Late at night when the city of Newington sleeps, there lies a place alive and thriving with the thunderous sound of a collision so recognizable, yet so rarely seen or practiced by the youth of today.
When thinking of an exciting late night out with friends, ever consider a few rounds of some bowl-on-pin action?
Bowl-O-Rama, located on the northern end of the Berlin Turnpike, is a 24-hour family owned and operated establishment committed to “an inexpensive way of having fun,” says owner Rip Callahan.
The alley, opened in 1959, is a way of life to the three generations of Callahans who have kept it af loat throughout the turnpike’s constant f luctuation. “We’ve seen [the turnpike] at its peak, its decline, and now current upswing,” said Rip, who has been a bowling aficionado since the age of 16.
Despite the turnpike’s ins and outs, Bowl-O-Rama has always had a constant inf lux of customers. Great for family get-togethers, celebrations and birthdays, the alley is surely a cost-effective, yet elating way of having some friendly, fun competition.
“It gets very busy on the weekends,” Rip admitted.
It is a rarity to find any place open much later than 10 p.m. on most nights, especially weekdays. Having begun its 24-hour, seven-day-weeks ritual in 1960, Bowl-O-Rama caters to night owls and insomniacs alike. This works especially well for college students, who are always on the lookout for some excitement after their long, class-filled days.
There are plenty of perks to selecting a night out bowling compared to some ritualistic club or party. With a bar open till 2 a.m. on weekends, a legal bowler may sit back and sip a cold beer as they watch their partner-in-crime bowl a goose egg. What can a college ID get you? A free pair of bowling shoes. Being a mere five miles away from campus, it’s friendly on your gas tank. Need any more convincing?
Rip’s son, Fred Callahan, wants to organize leagues for colleges within a 15-mile radius for a bit of a “Best Campus Wins”-kind of competition. “It would be very flexible,” said Fred, in terms of working around class schedules. “I think it would be awesome to attempt.”
Bowl-O-Rama also offers normal leagues, which take part in winter and summer sessions. “There has been a decline in league bowling,” Rip said. “Luckily, we still have around 1,600 to 2,000 members.”
With that said, there’s no stopping you from bringing out your inner Dude (think The Big Lebowski) and creating your own team, or just taking a night out to enhance your chances of attaining a turkey (three strikes in a row). Just remember, bumper bowling will not impress your date.
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