Gay bathhouses new york
Everard Baths
History
The legendary Everard Baths, one of the longest long-lasting of New York’s bathhouses, attracted lgbtq+ men probably since its opening in 1888, but, as documented, from at least World 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 Harmony Hall in 1886-87, then the Fifth Avenue Music Hall, financed by James Everard. Born in Dublin, Ireland, Everard (1829-1913) came to New York Municipality as a male child, and eventually formed a masonry jobbing business that was successful in receiving a number of major city widespread works contracts. With his profits, he invested in valid estate after 1875, and built up one the country’s largest brewing concerns. (He was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery.)
After the Music Hall was closed by the City over the sale of beer there, Everard decided to rescue his investment by turning the facility into a commercial “Russian and Turkish” bathhouse, opened in May 1888 at a cost of $150,000. Lushly appointed and with a variety of
New York Review of Architecture
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NYRA’s Catty Corner columnist takes the plunge.
by Eric Schwartau
In one of the biggest, gayest cities in the world, there’s one big, same-sex attracted thing missing: big, gay bathhouses. New York City bathing establishments like the Everard (fondly nicknamed “Ever Hard”) and the Brand-new St. Marks Baths were flourishing centers of gay social experience until 1985, when the urban area shut them down amid the AIDS crisis. Whether you think their closure was a necessary measure to save lives or a draconian overreach, almost forty years on, bathhouses like these have yet to return—and they won’t so long as Unused York State Codes Rules and Regulations, Volume A Title 10 Part 24.2, which deems such facilities “a threat to the public health,” remains on the books.
Still, we work with what we have.
Read more.
On why the story of the shipwreck continues to compel us
by Sophie Haigney
Titanic: The Exhibition lacks the depth of informed research we would expect from a museum exhibition, as well as the visual panache of something more fully cinematic—an IMAX documentary or even the Banksy exhibition
Gay Saunas in New York City
Introduction to New York City Gay Saunas and Bathhouses
Discovering a gay bathhouse in New York Urban area can feel like navigating a maze, especially when you realize the options seem surprisingly sparse in such a bustling metropolis. This is a usual puzzle many gay travellers find themselves trying to solve when they call on NYC. In this urban area, the gay sauna tradition diverges significantly from what one might find in European capitals like 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 soul 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 New York's gay scene.
East Side Club, the city's lone traditional gay bathhouse survivor. From massage-based establishments masquerading as spas to the lively world of gay sex parties, Brand-new York City offers a plethora of choices for those looking to travel their desires in a safe a
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 enterprise 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 boogie 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 day, Ostrow added a cabaret and stage, restaurant, gym, l