Remember the hazy darkness of real arcades? Before PlayStation or Xbox, there was the growl of the Pole Position engine, and the whoosh that sounded at each new level of Tempest. Even better, there was the bounce of the little silver sphere in a game called pinball. If that makes you nostalgic, you're not alone.
This weekend, the Houston Area Arcade Group presents the second annual HAAG Expo, bringing together collectors and players who want to relive the golden age before Golden Tee, when a real man was a Pac-Man. Organizer Keith Christensen promises that gamers will get to choose from more than 80 arcade and pinball games -- some dating back to the 1950s. For you players with a competitive streak, there will be pinball and arcade game tournaments, with cash prizes. (Tourney games will be named later so you can't practice at home!) The expo takes place from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday, April 5. Fitzgerald's, 2706 White Oak Drive. For information, call 713-256-3277 or visit www.arcadecenter.com. $10 admission price includes "free play," meaning you won't need quarters. -- Eric Norvell
Body Biz
Any good capitalist knows that the key to success is diversification. Yeah, yeah, yoga's all about the mind, body and spirit -- but it's also big business. At Yoga Body Houston, students have their pick of 70 classes each week. Bikram yoga, which is performed in temperatures pushing 100 degrees, and power yoga, which keeps students on the move, are popular with folks who want to shed pounds. And there's prenatal and postnatal yoga for the procreating set. Yoga Body Houston, 526 Waugh Drive. For information, call 713-522-6080 or visit www.yogabodyhouston.com. -- Cathy Matusow
Our Little Runaway
In 1836, as the battle for the Alamo raged, Texans began their Runaway Scrape, retreating east toward Louisiana as Mexican troops advanced. At Thompson's Ferry, the Texans gave up crucial territory (but one week later, the Battle of San Jacinto would be fought, and Texan independence won). This weekend, the George Ranch Historical Park re-creates scenes of troops skirmishing and civilians nervously running around. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 5, and Sunday, April 6. 10215 FM 762 in Richmond. For information, call 281-343-0218. $9. -- Troy Schulze
