Pool Cue News and Review

Ok, sure I bitch about pool halls being seedy dives, but when I come across a place that bucks the trend, I’m always happy to point it out.  It seems that there’s a new player in Jacksonville Florida that’s getting some pretty rave reviews.  Perfect Rack Billiards opened a couple of months ago with 11 Olhausen tables and apparently they’ve got some deep fried pretzel bite things that are just the cat’s pajamas.

Since I don’t live in the area and won’t be traveling to J’ville anytime soon, I’m relying on you guys to give me the real skinny on this place.  They got a sick writeup from The Florida-Times Union and some other bloggers have had similar comments so if you’re in the area, its probably worth stopping by.  Plus, if they spent the coin to drop 11 Olhausen’s plus a bunch of flat-screens, the place has gotta be pretty swish.

Anyway, check it out and let me know what you think.  I’ve included all the details below.

Perfect Rack Billiards
Who: 21 and up after 9 p.m., unless accompanied by a parent.
Where: 1186 Edgewood Ave. S.
When: 11:30 a.m. to midnight Monday-Saturday; noon to midnight Sunday.
Cost: $4 per person, per hour; $10/hour for 3 players; $12/hour for 4 players.
Info: (904) 738-7645.

I don’t know if any of you have been following this case, but in December of last year, Michael Mumma, the owner of Bada Bing Billiards and Cigars in Hanover, PA agreed to a plea in his sex assault case. Basically, Mumma got in trouble for paying two 15 year old girls $60 in booze to put on a lesbian sex show and give them a grope. Mumma is now seeking to rescind his plea because he can’t get a job, use his computer or see his grandkids.

For those not aware, State Senator Jeffrey Piccola is pushing to make pool halls open to people of all ages in the Keystone State. Is this really the environment you want to put kids into Mr. Piccola? I dig pool, but let’s face it… most pool halls are places I wouldn’t want to go to let alone have teenagers hang out at. There’s a reason why pool halls are off limits to kids under the age of 18 (or 21 depending on your state). He claims that “Pool halls and billiard parlors are now looked at as family enterprises”. I’m guessing that the parents of these two teenage girls just might disagree with you.

I thought it was a joke from The Onion until I realized that it was real. Apparently Jeffrey Piccola thinks its a good idea to have kids hanging out at pool halls in Pennsylvania. Honestly, this may be the worst idea since Greedo shooting first. Don’t get me wrong, I love pool. I’m just smart enough to know that pool halls aren’t a place for kids.

I still remember my first experience at a pool hall… I went with my girlfriend, my sister and her scumbag boyfriend. Within an hour my sister was being accosted and I was in a fight while her boyfriend was scoring some weed. Yeah, this is a great idea Jeff.

The best part about his statement though was this quote: “Times have changed. Pool halls and billiard parlors are now looked at as family enterprises”. Hmm… Disneyland or Bruno’s Pool Hall? Busch Gardens or Break Shot Billiards? Boy, that is a tough one…

Someday maybe there will be family friendly pool halls, but that day isn’t today. Maybe once the industry gets a bit of a hosedown, they’ll figure out how to do pool halls the same way the bowling industry has changed bowling alleys. Take a look at 300 Dallas and you’ll see what I mean. Pool halls don’t have to be sleazy… they just are.