In a noisy bar in Avalon I tried to call you.... If you understand you understand. My favorite spot…read morewhen I'm on island. Better like a dive

We're a couple of Dive Bar aficionados. Thus, in advance of our few day visit Avalon, we…read moreresearched the Best Dive Bars in Avalon. I was truly excited to visit the legendary Marlin Club. I'd read glowing reports. I'll confess we arrived before noon on a weekday, but my experience there's a degree of hospitality and camaraderie that pervades a good Dive no matter the time of day. Certainly our fellow patrons were engaging, whereas the bartender was nowhere to be found. We waited. Certainly our fellow patrons were getting beverages from somewhere. We waited some more. It was getting uncomfortable. Finally. Finally! (I was about to walk a person wearing a cowboy hat emerged from the back. No greeting. Just a very cold "What can I get you?" Someone was having a day and. not a good one. After this drink, we departed. However, on the plus side, I will say the fabulously artful UNDER THE SEA wall decor was worth the visit.

Was excited to try the local dive bar, but the minute we stepped through the door, there was no…read moremusic playing, dead quiet, and a white man at the bar shouted at his other white friend a racial slur that neither of them should be using... Immediately walked out. Bummed that this behavior is tolerated here! Terrible vibe due to the lack of music, but also terrible ethics it seems... This was 8pm on a Friday.

Chuck the bartender is a bit salty but worth the work ! Come…read morehere for a Ball game or a Lazy day of drinking

Finally took the time and additional funds to see the inside of the Catalina Casino in Avalon…read moreCalifornia during a shore stop aboard the Quantum of the Sea from Los Angeles. It was a great stop, well worth the money and time. My wife and I have been to Avalon before and the outline of the Catalina Casino dominates the view from the harbor when looking North. I made the obvious mistake of thinking it was a place of gambling and didn't bother going, but later learned that during the 19th and early 20th century, the term 'casino' was used to mean 'a gathering place'. That was the goal of the original owner (William Wrigley, founder of the gum company that bears his name), when he built it in 1929, right during the times when 'talkies' started taking over the movie industry. A massive restoration occurred in 1994. It's walkable from where we got dropped off by the cruise port tender, so I bought two adult tickets online for $21.51 each, for the self-guided tour. There is also a guided tour available that takes a group back behind the stage. We got there right when it opened and the ticket taker already had our names to let us in. The first stop was the main theater on the ground floor, and as we entered it, I couldn't help by saying a long 'Wowwww'. There are 1164 original seats (reupholstered) and we sat in the very back row, admiring the theater and watching a bit of the silent movie that was playing. Cell reception did not work inside, and the free WiFi didn't work well in here either. A little while later, the guided tour came in, and we were able to listen to the guide explain the theater. Some fun facts: -- this was the first theater designed for 'talkies'. However, because it wasn't a sure thing that they would replace the old style silent movies, a Page Theatre Pipe Organ was also installed (which is now one of only three still in its original location...the others being in Indiana). It was broken for a while, but has recently been fixed. -- entire ceiling was covered in silver leaf. -- the acoustics are incredible. As the guided group talked in normal loudness near the orchestral pit in front, I could hear each conversation from the back, just as if the person was right next to me. -- the wall murals was designed by the same artist who did the mural at the Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood. -- architects responsible for the building of Radio City Music Hall in NYC, came for a visit to examine the acoustics, as it was that good. The guided tour ended up going backstage. We then took a winding ramp (there is no public elevator) up to the 2nd floor. Here there was one room where a TV show was on, explaining the history of the island. Another ramp took us to the top floor where the 20,000 square foot grand ballroom is. (The ramps reminded me of a ballparks, and later I learned that it was intentional: Wrigley had requested it based on something similar that he liked from his namesake ballpark). The ballroom has been beautifully restored, with wooden floors and a rotating chandelier. One can roller skate on the floor with rented skates, though nobody was doing it when we were there, thus the floor was empty. There is also a concession stand selling snacks. The height of the casino is equal to a 12-story building, and provides some really great views of Avalon, specifically the bay, from the Romance Promenade that surrounds the ballroom. My wife and I slowly circled it, admiring the views. We did notice the small cove where many snorkelers were admiring the plentiful orange-colored garibaldi. The entire stay lasted about 75 minutes which we felt was about the right amount of time. Would highly recommend if not been there before.

This image is the main thing you notice when you first dock here. The architecture is just…read moregorgeous. We were so looking forward to tour and see this historic spot. We didn't have any luck on Christmas Day as you would expect as most of the town was closed up. But on Friday we were able to get the self tour option. $20, the guided was $40. Wow they have really kept the place up in pristine condition. This place was purchased by the Wrigley/ Family Dynasty, actually they bought the entire island back in 1929. The reason it is called a casino is not because of gambling but for the Italian meaning for a gathering place. This location was one of the first theaters to have "talkie" films. I was very impressed with the way the caretakers have kept the original fixtures, seating, bars and even the restrooms are all kept in the 20's style. The seating on the first level has over 1800 seats. There is an original organ for when they hosted silent film festivals here. This was a place where all the rich and famous celebrities would gather for all sorts of festivals and events. This is a Must visit if you head over to the island. Impressive!

Walked in on a Friday evening around 8:30-9. There was no line to get in and the place didn't seem…read morecrowded. My husband and I walked around before we decided to grab a drink at the bar. I had already drank at some breweries before we came here so I didn't want any more mixed drinks. I got a canned drink, I don't remember the name We had some coins and started to play. A couple of the machines took our coins but the games never started which was a bummer but we just moved on. We later saw people playing on them so it was probably something we did wrong. The place was a good vibe with a do playing music. We spent about an hour before we decided to check another place out. My husband and I had a lot of fun. Good way to reminisce when we were young kids playing these games.

EightyTwo is such a fun spot for a night out. If you're into arcade games, this place is a win…read morenothing better than playing Mortal Kombat and beating my husband The drinks are good, the vibes are always on point, and the bartenders are super nice. It's a great place for birthdays or even a fun drinking day/date night there's something for everyone and it keeps people entertained. Plus, the surrounding area has that nostalgic feel with good food spots nearby, so you can easily make a whole night out of it.

Cute claw arcade in Torrance with a decent number of machines, friendly staff and clean setup. 1…read moretoken per game on the larger machines but two plays per token on the smaller ones. Very cute selection of plushies and trade ups are possible but for the medium/large stuffies only. I've become somewhat of a regular of these arcades as they've been popping up in SoCal, and have become somewhat good at figuring out what helps for machines. Weight distribution matters and claw strength! I found that the small machines were much easier to win prizes (maybe by intention) and the larger machines had such cute prizes but loose grip strength in the claw making it harder to win the bigger, good prizes. So all of a sudden your tokens start vanishing quickly. I had 50 token credits and ended up with two medium sized plushies and 6 small items, which for me is on the smaller end of a haul. Still had fun but other claw arcades may give you a better win rate. Parking is plentiful, in the same lot as a Dollar Tree and several other stores.

I love this place! I usually get $60 for 75 tokens and every machine is 1 token. Thats such a good…read moredeal because the machines aren't rigged. If they are they are doing a good job letting people win most of the time. I think there were a few machines at time I had to try 8 times and gave up because I couldn't pick up the plushie. But usually one token I get one plushie. This place is absolutely addictive but I like it over other places because you can upgrade your plushies for bigger ones at the front desk. It's such a nice treat because if we have a bunch of little ones we don't want, and a big one we do like better, it's worth it. I leave with at least one big plushie that I exchange for 8 medium plushies, and a few more medium plushies. Total I take home each trip 1 big plushie, and 3-6 medium to little plushies. Other claw machine places I feel cheated because you either have to put a bunch of coins in to play once, or the plushies aren't easy to grab. This place is not only affordable, but you put one coin for each machine for one play. It's really fair and wants you to win. The cherry on top is the plushie upgrade exchange after you're done playing. I come here at least once a month because it's really fun

The Backswing is such a fun hidden gem in Huntington Beach! Located inside Playground Mini Golf,…read morethis speakeasy combines great food, craft cocktails, and an incredibly creative atmosphere. A quick tip because it was a little tricky to find the first time: park in the main Pacific City parking garage and take the elevator up. When you get out, head to the side of the building opposite the beach. The entire venue is golf-themed, and they truly thought of everything. The decor is adorable, and every detail feels intentional--even the bathrooms are super cute. There are so many great photo opportunities throughout the space, plus arcade games and indoor mini golf that make the experience even more fun. The speakeasy itself has a great vibe with creative craft cocktails and delicious food. I highly recommend ordering the Steak Frites--the steak was absolutely phenomenal and one of the highlights of our visit. I ate it before I got a pic. But trust me it's bomb! The drinks were equally impressive and perfectly crafted. Definitely go check it out!!!

It was a hot day and I was on a mission to find something fun to do with my 12-year-old. We…read morestumbled upon this spot, saw the playground, and decided to give the mini golf course a try--and I'm glad we did. The course itself is cute and has a charming, almost homemade feel to it. It's not overly polished, but that's part of the appeal. There were several creative obstacles and challenges that we hadn't seen at other mini golf spots, which kept things interesting and fun throughout the round. After golf, we checked out the arcade. There was a good variety of games, and my son was definitely entertained, which is always a win. It felt like a well-rounded spot for a casual outing. The restrooms were clean, and the staff was friendly enough--nothing over the top, but perfectly pleasant. One thing that did take away from the experience a bit was the number of very young kids running around unsupervised. I'm talking maybe 4 years old or so, and they kept interrupting our game. As a parent, I completely understand how challenging it can be to keep an eye on little ones, but I'm also a bit competitive, so it definitely threw off my groove. Not the venue's fault, just something to be aware of--there may be some tiny, energetic free spirits roaming around. Also, while it was a warm day, it wasn't quite as cool as I expected it to be, which made it a little less comfortable than ideal. Overall, though, it's a fun, family-friendly spot with a unique mini golf course and enough activities to keep kids entertained. I'd come back--just maybe with slightly lower expectations for personal space on the course.

Had an amazing time last Saturday, April 12 as we celebrated my son's 25th birthday! Sonny and his…read morestaff go out of their way to a comedy the parties he had things set up for us. We are out on the wonderful outdoor patio and he helped us order food and just kept asking if we needed anything so you're so appreciate him. It's a great attitude and he's just a really nice person. We'll definitely be booking another event there soon. And the food downstairs amazing we were able to order pizzas, Tacos hamburgers, chicken bowls. My son had a really great birthday! Thanks, Sonny I'm making that happen!

This place is a kaleidoscope of fun with varying degrees of experiences from an arcade, to a tiki…read morebar, to a speakeasy, to a restaurant. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the food was delicious. And bonus they have a Pokémon pinball machine. What really got me about the place is you can bring your kids there if you want or come with just adult activities in mind. Definitely check this place out. It's huge and tastefully magnetic.

I stopped by this Lakewood location of Round1 on my incomplete tour of the Round1s in LA. I have to…read moresay, going shortly after they opened on a weekday was quite peaceful and lonely. However, most employees were cleaning in some way which was a good sign. It did feel a little more fresh and clean at this location than other ones. The entrance was interesting because I'm used to just entering the doors and immediately being inside the arcade, but you have to enter through the dilapidated Lakewood Center mall first, and then take escalators up to Round1. It's also a little hectic coming here, because it's right next to Costco. There were an adequate amount of machines, but it definitely seemed smaller than the other locations I visited in LA. However, the skill games and payout rates were very reasonable and fair, and I made out quite well! I won my first Getter Spin game here because the speed was pretty good. You do have to cherry pick a bit, as some of the popular or newer prizes were behind cheese wheels.

Located near the forever 21 (that's about to close), Ulta, and Costco side of the mall (in the old…read morelocation of the food court for those of you old enough to remember), Round 1 has always been a great late-night spot for all sorts of entertainment such as claw games, arcade games, billiards, bowling, karaoke, etc. I find myself going here fairly often because not many places are open this late, especially in Lakewood. Prices have definitely been going up and prizes are harder to get (recession indicator fr), so I admittedly have started playing less. I only come when I need to blow off some steam or there's a prize I really want. Round 1 has an AMAZING selection of plushies During my last visit, I had some great encounters with a couple of the workers! I had some issues regarding the app and connecting my card, and one of the managers stationed at the bowling area was super nice and walked me through connecting a new card and ensuring I got my points for it! Oddly enough, they felt very well-staffed for a Wednesday, and there was plenty of staff on the floor that day to help me reset a couple of times, whenever the token plush dropped out of claw's reach. There was one worker who came right when I needed him and helped reset the token back within claw's reach. I got my usahana that night!!! I wish I remembered their names so I could shout them out! They really made my night after a rough day.

I'd give this place more than 5 stars if I could. The games are fun, and we came home with a bunch…read moreof prizes, but the people that work there are really the reason we come back when we visit for Spring Break every year. Justin and the other young man behind the counter are so incredibly friendly and talk to you as if you're a visitor, not a paying customer, which is incredible to me given the location and sheer number of people who pass through the arcade every day. Justin was cheering on our kids on as they played games and celebrating with us when we won... and then incredibly patient when those same kids took about an hour to decide on what prizes they would choose with their tickets. I'm always a bit hesitant to visit the overly touristed, typical beach spots when we're on vacation, but we always make a point to come here when we're in the area. Other pros to the arcade include seeing that the staff are frequently out cleaning the games and machines, and a good variety of games for such a small place. I always recommend that people stop in when they go to Newport pier, so I may as well recommend here on Yelp as well!

Came in to check things out and it was really crowded!!…read more They have plenty of games and lots of games that dispense tickets to redeem prizes. The prices of the credit vary on amount and it can get quite expensive, the prizes are not worth the credit we spend but that isn't the point of the prizes. Also you get a reusable card which I think if you come often to make sure to bring it and just refill the amount to waive the new card activation fee. We didn't get to stay long to play the games we wanted since it was crowded and the game we wanted was pretty popular. Would like to try again next time and will bring our card for a refill!

Cute inexpensive spot to take littles to play. Games were suitable for all ages & prizes weren't…read moreall tacky. Our 3 year old had fun. $10 went a long ways here.

Severe ADA Violation - Denied Entry by Manager Josie for Medical NecessityReview Text:…read more I am deeply disappointed and frustrated by my experience at this establishment regarding a blatant refusal to accommodate a legitimate medical necessity. I have Sjögren's disease, a chronic autoimmune condition that attacks moisture-producing glands. This causes severe, constant oral dryness and extreme thirst, requiring me to have immediate, continuous access to water.When I tried to enter with my water bottle, I was stopped. I explicitly explained my medical condition and the physical necessity of having hydration on hand. Despite this clear medical explanation, the manager/employee, Jose, refused to allow me to enter. Instead, he gave me an unacceptable ultimatum: I could either repeatedly walk back and forth to my car in the parking lot to drink water, or I could purchase water directly from the venue.Under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), public businesses are strictly required to make reasonable modifications to their policies to accommodate individuals with medical conditions and disabilities. Forcing a customer to pay for water or exit the building repeatedly just to access a medical necessity is a clear violation of public accommodation laws.Manager/employee, Jose and the rest of the front-line staff desperately need proper training on ADA compliance and basic customer empathy. I expect the ownership to take immediate corrective action so that no other patron with a medical condition is subjected to this unlawful treatment.