After swearing that I would never...

After swearing that I would never go back to this club, I ducked inside on the afternoon of Dec. 9, 2010 to get out of the cold wind whipping around downtown Detroit. No coat check so I kept my stuff with me and sat at the bar. Beer was $5.00. Veteran dancer came over to chat and was very pleasant and intelligent. She said she had worked in this club for six years and and had seen the changes. (This conversation is taking place while I'm the only customer in the place, the DJ is not talking and no dancers are on stage.) She tells me that the new rules are not being enforced and "it's business as usual." The VIP used to have curtains around the couches, but they have been lowered so the dancer and the customer are partially visible. This meets the new rule of no private VIP. LDs are banned, but still going on. This club is two blocks for Detroit Police Headquarters and, according to her, the cops stop by, look around and leave. The real issues are with the Detroit Fire Department enforcing the ban on indoor smoking. Dancers go to a small hallway near a door to smoke and come back inside, freezing.

As we continue the conversation, a few patrons drift in and sit at the bar. The DJ finally comes on duty and starts talking up the "crowd." Because of the small staff, my dancer had to go on stage a lot to keep the club from looking as dead as it was.

The club has dim blue lighting and no real lively feel during the day. I was told that things really pick up in the evening, but I'm going try and see that for myself.