By Yese Erazo-Tequianes ’27

With the first month of the college semester being over, students have come to realize what their classes will be like. From long articles to tedious computer programming, the workload students have accumulated has proven to be demanding. Having had firsthand experiences of the bustling hallways and loud floors in the new 15 Beekman residence hall, I have personally found comfort in doing homework outside of the suites. Although studying can undoubtedly be a laborious task, going to a coffee shop can certainly enhance the experience and simultaneously allow you to explore the city.  

As a political science major, I have found that my homework responsibilities differ from those of my suitemates. While my homework tends to involve reading long articles and writing essays, my roommate’s homework (FTVC major) involves watching films and reading scripts. Due to my high workload, I tend to branch out of my enclosed dorm room into different study spots, most notably cafés around the city. By getting out of my room, I am able to feel productive and get loads of work done on the days that I don’t have classes. This method of productivity has actually been scientifically supported by research as well.  

Harvard University Medical School formulated a theory known as the “Lipstick Effect”. With this theory, they have gathered that there is a positive association between higher levels of self-esteem and better academic standing/better work performance. This concept correlates with the “feel good, do good” phenomenon, in which psychologists have studied that when people feel good about themselves or are in a good mood, they have a tendency to do good things for others. In this sense, in relation to the “Lipstick Effect”, students who feel good about themselves after getting ready will be more likely to “do good” in their studies.  

With coffee shops on almost every block in Manhattan, finding one to study in is not a difficult task. In fact, there are two right across from my dorm building (15 Beekman). The coffee shop I have found to be the most easily accessible, due to its proximity to my dorm, is Variety Coffee. With 8 locations all over NYC, Variety Coffee has easily become a NYC fan favorite. At this coffee shop, the doors open bright and early at 7 am, and close at 9 pm. For those early birds students as well as the late-night studiers, Variety Coffee’s hours are accessible for Pace students.  

Variety Coffee offers a simple menu with the basic coffee drinks any busy student could desire. From plain coffee to chai lattes, this coffee shop provides delicious drinks that can be customized with the house-made simple syrup and vanilla bean syrup. The drinks all range anywhere from about $3-$5 (without tax) and are made almost immediately after you order them without much waiting in line. In addition to the made-to-order drinks they offer, they also have refrigerated kombuchas as as well as some pre-packaged Variety Coffee blends to make at home. The pastry case offers sweet treats like croissants and brownies, however the supply is pretty scarce closer to closing.  

One of the most significant aspects of this café is how most seats are filled with people on their laptops. The warm ambiance of this café allows for a peaceful space that people evidently enjoy working in. This café is also filled with friends enjoying a nice conversation over coffee at the cozy tables, which is a perfect space for Pace students to get together with friends. 

At night, the coffee shop slows down, and it is much easier to score a table to work at. The friendly staff greet you and quickly make your drink upon purchase. The busy background noises are calmer closer to closing and are instead replaced by soft background music filling the café. Without a doubt, Variety Coffee has easily become one of my favorite spots to visit, among other workers/students who want to get work done. Although progress in exploring the city is not really made due to the proximity to Pace University, this is definitely a spot for students to come to if they want to stay closer to home but still be separated from their dorm rooms.