Imagine the opportunity to win tickets to incredible concerts while eating food and enjoying lively music, surrounded by diverse groups of people; now imagine if that was right at your fingertips. One of Lakewood’s most popular buildings, Mahall’s, is popular because of the incredible events, concerts, and bowling that take place there.

On March 19, Mahall’s hosted Emo Bingo, a well-known and well-attended event. While Mahall’s hosts several different bingo events throughout the year, Emo Bingo is a fan favorite.

Some famous emo bands that pioneered the genre were played during the lively event, including Fall Out Boy, Paramore, Green Day, My Chemical Romance, Pierce the Veil, blink-182, and many more incredible bands. The whole event resonated, with multiple people humming and singing along to the tunes, and everybody’s outfits were unmatched!

From ages as young as you could imagine to older than believable, all showed up at Mahall’s that night. Everybody came dressed up in incredible outfits that brought people to their younger selves or highlighted people who never outgrew their love for emo culture. It’s truly unbelievable what music and style can do to bring us all together.

For sophomore Maeve Murray, it was like a blast from the past.

“I was really emo throughout the end of eighth grade and the beginning of freshman year, it reminded me a lot of that,” Murray said.

As you walk through the door, you are greeted with a big smile and welcoming words, handed a bingo board, and told to walk through and sit at one of the many seating options they provide.

Although, no matter who you are, what you look like, or even how cultured you are with emo music, Mahall’s ensured you were taken care of and provided the same opportunities as everybody else.

For freshman William Aulgur and sophomore Mathew Wilson, going to events like this never crossed their minds until their friends gave them a small push. But they’re both willing to come eat, be encapsulated by the atmosphere, and play bingo with friends.

Even though this was a new event to him, when asked if he’d go again, Aulgur responded, “For sure, even though that was my first time.”

“Yeah depends on the people, if I’m with my friend’s I’d go to Emo Bingo again,” Wilson said.

While some people might abhor the idea of sitting around for hours playing bingo, the host took the group by storm and had guests play multiple different variations and included multiple breaks for guests to go to the bathroom, order food at the bar, or even to take a break and sit back and relax. Some variations we played included, clearing the board, creating a T, creating an X, four corners, and a multitude of other fun games.

While the thunderous atmosphere might not be for everybody, it can quickly grow on you.

“There was a lot of loud music, some of it I didn’t know, some of it I did, there were nice people but it was very loud. Although I think the volume gave it a little more energy,” Aulgur said.

Although not everybody got to win concert tickets, a few lucky Lakewood High School students did.

“I got bingo, I went up on stage but I lost,” Aulgur said.

If two people got a draw, they’d be brought up on the stage and either have to “duel it out,” which included playing rock paper scissors, or battle by answering emo music trivia questions. Will Aulgur got bingo but sadly did not win rock paper scissors, causing him to ultimately lose. However, sophomore Mathew Wilson fortunately won two tickets to a very popular band concert: Wheatus.

“I enjoyed winning tickets,” Wilson said. Thankfully, nobody else got bingo.

Even though not everybody won a prize, everybody left a little happier and cheerful due to the incredible food, people, and unmatchable vibes. Lakewood is a community that could make anybody feel seen and welcome. Mahall’s does an amazing job of illuminating that important key element of Lakewood.

Every community needs to have a safe space where anybody can go to feel happier, for hundreds of Lakewood inhabitants, Mahall’s is that place.

Lakewood is very lucky to have such an incredible venue where anybody can find an event they love, especially since most of Mahall’s events are free!