Mahj in the Wild: Austin's New Mahjong Community Experience
Am I a teacher or a curator? I've been asking myself that for months in Austin. Turns out the answer was "both," and Mahj in the Wild is what happens when I stop picking one.
What it actually is
Two new mahjong experiences, launching this August in Austin:
Sunrise — Episode 1 (Saturday, August 15, 6:30–8:30am) is exactly what it sounds like. We hike to a secret Austin spot, watch the sun come up, and play mahjong while the city wakes up underneath us. Light breakfast and cold beverages included. This isn't a lesson — it's an experience built around a shared table. Capacity is capped at 4–8 players, on purpose. Wear comfortable activewear and closed-toe sneakers.
Dinner Club (Monday, August 17, 5:30–8pm) is the rolling monthly series for anyone who wants their mahjong with a great Austin restaurant attached. Every month, a new curated venue — revealed a few days out. No instruction, just skilled players, new friends, and a table.
Why I built this
It's not really about doing something unique for its own sake. It's about community and connection. I get to use my creative side to come up with wild ideas for where to play mahjong — a sunrise hike, a hidden Austin restaurant — but underneath the concept, it's always the same thing: the memories a table of people build together over a few hours. That's the actual gift here, and it's what keeps people coming back.
Boot Camp gets you playing. League play gives you a reason to come back regularly. But if you don't have time for a weekly commitment and you still want that connection — the wild idea, the fun, the shared table — this is for you. Come fill your bucket.
Who it's for
Sunrise is for the early risers who want a real Austin experience wrapped around their mahjong. Dinner Club is for anyone craving their regular mahjong fix with better food and new faces at the table. (I come to get a break from cooking for my kids and further teach them independence) Both are for people who want community first and a game as the reason to gather. Perfect for a birthday, a milestone, a girls' morning, or any excuse to round up your favorite people.
Spots for both are limited on purpose — this isn't a Boot Camp with 20 seats, it's a small-group experience built for connection, not just capacity. Book early to secure a spot!
Ready to build some memories at the table? Book Sunrise — Episode 1 or Book the Dinner Club. Or if you're brand new to Austin mahjong, start with a Boot Camp lesson or drop into Guided Open Play first.
See you out there,
Laurie 🌵
Mahj in the Wild: Inside Our First Retro Ranch Night
Some friend groups meet for book club. Ours had themed dinners and then we learned mahjong. This is what a Mahj in the Wild night in Austin, TX actually looks like.
Some friend groups meet for book club. Ours had themed dinners first — and then we learned mahjong.
We've been together for years — the kind of group that shows up for everything. Board members, event chairs, school volunteers, sideline cheerleaders, and the first ones to show up when life gets hard. We've navigated work decisions, college visits, school changes, a divorce, and every beautiful messy moment in between. Our kids have grown up alongside each other — not always in the same circle, but always in the same world. We've traveled together, toasted each other's wins, and talked each other through the hardest chapters of raising a family.
Kids bounce in and out of friendships — that's childhood. But what never wavered was us. The moms stayed. We showed up for each other through every shift, every season, every hard conversation. That kind of friendship doesn't happen by accident. It's built, slowly, over years of choosing each other.
Doctors, PhDs, architects, artists, entrepreneurs. Moms, always moms first. Fierce, loyal, and always down for a good time.
A few years ago, we decided to learn mahjong. We had a teacher for a while. We learned the rules, the Charleston, the card. And then one September night in 2025, we decided to go it alone — no instructor, just us, our tiles, and a theme.
Retro Ranch Night was born.
The Setup
I wanted this to feel like an event, not just a game night. Full tablescape. A dress code. A vibe. 70s desert glam meets Texas — warm earthy tones, glittering gold accents, and my Texas tiles front and center, hand-painted with cacti, cowboys, and desert motifs that felt made for this moment.
Willie, Dolly, the Chicks — and then Maggie Koerner and Joss Stone showed up and nobody complained.
Retro Ranch Invite Tiles Tequila and a touch of desert glam
The invite set the tone. Dress code very much encouraged. We dressed up. Obviously.
The Menu
Ranch waters, mezcal, and Mahj. This is what a good night looks like.
Elote cups
Green chili verde
Cornbread bites
Churros
Ranch Waters made with our favorite Austin tequila 🤠
And yes, mezcal made an appearance. It's that kind of group.
The Game
We played. We laughed. We debated hands, argued over the Charleston, and celebrated every single Mahj like it was a championship. By the end of the night, every woman at that table was playing with a confidence she didn't have at the start.
That's what happens when you get out of your own way and just play.
These are my people. Mahjong just gives us a reason to keep showing up.
We've never turned back. Some of us gather weekly now for pop-up play. The tiles are always on the table somewhere — between our monthly themed dinners, school pickups, and everything life throws at us in between.
This group — these women — are my lifeline. And this night is what inspired Mahj in the Wild.
The idea is simple: mahjong is better when it's an experience. When the tablescape matches the mood. When the food tells a story. When the dress code makes everyone feel like they showed up for something special.
Because they did.
Want to Bring Mahj in the Wild to Your Group?
Whether it's a bachelorette party, girls' night, baby shower, birthday, or corporate team building event in Austin TX — I design the full experience around you. Custom tablescapes, themed menus, dress codes, and curated atmosphere.
You bring your people. I bring the magic. 🀄
70s desert glam meets Texas. Every detail considered. Every tile placed with intention.