So New York mag has attempted to take the pulse of the perpetually broke and frazzled creature known as the NYU student. The problem with their list, however, wasn’t the choices themselves but rather the fact that they may not necessarily be practical for the average NYU student. Asian Pub (I refuse to call it Cooper 35) is great, but last time I tried to go there was a thirty-minute wait. C.O. Bigelow sells overpriced skin care products, and I don’t know anybody under the age of 75 that gets prescriptions filled there. Shakespeare & Company is great, but seriously, who reads anymore? Here are a few places I think New York mag missed:

Star Struck Vintage on Greenwich Avenue does have  some pricey items, sure, but they’re also that rare breed of vintage shop holding frequent sales. I see adorable sweaters and button-downs there for 30 or 40 bucks, and their shoes are always priced very agreeably. Plus, the sales associates don’t hover, even if you’re the only one in the store. And yes, they actually sell vintage Lous Vuitton and Christian Dior, so bring your fashionista friend here and watch her go wild.

Just down the block from Star Struck is the best Alphabets location in the city (there are a few of these throughout Manhattan, including one on Avenue A). The store’s collection of retro gift items, funny t-shirts, and cleverly designed (and well-made) bags puts Urban Outfitters to shame, and again, the prices aren’t ridiculous at all (especially compared to, um, Urban).

Red Bamboo on West 4th by 6th Ave. is a perfect place to grab lunch between classes. Hearty lunch specials for $7.50 and exceptional service — even when the place is packed, which is unsurprisingly not an infrequent occurrence — along with the best vegetarian chicken I’ve ever tasted put this restaurant at the top of my favorite “cramming before a big exam while eating soy chicken satay” spot in the Village.

The most “happening bar” is Cubbyhole, but I’ve already discussed that.

Marketplace Cafe at 394 6th Avenue not only makes a great salad but also hosts a Mrs. Field’s. This is the greatest place in the history of restaurants to go when you’re stoned, because a Mrs. Field’s cookie cup or cookie pizza slice cannot be beaten by even the most well-stocked convenience store. Seriously, Hayden kids, appreciate your proximity to the mecca and visit it religiously. I also like this place because it’s down the block from my therapist’s office, and provides a sweeter therapy than a licensed doctor ever could.

I love Art Bar. All the way on 8th Avenue, the bar’s gorgeous decor — including a fabulous back room filled with cushiony couches that rival the comfiness of those giant Starbucks armchairs — and agreeable drink prices, in addition to the fact that this place is amazingly never crowded, makes this place so much more than “the West Village’s version of an East Village watering hole.”

Finally, never forget Suzie’s on Bleecker between Sullivan and Thompson. It’s like your mom’s favorite Chinese restaurant back home in the suburbs, only this place comes with a full bar. Unbelievably fast service leads me to believe that their chefs double as ninjas. Their fortune cookies tend to be unusually prescient.

Photo by Flickr user Scandblue used under a Creative Commons license.