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City Guides: what makes your city special?
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We Geeks like to travel. Often just to play a game. But we also like to see the sights and experience the native ambiance that makes yeach place special. So what makes the place you live worth visiting? Where and what are the game stores? Where are the game clubs? What are the fine restaraunts? What sites and museums would you recommend and why? [Please be serious and do not demean your own or anyone's else city.]
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Posted Fri Nov 23, 2007 1:20 am
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New York, New York.
It's a hellova town.
Game Shops/Places to Play
- Compleat Strategist: in the shadow of the Empire State Building, on 33rd between 5th Avenue and Lexington; a good collection of all sorts of games from Euros to American Titles, from RPGs to Traditional Games, and Puzzles, Tarot, Mah-jongg, and CCGs.
- Games Workshop: in the West Village, on W 8th Street just off Broadway; sells the eponymous products of GW.
- Neutral Ground: location seems to change once per year; sells some games, mostly RPGs and CCGs, and provides space to play for a small fee.
- NJ Board Games Meetup: in Woodbridge NJ & Manalapan NJ; a great group of people eager to play all kinds of board games. 20-30 minutes from NYC. Found through meetup.com
Restaraunts
- Peter Luger's Steak House: in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, in the shadow of the Williamsburg Bridge; hands down the best steak house in NYC and, considered by many, in the world. NOTES: they do not take credit cards, so bring plenty of cash as it is pricey at about $60 per person; reservations should be made from a week to a month in advance (and earlier for holiday weekends).
- Morimoto's: in Tribeca (?) on the West Side; Japanese fusion from the vision of the Iron Chef; super expensive, at about $110 per person.
- The Rainbow Room: opulent elegance and a view of the whole city from the top of Rockefeller Center; very good food, but pricey. Afterward take a short walk to Radio City Music Hall.
- Veniero's: a Pasteceiry in the East Village, on E 9th St, just off 1st Avenue; some of the best desserts around and the Almond Torte is out of this world. NOTE: they also ship.
- Junior's: in Brooklyn, on Flatbush Ave a few blocks from the Manhattan Bridge; not expensive, decent food, but damned fine cheesecake.
Sites
I could list all of the standard ones (Statue of Liberty, Empire State, et al), but I will go into a few personal favorites. Some off the beaten path.
Woolworth Building: in Downtown Manhattan, it is an amazing structure both inside and out.
Masonic Grand Lodge: W 23rd just off 6th Ave; an amazing building within -- regular tours are given, but call to find out when.
Chrysler Building: walkout of Grand Central Station and there is one of the most spectacular buildings, both inside and out, in the world.
Broadway: one of my favorite reasons to live in NYC, seeing some of the greatest actors in live theator, along with a few up-and-comers; just north of 42nd Street.
Metropolitan Museum of Art: on Central Park East, near 77th St; it houses an impressive collection of everything and could take weeks to explore; the Renaissance and Impressionist sections are top notch.
The Brooklyn Museum: near Grand Army Plaza at the entrance into Crown Heights in Brookyn, where Flatbush Ave meets the end of Eastern Pkwy; a great collection, including the third largest collection of Egyptian artefacts (after the Cairo Museum and the Brittish Museum in London).
So come on down. We look forward to seeing you and showing you some of the sights.
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2.
Board Game: Goldrush
[Average Rating:6.25 Unranked]
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Brent Case
United States
Page
Arizona
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I live in Page, Arizona; a small city of about 6,000 people. We are right next to the Navajo Nation--a very substantial percentage of people who live in and near Page are Navajo (Dine). We are very close to the Utah border, and Lake Powell is a major tourist attraction. We actually have one game store. One of my friends who I game with owns an Internet business, and after playing some games, decided to get some to stock in his store in order to get more people interested in the hobby. The store has a modest collection, with a few SdJ winners and a few gamer's games as well (such as Puerto Rico and Tigris & Euphrates). And I have to give myself a pat on the back for this--I am largely responsible for boardgaming becoming popular in Page.
Page is also a good 'gateway' city to other popular parks/attractions. We are only 2 hours away from the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, and Bryce Canyon.
I'd say the finest restaurant in Page is a sushi bar called "The Blue Buddah". Cool atmosphere and the food is good.
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Violet is the new purple
United States
Austin
Texas
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A is for Austin and Armadillos and (we just made #1) Allergy Capital of the U.S.
This game is free to print 'n' play, which is fitting because Austin has lots of free events, festivals, and shows.
We also have Academics (UT), Music (live music capital of the world, Austin City Limits, SXSW), Tex Mex and Barbecue.
We've got Dell and AMD and lots of other high tech computery places to work. Lots of artists and creative types.
Swim year round in Barton Springs, play in Zilker Park.
We've got one of the best movie theater chains, Alamo Drafthouse ( www.drafthouse.com). Sixth Street for carousers. A big pink Capitol. Condos popping up everywhere. BookPeople bookstore.
A bunch of board game stores that have places to play, several gaming groups, lots of BGGers, up and coming game designers.
For games and gaming try Great Hall Games, Dragon's Lair, BattleForge, Wonko's, Ninja Pirate, Rogue's Gallery.
Check out our weekly alternative paper at www.austinchronicle.com for lots of jealousy-inducing info.
 Austinites or Austinite Wannabes feel free to add to this!
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Neil Parker
United Kingdom
London (west)
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LONDON.
Well, some of London i like. London is olde and steeped in history and culture with a cosmopolitan feel, great architecture and people (although not everyone is a cheeky cockney chimneysweep or gaslight thief).
London is arguably one of THE great iconic cities of the world. Plenty to see and do whether you're a tourist or not, eg the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, various musuems, parks etc... yawn...
There are some good gameshoppes - although we in Britain suffer from fairly high prices and there are bound to be a lot of game clubs - here's the one i'm in - a good sociable club: http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/lbgc/
London really sells itself, but here's a site to see:
http://www.visitlondon.com/
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Duarte Conceicao
Portugal
2780-027 Oeiras
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Lisboa - aka Lisbon
The capital of Portugal since its conquest from the Moors in 1147, Lisbon is a legendary city with over 20 centuries of History.
Game Stores / Clubs
There aren't many places worth to mention ...
Runadrake- Travessa Henrique Cardoso, n.º 71-B
Homem Azul - Rua Gil Vicente 40b
Restaurants
In Portugal we've a very rich cuisine based generally on Mediterranean elements like olive oil, garlic, fish and meat. You can eat very well in most places, as long as you can avoid the touristic spots like Rossio or Baixa. The "Bairro Alto" zone is very famouse for the night living but also with fine restaurants.
If you're in for fresh fish "sail" to Cascais / Guincho just 20 minutes away from Lisboa. You can eat right near the nice beaches  .
Sites and Museums
Alfama is one of the oldest quarters in Lisboa. Since it largely survived the earthquake of 1755, the area still retains much of its original layout. Adjacent to the Alfama are the likewise old quarters of Castelo and Mouraria, on the western and northern slopes of the hill that is crowned by St. George's Castle.
Sintra lush wooded heights and verdant charms invite one to take a ride on a horse-pulled carriage, and gaze at the marvelous manor-houses, located within the grounds of century old farms, as one drives up to Pena Palace.
Museums Ancient Art, Chiado (Contemporary Art), Tile, Archaeology, Ethnology, Coach, Costume, Theater, Maritime, Military, City, Gulbenkian, Modern Art Centre. Also the Oceanarium one of the largest fish tanks and biotopes in the world.
Well it's a brief presentation ... if you're interested in coming to Portugal let me know, maybe we can arrange something or I can give more usefull information.
Cheers!
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Virre "Yes thats my name, I have it in legal here" Annergård
Sweden
Stockholm
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Stockholm
A city by the water, thats the thing islands sorounded by water (and sometimes ice, bloody winters)... Wonderfull Archiplago and old and intresting buildings. And well europe... and not much vikingstuff, thankfully.
Really dont miss, well most of it... But the views from diffrent good vantage points, over diffrent parts of the city.
come: In the spring or summer, else where really good clothes that keeps you warm.
Where and what are the game stores?
There is one GW Shop at Regeringsg. 30, which is quite close to the center and the Centralstation (and the main hub for the subway).
Map: http://kartor.eniro.se/query?what=map&mop=yp&advert_code=660...=
There is one place called Arcane that sells old games, mostly rpgs and minis but some boardgames. It's located a bit, err aboce the center, probably north (look I usally go with the subway)... Three stations from the central station, close to the main libary. Here is a map:
http://kartor.eniro.se/query?what=map&mop=yp&advert_code=667...
Then there is the SF-Bokhandeln (Science Fiction Bookstore), that place seels Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Anime/Manga, Comics, Videos and games (Board, RPGS, Minis) although rather expensive (and the games are on the second floor). It's placed on the main street of the old town, at Västerlånggatan, this is a place you probably will not miss if you are a tourist, if you have any nerdy tendencies then you should certanly visit.
Map: http://kartor.eniro.se/query?what=map&mop=yp&advert_code=163...
And lastly it is the bigest place, where there is room to play, Dragons Lair, the ground floor is a Internetcafe and a shop , although they mainly sells CCG cards, they have quite a good number of boardgames (and listen to there customers), the cellars are big, although there is one CCG room, One Miniature games room, one Arcade and Videogame room, and at the end of the cellar people usally play the boardgames (Tuesdays, from 17 to when they close, and often other days, geekmail me if your intrested)
Map: http://kartor.eniro.se/query?what=map&mop=yp&advert_code=163...
The central station / Centralstationen:
Where are the game clubs?
There are many, but the obvious one is the one I mentioned above at dragonslair, there also is one at a place called proxxi, this place require some good knowledge of it to get to, so I wouln't tell you where it is, if you are intrested ask me, or if you read Swedish check out proxxi.org ...
Also there is a lot of spontanous gameing at weekends, if you know the right people (;
What are the fine restaraunts?
Everywhere? Seriously their are a load of them, and it really depends on what you mean by a fine resturant, I have some diffrent favourites and the only thing they have in common is that they have some vegetarian options. But it really depends
What sites and museums would you recommend and why?
The Old Town, but to get lost a bit, and important tip, don't buy anything in any place except the Science Ficton bookshop, as all places are overpriced... Espacally do not eat there, except perhaps on a placed called "Sjätte Tunnan" which is really a Larpy place with medival food and serving persons and so on (mind you, I have never been there myself)
I like people to visit Södermalm too... Thats where I live and was raised, it's my favourite part of the city, although thats because I am me (;
I recomend a visit to Stockholms Medeltidsmusem, when they finish rebuilding it...
Also the Royal Libary at Humlegården might be intresting, although I'm not sure how much information there is about it in English. I think they do tours of it.
Ah well... I add a photo that sells Sweden not Stockholm, but a nice one (Hey I like it, I shoot it, it's really nice oh and I happend to like folkmusic and therefore folkdanceing)
---
(We need another game with Stockholm in it, and I will add some photos and stuff later on, maybe, perhaps, possibly)
As for now all photos is from my flickr account (which I haven't used, in a long time)
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ian morris
United Kingdom
lichfield
staffordshire
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Lichfield, home to the only three-spired sandstone cathedral in the country, also home to Doctor Johnson, compiler of the first dictionary. Also home to David Garrick, first method actor, and Erasmus Darwin, uncle (I think) to Charles. One of the five earliest Christian sites in Great Britain.
No gamestores, but a direct train to London Euston, from where Playin'Games is only a 20 minute walk away. No cinema (boo !), but generally a nice quiet place to live, which is why we moved back here.
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Angela Lammers
United States
Sheboygan
Wisconsin
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Sheboygan, WI, home of brats, cheese, and giant monsters!
The yearly city festival is Bratfest. The Johnsonville company is near the city, and several other sausage makers such as Old Wisconsin are here too. Oh and cheese. Lots of cheese. It's Wisconsin.
Other than that, it's probably mainly known as a pit stop for Milwaukee people going to a Green Bay Packer game, since it's half way in between.
Two game stores and a small annual con called Fire and Ice.
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Posted Fri Nov 23, 2007 1:51 am
Plymouth
New Hampshire
New York
Shelton
Connecticut
Ovid
Michigan
It's always fun to watch the steam roll out of an Elsie resident's ears when someone passing through the area asks if their town was named after the cow.
Los Alamos
New Mexico
Hamburg
Me living in it?