Ongoing: Russian Banya Parties
Brooklyn Banya, 602 Coney Island Ave bet Beverley Rd & Ave C, Kensington, BK (map)
Q to Beverley Rd (30 min from midtown--NOT in Coney Island)
Cross Marlborough/15th St & walk 5 blocks, left on Coney Island Ave
"Best (and Only) Russian-bathhouse Dance Party" - Village Voice "Best of 2006"
"A night of steamy fun" - TimeOut New York "Your Perfect Weekend" pick
"Epic"..."One of the coolest cheap activities posted to our recession-proof list" - Brooklyn Based
Break out your bikini or swim trunks, and join our hand-picked crowd of artsy, funky (and nearly naked) New Yorkers for the glorious return of Gemini & Scorpio's legendary Russian Banya party. Whether single or coupled, straight or gay, you can have the steamiest bikini-clad dance party night of your life:
- Sweat in the saunas!
- Soak in the jacuzzi!
- Dance to live gypsy music!
- Drink free vodka!
- Smoke free hookahs!
- Eat yummy pierogies & other delicious ethnic foods!
- Get massages and platza treatments!
We have the baths to ourselves, with a few hand-picked professionals on hand for the optional platzas and massages. Enjoy: Russian, Turkish and Swedish steam rooms, jacuzzi and cold plunge pool; poolside dance floor; rooftop smoking deck; hookah lounge and chillout rooms; authentic and delicious Russian food in a private restaurant room with a view of the dance floor.
Some of New York's best Balkan gypsy / brass bands have played in their skivvies (and sometimes in the jacuzzi) at these parties: Hungry March Band, Brooklyn's own legendary street brass marching band; Slavic Soul Party, NYC's ultimate Balkan party band; The Sway Machinery, with members of Balkan Beat Box, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Arcade Fire and Antibalas; Zlatne Uste, best known for throwing Golden Fest, NYC's biggest Balkan music celebration; Raya Brass Band, Brooklyn's own Balkan brass band; Luminescent Orchestrii, a whirlwind of gupsy tango klezmer punk; and Romashka, a Russian-gypsy ensemble. Our favorite ethnomesh DJs kept the dace floor hotter than the saunas: Joro Boro, DJ Shakey, Barney Iller.
This is the kind of party you always imagine, but can never quite find in real life...and may be the only one you'll come out of cleaner than when you came in.
Past Banya Parties
2010 Photos by Larisa Fuchs








2007 Photos by Getty Images)




2006 Banya Photos by Larisa Fuchs



