Loosen up those crazy flipper fingers. The pop-up arcade is back!
A dazzling assortment of pinball machines and classic arcade games has returned to the Lovell Taproom building in downtown Astoria.
The fun zone is open to all ages now through Nov. 3, and the best part is it’s all free. No coins or tokens needed.
Thanks, Fort George Brewery.
The temporary arcade debuted last winter as part of the lead-up to the raucous, stout-sipping Festival of Dark Arts and was a big hit.
It’s back as a pre-Halloween celebration and antidote to the inevitable gray, rainy days ahead. As the machines were being set up the afternoon of Oct. 2, brewery employees were racing to put up spooky decorations.
“It’s just fun,” said Fort George marketing director Brian Bovenizer, a game buff who came up with the idea for the instant arcade. “I’m very excited.”
Fort George is again renting the machines from QuarterWorld Arcade in Portland.
The new shipment includes seven pinball machines and eight arcade games, including Tempest, Street Fighter II, Ms. Pac-Man and Drift, a car-racing game with two seats.
For small groups, there’s also a four-player Pac-Man table game called “Battle Royale” with built-in cup holders.
Bovenizer said the brewery is offering a special arcade food menu this time, including popcorn and kitchen-made corndogs, nachos and cheese curds. Beer and other drinks, including non-alcoholic options, are available.
The arcade is open Wednesday through Sunday, starting at 4 p.m. on weekdays and noon on weekends.
The Lovell building, at Duane and 14th streets, also houses Fort George’s small-batch brewery and merchandise store.
