My time at bowling alleys has been limited to kids’ bowling/laser-tag parties. Even then, I’m the parent who makes five minutes of small talk with the poor grownup(s) in charge then sneaks out for a couple of hours of “me time.” Bowling alleys hold no appeal for me primarily because they tend to have terrible food, draft beer (I’m a ‘tini gal), and uncomfortable chairs. And don’t even get me started on the wearing-pre-worn-shoes thing.
In fact, I was totally unaware that Alley Cats actually had a bar until about a week ago. Having been there a couple of times for birthdays, I knew the place had arcade games, laser tag, and a giant climbing wall. But I’d never seen a bar.
“They have a bar,” my informant told me.
“You mean they have a snack counter, and they sell beer,” I said.
“No, Laurie,” he replied patiently. “They have a bar.”
Well, that puts a spin on the ol’ ball, I thought. And, luckily, my kids and I were scheduled to go to a Sunday birthday party there, complete with lightweight balls and gutter bumpers and stuff. I prowled the place when I arrived, purely in the interest of research. Nicest amenity: The lounge and lanes have classy tan leather couches instead of hard plastic cushion-less seats. I guess high-end bowling is catching on. Thank you!
Alley Cats’ food also goes beyond plastic pizza and Styrofoam nachos. Almost everything there is cooked in-house, and the pizza is surprisingly and delightfully tangy. If you give the catering department enough notice, you can get barbecue or relatively fancy Italian food. (Since the place is in Arlington, it’s non-smoking.)
Off to the side of the cavernous building, I found a large room with seven regulation-size pool tables. And there was only one person playing. Just one person! I don’t like bowling so much but pool, now that’s right up my, um, alley.
And then I found the bar. It’s small, but it looks like a regular bar, even down to the two large plasma-screen TVs hanging overhead. There’s enough brand liquor on hand to keep even a drink snob happy, and there’s Shiner Bock on tap. The idea of sneaking off for a mixed drink suddenly took over. I enlisted a couple of parents around me who looked like they could use a stiff one.
“They don’t have a bar here,” one dad said, sounding a little glum.
“Yes, they do,” I said and pointed. “See, look at the neon.” And away we went.
Sadly, there is no Sunday happy hour. A 20-ounce draft will run you $4.75, and well-drinks cost $5. Mixed drinks are fairly pricey, too, with the Patrón ‘rita topping out at a whopping $9. But time spent watching kids bumper-bowl goes so much faster in the company of a cold draft Miller Lite or Shiner or, in my case, a single rum and Coke.
Of course, you can’t get too trashed at a Sunday-afternoon kids’ bowling party. Perhaps that’s why Alley Cats also offers adult-oriented bowling specials at night and happy hour Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. Draft beer and well-drinks are only $3.75, and a bucket of domestic longnecks is a steal at $13. There also are numerous nightly specials during the week, and Wednesday is ladies’ night. Women can bowl all night or until their feet hurt for $10, and men for only $15. (Regular price is $23 plus another $4 for the shoes.) The night comes with unlimited billiards, a $10 game card, and $3.75 well-drink specials from 8 p.m. ’til close.
After 8 p.m. on weeknights is “college night.” Bowling, laser tag, game cards are all half-price for anyone with a valid college ID. Which means the future of America can play laser tag for $3.50 or bowl for about $12.
And then there’s the half-price rock climbing on Tuesdays, when you can scale three stories for $3. Now, no amount of Patrón is going to make me enjoy bowling. But after a couple dirty martinis, I just might feel like climbing the walls. Kind of like I do during alcohol-free kids’ bowling birthday parties. – Laurie Barker James
