Katherine Freedman

Humblebrag verb 1. to subtly let others know about how fantastic your life is while undercutting it with a bit of self-effacing humor or "woe is me" gloss. --- Urban Dictionary. Sound familiar? These have been taking over Facebook and Twitter feeds recently, even going so far as to invade CU Admirers, so chances are that you've probably rolled your eyes at one of them in the past day. Or perhaps you've even invented a few yourself! (No shame. This writer knows she is guilty.) The term has even prompted a New York Times article, so like "YOLO" and "Gangnam Style," it's here to stay. To give you a good idea of what these look like so that you can learn to spot and then avoid them in the future, read on for a list of Columbia-inspired Facebook brags: 1. Of course the night I go to Le Cirque for Restaurant Week is the night John Jay serves steak. 2. Can't believe I was wearing sweats when I ran into Daniel Radcliffe and Joseph Gordon-Levitt on College Walk today… 3. Just realized my stat midterm is the day after I get back from Spring Break in the Bahamas… guess I'll just have to try to study while tanning and getting drunk #multitasking #ugghhmore 4. I knew my housing was too good to be true. Apparently I might have to share my 350-foot single and perfect view of downtown Manhattan with some rodent friends. 5. Waited in line for TWENTY hours for SNL tickets. Jennifer Lawrence and Taylor Swift better bring their game. 6. 4 final exams, 2 final papers, and a take-home exam stand in the way between me and baguettes and brie at Reid Hall. :) 7. Stupid Scholars Reception with PrezBo made me miss my yoga class. Plus the five-course banquet is going to totally ruin my diet. #bikinireadynomore 8. Got turned down from Peace Corps. Oh well, at least I have that Wall Street job as a backup. 9. Why didn't I check my email this morning?! Showed up for class to find out it was cancelled. 10.Got my last choice for Urban New York. Guess I'm seeing Wicked for a second time... 11. Got the lead in CMTS' next production opposite of Ben Platt! Hello, endless rehearsals and falling grades.

Was that a Broadway show or a rock concert? With electric guitars and amplifiers onstage and actors shouting (or screaming) lyrics, there's an increasingly fine line between musicals and high-caliber jam sessions. Of course, high-octane musicals aren't an entirely new phenomenon. Rock became part of the musical theater scene back in the '60s, with the premiere of Hair. Ever since, rock musicals have been on and off the Broadway listings; notable examples of the form include Jesus Christ Superstar, Grease, and Little Shop of Horrors. When Rent became a hit in 1996, producers started putting on rock musicals more frequently. Spring Awakening, Next to Normal, American Idiot, and most recently Bare have all emerged within the past decade, which raises a few questions: Are rock musicals the future of mainstream theater? Is the target demographic of theatergoers shifting from middle-aged women to young people in their teens and 20s? And most importantly, what is the future of Broadway, and will it lose touch with its golden age past? Steven Chaikelson, a member of the theater faculty in the School of the Arts and founder of Snug Harbor Productions, points out that there is no grand plan to tap into younger theatergoers. "In fact, there's no grand plan for anything on Broadway," Chaikelson explains. "There's no organization on Broadway. Broadway is a sort of weird animal in that every season is made up of individual producers or individual theater companies. There may be an individual producer or certain producers who are really interested in family fare, or reaching out to young audiences because they believe that they're the audiences of the future, but there's no concerted effort." The rock musical trend, according to Chaikelson, is largely a result of producers following the money. "Producers produce shows because they want to produce something memorable and artistic, but also because they want to sell tickets. So having individual successful shows with rock music on Broadway leads to more shows with rock music on Broadway." Some industry members have concerns about the genre: Songs written for rock musicals are often behind current pop trends, characters tend to be hollow, and shows can't match the impact and spontaneity of a rock concert. Wendy Waterman, a professor at the Juilliard School and a member of the Barnard theater department, worries that rock musicals have a tendency to not tell a compelling story. "Often the music is just wandering rather than using craft to build the story. I like rock musicals as long as they really tell the character's story and they're not just about howling." Waterman believes that theatergoers might mistake musicals like these for real storytelling: "The audience misses the experience of an actor really living through something that's more than just affect." According to Waterman, there's often a kind of superstar showmanship in rock musicals. "There is nothing wrong with showmanship. It is a component of performance, but it is meaningless without character and story. Something has to back that showmanship." Some shows in the rock genre involve a lot of screaming and little substance, but others have something to add to the world of mainstream theater in New York City. Stafford Arima is the director of Bare, an off-Broadway rock musical about teens dealing with identity, sexuality, and religion at a coed Catholic boarding school. He notes that recent rock-angst musicals, such as Bare, Next to Normal, and Rent, often deal with the subject of healing. "I think it's important that writers, directors, and producers realize the element of healing is an important aspect of what theater is able to do," Arima explains. "If we can shed some light on the situations younger people are experiencing, then works like Bare really have a wonderful place. They can start connecting with people, characters, and situations that are perhaps happening in their lives or peripheral lives." None of these three theater insiders believe that Broadway will be taken over by rock. "I think we're going to continue to have all different kinds of music coexisting," Chaikelson states. "And I think we're going to see an expansion in all different types and styles of music that wind up being on Broadway." Arima agrees that there is room for all. He points out that it's even possible to blend the old with the new, citing The Book of Mormon, a contemporary work with a traditional form. "All of these elements are coming together and bringing new life to theater in ways that are exciting for the ears, because diversity is important in any art form," Arima says. "I'm thrilled that if people come to NYC and see a Broadway show it's not just a musical comedy: Sometimes it's a rock musical, sometimes it's a dance musical. It's all part of the exciting evolution of the musical genre." The world of theater is evolving, not dying; trends may come and go, but great theater will endure. "When there's good theater, in any genre, people sit on the edge of their seats and are so much more focused and attentive," Waterman says. "They might not know what's different, but they do appreciate it. That gives me hope that good theater will always be done, and that there will always be people attracted to it."

It may be tempting for graduates to take advantage of a dinner paid for by mom and dad by suggesting a fancy downtown restaurant, but a few neighborhood eateries may give them reason to stick close to campus. Cozy Uptown Italian With friends and relatives in town for graduation, dare to dine off the beaten Broadway path with a meal at Max Soha. Located on an unostentatious stretch of Amsterdam at 123rd Street, the restaurant has a charmingly cramped interior, creating the initial impression that it's a neighborhood secret—that is, until peak dining hours arrive and tables fill up almost instantly. Despite the likelihood of needing to wait for a table, for smaller groups of diners seeking a satisfying, intimate meal, the squeeze around a tiny corner table is worth it. Although patrons run the risk of unintentionally elbowing their neighbors while picking up their forks, Max Soha's food is all-around delicious. Pastas are prepared relatively simply, with only three or four added ingredients. Gnocchi alla sorrentina is a standout, served only with tomato sauce, basil, and a deliciously creamy homemade mozzarella. The gnocchi are chewy yet pillowy, and the portion size is perfect—large enough to be filling, but moderate enough to prevent overeating. The rigatoni alla siciliana is also excellent, roasted eggplant playing a hearty counterpoint to chewy mozzarella. With all pasta dishes and entrees costing $10 to $17 each, an evening at Max Soha makes for a reasonably priced family meal. Be warned, however, that the restaurant only accepts cash. Still, regardless of this and any other potential inconveniences due to the confining space, students can impress their graduation guests with this relatively hidden gem north of campus if they're willing to get cozy. —Maddy Kloss Organic eats for any meal of the day Community Food & Juice, located on Broadway between 112th and 113th streets, offers a dish to please everyone from great-grandmas to middle-school siblings. All will appreciate that this outpost of American cuisine uses seasonal, local, and organic ingredients whenever possible to serve up comfort food with a healthy twist. For graduation breakfasts, try the brioche French toast served with caramelized bananas and roasted pecans. The two giant slices of sugary, dense brioche are fragrant with cinnamon and vanilla. Be sure to ask for pure maple syrup, which arrives warm with hints of orange flavor. For picky relatives who like their food personalized, the Community omelet is a good option. Customers can choose two items from a wide array of vegetables, meat, and cheeses. For lunch, go for a spring market salad. This salad lives up to its name, epitomizing spring with incredibly fresh vegetables that taste as if they were picked that morning and include leafy green lettuce, mache, spring onions, poached baby carrots, English peas, and shallots, all topped with a crispy goat cheese disc. The walnut vinaigrette is light, allowing diners to taste all the vivid flavors. The dinner menu is similarly inspired by seasonal ingredients, and entrees hover around $20. Coconut banana cream pie, the most popular dessert, is not overly sweet: a cool, smooth banana coconut filling on a crunchy graham cracker crust, with a dollop of fresh whipped cream. Community has a sleek, sophisticated ambiance with individual and communal tables and a wall of windows along Broadway. Graduates and their families can savor not just the food, but also the Morningside Heights sidewalk scene.  —Katherine Freedman Henry's offers classy ambiance to please picky parents Among the upscale dining options in Morningside Heights, Henry's, located on the corner of 105th and Broadway, features the chef with perhaps the most illustrious pedigree. Mark Barrett, who once worked at Mario Batali's critically acclaimed Babbo, now serves a nice, although pricey, meal for people in the neighborhood. Henry's rustic dining room features bare wood floors and checkered tablecloths, creating an unpretentious and friendly atmosphere. Not quite charming but perfectly inviting, this space will play host to swarms of graduating students and their families over the coming days, and for a good reason. Everything about Henry's, from the food to the décor, seems predictable and solid, qualities rarely found in similar establishments this far uptown. At Henry's, Barrett has constructed a menu that feels uncomfortably eclectic. Soft corn tacos appear alongside baked ricotta meatballs and duck confit spring rolls with hoisin dipping sauce. Mexican meets Italian meets French-Asian all over the sprawling carte—or carta, depending on which global cuisine one picks at random. Sticking with Italian options is a logical choice considering Barrett's background. Look for Greenmarket produce, too, since Henry's makes a distinct effort to include these seasonal ingredients. For example, a Greenmarket apple-fennel salad combines shaved fennel bulb, licorice-like and grassy, with surprisingly sweet apple slices. Hazelnuts add crunch, feta hunks add richness, and a bright lemon dressing adds a touch of acidity. For a main course, fresh pasta beats Henry's price point of about $20 for a dinner entree and possesses an admirable bite. Although a dish of fettuccine with Hudson Valley rabbit feels watery and improperly sauced, the noodles themselves succeed and work well with sweet peas and bitter kalamata olives. Or give in and lay out the cash for soft-shell crab, just in season and a current special. —Jason Bell

While there's nothing like munching something naughty while watching a good movie, it's never a good feeling to hand over $5 for a pack of M&M's—especially when gourmet treats are available for the same price or less. In particular, Lincoln Center is a hot spot for great desserts, and the area happens to house both AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 for feature films, and Lincoln Plaza Cinemas for art-house flicks. Bouchon Bakery, on the third floor of the Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle, will fly taste buds nonstop to Paris. It's difficult to forget about the tiny but extravagant "fugheddaboutit" ($3.25), a Rice Krispies treat layered with caramel, covered with milk chocolate, and topped with sea salt. The crispy rice gives the "fugheddaboutit" a crunchy texture, and the mixture of sweetness and saltiness reaches perfection. Macaroons, priced at $3, seem like some of Bouchon Bakery's most popular items. The passion fruit coconut macaroon has a light, tangy crust with a thick, creamy coconut filling. Madeleines are another specialty. Although a dubious shade of green, the pistachio madeleines, at $1 each, possess a fluffy cake-like consistency, and a rich but not overpowering pistachio flavor. While gelato seems like a tricky dessert to sneak in a pocket or purse to eat during a movie, Screme Gelato Bar (between 69th and 70th streets on Broadway) is well worth a visit before or after a film. Made fresh daily, Screme's gelato is some of the best, and perhaps most unique, gelato in the city. Their flavors, which differ every day, can be followed on Twitter, and include Nutella Brownie, Fresh Fig, Key Lime Vodka, and Banana Bread, along with other, more conventional flavors. This gelato feels so rich that a single scoop, priced at a lofty $5, will likely be all that students desire. Try the Snickers gelato, a cool creamy chocolate base sprinkled with crunchy, salty peanuts. When students are anywhere close to Levain Bakery (74th Street and Amsterdam) their noses will be able to lead them the rest of the way. Levain is famous for their six-ounce cookies—chocolate chip walnut, dark chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, and dark chocolate peanut butter chip. They come fresh from the oven every thirty to forty-five minutes. Priced at $4, students might want to share these cookies, not just to save money, but also to avoid a chocolate coma. The chocolate chip walnut is Levain's most popular flavor, with a simply utopian chocolate chip to walnut ratio. Indeed, this ridiculously decadent dessert will make Chips Ahoy a last resort. If "Hot Tub Time Machine" isn't enough of a draw to Lincoln Center, perhaps the lure of freshly made French pastries, gelato, or chocolate chip cookies will do the trick.

Columbia students hardly have to leave Morningside Heights to eat one of Levain Bakery's famous cookies. On Tuesday, Levain opened an outpost in Harlem (2167 Fredrick Douglass Blvd., at 117th Street)—in dangerously close proximity for those addicted to their baked goods. The new Levain sells the same baked goods as their Upper West Side location, with the exception of sandwiches and breads. In the future, they might sell sugary treats unique to the Harlem location. The cookies, priced at $4 each, are about the diameter of a bagel and over an inch thick. They arrive fresh from the oven every 35 to 40 minutes, which means they are usually still warm when purchased. Four varieties accommodate all: chocolate chip walnut, dark chocolate chocolate chip, dark chocolate peanut butter chip, and oatmeal raisin. Each has its own merits, and one cannot help feeling like a mother deciding which of her children is best. There's a reason their signature cookie, the chocolate chip walnut, won against Bobby Flay's version in Food Network's "Throwdown." The outside is a crisp golden brown, the inside is slightly gooey, and there are plenty of semisweet chocolate chips and walnuts in every bite. It teeters toward the side of undercooked, but in a good way, with all the ingredients oozing together. The dark chocolate chocolate chip cookie is prepared with extra-dark French cocoa and high-quality, semisweet chocolate chips. This creation is for serious chocoholics only. The chocolate peanut butter chip cookie is similar to the dark chocolate chocolate chip cookie, but instead of chocolate chips it has peanut butter chips. If a dark chocolate Reese's peanut butter cup were reincarnated as a cookie, this would be it. One might assume the oatmeal raisin cookie would be something of a runner-up among its chocolaty siblings—the one cookie that did not make it into the Ivy League of Cookies. But this cookie is just as good as the others. Rolled oats and plump raisins make this cookie the healthiest option of the four, and no less sweet. A mere 10-minute walk from campus, the new Levain will surely become a popular destination for students looking for fuel for midterms or a sweet break from studying. Even diet-conscious students have a good excuse to go—the walk back to school up the Morningside Park stairs is sure to burn at least some of those calories.

Students spending Thanksgiving on campus may be tempted to stay in and microwave a turkey hot dog, but even those used to the fare of the great Oscar Mayer might find it dreary to eat such cuisine on Turkey Day. One lovely, albeit pricey, alternative to dining at home alone is Sarabeth's West (423 Amsterdam Ave.)—the prix fixe Thanksgiving offering is $60 per person. This elegant restaurant, not far from Columbia, offers a Thanksgiving menu to rival grandma's, with dishes such as free-range turkey, maple sweet potatoes, orange cranberry compote, sausage apple stuffing, and giblet gravy. There will also be conventional Thanksgiving desserts such as pumpkin pie, apple crumb pie, and pecan pie with vanilla ice cream. A less-expensive option, at $32.95 per person, is Amsterdam Restaurant and Tapas Lounge (1207 Amsterdam Ave.). Less-traditional appetizers such as smoked gouda crab cakes with mango-lime chutney and duck egg rolls add zest to the traditional meal. For students who can never get enough turkey, Pappardella (316 Columbus Ave.) might be the best choice, with a prix fixe menu at $29.95 per person. At Pappardella, a turkey dinner is served family style, allowing customers to take seconds and thirds. The meal consists of American and Italian holiday favorites, even mixing the best cuisine of both countries together in desserts such as chocolate pecan pie with vanilla gelato. Webster Hall (125 E. 11th St.), meanwhile, caters to people who like to party before eating their turkey. The club will host a huge party on Thanksgiving Eve with ten DJs. This colossal nightclub in the East Village holds about 2,500 partygoers, and $45 tickets are available to students aged 19 and older. Another place to party before filling up on turkey is the Thanksgiving Eve rooftop party at Hudson Terrace (621 W. 46th St.). The setting makes it easy to feel the Thanksgiving spirit—breathtaking views of the Hudson River will make attendees grateful to live in such a beautiful city. Doors open at 9 p.m., and the entry fee is $15. Students who prefer to cook in their dorms could hold a Thanksgiving potluck and invite friends to bring dishes inspired by their own family celebrations. If students opt to cook the traditional meal on their own, there are many shortcuts they can take, such as buying pre-made pie crust for pumpkin pie or even buying pie and making homemade whipped cream. (This can be accomplished by pouring one cup of heavy whipping cream into a bowl, adding a tablespoon or two of sugar, and beating ingredients with a blender or whisk until fluffy.) Students can also buy a pre-cooked turkey breast instead of cooking an entire bird, which means more time to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV. The conventional family dinner is not the only way to celebrate Thanksgiving—possibilities abound for spending the holiday in the city. If going home for Thanksgiving break is not an option, there's still plenty of opportunities for Columbians to grab some friends and start a new Turkey Day tradition.

The Third Annual Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival serves up something for everyone from this weekend through Oct. 10. It sounds like a potential "Real Housewives of New York"-type event, but one need not know the exact ingredients in ratatouille or be able to guess the year of a bottle of Château Mouton Rothschild to appreciate the celebration. The festival, which takes place mainly in the Meatpacking District, features legendary chefs and culinary personalities from New York and around the world—think Daniel Boulud and Ming Tsai swapping recipes with Bobby Flay and Paula Deen. Ticket prices range dramatically from $10 to $1,000, but the majority are between $40 and $100. No need to feel guilty about the splurge, though, since 100 percent of the proceeds go toward the hunger relief organizations Food Bank for New York City and Share Our Strength. Among the more affordable events are "TimesTalks—New York's Star-Studded Chefs" ($30), which takes place Friday night at the Times Center. Iconic chefs Boulud, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and Michael White will talk about getting to the top of the food world and staying there. Food Network addicts will relish the chance to get a cookbook signed by stars such as Rachael Ray and Giada De Laurentiis. The signings are free and take place throughout the weekend. For example, De Laurentiis will be signing books Saturday at the Welcome Center, located at 10th Avenue and West 15th Street. "Illy's Master Barista Series: Be Your Own Barista" is sure to be well attended by students who down coffee like it's water. Attendees will learn how to prepare top-quality, espresso-based drinks and even have the opportunity to taste-test. Anyone who has ever gone to a restaurant because Bobby Flay had a "throwdown" there will want to attend "The New York Insider," which will be held Saturday. For $35, attendees will meet New York's top restaurant owners and sommeliers and find out where they go when they're not working. Nowadays, it seems every other restaurant claims to use local ingredients, but is this really true? The "Panel Discussion: Has the Word 'Local' Lost All Its Meaning?," which takes place Friday, will help those who are skeptical by addressing whether the "local" movement has staying power. Students who attend the festival will likely develop a better understanding of current food issues, and plus, they will find out the latest happenings in the New York restaurant scene. Now that midterms have arrived, friends will surely appreciate those newly acquired coffee-making skills.