Had a nice time meeting Andy Gould, a transplant from Boston about 10 years ago. He manages a bar & club in the Logan Square area. He was rusty at the game but got better as the night progressed. Loves the game, though doesn't excel at it, but grew up with it and loves it, and glad to be there. We''re planning on trying to bowl there together on Thursday nights depending if we can make it and if the lanes are available.
"Andy has several friends and co-workers and a sister from the Boston area as well here in Chicago. So he was very pumped to come out, meet Phil and myself and CP bowl again for the first time in about 10 years. He's already ordered a set of candlepin balls for himself, since he didn't have his old ones anymore. He's also ordered another used set of Candlepins! So maybe in a week or so we'll have 2 sets of pins.
So it looks like this Midwest thing may have some staying power!
Wow!! This is pretty exciting! Their next step would be to get some Z pin setters out there. Though considering they haven't set up t*n-pin pin setters, I doubt they'll be doing that any time soon.
I'm still waiting to hear back from my contact on used pins and hopefully some used house balls. So still not available for walk-ins (place normally takes reservations online but walk-ins can fit in for Ten Pin right now.) Can still contact Southport Lanes in Chicago if you have your own houseballs and see if they'll let you. Or you can contact me via the board or in my YouTube Inbox for now, and you can join me there for Candlepins!
Had a wonderful night with I believe it was 7 different people from 3 famiies trying at least 1 box last night, and with two famiies, 3 members bowled a whole string with me last night! They came up and asked me, after they were done eating their dinner. They were asking me about Candlepins before dinner, and were cheering me on perodically through the night. Oh yeah, one father, Art, bowled a string, and said he knows some guys who he's sure would love to join a league of candlepins!
I've got at least 18 email addresses related to at least 36 people who are interested in coming out (or in this case, back out) for a night/afternoon of Candlepin Bowling! Only 4 lanes, so we'll have multiple outings and see what develops!
I'll keep you posted about the future events and if/when we get Candlepins open to the public. Manager, pinboys and I know how to do it, staff has watched me, but may not be able to instruct total newcomers, at least not now. (Like 10 pin, they assume you know how to bowl, they just advice you on the protocols of bowling with the Pinboys.)
Here is a link to a vido of young Zachary's first frame/box ever at Candlepins, and then my own game, such that it is. From Southport Lanes in Chicago with plastic pins and PinBoys!
Author
Candlepins in Chicago: Progress Report
