Editor’s Note: In this very occasional series, we’ve lamented our lack of a quick lube and a dearth of good bagels. Now, we wonder why bowling is so hard to do. Is there something you think D.C. is missing? Let us know.
What would DCist do for fun in an ideal world? Oh, the usual. We’d bowl. Drive around. The occasional acid flashback.
Sadly, we don’t live in a perfect world, and the truth is that a night of bowling fun for the whole family is a bit of a tall order in D.C. Within the bounds of the District, the only option is the Hippodrome at GW, but considering it’s alcohol-free and packed with underage college students, it might not be the first choice for the slightly more mature among us looking to get tipsy and bend over a lot to show off our butts.
You’d have to travel at least 5 miles to Strike Bethesda for an “adult” bowling experience. Strike Bethesda does have a full bar, and those mini-hamburgers are awfully tasty, but the place is also a little on the gimmicky side. Bowling need not be corrupted by fancy mixed drinks and glow-in-the-dark shenanigans. Bowling alleys should be a little on the dirty side, quite frankly. There should be a surly woman named Maude behind the bar and a suspicious odor to accompany your shoe rental. Anything fancier would very un-Dude.
There are a few other bowling options within driving distance: Strike House Bowling Center in Hyattsville, White Oak Lanes in Silver Spring, the AMF Alexandria Lanes, and of course, the various Bowl America establishments.
We haven’t been to every single bowling alley near the city, but so far none of our experiences have really satisfied our appetite for quality, dive-bar style bowling. Maybe with the demise of Hollywood Star Lanes, the days of the classic bowling alley are done for. But we hope not. Where do you recommend we go to roll?
UPDATE: Thanks to a tip from the comments, we learn that a new Lucky Strike will be opening at Gallery Place in the near future. If it’s anything like the Lucky Strike on Hollywood Blvd. in Los Angeles, we’re in store for overpriced drinks in swanky lounge environs. It’ll be perfectly suited that area, no doubt, though we’re still not so sure about paying $8 for a White Russian.
