Soak it up at the lesbian bathhouse: a new generation of dyke-friendly saunas bursts on to the North American scene.Lesbians have never flocked to gay men's--Style bathhouses, but North American North American named after North America. North American blastomycosis see North American blastomycosis. North American cattle tick see boophilusannulatus. dykes are finally catching on to this oldest of traditions thanks to a slew of sensual, dyke-friendly saunas. Ride this new wave of bathhouse chic at San Francisco's quasiauthentic Japanese-style Kabuki Springs and Spa. The Caucasian girls at the door don't demand shoe removal, but under rice-paper lights seated women scrub more or less traditionally before heading into the 104-degree bath. This utterly classy joint prioritizes relaxation and quiet (no touching!), but rumor says it isn't devoid of lesbian social opportunity. Surprised that something so good could survive a Pacific crossing and land (somewhat altered) in this homo Homo Genus of the primate family Hominidae. Members of Homo are characterized by a relatively large cranium (braincase), limb structure adapted to erect posture and a two-footed gait, well-developed and fully opposable thumbs, hands capable of power and precision grips, and holy city? Don't be. Downtown in the Mission District, visit Osento, the mother of dyke saunas. The Missouri-born owner, lesbian-feminist Summer Kraml, made her bathhouse's business cards in 1959--way before the birth of lesbian-feminism. Today, neighborhood dykes and tourist chicks dip, steam, and sunbathe sun·bathe intr.v. sun·bathed, sun·bath·ing, sun·bathes To expose the body to the sun. sun from noon till midnight year-round. No public displays of affection allowed, but there's no rule against flirting! Every dunk in the hot tub demands a cold splash; the wet sauna sparks a craving to beach on the seasonally sundrenched patio. Meanwhile, veteran soakers recount rowdy Calistoga weekends and investigate newbies' tattoos, like sorority sorority: see fraternity. sisters inducting pledges into a hidden world. "I love that place," says Julio LaFleur, who hired Summer as consultant and mentor for her own Hot House, a five-year-old women's sauna in Seattle. Quiet Hot House caters to regulars--lesbians, gardeners, athletes, artists, and performers--but think naps and yoga, not friendly chitchat. "People come for physical and emotional healing," Julio says. As a result, "we have no windows, no sound--you can't tell if it's rainy or sunny, day or night." Summer's and Julio's bathhouses are West Coast riffs on the Japanese sento, ladled with free-floating feminism, New Age spirituality; and feminine attraction. In a similar vein, Chicago's women-only Thousand Waves Spa just smells better--and is more relaxing and affordable--than most American spas. Two lesbian martial arts This is a list of martial arts, broken down by region and style. African martial arts Eritrea
Lacking East Asian conceits (and very popular with Asian-Canadian women, perhaps on that account) is Toronto's Pussy pus·sy adj. Containing or resembling pus. puss, pussy term of endearment addressed to a cat. Called also moggy. Palace. It's another kind of animal altogether--a bathhouse uninhibitedly imitative im·i·ta·tive adj. 1. Of or involving imitation. 2. Not original; derivative. 3. Tending to imitate. 4. Onomatopoeic. of steamy men's saunas--that also gives north-of-the-border girls a chance to play outdoor polar bear polar bear, large white bear, Ursus maritimus, formerly Thalarctos maritimus, of the coasts of arctic North America. Polar bears usually live on drifting pack ice, but sometimes wander long distances inland. and indoor smoker, and to embrace other differences between Canadian and American laws and customs. It's also one of perhaps only two wholly trans-inclusive saunas. Held monthly at Club Toronto (normally a gay men's bathhouse), the party, focuses on socializing, not bathing. For privacy head to the fourth floor, a deliberately creepy labyrinth of mirrors, slate-gray walls, and a prison block with barred doors. In summer, enjoy the pool, enter workshops, and ogle o·gle v. o·gled, o·gling, o·gles v.tr. 1. To stare at. 2. To stare at impertinently, flirtatiously, or amorously. v.intr. the bathhouse priestess. Or check out PP's spanking-new little sister at the steamy Central Spa in suburban Hamilton. Both events are erratic, so get on the Pussy Palace mailing list An automated e-mail system on the Internet, which is maintained by subject matter. There are thousands of such lists that reach millions of individuals and businesses. New users generally subscribe by sending an e-mail with the word "subscribe" in it and subsequently receive all new . And steam away, ladies! Central Spa: 401 Main St. W., Hamilton, Canada; 416-588-619 I Hot House: 1019 E. Pike St., Seattle; 206-568-3240 Kabuki: 1750 Geary Blvd., San Francisco; 415-922-6000 Osento: 955 Valencia St., San Francisco; 415-282-6333 Pussy Palace: Toronto; 416-925-9872, Ext. 2115 Thousand Waves Spa: 1212 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago; 773-549-0700 |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion