By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Sun-Times
December 6, 2002
It’s 8 o’clock on a Friday night. Chris’s Billiards on Chicago’s Northwest Side is full of some serious pool players. They glance at our table. If they’re thinking we’re uncoordinated players, they’re too polite to point that out. Instead, a kindly gentleman walks over and suggests we take a bit more time to focus before we hit the ball.
“It just takes a little getting used to,” he says. “You’ll get used to it.”
Though my friend and I have only played pool a combined total of five times–ever–we’re having a ball.
The thing about pool is there’s a perception that it’s only for diehards–or barflies. In reality, it’s for everyone. They even sell child-size cue sticks so the little ones can get in on the action.
“There’s this image of pool players as being seedy and standoffish,” says Keir Graff, who writes the Amateur Hour column for Billiards Digest. “But some of the nicest people I’ve ever met are pool junkies. Pool is a right of passage. It seems that everybody tries it at least once in their life. It’s actually one of the most popular sports in America. More people play pool than basketball or hockey.”
Pool isn’t just for grizzled veterans, and it’s certainly not solely the domain of trendoids looking for the next best thing. The beauty of pool is anyone can do it. Granted, not well, necessarily–but unless you’re playing a tool who only wants to win, you’ll have fun trying to get the hang of the game. Plus, you don’t have to rent a pair of nasty old shoes to play it. You basically show up, pay your money and have at it.
Over at Lake View’s Sheffield’s, they apparently endorse Zen pool playing. There’s a sign that lists a bunch of club no-no’s: No aggressive macho playing. No shouting of fraternity names. No pounding cues on the floor. And if you wanna fight, go ahead–outside the premises.
“I like it here because it’s not really a pool hall,” says Sean Mahona, 27, of Wrigleyville. “It’s a neighborhood bar. Everyone has a good time. The beer on tap is really good. And it’s cheap.”
Of course, there’s only one pool table here so if there’s a long wait for the table, have a drink by the cozy fireplace.
Over at the Corner Pocket on Halsted, Amy Gaton was wielding her own personal stick. An avid player whose older brother taught her to play when she was 11 years old, Gaton beats her boyfriend at the game on a regular basis.
“The cue sticks here are fine, but I like bringing my own,” says the 24-year-old Hyde Park resident. “It has a good feel to it that I’m used to and I think that makes me more confident when I play.”
Graff says, “All that’s really necessary to play is the stick, and that’s supplied at the pool halls when you rent a table. If you want your own, it’s not difficult to find. Almost all decent pool halls sell them. You can also buy pool gloves, nine ball key rings, ornate animal skin cases that hold six or eight sticks–but none of that is necessary.”
One good rule to remember is that many pool halls have chalk boards set up for waiting lists. Some even have computerized waiting list. But if you find yourself in one where they’re on the quarter system–i.e. you place a quarter down on the side of the table and retrieve it when it’s your turn to play–keep an eye on whose turn is next. One quarter pretty much looks like the other.
Chicago, in the 1920s, boasted upwards of 5,200 establishments that offered pool. Most weren’t pool halls, per se, but rather shops that offered other services (haircuts, cigars, beer). At its peak, the Loop had a dozen pool halls, each offering at least 40 tables. While there are no downtown poolrooms today, there are still plenty of places to shoot pool. Some are geared for serious players. Others are to novices what the bunny hill is to the skiing ingenue.
We’ve picked out some of our favorites. You decide which ones best suit your needs.
Chris’s Billiards, 4637 N Milwaukee Ave (773/286-4714). Tom Cruise was here. Really. You may recall seeing this pool hall and its 40 tables featured in “The Color of Money.” Movie star status aside, this is one of the city’s most famous pool halls. It’s not pretty, but it’s a great place to hang out, get a drink and shoot some serious stick. Though it welcomes beginners, this is where the better players hang out. Daytime manager Buddy Jacques says you won’t have trouble finding someone to teach you the game. Just don’t bother them when they’re shooting. Note: Tournaments are held every Sunday and Wednesday. And should the desire arise, you may purchase your own cue on the premise. Open seven days a week, rates range from $5.95/hour to $7.25/hour after 6 p.m.
Sheffield’s, 3258 N. Sheffield (773-281-4989). Just down the street from the Vic Theatre, this bar is relatively uncrowded. There’s just one pool table, but you can’t beat the price ($1.25/game). One of the bumpers is slightly loose, but the table’s level and everything rebounded fine, so who cares? Besides, this is the perfect place to hit a few balls around without worrying about people laughing at you.
Dave & Busters, 1030 N. Clark (312-943-5151). The MTV crowd won’t get bored here. You and your buddies may split up to play whatever game you can think of. But if pool’s your thing, there’s 11 of them here. It’s $12/hour on a first come, first served basis. The fries are pretty good, too. Billiards Digest’s Keir Graff says he went here almost against his will, but was impressed by the set up. “They have plenty of room around the tables and that’s important to me,” he says. “Most will pack too many tables into a room and then you find someone’s butt n your face every time you take a shot.” That’s not the case here.
GameWorks, 601 N. Martingale Road, Schaumburg (847-330-9675). If you’re the kind of person who always wished there was a Chuck E. Cheese for adults, here you go. Like Dave & Busters, there are tons of other things besides pool to play here. But the six tables are fairly well maintained and spaced far enough apart that you’re not jostling for elbow space. The fee averages to about $2/game.
Chicago Billiards, 5935 W. Irving Park (773-545-5102). Located in the heart of the Old Irving Park neighborhood, this establishment has 16 pool tables. The rates range from $8.25 to $9.75/hour on weekends. If you want to brush up on your skills, stop by between 3 and 8 p.m. weekdays–$5 is good for five hours of pool-time for each player. If the hall is full, don’t even think about putting a quarter on the table to reserve a game. The waiting list is computerized, natch! Note: Tournaments are held on Thursdays.
Corner Pocket, 2610 N Halsted (773/281-0050). Lots of trendoids and lots of boys. What’s not to like? Clean and well lit, this is a fun place to hang with friends. Games range from $10/hour on weeknights to $12/hour after 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Things get pretty busy here. My friends and I waited over an hour one weekend. It might not be a bad idea to call first to set aside a pool table. Yup–they accept reservations.
| LEARNING THE GAME Billiards Digest’s Keir Graff says that players who want to learn how to play pool better can get the best results by asking around for qualified instructors.”It really accelerates your learning,” he says.
But how do you pick the right teacher? “I would ask the person behind the desk at the pool hall for recommendations,” Graff says. “They can point out some of the better players. Also, ask players for tips. They may not offer any tips themselves, but they’ll tell you who teaches. They like to show what they know.” You may also want to check to see if an instructor is licensed by the Billiard Congress of America. You can visit them on the Web at www.bca-pool.com. Instructors may charge as much as $125/hour. But if you’re just looking for a few tips, a round of beer may do it as well. |
