Wine For Misfits

1980s gaming meets modern trends at the Rewind Arcade in Sebastopol. Take a break from bougie wine tastings in your floppy hats and too short of slacks (lookin’ at you fellas) and add this casual outing to your Sonoma County itinerary.  

please note

All the photos from this blog are actually screenshots from videos. Because I’m a professional, I completely forgot to take photos. (This is what we call pivoting.)

But the graininess adds to the throwback vibe. So, you’re welcome.

If you want to see the vids, just follow @wineformisfits on all the social networks an elder millennial would know of.

The barlow

The Barlow is an outdoor market in Sebastopol. You’ll find tasting rooms, breweries, restaurants, and now an arcade.

The Barlow is walkable, family-friendly, and an easy afternoon if you’re looking to keep things within a four block radius.

If you find your Sonoma vacay days require a lot of driving, add a day just for the Barlow and maximize your time with this one convenient location.

We Can All Agree Pinball is the Best Arcade Game Right? 

It’s impressive how many pinball machines Rewind fits inside their three walls and garage door.

There are dozens. Or maybe a bakers dozen? I haven’t counted. But it feels like a lot.

And while most are newer machines made by Stern, there are quite a few old-school classics mixed in.

You’ll also find a handful of 80s and 90s video games like the Simpsons and Duck Hunt (vegan friendly hunting at its finest). 

Bring the Kids Then Ditch Them at 8pm

This is a kid-friendly establishment until 8pm. The only exception is on event nights like Karaoke on Mondays.

Kids can join in on the fun and sing their non-explicit Wiggles’ songs (are they still a thing? (Can you tell I don’t have kids?)). But when the clock turns 9pm, those kids gotta go.

They don’t have to go home but they can’t stay here. 

Don’t Skip Godzilla

This is just a love letter to the Godzilla pinball machine. It’s got a little Godzilla with a big heart.

As much as I enjoy pinball, I’m terrible at it. 

You know how people get better at games when they continue to practice? Doesn’t work like that for me. For five years I was on a Bocce ball team (NBD) and I never improved.

If you think about it, it’s actually more impressive I didn’t get better after five seasons. Not many people can do that.

But with the Godzilla machine, I can get a pretty good flow going after my third attempt. And by third attempt I don’t mean third ball, I mean third game.

If you find yourself on a losing streak, go pay Godzilla a visit. 

They card

Sucks for 19-year-olds, but fantastic for 38-year-olds!

Yes, please view all my personal information including my address and unflattering photo, as long as it means you think I could pass for being under 21. 

They even go as far as giving you wristbands that say you’re over 21 (because the engraved 11s between my eyebrows isn’t enough indication I am well beyond my 21st year of living).

This alone should give them 10 Kitties. 

Pour your own beer

They have a PourMyBeer system. When you see a beer that meets your fancy, you place the PourMyBeer card into their card reader and then press pour (their card will be linked to your credit card). 

They charge by the ounce, so you can try as many beers as you’d like before committing to one worthy of a full pint. 

Oh, and do you like a cold glass? They have a refrigerator for that. Get a fresh glass with every pour. 

For the squares & the kids

For those who prefer non-alcoholic liquids, they have one of the best vending machines that goes well beyond soda options.

You can choose anything from iced coffee to hoppy water or Japanese iced tea.   

Order food in

Want snacks? Don’t let hunger ruin your winning streak. Have food come to you by ordering from restaurants around the Barlow.

There are signs with QR codes scattered around, so you don’t even have to talk to someone to get fed.

Just order from your phone, refuel, then go back dominating those leaderboards! 

The kitty rating score

TL;DR

This is a throwback, nostalgia time machine that’s run by a small business and balances wholesome family time with adults-only shenanigans.

This place gets 10 Kitties.