After enjoying a Chocolate White Russian, I couldn't help but be reminded of its predecessor. After all, the creamy cocktail is but a variation of the Black Russian, a simple yet satisfying coffee creation. Invented in the 1950s by Brussels barman Gustave Tops, the Black Russian is basic enough for even the most inexperienced bartender to whip up. The drink's proportions are disputed — some Read more

Like the perfect handbag, a well-constructed potato galette is perfect for any time of day or occasion. Just ask Fresh Tart! A potato galette is simply thin slices of potatoes, fat, and seasoning layered into a shallow pan and roasted until crusty and browned. It's traditional to serve alongside a roast of some sort, and definitely do that, because you can imagine crusty, buttery potatoes do a Read more

What's not to love about circuit training? Combining heart-pumping elements of cardio with strength-training moves means you torch calories while toning muscles. It's just so efficient. Here's a fun yet challenging circuit workout I did recently with my Equinox trainer Lauren. The workout has you performing each exercise for a minute, which means you need to keep a stopwatch handy, but you have Read more

Scarlett Johansson kicks major butt as Black Widow in The Avengers, saving Earth from imminent doom, all while wearing a black catsuit. Between slipping into a skintight costume and unveiling some serious moves against Loki's army, this wasn't a character Scarlett rolled out of bed for. To prep for the physically demanding role, Scarlett worked for almost two months with trainer Bobby Strom and Read more

No doubt you've seen the VersaClimber at your gym — that tall piece of equipment, lurking in the corner behind the more popular cardio machines. But the VersaClimber's unpopularity is also its saving grace: there is never anyone using it, so you hop on it without a wait. Since the machine is often empty, you can also use it to add short bursts of cardio to your circuit training sets, just like Read more

If crunches are part of your regular fitness regimen, you may feel like this basic move could use fresh inspiration. If your ab routine is feeling a little dated, but you're not ready to give up crunches just yet, have no fear. Here are five easy ways to spice up everyday crunches. Take a twist on the tradition: Crunches are even better when you mix up the movement to target different areas of Read more

In addition to the following releases, Born to Be Wild and The Divide are also available. Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) returns for a fourth installation of the Mission: Impossible franchise, and this time, he and his comrades are forced to go rogue after they're implicated in a bombing at the Kremlin. Disowned from the IMF, if they fail to take down a dangerous Read more

If you're a procrastinator like myself, you may have put off taxes until the very last minute — in which case, your weekend's spent toiling over documents and forms. Make all that paperwork just a little more enjoyable by filing it with a stiff drink in hand (not that we're endorsing drunk tax filing!). Check out a handful of the spiritous drinks we'll be nursing to ease that tax pain. Gin Read more