3/21/2005
Beer and Retro Arcade Games
Old school video games meet great beer at Williamsburg spot
by John LichmanStaff Writer
A staple in any 18- to 25-year-old's life may often be liquor, but video games have a gentler mass appeal that makes people remember simpler times. Who wouldn't want to kick the shells of defeated Koopa Troopers back at Bowser, shuck and jive against Glass Joe or leap over those damn barrels that Donkey Kong kept throwing at Mario? What if someone combined liquor and video games? And what if someone made it an actual bar, and not just a really depressing Thursday night? Well, kids, quit punching in the Konami Code and go socialize at Brooklyn's Barcade. What makes the place great? "The vibe, the beer and the games," said a local who threatened physical harm to me before discussing why "Cowboy Bebop" is the greatest anime ever. That is the beauty of this renovated garage, which possesses massive ceilings with a dim enough interior to make it a great spot to kill time and see friends. Of course, there are also the 20 or so arcade machines like "Donkey Kong," "Punch-Out," "Rolling Thunder," "Smash TV!" and even "Rampage," all in their original glory just as if they were moved that morning. Next up, and most importantly for alkies, is the beer selection. Each week, there are new selections from 23 micro-brewed beers like Magic Hat No. 9 and Victory Hop Devil, to the aptly named Harpoon Winter Warmer. The one mainstay is Guinness, everyone's favorite replacement for an actual meal - which is good, since you'll be hard-pressed to find food at the bar, save for 50 cent chips and tasty jerky. All beer is $5, served straight from the tap with no bottles. Beer, like the video games, is taken quite seriously here. Aside from that, you'll never find a larger bar in Manhattan that isn't packed to the brim. On the weekends the place becomes a bit fuller, but it's not impossible to order a drink and speak to your friends. The speakers pump out everything from L7 to Meat Puppets, followed by Rush, giving no real preference to whoever's at the bar. The vibe is so welcoming you'll be downing micro-brew like it was water and striking up conversations. The people do tend to come with friends, but that's where the joy of video games comes in. They have a change machine that'll make sure you soon go broke, but watch out: Most of the games are salvaged from the '80s. I lost twice to Glass Joe in "Punch-Out!" because my left jab button had a funny way of flying off and disappearing beneath the machine. The dim lights didn't help. Don't let that deter you. Barcade may be one of the most original and enjoyable places to head to once you grow tired of Josie Woods, that crap Mexican cab place and the bodega you always get OE from. Take advice from the semi-friendly local guy who's going to hurt me for briefly quoting him: "Be adventurous and try something new." • Barcade is open Monday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 4 a.m. and Sunday from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Take the L train to Lorimer Street, and exit at Union Avenue; G train to Metropolitain Avenue, exit at Union Avenue.
A staple in any 18- to 25-year-old's life may often be liquor, but video games have a gentler mass appeal that makes people remember simpler times. Who wouldn't want to kick the shells of defeated Koopa Troopers back at Bowser, shuck and jive against Glass Joe or leap over those damn barrels that Donkey Kong kept throwing at Mario? What if someone combined liquor and video games? And what if someone made it an actual bar, and not just a really depressing Thursday night? Well, kids, quit punching in the Konami Code and go socialize at Brooklyn's Barcade. What makes the place great? "The vibe, the beer and the games," said a local who threatened physical harm to me before discussing why "Cowboy Bebop" is the greatest anime ever. That is the beauty of this renovated garage, which possesses massive ceilings with a dim enough interior to make it a great spot to kill time and see friends. Of course, there are also the 20 or so arcade machines like "Donkey Kong," "Punch-Out," "Rolling Thunder," "Smash TV!" and even "Rampage," all in their original glory just as if they were moved that morning. Next up, and most importantly for alkies, is the beer selection. Each week, there are new selections from 23 micro-brewed beers like Magic Hat No. 9 and Victory Hop Devil, to the aptly named Harpoon Winter Warmer. The one mainstay is Guinness, everyone's favorite replacement for an actual meal - which is good, since you'll be hard-pressed to find food at the bar, save for 50 cent chips and tasty jerky. All beer is $5, served straight from the tap with no bottles. Beer, like the video games, is taken quite seriously here. Aside from that, you'll never find a larger bar in Manhattan that isn't packed to the brim. On the weekends the place becomes a bit fuller, but it's not impossible to order a drink and speak to your friends. The speakers pump out everything from L7 to Meat Puppets, followed by Rush, giving no real preference to whoever's at the bar. The vibe is so welcoming you'll be downing micro-brew like it was water and striking up conversations. The people do tend to come with friends, but that's where the joy of video games comes in. They have a change machine that'll make sure you soon go broke, but watch out: Most of the games are salvaged from the '80s. I lost twice to Glass Joe in "Punch-Out!" because my left jab button had a funny way of flying off and disappearing beneath the machine. The dim lights didn't help. Don't let that deter you. Barcade may be one of the most original and enjoyable places to head to once you grow tired of Josie Woods, that crap Mexican cab place and the bodega you always get OE from. Take advice from the semi-friendly local guy who's going to hurt me for briefly quoting him: "Be adventurous and try something new." • Barcade is open Monday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 4 a.m. and Sunday from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Take the L train to Lorimer Street, and exit at Union Avenue; G train to Metropolitain Avenue, exit at Union Avenue.
