Reviews by Pole_Doc

I go back a long way with this club, from before it even became Peaches of Atlanta. I’ve been frequenting the building since the early 90s. Back then, it was called Montraé’s. It was bought out by the current owner, who changed the name to Queen City. It operated as such for some time, until its most recent transformation into what we currently see. If I were writing this review back then, I probably would’ve described the club as a “Run-down, cozy little hole in the wall.” However, I’m not writing this review, based on its past. Last year, the owner took some time off and closed the club for renovations. Several months later, it reemerged as POA. I can describe my first impression of the remodeling in one word – Wow! When I first walked in, I could not believe my eyes. The place looks awesome; it doesn’t even come close to what it once looked like! Writing this review now, I currently describe it as an “Elegant little palace, with a down to earth feel.” I still can’t believe it’s the same place! The quality of the girls has also significantly improved. They are absolutely gorgeous! This did, however, raise certain concerns. I immediately wondered if they would use the newly acquired elegance as a reason to become what I call a “Porcelain Doll” club (see earlier reviews). As Montraé’s/QC, the club always operated in a somewhat laid back manner, charging its clientele five dollar, moderately high mile-aged (entertainer controlled), dances. “Would they continue in this vein?” I wondered. My concerns were quickly assuaged! At first, they did attempt to raise dance prices ($10), even charging a cover during the day. However, that didn’t last long. The club soon returned to what its clientele has always been accustomed to. There is no cover, up until 7pm. After then they flexibly begin charging a $10-$15 cover, which goes up after certain times, in $5 increments (maxing out at $20). Dances are $5 and the girls are all very friendly. The club isn’t strict about touching the girls and none of them seem uptight about giving good mileage on the dances. The club itself is somewhat fickle about that though. They won’t bother the customer but will sometimes sweat the girls about getting too close, depending on the mood of whoever the bouncer(s) on duty is. There are several plush VIP rooms, where you and the girl of your choice can go to bypass that sort of interference. However, this is where things get outrageously pricey! After 8p, VIP is only open to those who purchase bottle services, which range anywhere from $100-$300. I’m not sure how much time that buys you but the “dances” are $10. During the day, the price for VIP is much more affordable at $25 ($10 dances). However, that only buys you 15 minutes of time. I put the word “dances” in quotes, because if you’re like me, your thought is, “For those types of prices, there had better be more than dancing going on!” There is a full service bar, with top self liquors and beers. I usually either order a Red Stripe or Heineken, both reasonably priced at $5. They also have a full service kitchen and the food on the menu is pretty good; I usually order wings. The waitresses are on top of their jobs too. I usually have no problem with tipping them; they do well. If you’re like me, that’s a big deal. There’s very little I hate more than someone who gives mediocre service and still expects a tip; that really bugs me! Overall, POA is a nice, all around club. I really like it! The girls are the bomb but I haven’t yet had Take Out service (not since the name change). I’m working on it though. I suspect when I do, things will probably be a bit pricier than before. We’ll see.

Years have past since I first visited this club. I noticed it was the club featured in the movie Ride Along, starring Ice Cube and Kevin Hart. I decided to stop by and see what changes have been made. I stayed about a hour. I visited the Goldrush on February 24, 2015 (Tues). I arrived about 10:30p. The minute I pulled up, there was someone ready to charge me for the parking (strike one). I paid a $10 cover and was searched, prior to going in. This club is beautiful and so are the girls! The dances are $10, there are VIP rooms and they have a full service bar. In fact, I ordered some food from the bar (fish - salmon I think) and found it to be quite good. Now that I’ve covered all the basics, allow me to get real! There was nothing surprising about the Goldrush. It offered everything I expected to find and see there. This is the type of club I like to call “Born Again” and/or “Porcelain Doll”. In actuality, I would classify the Goldrush as both (a Born Again/Porcelain Doll strip club). It’s “Born Again,” because of the change from featuring white girls (now features black) and “Porcelain Doll,” because it’s all about look and don’t dare touch. These types of clubs bore me to death! Born Again clubs are basically white, with a black face put on them. These clubs usually feel like they’re made out of plastic to me (Shooter Alley was an exception) – very stiff and by the book (not to mention overpriced). Because the girls look good, they tend not to be about hustling for their money. It’s as though they feel you should be willing to pay them, just because they’re beautiful. If it were up to them, they’d charge you, just for looking! Porcelain Doll clubs are frustrating, because I like “Take Out.” I have no problem spending money, depending on how far it’s going to take me. I need to know how far my money is going to go! At Goldrush, I just couldn’t see my money going anywhere but from my hand into the girls’ garter belts, with me having little or nothing to show for it. In other words, I didn’t see me getting to first base with any of these Goldrush girls, without the drama of having to jump through hoops. I also like high mileage dances, especially if I’ve got to pay double for them (ATL pricing $5/$10). Mileage on a Goldrush dance isn’t low; it’s non existent (strike two)! Okay, so the girls are a bit full of themselves (not stuck up though) and you can’t even think about touching them. Certainly, you can take them back to VIP, where the rules loosen up, right? Don’t be so sure. When I asked about VIP, I was told there was a minimum for going back there ($200?), which had to be paid up front to the club. Wow! Now we’re involving a third party to what should be a private transaction, just between us? There were just too many hoops to jump through, with no guarantee I would’ve gotten my money’s worth (shrike three)! In short, Goldrush is a great club for a bachelor party. If you’re the best man planning the party, and your boy is really serious about being true to his intended; you just want to have a little fun, without putting him at risk for doing anything dishonorable, Goldrush is the club for you! The atmosphere is very festive, the food is good, the girls look great and if all you want to do is make it rain and go home afterwards, you will definitely have a good time. However, if you’re like me (single, freaky and to the point), this is not the place, unless you enjoy throwing money away.

I visited Club 54, late on a Saturday night (January 31st – February 1st). I was in town (Ft. Lauderdale) for a family event. The original intent was to visit Miami that night and sc hop down there. However, family duty called and I needed to stay close (Sorry Papi; wish we could’ve hung out). I heard a lot about this club and I’ve seen great clips of things they post on Instagram. It’s a relatively new spot and I was excited about seeing it for myself. You can’t imagine how initially disappointed I was to find there was nothing going on there that night! However, things did serendipitously begin to pick up. Finding the place was simple enough (GPS) but I began to feel leery when my male cousins, who live in the Ft. Lauderdale area, had no knowledge of it. When I pulled up to the spot, I began to see why. It doesn’t look like a club. There are no signs, or neon of any type. It looks kind of like an abandoned restaurant, on the outside front. In fact, there is a takeout window towards the rear of the building and plenty of free parking back there as well. I actually made two trips to the joint. My first was earlier that afternoon. I discovered the club to be closed. However, the takeout window was open. When I inquired, I was informed that the girls did not typically begin showing up until after 9p. I decided to return later. When I did return, it was around 2a, the morning of February 1st. I could hear the music pumping from the parking lot. I paid a $10 cover and went through a pat down. Inside, there were about 10 customers present, all watching one of the most beautiful specimens I’ve ever laid eyes on! As she continued to dance on stage, I went to the bathroom to wash my hands. When I came out, she was gone! Also gone were the few customers I observed while coming in. I asked if they were about to close and the bartender replied, “No, we’re just slow.” Man, was that an understatement. As I looked around, I quickly discovered I was the only patron there! I ordered and paid for a $5 Heineken and asked about the girl I saw on stage. The bartender went back to the dressing room to get her and she came out to greet me. As we began conversing, I realized something very familiar about this girl. I actually have encountered her before, in an ATL club. She confirmed also working in Atlanta, at 2 black clubs I frequent (Blaze and Blue Flame). This girl is gorgeous, an absolute flawless brown sugar specimen! She then revealed that she was the only girl working that night. I thought to myself, “Are you kidding me?” We actually had the place to ourselves! She began to inform that the dances were $10 and there was no nudity allowed but touching and grinding were both fine by her. Man, I quickly grabbed her by the hand and found the darkest, most far off corner the place had to offer! BTW, this club has no VIP. I sat down and began to make myself comfortable. She wasn’t at all shy about getting close. Her skin was soft and silky, with very few tats (one on her right hip, another on a wrist, I think). I asked why she didn’t have more and she replied, “Tattoos are really for men.” I was absolutely impressed with how FINE she was! Her body was perfect and void of any cosmetic enhancements. She began touching me in all the right places and I began to get aroused, when the music suddenly came to an abrupt halt! We both glared at each other with bemusement! I asked, “Is it closing time?” She replied, “No!” She then briskly walked over to who I assume was the manager and began an inquiry that eventually turned into an altercation. Basically, they were closing, because there weren’t any other customers. I was pissed! I thought, “Who am I, chopped liver!?” I hate when clubs do that! If they want to flex their right to close the doors prematurely, they shouldn’t charge a cover and the girls should be able to work, without having to pay a fee. It isn’t fair for them to close prematurely, if they’re taking money. Just like that, our encounter was over! We went our separate ways, without even the chance to exchange numbers. I don’t even remember her name – Damn! Since then, I’ve been hitting the ATL clubs hard, hoping she’ll return soon. So far, I’ve been unlucky. Club 54 is a club I may eventually get around to revisiting. However, that probably won’t take place, if I’m able to run across “Brown Sugar,” here in the ATL. More than likely, I won’t be back. That’s a shame too, because the place has potential. However, poor customer consideration is just something I cannot abide!

This will be my first review for 2015. I'm a bit late with this one (I apologize). The New Year has been off to a good start and so far, I've been a bit side tracked. This is also my first review, returning my attention to Atlanta clubs, after taking some time to review other clubs outside of Georgia. It's good to be home! My time away has given me much appreciation for what we've got going on in Atlanta. From a strip club hound's point of view (at least), Atlanta is a Naked Hustle paradise, especially if your preference is for black women (as is mine)! I was so appreciative of being back home, I decided to go outside of my usual scope, with my January review. Black clubs are usually what I'm all about. I decided to "mix" things up this time. Shooter's Alley is a cool, layed back little spot. I have been to this club before, I just don't really pay it much attention. As I said, it's out of my usual "scope." I'll try to point out little tid bits, as to why. The club is located off the top end perimeter (I-285), on Buford Hwy. This is a section of metro Atlanta that isn't a part of my daily routine and quite the distance from anywhere I usually frequent. That's the first reason it's beyond my scope. It also charges $10 for each dance, which I personally don't see the need to pay, if you live in Atlanta. Unless your true objective is more than just dancing, paying for $10 lap dances, in Atlanta, is completely superfluous. It's not about being cheap; it's about being smart. My frame of mind is precisely why businesses like Target thrive. Why pay twice the price, when they've got the same thing going on, down the street, for less? Generally speaking, most people want to be smart. That's why Publix will never sell more laundry detergent than Wal Mart. Wal Mart offers the exact same thing for less. Shooter's Alley is deemed a "mixed" club, which is another reason it is outside of my scope. In my mind, "mixed" is another term for "white." I'm not very comfortable in "white" club environments. I know, I know, black girls work there too; I get it. However, my experience has shown me that in general, black girls working in these "mixed" environments tend to have a more polished and diluted approach toward their hustle. It's almost as though they forget they're in the sex work industry and sometimes think more of themselves than they ought. Another issue for me is the music. The DJs in these clubs tend to annoy me! Idk, what can I say? I like urban strip club environments with DJs playing ghetto ass music they're able to creatively cut to pieces! Part of the experience for me is the DJ and I've yet to find a "mixed" club to match what I've gotten from urban strip clubs. All that being said, I really enjoyed my time at Shooter's Alley! I visited the club a few weeks back in November ('14), on the night before Thanksgiving (Weds). I like that there is an open parking lot, with plenty of space, and they don't charge. I arrived a little after midnight. The cover was $10 and I underwent the usual pat down by security. I like the way the club is set up - very spacious. The bartender gave me prompt attention and I ordered my usual Hieneken (or Red Stripe, if they have it). I paid the typical $5 price for the beer and began checking out the girls. The girls were generally attractive. However, I didn't see any of them that made me feel like I had to pay $10, just for some light convo and a table dance. One girl, in particular, was very pushy and would not accept "No" for an answer. She even displayed the intrepidity to ask me to buy her something from the menu (yes there's a kitchen), after I turned her down for a dance! What nerve, huh? She actually forced me into thinking to call another girl over (who really wasn't all that hot - bad skin) and reluctantly asking for a dance, just so I could get rid of her! After my dance from "the decoy," I was thinking about leaving. That's when something caught my eye. I noticed this cute, young thang on stage. I walked up to tip her and she wasn't the least bit shy about showing me her "inner beauty." There was something nauty, yet sexy about her; I liked that and decided to stick around to see what she was about. After a few dances, I decided to see if she was down for VIP. She was open and we went back there. "Wow," is the best way for me to describe the experience! I really had a good time with her. I'd mention her name but the last time I called a girl out, someone got upset and edited my review. The club's price for VIP is $25 for 30 minutes. The only club I know of to beat that is Club Babes ($20 for 30 mins). Shooter's Alley isn't a club I frequent but I'll be returning. I'm not sure how soon though. I exchanged numbers with the girl I met and haven't really had a reason to go back. She's awesome! Obviously, my reason for visiting a $10/dance strip club, that night, went beyond just dancing (see earlier statement). As I stated earlier, I'm not really into $10 strip clubs. However, as far as they go, Shooter's Alley gets my vote for being one of the coolest!

This review will be the second of the 2 part series called “The Columbia Tour.” I was in Columbia, South Carolina on June 27, 2014 (Friday). After leaving Mr. Lucky’s (Read last month’s review), I decided to drive a few exit ramps over, off I-20 (eastbound), to check out Laroice. I heard some things and wanted to see for myself. I don’t have much to say about the place, other than, it was a typical strip club. The first thing I will say is that you’d better have a GPS to guide you there. Otherwise, I doubt you’ll be able to find the place! As I stated in last month’s review, SC doesn’t seem to be real big on zoning laws, when it comes to where they allow strip clubs to conduct business. Apparently, you can put a strip club anywhere. It doesn’t really matter to them. The next thing is to make sure BOTH of your vehicle’s high beam headlights are in good working order, because you’re going to need them. This place is out in the middle of nowhere! One minute, you’ll be driving on a dark country road and then, out from what seems to be the depths of the ground, comes this strip club (adjacent to residences), appearing out of nowhere. I still can’t envision remembering how I got there! Anyway, once I arrived, it all seemed fairly typical to me. I don’t remember paying anything to park (I liked that). I arrived about 2:00 A.M. and the cover was around $10. I did find it weird, though, that they had a sign-in sheet. I don’t like my name being associated with such places and usually they’re pretty good about fostering an anonymity friendly environment. I didn’t know what that was about so I signed “John Doe.” They never bothered to notice, or ask me anything about it, and I walked right in. What can I say; the place looks like a strip club. It was way nicer than where I had just come from. I later learned my then CF works there as well. The girls looked nice enough. They ranged in their level of beauty, from average to slightly above. I didn’t see anything that looked busted. The dances were $10 on the floor and $25 per dance, in the VIP. However, as was the case with Mr. Lucky’s and The Volcano (Birmingham, AL), I mostly saw girls grinding on guys for intermittent $1 tips. There was very little activity in VIP. Most of the patronage was on the floor, tipping the stage and the $1 grind girls (a few floor dances). This is a bikini club; they do not get completely nude and VIP isn’t private. I saw an open room, separated by beads, and inside were benches with partitions. Everyone is able to see everything, anyone else back there is doing. This didn’t seem worth it for dances that were $25. There is a kitchen that takes food orders and a full bar. It was difficult getting drinks, however, and the bartenders seemed to have an attitude about me asking for change (ones to tip the stage). I stayed for a while, had a few drinks and left. Laroice is okay. I had an average experience and would go back. However, I wouldn’t advise anyone to go out of their way to check it out. You won’t be missing much, by not going. All of this “touring” got me to truly appreciate Atlanta more. I know it’s unfair to compare these other places to the ATL and I’m not trying to. However, that is what has me appreciating it all the more (the fact that the sc scene in these surrounding cities can’t even compare). In my next review, I will be returning to the ATL. I can’t wait! I’ll see you all then.

This review will be the first of a 2 part series I will call “The Columbia Tour.” I was in Columbia, South Carolina on June 27, 2014 (Friday). In town on business (studio work), I made it a point to stop by Mr. Lucky’s, before heading back to the ATL. I had heard so much about the place, from my then CF, there wasn’t a chance wild horses could have kept me away. I had to see this great establishment for myself! Turns out, there really isn’t much to tell. The first thing I noticed was the locale. Apparently, they’re not too strict on zoning in SC. I remember getting off of the exit ramp (I-20) and making a left. One minute I was passing a McDonald’s and the next, staring directly at the club. It seemed to pop up out of nowhere! I later learned that feeling would pale in comparison to what I experienced with the club I’ll be reviewing next month. Mr. Lucky’s shares a dirt parking lot with other, what some would consider, more respectable businesses. There’s a mechanic shop next door and then a little strip mall-like area Lucky’s and some other businesses belong to. Basically, it came off to me as a bit of a strange place for a strip club to be. However, this proved to be quite normal compared to the club I visited, after leaving Lucky’s (reviewed next month). Anyway, I arrived around midnight. The club is housed in a rather humble looking structure, not much to it. Basically, it’s a cottage (bungalow) that comes off as a bit raggedy to me. They really aren’t big on ambience at all. I do not believe it a stretch to say that Mr. Lucky’s is probably the most run down strip joint I’ve ever been to! That, to me, is saying a lot, seeing how I’ve been to strip clubs overseas and various parts of the US (including illegal dumps in New York City). I couldn’t believe this was the same place my CF had been raving over for months! There are certain clubs, in Atlanta, she told me she could NEVER be found working. However, in my opinion, they are plush mansions compared to this hole in the wall! Anyway, it’s about the girls, right? Let’s get to that. I walked in and waited too long to finally get a beer. With a Heineken in my hand, I finally had an opportunity to survey what they had in stock. There were a considerable number of girls working (about 20) – quite the meat market! Generally speaking, I found them all to be reasonably attractive. I noticed a lot of the same types of tipping observed in Birmingham, AL. I learned that floor dances were supposed to be $10 per song. However, girls seemed quite content with grinding on me for intermittent $1 tips. The girls basically all seemed average to me. None of them really stuck out, save one. This girl had a perfect figure (Betty Boop). It was pretty obvious, though, she bought it all. I figured, “what the hell” and gave her a try. She said she was from Miami and immediately began attempting to swindle me. This little girl didn’t realize who she was fucking with! We began with floor dances ($10) and moved our way to VIP. I found the VIP to be quite interesting. There is NO CHARGE to enter! The only requirement was that I be accompanied by one of the strippers. “No VIP charge?” I thought, “This should be interesting!” There were 2 compartments to VIP. In the general (open) area, the dances remained $10 per song (same as the floor). Then, in another area (further back), the dances were something like $25 per song. I was curious so I decided to go with the first compartment. Miami girl straddled me, giving half way decent lap dances. However, she tried charging for every little thing. If I stroked a boob, “Nah, Baby, you gotta pay me for that.” If I touched her ass, “Nah, Baby, that’ll cost ya.” It got to the point where I became uncomfortable about even looking at her; I thought she might’ve wanted me to give up my eyes! Finally, I was through when she tried to suggest we get together for sex, after she got off in about 4 hours. Her price was reasonable but she insisted I pay right then, give her my number and trust she’d call me, after she got off, to reveal what hotel she was in. The insult to my intelligence was more than I could bear! On the way out, I walked back to the other compartment area ($25 per song), to see what it was all about. I couldn’t believe my eyes. All I saw was a little boiler room like area, with a single card table chair, sectioned off by a few hanging beads. I thought, “All this for only $25 per song, huh?” As I said earlier, they really aren’t big on ambience. Altogether, I stayed about 1 hour and left. Mr. Lucky’s is an alright spot, I guess, for the people who live in that area. If there weren’t many choices for me to pick from, I guess I’d put up with that bullshit too. However, that being said, I will eventually go back there. I think the place deserves a second chance. I heard Sunday nights are really the best. My main take on the joint, so far, is this: It’s okay, for a run down hole in the wall but the prices are not compatible with the services rendered, nor the quality of the venue. To whom much is given, much is required. They aren’t giving much so they shouldn’t be requiring (dance prices) what it is they do. I think Lucky’s could do so much more with less. If they began charging half of what their competitors do, and became the “poor man’s” strip club, I believe they could corner a particular market and develop a steadier clientele. Anyway, what the hell do I know? I live in Atlanta. I just think hole in the wall type places should stay in their lane and not require Caesar’s Palace like prices.

This review is part 2 of the two part series called “The Orlando Tour.” I will pick up, in this review, where I left off in my last. This one won’t be as long. It appears Orlando doesn’t like me, or perhaps, I don’t like Orlando! After leaving Flash Dancers (May 17, 2014), I went home, with my cousin, to see family (I was in town for a funeral). Later that evening, I went back out to visit Cleo’s. I was not impressed. I entered the club around 12:00 A.M. Here I was, on a Saturday night, and absolutely NOTHING was going on! When I first walked up on the entrance to the club, there were very well dressed security personnel present, to pat me down. I had a good first impression. Not only did I feel safe (a BIG deal to me), I felt as though I was in for an upscale experience. That was NOT the case. I don’t think I’ve been more bored, in my life! The cover was reasonable ($10). I came in and had a beer (Heineken $5). I then took time to look around. The place was DEAD (NO VIP)! After midnight, and NOTHING going on, during a Saturday night!? Come on, Man! I will admit, there were some nice looking girls there. A few of them even seemed down for “The Nasty.” However, they appeared to know NOT to go there and came off rather depressingly, as a result. I became instantly turned off and left. I stayed about 40 minutes. I went back, down the street, to Flash Dancers, in an attempt to re-enter that club. However, when I arrived, I saw the same 5’ 1” manager dude, who put me out earlier, standing at the front door. I didn’t want to chance going to jail over bullshit, so I left and went home. I was in bed by 3:00 A.M. (funeral the next day). It appears Orlando is NOT a very strip club friendly place. The laws there, governing such activities, are extraordinarily STRICT! I guess they’re into providing a “Disney like” experience, on all levels. I will be back, visiting Orlando, soon. After all, I have family there. However, I won’t be wasting my time, or money, visiting any strip clubs. Trust me; it isn’t worth your effort!

This review will be the first of a 2 part series I will call “The Orlando Tour.” I was in Orlando, Florida on May 17, 2014 (Saturday). I arrived that afternoon, around 4:00 PM (EST). My cousin, along with his friends, picked me up and we immediately hit Flash Dancers. I was excited! I heard the club had a name change (formerly Temptations) and it’s been my experience for strip clubs with name changes to be upscale. That was NOT to be the case this time. We arrived at Flash Dancers about 4:30 PM (EST). There was no security check at the door, or cover charge. I had mixed emotions about that. I appreciated not having to pay a cover. However, not being checked for weapons made me feel a bit uneasy about the possibility of something going down and me being unarmed. In fact, there was no bouncer on duty, which became blatantly obvious, upon my exiting. I did, however, begin to feel reasonably safe while there. The club is nothing special (no VIP), a bit on the small side. There were about 10-12 bikini dressed girls (no nudity) working and things seemed a bit slow. There wasn’t anything exceptional about the girls either. They seemed quite lethargic about being there, not hungry for their hustle at all. I will say, though, none of them were unattractive. I did, however, like the bartender! She was on her job, greeting me with a smile and prompt service. I liked that and was glad to tip her generously! The Heinekens I ordered were reasonably priced ($5). I also bought drinks for my cousin and his friends. The bar was the best thing about the place - oh, yea, and the bathroom (unisex). It was very clean and spacious, with a locking door. When I came out of the bathroom, I decided to tip the girl I saw dancing on stage. That’s when things began to go interestingly southward. I was tipping the stage and conversing with the girl, while doing so. I gave her a heads up about being from Atlanta and liking my dances a certain way (very high mileage). I asked her if she was with what I proposed. She was honest and told me she wasn’t interested. I respected that and moved on. The next girl I approached was told the same thing. She was all smiles about it and came over, after her stage set. She began dancing for me and when things went exactly as I said they would, she became upset and stopped. She went back to the dressing room and came back with who I presumed was the manager (a little short dude, about 5’ 1”). She pointed me out and I was immediately ejected from the place, told never to return! I asked if I could at least finish my beer. Dude gave me $5 and told me to, “Get the fuck out!” Needless to say, I will never revisit this club, ever again in life (lol)!

This review is part 2 of the two part series called “The Birmingham Tour.” I will pick up, in this review, where I left off in my last. This one won’t be as long. I left Club Volcano and headed over to The Palace, after being told The Foxx Trap was closed down (I still have yet to truly confirm this). I arrived around 2a (CST), on the morning of June 14, 2014. The parking lot was packed with no more space. I ended up parking off property (like everyone else). I am therefore unable to comment on whether or not there was a parking charge. There was a line to get in. However, the wait wasn’t too bad. Security searched everyone and there was a $10 cover, if memory serves correctly. Once inside, I observed an “h”oasis of pretty women everywhere! There were average looking women as well. The place was bumping, jumping and the music was pumping! I felt like I was in the right place. The stage was packed with half naked women! I went over to tip who I thought was the finest one. Afterwards, I stepped to the bar and ordered a beer (Heineken), which took too long for me to get (3 bartenders, 2 of which were conversing. I’m hard on people like this, because they like to look at you disparagingly when you don’t tip them. I don’t tip for poor and careless service!). It was reasonably priced ($5 I think) and I enjoyed it, as I stepped back, taking in the scenery. “Yes, Sir,” I thought to myself. “Now, this is what a strip club SHOULD look like, on a Friday night (still referencing Club Volcano)!” Just then, I noticed something rather odd. There were no table, or lap, dances going on. Every girl in the place was on stage. There were plenty of dollar bills on the stage and people were actively tipping. I began to think it was someone’s birthday and I must’ve walked in during the “Birthday Set”. I went back to tip the same girl I had done before. This time I asked, “How does a guy go about getting a little one on one time, with one of you girls?” She replied, “You have to book a VIP room; we can get completely nude in there and it’s $30 for 30 minutes, at $10 per song.” I asked, “Don’t you all do table dances?” She replied, “No.” Here’s the bullet --- At The Palace, in Birmingham, there is no such thing as a table dance, or a lap dance, unless you book VIP time. The girls remain dancing on stage, as patrons toss dollar bills at them all night long. At least, that is the gist of what I experienced. I became instantly deflated, after learning this, and I no longer saw pleasure in the cacophony I was witnessing. It all started to look rather confusing to me. I was turned off. “How do the girls even know the way to split tips, at the end of the night?” I thought to myself. I didn’t like it at all. If you’re like me, you appreciate one on one time, with the girl of your choice, without having to purchase a VIP room to do it (I like talking to them before going to VIP, perhaps buy ‘em a drink, or two). The Palace is a club I probably WILL NOT be returning to, unless I’m going to see someone very specific. It’s a nice enough club, with a lot of positives. I just don’t like the apparent limited access to the girls. After all, aren’t they the reason we go to strip clubs, in the first place? Go figure.

This review will be the first of a 2 part series I will call “The Birmingham Tour.” I was in Birmingham, Alabama on June 13, 2014 (Friday). As mentioned in previous reviews, I’m particularly partial to black women. For this reason, whenever I’m in a visiting city, I primarily seek out strip clubs featuring women of color. My research indicated that in Birmingham, there are 3 clubs specializing in black females: The Volcano, The Palace, and The Fox Trap. I was informed while in Birmingham, although unable to confirm, The Fox Trap has been closed. That left me with only 2 clubs to review. I will begin with The Volcano (part 1of 2) and continue (in another 30 days) with The Palace (part 2 of 2).<br> <br> <br> I live in Atlanta, the “Mecca” of the black strip club. From a customer’s perspective (value for your money), I’ve discovered that very few places are able to compare. Miami, I can say, does a fine job of doing so and I’ve heard about Houston, having visited there twice and not yet being presented with the opportunity to patronize any strip club. However, most other places in the US, I’ve found, pale in comparison. As a result, I’ve made the decision to stop trying; doing so only ends up frustrating me. I went to The Volcano with this non comparing mentality and ended up having a surprisingly good time!<br> <br> <br> I will begin by noting that a reliable navigation system is a MUST in finding this place. If you don’t have a GPS, you could end up spending an unnecessarily enormous amount of time, just trying to find the joint. The Volcano is on 19th Street, in a part of town known as Ensley. Birmingham is a confusingly mapped out city. There are other thoroughfares with the name 19th Street, leading toward various parts of town. I strongly suggest using the zip code (35218) when finding it on your GPS. You should be directed to take exit #120 off of I-20. If the street names aren’t alphabetized, when you exit the Interstate (Ave. E, F, G, etc.), you’re in the wrong place and probably lost! I found that area of town to be no more dangerous, or seedy, than any other place you would expect the zoning for a strip club to be. I felt safe enough. <br> <br> <br> I entered the club around 12:30 AM (CST). I counted exactly 12 girls working then and found it rather slow, for a Friday night. The cover was $10 and although there was a parking attendant (across the street), I wasn’t charged. The attendant (Ant) only asked that I tip him a little sumthin,’ on my way out. The club is a decent size. I remember seeing 3 dance stages. I ordered a couple of Heineken beers at $5 a pop. Different girls walked up to me (at different times) and just began dancing. I began tipping $1 bills. As long as I kept dropping dollars, they kept dancing. I believe the table (personal) dances are supposed to be $10 per song. However, I just kept dropping $1 bills, with my usual Atlanta $5 per dance mentality, and found that the girls I danced didn’t realize, or care, I was doing so. As long as I kept intermittently dropping $1 bills, they kept grinding on me (against a wall)!<br> <br> <br> The girls were decent looking. There was one, in particular, I was hoping to see (an Atlanta babe I know) but as my luck turned out (Friday the 13th), she wasn’t there. However, one other, I found, was exceptional and I learned she too was from Atlanta. The girls were all friendly enough. They made me feel comfortable and didn’t really apply too much sweat about dancing them (no more than what you would expect). The club has an upstairs area that is reserved as a private VIP. The word “private” is, however, relative. I tried taking a bit of a peek up there, before being stopped, just to get a feel for what it was like. It appears to be a large open space (area), with seemingly comfortable looking seating. I wasn’t able to see if there were any walls sectioning off parts of it; there didn’t appear to be. The price is $30 for 30 minutes, which really isn’t bad. Of course, whatever you and the girl negotiate, after dropping the house their $30, is between you two. I suppose if no one else is up there, while you are, the potential does exist to have a really good time! I’m not quite sure how that would work though, with multiple sessions going on. I shall have to see.<br> <br> <br> Besides the private VIP really only being semi-private, the other so-called “downsides” of the club I observed (on that night) are these: The bathroom didn’t have soap, hot water, or paper towels. The bartender was somewhat slow (I would’ve hated it for her, if the crowd was larger). The DJ was mediocre and some of the girls weren’t all that “fresh.” This hygiene issue leads me to believe the girls’ dressing room is probably void of a shower. Most guys aren’t like me and probably don’t notice these types of things. However, if you’re a girl wanting to work in such a place, this is something to consider. There are quite a few men, like myself, who appreciate women who take the time to clean up and freshen the breath.<br> <br> <br> For the most part, I like Club Volcano. It seems like a pretty laid back spot. I like having one on one time with the girls, whose hustle I support, without always having to rent VIP time to do so. In this club, you can talk with the girls and get to know them. As you will read in part 2 of “The Birmingham Tour” series (next month), this isn’t always the case in every club. The laws, in Birmingham, surrounding strip clubs, seem to be way more restrictive, and apparently inconsistent, than what I’m used to in Atlanta. However, as I stated at the beginning, with the exception of Miami and perhaps Houston, I’m no longer going to compare other cities with the ATL; it just isn’t fair. It is, however, fair to say I will be returning to Club Volcano!<br> <br> <br> As I walked back to my car, I tipped the parking attendant (Ant) a couple of bucks and he handed me a free entry pass. I will definitely have to use it, on my next trip. The Volcano is a club worth returning to. Hey, if I’m lucky, I may even see both of the Atlanta babes I fancy and maybe we can all try out the VIP together! Now, that’s a nice thought :).<br>

You’re not going to find a strip club, in Atlanta, giving more bang for your buck! I am particularly attracted to black women so that gives twice the meaning, to the previous sentence, for those who share my attraction. I first discovered this club in the late ‘90s. It has been around prior to then. However, black women were not being featured so I didn’t pay much attention to the place. The club is part of a small strip mall, where it seems to be the only consistent tenant (With the exception of an intermittent other, all of the suites have remained vacant). The club is “hood,” as inferred when you first read its name on the sign outside (“Babe’s,” as though “Babe” is the name of the person who owns it). Many of the other reviews have commented on the club’s layout so I’ll skip that part and get to the girls. Unlike what I wrote in my review of the Blue Flame, the girls are not all gorgeous; however, some are. You will find every type of girl working at Babes, ranging from the uttermost to the gutter-most! Most are laid back and don’t really sweat you too much about a dance. However, there are quite a few girls here who are working past their prime. In my opinion, there’s nothing more sad (perhaps a shot dog!) than a stripper who is too old to stay in the game, and doesn’t know when to quit! You mean to tell me you’ve worked all these years and never bothered to get an education, or figure out how to start a successful business, with the money you’ve made? Look at you, on stage, doing a birthday set, talking about, “Tip me; it’s my birthday.” Bitch; you’re damn near 40 (sad). You shouldn’t even be up there! The club has many regulars and most girls have their share of them. Occasionally, you may find one who complains about touching her and where. For the most part, however, there is a realization of the club’s culture and the majority don’t seem to mind where they’re touched. The dances are definitely worth your while; these girls know how to bump and grind (an important point to remember when I get to the VIP)! The ones who aren’t willing to get with that program usually don’t last and end up dancing elsewhere, or leaving the game altogether. In short, the girls are worth the trip. The club itself is not much on ambience. However, most men don’t go there for the way it looks. Babes is comfortable enough. Your money goes far in Babes. There’s no cover, up until 7p. When they do charge a cover, it varies from night to night, but it’s reasonable. From Thursday-Saturday, they begin charging for parking after 8p. Dances are $5 ($10, VIP) and the drinks are decently priced. On Tuesdays, there are drink specials that make the liquor and domestic beers even more affordable and on Wednesdays $20 buys you $40 worth of alcohol (ask for details). Going to VIP is da bomb! $20 buys you 30 minutes of private time, with the girl of your choice. You’re NOT going to get that price anywhere in Atlanta. However, I strongly suggest discussing, with whoever you choose to go back there with, what you’re truly looking for and what you’re willing to spend for it, prior to going. Now, if you get a good bump and grind on the floor (mentioned earlier), imagine how much better VIP can be. I enjoyed my time with my dancer. She’s no stranger to VIP and likes doing couples (a real freak)! Check her out for yourself (red hair) On the down side of things, Babes has much room for improvement, in a few areas. Generally speaking, the bartenders are awful! I’ve often joked that Babes is the hardest place to get a drink (it really is). Some of them have bad attitudes (Perhaps because two are part-time strippers at the club). The bartenders at Babes seem to belong to some type of fraternal clique and behave as though they’re gods. In fact, one of them has a T-shirt that says, “Bartenders are gods; don’t anger the gods!” The club has a policy (so the girls tell me) that the dancers aren’t allowed to have their cell phones on the floor. Yet, part of the reason for the poor service at the bar is due to the bartenders spending much of their time texting, instead of actually doing their jobs! This is a huge management flaw, in my opinion, and a bad way to conduct a business. Another flaw IS that they don’t allow the girls to keep cell phones on the floor. I enjoy getting to know the girls and having them show me pictures of their many adventures. It makes for great conversation. It’s also a great way to see if a girl you’ve just met is playing games. When a girl gives me her number, I exchange mine by calling what she just put in my phone. If her phone lights up, I keep spending. If it doesn’t, I move on. At Babes this practice is moot. A third flaw is with the VIP. Depending on who’s working security, the experience can sometimes be less than stellar. Make sure the girl you choose is ready to work with your program. That way, if security does walk back there, the interruption doesn’t catch you both off guard. Another flaw is that there is only 1 pool table. If you’re a pool player, be prepared to wait a while. The Wednesday $20/$40 drink special can also be somewhat problematic. It ends sharply at midnight (Thursday morning) but they don’t tell you that. This wouldn’t be unfair if the special began at midnight, the night before. It makes the club come off as being cheap. If you’re going to offer something, then offer it. One big flaw is concerning the club hours. Babes is supposed to close at 4a. However, depending on who is managing, on any particular night, you can count on it shutting down early (say around 3:30a). This wouldn’t be much of a problem if there weren’t customers in the process of getting dances, while it happens. I think it’s very unfair to those customers, who paid the cover for that remaining time and the girls, who paid a fee to work. If there is still money in the building, the club should remain open. Also, the DJs can sometimes be a bit obnoxious and the music is often WAY too loud. It gets really bad, though, when girls are sometimes allowed to get on the microphone and curse at the customers, because they don’t feel they’re being tipped enough on stage! As I've said, the club is "hood." Lastly, I’m never a fan of paid parking (It's not as though they will take responsibility, if something were to happen to my car). I’m glad they only do it on certain nights. However, I wish they’d eradicate it altogether. I like clubs that are consistent. All in all, Babes is a cool club. I would recommend it to anyone on a budget, looking to get a good bump and grind session on. Make sure you’re not in a rush, if you intend on drinking. Babes has a good all around atmosphere and can provide whatever it is you’re looking for, if you can exercise patience. The club has its share of ebb and flow and what you see on one night, you may not on another. I suggest going back at different times, on different days. Try that for a couple of weeks. If you still don’t see what you’re looking for, maybe the club isn’t meant for you.

I love this club! I've been going to the Flame for over 20 years now and think it is probably the most underrated strip club in Atlanta. The club is family (black) owned and is the only one to have survived the liquor license freeze of the late '90s, under the corrupt mayor, Bill Campbell. You've gotta give them props, just for that. While other clubs faded into a distant memory (Nikki's, The Gentlemen's Club, Montrae's, etc.), they've managed to still be here! The architecture of the building looks as though it was designed for the sole purpose of being a strip club. The club is a decent, cozy size. However, depending on what night you visit, you might think it a bit cramped. Like any strip club, the Flame goes through its share of crowd ebb and flow but for the most part, it remains fairly consistent, from night to night. However, Thursday-Saturday nights are by far their most crowded, with Thursday being the biggest (Amateur Night). There is some mild "thuggery," however, security is the tightest of any strip club in the ATL, I'm talking Secret Service tight (equipped with radio earpieces and all)! The club has a very safe environment. I've always advised girlfriends of mine, who are/were strippers, to work at the Flame. There are cameras everywhere and depending on what you may be trying to get away with, that could be considered a gift or a curse. A lot of that depends on the girl. It has been my experience that if you have a girl who's with your agenda, there's nothing you can't get away with, on the floor of any strip club. It all depends on your level of nerve and skill and the girl's too, of course, which leads me to one of the club's drawbacks. There are no Private VIP rooms! This might be a good thing, if your girlfriend is a stripper, working at the Flame (which is one of the reasons I prefer mine work there). However, if you're looking for a private, freaky and more intimate encounter, this isn't what you want.<br> <br> The girls are absolutely beautiful! There is definitely an eclectic variety. They are very friendly and mostly down to earth. You can certainly find whatever you're looking for at the Flame. There was a time, in Atlanta, when most clubs charged $10 for table dances. Some clubs charged $5 and you could see a difference in the quality of the girls. Back then, it was worth paying $10 just to see better looking girls. Well, the Flame changed the game, by improving the quality of the girls doing $5 dances. These girls are gorgeous and I would put them up against any others, from any club. There really is no need to pay twice the price, when the standard of beauty is the same, or better! If you're a girl wanting to dance at the Flame, go for it! do NOT allow the $5 pricing to fool you into thinking you're being short changed. There is mad money in the building. I've befriended several girls, over the years, and I've not known one to complain about the money. Everyone at the Flame makes money! Most of the more experienced girls will tell you that $5/$10 club debate is moot. When it's all said and done, it's up to you and your level of hustle that determines what kind of money you make in any club, regardless of what they charge for dances. It all works out to be about the same anyway, after tip out and fees. The waitresses and bartenders look as good as the dancers; I hate that they wear clothes! The bar is well stocked, with a variety of most top self liquors, wines and beers. The DJs are second to none. In fact, there have been times when I've gone just to hear the DJ! One DJ, in particular, has even gone on to be one of Atlanta's most successful radio personalities. Overall, the atmosphere of the club is clean and pleasant. The bathrooms even have running hot water (lol), without that annoying attendant, who seems to think I actually need his help to wash my own hands (and then want a tip afterwards)! It's free to get in, during the day. At night, the cover is $10 and doubles after midnight on Amateur Night. There is also the annoyance of having to pay for parking, as though they'll take responsibility for anything that may happen to my car, while under their watchful eye.<br> <br> I highly recommend this club to anyone coming through the ATL, with a limited amount of time. For someone in that category, the Blue Flame is a must see. I like that it is one of the few black owned clubs (with mostly black girls) in Atlanta, standing the test of time. Although they could expand, adding private rooms, nix the parking charge, and perhaps bring in some featured entertainers, they make up for those shortcomings in other ways (including offering free passes you can print off of their website). As I stated in my beginning, "I love this club!"