high energy in the corridor

Expanding Houston fitness studio jolts Energy Corridor with new locale

Orangetheory Fitness has opened in the Energy Corridor.

As Houstonians welcome a new year, many welcome the chance for a new exercise regimen. But there are some who might need a little extra push, courtesy of, say, a free class.

With that in mind, Orangetheory Fitness has officially opened the doors to its 24th Houston-area studio in the Energy Corridor and to celebrate, the fitness franchise is challenging all 94,000 employees that work in the area to come try a free first class.

The new Orangetheory Fitness Houston is located at 1111 Eldridge Pkwy., #400 and will accommodate 30 people per class. In this 3,366-square foot space, members can expect Orangetheory’s high-intensity interval training workout featuring water rowing machines, treadmills, a strength floor with free weights, TRX straps, and abdominal equipment. The new studio will offer classes Monday through Sunday.

“We are excited to open our Energy Corridor in the heart of one of Houston’s most desirable places to work and live an active, healthy lifestyle,” said owner Jim Potetsa, in a statement. “As part of our mission to bring our life-changing workout to as many Houstonians as possible, we hope to everyone in the Corridor will come out and give Orangetheory a try, on us.”

Orangetheory Fitness has already seen three Houston-area studios open in 2019, including Energy Corridor, Friendswood, and Highland Village locations. A new location in Aliana is set to open in 2020.

For those unfamiliar with the Orangetheory, the studio offers a 60-minute, five zone heart-rate monitored interval training concept. Interested guests can book the free class at the Energy Corridor by calling 832-916-2745.

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Orangetheory Fitness; 1111 Eldridge Pkwy., #400; 832-916-2745.

openings fitness

Thanks, Queen Bey

Pop icon Beyoncé donates $100,000 to University of Houston Law School

Photo by Erza Shaw Getty Images

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Pop megastar Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has donated $100,000 to the University of Houston Law Center Criminal Justice Clinic through her BeyGOOD Foundation. The gift will allow the clinic to hire fill-time faculty to head it, benefiting the students who study there.

“I am delighted that the BeyGOOD Foundation has made this very generous gift to the UH Law Center,” said Leonard Baynes, dean of the UH Law Center. “Not only will this funding help establish a full-time criminal justice clinic that provides pro bono legal services in our community, but it will also supercharge our already excellent criminal law and justice programming.”

The clinic is one of nine at UHLC. It helps students learn to navigate the criminal justice system, especially on behalf of clients that are underserved by skilled attorneys. People of color are affected disproportionately by a lack of good, ethical representation.

Beyoncé, the most decorated artist in Grammy history and easily the biggest musical star native to Houston, has a long history of advocating for criminal justice reform. She was a staunch supporter of the police reform following the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, asking law enforcement to “stop killing us” in a web post. In 2020, she penned an open letter to the Kentucky attorney general asking for justice in the death of Breonna Taylor.

Through her BeyGOOD Foundation, established in 2013, Beyoncé has focused mostly on expanding the prospects of Black-owned business and offering education opportunities to students. Forwarding the cause of legal representation in Texas while also helping out marginalized communities compliments her other philanthropic work.

“At UH Law, we envision a legal profession where ‘everyone has the opportunity to prosper,’ as BeyGOOD envisions, and we will achieve this vision by providing access to strong and effective legal representation in criminal proceedings,” Baynes said. “And together, through this gift, the BeyGOOD Foundation and UHLC will shepherd the next generation of criminal justice attorneys in the city of Houston, the state of Texas and the nation.”