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Hearing rumors of a return of one of Dayton's bar and dance-club icons — the Celebrity Show and Dance Club — the Lounge Lizards threw on our winter gear and ran out the door looking to confirm the news.

Sure enough, nestled behind Blockbuster video on Ohio 725 in Washington Twp., we substantiated that the rumblings and buzz we had heard were true. We entered late on Saturday evening exhilarated to see what was in store, nostalgic for the Celebrity Dayton heyday when it was the gay bar in town.

Forking over a $5 cover, we made a beeline for the bar, where we were greeted quickly. We each chose to order a standard gin and tonic that arrived posthaste, mixed perfectly with powerful proportion. Drinks in hand, we canvassed the space and choose one of the leather upholstery sofas off to the side as our inaugural perch for the evening.

The bar is simply furnished with one large central bar area and plenty of seating — a mixture of high-top tables and several nooks housing leather sofas. The vibe is a throwback to an era we couldn't quite name — a mixture of several decades — but one that we enjoyed nonetheless.

After a few minutes, we realized the entertainment was about to begin. Our hostess for the evening was Penelope C. The Lounge Lizards, never wanting to be left out of the fun, decided to join in choosing our own drag names.

Using a somewhat fuzzy mix of urban legend and faint recollections of what others have shared with us about picking out a drag name, we decided that we would fashion ours by taking the name of our first pet followed by the name of the first street we remembered living on. Alexis became Pudge Bobby and Craig became Pepper Southland, which he demanded Alexis pronounce Peppa' for the attitude it exudes.

With all of the preshow rituals out of the way, the first of several sets began. Performing in sync with tunes from Tina Turner, Madonna and other divas, the evening's entertainment — Vanessa Ryan, Rhoda Horse, Misty Knight and Penelope C — displayed incredible energy as they sailed around the room in elegant, lavish attire made of everything from sequins and organza toneon pleather — all accessorized to the nines. Pudge Bobby only wished she could look half as foxy!

As the sets continued, we were well cared for by our attentive server who made sure we were never in want of a beverage. After several hours passed, we began to realize just what a great value our cover charge had been. Not only were the shows filled with engaging, animated performances that made us want to get out of our chairs and dance (we chose to spare our fellow patrons), but they put us in better moods when we were already feeling pretty good to begin with.

The club opened on New Year's Eve, following a soft opening in late December. It may not be the Celebrity Dayton we gathered at in April of last year on the eve of its closing, but the new location has the same great energy, the same outstanding performers and the same open-minded, accepting patrons. It's good to have this familiar friend back.

PEPPA SOUTHLAND AND PUDGE BOBBY love pubs, bars and clubs in equal amounts. Have a suggestion on where they should trek to next? Send any and all bar and club news to go@DaytonDailyNews.com.

WHAT: Celebrity Show and Dance Club.

WHERE: 507 Miamisburg-Centerville Road, Washington Twp., behind the Blockbuster in Normandy Square Plaza.

HOURS: 4 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Wednesday through Friday, 9 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

DRESS CODE: The nicer you look, the nicer you'll feel, but don't expect to outdress the drag queens — they'll beat you every time.

MORE INFO: (937) 432-9680 or www.celebritydayton.com.