Ah, strippers. whether you like to see how much they remove or how seductively they remove it, they’re an essential slice of naked travel.
Visit the author’s blog and Web site at: totallyjoe.blogspot.com
josephdemarco.com
www.myspace.com/jrgdemarco The Naked Traveler
by Joseph R.G. DeMarco
 Among the top three must-have things for a naked travel experience to be … well … completely naked, the strip venue vies for first place with the other two. Not every city has strip clubs and some have only pale versions of the real thing. Other locales go out of their way to show how alluring and nakedly appealing strippers can be. But the clubs and bars that feature strippers or go-go boys are places where you can forget about cruising and being seen and just watch men perform onstage for your entertainment.
There are plenty of old favorite strip clubs worth another look (naked men are always worth another look, don’cha think?) and this column will throw an occasional glance at a few strip bars and clubs which merit a return visit. The strip bar scene is ever-changing which is another reason to revisit these places. There are far too many to do in one column, so we’ll take a peek at the strip scene now and then.
 On the East Coast, New York and D.C. used to tussle for the title when it came to the best strip city. For a while, D.C. with its legal loophole allowing dancers to bare it all, was on top of the naked world. Redevelopment came along and tore the title away. But this Naked Traveler is happy to say that D.C. is on its way back. New York had the title all to itself for a while but eventually faded as the best of the best. Though you’ll still find some of the finest men taking it all off for you in the Big Apple, it’s not the only place. So, before we get to NY and D.C., let’s explore a few other cities with flesh to offer.
Ft. Lauderdale has a hot share of male strip establishments where the traveler can engage in highly satisfying skin sightings and sometimes more. The guys this traveler has encountered there are, almost to a man, not only good-looking but quite friendly, willing to spend time with customers even if the dollars aren’t forthcoming. Clad in g-strings or thongs, they roam the establishments making conversation with customers and whether or not you slip a few dollars into their g-strings, they happily make your evening something to remember.
 The Boardwalk (boardwalkbarxxx.com) is perhaps the largest of the stripper bars in the Ft. Lauderdale area. A rambling structure, the Boardwalk has a friendly feel and the patrons add to this atmosphere. A stage on the right as you enter is the main dance area but there’s another at the other end of a very long bar spanning the length of the place. Pool tables and more dot other parts of the floor, giving ample areas to meet and chat with the dancers of your choice. Boasting 50 or more strippers on certain nights, it draws a friendly crowd. On this Naked Traveler’s first visit there some years ago, I met Enrique, one of the most attractive dancers on stage that night. Somehow I caught his eye and after his set he sidled over, clad only in his g-string, to chat with me. Which is how I learned about Haulover (his favorite hangout during the day), the grandest nude beach you’ll find with all its naked delights. Boardwalk features nude celebs as well. One night I got to see some of my faves from Bel Ami and was suitably impressed with them in the flesh as opposed to onscreen. The Visconti triplets will grace Boardwalk’s stage soon and so will lots of others. You’ll never fail to find someone to please your taste when you’re there.
 Dudes (website currently offline for revamping: dudesbar.com) and Johnny’s (johnnysbarfl.com) are also perennial strip bar favorites. Dudes, quietly understated and sophisticated, has some of the classiest sculpted bodies you’ll find anywhere. Hot men circulate and dance on stage and give you plenty to think about. But if you’re not in the mood for naked beauty (well, it could happen), Dudes accommodates your need to avert your eyes by having a piano bar in a separate area. Johnny’s tends to have a neighborhood hangout feel but the atmosphere is anything but relaxed. There’s an upbeat mood, lots of chatter and music, and, did I mention lots of naked men? A sense of expectation and excitement are always in the air at Johnny’s and you’ll catch the fever if you go.
 After spending the day at the all-nude Haulover beach, near Miami, you might try visiting Twist (twistsobe.com) in South Beach where you’ll get an eyeful of hot men stripping — and not just because they’ve come from the beach and are changing into eveningwear. And with an amateur contest every Sunday, what else could a naked traveler ask of a bar?
Chelsea Nightclub in Tampa will also entertain you with its nightly list of dancers and frequent amateur contests. Both the bartenders and the dancers will knock your socks off (and more, if you’re lucky). Hot, sweet, and sexy: that’s the Chelsea Nightclub. You may be looking for something even sweeter, like Disneyworld in Orlando, in which case you can take a naked break and hop over to Pulse (pulseorlando.com) where strippers and amateur contests will afford you some skin time after you’ve been cavorting with Mickey and his friends.
 If you find yourself in Atlanta, you’ll be a happy naked traveler indeed when it comes to strip bars. How about a bar that offers more than 70 strippers from all around the globe — all as naked as the day they were born? You’ll find them at Swinging Richard’s (swingingrichards.com) where you’ll have that nakedly fun time you crave. There’s no doubt that if, like the Naked Traveler, you enjoy male dancers, Swinging Richards has to be on your list. It’s a famous destination for lovers of strippers and once you go you’ll know why. A large facility, it has two stages and the way things are set up, there’s not a bad seat in the house. Table dances are inexpensive, easily obtained, and worth the cash. Swinging Richards also provides a VIP Lounge where you and your friends can get a more close-up and personal view of your favorites from the main stages. In addition, there are seven private rooms. Swinging Richards has been a popular gathering place for years and it’s the hot men that keep bringing the customers back.
BJRoosters (bjroostersatl.com) boasts the same drawing power — hot, hot men. A watering hole with a friendly, neighborhood-bar ambience (and if you have guys, who look like these dancers, roaming around your neighborhood, be sure and drop the Naked Traveler a line so he can come visit), BJRoosters is popular yet welcoming. The dancers are down to earth and make visitors feel welcome and energized. You won’t regret a visit to this place.
Another time we’ll take a look at the newly blossoming D.C. scene, what’s left of the stripper world in New York, and other places. Stay naked until then.
September 2009
|
