Holiday Fun: Shoot 'Em Up With Paint

This holiday season, in addition to party planning, food buying and all the inviting, we have to deal with that dark, looming cloud of Y2K paranoia. Not to mention that your estranged, weird relatives will be in town. What can you do for that, aside from getting loopy on champagne?

We recommend that you round up your family and friends, take them to an indoor arena or an open field, arm yourselves with paint pellet guns and shoot at each other. That's right. Paintball is an excellent option for relieving pre-millennial tensions, and with all the cloak-and-dagger hunting and evading going on, it's perfect practice for what you might have to deal with if society crumbles.

Jim Gilbertson, owner of Bill & Jim's Excellent Adventure in Bellevue, thinks of his pet sport in more recreational terms, of course. "Paintball is a great stress reliever," he said. "And this is a very stressful time of the year for people."

The game's safer than you might think, provided you take the necessary precautions. First, wear dark, loose-fitting clothing you don't mind getting messy. The thicker the clothing, the less you'll feel the paint pellet, which on bare skin feels like being hit with a wet towel. Shoes with traction are also a must. In case you're having concerns along the lines of the mother in "A Christmas Story" ("You'll shoot your eye out!"), know that goggles and facemasks are provided. Just instruct Junior to keep them on at all times.

If your kid is under 12, you might be better off leaving him or her with a baby-sitter. Bill & Jim's welcomes youngsters above the age of 12 (for other places, 13 is the age cutoff), but if they're under 18, a parent or guardian has to fill out a form granting permission to play. That said, here are a few places around the area that will be open for some shoot-'em-up holiday fun.

Bill & Jim's Excellent Adventure, 13425 S.E. 30th Suite D, Bellevue. The only indoor place in Western Washington to shoot, hoot and holler, Bill & Jim's 20,000 square-foot arena has a maze-like quality to it, filled with special lighting, music and sound effects. For $15 players can rent equipment, including a semi-automatic pellet gun, and enjoy a 90-minute session. Gilbertson says you can get in about eight games during that time. Be sure to make reservations ahead of time, because over the holidays Bill & Jim's hosts a lot of private games. For information and hours call 425-643-7785.

KC's Paintball Sports, 13241 262nd Ave. E., South Prairie. KC's will be open New Year's Day and possibly New Year's Eve during the day. Those needing to decompress after Christmas will be glad to hear that they're planning a day-after-Christmas special. Their field is located 15 miles east of Puyallup, just a 45-minute drive from Seattle. For $25, you'll get rental equipment and 200 paint pellets, which lasts between an hour and 90 minutes. If you have your own equipment, the use of the field is $10. Private field rentals are also available for $25 per person with a 15-person minimum. The benefit is players get twice as many paint pellets. Private sessions must be scheduled and paid for a week in advance. For information, call 360-897-6267.

Splat Attack! Paintball Games & Supplies, 104th S.E., Kent. Splat Attack doesn't re-open until Dec. 4, but when it does, watch out! This weekends-only outfit now has a 50-acre field in the Federal Way area with lots of old growth trees to play in. A cool $20 will get everything but the paint pellets, which are additional. Folks toting their own equipment have to pay only $10 to rent the field. Call 253-852-7105 for the details.

Paintball Playground, 17307 N.E. 185th Avenue, Woodinville. The playground welcomes all comers on weekends. Prices, which include rental equipment, are $25 for three hours and $45 for a six. Group rates and private sessions are also available. Call 425-483-6611 or check out their web site, www.paintballplayground.com, for more information.

End of Entros

Speaking of fun stuff, Entros, a playground where white-collared types use their teamwork skills to win games (and the company credit card to buy drinks), is closing at the end of January. Oh well...who's for a round of paintball?

Got a question for the Backstage Pass? Call Melanie McFarland at 206-464-2256. E-mail: mmcfarland@seatimes.com