Backspace is a techno-playground. An internet café. A coffee lounge. A concert venue. An art gallery. How well it does each of these things varies. It’s a cozy, narrowish room that invites hours of lingering, gaming, and general dorking out; but it gets claustrophobic during concerts. The blood-red brick walls are spectacular for showcasing gorgeous, surreal art from locals and friends—not so much for acoustics. The sound quality is a common complaint amongst concertgoers, which is a shame considering the diversity of bands that perform here: DJs, hip hop, math rock, punk, girl/boy-and-guitar/piano, and so on.

PCs are available for rent by the hour in a secluded, dungeon-like space toward the back, so this is an ideal spot for network gaming. But no one will stink-eye you for just checking emails or lingering for hours. Perhaps the peaceful spirit is owed to the all-vegetarian food served here: serviceable sandwiches made with meat substitutes, salads, black bean and rice bowls, and the like. The reptilian part of the brain is lit up by a number of caffeine drinks, from Stumptown coffees and espressos to Jolt colas and guarana tinctures. And don’t come looking for sweet, caramel-white-chocolate-vanilla-mochaccinos—you’ll have to get your sugar in the form of Voodoo Donuts, which Backspace often carries.

To mellow out after a good ten-hour cybertrouncing, there are a handful of taps pouring local brews brewers, and some more in bottle. Wine should just be ignored, as should tea (by Stash). The trick to Backspace is in knowing how to use it. Beware of concerts, and don’t think of it as a destination for vegan and vegetarian food; that stuff is just there to fuel hours of “pwning.”