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EGL15: Anniversary Party DETAILS

Join us on Sat Aug 15 as we celebrate 15 years of bringing people together around board games!

Below please review details re: the venue, schedule, food & other items to make your time at our anniversary party a grand ol’day of games & people!

Questions or Problems? Call/text our team 628-284-7988

📜 Venue

This event will be hosted on the second floor of The Nook at 1242 Market Street in San Francisco, just a block from Civic Center station. Entry is at floor level and then up a flight of stairs to floor 2; there is also a very small elevator available should you be hauling items.

Once you unlock the door, do not let anyone who is not in your party into the venue! All guests should be prepared to use the code below for their own access.

Access Code

Guests must enter this PIN to unlock the front door:

93761108

Locate the silver call box on the left side of the front gate, then follow these steps to unlock the door:

  1. Tap the TEMP PIN button (left/center; red arrow)
  2. Tap the QR button (on touch screen at left)
  3. Enter this access code on keypad: 93761108
  4. Tap the key button (left/bottom; green arrow)

Remember: do not allow anyone not in your party or who you do not recognize to enter! All guests have been provided the access code.

Problems? Call/text our team 628-284-7988

WiFi
  • Network Name: “The Nook Public”
  • Password: Ask one of our hosts
Transportation & Parking

Your best option is to use public transportation to the venue as it’s one block from Civic Center station.

Public Transit

The Nook is a half block from Civic Center BART, with multiple MUNI stops nearby at Market & 8th and Market & Larkin. There’s also a Lyft bike station within a block.

Metered Street Parking

PayByPhone meters around Civic Center Plaza run about $3/hour for up to 4 hours, typically until 7pm. After 7pm spots are often free — but always check the signs as times vary.

Civic Center Parking Garage

Available at $4–7/hour depending on time of day. Note: the garage closes at 10pm.

Bikes

Bikes can be stowed inside the venue (we’ve space for perhaps 8-10 bikes); it is not advisable to lock your bike on the street outside.

🎲 Games Library

We will have a small, curated selection of board games (loaned by EGL hosts and the Game Parlour). If there’s something you are keen to play, feel free to bring your copy (or use chat/discord to ask if anyone is bringing a copy).

If you’re bringing a game to share, please ensure it’s labeled with your name so it can be easily returned to you.

Reserve / Host a Game

We’re also using our new tables@EGL tool so you can reserve a spot for a game in which you’re interested, or post your own game to find players!

www.sfegl.com/tables

Folks are welcome to start a game ad-hoc at the event; if you’re new to hosting games at our events we ask you please review our hosting/teaching guidelines.

🍕Food & Drink

Food is allowed in the venue, although we ask you to refrain from bringing alcohol to this event. You’re welcome to bring snacks and/or a packed meal, pickup food locally (e.g. square pie guys; local deli) or have food delivered. For delivery, please be prepared to meet your delivery person at street level.

As always, please keep your play area neat (our games are loaned by our generous members so please treat them with care) and clean up after yourself.

Who is the EGL?

The EGL is a community group that has been organizing board game events in San Francisco for over a decade. The group was founded in 2010 by local pastor Gordon Wohlers with the mission of building local community through the joy of tabletop games.

We’re passionate about bringing people together, fostering connection & community through the medium of tabletop gaming.

Interested in sponsoring? We’d love to have local retailers and game publishers help us promote this community-building event; please see here for details.

sponsors

This event is hosted by Two Dogs Barking, a 501c3 nonprofit organization on a mission to cultivate a thriving, connected & diverse local community through the enjoyment of shared activities.

Tables@EGL: a new game night tool!

We are excited to introduce a brand new tool for planning EGL game nights, created by our very own Charles Toller!

Tables@EGL 🎨 allows hosts to create game tables which members can view & join. Each week you’ll see a preview of the games on offer in advance, and ever be able to reserve your spot at a game of your choice!

Members can also set your preferences for game type/complexity. We combine this info with Heylo RSVPs so that our hosts can better cater the menu of games to the audience.

To use Tables@EGL, first ensure you have RSVP’d via Heylo to the game night in question, then visit https://tables.egl.events/ to log in.

Even if you don’t plan to register for tables, consider logging in just once to let us know what kind of games you prefer to play, it really helps!

Problems/questions/feedback? Please post your feedback to EGL’s discord.

Summer 2026: Anniversary Party + Updates & Reminders

We have some massive milestones to celebrate, along with a couple of quick housekeeping reminders to keep our community welcoming, fun and comfortable for everyone.

🎲 1. Save the Date: EGL’s 15th Anniversary Party!

Can you believe it? Our little board game club, The EGL, is turning 15! The very first EGL meetups happened in July 2011 😲

To celebrate a decade & a half of tabletop victories, crushing defeats and amazing friendships, we are throwing a massive party on Saturday Aug 15; see the official announcement & RSVP here.

🧼 2. Community Comfort (Hygiene Policy)

Please consider this a friendly reminder – with large gatherings & time spent around the gaming table, we want to make sure everyone has an enjoyable experience, so we ask everyone to take a moment to review & abide by our club’s Code of Conduct.

In particular, please be mindful of personal hygiene. Out of respect for your fellow players sharing close spaces, please ensure you’re fresh & clean before heading to our events.

🔄 3. Mix It Up This July: Try a New Table!

Come July, we’re trying something new to help shake things up & get folks mingling!

We want to ensure everyone has a chance to meet, connect and play with as many different people as possible, so we’re asking you to adopt a new guideline: try sitting with a different table host each week!

We know it’s easy to settle into a familiar groove, but we promise it’s worth stepping out of your comfort zone. Playing with different folks is a fantastic way to experience new playstyles, discover new games, and make this community even closer; we think you’ll find it well worthwhile! We will see you at the next table!

🎨 4. Game Night’s Tables @ EGL

To aid & abet you with #3 above, we’re excited to introduce a brand new tool for planning EGL game nights! Tables@EGL allows hosts to create game tables which members can view & join; get a preview of which games are on offer each week & reserve your spot!

To use this tool, first ensure you have RSVP’d via Heylo, then visit https://tables.egl.events/ to log in. Even if you don’t plan to register for tables, consider logging in just once to let us know what kind of games you prefer to play, it really helps!

🆔 5. Discord Clean-Up: Update Your Nickname!

We want to know who we’re talking to! If you haven’t already, please update your Discord server nickname to include your real first name.

Example: GamerTag99 (Alex) or Alex | GamerTag99

If you need help changing your nickname on the server, just ping a moderator & we’ll gladly assist.

⚠️ Note: To keep our community safe & recognizable, accounts without a real first name in the discord username will be subject to removal from the server.

Thank you all for making EGL such an incredible community for the last 15 years. Let’s make this anniversary the best one yet! See you around the next table!

EGL turns 15!

Celebrate 15 Years of Board Games with the EGL at our Anniversary Party (Sat Aug 15)

It’s time to celebrate – this summer marks a decade and a half of rolling dice, placing meeples and “building community, one table at a time.”

To honor this milestone, the EGL is hosting a special, day-long board game event and you are cordially invited to celebrate with us!

  • Date: Saturday Aug 15, 2026
  • Time: 3pm – 10pm
  • Admission: $10 per person
  • Location: Civic Center in SF (near Civic Center MUNI)

RSVP Here

One of our group’s core tenets is to have events be affordable; for this event we’re asking for a small ticket fee in order to cover the cost of the venue. That said, if you’d like to attend but the fee is a stretch, please contact us and we will try to help.

All ages are welcome, though most game tables will best be suited for ages 12+ and children must be accompanied by a supervising adult.

📜 Looking Back: Our 15-Year Journey

Back in the summer of 2011, a group of local gaming enthusiasts – led by local founder Gordon Wohlers – started gathering at a community space in SF.Their goal was not only to learn & play tabletop games, but also to meet new people & make connections around the table while indulging in the shared hobby.

What started as a group of friends wanting to share their love for modern tabletop games has grown into San Francisco’s premier board game group: Board Games with the EGL (Euro Gaming League).

From day one, our core mission has remained unchanged: to grow a diverse, safe & welcoming community where people can connect deeply & fight social isolation through the shared joy of tabletop gaming. Whether you’ve been with us since those halcyon early days or you just joined us at a recent Mondays game night, you are a vital part of the EGL family!

As a reminder, our ongoing community efforts and weekly events are proudly sponsored by Two Dogs Barking Inc, our 501c3 nonprofit parent org, which is dedicated to fostering vibrant social connection across the SF Bay Area.

🎲 What to Expect

Both experienced gamers as well those new to games are invited! Game ambassadors from the EGL will be available to host & teach games, and we will be providing a board game library; as always, you’re free to bring any games that you are interested in playing!

  • Epic gaming marathon: our hosts will provide an expansive library of games, from casual party favorites to deep-strategy “euro” classics.
  • Meet the Community: A perfect chance to connect with regulars, meet new players & celebrate the shared history of our club.
  • Special Highlights: We’ll have more details soon regarding potential special guests and anniversary-specific activities!

​Whether you want to learn a new deck-builder, teach your favorite strategy game or just hang out with some of the best folks in & around the city, we’re looking forward to seeing you around the table!

As ever, our hosts’ primary goal is to ensure a fun, safe & inclusive environment for all participants.

Schedule & Events

​The event will be held on Sat Aug 15 from3 to 10pmin an open house format – drop-in when you can and stay as long as you’re available!

Learn new games: Gaming experts will be on hand to teach and play games – no rule book dissertations here!

Special Guests: stay tuned for more…

​​Community: Meet other gaming enthusiasts and make new friends in an open & welcoming environment.

In our increasingly digital world, face-to-face interaction & shared experiences are more important than ever. Gathering around games can provide a wonderful platform to combat social isolation & build community!

Interested in sponsoring? We’d love to have local retailers and game publishers help us promote this community-building event; please see here for details.

Who is the EGL?

The EGL is a community group that has been organizing board game events in San Francisco for over a decade. The group was founded in 2010 by local pastor Gordon Wohlers with the mission of building local community through the joy of tabletop games.

We’re passionate about bringing people together, fostering connection & community through the medium of tabletop gaming.

sponsors

This event is hosted by Two Dogs Barking, a 501c3 nonprofit organization on a mission to cultivate a thriving, connected & diverse local community through the enjoyment of shared activities.

Happy NYE & Reflections on Game Night

I’m not typically big on reflecting, yet thought I’d step out of character & try one…

HAPPY NEW YEAR Everyone 🤩

I hope all are having a fun, safe & drama-free holiday season! I’m not typically big on reflecting, yet thought I’d step out of character & try one…

I’m so very GRATEFUL for this fab community we’ve built up over the past several years and thankful for your commitment to show up IRL & your help in building a fun, supportive & inclusive village around our shared hobby 🙏🏽

It’s been fantastic to meet so many new folks and a privilege to become friends with so many regulars. I absolutely love looking around on any given game night & seeing so many people smiling & enjoying each other’s company 🥰

Since our little club relaunched in 2018 at The Game Parlour, we’ve been gathering ’round the table nearly every Monday for literal fun & game, so let me also express gratitude to Brian, Benson & the GP staff for serving as our HQ and supporting our shared endeavor.

Finally, many/many thanks to all of our hosts – both regular & adhoc – for recommending/teaching games & welcoming people around your table.

What’s Next for The EGL?

  • Monday game nights continue, with the goal of growing our events to regularly accommodate ~50 guests. We’re actively seeking to grow our club & bring these fun times to more people, so please help spread the word, invite friends, etc!
  • We’ll continue to host periodic pop-up events (as with SFGo club & Lore); if you know of any business or event spaces that might be good partners for our events, please let us know!
  • JUNE 6 (Sat) we plan to host another International Tabletop Day event 🎲
  • JULY 2026 will be EGLs 15th anniversary! The very first EGL gathering happened in summer 2011, hosted by our founder Gordon W at his church’s community room in Duboce Triangle. We’re planning to host an anniversary party in July or August to mark the occasion!

We are actively seeking out event spaces in & around SF to host Tabletop Day & our 15th Anniversary event (to accommodate 70-100 people) so if you have any recommendations please let us know!

What would you like to see?

Finally, where would you like to see this community go/grow? If you have ideas/recs about “what next?” for our little club please reach out via email or find us on discord!

Monday Game Nights in SF

San Francisco’s Euro Gaming League (EGL) hosts weekly game nights, open to the public, on Mondays in San Francisco at a public venue in the inner Sunset.

The EGL is a board game club of fun, easygoing folks who get together to build community through tabletop board & card games. We love welcoming new people to the hobby & our events!

How to Attend Game Nights

Join the EGL’s events page on HEYLO to see our events & RSVP. You are also welcome to join us on Discord to stay abreast of events, ask questions, etc!

RSVP on Heylo

What to Expect at Game Night

Time

Monday game nights run from 6 – 10pm. Different tables may start games at different times but generally everyone will be engaged in a game by 6:15pm so it’s best to be prompt, otherwise you may have to wait around for the second round of games 😕

If you’re new to our game nights, we strongly advise arriving 10 minutes early (parking can be challenging so please plan accordingly) so you can be helped by one of our hosts before things get busy, particularly if you are new to games.

Finally, an RSVP is required to attend, as there’s often a waitlist. We may start admitting folks from the waitlist by ~6:10pm, so late attendees may have their spot given away; for this and the above reasons, please try your best to be prompt.

Cost

There’s no fee to attend Monday game nights, although our regular venue does charge a $7 cover (as of Dec 2025); if that’s an obstacle, we may be able to help.

Food/Drink

Since our venue is a game cafe, outside food & drink (other than water) aren’t allowed. Folks give the fare at The Game Parlour rave reviews, however!

What Games do we Play?

We generally have ~40 guests attending any given Monday game night, distributed among 9+ tables. We have a group of “table hosts” who are well-versed in teaching both classic & modern board games and will be more than happy to introduce you to both our games & people.

We pride ourselves on ensuring folks end up in a game of their preferred complexity level, i.e. that no one is “thrown into the deep end” of strategy games. See the FAQ for more information.

Nervous?

We get it! Showing up to an event for the first time – especially where everyone seems to know everyone else – can be nerve-wracking 😟 … but we hope you’ll give it a shot!

We are always happy for new players to join, as we enjoy building a fun community for folk of all sorts. If you have never played “modern” board games before, just ask someone to direct you to an EGL host, who can guide you into a game of your comfort level from our extensive games library!

Come solo or come with friends – either way you’ll find us to be a warm, welcoming group 😍

Want to host a game?

Folks are welcome to “pitch” a game to the crowd & gauge interest. We do recommend to attend a few game nights before offering up games to get familiar with the crowd & vibe. Additionally we ask everyone who’d like to host a table first review & agree to our “run a game” guidelines.

Can I bring my prototype/unreleased game?

We have had folks bring their in-development games to share & garner feedback. We’re currently formalizing policies for this type of sharing which we expecto to publish in early 2026. In the meantime, please reach out if you’d like to host a table with a yet-to-be-released game.

Questions?

See our FAQ or contact us via email or discord!

Tips for Teaching Board Games

We encourage folks who attend our board game events to share games they know & love … you’ll have a chance to pitch it to the crowd!

Anyone is welcome to pitch a game, the only real requirement our club has is that if you’re going to host & teach a game that you be well-versed in the rules – please avoid narrating out of a rule book to your table … that’s no fun for anyone 😑

This video by Shut up & Sit Down is one of the best how-to’s on the art of teaching a game, definitely worthy of a watch (20m) if you find yourself often running/teaching games.

When pitching your game

Try your best to include the following details & convey the info relatively quickly:

  • How long will it take to learn?
  • How long will it take to to play/complete the game?
  • Approximate complexity level (eg, Quacks is ~ 2/5; Terra Mystics is 4/5, etc)
  • Theme/plot: what are players doing, what’s our primary goal?
  • Main mechanics (eg, resource management, worker placement, engine/tableau builder, set collection, etc.)

Again, try your best to keep your game pitch to a minute; few have the patience for a short story 😉

Warning Signs

Our club prides itself on ensuring that folks end up at games that are commensurate with their skill level – we do our best to avoid throwing new to the hobby guests into the deep end 😵

Ask folks at your table for their experience with modern board games and assess whether they’re really ready for that game of Terra Mystica you’re about to throw down.

When in doubt, ask them to check in with, or better yet introduce them, to one of the EGL showrunners.

Remember – as you’re teaching/playing, look around the table and assess! As table host, your primary goal should be to ensure that everyone at your table is engaged & enjoying themselves … focus around the table first, and on how well you’re doing in the game second 🥈 😉

Dealing with AP

Analysis Paralysis – a board game bane we all have to deal with! It can be super frustrating to have someone take overlong to take their turn.

Here’s some tips to help nip AP in the bud:

  1. Screen your players: as noted above, don’t throw new to games guests into the deep end.
  2. Learning Game: right after the teach, especially for mid-weight & heavier games, state that everyone should consider this session a learning game; don’t overthink your move, let’s keep the game going.
  3. Lead by example: keep your turns moving, perhaps narrate as you go to help reinforce how the game play, but be brisk 😏 and keep the game moving!

Additional Considerations

  1. Try to show up early so we can get you a table & you can start setting up
  2. Most of the things you need to know for the pitch are available on BoardGameGeek: playtime, complexity (i.e., “weight”), game mechanics, etc.

Finally – be bold! Watch the shux video, but remember that teaching board games is a skill like anything else – you’re going to get better at it with practice. You can also learn from watching others teach – our regular hosts can provide great insight, just by watching how they teach games at EGL game nights! 🎲

EGL board game night is growing

🎉 HUGE Game Night News: EGL Board Games Club is growing 🎉

We’re thrilled to announce that Game Parlour is giving us access to the entire main gaming space for our regular Monday games night!

This means, starting this coming MONDAY, 12/01, we can happily host up to 50 guests … forget the waitlist 🤩 🥳

More tables means more games, more groups, and more chances to join in every week!

ARE YOU NEW to game night? This is your chance! If you’ve been thinking about joining us, please take the plunge this coming Monday 12/01. Our crew is a warm, welcoming and easygoing group of friends who love two things: playing games and introducing new guests to the fun. You’ll fit right in!

RSVP for Mon 12/01

Come out for a fab night of games and socializing … we can’t wait to see you around the table!

The EGL Team

EGL leaves Meetup – stay connected

Hello SF gamers & friends! We’re moving off Meetup! Here’s how you can stay connected.

Join EGL on Heylo

After 10+ amazing years on Meetup, we’re moving all EGL events to Heylo. To keep getting invites, RSVP to events, and join our game nights, you’ll need to follow us there.

This will be the last update we send through Meetup, so be sure to join us on Heylo to stay in the loop!

Can’t use Heylo? Here are other ways to stay connected:

We’re excited about this new chapter and want to make sure you’re still part of the community. This is the last email we’ll send via Meetup, so be sure to join us on Heylo to keep up with all the fun!

We look forward to seeing you around the table soon!

Cheers,
The EGL Team

Upcoming highlights for The EGL:

More seats at Monday Game Nights!

Great news — more seats coming to EGL’s Monday Game Nights!

We know many have been frustrated with getting stuck on the waitlist for our Monday game nights 😖 You’re not alone — events have been filling fast, and we totally understand how disappointing it can be when you want to play but can’t get a spot.

That’s why we’re really happy to share some good news: The Game Parlour is expanding… and so is our capacity! 🎲✨

Our Monday night venue is adding an annex next door – Side Quest. More space & tables means the EGL is able to increase our Monday night capacity to nearly 50 attendees! That’s a huge jump and should make the RSVP process much smoother for everyone 🤩

More tables means more games, more groups, and more chances to join in every week!

When?

We expect to be able to accommodate more guests in early December 2025; join us on Heylo (EGL’s new events platform) to RSVP to events!

Join EGL on HEylo

We’re so grateful for your patience and enthusiasm — your support is exactly what makes this community so special. We can’t wait to welcome more of you back to game nights!

If you have questions or just want to share which games you’re excited to play with a bigger crowd, feel free to contact us via email or discord.

Looking forward to seeing you around the table on Monday nights!
The EGL Team