Nuzzling couples dotted train cars and outdoor restaurants, and those on the move held hands as they hustled - no doubt eager to reach their destination.Īt the same time, however, memories of our pandemic experiences can be just as visceral as our desire to move past them. As I let Google Maps guide me from the subway to Snctm's penthouse in lower Manhattan, it was impossible not to pick up on partiers' and daters' elation to go out and experience hot vax summer. The mood at Snctm is a microcosm for how many people are feeling in this not-quite-mid-not-quite-post-pandemic era we're in. Nightlife was back, as was sex with various partners and strangers and anyone in between thanks to COVID vaccines and loosened public health restrictions.
Women in lingerie and men in tuxes told me how excited they were that 'Snctm was back,' but not just the club itself. While the night was a mix of cocktail-hour chatter and X-rated debauchery, energy buzzed throughout. This was a sex party hosted by Snctm, an 'exclusive' members-only sex club. On an unassuming Saturday night in June, I stepped into a scene inspired by Eyes Wide Shut: masquerade masks, attendees in various states of dress, and flowing alcohol poured by a half-naked bartender.