THE ART OF THE SNACK | SUSHI GINZA ONODERA

As we begin to transition from the summer to the fall season, we have new restaurants that are launching as well those that are reopening as we continue to emerge from the pandemic. We chat with the new Head Sushi Chef Takuya Kubo of Sushi Ginza Onodera.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Tell us about your culinary background and how it led to you to Sushi Ginza Onodera.

HEAD SUSHI CHEF TAKUYA KUBO: After I graduated from high school, I worked at Sushi Dai Akasaka Keizan in Tokyo, Japan, which is considered one of the best in Japan and internationally acclaimed. I spent five years there before moving to another sushi restaurant, then, after 2 years, to yet another in Roppongi in Tokyo to continue to learn and gain experience. After that, I returned to Sushi Dai as the executive chef and worked there for 10 years. By then I thought that after having worked in Japan for many years, I would like to try my sushi skills in other countries, especially the U.S. I decided to challenge myself and went to Los Angeles, where I found Sushi Ginza Onodera, and started to work there, later becoming the executive chef at Sushi Ginza Onodera in Honolulu, Hawaii. After about two years there, I came to New York City to reopen the restaurant here – it had been closed for a year during the pandemic. We reopened for service in late March 2021.

AM: When guests come in for lunch, what are 3 options from the menu that you suggest?

HSC TK: We have three lunch menu options at $100, $150 and $200. Each omakase is a little different and meant to provide an experience the guests are looking for. For example, for guests who would like to focus on Nigiri sushi, the $150 menu is the best option as it offers the most Nigiri pieces. But for those would like to enjoy a fuller, more elevated experience, the $200 menu is the way to go.

AM: For your omakase only dinner menu, can you share why you only offer this and what it is for those that may not have experienced this?

HSC TK: An omakase tasting menu is the best way to experience seasonal ingredients in peak condition by trusting the chef to serve what’s best at the moment. Fish and seafood are as seasonal as vegetables and other ingredients, and we select the best seasonal ingredients available when we prepare the omakase. All the fish and seafood is hand selected at the Toyosu market in Tokyo, and flown from Japan to New York three times a week. Each ingredient has its season when flavor and taste are both perfect and I want our guests to enjoy the best of the season - that’s why we only offer omakase.

AM: What can guests expect when they come to dine at Sushi Ginza Onodera?

HSC TK: Guests at Sushi Ginza Onodera can expect an authentic Japanese experience and meal, as well as ambience.

Nearly all our fish is aged in the traditional Edomae style – Edo is the ancient name for Tokyo – before being served to customers. While Americans often think of the best sushi as being the freshest possible, Edomae sushi making uses the aging process to preserve the fish, develop umami flavors and create a more tender texture. Rice is equally important to the Edomae style and our rice is mixed with two different types of red vinegar, one dark and one light, which gives it a brownish hue.

Once guests enter the restaurant, the first thing they will see is the sushi counter made of hinoki wood. This might be the longest and largest size hinoki counter in New York City. Almost everything at the restaurant is from Japan. Not only is the fish flown from Japan, we use serving dishes that showcase Japanese traditional styles like Bizen-yaki, pottery with unique un-glazed finish, and Arita-yaki porcelain, prized for their elegant painted designs. Guests can enjoy the harmony of the food with the dishes it’s served on.

AM: What sake pairings do you suggest when enjoying your menu?

HSC TK: We offer a sake pairing to accompany the omakase. Generally, sakes in the pairing are dry; however, we do pair Junmai Daiginjo with some of our appetizers such as Toro with sea urchin or Abalone. For rich flavors, an off-dry sake pairs very well.

AM: When you’re planning your menu, what are the items that you like to offer and how does seasonality play into this?

HSC TK: Seasonality and the weather are what I focus on when planning a new Omakase menu. The omakase menu should match the weather, whether it’s hot and cold, the food should reflect it.

AM: You are a Michelin star restaurant. How important is it to have this distinction?

HSC TK: Michelin stars are an indicator of quality and consistency for guests. For us, it is important to do our best every day in order to live up to the standards that Michelin has set worldwide for excellence.

AM: You recently re-opened, what are you looking forward to as we continue through the summer and being to transition in the fall and holiday season?

HSC TK: Generally in autumn, Japanese food is abundant. I look forward to sharing the season’s bounty with our guests and hope they enjoy it.

IG @sushiginzaonoderanyc

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Sushi Ginza Onodera

Read the SEP ISSUE #69 of Athleisure Mag and see The Art of the Snack | Sushi Ginza Onodera in mag.

9LIST ROUTIN3S | LO BOSWORTH

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THE BACHELORETTE S18. | SEE THE MEN OF MICHELLE YOUNG'S SEASON

On Oct 19th, we finally see Michelle Young on ABC’s The Bachelorette. If you remember back to Matt James’ season on The Bachelor, you know that there were 2 Bachelorette’s chosen - Katie Thurston that we saw earlier this summer and Michelle Young.

Prior to any season, ABC releases who will be the contestants on the show. We have a number of people that we’re already thinking will make it far this season.

Each night during the season, we tweet about The Bachelorette and you can chat along with us (@AthleisureMag + with our Co-Founder/Creative + Style Director, Kimmie Smith @ShesKimmie) to see what’s taking place!

Each week we will let you know who our faves were from the last episode and if we’ve changed up since then as it pertains to who we think should go to Hometowns.

We also suggest a podcast that we’ve become obsessed with over the past few seasons, Wondery’s Bachelor Happy Hour to get their feedback!

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SEASON 18

We’re sharing who you can expect to see on the upcoming season of S18 The Bachelorette.

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THE BACHELOR CONTESTANTS

ALEC T, 29 | North Charleston, SC

BRANDON J, 26 | Portland, OR

BRANDON K, 29 | Austin, TX

BRYAN W, 31 | Chicago, IL

CASEY W, 36 | Miami Beach, FL

CHRIS S, 28 | W. Hollywood, CA

CHRISTOPHER G, 28 | Nova Scotia, Canada

CLAYTON E, 26 | Columbia, MO

DANIEL T, 26 | Austin, TX

EDWARD N, 27 | Los Angeles, CA

GARRETT A, 33 | Salt Lake City, UT

JACK R, 33 | Philadelphia, PA

JAMIE S, 32 | San Diego, CA

JOE C, 28 | Minneapolis, MN

JOMARRI G, 26 | Fresno, CA

LEROY A, 27 | Dallas, TX

LT M, 38 | Bellevue, WA

MARTIN G, 29 | Miami, FL

MOLLIQUE J, 36 | San Diego, CA

NAYTE O, 27 | Austin, TX

OLUMIDE O, 27 | Newark, NJ

PARDEEP S, 30 | Brooklyn, NY

PETER I, 26 | Port St Joe, FL

PJ H, 30 | Houston, TX

RICK L, 32 | Los Angeles, CA

RODNEY M, 29 | Rancho Cucamonga, CA

ROMEO A, 32 | NY, NY

RUAN F, 30 | San Jose, CA

SPENCER W, 25 | Cleveland, OH

WILL U, 28 | Santo Domingo, DR

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9LIST ROUTIN3S | BAR MALIK

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9PLAYLIST | DWAYNE JOHNSON

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ROCK THIS WHEN YOU'RE LUXE LOUNGING AT HOME

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HEALTHY DIET AND GLOWING SKIN: 6 HABITS AND PRACTICES TO START TODAY

More and more people are investing their fortune in the health and beauty industries with the hope of achieving healthy and glowing skin. You may also see many skincare product endorsements on social media and other platforms that claim to help you achieve a good skin complexion. But in reality, healthy and glowing skin isn’t always about the right and most expensive skincare products. Instead, it’s about your daily habits and lifestyle practices that mainly affect your skin health, and those products are only a part of it.  

Each person has a unique skin type. It means that whatever product you see on television (TV) may not always work on your skin. So, before you make drastic decisions and spends more money on these products, take a look at your habits first and see if they work in favor of your skin’s health.

If you don’t know how and where to start, here are six habits that you can start practicing today that may help you achieve healthy, bright, and glowing skin:

1.       Eat Healthily

Some skin care products are made to help nourish your skin. But before investing in skincare products, it’s better to start to nourish your body and skin, inside and out. You can do this through a healthy diet. You see, the quality of your skin health is a reflection of what you’re feeding inside your body, which means you need to eat healthily to achieve a radiant and glowing complexion.  

That said, go for skin-friendly foods that are excellent sources of vitamins, zinc, and omega-3 acids: as well as those foods high in chlorophyll. Chlorophyll helps treat acne and other skin-related issues, while vitamins like C, A, and E can improve skin texture and promote skin healing. So, the next time you plan your meals for the day or week, make sure your meals have these nutrients. 

2.       Take Beauty Supplements

Eating your way to radiant and glowing skin is recommended. However, it can be challenging to try and get all the nutrients your body needs from the food alone. Keep in mind; that your skin is the largest body organ which means it requires more nutrients to stay healthy. 

More so, your skin might be exposed to harmful environmental factors like dirty air, harsh sunlight, and other skin pollutants. So, aside from eating healthily, it’s also recommended that you take beauty supplements for your skin. You may visit Goodness Me! and other online food markets for various choices of healthy food and nutritious body supplements. It’s also best to consult a doctor and see if beauty supplements are good for you.

3.       Drink Plenty Of Water

Water can do marvelous effects on your skin and your overall health. Remember that your body consists of 60-70% water, which plays a critical role in maintaining your health and body functions. Drinking plenty of water will keep your skin hydrated and prevent it from experiencing dryness. 

You can tell that your skin is well-hydrated with water when you barely have any visible pores, almost no breakouts, and of course, more glowing. So, instead of consuming those sugary drinks, coffee, and other unhealthy beverages, make it a habit to drink water all the time. Water will not only help you achieve glowing skin, but it’ll also help you maintain a healthy weight. It’s a win-win situation.     

4.       Apply Sunscreen Everyday

Aside from keeping up with your skincare routine every day and night, one product you must never miss is your sunscreen. Your sunscreen will shield your skin from the harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. While the sunshine can do wonders for your health, too much exposure can damage your skin and result in skin issues. Some harmful effects of too much ultraviolet (UV) ray exposure may include skin discoloration, premature skin again, freckles, wrinkles, worst, skin cancer.  

Thus, regardless of the weather outside, always remember to apply sunscreen. If you’re planning to stay outdoors for a period, remember to reapply your sunscreen every two hours. To keep your skin protected. 

5.       Get Enough Sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep is another critical element towards a healthy body and glowing skin. A long and peaceful sleep allows your body to rejuvenate, recharge, and repair your body’s damaged cells so that you wake up the following day feeling fresh, glowing, and energetic. Meanwhile, depriving yourself of sleep will make it difficult for your body to do the necessary repairs to your skin, leading to visible wrinkles, dark eye bags, and aging skin the next day. Let your skin get an opportunity to stay young and healthy by giving yourself enough rest. 

6.       Manage Your Stress Levels

Psychological stress will not only affect your mental health but as well as your skin health. You’ve probably noticed that every time you’re stressed, from work or school, your face suddenly has breakouts. Then, after seeing that breakout on your face, you become even more stressed. It happens because every time you’re stressed, your body releases more cortisol, responsible for skin inflammation.  

This stress-breakout cycle will continue if you don’t take steps to reduce and avoid stress. Manage your stress by considering; practicing self-care habits such as yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises at work.  

Treat Your Skin Right

Aside from following your skincare routine religiously, incorporating these habits and lifestyle practices in your day-to-day life can do wonders for your skin’s health. What’s more, all these tips don’t require you to invest in expensive products and painful dermatological procedures to achieve glowing and healthy skin. Remember, consistency is the key when it comes to your skin’s health.

9LIST

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#TRIBEGOALS

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THE PICK ME UP

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IN OUR BAG | WHEN WE'RE OUT APPLE PICKING

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HOW TO DRESS | SUMMER BODIES MADE IN THE FALL

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HOW TO LIVE THE TRAVEL LIFESTYLE

We all have that one friend on social media who seems to be popping up all over the world, making everyone jealous of their lifestyle with another picture of them sitting feet up by the sea. Like us all, you’ve probably wondered how they do it, and how you can do it yourself. It’s not as difficult as it seems. It does take some courage to give everything up and leave home, but once that’s done, the world really is your oyster. Do you dream of leaving home on a one-way ticket with a thirst for adventure? Here are some ways you can live that travel lifestyle. 

Sell Your Life Insurance

If you want to go traveling without having any money worries at all, this option is probably the best one for you. If you are still planning on working while away, you should still have an emergency fund to fall back on. You are going to have the obvious outlay of flights and, even if you’ve secured a job, you might need to pay for your first few months of accommodation upfront. Never forget that emergencies can and do happen, so ensure you have an emergency stash. If you hold a life insurance policy, you can sell it for a lump sum giving you immediate access to cash. If you would like to know more, you can check out a quick guide online that will tell you everything you need to know about selling your policy for cash.

Write

If you have a passion for writing, travel could be the kickstart you need to fuel your passion. For most people, taking off for faraway places is just a pipe dream but they still want to have a peek into the lives of those who do, and there’s no better way than to read about other people’s experiences. This is where you come in. Start a blog documenting your travels and aim to give a unique perspective. The more popular it becomes the more opportunities will become available to you in terms of advertising or having your work published.

Teach

You’d be surprised at the wide variety of languages people want to learn. Finding work teaching languages is relatively easy, especially if you have teaching qualifications and experience. You will have the opportunity to earn a high salary while also immersing yourself in local culture as you are actually living and interacting with local people. If you don’t have qualifications, they are not difficult to obtain and there are now online teaching courses available for prospective language teachers.

Work in Hostels

This is an option for the truly adventurous and more extrovert personalities, but it can also be considered an option for people who want to start living outside of their comfort zones. Hostels are usually the accommodation of choice for travelers as they are relatively cheap, and you are also able to meet people as you move around. When your budget determines your destination, a hostel is often the lodging of choice. Many hostels will be looking for people to work for them, especially if you are multilingual. You may not always be paid in cash. It might just be food and accommodation; however, they will be able to point you towards work in the local area. Perhaps slightly risky, but that’s the life you want, right?

ATHLEISURE BEAUTY

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MEET REISHI: THE MUSHROOM TAKING THE WELLNESS WORLD BY STORM

It goes by many names. In Chinese herbalism, it’s known as Lingzhi. To scientists who prefer a hard-headed taxonomic name, it’s Ganoderma Lingzhi. But perhaps its most compelling title is the nickname bestowed upon it by traditional medicinal practitioners: “the mushroom of immortality.”

Those are all great names (and mysterious too). But for this article, let's use its Japanese name, the one most often used in contemporary parlance – Reishi.

A few years ago, the Reishi mushroom attached itself to the wellness world – much like a mushroom to a tree – and has since experienced a meteoric rise in popularity. But most people still know precious little about the product.

In this article, let’s answer a few frequently asked questions surrounding the fashionable fungus. What is it, what are its potential benefits, how do you get Reishi powder and how do you dose it?

What Is It?

Reishi mushrooms are the fruiting body of a polypore fungus that grows on the bases and stumps of deciduous trees. Their use stretches back at least 2,000 years, when Han dynasty healers used the Reishi mushroom as a panacea for a plethora of ailments.

If you were anxious, they gave you Reishi. If you had brain fog, they gave you Reishi. And if you arrived at the doorstep of a traditional herbalist begging for longer life, they probably gave you Reishi.

PHOTO CREDIT | Pixabay/Miguel Á. Padriñán

What Are the Benefits of Reishi Mushrooms?

Fast forward a couple of millennia, and Reishi is more or less used similarly. Maybe it isn't seen as a panacea anymore, but scientists are earnestly studying the mushroom for its wide-ranging wellness benefits. In particular, they are interested in how it can reduce stress.

In one study, researchers noted the “antidepressant-like effects of a water-soluble extract” of Reishi in mice. Another study evaluating the antianxiety properties of several Ganoderma species suggested that the mushrooms' phenols and flavonoids play a critical role in their de-stressing potential.

It doesn’t end with stress. You will find scores of studies evaluating everything from Reishi’s liver-improving mechanisms to its immune system benefits. The scientific study of Reishi is still in its infancy (the West only recently embraced the mushroom), but the benefits look promising.

Where Do You Find It?

Sure, you could find a deciduous tree and hope for the best. But more often, people nowadays buy reishi powder online. Because there are so many Ganoderma species masquerading as Reishi, and because quality can vary even in a single species, it’s highly recommended to seek out reputable sellers. If in doubt, the “USDA Organic” seal is a fine stamp of approval.

How Do You Dose It?

This question isn’t quite so easy to answer. Everyone’s physiology is different – down to weight, digestive function and metabolism. Moreover, someone taking Reishi as a treatment might dose more than someone taking it as a preventative measure. Still, consensus hovers between 1500mg – 4500mg per day. If you’re unsure, you can consult your doctor.

To recap: Reishi is a multi-named fungus with several potential benefits that you can find online from a reputable seller. It took the wellness world by storm with its focus on stress relief, but studies show it might be more than a one-trick pony. 

9LOOKS | CHAANCE

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PUMPKIN SPICE BEAUTY

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ATHLEISURE MAG | #69 SEP 2021

In this month’s issue, our Sep cover is Cypress Hill and founder of Dr. Greenthumb’s, B-Real. We talk about Cypress Hill, his solo project and the expansion of Dr. Greenthumb. We also talk with Lo Bosworth, founder of self-care brand, Love Wellness. She shares her journey in wellness as well as taking time for herself and friends.  This month, The Art of the Snack comes from Sushi Ginza Onodera here in NY. Our Athleisure Lists include BADSHAH and BODi. This month, we enjoyed getting back to in person events by attending Electric Zoo and Governor’s Ball, we share our favorite moments from both of these music festivals.

This month, our 9DRIP comes from B-Real, our 9ROUTIN3S comes from Bar Malik founder of BARCODE as well as Lo Bosworth. This month’s 9PLAYLIST comes from Dwayne Johnson as he shares 9 songs on his playlist. Our 9LIST STORI3S comes from Celebrity Hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons who shares his must haves in style, beauty and fitness. We also share 9 of our favorite looks in 9LIST R3DCARP3TS from the Emmys and talk with Stylists, MUA, Hairstylists and Nail Artists that created the looks. In this months 9LOOKS we share some of our favorite looks from CHAANCE’s NYFW SS22 presentation.

See the SEP ISSUE #69 of Athleisure Mag here.

SS22 | VERSACE

Milan Fashion Week continues and Versace’s show was filled with cool kids style in strong black hues as well as neon colors! Dua Lipa opened and closed this show while some of our faves including Naomi Campbell and Gigi Hadid hit the runway. We even love the vibe of the show that had the iconic silk scarves of the house of Versace that the models walked under. See our favorite looks from the show above.

PHOTOS COURTESY | Alessandro Lucioni/Gorunway.com

THINGS TO CONSIDER BEFORE BUYING A BOTTOM PAINT

Your boat is susceptible to some marine life that attaches to its sides and bottoms. The most suitable solution is to paint the bottom of your watercraft with a specific boat bottom paint, which is better known as antifouling paint. 

If you find that the bottom of your boat is full of marine growth, it is time to learn how to paint a boat bottom and choose the appropriate type of paint to use on it. 

Knowing boat bottom paints

Paint for boat bottoms is a particular type of paint applied to the part of the boat that goes below the waterline. The paint prevents different marine denizens from attaching to the boat's hulls. More popularly known as an antifouling agent, paint for boat bottoms contains biocide and algaecide that prevent marine growth such as barnacles, algae, weeds, slime, and mussels from attaching to the boat bottom. 

Things to consider when choosing a boat bottom paint

Choosing the right type of paint for the boat bottom can be a challenge because several products have different properties and applications. You should know what materials your marine vessel is made from and several other things. 

Types of antifouling paint

Several types of bottom paints exist, so it is vital to have expert advice on which type to use on your boat. For example, ablative bottom paint slowly wears away through the movement of water current and tides. In addition, the water movement exposes a fresh layer of paint that contains the biocide, preventing marine organisms from attaching and growing on the boat's bottom.

There is copolymer ablative bottom paint that is self-polishing. When you use this type, biocide release continues even if your boat is out of the water. In addition, there is a hybrid copolymer ablative bottom paint. The hybrid paint combines the properties of the ablative and the self-polishing copolymer ablative paint but has an additional property. The paint gives the boat bottom a smoother finish.

On the other hand, hard bottom paint does not peel away layer by layer. Instead, the hard bottom paint continues to leach or release the biocide over time. However, the paint does not wear out. Thus you need to remove it before you can paint the bottom once again. 

Type of material

Boats are made from different materials, such as fiberglass, aluminum, wood, or steel. Thus, it is vital to find the appropriate paint suitable for the boat. 

The area where you keep the boat

You also have to consider where you keep your marine vessel when not in use. Marine growth is more prolific in areas where the water is still and warm. 

Fresh or saltwater

Aside from the material used to build the boat, you should choose the right type of paint according to where you use the boat, either in freshwater or saltwater. 

Aside from knowing what type of boat bottom paint to use, you should also learn how to prepare the bottom of the boat before receiving a fresh coat of bottom paint.