Secrets of the City

Much like vinyl records regaining popularity by providing a different and unique experience in this era of unlimited digital music, arcade machines are making a comeback in the Xbox era.

Double Danger Comics by the Bryant Lake Bowl recently transformed into a short-lived novelty shop and now Rusty Quarters Arcade. When we stopped in, the space was a little stuffy—never thought we’d be begging for air conditioning in January—but also a lot of fun. There are current, albeit some retro, arcade standards like Ms. Pacman and Galaga, but also games we’ve been pining to play again in an arcade setting for years, such as Frogger, Donkey Kong (the one with pre-Mario “Jumpman”), and Tetris. They also buy and sell old video game cartridges from Atari, Sega, and all the pre-Gamecube Nintendo systems, so if you lost your copy of Major League Baseball featuring Ken Griffey, Jr. (with the best video game theme song ever), you might be able to find it there.

Tom Horgen at the STrib also checked out the arcade and some of its high scorers.

We don’t need to take sides on the stadium issue to point out that the inevitable new stadium sure is taking a long time to figure out.

Of course, Vikings owner Zygi Wilf hasn’t made it easy for lawmakers to just pick a spot already, but lawmakers haven’t helped themselves in untangling the web that’s blocking a deal from getting done. Dayton has told Wilf & Co. that a Metrodome site is the only option, meaning the Vikes would play at TCF Bank Stadium for a few seasons. But Wilf still prefers Arden Hills, and the NFL isn’t too thrilled about the idea of the Vikes playing in a college stadium and could block that proposal if it were to land on their desk. (more…)

Of all the thankless jobs out there in the TC, a bouncer in Dinkytown has to be one of the most thankless, especially as the semesters start and underage kids test out their fake IDs. From an entertaining piece in the MN Daily on the guys at the doors of the bars and restaurants over by the U:

Huff, 19, said she bought the ID on the Internet for $30 and would use it to get into bars in Madison, where she attends the University of Wisconsin.

Oh, Madison. The piece also has some interesting details of how door and security staff go through education courses and how most very intoxicated people can be talked out of a bar.

The Legacy Amendment has made, as you might imagine, other arts and culture scenes across the country quite envious of Minnesota. Here’s why: 17 Twin Cities organizations were awarded big chunks of money from statewide legacy funds as part of the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants.

Of the $3.8 million given to 59 organizations statewide, Hennepin and Ramsey counties accounted for $1,364,605 of the total funds, or roughly 36 percent. For some more fun with numbers, the total amount given statewide for these funds, which some legislators recommended tapping for the Vikings stadium debacle, would have amounted to roughly .003 percent of the proposed $1.1 billion budget.

See which of the 17 TC organizations got money after the jump, or read the whole statewide list over at MinnPost.
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