Remember all that rain we had over the weekend? Well, some of it made it into the Highball as we became aware that the place isn’t exactly waterproof. Luckily no damage to any of the main elements of the interior, just some damp floors (luckily carpet hadn’t been installed yet) and a little peeling paint. This has not put the breaks on progress and everything is still on track. For those of you who have been asking about when the Highball opens, it will be open for some Fantastic Fest activities exclusively for badge holders starting September 24th, with a grand opening to the public some time in October. However, there are two public events scheduled to take place during the week of Fantastic Fest. The first is a Michael Jackson dance party on Sunday, September 27, and then a “Double 3D” dance party on Wednesday, September 30 (more info on these will be announced soon).

Speaking of on track, in the photo above you can see the bar is coming along really nice, with the ox blood leather you see under the bar also being added above the bar. And according to reports last week, the bar top is coming in today. Also in the Highball: kitchen gear. There was a gaggle of chefs at the Highball on Friday (by gaggle, I mean two: John Bullington and the Highball’s executive Chef Trish Eichelberger). They were surveying the kitchen area which is ready for the installation of the gear, which arrived soon thereafter.

Scoring tables

Elsewhere: On the bowling front, work continues on the pin setters. The scoring tables came in on Friday and look super sharp. And while there was some minor flooding in the vicinity of the lanes over the weekend, there is no damage at all. Over in the ballroom things are looking real good as the floors and the stage are in the process of being finished as I write this.

Light rigging gear installed

All of the hardware necessary for stage and dance floor lighting have also been installed. The sound system has been tested and, according to Josh, “sounds fucking great.” There are also little bits and pieces around the place that are coming together: lighting, trim, painting, tile work in the bathrooms and around the bar (the latter of which is complete). And while there is some recessed lighting scattered around the Highball, I understand there are going to be chandeliers. Forget the cigarette-smoke-stained ceiling bowling alleys of your youth. This is the Highball.

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