A story of denial, and sadness

ManifestEcstacy

ManifestEcstacy

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
A Pool Story, by: ManifestEcstacy (based on a true story)

So.. I just went up to Chicago this past weekend with my parents and my nephew to see a Musical, "Lion King" ( if any of you out there have a side interest in these, you should definitly see this one), anyways...

A fellow forum-er Flex told me about this great place that he has played at called G-Cue... So I think, being from down state IL it would be great to see what a nice City pool hall looks like.. to say the least I was thrilled to get going and see what this place had to offer me.

So, me and a friend, that had come in to the city to hang out with me while I was there, start walking.. to say the least it was very very very far from where we were origonally, but that is not the important part.

When we got there, a man greeted us, literally right after walking in the door. The place was empty.. it was about 4 in the afternoon and not a pool player insight... but let me tell you, this place was beautiful. The tables were great looking.. perfect felt.. dark lit room except for right above the tables.. I couldn't wait to start knocking around some balls (not literally ofcourse)

"So, you guys here to play some pool?" a man asks, I think he was the owner. A girl looks at us over from the bar, and then we look back at him and both reply "hells yes!!!!!" well, i said that in my mind anyways, but i definitly made it known that I was interested in playing some pool in his fine establishment.
"you guys got ID's?" he asked us... we both looked at eachother for a short second.. and then we looked back at him and said yeah, ofcourse we had ID's... and this is where the problem arose.

"cause you know you have to be 21 to get in here, it is a bar." Ouch... that hurt my ears, and my frail little heart.. being only 19, it was not possible for me to give this man my money and take part in the pool playing in his establishment... even though there was not one pool player in there at all... not a single person that was going to play pool there within miles.. we walked all the way across the city of chicago, to be pushed away because we were of insufficient age... that was a very sad day, let me tell you... it broke a little pool player's heart...

This is my story, I'm sorry if it made you a little teary eye'd... I'm holding them back right now, but I thought i would share my adventure with all of you, because i thought i was worth sharing! hope you enjoyed!
 
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That sucks, and really sorry to hear that. Possibly the owner has been fined in the past for allowing minors into his establishment. There is a reason for it, because I'm sure any other place wouldn't have had a problem with it at that time. There is an underlying cause....

<-- 27, never have that problem :p
 
Go across the street and sign up to kill some of dem damn furreners...you're old enough for that.

Jeff Livingston
 
ManifestEcstacy said:
"So, you guys here to play some pool?" a man asks, I think he was the owner. A girl looks at us over from the bar, and then we look back at him and both reply "hells yes!!!!!" well, i said that in my mind anyways, but i definitly made it known that I was interested in playing some pool in his fine establishment.
Click to expand...

G-Cue on Randolph is Tom Karabatsas' place, nice guy and he shoots lights out. I'm sure that if he could have legally let you in, he would have.

Funny thing about Chicago is that the city government is very anti-pool. About 2 years back or so, the city began enforcing an old law that banned any bar from having more than one table (at least, on the North Side). This only affected bars that had the type of license that lets the bar serve little or no food, so it was mostly the 7' coin-op type of bars that were affected. It killed a few weekly tournaments, including one I used to run, and took a nasty bite out of the local APA league-op's pocket.

The rumor is that mayor-for-life Daley's cousin/nephew/uncle/something got beat up pretty bad following a fight that started over, or at least around, a pool table. But who knows?

Long story short: next time, go to Chris's on Milwaukee Ave. G-Cue is nice, but Chris's is a real shooter's pool hall and since they don't serve alcohol you won't have any trouble.

Cory
 
I just noticed you're from Champaign--I used to live there, too. I wonder if anyone I knew is still around? I played on a league team out of Jillians, and then Jupiters, with Boyd Reynolds, who was pretty strong. Probably the best shooter I knew was John Clayton, and John St. Peter seemed to be up and coming. And I assume Mary is still working in the game room?
 
Oh just grow up ;-)

Sorry, couldn't resist, and there is a very valid point here. The majority if US Pool Halls I have been to have a large "Sports Bar" section that, due to the draconian US drinking laws means no-one under 21 gets in. In some States you can drive a car at 16 or buy a shotgun at 18 but heaven forbid you play Pool somewhere people are having a beer.

The problem is that most of these combo Sports Bar/Pool Halls probably make most of their profit from the bar and the food sales rather than the table time.
 
AuntyDan said:
Oh just grow up ;-)

Sorry, couldn't resist, and there is a very valid point here. The majority if US Pool Halls I have been to have a large "Sports Bar" section that, due to the draconian US drinking laws means no-one under 21 gets in. In some States you can drive a car at 16 or buy a shotgun at 18 but heaven forbid you play Pool somewhere people are having a beer.

The problem is that most of these combo Sports Bar/Pool Halls probably make most of their profit from the bar and the food sales rather than the table time.
Click to expand...

Don't forget give yourself cancer or die for your country at 18.
 
cory to be honest i just started playing pool and i really have no idea who any of those people are... and it doesnt help that i shoot mostly at newer bar called crane alley sooo i am extremely new the urbana pool scene but tell you what... send me a pm and maybe i can find something out about one or two of them
 
Cory in DC said:
G-Cue on Randolph is Tom Karabatsas' place, nice guy and he shoots lights out. I'm sure that if he could have legally let you in, he would have.

Funny thing about Chicago is that the city government is very anti-pool. About 2 years back or so, the city began enforcing an old law that banned any bar from having more than one table (at least, on the North Side). This only affected bars that had the type of license that lets the bar serve little or no food, so it was mostly the 7' coin-op type of bars that were affected. It killed a few weekly tournaments, including one I used to run, and took a nasty bite out of the local APA league-op's pocket.

The rumor is that mayor-for-life Daley's cousin/nephew/uncle/something got beat up pretty bad following a fight that started over, or at least around, a pool table. But who knows?

Long story short: next time, go to Chris's on Milwaukee Ave. G-Cue is nice, but Chris's is a real shooter's pool hall and since they don't serve alcohol you won't have any trouble.

Cory
Click to expand...


Cory said it all. Tom would have let you in if he could have, he LOVES business and players.

Chris's or a boat load of other places would have been a better choice.

Moral of the story: Next time you visit Chicago, post HERE on AZBilliards.com to find the best pool halls in Chicago land area, we will be more than happy to help you out.

Eydie
 
Eydie Romano said:
Cory said it all. Tom would have let you in if he could have, he LOVES business and players.

Chris's or a boat load of other places would have been a better choice.

Moral of the story: Next time you visit Chicago, post HERE on AZBilliards.com to find the best pool halls in Chicago land area, we will be more than happy to help you out.

Eydie
Click to expand...


I have had an opportunity to visit the many rooms in the Chicago area and I couldn't agree more. My girlfriend and I loved it when we played at ProTyme Billiards, Cue Phoria, 63 Street Billiards, The Palace, and many others. These establishments mentioned were top notch places. We do not have rooms like these in Michigan but I will tell you it was such a treat to play on wonderful tables with great pockets and cushions. The atmospheres are extremely clean, the staff is overwhelming friendly and the owners love pool players and the sport. I have a great listing if your interested just let me know.
 
Cory in DC said:
G-Cue on Randolph is Tom Karabatsas' place, nice guy and he shoots lights out. I'm sure that if he could have legally let you in, he would have.

Funny thing about Chicago is that the city government is very anti-pool. About 2 years back or so, the city began enforcing an old law that banned any bar from having more than one table (at least, on the North Side). This only affected bars that had the type of license that lets the bar serve little or no food, so it was mostly the 7' coin-op type of bars that were affected. It killed a few weekly tournaments, including one I used to run, and took a nasty bite out of the local APA league-op's pocket.

The rumor is that mayor-for-life Daley's cousin/nephew/uncle/something got beat up pretty bad following a fight that started over, or at least around, a pool table. But who knows?

Long story short: next time, go to Chris's on Milwaukee Ave. G-Cue is nice, but Chris's is a real shooter's pool hall and since they don't serve alcohol you won't have any trouble.

Cory
Click to expand...
I've been to Chris's. Great place if you like Billiards. Lots of tables..
 
I disagree with the ordnance as well but it seems the proprieter was merely obeying the law.

LWW
 
Wouldn't you think

That if you can die for your country,
that you could shoot pool and drink
if you wanted to...

Bout like saying a state wanted to cut
down on crime so they are going to make
40 the legal drinking age...

Or like Kansas, have a mandatory selt belt
law, but motorcyclists don't have to wear
a helmut ....
 
That sucks. Im uh hmm 30 so havent had that problem in awhile. Do they allow you in Fridays, Chillis, Outback, etc, restaurants that serve alcohol. I know alot of guys that get recked after work at these places on Fridays after work. OOps I shouldnt give em ideas lol. What if you were accompanied by an "adult"?
 
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