Apparently, the metrosexuals are breeding, because this Father’s Day, the city’s high-end spas are offering special papa-pampering packages. But nothing that would threaten the patriarchy, of course. “We started getting requests for Father’s Day reservations in mid-May, which was really surprising,” says Dorit Baxter, whose clients include Charlie Rose. Cornelia Spa is actually closing the 22,000-square-foot spa to women for the entire day and butching up the place with poker games, a bourbon tasting, and pretzel dogs—along with a massage or facial and goody bag for $325. “You have to stay away from froufrou terms. Anything with rose and milk turns them off,’’ says Skyy Hadley, who has recently introduced “Toe-Ta-Le Mr.” and “Medical Maintenance’’ pedicures at her spa, As U Wish (clients include Diddy and a few Jets and Giants). “Strong, masculine words make them more comfortable. They used to fight it, sit in the corner or come after-hours, if they came at all. Now they’ve started to see other guys in the chairs, and it’s suddenly okay.’’ Truman’s Gentlemen’s Groomers is offering a $300 Father’s Day combo featuring “handshake maintenance’’ (i.e., a manicure), scalp massage, shave, and haircut. Truman’s also put up screens, on the assumption that men prefer not being seen by other men while undergoing “foot repair.” “Men my age would have laughed at something like this,’’ says Cornelia’s owner, Rick Aidekman, 58, who adds, “We’ve even made our robes boxer style, so they feel like Muhammad Ali.”

Related:

• Archive: “Intelligencer”
• Articles by Beth Landman
• Table of Contents: Jun 19, 2006 issue of New York | Subscribe!