But it's also part of a huge subculture network of dart players' havens throughout the city of Philadelphia which includes, but is hardly limited to, Dirty Frank's, McGillin's, Dickens Inn, Brownie's and the Artful Dodger.

The desire to dart is not visceral. It doesn't spark any long-buried yearnings to spear-hunt the mammoth, nor quench a desire to get in touch with primitive roots.

In fact, most people start with darts pretty inadvertently, as a time-killer between pints.

"You come in, fuck around and then the next thing you know you want to get better and you end up competing," says New Wave manager Aly Lynagh, a fountain of knowledge whose other claim to fame is as a $15,500 winner on Jeopardy! last October.

Requiring more skill than a round of quarters and less equipment than bowling, darts is perhaps one of the oldest drinking games. But what starts as a diversion can quickly become an obsession.

The New Wave is one of at least 90 watering holes in the city which participate in regular dart leagues, according to Lynagh. And the bar, which is coming up on its 13th anniversary and undergoing renovations to increase its darting capacity, has been taking part in the Olde English dart league for seven years. Fielding two to three teams of 10 per season, the New Wave's trophy wall speaks of a storied darting history. "You have your up years and down years," says Lynagh. "Generally we're competitive."

"I know guys who can hit what they're shooting for 90 percent of the time, which is pretty humbling," laughs Lynagh. "But the only way to get better is to have your ass handed to you time and time again."

Which makes the New Wave an ideal hang if you're looking to improve. While neophytes are welcomed, there's always a couple of dart sharks in the lurk.

New Wave Cafe, 784 S. Third St., 922-8484.

- Brian Howard