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Have you ever thought you had a pretty good idea how something came about only to find out that, well, it’s complicated. That is the story of bluegrass music – which, by the way, wasn’t even referred to as “bluegrass” until well into the 1940s. This music, most associated with the Appalachian Mountains and the working class, is a long tale of shared influences, forks in the road, and happy reunion gatherings. ...read more
At Home | Inspiration
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Imagine finding yourself in a sticky situation. One that confronts you with out-of-the-ordinary circumstances that test your patience, demand your resolve, or challenge you to take a stand and do the right thing. ...read more
Behind the Scenes | Local Flavor | Mast in the News
Columbia
Mast General Store’s Be a Sweetheart campaign has provided neighbors in need with healthy meals for 22 years, but few winters in the past two decades have seen a greater demand for food than this one. ...read more
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... Our favorite foods! Food is universal because everybody’s got ta eat! And the last two months of the year are filled with more than their fair share of family meals, work gatherings, special outings to favorite restaurants, tins filled with homemade cookies and fudge, and the anticipation of food traditions handed down from generation to generation ...read more
At Home | Recipes
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Even before we bought the Mast General Store, we were taken by the beauty of Valle Crucis. We’ve heard people describe the drive out Broadstone Road as traveling through a time portal. In the 1970s, fields in the river bottoms would be filled with tobacco, cabbage, or high with hay to feed cattle that were grazing in the summer pasture. ...read more
Local Flavor | Mast Family Favorites
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The lucky few who have seen the Earth from a different perspective – astronauts - all echo the same viewpoint upon their return. Yuri Gagarin, a Russian cosmonaut and the first human to go to space, commented, “Orbiting Earth in the spaceship, I saw how beautiful our planet is. People, let us preserve and increase this beauty, not destroy it.”
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Some people refer to it as Friday Family Fun Night, Dice & Deck Night, or just plain ol’ Game Night. No matter what you call it, it’s a night to look forward to for a quick meal, friendly competition, and good snacks.
Board games experienced a renaissance during 2020 when it was difficult to find places to go for entertainment and a night of fun. Boxes on the shelves in dark closets were dusted off and the fun of Monopoly, Clue, and Hi-Ho-Cherry-O were rediscovered during the pandemic.
Board games are not a new invention. According to English-Heritage.org, some of the first board games were played by Egyptians over 5,500 years ago. When the area around Hadrian’s Wall – which was built by the Romans as a defensive fortification on the north side of Britannia in 122 A.D. - was explored for artifacts, several board games were discovered along with game pieces and dice.
Nine Men Morris, another game brought to the British Isles by the Romans, was originally invented in the Mediterranean area or the Middle East. It is a strategy game played by two people trying to move their pieces around the board to form a “mill,” or three pieces of the same color in a row.
In the 19th century, educational games became popular. Colorful and complex puzzles and games were developed for younger players to teach or reinforce ideas, like counting, ABCs, and goal setting.
Many of today’s most popular games have longevity on their side, including Monopoly, which has its roots in a game developed in 1903 by an anti-monopolist, and became more popular when Parker Brothers purchased the game’s copyrights in 1935. Battleship has been around since 1931 and Candy Land since 1945.
Historic photo at right is from the Library of Congress. Snake Game Rules. [Between 1840 and 1860] Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2007675305/>.
With all the first-person point of view, Candy Crushes, Farmvilles, and Words with Friends games available on our phones, why in the world would board games and cards be so popular? There are many reasons.
Whether we want to own up to it or not, we all crave human interaction. Game night provides a great reason for friends and family to come over and for parents and children to turn off the television and take off the headphones for a while.
Board games teach critical thinking and strategy for kids and help older folks keep their minds sharp. They are also helpful in developing (and keeping) motor skills – like picking up playing pieces, shuffling cards, and rolling the dice.
All generations can come together to play board and card games. Who knows? that might spark some interesting conversation!
Board games also give us a break from digital this and digital that. Sometimes, you just need an escape from apps, screens, and non-human interfaces.
Elijah is the game buyer for the Mast Store, and to say that he is passionate about his job would be an understatement. When we asked him to spend a little time with us discussing Mast Store’s game collection, the excitement was palpable. “I just love games,” he said.
“I want our game collection to progress and grow and hold on to our nostalgic favorites like Monopoly, Candy Land, Clue, checkers, and the like. Our biggest sellers are still the classic retro games,” shared Elijah. “And I’m excited about the games we will be adding in the near future.”
Some of the newer games on Mast Store’s shelves include Mind the Gap, Five Crowns, and Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza (on order right now). “This spring, we will be adding Settlers of Catan, or just Catan, which is a role-playing game,” said Elijah. “It’s one that takes a little time to catch on to, but once you do, it is addicting. We are also adding Ticket to Ride. That’s a route-building game based on trains. It should be lots of fun and is for players aged 8 and up.”
Retro isn’t being left out in the spring. Bop It!, which is like Simon with sounds instead of lights, can be played as a one-player or multi-player game. Mouse Trap is a game Elijah recalled fondly, and it’s coming to Mast Store this spring. “I remember my dad setting up the board, which is an elaborate contraption. It was always fun to play with him.” Twister is another retro game coming this spring. That means you have some time to work on your yoga practice to get ready!
We also spent a little time talking with Greta, who is one of Mast Store’s longest tenured buyers. She buys some of the games in the children’s area and shared, “The old school card games are still strong sellers. The most popular ones are Old Maid and Go Fish.”
Standard Bicycle Playing Cards are also popular – especially with Gen Z people (ages 11-26).
Here's where you'll FIND Mast Store's collection of board games and cards.
We love a good game night. To see what people like to play, we did a quick survey of some of Mast Store employees to learn their favorite games, special memories, and favorite game night snacks. Here’s what we learned:
Joey, general manager of the Mast Store in Asheville
Favorite Game: Mexican Train (you’ll find it HERE)
Why is it your Favorite Game: It’s fun and entertaining for all ages and has a small amount of chance involved, which makes it exciting.
Cool Story or Memory: We keep a running family total, and my youngest son (9 years old) is crushing us!
Favorite Snack: Popcorn made with my Whirley-Pop
Brett, copywriter at the Mast Store Home Office
Favorite Game: Mind the Gap
Why is it your Favorite Game/Cool Story or Memory: It was my home’s turn to host our extended family’s Christmas party. We love trivia and wanted to choose a game that would hold the kids’ attention (at least until presents were opened) and also appeal to our parents. That game was Mind the Gap – a game none of us had ever heard of, much less played before – and it turned out to be an instant classic! Each team included a grandparent, parent, and grandkid to span the generational “gaps,” which allowed us to share our family time together through fun old-fashioned and next-gen trivia everyone could contribute responses to.
Favorite Snack: An endless supply of grandma’s famous holiday sausage balls
Kendra, the general manager of the Mast Store in Boone
Favorite Game: Rummikub (like Rummy except played with tiles instead of cards)
Why is it your Favorite Game: I bought this game at the beginning of COVID and played it soooo many nights. And it’s still fun!
Tracey, a buyer at the Mast Store Home Office
Favorite Game: Hand and Foot (a card game)
Why is it your Favorite Game: I love this card game! It's a game with strategic gameplay, as well as the luck of the draw. There are a few clever strategic ways to play the game. I come from a serious family of card players! We don't always agree on the best strategy, and we all play to win, but all in good fun!
Cool Story or Memory: We grew up playing board games and card games, and it was something that brought our family together. Between me and siblings, we have over 50 decks of cards! As we became adults and our Mom was aging, we all took the time to stop and play a round of cards with her and her friends. Mom passed 4 years ago, and I still hear from her card-playing friend in Florida. I contact them every time they have a hurricane blow through, and they reached out to me when Helene made its way through NC. Game playing brings people together and can make lifelong friends of all generations!
Favorite Snack: You must have pretzels when playing card games (and a little bit of chocolate).
NOTE: Tracey also shared that she, like Joey, enjoys playing Mexican Freight Train Dominoes. She says that she likes it because it's really colorful and a game that doesn’t end too quickly. I also love the sound of the dominoes being mixed around in the beginning. You can play with up to 6 people, so the more people, the more fun it is. It's simple enough to play with younger kids. This game is now being played by the 3rd generation in our family!
Susan, pricer at the Mast Store Home Office
Favorite Game: The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
Why is it your Favorite Game: It reminds me of being a kid because the version I have is from the 1960s. I remember playing with my great nieces in the early 2000s. But, I have to confess, one of the reasons I like it is I had a crush on Illya Kuryakin, who was a secret agent in the TV series.
Favorite Snack: Jiffy Pop popcorn because it was as much fun to watch pop as it was to eat!
Lillian, product information specialist for Mast Store Online
Favorite Game: Bananagrams
Why is it your Favorite Game: I am a huge fan of crossword puzzles and word games, so it’s right up my alley. You use the tiles to create a comprehensive “board” before your opponents, then add more letters to everyone’s boards to see who has the quickest wit! It’s a great game for small gatherings or just for two, and the quality of the tiles makes this game tons of fun for replay. Plus, I love that it is encased in a banana bag, we are always happy to see novelty packaging.
Cool Story/Memory: My favorite board game memories are when my whole family participates and gets competitive, it’s so great to see everyone having fun and using their brains to do something besides look at a phone!
Favorite Snack: Poppy Popcorn because it has a ton of crowd-pleasing flavors, and on a sweet and hot level, Mast Store Provisioners Peach Habanero Salsa and tortilla chips. It’s delightfully spicy-sweet.
NOTE: Lillian notes that she LOVES board games. Another favorite is Betrayal at the House on the Hill, which is a horror role playing game. You build the board as you go and the end goal has over 50 different scenarios, so it has a ton of replay value.
Jessa, receptionist & executive administrative assistant at the Mast Store Home Office
Favorite Game: Five Crowns
Why is it your Favorite Game: I’m always looking for no-screen, pre-bedtime activities, and this game is perfect. It's fantastic to play before putting the kids to bed, and we can adapt it to however much time we have. Our family keeps running weekly tallies of everyone's scores, but we can also take breaks if we get busy. It's not difficult to jump right back in. It's a game that's truly great for all ages as we've gotten the grandparents involved in our obsession, too. We play it so often that we've invested in a card shuffler, so we don't waste as much time between rounds!
Emi, graphic designer at the Mast Store Home Office
Favorite Game: For a long time, Monopoly was our go-to (we even had three different versions, including the smart speaker one!). Sorry! has also been a favorite, but since last Christmas, we've been hooked on Uno Flip!
Why is it your Favorite Game: Uno Flip! is an exciting twist on the classic UNO (https://www.mastgeneralstore.com/mattel/uno-card-game-25669) experience. The double-sided cards add an unpredictable challenge, switching between the Light Side and the Dark Side, keeping everyone on their toes! The Dark Side brings tougher penalties and strategic gameplay, making every move even more intense. At first, it was a bit tricky to learn, but now every game night is full of surprises, laughter, and unexpected turnarounds. If you love UNO but want an extra thrill, Uno Flip! is a must-try!
Cool Story/Memory: One of my favorite Uno Flip! memories happened shortly after we started playing it last Christmas. We were still figuring out the rules when someone played a Flip Card at the perfect moment, switching us to the Dark Side right when I was about to win! Suddenly, I went from almost out to a full hand of cards, and everyone burst into laughter. It was one of those moments that made us instantly love the game! Now, every round is full of surprises and laughter.
Favorite Snack: Soft pretzel bites with beer cheese dip! We make them using a mix we found at a local store and then mix up a round of beer cheese dip from a recipe we found online. The combo is perfect for snacking while playing Uno Flip!
Faye, secretary/treasurer emerita at (sometimes) the Mast Store Home Office
Favorite Game: Sequence, it’s a great strategy game.
Why is it your Favorite Game: There’s a lot of thinking involved – not just on your moves but trying to get ahead of your opponents’ moves to block them. We purchased the jumbo size to make it easier to see the cards.
Cool Story/Memory: Our grandson and his girlfriend blew us out two games in a row, then we quit... er, gave up because they were too quick and smart for our old brains.
Favorite Snacks: Sometimes we go the wine and cheese with crackers route and other times we go alcohol-free with orange juice and popcorn on the table.
NOTE: Phase 10 is one of our favorite card games.
Erica, general manager of the Mast Store in Greenville |
Favorite Game: Mind the Gap
Why is it your Favorite Game: When we get together on Thanksgiving, we always like playing games. We found one or two that are fun for all ages, but nothing at all like Mind the Gap! The game is so much fun, and it allows every generation the opportunity to shine! Our family is very competitive and loves trivia, but it was always difficult to find a game that included all the generations so that kids, parents, uncles, and grandparents could all sit down with one game for hours of laughs. Our favorite thing about it… It keeps the kids off the phones! It gets the moms out of the kitchens and the dads off the couches watching sports. We all love to play MTG! Because our family is spread out, we’ve taken to playing it via Zoom when we can’t get together. It adds some complexity, and we change a couple rules, but it’s still a lot of fun. Favorite Snacks: Meatballs that we make with the Mast Store Provisioners Pepper Bacon Jam and chili sauce.
SusAnn, area manager at the Original Store
Favorite Game: Monopoly
Why is it your Favorite Game: Growing up, my brothers, JD (who also works at Mast Store) and Mark would set the game up as I begged them to let me play. Eventually, they said, “OK.” The game would take us a week to finish. While eating popcorn and Hershey snacks you could hear our laughter throughout the house. I loved that game the most because of all the hours it took to play. Great memories.
So, what’s YOUR favorite board or card game?