Many know the feeling of returning to their hometown and realizing that their once huge an extravagant bowling center, which used to be "the hang out," has become a decadent unchanged, but yet still cozy establishment. Bowling used to be everywhere and was as much a part of Americans lives as family dinners and backyard barbeques. Many people in this time do not have much of a yard to have barbeques in or they do not have a yard at all. So, why would bowling not be subject to what everything is subject to, which is time brings about change. Bowling seemed to be on a rather steep decline, but instead of being washed away it ended up downtown and has become trendy.

For example in Hollywood, California there is a very large entertainment mall called the Highland Complex. Highland Complex contains the Kodak Theatre, where the Oscars are held. Not only does it contain the Kodak Theatre, but it contains one of Highland Complex's hot spots is a club called Lucky Strike Lanes. With its velvet ropes, a daunting doorman, and gorgeous staff it is not short of typical Hollywood.

Further on the inside Lucky Strike Lanes has an amber-lit retro look. The restaurant area is fairly small but "posh," with polished wood tables, and leather booths. Most of the surfaces in Lucky Strike Lanes happen to be polished wood, which accompanied with the 60's lighting fixtures gives Luck Strike a warn and inviting feel.

One thing seems to be terribly wrong. There are no sounds of crashing pins. The similarities to your home bowling center end with the lanes, bowling balls and pins. Though there is improvement on the typical house instead of those molded plastic benches the seating areas are more like little early 60's living rooms. Over the pins sits large plasma screens that boast modern artwork. Of course at night when the house lights go down the lanes are light for "glow-in-the-dark" bowling while they play current rap hits.

Lucky Strike Lanes was created by Steven Foster, a lawyer who turned entrepreneur and began Lucky Strike Lanes about a year and a half ago with his wife. Lucky Strike Lanes likes to think of their place as a "bowling lounge" rather than your typical bowling center. There are some interesting facts about the Luck Strikes for instance there is a large neon "Hollywood" sign that was picked up from the Hollywood Star Lanes that encountered the wrecking ball a couple years back. The bar happens to be made out of Hollywood Star Lanes old lane number 16.

Most centers have no trouble renting out lanes to birthday parties and other events, although the 12 lane house is in Hollywood it is no shock that lanes nine through twelve can be curtained off for private parties and celebrity excursions. Lucky Strike seems to get their share of celebrities, Demi Moore and her children show up to bowl in private. The staff's favorite celebrity bowler is actor Vince Vaughn who happens to be the only person to have his own private ball at Lucky Strike Lanes named "the Matador."

Many who in their younger days at home would not dare to go bowling end up at Lucky Strike Lanes bowling and having a great time. Around 11 pm Lucky Strike seems to be packed with young beautiful people drinking and waiting for a lane. It is often the case for people to wait for up to 3 1/2 hours for a lane. Unfortunately, it seems they do not put very many coats of oil on the lanes for the non bowler to have a better chance of scoring a strike.

This trendy fad of nightclub bowling is not just out west. In St. Louis the home of the Bowling Hall of Fame and the birthplace of the WIBC (Women's International Bowling Congress) a place called The Loop sports theatres, bars, restaurants, clubs, Blueberry Hill where Chuck Berry plays, and Pin-Up Bowl. Pin-Up Bowl stands out with its neon sign with balls striking pins and purple rays budding martini glasses. Blueberry Hill's Joe Edwards did not want to just fill the space with another retail store at first he wanted a martini bar, but later decided that bowling would add to the interesting social atmosphere. Since the arrival of Pin-Up Bowl about one year ago all the lanes have been packed all night every night until three in the morning. Edwards was going for a unique atmosphere with a wooden Art Deco bar and leather booths it seems more like a nightclub from a 30's comedy sketch. The nightclub features bowling, plasma screens with music videos, and a refined tasteful bar with foods like Pop-Tarts and Campbell's soup.

In Boston, Patrick Lyons bought up the 25,000 square foot Cheri Theatre in the Back Bay and created an adult entertainment center in King's. The center has a bowling-pin table lamp at the front desk and a long bar made from a lane reclaimed from the old WalLex Lanes and of course contemporary artwork. Inside King's, the VIP lounge is named after, that's right, the movie Kingpin, this has four private lanes and plenty of movie memorabilia, which includes Bill Murray's rose-encased ball.

It is quite difficult to believe that bowling has become part of this pop fad and being reborn as a form of entertainment instead a competitive sport. If you are looking for a more relaxed time and want to knock down a few pins without worrying about your average and perhaps see some celebrities and can visit some of the more popular nightclub bowling centers. Bowlmor Lanes in New York has 42 lanes, two floors, three bars, 16 pool tables, and a rooftop lounge called Pressure. Cameron Diaz, Ethan Hawke, Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon, and Julia Roberts have all been seen at Bowlmor Lanes. If you are a fan of Pearl Jam you might want to checkout Garage in Seattle with 14 lanes, three levels, four bars, one restaurant, heated patio, and 20 pool tables. The directors of Kingpin spend time at King's in Boston containing 16 lanes, three bars, one restaurant, and eight pool tables. Then there is Lucky Strike Lanes with their 12 lanes, one bar, and one restaurant where Paris Hilton, Demi Moore, Jessica Simpson, Vince Vaughn, and Robin Williams hang out. There is also Pin-Up Bowl where rapper Nelly likes to bowl. Nelly actually rolled a Pin-Up high of 257.