Games and Toys

Dejan Radic has founded a chess academy in Maple Ridge. (Special to The News)

Registration open for new chess academy in Maple Ridge

Academy will support the children and adults who want to improve their play

 

Scarlet Forsythe and Van Olsen pick a couple of games from the many available at the Maple Ridge Public Library. (Neil Corbett/The News)

Family Game Nights coming to Maple Ridge Public Library

Board games galore, every Tuesday night at 6 p.m.

 

(Special to The News)

Lots of players for Maple Ridge ladies game nights

New group meeting on Facebook and at Jim’s Pizza

 

Jamie Cygielman, right, general manager and president at American Girl, leaves a youngster browsing the company’s latest holiday showcase doll set, Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, in New York. Cygielman said roughly half its sales went to adults after a relaunch of the first six American Girl dolls in May 2021 to celebrate its 35th anniversary. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

Not just for kids: Toymakers aim more products at grown-ups

Ages 18 and older represented 14% of U.S. toy industry sales for the 12 months ending September 2022

Jamie Cygielman, right, general manager and president at American Girl, leaves a youngster browsing the company’s latest holiday showcase doll set, Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, in New York. Cygielman said roughly half its sales went to adults after a relaunch of the first six American Girl dolls in May 2021 to celebrate its 35th anniversary. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
Do you know when the Slinky was first created? (Pixabay.com)

QUIZ: How much do you know about toys and games?

This is the season when new games and toys capture the attention of young and old alike

Do you know when the Slinky was first created? (Pixabay.com)
Hundreds of people boarded the West Coast Express Santa Train at the Port Haney location on Dec. 3. (Brandon Tucker/The News)

PHOTOS: West Coast Express Santa Train sees unprecedented turnout in Maple Ridge

90 toys were collected on Dec. 3 at the Port Haney station, with one more day still to go

Hundreds of people boarded the West Coast Express Santa Train at the Port Haney location on Dec. 3. (Brandon Tucker/The News)
This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Ryan Gosling as Ken, left, and Margo Robbie as Barbie in the upcoming film "Barbie." (Jaap Buitendijk/Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)

Think Barbiecore and all things pink for holiday gifts

Etsy saw a 34% increase in searches for hot pink fashion items over last year

This image released by Warner Bros. Pictures shows Ryan Gosling as Ken, left, and Margo Robbie as Barbie in the upcoming film "Barbie." (Jaap Buitendijk/Warner Bros. Pictures via AP)
FILE - Scrabble games are displayed at a store in Palo Alto, Calif., on Feb. 9, 2009. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)

Happy hygge! Scrabble dictionary adds hundreds of words

Changes put some word-nerd glitter into the eyes of fans of the popular game

FILE - Scrabble games are displayed at a store in Palo Alto, Calif., on Feb. 9, 2009. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)
This photo, provided by National Toy Hall of Fame at The Strong museum, in Rochester, N.Y., shows the class of 2022 finalists for induction, announced Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022. (National Toy Hall of Fame at The Strong museum via AP)

WOLF: Which toys would make the cut for induction into your own Hall of Fame?

COLUMN: Table hockey, Intellivision, Hot Wheels and Nerf balls stir memories

This photo, provided by National Toy Hall of Fame at The Strong museum, in Rochester, N.Y., shows the class of 2022 finalists for induction, announced Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022. (National Toy Hall of Fame at The Strong museum via AP)
In this photo released on February 23, 2020 the NERF FORTNITE GL ROCKET FIRING Blaster is debuted at the Hasbro, Inc. Showroom during Toy Fair New York. . (Charles Sykes/AP Images for Hasbro)

Bingo, Lite-Brite, Nerf among Toy Hall of Fame finalists

Public invited to vote online for their favourites

In this photo released on February 23, 2020 the NERF FORTNITE GL ROCKET FIRING Blaster is debuted at the Hasbro, Inc. Showroom during Toy Fair New York. . (Charles Sykes/AP Images for Hasbro)
A Wordle game is seen on a mobile phone, Friday, July 15, 2022, in Boston. Hasbro Inc. and The New York Times, which owns Wordle, announced Thursday that Wordle: The Party Game will be available for purchase in North America in October. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

5-letter word for fun? Hasbro, NYT create Wordle board game

Board version will give players opportunity to play against others, and play as much as they want

A Wordle game is seen on a mobile phone, Friday, July 15, 2022, in Boston. Hasbro Inc. and The New York Times, which owns Wordle, announced Thursday that Wordle: The Party Game will be available for purchase in North America in October. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Riddle painting by Maureen Bruinsma (Contributed)

From B.C. to Nova Scotia: Mom and son duo sharing love of riddles

Hunting dragons and chasing snowballs could earn you over $10,000

Riddle painting by Maureen Bruinsma (Contributed)
Jadyn Harris, shown in a handout photo, and his sister have been searching for hidden cash since the hunt began on May 2. Their search lead them to French Fort Cove park. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Savannah Harris

New Brunswick town captivated by mysterious figure offering clues to hidden cash

No one knows who’s behind the Miramachi game, started by a Facebook user

Jadyn Harris, shown in a handout photo, and his sister have been searching for hidden cash since the hunt began on May 2. Their search lead them to French Fort Cove park. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Savannah Harris
Lego has gone through considerable changes over the years. When was this toy introduced? (LEGO via AP)

QUIZ: How much do you know about toys and games?

From long-lasting traditions to fads, there’s a lot of history to play and recreation.

Lego has gone through considerable changes over the years. When was this toy introduced? (LEGO via AP)
Toy Drive organizer John-Andrew Pankiw-Petty of Victoria hands donated gifts to Chilliwack Community Services executive director Diane Janzen at the Chilliwack Airport on Dec. 14, 2021. (Jennifer Feinberg/ Chilliwack Progress)

Santa flight toy drive touches down in Chilliwack

‘When we asked people to help out, the response was incredible,’ says toy drive organizer

Toy Drive organizer John-Andrew Pankiw-Petty of Victoria hands donated gifts to Chilliwack Community Services executive director Diane Janzen at the Chilliwack Airport on Dec. 14, 2021. (Jennifer Feinberg/ Chilliwack Progress)
A look at the food-themed board game Steam Up: A Feast of Dim Sum. (submitted photo)

Surrey woman’s ‘Steam Up’ game serves dim sum-inspired fun with lesson in Asian culture

Game-loving pair launch company to create and publish Asian-themed games

A look at the food-themed board game Steam Up: A Feast of Dim Sum. (submitted photo)
The next trivia night is on the books for Thursday, Feb. 25, at 8 p.m.

Animals on tap for trivia night

Maple Ridge Community Foundation is organizing its next online fundraiser

The next trivia night is on the books for Thursday, Feb. 25, at 8 p.m.
Tim Hortons delays hockey Barbie roll out to rush production of Black doll

Tim Hortons delays hockey Barbie roll out to rush production of Black doll

Currently, stores are selling the white version of the doll

Tim Hortons delays hockey Barbie roll out to rush production of Black doll
The puzzle, benefitting Food Banks Canada, is available beginning Tuesday, May 19, 2020. (Kraft Heinz Canada photo)

Heinz releases ‘ridiculously slow, all-red’ ketchup puzzle in Food Banks Canada fundraiser

COVID-19 social distancing protocols have allowed for many to pass the time with a puzzle or two

The puzzle, benefitting Food Banks Canada, is available beginning Tuesday, May 19, 2020. (Kraft Heinz Canada photo)