Today, I spent about 4 hours in a room that smelled like my 9th grade boyfriend. But instead of a heart full of broken promises, I had a glass half full of whiskey and a room full of friends braving the smell. Joystick in hand, I took a trip down memory lane where I played an old Commodore 64, thought about crushing my 1st grade crush Jake Jones at balloon man, and joined a modern day Dr. Mario slaughter-fest on an old-school Nintendo. Yes, friends. Today was Day 2 in the Louisville Arcade Expo 2011.
(photo above taken by friend Tricia)
My husband and Why Louisville printed the lovely Arcade Expo t-shirts seen below with surprise weekend guests Poprocks (left) and Beth (right).
Friends Beth, Imogen, and myself spent a lot of time in front of this old computer:
We had to re-learn joystick techniques…
And eventually we took over the original Nintendo with our Mario skills. Andrea Newberry - I want a Dr. Mario match! I killed it today! Sadly, I think teaching has turned me insensitive to whining. A pimple-faced teenager whimpered that he was having to wait a long time for the Nintendo after our first game on - I turned a deaf ear and he eventually went away…
It was that kind of day for everyone, and Game Karma hit me hard because I never got to play Dr. Who Pinball. A father and his 2 daughters played while I waited for an hour…but it was actually ok. Watching other people play was pretty fun too. But if David Tennant had been on the screen, I would have been really sad.
(Photo Below stolen from friend Tricia)
If you’re thinking about going to the Louisville Arcade Expo, do it, and buy a t-shirt! It’s $12 for a wristband, all the free games you want, and while the pinball lines are daunting, it’s pretty easy to get to a Commodore 64 or an old Nintendo, and those are the best anyway! Also - skip the bar unless you’re buying beer or just drinking on the rocks. Trust me on this one. The bartenders are nice, but mixing drinks it scary for them.
When:
Friday, March 4: 1PM to midnight
Saturday, March 5: 10 AM to midnight
Sunday, March 6: 10 AM to 3 PM
Where:Holiday Inn Hurstbourne1325 S Hurstbourne PkwyLouisville, KY 40222
Cost:Pre-registration is now closed!
AT THE DOOR: $12 PER DAY OR $30 FOR A WEEKEND PASSChildren 6 and under are free with adult admission.
FUNNIEST MOMENT EVER today was when someone accidentally pulled the plug from a wall full of games. The guys went CRAZY! It inspired Beth and I to write “the day my spectacles broke - the saddest moment at the Arcade Expo” - soon to be a number one hit.
