The students and faculty of Columbia University benefit from the abundant opportunities for multidisciplinary, joint programs that draw on the many academic centers of excellence offered by Columbia University. The campus is surrounded by the pleasant neighborhood of Morningside Heights. Tom's Diner by the singer Suzanne Vega. Another city landmark in the area is the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, one of the largest G othic cathedrals in the world with superb examples of architecture, stained glass, and stone carvings. Within easy reach are all of New York City's world-famous entertainment and cultural attractions.
Students are often able to obtain discounted admission to events.
There are more than 150 museums to choose from including the world-famous Metropolitan Museum of Art which encompasses close to 3 million works of art in its permanent collection alone. The Museum of Modern Art has the world's largest collection of modern art and the American Museum of Natural History is the greatest of its kind in the world, housing science exhibits from meteorites to dinosaurs. Numerous theaters present performances which range from long-running Broadway shows like Cats to the summer tradition of free Shakespeare plays in Central Park with notable stars such as Patrick Stewart. The New York City music scene features fabulous performances of every style - rock, jazz, opera, reggae, classical, etc. New York City is also the restaurant capital of the world, boasting an immense variety of ethnic restaurants and specialty food shops.