For an unusual break, take a bite out of the Big Apple
By Kathy Paton Special to the Kansan
"Been there, done that" when it comes to finding a Spring Break destination? Just want to get away from the crazy beach scenes and the over-crowded ski slopes?
With only three days advance purchase, $201 will get you a round trip ticket to New York City, which is often overlooked by spring-breakers. Spring Break in the Big Apple can be a unique and exciting vacation alternative.
Don't let the vastness of the city overwhelm you. The city comprises five boroughs: Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, Staten Island and Manhattan. Manhattan is broken down into 20 districts.
route. The main routes for Manhattan are the Seventh Avenue line, the Broadway line, the Eighth Avenue line and the Flushing line.
Venture into the less well-known areas of Manhattan. Wandering around the Statue of Liberty and the World Trade Center puts a bright red "tourist" stamp on your forehead, and that will only mean trouble for you.
If you want to do those tourist things like the Empire State Building, don't put a camera around your neck and don't pull out your street map at every corner. If you look and act like a tourist, you will be charged double, and sometimes triple, the normal cost of food, merchandise and services.
For college students, the real action can be found in the southern Manhattan districts of TriBeCa ("Triangle Below Canal Street"), SoHo ("South of Houston", pronounced HOW-ston), Greenwich Village, Chelsea and Gramercy Park.
Source: New York Transit Authority and the Metropolitan Transit Authority
Finding your way through the subway system can be quite confusing because the locals have unofficial names for each
If you're on a tight budget, stay at the residence halls at New York University. The university has standard rooms similar to the ones at the University of Kansas. However, there are rooms with private baths and kitchenettes much like small studio apartments. NYU is in the heart of the Village and is central to the primary districts. Rates start at $105 a week for a single, $210 for a triple and $260 for a double.
Dave Campbell / KANSAN
If you would rather stay away from the residence halls, the Carlton Arms Hotel on East 25th Street is the funkiest hotel in Manhattan. Each room has been designed by a different avant-garde artist. The staff is just as eclectic as the rooms. The manager wears a pin that says "I'd rather be sculpting." With a student ID, a double room with private bath is $59 a night, and a triple room with private bath is $69 a night.
The best and least expensive places to eat are in SoHo and the Village. Walk around and take a look at the various ethnic restaurants. The greatest places tend to look like a hole in the wall, so don't let appearances fool you.
For daytime activities, browse around the SoHo art galleries and street vendor carts. SoHo has some terrific artwork, and some can be purchased for almost nothing.
The Village also has numerous street vendors and specialty shops to browse through. Street musicians can be found on every corner.
For nightlife, the New York dance club circuit is an unrivaled institution. The
crowd is uninhibited, the music unparalleled and the fun unlimited—as long as you uncover the right places.
Go after 11 p.m. Things don't really get going until 1 or 2 a.m. Most clubs stay open until 4 or 5 a.m., and some until 6 a.m.
The best dance club is The Building, 51 W. 26th St., in Gramercy Park. It's open Thursday through Sunday, from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m.
The city's home-grown bands include DNA, Pavement, and The Jumpers, all of which are considered "underground" bands.
You'll find these types of bands at CBG-B's, 313 Bowery at Bleeker Street, in the Village. The crowd can get wild at times, so make sure you know how to mosh. Shows
start at about 8 p.m., and the cover charge ranges from $5 to $10.
The Wetlands Preserve, 161 Hudson St., in TriBeCa is also a great place to hear some bands; it's a favorite among locals. The decor is reminiscent of the Woodstock years. Shows start nightly after 9:30 p.m., and the cover charge ranges from $5 to $10 with no drink minimum.
Your best bet for great nightlife action is the Village, especially around Bleeker Street. You'll find the crowd friendly (well, for New Yorkers anyway) and fun. Remember, blending in is important.
Kathy Paton lived in two suburbs north of New York City for 10 years.
March 16, 1994 THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN • PRING BREAK
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