Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
kind of unwritten rule (until now!) that women are more likely to buy dances for
their friends than themselves. Keep your eyes on those “friends.”
You might want to wear your garlic and crucifix to
The Men of Sapphire
5
(3025 S. Industrial Rd.;
%
702/796
-
6000; www.menofsapphire.com; cover
$
25;
Fri-Sat 10pm show).
I was sitting quietly in the back of the “Playgirl Lounge,”
minding my own business while a firefighter or police officer or some such stereo-
typical fantasy was disrobing on stage, when Marcus from Transylvania (whose
onstage character is the
Phantom of the Opera
) came over and tried to talk me into
a lap dance. I politely declined and then felt something sharp and wet on my
shoulder. “Come on,” he said, devilishly. “I don't bite. Hard.” My shoulder begs
to differ.
The Men of Sapphire
is a kind of Chippendales meets Olympic Garden. There's
a choreographed show taking place on stage, and the men (who are all in incred-
ible shape and almost questionably well endowed) are acrobatic musclemen, with
routines ranging from back flips, to pushups on chairs, to yogalike balancing acts
with women on top of them, all the while mouthing the words to the song that's
playing. It's corny and crass, but that tends to be the norm when it comes to male
strippers. And the hormonal women in the audience—most of whom are here for
a bachelorette party or birthday celebration—scream, blush, perspire, and drool.
Despite an immediate desire for Purell (and a tetanus shot), I prefer Sapphire
to Olympic Garden, because there's always something going on onstage, and even
if it's laughable, a lot of choreography has gone into the show, and for what it is,
it's well done. If you do choose to get a lap dance ($20), be aware that the men
will be rubbing and wagging their body part in your face and placing your hands
in places that you may or may not want them to be.
SWINGERS' CLUBS
The swinging lifestyle, one in which couples like to bounce around and get it on
with other couples and singles, certainly isn't unique to Las Vegas. But like most
things, we're more open about it here, or, at least, more willing to profit off of it,
and there are two different establishments that cater to what's known as “The
Lifestyle.”
One of life's little secrets: Exhibitionists and voyeurs aren't the most attractive
people. Case in point:
The Red Rooster
55
(5010 Steptoe St.;
%
702/451
-
6661;
www.vegasredrooster.com; suggested “donations” Mon-Sat
$
30 couples,
$
10 single
women; Mon-Thurs
$
40 single men; Fri-Sat
$
50 single men; Sun
$
20 couples,
$
30
single men, single women free; cash only; office hours Mon-Thurs 5-11pm, Fri-Sat
5-11:30pm; Red Rooster Parties Mon-Thurs 9pm-2am, Fri-Sat 8pm-3am, Sun
6-11pm)
swingers club, where nudity (and amour!) comes in all packages. It opened
in the early '80s and belongs to a couple who actually live onsite.
When you enter, prepare to feel like a show cow at a 4H competition being sized
up. A close-knit community hangs out here, and they're welcoming to new blood,
but also curious about what opportunities that new blood might offer. About 200
people a night will move through here Fridays and Saturdays, and fewer than 100
each night during the week. The main room downstairs is the social club of the
house, where nudity isn't allowed. There's a Neil Diamond impersonator/DJ (I
requested “Shilo,” and he happily crooned it) and a bouncing, sweating, grinding,
