Strange, but true: Bikini waxes are available at the Republican National Convention. Well, at least for the press – and only for brave souls, at that.

As an amenity for the thousands of journalists in town for the convention, the NYC Host Committee partnered with the slick retailer Barneys New York to create a calm room full of relaxing getaways within the Media Center at the Farley Post Office across the street from Madison Square Garden.

“This is all based on service,” said Barneys manager of concierge services Taylor Piedra, an immaculately dressed man who was involved in working out the arrangement with the host committee. “New York delivers services at all different levels. You wouldn’t expect anything less.”

All week long experts from the upscale day-spa Completely Bare (a branch of which is located within Barneys) will offer facials, massages, microdermabrasion, and waxing. Men can enjoy haircuts and manicures by stylists from John Allan’s salon. And for the enjoyment of all weary, ink stained wretches, Barneys has brought in a pool table, flat-screen televisions, and lounge chairs, as well as catalogs and samples of the fall fashion collections. Clothing or shoes can be ordered from Barneys and delivered to hotels around town.

“This is a sampling of what New York is all about,” said owner of Completely Bare, Cindy Barshop, on hand to book treatments for the unexfoliated.

Though waxing was available, the thin blue curtain that set off a makeshift spa room didn’t offer too much privacy. That didn’t bother Boston Herald gossip columnist Laura Raposa, who enjoyed a facial and a massage. “We didn’t have anything like this in Boston,” she said. “And most of the salons on Newbury Street were closed because of the fear factor.”

Howard Kurtz of the Washington Post was roving about the joint, interviewing men getting their hair cut by the John Allan stylists. But he wasn’t angling for a new hairdo.

“I’m here as a reporter,” he said.

While several men, including Allan Silberbrandt of Denmark’s TV2, were milling about booking haircuts and manicures, one photojournalist who has been growing his chest-skimming dread locks for 14 years was happy to skip the service. “I don’t think they have enough electricity in this building,” said Mpozi Tolbert of the Indianapolis Star.

Meanwhile, the women of the press were taking advantage of the make overs with Vincent Longo and Yves Saint Laurent cosmetics, provided by Barneys. Make-up artist Travis Culberson did, however, have one male visitor: “I put some pressed powder on a guy. He said, ‘Do it quick.'”

The most stylish people in the room were not the journalists but the vendors themselves. Ms. Barshop sported a sexy monochromatic look with a white tank top and white linen pants. John Allan looked like a rock star in boots, Lucky jeans, and a custom-made jacket by Savoia, a custom clothier located within the Midtown John Allan’s. (Perhaps fittingly, he was the most upset about the haze of hamburger smoke wafting in from the cafeteria below. Who wants custom-made duds to smell like a burger joint?)

Though Barneys New York Loft (the official title of this little oasis) is a debut for the convention, treating the working press like royalty is not exactly new. Since 1988,BellSouth has hosted a press lounge at the presidential conventions, according to spokesman William Mc-Closkey. Standing outside the basement lounge with a Heineken in hand, Mr. Mc-Closkey pointed out that the tradition goes back even further, to 1948, when the Association of American Railroads parked a rail car on the tracks near the convention hall.

When the association decided to end that tradition in 1988, BellSouth stepped in. It has been serving up light fare for the press ever since. This year, the pickings are hot dogs, Cokes, Krispy Kremes, muffins, fruit – and, of course, ice-cold Heinekens. Though the look in this lounge was less fabulous than at the Barneys loft, free beers make for happy faces, too.