Downtown Chicago Pool Halls

M

Mark Snodgrass

New member
Question for all of you Chicago straight pool players: What downtown Chicago pool hall would you recommend for some serious practice?

Background
In April of 08? I registered for a full week of required continuing professional education (to be held the week of Monday, August 18 through Friday, August 22, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois). As you know the 2008 World Straight Pool Championship starts the following Monday. As luck would have it I was fortunate enough to qualify for the world championships in Parsippany, NJ a couple of weekends ago. (Last year I played in the Chicago qualifier and met several people so I bet I was fortunate enough to meet some of you who may be kind enough to respond to this string.)

Anyway, to make a long story short, instead of being home to practice the week before the world championships, I will be staying at the Renaissance Hotel 1 West Wacker Drive, Chicago IL the entire week. I would like to find a good room to practice in each evening after class. By good, I mean good equipment and a good atmosphere (i.e. clean, with more of a pool hall than a bar feel). A location within a short cab ride (i.e.within 3 or so miles from the hotel) is also an important consideration.

Any suggestions from those of you in the know would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Mark
 
Mark Snodgrass said:
Question for all of you Chicago straight pool players: What downtown Chicago pool hall would you recommend for some serious practice?

Background
In April of 08? I registered for a full week of required continuing professional education (to be held the week of Monday, August 18 through Friday, August 22, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois). As you know the 2008 World Straight Pool Championship starts the following Monday. As luck would have it I was fortunate enough to qualify for the world championships in Parsippany, NJ a couple of weekends ago. (Last year I played in the Chicago qualifier and met several people so I bet I was fortunate enough to meet some of you who may be kind enough to respond to this string.)

Anyway, to make a long story short, instead of being home to practice the week before the world championships, I will be staying at the Renaissance Hotel 1 West Wacker Drive, Chicago IL the entire week. I would like to find a good room to practice in each evening after class. By good, I mean good equipment and a good atmosphere (i.e. clean, with more of a pool hall than a bar feel). A location within a short cab ride (i.e.within 3 or so miles from the hotel) is also an important consideration.

Any suggestions from those of you in the know would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Mark
Click to expand...

Mark: I can give you the name of a few places downtown, but I have only played in them during the lunch hour and don't know how busy or noisy they are at night.

The first is City Pool Hall located at 640 W. Hubbard St. - Chicago, Illinois 60610 Phone: (312)491-9690 Fax: (312)491-9838.I was only there once for a lesson with Scott Lee. I know it is close to you. Hopefully, others will chime in with more info.

The second near downtown is GCue. It is located at
157 North Morgan, Chicago Illinois, 60607 - Phone: 312-850-3170. It used to be owned by Tom Karabotsos and I know you know who that is. Again, I've been there mostly noon until 5 when I would play hooky once in a while. So I don't know what it is like in the evening. I think Tom's sister may still run it with her husband. You could give them a call.

Chris's Billiards up North on Milwaukee Avenue is too far for you. The tables in the south suburbs are too far also.

I work downtown so if you get free for lunch one day, I could meet you at G-Cue and shoot a little.

I saw you at the qualifier last year in Elgin and I was surprised to see you on a live feed out of the Phoenix qualifier a while back. Where did you qualify?
A guy you may have played against in the Elgin qualifier last year, Bob Cozzolino, just won a qualifier in Pennsylvania last week.

Hope you find a good spot.
 
Yeah if it's after 6pm I wouldn't recommend City Pool Hall for serious practice. They have leagues on most weekday evenings. G-Cue will probably work out better. Diamond tables, decent food. Both the only two places really near where your staying. G-Cue is not cheap, but that's what keeps the tables open that close to the center of the city.

Enjoy your trip!
 
Here's a whacky thought...

Chris' will definitely be less expensive than G-Cue and it has probably the best "pool hall-y" atmosphere out of the places that you'll want to go. You could always reserve yourself an iGo car (by the hour), and drive yourself up to Chris' instead of taking a cab.

I haven't worked out the actual math, but depending how long you're planning on playing, it might work out to about the same cost. Either way, it's another option for you.

Hope it works out for you.
 
How did you do that, Dennis? :eek:...You had just answered the question about Chris's Billiards, that I had asked in reply in the other thread :) lol

Willie
 
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