Keys in hand!

So, we've finally got our keys and are gearing up for all of the reconstruction work ahead over the next 6-8 weeks. We're waiting for a few more estimates back from our suppliers but we should start the demolition work already this week. One thing we've been pushing for very hard is real wood flooring to give it that cozy feeling. I hope everyone will be pleased with the result.

keys!

now we just need to turn this...

and this...

into something resembling this!

We're also planning our next big game night. I think this one will be somewhere in the neighbourhood later this month. Keep checking back for details!

Bohemia Boards & Brews: A first look

We're super excited today to share a bit more info about our opening. BB&B will be located at Charkovska 18, in the Vrsovice district of Prague. If you're familiar with the area, you know that Vrsovice is an up and coming neighbourhood, fast becoming the hipster-mecca of the city. We'll be a stone's throw away from the Kino Pilot Art House Cinema, Jam & Co, restaurant Plavel, the Bad Flash beer bar, Sladkovsky's (home of one of our favourite prague burgers) and a host of new pubs, bars, and restaurants opening nearby.

The space we're moving into is the current home of Kralik v Radiu, which will be moving out at the end of this month. It's a historic building located directly between the Krymska and Ruska tram stops, located right on the corner. It currently has 2 main rooms and a small kitchen. Here are a few shots of the location right now:

The front door with cool awning

The main room which currently holds the bar/kitchen

The second room is currently used as a play area for small kids

So, not exactly a nightlife hot-spot yet, is it? So this is where the work begins. We've already been hard at work conveying our vision to the architects to create a true gaming HQ in the heart of Prague. So, how's it going to look when we're all done? Drumroll please......

The basic layout stays similar to the current configuration (adding seats to the playroom)

The basic look and feel

Some highlights/notes:

1. Kitchen area will allow us to serve a variety of snacks, drinks, and some simple sandwich plates. Our plan at the moment includes roast beef sandwiches, paninis, bagel plates, and veggie and hummus platters.

2. The lighting shown here is much simpler than what we envision. There will be much more ambient lighting (using bare LEDs) along with the spots for each table.

3. Bench seating along the right-side wall allows tables to squeeze in a few extra players.

4. Near the front door, we've got a comfy couch seating area for more intimate gaming.

5. Long tables located in the 2nd room accommodate larger groups and social games.

6. Overall simple color scheme and materials -highlighting the games rather than the decor.

7. We should be able to accommodate about 60 -80 people, probably more on busy nights with some creative table gymnastics.

8. Most importantly, game shelving located at the back and side walls (flanking the bar). Unfortunately, I don't believe we'll be able to fit the entire collection (of about 500 games). However this just means we'll only have the BEST games on display.

That's about it. We're currently finalising the plans and getting the relevant permissions for construction. Needless to say, we're getting pretty excited to get the keys in our hands and get to work bringing all of this to life. In the meantime, be sure to come to one of our pop-up game nights throughout Prague to get your gaming fix and let me know if you have any questions.

Game Night at Clown and Bard

Another great game night earlier this week at the Clown & Bard Hostel. We had a fun group of about 25-30 people; from experienced gamers to complete noobs -and everyone had fun. Pavel Cassava from Czech Games Edition showed up with the prototype for the Adrenaline Expansion, which turned into a monster game in the centre of the room. By far the biggest hit of the night was Secret Hitler, which got multiple replays at 7-8 players each. Other games that got a workout tuesday were Sushi Go, Between 2 Cities, Hare and Tortoise, Catan, and Codenames. Big shout out to Lovro and Ana for inviting us into the C&B!

One big learning this time was the timing. This was the first game night we held on a work night and several people mentioned that a 6pm starting time is a bit too tight make from work. We've already taken this into account with our next game night -or should I say 'Game Day' at Kavarna Co Hleda Jmeno, in Prague 5 -which will be held on a Saturday during the day. I'll post details soon, and we hope to see you there! In the meantime, here are a few pictures of the event:

Hare and Tortoise at the races

A bit of Sushi Go

A nice sized crowd for this event

Letter Tycoon world championships between Denmark and the US (it was a tie)

Hmmmm. I wonder who is Secret Hitler?

Catan in the dark

A flurry of accusations in Secret Hitler

Giving the new Adrenaline Expansion a try

Pop Up game night at Cafe Lajka

We had a great time this past Monday night at Cafe Lajka for our Pop-Up Game Night. A small but enthusiastic bunch which split off into a couple of different tables for Ticket to Ride, 7 Wonders, Patchwork, Between 2 Cities, and finally, a big game of Coup. Next Pop Up game night is scheduled for May 2 at the hostel Clown & Bard. Hopefully we'll see you there!

Our selection of games for the evening

Game Expert Adam explains 7 Wonders.

A strong economic hand! While ticket to ride  plays in the background.

A round of pre-game tweeting and instagramming.

Between 2 cities

Obligatory out of focus close-up

A bit of Patchwork

Analysis paralysis at the Between 2 Cities table

Drinks and Coup

A winning Coup?

Big day at BB&B. We got a big shipment of games from our friends at Mindok, ADC Blackfire, and Albi. In all, 15 big ol' boxes of games, containing about half of our starting library of games. Now all of these need to be sorted, logged, and stickered. Seems like soon I'm going to need to hire some elves.

Entrance to the BB&B secret vault

Boxes and boxes of games!

This past weekend we had our first pop-up game night at one of our favourite pubs, U kurelů. We selected about 30 games that we thought would make a great impression and off we went!

As our first, it was a small event, with about 4 tables of gamers; but everyone agreed it was a great time and worth repeating. Unfortunately, I completely forgot to take pictures until the event was almost over! However I did manage to get a couple of shots of the last couple of tables before they left for the night. I'll be sure to make photos a higher priority next time!

A sampling of some of the games we brought

Codenames Pictures made it to the table

Some 2-player Longhorn fun

Deep in thought at the Cards Against Humanity table

"hey, wait a second. This game is offensive!"

What is a board game cafe?

The board game cafe idea has been around for a while, but the modern concept of what we now call board game cafes started in 2011 in Toronto with a little place called Snakes & Lattes.

Snakes and Lattes. Lots of Games, Great food, welcoming atmosphere

The vision for S&L, which carries over to the hundreds of BGCs that have sprung up since then is simple: A modern, stylish, location, providing quality food and drink, expert instruction, and (most importantly) a vast, curated library of the latest hobby boardgames. Since Snakes and Lattes cracked the formula, there have been a wave of BGC openings across Canada, the US, UK, and now Europe.

A BGC is different to a recreation centre in that it is designed to be welcoming to gamers and non-gamers alike. The atmosphere is pleasant. The food is good. The staff is helpful and willing to patiently choose and explain a game for you and your friends. The BGC should take its place among other 'things to do tonight' such as movies, bowling, escape rooms, and of course, bars and clubs.

a few of the hundreds of BGCs that have popped up the the past 5 years

Despite having an active gaming culture and community, Prague doesn't yet have a board game cafe. They are in Dresden, Budapest, Bucharest, Berlin, and Warsaw, but not Prague. Bohemia Boards & Brews will fill this gap, and we hope it will become a vital part of Prague gaming culture as well as Prague culture in general.