CCs don't charge a fee on top of your purchases but they do charge a little on top of the exchange rates. I would just use the CC for my purchases and bring a little cash for food and whatnot. The difference between CC and bank won't be much... but like you said, $25 is 2 lap dances.
If you would like to get $1000 in cash, head over to Calforex where they have extremely good rates. Calforex is just by TD Square/Bankers Hall area... but I believe they have other locations.
"Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind." - Albert Einstein