Quiet at 8:00

Goosebumps doesn't get many reviews on TUSCL, but I noticed it was only a block away from my hotel. It's a short walk from all of the big downtown conference hotels (Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott Marquis, and others). The place opens at 4:00, but when I arrived at 8:00 it was quieter than the Starbucks on Peachtree. $10 cover (with a no-extra-charge pat-down from the doorman); inside, a modestly-sized place; bar along the wall parallel to Baker St., low, winding stage, table seating plus a row of what appeared to be LazyBoy recliners that didn't recline.

Three or four customers, two dancers, a cute bartender. No one on stage, music turned down lower than expected. The place appeared to be just getting started. Ordered a drink (call whisky at $10), and was quickly joined by a dancer-friendly, funny, and affectionate, who turned out to be good company. A bit older, and curvy, but more contact than the Atlanta air-dance norm. The conversation led to finding one of the LazyBoys for some $10 dances; not exactly Follies, but a satisfying level of contact.

By 9:00 or so, I had yet to see anyone dance, but one or two other dancers filtered in (one an absolute goddess). My friend let me know that the place really got rolling around 2:00 am, but it was already past my bedtime.