Now that I’ve been in New York City for two weeks, I’ve had a chance to begin exploring this incredible place, but I’ve also taken quite a hard hit on my bank account. Being a broke college student, I have a very tight budget when it comes to personal luxuries, but I still want to enjoy what the city has to offer, from exotic dining to cultural sites.

As far as eating out goes, I’ll have to tighten my belt a little; I’ve already eaten in a few great places, but I’m keeping my eye on cheap places. Here are a few tips I’ve learned so far about living affordably in ANY city for the summer:

• Always look for a student rate at museums. The Met and other major museums will always have student rates, so bring your college ID; you’ll be able to enjoy a taste of culture at about half price.

• Cook for yourself. It’s great to try new places to eat, but you can’t eat out every day. Restaurants will be a serious blow to your finances, so if you have access to a kitchen, use it! Find your closest grocery store and stock up on easy-to-prepare foods like pasta. Liven up your meals by getting a recipe book and stocking up on fresh vegetables. Read More »

Something Old: The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh (1979)

Something New: Semi-Pro (2008)

The Connection: Both are disco-licious basketball comedies – my favorite genre

I am a cynic by nature. I don’t go to church. I don’t play the lottery. I don’t read books that the general population agrees are good. I don’t watch Extreme Home Makeover. I don’t think Barack Obama can revolutionize America. I don’t believe in procreation. I don’t coo over puppies.

But one of the few things that can consistently penetrate my hard-ass realist exterior is an underdog sports movie. Seriously. I can’t explain it, but ever since Rudy, this cheesiest of movie genres has had the ability to burrow in to my stone-cold heart and leave me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside, and sometimes even a little teary-eyed. It’s embarrassing but true, and I take a special kind of guilty pleasure in indulging this ever-so-sissy aspect of myself.

And while The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh is certainly no Rudy, it does the double-duty of being a satisfying underdog sports film and a campy tribute to the disco age (YESSSS!). Set in, duh, Pittsburgh, the film centers around a pro basketball team called the Pittsburgh Pythons that’s on the brink of extinction due to their horrendous track record. In an attempt to save the team, the young waterboy contacts an astrologer (Stockard Channing) to ask for advice, and she determines that the key to success is to create a team of players born under the sign Pisces – hence, the film’s title. Read More »

Put a “Mork” in it–it’s done! More like Mrs. Doubt-fired! Can’t-”Patch”-up-this-marriage Adams.

I could go on, but I think you get the gist: Robin Williams is ending his 19-year marriage to Marcia Garces Williams, the former nanny of his child with another wife, Valerie Valardi (holy baby mama drama, Batman!). REPORTS cite “irreconcilable differences.”

All I can say is: sad face.

Who cares if his volume of body hair exceeds that of any animal featured alongside him in Jumanji? Robin Williams is a wildly talented and totally hilarious mofo, with a pretty extensive acting range–he was behind the greatest story of forbidden love ever, FernGully, and then went on to win an Oscar for his role in Good Will Hunting.

So, in the wake of this devastating news, I’m going to go back in Robin Williams time and think about all the interesting movies he has done…

#5: Mrs. Doubtfire

Talk about character development! But more importantly, talk about how ADORABLE Matthew Lawrence is!! What’s he up to these days, anyway? Do you think he’s single?…Perhaps looking to mingle? Wait, where was I–Oh, right! Read More »