David Barton

213 W 23rd Street (Between 7th and 8th)
New York, NY 10011

This sumptuous gym occupies the historical building of the old YMCA of Chelsea. From the design of the space to the type of clientele that frequent these premises, David Barton is a proclamation of the Chelsea aesthetics, which it contributes to perpetuates by making available to its members all the necessary equipments to reach their fitness goals. As the slogan of the establishment bluntly puts it - “Look Better Naked” – the spirit of this gym definitely centered around looking gorgeous and feeling fabulous. That’s the kind of speech that strikes a chord in the heart of the residents of the neighborhood who have flocked en masse to this location to work out among local celebrities such as DJ Junior Vasquez or take a spinning class in the company of nightlife legend Amanda Lepore. Indeed, not only does Junior Vasquez come to David Barton for a sweat on the gym floor, but he also actually spins there, as the gym regularly features live DJs to provide the soundtrack for intense workout sessions. The icing on the cake – David Barton members are entitled for a complimentary admission at the Roxy for a monthly party co-hosted by David Barton.

The most outrageous gossips have been circulating in regards to some unspeakable lockerroom activities that have allegedly been happening at David Barton. This all culminated in the spring of 2005 when a disgruntled patron actually sued the gym for permitting some lewd conducts to take place on its premises. According to the story, the guy was the unwilling witness of certain acts of sexual nature, and when he tried to cancel his membership following the trauma caused by such unholy vision, the gym refused to let him go.

Besides the appeal of these extracurricular lockerroom activities, David Barton offers a wide range of fun group activities, with classes such as “6 pack attack!”, “ASSolutely ABBulous” or “pain and pleasure”. And of course, the equipment is top notch, the décor is gorgeous and the atmosphere ultra-glamorous, which makes this gym a quintessential New York experience.