Recent Writing
- In Photos
The Exploratorium, San Francisco, 2022
I took a trip to San Francisco in 2022 with my friend Ian. These photos are from the couple of hours we spent at the Exploratorium, which has long been one of my favorite places.
· #travel - In Photos
Oregon and Northern California, 2021
In 2021, Ginny and I drove from Salt Lake City through along nearly all of the western United States coast, with stops in Seattle, Portland, Eureka, Monterey and Long Beach before heading east to Mesa, north to southern Utah, then home again. November is a beautiful time of year in the western states. A waterfall near Portland, though I can't quite remember which one this is. A mushroom grows on a fallen log.
-
- In Photos
Golden Gate Bridge, September 2024
A couple shots here from a short trip we took to San Francisco in September 2024 with a couple of teenage cousins. They'd never seen the Golden Gate Bridge before (or been to San Francisco), so it was one of our main stops while in the city. It's one of my favorite cities, and I lived there for a bit as a kid, but it's a little funny, because the Golden Gate Bridge isn't the bridge of my childhood. That's the Bay Bridge. Not as glamorous or memorable, to be sure, but it's bigger and more gray.
- In Photos
Zion National Park, 2009
Zion National Park, May 2009 Some time after 2009, Zion National Park became a much busier place: National Parks Service data shows visits in May doubled from 2009 to 2025. Growing up 30 minutes from the park, we often had moments of relative solitude in the park, as you can see in the last photo here. I look forward to taking my children here when they're old enough to A) not wander off the trail, and B) remember it, but I wonder: Will they remember crowded trails and noise, or will they have a...
- Don't Eat the Meeples
How Scout influenced climbing games
Did the 2019 climbing game lead to an influx of admirers?
-
- Don't Eat the Meeples
Friedemann Friese's trick-taking games
One of the great German designers has some excellent trick-taking games in his roster.
- Don't Eat the Meeples
Looking back at 2006 in board games
Surely 2006 wasn’t actually 20 years ago. Surely not. That would mean — well, you know what it would mean, don’t you? If you were gaming in 2006, you’re probably also thinking about that. Or maybe if you were in college. Or even high
- Don't Eat the Meeples
Five up-and-coming designers to know
These five newcomer designers are doing fascinating things in board games.
- Don't Eat the Meeples
Three easy-to-teach games to replace classic board games
Move on to bigger and better games with these three classic designer board games.
- Don't Eat the Meeples
The 33 trick-taking games I played last weekend
I spent four days in Austin at T3C playing trick-takers.
- Don't Eat the Meeples
Why Vantage fits in the canon of classic adventure games
Vantage belongs on the shelf next to the King's Quest games.
-
- Don't Eat the Meeples
Six great cooperative games from 2025
Hello, and a happy Wednesday to you all! I hope the day's found you well. I'm continuing to recap some of my favorite games from 2025, and today, I'm talking about some great cooperative games I played. Last week, I wrote about my favorite
- Don't Eat the Meeples
10 great trick-taking and climbing games from 2025
Plus at least 12 more games I enjoyed this year.
- Don't Eat the Meeples
Five great things about board games in 2025
What a year it’s been! We’ve increased the size of our family by a staggering 33%, I’ve played a ton of games, and I’ve played so many interesting and unusual games, discovered up-and-coming designers, and just generally experienced more of the breadth
- Don't Eat the Meeples
A 2025 board game gift guide
Giving games as gifts is a time-honored tradition. Let me help.
- Don't Eat the Meeples
Happy Thanksgiving from Don't Eat the Meeples
Plus seven great climbing and shedding games
