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Mahjong Revival: A game for all ages and skill levels
A Construction Resources Company
7455 Trowbridge Road
Sandy Springs, GA
The National Mahjong League issues a new card
each year showing the rules of the game.
(Photo by Logan C. Ritchie)
from Candler Park and Lake Claire how
to play on her back porch. With so many
neighbors learning together, Kemerer
knew she’d always be able to get a game
going.
“I was hooked from the beginning,”
said Kemerer, an only child who grew up
on a farm.
Kemerer played a lot of Euchre at the
University of Michigan. She went on to
live in New York City for seven years,
traveling to competitive game night
pop-ups. Mahjong came
to her at the right time of
life, she said.
“As a mom, I’ve
abandoned a lot of things
that were important to
me. Now I have time to
reignite some passions,”
she said.
After obsessively
reading about mahjong,
teaching her husband and
two kids how to play, and
playing regularly with
her neighbors, Kemerer
turned mahjong into
a side job. She started
House of Mahjong
ATL, offering lessons
to beginners and
intermediate players as
well as advanced strategy
classes.
Kemerer has
big plans to bring mahjong to the
wider community with game night
through Candler Park Neighborhood
Organization and at Vin wine bar in
Edgewood.
“A big dream I have is for us to
connect with each other and to drive
play within our communities. Rarely do
we find opportunities in our lives to put
down screens and connect in person over
a shared interest,” said Kemerer.
A group of parents from Woodward Academy learned to play
mahjong over the summer. (Photo by Logan C. Ritchie)
SEWELL
APPLIANCE
Chamblee and Dunwoody restaurants,
Fulton County libraries, senior living
facilities, meetup groups, online, and
everywhere in between.
In August, a local Jewish organization
hosted a game of mahjong billed as “self-
care Sunday” for parents of young kids.
More than 50 people showed up. The
format was based on neighborhoods, so
parents could continue playing with new
friends.
Making new connections is one
reason Celesta Kemerer was drawn to the
game. She said playing mahjong satisfies
her passion for games, connection, and
hosting. Kemerer hired Martin from Two
Sparrows Mahjong to teach 16 women
By Logan C. Ritchie
Mahjong harkens an image of the
1950s, when Jewish and Asian women
built community while playing the tile
game, dishing gossip, and eating snacks.
A resurgence of mahjong has
breathed new life into Atlanta social
circles, from kids playing the fast-
paced Hong Kong version to neighbors
drinking mocktails on the back porch
while fine-tuning their skills.
The ancient Chinese game is played
with a little luck and a little strategy.
Each player at a table of four is dealt a
hand of 13 tiles marked with symbols.
There are three suits called craks, bams,
and dots, plus dragons, winds, and
flowers. The goal is to trade and collect
tiles, complete one of the patterns listed
on the official score card, and be the first
to declare, “Mahjong!”
Players of strategy card games like
Rummy, Bridge, and Spades will see the
similarities to mahjong. It’s complicated
— and there are a lot of rules to track —
but mahjong is not difficult to learn.
Mahjong classes have taken off in
metro Atlanta. Shawn Martin is the
owner of Two Sparrows Mahjong with
her daughter, Faye. Not only does
the pair teach classes, they have also
launched their own line of artistic
playing cards, mats, and yakitori
markers. See, mahjong is a game with
adorable accessories.
Lucy’s Market in Buckhead is widely
known for its mahjong tiles, which can
cost $400 depending on the material
and the number of tile layers. Vintage
tiles are being sold online for $500 and
up. Lucy’s offers carrying cases, table
cloths, mats, as well as themed cards and
napkins.
Together, they’re hosting [they
hosted] Brookhaven Bam Bird Day on
Sunday, Sept. 29 at Blackburn Park for
an open play day. Mahjong guru Michele
Frizzell will be [was] there to share tips.
Mahjong games are popping up all
over the city. Woodward Academy, a
private school in College Park, hosted
two casual play events for parents during
the summer. Experienced players paired
with the newbies, and everyone got to
know other parents from the school that
ranges from pre-K to 12th grade.
Guided play events are being held in
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OCTOBER 2024 | 27
