Chicago Pool Rooms

dmgwalsh said:
and now, back to the original post that was hijacked by deluded Cubbie fans:

You might want to pm bestkites as to Chicago poolhalls. He is in the Chicago area this week checking out poolhalls and other things. He has been to Red Shoes and is probably going to the Illinois Billiard Club this Thursday. He also met with Bobby Hunter and is going to try to meet Darren Hill today. He may have gone to Chris's II last night and he might go to Chris's on Milwaukee tonight.

By the way, if your friends want to go to Red Shoes or Illinois Billiard Club, I am there on Monday and Thursday respectively and would be happy to introduce them and get them a game if they wanted one.
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Tomorrow is my last day here. I am leaving to California on friday morning. Avoid Chris II in Des Plaines, pool hall sucks and people there are not nice. Thumbs up for Red Shoes, Pro Tyme, Chris @ Milwaukee. I will try to go to the Illinois Billiard Club tomorrow. Dennis is a awesome guy. I want to thank to Dennis taking his precious collector cues and let me hit a few balls with them. I am available tomorrow if somebody wants to meet me. My cell is 209-482-7768.
 
I drove for about 30 minutes from my hotel to Des Plaines and got into Chris II and asked if I could open a table and the girl told me right away that I would have to pay a flat fee of 10 bucks. I had to leave in 45 minutes, no need to say that I left that junk within the same second. No respect for a customer at all and the girl was very rude.
 
I Think Your Right!!!

bestkites said:
I drove for about 30 minutes from my hotel to Des Plaines and got into Chris II and asked if I could open a table and the girl told me right away that I would have to pay a flat fee of 10 bucks. I had to leave in 45 minutes, no need to say that I left that junk within the same second. No respect for a customer at all and the girl was very rude.
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I went to Chris's 2 recently and have to say NO MAS to this place. It was so hot in there that the employees were standing outside to cool off. Tables were beat up, the 3 cushion tables had no heat. Overall a 2 out out of 10. I have 0 interest in this place also. They got a 2 cause they were open!!
Dan
 
Does the Gingerman Tavern in Wrigleyville have pool tables? Any other bars near Wrigley Field have tables?
 
They've got 2 poorly maintained tables. Free pool all day Sunday I believe. The Holiday Club and Nick's Uptown both have a couple of tables as well.

Neither are comprehensive lists, but check out the Northside Chicago APA host locator here and metromix. They'll give you at least a few options.

Hope that helps.
 
quedup said:
I went to Chris's 2 recently and have to say NO MAS to this place. It was so hot in there that the employees were standing outside to cool off. Tables were beat up, the 3 cushion tables had no heat. Overall a 2 out out of 10. I have 0 interest in this place also. They got a 2 cause they were open!!
Dan
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I practice/play over there from time to time. They have a reasonably tough handicapped 9 ball tournament on Mondays, entry is $15.

I don't like the Kim Steele tables in the front room, but the Gold Crowns in the large room are fine, by and large. The front room's money table is a Gold Crown that plays just fine, and is in very good shape. Most of their ballsets are Super Pro Aramiths, although sometimes there's a regular Aramith in the mix. If that happens, and it's a busy night with no real option to switch balls, I just bring in my own set of Centennials.

As for the heat, well it depends a bit. The other night a friend and I were in the back room for a game of 14.1 and then one hole, and the air conditioning was on. There were a good number of players there for a Wednesday night. It's necessary to remember that over at Chris's on Milwaukee, there's an 8 ball round robin tournament on Wednesdays, that pulls a good chunk of players.

Regarding the folks standing out in front, the State of Illinois has blessed us with a no-smoking ban, so those who want to enjoy a puff or two are forced to go out there.

When I was there Wednesday night, the 3 cushion table was heated, although nobody was playing on it.

Somebody said one of the girls was rude. Maybe so, but it's also possible the person who came in and was told there is a flat rate of $10 got ticked off and showed some attitude.

I think the $10 flat rate deal is fine but a little pricey. Pricey enough for 6 folks who came in about 11:30 one evening and decided it was too much. They walked. When it was $5, or $6 or $7 depending on the night, it was ok. But those 6 who walked would have provided $30 or $36 or $42 depending.

NO MAS? No problema...

Chris's II is a viable option, as other pool halls are, depending on what you're looking for.

Flex
 
It's alright over there, but I can definitely see how that girl could come off as being rude. Quedup is right. I don't know if they fixed it now, but the air in there was broke for awhile. I remember going there for the 9-ball tourney a couple weeks ago and it was like a sauna. One of the guys asked Marlon if this is how it is in the Philipines. I don't think he found that very funny, but he did end up taking his shirt off.
 
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There's a Wednesday night no handicap 9ball tourney at Chris's Green Pocket in Brookfield on Ogden west of 1st ave. I wish we could get a few more players to participate to make this a great tourney. It's a double elimination tourney and the entry fee is $10.00 Everyone is welcomed. Philw
 
Flex said:
I practice/play over there from time to time. They have a reasonably tough handicapped 9 ball tournament on Mondays, entry is $15.

I don't like the Kim Steele tables in the front room, but the Gold Crowns in the large room are fine, by and large. The front room's money table is a Gold Crown that plays just fine, and is in very good shape. Most of their ballsets are Super Pro Aramiths, although sometimes there's a regular Aramith in the mix. If that happens, and it's a busy night with no real option to switch balls, I just bring in my own set of Centennials.

As for the heat, well it depends a bit. The other night a friend and I were in the back room for a game of 14.1 and then one hole, and the air conditioning was on. There were a good number of players there for a Wednesday night. It's necessary to remember that over at Chris's on Milwaukee, there's an 8 ball round robin tournament on Wednesdays, that pulls a good chunk of players.

Regarding the folks standing out in front, the State of Illinois has blessed us with a no-smoking ban, so those who want to enjoy a puff or two are forced to go out there.

When I was there Wednesday night, the 3 cushion table was heated, although nobody was playing on it.

Somebody said one of the girls was rude. Maybe so, but it's also possible the person who came in and was told there is a flat rate of $10 got ticked off and showed some attitude.

I think the $10 flat rate deal is fine but a little pricey. Pricey enough for 6 folks who came in about 11:30 one evening and decided it was too much. They walked. When it was $5, or $6 or $7 depending on the night, it was ok. But those 6 who walked would have provided $30 or $36 or $42 depending.

NO MAS? No problema...

Chris's II is a viable option, as other pool halls are, depending on what you're looking for.

Flex
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I guess you really love the place but comparing to the place I go in California, that place is a junk and I am not the only one saying that.
I had no attitude. Got in there and asked if they could open a table, the girl was really rude and said immediatelly there was a flat fee of 10 bucks. I was going to stay there for less than an hour therefore 10 bucks is too much
They would have done more if they allowed me play at regular rate and I would buy a couple of drinks. And I keep saying the girl was rude, rude, rude. I drove almost 45 minutes to play there and she did not even gave me a chance. Just give me ez 10 bucks. You guys do not know how to run a business for sure. The place was empty by the way... Wonder why...
All other places I went like Chris, Red Shoes, Pro Tyme and Illinois Billiard Club were awesome!
 
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bestkites said:
I guess you really love the place but comparing to the place I go in California, that place is a junk and I am not the only one saying that.
I had no attitude. Got in there and asked if they could open a table, the girl was really rude and said immediatelly there was a flat fee of 10 bucks. I was going to stay there for less than an hour therefore 10 bucks is too much
They would have done more if they allowed me play at regular rate and I would buy a couple of drinks. And I keep saying the girl was rude, rude, rude. I drove almost 45 minutes to play there and she did not even gave me a chance. Just give me ez 10 bucks. You guys do not know how to run a business for sure. The place was empty by the way... Wonder why...
All other places I went like Chris, Red Shoes, Pro Tyme and Illinois Billiard Club were awesome!
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Actually, it's not one of my favorite places to play, but it definitely fills a need/niche depending on the situation. Not the place to look for action. No beer or liquor. Relatively quiet, most of the time. It is however a good place to practice, and nobody will bother you. That's definitely a positive in my book.

Also, I don't work there, but go there from time to time either for practice or enjoy a 14.1 session with a friend.

Flex
 
Da Poet said:
Sweep!
Sweet! :D
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Go, Cubs, go
Go, Cubs, go
Hey, Chicago, what do you say
The Cubs are gonna win today.

Go, Cubs, go
Go, Cubs, go
Hey, Chicago, what do you say
The Cubs are gonna win today.
 
The players.
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The #1 place to play 3 cushion in Chicago bar none!!! Love the atmosphere at Chris's!! Just a great ol pool hall!!
Dan
 
trueblu8 said:
The house pros.
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Just to be clear, all of these guys aren't really "pros", unless you mean they make a fair share of their income from gambling at pool.

The one in the cowboy hat is "Cowboy" and the one playing 3-cushion is Paul Navarette. Both are always ready to gamble (at just about any cue sport) and both (especially Paul) are very worthy challenges.

pj
chgo
 
Patrick Johnson said:
Just to be clear, all of these guys aren't really "pros", unless you mean they make a fair share of their income from gambling at pool.

The one in the cowboy hat is "Cowboy" and the one playing 3-cushion is Paul Navarette. Both are always ready to gamble (at just about any cue sport) and both (especially Paul) are very worthy challenges.

pj
chgo
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Good call on 3 of the 4. But I think most people would consider Santos a pro. At least I would anyways. JMO Go Cubs Go. :)
 
and cowboy hardly plays anymore. Although he lets me wear his hat when we're drinking on the far North side.

if that really is your name... ;)
 
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