2011 Washington Heights Pinball Open – Updated
When:
December 3, 2011
All Day
Where:
Le Cheile
839 West 181st Street
New York , NY 10033
The 2011 Washington Heights Pinball Open, held at Le Chéile (the restaurant and art space on 839 West 181st Street, at Cabrini Boulevard) Saturday December 3-4, 2011, presented by Pabst Blue Ribbon, promises to draw not only resident pinball champions from New York City, New Jersey, Long Island and Connecticut, but many of the top players from around North America – all while raising funds for the neighborhood’s only toddler playground, Dolphin Park.
“This is chance to make Washington Heights a permanent and featured stop on the national pinball circuit,” said tournament co-director and former Brooklyn Champion Francesco LaRocca. “[Le Chéile is] smart, diverse, culturally with-it; it’s the perfect place for a pinball junkie and believe me, we will go just about anywhere for a good tournament.”
Like many of the best pinball competitions in the county, the Washington Heights Pinball Open is an “open” tournament, meaning anyone can try to qualify. It costs $5 for one entry, $10 for three entries, and if an entrant’s score ranks among the top 4 highest scores on any one of the 6 tournament pinball machines by Saturday’s end, they will qualify for an elimination tournament Sunday to determine the champion. All entry fees will be paid out as cash prizes to the top eight finishers. This tournament is also endorsed by the International Pinball Flipper Association, and at least 25 World Pinball Player Ranking points will be distributed to the qualifying players.
But it’s not all about the “players.” For $5, anyone can take on a local “King of the Hill” pinball champion on a designated machine, with 100% of these proceeds going to Dolphin Park, the Height’s toddler-only playground which is administrated by the 501(c)3 West 181st Street Beautification Project. Any member of the public who defeats a “King of the Hill” receives dinner for two at Le Chéile.
“We are just so delighted that they want to help us,” said Jeanlee Poggi, longtime board member of the West 181st Street Beautification Project. “Why not pinball?”
And, for that matter, why not Washington Heights?
For more information go to: http://lecheilenyc.com/wp/events/2011-washington-heights-pinball-open