The PinChurch™

livefrompc_capThe PinChurch™ is a special, multi-purpose space developed by the Mystic Krewe. It’s also the location of our critically-acclaimed “Live @ the PinChurch” concert series, as well as a focal point of social and business activities for the Mystic Krewe.

Want to help support our efforts? See more shows, classes and live music? Please use the link below to DONATE! It’s much appreciated!

Catch our live stream at any of these locations:

https://youtube.com/pinchurch When we’re live it should be HERE
https://twitch.tv/mystickrewe
https://facebook.com/pinchurch
https://twitter.com/mystickrewe
https://mixer.com/mystickrewe

Use the “Donate” button below to help support our efforts to bring you more cool stuff online




Join our announcement mailing list to be notified of all upcoming cybercasts.

Also be sure to Subscribe to our YouTube Channel! And our Twitter and Instagram feed.

We have also begun hosting special, private concerts and live internet broadcasts of national and local acts, speakers, bands, talks and more. Here is a sampling of some of the “Live @ the PinChurch” concert series:

Origin of the PinChurch
The PinChurch (or “PC”) as we call it, started out fairly modest, as an abandoned building that sat for 7 years prior to being flooded during Hurricane Katrina.  The members of the Mystic Krewe resurrected this space and have turned it into a special place.

The PinChurch needed a lot of work

The PinChurch needed a lot of work – it took more than a year and Mike’s entire life-savings to get the space up to code.

The Mystic Krewe’s flagship project is the renovation and restoration of a 1940s-era Church building that was flooded & destroyed during Hurricane Katrina in the New Orleans area. This building had been abandoned for more than seven years before Mike and his team discovered it and negotiated a deal to purchase the property and turn it into their private studio and workshop.

It took more than 18 months of hard work on the part of Mike and volunteer members of the Mystic Krewe to slowly bring the building back into compliance. The entire building was gutted and rebuilt from the inside-out, with new wiring, plumbing, drainage, framing, drywall, paint, heating & AC, flooring, etc.
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The PinChurch™ is an ongoing project, ever-evolving. It is our principal canvas that the Mystic Krewe experiments in and on. The luxury of actually owning a building means our group and its projects have a solid foundation from which to prosper. The property and the club is part of a trust set up by the founder, to ensure that in the future, the legacy of the Mystic Krewe will live on and be able to inspire others for generations to come, in the tradition of other benevolent groups and collectives.

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Today, the PinChurch houses the South’s largest collection of vintage pinball machines, covering every era from the 1930s to modern day. We also have a state-of-the-art recording and broadcast/cybercast studio, as well as a workshop and makerspace, and room for classrooms, meeting rooms and business ventures.

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The PinChurch is also used as a practice/rehearsal space, recording studio, workshop and makerspace. We are working on setting up high-end industrial/fabrication equipment like 3D printers and CnC machines.

We also routinely hold classes covering various topics from electronics (beginner as well as advanced classes), welding, stained glass, music, marketing, video editing and whatever subjects our members are interested in.

The PinChurch will also begin featuring regular live concerts by both local and national acts, with live broadcasting on the Internet.

Want to find out more about our group and possibly join us?  See this page.

Want to contact us?

PinChurch F.A.Q.

Is the PinChurch open to the general public?

Unfortunately, no.  It’s not practical for us to operate the place in any public capacity.  It remains a private space. However, we are actively looking to partner with someone in the area to place a large number of games in a single spot so the public can enjoy them – if you can help contact us! We expect that very soon, we will have a public space filled with the games we’ve restored that will be open to everyone. Stay tuned!! Or better yet, if you know a restauranteur, entrepreneur or club owner that wants to work with us to bring an upscale pinball parlor back to the city, contact us!

Is it possible for people to visit the PinChurch?

It depends.  Those who donate or offer machines to us can definitely visit. At this time the space is mainly accessible to members of the Mystic Krewe.  We do occasionally allow visitors, especially those who may help support our group.  At this point in time, we are struggling to get the regular funds we need to continue renovations and improvements and cover expenses.  In the future, the space may be more open, but for right now, access is limited.  We also can rent the space out on occasion. This can be inquired about.

For more information on the PinChurch and access, see the main FAQ regarding the Mystic Krewe and other areas in the “About” section of the main top menu.

You seem to have regular special events, concerts and other things going on. How can I attend?

Most of our events are private and mainly open to members. If you are interested in becoming a member, click on the “Membership” link above and read the FAQ in “About Us”. We do sometimes allow people to attend events, classes, talks, and concerts – it varies from event-to-event, but dues-paying members always have the inside track. Our dues-paying members are the life-blood of keeping the place open so they get first priority with all events and space is usually limited because we aim to keep these events very intimate and special. However, we also regularly broadcast the events online for the public. To be kept aware of public events, subscribe to our announcement mailing list.

Is it possible to rent the space for an event, studio recording, broadcasting, classes, rehearsal, etc?

On occasion we do make the space available.   Contact us for more details.

Is it possible to rent some pinball machines or have you bring some to an event we might be throwing somewhere else?

Yes, that is possible.  We can rent machines or host tournaments or other competitions in association with events.  We have done this in the past at bars, restaurants, conventions, private parties, etc.  Contact us for more details.

How does one get invited to one of the events you host, such as live concerts or tournaments?

It varies based on the event, but usually, the events are mainly open to members of the Mystic Krewe and friends of those hosting or performing.  Access is limited, but we often broadcast the event live on the Internet for everyone to enjoy.

My band would like to perform at the PinChurch.  Is this possible?

Anything is possible.  At this point we are booking mostly national acts or prominent regional acts, but are open to any artists that are exceptionally good and creative that our membership may appreciate, so feel free to contact us with details on your proposal.

Do you repair pinball machines and similar equipment?

We have a team that can help repair other peoples’ games and electronic equipment.  It depends upon the items and the nature of the problem at your budget.  Contact us.

I/My Friend has an old pinball machine he may want to sell or donate.  Do you all acquire machines?

Absolutely.  We are always interested in expanding our museum of games.  We also have special arrangements for those who donate or give us great deals on games — visitation privileges!  🙂    If we aren’t interested in your game, we can probably find someone who is and help you sell it, too.

3 comments on “The PinChurch™
  1. Jean says:

    It’s good to see someone in NOLA do this. I myself have 20 pins (with 1 more to get, and 3 to sell), and was wondering if I had the biggest collection in the area.

  2. Penny says:

    I love what you’re doing for New Orleans musicians, you’re a very gracious host… Thank you!

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Want to Join Us?
The Mystic Krewe is looking for creative, passionate, ethical, progressive people to join our ranks and help us create a fun and friendly organization. We like to socialize and play games, but also learn, teach and share, and collaborate on business ventures and other projects. If this sounds interesting to you, consider petitioning to become a member. Check the topics on the upper nav bar under "About Us": "FAQ", and "Membership" for more information, then Contact Us to set up a meeting and tour!

Sell or donate your Pinball or Arcade game to us!

If you have an old pinball machine -- in any condition, consider donating or selling the game to us. We will restore it to its former glory and share it with others. For more info Contact Us!
Join our YouTube channel!
Click here to See our library of videos of past concerts and other performances.
We rent/operate arcade machines and make our resources avilable for special events!
Our collection of games, our museum and our expertise in restoring, maintaining and operating the South's largest collection of vintage coin-op machine is available to partner with others in the area! If you're operating a corporate event and looking for a truly UNIQUE venue or need vintage or modern games, or have a movie production that's looking for special items for set decoration, WE CAN HELP! We have extensive experience doing movie productions as well as corporate events. We are also looking for a public venue where we can set up a very special, unique array of vintage pinball and other devices. We can offer a very attractive and lucrative arrangement with someone in the area who has experience and resources! Club owners, investors, entrepreneurs, restauranteurs.... contact us to set up a meeting and let us show you how to have one of the most unique businesses in the country. Location won't matter. People will come from hundreds of miles around to visit this place. If you have resources and are intrigued, Contact Us
Active Projects
Below is a sampling of the active projects taking place within the Mystic Krewe. These are not all that's going on. If you would like to participate, contact us.

  • Sewing Group - Meets semi-regularly on Tuesdays working on various sewing projects from cloths and quilts to leatherwork and beyond.
  • Video Editing & Production Study Group - ongoing weekly meetings to learn beginner, basic and advanced videography, using HD cameras and Adobe Creative Suite CS6 (Premier Pro, After Affects, Photoshop, etc.)
  • Pinball Repair - Ongoing sessions showcasing basic and advanced pinball and video game repairs. Members come by at their leisure and we tackle various projects.
  • Music Group - MK members comprise a number of popular bands in the area as well as aspiring musicians. We regularly assemble to learn, teach, share and jam in the studio.
  • Basic Electronics/Micro Controllers by example - We're working with the Beaglebone microcomputer, the next generation over the Raspberry Pi, and learning basic electronics and embedded systems by developing a few simple and useful devices. Our flagship product will be a super-intelligent custom A/C thermostat/humidistat.
  • Computer-controlled DMX systems - Using computers to control lights and FX controllers.
  • Stained Glass Workshop - preparing for a class on how to make stained glass art.
  • ProTools and audio recording systems - The ongoing setup and configuration of our multi-track digital studio and podcasting system.
  • Construction and woodworking - We are designing and building custom desks and other fixtures, as well as working on unique artistic pieces and furniture to resell.
  • Mobile Applications Development - Android and IOS development groups are forming to begin learning and designing mobile apps, forming business ventures around these projects.
  • .... and more!
Want to help?
In our quest to celebrate learning, creativity, responsibility, personal advancement, sharing and helping each other and our community. Please consider giving what you can. Any token donation goes a long way in helping cover our expenses and increase our impact on the community. It means so much!

While financial donations are the most critical at this point, if you have other material items or resources to offer our group, please contact us! Thank you so much!!