Amsterdam Blues

[Sandman]

I've been to Amsterdam a few times and will say my time there was enjoyable.
Sandcastle is a fantastic place to play pool if you are ever in New Jersey though.

Thank you Justice!
-Sandman

 

[Sandman]

sjm has a good point. Join the league to play. As long as any business is being used to max capacity, why would the owners change anything. Owners are in business to make money.
The Sandcastle is a great place to practice. Lots of room to play. The owner Ed is a nice guy. Go there on a Saturday or Sunday and practice all day.

Thank you Kaz! I appreciate your kind comments.
I didn't know I had so many AZ'ers coming to my room! LOL
-Sandman (Ed)

 

[cuejoey]

I just wanna gripe about the new Amsterdam Billiards here in nyc. Unfortunately they lost out on the upper west side location and bought out the "corner billiards" location. Problem with this is that they have league night on just about every night of the week which sucks for us non-league players. I just want to practice man, but tonight was ridiculous. For obvious reasons they moved the thursday team 9 ball matches to tonight and that's understandable.

What did bother me was there were so many people that the place was muggy throughout. They didn't try to accommadate the air. I had to throw on some cue silk on my shaft as a result. After 2hrs of waiting for a table, they give me one only to state that they'll need it back in less than an hour for more league matches. I've never been given a table and asked for it back in no less than 2 or more hours or they just wouldn't give it to me. I bring it back in less than 1hr with nothing accomplished but a few practice racks after drills. I go back on the list for another table and have absolutely no fun at all with the 100 people around me. I've seen full 128 player bracket tounaments with more breathing room, it was horrible. With 2 sessions back to back it was amazing I finished a rack of 9 ball without stopping 3 or 4 times for others shooting on the tables around me.

Unless you're at this pool hall during the day (where most of us working people can't be there), this place is a circus. Then to give ya another kick in @ss they charge $9.75 p/hr for one person, and $2 p/coffee that any deli could offer double the amount for a buck. Sigh...I apologize to all the shooters that love this place but it just ain't the same anymore. One of the managers even stated he had no idea when the owners were planning on opening another location. He stated that Brooklyn might be an option. I know that the local pool rooms would kill'em though. Originally there were 2 locations, "east side" and "west side". Now both are gone and the local competition was bought out. That leaves 3 pool halls worth of leagues in one spot which leaves nothing for anyone else.

Do I really have to resort to taking a path train to jersey for practice time?! All the other rooms suck. HELP!

I wouldn't want to play in that situation either..Too bad you can't find someone close by with a warehouse and put a table in the corner somewhere and start a small private club...:smile:

 

[Bustah360]

Yes, I actually have Steve Mizera k's old "chalk box" with his initials carved into it. It was passed down to me from the days of Four Seasons. It went from Four Seasons to B&L to Sharky B's to Sandcastle. My houseman is from The Four Seasons and played along side of Allen Hopkins, The Miz, and all the champions that played in that room. It's still the same crew sticking together playing mostly one pocket and card games just like good old times. Someone (Bustah, I believe) asked what ever happened to the good ol' times where there were poker tables and pool tables where everyone knew each other - Sandcastle IS that place in this day and age (minus a bar and with better food) and I am committed to bringing back those glory days to pool once again!
-Sandman

I will definitely have to make my way there soon. It sounds like a great place. I don't know about walking over a mile in this cold weather though, HA!

 

[Travis Bickle]

Maybe the mortgage meltdown will drop prices enough in Manhattan so that a new room could break in. Who knows? It's a little hard to believe that, in the city that has too much of everything, that ABC has essentially zero competition.

But if I were living uptown, I'd think of taking the crosstown bus over to East Side Billiards on 86th. Used to be just a crappy arcade in the days of ABC East, I think, but now it looks like it has evolved into a serviceable room.

Or ya could just leave Manhattan to the old money, tourists and trustafarians ... and turn out the light when you go! Nothing but Great Depression II could save that place from what it has become. I lived there for more than a dozen years, but after stops in Brooklyn and Queens (and occasionally just checking up on the rents, for the hell of it), the thought of paying 2K for a tiny studio doesn't make much more sense than waiting 2 hours for a pool table, fine as those items could be once you get them.

 

[Bustah360]

You're not the first to mention this place. Is it one of those basement type places? What ave is located on?

 

[Travis Bickle]

It's upstairs, between 3rd and Lex. Prices weren't too bad, either ... maybe $6 an hour during the day and about $7.50 after 6. I'd play there some if it was on my way. Has a small bar as well.

 

[Justlovecues]

It's upstairs, between 3rd and Lex. Prices weren't too bad, either ... maybe $6 an hour during the day and about $7.50 after 6. I'd play there some if it was on my way. Has a small bar as well.

Travis, I have been to Eastside several times. Mainly for lessons with Ron Vitello. I even went to dinner with the owner to celebrate Ron's birthday. It is a good room to play but the opening hours vary. On Satudays they open sometimes at 3:00 p.m.

 

[Bustah360]

I just came back from playing at East Side Billiards. Really really nice place to shoot and practice at. Equipment maintained and service was good. Bar has $2.50 beer special! Outside food allowed, they even have menu's at the counter. Employees were pleasant. 16 tables including a bar box all with new 860 cloth. League on Monday. I spoke with the owner Jerry for like 20 min, he was cool and down to earth. Rates were $6.50 before 6pm, $7.50 after. Weekends $8.50 which is still over a dollar less than some other places. I walked a couple of blocks and jumped on a 5min bus ride. Overall a very good option to practice or set up games at during the week. You can have a cheap date there on weekends if that's what you'd like. Whatever floats ya boat!

 

[Justlovecues]

I just came back from playing at East Side Billiards. Really really nice place to shoot and practice at. Equipment maintained and service was good. Bar has $2.50 beer special! Outside food allowed, they even have menu's at the counter. Employees were pleasant. 16 tables including a bar box all with new 860 cloth. League on Monday. I spoke with the owner Jerry for like 20 min, he was cool and down to earth. Rates were $6.50 before 6pm, $7.50 after. Weekends $8.50 which is still over a dollar less than some other places. I walked a couple of blocks and jumped on a 5min bus ride. Overall a very good option to practice or set up games at during the week. You can have a cheap date there on weekends if that's what you'd like. Whatever floats ya boat!

Bustah, glad you found a place that agrees with you. Jerry is a nice guy. He is probably one or if the youngest pool room owner in the city. Like I had mentioned to Travis, Jerry, Ron and I went to have dinner over a year ago. The dinner was supposed to be on me because of Ron's Birthday but Jerry inisisted to pay half. He is very generous that way. The few times I have seen him he always gave me a beer or soda on the house.

Well, I am both happy for you and for meeting Jerry. Take care.

 

[Travis Bickle]

Glad to hear good things about another shooting option. I've been there but once -- a month ago, on my way to having dinner in the nabe with my dad on his 80th b'day -- but I thought it was a good joint that was getting overlooked.

ABC is great, of course, if you're flush and your timing's right, but East Side is at least one more place in Manhattan I'd enjoy shooting. As opposed to tolerate shooting, if no other viable option, such as SoHo and B'way Billiards.