A screen-free Saturday with kids in TOw
It was a rare afternoon when the calendar was empty — no hockey games, no volleyball tournaments and no errands to run. Instead of getting sucked into devices, laundry and that comfy corner on the couch, we decided to get the heck out of the house for some family time.
Destination: low-tech and local.
We headed up the stairs to Shamrock Bowl & Restobar, an old-school bowling alley located on Cowell Ave just north of Gerrard St. E in Little India near Leslieville and Beaches neighbourhoods. It is one of the city’s oldest and largest five-pin bowling venues, with its original lanes more than 70 years old.
It was exactly what our teen (and adult) brains and bodies needed. No blinking lights, no beeps and screens, just paper scorecards and original ashtrays used as pencil and eraser holders. It was surprisingly bright with light coming in from the second-floor windows. The venue has a comfy seating area where you can wait pre-game or hang out afterwards. A bar offers a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and a small food menu, plus an area off to the side with a Ms. Pac-Man, pool table, pinball and pool table.
When we were there, it was buzzing with people of all ages. For families in TOw, the five-pin bowling feels a bit more accessible, with smaller pins and balls (so great for little hands in TOw) and simple scoring rules. DYK: five-pin bowling was invented in Toronto in the early 1909. A few articles and videos capture a bit of the history about the invention of the five pin game and the second-floor bowling alley originally built on top of a bar now gym. (Beware, don’t get sucked into the YouTube rabbit hole and start watching the 1995 Five Pin Bowling Championship.
TRIP TIPS:
Getting there: Shamrock Bowl & Restobar is located at 280 Coxwell Ave. On TTC, the 506 streetcar along Gerrard St. E, Coxwell #22 bus that connects to Danforth subway line and Queen St streetcars. Driving, there is paid street parking along Gerrard and upper Coxwell. Some free residential parking south of Gerrard St on Coxwell.
Low-down: $60/hr & lane (4 people per lane). Shoe rentals are $5. Kids 6-and-older are allowed to bowl with parental supervision. Available for special events and group party bookings. Open Wednesday-Sunday.
Eat & drink: Small bar with soft drinks, alcohol and a small food menu.
In the hood: Little India is a nice little neighbourhood with independent shops and more local restaurants, like Lazy Daisy’s Café, Harry’s CharBoiled, Godspeed Brewery and The Pantry Fine Cheese and Jupiter Bakehouse.
MORE PLACES TO BOWL IN TORONTO
From my research and ChatGPT assistance, here is a list of some popular places to bowl. Note, I asked CHatGPT a few different questions, and not once did it pull up Shamrock Bowl. Just sayin’.
- The Ballroom Bowl for more of an upscale nightlife vibe with food, drinks, and lounge seating. Three locations on John Street, Yorkville and Yonge & Dundas.
- Playtime Bowl & Entertainment for bowling (also glow-in-the-dark), laser tag, arcade in North York.
- Danforth Bowl more old-school bowling on the Danforth at Coxwell.
- New: The National at the Well (on Front St and Spadina) for bowling and arcade.
- Planet Bowl has 48 ten-pin lanes and modern scoring systems in Etobicoke.
Recent Comments