The only bright spot here was that it was very close to Grand Central. It also boasted the presence of steam rooms and a 2.5 lane pool. I am not sure if this is linked to Bally’s filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June, but this gym location has closed down indefinitely as of September 30, 2007. IFHTP3+
Maria M.
Classificação do local: 4 New York, NY
I used to go to Equinox, the gym of pretty flowers in the reception area and sparkling bathrooms with shavers and yummy-smelling lotions. It is also the gym of $ 130 a month dues, and I soon tired of paying for those pretty flowers and free shavers in the women’s locker room. I also got tired of looking at spray-tanned, siliconed women when I was trying to feel good about myself. If you want to continue paying that amount, or more, then by all means, do that. Spend it while you got it. But if you are into saving money, it is time to downgrade. Too bad, but sometimes you just have to suck it up. Bally’s does the job just fine, for $ 79 a month. Depending on when you join, you might get an even better rate. If you want a more flexible gym situation, this is the place. Yeah, it’s in a basement, so no, your cell will not work in there and you will not be able to use it while on the treadmill. The bathrooms are indeed clean, although I still glance in the shower stall before I get in it, which is nothing new. At least I don’t have to wait in line for a shower like at the higher priced competitor. There’s a painfully small pool, which is always occupied, as well as a hot tub. But beware of skeevy, Turkish-bath patron-looking, old men hanging out. There is also a steam room, if you like that sort of thing. I have no idea at what times they clean the machines, but the whole point of working out is breaking a vigorous sweat and then showering off afterwards, and at the risk of sounding gross and being ostracized, cleanliness of machines is not that big of an issue for me. Unless there is green ooze hanging off of them, I’m good. If you join and get your free training session, ask for Sam. He is really good, really encouraging, and yes, pretty yummy, which contributes to the encouraging part. I’m kind of biased, I know, but all the suffering he will put you through is worth it, just to see that smile. And you will smile afterwards and be proud of yourself because you worked so hard. Promise. A note: Don’t give Sam any crap, even though he is just about the most patient man I’ve ever met. He gets Bally’s a whole star. There are TV’s, just not of the big, flat screen variety(yet another thing I no longer have to pay for), and it’s usually MTV, CNN, BET and a lot of sports stuff. The music is mostly hip-hop and old-school(which I love — The Sundays is great, just not conducive to working out), but everyone hooks up to their iPods anyway. People are real and friendly. My main complaint is that they keep signing people up, so the machines that I like are most always taken by the time i get there. I’ve had to switch up my routine a little, but hey, worse things have happened. Overall, a no-frills, positive gym experience.