The Parlor Games

01/25/2026

spending the day inside, pretending this ice is actually very white sand...

stay safe, pals! see you on superbowl sunday (2/8) at Burke Branch Library for our first game lounge of 2026!

11/29/2025

oh hi there! long time no post, but here on we're a little sentimental.

thanksgiving often comes with the potential for... "familial friction" over some topic or another. this year, somehow, we managed to avoid all (well, like 92%) the unsavory dinner talk through GAMES. i seriously can't remember the last time all the generations we're brought to tears with laughter at the table. so, those year, we're extra thankful for games, and the people willing to play them.

heading into we hope you remember that feeling! we'll be shouting out our favorite local shops in the coming weeks because 1) it's shopping season and 2) we love to shop small year round!

today was (shamefully) our first visit to in fairfax and honestly I'm kicking myself we didn't come here sooner! we picked up a bunch of new games and were exceptionally tickled by this selection of nerdy cookbooks... maybe a day late for us but never too early to prep for the next feast, right?

05/13/2025

april showers persist, so while you're staying indoors might as well play some games!

busy week- compete for prizes, learn some classics from asia, enjoy the chill vibes at your local library, and roll for (FREE) pizza! it's all happening at...

wed. 5/14 for BUNCO NIGHT 🎲
sat. 5/17 is AAPI Game Day at Patrick Henry Rec. Center♟
sun. 5/18 at Ellen Burke Branch Library 📚
mon. 5/19 - Roll the Dice for a 🍕

04/21/2025

the easter bunny did a great job this year- enjoy the party gaming bounty tonight at

ALSO (if you're feeling ✨️lucky✨️) we're starting a new promotion - Roll the Dice for a Slice! check it out and maybe win a free slice of the biggest pizza in town!

03/05/2025

following a short month with a short post! come play games with us!

🍎 3/7 at (tix at lostboycider.com !)
w/ and
📗 3/9 at Ellen Burke Library (FREE gaming!)
☕ 3/12 at (Bunco! with prizes)
🍕 3/24 at (FREE gaming!)

02/04/2025

with over 200 games on the shelf, it's pretty clear we 💖LOVE💖 board games... and also need more shelves...

we're happy to share the love- literally- by bringing our games to you! let us make date night easy or meet your local gamers this month at:

📗 2/9 at Ellen Burke Library
☕ 2/12 at
🍎 2/21 at
🍕 2/24 at

02/04/2025

a rare, late night ramble from me, your friendly local gamer:

since 2018, the highlight of my winter has been magfest- always held in the coldest parts of january at national harbor, looking right back on alexandria. this tradition has, for me, overtaken jan 1 as the new year reset as it has always inspired, recharged, and fired me up to make magic for others over the next 12 months. but in 2024, the energy ran out faster than usual.

we've been off social media since november because in short the world's been kind of a huge bummer, and is making no promises to change. i'm caught up in the internal "is it time to leave facebook/instagram?" debate as are many others, and the arguments aren't simple. 'goodness' now feels like a malleable concept, the moral compass is going haywire, or maybe just being relabeled to insist we're not lost?

i don't know. when our promised future is another's glorified past, all of us lose. luckily, when you play games, loss is something we learn how to accept gracefully, and maybe that's our strength.

the best thing i can think of doing in the face of a sore winner is to continue enjoying yourself. so, for as long as we can, let's guarantee joy for ourselves. is it through the monday morning latte from your local coffee shop? the monthly bingo night with grandma? a cute hoodie with kitties sleeping among houseplants? DO IT. make a list of the joy you can manifest when the world tries to make you feel bad for even trying today, and turn the fire of frustration into a tray of cupcakes to share with your cool coworkers. allow yourself to be moved to tears by a community orchestra playing video game music. revel in everyday beauty. love your fellows through your time, actions, and attention. recognize them when you are the recipient, and wrap yourself in that love like a huge blanket. take care.

that's all from me for a while. regular programming resumes tomorrow but we'll be moving to be more active on discord while i continue mulling over meta's value- PM for an invite if you haven't found the super secret server link on the website.

see y'all soon 💛

11/01/2024

going out tonight for candy? make sure you're also going out on tuesday 11/5 to vote! our friends are here to reward you for performing your civic duty. show up with your 'I Voted' sticker for a FREE can drink, plus their awesome $1 off slice deal (which happens EVERY tuesday!)

and while you're already out voting, join us and for a screen-free, stress-free game night! drop in, play some party games, and take a break from refreshing your news feeds... for at least a few hours

10/03/2024

👻SPOOKY SEASON🎃 has FINALLY ARRIVED! shorter days mean longer nights, and more opportunities to find your new haunt! we'll be showcasing our collection of horror, paranormal, and fantastical games (which don't often come out), so be sure to check them out this month at:

☕ Cameron Cafe on 10/9
📖 Ellen Burke Library on 10/18
🎲 Bunco Night! at Cameron Cafe on 10/20
🍎 Lost Boy Cider on 10/23

09/11/2024

there is a chill in the air (finally), which means we're getting ready for spooky season!

september is the perfect time to find a new activity to enjoy as the days get shorter and the air gets crisper. track down our mobile library of games coming up in the next few weeks at:

🎲 Games + Bunco! at Cameron Cafe cafe on Wednesday 9/18
🍕Un-Football Night! at Benny Diforza's on Monday 9/23
🍎 Lost Boy Cider on Friday 9/27
📗 Ellen Burke Library on Sunday 9/29

08/03/2024

this month, our mobile game library business turns 🎉2️⃣🎂 and we truly could not have done it without all of you beautiful humans! naturally, this calls for a month long party!

in the spirit of celebration, we're having a special giveaway! from now until the 30th, all teachers and librarians can enter to win a ✨MYSTERY GAME BUNDLE✨ all you have to do is follow us on instagram or facebook, then come out to an event- each visit is an entry so you can come to them all and up your chances to win (and also have fun times with cool folks 😎). see you soon at:

📗 Ellen Burke Library on Sunday 8/4
☕ Cameron Cafe on Wednesday 8/7
🎲 Bunco at Cameron Cafe on Wednesday 8/28
🍎 Lost Boy Cider on Friday 8/30

07/10/2024

we usually like being outside during the summer... but we're gonna have to sit this one out. bask in the AC with a new board game- the library's got a bunch of new titles ready for you to in july!

☕ Cameron Cafe on 7/10
📗 Ellen Burke Library on 7/14
🎲 Bunco at Cameron Cafe on 7/24
🍎 Lost Boy Cider on 7/26

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