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FeedAt Whistle Stop, Friends Chill
Board games and video games await on Tuesday nights
On Tuesday nights at the Whistle Stop Bar in South Park, friends chill. At least that’s what they call their weekly “board games and grooves” event. My friends and I decided to check out the chill — and the games. Finding Whistle Stop wasn’t hard — it’s on the same block as South Park landmarks Rebecca’s Coffee House and Citizen Video. The building is also painted a distinctive forest green with a red door, and with light fixtures reminiscent of a 1930s train station. We’ll call the style neo-railroad.
Inside, “Friends Chill” wasn’t in full swing yet. There was no one sitting at the bar. A few clusters of people huddled around retro red tables. On the back wall, a retro Super Nintendo game was projected. A waist-high version of Connect Four stood in the middle of the room. The deejay played mellow indie/techno music.
After we got drinks, picked out the game of Sorry! and laid claim to a table, things started picking up. Two guys started playing the Nintendo, their Marios leaping over pixilated mushrooms. A guy came in with his huge greyhound/great dane mix. More games were fished out of the two big bins.
The bar was dark, but not too dark to see the game board. The music was loud, but not too loud so we couldn’t hear each other say “Your turn!” The crowd was young, but not trendy. It felt like a small-town after-work hangout, a place to get a pint and play a few hands of Uno with friends.
Whistle Stop plays host to several different unique organizations. Citizen Video, South Park’s independent- and foreign-film rental store, hosts screenings every second and fourth Sunday. Sezio, a local organization that provides resources, exposure and community support to young artists, holds CD release parties and music video premieres at Whistle Stop.
The bar is also home to a first-and-third Sunday knitting party. That will have to be a whole different blog.
Friends Chill happens Tuesdays from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Whistle Stop Bar, 2236 Fern Street, whistlestopbar.com.
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