Minnehaha Lanes

by Martina Priadka

Maude Lebowski : What do you do for recreation?

The Dude : Oh, the usual. I bowl. Drive around. The occasional acid flashback

From the film, The Big Lebowski

Bowling is a sport that has been around so long no one can really pin down its origins.   Some say it is over 5,000 years old and is linked to the ancient Egyptians.   Others say it is of German origin in the beginning of the 3 rd century. But no one has been able to really set a date on when it became the sport it is in the United States today.  

 

Italians have bocce, the English have lawn bowling and we have tenpin.   The first standardization of the rules is documented as taking place in 1895 in New York City where they were playing with wooden balls and using young boys to set up the pins each time they were knocked over.   By the early 1900's the Mineralite bowling ball was introduced and about 40 years later the automatic pin-setting machine was added to alleys putting the "pin boys" out of a job.  

From there bowling was popularized on television with game shows in the 50's and 60's such as Bowling for Dollars and Celebrity Bowling. The Price is Right regularly used bowling as one of the games to get into the final round. It became cool, leagues were formed and bowling became a serious professional sport.

Of course, today the stigma that bowling carries around with it puts it in the same category as beer bellies and laziness.   Popular films such as Kingpins and The Big Lebowski poke fun at the game.   Homer Simpson has the stereotypical bowlers personality and takes out the ball regularly.   But that still doesn't stop millions of Americans from enjoying the game.   The Big Lebowski has even inspired an annual bowling event and party called Lebowskifest.   People from around the nation come to play unlimited amounts of bowling, partake in bowling trivia matches and dress up as Lebowski characters.   www.lebowskifest.com

In Minneapolis, Bryant Lake Bowl put the cool back into bowling when they added a restaurant and theater around the lanes and drew a hip uptown crowd.   This hasn't changed the stereotype but it did allow microbrew drinking 20 something's to enjoy a game or two.   But for the original bowling environment Minnehaha Lanes in St. Paul is the place to bowl.

Minnehaha Lanes is a 40-lane bowling alley offering specials all week long to get you into the spirit of the game.   Their Tuesday night special is an evening of entertainment that can't be beat.   For $15, a person can bowl their socks off to their hearts content while consuming as much beer and pizza as they like.   It's hard to find a night on the town as inexpensive as that anymore.

Prices for regular bowling are also very affordable as each game is only $2.95 plus the price of shoe rental if you don't have your own.   And what better way to mix up your winter routine, get active and forget about all the snow than a little bowling?   Over 100 million people around the world practice this popular form of entertainment.   Why not become one of the players too?

Specials*:

Daily Happy Hour from 3pm to 6pm: $1 off drinks and $2 off pitchers

Monday through Thursday from 9pm to midnight: $7 all u can bowl and $7 pitchers

Tavern Tuesdays from 10pm to 1am: F&B employees and their guests pay $15 per person and includes all the bowling, pizza and beer you want

Wednesday 9:30pm to 1am:   $1.50 bowling $3 Kamakazis and long islands and $6 pitchers

*Shoe rental not included in specials prices

955 Seminary Avenue | Saint Paul | 651.488.7208
Sunday - Thursday 9am to 1am, Friday and Saturday 9am to 2am Free parking

...Now That's Theskini!::permalink


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