A colleague recently brought my attention to a story published in The Times a few years ago about board games in the late 1960s. Group therapy, in which players take turns drawing cards that pose intimate questions and psychological challenges. (An example: “You’ve been accused of overreacting your hang-ups. Please respond – without falling victim to that criticism.”)
The author of the story, Juli Weiner, asserts that the game is fun, that any clumsiness is paradoxically dissolved by the fact that everything in the game is awkward, and therefore there is no what about it. There are only hiccups, she argues, “when someone refuses to allow themselves to be awkward – the psychological equivalent of being the only person in the sauna clinging to a towel.”
This is my good time. As a child, I loved the board game Scruples and “The Book of Question,” social experiments masquerading as games in the living room. As an adult, I find the company’s icebreakers a bit thrilling – What’s your favorite cereal? What was your first job? – anything that allows people to skip the small talk and talk about themselves.
I’m thinking about games because it’s too hot for picnics, hiking and biking, the usual summer pastimes. Group therapy and its ilk can be too emotionally heavy for family game night, but, as many have found in the early months of the pandemic, you don’t need to create hours to thread. .
When you feel more comfortable inside, once you’ve streamed all it takes to go live, try Charades or Celebrities, a low-tech entertainment that requires only wits. your smarts and a few rules. Maybe a talking party game like Scattergories or Taboo? Or go the old school: Monopoly. No. A set of playing cards.
For lone pursuits, The Times has a ton of good games that I swear I would recommend to you even if I didn’t work here. I am part of crossword (I’m part of the team that checks them before publishing), but most of the people I know are Spell Bee addicts. Weekly news quiz, written by my colleagues at The Morning, is a nerd’s delight. (And Wordle internet feeling will soon a board game.)
While it seems that, everywhere you go, normal behavior is being tirelessly gambled away (see: Waze, the fitness tracker), you can still find joy in inventing games when inspired. As any kid who’s ever dared to make his bed in less than three minutes can attest, a challenge keeps things interesting.
What is your favorite board game? Speak to me about them.
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WEEK IN CULTURE
CULTURAL SCHEDULE
📺 “The Last Movie Stars” (streaming on HBO Max): While another documentary about Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward may focus on their acting careers and their half-century marriage, this six-part series, directed by Ethan Hawke, add a unique spin. During the height of the pandemic, Hawke gathered Hollywood friends (George Clooney, Laura Linney, Sam Rockwell, Zoe Kazan…) on Zoom to read from decades-old transcripts of interviews for a Newman memoir was removed. The film’s result is a fascinating look at the cast, marriage, and artistic legacy.
📚 “Daughter of Dr. Moreau” (now out): Many of us have experienced that wonderful moment when we discovered an author and wanted to follow them wherever they went. That’s how I felt after reading the strange novel “Mexican Gothic” by the famous writer Silvia Moreno-Garcia. Her imagination “is a marvel,” said The Times horror editor Danielle Trussoni, Written. That’s still true in her new book, a reimagining of the HG Wells sci-fi classic.
🎧 “Renaissance” (Friday): You’ve probably heard that Beyoncé is about to have a new album. This is her first solo studio album since the 2016 classic “Lemonade” A song here is titled “Plastic Off the Sofa”, which is something my grandmother never accepted.
WEEKLY RECEIVED
Heirloom Tomato Tart
In the middle of a heat waveTurn on the oven to bake just about anything – even Vallery Lomas’s beautiful creations heirloom tomato tart – can be an absolutely terrifying idea. But not if you have a large toaster oven that can get the job done without overheating your stove. So I made one this week with some store-bought pesto and the first heirloom tomatoes of the season. I took a tip from the commenters and salted the tomatoes as they drained. This season not only helps them to soak through many times, but it also helps absorb all the moisture, resulting in a firmer tart that is easier to cut. Then I enjoy it with a crunchy salad and cold drinks – all without ever breaking a sweat. Or, if cooking anything is unexpected, we have countless recipes that require no cooking to get you through the next fiery days.
A selection of New York Times recipes is available to all readers. Please consider it Register to cook for full access.
What you get for $1.8 million: An 1838 cottage in East Hampton, NY; a bungalow in Miami Shores, Fla.; or a house in Richmond, Va.
The hunt: She has a budget of $700,000 and wants to live in Brooklyn. Which house did she choose? Play our game.
There is a seat: Conversation holes has returned.
Work close to home: Apartment providing Comfortable co-working space.
LIFE
Houston Astros vs Seattle Mariners, MLB: The Mariners haven’t made it to the knockouts for 20 seasons, the longest drought in baseball. But this season is starting to feel special. Going into this week’s All-Star break, the Mariners have won 14 straight games. Then, in the home Derby, their star rookie, Julio Rodríguez, battered more than 60 home players in the first two rounds. Will he help break an almost old record of his? Today at 4pm on FS1.
