August 28, 2009

Event Updates

We're Turning ONE, and We're Having a Party!
Wits & Wagers Game Show
We're coming up on our first anniversary, and we have to say it's been a fantastic first year! To celebrate we're hosting an evening of pure fun on Friday, September 11th with a Wits & Wagers Game Show. Wit's & Wagers is the awesome trivia betting game that even the trivia-challenged can enjoy! If you're not familiar with the game, The Dice Tower has a nice video overview of the game.

We'll be giving away several copies of the new Wits & Wagers expansion packs as well as some other fun prizes. The event is free, BYOB, we'll have snacks, and RSVP's are NOT required, so what's not to love? Grab a friend and get ready for a night of laughter and fun. We hope to see you there!

Luther Con (with Settlers Tournament) - October 3 & 4
Luther Con is a new local gaming convention organized by our friends at Black Sun Games and HMGS-Midwest. This two day gaming extravaganza is scheduled for the weekend of Oct. 3rd and 4th to be held at the Luther North High School located in Chicago's Northwest side. All facets of the Chicago gaming community will be represented, including historical, fantasy, and Sci-Fi table top, wargaming, board gaming, and role playing games.

Cat & Mouse Game Store will have a vendor booth at the convention and will be running a 32-seat Settlers of Catan tournament on Saturday, October 3.

The organizers are still accepting submissions for events, so if you'd like to run any kind of activity during the convention, whether it's board games, miniatures, or roleplaying, go to the Luther Con web site for more information. Personally, I think it would be great if someone were willing to run a Heroscape event during the convention, since I know at least a few boys who would love to take part! Any volunteers??

CHITAG - November 21 & 22
Another event that we'll be participating in before the year is out is the Chicago Toy and Game Fair. Held November 21-22 at Navy Pier, CHITAG is America's largest public toy and game fair. We'll have a vendor booth at the show and will be demoing lots of great games perfect for the coming holiday season. In addition to the vendors and manufacturers, the fair features open gaming areas and lots of great events. If you're a teacher, be sure to check out their Educator Conference (accredited for CPDU's) as well as the Young Inventor Challenge.

Birthday Parties and Private Events
If you're looking for a fun place to hold an event, consider a game party at Cat & Mouse. A game party is perfect for corporate teambuilding & brainstorming events, birthdays for older kids and adults, or just plain fun! We'll provide the staff to facilitate your event and teach games that are tailored to the needs of your specific group. Visit our web site for more information.

What's New in the Store

Believe it or not, we're gearing up for the holiday season, and over the next two months you'll see lots of great new products in the store that are unique, engaging, and most of all, FUN! You'll find a broader selection of great games and puzzles than ever before. In the mean time, here are some highlights of our recent arrivals.

Axis & Allies 1942 ($29.99)
Axis & Allies celebrates it’s 25th Anniversary with a new and updated edition of it’s original classic game. Axis & Allies 1942, designed and developed by Larry Harris, utilizes the updated rules established in A&A Anniversary Edition. Cruiser class ships make their debut, forever changing the naval line-up. Newly sculpted playing pieces and all new packaging positions this game as the cornerstone of the Axis & Allies game line for years to come. Decide the fate of a nation in a few short hours!

Word on the Street ($24.99)
I love word games, and Word on the Street is a new favorite; I think it's one that is destined to get lots of play in our family. We've enjoyed it both as a two-player game and as a team game that we play with the kids. For more info out The Dice Tower's overview and enthusiastic review of the game.

Other Recent Releases

Revolution (Steve Jackson Games)
Middle Earth Quest (Fantasy Flight)
Reef Encounters Expansion (Z-Man)
Risk: Halo Wars (Hasbro)
Mystery Rummy: Jack the Ripper (US Games)

Jigsaw Puzzles - This week we received large restocks of Sunsout and Ravensburger puzzles. In addition to many new images, you'll find an expanded selection of large-piece puzzles that are perfect for adults who have difficulty seeing or handling the small pieces that are typical in 500-1000 piece puzzles. In September we'll be receiving large puzzle orders from Educa, Ceaco, and Piatnik, so we'll have lots of great options for your puzzling enjoyment!

Next month we'll also be introducing wooden laser-cut puzzles from Artifact Puzzles. These delightful puzzles are hand-made in Seattle and include whimsy pieces that match the theme of the puzzle image. My favorite is the 1592 Map, which has decorative pieces shaped like fish, squid, seahorses, and even Poseidon! These are truly special puzzles and we can't wait to have them in the store!

Back to School!

We've had a lot of teachers in the store this week stocking up on games for the classroom, which is a sure sign that school is almost started. Whether you're a parent or a teacher, you'll find plenty of games and puzzles that will entice students of all ages. Some of our classroom favorites are listed on our web site, and don't forget to consult Games for Educators, too.

And now here are a few recommendations for games that are great for using with creative writing

Good Games That Teach - Creativity

Once Upon a Time ($19.99)
Once Upon A Time is a game in which the players create a story together, using cards that show typical elements from fairy tales. One player is the Storyteller, and creates a story using the ingredients on her cards. She tries to guide the plot towards her own ending. The other players try to use cards to interrupt her and become the new Storyteller. The game works well as a group creativity exercise, but the publisher has written up a handy guideline that discusses other ways the game can be used in the classroom.

Dixit ($34.99)
Often students have trouble coming up with ideas for creative writing, so having a collection of writing prompts can be helpful. The odd and fanciful paintings on the Dixit cards almost seem tailor-made to serve as story sparkers. They're sure to get your students' creative juices flowing!

StoryTellers ($24.99)
In StoryTellers, players also work together to tell a story, while at the same time focusing on the effective elements of storytelling. It's a game that gets students focusing on what works in their writing instead of what doesn't. The creator of the game has written an detailed lesson plan for using the game in the classroom.

Upcoming Events

Fri. 8/28 - Game Night, 6:30-10 pm

Sun. 8/30 - Open Gaming, 11 am -5 pm

Tues. 9/1 - Game Night, 6:30-10 pm

Fri. 9/11 - 1st Anniversary Party - Wits & Wagers Game Show! 7:00-10 pm

> Complete calendar & event descriptions

Our Best Sellers for August

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A visit to Cat & Mouse is enough of an excuse to visit Bucktown we think, but it's even more enticing when combined with the Bucktown Arts Fest. The Fest takes place this weekend at Senior Citizens Park, only 3 blocks from the store, and is one of our favorite summertime events. In addition to work by local artists, you can enjoy music, theatre, dance, and activities for kids. It's a great way to wrap up the summer!

Cat and Mouse Game Store
2212 W. Armitage
Chicago, IL 60647

www.cat-n-mouse.com

Phone: 773-384-4454
Email: info@cat-n-mouse.com

Hours:
Mon. closed
Tues  10 am-10pm
Wed-Thur 10am-8pm
Fri   10 am-10pm
Sat   10 am-8pm
Sun 11am-5pm

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