Shuffleboard
A shuffleboard table is a wooden or laminated surface covered with silicone beads to reduce friction. Players try to slide metal-and-plastic pucks to come to rest within scoring zones at the other end of the board. More points are awarded for pucks that come to rest closer to the far edge of the board. Players take turns sliding the pucks, trying to score points, bumping opposing pucks off the board, and/or protecting their own pucks from bump-offs.
You can find shuffleboard tables at the following bars:
• Barrio Brewing Co., 800 E. 16th St.
• The Buffet, 538 E. Ninth St.
• The World Famous Golden Nugget, 2617 N. First Ave.
• Shelter Cocktail Lounge, 4155 E. Grant Road.
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• Midtown Bar & Grill, 4915 E. Speedway.
Poker
Poker Pub holds a variety of Texas hold 'em tournaments throughout Tucson, including:
• Cactus Moon, 5470 E. Broadway.
• Music Box Lounge, 6951 E. 22nd St.
• Jeff's Pub, 112 S. Camino Seco.
The tournaments are free, though bars usually expect you to order something to eat or drink. Win prizes or the chance to compete in the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.
For a complete list of participating bars, go to tucson.thepokerpub.com
"Rock Band"
Head to Gentle Ben's Brewing Company to play "Rock Band," the video game that lets players compete on drums, vocals and guitar.
Bring your band mates with you, or join an impromptu jam session.
• Where: Gentle Ben's Brewing Company, 865 E. University Blvd.
• When: 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays.
• Cost: Free.
• Prizes: None.
Billiards
Perhaps the most popular bar game, billiards (or pool) is played in lots of bars in town. But if you really want to play on a fancy table, you've got to head to a pool hall.
Clicks hosts billiards leagues Sundays through Thursdays. There are leagues for all skill levels, from beginners to advanced. And the starting date of each league varies, so that newcomers don't have to wait 16 weeks (the length of one season) to join in the fun.
Form your own team, or Clicks will place you on one.
• What: Billiards at Clicks.
• Where: Clicks, 3325 N. First Ave.
• When: 7 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays.
• Cost: $14 to register, plus $10 or $14 a week. All league members get a new pool stick (valued at $250). Those who pay $14 a week also get a hard case to keep their stick in.
Pockets Pool & Pub, 1062 S. Wilmot Road, hosts billiards leagues three to four nights a week and also holds regular tournaments, including 10-ball tournaments on the second Saturday of every month and straight pool tournaments on the first Saturday of every month. Both tournaments cost $10 and start at noon. For more information, go to www.pocketstucson.com or call 571-9421.
The Valley National Eight Ball Association offers three pool leagues — one on the East Side, one on the West Side and one Central league. Matches are held at a variety of bars, including Chicago Bar, the Wooden Nickel and Palo Verde Bar. New players pay a $15 fee. For more information, go to www.eaglevnea.com
Nintendo Wii
You can play Nintendo Wii at Famous Sam's on Golf Links Road. The bar has a Wii that's available for customers during regular hours. In 2008, the bar held Wii Bowling tournaments every Wednesday evening, and it hopes to hold the tournaments again in this year.
• Where: Famous Sam's, 7129 E. Golf Links Road.
• When: 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays, 9 to 1 a.m. Sundays.
• Cost: Free.
Foosball
Also called table soccer, this game challenges players to use figures mounted on rotating bars to kick a ball into an opposing goal. The table usually contains eight rows of foos men, which are made of plastic, metal or wood.
There is a foosball league at Main Street Billiards, 8640 E. Broadway, that meets Saturdays and Wednesdays. For more information, call 546-3464.
There are several foosball tables in bars around town, including at Clicks and Home Plate Sports Pub, 4880 E. 22nd St.
