Breathe
I’ve been doing a 30-day yoga journey via YouTube this month and it has made me very aware of my breath. I was talking about it with one of our regulars, that yoga isn’t really about the fancy poses, it’s about your breath, about slowing it down, making it regular, regardless of what your body is doing. It’s reminded me of something I read long ago, that our bodies know how to breathe in, it’s the outbreath that changes things. A long, slow outbreath can help slow your heartbeat, help you be more present in your body and the moment.
I am aware, of course, that Free Parking is not a yoga studio! But you might be surprised how often breath enters into a game. If you’re playing a timed game like Kites or Magic Maze, you know the feeling of increasingly held breaths as the end of the time approaches. Games like Ready, Set, Bet or Heat tend to end with a sudden release of breath. The Mind seems to be timed around the players’ breathing. Neotraditional Ama (not in our library, but tell us if you want to play it!) is a solo card game about diving in the ocean where the card play is literally timed by the outbreath of the player—so thematic!
The thing is, so much of our lives out in the world are marked by holding our breaths or breathing shallowly. You know that feeling of taking a deep breath and suddenly realizing you’ve been breathing from your neck up? Matt W, Free Parking’s founder, chose the name intentionally—the space on the Monopoly board where nothing is expected of the player, no decisions, no payments, just rest. This is what we hope for this space we’ve created, and this is what we hope for you in your lives: that you’ll be able to rest, to breathe, to care for yourselves and those around you.
Alice C, board game librarian
Play Arboretum: a pretty game with tough choices
Don’t let the serene artwork fool you - Arboretum is a strategic game disguised as a peaceful walk in the woods. In this card game you’ll create carefully planned paths of trees, but you also need to hold onto the right cards to score points. You must choose which cards to plant in your arboretum and which to keep in your hand to block someone else. Fans of Arboretum love it for its combination of beauty and brains.
Therasa L, board game librarian
Try the Marvin Gardens
Gin, elderflower liqueur, lime juice, and ginger beer combine in our refreshing Marvin Gardens cocktail. It’s garnished with rosemary and lime and has a bright, clean vibe.
Bring a friend or two and try one alongside a game of Arboretum!
Community Tabletop Nights
Want to play a 4 or 6 player game but it’s just you and your partner?
Want to meet new folks who also love games?
Want to demo games by local designers?
Every Wednesday at 6:30pm, we hold space for y’all to come and meet new gaming friends! Bring a friend or two or come on your own—we’ll seat you with other lovely gamers to play games and make the world a little smaller.
Announcing: new dessert and kids’ menus!
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!