What is Whirlyball? Fun. Whirlyball is like basketball played with small lacrosse sticks while driving bumper cars. Fun! From off the court, it looks like a ridiculously slow game--an interesting thought once you're playing, trying to scoop up the ball before someone else swoops in and passes it to one of the other players quickly crowding around you. It's a fun game for athletic, competitive types (there's a referee!), yet it offers enough uncontrollable challenges (unwieldly cars!) to be manageable and enjoyable for even the most skeptical, non-player.
For people who aren't participating or watching (there's an observation deck above the court), there are arcade games. It's not the largest amount of space in the world, but it works. It's hard not to like it; it feels like you're back in high school, just hanging out.
Large parties are easily accommodated, but be sure to call in advance with the number of hours/sessions you'll be there and how you'll be paying (you can leave a deposit, have it refunded and have individual members of your party pay that night).
When you get hungry, you can find the usual rec center fare, including pizza, chicken strips, and nachos. The beer list is suprisingly extensive (well, at least more than I expected it to be) with quite a few local IPAs, ambers and stouts on top of the usual domestic selections. Just don't let the alcohol make you forget: Not buckling your belt while the game is in play means lots of points for the opposing team. Not good.
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