Plan a memorable board game night

A girlfriend of mine recently regaled me with tales from her life as a newlywed. She described an alternate universe where couples get together for dancing lessons and board game parties.

“Cool,” I said.

“Nerd alert,” I thought.

Yet a few days later, I found myself still thinking about board game parties. I pictured couples laughing and snacking, and suddenly I became bitter. Why wasn’t I having board game parties?

Arranging a board game party is simple if you follow advice from party planners and gaming experts.

Claire Graham, owner of Sassy Events in Vail, suggests sending out an invitation to generate interest.

Once the guests arrive, keep them fed so they perform at their peak. After all, it’s important to carbo load before a game of Twister. Prepare finger food for guests, Graham suggests.

“Something that’s easy for them to pick up and snack on quickly,” she said. “Nothing that’s going to take them away from the group.”

As for beverages, pick fluids that won’t stain playing cards if they spill, suggests Greg Webster, chairman of an American Mensa Society board game contest. “Spill-proof cups are always good,” he added.

If guests plan to drink alcohol, serve something edgy.

“I would do a signature drink, something fun,” Graham with Sassy Events said. “I would definitely go and get a cocktail book and pick a recipe. Something unique that will help people remember the night.”

For more ideas, check out this list of hot new games and classic competitions, complete with drink pairings.

New Games: Experts sling inside information on the best party games

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The Game: GiftTRAP

The Buzz: An upcoming issue of Games Magazine crowns GiftTRAP best party game of the year, editor-in-chief Wayne Schmittberger said. The magazine hits the shelves Oct. 30, he said.

Why it’s fun: Players discover how well they really know their teammates when they try to select hypothetical gifts for them. GiftTRAP Enterprises launched the game exactly a year ago.

What to Drink: To conjure the gift-giving spirit, recreate the holiday season with a round of Candy-cane-tinis.

Candy-cane-tini:

Peppermint Schnapps, 1⁄2 oz.

Vodka 1 oz.

One mini candy cane

Makes: one drink



(Source: drinknation.com)

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The Game: Cineplexity

The Buzz: Greg Webster, chairman of the upcoming 2008 Mensa Mind Games, recommends this game. Each year, members of the American Mensa Society test board games and dole out an award to the top five. Webster tested Cineplexity while serving as a judge in this year’s contest.

Why it’s fun: Players name movies that conform to criteria on cards. For example, the cards might read “taking place over the holidays” and “contains a character in uniform.” Players rack their brains for a movie that matches both those descriptions. “It’s just fun to think of odd combinations like that and kind of shoehorn a movie and make it fit what you’re looking for,” Webster said. Released this past summer by Out of the Box Publishing Inc. in Wisconsin, this game is a twist on movie trivia. The Barnes & Noble chain sells the game.

What to drink: In the movie “Cocktail,” Tom Cruise’s character extends a shout-out to Sex on the Beach, the schnapps made from peach, the velvet hammer and the Alabama Slammer but concludes that “if you want to get loaded, why not just order a shot?”



Margarita Jello Shot:

6 ounces Lime Jello

16 ounces water (boiling)

6 ounces Tequila

2 ounces Triple Sec

1 ounce Lime Juice

1 ounce water (cold)

Makes: About 15-20 shots



(source: www.marios-bar.com)

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The Game: Bananagrams

The Buzz: This game snagged a recommendation by Greg Webster, a judge in the American Mensa Society’s annual board game contest.

Why it’s fun: Packaged in a banana-shaped box, this game challenges players to get rid of their letter tiles by making words on a board. When a player runs out of tiles, he or she yells “bananas” and the remaining players must add another tile to their arsenal. “It’s a competitive game you can play over and over again,” Webster said. “It’s just a fun way to exercise your mind.” The Bananagrams company in Rhode Island launched the game in the United States in February 2006. Visit http://www.bananagrams-intl.com/index-us.asp for more information.

What to drink: Something banana-flavored, duh.



Banana Passion:

1 oz. 99 Bananas

4 oz. Passion Fruit Juice

Fill with ice.

Makes: About one drink.

(source: bartonic.com)

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Classic Games: Board game staples with sentimental value

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The Game: Twister

Source of Staying Power: A perfect excuse for a little grabass, this game forces players to get intimate. If your right hand is on red and your left hand is on yellow, whose hand is grabbing your boob?

What to drink: Try the “Naked Twister.”



1 oz. Midori melon liqueur

1⁄2 oz.vodka

1⁄2 oz Tuaca citrus liqueur

pineapple juice

1 splash 7UP

Makes: One drink.

(source: www.drinksmixer.com)

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The Game: Pictionary

Source of Staying Power: Pictionary memories last forever. There’s always a moment of shocking telepathy, where one partner draws a circle with a tail and the other just knows it’s a buffalo. First published in 1985, Pictionary has been supplying refrigerator art ever since.

What to drink: Pablo Picasso, Edgar Degas and Edouard Monet all obsessed over absinthe in their paintings. Likewise, Vincent Van Gough downed so much absinthe, some of his contemporaries believed it drove him to slice off his ear. However, the last thing Pictionary players need is a strong buzz compromising their drawing skills. Serve cappuccino instead. After all, there must be some reason artsy types flock to coffee shops.

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The Game: Taboo

Source of Staying Power: When you buzz someone for saying a forbidden word, you officially own them. There’s nothing more satisfying than that power trip. Taboo is a guessing game in which players must convey words on cards to their partners without saying the word or five closely associated words. If the partners share inside jokes, the word associations can be tons of fun.

What to Drink: A drink called “Taboo” actually exists. Taboo is a fruit-flavored spirit made in the UK, according to the online encyclopedia Wikipedia. It’s a blend of vodka, white wine and exotic fruit juices.



Staff writer Sarah Mausolf can be reached at 748-2938 or smausolf@vaildaily.com.