I typed up some info about Chinatown Fair (CF) arcade and the surrounding area. Post if you want to get some games! Play more Guilty Gear, ya bastards!
Location
8 Mott Street
Google Images led me to this pic. (Dancing + Tic Tac Toe = Dance Dance Revolution!)
Getting there by Subway
Map
J, M, N, Q, R, W, Z, 6
Get off at Canal St. Go east on Canal (towards the intersection where it curves a bit) then take a right on Mott. Chinatown Fair is 2 & 1/2 blocks down Mott on the left. Near where Mott meets Bowery.
1, 9, A, C, E
Same as above but you have to walk a bit further on Canal Street.
B, D
Get off at Grand St. One block west to Bowery then turn left, walk down Bowery until it meets Mott. Take a right and CTF is a couple doors up on the right.
Hours of Operation
Sunday through Thursday: 12 noon - 12 midnight
Friday and Saturday: 12 noon - 2 am
Opening time is a little random.
Fighting Games
Here’s a list of fighting games at CTF grouped roughly by how much competition there is to be had. 3S is pretty steady all week. Games in the middle are safe bets on weekends (Fridays seem to be best for ST.) Games at the bottom get only sporadic attention – although there are usually people playing everything on a really busy night (if there’s a tournament going on, etc.)
Street Fighter IV (x2)
Tekken 6 Bloodline Rebellion
Street Fighter III - Third Strike (x2)
Marvel vs. Capcom 2 (x3)
King of Fighters XII
Blaz Blue
Capcom vs. SNK 2
Puzzle Fighter
Melty Blood Actress Again
Guilty Gear XX Accent Core
X-Men vs. Street Fighter
Marvel vs. Capcom 1
King of Fighters '98
Super Street Fighter II Turbo
Street Fighter Alpha 3
Tekken 5
Samurai Shodown 5
Street Fighter III - Second Impact
Soul Calibur II
SNK vs. Capcom Chaos
Marvel Super Heroes
The Rumble Fish 2
About the equipment:
SF4, MB, T6, BB and GGXX have Japanese style Sanwa parts. I think Tekken does, too (or whatever the default is on a T5 cab,) plus PS controller ports. Other games have American style Happ parts. Complaints about non-working equipment at CTF have been widely exaggerated in my experience. By SCRUBS. Anyway, just tell the staff if there’s a problem. Or post up in this thread.
Other Information
ATMs (aka MAC machines for our visitors from Ohio)
There’s a Citibank a couple doors down where Mott meets Bowery. Also at Mott & Canal.
Bathrooms
There’s a McDonalds around the corner on Bowery - take a left and walk up a block or so. The Subway and Off Track Betting in that area also have bathrooms. There’s a public restroom in Columbus Park next to Mulberry St. (not quite as shady as it sounds.) Otherwise just make a beeline in any old restaurant?
Cheap Eats
The dumpling joint on Mosco is king. Just a short block away from the arcade. 5 pork fried dumplings for a dollar. Chive smell from these is part of what gives CTF its character. There’s another dumpling place around the corner on Mulberry (near the Dunkin Donuts) that has a little more of a seating area, btw.
Sidewalk carts on Canal, Bowery and East Broadway sell fried rice, chicken skewers, black bean soup, etc, for a buck or two.
All different kinds of buns are available at chinese bakeries (like the one near the corner of Mott and Canal) with sweet or savory fillings. 75 cents each give or take.
