Brooklyn Bowl: It's open! Our look inside.

(Credit: Adam Macchia)

After visiting Brooklyn Bowl last night for a pre-launch party (we'll have a link to photos from the event shortly), we came away very impressed (not with our scores...a 91 and a 108 was only a little higher than what the 3-year-old next to us rolled. We, however, bowled much faster than her.).

Located at 61 Wythe Ave. in Williamsburg, the Bowl has teased with ever-shifting opening dates and extensive, perhaps too-excitable preview coverage (see here, here and here). We already knew the basics going in: 16 lanes, food from Blue Ribbon, environmentally friendly, etc.

But seeing it in person is another story. The experience is startling. This is not The Gutter, that other Williamsburg bowling alley-meets-bar: This place is huge, the lanes are pristine, the seats are super-comfy leather couches, and the sound system made our teeth rattle. Most spectacular? The 10 gigantic screens throughout the space showing off crisp, hi-def concert videos (Pink Floyd, Michael Jackson, Led Zeppelin) and, randomly, shark footage.

Sadly, we missed the venue's first stage gig, a performance by NYC mainstays Skeleton Key (that's what happens you give us free beer all night.) So we can't tell you how the shows are going to be when there's bowling going on. But do know that the stage and concert floor compare favorably to the Bowery Ballroom.

We spoke for a few minutes with the Bowl's founder, Peter Shapiro, to fill out the details.

I notice it was only beer behind the bar. Is a full bar coming?
Yep, full bar. We have our liquor license.

What are the hours?
We won't be up to regular hours until fall. Initially, we'll open at 6 p.m., six days per week, Tuesday through Sunday. By fall, we'll have daytime hours on weekends, like 11 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, and be open seven days.

What is the actual official opening date?
Within the next week, like the 4th or 7th.

Is this all ages?
At times, when we get the daytime hours set up.

Who's doing the music booking?
Mia Sladyk is our talent buyer. She comes from Bowery Presents. I think we'll book a little bit of everything, but be cognizant of our location and audience in Williamsburg.  

What's a game going to cost to bowl?
It'll range from $30-$50 per hour, depending on the time.

Capacity?
The legal capacity is 600.

How's it going to work for concerts?
You'll pay to get in at the door, and then if you want to bowl, you can. The way we have it set up, bowling won't affect the concert sound. You can't hear the lanes. If it's an acoustic show or something like that, we'll shut the lanes down. We have a JBL Line Array system, a concert PA sound system. So when we have bands, a DJ or are showing concert videos on our 6-foot-by-9-foot screens, it'll really encompass the whole area.

What kind of stuff are you showing?
We'll show concert films, sports, variety shows, acrobats. We'll book the same stuff, too-we can do burlesque, kids shows, concerts...We'll have a full stage programming by fall. We're just going to do a few things here and there until then.

What's the food situation?
The full Blue Ribbon menu is coming in the first week of August. We have some snack stuff for now.

Are those leather couches going to last?
We're going to find out!