When I first created The Hidden Lair, it was not just because I liked games, cards, comics, miniatures, dice, or collectibles. I created it because I wanted there to be a place where people could go and feel community without being judged.
That was the heart of it for me.
I wanted a place where someone could walk in, sit down at a table, and feel like they belonged. A place where people could talk about the games they loved, the decks they were building, the miniatures they were painting, the characters they were creating, or the collections they were proud of without feeling like they had to explain themselves to the rest of the world.
A lot of us who grew up loving games understand that feeling. There are hobbies that become more than hobbies. They become part of how we connect, how we remember certain times in our lives, and how we find people who understand us.
That is what gaming has always been for me. It was never just about winning, the rules, or the products on the shelves. It was about the people at the table.
Lately, I have been thinking about that more and more. The Hidden Lair has seen a lot of energy around Friday Night Magic and Pokémon again. The tables have been active, people are talking, trading, playing, opening packs, building decks, asking questions, and sharing what they are excited about. That is the part that always makes the store feel alive to me.
A game store is not just a place where products sit on shelves. A real game store has a heartbeat. You hear it in the conversations, see it when someone opens something exciting, and feel it when a new player walks in unsure of themselves and someone makes room for them at the table.
That is the part I never want to lose.
Gen Con Reminds Me How Big This World Really Is
With Gen Con coming up next month, I have been thinking about how big the gaming world has become. Gen Con is one of those events that shows the full size of the tabletop community. Board games, card games, roleplaying games, miniatures, seminars, cosplay, publishers, artists, creators, collectors, and players all come together in one place.
It is easy to look at something like Gen Con and only see the size of it: the crowds, the events, the exhibitors, the new releases, the big announcements, and the excitement around what is coming next. But what stands out to me is something simpler.
All of those people are gathering because games still matter to them.
Some are there to discover the next big board game. Some are there for roleplaying games. Some are there to try demos from publishers.
Some are there for miniatures, painting, cosplay, seminars, or collectible card games. Some are there because they have gone for years and it has become part of their life.
That is the same spirit that exists in a local game store, just on a much larger scale. Gen Con reminds me that this hobby is not small, weird, or something people have to hide. It is a huge, creative, passionate community made up of people who care deeply about imagination, strategy, storytelling, art, collecting, and connection.
I think that is worth celebrating.
So I want to ask: what are you watching for this year at Gen Con? Are you excited about new board games, new RPGs, miniatures, Magic, Pokémon, painting supplies, cosplay, a specific publisher, or something you hope The Hidden Lair carries or hosts?
I want to know what people are excited about this year for Gen Con 2026, because that is usually where the best conversations start.
Friday Night Magic Still Means Something
Friday Night Magic is one of those things that has always represented what I love about local game stores. On paper, it is a Magic: The Gathering event. People bring decks, play matches, test strategies, trade cards, and compete.
But to me, it has always been more than that.
Friday Night Magic gives people a place to go at the end of the week. It gives them something to look forward to. It gives newer players a way to learn, experienced players a way to challenge themselves, and collectors a reason to talk about new sets, new cards, new artwork, and new ideas.
Most importantly, it gives people a reason to gather.
I remember writing years ago about how great it was to have a place in Decatur where people could play Friday Night Magic and hang out. That feeling has never really changed for me. The games change, the formats change, the cards change, and the crowd changes over time. But the reason it matters stays the same.
People need places where they can belong.
Friday Night Magic has been going strong at The Hidden Lair, and I think part of the reason is because Magic gives people so many different ways to enjoy the game. Some players are there to compete. Some are there to play casually. Some love Commander. Some love draft. Some love the collecting side. Some are chasing specific cards. Some just want to sit down after a long week and have fun.
All of that counts. You do not have to be the best player in the room to be part of the community. You do not have to know every card interaction or have the most expensive deck. You just have to be willing to sit down and play.
That is what I love about it.
So here is my question for the Magic players: what has you most excited about Magic right now? Is it Friday Night Magic itself, Commander, new sets, draft nights, collecting, the social side, the competition, or just having a place to play?
I also want to know: what is your favorite Magic deck you have ever played, and what made it special? Was it your strongest deck, your most fun deck, your first deck, your favorite Commander deck, or a deck that just felt like it matched your personality?
And what is one Magic card you will always love, no matter how the game changes?
Pokémon Has Its Own Kind of Energy
Pokémon has also been going crazy at The Hidden Lair, and honestly, I love seeing it. Pokémon brings a different kind of energy into a store because it reaches collectors, kids, parents, longtime fans, competitive players, casual players, and people who just love opening packs.
There is nostalgia there, but there is also fresh excitement.
Some people come in because they grew up with Pokémon. Some are discovering it for the first time. Some are collecting favorite characters. Some are learning how to play. Some are looking for the newest set. Some are just excited to open a pack and see what they pull.
That moment never really gets old.
Last year I went to MegaCon in Orlando, Florida with my wife and her best friend. We all dressed up as our favorite Pokémon characters.
There is something fun about watching someone open Pokémon cards.
Everyone understands the excitement. Even people who do not know the competitive side of the game understand the feeling of hoping for something special.
Pokémon is also one of those hobbies that naturally crosses generations. A parent can bring in a child and both of them can be excited for different reasons. One may remember the original games or cards from when they were younger. The other may be discovering the world for the first time. That shared excitement is powerful.
That is one of the things I love most about Pokémon at the store. It is not just about cards. It is about connection.
It is about a kid showing someone their favorite Pokémon. It is about a collector talking about artwork. It is about someone learning the rules. It is about people comparing pulls. It is about the simple joy of being excited together.
That kind of energy is good for a community.
So I want to ask the Pokémon fans: what are you most excited about right now? Are you collecting, playing, chasing certain cards, watching new sets, bringing your kids into it, or getting back into Pokémon after years away?
What is your favorite Pokémon card you own, or the one card you still hope to pull someday?
And if you play Pokémon, what kind of deck do you enjoy most? Is there a favorite Pokémon, card, or deck that made you love the game in the first place?
