Fort Lauderdale: Montreal for snowbirds!

[+ newatthis]

If you’re a strip club aficionado but can’t stand the winter snow and low temperatures in Montreal, Fort Lauderdale could be what you’re looking for. I had to be in Florida this past week and fulfilled my responsibilities to this MC by checking out the recently opened Torpedo Bar, as well as Boardwalk and Johnny’s. Since I visited on Monday/Tuesday, the slowest nights of the week, and since I haven’t yet mastered the Fort Lauderdale club ethos, my experience didn’t reach the Montreal standard (where there are reasonable numbers of dancers and customers even on week nights, and where several visits have made me very comfortable with the club culture). Nonetheless, I will certainly continue to explore Fort Lauderdale, and would recommend it to others. (One advantage these clubs have over their Montreal counterparts is that there is relatively little smoking. My clothes didn’t reek when I returned home.)

 

Torpedo Bar (website [http://torpedobar.com/]). This is the venue with the most potential, to my mind. The main room is spacious, comfortable, and well-decorated – the best room of any strip club I’ve been in, hands-down. (Karl-G described it well in [http://babydb.male4malescorts.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=18&topic_id=7499&mesg_id=7499&page=3].) The sound, lighting, and special effects are all of high quality. The main room had an interesting variety of video on the screens, including sports, music videos, and erotic wrestling. The staff is friendly and welcoming. I met two of the bartenders, hunky James, who is warm with a kinky edge, and Aaron, even hunkier, but a little more low key.

 

The roomettes for lap dances are each furnished with a comfortable couch, table, and a TV which is fed good porn – not the endless suck/fuck loops that play, for example, at Campus in Montreal. And they are completely private – once the curtain is drawn, only you and the dancer know what’s going on.

 

But all this potential has yet to be fully realized. Why? Because Torpedo Bar seems way understaffed. Without more dancers there more hours, I doubt if it will survive. I arrived on Monday around 10:15 pm; there were a couple of other customers. I ordered a beer and asked when the dancers would start. James said he expected them around 11:30, so I asked him to hold on to my beer while I went to explore other clubs. When I returned at 11:30, one dancer had just arrived. (James gave me a fresh beer gratis, since he had drunk mine, not believing I would actually return.)

 

That dancer, Keith, turned out to be the only one who showed. He was a real professional. There were now about 10 customers, and he systematically made his way around, chatting with each one. He was funny and raunchy with me, promoting himself for a lap dance with a nice, self-deprecating attitude, and allowing a fair amount of fondling, for which I tipped him per local custom. After a while he changed into what I would call a field hand costume (he’s black) – overalls and a floppy white hat – and did a great dance on the smaller stage near the bar. I’d guess it lasted twice as long as a typical Montreal stage dance. After no more than a minute break, he returned stripped, and did a second, very provocative dance, using a towel to keep himself covered (there’s no completely nude dancing at these three clubs).

 

Even though Keith was taller and much more solid and muscular than the type of dancer I usually go for, his stage show and line of patter had me looking forward to a private dance. The price was $20 for a “basic lap dance”, which he indicated would include quite a lot. In the back, we negotiated some extras (for not much more money) on the fly. His was certainly the hottest lap dance I’ve had anywhere, anytime. (He was, among other things, a great kisser.)

 

On Tuesday night around midnight, there were 2 dancers, but within 20 minutes, one had done a lap dance, gathered up his stuff, and left with the customer he had danced for – clearly he had gotten a better offer for the evening. (The security guard/bartender Doug told me that Torpedo Bar, unlike the other clubs, does not have contracts with its dancers – they can come in whenever they want, and dance at other clubs as well.) The remaining dancer, James, was Brazilian, and did a nice lap dance in the back, but was more mercenary about it and not nearly as steamy as Keith had been.

 

Doug told me that the club really comes alive between 2 and 4 am, when waiters, bartenders, and other service personnel from area clubs come in and hang out. But even at those hours, there was only one dancer each night. He confirmed that there were more customers and dancers on and close to the weekend, but that the numbers still were relatively small.

 

 

Johnny’s. None of the dancers here pushed any buttons for me, even though they were more my type. On Monday there were about 5, along with a fair number of customers. The atmosphere reminded me a little of Taboo – the dancers gravitated to known regulars. On Tuesday night Johnny’s was even deader than Torpedo Bar, if that can be believed. There were 1 or 2 customers, and a few dancers. The bartender told me it had been that way the whole night. There are no lap dances at Johnny’s, just the fondling/tipping thing.

 

 

Boardwalk. This was the most lively of the 3 clubs. On Monday I arrived around 1 am, after they had stopped charging the $5 cover. I’d guess there were about 5-6 dancers, and quite a few customers still. Unfortunately, a good deal of the stage time was taken up with drag queens lip synching to music I couldn’t stand. These were not the in-your-face, strident, funny drag queens, but young slender types wearing elaborate gowns and makeup, and they bored me to tears. Tuesday night I made Boardwalk my first stop around 10:30 and stayed a while. There was a good selection of dancers, although they didn’t rise, as a group, to the standard of Campus in the afternoon. I most enjoyed Jeremy, a 19-year old who was wearing a cock sock on his (as he called it) “11 by 7”. When he wasn’t dancing or with a customer, he walked around on top of the bar shaking that thing in people’s faces, generating quite a few tips. Since the reports I had read indicated there wasn’t much privacy in the back room, I didn’t try any lap dances here.

 

 

At none of the clubs did I ever get completely comfortable with the fondle/tip thing. My mistake was probably making conversation at the same time, which revealed things that quickly destroyed any illusions I might have had about the dancers. In the one case where the conversation was interesting, I tended to forget to fondle and tip. I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it after a few more visits.

[Guest Tampa Yankee]

Almost Equal Time: In defense of Montreal Winters...

 

Nice report, thanks newatthis.

 

I love Florida in the winter months... I have acquired a few snow bird feathers over the years myself -- second hand of course. And the winter will drive me south for a time, I know. I must make it to the clubs in FLL one of these times.

 

However, Montreal winters do have some attraction. The winters are nippy, true. But the hotels are warm and cheap -- and the guys as hot as ever!! }( The crowds are gone, the tourist areas closed down. However the undergound malls connected by walkways or the Metro provide a vibrant winter city life. Many downtown hotels are convenient to the Metro -- a block or two at most, some even connected directly. The Metro has three stops in the village: the Gouverneur, Bleury in midvillage -- both within a few blocks of Campus and Stock and Papineau convenient to Adonis and Taboo. So it is quite possible to travel much of Centre Ville and to the Village in comfort except for at most a few blocks in the winter cold.

 

Although the club crowds are way down with diminshed energy and the party atmosphere is MIA the dancers are still around -- many of them anyway. The slower tempo makes for hard winters for the dancers that still have to eat and pay bills. The result is that many dancers are quite eager to please on and off premises and very reasonable on fees for off-premise engagements. (This does not mean to abandon good buyer practices.) There is a selection of escorts/massuers in the back of Fugues that you can order in. To maximize the benefit to the dancers/escorts and hence to the visitor, schedule the trip for the last week of the month -- just before the rent is due.

 

Montreal in winter isn't Florida for sure, however there is some good lemonade to be made up there in winter time. My perfect winter is three weeks in Florida and one in Montreal -- the last. It seems the only snow that bothers me anymore is the snow that stacks up in my driveway. The only fly in the ointment is that my mortgage is due at the end of every month too. ;(

[uptownmike]

RE: Almost Equal Time: In defense of Montreal Winters...

 

Guys, thanks for the helpful information both Up North and Down South

[MTLover]

RE: Almost Equal Time: In defense of Montreal Winters...

 

I think "The winters are nippy..." line certainly qualifies in the 'understatement of the year' category. Over the past years, I've visited Montreal three times in the month of December and found conditions ranging from chilly to sub-zero (both Fahrenheit AND Celsius) frigid. On the last trip, I pathetically hailed a cab to take me four blocks down St. Catherine St. to avoid a paralyzing wind chill. You are certainly correct, Tampa Yankee, that these folks know how to keep the interiors warm and toasty, but I can't seem to muster the courage to visit this otherwise heavenly locale while the temps dip lower and lower.

 

By the same token, I live around two hours drive from the clubs in Ft. Lauderdale (thanks for the great descrips, newatthis) and cannot bring myself to visit them since comparison with the Montreal clubs would invariably breed disappointment. I LOVE Florida winters, but truly miss Montreal in the winter months.;(

[+ newatthis]

RE: Almost Equal Time: In defense of Montreal Winters...

 

TY--

 

As a seasoned winter Montreal visitor, perhaps you can answer a question I posted here a couple of weeks ago: when the weather makes you want to stay inside and you’ve done all the usual things, what is there to do during the day between breakfast and whenever you hit the clubs?

 

During nice weather, Montreal is a fascinating city to explore on foot. But while the city has many cultural attractions, the indoor ones are not in the class of, say, the Met or the Art Institute; having seen the permanent collections/exhibits once, I'm not drawn back to them, and there are only a few temporary exhibitions at any one time.

 

(I know, I know. Just stay up till the clubs close, take your favorite dancers for early breakfast, and sleep in till the clubs open the next day. But just supposing that's not an option, what do you do?)

 

-new

[Guest Tampa Yankee]

RE: Almost Equal Time: In defense of Montreal Winters...

 

> when the weather makes you want to stay inside and

> you’ve done all the usual things, what is there to

>do during the day between breakfast and whenever

> you hit the clubs?

 

Ummmm.... this is a hard one as, with the exception of movies, you have disqualified most things on one basis or another. Montreal is not NYC and I think the fact that they are different is what attracts people to each. FLL is not Montreal or NYC either. I wouldnt recommend Montreal for a winter time vacation destination unless one is into skiing and combines Montreal with a trip to the Laurentians. My recommendation was focused around the benefits of the clubs in the winter while pointing out that one doesn't have to be held prisoner to the weather during the stay.

 

Killing time is not that much of an issue because you pretty much nailed me...

 

>(I know, I know. Just stay up till the clubs close, take your

>favorite dancers for early breakfast, and sleep in till the

>clubs open the next day.

 

except for the early breakfast; unless other plans interfere, my usual breakfast time is 2PM.

 

I find that breakfast with a friend(s) and window shopping/people watching in late afternoon fills my free time. Assuming a light breakfast I frequently meet up with friends for dinner. On occasion I might meet a friend to take in one of the indoor exhibits/attractions. I would spend more time in internet cafes if I had more time.

 

In winter I find that a 3 night stay is optimal for me, 2 nights is too short. Any longer begins to drag unless I have company.

[Guest msclonly]

Montreal is to Summer, as Bangkok is to Winter!.

 

Just steps away from the Tawan and minutes away from the ongoing show!

Struggling with winter here in Bangkok, but will accomodate to it with some of the best shows to be seen.

 

Don't forget to take care of those boys in Montreat, so they stick around for the summer!

 

:+ :+ :+

[KY_TOP]

Seems some dancers are also snowbirds. Kyler, a regular dancer at Unicorn in Indy let me know he has relocated to Boardwalk in Ft Lauderdale. Kyler has never strayed far from Indiana so it should be a good experience for him and for patrons of Boardwalk. :9

[Karl-G]

Boardwalk and Dancers

 

Last night was Kyler's fifth night at Boardwalk. He is cute, but is still a little shy and quiet. Very pleasant and cuddly with me by the bar. He was one of several new dancers at Boardwalk last night. Cody also shows great promise - very nice body, nice smile, pleasant personality and conversation, full ripe ass, affectionate and interactive. Max and Julio were also very affectionate and actvely interactive last night, to say nothing of Damien and Andrew, or Cameron and Sebastien. Good night at Boardwalk; Christmas is coming up and the boys are eager to make some money. 30+ boys last night.

[LustinGuy]

I have to agree with your reccomendation of Ft Laud as a winter alternative! I was there in November and had a great time at Boardwalk (I actually met one of the owners at Stock last year). I also tried a small stripper bar called "Dudes" down near the beach which was quite good. Small but classy, they had one amazing dancer that gave a great private show! The managament really seems to make an effort to hire nice, clean guys (most are gay) and the atmosphere is a lot less pushy/sleazy than Boardwalk. I definately recommend it. I'm headed back in Feb. - instead of Montreal!

[+ newatthis]

RE: Kyler

 

Could this be the guy whose name I heard as "Tyler" last week? Small, liked to fake flex and pose while he was being petted by customers? He caught my eye, and I tipped him as he was moving from the front to the back stage and asked him to stop back to see me, but we never managed to connect afterwards.

[Karl-G]

RE: Kyler

 

Yes, that is him.

[+ newatthis]

RE: Almost Equal Time: In defense of Montreal Winters...

 

Just was looking at weather forecasts and checked Montreal on a whim. The predicted highs and lows this week (Farenheit):

 

Mon 12, -11

Tue 1, -13

Wed 33, 6

Thu 51(!), 30

Fri 51, 22

Sat 28, 6

 

I'd plan a hurried trip for Wed-Fri!

 

(That was weather underground. Weather Canada is predicting highs of 27, 43, 27 on Wed-Fri.)

[Guest Tampa Yankee]

RE: Almost Equal Time: In defense of Montreal Winters...

 

>Just was looking at weather forecasts and checked Montreal on

>a whim. The predicted highs and lows this week (Farenheit):

>

>Mon 12, -11

>Tue 1, -13

>Wed 33, 6

>Thu 51(!), 30

>Fri 51, 22

>Sat 28, 6

>

 

LOL... I did mention that I prefer weekends. Definitely if I were there Mon and Tues I would order in. Nice warm hotel room and an extra bed warmer or two thrown in for good measure. Everything else looks relatively balmy.

 

The question is what is the weather for the following week?

 

P. S. As I post this at home sans bed warmers, there is light snow falling and the temp is 9 F, wind chill -6 F. It's all relative. ;-)

[+ newatthis]

RE: Almost Equal Time: In defense of Montreal Winters...

 

Bed warmers; there's a thought :-) :9.

 

Just got an email from one of my Campus contacts; he writes "I read your posts from Florida. I hope that you did not forget about us

up here in Montreal. Yesterday it was -19 degrees." (I assume that's Celsius).

[KY_TOP]

RE: Kyler

 

> Small, liked to fake flex and pose while he was being

>petted by customers?

 

Yep! That sounds like Kyler.

 

BTW he is Gay.

[Guest Tampa Yankee]

RE: Kyler

 

> BTW he is Gay.

 

Now that sounds like a recommendation.

[Muscle Lover]

Thankls for the tip about Dudes. WIll check it out when I head south to Ft Laud in February.

[stripfan]

Thanks for the update and valuable information. A dancer from Johnny's called me last night to say there were 13 dancers with 2 customers around 10:00 pm. I like those odds! Alot of the dancers there do congregate together, but I have found once you tip one- - word travels quickly.

 

Also, I would recommend Cupids in either WPB or Miami. Quality varies but they are nude & hard and nice lap dances and VIP rooms.

[Guest Tristan]

FYI: Jeremy, who is 11x7, is now a local porn star. He is the lead model in "Lust Resort." You can check out the film on TLA Video. He started as a dancer, was discovered by a film maker, and his endowment was well advertised in the local mags. He recently appeared for a series of performances at The Boardwalk as a porn star. I'm sure we're talking about the same dancer. How many Jeremys are 11x7 at The Boardwalk? He's a nice kid and very intelligent. He's doing all this to put himself through college.

 

As a matter of fact, The Boardwalk seems to be a good springboard for some dancers who want to get into mags, web sites, or film. I know of 3-4 who have done so, and I'm sure there will be more.

 

You're right about the lap dance room. There is one room that can hold around 3 clients getting privates at the same time. The DJ is also in the same room. So it's not exactly private, but nobody is really paying attention to anyone else. However, this does discourage negotiating for extras.