Bathhouse gay nyc
Continental Baths at the Ansonia Hotel
History
In the late 1960s, Steve Ostrow, an entrepreneur and former opera singer, wanted to elevate the gay bathhouse experience from what were then seedy spaces to an enhanced destination as a health club and spa. At the time, homosexuality was illegal and most New York City LGBT bars were operated by the Mafia.
In 1968, he leased the vacant 40,000-square-foot, multi-level basement space of the once lavish Ansonia Hotel (then rental apartments), which previously housed its Turkish Baths and swimming pool area. Ostrow predicted that his new undertaking would draw patrons away from other locations such as the well-established Everard Baths.
Ostrow initially created a space that he advertised as the recreation of the “glory of Ancient Rome.” It featured a disco gyrate floor, pool with cascading waterfall, sauna rooms, bunk beds in public areas, and small confidential rooms. When it first opened on September 12, 1968, it contained 50 rooms and 200 lockers and operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Over second, Ostrow added a cabaret and stage, restaurant, gym, l
Gay Saunas in New York City
Introduction to New York City Queer Saunas and Bathhouses
Discovering a homosexual bathhouse in New York Town can feel like navigating a maze, especially when you understand the options seem surprisingly sparse in such a bustling metropolis. This is a common puzzle many gay travellers find themselves trying to solve when they visit NYC. In this urban area, the gay sauna culture diverges significantly from what one might find in European capitals prefer Barcelona, Rome, or Milan.
Why, you might ask? The landscape of gay saunas in New York City has been shaped by its history, particularly during the devastating HIV/AIDS epidemic of the 1980s, leading to the closure of many establishments. Yet, the spirit of communal and intimate exploration among gay men has not dwindled. Instead, it has transformed, giving rise to alternative venues and vibrant events that capture the essence of Modern York's gay scene.
East Side Club, the city's lone traditional same-sex attracted bathhouse survivor. From massage-based establishments masquerading as spas to the lively world of gay sex parties, New York City bids a plethora of choices for those looking to explore their desires in a safe a
Everard Baths
History
The legendary Everard Baths, one of the longest unforgettable of New York’s bathhouses, attracted gay men probably since its opening in 1888, but, as documented, from at least Earth War I until its closing in 1986.
The building began as the Free Will Baptist Church in 1860. In 1882, it was converted into the New-York Horticultural Society’s Horticultural Hall. It became the Regent Music Hall in 1886-87, then the Fifth Avenue Music Hall, financed by James Everard. Born in Dublin, Ireland, Everard (1829-1913) came to Recent York City as a boy, and eventually formed a masonry jobbing business that was successful in receiving a number of major city public works contracts. With his profits, he invested in true estate after 1875, and built up one the country’s largest brewing concerns. (He was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery.)
After the Harmony Hall was closed by the City over the sale of beer there, Everard decided to store his investment by turning the facility into a commercial “Russian and Turkish” bathhouse, opened in May 1888 at a require of $150,000. Lushly appointed and with a variety of
Debauchery (and a brief detox) at an underground Brooklyn bathhouse rave
By Arielle Domb
It’s 1 a.m., and everyone is incredibly hot and nearly naked. The bathhouse has a faded majestic feel: tiled walls painted with an Edenic landscape, an assortment of erotic chiseled sculptures, an opal jacuzzi and an emerald plunge pool.
Glinting dripping bodies are everywhere. Getting off on the red-light move floor. Getting it on in the water. Leaving steam rooms immersed in clouds of pearly vapor.
Guests begin their night in the Jacuzzi (Photo by Arielle Domb)
It could be a scene from a shiny ‘80s porno flick — gleaming torsos, G-strings, crotchless pants and a supercharged beat. It’s a sensorium of sweaty, sultry pleasure, somewhere between Berlin’s infamous nightclub Berghain and Ancient Greece.
This is Steamroom — a new Brooklyn bathhouse rave launched by Sam Liebling (who DJs as SEXAPPEAL) — and the latest sauna party to join Novel York’s underground scene, harking back to the city’s horny bathhouse heyday of the 1970s.
Following several (literally) steamy techno parties in Brooklyn locations — in a four story Bushwick warehouse and a Bed-Stuy lock equipped with a hand-built sauna