Set Your Rack
In Alexandria, the club brings enough sets so you do not have to
A neighborhood club has built its open play around the idea that nobody should need their own tiles to sit down.
The Zebra reported on September 7 that the Old Town Mahjong Club in Alexandria, Virginia runs free open play sessions where members bring enough sets to share. Per the report, that is deliberate. The club's stated idea is that no one should need a set of tiles, a foursome, or an established group of friends to get a seat.
Founders Heather Johanson and Katherine May Schwartz met at a Mahjong 101 class at Boxwood in Old Town, then started the club when they could not find a regular game nearby. The article describes the approach as deliberately low pressure.
There is one step before gameplay. Per the article, beginners take a Mahjong 101 class first, though anyone may come and watch a session. The club is developing beginner and next step classes plus guided play for intermediate players.
It is American mahjong. Prim's note, and it is only her opinion. A second bag of tiles is the cheapest barrier a club will ever remove. OOTT is not affiliated with the club and does not sell tiles or sets.