How to Throw a Deluxe Board Game Night

There are few things more fun than the hilarity and competition of playing board games. Shouts of joy over securing Boardwalk in Monopoly, fist-pumping when the Longest Road is secured in Settlers of Catan, the relief of knowing you've connected all your destinations on Ticket to Ride -- they're all part of an experience that not only builds relationships but enhances mental agility and builds thinking strategies.

Rather than being obliterated by the popularity of video games, board games are enjoying a resurgence. According to the New York Times, board game sales are up 15 to 20 percent from last year, and Kickstarter, the crowdfunding service, reported that funding raised for tabletop games exceeded that for video games by nearly 7 million dollars.

Choose Your Weapons (Er, Games)

While there's still a market for lengthy board games such as Axis and Allies, Monopoly, and The Farming Game, it's the faster paced games that are winning over a new generation of board game fans.
Planning a board game night with that in mind can be a lot of fun. Choose games that are open to multiple players such as Sorry, Clue, Settlers of Catan, Ticket to Ride, or the very cheeky Cards Against Humanity. Set up a card table for each game so no one has to compete for space, and arrange comfortable chairs so numb backsides don't distract from an evening of fun. Make sure there's excellent lighting so everyone can easily read cards, instructions, and details on the game board.

Plan Your Menu

When planning a menu for a board game night, go with items that won't leave hands sticky or messy. Choose finger foods topped with toothpicks, bite-sized nibbles that can be eaten easily and neatly without messing up the game boards.
Instead of potato or tortilla chips that can leave fingers (and game pieces!) greasy, supply bowls of pretzels and a savory dip such as Roasted Garlic Yogurt. Thread cubes of specialty cheeses, olives, and good quality farmer's sausage onto some toothpicks, and cubes of Feta with sun-dried tomatoes on others.

Roasted Hazelnuts with Paprika and Rosemary are scrumptious things to nosh on while plotting your next move, but instead of scrabbling through a bowl of them, portion the nuts into individual cupcake liners to keep fingers clean and bellies full. And Curried Eggs are a protein-rich option that taste great and don't make a mess.
For dessert, try chocolate-dipped dried or fresh fruits that can be easily eaten with toothpicks, or take a break from game playing to tuck into something truly decadent and luxurious.






All photos are courtesy of the author.