From the May issue: While the New York City real estate market is in
something of a deep freeze, one building is rolling out a truly chill
new amenity: an ice cave. The cave, planned for the Setai at 400 Fifth
Avenue, between 36th and 37th streets, is modeled on a European spa-type treatment. Inside the
enclosed space, the temperature will be set to 45 degrees. Big in
Europe, ice caves — where patrons can rub ice chips on their skin –
are the cooling counterpart to a sauna or other type of steam room.
While officials at the Setai declined to comment, Steven Kass,
president of American Leisure, which designs and operates spas and
fitness centers and helped create the ice cave at the Midtown Setai,
said the cold temperatures are good for the body and the skin. “The ice
cave is part of a series of thermal and water treatments that vary body
temperatures at different levels of exertion, which is good for the
skin, circulation and internal organs,” he said. [more]