"Pool vacation" in Colorado....

M

mrpool06

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Can someone turn me on to some hot spots in Colorado (Denver area) to shoot pool at? I'm on vacation from Christmas - New Years, & am thinking about hitting the road, shooting lots of pool & having some fun. I live in boring old Montana (miles from nowhere)...so Denver area is the logical choice.

Although I may make a few stops in neighboring states along the way. I've also thought about hitting someone up for instruction....I recall Samm Diep is the house pro at Table Steaks in Aurora, so I might hit her up for a lesson.

I recall playing some pool in downtown Ft Collins a few years back, didn't find much action....just alot of college kids hanging out.

I'm not into gambling (most I play for is a dollar-a-game). I'm thinking that a week of solid pool playing will raise my game.

Any tips or ideas, let me know. Thanks.
 
I was there last year and I think I remember going to a couple of different Table Steaks, Shakespears and Paradise Billiards. If my memory serves me correct they have a couple of billiard champs that work there or own the place or something. The night I stopped by Danny Medina was there playing in a tournament. The night that I went to Paradise Billiards had a weekly tournament that Melissa Little, Megan Meinrich and Mark Haddad all played.
 
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mrpool06 said:
Can someone turn me on to some hot spots in Colorado (Denver area) to shoot pool at? I'm on vacation from Christmas - New Years, & am thinking about hitting the road, shooting lots of pool & having some fun. I live in boring old Montana (miles from nowhere)...so Denver area is the logical choice.

Although I may make a few stops in neighboring states along the way. I've also thought about hitting someone up for instruction....I recall Samm Diep is the house pro at Table Steaks in Aurora, so I might hit her up for a lesson.

I recall playing some pool in downtown Ft Collins a few years back, didn't find much action....just alot of college kids hanging out.

I'm not into gambling (most I play for is a dollar-a-game). I'm thinking that a week of solid pool playing will raise my game.

Any tips or ideas, let me know. Thanks.
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Don't know about Colorado but I noticed you are from Billings and a few years back I was on a motorcycle ride cross country and happened to spend the night in Billings. At the KOA they gave me directions to a pool room there that had pink cloth on the tables. Bullwackers or something like that was the name I think. You ever play there?
 
This link will tell you what's going on around Colorado:

http://www.cuetimes.com/


As far as intruction, I would not waste time w/ Diep. There are too many better players and instructers to spend your money on.

Laura Smith is a very good instructer. Mark Haddad says he'll teach, but whether he is any good at instruction is ?

Pool halls to visit in colorado:
Denver:
Paradise billiards on Sheridan (a players place)
Table Steaks on Sheridan (kinda grungy)
Shakespears (upscale)
Colorado Cue Club (nice room)

Fort Collins:
Match-ups (nothing special, but the only thing up north)

Longmont:
Bit of billiards (only if you're in the area)

Colorado Springs:
Antiques (really worth a visit....huge and a good action room)
Sticks (pool hall/bar....some good players in there occasionally, good monthly rates....play all day, etc....)
 
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There's also Table Steaks South (down off Broadway). I can't compare it to the Sheridan one, never made it in there, but it's not what I'd call 'grungy' :)

You might ask around more regarding Paradise - seems I heard it changed hands not long ago, and the atmosphere changed there as a result. Used to be the toughest weekly tournament was out of there on Thursdays - and apparently the folks collectively moved it elsewhere due to the changes. That said, I don't know if the regular players and associated action was affected.

I don't live there any longer - this is what I was told recently by friends still in the area.

PM Alex Kanapilly, he's generally in the know on such things.
 
ScottW said:
You might ask around more regarding Paradise - seems I heard it changed hands not long ago, and the atmosphere changed there as a result. Used to be the toughest weekly tournament was out of there on Thursdays - and apparently the folks collectively moved it elsewhere due to the changes. That said, I don't know if the regular players and associated action was affected.

.
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The Thursday night tournament that used to be at Paradise has moved to the Colorado Cue Club. Otherwise, I don't think too much has changed over at Paridise.
 
You want to go to either Shakespeare's or Table Steaks South. Both rooms are very nice and spacious. You won't be bothered with people looking for action like you would at Paradise. Table Steaks on Sheridan is very lowclass. I only go there when I'm trying to make a quick buck or two. There are some very good weekly tournaments that you should definitely check out. Table Steaks on broadway has a one-pocket tournament on the first sunday of every month. Every other sunday it's a 9-ball tournament. I think they might still have the big table 8-ball tournament on wednesday's too but I'm not sure. The Cue Club has the thursday night 9-ball tournament.

PM me when you're in town and we'll get together and play some.
 
Last time I was in Denver, I visited all of the places mentioned above, and my favorite was Table Steaks on Sheridan. It may not have been the cleanest or highest class, but there were some good players, some great 1-hole action, and most of the tables played great. That was a couple years ago though, and IIRC it was the same week the newer Table Steaks opened.
 
Colorado Cue Club is a very nice room with very nice tables. Some action and you can get some lessons from one of the guys there. The most knowledable instructor I have met. PM me if you want to play some while you are here!!
 
Regarding Table Steaks on Sheridan: due to the influx of gangs in the area and rise in gang related crime, the place is a powder keg at night. There has been 2 shootings outside in the parking lot, one of which was a Mexican mafia gang member shooting at a regular he didn't even know just to show he would kill anybody who dis'd him. They have to employ several security on weekend nights plus a uniformed cop. At night it is more of a kids hang anyway. It is fairly safe and a really cheap place to play during the day for $3.00 all day except weekends. Tables are generally okay, not great. GC IIIs. A lot of old timers and a few regulars are there every day playing golf, one pocket, or 9 ball. It has one attraction you might want to check out during the day just for the experience. The "Citizen Maker". A Valley bar table with Grenedas felt. The fastest bar table I have seen in my 35+ years of playing. The owner can't play squat on a 9 footer, but do NOT let him get you on the 'Citizen Maker". He has busted pros on it because he has the speed down pat and they have a hard time making the adjustment. He calls it the Citizen Maker because roadies have lost all their road money on it and had to stay in Denver ending up as Denver citizens.

Table Steaks down South in Englewood or the one in Aurora are much safer anytime. Paradise Billiards did change hands and upgraded the bar area nicely and was doing a fairly decent business. The women pro's held tourneys there as well as Hunter Classic, so it is a pretty safe place to play day or night. A lot of the older experienced shooters that play for money play at Paradise and avoid Table Steaks like the plague. Shakespeares is worth checking out downtown. My vote goes to Paradise expecially because it is smaller, friendly atmosphere, low key without the loud music, and they maintain the tables. The problem is that if you gamble on one pocket there, you are likely to run into someone that can shoot lights out. They are the shooters that left Table Steaks for serious pool.
 
Denver Action!!! from The Nurse

:D I am in action EVERY day!!! But, it aint easy. The locals at TS West on Sheridan very seldom play players they don't know. The majority are Mexican, and require to be spotted the world. I get $50 and $100 a game one pocket action every day, all I do is give 10-6 to guys that play my speed. The thing is, most of them can't believe the weight they are getting, and still dog it. Scarey but fun, and for a degenerate gambler like myself, it's perfect. My game has improved a ball and a half in the past 6 months since moving here because of it. Some times I win, some I lose. But I get played, and I get respect. If you want the nuts, stay home and play guitar hero on playstation.

TS South is very nice. You can get some action on Sundays and Wed nights when there are tourneys. The same players make the circuit to tourneys daily, and they are not chumps, there are MANY run-out players. I don't even play in the damn things. Better to get in action with the one's getting knocked out first.

Colorado Cue Club has very nice equip, but from my experience, is only packed with 98% of people under 21. There is a Tourney on Thur, but it is the same tournament group, so what good is that? The same people win EVERY tourney, EVERY week. It is rediculous.

If you want to play where you will be treated like a king, with great food, clean balls, level tables, safe, then go to TS South. If you don't mind playing on old-ass, worn-out, dirty-as-hell equipment, in a poolhall that smells and feels like what a poolhall should, head to TS West. Bring cash, a sneaky pete, a deck of cards, an attitude (but not too much), and some heart. You'll get in action.

The Nurse.
 
Surprised no one mentioned Jason's Billiards. I used to play there about 7 years ago. The owner was a pro player.
 
okinawa77 said:
Surprised no one mentioned Jason's Billiards. I used to play there about 7 years ago. The owner was a pro player.
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I go to Jason's a lot. New owner these days. His name is Kevin. He's a really nice guy and a pretty strong player too. VERY young crowd (15-24). I usually don't mention Jason's because a lot of the old elitists wouldn't like it there. There's not too much action and everyone plays 9-ball.
 
Drew said:
I go to Jason's a lot. New owner these days. His name is Kevin. He's a really nice guy and a pretty strong player too. VERY young crowd (15-24). I usually don't mention Jason's because a lot of the old elitists wouldn't like it there. There's not too much action and everyone plays 9-ball.
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Thanks for the update. Sorry to hear Jason left. I wonder if that Kevin is the same guy that used to lose money to Jason playing 9 ball. I wonder what Jason is up to these days.
 
You should contact Dr. Dave at Colorado State
His web site address is:

http://billiards.colostate.edu/

You can find his contact info on his web site.
Tell him I referred you and if he doesn't want to play you he can probably tell you where to find some good competition.

Good Luck.
 
PoolSharkAllen said:
Try contacting Tom Ross for lessons. He's at the Sky Lark Lounge.

"Rack 'em" is a popular pool hall to play at in Aurora. Their hourly rates are very reasonable. They also offer free pool on Wednesday evenings. They have Diamond 9' tables in fairly good condition.
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If you want instruction, Tom is a good guy to try out. The Sky Lark Lounge is a great little pool room too with two old Brunswicks, I forget the type of table... Centennials?

I play at Rackem mostly nowdays. It's in Aurora, has decent Diamond 9' tables and there are usually some good players around.

Table Steaks South is a nice room too and you can get some action there.

I can't recommend Table Steaks on Sheridan anymore, it's just gone way down hill IMO. I haven't been to Paradise since the last change of ownership a few months ago but I heard it's pretty tough to play at with the loud music and all. most of the people from the weekly Thursday night tourney have moved over to Colorado Cue Club, which is a nice room up north. It's kind of sad because that turnament was an institution over at Paradise. It was easily the toughest regular tournament in town.

No one has mentioned the many, many weekly bar table tournaments around town. Check out www.cuetimes.com for info on them, or as Scott suggested, PM me.
 
Cue Times isn't nearly as good a resource for weekly tournament info anymore. The folks behind it quit running tournament listings for non-advertisers some months back. So there's a number of weekly events that aren't listed there.
 
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