A time

Sonnys is a mid-sized strip club with a gritty, dive-bar kind of charm. The place isn’t spotless, but it’s not outright filthy either think sticky floors and dim lighting that hides most of the grime. The music was loud but not ear-shattering, mostly top-40 hits and hip hop, with the occasional old-school anthem thrown in. The DJ was tolerable, but he did tend to talk over songs more than necessary, often cutting in just as a good groove got going. Lighting was moody, with enough glow to make out the dancers but dark enough to keep things lowkey. There's definitely a bit of a "thug factor" herenothing overtly dangerous, but it’s not the kind of place you’d bring your mom.

The crowd at Sonnys was a mix, both in terms of patrons and performers. On the night I went, there were about a dozen dancers rotating throughout the evening, with a range of ethnicities—Black, Latina, White, and a couple of Asian performers. Some of the girls were really engaging, playful, and seemed genuinely interested in having a good time. Others were more businesslike, and one in particular stood out for being outright rude and demanding, pushing aggressively for dances and not taking “not now” very well. As for the customers, it was mostly men in their 20s and 30s, with a few older regulars camped at the bar. The vibe wasn’t unfriendly, but it definitely felt like you needed to prove you belonged there a little.

When it comes to prices, Sonnys is pretty standard for a spot like this. A lap dance will run you $25 per song, and while that’s about average, the experience can vary a lot depending on the dancer. Some made the dance feel personal and fun, with a decent amount of contact and energy. Others were clearly phoning it in, or worse, acting like they were doing you a favor. Drinks were $8 for a domestic beer and around $12 for basic mixed drinks so bring cash or be ready for your tab to climb quickly. I didn’t see any crazy hidden charges, but be wary of dancers trying to hustle for VIP or extras right out the gate.