Buffalo Rising Online

Dec 14th 2008, 9:55am By Colin M. Reilly

When I think of bowling, I think of Roy Munson in Kingpin, I think of John Candy in Uncle Buck, The Dude in The Big Lebowski, and of course, Homer Simpson. Whenever bowling is mentioned, these images of old, overweight men come to mind. It's no wonder I agreed to write about bowling in Buffalo with some trepidation. I mean we're trying to shed Buffalo's old dreary image and highlight its progress. Even so, I decided to kick off my shoes, slip on the old multi-colored rental slippers and give the ball a roll.

I confess, I had a set image. But I was in for a pleasant surprise. As I walked up to Recckio's Bowling Alley in South Buffalo, I wasn't blown away with a flashy new image. I saw the same old hanging sign that has graced the facade for years, one that boasts air conditioning as if it were a recent phenomenon. I opened the door and was instantly blasted with florescent lights, dance music and one hundred children running around with large bowling balls dangling from their skinny arms. I walked through the alley, dodging young smiling faces as they weaved their way from lane to lane. I walked into the bar area, only to find a large sports bar. TV's lined the walls above a bar that curved and stretched its way the entire length of the room. Known for outrageous deals and outlandish parties several days a week with DJ's, games and prize wheels, the alley was jumping. This place was not dreary; the energy that shot from the luminescent alleyways to the party-hardy bar was something new and exciting.

Upon leaving Recckio's, the image of bowling I held was that of the psychedelic morphing of strobe lights and John Candy rocking with them. I stepped into the crisp November air, took a deep breath and cleared my mind. I headed north to the Bowl Inn on Bailey Avenue, with no idea of what to expect.

Walking up to the Bowl Inn, I could smell the magical aroma that can only come from a single source: the chicken wing. I followed my nose into the bowling alley to discover a well-lit place, with a little less energy than my prior stop. A few guys hung out on some lanes, families on the others; it was bowling, nothing too crazy. I stopped for a second to watch a few frames, but I couldn't take it any more. Those wings—their smell was overwhelming. I walked into the bar to find a group of people enjoying some college football. I sat down and devoured everything in my wake. I left the Bowl Inn feeling satisfied. Although it lacked the energy that engulfed Recckio's, it was a relaxing and delicious spot to hurl the ball, though I didn't partake of the latter.

Having over-filled my stomach with chicken wings and bleu cheese, I headed back down Bailey to Clinton. There I found myself at my next stop, Town Edge Bowling Center. On this particular Saturday afternoon, the Towne Edge was not crowded with children, nor was it dragging me in by my nose. But not every bowling alley is filled with boisterous children or the arousing scents that make me forget my name. What the Towne Edge boasts is some awesome Techno Bowling on Friday and Saturday nights. Also, the new large circular sports bar and restaurant hosts all the Sabres games! Looking around the alley, I was able to find a number of games put there in case patrons' arms get tired of hurling the old 16-pounder. There was a pool table, dartboards and even a digital jukebox to keep a person busy far after their last gutter ball.

Okay, three bowling alleys, none of which seem to be a hot spot for the likes of Buck, The Dude or Homer. My mind was now being cluttered with new images of bowling - techno, lights, food and boisterous children. But today I wanted to hit up one more place—a place a little further away. I jumped on the I-190 and headed north! Driving up the 190 for the first time in years, I noticed the old Peace Bridge Lanes. Now abandoned, it still sits there on the West Side. I jumped off the Scajaquada at Elmwood Avenue and followed the green blinking light: BOWLING!

Voelker's Bowling Center has been at the corner of Amherst Street and Elmwood Avenue for many years. The large, green, blinking signs mark its spot. The alley is large and the cracking of the pins was a constant echoing as I walked up to the shoe rental. Men, women and children were all enjoying a nice Saturday afternoon of bowling in the city. I tried to sneak my way through the alley to the bar area, but I found it did not open until 5 PM. What I did find, however, was something much more interesting. That night Voelker's was hosting a "Big Lebowski Party". At least I knew I wasn't the only one who thought of The Dude when I heard the word bowling.

Bowling has changed drastically since the days Roy Munson and The Dude strutted up and down the alleys. Today, the alleys are filled with strobe lights instead of cigar smoke. The dreary old faces are being replaced by the smiling youth. And although there is still a huge place for the likes of Roy Munson, Uncle Buck, The Dude and Homer Simpson, it is no longer only their place. Buffalo has a lot to offer and bowling is another one of the great things everyone should go out and enjoy!

You can find more information about the city's alleys at www.recckiosbowlingcenter.com for Recckio's, www.townedgebowling.com for Town Edge. Call Voelker's at 876.6020, and the Bowl Inn at 824.9074. On the list for another Saturday: Ideal Lanes at 892.3331, and Schiller Park Lanes at 897-3552.