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Place that would let you simulate zooming around a race track with a real beer wins approval for Seaport location
By adamg on Thu, 12/14/2023 - 12:12pm
The Boston Licensing Board today approved a liquor license for the proposed F1 Arcade at 87 Pier 4 Blvd., which will feature 69 F1 race-car simulators and, of course, a full-service bar.
The grown-up arcade for adults in a 15,000-square-foot space will be an outlet of a London-based outfit, which overlooks St. Paul's Cathedral. It's buying its liquor license from Mother Anna's Restaurant on Hanover Street in the North End.
Kids will be allowed to get their racing toes wet, but only until 7 p.m., after which only the 21+ set will let in. In addition to full-strength libations, the bar will also serve mocktails for designated drivers.
The arcade would be South Boston's second sports-like simulator: Earlier this year, Danny Picard won approval for a beer and wine license for his planned six-simulator Broadway Golf Club at 417 West Broadway.
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Comments
Did we ever…
Did we ever find Marty Walsh’s IndyCar racing helmet? Probably with Curley’s Desk somewhere.
Soon the transformation will be complete
Diverse actual city becomes a dystopian version of Universal Studios for the young biotech serfs to spend whatever is left over after housing costs on overpriced techno entertainment. Kids, wake up. Try walking around Castle Island and drinking at home with people you know.
Nice
This is perfect for the Seaport. Sit in traffic to go somewhere to pretend to drive fast.
If Six Was Nine
White collar conservative flashin down the street, pointin their plastic finger at me.
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Mother Anna's?
They sold their liquor license? Last I heard (and according to the giant banner they have outside), they were renovating and planned to reopen this coming summer.
It's the liquor license event horizon
Only a matter of time before the financial pull means that every liquor license in Boston is in the Seaport.
Bad vibes
I know it's just simulated driving, but it really rubs me the wrong way to combine that with a bar. Seems in poor taste.
and
First person shooter games do not have the same effect on you?
I don't see a problem with what F1 is doing. But I also used to be a regular at a Dave & Busters which is basically Chucky Cheese for Adults with Booze. Which is essentially F1. Driving video games have been around forever (Pole Position anyone?)
Also being able to do this might wake people up to the fact that driving drunk and/or at high speeds is a big GAME OVER for everyone involved.
I think it's a matter of distance.
I mean, frankly I'm not really a fan of shoot-em-ups either. But for most people, driving drunk is *far* closer to reality than going on a rampage. Race car or not, I think it just feels less fictional, and that feels like a problem to me.
The other thing is that both kinds of games put a thumb on the scales to make the game fun rather than realistic. That makes people think those things are easier than they really are... so no, I don't think there'd be a lesson there, either.
I'm not going to tell people not to do it. It's just that there's an ick factor there for me.
Possible benefit
One possible benefit of this is that people may learn that, the more they drink, the worse they do at sim racing. I've never done it, but Formula 1 drivers do most of their practicing on simulators so I assume that, like the real thing, it requires complete concentration, extremely fine and extremely fast motor control. There was a time, back in the 50's, when a F1 driver might knock down a quick whiskey during a pit stop, but they don't do that any more. Not because it would make them crash - they crash anyway, and walk away - but because it would slow them down.
Things people do in bars
There are bars that feature axe-throwing, and trivia contests, and, God forgive us, karaoke. And then there are the most popular activities of all, fighting, and hitting on other patrons and/or employees. The good-taste bar is rather low.
Will there be axe-throwing at this new establishment? I am adamantly opposed to throwing real axes from simulated race cars. That would definitely be in poor taste.