Post #72660 by martiki on Mon, Jan 26, 2004 3:07 PM

The design was definitely inspired by the Marin County Civic Center just down the road. Nave Lanes was an amazing place and the sight of many of my evenings growing up in Marin County. Sadly, I was a little young to fully appreciate it, but I did know where the dark corners of the parking lot were so you could drink under age in peace. The interior had excellent mid century and classic bowling alley elements. It also, if I remember right, had large dome lights like the civic center. The restaurant was very dark- particularly the lounge- but nothing special as I remember. In fact, the food was awful and it had a reputation as the source of a lot of food poisonings. My father-in-law was one of the victims. The Naves are a wealthy old time family in Novato- lots of property and political positions, etc. Really really sad to see it go after keeping hope alive for so long. Only lanes left in Marin are Country Club Bowl which has very little character. Those are in the slightly seedy Canal district, which has an interesting history all it's own: the area was to be built like a modern suburban Venice. No roads- just waterways. Almost nothing left, sadly. Interesting history:

http://www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/lb/main/crm/ephemera/santavenetia/svmain.html

[ Edited by: martiki on 2004-01-26 15:19 ]