As many Academy students head to New York City this week on the Upper School Music Trip, where they will enjoy the bright lights and cityscapes, those of us at school can have a fun time, too, and right here in town.

Here is a list of five New York-inspired activities students can do for adventure after school on Friday and on the rest of the weekend.

The Book Loft
Located in German Village, The Book Loft is one of the nation’s largest independent bookstores. Its pre-Civil War era buildings were once were general stores. Now it is home to 32 rooms of discounted new books and music. New York City’s Strand bookstore might be a site for the New York Trip students, yet The Book Loft, located in our home city, is worth checking out!

Tava
The next time you are heading to Chipotle or Piada on Morse Road, try Tava on Hamilton Road for a change. Tava features homemade, Turkish food served in the fashion as Chipotle. Try the bowl option of rice with gyro meat and beans. You can also add vegetables, Turkish salads, and bread.

Taco Truck
I recently discovered the Taco Truck, which can be found all over Columbus in places as in Bexley and at the OSU campus. Costing fewer than five dollars, you can get a lot of food for a lot less than the cost of a Chipotle meal.The music students can sample food carts’ fare in New York, and you can enjoy tacos from a truck in Columbus.

The Candle Lab
Located in Worthington, customers can create a unique candle using over 120 scents and fragrances. These candles can make wonderful gifts and provide for a fun experience. The Candle Lab also offers body products for purchase. Call for a tour today.

Graeter’s Factory
Before you claim you have seen all there is to Graeter’s ice cream, check out its Bethel Road location, where you can watch workers make the ice cream. Large glass windows on one side of the store allow you to see the process. Here, you can truly get your money’s worth.

Written by Peri Kahraman’13