In the East Village [1], the traditional Tenth Street Russian and Turkish Baths (268 E. 10th St., between 1st Ave. and Ave. A, 212/674-9250) is filled with saunas, steam rooms, and massage rooms. At one time, many such establishments existed in the East Village, but this is the last one left. Some days are coed, others for men or women only.
The 1851 Kiehl’s (109 3rd Ave., near 13th St., 212/677-3171) is an old-fashioned chemist’s where you can buy a full line of natural, handmade beauty products.
Bigelow Pharmacy (414 6th Ave., 212/533-2700) in Greenwich Village [2] is New York’s oldest continuously operating pharmacy; the official historic landmark was established in 1838, and still sports its original oak fittings and gaslight fixtures.
Caswell-Massey (518 Lexington Ave., at 48th St., 212/755-2254) is Manhattan [3]’s oldest apothecary. The wood-paneled den dates back to 1752 and claims to have sold George Washington his shaving cream.
Products from Bond No. 9 (680 Madison Ave. and other locations, 212/838-2780), with its collection of perfumes named after NYC neighborhoods in cute NYC subway token–themed bottles, are a great gift to “smell like New York,” just hopefully not in August.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/new-york-city-long-island/manhattan/east-village
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/new-york-city-long-island/manhattan/greenwich-village
[3] http://www.moon.com/destinations/new-york-city-long-island/manhattan