It’s the month of self-improvement; bettering our minds, refueling our energy levels, getting on track with your health and wellness. Here in the city of concrete jungles, we have some North Brooklyn gems that can take you out of the hustle and bustle to guide you back into a new year full of relaxation, vitality, and wellness.
Located on Berry St, across from McCarren park, BAC is a state of the art training facility with trainers who are ready to coach you to your best performance in a group or personal setting. Unlimited fitness classes (spin, pilates, yoga, glutes and abs) and endless pools for low impact training come in each membership. Recovery, relaxation, and community (or team) are just as important as training; so infrared sauna sessions, massage therapy, physical therapy, and community events are available to provide the most dynamic training experience possible.
Specials: 30 Day Jump Start Program (one month trial) for $149. All access membership which includes: Gym membership; Unlimited Group Training Sessions; 8 Semi Private Training Sessions; Unlimited Yoga, Pilates, & BAC Burn Classes; Endless Pools; 2 Infrared Sauna Sessions; 2 Olympic Weightlifting Classes; and 1 Private Pilates Lesson.
McCarren Park Pool | 776 Lorimer Street Pro tips: Now open through Labor Day. Get ready to mix and mingle with your neighbors of all backgrounds and ages. The semi-recently restored pool is perfect to take a dip on the hottest days of the year. It’s FREE, but there are rules. You need to bring your own lock, a towel, wear all white (if you plan to don a t-shirt or coverup) and should leave your cellphone at home. We recommend getting an ice cream bar from a park vendor post-plunge (there are no food vendors inside the pool). See what we said last year for the full lowdown on how best to prepare yo’self.
Metropolitan Swimming Pool | Bedford & Metropolitan Ave. Pro tips: Annual membership costs $150 for adults, and $25 for seniors (ages 62 and older), $25 for young adults (ages 18-24). Membership is free for under-18’s. There are designated community swim hours.
Greenpoint YMCA pool, photo via their site
Greenpoint YMCA | 99 Meserole Ave.
Pro tips: $175 for a Summer Fun Pass for pool access from now through August 31st. The fun pass also includes access to the gym and sauna/steam rooms. Seems like a good deal. Note, you should bring a bathing cap to swim.
Brooklyn Athletic Club, photo via their site
Brooklyn Athletic Club| 8 Berry Street Pro tips: This gym has private training pools, which you can book 30-minute sessions in even if you’re not a member. A pool package of 10 sessions is available for $239.
McCarren Hotel & Pool, photo via McCarren Hotel
The McCarren Hotel | 160 N 12th Street Pro tips: Leave your screaming mini-me’s at home: children are not allowed at the McCarren Hotel’s ground floor pool (unless you are a guest of the hotel). If you don’t book a room at the hotel, the lowest price access is $55 for an individual day pass (weekday per person price is $55; weekend is $65), up to $200 per person for VIP service for a group of 10 (weekend group price is $2000 for group of 10; weekday group price is $1750). FYI: “No topless tanning,” and you can only book up to 48 hours in advance, unless you’re booking a Day Bed ($150 per person weekday; $175 per person weekend; slightly cheaper if you book a daybed for 2) or package, in which case you have 2 weeks advance to book.
Pool @ The William Vale | 111 N 12th St Pro tips: Book a room (currently listed at $259) for a staycation and unrestricted access to the pool, or book a day pass. Day passes include reserved seating in a pergola, daybed or cabana, but will run you at minimum $67 per person (weekday, with 6 people), up to $90 (weekend, with 2 people). The Vale pool is a “60-foot outdoor pool with stunning views of the Manhattan skyline. Snacks, light fare, and cocktails are served poolside under the direction of award-winning Chef Andrew Carmellini.”
While we all like the idea of hibernating in the winter, the beginning of Spring is just the inspiration we need to renew our commitment to fitness. But finding the right gym can be harder than it seems. Some of the more expensive gyms have state-of-the-art facilities, programs, and benefits that make them well worth the extra dough. If you want to keep it simple, though, a basic single-location membership at your nearest gym might do the trick. So how do you choose? We’ve compiled a list of local gyms so you can compare your neighborhood options at a glance.
Crunch Fitness
825 Manhattan Avenue
(718) 732-8222
Open 5am to 11pm M–F; 7am to 9pm weekends
Pricing: $9.95/month for Base membership; $19.95/month for Peak membership; $24.95/month for VIP membership One-day trial pass Become a member
Crunch is one of the most affordable gyms in the area, even with its VIP option, which includes benefits such as Hydromassage and tanning on top of all Peak perks. Choose the Peak membership option if you want access to any location, the ability to take group fitness classes, and extras such as a T-shirt and access to online streaming workout videos. The Base option is best if you want to keep things simple and stick with the equipment at the Greenpoint location. If you’re looking for more individualized fitness attention, you can always add personal training to any membership option. Continue reading →
It all started four years ago, in response to the devastation that Hurricane Sandy had left in her path. As some parents were forced to deal with “real life issues” like finding temporary shelter, food and clothing for their families, thousands of children were sadly not going to be able to celebrate the holidays. Continue reading →
Electric Wildflowers Bloom at the Greenpointers Spring Market @ Greenpoint Loft (67 West St, 5th Fl) 4/26Sunday, 1-7PM, Local shopping and delicious food, plus FREE fun activites: Nail Art, Massages, Face-Painting, and a Photobooth, Music curated by ALT CITIZEN. Refreshments: Strawberry Gincourtesy of Brooklyn Gin, specialty craft beer by Greenpoint Beer & Ale, coffee by Cafe Grumpy. Complimentary chips by Kettle Brands and membership discounts by Enterprise CarShareRSVP
WEDNESDAY 4/22 # Wine & Cheese Tasting @ Adelina’s (159 Greenpoint Ave) 5:30pm, $18, A pairing of four Eastern District cheese and four Adelina’s wines, More info ^ Or, the Whale @ Word (126 Franklin St) 6:30pm, FREE, Threadbare Theatre Workshop presents a staged reading of its new adaptation of Moby-Dick, RSVP * Buying into Brooklyn @ Brooklyn Brewery (79 North 11th St) 7:30pm, $10, Brooklyn Based presents a crash course on everything you need to know about buying a home in this incredibly competitive market, Buy tix
