In most of the world, people used to bathe together; it was almost unheard of to be wet, nude, and alone. In 21st-century New York City, it’s rare to be alone unless you’re in your bathroom. While the city does have a long history of bathhouses and spas, from the East Village Russian and Turkish Baths on East 10th Street to Korean jjimjilbangs like the much-missed Spa Castle in Queens, most have moved from the no-frills men’s club vibe toward buzzy takes on tradition. In the 1970s, gay men began populating traditional bathhouses from Harlem on down, turning them into sites of resistance for people tired of being told their bodies, and what they might do with them, are inherently filthy. But recently these spaces have become much more palatable for corporate tastes and takes on wellness and well-being.
Read more about the bathhouse on aninteriormag.com.
