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5 Top Places to Enjoy a Slice of New York City Pizza – Locals’ Picks

By U.S. News & World Report

New Yorkers are passionate about pizza, but where to grab the perfect slice is up for debate. Part of the reason could be that New York establishments serve up so much variety, from wood-fired to coal-fired and Neapolitan-style to Sicilian, that it’s hard to choose.

“People here have different perceptions of what New York pizza really is,” says Graham Thomas, chief concierge for The Beekman, a Thompson Hotel, which opened on Nassau Street in August 2016. “There’s the traditional margherita pizza with the fresh mozzarella or it’s the greasy slice where you see people standing with a paper plate, doing the fold, and grease dripping everywhere. Or it’s artisanal handcrafted pizza.”

[Read: The Best Hotels in New York City.]

In a city with such pride in its pizza-making history — where some say even the local water gives New York pizza dough an edge over its rivals — these are some of the best pizzerias around.

Joe’s Pizza

If you want a traditional New York slice, Thomas says, go to Joe’s Pizza on Carmine Street near Sixth Avenue, a Greenwich Village favorite that opened in 1975. A single slice of cheese pizza is $2.75, and a full pie (eight slices) of plain cheese pizza with no fancy toppings is $20.

“Joe’s is so old-school, and you don’t find many places like that anymore,” Thomas says. “It’s got the exposed brick, it’s no frills, there’s just a simple sign that says ‘Joe’s,’ but everyone goes there. New Yorkers go there. You don’t get a bunch of options in toppings. It’s usually plain cheese or pepperoni, but Joe’s Pizza is something you can still enjoy five days later.”

Adrienne’s Pizzabar

If you seek a bit more variety in your pizza toppings, such as eggplant, broccoli rabe or prosciutto, Adrienne’s Pizzabar is the place, according to Chris Heywood, senior vice president of global communications for NYC & Company, the city’s tourism organization. Located on historic Stone Street in lower Manhattan near the Financial District, Adrienne’s serves full pies, not slices: A 12-inch round pizza costs between $17 and $23, depending on the toppings, while the larger, square “old-fashioned” red or white pizzas cost $24 and $25, respectively.

[Read: 5 New York City Neighborhoods to Explore on Vacation.]

“Adrienne’s Pizzabar is my personal favorite NYC pizza eatery,” Heywood says. “I get mine with meatball and pepperoni, you have to buy a full pie, and they’re served on a metal sheet tray.”

During the warmer months, sit at Adrienne’s picnic tables, and Heywood suggests washing some pizza down with the restaurant’s sangria.

Paulie Gee’s

If you’re willing to leave Manhattan for Brooklyn, check out Paulie Gee’s, which dishes up fancy pizzas at 60 Greenpoint Ave., between West and Franklin streets. But be prepared to wait: Pizza enthusiasts often must brave lines to eat at this sit-down-only national chain. In addition to salads and vegan pizzas, Paulie Gee’s sells pies such as the A Whiter Shade of Kale with mozzarella and nut-free kale pesto for $16, or the Cherry Jones with mozzarella, Gorgonzola cheese, prosciutto di Parma, dried Bing cherries and orange blossom honey for $19.

Roberta’s

While hanging out in Brooklyn, make your way to Moore Street in the Bushwick neighborhood to share a pizza with family or friends at Roberta’s. It’s worth the schlep, according to Jennifer Picht, things to do editor for Time Out New York. “Pizzawise, you should have a good crust and have a good sauce-to-cheese ratio,” Picht says. “For a dollar greasy slice, you can get that anywhere. Roberta’s has a pizza called the Bee Sting with drizzled honey on it, and it’s amazing, plus they sell the honey separately.”

[Read: The Best Things to Do in New York City.]

Pizzas are sold as entire pies. The Bee Sting costs $16. Or, if you’re a “Star Wars” fan, try the Millennium Falco for $17 that has tomato, Parmigiano, onion, basil and chili. There’s also the White Guy for $15, featuring mozzarella, ricotta, garlic, olive oil and sea salt.

Grimaldi’s Pizzeria

If you’d like to eat quintessential New York food while taking in a quintessential New York view, then Grimaldi’s Pizzeria is the place, according to Jay Seo, assistant front office manager at The Greenwich Hotel. Grimaldi’s serves coal-fired pizza within walking distance of Brooklyn Bridge Park beneath the Brooklyn Bridge, giving pizza lovers an amazing view of Manhattan’s east side skyline. With its red-and-white-checkered tablecloths, Grimaldi’s is an old-school favorite. “Make sure you’re hungry because Grimaldi’s takes orders by the pie,” Seo says. Grimaldi’s serves small pies of six slices or larger pies of eight slices. Toppings include pepperoni, mushroom, ham, sausage, onion and oven-roasted sweet red peppers.

To experience more of what New York City has to offer, check out the U.S. News Travel guide.

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5 Top Places to Enjoy a Slice of New York City Pizza – Locals’ Picks originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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