haven't been here in quite a...

haven't been here in quite a while...signs outside have been touting a re-opening under the name "Bare Den" but tonight I didn't see those signs, just signs saying X-Ray's so maybe they changed their mind. Paid the $20 admission, which I think is very steep for what the club is and where it is; $20 is a NYC club door charge; though this is a nude club that is b.y.o.b. so they don't make money off of liquor sales, so maybe that's why. Inside the club looked the same as it has since its remodeling a year or so ago...large stage in the middle...bar off to the side. chairs around the stage in a large rectangular room. It is clean and uncluttered but there is nothing special in the decor or atmosphere. When I entered there were about 5 dancers, onstage and four others talking to the handful of customers. A little later a sixth dancer came out of the VIP room....the dancers were in the 5 - 7 range, ordinary around-the-way looking girls....with basic costumes and ordinary clothing, not heavily made up. I n a way that can be a sexy change of pace from the heavily sexed-up dancers of many clubs; it's like the girl next door taking off her clothes for you. The dancer onstage was petite and cute, with a nice toned body. Her dancing to hard rock was just ok but in fairness only three customers were sitting around the stage so there wasn't a lot to work with there. I sat at the bar, which serves soft drinks; I ordered a coke from the very friendly barmaid. A dark-haired dancer came over to chat me up; she said that the turn-out during weeknights is very hit and miss, sometimes crowded and sometimes not at all. She said the club was her favorite club because everyone--dancers, staff, customers--were very friendly and the vibe was laid back. That seemed to be a fair description. She went onstage and the other dancer came off. When the petite dancer came over we chatted for a moment and she soon asked me if I wanted a lap dance--which she told me were $20. I said yes so she led me to the "V.I.P" room which in reality is just a sizable room with several chairs in it, no couches. Another customer was already sitting at one end of the room being entertained by a dancer; there is no privacy and the lighting is a bit bright. But we moved to the opposite end of the room and Ava--that was her name--proceeded to give me three very pleasing, decent mileage topless lapdances. After the third one I called a halt--though I wouldn't have minded going for more. We went back to the bar and had a little more conversation. I left soon after. All in all, not a bad experience...there are many clubs in this part of New Jersey and this one is worth a stop as long as your expectations are in line with what they have to offer.