How to Build a Better New York City Soccer Franchise
Carolyn Tisch Blodgett arrived at Gotham FC in 2023 with some serious pro-sports cred: her family co-owns the New York Giants. But she said her biggest inspiration in building up the New York/New Jersey franchise of the National Women's Soccer League may be her experience making Ally Love, Cody Rigsby and Robin Arzon global fitness superstars when she ran marketing at Peloton.
'We saw an opportunity to build the Peloton brand, but to build it via our stars, via our instructors,' Tisch Blodgett said on the latest episode of The Deal with Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly. 'And that's very much something we're thinking about at Gotham—we want to continue to build love for the Gotham brand.'
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New York Post
24 minutes ago
- New York Post
Dino Store the latest in MTA's underground art movement
NYC's art scene is going back underground — literally. As the Big Apple's subterranean newsstands, shoe shine parlors, barber shops and other vintage conveniences roll down their gates for the last time, the MTA has been experimenting with a creative way to fill the voids — with eye-catching installations Dubbed the Vacant Unit Activation program, which the agency said is aimed at making stations 'more welcoming and whimsical spaces for riders,' a number of artists are being given a platform to show the world their stuff. 6 Akiva Leffert is the co-founder of Rex's Dino Store — a funny one-stop for scaly straphangers that recently popped up inside Brooklyn's Grand Army Plaza subway station. Olga Ginzburg for NY Post Mira Atherton, senior manager of MTA construction development, told The Post that the spaces had been determined as unfit for rental for a variety of reasons. 'These are often units … that are in old stations, typically ones that have been there for over a hundred years. They are funky shapes. They're small, they have often a lot of utility issues,' she said. 'They don't have water or a waste line. They might be in stations that are not as well-trafficked.' By giving drab corners a Gotham-style glow-up, Atherton said the agency aims not only to inspire riders, but also provide 'affordable space for artists and nonprofits who often have trouble finding space.' Since the 2023 inception of the project, run by the MTA Real Estate initiative, there have been twelve total activations — with eight running currently. As a service to busy commuters, we've done the legwork and wrangled five stops to keep an eye out for. The land before Time magazine 6 Rex is the proprietor of the Dino Store — where prehistoric puns are served up, free of charge. Olga Ginzburg for NY Post Real newsstands may be going the way of the triceratops, but any scaly straphangers waiting for the 2/3 at Brooklyn's Grand Army Plaza station will find all their needs catered for at Rex's Dino Store. The newly-opened spot, overseen by the eponymous 7-foot-tall T-Rex proprietor, offers up 50 punny primeval products — from copies of the Maul Street Journal and the Jurassic Park Slope Courier to Snarlboros and Three Tusketeers. There's even an appearance by the prehistoric doppelganger to New York's favorite tabloid — The Pangaea Post. (On the cover — a tyrannosaur in handcuffs, with the headline: SMALL ARMS DEALER.) 'It's a bodega for dinosaurs,' co-founder Akiva Leffert explained to The Post of the Rex-treme makeover — which he collaborated on with fellow creative and former standup comedian Sarah Cassidy. 6 Some of the Triassic tabloids on offer at the Dino Store, including Post doppelganger The Pangaea Post. Olga Ginzburg for NY Post 'We were riffing on this idea of just old newsstand, really old newsstand. Really, really old new stand,' Leffert said. 'And the jokes just kind of started writing themselves.' The shop, which sits behind protective glass to keep it safe from modern-day marauders, reportedly took over a year to complete, including four months for Rex himself — he's made of chicken wire covered in paper maché — with ping-pong balls for the eyes. In accordance with code, this was then fire-proofed by certified professionals — to prevent any mass-extinction events. How to train your subway performer 6 The Sound Booth at the 81st Street-Natural History Museum stop books local artists. Megan Armas / MTA Between throngs of commuters, trains, and soaring assaults, the subway platform can seem like a dangerous place for performers. As a service to buskers, non-profit Art on the Ave NYC has established the Sound Booth, a music box on the 81st Street-Natural History Museum stop for local musicians to serenade passersby. 'It's great because it gives them a relatively safe place to perform in the sense that they're right close to the ticket office and right by the turnstiles,' Barbara Anderson, Executive Director of Art on the Ave NYC, told The Post. 'And they can just go in there.' Along with providing three walls, the Sound Booth is outfitted with speakers, amps and more so performers 'don't have to bring all of their equipment,' per Anderson. There's even a musically-inspired mural featuring Billie Holiday, the Beatles, a DJ and some tambourines. Originally opened in June 2024, the installation was originally supposed to run for six months but they kept it going because it was such a hit, according to the Art on the Ave boss. To date, the Sound Booth — which is open four days a week for three hours slots — has attracted over 50 artists, including the famed 'Saw Lady' Natalia Paruz; The Meetles (a Beatles cover band), an acapella group from Fordham University; a flute trio, DJs and the Motown singers who cruise the subways most weekends. Starting June 10, the installment will be home to a Sing For Hope Piano — artist-designed ivory boxes that are sprinkled around the city — marking the first time the non-profit has had a piano in the subway system. Calm in the storm 6 Kathleen Marie Ryan's 'Nympheas Rouge: Reflections of Spring' installation, located on the 53rd Street and Fifth Avenue E train downtown subway platform. Tamara Beckwith Finding solitude during a hectic commute can seem impossible at times. Fortunately, patrons of the proletariat chariot can grab a moment of quiet reflection with the serene 'Nympheas Rouge: Reflections of Spring' installation located on the 53rd Street and Fifth Avenue E train downtown subway platform. With the help of the MTA and ChaShaMa, a non-profit that transforms derelict real estate into art spaces, artist Kathleen Marie Ryan converted this defunct newsstand into a 24-square-foot immersive display with her painting of waterlilies on three walls and a mirrored floor serving as a reflecting pool. Coincidentally, the tranquil triptych, which took over a year to complete, is located just a block away from Monet's water lilies at the Museum of Modern Art. 'After studying how people interact with art in museums, I wanted this microenvironment to give passersby a moment of calm and beauty in one of the most stressful parts of the city,' said Ryan. 'A tourist from Sacramento said it felt 'like a moment of calm in a storm.'' In 2019, international researchers found that subterranean art installations can even help the depression and tension caused by subway spaces. Thanks for the memories 6 One of the highlights is a headline from an East New Yorker describing when Edolphus 'Ed' Towns Jr. made history as the first African American deputy borough president in 1976. Gregg Richards / BPL East New Yorkers are bringing color to Brooklyn commuters' day with a nostalgic wall montage featuring maps, historic photos and other memorabilia that pays tribute to the legendary neighborhood's past. The installation, called Memories Matter, was a community collaboration between local residents of all ages, the East New York Community Land Trust and the Center for Brooklyn History at the Brooklyn Public Library. Along with map collages and floral displays, the display also features historical photographs of the neighborhood, as well as images from community newspapers and excerpts from interviews with local residents. It's a hot new track The subway platform soundtrack is no longer screeching subway tracks and raving EDPs. Located at the Chambers Street metro station, Chamber Hum was created to restore the auditory balance by playing various experimental and ambient compositions — each of which run for one month — on a multi-channel sound system. This month's buzzy track is reportedly inspired by a mysterious humming noise in Taos, New Mexico that's reportedly only able to be heard by 2% of the town's population. In fact, the sound has even been blamed for insomnia dizziness and other symptoms, but here the version serves to create ear-quilibrium amid the metro carriage cacophony. The installation is 'active 23 hours each day, with a short break between the hours of 4AM and 5AM,' organizer WPZSCH writes on the site.
TechCrunch
3 hours ago
- TechCrunch
Peloton explores placing its equipment in gyms, launches marketplace for used gear
Fitness equipment maker Peloton's CEO Peter Stern has said the company is exploring ways to expand its customer base by making its products available for use in gyms, and launching a peer-to-peer marketplace for used equipment. Speaking at Bloomberg Tech Summit on Thursday, Stern said Peloton plans to distribute its machines to commercial gyms via its subsidiary Precor, a gym equipment supplier, and is working to add Peloton workouts to compatible Precor equipment. The company this week also set out to grab a share of the market for used Peloton equipment, launching a peer-to-peer marketplace called Repowered. 'Historically, [second-hand sales have] taken place, for example, on Facebook marketplace, and that's absolutely fine for people who want to do that, but it means that you need to transact with a stranger on both ends, and potentially have that stranger come into your home. What we're trying to do is streamline that and deliver a more premium experience for those second-hand customers,' he said. Stern said the company aims to use AI to improve personalization for its members. 'I want to find ways to scale coaching by creating individualized programs for each of our members so that they can get the right class from the right instructor that's personalized for them,' he said.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Alex Rodriguez Says He's in the ‘Appointment Only' Phase of Parenting
Fact checked by Sarah Scott Alex Rodriguez is in the season of parenting where it's almost like 'appointment only,' he tells Parents. His eldest daughter Natasha, 20, is a rising junior at the University of Michigan, while his youngest Ella, 17, will be heading into her senior year of high school. 'They're so busy that when I get a little date for like an awesome dinner, I'm so fired up," he says. "It's just amazing to see them develop with high self-esteem, good purpose, and good intention in their life. And it's great to see them strive to reach their goals.' It doesn't hurt that they have their successful dad to look up to. Rodriguez, a former professional baseball shortstop who played on the Yankees for 12 seasons, has built a business empire as the chairman and CEO of his investment firm A-Rod Corp. The 49-year-old hopes his career is instilling important lessons in his kids, including treating people with respect, humility, and always pushing forward. 'I've gone through a lot of ups and downs. I've always been very transparent about my mistakes,' he shares. 'I hope they are learning from daddy's mistakes, and hopefully becoming a better version. And just obviously, the hard work and how important family is.' While Rodriguez is proud to watch his daughters grow, he's finding the transition to college difficult. "There's a special bond between dads and girls and it's scary," he says. "If I had a boy, I'd probably just throw him out on the field, and it's just less worry. But with your girls, you got to be more protective." To keep a strong bond with his daughters, Rodriguez says he's big on FaceTiming, texting daily, and keeping up with them on social media. In moments when he needs parenting advice, he leans on a trusted source. "The work I've done with my therapist the last 10 years, he's probably been my go-to person," he says. "It has brought a lot of awareness on how the girls think, and the importance of open communication." As for the type of dad he is? Rodriguez says he's all about "a lot of love, a lot of fun, with like 20% stern. I think they both kind of fear daddy a little bit, in a sense, where I don't think they want to disappoint, or they know that I have high standards for them." Rodriguez isn't slowing down. He's jumped into the podcast world with The Deal, co-hosting with Bloomberg correspondent Jason Kelly. Heading into season 3, the podcast tackles investing, strategy, and reinvention with high-profile guests, including investor and sports team owner Josh Harris, as well as Magic Johnson, who is appearing on an upcoming episode. "If you like music, sports, entertainment, and culture, this is your podcast," he says. Of course, he hasn't forgotten his baseball roots. Rodriguez partnered with Lysol to promote the Lysol Laundry Sanitizer in an effort to champion for two important sports officials. "Referees and umpires have the toughest job," he says. "You have to be so selfless, because even if you do a great job, you have nine people from one team screaming at you, the other ones screaming—no one's ever happy. It's a little bit like parenting...I love the partnership because we try to highlight people that are often not highlighted, and use our platform collectively to elevate refs and umpires." A-Rod, an Emmy Award-winning MLB analyst for Fox Sports and ESPN, has been keeping up with the sport since retiring nearly a decade ago. He has nothing but positive things to say about his former team. "The Yankees are having a great season," he says. "They had a big obstacle when they lost Juan Soto, and I think Brian Cashman did an incredible job of redirecting the resources into getting a handful of players versus one. Max Fried jumps off the page because he's potentially going to be the Cy Young winner. And they have [Cody] Bellinger, and they moved [Aaron] Judge back to right field. So they took one negative and turned it into an incredible positive." He also uses his platform to advocate for young athletes. In a recent Instagram video, Rodriguez shared his belief that kids today play too many games, stripping them of the ability to learn the fundamentals. "I've always thought the process is greater than results," he says. "I just think that you get better by practicing, not just by playing. Think about baseball—you can play five games, and if you play shortstop, you might get one ground ball in five games. Versus if you practice for 30 minutes, you can catch 100 ground balls. So the old way was you practice six days to play one; today, it's like you play seven games with no practice." Baseball and business aside, Rodriguez says he's also making it a point to focus on what else brings him joy, particularly working out, family dinners, and family vacations. "I'm trying to have a more balanced life where you take care of yourself, your mind, soul, spirit," he says. "It can't just be all work. It can't be all fun. There has to be a balance." Read the original article on Parents
