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<\/a>Board game caf\u00e9s emerged as a Canadian trend\u00a0in Toronto in 2010, and a year later\u00a0in the United States; from 2012 to 2015\u00a0they have\u00a0expanded\u00a0across\u00a0North America. A few\u00a0are\u00a0located in Europe (London) and Asia (Guangdong), but the movement remains mainly North American. Toronto alone has roughly 20 such places,\u00a0including Snakes and Lattes and Castle Board Game Caf\u00e9;\u00a0other involved Canadian cities include Edmonton, Vancouver and more recently Ottawa.<\/p>\n The Ottawa market is still small:\u00a0only two board game destinations. Caf\u00e9 Monopolatte at 640 Somerset West, a small, more traditional caf\u00e9, led the way in 2012. It\u2019s a quaint spot, located nicely near Carleton University,\u00a0geared toward both\u00a0young and old. It emanates\u00a0a\u00a0baked-goods-and-latte\u00a0feel,\u00a0yet is licensed. The Loft Board Game Lounge, which opened last May at\u00a014 Waller Street\u2014another perfect location,\u00a0right by\u00a0the University of Ottawa and the Rideau Centre\u2014appears\u00a0on the inside like a large kitchen\/living room (with glass tables, wooden chairs,\u00a0large couches) but also offers\u00a0a pub\u00a0basement. The Loft seems more for\u00a0a rowdier, younger crowd;\u00a0Monoplatte is more a place of\u00a0calm and reserve.<\/p>\n Caf\u00e9 Monopolatte\u00a0has proven\u00a0popular not only with youth and early-to-mid-twenties people,\u00a0but also with\u00a0families who want\u00a0a nice time out without going anywhere too rowdy or expensive.\u00a0Monopolatte visitor Gerald Williams, a gentleman in his early fifties, said he came initially\u00a0with his children for some \u201cquality time,\u201d which can be hard to find\u00a0amid\u00a0the week\u2019s routine: \u201cComing to a place like this on a Sunday is a great way to spend time with those closest to you.\u00a0 And being able to enjoy a little friendly competition together is even better.\u201d<\/p>\n Monopolatte also lets\u00a0players\u00a0get away from their electronic screens\u00a0and return to a nostalgic time when communicating with others was not based largely\u00a0on mobile devices or the web.<\/p>\n<\/a>\u2018Boarding houses\u2019\u00a0of Ottawa<\/h2>\n
A soothing break from\u00a0technology<\/h2>\n