Change
Owner Matt and his wife Monika have recently had their second child, and as delightful as she is, she also brings huge change to their lives. My own first child, years ago, wasn’t so sure about their new sibling and playmate who was just a screaming baby and not even a little bit fun—not being the only child any longer was an adjustment.
I’ve mentioned before (and there’s more information below!) that we are looking at changing some of the games we have in our library here, adding titles we think y’all will love, swapping out ones that aren’t being played.
Your lives change regularly, and we hear about it when you come in. Someone is retiring, someone else is getting married, teachers’ and students’ school year is ending, others’ physical health shifts for good or ill. The world around us is in a constant state of change, often in fearful ways.
I’m certainly not the first nor the last person to remark on the constancy of change, and it’s not like the blog of a board game bar will change how you feel about it. That things change is inevitable—it is neither good nor bad, it simply is. Maybe that sounds harsh and you think, “how could she say that, clearly this moment I’m in is bad!” I don’t mean to minimize anything folk are going through, but a hard change might have within it the seeds of something beautiful, and a delightful change (like a child) will certainly also bring fear and pain. How we respond to that change is the point, and even that doesn’t have a right answer. Some moments will need anger while others need quiet acceptance, and still others will need us to show up for each other, helping needed change happen. It’s not that life is a game—because that suggests the stakes are always low and the end doesn’t matter much—but paying attention to the board state, noticing when things change and when we have to change how we respond, that is something games can help us practice.
Alice C, board game librarian
Play Ragnarocks
Take over a Norse island with your Viking clan in this quick, easy-to-learn two-player game! In Ragnarocks, players move their Vikings across a hex map (similar to Hey, That’s My Fish or Battle Sheep), then from that Viking’s last space they move a runestone in a similar fashion, attempting to block off larger sections of the island and claim that territory for their own. The game lasts at most 20 minutes and players can make it more complex by adding in god cards which break the rules in interesting ways. It’s quick, it’s fun, it’s mean—give it a try!
Alice C, board game librarian
Try our new Double Dipper
It’s a classic gaming snack—chips and salsa—rounded out with our house-made queso or guacamole. The chips are hot and homemade, the dips tasty, and the games refreshing. Invite a friend to play Ragnarocks and fill your bellies with our Double Dipper!
Looking to refresh your game shelf? Join us for a casual Community Game Swap! Bring up to 5 board games you’d like to swap—or sell—and connect with fellow game lovers. Free Parking will also have a small selection of games available to swap.
Your $5 ticket turns into credit for food and drinks during the event. Click the image above to RSVP!
Come find your next favorite game and meet some new player-twos while you’re at it!
Links
See what fun events are coming up on our calendar here.
Give us feedback on your experience or a board game or event suggestion here.
Need a way to decide on a first player? Check out this fun randomizer site.
And of course check out our website here, our library listings here, and our social media here!