. Forum

[of Benito Cereno]

Do y'all know anyone who has lived in The Arbor? I'll be living with a SO and we both like the idea of having a gym in the building, more space, big kitchen, etc. Plus it's much cheaper than Lenfest or Lionsgate. However the distance is obviously less convenient.

How much cheaper is it? I can't find any rent information. Also, do you know how much they charge for parking?

I don't know how much they charge for parking, but we were told it would be between $1600-1800 for a ~1000 sq ft one bedroom with a large kitchen and living room. That's compared to like a 500 sq ft studio being between 1800-2100 or so at Lenfest I think.

yes but where exactly would you plan on parking neat cls?

[viking138]

I don't know how much they charge for parking, but we were told it would be between $1600-1800 for a ~1000 sq ft one bedroom with a large kitchen and living room. That's compared to like a 500 sq ft studio being between 1800-2100 or so at Lenfest I think.

yes but where exactly would you plan on parking neat cls?

Very good point. I don't have a car and would be relying on the shuttle so it's not important to me. However I'm pretty sure you can pay for some sort of parking in the Morningside Heights area since there are a lot of professors and administrators who commute every day. It could get expensive though (I'd guess $100+ per month).

[Tofu]

how often do you cls students get down to the LES to eat here:
http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/04/hot- ... m-nyc.html

?

I saw that and just thought, "heart attack"

[of Benito Cereno]

how often do you cls students get down to the LES to eat here:
http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/04/hot- ... m-nyc.html

?

I saw that and just thought, "heart attack"

between 20th and 10th on the east side you'll find thousands of extremely skinny people eating gourmet cholesterol-bombs. best part of new york.

[toaster2]

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[Tofu]

how often do you cls students get down to the LES to eat here:
http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/04/hot- ... m-nyc.html

?

I saw that and just thought, "heart attack"

between 20th and 10th on the east side you'll find thousands of extremely skinny people eating gourmet cholesterol-bombs. best part of new york.

i'm excited about finding and trying out all these nyc restaurants through yelp haha

i'll probably try Dogmatic sometime, even though those pictures scare me

[imchuckbass58]

However I'm pretty sure you can pay for some sort of parking in the Morningside Heights area since there are a lot of professors and administrators who commute every day. It could get expensive though (I'd guess $100+ per month).

monthly parking in nyc (even morningside heights) is much, much more than $100/month. if you want to park, you'll be parking on the street (free). do not plan on having a car if you live in manhattan!

Monthly parking in morningside height is easily upwards of $300/month, and I imagine in Riverdale it's probably still $200/month at least. It's theoretically possible to park on the street, but 1) you will spend lots of time circling looking for parking every day, and 2) many spots are metered.

Most professors and admins either live in Morningside Heights or take mass transit.

[of Benito Cereno]

However I'm pretty sure you can pay for some sort of parking in the Morningside Heights area since there are a lot of professors and administrators who commute every day. It could get expensive though (I'd guess $100+ per month).

monthly parking in nyc (even morningside heights) is much, much more than $100/month. if you want to park, you'll be parking on the street (free). do not plan on having a car if you live in manhattan!

Monthly parking in morningside height is easily upwards of $300/month, and I imagine in Riverdale it's probably still $200/month at least. It's theoretically possible to park on the street, but 1) you will spend lots of time circling looking for parking every day, and 2) many spots are metered.

Most professors and admins either live in Morningside Heights or take mass transit.

http://facilities.columbia.edu/overview-3:

Commuter Parking
Full-time Columbia faculty, adjunct Columbia faculty and administrators Grade 14 and above who reside outside Manhattan are eligible for University commuter parking.

Parking for Columbia Students
Parking is not available for Columbia students except those attending evening classes. For an application, click here.

Parking is available in private (commercial) garages in the Morningside Heights campus vicinity. For a list of garages, click here: (site offline).

[Series70]

I am headed to Dogmatic as soon as I can (thanks for the link!)

On the topic of food, my favorite places near Columbia are Massawa (http://www.massawanyc.com/), Bombay Frankie (http://www.bombayfrankie.com/), Thai Market (http://www.yelp.com/biz/thai-market-new-york), and Saji's (http://www.yelp.com/biz/sajis-new-york). Massawa is an AMAZING Ethiopian place, but is way outside my budget, so it's best for special occasions. Bombay Frankie is good for take-out lunch/dinner (especially if you bring a friend, that way you can get 2 rotis for a better price), while Thai Market's delicious lunch specials make it worth the trip 10 blocks south of campus. Saji's used to be incredible, and although the quality has slipped in recent years, it's still good Japanese food at a good price (best for take-out, as the hole in the wall has about 6 cramped seats).

Also, West Place (on Amsterdam past 123rd) has $6 lunch specials, where you get to pick 3 dishes plus rice and either soup/soda. Just follow the parade of Chinese students heading out from the science departments around lunch-time. You can make it as healthy or unhealthy as you like, as they have sauteed bock choi and tofu dishes in addition to the standard American-Chinese fare.

Sun-Chan (http://www.yelp.com/biz/sun-chan-japane ... t-new-york) is a decent, authentic Japanese place, too, but a bit expensive. Good when you want to go to dinner with friends but don't feel like taking the subway.

For quick, generic lunches, I also go to Che Bella for Pizza etc. and M2M Asian grocery store for their (non-Asian) lunch counter. For $5 you can get things like roast turkey and mashed potatoes or rice, with extras (plantains, avocado) only 50 cents each. (Construction workers usually eat it all up by 12:30, though, so you need to get there early.)

Morningisde Heights is pretty weak as far as food is concerned, but you can certainly make do, if you know where to go. Hopefully those of you new to the neighborhood will find my suggestions helpful!

[Hattori Hanzo]

Very good point. I don't have a car and would be relying on the shuttle so it's not important to me. However I'm pretty sure you can pay for some sort of parking in the Morningside Heights area since there are a lot of professors and administrators who commute every day. It could get expensive though (I'd guess $100+ per month).

I have looked @ parking around campus as well and the cheapest I could find was $280 for daily driver abou 10 blocks north of campus so don't count on anything cheap.

[KG_CalGuy]

Ok, so now that I see food options popping up, I have to ask: how affordable are the food options near Columbia (and how close are they)?

[imchuckbass58]

Ok, so now that I see food options popping up, I have to ask: how affordable are the food options near Columbia (and how close are they)?

For New York: Very affordable

For the World: Not very affordable.

For lunch I find myself spending $8-10. Dinner will probably run you more in the area of $12-$15 and up (then again, I'm a guy and I eat a lot. This is why you should cook (all CLS living spaces have kitchens), or at least make your own sandwiches for lunch. There are actually decent grocery stores nearby (Morton Williams is the standard one, then Westside Market is more of a gourment option - think mini-whole foods but cheaper).

Oh also if you want you can basically mooch lunch every weekday since there are always events going on at the law school.

There are lots of food options nearby (i.e., probably 15 places to eat within 5 blocks of the law school), but in my opinion they're not very spectacular. Keep in mind almost every place delivers, even from farther away.

[chris0805]

I am headed to Dogmatic as soon as I can (thanks for the link!)

On the topic of food, my favorite places near Columbia are Massawa (http://www.massawanyc.com/), Bombay Frankie (http://www.bombayfrankie.com/), Thai Market (http://www.yelp.com/biz/thai-market-new-york), and Saji's (http://www.yelp.com/biz/sajis-new-york). Massawa is an AMAZING Ethiopian place, but is way outside my budget, so it's best for special occasions. Bombay Frankie is good for take-out lunch/dinner (especially if you bring a friend, that way you can get 2 rotis for a better price), while Thai Market's delicious lunch specials make it worth the trip 10 blocks south of campus. Saji's used to be incredible, and although the quality has slipped in recent years, it's still good Japanese food at a good price (best for take-out, as the hole in the wall has about 6 cramped seats).

Also, West Place (on Amsterdam past 123rd) has $6 lunch specials, where you get to pick 3 dishes plus rice and either soup/soda. Just follow the parade of Chinese students heading out from the science departments around lunch-time. You can make it as healthy or unhealthy as you like, as they have sauteed bock choi and tofu dishes in addition to the standard American-Chinese fare.

Sun-Chan (http://www.yelp.com/biz/sun-chan-japane ... t-new-york) is a decent, authentic Japanese place, too, but a bit expensive. Good when you want to go to dinner with friends but don't feel like taking the subway.

For quick, generic lunches, I also go to Che Bella for Pizza etc. and M2M Asian grocery store for their (non-Asian) lunch counter. For $5 you can get things like roast turkey and mashed potatoes or rice, with extras (plantains, avocado) only 50 cents each. (Construction workers usually eat it all up by 12:30, though, so you need to get there early.)

Morningisde Heights is pretty weak as far as food is concerned, but you can certainly make do, if you know where to go. Hopefully those of you new to the neighborhood will find my suggestions helpful!

If you like Massawa, but find it a bit pricey, head to Awash (around 106th and Amsterdam). Personally, I like Awash a little better anyways, and two people can eat for around $30 (tax + tip included) if you drink water and order one of the Combos for 2 (and the combos are actually both filling and excellent.).

[blue5385]

Whichever library had the columns and steps and statue in front is the one I'm going to be studying at -- it was gorgeous.

That is Low Library, which confusingly enough is no longer a library. It's an event space and also has offices for the president, dean, etc.

But the library across the way -- forgetting the name now -- is absolutely beautiful.

I also remember seeing that one...since Low Library isn't a library anymore, I guess I will be studying there!

[Antipodean]

But the library across the way -- forgetting the name now -- is absolutely beautiful.

I also remember seeing that one...since Low Library isn't a library anymore, I guess I will be studying there!

That would be Butler, and yes, it makes for some beautiful architecture. The reading rooms are gorgeous too, though it can be hard to find a study nook during exam periods - Butler's also popular with the more studious undergrads, of which there are apparently quite many.

[andreea7]

However I'm pretty sure you can pay for some sort of parking in the Morningside Heights area since there are a lot of professors and administrators who commute every day. It could get expensive though (I'd guess $100+ per month).

monthly parking in nyc (even morningside heights) is much, much more than $100/month. if you want to park, you'll be parking on the street (free). do not plan on having a car if you live in manhattan!

Monthly parking in morningside height is easily upwards of $300/month, and I imagine in Riverdale it's probably still $200/month at least. It's theoretically possible to park on the street, but 1) you will spend lots of time circling looking for parking every day, and 2) many spots are metered.

Most professors and admins either live in Morningside Heights or take mass transit.

My husband and I lived for several months on the Upper West side, close to Columbia. During that time we considered: A) getting rid of the car whether it meant selling it or abandoning it on the side of the road B) leaving New York altogether because parking made our lives so miserable. I do recall being brought almost to tears one night because at some point we couldn't even find an available spot in a parking garage. Having to park your car in Manhattan is a nightmare and we had nights when we even spent hours searching for parking. Parking garages were not an option typically for us really because when you add New York insurance rates with parking rates you end up paying on the car as much as you pay for rent. Brooklyn and Queens are friendlier options for people with cars. If you have a car to park in Manhattan your life pretty much revolves around parking -- something professors at Columbia had warned us about actually. Anyway, this was my experience serving to warn others. This way I also got this off my chest.

[jl2032]

However I'm pretty sure you can pay for some sort of parking in the Morningside Heights area since there are a lot of professors and administrators who commute every day. It could get expensive though (I'd guess $100+ per month).

monthly parking in nyc (even morningside heights) is much, much more than $100/month. if you want to park, you'll be parking on the street (free). do not plan on having a car if you live in manhattan!

Monthly parking in morningside height is easily upwards of $300/month, and I imagine in Riverdale it's probably still $200/month at least. It's theoretically possible to park on the street, but 1) you will spend lots of time circling looking for parking every day, and 2) many spots are metered.

Most professors and admins either live in Morningside Heights or take mass transit.

My husband and I lived for several months on the Upper West side, close to Columbia. During that time we considered: A) getting rid of the car whether it meant selling it or abandoning it on the side of the road B) leaving New York altogether because parking made our lives so miserable. I do recall being brought almost to tears one night because at some point we couldn't even find an available spot in a parking garage. Having to park your car in Manhattan is a nightmare and we had nights when we even spent hours searching for parking. Parking garages were not an option typically for us really because when you add New York insurance rates with parking rates you end up paying on the car as much as you pay for rent. Brooklyn and Queens are friendlier options for people with cars. If you have a car to park in Manhattan your life pretty much revolves around parking -- something professors at Columbia had warned us about actually. Anyway, this was my experience serving to warn others. This way I also got this off my chest.

Very true about parking controlling your life. I live in NJ and am planning to take mass transit on the days I can't hitch a ride with a family member driving into the city. Between meters and alternate side parking, I don't see how people can live in the city with a car and without going insane. Before I had a driveway, every morning at my house was frantic jumping out of bed, running around looking for car keys, and trying to remember if the car is parked on "wednesday" or "friday"

[andreea7]

Very true about parking controlling your life. I live in NJ and am planning to take mass transit on the days I can't hitch a ride with a family member driving into the city. Between meters and alternate side parking, I don't see how people can live in the city with a car and without going insane. Before I had a driveway, every morning at my house was frantic jumping out of bed, running around looking for car keys, and trying to remember if the car is parked on "wednesday" or "friday"[/quote]

Saw this way way late but it made me laugh because I recall so well those mornings of "oh, gee! where is the car today?" And running after the cop to explain to him "we're here, we have one more minute by our watch. Pleaseeeee don't write that fine." The topic here seems to be dead, but just in case: NYC parking fines are huge. We paid close to $1000 in fines the first year because well, sometimes life gets in the way of you getting to your car in time.

[somewhatwayward]

do you ever feel unsafe walking around the area past dark by yourself? what about waiting on the subway platform? i'm a pretty small female.

[Antipodean]

I don't feel unsafe walking alone late at night unless I head north past 121st or east past Morningside Park, but then, I'm a fairly tall guy. Lem, how about you?

[blue5385]

do you ever feel unsafe walking around the area past dark by yourself? what about waiting on the subway platform? i'm a pretty small female.

+1 to being concerned about this, since I'm also a girl who's not too tough looking.

[andreea7]

do you ever feel unsafe walking around the area past dark by yourself? what about waiting on the subway platform? i'm a pretty small female.

+1 to being concerned about this, since I'm also a girl who's not too tough looking.

I'm a 0L but went to Columbia before. The area is not as unsafe as some make it sound. (It is funny, but when I went to Columbia they told us how save ALL areas in NY are, but then proceeded to tell us how to watch out for this and that in Columbia's neighborhood.) This is New York so you have to exercise normal caution. Personally, I don't like staying out late anywhere in New York by myself. But it depends on the season, too, as funny as that may sound. On a nice warm day people will be out and about until really late so it is safer. On a very cold winter day, you may discover you are the only around at 8 pm. I've been in New York for five years and I have not had any problems yet with someone trying to rob me or anything like that.

I have not encountered any problems around Columbia, although I typically did not stick around there later than 8 or 9. The train station on Broadway is ok because this being New York a lot of people take the train at odd hours. I am not one of the brave ones - too short to be brave I guess haha -- so I didn't take the train around at 3 am or anything like that. But I had class mates who frequently did stuff like that.

[AppsAbound]

I know that Columbia has housing north of 121st, is it not in a safe area?
I only requested being within walking distance of campus, so could potentially end up there. Anyone know ppl who have lived there and have thoughts to share?

[imchuckbass58]

Columbia doesn't have housing significantly north of 121st. The highest on-campus housing I've heard of is at 122nd.

I do not feel unsafe, but I am a guy. That said, many of the girls I know walk around at bizarre hours of night (coming out of the library, etc.) and do not seem to have problems. I've offered to walk with people to their places while leaving the library and unequivocally the answer is "no, I'll be fine" (maybe I smell).

I think you should exercise a normal amount of caution. If you can walk in groups, do so. If you can avoid going above 121st or east of morningside late at night, do that too. But generally there are people around at all hours and morningside heights is pretty safe.

One exception - don't go into the park at night. Recipe to get robbed.

Again, I'm a guy, so it would be good to get a girl's perspective, but most of the girls I know do not seem concerned.

[toaster2]

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