1 Year Anniversary

So I've been at this for a year.  I'm like...dedicated or something.  Granted I haven't actually FINISHED and it's been a year, but I'm close!

I have revisited a few clubs recently but I haven't gotten around to the last few remaining locations.  I promise I will.

23rd and 8th (update)

I promised to update with a photo from this location.  Here it is:

125th Street - Harlem

I don't really know why it took me so long to get to this location.  It is convenient for me to get to and I have passed by it several times.  I was warned by one person that it was "gross," but I didn't have that experience.

OK entering is a little disconcerting.  You enter the lobby and face two large steel elevators.  Simlar to the Equinox in Columbus Circle your button options in the elevator are the lobby (ground floor) and the gym (4th floor).  I really did envision myself in the next Final Destination movie as the elevator slowly crawled, moaned, and clanked up to the 4th floor.

Upon my arrival it wasn't so bad though.  Decent light, spacious, all one floor.  Cardio is right at the entrance and seemed to be a sufficient amount.  What's nice about this location, and maybe it was just cause I went during an off time, was it seemed pretty spacious between machines.  There are two studios, a cycling studio, two cable fly systems, decent stretching area, and the general machines/weights.

The locker room was OK.  Not good.  Not vomit-inducing.  Plenty of showers (smaller locker area) and sauna and steam room.  My biggest complaint about the locker room was that the towels are not stacked inside the locker room but actually across the hall near the stretching areas.  Why?  Who thought this made sense?  Is it out of laziness?  I'm glad I noticed this upon entering so I prevented a temper tantrum when I went to go shower.

Oh!  and the clientele!  1/4 roided up thugs, 1/4 toned fitness girls, 1/4 ugly/old people, 1/4 gays.  And, yes, I did get a number.  After all of these visits, HARLEM is where I get my first "gym number?"  Really?  Here's how it went down:

Him: hey can I give you this?   Hands over a slip of paper.
Me: no I didn't drop anything.
Him: no, it's for you.
Me: looks at slip.  OH.  HAHAHAHAHA.  OH.  OK thanks!
Him: walks away.
Me: dialing mother.  Mom, guess what just happened to me...in Harlem.

My grade: B+

Broadway & Spring - SoHo

Dear Douchebag On the Treadmill Next To Me:

Why the hell are you wearing sunglasses inside, in a gym, working out?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Me.

Welcome to SoHo!  Hope you are ready to work out your legs cause you have three intimidating flights of highly lopsided, creaky, "reminds me of Alice In Wonderland falling down the rabbit hole but in reverse" stairs before you can enter.  I generally liked this location but it had a few...quirks.  It is large, all one level, bright, and had plenty of equipment.  The studio was large (cycling studio as well), decent sized weight room, and many additional weight machines scattered throughout.  Two small stretching areas, seemingly lots of cardio machines.

The clientele was interesting; mostly cafeteria worker kind of women -- a few cuties -- and the rest just Asian guys.  Plus me and the asshole with his glasses on the treadmill next to me (and no he wasn't blind).

The locker room was large, had plenty of showers, and was generally clean.  The rest of the facility, however, was kind of messy; particularly messy on such a quiet day.  Not dirty but messy.  Weights and medicine balls, barbells and dumbbells scattered throughout on the floor.  Also, some of the equipment was broken which always adds an inconvenience to the workout.

My grade: B+

94th and Broadway (revisit)

Yes I have been absent.  No I am not happy about it.  And yes I'm still single (wait...you weren't thinking about that?  Well fine.)

I revisited 94th and Broadway today.  This photo sucks and this review will be lazy.  Seriously, you should have expected this by now and you really need to get over it.  The re-design looks good aesthetically; better lighting, better decor, for the most part nicer.  Here's the catch, though: even during a "slow time" this place is still too small for how busy it is (I can't even imagine peak hours) and the weight room looks pretty much the same (please refer to original review).  Because of the traffic it is pretty messy and they clearly haven't re-done the locker rooms.  Still nicer, but not nice enough to win awards.

I'd say this is the best NYSC on the UWS, but saying that doesn't say much.

My new grade: B-

49th and Broadway (revisit)

Well...THIS is what my new home gym looks like currently.  This is the former site of the 52nd and Broadway location which is mere blocks from my new office.

I visited instead 49th and Broadway which, surprisingly, has been refurbished since my last visit.  It looks very good, crisp, and clean.  The new style is very much what it needed as this is a VERY BUSY LOCATION.  I'm sure closing the gym 3 blocks up didn't help relieve any of the traffic.

The crowd here is a mix of hotel guests, some young and a few frumpy women (a few winners), and then 70% gay guys.  There was definitely some eye candy but I was too annoyed with the crowded nature to care.  I'm glad I didn't need a treadmill cause I would have been waiting way too long for my liking.

I took a new photo of the refurb:

Whoops.  Well...this isn't too far off...

New home gym

I am changing jobs and searched out what my new home gym would be since I will be leaving the 23rd and Park location (waaah!).  The closest gym is 52nd and Broadway!  I went back and read my review and remembered my visit vividly.

Fun fact: supposedly this location is now closed.  So...that's awesome.

FAIL.

I will re-assess my situation shortly.