beethoven

You seem to be new to The Spa. Do your homework. There are more than 50 pages of comments on Utopia.

HE, I know. What's PALY?

Arjun has been giving massages in NYC for more than 5 years. I'm a very satisfied client. I know he does four-handed massages with a partner (or partners), but I don't know them, and have never had one. But if Arjun is involved, I know it's going to be reliably enjoyable. Contact him: https://rentmasseur.com/Arjun

This Ukranian woman......is she hot? Does she put out?? I don't like cigarette smoke, but I could live with it......

I've been going to Utopia since it opened; obviously, I like it a lot. The last two times, with two different masseurs -- who were both excellent, btw -- the massages lasted 50 minutes. Perhaps that's their new policy? I didn't ask but if mcskill wants to complain, or merely to ask or to comment, management is most attentive to clients' requests and comments. Finally, I'm surprised at Amargrossa's report that Alex didn't even ask him to turn over, nor work on his front at all. That was not my experience. I have never failed to receive a HE at Utopia, or the one time I was at Shangrila, where Alex was my masseur, with a very happy ending!

I saw this tonight, and was very moved by this docudrama -- the director's term -- about Jews who hid from the Nazis in Berlin, avoiding deportation to death camps in Poland. 7,000 Jews hid during 1942-45, and 1500 survived. This movie is based on interviews with four of them about ten years ago. One of the survivors and the director spoke after tonight's screening at the Landmark on West 57th St in New York. It is also at the Quad Cinema in NY, and has opened in Los Angeles. Some may have read the unfavorable review in this morning's NY Times, which is accurate in its description. However I do not agree at with Jeanette Catsoulis' conclusion. According to the director, plans for a wider distribution in the US are up in the air. It has already been shown at film festivals, and in Germany, Israel, Japan, and China, and probably other countries that he didn't mention. I definitely recommend it.

I pay in cash at Utopia because they charge $5 for using a credit card. Obviously, I tip in cash. BTW, someone wrote that he thought Shangrila was too expensive, because his 90 minute massage cost $120, and then a tip, which approached $200 total. Yes, I can see that. Utopia is not as nicely decorated as Shangrila, and the waiting area (where I never wait, as I'm always on time, and so is my masseur) is smaller, but a 90 minute massage at Utopia is $90. 60 minutes is $60 at Utopia. 60 minutes at Shangrila is $90, but $80 with a membership, which I think management is giving away for free as an introductory offer for a while. I find that Utopia is usually quiet, though the walls do not go all the way to the ceiling, and I can hear a phone ring once in a while, but whoever talks on the phone knows how to keep his voice down. Utopia and Shangrila are both about 30 minutes walk from my apartment, and the masseurs appear to rotate between the two. I was at Shangrila the week it opened, and liked everything about it (Alex was my masseur), but I prefer to spend less money at Utopia.

PS -- It occurred to me that only ten years ago, no contestant on Jeopardy would admit to being gay, much less say that he had a husband. Ten years ago, he and his husband could not have gotten married. To paraphrase Dr. King, the arc of justice bends slowly, but it bends in the right direction.

I was about to write the same thing as N13. So he's taken..... I guess someone else also thought he's cute -- and smart, too!

I liked this movie a lot. Melissa McCarthy is excellent! Should be seen!

If you informed management at Utopia that one of their masseurs not only lied about the hourly rate, which is $60, but asked for a tip, that guy would be fired immediately.

I was at the new Shangrila spa on 44th st, a few weeks ago, and there was a really big Asian masseur with a crew cut. His name is William. I didn't get to speak with him; perhaps he's your guy?

I just got a discount flyer in the mail for "Gary," Nathan Lane's new vehicle, also with Andrea Martin, written by Taylor Mac and directed by George C. Wolfe. It's billed as a sequel to Titus Andronicus: "It's the fall of the Roman Empire...and it's a comedy." (After Titus Andronicus, we need a comedy!) The discounted orchestra seats are $89, and the available seats are in crummy locations. Regular prices are quite high, especially for a non-musical. Previews begin March 5, and it opens April 11. Anyone know anything about this new play? Any "buzz" on the Rialto?

PS His outcall rate is $50 higher than his incall rate, which indicates that he's paying to rent a studio. I sure hope it's more comfortable than that dump on 14th street!

Something odd that I've noticed in the last week: three or four masseurs, including Leojacob today, list their location on 82nd Street between Central Park West and Columbus Ave. I notice this because I live on the uws. Perhaps there's a rental studio there, as there is on 14th St between 6th & 7th avenues? Or perhaps this is a revival of that Russian Mafia scam on the upper east side a few years ago?

I was going to post Peter's ad, but you beat me to it. Highly recommended! If you want him to use a table, just ask. Also, if you don't want a happy ending with all the trimmings (and I mean all!), let him know in advance, and there will be 60 minutes of "legit" massage, rather than 45 minutes and 15 minutes of "oral fun," as his ad used to say, before the Massage Police took over.

He's got two "come hither" photos on his ad, but "erotic" is not included. $150 for non-erotic? I'll pass. Those may be his photos, which look good, but I'll wait for someone else to take the plunge.

Kody, all you have to do is look on this form for lots of opinions and recommendations of spas.

No, I would not tip an online masseur 50-100%. I have a regular masseur who charges $100/hr., and that's what I pay him. No tip. This is fine with him. (He often has discounted specials.) I have another masseur, who charges $100 for 90 minutes, and I give him $120. The first time I did that, he said, "You know, my rate is only $100." (I just feel weird paying only $100 for 90 minutes.) I merely said, "Yes, I know. That's OK." As I've pointed out before, the spa masseurs keep only 1/3 of what we pay. That's why my usual tip is $60 on a $60/hr massage in a spa.

I'm not sure what a beefy rugby build is, but Victor at Utopia Spa is 6'2 and about 200 lbs. If you search Rentmassseur and Masseurfinder, you will find what you're looking for.

This is closing in a few weeks, and I'm trying to decide whether to see it. I know next to nothing about it, except the plot, and I've read the NY Times and New Yorker reviews. Has anyone seen this play?

There have been complaints here about masseurs at spas who requested tips. The WORST was the masseur who asked for a tip in the middle of the massage, and the second worst was the guy who suggested a price range. Then came the guy who gave the client a dirty "look." WHY DON'T YOU COMPLAIN TO MANAGEMENT?

I think there's a huge difference between a masseur who advertises, and works for himself, and a masseur who's employed by a spa. The masseurs in spas usually keep 1/3 of what we pay, so for the average rate of $60/hour, he keeps $20. I usually tip at least $40 usually $60 in a spa, and I have gone to $80. A masseur who comes to my apt, or if I go to him, usually charges $140 minimum. I don't feel I need to tip him at that price. One masseur charges me $100 for 90 minutes, and I always give him $120 -- which isn't much, but if his fee is low, so be it. Most of the posts that preceded this don't seem to make that distinction.

https://rentmasseur.com/AFallenAngel I hope this guy is real, and hasn't stolen anyone's pix -- we had two bubbles burst already this morning. He sounds like he provides clients with a good time, and he's in walking distance of my apartment. Anyone have any experience with him? I'm hesitant to spend $150 on an unknown.

You are a good detective! He seems to have changed one letter in his first name, but both the ad and the link you provide give the same dates in December as being in NYC. There are similarities, to be sure. I wonder if the guy in the link is really doing massage for that price, or if someone has stolen his pictures? I don't think I'll take the plunge and find out. Thanks for your digging into it.