Last week, we yearned for pingpong. I could not think of one bar where we could play, aside from the mini-table at Sugar Maple. After hours of searching from the comfort of our bar stools and with the convenience of an iPhone, we found two options: the UWM Union and Long Wong’s in Wauwatosa. We were so close we could taste the paddles, but both closed early for the evening — failure.
This week we set out for the pong again and with better luck. After a brief stop into Hollywood Video for their going-out-of-business sale, I left pleased with a copy of William Shatner’s Full Moon Fright Night and Snoop Dogg’s Hood of Horror. We continued on to Hector’s(7118 W. State St.) happy hour, where original margaritas were only $3.50, and they had a limited appetizer list, also $3.50 a pop. The décor was nice with its red and green walls, neon signage, flat screen TVs and scattered art. We ordered an array of apps and made our margarita pitcher disappear like a vampire in the night. There were mostly families around us in the neighborhood setting, so we tried our hardest to behave.
The evening almost took a turn when we called Long Wong’s and found out there was a private party and pingpong was off limits. Our plans morphed to plot: We would charm our way into the private party.
The movable lettering below Long Wong’s sign read “Welcome Elmbrook Hockey.” No problem; we’ll befriend and party with hockey players. We entered into the front room and passed the island bar. There was a dining area in the adjacent room with several tables and chairs and a popcorn machine. The mural on the wall was an enlarged detail of a Samurai sword. The Chinese-American sports bar was fascinating, but we kept our focus, walked down the stairs and entered paradise. Children and their parents were seated in the gathering area of the game room. We were trying to crash a youth hockey awards ceremony. The bartender came over to us, as we sat lurking in the background. She saw our hunger for the pong. We told her about our mission. “They’ll be out of here by 8 p.m.,” she assures us.
We decided to wander through the cemetery across the street as we waited for the little ones to go to bed. There was still a touch of twilight, and we were drawn to towering markers and statues.
After about a half hour of sobering reflection, it was pong time. We grabbed beers at the island bar, where only a few older gentlemen were watching television. We headed to the game room, enamored with our choices: pool, air hockey, two bowling lanes, Skee-Ball, arcade hoops, pinball, that hunting game and pong. Table tennis was free, and pool was 75 cents. The quarter machine was flowing, and we enjoyed a solid two hours of pure joy.
One family lingered behind and helped us out with our jukebox selections, which were seven plays for a quarter. “You can go to the bars as long as you have all your homework finished,” they joked with their air-hockey obsessed kids. We all agreed on The Pretenders and some Stones. Before long, we were the only ones left in the place, so they decided to close up early. I cannot wait to hit the suburbs for some more. That’s right, I dig a suburban bar.
Anyone else know where you can play pingpong in the city? Or would you care to share your favorite place to game?
Mikey’s
811 N. Jefferson St.
Thursday, March 25
Every week, Mikey’s hosts Triple Threat Thursdays with drink specials and live music. This week, Robert Allen Jr. and his blues band will play at 9 p.m. Drink specials start at 8 p.m.
Cactus Club
2496 S. Wentworth Ave.
Saturday, March 27
10 p.m.
JT & The Clouds, The Vega Star, Record Low
Stonefly Brewery
735 E. Center St.
Saturday, March 27
Elle Bandita, The New Loud, The Barettes
Thief Wine Shop and Bar
400 N. Water St.
Tuesday, March 30
This week at the wine shop, check out a Syrah/Shiraz comparison. This blind tasting will test your ability to recognize quality in a wine. Cost of the tasting is $20; seatings are at 5, 6:15 and 7:30 p.m. Reservations are required.
Benno’s Genuine Bar & Grill
7413 W. Greenfield Ave.
Mondays
$1 off all taps, and three sliders for $3.
Rustico Pizzeria
223 N. Water St.
Mondays
From 9 p.m.-close, take advantage of $1 slice night.
Blackbird
3007 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.
Tuesdays
Free tacos from Hector’s, 4-8 p.m., or until supplies last. Also, $4 margaritas and $2 Pacifico and Corona.
Café Lulu
2265 S. Howell Ave.
Wino Wednesdays
Every Wednesday starting at 5 p.m., enjoy $10 off bottles of wine.
Polish Falcon’s Nest 725
801 E. Clarke St.
Wednesdays
Open Bowl on the oldest lanes in town. And it only costs $3.25 a game plus $1 for shoes.
Decibel
1905 North Ave.
Thursdays
Hey ladies! Free drinks until midnight. Everyone else pays $3 for Stoli drinks. No cover.
Hi-Hat Lounge & Garage
1701 N. Arlington Pl.
Thursdays
Ladies Night: DJs Kid Cut Up and Steve Marxx. Two complimentary drinks for the ladies.
Kenadee’s Ultra Pub
718 N. Milwaukee St.
Fridays
Bitch Pleeze Fridays: Ladies drink free mixers every Friday from 10 p.m.-midnight. Kenny Perez provides the music. No cover. No dress code.
Apartment 720
720 N. Milwaukee St.
Saturdays
Enjoy the spins of special guest DJs from LA, Las Vegas, New York City and Chicago. The special of the evening: $100 bottles of Belvedere vodka, of course.
Mo’s Irish Pub
142 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Sundays
Take your Sunday Fun-day to Mo’s for $5 Bloodies and 3-for-$1 wings.
Brocach Irish Pub and Restaurant
1850 N. Water St.
Monday-Friday
From 3:30 to 6 p.m., try happy hour: half off all top-shelf Irish and scotch whiskies. 20 oz. pint of Guinness and shot of Powers for $6.25. $5 wines by the glass.
Bryant’s Cocktail Lounge
1579 S. Ninth St.
Tuesday-Thursday
Old-Fashioned Cocktail Hour
Bryant’s happy hour is from 5-9 p.m. and includes half price Old-Fashioneds and Depression-era cocktails.
