As the bleak, coldness of winter continues, outdoor family fun is limited. Early darkness accompanies temperature drops as the sun sets, snow storms can drop by at any time over the next two months, and in just a couple of weeks, the kids are home from school for the winter break. Banish the isolation and solitude of electronic devices for a couple of hours, and cast aside the winter doldrums as well, by gathering the family for some engaging, economical and timeless game play.
A game shop that began in Huntington as a vendor of collectible wooden game sets is now Long Island's answer to the enactment of family game night and the cure for rainy day boredom and winter's confinements. Boardwalk Games, now located in Port Jefferson, offers an impressive selection of tabletop entertainment, ranging from classic games that teleport us back to yesteryear to today's most coveted hobby games. Puzzle enthusiasts will also find the largest selection of jigsaw puzzles to choose from at Boardwalk Games.
For the past five years, Boardwalk Games has been located on the corner of Main Street, facing the harbor. This month, owners Josh and Joan are excited about the shop's newest change of address. Now located within Chandler's Square, they look forward to welcoming more customers in the highly traversed location. While the new shop's size is comparable to that of the prior venue, it will undoubtedly benefit from greater exposure, beckoning tourists who pack the square to browse shop windows, pause for refreshing summer treats at the ice cream shop or await their al fresco table at the Village Way restaurant. The new location also offers bolder storefront signs and an improved window dimension for eye-catching displays to entice visitors. What has not changed is the extensive lineup of games and puzzles and the owners, who are always very friendly, knowledgeable and glad to play their role in the game of sending you home with countless hours of family entertainment.
Taking in the inventory that lines the display shelves can be almost as fun as playing the games themselves. Shoppers will find a gift of fun for anyone, from young children to expert gaming enthusiasts to retirees in search of a pastime for afternoons spent with their grandchildren. The shop carries international game sensations, collectible chess sets, unique games from eras gone by that come and go as companies revive their production and such timeless classics as Clue, Scrabble, Yahtzee and Monopoly. Even the selection of basic playing cards warrants some browsing, given the array of Bicycle card decks. For those who crave nostalgic novelties, anyone over forty will spy the different variations of the Rubik's cube that fueled their addictive puzzle-solving frustrations during the '80s. A variety of travel-sized games and card sets are also available to keep passengers occupied during lengthy drives or flights.
The display that commands amused attention during leisurely perusal is that of the classic board game, Monopoly. You will be hard pressed to think of a single acquaintance who has not wiled away hours upon hours engaged in a single play session of Monopoly at some point in his or her lifetime. You will be equally hard pressed not to find a version that will appeal to even the most finicky recipient on your gift-shopping list. Boardwalk Games carries dozens of themed Monopoly versions to suit every personal obsession, from dogs, cats and birds to Star Trek, superheroes and baseball. The store sold more of these games than any other during the holiday shopping season. Also soaring in popularity are the hobby games, such as Settlers of Catan, Ticket to Ride and Munchkin. A sizable section of the shop offers a host of the engaging board games that immerse players' imaginations into journeys of historic and futuristic quests, battleground victories and fantasy adventures.
Boardwalk Games also carries an extensive assortment of various types of puzzles. Jigsaw puzzles that depict a wide range of images from animals and landscapes to complex collages and Port Jefferson’s bustling harbor scene are available to keep puzzlers of all levels from the youngest novice to the 2,000 piece expert assembling pieces for hours. Tavern puzzles, which are basically sets of metal shapes and keys all linked together waiting to be separated, are also available to boggle minds of all ages. No large tabletop is needed to engage in solving these metal link complexities, only a pair of hands, unwavering patience, keen analytical skill and a craving for challenge.
As it so happens, January 29 is National Puzzle Day. Stop by Boardwalk Games to pick up a new puzzle to celebrate, and stock up on a couple of new games to keep the entire family occupied and interacting around the coffee table in front of a cozy fireplace inside while the winter winds gust and bluster outside. When the spring and summer raindrops start falling, heed the calling of the games and puzzles to whisk you and your family and friends to the nearest tabletop refuge of fun and camaraderie. Boardwalk Games is now located in Chandler Square, in between Save-a-Pet's Castaways and You, Me & Tea.
A game shop that began in Huntington as a vendor of collectible wooden game sets is now Long Island's answer to the enactment of family game night and the cure for rainy day boredom and winter's confinements. Boardwalk Games, now located in Port Jefferson, offers an impressive selection of tabletop entertainment, ranging from classic games that teleport us back to yesteryear to today's most coveted hobby games. Puzzle enthusiasts will also find the largest selection of jigsaw puzzles to choose from at Boardwalk Games.
For the past five years, Boardwalk Games has been located on the corner of Main Street, facing the harbor. This month, owners Josh and Joan are excited about the shop's newest change of address. Now located within Chandler's Square, they look forward to welcoming more customers in the highly traversed location. While the new shop's size is comparable to that of the prior venue, it will undoubtedly benefit from greater exposure, beckoning tourists who pack the square to browse shop windows, pause for refreshing summer treats at the ice cream shop or await their al fresco table at the Village Way restaurant. The new location also offers bolder storefront signs and an improved window dimension for eye-catching displays to entice visitors. What has not changed is the extensive lineup of games and puzzles and the owners, who are always very friendly, knowledgeable and glad to play their role in the game of sending you home with countless hours of family entertainment.
Taking in the inventory that lines the display shelves can be almost as fun as playing the games themselves. Shoppers will find a gift of fun for anyone, from young children to expert gaming enthusiasts to retirees in search of a pastime for afternoons spent with their grandchildren. The shop carries international game sensations, collectible chess sets, unique games from eras gone by that come and go as companies revive their production and such timeless classics as Clue, Scrabble, Yahtzee and Monopoly. Even the selection of basic playing cards warrants some browsing, given the array of Bicycle card decks. For those who crave nostalgic novelties, anyone over forty will spy the different variations of the Rubik's cube that fueled their addictive puzzle-solving frustrations during the '80s. A variety of travel-sized games and card sets are also available to keep passengers occupied during lengthy drives or flights.
The display that commands amused attention during leisurely perusal is that of the classic board game, Monopoly. You will be hard pressed to think of a single acquaintance who has not wiled away hours upon hours engaged in a single play session of Monopoly at some point in his or her lifetime. You will be equally hard pressed not to find a version that will appeal to even the most finicky recipient on your gift-shopping list. Boardwalk Games carries dozens of themed Monopoly versions to suit every personal obsession, from dogs, cats and birds to Star Trek, superheroes and baseball. The store sold more of these games than any other during the holiday shopping season. Also soaring in popularity are the hobby games, such as Settlers of Catan, Ticket to Ride and Munchkin. A sizable section of the shop offers a host of the engaging board games that immerse players' imaginations into journeys of historic and futuristic quests, battleground victories and fantasy adventures.
Boardwalk Games also carries an extensive assortment of various types of puzzles. Jigsaw puzzles that depict a wide range of images from animals and landscapes to complex collages and Port Jefferson’s bustling harbor scene are available to keep puzzlers of all levels from the youngest novice to the 2,000 piece expert assembling pieces for hours. Tavern puzzles, which are basically sets of metal shapes and keys all linked together waiting to be separated, are also available to boggle minds of all ages. No large tabletop is needed to engage in solving these metal link complexities, only a pair of hands, unwavering patience, keen analytical skill and a craving for challenge.
As it so happens, January 29 is National Puzzle Day. Stop by Boardwalk Games to pick up a new puzzle to celebrate, and stock up on a couple of new games to keep the entire family occupied and interacting around the coffee table in front of a cozy fireplace inside while the winter winds gust and bluster outside. When the spring and summer raindrops start falling, heed the calling of the games and puzzles to whisk you and your family and friends to the nearest tabletop refuge of fun and camaraderie. Boardwalk Games is now located in Chandler Square, in between Save-a-Pet's Castaways and You, Me & Tea.