The wind is picking up, the coats are coming out, Eddie’s looks like a mud pile after Homecoming. It’s getting time to do our studying inside. But why should we be confined to our boring rooms, the drab Walsh Library or the weird plastic tents outside of Starbucks and Cosi?
Autumn and the coming winter are some of the prettiest times to explore New York City. The leaves are falling, and soon all the Christmas lights will be shining. If you’re going to be stuck studying for finals, why not do it somewhere in our beautiful city?
Personally, I love studying in the city and making a whole day of it. But, the most important part of this is the study spot. My criteria: good drinks, maybe a bite to eat, a vibe straight from my favorite novels and close proximity to something fun to do afterwards. So, even though no one really asked, here are my top four places to study in New York City.
NewsBar Café, 107 University Pl.:
Located about a block south of Union Square Station, NewsBar Café is a fun, green and delicious study spot. This was the first non-Starbucks coffee shop I visited when I was a baby freshman at Fordham, and it is still one of my favorite spots in the city. From a great seasonal drink menu to some delicious sandwiches and soups, it’s a great spot to grab a quick bite when you’re out in the city. It also has multiple seating options for studying: inside and two separate areas outside. While it is possible to snag a table during the lunch rush (I’m writing this from here at 12:34 p.m. on a Wednesday), I would avoid the 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekday times, purely just to avoid waiting in line. Lastly, as someone who is an avid headphone user, this was the first time in a very long time that I did my work without my own Spotify playlists rolling through my AirPods — the playlist in NewsBar fit the same green aesthetic as the café itself. If you find yourself here during the wintertime, I highly recommend getting a gingerbread latte to go along with your rigorous finals studying. And when you’re done, treat yourself to a trip to the Strand Book Store, only two blocks east of NewsBar!
New York Public Library, 476 Fifth Ave.:
The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is the main branch of the New York Public Library (NYPL) system. It’s only two blocks west of Grand Central, making it an easy trip on the Metro-North from Rose Hill. You’ve probably heard about this one already, as it has some museum elements that draw in a lot of tourists. However, this is, by far, my favorite place to study in the city. I come here when I want peace and quiet, when I want to pretend I’m living in a dark academia novel or when I just want to get a ton of work done. The only downside to this location is that you can’t bring drinks in unless they are in a water bottle. My advice is to either chug a coffee on your way to the library or stop at one of the many coffee shops around NYPL. Lastly, come wintertime, why not take a stroll through the Bryant Park Winter Village right behind the library? At least for me, it’s the perfect way to end an excruciating study session, drinking some hot cocoa and watching people (beautifully or horribly) ice skate.
Irving Farm, 224 W 79th St.:
While I was writing this article, I realized I didn’t have a study spot in the Upper West Side. So, after some research, I found Irving Farm. It’s an easy ride on the 1 train from Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus and not even a block away from 79th St. station. As per my usual quality study spot requirements, Irving Farm has a good drink and food menu. There are two seating areas — one up front by the counter and one tucked away in the back — giving you plenty of room for a good study session. A bonus: it has charging stations at almost every table. This comes in handy when you’re trying to study before your three-hour-long LC class and your MacBook Air circa 2020 battery life is much shorter than it used to be. The only downside is that there isn’t any WiFi here, or at least none that I could find. So, this is really only a good study place if you have a personal hotspot (thank you, T-Mobile). Even though Irving Farm is right off of Broadway, the streets are pretty quiet, making it a relaxing escape from the hustle and bustle of traditional NYC. After your study session, you can hit up the Barnes & Noble a few blocks away on Broadway — something I didn’t know until I hopped off the train and realized I have incredible luck.
outro nyc, 816 Broadway:
The last study spot I’ll mention here is also by the Strand, because who would I be if I didn’t plan all of my study locations around where the nearest bookstore is? outro nyc is, in my opinion, the coolest of all of these locations based on vibe alone. A few blocks away from Union Square Station, this is an easy, accessible and delicious place to visit. My first time studying here, it was raining and cold, and yet, with the partially-covered patio in the back, I was able to study “outside.” I looked up and saw the rain drops hitting the ceiling, but my computer (thankfully) stayed dry and I finished a week’s worth of work in one sitting. But don’t worry, there is also plenty of indoor seating for those slightly too cold days. What really sold me on outro nyc was their impressive drink menu. Now, I’m not a big matcha girl, but their iced matcha rose was absolutely delicious. While it’s not too far from the NewsBar Café mentioned prior, they have completely different vibes, and I highly recommend taking time to visit both when you’re in the city.
