Put some fruits and veggies on the grill alongside lean proteins.
Credit: Getty Images

Barbecues, picnics and vacations are the stuff of summer fun. But the foods commonly found at such gatherings, often grabbed on-the-go as parents rush from activity to activity, can mean more calories and unhealthy ingredients like sugar and trans fats surge into a child’s diet.

“There are a lot of opportunities to eat junk food during the summer,” says Dr. Lonna Gordon, the adolescent medicine fellow at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “But things like barbecues and going for ice cream have to be seen as treats, and not something they eat every weekend, or every day.”

Gordon, who specializes in childhood and adolescent obesity, advises parents to plan the cookout or picnic menu well and prepare fruits and veggies ahead of time. “Parents do need to be vigilant about packing healthy foods. Prepare peaches, watermelon, fruit salad, and include vegetables like portobellos to grill alongside the meats.”

This advice, Gordon says, doesn’t just count for children who are already overweight.

“An obese child doesn’t necessarily become an obese adult, and the skinny child doesn’t necessarily stay skinny,” she says. “They’re told because they’re skinny they can eat what they want. That’s not true.

“Learning healthy eating habits and learning how to eat well nutritionally maintains health throughout life.”

Gordon adds that summer brings plenty of healthy upsides for kids and teens, including more time outside playing.

“That can counteract some of the extra calories,” she says. “Also, take children to the farmers market and to pick-your-own farms, and get them involved in healthy eating. Kids like to eat what they’ve had a hand in.”

But summer wouldn’t be the same without ice cream and hotdogs. Even for already overweight or obese children, Gordon advises parents not to outright ban their kids from enjoying the same foods as siblings and friends.

“We don’t want to stigmatize [obese] children by separating them out from their friends or by denying them,” says Gordon. “One plus is that kids have time on their side. They still have time to grow, which is why we don’t put kids on diets. They need a wide variety of foods, including carbs and fats. Just not too many; it really is a matter of moderation.”

3 tips to keep summer eating healthy and fun

Cool treats: “Ice cream can’t be an everyday thing,” she advises. “There’s a lot of sugar and a lot of fat in it. Also, vary it with fruit bars, sorbets and Italian ice to decrease the calories. At home, make fruit pops — put a piece of fruit on a stick and put in the freezer.”

Super salads: “Take advantage of summer produce and create healthy, tasty salads. Avoid mayonnaise and choose olive oil-based dressings as opposed to creamy. And don’t use too much. Salad dressing can ruin the good healthy veggies.”

Be creative: “Make it fun, especially for young kids; they tend to eat things that look fun. Use cookie cutters for veggies and fruits. Make faces on the plate. Get your child involved in the prep. They tend to eat things when they’re helped with the prep.”

The post Don’t fall into the summer food trap appeared first on Metro.us.

Dr. Henry Heimlich contributed several days of interviews for “The Maneuver.”
Credit: Provided

Dr. Henry Heimlich, whose maneuver has saved untold numbers of choking victims since he devised it in 1974, believes it still has untapped potential.

From upscale restaurants to the local diner, you’ve definitely seen the choking victim sign pasted somewhere discreet but visible. The Heimlich maneuver marks 40 years this summer, and the doctor, 94, is taking part in “The Maneuver,” a new documentary seeking funds through Kickstarter.

Heimlich was first inspired to think up the technique when he read an article in The New York Times. “Among other things it mentioned that among children under 1 year old, there are many choking deaths. It was in large numbers in adults [too] – it was in the thousands every year,” Heimlich says.

Back then, when someone was choking, the standard response was to hit him or her on the back. “It was so obvious to me that that was something that would make the death even more imminent. If you hit somebody on the back, the airway moves forward, the food object does not move forward, so it gets deeper and higher into the airway, causing death,” Heimlich said, drawing on his knowledge as a chest surgeon.

With the strength of the ribcage to protect vital organs, Heimlich hypothesized that pressing the diaphragm would compress the lungs, releasing the excess air they store even during exhalation. He tested his theory on an anesthetized dog in his lab at Jewish Hospital of Cincinnati, where he was director of surgery.

“I told one of my residents run down to the kitchen and get a piece of meat. And he did and I then put the meat in the dog’s airway. He stopped breathing, I pressed down the chest, nothing,” Heimlich said. “[I] pushed up on the diaphragm and the meat flew across the room. I did that repeatedly, and I knew that I had a possible cure for choking.”

The Kickstarter to fund the documentary ends on July 3.
Credit: Provided

Instead of submitting his findings to a medical journal, where “it would take years to get the word out,” Heimlich went straight to a well-known medical columnist. Just four days after publication, a reader told The Seattle Times about saving his neighbor’s wife with the maneuver. “He had been a restaurant owner, which he had just retired from, for many years. And throughout the years he saw many people die in his restaurant of choking, which was not uncommon,” Heimlich said.

Heimlich also appeared on several television programs, most prominently Johnny Carson’s show, which was an experience he remembers fondly. Heimlich demonstrated the maneuver on the comedian – “As you can imagine with Carson, [the maneuver] was made very funny.”

The publicity worked, Heimlich’s son Phil recounted: “[At] Dad’s office he had a wall full of photographs of children whose parents had said to him were saved by the maneuver, and it literally covered the entire wall.”

Heimlich also developed the universal choking signal – in the ’70s and earlier, choking was often misinterpreted by observers as a heart attack.

And he believes his maneuver still has untapped potential, specifically when it comes to drowning victims. “I have in my book [an autobiography titled ‘Heimlich’s Maneuvers’] cited a report from leading lifesaving sources showing that 90 percent of drowning victims inhale water into their lungs, and that makes the mouth-to-mouth less valuable,” he says.

Heimlich is adamant that his maneuver should be the primary treatment in such cases, and mouth-to-mouth an additional measure, which runs contrary to the Red Cross’s advice. He also feels strongly that the organization should update its instructions on what to do if someone is choking; the current recommendation is five back slaps before performing the Heimlich maneuver.

“They’re the only ones who do this, and it’s very important that this comes out,” Heimlich said.

Making ‘The Maneuver’

At the helm of “The Maneuver” is Emmy Award-winning film and broadcasting editor Jason Schmidt, who’s stepping into the director’s chair for the film.

Jason Schmidt is the executive producer and director of “The Maneuver.”
Credit: Provided

Like the technique on which the movie is based, Schmidt found the inspiration for his own personal project in an article. “Every time I went back to research [the Heimlich maneuver], I learned more about [Heimlich’s] story and realized there was a really fantastic story there,” he said.

The film is in its early stages; Schmidt’s $30,000 Kickstarter campaign ends Thursday. “We raised 25 percent [of our goal] in our first week, which we thought was a very strong effort but there’s still a long way to go.”

As Schmidt has worked on the documentary, he has found that he knew a lot more people that had been saved from Heimlich’s maneuver than he realized. “Everyone I speak to, if it hasn’t happened to themselves, [it] happened to their brother or their cousin or their college roommate, a guy at work or whatever. Once you start asking around, you’ll find that someone you know is alive today because of the Heimlich maneuver.”

Learn more about the movie at www.heimlichfilm.com. The Kickstarter campaign ends July 3.

The power of the crowd

As “The Maneuver” seeks the public’s support through Kickstarter, Heimlich himself credits ordinary people with helping to expand the application of the maneuver. One woman figured out a way to perform the maneuver on herself after using the railing of her porch when she was choking, and wrote to Heimlich of her discovery (though he recommends using the back of a chair in such cases). The doctor has since developed modified versions of the maneuver for parents to help their infants, and for children whose arms may not be long enough to wrap around an adult’s stomach.

The post Interview: Henry Heimlich on 40 years of his lifesaving maneuver appeared first on Metro.us.

If your wallet is not in order, your finances probably aren’t either.
Credit: Fuse

A dear friend of mine is an entrepreneur who often complained about feeling financially blocked. One day while talking about her bills, she pulled out her wallet to pay for something. I gasped when I glanced at it. She was carrying around a tattered wristlet filled to the brim with credit cards, coins, crumpled receipts, lip gloss and God knows what else. My immediate response was, “If you want to clean up your finances, you must clean up your wallet!”

One day later she texted me a picture of her shiny new red wallet, each section perfectly organized. Within two weeks her business was back in action; deals that had been held up for months were closing. I believe the difference was the wallet. Once she had her personal money in order, she cleared subconscious blocks and was able to move freely and with ease in any situation related to finances or business.

Do you feel blocked financially? Is it far too often that the deal doesn’t go through, the job doesn’t work out, or you don’t have enough money? Many times, a financial block stems from an energetic block. Remember, energy is in everything, even your wallet. For the sake of your finances and our economy, let’s clean up your wallet to clear your energetic connection to receiving.

If your wallet is beaten up or overstuffed, buy a new one that’s clean, beautiful and can hold all you need to carry. Your wallet reflects your relationship to money. Is it ripped and filled with old receipts? Is it old and dirty? A wallet isn’t just an accessory. It’s where you store your money; make sure you love it! Don’t be reluctant to invest in one that makes you feel good.

“Miracles Now.”
Credit: Provided

Not only will your new, clean wallet energetically support you, it will also make a statement to the universe that you are ready to receive. Respect your money and your money will respect you.

In the red? Choose a red wallet

When picking out a new wallet, be mindful of its color. In the feng shui tradition, certain colors welcome abundance, such as gold, red and green. Bust out the sparkly gold or the radiant red. Go big or go home with this one. Feng shui expert Kate MacKinnon says, “Like everything in feng shui, the most important way to make space is to clear clutter. So make sure your wallet is clear of clutter (paper, receipts, etc.) and organized.”

Gabrielle Bernstein is a New York Times best-selling author, speaker and founder of HerFuture.com. For more tips on how to raise your energy around money and every other area of life, check out her new book, “Miracles Now: 108 Life-Changing Tools for Less Stress, More Flow and Finding your True Purpose.” Order the book through her website, and you’ll also receive three gifts.

The post Your wallet could be standing between you and financial success appeared first on Metro.us.

Being a ruthless gamer may make you more sensitive to the same issues when you encounter them in real life.
Credit: ThinkStock

The violence often criticized in modern gaming may actually be contributing to better behavior outside of the virtual realm.

A new study out of the University of Buffalo says the moral issues that confront players in a game can stick with them once they’ve stopped playing, and create a sense of awareness for the societal codes they may have violated.

“Rather than leading players to become less moral, this research suggests that violent video game play may actually lead to increased moral sensitivity,” Matthew Grizzard, who led the study, said in a statement. “This may, as it does in real life, provoke players to engage in voluntary behavior that benefits others.”

Grizzard and his team found that instead of an illicit thrill, immoral behavior committed in a video game left the players feeling guilty in real life. That remorse makes the players more sensitive to upholding the same moral codes they trampled on during gameplay.

“We suggest that pro-social behavior also may result when guilt is provoked by virtual behavior,” Grizzard said.

The study combined gaming with intuitive morality. Half of the 185 participants were asked to either recall a real event that would induce guilt or play a violent game as a terrorist. The other half recounted non-guilty scenarios and played the same game but as a UN soldier.

In the game, all the players were instructed to violate two of five moral issues — care/harm, fairness/reciprocity, in-group loyalty, respect for authority, and purity/sanctity.

After playing the game or recalling the memories, subjects rated themselves on a guilt scale and filled out a moral foundations questionnaire.

“Our findings suggest that emotional experiences evoked by media exposure can increase the intuitive foundations upon which human beings make moral judgments,” Grizzard said.

The post Violent video games encourage virtue in real life appeared first on Metro.us.

This could be you tonight at the Z Hotel in Queens.
Credit: Jennifer S. Altman

Spin for your tequila at JCC Manhattan

Exercise may be its own reward, but isn’t it nice to get a special treat for working out? The JCC in Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Ave., is offering a chocolate and tequila tasting right after its Indoor Ride class on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Let chef Shaya Kiechevsky keep your post-workout buzz going.

JCC Manhattan
334 Amsterdam Ave.
6:30-7:15 p.m. Indoor Ride
7:15-9 p.m. tasting
Call 646-505-5708 to register
Event is $25; must be 21+.

Put your new Lolë gear to use on Pier 25

Enjoy this week’s beautiful weather while it lasts in Hudson River Park. Women’s activewear brand Lolë opened its first New York City outpost at 112 Mercer St. in Soho earlier this summer, and it’s celebrating with a series of outdoor classes. Held every Tuesday through Aug. 19, these “fitness meet-ups” include yoga, barre and strength training, led by experts like “The Biggest Loser” trainer Brett Hoebel. Tonight’s Dance Cardio class will be led by ((305)) Fitness founder Sadie Kurzban. Sign up here.

Hudson River Park
Pier 25, Tribeca
Tuesdays, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Bring your own mat for yoga sessions

Salute the Manhattan skyline

Come for the fitness, stay for the fun as Z Hotel turns over its rooftop to a summer-long series of yoga classes led by Dina Ivas. On the first Tuesday of every month through Sept. 2, Ivas will lead an intimate one-hour class, followed by workout-friendly cocktails and light bites. Classes begin at 7:30 p.m., and refreshments are served until 9:30 p.m.

Z Hotel
11-01 43rd Ave., Long Island City
Classes cost $25; call 212-319-7000 to book

The post 3 fitness classes to check out tonight appeared first on Metro.us.

The Supreme Court heard arguments in the case back in March; it handed down its ruling on Monday.
Credit: Getty Images

The political and legal fallout of the Supreme Court’s decision to allow for-profit companies to exempt birth control in their employee health coverage will be measured in the coming years.

But for the employees of Hobby Lobby, and about 50 other companies that have filed for similar religious exemptions, it amounts to a “tax on women and families,” said Dr. Susan Rubin, assistant professor of family and social medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

The biggest worry for Rubin, who is also a practicing family physician at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, focuses on the same thing that, ironically, religious groups want to foster.

“This additional cost burden, I fear, is going to result in additional unintended pregnancies,” she said.

Birth control is not cheap, from the doctor visits required to prescribe it to the drugs themselves. Women still make less than their male counterparts in most industries, and this additional cost burden is being borne by the very people already unlikely to afford it.

“These people are [probably] not making much more than minimum wage, and it’s a lot of additional cost if you’re making the average salary for retail employees,” Rubin said.

Women, and men whose partners are covered under their insurance policies, will now essentially have to pay twice to get medication that is used in some form near universally. “Families want to use contraception — 99 percent of heterosexually active females have used contraception and may stop using for a number of reasons, one of them being cost.”

Dr. Susan Rubin.
Credit: Montefiore Medical Center

Moreover, many women have medical conditions that limit which methods of contraception they can use, or risk developing complications. But without insurance coverage, those options may be priced out of their reach.

Choosing to continue an unintended pregnancy is “not the way to have a family-friendly policy in this country,” Rubin said. And if a woman chooses not to have a child, then she faces significant hurdles in many states with abortions becoming less and less accessible. “We’re cutting abortion access and we’re cutting contraception access — so what’s the end result?”

Beyond preventing pregnancy, birth control drugs have non-contraceptive benefits for women, including relief from painful periods, heavy bleeding, fibroids, clotting disorders and more. But these drugs have a role in ensuring a healthy pregnancy, too.

“Many women with medical conditions may need to take medications that could potentially be dangerous during a pregnancy, and in order to have healthy pregnancies need to have them very well planned,” Rubin said.

From a corporate perspective, the bottom line would logically be that healthy employees mean a healthier profit margin. Which is why Rubin questioned where Hobby Lobby’s priorities are in seeking an exemption that stands to complicate the wellbeing of its workers. Fewer unintended pregnancies mean fewer days off work, and a physically and mentally healthier workforce.

“You want to keep your workforce healthy, and a healthy woman, a healthy family is a planned family,” Rubin said.

Losing medical coverage on religious grounds was not a foreseeable outcome for Hobby Lobby’s workers. An organization such as a church-owned company could expect to draw its employees from a pool of like-minded candidates about its stance on sex and family planning, Rubin noted. But this case was about a for-profit company imposing its owners’ religious beliefs on all its employees, who likely hold a wide range of beliefs.

By limiting its scope to contraception coverage, this decision was neither business-friendly nor pro-religious freedom, as faith-based objections exist to other medical procedures such as blood transfusions and vaccines. “[The justices] explicitly stated that this ruling only applies to contraception — that speaks to this not being a religious issue, but a sex and contraception issue,” Rubin said. “It is shocking that this is going on in the United States in 2014.”

Priced out of care

Here are the costs for some common contraception options, according to Planned Parenthood. Many methods also require a physician’s visit. To find out which is right for you, consult your physician or visit www.plannedparenthood.org and take a short survey.

Birth control pill: $15-$50 (monthly)
Ortho Evra patch: $15-$80 (monthly)
Depo-Provera shot: $35-$100 (3 months)
Implant: $400-$800 (3 years)
IUD: $500-$1,000 (up to 12 years)
Morning-after pill (Plan B): $30-$65

Follow Eva Kis on Twitter @thisiskis or email eva.kis@metro.us.

The post The sad consequence of Hobby Lobby’s religious exemption appeared first on Metro.us.

Anti-abortion demonstrators high five as the ruling for Hobby Lobby was announced outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on Monday.
Credit: Reuters

The Supreme Court’s sharply divided (5-4) decision in the Hobby Lobby case has implications not only for the reproductive futures of women across the country, but political and business policies. We’ve rounded up analysis, commentary and questions left open by the ruling:

Why the Hobby Lobby decision actually hurts people of faith | Think Progress

“A Public Religion Research Institute survey conducted in early June found that a substantial majority of almost every major U.S. Christian group support the idea that publicly-held corporations and privately-owned corporations should be required to provide employees with healthcare plans that cover contraception and birth control at no cost.” 

Hobby Lobby’s hypocrisy: The company’s retirement plan invests in contraception manufacturers | Mother Jones

This story further indicates that Hobby Lobby’s pursuit of this exemption wasn’t about making a good business decision.

How I lost faith in the “pro-life” movement | Patheos

A first-hand account of a woman who went from president of her university’s chapter of Students for Life to identifying with the pro-choice movement, all because of their approaches to reducing the number of abortions.

8 best lines from Ginsburg’s dissent | Mother Jones

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote the dissenting opinion in the case, and she was, as ever, eloquent and blunt.

What qualifies as a “closely held” company | Wall Street Journal

Hobby Lobby is controlled by the same family that founded it, but how far does that “closely held” definition extend?

The post What are the implications of the Hobby Lobby decision? appeared first on Metro.us.

Martha Stewart shares her top five tips for how to throw a festive, patriotic party this Fourth of July.

The decorations:

• Confetti-filled balloons are a fun alternative to fireworks. Satisfyingly loud and sparkly, they can be set off by kids indoors. To make, pull a balloon over a funnel. Pour in the confetti until the balloon is a quarter full, and then inflate with a hand pump. Use a sharpened pencil for popping fun.

• Add pizzazz to a patriotic celebration with starry tabletop runners and napkin ties made from red and white paper.

• For the Fourth of July, our most patriotic holiday, I also want to make a splash in the daytime, without fireworks, so I like to stretch a giant blue and white-striped shade banner across the terrace, as much for effect as for the sun protection it provides.

The food:

• I might be the last person on earth to be associated with a grill, and yet, for just that reason, I have made it a priority to grill everything to perfection. Hamburgers are so often cooked badly – charred, raw, overdone – yet this doesn’t have to be the case. I think it all has to do with the grill, the fuel and, of course, the heat. I prefer a large, flat grill with a cooking surface that can be raised or lowered.

• A delicious red, white and blue parfait is perfect for the whole family on Fourth of July. Layers of red current gelatin, vanilla panna cotta, and blueberries and currants create a striking and delicious parfait. Serve them in a short, thin glass tumbler.

The post Host a July 4th party like Martha Stewart appeared first on Metro.us.

Get more tips from Jacqueline Whitemore at EtiquetteExpert.com.

Even though you haven’t used your cell phone as a phone in two years, you’re probably still being annoying with it. In honor of July being National Cell Phone Courtesy Month, we got tips from National Cell Phone Courtesy Month founder and etiquette expert Jacqueline Whitmore.

Be polite by following her cell phone rules:

1. Be all there
When you’re in a meeting, performance, courtroom or other busy area, let calls go to voicemail to avoid a disruption. In some instances, turning your phone off may be the best solution.

2. Keep it private
Be aware of your surroundings and avoid discussing private or confidential information in public. You never know who may be in hearing range.

3. Keep your cool
Don’t display anger during a public call. Conversations that are likely to be emotional should be held where they will not embarrass or intrude on others.

4. Learn to vibe
Always use your wireless phone’s silent or vibration settings in public places such as business meetings, religious services, schools, restaurants, theaters or sporting events so that you do not disrupt your surroundings.

5. Avoid “cell yell”
Remember to use your regular conversational tone when speaking on your wireless phone. People tend to speak more loudly than normal and often don’t recognize how distracting they can be to others.

6. Follow the rules
Some places, such as hospitals or airplanes, restrict or prohibit the use of mobile phones, so adhere to posted signs and instructions. Some jurisdictions may also restrict mobile phone use in public places.

7. Excuse yourself
If you are expecting a call that can’t be postponed, alert your companions ahead of time and excuse yourself when the call comes in; the people you are with should take precedence over calls you want to make or receive.

The post How not to annoy people with your phone appeared first on Metro.us.

Heat up the kitchen. / Matthew Williams, courtesy of Martha Stewart Living

Hosting a party this summer? Impress your guests by outdoing KFC with this fried chicken recipe from Martha Stewart (but maybe pick up a side of KFC biscuits, just in case).

Active Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 6 hours and 40 minutes, plus overnight
Serves: 4

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon coarse salt
1 whole fryer chicken (3 ½ to 4 pounds), cut into 10 pieces
2 cups buttermilk
2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 ½ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons coarse yellow cornmeal
Safflower or canola oil

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, stir together 10 cups of ice water and 2 tablespoons coarse salt. Add chicken, submerging all pieces. Cover; let soak overnight in refrigerator.
2. In another bowl, whisk together buttermilk, 1 tablespoon coarse salt, mustard and ½ teaspoon each cayenne and black pepper. Transfer chicken to marinade, submerging all pieces. Cover; refrigerate at least 4 hours and up to overnight.
3. Let chicken stand at room temperature 1 hour. In a shallow dish, whisk together flour, cornmeal, remaining 1 teaspoon each coarse salt and black pepper, and remaining ½ teaspoon cayenne.
4. Heat a heavy pot filled halfway with oil over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer reads 350°. Remove chicken from marinade, a few pieces at a time (do not shake off excess); dredge in flour mixture. Transfer to a baking sheet.
5. Fry chicken in batches until golden brown and a thermometer inserted into thickest part (avoiding bone) reads 160°, 6 to 7 minutes for small pieces, 9 to 10 minutes for large. Adjust heat to maintain a temperature between 340° and 350° during cooking. Transfer to a wire rack set on a rimmed baking sheet; season with sea salt. Serve warm or at room temperature.

4 Steps to perfection:

Plan ahead to brine and marinate the chicken (the two secrets to this recipe’s success).

1. Soak twice
Brining the chicken overnight (soaking it in salted water) seasons it all the way to the bone and helps keep it moist. Next, marinate it in buttermilk with salt, pepper, cayenne, and dry mustard. The marinade tenderizes the chicken and gives it a kick.
2. Dredge
Adding a little cornmeal to the flour mixture means more crunch and flavor. When you transfer the chicken from the marinade, don’t let too much drip off. The moisture will help the flour mixture bind to the chicken.
3.Fry
Safety first; a towel on the floor to catch spatters, which would make the floor slippery. Fry the chicken until it’s golden brown, cooking pieces of similar size together. Between batches, remove crumbs from the oil with a skimmer.
4.Drain
Set the fried chicken on a wire rack to drain and to keep the crust crisp (it can get soggy on paper towels). Let the oil cool completely in the pan, and then pour it into a cardboard milk or juice container to dispose of it.

The post Serve your summer guests Martha Stewart’s fried chicken appeared first on Metro.us.

They are faces you’ve seen, but never like this. They’re families you’ve shared dinner with, women whose adventures you’ve read about, men who could be your neighbors — people you think you know.

That’s the point of Italian artist AleXsandro Palombo’s latest “social campaign,” No Violence Against Women, which calls attention to domestic abuse through the battered faces of famous cartoon women and their partners. 

“I’ve decided to launch this new series because I wanted to give visibility to a problem that affects a great amount of women all over the world,” he told Metro in an email.

Palombo is known to make his points through cultural icons — he previously depicted fashion moguls including Vogue’s Anna Wintour and Karl Lagerfeld wearing Bambi for an anti-fur ad. This time, he chose the familiar faces to make a point: that domestic violence is so prevalent, its victims and perpetrators could be anyone.

“Have you ever seen a very normal couple walking on the street, and then a glimpse of the woman’s face, bruised? In many cases, monsters are apparently very normal people,” he said.

According to a 2013 study published in the journal Science, more than 20 percent of women ages 15 and older in North America have suffered some form of violence by their boyfriend or husband.

Palombo is concerned about the commodification of women through advertising and fashion, a trend he wants to see reversed by nurturing respect. His art is intended to give a voice to domestic violence victims, as many may be ashamed to ask for help or believe the abuse is justified because of something they did, he said.

Breaking domestic violence laws, where they exist, should be met with severe punishment, Palombo said, but hopes his work inspires a more personal call to action: “In my opinion, [it] should be men themselves to fight against men who abuse women all over the world.”

Follow Eva Kis on Twitter @thisiskis or email eva.kis@metro.us. 

The post Faces of domestic violence: Wonder Woman, Marge Simpson, Lois Griffin appeared first on Metro.us.

Find a (soccer) league of your own with our guide.
Credit: Photodisc

Few expected Team USA to make it out of their “Group of Death” in the 2014 World Cup. Despite last week’s gutting last-minute loss to Belgium, enthusiasm for soccer hasn’t been this high since David Beckham joined the Los Angeles Galaxy. If you’re gripped by soccer fever, here’s how to get your fix of the game both indoors and outside.

NYC Parks and Rec

Why not play where you already hang out? The parks department has soccer pitches across the city where you can get your footie on for free. For organized league teams, you must apply online for an athletic field permit.

NYC Soccer

Now in its sixth year, NYC Soccer spans the city with a network of than 3,000 members. The highly organized co-ed league caters to intermediate-level players at locations in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens. Registration costs $150. 

Bay Ridge Pick Up Soccer

“It’s mainly about fun” is the ethos of this casual group, which meets every week at Dyker Beach Park in Brooklyn. All levels of experience welcome, and make sure to pack a black and a white T-shirt. A $3 fee goes to equipment costs. 

Urban Soccer

If you’re serious about soccer this year-round league has indoor and outdoor events, competitive intermediate leagues and Sunday pick-up games. Matches are held all week at fields throughout Manhattan. Registration for male, female or co-ed leagues is $175. 

510soccer

If you don’t quite have the skills to do the sport justice, 510soccer offers training in all aspects of the game. No word on whether or not how to bend it like Beckham is covered though. Classes are held Wednesday and Saturday at East River Park and cost between $75 and $95 for four weeks.

Play Soccer 2 Give

Every Saturday, PS2G meets up to play for a worthy cause. The organization raises funds for the South Bronx United soccer club, a nonprofit youth development organization. Games are held from 8:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in Long Island City, Queens. Registration is $8.

First Touch FC

Prefer to get your footie in before your morning meeting? This group holds free games every Tuesday and Thursday from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at Bushwick Inlet Park. Although it is open to all, it is frequented by intermediate and advanced players.

Group Stage

Pick-up games, adult leagues and a kids program are open to all, with a co-ed season starting July 12 in the Lower East Side. They are also looking for volunteers if you’re not quite cleats-ready. Registration is $100.

The post Where to play soccer in NYC appeared first on Metro.us.

Keoni Hudoba will lead a 45-minute cycling class in tribute to the Tour de France.
Credit: Twitter

Runners, slow down

Set aside your sneakers to improve your chi and your posture with Saysha in Brooklyn tonight. The yoga class, offered by JackRabbit Sports, uses an “intelligent, alignment-based practice” and aims to enhance your breathing to make your pavement pounding a more relaxed and efficient affair. Remember, while you can’t control pedestrians or cars, inner peace begins with you.

Free, 6:30 p.m.
151 Seventh Ave.
BYO mat; RSVP to custserv@jackrabbitsports.com

Get in the spirit of the Tour

Mio, a new skincare line, is hosting a series of Workout Wonders workshops around the city where you sweat, then get “Mio’d” with mini spa treatments, LuliTonix refreshments and other swag. The next class will be July 15, when Cyc method creator Keoni Hudoba leads a 45-minute indoor cycling celebration of the Tour de France. A portion of proceeds will benefit Look Good Feel Better, a charity that helps women with cancer.

$20, 6:30 p.m., July 15
www.wellandgoodnyc.com

Pretty hurts, but not your wallet

The Founding Fathers aren’t getting any younger, but you can feel better for a discounted rate. Through July 15, BFX Studio is extending its Founder’s rate of $199 per month for unlimited classes instead of the usual $249. Email events@bfxstudio.com or call 917-382-5573 and mention the code word “fireworks.”

555 Sixth Ave.

Follow Eva Kis on Twitter @thisiskis or email eva.kis@metro.us. 

The post Health Notes: Yoga for runners, cycle with the Tour, BFX special appeared first on Metro.us.

Kids can help with planting by volunteering at the Prospect Park Alliance throughout the summer.
Credit: Colourbox

If the thought of your kids or teens being home all summer is sending you into panic mode, stop stressing. Helping them find a volunteer opportunity or extracurricular activity will not only give them a reason to get out of the house, it will help them gain experience, make new friends and build confidence. And you get some peace and quiet. Here are a few ways you can keep your kids busy this summer:

Dr. Fairytale at Manhattan’s Galli Theatre
The Galli Theatre allows teens 16 and older to express themselves through theatre by teaching longstanding fairytale lessons to young cancer patients and their families. Volunteers lend a hand in costume and set design, music, stage lighting, directing and acting. For more information, visit the website or contact the theatre through galliny@gmail.com or (212) 731-0668.

Make-A-Wish Foundation
The Make-A-Wish foundation grants the wishes of children with life-threating medical conditions. The foundation offers various volunteer programs for teens looking to help make dreams come true for children in need of a little magic, such as helping raise money for the program. Call (516) 944-6212 x141 for all the details. For more volunteer opportunities, contact the general program through sjacobs@metrony.wish.org or (516) 944-6212 x130.

StreetSquash in Harlem
Ever heard of the racquetball-like sport called squash? StreetSquash is a youth enrichment program for everyone from elementary school kids to high school graduates. The program allows teens to learn and play squash in the summer while also offering mentoring programs, community service opportunities and college preparation sessions.

Tuesday Youth Corps in Prospect Park
Until mid-August, the Prospect Park Alliance will help teens take on various projects in the park from landscaping work like planting to creative activities like painting. Check the website for more details about upcoming volunteer sessions.

New York Public Library
Besides usual book shelving, the NYPL is offering volunteer programs for teens willing to help others learn a skill. Does your child have a knack for playing chess? Maybe he or she is tech savvy or know how to knit? If so, programs at the library’s various branches, such as Teen Tech, in the Bronx and lower Manhattan could use their help. If interested, email volunteer@nypl.org.

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An Uber app is seen on an iPhone in Beverly Hills, California.
REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Uber Technologies Inc, a car service that allows users to summon a ride on their smartphone, has agreed to cap prices during emergencies and natural disasters in New York state to prevent price gouging, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced Tuesday.

The company also agreed to announce a national policy to limit pricing in emergencies, Schneiderman said in a news release.

The three-year agreement calls on Uber to limit pricing during “abnormal disruptions of the market,” to abide by a New York price-gouging law passed in the late 1970s amid escalating heating oil prices, according to the news release. The agreement takes effect immediately.

Uber, whose rates rise and fall with demand, will cap prices during such disruptions to the normal range of prices charged in the preceding 60 days, Schneiderman’s office said.

Schneiderman said Uber might have “run afoul” the state’s price-gouging laws in an April Op-Ed in The New York Times in which he called on the company to address the problem.

Uber has grown rapidly since its 2010 launch in San Francisco, with a recent $1.2 billion funding from blue-chip investors valuing the company at $18.2 billion, one of the highest ever for a Silicon Valley startup.

But it has also faced regulatory obstacles in some cities, and lawsuits from taxi companies hoping to keep new competition out.

The agreement “represents the thoughtful application of long-established law to new technology,” Schneiderman said in the news release.

The policy “intends to strike the careful balance between the goal of transportation availability with community expectations of affordability during disasters,” Uber CEO Travis Kalanick said in the press release.

Kalanick added the “collaborative solution” with Schneiderman “is a model for technology companies and regulators in local, state and federal government,” according to the release.

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Kiehl’s new boutique is located at 233 Mulberry St.

Kiehl’s sure knows how to throw a party, and for the grand opening of their latest Nolita boutique — home to a new art installation by artist Marilyn Minter — the brand is inviting shoppers to stop in tonight and celebrate.  Shake it to the tunes of DJ Mad Marj and take in some eye candy —  in addition to Minter, who will be on hand for the festivities,  the store will feature pieces from various female artists including Brooklyn’s Franny Gentle.

To honor the partnership, Kiehl’s and Minter will donate $20,000 to Planned Parenthood of New York City. You can contribute, too. Tote bags featuring the art Minter created will be on sale for $20 and proceeds will also benefit Planned Parenthood of NYC.

And if you’re just in it for products, the first 50 guests who arrive before 6:30 p.m. will receive a gift card that could be worth up to $1000 towards a Kiehl’s shopping spree.

You’ll never have to worry about lotion again.

Thursday, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
233 Mulberry St.

The post Where lotion and art mingle: Kiehl’s new Nolita boutique appeared first on Metro.us.

Pledge money to get a bite of Zach Danger Brown’s potato salad.

All Zack Danger Brown wanted to do was make potato salad and find a few dollars for ingredients, as Metro mentioned earlier this week when he made news by blowing past his $10 Kickstarter goal. And by no small amount: Brown was at $10,000.

By Wednesday afternoon, Brown had amassed over $70,000 in pledges on the fundraising site, and almost 5,000 backers.

“Basically I’m just making potato salad. I haven’t decided what kind yet,” the 31-year-old Ohio man wrote on the campaign page.

He was initially asking for $10 to make the picnic side dish but word quickly spread about his endeavor, which became a global sensation.

“The thing people are responding to is the opportunity to come together around something equal parts absurd and mundane. Potato salad isn’t controversial, but it seems to unite us all,” Brown wrote on an Ask Me Anything session on Reddit.

The financial support numbers have wavered with donors signing up or pulling out as the campaign has garnered more attention.

User comments have asked Brown to donate the excess amount of cash to a charity, but that violates Kickstarter’s terms to prevent backers from unknowingly donating to causes they do not support.

Brown is promising donors who give $3 or more a “bite” of one of four possible recipes, including a vegan option.

“It might not be that good. It’s my first potato salad,” he said.

The post Potato salad Kickstarter reaches over $70,000 appeared first on Metro.us.

Parkour hones skills that youngsters are already developing on the playground.
Credit: The Movement Creative

If your kids like to get creative at the playground, then consider taking their fun to the next level at the upcoming parkour workshops hosted by New York Hall of Science.

This Friday and July 18 at 3 p.m., parkour team The Movement Creative will be holding beginners’ workshops for children ages 4 to 8 at NYSCI’s Rocket Park. Balancing, jumping, crawling, climbing and vaulting are some of the skills the team will teach.

NYSCI’s director of public programs, Liz Slagus, said The Movement Creative team will use parkour “as a way to get young people to think about their bodies and movement, encourage an active life and healthy style by making movement fun.

“It’s what I never had growing up in gym class and something I thought our audiences would appreciate. I hope everyone comes away learning something new and maybe a sense of fun and excitement about being healthy and active.”

The aptly named Jesse Danger, co-founder of The Movement Creative, believes parkour is great for kids because it teaches them skills to improve at activities they already love. “It tells them that with a little imagination, they can find something fun and challenging anywhere.”

The event is part of the museum’s Best Summer Ever Under the Tent series, which focuses on health and fitness. Before diving in to parkour, kids and their parents can participate in a scavenger hunt that spans the museum’s exhibits and café, or play in a small obstacle course set up by The Movement Creative. All-natural sports drinks will also be provided as part of the event, along with cards featuring their recipes so you can make the drinks at home.

Participants are advised to wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Registration is available in person at the museum on the days of the workshops.

Kids’ parkour with The Movement Creative
July 11 and July 18
Scavenger hunt at noon; parkour at 3 p.m.
New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Queens
Ages 4 to 8; $6, $4 for NYSCI members

The post Kids parkour classes teach how to climb the concrete jungle appeared first on Metro.us.

The Bronzed Bee specializes in airbrush tanning.
Credit: Christopher Brown / Shoot From Within Photography

Whether you’re getting glam for your summer wedding or just want a glow for the beach, there are spray tan commandments you must follow. Break them and risk streaky hands or a stained, once-white dress, warns Ashley Piotrowski, owner of The Bronzed Bee in Philadelphia.

Piotrowski’s clients, especially summer brides, come to her for meticulously applied airbrush spray tans, but all of her hard work will — literally — fade away if you don’t stick to these rules:

1. Go for a trial run
“A bride can come in the night before her wedding and get an airbrush tan thinking it’s going to be one thing — and it comes out another,” Piotrowski says. She recommends spray tan newbies try it out about a month before a big event.

2. 48 hours to perfection
“Come in two days prior to your wedding, and no sooner,” Piotrowski cautions. You’ll need to avoid water during the 6-8 hours the tan is developing — which means no showering. “The day before you’ll have your rehearsal dinner, you’ll be running around sweating,” she says. “You’re going to want to be able to shower that day.”

3. Keep it light
Piotrowski says to “ask for a glow”: “If you tell me you want to be super dark, like you just got back form Jamaica, I’ll deliver — but you might not be happy with it.” No matter how dark you go, the color is there for about a week; opting for a Tan Mom look won’t make it last longer.

4. Amend your mistakes
Keep a small bottle of touch up solution at home, for when you accidentally wash your hands before the color has set. If you absolutely must clean your hands, Piotrowski recommends using hand sanitizer on just your palms. And we’re going to recommend that you skip the spray tan if you work in the food service industry.

5. Powder, powder, powder
“I don’t care if it’s Christmastime, you’re going to be sweating on your wedding day,” Piotrowski says. Sweat can make a tan run, or leave a telltale sign on a white dress. Keep moisture at bay no matter what you’re wearing with liberal doses of baby powder.

Pamper party

Book a Pamper Party for tanning, makeup application and more.
Credit: Lauren Mechelle

Looking for makeup tips too? Piotrowski recently teamed up with B Wilson of Just B Beautiful to offer Beauty Bee Pamper Parties at The Bronzed Bee for groups prepping for a wedding, celebrating a birthday or just indulging in some expert beautification. Grab some girlfriends and select any combination of makeup application, airbrush tans, hair touch-ups, waxing, eyelash extensions and more. Cupcakes catered from Pamcakes and champagne round out the party atmosphere.

Just B Beautiful offers hair and makeup services in New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia.

The post Spray tan tips from The Bronzed Bee appeared first on Metro.us.

Join the herd for a sip of soda on Soda Drinker Pro. / Provided

Have you ever imagined yourself walking on a rainbow drinking an ice-cold cola? How about floating in space sipping on a grape soda? Well, now that it’s on your mind, you should know that it is possible, kind of — and you don’t even have to leave the house.

Use Soda Drinker Pro to enter a virtual world where you get the satisfaction of pouring a cold soda down your throat, without actually consuming the sugar or calories (or actually quenching your thirst).

But if your concern is kicking the addictive, not-too-healthy habit of downing several Pepsis a day, a simulation might be sufficient to wean you off.

“It allows the user to experience soda on a deeper emotional level,” says Soda Drinker Pro creator Will Brierly.

Soda Drinker Pro uses virtual reality headset Oculus Rift, which you control through your computer. Or you can play it without the headset, says Brierly, but at that point your imagination had better be pretty strong.

Players move through different scenarios, from relaxing on the beach to riding a water slide, all with cola in hand. Finish the cup — as indicated by an on-screen meter — and magically move to the next level, where a new cup will appear filled to the brim with the soda of your choice. Brierly says the game uses a “special technology” that lets it “match exactly what the player is thinking about while drinking a soda.” If the graphics (above and below) are any indication, we’re not so confident in that special technology.

Soda Drinker Pro is available on PC, Mac, Linux, Android and, soon, Xbox One and Xbox Kinect, for $4.99. Compare that to your soda spending habits and it’s a steal.

Brierly is, of course, raising money to enhance the game through Kickstarter. Under “risks and challenges”— always the most interesting Kickstarter category — he lists: “It can be difficult to accurately simulate the act of drinking Soda.”

The Soda Drinker Pro Kickstarter fundraiser closes Aug. 7.

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