Posted on 12/18/2004 5:47:52 AM PST by freebilly
SANTA CRUZ — A threatening phone call from a man who refused to identify himself caused downtown lingerie store Camouflage to nix pole dancing behind a covered window Friday and tonight.
The Pacific Avenue store was the target of public criticism this week after announcing plans for erotic dancers dressed in Santa Claus-themed outfits to dance on a pole in the store window as part of a holiday promotion.
Lap dances for customers who spent $100 were also part of the original idea, however, store owner Joan Levine modified the plans after city officials complained and agreed to cover the window with paper to prevent people walking down Pacific Avenue from inadvertently seeing the pole dancers and lap dancers.
Camouflage general manager Rose Matkin said she received the call at 6:15 p.m. Thursday from a man who launched into a tirade and warned, "Don’t cross a man whose convictions are as strong as mine."
Matkin said the man called her and her colleagues sinners.
To ease his concerns, Matkin said she tried explaining to the man how the store had tweaked its window show to keep the dancers out of the public eye.
According to Matkin, the caller threatened vandalism and "repercussions that could hurt me worse than that."
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Matkin hung up on the man and called police.
Levine decided to cancel the show as a safety precaution for her employees and customers.
"We didn’t want to put anyone at risk," she said. "We’re not here to make a political point. We’re here to encourage fun, love and romance."
Two local groups told the Sentinel they planned to protest the event.
Media Watch, a local education and activism organization, said it was outraged by the idea of women dancing provocatively in a store window.
The organization had planned to team with Santa Cruz Art and Revolution, another local activist group, to protest Camouflage’s event by staging a rally at the store.
"The popularity of poles is not without consequence,
Are these people total morons or what?
...just when you thought you'd heard everything. "Lap dance lotto", good grief! What's next, "Roll in the Hay Roulette", or "Boudoir Bingo"?
At least I'm getting a good Saturday morning chuckle out of this nonsense!
Hmmmm, "pole" - "Festivus".
You might be onto something here!
Let the feats of strength begin!
Isn't that the holiday from Seinfeld? George's dad made up that holiday ?
That's the one!
DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THE HE!! HO!E
Okay, your dog already knows the poles and you think you don't need to read any further. . . . But, if you have the time, process through this method and see if it might help improve the performance of your trained dog.
Here's a little Festivus trivia for ya:
1. Who invented Festivus?
Frank Costanza.
2. What is the reason Frank invented Festivus?
Frank "invented" Festivus after getting into a fight in a toy store when he and another man both grabbed for the last doll. (Frank wanted to buy a doll for George. Go figure.) Anyway, he decided that commercialization ruined Christmas and he would now celebrate Festivus. A Festivus - for the rest of us.
3. When does Festivus take place?
December 23rd.
4. What's with that wrestling thing?
One of the traditions of Festivus is the Feats of Strength, where two of the celebrants muct engage in a contest of some sort to determine which is stronger.
5. What is the pole made out of? How big is it? Was it passed around or mounted or what is the deal?
The undecorated aluminum pole represented the non-commercial nature of the holiday. No tinsel, no ornaments. It appeared to be approximately 8 or 9 feet tall and was probably placed in a corner of the living room, much like a Christmas tree.
6. What about the insults?
That's another Festivous tradition, "The Airing of Grievances". Before commencing Festivus dinner, you go around the table telling each other participant about all of the ways they have disappointed you throughout the year.
7. What does the Festivus meal consist of?
Although it wasn't specifically mentioned, the plate Estelle brought into the dining room appeared to be spaghetti OR meatloaf, either topped with red sauce. (Open
to interpretation)
8. Who can celebrate Festivus?
Anyone at all. It's nondenominational. The practical answer, however, is that only Seinfeld fans can *truly* celebrate Festivus.
Ungggh!
Well..., Mrs Freebilly is good for this. She's also makes a mean pasta primavera.
Yep, life's good....
What's with the weird eye makeup...?
Tell me about it.
No, he just keeps a naughty and nice list..........
Well, as long as it's not Christian or anything, I suppose it should be OK! :^)
I'm just trying to figure out what type of person WOULDN'T be outraged by this.......
Any non-hypocritical male between puberty and senility.
So9
They're a bumpin' and a grindin'
and a swayin' on the pole
and inside their fishnet stockin's
they've got something more than coal....
Not so fast. I'm no prude, but I don't think any man worth a darn would want his child potentially exposed to that. I'm not saying most men wouldn't want to watch a naked woman dance around a pole, but IN A SHOP WINDOW IN PUBLIC FOR ALL TO SEE WHO HAPPEN TO WALK BY? C'mon now, is nothing sacred anymore?.......
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