Did my research, decided to see...

Did my research, decided to see what's what at Gallaghers 2000. Arrived at about 10pm on a Wednesday, paid (I think) $10 to get in. Sat at the bar and put away two $9 Amstel Lights. People complain about the give-every-girl-a-dollar-after-she-works-the-stage-if-you're-sitting-at-the-bar tradition; it didn't bother me. The way I see it, it guarantees that you get a chance to exchange names and/or a compliment with anyone you've seen dance.

Watched a smokin' Latina with magenta hair named Vicki onstage, thought maybe she was my ticket. Beautiful, genuine smile. Then I considered a slender, petite Eastern European brunette by the name Julia just because of her big, inquisitive eyes. And then Valerie shows up. All-American girl next door, nicely proportioned (I like smaller, natural breasts, which seem to be in fashion at G2K), you realize she's Eastern European only once she starts talking. She did some actual pole-work onstage, impressive moves, put some thought and feeling into her dancing, made the others look like they were just standing around. Made eye contact, she found me afterward, I tried a standard lapdance ($20) in the upstairs balcony area overlooking the bar. I liked her commitment level there (just like her commitment level onstage), and felt like we were getting along, but I didn't love the lapdance area. Moved directly to the VIP after one dance. As of early June, the cost went from $160 to $180 (just to clarify for anyone reading older reviews) for 30 minutes.

They assigned us one of the glass-block-divided rooms on the main floor (there are more, apparently directly above them) pretty close to the desk where the guys take your money for the VIP. I wondered if it would feel any less private there, but it didn't. The VIP-room experience is topless with two-way contact of course determined by the girl. Valerie is very polite, not trashy, and although I felt like I could say anything or ask her about anything, she was demure, just a little bit reserved. I wondered if I was in for a tease, ultimately, but this is a girl with a plan. And a body to die for. Time moved very slowly (in a good way), and I was surprised how relaxing and chill 30 minutes could be. It felt like an hour.