Sometimes these blogs are tightly organized around a theme, the game and food spotlights flawlessly connected to my thoughts here, and all of it deeply wise and illuminating to the reader. Sometimes they’re not. This is such a one.

There’s a game we have on the shelf called Point Salad which is a vegetable-themed card game where players draft veggies and plates to score points. It’s cute, it’s a little thinky and puzzly, it’s good stuff. I mention it because its name is a pun: it’s themed around salad, but the way you get points is via a ton of different ways to score, in gaming circles called “Point Salad.” Get it? Hilarious, right?

This blog has a ton of different information in it, a ton of different ways to engage at Free Parking and with your neighbors—from the Freestore/Foodbank to Wicked to new Magenta games to signature cocktails to Magic: the Gathering to our next community board game exchange—things are hopping here, and we hope we’ll see you soon!

Alice C, board game librarian

Fundraiser for the Freestore/Foodbank

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 will be donating 10% of our sales from the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, Nov. 26th (Drinksgiving, affectionately) to the Freestore/Foodbank, so come over and bring your family!

Play I’m Out!

One of the newest games in the Magenta line from publisher CMYK, I’m Out is a gorgeous redesign of Japanese game 13 Leaves.

Players are trying to empty their hands before anyone else (“card shedding”) by playing cards on either end of a number line. The complicating factor is, players must play as many cards as there are already in those ending positions or they are forced to pass. When they pass, players take any one card from the number line—an important choice as this can bolster the sets of numbers they have to play on the number line in future rounds. The game is played in a series of rounds until one person can go out. There’s a fun how to play video here.

Try the Sheriff’s Cider!

What’s better in autumn than cider and cinnamon? I can’t think of a thing.

This drink, inspired by the game Sheriff of Nottingham, includes whiskey, sour apple liqueur, apple cider, cinnamon liqueur, and bitters, garnished with a cinnamon stick. It’s boozy, warming, and delicious. Bring some friends to play I’m Out and have a Sheriff’s Cider or two!

Wicked specials

It’s almost here! The much-anticipated movie sequel Wicked 2: For Good opens on Friday the 21st, and we are excited! No, it’s not a board game, but we do have other interests, believe it or not. Here’s how we’re celebrating:

Come out and try our TOO WICKED COMBO. This cocktail and shot combo brings the iconic colors of Elphaba and Glinda together and will be on special all week! Add a healthy dose of glitter, all for only $15. Grab a friend and try them before they’re gone!
On the film’s opening night, Friday the 21st, the first five people to order the TOO WICKED combo will receive a 300 piece Wizard of Oz puzzle as a gift!
We will be playing the first Wicked movie, as well as Wizard of Oz, Return to Oz, and other thematic movies in the bar on Friday.

It’ll be so fun, you’ll break into song!