The Weekly Grind - June 8th, 2026 Newsletter
- Critical Grind Gaming
- Jun 8
- 5 min read
LAST WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS:
Here are some great photos we got from the last week of goings on around the cafe & in the community!
Check out our favorite Lemonade flavors for the summer, or make your own!
Good turnout for Game of Tones, Music Bingo. Save the date for the next one, July 2nd.
Dana had a table at the Plainfield Cruise Nights. Those run every Tuesday through August. We'll be back July 14th & August 18th.
Thank you everyone who came out to the Magic Pride Night tournament.
Always a great time with our RPG Players and mini painters.
Joliet Pride Network hosted Pride Night at the Joliet Slammers Game on Wednesday.
Dana participated in a golf outing, "Chip Away at Cancer" benefitting the American Cancer Society with Rick Johnson from Connoisseur Media, Phil Paulino from Sewer Sharks, and Collin Walzer from 634 Media.
Played some board games this week, naturally.
Hosted Raina from Forever Feral for our June Creator Pop-Up.
Fun time with our favorite Drag Queens, Candi & Portia, for Storytime and Poet/Standup, Zoe Miller for our Variety Show. (please note that due to a lack of attendance we will be cancelling the October and December shows this year. We plan to bring the Variety Show back next year for 1 annual show, in May.)
If you're a creator/crafter/vendor, our friends at Joliet Pride Network are looking for Vendors for their Pride Fest in September this year.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
We are excited to announce that we are a part of the Southside Perks Passport this summer!
There are 15 local coffeeshops involved. It's a great way to support local this summer. A lot of businesses are struggling right now and this is an ideal opportunity to show your support.
Bean N Breek, Blissful Brew, Book Bar, Critical Grind, Electric Drip, The Emerald Cup, Espresso Palette, Folklore, Gost, Grounded, Grove, Iversen's, Krema, The Scoop, Social Butterfly, Strange Brew, Sumerce', Short & Sweet Tasty Treats, & The Living Room.
This Week's Event Highlights
This is a quick look at this week's events. And of course any day is Game Day at Critical Grind. Just stop in anytime and find your next favorite game.
Follow our newsletter and socials to never miss an event!
Every link you need to follow us is right here:
SPECIAL EVENTS OF NOTE THIS WEEK:
LGBTQ+ BUILD TOGETHER - MONDAY - 7PM
BORED GAME NIGHT - TUESDAY - 6PM
SIP & STITCH - WEDNESDAY - 9AM
KID'S RPG NIGHT - FRIDAY - 6PM
GAME DESIGNER DAY - SATURDAY - 11AM
D&D RAVENLOFT ONE-SHOTS - SATURDAY - VARIOUS TIMES
BLOOD ON THE CLOCKTOWER - SATURDAY - 6PM
BAKERY POP-UP: NIFTY TREATS BY NYSS - SUNDAY - 11AM
This Week's Events Flyers/Details
This Month's Calendar & Specials
MAY SPECIALS --
MY DOUBLE SHOT: Butter Rum Americano
THIS YEARS PINK: Irish Cream + Amaretto Matcha
BURN BOOK: Strawberry Italian Cream Soda w/ Raspberry Sweet Cold Foam
MAMMA MIA TOAST: Hummus, Tomato, Bacon Bits, Balsamic Glaze, Red Pepper Flakes, & Italian Seasoning
CANDY STORE TOAST: Peanut Butter, White & Dark Chocolate Chips, Rainbow Sprinkles, & Glitter
More Special Events
We're excited to host another Game Designer Day on Saturday, June 13th. Are you developing a board game, card game, or role-playing game that you would like people to playtest? Sign up for a table at our Game Designer Day.
D&D Summer Club is ON!
Check sign your student up now. Slots are going fast.
We are so grateful and honored that Critical Grind will be one of the stops on Grant Lyon's Board Game Comedy Tour. Join us on Wednesday, October 7th at 7pm for an evening of comedy, board games, and community. Tickets are available on EventBrite. Reserve your seat now. Seats are very limited. Doors at 6pm. Show starts at 7pm. After the show, Grant will be hanging out and playing board games with attendees.
RPG Event Updates!
Saturday, June 13th we're hosting various sessions of Dungeons & Dragons' new Ravenloft game. Sign up here
Saturday, June 27th is Free RPG Day. More Details & Sign up here
Sunday, June 28th is our 3rd Annual Grindhouse Arena D&D Grand Melee Tournament Fundraiser. More details and Sign Up Here
--> KIDS RPG NIGHT
How it normally works: I email the parents directly, hopefully on the Monday before Kid's RPG Night with the link for sign-ups and session descriptions. So if you are a Kid's RPG Night parent, please fill out this form. (if you haven't already)
Please remember Kid's RPG Night takes place the 2nd and 4th Fridays, GMs permitting.
--> Paizo Society Games
Pathfinder Society is played at the cafe every 1st and 3rd Friday.
Starfinder Society is played here every 2nd and 4th Sunday.
Find both those games on Warhorn or in our Discord
--> Discord Looking For Party
Join our Discord and find your next gaming group.
We play RPGs every Tuesday and Thursday, but people will plan meet-ups outside those times as well. Join our Discord and see what games are being played.
Tip: When you join, go to Rules to get verified. Then, VERY IMPORTANTLY: go to Roles-and-Info to select your interests. This is what will unlock the channels.
TCG Event Updates!
Lorcana League on Sundays kick back off May 17th. (Join the Discord for the League Goals)!
To sign up for a TCG Event, just click the photo.
Monthly Mini Painting Contest
Whether you're participating in our contests or just looking for a space to hang out and paint, stop by any Tuesday or Thursday for our Mini-Painting drop-in between 3pm & 8pm. $5 for all you can paint, access to our brushes, and paints, and a free figure to practice on. Or pick up additional figures for only $5 each.
Our June Figure is here. Stop by to pick up Baron Voyd (definitely not Strahd), and turn it back in by June 28th.
Signing Off
Dana here! On a personal note, if you made it all the way to the end, I appreciate you. I put a lot into these and am grateful so many of you take the time to read them.
As some of you know, I had a heart attack at the end of February, called SCAD (Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection). I'm doing a 5K this Saturday as a fundraiser for SCAD research, because there really isn't a lot of research going into it right now. There is absolutely no obligation here, but if you're willing and able, a donation to the organization would be appreciated. But either way, if you could please share the information, I would appreciate it. SCAD is the leading cause of heart attacks in women, and it's not really talked about.
Thanks so much for taking the time to read this week's Weekly Grind. If there's anything specific you want to hear about at the cafe, let me know!
"Hope will never be silent." -- Harvey Milk
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