diff --git a/SoundslabDisplay.py b/SoundslabDisplay.py
index 0e41a6b..f5234a0 100644
--- a/SoundslabDisplay.py
+++ b/SoundslabDisplay.py
@@ -68,7 +68,39 @@ class SoundslabDisplay:
 
         return (voltage, capacity)
 
-    
+    def updateMenu(self, menu_data=None):
+        # always start with a transparent menu overlay image
+        im_menu_overlay = Image.new("RGBA", self.screen_size, (0, 0, 0, 0))
+        menu_overlay = ImageDraw.Draw(im_menu_overlay)
+        if self.showMenu and menu_data is not None:
+            # we have a menu to display
+            #
+            # menu_data is structured as a list of dicts describing the rows to be displayed:
+            # [
+            #   { output: "UP_ARROW" },
+            #   { output: "Toggle repeat", selected: True },
+            #   { output: "Toggle shuffle" },
+            #   { output: "Show queue" },
+            #   { output: "DOWN_ARROW" }
+            # ]
+
+
+            # a translucent red background rectangle for the menu area itself
+            menu_overlay.rectangle([(21,21), (self.screen_size[0] - 21,self.screen_size[1] - 21)], (200, 0, 0, 127)
+            
+            offset_from_top = 21 # start at the 21st row of pixels to draw inside the outer overlay
+            font = ImageFont.truetype(font='/usr/share/fonts/truetype/hack/HackRegular.ttf', size=14)
+            for row in menu_data:
+                if row.selected:
+                    menu_overlay.rectangle([(21, offset_from_top),(self.screen_size[0] - 21, offset_from_top + 40)], self.bg_color)    # highlight background for selected menu item
+
+                output_size = menu_overlay.textsize(output) # get the size of the text to draw so we can center it in our rectangle for this row
+                menu_overlay.text((21 + floor(output_size[0] / 2), offset_from_top + (40 - floor(output_size[1] / 2))), row.output, font=font, fill=self.fg_color if row.selected else self.bg_color) # draw output text in appropriate color
+                offset_from_top += 40
+                
+        # finally, set the current_menu image
+        self.current_menu = im_menu_overlay.copy()
+
     def updateOverlay(self):
         # initialize overlay
         im_overlay = Image.new("RGBA", self.screen_size, (0, 0, 0, 0))
diff --git a/SoundslabInput.py b/SoundslabInput.py
index 88f1c2c..b94034d 100644
--- a/SoundslabInput.py
+++ b/SoundslabInput.py
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ GPIO.setmode(GPIO.BCM)
 # with a "PULL UP", which weakly pulls the input signal to 3.3V.
 GPIO.setup(BUTTONS, GPIO.IN, pull_up_down=GPIO.PUD_UP)
 
+# a temporary place to store menu state
+show_menu = False
+
 # some button handlers
 def NE():
     # play/pause toggle
@@ -57,7 +60,11 @@ def SW():
 
 def NW():
     # open menu
-    pass
+    print("toggling menu")
+    if show_menu is True:
+        show_menu = False
+    else:
+        show_menu = True
 
 def SE():
     # next track
@@ -127,6 +134,17 @@ for pin in BUTTONS:
     GPIO.add_event_detect(pin, GPIO.FALLING, handle_button, bouncetime=100)
 
 while True:
+    if show_menu is True:
+        # test menu
+        display.updateMenu(
+            [
+                {output: "▲"},
+                {output: "Toggle repeat", selected=True},
+                {output: "Toggle shuffle"},
+                {output: "View queue"},
+                {output: "▼"}
+            ]
+        )
     # test album art
     display.updateAlbumArt()
     # test setting up the overlay