This summer marks the 30th anniversary of the demise of the last legitimate chess hangout in Seattle. G.M Yassar Seirawan called it "a sanctuary" I.M. s John Donaldson and Jeremy Silman called it "The Golden Place" From 1967 to about 1994 The Last Exit on Brooklyn coffee house was one of the few place's chess players could go to play 5 min. games, slow games, analyze or their completed games. I spent many happy Saturdays there doing 5 min. battles with the locals and playing over Informant games with a pot of Earl Grey and a sandwich. Washington State's present Attorney General Bobby Ferguson (a master at 18) came by on occasion to give a lesson. The Last Exit served sandwiches, salads, coffee, tea, and deserts. Located near the University of Washington, it did a brisk business until the owners' death. Disclaimer: The exact date of its demise is in dispute, so please don't hold me to exactly 30 years.
The point of this story is to highlight how solitary chess has become now. The internet is a wonderful tool for players to practice, study, and improve their game, however IMHO - when face to face interaction and exchanging of ideas is replaced with a computer keyboard, something important has gotten lost - -
https://www.seattlestar.net/2013/06/june-23-1967-last-exit-on-brooklyn/
Always sad to hear of a well established chess venue closing.
You are in part correct mchill, millions of online players have never
seen the inside of a chess club but thanks to online chess some people
are getting more interested. From what I can gather club membership is
booming all over. My club has certainly seen a massive increase in membership
after covid.
@greenpawn34 saidFrom what I can gather club membership is booming all over.
Always sad to hear of a well established chess venue closing.
You are in part correct mchill, millions of online players have never
seen the inside of a chess club but thanks to online chess some people
are getting more interested. From what I can gather club membership is
booming all over. My club has certainly seen a massive increase in membership
after covid.
Yes, it is. We have a new, local club in the small town I now live in that meets Tuesdays in our local library from 5-7 PM. Perhaps it's time for me to stop being such a hermit, forget the won - loss record and start some OTB action, instead of just thinking about it.
Have I become a stuffy old geezer or what? 😳