I have fond memories of SCGA (South Coast Gaming Association), where Scott Larabee got his start (this article & and an old one from the MotC site, back in 2003: Here). Scott was the nicest guy; I looked up to him like an older brother. He had tremendous patience with me and the other teens who came into the shop on a daily basis. SCGA was responsible for the Saturday's at he Women's Club, where some of the great PTQ players and noobs rubbed elbows, playing sealed drafts (where fi you lost, you lost your deck also - each winner collected the losers cards & had a chance to remake their deck between rounds... it was insane). There were also one of two drafts. The day would turn to night & the Women's Club would stay open until around midnight. I remember picking up played, 3rd Edition duals for $5 a pop (we would joke that they were $5 bills basically, because they were used as currency to A) have "store credit" w/ SCGA for pizza, or to scrounge the $7 needed for a draft, or as good 'ol trade bait).
I remember, just being a scrub player, going to the shop instead of working on homework, messing around w/ my decks & playing anyone who came in. Sure, got my rear handed to me many times, but the pace was a second home. They had a lounge-like room where there were beanbags, perfect for anyone w/ a D&D campaign. We didn't just play Magic there, we played Legend of the 5 Rings, Galactic Empires, the original Lord of the Rings CCG, as well as Battletech miniatures.
If you remember SCGA or the Women's Club Saturdays, tell us a story. Share your experiences. This is a good time to bring up SCGA since we're on the verge of the 20th anniversary of Magic: the Gathering & that shop, in my hometown, played a part in the history of the game.
Many years have gone by & so far, not a single shop can get close to what SCGA was. I had heard rumors of why the shop closed down, but nothing solid ever came up. Does anyone know the truth why the shop folded on itself?
Scott, if you're reading this, thank you for all that you have done for me as a Magic player... you kept the game a lot of fun
Saturdays at Costa Mesa was awesome. (i was in collage in 94'-95) 200 players every weekend playing magic. Before there was Standard or even swiss. A lot of single or double elimination tournaments. lots of mini Master and GrandMaster (that was the sealed you got to keep the cards when you beat your opponent) Even ante games were played. Lots of big names that went on to the pro Tour played there, 5 or 6 dealers selling everything.
I recall getting my first power there, and selling it back there. My one story was playing Minimaster draft of ice age (Draft one pack, build deck, you win you get your opponents deck. Winner gets all 8 packs) I had such an OP deck, JesterCap, SkeltonShip, and people kept passing me Illusionary Forces. Jester cap won me most games since i would just cap the few creatures they had out of there deck, and hey would deck tem selves.
It was the hippie days of Magic.
It amazing that almost 20 years later Costa Mesa woman's club is still such a magic landmark that PTQs are still held there even after the switch to shops running them
Oh and Scott is great. He remembered me years later at a Grand Prix when he went on to work for WOTC. Not sure if he would now.
It amazing that almost 20 years later Costa Mesa woman's club is still such a magic landmark that PTQs are still held there even after the switch to shops running them.
I have been to the Women's Club a few times in the past 5 or 6 years, but it's not the same. Even when it's packed full of players, it feels empty. Every where I walk in the Club, I see the ghosts of the pasts. If only it can re-open for Saturdays again, w/ drafts, casuals games, mini-masters (let's bring them back!), dealer tables, trades, the snack bar (can't forget Hiaudo [is that how you spell his name] selling pizza by the slice), & a lot of great games for 12 hours at a time.
What shop is sponsoring the PTQ's? Is it still done my Sun Mesa (I think that was the name). I wonder what would stop a shop from opening up Saturday's @ The Women's Club in the future?
What shop is sponsoring the PTQ's? Is it still done my Sun Mesa (I think that was the name). I wonder what would stop a shop from opening up Saturday's @ The Women's Club in the future?
Ever since the switch to only brick and mortar stores being allowed to run PTQs, Sun Mesa no longer does them. The current organizer of most of the PTQs in the area is Majestix (http://www.majestixccg.com/). They have a store a couple streets down where they sell cards and host in-store play, and only rent out the CMWC for big events.
There's only one thing that would stop me from going there if a store were to open up, and that is: the bathroom facilities are atrociously inadequate for a 100+ person event. It got to the point that at some of the last PTQs they did, Sunmesa decided to post signs reversing the men's and women's bathrooms. I just decided that I'd rather walk 10 minutes down the street to Petsmart rather than use the on-site bathrooms.
Ever since the switch to only brick and mortar stores being allowed to run PTQs, Sun Mesa no longer does them. The current organizer of most of the PTQs in the area is Majestix (http://www.majestixccg.com/). They have a store a couple streets down where they sell cards and host in-store play, and only rent out the CMWC for big events.
There's only one thing that would stop me from going there if a store were to open up, and that is: the bathroom facilities are atrociously inadequate for a 100+ person event. It got to the point that at some of the last PTQ's they did, Sunmesa decided to post signs reversing the men's and women's bathrooms. I just decided that I'd rather walk 10 minutes down the street to Petsmart rather than use the on-site bathrooms.
Wow, cool. Yeah, I know Majestix - I've frequenting Majestix since they were on the 2nd story about 5 or 6 blocks north, on Newport Blvd. You just game me a reason to drop by the Women's Club.
Do they allow outside vendors to sell, or do they corner that market & are the only ones that sell? Do they have drafts and sealed deck tournies running the same day?
Did you know that there's a park restroom @ the Airplane Park across the street & you don't need to walk as far as Petsmart?
Wow, cool. Yeah, I know Majestix - I've frequenting Majestix since they were on the 2nd story about 5 or 6 blocks north, on Newport Blvd. You just game me a reason to drop by the Women's Club.
Do they allow outside vendors to sell, or do they corner that market & are the only ones that sell? Do they have drafts and sealed deck tournies running the same day?
Did you know that there's a park restroom @ the Airplane Park across the street & you don't need to walk as far as Petsmart?
Many years have gone by & so far, not a single shop can get close to what SCGA was.
I don't think we'll ever see anything like it again. WotC clamping down on independent tournament organizers and hard push for FNM will make sure of that.
"A rich man thinks all other people are rich, and an intelligent man thinks all other people are similarly gifted. Both are always terribly shocked when they discover the truth of the world. You, my dear brother, are a pious man." - Strahd von Zarovich
I know its not the same at all but Frank and Sons is probably the closest you'll ever see to another Costa Mesa Saturdays
Ehhh, kinda true, but still, the drive is insane. And they don't allow trading inside. You gotta be all secret hush-hush and that's just bad business practice.
I think the closest is The Realm, but still, it's still a drive, and one that I'm going to make on a semi-regular basis.
Holy cow, that was good times. Gotta hand it to Scott and the guys for getting me started with magic, and all the miniatures. I still remember Tony's werewolf mural that went up.
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I remember, just being a scrub player, going to the shop instead of working on homework, messing around w/ my decks & playing anyone who came in. Sure, got my rear handed to me many times, but the pace was a second home. They had a lounge-like room where there were beanbags, perfect for anyone w/ a D&D campaign. We didn't just play Magic there, we played Legend of the 5 Rings, Galactic Empires, the original Lord of the Rings CCG, as well as Battletech miniatures.
If you remember SCGA or the Women's Club Saturdays, tell us a story. Share your experiences. This is a good time to bring up SCGA since we're on the verge of the 20th anniversary of Magic: the Gathering & that shop, in my hometown, played a part in the history of the game.
Many years have gone by & so far, not a single shop can get close to what SCGA was. I had heard rumors of why the shop closed down, but nothing solid ever came up. Does anyone know the truth why the shop folded on itself?
Scott, if you're reading this, thank you for all that you have done for me as a Magic player... you kept the game a lot of fun
I recall getting my first power there, and selling it back there. My one story was playing Minimaster draft of ice age (Draft one pack, build deck, you win you get your opponents deck. Winner gets all 8 packs) I had such an OP deck, JesterCap, SkeltonShip, and people kept passing me Illusionary Forces. Jester cap won me most games since i would just cap the few creatures they had out of there deck, and hey would deck tem selves.
It was the hippie days of Magic.
It amazing that almost 20 years later Costa Mesa woman's club is still such a magic landmark that PTQs are still held there even after the switch to shops running them
Oh and Scott is great. He remembered me years later at a Grand Prix when he went on to work for WOTC. Not sure if he would now.
I have been to the Women's Club a few times in the past 5 or 6 years, but it's not the same. Even when it's packed full of players, it feels empty. Every where I walk in the Club, I see the ghosts of the pasts. If only it can re-open for Saturdays again, w/ drafts, casuals games, mini-masters (let's bring them back!), dealer tables, trades, the snack bar (can't forget Hiaudo [is that how you spell his name] selling pizza by the slice), & a lot of great games for 12 hours at a time.
What shop is sponsoring the PTQ's? Is it still done my Sun Mesa (I think that was the name). I wonder what would stop a shop from opening up Saturday's @ The Women's Club in the future?
Ever since the switch to only brick and mortar stores being allowed to run PTQs, Sun Mesa no longer does them. The current organizer of most of the PTQs in the area is Majestix (http://www.majestixccg.com/). They have a store a couple streets down where they sell cards and host in-store play, and only rent out the CMWC for big events.
There's only one thing that would stop me from going there if a store were to open up, and that is: the bathroom facilities are atrociously inadequate for a 100+ person event. It got to the point that at some of the last PTQs they did, Sunmesa decided to post signs reversing the men's and women's bathrooms. I just decided that I'd rather walk 10 minutes down the street to Petsmart rather than use the on-site bathrooms.
Avatar by Numotflame96 of Maelstrom Graphics
Sig banner thanks to DarkNightCavalier of Heroes of the Plane Studios!
Wow, cool. Yeah, I know Majestix - I've frequenting Majestix since they were on the 2nd story about 5 or 6 blocks north, on Newport Blvd. You just game me a reason to drop by the Women's Club.
Do they allow outside vendors to sell, or do they corner that market & are the only ones that sell? Do they have drafts and sealed deck tournies running the same day?
Did you know that there's a park restroom @ the Airplane Park across the street & you don't need to walk as far as Petsmart?
There's a PTQ (which I might be judging; staff list hasn't gone out yet) coming up this weekend if you're interested:
http://www.majestixccg.com/news/march-30th-magic-the-gathering-pro-tour-qualifier-pt-dublin-ireland/
There will be Draft and Standard 8-man side events. It is my belief that they do not allow outside vendors, though I could be wrong.
And no, I didn't know there was a park restroom at the park.
Avatar by Numotflame96 of Maelstrom Graphics
Sig banner thanks to DarkNightCavalier of Heroes of the Plane Studios!
I don't think we'll ever see anything like it again. WotC clamping down on independent tournament organizers and hard push for FNM will make sure of that.
What are the chances that Majestix will start a weekly or bi-monthly Saturday's 3 the CMWC?
What are the chances that Majestix will start a weekly or bi-monthly Saturday's 3 the CMWC?
MODS: I accidentally double-posted. Can you please remove this one so I can avoid a warning?
Ehhh, kinda true, but still, the drive is insane. And they don't allow trading inside. You gotta be all secret hush-hush and that's just bad business practice.
I think the closest is The Realm, but still, it's still a drive, and one that I'm going to make on a semi-regular basis.