The Chamber of Secrets
by Ali Ashton
aashton@armadamag.com


It was a sad night when the Chamber had its last call, last performances and last freak show, some might call it.  I ventured out for the first time on this grand slam closing for its festivities and an eye opening to a whole world I knew about, but never really experienced.  I loved it!  Definitely a little bit of shock value but I learned a hell of a lot about S&M. 

My good friend from college, Ashby, and I went out for a night of debauchery, well at least to be surrounded by debauchery on the last night of the Chamber.  I need to preface that anytime Ash and I go out we run into a series of crazy events and a boatload of memories.  Ashby had been to the Chamber before so she knew what to expect in a sense and she also knew the DJ that was spinning for the night so there was a semi comfort zone that we were walking into.  Since we knew the DJ, he put us on the list, which assisted us in bypassing the line that was as long as a line for pizza at fat camp.  It wasn't your normal looking crowd for sure.  Black leather, battery operated light-up costumes, dark makeup, from dresses to jeans and even "Diaper Man" made his way out wearing nothing but, yep you guessed it!

My first opinion of the place:  FUN!  Tons of various people and dancers for entertainment.  I've spent my fair share of times at strip clubs so this was a surprise.  The most unique part of the club was the performances every now and then demonstrating a variety of S&M acts.  Girl on Girl, paddling, rope burning the crotch area, fire, acupuncture that is whipped off, wax, spanking, binding, whipping, and sexual manifestation in the rarest forms.for my virgin eyes, of course!  The whole night was intriguing and a little upsetting that this was my one and only chance to experience such an irreplaceable venue.

While walking around and meeting some people in the front lobby-like area, a woman (previously a male earlier in the evening) came up to me and introduced herself as "Donna."  She was smoking long, thin cigarettes, wearing heels, hose, and a velvet black dress.  Makeup done up and hairpiece in place, Donna took a liking to me.  How do I know, well wherever I turned she was there again.  I was a little confused. Wouldn't he, I mean she, be interested in a man?  I haven't researched these types of lifestyles or is it a fetish?  At any rate, she was nice and quite a bit of entertainment for the evening.

The night went on, Donna was there with her "best legs in the club," Ashby was hanging out with her DJ friend and I had met some other fun people who we were taking pictures with (oh shit, forgot about those. anyone have a copy?!)  Then another guy came around with his girlfriend who strategically went to the bathroom so dude could bestow his brilliance on me.  We somehow got into a conversation with this 40-some year old man on relationships and how he would (as if he could) date every pretty woman in Atlanta.  Then he said I was NOT the prettiest girl in the state (of which I made no claim to) but he would date me if I were intelligent.  Not sure where he was going with this, or when he would make any sense, OR how he thought he would have a chance with anyone in my circle of friends, but he has a girlfriend of who in my opinion was way out of his league, yet he still tried to pick me up in a weird way.  Heck, it was truly intriguing.

The night moved swiftly into the wee hours and Ashby and I decided to get out of there to anther location.  Once we jumped into the car our DJ friend called to warn us that Donna was frantically looking for us and ran out the door.  Stalker on the loose with a bad dress and fur coat! We had to crouch down in the car so Donna couldn't see us because there was no telling what she was thinking!  This is turning into a bad 80's television script, but most of my and Ashby's stories have the line "what the.?" shouted throughout the evening so this was the norm. 

The Chamber was like uncovering a street sewer on an eerie night to unveil dark secrets and musty mystery.  A little foul smelled at times and not the cleanest of places, but in the end you learn something about yourself when surrounding yourself with nothing but things foreign and bizarre. I walked away with tutelage on how to react when a confused transvestite hits on you and contests you for the "best legs" award, a list of who I "don't want to be when I grow up" and to take the blinders off when it comes to people who look different then me but can party like the best of them.  The Chamber might be laid to rest, but in the meantime Ash and I will be looking for its reincarnation.

Ali
aashton@armadamag.com