A friend asked me off-handedly the other day what my game collection was for. They were referring in that moment to what might happen to it after I die, which is a fair question for any collection someone has, but I think it’s a bigger question than that.

I would love these beloved games that I’ve intentionally chosen to continue to be loved and played by people after I’m gone, but I’m not particularly worried about that. If my kids want some of them, well and good. If they don’t, also well and good. And as much as I take care of them so they stay nice, I don’t want to keep them hidden away for a select few but share them with people. Because I didn’t buy them as an investment but as something that brings joy now.

In my previous job, when someone hadn’t seen a movie that we loved, we tried not to say, “I can’t believe you haven’t seen that!” and instead say, “I can’t wait to show you this!” Whether the people I’m with have played a particular game or not, I feel that same infectious enthusiasm—I want to show people these games, their beautiful components, their wild mechanics, the stories they tell and the feelings they can evoke. It’s a question of excitement and joy and connection, not protection and restriction. That’s what my collection is for, and I hope the collection at the bar fills you with excitement and joy and connection as well!

Alice C., board game librarian

Play an ocean game!

The deep sea is a fascinating place, and a rich source if inspiration for board games. Among the many we have:

Deep Sea Adventure is a small box, quick-playing, press-your-luck game of diving for treasure and communal oxygen use.
Beacon Patrol is an inviting cooperative tile-laying game of ships exploring the sea with really charming art. You’ve got limited actions, so what can you do to best help out the group?
Explorers of the North Sea has players laying tiles, like Beacon Patrol, but with an eye towards building on islands and transporting livestock—I swear it’s fun, and it’s got little pig meeples!
Reef is a lovely 3D pattern-building game, reminiscent of Harmonies but simpler. It’s got chunky plastic coral pieces to stack into your very own ocean-sustaining reef!

Try a PBR!

It’s an American classic, an easy-drinking light lager, beloved by hipsters and average joes alike. The company was started in 1844 and was sold with actual blue ribbons around the bottlenecks for 34 years. We highly recommend this article about the history and cultural impact of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer. Read it for your homework, then come into the bar for a can of PBR and a game of Deep Sea Adventure!