There seven main lounges on the combined YU campuses. SternFeed investigated, compiled the data, and now presents a definitive ranking of the YU dorms in order of where you’re most likely to find your Mr. Right (or Mr. Right Now. No judgments).
7. Schottenstein
Also known as the 29th Street Dorm, this out-of-the-way lounge is the best place to go if you’re looking for a Y chromosome-free evening. Weeknights find this spacious lounge filled with studious young women cramming hardcore for physics as well as pounding their pizza and pretzels. Although this lounge features a large store and plenty of private-like corners, boys and men alike seem unwilling to make the trek.
6. 35th Street
This small, cramped little lounge is not exactly the Olympic size swimming pool that is Schottenstein. Still, you’re more likely to encounter one of the male species, even if he already has a girlfriend. Because if he’s visiting 35th, you can bet your bottom shekel that he’s dating one of the women therein. But dating isn’t married, so get on that.
5. Morgenstern Lounge
Now things are getting interesting. Recently the basis of a heated to-mechitza-or-not-to-mechitza debate, “Morg,” as it’s more commonly referred to, is where you go if you’re waiting for a shuttle and want to check out the sights while you’re at it. Although the specimen here is older, more mature, and probably taller than the guys you’ll find in Rubin, they’re also probably going to be glued to whatever game is on TV that night and won’t notice your come-hither glances. Better than 35th, because these guys might be single. But you’re more likely to get glued to a hockey game than to that tasty young bocher who’s betting on it.
4. 36th
On Shabbat afternoon, this is the place to be. With big comfy couches, a bookcase if you feel like displaying your intellectual prowess, and a TV for weekdays, 36th has hit what Stern Women would consider the lounge sweet spot. But as it is not a go-to if you’re looking to run into that handsome guy on a weekday evening, it’s to be avoided except on Shabbat afternoons, when all the board games and Mike and Ikes are perfect bait to lure in your prospective bashert.
3. Rubin
Looking to take in all that YC has to offer? If you’re serious about finding your bashert at YU, you’d better go to the source, and that source is Rubin. Many a young Stern girl has whiled away many hours hanging in the Rubin lounge. Whether you’re sitting primly in the front lounge or chillin’ in the back like a boss, Rubin’s youthful vigor will find its youthful, vigorous way into your heart. With boys on their way to the caf, boys on their way to the gym (!), boys on their way to the pool (!!), and boys on their way to the Beis (!!!!), this is the place to see and be seen. This is where the boys live. Ergo, this is where you live*.
*If you’re a freshman. If you’re older than 19, you should probably set your sights elsewhere.
2. Brookdale
You thought this was going to be Number One, didn’t you. I know. But it’s not, and it’s for the simple reason that it’s seriously annoying. If you’re an upperclassman who just wants to get uptown for an obviously non-shameful reason, you are forced to deal with the loudly talking freshmen on a good day and the quiet whisperings of a gooey-eyed couple on a bad one.
Still, Brookdale has a nice little store, a good amount of space, access to the ever-revered Intercampus Shuttle, and most importantly, plenty of male traffic. Whether they’re returning from a Boys’ Night Out in Times Square, a Shabbaton, or some chaste form of coed mingling, there is only one way back to their dorm (as far as they know…). Your bubby always told you that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Well, the way to a man is through Brookdale. Even if you have to brave the noisy just-outta-high-school crowd, it’s worth it to get some of that sweet boy-watching action.
If you’re lucky, you’ll catch this lounge on a good night, and it’ll be quiet, relatively empty, and warm – the perfect storm for catching that bocher’s eye from across the faded velour sofa.
1. Heights Lounge
You knew it. We all knew it. THE HEIGHTS LOUNGE. Home to many famous and infamous hijinx, setting of the almost-viral YU Harlem Shake video and backdrop to many a Maccabeat music video, The Heights Lounge is The Place to find the man or woman of your dreams. Conveniently located in the library building of YU, it’s easy to show up on the pretense of “studying” on one of the “quiet” floors, and then casually let gravity do its thing and lure you downward into the belly of the beast. Don’t let its size intimidate you—it’s all part of the charm! Want to create a sofa-fort with your coed study group and pretend you go to a “normal” college? Go ahead! Want to have an earnest conversation with your almost-fiancé? There’s a love seat just for you. Want to have a rowdy game of Dungeons and Dragons on an otherwise quiet Saturday night? The Heights Lounge will fulfill all these needs and more! Like the Swiss Army knife of lounges, the Heights Lounge can—and will—keep you and your soon-to-be bashert coming back for more.