November 10, 2005--Vanity, Thy Name Is Man
Call me old fashioned, but when I go for my facials I prefer not to have any women around (except for those applying the facials). What with all that pureed cucumber smeared on my face I’m not sure this is the way I want to be seen by the opposite sex. Much less the way I want either to meet people (if you know what I mean) or conduct business.
But as with so much in life, I find myself once again behind the trend. Or if you will, behind the times.
A recent NY Times piece reports on the latest hot thing to hit the Big Apple—co-ed day spas complete with full bars and food catered by the renowned Jean-George Vongerichten. And for those who want to conduct business while being gigong-ed ($65), there are WiFi hot spots and places where the bath-robed exec can meet with his assistant while being pummeled for $115 a pop.
You may not be surprised to learn, as I was, that nearly one-third of spa clients in the US are men. And thus the niche opportunity to convert upscale spas into places where these men can meet equally toned women (they offer “complete date packages” [don’t ask]), have a belt or two, and even enjoy a Jean-George meal for $80 to $90 a person. I suppose it’s easier to get a reservation at Completely Bare (yes, I am not making this us) than at his hottest new Perry Street restaurant.
And for those of you who are historical or multicultural minded, you need to know that spas of this kind were not invented on New York’s Upper East Side. Quiet the contrary. They are derived from ancient Arab bath houses, hammams, a town’s center of activity, where families would visit to check out eligible men and women for potential arranged marriages. According to Yasmine Djerradine, owner of an eponymous spa on East 60th Street, “You would go to gossip with your girl friends, and you would have coffee and talk with hair masks on, while someone under the table was working on your feet.” And someone else was inspecting all of you as a prospective bride for their shiftless son.
We prefer to do our own checking out these days, and so I am not surprised to learn that these nouveau spas are opening as fast as they can get the City permits they require.
Table for two has a new meaning in this, our brave new world.
Anyone catch the news today about Amman, Jordan?
But as with so much in life, I find myself once again behind the trend. Or if you will, behind the times.
A recent NY Times piece reports on the latest hot thing to hit the Big Apple—co-ed day spas complete with full bars and food catered by the renowned Jean-George Vongerichten. And for those who want to conduct business while being gigong-ed ($65), there are WiFi hot spots and places where the bath-robed exec can meet with his assistant while being pummeled for $115 a pop.
You may not be surprised to learn, as I was, that nearly one-third of spa clients in the US are men. And thus the niche opportunity to convert upscale spas into places where these men can meet equally toned women (they offer “complete date packages” [don’t ask]), have a belt or two, and even enjoy a Jean-George meal for $80 to $90 a person. I suppose it’s easier to get a reservation at Completely Bare (yes, I am not making this us) than at his hottest new Perry Street restaurant.
And for those of you who are historical or multicultural minded, you need to know that spas of this kind were not invented on New York’s Upper East Side. Quiet the contrary. They are derived from ancient Arab bath houses, hammams, a town’s center of activity, where families would visit to check out eligible men and women for potential arranged marriages. According to Yasmine Djerradine, owner of an eponymous spa on East 60th Street, “You would go to gossip with your girl friends, and you would have coffee and talk with hair masks on, while someone under the table was working on your feet.” And someone else was inspecting all of you as a prospective bride for their shiftless son.
We prefer to do our own checking out these days, and so I am not surprised to learn that these nouveau spas are opening as fast as they can get the City permits they require.
Table for two has a new meaning in this, our brave new world.
Anyone catch the news today about Amman, Jordan?
posted by Steven Zwerling at
10:45 AM
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