Not long ago, it was a schoolhouse-themed bar. Before that, it had a sordid past (let’s just say “massages” were involved). These days, it’s known as Soda Popinski’s, and it’s a vaguely Russian-inspired bar with strong video game undertones from the people behind Bullitt, Tonic and Lightning Tavern. It’s now open in Nob Hill, and we have the need-to-know intel...

Boxers/Russian stereotypes named Soda Popinski in Nintendo’s Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!: 1
Name changes Soda underwent before his Nintendo debut: 1
Cocktails here named after Soda’s original name, Vodka Drunkenski: 1
Number of vodka shots in a Vodka Drunkenski: 2
Working Nintendos on the premises: 1
Number of Nintendo games on opening day: 38
Copies of Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!: 1
Copies of Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! that actually work: 0
Size (in inches) of the flat-screen for playing Nintendo games: 60
Number of other flat-screens: 3
Number of wooden bears on the wall: 2
Bearskins from a bear that was shot by the owner’s dad: 1
Number of stained-glass windows with a beer mug on the ceiling: 1
USSR military uniforms due to arrive any day now via eBay: 1
Odds that you could take Soda Popinski in real life: slim