I sent my bright, funny, and kind-hearted son, #Tastie, (not his real name), off to college in the fall of 2020. With no one having any idea what the school year would be like during the pandemic, and with instructions from the university not to visit the campus or ask him to come home until the holiday break, all I could do was call him, trying to ascertain if he was eating enough, making friends, and logging into Zoom for class.
When he came home at break, he was a shadow of the kid I had dropped off in August. He was sleeping all day long to stay up all night to play video games with his high school friends online. Quiet, sad, skinny, and struggling, he hated his dorm room, calling it a prison, and hated taking classes over Zoom even more. Gaming with his friends became his only joy. It was a lifeline, a point of connection and an escape for him.
Knowing he loved playing games, I came up with a plan for the following semester. I started driving up every Friday night and taking my son for dinner at RPG (short for Restaurant, Pub & Games) right on Mass Street in Lawrence.
Proving himself to be a fearless risk-taker and devious strategy maker, #Tastie found comfort (and confidence) by playing board games with me over dinner and drinks at RPG. If school seemed hard, games came easy. Seeing him smile during our “game time” always felt like a win, even though I usually lost to him. Slowly, but surely, he found his way back, adjusting to college life as we moved through the pandemic, eventually moving off campus and into a house with the same friends he used to play online.
Today, I am the one addicted to games. There was a time I did not consider myself a “gamer,” but now I really love it. Board games, cards, dice, or dominos, I love them all. I research and buy new (and old-school) games, so excited to play them with my son when he comes to visit. I am also thankful for a game-loving partner who comes from a long line of ruthless middle Missouri “Pitch” players. He is always down to join in the fun, and three players makes for a much more interesting match.
As someone who is naturally competitive, playing games has stretched my brain in new and interesting ways. It has made me faster at thinking on my feet and improved my ability to think strategically. A wonderful and unexpected perk of me just trying to help my son adjust to his new environment.
We have started expanding our “game nights” to include places that provide a more physical gaming experience. Some of them required slightly more athletic ability or eye-hand coordination, which I have found often levels the playing field slightly in my favor. We love these types of “enter-game-ment” places that may also serve a good burger, slice of pizza, or a tray of nachos along with an ice-cold beer, wine, or cocktails as it gives us a chance to let off some steam.
Here I share some of my favorite local gaming experiences. We like locally owned places where one can play a game and enjoy both food and alcoholic drinks, especially now that my son has turned 21. (How is that possible?) So, be sure to check the websites of these establishments for any age requirements or restrictions before heading out if you have littles, as some of these places do not allow children inside.
Enjoy your summer, friends, and don’t forget to get outside and play.
Ludo’s Shuffleboard
The folks behind Made in KC have now opened two Ludo’s Shuffleboard locations, offering indoor and on-the-floor shuffleboard courts that are first come, first serve. No reservations needed! With fun, fruity cocktails like the Blueberry Mule, a few choice wines, and bar snacks like Guy’s potato chips, it is the perfect place to grab a group for some sips, snacks, and shuffleboard.
Solid State Pinball Supply
Located in an old Wonder Bread factory on Troost, Solid State Pinball Supply buys and repairs old pinball machines to fix them up and put in their two arcades for you to play. With two floors of vintage, coin-operated pinball machines and The Combine pizza, deli, and taps all located inside the beautifully rehabbed and renamed The Wonder Shops and Flats building, you could become the next pinball wizard just in time for dinner and a drink.
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Rachel Kennedy’s new two-acre indoor/outdoor entertainment complex near 95th and Metcalf in Overland Park combines eight pickleball courts (six inside and two outside) with six original food concepts located in containers sprinkled across the outdoor patio. The food containers are surrounded by outdoor courts, cabanas, yard games, large video screens with seating areas, and fire pits.
Gladstone Bowl
The food-lovers and Northland bowlers alike in Kansas City kept the fantastic cheeseburgers from Smitty’s Diner, located inside of Gladstone Bowl, a secret for many years, but once word got out there was no putting the genie back in the bottle. The bowling alley opened in 1958 and has been widely recognized as a top spot to bowl. In 1991, they added Smitty’s, serving a variety of sandwiches, tacos, and their famous cheeseburger, along with ice-cold beer.
Chartreuse Saloon
Jill Cockson’s inclusive game room and saloon in the East Crossroads is just the place to get a choose-your-own-adventure nacho platter while you throw steel-tip darts, shoot pool on nine-foot Diamond tables with chartreuse-colored felt, or play checkers, chess, and cards along with some of the best drinks this side of the Missouri river. She now accepts both cash and credit cards at her fine establishment. Rack ‘em up!
Blade & Timber Ax Throwing
Book a lane online, sign the legal waiver, and then show up at Blade & Timber ready to toss an ax at a target on a wood wall just because you can. Blade & Timber is a homegrown Kansas City-based company owned by Matt Baysinger and co-founder Ryan Henrich, operating as Swell Spark, with two locations in Kansas City. Order chicken and waffles, soft pretzels, or fried cheese curds to go with something from their impressive beer list, and then make like a lumberjack and put your arm into it.
Chicken N Pickle
Chicken N Pickle is a chef-driven, casual eatery and bar with pickleball courts, shaded beer gardens, and backyard games. Founder Dave Johnson was the first to bring pickleball—plus food and drink—together in Kansas City. Reserve a court at one of their two Kansas City locations and order their wood-fired rotisserie chicken with a handful of delicious sides, including cathead biscuits, grilled street corn, and burnt-end barbecue beans. A full bar serves beer, wine, and cocktails to those who are playing or simply watching the game.
Sinkers Lounge
Owned by the same duo who owns Blade & Timber, Sinkers Lounge is located next door to Blade & Timber in the Power & Light District. Their mini-golf themed bar and restaurant has a more upscale date-night vibe, with nine tabletop golf holes and nine mini-golf holes, including some selfie spots scattered throughout that highlight Kansas City landmarks. Food also has been taken up a few notches with Tangy Thai hot dogs and Hatch chili cheese dip and chips, along with cocktails, beer, and wine.
Up-Down
A concept that originally started in Iowa, Up-Down owners chose Kansas City as their second location, opening this popular indoor/outdoor space in the Crossroads in 2015. The 21+ arcade bar features more than 50 arcade games from the ’80s and ’90s, pinball machines, four classic Skee-Ball alleys, Nintendo 64 console gaming, life-size Jenga, and Connect Four. Regional craft brews along with slices of pizza will keep you playing all night long.
Gerard’s at The Belfry
Last year, Denver developer Ken Wolf partnered with the chef Celina Tio to add a new pool hall in the former Collection space, which Tio now manages in addition to her popular restaurant and bar, The Belfry. It has five regulation-size pool tables, a dart board, pinball machine, and a chair rail that wraps the room for people to gather to eat, drink, and watch all the action. Pro Tip: Order your cocktail with Tio’s new line of ANNX crafted spirits.
Boulevard Rec Deck
In 2019, Boulevard Brewing Co. upped its game, opening a brand-new “Rec Deck” on the fourth floor of its Tours & Recreational Center. Open Saturday only for those 21 and above, the game stop features five regulation 40-foot indoor shuffleboard courts available to rent by the hour and a couple of shuffleboard and foosball tables that people can play while enjoying Boulevard canned beer and Fling craft cocktails.
DoubleTap KC
Ready to experience what is next in gaming? DoubleTap is a virtual reality arcade and sports bar owned by Terry Keith and Eddie Reese located in the River Market. Offering a variety of VR games, you can play in your own private bay or join friends or family in a VR escape room. With a fully stocked bar, and an impressive menu offering build-your-own loaded fries, tacos, burgers, and more, there are also classic arcade games, board games, and TVs tuned to your favorite game.
Reroll Tavern
This is the place where games, food, cocktails, and competition collide. Owners Edward Schmalz, Donald Lewis, and Maggie Boone have brought each of their collective talents to bear on this imaginative bar where everyone knows not only your name but your character’s name. Whether you are looking to join a conversation about Dungeons and Dragons, play a friendly game of cards, or a nostalgic board game along with a burger, pizza, or nachos and a beer or cocktail, then Reroll Tavern is for you.