Cat and Mouse Game Store

December 5, 2008

Board Games in the News

Yesterday we were happy to see that the December 4th issues of RedEye and the Chicago Tribune featured articles about the growing popularity of board games. The Tribune article features a top-10 list of games, the criteria for inclusion being: recently published, about 30 minutes to play, and easily explained. Some games we've been enjoying lately that fit those criteria: TaYu, Word Blur, Say Anything, Set Cubed, Marrakech, On the Dot, Uptown, and Tiki Topple. You can find descriptions of most of them in our 2008 Holiday Gift Guide.

One thing nice about the RedEye article was the handy list of bars and cafes around town where gamers often gather. An omission from the list of bars, though, is one of our local favorites, the California Clipper on California at Augusta. It's a great bar and they're really enthusiastic about games over there, so definitely check them out!

Upcoming Events

Tuesday Game Nights
This past Tuesday Sean and Keith from FRED Distribution were kind enough to join us for the evening. They taught three tables of players how to play Brass, the advanced (and long!) strategy game about the Industrial Revolution.

For the next two Tuesday nights we'll continue with the idea of featuring specific games, although gamers are always welcome to play anything they like from our collection of demo games. On Tuesday 12/9 we'll feature Battlestar Galactica and on 12/16 we'll feature Pandemic. Reservations are not required, but you should arrive by 6:45 if you want to get in on the featured games.

Family Game Day
Unplug and reconnect when you join us for Family Game Day this Saturday between 1 and 4 pm. Our staff will be on hand to teach you the rules and recommend games that the whole family can enjoy together. During our Family Game Day event we like to put the emphasis on FUN and FAMILY, so parents should be ready to sit down with their kids at the table, crack open a game, and have a good time! It's a great opportunity to spend some quality time with your children and test drive some games you haven't played before! PLEASE NOTE - Family Game Day is for families with children ages 4 and up. Infants and toddlers are always welcome in the store, but of course they must be attended to by their parents.

Afternoon GO
This Sunday, join us for an afternoon of Go, the ancient board game that can be learned in minutes, but can take a lifetime to master. You're welcome to join us whether you're a long-time enthusiast or someone who would like to learn the game for the first time. It's a perfect way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon!

Open Gaming Whenever We're Open
Did you know that you're welcome to play any of our demo games any time we're open? In fact, we love it when people are playing in the store, so as long we don't need the table for something else you can sit down any time and play one of our demo games. We have tons of games on top of shelves, in cabinets, in our storeroom, and in our house, so if you want to try something, just ask. It's always a good idea to try before you buy! And yes, we do allow drinks and snacks in the store, but we ask that you don't bring in any stinky fast food. If you become parched during a game, we have cans of soda in the fridge that we sell for a buck, and we usually have a pot of coffee going that we'll share for free!

Dungeons & Dragons for Beginners...or... We'll Teach Your Kids How to Play D&D so You Don't Have To!
A funny thing happened this week. Within three days we had two separate conversations with friends whose sons are starting to show an interest in Dungeons & Dragons. Like Andre, both of the dads were former D&D players themselves, and both were a bit conflicted about sitting down with their kids and teaching them the game. As Andre said earlier this year when I suggested he try playing the new edition of D&D: "I'm not sure I'm ready to re-visit that part of my youth!"

Well, Andre did play D&D again, and although he won't be slaying dragons with his friends on a regular basis, he was reminded of what a great game it really is. Best of all, he's happy to introduce new, young players to the game so that they can get started on the right track. I figure it's the perfect fit.... Andre is an 8th grade teacher by profession and has great rapport with kids, his friends claim he was a top-notch Dungeon Master back in the day, and it will provide a service to all those parents out there who can't show their kids the ropes themselves!

Our first Dungeons & Dragons for Beginners workshop will be held over Christmas break on Saturday, December 27. Details regarding age requirements, fees, registration, etc. can be found in our event calendar.

Cat & Mouse Best Sellers (Sept. - Nov.)

Strategy Games