LAURA JOHNSON
A&E Assistant
Rollin’ with the homies is cool, but bowling with the homies is better, and Pinz Bowling Center is the perfect place to do it. Renovated a few years ago, the alley brings in a new generation of bowlers with its “Rock ‘n’ Bowl” Friday and Saturday nights.
Located on Ventura Boulevard in downtown Century City, Pinz is a great getaway (that is just 35 minutes away) for anyone looking for something a bit out of the ordinary.
While the Los Angeles scene is known for glitzy venues, if one is under 21 the fast lane to a good time is as rare as a lucky strike. However, Pinz is a prime location for people of all ages to enjoy an evening of clean fun for just $7 a frame and $4 for shoes. Games cost $9 after 7 p.m. on weekends.
Unlike other trendy L.A. bowling alleys where bowlers must wait hours to get their foot on a lane, getting in the game at Pinz usually takes less than 20 or 30 minutes.
One of Pinz most popular promotions is its “Rock ‘n’ Bowl” nights, which feature laser and light shows, strobe lights and even a disco ball. According to Operations Manager John Boyle, during “Rock ‘n’ Bowl” (or “Cosmic Bowling,” as it is sometimes called) the alley dons a club atmosphere, turns the lights down low for glow in the dark bowling and blares music perfect for jamming.
“It’s something to do rather than just the proverbial ‘going out,’ Boyle said. “It’s a great group, couple or even family kind of place, but it’s all set in a club setting.”
Bowlers can get in on the “Rock ‘n’ Bowl” party four days a week: Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. each night.
In an effort to shake up the notion of what a bowling alley can offer, Pinz owners expanded the alley in 2003 to include a whole new range of entertainment possibilities, including a state-of-the-art arcade and video game area as well as a number of large, nine-and-a-half foot movie screens placed throughout the alley. There are also billiards tables and air hockey to occupy waiting guests.
“We wanted to give it a whole new look,” Boyle explained. “We didn’t want our place just to be typical, which is why we have that huge mural running over all the lanes, and why we strive to keep it such a fun place to be.”
Painted along the back wall above the center’s 32 lanes, a colorful mural depicts famous Los Angeles landmarks such as Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and Dodger Stadium.
Attached to Pinz is Jerry’s Famous Deli. Offering a number of foods that are sure to appeal to anyone’s appetite, the menu
selections range from Italian cuisine to soul food, kosher delights to American traditional. Jerry’s proves to be an excellent choice for hungry bowlers, especially large groups of people with eclectic tastes.
Also found tucked upstairs, away from the ruckus of falling pins, is the nightclub “Guys North.” Open three to four times a week, the club is usually only open to those 21 and over. However, there are some special occasions when this age limit is lowered to 18, depending on the theme of the evening.
Along with the upstairs club, Pinz offers many different options for birthday parties and even offers bowling lessons for anyone who wants to learn how to throw a perfect strike.
Opening in 1957, Pinz has operated under a few different names, including Kirkwood Bowl and Sports Center Bowl.
Pinz has a long history and people of all kinds have been known to stop in, including Hollywood A-listers. Celebrity tabloids have documented visits from stars such as Justin Timberlake, Cameron Diaz, Ashton Kutcher, Halle Berry and Brittany Murphy.
The Daily News called Pinz Bowling Center the most “elegant palace of bowling,” and this statement is not far off the mark. Compared to any other bowling alley in the area, Pinz is a classy place where people can go to get their bowling fix. Clean and modern, the center is a far cry from grungy, outdated lanes found elsewhere.
Sticking with the Pinz (instead of Pins) theme, restrooms are marked “Womenz” and “Menz.”
The apparel is another fun treat for trendy bowlers. Gone are the days of simple two-toned blue and red bowling shoes. At Pinz, one can expect to wear orange and neon green or electric pink and bright purple. The balls themselves are also quite obnoxiously colored; yet, when the lights are low it is important to be able to still see the ball.
The dress code for “Rock ‘n’ Bowl night adds to Pinz’s bowling-chic appeal: no sportswear, no visible undergarments and no excessively low pants. Loitering is also not permitted.
“Although this is a club-like atmosphere, we’d like to keep it neat,” Boyle said. “We attract all types of people and we want it to be a fun place for everyone, but we still are a business.”
Pinz is open every day for enthusiastic bowlers, but rates and times vary. Check out the Web site at pinzbowlingcenter.com for more information. For daily rates and lane reservations, call (818) 769-7600.
03-01-2007
