Open play session of Mah Jongg for players comfortable playing independently, with light bites and a casual lunch at the Kitchen Conservatory.
Kitchen Conservatory is hosting a Mah Jongg Open Play session on Friday, November 20, from 1 to 3 PM. It's part of Mahj with a Twist, run by Janine Ford and Tracy Klebe, both trained American Mah Jongg instructors. If you're already comfortable playing on your own, this is your spot—it's a friendly, competitive afternoon in the kitchen with a casual lunch of light bites, iced tea, and water included. The house rules prize kindness and good sportsmanship, so it's more about the company than the cutthroat side of the game.
For context, Ford and Klebe also teach beginner lessons (Levels 1-3) that walk you through the tiles, the National Mah Jongg League card, and the Charleston passing sequence. They talk about how the game supports brain health through memory, strategy, and connection, so the Open Play is where that comes together in practice. The Conservatory itself has been running cooking classes since its kitchen opened in 2006, and this is one of the non-cooking things you'll find there.
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To join, you buy a spot at the table and bring your current National Mah Jongg League card. If you show up with a full set of tiles and four racks or a table mat, you'll get a $5 store credit. It's $25 per person, and the session runs from 1 to 3 PM on Friday, November 20, at Kitchen Conservatory, 9011 Manchester Road, St. Louis, MO 63144.
