Ask Mom forQuarters

The spirit of Showbiz Pizza meets Martini Corner — without the singing mechanical bear — when the Velvet Dog officially unveils its two new Skee-Ball machines. Test your ball-handling skills at tonight’s grand opening, in honor of the bar’s remodeled upper levels. The party starts at 9 p.m. and includes a single-elimination Skee-Ball tournament for cash and prizes.”Everyone in the history of people is a Skee-Ball champion,” proclaims Velvet Dog owner Chris Seferyn. “Now, foosball — very few people are good at it. It’s too complicated, [there are] too many people running around. But even special kids can play Skee-Ball.”The game costs 50 cents, and the machines will actually spit out tickets that might be redeemable for prizes. “We’re working on some type of ticket-drink special relationship,” Seferyn says. What about stuffed animals? “Maybe we’ll come up with velvet dogs. Or velveteen dogs,” he adds. For more information, call the VD at 816-753-9990.

Thu., Oct. 18, 9 p.m., 2007