It’s that time of year again: Wham!’s “Last Christmas” is back on the radio, the peppermint mocha has made a triumphant return to Starbucks, and the tree lighting in Rockefeller center caused massive hoards of people to congregate in a very tiny space. As the lights on college walk twinkle to life, the air is redolent of something much more than the sugary, caramelized perfection of the nut cart that is the hallmark scent of the main stretch of campus—that’s right, folks, the magical notes of romance are that unique spice in that Christmas air. But as all around us is dying and growing darker, it is tough to retain that wriggling sensation of love as the wind whips through the narrow corridors of Amsterdam and Broadway. Desolately, we wonder where we can go to keep stoking the burgeoning fire of Christmas romance that won’t leave us stuck staring at the same lampposts on college walk for hours on end.
To capture that elusive spirit, and to give you and your significant other some places to go to escape the bleakness that December can bring, here are the top places on, or very near, campus that you can go to beat the winter doldrums, and feel all warm and snuggly from the inside out (the added benefit of which is that it’s far less drying on your skin).
The Study Secret: Butler 310
Butler? Butler?! Am I reading this right? While it may seem strange that I recommend a place where you seem to sacrifice chunks of your soul with every 8-hour work bender you embark on, your unstable relationship with Butler will be rectified by bringing your boyfriend or girlfriend to this magical place. While not the social center that is 209, 310 has a much subtler appeal. The muted character of 310 hides between the furled, yellow pages of the manuscripts that line dark oak walls of this majestic room. The spiral staircases (!) culminate in a series of cubicles built only for two. It is in one of these rook-like enclaves that you and your “study buddy” can lose yourselves in your reading, without the distraction of fluorescent lighting or that idiotic kid from class who talks a lot but says nothing. There are not really chargers for computers, which reminds one of a romantic, old Victorian study, and the pleasantly dusty lighting shifts the atmosphere from stressful to peaceful. What’s left to do in a study nest for two? As I discovered on my third Butler date here, not much except read….and play some good old- fashioned footsie.
For the Spontaneous Romantic: The Whisper Bench
Admit it: the hopeless sap in you just gushed at that name, “The Whisper Bench”. No, it’s not the title of a Nicholas Sparks novel, it’s one of Columbia’s best kept secrets. Well, not really. You all know the Whisper Bench. If you ascend the Low Steps and continue as if you’re going to Avery or Schermerhorn, there is a large, curved white stone bench with Latin inscriptions. Rumor has it (okay, my mom told me…), if you sit at one end, and someone else at the other, you can whisper, and the acoustics of the bench are such that the person at the other end will be able to hear your faintest words. Testing the validity of this claim may only occupy 5 minutes of your life (unless you’re really easily entertained, like me), but it’s kind of cool, and literally amplifies the power of those three little words.
Winter Wanderings: Cathedral Gardens
I hadn’t been to Cathedral Gardens until recently when my boyfriend and I went for a walk. We didn’t linger there, but I really could have spent some more time. Down on 110th and Amsterdam, Cathedral Gardens is comprised of wrought iron gates adorned with winding ivy and some pretty sculptures that I can only imagine would be complimented by glittering snow. It’s not too far from wherever you call home on campus, but far enough away that two people can be alone and explore somewhere new to spice up a relationship that may be getting cold in the winter. When you’re done checking out the cool architecture of the park, there’s plenty of places to stop in and enjoy some couples coffee. The Hungarian (for the hipsters), Artopolis (for the more gourmet), or, my favorite and yours, old HamDel (for the grease fiends), are all great spots to grab something warm on the way back home.
Because Even I Can’t Make the Dining Halls Romantic: Pisticci
Endorsed again and again by almost everyone I’ve talked to, Pisticci is the best date close to campus for you and that special someone. Among its attributes are affordability, proximity to campus, and practically sinful scrumptiousness. Environmentalists out there will love that Pisticci is carbon neutral and releases no greenhouse gases. Foodies and non-foodies alike will appreciate the fact that all of Pisticci’s pasta is made by hand on-site. What charms the pants off of customers is the intimacy of the small venue, and the authentic Italian charm that touches everything from the food to the décor. The portions of pasta are a reasonable size and always arrive piping hot, and a snowfall of parmesan is never far behind. Eating here, you are transported to some small Italian street café, where the food is fresh and the atmosphere romantic. Get ready for a carbo-load: Pisticci will leave both you and your date content, cozy, slightly comatose, and ready to curl up in front of a movie and snuggle. (Pisticci is located on 125th and LaSalle. Be forewarned that they do not take reservations.)
So next time you and your boyfriend or girlfriend are staring at that same boring lamppost, which hasn’t changed and (newsflash!) never will, consider broadening your romantic horizons and throwing a little fire back into the relationship. Adventuring to new places on campus that have just enough of that romantic spark will have you both savoring each other’s company before what can seem to be an interminable break. Happy exploring and, more importantly, happy snuggling!
*edit: Butler 409 as it read when initially published was really intended to be Butler 310