When the Aloft hotel on D Street opened on Feb. 4, the lobby had one of the pool tables that all Aloft hotels have. And then management had to order it packed up and put it in storage when they learned that Boston requires a license for pool tables in places of public accommodation. Read more.

Whalehead King pays a visit to the always open Boston Bowl in Dorchester:

... The most popular part of Boston Bowl during our visit, besides the outdoor smoking area conveniently located at the entrance, was the extensive and crowded pool room. Apparently, people like to engage in a round of billiards late in the wee hours of the morning. The clientele's demographics skewed young, but everyone was congenial and seemed sober. This isn't a place to work off the effects of a bender. ...