The final session had come to an end, and the workday was done. The lift brings me back to the ground floor. The doorway leads me into the city rush. The night has already settled in. No rain, cold air, but not too much, good enough for a walk. Much better than to dive into the underground tunnels, to reappear in another place, as if jumping between two unconnected points. It is late November, 6 pm.
From Rondpoint Robert Schuman and heading towards the city centre. A stroll all the way down Rue de La Loi. The streets are flooded with light, from the sidewalk lamps above, from slowly moving cars, drawing lines of white and trails of red, from electric scooters and bicycles, moving fast.
I am now crossing Rue Royale to enter the pentagon-shaped inner city. Further ahead, on the right, the Saint Michel and Saint Gudule Cathedral. A couple of streets more, la Place du Marché aux Herbes. Familiar names and familiar sights, maybe because I have been here in three or four occasions before, always work-related. The first probably dating to the 1990’s, and the last to early 2018, for a job interview at the European Parliament. Yes, this is Brussels.
Then, La Grande Place, with its adorned Christmas tree, chimes resounding in the background. Shopping malls, street shops, cafes and restaurants. Lights and sounds. People moving hastily, bags in hand. Others in loud conversations. Still others just contemplating and taking pictures, freezing time, for the now or for the later. Shoppers, tourists, and residents. Locals, nationals, and foreigners like myself.
It is now 7 pm. Just about time to head to the next destination, following one of the game-related locations Orlando Sá suggested. One which is still open and where I may have something to eat.
A short five-minute walk to a street bearing an appropriate name for this quest, la Rue du Fossé aux Loups, Wolvengracht. Well, it seems that the street name may be linked to a man named Wolf, and not to the creatures themselves, but anyhow. Pretty easy to identify, with the large sign above the door: Kings & Queens. Yes, that’s the place. A Board Game Café. That reminds me that I still have an overdue visit to pay to A Jogar é que a Gente se Entende, back in Portugal. A promise for 2023!
The place is almost deserted, if not by two pairs engaged in some sort of game with miniatures, close to the door, and a couple by the counter, sipping their cocktails and engaged in a conversation with the barman. I chose one of the many empty tables, well sized for gaming, drop the coat on the back of one of the chairs and the notebook on the table. Linkin Park is playing low in the background, followed by The Queen. It feels cozy in there.
The concept of the Game Bar is simple. For five euros per person, you can play all the games you want from the on-site game library. You may even get some assistance regarding game rules. Playing games will not be on my menu for today, but a tasty pizza and a Cuvée des Trolls, a Belgian beer with history - what else? -, will do the job.
First, the mandatory glance at the game library. More than 300 games on the shelves, from party games to medium euros, to some of the classic heavy weights. Familiar covers on display: Takenoko, Wingspan, Anachrony, and many, many more.
Back to the table. There still is not a great deal of movement. A group of three in search of some game, sitting down and getting ready to play. A couple more entering and leaving. Is it because of the nearby holiday season, for being a late afternoon in the middle of the week, or a side effect of yet another rail-strike?
I decided to join Thomas, the barman, at the counter, and learn more about the place. As the conversation started to flow, my French surfaced, even if somewhat rusty.
The café-bar is in operation for just over four years, meaning that the pandemic restrictions were in place during a substantial part of its existence. It survived the hardships, and a rent to pay in the city center, without much of a support. Converted into a temporary take-away, as many other similar businesses, losses were somewhat attenuated. It survived, but not unscathed, with projects put on hold, and only gradually getting back to full action.
The business seems now well on the rise. From regular clients to occasional visitors, from a corporate day-out to team building exercises. Apparently I have chosen what is proving to be the quietest day of the last three to four weeks.
As for Thomas, he has been there for about a year. A passionate by the art of cocktail-making, and serving, something that always fascinated me, he learned the tricks of the trade as hotel barman. The knowledge, the experimentation, the creativity, connecting people, providing new experiences, suggesting, guiding.
From drinks to games, with so many points in common. The importance of knowing the trade and understanding the people sitting on the stool or around the tables. Presenting them with new flavours, new games, new experiences. Creating a welcoming space, for them to return. Overall, contributing for people to spend good moments together, over a drink or two, over a boardgame table, over both. The barman and the boardgame expert alike. The game connoisseur here is the founder and owner, Athanasios, but he is not there today.
The conversation drifts. The meaning of being a Belgian. Traveling the world and choosing to work in Brussels. People’s roots, spread all over the continent, Belgium, Greece, Luxembourg, Portugal. And all over the world. Nationalism and internationalism. Openness and segregation. Togetherness and divisions. Harmony, struggles, and dangers.
Well, time flies, and I say goodbye to Kings & Queens. Thank you, Thomas! A walk back to the hotel, a night of sleep, and an early morning trip to the airport. Hope to be back and, next time, I will be playing some games!
https://www.facebook.com/KingsQueensCafe/
