NYC active moments: my favorite work-outs, runs & a trip to Brooklyn & Queens
a mini guide to living NYC style — Episode IV
Enough about the food… The New Yorkers are after all a very active bunch. And when in Rome, do as the Romans. So now comes the time to burn those calories by walking around, running, spinning, pumping… Also, it’s time to get out of Manhattan. It is after all the smallest of NYC’s 5 boroughs (Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens, Brooklyn & Staten Island). So time to cross those bridges and venture further a field… Brooklyn? Not adventurous enough. Flushing in Queens… maybe more so
Typical New York workouts
Soulcycle: Soulcylce pretty much embodies the spirit of working out in the city. It’s hardcore workout meets clubbing. Spinning meets gospel. Some people have called it a cult. addictive. Well… try for yourself… you can go for a try-out session in any of the New York locations and be sure to come out sweaty, exhausted, but hopefully exhilarated
Barry’s Bootcamp: Barry’s Bootcamp started in L.A. in 1998. But evidently, it works very well with the New Yorker fitness cracks. They offer 1-hour sessions with alternating treadmill cardio and strength training at 34$ a class. A great workout, and you can get individual classes here
Yoga to the People: Yoga mats are practically a must-have accessory in NYC. Well if you don’t own one, don’t worry, at Yoga to the people you can get it all, and you can just drop in for one of their more or less spiritual yoga classes. The donation-based yoga studio opened its first location on St.Marks in 2006 and has since opened several locations in the city… check it out, breathe and experience the yogi side of NYC workout culture
Boxing: if you need to lose some aggression, head to the UFC gym in Soho and take a trial lesson, e.g., in one of their boxing conditioning classes. Great work-out, some fighter moves, and a lot of sweat
My 3 favorite running routes
Highline: the highline that runs between Gansevoort St and 34th St along the tracks of the historical freight train is the perfect spot for an afternoon stroll, but if you head there early before the crowds of tourists flock in, it also makes for a really nice running route. Start at Gansevoort St and run up the whole way to 34th Street. When you come off the Highline, cross the street and run back down on the Hudson riverside
Central Park: a run in Central Park is a must on any visit. You can make this run up to 110–12km, if you run all the way up and down the park (see below). You can also do the famous loop around the reservoir — a bit more than 2km — as many times as you feel like. If you’re not too sweaty, stop at Loeb’s boathouse for a drink after your run
Hudson River: The Hudson River Greenway was my go-to running route. It stretches all the way up from Battery Park to around the 30th street (approx. 6km) and continues further on the Upper West Side. The part along Tribeca (South of W 10th St) is probably the nicest because it takes you through Rockefeller Park and the North Cove Marina to Battery Park
Outside-of-Manhattan nr. 1: Brooklyn
Brooklyn and Manhattan sometimes feel like they are miles apart. When in fact, the L train takes you from Union Square to Bedford Av. in something like 7 minutes. And it is true of course, that Brooklyn is far more happening than Manhattan. Some may argue that Williamsburg is already too gentrified, and that the really edgy places are now further afield, but for me Williamsburg, Greenpoint and surroundings are still very much hipstertown. Here’s a couple of highlights for when you spend a day in Brooklyn
A great way to explore Brooklyn is by bike. You can rent a bike for the day (if you don’t want to deal with the hastle of docking in and out your citibike), for instance at the Waterfront Bicycle Shop on the Hudson. You then cycle across the Brooklyn bridge to Dumbo (short for “Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass) and then ride your bike through Downtown Brooklyn and Clinton Hill to Williamsburg. You have now entered hipstertown. Spend some time in Williamsburg, shop or play a game of ping pong in the backyard of Concrete & Water, and have a bite to eat on the rooftop of Juliette’s. Then cycle through McCarren Park (the epicenter of hipsters as far as a park is concerned) to Greenpoint with its Polish bakeries and little antique stores. If you’re feeling like a museum or two, continue all the way up to Long Island City and check out the Noguchi Museum, Socrates Sculpture Park or the edgier version of the Moma: MomaPS1. When you’re heading back down to Williamsburg, stop at the Brooklyn version of Cafe Mogador (Moroccan) or the 12 Chairs cafe for a drink before cycling back across the Williamsburg bridge
Outside-of-Manhattan nr. 2: Queens (Flushing)
A less sporty, yet much more exotic trip outside of Manhattan could be to the REAL chinatown out in Queens. Most of you have probably only heard of Flushing in connection with the tennis grounds that host the U.S. Open (Flushing Meadows), however Flushing, Queens is also home to the city’s largest Chinatown, much larger than the one in Manhattan, and home to almost half of the American Chinese living in all of NYC. If you’re in to all things Chinese — who isn’t? — then this place is definitely worth a trip. There are two malls just around the Main Street that are worth checking out. If you want to go really Chinese, head to the Golden Mall’s foodcourt. Like many of the now popular Chinese food joints in Manhattan Xian famous food also has its origins here. Have a bowl of Xian Cumin Lamb Noodles at its original Golden Mall food stall. If you are feeling a bit more fancy, have some Korean-Chinese stir-fried dumplings, Lanzhou Noodles or Ma La Xiang Guo (dry hotpot) in the foodcourt of the New World Mall. If you’re feeling like great Hong Kong dim sum, head to the 3rd floor of the New World Mall to the Grand Chinese Restaurant and grab some crab dumplings from the typical food carts. Finish it off with a bubble tea from Gong Cha or Ten Ren… a perfect Chinese outing
