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I’ll take tush tightening advice from anyone who wears tights as a job requirement. Ballet dancers are known for their long, lean bodies and well I’m in the market for one of those… so I figured I’d check out Crunch Fitness‘ new ballet inspired Barre Assets class which is all tush toning – all the time.
Instructor Jennifer Galardi seriously kicks your butt for 60 minutes as you plié your way to a higher hiney. No prior ballet experience is necessary; these moves are basic and totally doable for dance pros and novices alike. Sure, they look graceful and pretty but trust me you’ll be feeling these moves the next day.
Crunch offers Barre Assets at their Lafayette and Kips Bay locations. Check out www.crunch.com for times and information.
It’s finally spring which means one thing to me-time to get in shape for Summer. It’s time to make some healthier eating choices, and yet so much of my social life revolves around eating out. I’ll admit to many years working in the restaurant industry, and if I’ve learned a thing or two from the experience, it’s that asking for what you want the way you want it isn’t a big deal to the kitchen – so go ahead demand your food the way you want.
1) Ask for it grilled, steamed, broiled or baked.
One of the swankiest restaurants I’ve worked at in New York had a George Foreman grill in the kitchen just for those occasions when someone wanted their food made sans added fat.
Chances are that the place you’ll be dining at will have one in the back for you too.
And depending on what you ordered and where – they may purchase one just for you and your grilled truffles.
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2) Ask what’s in the sauce.
It’s easy… “What’s in the sauce?”
See?
Just because you’re getting baked salmon doesn’t mean there isn’t a half a stick of butter melted on top of it.
It’s totally legitimate to ask for sauces on the side.
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3) Lie.
Okay, perhaps you have more morals than me but when I’m worried that a restaurant wont take my requests seriously, I say I’m allergic. If there’s one thing that restaurants don’t want – it’s a lawsuit.
So, little white lies like you’re diabetic (if you want to make sure your food comes without added sugar or want to sub in a salad for fries) or lactose intolerant (if you’re seeking a dish without the drizzling of melted butter that always sneaks on there) can save you tons of hidden calories.
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4) Call ahead.
No doubt about it, it sucks to look like that super picky high maintenance person in a restaurant. Most sit down restaurants that take reservations will allow you to make special notes on your reservation – like those allergies we said we were going to lie about, or that you prefer your food grilled, or that you’re following the “Skinny Bitch” diet and need everything to be vegan.
This leaves you free to order with abandon knowing your waiter and the kitchen already has a note on how to prepare your food.
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5) Soup it up.
People who eat an appetizer of soup before a meal tend to save 20% of calories. Now, obviously we’re talking broth based soups here, not cream based. But, if you fill yourself on water based food first there’s less room for the fattier fare later.
Let us know your tips for staying thin while still enjoying a night out.
Things to be thankful for: You’re not Dutch.
If you thought the MTA fare hike was bad, imagine having your bus benches retrofitted with scales that broadcast your weight in big red numbers for all the world to see. Awesome, right? That’s exactly what a Dutch fitness club has done to try and win over new clients. I know public humiliation is definitely a great buying motivator for me!
I love the Dutch. I’ve lived in the Netherlands and they are some pretty awesomely laid back peeps those Dutchies. They’re great at tulips and windmills and prostitution (uhh, I had to think of something), but advertising may not be their strong suit.
More info here >
I just want to thank the nice people at the MTA who voted for an increase in the price-per-ride on the buses and trains in NYC.
I know that I could totally walk a little more, so thanks for that little reminder. I definitely don’t ever need to be in the Lower East Side, flirting and drinking beer that costs as much as my gas bill. Oh, and now that summer is coming, I definitely do not want to be anywhere near Central Park – so crowded and overrated.
Manhattan… it was nice knowing you, but now that the MTA is making me choose between life and rent, well having a place to live wins.
Luckily there’s cool stuff in my hood, and thanks to my new subway imposed walking regimen, my butt has never looked better.
Speaking of NYC’s Subways…
These smiling women call themselves “MTA service specialists.” They use MySpace and YouTube to offer gently cheeky commentary about service and fares and they’ve gotten some extra attention in the past few days.
VIDEO:
Full story here >
Photos and story courtesy of 1010WINS.com
Boutiques intimidate me, I’ll be honest. I mean, I get it, I want to be trendy. I want cute clothes and every once and a while I get sucked in by the impeccably dressed mannequins in the window, but as soon as I get inside I generally know that this was a big, big mistake.
Today, I walked into Bird in Park Slope.
I love the clothes there. They all sort of look like Andy Warhol and Jackie O. had a baby and are this weird hipster/yuppy blend clothing, which works actually. I love them until I look at the price.
This is usually what happens: I walk in, non-chalantly peruse the racks trying to look sophisticated in a “yeah, I wear this stuff all the time” kinda way. Then I look at the price, throw up a little on the inside, and feel the unbelievable need to run away quickly. Instead of doing that, I stroll around taking mental notes of what sort of cheap knockoffs I should look for in Forever 21 and eavesdrop on the shopgirls’ conversations.
Which today went something like this:
“I don’t think we’re having a sale anytime soon.”
And that’s when I put down the $450 dress that I was holding (you know, just to keep my hands warm) and ran… ran far, far away.
Bird
Park Slope, Brooklyn – Map
316 Fifth Avenue
(between 2nd and 3rd)
T: 718.768.4940
I could go on about the awesomeness that is Brooklyn all day long, in fact sometimes I do, but I figured I’d let the self importance slide for a moment and hit the streets to ask real Brooklynites where to be in their neighborhoods.
Turns out people really like Brooklyn!
Me: Hey you, what’s your name?
Guy on the street: Uhh, Evan Morgenstern.
Me: Hey Evan, what do you do?
Evan: I’m a finance clerk at Time Out New York by day, and comic by night.
Me: So you’re a comic super hero using the offices of Time Out New York as a front. I like it. What ‘hood do you live in?
Evan: Prospect Heights. We are right near the park. We have the big library, the museum, and the Botanical Gardens all right here!
(Evan the comedian is extremely enthusiastic)
Me: So, what’s not so hot about that area?
Evan: The poor planning of the dangerous intersections of Washington and Eastern Parkway and the Washington/Lincoln one on the other side of the block. Both involve a lot of traffic dodging.
Me: So when you’re not dodging cars where are your favorite hot spots for eating, drinking and general Brooklyn merriment?
Evan: I love Sepia Bar on Lincoln and Underhill which is a nice, relaxed bar with great b/w celeb photography on the way. Cheryl’s next door is a great place to eat, as is Le Gamin, a French place with delicious crepes on Vanderbilt (btwn Bergen and Dean). When I’m down in Williamsburg, Stain Bar is a really nice, couch filled bar with a coffee house feel, art on the walls, and local NY wines and beers that are reasonably priced. Also, I can’t wait for summer because I really want to see everything that’s in bloom at the Botanical Gardens. I love seeing neighbors out on their stoops and sidewalks hanging out and that feeling of community that it brings.
Me: Evan, have you considered giving tours?
Evan: No. (looks at me like I’m crazy then walks away.)
Me: Hey, can you get me a subscription to Time Out!
(Evan keeps walking away.)
Me: Damn. Did he say something about crepes?
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From Jewprov.com:
Evan Morgenstern hails from Miami, FL and takes full responsibility for the 2000 presidential election voting problems and anything else South Florida has gotten a bad rap for. He attended the University of Central Florida where he studied journalism and screen writing.
He later moved to New York and began studying improv under instructors including Julie Brister, Armando Diaz, Matt Besser, and Ari Voukydis. He has also taken acting classes at TVI.
In addition to performing with The Hebrew School Dropouts, Evan has previously performed with the improv tragedy group Harsh and currently performs with the sketch group Frowned Upon.
Man, the recession’s got me hungry.
Who am I kidding I’m always hungry, but let’s just say that in recent months my eating budget has subjected me to more Chinese takeout than cloth napkins and wine lists. All that is about to change, at least for a week. Once again I will walk among the living and eat among the gainfully employed because my most favoritist time of year is here.
Brooklyn Restaurant week starts March 23 and runs through April 2nd. And there’s a lot of eating to be done in those 11 days.
Prix fixed meals at some of Brooklyn’s swankiest eateries for $23! I’m pretty sure a grande skim latte is bordering on $20 these days, so I’m friggin’ psyched. There’s a 170+ restaurants on the Restaurant Week roster, but here’s where I’m chomping at the bit to hit up:
Peaches Restaurant in Bed-Sty, Serving up Southern fare (link)
iCi serving up French food in Fort Greene (link)
Applewood in Park Slope with their ever changing organic menu (link)
That’s just my starting list, but I’m hoping to hit up a different neighborhood and different restaurant almost every night in this week and a half time frame. Which will be expensive (not to mention I may need to invest in some elastic waist pants) and will not help alleviate my poorness quotient so I’ll also try and hit up some of the a handful of restaurants are offering 2 for $23. Among those, Im all about Cantina in South Slope, which in addition to some of the tenderest steak I’ve had in Brooklyn, has a Margarita Happy Hour from 3-7pm. Because if all else fails there’s always tequila.
Complete list of participating restaurants.
[Photo iCi Restaurant]
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Apparently all of my hours spent in karaoke parlors that ended sans-happy-ending were not the norm according to the community board of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. The fine community planning folks put the kibosh on offering a liquor license to a new karaoke joint set to open on 64th street, stating that it was all just a rouse for a house of prostitution. Because, if a bunch of people lock themselves in a sound proofed room to belt out some off key 80s power ballads, then the obvious conclusion is that someone’s going to start selling sex.
Obviously.
Quote of the day: “We don’t need no hookers here. We will not vote for another hooker place in our neighborhood.”
Famous NYC singing hooker Ashley Dupré
Does that mean they’ve voted for other hooker places in their neighborhood? But… these hookers sing! Please let there be singing hookers! Pretty please.
Also, I’d like to point out that that statement is a double negative and therefore what you’re really saying is that you need another hooker place in your neighborhood. Perhaps, subconsiously, what you really want is more singing hookers.
Things at my new station, 923 NOW FM are going great. I LOVE everyone I work with. The energy in the hallways is contagious. It’s a feeling I’ve missed for a LONG time. It’s invigorating and SO refreshing. I am head over heels in love with my new gig.
I got home early tonight and ran to the store. Look what I found. I am hooked!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1_6rgdM4Vs[/youtube]
PS – Before you ask, I’ll tell ya. The new lipgloss I’m wearing is Dior’s Ultra Gloss Reflect in “clutch pink” (#517). I bought it at Sephora today. Ah, did I mention there’s a Sephora on like every corner in NYC? I’m in trouble!
