Uh, Nope.

Not a normal review, I do ask the adjudicators to be lenient.

I saw a show and as my latest habit has been to visit a club after, I wandered over to Sapphire, Times Square because it was close by. The entrance is very blue, Sapphire - get it? Always nice to see a theme. It is the old Flashdancers (which I had a few good times in at over the years) but hadn't been there since the change. From what I could tell the renovation looked good although it still seemed small. So 3 dudes out front, velvet ropes, asked if they were expecting a crowd - no sense of humor, not much of a warm welcome either. Inside the doorway, guy scanned my ID (yeah, bit uncomfortable with that). I saw the machine, it also seemed to have just taken a picture of me right there in the foyer too. Still the long stairs down, turn the corner and there's reception on the right. I could see the bar inside and got a peak toward the stage in the back right. A few dancers were sitting at the bar, didn't see anyone on the stage. No PLs evident, place seemed quiet. They were friendly at the front desk, I'll say that. I was asked if I had been there before, if I had the name of a host or reference. I told them I had last been there when it was Flashdancers. Okay, $40 cover.... What? On a Tuesday? Yeah $40, I was told, every night of the week. I told them there were plenty of other clubs in the area with a $20 cover and I think I'll just go to one of them. I thought they might give me a break since it was so quiet but no. I turned around and went right back up the stairs and out the door. As I passed the guys at the entrance, I said $40 is just too much guys and I was off to Flashdancers Midtown - $20 cover and no ID scan and spent about $300 (I'm not gonna do a separate review because it hasn't been that long since my last one).

Okay, so maybe the $40 is to keep out riffraff (like me!) and hunt for the whales where $40 bucks is nothing. Or maybe it's for the tourists and conventioneers who come in, nurse one beer and don't tip or get dances. I also saw how empty it was and read the reviews here before I went and it didn't seem like it would be all that (but worth a try). Anyway, I told my dancer at Flashdancers that for me (and her) that would have meant a Lapper gone wanting. I also thought it was a matter of principal when I knew the other clubs in the area were half the price and the only way to affect change in a capitalist society is to refuse to pay inflated prices and stick with what the market will bare. I do think they were trying to get me in without the cover by asking me if I had any of the info that would get me comped. I believe you can register with them on their website for a free entry. And honestly, I saw the $40 cover listed on their site but couldn't believe it would be for an odd slow weekend night. But, I was already prepared to walk if it was true and had a backup plan. Last time I was quoted a $40+ cover was at Hustlers in Las Vegas and even then I said thanks but no thanks and drove off.