I have a game in my collection at home called Stonehenge and the Sun that is so ridiculous and so pretty. You set up grey blocks that look a bit like the famous henge stones around a circular board, and then you suspend a heavy metal ball from a hook in your ceiling to act as a pendulum that you swing across the board to try to avoid the henge pieces. That’s right, you need a permanent hook over a table so you can play this game. Am I on the lookout for a new light fixture in my dining room for just this purpose? Yes, yes I am.

The gameplay of Stonehenge and the Sun is very fun, but the table presence is just wonderful. What I mean by that is simply that how it looks on the table draws you in. “What is that?” you might ask. Or, “That is so gorgeous, how does it work?” Just the other night, some guests here at the bar brought the new game Tacta which, while only a card game with no 3D elements, engulfs the table in a wild, asymetrical, colorful explosion. “What is this game?” people said.

In our library, we have a number of games with delightful table presence.

Photosynthesis has big 3D trees of different species that players grow to different heights in a central board and the follow-up game Evergreen has tiny wooden trees (“treeples”!) that slot into double-layer boards to build beautiful biomes.
In Rhino Hero, players collaboratively build a card house, hoping it doesn’t fall down on their turn leading to hilariously held breath.
Attack on Titan: The Last Stand has a 3D board of the monster the players are fighting that they have to climb with their pieces to defeat.
Lacuna is an odd and meditative two-player game in which players sprinkle intensely-colored wooden flowers across a cloth board, then strategically pick them up to get majorities of colors.
One of the newest games in the library, Castles by the Sea, involves players building a collaborative sand castle on a center board with lovely wooden pieces.
heck, even Chess and Cathedral look gorgeous just sitting on a table, inviting you to come touch the pieces.

What are the most beautiful games you’ve played?

Alice C, board game librarian

Play new games from Manga Manga!

Our neighbors down the street Manga Manga have generously given us three new games for our library, and if you play them, not only will you have a great time, you’ll get a 10% off coupon for Manga Manga.

Naruto: Ninja Arena—from their listing on Board Game Geek, “A frenzied dice battle based on the Naruto series.” It’s quick, it’s light, it’s fun!
Attack on Titan: The Last Stand—from the celebrated designer of 7 Wonders, Hanabi, and Tokaido, players fight the last monstrous titan or play the titan itself. Includes a wild, 3D board and press-your-luck mechanism.
Tokyo Ghoul: Bloody Masquerade—similar to Werewolf games, but with some extra layers, players are ghouls, investigators, or humans, each with different motivations and identities uncertain.

One day only—the Bloody Mary Special!

Our delicious Bloody Mary, garnished within an inch of its life, and so very delicious. Chef Anthony’s slider, a bacon-wrapped egg, two different kinds of chicken, and of course celery and scallions—at $16, it’s lunch in a glass.

Bring some friends for a game of Naruto and one of these babies!

Cincinnati’s Burger Week is coming!

July 7-13, Cincinnati celebrates Burger Week when every burger joint offers their best at a discount so you can try them all! There’s even an app and prizes!

We have a new burger especially for the occasion: the Battleship “B5” Burger—4oz all-beef patty, bacon, beer cheese, and brisket served on a brioche bun with caramelized onions and tangy BBQ sauce—for $8.

And of course we’ll feature our signature Boardwalk Burger—4oz all-beef patty topped with bacon, American cheese, chipotle mayo, coleslaw, and Grippo’s chips—for $7.