8 Things Worth Your Time This Week
2025-07-24 · 5 min read
Eight picks because narrowing it down further felt dishonest. This week covers fitness tech that actually delivers, a restaurant expansion worth traveling for, and a grooming launch that solves a problem nobody else has tackled.
Whoop 5.0 launched with a new form factor — a slim, screenless band that prioritizes recovery metrics over step counting. The improved HRV tracking and strain monitoring are more accurate than any previous generation, and the subscription model ($30/month, hardware included) means no upfront cost. For data-driven athletes, this is the best recovery tool available.
Eleven Madison Park's Daniel Humm opened a fast-casual plant-based restaurant called EMP Eats in the Flatiron District. The menu translates his fine-dining vegetable techniques into $15 grain bowls and $8 smoothies. The roasted carrot bowl with harissa tahini and pistachio dukkah tastes like it belongs on a $300 tasting menu.
A24 released a new film by Sean Baker called 'The Beach,' and early reviews position it as the follow-up to Anora that establishes Baker as the definitive chronicler of American economic margins. Look for it in independent theaters before the inevitable streaming deal.
Malin+Goetz launched a Bergamot Deodorant that combines their signature clean fragrance approach with 72-hour odor protection. It is aluminum-free, baking soda-free, and actually works through a summer workout — which eliminates the three complaints men have about natural deodorants. Available at https://www.malinandgoetz.com for $26.
The new Sonos Ace 2 headphones fixed the Bluetooth codec limitations of the original. Aptx Lossless support, improved noise cancellation, and a redesigned headband that reduces hot spots make this the best wireless headphone for under $400. The spatial audio integration with Sonos speakers is seamless.
Also making the cut: the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L in a new slate green colorway is the best rain jacket under $200 for spring, and the latest issue of Monocle magazine features a deep dive into Copenhagen's approach to urban design that is worth the $15 cover price. Breadth matters — try at least two of these eight this week.
