joedf wrote:Haha brilliant, thank you. What kind of lunch events are they, and are they often networking-type things? Also - 'cause it can't hurt to ask - is it often pizza?
On a (slightly!) related note, what are some great go-to places to eat (on the cheaper side) in the Columbia area, or even in the city? I'm planning on cooking most meals, but I can't do it all the time!
There's a huge range: a lot of organizations (like FedSoc) put on debates on various subjects (e.g., constitutionality of Affordable Care Act, stop-and-frisk, Epstein v. Wu duel on IP). You also see lecture + Q&A sessions (e.g., judges). And, finally panels (e.g., the Columbia Business and Law Association brings in partners/associates from the big firms in NY to discuss PE, M&A, etc).
Sometimes there will also be dinners (e.g., Skadden came to talk about their 1L diversity program). I didn't notice much by way of networking [per se], but then again my main focus was getting free food (have to be quick about it since the lines fill up quickly).
I probably ate pizza 2-3 times a week
It's not the greatest pizza, but free lunch is free lunch. Sandwiches/box lunches are the other incredibly common meal. Sometimes groups will go exotic and bring in BBQ, Roti Roll, etc.
Honestly, I'm probably not the person to ask for this. I just use Yelp when I want to find places to eat, but my usual routine is: free lunch from the law school --> make a sandwich + eat fruits/snacks at home during the evening. There are a range of OK to good options in MH (e.g., Jin Ramen on 125th and Broadway is excellent, if a little pricey) but it doesn't offer a ton of diversity. If you're willing to take the train, then there are certainly loads of cheap options Midtown and Downtown . . . but that requires $2.50 fare each way (NB: fare hike starting March, it's currently $2.25), or alternatively, a purchase of the monthly pass for $120-odd (I can't recall how many rides it takes for this to become the economically sound call, but it's probably around 45-50). I do, however, shop at Trader Joes on 72d street (quick hop on the 1 train). I know a handful of people who like to shop at Fairway in Harlem, but I didn't find their prices to be particularly good.