Arcade Brewery (@arcadebrewery, 2601 W. Diversey Ave.) held a launch party at an apropos place … an arcade. On Wednesday, Logan Arcade (@LoganArcade, 2410 W. Fullerton Ave.) hosted its new neighbor. Frogger fans (and beer lovers) kept a line down the block for most of the night. When I arrived, the Arcade was at capacity (that’s a couple hundred people, folks), but it didn’t take long for me to gain entry to the masses.
Once inside, game geeks could sample Arcade brews William Wallace Wrestle Fest Scotch Ale, served up in a snifter for $5, or a pint of refreshing Grapefruit IPA for $4. Though the place was packed, the bartenders delivered in record time.
Between (and during) beer sampling, the nostalgic many spent time playing classics, such as BurgerTime, Ms. Pac-Man and Donkey Kong, or teaming up with friends for the multiplayer Killer Queen. Sadly, the pinball machines seemed to be among the neglected.
Dimo’s Pizza showed up around 9 p.m. through the back, and as you can imagine, those slices were devoured quicker than a pellet in Pac-Man.
There were raffles throughout the night for swag including T-shirts and prints of Grapefruit IPA label artwork, but even if your number didn’t get called, attending the event made you a winner.
For additional fun, Fotio (@FotioCo), a photography throwback from locals Nick and Theresa Harvey, was on hand with a vintage-looking camera setup near the entrance. Complete with Arcade backdrop, attendees could snap wacky photos of themselves with the simple click of a button.
Before: A bit skeptical of this photo “machine,” but I have beer. Photo: Fotio After: Grapefruit IPA doesn’t last long, especially on a hot night. Photo: Fotio
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