Do you remember how during the Covid lockdown we missed being with people? I mean, there were definitely moments when I appreciated not having to go out, but I so missed being in physical proximity to other people. There were ways we could connect—Zoom, playing games on Board Game Arena—but it wasn’t the same. Seeing people’s expressions in the flesh, just being near to people we care about, being able to touch the board game pieces—as helpful as online connections were were, we needed to be “in real life.”

The physical world, for all its flaws and fears, is good. Last week’s post talked about needing green space: this week a huge tree at the back of our parking lot was taken down, we assume because of disease or danger, but it’s a huge loss. The shade was lovely, and it was a good place to sit when things got overwhelming and just be.

Now maybe this is stretch, but I personally love dexterity games because they require my presence and my body in a way that other games don’t. A dexterity game is one which tests players’ ability to stack, balance, or move pieces with speed as the main mechanism of play. Jenga is probably the most famous in this subset—players carefully remove blocks from a tower and replace them on the top, endeavoring to keep the tower from falling but making it ever more precarious. These kinds of games are not hard on the brain, though they’re hilarious and difficult physically. They provide a kind of respite as well as making us more aware of ourselves “in real life.” I find that dexterity games help me be more present to the people I’m playing with, more delighted with their moves and excited just to be playing.

Alice C, board game librarian

Play one of our dexterity games!

Nine Tiles Extreme from fan-favorite Oink Games is a speed-based pattern building game. Can you form the pattern before your friends?

Catch the Moon is the newest game in our library: players stack and balance ladders and try not to let them fall.

Rhino Hero is a bit like Jenga plus Uno, with players building a house of cards and moving the lil wooden Rhino Hero and hoping not to collapse the tower.

Irr-Elephant is one of our toddler-oriented games, with chunky wooden elephants that stack on cards—kids work on dexterity and color recognition.

Tinderblox is also a bit like Jenga, but players use tweezers to build a tiny campfire.

Kabuto Sumo has players vying to push each others’ dung beetle pieces off the stump—the pieces never move where you want them!

Try (to pronounce) our Weihenstephan Hefe-weiss!

This German lager is refreshing for summer, with flavors of ripe banana and even bubblegum. Weihenstephan is billed as the world’s oldest brewery, established 1000 years ago in Bavaria by Benedictine monks.

Bring a friend or two for a Hefe-weiss and a game of Catch the Moon!

Floral Design Class!

We’re teaming up with Blossoms Florist this July for a hands-on floral arrangement class at Free Parking!

Join us Tuesday, July 22nd at 6:30 PM with Master Florist, Carol Ruffin. Whether you’re a beginner or a flower enthusiast, this hands-on class is perfect for you.

No experience necessary and all the supplies are provided! Click the photo above or link below to register.