CITY CLIMBERS CLUB
West 59 Rec Center, 533 W. 59th St. (betw. 10th & 11th Aves.)
212-974-2250
If the idea of jogging 20 minutes only to wind up exactly where you started doesn't make your toes curl with excitement, then try something like?indoor rock climbing. Granted, the view isn't any more real than being on a treadmill, but at least you'll be getting somewhere. The indoor climbing/caving system at City Climbers Club is NYC's oldest rock gym (15 years); but you can be confident that everything is up-to-par as you awkwardly cling to the pretend (but thrilling) cliffs. This non-profit organization offers an annual membership or day passes ($15). And if you're a complete novice, you can take various classes to get you started. With 11 belay stations, 30 routes and a bouldering cave, you won't miss those monotonous dates with your treadmill. And speaking of dates, rock climbing will get you in shape for your next one, or you might even meet your mate at CCC, maybe while hanging out in a dark cave. Hmmm, sounds kind of like a bar.
Curly's Vegetarian Lunch
328 E. 14th St. (betw. 1st & 2nd Aves.)
212-598-9998
Place your order at Curly's and ignore the service, as the food easily makes a bit of attitude bearable. Instead, focus on the old paint-by-number "artwork" that decorates the walls, telling silent stories of Native American chiefs perched on majestic mountain tops, thoroughly scanning the valleys below for some tofu. The staples are all here: the fresh juice, the baker's dozen of salad options, the veggie burger. The menu is extraordinarily extensive and alluring, with a welcomed focus on Mexican food. Take risks, they'll be handsomely rewarded. If you're extremely hungry, battle with the Goliath tostada salad, and be prepared for a full-on frontal assault led by mountains of avocado, beans, cheese and spicy soy chicken, all housed in a massive tostada shield. Curly's serves breakfast all day and is one of the few places in town to get your weekend vegan brunch on. Put your carnivore friends relatively at ease by mentioning that Curly's serves eggs too, and all brunchers get a free glass of red sangria. Now everybody's happy. With seating capacity barely over the single digit mark and emo-pop soundtrack and the city's best vegan cakes, dining at Curly's is an intimate experience not to be missed.
Brooklyn's Millennium Skatepark
Owl's Head Park, Brooklyn
www.skateboardparks.com
One and two. Now push and coast. Take a deep breath and stretch that ollie a little higher than before. This time I want you to focus on that rail?Maybe skateboarding isn't the best form of exercise, but any physical activity is good for you even if you don't feel the burn. Fortunately, each NY borough, Long Island and Hoboken all have its own skateparks . Most are free, except inside connections are required for the indoor parks (only skaters understand how long a winter can be without one). The standout park is Brooklyn's Millennium Skatepark in Owl's Head Park, Brooklyn. There's a little something for everyone without an abundance of little kids accompanied by personal trainers. Manhattan's best street spot (it's also permitted by the city) is the Brooklyn Banks located under the Brooklyn Bridge. Just be sure to stretch before each session, followed by a lengthy cool down.
Better Burger (Murray Hill)
561 3rd Ave. (at 37th St.) 212-949-7528
If you're serious about shaping up but insist on maintaining devotee status to the Church that Dr. Atkins built, head over to one of Better Burger NYC's four locations. They've got everything you'd expect at a genuine burger joint, minus the antibiotics, hormones, nitrates and fillers. That also goes for all the meats and poultry. Louis Lanza, owner of Josie's and Citrus Bar & Grill, decided to revamp the McWheel, and in addition to the chemical-free protein, Better Burger uses only expeller pressed olive and canola oil. Nothing on the menu contains hydrogenated oils or trans fats, which is good news for your manic depressive heart. Baked organic french fries, masterfully mashed potatoes, savory soy chili and colorful coleslaw round out the sides menu. Better Burger allows you to mix and match, adding organic mozzarella, marsala mushrooms or zesty guacamole to your char-grilled burger. Choose your favorite condiment, or load that baby up with some karma ketchup, chipotle honey-mustard and cayenne hot sauce. They've even got free-range chicken soup with organic macaroni. Piggyback that with a Zen Popeye spinach salad and their red wine wasabi vinegarette. Eating healthy doesn't even have to involve you leaving the couch-Better Burger NYC delivers.
FIVE POINTS FITNESS CENTER
444 Broadway, 2nd Floor (betw. Grand & Howard Sts.)
212-226-4474
Kick boxing, martiaL arts, Pilates and yoga instruction all under one roof? The Five Points Fitness Center is a clean and quirky hybrid that offers exercise options for both him and her in their downtown location. Cashing in on the infamous Five Points made famous in Martin Scorsese's Gangs of New York, Five Points Fitness attracts more than testosterone-fueled Irish men waiting to be hit in the face by each other. You might even find yourself in a Muay Thai or Kali class, fighting with sticks and grappling with others. This center truly has something for everyone. Besides, if getting into shape doesn't work out, you can just watch the popular Mayhem on Mulberry perform their year-round professional kickboxing events.
LIFETHYME NATURAL FOOD MARKET
410 6th Ave. (betw. 8th & 9th Sts.)
212-420-9099
Searching for organic, vegan and socially conscious bites, and you're willing to pay the price to save the world? Then LifeThyme (one word) Natural Market is the grocery for you. Offering a bountiful day buffet overflowing with healthy options, the store encourages a "raw food" approach to capture the most nutrients and enzymes (which help your stomach digest). LifeThyme never lets food sit exposed for more than two hours, and even offers eco-friendly cleaning products that use parsley to fight germs.
EQUINOX FITNESS CLUB
Checkout the website for various locations offering Forza classes: www.equinoxfitness.com
Do you have too much pent-up aggression? Forza classes, otherwise known as Samurai Sword Training, are the perfect way to kick a little ass (or a big ass, depending on how often you frequent the gym and how much you like Krispy Kremes). If you're going to work out wielding a sword, why not train with the Forza creator herself, Ilaria Montagnani, who teaches at various Equinox Fitness Clubs in NYC. Rates vary by location but average about $130/month (plus a one-time membership fee). Equinox offers lots of perks to aid you in your quest for peace-just don't get too tranquil that you can't lift that sword. The average Forza student burns 500 calories in a one-hour class. Stick with it and you'll not only be able to kill Bill, you'll be able to do it wearing a bikini?if you're into that sort of thing.
Bonobo's
18 E. 23rd St. (at Madison Ave.)
212-505-1200
Arranged like an ice cream parlor, Bonobo's displays all their raw flavors neatly behind a plate glass countertop. The menu is highlighted by their wide and tasty variety of nut pates-curried almond, cucumber-dill sesame, mixed vegetable. Eight dollars is a steal for the nut pate sampler, served with a raw flax seed cracker atop a bed of organic dark greens. If the pates aren't exactly your speed, have the raw nori rolls stuffed with vegetables and sprouts, or the phenomenal sweet bell pepper and coconut soup. There is also a full organic juice bar, offering refreshing fruit and vegetable juices. Try "the Tropical"-a combination of fresh pineapple juice blended with young coconut meat. Like all vegan food, everything at Bonobo's is cholesterol free. Treat yourself to a walnut truffle for dessert-after all, you've just done something good for yourself.
EXHALE
June 21. 980 Madison Ave. (betw. 76th & 77th Sts.), 212-561-6400; 4:30-7:15, free.
Head to Exhale if you're idea of health is a little mellower than, say, Richard Simmons. The spa offers all the traditional services, like facials and massage, as well as acupuncture and various yoga classes. This month, Exhale helps us prepare mentally and physically for the long days of summer. At their Upper East Side location, a Summer Solstice celebration will include the chance to sample spa therapies and free yoga classes. So now's the time to get acquainted with the more mellow side of fitness and maybe after a couple of visits to Exhale, you'll be balanced enough to take on Richard Simmons.
Je'Bon Noodle House
15 St. Marks Place (betw. 2nd & 3rd Sts.)
212-388-1313
It's the strangest thing, but now you can order fresh squeezed, all-natural juices along with your fresh squeezed flour noodles at Je'Bon, an East Village noodle shop. Head over to Je'Bon (translated means "eat rice") and choose between, among others, the Flirtini (pineapple, strawberry, splash of club soda) or the Crazzie Mary (carrot, apple, celery, ginger). While you're there, watch the chefs chop, steam, grill, stir-fry and demonstrate noodle-making techniques behind the glass windows of the open kitchen.
Trapeze School New York
Hudson River Park, West St. (betw. Piers 34 & 26)
917-797-1872
Everybody's doing it. Even Carrie Bradshaw took a flying leap in an episode of "Sex and the City." Whether you choose the flying (what you're used to seeing in the circus) or static (in a fixed position) trapeze, Trapeze School New York offers classes for all levels, from the thrill-seekers to the fear-facers (the school's labels). You can also learn to hoop (as in hoola), juggle and jester, basically just get in shape while clowning around.
The Diner
44 9th Ave. (at 14th St.)
212-627-2230
So you're in the Meat Packing District staring at skinny people yet you find yourself feeling amazingly hungry. What to do? Stop in for a bite at The Diner, smack dab in the heart of "Little South Beach." Instead of greasy comfort food, try their vegetable summer ratatouille, grilled shrimp and lentil salad or veggie burger. And if your healthy choices make you feel real good about yourself, cheat and throw in some fries or a milkshake. It is called The Diner, after all.
Compiled by Jessica Koslow, Bret Liebendorfer, Scott Lucas, Kari Milchman and Robert Proudfoot.