watching expired appliances align

Monday's the day. I hope everyone can make it bright and early! Here are a few more games I'll have available at the 2007 New Year's Day Board Game Party:

LOOT - Admit it - you're a sucker for all things pirate themed! Loot is a card game that's all about using your pirate ships to overtake ships filled with treasure. It's a battle on the high seas! Be careful playing the admiral! (2-8 players, 20 minutes)

WEREWOLF - This could be one of the best party games of all time. It's going to require a lot of people, and I think I'll have a sign-up sheet on the wall.

Two people are werewolves and at least half a dozen people are villagers. There are two phases to this game - night and day. At night everyone starts with closed eyes, the werewolves open their eyes and identify each other. Then they slaughter a villager! During the day everyone talks openly, trying to reach a consensus about who among them is secretly a werewolf. The villagers then decide on someone to hang. As the week progresses, there are fewer and fewer people actively playing the game. A winning team is declared once the villagers kill all the werewolves or the werewolves kill enough villagers to reach parity. Oh, and for those who are into mystical awareness, there's a seer who can detect the hint of lycanthropy! (8-24 players, 45 minutes)

VEGAS SHOWDOWN - Apparently, it's themed games I'm mentioning today. Sure, pirates are cool and werewolves are scary, but Vegas is where the theming gets really exciting. Just ask Josh Duhamel. I played this last night for the first time. All you have to do is build the best casino to help you acquire patrons, money and fame! Bid on the slots or bid on the chance to add a restaurant, or just collect a fame point. Remember - build your structure so there's an easy path from the casino to the hotel! More info about the game and an introduction to it (via video) are available here. (3-5 players, 75 minutes)

Did I mention there will be bourbon at the party?

Posted by Marc at 12:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

GET READY FOR MAGNETS.

Posted by Marc at 01:02 AM | Permalink

Last year I had the list of games for my New Year's Day Board Game Party in one email. This year, I'm mentioning a few games per day. Here's another small list:

NO THANKS! - Take a card or place a chip. I first read about this game on Defective Yeti. I saved the description in my bloglines for 6 months until I found the card game in a shop. Why I didn't order it online, I have no idea. There's a headline in the idea that no one can say "No Thanks" to No Thanks. It's easy to learn and super addictive. The German name is "Geschenkt." The name kind of reminds me of Wolverine - and the game can be as ruthless as that famous X-Man. Keep your chips hidden but display your cards. Once the deck's depleted the person with the lowest point total in front of her wins the game. (3-5 players, 20 minutes)

RELATIONSHIP TIGHTROPE - Can you imagine a worse name for a game that really has nothing to do with relationships? I bought this online recently. It was designed by an extremely prolific game designer named Reiner Knizia. There are tiny pink sticks and tiny blue sticks. And cards. (3-5 players, 30 minutes)

STRATEGO - It's got a spy. (2 players, 30 minutes)

SEQUENCE - On January 4th, 2006 Adam left a comment on Listmaker's blog entry about the 2006 New Year's Day Party. He said we have to try Sequence. So we are. (2-12 players, 10 minutes)

APPLES TO APPLES - It's a little astonishing that I've never played this game, as it's a party game that almost everyone loves. I feel like I'm missing out. Earlier this week Planbreaker demanded (well, lightly asked) that this game be played at the party. I concur! If you're curious about what the game's like, or how to play, check out this video. (4-10 players, 30 minutes)

I'll have snacks (and you're welcome to bring your own). Pizza can be ordered or picked up, as can other food. I've got my fingers crossed The Smoke Joint (liked by the PSG) will be open, but that's unlikely.

Posted by Marc at 12:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

I created an evite for the New Year's Day Board Game Party. Creating it was the most difficult thing I've done in months and it still didn't turn out the way I wanted it. I think the emailed invitations had white text over a white background. I couldn't figure out how to fix it. The website is really annoying. I'd post the URL here, but I can't figure out the simple URL to use for strangers. Is there a more modern evite type tool that people use these days?

Posted by Marc at 03:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I've been terrible about mentioning TV. The only show to get excited about while the regular lineup is on winter break is CAMPUS LADIES. Check for re-airings on Oxygen and watch/record as many as you can.

Season two started a few weeks ago. The show airs on Oxygen (Oh! many seem to exclaim. No one goes out of his way to watch Oxygen. No one I know accidentally watches Oxygen.) Season one was a pretty short season, but the lack of episodes shouldn't stop anyone from watching this show. I use the dreaded line "laugh out loud funny" to describe CAMPUS LADIES - it fits.

There are too many guest stars (every episode now!) but they don't get in the way of the comedy, which always features three or four really hearty laughs for every 22 minutes.

When describing it I go out on a limb and say it's as funny as "The Office." Friends look at me quizically when I say that and I convince them I'm not joking. I've yet to really read any serious mentions of "Campus Ladies" when talking about the past year in TV, and I have no idea why it's below everyone's radar.

(I need to give a hat tip to my co-worker, Natalie, who told me to start watching the show midway through season one.)

Has anyone started watching this yet?

Posted by Marc at 05:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

In case I've failed to mention it elsewhere (elsewhere meaning a few entries ago - I'm trying to create an evite but the process keeps forcing my browser closed), please bring your own board games to the party, especially if it's something you're really excited about playing or don't get to play often.

For the party I'm hosting on January 1st, I'll have a few games on the shelf. Over the next week, I'll update my website with a list of what I plan to have available. Here's part two of the list:

INGENIOUS - Last year I couldn't stop playing quick games of Ingenious. It's a tile placement game, sort of like dominoes but a lot more fun. You score points across a few different color tiles, but you've got to score the most of the least to win. I think. I haven't played in months and I'm anxious to break this out as people arrive. (1-4 players, 20 minutes)

THE SETTLERS OF CATAN (Travel Edition) - I've only played this once. This travel version of the original has really tiny pieces. I've never played the original but it's better than this one, and that means it's got to be an awesome game. Players compete against each other increasing the size of their settlements - acquiring resources to build roads, houses, etc. There's trading involved. Who doesn't love trading? (3-4 players, 90 minutes)

EURORAILS - This is the first game that helped me realize there's more to board games than Sorry! (2-4 players, 30 minutes) and Museum Caper Clue (2-4 players, 30 minutes and not bad at all). The first time I played this was in the upstairs kitchen at the Spaghetti House. Playing this game and listening to Fugazi and Rail Road Jerk are now linked in my brain forever. Did you know there's a whole genre of railroad games? In this one players build railroads and deliver goods from one European city to another. It comes with crayons! You can draw on the board! What's not to like? (2-6 players, 180 minutes)

BALDERDASH - A game for all word maker uppers (word makers upper?). (3-6 players, 60 minutes)

SET - It's a pattern recognition card game! If this was electronic, you'd play it while waiting for someone to finish up that game of Uno. (1+ players, 15 minutes)

WITS AND WAGERS - Trivia like you've never played it! This fast paced 7-question game where all the answers are numbers is surprisingly addictive (I wish I had a room full of cards with answers I'd never seen). Everyone answers a question then wagers on which is closest to the correct answer. If you want to learn how to play before swinging by, check out this video explanation and review of the game. (3-7 players, or teams, 20 minutes)

Posted by Marc at 04:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

For the party I'm hosting on January 1st, I'll have a few games on the shelf. Over the next week, I'll update my website with a list of what I plan to have available:

CLUZZLE - Last year's surprise favorite party game! It's clay sculpting and hilarious interaction! (3-6 players, 45 minutes)

BOGGLE - The shaking of that cube is something I'm sure you remember about this simple game for the word freaks in the house. I love watching the intense, concentrated silence that comes over people as they search their brains like twisted dictionaries. (2-6 players, 10 minutes)

PUERTO RICO - My favorite board game of all time. The object is to build a thriving Puerto Rico by developing plantations, creating buildings, populating the island and shipping goods. This one remained on the shelf at last year's party. It's a bit complex, but worth the time it takes to learn. (3-5 players, 90 minutes).

SAN JUAN - An offshoot of Puerto Rico, this card game is much simpler to learn and play (and almost as engrossing). (2-4 players, 45 minutes)

TRIVIAL PURSUIT - Pop Culture DVD Edition - If you know what's good for you, you'll leave this one on the shelf. Last year a team called DANovan won and got to put their names on the winner's board. (2-? players, team play, 60 minutes)

I'll list more games soon. Don't forget to bring your own games from home.

Posted by Marc at 03:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

at tonight's white elephant gift exchange jamie (shrewdness of apes) walked away with some fantastic star spangled suspenders. if i wasn't about to pass our from a combination of bourbon and red wine i would post a photo. he put them on over his striped shirt and they were fantastic. no man has ever looked so good while holding his pants up!

Posted by Marc at 12:13 AM | Permalink

the mistake i made today was not saving any coookies for my return home. i just got back from the annual hoiliday party thrown by the guys from st. marks. they've now dispersed but tonight's activities were held at the former treehouse full of boys. as per usual, i made chocolate chip cookies from scratch. this year i finally upgraded to bringing them in a tin instead of showing up with them wrapped in aluminium foil. don't say i'm not high class now that i'm in my 30's. but, let's be honest, i fucked up. i ate three cookies before i left and packed the other 45. these are chocolate chip cookies with a hint of cinamon. i know - two n's or two m's. you'd think after decades of eating the "toast crunch" cereal i'd know. but i don't. live with it. anyway, they're awesome tasting cookies. i douse the top with cinnamon so there's a dark draping of flavor sitting atop these cookies. it's fantastic. i report that without fail. you would eat these cookies - and more than one, if you had the chance. it's the straight up toll house recipe. it works. i add a tiny bit more vanilla extract. that's it. and i upgarde the chocolate. anyway, what i'm driving at here is that i didn't save any cookies for my return home. i get back before midnight and i would fucking love the most delicious choc. chip coookie in the world right now. but are there any here? NO. is the scent still lingering from this afternoon? YES. i now see the error or my ways. always save a cookie for just before bedtime.

Posted by Marc at 11:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

As the hourglass that Father Time uses to measure our calendar year begins to empty, it's time to imagine flipping the plastic hourglass that comes packaged with Boggle (or Cluzzle or Wits & Wagers).

On January 1 I'm hosting the 2007 New Year's Day Board Game Party. Clear your calendar now and get your dice throwing arms and trivia answering minds into gear!

I'll have a variety of games on hand, so if you're hung over from the night before or are swearing to start the year on an intellectual and strategic note, there's no need to worry. Of course, if you've sworn to start the year on a "strategic note" I do wonder what's gotten into you.

Three rooms of casual board gaming action will be available and expect new games in addition to old favorites.

The party will start in the late morning with selected events (large scale hosted games) happening at certain times during the afternoon and evening. In the past year I've realized I'm a bit of an addict, so I'm ready for the party to go all night!

Posted by Marc at 03:06 PM | Permalink