Canada
This article was added by the user . TheWorldNews is not responsible for the content of the platform.

Our favourite things: A vintage pinball machine would tilt my world

But if I have to give up the dream of a pinball machine, there's always Ms. Pac-Man.

North Star Pinball co-owner Charlotte Fillmore-Handlon is ready for some vintage Metallica play.
North Star Pinball co-owner Charlotte Fillmore-Handlon is ready for some vintage Metallica play. Photo by Allen McInnis /Montreal Gazette

We asked Montreal Gazette reporters, editors and photographers to each suggest one local thing — be it an object or an experience — that you can offer this holiday season. See a new pick for every day of December here.

Sign up to receive daily headline news from the Montreal Gazette, a division of Postmedia Network Inc.

By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300

My home office is in an otherwise unusable nook in the family room. My desk, on which you’ll find two screens, two style guides, 5 million pens (three of which work) and yesterday’s coffee cup next to today’s, is 105 centimetres long by 50 cm deep. It just fits between the wall and the couch.

A pinball machine is 130 by 29 cm. The dog loves the couch but he told me he’s game to move if it’ll make me happy. If I replace the sofa with, say, a sleek armchair and move my office into, I don’t know, my daughter’s room? She doesn’t use her desk anyway.

Pinheads like me can expect to pay $4,000 to $10,000 for a vintage machine, making it a jackpot holiday gift. If that feels a bit rich, North Star Pinball rents games for $500-$750 a month, including delivery and setup within Montreal. There’s a two-month minimum because, c’mon, those things are heavy. They probably won’t move the couch for you, either.

If I have to give up the dream of a pinball machine, there’s always Ms. Pac-Man.

North Star Pinball’s arcade and bar is at 3908 St-Laurent Blvd. Wed.-Fri. 5 p.m.-1 a.m.; Sat. 3 p.m.-1 a.m.; Sun. 5 p.m.-1 a.m. northstarpinball.com, 514-904-6444. Arcade Mile-X Arcade is a private rental arcade with about 40 games set to free play. Membership costs vary and are available by month or year. Non-member drop-in rate is $40. The space can be rented for parties.

Pinball Medics, which sells and repairs games, offers unlimited play every Friday for $10. Children get in free with an adult. 923 Girouard Ave., pinballmedics.ca, 514-809-1334. Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-8 p.m.