The D-Pad represents the evolution of the video arcade. Not long ago, kids (and embarrassed adults) crowded into smoky bowling alleys and rundown mall arcades in search of their electronic fix. No longer. The D-Pad has taken a strip-mall location and spruced it up with a nice paint job, plenty of couches, over 20 big screen TVs and dozens of X-Boxes, PS2s and Gamecubes. The staff is great, the atmosphere is kid- and adult-friendly alike, and the website is fostering an active message board community. For the older gamer/musicians, the D-pad hosts an 18-and-up open jam every Thursday night. Big plus: They sell Red Bull behind the counter. Big minus: Try playing Halo 2 against a 12-year-old on Red Bull. 32770 U.S. 19, Palm Harbor, 727-784-3233, www.thed-pad.com.
This article appears in Sep 14-20, 2005.