Just a light jacket is not cutting it anymore, the breeze is decidedly a chill, and every weekend is Halloweekend. It is, at last, fall at Columbia.

With the rise of Wordle, the Mini, and now the Midi, daily games have become a big part of our lives. Whether for instant gratification or for a little healthy competition among friends, a good Connections run has the ability to turn anyone’s mood around. However, as the Columbia-sanctioned New York Times subscription no longer allows access to any of the crossword puzzles, here are a few alternatives you can add to your rotation!

Spectator and Columbia College Student Council are back with the semesterly Free Food Expo this fall. Hosted at Low Plaza on Nov. 6, from 12 to 2 p.m., the event will have a mix of some local favorites and newly added restaurants.

New York City can be a maze, and for most of our Columbia community, the 1 train is the North Star leading us back home. While there is no limit to the things one can do in the city, it can often feel overwhelming trying to maximize your time. Spectrum has compiled a list of all our favorite places that are more than simply going out for a bite to eat—where you can stray away from home but still remain just “1” train ride away.

Hello seniors! While that characterization may feel unfamiliar, your last year at Columbia will be over in the blink of an eye so it’s time to embrace it. First off, congratulations! While there is going to be a lot of that toward the end of the year, it is important to remember that you’ve come so very far already.

If you’ve talked to me this semester, you will most likely be aware that I am at a very card-games time in my life. What started out as a New Year’s resolution to do one thing for whimsy, every week this year ended up being a never-ending quest for the next lineup for game night. Now, you can find me regularly browsing the games sections at Book Culture or Skippers.

It’s 8:24 a.m. on Thursday morning and you jump out of bed, insanely late for your 8:40. You speed-get-ready: “brush” your teeth, “wash” your face, and throw on a random hoodie. As you’re scarfing down a half-eaten bag of chips from Chef Mike’s, you make your way over to the worst class at Columbia.

Special Interest Communities residences are a unique component of the Columbia community. Sponsored by Residential Life, SICs allow students at Columbia College and the School of Engineering and Applied Science to live with people with similar identities and harbor strong community values within the college experience. 25 bed spaces in sorority and SIC residences are open to Barnard students as well. In addition to that, the themed communities, ranging from academic alignment to personal interests, enable members to connect through shared interests, and build relationships with not only the student body but with alumni and professors alike.

Gen Z is historically having less romantic interaction than previous generations, and we at Spectrum couldn’t help but notice that Columbia stands as a testament to the same. While there are a lucky few who seem to have found their person in the bleak dating scene, the majority of the population seems to appreciate the simpler things in life—like carrying their own bags, and not having to plan out Valentine’s gifts. Here are some theories that came to mind when we confronted this question.