Found myself back in the establishment...

Found myself back in the establishment a couple of months ago for one of the campily-themed Saturday nights. In contrast to my low-key previous visit the place was swollen with folks. There were dancers on both stages really going for it and a few dazzling stage events that put the bawdy and unfunny camp in its place. In the wrong hands the combination of carnality and comedy could have tumbled into the buzz-killing swamp of burlesque, which I think is French for "not foxy, not funny." Instead sexiness overpowered the camp and dropped a floor out from under my expectations.

Good golly! Lots of great company was kept, but Ivy is an all-time champ. She makes me wish I was a well-financed business traveler, which is saying something. She disappeared into VIP-land for a long time, as did Sinful who since my last visit and our long talk has clearly graduated into practically running things. She still dances like she's slaloming for the gold, both up-tempo and exacting. Sammi still illuminates a landscape like I imagine a moonlit waterfall doing. Reilly was boozy and grand and gazed at me like a friendly Medusa. She left her bra around my neck during one of those oddly funny intervals when all the dancers take the stage and swagger like a pro wrestling supergroup.

Sorry if I misspelled anybody's name. I forget the name of the lady who sat with me, took my temperature and let me resentfully buy her drinks (my fault, not hers) until Ivy finally danced and my preference was clear. I like this place but I'm no well-outfitted business traveler. Atmosphere matters when you can't afford to buy your way into most of what you're after. Hot's offers multiple tiers of "pay to play" and seems to encourage friendliness rather than enforcing etiquette. I like that style.