Cool Pool Rooms

JAM

JAM

I am the storm
Silver Member
Somebody on my industry forum knows I'm a pool enthusiast, and she sent me this link of a pool room in New York City: Amsterdam Billiard Club with Gail Glazebook.

Well, of course, I've heard of Amsterdam from this forum numerous times, but I have never been there.

After watching this short 2-minute video clip with Gail, I must say that I am really impressed with this pool room. We have nothing like that in my area. Also, Gail's commentary is tasteful and quite professional. I'm impressed.

It would be nice to have a TripTik or something like that for each cool pool room in the country. I know nothing about the West Coast, but on the East Coast, I'd put up Snookers in Providence, Rhode Island, and Q-Masters in Norfolk, Virginia.

What are some cool pool rooms that are worthy of notice in your neck of the woods? Pictures, links, or posts in this thread are welcome.
 
Snookers in Providence, RI moved to a new location since I've been there, but here's a picture below of what I think may be their logo. It's a great room, full of personality, thanks to its owners, the Goulds.

They serve good food too. If you ever get there, check out Regina's meatballs. OMG! My mouth is watering up, thinking about them. :D

They say it's location, location, location, and this region of the country boasts several dozen colleges, universities, and community colleges, a perfect locale for a pool room, a gathering place for the locals to socialize and enjoy a night out.
 

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Regina's Meatballs! Can't stop thinking about 'em! :o

Snooker's has been around since 1989. They must be doing something right! Here's their website: SnookersRI.com.
 

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Q-Masters in Norfolk offers FREE pool during the day. I enjoy this pool room because there's three different areas, each one with a distinct personality. :smile:
 

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Haven't been to Q-Masters in a long while, but every time I went, I bought several T-shirts. They were "the" absolute best pool T-shirts, so colorful and attractive. It has this logo on the back. All pool rooms should sell T-shirts like this and have their regulars wear them proudly. It's free advertising too! ;)
 

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Drexeline Billiards in Drexel Hills, PA is a very nice pool room with a lot of pool culture. It's right outside of Philadelphia. If you ever get up that way, it's one pool room you should check out.

We went to a Joss tournament that and got lucky. I have a few trophies that my other half won, but this one, without a doubt, is one of my favorites. When I saw these trophies at the tournament on display, I was praying we would be fortunate enough to bring one home. And we did. Wow!

Drexeline Billiards is hard to find, so be sure to get directions. It's located in the back of a shopping center. I really like this pool room. The owner Bob Maidhoff isn't a bad player himself. Grapevine says Corey Deuel grew up playing in this room before he became the pool celebrity that he is today.
 

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You never know who's going to pop in at Drexeline Billiards. The tournament we went to was packed with name-brand players, e.g., Allen Hopkins, Jose Parica, Karen Corr, Kid Delicious, Dennis Hatch, Jalapena, et cetera. It was a very tense tournament.

Here's a shot with the owner, Bob Maidhoff, and the winner and runner up.:D

I'm actually going through my photos on my old computer. I had a computer die on me, and I'm currently reminiscing about the great pool rooms I've had the privilege to hang out in.

Drexeline has a display of vintage pool posters, paraphernalia, and other pool-related trinkets. It's like walking into a billiard museum. :cool:
 

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I don't have any pictures of info, but I also hear Chris' Billiards in Chicago is the place to be when visiting the Windy City, rich with culture.

It is where one of scenes form The Color of Money was shot. :cool:

Here's a YouTube video clip of the so-called first-ever 3-cushion tournament, 1992 National 3-Cushion tournament held at Chris', featuring none other than BCA Hall of Famer, the late Sang Lee: Tournament at Chris' Billiards.

Check out the railbirds. :D
 
Front door of Chris' Billiards. :smile:
 

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JAM said:
Somebody on my industry forum knows I'm a pool enthusiast, and she sent me this link of a pool room in New York City: Amsterdam Billiard Club with Gail Glazebook.

Well, of course, I've heard of Amsterdam from this forum numerous times, but I have never been there.

After watching this short 2-minute video clip with Gail, I must say that I am really impressed with this pool room. We have nothing like that in my area. Also, Gail's commentary is tasteful and quite professional. I'm impressed.

It would be nice to have a TripTik or something like that for each cool pool room in the country. I know nothing about the West Coast, but on the East Coast, I'd put up Snookers in Providence, Rhode Island, and Q-Masters in Norfolk, Virginia.

What are some cool pool rooms that are worthy of notice in your neck of the woods? Pictures, links, or posts in this thread are welcome.
Click to expand...

Hello Jam,
I am glad you put this thread on AZB. I have to mention, Buffalo Billiards, the worlds pool hall. It is a super pool hall with great people working there. Located in Metairie, Louisiana/New Orleans, Louisiana. I have to go there everyday even though I tried not to go so often. I say I am not going there tonight and my car calls me out and heads that way on it's own. It knows the way by hart! Wow! I guess I am hooked on the worlds pool hall. Not that I get a lot of action, but I watch a lot of action! It is nothing to see a race to four games One Pocket for 5K. Or 8 ahead 9 ball.

I talk to Ronnie Wiseman, and Ricky. Plus a road player from Phoenix. Night before last in the worlds pool hall.
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
Lock N Load said:
Hello Jam,
I am glad you put this thread on AZB. I have to mention, Buffalo Billiards, the worlds pool hall. It is a super pool hall with great people working there. Located in Metairie, Louisiana/New Orleans, Louisiana. I have to go there everyday even though I tried not to go so often. I say I am not going there tonight and my car calls me out and heads that way on it's own. It knows the way by hart! Wow! I guess I am hooked on the worlds pool hall. Not that I get a lot of action, but I watch a lot of action! It is nothing to see a race to four games One Pocket for 5K. Or 8 ahead 9 ball.

I talk to Ronnie Wiseman, and Ricky. Plus a road player from Phoenix. Night before last in the worlds pool hall.
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
Click to expand...

You know, it sure would be nice to see some pictures! :D

Sounds like a dream pool room for sure.

Keith spoke to Ronnie last night and caught up with all the festivities.

Sounds like a pool player's dream down there in your neck of the woods.

Buffalo's needs a website and T-shirts, dag nab it. I could get very comfortable living there. I love those Louisiana colors: purple and gold. :cool:
 
Silver Spring wasn't too shabby, back in the day...but I have a soft spot for Westmont Champions.

Bummed I missed Beenie's place in 7-corners. 30 years late, I was. But there is a consolation prize: years later, another pool room opened in that shopping center and I robbed the pee-pee out of this weekly tournament they had there for like a year.
 
University of Michigan Student Union.

Great rows and rows of old Brunswick Anniversaries. Arched antique wood windows, beamed ceilings.

About a million years ago we smoked pot and played 14.1 and 3-Cushion all day every day in this place.

In attendance was Carl Conlon, maybe the smartest man I ever met. Carl was a 3-Cushion student and teacher of the game. He was a friend of Hemstetter's and when he came back from Japan with Helmstetter's groundbreaking 3 cushion cues, he inspired:

Dennis Dieckman to become a Smithsonian cue maker

Steve Titus to invent the Predator shaft

and me to be a cue pimp.

union.jpg


RIP Carl
 
Hollywood Billiards

2 stories of pool.

This was really a great place to play pool, until the owner decided to turn it into an upscale nite club and failed.

swanee30.jpg
 
Cool rooms in PA

I have been in many rooms in PA, so here are a few of my favorites.
Pittsburgh:The Golden Cue is a nice room, great tourneys, lots of tables. Jimmy Marino is the house pro. You can find moderate action there, but not all the time. Breakers is the hot room right now, lots of tourneys, more action.
Allentown Pa. Buzzys Billiards is probably my favorite room right now, it looks like a hole in the wall but it is nonstop action. The tables are tight and they play every game for $ there. At least four current pros play there as their current room, and some high to moderate $ action takes place on a daily basis.
 
JAM said:
You know, it sure would be nice to see some pictures! :D

Sounds like a dream pool room for sure.

Keith spoke to Ronnie last night and caught up with all the festivities.

Sounds like a pool player's dream down there in your neck of the woods.

Buffalo's needs a website and T-shirts, dag nab it. I could get very comfortable living there. I love those Louisiana colors: purple and gold. :cool:
Click to expand...

Hey Jam,
Keith did not talk to me last night. I was with Ronnie night before last, at the worlds pool hall. Jam you have to ask Ronnie about me. I am going to take some photos just for you. Tell Keith he could have called me too! He, he, he.
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
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kvinbrwr said:
Hollywood Billiards

2 stories of pool.

This was really a great place to play pool, until the owner decided to turn it into an upscale nite club and failed.

swanee30.jpg
Click to expand...
Played in the Swanee when it was moved there. Really liked the place. Shame what they did to it.:frown:
 
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