SAUGUS — Rain pelted the windows of the Saugus Public Library Tuesday night as Linda and Bob Teal were locked in a particularly intense game of Five Crowns with two other friends during the library’s monthly Game Night.
The couple has regularly attended meet-ups since the club’s inception nearly four years ago.
“I love Game Night. It gets us out on a weekday,” Linda Teal said as she drew a card from the pile. “(My husband and I) love to play cards, but for the two of us to play at home, it’s not as much fun. It’s more fun when you have more people.”
Game Night founder Pamela Gill agrees the more, the merrier when it comes to board games. That’s why the co-president of The New Friends of the Saugus Public Library decided to take a cue from neighboring towns and host the library’s first board game event in 2016.
Since then, Gill reports the club, which meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m., has seen a slow but steady increase in popularity, with many loyal attendees who come back month after month. Any given meeting, she said, can see a head count of anywhere between 10 and 24 people.
“We have a lot of fun. That’s the name of the game in today’s world. You have to look for the things that are going to put a smile on your face, and that’s what we do,” she said. “It’s a nice group of people. We get along well, and we have a variety of ages, which is great.”
Member Janice Long, who attends Game Night with her son, Greg Long, said she’s gained some long-term friendships over the years.
“I’ve really enjoyed Game Night. We’ve met some nice people … We even go out for dinner occasionally,” she said, referring to Lisa Poto, who added: “We never miss (a meeting).”
Notably, the age range for the club is set at 18 through 103, which Gill said was a conscious decision on her part.
“I didn’t want it to sound as though we were singling out the younger people,” she said, explaining that many of the games aren’t always appropriate for the younger set. She added with a laugh: “so if you’re 104, you can’t come.”
Interested players don’t need to preregister, they can just show up.
Due to the club’s popularity, Gill said she’s been asked to host Game Night more frequently but warns that likely won’t happen anytime soon.
“My schedule is pretty tight,” she said. “You know, it’s not all fun and games.”
