Urban Pulse
Gold’s Gym Introduces Les Mills BODYPUMP® and CXWORXTM to Los Angeles Gyms
August 22nd, 2011SAN FRANCISCO, CA–(Marketwire – Aug 22, 2011) – Gold’s Gym, the largest full service gym chain in the world, is rolling out two world-leading group exercise classes, Les Mills BODYPUMP® and CXWORX™, at six locations in the Greater Los Angeles area.
Les Mills BODYPUMP® is the original barbell class proven to sculpt the entire body — the formula of intense weight repetitions and cardio is scientifically proven to build long and lean bodies and shape without the bulk. In each class, you perform around 800 repetitions of basic free weight exercises, and burn an average of 560 calories.
Les Mills CXWORX™ is the newest addition to the Les Mills stable, and is a short, 30-minute workout that strengthens and tones. Core training is one of the hottest fitness trends in 2011, and CXWORX™ improves your torso and sling muscles that connect the upper and lower body, and is ideal for tightening the tummy.
LES MILLS® classes are enjoyed by millions of people in 80 countries around the world each week. They are effective and fun, and deliver the results people want, combining great music and passionate instructors who inspire exhilarating workouts.
BODYPUMP® and CXWORX™ will now be available to Gold’s Gym members in Los Angeles.
Les Mills West Coast CEO Steven Renata says Gold’s Gym is one of the leaders in the fitness industry. “Both our companies have strong values and a shared belief that we can change people’s lives for the better through fitness. It’s fantastic to partner with Gold’s Gym in Los Angeles.”
About Les Mills
Millions of participants every week build their fitness in a LES MILLS® class. The eight LES MILLS® group exercise programs, including BODYPUMP®, are taught by more than 70,000 certified instructors in over 13,000 licensed clubs around the world. From its base in Auckland, New Zealand, Les Mills renews each exercise-to-music program every three months with new choreography, licensed music and instructor education. See www.lesmills.com for more information and to contact your local Les Mills distributor.
About Gold’s Gym
Established in Venice, Calif. in 1965, Gold’s Gym is the largest full service gym chain in the world with more than 700 locations in 42 states and 30 countries. Gold’s Gym offers the latest equipment and services, including group exercise, personal training, cardiovascular equipment, group cycle, Pilates and yoga. With nearly 3.5 million members worldwide, Gold’s Gym helps all kinds of people achieve their individual potential through fitness. For more information please visit www.goldsgym.com, www.facebook.com/goldsgym or www.twitter.com/goldsgym.
Consumers can also see the inspiring member success stories from the new Gold’s Gym “Stronger Than” campaign at www.goldsstrongstories.com.
Gold’s Gym of Los Angeles locations:
- Hollywood
- Downtown Los Angeles
- Thousand Oaks
- Simi Valley
- Fullerton
- West Covina
The Printing Dress: Fashion gets Techie
August 16th, 2011
Microsoft's Asta Roseway shows off the Printing Dress
Tech designers are entering the fashion world–and are making quite a statement. What if your blog posts, tweets, and Facebook status could be projected on your t-shirt? Microsoft researcher, Asta Roseway and Sheridan Martin Small of Xbox have created a dress that does just that. The Printing Dress, aptly named, represents the future of social media and social accountability. Though it is not wearable yet, it certainly rethinks how we should approach social media accounts. Roseway and Small hope that their Printing Dress will “inspire conversations that go beyond fashion and technology to topics such as awareness, accountability, privacy and identity.” If everything we wrote was visible to everyone on the street, how would we feel? And how would they react? The dress itself is made from black and white rice paper, and has buttons made to look like old typewriter keys. The dress also includes a laptop, four circuit boards and a projector.
Diagram of the Microsoft Printing Dress
To learn more about wearable technology and the Printing Dress, check out the Electricfoxy studio blog at www.electricfoxy.com. The latest project to come out of Electricfoxy is Ping, a social networking garment with a wireless hookup to your Facebook account…get ready to Ping your friends as you move.
-Neko
A New Kind of Office
August 9th, 2011
The K Workstation from MisoSoupDesign
Back to school or just back to work? MisoSoupDesign has created the ultimate office workstation–why is it the ultimate? First off, the minimalist design is quite chic. Second, the laminated Bamboo plywood frame is bent in a cool, space-saving way. Three, sustainable and renewable materials! And last but not least, the K Workstation can be sent in separate segments so you can design your own workspace. Partners Daisuke Nagatomo and Minnie Jan, who are both U.S. Green Building Council LEED certified professionals, established MisoSoupDesign in New York City in 2004. Using their architectural expertise, their furniture designs ensure that wasted materials are kept at a minimum. Since 2004, MisoSoupDesign has expanded to Barcelona, Spain and Tokyo, Japan and has received several international accolades.
-Neko
MisoSoupDesign Formula Chair: No Hardware or Adhesive Necessary!
Fashion Projected
July 22nd, 2011
Fall 2011 Campaign, Projection at 14th St and University Place
Alexander Wang’s Fall 2011 video campaign is rough, industrial, and rather apocalyptic…or should I say post-apocalyptic. In the spliced images, we get the sense that model, Raquel Zimmermann, is in some sort of underground lair. The camera pans across wet, concrete walls and heavy darkness, and I could not help thinking of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. The video itself was shot in an abandoned grain factory in Red Hook, Brooklyn and can be viewed at www.alexanderwang.com. However, the true genius of Wang’s 2011 campaign is in the video projections that began last Friday across New York City. The videos, featuring Zimmermann, were projected from vans onto NYC buildings at various locations. From the designer who makes simple look so good, Wang’s newest collection not only succeeds, but even rivals the NYC skyline.
-Neko
Be a Traveler, not a Tourist
July 19th, 2011
www.triplingo.com
In the real world of traveling, pocket-sized dictionaries and bulky Lonely Planet books don’t really cut it. Flipping through pages and pages of information to find a particular word or phrase screams tourist, and in the world of the smartphone, seems a bit antiquated. But now, thanks to the TripLingo app, you can avoid looking like a tourist and start speaking like a native. TripLingo makes it easier than ever to communicate during your nomadic adventures. It features a Slang Slider, where you can find formal or casual ways to say phrases. There are also customized phrase lists that tailor to your trip, whether it be vacation or work-related. My favorite feature? The flash cards. It makes it easy to practice, and at the end of the day, you might even be awarded a badge for your skills. TripLingo integrates a wealth of cultural information on each country and language, as well as etiquette tips and a pronunciation guide. TripLingo is currently available in Spanish, French, Portuguese, German, Italian, and Dari. The best part is, you can try it out for free and pirate the open seas!
-Neko
Grubwithus: Real-Life Networking
July 14th, 2011
Check out meals, deals, and awesome people at www.grubwithus.com
Though I personally don’t mind dining solo, I do enjoy meeting new people, and Grubwithus seems to have the answer to finding new friends/potential partners while avoiding the world of online dating. How does it work? Think of it as Facebook meets Groupon. Grubwithus selects a restaurant, sets a menu, and reserves a table. On the website, you can check out the menu and the profiles of those who have already signed up for a particular meal.Those who decide to dine do so communally for a fixed price. Instead of awkward messages or posts, Grubwithus promotes “real-life” networking. Meals usually range from $20-$40 and there is a cap of 8-10 “grubbers”. Another plus, since grubbers pay beforehand, there is no check-splitting and awkwardness is yet again avoided!
So if you are feeling a little lonely and need some new conversation in your life, then check it out.
-Neko
Lunchbox Laptop
July 5th, 2011
Intel Classmate PC
As a child, I loved my Cookie Monster lunchbox. It was durable, light, colorful and kept my sandwiches intact. Now imagine a laptop with the same hard-shell durability, easy to carry handle , and made for kids. Intel has designed it’s Classmate PC in efforts to bring technology and education to kids around the world. With the weight of two iPads and protective rubber backing, this little laptop has lots to offer without the high cost. The laptop has a swivel screen, touch-screen abilities, and a webcam. Over four million have already made there way to children in Argentina, Nigeria, and the Republic of Srpska. The best part is that these PCs are not only getting to where they need to be, but that teachers and kids are receiving the training from Intel employees to utilize the software and technology. Now all these laptops need are some Cookie Monster stickers and I would be set.
Check out Intel’s video for more information on Intel’s vision to bring laptops to children and schools worldwide.
-Neko
Rooftop Menagerie
June 30th, 2011
Birkegade Rooftop Penthouse
Forget rooftop gardens, Copenhagen has made way for the latest trend: rooftop playgrounds. JDS Architects of Denmark designed three, otherworldly penthouse apartments. Otherworldly, due to the brightly colored, amusement park roofs that cap the otherwise normal skyline. These 1,000 square meter terraces were designed with the residents in mind. A safe, child-friendly place for kids and adults to play while enjoying a privacy similar to a suburban backyard. The architectural firm’s initial idea was to create a “missing garden”, which for me, brings to mind Le Corbusier’s 1920s’ rooftop designs. Though perhaps a little brighter than Corbusier’s Villa Savoye, the orange play areas and rollercoaster staircases of Birkegade illustrate how urban space continues to develop.
Check out more photos at inhabitat.com.
-Neko
Rooftop image of Le Corbusier's Villa Savoye
By the People, For the People: MetroBike’s Newest Stations
June 28th, 2011
BikeArlington Interactive Map
Founded in 2004, Paul DeMaio’s MetroBike LLC has developed and grown throughout North America since its inception. Perfect for those days when a few blocks walk seems like an eternity, MetroBike lets users pick up and drop off from city locations similar to the Zipcar program, but geared (no pun intended) towards eco-conscious city goers and would be cyclists. Now with plans to build 30 new bike-share stations in Arlington, Virginia, MetroBike is looking to the public to help decide where those stations should be located. BikeArlington in partnership with MetroBike has created an interactive crowdsourcing map that lets locals provide input and suggestions. In addition, users can also comment on already proposed stations, giving their nod or shake of approval. Already, the feedback generated is proving useful as well as eye-opening, since many of the areas proposed by community residents had not originally been considered by MetroBike.
MetroBike Rides
Check out the Bike-Sharing Blog to find out more news on Metrobike, LLC and the global bike-sharing community.
-Neko