SOMETHING NEW DOWNTOWN starting Friday. Something very different.
It’s called the Edge of Reality, a virtual reality arcade on Washington Street on the ground floor of the Motors Building, across the street from Krist.
The arcade will offer six stations with an array of the latest VR games to play. “Mind-blowing experiences!” is how it’s being touted. There aren’t many such arcades here in the U.S. so Marquette appears to be in the vanguard.
It’s being brought to us by Jeff Nyquist, the guy behind Neurotrainer which is next door. Edge of Reality is a lot different, though. Neurotrainer is about cognitive medicine–therapeutic training for the mind.
Edge of Reality is just plain entertainment.
The likely players? Ages 13 to 40, though everybody’s welcome. Nyquist says several students at Marquette Senior High School have told him they’d love a VR arcade. The 40 Below group–young professionals–has already scheduled a date in June for their members to play.
It’ll be open 7 days a week until 9 pm. Opening time Friday will be 3 pm, and then it may vary.
Cost? Fifteen dollars for a half hour of playing, $20 for a full hour.
Here’s the potentially bad news: Nyquist says it’s a “pop-up” arcade, open for only a month. Nothing fancy about the surroundings. A big room with basic furniture and plain walls. It’s just something Nyquist et al wanted to do for a limited time since they’ve got the equipment and the expertise.
But here’s a guess: If it’s wildly successful, it’ll last for more than a month.
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YOU MAY HAVE noticed some construction work taking place at the old Marquette Powersports location on US-41.
That’ll be the location for the new Kubota dealership–to be owned by Marquette Powersports. Turns out, they never sold that property when they left it a few years ago to move to a more spacious location up the highway.
When the Kubota dealership became available recently, they grabbed it. Now Powersports, a family- owned operation, will have five locations, in and around the U.P.
The new dealership will offer all the Kubota products–tractors, implements, parts.
When will they open? Good question. They’re not sure. July, August…They hope sometime this summer, but nothing’s assured, given the frenzy of construction activity this year in Marquette County.
NO, IT’S NOTHING like the Marquette Symphony or the Marquette Choral Society or the Upper Peninsula Shakespeare Festival, but it can be a helluva lot of fun.
We’re talking about our roller derby gals, the Dead River Derby.
Their season opener comes this Saturday, May 20th, at Lakeview Arena. They’ll be taking on the Duluth Nautikills.
What’s fascinating about the Dead River gals is their diversity. The skaters, volunteers, and referees include a gynecologist, a bar owner, a college instructor, a veterinarian tech, a gas station owner, a forestry worker, college students, and stay-at-home moms.
They pay to play the sport because they love it. The challenge. The camaraderie. The bruises.
And when they make money at their bouts, they give to charity. And they’re entertaining. What’s not to love?
Oh, one more thing. Kids get in free. The perfect way for a family to spend a Saturday evening.
You got news? Email me at briancabell@gmail.com