Midway Pro Bowl (Midway, St. Paul)

Pirates Of The Caribean is quickly becoming a favorite. There are a lot of fun things to do in the game, which makes someone like myself feel much better about my skillz. This bowling alley can be a bit sketchy depending on when you go there, but the arcade is well lit. This is good, because you don't have to worry about someone jumpng out and knifing you, but bad because the large flourescent light above the game made it really hard to see. 1 game is $.75. 3 games is $2.00. I was glad to have played three, because I dominated my second game getting both an extra ball and hitting the match number. Also it appears that this game has no tilt. I gave it some love and moved it a good 4 inches with nothing happening except for a well timed ball save.

My Best Score: 10.8mil
Replay: 84mil

Machine Removed:The Knight Cap (NE MPLS)

--------Update: 12-17-2012 Machine has been replaced by Golden Tee-------

After leaving the Spring Street I ventured over to The Knight Cap another classic NE bar. They have recently gotten "Avatar." Its tucked away in the back corner next to the darts, and you can't see it from the front door. I was a little worried when I saw it wasn't on, but I noticed they had that whole area of the bar off. The bartender was happy to turn it on for me. Its only $.50 a game and the replay is pretty low. Its pretty tricky to lock balls on it, but I found it to be a really fun basic game to play. I've been to the Knight Cap a few times, and its real good bar to go to and not be bothered. "Avatar" makes it even better now.

My best score: 3.0 mil
Replay: 9.0 mil

Spring Street Tavern (NE MPLS)

I called up the Spring Street Tavern to see if they had a pinball machine and the lady who answered very enthusiastically told me that in fact they did. They had "Rolling Stones," and I should come down and play it. I stopped in after work and found it just as you walk in the door next to the pull tabs. It has a very high replay on it and its a pricey machine. $1 for 1 play, $3 for 5, and $5 for 7. Although a fairly standard game, I found it to be pretty difficult with its Tongue swinging back and forth to block your ball and it slips very easily down the sides. Guess I should put more hip into it. Lastly, the beer sign next to the game casts a bit of a glare.
The Spring Street is nothing special and for what the game costs, I'd probably go The Knight Cap instead.

My Best Score: 800K
Replay: 30 mil

TheTriple Rock (Cedar/Riverside MPLS)

"Matahari." At the Triple Rock Social Club in the Cedar/Riverside area of Minneapolis, this may be my favorite find so far in the Twin Cities. It's super old-school and only $.25 a play. This is however is just part of this black widow's plan to draw you in and devour every cent on you. An old game with no frills. It looks so easy, however it will leave you wishing for the "match," game after game, until you find yourself begging for mercy. Get there quick. The manager says they may be removing it soon. A tragedy this would be.

My Best Score: 325K
Replay: 900k

S.S. Billiards (Hopkins)

Known as one of the best places around for pinball I made it to S.S. Billiards on my birthday. It could best be described as a destination place. Located in a mini-mall, it smells weird, is really dirty, and has a man and his dog working it to give you change. He loves pinball though and hosts competitions on a regular business. When I was there, they had 12 machines running, and were working on a few others. Only one or two of them played at $.50 a game, most were $.75, and a few a dollar. Everything played top notch however. I did not. Machines in operation included: Big Bang, Taxi, Addams Family, Corvette, Creature From The Black Lagoon, Attack From Mars, Police Force, Family Guy, Pirates Of The Caribbean, Spiderman, Wheel Of Fortune, and Twilight Zone.

Elsies Bowling Alley (NE MPLS)

I stopped here at Elsies today very quickly. I only had $0.50 on me and the street parking only had 15 minutes before it became a tow zone. They have two machines. The first was "Lord Of The Rings" however it was out of order. The second was "Elvis." It plays at $.50 a game or 5/$2.00. The machine played fine, but the lighting in the bowling alley made it really hard to play. They had the lights all on in the alley. I think because there was a field trip. Either that or kids are really into bowling these days. My guess is the lighting wouldn't have been an issue at night. I plan on coming back here in a few weeks for a friend's daughter's birthday. Hopefully the LOTR will be up and running. If not I need a rematch.

Update: I have since played this two more times. The first I dominated, hitting the replay, getting an extra ball,  and getting the match. The second is the more important. Don't even try to play this machine after they drop the lights for late night bowling. You can see anything.

My Best Score: 20 Million
Replay: 10 Million

Memory Lanes Bowling Alley (S. MPLS)

They have "Railroad Tycoon," but it was unplugged and out of order. I've never tried that one so I was a little disappointed. Next to it though was "Lord Of The Rings." I've always kind of liked that one. Just as at the Kitty Kat Club I was alone and waiting for a friends band to go on. It played at $.50 per game or 5/$2.00. I started playing and noticed a very low replay score. I soon found out it was because the left flipper sticks on it. The only way to get it to come back down is to hit the right one. That trick does work every time, but is hardly something you want to be thinking about. However I kept at it and nearly moved that replay number. This was quite a feat for me.

In the beginning... Kitty Cat Klub (Dinkytown MPLS)

I've never been good at pinball, but I haven't let that get in my way when it comes to enjoying it. Recently I played my favorite machine, Addams Family, at the Kitty Cat Klub in Dinkytown while waiting for my friends band to go on. As usual I did slightly above poorly. My quarters ran out and I felt weird about asking the bartender for more. It was then that it occurred to me that it would be great to know where more machines were. Not only this, but I bet others would like to know as well. After all there aren't that many left. So here is my go at it. I plan on writing something up for each one I find, and included will be a Google map of the area where you an go to find all of the locations. Feel free to add anything to it or let me know of any that I can check out. Tilts to you, Justin