Bring on the Pasties

The city of Houston is trying to shut down the strip clubs, or at least make it a little more like London around here. After a lawsuit was brought by Colorado Bar & Grill and The Men's Club to stop a 1997 city ordinance, and at least five other large businesses including the Ritz Cabaret, Treasures, Trophy Club, Gold Cup and Centerfolds joined the fray. Other businesses, including some bookstores, also joined in the appeal.

Barring a successful Supreme Court appeal, the businesses face some difficult choices. Topless and fully nude clubs could avoid regulation if dancers wear bikinis, or even skimpier opaque coverings, allowing them to get around the "sexually oriented" classification, police and city officials have said.