Traveling to Port Charlette FLA, what is good to visit there?

hang-the-9

hang-the-9

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I am heading there for business on the 29th, Sunday, leaving 31st or 1st. According to the web, looks like Veterans Billiards is the best and is right in that area, anything else within an hr drive of Port Charlette worth a visit? Fort Myers looks to be under an hr drive from there but did not see anything promising in that area that looked better than Veterans.

Livingston Billiards looks interesting, there is a huge "Challenge Table" sign that looks like a fun thing hehe


Any Sun/Mon/Tue tournaments around there? I can probably wrangle an early AM flight on Sunday if anything is happening Sun afternoon.
 
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If you like Diamond tables there is Diamond Billiards in Cape Coral or Lightninig Bowl in Ft. Myers- both have Diamond tables only- Lightning Bowl has only 4 tables-- new Blue diamonds with pro cut pockets- Diamond Billiards in Cape Coral are the older red labels. I have never been to Veterans.

I know of no Sunday tournaments, except maybe Miscue Lounge in Ft Myers- badd ass bar/pool hall- I don't think a stranger would be very welcome- esp. if you won some $$ - I carry a handgun in Ft. Myers or Cape Coral and still won't play in Miscue Lounge at night- it is on Carrell Avenue in Ft. Myers.
 
Veterans is a decent place, can be tricky to find so trust your GPS. Went there last year and the tables played fairly well.

Livingston's is a big league place, will probably stretch the one hour from Port Charlotte. I think they have a 10 ft. snooker table if that interests you.
 
Go fishing. There's some great guides down there who can put you on 'em. I've enjoyed Diamond billiards the 7-8 times I've been there but it's been awhile. There was usually some rotation action but I haven't heard about the one good one hole player that was there in a long time. I think his name was Pepsi Don. He played ok and like to bet it up.
 
mikemosconi said:
If you like Diamond tables there is Diamond Billiards in Cape Coral or Lightninig Bowl in Ft. Myers- both have Diamond tables only- Lightning Bowl has only 4 tables-- new Blue diamonds with pro cut pockets- Diamond Billiards in Cape Coral are the older red labels. I have never been to Veterans.

I know of no Sunday tournaments, except maybe Miscue Lounge in Ft Myers- badd ass bar/pool hall- I don't think a stranger would be very welcome- esp. if you won some $$ - I carry a handgun in Ft. Myers or Cape Coral and still won't play in Miscue Lounge at night- it is on Carrell Avenue in Ft. Myers.
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I used to go to the Mis Cue back in the 60s. It's been there forever.
 
middleofnowhere said:
I used to go to the Mis Cue back in the 60s. It's been there forever.
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middleofnowhere said:
I used to go to the Mis Cue back in the 60s. It's been there forever.
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The tables are very old- not sure of the brand, they are actually kept up fairly well and play OK. The area has deteriorated very badly - nighttime the area is a frequent place of crime and shootings. All sorts of folks walk in off the streets there.
 
mikemosconi said:
The tables are very old- not sure of the brand, they are actually kept up fairly well and play OK. The area has deteriorated very badly - nighttime the area is a frequent place of crime and shootings. All sorts of folks walk in off the streets there.
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The tables are called Robertson's they were built by Robertson's Billiards supply in Tampa. I remember a real good player who used to be there George Mccorkindale he worked for Robertson's, maybe owned it not sure. I bought my first good pool cue at Robertson's Billiards supply. It was a used Paradise, wish I had it now. Robertson's used to be near Bakers pool room. Don't no if either are still there. Some years ago I read there was a fire at Robertson's.

Bakers was quite a place. They even had a special tournament room. They had a tournament like the Johnston city tournament back in the 60's, everybody was there.
 
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Yes Robertsons- Tampa- there is a nameplate on each table- they are very well made tables- solid.
 
axejunkie said:
Veterans is a decent place, can be tricky to find so trust your GPS. Went there last year and the tables played fairly well.

Livingston's is a big league place, will probably stretch the one hour from Port Charlotte. I think they have a 10 ft. snooker table if that interests you.
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Thanks, so you think Livingston's is worth the drive? I try to find nice rooms with a fun crowd even if there are better setup tables elsewhere.
 
mikemosconi said:
If you like Diamond tables there is Diamond Billiards in Cape Coral or Lightninig Bowl in Ft. Myers- both have Diamond tables only- Lightning Bowl has only 4 tables-- new Blue diamonds with pro cut pockets- Diamond Billiards in Cape Coral are the older red labels. I have never been to Veterans.

I know of no Sunday tournaments, except maybe Miscue Lounge in Ft Myers- badd ass bar/pool hall- I don't think a stranger would be very welcome- esp. if you won some $$ - I carry a handgun in Ft. Myers or Cape Coral and still won't play in Miscue Lounge at night- it is on Carrell Avenue in Ft. Myers.
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Thanks, have not found Lighting Bowl in my search, but sounds like a place to visit.
 
hang-the-9 said:
Thanks, so you think Livingston's is worth the drive? I try to find nice rooms with a fun crowd even if there are better setup tables elsewhere.
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I'll guess your drive will be an hour to an hour fifteen from Port Charlotte. I have only been to Livingston's twice recently and it's been busy with leagues with few tables open, those were both on weeknights after 6:30. It seemed like a pretty good crowd of people. I think there is a smoking section which is closed off. I was in the main room which is non-smoking.

Don't have much more info as I normally play further north in Pinellas County. Plenty of rooms there but it's another 30-45 min. from Bradenton.
 
axejunkie said:
I'll guess your drive will be an hour to an hour fifteen from Port Charlotte. I have only been to Livingston's twice recently and it's been busy with leagues with few tables open, those were both on weeknights after 6:30. It seemed like a pretty good crowd of people. I think there is a smoking section which is closed off. I was in the main room which is non-smoking.

Don't have much more info as I normally play further north in Pinellas County. Plenty of rooms there but it's another 30-45 min. from Bradenton.
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Sounds like a fun spot, if there is smoking maybe I'll grab a cigar, although "smoking allowed" and "cigars" are sometimes not the same thing LOL You happen to notice if anyone was smoking cigars there? Sometimes it's a culture and unspoken rule to keep cigars out due to the stronger smell that some don't like.

I'm going to grab a decent car for a rental so an hr drive is OK for me. Last time I had a convertible Mustang and had an hr drive up the coast to another pool hall by Pensacola, that was a fun trip hehe.
 
mikemosconi said:
Yes Robertsons- Tampa- there is a nameplate on each table- they are very well made tables- solid.
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The place where I play in Clearwater has 5 Robertson “Big” 8’ tables. That’s typically where the social player like to play. They play really well and have lasted forever. Bakers is long gone but I’m pretty sure Robertson’s is still there selling tables and supplies. The food at Bakers was actually pretty good too from what I remember, but I was usually pretty buzzed when I was eating at a pool hall.
 
Z-Nole said:
The place where I play in Clearwater has 5 Robertson “Big” 8’ tables. That’s typically where the social player like to play. They play really well and have lasted forever. Bakers is long gone but I’m pretty sure Robertson’s is still there selling tables and supplies. The food at Bakers was actually pretty good too from what I remember, but I was usually pretty buzzed when I was eating at a pool hall.
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Bakers had a great formula. All the local business people had breakfast there. By 9am most of the tables were going with regulars and went like that all day. Night time business was just as solid.

The breakfast/lunch counter was so strong it was a stand alone business. Bakers at one time was a gold mine. The kind of pool room we always imagine, but it was real. Like everything, nothing is forever.
 
middleofnowhere said:
Bakers had a great formula. All the local business people had breakfast there. By 9am most of the tables were going with regulars and went like that all day. Night time business was just as solid.

The breakfast/lunch counter was so strong it was a stand alone business. Bakers at one time was a gold mine. The kind of pool room we always imagine, but it was real. Like everything, nothing is forever.
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Yup, I agree. I saw Steve Cook rob a few road men there the few times I went. He looked like a damn meek shoe salesman and then next thing you know he’s up three sets of one pocket.
 
Z-Nole said:
Go fishing. There's some great guides down there who can put you on 'em. I've enjoyed Diamond billiards the 7-8 times I've been there but it's been awhile. There was usually some rotation action but I haven't heard about the one good one hole player that was there in a long time. I think his name was Pepsi Don. He played ok and like to bet it up.
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I don't do fishing, past picking out something on a menu ;) However I did select a nice room with a balcony overviewing a harbor for some scotch/port sipping and book reading outside of playing pool and work.

Does Diamond Billiards have 9 footers? I could not really tell from their photos.

Over the next few months will be back a few more times on business so will be able to check out some other places then also. I work at BJs Wholesale and we have a new club opening in the area soon.

Me stay here:

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hang-the-9 said:
Sounds like a fun spot, if there is smoking maybe I'll grab a cigar, although "smoking allowed" and "cigars" are sometimes not the same thing LOL You happen to notice if anyone was smoking cigars there? Sometimes it's a culture and unspoken rule to keep cigars out due to the stronger smell that some don't like.

I'm going to grab a decent car for a rental so an hr drive is OK for me. Last time I had a convertible Mustang and had an hr drive up the coast to another pool hall by Pensacola, that was a fun trip hehe.
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Sorry I did not notice if anyone was smoking cigars and agree some places do not allow them. Check the drive time on a GPS to head check my estimate as I haven't done that drive. If you do make it there on Mon or Tues and want someone to shoot with, let me know and I can swing by after work.
 
Z-Nole said:
Yup, I agree. I saw Steve Cook rob a few road men there the few times I went. He looked like a damn meek shoe salesman and then next thing you know he’s up three sets of one pocket.
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Steve had serious friends inTampa, he always got paid. David Howard had to call for a police escort to leave Bakers once. There were a few Tush Hogs there and he had offended one who went by initials. People from there know who I am talking about.
If you saw Donnie Brasco you will remember the Santo Trafficante crime family, also known as the Tampa Mafia, an Italian-American Mafia crime family based in Tampa,
 
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middleofnowhere said:
Steve had serious friends inTampa, he always got paid. David Howard had to call for a police escort to leave Bakers once. There were a few Tush Hogs there and he had offended one who went by initials. People from there know who I am talking about.
If you saw Donnie Brasco you will remember the Santo Trafficante crime family, also known as the Tampa Mafia, an Italian-American Mafia crime family based in Tampa,
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I know exactly who you're talking about.
 
hang-the-9 said:
I don't do fishing, past picking out something on a menu ;) However I did select a nice room with a balcony overviewing a harbor for some scotch/port sipping and book reading outside of playing pool and work.

Does Diamond Billiards have 9 footers? I could not really tell from their photos.

Over the next few months will be back a few more times on business so will be able to check out some other places then also. I work at BJs Wholesale and we have a new club opening in the area soon.

Me stay here:

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I've stayed there once and really liked it, but there's a place across the way that had an awesome rooftop bar so I went there. The last ten years I've stayed in a VRBO over on Pine Island. Be sure to check out the Tarpon Lodge for a nice cracker did near with white tAble cloths. Or go to Blue Dog for a fantastic grouper Sandwich. Whatever you do don't speed on Pine Island road. They will get you.
 
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