Well Played is, by its very nature, noisy: shouts of victory and groans of despair, a Taboo buzzer, a collapsing Jenga tower, Yahtzee dice clattering onto a table. The board game café, Asheville’s first, is like something out of a childhood daydream: Players young and old peruse shelves stocked with more than 500 games, from classic (Scrabble) to modern (Apples to Apples); at wide wooden tables, they snack on cookies, popcorn, and charcuterie, sip on coffee, hot chocolate, and, when a celebration requires it, champagne. In the iPhone age, the concept may seem like a blast from the past, but co-owner Cortland Mercer disagrees. Technology, he says, creates isolation. “People crave opportunities to come back together.” Though, admittedly, competition can throw a wrench in things: “We’ve had customers suggest that we keep a tally of relationships formed here versus relationships ended here,” Mercer laughs.
Can’t decide what to play? A Game Master can help you find the perfect fit, and will even explain the rules. photograph by Tim Robison
Well Played
58 Wall Street
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 232-7375
wellplayedasheville.com
In the third episode of Away Message's fourth season, we meet a couple that's finding out what it's like to be alone in nature without ever being apart from your spouse.
The dog-eared, food-splattered pages of cookbooks hold recipes that define our state, as well as our palates. These vintage dishes are sure to remind you of suppers past and will make you feel right at home.
For a longtime angler, revisiting the first fish of his youth has become a late-spring ritual: catch a bluegill, then cook and eat it — right on the spot.
Fresh cherries, Cheerwine, and a crunchy crust make for the ultimate North Carolina dessert. Just add ice cream!
