Mr. Cue product reviews

I really enjoy playing pool. I'm not very good at it, mind you, but I still enjoy playing a casual game or three while drinking a B&C or a beer. However, due to a recent change in management, my usual haunt is no longer some place I want to go. So, I needed to find myself a new haunt... and this place has started up right behind my old fave... what a wonderful coincidence.

So, I wander up to the door only to find the owners still setting things up, wiring them in, testing etc. However, after a quick chat with one of the owners, I was invited in to help play-test the tables. I was matched against one of the staff members and we had a great time. Used to the smaller pub-tables, it took me the first game to re-do all the angles in my head, but the following 2 games showed me that I actually play better on the bigger, official tables.

Afterwards, I noticed the Korean Billiards table... same width, but 3/4 the length of the pool tables, and WITHOUT POCKETS! This really stunned me, so I was given a brief introduction to Korean Billiards. There are only 4 balls, larger than normal (about the size of grapefruit)... 2 reds, 2 whites, one with a black spot. The rules were simple, but play was rather tough... I am looking forward to going back to get better acquainted with this game.

Overall, despite the place still being assembled and set up, I suspect it will be packed solid most of it's opening time. There is a definite shortage of good quality poolhalls in town, and as far as I know this is the only one with official-sized tables. They also explained to me their policy for maintenance: the balls are put through the cleaner and polisher regularly, the tables are groomed often to prevent lintbunnies, rips, wear spots etc... all in all a great plan. I certainly expect to see great things happen at this new venue, and I'll be there to see them.

The only downside is the location, tucked away in an alley behind a currently-empty shop, you would have trouble spotting it from the road. Parking is non-existant during the day (as the pay-&-display parking is often full to the limit) and almost as bad at night, due to the movie-goers at the nearby cinemaplex. So if you want to make sure you can get in, walk.