What Happens When the Daily Herald Walks Into Life Bar?
When the Daily Herald came out to Life Bar Arcade, the whole experience unfolded in a way that felt very on-brand for us: a little chaotic, a little unexpected, and surrounded by arcade games.
Photographer Rick arrived on Karaoke Wednesday, one of my favorite nights at Life Bar. Unfortunately, I was in the kitchen preparing food for a customer when he walked in, so my grand introduction consisted of running out, degloving long enough to shake his hand, and immediately heading back to finish cooking before I could actually participate in the shoot.
Once I escaped the kitchen, I asked Rick if he wanted us to move any customers around to fill out the background for his photos. He told me he never stages his shots that way. That answer immediately told me a lot about him. He wanted to photograph Life Bar as it actually was, and I knew he was going to represent the place honestly.
You would think that after having WGN film here, I might have gotten a little more comfortable in front of a camera. But this was only my second media rodeo, and apparently that is not enough rodeos.
The second Rick started taking photos, I found myself thinking back to being a kid when my mom would ask me to smile for pictures and I somehow could not produce anything other than a giant toothy pumpkin grin — usually showing more gums than teeth. Some things apparently survive into adulthood.
Thankfully, Rick made the whole thing easy. Between shots, we talked about old games and his own love of retro gaming, so I knew pretty quickly that I was in good company. He mentioned that he is one of the relatively rare journalist/photographer combinations, and with his appreciation for all things retro, I had no doubt he could tell a great story about what we have built here.
The next day, Daily Herald reporter Eric came by.
Naturally, I was once again in the middle of something.
I had gotten to Life Bar early that Thursday to work on an issue with our Addams Family pinball machine. While carrying a socket set upstairs from the basement workshop, the lock on the case gave way and three trays of sockets, bits, and drivers scattered across the stairs.
Perfect timing.
Of course, Eric arrived almost immediately afterward.
So I did what any responsible business owner would do: left the disaster exactly where it was and went upstairs to give him the tour.
Eric asked thoughtful questions as we walked through the public areas of Life Bar and talked about the arcade, how it came together, and why the place exists in the first place. Eventually, as tours here tend to do, ours made its way toward the basement.
Which meant I suddenly remembered that I had created what was essentially a metallic slip-and-fall obstacle course on the stairs.
I quickly swept the cylindrically slippery mess to the side before escorting a Daily Herald reporter downstairs and accidentally turning the interview into a workplace injury story. Thankfully, Eric was completely understanding and seemed to appreciate getting to see the entire operation — not just the polished parts upstairs, but the workshop and everything happening behind the scenes too.
Then, almost as quickly as the whole thing began, it was over.
Within two days, Eric had the article written and published, accompanied by Rick’s incredible photographs. I already knew Rick had captured the place well, but reading Eric’s perspective on Life Bar was something else entirely. I am genuinely proud of the story he told and grateful for the care he took in understanding what this place means beyond the games, food, drinks, and neon.
I am naturally a pretty shy person, so experiences like this are never something I take for granted. There will always be nerves. There will apparently always be inconveniently timed kitchen duties, malfunctioning toolboxes, and questionable attempts at smiling for photographs.
But I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity.
Because every new person who discovers Life Bar Arcade, every person who walks through the doors and finds a little joy here, helps something much bigger continue.
Every life touched by joy at Life Bar is another that helps Allen’s memory and legacy live on.
And that will always matter more than the nerves.
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