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About us

Meet us at the Boarding Home—a cozy board game cafe in Carlsbad—for a relaxed, screen-free evening of tabletop play. The focus is on modern, mid-weight titles that are as satisfying to look at as they are to play (think Wingspan, Azul, Cascadia, Everdell, etc.).

This group IS for you if: You want a casual night out, appreciate games with beautiful art and clever mechanics, and enjoy tactile pieces paired with a bit of satisfying strategy.

This group is NOT for you if: You want to play trading card games (e.g., Magic: The Gathering), role-playing games (e.g., Dungeons & Dragons), or miniature wargames (e.g., Warhammer). Our focus is on the happy medium between light party game and heavy euro-game.

House Rules
To keep things stress-free and welcoming, we operate under a few simple guidelines:

  • Zero Experience Required: We draw straight from the cafe's library and teach 100% of the rules at the table. You never need to study a rulebook beforehand.
  • Bring Absolutely Nothing: Every game is completely self-contained and standalone. Just show up, grab a drink or a pastry from the cafe counter, and play.
  • The 15-Minute Rule: We only select games that can be explained to a total beginner in 15 minutes or less.

About the Venue:
The Boarding Home is a fantastic, curated space for tabletop gaming. Entry to the play lounge is $10, which includes either a complimentary standard drink/snack or a discount toward one of their signature specialty items. While there is absolutely no additional cost to join this meetup group, all attendees are expected to cover the cafe's standard entry fee upon arrival.

If you’ve been looking for a low-stakes way to disconnect from your phone and hang out with other board game lovers, come grab a seat at one of our reserved tables.

Board Game Night @ The Boarding Home - Carlsbad

Board Game Night @ The Boarding Home - Carlsbad

The Boarding Home, 300 Carlsbad Village Dr Ste 103, Carlsbad, CA, US

Join us for a tabletop night at the Boarding Home Cafe in Carlsbad!

On Friday August 7th, we will be splitting into a couple tables to play two modern classics from the cafe library:

  • Wingspan (a game of building a wildlife bird sanctuary) and
  • Azul (a game of drafting beautiful mosaic tiles).

Whether you are an experienced player or have never seen these boxes before, you are welcome here. Absolutely no prior experience is required—we will teach 100% of the rules at the table before we start.

Timeline

  • 7:00 PM – 7:15 PM: Arrive, grab a seat at our reserved tables, and order a drink or snack from the counter.
  • 7:15 PM – 7:30 PM: Game setup and rule-teaching. We walk through exactly how to play both games step-by-step.
  • 7:30 - 8:30PM: The games begin!
  • After 8:30: feel free to stick around for more games until closing at 10pm.

Location & Finding Us
We have dedicated tables reserved inside The Boarding Home Cafe located in the Carlsbad Village Faire.

  • Directions: The cafe's entrance can be easily accessed directly from the center courtyard on the first floor of the Village Faire complex. Look for our table signs when you walk in!

Venue Cost
Entry into the Boarding Home play area is $10 per person, paid directly to the cafe counter upon arrival. This fee includes either a complimentary standard drink/snack or a discount toward one of their premium specialty menu items. There is no additional cost to join our meetup group.
Space is limited to our reserved tables, so please update your RSVP if your plans change. Can't wait to open some boxes and play!

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David Kyle

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