Fine time in the boondocks

After a terrible snow year in New England I was worried I would not be able to make my annual pilgrimage to the wilds of northern Maine. I was at my desk at 5:30 Friday morning when the weather began blowing up about a huge storm. At 6:15 I was on the road and a mere 245 miles later I was skiing the trees at Sugarloaf and waiting for the storm. The only way to make it perfect after dinner and a few beers is the Jay Ballet, known officially as Hour Place.

Upon entering you pay $10.00 and are informed that the 2 sacred rules are no drinks on the poll tables and no phones in the club. Both make for a better time. No waitress service so the two-seat bar serves the whole club. Open 3 days a week Thu, Fri, Sat from 8-1. Arriving at 8:30 I saw the club fill quickly. Actually, a large crowd. There is a new stage which filles in the back 2/3 of the club. I had not seen it before and while the added poles are nice, the stage is too high up for the patrons at any of the tables to see the dancers on the floor. There is a small stage up front, in front of the tiny bar and another stage by the dance area, that is set up like a circus cage. All the rage in 1958 I hear. The rest of the club is filled with tables and the two pool tables against the back wall next to the bar.

Coors light and DownEast Cider were both $6.00, an increase since last time, like the stage. 3 levels of dances: $10.00 on the floor, against the far side wall; in the Lounge, where you pay $10.00 for a communal lap dance room to the house and then $10 a dance and a VIP lounge, which looks like a basic comfy chair behind a door. $50 was quoted to the club and $100 to the dancer. Dances against the wall were less contact than in the Lounge and the bouncer never interfered.