By Scott Tady
Beaver County Times

May 11, 2021 – ALIQUIPPA – Bocce balls and bands soon get rolling again at Sheffield Lanes.

The Aliquippa fun spot, long popular for its bowling lanes and its Ricky Dee’s Pizza, knows people are looking for outside entertainment, too.

Hence the return of two regulationsize bocce courts that debuted successfully in 2019, but didn’t see much action last year due to the pandemic.

“We’ll be available all summer for people to play bocce from Thursdays to Sundays starting May 20,” Zach D’Agostino, of the familyowned Sheffield Lanes, said.

Customers can try their hand at the traditional Italian balltossing sport played on a natural surface below a veranda where guests can lounge and sip a drink, puff a cigar, or on some nights catch a live band.

The veranda and bocce courts were hopping in this 2019 photo from Sheffield Lanes. The Aliquippa restaurant has reopened the bocce courts and will bring back bands in June.
“We are launching music on the veranda in June,” owner Rick D’Agostino said. “I was being a little cautious when I scheduled bands, so I only booked one per week on alternating Fridays and Saturdays, but I am thinking of filling in a couple more dates here and there.”

Currently booked:

•June 4 and July 10: The Living Street, an acoustic folkrock duo focused on harmonies and songwriting.

•June 12 and July 16: Joe Munroe, Beaver County Musicians’ Hall of Famer, keyboardist for Ghost Hounds and human encyclopedia of music.

•June 18 and July 24: Bobby Thompson, the acclaimed rock & blues guitaristvocalist.

•June 26 and July 30: The High Level Band jam band that gets people dancing.

•July 2: Jordan McLaughlin, solo vocalist and acoustic guitarist heard on WLERFM (97.7 The Rock Station.)

Bands return to the veranda at Sheffield Lanes in June.
“We are really looking forward to live music here again,” Rick D’Agostino said.

Bocce has returned to the outdoor patio and veranda at Sheffield Lanes in Aliquippa.
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Sheffield Lanes and neighboring restaurant Butcher & Son also will cohost car cruises on May 30, June 13 and 27, July 11 and 25, Aug. 1 and 29, Sept. 26, and Oct. 17 and 24.

“We have a DJ for the event playing oldies from the ’50s through ’70s, and we have dash plaques and door prizes,” Rick D’Agostino said. “Plus our bar and Ricky Dee’s Pizza are open and the veranda is open for outdoor seating. Of course, bocce and bowling are available, too. Butcher and Son will be serving craft beers outdoors.

“Because of the cruises, we are also now the ‘Official Home of the Aliquippa Outlaws Car Club.'”

Scott Tady is the local Entertainment Reporter for The Beaver County Times and Ellwood City Ledger. He’s easy to reach at stady@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @scotttady