Here are 10 Reasons why the Big East Tournament trip should be your next spring break.
1. Butler Basketball in Madison Square Garden
First of all, if you don’t follow Butler Basketball, do you really go to Butler? Although Hinkle Fieldhouse is an impressive enough stage to watch our boys in blue on, Madison Square Garden is really the “World’s Most Famous Arena” and the atmosphere is incredible.
2. Guys, New York City
I know, the typical college spring break involves heading south of the Mason Dixon line, but the idea of trying to find towel space on a packed beach at that time of year only has so much appeal. Plus, thanks to our good friend global warming, NYC was 75 degrees the first few days I was there and 65 the final few. While I probably won’t come back sporting a tan, I’m not exactly complaining.
3. Food
Little Italy. Chinatown. New York-style pizza. From restaurant chains to authentic eateries, New York is bursting with delicious flavors. My tip is to eat a light breakfast, go to a chain for lunch, and then splurge for dinner -- but you can still find plenty of fantastic places to eat without breaking the bank. Don't be afraid to try something new! It's worth it, I promise.
4. Transportation
My jeans might be a little tight from going all out on number three, but they would be a lot tighter if so much of navigating NYC didn’t involve walking. Personally, I enjoy getting out on foot and really experiencing the city, but for longer trips, the subway will take you just about anywhere. A week-long pass was about $33 for unlimited metro access, which was well worth it for how much it got used. Plus, there is something incredibly liberating about being able to go anywhere without using a car.
5. There. Is. So. Much. To. Do.
Weekends at school usually involve either going out to eat or watching a movie, so the vast array of options to occupy my free time were a bit overwhelming at first. NYC is so big that there was no way I was going to be able to do everything I wanted in four days, but with good planning and a willingness to try new things, I was able to see a lot of the city. Sure, the $$$ can rack up, but most museums have free or reduced days, and many places offer a student discount. For example, Friday nights at MoMA are free, so if you can suffer the crowds, you can go pretend you understand modern art. Plus, for me, even just walking around the city was entertainment enough. My favorite thing that I did the whole trip was to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge after sundown, when the city was spread out in front of me and the lights twinkled across the East River, and the best part about this excursion was that it was free!
6. The Price
For four nights in a four star hotel plus tickets to the tournament, the price of the tournament is less than $400. Still too steep? Well, if you happen to be musically adept and can play an instrument, you can join the band and go for free! When else are you going to be able to get that good of a deal? Never, so take advantage of it while you can.
7. It Doesn’t Take Up Your Entire Break
I don’t know about you, but I was glad to have at least a couple days to relax, binge on some Netflix and go home so that my mom could do my laundry and cook for me. I also had plenty of time to see some old friends and take a day trip into downtown Chicago before heading back to Butler for the NYC trip. Some people might want nonstop fun for their breaks, but I am perfectly content with taking a breather for a couple of days.
8. The Hotel
The Courtyard by Marriot in the Chelsea neighborhood is four stars and two blocks away from Madison Square Garden. It’s clean and roomy and the staff was nothing but exceptionally kind and helpful. Plus there is a Starbucks just around the corner, so what more do you need? I know that I mentioned the price earlier, but this really is a steal.
9. Shopping
Times Square is just a little over a mile away from the Marriott, but there are still plenty of other places to shops around the city to explore. You can either poke around a thrift shop in search of some buried treasure, or you can head over to 5th Avenue to window shop and wish you could afford anything there. Either way, NYC is a consumer’s paradise.
10. The Atmosphere
There’s something about walking around the streets of the city that never sleeps that makes one feel alive, and there is always something going on at any moment. From celebrity visits to political protests to almost getting mowed down by a taxi, the Big Apple is never boring. We’ve all heard the term “The Butler Bubble” and nothing could be further from the bubble than New York City, so go burst it and get out and explore!
