If our favorite hobby here at the Insider is eating (which it most definitely and so obviously is), our second-favorite would have to be playing games.
After all, we’re just a couple of kids at heart, and playing games is just what we like to do.
But enough about us. We’re trying to tell you about all the games you can play right here in Concord.
Whether you were already aware or not, this city is loaded with all kinds of interesting games – and places to play them.
And whether you’re old-school and prefer mainstays such as cribbage and Scrabble or new-school and like Magic the Gathering and Dungeons and Dragons, there’s something around here for you.
In this story, we’ll talk about the more “traditional” games. You know, the classic ones your parents probably grew up with.
We quickly learned that there is such a broad range of games around here that one story couldn’t do them all justice. To learn about some of the more fantasy-minded games, check out page 18.
For now, let’s go over some of the classic games you can find in Concord. At least, the games that don’t require you to be a member of some club to play.
Mah Jongg
Mah Jongg is a classic game that dates back to 18th-century China. The game was based on draw-and-discard card games that were popular at the time, and it eventually evolved to a game played with tiles instead of cards, though nobody really knows for sure when that transition took place on a wide scale.
The rules are many, and pretty complex. Essentially, though, the game is fairly similar to the card game rummy.
And it’s a huge hit at the Heights Community Center, where organized games are held every Thursday from 1 to 4 p.m. as part of Concord Parks and Recreation’s senior programming.
Last week, three groups of four were playing – and having a grand ol’ time, too. All of these women knew what they were doing, and it was actually pretty intimidating being in there not knowing anything about the game.
These sessions aren’t exactly for rookies, as you may have guessed by now. To play, you need to be an experienced player at least 50 years old – after all, it is part of the city’s official senior programming.
To find out more about Mah Jongg at the Heights Community Center, call 230-4982 or send an email to rbukowski@concordnh.gov.
Trivia
Most people know what trivia is, but what we’re referring to here is the kind you can play in teams at restaurants and bars to win prizes.
And if you’re the kind of person who schedules dinner parties around Jeopardy!, you’ll be delighted to learn that Concord has several venues for trivia on a few different nights of the week, so there are plenty of opportunities to get your fix.
∎ If you’re on the precipice of trivia addiction, the first stop for you should be Buffalo Wild Wings on Loudon Road. Unlike many establishments, you can play trivia at Buffalo Wild Wings whenever you want, not just on certain nights at certain times. Just ask someone working there to set you up and you’ll get a remote that you can use to answer multiple-choice questions displayed on one of the dozens of huge TVs there.
They also have live trivia, the more traditional kind, every Wednesday night from 7 to 9. Prizes are usually things like cups, mugs and T-shirts, but sometimes there are bigger prizes, like Patriots jerseys or tickets.
∎ If you can’t make it out on a Wednesday night, you could always hit up Cheers, which hosts trivia every Friday starting at 9.
Trivia at Cheers is always pretty popular, so although it doesn’t get started until 9, you’ll want to get there plenty early so you can grab a seat. It takes place downstairs, so seating can be somewhat limited on a Friday night.
The winning team will walk out of there with a Cheers gift card, so you can eat or drink for free when you go back the next week.
∎ The Barley House is also a big player in the trivia game. They host it Wednesdays at 8, with the third Wednesday of each month being a theme night.
The lucky winners will get a Barley House gift card.
∎ The Heights Community Center is in on the trivia action, too. They host trivia sessions from time to time, with the next one coming up Jan. 22 from 11 a.m. to noon.
One thing’s for sure: If it’s fun, the Heights Community Center is in on it.
∎ Area 23 is still somewhat new to the scene, so you probably didn’t know the nanobrewery in the Smokestack Center hosts trivia Tuesday nights at 7 p.m.
Test your useless knowledge while enjoying a craft brew and a bowl of bacon at this proud-to-be-weird establishment.
For more information, go to thearea23.com or call 552-0137.
∎ And if you’ve been wondering what the deal is with trivia at Uno Pizzeria & Grill, you’re not alone. Uno’s used to host trivia regularly, but they just recently took a monthslong hiatus.
The plan is to have trivia back in full force in the very near future. A few details are still being worked out, but check back in with Uno’s (226-8667) in a couple weeks.
Cribbage
∎ Ah, cribbage. The game everybody’s grandmother tried to teach them in childhood.
This is a hybrid card/board game, though it’s mostly thought of as a card game. Each player (games are usually for two or three players, though it can also be played in teams) gets six cards and tries to score points by making various card combinations. As you score points, you move a peg forward up the wooden board.
Games traditionally go to 121, and the first player to reach the end wins.
It might sound a bit complicated, but like most things, it gets easier each time you try it.
If you already know how to play, you can find a game at – you guessed it – the Heights Community Center. They do cribbage every Monday from 10 a.m. to noon.
Like the Mah Jongg sessions, cribbage at the center is part of the city’s senior programming, and it’s for experienced players. There was a learn-to-play session Monday, but unfortunately this paper wasn’t out yet so it’s too late to go.
But if you’re interested in playing and you meet the criteria, just get in touch with someone at the center or Parks and Rec.
∎ If you’re too young for the Heights game, don’t worry – Cheers has your back.
The restaurant that hosts trivia on Fridays also holds cribbage tournaments every Sunday at noon in the lounge.
Sometimes they even have special cribbage tournaments, like the third annual Cribbage for a Cause held in October. All proceeds from that tournament went to Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.
But as for now, Sundays at noon is where it’s at. There’s no sign-up necessary; just make sure to get there by noon.
Miscellaneous
So now that you know about a few gaming events around town, you might be wondering: “Can’t I just play something on my own, not be part of some official, sanctioned event?”
The answer, of course, is yes.
If you love to play games but structured environments cramp your style, there are all kinds of options for you to get your game on – off the grid.
True Brew Barista in Bicentennial Square has all kinds of classic games such as Jenga, Scrabble and Concordopoly that you can just pick up and play while you’re sipping your latte.
Not a coffee drinker? No problem. Try Donatello’s Pizza on Village Street. They have kid-favorite classics such as Connect 4, Chutes and Ladders, Candyland and a few decks of cards. You can also try your luck at the claw machine, or sit down at a computerized multi-game machine.
And this should not be taken as a comprehensive list of all games available in Concord. We highlighted a few games and venues that we felt were interesting, but of course there are probably dozens of other games out there – and places to play them. The best way to find those is to just get out there and explore. You may just end up stumbling across the next hidden gem. If you do, tell us about it!
