The idea for this blog is pretty cool: to write about nifty spots in the known world where one can:

• have a cigarette
• play pool
• access the internet
• get good food
• get good tattoos
  

Or, all of the above, all at the same time.

So here goes.

One of the coolest places in the world for me, surprisingly, is only about 30 minutes (1 hour during rush hour) from where I live: Elbow Room @ Metrowalk.  In this joint, one can play pool in a smoker-friendly environment with well-kept tables and balls. One busy nights, it's slightly harder to find really good cue sticks, but since I almost always bring my own (so my friends), that really doesn't count.

And there's wi-fi all over the place. And the food is pretty good (try the Adobo with Rice, sisig or any of their pizzas). The rate per hour of a pool table is not cheap (PhP245/hour; roughly USD6.0/hour) but it's a price I'm willing to pay to get everything above.

Most importantly, playing pool in this joint is pretty cool if you're a grrl.  And you like playing pool with your grrlfriends. No sleazoids. No Dirty Old Men. No one who will try to ruin your game with icky attempts to pick you up. And if someone does try (remember the Hobbits, Gen?), it's a safe enough place that you can get out of it without too much fuss.

In a perfect world, any grrl with the slightest idea what to do with a cue stick will be able to walk into any pool dive and be able to play without being bothered. In a perfect world, such a grrl wouldn't feel so odd in such a place. In a perfect world, it is legal and fine to use the cue stick creatively on anyone who tries to ruin your game by feeling you up.

In an imperfect world, thank goodness for Elbow Room.

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The details:
Elbow Room @ Metrowalk

2nd Level
Metrowalk Commercial Complex
Meralco Ave.
Ugong
Pasig City, Metro Manila

Phone Number: 634-1404, 635-2881

yay! all set up :)

will start with delhi international airport. it's a bit of a hassle. there are no smoking areas inside the terminal building. so make time to have that last ciggy before que-ing to get in. then flight ticket has to be shown to the guard at the entrance before getting in. haul bags (free trolleys!) into the security machine thingy. get them stamped and tied etc. check in. and away we go. i didn't have time to check out the place. arrived at the nick of time. and left at the nick of time.

the domestic flight airport has no smoking sections inside either. but there's a jet airways lounge that has 2 tables at a far corner for smokers. and everyone's usually fine with sharing. the only thing is, you'd have to either buy booze, or spend Rs225 for a snack buffet (sandwich, some small snacky things, not very appealing) which comes with coffee/tea/etc. there are also some plug points at the table, so laptops like mine that can't last 15 minutes without current can be used. but no wifi.

doop dee doop.