Inside the 124-Year-Old Russian and Turkish Baths in the East Village

The New York Times recently published a fantastic profile on one of the City's oldest bath houses, Russian & Turkish Baths in the East Village.

The 124-year-old bathhouse on East 10th Street has long been a New York institution, a bona fide melting pot, where the sweat of celebrities mingles with that of rabbis and taxi drivers. It’s where downtown denizens have gone to detox and discuss the deeper things of life, and where Orthodox Jewish men have gone to convene, or to hide from their wives. For much of its existence it has been a men’s club for those far beyond the age of vanity.

Check out the full article for more on the Russian & Turkish Baths.

David Abrams cooling off with ice water in a sauna at the Russian and Turkish Baths.

The 124-year-old bathhouse on East 10th Street in the East Village.

Boris Tuberman, left, one of the bathhouse’s two owners, and Dmitry Shapiro, son of the other owner.

Sophia Giovannetti, 23, and Michael Swellander, 29, chatting between baths.

Jason Russell, 42, in the cold pool after sitting in the saunas.

Gary Hope, 48, getting a platza (an oak-branch thrashing).

Visitors relax in the common area between saunas, steam rooms and an ice-cold pool in the East Village bathhouse.

Jim Monahan scrubs down in the showers after time in the searing Russian Room, which is heated to over 190 degrees. Regulars say the saunas are hotter on so-called Boris weeks.

Rich Trince shaves at the bathhouse on a Boris week. Mr. Trince, 50, has been visiting the baths for 20 years.

Jamie Valleau rinses off on a David Week. “David’s week is easier because they run specials,” said Mr. Valleau, 26, a carpenter, bartender and mechanic who lives in Brooklyn.

Mr. Valleau outside the Turkish steam room, which is heated to 140 degrees.

Joel Reuben Ganz receives a massage, a gift from his friend Michael Ngo, for his 39th birthday.

Vanessa Luczun takes a dip in the 45-degree pool in the center of the bathhouse after heating up in the saunas.

A guest receives a platza, a massage with bundles of oak branches, or venik.

Adik Sukiasyan scrubs down after using the sauna.

The storied baths are housed in the basement of an East Village tenement. Women were allowed just one day a week until the 1980s, when Mr. Tuberman and Mr. Shapiro gradually made nearly every day coed.

via New York Times

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Russian & Turkish Baths

268 E 10th St, New York, NY 10009
russianturkishbaths.com

Matt Coneybeare

Editor in Chief

Matt enjoys exploring the City's with his partner and son. He is an avid marathon runner, and spends most of his time eating, running, and working on cool stuff.

Posts by Matt Coneybeare

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