The Daily Valet. - 8/16/22, Tuesday

✔️ Are You Showing Up Here?

Tuesday, August 16th Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

What was the last movie you saw in the theater?

Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today’s Big Story

Are Movie Theaters Back?

After a long, painful slump, Americans are finally showing up to watch blockbusters in theaters again

After two long, difficult years where movie theaters were all but left for dead, theater chains seem to be looking at a happy ending. Crowds are finally returning to the movies and the demand could be here to stay.

“There’s no question that we’re coming back—in relevance, and in actual behavior,” Warner Bros. president of distribution Jeff Goldstein told the Wall Street Journal.

Movies such as “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Minions: The Rise of Gru” and “Jurassic World Dominion” have proven this summer that audiences will return to the auditorium for films they want to see. The enthusiasm for movies adds to the list of prepandemic experiences people are embracing, such as going to concerts, gambling in casinos and traveling aboard airplanes.

Though still somewhat impacted by lingering pandemic fears and the uncertain state of the economy, visits to movie theaters are finally closer to pre-pandemic levels than any time this year. According to BoxOfficeMojo, in June, there were $968.8 million in box office sales. This was the highest monthly total since December 2019.

The question is whether momentum will last amid a looming movie shortage (due to pandemic production shut-downs and shuffled release schedules).

And while a lot of people are happily returning, others are happy staying home. It’s not that they’re scared of catching COVID in the auditorium, their hesitation has more to do with preference for high-quality streaming and the high costs of tickets (and snacks).

↦ FYI: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for admission to movies is 9.59% higher in 2022 compared to 2019 (a $1.92 difference in value).

CDC Rolls Back Recommendations

Here’s they they’re loosening some of the COVID-19 guidelines

In somewhat of a significant shit, the CDC just relaxed most of its recommendations for pandemic behavior—including staying 6 feet apart, preventative quarantining, and basically forgetting about contact tracing (rememeber that?).

“The current conditions of this pandemic are very different from those of the last two years,” said the CDC's Greta Massetti, an author of the guidelines. She says the more lax way of tackling COVID is in response to 95% of U.S. adults having some form of immunity via vaccines or previous infection.

And, of course, we still have new cases popping up every day. There are about, on average, 500 people dying a day of COVID in America. “At one point, the government had talked about setting a goal about 200 deaths a day,” Julia Raifman, who leads the COVID-19 U.S. State Policy Database, told PBS. “And we expect that number of deaths per day to increase during the school year, as people go back into crowded indoor settings, as there may be seasonal surges or surges of new variants.”

So what should you do to be smart and protect yourself? Masks continue to be recommended, only in areas where community transmission is deemed high, or if a person is considered at high risk of severe illness. And you should get tested when you or someone close has symptoms and (this goes without saying, right?) staying home if you test positive. And hopefully, a new “next generation” booster jab (which may only need administering once a year) will soon be offered.

↦ Dig Deeper: The COVID lab leak theory is dead. The Conversation explains how we know the virus came from a Wuhan market.

We Might All Be Spending Time in the Metaverse Soon

As in four to five hours ... a day

Perhaps you're like me and still a little foggy on what the metaverse even means, exactly. But here's a recent study by McKinsey suggesting that Gen Z, millennials and Gen Xers may soon spend between four and five hours a day in this new fangled 3-D internet.

Quartz reports that the study surveyed over 1,000 consumers aged 13 to 70 about their expected transition from laptops and smartphones to devices for virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). Interestingly, consumers currently spend roughly five hours a day watching TV across different platforms, suggesting that our VR/AR future may soon equal our streaming present.

According to InsideHook, the McKinsey study also countered several myths regarding the metaverse, including the idea that most people can't properly define the term; 55 percent of survey respondents said they had heard of at least one existing metaverse platform (like Decentraland) and 47 percent “described the metaverse with vibrant clarity.”

Researchers discovered the most well known metaverse device is the Meta Quest 2 VR headset. It's primarily used for gaming. That may change soon. Immersive shopping, followed by telehealth appointments, education, travel and socializing in VR or using AR will soon be the most interesting metaverse activities for consumers.

Did You See the New Aston Martin?

It’s a no-roof, no-windshield tribute to its racing past

Monterey Car Week is approaching. And Aston Martin just announced it will debut a two-seater open cockpit concept vehicle, celebrating the 10th anniversary of Aston Martin's Q by Aston Martin bespoke division. And the car takes its shape from some of the most beautiful and legendary racing machines of Aston's past.

According to Gear Patrol, the vehicle features a coach-built carbon fiber bodywork—yes, no roof or windshield. Distinctive features include a custom carbon fiber grille and a horseshoe vent to cool the engine. The DBR22 rides on exclusive 14-spoke 21-inch alloy wheels.

The DBR22 has a large door on each side—no hopping directly into the cabin. And there are some cool details like leather pull straps on the doors and riveted components on the center console, and the main touchscreen and capacitive gear selector and mirror controls look nicer than what's on regular production Astons.

And while the current wording classifies the DBR22 as a concept, it's likely that somewhere in the ballpark of 10 Aston Martin Q customers will actually be able to buy a production version. Let's not even think about how much that'll cost.

↦ Meanwhile: Used electric cars have gotten way more expensive over the past year than other models. Overall, prices went up by at least $3,000 in most American cities.

In Other News

↦ Monkeypox Misinformation Spreading Faster Than the Virus, Experts Say

↦ Congress Is Shooting for the Moon … and Getting Close

↦ How to Leave the Airport and Explore a City During a Layover

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

Tito’s hard seltzer burn

This new take on a green building

K-pop’s gateway song

Sleep Naturally

Why you might want to skip the PJs

According to a national sleep study, only 17% of Americans sleep in the nude. And if you're in the 83% not stripping down before bed, you may want to reconsider. Not only does it feel awesome to let it all hang out between the sheets, it's also good for your health.

We looked into the data and spoke with some sleep experts, and there is some science behind going to bed in the buff. For starters, you'll get more from your sleep. Doctors from the National Sleep Foundation say it could even lead to longer, deeper sleep.

And if sleeping in the nude makes you think romantic thoughts, you're not wrong. There's evidence that it raises sperm count and bring your closer (physically and emotionally) to your partner.

↦ Read: The three reasons why you want to sleep without any clothes on.

A Mist Opportunity

Ranger Station Oakmoss Room and Linen Spray

$36 by Ranger Station

Scented candles are a trusted method to clear the air, but during the summer months when everything is warm and muggy already, an open flame isn't going to help. And while they're stylish, they tend to be a tad subtle for the occasions you really need to freshen up. Plus, they can quite literally burn a hole through your savings if you're trying to mask an entire house.

Fortunately, clever companies have married more elevated fragrances with the ease of a Febreze and a new trace has taken over. Brands are manufacturing room sprays that can not only cover up a burnt meal, but upgrade a home's overall odor. Simply spraying a mist before leaving the house, or twice after cooking, will do twice the work of a candle in spreading a new bouquet around the home with minimal effort. Think of it as cologne for your place, where a multi-layered fragrance develops and changes throughout the day. Here are some of our favorite room sprays that we're currently spritzing around.