The Playground is no typical bar. It's just what its name suggests.

"It's a big playground for adults 21 and over. It's really a cool place," said bartender Gena Chase. She noted that the bar's owner, Dee Levine - also owner of the bar Crossroads - is "a kid at heart" who created a place for people who still are kids.

The room looks like someone emptied a child's toy box and hung its contents from the ceiling. Yo-yos, Gumby, a whistle, a Mr. Potato Head, a miniature Nerf basketball and goal and a few upside-down witch hats are just some of the items hanging from strings amid colored lights. Colorful Christmas lights, along with other stuffed animals and figurines, line the windows. Pee-Wee Herman and Bozo the Clown dolls are among the characters behind the bar, and a Foosball game is next to it. Connect Four and Jenga games were placed alternately atop booths along the wall.

The next room has two pool tables, a darts game, a table with a top that doubles as a backgammon board, and two old-school, sit-down Atari arcade games, Pac-Man and Arkanoid. A life-size playground scene with popular cartoon and literary characters is painted on the walls. Two ceiling fans with colorful blades and a set of bowling pins hang from the ceiling.

The back room is a bit narrower than the first two and contains five arcade games and a checkerboard table with four chairs.

Two TVs near the ceiling are almost lost among the surrounding ornaments. The jukebox in the middle room provided music as loud as a disc jockey's speakers from time to time. Aside from this, the noise is minimal. This is why James Sanders is a regular customer.

"I like to come on Mondays or Tuesdays. Nice bartenders, nice people, it's a real quiet place. It's a good weekday bar," he said.

First-time customer Leroi Durant agreed. He also enjoyed sipping a margarita while playing checkers and Pac-Man, games he hadn't played in years.

"It's a nice, quiet spot where you can relax. Good atmosphere." he said.

The Playground opens at 7 p.m. Monday-Thursday, with karaoke on Wednesdays and open microphone Thursdays. Happy hour starts at opening time, 4:30 p.m., on Fridays, and continues to 7:30 p.m. The Playground closes at 2:45 a.m. Monday-Friday and 1:45 a.m. on Saturday.

Ms. Chase said Saturdays nights are popular because of the Bar Room Olympics, when Ms. Levine sets up a game or obstacle course on the floor between the bar and the booths.

"Dee is so cool. She makes it fun to work here," Ms. Chase said, adding that they get lots of regulars who are all treated like family. The co-workers and customers she's around are what Ms. Chase considers to be the best thing about Playground.

"It's like your neighborhood friendly bar, kind of like Cheer's. Everybody knows everybody."

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NO WORK, ALL PLAY

The Place: The Playground, 873 Broad St. (map)

Dress Code: None

Signature Drink: Jelly Bean (melon, Amaretto and cranberry juice)

Main Event: Bar Room Olympics on Saturdays

For Whom: People who aged but never grew up

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