Rae Binstock

There's a moment that every vegan dreads: the first time that a new group of friends goes out to eat together. Everyone stands there debating burger joints, pizza places, and sushi bars, and you're getting less and less hungry, and then eventually there comes that awful moment when someone turns to you and asks, "Hey, what place are you thinking?" Because as delicious as the burgers are at Deluxe, and as wonderfully greasy and gargantuan as a jumbo slice at Koronet's is, there aren't a lot of vegan options on the table at either spot. Of course, vegans can satisfy their no-meat, no-eggs, no-dairy cravings with an entire bread basket and a salad the size of Butler Library, but it's no fun to always have to choose between the least healthy items on the menu and a mound of greens with a few desiccated croutons thrown in. For the vegans out there, here's a list of some eateries where you can go with friends who eat anything from meat to asphalt. Check out the list after the jump.more

Oh, Hamilton Deli. You really are the truest of friends. Whenever I'm blue, whenever I'm down, I can count on you for the best comfort food between College Walk and Koronet's. And let me just say right here, HamDel, that even when the diameter of that Koronet's pizza pie finally manages to exceed the wingspan of a bald eagle, I will still tell anyone who'll listen that you've got the quality over quantity any day. No one is quite as understanding of my desire for packaged, panini-pressed, peppered, and produce, all at the same time. And for under ten bucks. Yes, it's not easy to be dissatisfied with HamDel: the deli has secured its place in the hearts of Columbians with varied offerings, low prices, and a tendency to not care how old their customers are as long as they don't look stupid. Here's a breakdown of some of the best (and totally legal) at HamDel. more 1. Lam's plantain chips Any product that can be flavored with garlic, lemon, or chili and lime is worth munching on, and at a buck a bag they're a steal. 2. Pesto chicken cheese pasta Never have I heard so many words I enjoy put together so deliciously. And somehow it works in real life! 3. Packaged cookies There's an entire wall of humongous packs of cookies---anything from chocolate cream to English shortbread. The bulk and the variety are perfect for late-night snacking. 4. The "Oh Barbara" A sandwich that's meatier than a Coen Brothers' script, cheesier than Modern Family, and as perfectly toasted as Morgan Freeman at an Academy Awards dinner. By the way, who's Barbara? 5. Shakes Three classic favors and an espresso shot option. Why aren't you drinking one right now? 6. Sandwiches (duh) Literally no requirement other than meat and size that defies the capacity of man's imagination. For when you are at a serious level of hungry. 7. Yogurt-covered pretzels The snack that every other snack wishes they were as cool as. Sweet and crunchy and oh so easy to eat in one sitting. 8. "The Twister" Grilled to perfection and not afraid to skimp on the veggies, this sandwich is kind of like a hug: familiar and always pleasing. 9. "Gravy Train" A newer sandwich made of chicken, cheese, and gravy, basically designed for the purpose of turning a sad and hungry night into an awesome and savory one. 10. Vegetable samosas They cost virtually nothing, you can cram a bunch in your pocket, and they taste like spicy magic.

I'm from Massachusetts—specifically Cambridge, Massachusetts, which is right across the river from Boston. In other words, I grew up in the Northeast next to the Atlantic, so I know cold.

Waiting in line at Momofuku Milk Bar's brand new Upper West Side location on Saturday was kind of like house-training a new puppy: it's frustrating and you just don't want to bother, but if you stick it out, you'll end up with something amazing. The simile isn't perfect, but I think it captures the spirit of Momofuku's new spot at 561 Columbus Avenue near 87th Street.more The lack of air-conditioning is really the center of Momofuku's dark side. Stepping through the doors, one questions why they bother using ovens when the pastries could've baked perfectly just sitting out on the counter. The line of half-a-dozen people, which could barely fit inside the shop, was a silent, cranky area where tensions ran high when anyone who took more than five seconds to order. They did provide ice water in a jug, though, and the sitting area itself---a bar on the far wall, several wooden block-chairs, and a somewhat ambiguous platform by the front window---would definitely be much nicer with fewer people crammed inside. The staff, while cheerful and helpful, seemed to have transcended mere human discomforts like heat, and were in no rush. Once you finally get your food, though, you forget all about the hellish line. The cookies are  moist and rich: the compost cookie is the most highly regarded, although it was the blueberry & cream and the cornflake-marshmallow that really made the most lasting impression. At $1.85 a pop, these cookies are excellent value for their size. The truffles are also surprisingly cheap---$4 for three good-size pieces---and stay just shy of too sweet. The birthday cake truffles taste like happiness and childhood, by the way---a solid investment. The pie and the soft serve are also delicious but they cost a lot more for less food. The crack pie, Momofuku's prime seller, is basically a fantastic crème brûlée in a pie crust, and certainly lives up to its hype (don't overindulge though; the sugar crash from one slice alone is terrifying). There are two soft-serve options: strawberries and cream, which is delightful, and cereal milk, which tastes somewhat disconcertingly of that 2% milk you always leave at the bottom of your bowl, and is not worth getting without the accompanying cornflake topping. It's all great, but for $5.25 a pie-slice and $6 for a cup of ice cream, you're much better off getting three cookies for five bucks, three truffles for $4, and rounding your bakery spree off with six items for under $10. They also offer pork buns and veggie buns (egg optional), as well as some more conventional breads and coffee. But these items are mere distractions from the array of sugary treats that are the only reason to schlep down 30 blocks from campus. The upshot of Momofuku: buy cookies and truffles if you're in the mood for cheaper bulk, buy pie or soft serve if you just want a simple nosh, and find somewhere outside to sit down and bask in the magical dessert aura of your purchases. If you're craving something different from the traditional bakery fare, Momofuku will cater (at 100 degrees) to your every need.

Freshman year is a time for new and interesting experiences: first loves, first final exams, and first naïve visit to Health Services in search of actual medical help. But no matter, every freshman has to spend a year with a meal plan—and then, in most cases, spend three more years alternately enjoying culinary freedom and cursing the ease with which their fellow students swipe into Ferris for bottomless soda and carrot cake. Is having a meal plan really so bad—or put another way, is not having one really so great?

Growing up, my mother was absolutely insane about getting places on time. She once made me cry because she wouldn't stop yelling at the confusing street signs that got us lost and forced us to arrive five minutes early. I'm not kidding. The woman is possessed by some kind of dark god. And yet, I've developed an absolutely terrible problem with chronic lateness. And I hate being late! I do! But one thing leads to another and I'm always out the door about ten minutes later than I want to be – and this is why I think my friends are planning to have me killed. Being late sucks, don't do it, it's a terrible curse to lay down on your loved ones, yada yada. But if you also have this problem, then here are some handy dandy excuses that have the benefit of being (possibly and sometimes) true. 1. "I was finishing the last of some work I have and I completely lost track of time!" You sound industrious, and obviously you would have rather been with them, but alas. They'll appreciate that you had a greater sense of duty than more mundane humans.more 2. "The elevator just STOPPED WORKING for a minute or two!" Nobody likes to even think about being stuck in an elevator, let alone contemplate someone else in that situation. They'll skip it and move on past resenting you.

While a good chunk of the population will be spending the next couple days in airports, buses, cars, and hyperspace teleporting spacecubes, there's always a few Columbians who hang around campus during the Thanksgiving holiday to keep the place cheerful and put down any pigeon rebellions. For those of who don't have hours of cramped traveling to look forward to this weekend, take comfort in the multitude of holiday specials being served at some of Morningside's finest establishments. From Le Monde to Oren's, there's something out there for everyone. more Deluxe (Thursday, November 24) Three courses for $22.50, which as we all know is a pretty decent bargain for the taste-bud orgy that is Deluxe's menu. Items include pumpkin soup, "traditional" stuffed turkey (as opposed to a rebellious dirty-hippie turkey), pumpkin ravioli, and pumpkin pie. If for no other reason, eat at Deluxe to honor all the Halloween jack-o'-lanterns that apparently sacrificed themselves for Thanksgiving's sake. Milano Market (all weekend) A bunch of tried-and-true favorite, including homemade gravy, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing (of both "traditional" cornbread and living-by-its-own-rules sausage varieties), and a large selection of pies. Nothing costs above ten bucks, so take the chance to stock up on holiday provisions before the regular owners escape from their basement prison and squash this coup d'affordability. Oren's (all weekend) The "Holiday Survivor Kit" is a care package of coffee beans, tea, drinking apparatus, and anything else you can find on Oren's gleaming wooden shelves. Starting at $26.95, this might be an opportunity to bulk-buy all that snazzy caffeine-delivering machinery you'd never had the cash to splurge on before. Tom's (all weekend) A roasted butterball turkey, complete with all your favorite fixings (potatoes, veggies, gravy, pumpkin pie) for $19.95, with tax included. Whether or not you're a big fan of Tom's, this is a decent prize for what appears to be more food than a table can physically support the weight of. Also, they'll probably give you a giant booth away from the open-door-wind-tunnel. 'Cause it's the giving season. Le Monde (Thursday, November 24) A Turkey Day Prix-Fixe, for the total price of $32: an unutterably fancy array of appetizers, an incomprehensibly classy turkey entrée, and a ridiculously good-looking list of desserts. The appetizers include a choice of salad, soup, or foie gras, while the sweet-tooth offerings are pies and a pumpkin crème brulée that is worth the entire meal just for one incredible triumph in a game of Never Have I Ever: Edible Edition. Westside Market As if Westside did not have your undying love for the rest of forever, Columbia's favorite all-night grocery spot is offering a bunch of Thanksgiving standbys, including mashed potatoes and mashed sweet potatoes by the pound, cranberry sauce by the pint, and gravy by the quart. They also have turkeys in every stage of preparation, from rock-solid mammoths to carefully carved perfection. Head on over to pick up your feast, and grab a free dip sample while you're there. Maybe they'll have pumpkin dip!

You should have a bike, and you should ride it. No, I do not think this issue is a subjective one. No, I do not see any shades of gray here. In fact, I am so incredibly certain that you should have and ride a bike that I can't even spare the energy to capitalize on that "50 Shades of Grey" reference. (OK. Teeny bit of energy.) Here, in seven absolute and non-negotiable bullet points, are my reasons: 1. It's cheap A single MetroCard ride costs $2.50. It might be acceptable to lump two or three of those charges in with the cost of a full night out on the town---or a full taxi ride, if you and your seven friends don't mind having each other's noses in your armpits—but for work, internships, exercise classes, etc., a bike can save you close to $75 a month, depending on how active you are. more 2. It's a workout SPEAKING OF EXERCISE, bike riding is one of the easiest cardio workouts there is. Easy on the knees, shapes your legs like Michelangelo, and builds endurance. The subway makes your butt bigger. Pick one.