Last week was an eventful one for Farmingdale as not one, but two grand openings took place back-to-back on Tuesday and Wednesday. Orangetheory Fitness, the one-hour high-intensity workout craze sweeping the nation, celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting at its Airport Plaza location with gym staff, the Farmingdale Chamber of Commerce and local officials on July 30. Whiskey Down Diner, locally owned by the Kanaras family, opened its doors on downtown Main Street back in June, but invited staff, community members, local officials and the Farmingdale Chamber of Commerce for a ribbon cutting and grand opening celebration on July 31.
Whiskey Down Diner, featuring a selection of at least 20 different types of whiskey, offers the concept of a restaurant with all the best qualities of the classic diner, but with an added new-school modern twist.
The establishment, named for the old-school diner language that translates to “rye toast,” is owned by the Kanaras family, including the father, Peter, and sister and brother, Alyson and John. Over the past couple of years, the family has been able to see their dream become a reality.
“It’s been great to finally see something come together that we’ve been planning and dreaming about for so long,” said John. “Seeing it happen is definitely the most rewarding.”
In terms of food, instead of a huge menu, the diner features about five or six items per category to focus on quality. Popular items so far include breakfast poutine, sweet potato tots, the Whiskey Down deluxe burger and wings, which are made with homemade sauces.
After indulging in a good meal, head over to Orangetheory, where you will receive a heart rate monitor to track your calorie and fat burning progress and the percentage of your maximum heart rate being used.
While fitness enthusiasts often fall into a routine, Orangetheory offers an hour divided into segments on the treadmill, water rower and strength training floor that keeps the body on its toes.
First-timers, who are eligible for a free trial class, will meet with an extensively trained and Orangetheory-certified coach to determine their fitness goals and establish the motivation they need to achieve those goals. All participants are encouraged to maintain 12 to 20 minutes in the orange and red heart rate zones combined; the orange zone is a pace in which you are pushing yourself and feel challenged, and the red zone is your all-out effort that is a struggle to maintain for even a minute. Should participants meet that orange and red zone goal, they will achieve EPOC—excess post-exercise oxygen consumption, or the Orangetheory afterburn that burns calories up to 36 hours after completing the workout.
Unique to Orangetheory, whether you’re a newbie or a veteran, the coach guiding the workout is dedicated to making sure that each guest gets the most out of their experience. While the near 30 athletes that fill each class are performing at their designated treadmill, rower or strength station, the coach will ensure that everyone is challenging themselves, going through each move safely with proper form and accommodating any injuries or concerns.
To experience Whiskey Down Diner’s classic fare, visit the restaurant at 252 Main St., and explore the menu at www.whiskeydowndiner.com.
Experience the burn at Orangetheory’s newest location at 253 Airport Plaza Blvd., and learn more by visiting www.farmingdale.orangetheoryfitness.com.
—With additional reporting by Maya Brown
