Good afternoon, reader. If you’re wondering what we’re going to be up to this week now that it’s finally getting warm out, allow us to introduce you to a piece of workout equipment we’ll be wearing on an after-work run. It’ll challenge you, sure, but you’ll read more about that in a minute. ’Til then, here’s what you have to look forward to today:

• The do’s and don’ts of weighted vests: We’ve got a brand for you to try, plus a challenging 30-minute circuit.
• Visit Yosemite — minus the crowds: Here’s how to get an authentic Yosemite experience outside of the park boundaries.
• The ultimate bartending competition: The founders of Speed Rack, a global bartending tournament highlighting women and non-binary bartenders, chatted with us about their new book.

It’s Time to Work Out With a Weighted Vest

According to one assessment of Google Trends data, consumer interest in wrist weights increased 89% between 2019 and 2023. And not far behind: interest in weighted vests is up 61% over the same period.

Why is this happening? Hard to say for sure, but as people reconsider the connected fitness machines they invested in during the pandemic, weighted wearables represent a portable, subscription-less brand of equipment that they can take to an inspired class or outdoor workout. Weighted vests, meanwhile, are an excellent, all-purpose wearable. Assuming you’re using them correctly, they have a unique ability to make workouts more challenging, and more fun. (It’s difficult to get throughout a weighted vest workout without thinking you’re part of some black-ops unit.)

Here are some dos, some don’ts, a good weighted vest brand to get you started and an unconventional sample workout to try, from a colleague in the wellness space.

In yesterday's poll, we asked you if you'd pick a classic or modern Mustang if price were no object. Here are the results:

• The majority of you (65.1%) would go for the old-school '50s muscle. 
• The other 34.9% of you are going for the latest and greatest of 2024.

As a Drinks Competition, Speed Rack Is the Ultimate Rush

Currently celebrating its 12th season, Speed Rack is an exhilarating global bartending competition highlighting women and non-binary bartenders in a quick-paced environment.

The history and purpose of the competition are certainly a focus in A Quick Drink: The Speed Rack Guide to Winning Cocktails for Any Mood, written by Speed Rack co-founders Lynnette Marrero and Ivy Mix (along with Megan Krigbaum). As the authors write in the intro, the impetus for the event stemmed from the fact that “we were keenly aware when we’d travel to the best bars around the globe that there weren’t a whole lot of women bartending in them.” All proceeds from Speed Rack are donated to breast cancer organizations.

We spoke with Marrero (a MasterClass host and Partner/Chief Mixologist at Delola) and Mix (the co-owner of NYC’s Leyenda, FIASCO! Wine and Spirits and the just-opened Whoopsie Daisy) a few weeks before the 12th season of Speed Rack kicked off about the book, Speed Rack’s legacy and the importance of shedding light on talented women and non-binary bartenders. And, of course, we have a few recipes from the book. Note that many of the drink recipes in the book were inspired by the competition’s “Dealer’s Choice” round, which takes place in every Speed Rack event finals. Essentially, these are improved drinks inspired by various prompts from the judges, which suggest moods and styles of cocktails — and require some quick and deft preparation.

IN THE NEWS

Accept that the NFL’s 18-game regular season is happening.

The new Chicago Bears stadium design includes a giant glass wall.

Jerry Seinfeld clarified what Seinfeld gags he couldn’t do today.

Why is creativity easier to come by in the air?

The nation’s hotels are embracing dog employees.

Getting an Authentic Yosemite Experience Outside the Park Boundaries

One of the most popular national parks in America, Yosemite welcomes more than three million visitors per year, with the highest concentration in the summer months. The crowds can be overwhelming; it can be difficult to appreciate the wide-open views when you’re shoulder-to-shoulder with other tourists. In order to combat overcrowding, Yosemite will once again institute a timed-entry system for much of 2024. For much of the summer, you must have a reservation to enter the park between 5 a.m. and 4 p.m. (From April to August, reservations must be had for visiting on the weekends and holidays.)

We wanted to see if we could get an authentic Yosemite outside the park and without the crowds. So we headed toward the surrounding communities and national forests — Stanislaus, Toyabe and Sierra National Forests — that offer hundreds of miles of trails begging to be explored, with nary another hiker around. We also tried my hand at some of the other recreational activities that offer the great views that Yosemite is known for, but also give you a bit more breathing room. Tap here to read more about it.

In Conversation With Perfumehead Founder Daniel Patrick Giles

At times, you might find Daniel Patrick Giles, the mastermind behind the buzzy fragrance house Perfumehead, in the “osmocosm” — a term he coined, fusing “osmo” (smell) and “cosmo” (universe). This unique concept is integral to the brand, envisioning an infinite realm of possibilities where every place carries a scent, and every scent narrates a story. In our article on the rise of niche fragrance colognes, we observed a trend away from mass-produced department store scents that have dominated the market for so long and noted how many individuals seek more originality in their fragrances. Perfumehead is such a brand: a fragrance house dedicated to the art of creating timeless, unique and luxurious scents for the discerning nose.

We spoke with Giles about the brand, niche fragrances, his creative process, inspirations and what’s in store for this exciting fragrance house.

The 5 Best Pizza Places in Los Angeles

If you think New York City has the market cornered on pizza, think again. Los Angeles, which has been undergoing a much-noted culinary renaissance over the past decade, has several pizza offerings that can stand toe-to-toe with those found across the country. For our purposes here today, we’ll be zeroing in on L.A.’s more casual and classic pizza spots — places where you can quickly grab a slice or sit for a comforting meal without needing a reservation. In this category, there are also a multitude of worthy options, though we believe these five pizzerias best prove that L.A.’s pizza game is one to be reckoned with.