Up Next!
Fantasy Film Night: The Goonies
June 9, 2023 • Start: 7:30 PM
Witches & Wizards Arcade presents Fantasy Film Friday hosted by Detect Nerd. Columbia’s coolest/nerdiest free film series features trivia, commentary, raffle prizes and more!
Next up is The Goonies! This clown car of a kid's adventure film features pint-sized versions of Josh Brolin, Ke Huy Quan, Sean Astin, Jeff Cohen, Corey Feldman, Kerri Green and Martha Plimpton as they race to uncover the secrets of an old treasure map along Oregon’s scenic northern coast. Featuring a screenplay by Chris Columbus (Gremlins, Home Alone, Harry Potter) and based on a story by Steven Spielberg.
The Goonies shows Friday, June 9 at 7:30pm on the outdoor screen at Sentinel Park, 1214 Eugenia Street — with additional parking on Fay Street. Free admission! Beverages are available. Elizabeth Keach and Doug Miller of Columbia’s nerd/gaming group Detect Nerd host the show with trivia, commentary, and raffle prizes. For more info email thearcadedistrict@gmail.com.
Coming Soon!
Camp Possibly
July 14, 2023 • Doors: 6:00 PM • Start: 6:30 PM
Sentinel Park • 1214 Eugenia St, Columbia, MO 65201
Game manager Lars Van Zandt
The Railroad
August 18, 2023 • Doors: 6:00 PM • Start: 6:30 PM
Sentinel Park • 1214 Eugenia St, Columbia, MO 65201
Game manager Doug Miller
Four mix-matched adventurers traverse the realm of Lawbrand: a gritty, industrialized world where heady religion and ancient magic are in constant contention… all the while, the Auroboros writhes just beneath the surface, biding its time.
June 25, 2023 • 6:00 PM
July 30, 2023 • 6:00 PM
August 30, 2023 • 6:00 PM
Recent Events
Fantasy Film Night: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
May 27, 2023
Ye Olde One-Shot
May 19, 2023 • Sentinel Park
Within the land of Yolanda, sits the town of Neverhorn where six adventurers meet in a tavern of little importance. But hither, tis it not? This be the tavern where the heroic party shall gather and begin their grand quest. What will they face in these dire times? What will they sacrifice? Who will they become? What is their fate? Only time can tell the tales of these brave six; this courageous troupe! Join us as we weave a well-worn story of magic, mischief and might! Huzzah!
Players included Kyle Bogden, Chris Dijak, Anna Furstenau, Colter Janssen, Brock Johnson, and Travis Scott, with game managers Elizabeth Keach and Doug Miller.
Episode 6
April 30, 2023
Watch on YouTube
Fantasy Film Night: Raiders of the Lost Ark
April 22, 2023
Enter the Danklands
April 21, 2023 • Cafe Berlin
Don't change that channel! Up next, join our host and long-time nature enthusiast Nelly Wilson's return home to the treacherous Cannabian Jungle as she attempts to track the never-before-filmed Tetra Hydra Cannibalis. Can the cast and crew survive this treacherous, winding river basin? Will the local flora, fauna, and florauna be the end of our brave heroes? They may all die, but it should make for a great shot!
Players include Kyle Bogden, Anna Furstenau, Colter Janssen, Elizabeth Keach, Doug Miller and Travis Scott, with game manager Chris Dijak.
Talking Episodes 1 through 5
April 16, 2023
Watch on YouTube
Players Chris Dijak, Anna Furstenau, Colter Janssen, Doug Miller and Game Manager Elizabeth Keach sit down in the Booth of Discussion to talk about the world of Auroboros: Coils of the Serpent, what's going on in the campaign, and what the characters are all about.
Hydes of March
March 18, 2023 • Cafe Berlin
“Belittle Caesar!” The year is 44 BC, and Julius Caesar has just unflavorably decreed an end to delivery pizza! Traffic is just too insane in the city of Rome, and honestly, he owns stock in AnTony’s Frozen Pizza. His competitors know a stab in the back when they see one. So buckle up and beware the Hydes of March, Caesar. You might not make it out alive!
Players include Kyle Bogden, Elizabeth Keach, Doug Miller and Travis Scott, with game manager Elizabeth Keach.
Episode 5
March 12, 2023
Rabble's past comes back to haunt him. People can't sleep. Investigations into the murdered charioteer continue. Everything blows up, depending on your perspective.
The Secret of NIMH (1982)
March 3, 2023 • Witches & Wizards Arcade
Battle of the Cupids
February 17, 2023
• Cafe Berlin
Watch on YouTube
“Hear ye, hear ye! Master Eros’ hand-selected Warriors of Love compete once more in the Battle of the Cupids. Who shall be next to ascend to the final plane of Venus and her Champions?! Deadly trials of Wit, Charm, and Mischief ensue! May thine arrows strike true and our bloody, beating hearts be open!”
Detect Nerd presented yet another Dungeons & Dragons-type one-shot on Friday, February 17, 2023 at Cafe Berlin (220 N. 10th Street, Columbia, MO). Players included Chris Dijak, Joey Gilmore, Colter Janssen, Doug Miller and Lars Van Zandt, with game manager Elizabeth Keach.
Episode 4: "But, Stuff"
February 11, 2023
Watch on YouTube
In the game: Our heroes return to the Underbelly for more gladiatorial posturing and cage fighting. Grunkir the Closet Dwarf is distraught. The party dazzles Revel Inc. executive Sala Tijad with their table manners and supper conversation.
In real life: The video is finally starting to look acceptable; there are definitely still problems with the microphone levels and/or some sort of audio compression. But we now have closed captioning for the hearing impaired!
Heavy Metal (1981)
February 3, 2023 • Witches & Wizards Arcade
Happy Nerd Year!
January 27, 2023 • Witches & Wizards Arcade
The Princess Bride (1987)
January 21, 2023 • Witches & Wizards Arcade
Mr. Snowman and the Mystery of Lonesome Pingo
January 20, 2023 • Cafe Berlin
Thank you SO MUCH to everyone that came out for our D&D one-shot at Cafe Berlin on January 20! We had such a blast. Words cannot describe how appreciative we are for the amazing audience participation and donations made.
P.S. Thank you to Dani Mondloch for the amazing photography!
Episode 3 — "For Free"
January 15, 2023
Watch on Twitch
Watch on YouTube
In the game: Our heroes continue an encounter with Sssnakeboys and their mysterious ritual involving stolen magical orbs. Sira is retrieved from the brink of a pleasant situation. Cult tattoos are feigned, revealed and removed. As the afternoon draws to a close an elderly cleric of the Sularian Church provides valuable aid and information.
In real life: Detect Nerd learns about mismatched frame rates, deinterlacing, and over-eager audio compression.
TRON (1982)
December 16, 2022 • Witches & Wizards Arcade
Episode 2 — "Sssnakeboys"
December 10, 2022
Watch on YouTube
Episode 2 finds our heroes continuing their quest for 3 missing orbs. Investigating ancient underground ruins, they encounter ghostly creatures, bad dogs, sssnakeboys and more!
The Lord of the Rings (1978)
November 25, 2022 • Witches & Wizards Arcade
Witches & Wizards presents Fantasy Film Friday hosted by Detect Nerd. This new series features classic nerd cinema, entertaining live commentary, prizes, and comfortable couches. We start off with 1978’s animated The Lord of the Rings — the first attempt to bring Tolkien’s epic novels to the screen. Director Ralph Bakshi (Fritz the Cat, Wizards) was a loyal fan of Tolkien and a pioneer of independent animation intended for grownups. This version makes extensive use of the rotoscope technique to carefully draw and paint over every frame of a live-acted film — resulting in a dreamy style of animation that mixes realistic action and fantasy.
The Lord of the Rings plays Friday, November 25 at 6:30pm in the upstairs screening room of Witches & Wizards, 1214 Eugenia St. Beverages are available. Detect Nerd's Elizabeth Keach and Doug Miller will introduce the film and provide fun commentary at key points along the way. For more info contact arcadedistrict@gmail.com.
Supperware!
November 18, 2022
• Cafe Berlin
Watch on YouTube
Thank you to everyone that came out for our Supperware one-shot! And thank you @cafeberlincomo for hosting us! It just gives us so much happiness to see new faces and interact with other nerds. We have so much fun sharing our silly stories with you!
Really make your leftovers come alive and join Detect Nerd for a Dungeons & Dragons Thanksgiving one-shot, Supperware! Mr. Sanderson, new to Bakewell Street, is hosting his first Supperware Party and it might just be the social event to die for!
Supperware! players include Kyle Bogden, Chris Dijak, Colter Janssen, Elizabeth Keach and Doug Miller, with game manager Anna Furstenau.
Episode 1
November 5, 2022
Watch on Twitch
Watch on YouTube
Welcome to the realm of Lawbrand: a gritty, industrialized world where heady religion and ancient magic are in constant contention… all the while, the Auroboros writhes just beneath the surface, biding its time.
In this debut episode we meet our four mix-matched adventurers — Rabble, Merritt Boothe, Sira Tss and Gary Bristle — as they explore the mysterious and dangerous Trade City of Lietsin.
M•O•N•S•T•E•R•S
October 27, 2022 • Sentinel Park
Thank you to everyone who braved the chilly weather.
Detect Nerd spins the tale of an ancient house, the people who call it their home, and a doorway that opened one dark and stormy night. It's an improvised story, a game of Dungeons & Dragons, and 6 nerds trying to make each other laugh.
Players include Chris Dijak, Anna Furstenau, Khaymen Hoelscher, Colter Janssen and Travis Scott, with game co-managers Elizabeth Keach and Doug Miller.
D&D&Dogs
September 25, 2022 • Sentinel Park
Thank you to everyone who came out to see our debut one-shot! It was a little windy, and the battles required a bit more mental visualization than we had planned, but our adventuring dogs successfully rescued their missing friends, and with Carol's help defeated Dr. Laslo Spork and his not-quite-dog Frankenlady.
What happens when a group of 6 verified nerds pretend to be magical, heroic dogs who uncover a threatening mystery? Watch a delightful and comedic story unfold before your eyes, as Detect Nerd presents live gameplay of an original Dungeons & Dragons (& Dogs!) adventure.
Players include Alex Childers, Cadie Cowden, Chris Dijak, Anna Furstenau, Khaymen Hoelscher and Colter Janssen, with game co-managers Elizabeth Keach and Doug Miller.