 "Photo: Craig Calefate/The Observer")
Have you ever waited in line at a club for half an hour just to be turned away when you flash your fake ID? What about all of those times you’ve snuck into bars just to get a suspicious glare from the bartender when you order a drink? Just because you’re not 21 years old yet doesn’t mean you can’t plan for an exciting weekend in the city. Instead of paying for a fake ID or going to the same lenient bars that don’t card every weekend, students at Fordham College at Lincoln Center (FCLC) have some other fun options.
Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge is an exciting and beautiful trip within itself. But with a famous pizzeria at the other end, you might have even more of an incentive to make the journey. Grimaldi’s Pizzeria (19 Old Fulton St. under the Brooklyn Bridge, 718-858-4300) is known for its famous brick oven-baked pizza. They’re open until 11:45 p.m. on the weekends so you can grab a few friends, walk over the bridge and feast at one of Brooklyn’s finest pizzerias.
Bowling. Rock climbing. Skating. Hockey. Golf. Batting cages. Do these activities sound appealing? Well those of you worried that you’ll have to travel all over New York City to find them will be pleasantly surprised that they are all offered at one locale: Chelsea Piers. Located between Piers 59 & 62 at 23rd Street, Chelsea Piers has something for everyone. A group of friends can work up an appetite with all of these physical activities and then enjoy dinner at one of the cafes or restaurants.
If you’re looking to relax after a long week of classes, the Circle Line cruises are an ideal way to unwind and take in the scenery of NYC. The Circle Line offers a two hour Harbor Lights Cruise which allows you to watch the city light up at night from one of their comfortable boats. The boats leave from Pier 83 at West 42nd Street and tickets are priced at $30. This could be the perfect end to a romantic date or just a fun trip to make with your friends after dinner.
The Fat Cat Jazz Club is a great spot in the city to hang out with friends. At the mention of the word “club, ” students automatically whip out their fake IDs, but the Fat Cat is actually 18 and up, so no worries! The list of things to do at this underground retreat is endless. On top of having live jazz performances every night of the week, you can play pool, ping-pong, shuffle board, foosball, checkers, scrabble, backgammon and chess. The board games are one dollar per player, while the pool tables, ping pong and foosball tables are six dollars an hour per person on the weekends. The Fat Cat offers inexpensive fun with games, couches and live jazz music... and you’ll especially enjoy the stress free admittance with your real ID!
Can’t bar hop? No problem. Try cupcake hopping. Get a group of your friends together (remind them to bring their appetites) and hit up some of the best cupcake spots in the city. Start off at Crumbs Bake Shop over at 321 Amsterdam Ave. After that, you should head over to Buttercup Bake Shop at 141 W. 72nd Street. Finish off your cupcake adventure at Magnolia Bakery which is located at 200 Columbus Ave. Believe me, you’ll be stuffed, but the sugar rush you get after this trip will be more fun than any high an alcoholic drink could induce.
Do you enjoy poetry? The Bowery Poetry Club (308 Bowery between Houston and Bleecker) is a sort of mecca for all poets, writers and anyone looking for an enjoyable evening of listening to live performances. Not to mention that the Bowery Poetry Club also makes a really great cup of coffee. You can take your friends (English majors preferred) and enjoy a few poetry readings in the dimly lit back room of the club while sipping on your coffee ($2) or munching on a burger ($4) and fries ($3). Depending on what event or reading you’re attending, admittance prices range from free to approximately $10. You can visit their Web site, www.bowerypoetry.com for more info.
As you can see, there are a number of other options to keep you entertained in the city before you turn 21. So leave the fake ID at home and take advantage of being underage!
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