Postby David » Mon Sep 12, 2011 11:15 am
Venues have come in phases - for many reasons. These are the ones that I remember the most.
The Modbury Plaza hotel
I ventured here the second week in the first ever NPL season. Andrew (Muzzington) had played the Windsor the Friday before and I was excited at the idea of playing live poker for the first (real) time. The Modbury had good meals, and despite the area being slightly cramped when it got over 50 runners, it was a really nice area. My first ever TD was Nathan, and he was one of the main reasons I went back - he made a live novice like me feel welcome, and ran an excellent tournament for the players. I also met other people at the Modbury like Pete, Ondie (although I knew of Ondie from the fact he went to Primary School with Scott) and Ali, and many others like Matty G (who was in his wheelchair at the time) and Roger G. It was also the first place I manager to drag Scott out to, even if it was only to qualify for the first teams event at the Semaphore Palais. My first ever win was at there too, and despite missing two weeks from the season, finished in the top 5 to get to the semi finals.
Studio 89
Some venues are similar to other venues - a pub, with some tables in the sports bar, or front bar. They tend to blend into one after a while, so when a venues come along with a bit of style or class, it's refreshing. Studio 89 was a restaurant on Prospect Road which served great pizzas and pasta (along with other nice things). I think it was actually an old court house (or part of it was) and it had a real old feel to it. Being run on Sunday afternoon, it was great in summer as we headed down for pizza and beers, and sat outside enjoying the atmosphere. Pete, Scott, Andrew, Laura, Ondie & Ali, and others used to frequent so it was great.
ChenZo's
In a similar vein to Studio 89, ChenZo's opened up with poker on Monday nights. They were usually closed on Mondays, but Chris Sleeman, who is a regular 888PL player, is the chef there and thought it would be a good way to get people in there. It worked, with up to 40 people there at times, but usually hovering around the 30 mark. Eric ran a good show for us, and the meals were great - better than great. Being a little Italian restaurant in Greenwith means ChenZo's was remote, or out of the way - but once word got out about the poker game on Mondays, more people would make their way up Target Hill road. Like Studio 89 - ChenZo's really benefited from the warmer weather - standing outside on a summers day looking over Golden Grove/Greenwith with the sun going down with a beer or red wine in hand was awesome. Like other venues I'd played at, many friends were regulars, with Pete and Bec, Andrew, Bacon, old-man daryl, benny the cunt, occasionally Scott, Ondie and Ali, Laura, Vic, Russ, Marto and others would attend. Even Mat drove up from down South for a game. Unfortunately, Vince (the owner) wasn't as much into Poker as Chris and the rest of us, and decided to stop it. Great shame, as it was probably my most favourite place to play.
Louisiana Tavern
Hearing about a pub in Elizabeth, the images in my head weren't anything near what the Louie would actually end up being. A slice straight out of southern USA, it was a quaint little snapshot of American culture, specifically New Orleans. With Saints, Hornets and other memorabilia around, and Creole/southern style dishes on the menu it is a great place to check out on a Monday night. As with the above venues, it really benefits from Summer - drinking beers outside is great - and you can even wander over to Tunza Fun to play skeeball in the break. old-man daryl, benny the cunt, Marto and others would play here so it was a great social game. Dakota runs an awesome tournament as always despite all the "NOT DAKOTA'S DEALING!!" comments on the final table.
Those would be the top 4 venues I've played at, for various reasons.
Other venues I've played regularly at:
Paradise: the Friday games were common with a "forum table" being a regular occurance there for a while.
Highlander (Sunday): Love the $20 buy in, and it's a pretty good game on a Sunday evening (Russ even comes down from Freeling for this)
Brahma: when poker isn't in the sports bar, it's quite good. The $500 first prize has boosted numbers from 20 to 80+ every week.
Blue Gums: Played here early on which is where I first met old-man daryl. Close to home, so it was nice and easy.
I played at the Semaphore Palais a handful of times and that was a great place to play, love it if it still ran!
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