Quasars Arcade, a dark, cool amusement cave, is a haven for sensory stimulation, competitive spirit—and girl power. This is because the arcade also serves as the headquarters for the small, but growing, Corpus Christi chapter of Belles & Chimes. As the city’s first women-only pinball club, it brings together women and girls of all ages and experience levels who love the game. Started two years ago, the group meets on most Sunday evenings to play, compare notes on techniques and socialize.
“Belles & Chimes offers friendly competition and encouragement for women who have been into pinball since childhood, who may have started playing later in life or who want to learn,” said Jenika Hernandez, one of the group’s members. “We all love pinball, and we want to see it thrive in Corpus Christi. That common bond makes the arcade our safe place.”
Hernandez is one of the players who compete in tournaments locally and in San Antonio and Austin. Coordinating the Corpus Christi tournaments is Valeria Moreno, who has been playing pinball for about two years. A former pool player, Moreno organizes and runs the local tournaments under the governance and rules of the International Flipper Pinball Association, so the Corpus Christi players will be well prepared for competitions outside the city.
“The tournaments are structured, but fun,” said Moreno. “It’s definitely friendly competition. The camaraderie is what it’s all about.”
Hernandez and Moreno take their pinball skills seriously, sometimes wearing fingerless athletic gloves to pump the flippers and coaxing the machine to lead the silver ball into the high-point channels. Both said pinball can be physical at times—they sometimes find themselves contorting their stances, maximizing their body language and jiggling the machine to the verge of getting a “Tilt” warning. Their rewards for a high score are seeing the bright visuals flash, hearing the machine ding and accepting the high fives of their fellow players.
Veronica Harris, a web designer, mother of two young children and stepmother to two adult kids, joined a couple of years ago. She and her husband Billy, a member of the South Texas Pinball League, often make a weekend trip to Quasars for a family outing. They even have two pinball machines at home; one is vintage.
“It’s just a fun group of women, whether you come for conversation and casual play or a tournament. What’s not to love about playing a fun game surrounded by people who share a common interest?” she said.
Belles & Chimes exemplifies the power of friendship and the joy of pursuing a hobby that transcends generations. As these women gather each week to perfect their skills, swap stories and encourage one another, they’re not just keeping the spirit of pinball alive; they’re creating a space where everyone can feel at home.
