Road trip to Fun Spot / Classic Video Game Museum in Laconia, NH
posted October 17, 2011 8:21 AM RSS | iCal | +googleCal
Sat November 12 at 11:00 AM, Fun Spot / Classic Video Game Museum in Laconia, NH
Alewife Station Access Rd, Cambridge, MA, USA (Map & Directions)
Jump some barrels, chase some ghosts and recharge your Superzapper, we’re making a road trip to Fun Spot in Laconia, New Hampshire! This is the home of the Classic Arcade Game Museum (list of games) as seen in the documentary The King of Kong. Seriously, did you see that list of games? Go look at it again. I’ll wait. They also have a ton of pinball machines and some other stuff. It's going to be awesome, you should totally come.
The arcade is about an hour and a half drive from the Boston area. We have several people willing to drive who will meet up at Alewife Station (end of the Red Line) in Cambridge. Others can arrange to carpool from other locations or just meet us at the arcade. Passengers should expect to chip in a few bucks for gas and tolls. There are at least two tolls on the NH Turnpike.
Note: I’ve listed the location of the meetup as Alewife Station in order to alert Boston Mefites about the meetup. The arcade is located in Laconia, NH. If you know of any other New England Mefites who might be interested, please pass the word along.
We’ll be leaving the station at 11:00 AM on Saturday, November 12th. There is a restaurant and bar at the arcade or we can stop somewhere on the way up for lunch. Plan on spending the afternoon at the arcade and returning at some point in the early evening, depending on how much fun we’re having and our supply of tokens.
Carpooling:
If you need to hitch a ride with somebody please let us know in this thread. We want to make sure there are enough empty seats for everyone.
If you have a car and can offer a ride to someone(s), please say so. We’d like to have as few cars as possible going up so if there are an abundance of cars we can figure out somewhere to leave them along the way.
I will be driving and can take at least three others, four if you don't mind a tight squeeze.
Note: I’ve listed the location of the meetup as Alewife Station in order to alert Boston Mefites about the meetup. The arcade is located in Laconia, NH. If you know of any other New England Mefites who might be interested, please pass the word along.
We’ll be leaving the station at 11:00 AM on Saturday, November 12th. There is a restaurant and bar at the arcade or we can stop somewhere on the way up for lunch. Plan on spending the afternoon at the arcade and returning at some point in the early evening, depending on how much fun we’re having and our supply of tokens.
Carpooling:
If you need to hitch a ride with somebody please let us know in this thread. We want to make sure there are enough empty seats for everyone.
If you have a car and can offer a ride to someone(s), please say so. We’d like to have as few cars as possible going up so if there are an abundance of cars we can figure out somewhere to leave them along the way.
I will be driving and can take at least three others, four if you don't mind a tight squeeze.
• I am interested
• Saturdays or Sundays
• Earlier in the day; coffee will help my score
• I have a car, and could take one other person, possibly more depending on my own +1's
• I could pick people up at Alewife Station, or Cambridge/Somerville/Watertown/Belmont/Arlington/Waltham
• To get to the other end
posted by not_on_display at 12:53 PM on October 17, 2011
• Saturdays or Sundays
• Earlier in the day; coffee will help my score
• I have a car, and could take one other person, possibly more depending on my own +1's
• I could pick people up at Alewife Station, or Cambridge/Somerville/Watertown/Belmont/Arlington/Waltham
• To get to the other end
posted by not_on_display at 12:53 PM on October 17, 2011
At this point Sat. the 12th or 19th are good for me. Any preference?
posted by bondcliff at 5:18 PM on October 17, 2011
posted by bondcliff at 5:18 PM on October 17, 2011
posted by Kosh at 5:56 AM on October 18, 2011
They have pinball? They have pinball! I'm in.
I can pick up from Alewife and can fit 3/squeeze 4. I agree with earlier in the day.
re climber: "Because it was there."
posted by backseatpilot at 9:33 AM on October 18, 2011
I can pick up from Alewife and can fit 3/squeeze 4. I agree with earlier in the day.
re climber: "Because it was there."
posted by backseatpilot at 9:33 AM on October 18, 2011
Oh, do they have Pinball! Those are just the ones on the classic floor. Not sure about the other areas, I haven't been there in about 25 years.
I'm leaning towards the 12th so I'll give it a couple days and if nobody has any strong preferences I'll call it for an 11:00 AM meetup on the 12th. Or earlier if people want.
posted by bondcliff at 10:28 AM on October 18, 2011
I'm leaning towards the 12th so I'll give it a couple days and if nobody has any strong preferences I'll call it for an 11:00 AM meetup on the 12th. Or earlier if people want.
posted by bondcliff at 10:28 AM on October 18, 2011
Interested, but the 19th rather than the 12th. suchatreat and I have to work that day. I haven't been up there in a year or two, so I'm sure Rolling Thunder has been unplugged and I need to re-set the high score.
posted by yerfatma at 10:41 AM on October 18, 2011
posted by yerfatma at 10:41 AM on October 18, 2011
Oh and we could take a couple people. We're in Dover, so you could either take Amtrak into Dover or the bus into Portsmouth.
posted by yerfatma at 10:42 AM on October 18, 2011
posted by yerfatma at 10:42 AM on October 18, 2011
Ok, so that's a vote for the 19th. Anyone have a problem with that?
I'm excited that they seem to have Death Race, a CPU-less game I only saw once in the 1970s at Fun & Games* in Framingham, MA when I was a kid. I believe it was banned shortly afterwards. It was the first video game that caused parents to complain about violence in video games.
*the greatest arcade that ever existed. Sadly, it has turned into a watered-down Chuck E. Cheese in recent years.
posted by bondcliff at 7:10 AM on October 19, 2011
I'm excited that they seem to have Death Race, a CPU-less game I only saw once in the 1970s at Fun & Games* in Framingham, MA when I was a kid. I believe it was banned shortly afterwards. It was the first video game that caused parents to complain about violence in video games.
*the greatest arcade that ever existed. Sadly, it has turned into a watered-down Chuck E. Cheese in recent years.
posted by bondcliff at 7:10 AM on October 19, 2011
It looks like the 19th is some sort of PAX east party. I suspect this might a) make the place very crowded and b) conflict with people who might want to attend PAX, which I assume is that weekend.
So now I'm thinking the 12th would be the better day.
posted by bondcliff at 6:36 PM on October 20, 2011
So now I'm thinking the 12th would be the better day.
posted by bondcliff at 6:36 PM on October 20, 2011
I will be in New Jersey on the 19th, so I would prefer the 12th.
posted by not_on_display at 9:43 PM on October 20, 2011
posted by not_on_display at 9:43 PM on October 20, 2011
Ok, confirmed for the 12th at 11:00 AM. I guess PAX isn't actually in town on the 19th but it turns out I can't make it that day anyway.
I've re-written the original post, rendering all comments before this one somewhat nonsensical.
posted by bondcliff at 7:27 AM on October 24, 2011
I've re-written the original post, rendering all comments before this one somewhat nonsensical.
posted by bondcliff at 7:27 AM on October 24, 2011
Excellent! I will plan on driving and can pick people up from Alewife.
posted by backseatpilot at 12:53 PM on October 24, 2011
posted by backseatpilot at 12:53 PM on October 24, 2011
Also, if it's easier for anyone to meet me at Riverside (or along Rt 9), I can pick people up there on the way to Alewife.
posted by bondcliff at 1:57 PM on October 24, 2011
posted by bondcliff at 1:57 PM on October 24, 2011
Although I still plan on attending this, I am going to rescind my offer of a car-ride until I figure out my plans surrounding that weekend.
(If I can give a ride, I will definitely burn a CD of Buckner & Garcia's Pac-Man Fever album to play on the trip.)
posted by not_on_display at 12:28 PM on October 26, 2011
(If I can give a ride, I will definitely burn a CD of Buckner & Garcia's Pac-Man Fever album to play on the trip.)
posted by not_on_display at 12:28 PM on October 26, 2011
I just found out about the Red Line closures in another thread.
I don't know who is still planning on coming (I hope everyone!) but this could impact car-pooling. Plan additional time to get to Alewife or plan to meet elsewhere.
posted by bondcliff at 10:37 AM on November 8, 2011
I don't know who is still planning on coming (I hope everyone!) but this could impact car-pooling. Plan additional time to get to Alewife or plan to meet elsewhere.
posted by bondcliff at 10:37 AM on November 8, 2011
Still planning on coming! We live pretty close to Alewife so if we're only taking one car I can just walk over there.
posted by backseatpilot at 2:43 PM on November 9, 2011
posted by backseatpilot at 2:43 PM on November 9, 2011
I am not so sure at this point that I'll be able to make this. If I don't see you all there, play a round of Asteroids and a round of Track and Field. And I, Robot if they have it. Oh, and the Fun House pinball game! Play that too!! And have FUN!!
posted by not_on_display at 7:53 PM on November 9, 2011
posted by not_on_display at 7:53 PM on November 9, 2011
Dude! Say it ain't so...
I will hopefully have a +1 with me. Also, someone (who will be anon at this point until he/she says it's ok) sent me a couple dozen Fun Spot tokens to share with the group.
posted by bondcliff at 8:13 PM on November 9, 2011
I will hopefully have a +1 with me. Also, someone (who will be anon at this point until he/she says it's ok) sent me a couple dozen Fun Spot tokens to share with the group.
posted by bondcliff at 8:13 PM on November 9, 2011
Oh speaking of - can I acquire tokens with credit cards or do I need to rustle up some cash before we head out?
posted by backseatpilot at 9:11 PM on November 9, 2011
posted by backseatpilot at 9:11 PM on November 9, 2011
Phooey, I have to work. Please schedule another one at some point, I've always wanted to visit this place!!
posted by Melismata at 8:05 AM on November 10, 2011
posted by Melismata at 8:05 AM on November 10, 2011
Not sure about credit cards. I'd assume they at least have an ATM, though you might get charged a bit.
posted by bondcliff at 10:39 AM on November 10, 2011
posted by bondcliff at 10:39 AM on November 10, 2011
At this point it looks like we have three confirmed. Me, a +1, and Backseatpilot. We'll be taking one car and have an extra seat if anyone else wants to join us.
The wonderful user known as Zix has supplied a few spare tokens for our gaming pleasure.
posted by bondcliff at 10:21 AM on November 11, 2011
The wonderful user known as Zix has supplied a few spare tokens for our gaming pleasure.
posted by bondcliff at 10:21 AM on November 11, 2011
I hope you all had some great fun! I plan on visiting Fun Spot in the not-distant future and will post it here if I do. Sorry I couldn't make it to this one.
BONUS x 10
posted by not_on_display at 3:31 PM on November 12, 2011
BONUS x 10
posted by not_on_display at 3:31 PM on November 12, 2011
Sorry you couldn't make it, n_o_d. We had a good time. Amazing to walk around and see all those old games. They even had an original Computer Space (first coin-op video game) and Pong. Donky Kong (the very game from the film), Pacman, you name it. Suspiciously absent was Q*Bert. Backseatpilot kicked some ass at pinball, I'll tell ya wut. I'd go back in a second.
A few photos here.
posted by bondcliff at 2:30 PM on November 13, 2011
A few photos here.
posted by bondcliff at 2:30 PM on November 13, 2011
We would love to make it and will plan better next time. I was also sorry to miss it.
posted by jessamyn at 5:11 PM on November 13, 2011
posted by jessamyn at 5:11 PM on November 13, 2011
I have enough leftover tokens to last me several days on that Addams Family pinball table which I will happily bring to the next trip out there.
I hope they get that left flipper fixed, though, that was some weak-ass shit.
posted by backseatpilot at 5:31 AM on November 14, 2011
I hope they get that left flipper fixed, though, that was some weak-ass shit.
posted by backseatpilot at 5:31 AM on November 14, 2011
NO Q*BERT?! [closing thread]
Still, looking at the pics made me drool more, and then have flashbacks. KRULL? The Cyclone Pinball game? Dragon's Lair?
Yeah, there will be a next time for this meetup, and I will be there.
posted by not_on_display at 2:42 PM on November 14, 2011
Still, looking at the pics made me drool more, and then have flashbacks. KRULL? The Cyclone Pinball game? Dragon's Lair?
Yeah, there will be a next time for this meetup, and I will be there.
posted by not_on_display at 2:42 PM on November 14, 2011
So I was looking online for an Addams Family pinball table closer to home, and I found this place - anyone ever try it?
posted by backseatpilot at 2:48 PM on November 18, 2011
posted by backseatpilot at 2:48 PM on November 18, 2011
Zix, the one who sent me the tokens, told me about that one. She recommends it.
It's a bit closer. I'm up for it.
posted by bondcliff at 8:42 PM on November 18, 2011
It's a bit closer. I'm up for it.
posted by bondcliff at 8:42 PM on November 18, 2011
I hope I can attend the next one, wherever it is!
posted by not_on_display at 10:15 PM on November 22, 2011
posted by not_on_display at 10:15 PM on November 22, 2011
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by Melismata at 12:40 PM on October 17, 2011