Fat City
9670 West Coal Mine Avenue, Littleton, CO 80123
303-972-4344
fatcityinfo.com

Bowling is just not my bag. Never has been. I remember going to the old Celebrity Lanes as a kid and wondering how so many ugly people could come together in one place, gulp beer, drip pizza down the fronts of their hideous shirts, roll a ball down an alley that looked like a road to nowhere and call it "sport." But, of course, that was back in the 20th century, and bowling in Denver just got a boost into the techno-pop culture of the New Millennium.

The newest venue on the local night-life scene is called Fat City, and hip is the trip you'll find yourself on when you walk into the lobby of this $8 million entertainment complex located at Coal Mine and Kipling. The creators of Fat City have forged an inspired revision of a tired American pasttime, and believe me, you'll find no grimy, belching pizza drippers here. The whole establishment is smooth as a Midori Martini, and staggers the senses into a similarly intoxicated smile.

Aesthetically speaking, Fat City is to bowling alleys what James Bond is to the traffic cop. Mark Stevens of Architecture & Light in San Francisco is the man responsible for designing this lavish tribute to mid-century design. Although the word retro doesn't do justice to the place, anyone who is a connoisseur of 50s and 60s design and architecture will be captivated by the integrity and flow of design elements here. Your eyes will glide from one end to the other of the canary yellow leather airplane wings of the twin love-seats in the lobby as you are drawn down the midway that guides you into the bowling area. Underfoot, you'll find imported terrazzo tile. Light from one of two amazing hand-blown glass chandeliers will fall silently on your face as you scan first the right, then the left lanes of bowling alleys. You'll find no dead ends here, but rather endless rows of highly polished wood under black-light. The effect is as enticing as a secluded starlit pool at 2 AM. But don't dip your toes into the lanes just yet, you'll need to rent neon bowling shoes and a day-glow ball first so you can light up the lanes like the rest of the revelers. But before you brave the lanes, take a trip down the midway to the oval open bar, surrounded by tufted turquoise leather and chrome barstools. Order a Fatini, an apple flavored house specialty martini.

With martini in hand, slide up to a kidney shaped bar table and watch a while. Surround sound speakers pump out acoustic allure while music videos play on 100-inch screens above every lane. You might see an old "Soul Train" spot punctuated by a little Republica and underlined by the latest Korn video. If the music, the videos and the martini don't have you ready to go day-glow under the blacklight lanes, just wait until the haze machines positioned above the lanes drop a light fog through which you can roll that rockin' ball as you slide into the throw. Once you and your friends ease into the Italian leather bowling benches, you can relax and watch the laser graphics projected on the walls while you wait for your turn to play.

A very friendly wait staff will keep the drinks coming, and even bring you a menu if you're hungry. The diner, complete with plenty of red and white neon is a throw-back to the 50s, but features veggie burgers and salads along with the standard diner fare. If you decide you dig this bowling thing, you can buy the hippest in bowling gear at the pro-shop. And if bowling is still not your gig, well there's good news. You can skate. During phase one of this project, the bowling facility was the main focus. There is, however, also a skating rink for those who opt not to bowl. The rink will be remodeled at some point during phase two. Phase two will also bring to completion a 15,000 square foot video arcade, along with a $1 million "interactive play structure" (whatever that means).

There will also be virtual reality rides and games, and "cosmic" miniature golf. Of course, that ever popular kill-'em-but-not-really sport, laser tag, will also be part of the final phase of the facility which will be completed some time this summer.

Greenback Entertainment, Inc, a San Diego-based group, has transformed this site (formerly Funplex) into an enticing entertainment venue. They have turned the lead weight of decades of bowling bad-rep into a nouveau-chic gold mine. In other words, Greenback has performed a little alchemy here, and if this is what they do with a bowling alley, one can only go into mental overdrive over the potential sensory appeal of their version of virtual reality, or "cosmic" golf.

Anticipation aside, phase one is open now and although the aesthetic is abundantly rich, don't let that pinch in your pocket book scare you away. Pricing for bowling runs between $3 and $5 per game, depending on when you go. By day children and families will find this an accommodating atmosphere. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, Fat City will cater to neon-treaded hipsters on a quest for rock and roll and a ragin' bowl. Yes, the double entendre was intended. The point is, you'll have fun, but only if you're 21 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights under the blacklight lanes at Fat City. Depending on what you do before you get there, you may just find yourself walking around taking in the soft glow of "My Favorite Martian" lamps, or zoning out on videos, or dazed and confused by the purple haze. The midway has plenty of room for socializing, maybe even dancing if you're loaded enough. So, even if bowling isn't your bag, Fat City is a guaranteed good trip. Don't miss it.