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Arthur Avenue’s Hidden Gem

The age-old debate of the best restaurant on Arthur Avenue has students at Fordham divided, so, I thought it only appropriate to share my opinion on the matter. Being Italian myself, I have extremely high expectations whenever I dine out at any Italian restaurant and I’m pleased to report that Tra Di Noi, the hidden gem of Arthur Avenue, far surpasses any arbitrary bar I have set. Filled with friendly faces, authentic music, and delectable cuisine, Tra Di Noi provides everything you could hope for and more in an Italian restaurant (and it’s Michelin-starred!). The most surprising part is that the restaurant remains unfamiliar, even to the students who spend days roaming Arthur Avenue.

The regular menu, while always dependably delicious, is supplemented by an array of daily specials, where Tra Di Noi truly shines. With locally sourced ingredients, I can’t recommend only one dish, I have to recommend them all. Of course, I’m partial to the classics—Rigatoni alla Matriciana if you’re in the mood for a tomato-based sauce, or Fettucine Alfredo if you’re looking for something richer. To top off a fabulous dinner, who could forget dessert? My recommendation: the Italian cheesecake, light and lemony, the perfect ending to a perfect meal.

Tra Di Noi—a timeless classic, tucked away just blocks from campus, ready to be discovered! So, what are you waiting for?!?

Christina Berardino

The Goshen Experience

My favorite Fordham experience, and one that changed the course of my time in university, was going on retreat with Campus Ministry the first semester of my freshman year. Every semester, Campus Ministry offers several retreats to Fordham’s house in Goshen in upstate New York as opportunities for students to explore their faith and build community, with each particular retreat aimed towards different groups of students. The retreat that I went on, Fresh Vision 30, was just for Lincoln Center freshmen and was advertised as a journey for participants to get to know other first-year students and further assess what they want out of their Fordham experience.

I came to Fordham from Dublin, California –a small city in the East Bay Area. When Campus Ministry opened up registration for Fresh Vision, I was overwhelmed by the city, second-guessing my major, and wondering what I was doing in New York in the first place. I was feeling out of touch and wasn’t sure of my place at this school. Everything was confusing and all that I really wanted was a moment away. I tried to get at least one of my friends to sign up for the retreat with me – I wasn’t really willing to go alone. Two days before the trip, I decided it was better to go and feel a little awkward than to not and wonder what could have happened. That Friday, I waited for a Ram Van to Goshen with people that I had never seen before, but who were apparently freshmen. I began nervously wondering what I’d gotten myself into, but I knew that I couldn’t let the nerves of the city encroach on what was being set up as a warm, friendly weekend. So, I chatted with the girl next to me. Now, a year later, we’re roommates.

What I loved about the retreat was not just the amazing food that we had – the homemade pizza! The tacos! The french toast casserole! – but the most meaningful part was the people that I met. There were so many opportunities to get to know one another on such personal levels, which I really appreciated. As an entire group, we played ice breakers with the retreat leaders and Campus Ministry and were given journals with different prompts every day to offer some much-needed self-reflection. We were also divided into small groups led by the upperclassmen retreat leaders, with whom we talked about what freshman year was like so far. It was in my small group that I realised that I wasn’t alone in my feelings of confusion that first semester. We were also paired up with another student from outside of our small group, whom the retreat leaders thought we didn’t know and wouldn’t have met otherwise. My partner and I started talking about our differing majors (his, business, mine, International Studies), but eventually talked about much more than just school, and ended up with some other students on a farm neighbouring Fordham’s house, laughing and getting stuck in an unexpected marsh under an impeccably blue sky. Later that night, he and I led the retreatants in a game of Wolf.

What the retreat made me realize most of all was that Fordham is so full of wonderful people, each passionate about their different interests and intended major fields. The retreat made me so much more comfortable with myself and the city and opened up to me the endless possibilities of what my life at Fordham could be. That weekend, I thought more seriously about changing my major to English (which is what it is now), and found how okay it was that I wasn’t really sure what I was going to do with myself; that I wasn’t the only one feeling that way and saw clearly that there was a community of students and faculty that I could go to whenever I was feeling lost. The retreat was a beautiful spiritual experience and made me so much more open to what would happen next.

Bea Mendoza

Service Spotlight: Fordham Dance Marathon (FDM)

As a student at Fordham University, the phrase “men and women for others” is probably quite familiar to you. Since our first week, the notion of service as a cornerstone to our university is impressed in us almost daily. Whether that service comes in the form of SEAJ cleanups in the community, volunteering to tutor local high school students, volunteering as an on-campus EMT for Fordham University EMS (FUEMS), participating in a Global Outreach (GO!) service trip to a foreign country, raising funds with Fashion for Philanthropy (FFP), or partaking in a multi-day service orientation with Urban Plunge (just to name a few), as a Fordham student, you can be sure that no matter your interests there will always be a service group for you.

Since 2013, the Residence Halls Association (RHA) – one of our many leadership opportunities on campus – has devoted its student leaders to a common cause: fighting pediatric cancer. RHA is paired with The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation, which was founded by Joe McDonough (GSB ‘88) following Andrew’s passing of AML Leukemia in 2007. The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation funds pediatric cancer research and provides financial support to families of children with pediatric cancer. In addition, B+ pairs local children receiving treatment – called B+ Heroes – with college students for emotional support during treatment. This year, FDM is paired with 6 Heroes ranging in age from 4 to 13.

Each year, RHA and its affiliate club Fordham Dance Marathon (FDM) organize fundraising events throughout the school year to raise money for the B+ Foundation. Such events include a 5K, a charity auction, community restaurant fundraisers, and more. Their efforts culminate in a 10-hour dance marathon held each year in the Lombardi Fieldhouse to mark the final push for funds, which includes multiple DJ sets, student bands, student dance groups, student a capella groups, and a headlining artist. As a volunteer for FDM in the capacity of Entertainment Director, I lead the search to find artists and groups for the event. Last year, FDM was a tremendous success, raising $121,364.88 for the B+ Foundation. This year, we hope to raise even more.

The success of Fordham Dance Marathon over the past few years can be attributed to the relentless determination of its many volunteers in both RHA and FDM. In fact, there are so many student volunteers in the fundraising effort that FDM qualifies as the largest student-run philanthropic initiative on campus. In conjunction with the many other service groups on campus, Fordham students as a whole donated 1.2 million hours to service groups last year alone.

Want to see more about FDM? Go to fordhamdancemarathon.org to learn more or click the link below to see a video showing footage from last year’s dance marathon.

https://vimeo.com/373786190

Michael Zrzavy

How To: Taking Advantage of Programming

Lately I’ve been taking advantage of the weekend events put on by both the RAs in my building and the Campus Activities Board, and I’ve gotten to do some really cool stuff in the city (and outside it!) that I probably wouldn’t have chosen to do on my own. Back in September, I joined a group from my dorm, led by one of the RAs, and went down to Chinatown to get our auras photographed. It wasn’t something I would’ve done otherwise (in fact, I didn’t even know it was something you could do!), but I had a great time heading into the city, comparing photos, and getting lunch with the girls in the group.

A couple of weeks ago, I was lucky enough to be one of the 40 people that CAB took to Frightfest at Six Flags; I’d never been to Six Flags before, so it was really exciting to get a free ticket and spend the day going on all the roller coasters and eating overpriced amusement park food with my roommate and another girl we met on the bus! We waited in line for almost two hours to go on Kingda Ka, which was terrifying and exhilarating, then immediately afterwards, we rewarded ourselves for our bravery with some ice cream. I can now say I’ve ridden the tallest (and third fastest) roller coaster in the world, all thanks to CAB!

Just this past weekend, I joined another RA event, and this time a group of us went to Hell’s Kitchen to see an improv show at the Upright Citizen’s Brigade. You may have heard of UCB already, since it’s the comedy group that gave us Amy Poehler and Jason Mantzoukas (among others!). The show we saw was hilarious, and I got to meet some awesome new people from my residence hall!

I'm really happy that I've had so many opportunities to go out and try new things this semester thanks to CAB and my RAs!

Grace Tick

Fall Comes to Governor’s Island

Living in New York, it’s easy to find fun opportunities in Manhattan. From Hole-in-the-Wall restaurants to comedy clubs to museums, there are tons of amazing experiences to be had. However, one of the best experiences New York has to offer is its parks!

Teeming with life, these parks offer fun opportunities and community events, while also providing beautiful natural spaces to relax and unwind. Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Governor’s Island with some friends. Most known for the area that hosts Gov. Ball, an annual music festival, Governor’s Island offers a slew of activities during all seasons!

During my visit, there was a pumpkin patch and a fall festival for families for everyone. However, the island also offers beautiful walking paths where you can observe the beautiful Manhattan Skyline. My favorite part of the trip was the food! Governor’s Island offers tons of food trucks and stands with a wide variety of food, from pastries to Ethiopian to Korean foods to choose from. I opted for the Korean spicy beef taco, which blew my mind!

I would highly suggest checking out Governor’s Island if you’re looking for an escape from the bustle of New York or maybe a place to walk that isn’t Central Park or the Botanical Garden. Govern’s Island is a simple ride from the MetroNorth to Grand Central, to the Wall Street (via the 6 train), and then a quick ferry ride!

Kevin Pollison - FCRH ‘21

For those with a sweet tooth...

Magnolia Bakery is one of the dessert staples of New York. Their locations throughout the city and ever changing menu make them a classic amongst New Yorkers and visitors. But one thing remains constant, their famous banana pudding. Fortunately, Fordham students can quickly reach multiple Magnolia Bakery locations while in the city.

One quick ride on the Metro North brings students to Grand Central. On the lower level, students can hop right on and off the Metro North and grab a quick bite at the various restaurants downstairs or grab a dessert from Magnolia Bakery. Fortunately, Grand Central is not only an architectural beauty but it’s also located down the block from Bryant Park where you can bring your food along with you and grab a seat at one of the tables to people watch.

Just a few blocks away students can also experience Rockefeller Center, which will soon be exhibiting the Christmas Tree and will be bustling with visitors. Around the corner, is located not only another Magnolia Bakery site but also Radio City Music Hall, where students can experience a variety of artists and shows live.

Last but not least, just minutes away from Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus lies another Magnolia Bakery. Here students have the opportunity to sit down in the quaint cafe seating that this location offers or they can walk down to Lincoln Center and spend time in the plaza chatting with one another. Any of these locations are a must visit due to their proximity to famous New York landmarks.

Jaclyn Perhati - FCRH ‘20

Study Abroad Spotlight: Madrid Program Trip

Are you thinking about studying abroad with a Fordham program?

As cliche as it sounds, studying abroad has been a life-changing experience for me. I always knew that I wanted it to be a part of my college experience, but I never anticipated how much I would learn from and enjoy exploring new places and new cultures. One trip in particular, Fordham’s Liberal Arts Program trip, reminded me of how fortunate I am for this opportunity to see the world.

Fordham’s London Liberal Arts program takes each semester of students on a fully-funded weekend trip, complete with residence in a four-star hotel and dinner at a traditional restaurant. This semester, Fordham’s program trip brought my peers and I to Madrid, Spain, where we spent three days and nights exploring the country’s capital.

After we arrived at Madrid Airport, we were bussed to an authentic Spanish restaurant and served a seemingly endless array of traditional tapas. The rich flavors were a warm welcome into the city, and we left full and ready to find out what else Spain had to offer.

The predominantly leisurely trip took a stop at Saint Louis University’s Madrid campus, where we listened to a lecture on contemporary Spanish politics from one of the university’s professors. Following a rooftop mingle with some of the SLU student ambassadors and staff, we ventured to our hotel to settle in.

The following day, the full group of students went on a tour of the city and learned about some of its most significant sites. Our tour guide recommended an award-winning ice cream place and we all went after to try it out. The serving size was a little small for my liking, but the taste was other-worldly! That night, Fordham funded a massive, multiple-course meal at a restaurant by our hotel. I left very full and very appreciative of Spanish cuisine.

On our third day in Spain, Fordham offered an optional trip to Toledo, the City of Three Cultures. Toledo has a tricultural identity; its rich culture is drawn equally from Islam, Judaism, and Christianity and reflected in its gorgeous medieval architecture and general spirit.

Fordham’s London study abroad program is special for several reasons, only one of them being the program trip that the liberal arts and business students take. I am thankful to have had the opportunity to explore two beautiful Spanish cities, and I look forward to experiencing the rest of the program’s opportunities!

Fly me to the (Super)Moon

One of my favorite ways to spend the weekend in New York City is through discovering new places to eat. With Fordham’s close proximity to the city, any place I would like to visit is just a train ride away. Recently, I visited a bakery called Supermoon Bakehouse located on the Lower East Side. They are well known for their innovative creations with croissants and other pastries. Every week they release new pastry flavors, which are always a new combination of tastes. I came across an image of one of their desserts and knew I had to visit. My friends and I tried their cannoli cruffin, which is a cross between a muffin and croissant that was flavored like a cannoli. Overall, the experience was so fun and I am always lucky to be able to try different foods in city.

Study Abroad Spotlight: Moroccan Exchange with Fordham in Granada

Studying abroad is something I’ve dreamed about since I first started college. I had an image of studying abroad in my head - I would expand my horizons, meet new people, and find a home in another part of the world. Fortunately for me, these dreams transformed into reality this past weekend when I visited Morocco.

I am currently studying abroad in Granada, Spain with Fordham’s program here. Spain has been a whirlwind of beauty - getting to see different parts of the Andalusian region of Spain has filled me with wonder and joy. My program had something different in mind, though, when they took us to Morocco for a weekend. Morocco is one of those places that we’ve all heard and wondered about, but is often clouded in mystery and ambiguity (and is often influenced by Disney’s Aladdin, if we’re being honest). Stepping off the boat in Tangier, Morocco, I was bombarded by Morocco’s liveliness and color. The streets were unlike anything I had ever seen in America or Europe - winding, cascading, and leaning over the Strait of Gibraltar.

While the architecture was stunning, that was not my primary impression of Morocco. The thing that struck me the most about this country was the people I met along the way. With Morocco Exchange, a program dedicated to students’ cultural immersion, we were able to have an open dialogue with many different Moroccans - some students, some families. My most memorable aspect of the trip was staying with a host family in Rabat, the capital city. My host sister was extremely warm and affectionate; she spoke to us about her trip to the mountains with her friends and about her sister’s growing skateboarding career. Her four-year-old brother was a drop of sunshine with limitless energy. He made me smile every time he sprinted into the room, pretending he was Spider-Man. This family took me in and made me feel like I was a part of them. When I was leaving their home, they told me that I always had a home in Rabat, and I knew that they meant it. The love I felt from that family felt like home to me.

Morocco Exchange made me realize how similar I was to people living on a completely different continent from me. Their hospitality and warmth was eye-opening, and I never want to forget this connection I have with a country in which I had only spent four days.

If you’re interested in visiting Morocco as a part of Fordham in Granada, contact a representative from our Study Abroad Office! This trip was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I am very grateful to Fordham for granting it to me.

What’s so special about the Ram Van?

Call me crazy but one of my favorite things at Fordham is the intercampus transportation system that is known as Ram Van. I say this because to me, it personally highlights and encapsulates the brilliance between both of Fordham’s campuses at Rose Hill and Lincoln Center.

When I first was admitted to Fordham, I was originally a student at the Lincoln Center campus. As the weeks passed and I continued through my first few classes, I was interested in seeing what the fuss was about “the other campus” as my roommates would say. See, originally when I was considering Fordham during my college search, I had only seen, toured, and really focused on LC.

According to my Ram Van history, on September 26th, 2018, at 6:00pm was my first trip to the Rose Hill campus. And since then, well, I haven’t really left. I loved the collegiate gothic architecture and the abundance of trees (no shortage of traffic and commotion though!) and general space to roam on campus. Although I really only had to continue to venture uptown was because of a Global Outreach project I was participating in, I continued to reserve van after van from LC to RH, to study, to hang out with friends, or to lay around on Eddie’s.

While this general development pushed me to conduct an internal transfer to Rose Hill by the end of that year, I’ll never forget the Ram Van’s influence in this decision. Besides its general conveniency from getting from up to downtown (at least one leaves every 30 minutes from either campus, and each way costs $3.50. But typically that fee can be waived if you do classes/extracurriculars at either campus), the Ram Van offers something that taking the Metro North or the respective Subway lines don’t: a peaceful commute.

Every Ram Van has air-conditioning, heating, about 10 seats for passengers––and the best part––outlets (some even have wifi!). The routes each ram takes differs slightly (depending on a variety of factors: construction, traffic, time, etc.), but they all end up right where you want to be: directly at Rose Hill, and smack dab in Lincoln Center. And there is no other alternative that comes close to this conveniency. Besides convenience, just the general drive down (or up) is always scenic, whether you’re going over the George Washington Bridge, or heading down the Henry Hudson Parkway. It literally feels like you’re living in an Apple TV screensaver. And coupled with getting to know the many great student drivers who carry out the commute (as well as their driving playlists), I have to say it’s one of the more underrated, if not, hidden gems that Fordham offers.

One of my favorite things to do in the Ram Van is by far is homework, listen to music, or just veg out. I don’t know what it is about being in motion and having more patience to swallow down dense readings, peruse through my entire Discover Weekly playlist (people actually listen to that right?––Spotify Premium holders I mean), and take a moment to reflect on my day and my upcoming tasks. It’s like taking a shower but without your roommate banging on the door saying it’s time to get out––I mean well, only until you find yourself locked in the parking garage.

So please consider taking it if you are planning to come and visit either one of Fordham’s campuses, you won’t be disappointed.

Personal Tip: Reserve a seat online, and ask in-person to “sit up front.”

Lily Keiley - FCRH ‘21

What’s Going on at Fordham this Fall?

Every year at Fordham marks new beginnings. New classes, new dorm, new relationships, and most important, new opportunities. Fordham begins each year with many campus activities, including one of my favorites. CAB Cineevents on Eddie’s Parade. CAB presents a popular movie, in this case The Hustle, that gets played over a screen on Keating Hall. Similar to a drive in, students get to relax outside and eat popcorn while curling up on blankets and watching some great film. This is just one of the many events CAB puts on each year. Campus Activities Board, CAB, is a student run organization that works with the office of student involvement to put on various cultural and social events throughout the year. It’s made up of ten committees that all host different events like cultural affairs raffles, apple picking in upstate NY, and bingo nights!

Bryn Fallon - FCRH 2022

Ellie Kemper at Fordham

During Spring Weekend at Fordham there is a wide variety of entertainment and fun activities happening right here on campus. Events like Campus Movie Fest, bingo, a carnival, and even a concert happens during this time. The Campus Activity Board, a club on campus, provides a lot of cultural and social events to engage the Fordham community, and this is one of their biggest events. Spring Weekend is one of the most memorable events for Fordham students, and holds many traditions.

Our speaker this year for the Speaker Series was Ellie Kemper. She is best known for her roles in The Office, Bridesmaids, and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Kemper spoke on her experience of starring on The Office and becoming the lead actress on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. She discussed her passion for acting, and provided insight on finding her place in each of these roles. She talked about what it was like acting alongside actors like Steve Carell, Jon Hamm, and Carol Kane. Also, she answered questions from students and was completely open to talking to students sitting in the audience. Overall, she was so light-hearted and funny, and it was such a wonderful experience to have her at Fordham.

Sajani Mantri FCRH '20

A Fordham-sponsored Trip to New Orleans!

Before Easter weekend, I had the opportunity to attend the American Marketing Association International Collegiate Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Gabelli School of Business here at Fordham sponsored the trip for a few members on the Executive Board of the Fordham Marketing Association, which is a student-run organization that welcomes any members of the Fordham community who are interested in learning more about marketing as a career.

The conference lasted three days, and some of the most memorable moments included a keynote speaker from The Wall Street Journal, a speaker session led by a Fordham alum who works at Giphy, a marketing strategy competition, and (my favorite) the exhibit competition.

The colleges and universities in attendance had the chance to showcase what their chapter of AMA has accomplished throughout the year by constructing an exhibit that creatively displays chapter activities as well as the conference theme, “Market Ambitiously.”

Fordham ended up winning 2nd place for “Best Use of Conference Theme” with our NYC-themed exhibit. It was such a fun and inspiring weekend, and I am so grateful that Fordham supports student organizations in such a big way.

Sophia Woody GSB ‘19

Interning in NYC

At this point you have probably heard about all of the amazing internship opportunities Fordham students have going to school in New York, and as a current student and intern myself, I can only confirm what you have already heard! Currently I am an intern at Viacom, where I work as a communications intern with their Comedy Central, Paramount Network, and TV Land brands. Interning at Viacom has been one of the best parts of my Fordham experience and being at this internship since September, it has definitely left a mark on my senior year experience.

As a communications intern, I get to track press about the three networks, sit in on staff meetings, and help with the occasional press release. Interning at a company which puts out some of my favorite shows like TV Land’s Younger and Comedy Central’s Broad City has been a dream come true and I don’t think it would have been possible without the people I have met and the classes I have taken at Fordham.

Lots of free cupcakes, for whatever reason!

I got to see Abbi Jacobson from Broad City!

Kirsten Nolan FCRH ‘19

Making Music at Fordham

One of the major concerns students often face when deciding where to go to school is how they’re going to make friends in a place where they know almost no one. That was definitely one of my concerns. I was the only person from my school to come to Fordham and finding people to talk to was a huge worry my freshman year. But lucky for me, Fordham makes finding friends easy.

The first week of school there’s always a club fair where everyone walks around and finds different organizations they think they might like to be a part of. I managed to find myself in the orchestra. I loved playing the flute in high school and wasn’t sure if I was going to participate in a music ensemble in college but when I stopped by the table at the club fair the president convinced me it was worth a try.

I couldn’t do it my first semester due to a scheduling conflict, but my second semester I jumped right in and a year later I’m on the executive board. I’ve met so many fun people through orchestra and in fact a few of my roommates for next year are in the group. The orchestra is such a great way to hang out with a bunch of people that are passionate about the same thing that I am and to play some pretty awesome music. We just had our spring concert a few days ago and it was so fun! Now I’m not recommending that everyone join the orchestra, because after all you have to have a very specific skill set to do so, but I am advising that all students try to get involved in something their freshman year because no matter what you’re looking for, Fordham has a club for it and it’s an amazing opportunity at an amazing school.

Genevieve Zola FCRH ‘21

SPRING PREVIEW

This weekend, the Fordham University Office of Undergraduate Admissions is hosting our annual Spring Preview! Accepted students from all over the country and all over the world will come visit our Lincoln Center campus on Saturday and our Rose Hill campus on Sunday. Students will get a complete feel for what it’s like to be a Fordham Ram with events like the President’s Welcome Address, classroom conversations, academic program presentations, a club fair, and so much more! If you are unable to join us this weekend in person, feel free to stay tuned by keeping up with the Fordham University’s Instagram Story! We can’t wait to see you!!

Wait, should I study abroad?

Going through college itself can be a rollercoaster of an experience. You will meet new friends, create new memories, and try new things. In all, college is just a self-development phase where you get to know more about yourself and where you get to break out of your shell.

However, how does one "break out of their shell." For me, this happened when I decided to study abroad in the Spring of 2019 during my sophomore year. When I decided to apply, I was ready to try something new and to witness new cultures and let me tell you; I LOVE IT! Growing up, I hated trying new things, and I never wanted to break outside of my comfort zone, but this study abroad experience changed my perception on just trying new things and encountering new ways to live.

I decided to study abroad at the new London Centre Fordham which opened in Clerkenwell. The center is modern and very accommodating. Since I am in the business school, I take my classes with my cohort. Because Lincoln Center and Rose Hill students both study at the center, I made new friends from Lincoln Center which is something that might be quite hard if you never really go to the other campus often. Moreover, the classes are once a week, and there is no class on Fridays. This means that there is plenty of time to travel and explore London and Europe in general.

So far, I have visited great cities like Prague, Barcelona, Madrid, Granada, Budapest, Rome, and Amsterdam. These experiences opened my eyes to the rest of the world. There is just so much to see, and I am grateful that I got to study abroad and go to these places because not many people get to do this.

So, if you are wondering if you should study abroad, I would highly recommend that you do. It is a great experience and will probably be the best four months of your life.

Budapest!

Granada!

Neel Patel GSB’21

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