Leisure

What Gives

Five Relaxation-Specific Gifts. For Yourself.

The logic behind the whole better-to-give-than-to-receive thing is flawed. Because you don’t know how to give someone a secret barbershop, a 19th-century mansion full of massages or other holiday-stress-reducing gifts. So take a deep breath and get them for yourself instead. Here...

WORD TO THE WISE MEN

Frankincense Massage Ritual

You Require: Something reinvigorating, but also biblical.
You’ll Receive: An 80-minute warm footbath and massage using a frankincense elixir, followed by a glass of myrrh tea. If you were waiting for the gold part... don’t.

SOFT CELL

Soft Pack Treatment

You Require: Total sensory deprivation. Or at the very least, a Bing Crosby break.
You’ll Receive: A special tub where you’ll weightlessly float within an air-mattress cocoon while covered in shea butter. May not be a bad place to spend all next week, actually.

MANSION UP

Men’s Spa at the Mansion

You Require: An entire manor full of masseuses and cigars.
You’ll Receive: A Civil War–era mansion turned men’s-only spa. And it’s got a pool table. And a white veranda where you’ll smoke cigars between hot-towel shaves and pedicures. That’s right, cigars and pedicures.

STROKES OF GENIUS

Dinner and Massage for Two

You Require: Someone to rub you. And someone else to make you Bolognese.
You’ll Receive: An on-call masseuse/personal chef tag team. They’ll deliver a 60-minute massage and a custom, three-course meal for two. No word on making that 120 minutes and six courses for one.

ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN

The Presidential at Ball and Buck

You Require: Some serious grooming. Maybe some new pants.
You’ll Receive: Everything the barber at Ball and Buck can throw at you, from a haircut to a beard trim to a facial. And this barbershop hides inside a men’s clothing store, so... easy pants access.