Slime Time '90s-themed pop-up experience opens in Farmingdale
Maria Fares, of Mineola, and Lillian Poulson, of Plainview, photograph their daughters, Ava Fares, 7, and Jillian Aquilin, 8, at the Slime Time pop-up experience in Farmingdale on May 10. Credit: Barry Sloan
If you've ever craved a Good Burger or wanted to morph into a Power Ranger, head over to Alibi Lounge in Farmingdale, where '90s and early 2000s pop culture will be celebrated in full force through June 23 at Slime Time Pop-Up Bar.
“The whole place is one big photo-op. When you walk in, there’s not one blank space,” says Costas Themistocleous, co-owner of Nostalgia in Bethpage, which partnered with Alibi Lounge on the project. “Every wall features something different.”
Cartoon characters adorn the walls at the Slime Time pop-up experience in Farmingdale. Credit: Barry Sloan
Customized printouts of cartoons, like “Hey Arnold,” “The Real Ghostbusters” and “The Fairly OddParents,” adorn the walls. “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” “CatDog” and “Ren & Stimpy” plushies hang from the ceiling as hits from the Backstreet Boys, Spice Girls and Toni Braxton play in the background.
“We have a machine that shoots out colored bubbles filled with dry-ice smoke plus two spotlights shooting down from overhead,” inspired by “SpongeBob SquarePants,” says Chris Molano, Alibi co-owner.
The pop-up is for those 21 and older, with all-age seatings at 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
SLIME TIME: WHAT TO EXPECT
In addition to photo-ops, there's '90s and early 2000s trivia and games as well as surprise character appearances during all-ages seatings.
The nostalgia continues onto the drinks menu. Many of the cocktails are interactive, like “The Boy Genius” ($15), which is based on “Dexter’s Laboratory,” comprising vodka, peach liqueur, cranberry juice and orange juice. But there’s a catch.
The "Orange Creamsicle" mocktail comes with a Pikachu at the Slime Time pop-up in Farmingdale. Credit: Barry Sloan
“Each liquid will be contained in different potion bottles. You will get a main beaker with dry ice, a light-up glow stick and garnish of Nerd chunks,” says Molano. “Once you pour it in, the drink will smoke, light up and change colors with the luster dust [edible glitter] that gets added to it." The colors are random each time — purple, blue, orange, green and red.
A “Power Rangers”-themed drink, “Go-Go Power Rangers” ($14) filled with tequila, peach liqueur, triple sec and lime juice, gets served with a salt rim. There are five colors, black, red, blue, yellow and pink, representing the different Power Rangers.
“It’s a clear drink and you are given a secret potion on the side, which you pour into your glass, revealing what Power Ranger color you are for the night,” says Molano.
“The Warhead” ($16), made of vodka, lime juice and Warheads soda, is delivered with a rim of Pop Rocks and fresh mint. Choose between three flavors: blue raspberry, watermelon or sour apple.
Chip in for a four-person shareable cocktail based on “Friends” (“The One With All the Alcohol,” $40), filled with spiced rum, white rum, coconut rum, pineapple juice, cranberry juice, orange juice and lime juice with a dry ice smoking effect garnished with gummies and light-up sticks.
Those who want to go the nonalcoholic route can order from the mocktail menu. Try an “Orange Creamsicle” ($10) filled with orange soda and vanilla ice cream, served with an old-school curly straw. Are you a “Powerpuff Girls” fan? Go for “Sugar, Spice and Everything Nice” ($12) featuring pineapple juice, passion fruit juice, orange juice and vanilla syrup.
Get green with the Slimer ($10), which is modeled after the old Ecto Cooler Hi-C juice box, made with orange/tangerine juice, pineapple juice, orange juice and grenadine plus green luster dust topped with a Warheads sour rainbow belt and a curly straw.
DISHES AND DESSERTS
BBQ pulled pork sliders are on the menu at the Slime Time pop-up in Farmingdale. Credit: Barry Sloan
Dig into some tapas-style shareable dishes. The pretzel nuggets, which come plain ($12) or stuffed ($14) with bacon and Cheddar and can be dipped in cheese or honey mustard sauces. Order wontons ($13) filled with mac and cheese or cheeseburger, or a trio of barbecue pulled pork sliders ($16) topped with chopped red onion. Kids can enjoy chicken nuggets and fries with soda or lemonade ($10).
Channel your inner child with a dessert such as the brownie sundae ($12) with vanilla ice cream, rainbow sprinkles, chocolate syrup, whipped cream on top of a Cosmic Brownie (chocolate brownie with rainbow sprinkles baked in) or the cereal sundae ($12) containing vanilla ice cream, raspberry drizzle, whipped cream, topped with Froot Loops and a swirl lollipop on top. Other selections include rainbow cookie cake with raspberry drizzle ($8) or cheesecake ($9) with a choice of caramel, raspberry or chocolate drizzle.
SLIME TIME POP-UP BAR
WHEN | WHERE Fridays (6, 8 and 10 p.m.), Saturdays (4, 6, 8 and 10 p.m.) and Sundays (4, 6 and 8 p.m.); May through June 23, Alibi Lounge, 230 Main St., Farmingdale
INFO 516-586-8622, exploretock.com/slimetimepopup
COST $12 reservation (all food and drinks are a la carte), 21 and older (sans Saturdays and Sundays at 4 p.m. — all-ages seatings), tickets must be purchased in advance.
David J. Criblez is a reporter for Newsday's exploreLI, covering entertainment-related events from local music to stand-up comedy to festivals.
