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| 'Red Light' District Declares Open House |
| 2006-02-18 |
| There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but occasionally there's a cheap feast for the eyes. Several topless bars, peep shows and sex show clubs in Amsterdam's famed "Red Light" prostitution district have declared an open house on Feb. 18, hoping to shore up their reputation with local politicians who are calling for a crackdown. "You can come in, have a free drink, look around," said Bob de Maan, spokesman for the "Banana Bar," which is known for its live sex shows. "People think that this is something dirty, but now -- it's an open house. They can see for themselves." Prostitution in Amsterdam boomed during the city's 17th century Golden Age, when prostitutes catered to sailors on shore leave. With its lingerie-clad women and red neon lights, the area in the city center became a major tourist draw in the 20th century. The Dutch government legalized prostitution in 2000 with an eye to making it easier to tax and regulate. But problems have continued as the area acts as a magnet for pimps, drug addicts, petty criminals and human traffickers. A recent study found that despite health rules, about 7 percent of Dutch prostitutes have HIV, the virus that causes AIDs. The open house came in response to proposals by the head of Amsterdam's largest political party meant to discourage women from marketing themselves in windows. Several of the best-known institutions are opening their doors, in an idea supported by the Prostitution Information Center, the Sex Museum, and the Salvation Army which helps the district's many downtrodden. Having become very familiar with the area, as part of scientific investigation and all, I would recommend visiting the "Street of the Gigantic Black Women", adjacent to the big church. I'm talking 6'4" and maybe 350 pounds average. Holy Macanarsels. Otherwise, it is a really mixed bag, with a lot of eastern and northern European and Asiatic women. Eat most of your meals at the Argentinian steak houses, as their beef is far superior from anything you can get in the US. The coffee houses are also known for having good coffee, though not up to Austrian standards of excellence. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #10 "Come one, come all!" |
| Posted by: Thomort Fliling6570 2006-02-18 20:09 |
| #9 Believe it or not Chinese food is very popular in India. Although the Indians (from India) I knew in Singapore didn't like the generally excellent chinese food there. They eventually tracked down a real Indian Chinese restuarant and took me there. The food looked like Chinese food, but everything was curry flavoured. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2006-02-18 18:36 |
| #8 It was in Anniston, near Ft. McClellan. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2006-02-18 18:24 |
| #7 I went to a Chinese Restuarant in either Bangor or Donnaghadee Northern Ireland twenty years ago. I went there because it was the weirdest place I ever saw a Chinese restaurant. Nothing special about the quality, though. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2006-02-18 17:19 |
| #6 Is the buffet all you can eat? |
| Posted by: Danking70 2006-02-18 15:02 |
| #5 lol, moose! I always chuckle when I look back in the back of one of the Chinese restaurants I frequent and see Mexicans cooking in the back (although, it is run and owned by Chinese, who stay up front). The price you pay for globalization I guess. Now, about the place in AL...in Birmingham or somewheres else? |
| Posted by: BA 2006-02-18 14:30 |
| #4 As much as a like Chinese food, I have terrible luck with Chinese restaurants outside of the US. Come to think of it, I actually found the *one* bad Chinese restaurant in all of San Francisco--no mean feat. I think it was run by Puerto Ricans. One of the better oriental restaurants was a Japanese Benihana-style steakhouse run by a Korean with four very eligible daughters in Alabama. If you were a single male between the ages of 17-35, you were guaranteed a superb dining experience. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2006-02-18 13:45 |
| #3 I highly recommend that big Chinese restaurant on the corner, for when you need a break after "drinking coffee" and "window shopping".... |
| Posted by: Scooter McGruder 2006-02-18 11:29 |
| #2 I applaud the effort to emphasize the service industries. There won't be any manufacturing left if the EU regs are ever actually enforced, so they'll need something to augment the hard-currency kickbacks and Blue Light Specials on technology to our various enemies. Which reminds me, how's that arms embargo to China thingy going? I'll take Ruth's Chris, Moose. If there's better, it's not enough so to justify the trip, lol. And those layovers in Japan where I snarf up Kobe beef? Heh. Awesome stuff... |
| Posted by: .com 2006-02-18 10:12 |
| #1 Fred - you forgot the warning about the cookies in the coffee bars. |
| Posted by: 3dc 2006-02-18 09:55 |