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We'd heard that Touché attracts a more mature crowd — hence its nickname, Toupee. That factoid in and of itself was enough to draw us out to 103rd and Metcalf. And we were sold when we got an e-mail from a reader who summed up Touché as having a "senior-hustler-preserved-in-amber vibe." So, off we went to south OP with Research Assistants Erik, John and Cece on a Friday night.
Located behind Buffalo Wild Wings in the labyrinth that is the Metcalf 103 Shops, Toupee is indeed a fantabulous good time, with great people-watching. The place puts out a faint skeezy vibe like a skank in heat. Even though we got there close to midnight, the place was still packed with revelers whose median age hovered near 50 — or, from salt-and-pepper to Hair Club for Men.
Touché's crowd was diverse both racially and sartorially. We spotted guys in nice jackets and ties and guys in jeans. Of course, the boob top was prevalent, too, as befits any good meat-markety club. Surprisingly, however, we didn't see a lot of toupees. Perhaps more merkins (a South of the Border toupee) were present, but that's one topic we're psychologically not prepared to delve into just yet.
Even more impressive than the people-watching was the roomy interior. The place felt like a south-JoCo living room furnished by The Jones Store. Comfortable couches lined the walls, and beaded-fringe lamps gave off a soft glow. Old family photos and a giant Frank Sinatra picture hung on the brown, textured walls. The lighting was dim — all the better for the sugar daddies on the prowl — and a large dance floor dominated the other half of the room. The music ranged from disco to the Pussycat Dolls' unbearable "Don't Cha." The volume wasn't so blaring that we couldn't chat, but it prevented our usual shameless eavesdropping.
"It's a high-class Regal Beagle," said RA Erik. After we settled on the plush sofas, our attentive server, Christine, brought us drinks, which were not cheap. Our chocolate martini set us back $9, and a Jack and Coke cost $5.75. At least we got our money's worth — the drinks were tasty and strong.
As we drank, we scoped out the clientele. A 60ish guy in a camel-colored blazer and a grayish toupee sat near us, accompanied by a Leona Helmsley look-alike with an aggressively downturned mouth. When Camel Blazer got up to use the facilities, Leona dumped some of his wine into her glass. Classy!
Another interesting character sat down near us. Terry was a 35-year-old, good-lookin' black guy with a goatee and a slightly receding hairline. He said he lives in South Carolina but grew up here and was visiting his parents for the weekend. Terry told us that he likes Touché because he's attracted to older women. "They're more mature and can hold logical conversations," he explained. "They're already set in their ways." And, oh yeah, there's this added bonus: They're not looking for a relationship. "They just got out of a 25-, 30-year marriage, and they're looking for sex. That's where I come in." Come and knock on our door, indeed, baby!
He also revealed that when he was 33, he dated a 58-year-old — the oldest he's gone.
"Do you know why we stopped dating?" he asked.
Uh, no.
"She died."
He brushed away our condolences and told us that cancer did her in. Which, he said, is why he would like to settle down with someone near his age. But not until he's 38 — "When I have all the dog out of me," he said.
