I've been going to this club...

I've been going to this club for close to 20 years; I'm pretty much an authority on it. If I were writing this review 10 years ago, I'd have nothing but praise. But alas, I'm writing about the current Mardi Gras, and I really don't have much of anything good to say about it. And believe it or not, that saddens me... because this used to be my "go-to" strip club. (I go to strip clubs 'round 3x a week; I only go to the Mardi Gras 'bout 2x a month now b/c of its current repulsive state.)

The Gras occupies a large building in the downtown area of Springfield: Upon entering -- what use to be the 'back' of the club -- there is a small bar to the immediate right. Most nights now, all guys entering the club have to go through a metal detector (they had a fatal shooting in the club earlier last year... kinda exemplifies how far this club has fallen, doesn't it?) You proceed straight ahead to get to the main bar and stage; from an aesthetic standpoint, the MG certainly isn't a dump, but it's nothing to write home about, either.

Ah, yes, the girls on the stage; it's why we all come to strip clubs in the first place, isn't it? And why do we come to nude clubs, in particular? Well, doesn't take an Einstein to know we come because we are desirous of seeing completely naked girls... and the expectation is inherent that at a nude club, you'll get to see them, right? Well, uh, um... actually, at the Mardi Gras... you'd be wrong. As the MG currently operates, VERY FEW of the dancers onstage get nude. Period. Take this to the bank. Most of the dancers are only topless. There are dancers there I've seen over 30 times (seriously) that I've and others have tipped plenty, who have never, ever, gotten naked onstage. Not even a flash. This is the biggest and most egregious change at the Mardi Gras. Time was, every dancer got completely nude. As a customer who paid your cover charge for a nude club experience, you were always assured that experience at the Mardi Gras. No more. Hell, nowadays, you're lucky if you see any total nudity at all. Just last Saturday night, over a two hour span, only three of the dancers got nude onstage (a few more flashed...whoop-de-do!). This club, as currently operated, is a de facto topless club.