Brooklyn Bowl

Are you looking for a fun indoor activity this winter? Take a break from play spaces and head to a bowling alley. Your options range from a true hipster joint where you and your kids will enjoy the leather loungers and colorful lights or visit what is perhaps the largest bowling alley at the early hour of 8 am (we all need early morning options!) I visited 6 Brooklyn bowling alleys to give you the lowdown on each one.

Brooklyn Bowl
brooklynbowl.com
61 Wythe Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11211
718-963-3369
Getting there: L Train to Bedford Ave and Street parking
What it has: Brooklyn Bowl is the latest entry into the borough’s bowling scene. Most of the time it is a 21-and-over bowling alley filled with the young and fabulous. Not only can you bowl there, at night you can also take in a performance on the stage near the lanes. On Saturdays and Sundays between the hours of 12 and 6pm, Brooklyn Bowl opens up to the breeders for Family Days.  There aren’t many lanes here (16), but the ones they have are brand-spankin’ new and state of the art. Forget the plastic benches or chairs. Spread out on big leather couches as you wait to bowl. There is a full bar and food by Blue Ribbon Bakery with a menu that includes Egg Shooters and Fried Catfish.  The Williamsburg facility claims to be the first LEED-certified bowling alley. It sports 100% wind-powered electricity with efficiency upgrades in heating, air conditioning, pin setting, There are no cans or bottles. Sodas and local brews are served on tap. They have some great late-night acts for you too. Check their site for their calendar.
Family Days: Every Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 6pm
Rates:
Saturdays: 12-3 pm:  $20 per half hour each lane
Saturdays 3pm-6pm: $25 per half hour each lane
Sundays 12-6pm :$20 per half hour each lane
Maximum 8 people per lane

Oceans 8 at Brownstone Billiards
oceans8atbrownstone.com
308 Flatbush Ave at 7^th Avenue (a second entrance around the corner @ 11 7^th Avenue)
718-857-5555
Getting there:B, Q Train to 7^th Avenue takes you to the front door
2. 3  Train to Grand Army Plaza with a little bit of a walk
Street parking
What it has: Brownstone Billiards has been a staple in the Park Slope neighborhood for years. If you haven’t been there in a while, surprise…things have changed. To the rows and rows of pool tables, ping pong and air hockey, they’ve added a bar and restaurant. The goal is to make it a little more of a club feel at night. Whether the execution is successful is a discussion for another day. For the purposes of this article, we’ll discuss the addition of bowling…duck pin bowling.
Unless you grew up in New England, you may not even be aware that there are other bowling games beside the standard ten-pin game. But our neighbors to the northeast came up with a number of kooky ways to bowl. Duck pin bowling involves shorter fatter pins and a much smaller ball, think softball or shot put size. It’s a little different, but just as fun. The downside here is there are only two lanes, so if you have your heart set on bowling, call ahead or get there early. Otherwise, there is plenty to do here while you wait.
Rates: for duck bowling $3 a game

Melody Lanes
melodylanesny.com
461 37^th Street
Brooklyn 11232
718-832-BOWL (2695)
Getting there: D, M, N, R trains to 36^th St.
What it has: Just south of Greenwood Cemetery you’ll find what Melody boasts to be 20 lanes of fun. It’s right next to the MTA’s Jackie Gleason Bus Depot. Just so you know, Gleason was born in Brooklyn and, among many other roles, he played Ralph Kramden on the Honeymooners, a NY bus driver and avid bowler.  It’s old school in almost every way with carpeted walls, plastic bucket seats, snack counter, an arcade and a “sports lounge” with an apparently very entertaining bartender. Discover, Mastercard and Visa are accepted.
Rates:
Shoes are $4.00
Games are $6.00 Monday-Friday until 5pm
$7.25 Monday-Friday 5pm to lose
$7.25 Saturday until 5pm
$7.75 Saturday after 5pm
$7.75 Sunday
For the adventurous out there…there are better deals to be had in the outer part of our fair borough.

Maple Lanes
bowlmaple.com
1570 60^th St
Brooklyn 11219
718-331-9000
Getting there: D, M, N trains to New Utrecht Ave/62^nd Street
Free parking
What it has: I don’t have the exact lane count, but I think this may be Brooklyn’s largest bowling facility, with almost 50 lanes. The unique layout looks as if someone married two bowling alleys that faced the opposite directions with the snack bar, shoe checkout, lockers and pro shop in the middle. There is a full bar. The lanes feature a modern scoring system.  The Mapleton alley seems very kid friendly. The website features a number of photos of fun events from leagues to Halloween costume contests. They’re up early, opening most days at 8:30 am and at 8 on Sundays.  Maple Family Centers operates this facility, Gil Hodges Lanes and 4 other bowling alleys in Queens and Long Island.
Rates:
Shoes are $4.25
Games are $4.50 most of the time
Check the website or call for $1 specials, early bird specials and group rates
Birthday party rates available, with a Carvel cake if you like.

Shell Lanes
shellanes.com
1 Bouck Court
Brooklyn 11232
718-336-6700
[email protected]
Getting there: F train to Avenue X
Street Parking
What it has: When you walk in you immediately feel like you’re a kid again, because not much has changed here since you were a kid. That’s generally a good thing when it comes to bowling. The service is friendly and helpful. With only 16 lanes, a healthy league schedule and a location steps away from the F train, this place can fill up fast.
Rates:
Shoes are $3.50
Games are $3,25 Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
$5.25 Friday 5pm-Close
$3.00 Saturday Noon-6pm
$5.50 Saturday 6-Close
$3.50 Sunday Noon-5pm
$5.50 Sunday 5pm-Close
Specials like $5 per hour of bowling available at certain times, so check the website for a schedule.

Gil Hodges Lanes
gilhodgeslanes.com
6161 Strickland Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11234-6409
(718) 763-6800
Getting there: By bus B3, B9, B41, B46, B47
Free parking
What it has: If you live near the southeast corner of Brooklyn or maybe you’re an old Dodger fan, there is a bowling alley for you. The Mill Basin alley is named after the long-time Brooklyn and LA Dodger, who later managed the Mets to their first World Series title in 1969, though no one there has any tie to Mr. Hodges as far as anyone knew.  I read a few disparaging remarks on user review sites about Gil Hodges so I had to go out to Mill Basin to see it for myself. The truth is this place is a bowling alley…like a lot of other bowling alleys…nothing more, nothing less. They have an arcade, a bar, a pro shop and a restaurant serving burgers, chicken fingers, fries, etc. There is a similar aesthetic to most other bowling alleys I’ve seen.  They have active junior leagues open to kids from ages 2 and up. Kids’ league play is on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings. Bumpers are available on request. There is one employee designated for the youth programs.
Rates:
Shoe rental $4.25
Games are $4.50 most of the time
$6.00 Friday and Saturday 5pm-9pm
$9.00 Friday and Saturday 9pm to close for Cosmic Bowling
A lot of daily pricing specials…check the website
They have special group rates
Birthday party rates

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