BARCADES

one-of-a-kind barcade is Akihabara, which, while located in Westminster, transports visitors to the Tokyo gaming district that gives the business its name.

Owner Brandon Osha said he was blown away when he had the chance to visit Akihabara and take in its blocks of multi-story arcades.

“The first time I went to Akihabara I knew I wanted to bring that here because it’s amazing,” Osha said.

He did just that by opening Akihabara in 2016.

Similar to Nikolich, Osha grew up with a love of gaming and worked at a local arcade and GameStop. Instead of pinball though, Osha’s games of choice came in arcade cabinets, which he began collecting at age 16.

Currently, Akihabara offers 52 arcade cabinets with around 65 games, but Osha has plans to expand his location with 25 new games and additional space, which he said will be complete this summer.

Osha said the game selection, which includes fighting games, rhythm games and nostalgic classics, definitely sets Akihabara apart.

“You never see this many (arcade cabinets) in one place,” he said. “We have such a different variety of games that you won’t find anywhere else in Colorado.”

One of the stranger and more rare games Akihabara offers is a Japanese table flipping game called Cho Chabudai, but more well-known games include Third Strike, Monkeyball, Typing of the Dead and Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon. All of the games are $1 or less to play.

Osha said a lot of people come in seeking a specific game that’s hard to find anywhere else, but he encourages visitors to try whatever piques their interest, even if they can’t necessarily read the Japanese instructions.

“I think it’s a lot of games that people have never seen, but they might find something that they like,” he said. “Plus, it’s usually only three buttons and a joystick, so they’re not too hard to learn.”

Akihabara’s focus on Japanese culture carries over into the bar offerings, which include Japanese beers and cocktails made with Japanese liquor, as well as a variety of packaged snacks and ramen options.

Overall, Osha said he tries to provide a space that’s both niche and for everyone, describing the Akihabara crowd as a welcoming hodgepodge.

“If you’re looking to find a friend, you’ll find one around here somewhere,” he said.

We’d like to know about events or activities of interest to the community. Visit www.canyoncourier.com/calendar/ and post your event online for free. Email dbrobst@coloradocommunitymedia.com to get items in the print version of the paper. Items will appear in print on a space-available basis.

FRIDAY sored by Go Paint! is in full swing. Decorate your ceramic egg by March 19. Cost is $15, with a portion of the proceeds going to Resilience1220. Age groups are up to 8 years old, 9-13 and 14 and older. Voting will take place March 22-31, and winners will be noti ed April 1. First place receives $25, second place $20, third place $15.

Evergreen chamber March Madness Mixer: e Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce will host its March Madness Mixer from 5:30-7 p.m. Friday, March 17, at e Wild Game. For more information, visit evergreenchamber.com.

Evergreen Chamber Orchestra spring concert: Evergreen Chamber Orchestra’s spring concert will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 19, at Evergreen Lutheran Church, 5980 Highway 73. Steinway artist Stephanie Cheng will perform Clara Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A Minor. For more information and tickets, visit evergreenchamberorch. org.

UPCOMING show will run through March 26. Shadow Mountain Gallery is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. in downtown Evergreen between Java Groove and Beau Jo’s. is encouraged. Net proceeds are distributed as grants for charitable causes through the Evergreen and Conifer Rotary Foundations. For more information, visit foothillshomeshow.com.

Evergreen Audubon Explore More: Registration is now open for Evergreen Audubon’s Explore More after-school programs starting the last week of March at Marshdale and Wilmot elementary schools and Rocky Mountain Academy of Evergreen. ese programs are for kids who love being outdoors and learning about nature and science. For more information and to register, visit www.EvergreenAudubon. org and click on Events.

FRIDAY-SUNDAY

“Chapter Two:” Evergreen Players will perform “Chapter Two” by Neil Simon through March 26. Friday and Saturday are at 7 p.m. and Sunday matinee performances are at 2 p.m. Shows are at Evergreen Players Black Box eatre, 27886 Meadow Drive, Unit B, Evergreen. Tickets are $30 and may be purchased online at www.evergreenplayers.org or by calling 720-515-1528.

SUNDAY

Art of the Egg: e 15th annual Art of the Egg decorating contest spon- e Kids Are Back art show: Shadow Mountain Gallery will again display artwork by local elementary school children. “ e Kids Are Back!” e display is in recognition of National Youth Art Month and includes artwork from six schools: Wilmot, Marshdale, King-Murphy, e Bergens and Parmalee. e ere is no entry fee, though bringing two nonperishable food items for Evergreen Christian Outreach

Shadow Mountain Legacy: e Conifer Historical Society is sponsoring a program called e Shadow Mountain Legacy at 2 p.m. March 26 at the Little White Schoolhouse, 26951 Barkley Road in Conifer. Tickets are $10-$12 and may be purchased at ConiferHistoricalSociety. org/tickets.

Snowshoe hike: Explore the beauty of Colorado’s winter wonderland on a guided snowshoe hike in Georgetown. Kimberly Knox of Georgetown Outdoor Discovery and Evergreen Audubon’s Emma Vasicek will lead the hike on April 1. For more information and to register, visit www.evergreenaudubon. org/events/snowshoe-hike-withgeorgetown-outdoor-discoveryjanuary-2023.

Foothills Home, Garden & Lifestyle Show: Foothills Home, Garden & Lifestyle Show will be April 1-2 at Evergreen High School. e show, sponsored by Evergreen and Conifer Rotary, will be from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.

DriveSafe scholarship: DriveSafe is o ering a scholarship for students who are graduating from high school, or attending college or trade school. To apply, students must ll out an application form and write an essay or create a video answering the question: “How has learning to drive helped you in ways you didn’t expect?” Entries must be submitted by April 2, and winners will be announced on May 1.

Evergreen chamber breakfast: e Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce’s monthly mem-