HEART AND DAGGER SALOON |
Location: 504 Lake Park Ave. (between Rand Ave. & Lakeshore Ave.), Oakland, Report by Jonny O The Heart and Dagger saloon recently opened and is the newest pinball venue in the Bay Area. And they weren’t shy about giving pinball a try with three great '90s games to play. I missed their grand opening, but fortunately Heart and Dagger is stumbling distance from where I hang my hat so I made a trip down the following week. Located in the popular Lakeshore area of Oakland between shops, several popular restaurants and a movie theater, the venue features a full bar, pool table and a patio in back. There are also a couple video games including a classic cocktail game next to the window. It works as both a stop off for a few quick games and a drink, or an all night hang out. Friday night rewarded me with a nice helping of pinball and something of a surprise: a wait. I actually had to wait to play pinball for the first time in a long time. This was fine since it encouraged many people to play doubles or better. Several players who have never seen a bounce pass, drop catch or post pass quickly started asking questions about how to get better. It was a fun atmosphere to show off a few skills and meet some new people. On one visit I noticed a few issues with the games and left a message for the owners. They were quick to respond and contact the route operator. On the next trip to Heart and Dagger I was happy to see everything was fixed and even more people playing. If you happen to be in the area or planning to catch a movie next door, stop by and drop in a few quarters.
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