Until 2008, Bellingham had a de-facto chess cafe where a motley and eclectic group of chess fanatics gathered on an unscheduled daily basis for pickup game of chess. The coffeehouse, Fantasia Coffee & Tea near the corner of Cornwall Avenue and Magnolia Street, had an owner who was very supportive of chess as he himself was a chess player. Any weekday afternoon, chess players dropped-in for casual but serious chess matches.
Since 2008 when Fantasia closed, the chess players never re-grouped in another chess cafe where chess was played on a regular basis. Some of them found our chess club when it was formed in 2015. Our chess club is on the hunt for a chess friendly coffeehouse for casual chess play. Will keep you posted.
While reviewing my archival photos, I found some pictures I took of a chess gathering at Fantasia circa 2007. Do you recognize any of the players?
Since 2008 when Fantasia closed, the chess players never re-grouped in another chess cafe where chess was played on a regular basis. Some of them found our chess club when it was formed in 2015. Our chess club is on the hunt for a chess friendly coffeehouse for casual chess play. Will keep you posted.
While reviewing my archival photos, I found some pictures I took of a chess gathering at Fantasia circa 2007. Do you recognize any of the players?