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I used to rely heavily on Matthew Baldwin's (aka The Defective Yeti) yearly Good Gift Game Guide, but it ended its run in 2017. My kids like Catan (but not the expansions.) They like Tiny Towns, Isle Of Cats, Boss Monster, Scrabble, and Canasta. They even like Parcheesi & Life. I would love specific game recommendations, and also tips to other game guides or reviewers. Thanks in advance!
posted by chr1sb0y at 5:44 AM - 25 answers

Sunday, my step daughter felt an odd wobble from her right front wheel. We parked it in the garage to inspect and found a lug nut had fallen off, which my wife found on the garage floor. I replaced it and tightened all the others on the car as much as I could. Tonight (Thursday) we discovered two more missing after the wobbles returned. [more inside]
posted by Caxton1476 at 7:24 PM - 28 answers

A few years ago, I asked for the best way to summarize everything that happened in baseball the last night and got a great answer. But for other sports I follow—primarily soccer and basketball—I want more video highlights so I can see cool plays breakout without watching 15 minute summaries of each game or seeking them out one-by-one. Is anyone still doing 20-30 minute highlight shows that cover the action of a whole league or sport? [more inside]
posted by thecaddy at 7:03 AM - 3 answers

I need to resurrect the creative bone in my body and have decided I want to play around with punching aluminum. I'm not an artist, or a particularly handy person. I made this aluminum backsplash a long time ago, and I did it with a hammer and a nail, and tin snips. What compact thing(s) do I need to do this properly and are there some cool how-to sites for beginner types like me? [more inside]
posted by AnOrigamiLife at 4:44 PM - 5 answers

I'm rounding out a very very challenging fractional role ending on November 22, which was hot on the heels of a preceding brain-breaking job. With limited funds and an abiding sense of guilt about "relaxing," what can I do to make this staycation as restorative as possible? [more inside]
posted by Shepherd at 9:34 AM - 14 answers

My partner and I run a little free cinema (think little free library, but with a miniature working theatre you can look into) in a city that will soon find itself host to a legion of Swifites. We want to show some movie scenes featuring cats that week and seek the hiveminds' wisdom for any obscure/interesting favorites. [more inside]
posted by Pink Fuzzy Bunny at 1:52 PM - 38 answers

My brothers and I are just finishing up a (online) Gloomhaven campaign. What should we play next? [more inside]
posted by Prunesquallor at 11:06 AM - 8 answers

Ye olde bar-mounted computer did not survive some shop work. What's next? [more inside]
posted by Dashy at 9:10 AM - 4 answers

I’ve been bitten by the world building bug, specifically mapping out a fictional city, but in drawing it out in birds-eye-view, I’m realizing I don’t quite know how to make it not-flat, visually. I was thinking of trying to make a small(ish) 3D/topographical layout using sheets of foam or suchlike, but I’ve never done anything like this, and would love recommendations for materials, tools, and techniques. [more inside]
posted by Ghidorah at 3:50 AM - 6 answers

I've figured out how to get through thr present moment: getting really really into sudoku. What's the best basic sudoku app for iPhone? [more inside]
posted by umwelt at 5:38 PM - 15 answers

... for a bright boy who's about 9. Requirements: 1. It has to work for two players. 2-4 is OK, but 2 is necessary. 2. The less words on the game pieces, the better (he does not read English) 3. Being small would be nice, as I have to ship it internationally. 4. His parents will be able to help with the rules, but simple is good. [more inside]
posted by GenjiandProust at 3:14 PM - 22 answers

The New York Times Tech Guild is on strike. They have stated that Games and Cooking are behind the picket line, and have asked people to stop using those until the strike is resolved. (Regular news coverage is not behind the picket line.) What game can my family Wordle text message group substitute for Wordle during this interregnum. We are all agreed we do not want to cross the picket line.
posted by Winnie the Proust at 3:41 PM - 35 answers

We have a small(ish) sailboat. Our outboard motor has been giving us a lot of grief this year and we are thinking of replacing it with an electric motor. Yea, nay? [more inside]
posted by vernondalhart at 1:32 PM - 4 answers

We’re excited to be “that house” at Halloween with full sized candy bars, chips and drinks. How can we up the wow factor? [more inside]
posted by raccoon409 at 7:21 AM - 13 answers

Are there any generalisations amongst power-tool brands regarding size of grip? I am looking to make ergonomic choices regarding weight and grip-size to ensure my toolshop is accessible for women and younger people or others with smaller hands. Bonus: is there a good site where I can pop in tools for side-by-side comparison? [more inside]
posted by J.R. Hartley at 6:17 AM - 9 answers

I've seen the ads for those "Learn Piano" phone apps, and I've seen recommendations for Youtube guitar lessons and apps. But the guitar lessons are 99% chords and tabs, and I want to play classical music (think Tarrega, Sor), like I used to waaaaay back in the past, when I was going to music school for 4 years. Is there something that would guide me through lessons on notes and keys and give me progressively harder classical guitar pieces to learn?
posted by gakiko at 4:48 AM - 3 answers

What product could work as a primer in a small area of MDF? [more inside]
posted by plant or animal at 9:02 AM - 5 answers

I’m not a big fan of winter, but my usual winter escape is no longer available. How can I embrace winter when I live in NC and it’s not that wintery? [more inside]
posted by raccoon409 at 6:32 AM - 9 answers

How can I protect white quilting fabric as I sew? [more inside]
posted by archimago at 4:35 PM - 5 answers

I have no sense of direction and can't remember which is right or left when under pressure. I love corn mazes but thought this year it might be nice to finish in under 3 hours. Do you have any tips for getting through a maze? Things I'll have: phone, Garmin watch with some GPS features, and, hopefully, a sunny day. I live in a place where moss grows on all sides of a tree, so finding north with moss will not work.
posted by Chalks-n-Locks at 7:10 PM - 11 answers