Where Strippers Go for Fun in New York

Everyone's got an office. For Mario Batali, it's the kitchen; for LeBron James, the court. And for BlackBook staffers, it's an actual office. But for the girls who work at Rick's Cabaret and Steakhouse, the office is something entirely different. It's the stage-to-ceiling brass pole, or the giddy lap of an Asian salaryman. But when daily tasks include gyrating your hips to a T-Pain banger or sipping bubbly with VIPs in the champagne room, what space does that leave for a regular nightlife? Last week, after a long day at our office (be sure to check out the raw source material), we decided to visit theirs to fulfill our journalistic duty by asking them the essential question: Where do you like to go out in New York?

Ashton, age unknown
Where are you from?
Moscow.
Where do you like to go out in New York?
Usually I like to go to Pacha.
How long have you been in New York?
Two years.
And do you and the girls go out after work?
No, after work I’m so tired. I just want to sleep.
Do any of your customers ever invite you to go out with them after work?
Never. It’s like my rule. I never give my number.

Suzy, age unknown
Where do you go out in New York?
I like to go downtown a lot. If I’m just chilling out, I usually go down on the Lower East Side. Like, to Niagara and 7B. Or, if I want to go out—I know a bunch of, like, promoter friends—I go to The Box. Or, I live really close to Apothéke.
Do you and the other girls from work ever go out after a shift?
I’ve gone out with some of the girls. After a shift, there’s not that much open—like, as far as alcohol. So, we’ll go out to like, the next block and do karaoke. Or we’ll go to like, Noribong, or go out to eat.
And what restaurants do you like to go to?
I don’t know. I like to go to a whole bunch of restaurants. I love eating. Everywhere.
Have you ever given a lap dance to anyone famous?
Not in the sense like, in the media. Because they always like to bring them to someplace private, and so they usually bring girls who are like, you know, typical stripper, with huge implants. You know, like, in your face. And me, I’m not like that. I’m like the pseudo-stripper.
Can we take a picture of you?
No.

Becky, 24
And how long have you been working at Rick’s?
Two years.
Do you like to get drunk?
Ha ha, I love to get drunk!
Okay. And you love to get drunk?
Yes, I love to get drunk.
How many nights a week would you say you drink?
Probably 6 days, or 7? I drink too much.
Do you drink at work?
Yes, all the time.
For free?
Yea, most of the time.
And do you go out afterwards?
No, I usually go right home. I’m not big on going out after work. Sometime I go to Niagara or Ace Bar. It’s an amazing place. You’ve got the Skee-Ball. You’ve got all kind of games. It’s a real laid-back, chill kind of place, you know?
Do you ever stay in?
Hardly anymore, no.
What restaurants do you like?
I love Stanton Social. I like La Zarza.
What about clubs?
I’m not a club girl. I’ll go to like, Buddha Bar. But I’m not into the club thing. Everybody’s all coked up. You can’t talk, you know what I mean? I’m kind of more like, Little Branch, PDT, Mason Dixon.
What’s your favorite cocktail?
Stoli O, on the rocks. No hangover. I take it all night.

Shaleen, 19
Where do you go out?
I don’t.
Why not?
Because I’m a hard-working mother. I work and I go home.
Do you ever go out to restaurants?
I went about 2 weeks ago to Asia de Cuba. I heard it was really good food, and it was. It was wonderful.
How long have you been living in New York?
I’ve been living in New York my whole life.
So where did you go out before you were a hard-working mother?
Well, that was when I was a teenager. I was just going to teen parties.
And how many nights a week do you work at Rick’s?
Usually 3-4 days a week.
And do you drink when you work?
I do not. Not at all.
Have you been out in the last month?
I went out once to the Cellar Bar in the Bryant Park Hotel.
And do you ever pay for your own drinks?
It’s rare.
Do you get hit on a lot?
I mean, I get hit on. It’s to the point where most men that are with their girlfriends look like they want to be with me.

Dior, 20
How long have you been working at Rick’s?
Only like, 2 months.
How long have you been living in New York?
I was here about a year and half ago, before I left for Miami. And now I’m back for good.
Where do you like to party in New York?
I’m boring. I Like loungey spots. So, I haven’t found anything in New York, yet. I’ve been to Mansion once (now called M2). Mansion is fun. Like, when you want to just get all the party out of your system—go to Mansion. And I go to a lot of restaurants like Wolfgang’s Steakhouse up the street.
Do you ever have to pay for your own drinks?
I don’t ever pay for my own drinks. I refuse.
How many nights a week do you go out after work with the other girls?
Being at work is kind of like going out. Plus I’m new here, and I keep my co-workers at a certain boundary. So all the friends I have are all quote unquote “normal.”
Do your parents know you’re a stripper?
Technically, no.
What do they think you do?
They just think I work in a bar. They probably know I’m a stripper ... it’s just a conversation we choose not to have. .

Saki, 25
Where do you go out in New York?
Besides here, I love going to the Meatpacking District. Spice Market, Hotel Gansevoort. I’m not that exclusive, so I don’t really go anywhere that’s secretive. I’m not that VIP.
Do you want to be?
Yes, I do.
Why do you like Hotel Gansevoort?
Because it’s relaxing. There’s places to sit. It’s more like a lounge, and not so much a discotheque. I can’t stand clubs.
Why not?
Because it’s a huge exercise in futility. There’s a lot of sweat, and there’ s a lot of people who just get drunk, or get stoned. And it’s not that interesting to me.
Do you ever go out after work?
Oh, I’m here until 4 in the morning. I told you, I’m not that exclusive, so I don’t go to any after-hours hang-out spots.
When you go out, do guys pay for everything?
Not really. I have to buy everything. I’d rather not be bothered. If I got out and a guy tries to talk to me, and if I’m really not interested—I don’t want anything to do with him, like not even free drinks. Because I just don’t want him to follow me around.
Are you friends with any of the strippers here?
I’m friends with Suzy. I think you talked to her, earlier?
How long have you been at Rick’s?
Oh, since the day I started. Like, 6 months ago.
Do you get drunk at work?
Not really. You develop a huge alcohol tolerance here.

Gaby, 20<
Where do you go out in New York?
I don’t go out, especially when it is too cold. And I use my computer a lot. I play poker and Facebook all the time. So I’m more of a house person. All of my friends are promoters. They’re always inviting me to Marquee, Johnny Utah’s, 49 Grove, Tenjune.
So why don’t you go?
Because when it’s a promoter, it’s like a bunch of girls, and maybe 1 or 2 guys. Because they’re promoting tables. If there were more guys, I would go. But I mean, come on.
Do you like to get drunk?
I have never been drunk in my life. I have had like one or two drinks, and they got me. But not like, drunk. I’m always sober. I just go to flirt. And dance with the guys
How long have you been working at Rick’s?
Like, a year.
How long have you been in New York?
6 years.
Do you ever tell guys you meet that you’re a stripper?
No ... unless they are my boyfriend, I don’t have to say shit.

Patricia, 27
Where do you go out in New York?
Just here.
You don’t go out anywhere else?
Just at Rick’s.
You don’t go out to clubs? Or bars? Restaurants?
Nope.
How many nights a week do you work here?
Five.
5 nights a week. So the other 2 nights you stay home?
Well, no. These nights I’m in the spa. I stay all day long in the spa. Sometimes I go out with my friend to eat some Brazilian food.
Are you Brazilian?
Yes.
How long have you been in New York?
One year and one month.
How long have you been at Rick’s?
One year.
Do you like to drink?
Nope. I like to bring very hot men in the champagne room. I like champagne, I like strawberries. But he would have to be very hot.
What do you do in the champagne room?
It depends. If the guy’s very hot, I’ll have some champagne and some strawberries and cream.
So, if they’re hot, you’ll bring them into the champagne room?
Yes. Very hot and fun.
And rich?
That’s necessary. But if they are hot, and they are fun --
But there’s no sex in the champagne room, right?
No sex. But we have a great time.