Nightlife Skinny

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For a game that’s nearly five centuries old, people just don’t seem to get tired of pushing resin-fashioned balls across slate tables with long wooden sticks.

In case you’re not a pool nut, here’s the crib sheet on the game. The game of pocket billiards, that most Americans know as “pool,” evolved from a 15th century lawn game from northern Europe. The game moved to a wooden table, with a felt top to simulate grass and a border to keep the balls from falling off the table. The balls were shoved, rather than struck, with wooden sticks called “maces.”

I kid you not.

The Industrial Revolution gave the game rubber bumpers and leather cue tips. By the 1930s, Manhattan had several thousand public pool rooms. On the decline around the 50s, pool would find a resurgence after Paul Newman’s dark pool hustling flick, “The Hustler,” in 1961 and again 25 years later with co-star Tom Cruise in “The Color of Money.” Nowadays, pool and various other forms of billiards make up a several-billion dollar industry in a bazillion different countries. The fact is, pop culture has painted billiard establishments as dangerous and menacing locales, full of shady characters prone to subterfuge.

Now, forget the stereotypes of hazy, smoke-filled pool halls with music so loud you have to yell to be heard. Russell’s, located on the Odlin Road in Bangor, is the atypical pool player’s destination. Open for just over three weeks, it lacks the charming haze of pool halls in movies. And you won’t need to squint to see the person in front of you. And the employees are more likely to treat you more like a buddy from college and less like a walking currency dispenser.

The 16,000 square feet of floor space is laid out in three separate pool sections: a chem-free underage section; a 21+ section where alcoholic beverages and smoking are allowed; and the diamond room – a key practice area for tourney players – where alcoholic beverages are consumed, but smoking is prohibited.

The tables are clean and well lit and won’t find any of the typical pool cue gouges that adorn most “family room” tables. And you needn’t worry about playing around the group at the next table – there’s room to stretch.

Bearing that in mind, you’d have a hard time calling Russell’s a pool hall. Granted, most people will come for the high-quality pool tables, but it would be just as easy to call the joint a sports bar with its 10-foot-by-10-foot television that alternates between Bosox games and NASCAR races.

Then you’ve got a interactive video games, dart boards, a full-service wrap-around bar, jukeboxes that play everything from Rob Zombie to the DMB and private conference rooms that should be opening soon. And Gray said you can keep an eye out for an apps menu in the near future.

“Soup to nuts, were looking for this complex to provide everything you would need in an evening of entertainment,” Gray said.

Russell’s also plans to offer expanded pool tournaments for locals and Super Bowl-type exhibition match-ups between players on the national circuits.

“We don’t really know all the things that people would want,” Gray said.

“But we definitely want input – it’s their facility.”

While Gray runs Ushuaia, one of the area’s most popular dance clubs, Russell’s isn’t the “oomph-oomph” environment.

“There’s a definite ‘Cheers’ factor here, it’s more of sip rather than gulp kind of place,” Gray said.

5 Big Ones

.. with Jay King, Bartender at Ushuaia and Russell’s and Business Major at UMaine.

What’s the biggest kick about being a bartender?

I enjoy the social aspect. It’s a focal point for every person in the house.

How do keep serving drinks interesting?

If you know the people, it never has time to get boring.

What’s the most popular drink you serve here on the weekends?

This is definitely a crowd that appreciates beer.

How does Russell’s compare with Ushuaia?

They are two different environments as far as the energy and what’s available, and they really complement each other.

Where do you go to relax?

For me, this is relaxing.

Just an FYI: Russell’s is open 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily. Sundays and Wednesdays, play that whole 14 hours for $5 a person. And it’s only $5 a person from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. everyday. I’m not making this stuff up.

For more information, call 945-3111.

Feedback and ideas to: skinny@bangordailynews.net