Hollywood Show Club remains as probably...

Hollywood Show Club remains as probably the classiest strip joint in Washington Park, and maybe the classiest in the dark side of St. Louis. Prices remain high, though: I went in on a Saturday night and paid $10 to get in, then treated myself to a Tanqueray and Tonic which set me back another $9 (with tip). That put together is just about how much I spent to sit and be nonplussed for 90 minutes at Miss Kitty's; at HSC, however, you get a large, clean bathroom (still with no attendant) and a higher-caliber roster of girls. And still, you can spend several hours here and get out spending less than $200, like me.

Note that management still seems to be doing its damndest to keep out any environment they consider thug-like. I don't know if it's reputation or policy, but from the lack of hip-hop the DJ plays to the virtually white selection of strippers, if you're black, and dress stereotypically black, you might want to go somewhere else unless you want to feel out of place. (Conversely, if you hate that kind of atmosphere, HSC is inviting you in with open arms.)

The bad experiences this time around concern two girls. The first was Elyse, an OK girl with long hair who nonetheless is on the bottom end of a 6-9 range of girls this evening. She did what most strippers do here: sit down and talk with patrons. But all her body language told me she was just doing it because it's the practice here. I ask Elyse how her night was, etc., and although she'd answer, her lack of eye contact and crossed arms and legs told me she was't listening too carefully. Still, I promised her that when she went up on stage, I'd tip her then. I promptly reneged on that promise, partly because she got up after 5 minutes and ignored me as she clomped back and forth across the club waiting for her turn (I should've asked her why she was so pissy), partly because I dadgum forgot. Nevertheless I feel bad, so if anybody can, tip Elyse onstage for me.