Chicago Steamworks - anyone?

[12is12]

Hi Guys,

I posted this question in the lounge section a month ago, but got only one rspns. Hope it's ok to query here again.

I m intrigued by its website, but put off by many reviews about negative attitude.

Please chime in: is it worth a visit? despite its location? Best days and hours? Anything....

Thx

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

Steamworks is not where you go if you have doubts about your sexual prowess or self-image. 

If you can deal with the game, it can be a hell of a good time. 

If not, it's a rude awakening. 

[guy7777]

I haven't been to Steamworks in several years, but I liked how it's very large and had some good looking guys for sure.

I can see how you can be apprehensive about attending if there are a significant number of negative reviews about the staff, etc. I wind up reading some of the reviews, but I would still go the next time I'm in Chicago. Hopefully, you'll go on a good night if you do decide to go

[Stan14]

I don't like there is no parking anywhere around.

I also realized just recently what is wrong with Steamworks.

It is not easy to explain and deliver, having in mind English is not my native...I will do my best:

This is gay bathhouse, correct? Some so-so quality porn spinning on wall TVs, shelves with condoms, a sling, a fuck bench etc in labyrinth of barely lighted turns, private rooms, sauna, huge Jacuzzi, steam room - what else to wish?

Isn't it supposed to be a place of horniness, lust, kisses, moans, touches, hugs etc etc?

It is not supposed to be a place where people come to take a nap, to walk with a look of a busy person on the way from office to lunch and back, watch news on TV, and demonstrate 'what the <> I am doing here?'

Another words, if there is a god of lustful men who want to fuck and to be fucked (is it Ganymedes or Pan?)- this is not a house of this deity.

I thought originally maybe it is just me - I am not an athletic, I am not young, with extra 20 pounds etc etc. So most time I was essentially ignored. Almost ignored. And even if some contact happened for a few minutes - it was so flaccid, lazy, bored...I kept feeling ashamed of myself, "this is all my fault..."

But then.

I realized - I was not only looking all the time, I was _watching_. And this is  what I saw all the time but did not realize it initially - the same passiveness, boredom, flaccidness of body and soul(sic!) - is everywhere, with everybody. In simple words - NOTHING HAPPENS there, just boredom. And even if it does - it looks like a sex party of senile impotent somnambules, pardon me my Klatchian.

You know, in some companies they make so called 'team building events' - order some pizza and coke, play music, or even book some entertainment places with some bowling and arcade machines or what-not...And people have to come, because their boss is there and he is watching, they eat their free pizza and drink few free beers, hang around, make few meaningless conversations, pretend they are having fun and secretly keep throwing glances at their watch and wait when it is appropriate time to sneak away and go home finally. This is what Steamworks reminds me of.

So it is not me. It is modern gay 'community' - lazy, bored, tired, disappointed.

 

Of course I am over-exaggerating. It is not quite so. And I met once or twice a really alive and really hot lovely men there - but every time it was a feeling like they are at the wrong place.

 

[Marc in Calif]

On 11/8/2022 at 1:35 PM, Stan14 said:

It is not easy to explain and deliver, having in mind English is not my native...I will do my best...

 

Your writing was totally fine and very descriptive. You communicate very well in English! 

[harlow]

On 6/4/2022 at 2:26 AM, 12is12 said:

Hi Guys,

I posted this question in the lounge section a month ago, but got only one rspns. Hope it's ok to query here again.

I m intrigued by its website, but put off by many reviews about negative attitude.

Please chime in: is it worth a visit? despite its location? Best days and hours? Anything....

Thx

I went to Steamworks Chicago for the first time back in October.  I'm a regular at bathouses but I was hesitant to go here because of some horrible Yelp reviews.  I actually had an awesome time and didn't encounter any of the issues I read about in the reviews.  The guy that checked me in was very nice and welcoming and the place was very large and clean.  I was actually very impressed with the place and I can't wait to go back the next time I visit Chicago.

[blackmusclebear]

I hope to pop into Steamworks on Friday while I'm visiting Chicago. It's been on my list. Hope it's as good as some European saunas.

[Zimby]

I usually go to Steamworks a couple times a year.  I've never had a problem with attitude on any employee.  The layout of the club can be a little confusing and sometimes the individual rooms can be (temperature) hot but that is the only issue I've ever had there.  They have different events throughout the week and its easy enough to look that up on their website.  There is street parking (although it can be hard to find depending on the time of day) and you can take care of the charges for that on the Park Chicago app.  You can even increase your hours via your phone without having to run out to the car to update the meter.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

On 9/5/2024 at 6:02 PM, Zimby said:

individual rooms can be (temperature) hot but that is the only issue I've ever had there. 

I kinda find that sexy, as everyone ends up working up a sweat.  

With the amount of guys filming in private rooms, I think the hotter temp plays well with that.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

10 hours ago, Jacquok said:

I saw your post and thought I’d chime in. I’ve been curious about Chicago Steamworks myself, especially after reading mixed reviews. Some people say the vibe is great, others say the staff can be a bit cold. I think it might come down to the day and time you visit.

Most baths have a hit or miss front desk. 

Imagine dealing with that as your job...  I can't say I'd always be sunshine and rainbows to customers either. 

Steamworks itself is great thanks to the collection of guys who go.  It's a little bit of everything and the guys come with an understanding of what a bath is. 

That said, the typical game/chase still exists and just because you're in a towel doesn't mean you're going to fuck with the guy you find hot. 

Edited September 11, 2024 by BenjaminNicholas

[+ JEC]

The Steamworks bathhouse physical space is the best I have seen.  There are lots of pretty boys there, many with attitude, still I have usually been successful getting laid there.  Lots of open/group play areas, darkroom, sling, glory holes, sauna steam and huge hottub/pool.  I don't expect the front desk staff to be cheerful, as long as they do their job.   There is street parking, it's in the middle of a city after all.  In a safe area (boystown).  TBH - if you are overly aged, overweight, unattractive - you will likely not have a good time (sorry to say) and another place might be a better choice for you.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

5 hours ago, JEC said:

TBH - if you are overly aged, overweight, unattractive - you will likely not have a good time (sorry to say) and another place might be a better choice for you.

That's sorta why Man's Country used to exist.  It catered to an older crowd (as well as rougher trade guys).

I never went and they closed in 2017.

I wouldn't dissuade someone from checking out SW based on their size/age, but I would also suggest they don't go in with insane expectations.

 

[+ azdr0710]

during my one and only visit to Chicago Steamworks several years ago, I had a very popular local provider with me who knew the deal and 'held my hand' thru the visit.....we ended up putting on a vanilla-ish show in a high-visibility area of the club and created a bit of a fun ruckus.......the provider was in very good shape and a sizeable crowd gathered within seconds of showtime!......one patron asked me if I had "paid for him" (no, not the admission fee!).......another patron (who ended up being pretty savvy and very cool) took it upon himself to sit right next to me and jerk off while we watched my guy show off for the crowd.....most of the gathering quietly enjoyed the diversion we'd created and they were probably grateful that something hot like this happened without any effort on their part......

this being friendly, midwestern Chicago, I didn't notice any "attitude"......I think I remember the check-in cashier guy being utterly emotionless, but that's ok.....ask him questions if you have any, but don't hog him if there's a line or something!.....patrons varied greatly, not surprisingly......for a first visit, after going to the locker room to store anything, just take a slow walk around the entire facility to see what it all feels like and what's going on in different nooks and crannies ......people will be milling about constantly......have fun, be polite, don't be creepy (!)......  

Edited September 14, 2024 by azdr0710

[MikeThomas]

I haven't been to a bathhouse in many, many years.  Every once in a while I do think back to lots of amazing times at the Ballpark when I lived in Denver.

[SlimJim]

On 9/14/2024 at 9:57 AM, MikeThomas said:

I haven't been to a bathhouse in many, many years.  Every once in a while I do think back to lots of amazing times at the Ballpark when I lived in Denver.

I used to live in Denver.  The Ballpark was amazing!

[BostonYankee1972]

A lot of fun, go on the weekend after 10pm 

[harlow]

Steamworks Chicago is probably the best bathhouse overall in the country.  The space is huge and clean, the prices are fair, and there's always a good mix of clientele.  I've read a lot of bad reviews about it that were posted on yelp a couple of years ago but I've never experienced anything that was said in them.  I go every time I visit Chicago and each time the staff has been nice to me...no issues at all.  I always leave drained and satisfied!!!