Boston Area Help

[kollegedave]

I am in Boston attending graduate school, and despite my hectic schedule I try my best to practice twice a week. However, this last week has been all I can take with pool halls in this area not opening in accordance with their posted times for opening and generally treating their customers bad. I travel from Cambridge to Quincy (45min-1hr) to play at Rennaissance Billiards only to find them closed and this Saturday was the second week in a row that this has occurred. Three weeks ago, they kicked me off the table I was playing on to do some repairs to the ceiling. I stopped going to Brighton Billiards for the same reason--not opening when they say they will.

Can anyone suggest a Boston area room that is accessible by public transportation that will charge a reasonable rate, open near their posted time for opening, and generally treats their customers and equipment with respect?

kollegedave

 

[Sweet Marissa]

You might ask Fred Agnir (Cornerman) to recommend some pool halls. He's in Worcester.

Btw, I couldn't respond to your PM because your Inbox is full, so I emailed you.

 

[kollegedave]

You might ask Fred Agnir (Cornerman) to recommend some pool halls. He's in Worcester.

Btw, I couldn't respond to your PM because your Inbox is full, so I emailed you.

oops, sorry.

kollegedave

 

[mikepage]

I am in Boston attending graduate school, and despite my hectic schedule I try my best to practice twice a week. However, this last week has been all I can take with pool halls in this area not opening in accordance with their posted times for opening and generally treating their customers bad. I travel from Cambridge to Quincy (45min-1hr) to play at Rennaissance Billiards only to find them closed and this Saturday was the second week in a row that this has occurred. Three weeks ago, they kicked me off the table I was playing on to do some repairs to the ceiling. I stopped going to Brighton Billiards for the same reason--not opening when they say they will.

Can anyone suggest a Boston area room that is accessible by public transportation that will charge a reasonable rate, open near their posted time for opening, and generally treats their customers and equipment with respect?

kollegedave

I think Brighton Billiards is a nice players' room, and it's easy to get to with public transportation from Cambridge, right? I think you should talk to them about their opening time problem and try to work it out.

Alternatively, you could become Dropoutdave and just show up when they *are* open.

mike page
fargo

 

[henho]

I don't know about Brighton Billiards being a good room. I have heard that, but when I went there, it was a wreck, with only a few tables in operation, one man behind the counter, and two shady guys shooting around. Maybe they were in the midst of renovations but I have not been back since. I am also in grad school in boston, and I do all of my practicing at the school game room. The tables aren't great, but its free and I've been able to work on my game quite a bit. There is a great room in Waltham called Corner Pocket Billiards off of Rt. 60, but that might be a bit of a trip for you.

 

[thepavlos]

Boston area

Brighton is closed. Boston Billiards is pretty much it in the Boston area.
Paul

 

[kollegedave]

Yeah, I am aware of Boston Billiards, but they are so expensive and the pockets are huge so I was trying to find a better place. I guess there isn't one.

Oh well.

kollegedave

Brighton is closed. Boston Billiards is pretty much it in the Boston area.
Paul

 

[The Kiss]

Renaissonce finally changed hands maybe thats why the hours have changed....Brighton is closed, Boston bowl is open 24/7 but no action to speak of...Good Times in Somerville has like 50 tables not to sure of games in their but some action I would think....North of Boston try World class on Route 1 Saugus or Way North the Country Club in Chelmsford.....South Shore Mickey's in Holbrook.. Cue Time Billiards no real action decent people tables kind of suck....
Down the Cape in Wareham The Fan Club

The game is really dead no matter where you go around Boston

 

[kollegedave]

I am aware of most of the places you named, but I don't have a car, that is why I wanted something that was accessible by public transit. This post is confirming my fears; now that the new owner of Rennaissance has taken over and insists on running it into the ground, there is no place to play.

Kollegedave

Renaissonce finally changed hands maybe thats why the hours have changed....Brighton is closed, Boston bowl is open 24/7 but no action to speak of...Good Times in Somerville has like 50 tables not to sure of games in their but some action I would think....North of Boston try World class on Route 1 Saugus or Way North the Country Club in Chelmsford.....South Shore Mickey's in Holbrook.. Cue Time Billiards no real action decent people tables kind of suck....
Down the Cape in Wareham The Fan Club

The game is really dead no matter where you go around Boston

 

[Koop]

I am aware of most of the places you named, but I don't have a car, that is why I wanted something that was accessible by public transit. This post is confirming my fears; now that the new owner of Rennaissance has taken over and insists on running it into the ground, there is no place to play.

Kollegedave

Sucks to hear. That used to be my poolhall but I haven't been in a while. Mostly been practicing at Boston Bowl lately.

Koop

 

[catscradle]

I think Brighton Billiards is a nice players' room, and it's easy to get to with public transportation from Cambridge, right? I think you should talk to them about their opening time problem and try to work it out.

Alternatively, you could become Dropoutdave and just show up when they *are* open.

mike page
fargo

Another one bites the dust ... Mike, as of about a month ago Brighton Billiards is history, or so I heard.

 

[catscradle]

I am aware of most of the places you named, but I don't have a car, that is why I wanted something that was accessible by public transit. This post is confirming my fears; now that the new owner of Rennaissance has taken over and insists on running it into the ground, there is no place to play.

Kollegedave

Is Flattop Johnny's in Kendall Square still around. I figure your either Harvard or MIT, either way Kendall Square is easy.

BTW, I'm pretty sure you can get to Mickey's in Holbrook by public transportation, but it ain't easy. You'd have to take the Red line to Quincy or Braintree (I don't know which one) and grab a bus that goes up Rt 37 in Holbrook. Mickeys is right on Rt 37 at the Holbrook-Braintree line. Even grabbing a cab from Braintree probably wouldn't be to expensive.

 

[jsp]

Can anyone suggest a Boston area room that is accessible by public transportation that will charge a reasonable rate, open near their posted time for opening, and generally treats their customers and equipment with respect?

Hey kollegedave. Sorry, I'm not familiar with any good places that are only T accessible in Boston. However, if you do have a car, I would recommend Country Club USA in Chelmsford MA. It's about a 40 minute drive north of Boston. If you go on the weekends, it's totally worth your money. On weekends, they have a special that charges only $10 from 10am (opening time) to 6pm. Eight hours of practice for only $10 isn't bad at all. Of course, the only downside is driving up to Chelmsford. Does anyone else out there frequent Country Club USA? http://www.countryclubusa.com/

 

[Koop]

Is Flattop Johnny's in Kendall Square still around. I figure your either Harvard or MIT, either way Kendall Square is easy.

BTW, I'm pretty sure you can get to Mickey's in Holbrook by public transportation, but it ain't easy. You'd have to take the Red line to Quincy or Braintree (I don't know which one) and grab a bus that goes up Rt 37 in Holbrook. Mickeys is right on Rt 37 at the Holbrook-Braintree line. Even grabbing a cab from Braintree probably wouldn't be to expensive.

That sounds about right Steve.
Mickey's is only about 5-10 minutes from my house and used to be the homeroom of Mike Rinella.
The only catch there is that it is 18 and over which means no alcohol. Otherwise it's a nice place to play.

Koop

P.S. To the original poster: If you're ever planning on heading to Mickey's and would like a practice partner, just give me a couple of days heads up. I could meet you there and then drive you back to the T.

 

[NaClBandit]

Dave,

I move to Worcester 3 months ago after graduating college and this link helped me out a little: Best Pool Rooms in MA

I've read on AZB that Country Club USA in Chelmsford is tops, but I don't know if it's on a train line.

I play at Boston Bill here in Worcester. You're right about the pockets, but the tables are the best in town otherwise. Plus the girlies are cute. If you ever get the urge to come into Union station and want a game (even just to practice) let me know.

Hope it helps.

 

[Koop]

Plus the girlies are cute.

This must be true of all Boston Billiards because that was one of the main reasons I used to trek in town to play.
Hot girls dressed in all black YUMMY!

 

[Dave in Boston]

"This post is confirming my fears; now that the new owner of Rennaissance has taken over and insists on running it into the ground, there is no place to play. "

Kollegedave


Kollegedave what do you mean by this just wondering, I was there tuesday to play in there tourney and didnt notice anything new. I know both Mark (the old owner) and have met the new owner and really didnt get the impression anything was changing for the worst.

Please let me know if you have some inside scoop I dont know lol because I am thinking about starting to really play again

Dave

 

[The Kiss]

Hey you could take the Redline T to JFK/ UMASS and walk or short cab ride to Boston Bowl on Morrissey BLVD, What about Big City Billiards in Brighton that has to be close to the Greenline....Some one mentioned Flat Top Johnnies in Kendall Sq thats near the redline if it's still there....

Pool is so spread out in Massachusetts it's tough to use the T.....I have heard of guys sending out a cab to pick guys up but thats a different story all together...

 

[Pete]

I am in Boston attending graduate school, and despite my hectic schedule I try my best to practice twice a week. However, this last week has been all I can take with pool halls in this area not opening in accordance with their posted times for opening and generally treating their customers bad. I travel from Cambridge to Quincy (45min-1hr) to play at Rennaissance Billiards only to find them closed and this Saturday was the second week in a row that this has occurred. Three weeks ago, they kicked me off the table I was playing on to do some repairs to the ceiling. I stopped going to Brighton Billiards for the same reason--not opening when they say they will.

Can anyone suggest a Boston area room that is accessible by public transportation that will charge a reasonable rate, open near their posted time for opening, and generally treats their customers and equipment with respect?

kollegedave

Hi Kollegdave, I'm from Medford and play at Goodtimes in Somerville (the tables aren't all that good but pool is free before 6PM M-F). I also play at Country Cue in Peabody $5 before 6 S-S. And I'm an Elks member and play out of there free.

Are you looking for places to play, or a practice partner, or a place to practice cheap, or maybe maybe all???

Me I'm a C player and working on my game (I play 9 ball, 8 ball and straightse). What times do you want to go practice?

Pete

 

[kollegedave]

"This post is confirming my fears; now that the new owner of Rennaissance has taken over and insists on running it into the ground, there is no place to play. "

Kollegedave


Kollegedave what do you mean by this just wondering, I was there tuesday to play in there tourney and didnt notice anything new. I know both Mark (the old owner) and have met the new owner and really didnt get the impression anything was changing for the worst.

Please let me know if you have some inside scoop I dont know lol because I am thinking about starting to really play again

Dave

I have no inside scoop. What I can tell you is what happened to me in more detail for the last three weeks. Three weeks ago I was practicing at Ren. Billiards in Quincy when I was kicked off my table, so they could repair damage to the ceiling near my table--this work could have been done anytime before or after I played, but they chose instead to annoy one of their very few customers. Two weeks ago I showed up on Saturday to play pool at 12:30 and they were not open despite communicating to the public that they open at noon. I waited until sometime after 1pm until I was able to play. This last weekend the same situation occurred except no one had opened the place by 2:00 pm, and I had wasted 4 hours of my day between trains and waiting. I cannot continue to patronize a place that acts in such an unprofessional and disrespectful manner.

kollegedave