Hoops is a Nice Layup, Not a Slam Dunk

Hoops is right next to Rick's near Herald Square in Manhattan. I was at Rick's and literally walked 10 feet to enter Hoops. Cheap coupon bastard that I am, I had a free admission print-out to show them and saved the $20 cover. Like Rick's, there are very nice hosts and hostesses but Hoops is a little more informal. Weirdly, Hoops has much higher VIP pricing than Rick's.

Hoops had a similar layout to Rick's, just different enough, kind of like the bizarro Seinfeld apartment. It's definitely got that sports theme that sets it apart, as there were many giant TVs above the bar and all along the back where the little stage is. Dancers were similar to Rick's as well, with majority Latinas with some black and white (again, Eastern European) dancers mixed in. It felt more relaxed, like I could just hang out here for a while if I wanted to.

I first met a very beautiful Romanian dancer and her Moldovan hostess friend. I had a nice chat with them and later asked about dances. The Romanian didn't do them, only VIP, which was a staggering $1100 for an hour. 30 minutes half that. That's an easy no for me, no matter how hot and steamy a girl is, knowing I had some Queens places to hit this night that are much more affordable.