"art is one of the means of intercourse between man and man": #geminiandscorpio #gsbanya now and forever, best party of the year!!!

My favorite night of the year is the Gemini and Scorpio #GSBanya Party on Valentines. 

The owner greets us. 

Screams at her colleague. 

All in the family. 

Turn in our keys.

We schvitz, 

hot and cold baths, steam, cold and hot, steam, repeat.  

Gene and a new friend. 

Caroline, Leslie and Me!

Chatting in the steam. 

Funny hats worn by all. 

Drink vodka and beer. 

Chit-chat with everyone. 

Whose your favorite post-Soviet leader?

Whose your favorite tzar?

Catherine or Ivan?

Nicholas or Alexander?

Read Tolstoy on art. 

Trotsky is better. 

We talk about Cannibal Girls

the joys, 

and terrors of facing the abyss. 

Riding off to the Hamptons.

Hot and cold baths, steam, cold and hot, steam, repeat.  

Everyone in their bathing suits looking super duper. 

The Hungry March Band plays. 

Last year members of Slavic Soul Party. 

We love Hungry March.

Played our wedding 19 years ago. 

Members have come and gone and they are still at it. 

Reminding us of that Brechtian Kurt Weill boogie woogie deep in our souls. 

Sweating in the hot bath, the band plays, we try not to slip. 

But sometimes we do. 

More vodka, more dancing.

I'm a stranger here myself.

Art is a form of consciousness argues Leo Tolstoy: 

"In order correctly to define art, it is necessary, first of all, to cease to consider it as a means to pleasure and to consider it as one of the conditions of human life. Viewing it in this way we cannot fail to observe that art is one of the means of intercourse between man and man.

Every work of art causes the receiver to enter into a certain kind of relationship both with him who produced, or is producing, the art, and with all those who, simultaneously, previously, or subsequently, receive the same artistic impression."

It was hot out there. 

Trotsky reminds us:

"Ideas that enter the mind under fire remain there securely and for ever."  

Only the best party ever. Happy annual Steamy Valentine’s Day!

 #geminiandscorpio #gsbanya