Therein lies one of the things that makes this pool hall stand out over all others. While Chris’s isn’t shy about reminding you of its illustrious past (the walls are lined with trophies, photos of pro tournaments and plenty of behind-the-scenes Color of Money shots) they aren’t about to charge you for it. Pricing for open play is hourly and slightly dependent on the size of your group, but it’s about as cheap as you can get in the city. Since Chris’s is BYOB, these areas are a great place to relax with a group of friends, have a few beers and shoot pool without worrying about how many times you scratch or how many times you jump the cue off the table.Īlthough Chris’s doesn’t have a kitchen, they do have a snack bar filled with fruit, pastries and ice cream, as well as some of the strongest coffee you can get for fifty cents. Both of these areas are home to dozens of well-kept pool tables and some very loud internet jukeboxes. If you’re not a pool aficionado then you’ll be looking for the back or side rooms. This room tends to be where the serious players hang out - it’s quiet and filled with the scent of money-games. The front room is home to several Three-Cushion billiards tables, a Snooker table and a collection of amazing old Brunswick pool tables. Past the poster for that Paul Newman/Tom Cruise flick and a poem titled “Philosophy and Pool” lies the main room of the massive warehouse-like space inhabited by Chris’s. Ignore your first impressions and make your way upstairs. The building that houses this legendary pool hall looks less than inviting many of the street-level storefronts have been abandoned, and the long, worn staircase leading to the second floor doesn’t give the impression of anything operable waiting above. Yes, players of incredible skill frequent the place, but no, you don’t have to be one of them to have an excellent time.Ĭhris’s has been a fixture in Portage Park for decades, attracting pros and amateurs alike with its 40+ tables and laid back atmosphere. Parts of that movie were shot at Chris’s Billiards here in Chicago, and that line is a nice introduction to this particular pool hall. That line comes from “Fast” Eddie Felson, one of the lead characters in Martin Scorsese’s 1986 film The Color of Money. “Pool excellence is not about excellent pool.”
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