During Covid quarantine, I was desperate to play games with people. The passage of time had begun to be meaningless, my hair was growing long, and while we could sometimes get humans together, it was outside and masked and only a few. I’d discovered Board Game Arena, where I could play all kinds of games with my friends or strangers from all around the world, which was great, but it just wasn’t the same. Being able to see the board in 3D, touching the game bits with my human fingers, having a friend or two actually in the room with me instead of miles away—the real-world experience of games is so important!

But I, like many others, found that playing solo games had a lot of appeal as well. I grew up playing solitaire, and aren’t many video games essentially solo games? I didn’t have the energy to set up a complex strategy game just to play by myself, but the sudden influx of games designed for one player in small boxes or print-and-play from the internet meant I could at least pass the time enjoyably.

The extrovert in me was longing for a game group again, but the introvert was charmed by playing Herbaceous’ solo version and a virtually impossible puzzle card game called Lucia. When I did sit down to play something on my own, it felt like self-care, it felt meditative and grounding. I even found a game from Japan called Zen Tiles Solo, a tiny box with bunches of emotions and experiences on laser cut wood tiles which the player quietly lays on a timeline of the day that has just passed, which becomes a kind of visual journal for that day. When you’re done, the rules say that because you’ve done a good job taking this time for yourself, you deserve something nice, like the beautiful stone that is also in the box. You’re directed to hold it in your hand and breathe out, then place it in your timeline at a moment when you felt particularly loving or loved. Is it really a game, since there’s no winning? Does it matter?

If this season is hectic for you, or if you need a break from the news, consider coming in for a quiet game alone. It might help!

Alice C, board game librarian

Support Hungry People

There are many members of our community faced with food insecurity on a daily basis. In this tumultuous atmosphere of SNAP benefits and other government programs being cut, so many are struggling to make ends meet. As a business focused on both food and fun, we are acutely aware of how hard things are.

In this season of giving and uncertainty, Free Parking is shining a light on the Freestore/Foodbank and inviting all our guests to join us in contributing to help our neighbors flourish. The Freestore/Foodbank in Cincinnati does truly heroic work, providing approximately 47.2 million meals annually. You can click that link or scan a QR codes in the bar to contribute.

ADDITIONALLY, Free Parking is donating 10% of our sales from the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, amounting to at least $245! You can help raise that total by clicking the link above!

Play solo games!

It’s become common for board games to include a solo-mode in the rules—not everyone has a game group easily accessible to play with, and sometimes we just want a solo diversion, away from the crowds. Regardless of your motivation, we’ve got several games that have been designed especially for play by one person.

BoxOff! is by local Cincinnati designer Steven Meyers that challenges a player to efficiently remove gems from a grid. Our copy is the newly released deluxe wooden board!
Glass Garden and Tides are two of a wealth of “wallet games” from publisher Button Shy with only 18 cards. Glass Garden is a tight (some might say mean) succulent growing game, and Tides is a constantly-moving set-collection game where players pick up sea glass and shells to “make crafts” (score points).
Mazescape is a fascinating box of 7 mazes on double-sided, foldable papers. Rather than simply avoiding dead ends, the player must constantly fold and re-fold the maze to align different paths in order to reach the goal.
A Gentle Rain is a cooperative game, but plays very well for a single person. It’s meditative, relaxing, and easy to learn.
Grove is a small-box pattern-building game to test your efficiency, and charmingly themed with citrus trees!

Of course, you can also put one of our green flags on the table to invite someone else to join you, but there’s something wonderful about spending time with yourself.

Try the Brisket Sandwich !

House-smoked brisket and barbecue sauce on Texas toast, served with pickles and coleslaw on the side. Replace the slaw with waffle fries sweet potato fries, or grippos for no extra charge, or swap in a house or caesar salad or our delicious mac and cheese for only $3 more. It’s rich and filling, perfect for a cold evening with friends or on your own with a game of Glass Garden!