Pudding Stones: More Than Just a Wine Bar

Upon entering Pudding Stone, favorably located in the crest of the West Village, not only did the weather beg for such a chic, open-air dining experience, but my coin purse was happily chiming to this wine bar’s student-friendly pricing.

The decor of the restaurant is trendy, yet not obnoxious: One interior wall is brick, cleverly pocked with hollows where candles flicker, and the opposing wall is adorned with four Marilyn Monroe prints by Warhol. The electro pop music in the background weaves both the ornamentation of the restaurant and the commotion of street together. Along with indoor tables and stools at the classy bar near the far end of the establishment, sidewalk seating is also available. I chose to sit by the open windows, which on an unusually warm April night, offered a gentle breeze, completing the relaxed dining scene.

For my appetizer, I ordered the crab cakes with lemon remoulade. A couple of years ago my mother and I attempted to make our own from scratch, but unlike Pudding Stone’s perfect combination of crispy outside and moistly flaky inside, our homemade creations were just a little burnt. Pudding Stone’s perfect crab cakes sat atop a crisp house salad embellished with sliced mango and partnered with a dollop of tangy tartar sauce. Although only one cake sat on my plate, I could have easily devoured three more.

Now even though Pudding Stone is known for their impressive wine list, I decided to save that for the entrée. Instead, I chose to have a bottle of Colomba to compliment my appetizer. A white ale brewed with spices, it was a nice alternative to the darker, more bitter stouts I typically have; it was a lighter, sweeter breed.

I have long come to the realization that I am, to the highest possible degree of the title, an utter salmon junkie. With this acknowledged, choosing my next plate was simple: wild Alaskan salmon with eggplant puree. When asked what temperature I wanted it, I went with medium so as to keep the fine balance of raw and overdone in check. My dish was presented with a healthy dose of freshly steamed asparagus, a splash of eggplant puree to cradled the fish, a side of hot sauce for extra flare, and a lemon wedge for that oh so necessary zing.

I’ve had a lot of salmon in my 22 glutinous years of life, and I can sincerely say that Pudding Stone prepared my dish without flaw. Its tender, slightly-         salted meat made my mouth water before even my first taste. Its accompanying puree was light and tangy. I was afraid it would overpower the flavor of the salmon, but it was divinely complementary. To be honest, I could have foregone the dab of hot sauce on my plate. Its spice reduced the taste of the salmon, but it provided a variety, so I went along with it. That and c’mon, who doesn’t love hot sauce?

Not ordering a glass of wine at Pudding Stone is like going to Hawaii and skipping the beach — you’re missing the best part. At first the wine list was a bit intimidating, but my waiter was very helpful and gave me a few sound suggestions. I ended up choosing an Ella’s Blend grenache, a French red wine. The grenache, a widely-planted wine grape, gave it exceptional body and a sweet fruitiness, which, paired with the salmon, made for an all around delicious meal.

No dinner is complete without dessert, and I had been dreaming of crème brûlée throughout the entire meal. Crème brûlée, French for “burnt cream,” is a dessert consisting of a rich custard base topped with a contrasting layer of caramelized sugar. While I waiting for my dish (which I should mention arrived in five minutes flat), I replayed a decadent scene from my all-time favorite French movie “Amelie,” in which the main character gains a little too much pleasure from cracking the surface of her homemade crème brûlées. I was hoping that my dessert would be just as ripe. Happily, it was. The surface was perfectly crisp. Breaking through the sweet shell,  reaching the creamy bottom of warm custard, and feeling the opposing textures in my mouth, was, in one word, heavenly.

I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner at Pudding Stone. With a relaxed ambiance and plenty of wine (nudge, nudge), it is ideal for a snug, romantic date that won’t leave you broke.

-Angela M, Student Maximus Blogger

Baruch ‘09

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On Jobs: Sassy & Professional

The saying goes, don’t dress for the job you have, dress for the job you want.
This is not to suggest that you dress like a CEO for a waitressing job.  The idea is to motivate and polish your look. It will boost your confidence and give the impression that you’re ready to take on their industry.
Just think of it this way…mix it into your foundation, smear it on your lipstick and apply it on your face. The fact is that just looking at you will determine the level of your professionalism. When being considered for a job, it won’t just be your skills that matter, but your attitude, your nonverbal communication and your professionalism will all factor into your chances in the hiring pool. So imagine, not having to be nervous about all of that by beginning your day, putting your best face forward. Literally.
Despite what you may think or have been told to think, no one needs to cake on makeup to look bright and confident to start the day. Know your skin, pay attention to your features and use your makeup accordingly. In a professional environment less is more. Remember, you’re “dressing” for that job you want. It’s okay to be a little trendy and reflect who you are, but the time to experiment is when you’re out on Saturday night, not where you wish to be taken seriously.
Begin by focusing on your complexion.  If you’re self-conscious of blemishes or concerned with uneven toning, find the correct shade and learn how to apply it. Don’t ignore your eyebrows; keep them full and in shape. Brighten and create dimension in your eyes using a little eyeliner, a coat of mascara and a little eye shadow. Stick to neutrals, subtle colors and earth tones. Dab just a little blush on to highlight your cheekbones and finish up with a lip-gloss or a neutral lipstick. Simple enough, right? But those little steps go a long way. You want to walk into an interview or a networking event or your new internship, with a fresh, well-defined face to give the impression of a person with fresh ideas and well-defined skills.

For more writing from Tameka Vasquez, go to belespirit.wordpress.com

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Photo by Wen Wen.

On Values: Love Your Neighbor

2010 could not have started off more devastatingly: a natural disaster took well over a hundred thousand lives in Haiti, one of my good friends was brutally attacked in front of her apartment in Brooklyn, and my mother was diagnosed with cancer. In times like these, it is almost impossible not to notice the massive shift in everyone’s attitude; sworn enemies bury grudges they have held for years, the amount of donations made to charities increases dramatically, and people become generally more compassionate towards one another. While this charitable spirit is certainly a more than welcome change, I cannot help but be distraught that people seem to ban together only when things are going wrong.
I have often been plagued by the thought, “what can I do”? As a college student, I cannot donate large amounts of money that I do not have, nor can I do much to implement social change. But just because I cannot change everything, does not mean that I can change nothing. I may be just one person, but my actions have far-reaching effects. The choices I make affect not only my friends and family, but also my classmates, my co-workers, and even the people I encounter briefly on the street. So what I can do is rather simple—follow the principal that is common to almost every ethical system in the world, The Golden Rule: do unto others as you would have done unto you; “love your neighbor as yourself”; what goes around, comes around.
I know this sounds corny, but you really can make a big difference by doing the smallest things like holding the door for someone, offering to help someone who is lost, or even by taking a second to realize that you are part of something bigger than yourself and that your actions have consequences.
I know that this is something that everyone learned back in elementary school, but I have come to realize that somewhere along the way I have forgotten it. I can think of plenty of moments in my life that I am not too proud of; times that I hurt someone purposefully or failed to help someone when I easily could have done so. I can also remember times when my already foul mood has been made worse by seemingly small things that other people said or did to me.
It is so easy to be oblivious to how we project ourselves and how we treat others, but these things are also the easiest to change, and that is where I am choosing to start. By affecting change locally, I am beginning my commitment to influence the world globally.

For more writing by Emily Stern, go to adventuresofanavidreader.blogspot.com

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Thrifty Breaks

Spring Break is approaching steadily and among thoughts of tanning, shorts, and school-free weekdays lurks the reminder that you’re a student on a budget so tight you can barely breathe. Relax! Despite the media’s portrayal of NYC’s high-rolling lifestyle, there are fun and free things you can do in New York City if you stay here during break. Everyone knows about New York’s famous museums, such as the Guggenheim or the Met, but most people do not realize that the City has over 80 different museums, 60 of which are in Manhattan. With so many to choose from, there really is a museum for everyone, whether he or she is interested in music, art, transportation, history or culture.
For book, art, and music lovers, the Morgan museum (on Madison and 36th Street), is quite the hidden gem. It houses rare and original manuscripts from writers such as Lord Byron, Charlotte Brontë, and Percy Shelly. Paintings by Cezanne, Van Gogh, and Ruskin are displayed, as well as autographed and annotated scores from Beethoven, Mozart, and Chopin. For Dylan fans, you can even view the original scrap of paper on which he wrote the lyrics to “It Ain’t Me Babe” and “Blowin’ in the Wind.”(http://www.themorgan.org/home.asp)
Now I know what you are thinking: museums are expensive. Admissions to most museums run from ten to fifteen dollars for students. However, at almost all of New York’s museums, that donation amount is simply suggested, which means it really is okay to give what you can. The other week, I visited the Natural History Museum with three people and we gave a total of 76 cents for our tickets. No one at the box office even blinked. If the museum prices are not “suggested,” you can always go on Friday night, when the Museum of Modern Art, The Morgan, and The International Center for Photography—among others—have completely free admission.
Los Angeles may be the entertainment capital of the world, but many shows are taped in New York. Talk shows like Saturday Night Live, The View, and The Daily Show give away free tickets to help fill their studio audiences.  Not only do you get to meet celebrities and see how a television studio is run, but they also give away gifts like DVDs, clothes, and even trips.
If you enjoy spending your free time outdoors, New York’s many parks are a great place to relax. Central Park is beautiful and massive, covering over a square mile of New York City. It contains lakes, ponds, walking trails and biking paths, a Zoo, two ice-skating rinks, Belve-dere Castle, and the Strawberry Fields memorial site, dedicated to the memory of John Lennon. The Central Park Conservancy offers many different tours of the park year round. Or, if you’d rather go to a park of a more manageable size, Bryant Park is a great option. The park provides free yoga, tai chi, knitting classes, and wireless Internet. Bryant Park is also home to “Piano in the Park,” where some of the best pianists from all over the city play free concerts every weekday at noon.(http://www.bryantpark.org/calendar/piano.php)
For those who like to get wet, the Downtown Boathouse at Pier 96, Pier 40, and 72nd street offers free kayaking on the Hudson on weekends, holidays, and some weekday evenings (weather permitting). No previous experience is required and Downtown Boathouse provides all the necessary equipment. There is no need to make a reservation, but be prepared to wake up early if you want to go on one of the longer trips, as they start at 8 am. http://www.downtownboathouse.org/
So before you break the bank for a cliché Cancun vacation, you might want to consider what this city’s backyard has to offer: history, culture and entertainment well within the folds of your wallet.

For more writing by Emily Stern, go to adventuresofanavidreader.blogspot.com.

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Love Test

Is your relationship working or is it time to find
another fish in the sea? Take this short quiz
to find out:

1. Do you and your significant other spend time apart while you each go out with your own friends?

a. We like spending time with each other, but we make sure to make time for our friends too.
b. We sometimes spend time apart, but we
definitely prefer each other’s company to anyone else’s.
c. Never, we only spend time with each other. Who needs friends when you have a relationship?

2. Can you and your partner have disagreements without them escalating to a fight?

a. We sometimes fight, but most of the time can agree to disagree.
b. Most of the time we fight, but sometimes we can work our problems out.
c. Every argument turns into a fight; it’s like our own version of Jerry Springer.

3. Do you feel jealous when your partner goes out with friends of the opposite sex?

a. Once in a while I get jealous, but very rarely.
b. I tend to get very jealous when my partner is out with friends of the opposite sex, but I deal with it.
c. I get so jealous I won’t even let my partner go out with friends of  the opposite sex.

4. Do you tell your significant other things you can’t tell to your friends?

a. Yes, I consider my partner to be one of my best friends.
b. I can tell my significant other some things, but most things I like to share with just my friends.
c. I can’t tell my partner anything because I am too afraid of being judged.

5. Are you self-conscious around your partner?

a. Not at all! My partner has seen me on my worst days, with bed-hair and all.
b. I still make sure to have some gum and floss handy, but I pretty much let myself go.
c. Totally! I still spend hours fretting about how I look every time I know I am going to be with my significant other.

SCORING:

For every A answer, give yourself 3 points, for every B answer, give yourself 2 points, and for every C answer, give yourself 1 point.

IF YOUR TOTAL SCORE IS 12-15 POINTS:
No relationship is perfect, but yours seems to be pretty close to it!  You and your partner have found the perfect balance between time with each other and time with your friends. You are confident and secure about your relationship and feel as though you can trust your significant other.

IF YOUR TOTAL SCORE IS 8- 11 POINTS:
All relationships need work and yours is no exception. You may have  just started dating, or it may just take a while for someone to earn your trust. Either way, you might want to have a discussion with your partner about things that both of you can do to make your relationship stronger. A big part of learning to trust is being trustworthy yourself.

IF YOUR TOTAL SCORE IS 5-7 POINTS:
Your relationship has had its ups, but mostly it’s been filled with downs. There are always other fish in the sea, but if you are willing
to try to fix your relationship, make sure to tell your partner what needs work in your relationship. Also, be willing to listen to what
your partner has to say in return. Remember, relationships are a two-way street.

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Cheap Eats

I love pasta, and I’ll bet you do too. Because every American student—especially those in college—loves pasta. Whether you are a healthy whole wheat person, an environmentally conscious vegan, or a meat eating carnivore, pasta finds a way to break all food barriers and fit somewhere neatly into your diet. The other great thing about it besides its ubiquity is that pasta is cheap.  Here’s a tip that will help cut down on the sauce expense : make your own marinara.
The first step is to run to the supermarket and pick up these items: one bulb of garlic, one big onion (whatever type you like), one 16 oz. can of crushed tomatoes, one 6 oz. can of tomato paste, and those are the essentials—of course, if you want to make your sauce a little more exciting, you can also grab some mushrooms, eggplant, beef, or whatever else you would like to go in it. When you get home, heat some olive or vegetable oil in the bottom of your pot while you dice the onion and press two cloves of garlic; then put those two ingredients into the pot on medium heat and let them brown. Once that is all cooked and has your kitchen smelling like something other than stale pizza crust, throw in the crushed tomato and tomato paste, mix it all together and you are almost done. After that cooks for ten minutes, you can customize your dinner even more: throw in some oregano or other spices that you enjoy and have in house, a dash of red wine or water can help thin out your marinara if you want something a little lighter, and this would also be the time to salt and pepper the sauce to your liking.
So let’s recap: cheap and easy recipe, good for multiple uses and sittings, and it only takes a half hour of fun in your kitchen while you listen to music.  Well, what are you waiting for, go!

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For more writing by GABRIEL ZUGER, please look in the next issue of Student Maximus Magazine.

Nick Dee

“He does internet things.” So reads the headline of Nick DiRamio, a freshman at NYU’s Website.  It’s a tagline and while it describes some of what he does, it’s barely the tip of the iceberg.
Nick DiRamio is in his first year studying Film and Television, but whenever he can make the time to do something outside of coursework, he’s developing his Website, creating video blogs, tweeting for about 200 followers on Twitter and posting his original music online.
Nick recently sat down with Student Maximus Magazine to chat about himself and his interests. Originally from New Hampshire, Nick began creating electronic pop music in high school. “I got heavy into songwriting… wasn’t skilled enough to compose my own music.”
Nick began working on his music after “playing around with some computer programs.” “It wasn’t until after I became confident in my music that I started to tell people about it,” said Nick.
Nick decided to create a website and post his music there. He’s created more than 20 songs, eight of which can be heard on his last album – Nickotine Addiction.
“It just happened organically,” Nick said, describing the latest version of his website. It’s updated throughout the day.
Nick said his website is a promotion to “be yourself”, an idea that influences the creation of his music.
“My music reflects past experiences in trying to find out who I am and just being confident … not trying to make other people happy,” he said, “Hopefully people get that from my music…” just be yourself, enjoy yourself, have confidence in who you are.”
Two of his latest song releases, “Talk Sh*t” and “Don’t F*ck With Me”, are examples of how Nick expresses what others won’t express when dealing with people who may not be so happy with who you are.
Nick said the lyrics of “Talk Sh*t” are a declaration to not letting others bother you.
“There are people out there who want to push your buttons. Don’t let those people put you down,” he said, “Negative energy is a waste of time … ‘Positive energy’ is the message I’d like to send out.”
Nick said the key to remaining positive is to keep in mind that you should never give up; “never get to the point where you think it’s impossible to succeed.”
Currently working on more positive music, Nick said his next album would feature less of a techno-like sound. He said that although he is influenced by the pop music of Lady Gaga and enjoys the sounds of rappers Lil’ Wayne and Drake, listeners will get more of an all-natural Nick Dee sound.
But the positive energy doesn’t stop there. Nick has decided to take the unfortunate effects of the earthquake in Haiti and channel his talent to the people of that country. The proceeds from Nick’s album will go to the Help For Haiti Foundation.
For more information on Nick DiRamio and to check out what he is currently up to, listen to his music and watch his video blogs, visit his website www.NICKDEE.net.

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For more writings by Aramis M. Grant, visit aramisslovely online.