Saturday’s fundraiser for our new neighbors Transform Cincy.

Have you ever played a legacy game? It’s a fairly recent innovation where the game itself changes permanently with each play. You might have to destroy some cards, there might be stickers to add to the board that change what’s possible, there will definitely be some secret envelopes or boxes you get to open with new components. You’re meant to play it with the same people every time, getting more of the story and helping to shape the story together. In the end, after a bunch of plays (12-24, often), you end up with a playable game that is unique to you and your group and which is wildly different than when you started. My family played Pandemic Legacy: Season 1 a few years back, as well as My City—both highly recommended. (I also played Charterstone and, well, less-recommended.)

It’s such an intriguing proposition, a game that changes and evolves as you play it. So many games reveal hidden depths or invite players into more complex or efficient strategy, and so many games have a huge variety of set-up options so that, technically, you’re not playing the same game twice, but this is different. Here, you can’t go back, the game itself is transformed into something new, and all you want to do is keep playing. It’s like making bread—you can’t un-bake it, and why would you want to? Or like growing up, transitioning more into yourself—it’s not easy, but it is beautiful and it’ definitely helps to have other people with you!

We don’t have any of this type of game to play at the bar, as you might expect, but search one out and see what you think.

Alice C., board game librarian

Play Rummikub!

It’s rummy with a mahjong vibe—players form runs of consecutive number tiles or sets of the same number in different suits to play on the table and score what they can play. Played runs or sets can be added to and broken up to make different arrangements so that a player can play multiple tiles. It can get a bit messy if you’re good at it! Rummikub is a little thinky, but not so much that you can’t chat while playing. Give it a try alongside our new parfait!

Try our new parfait!

Seasonal fruit, creamy yogurt, and local granola—it’s simple, it’s delicious, it’s new! Brunch may be gone, but favorites like chicken and waffles, pancakes, and mimosas are sticking around, now joined by some new dishes like this tasty and fresh parfait. Watch this space for future additions (maybe something dumpling-based?).