Chicago Pool halls??? any recomendations?

Scott Lee said:
Wow...I must have missed a few! LOL Since you were there so long, you must have been there when I did a three-day clinic with Jack White, in the late 90's. I remember they moved one table upstairs for the show, which we did on the main floor of the union.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
WuClan cleared it up above (they took three tables). As for the clinic, I saw Jack White at the University of Texas in the late 1980s, but never at NU. But I was gone from late 1998 to early 2001. Too bad I missed it, though.

Cory
 
There are many pool halls in the Evanston area (but not necessarily in Evanston itself). I grew up in that area and know it well. Chris's is about a 20 minute drive and is right off of 94/90 pretty much at the corner of Lawrence and Milwaukee Ave. They have about 45 tables there. Not too far from that is the Chicago Billiard Cafe on Irving Park Road. They have a huge tournament on Thursday nights (one of the best paying ones too). There are a few places in Rogers Park which is right next to Evanston, but be careful because parts of Roger's Park are real rough especially near Loyola.

If you do have a car, there is a very nice pool hall in Glenview called Premier. They are kind of expensive, but they have a full service bar, the tables are super nice, and the room is incredibly clean.

Lincoln Billiard cafe is nice. It is on the north side of Chicago in the Lakeview area. The tables are ok, and there is no liquor there.

City Pool Hall on Hubbard is really nice. The tables are in great shape, they have a full bar and a full kitchen.

Pro Tyme is a beautiful room, however, it is a long drive from Evanston. Without traffic it is 45 minutes to an hour. With traffic, it could take 2 hours.
 
a_susie_cue said:
Lincoln Billiard cafe is nice. It is on the north side of Chicago in the Lakeview area. The tables are ok, and there is no liquor there.

Susie...Are you talking about Lakeview Billiards, on Lincoln, or is this a different place? Lakeview Billiards closed a few months ago.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
Hi Scott,

I hope you are doing well. It has been a while since I last saw you. That is sad to hear about Lakeview. I haven't been in the city in a while, so I was not sure if they were still around. There had been talk of them closing, but no one really knew for sure.

By the way, are you still taping lessons? A few of my friends have asked if I know of any good pool instructors. You seem to travel a lot and plus I didn't have your contact info, otherwise, I would have sent them your way. Drop me a line, and let me know.
 
a_susie_cue said:
There are many pool halls in the Evanston area (but not necessarily in Evanston itself). I grew up in that area and know it well. Chris's is about a 20 minute drive and is right off of 94/90 pretty much at the corner of Lawrence and Milwaukee Ave. They have about 45 tables there. Not too far from that is the Chicago Billiard Cafe on Irving Park Road. They have a huge tournament on Thursday nights (one of the best paying ones too). There are a few places in Rogers Park which is right next to Evanston, but be careful because parts of Roger's Park are real rough especially near Loyola.

If you do have a car, there is a very nice pool hall in Glenview called Premier. They are kind of expensive, but they have a full service bar, the tables are super nice, and the room is incredibly clean.

Lincoln Billiard cafe is nice. It is on the north side of Chicago in the Lakeview area. The tables are ok, and there is no liquor there.

City Pool Hall on Hubbard is really nice. The tables are in great shape, they have a full bar and a full kitchen.

Pro Tyme is a beautiful room, however, it is a long drive from Evanston. Without traffic it is 45 minutes to an hour. With traffic, it could take 2 hours.
Yes, Susie. We all know how you get around to different pool halls, frequent them and all. :rolleyes:

But Pro-Tyme www.protymebilliards.com is the nicest pool Hall in the area and one that shouldn't be missed. I really wouldn't try and point someone away from it, even if it's 45 minutes away. It didn't stop you or anyone else from going there did it? It's not very nice of you to defray someone from going there because of the drive.
 
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http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=28291

Here's the thread I did about my traveling up there. The pics will tell you everything. Pro-Tyme is hands down one of the classiest joints around. The funny thing is, they weren't even done with it when I took those pictures. Next time I go up there, that will be my main stop. Pro-Tyme and Chris' are the adventure. Pro-Tyme for beauty and luxuray and Chris' for the nostalgia and the feel of the old days. Missing these 2 is missing the entire trip. I did travel alot around the country and play many places for a few years. So this is saying something.
 
Donovan said:
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=28291

Here's the thread I did about my traveling up there. The pics will tell you everything. Pro-Tyme is hands down one of the classiest joints around. The funny thing is, they weren't even done with it when I took those pictures. Next time I go up there, that will be my main stop. Pro-Tyme and Chris' are the adventure. Pro-Tyme for beauty and luxuray and Chris' for the nostalgia and the feel of the old days. Missing these 2 is missing the entire trip. I did travel alot around the country and play many places for a few years. So this is saying something.

Chris's has it's share of characters, and there's almost always something happening there.

Great to sweat the matches on table 9.

Great for the cheap 8 ball and 9 ball tournaments.

Looking to buy a cue cheap? Mosey around a bit and you'll find some who have them available.

Want to see some kicking of trashcans and other creative sharking? Try it late night there, you might not be disappointed.

Want to see some jam up one pocket action?

Catch my drift? :D

Flex
 
I would agree that Pro-Tyme billiards in Orland Park is very nice. All Gold Crown tables. It is an IPT registered pool hall. They had some IPT qualifiers there. They have a website where you can see what the room looks like. www.protymebilliards.com. They claim to have won "room of the year" in 2005 from Billiards Digest. They actually have one in orland park and Alsip. I am not sure which would be closer though. You could map quest it though.
 
Pro-Tyme is a beautiful pool room and Kelly and Ed make you feel at home. I can't say anything more about it than those that have already chimed in.

They sponsored a straight pool league for us at very reasonable rates over the summer and into the fall.

I have only been to Chris's once since I don't live up that way.

Red Shoes in Alsip will never be mistaken for Pro-Tyme, but does have a bit of Banks and One Pocket action.
 
when i was in town and played there i asked a woman there if they could put a new tip on..well i am very very picky about a person even touching my cues...it turned out the woman was Kelly..she did the finest work (while i waited) that could be done..i highly recommend her to replace your tips while in town...:)
 
Eydie Romano said:
Dennis,

I couldn't agree more! We ALL love Ed and Kelly!

Come to think of it, they do a lot for you. The first time me and Latimer went out there Ed came back and gave us a brand new set of balls to play with. Other times, he tells the person there to make sure our balls are clean and that our table is vacuumed. The opening session of our 14.1 league the house took next to nothing for their greens fee. $5 a person for two games of 14.1 up to sometimes 100 to 150. Free coffee for our league. Last time I was there he suggested I move to a better table cuz he said there was a crack in the slate or
something like that. Anyway, they aims to please!! Kelly retipped about 3 or four of my cues and did a great job, too.
 
dmgwalsh said:
Pro-Tyme is a beautiful pool room and Kelly and Ed make you feel at home. I can't say anything more about it than those that have already chimed in.

They sponsored a straight pool league for us at very reasonable rates over the summer and into the fall.

I have only been to Chris's once since I don't live up that way.

Red Shoes in Alsip will never be mistaken for Pro-Tyme, but does have a bit of Banks and One Pocket action.

Pro Tyme in ??? Orland Park? Would they welcome me if I brought my 14 and 11 year old grandsons. They know how to use the stick ok and have excellent pool manners. I just helped get them a home table and would love to take them to a real pool hall but a nice pool hall.
 
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they would welcome you with open arms..wait till you see the chairs,woodwork,drapes ect..it makes you feel like your in some millionaires mansion..it's easy to get to just a few short miles north of i-80...
 
I have been told by a old friend that the Palace Billiards is a nice room - don't know location - just that it is in the Chicago area - never been there but maybe some of the Chicago AZB'rs can comment. I would like to know too.
Jack
www.johnmaddencues.com
 
Jack Madden said:
I have been told by a old friend that the Palace Billiards is a nice room - don't know location - just that it is in the Chicago area - never been there but maybe some of the Chicago AZB'rs can comment. I would like to know too.
Jack
www.johnmaddencues.com

i'm pretty sure it's at villa park
 
JimS said:
Pro Tyme in ??? Orland Park? Would they welcome me if I brought my 14 and 11 year old grandsons. They know how to use the stick ok and have excellent pool manners. I just helped get them a home table and would love to take them to a real pool hall but a nice pool hall.

Without a doubt Jim. If you do go there, tell them Donovan from TX and AZB says, Hello. Ed and Kelly usually have some great Nova and Olivier cues up in the pro shop. If it is not open just ask them and they will take you up there. It is pretty neat seeing the pool hall from up there anyway.
 
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