Rook Room opens Saturday with 700+ board games
The Rook Room, a board game café and lounge years in the making, officially opens its doors Saturday — and Axios got an early look during a media preview Wednesday.
Why it matters: It's the only space of its kind in Des Moines, offering more than 700 unique board games to play alongside a full food and drinks menu.
State of play: The new hangout is situated in the former downtown space of St. Kilda restaurant, which closed at that location late last year.
What they're saying: Co-owner Tony Tandeski tells Axios he hopes the Rook Room becomes a neighborhood hub — a place where, like the 1980s TV show "Cheers," "everybody knows your name."
There will be regular tournaments and game learning sessions, he said.
The intrigue: Game donations are welcome, and many on the shelves are from local players.
🍽️ On the menu: A range of sandwiches and snacks, including an achiote lime chicken sandwich (mozzarella, pico de gallo and lime cream) and spicy pineapple skewers — a nod to Tandeski's favorite fruit.
Specialty drinks include the Charisma Check (Jameson, pineapple juice, sour, caramel and vanilla) and the RG&T (Revelton mulberry gin, lavender syrup and tonic).
If you go: Regular hours are 8am–midnight on Fridays and Saturdays and 8am–10pm on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays.
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New York Post
16 hours ago
- New York Post
Jason Sudeikis breaks silence on uncle George Wendt's death
Jason Sudeikis is honoring his late uncle George Wendt. The veteran actor, who was known for playing the iconic Norm Peterson on 'Cheers' for all 11 seasons, from 1982 to 1993, died May 20 at age 76 in his sleep. Nearly two weeks later, Sudeikis, 49, spoke about Wendt's death for the first time at the Big Slick 2025 kickoff in Kansas City over the weekend. Advertisement 15 Jason Sudeikis at day 1 of the Big Slick Celebrity Weekend in Kansas City on May 30. Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock 15 Jason Sudeikis and George Wendt in 2014. GC Images 'With regard to my uncle George, there's that saying, 'don't meet your heroes… usually cause they let you down,' I assume is the back half of that statement. But he's not one of those people,' the 'Ted Lasso' star said during a news conference at the event. Advertisement 'He's as fun and kind and as warm as any character he played on television or in films,' Sudeikis continued about Wendt. 'He was an incredible influence to me, both as someone that plays the trail being from the Midwest and teaching me that acting was a career you could actually have, and it's also a career where you could meet the love of your life like his wife, and AKA permanent girlfriend, Bernadette.' 15 Jason Sudeikis speaks on stage at the 2025 Big Slick Weekend. Getty Images 'He also always kept connected to his family and to his roots both both in Chicago where he's from, and from the time he spent here going to Rockhurst college and to a bar named Mike's a whole bunch where I think he logged maybe 18 credit hours,' Sudeikis joked. 'But it was all for preparation of a job that we all know him for on 'Cheers,' and all time well spent. But yeah, we miss him greatly and I love him dearly.' Sudeikis is hosting the benefit event to raise money for Children's Mercy Hospital. He sweetly wore a jersey with Wendt's last name on the back and the number 76 (Wendt's age at death) at the celebrity softball game. Advertisement 15 Jason Sudeikis honors George Wendt at the celebrity softball game at Kauffman Stadium during the Big Slick Celebrity Weekend. Getty Images 15 Jason Sudeikis reps his late uncle at the Big Slick celebrity softball game. Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock 15 Jason Sudeikis participates in 2025 Big Slick Weekend. Getty Images Sudeikis and Wendt have always been close, with 'The George Wendt Show' star gushing over the 'Ted Lasso' actor's career in 2024. Advertisement 'It was Letterman or Conan, he said, 'Did your uncle George have any advice for you?'' Wendt recalled on the 'Still Here Hollywood' podcast. 'And Jason goes — he's so sharp — he goes, 'Yeah he told me just get on the best show on television and one of the greatest shows of all time and just pretty much take it from there.' And he goes, 'So I did.'' 15 Jason Sudeikis during the Big Slick celebrity softball game. Getty Images 15 Curt Menefee, Johnny Knoxville, Jason Sudeikis and Andy Richter at the 2025 Big Slick softball game. Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock 15 George Wendt, Rob Riggle and Jason Sudeikis. Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock 'He got 'SNL,'' the comedian, who is the brother of Sudeikis' mom, Kathy, added. 'He's such a great kid,' Wendt continued of Sudeikis. 'Very proud. Proud especially, you know, not only of the success, but he's solid. Have you read profiles and stuff? I mean he is such a mesh, so smart, so thoughtful. I mean, it all comes out in the show. Right?' During the interview, Wendt also reflected on his own journey into Hollywood. 'I didn't want to be in a job I hated for the rest of my life,' he admitted before noting he went through a long list of careers before landing on comedy. Advertisement Wendt ended up joining Chicago's improvisational comedy troupe Second City, which he called 'a blast.' 15 George Wendt and Jason Sudeikis attends Apple TV +'s Primetime Emmy Party at Mother Wolf on January 15, 2024. WireImage 'I had fun and it wasn't really until I'd been there working, and then they called from Leo Burnett or something and said, 'Hey, can you send the people, some of the cast over… we're going to do some commercials or we're going to have some demos for commercials,' that sort of thing, and they said, 'Well you have to join SAG.'' Sudeikis, meanwhile, opened up about his relationship with Wendt during a 2011 interview with Playboy. Advertisement 'He's always been very encouraging, but there was no 'Tuesdays With Morrie' kind of relationship between him and I,' the 'Horrible Bosses' star explained. 'He didn't take me to the park to explain comic timing. There was nothing like that. He was just a good example that being an actor was a viable option.' 15 George Wendt and Jason Sudeikis attends Apple TV +'s Primetime Emmy Party. Lisa O'Connor/AFF-USA/Shutterstock Sudeikis added, 'Here's a guy from the Midwest, in my family, who took the road less traveled and it worked out for him. The advice he gave me, and I say this jokingly, is 'Get on one of the best sitcoms of all time and then ride it out.'' The 'We're the Millers' alum got his start as a writer on 'Saturday Night Live' before starring as a cast member for nine seasons from 2005 to 2013. Advertisement In 2008, Sudeikis revealed to The Post that Wendt didn't give him any tips for being on the late-night sketch show, despite the 'Cheers' actor's frequent appearances on it over the years. 15 George Wendt and Jason Sudeikis attend 'I Can't Believe They Wendt There: The Roast Of George Wendt' on September 9, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. Getty Images 'Not at all,' he confessed. 'George is great at shepherding out advance, like, 'You know who you should talk to?' But the neat thing is, my third week there, Robert Smigel, who wrote the Superfan sketches, was like, 'Wanna help me write a Superfans thing for your uncle George and Horatio [Sanz]?' So I'm sitting there with comedy legend Robert Smigel my third week in this job that I can't believe I have, and we're writing stuff for my uncle George based on characters he's done since I was 15. It's crazy.' In 2017, Sudeikis attended 'I Can't Believe They Wendt There: The Roast Of George Wendt' in Chicago, Illinois. On the red carpe before the roast, the 'Horrible Bosses 2' vet cheekily told ABC7, 'When I realized that that show ['Cheers'] was watched by other people than my family, I thought, 'oh wow.'' Advertisement Wendt's family rep confirmed his death to The Post last month, stating that the star 'died peacefully in his sleep while at home' that morning. 15 George Wendt and Jason Sudeikis at Big Slick Party and Auction in Kansas City. Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock 'George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him,' their statement continued. 'He will be missed forever. The family has requested privacy during this time.' At this time, no official cause of death has been revealed. During his time on the NBC sitcom, Wendt garnered six consecutive Emmy nominations for his performance as Norm. The cast of 'Cheers' recently had a mini-reunion at the 2024 Emmys. 15 Nicholas Colasanto, Shelley Long, Ted Danson, Rhea Perlman, and George Wendt on 'Cheers.' ©NBC/Courtesy Everett Collection Wendt, along with Ted Danson, Kelsey Grammer, Rhea Perlman and John Ratzenberger, reunited as part of a special tribute at the awards ceremony honoring some of the most beloved shows in TV history. The cast appeared on stage inside a replica of the iconic Boston bar, with host Anthony Anderson calling the sitcom 'one of the greatest television shows of all time.' 'This feels nice to be here in front of you,' Danson, 77, said, before Ratzenberger, 78, chimed in that the event was a 'long overdue class reunion.' 15 George Wendt arrives at the Alliance For Children's Rights 3rd annual celebrity right to laugh event at Avalon on June 12, 2012 in Hollywood, California. Getty Images Noticeably absent was Woody Harrelson, who couldn't make 'Cheers' because he's in a play,' Jesse Collins, an executive producer for the Emmys, told the Hollywood Reporter at the time. Following the news of Wendt's death, two of his 'Cheers' co-stars released touching statements about his life. 'I am devastated to hear that Georgie is no longer with us,' a rep for Danson shared with The Post. 'I am sending all my love to Bernadette and the children. It is going to take me a long time to get used to this. I love you, Georgie.' Perlman told The Post in part, 'George Wendt was the sweetest, kindest man I ever met. It was impossible not to like him.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
George Wendt's mistaken jabs at John Boehner link 'Cheers' and Ohio politics
There was no mistake when the beloved but forlorn accountant Norm Peterson chugged his way into the fictional TV bar "Cheers." "Norm!!!" hollered the regulars in unison, ranging from mail carrier Cliff Clavin to "Mayday" Sam Malone, the former Major League pitcher-turned barkeep. If only former House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, or late Rep. Buz Lukens, R-Ohio, had been as recognizable to George Wendt, the actor who played Norm on the sitcom. Remembering Rep. Charlie Rangel — And A Voicemail I'll Never Forget Wendt died last week at age 76. The portly, everyman, "Willy Loman" character Wendt created was one of the most iconic in the history of comedic television. Wendt's portrayal of Norm earned him six consecutive Emmy nominations for Best Supporting Actor in a primetime series. But during Boehner's first race for Congress in 1990, Wendt inadvertently manufactured a bizarre and permanent connection to the future Speaker of the House. Read On The Fox News App In 1989, Lukens represented Ohio's 8th Congressional District. But WSYX-TV in Columbus, Ohio, secretly recorded Lukens at a McDonald's speaking with the mother of a teenage girl. Lukens talked to the woman about getting her a government job. He hoped to keep her quiet about his sexual activities with her daughter. Lukens denied any wrongdoing in public. He was charged and later convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The House Ethics Committee launched an investigation. But Lukens declined to step aside. That teed up a three-way Republican primary between Lukens, the former congressman who represented the district, the late Rep. Tom Kindness, R-Ohio, and Boehner. Boehner was a state legislator at the time. The scandal embroiling Lukens created a rare opportunity to head to Washington. As strange as it seems now, Boehner was the least-known of the three Republican candidates in what turned out to be a brutal primary. But Boehner's innate political acumen shone through – decades before he would ascend to the Speaker's suite. Despite the scandal, Lukens remained popular in the district. He had served as the congressman decades earlier and returned to the House when Kindness ran unsuccessfully for the Senate against late-Sen. John Glenn, D-Ohio, in 1986. So with the Lukens scandal, Kindness wanted his job back. And Boehner hoped to capitalize on the opportunity. By Dawn's Early Light: Battles Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' Will Face In The Senate Can you top a name like that? "Congressman Kindness." No wonder it was such a challenge for the upstart, future Speaker with the unpronounceable, Teutonic surname. But Boehner won. And even though he felled Lukens and Kindness, it was not a done deal that Boehner would win the general election. Boehner ran against Democrat Greg Jolivette, the mayor of Hamilton, Ohio, the biggest city in the 8th Congressional District. Jolivette was best known for changing the name of "Hamilton," to "Hamilton!" in the 1980s. He also ran Jolly's Drive-Ins in Hamilton. Imagine 1970s hamburger joints where you can order from your car, bedecked in orange. But we're talking about "Cheers" here. Not "Happy Days." Wendt was at the height of his popularity during the summer of 1990 as Boehner and Jolivette barreled toward a general election faceoff. So Wendt appeared on late-night TV on "The Arsenio Hall Show." Look him up, kids. Hall's syndicated show was never going to beat NBC's "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" in the ratings. But the program scored major headlines in 1992, when future President Bill Clinton played saxophone on the show in an effort to appeal to a younger demographic, which gravitated to Hall rather than Carson. Clinton's appearance was a seminal moment in American politics and may have helped him win the election. Certainly the most important political event on Hall's show. Wendt's appearance proved to be the second-most important. Jolivette was Wendt's brother-in-law. He periodically parachuted into Ohio's 8th District to campaign for Jolivette and against Boehner. So Hall asked him about Wendt's political involvement and Jolivette. Wendt proceeded to essentially libel Boehner on the air. Wendt never mentioned Boehner by name. But Wendt mixed up Lukens and his sex scandal with Boehner. On national TV, no less. "The guy he's running against had some problems a while back," said Wendt, referring to Jolivette's opponent, but mixing Boehner up with Lukens. "The guy from the 8th District had some convictions, some felony or a misdemeanor or something. So I think it's time for a change. One thing's for sure, I know, Greg's not going to be a criminal." Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' Faces Crucial Hours As Johnson Courts Freedom Caucus Hall is an Ohio native. But he was apparently not versed in the Lukens scandal – even though it was a national story and commanded daily headlines. He didn't inquire further or correct Wendt. After all, this was a late-night comedy and variety show. Not "Meet the Press." A publicist for Hall blamed the issue entirely on Wendt, saying the host has no control over "what (guests are) going to say." Things then turned nasty when Boehner's team put out a statement. "We, like a lot of viewers, are confused about the conversation last night. We don't know if they were talking about Congressman Lukens' problems or perhaps the theft complaint filed with the Hamilton (Ohio) Police against Greg Jolivette," said the Boehner campaign. Jolivette's campaign argued this was an old allegation and it wasn't true. They then demanded that Boehner fire Barry Jackson, Boehner's campaign manager. Jackson called the episode "cheap gutter politics." Boehner himself pinned the case of mistaken identity on Wendt. He believed the actor should have been more responsible for what he said on national TV. Boehner didn't fire Jackson. Jackson worked with Boehner for years and later served as his chief of staff when he became House speaker. Wendt's gaffe was not fatal for Boehner. Even though there were nearly as many Democrats as Republicans registered in the 8th District in those days, it had elected Republicans for years. And Boehner vanquished Jolivette 61-39 percent in the general election. The rest is history for Boehner. Fast-forward to today. Boehner took to X after the actor's death. The former Speaker explained how Wendt was the brother-in-law of his opponent and "went on a late-night TV show and said some tough things." Boehner said that Wendt was "confusing me with someone else. He called later to apologize and we had a great conversation. Raising a glass tonight to the man America will always remember as Norm." Or, as they might say on the show, "Cheers."Original article source: George Wendt's mistaken jabs at John Boehner link 'Cheers' and Ohio politics
Fox News
a day ago
- Fox News
George Wendt's mistaken jabs at John Boehner link 'Cheers' and Ohio politics
There was no mistake when the beloved but forlorn accountant Norm Peterson chugged his way into the fictional TV bar "Cheers." "Norm!!!" hollered the regulars in unison, ranging from mail carrier Cliff Clavin to "Mayday" Sam Malone, the former Major League pitcher-turned barkeep. If only former House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, or late Rep. Buz Lukens, R-Ohio, had been as recognizable to George Wendt, the actor who played Norm on the sitcom. Wendt died last week at age 76. The portly, everyman, "Willy Loman" character Wendt created was one of the most iconic in the history of comedic television. Wendt's portrayal of Norm earned him six consecutive Emmy nominations for Best Supporting Actor in a primetime series. But during Boehner's first race for Congress in 1990, Wendt inadvertently manufactured a bizarre and permanent connection to the future Speaker of the House. In 1989, Lukens represented Ohio's 8th Congressional District. But WSYX-TV in Columbus, Ohio, secretly recorded Lukens at a McDonald's speaking with the mother of a teenage girl. Lukens talked to the woman about getting her a government job. He hoped to keep her quiet about his sexual activities with her daughter. Lukens denied any wrongdoing in public. He was charged and later convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The House Ethics Committee launched an investigation. But Lukens declined to step aside. That teed up a three-way Republican primary between Lukens, the former congressman who represented the district, the late Rep. Tom Kindness, R-Ohio, and Boehner. Boehner was a state legislator at the time. The scandal embroiling Lukens created a rare opportunity to head to Washington. As strange as it seems now, Boehner was the least-known of the three Republican candidates in what turned out to be a brutal primary. But Boehner's innate political acumen shone through – decades before he would ascend to the Speaker's suite. Despite the scandal, Lukens remained popular in the district. He had served as the congressman decades earlier and returned to the House when Kindness ran unsuccessfully for the Senate against late-Sen. John Glenn, D-Ohio, in 1986. So with the Lukens scandal, Kindness wanted his job back. And Boehner hoped to capitalize on the opportunity. Can you top a name like that? "Congressman Kindness." No wonder it was such a challenge for the upstart, future Speaker with the unpronounceable, Teutonic surname. But Boehner won. And even though he felled Lukens and Kindness, it was not a done deal that Boehner would win the general election. Boehner ran against Democrat Greg Jolivette, the mayor of Hamilton, Ohio, the biggest city in the 8th Congressional District. Jolivette was best known for changing the name of "Hamilton," to "Hamilton!" in the 1980s. He also ran Jolly's Drive-Ins in Hamilton. Imagine 1970s hamburger joints where you can order from your car, bedecked in orange. But we're talking about "Cheers" here. Not "Happy Days." Wendt was at the height of his popularity during the summer of 1990 as Boehner and Jolivette barreled toward a general election faceoff. So Wendt appeared on late-night TV on "The Arsenio Hall Show." Look him up, kids. Hall's syndicated show was never going to beat NBC's "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" in the ratings. But the program scored major headlines in 1992, when future President Bill Clinton played saxophone on the show in an effort to appeal to a younger demographic, which gravitated to Hall rather than Carson. Clinton's appearance was a seminal moment in American politics and may have helped him win the election. Certainly the most important political event on Hall's show. Wendt's appearance proved to be the second-most important. Jolivette was Wendt's brother-in-law. He periodically parachuted into Ohio's 8th District to campaign for Jolivette and against Boehner. So Hall asked him about Wendt's political involvement and Jolivette. Wendt proceeded to essentially libel Boehner on the air. Wendt never mentioned Boehner by name. But Wendt mixed up Lukens and his sex scandal with Boehner. On national TV, no less. "The guy he's running against had some problems a while back," said Wendt, referring to Jolivette's opponent, but mixing Boehner up with Lukens. "The guy from the 8th District had some convictions, some felony or a misdemeanor or something. So I think it's time for a change. One thing's for sure, I know, Greg's not going to be a criminal." Hall is an Ohio native. But he was apparently not versed in the Lukens scandal – even though it was a national story and commanded daily headlines. He didn't inquire further or correct Wendt. After all, this was a late-night comedy and variety show. Not "Meet the Press." A publicist for Hall blamed the issue entirely on Wendt, saying the host has no control over "what (guests are) going to say." Things then turned nasty when Boehner's team put out a statement. "We, like a lot of viewers, are confused about the conversation last night. We don't know if they were talking about Congressman Lukens' problems or perhaps the theft complaint filed with the Hamilton (Ohio) Police against Greg Jolivette," said the Boehner campaign. Jolivette's campaign argued this was an old allegation and it wasn't true. They then demanded that Boehner fire Barry Jackson, Boehner's campaign manager. Jackson called the episode "cheap gutter politics." Boehner himself pinned the case of mistaken identity on Wendt. He believed the actor should have been more responsible for what he said on national TV. Boehner didn't fire Jackson. Jackson worked with Boehner for years and later served as his chief of staff when he became House speaker. Wendt's gaffe was not fatal for Boehner. Even though there were nearly as many Democrats as Republicans registered in the 8th District in those days, it had elected Republicans for years. And Boehner vanquished Jolivette 61-39 percent in the general election. The rest is history for Boehner. Fast-forward to today. Boehner took to X after the actor's death. The former Speaker explained how Wendt was the brother-in-law of his opponent and "went on a late-night TV show and said some tough things." Boehner said that Wendt was "confusing me with someone else. He called later to apologize and we had a great conversation. Raising a glass tonight to the man America will always remember as Norm." Or, as they might say on the show, "Cheers."
