Sorry Lions, nobody road trips to NYC to visit your campus

	Before Party of Five and Lost, Matthew Fox was winning hearts (but not games) as a Columbia wide receiver. Courtesy of Columbia University

AFTER 2 A.M.: Tom's Restaurant. The first time freshmen at Columbia enter Tom's, at 112th and Broadway, there are the inevitable Seinfeld references, but after a couple months Tom's becomes just another late-night diner (although we're sure some Columbia students might have challenged one another to become "master of their domains.").

MUST EATS: Koronet's Pizza. Apparently nowhere else in Manhattan can you get a bigger slice for less. Another New York food group can also be satiated near campus. You might be able to get bagels at the corner deli, but Absolute Bagels are the best in the city.

DOSE OF CULTURE: Columbia students are surrounded by culture. Museums, plays, musicals, fashion, you name it. But if it gets to be too much, grab a blanket, some food and a good book and head over to the Great Lawn in Central Park to get away from it all.

RULE #34: Pat the half-concealed owl in Athena's robes on the head for good luck on the way to final exams.

RULE #67: The ladies of Barnard find themselves saddled with the less than attractive nickname "the Barnyard."

I.D., PLEASE: Over the summer the NYPD got extra tough with bars near Columbia. The Heights Bar and Grill, one of the best Columbia bars, has been raided three times since June, so unless you are actually the person on your ID, be prepared to have it taken.

MUSIC MUST-STOP: There is this neat little place called Madison Square Garden. The New York Knickerbockers (a professional basketball franchise) play there, and other times bands called U2 and the Rolling Stones perform.

TICKET MASTER: Students attend all games for free. We say if they are able to make it to 218th Street, Columbia should pay them.

ONLY AT COLUMBIA: Every April, Columbia students flock to the annual Varsity Show, a full-length student-written and -produced show that satirizes all aspect of Columbia life. The show began in 1894 and was once led by Rogers and Hammerstein.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: While some students anxiously await the evening the cross-country team streaks through campus, the best sports team at Columbia is fencing. Sure, laugh it off, but no other school knows how to parry and riposte like the Lions. Columbia has more NCAA (13) and Ivy League titles (32 men's, six women's) than any other school. Since 1950, 29 fencers have captured NCAA individual championships as well.

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