Bar Guide 2015: Ground Kontrol

511 NW Couch St., 796-9364, groundkontrol.com. Noon-2:30 am daily.

Step into the blue, pimple-disguising light. Portland's favorite beercade, Ground Kontrol, offers two stories of LED-backlit nostalgia fraught with nerdgasm and accompanied by real fake-cheese nachos ($4). The main arcade on the bottom floor is arranged in tight rows of entertainment, with a few underlit tables and chairs in an open area to wipe your brow after a tough match of Raiden II. Upstairs, you'll be internally debating which popular sci-fi, fantasy or animated theme is best suited for optimal pinball experience. Just kidding; it's obviously Judge Dredd. The place has a fully stocked liquor cabinet at the downstairs bar, but everyone knows the thing to do is to grab a pint of Replay IPA with a friend who also misses Big-era Tom Hanks, and lay claim to one of the 80-plus gaming options. Just make sure you pick the side with the easiest access to the cup holder.

Happy hour: 5-7 pm Monday-Saturday, 5 pm-midnight Sunday. $1 off wells and beer. 

Entertainment: Arcade cabinets, pinball, live DJs, live comedy, quiz shows, free play on second Thursdays and last Wednesdays from 5 pm-2:30 am.


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WWeek 2015

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