There’s nothing I like greater than a deal. Joyful hour greenback oysters? I’ll be there. Thrift retailer promoting shockingly underpriced designer denims? Gimme.
It’s significantly attractive when that whole lot is for one thing luxurious that I couldn’t in any other case afford. As somebody who can’t blow a whole paycheck on a diamond face peel, I chase experiences that make me really feel like I can.
So lately, when a good friend of mine raved about an East Bay spa with personal scorching tubs you’ll be able to reserve for $25 an hour (per individual), the lizard a part of my mind that loves each leisure bathing and bargains lit up.
To me, scorching tubs are the last word indulgence, particularly when the climate cools down. They transport me again to feeling tremendous grown-up sipping Dr. Pepper whereas soaking in my finest good friend’s yard, or warming up in winter cabins in Tahoe, or powering up the jets within the lodge jacuzzi after a protracted day within the Oregon rain. Plus, scorching tubs are romantic, significantly when paired with champagne and a tubbing associate with a well-muscled torso — properly, should you’ve absorbed as a lot rubbish actuality TV as I clearly have.
So it didn’t take a lot convincing for me to ebook an appointment at Piedmont Springs, a 40-year-old spa with scorching tubs, a steam room, a sauna and massages on Oakland’s Piedmont Avenue. Or, a minimum of, to attempt to. With simply 4 open-air tubs, reservations are a scorching commodity. Particularly for individuals who share my opinion that the proper time for a steamy soak is after the solar goes down. (However should you go through the day, a go to to Piedmont Springs is finest chased by a leisurely stroll by means of the little boutiques on Piedmont Avenue and a Fenton’s ice cream cone.)
The one accessible late night (Piedmont Springs is open till 10 p.m.) slot was in two weeks, so I snagged it. However when the fateful day lastly arrived, I bought a devastating name: My reserving had been canceled attributable to a upkeep difficulty.
Did this name smash my day? Possibly a bit of. However undeterred, I made one other appointment. This time, my plan proceeded with out incident, and my boyfriend and I headed over at 9 p.m. on a Monday evening. An uncommon selection, maybe, however enable me this advice: Give your self good issues on Mondays. It’s a deal with. And also you deserve it.
Into the recent tub time machine
From the surface, Piedmont Springs appears unassuming. Sandwiched between a plant retailer and a bookshop, I’d walked by it many occasions with out giving it a second thought. The modest storefront doesn’t have the shiny, trendy look of most newer spas. It opened in 1981, and you’ll inform. However this can be a good factor, and I’ll clarify why.
Lastly checking in on the entrance desk after the lengthy construct as much as the large day, we had been supplied complimentary tea. Then, after ready for just a few extra minutes for the group earlier than us to complete up, we had been every given towels and led to our vacation spot. We pushed by means of the gate to a small, personal, wood-paneled room with a bathe, a shelf for our belongings, and naturally, the crown jewel: a giant steamy spherical tub open to the evening sky.
For the subsequent hour, it was all ours.
We sipped our tea, we turned on the jets, we lounged within the scorching water and tried to make out some stars above within the light-polluted sky.
No actuality TV digicam crew appeared to movie our cliche date evening. As an alternative, we had been left completely undisturbed till 10 minutes earlier than our time was up, when a workers member gave a bit of warning knock on the door.
Positive, there are different personal scorching tubs within the Bay Space. However none are this nice at this worth. And, being 4 many years outdated, Piedmont Springs has an unpretentiousness that’s refreshing in comparison with the newer, glitzier spots.
I emerged utterly relaxed — ascended to a very completely different airplane of being from my typical Monday blues. Not unhealthy for the price of a pair San Francisco cocktails.
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