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DECEMBER 2019 Vol. 28, No. 11

MARK WAHLBERG

LUST-WORTHY HOLIDAY GIFTS

ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S HIS WORLD, WE JUST LIVE IN IT

IS LSD THE CURE FOR DEPRESSION?

PLUS: HOW TO GET THOSE BICEPS

THE NEW

THE ULTIMATE

RECOVERY SUPERFOOD P. 79

WINTER WORKOUT PLAN OF THE

YEAR

THE BEST NEW TECH, TOOLS, AND TOYS

JOINT VENTURES. ENDLESS JOURNEYS. Whether your idea of the ultimate two-wheel journey is a transcontinental expedition across North America or a morning ride across city lines, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got you covered. The Yamaha Star Venture takes long-distance touring to a whole new level of handling, comfort, performance and cutting-edge infotainment technology. The Star Eluder redeďŹ nes the bagger class with more agile handling, comfort, power, innovation and style than ever. Everything needed for you, your passenger and friends to connect while venturing forth on Endless Journeys together.

Pedal to the Metal There are men who like to relax, and then there’s Mark Wahlberg: the A-lister who never stops working. By Marjorie Korn

Gear of the Year Before saying goodbye to 2019, we celebrate the revolutionary bikes, bags, and power tools that blew our minds this year.

The Snow Job With a streamlined new wardrobe, Keegan-Michael Key is preparing for his next big transformation. By Amy Spencer

70 ON THE COVER Mark Wahlberg photographed for Men’s Journal by the Riker Brothers on September 10, 2019, in Los Angeles. Styling by Samantha McMillen for the Wall Group. Grooming by Maital Sabbon for Tracey Mattingly. Wahlberg wears T-shirt by John Varvatos. Jeans by Hudson. Watch by Patek Philippe.

D.C.’s Last Dealmaker Martin Heinrich, the junior senator from New Mexico, has a plan for separating politics from conservation. By Kyle Dickman 002

DECEMBER 2019

MEN’S JOURNAL

photograph by PETER YANG

75 Pilates for athletes.

The man who fights bulls.

NOTEBOOK

14 Travel Break away from the groomers and you’ll find the food, drink, and hot tubs that make North America’s ski towns truly awesome.

20 Food Flip lasagna on its side and you have a crowd-pleasing finger food for your next holiday party.

Bubbly holiday cocktails.

32 In Defense Of Sure, e-scooters make sidewalks a living hell. But they’re also the best way to see a new city.

36 Holiday Gift Guide The 22 best ways to show someone you care—or to populate your own wish list.

THE BLUEPRINT

82 The Health Trip 24 Deep Dive

Located in major business-travel hubs, these five hotels make it easy to return home stronger.

92 Move of the Month Box-jump split squats cultivate the kind of explosive power that can help you PR your next half-marathon.

93 Cold Facts What happens to your body when you dunk it in near-freezing water? We investigate the science of shock.

THE L AST WORD

96 Billy Dee Williams 28 We’re With Her Connie Britton explains getting into character to play Roger Ailes’ wife in the upcoming movie Bombshell.

88 What Works for Me Celebrity chef George Mendes isn’t afraid to eat salad for breakfast. It’s a small price to pay for health.

On the heels of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Williams explains the roles that vanity, humor, and heartache play in his life.

MEN’S JOURNAL (ISSN 1063-4651) is published monthly except combined January/February and July/August issues, which count as two of 12 in an annual subscription, by Weider Publications LLC, a division of American Media LLC, 4 New York Plaza, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10004. Periodical Rates Postage Paid at the New York, NY, Post Oﬃce and at additional mailing oﬃces. Copyright © Weider Publications LLC 2019. All rights reserved. Canada Post International Publications Mail Sale Agreement No. 40028566. Canadian B.N. 88746 5102 RT0001. All materials submitted become the sole property of Weider Publications LLC and shall constitute a grant to Weider Publications LLC to use name, likeness, story, and all other information submitted of the person submitting the same for any and all purposes and cannot be used without permission in writing from Weider Publications LLC. Men’s Journal is not responsible for returning unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, letters, or other materials. Weider Publications LLC and American Media LLC, publisher of Men’s Journal, do not promote or endorse any of the products or services advertised by third-party advertisers in this publication. Nor does Weider Publications LLC or American Media LLC verify the accuracy of any claims made in conjunction with such advertisements. Subscription rate is $24.00 for 1 year in USA; in Canada, $34.00 for 1 year. Outside of USA and Canada, $45.00 for 1 year. U.S. orders outside of USA must be prepaid in U.S. funds. For customer service and back issues call toll-free (800) 677-6367 or write to: Men’s Journal, P.O. Box 37207, Boone, IA 50037-0207. SUBSCRIBERS: If the Postal Service alerts us that your magazine is undeliverable, we have no further obligation unless we receive a corrected address within one year. U.S. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS (see DMM 507.1.5.2). NON-POSTAL and MILITARY FACILITIES: Send U.S. address changes to: Men’s Journal, P.O. Box 37207, Boone, IA 50037-0207. CANADA POSTMASTER: Send address changes to American Media LLC, P.O. Box 907 STN Main, Markham, ON L3P 0A7, Canada. From time to time we make our subscriber list available to companies that sell goods and services by mail that we believe would interest our readers. If you would rather not receive such mailings, please send your current mailing label to: Men’s Journal, P.O. Box 37207, Boone, IA 50037. Manuscripts, art, and other submissions must be accompanied by a selfaddressed, stamped envelope. Printed in the USA.

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FROM LEFT: GIANGRANO TRIPODO; CHELSEA KYLE; JUSTIN STEELE

Odds are you’ve skied on artificial snow. But what do you really know about the machine that makes it?

Doctors are embracing LSD and magic mushrooms as treatment options for depression, addiction, and PTSD.

90 Gym Away From Home

Letter From the Editor What is your favorite piece of gear from 2019? I asked my fellow gear-loving MJ staffers to tell me the best of all the cool stuff they tested this year. DAVID SCHLOW, CREATIVE DIRECTOR Breville Barista Pro: Buh-bye, Starbucks. With its single-touch grinder and powerful steam wand, the Breville is easy to operate. Most importantly, it makes an amazingly fast and tasty cup of coffee. JENNIFER SANTANA, DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY Trek FX Sport 4: The aluminum frame and hydraulic brakes were a breath of fresh air—especially since I’m used to commuting on much heavier share bikes.

OOK FOR something

built to last.” The lyrics from a Grateful Dead t u ne kept bu z z i ng through my head. It may have been the result of spending all day smoking a brisket and drinking beer—a combo that begs for some Dead tunes. (I like them, sue me!) It felt strangely apropos. My Traeger pellet smoker was a former Gear of the Year winner, and this year’s includes a cool new WiFi version. (Resist, Greg, resist.) Our contributors logged miles, hours, and reps, to make sure all the picks are, well, built to last. And this month, our cover star is too. Remember Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch? Who would have thought back then that Mark Wahlberg would become a global superstar? Work, relationships, gear—we should all just follow that gospel of Jerry...

GREG EMMANUEL Chief Content Officer

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RYAN KROGH, FEATURES EDITOR Yeti Camino Carryall: It’s indestructible, and I never imagined how often I would use such a basic thing—from stowing wet fishing waders and boots after an outing to hauling groceries into the house. JARED SULLIVAN, SENIOR EDITOR Muji Gel-Ink Ball Point 0.5mm: This is the platonic ideal of a pen: inexpensive, unfussy, fine-pointed, and smudge-free. I buy them by the pallet. TOM BROWN, COPY CHIEF BioLite FirePit: Fellow campers consistently wander over from nearby sites wondering how I got such an awesome fire. BRITTANY SMITH, MJ.COM SENIOR EDITOR Roka’s Maverick X Wetsuit: It optimizes freestyle with its buoyant, supportive core, unrestrictive arms-up construction, and X-shape taping to reinforce power. JOYCE PARENTE, HEAD OF INTEGRATED MARKETING JBL Clip 3: The clip feature makes all the difference—whether you attach it to yourself or to a piece of lawn furniture. And the sound is pretty great for its size. MEN’S JOURNAL

ENJOY RESPONSIBLY. ©2019. DEWAR’S, ITS TRADE DRESS, TRUE SCOTCH, THE CELTIC DEVICE AND THE JOHN DEWAR SIGNATURE ARE TRADEMARKS. IMPORTED BY JOHN DEWAR & SONS COMPANY, CORAL GABLES, FL. BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY – 40% ALC. BY VOL.

Field Notes Present Poll 2019

Feedback PASS JUDGMENT If you want QBs to be paid less (“The Cult of the QB,” Oct. 2019), then stop the ever-growing march of NFL rule changes that make passing easier and the most effective way to score. @JOETHEBOB

Men’s Journal readers voted on the splurge-worthy gift they want most this year. Looking for some ideas yourself? Flip to our gift guide on page 36.

Bike

9% 14% 40%

Leather Jacket

Phone

37% Watch

As a subscriber for almost 20 years, I found your “Guide to Getting Sh*t Done” (Oct. 2019) to be the most useful information to come out of MJ in a while. Not that I want a selfhelp magazine, but I fully support efforts to find nuggets that the readers can incorporate. CHRIS STAKE GERMANY

WORD PROBLEM I suggest that you adopt a new editorial policy: The word iconic can appear only once per issue. At the very least, try to avoid using it three times on one page (“New Fall Favorites,” Sept. 2019). To paraphrase the iconic supervillain Syndrome, when everything is iconic, then nothing is. TOM BAKER JAPAN

BONUS QUOTE OF THE MONTH What’s the hardest thing workaholic Mark Wahlberg has to do this winter? “I’ve got to take my wife [model Rhea Durham] to the Maldives. I’ve got to suck it up. I’ll be there for seven or eight days with no training, no golf courses. She’ll take my phone. Nothing to do but sit on a chair. I have to dig really deep.” Read more on page 44.

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#MJwild

THE EDGE OF PARADISE @JAMESWULFY Italy Show off your photos using the Instagram hashtag #MJwild.

CONTACT US: TWITTER @mensjournal FACEBOOK facebook.com/ MensJournal INSTAGRAM @mensjournal EMAIL letters@mensjournal.com SEND LETTERS to Men’s Journal, 4 New York Plaza, New York, NY 10004. Letters become the property of Men’s Journal and may be edited for publication. SUBSCRIBER SERVICES Go to mensjournal.com/customerservice Subscribe • Renew • Report Missing Issues • Pay Your Bill • Change Your Address

39° 35’ 0.478” S 71° 32’ 23.564” W

Reconnect.

Montblanc 1858 Geosphere montblanc.com

D I S PAT C H E S F R O M A W I L D W O R L D

Leap of Faith A high-flying generation of bullfighters brings aerobatics to the arenas of Spain. by JESSICA CAMILLE AGUIRRE

E FO RE E U S E B IO “ U S E ” SACRI STÁN

walks onto the yellow sand of the bullring in Ampuero, in northern Spain, he crosses himself twice and whispers a prayer. As he trots out to salute the crowd, enormous black bulls wait in stalls connected to the ring. The first enters at a run. From behind a low wall that circles the bullring, Sacristán watches the thousand-pound animal closely, studying its

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staccato sprints and the way it lowers its head and paws at the sand. Then the bull stops, muscles quivering, to survey its new territory. At first, it seems not to notice Sacristán as he steps out from behind the wall. He moves to the middle of the arena, then whistles loudly and spreads his arms. The animal turns. Sacristán, chest out, raises his chin and lifts his arms high. The bull charges. And Sacristán, improbably, does the same.

MEN’S JOURNAL

photographs by GIANFRANCO TRIPODO

Ampuero, SPAIN

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DISP ATC H

They rush toward each other. The distance closes. At the last moment before they collide, Sacristán twists and launches himself into the air, somersaulting over the animal. For a split second, at the midpoint of his f light, Sacristán’s back is turned to the bull and his feet are pointed skyward. It seems doubtful that the bull will keep charging and that Sacristán will clear it. But he lands on his feet behind it; the bull looks around, confused. In the stands, people gasp. “This is what makes me happy,” Sacristán tells me later. “I wouldn’t know how to live without bulls.” SACRISTÁN IS A RECORTADOR, a non-

lethal variety of bullfighter that, unlike traditional matadors, doesn’t use a cape to draw in a charging bull and spear it with a sword. Instead, he and other recortadores compete to see who can best elude a bull with acrobatic dodges, f lips, and jumps. Neither their approach nor appearance resembles that of traditional bullf ighters: Whereas matadors typically sport elaborate, gilded outfits, recortadores wear jerseys or, occasionally, embroidered vests. By all measures, Sacristán is the best active recortador in Spain, and thus the world. He grew up in the village of La Seca, a sleepy cluster of buildings surrounded by vineyards, 100 miles north of Madrid. Compact and f it at age 29, he started competing as a recortador a decade ago and is considered especially gutsy, even in a profession that attracts daredevils. As a result, he’s the winningest recortador in modern history and has held the title of Spanish champion for three years running. “If [Sacristán] continues as he has been competing for another two years, he’ll be the best recortador in history,” says José Enrique Granero, who founded Solorecortes, a website dedicated to recorte, or bull jumping. “He has a lot of courage,” Granero adds. “I’ve seen him compete with gorings that are still bleeding—and in those competitions, with bleeding stitches. I’ve seen him jump over bulls 30 times. There aren’t many like him.” At the tournament in Ampuero, Sacristán and 11 other recortadores have been broken into groups, each of which will face one bull. A judge will pick a winner from each group, based on their performances, to advance to a final elimination round. Sacristán’s somersault leap is one of his signature moves, and he performs it again during his second time in the ring. Other 012

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recortadores specialize in dodging bulls; one kneels, then leans in one direction before jerking back at the last moment. Another, named Saúl Rivera, jumps over bulls, too, though less often now, after he was badly gored two years back. Three days ago, Sacristán himself was gored, for the seventh time in his career. In a tournament near Madrid, a bull whipped around and caught him by surprise, and off-balance. Its horns left a long gash along his upper thigh and another on his right calf. He decided to compete today anyway. “They’re not machines,” Sacristán says of the bulls. “They don’t always do the same thing.” But he adds, “That’s why recorte is so beautiful, because it’s difficult. You don’t always know how the bull will act.” The sport grew out of the fiestas held in towns across Spain each summer, durMEN’S JOURNAL

Above: Sacristán, 29, relies on flips and dodges to evade charging bulls. Opposite, from top: Rescuing a recortador; the arena in Valladolid.

ing which bulls are released through the streets for young men to dodge or to f lee. Though the custom can be traced to the 16th century, formal recorte competitions started to gain momentum in Spain only over the past two decades. Sacristán’s father was a recortador before organized competitions began. When Sacristán was a teenager, he’d travel to nearby towns to participate in bull runs, and began practicing his recorte jumps by leaping into a swimming pool. Now, as a top recortador, Sacristán has found himself in the middle of a nascent culture war. The lidia—as traditional,

I’VE SEEN SACRISTÁN COMPETE WITH GORINGS THAT ARE STILL BLEEDING, AND JUMP OVER BULLS 30 TIMES. THERE AREN’T MANY LIKE HIM. matador-style bullfighting is known—has been part of Spanish culture for centuries, but, over the past year or two, it has become increasingly contentious. In Spain, a number of animal-rights activists, who oppose the prolonged deaths of bulls in the lidia, have embraced recorte as a nonlethal alternative. Some leftist political parties, moreover, now advocate for outlawing the lidia outright, while the far-right party Vox has made protecting the it a pillar of its platform. Sacristán, for his part, has no problem with traditional bullfighting. “It’s an art between a man and a bull,” he says. In his view, the biggest difference between recortadores and matadors boils down to economics. To become a full matador requires either personal wealth or a wellfinanced backer, to cover the years of costly preparation. To become a recortador, on the other hand, you need only step into a ring and hold your ground as a bull thunders toward you. The upshot is that, given recorte’s largely rural and less aff luent fan base, recortadores might see a few hundred euros if they win a competition, whereas matadors can earn thousands just for competing. All recortadores have day jobs: Sacristán works at a wine-bottling factory. Still, he competes in more than 100 tournaments each season, and often two in a single day, which has made him something of a folk hero. When he goes

into bars near his hometown, people ask to take photos with him. Children want his autograph. Being a recortador doesn’t pay the bills, but “it’s the thing that gets us girls,” Sacristán says with a smile. AFTER THE COMPETITION in Ampuero,

Sacristán drives south out of town. Three friends and fellow recortadores, Cristian Moras, Pablo “Guindi” Martin, and Saúl Rivera, are sprawled across the passenger seats. The somersaults clinched Sacristán

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the tournament: His huge trophy lies in the trunk, along with one earned by Guindi. Sacristán drives fast, swerving past semitrailers and checking his phone. The four recortadores are already late for their next competition, which starts at midnight in Carbonero, Segovia, a village of a few thousand people, about 200 miles away. Soon Sacristán’s phone rings—his mother. She wants to know how his stitches are holding up after his recent goring. When he puts her on speakerphone, his friends start shouting that he is on the brink of death. “Idiot!” she tells one of them, laughing. It’s nearly midnight by the time the recortadores pull into Carbonero. Villagers are streaming toward a small, temporary arena, surrounded by carnival rides. The recortadores’ banter has given way to tense waiting. Another car soon pulls up, and an event organizer hands the men jerseys and goes over the schedule. It’s cold outside, but the arena is packed with people chewing sunf lower seeds and drinking beer and soda. Children doze in their parents’ laps. Reggaeton music is playing. Marijuana smoke drifts through the air. Sacristán and the other recortadores stretch beneath the stands, shaking their limbs to stay warm. A few minutes later, someone cuts the music and a marching band strikes up. Finally, the recortadores enter the arena, striding out in two lines, sporting matching jerseys. Fireworks sputter and sparkle. It’s nothing fancy, really: Just a few young guys in a shabby arena, ready to take f light. Q

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ALTA/SNOWBIRD UTAH

S N O W 2020 REPORT

2019

Ski Like a Local We asked resident pros at North America’s biggest resorts for their advice on where to stay, what to eat, and how to score the most powder. Here’s your insider’s guide to the best ski trip of your life. by GORDY MEGROZ and KITT DOUCETTE

These twin ski areas have always been known for two things: great skiing (500-plus inches of snow per year) and the fact that there’s very little else to do. Recently, though, both resorts have made improvements to make downtime more enjoyable. At Snowbird, that includes SeventyOne, a new restaurant with a 1970s diner vibe, which serves amazing steaks and heaping sundaes to celebrate a powder day. GET SNOWED IN: One of the

quirks of Alta and Snowbird is that they’re located at the end of Little Cottonwood Canyon, and the road to them is occasionally closed for avalanche control during snowstorms. But stay at the resorts and come morning, you’ll have the powder all to yourself, as commuters from Salt Lake City wait for the road to open. Even just the possibility of winning this powder lottery is reason enough book a room at Rustler Lodge, right at the base of Alta, with a heated outdoor pool and the best food in the canyon. EXPLORE DOWN VALLEY:

Chances are you’ll eat dinner at the Rustler. “But if you do feel like venturing out,” says Andrew Pollard, a pro skier from Salt Lake City, “the Cotton Bottom Inn, at the base of the canyon, serves amazing garlic burgers and beers.” EARN YOUR TURNS: Mount

Alta and Snowbird have been known for the skiing—and not much else. For diehards, that’s just fine.

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COURTESY OF ALTA/LEE COHEN

Superior, a backcountry area just across the canyon, is always loaded with snow. If you’re up for it, it’s worth the three-hour climb. Hire a guide from Utah Mountain Adventures.

STOWE VERMONT When Vail Resorts bought Stowe in 2017, locals worried that it would become too crowded as Epic Pass holders flocked to its slopes. That hasn’t happened. In fact, skier traffic has remained stable, and Vail has added welcome improvements. This year, that includes Adventure Zones, a well-marked, off-piste slope that’s a perfect introduction to glade skiing. BEING SLOPESIDE ISN’T WORTH THE EXPENSE: Field Guide Lodge,

which is in town, 15 minutes away from the resort, is a boutique hotel with a hipster-cool vibe. “Sort of Scandi design meets church camp picnic,” says Joe Cutts, a Stowe local and Ski magazine editor. “It’s inexpensive and super accessible.” SPRING FOR AWARD-WINNING FOOD: “Go to Hen of the Wood in

ASPEN/SNOWMASS

FROM TOP: COURTESY OF STOWE MOUNTAIN; COURTESY OF ASPEN CHAMBER/CHRIS COUNCIL AND EMILY CHAPLIN

COLORADO Aspen continues to be the place where ski bros and elites go to rip big lines and live decadently. And 20 minutes away, Snowmass is still one of the best resorts around for families. This year, the resort added to Snowmass

Waterbury, 20 minutes away,” says Cutts. Its sister restaurant of the same name, in Burlington, won a James Beard Award, but this one is just as good and will serve up one of the best Vermont farm-to-table meals— including dishes like crispy rabbit loin—you’ve ever had.

STAY ON THE MOUNTAIN—LIKE RIGHT ON THE MOUNTAIN: Book

TAKE IN A SHOW: Head to Burlington, about 45 minutes away, and catch a concert at Higher Ground. They host everyone

the Stone Hut at the top of Stowe Mountain. Built in 1936, it got a major overhaul three years ago but is still rustic and heated with a wood stove. And

Village, building the Collective, home to an event space for concerts and Sam’s, a restaurant on the top of the mountain with an open kitchen and lots of seating on a big deck with views of the Rockies. FLY TO DRIVE: Aspen flights are notorious for getting canceled due to bad weather. Instead, fly to Grand Junction, 120 miles away. You’ll definitely get in and out on time, and it’s an easy,

from Vampire Weekend to Nick Offerman. Beforehand, get pho at Pho Hong. “It’s a hole-inthe-wall that’s cheap and tiny,” says Cutts. “There will be a line, but it’s worth it.”

two-hour drive through a dry desert with no alpine passes— meaning snow-free roads.

Making the most of the ice rink at Stowe’s Spruce Peak.

if you stay there on a night it snows, you’re guaranteed earlymorning powder turns before anyone else. “It’s truly a local gem—nobody outside northern Vermont really stays there,” says Cutts.

the best parts of the mountain—including steep skiing on Corkscrew. Plus, the views are better, and there’s no line.”

HIT THE TWO-SEATER: “Everyone

goes to the gondola on a powder day,” says Colter Hinchliffe, a pro skier and Aspen local. “Instead, go to lift 1A. It’s a slow two-seater, but it gets to

Winter biking: Aspen’s hottest new pastime.

RIDE DOWN BY THE RIVER:

Rent a fat-tire bike from Ute Mountaineer, and cycle part of the Rio Grande Trail, a 42-mile path that runs along Roaring Fork River. “It’s great,” says Hinchliffe, “because it still gets you outside, and you can do it with buddies or your family.” DRINK IT UP: Aspen’s nightlife is

unrivaled for a small town. Hit up one of the new spots, like Bad Harriet, a speakeasy-style bar that serves craft cocktails and small bites. “There’s seating for only about 50 people, and it makes for a fun, friendly atmosphere,” says Hinchliffe. “And check out Skye Gallery, an art gallery that throws events with music and art and always turns into a fun party.” MEN’S JOURNAL

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The gondola at Creekside Village, the first step up Whistler Peak.

S N O W 2020 REPORT

2019

IT’S WORTH IT TO SPLURGE ON LODGING: If you’re flying to

SEE A NEW KIND OF NORTHERN LIGHTS: Last summer, the visual

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Whistler from afar, make it easy on yourself by staying at the Fairmont, at the base of Blackcomb Mountain. It’s spendy, but the lift is directly out the lobby door, and the lines here are way shorter, thanks to Blackcomb’s new gondola. Also, the Mallard Lounge, inside the hotel, is where locals hang out post-ski, so you know it’s good. Plus, the complimentary cars will take you anywhere in town.

arts company Moment Factory, which has created shows for the likes of Madonna and Arcade Fire, installed Vallea Lumina, a multimedia light show in the woods outside town. “We’re all pretty excited about it,” says Max Issac, who’s worked in Whistler for nearly two decades. “The experience is inspired by old mystery tales and takes you on a walk through our oldgrowth forests. It’s great.” And if

This year marks the completion of a longawaited upgrade to the lift system at North America’s largest resort, at 8,171 acres. Among the recent changes is a new gondola up Blackcomb Mountain, which eliminated a primary bottleneck, making it a cinch to shred the resort’s 419 inches of annual snowfall. 016

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that description sounds delightfully, well...half-baked, just wait until you see the show. ROMANCE THE HUT: One of the

mountain’s overlooked opportunities is Blackcomb Snowmobile’s “mountain fondue.” Essentially, you get to drive a snowmobile (or ride in a heated snowcat) to a backcountry hut, where you gorge on fondue. It sounds contrived, but after an evening ride, melted cheese will never taste better.

COURTESY OF WHISTLER

WHISTLER/ BLACKCOMB

JACKSON HOLE WYOMING If forecasters are right, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort will receive more than 500 inches of snow this winter for the third straight year, making the ski area, once again, one of the best bets for hardcore powder skiers. In recent years, it’s also pushed to make novices feel more welcome, too. That includes, new this season, the Eagle’s Rest chairlift, which accesses the mountain’s easier terrain. Another reason to feel good about Jackson: This year, the resort will be powered entirely by wind energy. SKIP THE RESORT, STAY IN TOWN:

This is common knowledge for anyone familiar with JHMR, because all of the best restaurants are in Jackson (about 20 minutes away from the ski village). But there’s another reason you’ll want to be in town, too...read on.

SUN VALLEY

FROM TOP: COURTESY OF GLORIETTA; COURTESY OF SUN VALLEY RESORTS/IDARADO MEDIA

IDAHO Big changes are on the horizon for America’s original destination ski resort, an old-school town still dripping with A-listers and laidback ski pros tearing up its 220 inches of annual powder.

The grill at Glorietta, Jackson’s new favorite spot.

Coast’s best resort by far. After a morning there, head to JHMR to clean up the scraps.

SKI IN TOWN: “Skip the morning

at JHMR on a powder day,” says Forrest Jilson, a local pro skier. “If you rush out there, you might be standing around forever waiting for avalanche reduction.” Instead, head to Snow King, the local town hill, and ski its deep, crowd-free powder. At 1,500 vertical feet and 400 acres, it would rank as the East

SOAK IT UP: Most people go to

Construction begins next summer on a new lift that will access 380 acres of expanded terrain. The biggest news for this season, though, is its inclusion on Vail Resort’s Epic Pass, which allows for seven days of skiing on the mountain’s perfectly manicured, delightfully steep fall lines.

is the private condos at the Edleweiss, with a hot tub and heated saltwater pool located directly across the street from the Warm Springs lifts. Celebs buy the rooms to use as their personal ski lockers, but a handful are available to rent on Airbnb. There’s no better place to stay if you manage to score.

Astoria Hot Springs, which is convenient and right outside town. Instead, cross-country ski to Granite Hot Springs. “You’ll work for it,” says Jilson. “But the springs are much nicer and in the middle of nowhere in a gorgeous setting. And very few tourists know about it.”

A HOTTER GRILL: Everybody tries

to go to the Snake River Grill, which is great, but you’ll need to book several weeks in advance. Glorietta, which opened just a few years ago, is just as good, has a hipper, more laidback vibe, and serves delicious cocktails at a long bar that looks directly onto a wood-fired oven. Plus, you can usually get in sans reservation.

GO WITH A NEW LOCAL FAVE:

“The Cookbook serves this dish of Bolognese sauce over spaghetti squash that’s so, so good,” says Zach Crist, X Games champ and owner of Sun Valley Guides. “There’s also Rickshaw, an old standby of mine that just keeps getting better.” YURT IT UP: About 30 minutes

WIN THE AIRBNB LOTTERY:

For the truly devoted ski bum, the best place to crash

Crushing pow in one of Sun Valley’s legendary bowls.

north of town, Galena Lodge serves delicious soups in a rustic cabin surrounded by some of the best cross-country ski trails in the U.S. Book a night at one of its yurts for an unforgettable night with family or friends. GET WELL: The new Zenergy

health club has an outdoor saltwater pool and hot tub, with views of Bald Mountain that are better than at any hotel in the valley. It also has saunas, a spa, an incredible yoga studio, and a state-of-the-art gym. A threeday pass is only $195. MEN’S JOURNAL

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REAL STORIES OF

EARNING IT SEBASTIAN MARTORANA, PROFESSIONAL SCULPTOR

“I

f you’re not up for hard work and persevering, then stone sculpture probably isn’t for you.” Sebastian Martorana displays a quiet conﬁdence when discussing his life’s work—a conﬁdence derived from years of training and perseverance. “Despite popular mythology,” says this East Coast artisan, “no one is born knowing how to do anything. Skills aren’t granted; they’re earned.” And Sebastian’s skills speak for themselves. Working from discarded Baltimore architectural stone, the sculptor has completed commissions for clients ranging from the U.S. Senate to St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.

Images by Reema Desai

An avid bourbon drinker, Sebastian sees similarities between his own methods and Knob Creek’s meticulous distilling process. “In the same way that the patience of the distilling process can be tasted in the spirits,” he explains, “the painstaking nature of the stone-carving process informs the concept of each piece.” For Sebastian, the craft of sculpting was never about profit or acclaim. Instead, the sculptor has consistently focused on the work, building a career from the ground up, commission by commission. “Following one’s passion as a means of earning a living doesn’t always work out for everyone,” he says. But Sebastian has always been a bit of a contrarian. “Doing things the hard way just comes naturally. I think there’s a beauty in choosing to do something in a way that’s difficult and time consuming.” Sebastian is still amazed at his ability to envision a finished sculpture hiding within a slab of stone, likening it to how Knob Creek’s master distillers look at a heavily charred barrel and see a bottle of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. “It’s the understanding of how difficult it is to make something so dynamic out of a material that seems so static. I wanted to master that ability—I’m still trying. People often say to me, ‘You make it look so easy.’ I’m glad to hear it, but don’t be fooled. It’s still hard to do.”

Knob Creek and Men’s Journal celebrate the dedicated men who put the work in, day in and day out, and the simple rewards that come with a life well lived. These are stories of those who—like Booker Noe, Knob Creek’s original master distiller— never cut corners, never take the easy way out, and never quit.

CL E R MON T K . Y.

U. S .

EVEN THE MAN WHO HAS EVERYTHING SOMETIMES NEEDS A REFILL.

EVERY BIT EARNED

Notebook

FOOD

LASAGNA ROLLS

Roll Your Own

Serves 8 to 12 For the béchamel ½ stick unsalted butter ¼ cup all-purpose flour 4 cups whole milk 1 tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt ¼ tsp freshly ground white pepper Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg

Lasagna does not have to be boring. Here’s how to wow the crowd by turning the dish, literally, on its side.

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and cook, whisking constantly, until pale golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Add milk, whisking constantly, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cook, whisking, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Season with salt, white pepper, and nutmeg.

by ADAM ER ACE

For the lasagna rolls

LASAGNA IS the ultimate dish for a winter gathering, and it’s easy to see why. “There’s something so generous and plentiful about it—there’s always enough for everyone, and there’s always enough for second helpings,” says Anna Hezel, author of Lasagna: A Baked Pasta Cookbook. On the other 020

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hand, showing up with the casserole is also something of a cliché. To avoid that at your next holiday potluck, we suggest Hezel’s sausage-fennel lasagna rolls. Filled with browned crumbles of spiced pork and welded together with fontina and Parmesan cheeses and béchamel sauce, this turns the classic on its head. MEN’S JOURNAL

1. Heat oven to 375°F. Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat until shimmering. Add sausage and cook, breaking into small pieces, until browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer sausage to a bowl and stir in lemon zest and rosemary. 3. Add fennel and onion to skillet. Cover and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove lid and cook until lightly browned, 10 to 12 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, and add to sausage along with half of the Parmesan and two-thirds of the fontina. 4. Spread ½ cup béchamel in the bottom of an 8- by 11-inch baking dish. On a separate surface, arrange noodles side by side, vertically. Brush with a thin layer of béchamel, then divide the sausage filling evenly among them. Starting at the bottom, tightly roll each noodle. Set side by side in dish and tuck in stray filling. Pour remaining béchamel all over and sprinkle with the remaining cheeses. Bake 45 minutes. Let rest for 20 minutes before serving.

REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION FROM LASAGNA: A BAKED PASTA COOKBOOK BY ANNA HEZEL AND THE EDITORS OF TASTE, COPYRIGHT © 2019. PUBLISHED BY CLARKSON POTTER/PUBLISHERS, AN IMPRINT OF PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE. PHOTOGRAPHY COPYRIGHT: DYLAN JAMES HO + JENI AFUSO © 2019

2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil 1 lb sweet Italian fennel sausage, casings removed 1½ tsp grated lemon zest ½ tsp finely chopped fresh rosemary 1 large fennel bulb, diced 1 yellow onion, diced ½ tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese 4 cups shredded fontina cheese 4 cups béchamel, warm 15 dry lasagna noodles, cooked

Notebook

DRINKS

When holiday party season is in full swing, there are few better ways to impress your guests than with a champagne cocktail. Here are three sparkling picks for your next soiree. by CHRISTOPHER ROSS

1. CHAMPAGNE SIDECAR From Special Club, New York City

Makes four drinks

1 ½ cup sugar Zest from 1 orange, removed in long strips with a vegetable peeler 4 oz cognac 3 oz fresh lemon juice 16 oz dry champagne, chilled

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DECEMBER 2019

DRINK STYLING BY MICHELLE GATTON FOR HELLO ARTISTS; PROP STYLING BY SUMMER MOORE FOR HONEY ARTISTS

In small saucepan, bring sugar and ½ cup water to a boil over high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add orange zest, reserving 4 strips. Remove from heat and let steep for 15 minutes; strain. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, shake cognac, lemon juice, and 2 oz orange syrup. Divide among four chilled coupe glasses. Top with champagne; garnish with reserved orange zest.

MEN’S JOURNAL

2. CARDINAL From French 75 Bar, New Orleans

½ oz Courvoisier cognac 1 oz red wine syrup* ½ oz lemon juice 3 oz sparkling wine, like Mumm

Combine cognac, red wine syrup, and lemon juice in a shaker. Fill with ice, shake until chilled, and strain into a champagne glass. Top with sparkling wine and garnish with lemon twist. *Red Wine Syrup 2 cups red wine, like a cabernet or other savory red 14 oz sugar 5 oz orange trimmings 20 cloves 1 cinnamon stick

Add all ingredients to a saucepan. Simmer for 20 minutes; strain and cool.

3. SPACE JUICE FOR JERED From Punch House, Chicago

Makes roughly 20 drinks 1 bottle (750 ml) reposado tequila 12 oz sparkling wine 8 oz Campari 3 oz fresh lime juice 3 oz fresh lemon juice 3 cups fresh grapefruit juice 2 cups black pepper tea (1 tbsp peppercorns steeped in simmering water for 20 minutes) The peels of 2 lemons and 2 grapefruit 5 oz sugar

Combine ingredients in a punch bowl over a large block of ice. Garnish with a handful of fresh sage leaves.

photograph by CHELSEA KYLE

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Notebook

DEEP DIVE

These days, nearly every resort on the planet relies on artificial snow to boost its base depth—or allow skiing outright. Here’s how it’s done. by GORDY MEGROZ

HANK SERENDIPITY for artificial

snow. In the 1940s, Canadian researchers were studying the way ice forms on jet engines when they decided to spray water through one in a refrigerated wind tunnel. The result was an indoor snow squall, which gave ski fanatics on hand an idea: man-made powder. Soon after, snowmaking machines began popping up in New England. Today, 283 of the 319 ski

areas in the National Ski Areas Association employ snowmaking. And machines are infinitely more sophisticated, pumping out feet of snow at a time. As climate change intensifies, artificial snow is only going to become more critical for resorts—one reason they’re often secretive about snowmaking practices (and its cost). But we convinced Massachusetts-based HKD Snowmakers to give us an inside look at the Halo fan gun, its most advanced machine.

$1.07

Let It Snow

BY THE NUMBERS

The amount annually, in billions, that U.S. ski resorts would lose without man-made snow, according to a nonprofit study.

500 Blowing It Out A fan projects snow 60 feet in the air while the gun oscillates, spreading snow over an acre at a time. This machine runs on an electric 32.5-horsepower engine. On average, twothirds of a ski area’s energy is devoted to snowmaking.

Tiny Flakes Minuscule globules of water measuring just 30 microns are shot through four nozzles. These freeze instantly, then mix with larger droplets blasted through 24 other nozzles, creating snow. To cover an acre of terrain with a foot of snow requires 200,000 gallons of water, which often comes from a mountain reservoir or tanks.

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Brain Freeze Compressed air and water allows the machine to make snow at above-freezing temperatures. A computer monitors the conditions and automatically kicks in when they’re right. For example, if the humidity is at 10 percent, a snow machine can produce snow at around 37 degrees.

MEN’S JOURNAL

The number of machines at West Virginia’s Snowshoe Mountain, which has one of the country’s most powerful snowmaking systems.

250

MILLION Gallons of water used during a single season at most large East Coast ski areas.

% 80 The amount of water used in snowmaking, on average, returned to the watershed.

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#madeformusic HRH LOSCA BOS. COM

Notebook

GROOMING

Flake News

It’s dry scalp season. These fixes will put an end to any white flecks that appear on the shoulders of your favorite suit. by KEVIN AEH

5 4

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the dryness. (1) Dilute Chagrin Valley Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse Citrus Mint ($17) with water, pour on scalp, let sit for a few, and rinse. The ACV balances the scalp and can unclog hair follicles—ideal for anyone who’s thinning up there. (2) American Crew Anti-Dandruff Shampoo ($12) has sage leaf extract to invigorate skin, along with zinc pyrithione, which is a go-to ingredient for eliminating itchiness. (3) Jojoba oil and sea MEN’S JOURNAL

kelp in Jack Black Nourishing Hair & Scalp Conditioner ($20) lock in moisture, and the basil-scented formula rinses out easily. (4) Act+Acre Cold Processed Scalp Detox ($40) is an oil treatment that rebalances skin, which is great for guys who use hair products. (5) Use a Marvy Shampoo Brush and Scalp Invigorator ($4) while you wash and rinse, which’ll lift any flakes and ensure they make it down the drain. photograph by JAMIE CHUNG

STYLING BY ANNA SURBATOVICH FOR WALTER SCHUPFER

It’s the time of year when heads are covered most of the time (beanie, trapper hat, ski helmet), so you may not worry much about how your hair looks. Fair enough. But you should still pay attention to your scalp. Cold, dry air saps skin of moisture—that includes the skin on your head—which leads to flakiness. And for 50 million Americans, dandruff is a year-round problem, made worse by air pollution. Here are the best ways to end

A Camaro with the Precision—and Heart—of a Seiko Watch

Seiko teamed with the crew from Gas Monkey Garage for an unprecedented challenge: to build a car based on their celebrated Coutura watch. Isn’t it cool when life comes full circle? In 2003, Seiko’s crack team of tech mavens designed a line of watches based around the sleek, geometric lines of the Chevrolet Camaro. That line of watches was dubbed “Coutura.” 15 years later, the virtuosos at Dallas’s Gas Monkey Garage have ﬂipped the script, constructing a car that echoes the design of the SSC697 Coutura special-edition watch.

The eye-catching automobile, modified from a 2018 Chevrolet Camaro SS, features a matte black finish, blue lighting and details, tires reminiscent of the Coutura collection’s dial patterns, and yellow brakes in homage to the watch’s second hand. The Gas Monkey crew revealed the car at the Macy’s Herald Square flagship in New York last year, then toured the car around the country before awarding it to

a lucky winner, Joe Geiger, who had entered a contest at Herbert’s Jewelers in Kenosha. Before his big win, Geiger told everyone at the Dallas event that he felt he was going to bring the car home. His conﬁdence was rewarded, not just with the Coutura Camaro, but with Gas Monkey guru Richard Rawlings’ own personal Seiko Coutura SSC697. For those unfamiliar with the Seiko Coutura, (where have you been?), the watch is renowned for its marriage of style and functionality. This year, Seiko launched 3 updated models, featuring geometric threedimensional patterned dials, redesigned markers, and vivid pops of color.

Available now on seikousa.com

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INTERVIEW

DECEMBER 2019

MENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S JOURNAL

WE’RE WITH HER

Connie Britton The Emmy-nominated actress, starring in the new Roger Ailes biopic, Bombshell, on saying no to karaoke and what it’s like when your college roommate runs for president. by SAR AH Z . WEXLER

You’re famous for playing southern women Tami Taylor on Friday Night Lights and Rayna Jaymes on Nashville, but you’re from Boston? Well, I was born in Boston, but I was raised in rural Virginia. It’s funny, I used to be known for playing New Yorkers when I started out, both on Spin City and as a Long Island girl in The Brothers McMullen, which was my f irst big break. Why do you think you ended up being drawn to playing southern women? Growing up, the feistiest women I knew were southern, including my grandmother. I watched them work to gain power and respect within the conf ines of traditional family and community, which they often did through wit and humor.

TRUNKARCHIVE.COM

You recently starred in the podcastto-TV adaptation of Dirty John, playing Debra Newell, who is in an abusive relationship. Were you a fan of the podcast? Or of true-crime podcasts generally? I don’t really listen to podcasts. But my friends were all talking about it, how they all wanted to shake Debra for not dumping the guy. And I understand how easy it is to be conned by a smart, manipulative man who says whatever it takes to get what he wants. It feels like our country is being conned that way right now.

In Bombshell (Dec. 20), you portray Elizabeth Ailes, the wife of Fox News creator Roger Ailes. Was there something you related to in her, too, or was it hard to play someone who stood by her man after he was accused of multiple cases of sexual harassment? I try not to judge any of my characters. The way I see it, some people think of her as weak, but she was actually very strong in her way to live by her convictions.

THE BASICS Age

52 Hometown

Lynchburg, Virginia Top 4 Southern Women

1. My grandmama Lucy George 2. Ann Richards 3. Rosa Parks 4. Wendy Davis

It sounds like you have a lot of empathy for people with different views. I really try to—I have a twin sister who supported Trump. She was raised in the exact same house as me at the exact same time. That makes it a lot harder to say, “Where do these people come from?” I understand that you once lived in Beijing. When I got to Dartmouth, I wanted to study the coolest language I could, and that was Chinese. Then I studied abroad in Beijing. How was that? It was very a substantial culture shock.

I UNDERSTAND HOW EASY IT IS TO BE CONNED BY A SMART, MANIPULATIVE MAN WHO SAYS WHATEVER IT TAKES. photograph by PEGGY SIROTA

It was the ’80s, pre–Tiananmen Square. China was very closed, very communist, and there weren’t a lot of people there who weren’t Chinese. We were quite a sight—me and Kirsten Gillibrand and two other girlfriends made up a little posse, riding around on our bicycles.

Wait, New York senator Kirsten Gillibrand? She was my roommate. We rel ie d on e a ch ot her a nd bonded in a very deep way. It was a big leap to go from Lynchburg, Virginia, to Beijing, China, in 1986. So we held on to each other for dear life.

What did you think of her presidential run? I did everything I could to support her. I thought, How often in my life am I going to have a friend who’s running for the president of the United States? So often when we’re dealing with electing people to off ice, it’s a lot of guesswork. In this case, I actually could speak to her integrity, who she is, and her character. That was a different vantage point than I’d ever experienced when it comes to politics. You sang in most episodes of Nashville. Did that leave you with a go-to karaoke song? I’m not a karaoke person. My friends are always trying to get me to go, and I’m like, “No, I don’t do karaoke.” Why not? You have a great voice. You’re very sweet, but nobody ever sounds good in karaoke, no matter what. That’s just not a thing. Q

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DECEMBER 2019

029

No matter how you wrap it, some gifts stay hot longer. This holiday season, give the gift of Stanley. These classic insulated bottles have been around since 1913 and are built to stand the test of time (and anything else you throw at ‘em). Sure, the saying goes, “the best gift you can give someone is your time.” But after that, it’s something timeless. Which makes Stanley the perfect gift for the most wonderful time of the year. Year after year. STANLEY-PMI.COM

MASTER TRIGGER ACTION TRAVEL MUG Equipped with a triggeraction grip handle for one-handed drinking without leaks, this bad boy boasts 1mm steel, a steel grit guard to keep out the grime, and QuadVac™ insulation to keep your brew piping hot.

CLASSIC TRIGGER ACTION TRAVEL MUG A steadfast daily companion, this mug ﬁts comfortably into your vehicle’s cupholder and keeps your coffee hot for an amazing 9 hours.

CLASSIC STAY-HOT FRENCH PRESS Brew your coffee like a classic on the go—and keep it hot, too. This classic vacuum French press is designed to keep you caffeinated in the most rugged of conditions. (And no paper ﬁlter/waste)

MASTER UNBREAKABLE HIP FLASK For the hunter, the fisherman or the weary traveler, this hip flask—crafted from cold-rolled 1mm steel, with machined cap and finished in the perfect powder coat—makes for the gift of a lifetime.

GO TUMBLER WITH CERAMIVAC GO CERAMIVAC BEER STEIN The ceramic-ﬁred inside and vacuum insulation on this 24-ouncer means your beer will remain cold all day long without any metallic taste or odor. Rugged, dishwasher-safe, timeless. What more could a beerlover want?

For the on-the-go coffee drinkers, we’re taking onthe-go drinking to the next level with a smooth-ﬁred ceramic wall over stainless steel construction, making this 100% BPA free, dishwasher-safe, and durable, and keeps your coffee hot for hours without the metallic taste.

TIMELESS MEETS TOUGHNESS

DRINK WITH ONE HAND, CAST WITH THE OTHER.

The Trigger Action Mug with QuadVacTM insulation locks in heat or cold better than any tech out there. STANLEY-PMI.COM

REDISCOVERED SINCE 1913

Notebook

C U LT U R E

IN DEFENSE OF

The E-Scooter The motorized two-wheelers are as ubiquitous as they are loathed. Here’s what the world (including Elon Musk) doesn’t understand— there’s no better way to get around. by DEVIN GORDON

ARLIER THIS FALL, the day

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DECEMBER 2019

MEN’S JOURNAL

illustration by IAN KELTIE

COURTESY OF BIRD; GETTY IMAGES (4)

before my 43rd birthday, I fell off an e-scooter and tore my labrum. It was raining, and I was listening to a basketball podcast—dumb and dumber. But I wasn’t going all that fast, and I wasn’t trying to land a trick. I was on a quiet street. I hit a bump, skidded, clipped my dumb stupid foot on the scooter as I hopped off, and landed on my right forearm, causing my shoulder to bend in a direction my body would consider unnatural. I didn’t even land that hard, but when you’re a day shy of 43, you can tear your labrum falling from a standstill. Luckily, I’m left-handed, and at this

age, honestly, who needs two working labrums? Not me! I’m not Jacob DeGrom. All I do is type. Some of you might consider this a comeuppance. You might consider my tumble a message from God telling me that I’m wrong about e-scooters. Sorry, God, you’re wrong. I’m not going to dispute all the reasons that e-scooters are a menace. They are spreading through urban centers like locusts. They clutter sidewalks. They turn otherwise responsible people into morons who ride e-scooters in the rain. They hit pedestrians. Most importantly, according to Elon Musk, they “lack dignity.” All true.

But I don’t care. A real man would say, “fuck Elon Musk.” A real man doesn’t need the validation of his peers to do what makes him happy, no matter how derpy and undignified it makes him look. A real man falls from his e-scooter, dusts himself off, opens his Lime app, and gets right back on. And just for the record, you could scratch out every instance of the word e-scooters in that previous paragraph and replace it with bicycles. The bicycle jihadis are the ones bitching the loudest about e-scooters, but those people are like early gentrifiers who complain about the second wave. They’re just trying to hog the bike (and e-scooter) lanes for their rolling chainsaws. I promise you, e-scooters are one of life’s simple, uncomplicated pleasures. They won’t scratch your thrill-seeking itch like, say, The Hunger Games. If you e-scoot when you could easily walk, you should probably get some other form of exercise. They are a long, long way from foolproof. But they’re a wonderful way to turn 12 minutes of dull forward motion into f ive minutes of lo-f i bliss. And they’re supereasy to use. I wouldn’t feel comfortable riding a bicycle on city streets until I’d had months of practice and near-total mastery, which is never happening. It took me one ride on an e-scooter to feel like Tony Hawk. My 10-year-old could do it, if it were legal. She’d be much better at it than me. And if she fell, her labrum would stretch like Mrs. Incredible’s. Here’s my best argument for e-scooters: There is no better way to explore a new city. None. My inaugural Bird experience was in Portland, Oregon, and it was one of the more memorable lazy Saturday mornings I’ve had in years. Did all of the Portland residents I puttered past give me dirty looks? Not all of them. But so what? I’m not gonna let Portland push me around. Plus, without the scooter, I would’ve covered a 10th as much ground. After my spill, I took a two-week hiatus from e-scooters. I’ve learned my lesson. I ride more attentively now—no music, no podcasts, no scooting in the rain, and I max out at about 10.2, 10.3 miles per hour. If it’s a sunny day and I’m feeling wild, I might crack 11. It was beautiful that morning two weeks post-injury, and so I decided it was time. I pulled out my phone, activated a Bird scooter parked on the corner outside my kids’ school, and savored the cool air whooshing through my shirt at 9.6 mph, as I rode across town to physical therapy. Q

SEAL OF APPROVAL

Notebook PODCASTS

TALK STARS The year’s best podcasts will make you wish your work commute was even longer.

DINING My favorite

MUSIC You ever heard

restaurant in New York is the Lambs Club. It’s in the middle of Times Square, but most people don’t know about it. The seats are all red leather, and the servers wear white coats and black ties. It’s a calm spot. That’s where I go to hide out and chill.

of Jamila Woods? She has this album called Legacy! Legacy! that’s out of this world. It’s a story you can listen to from beginning to end. The genre is hard to describe, but it reminds me of old-school Erykah Badu or SZA.

Drilled To understand climate denial, start here, with the story of a propaganda campaign to undermine science. Richest Hill The inside story of America’s most notorious Superfund site is more curious than you’d imagine. Stay Free: The Story of the Clash Narrated by Chuck D, this charts the history of a band that inspired a generation of punks.

BRIAN TYREE HENRY: CAITLIN CRONENBERG/TRUNKARCHIVE.COM. COLUMBIA PICTURES/COURTESY OF EVERETT COLLECTION. DOLORES CLAIRBORNE: COLUMBIA PICTURES/COURTESY OF EVERETT COLLECTION

ACCORDING TO

Brian Tyree Henry The Atlanta actor is set to play a detective alongside Amy Adams in the thriller The Woman in the Window. But first, here are his latest obsessions.

MOVIE I love Dolores

APPAREL I remember

Claiborne. It’s a thriller that must have come out when I was 16 or 17 years old. The movie’s based on a Stephen King novel. Kathy Bates plays Dolores, who found empowerment by killing her husband and covering it up. It’s so fucking good.

looking at pictures of Langston Hughes and all these great blacks back in the day. They really wore hats. And now I wear Goorin Bros. My favorite is a style of theirs called Dean the Butcher. —AS TOLD TO J.R. SULLIVAN

BOOKS

The Big One Within the next 30 years, a massive earthquake will likely hit the West Coast. Here’s how it will play out. DOCUSERIES

BURN NOTICE The arc of impeachment is long, but it bends toward a fiery resolution.

GRIT-LIT REDUX Since his death in 2004, Larry Brown hasn’t enjoyed the same posthumous notoriety as other tough-guy literary figures, like Raymond Carver. Tiny Love: The Complete Stories of Larry Brown aims to correct that. In addition to the full text of Brown’s two previously published short-story collections, the anthology contains seven new tales that are rife with the loose morals that Brown encountered when he was still fighting fires in rural Mississippi. Drawn in gritty, deceptively simple prose, his characters drink too much, smoke too much, and f lout the law when they can. But Brown proves that the coarsest material can produce the most affecting art. —J.R.S.

Based on the podcast of the same name, the six-episode Epix docuseries Slow Burn decodes Watergate through stories of the characters most involved. (Any resemblance to current scandals is purely coincidental.) The series premieres November 24. MEN’S JOURNAL

DECEMBER 2019

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A DV E RT I S E M E N T

Pursue Possibility Arc’teryx is a group of designers, perfectionists, makers and outdoor-lovers. In these stories, we celebrate people leaning into hard problems, applying design to create possibility. Now is the time to think beyond the product and make problem-solving contagious. Design is our way forward. Make it yours.

limbing is a fine balance between technical, mental, and physical strength. Maybe even more-so for Arc’teryx athlete Craig DeMartino, whose leg amputation, a result of a 100foot fall, changed his life in ways he could never imagine. Instead of admitting defeat and giving up the sport that he loved, DeMartino coped the only way he knew how. With the help of New York-based Industrial Designer, Kai Lin, he would continue his climb to the top. “The human foot does thousands of things every minute that we don’t even know about,” says DeMartino. His continual curiosity was a perfect match for Lin’s ingenuity and love for design. Their combined talents and determination would eventually mean a breakthrough in the future of adaptive climbing with the invention of KLIPPA—named after the Swedish word for Cliff. Unlike the bulk of prosthetic limbs on the market meant only for walking, KLIPPA is a prosthetic foot engineered for climbing. “What has nature done that I can learn from?” Lin often asked when designing KLIPPA. The answer came in KLIPPA’s revolutionary movement which mimics the agile hooves of mountain goats, an attribute that would allow DeMartino and other adaptive climbers to once again climb the hard, thin cracks of the mountains without getting stuck. “Little did I know that the idea [for KLIPPA] would turn into years of research and development and so many opportunities,” says Lin. “I’m helping by designing. That’s what I’m good at and that’s something I can do.” That’s not to say there aren’t days when the going gets tough. “Climbing is about working with the imperfections in the rock and the whole adaptive process is about working with the imperfections in your body. Some days it’s effortless and some days it’s horrible,” says DeMartino. Much like climbing, KLIPPA’s incredible 5-year journey has been about taking the imperfections and growing from them. The climb may be tough, but the view is always better from the top.

“Climbing is about working with the imperfections in the rock. And the whole adaptive process is about working with the imperfections in your body. Some days it’s effortless and some days it’s horrible.” “Without empathy, I would be completely ineffective. It’s at the heart of everything.”

The shape of possibility: a prosthetic designed for climbing.

“What has nature done that I can learn from?” asks designer Kai Lin.

The first prototype mimics the hoof of a mountain goat.

The problem: design a climbing tool that will substitute for the 26 bones, 33 joints and 100+ muscles, tendons and ligaments in the human foot.

“It’s hard to say where an idea begins. You just draw inspiration from what’s around you.” Possibilities taking shape. 3D-printing the prosthetic at Arc’teryx’s Design Centre as pre-test suspense builds.

Read the full story at arcteryx.com/problem-solvers?

Craig DeMartino Climber

Arcâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;teryx specializes in technical, high-performance apparel, outerwear and equipment. Design is our way forward. Make it yours.

Arcâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;teryx Equipment | Vancouver, Canada | arcteryx.com

Star Wars Imperial Star Destroyer LEGO Yes, it’s made of Legos, but this 43-inch-long icon isn’t child’s play—details include swiveling deck guns, massive exhaust engines, and the rebels’ Tantive IV starship to beam in. With 4,784 pieces, there will be plenty of time to practice humming the Imperial March. $700; lego.com

2019 HOL ID AY GIF T GUIDE

WISH LIST WHETHER YOU’RE SHOPPING FOR A FRIEND OR DROPPING HINTS TO LOVED ONES, HERE ARE 22 LUST-WORTHY ITEMS THAT ARE SO GOOD, YOU WON’T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT GIFT RECEIPTS. Photograph by CHELSEA KYLE

REAL LIFE REQUIRES REAL BOOTS.

Christopher Van Tilberg — Medical Director, Crag Rats Search & Rescue — Danner.com/GoThere

ADVENTURER Pinedale Pant

GPS Dog Collar

STIO With articulated knees and a stretchy, durable build, Stio’s pants are as capable during ice climbs as they are comfortable around a campfire. $159; stio.com

FI Find Fido anywhere with this waterproof, chewproof dog collar. Create safe zones, like your yard, and your phone will receive a ping if your pup tries to go hound-doggin’ around the neighborhood. $149; tryfi.com

Pub Garden Boot Arcane Tote Pack

DANNER Think of these waterproof leather boots as a workhike hybrid. The outsole is oil and slip resistant, while the cushy midsole provides springy bounce for weekend trails (or chores). $190; danner.com

OSPREY This bag is laptop ready, but with a premium build, it also holds up to urban adventures. Tuck the handles away and wear it as a backpack, or carry it tote style. $110; osprey.com

BOOZEHOUND Beckett Sable Rolling Bar Cart

Steel Double Lever Waiter’s Corkscrew

CRATE AND BARREL Nonmarking rubber wheels let you roll your spiritsand-shaker setup from the dining room to the den once dinner’s over. $499; crateandbarrel.com

OXO Forget about fuss: The nonstick screw slides through cork easily, and the twotiered lever allows for painless extraction. $15; oxo.com

KNOB CREEK The limited-edition, 100proof bourbon is aged in new quarter-cask barrels, which provide more contact with wood for an intensely oaky profile. $50; knobcreek.com

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Kegmate 54 Qt Jockey Box IGLOO Tap a keg into the back and beer flows through an ice-chilled coil inside for frosty brews on demand. Without a watery tub, cleanup is a snap. $400; igloocoolers.com

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Quarter Oak

MUSIC LOVER

2019 H O L I D AY GIFT GUIDE

Unison Record Stand SYMBOL Hand-built from sustainably harvested hardwoods like walnut and ash, the Unisonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crate-style bins and decoupled turntable platform provide the ultimate vinyl experience and showcase. Flip through albums like youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re at a record store, then spin them vibration-free. From $1,995; symbolaudio.com

HD 598 SENNHEISER High-gloss burl wood and velour ear pads distinguish these cans. But so does the exceptional sound. They channel audio through a distortion-eliminating diaphragm with an impressive frequency response. $250; en-us.sennheiser.com

Iso-Puck Two Pack ISOACOUSTICS Audiophiles will appreciate these suction-cup pods that absorb shaking, which could otherwise interfere with your tunes. Simply attach them to monitors, turntables, mixers, or speakers to bolster audio clarity. $60; proaudiostar.com

DragonFly Cobalt AUDIOQUEST The mini DAC (digital-to-analog converter) cleans fuzz out of digital music from your iOS or Android smartphone, leaving only crisp, natural sound in your headphones. $300; audioquest.com

Music System Home TIVOLI AUDIO Despite the retro veneer, this modern Bluetooth-connected stereo also streams music via WiFi and holds four drivers that pump out balanced fidelity and deep bass. $750; tivoliaudio.com

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2019 H O L I D AY GIFT GUIDE

GYM RAT Apple Watch Series 5

XChain COMBINE FITNESS The innovative muscle- and cardiobuilding tool weighs 10 pounds and folds into eight configurations, like a 28-inch-long baton or a kettlebell-like cube. That allows you to swing, thrust, press, and pull for a full-body workout. $375; xchain.training

APPLE Already a great fitness tracker, Apple’s watch packs in an ECG app (so you can check your heart rate during an HITT routine) and a new functional, always-on display. From $399; apple.com

Bradbury Jogger Lower Back Support Shirt TOMMIE COPPER What looks like a workout shirt is actually a pain suppressant: The Lycra power mesh compresses extensor, flexor, and oblique muscles to take the strain off your hips and back. The copper treatment keeps the shirt stink-free. $80; tommiecopper.com

OLIVERS APPAREL Most cotton sweats don’t hold up to real training, but these do. The waterrepellent, moisturewicking, four-way stretch workout pants are ideal for predawn runs. $128; oliversapparel.com

GADGET GUY Tripod Pro POCKET This credit-card-size tripod fits into your wallet, then unfolds when it’s time for selfies or long exposures. The carbon-fiber legs provide stability, and the adaptors allow it to work even as you upgrade to different phones. $35; pocket-tripod.com

Nest WiFi GOOGLE The sleek router not only provides a strong connection; it serves up Google Assistant, too. Use it to control smart-home devices or call tech support. $269; google.com

Yoga Smart Tab LENOVO The kickstand on this 10.1-inch tablet lets you prop or hang the screen while watching videos. But the JBL hi-fi speakers, boosted with Dolby Atmos, might make this your new go-to playlist streamer. $250; lenovo.com

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Smart Soundbar ROKU The latest streamer from Roku doesn’t just deliver crisp 4K video; it also improves your TV’s sound with expanded frequency and thumping bass. $180; roku.com

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Wahlberg and his 1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme.

PEDAL T0 THE METAL

DEEP INTO A TRIO OF MOVIE ROLES, PLUS SIX BUSINESS VENTURES, MARK WAHLBERG IS POISED TO HAVE ONE OF HIS BIGGEST YEARS EVER. JUST TRY AND KEEP UP.

photographs by THE RIKER BROTHERS

by MARJORIE KORNN

THIS, I WOULD COME TO LEARN, IS THE

gospel of Mark. The yardstick he uses to judge himself and others is the amount of effort one is willing to put in, whether it be on a movie set, at the gym, in the boardroom, and especially at home, taking care of the people around you. A lot of guys get called “The Hardest-Working Person in Hollywood.” But I wonder if I’m not sitting across from the real deal. At least there’s golf, to which he is famously devoted. “Do you really play a round every morning?” I ask. “Nope,” Wahlberg says. “I haven’t picked up a golf club in two weeks.” His four kids, ages 16, 12, 10, and 9, just went back to school, and he wants to be around to wake them up and pack their lunches. Golf can wait. It was such an anomaly that his buddies from the country club called to make sure he was still alive. “And my wife [Rhea] didn’t realize I wasn’t golfing until I told her,” Wahlberg says. “She was a little impressed. She’s not impressed by all the other stuff.” Presumably, “all the other stuff ” includes his famously early wake-up calls—that part of Wahlberg lore is true.

This morning, he was out of bed at 3:30 to read the new script for Infinite, set to come out in August 2020. He’ll be playing Evan Michaels, a man suffering from schizophrenia, who falls in with a secret society and comes to learn that his hallucinations are actually visions of past lives. He’s also starring in a film called Good Joe Bell, opposite Connie Britton. It’s the true story of an Oregon man whose son was reportedly so badly bullied for being gay that he took his own life. In 2013, Bell began a cross-country trek to memorialize his son and bring attention to bullying. Wahlberg gravitates to these roles. He likes telling the stories of everyday heroes. And he’s willing to go all-in, transforming himself to be believable. “To play Joe Bell, I got as thin as possible,” Wahlberg says. “The guy walked over a thousand miles. So to look the part, I was just sprinting on the golf course every day. I didn’t touch a weight, didn’t work out, nothing.” Sometimes he goes in the other direction and packs on the pounds, as he did for Deepwater Horizon, the 2016 movie about the disaster on a BP oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico that killed 11 crewmen. “I had to get as heavy and out of shape as possible,” Wahlberg says. “We were in Louisiana, and it was fun for a couple days. But after a few weeks of po’ boy sandwiches and beer, you start feeling like crap.” These are not po’ boy days. He’s trained hard for Infinite, and if all goes well, he’ll get in even better shape for The Six Billion Dollar Man. The project has the makings of a big hit—if it ever happens. It was caught in the vortex created when the Weinstein Company collapsed. Warner Bros. snapped it up, giving the project a second wind. Wahlberg, who’s been slated to play the lead role since the get-go, is optimistic. “The good ones have been the most difficult to get made,” Wahlberg says. “But I won’t lie—the biological clock is ticking. Here’s a guy who was a test pilot, and then spent 15 years in a lab to make him superhuman. So I got a window. I don’t want to be the guy playing a part he’s too old for.” Should he get too old, should the movie parts dry up, Wahlberg has contingency plans. At the moment, he’s a stakeholder in several companies, including Performance Inspired Nutrition, a supplements company he founded in 2015 with Tom Dowd, an industry veteran who spent more than 25 years with GNC. Wahlberg and Dowd wanted to differentiate PI from the rest by using all-natural ingredients—vanilla flavor comes from vanilla beans, and chocolate from cocoa. They add fiber for satiety

PREVIOUS SPREAD: WAHLBERG WEARS RED SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN T-SHIRT BY AMAZON; JEANS BY HUDSON JEANS; SNEAKERS BY JORDANS; WATCH BY PATEK PHILIPPE

Mark Wahlberg emerges from his house bare-chested and sweaty—obviously. If you follow the 48-year-old on Instagram, you know of his on-again, off-again relationship with shirts. It’s not even noon and he’s already finished his second workout of the day, which also is consistent with what we know about Wahlberg—that he is a serious fitness buff. His stamina for pullups is a thing of wonder. When he bench-presses, he doesn’t avoid the pain cave—he hangs pictures on its walls. What else do we know about Wahlberg? Well, we are contractually obligated to remind you that he is from Boston and loves Boston. He is devoted to his faith, his family, and the New England Patriots. He finds more hours in the day than the rest of us. He is a scratch golfer, spends time with the troops, and when he grills a steak, he knows the exact moment it is medium-rare. This kind of familiarity can happen when you’ve spent the better part of three decades in the public eye. Everyone knows Wahlberg—or a version of him. For many, he’s an actor—both an Oscar nominee (The Departed) and one who sparked up with a CGI teddy bear (Ted). He’s a rapper. (The Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch song you’d recognize is “Good Vibrations.”) He’s an entrepreneur who has founded a bunch of non-show-biz-related businesses. And there are still others for whom Wahlberg will always be a six-pack with a coy smile (Calvin Klein ad, circa 1992). My version of Mark Wahlberg is the one who inspired and served as executive producer of HBO’s Entourage, the epochal show about a hot young actor and his crew of boys from back home. The scene seemed to fit. His Beverly Hills spread has a regulation basketball court in the back, emblazoned with the Celtics logo, a practice green on the property’s edge, and, of

course, a massive swimming pool. Wahlberg’s famed gym is equipped with all the accoutrements—dumbbells, barbells, kettlebells, VersaClimber, TechnoGym bike, treadmill, rower, boxing equipment, and a top-of-the-line body composition machine. Only today, there’s a noticeable lack of entourage. Just his longtime publicist is around. Otherwise, Wahlberg is f lying solo. He is low-key—not a description usually associated with him. Of course, Wahlberg being Wahlberg, he’s chestdeep in a dozen things. He’s leaving for London in a few days for a movie shoot (the action thriller Infinite, directed by Antoine Fuqua), and trying hard to resuscitate a project that nearly stalled out—The Six Billion Dollar Man, a reboot of the ’70s television series. Last year, he launched a production company, Unrealistic Ideas. And then there are Wahlberg’s five other business ventures, which require other levels of attention. Why continue to hustle so hard when he clearly doesn’t need to? Wahlberg can’t help himself. “I give it my best and do everything that I need to do to be prepared, and if it doesn’t work, it’s not for lack of effort,” he tells me, sitting across the table in his light-drenched kitchen. “If I just show up and phone it in—like I’ve seen a lot of people do in the past—and then it doesn’t work, a lot of that is on me and what I didn’t give.”

HOW TO GET WAHLBERG’S BICEPS

Wahlberg’s latest obsession is F45 Training, which has 400 studios in the U.S. and 1,200 worldwide. Every studio runs the same workout, so on any given day, you can be sweating with Wahlberg. “We focus on functional-based moments, like hip hinges, squats, overhead movements, things that cater to people in their everyday lives,” says Cory George, athletics director for F45 Training. There are three rotating categories of classes. They alternate between cardio and resistance from Sunday to Friday, and do a hybrid on Saturday. “We pride ourselves on never doing the same workout twice,” George says. As with any new group fitness class, the first time can be a bit of a shock. Here’s a little preview of what you can expect. Respect the Blue Turf At the beginning of class, you’ll all gather on the bright blue track while the two instructors hit the rubber floor to explain and demo the movements you’ll do during the 45-minute class. Everyone exercises together, and newbies are usually paired with a regular. Simply follow along on the television screens hung throughout the studio, and listen for the bing that tells you it’s time to rotate stations. Keep the Pace The time breakdowns are different depending on the routine. Strength workouts tend to have longer rest periods, while cardio has shorter breaks to keep the heart rate up. Can-Do Attitude If you’re a loner who despises highfives, this is not the workout for you. F45 is about inclusivity, so everyone is meant to feel welcome and encouraged to put in the work— essentially Wahlberg’s rallying cry.

OPPOSITE PAGE FROM TOP: KAREN BALLARD/© CBS FILMS/COURTESY OF EVERETT COLLECTION; © UNIVERSAL PICTURES/COURTESY OF EVERETT COLLECTION

and gut health, and they don’t sprinkle in any crappy add-ins that let you cheat your way to beefy. The company launched with six products; now they offer more than 35. “Performance Inspired is not associated with juiceheads,” Dowd says. “This is for anyone who does F45 a few times a week and is checking labels for sugar, junk, and artificial ingredients. We keep our formulas simple and clean but robust, and we only use quality ingredients. We also stay away from overblown marketing hype.” Wahlberg asks if I’ve tried the products, which I haven’t. “Are you a peanut-butterand-jelly person?” he asks. “Chef, please bring a Keto Peanut Butter and Jelly bar,” he says to his personal chef, Lawrence, who has brought Wahlberg a lunch of grilled chicken and asparagus with blistered tomatoes. Lawrence returns with a box of bars, presenting them like a humidor of Cohibas. “I want you to tell me exactly what you think,” Wahlberg says. I peel back the wrapping and take a tentative bite. Because if it’s bad, I’ll need to decide if today’s the day I lie to Mark Wahlberg. In fact, it’s pretty good. I tell him it tastes like the middle of a PB&J that’s been sitting in a lunch box for a few hours. His other focus is F45 Training, which he owns a stake in. It’s a group f itness studio that emphasizes functional movements. A friend introduced him to the Australia-based company in 2018, so he dropped in on a class. “When I walked in the gym, I was just blown away,” he says. “I saw a 50-year-old woman working out with a college athlete, pushing him. The energy is incredible. I did a couple of the workouts and fell in love.” He’s so into it that he hauled a bunch of fitness equipment into a suite at the London hotel he’s at while filming Infinite and is doing F45 programming

Wahlberg can play wingman (Ted) just as well as hometown hero (Patriots Day).

at 4 a.m. with his middle-aged entourage. That’s not a surprise. Wahlberg is a proselytizer for healthy living at all ages, and for putting in the work. I ask about an Instagram video he posted. “How’s it working out with the General?” he asks, the camera fixed on his sweaty buddies, strewn out on the gym floor. Then: “Hey, you guys ready for a cooldown? A little split-squat jump?” “I can’t even open my eyes,” one guy gurgles. “You know what’s great about that?” Wahlberg tells me. “My friend was all embarrassed. And I was like, ‘Why are you embarrassed, dude? You worked harder than I’ve ever seen you.’ I couldn’t have been more impressed and proud.” IN HOLLYWOODSPEAK, WAHLBERG is a multi-hyphenate. In the Dorchester

neighborhood of South Boston where he grew up, he’d be called a hustler. It started at a young age. “The year I got my driver’s license, I had 20 cars,” Wahlberg says. “The first car I bought was a 1979 Pontiac LeMans for 200 bucks. I flipped it and bought another car for a couple hundred dollars more. I f lipped all those cars, all 20, and pretty quickly I was in a pretty nice car.” He’s far from those days, and the home where we sit bears little resemblance to the one he grew up in with his eight siblings and a mom with her hands full—his dad was a trucker and would be gone for long stretches. And yet Wahlberg is never far from his past. “Where I come from and what I’ve had to overcome still looms large in the background,” he says. The

Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation gives underserved kids access to after-school resources, is creating a dialogue around opioids, and sends kids living in Boston’s inner city to camp in Maine every summer. Wahlberg made it out of Dorchester not entirely unscathed, but perhaps these kids will. As for his own children, he’s already anxious about leaving in five days for the start of the months-long shoot for Infinite. I ask Wahlberg a clumsy question about what it’s like for his kids to have their dad away for long stretches, since it’s something he knows firsthand. “I also know what it’s like to have to go off, even though you don’t want to or you’re forced to,” he replies. “That ain’t fun. I’d rather do it on my own terms. I’m very, very fortunate and blessed that I get to do what I do. But it’s tough. There are pros and cons to everything, and you make sacrifices.” Another sacrifice is his body. He mentions a litany of injuries—shoulder, elbow, hand, back, knee, ankle—the result of training so rigorously for so many years. He takes recovery extremely seriously these days, going so far as installing a cryo chamber at his house. He eats very healthy and is considering a move toward vegetarianism. He buffers the sacrifices as much as possible. When Wahlberg is in London for Infinite, at 3 p.m., he’ll take five, because it’s 7 a.m. in California and he wants to talk to his kids before they go to school. At the end of the year, shooting will wrap and Wahlberg will be home for a while, slipping into what is homeostasis for him: work out for half an hour or 40 minutes in the morning, play a little golf, and be home before the kids wake up. On Saturday nights, he’ll take the family to the Italian restaurant they all like, order one of everything, have some wine, then come home for a night swim. And with any luck, Wahlberg will soon be repacking his bags, leaving for a stretch to make The Six Billion Dollar Man. Wahlberg hedges his bets. If the day comes when he’s not a leading man, he’s got his businesses. If the investors walk away, he’ll still be the hardest-working guy on set. He does the thing you do sometimes when you start with not a lot, see some shit, and find your way out of it: You never let up. “I think the thing is: It’s just about going out there and doing the work,” Wahlberg says. “You leave no stone unturned. You don’t leave anything to chance. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. But if you’ve given it your all, then you feel good about the effort.” MJ

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AFTER 12 MONTHS OF TESTING AND TORTURING EVERYTHING FROM GRAVEL BIKES TO BLENDERS AND BAGS, HERE ARE OUR PICKS FOR THE BEST NEW TECH, TOYS, AND GEAR.

[2019] Gear of the Year ESSENTIAL KIT

The Elevated Living Room Gear that gets the most from movies and music.

THE STUNNINGLY FAST EV

1. LG Signature OLED TV W9

The Porsche Taycan Turbo S ends the idea once and for all that electric cars can’t be a thrill ride. This sedan’s electric motors generate up to 750 horsepower as an 800-volt electrical system gets you from zero to 60 mph in 2.6 seconds. Nearly as fast: It reaches an 80 percent charge in 23 minutes. From $186,350; porsche.com

About as thick as two Amex cards, this brilliant 65-inch, 4K screen could be mistaken for a framed print. The hookups are hidden in the soundbar, which connects to the TV with a single thin wire. $6,000; lg.com 2. Bowers & Wilkins Formation Duo

A Puffy Made to Move

THE KILLER CAMERA PHONE The three cameras—wide, ultrawide, and telephoto—on the Apple iPhone 11 Pro get plenty of attention, and rightfully so. But what we love nearly as much is night mode, which turns dim restaurant dinner shots into art. Bonus: all-day battery life, thanks to the fastest processor Apple has used in a phone. From $999; apple.com

Down’s warm, but keeping loose feathers from slumping requires stitching and baffles, which create air channels. The down sheets in the Eddie Bauer EverTherm Down Stretch Hoodie hung tough with us during backcountry adventures and kept us nice and toasty. $399; eddiebauer.com

Blasting to the top of Boulder’s 6,843-foot Mount Sanitas has never been easier than in the low-drop, race-ready Dynafit Feline Up Pro trail runners. The quick-lace system disappears, so there’s no risk of snagging, and the chunky Vibram outsole clamps down on the sketchiest terrain. $170; dynafit.com

3. Como Audio Turntable This turntable makes getting into vinyl easier: Play records via wireless speakers, or listen old-school and use the line out. Bearings keep the spinning smooth, and rubber feet isolate vibration. $400; comoaudio.com 4. Bose 700 Noise-Canceling Headphones Get ready to binge: This noisecanceling headset is cozy enough to wear for long stretches with microphones that nullify commotion and control smart tech. $400; bose.com 5. Netgear Nighthawk AX12 WiFi Router Inside this sleek design are eight antennas that run WiFi 6, which is four times faster than today’s standard— so a family can stream without buffering. $500; netgear.com

PROP STYLING BY MICHELLE LONGO FOR HALLEY RESOURCES

Rock Steady Trail Runners

Amateur hour is over for wireless speakers. This audiophile-grade system turns streaming services into high-resolution audio—no fancy amplifier or complex setup required. $4,000; bowerswilkins.com

photographs by TRAVIS RATHBONE

[2019] Gear of the Year

ESSENTIAL KIT

Up Your Gravel Game Smarter, safer, and faster off-roading. 1. Lazer Century MIPS Sliding vents dump heat on climbs or block wind on cold descents, but it’s the easy knob and tab adjustments that boost comfort. $180; lazersport.com 2. Smith Caravan MAG These sunglasses change with conditions. Use dark lenses to ride in full sun, and if clouds roll in, swap them for ones that let light in. $249; smithoptics.com

A STRAIGHT SHOOTER Already the gold standard on the PGA Tour, this year’s Titleist Pro V1 went through a nip and tuck. A 17 percent thinner urethane outer layer over a thicker casing kicks up ball speed. On courses from coast to coast, our wedges and short irons still grabbed with gusto, but we noticed our drives flying a little farther off the tee, too. $52 for a dozen; titleist.com

The Houdini Jacket At less than two ounces, the Black Diamond Deploy Wind Shell is the lightest we’ve tested, and it stuﬀs into its collar when unused. On runs and climbs, we stash the tear-resistant nylon jacket into a pocket and forget it until the wind picks up. $159; blackdiamondequipment.com

3. Norrøna Lyngen Alpha90 Raw Jacket For fondos, we opted for this jacket the most. It’s warm and breathable, with an open-weave Polartec fabric that never got sweaty. $129; norrona.com 4. Rapha Outskirts Core Cargo Bib Shorts Reaching at your back for an energy bar is tricky when speeding between road and gravel, but the thigh pockets here keep food close by. $195; rapha.cc 5. Specialized Turbo Creo SL Expert EVO The electric EVO handles like a nimble and fun gravel bike, but its still a workout on rocky climbs. $9,000; specialized.com 6. Shimano RX8 A dial tightens this shoe without pressure points; we could tweak the fit on the fly. The grippy outsole let us hoof it over rough spots. $250; bike.shimano.com

A CAMPSITE SHERPA

Still dragging worn-out milk crates from your trunk to set up camp? Here’s a better way: Cram your gear into the 95-liter Marmot Camp Hauler and load smaller, easy-to-lose items into the six inside pockets. A zipper conceals a rain cover that, we found, doubles as a changing mat in a pinch. $150; marmot.com

The Dapper Diver In 1967, Tudor went to work on project “Commando,” its term for a new diver watch for the U.S. Navy. While the design was ultimately too expensive, the Black Bay P01—short for the original watch’s name, Prototype 1— is as rugged as the first iteration. A flip-up clasp at 12 o’clock locks the bezel in place on the 42mm case to prevent accidental moving. Waterproof down to 600 feet, the guts are as durable as a Navy diver would need, though today’s movement is far more accurate. $3,950; tudorwatch.com

[2019] Gear of the Year

ESSENTIAL KIT

Camp in Comfort Load up the car, then bag a big adventure. 1. Sierra Designs Clearwing 3

Battery-Powered Rocket Ship After 1,371 miles of SoCal commuting and weekend canyon cruising, our gas bike suddenly feels outdated. The app for Zero SR/F lets you customize the motor’s output, including unleashing 140 lb-ft of torque—about 50 percent more than a Ducati. $19,495; zeromotorcycles.com

A FASTER SMOKER

This tent’s 46-inch height let us play cards in a storm without slouching. It packs small but didn’t feel it, even with two people, gear, and two dogs. $280; sierradesigns.com 2. GSI Outdoors Selkirk 540 Camp Stove This 10,000-Btu double burner is big enough to handle a large griddle for pancakes. The dials control heat precisely, keeping chili simmering for a while. $125; gsioutdoors.com

3. Titan Deep Freeze Ice Chest

Can’t resist lifting the lid to check the ’cue? Neither can we. The Traeger Ironwood Series 650 rebounded from temperature swings faster with a new motor, so peekers aren’t punished. $1,200; traegergrills.com

Sure, it keeps ice for over a week, but after a fishing trip, the Titan’s Microban-infused walls, which kill mold and bacteria, kept things neutral smelling. $245; arcticzone.com 4. Thermarest Hyperion 20° We’ve never slept better than in this silky cocoon. The 900-fill bag had virtually no cold spots and a design that keeps flip-floppers and side sleepers happy. From $390; thermarest.com 5. Soundcast VG1

The Ultimate Commuter Pant

THE MOST ACCURATE IRONS

These irons took our game up a level. The Chromoly-faced Mizuno MP-20 provided precise control over the trajectory of our shots, with plenty of feedback. $1,300 for a set of eight; mizunousa.com

With a gusseted crotch, reflective panels, and plenty of stretch from Lycra, Duer All-Weather Denim are excellent pants to bike to work in. But it’s the waterproof, windproof membrane next to skin that encouraged us to ride to our office even on cool, wet days. $199; shopduer.com

This wireless speaker’s bass gave our playlist a distortion-free thump. Only about a pound, but in a dust- and waterproof build rugged enough for the campsite. $150; gosoundcast.com

6. Hydro Flask 12 Oz. Cooler Cup More than a camp mug, the Hydro Flask is a koozie that keeps bottles and cans cold for hours, and a silicone ring slips onto the bottom for a better grip on countertops. $25; hydroflask.com

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[2019] Gear of the Year

1 2

THE LIGHT SPEED RACER

ESSENTIAL KIT

After we pedaled the Sage Skyline, it was clear that this customizable titanium bike accelerates fast, thanks to the oval (instead of round) tubes, which provide more weld surface for improved power transfer. While we still relish titanium’s vibration-killing comfort, the bike’s speed was what made us smile most. From $6,424; sagetitanium.com

Upgrade Your Run Smart designs for faster miles. 1. Beats Powerbeats Pro Lesser earbuds short out from sweat or aren’t loud enough for the gym, but these deliver punchy sound, durability and tenacious grip. $250; apple.com 2. Gore R7 Gore-Tex Shakedry Hooded Jacket This lightweight running shell kept us comfortably warm and dry in a drizzle, cool morning breeze, gusty wind, wet snow, or downpour. $299; gorewear.com 3. Lululemon Metal Vent Tech Short Sleeve 2.0 This seamless top moves with you, and the synthetic fabric keeps you dry. It’s so comfortable that it’s our go-to travel shirt, too. $78; shop.lululemon.com 4. Suunto 5 With 80 sport modes tracking real-time metrics, stress, and recovery, along with a 14-day battery life, the Suunto is serious training tech. $329; suunto.com 5. Vuori Kore Shorts 5" Made to stretch four ways, using a blend of polyester and elastane, these kept up with us on high-cadence runs with an above-the-knee cut that isn’t too skimpy. $68; vuoriclothing.com 6. Nike ZoomX Vaporfly Next% With a carbon-fiber plate embedded in a very cushy midsole and a lower heel-toe offset, the 6.6-ounce Next% has a smooth, balanced feel. $250; nike.com

The Easier Action Cam

A WARMER WETSUIT By infusing the nylon lining with graphene, a one-atom-thick super-insulator, the Billabong Furnace Revolution heats up faster than a regular wetsuit. And unlike with our traditional neoprene version, we kept comfortable long after leaving the water. $300; billabong.com

At first glance, it’s the front screen that sets the DJI Osmo Action apart from other video cameras— useful when starring in solo adventures. And the rock-solid image stabilization makes your 4K video look even better. But it’s the easy, large menu interface that will have you shooting like a pro right out of the box. $329; store.dji.com

The Right-Size Drill Barely six inches long, and not that much heavier than a 12-volt version, the DeWalt Atomic 20-Volt Max Brushless Compact Drill/Driver blasted through any job we tossed at it—from punching big holes through joists to driving screws in tight spots like under the sink. The flat-pack battery means it won’t tip over when you set it down. $159; dewalt.com

[2019] Gear of the Year

ESSENTIAL KIT

CuttingEdge Kitchen An easier way to better results in the galley.

THE IMPOSSIBLY FUN PICKUP

1. Breville Combi Wave 3 in 1

It looks like a toy, but the Jeep Gladiator arrives with a burly frame and plenty of pickup cred, thanks to tow and payload ratings better than the Toyota Tacoma. And since it’s based on the Wrangler, the Gladiator can go where other trucks can’t—the perfect gear-hauler to play hooky with. From $33,545; jeep.com

This space saver is a microwave, oven, and air fryer. But its brains impressed us: Add frozen chicken and it thaws first, then starts roasting automatically. $450; breville.com 2. De’Longhi La Specialista The first espresso machine to replace hand tamping with a lever makes pressing the grounds easy and consistent, for fuss-free crematopped shots. $750; delonghi.com

The Dead Battery Defender

THE LAPTOP FOR ROAD WARRIORS For multitasking or photo and video editing, the six-core i7 processor inside the Dell XPS 13 runs several programs simultaneously without slowing down. Its 13.3-inch 4K touchscreen opens even in the tightest of basic economy seats. From $1,000; dell.com

Despite the 30-pound build, the 1,300 watts in the Ecoflow Delta is enough to power a campsite, tailgate, or, as we learned, a backyard smoker through a brisket cook. With ports for AC, USBA, and USBC, the Delta runs up to 13 devices at once and reaches 80 percent recharge after an hour plugged

3. Made in Knife Set The steel in this chef’s knife is nitrogen treated to stay sharp longer and the new kit, with a paring and a serrated knife, tackles most cutting tasks. $179; madeincookware.com 4. Wolf Gourmet Stand Mixer With a bowl that twists and locks into the base, this mixer is less fussy than tilt-heads. The dial’s pulse setting gave us better mixing control. $900; wolfgourmet.com 5. Hurom Hexa Power Blender

Trainer Finally, a stationary trainer that feels like an actual road bike. With as much shifting as a real bike offers, the Wahoo Kickr pushes you through a realistic training ride up hills with up to a 20 percent incline, and down descents. An app makes bike fit a breeze. $3,500; wahoofitness.com

This blender nails the details: The carafe pours easily, the dial is precise, and the blades reach 30,000 rpms, creating a vortex in shakes and nut butters. $349; hurom.com 6. Smithey No. 10 Cast Iron Chef Skillet The roughness of most cast-iron pans takes time to season, but this skillet’s hand-finished glassy interior is nearly nonstick out of the box. $140; smitheyironware.com

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[2019] Gear of the Year

A HEFTY BAG

THE EVERYDAY RACER

Built to the specs of the championship-winning Scout FTR750 race bike, the Indian FTR 1200 S is street legal with powerful Brembo brakes. But don’t let the license plate fool you: It’s still capable of sliding sideways through a flat track’s dirt corners with 123 horsepower rumbling from a 1,203cc V-twin. $15,499; indianmotorcycle.com

On a European ski trip, the Gregory Quadro Pro Hardcase 30" swallowed all our gear. But it’s the smart details—like a pocket to sequester stinky socks and a zippered gusset that instantly adds 20 percent more space—that separate it from the pack. $250; gregorypacks.com

A Sleeker Digital Frame Don’t let your phone snaps disappear into a cloud. The brilliant new Aura Mason graphite frame, and its companion app, allow you to easily upload an unlimited number of photos from your library and display them on a supersharp nine-inch high-definition display that auto-adjusts to a room’s ambient light. Touch bars let you swipe through the slide show, see details, or “like” a shot. $199; auraframes.com

The Cornering Kayak Foot-powered kayaks keep anglers’ hands free, but most can’t manage quick directional shifts or navigate coastal tight spots. The knob on the Hobie MirageDrive Pro Angler 14 With 360 Drive spins the fins underneath, so you can move the boat in any direction and find the fish. $4,800; hobie.com

A SWEETER SWING While this line of racquets is already known for combining balance and head speed, the Pure Strike 100 is more flexible with a bigger sweet spot. On the court, it helped us drive the ball with precision even when we didn’t nail the stroke. From $189; babolat.us

A HANDIER MULTITOOL

The clever Leatherman Free P4 is our favorite everyday carry because of its one-handed operation. Magnets, instead of stiff locks, secure the 21 tools but yield with a flick of a thumb or wrist, making it the fastest, easiest multitool we’ve ever used. $140; leatherman.com

Faster Than Delivery ovens and time-consuming wood fires. The 20.5-pound, gas-fired Ooni Koda pizza oven sets up in seconds with fold-out legs, and,

peel skills, we were yanking well-charred beauties in about a minute. $300; ooni.com

power tool. The Hyperice Hypervolt Plus tucks into a gym bag despite having the punch to work out our legs, arms, and back. About as loud as an electric toothbrush, it won’t require post-workout earplugs. $449; hyperice.com

A Super Skull Saver While it’s convenient to have goggles bolted right on your helmet, the Atomic Savor AMID Visor HD does more than streamline packing. From Banff to Big Sky, the fog-free lens’ wide field of view gave us the confidence to take on fast turns and plow through powder. Inside, the helmet provides 40 percent better impact protection than industry standards. $270; shop.atomic.com

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K EEG A N-MICH A EL K E Y

THE COMIC ACTOR MAY LAYER HIS STYLE FOR WINTER, BUT HE IS SHEDDING THE MANIC CHARACTERS THAT MADE HIM A STARâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;AND GETTING COMFORTABLE IN HIS OWN SKIN. BY AMY SPENCER

PHOTOGRAPHS BY PETER YANG

Polo Ralph Lauren Herringbone Sport Coat ($898, ralphlauren.com); N.Peal Fishermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rib Cashmere Sweater ($970, npeal.com); Todd Snyder Wool Cashmere Herringbone Sutton Suit Trouser ($258, toddsnyder .com); To Boot New York Atkins Dark Brown Suede ($350, toboot.com); Paul Stuart Deerskin Gloves ($350) and Tweed Hat ($225, paulstuart.com).

GROOMING BY SUZY DIAZ. SET DESIGN BY WARD ROBINSON/WOODEN -LADDER.COM. PRODUCTION BY PATTY BILOTTI/PBNYPRO.COM

Unravel Project Tela Pocket Vest ($1,210, bentavernitiunravel project.com); Paige Everett Shirt ($159, paige.com); Bally Wool Sweater ($495, bally.com); Mavi Marcus Corduroy ($128, mavi.com).

If you want to know where Keegan-Michael Key is headed with his career, just look at what he’s doing with his style. “I’ve been trying to subtle-ize,” says the actor, 48, of his wardrobe, “to add some subtlety and maybe even a little bit of inscrutability.” The same is true professionally, with Key pulling back on the outrageous characters he’s played in more than a decade of television sketch comedy on MADtv and Key & Peele and the comic roles he’s had since, in which, he says, “I’m usually the crazy person.” Case in point: He’s in the midst of filming Ryan Murphy’s adaptation of the Broadway musical The Prom, in which he plays a grounded, compassionate high-school principal—who, hello, also happens to be Meryl Streep’s love interest. “I haven’t really gotten my head around that,” Key says. “That means you get to be a wide receiver for Tom Brady! You get to prove theorems with Albert Einstein!” And in January, he’ll take on his most vulnerable role yet: playing himself. He’ll host the celebrity reboot of the game show Brain Games on National Geographic, as well as another hosting job he’s not yet at liberty to share. “I’m trying to be, metaphorically, a little more naked, and the hosting gigs are part of the evolution, because it’s

David Hart Camel Overcoat ($2,895, davidhartnyc.com); N.Peal Carnaby Half-Zip Cashmere Sweater ($430, npeal .com); Levi’s Vintage Clothing 1947 501 Jeans ($260, levi.com); Johnston & Murphy Cormac Wingtip Zip Boot ($299, johnston murphy.com).

Aspesi Price-of-Wales Wool Coat ($1,570, aspesi.com); Belstaff Zip Shoulder Aran Crewneck ($350, belstaff.com); Boss Pants ($398, hugoboss .com); Bruno Magli Alpino Leather Hiking Boot ($550, brunomagli.com); Timex Standard Chronograph ($109, timex.com).

just me talking,” he says. “Just Keegan.” That Keegan is a city guy who lives in Tribeca, in New York City, with his wife, Elle, a director and producer, and prefers room service to roughing it. He’s a classically trained dramatic actor and a voracious reader, currently immersing himself in neuroplasticity, Formula One racing, and American history. His own history begins in Detroit, born to a white mother and a black father, then adopted by a black father and a white mother. Shy and “angst ridden” as a child, Key came out of his shell when he fell in with the theater kids in high school. After earning a master’s in fine arts, he planned to spend his career on the Shakespeare festival circuit. Instead, Key discovered comedy, stumbling onto the Second City improv group, then joining the cast of MADtv in 2004 for six seasons, then starring with

Jordan Peele in their eponymous, Emmy-winning Comedy Central series, producing 298 oft-quoted cinematic sketches over five seasons. (Fans still shout to Key on the street, quoting his Mr. Garvey character—the increasingly agitated substitute teacher who mispronounces the kids’ names, calling Aaron “A-A-ron!” and Denise “Dee-nice.”). The series provided a turning point for Key when he realized he kept falling back on his go-to choice for comedy—and “my go-to choice is anger,” he says. Key began exploring alternate reactions and, yes, “subtleizing” his work. He learned he could do less physically for the same result—with a turn of the head or just a raised eyebrow—and he’s been refining his choices ever since. “The strategy is to bet on yourself,” he says. “I did it with Key & Peele, so why shouldn’t I do it again?”

Triple F.A.T. Goose Berkshire Leather Jacket ($800, triplefatgoose.com).

AST LL A

AT A TIME WHEN WASHINGTON POLITICS ARE MORE POISONOUS AND PARTISAN THAN EVER, MARTIN HEINRICH, NEW MEXICO’S JUNIOR SENATOR, MANAGED TO PASS THE LARGEST PUBLIC LANDS BILL IN DECADES. AND HE’S ONLY JUST BEGUN. by KYLE DICKMAN

IN THE LIFE of a politician,

few things are more humbling than defending yourself to a roomful of upset constituents. This is especially true when those peeved citizens are precocious 12-year-olds. That was the scenario Martin Heinrich, New Mexico’s junior senator, faced this past April while speaking to a group of 30 sixth- to eighth-grade students at Santa Fe’s School for Arts and Sciences. While evoking the importance of addressing climate change, Heinrich, who is often talked about in conservation circles as the second coming of Teddy Roosevelt, had bragged to the class that he’d recently helped secure a pledge from New Mexico’s utility companies that they be fully renewable by 2050, making his state a national leader in curbing greenhouse gas emissions. The kids were having none of it. “The United Nations says that we have 11 years left to limit carbon emissions and prevent irreversible damage from climate change,” one boy responded. “How will zero emissions by 2050 help us?” The senator, wearing jeans, cowboy

photographs by GRAYSON SCHAFFER

boots, and a suit jacket, sat rigid on a stool. Behind him was a pie chart of emission percentages—transportation, buildings, energy—that he’d drawn in an attempt to explain an earlier point. He hesitated slightly, then realized it was time to go off-script. “Well, a lot of bad things are going to happen no matter what we do,” Heinrich said frankly. “But we still need to stay focused on the long-term decarbonization of our economy.” “What is causing the immigration crisis?” a fifth-grade girl asked. Changing rainfall patterns have depleted the corn crop, Heinrich explained, and sent hungry refugees north. That’s only going to get worse. A seventh-grade girl wanted to know if he’d vote for the Green New Deal? “Yes,” he said, but as a starting point. It’s a messaging device, he explained, not a plan with the bold solutions that we need. Heinrich, 48, is a data-driven introvert in a profession full of applause junkies and power addicts. As a former engineer, he is calculated, pragmatic, and technical. Before becoming a U.S. senator in 2012, Heinrich served two terms in the House of

Representatives. Having won reelection to the Senate in 2018, he’s now serving his second term in a body that’s made repeated history for its inability to pass legislation. But in a moment where Americans seem to unanimously agree that we’re falling off a cliff but can’t agree on which one, he’s picked pragmatism over tribalism. Heinrich is an enthusiastic hunter and gun owner but not a member of the National Rif le Association. He supports a carbon tax but drives an F-350 because heavy-duty electric trucks aren’t yet available. He’s a Democrat who def ied his colleagues and voted to conf irm two Republicans as secretaries of the interior. And though he is color-blind—literally—he somehow manages to regularly wear purple shirts, like he is today. Heinrich’s interrogation at the hands of the students took place during a down day in the senator’s schedule. Congress was in recess, and he’d just come off a week of vacation, one of his first since a short break after his reelection in 2018, where he’d taken his two teenage sons backpacking in New Mexico’s Gila Wilderness,

Many politicians like to claim theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re built in the mold of Teddy Roosevelt, but few do as much for conservation as Martin Heinrich.

Senator Heinrich ﬁshing the Valles Caldera, a place he helped preserve in 2014.

3.3 million acres of rugged mountains and rangeland in the southern portion of the state. After speaking to the classroom, Heinrich gave an interview to a local newspaper, then attended a memorial service for a former Pueblo governor who’d recently passed away. After that, he was squeezing in some f ly-fishing in the Valles Caldera, a national preserve he’d helped protect in 2014. The fishing would double as an opportunity to meet with conservation nonprofits in the state. Over his career, Heinrich has expanded six and added 13 new areas to New Mexico’s wilderness, totaling 334,000 acres. He also helped the state designate two national monuments. He’s done it largely by championing the idea of forming broad coalitions. But unlike many politicians who pay lip service to this idea, he does the hard work of taking face-to-face meetings to win over opposing senators. “Martin is in many ways a throwback to an earlier era,” says Jeff Flake, the retired Arizona Republican senator. “He knows that developing relationships and ensuring that everyone has a stake in the legislation is key to passage. If we had more Martin Heinrichs in the Senate, we’d not only have a kinder, gentler place, we’d have a body that functioned again.” “I GOT MY first bull elk right over

there, on Redondo’s flanks.” Heinrich shared this fact while pointing toward an 11,000-foot peak that rises above the

meadows of the Valles Caldera. He field dressed the elk, then packed it out on his own. It was shortly after noon, and Heinrich was gearing up to fish a small trout stream that runs through the preserve. En route to the river, he stopped in view of several hundred elk to ogle a coyote. He pressed his fingers into a footprint in the mud. “That’s a big bull,” he said. Heinrich grew up on a small cattle farm in rural Missouri. His father was a lineman for utility companies and his mother worked in a blue jeans factory. In college, he studied mechanical engineering at Mizzou. “It’s a long way from what I do now,” he says. In 1995, Heinrich took a job as an engineer at what is now the Air Force Research Lab in Albuquerque, New Mexico’s largest city. A couple of years later, he quit in search of something “more civic.” He chose AmeriCorps. At the time, the Fish and Wildlife Service was considering reintroducing the Mexican gray wolf into the Gila Wilderness. But to get approval, the agency needed to demonstrate that wolves had been trapped or shot out of the Southwest completely. They sent Heinrich and other volunteers into the mountains to find out. For nine months, he lived out of his truck. His job was simple. Keep moving. Stop every mile. Howl once to the north, east, south, and west. Then listen for a wolf to respond, an easy way of telling if one is present. “We never heard one—just lots of owls

and coyotes,” Heinrich says. It was this experience that galvanized his love for public lands and eventually spurred his public-service patriotism. After a stint as the executive director of Cottonwood Gulch, an outdoor school in New Mexico where he scooped rattlesnakes out of kids’ cabins and cleaned toilets, he decided to get into politics. In 2004, at 33 years old, he was elected to Albuquerque’s city council. He was made the council’s president soon after, f lipped a long time Republican-held seat in the House of Representatives in 2008, and took a close Senate race four years later. He won his second term with 54 percent of the vote in 2018. It was this canny ability to seize opportunities that allowed him to help push through S-47, the public-lands bill that added 1.3 million acres to America’s wilderness system last winter. At the time, the government had just returned from its longest shutdown in the nation’s history, over President Trump’s demand that Congress fund his border wall. But whereas most politicians saw this as a single-issue moment, Heinrich saw an opening. During the month D.C. sat shuttered, a bill to renew the Land and Water Conservation Fund—a program that uses royalties from offshore drilling to fund land-based conservation— languished. The fund, which pays for everything from buying a portion of Grand Teton National Park to purchasing soccer fields in Richmond, Virginia, is massively popular, and largely bipartisan. So to have it languish upset many politicians’ constituents. “People were super pissed,” says Land Tawney, CEO of the public-lands-focused nonprofit Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. “Congressmen were receiving tons of calls from the general public. They wanted to know, why did you let the number one access tool in America sunset?”

AL DRAGO/THE NEW YORK TIMES/REDUX

Heinrich and a few others saw opportunity in the anger. He and the other members of the Energ y and Natural Resources Committee recycled a legislative technique pioneered in the gridlocked Sixties. “Throw everybody a carrot. Make the constituencies broad and impossible to ignore, and don’t give anybody reason to vote no,” explains Kai Anderson, the former chief of staff for Nevada senator and former Democratic majority leader Harry Reid. “Everybody thought that was impossible in this Congress.” Heinrich’s staff started sifting through a backlog of neglected bills that had been growing since 2014, the last time Congress passed any conservation measures. The trick was identifying those that one senator cared about and the rest were indifferent toward. In the end, the behemoth omnibus bill Heinrich helped put together included more than 100 pieces of land-focused legislation from 34 different states. It was also a congressional unicorn: bipartisan because everyone got something. In November 2018, Heinrich started whipping votes. He met with senators on the f loor, in backroom meetings, at offices, all to talk conservation. “Martin was relentless,” says Flake. “I always knew that when he was deep in conversation with a senator, he was reminding them what priorities both of

Heinrich talks with Maine senator Angus King during a 2017 Senate Intelligence Committee hearing.

them had in the bill and why it had to pass.” He visited the House floor, an unusual privilege granted only to former House members, and whipped votes there. He even took the extraordinary measure of calling hunting and f ishing organizations in Utah to ask them to lean hard on Sen. Mike Lee, the conservative who was public lands’ most vocal opponent. On Feb. 9, Mitch McConnell let S-47 go to the floor. After Lee, who had attempted to scuttle the bill several times, delivered a 30-minute speech, 92 of 100 senators passed the bill. It was the biggest conservation bill in a decade. It was also the largest conservation win for New Mexico since the 1980s. Two weeks later, the House voted for it 363–62, and Trump signed it into law in March. The night after the Senate vote, Heinrich went home and cracked a beer that he paired with an elk stew. He’d harvested the bull from the Valles Caldera. “IT’S FRUSTR ATING,” Heinrich

lamented. “I feel like I’ve presented my f ly perfectly to a lot of good water, but nothing. Not even a strike.” It was evening and nighthawks were snatching moths from the blue dusk as Heinrich hiked back to his truck through knee-high meltwater. Hours earlier, a thunderstorm had rolled through the Valles. As lightning split the air, the senator had sprinted from the meadow to his truck with his graphite rod whipping behind him. “I don’t want to die out here!” he yelled. As soon as the storm passed, Heinrich returned and spent the afternoon f ishing the stream alone. After a few comments about how days like these fix his soul, Heinrich wanted to talk about

cooking—specifically cooking game meat. “Every culture has its way of dealing with the bad cuts,” he says. “In New Mexico, it’s carne adovada.” It’s a heavily—painfully, for some—spiced red-chili dish. Heinrich likes to make an elk version for visiting dignitaries. If he’d had the time, it’s what he would have made for David Bernhardt, Trump’s pick to replace Ryan Zinke as secretary of the interior, when he came to Chaco Culture National Park at Heinrich’s urging in May. Weeks earlier, Heinrich had boiled many conservationists’ blood by voting to confirm Bernhardt. The Western Values Project, a lands-focused nonprofit, spent six figures on an ad campaign that blasted Heinrich for voting to confirm a man they equated to an environmental criminal. Heinrich shrugged. His political reasoning rang from a bygone era. “The Republicans had the votes to conf irm him anyway, and a gesture of goodwill could have earned me his help when I needed it,” he says. At the time, he needed it. Oil and gas drilling was set to begin on the Bureau of Land Management property surrounding Chaco, and Heinrich, representing the interests of the Navajo Nation and other tribes that surround the park, wanted the leases pulled to protect the treasures within. When he asked Bernhardt to do that in D.C., the secretary balked. So Heinrich let the land talk. He invited Bernhardt to New Mexico to walk together with Navajo and Pueblo leaders through Chaco’s centerpiece, Pueblo Bonito’s 1,100-year-old stone passages. Soon after visiting the area, Bernhardt announced that he’d delay oil and gas development. It was another big win for Heinrich, but with the current administration, a shortlived one. Soon after, Trump appointed William Perry Pendley, a zealot of selling off public lands, to lead the BLM. In other words, Heinrich is going to be busy cooking a lot of elk carne adovada. Back at his truck in the caldera, Heinrich shows off pictures of his son cradling the first buck he’d shot. Somebody sets up a grill and starts cooking antelope tenderloin for fajitas. I ask the senator if he can still call wolves, and he shrugs. In his many thousands of attempts, Heinrich never actually heard a reply. But he throws back his head anyway to give it another go. “Aaaaooo-o-o-o-o,” he howls. For a few long moments, the senator waits for a response. And then it comes from the middle of the caldera. It’s not wolves, but Heinrich has the coyotes yipping. MJ

HO L I D A Y

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M E N’S J O U R N A L

Hold It Pilates is a quiet practice that will have your muscles screaming. If you settle in and hold these poses, you’ll reap rewards, such as strong abs, shoulders, glutes—and mind.

WORKOUT OF THE MONTH

Core Values Pilates improves not only physical stability but mental focus, too. Consider it the perfect complement to your outdoor adventures. by MALLORY CREVELING

abs workout. It was probably situps, Russian twists, reverse crunches, with rep counts reaching the hundreds. Those are perfectly good moves. But we propose a different way, via a practice that goes back a hundred years. Pilates stands out thanks to its 360-degree approach to TH I N K ABOUT YOU R L AST

photographs by JUSTIN STEELE

core stability. The focus isn’t solely on strengthening the front of the body, or the rectus abdominis (six-pack abs). It’s also on deep core muscles, or transverse abdominis. Moves hit the obliques that stack up your sides and the muscles that fold around your back, too. And if you’re a winter sports lover, spending weekends MEN’S JOURNAL

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skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and cycling, Pilates has particular utility, for both body and mind. “In outdoor pursuits, you need to stay focused, breathe, and pay attention to what’s in front of you,” says Michael Gayle of MGayle Outdoor Adventures. Years ago, Gayle, an adventure guide in Buffalo, Minnesota, began practicing Pilates, and it helped him level up his backcountry game. Pilates focuses on the core muscles responsible for doing things like holding a ski position for minutes at a time, and stabilizing on an icy bike trail. And it works hip flexors and glutes, which get used when you’re tramping around in the snow. Today he’s a certified Pilates instructor, and he designed the workout here with the outdoor athlete in mind. And there’s the mental part. “Due to Pilates training, I have enhanced levels of stability, mobility, and mindfulness,” Gayle says. “It even serves as a wellness barometer, balancing my extreme adventure side. A note on the pace—it’s intentionally slow. Pilates requires a person to maintain core engagement, alignment, and body awareness, which translates into improved biomechanics and less wear and tear on the body while out in the wild. When doing the routine, focus on breathing, which will help core activation. Inhale through the nose until you feel pressure on the rib cage. Exhale forcefully through pursed lips, like blowing through a straw, until all air is released. Call on this breath work when fatigue creeps in and the core starts to lose rigidity. The equipment is simple: a mat, resistance band, and two yoga blocks. (If you can find a sun-filled studio—like the one at Performance Lab by the Wright Fit in New York City, shown here—even better.) Pilates may not require huge weights, but when done right, your abs will be quivering by the end.

SKIING/SNOWBOARDING Injuries on the mountain are often related to fatigue, especially late in the day, when your glutes are pooped and legs feel like jelly. These moves help “teach” your core to move and support the legs to overcome tiredness, while also improving balance and agility.

Crisscross Lie on floor with legs raised, knees bent 90 degrees, shins parallel to the floor. Hold a yoga block at your chest with both hands, elbows flared, to start. Inhale, then exhale and extend right leg while you lift right shoulder and rotate toward left knee. Inhale to return to starting position, then repeat on right side for 1 rep.

Hundred Lie on floor with legs raised, knees bent 90 degrees, shins parallel to floor, a resistance band behind arches of feet and holding other ends, arms along torso. Exhale, lift shoulders off floor, press rib cage into mat, and extend legs to start. Inhale for 5 pulses, while performing small beats with arms, initiating from shoulders. Continue with an exhale for 5 pulses. Repeat for 10 reps or 100 pulses.

GROOMING BY CHRISTIE CAIOLA FOR ENNIS INC.

THE WORKOUT For a full workout, do 6 to 8 reps of each move—the slower the better, focusing on control. Rest 30 seconds to 1 minute between exercises, and do 3 rounds. As you progress, drop to 4 to 6 reps of each move, but cut out the rest time. If you’re training for a specific activity, do the moves listed every day at least two weeks before a big outing.

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HIKING/SNOWSHOEING Flexibility and power is the name of the game when it comes to hoofing it in the outdoors. But—forgive us for stating the obvious—when you’re doing it in the cold, across snowy and slippery expanses, it’s a different beast. Muscles are less elastic in the cold. These moves will increase your baseline flexibility, which helps avoid strains and pulled muscles in the field.

Double Leg Stretch Lie on floor, then raise head, neck, and shoulders; raise legs, bending knees at 90 degrees, shins parallel to the floor to start. Inhale and point fingertips toward heels, then exhale, extend legs so they are at a 45-degree angle to the floor, and reach fingertips behind head. Inhale to return to the start for 1 rep.

Saw Sit on floor, legs extended, heels wider than hips, arms extended to sides, and palms facing forward, to start. Inhale and rotate torso clockwise (A), then exhale, fold forward, and reach left palm to left foot (B). Inhale and reverse rotation, then exhale and return to start. Repeat on right side for 1 rep.

E XPERT TIP

SUCK IT UP

Pilates practice relies heavily on breathing patterns. But you also need to maximize each breath. Holding on to tension constricts the chest, reducing lung capacity. If you begin breathing shallowly, take a moment to get centered and let go of any anxiety.

Swimming Lie on stomach, with legs, torso, and arms farming a straight line, holding a yoga block horizontally. Inhale, then exhale and lift chest, arms, and legs off floor to start. Inhale while lifting and lowering legs, like a swimmer’s kick, for 5 pulses. Exhale and repeat sequence—20 pulses total—for 1 rep. Inhale, then exhale and lower entire body to the mat. MEN’S JOURNAL

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CYCLING/MOUNTAIN BIKING Power generation is the name of the game. Yes, you absolutely have to do due diligence with lifting, and working on explosive power and balance. These Pilates moves magnify all that hard work by training your arms and torso to work together and support the legs. It’s the sort of power that comes in handy when you’re in attack position.

Standing Balance and Reach Stand, feet hip-width apart, to start. Shift weight left, inhale, lift right knee to chest, elbows down at sides, palms facing up near chest. Exhale, soften left knee, hinge forward, and extend arms, and right leg back. Reverse to start, then repeat on right side for 1 rep.

Leg Pull Corkscrew

Sit, legs extended, hands just behind shoulders and resting on yoga blocks, to start. Lift into a reverse plank. Point toes and slightly flex upper spine, chin tilted toward chest. Exhale and lift left leg, flexing hip as much as possible without pelvis or spine moving. Hold, then inhale, flexing foot and lowering leg to start. Switch sides for 1 rep.

Lie on back, arms along sides, legs straight at a 45-degree angle to floor to start. Inhale, bring legs toward torso and roll spine off mat into a hover position—hips are off the ground and tipped back, feet are overhead. Exhale, press through hands and tilt legs to left as you roll down the spine through center at a 45-degree angle. Tilt legs to right and roll back up to hover to complete a circle. Repeat in opposite direction for 1 rep.

PILATES PRIMER If these moves pique your interest, think about trying a studio class. Here’s some background before you go. 078

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What is Pilates, exactly?

Who does it?

What does the science say?

It’s a collection of exercises to develop functional balance, strength, and flexibility. The moves are performed on a mat or on a reformer, a large wood platform with a sliding carriage, springs, ropes, and handholds.

These days, everyone. LeBron James and Aaron Judge do Pilates for strength, control, and focus. It’s also used in rehab. In fact, Joseph Pilates got the idea when he was an orderly during WWI, caring for injured soldiers.

Researchers have studied whether it helps with chronic low back pain, since it bolsters the transverse abdominis muscles. A study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine finds doing Pilates twice a week may help.

MEN’S JOURNAL

Seeing Red If you’re looking for a magic elixir that helps you bounce back fast from hard workouts and get a better night’s sleep, tart cherry juice just might be it. by MARISSA STEPHENSON

ART CHERRY JUICE is all the rage.

Arnold Schwarzenegger slips it in smoothies. Elite marathoner Molly Huddle turns it into Jell-O and eats it at night. The entire Penn State football team takes shots of the stuff after every practice. All the devotion is because the tangy juice seems to prime the body for muscle recovery and sleep. And more than a decade of science backs up the benefits. A 2018 review in Nutrients found that tart cherries significantly reduce oxidative stress and inf lammation, along with exercise-induced muscle soreness and loss of strength. They’re also a natural food source of the sleep hormone melatonin—which is a rarity. And a review in Sports Medicine adds that

GETTY IMAGES

having it regularly may lessen muscle damage and the perception of pain after a tough workout. The magic likely lies in the fruit’s antioxidant and anti-inf lammatory compounds. “Regular consumption before a damaging, stressful bout of exercise can increase the body’s total antioxidant capacity by 10 percent,” says Chad Kerksick, a tart-cherry researcher and exercise scientist at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. Tart cherry season is f leeting (two weeks) and the fruit is too delicate to ship from Michigan, where most are grown, so experts recommend juices or concentrates; we like all-natural Cherrish. Aim to drink 12 to 16 ounces a day—half in the morning, and the rest one to two hours before bed. Q MEN’S JOURNAL

Each bottle of Cherrish contains 96 tart and dark cherries. Visit cherrish.net.

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Travel tricks for the holidays

he holiday shuffle can wreak havoc on your muscles. From hunching over the steering wheel on long haul car rides to standing in crowded airport lines, the results are stiff and achy muscles that aren’t on your wish list. Enter the best gift of all: combating muscle fatigue before it starts. Easy to slip on under your clothes, Tommie Copper’s innovative line of compression wear is engineered with 4D stretch tech fabrics that are infused with copper and zinc, plus they have sweat wicking capabilities to keep you dry. Each item is formulated to target areas of concern— from your back to your knees. Tommie’s low-profile pieces provide unique 360-degree support and will contour to the body so this season, you can travel without the trouble. Stuck in the cramped middle seat on a bi-coastal flight? Tommie Copper’s everyday compression socks slip over the calf to promote blood flow and help reduce swelling, plus your feet will stay warm on flights when the AC is blasting on high. Keep an extra pair in your carry-on and do a quick change in flight. Little-to-no swelling means you can quickly run to your connection or be the first at baggage

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Taking the pain out of travel doesn’t have to be hard. A happy and healthy holiday season can start with three simple pieces that take up little to-no-space. Pieces you can sport whenever you want, wherever you are. Conspicuously style the pants under your lounge wear, the socks under your loafers, and the long sleeve top under that sweater your in-laws gave you last year. Relieving pain with Tommie Copper is truly the gift that keeps on giving.

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PATENTED

ANTI-ODOR TECHNOLOGY

MEDICINE

OR DECADE S , men-

tal health experts have amassed anecdotal evidence that psychedelics could help people with intractable diseases like addiction, depression, and PTSD. Scientists at the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research in Baltimore, which opened in the fall, plan to test these drugs rigorously so that one day they could be prescribed. We talked with two of the center’s founding members, Alan Davis and Albert Garcia-Romeu, who are seeking out mental health and addiction treatments,

Lab Tripping In an era of precision medicine and Big Pharma, some doctors who are seeking to help patients cope with mental illness are going counterculture. by JULIA SAVACOOL

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illustration by ANTOINE DORÉ

to find out more about their research and how they plan to change our lives. MJ: A lot of your focus is on psilocybin— the psychedelic agent in magic mushrooms. How does it help people suffering from depression or addiction? DAVIS: There are a couple of ways we believe it works. First is the experience itself. People who take psilocybin report having a deeply positive, mystical experience that seems to help them alter their perspective on their situation. More specifically, people with depression tend to feel isolated and disconnected from their daily lives. The experience of taking psilocybin makes them feel an intense interconnection that stays with them after the experience is over. People also report gaining insight on their depression, like they suddenly have an awareness of what they want to change in their life to help them move forward. That awareness, coupled with this mystical-like experience, serves as the catalyst for change. ALBERT GARCIA-ROMEU: It helps people change their perspective, which is really useful for someone who is depressed or dealing with addiction. On the physical side, psilocybin disrupts patterns in the brain—patterns of negative thinking that become entrenched over time. How does it do that? GARCIA-ROMEU: In a nutshell, psilocybin and other psychedelics like LSD bind to serotonin 2A receptors, creating mood-altering effects and changes in brain function. We know psilocybin decreases amygdala blood flow in people with depression, which is associated with better antidepressant effects. This is important because depressive symptoms seem to be associated with over-reactivity in the amygdala. Keep in mind that the data for psilocybin brain mechanisms in depression is very limited, from fewer than 20 people total. We are only starting to scratch the surface of how this works. When people hear psychedelics, they picture mushrooms growing in the back of their college roommate’s closet—not the stuff of scientific rigor. GARCIA-ROMEU: Honestly, it’s closer to a dorm room than a science lab. Our study setting looks like a therapist’s office: sofa, chairs, soft lighting. The most clinical item is a blood pressure monitor, which we use to keep track

ONE MISCONCEPTION AROUND THIS WORK: THIS IS NOT A TAKETWO-AND-CALL-MEIN-THE-MORNING TYPE OF TREATMENT. of physiological measures at 30- to 60-minute intervals throughout the sessions. One of the strongest predictors of a challenging experience or “bad trip” can be an overly cold and clinical setting, so we do our best to make it a place that feels warm and safe. Volunteers usually spend around eight hours here before any drug is administered, with the two people who monitor them after they’ve taken the drug. Where do you get the drugs? DAVIS: The psilocybin is made for us by an academic chemist and put into a capsule that’s taken orally. This isn’t microdosing. A dose is moderate to high—more than recreational doses in a festival environment, for example. How are the results looking? DAVIS: We just wrapped up the main portion of the depression study, and now we’re doing follow-ups and preparing the data for publication. We had 24 participants—all studies here are done on people, not animals. Preliminary findings show approximately half of the participants had complete remission of depression at one month after the intervention of psilocybin plus psychotherapy, which is very promising. When will potential treatments be available to the public? DAVIS: We expect the full study to be published this coming year. After that, it can take several years before the treatments are approved by the FDA and made available to the public. What has been the biggest challenge you’ve encountered in your research? DAVIS: Funding. The government hasn’t been backing this kind of work. So to get $17 million in private money [donors include entrepreneur Tim MEN’S JOURNAL

Ferriss, WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg, and the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation]—that goes a long way to getting the quality of studies we need to move the therapeutic research forward. A psychedelic experience lasts a few hours, but depression can haunt a person for years. How can a single dose of psilocybin have such a lasting effect? DAVIS: A couple of days after use, the person experiences a halo effect. Their mood improves, and they may be more open to suggestion. We use that time to help them make lifestyle changes to alter their outlook. It’s not like the person just takes psilocybin, and that’s it. We still use a full therapy approach, and we’re optimistic this may lead to greatly improved outcomes in people who have not found success in traditional treatment in the past. So it’s 10 years from now, and psilocybin has been approved for medical use. How will it work, practically speaking? Will a person get a prescription for psilocybin? GARCIA-ROMEU: That is probably one of the greatest misconceptions around this work. This is not a taketwo-and-call-me-in-the-morning type of treatment. Nor is this like cannabis dispensaries where patients pick up the medication and take it at home, unsupervised. Psychedelics have the potential for much more intense and unpredictable psychoactive effects, so it’s best to administer them under carefully controlled conditions, in conjunction with intensive psychological support. Probably the best parallel in current medical care would be getting general anesthesia before surgery— this only happens at a medical facility under the careful supervision of a specially trained doctor and support staff. Even so, this sounds life-changing for some people. DAVIS: Absolutely. We see a future where we can actually heal these problems instead of simply trying to reduce symptoms. Our results point to a potential neurological and psychological basis from which we can understand this healing potential, and that could revolutionize our understanding of what “treatment” actually means. No longer would we be trying to help people get by, but they might actually heal and then thrive. Q DECEMBER 2019

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photograph by FIRSTNAME LASTNAME

FITNESS

H YS I C A L T H E R A PY is

a drag—particularly for devoted athletes. Sidelined by an injur y, they f ind themselves at a physical therapy facility, plodding through the same generic protocol as a septuagenarian next to them. So more people are turning to specialized gyms that put bodywork and high-level training under the same roof. “The traditional PT setting is often factory-like,” says Corinne Croce, a doctor of physical therapy. So she and Dariusz Stankiewicz, a seasoned trainer, cofounded Body Evolved in New York City to tag-team clients based on their needs. “Some come in with injuries that need to be addressed before they can begin training again, but often they want to get fitter and move better,” Croce says. “We’re modeling it after what pro athletes do.” Come in with an injury and you’ll see Croce f irst; otherwise, new clients start with a movement assessment from Stankiewicz. He and Croce are constantly conferring about how to shepherd clients toward their goals, often switching off as people’s needs change. Body Evolved is one of a growing trend of gyms that integrate training and therapy. The concept isn’t novel; for sports teams it’s standard practice, and the reason top athletes can train so hard without landing on the disabled list. When weekend warriors get hurt, they have to figure things out themselves—which helps explain why injuries plague people for years. Everyday athletes also appreciate that these places don’t feel clinical. “In our space, the exam tables are near the squat racks and turf,” says Dan Jensen, physical therapist and founder of Physio Performance in Rapid City, South Dakota. The other benef it to having trainers and physical therapists working closely is the mindshare: Workouts adopt elements of body mechanics, while physical therapy may include barbells and kettlebells. Expect this to become a new norm. After a decade of intense boot camps, CrossFit, indoor cycling, and road races, Americans are investing in recovery and intelligent training. And more gyms are beginning to add expertise and testing. (Think gait and force analysis, physiatry, and nutritionists.) Still, it’s not cheap. Training fees can be expensive and vary based on geography, while health insurance typically covers only limited physical therapy. But if you’re ready to train smarter, for the long haul, it’s best to get all the help you can. Q

Clients at Body Evolved in New York City may get a dose of PT and training in the same visit.

Like an Athlete Anyone who’s active will be injured at some point. Modeled after those of pro teams, a new breed of integrated gyms will fix you up—then keep you moving right. by MARJORIE KORN

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photograph by DAVID CARR

2019

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Iron Chef Five years ago, George Mendes, of New York’s Michelin-starred Aldea restaurant, had a health epiphany. Every day since, he’s worked to achieve a better life.

HIS YEAR, I’m running my

sixth marathon. Carving out one or two hours to run or train, four days a week, is a huge commitment. But it’s rewarding and something to be proud of. Plus, I enjoy being outside. The gym is too claustrophobic for me.

Humble Beginnings The restaurant industry is demanding, and I used to rely on caffeine and booze to keep pushing. I wasn’t resting properly, so I felt burned out constantly. I radiated bad energy. My loved ones said they didn’t see a happy, healthy person when they looked at me. It was humbling. So I started with a three-mile run. I stopped every mile but kept going. That was the beginning.

Hold the Hotcakes My approach is moderation. Yes, I eat a variety of vegetables, but I also have pizza and burgers. I’m more conscious of what I eat in the morning. I’m a fan of dinner for breakfast. Why not have a salad with tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, olive oil, and vinegar along with coffee?

Man vs. Machine

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COURTESY OF GEORGE MENDES

Meditation has given me a new level of awareness and clarity. I’m 47, and I have a lot to accomplish. We owe it to ourselves to take care of ourselves. To do that, we need to listen to our bodies and take the time to refuel and recover. We are not machines. As told to Marjorie Korn MEN’S JOURNAL

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FITNESS

Not staying the night? You can get a one-day pool pass to The Carillon—which includes sauna and cold room access—for $55.

Gym Away From Home It’s hard to stick to your workout routine when you’re on the road, so hit up these hotels, where fitness is in the DNA. by ASHLEY MATEO THE CARILLON

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COURTESY OF THE CARILLON

EALTH-MINDED travelers are usually forced to make do with a ding y hotel gym that houses a treadmill from the 1990s and a few sets of random dumbbells. No more. A slew of hotels have prioritized fitness, wellness, healthy eating, and recovery. If you’re booking a trip to one of these cities, set aside some extra hotel time at these new standard bearers.

MIAMI Located in quieter, localfriendly North Beach, this property—and the massive twostory gym—deserves a day unto itself. Start in one of the fitness center’s 200-plus weekly classes, grab a green juice, take a kiteboarding lesson, and end the day on the indoor rock wall.

If you’re a data nerd, they’ve got extensive physiology services— like a metabolic exercise assessment to see how well your cardiorespiratory system functions, or a body composition scan—overseen by the on-site functional-medicine physician. Friday through Sunday tends to be a scene here, so grab your R&R during the week.

CLOCKWISE FORM TOP LEFT: COURTESY OF SWISSOTEL; COURTESY OF EQUINOX HOTEL; COURTESY OF THE BERRLY HILTONL COURTESY OF EVEN HOTELS

SWISSÔTEL CHICAGO Possibly the most wellnessminded hotel room ever created is the Swissôtel Vitality Suite. It boasts a Peloton bike, a WaterRower, a cable pulley machine, and old-timey-looking hand weights. And the TV has on-demand workouts that incorporate the equipment around you. Plus, the room has a deep tub with jets and LED lights for relaxation. If your company won’t spring for digs that start at $1,000 per night, opt for a normal room and hit the new fitness center. It’s tricked out with rowers, Peloton bikes, a yoga studio, and group cycling classes.

EQUINOX HOTEL NEW YORK At the first hotel outpost for the high-end gym, guests can access a 60,000-square-foot fitness center, a 25-yard indoor

saltwater pool, sundeck, hot and cold plunge pools, plus recovery offerings like an infrared sauna. The best amenity may be the least sweaty. Book a session with a sleep coach,

THE BEVERLY HILTON LOS ANGELES Come for the celeb sightings, stay for Upgrade Labs, which aims to “hack” health and fitness with 15 high-tech tools, like the Redcharger, an infrared LED light therapy that promotes muscle recovery and reduces inflammation. Travelers with scant time use CAR.O.L, an artificial intelligence–enhanced bike that

who will evaluate your nighttime habits and help implement better behaviors. The program, overseen by experts including UCLA sleep specialist Jennifer Martin, influenced the room design. Beds are layered with temperature-regulating natural fibers, and minibars have sleep supplements.

gives riders the equivalent of a 40-minute run in six minutes of work. Round things out on the Cheat Machine, an AIenabled weightlifting machine. Frequent fliers swear by the Road Warrior Reset package: cryotherapy, Redcharger, and lymphatic massage to combat the effects of jet lag ($175 for a 60-minute session).

EVEN HOTELS SEATTLE Currently, there are 12 Even hotels (it’s a brand within the InterContinental Group). They all have sweet in-room offerings, like a training zone with sweatproof cork floors; equipment including a foam roller, yoga mat, yoga block, exercise ball, and resistance bands; and training guides. The fitness center has Peloton bikes, water rowers, and Woodaway treadmills. Nab a

water bottle at check-in, then refill it at hydration stations on each floor. If you’re there to work and rest, rooms feature standing desks and calming eucalyptus fiber bedding. And forget greasy room service. Even’s restaurant, Cork & Kale, serves organic meals, plus Paleo and vegetarian snacks. Before you go, take them up on the offer to launder your workout gear, gratis. MEN’S JOURNAL

DECEMBER 2019

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FITNESS

MOVE OF THE MONTH

Split Stance Box Jump Attention, runners: If you’re looking for some extra spring in your step, double up on the boxes. by MARJORIE KORN

M O N G P LY O M E T R I C

moves, box jumps are a favorite. They build explosive power, cardio capacity, and balance. Runners can get even more out of the move with a second box. “Split-stance box jumps came from exploring sprinting mechanics,” says Ashton Roberts, founder of AR Performance Training in Pasadena, CA. They re-create and isolate the push off and landing that happens during running, giving you a better understanding of how your legs track during the entire running motion—what’s called proprioception. On top of that, it’s a solid move. The jump relies on glutes and hips, and the landing is all quads. Before using boxes, practice the move on the floor. Squat, then explode up, landing in a split stance. Next, add a 6-inch box in front of you, front foot landing on that, back foot on the f loor. Finally, try the version seen here. Set up 2 boxes, a 20-inch and a 12-inch, 2 feet apart. Stand between them. Squat, then explode up, landing on the boxes in a split position, one foot on each box. Most of your weight is in the front foot, on the high box, while the back foot acts to balance you. Try for 2 or 3 sets of 6 to 10 jumps each side. Q

DECEMBER 2019

GROOMING BY CHRISTIE CAIOLA FOR ENNIS INC.

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photograph by JUSTIN STEELE

SCIENCE

Cold Truths One of winter’s goofiest traditions is jumping into a freezing body of water. Here’s what happens when you take a polar plunge. by JESSICA MIGALA

PICTURE, FOR A moment, walk-

ing into an ice-cold lake. Your feet are ground zero for the shock wave that goes through your body, and your brain tells you to get the hell out of there. But in you go any way, because you’re polar plunging. These acts of wintertime daredevilry

are gaining in popularity. Some strip down to celebrate the New Year, or to raise money for charity, like Plungefest in Annapolis, Maryland, where people including Adam Hays, a Special Olympics athlete, are deemed Super Plungers, for going in every hour for an entire day. And interesting things happen when

your body goes into a cold-shock response, according to John W. Castellani, a research physiologist in the Thermal and Mountain Medicine Division at the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, starting with your feet freezing and your heart pounding out of your chest. And there’s more. Q

Take a Deep Breath

Flash Frozen

In the moments after registering the temps, lungs demand a big gulp of air. So instead of jumping in, walk or run, says JohnEric Smith, an exercise physiologist at Mississippi State University. Enter to shoulder height, take a huge breath, go under— then get outta there.

Heat escapes two to four times faster in water than in air, but it takes a few minutes for your core temp to drop. Since polar plunges take a minute or less, you’re unlikely to lose motor function.

STEVE BLOOM IMAGES/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

Winter Rush The shock triggers activity in your sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight response), prompting a dump of hormones like adrenaline and noradrenaline into your system, Castellani says. That’s where the thrill comes in.

Cold to the Core Hit the water and the body goes to DEFCON 1: survival mode. It redistributes blood from the extremities and concentrates it around essential organs (heart and lungs). It’s also the body’s way of conserving heat.

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INTEL

Sweat, Then Carbs

Health News

A roundup of discoveries, updates, and advice to keep you living (and feeling) your best. by JULIA SAVACOOL

Conventional wisdom tells us to have protein after a workout. But a study in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise suggests that a big dose of protein after endurance workouts isn’t more effective than carbohydrates. In the study, 60 guys aged 20 to 40 did a three-month endurance-training program. Half drank a shake containing 28.7 grams of protein after training and again before bed; the others had a carb shake. At the end, a 10K bike time trial showed that, yes, protein consumers improved their bike times by 15 percent, but the carb loaders were right there at 12 percent, suggesting that carbs and protein are almost equally effective for postworkout recovery and muscle adaptation. One way protein did pay off: leg muscle mass, with the protein group showing an increase 2.5 times greater than the carb consumers.

MOUTHWASH MAY HURT YOUR WORKOUT (REALLY) Those huge locker room mouthwash dispensers should be banished, a U.K. study finds. That minty swish hinders fitness gains. It has to do with nitric oxide, a naturally occurring substance in blood vessels, which increases during exercise to bring more oxygen to muscles. The more nitric oxide in a person’s system, the less fatigued he feels. Oral bacteria plays a key role in how the body produces and uses nitric oxide. Salivary samples from runners showed that antibacterial mouthwash reduced nitric oxide’s effectiveness between 60 percent and 100 percent. So have a Tic Tac instead. DECEMBER 2019

The speed at which ski and snowboard helmets are most effective, per ASTM International. Unfortunately, most skiers go at least twice that fast. They may not save you in a head-on collision. But that’s not their only job. Helmets also protect against injuries like cuts and scrapes resulting from bad falls. MEN’S JOURNAL

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12–14 mph

EXPERT ADVICE I don’t have as much energy as I used to. Could it be because of low testosterone? Yes, it’s possible. But it’s not the only answer. Figuring out the exact cause of your specific issues is very important. Recently, there has been a greater awareness that energy level, muscle mass, sexual desire, and mental acuity relate to testosterone levels. For men who have hypogonadism—a condition where the body does not produce enough testosterone—or those who are at the low end of normal, hormone injections or ointments could make a big difference. But testing is necessary. There are men who come to my clinic saying they feel down and blame it on low T, but tests show their level is fine. For them, the culprit may be stress and poor health habits. Conversely, there are men who have hypogonadism but don’t present with any symptoms. It’s inadvisable to take testosterone unless you need it. Once you begin supplementation, the body shuts down its natural hormone production—you’re hooked on it forever. And overdoing it can harm the heart and liver and affect fertility. A great non-pharmaceutical help is a healthy diet, suff icient sleep, and exercise—especially resistance and high-intensity interval training. HAVE A QUESTION FOR DR. CHOI? Email him: AskDrChoi@MensJournal.com

A SURPRISING BENEFIT FOR YOGA IN A SWEATBOX Hot yoga has earned converts owing to the pliability muscles have at warmer temperatures and the overall challenge of the practice. It may also find a fan base among those with high blood pressure. Researchers at Texas State University found that three sessions of hot yoga a week for three months was enough to lower the systolic blood pressure of pre- and hypertensive people by 5mmHg (from 126 to 121) while also

A NEW RX FOR HEART HEALTH In the U.S., one in four deaths is due to heart disease, which has doctors on the lookout for interventions that will help. And it seems that a new drug is poised to make a big difference. Vascepa uses a compound that’s a derivative of fish oil to help lower triglyceride levels and reduce the risk of heart attack. And a

reducing stress levels. “Lowering blood pressure by as little as 2mmHg has been shown to reduce risk for heart disease and stroke, so it’s significant,” says study author Stacy Hunter. It’s not clear if the benefit comes from the heat or the stress reduction of yoga itself. Although the findings are preliminary, Hunter is optimistic: “Hot yoga is an effective way to lower blood pressure without medication and a great preventive strategy.”

study sponsored by Amarin published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found that, for people who are susceptible to a cardiac event—such as heart attack or stroke—Vascepa plus a statin may reduce that risk between 25 and 35 percent. As far as side effects, Vascepa is similar to a statin—a common drug for high cholesterol— meaning it’s generally safe. Vascepa is already on the market and is seeking expanded FDA approval.

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The Last Word

Billy Dee Williams The actor, now starring in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, on shoe shopping, a life-changing safari, and revisiting the role of Lando Calrissian 40 years later.

What’s the best advice you ever received? Practice, practice, practice. Who were your heroes growing up? My father, my mom, my sister, my grandmother. Whoever I am, it’s the result of those four absolutely wonderful people. You’re 82 now. How should a person handle getting older? You just handle it. I surround myself with people who take care of themselves, the body and the mind. I think the whole idea is surrounding yourself with situations that keep you healthy. What’s it like to play Lando Calrissian again, all these decades later? I feel as though I own Lando. I’ve owned him for like 40 years—he is very much me, and I’m very much Lando. How should a man handle criticism? With a sense of humor. I don’t worry about things like that. How should a man handle regret? I don’t really regret anything I’ve done. It’s all a process. As long as you don’t repeat yourself, especially when you’re doing things that are not good for you, it makes no sense to regret anything.

W h a t hum an qu ali t y do y ou m o s t deplore? Cruelty. Lying. I’m not saying I haven’t lied a few times in my life, but I don’t think it’s a good habit to get into. 096

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What’s the best cure for heartache? Heartache is a funny kind of thing. I mean, you don’t ask for it, but it shows up. You just have to learn to live with it, endure it, and not let it drive you crazy. What advice would you give your younger self? Stay away from all of the girls. What should every man understand about women? Do you really want me to get into that? It’s your call. Women are wonderful. But they have their crazy ways. Guys do, too. MEN’S JOURNAL

What adventure most changed your life? I went to Botswana many years ago—I was in Sun City [South Africa] to cohost the Miss Universe contest—and we went on safari. It was one of the most extraordinary experiences I’ve ever had. You suddenly realize how raw life is. What’s the most indulgent purchase you’ve ever made? I’m a chronic shopper. I’m always sending away for stuff like vintage watches, walking canes—my most expensive cane cost me about two grand. And shoes. I love shoes. How many pairs do you own? I have no clue. How do you want to be remembered when you’re gone? That I was a good dad and a good grandpa. —INTERVIEW BY LARRY KANTER

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What human quality do you most admire? Integrity. If you lose your integrity, you’ve lost everything.

What role should vanity play in a man’s life? I would say that I’m a fairly vain person. I mean not to any extreme. I’m certainly not a narcissist. I’m not like our president.