this ain't livin'

Dim Sum Sunday

Dim Sum Sunday this week, alas, has no photographic accompaniment because we went to Kabuki for a tub first. The public tubs are assigned to women on Sundays and one of the roommates and I decided to go check it out. It was quite a pleasant experience.

It’s kind of challenging to find hot tubs in San Francisco that aren’t, er, geared towards other service options. Kabuki gets around that by having sex segregated tubs and no private rooms. Kabuki also offers a variety of massage and body treatments although we didn’t try any of those out today. Having been to the spa for tubs, I’m sure I’ll be back for other services. I was very impressed with our whole spa experience, and when it comes to spas, I get around.

The public tubs are, in short, gorgeous. The whole spa is very well appointed and the staff are courteous and helpful. But the public tubs feature a big dry sauna, cold plunge, warm pool, and a steam room. I spent most of my time on the top shelf of the sauna, sprawled out and enjoying the heat. I popped into the cold plunge as well and spent some time in the steam room. The spa staff keep the tubs very clean and pleasant, with the floors staying relatively dry for such a flock of ladies, stacks of fresh towels to use, and well appointed amenities.

It was a great space to be in. I mean, I didn’t have my glasses on because I didn’t want to damage them, so I couldn’t really see anything, but what I did see was very well appointed. The spa also had cool water for us to drink, fresh fruit to eat, cucumbers for our eyes, and sea salt to exfoliate. It was a peaceful, contemplative atmosphere with a variety of women of all shapes and sizes. And some really, really nice tattoo work. I have a feeling this is going to become a frequent expedition…

It really reminded me of visiting ritual public baths in Europe, with the tile and low murmer of water and padding feet and thick towels. The roommate and I exchanged maybe four words while we there—it was a very tranquil and hushed environment, and I found myself sinking into meditation in the sauna. A great healing space, and a warm and pleasant establishment to visit.

Dim sum? Awesome, as always.

My fortune: share happiness with others in bed.

[Kabuki Spa]

Tags: Food

Dim Sum Sunday

We rolled out of bed a little late today, and rounded up the boys to go into the City for topside tours, offered as part of Fleet Week.

Unfortunately for us, we arrived too late.

Luckily, it’s never too late for dim sum. As long as it’s before 10:00 PM.

We were really hungry, because we walked all the way to Pier 37 since the F was so crowded. Condiments were eaten while we waited for the food to arrive.

Eating a dumpling is a difficult tactical decision, requiring careful forethought and planning. It’s not the sort of thing you want to plunge into. Cap’n Raspberry here is a master of the barbequed pork bun, such that dumplings all over the City are known to quail in fear as he strides by.

Some of us are more intrepid. Cap’n Raspberry’s brother, Cap’n Boysenberry, plunges into his dumplings with a vigor that is truly delightful to see.

After our meal, we were all too fat to move, so some reading was in order while we sipped at tea. The Scarab is reading one of the Wheel of Time books while Cap’n Boysenberry is reading a newspaper put out by the revolutionary communist party.

I’m just glad there were no patrons in the restaurant to get upset by our antics. We got pretty riled up.

Location: Hang Ah Tea Room on Sacramento Street
Dumplings Eaten: Hang Ah Barbequed Pork Buns, Lotus Steamed Buns, Seasame Balls, Fried Shrimp in Bean Cake Skin, Dumplings in Rabbit Shape, Spring Rolls (not strictly dumplings, I know), Hang Su Gok.
Fortune: Recognize when it is advisable to compromise in bed.

[dim sum]

Tags: Food