and though of course I was excited to see her, I had no idea what to do with her. How could I avoid the tourist traps while sticking to a college student budget? With the help of some internet research and some quick thinking on my feet, here’s what I came up with for a weekend of fun, cheap, New York City activities that didn’t turn my world upside down.
Friday
My sister got in on Friday evening, and after settling in we headed downtown to Momofuku Noodle Bar for dinner. The Noodle Bar is the budget restaurant of famous NYC chef, David Chang, offering delicious $12 ramen and soju slushie cocktails. The best part? The Milk Bar just around the corner, home of Chang’s famous cereal milk and compost cookies. From there, we met friends and went to Fish Bar, a tacky dive bar on 5th street between 2nd Ave and Cooper Square complete with fish artwork and $4 beers.
Saturday
We woke up late and went MoMA to see the Tim Burton exhibit. After the museum we took a short subway trip to St. Mark’s for free yoga at Yoga to the People. Saturday night, we had a potluck at my suite and then took a trip to the Jersey Shore at AEPi. A free day in New York City, excluding the cost of hair gel.
Sunday
We went to brunch at Amy Ruth’s in Harlem for their famous chicken and waffles. Just a short walk from Columbia’s campus, this Harlem favorite is a neighborhood fixture with good home cooking and a friendly atmosphere. The stroll also offered the opportunity to see all of the beautiful architecture in the neighborhood. After that, we went to the Studio Museum in Harlem, which is free on Sundays. When my sister left for Penn Station that afternoon, she felt like she’d had a taste of the real New York, without hurting her pocket. As it turns out, the real New York tastes like chicken… and waffles.
4 February 2010
vol. 8, issue 2
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