I visited to Portland recently for family and wanted to make sure I ventured to one of the local establishments after hearing so much about Portland and also being from the fairly barren East Coast.
I decided to try Club Rouge after finding it easily accessible to downtown and it’s reviews from here. I was not disappointed. One thing I will say is that I really wish that I had tried a more Portland-Esque club. But as this is like a once a year thing, I wanted the best shot at a good time, and felt like this was it. Forgive me if I don’t have a wealth of experience to add on to in terms of describing certain aspects for this reason.
Got in around a half hour after they opened on Sunday afternoon. It was just me and two other patrons at the time. There were four girls around and visible, but they weren’t like working the floor. More on that later.
You walk in and the bouncer checks your ID. I was intrigued that the front door was wide open. No cover charge though it looked like there would be after 9pm. Not sure of that cost.
Once you walk in the front door, the stage becomes visible on your right. I was continually surprised that there was no hall or anything. My eyes literally met the dancers’ as my ID was approved.
The rest of the club shakes out like this: after you walk in and the stage is right in front of you, there are lap dance areas to the left with tables right in front of those. To the right there were three side stages, including one with a pole. As I learned later, under 21 dancers must go from the main stage to a side stage. The main stage included to poles. In the back is another lap dance area and there are more private rooms somewhere in the club as well. The bar is in the back past the main stage as are some gaming machines. The restrooms are just to the left of the main stage, which each restroom is private non-gendered.
I got a full liquor beverage ($7) and found a seat at a table in full view of the main stage. There was no one at the rack.
As it turned out, there were closer to 5-6 dancers working, though a few were hiding. Dancers continued to come in as well and by the time I had left there were probably 8. All were 7-9 in my opinion. There was just one that I was not very attracted to but I’m sure she’d be a solid 6-7 to someone. There was not a real diverse group though, with just one AA dancer. I can’t recall specifics like names but there were a pair of blondes, one petite and one thick (but perfectly so), three brunettes and a redhead and a few mix of hair color. Most were petite save for the blonde and AA. I’d say three were true spinners, with the others in tremendous shape. One thing to note as to why it’s hard to remember names is that there was no DJ introducing anyone at this time.
The dancers generally were not really making the rounds. Part of this was because at least three were underage and aren’t allowed to.
I watched the stage show for about an hour, tipping about $2 a song, had another three or four drinks and let my confidence grow. The stage shows were two songs, first with top off and second with everything out.
I had prepared to speak with the dancer I found the most attractive (a 9, I don’t recall her name), but another couple of guys had come in and one grabbed her. There was still a solid 1.5-to-1 dancer to guy ratio at this point. One fellow appeared to be a regular and had one of the blonde spinner locked up.
So I watched another round of dances on the main stage, kept tipping and got more drinks. I was approached by two dancers in this process but declined both of their attentions as I had my eyes on the thick blonde mentioned earlier and one other dancer as well.
After she had ended her engagement with the other fellow (like a significant time later), I went to talk with her at a side stage. I learned she was under 21 and that’s why she had to spend time between the main stage and the side stages. I asked her for some dances and was told that the area close to the main stage which was just curtained was $20 topless/$40 nude for one dance. Then in a separate area we could do 3 for $100. I asked what was allowed there and she said she got to make her own rules. The bartender was also the back manager, so we checked in with her and we went back.
One thing to note is they asked if I wanted to cover the room fee for the dance, which was $10 and which I did. Prior to the dance, I should have ascertained whether that was also nude, but she was gorgeous so I went for it. It was indeed nude and she made it worthwhile. Some stick shifting, great contact on her part, though me being semi shy, I didn’t touch her as much as I probably could have. She allowed touching of her top and around her hips. I didn’t venture much past that. She moaned in my ear and overall, it was the best dance I’ve ever received, though that’s not a wide number.
I should mention the 3 for $100 area is just curtains so I’d assume on a busy night it would be louder back there than the chances I had. I also noticed a camera. Not sure anything ore on that since the dancers “make their own rules.” And because at the time there was just one bouncer. It was also pretty dark so hard to see what you are paying for, though the moves made up for it for me.
All this time though, there was one other dancer that I had really begun to fall for, but she seemed to disappear after each set. She was actually probably closer to a 7.5 if I’m trying to judge what others though of her. But she was a solid 10 for me. Still can’t explain it.
Finally I sat at the rack during her third set and got her to stick around after to chat with me. I was running low on time, which was a regret, because I was totally smitten and wished we could have spoken longer. There was just something about her look and her attitude that was genuine. I asked her what her it would take to get a dance with her and she initially quoted me at $1200 for an hour. Then $800 for a half hour. Then $500 for something but I don’t recall what. Those were all room figures.
Finally we got back to the 3 for $100. I again paid the room fee and had three good dances, but no stick shifts and it was not as sensual as the first, but that’s not to take anything away from her. She was gorgeous and made lots of contact and allowed plenty on my end, though I was still probably too shy that what I’d ultimately have liked to have been.
I tipped both about 10%, which I Hope was not too low.
Overall, I had a tremendous experience. The liquor was great, the girls were sexy and the overall atmosphere was what I’d picture a classy strip club being. As I said, I’d like to have tried a more Portland-y club, but as this is a once a year thing for me, Club Rouge was perfect. I’d love to go back and spend more time (and money) in one of the rooms, but let’s be real, who makes enough to drop $1200 unless you’re playing for the Trail Blazers?
