Hasta La Ideas

Celebrate the season with the Hamptons’ local juice

Taking the motto “Made with love in Montauk,” Sweet ‘tauk Lemonade is a locavore juicer located at the far reaches of New York’s Long Island. Founder Debora Aiza makes lemonades that blend local ingredients and lemons imported from optimal growing conditions, sweetened with a touch of raw agave nectar. On a recent weekend in the Hamptons we paired ours with club soda to make refreshing—though we have it on good authority that they shine as cocktail mixers as well.

The unpasteurized drink foregoes sugar in favor of the natural agave for a mild sweetness that packs fewer calories than the standard summer juice, while flavor combinations like watermelon and cucumber and the season’s pitch-perfect iced tea-lemonade mix make Sweet ‘tauk a superior gourmet choice over sugary concentrates. At around $10 per quart, the lemonades are also a bit pricier than what you might see at a stand, but they’re well worth it for the small batch production and all-natural attributes.

The just-launched juices are currently available at East Hampton Gourmet Foods and Balsam Farms in Long Island, NY, though we expect to see Aiza’s concoctions making their way off the island sometime soon.

The shape-shifting arts and fashion publication goes stereoscopic

Continually pushing the boundaries of traditional publishing, quarterly art and fashion magazine Visionaire has released their 62nd issue in conjunction with NYC-based design firm Aruliden and Brazilian retail developer and contemporary art patron Iguatemi. As with each issue, the theme and format has once again changed. This time Visionaire takes the form of a stereoscope. Designed, developed and manufactured by Aruliden, the “issue” contains 18 slides depicting photographic works by a wide range of renowned artists to express the life, culture and arts of Brazil without any of the samba dancing clichés. Artists featured include Maurizio Cattelan, Marco Brambilla, Alas & Marcus Piggott and even Karl Lagerfeld.

Each slide features two images, shot from two cameras at a measured distance from both each other and the subject. The stereoscope’s two lenses are spaced from each other and the viewing plane at the same proportion putting the slide at the correct distance ratio from your line of sight to best capture the stereoscope’s ability create the illusion of three dimensions. The impressively sharp images are seen as if at the end of a long dark hallway. Much like one would encounter art in a gallery—surrounded by white walls with a single object of attention—the user gets a uniquely isolated viewing experience from the black box stereoscope.

Described by Aruliden founder and lead designer Johan Liden as a “non object,” the stereoscope’s beautifully designed block-like body seems both intuitive and ambiguous at the same time. On one end the soft nose and eye cutouts seem to encourage the user to hold it to their face, while the sharp edges and matte finish of the other sides offer few clues as to the product’s purpose. “Architecturally it’s very linear and square,” says Liden, explaining that the injection-molded plastic is produced with a slightly silky, soft touch finish to soften the device without changing its shape and make it more “friendly.”

While the low-tech stereoscope may seem basic in form, it was no easy feat to create. Liden and his team worked on the design for an entire year, toying with options from shapes inspired by an open book to an ode to the classic ViewMaster 3D toy. After extensive prototyping and testing ideas, the design team settled on the final, elegant shape.

Available in a choice of two lenticular-paneled boxes, the limited-run Visionaire issue 62 Rio can now be bought directly from Visionaire. Limited to just 2,000 total editions, issue 62 sells for $375. For a closer look at the packaging and product design see the slideshow.

Images by Graham Hiemstra and Aruliden

An all purpose utility bag for the city dwelling outdoor enthusiast

Making expertly crafted products for city dwelling outdoor enthusiasts, NYC’s own Best Made Co. stands at the forefront of the return to our roots movement. “We operate in NYC,” says lead designer Hunter Craighill, “but we focus on the outdoors and the products that get people outside.” To further encourage this call to nature, Best Made is launching a new product each week for the forseable future. First up is the all purpose Gear Bag, made entirely in NYC of mostly American-made materials. Like all Best Made products, the sturdy carry all is attractive enough for the city but built for the great outdoors.

“[The bag] represents a direction we’re moving in, towards being a more full outfitter with apparel, gear and bags. It’s our first bag which we’ve made from scratch, which is exciting for us,” said Craighill. The stiff, three layer construction—heavy waxed cotton canvas outer, impermeable waterproof center and canvas lined interior—gives the bag its rigid form, while a ballistic nylon bottom, brass feet and kevlar handles work together to further its indestructible nature. With one full length exterior pocket and two interior pouch pockets, the all purpose bag features little more than one would need for a weekend away or day on the jobsite.

By using domestically made materials and constructing each piece by hand, Best Made appeals to the conscience consumer looking for something more than just another tote bag. “Part of what we’re doing is trying to produce products that are not disposable, not only because they work well but because you care about them,” said Craighill.

The Gear Bag is available directly from Best Made online for $240. For more information check their site or if you’re in NYC swing by the Best Made workshop friday afternoon’s from noon to six for open house.

Five bikes for touring town

Midsummer may very well be the season of the bicycle. With a steady schedule of backyard BBQs, concerts in the park, afternoons at the beach and general meandering about, it’s crucial to have the proper warm-weather transportation. To accommodate such adventures we’ve compiled a short selection of city-ready bicycles, all under $800.

Heritage Bicycles

Handmade with durable American steel in Chicago, Daisy is a beefy rig that’s likely to put up with more than a bit of abuse. The unisex bike combines the classic women’s step-through and men’s diamond frame designs with a coaster brake for a timeless aesthetic. Further enhancing its appeal to all shapes, sizes and sexes, Daisy comes in two sizes as a single-, three- or seven-speed and can be outfitted with multiple fender options. Find it at Heritage exclusively for $695—an essentially unbeatable price for a domestic-made bike.

Erenpreiss

Brought back to life through European import company Baltic Bicycle Company, Latvian manufacturer Erenpreiss and their classic women’s bike Greta find themselves in production once again after being shut down during WWII. Unlike most retro-inspired bicycles Greta is lightweight and efficient—the practical single speed, chain guard and coaster brake make for a hassle-free ride requiring minimal maintenance. To learn more about the history behind Erenpreiss and to find one for yourself visit Baltic Bicycle Co. where Greta is available for £375.

Playdate

The one-of-a-kind city cruiser Cherry Darlin’ fuses old school looks, sized-down frames for maneuverability and giant sweeping bars for a relaxed riding position. An East Coast High-Rider as Playdate calls it, the curious style makes for a mellow ride suitable more for weekend rides than hardcore commuting. If the “standard” design isn’t unique enough for you, Playdate offers customization across every component from saddles, grips and pedals to bells, cranks and even chains. Readily available in NYC, the Cherry Darlin’ is also available online from Playdate for $650.

GT

The stealth Meatball takes the ultra-sleek aesthetics of a track bike and subtly slips in a two speed, automatic shifting internally geared hub and coaster brake. Set to drop from GT towards the end of summer, it’s the clever, almost cheeky combination of leisurely gearing hidden behind an aggressive looking track frame that really has us excited for this bike. Plus, with horizontal dropouts, all you have to do is drop in a fixed cog rear wheel if you want to give it a proper try. Look to GT in October, when the Meatball will sell for $780.

Tern

Let’s face it, it’s difficult to make a folding bike appealing when the market is flooded with perfectly minimalist track bikes and historically accurate cruisers. But Tern’s Joe makes a sound case for such a model by blending function with solid design. With wider tires to tackle cobblestones and weather-beaten paths, a “doubletruss” rear frame for stiffness and 24 speeds, the utilitarian bike can tackle most commutes while allowing the option of being packed up for the train or bus instead. Meanwhile, the improved four-bar joint ensures your bike remains in one piece even on the roughest rides. The Joe sells for $650. See Tern directly for dealer locations.

Frank Gehry designs a holistic health and fitness center tucked below NYC’s Plaza Hotel

If one thinks of the body as a temple, the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle and strong physique becomes a matter of good design. With integrative health at the core of its mission, La Palestra wellness centers have pioneered a special hybrid of proper medical care and fitness in upscale gyms built to reflect the indigenous elements of their respective locations. The latest outpost lands in the subterranean base floor of the NYC’s Plaza Hotel, tucked away behind the Todd English Food Hall and pink-splashed shrine to Eloise.

Designed by Frank Gehry, La Palestra at the Plaza serves as a holistic haven of wellness, encompassing a main floor with a set of medical exam rooms and a small area with treadmills and activity mats open to hotel guests, and a members-only gym below, accessed by a signature—and stunning—Gehry staircase of bright white steel. What’s perhaps most striking about the facility is that despite a definite opulent feel to the space, at the core it’s still a functional, classic gym. Ropes hang from the ceiling at the center of the room, while the circle-shaped La Palestra logo on dark activity mats seem vaguely reminiscent of wrestling rings.

This is far from your high school gymnasium, however. La Palestra founder Pat Manocchia created his concept of fitness and health with the safety and security of the human body as his main priority. “Design-wise, we wanted to represent what we believe,” he says. As a result, the same sense of respect is applied to each space they design. Below the Plaza, the medical suites reveal exposed subway tile, while the downstairs members’ gym—once the storage room for the hotel’s coal in the old days—is dotted with weathered tiled columns. “Culturally, from an exercise perspective, people are made to believe that the idea of beauty is that it’s flawless,” says Manocchia in pointing out an interesting parallel, “but it’s the exact opposite. The flaws are what makes something beautiful.”

For the Plaza space, Gehry, Manocchia and the team were faced with certain architectural challenges. Variations in ceiling height were exploited to create alcoves of light that aid in one of Manocchia’s central ideas, which is privacy. The placement of cardio equipment and room-dividing medicine ball and dumbbell racks is carefully considered to create what he believes is the right environment for optimal performance. “If you feel like you’re being observed or judged, or if you feel like you’re on top of someone else, you’re just going to feel self-conscious,” he says. “We keep the focus off aesthetic completely, so you’re focused on what you’re doing and not how you look.” Particularly shy gym-goers would be pleased with the absence of a locker room, the junior-high vibe of which Manocchia feels is “one of the biggest barriers to exercise.” Each individual bathroom (complete with shower) and dressing room has a wardrobe built into the door to serve double-duty as a space-saving solution and augment the same sense of privacy from the outset.

That said, La Palestra skips any dramatic, theatrical faux-flattering lighting and floor-to-ceiling mirrors. Mirrors are intentionally situated away from the wall to prevent the feeling of being boxed in, while lights are designed to shine with very specific variants to reflect times of day and year. “Since we’re underground, it was important you didn’t feel like you’re in a casino in Vegas,” says Manocchia.

Manocchia’s thoughtful balance of practicality—his number one priority in the lighting scheme, he says, was installing bulbs that could be easily changed—and intuition seems well suited for exercise. In stocking the space with the highest-quality equipment, from top-of-the-line Woodway and Cybex treadmills to artisan-made vaulting boxes Manocchia seeks to support the most important design element in fitness—the human body. “When it comes to innovation in the field, it’s not about reinventing the wheel or inventing something new, it’s about how good design is re-engineered to support the human body,” he says. “You have to understand how the body works so you can utilize equipment that fits into movement patterns and provides a broad toolbox. Dumbbells can be used for all sorts of things, and are you going to make something better? No. We’re interested in the best-made version.”

The breadth and depth of La Palestra’s medical and training attention—which comes at corresponding prices around $8,800 annually—makes it the logical choice for those with health concerns or injuries, or anyone looking for a superior level of care integrated into their fitness routine. A training session comes accompanied with the message that techniques and routines should be learned, and are designed for members to take away and practice on their own.

La Palestra is located in the Plaza Hotel, with gym access and a la carte training services (extra charge) available to hotel guests, and a full-service health and fitness center available for members only. For La Palestra’s other NYC locations, and to learn more about the company, visit the website.

Images by Amy Barkow courtesy of La Palestra