Going to the Bathhouse in 2017

[InterestingGuy]

Does anyone here go to a bathhouse in their city?

 

Is the Bathhouse experience different in 2017 compared to what it used to be?

[+ poolboy48220]

it's been a couple of years, probably, since I've been. :-(

[Rudynate]

I went to the Steamworks in Berkeley late last year. It was a weekday afternoon - the place was packed. Great crowd and they weren't there to kill time - everybody really seemed to have a mission.

[LoveNDino]

I've only been to a bathhouse in Auckland and it was a lovely experience. I would recommend to anyone to visit one if you find yourself in Auckland.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

The baths that are left in the States seem to run at either feast or famine

 

Club Dallas hangs on by a thread. Steamworks Chicago has lines out the door. Club Houston spent a ton on a remodel, but has nearly killed any vibe of sex thanks to making it too sterile looking. Flex baths seem to be getting their shit together. Midtowne Spas look to be losing many of their leases. A few have closed in the recent past.

 

Europe still has the best baths: Pleasuredrome and Chariots in London can be a ton of fun.

 

 

... I feel like I just gave the State of the Union on bathhouses.

[InterestingGuy]

Lol @Benjamin_Nicholas

 

I know every city is different. I went to Steamworks in Chicago on a Saturday night (ten years ago) - and it felt like a circuit party (Some hot men - but too many guys on drugs).

 

A friend told me that at his bathhouse, there is rarely anyone under 60 - and that was not what I experienced in Chicago.

 

I wonder how many guys under 40 even know about them anymore.

[Phil_musc]

We have two in Philly and I've been to both, but not recently (probably about a year ago). Definitely not the same experience sin the old days.

 

Had a visit to Steamworks in Chicago last summer. I felt like I was in a time warp. So many guys. . . (sigh)

[caliguy]

Lol @Benjamin_Nicholas

 

I know every city is different. I went to Steamworks in Chicago on a Saturday night (ten years ago) - and it felt like a circuit party (Some hot men - but too many guys on drugs).

 

A friend told me that at his bathhouse, there is rarely anyone under 60 - and that was not what I experienced in Chicago.

 

I wonder how many guys under 40 even know about them anymore.

Do people go to bath houses not fucked up on something? Of coarse that's from my own fucked up perspective. To this day I can't visit them because I know drugs will be of plenty there. That's where I used to score them.

[nynakedtop]

certainly here in NYC, the bath house scene is not what it once was.... (pauses for a moment to reflect upon fond memories of the St. Marks and the Club Baths)... i guess they have been replaced by the sex club/party scene which is fine with me!

 

but when i travel, there is much fun to be had at bath houses....thinking in particular of Paris, London, Bangkok, Berkeley..... Los Angeles!

[+ FreshFluff]

The baths that are left in the States seem to run at either feast or famine

 

Club Dallas hangs on by a thread. Steamworks Chicago has lines out the door. Club Houston spent a ton on a remodel, but has nearly killed any vibe of sex thanks to making it too sterile looking.

 

Do horny men really care about decor? Photos of bathhouses from the 70s suggest otherwise.

 

BTW, are most of the customers closeted men?

[SuenosAmor]

Since PrEP, they're having a resurgence.

[Rudynate]

Do horny men really care about decor? Photos of bathhouses from the 70s suggest otherwise.

 

BTW, are most of the customers closeted men?

 

That may have been the case a LONG time ago, like in the mid-20th century or earlier, but the baths have been popular with all sorts of guys as long as I can remember. They used to have promotions to encourage business - buddy night, dollar-locker night. In the 70s, I lived in Denver and the popular bathhouse was the Ballpark. Several times a year they would throw these great parties that would last until well into the morning. Some of the baths had pretty nice workout facilities. There were actually people who would stay at the baths for days at a time, running around cranked on coke or MDA, ordering pizza in. It was really an amazing time.

[Deadlift1]

The baths that are left in the States seem to run at either feast or famine

 

Club Dallas hangs on by a thread. Steamworks Chicago has lines out the door. Club Houston spent a ton on a remodel, but has nearly killed any vibe of sex thanks to making it too sterile looking. Flex baths seem to be getting their shit together. Midtowne Spas look to be losing many of their leases. A few have closed in the recent past.

 

Europe still has the best baths: Pleasuredrome and Chariots in London can be a ton of fun.

 

 

 

... I feel like I just gave the State of the Union on bathhouses.

 

Why do you think Steamworks is such a big hit? While others are floundering? Maybe it's the Brand?

[Rudynate]

Why do you think Steamworks is such a big hit? While others are floundering? Maybe it's the Brand?

 

Their location in Berkeley is enormous. If you don't know the place, at first you can get lost and it can take forever to find your way back to your room. Very dimly lit, nice workout facilities, music so loud you can't hear yourself think. But I would say the draw is the crowd - the time I was there, the place was just full of amazing looking men.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

Do people go to bath houses not fucked up on something? Of coarse that's from my own fucked up perspective. To this day I can't visit them because I know drugs will be of plenty there. That's where I used to score them.

 

A lot of guys go totally sober, myself included.

 

In all of my time at baths, I've never seen outward use of drugs.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

Why do you think Steamworks is such a big hit? While others are floundering? Maybe it's the Brand?

 

Steamworks works because they have put money back into the business. Chicago alone put over $4 million into the facility over the last 10 years. Berkeley and Toronto have equally as beautiful locations. Very few baths are doing that now... Most end up dilapidated, dirty and disheveled.

 

From what I've seen, closeted men aren't their target market anymore. I mean, sure, they serve that purpose well, but it's only a niche for them.

 

If I were running a bath, I'd focus on it being the better Grindr alternative: Less bullshit, no catfishing, no endless conversations from pic collectors. There's a lot less pretense when you're in a towel and staring someone in the eye. I think that's sexy as hell.

[Deadlift1]

Wow, that's a lot of money. I can imagine what they pull in. You would think they would have a Steamworks in NYC

[mike carey]

Definitely not the same experience sin the old days.

Was 'experience sin' deliberate or a freudian slip?

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

... music so loud you can't hear yourself think.

 

As long as you can hear yourself fuck, I say bring a pair of foam earplugs

[Rudynate]

As long as you can hear yourself fuck, I say bring a pair of foam earplugs

 

It's actually a good thing - it was very atmospheric. That afternoon that I spent at the Steamworks 7 or 8 months was so much fun that I've been intending to go back ever since and just haven't gotten there.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

I bought a pair of these for the gym, but they've worked well in trains, airplanes and just generally walking around cities.

 

I bet they'd be pretty bathhouse friendly too

 

https://hereplus.me/

[SuenosAmor]

From experience, I know you can be tweaking without showing obvious, outward signs. Just saying.

[+ Gar1eth]

There were actually people who would stay at the baths for days at a time, running around cranked on coke or MDA, ordering pizza in. It was really an amazing time.

 

I guess I'm a prude -ok I know I am. But illicit drugs scare me silly. I don't even like poppers-two reasons-I'm usually on an ED drug which can make them deadly and even when I wasn't -I think someone gave them to me once-they gave me a headache.

 

Their location in Berkeley is enormous. If you don't know the place, at first you can get lost and it can take forever to find your way back to your room. Very dimly lit, nice workout facilities, music so loud you can't hear yourself think. But I would say the draw is the crowd - the time I was there, the place was just full of amazing looking men.

 

I've been to Steamworks in Seattle ususally to meet with a specific person and not cruise. The two or three times I went to cruise years ago-I managed to get oral once otherwise I was ignored. It's a pretty dismal place. I hate the loud thumping music and the darkness. When I've left my glasses in my room and need to get a new towel, I've tripped on the steps down to the counter because of the dark. And the music gives me a headache.

 

As for the facilities, the steam room closed a year ago. They initially said they were fixing it. But now they say they aren't. I don't mind as I hate the heat, I'm blind without my glasses, and from past experiences I know I can pretty much only fuck in a bed. The place doesn't have a weight room either-which I wouldn't use if they had. If you get the idea that I'm not impressed by the Steamworks themes of subterranean (porno) tunnel meets pounding dance club volume music , you'd be right.

 

As far as bathhouses go, I prefer The Club in Dallas. I never had any success at cruising there either. But I did go there to meet a few escorts years ago. Their large rooms, unless they've changed over the years have either a full size or Queen size bed, and the rooms are actually big enough to walk around in. I prefer that to the cramped quarters present at Steamworks. The shower space at The Club in Dallas was also nicer than the showers at Steamworks in Seattle. The shower heads at The Club are on a wall and not on a gym class pole like at Steamworks.

 

Gman

[+ Gar1eth]

That's why I stopped going to the Berkeley Steamworks. I really hate the loud repetive thump thump music most gay men can't seen to get enough of at gay bars and clubs.

 

I'm betting drugs help tolerate the music but it's hard to imagine that everyone is on drugs. So I guess there are drug free guys who like it too.

 

 

Gman

[+ Gar1eth]

I surprised no one has mentioned Power Exchange in San Francisco. Years ago while so far in the closet that I couldn't even see the entryway and was probably still a virgin, a straight friend was telling about a bachelor party that went there. I had thought it was a gay bathhouse and for years wondered why a bunch of straight guys would go there. But recently I'm told it's a pansexual place.

 

Gman.