Published: January 31, 2008

The 2 train covers a lot of ground, so we’ve narrowed it down and found your best bets along the line, without having to leave good ol’ Manhattan.

96th Street—Broadway

Symphony Space (2537 Broadway, 212-864-1414), holds several shows each week, including music, theater, dance and educational programs. Prices range from $20-$75 for general admission for the remainder of January’s shows.  Next door is the unWINEd Wine Bar and Lounge (2537 Broadway, 646-403-3215), which provides a dimly lit atmosphere where you can sit on a couch and get a glass of wine or beer for $7
and up.

42nd Street—Times Square

The Laugh Factory (669 8th Ave., 212-586-7829) hosts “All-Star Comedy” six nights a week, a show that features a rotating cast of comedians—many of whom are familiar faces in the television and film worlds, so it is not uncommon for someone from SNL or Last Comic Standing to show up. Tickets for “All-Star Comedy” are only $20. Every Friday at 11:30 p.m. is “College Night,” advertised as a “cutting-edge” show hosted by Bill Dawes and regularly featuring funnymen Jamie Kennedy, Rob Stapleton, Aries Spears and Judah Friedlander. Tickets for “College Night” are $10 for students.

14th Street—7th Avenue

Just a short walk from the 14th street station is the Rubin Museum of Art (150 W. 17th St., 212-620-5000), dedicated exclusively to artwork of the Himalayas and neighboring regions. Aiming to preserve and document “the vitality, complexity and historical significance of Himalayan art,” according to its mission statement, the RMA is open every day except Tuesday and is only $7 for students. Current exhibitions include: “The Indigenous Religion of Tibet,” running through April 14 and “Written on the Wind: The Flag Project” through Feb. 11. There is culture in Union Square beyond Barnes & Noble and Virgin Records!

72nd Street—Broadway

Though a Manhattan staple, I never cease to be amazed that many FCLC students are unaware of Gray’s Papaya (2090 Broadway, 212-799-0243), much less have yet to eat there. The hot dog restaurant is just east of the 72nd street station, where two hot dogs and a drink cost $3.50, and breakfast items such as bagels, muffins, danishes and donuts range between $0.65-$1. Even if you’re not the type to shove down a dozen franks, it’s somewhat of a landmark and definitely worth checking out. After all, it is Gray’s Papaya hot dogs that Matthew Perry’s character sends to Selma Hayek in “Fools Rush In.”

Half a block up from Gray’s is Paper House (269 Amsterdam, 212-724-8085), a cool joint that carries greeting cards, holiday decorations and costumes year-round. They have an abundance of Halloween political masks, which are more funny than scary. Then, there’s the Yankee bottle opener that plays John Sterling’s voice—which might call plays more accurately than the real guy. Party Store has a rack of practical joke items for $1.75, including exploding lighters, phony hickeys and bugs in an ice cube. The greatest gags include “Mustard Flavored Candy” and “Smelly Feet Treats.” The latter’s ingredients include: glucose, coloring, Yellow E102 and cheese flavoring S2266, just in case you need a recipe to replicate the aroma of funky feet.