By Dave Begel Contributing Writer Published May 08, 2012 at 2:38 PM

Here comes another one of those tests that help determine just what kind of city we are.

The owners of Silk Exotic, a strip club on the northwest side of town, are asking again for a tavern license to put a strip club right Downtown at 730 N. Old World 3rd St. (former Velvet Room, Martini Mike's and, most recently, Rusty's Old 50.

They tried this a little over a year ago and they were turned down by city fathers. Lots of excuses and reasons, but the heart of the opposition was that people don't want a strip club Downtown.

Now we'll fight that battle again, and I, for one, hope the city fathers see the value of having half-naked girls dancing in our Downtown. I've been to dozens and dozens of big cities in this world, and I'm hard pressed to come up with one that doesn't have a strip club or two.

People point out, accurately, that many conventioneers like going to strip clubs. What happens at the convention stays at the convention. It's important to understand that a strip club is not a sex club. It's erotic dancers. Or exotic dancers.

I think that Visit Milwaukee (Milwaukee Convention and Visitors Bureau) and Spirit Milwaukee ought to get behind this effort and lobby on behalf of the strip club. Let's move Milwaukee a little closer to the current century and a little further away from our blue-nosed history.

For those who have good memories, the strip club would be located next door to the site of the old Princess Theater, the first adult movie theater in Milwaukee. So there.

Dave Begel Contributing Writer

With a history in Milwaukee stretching back decades, Dave tries to bring a unique perspective to his writing, whether it's sports, politics, theater or any other issue.

He's seen Milwaukee grow, suffer pangs of growth, strive for success and has been involved in many efforts to both shape and re-shape the city. He's a happy man, now that he's quit playing golf, and enjoys music, his children and grandchildren and the myriad of sports in this state. He loves great food and hates bullies and people who think they are smarter than everyone else.

This whole Internet thing continues to baffle him, but he's willing to play the game as long as OnMilwaukee.com keeps lending him a helping hand. He is constantly amazed that just a few dedicated people can provide so much news and information to a hungry public.

Despite some opinions to the contrary, Dave likes most stuff. But he is a skeptic who constantly wonders about the world around him. So many questions, so few answers.