![Calais Watkins](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/5FCAF529-0731-4548-AC85-CB968944A2D4-900x900.jpg)
Calais Watkins, Dining Editor
All content by Calais Watkins
![Wollman Rink in Central Park is a popular skating spot for New Yorkers. (Via Wikimedia Tomás Fano)](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Central_Park_Wollman_Rink-900x716.jpg)
Winter Wonderland: Culture Desk Dishes Their Favorite New York City Winter Activities
When the weather outside is frightful, the Culture Desk finds these activities delightful.
Lauren Gruber, Calais Watkins, Bella Gil and Carol Lee
• December 4, 2019
![Clinton Street Baking Company is a must-try all-day brunch spot. (Staff Photo by Carol Lee)](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/culture-deskdining-900x600.jpg)
Culture Desk Dining: Farewell Edition
The culture desk reveals where they go to dine before saying farewell to the city for winter break.
Calais Watkins, Lauren Gruber, Carol Lee and Bella Gil
• December 3, 2019
![Alex Christiano, Gallatin first-year, is an avid chef and frequently cooks in his Third Avenue North Residence Hall dorm room. (Staff Photo by Talia Barton)](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/christiano_taliabarton-900x621.jpg)
This First-Year Finds Community in Cooking
The power of cooking helped Alex Christiano find his place during his first year at NYU.
Calais Watkins, Dining Editor
• November 11, 2019
![A Picturesque Picnic Spread](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/3-1-900x684.jpg)
A Picturesque Picnic Spread
Everything you need for a perfectly chic French picnic.
Calais Watkins, Dining Editor
• November 7, 2019
![Staff Rants and Raves: Twitter](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/staff-rants.jpg)
Staff Rants and Raves: Twitter
Twitter: Where memes come to life, where movements come to fruition, and where presidents come to rant. Hear what our staff has to say on what might be both the most multifaceted and divisive form of social media.
Ethan Zack, Calais Watkins, Ishaan Parmar, Mandie Montes, Anna-Dmitry Muratova and Bela Kirpalani
• October 24, 2019
![Staff Rants: NYU Housing](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/staff-rants.jpg)
Staff Rants: NYU Housing
Palladium might have a failing dining hall, but it’s not the only residence hall that has issues.
Calais Watkins, Ronni Husmann, Ishaan Parmar, Melanie Pineda, Anna-Dmitry Muratova, Sam Klein, Alexandria Johnson and Bela Kirpalani
• October 9, 2019
![Pumpkin-spice-flavored products from Trader Joes. WSN Dining Editor talks about her two-day-long experiment of eating only pumpkin-spice-flavored food. (Photo by Calais Watkins)](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/pumkinspice-e1569774693361-900x900.jpg)
Pumpkin Spice and Everything Not-So-Nice
Our dining editor ate only pumpkin spice-flavored foods for two days.
Calais Watkins, Dining Editor
• September 30, 2019
![Learn to make spaghetti the way that abstract impressionist Jackson Pollock used to have it with this quick recipe. (via pixabay)](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/spaghetti-781795_960_720-900x675.jpg)
Experience Spaghetti Like Jackson Pollock
While living in New York City, why not eat like a legendary New Yorker of the past?
Calais Watkins, Dining Editor
• September 10, 2019
![A hot chocolate and vegan almond brownie on a budget, with a 10% student discount from The Bean at 824 Broadway. (Photo by Laura Measher)](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/studentsteals-Laura-3-1-2-900x600.jpg)
Steals and Deals Meant for Students
Food tastes better with a discount.
Calais Watkins, Dining Editor
• September 9, 2019
![Scissors, a sharp razor, and Nad’s Body Wax Strips are all essentials when it comes from maintaining the nether regions. (Staff Illustration by Min Ji Kim)](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Untitled_Artwork-1-900x598.jpg)
Self Care Down There
Time to get over your fear of traveling and take a trip to the Nether Regions.
Calais Watkins, Dining Editor
• September 6, 2019
![Mocha almond fudge mini cake and chocolate cupcake with vanilla frosting in Sweets by CHLOE., a vegan bakery on Bleeker St., open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. (Staff Photo by Jorene He)](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/vegan_0902-900x600.jpg)
Vegan Eats for Night Owls
From comfort food to a refined tapas menu — and it’s all vegan.
Calais Watkins, Dining Editor
• September 3, 2019
![(Illustration by Li-Chun Pan)](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/dining_breakupbites-900x823.png)
Curing Heartbreak One Bite at a Time
Spare your stomach from post-heartbreak emptiness with these tips.
Calais Watkins, Dining Editor
• August 24, 2019
![(Illustration by Sophia Di Iorio)](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Culture_Astrology-804x900.jpg)
Students Show Affinity for Astrology
Can horoscopes and star signs predict events and personalities? Some NYU students think so.
Calais Watkins, Staff Writer
• April 22, 2019
![Cloisters Museum & Gardens (via Yelp)](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Cloisters-Museum-Gardens-Yelp.jpg)
Four Activities for When the Weather Gets Warm
Bask in the sun without upsetting your wallet.
Calais Watkins, Staff Writer
• April 19, 2019
![Feminist signs rise among the crowds of the 2019 Womens March. (Marva Shi)](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/IMG_4634-e1553460923171-675x900.jpg)
You Can Still Celebrate National Women’s Month in NYC
It’s not too late to celebrate women this March.
Calais Watkins, Staff Writer
• March 24, 2019
![New Yorkers gear up for Saint Patricks Day at one of the many Irish bars in the city. (Staff Photo by Julia McNeill)](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/stpatricksnew-1-900x600.jpg)
Pubs and Pots of Gold: St. Patrick’s Day Fun
There’s more to St. Patrick’s Day than beer — but of course, there’s beer too.
Calais Watkins, Staff Writer
• March 11, 2019
![A woman stands outside the entryway of MacDougal Street’s Cafe Reggio. (Photo by Alana Beyer)](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/DSC00160-1616x1077-2-900x600.jpg)
Coffee and Ambience at Caffe Reggio
Travel back in time to the Italian Renaissance at Caffe Reggio in Greenwich Village.
Calais Watkins, Staff Writer
• March 11, 2019
![Fried Oreo, a signature snack of Rays Candy Store, a tiny, hidden place near Tompkins Square Park. (Photo by Elaine Chen)](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Rays_Elaine-Chen-1-900x674.jpg)
Ray’s Candy Store: Serving the Works Since 1974
A timeless joint with sweet, fried foods galore that will warm your soul.
Calais Watkins, Staff Writer
• March 4, 2019
![(Illustration by Sophia Di Iorio)](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/shake-shack-in-n-out-900x900.jpg)
Battle of the Burgers: Shake Shack vs. In-N-Out
A hot take on take-out.
Calais Watkins, Staff Writer
• January 28, 2019
![Joes Pizza is a common late night snack destination for NYU students. (Courtesy of Joes Pizza)](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/3-27-Joes4.jpg)
10 Late Night Food Options for the City That Never Sleeps and Is Always Hungry
If you’re not going to sleep, you might as well eat.
Calais Watkins, Staff Writer
• December 4, 2018
![Food used for makeup. (Photo by Calais Watkins)](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/IMG_1992-900x675.jpg)
How to Do Your Makeup and Eat It Too
No, we aren’t running out of ideas —what makes you think that?
Calais Watkins, Staff Writer
• November 29, 2018
![Trader Joes Chocolate Croissants (Photos by Calais Watkins)](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/ChocolateCrossaints-900x675.jpeg)
Bake It ‘Till You Make It with These 4 Frozen Meals
Calais Watkins, Staff Writer
• November 26, 2018
![(Illustration by Tina Zhou)](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/11-16-dining-munchies-Tina-Zhou-1.png)
Healthy Food to Battle the Munchies
Just make sure to drink lots of water.
Calais Watkins, Staff Writer
• November 19, 2018
![Molly with her stuffed animals. (Photos by Andrew Cardiff)](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Stuffed-Animals_Andrew-Califf-2-900x600.jpg)
Never Too Old for Stuffed Animals
These students are proud to show off their childhood stuffed animals.
Calais Watkins, Staff Writer
• November 6, 2018
![The finished product. (Courtesy of Calai Watkins)](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/IMG_1905-900x675.jpeg)
A Haunting DIY Story to Chill Your Bones
A Halloween treat pinterest journey that was supposed to be a fairytale quickly became a nightmare.
Calais Watkins, Staff Writer
• October 29, 2018
![The outdoor sign of the Lorring Place bar. (Photo by Justin Park)](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Cocktail_Justin-Park2-900x601.jpg)
4 Cocktails to Warm You up This Fall
Calais Watkins, Contributing Writer
• October 15, 2018
![Lindsey Miller poses for a portrait in her SoHo apartment. (Photo by Alina Patrick)](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/HairDye-AlinaPatrick-20-e1539067850863-600x900.jpg)
The Student Operating a Hair Salon From Her Dorm
Calais Watkins, Contributing Writer
• October 9, 2018
![Eating Out While Eating In](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/aphrodisiac-Rachel-Buigas-Lopez-900x727.jpg)
Eating Out While Eating In
Calais Watkins, Contributing Writer
• October 1, 2018
![A purple N.Y.U. flag hangs on a building.](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/news-childaistudy-1200x800.jpg)
Yezen Saadah, Editor-in-Chief • July 9, 2024
![Students stream past the clay-colored main entrance of Bobst Library on a bright fall afternoon. The green scenery of Washington Square Park is reflected off the library’s windows.](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/news-sustainability-900x600.jpg)
Julia Smerling, Photo Editor • June 18, 2024
![A woman with brown hair and a blue shirt.](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/dopico.jpeg)
Yezen Saadah, Editor-in-Chief • June 18, 2024
![A woman dressed in red and holding a purple sign that reads NYU is Complicit in Genocide.](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/RallyForHesen-3-1200x800.jpg)
Mikaylah Du, Under the Arch Editor • June 15, 2024