Mahjong

Mahjong is back at the Fishtown Community Library on Wednesday, October 21, from 10 AM to 12 PM. It's a regular thing—the group meets every Wednesday morning during those same hours—so if you can't make this one, there's another chance the following week.

The group is aimed at adults and seniors, and it's open to players of all skill levels. Whether you've been playing for years or you're just starting out, you'll find a place at the table. It's as much about the people as it is about the game, and the mix of experience levels means you can play with folks who know the ropes or someone who's learning right along with you.

Depending on the weather, the location shifts. On a nice day, the group moves outside to the tables in front of the Fishtown Rec Center; otherwise, it's on the library's third floor. The library itself is at 1217 East Montgomery Avenue, at the corner of Montgomery and Flora, and it serves Fishtown, East Kensington, and Olde Richmond. The neighborhood got its name from the fish sold in the open-air market on Girard Avenue, which legend says Charles Dickens once stopped to observe. The building has a bit of its own history, too: it was put up in 1895 as a stable, later used as a horse-drawn fire station, and opened as a library at this location on March 31, 1950. It was renamed the Fishtown Community Branch in 1982, then renovated in 1989 and again in 1997 as part of the 'Changing Lives' campaign.

Mahjong is just one of the free programs the library offers for all ages as part of LEAP, alongside storytimes, English conversation groups, book clubs, and afterschool homework help. The games run from 10 AM to 12 PM every Wednesday.