Darting Around

The Pub

Darts America — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 17:11:13 GMT

19304 Detroit Road, Rocky River, Ohio 44116 440.356.6933

Oh frabjous day, callou, callay - a new pub that opened with two steel tip dart boards - the best set up for playing darts that I have yet seen, too bad it's in Ohio and not near me in California; even beats Cat & Fiddle .



                                                                       The Pub

Serves a full menu, extensive selection of domestic and imported beers including my personal favorite Lambic Apple. Several TVs; quick, friendly service.



The doors to the right of the dart boards can be opened during good weather making the entire space a covered patio. No, the wall doesn't lean, apparently I do.

Lear Road Inn

Darts America — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 17:12:58 GMT

164 Lear Rd, Avon Lake, Ohio 44012, 440.933.2895

                                                                       Lear Inn

We happened upon this place last year and liked it so much that we decided to try and find it again even though it had soft tip darts. Imagine our surprise to enter and find that the unthinkable had happened: the soft tip dart machine had been replaced by a steel tip board. Not only had it been replaced, it had been replaced with an eye to where the board should be and how it should be lit.

A very pleasant hour was spent playing darts, having a couple of beers and eating a basket of fried shrimp.  The Lear Inn has a nice selection of beer (including locally brewed Great Lakes) and a menu of good, fast, very reasonably priced food.  If you're in the area, drop by and support one of the few establishments actually bringing in steel tip and doing a good job of it.

Have I gone soft??

Darts America — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 19:23:13 GMT

Not on your life, but these three bars in western Pennsylvania were so hospitable that I can't not pass their names along.

Flaminio's, Soupy's and McDowell's Inn

Soft tips but good folks and fun nonetheless.

Southern California Darts Association

Darts America — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 13:09:20 GMT

At the invitation of Southern California Darts Association (SCDA) Vice-President Harvey Fischer, I spent an hour or so Friday night taking in the League Championship competition amongst the league teams at the Moose Lodge in Reseda. Let me tell you, I would be embarrassed to play a round with these gentlemen who can pick off the numbers in a game of Cricket before I can write my name on the scoreboard. As Harvey and I discussed that is one of the reasons that steel tip darts are on the wane in this area and around the country: beginners don't like getting whupped every time they play and soon drop out of the leagues. The folks at SCDA are a friendly group though and are trying to get around that in a number of ways such as having mixed doubles on Wednesdays that aren't quite so competitive and trying to get enough newbies on board to have a C League for newcomers. Even with the highly competitive play of many of the League's players, ample opportunity exists for even the greenest of players to play, have fun and increase skills.

Still, the fight to increase steel tip darts play is uphill all the way. Self scoring soft tip boards, video games and the lessening enthusiasm of corporate sponsors all play a part in the decline of steel tip play. The key to the future of steel tip, as with all of the more traditional pub games, is getting the younger players and more women involved. We're going to do some brainstorming along those lines, along with looking at opportunities for more tournament play and sponsorship. Feel free to drop me a line or post a comment if you have suggestions and, as always, clue me into good places to play.

Maggie's Bar and Grill

Darts America — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 18:41:03 GMT

715 Military Road, Buffalo, New York 14216, 716.877.9258

A couple of the patrons got a little boisterous the night we were there but the woman behind the bar knew just how to keep them in line. Very good clam chowder, not much beer selection, nothing on tap but a great dart board: well lit, no obstructions. A second board was hidden behind one of the soft tip machines, hope that means every once in a while they move the machine and have two steet tips going. A dining section up front appears to be for sit down upscale meals. A pleasant find on a cold night.

Prince o' Whales

Darts America — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 20:36:17 GMT

335 Culver Boulevard,  Playa del Rey, CA 90293   310.823.9826 Open at 11 a.m. week days and 9 a.m. on weekends.



                               A delightful surprise on a Saturday morning.

Take your own darts - the house darts are dull - and be prepared to stand a little off kilter because a stage partially obstructs the foul line but other than that a perfect place for steel tips. Reminiscent of true British pubs in the way it's broken up into three rooms with cool, sunny open air seating dividing the two bars. A good size menu although not a stunning array of beers. The salsa - made fresh daily in-house - is among the best I've ever had; the chips, also made in-house, don't quite do the salsa justice. The bartender was friendly without being in your face; could have stayed there all day.

Union Jacks

Darts America — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 16:28:30 GMT

124 Northshore Drive, Knoxville, Tennessee   37919   865.584.5161

With its dark interior and small rooms, Union Jacks in Knoxville, Tennesse has an authentic British feel although the clientele is mostly college kids from the nearby University of Tennessee.



There are rumors of food but in only two visits, I've seen nary a dish nor a menu. A very healthy, diverse supply of beer is on hand both in the cooler and on tap including a somewhat scrumpylike cider. Three dart boards with reasonably good lighting hang on the back wall in the room to the right off the main bar but the mens room is directly behind the foul line so interruptions are fairly frequent. Gets pretty busy after eight when college is in session.



                   Triple dart boards                                                                          Rear entrance, leads directly to darts

The White Harte

Darts America — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 18:57:13 GMT

22456 Ventura Boulevard, Woodland Hills, CA 91364, 818.224.3822

On the left hand side coming from Los Angeles, Cafe Bellisimo is the first store passed it. Wrought iron front eating court is your key (and, of course, the red British phone box) but it's easy to miss. Open 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.



                                                                    The White Harte

Sister to The Fox and Hounds in Sherman Oaks, The White Harte has more of a bar feel.   Pleasant and friendly bar staff.  Diverse menu served all day; take-out menu, too. Good selection of draught beers plus two ciders.  Bar full of friendly locals even at three on a Tuesday afternoon. Three plasma screens tuned to football (yeah, yeah, soccer) over the bar and a larger plasma in the back room. Good, welcoming atmosphere.

Two dart boards: one to the left as you come in the door, a second with better lighting in the rock walled room on the left beyond the bar.

Daly's

Darts America — Sat, 05 May 2007 20:57:39 GMT

104 Columbus Ave, Sandusky, Ohio 419.625.0748   I liked it so much when the temperature was 25 degrees and there was no food available that I went back again when it got warmer...



                                    and I wasn't disappointed;
                            obviously, this is a 25 degrees picture.

Large with a long two sided bar and lots of beer choices but since you're in Ohio try the local Great Lakes brands; several are available all year long but they also have seasonal choices. Food was available the second time around and it was a decided cut above most bar food: mussels swimming in butter and garlic, after finishing up the mussels I couldn't resist sopping up the liquid with loaf bread provided by the friendly server. Gorged on potato skins that were soft and fresh, not microwaved. Spent almost two hours in the large, separate billiards/darts room, playing steel tip, eating peanuts from the hull and refilling the beer glass. Still a sparse Sunday afternoon crowd the last week in April but the calendar shows lots of weekend activities even when it's cold and especially after the summer season starts in May.

From The London Telegraph September 3, 2006

Darts America — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 20:08:39 GMT

Gastro-pubs throw darts into decline

By Nigel Bunyan

The traditional English pub game of darts is seemingly under threat of extinction as boards are taken down to make way for abstract block prints and the ubiquitous leather sofas beloved of gastro-pub owners. Researchers predict that within a generation the game, reputedly to have been a favourite of Henry VIII, will be no more.

A survey of 1,000 regular pub-goers found that only 10 per cent of them had played darts in the last year - compared with 41 per cent five years ago. Not only that, but four out of 10 men in their twenties had never thrown a dart in their lives - and a similar number had no idea what a bullseye is worth.

As pubs up and down the country are gentrified, the percentage with a dart board has declined to 53 per cent. Blue Square, the online bookmaker which commissioned the study, has now helped launch a Save Our Darts campaign with the aim of installing a further 10,000 darts boards in pubs by 2017. The decline it is seeking to halt has been blamed on the rise of the gastro-pub. "Today, the area once reserved for the oche is filled with dining tables and comfortable sofas," said a Blue Square spokesman.

Phil "The Power" Taylor, the 13 times darts world champion, is among those appalled by the threat to his beloved sport. He said: "Unless we get behind the campaign to Save Our Darts and encourage more landlords to install a dart board, the game really could be consigned to the history books."

The survey showed modern drinkers prefer pubs with adventurous food (33 per cent), extensive beer and wine lists (27 per cent), comfortable sofas (15 per cent) and good music (14 per cent). Those salivating at the prospect of a good game of arrows was a tiny one per cent.

The gastro-pub is not totally to blame. While in days gone by teenage boys would include a dart board on their birthday wish lists, today they are more likely to be seduced by the excitement of computer games.

The game of darts is believed to have its origins in medieval times when archery tutors shortened arrows and had their students throw them at the bottoms of empty wine barrels. Soldiers later took some of the shortened arrows to ale houses to show off their skills. The game spread so successfully through the social classes that Henry VIII was reputed to play, and Anne Boleyn presented him with an ornate set of darts.

Little Bar Lounge

Darts America — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 20:53:53 GMT

757 S La Brea Avenue, Miracle Mile Los Angeles, CA 90036, 323.937.9210    South of Wilshire, on the right, next to the Cash n' Run at the corner of La Brea and Eighth



                                                           Little Bar Lounge

Hours: Monday - Friday 5:30 p.m. - 1 or 2 a.m.
               Saturday 6 p.m. - 2 a.m.
               Sunday    2 p.m. - 2 a.m.

Cricket Tournament on Sunday nights at 8 p.m.

Thanks to Paul for the tip; I never would have known about Little Bar Lounge otherwise.

Quiet at six on a Monday, the place is jumping and hip on weekends. A good selection of draught beer including Anchor Steam from San Francisco, pear cider, too; several bottled beers and Soju (Korean liquor made from rice, barley and grain) cocktails. No food served but they don't mind if you order in, they'll even supply the menus.

Conversation area up front, wooden booths to the left, comfortable bar to the right. Two well lit, unobstructed steel tip boards all the way to the back (not that far) on the right.

Darts Tournament

Darts America — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 11:04:53 GMT

Been away for awhile - pity life sometimes interferes with darts - now looking for a little feedback. Thoughts on a southern or central California darts league with tournaments three times a month and prize money: Can it work? Would it stimulate steel tip play? What kind of format - 501? Play once a month in Ventura, once a month in Orange County, once a month in LA? Men and women? Look forward to hearing from one and all.

The Ship Inn, Raglan

Darts America — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 21:20:01 GMT

The Ship Inn, High Street, Raglan, South Wales Recently returned from the motherland of pubs and darts where we found this gem not far from Raglan Castle, definitely worth a visit if you are ever in South Wales.



                                     The Ship Inn just up the street from
                                               The Crown Inn

While a good number of the pubs in the United Kingdom's cities are losing their dart boards and taking on franchise elements, many establishments with a more authentic feel still occupy the streets of towns throughout the UK countryside. The Ship Inn has a large wood burning fireplace and a well placed dart board to the left of the entrance. Enjoy tasty food as well as a wide variety of beer on tap - including several local brews - and cider. If you are dining mid-afternoon as we were you can also delight to locals at the bar speaking the beautiful but totally indeciperable to an outsider language of Welsh.

Scarlet Lady

Darts America — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 16:24:53 GMT

5411 Sepulveda Boulevard, Culver City, 310.398.7932 Not the den of iniquity that the sign over the rear entrance might lead one to expect, the Scarlet Lady is still a good near dive for watching the Steelers and/or playing a game of darts.

On the right going south in a strip mall.

Not a great selection of draft beer but two steel tip boards to the left of the front entrance and now serving burgers, dogs and steaks on Sunday - the hours for food are very limited though so don't come hungry if you haven't checked with them first. If you live in the area, this could become your local.

Hey, I know you missed me.

Darts America — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 08:19:38 GMT

Been away visiting the mother country of both pubs and darts - England. Back this weekend with thoughts and reviews. Cancel all your plans.

VOTE

Darts America — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 20:33:00 GMT

it's your obligation; it's your opportunity.

Joxer Daly's

Darts America — Mon, 06 Nov 2006 00:34:44 GMT

11168 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, 310.838.3745   Just to the left off of Sepulveda Boulevard going east, home for rabid Washington Redskins fans.



                                                               Joxer Daly
                                                   with requisite palm trees

Run by a true son of Ireland, Micheal "Mehaul" O'Leary, Joxer is a local favorite with a diverse crowd. No room for anything but American football on the days that Washington plays; still, it does have one steel tip board to the left of the entrance around the corner. A nice stable of beers on tap and a short menu of decent food; great carved wood two person booths across from the bar and lots of TVs.

Sonny McLean's

Darts America — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 20:45:31 GMT

2615 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, 310.449.1811 The bar with Boston in its heart and a palm tree in its front door.



                                                                Sonny McLean's
                                        On the right as you head toward Santa Monica

The large, diverse selection of beers on tap including Boont Amber Ale, Boddington's, E. S. B. and I. P. A. as well as seasonal Sam Adams and two ciders are just twenty-seven of the reasons to like Sonny McLean's. The atmosphere is friendly and women alone can feel comfortable at he bar.  When the curse was ended, this is the bar that was on the Championship Trophy trail. Current and former Bosox players have been known to drop in for a brew.  Booths for sit down food on the left of the door, three steel tip boards in the room dedicated to board and table games on the right behind the bar.



                                         On the Sonny side of the outside wall
                                         the bar's allegiances are plain to see.

Alas & Alack

Darts America — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 00:38:00 GMT

Perhaps a good name for a steel tip dart bar but it refers instead to the fact that the available locations are getting further and further away and the pickings are slimmer; since I visit each one personally there are no new entries at the moment but come back soon for additions from Culver City, Santa Monica and Thousand Oaks.

Robin Hood Pub

Darts America — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 19:32:48 GMT

Robin Hood Pub, 13640 Burbank Boulevard, 818.994.6045 Listed on their menu as a pub and on their masthead as a restaurant, Robin Hood is a good example of both a bar and an eating establishment.



                                     Robin Hood Restaurant and Friar Tuck
                                       beneath their shared red awning

A friendly place to get a mid afternoon meal that's not too expensive. Large selection of beer on tap, hearty food and a real British feel. At three in the afternoon women my age (my age is always the best age) having pints of dark brown ale with thick tan heads. The bantering conversation doesn't stop when a stranger enters. Two well placed dart boards in the bar area and lots of darts competition award plaques on the upper wall; a separate more family oriented restaurant behind glass doors. The Friar Tuck Shoppe next door has an authentic feel with Scott's Porage Oats, Yorkie Bars and a helpful staff.