Welcome to Game Night Out

When I was a kid, once a week was family game night. One that designated night, the family would order out, pick a board game, and have fun for a few hours. This lasted until I was in middle school - a time when life got busier and more complicated.

Never the less, I found that I really enjoyed playing games with people and found that it was a good way to bond with friends and family. 

During the height of the Pandemic, some of my friends and I started to have virtual game nights. We used Zoom to connect and play Dungeons and Dragons or JackBox instead of the traditional board games. It was a way to stay connected and have some semi balance of normalcy during a very uncertain time.

Now that the world has opened back up and people are out and about, game nights have once again become infrequent. Though, I've still managed to find friend groups to play games like Uno or Exploding Kittens, most of my friends want to go out instead of have a night in.

And that's not a bad thing.

However, a third space has started popping up on my radar that combines the need to go out with the fun of a board game night.

These are known as bar-cades. 

I first came to know the term bar-cade in the mid-2010s. These were bars with arcade games, especially catered to people over the age of 21. These are not Dave And Busters. These are bars that allowed you to play skee-ball or Pac-Man while you get tipsy. These places were typically loud with low light, but a ton of club-like dancing energy (most had some kind of dance floor). I primarily went to these places in D.C. and New Jersey. 

The bar-cades I'm going to now are a little different. They still allow you to order alcoholic beverages, but they might also offer an array of board games for you and your friends to play. I spent a hilarious evening teaching one group of friends how to play Clue while enjoying a more traditional bar like atmosphere - no dance floors in sight. 

Praise to whomever designed this box art.

Most recently, I went to a place that was more of a café rather than a traditional bar-cade (even ones with just board games). This place was in Manassas, Virginia and offered an array of snakes, drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), and games to play. Some of the games are for sale, but there is an entire backwall dedicated to games people can play for an evening and then put back. 

The atmosphere was the most relaxed I'd been to and it was a lot more family and teen friendly than other "bar-cades" that I'd been to. It felt like a safe place for kids looking for a little independence as well as a fun nostalgic hangout for grownups (like me) who don't really like the bar scene. And though the 21+ drink list was comprehensive, there was also a fairly big mocktail menu. Snakes could be small shareables to full blown meals and there was a tiny dessert menu.

This was a fantastic space for a game night.

While I occasionally still want to go to the louder bar-cades with flashy arcade games and dancing, I'm really happy that these quieter spaces are popping up. It's especially nice that some are making an effort to include teenagers and families. I could have easily seen my high school (heck even college) friend groups going to a place like the one in Manassas to have a bit of independence from our parents or other adults. 

Game nights are still a lot of fun and I'm glad that I don't have to stay at home or invite people over to have them. Bar-cades are varied and can range from 21+ spaces to family friendly. I hope that more of these places (especially of the family friendly variety) keep popping up.

Until next week.

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Welcome to Too Much Screen Time

Every week Apple decides to give me an update on how much my weekly screen time I’ve had and whether or not it’s changed from the previous week. It’s a cheerful little ping that sounds every Sunday morning. Sometimes I want to chuck my phone against a wall.

Between my time spent working, using Zoom or FaceTime to talk to my friends, writing, and reading (Lord this list keeps going on and on), I’m getting a headache from how much time I spend staring at a screen. I can't seem to escape the blue glow of electronic screens.

Most days, I roll over and have to pick up my phone to either hit the large snooze button or fumble my way to the alarm "off" button. Once my phone is in my hands, it's all too easy to start scrolling through Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. I might check my email and see if there's been an update to one of the serial stories I'm following. There might be a YouTube video I want to watch.

My day ends in bed again scrolling through my phone. Partially I do this to make certain that my alarm is actually set, but then it turns into me fighting going to sleep. I scroll and jump apps until I can't see straight. A lot of times I'm answering texts and waiting for the replies.

I am well aware that this is not healthy and I've been trying to fix this problem, but it's easy to fall into bad habits when my only connection to my friends and family is a super computer that fits in my hand.

Too much screen time and lack of actual physical human contact has definitely affected my mood. I feel more tired, I'm having trouble sleeping, and I'm having trouble doing things that I enjoy (like writing).

One would think that as a writer, I might enjoy having a greater ability to sit down and write my novel, short stories, and poetry. One would be wrong. As soon as I get into the mood to write after a day at work, I feel too tired to even open my personal laptop. If I do managed to open my personal laptop, I have a hard time concentrating on creating the story I want to. I think I was more creative when I was working in the office then when I'm working at home.

Also, cutting off my screen time right now (for a weekend, I still have to work) probably isn't the best option for me. It's my only way to contact my friends and family. Dropping off the face of the Earth isn't the best idea for right now (even as a joke).

Today, instead of scrolling through my phone, I picked up a new book I'm reading (The Outlaws of Sherwood by Robin McKinley - a Robin Hood story) and then later started a puzzle. The puzzle is still taking up room on my dining room table. I probably won't finish it for a couple of days.

Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful I live in a world with Internet access and a cell phone to be able to see and speak with my friends and family over great distances and especially in this time of social distancing.

I'm just very excited for the day when I can go over to my friend's house and play a board game (hopefully Betrayal at House on the Hill). I want to go to Sweet Frog without worry. Heck, I want to take a trip to the mountains and write for a weekend. Anything to get me out of this strange blending of days.

We will get through this. I need to remember to take care of myself and take breaks away from my screens. I need to go outside and get some sunshine. I need to remember to call my family and answer my friends' texts.

Honestly, is it any wonder that so many people have turned to Animal Crossing during these times. It gives the illusion of going out and talking to people - sure you're basically an indentured servant to Tom Nook, but at least he doesn't charge interest.

And no, my younger self wouldn't enjoy being stuck inside all the time. Younger me probably would have enjoyed it for about a week before playing through all of my GameCube games (by then I should have reached the bottom of both the mines in Harvest Moon).

I did still have some screen time today. I'm writing this blog post and I have a food blog waiting to be written as well. However, I do feel a little better having taken some time away from my computer and phone.

I hope everyone is doing okay and taking time to look after themselves. A lot is going on and can affect each of us in different ways.

Until next week.

If you enjoyed this post (or it really pissed you off) please like, share, and/or leave a comment. I love hearing from my readers and I hope you guys like hearing from me.