Welcome to Game Nights with JR.! My goal is to create the premier board gaming experience. Or, to put it more simply, the best game night you’ve ever attended.

Engaging

Why board games?

Board games are a blast. I’ve always loved board games. When I was growing up, Thursdays were game night for my family. My siblings and I each took turns choosing the game for the week. My brother usually went with Mouse Trap – at least until we lost a few of the pieces. My sister’s go-to was Mall Madness – we boys pretended not to like. And I always chose either Go to the Head of the Class or Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? (In fact, my mom recently found that old copy – from 1992!, and brought it to me. Will it show up at a Game Night soon? PROBABLY!)

Even back then, we searched for more than Monopoly and Candy Land (no shade at Candy Land, but Monopoly can rot in the landfill).

Since then, board games have entered a sort of renaissance, starting with Carcassonne and Ticket to Ride. Today there are thousands upon thousands of board games – enough so that when someone tells me, “I just don’t like games,” my suspicion is that they haven’t been exposed to the right one.

That’s a big part of my goal with Game Nights with JR. I want to help you find and learn games that are genuinely fun for you. Games that make the hours fly by and leave you with a smile on your face. 

Vibrant Community

Here’s the other thing about board games that nobody talks about: they’re a really easy way to make friends.

Hear me out.

Once upon a time (like back in school), it was pretty easy to meet people. But once you’re out in the ‘real world,’ connecting with other people is kind of a crapshoot – and not in the fun “games are rad” way.

I’ve found that board games take a lot of the work out of connecting with new people. You don’t have to come up with stuff to talk about – you’re talking about the game, so relax! And you learn a lot about a person when you play a game with them – are they competitive? Funny? Quiet? Cut-throat?

Game Nights with JR. are a terrific opportunity to meet soon-to-be friends. Don’t tell anyone, but this is the real goal of these events. As much as I love board games, I love helping people connect with each other even more.

Curated & Inclusive

With the explosion of board games, gamer culture has developed a bit of a reputation. I bet your image of a “Serious” gamer is a close-talking, smelly neckbeard with poor social skills who can’t want to bore you with a dictionary-sized rules manual and then gleefully punish your ever infraction.

That doesn’t sound fun. Not on any level.

I’m not going to pretend that guy doesn’t exist. I’ve met him!

What I can promise is that he’s not at Game Nights with JR. events. I spend a lot of time crafting the experience with you in mind, from the venues I choose to the games I bring to the less tangible stuff like atmosphere and vibes.

I consider it a big part of my job to ensure GNJR events are spaces where everyone belongs, regardless of the kind of games you enjoy or how well you know the rules. No gatekeeping allowed. And showers are mandatory.

So why Patreon?

I’m an includer by nature – I can’t do anything small (those of you who have been to one of my BBQ and Board Game parties know what I mean – you never know who’s going to walk in the door there!). And I never want money to be a reason someone can’t show up.

Game Nights with JR. events will always be free.

That’s where you come in. As a member of the GNJR Club, you’re underwriting these events. I think that’s amazing. And I think you deserve tangible gratitude. That’s why I packed these club tiers with rewards I hope add value to your week. Whether you’re a board game fanatic like me or you want to support these havens of inclusive community, I hope these rewards put a smile on your face.

So welcome to the Club! Take a look around, pull up a chair and try out a game. Who knows? It might be your new favorite! If not, don’t worry – I’ve got plenty more.