The building where the Academy of Spherical Arts resides is on 1 Snooker Street in Liberty Village. Originally owned by Brunswick from 1905 to 1959, the building was home to a manufacturing facility where billiard tables, balls and racks including bowling pins and bowling balls were produced. The building was then sold and eventually renovated and space was leased out for storage and offices.

Enter Rick Williams in 1991 with five antiquated billiard tables and two French bulldogs. He had spent the last few years in Burlington without much success restoring and selling antique billiard tables. So he hoped that perhaps this new location in Liberty Village would be more fruitful. He optimistically anticipated financing his Boho lifestyle, fulfilling his dream of going to the Ontario College of Art and becoming a sculptor.

As fate would have it, he didn't sell any tables. So next, he inquired into getting a restaurant and liquor license. But that idea was nixed with the lack of zoning in the area at that time.

Not one to give up easily, Williams ingeniously opened a school for billiards – "The Academy of

Spherical Arts"– selling memberships for $2000 annually to corporations and $100 a month for individuals. One could engage a table for $5 for an entire day on top of the membership fee. This worked for a while, but cheese and crackers were not cutting it.

Along came a chance encounter with a man in 1996 who, too, was a big fan of billiards and ultimately gave Williams a license for a restaurant. Following this was another serendipitous encounter; this time with an event planner whom Williams met while attending the Toronto International Film Festival. As a result of this random run-in, the Academy of Spherical Arts became a destination for special events.

Today, The Academy of Spherical Arts is a sensational location for corporate functions, special events or simply for a superb brunch, lunch or dinner. The Academy also houses an art gallery, a most impressive wine cellar and is presently catering up to 400 events a year. Soon enough you'll also be able to enjoy Williams' latest project, wine made from his own vineyard in the Niagara region.

The Academy Of Spherical Arts is located at 1 Snooker St. (at Hanna Ave.) | 416.532.2782 sphericalarts.com