Janelle Monáe parties at Old North Arcade after Columbus concert

After delighting crowds with a high-energy show at the Mershon Auditorium on Friday, Janelle Monáe didn't venture far from Ohio State University's campus to keep the party going.

Around midnight, the "Age of Pleasure" singer, who uses both they/them and she/her pronouns, took their crew over to Old North Arcade on North High Street to celebrate their girlfriend's birthday, according to bar manager Leslie Luna.

"People definitely recognized (Monáe), but we decided to leave everything very low-key," she said. "They wanted a very normal night, and that's what we provided for them."

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Dressed in '80s attire, the group requested old-school music − the bar staff put on an "'80s Arcade Hits'" playlist − and indulged in the vintage games, which include everything from air hockey to Mortal Kombat to Mario − played on Nintendo consoles.

"They loved all of the old-school games," Luna said. "They were taking pictures in the Tron Room, which is a bank vault, and they were taking videos. ... And they really liked our signature drinks on the menu. They were having a fun time with that."

Luna recalled Monáe's girlfriend ordering the black raspberry-flavored Spyro's Sizzurp.

"They thought the little candy garnishes we put on were so funny," Luna said. "And then they drank a lot of Casamigos (tequila)."

Luna said the crew left a 30% tip on a $1,300 bill ("The tour manager commented that the tab was cheaper than he expected," she added), and gave $100 to each staff member behind the bar.

"It was a really fun night," Luna said. "Janelle is so sweet."

But how did Monáe's team find out about Old North Arcade?

"I did ask them and it seemed like they just were cruising the area for arcade-style (places) because one of the tour managers is from Atlanta, and they have some down there," Luna said.

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While Old North Arcade typically closes at 2:30 a.m. on Fridays, Monáe and her group stayed until around 3:30 a.m. − but they had to abide by last call rules at 2:30 a.m.

"Their security guard said kick them out whenever because they'll stay," said Luna, referencing the difference in bar closing times between Columbus and, say, Atlanta or Los Angeles.

"They were very sweet about it, but we did have to tell them, 'Hey, we love having you here, but we have to go home.'"

ethompson@dispatch.com

@miss_ethompson

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Janelle Monáe visits Old North Arcade in Columbus