I found myself at McDoogal's for...

I found myself at McDoogal's for the first time in several years to celebrate a friend's early retirement. I hadn't been in several years, generally preferring the setup at the Wagon Wheel/Players Club. McDoogal's has the same basic problem now that it did the last time I went 6-7 years ago -- the preternaturally unhappy den mother who lords over the couch dances and shouts out infractions, real and/or imagined. Total buzz kill, given the $$ one sheds for a lapper.

I understand that she's there to protect the dancers and may or may not be there as part of some kind of agreement with the locals. But it seems that the den mother -- think Kathy Bates, except less hot -- feels a need to shout at the dancers (and the couch dance recipients) as a way to justify her being there at the club.

The dancers are, as they've always been, above average for the area. And if you're fine with sitting at the bar, you'll do fine. But if you're at all into a lapper, you're better off going somewhere else.