Best of: Indoor activities

Looking to avoid the cold weather and spend some free time off campus this semester? New York City is full of indoor activities that will keep students out on the town but away from the bitter cold outside.

Indoor volleyball
If the winter months spark an urge to spend a day at the beach, why not gather a group of friends for a game of indoor beach volleyball? That’s right, slide in the sand in January at Chelsea Piers Sports Center (Pier 60, at 23rd Street and the Hudson River) between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Beach volleyball tournaments, advanced beach volleyball classes, and open play games—available to people of all skill levels—are held on an indoor court. Unless they are already members, students will have to get a day pass ($50), which allows access to all of the club’s amenities. To take full advantage, visitors can also go for a swim in the indoor pool or climb up one of the 46-foot bouldering walls.

Hot yoga
Those looking to stretch their dollar can head down to one of the “ Yoga to the People” hot yoga studio locations (1017 Sixth Ave., at 38th Street, and 115 W. 27th St., between Sixth and Seventh avenues). Classes, like Hot Vinyasa and Traditional Hot Yoga, are held throughout the day for 60-90 minutes. Men and women of all ages and skill levels are welcome to attend as long as they come prepared to sweat with a mat, a towel, and water. The classes cost $5 each, and if a mat and towel prove impossible to find, they are available for rent at $2 each. Evening classes can fill up quickly, so yogis should make sure to arrive at least ten minutes early.

Dance classes
Barnard and Columbia already offer a large variety of dance classes, but students might want to check out Steps on Broadway (2121 Broadway, at 74th Street) dance studio for even more opportunities to shake that groove thing. A broad range of students attends classes at Steps­—from the most advanced ballerina to the most basic beginner tap dancer. For those hoping to learn a bit of jazz or hip-hop or even belly dance, a single class is $17, while a 10-class series pass costs $155.

Fat Cat lounge
Those with a competitive edge can show it off in a game of pool, shuffleboard, ping-pong, or even Scrabble at the famous West Village gaming lounge, Fat Cat (75 Christopher St., at Seventh Avenue). Get into a heated match of backgammon or just lounge around in one of the comfy couches lining the venue and enjoy the live jazz music featured most nights. There is a $3 cover at the door and additional hourly rates for the different games available. The competitive bar is raised even farther on Sunday afternoons and Tuesday evenings when the Fat Cat hosts ping-pong and foosball tournaments.