Northwest Side Chicago Board Game Friends unites casual board gamers across Chicago's Northwest Side.

Northwest Side Chicago Board Game Friends gathers casual board game enthusiasts across eight Northwest Side neighborhoods including Edison Park, Norwood Park, Dunning Square, Montclare, Belmont Cragin, Portage Park, Jefferson Park, and Forest Glen. The group welcomes all experience levels and focuses on teaching and learning games together, with the organizer contributing a personal collection of crowd‑favorite titles. Regular meetups take place at Stay and Play Game Cafe on Irving Park Road, where the venue offers a library of over 700 games and food and drink service. A monthly Game Night runs on the first Friday of each month, continuing a tradition that previously met for nearly five years at the Norwood Park Historical Society. The group also hosts Seat at the Table, a monthly tabletop roleplaying event for women and gender minority players featuring one‑shot sessions in systems such as Dungeons & Dragons. Co‑hosts Kaylin B. and Andy H. help facilitate the gatherings, which have included over 300 past events. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own games and update RSVPs when plans change.