the rix mix

Roselle Lanes is no more, building gutted for renovation. Surprising enough it survived so long. Small local bowling center, walking distance from where I grew up. I didn't care for bowling but my brother Jim did, & he didn't like to bowl alone, so he'd ask me to tag along for the three games plus shoes Saturday specials, & I'd roll a lot of gutter balls while he tried to break magic 200. I've always liked the unpretentious atmosphere of bowling centers, with the pitchers of beer or coke, & the greasy snack bar finger foods - odd because you don't want greasy fingers when you handle a bowling ball. Roselle Lanes also had pool tables & some arcade games. It had a cocktail lounge called The Cove that attracted an integrated clientele on weekends when a fine jazz pianist named Morris Nanton performed there. The Cove later became a popular, grimy punk rock venue that I'd go to on occasion in the '90s when I knew someone in a band. There were some ancient regulars left over from the old days who hadn't seemed to notice the walls had been painted black, the clientele comprised of young people with many piercings & tattoos, & the music ear-splitting. As local rock clubs went it wasn't so bad, & you could always duck out & play pool or video games or even bowl. I may have gone to Midnight Bowling there a few times when they turn down the lights & turn up the metal music on the sound system. I enjoyed Midnight Bowling.

Labels: culture, growing up, music, New Jersey, sports