NORTH CENTER — Think you have the Skee-ball skills to win a neon PBR beer sign or a host of other cool prizes?
DNAinfo Chicago's next In Real Life (IRL) adventure is taking readers on a Friday night adventure to North Center's Windy City Inn, or as the skee-ballers say, "Windy Citskee." Follow the social media highlights here.
Scheduled for 6 to 9 p.m. Friday June 6, the evening includes a steak or veggie burger dinner with sides, a Lagunitas draft beer in a take-home Mason jar glass and all the Skee-Ball you can play, along with a "Skeevivor" tournament and live music.
Tickets are $5 - $20 and can be bought here.
While one Facebook fan wrote that the Chicago Skee is "like Kiddieland with beer," the popular (and punny) league is also a "communiskee," according to its organizer.
"We have built the greatest communiskee of people who come from all different backgrounds ... getting along, being friendly and competitive. It's made for an incredible experience," said Mike Fraser.
Formed by Fraser in 2011, the league — which has nearly 200 players — has grown so large that it recently expanded from its home base at Glascott's Saloon in Lincoln Park to Windy City Inn, 2257 W. Irving Park Road.
The two additional Skee League nights at the North Center bar kicked off earlier this month. So far Windy City Inn Bartender Kate Umbriaco said she has been "surprised" by the positive response to the machine.
"People love it," Umbriaco said of the Skee-Ball machine, which is installed along the bar's back wall.
At the start of the season, Windy City Inn owner Ron Prokaski, told DNAinfo Chicago that he was not initially sure if Skee-Ball would be well received, until he saw his bar packed with "skee-ers" on a normally quiet weeknight.
"I've never seen people line up to play a game like that," Prokaski said. "I'm a believer."
During the "First Friday" June 6 outing, the Skee League will host two hours of open Skee-ball from 6 to 8 p.m., followed by a "Skeevivor" Tournament from 8 to 9 p.m.
DNAinfo Chicago reporter Patty Wetli, who wrote about Chicago Skee League's new skeeson, will be joining readers for the dinner and competing in the Skeevivor tournament.
The top scorer in the hour-long "Skeevivor" will win a Pabst Blue Ribbon neon beer sign and a wooden Lagunitas sign, courtesy of Prokaski.
Chicago Skee league will also award the top scorer with a gift certificate for a free two-hour skee party, to be arranged at a later date.
The second runner-up will receive a Skee league T-shirt and Tullamore Dew whiskey flask.
For more information on The Skee League, visit ChicagoSkeeball.com, the league's Facebook page, or call 747-224-SKEE (7533).
Windy City Inn, 2257 W. Irving Park Road. Hours are 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday-Thursday and Sunday; 11 a.m. to 3 am. Saturday. Ph: 773-588-7088.
