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(Formerly Industrial Strip)
6872 Farmdale Ave., North Hollywood
Exit Sherman Way off 405 or 170, near Van Owen
(818) 765-7739
(818) 765-0814 FAX
Web Site:
http://www.bluezebracabaret.com/
Sun - Thr: 11am - 2am, Fri - Sat: 11am - 4am
Map
Reopened: 3/2001 (As Blue Zebra)
Last review: 11/2001
Last visit: 11/2001
 This clubs used to be Industrial Strip, and now is
partly owned by the Spearmint Rhino chain and renamed to Blue Zebra.
Basically, the outside is not much different from before except for the new
sign, and it's still in a very industrial area, as the old name implies.
There is a good sized parking lot which requires $3 for parking (Thr - Sun
only). The street signs warn you that you cannot park on the street from
10pm to 6am or you will be towed. I've never been here during the day so I
don't know how crowded the street parking gets.
As before, there is a small lobby area, similar but smaller than most
Rhinos. Here, the security will metal detect you, and ask you to empty your
pockets of all metal objects. Then the cover is $10 on weekends, paid to the
lady behind the counter. The lady behind the counter has to buzz you into
the club. I'm, not sure if this is for security reasons or to keep track of
entries.
As you enter, there is yet another lobby type area with an ATM machine
and bathrooms. The bathroom is large and clean. Once you enter the club
proper, the bar is still on the left side near the entrance, there are lap
areas to the right and also the entire left side is for lapping. The old
enormous stage has been replaced by a smaller rectangular main stage (with a
short runway) near the back and a micro stage near the front. The micro
stage is only used when it is busy and is circular with stainless steal
poles all around it, like a cage. It's a very peculiar looking stage but
could be interesting with the proper dancer in it.
The main stage is next to the DJ booth, which is still in the same spot
as before. The dancers' dressing room is behind the DJ booth so the dancer
can give the DJ her music, then proceed to the stage. There still seems to
be okay lighting on stage, but perhaps not the crazy overkill lighting from
before. They also have a smoke machine which dancers seem to like but many
customers don't. Personally, I don't care as long as they don't over use it.
The club itself is very dark like all Rhinos but all the chairs have been
replaced with the nicer ones and the carpeting is zebra patterned to fit the
name of the club.
The drinks are $5, served by an efficient staff of waitresses who pick up
glasses like they were going out of style. Amazingly, the dancer drinks are
only $5, which must be the cheapest dancer drinks in any nude club.
The old "smoking" dressing room on the left has been replaced by yet a
third lap dance area. How many of these do they need? This back area is
supposedly for VIP dances but they seemed to be using it for regular ones.
Topless lap dances are $15, nude laps are $30 which makes it seemingly very
economical. The dancer I talked to told me the club keeps $16 from the $30
but according to Jacklyn's review,
it's $12. So I don't know if she's trying to make me feel sorry for her or
they jacked up the tipout. However, beware the short songs, as in most lap
factories like these. I suspect the songs are about 2 minutes or so. The lap
areas are not private with doors like before but I was the only one doing
them in the back, so it really didn't matter. As per usual, the floater
comes in once per song to check.
The general ambiance of the club has turned much more corporate and seems
to be run better. However, with that comes the usual "Buy the lady a drink"
as well as full court presses by all dancers to sell laps. I found that some
of the dancers seem to be in a bad mood, perhaps because it's a little
slower these days. However, the other employees seem to be more than
courteous and when I asked the floater near the front door where the
bathroom was (I knew where it was, but just testing), he not only directed
me to the bathroom, he actually took me there. The DJ was also in a great
mood, joking around with the crowd and keeping things pumping.
Expert Customer Tip:
Sit in the corner closest to the DJ booth in the back VIP area for more
privacy. Other people won't be walking past you and there is nobody to your
left.
Quick Pick:
The only one interesting looking for me this night was Jessica but I was not
able to get a dance from her.
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Club |
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New again but not as
polished as Rhino clubs. |
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Dancers |
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About the same as
before but less of them. |
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Attitude |
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Not as good as before
during height of IS. |
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Nasty Factor |
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$30 nude laps are good
but not insane like best of IS (or worst, depending on your
perspective). |
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