Laissez les bon temps roulez

First, off, La Pearl is downstairs. Outer Space is upstairs -- basically over flow if downstairs is crowded. This place is in what some people refer to (and fear) as "da hood." In IRL, it's a working class Black neighborhood -- there's lots of places that are far worse. The bar patrons are working class guys from the neighborhood. Just regular guys. Nobody had a problem with me and -- other than some guy in a white muslim robe asking for money outside the place -- I didn't have a problem with anybody. Parking is plentiful on Haverford Ave. I wouldn't be worried really, except maybe late night. I do drive a beater -- people would break into my car and leave me stuff, they'd think I was so hard up.

I walk up to the club, lots of guys hanging out, out front, either staff or patrons, I climb the ramp. "Who do I give $10 to?" One guy points to the next guy. I pay and enter.

La Pearl is a shot and beer -- bottled, no tap -- kind of place. Bar runs length-wise to your left, stools at the bar and a standing counter on the other side. The aisle is about 3 people-wide, including seated/standing people. Stairs to Outer Space are to your right. La Pearl was crowded. So I went upstairs -- which was empty -- and came back down stairs. The bar is more fun the closer you are to the back. I took an empty middle seat bar and tried not to gawk at the grind going on to my left and right. Women kept coming in while I was there. All the dancers were black, but there was a great variety in terms of age and proportions -- some young, some not so young; some tall, others not; some svelte, some curvy.