A Visit To The Russian Turkish Baths

[The Russian Turkish Baths, 10th street.  Photo via Getty]

Yesterday, in a quest to do whatever it took to rid myself of the late summer cold I had developed, I headed over to the East Village's authentic Russian Turkish Baths on 10th street.  A true first timer, this experience proved to be just that: an experience.  And so, I sat among the eclectic crew in the Russian room, watching as another bather chose to partake in a Platza (having a specialist scrub you, clean you, whisk you, and eventually beat you with a broom made of fresh oak leaves drenched in olive oil soap), listening to the older men speak of their vineyards in Italy, and, eventually, having no hesitation whilst drowning my head full of cool water at the bucket station.

Whether you are a famous model looking to shed some water weight, a celebrity like Brandon Davis (who was surprisingly there last night with his entourage!), wishing to escape reality, hungover or sick, or just in the mood for some warm socializing, the baths, which have been around for centuries, and on 10th street for over 100 years, are a tradition worth keeping.  Don't want to take my word for it?  Check out their extensive famous guest visitors below:

More photos and story below:

Generations of Celebrities have passed through its doors over the years, Frank Sinatra, John Belushi, Bill Murray, Mikhail Baryshnikov, and more recently the likes of Uma Thurman, Colin Farrell, Jennifer Lopez, John Travolta, Sean P-Diddy Combs, Kimora Lee Simmons, Q-Tip, Michelle Rodriguez, Darryl Hannah, Robert De Niro, Veronica Webb, Chelsea Clinton and L.L. Cool J.