Skinner's (West 7th, St. Paul

Stop #10, Skinner's Bar. This is your typical local bar/restaurant. We went through the main room to the side  dining room where "Ripley's Believe It Or Not" was located. It was turned off, so we asked  the waiter to turn it on for us. He started it up, and it couldn't find a ball, so it just kept cycling and cycling until the waiter grabbed the machine and vigorously shook it until it started working. I started trying to put money in the machine, but it kept falling back out. Finally one of the kids at the table next to the machine instructed me on how to do it, and we started our game.

It seemed a little uncomfortable how close the family in the booth next to us was while we played. We soon learned that the famil was the cook's ladyfriend and their kids (approx 12 and 8 years old.) The wings on their table looked good, and the pizza smelled good. I really wanted to just reach down and grab one. I was certainly close enough to.

The waitress was chatting with them about a rash on her arm, until she was called in back. She returned to deliver the bad news that owner was not willing to pay for the family's meal. At that point the cook went back to work.

The game was pretty fun, as well as easy. We both passed the replay and got our extra game. Occasionally the ball would get stuck, but we were always able to shake it free without tilting.

After we finished our free replay games, wouldn't you know it, I hit the match for another free game. I looked over at the table, which only had the kids sitting at it, and said to the oldest, "Wanna play?"

To which he replied forcefully, "We don't play."

No sooner had he said that did his little brother jump over him and in front of me to start playing the free game. Its nice to see that kind of want in a young kid for pinball. We started walking out and his mom ran past us yelling "Get off that game!"

I assured her that we had a free one and we let them have it.

Replay: 4 mil (bumps to 8 mil)
BT's High Score: 5.9 mil
My High Score: 5.8 mil