No longer just a game for blue-haired grannies and their good luck charms, bingo has made a killer comeback. But if you're looking to compete with a pre-retirement crowd (and sip on something stronger than a tepid soda), skip the high school basements and head instead to one of these bingo-happy nightspots. Each offers a distinct atmosphere, a slew of trinkety prizes and the chance to holler your heart out when you finally get BINGO! While accoutrements like drinks and smokes will cost you, playing is free everywhere.
Hookah Bingo at Guess Hookah
Guess Hookah is the go-to spot for playing bingo while blowing smoke. A three-foot Egyptian hookah sits at the center of every table, filled with one of more than 100 types of tobacco (from mint chocolate to mango). But the real center of attention is the comedic caller, who taunts the crowd with "killer" prizes (everything from hookahs to silly string to packs of gum) while demanding wacky patterns to win. Ample sofas and pillows, cartoon-blasting TVs and shelves of board games boost the laid-back vibe. Hookah bingo starts at 9 p.m. on Thursdays. One hookah costs $12 for four people. BYOB.
Disco Bingo at Rehab Cocktail Lounge
Drag queen divas Paula Sinclaire and Miss Foozie host Disco Bingo Monday nights at Circuit Nightclub's sister bar. The faux vinyl walls and vintage Bingo number board provide the perfect backdrop for campy, drink-fueled shenanigans. Traditional bingo rules are bypassed in favor of rounds like "Drag Queen Bingo," in which the winner must complete a cross-dresser-inspired cross formation while wearing a wig. Prizes tend toward gag gifts, though attitude is doled out to winners and losers alike. Disco bingo starts at 9 p.m. on Mondays.
'Bags of Crap' Bingo at the California Clipper
While the prizes here include T-shirts, schmaltzy movies and vintage vinyl, the real jackpots of the night are the "bags of crap," a bounty of toys and trinkets that pair perfectly with a light buzz and a boothful of friends. Less gimmicky than other bingo beacons in town, nights at the California Clipper mainly consist of low-cost cocktails, friendly bartenders and a slew of diehard regulars. Hosts Steve Spataro and Steve Sowely keep the night lively by mixing traditional bingo calls with pot-shots at each others' egos. Bingo starts at 10 p.m. on Mondays.
Tango meets bingo at the Museum of Contemporary Art
Cram in as much culture as you can with a free gallery visit followed by an evening spent sipping wine, playing bingo and learning to tango in the museum's white-tablecloth cafe. Professional Argentine tango dance instructors give newbies dance lessons during the game intermission while local artists rotate as bingo callers. The atmosphere is more relaxed than rowdy, with traditional bingo patterns and sarcasm-free calling. Bingo/Tango starts at 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month.
Honky Tonk Bingo at the Pontiac Cafe
What better place for a game of honky tonk bingo than a countrified gas station-turned-tavern with an Arkansas flag on the wall? Sometimes called 'red neck bingo' amongst the regulars, the night includes dubious Southern accents, genuine live country music by Fulton County Line, a $10 fried country dinner and the mischievous humor of caller Durwood Wilkes. Rounds run the gamut from traditional formations to Southern variations like the "Texas T" while beer trinkets, miniature cowboy hats and Lone Star suds make up the bulk of the booty. Honky Tonk Bingo starts at 7 p.m. on Sundays.
Still looking for more spots to play? Check out:
Roscoe's Tavern, 9 p.m. Thursdays
St. Helen's Church and School (at 2347 W. Augusta Blvd.), 7 p.m. Fridays
Hamburger Mary's, 9 p.m. Sundays
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