2022: Live BIÂN

BIÂN

BIÂN is a private wellness club. I was fortunate to experience its gym, spa, amenities, and restaurant thanks to Missy J.

Joe and I decided to keep my Chicago trip secret, except for that I would be the surprise guest to dinner he was having with her and Amy. However, realizing I was in Chicago, she immediately texted me the night before, and I had to out myself and confess I was the mysterious fourth guest.

BIÂN’s food program is run by famed restaurateur Kevin Boehm of Boka group, and we started with an enormous meze platter of crudités, flat breads and fabulous dips. Because of my indulgent dinner at Kumiko the night before, when I found out they had sushi, I knew what I wanted, choosing my typical go to of Chirashi don.

Missy J gave me a tour of the incredibly beautiful and zen space. She even showed me the gorgeous toilet. In the yoga room the practitioner was setting up a percussion instrument to align the chakras, and the room was hot from the last session.

The lower floor has the gym, and all its beautiful and incredibly fit members achieving perfection. I was the only fatty in the place, but tried to appear floaty and serene wearing my linen pants and Etro shirt. I may not have either a yoga body or spirit, but I can wear yogic couture!

The next day I would return to BIÂN when Missy J treated me to a Thai Massage. Thai massage is perhaps my favourite of all the massage traditions. The first Thai massage I got was at the Four Seasons in Bangkok and since then I’ve been chasing the tail of the dragon. I found a great place in Singapore for a while, but since it closed shop it has been years. I am thrilled to share that my experience at BIÂN was excellent. I told Misti that I like being brutalized and she done served me up on a platter.

One of the fabulous things about the locker room is the large steam room with the deep cold plunge pool right in the centre. I steamed myself up into a slickness and then descended into the icy water until I became gender neutral.

My heart dreamed of having the pocketbook to be able to afford to suffer such luxuries. I wanted to live BIÂN, but I could only borrow it.