From technology fasting, to WWOOFing and tea tasting, trying out any number (or one) of these new things will begin your journey towards becoming king of the water cooler by September:
Technology Fasting: Overwhelmed by the expectations demanded of a “plugged-in” lifestyle, consumers are taking breaks from technology. Ranging from “no e-mail” Fridays to tech-free weekends, we are seeing an escapist movement that allows people to free themselves from the “shackles” of technology. Individuals who lack the self-restraint it would take to implement such restrictions upon themselves can book a weekend tech-away at one of a growing number of four-star hotels that offer “Blackberry check” as a complementary service.
Tea Tasting: This trend isn't simply about the next hot health-promoting variety or the latest free-radical fighting tea-infused facial serum, but rather, we've noticed a growing fascination around tea culture in general that encompasses the history, mystique, tradition, and ceremony of tea. As we continue to see the Slow Movement gain an American following, we expect that the ritual of tea will find a larger home within the US, with caffeine seekers exchanging a quick shot of espresso for a more relaxed pot of tea over social meet-ups. A number of neo-traditional tea bars, from NY to LA, offer tea tasting courses where guests can learn about the origin, production, proper preparation, and even appropriate food pairings for rare handmade teas from all over the world.
Precycling: With the growing consumer movement toward sustainable living, people are avoiding products that create waste altogether, a practice called “precycling”. With the increasingly popular view that recycling is an antiquated misuse of energy, precyclers avoid junk mail, buy in bulk to avoid packaging, read paper-based media online and may even carry around “precycling kits” consisting of reusable shopping bags, cloth napkins and silverware. Watch to see this shift in attitude from recycling to precycling spread.
Edible Cocktails: Putting a twist on the average adult beverage, both mixologists and chefs in major cities such as Paris, LA and NY have begun creating unique “solid” versions of cocktails. Varying in texture, color, and size, solid cocktails look more like works of edible art. They range from mini popsicles and transparent gelatin pyramids with suspended candied fruits, to crisp dehydrated papery sheets and squishy marshmallows. Served sometimes in lieu of food, in tasting menus, as hors d’oeuvres, or as apertifs, these neo-cocktails are sure to turn happy hour into an entirely new experience.
Muxtape Mixes: Few people have cassette players anymore, but the mixtape concept continues to have allure. Muxtape is a new website where users can easily create "mixtapes" (essentially playlists) online to share with the public. Users simply need to register their email address with the site and can then upload up to twelve MP3s that can be accessed via a personalized URL (username.muxtape.com). To avoid copyright problems, users are encouraged not to upload multiple songs from the same album or artists (which really isn't an issue with Muxtape as all users are embracing the idea of sharing mixes with friends and the greater Muxtape community). The site is rapidly attracting a devoted following for its ease in use; expect to soon start seeing Muxtape URLs appearing in people's blogs and social networking profiles.
Flavor Tripping, AKA “Miracle Fruit” Parties: Otherwise known as Synsepalum Dulcificum, this mild West African berry numbs one’s our taste buds for up to an hour, transforming certain bitter bites into something pleasant and sweet—including lemons, liquor and coffee. While not approved by the FDA (some speculate that the sugar industry is fighting it), parties are popping up where guests enjoy a spread of sour foods after eating the miracle fruit; there is even a cafe in Tokyo devoted to the fruit and the enjoyment of sour foods.
IPhone Gaming: With bothElectronic Arts and Sega developing iPhone-specific games, the iPhone games market is expected to quickly fill with both original game titles and adaptations of existing gaming properties. As the iPhone is now open to third-party developers, Apple recently released an online App Store. While it probably won't appeal to hardcore gamers accustomed to specialized gaming devices, we do expect the games to be a hit among iPhone owners who tend to enjoy "tricking out" their phones.
Photowalking: Combining creativity, community, exercise and experience; photowalking is a hot new activity amongst members of photosharing communities. Essentially long jaunts where the point is to take pictures of everything encountered, photowalkers use Web 2.0 sites such as Flickr, Zoomr and Facebook to connect with others, organize walks and share their resulting images. Unlike straight up street photography, which includes taking pictures of people on the street, photowalking usually focuses on taking pictures of things like signs, buildings and nature scenes. While photo enthusiasts—using either manual or digital cameras—do sometimes go at it alone, a large part of the pleasure of these photowalks are the social and community experiences that they provide.
WWOOFing: The source of food continues to be top of mind among young people, and as such, they are increasingly turning to the non-profit network WWOOF (World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) to connect them with organic farms where they can volunteer. An extension of the volunteer vacation and agritourism trends, WWOOFing volunteers usually work 6 days a week in exchange for room and meals, and often stay with a host family who teaches them about living a sustainable lifestyle. The aim of the program is to “link volunteers with organic farmers, promote an educational exchange, and build a global community conscious of ecological farming practices.” Volunteers range from vacationing students to retirees to those interested in starting their own organic plots, with the farms may be anything from family-owned plots to commercial land.
Urban Bike Polo: This variation on the equestrian classic substitutes bikes for ponies, making it much more accessible to the masses. While slightly less glamorous than the original variety, bike polo—which is quickly gaining popularity in India, France, and the US—is said to be just as fun and challenging, and a great deal more affordable. Recently, a city-friendly and less rule intensive variation has been attracting the hipster set to deserted parking lots in urban centers.