Hi Ballin’ at the Alamo

To refer to the Alamo Drafthouse as ‘just a movie theater' would be a gross oversimplification. Thanks to alcoholic beverage service, cult movie screenings, and grandiose interactive events, the Alamo Drafthouse has become an Austin institution and an integral part of what keeps this city weird. When Alamo founder Tim League announced that he was starting a new venture, a cocktail lounge/diner of sorts, Alamo patrons knew it would be anything but ordinary.

The Highball is not only a cocktail lounge/diner, but also an arcade, bowling alley, karaoke hall, and ballroom. Occupying the space left vacant by the Salvation Army next to the Alamo South Lamar, the Highball had a soft opening during this year's Fantastic Fest, giving festival goers and intrepid members of the public a sneak peak of what the Highball has to offer.

The vintage 1950s bowling lanes were up and running, inventive cocktails were being poured with proficiency, and skee-ball fanatics were taking advantage of the free skee action.

The only mystery the Highball held back was the seven themed private karaoke rooms. With clever names like Xanadu and Low Places, each of the seven private rooms is tailored to a musical theme ranging from disco to heavy metal, country, and beyond. Sadly they were not on display at the Highball's soft opening, but that minor setback merely relocated the karaoke to the spacious Highball dance floor. The crowd who shows up to the Drafthouse's $1 midnight screenings and orders a small popcorn will most likely consider the Highball out of their budget, but the temptation of a graffiti covered hip hop karaoke room will inevitably entice a few nights of splurging and spending. Thankfully, those that can not afford to dine on fried goat cheese risotto every night will still be able to stop by and enjoy the fun of the interactive parties.

Tim League operates on a business model that looks more toward providing fun than maximizing profits.

The Alamo Drafthouse has proven to be an endless source of creativity and mirth making, whether it is sponsoring a floating pirate party or providing a proper sing-a-long eulogy to Michael Jackson. Cramming karaoke, bowling, dancing, dining, and, do not forget, drinking into a single storefront might seem overly ambitious, but those are just the regular offerings. Once the Highball officially opens, you can expect things to really get rolling.