Report: pool halls thriving in Georgia.

[Ssonerai]

The original Georgia
Wife & I went over 2nd week of Apr to meet old friends who visited here, and make new ones.
Never been there before but hoped to ski if possible, and maybe shoot a few racks.
Unfortunately, although the mountains were covered in snow esp. along the russian border, skiing ended the week before our arrival, and an agenda of typical sightseeing impeded pool options that turned out to be all around us.

First night out, went to the "alpine club" in the middle of a park to see about ski stuff - and discovered a wonderful pool club on the backside of the same building. Hope to post pix later if i can figure out how to get them off wife's phone. She will walk up and talk to anyone and after a 1/2 hr in the club, 8 time national pyramid champ was trying to teach me the stroke.

A few days later, we were trying to find the *only* DIY/coin-op laundromat in entire city of Tbilisi, got off the subway, and stumbled across another couple halls.

Sergio and Erina operate Billiard Club Rio and just made us as welcome as could be -offered beverages of any strength, worked to make us feel at home. Unfortunately we could not stay given other errands and appointments. Thank goodness for google translate. They hoped we would get back on Thursday nite when their daughter who spoke English would be on duty. We hoped so too, but it was not to be. Great, welcoming place and owners. IIUC they have kid(s)? in NJ (USA)

Sight from the subway - couple old ladies headed to the pool hall.


Looking both directions outside.



Inside.

There's a back room for parties.


And a separate toy room for little kids/care while the adults play.


As we walked out of the other side of Rio and turned, we noticed this place across the streel.
We did not go in, for fear the Rio owners who had been so personable to us, might look out a window and think we were being dis-loyal....



AFAICT, it looks like there might be at least 5 major pool halls in Tbilisi, and a fair number of other bars & bowling alleys with pool tables.
Again, regret there was not more time for us to participate. But it is nice to see a thriving scene. FWIW, this was like 2 pm on a Tuesday IIRC. Rates were either 10 or 11 Lari. Not sure why different quoted vs posted - maybe more gracious hospitality, or maybe as in US it depends on day of week and time.
Either way = aprox $4 to $4.50/hr. About 40% Russian pyramid tables in the 2 places we entered. Balance 9 ft US tables, smattering of 7 footers. One 12' snooker table in the first club. Did not see any 3 cushion.

smt

 

[couldnthinkof01]

Amazing. I love pool for this exact reason. It's everywhere and making new friends comes easy. Thanks for sharing your trip and pics.

 

[hang-the-9]

I skipped over much of the post text to look at the pictures, then read that you went to Georgia to ski, thought to myself "that's odd, it's a warm state", then read "Unfortunately, although the mountains were covered in snow esp. along the Russian border, " LOL The US Georgia and the Russian border are quite a way apart realized you were talking about the country. Also, the pictures give it away, I don't know what exactly it is, but people from Slavic countries have this way of standing and moving that looks exactly like the people in the pictures. I'm from Lithuania and the pictures I see of myself next to others born in the US just look a bit different in how I am standing, it looks like your pictures.

 

[Ssonerai]

Here's the first place we found, in the park, behind the "Alpine club"



As mentioned, my wife will walk up and (try) to talk to anyone. No fear.
Once through the upstairs door, i was trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. After we watched several pyramids games (and a couple very good nine-ball players on the front table) my wife went over and asked a guy practicing Pyramids shots alone if he spoke English, or if he could explain Russian pyramids. He got a little flustered and went and found a girl who spoke English.

She was having a lesson and invited us to watch, while she commented and explained. Her shooting certainly looked good to me, and this was with some sporty games going on around us. After a while, she and the teacher conveyed they had to go outside for cigarettes, and the teacher set up a shot i should work on, handed me his personal cue, and left!




When they came back in, the woman corrected my stance and bridge, and they worked on me some more but seemed impressed that i could sink the ball. What i could not get down was the follow through, where the chosen cue ball makes the object ball, then returns off the rail and sinks itself cross corner. Apparently useful for close matches. (No doubt AZ'ers can explain). David seldom missed both pots. The woman made them both a respectable percentage. She explained that her teacher was David Nergadze, 8 time national champion. What absolutely down-to earth gracious, kind people!

I worked up my nerve to ask for a photo, and then we got out of their way.