125th Street

125th Street is the main thoroughfare of Harlem. Once a mainstay of black culture in New York City, it is now populated by a considerable number of chain stores, including Starbucks, Old Navy, and H&M. There's also a 9-screen AMC movie theater (along with, of course, the world famous Apollo Theater).

Thar Be Dragons

Some Columbia students consider this to be the far northern boundary of Morningside Heights and fear treading beyond it. Many such students choose, absurdly, to shop at the same chain stores available on 125th Street at their far downtown locations.

Getting there

Instead of taking the (1) train to the 125th Street subway station, it's best to take the M60 bus, which stops at 116 and Broadway and runs all along 125th Street. Be careful not to go too far, or you'll end up in Queens, at LaGuardia Airport. Pathmark, at Lexington Avenue on the East Side, is two stops before the RFK Bridge to Queens.