Celebrate Grand Opening Weekend: October 3-4
After months of sawdust, shelving, and more box-sorting (and labeling) than we'd like to admit, the doors of Tabletop Library are officially open. On Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4, we're throwing a two-day celebration at 3048 Claremont Ave in Berkeley, and you're invited.
We'll be open 9am to 11pm both days, with complimentary tours and open play all day long. Wander the collection, pull something intriguing off the shelf, and grab a table. Every hour there's something happening, whether you've been gaming for decades, or still aren't sure what a "meeple" is.
Saturday, October 3: Ribbons, Rivalries, and a Legend
We kick things off at 11:00 AM with our official ribbon cutting.
At noon, learn to play Euchre, a classic card game popular in the Midwest and becoming one of the most played card games at the club. At 1:00 PM, join our first Table Talk with game designer Robert Hovakimyan, then stick around to learn his games Bombastic, Gingham, and Moonrollers.
Drop in with your family at 2:00 PM to play Kid-Friendly Games that play in less than 45-minutes: Penguin Party and Mountain Goats: Legacy.
At 3:00 PM, it's Crokinole: flick wooden discs across a beautiful board and discover why this is the most satisfying game you've never heard of. At 4:00 PM, we're serving up Quick Games by Reiner Knizia, a sampler of short, clever titles from one of the most prolific designers in the hobby.
Then the evening builds to something special. At 6:00 PM, learn to play Forbidden Jungle, a cooperative adventure where the whole table wins or loses together. Consider it a warm-up, because at 7:30 PM we're hosting a Meet & Greet with award-winning designer Matt Leacock, the mind behind Pandemic, Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship, and Daybreak. If you've ever saved the world around a table with friends, there's a good chance you have Matt to thank.
Sunday, October 4: Puzzles, Tea, and the Stars
Sunday starts slow and cozy. At 9:00 AM, settle in for Cozy Puzzle Sundays with a coffee and donuts from Oakland’s Donut Savant. At 11:00 AM, learn Wingspan Pocket, a bite-sized take on the beloved bird-collecting game.
At 1:00 PM, our second Table Talk features game and puzzle designer Rita Orlov. Explore PostCurious titles, chat about what goes into designing a great puzzle, and try to solve a few alongside us.
At 3:00 PM, learn to play Mahjong, the tile-matching classic with a devoted following (and a regular night on our calendar). At 4:00 PM, drop in for Tea Party: Victorian Themed Games, and play gorgeous and immersive games from the husband-wife indie studio, Dux Somnium. We close the weekend at 6:30 PM with Board Game 101: Starfarers of Catan, a friendly intro that takes the classic trading game to outer space.
Why Come By?
The Tabletop Library is a members-only board game social club with 24 tables, a collection of more than 1,100 games, a curated retail shop, and a 500-vinyl record collection. Opening weekend is your chance to see it all before deciding whether to make it your new third place.
The Details
When: Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4, 9am to 11pm
Where: 3048 Claremont Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705
What: Hourly learn-to-play sessions, designer talks, complimentary tours, and open play all day
Bring a friend, or come solo. We can't wait to see you at the table!