Two thumbs up for downstate trip

A work assignment for the U of I came across my desk, and I jumped hard at the prospect since (1) I was thrilled to do work at the alma mater and (2) I've always had a good time at the Silver Bullet. I'm pleased to report that my expectations were fully met, so let's explore what that means.

As I've written in past reviews, the Silver Bullet is less of a strip "club" and more of a bar with strippers. A bar that looks like it hasn't been remodeled since the Clinton administration. The interior is pretty much an open rectangle in plan, with the bar and rail in one corner, the DJ booth at the far end of the room, and a 20'-long stage in the middle. Stage performances are generally very similar among performers... a little strip tease around the pole until topless, with a lap up and down the catwalk to shake boobs and butts in people's faces at the adjacent tables. There's reasonable contact along the stage, where a couple bucks gets you a handful or faceful of boobs or butts. Drink prices are slightly inflated compared to a similar bar without strippers, but I had no qualms about paying ballpark $5 for a Bud Heavy.

There's not a single booth in the joint, and the only place to rest your ass is on a stool at the bar, at a high-top table, or--and I promise I'm not making this up--behind the DJ booth where the private dances are administered. That said, the private dances are very much worth it because the price is right ($15/song) and the ladies have generally figured out how to make those stools work. There is no VIP section, and all private dances are provided along the back wall in full view of other paying pervs. Average song length was measured to be around 3:50. Dancers work the floor starting at 9:00.