Event: Hikayat 3Tawla (Stories on the Table) Game Night and Reception 

Location: 3645 Lancaster Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19104 

Date: Friday, July 28 6PM - 8:30PM

Free Register: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/lunwittre/event/876855/

Event Description: 

From ancient board games to video games, it could be said that gaming is part of being alive. Games have united people throughout history, providing a platform for cultural exchange and community building. The act of playing exists outside the boundaries of civilized societies, and studies have shown that animals and children that play are better suited to cope with life's challenges and uncertainties in the future. Playfulness has been linked to creative problem-solving, self-control, and emotional stability. In a time when there seem to be infinite problems to be solved, can we imagine a world made better through play?

Hikayat 3Tawleh is a playful response to The Mashrabiya Project, an exhibition currently on display at The Center for Art in Wood, where the idea of the mashrabiya (an architectural screening element) is explored through art and design in contemporary life. To engage with the Philadelphia community, The Center for Art in Wood is hosting several Tawla game nights (commonly known as Backgammon or Shesh Besh).
Inspired by this effort, Hikayat 3Tawleh displays game boards on loan from people in the Philadelphia area and their stories about games.
We maintain that playing games is a great way to bring people from different backgrounds together, telling stories and building bridges over a cup of tea and some good-natured competition.

Hikayat 3Tawleh focuses on two game board types - Backgammon and Checkerboard. We hope you will enjoy learning a bit about how these games influenced and were influenced by Arab culture. We encourage you to bring a friend, stay a minute, and play.