One Night Only - Culture of Bathing Variety Show
Soak around and find out what bathing is all about
The Culture of Bathing Variety Show
Only in New York City could you go from a stage full of comedians and former Rockettes to cold plunges and saunas, with a variety show in between. The Culture of Bathing Variety Show is an unexpected romp through the serious and less serious questions around sauna, steam, soaking and everything else social bathing. After both a strange and sublime show, 99 attendees will join speakers and bathing luminaries from around the world in a late night of modern social bathing all over town. Experience bathing like you never have before, or for the very first time More details on the show and bathe around below! Tickets are limited and selling out quickly– buy your ticket now.
Culture of Bathing Variety Show
Tuesday, January 14, 2025
6:30-8:00pm at New School Auditorium 66 West 12th St. NYC
Performers, Speakers and Luminaries include:
Negin Farsad – Social Justice Comedian; Actor, Writer, Director and Filmmaker, WaitWait…Don’t Tell Me! Guest
Leonard Koren – Author of Wabi Sabi and Undesigning the Bath and creator of WET: the Magazine of Gourmet Bathing.
Machine Dazzle – “A true theatrical genius, who, under his professional name…has created some of the most inventive costumes and sets I have ever seen” - Hilton Als in the New Yorker
Mikkel Aaland – The “Godfather” of Sauna. Author of Sweat and the new documentary Perfect Sweat
Robert Hammond – High Line Co-Founder and now working to bring modern-day Roman Baths to the US as President of Therme Group US
Sami Rintala – Architect of floating saunas and founder of SALT, the cultural sauna phenomenon in the heart of Oslo
Robbie Bent – co-founder of Othership, the social media sensation bathhouse and breathwork app
Bridget Barkan – Performer who is part-Bette Midler, part-Stevie Nicks and part-Broadway
Megan Kress – Owner of Sauna du Nord and a founder of Sauna Sirens, a collective of sauna experiences owned and operated by Women+ in North America
Dan Harris – Bestselling author of 10% Happier, podcast host and ex-anchorman on Nightline and Good Morning, America
The Sarafinas – Dance group choreographed by Josh Weidenmiller
Steven Wendt – Performer/Creator/Musician, Shadow Puppeteer and foley artist (what’s that? Look it up!)
Bathhouse Bathe-Around
8:30-10:00pm
After the show, keep the night going and join us to experience modern social bathing at Elhani, Othership and Russian + Turkish Baths. If those are sold out, purchase a pass for the next day to: World Spa, Bathhouse and SoJo.
Tickets $10 for the show, or $25 for show and bathe-around. Limited tickets remain!
Special edition: In the news
Some of our favorite past articles on the bathing industry to prepare you for the Variety Show.
“New Yorkers don’t need wellness culture to sell them on the ancient art of communal bathing.” Rachel Syme’s “Soak and the City” is one of our favorite pieces ever written on the New York bathing scene. The Russian and Turkish Baths is participating in our bathe around next week!
“When Mr. Ostrow persuaded a young singer named Bette Midler to perform on the weekends on a tiny stage by the pool, the Baths became a destination for more than just sex. Her act at the Tubs, as she called the place, was irresistible, and it soon drew a straight, celebrity-strewn crowd — Mick Jagger one night, Helen Gurley Brown another.” Did you know Bette Midler got her start in a bathhouse (the street flyer is starting to make sense now isn’t it)? Steve Ostrow, the founder of The Continental Baths died last year. Read his NYT obituary to learn more about him and his contribution to bathing.
“I was ridden with the slight regret that I didn’t stay in the ice bath longer than 30 seconds. Do I have it in me to stay longer? Do I actually like this place now?” New York Mag sent Ashley Wolfgang to review the first American outpost of Othership last July. Try out Othership yourself on Tuesday night during the bathe arounds!
“They love feeding me and I love being well-fed every time I’m there. That’s always a treat after some good sauna.” Yes, we’re banging on about Jesse and how much he loves the Russian & Turkish Baths, again. Mandatory reading is Evan Ross Katz’s interview. Who knows maybe you’ll see him Tuesday night…
One last thing
Are you following us on Instagram yet? Keep up with the event and enjoy more of the quirks, joys, and beauty of bathing.
We’d love to hear from you - please send a DM, or email hello@cultureofbathing.com