Now Kiss: Mark and Weston’s Blind Date

February 11th, 2013 by Hannah Orenstein

Finding a date in New York isn’t as easy as Sex and the City would have you believe. Unless you’re still with your high school sweetheart, met your soulmate while reaching for the same book at Bobst, or are brave enough to try Date My School (or NYU Hook Ups — we won’t judge), you might find yourself without a Valentine this year.

NYU Local wants to solve your romantic woes with our new column, Now Kiss. Armed with a batch of Cupid’s arrows, we want to set you up with another NYU student on a blind date. Read more…


#ThisIsHowYouWinHerBack, Or Is It?

February 6th, 2013 by Chelsea Beeler

When living in a city like New York where posters, advertisements, lights, stickers, graffiti, and window displays confront us at every street corner, it becomes somewhat necessary to shut off our senses to the over stimulating propaganda that surrounds us. However there’s often that one poster or advertisement that sticks out, you know, the one that you remember to ask your friends if they’ve seen. Whether it’s a sign at the Bedford L of Lena Dunham looking quirky or one of those advertisements on subway trains that begs the question, “Is your dog a total ‘dog?’” some things are simply memorable, and #ThisIsHowYouWinHerBack is no different.

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When It Comes To Recycling, Don’t Be An Asshole

November 9th, 2012 by Zoe Contros Kearl

Do you know what’s rad? The planet we all currently live on. Little did anyone know for the past ten years, all the fish are dying and the storms are getting worse and the coral reefs have been bleached white. Unfortunately, the students living in some NYU dorms seem to be speed-reading that memo over and over again despite the fact that it’s listed at the end of every hallway and above every public trashcan.

As an upperclassman in housing there are many issues to be laughed about, from gender pronoun confusion (dude, I am a lady) to silly recycling debacles. During my youth the town I was living in started a great recycling program. New York University has hopped on this agenda and has been promoting the positive use of our planet for a few years now. So now it’s time to teach each other how to recycle again.

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Despite Amy Poehler’s Divorce, ‘Parks And Rec.’ Proves True Love Is Real

September 21st, 2012 by Jenny Nelson

When news circulated that Amy Poehler and Will Arnett were getting separated, voices all around the world–including our own–cried out “IS LOVE DEAD?” and the answer seemed to be a resounding yes. Arnett and Poehler’s marriage was a special gift for pop culture–two people who are incredibly funny in their own separate projects (see Arnett in Arrested Development as well as Hot Rod, The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, and a terrific recurring role on 30 Rock; see Poehler in years of SNL as well as Parks And Rec and oh, right, she co-founded improv comedy giant Upright Citizens Brigade)–had the ability to come together to work as a hilarious comedy duo. They also seemed to genuinely care for one another.

News of the funny power couple’s separation spread only weeks before Parks And Recreation‘s fifth season premiere yesterday on NBC. Rather than allowing the impending divorce to cast a dark shadow over the new episodes, though, we suggest that you understand Parks And Rec as a fictional embodiment of everything you loved about Poehler + Arnett.

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Straight/Gay/Taken: Three CAS Students Sneak In To Stern Speed Dating

February 14th, 2012 by Eric Silver, Ian Hartz, and Sharon Wu

Here at NYU Local, we love going to places we weren’t invited. That’s why we hang out in John Sexton’s office when he’s not around. This time, we’re adventuring into unmarked territory on behalf of love: Monday’s Stern Speed Dating event, held in the Tisch Hall Commerce Room at the very sexy time of 12:30pm.

This is how it worked: Every guy sat across from a girl and the moderator asked questions about love, dating, and relationships. Each duo had a few minutes to discuss their answers before the men rotated to the right. Every person was given the chance to talk to about ten people. There were approximately 50 people seated at three different tables, each littered with silver heart-shaped confetti, cupcakes of all kinds, chocolate-covered strawberries, and cups of sparkling apple cider. The advisory board who organized the afternoon spent approximately $1,500 on the hour-long event.

Inspired by our previous ‘Two CAS Students Sneak Into A Stern Class And Liveblog It,” and coupled with the misadventures of our Drunk/Sober/High series, we bring you Straight/Gay/Taken, an examination of the strange and wondrous terrain of the Stern love life.  Read more…


Have Yourself A Sexy, Understated Valentine’s Day At These Five Bars

February 14th, 2012 by Alyssa Rinaldi

Valentines Day always conjures a bucket of emotions. For the single among us, it invariably brings the question of our love lives (or lack thereof) to the forefront, smack in the middle of winter–arguably the most depressing season already. For those of us out there with girlfriends, boyfriends, or half-boyfriends, it can be arguably even more stressful. Questions of expectations abound: If I’ve only been dating a girl for three weeks do we do something on Valentine’s Day? Where can I go to dinner without zero-ing out my already dwindling bank account? Is this card too heteronormative?

But hey, screw any preconceived Valentine’s Day standards, and get drunk instead. Forget chocolate and edible panties, and go hang out at one of these 5 sexy, little bars with your lover, your former TA, or your friends who hate Valentine’s Day just as much as you do.  Read more…


Questlove Comes to NYU (Plus A Most Excellent Stevie Wonder Playlist Courtesy Of DJ Spinna)

December 15th, 2011 by Jocelyn Silver

NYU is awesome for many reasons, but one of the most important ones is the way the university regularly introduces students to experts in their chosen fields. Classes at NYU have been known to play host to comic luminaries like Jon Stewart and Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and moviemakers like Spike Lee and James Franco.

This semester, the course ”Topics in Recorded Music: Stevie Wonder”, taught by two-time Grammy award winning producer Harry Weinger, more than lived up to its insanely cool course description. On the first day of class, Stevie Wonder himself showed up, which brought one anonymous student to tears.

It was fitting then, that the last day of class would bring more guest appearances from musical luminaries: Amir “Questlove” Thompson, legendary jazz bassist Christian McBride, and DJ Spinna, who, according to Questlove, “has a doctorate in Wonderology.” These three men, along with Professor Weinger, lead a spirited and immensely articulate discussion on the history of Stevie’s music, the personal impact it had on their lives, and the history of soul.

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The Best Restaurant To Take Your Cougar To And More Perfect Date Suggestions

October 4th, 2011 by Zach Sokol

NYU Local helped Lotharios and soul mate seekers in fall 2010 with a post about the best first date venues and last week, we told you how to win date night. Well, what are the best restaurants to attend for those hyper-specific date situations, such as blind dates or double dates? As always, NYU Local has your back with some suggestions of where to wine and dine your potential love.

Best Blind Date Restaurant: Panna II (93 First Ave nr. 6th Street)

Though First Avenue has a deluge of tasty Indian restaurants, the four identical venues between 5th and 6th street provide the type of eye-catching experience that will overwhelm the awkwardness of a blind date. One person owns all the restaurants, but the employees will try and hustle you into their specific food spot, providing an immediate conversation topic. Inside, there are enough lights, music and decorations to support a full-on rave, so even if the conversation fizzles your eyes and ears will have a blast. Read more…