With MDEV just around the corner here in Madison, Wisconsin, developers from all around the country and beyond flock to the city. As someone who has lived here for a little over a year, I feel vaguely qualified to offer some entertainment options. So in no particular order, here are five places to check out while in the Mad City. Boss Rush is not affiliated with any of these places; I just like them.
1) Double Tap Arcade Bar
For the fans of glow-y lights and tickets that earn minimal prizes, I have to recommend the Double Tap Arcade Bar. Seated on state street a few blocks south of the capitol, Double Tap offers a good selection of games, beverages, and pub food. I have a few friends who go specifically for the Dance Dance Revolution machines or Skee ball, or a few old school arcade games, but personally, I am there to develop pinball psychosis. Make sure to order a Boss Rush while you’re there. They don’t know us, but it’s a lovely coincidence.
See the directions here.
2) Noble Knight Games
Or as I like to call it, Nerd Mecca. This marvelous, warehouse sized game store has all sorts of board, card, dice, tabletop, and other games. The collection of TTRPGs here is also incredible, much of which has been sitting on shelves for twenty years. I’ll brag here that I found a collection of the core books for D&D 4E for about 40 bucks total, as well as a copy of the Fate rulebook for $10. In addition to all that, they have a lot of tablespace to play games in the store.
3) Leopold’s Book Bar
Half bookstore, half werebar (coffee shop that turns into a bar at night), Leopold’s is one of my favorite spots to buy more books than I’m willing to read and sip on a coffee. It’s rated the #3 best Independent Bookstore in the country and for good reason. It has a cozy, elegant chic to it, and it’s the perfect place to pick up some inspiration for your next game project.
4) Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
While Madison is the host of many excellent institutions, the Museum of Contemporary Art is a standout for its interesting installations and visualizations. I find it a great source of inspiration for my own games, and it’s right in the center of downtown, and not too far from Tap Tap.
5) Isthmian Gaming Lounge
As opposed to Double Tap, the Isthmian Gaming Lounge has more of an internet cafe feeling to it, with rows of beefy, low-latency desktops to play games on. There’s also some tablespace for board and card games, if that’s more your jam.
Conclusion
I hope this gives you an idea of what Madison has to offer, beyond the tourist traps that everyone will tell you about. And if you run into Shane or me at the conference, feel free to ask me for more recommendations!
Featured Image Credit: – Wikideas1
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